Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1956)

EXHIBITORS FORUm Opinions Culled from Organization Bulletins TOA POLLS MEMBERSHIP The following bulletin and poll forum were sent to TOA members. Dear Member: On February 2nd, the Select Committee on Small Business (U.S. Senate) will hold hearings of great importance concerning the motion picture industry. TOA will be heard on your behalf. We must have views from our entire membership as to the courses of action and policies to be adopted, so that they can be conveyed to our representatives who will testify at the hearings. In order to help us compile your thoughts, we are sending you the attached questionnaire. All replies will be kept confidential. To be completely effective, your Committee needs facts, statistics and proof to substantiate your views and comments. We realize that the proper answering of the questions in this questionnaire will take a considerable amount of your time. We also feel, however, that it will be time well spent. This opportunity to appear before the Select Committee on Small Business may well be our last one, in a public forum, for some time to come. Kindly give this matter your substantial and immediate attention. This is an excellent opportunity for TOA, representing rational and responsible exhibitors, to bring its case to the Senate in a statesmanlike and effective manner. The exhibitors of this country need help immediately. Help TOA get that help! We shall be guided by your advice and counsel. Kindest personal regards. Herman M. Levy General Counsel ♦ ♦ GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION 1) What are your views on Federal Government regulation of the entire motion picture industry? 2) What are your views on Federal Government regulation of film rentals? PRODUCT SHORTAGE 1) Are you faced with a shortage of product? 2) If so, is this your Number one problem? 3) If this is not so, what is your Number one problem? 4) "Former affiliates" is a pharse used to designate national chains of theatres, such as Warners, Fox and Paramount, that once belonged to, and were operated by, the distribution companies of the same names. These distribution companies were divorced from theatre ownership by the decrees in the case of U.S. vs. Paramount, et al. With that background in mind, please answer the following questions: a) Are you in favor of these "former affiliates" producing and distributing motion pictures? b) If you are, would you still be in favor, if the "former affiliates" were given the privilege of exhibiting the pictures they produced in their own theatres first, before placing them in general release? ARBITRATION Arbitration is a system whereunder an exhibitor is able to go into an informal hearing rather than into the courts for the purpose of having his complaint heard and decided. It is a speedy and inexpensive method of determining rights. Under the proposed system, the right of an exhibitor to go into court, instead of arbitration, is in no way impaired. The exhibitor has his choice. Based on these facts: 1) Are you in favor of the principle of arbitration, that is, the granting to an exhibitor of the right to turn to arbitration instead of to litigation for a hearing on his complaint? 2) Do you have grievances in the fields of clearances, runs, competitive bidding, failure to deliver a print on time, etc., which you have not, for one reason or another, started suit on, but which you might bring to arbitration if you had the opportunity to do so? TRADE PRACTICES 1) Have distributors' higher film rental terms forced you to increase admission prices? 2) Are you being forced to rent pictures through the process of distribution conditioning the rental of one feature picture on that of another or others, or on shorts or newsreels? 3) Have distributors forced extended playing time on you? Give examples. 4) Have you been asked to advance admission prices as a condition for getting a particular picture? Give examples. 5) Are pictures available to you only long after your former customary clearances? 6) What trade practices do you consider unfair? Please name the companies that indulge in these practices. COMPETITIVE BIDDING 1) Do you have any bidding situations? 2) If so, did you request bidding, or was it forced upon you? 3) What competitive bidding practices do you consider unfair? DECRESS IN U. S. vs. PARAMOUNT, et al 1) What effect has the elimination of block-booking had on the operation of your theatres? 2) Are you in favor of the return of blockbooking? 3) Has divorcement helped you? How? 4) Has divorcement hurt you? How? EXPANSION OF "FORMER AFFILIATES" BY WAY OF ACQUITION OF NEW THEATRES Some of the "former affiliates" have ap plied to the courts, with the approval of the Department of Justice, for permission to acquire additional theatres. Some exhibitors are very audible in their objection to this, while others feel that they would rather have the "former affiliates" as competitors than independent circuits. In answering the following questions please keep in mind that you are being asked how you feel about the expansion of "former affiliates", and not about competition in general. 1) Are you, or are you not, in favor of the acquisition of additional theatres by the "former affiliates". Give your reasons. 1954 FEDERAL ADMISSION TAX REDUCTION 1) Are you in favor of pursuing the battle to have the remainder of the Federal Tax on admissions eliminated? 2) Many exhibitors feel that the gains derived from the 1954 tax reductions were confiscated by the distributors by increased film rentals. What are your views on the subject? COMMENTS Exhibitors of this country represent a major segment of the American economic scene. They also have a tremendous investment in the motion picture industry. The best available figures show that exhibitors' investment is just under three billion dollars. It is, therefore, important that every exhibitor express his views on what he feels is wrong with the industry, and to state his views as to what he feels can be done to better his and the industry's position. Please do so in the space provided. We of TOA are very eager to know how and in what way you feel we can be of further assistance to you. Please tell us. METRO'S ONE-PURPOSE PRINT Allied T. O. of Indiana Exhibitors who attended ATOI's Fall Convention heard a great deal about Metro's new magnetic-optical print. The announcement that "Kismet" will be served both on the new print and the regular optical print has caused some exhibitors to question the need for their purchase of new sprockets, demagnetizing equipment, etc., to handle the combination print. This policy removes some of the urgency to install the new equipment but it still might be desirable to have. The theatre's ability to handle both types of prints may give the exhibitor greater choice of availability on a picture. Also, at this date, Metro has no announced policy regarding future releases. It could be that subsequent pictures will be served only by combined prints or it might be that optical prints would continue to be available on a number of releases during a transitional period in order to give all accounts time to modify their equipment. Page 20 Film BULLETIN January 23, 1954