Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1936 5 Trade Practice Conference A Fizzle So Far, Clear 10% Cancellation 'Won1 M.P.T.O.A. GROUP CLAIMS CREDIT FOR U 'DROPPING' ITS SCORE CHARGE 3 CONFERENCES . . . The first week of the "fair trade practice conferences" between major distributors and a self-appointed committee of M.P.T.O.A. leaders has ended with a net gain of practically nothing in the nature of relief won for exhibitors. Paramount, RKO managers have been and Universal sales interviewed by the M.P.T.O.A. group, with the following remits: ( 1 ) Paramount agreed to allow exhibitors the same ten percent cancellation privilege that has been in effect, but will remove restrictions, except for demanding "reasonable notice" of intention to cancel a picture. (2) RKO agreed to nothing, except to look further into some of the proposals. (3) Universal agreed to remove restrictions on the ten percent cancellation clause and to "drop the score charge." DENIAL . . . Following the issuance of the story by Ed Kuykendall that James R. Grainger, Universale sales manager, had agreed to discontinue score charges by his company, it was reported by Red Kann in M. P. Daily that Grainger called him to deny that he ever agreed to do so because Universal has not collected score charges for the past three years. When questioned on Grainger's statement, Kuykendall is reported to have declared that the M.P.T.O.A. committee felt justified in announcing that it had won this "victory" on the grounds that since Universal had not collected score charges in the past, it would not do so this coming season. TELEVISION NOT NEAR, REPORT SAYS COST MILLIONS . . . Hollywood. — The coming of television holds no imminent threat to the motion picture industry, it is stated in a report filed this week by the scientific committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Research Council. An investigation of several months' duration has just been completed. The industry is prepared for the crisis that may arise "when television becomes a commercial factor," the report reassures. But chere is little likelihood that ether sound pictures will become an important factor before 1937 or 1938, it is declared. "Before there is any possibility of nationwide exploitation, hundreds of millions of dollars must be expended for numerous transmitting stations of limited range, connecting cables of new design, and receivers. None of these can be obtained overnight. There is a possibility of such development starting in 1937, or more probably in 1938. It should be noted that its scope, as far as we can prevision it, is limited to home entertainment purposes in urban areas." LIMITED TO CITIES . . . The report points out that "Barring revolutionary inventions, there is as yet no Rodgers-Golden to Speak On Films at Allied Meet William F. Rodgers, new general sales manager for M-G-M, and Edward Golden, Chesterfield-Invincible, will address the Allied Convention in Cleveland next month as representatives of major and independent film producers, respectively. Golden accepted an invitation extended to him Tuesday, following a meeting of the Convention committee in New York. Rodgers had previously acknowledged his invitation and stated that he would speak. Conn. IMPTO Meets Tues. New Haven. — The regular meeting of the Independent Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Connecticut was postponed this week. The group will meet next Tuesday, at which time it is likely that the topic of affiliation with Allied will be taken up. promise of the enlargement of the field of television to theatre screen size nor of an extension of the possible service area to rural districts in this country." Receiving sets for experimental work are being manufactured for several thousand dollars each and the report states that they will cost at least $300 if produced in quantities. PARA. INTO POSTER RENTING BUSINESS STARTS JUNE 1st . . . In an acknowledged attempt to drive the poster renting houses throughout the country out of business, Paramount Pictures exchanges on June 1st will inaugurate a rental policy on all advertising accessories now handled by the poster servicers. This move may be followed by other major distributors, but, for the present, is confined to the one company. Rumors that Warners will start the plan shortly after Paramount gets under way have been denied at the home office, but hints have been dropped to indicate that it is being seriously considered. PARA. PLAN . . . Paramount's plan provides for an increase in the prices of certain items and the maintenance of present prices of others. Two different scales of rebates are to be paid to exhibitors returning the material, one for material returned in good condition, a lower sum for material returned in damaged condition. No rebates will be paid on any accessories held by the theatre for more than five days following the playdates. The new price schedule is as follows: 1 sheet 15c 8x10 15c 3 sheet 45c 1 lxH's set $1.25 6 sheet 90c 22x28 60c Blow-up $ 1 .75 14x36 40c If returned in good condition, the follow ing rebates are to be granted: 1 sheet 7c 8x10 9c 3 sheet 21c 1 lxH's 90c 6 sheet 42c 22x28 40c Blow-up $1.00 14x36 28c If returned in damaged condition. the re bates are to be: 1 sheet none 8x10 5c 3 sheet none 1 lxH's 5 0c 6 sheet none 22x28 20c Blow-up 50c 14x3 6 15c Litho paper will be available both mounted and unmounted. Heralds, window cards and 24 sheets are not returnable and the price on these items remains unchanged. Exhibitors will be asked to sign agreements to buy or rent accessory material only from Paramount. These contracts are construed to have moral force, but cannot be (Con /in lie J on pUgt 6)