Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

2 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN Vol. I No. 18 Jan. 8, 1935 Issued weekly by Film Bulletin Company, at 1313 Vine Street, Phila., Pa. Mo Wax, editor and publisher. Telephone: Rittenhouse 4816. Address all communications to Editor, Film Bulletin ADVERTISING RATES Write or call us for our Advertising Rates. In New York City call Mo Wax, Circle 7-3094. CLASSIFIED RATE Ten cents per word. Minimum $1.00. Send j nrAf*r xxrlth rnnu len cents per word. Minimum ; check or money order with copy. Editorial {Continued from Front Page) The renting of films to non-theatrical institutions goes on, becoming more widespread weekly, cutting down further the theatre's dwindling receipts. Ruin the sucker! Ruin the sucker! Ruin the sucker! That seems to be the merry mad chant coming from Hollywood. And that sucker is YOU, Little Exhibitor! PRODUCER OWNED THEATRES. Like a deadly weapon being brandished over his head, the affiliated theatres force the exhibitor to be obedient. Do as they say, or you'll find a producer-owned theatre next door. How fantastic! Sellers competing with their own buyers, taking the cream and leaving the stale soured milk. Their theatres lose vast sums, but what does it matter — the exhibitor can always be soaked enough to more than cover those losses. Continue to buy from your competitor, Little Exhibitor. Oh yes, continue. PERCENTAGES AND PREFERRED PLAYING TIME. It's hardly strange that the producers are always smiling on their photographs. They should roar with unconfined mirth. What a joke! They sell the poor sucker a contract of numbers designating pictures that MIGHT be made. Rightly, they surmise that 10 or 15 of the 50 or 60 pictures will be good attractions, so they specify that the exhibitor must play the select group on a percentage basis, a very substantial percentage. Also, he must show those pictures on Saturdays (and Sundays), the days when any fair picture would net the theatre some profit. Thus, they assure themselves that the exhibitor will not pull something over on them by making more money than they feel he is entitled to on the few good films. The others, the mediocre U. S. GOVERNMENT STARTS ANTI-TRUST SUIT AGAINST PRODUCERS IN ST. LOUIS Case Involves Independent Who Took Over City's Three Largest Theatres and Could Not Obtain First-Run MOST IMPORTANT MONOPOLY ACTION IN YEARS The most far-reaching anti-trust action by the Federal Government in many years was scheduled to open in St. Louis yesterday when a Federal Grand Jury began to hear evidence in a case charging the major film companies and the individual producers with conspiracy to violate the Sherman Act. The specified complaint is that an independent owner of three of the city's largest movie houses has been prevented from obtaining first-run films from the major producers, despite the fact that Warner Bros., who formerly operated the houses, played first-runs exclusively. An indication of the importance the Government is attaching to this case is the fact that President Roosevelt personally ordered the proceedings and Attorney General Homer Cummings, himself, will direct the prosecution. Two special assistants to Mr. Cummings are in St. Louis to aid Federal District Attorney Harry G. Blanton. Independent Loses Run The three theatres involved are the Ambassador, New Grand Central and Missouri. Until approximately a year ago, Warners operated these houses on a first-run policy. At that time the company's leases expired and they sought a rent reduction from the owners of the properties. This was refused and the circuit dropped the theatres. and poor pictures? Well, they play safe with those by charging a high straight rental. Such films are the exhibitor's problem! We might continue by mentioning Block Booking, the arbitrary prohibition against double features even when the exhibitor feels them necessary, the Code Setup, and others, but we believe that there is enough above already to stir every thinking theatreman out of shameful inaction. What are you going to do about it? Will you make your united strength a respected power in this industry, or will you vaccilate, compromise with affiliated theatres, and allow yourselves to be shoved down and down and, finally, out? This is a new year. It can be YOUR year if you will combine your individual efforts in one strong INDEPENDENT body — a body with honest leaders, owing nothing to any producer and not including anyone who has any obligations to the producers. That sort of organization will be FREE TO FIGHT for your rights and your existence. Allen L. Snyder, an independent exhibitor, took over the theatres and attempted to secure firstrun films in order to follow the same policy set by Warners. He was refused pictures on that basis by all the major producers, regardless of price. Evidence of Conspiracy The Federal prosecutors claim that this is a clear case of conspiracy to squeeze out of business the independent who dares enter into competition with theatres owned by the producers. The Grand Jury will be told that Snyder was discriminated against merely because he is an independent and not affiliated in any way with the producing units. In addition to Warner Bros., included in the complaint are Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, RadioKeith-Orpheum, Universal and Paramount-Publix. Block Booking May Enter Although the question of block booking is not directly concerned in this action, it is assumed in reliable quarters that this matter will be brought into the case by the Government. Realizing that some legislation dealing with the problem is certain to be introduced in Congress this year, it is likely that the Federal men may seek to steal a march on the Senators by bringing block booking into the open through this case. It is recalled that the Federal Trade Commission sought to break the practice about three years ago, but failed. At that time, however, there was no New Deal, no Legion of Decency and not nearly so many legislators gunning for the producers' scalps. Local Case Effective Testimony from the recent Harry Perelman case in Philadelphia, charging the producers with conspiracy to prohibit the showing of double features, may be brought into the St. Louis action. That case was broadened into an inquiry of the entire film industry by Federal Judge George A. Welsh, and while the decision has not yet been rendered, it is commonly accepted in the industry that it will be unfavorable to the producers. Disclosures made at that hearing could well be used by the Government in its present suit. Government Asks Colder Aid In Film Trust Case Decide, Little Exhibitor! M. O. It was learned, from an authoritative source, that Benjamin M. Golder, prominent Philadelphia attorney and exhibitor leader, has been requested by Federal Authorities to co-operate in the Government's prosecution of the St. Louis film monopoly suit. He recently handled the double feature conspiracy case before Judge Welsh in the U. S. District Court. Mr. Golder could not be reached yesterday to confirm this statement.