Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

8 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN Chi Exhibs Hold Ranks Against M-G-M ( Continued from Page 4) While not reckoned to fill the gaping void left by 20th Century's departure, Selznick can be relied upon for a better-than-average product and his four picture output should go a long way toward bolstering U. A.'s lineup. In addition to Selznick's four, Lichtman promises six from Samuel Goldwyn; four to six from Alexander Korda in England; four from a Mary Pickford unit; three from Reliance two from Chaplin (of which one will probably be delivered); one or two from British and Dominion, and one more due from 20th Century. Not a particularly imposing array in prospect, but some 24 or 25 additional pictures of reasonable merit on an altogether insufficient market. Despite the fact that U. A. has soaked exhibitors for their product, they deserve commendation for breaking, in many instances, one of the rules of the major's game — block booking. If U. A. sell* one picture at a time it will always be a welcome organization in the industry. Sheriff Crabs Fight Films From Warner Theatres A difference of opinion as to who had the rights to distribute the official motion pictures of the Baer-Braddock fight in the Philadelphia territory, led Warner Bros. Theatres into a disturbing predicament last Thursday. The circuit had booked the films of that fistic fiasco into a number of their theatres through David Deitz. Meanwhile, Ray Smith, representing Oliver Film Corp. of New York, apparently proved to the satisfaction of Judge Horace Stern that his company possessed the copyright. On Thursday, Smith, accompanied by Sheriff Bud Beal and Attorney Edward Davis, and armed with writs of replevin issued by Judge Stern, descended upon the Stanton and Alhambra Theatres and seized the fight pictures prints being used at those houses. Before the raiding party could reach the Wishart, Keyston, Allegheny and Harrowgate Theatres, Warner officials had ordered all billing removed and the bookings cancelled. All of which accounted for almost as much excitement as clowning Max Bacr provided throughout the fight. As an aftermath of the Baer-Braddock fight pictures seizure, David Segal, of Price Premiums, is preparing to file a libel suit against Oliver Film Corporation. Segal was named in the writs of replevin as one of the individuals connected with the distribution of the unropyrighted prints, but he claims that he only occupies space at 1321 Vine Street, where Deitz had his office. Metro-Allied Chicago Talks Flop To Build . . . Efforts of Sidney Samuelson and other Allied leaders to find amicable grounds for solution of the deadlock between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the independent exhibitors of Chicago have apparently died for want of cooperation by M-G-M officials. While reports drip out of the Windy City to the effect that some of the holdouts are breaking away and buying Metro pictures, the fact is that the ranks are being held much to the surprise of both M-G-M and the exhibitors themselves. The recent deflection of a group SIDNEY SAMUELSON . . . Couldn't Show Metro the Light of Warner houses did not surprise or discourage the indies. While Allied leaders were reported seeking a basis for settlement for the situation with the aid of Felix F. Feist, M-G-M sales manager, the film company's theatre unit, Loew's announced that there would be no letup in their plans to build a group of theatres in competition to the independents. ^ j How far they will actually go remains to be seen, but insiders opine that Metro has taken such a licking from the Chicago independents that they will take care no such thing happens to them anywhere else. I Theatres recently outfitted with AMERICAN uniforms Academy, Lebanon . . . Colonial, Lancaster Broadway, Camden . . . New Highland, Audubon AMERICAN UNIFORM CO 1134 SOUTH 11th STREET, PHILA., PA. ■ KIN. 1365 RACB 3685 I Washington Exhibs Protest Double Feature Clause WASHINGTON. — Registering a vigorous protest against the practice of several of the major film companies in inserting the clause banning dual bills, Allied exhibitors, in a meeting here last week, threatened to take the matter to court unless the producers discontinued application of the objectionable clause. Charles Olive, president of the Allied group, reported that only the intervention of national president Sidney Samuelson restrained the Washington unit from taking immediate action. Paramount, Metro and Warners are the chief offenders in the use of the dual bill ban. It is likely that the Washington exhibitors will await the outcome of the Perelman suit in Philadelphia, which is now being appealed by the major producers. PENN THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO. 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