The Film Daily (1937)

THE *4 ADJUSTMENT BOARD URGED BY YAMINS {Continued from Page 1) the Allied convention at the Hotel Pfister yesterday. In his annual report, the Allied chieftain recommended appointment of a committee to study the matter and present a plan to a Congressional committee, preferably the Judiciary Committee. Approximately 250 conventioners, virtually all theater men, were present to hear Yamins address the inaugural meeting in the Fern Room. He listed Allied principal objectives as passage of the Neely-Pettens:ill measure outlawing block booking, its theater divorcement bill and its measure to tax circuit theaters based on the Lou'siana decision of the U. S. Supreme Court. Although "emancipation of the little fellow" is occurring generally through enactment of new laws, such as the Robinson-Patman antidiscrimination act, the lot of the independent exhibitor has not improved, Yamins declared. Slaming away at distributor policies he described as the "number racket" the practice "of selling pictures by number rather than by title, author, play or star." "What justification is there for the producer-distributor entering into the field of exhibition?" asked Yamins, and said: "When this practice first started the claim was made, and perhaps with justice, that the distributors needed large theaters in the large Metropolitan cities as show places for the proper exploitation of thenpictures, thereby adding prestige to the pictures and helping the exhibitors. Soon, however, the reason for the entry by the distributor into the exhibitor field was forgotten, and their affiliated chains built or acquired theaters in smaller cities where there can be no pretense of promoting the value of pictures by exploitation, and today several of the distributors are engaged in a mad rush to acquire theaters of every description. If this is permitted to continue, there soon won't be enough independent exhibitors left to form an exhibitor association, much less hold a convention." The convention must decide on what course is to be taken, as regards selection between the circuit tax plan or the theater divorce move, said Yamins. Resolutions "are will-o-the-wisps" from the standpoint of tangible results, he £lSS61't6Cl. Richard T. Turner, general sales manager of Dictograph Products, discussed Acousticon theaterphones. Recommendation that Allied ap Double — Impersonation Milwaukee — Abram F. Myers and Pete Harrison were impersonating each other during the early hours of the Allied convention yesterday. Pete wore the Commissioner's convention badge displaying his name while Myers did likewise with the publisher's tag. ALLIED NOTES By ARTHUR W. EDDY MILWAUKEE pETE WOOD told the Allied convention yesterday about a Milwaukee exhib. who is in plenty of picketing trouble. Both IATSE and the CIO members are parading in front of his house as they try to persuade him to sign on the dotted line. E. M. Hartley and Tom Joyce are doing convention honors for RCA Manufacturing. Former reached Milwaukee after a swing through the south. Accompanied by his mouthpiece, Attorney Sam Feir, Pete Harrison bag and baggaged into the Pfister yesterday from Manhattan. One of the outstanding highlights of the proceedings is bound to be Abram F. Myers' discussion of legislation to tax the circuits based on the recent U. S. Supreme Court ruling in the Louisiana chain store tax case. The convention gavel is wielded by Nate Yamins as prexy of the organization. The Texas brand of oratorical fireworks will be displayed by Col. H. A. Cole, who has figured in many a Lone Star State squabble. Sid Samuelson is one of the convention's most energetic leaders and a major factor behind scenes. Pete Wood of the Columbus Woods has done a grand job in setting up a convention. Members of Allied Theaters of Michigan are vociferously happy that they have persuaded "Rich" Richey to remain as general manager for their unit. Aaron Saperstein of Chicago is bound to be consulted on the threatening labor situation. He's an authority on such matters. Al Steffes, divorce expert for Allied, is being congratulated on the success of his legislative campaign. He's chairman of the organization's defense committee. point a committee of two or three members to interview Paramount as to why it has withdrawn "Souls at Sea" from its current season program and placed it in its new year's lineup was made by Pete Harrison, who suggested a similar protest to Jack Cohn at Columbia over handling of "Lost Horizon". Harrison also urged the exhibitors to name a committee to pass on sales drives of major companies, either okaying or rejecting them from the viewpoint of theater support. President Yamins announced that through Neil F. Agnew, Paramount's sales manager, Zukor