Harrison's Reports (1945)

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 $15.00 p 1019 Harrison's Reports, Inc., U. S. Insular Possessions. 16.50 iwwm 101^ Publisher Canada 16.50 New York 20, N. Y. P. S. HARRISON, Editor Mexico Cuba, Spain 16.50 A MoUon pjcture Reviewlng gervice Australia New' Zealand' Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors Established July 1, 1919 India, Europe Asia .... 17.50 Ug Editorial Policy. No problem Too Big for Its Editorial Circle 7-4622 i&c a copy Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor. A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XXVII SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1945 No. 44 with 'To Have and with 'Frenchman's SOME FANCY DOUBLE BILLING "Do you buy all your pictures flat rental?" queries Pete Wood in a recent service bulletin to the members of his Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio. "If you don't," continues Wood, "would you like to? Fox West Coast Theatres must, because here are some of the programs shown in many of the several hundred Fox West Coast Theatres : "1. 'Christmas in Connecticut' with 'Over 21' "2. 'Anchors Aweigh' with 'G. I. Joe' "3. 'Over 21' with 'Junior Miss' "4. 'Over 21' with 'G.I.Joe' "5. 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' with 'Music for Millions' "6. 'Meet Me in St. Louis' Have Not' "7. 'Keys of the Kingdom' Creek' "8. 'Can't Help Singing' with 'I'll Be Seeing You' "9. 'Frenchman's Creek' with 'I'll Be Seeing You' "10. 'Wilson' with 'Those Endearing Young Charms' "11. 'Thrill of a Romance' with '1001 Nights' "To the first Ohio exhibitor reporting that he has been able to buy all or most of the above pictures flat rental, we will present the fifty yard line from the Ohio State Stadium," concludes the bulletin. In the aforementioned double-bills cited by Pete Wood, each of the eight major distributors is represented by one or more pictures, indicating clearly that there is justification for the oft-expressed cry of the small exhibitor that the sales policies of the major companies are discriminatory. Any sales policy that enables either affiliated circuits or large independent circuits to double-bill features of the calibre shown, but which, by reason of the rental terms demanded, prohibits a small exhibitor from showing similar double-bills, cannot be anything but discriminatory, particularly since, in most instances, the small exhibitor has to play both pictures on a percentage basis. It would be interesting to know how many independent exhibitors bought some of the aforementioned pictures under contracts that prohibited double-billing. Last May, the writer was present at a press conference, during which Mr. George Schaefer, chairman of Lester Cowan Productions, specifically stated that the "Story of G. I. Joe," which is included in the aforementioned double-bills, would be sold on percentage only, and that under no circumstances would an exhibitor be permitted to show the picture with a second feature. Did Mr. Schaefer inaugurate such a policy for the small independent exhibitors only? It would seem that way, even though he said nothing at the time to indicate that any distinctions would be made. A sales policy that allows circuit houses to doublebill two "A" features is discriminatory, not only because it fails to give the small independent exhibitor an equal opportunity, but also because it tends to reduce the potential drawing power of each of the "A" pictures when it is later played by the independent exhibitor; the motion picture-goer in the particular area involved rightfully feels that he would prefer to pay a slightly higher admission fee to a circuit house for the privilege of seeing two "A" features than to pay a lower admission price twice to see the same two features at the independent's theatre. It is bad enough that the independent exhibitor is hamstrung by the clearances that circuit houses generally enjoy over him, but why kick him when he's down? AN INTERIM REPORT ON THE NEW YORK ANTI-TRUST TRIAL The New York anti-trust trial is progressing at a speed that is astonishing most observors, who had anticipated that the trial would require many months. At this writing, the feeling prevails that the five major distributors might complete their defense by the end of this week, and that Columbia, Universal and United Artists, the "Little Three," could complete their case during the following week. The trial has been expedited thus far through the admission of stipulated testimony instead of direct testimony on behalf of numerous executives of the defendant companies, a procedure to which Robert Wright, the Government's trial attorney agreed, reserving the right to call the witnesses for cross-examination, if necessary. Ever since the trial resumed on October 22, after a recess of eleven days, the proceedings have been marked by a parade of leading executives who took the witness stand in an attempt to disprove the Government's charges of monopoly. Under the careful guidance of the defense attorneys, these executives outlined the general set-up of their distribution, production, and theatre departments, each testifying in detail as to the inner workings of the department he heads and as to the competition to be met from similar departments of the co-defendant companies, as well as from independent companies. All this testimony was, of course, aimed at refuting the Government's charges point by point. (Continued on last page)