Harrison's Reports (1946)

164 HARRISON'S REPORTS October 12, 1946 THE ALLIED BOSTON CONVENTION AND COLUMBIA In the past few years, on the rare occasions that Columbia has screened one of its pictures for the trade press, the Columbia executives have seen to it that Harrison's Reports should not be invited to attend. The following is a transcript of a portion of the minutes of the Wednesday afternoon (third day) session of the Allied convention held recently in Boston, which was made into an open forum so that all exhibitors, regardless of affiliation, could be present to discuss exhibitor problems: Mr. SIDNEY SAMUELSON: "This is a statement to the convention. I am authorized to inform the convention of the following resolution, adopted by the Allied Board of Directors on September 14, 1946, in order that the convention may take such further action concerning it as it may see fit : " 'WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the board of directors of Allied States Association that Columbia Pictures Corporation has barred P. S. Harrison, publisher of Harrison's Reports, from press showings of its pictures; and " 'WHEREAS, this action by Columbia denies to the independent exhibitors the benefit of Mr. Harrison's unbiased reviews which are a valuable part of the service for which they subscribe to Harrison's Reports; now, therefore, " 'BE IT RESOLVED by the directors of Allied States Association that they protest this seemingly arbitrary action by Columbia Pictures and request that the company hereafter invite Mr. Harrison to all trade showings of its pictures. " 'BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this action by the board be reported to the convention.' " MR. HARRY BRANDT: "Mr. Samuelson's remarks were addressed to the convention. As President of the ITOA, I would like to enter into this protest with Allied. If the wording of Mr. Samuelson's presentation to the convention could be changed so as to include the individual exhibitor groups, then the ITOA would like to make its wishes known in that way. I doubt very much if any other reviewer of pictures representing a newspaper or trade publisher would be barred by Columbia Pictures. Pete Harrison has truly been the independent exhibitor's friend, and I choose to believe that this is the reason he has been so barred." MR. COHEN: "On a point of information. Was any reason assigned by Columbia for this action?" MR. SAMUELSON : "There was no reason assigned for this action, so far as we know, but there is plenty of inference. But, the technical position on the floor is this. The Board of Allied, having had this called to its attention, passed a resolution, and the last sentence says: " 'And be it further resolved that this action by the Board be reported to the convention.' "Now, the convention can endorse the resolution and you can move the adoption." MR. HARRY BRANDT: "Today it is the Forum. We are not part of the convention yet. We don't want to leave any doubts. If you will address your remarks to the Forum, I would be pleased to present [move] the motion." MR. SAMUELSON: "AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this action by the Board be reported to the Forum." MR. HARRY BRANDT: "I move the adoption of the resolution as read." [The motion was duly seconded by Bennie Berger, of Minneapolis, and others, and was unanimously carried. (Applause.) ] PRESIDENT JACK KIRSH: "On the subject of Pete Harrison, I would like to say a few words in behalf of Pete Harrison. I know that he would welcome more subscribers to his paper. If you are not a suscriber,— I wish I had the application blanks with me to have you men give me $ 1 5 for it, because it is a very small amount, and I know that Pete Harrison would be very happy. Now I have no applications with me, but if any exhibitor in this room wants to give me $15 with his name and address, I will see that Pete gets it." MR. HARRY BRANDT: "The members of ITOA want twenty additional subscriptions, and will give you the name6 of the men later. I have to catch a train now. So long!" [Mr. Brandt then left the room.] PRESIDENT KIRSCH: "That's a deal. 1 very seldom make a plea on behalf of any trade paper. Again, this is unique. But I do say to you men this: That if you will be good enough to give me $15 with your name and your theatre, I personally will be very grateful for that. (Applause.)" [Ed. Note: Since the meeting this office has received the twenty subscriptions pledged by Mr. Brandt.] Although Mr. Brandt, by his remarks to the Forum, indicated his indignation that Columbia should have barred this paper from its screenings, he really voiced the sentiments of every exhibitor in the room, and no doubt of most exhibitors throughout the land, as well as of many independent exhibitors in Australia, who are now carrying on a fight against, what they consider, the unfair sales tactics of this company. Lest any Columbia salesman tell you that I am biased against Columbia Pictures, or any one of its executives, let me take this opportunity of challenging him to point out a single misstatement in any of my editorials exposing those of the home office's sales tactics that I consider unfair to the independent exhibitors. The columns of this paper have always been open to the Columbia executives, as they are to any other person in the industry, but not once has any Columbia executive seen fit to controvert my facts. There is no justification for Columbia's attitude towards this paper. If its executives dislike adverse editorial criticism, let them change their sales tactics. Selling a picture in one season and holding it back from the exhibitors to sell it in the next season either to the same or to other exhibitors for more money is not considered fair business methods. There have been times when Columbia sold the same picture in three different seasons. As long as Columbia persists in pursuing a policy that takes advantage of the exhibitors, Harrison's Reports will continue to expose every instance of unfairness. Harrison's Reports has not been unfair to Columbia; it is Columbia that has been unfair to the exhibitors. SIDNEY SKOLSKY A FIRST-RATE PRODUCER Sidney Skolsky, the Hollywood columnist whose column is syndicated throughout the country, has made his first picture — "The Jolson Story," for Columbia, and no one who has seen it has found any flaws in it. The picture looks as if it had been produced by a veteran producer. The script is flawless, and the direction faultless. As to the acting, it certainly stands out — no other actor could have done any better than Larry Parks. When one bears in mind that the singing voice is that of Al Jolson, one may rightly say that Larry Parks' acting is remarkable. He was able to acquire the mannerisms of Mr. Jolson so perfectly that, when made up in blackface, he looks and acts like Mr. Jolson. The synchronization, too, is perfect. I watched the movements of Mr. Parks' lips closely but at no time did I find even one motion out of synchronism. This is, no doubt, the result of wholehearted cooperation by the Columbia studio. Columbia had better hang on to Sidney Skolsky, for it has an asset in him. Many a studio should like, I am sure, to have him. Harrison's Reports wishes Mr. Skolsky continued success in his new venture. The industry does need persons with artistic ability such as he possesses.