Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

Vol. 2, No. 48 %dependetti EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN July 29, 1936 THE INDUSTRY'S NEWS J>/wnL Oil fcdii&ii^ (Ji&wpoinL GOV'T BOMBSHELL BEING READIED Gathering Data . . . While the major film companies and their affiliated theatre chains quake with fear at the prospect of what might happen, the Department of Justice in Washington proceeds with a methodical and thorough investigation of all the ramifications prior to setting off a bomb that may well jar the industry to its very foundations. In recent weeks all important producing, distributing and theatre organizations have received questionnaires, which they are privileged to answer or ignore, on various phases of the industry. This is regarded as another indication that the government is determined to learn why film business has given it trouble more persistently than any other industry in the country during the past eight or ten years. The huge volume of independent exhibitor complaints that has poured into the Justice Department in recent years is commanding the attention of the Attorney General. To make matters worse for themselves, certain of the leading producers have displayed notorious hostility to the Roosevelt Administration and seem to be bending every effort to bring about F. D. R.'s defeat in the forthcoming election. Motive Not Political . . . However, informed circles do not regard such recent developments as the refusal of the major distributors to handle the goverment-produced documentary film, "The Plow That Broke The Plains" as the provocation for the government's purported action. Rather, it is believed that the volume and persistency of exhibitor complaints have convinced the authorities that the motion picture industry is a suitable object for attack as a monopoly. Many months ago FILM BULLETIN predicted that the Government was planning a single, all-inclusive attack against alleged illegal practices by the Majors. Today, more than ever it is the conviction of this paper that the Government is laying the groundwork for such a drive; and that it will take place this fall. It is not unlikely that it will take the form of a Federal Grand Jury investigation, resulting in legislation to force certain regulations on the industry. the practice appearing on EXHIBS SORE ABOUT STARS ON AIR Cohn Being Asked to Lead Fight . . . The ire of exhibitors throughout the country is up against the continuance and spread of of film stars radio broadcasts. The recent editorial blasts by FILM BULLETIN against this home-made competition have brought a flood of etters from theatremen to producers, it has been learned. Jack Cohn, vice president of Columbia, named by us as the leading exponent of the war against film stars on the air, is understood to have received a number of requests Jack Cohn, Vicc-Pres., Columbia ( ■ a -a \ l-lv j irom individual exhibitors and organizations asking him to take the lead in the fight. Conn. Indies Protest . . . At a meeting of the organization last week the Connecticut I.M.P.T.O. passed a resolution urging the producers "to bar these personalities (film stars) from the radio by contract clauses or otherwise, except when such broadcasts do not conflict with the generally recognized and legitimate hours of theatre operation." The resolution points out that "it is generally conceded that the motion picture theatres are almost entirely responsible for the recognition by the public of the abilities and for the success of these personalities, therefore, when they divert the public away from the motion picture theatres they are actually biting the hands that feed them. This callous indifference on the part of these individuals to the fate of these self same motion picture theatres, while adding to their own profits, is not typical of the American spirit of fair play and it cannot be condemned too strongly by all fair minded people, both in and out of our industry." Giving Producers Weapon . . . It is believed that the producers are eager to receive a large number of exhibitor squawks on this issue. Heretofore the producers have been unable to cope with expensive star temperament in seeking to force the inclusion of clauses in contracts barring radio appearances. Armed with a flood of protests from exhibitors— the people who ultimately hold the fate of any player, through their advertising of pictures — the producers may be able to enforce their demands. Issued weekly at 1323 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Phone: Rittenhousc 7424. Mo Wax, Publisher and Editor; Roland Barton, George Frees Nonamakcr, Associate Editors. New York Office: 165 8 Broadway; phone: Circle 7-3 094.