Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1935 7 Too Short Shorts A rising tide of protests from exhibitors against the extreme brevity of many short subjects will have to be faced by the producers soon. Complaints center around the necessity for buying more subjects to round out complete programs. Several local men have already pointed out that RKO's "Dumbbell Letters" run as short as four minutes, with none of the first five subjects over five minutes in length. Additional grievances are lodged against abbreviated cartoons. The inadequacy of decent two reelers forces many exhibitors to rely on singles for their supporting programs. With an average length feature they would require about a half dozen of these brief shorts to fill two hours. There is a possibility that local theatremen will jointly demand either a considerable cut in rentals for short shorts or they will refuse to buy this coming season. IEPA Asks Members To Oppose Sunday Movies The IEPA has requested its members to write to or personally contact their local churches to apprise them of their opposition to the open Sunday movies bills now before the State Legislature. They are asked to quote the resolution passed last January 22nd: RESOLVED, That the Independent Exhibitors Protective Association of Philadelphia go on record as opposed to the Sunday opening of Motion Picture Theatres in Pennsylvania. PENN Dependability Lowest Prices Let Us Quote On Your Next Requirements 309 N. 13th St., Phila. RIT. 3273 THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. "The show must go on!" — and it takes reliable delivery service to get it there on time . . . HorlacheR DELIVERY SERVICE 1228 VINE ST. PHILA. M. Lawrence Daily, Notary Public Independents Oppose Two Men In Booth Bill The IEPA has taken the lead in opposing the Holland Bill before the State Legislature, requiring two men in every motion picture booth. The Independents are contacting the legislators in their district and pointing out that the virtual mechanical perfection of modern projectors makes the bill unnecessary. Members are urged in a letter sent out by the organization to communicate with their local Representatives and apprise them of the facts. The measure is known as House Bill No. 2183. Meeker Heads New Sound Service Co. The new Sound Equipment Servicing Co., Inc., headed by R. C. Meeker, veteran sound engineer, will shortly start taking contracts from local theatres. This outfit will be fully equipped and mamiPG to service every type of sound machine. A staff of the most competent men available has ahead} been lined up and is awaiting its first assignments. Meeker stated that his company would carry a complete supply of emergency parts, enabling them to quickly service faulty equipments in any part of the territory. The rates of the new organization are considerably lower than those demanded by the sound manufacturing concerns. A special low price is offered to circuits. LuLu Plays Ashbourne The golf match between the LuLu and the Ashbourne "Vine Streeters" will be played this Saturday, starting at 1 o'clock, at LuLu Country Club. Jack Greenberg is leading the Ashbourne contingent, while Oscar Neufeld heads the LuLuers. A dinner-dance in the evening will top the day's activities. THE LOCAL INDUSTRY'S FAVORITE PRINTING COMPANY NATIONAL-PENN Printing Company 1233 Vine St. PHILADELPHIA 1530 Park Ave. PALTTMORK SIMON LIBROS AL. BLOFSON OSCAR LIBROS SHORT SUBJECTS from Philly By BREVITY Chester LaBarre is operating the Summit, Clark Summit. . .LaBarre will soon improve his Colonial, Palmerton, by converting the connecting store room into a large lobby and redecorating the entire house ... Lou Blaustein, our old N. S. S. man, dropped down to Vine Street for a visit. He's improving rapidly and expects to return from Atlantic City to his post within the next month or so. He's stopping at the St. Charles in A. C....B. Schwartz is busy at some extensive alterations on both the Unique in Philly and the Royal in Atlantic City. The Unique is getting a face-lifting, while the Royal is getting some inside improvements...^ Samon, assistant short subject booker for Warners, left for Scranton to join the Comerford circuit as chief s. s. bookie. George Fishman, who knows a thing or two or three about exploitation, is occupied part of his time on a screen stunt that looks like it should make a pile for him ... Warner's Warner, on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, was sold to Warner's Stanley Company of America last week for $950,000. It cost something like $3,000,000 to construct. ..4 Unit of Allied States Association goes up on the IEPA window this week. . .There are mutterings of legal action by an independent in North Philly against Warner Bros, unless a film situation is cleared up by the circuit. Harry Stevenson, a former exhibitor leader in this area back in 1021, was in town for a visit on Monday. He dropped in to say hello to oldtimer Oscar Neufeld. . .The new sign ordinance was sent back to City Council by Mayor Moore, who wasn't satisfied. Meanwhile, movie houses on Chestnut Street are using only their theatre names on their marquee signs. The Mayor said an amended sign ordinance would be passed. It will probably require all signs now up and not conforming to the regulations to be removed within a year. .. Patrons of the Dixie Theatre on Point Breeze Avenue experienced a real-life thrill last week when a thief, who had caused the death of a man he frightened during a robbery, was found crouching in the theatre by detectives who followed him there. The manager turned up the house lights while the picture was being shown and the police quickly snatched the youth . . . Percy Bloch, Paramount district chief, strained a rib ligament and will be unable to compete in the LuLu vs. Ashbourne "Vine Streeters" golf tournament this Saturday. . Pop Korson, Ed Boreth and Ben Harris are all wearing bright smiles these days. Rumor hath it that some really swell bookings on "Secrets of Chinatown" are responsible. . . Bill Porter, the amiable Gold Medal bookie, is passing out cigars. It's a bouncing "'/.-pound boy and is he proud! Says it was almost an eight rcelcr. . What happened to Joe Conway? ...Monday's heat gave some exhibitors that summer down-in-the-mouth feeling.