Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1938)

^dependent (XHIBITO FILM BULLETIN VOL. 4. No. 9 APRIL 23rd. 1938 PRICE. 15 CENTS LETS GET BACK TO FAIR PLAY! For more years than we can remember, the opening of each new film selling season has found the major distributors vying with one another to concoct new schemes for trimming the exhibitors. We have almost been able to see the executives of Paramount or Metro or RKO huddled over their conference tables competing to devise the most inordinate and inequitable sales terms. Perhaps to extract another five percent on two or three pictures, to chisel a couple more preferred playdates, to unload more quickies on their independent customers, or maybe to milk the last dollar from their percentage specials — in brief, to get every possible penny for themselves and leave as little for the exhibitor as he can be forced to accept. The old question of "how high is up?" is being constantly probed by the majors. And they don't seem to have the answer yet. To the independent theatreman, however, "up," as the distributors apparently conceive it, means out — of business. We are not entering a starvation plea on behalf of the nation's independents. Nor do we ever delude ourselves into believing that we see a halo floating over their collective head. Our point is to convince the major film chieftains that their tactics are swelling up a tide of exhibitor resentment that will some day overflow into an unstoppable torrent. The cumulative effect of this annual practice of boosting rentals and tightening terms has been to bring an ever growing number of theatre owners to the conviction that their only hope of forestalling ultimate strangulation lies in some form of government control of the industry. Allied's fight for passage of the Neely Bill is merely an expression of the determination of thousands of exhibitors not to sit by idly while the film companies stretch their terms so far until they break — the exhibitor's back! Must it always be so? Aren't there some men of foresight and wisdom in the ranks of the majors, who recognize the need for turning back to policies of decent and equitable business conduct? Allied holds its important annual convention in Pittsburgh May 17, 18 and 19. Receding box office grosses are worrying the independents and there is bound to be a cry for radical action to force reforms on the distributors. There is still time, however, for the intelligent film leadership to make an honest and sincere offer of cooperation to Allied. If these men demonstrated a legitimate desire to abolish the flock of abuses the majors now practice on their independent customers, they would undoubtedly find Allied willing to help wash the dirty linen in the industry's own cellar. If the majors are satisfied to fight it out in the courts and halls of Congress, they will have hell to pay. For Allied, with justice on its side, MUST eventually win its objectives. Make no mistake about that! MOE WAX. New PRODUCTION SECTION starts in this issue. MYERS HURLS 'DICTATORSHIP' CHARGE Page 2