The Canadian Independent (Mar 15, 1938)

THE CANADIAN INDEPENDENT Vol. 3, No. 6 COLONE Toronto, March 15, 1988 SY \\\\ NY Nis eu .\ 3g 7 22 fo. gZ Ze cnee Aww. N\ ANY <A By S. H. Falk DUALS AGAIN AND YET The industry seems to have its back up over the move of the Parent-Teacher Associations, in the United States, to ban double bills from theatres on the ground that long programs are bad for the health of children. In Chicago, where the move originated, an appeal was made to the civic authorities to legally put a stop —to-this“evil,’”’” The Corpora tion Counsel, Barnet Hodes, expressed the opinion that a Municipality can effect a ban, by ordinance, on health grounds, and a hearing is set before a Committee of the Board of Aldermen on the subject. Representatives of the film industry have refused to present their views before the Committee, and the Chicago P.T.A., reluctant to take full responsibility in the matter, has made known through its chairman, Mrs. William Ross, that the Association would rather not _ enter into the controversy, but would prefer that the industry settle the matter itself, ; 62-0: 20 This makes it a great game of hide and seek, or button, button who’s got the button? It’s the good old buck that is being passed all along the line. For a time it seemed as if _ nobody wanted dual bills. _ Hollywood was blaming it on _ exhibitors for supplying the (Continued on Page 2) Held Over In Toronto ‘Baroness and the __ Quebec Censor Board To Be Reorganized Premiere Maurice Duplessis has given notice to the legislature that a bill will be introduced shortly calling for a reorganization of the Quebec Censorship Board. The film censor of Saskatchewan will have his authority extended to classifying all films for that province under the headings of “general,” or “for adults only.” This extension of power will be brought about by an amendment to the Theatres and Cinematograph Act which will be introduced into the Saskatchewan legislature during the Session. Warner’s Plan New Radio Show General Motors and Warrer Brothers are discussing plans for a weekly hour and a half air show to go over both the NBC and CBC networks. This will be the. biggest broadcast program yet with Warner’s entire production facilities. and talent made available. (Continued on Page 6) 20th Century Theatres Chain Starts Manager Drive Plans for a 12-week drive to stimulate Lenten and early Spring theatre attendance were made at a luncheon meeting at the King Edward hotel, by executives and managers of the 20th 2 Century Theatre chain of | which Mr. Myer Axler is supervising manager. _ The drive has been organ(Continued on Page 2) $5.00 Per Annum L COOPER TO MEDIATE CONTRACT ——<$<$—$—— Series of articles reviewing The Canadian License Agreement results in move to bring about hearing and modification of certain sections of agreement. Performing Right Society's Rights Curbed By Parliament A bill was passed by the House of Commons at Ottawa, to prohibit the Canadian Performing Right Society from levying charges, for the use of radio and. gramaphone recordings, on small restaurants, dance halls, skating rinks, lodges or community halls. The bill also requires the Society to furnish to each person taking out a license to perform, a list of all titles of musical works “registered in the Copyright Office at Ottawa.” The Society now has registered copyrights to nearly 200,000 pieces of music. (Continued on Page 3) Canadian Pictures Barred From Quota Canada’s only featurelength motion picture studio at Victoria, B.C., Central Films Ltd., is in danger of being wiped up, if the British Film Quota Act will be passed with the present amendment, which excludes Dominion films from the Quota market. The Company has spent, according to. Bishop, producer of Central Films, the sumof $600,000 on 12-pictures. under. quota requireménts. Kenneth . J. | Colonel John A. Cooper, acting in his official capacity as president of the Motion Picture Distributors and Exhibitors Association of Canada, has taken the first step in an attempt to bring about mediation on the Canadian License Agreement. The general dissatisfaction expressed by independents with this contract; over a long period of time, and the more specific criticism contained in a series of articles prepared for this paper by its Press Committee, has resulted in the Colonel’s writing the members of the Press Committee, Messrs. Harold Kay, Ben Ulster and Harry Firestone, to discuss with him ways and means of bringing about a meeting of the various interested factions of the industry to consider certain suggested changes in the agreement. Exchanges, Chain and Indie Representatives to Meet The preliminary meeting between Colonel Cooper and the Press Committee resulted in the laying of a plan for a subsequent meeting to be called, inviting representatives of Independent Theatres Association, Associated Theatres Limited and all film exchanges to partici (Continued on Page 3) Current Hits Snow White and the . Seven Dwarfs. Bringing Up Baby. In Old Chicago. The Hurricane. The: Buccaneer.