The Canadian Independent (Mar 1, 1938)

THE CANADIAN ‘=e ISSUED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INDEPENDENT. THEATRE OWNERS a ie se TAYLOR ON CONCILIATION (Continued from Page 1) Co-operation Better Than Tug-of-War “It has been one of my strongest convictions that progress is best served by peacful means, by co-operation rather than by tug-ofwar methods. Competitive building resulting in overseating and dark houses is a symptom of poor management and lack of co-ordination in the industry. I was eager to join and work within a body that had for its aim the applying of intelligence and good will to insure the progress of an industry I have been engaged in since early youth. “One of the first achievements of the new enlarged Film Section, with independent representation, was the forming of the Conciliation Committee, calculated to handle trade _ practice problems and grievances. I felt that this was a long stride forward in the right direction and willingly joined the group elected to work on this committee; the other members being: Mr. i down H. Allen, L. M. Devaney, S. Fine, H. Freedman, T. Long, J. P. O’Loghlin, A. Polakoff ' and C. Robson. Clearance the Thing “At the first meeting of the Conciliation Committee: I made it clear that the most |. urgent subject for consider-. ation before this body was’ the subject of clearance. Independent exhibitors for many years have felt the un fairness of the present clearance schedule, and were anxious to present their case: for a readjustment of protection periods. A stumbling block to a frank consideration of this problem was immediately presented by representatives of the Famcus Players Corp. who expressed an unwillingness to lend themselves to let discussion. “Although little or nothing has been done with conciliation so far, I have not abandoned hope that Famous Players through its president, Mr. N. L. Nathanson, will eventually see the unfairness of asking independent exhibitors to sit and talk conciliation with them as long as the voke of unfair protection is still fastened around their necks. “The clearance séheduld as it stands today in Canada: is overbalanced in favor of the Famous Players circuit, and the attitude of its representatives has so far been, that they are determined to keep it that way.” “Not only subsequent exhibitors suffer by this unfair arrangement, but the audiences of neighborhood theatres who are kept waiting unduly long for pictures, and the _ distributors who lose heavily because the drawing power of pictures built up by huge sums spent in advertising, peters out before the picture is generally released. A recent example of a sane and sporting attitude toward clearance was the waiving of this right by Radio City Music Hall when its manager allowed “Snow White’”’ to open at the Palace the found it entirely practical to waive protection on these organization is in my con The Independent Theatres ‘ance is the first hurdle in -of my ability, -Famous ? 277 VICTORIA STREET INDEPENDENT PATRONIZE THE ADVERTISERS WHO MAINTAIN (7. Sr, READY SOON! PACKS A TERRIFIC WALLOP “WORLD FAMOUS» GODEY Never before such a crowd-getter! you'll buy it; don’t say we didn’t warn you.... Canadian Premium Distributors Mar. 1, 19388 If you see it — TORONTO WA. 3116 New York, directly after it finished its run at the Music Hall. atre, “To prove that my stand on clearance is not a theoretical one, but wholly practical, I can site the case of independents having firstrun United Artists’ product for the current year. I have important pictures and allow subsequent houses to begin their runs immediately following the first runs booked through Exhibitors’ Booking Association, which trol, “Until Famous Players’ representatives are willing to relinquish. some portion of the unfair advantage now enjoyed by their company, there will be no conciliation worthy of its name here. Association has taken an irrevokable stand that clear this steeplechase. and that the mare had better learn to take her jumps if she is to stay on the track. “At the last annual meeting of the Motion Picture Branch: of the T.B. of T., I was elected chairman. I feel honored by the confidence shown in me, and I am anxious to serve to the best but, unless good faith on the part of Players is added to that show of confidence, I will find it impossible to act either in my canacity as chairman or conciliator. “So far the subject of | QUOTA ACT (Continued from Page 1) what is believed will be a free-for-all fight. The exhibitors’ quota for Empire product has been raised by the Committee from 10% to 12144%. This boost will be strongly protested by both English and American” interests" w ho ~ have expressed their intention of carrying the fight to the floor of Commons in order to modify the ‘“‘suicidal clauses” in the Act. Toronto Girl Gets | Film Contracts Shirley Somerville, of Oriole Parkway, Toronto, has been signed up by 20th Century Fox and will dance in “Four Men and a Prayer’’ with her dancing partner, Antonio Cansino. The film stars Loretta Young. Shirley is 18 years old, studied dancing as a hobby at the Cecil de Costa Studio, appeared in plays at Hart House and with the Canadian Drama League, and is a cousin of the late Sir Guy Standing. clearance has deadlocked every conciliation meeting, and the business accomplished was of too trivial a nature to warrant the expenditure of time involved. This subject is down for consideration on the agenda of the next meeting, and either the ice jam will be broken or the peace bridge will. gO down,”