The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Jun 1, 1941)

A Semi-Monthly SUMMARY of World-Wide Motion Picture NEWS CA Nol. />.No:.11. NADIAN MOTION PICTURE XHIBITOR Official Organ of the INDEPENDENT THEATRES ASSOCIATION Toronto, June lst, 1941 $5.00 Per Annum _Exhibs Join Press-Film Fight MPTOA to Talk Tiff Over In Coming H’wood Coniab The current controversy between the studios and press about early previewing of pictures has drawn exhibitor organizations all | To the ‘Indies’ That’s the title of a recent book and, believe it or leave it, it’s not about us. The story is of a man with an idea, the most valuable thing in any business, and what it did for the world. The poor guy who is the hero suffered jeers for years. His idea was pooh-poohed. When he finally put it across it became a highlight of history. Still and all, he wound up broke jand in jail. Another fellow in the same game even stole the credit for doing it first. The idea man was Christopher Columbus. He thought he could find a short cut to the rich Indies. In the end he found backing. Two smart business men bankrolled him. Chris made a deal by which he cut in for ten per cent of the net. Not bad. Even then Chris was off the track. He ran into the New World while looking for a piece of the old one. He really thought it was the Indies and called the natives Indians—a mistake that became a rule. A man named Amerigo arrived later but stole all the publicity and got the place named after him. However, most ideas turn up unscheduled. Scientists find solutions in unexpected ways. They make discoveries while looking for something else. We get the same chances in our business. Right now business has everyone worried. The experts are busy explaining why it isn’t what it should be. One says it’s the uncertainty of the future. Others nominate strikes, the draft and thrift campaigns for the Oscar of grief. Most of the experting comes from the States and doesn’t apply here. In motion pictures this is a different world. For instance, we Deanna Durbin & Co. Start A New One Deanna Durbin, who ought to be billed as the ‘‘Winnipeg-o’-myheart,” is at work in Universal’s “Almost an Angel.” Robert Cummings is the romantic lead. Charles Laughton is in it ZeelOO, over the continent into the argument. But He Had The Right Idea The tax has caused some unusual public reactions. An exhibitor reports this. A soldier put down a quarter for admission and, upon being asked for the impost, protested. He though that men in khaki should have been .excepted. He wanted to take the matter up with the manager. “He can’t help you,” explained the cashier. “Mr. Isley is responsible.” The soldier paid his quarter, gave his ticket to the man on the door and asked, “Pardon me, but where can I find Mr. Ilsley ?”’ have amusement taxes and a movieless Sunday, which cuts a day off the gross. There are many purely Canadian problems, as well as local ones. Canadian problems need Canadian solutions. Here and there an enterprising exhibitor pitches in, licks the trouble and does business (Continued on Page 2.) The scribes are objecting vehemently to the new policy of advance showings being moved much closer to the release date. The matter will be discussed from the exhibitor’s standpoint in Hollywood next month, when the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America convene. The first sign of the exhibitors’ sympathy with the studios came out in a meeting at New Haven recently. Columnists and others who give away the twists and turns of the story were handed a good verbal going-over. Many pictures, it is claimed, which are on the big budget list, fail to meet anticipated business while others, small and unheralded, exceed expectations. This is regarded as proof that public curiosity, so hard to excite, has been partly satisfied by the vast wave of details released long before the picture. It is estimated that there are 275,000,000 copies of magazines distributed in America annually—more than two copies to a person. The battle has become anybody’s fight. Trade papers, much closer to the industry and guide of the (Continued on Page 2.) Picture Pioneers to Make Short Showing Theatres’ War Effort Canada’s picture audiences will learn of the splendid contribution of film folk to the Dominion’s war effort. A ten-minute reel showing the various sides of theatre activity will be exhibited in representative houses from coast: to coast The Canadian Picture Pioneers, in which membership is restricted to persons in the business for a quarter-century or more, is back of the idea. It originated with them. Not only have picture people turned over all facilities to further War Stamps, Victory Loan and other drives, but they have under Henry Koster is directing. | taken special events of their own. Gene Autry’s rodeo last fall was an example of private theatrical enterprise for the public cause. Ways of helping the war effort have been the Pioneer’s big worry since hostilities began. The film should help stir general interest in coming campaigns by its example of the picture people’s whole-hearted assistance. It should win the industry great goodwill. Claire Hague heads the committee, with Tom Daley and Archie Laurie sharing the responsibility. Associated Screen News, which prepared the script according to Pioneers’ ideas, is doing the job. PRICES UP — GROSSES DOWN The 20 per cent federal tax on admissions, inaugurated on May 19. has hit business hard. In many cases grosses have shrunk by one-third. Except in isolated instances the tax has been passed on to the patrons. Here and there an exhibitor has spared the youngsters the added vennies by absorbing the tax at Saturday matinees. The official belief that the extra money in circulation these days would increase business is still to prove itself. Alta. Beats Anti-Prize Edict Edmonton — The recent bill which, if passed, would have stopped the donation of gifts and prizes in Alberta houses has been withdrawn. The bill had been given its first reading. Three associations combined to provide a committee that waited on the government. Walter Wilson and J. J. Leiberman for the Edmonton Exhibitors’ Ass’n; Roy Chown amd J. Peacock for the Calgary Exhibitors’ Ass’n, and H. G. Stevenson, Edson and Nat Park, Wetaskiwin, for the Independent Exhibitors’ Ass’n. Pleased with the success of the joint effort, the committee has been appointed permanently to deal with governmental matters. Another measure they persuaded the government to hold off was a tax on children’s 15-cent tickets. They are meeting with Hon. E. C. Manning, provincial secretary and minister of trade and industry. The chief point of discussion is the question of one man in the projection room instead of the two required under existing law. Y fo eee ee