Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1956)

tewpoints NOVEMBER 26, 1956 * vniuut ->a wn ia VOLUME 24, NO. 24 Tet9s Stop Driftiny Thomas Carlyle once wrote : "The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder. A man with a half-volition goes backwards and forwards, and makes no way on the smoothest road; a man with a whole volition advances on the roughest, and will reach his purpose, if there be even a little wisdom in it." It has been two years since the proposal for a conference between exhibitor leaders and the presidents of the film companies was suggested by a distributor — and eagerly taken up by exhibitors. Today, we are, it seems, no closer to that all-important conference than we were two years ago. The men of half-volition, it would appear, have outnumbered those with a whole volition, and the ship of industry relations has been drifting back and forth because no head of distribution has firmly taken hold of the wheel. One of those who has been fighting on the rough road with a purpose is Rube Shor, president of National Allied. He has, with dogged tenacity, renewed his call upon the company heads to sit down with responsible exhibitor leaders, even if purely for an exploratory meeting to determine what should and what should not be discussed. In his latest plea, Mr. Shor reiterates the exhibitors' willingness to understand and appreciate production-distribution problems as an integral part of the overall discussion. He places the bla me for the continued conference abortions largely in the briefcases of the film company lawyers. One of the many benefits to come out of a presidential conference, he wryly says, might be to rid the companies of the heavy legal costs they currently bear — and consequently of many of their high priced lawyers. We do not believe, however, that legal barriers, fancied or real, thrown up by the barristers are the key to a meeting. If there be a true determination by the presidents to meet their customer relations responsibilities, resistance by the lawyers can and will be brushed aside, especially in view of the blessings on an intraindustry meeting by the Senate Small Business Committee. Until film company men of whole volition take the helm and steer a true course to such a conference, the ship will keep drifting. And a drifting ship is forever in peril of catastrophe. Toijiral Step in Distribution A logical — yes, necessary — step toward streamlining the industry's physical distribution system has been taken by National Film Service and the major film companies in New Haven. The announcement by James P. Clark, president of NFS, that all 11 distributors will centralize their Connecticut backroom activities in an ultra-modern building represents the first clear definition of a trend that has been gathering impetus in the past few years. The move represents a clean break with the outmoded and expensive method of multi-unit physical distribution. As Mr. Clark points out, the tremendous savings in real estate and rents alone will make the BULLETIN Film BULLETIN: Motion Picture Trade Paper published every other Monday by Wax Publications, Inc. Mo Wax, Editor and Publisher. PUBLICATION-EDITORIAL OFFICES: 123? Vine Street, Philadelphia 7, Pa., LOcust 8-0950, 0951. Philip ft. Ward, Associate Editor: Leonard Coulter, New York Associate Editor: Duncan G. Steck, Business Manager; Marvin Schiller, Publication Manager; Robert Heath, Circulation Manager. BUSINESS OFFICE: 522 Fifth Avenue, New York 36. N. Y., MUrray Hill 2-3631; Alt Dinhofer, Editorial Representative. Subscription Rates: ONE YEAR, $3.00 in the U. S.; Canada, $4.00; Europe, $5.00. TWO YEARS: $5.00 in the U. S.; Canada, $7.50; Europe, $9.00. plan worth while. In addition, a well-oiled, efficient distribution system in a modern, air-conditionel plant built specifically for this purpose, will rid both distributors and exhibitors of a lot of the headaches they have suffered in the past due to archaic processing methods. The New Haven experiment is one well worth watching, comparing the economies effected by the savings in real estate, rents, personnel, insurance and other overhead expenses, with those currently involved in individual company distribution. Another factor for comparison will be the efficiency with which the joint backroom setup functions. From every indication, the film companies will have much to gain in centralized distribution. Especially in these days when economy is the watchword. Tribute To Cole Brooklyn-born, Texas-bred Harry A. Cole is being honored this week at the Dallas convention of National Allied. Ever since the Colonel emerged from the Army in 1918 at 36 to enter the movie business, the industry has had respect for his judgment, his fighting ability and his devotion to the motion picture business and to the organization he helped form, Allied States Association. At 74, Col. Cole's enthusiasm for the industry and for exhibition's stake burns as brightly as at 36. The Colonel has been cussed by many in the industry, as has any man who will stand by his convictions and his people, no matter how many toes are tread upon. But not a man will deny the full measure of respect entitled him. We rise with the rest of Allied and the entire industry to pay tribute to Colonel Harry A. Cole, fighter, leader, dean of exhibition. Film BULLETIN November 26, 1956 "age 5