Harrison's Reports (1932)

48 HARRISON’S REPORTS faculty of the Fordham University were enlisted in the fight. The result you already know ; the bill was not even introduced in the legislature. Instead, the legislature passed a bond bill, enabling the State to raise the money for the relief of the unemployed from bonds, this method being adopted by this State for the first time in its history, for up to this time no bonds have been issued except for purposes of permanent improvements. This was a purely exhibitor victory ; one may say, independent exhibitor victory, for the circuits took orders from the organization. The Hays forces had completely given up in despair; they felt it was no use fighting against the bill ; in fact Pettijohn became ill from worry. I am bringing this matter to your attention despite the desire of Mr. O’Reilly to keep all publicity out of it. He cares nothing for publicity or for credit. But I am mentioning it because I believe that, when you know how other exhibitors acted in the protection of their interests, you may follow their example. You have the power to prevent injustice to your interests at the hands of legislators. Only you must use it. And there was never a more serious time than now. The Federal Tax Bill now before the Ways and Means Committee proposes to tax tickets beginning with those of twenty-five cents admission, and 2^% on the receipts from film rentals. The tax from rentals will naturally be passed to you because of the provision in the contract ; and an exemption of only twenty-four cents in the ticket tax will force many of you to close your doors. Write, telegraph, telephone, or call on your Representatives in Congress protesting against the imposition of the tax on the film rentals and requesting for a higher ticket tax exemption ; also urge prominent members of your community to send a similar telegram to them. At Detroit, I suggested to the Executive Committee to urge each exhibitor member of their organization to enlist the aid of at least five prominent citizens. One Executive member told me that he would enlist the aid of at least fifty such persons. Enlisting the aid of so many prominent citizens is, indeed, praiseworthy ; but personally I would be satisfied if every exhibitor enlisted the aid of five. Whether you are taxed out of business or remain in business will depend entirely on the action you and the other exhibitors take this week. Don’t expect a renewed appeal to act, for the time is too short. Get busy now 1 THE ALLIED CONVENTION IN DETROIT From the point of enthusiasm and determination to do things, the Allied convention in Detroit was one of the finest held by exhibitors during the history of the motion picture industry. Dissension was absent. There was some heated discussion, but all with a constructive purpose. Several resolutions were passed. These externalized what was in the minds of the independent theatre owners, not as individuals, but as a group. I was present at the first session of the executive committee where discussion of “Protection” was held. The sentiment of the majority of the members present was against protection in any form, for they felt that it was the principle that should be kept in mind at all times. If protection is wrong as a matter of principle, they felt that it was wrong no matter in what form. And yet, after the discussion ended and a resolution condemning protection was introduced, it was passed unanimously. Resolutions condemning the forcing of the exhibitors to buy a producer’s short subjects along with the features; criticising the publication by trade papers of box office receipts unless authentic, as well as the referring to star and director salaries ; endorsing the Brookhart BlockBooking Bill and the Resolution for the investigation of the motion picture industry, and resolutions demanding the correction of other evils, were introduced and unanimously passed. Though the spirit that has been manifested at the convention was most unselfish in that it sought an improvement in the general rather than in the individual condition of the e.xhibitors, the practical results of the resolutions will depend entirely on the support given by the individual exhibitors everywhere. It is one thing to pass resolutions and another to carry through their mandates. For instance, very little interest has been shown by the exhibitors in the tax bill now before the Ways and Means Committee. I have been informed reliably that one member of the Ways and Means Committee did not receive from exhibitors more than two telegrams a day whereas an important Senator received an average of three hundred and fifty a day against the imposition of tax on gasoline. So unless the individual exhibitors manifest a greater interest March 19, 1932 in the protection of their interests, no matter how constructive was the spirit of the Detroit convention, no matter how wise were the resolutions passed, they will avail nothing. “THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY” IN SUPPORT OF THE BROOKHART RESOLUTION AND BILL The March 16 issue of The Christian Century publishes two admirable editorials, calling upon its readers to come to the support of the Brookhart Resolution for the investigation of the motion picture industry, and of the Brookhart Bill. ■‘.At last there has been introduced into the United States senate the beginning of the sort of legislation The Christian Century believes necessary to curb the ruthlessness of the motion picture industry,” says the opening paragraph of the editorial that deals with the Brookhart Resolution. It closes as follows : “Readers must not draw the conclusion that because this resolution has been introduced it will automatically be passed and the investigation started. It has simply been referred to the committee on interstate commerce. It may die there unless the committee hears from the public urging that the investigation be made. Even if the committee reports it favorably, it has still to be passed by the senate. In the meantime, the Hays crowd will be earning their salaries by trying to suppress it. Therefore, let the letters to the committee on interstate commerce and to individual senators roll in.” The editorial on the Brookhart Bill reads partly as follows : "Senator Brookhart’s second document is even more important. It is a bill (number S. 3770) to outlaw blockbooking. * * * The Christian Century understands that this bill was framed largely by independent exhibitors, especially by those who would like to see block-booking and similar systems abolished so that they might pick and choose the films they think their clientele desires rather than the films the producers wish to foist upon them. ♦ * * The Brookhart Bill ♦ * ♦ would require the producer to submit a thousand-word synopsis of every picture before it is released. Such a synopsis would -make it possible for him to know the character of the picture and whether or not it is suitable for his neighborhood. An admirable provision ! The Christian Century recommends that its readers write to their senators at once and to the committee on interstate commerce in support of this bill.” The effect of these editorials will be far reaching, for The Christian Century has not only a wide circulation but a great influence. The time when such beneficial legislation could be put through has never been as favorable. WTiatever efforts you may exert now will be twice as effective as they could be at any other time. So do not lose this wonderful opportunity 1 RCA PHOTOPHONE AGAIN TO THE FRONT! At the Detroit Convention, Mr. E. O. Heyl, general sales manager, of RCA Photophone, made an announcement effecting the following reductions ; For the Special Size Equipment, the sendee charge has been reduced from $32.50 a month to $25.00. The seating capacity limit for this equipment is at the same time increased from 500 to 600 seats. In addition to the service charge reduction for this equipment, the exhibitor is allowed to pay for it in three years instead of in two, as was the case heretofore, and to spread the service charges of $25 a month, $600.00 in all, to three years. In other words, though the exhibitor is compelled to contract for service for two years, at $25 a month in accordance with the new rate, he is allowed to spread the payment of this charge to three years, of about $20 a month. The weekly charge for the purchase of this size equipment is $17.40 a week, for three years. Corresponding reductions were made in the other types of equipment. Harrison’s Reports feels happy at the fact that four years ago it recommended to the e.xhibitors to install an RC.A. Photophone. Though the Western Electric instrument is equally good and durable, it falls short in one respect — in its loud speakers: it uses horn loud speakers instead of dynamic cone reproducers. And the tone quality of the dynamic cone reproducers give at least forty per cent better tone quality. If Western Electric should discard the horn and meet the terms of the RC.A, Photophone, there is no reason why you should not install a Western Electric instrument.