Harrison's Reports (1937)

96 Mr. Quinn then proceeds to tell Assemblyman Redwinc of a test that he carried out using that assemblyman's office in Hollywood as a pivotal point and said that in less time than it takes to talk about he and his co-workers signed up every voter they had contacted, with the exception of a young man who wasn't twenty-one, and two or three others. He then goes on to tell the assemblyman that the smart thing for him to do would be to support the bill, not passively, but militantly, for the bill would benefit the public. "And strange as it may seem to the doubters," the letter continues, "those who would benefit the most from it are those who are now fighting it most fiercely — the producers and their satellites. It would open up the motion picture field, which is now almost sterile of originality and fresh ideas, a healthy competitive condition which would go far toward safeguarding the vast investments which are now decaying daily. As a practical proof of that assertion, I show you United Artists, which company sells a customer twenty, ten, two or one of their season's productions." With work such as this, can any one ever doubt that the Southern California exhibitors, if they had decent support from the Northern part of the state, would be able to put that bill through? That the producers have felt this intelligent work may be evidenced by the fact that they have asked the exhibitors for a conference, for the purpose of trying to iron out all grievances, provided they ceased to put their pressure behind that bill pending the talks. I don't know what has been done since then (the letter is dated May 9) — the Milwaukee convention intervened and I have had no news yet ; you will know as soon as I hear from Los Angeles. If every organization worked as hard as the Southern California organization, there can be no doubt in the least as to what would be the outcome. THE PRODUCER ATTITUDE ON THE ALLIED OFFER FOR CONFERENCE As stated in last week's issue, Mr. W. A. Steffes, chairman of the Exhibitor Defense Committee, proposed at the Allied convention in Milwaukee that the Committee be empowered to propose a conference with the heads of the major companies for settling points of dispute so that the Allied legislative program may be made unnecessary. In case the producers accept the olive branch extended to them by Mr. Steffes, a request will be submitted for them to divest themselves of all their small-town theatres. The Film Daily stated last week that the producers have not shown any desire to accept the offer. It is not strange that they should not ; those on top of the ladder most of the time see no reason why they should consider the rights of those on the lower rungs, until the ladder is given a sudden jerk and they go tumbling down, finding themselves on the floor. ^. In the next two years there will be so much anti-chain legislation introduced in the legislature of many states that they will become dizzy. And such legislation cannot help being successful, for the independents of every other business or industry are ready, able and willing to join hands with the independents of this industry. The producers will then regret their lack of vision. Harrison's Reports suggests to every one of you to do your part towards having anti-chain legislation introduced in your state and having it passed. Don't let the Allied States executives do everything ; you should help them, by doing what the exhibitors of Southern California are doing toward having their state anti-block booking bill passed, as explained elsewhere in this issue. And let the tax on each seat be from 50 cents at least to $5, on a graduated scale, the amount of tax depending on the total number of theatres a concern owns nationally, and not within the state. Get busy ! "SOULS AT SEA" TO BE ROADSHOWN ON JUNE 30 In the extract from Mr. Zukor's letter to those who are protesting to him for withholding a number of choice 1936-37 season's pictures, which extract was printed in last week's issue of Harrison's Reports, Mr. Zukor stated that "Souls at Sea" and "High, Wide and Handsome" have just been completed "in so far as the camera work is concerned." "There is yet considerable work to be done on them," he said, "and much money to be expended . . . they will not be fully completed for some time." Commenting on this statement, Harrison's Reports June 12, 193'/ pointed out that the 1936-37 season is not yet over, and that from the time Mr. Zukor wrote that letter until the end of the season there were fully three months, during which time he certainly could have finished and delivered them, if Paramount were inspired by a motive of fair play. The industry has now learned from an item in the New York Times (denied to Mr. Peter Wood by Neil Agnew) that "Souls at Sea" will begin a roadshow run at the Astor, in New York City, on June 30; that is, fully one month before the season ends. Let it be noted that, though Paramount has the legal right to withhold "Souls at Sea," and resell it at whatever terms it sees fit, the holder of a 1936-37 season's contract is not released thereby, so that, if the picture should, by any chance, turn out to be a poor box-office attraction, Paramount may deliver it to him. Thus you see that the contract holder is helpless either way. The news that Paramount will begin roadshowing this picture on June 30 prompted Pete Wood, business manager of the Ohio exhibitor organization, to telegraph to Mr. Neil Agnew, general manager of Paramount, as follows : "Your letter of May 25th : The meaningless explanation by Mr. Zukor in his letter, coupled with your announcement that 'Souls at Sea' will be released as a roadshow on. June 30 is the greatest slap in the face ever given to exhibitors. When one of the leading companies in an industry stoops to such unethical and unfair tactics it is no wonder that it is beset with Congressional investigations and with the condemnation of civic and other public groups. Paramount is certainly doing its full share to hasten Federal control of the motion picture industry. I hope that its stockholders, at the forthcoming meeting to consider the recommendations of the board of directors regarding the prohibitive salary and bonus to be paid Mr. Zukor for the current year, will find time to take some action on the business tactics of their organization." Paramount's withholding several choice pictures from the holders of 1936-37 season's contracts cannot be compared with Columbia's withholding of "Lost Horizon," by reason of the fact that the exhibitors did not think that the heads of Columbia could have shown any good judgment, — they do not realize that, by withholding "Lost Horizon" they will get less money than they could have obtained had they delivered the picture to the contract holders and then pleaded either for a voluntary modification of the contract's terms or for increasing the run ; but no one would think that Paramount, the organization that has been priding itself on its reputation, would have resorted to junk-dealer tactics. Among the organizations that are active in protesting against this unethical act on the part of Paramount is also Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California and Arizona. In a letter sent to the members, Mr. Jack Y. Rerman, president of that organization, urged each member to protest vehemently to Paramount, and to insist that Paramount live up to its obligations. "It is a real violation of trust the exhibitors have had in Paramount for many years," Mr. Berman said in that letter, "and it is hard to understand that a distributing company would so far forget its moral obligation to its contract holders." If you have not yet protested against this unethical, unjust and unfair act, protest at once to Mr. Zukor. You may address him in care of Paramount Studio, 5451 Marathon St., Hollywood, Cal. And if your organization has not yet taken steps to make its collective sentiment known to Paramount, urge your officers to call a meeting at once. HARRISON'S DIGEST FOR CURRENT SEASON CONTRACT TERMS OUT In a few days, you will receive a copy of Harrison's Digest, giving the terms on which many exhibitors bought their 1936-37 season's pictures. The information given in it should guide you as to what you should pay for your next season's pictures. One other reason why you should be cautious as to the prices you may pay for your 1937-38 season's pictures and as to the terms you should accept is the fact that the strikes and the general unrest has hurt the show business considerably. Whether the conditions will improve in the immediate future or not it is hard to tell. It should be wise on your part, therefore, to exercise great caution. Another valuable aid should be, as said elsewhere in this issue, Harrison's Forecaster. By means of the forecasts on at least one-third of the stories each company will put into pictures in that season, you should be able to form a clear idea what the entire program should be worth, instead of what the salesman tells you it is worth. HARRISON'S REPORTS