Harrison's Reports (1952)

8 HARRISON’S REPORTS January 12, 1952 The exhibitors should be just as jubilant as the Krim group, for their success means that United Artists is well on its way to once again becoming a strong factor as a distributor of product, as well as providing the independent producers with a distribution outlet that is suitable to their needs. A strong United Artists cannot help but benefit the exhibitors, not only because it will create more competition for their playmates, but also because such healthful competition serves to keep the major com' panies on their toes and makes for an improvement in the quality of pictures. But if United Artists is to continue strengthening its position as a distributor, you, the independent exhibitors, must give the company the encouragement it deserves. And there is only one kind of encourage' ment that counts — playdates! A WORTHY PROPOSAL A proposal to effect a saving of from thirty-three to forty per cent in the transportation of film by the nation’s motion picture exhibitors was made this week by Henry Reeve, of Menard, Texas, president of the Texas Theatre Owners, an affiliate of the Theatre Owners of America. Pointing out that the plan can be beneficial to all exhibitors, particularly so to the many smaller opera' tors who are situated far from exchange centers and to whom film transportation costs are a serious over' head consideration, Reeve had this to say : “Rounding out thirty years in this business, I note that film carrying containers today are identical to the ones used in 1922. In the last 18 months we know how largely the industry’s print situation has been changed to acetate-non-inflammable stock. Why, then, the continued use of unnecessary heavy cans in view of the miracles of modern scientific development of plastics, veneers, and many lightweight metals? “A varying transportation saving of 3 3' 1/3 to 40 per cent is possible to theatre owners on single and two'reel subjects — and a considerable saving on larger shipments — not at all a small item to small'town theatres which are today paying $100 and upward each month on 200'mile hauls — and more and more as exchange distance increases. “A concrete example can be definitely set forth. In my home theatre the twice'weekly newsreel usually comes out in a metal can — total weight of the ship' ment being 10 pounds — the cost 52 cents each way, or a total of $1.04 for each issue. Sometimes the ship' ment is in a common cardboard container — weight five or six pounds — round'trip cost, 60 cents. “All shorts are now on acetate, and while it is true that no figures are at hand for feature shipments as yet, a proportional saving is possible. Even the appli' cation of this plan to short subjects only would make a substantial saving to the individual exhibitor. “Incidentally, the fact that our Government is greatly concerned over the metal situation is another prime consideration. “There is no question that investigation and experi' mentation should be made. An immediate change might not be feasible, because it has taken some time to effect the present acetate status. “Such a reduction in weight would certainly result in a most helpful economy in theatre operation — in overhead reduction which we well know is steadily becoming a more and more necessary item in healthy theatre operation.” There is much merit to the proposal made by Mr. Reeve, and it is certainly worthy of close study by, not only the different exhibitor associations, but also the distributors, who, too, may effect considerable savings in transportation costs as well as in the cost of containers. PROPER MAINTENANCE ESSENTIAL Charles E. Wilson, Director of Defense Mobilization, and Manly Fleischman, Defense Production Ad' ministrator, stated in Washington this week that, after April 1, home building will be cut by approxi' mately twenty'three per cent, civilian goods produc' tion by about ten per cent and automobile output by at least seven per cent in order that critically needed materials such as steel, copper, nickel, brass and aluminum may be diverted to defense production. This information, given to members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Defense Production, upholds the year'end statement issued by Nathan D. Golden, Chief of the Motion Picture' Photographic Products Division of the National Production Authority, in which he predicted that “the construe' tion of motion picture theatres of all types, the manufacture of motion picture equipment and still photographic products during 1952 will have to be decreased somewhat in comparison with 1951.” In pointing out that further cuts in the use of controlled metals for civilian productions were in prospect, Mr. Golden warned the picture industry that “the situation will get worse before it gets any better.” The pinch on critical materials points up the need of proper maintenance of existing equipment and buildings lest an exhibitor find himself with a closed theatre one day because of inability to obtain replacement parts. In line with the urgency of conservation of present equipment, Mr. Golden’s Division has issued a circular that cautions exhibitors to remember that projectors are made of critically needed materials, and that they must be maintained properly and serviced frequently. To keep projectors in top condition, the circular suggests that the following items be checked with regularity: (a) Sprockets. Hooked sprockets, undercutting of teeth, and tooth breakage destroy film; (b) Tension springs, film guides and strippers for wear; (c) Take-up and feed tensions for proper adjustments; (d) Magazine rollers for wear. Jamming is common when they are neglected; (e) Bearings, gear trains and other precision-made parts; (f) Keep all moving parts lubricated properly. The circular suggests also that the following items be cleaned regularly: (a) Upper magazine, fire trap and rollers. Remove all dust, film fragments and excess oil; (b) Projector head. Remove dust, film residue, and oil drippings. Make sure that rollers and gate and tension shoes are thoroughly clean; (c) Optical system. Get the lenses clean and in proper alignment; (d) Sound head. Be sure that it is immaculate throughout; (e) Lower magazine, fire trap, and rollers. Remove all dust, film fragments and excess oil; (f) Lamp houses. Their neglect is an inexcusable source of trouble and waste. Clean reflectors, condensers, rails, worms, gear tracks, lugs and carbon holders. If adhered to, the above checklist will prevent much needless waste and save the exhibitor considerable grief.