Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

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4 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS "FILM BULLETIN INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN Vol. 1 No. 3 Sept. 25, 1935 Issued weekly by Film Bulletin Company, at 1313 Vine Street, Phila., Pa. Mo Wax, editor and publisher; Roland Barton, George F. Nonamaker, associate editors. Telephone: RITtenhouse 4816. Address all communications to Editor, Film Bulletin Vlerritt Crawford, Publisher's Representative 1658 Broadway, New York City Room 486 — Circle 7-3094 ADVERTISING RATES Write or call us for our Advertising Rates. Weekly circulation 1000 copies, covering every theatre owner in the Philadelphia and Baltimore-Washington territories. Games Vs. Dishes . . . At present there is considerable competition being waged between the dish dealers and distributors of the various theatre games which have only recently spread throughout the east. The games are proving profitable to a limited degree, but the substantial dish deals are still the backbone of many theatres' business. Disadvantage of the games from the exhibitor's viewpoint is the lack of necessity to attend every week to accumulate anything. However, in neighborhoods or towns where the people are of the class to whom give-away dishes are not desired or appreciated, the games afford entertainment and mildly respond to the gambling spirit. All Dual Bill Moves Wait On Phila. Case Up in October . . . The ultimate outcome of various anti and pro double feature moves by exhibitors and distributors throughout the nation will be decided in the Circuit Court of Appeals in the Philadelphia district. That is the opinion of members of the Attorney General's staff in Washington and the reason why no other court actions are being inaugurated to compel the majors to discontinue the use of the anti-dual clause in their contracts. The status of Harry Perelman's suit against the major distributors in Philadelphia in which the ruling by Federal Judge George Welsh was mst the film companies, has remained unchanged since the decision was rendered in J. inn. its ind tin appeal entered by the defendants. Morris Wolf, chief of defense counsel, is now preparing the appeal papers and the case is scheduled to be heard during the latter part of October or early November. On the decision of the Circuit Court rests the future of dual bills in theatres all over the country, inasmuch as a victory for the major producers will result in immediate application of the dual ban clause in their contracts. Indie Producers Watch . . . Probably most vitally concerned in the outcome are the independent producers and distributors, who face virtual extinction if the ban should be declared legal. A large portion of the business accruing to the indies comes from double feature territories, while exchanges in single feature areas, such as Philadelphia, have difficulty making the ends meet. Department of Justice officials have indicated from time to time that they hold the view that the majors are violating the anti-trust laws in barring independent product from theatres on the same program with their films. The attitude of these attorneys in the Department is believed by most observers to reflect the general legal opinion in the country and points to the final decision in the Perelman case. Another factor not being overlooked by those interested is the conclusiveness of Judge Welsh's decision. This able jurist left no doubt in anyone's mind that, while double features may be poor business tactics for exhibitors or a poor method of film assimilation for the public, the policy of the majors in forcibly forbidding the showings of another feature with their pictures tends to eliminate the independent companies and create a monopoly for the few big ones. Much credit for the presentation of the material which enabled the court to hand down so definite and far-reaching a verdict belongs to former Congressman Benjamin Golder, who was head counsel for Perelman. Legal circles familiar with the case grant the appeal little chance of overthrowing the District Court's ruling. PA. EXHIBS BUYINC MORE FILM FOR COMING SUNDAYS Exhibitors in Pennsylvania are reported buying more features for 1935-36 than in any previous season. Reason, of course, is the likelihood that movie houses will have fifty-odd additional playing days with the coming of open Sundays in November. Independent exchanges are getting a good portion of this extra business, since they ask smaller commitments than the majors. Chas. Bickford Mauled By Lion HOLLYWOOD. — Charles Bickford, screen actor, was seriously hurt Monday when a lion with which he was working on the set of Universale "East of Java" threw him to the ground and sunk its teeth into his neck and other parts of his body. Attendants rushed to the actor's aid and succeeded in beating off the animal, but not until Bickford was bleeding badly. He was hurried to the Hollywood Hospital in critical condition.