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60
HARRISON’S REPORTS
them when framing their bills. The producers have not yet come to realize that the methods they have used in this industry cannot stand forever because they are unjust and unfair. If the exhibitors should be unsuccessful this time, they will be successful at some other time. The people of the United States have been inspired by the new administration and are looking forward for a new deal. Everyone is keyed up to it. And the exhibitors feel confident that, if they do not get justice from the producerdistributors they will get it from them through the goveniment, if necessary by the aid of a thorough investigation of the industry.
THE INCREASE OF RADIO SETS AND THE EFFECT OF IT ON THE PICTURE THEATRE BOX OFFICE RECEIPTS
According to a booklet issued by the Columbia Broadcasting Company, in the period from April, 1930, to January, 1933, the number of radio sets sold have been 9,000,000.
What does this fact indicate?
People must have entertainment.
Up to within recently moving pictures were considered the entertainment of the masses. The great increase in the sale of radio sets indicates that moving pictures have not been furnishing the entertainment the people want, and since they must have entertainment they have turned to radio for it.
The failure of moving pictures to provide the entertainment the people want has been caused by the fact that the stories are, not only inane and hackneyed, but loaded with filth. Sex and horror is the main fare now ; and where a picture is free of the sex problem the characters are made to utter wise cracks that are dirty and vicious.
The producers are dragging the industry into the bottomless pit. And no one can stop them; they are blind to the dictates of reason.
REPERCUSSION FROM THE VULGARITY OF “SO THIS IS AFRICA”
Under the heading, “WHAT IS STAUNTON GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?” the March 28 issue of The Evening Leader, of Staunton, Virginia, published the following editorial as a result of the showing of “So This Is Africa” at the Warner Bros, theatre in that city:
“It has become increasingly evident that no dependence can be placed in the state division of motion picture censorship, as at present constituted, to prevent the showing of offensive films in Virginia. This was never more evident than last week-end, when a picture that aroused the indignation of people of all classes was shown in Staunton. Were this the only instance of the failure of state censorship, it might be overlooked, but there have been persistent indications of a moribund board.
“The Leader was originally not a believer in the censorship principle, but persistent failure of the moving picture producers to clean their own houses unquestionably made censorship necessary in the public interest. Some progress was made toward betterment of the films, but in recent months the picture producers seem to have determined to overcome the depression’s effect on the box office by a parade of indecency that has never been attempted in this country outside of the coarsest burlesque shows in the larger cities.
“Picture people defend these obscenities by claiming that their indecency is ‘all in the mind,’ and ‘think no evil, there is no evil.’ They seem to have lost all sense of proportion through constant association with sex themes in the films.
“Efforts to obtain local relief from this situation by conference, as pointed out in an editorial yesterday, have failed. . . . The theatre manager had been warned of press denunciation if the picture in question were shown ; the Mayor’s supine attitude is likely to lull the Warner Bros, official into believing that ‘anything goes in Staunton.’
“There is, however, a stronger authority in Staunton than the Mayor, and a more effective censorship than that of the state board. It is an aroused public opinion. That this opinion is awakened was evident yesterday evening and all
April 15,J 933
day today, when people of all classes telephoned or called at the Leader office to join in condemnation of last week’s show and to commend this newspaper’s attitude on the matter.
“But what is Staunton going to do, in a practical, effective way, to clean up the local screen ? The Leader has some suggestions to make later ; meanwhile, it will welcome ideas from its readers.”
And yet Mr. Hays, instead of pointing out to the members of his organization the danger from the policy of dirt and filth in pictures, tells them that all is well with pictures ; and the world that pictures are getting cleaner all the time.
How long could an industry keep alive if half of the people were telling the other half : “Don’t buy the articles manufactured by this industry, they are poisonous !” ? How long can this industry survive when half of the people tell the other half : “Do not visit pictures theatres ; the pictures they show are moral poison !” ?
The outburst of The Evening Leader is not an isolated case ; hundreds of newspapers have at some time or other blasted the moving picture industry. Today many organizations inform their membership to keep away from all sex or horror pictures. In this manner millions of dollars are stopped from flowing into the box offices. And such a hostility will increase as time goes on, because filth and vulgarity in pictures is on the increase, on account of the financial desperation of the producers.
As long as the old leaders retain control of the industry, there is no hope.
STAR JUMPING MR. KATZ
I have been informed by a reliable source that the terms by which Sam Katz was able to induce the Marx Brothers to sign a contract with him for their services are one hundred per cent of the profits. In other words, Sam Katz, in accordance with his written agreement with the Marx Brothers, will, if my information is accurate, make no profit whatever on their pictures ; he will turn every penny over to them after deducting the cost of distribution, advertising and prints.
Those who know Sam Katz certainly cannot reconcile his business agreement with the Marx Brothers with his past actions. While head of the Paramount circuit he squeezed the producers where they could hardy make a profit ; for he paid them for their film twenty per cent of the gross receipts.
The conduct of Sam Katz in this instance is no surprise to me. I can hardly believe that he has suddenly become an altruist. Is it possible that his salesmen will use the Marx Bros, pictures to sell his other pictures? They may not do it on his orders, but when they know that their company is not making any money on the Marx Bros, pictures will they not offer the Marx Bros, pictures at lower percentages, inducing the exhibitors to accept higher percentages on their other less meritorious pictures? And even if they did not do so, how much good would it do to Marx Bros, to receive one hundred per cent of the profits if their pictures were not given proper distribution ?
Sam Katz has created much dissatisfaction among the stars by his offers of better terms than those thej' have been working under heretofore. This is deplorable coming as it does at a time when the industry needs economy and peace. Policies destructive to the morale of the artists is destined eventually to reflect upon the exhibitors themselves, for there is now just so much coming into the box offices of the pictures theatres and any one who offers extravagant terms to the stars thereby causing the cost of production to rise out of proportion to the intake is not a constructive factor and cannot benefit any one, least of all the artists.
After disorganizing the exhibiting end of the picture business by his policy of gathering in one group more theatres than he could conduct profitably, Sam Katz has gone to the Coast to bring about a similar disorganization. But it is my opinion that, if he persists in his destructive policy, his fate in production will be no different from what has been his fate in the exhibition end of the business.
If you should find a copy missing from your file of Harrison's Reports, zvrite about it to this office ; a duplicate copy vnll be sent to you by return mail zvithout any charge.