The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Jul 2, 1941)

UL XiiBiIOR Published Semi-Monthly by the INDEPENDENT THEATRES ASSOCIATION HYE BOSSIN Managing Editor VOL. 7, NO. 13. JULY 2ND, 1941 Subscription Rates: Canada and U.S.: $5.00 per annum ages 28 Address all communications to The Managing Editor The CANADIAN EXHIBITOR 21 Dundas Square AD. 4318 Toronto, Canada Maritimes Join (Continued from Page 1) leaves about 18 theatres operating in places between 5,000 and 10,000 in population. The war activity has had a definitely worse effect. Many young men have joined the armed forces and with little additional money loose in that part of Canada, there have been no compensating factors. The gloom that has pervaded business in those areas since 193031 caused many exhibitors to interest themselves in some other form of gainful activity while operating their houses. Now, with the new tax added to theatre headaches, it has been predicted that many Maritimes theatres will close. Exhibitors are especially irked by the failure of the legislation to take into account dancing, games of chance for charity purposes and other amusements of that nature. Many of these are permitted to give away sums ranging from $100 to $500. The Maritimes exhibitors are desperate and determined. The evils will be aired soon and efforts made to correct them. Ban Park Bouts (Continued from Page 1) almost fifty teams under its jurisdiction. “The parks are for recreation purposes,” said Mr. Lewis, “and boxing is not a recreation. If that’s the only way people can be attracted, then there’s something wrong with the league. Good baseball doesn’t need anything like that to draw crowds. I am absolutely against boxing or anything like it in the parks.” The issue is not completely closed. “Our Commissioner is definitely against it,” said a Parks Department official, “but we don’t know how far his opposition will carry.” . The Exhibitor Tax? What Tax? The theme of the recent Victory loan was money and more money. The whole country is gratified that Ottawa's appeal for dollars was met heartily. Yet. while asking for money to borrow, the government has ignored a great and regular sum to be had for the taking. And with no need of future return. Section 121 (a) of Bill 88, which deals with the 20 per cent tax on movies. specifies as also taxable “any theatrical performance, carnival. circus. side show. menagerie. concert, exhibition, horse race or athletic contest.” And here’s the curious side of the matter. Bill 88 was passed on June 2nd—a month ago. That’s two weeks after the tax on movie tickets went into action. But it hasn‘t been applied yet to all the amusements mentioned above which are specified in the act. Why? Doesn't the government need the money? Obviously it does. Every day thousands of untaxed dollars are being spent. The act. having been extended to cover all amusements, patron and promoter have been waiting to pay the tax but the government hasn't asked for it. With movie prices up while other attractions remain the same. motion pictures lose some of their appeal as a cheaper form of entertainment. The result is that erstwhile movie-goes are taking taxable dollars to non-taxable places. Thus, on one hand, the government has no tax revenue, and. on the other. reduced returns. This at a time when every dollar serves a vital need. And the exhibitor, loyal and patient in the face of unfair customer competition. is getting hit in the fuselage. No Change in Midtown Status (Continued from Page 1) ing to the Odeon banner. Mr. Tay; Association. lor clarified the situation as follows: “The Midtown Theatre owned and operated by Midtown is | Theatre Ltd., a private joint stock company of which Mr. Firestone | does not own stock control. Booking and operating control is vested by contract in Exhibitors Booking In order to cancel this agreement, it would be necessary to call a meeting of the Directors to discuss this or any new proposed agreement. No meeting has been called and I think I can state with some certainty that we will continue to operate the Midtown Theatre as in the past.” Men of the R-C.N.V.R. were guests of Manager Al Perly at the Centre Theatre, London, recently in connection with the showing of “Here Comes The Navy.” It gave the Reserve men a chance to see life as they will come to know it soon in Canada’s fleet. July 2nd, 194i Can. Warners To Convene Toronto. — The 1941 Canadian District Meeting of Vitagraph, Ltd., the distributing organization for Warner Bros.-First National Pictures and Vitaphone short subjects, will be held July 15-16 at the Mount Royal Hotel, Montreal, Wolfe Cohen, Dominion manager, said today. Mr. Cohen will preside at the conferences. The purpose of the gathering will be to discuss production and sales policy for 1941-42 product, and is being held in Canada, apart from the Warner Bros. convention in the United States, primarily because selling policy here will materially differ from that in the States, where recently enacted decrees to govern film distribution have been set up. Holding the separate Camadian sessions would also seem to be a modest gesture toward conserving Canadian currency. Among those attending from the home office in New York City will be Gradwell L. Sears and Carl Leserman, president and _ vicepresident, respectively, of Vitagraph, Ltd.; Roy Haines and Ben Kalmenson, respectively in charge of eastern and Canadian and southern and western sales; and Norman H. Moray, short subjects manager. . The Canadian territory will be represented by Joseph Plottel, Toronto Branch manager; Alfred | E. Piggins, district booker; Harry Law, salesman, Toronto; Glenn Ireton, district press representative; Lewis McKenzie, St. John branch manager; Philip Sherman and G. Kieley, manager and salesman, Montreal branch; Louis Geller and Frank Davis, manager and salesman, Winnipeg branch; Harry Kohn, manager, Calgary branch; and I. “Babe’’ Coval, manager, Viancouver branch. Details of the new Canadian selling policy will be released at the termination of the meeting. Projectionists Try New Loan Idea The Motion Picture Projectionists hit on an idea worth remembering to assist the recent Victory Loan. The Toronto local decided that each member would put five dollars into a fund to buy extra bonds. Each member had subscribed individually also. The plan spread to all the locals in Eastern Canada. Then the Elev— enth District of the International Alliance of Stage Employees and Projectionists, made up of unions in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, picked it up. A nice sum of extra money was turned over to the campaign. Most of the members of the Toronto local are veterans of the first Great War.