Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1936 J EVENTS on the MARCH/ "Reporting the Industry's News from An Editorial Viewpoint" BLOCK BOOKING FIGHT TO REACH CLIMAX IN CONGRESS Congress Expected To Consider Block Booking Copyright Opens January 3 . . . Congress convenes this Friday for a pre-election session which most reliable quarters report will be only lightly burdened with important national legislation. With this prospect, the film industry is awaiting, apprehensively or eagerly, depending on which side of the fence one is on, the introduction of several bills, which ate expected to greatly influnce the course of the business. Outstanding on the roster of prospective film legislation is the Pettengill-Neely bill to outlaw block booking. Supported by the majority of civic and church organizations, this measure is virtualiy certain to receive considerable attention from Congress. The Duffy Bill to revise the penalty for copyright violations will probably be the first bill affecting the industry to be acted upon. Fight . . . Major film interests have a wholesome fear for the Pettengill-Neely bill, as evidenced by the flood of propaganda against it being disseminated through various channels. Chief of the obstacles against passage of this measure is the apathetic attitude of thousands of independent exhibitors. Either through ignorance of the effects of block booking or through their acceptance of the distorted propaganda from major producer sources, many theatre owners are taking no interest in furthering the bill's chances for enactment. In Washington, the opinion prevails that a united front by independent theatre interests would probably swing enough votes to pass the measure. Govt Legal Staff Bolstered For St. L. Equity Case Jan. 6 Goverment Determined . . . With January 6th definitely fixed as the day for the start of the Government's heralded equity case against Warner Bros., Paramount and RKO in St. Louis, the Department of Justice gave its opponents additional food for thought on its determination to win the suit by announcing the appointment of one of its crack anti-trust case attorneys, Walter Rice. He will assist special prosecutor Russell Hardy, who handled, practically single-handed, the criminal case against the five film executives. Some criticism was levelled at Attorney General Homer S. Cummings, after the adverse decision was turned in by the jury in the criminal action, for failing to give Hardy additional legal aid during the trial. The five defendants were represented by the most imposing array of legal talent ever assembled in a film case and Hardy was required to combat them alone for six weeks of strenuous court procedure. By the appointment of Rice, the Attorney General indicates that he recognizes that this case is more than a one-man job and he will not permit a lack et sufficient aid to hamper Hardy in the equity suit. Warners Building 6 New Houses in Wash. New Deal Result . . . Exhibitors in six different sections of the nation's capital city were dealt a staggering blow last week when Harry M. Warner announced that his company would construct six new movie houses, each seating from 1000 to 1500. Never having complained before of a theatre seat deficiency, Washington has enjoyed a mild boxoffice boom in the past two years, due to the influx of people to fill the thousands of Government jobs created by the New Deal. In making the announcement. President Warner attributed the building campaign to a desire to "keep pace with the growing needs of the community." What he does not mention is that the need is a temporary one and the trend is definitely in the direction of curtailment of Federal employment. Myers Asks One . . . In the latest Allied bulletin, Abram F. Myers comments on the Warner expansion move and asks, with good reason, "What will be the situation a few years from now with these additional theatres?" And, Mr. Myers answers himself. "This is not hard to predict. The Warner houses will demand increased protection over the remaining independnt theatres; they will demand the imposition of new and more onerous terms in the contracts with the independent theatres; they may even demand exclusive contracts for themselves . . ." Yes, sir, prosperity has returned to the major film companies! Frank Walker Head Of Comerford Chain Leaves Politics . . . Speculation on who might be the successor to the late M. B. Comerford, as active head of the Comerford theatre circuit, seems to have been put at rest by the announcement from Washington that Frank Walker had resigned as executive director of the National Emergency Council and will devote most of his time to the management of the circuit. Prior to his appointment by President Roosevelt as head of the "little cabinet," Walker was treasurer and general manager of the Comer P8ZOR INSISTS HE WILL MAINTAIN OLD MPTO UNIT; MERCED EXHIBITORS TO SELECT NEW NAME Although virtually the entire independent membership of the MPTO unit has joined the newly merged exhibitor body in Philadelphia, tentatively named the Independent Motion Picture Theatre Owners, Lewen Pizor, president of the old MPTO. insists that he will maintain that organization, even if he is the only member. While a few leaders of the merged group still expect Pizor to change his mind and drop his belligerent attitude, the majority feel that the new organization should get down to business and ignore the one-man holdout. If he should refuse to relinquish his technical hold on the same MPTO. Pizor maj succeed in blocking the use of IMPTO by the consolidated organization. It is doubtful that the latter body will fight the issue, but is expected to choose another name .11 the next board of governors' meeting, scheduled to take place next week, unless, b) that time, Pizor no longer stands in the way of a single harmonious exhibitor organization in this territory.