The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

THE EXHIBITOR 11 Neely Bill Voted Out by Committee Count 15-3 in Favor of Action Washington — Contrary to expecta¬ tions of the bill opponents, the Neely bill banning block booking was voted out of committee last week. By a vote of 15 to 3, the bill was re¬ ported favorably by the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee at an executive session of the body. The Interstate Commerce Sub-com¬ mittee had first voted on the bill, with two Senators opposing it, two favoring it. The committee, following the entire group’s vote, authorized Senator Neely to file a report on the bill, placing it on the Senate’s calendar. Three members of the committee who opposed the bill were Senator Smith, South Carolina Democrat and chairman, sub-committee; Senator White, Maine Republican; Sena¬ tor Gurney, South Dakota Republican. At the sub-committee’s session Sena¬ tors Neely and Tobey voted in favor of the bill, while opposition was voted by Senators Smith and White. Senator Tobey, absent at later meeting, left his vote to be recorded in favor of the meas¬ ure with Senator White. It is believed that action on the meas¬ ure will be taken before Congress ad¬ journs, with the latter date set for July 15. Cohn Organizes New Club New York City — A new type of club, to be known as Picture Pioneers, with membership limited to men who have been a part of the motion picture industry for 2 5 years or more, was launched last week by Jack Cohn, Co¬ lumbia. Organization, which will charge no dues, will be primarily for the pur¬ pose of meeting over the luncheon or dinner table two or three times a year, swapping reminiscences and promoting good fellowship. Cohn is himself a pioneer member of the industry, start¬ ing his motion picture career in 1908. Because the phrase "He’s in confer¬ ence” has come to be a by-word in motion picture circles, Cohn plans that the get-togethers be known as "Confer¬ ences,” rather than meetings. Among those who have signified their inten¬ tion of joining Picture Pioneers are: Jack Alicoate, Louis Astor, Barney Balaban, Leon J. Bam¬ berger, Jack Bellman, Maurice A. Bergman, B. K. Blake, Clayton E. Bond, Harry Brandt, Wil¬ liam Brandt, Leo Brecher, Jules E. Brulator, Harry D. Buckley, Thomas J. Connors, George Dembow, Sam Dembow, Jr., Ned E. Depinet, S. H. Fabian, Leopold Friedman, Harry Goetz, Paul Gulick, P. S. Harrison, Ed Hatrick, Hal Hode, Joe Hornstein, Arthur A. Lee, Charles E. Lewis, Joseph A. McConville, Charles C. Moskowitz, Dan Michalove, P. A. Powers, Martin Quigley, W. F. Rodgers, George J. Schaeffer, L. J. Schlaifer, Charles Stern, Albert Warner, A. P. Waxman, George Weeks, Lou Weinberg, M. J. Weisfeldt, Herman Wobber, Robert S. Wolff. Warners Selling Away from West Coast Circuit Sears Announces Inde Deals Are Available New York City — Grad Sears, War¬ ners distribution chieftain, announced last week that the company is dissatis¬ fied with the presentation of its product by Fox West Coast and has decided to sell away from this circuit offering the new season’s program to independent ex¬ hibitors. Sears said: “In our opinion, a policy which makes pos¬ sible the presentation of two A attractions such as "Dodge City” and "Alexander Graham Bell”; "Wuthering Heights” and "Smart Girls”; “Okla¬ homa Kid” and "Love Affair”; and "Navy, Blue and Gold” and "Submarine Dl” is definitely de¬ structive, both as far as the public and pro¬ ducers are concerned. “The double-feature policy as practiced by Fox West Coast reduces the possibility of film rentals on deserving pictures, freezing the pos¬ sibility of returns to such an extent that to sup¬ port this practice makes it impossible to pro¬ duce fine, big-budget productions for fair re¬ turns. Certainly this policy stifles incentive on the part of the producers who are just as anxious to make great box office attractions as exhibitors are to play them. "After a careful examination of the income and performance of Fox West Coast over a period of years, we have reached the conclusion that the handling of our product by this circuit does not contribute to our progress and that its policy of double-billing and flat rental engagements offer no opportunity for expanded income re¬ gardless of production merit. “It is our opinion that Warner pictures merit the greatest possible expenditure of showmanship and merchandising to match their importance. As Fox West Coast has failed to give our product this kind of treatment and to produce the re¬ turns which our pictures deserve, we shall seek new markets and build soundly and construc¬ tively toward the future.” The Warners statement points out that "under the industry code now be¬ ing drafted, a line of product sold to an independent exhibitor cannot be taken away from him subsequently.” Seidel in an Sails for Europe New York City — J. H. Seidelman, vice-president in charge of foreign affairs at Universal, sailed this week on the "Normandie” for an extended trip abroad. In Paris he will hold a meeting of Universal’s representatives in Continen¬ tal and Central Europe, and on June 27 he will attend the exhibitors’ convention in Blackpool, England, where a special screening will be held of "The Sun Never Sets.” Thomas Orchard Honored New York City — Thomas Orchard, associate producer of "The March of Time,” was awarded an honorary Mas¬ ter of Arts degree this week by Hobart College, Geneva, New York, from which he was graduated in 1931. Vallen in East New York City — Vallen, Inc., of Akron, Ohio, manufacturers of curtain controls and other theatrical equipment, last week announced the opening, for immediate service and greater conveni¬ ence of exhibitors, of an office at 229 West 42nd Street, under the manage¬ ment of Lee B. Spivak. Warners Profit $1,665,888 New York City — Warner Brothers Pictures and subsidiaries last week showed a 26 weeks operating profit of $1,665,888.00, compared with a profit of $2,824,618.12 for the same period last year (26 weeks ended February 25). MySincereThanks To You Exhibiiors for Vofing HO$TRf)DHUS” The Besf One Reel Dramaiic Subject Carey Wilson June 7, 1939 QUAD