Harrison's Reports (1951)

IN TWO SECTIONS— SECTION ONE Entered as second-class matter January 4, 1921, at the post office at New York, New York, under the act of March 3, 1879. Harrison’s Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: 1270 SIXTH AVENUE United States $15.00 U. S. Insular Possessions. 16.50 Canada 16.50 Mexico, Cuba, Spain 16.50 Great Britain 17.50 Australia, New Zealand, India, Europe, Asia .... 17.50 35c a Copy New York 20, N. Y. A Motion Picture Reviewing Service Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors Its Editorial Policy: No Problem Too Big for Its Editorial Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor. Published Weekly by Harrison’s Reports, Inc., Publisher P. S. HARRISON, Editor Established July 1, 1919 Circle 7-4622 A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XXXIII SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1951 No. 41 TRADE PROBLEMS TO RECEIVE MAJOR ATTENTION AT ALLIED CONVENTION Trueman T. Rembusch, president of Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, issued the following press release this week: “The national office of Allied has received an overwhelming number of inquiries from exhibitors of nonAllied territories inquiring whether they would be welcome at the national convention of Allied States Association to be held in the Biltmore Hotel, New York City, October 30, 31 and November 1. “This press release is to assure all non' Allied exhibi' tors that not only will they be welcome to attend the convention but they are most welcome to attend and participate in the film clinic meetings which are sched' uled for two mornings of the'convention. These meet' ings are divided into the following categories: Small towns, large towns, cities, neighborhood and sub-run, drive-ins, and circuits and bidding. “With exhibitor interest in film prices at an all time peak the clinic meetings will be most helpful to exhibitors in dealing with the film problems of the coming winter. “The convention will be conducted in a democratic manner and full time will be alloted to any exhibitor desiring to discuss from the floor of the convention film prices, clearance, bidding, unfair distributor practices, or any other problem of national exhibitor interest. “Reservations should be sent immediately to Wilbur Snaper, Convention Chairman, 234 West 44th Street, New York City.” From the interest shown by exhibitors everywhere in this forthcoming Allied convention, it appears that the meeting promises plenty of fireworks. And those who have something to say will be given a full opportunity to sound off, for approximately sixty per cent of the business conducted at the sessions will be devoted to trade problem discussions, according to a statement by Snaper, who is also president of New Jersey Allied, which is the host at this convention. At a press conference last week, Snaper announced that the registration fees are twenty-five dollars for men, and twenty dollars for women. As of October 4, he said, more than three hundred Allied and nonAllied exhibitors, some as far away as Montana, had sent in advance registrations, indicating that attendance at the convention will establish an all-time record. Additionally, all both space for the trade show has been sold out. Snaper announced also that at least two manufac turers of large-screen theatre television equipment will demonstrate their products in special miniature theatres set up for the purpose. And he emphasized that the trade press will be invited to attend and report the proceedings at all the sessions, with the exception of the board meetings and the popular film clinics, where actual terms and deals are discussed by the exhibitors on an off-the-record basis. Exhibitors today are faced, not only with some of the old problems, but also many new ones, which have cropped up as a result of the anti-trust decree. These problems require thorough discussion so that solutions may be sought. For this reason, every exhibitor, if at all possible, should make an effort to attend this Allied convention, because if it holds true to form (and there is no reason to suspect that it will not) , you may be sure that the distributor abuses will be dealt with in militant fashion. With Allied, there is no pussy-footing, no policy apeasement, and no sidetracking of vital subjects. Any one can take the floor and speak his mind about any topic and about any company’s policies and practices. And where problems exist, Allied does more than talk about them— it tries to work out equitable solutions. As in previous Allied conventions, there will be a full program of social activities for the ladies, and the men, too, will be given ample opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves. TIMELY ADVICE In his talk before the recent TOA convention, Nathan D. Golden, director of the Motion PicturePhotographic Products Division of the National Production Authority, urgently advised the exhibitors to replace their worn equipment now. Pointing out that existing world conditions may make it extremely difficult for exhibitors to alter theatres in the near future, Mr. Golden had this to say: “Get theatre seats, carpet, stage and projection equipment now, if you are in need of them. It certainly appears that conditions may well get worse before they get better in the procurement of materials and equipment necessary to operate theatres and drive-ins.” Mr. Golden also appealed to the exhibitors to cooperate in the copper drippings salvage program. Briefly, this program involves the collection of the copper drippings from the projector arc lamps by the projectionists in every theatre, studio and exchange. ( Continued on bac\ page)