Harrison's Reports (1951)

76 HARRISON’S REPORTS May 12, 1951 Speaking before the North Central Allied convention in Minneapolis this week, Trueman T. Rembusch, president of National Allied, told the exhibitors present that, as a result of his talks with exhibitors throughout the country during the past few months, he has come to the conclusion that “there is an avaricious force at work within our industry, a force that is so short-sighted it will consume the industry’s very sinews if it isn’t stemmed, or if its directors don't waken to the havoc they are wreaking on the industry.” Declaring that the distributors’ current selling tactics lead one to conclude that “there is a well organized plan at distribution’s top to gouge every last dollar possible out of the exhibitors’ tills,” Rembusch urged the theatremen to fight the distributors through their organizations. The rising cry for greater concessions in film rentals is not a matter of exhibitor leaders sounding off for effect. It is a genuine problem, and the steady closing of theatres from one end of the country to the other attests to the fact that one of the most acute issues confronting the industry today is relief for hardpressed exhibitors so that they can remain in business. In spite of the fact that free television competition has hurt movie attendance, most exhibitors are inclined to go along with the feeling that the industry will overcome this competition and that the future will find them still in business and prospering. Optimism in time of economic stress is indeed a fine quality, but it does not alleviate the real problems an exhibitor must face during a period of declining grosses. If the exhibitors are to survive under the present changed conditions, it becomes the responsibility of the distributors to adopt more realistic selling policies. There is a limit to what the exhibitors can pay for film, and the sooner the distributors realize this the better for their own welfare, for the fact remains that they cannot sell film to a closed theatre. BILL RODGERS REAFFIRMS A LONG-STANDING POLICY Speaking before a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer sales conference this week at the Hotel Astor, in New York City, William F. Rodgers, the company’s vicepresident in charge of distribution, had this to say: “Where MGM branch, district and sales managers know relief is necessary to keep theatres open, every effort should be made to do so and never let it be said that MGM contributed to the closing of a theatre.” In urging his sales force to take every step possible to forestall theatre closings, Rodgers revealed that he had received reports of many distress situations, including one report that 130 theatres have closed their doors in California alone. He added that, although the degree is not so great elsewhere, a large number of closings are reported from other parts of the country. Bill Rodgers’ pledge of assistance to theatres that find themselves in a desperate position will not come as a surprise to most exhibitors, because he has always been ready and willing to grant relief to any exhibitor who can prove that he needs relief. Rodgers’ pledge is, in fact, a re-declaration of his company’s longstanding policy to relieve aggravated situations where exhibitors are having difficulty in operating profitably. It is a policy he has reaffirmed from time to time over a period of many years. Bill Rodgers and his company are to be commended for having taken the lead once again in a sincere desire to relieve and assist deserving exhibitors. The other distributor heads might do well to recognize the plight of many exhibitors nowadays and to grant them the relief they need. Such an attitude is sorely needed at this time, for it is only by making every effort possible to prevent theatre closings that the distributors can best insure the future of the industry in general, and of themselves in particular. THE SHOE IS NOW ON THE OTHER FOOT In his annual report to the stockholders this week, Sol A. Schwartz, president of RKO Theatres Corporation, has this to say, in part : “During the past few years producers and distributors have adopted certain new marketing practices which have increased the expense and added to the problems of procuring first-run pictures. However, because of their size, location, and character of operation, your management believes that your company’s theatres will be able to successfully cope with such conditions.” The RKO Theatres, as most of you no doubt know, has been operating as an independent circuit since January 1 of this year, following its separation from RKO, its former parent corporation. From what Mr. Schwartz has to say about the current marketing practices of the producerdistributors, it is apparent that he has discovered that the life of an independent is by no means as rosy as was that of the life of an affiliated circuit, which always secured its pictures on terms and conditions that, to an independent, would have been a dream come true. “Ghost Chasers” with Leo Gorcey and the Bowery Boys (Monogram, April 29; time, 69 min.) This program comedy may get by with the followers of the “Bowery Boys” series, but the comedy is mild and the action somewhat slow. The ghost chasing by Leo Gorcey and his gang holds one’s attention in spots, but for the most part it fails to arouse strong interest. Children, however, should find the ghost doings amusing. The most interesting situation is where Gorcey and his pals are locked in the basement of the fake spiritualists’ mansion, and the water is turned on to drown them. Briefly, the story has Gorcey and his pals determined to spoil the game of a fake spiritualist, who had bilked one of Gorcey ’s neighbors. In this, Gorcey is aided by Jan Kayne, his girl-friend, Robert Coogan, her brother, who is a detective, and Lloyd Corrigan, an amateur ghost, who has the knack of walking through walls and of opening doors that do not exist. The trail leads them to a great estate, the center of the fake spiritualists, headed by Lela Bliss. The boys get themselves in all sorts of jams and are eventually made captives and hypnotized. Corrigan arrives on the scene and brings them out of their hypnotic spell, thus permitting Huntz Hall to escape and communicate with the detective. It all ends with the detective arriving and rounding up Miss Bliss and her accomplices. Jan Grippo produced it, and William Beaudine directed it, from a screenplay by Charles R. Marion. Family entertainment.