Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

2 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN EVENTS on the MARCH/ Addition of Mascot Makes Republic Stand-Out Film Factor The Republic-Mascot Combination Important Factor . . . If the new "Public's Choice" — Republic Pictures— required any additional stimulus to establish it firmly as one of the most influential factors in the industry, it was supplied by the addition of Nat Levine's Mascot Company. Republic now boasts an assemblage of some of the best brains in the production and distribution fields — men of the calibre of Ray Johnston, Levine, Trem Carr, Herman Gluckman, M. H. Hoffman and those others who have done their share in aiding the rise of small independent companies to a place in the industry sun — fused into one formidable group which holds forth of promise of accomplishing worthwhile things in this movie business. Johnston . . . Marching at the head of this important outfit, on the distribution end, as its president, is huge, amiable, respected W. Ray Johnston, with a reputation for square shooting, with a memory that does not fail him when he meets one of the boys who "knew him when." They say about Ray Johnston that "men will work their heads off for him," and it requires but a few moments in radius of his affability to understand why. With the studied reservation of one who has had his full share of hard knocks and who hesitates to utter prognostications not set deep in solid foundations, Johnston says, "I believe we're really set now. It looks like Republic will go places. We want the confidence of the nation's exhibitors and we will win it by delivering good product." Levine . . . "A super-charged dynamo," this Nat Levine, producer of the best serials, has demonstrated Cold Medal Expected To Handle Republic The merging of Nat Levine's Mascot Pictures with Republic will probably result in the product of the combination going into the Gold Medal Exchange in Philadelphia. The local exchange is understood to have certain commitments from Levine's company, making it virtually certain that Mrs. J. C. Lucchese's outfit will become the Republic branch in Philadelphia. Harry LaVine, general manager of Gold Medal, has been conferring with Levine and Herman Gluckman in N<°w York sine*' last I 1 1 urscl .1 y . that he knows a thing or two about feature film production as well. On budgets restricted by the limited returns an independent outside the fold of the major monoply can expect. Mascot produced and delivered a 1934-35 product the quality of which rivalled the program picture outputs of the Big 8. Pacing, characteristially, like a caged tiger, in Herman Gluckman's New York office, Levine, too, expresses his hopes and opinions without the loquacity of the boaster. Determination and unbounded energy are this man's most obvious traits. W. RAY JOHNSTON . . . Graduating School of Hard Knocks "Our consolidation of interests should work out to everyone's advantage, and to the exhibitor's in particular," he says. Production Plans . . . While definite plans for production have not been fully formulated, it is likely that two studios will be operated for Republic Pictures. Levine will continue at his Mascot studio, while Trem Carr and M. H. Hoffman, who produced the Liberty productions this season, will hold forth on the Republic lot. Between the three producers approximately 50 features will be made. Levine will also produce his usual four serials. NRA Extension Is Really 'Swan Song Whatever grain of doubt might have existed that the Blue Eagle was irrevocably dead under the existing wording and interpretation of the interstate commerce clause of the United States Constitution was dissipated by the utterly innocuous "skeletonized, stop-gap" NRA which was approved by both branches of Congress last week. The new NRA act provides for nothing moie than the maintenance of a dismembered and impotent body to keep check on voluntary codes adopted by industries engaged in interstate commerce. It has absolutely no power to fix or enforce codes. It is meaningless without the cooperation of every firm in a particular industry. Amendment Only Hope . . . Even the casual observer of political affairs realizes that President Roosevelt will use whatever data favorable to a strong NRA is gathered by the "review division" of the stop-gap act during the ensuing months preceding the election. If a breakdown in codes is evident, the President will fire the statistical ammunition in a demand for a constitutional amendment to overcome the Supreme Court's narrow interpretation of the interstate commerce clause. Meanwhile, there appears to be a general tendency to maintain whatever benefits accrued to industry from the fixed codes. In theatre exhibition, as in every small business, there is bound to be a certain amount of chiseling, little evidence of a widespread move to slash wages, cut prices, or employ unfair trade practices is apparent. Exhibitors Watchful . . . As a matter of fact, whatever moves are being made by theatre owners are in the direction of controlling and stabilizing their business. Activities by the chiseling element are being carefully scrutinized, but these operators evidently are aware that keen opposition to any detrimental steps by them will arise from the overwhelming majority of exhibitors who desire to maintain the worthwhile features of the movie code. Attempts to restrict and abolish premiums, bank nights, screen games, rebates and other similar practices have been started voluntarily by exhibitor groups in many parts of the country. Resort to existing laws or voluntary exhibitor cooperation are the usual means of controlling these practices.