Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 193 6 5 Legal and Legislative Issues To Dominate Allied Convention TACTICS IN FIGHT TO ELIMINATE TRADE EVILS WILL BE DISCUSSED Cleveland , June 2. — As the advance guard of Allied leaders assemble at the Hollenden Hotel here for the annual Allied convention, reports are heard that this affair will play a larger part in shaping the course of the industry than any previous meeting of independent theatremen. The imposing list of speakers and subjects to be discussed certainly seem to bear out that prediction. Chief among the topics slated to receive the attention of the delegates is the procedure to be followed by the national organization in its fight to eradicate by new legislation or existing law those trade practices which it regards as unfair to independent theatre owners. In this category falls compulsory block booking, preferred playing time, affiliated theatre aggression and other lesser evils that place the independents in conflict with the major producer-distributors. TO ADOPT PLAN . . . It is generally believed that at this convention Allied will decide on its future method of attack in overcoming unfair trade policies. To aid them by practical advice, if it can be elicited from them, Allied has invited several representatives of the Federal Government to address the meeting. Russell Hardy, head of government counsel in the St. Louis case; Daniel Bertrand, author of the NRA report advising Federal regulation of the industry; Paul Williams, of the Department of Justice, and even J. Edgar Hoover, head of the celebrated "G-men," will speak. In addition a "surprise" speaker, reputedly high in government circles, will address the convention on the subject: "Is Government Control the Only Way to Stop Unfair Producer Aggression?" RODGERS WITHDRAWS . . . The scheduled talk by William F. Rodgers, newly appointed general sales manager of M-G-M, was cancelled because Mr. Rodgers found it impossible to arrange his work to attend. However, speakers for film interests will include George W. Weeks of G-B and Edward Golden of Chesterfield-Invincible, who will present the producers' side of selling. The affair officially gets under way tomorrow (Wed.) afternoon, but delegates are already pouring into the headquarters today. By all odds this appears certain to be the greatest convention turnout since the days when the M.P.T.O.A. was the real independent exhibitors' organization and theatre REPUBLIC SALES MEET THIS WEEK; SET 4 COLOR FILMS TO ANNOUNCE 52 . . . Republic's second annual sales convention gets under way in Chicago Thursday and continues through Friday and Saturday. Home office executives and salesmen from all branches left for the Windy City Tuesday afternoon. L. E. Kalker, the company's representative in the British Isles, arrived last week and spent several days in New York in conference with officials, leaving on the Eastern special train Tuesday. Republic will announce four all-color outdoor spectacles on a program of 5 2 features and westerns. The program will be grouped in seven classifications. 8 STORIES . . . Eight stories have already been definitely announced and it is anticipated that the entire season's lineup will be made known to the sales force at the Chicago confab. The eight are: "Two Years Before the Mast" and "The President's Mystery," which will be specials. Other stories are "Army Girl," "Portia on Trial," "Happy Go Lucky," "Follow Your Heart," the Marion Talley starring musical, "Join the Marines" and "Heart in Bondage." The last named has already been completed and will be the first release on the new season's schedule. Eight Gene Autry westerns, two of which will be specials, and four serials will top the action end of the program. owners looked upon the annual confabs as a high point in their year's activities. Allied apparently is reviving that spirit to a large extent and the 1936 confab may be the point from which the organization will go on more rapidly to a dominating place in the industry. DENIES RKO-PAR MERGER REPORTS 'SILLY' . . . According to a story printed in a New York daily last week, Leo Spitz, vice-president of RKO, termed "absolutely silly" reports that plans were under way to culminate the oft-rumored consolidation of Paramount and RKO. Despatches to FILM BULLETIN from the coast recently have asserted that such plans are definitely afoot and will be realized in the early Fall. Kennedy arrived in New York Thursday night and refused to comment on the contents of his report on Paramount's operation. He stated that he will make it known "within two weeks." The general opinion among those who profess to be on "the inside" is that the report will charge the Otterson executive group with incompetence and wasteful operation. SCORE CHARGES TO BE DROPPED OR MODIFIED? . . . Most of the major film distributors have decided that the score charge is more of a nuisance than it is worth and will proffer its elimination as a token of conciliation to exhibitor complaints, industry observers anticipate. The concession is being credited to the M.P.T.O.A. trade practice conferences, but it is generally regarded as the natural outcome of several years' agitation by independent forces against the unwarranted charge. Reports from distributor headquarters indicate that the elimination process may take another season, some modification being offered this season as a "stepping stone" to eventual discontinuance. Warners' Profit Up A net profit of $1,976,245 is reported by Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., for the 29 weeks period ending Feb. 29, 193 6, after all deductions, including Federal income tax. had been made. This startling figure compares with a deficit of $133,515 for the same period last year.