The Canadian Independent (Dec 1, 1937)

org Wh Vol. 2., No. 22 THE CANADIAN DEPENDEN Toronto, December 1st., 1937 AND RADICALS People have a way of dismissing anything troublesome by putting a label on it with an unpleasant name. They then feel that the matter is somehow disposed of. It is the old method of the taboo and the Indian sign, and strangely enough, people who read as they run, seeing the sign, and taking the label at face value, veer off. “Radical” and “crank” are two labels frequently used interchangeably to scare the layman away from new ideas. There is just enough truth in the fact that there is an element of the “crank” in every radical, for the idea to readily sell itself. And since many cranks are crackpots who cannot be dealt with reasonably, the radical cranks are frequently filed away in the minds of many with all unpleasant and impossible cranks. 0 0 Oo What is acrank? Literally it is a part of a machine useful in. making other related parts go round. We remember a passage from our early reading, the gist of which is that a crank is something that makes the wheels go round and insures progress, Every inventor starts out as a crank. He is not satis(Continued on Page 2) EE i cae ane Current Hits “Double Wedding.” “The Awful Truth.” “Ali Baba Goes to ‘ Town.” -“Stand-In.”’ -“The Life of Emile Zola.” Strike Off United Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Philadelphia, which organization has waged a buyers’ strike since June 24 has finally . reached a settlement with Paramount officials. 100 members of UMPTO were present at the meetiny accepting the terms of the settlement and general satisfaction was expressed at the fairness of the terms finally agreed at, but the meeting decided to continue in existence the ‘‘war board” to look after any future contingencies. Allied Joins N.D. Divorce Fight N. A. Steffes, president of North-West Allied, said at Minneapolis recently that his organization is in the fight to uphold the North Dakota theatre divorce statute “‘to the finish.” Paramount has challenged the constitutionality of the law, and Steffes has promised both legal aid and the testimony of “hundreds of independent theatre owners in the U.S.” in an attempt to uphold the law that divests distributors from their theatres. Three Canadian Stations Join Red & Blue Hook-Up The three Canadian Stations, CBM CFCF and CBF in Montreal have contracted with NBC to join the Blue and Red network beginning Nov. 14th. These stations will broadcast throughout the Montreal territory in English and French, NEW ATTEMPT A Philadelphia Buyers’ ® $5.00 Per Annum T CONCILIATION The nearly-defunct Conciliation Committee of Ontario gets blood transfusion. New approach sought to establish Conciliation as practical means of dealing with grievances and general improve ment of Industry. New Performing Rights Rates Under Consideration The Musical Protective Association, consisting of theatre, radio and hotel interests, held a meeting in Toronto on Nov. 22nd, to consider the new schedule of rates filed by the Canadian Performing Rights Society. The Society’s schedule was filed with the Secretary of State at Ottawa on Nov. Ist, as required by Statute, and will be considered by the Copyright Appeal Board at Ottawa at a later date, (Continued on Page 3) Quota Plan Proceeds Despite Product Shortage The British Film Quota law based on the “white paper” of the Moyne Committee has been read in Parliament, and is about to issue forth as the new law of the land requiring 25% of British made pictures in exhibition, and 30% in distribution. This law is being enacted on plans projected over a year ago before the serious financial handicaps now extant were evident. From present appearances it will be impossible for ex (Continued on Page 3) The_ conciliation committee, offshoot of the Film Section of the Toronto Board of Trade, that first saw the light of day early this spring and then seemed to go into a rapid decline, has had a recent blood transfusion and is showing signs of new life. As it stands now, there is some promise of its becoming an instrument for the guidance of the motion picture industry in Ontario. A meeting of this committee was held on Nov. 19th, with the following. members representing the various interests: Mr. C. Robson, Famous Players Corp.; Mr. H. Allen, Premier Operating Co. Ltd.; Mr. S. Fine, B. & F. Theatres Ltd.; Mr. H. T. Long, Associated Theatres Ltd. : Mr. N. A. Taylor, Exhibitors Booking Ass’n.; Mr. H. Freed m an, Independent Theatres Ass’n.; Mr. A. Polakoff, Independent Theatres Ass’n.; Mr. L. M. Devaney, Motion Picture Dist. & Exhib. Ass’n.; Mr. C. Hague, Motion Picture Dist. & Exhib. Ass’n. it is within the scope of this committee to consider suggestions, problems and grievances, to gather such (Continued on Page 2) Held Over In Toronte “The Awful Truth.” “Double Wedding.” “Pagliacci.”