is to telegraph a reply to the convention on the protests made to Paramount on "Souls at Sea." F. J. Williams remarked that theaters are in-between the American Federation of Labor and the CIO on the unionizing situation. Announcement was made of appointment of a film buying survey committee, with membership as follows: Sidney E. Samuelson, chairman; Pete Wood, M. A. Rosenberg, Fred De Lodder and A. Kaplan. The survey will be made again next year, it was stated by H. M. Richey, who reported as to the findings of this season's checkup. Committee on resolutions and miscellaneous was named by President Yamins as follows: Col. H. A. Cole, chairman; Lee Newbury, Moe Horwitz, I. R. Holycross, and E. L. Peaslee. Max Krofta of the banquet committee stated that governors of Indiana, North Dakota and Minnesota will attend the annual affair to be held tonight at the Pfister. Exhibitors must strike at selling policies and practices through the Neely-Pettengill anti-block booking bill and the Hobbs resolution asking Congress to investigate the film industry, the conventioneers weiie told at the initial session yesterday afternoon when the Buying Survey Committee submitted its report. "Above all", declared the report, presented via H. M. Richey of Detroit, "by cooperation among themselves and the exercise of restraint and judgment in their buying cooperation, they can improve their position." The survey upon which the report was based covers 500 individual checkups, involving 29 zones, it was stated. "The greatest single factor in the sale of pictures is the weakness of the exhibitor," asserted the report. "This weakness consists mainly in his competitive situation. Other elements of weakness are lack of bargaining skill, the inability to hold off and to say, 'No,' also lack of efficient regional organizations to supply needed information, assistance and skill. "Mounting film rentals, increased percentages, compulsory block booking, admission price control, designation of playdates, etc., constitute the real menace to the exhibitors," it was added. "If the big eight are forced to dispose of their theaters and all the big circuits are dissolved the exhibitors still will be confronted with the problems presented by this sales survey." Last evening the delegates attended a Monte Carlo night, with wrestling and boxing on the program and plenty of free beer. Niles Trammel, vice president of the National Broadcasting Co., Chicago, has been placed on today's program for an address on television. ALLIED CLOSES DOORS, TALKS UNION PROBLEM (Continued from Page 1) executive meeting was made by the Board of Directors at a meeting yesterday at the Hotel Pfister. President Nathan Yamins appointed the following committee to study the union situation and report back at today's executive session: Fred Herrington, chairman; F. J. McWilliams, Aaron Saperstein, Martin Smith and Frank Wetzman. A report on the activities of the defense committee will be presented to the Allied convention today by its chairman, Al Steffes, following a meeting of the group held Tuesday night at which time its work was reviewed. 19 Industry Companies Exhibit at Allied Meet Milwaukee — Nineteen companies have exhibits in connection with the Allied convention at the Hotel Pfister. They are: Ideal Seating, National Carbon, Film Service, ScreenGames Attractions, Theater Trailer, National Screen Service, RCA Photophone, International Seat, International Projector, Alexander Film, Burch Manufacturing, American Seating, General Register, Acousticon Theaterphone, Western Electric, Monogram, Elain Electric Products, Republic and Du Color Trailer. Push-Pull Recording Method Explained at SMPE Meet West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The new push-pull recording system does away with defective sibilant "sounds," eliminates ground noises and speeds up timing, according to a paper read at the SMPE convention yesterday by J. 0. Baker, C. N. Batsel and H. J. Hasbrouck, RCA experts. The Players Elect Wright Detroit — The Players, Detroit theatrical club, has elected Wynn Wright as president; others named are: Hayward S. Thompson, vice president; Lawrence P. Smith, secretary-treasurer; and directors, William H. Elliott, John R. J. Grylls, Sheldon R. Noble, and Ray Jacobs, j Coplan Out, Klarry Back Detroit — Gus Coplan has resigned as general manager of the Jacob Schreiber circuit. William Klarry, who quit recently, is back as head booker. Palfreyman Eyes Allied ^ I Milwaukee — Dave Palfreyman, Hays tfi^*\ ganization contact man with the affili ated circuits, arrived in Milwaukee yesterday morning to keep in touch with proceedings at the Allied convention. He made a similar appearance at the Allied Cleveland convention last June. I