Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS =FILM BULLETIN EVENTS on the MARCH/ Philly Goes Allied After flirting with each other for some months, The Independent Exhibitors' Protective Association of Philadelphia and Allied were finally wed, by unanimous agreement, last Thursday afternoon, and another strong and an especially vital unit was added to the factor most feared by the maior producers — a powerful nation-wide independent exhibitors' organization. Aliied's aggressiveness and its uncompromising attitude toward the big boys has caused uncounled chills to chase up and down the backs of the film moguls. It is without an iota of pleasure that they envision the achievement of just the sort ol an organization that they have successfully forestalled since the original MPTO demonstrated, back in 1921, what it could do to the then all-powerful Adolph Zukor. It was immediately after the weeping Mr. Zukor was led from the exhibitors' convention meeting room in Minneapolis on the arm of Sidney Kent, promising that he would behave, that the deaconesque Will Hays was snatched from Warren G. Harding's cabinet to straighten out the producers' problem of exhibitor opposition. The MPTOA of today is Mr. Hays' handiwork, and for that job he has had the everlasting gratitude of the majors, at something like $250,000 yearly. Allied Only Recognized Exhib Body . . . In recent years the influence of the MPTOA has steadily declined as more and more theatre owners became aware of the fact that they were playing right into the producers' hands by allowing their names to be used on the membership rolls of that outfit. Meanwhile, Allied States Association, under the intelligent and sincere leadership of men like Sidney Samuelson and Abram F. Myers, has made rapid strides in organizing the many independent exhibitors' units throughout the country. The Hays group has sought to discredit Allied in many ways, particularly by constantly referring to it as being led by "professional agitators." This must be construed to mean agitators against the Big 8 monopoly. Abram Myers' prestige in Washington, his experience and knowledge of legislative affairs and his acquaintanceship with many congressmen, gained during his tenure as a member of the Federal Trade Commission, have worried the producers considerably. Samuelson Speaks . . . Sidney Samuelson, addressing the IEPA last Thursday, touched on many vital problems with which Allied is concerning itself. His remarks were pertinent and indiraled that the Allied leaders have their fingers sensitively trained on the l<ul-c of the motion picture industry. Said Samuelson : Block booking has maintained in this industry a sellers' market throughout the depression, whereas every other business field was predominately in the hands of the buyers. He urged \ abolition of b. b. as the one means of breaking the major's grip on the throats of the independent exhibitors. In 1922, the Allied prexy stated, there were 25 national producing-distributing companies, making 800 features yearly. In 1935, only the 8 big fellows operate on a national scale — and they make approximately 325 features! Allied has not agreed to any compromise on ASCAP rates. Independents shouldn't look to the major producers or their affiliates to aid them in their fight against the musicmen's demands, because the major film companies own their own publishing outfits! Of the independents' struggle against Metro in Chicago, Samuelson said that he is confident of victory. Metro will learn that "shot-gun" selling won't go over. He compared the vast body of independent theatre owners in this country to a huge elephant, unknowing of its own strength, being chased around a yard by a cur nipping away at its heels and chewing big chunks out of them. The major producers are personified by the cur. Someday, that elephant will realize its strength and it wlil be taught to turn and clamp its foot down on the cur! The Convention in Atlanta . . . On May 21, 22 and 23, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, National Allied will hold its annual convention in the beautiful city of Atlanta in the hospitable Southland. There many topics of grave import will receive the attention of the assembled theatremen and it is certain that they will return to their respective homes with a wealth of valuable information tucked under their bonnets. A program of enticing pleasures has been arranged, but the business features of this confab will be anything but pleasant for the major producers. Here are a few of the more important topics scheduled to get consideration, according to the Allied bulletin: "1. By the time the meeting is held the NRA situation will have crystallized and it will be timely for the exhibitors to muster their influence and strength in behalf of a fair code — or none. "2. Hearings will have been held on the Pettengill bill and the time will be ripe for the independent exhibitors, assembled in great numbers, to dispel the smoke screens that have been laid by Hay's propagandists and bare the facts in reference to block booking. "3 The sales policies and product of various producing companies will come up for analysis and discussion and intelligent exhibitors will gather information which will prove of the greatest value in negotiating their product requirements for next year. "4. The exhibitors will be confronted with the serious situation that has arisen in Chicago, and which may spread, involving the action of Loew's in obtaining options on properties and threatening lo build theatres as a part of a campaign to make exhibitors buy Metro pictures on onerous percentage contracts not forced on the exhibitors in that territory by any other producer. "In Minneapolis last week the exhibitors of the Northwest unanimously resolved that if Loew's acquired or built a single theatre in pursuance of that campaign they would recommend to the convention at Atlanta a nationwide boycott of Metro pictures." Yes, the Piedmont Hotel in Atlanta will be the scene of interesting activities on May 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Any theatre owner who cares a hoot about his business should be there. • * • A Schedule At Last Maybe After months and months of wrangling about a clearance and zoning schedule for the Los Angeles territory, the Code Authority finally made up its mind last Tuesday and announced that it had reached a decision. Run is to be based on admission prices, as follows: Houses charging 40 cents play 21 days after first run; 35 cents play 31 days after first runs; 30 cents play 42 days after first runs; 25 cents play 56 days after first runs; 20 cents play 77 days after first runs; 15 cents play 119 days after first runs; 10 cents play 182 days after first runs; 5 cents play 365 days after first runs. The code specified that the establishment of clearance and zoning schedules for the entire country was to be the first job of the Code Authority, but it has taken about one year and five months for that august body to finally approve the first one ! Not Settled Yet, However . . . But, even this Los Angeles schedule, born of so much painful labor, is not yet completely over the bumps. Fox West Coast, the theatre chain responsible for delaying approval of the schedule during the past two months, immediately announced that they would take the matter further. F. W. C. says that they will appeal to the NRA in Washington, and they may go even further — into the courts, to protect their rights. Their rights, as F. W. C. sees it, means getting exactly what they want. The Code Authority has set May 15th as the latest date on which the L. A. schedule shall become effective. It will be interesting to discover whether the Fox-Skouras crowd have enough drag with the NRA higherups to stall this schedule longer. Code May Drop Exhibs . . . While it appears certain that the NRA will be extended after this June 16th in some modified form, there is a strong possibility that motion picture exhibitors may be held to be operators