Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

Vol. 2, No. 49 %detxendent EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN August 5, 1936 THE INDUSTRY'S NEWS 3>/wml Che fcdii&iiaL Ui&wpoinL MONOGRAM REVIVAL VERIFIED Johnston-Republic Split Soon . . . On unimpeachable authority, FILM BULLETIN has learned that Monogram Pictures will reenter the production field within the next year. Rumors to the effect that the Johnston-Carr outfit, which merged with several other independents to form Republic, will be reorganized have emanated from Wall Street within the past few weeks, but none of these could be confirmed previously. W. Ray Johnston is understood to be negotiating with Republic for release from his contract as president, which has until the end of this year to run. Immediately upon severance of his connections there it is believed that he will plunge into plans for reestablishment of Monogram as an active production, and, perhaps, distribution, factor. Carr Back, Too . . . Trem Carr, who headed production for Monogram, is slated to return to his old position as soon as hindering agreements with Republic and Universal expire. Upon his withdrawal from the former outfit he agreed to stay out of production on his own for one year. He subsequently signed with Universal to produce a group of westerns. Carr will be free of both contracts by the time Monogram is ready to go into production on a 1937-38 product. Johnston, long one of the most popular executives in the industry, has not been happy in Republic setup for some time. He is said to feel that there is a need and room for more strong independent production units. Substantial financial interests are known to be behind the new Monogram venture, indicating that it will be a more important factor than it was prior to the Republic merger. W. Ray Johnston, President, Republic STARS ON AIR A MENACE— COHN Says Producers Must Stop Them . . . Championing the right of exhibitors to protest against the presence of film-made stars on radio programs and pointing out that the existence of hundreds of small town theatres is at stake unless the practice is stopped, Jack Cohn, vice-president of Columbia, this week issued a warning to other producers that they must prevent their contract players from engaging in this form of competition to theatres or see it develop into a much more serious menace in the fall. "When the radio season gets into full swing in the fall there will be close to a dozen major network air shows emanating from Hollywood and using Hollywood stars," the executive stated. "This means that there will be direct, active competition to the movie theatre operators almost every single night in the week." May Ruin Small Town Houses . . . "There are literally hundreds of small town exhibitors in the smaller towns and villages throughout the country for whom this type of competition might easily spell ruin. When you consider that for many of these men one night of bad business means the difference between a profitable week in the operation of their theatres the seriousness of the problem can be appreciated." Cohn remarks that people will be reluctant to travel into the towns to a movie if they can get famous film stars on their radios "with the flick of a dial." "Major producing companies in Hollywood must cooperate with motion picture exhibitors if this dangerous type of competition is to be checked. Contracts with the stars must include restrictions that will keep the stars from exploiting their moviebuilt personalities in direct competition with the motion pictures. It is the only way that the problem can be solved," Cohn concludes. KUYKENDALL'S FAITH REBORN Foresees Concessions Next Year . . . The same Ed Kuykendall, president of the M.P.T.O.A., who. several weeks ago, dared threaten the major producers with the possibility that his group might take drastic legal steps against them unless some of the ballyhooed ten trade practice concessions were granted them, found his faith reborn when he addressed a group of Southeastern exhibitors on Monday. Now jolly Ed believes that four of the ten points will be conceded to exhibitors bv the time the next selling season rolls around. Issued weekly at 1323 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Phone: Rittenhouse 7424. Mo Wax, Publisher and Editor; Roland Barton, George Frees Nonamaker, Associate Editors. New York Office: 1 658 Broadway; phone: Circle 7-3094.