Harrison's Reports (1929)

4 HARRISON’S REPORTS The stupidity of some of the producers seems to be unbounded. They know that ninety-five per cent of the people of the United States do not want such of the trash as they have been putting oiit. And yet they insist on putting it out.' In' no other 'industry do the manufacturers insist on producing an article that the consumers do not want. Only in the moving picture industry this thing happens. If you run “West of Zanzibar," you will run it at the peril of alienating many of your regular customers. Demand that it be taken off your contract. Of course, because of the arbitration system that is in force in this industry, which is controlled by the producers through the Hays organization, you may not be able to avoid either playing it, or at least paying for it, even though you may not play it ; but as not many of you can afford to pay for a Lon Chaney picture and not play it because of the price you are charged for it, I suggest that, should the distributor refuse to eliminate it from your contract, you call on every minister, priest, and rabbi in your locality and lay the facts before him. Tell him that you do not want to run it, and ask him to lend you his moral support, so that you might be relieved of the obligation of playing it. Have him write either to the exchange or to the home office demanding that the picture be shown to a committee of clergymen before they force you to play it. You may enlist the aid also of the Parent Teachers’ Association and of every women’s organization in your city. I am sure that, if you were to take such steps, you will accomplish two things : first, you will prevent harm to your business ; and, secondly, you will convince the good friends of the screen that you are not responsible for the trash you are often compelled to show. Incidentally, you may be able to accomplish also another object; you may enlist the support of all these good people for the Brookhart Bill. Only a Brookhart Bill, enacted into a law, can save you from being compelled to receive the out-pourings of the cesspools of Hollywood. ABRAM F. MYERS No doubt every one of you must have learned by this time that the Allied States, among which Minnesota, Michigan and Texas, have taken a prominent part in the leadership, have engaged Mr. Abram F. Myers, of the Federal Trade Commission, to become a leader of those States, and incidentally a leader of the movement for all independent exhibitors. The Allied leaders could have searched the United States from end to end, but I doubt if they could have found a man better suited for the task. I watched him very closely when he presided over the Federal Trade Conference in the fall of 1927, and can say that he displayed tact, fairness and ability to an unusual degree. In intelligence, Mr. Myers is the equal of any one connected with the motion picture industry, and the superior of hosts of them. One of the advantages he has, however, is that he knows the people of this industry and is fully aware how they work. There has never been a time when a leader was needed by the independent exhibitors as much as one is needed now. Needless to say that you have had no organization since the Washington convention, where the ambitions and love for medals of one man wrecked your powerful organization, and with it your hopes. Since that “split,” the producers January 5, 1929 have used the Sultanic axiom of “Divide and Reign” with ingenuity. 1 hat is why you have never been able to form another organization, however much you needed one. ■ The new movement is destined to succeed, because it is sincere. The fact that the Allied leaders have delegated their power to an outside man is the best proof of their sincerity. HARRISON’S REPORTS camiot affiliate directly with the new organization. Since the year 1922 it has been its policy to act independently, criticizing even exhibitor organizations and individual exhibitors, if they needed criticitm, because in honest criticism lies progress. But I can say this, that whenever Mr. Myers needs the support of HARRISON’S REPORTS for the good of the cause, it will be ready to place itself by his side, fighting with him to the end. All he has to do is to give the word. You have now as a leader a man who is every inch worthy of your support. Give him that support, not by words, but by deeds. If you fail to do it now, you might just as well sign the death warrant of your business. There are not many of you left. And there will be fewer, unless you stand back of Mr. Myers to a man. LET PETE WOODHULL STICK TO HIS COMEDY Our friend Pete Woodhull, president of M. P. T. O. A., which is now virtually a branch of the Hays organization, has issued a statement challenging the Allied leaders to tell him whether they will induct into their organization affiliated theatre owners or not, and making certain statements about Mr. Abram F. Myers, who has been engaged by the Allied States to lead their organization. “This is not a test for supremacy as a ‘Czar’ of the independent theatre owners between Mr. Myers and myself,” part of the statement says. I don’t know whether this statement has been edited by the Hays organization and by Arthur James, as was his telegram to Mr. Herriot, French Minister of Education, sent in an effort to offset the influence the telegram of Aaron Sapiro might exert. But here it is ! I have known Pete as a comedian. I have seen him address exhibitor meetings and throw the exhibitors into convulsions with jokes. And I have been present at private gatherings where Pete kept many of his hearers roaring from laughter with stories. For comedy is his specialty. This statement, however, is different in tone ; it sounds serious. But he is out of place in serious things ; he is just like a whale in shallow waters. Can’t some one tell Pete that this is a serious business, and that organization matters are serious matters with you so that he might keep to his comedy ? It will be better all around. ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO! Before investing any money in talking picture instruments, be sure that you will be able to get talking pictures. Two exhibitors in this city have installed independent instrunients, but they are like those that are dressed up and nowhere to go ; they have the talking picture instruments but not the talking pictures.