The Exhibitor (Nov 1941-May 1942)

20 THE EXHIBITOR (Continued from page 16) HOW TO APPLY YOUR OWN OVERHEAD TO THE PLAN For example, if the weekly overhead is $840, take 84 per cent of the figures in columns 2, 4, 5, 6, for example. FOR THEATRES OPERATING ON A SEVEN DAY WEEK 3 units for Saturday 2 units for Sunday 1 unit each other day 10 units total per week Theatre with Overhead of $1,000 Weekly A picture allocated at this percentage With a playing unit overhead of this amount Must do this percentage of playing time unit overhead To gross enough money per play¬ ing time unit To pay film rental at per¬ centage allocated And leave the exhibitor a profit equal to 50 per cent of film rental paid 40% $100.00 250% $250.00 $100.00 $50.00 35% 100.00 210% 210.00 73.50 36.75 30% 100.00 182% 182.00 54.60 27.30 25% 100.00 160% 160.00 40.00 20.00 With An $840 Weekly Overhead, Becomes This 40% $84.00 250% $210.00 $84.00 $42.00 35% 84.00 210% 176.40 61.74 30.66 30% 84.00 182% 153.88 46.16 23.72 25% 84.00 160% 134.40 33.60 16.80 If the overhead is $1,750 weekly, take 175 per cent of the figures in columns 2, 4, 5, 6. FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THE PLAN The plan, naturally, works only where a picture is bought on 40 per cent. If an exhibitor cannot or does not have to buy percentage pictures, obviously it would not apply. Regarding overhead, if the distributor doesn’t wish to take the exhibitor’s word, an impartial committee should be appointed to determine a fair overhead. However, before such a group begins to figure the overhead, both the distributor and exhibitor should get together on fundamentals, such as basis for interest on mortgage, depreciation, etc. The plan is based on the ability of the picture to earn its way, and also on the premise that the exhibitor is entitled to a fair profit. It should be emphasized again that this plan only applies in the case of 40 per cent pictures, and would not have applica¬ tion where an exhibitor, because of buying power or his own particular situation, does not have to play percentage or 40 per cent. However, it is believed that in cases where the exhibitor has been subject to 40 per cent terms, this plan, if presented by the exhibitor to the distributor, will carry a great deal of weight. SUGGESTED CONTRACT CLAUSE Reversion Clause: It is agreed that a picture allocated at % (Insert % age) playing on shall gross $ or else the per (Insert days of week) centage becomes . . . % ; if the gross does not reach $ the percentage becomes % or if the gross is below $ the film rental is to be $ (Insert flat rental price) Capra Supervises Films for Troops Shorts To Be Shown In Camps Washington — Major Frank Capra will supervise the making of news and docu¬ mentary films for U. S. troops, according to an announcement made by the Signal Corps last week. Beginning about May 1, these films will be issued twice a week for showing in camps. Cost will be held down, with motion picture writers, directors, actors, and technicians donating their services. Newsreel libraries have offered use of their materials. Called orientation films by the Special Service Branch, in which Capra has been Chief of the Motion Pic¬ ture Section since March, these pictures will be made in Hollywood, New York, Washington, and Fort Monmouth, N. J. Brigadier General Frederick H. Osborn, Chief, Special Services Branch of the War Department, will speak to Hollywood pro¬ ducers on March 23 in Los Angeles con¬ cerning their co-operation in the project, while he is on a tour of inspection of the area of western operations. Major Capra will be in Hollywood the previous week to arrange for his production staff to make the films. Seven Hollywood script writers are already at work in Washington on the scenarios for the films. In addition to the orientation films, a second series on U. S. enemies and U. S. allies, their methods and aims, will be produced. These will be issued weekly. The film libraries of the Museum of Mod¬ ern Art, March of Time, and newsreel companies will be used for material to be pieced together as historical background. Philly Over Top PHILADELPHIA— Total collections in the recent March of Dimes Cam¬ paign, which embraced several hun¬ dred theatres in 34 counties in East¬ ern Pennsylvania including Philadel¬ phia County, were $87,590.95, it was said last week. Drive was under the guidance of co-chairmen Ted Schlanger, zone manager, Stanley Warner, Philadelphia sector, and Sid¬ ney Samuelson, Allied Independent Theatre Owners. George Muchnic Feted New York — George Muchnic, assistant secretary-assistant treasurer, RKO, who resigned last week to accept a captaincy in the Army Signal Corps, was tendered a farewell luncheon last week. Ned E. Depinet, vice-president, was toastmaster, and among those at the dais were: Malcolm Kingsberg, Major L. E. Thompson, Richard C. Patterson, Robert Mochrie, Robert Wolff, Garrett Van Wag¬ ner, N. Peter Rathvon, Gordon Youngman, Leon Goldberg, and J. Miller Walker. Among those present were Roy Disney, Norman Freeman, William Savage, William Clark, Robert Dann, Frederic Ullman, Harold Hendee, Arthur Willi, John Wood, Walter Ament, Ben Grimm, Rutgers Neilson, Terry Turner, William England, Charles B. McDonald, A. W. Smith, Harry Gittleson, Richard de Rochmont, L. E. Gaudreau, John Farmer, William Levy, James Finney, O. R. McMahon, Jack Pegler, Sid Kramer, Henry Horton, Walter Derham, Martin Monroe, William Dahler, Emanuel Waxberg, A1 Adams, Richard Gavin, C. Mos, David Strumpf, Harry Mandell, Saul Berman, Vladimir Lissim, Alexander Closes Deals New York — William Alexander, general manager, Adventure Films, last week announced that distribution deals for “In¬ vasion” have been closed for the following territories: Harry Asher, Boston; Equity Pictures, Buffalo, N. Y., Albany, N.Y., and Washington, D. C.; John Golder, Philadel¬ phia. “Invasion” has already been shown in several cities, and has had bookings in Chicago, Detroit, and Boston. Ford Gives Books New York — Glenn Ford, Columbia star, whose latest picture, “Adventures of Mar¬ tin Eden,” was current at the Globe, do¬ nated 100 copies of the Jack London novel from which the film was adapted to the Victory Book campaign last week. Leon Bamberger. Muchnic was presented with several appropriate gifts. Tire Delivery Problem LAWRENCE, MASS— It’s begin¬ ning to look as though new motion pictures will have to come to this city by plane or train, and if this does hap¬ pen it’ll be due to the action of the local rationing board. Mrs. Beatrice M. Richards, Law¬ rence, operator Theatrical Film Serv¬ ice, last week sought four truck tires on the grounds she is engaged in de¬ livering film from exchanges to the¬ atres. She listed the firm as a common carrier, but the local board ruled the company was not a common carrier within the meaning of the act, so — no tires. March 18, 1942