Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

JVetvs and Opinion (Continued from Preceding Page) tests competitive bidding still is being imposed by the distributors upon the exhibitors and is aware that many complaints have been received at national headquarters of irregularities in the consideration of the bids and the awarding of the pictures. "The board is convinced that the only way in which these abuses can be eliminated and confidence in the practice maintained is for the distributors to reveal all bids to the bidders after an award has been made, and the board calls on the distributors to institute this reform. "In view of the fact that bidding prevails in public contracts and in other industries, we can only assume that blind bidding is used by the distributors for the purpose and with the effect of concealing irregularities and discriminations in making awards". The board also lashed out at advanced admissions that sales terms forced exhibitors to impose in order to play the film. Such a practice, the board stated, will be "suicidal from an industry viewpoint. The exhibitor, knowing the demand of the public for the best in box-office attractions, has a gun presented to his head and the fatal choice of (a) not running such productions and depriving his patrons of widely advertised and publicized attractions, or (b) transferring the gun to the public's head with a demand for admissions far in excess of normal and greater than they can afford under the present economic conditions. "This presents an almost impossible choice with the exhibitor in the middle and public ill will whichever way he goes." Paramount was given the left-handed distinction of most consistently practicing sales abuses. Over-allocations, refusal to re-allocate after a film has proved a flop, imposing zone and mass bidding, pushing up ceilings on top flat rentals, advanced admissions, were among the abuses mentioned. The company was also criticized for continuing to distribute Pine-Thomas productions when P-T films are being shown free on television. Headed by board chairman and general counsel A. F. Myers, the meeting included Wilbur Snaper, Trueman Rembusch, Ben Marcus, John Wolfberg, Ray Feeley, Leon I'.. Back, Rube Shor, Morris Finkel, Martin G. Smith, Allen Johnson, Charles Niles, Jay W'ooten, Bennic Berger, R. Vernon McGinnis, Abe liercnson, and H. A. Cole. CP TRAILER READY There are few afflictions so heartrending as cerebral palsy, and never has the need for helping its victims been greater. The 1952 United Cerebral Palsy campaign trailer, starring John Wayne, is currently being distributed by National Screen Service. Both National Allied and TOA have urged exhibition of the trailer, whose appeal is so designed that it is equally appropriate for theatre collections, or in urging contributions by other means. TRUEMAN REMBUSCH One-Third President Rembusch Named to 3-Man COMPO Head; TOA, MPAA Mum Only one-third of the three-man committee due to handle the presidential chores of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations has been named. Trueman T. Rembusch was National Allied's choice at the recent board meeting of the independent exhibitor organization, his acceptance breaking the precedent set in the last few months when every candidate approached declined the post held formerly by RKO's Ned Depinet. The other two organizations to be represented on the three-man committee, Theatre Owners of America and Motion Picture Association, are still searching for their representatives. Both organizations, however, have approved the suggestion by COMPO's ex-executive vice-president, Arthur L. Mayer, for the three-man post. Meanwhile, special counsel Robert L. Coyne has been steering activities. RKO Pictures First Year Puts Company Back in Black After taking a net loss of approximately $5,800,000 for its picture operations on a pro forma basis in 1950, RKO Pictures Corp. bounced way back up into the black with $334,000 for 1951, its first year of operation as a separate production-distribution company. Gross income from film rentals for 1951 was $57,444,000. The foreign market placed a sizeable chunk of revenue into the coffers with $3,101,000 of income from prior years. "A very reduced production schedule" will be in effect through the first half of 1952, the report stated. This was explained as being "in consonance with present policy to reduce picture inventory and conserve cash". Arbitration Rules Group Continues Draft Meetings The task facing the Committee on Rules of the industry arbitration conference wasn't something to be settled in a few days, it became apparent after the meetings last week in New York held under the chairmanship of Herman M. Levy. Several of the Committee members, which included exhibition, distribution and legal representatives, were unable to attend, including Allied's A. F. Myers. Indications were that another series of meetings will be held before resumption of the arbitration conference scheduled for May 26. The meetings resolved themselves into a; general discussion of arbitration procedures, with specific drafting of rules parceled out to individual committee members. These, it was expected, would be presented at the; next meetings, probably Thursday and Friday of this week. Meeting with the press following the first day's sessions, Levy said that conciliation preliminaries, as part of the arbitration sys tern, were tackled by the members with two definite schools of thought emerging: (1) that conciliation would eliminate many of the grievances that might have otherwise been forced to take up time and expense of arbitration, and (2) conversely, valuable time and money may be lost if conciliation were attempted and failed, with ultimate resort to arbitration. After each committee member submits his recommendations for the draft, Levy said it would be compiled for presentation to next week's industry conference. Following any amendments and approval by the entire body, the following course would be required : Submission for approval to each con stituent body represented at the conference Submission for approval to the Depart-J-— ment of Justice. Submission for approval to the U. S Statutory Court for incorporation into the various decrees. On hand for the meeting, in addition td Levy, were Austin Keough, Paramount; Adolph Schimel, Universal; Robert W. Per kins, Warneis; Theodore Black, Republic and Mitchell Klupt, Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n. In addition to Myers, who begged off because of the press of Allied board meeting details and commitments to attend Ohic unit meetings, Milton C. Weisman, ITOA; L. S. Hamrn, WTA, and Irving Moross Columbia, were unable to be present. hi House Committee's Records Prove Films Anti-Red— Bergman Maurice Bergman, Universal Public Re"l lations, got in some hard licks at those whoT would smear Hollywood with the Red taint. (Continued on Page 20} FILM BULLETIN^