Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1945)

EDITORIALS BROADWAY (Continued from Preceding Page) in a recent editorial: "A consent decree — the proper kind — could be more effective in curing the industry's ills than a complete court victory." If the Government should gain the verdict it anticipates in court, the source of much of the power of the Big Five will be drained from them. But there probably would remain many of the oppressive trade practices which have long plagued the independents. Certainly, it is worth trying to devise a consent decree by which the film companies might salvage at least "show-case" theatres and the independents would gain relief from the onerous policies against which they now have no effective means of defense. The independent theatremen do not ask too much. They desire only to live in a peaceful business world which recognizes them as equals, not as inferiors to be commanded and abused. They deny the self-acquired right of the distributors to fix the theatre's profit at the lowest possible level, while film company's profits rises to astronomical heights. They want to be able to bargain and buy without compulsion. In brief, they want the privileges of democracy within their industry. The point that the film people must come to realize, if the anti-trust suit is to be settled without trial, is that no mere sop will suffice any longer to allay either the Government or the independents. This age of the split atom demands big thinking, a broad outlook, a readiness to deviate sharply from the old, the outworn methods and conceptions of things. This is the moment for intelligent, forthright leadership in the film branch of our industry to tell the lawyers to make the basic concessions necessary to settle the case out of court. It would become a happier business world for them, too. The alternative might be a debacle for the defendants. There is the challenge to the film people. Can they meet it? MO WAX Welcome, Mr. Johnston Eric A. Johnston brings something more than an ingratiating personality to the presidency of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc. He has the intelligence, the outlook, the vigor to perform many outstanding services for the industry. The big question in the minds of independent exhibitors, of course, is: will his efforts be confined to the aggrandizement of the members of the MPPDA, or will he be, in truth, a spokesman for the best interests of the entire industry? Time alone will tell. Meanwhile, we say: "Welcome, Mr. Johnston. You're a helluva pleasant looking guy, anyhow!" NEWSREEL New York's elevator strike, which kept thousands of workers from many of the mid-town office buildings, gave an unexpected boost to already-satisfactory grosses for Broadway's several long-run hold-overs. In addition, the current week's three important newcomers, "The House on 92nd Street," "Her Highness and the Bellboy" and "Mildred Pierce," reported long waiting lines and smash business with the first-named having broken all opening-day records at the Roxy as early as mid-afternoon on September 26th. The 20thFox-De Rochemont film, supported by a special edition of the Copacabana revue plus Rosario and Antonio, followed four highly-profitable weeks for "State Fair" and Connie Boswell on the stage... The new Hedy Lamarr-Robert Walker film at the Capitol finally arrived on September 27th after a tenweek engagement for "Anchors Aweigh" supported by Paul Whiteman and a strong stage show. "Anchors" equalled the long-run set by "Since You Went Away" more than a year ago... The widely-heralded "Mildred Pierce" opened at the Strand on September 28th following a five-week run for "Pride of the Marines," the last stanza of which beat the fourth week gross by several thousand ... Still holding up exceptionally well with block-long waiting lines forming almost daily is "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes," now in its fourth week at the Radio City Music Hall. This will be followed by another M-G-M picture, "Week-End at the Waldorf" early in October... At the Paramount, "Duffy's Tavern," supported by a stage show starring The Andrews Sisters, had a first week's gross $4,000 in excess of "Going My Way" in its first week and $20,000 more than the previous feature, "Incendiary Blonde," at the same theatre. The third week, just completed, was again over the $100,000 figure and the picture will remain until late October with "Hold That Blonde" now set to follow in place of the previously-scheduled "The Lost Week-End." "Love Letters" led all the other straight-film attractions by grossing $57,000 both for its fifth and fourth weeks at the j Rivoli where it has been breaking every record in the 27-year history of the house. The sixth week of a long run started on September 29th. . .Samuel Goldwyn's "Wonder Man" is now , in its 17th week at the Astor where it is one of the top at i tractions in that theatre's entire history. The Danny Kaye | picture continues into October with no opening date set for j the succeeding attraction, Selznick's "Spellbound" .. .Another ) RKO-Radio release, "Back to Bataan," continues for a fourth j week of strong business at the Palace as does "Isle of the J Dead," now in its fourth week at the Rialto, the only picture to play that long at that horror house this year... "The Won i derful Adventures of Pinocchio" is in its seventh week at the I Republic while a fifth RKO-Radio release, "Wanderer of the J Wasteland," has opened at the Gotham Theatre following a ; mild one-week run for "Radio Stars on Parade". . .This house j opens a reserved-seat engagement of "The Story of G. I. Joe" on October 6th simultaneously with a continuous run of the 1 same United Artists release at the next-door Globe and three days after the gala first night ceremonies for another U. A. picture, "Blithe Spirit," which marks the return of the famous musical showhouse, The Winter Garden, to the ranks ol Broadway's film houses on October 3rd. The latter house was just vacated by the musical, "Marinka" on September 29th but the Globe has been closed for two weeks for redecorating and to install extra seats. Universal's "Lady on a Train" set a non-holiday weekend record at the Criterion and is now in its second strong week while another Universal film, "Men in Her Diary." was the initial first-run at the Ambassador, which recently changed over from legitimate plays to films. The latter film was only mild but it is holding over while a third U. release, "River Gang," is set to open at the Rialto during the coming week. . ."Rhapsody in Blue" is still holding up well in its fourteenth week at the Hollywood but "Saratoga Trunk" is pencilled in some time in October ... The Victoria is now playing the Russian documentary, "Fall of Berlin," after a disappointing three weeks of "The True Glory" and Monogram's "Divorce" is set to follow early in October. FILM IULL ET I