Harrison's Reports (1942)

Entered as second-class matter January 4, 1921, at the post office at New York, New York, under the act of March 3, 1879. Harrison's Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: 1270 SIXTH AVENUE Published Weekly by United States J15.00 Rnnrri 1 R1 9 Harrison's Reports, Inc., U. S. Insular Possessions. 16.50 Room ioi« Publisher Canada 16.50 New York, N. Y. P. S. HARRISON, Editor Mexico, Cuba, Spain 16.50 , ,, .. _. . _ . _ . rrpxt RHtnin T5 7R A Motion Picture Reviewing Service Australia New' Zealand Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors Established July 1, 1919 India, Europe, Asia 17.50 ^ Editorial Policy: No Problem Too Big for Its Editorial Circle 7-4622 6i>c a copy Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor. A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XXIV SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1942 No. 48 The Double Feature Issue Is Back Again Now that the double feature issue has been revived as a result of Lowell Mellett's remarks to the National Board of Review at its annual conference held recently in New York City, such exhibitors and exhibitor organizations who have been advocating the elimination of double features are rallying support for such a movement, and are asking the government to issue an edict banning the showing of two feature length pictures, and to limit the running time of each performance. In general, those advocating single-feature showings are in agreement with Mr. Mellett in that the elimination of the double features will result in a savings of raw film stock, and will allow moire time for the presentation of vital information through government shorts. Urging Senators and House members to pass a government ruling that would solve the double-feature problem, Allied of Illinois took advertisements in three leading Washington newspapers stating that a recent independent poll showed that a majority of the exhibitors throughout the country favored elimination of double features. The view held by Allied of Illinois, however, does not seem to be unanimously shared by National Allied, because its Board of Directors, at a recent meeting in Columbus, O., decided to leave the issue to the discretion of its member groups, so as to avoid forcing the opinion of one group upon the entire body. The most significant step taken thus far is in the St. Louis area where, under the leadership of Harry C. Arthur, Jr., managing director of the Fanchon ii Marco Theatres, in St. Louis, a resolution was unanimously passed by the "representatives of 95% of all theatres in the area," abandoning dual film programs in this territory not later than June 1, 1943. In his announcement, Mr. Arthur had this to say: "The death knell of duals is being sounded throughout the film industry. The plan was presented by us following the multitudinous suggestions by those in authority in Washington, who declare there is a dire shortage of necessary war material currently being utilized for raw stock film. "We cannot afford to await orders from Washington demanding the elimination of duals. It is our patriotic duty as citizens wishing to do all in our power to assist in the nation's war efforts — and especially as citizens engaged in a specific profession which affords an ideal medium of reaching eighty million patrons weekly. "To wait until an edict has been handed down to us is to admit we can't handle our own affairs. This is definitely not the case. We are perfectly capable of so doing, and toward this end, this resolution has been presented, calling a halt to dual film programs for the duration, beginning not later than June 1, 1943. And if the government authorities wish us to call off the duals sooner, we're ready to follow through! "Exhibitors throughout the country have been willing to call quits on duals for a long time, but it's one of those things you talk about and never do anything about! It would have been suicidal for a handful of showmen to adopt a single-feature policy while competitive theatres continued double : — the public, we all know to well, wants dual feature programs, despite any poll ever taken showing otherwise. "But now it becomes a patriotic duty to curtail our activities in the name of the War Effort. The road has been shown to us — none too subtly, but nevertheless effectively. The rest is up to us. It's our responsibility, and we cannot fail. "June 1, 1943, has been designated arbitrarily as a time limit to allow the cleaning up of all contractual obligations between exhibitors and distributors. It also should afford ample time in which producers and distributors can change their production and distribution schedules to mesh with the new 'duration' trend. Our entire industry must gear itself to a single-feature program policy throughout the nation. It will not only save vital materials ordinarily used for raw film stock, but further, will afford theatre men the opportunity to serve the government by running every single short subject of an educational or intelligence nature provided us through government or industrial channels. The running of these reels is imperative on our part. It is the one tremendously important war task assigned to us by our commander in chief and his aides. Their showing on our screens is actually, what constitutes our having been named an essential industry. The elimination of doublefeature programs would afford plenty of time to every exhibitor for the featuring of these subjects, many of which are not receiving full playing time due to film programs packed to the gills with full length features. "Another thought which certainly would save an appreciative amount of film footage, between now and June 1, would be the elimination of endless credits which now precede all film productions, credits to producers, associate producers, directors, photographers, and scenarists. A great portion of this footage can easily be saved, merely by listing them all on one frame, in the name of economy. We fully appreciate that credit is due these worthies, but we also appreciate that, if these vital materials are actually necessary, every one involved would gladly surrender his billing if he or she knew it would net additional bullets for men on the fighting fronts." Note, if you will, that Mr. Arthur admits "the public wants dual feature programs, despite any polls taken showing otherwise." Note also that the resolution was not passed by 95% of the exhibitors in the area, but by "representatives (Continued on last page)