Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

2 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN Vol. I No. 26 Mar. 6, 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 check or money order with copy. EDITORIAL (Continued from Page One) BUT, DO THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT? If there is one thing that strikes dread fear into the hearts of the major producers it is a powerful exhibitors organization. They go to tremendous expense each year to keep the theatre owners DISORGANIZED. Can't you see that you are playing into the hands of the producers when you refuse to join an INDEPENDENT body? Can't you see that the best insurance for any independent theatre is a strong, fighting group! Even if you believe that organization cannot bring you any immediate benefits, don't you realize that sooner or later the crushing heel of the major producers may fall upon your neck — and, then, you will plead for support! Stop being slackers! Wake up and understand that you MUST protect your business — and the only way to do that is to ORGANIZE! from Philly By BREVITY Lou Blaustein sends his sincere thanks from Jefferson Hospital to the I EPA for the handsome basket of fruit they sent him. The well-liked NSS man is getting along fine, thanks. * * * Flash! The Independent Theatre Managers are planning the most unusual event that has hit Vine Street in twenty years. If the scheme goes through, the Street will get a treat. * * * Ben Fertel is back from Florida with the Missus. Ben is taking a ribbing because he returned without as much sunburn as one is supposed to acquire in the sun. * * * Murray Beier is one of a few who know why FOX'S TRI-ERGON SOUND PATENTS HELD INVALID BY SUPREME COURT Unexpected Ruling Severe CARDINAL REAFFIRMS Blow To Former Producer PHILA. FILM BOYCOTT WASHINGTON, MARCH 4.— The United States Supreme Court ruled that the sound film patents for producing sound and motion pictures on a single strip of film, held by the American Tri-Ergon Corporation, are invalid. The decision, somewhat unexpected in view of a previous ruling by the court, is believed to serve as a death blow to the hopes of William Fox to return to his former dominating position in the film production field. The Tri-Ergon patents are owned by the former head of Fox Film Corporation. Fox had brought suit against Paramount-Publix for an accounting of royalties due by reason of their infringement of the sound patents. He also has suits pending against 14 producers, all of which will probably be determined by the Supreme Court's decision. The court declared that the patents are invalid because they actually constitute nothing original in mechanism. In the Lenten pastoral announced in Catholic churches last Sunday, Cardinal Dougherty reminded the Catholics of the Philadelphia Archdiocese that the ban on all motion picture theatres is still in effect and will continue so until films are "transformed" and the actors, producers and theatre owners "lose some of their fabulous income." Repeating much from a speech which he delivered last New Year's Day, His Eminence declared that 300,000 Catholics in the Philadelphia Diocese have signed pledges not to attend motion pictures and that the campaign has received the support of many Protestants and Jews. The pastoral reiterates the Cardinal's belief that movie theatres are dens of iniquity, the darkness of which "is frequently a rendezvous of criminals and degenerates who strive to ply their trades there." It also quotes from the book "Our Movie Made Children," which states that 75 per cent of films deal with sex and crime. This book was published in 1933 before the present clean-up campaign was under way in Hollywood. Filing of Decree in Dual Bill Case Delayed Pending Return of Defense Attorney; Appeal by May Probable Lou Blaustein refuses to wear his new blue pajamas in the hospital. Ask him to tell you. * * * Joe Price denies a rumor that he is to be connected with the Castle Theatre. However, Joe has several attractive propositions before him and he is still deferring his re-entry into the dress business until he looks over the theatre offers first. * * * Eli Ginsberg resigned his position with Gaumont-British last Saturday. He expects to shortly announce a new connection which has been offered to him. Ben Shindler, of Wilmington, is seen up in Philly quite a bit these days. Harry Fried and Morris Wax returned from their brief jaunt to Bermuda on Monday and immediately hopped into some important business over in New York. * * * Masterpiece's "Secrets of Chinatown" is going to be the season's biggest neighborhood theatre money-maker, if you take Benny Harris' word for it. And when you look at the flashy, eyetugging displays Ed Boreth has cooked up on the picture, you're ready to take his word for it. * * * Jack (Soxsie) Cohen, former Warner counsel and now a local indie exhib, recently sold a short story to the Saturday Evening Post. Date of publication not set yet. It's a college yarn. * * * New Jersey's theatres escape the sales tax proposed by Governor Harold Hoffman to raise $1 4,000,000 for relief. What a relief a bill like that would be for the Pennsy exhibs. The situation in Philadelphia's double feature case remains unchanged since U. S. District Court Judge George A. Welsh handed down his decision outlawing the dual bill prohibition in major film contracts. Shortly before the ruling was rendered, Benjamin M. Golder, attorney for Harry Perelman, the exhibitor paintiff, left for a vacation in Florida. Upon his return, Morris Wolf heard the call of sunny climes and hied off to St. Petersburg. At present, Golder is withholding the filing of the decree pending Wolf's return on Monday. As soon as possible, after the defense attorney gets back to his office, Golder will submit his decree and the decision will undoubtedly be appealed. It is likely that the appeal will be heard by the Circuit Court of Appeals during the May term. Golder has expressed himself as eager to have the case closed before the next film buying season arrives. To accomplish this it will be necessary that the appeal be heard before the end of May, since court closes for the summer recess at that time. Bill Porter, the Gold Medal bookie, is establishing an enviable reputation for himself as both a gentleman and a booker — quite a unique combination. (Other bookers note: We're only kidding on that last crack.) * * * Oscar Neufeld has been laboring like a trojan on the Pennsylvania amusement tax situation. No one man will deserve more credit if the measure is finally defeated than the genial Neufeld. * * * Drifting back into town from the MPTOA convention: Lewen Pizor, Charles Segall, Jay Emanuel.