Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN EVENTS ON THE MARCH Results from N'Orleans As anticipated, the MPTOA convention in New Orleans last week came and went, leaving the Mardi Gras town somewhat richer and the exhibitors in the same plight as before. Ed Kuykendall, the gentleman from Columbus, Miss., was re-elected president, and he proceeded to hold the meetings in check by councilling caution (good old caution!) every time one of the independent exhibitor members threatened to get out of hand and start some trouble for the film producers. In the trade press, Mr. Kuykendall is quoted as pleading for "tolerance," for a policy of "give and take." While the latter expression was not amplified, a suspicion prevails that he meant that the exhibitors were to "give" and the producers to "take." The Man from Mississippi denied he was for the code, but promptly straddled by declaring that the code give the industry "a place to go." He didn"t say where that place might be, but many others have very definite ideas as to its destination under the present code administration. It is of passing interest to note that the exhibitors at the MPTOA convention were outnumbered by the producers' representatives, accessory people and trade paper publishers. Available statistics indicate that less than ISO theatre owners were present at the conclave. Certainly an unimpressive demonstration for an organization that claims to be a national "exhibitors' " body ! * * * Outlaw P. P. T. Independent exhibitors throughout the country should follow the example of the ITO of Ohio, who sponsored a bill to outlaw preferred playing time. The bill has already won a unanimous victory in the Ohio State Senate and its passage is considered certain by the House. The bill provides that "It shall be unlawful for any person to enter into a contract, directly or indirectly, to sell, rent, lease, license, lend, distribute or barter a motion picture film for public exhibition within this state upon the condition imposed by the seller, vender, renter, lessor, licenser, or distributor that such public exhibition thereof shall begin, occur or take place on a certain or specified day or days of the week." Exhibitor groups everywhere should take this bill as a model and have it presented in their state legislatures. It is sure to have the support of every club and civic body interested in the betterment of the film industry. It can be put through in practically every state. Get busy! * * * Metro Threatening Chicago Exhibs Out in the Windy City, the independent theatre owners got good and sore at Metro-GoldwynMayer's percentage-preferred playing time demands this season, so they have been allowing M-G-M films to rot on the shelves. But, Metro is sitting tight and insisting on getting its pound of flesh — or else. "Or else" means that they will either build or buy a string of theatres in competition to the independents who had the guts to demand a square deal or no deal at all. The film company feels that it dare not give in to the Chicago exhibitors, since a victory for them may encourage other theatre owners' groups to ask for fair contracts. The fate of Chi's doughty independents is of grave import to every indie exhib from one end of the country to the other. Help the Windy City boys if you can. Find some means of supporting them. Their victory will be yours as well! The Cardinal's Error One particular portion of Cardinal Dougherty's Lenten pastoral will occasion quite a bit of surprise and amusement among exhibitors. Philadelphia's Catholic leader declares that the ban on movie going will remain in effect until films are transformed and until the actors and actresses, the producers, and the THEATRE OWNERS "lose some of their fabulous wealth." The thousands of struggling independent theatre owners throughout the nation will consider His Eminence's reference to their "fabulous wealth" as unwarranted flattery, not to mention, "stupendous" exaggeration. Eyes On St. Louis Soon Within the next month or two, three major producing firms and six of their executives will stand trial for conspiracy to violate the Federal anti-trust laws. Many independents are pessimistic about the outcome, believing that it is virtually impossible to convict men of such wealth. The eyes of the independent theatremen, particularly, will be rivetted on that U. S. District Court in St. Louis. Years of unfair treatment at the hands of the major producers have molded their callous demand that the defendants be given "the works." Introducing to the exhibitors of the Baltimore Washington territory . . . A FEARLESS HONEST SINCERE FIGHTING trade journal FILM BULLETIN The paper that fights for the INDEPENDENT in every branch of the motion picture industry