Exhibitors Herald (1927)

10 EXHIBITORS HERALD July 30, 1927 EXHIBITORS HEKALB Qhe independent ^Im Q^ade ^aper Martin J. Quigley, Publisher Editor Published Erery Wednesday by Quigley Publishing Company Publication Office; 407 So. Dearborn St., CHICAGO, U. S. A Martin J. Quigley, President Edwin S. Clifford, Secretary George Clifford, Asst. Treasurer Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Copyright, 1927, by Quigley Publishing Company All editorial and business correspondence should be addressed to the Chicago office Other Publications: The Chicagoan, class journal; and the following motion picture trade publications published as supplements to Exhibitors Herald; Better Theatres, every fourth week. The Studio, every fourth ■reek, and The Box Office Record & Equipment Inde~, semi-annual. VoL. XXX July 30, 1927 No. 7 Outside Interference The Federal Trade Commission announces that it has received satisfactory responses from the principal companies of the industry to its invitation to attend a “conference on block hookinp; and other trade practices.” This is surprising because the opinion had been widely held that the invitation from the Conunission would be politely rejected. We cfuite appreciate that there may he reasons not apparent on the surface why the industry’s representatives should at this time go into a conference with the Commission on motion picture trade practices, but from all that is plainly in view we see no good reason for the industry to welcome any interference of the Commission in the affairs of the business. The Commission is distinctly and decidedly a politieal body, under political influence and with certain general, if not specific, political objectives. A great many efforts have been made to exert a political grip upon the industry and, fortunately, none of these has thus far materialized. It is certainly no secret that politicians great and small appreciate the effectiveness, for their purposes, of the motion picture and see the advantages to be gained through some means of exerting an influence upon the business. We do not claim that the Conunission’s present interest in the motion picture industry is prompted by political motives but it does appear to us that the proposed conference is likely to be a step in the direction of admitting into the industry a political power which may eventually make its presence felt. Outside interference with the orderly operation of an industry is never a healthy influence. If illegal practices and abuses exist, then the proper authorities have avenues of action open to them without depending upon the acceptances of “invitations.” If representatives of the industry are compelled under the law to appear before a court or investigating body, then no choice is open to them. And this is something quite foreign to accepting an invitation and thereby, to some extent, welcoming outside interference. Considering the practical possibilities of the proposed conference with the Federal Trade Commission, there is still less reason for going into it. The Commission despite its six years’ investigation proves in its report against Famous Players that it has much to learn about the business before it will be able to sit down and intelligently discuss the business with the representatives of the industry. The Commission to he consistent, following its report against Famous Players, must insist upon the abandonment of the practice of block booking. But such insistence cannot and will not be agreed to. To place the industry on a picture by picture selling basis would immediately increase greatly the rental price of film, thus affecting adversely the exhibitor and to an extent which would cause him to attempt to pass some of the new burden on to the public. It might be worth while to spend some time on the Commission to convince it of the error of its ways if such a course did not admit of the possibility of any concessions agreed to calling for the price of disagreeable and destructive interference with the affairs of the industry. ^ ^ Equity in Hollywood The Actors Equity Association has abandoned Hollywood and the film actors in disgust. The work of organization of the actors’ union in the film colony has been halted. Organization leaders express themselves as highly disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm for their efforts encountered in the film capital. Officials of the Actors Equity probably feel very much like the Communists of Russia feel toward the American workman. Bolshevik and communistic propaganda leaves the American workman unperturbed and unexcited in the faee of his regular income, working conditions and the standard of living which he is able to enjoy. In Hollywood the recent energetic campaign for the organization of actors did not carry far or successfully simply because the actor could not be convinced that he has been a badly downtrodden and oppressed person. The recent discussion of conditions, as to income and other related matters, has not only disturbed the actor hut has impressed him with the fact that the motion picture industry has been very kind to the acting profession. We do not mean that the industry has deliberately gone out of its way to any material extent to shower benefactions upon the actor, but the nature of the business is such that the actor has automatically received great benefits in the eonditions under which he performs and in the financial compensation he receives. There is no occasion for a militant union organization among motion picture actors at this time and no need for one. This is the reason that the recent efforts in Hollywood did not carry to a successful conclusion. If conditions should change and a new order would be introduced under which the actor would be dealt with unfairly, then the unionizing effort would again be introduced and in such a situation it would create an enthusiasm for which there is no reason at this time. * * Foreign Danger The foreign market for American producers is now the subject of considerable thought and study — and some anxiety. American producers have gained considerable valuable experience in dealing with the foreign markets and this will afford a basis which in most cases will lead to more successful operation in the future. In some cases, however, what is probably the most valuable lesson to be learned has been missed entirely: We refer to the thoroughly dangerous project of the construction and operation abroad of theatres by American producers. This can do more to intensify the dangers of the foreign situation than anything else we can conceive of.