Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

May 3, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 23 BfflMMMTOeUBMS (^rce/Mce/j// S/////M///CC) ///< c^rrf/yc rf >/) /w///r /t.> rf ////j f/rr/r /r. BVRAMOTJNT I’UBIJX CORPORATION //< /irAf /t am/ ’M/'/y m This official announcement shows the placing in effect of the decision of the directorate of Paramount Famous Lasky to change the name to Paramount Publix Corporation. The change was effective last Thursday. ’SKDidyousetyoorclodi anhonrahead'} jg« Adjust your theater going hour, too! Come early to T jyJf PublixBalaban and Katz Theaters — Come before the ^ late evening rush and assure yourself of immediate seats ! PUBLIXSALABANSJtATZ •CHICAGO WONDER* THE ATE RP ^RANDOLPH STATE LAKE °rs Come Hear ZANE GREY'S He Met» Talk in M5* Grear'nl Octdoor Action Romanee! )f( I ° * n Nc ORIENTAI High in the Shy, a Battle for Glory — for Love! This is the way Publix-Balaban & K met the daylight saving problem in Chicago, this text heading the advertisements of the loop houses in the Sunday papers the day the new time started. Steffes Launches Co-op Buying Of Supplies for N. W. Exhibitors Minneapolis Convention Instructs Steffes as General Manager to Turn Down Any Arbitration System “Handpicked by Distributors”— W. M. Miller Named President of Association [By Special Correspondent to the Herald-World] MINNEAPOLIS, April 29. — Most important and constructive of the actions taken at the annual convention of the Northwest Theatre Owners Association here last week, which was surprisingly quiet throughout, was the adoption of a cooperative buying plan by which exhibitors who are members of the association in good standing will purchase all their supplies, equipment and accessories through the Theatre Owners Association at great saving. Although contracts, guarantee average and other disputed questions of the industry were given their share of discussion which mounted to heated arguments at times, no specific action was taken other than a determination never to accept the 5-5-5 contract if it includes arbitration in the form proposed by the producers. Arbitration Made Compulsory in New Canadian Contract (Special to the Herald-World) TORONTO, April 29. — A new Standard Contract form has been officially adopted by the M P D E of Canada and becomes effective May 15. It provides for compulsory arbitration despite judge Thacher’s ruling in the States, which has no legal effect in Canada. The clause is in accordance with arbitration acts in force in the provinces and follows the arbitration plan of the British Standard Contract. It provides that a board of arbitration shall consist of one member representing the distributor and one the exhibitor, with a third to be chosen if necessary. Fees of arbitrators are fixed by the statutes, and costs of arbitration will be borne by the unsuccessful party. Penalty clauses have been eliminated and enforcement of awards will be a matter of court decisions if necessary, as in Great Britain. A submission to arbitration is irrevocable and has the same effect as if made by a court order. RKO First Quarter Profit $1 ,607,622, Almost Equal To the Total 1929 Profit (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, April 29.— The Radio-KeithOrpheum earned a net profit for the first quarter of 1930 of $1,607,622, or 87 cents a share as against $384,749, or 20 cents a share in the first quarter of 1929, and $1,669,564, or 90 cents a share for the whole year of 1929. Thus the quarterly income for the first quarter of 1930 almost equals last year’s total. Evanston Film Ballots Go Before Grand Jury Edward W. Bell, city clerk of Evanston, brought the ballots cast on the Sunday show referendum, in the fourth precinct of the fourth ward of Evanston at the election on April 1, before the grand jury, in response to a subpoena duces tecum. In that precinct no totals were listed on the pool books, the count having been certified by judges affidavits. Judge Bars “Sex Madness ” In Chicago; Protests Title A mandamus writ to compel the police censor to allow the showing of the film, “Sex Madness” was refused Louis Lawson of Chicago by Superior Judge Michael L. McKinley. Commissioner of Police Russell said that the title alone was enough to ban the showing. A1 Steffes, former president of the association and elected delegate to the 5-5-5 conference in New York, was advised that he should under no consideration sign a contract containing arbitration unless all problems of the industry are to be decided through arbitration and not “just those handpicked by the distributors.” The new contracts issued by the producers in accordance with the Thacher decision will he studied thoroughly and then explained to the theatre owners by the Theatre Owners Association, it was decided. Cash Dividend to Members It is expected that thousands of dollars will be saved yearly by the theatre owners and the association made self-sustaining by the adopted coonerative buying plan. The association is to have an agreement with one of the large supply and equipment companies giving a reduction that in time will do away entirely with dues and pay a dividend back to the theatre owners. The organization says it can get discounts that the exhibitors cannot arrange for. Although the saving on each purchase under this plan will go to the organization, the exhibitors are expected to benefit at the end of the year by a cash dividend after a certain percentage has been applied toward the expenses of the year and old debts. The exhibitors’ accounts are to be credited with the amount of saving made on each order. At the end of the year the savings will be added, 10 per cent deducted for expenses and the balance paid back to the exhibitor as a cash dividend. Steffes General Manager Although A1 Steffes, former president of the Theatre Owners Association, was replaced by W. M. Miller, Cloquet, Minn., at his own request, he remained in organization work in the capacity of general business manager to take full charge of the new cooperative buying plan of which he is author. Steffes stays on in the association at a salary of one dollar a year and all expenses. Included in the progressive plans of the association for the coming year is the Poster Exchange which was voted continued, whereas the Film Exchange was discontinued. Further actions taken at the convention of the association include the appointment of district representatives to the Northwest Theatre Owners organization in an effort to broaden the association as it was thought that it lacked body. “We can’t have it all head and no body. The convention unanimously agreed that the association remain affiliated with the Allied States organization. Allied States was credited by speakers with helping obtain the Thacher decision ruling out the Standard Exhibitors Contract and its arbitration clauses. •Dr. Lee DeForest, a principal speaker at the convention and at a complimentary luncheon of the Radio Trades Association, challenged the oft-made statement that television is “just around the corner” and declared “it will be years before television is perfected so that it. will become an important factor in the amusement world.” New Butterfield House In Jackson Is Opened (Special to the Herald-World) JACKSON, MICH., April 29.— The Michigan theatre, Jackson, Mich., had its formal opening April 30. The house is owned by the W. S. Butterfield Theatres, Inc.