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

June 7, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 51 Retain Right to Cancel If Film Runs Under Hour, Says Steffes Advises 31 Independent Twin City Theatres That Efforts Are Underway to Reduce Men in Booth to One Operator — Urges Shopping with All Producers Recommending that exhibitors write a clause into their contract that they “reserve the right of cancelling any production bought, provided it is less than 60 minutes running time,” A1 Steffes, general manager of the Northwest Theatre Owners Association, addressed representatives of 31 independent Twin City theatres at a meeting this week in his offices in Minneapolis, seeking solution of film costs and generally increased money requirements for theatre management. In all of these 31 theatres the operators’ union now requires two men in the booth, and an effort is to be made to conclude negotiations with the union that will reduce the number to one. All the 31 houses, nine of which are in St. Paul and 22 in Minneapolis, have sound equipment, and operation costs have mounted from 50 to 200 per cent, Steffes said. Among the exchange folk who attended the Fox convention last week in Los Angeles were (left to right) Eddie Cook, I. J. Schmertz of Cleveland, Sydney Samson of Buffalo and Jack Sicheman of New York. Two pages of pictures of the sales convention start on page 54. (Herald-World photo.) Famous Canadian Office May Move Over to Montreal Sam Katz Visit Taken to Mean Change Is Planned — Government Quiz Opens (Special to the Herald-World) MONTREAL, June 4. — The visit of Sam Katz, vice president of Paramount Publix Corporation, on which he was accompanied by Arthur Cohen, of Toronto, I managing director of Famous Canadian, is taken as a further indication of a plan to move the head office of the Canadian company to Montreal. Katz made a formal inspection of several of the Famous theatres and investigated the situation generally. Canadian shareholders who exchanged five shares of the Canadian common for four of Publix are receiving the current $1 dividend, while those who retained their shares in the Canadian company will receive the regular quarterly dividend of 50 cents on June 9, this having been declared by Famous Players Canadian Corp. An alliance between Famous Piayers Canadian Corp. and Fox Film Corp. in Canada insofar as film bookings are concerned is being discussed, it is understood. Reference has been made to an agreement with Fox for a definite number of features for the year 1930-31 for the 200 F-P houses in the Dominion, the point being made that there are not sufficient Paramount features. Such an agreement might avert a theatre building war in Canadian key centers, it is said. Premier Confirms Inquiry ( Special to the Herald-World) OTTAWA, June 4. — During the closing hours of the 16th Canadian Parliament at Ottawa late Friday evening, May 30, further reference was made to the Famous Players-Paramount sale in the house of commons when Rt. Hon. W. L. King, prime minister, confirmed the report that “investigations are being made to determine whether a combine exists or not and if a combine is found proceedings will be taken.” T wo Films and Projector Stolen ; Valued at $2,000 ( Special to the Herald-World) LOUISVILLE, June 4. — William Broadfoot, salesman for the Ernest Holmes Co., Chattanooga, Tenn., on May 26, reported theft of a motion picture projection machine and two films, valued at $2,000, from his automobile, . parked near the Kentucky Hotel, where he was stopping, while in Louisville. “Unless the film companies make some reduction in the charges for film, and an adjustment can be made with the unions, it appears to me that most of these theatres will be forced to close,” he asserted. “Receipts are off from 20 to 40 per cent as compared with a year ago. It is a critical situation.” Steffes also warned the theatre owners against cheating the film companies on percentages, at the same time stating that in his opinion none of the members was making false reports to the distributors on percentage engagements. Steffes pointed out that the producing companies have engaged Burns detective agencies, auditing bureaus and others to check on box office receipts. In discussing the making of contracts for the coming year he pointed out that the independents can operate without any one individual company’s product, and advised his members not to be “buffaloed, bullied or tricked into signing a contract that you know you cannot live up to. If you do, it is going to be just too bad. The thing to do is to shop around a bit, and see that all of the companies get part of your business. I most assuredly would write across the face of the contract that you have the right to refuse to play at least 25 per cent of the pictures contracted for. “I am not worried about arbitration in this business, as I am a great believer in the fact that if we will do business like business men, we do not need any arbitration. Also I would recommend writing a clause in your contract that you reserve the right of cancelling any production bought provided it is less than 60 minutes running time. “Paint up your front, figure 50 per cent more for advertising than you ever spent before, take off your coat and get to work and I am positive that a lot of us will be in business next year who at this time are considered doubtful. It is going to take a little more showmanship the coming year than it has heretofore.” Effort to Revive Manager Group in Quebec Is Started (Special to the Herald-World) MONTREAL, June 4. — An effort is being made by prominent exhibitors of Montreal to revive the Province of Quebec Theatre Managers’ Association, which gave up the ghost when the Quebec government decided to enforce the law prohibiting the admission of children under 16 years to any theatre where pictures were screened. The leaders in the revival movement are George Rotsky, manager of the Palace, and B. M. Garfield, manager of the Rialto theatre, Montreal, both former officers. C & N W Running Time To West Coast 56 Hours Under the new time established by the Chicago and North Western railway for four of its trains, the Overland Limited will reach the coast in 56 hours, and the Los Angeles Limited will do it in 61 hours, while the schedule for both the San Francisco and Portland Limiteds will be slightly less than 61 hours. This cut brings the Coast two hours nearer. Appeals of Both Government and Film Industry Before Supreme Court in Fall [By Special Correspondent to the Herald-World] WASHINGTON , June 4. — Appeals of both the government and the film industry from the decisions rendered in the New York Federal court last winter in the arbitration and credit cases will be heard by the United States Supreme Court next fall, under an order issued June 2 placing them on the docket for argument October 27. The arbitration suit was decided in favor of the government and appealed by the motion picture companies, but the Credit Bureau case was adversely decided and was appealed by the government. The court, on June 2, held that it has probable jurisdiction over the issues involved and agreed to hear the cases.