The Canadian Independent (Dec 15, 1937)

Sn ae ypee wa | PS eNO Hy Hr ate > . Pk), <i THE CANADIAN Vol. 2, No. 23 BRITISH-ITALIAN RECIPROCAL ACCORD Italian Money Attracts British Prod S\\\ ] WI \) N \\\\ \ \ ww. zo! es S\\\\\ Ant {wA\ So AIR COMPETITION An avalanche of complaints has been let loose from all parts of the Ontario compass, converging in Toronto, to be registered at our office. The keynote and motive of all being, that theatres with paid admissions cannot compete successfully with free Hollywood air shows. Since motion picture studios have gone into broadcasting with previews and postviews of picture material and big Hollywood stars, theatres hereabouts have been suffering from periodic sinking spells, Wednesday and Thursday nights marking the low spots on the patients’ economic charts. Many exhibitors registering these complaints attest to a 30 percent reduction in receipts on these _ nights, while a few insist that the loss is nearer to 50 percent. Now figures like these are not to be conjured with, when many of the _ subsequent-run houses involved in this loss have a struggle at best to keep the craft a few inches above the water mark. Battling against chain competitors, keeping a keen weather eye to general conditions and doping out problems in smart exhibition is a heavy enough brain toll for the average exhibitor. Add to these the competition foisted on them by (Continued on Page 2) Current Hits | The Firefly. ~ The Awful Truth. Ali Baba Goes To Town. _ Dr. Syn. | Ebb Tide. Toronto, December 15th, 1937 MGM Theatre-Move sCLAL psso $5.00 Per Annum Cancelled In Italy| ucers. Tie-up effected After Hollywood Debacle. The Duce is in a fighting mood _ since young Vittorio returned from Hollywood to papa with his tail feathers dragging in the dust. A war of retaliation against the American film industry shot its opening gun when the government cancelled plans of MGM to establish a first-run exhibition circuit throughout Italy. A series of drastic moves against (Continued on Page 8) Loews Canadian Reports Increased Profits Net profits for the year ending Aug. 26th, show a substantial increase according to the annual report of Marcus Loew’s Theatres, Toronto. Earnings for the year, after all deductions, was $111,730 as compared with $81,795 for the preceding year. Loew’s London (Ontario) Theatres reported a net profit of $15,596, compared with $11,105. Rockefellers To Back Dime Movies A persistent report is afoot that the Rockefeller interests will build a chain of 300-seat theatres in key cities in the U.S. Admission, it is stated, will be a dime flat (perhaps this is a device to get back the dimes John D. scattered during his lifetime.) These dime theatres will be strictly single-feature houses with shorts to fill out. Plans are said to be already drawn for the dime-dome chain. Attractive financing offers trom Italy have drawn a group of British producers to tie-up with Italy for the producing of pictures. Signor Forzano, new Terrenia Studios, near Rome, and Mario Zanti, producer-director for Tiso Cities Films have effected the first working agreement, and a group of forty artists and technicians have left for Italy to begin work in their first picture ‘Thirteen Men And A Gun.” The first deal of the series calls for the production of seven English features in Italy within the next 12 months. The difficulty in obtaining money in England for pro duction purposes is said to | be the reason for the new Italian-British working arrangement which seems to be heading for a reciprocal accord between the two countries. A reciprocal exhibition arrangement is said to be part of the deal. Perhaps the frustration of a similar hope in America contributed to the swift flight from those shores of the Dictator’s son and motion picture scout. Dallas Decree Carries Joker The Dallas, Texas court decree in which the government enjoins the Interstate Circuit and major distributors from setting a minimum admission price at subsequent runs, and from setting restrictions on doublebilling, has a nigger in it (Continued on Page 8) head of the | standing ‘will meet on the first Mon ~ Allied And ITOA Unite Against Radio Competition A joint meeting of the Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey and the ITOA was held recently to discuss ways and means of combating radio competition. A joint committee day of each month to devise means for meeting exhibitor problems arising from this type of competition. Dec.14--All American Independent Meet A joint exhibitor trade conference has been set for Dec. 14. Participating in this confab on trade problems, will be the Allied States As’n. of M. P. Exhibitors, whose «president is Nathan Yamis, the ITOA, whose president, Harry Brandt, arranged the conference and the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America headed by Kd. Kuykendall. If these three independent factions succeed on making a_ united front, they should be in a position to swing any reasonable program of reforms in the trade. Held Over In Toronte Ebb Tide. The Shiek Steps Out.