Harrison's Reports (1949)

Entered as second-class matter January 4, 1921, at the post office at New York, New York, under the act of March 3, 1873. Harrison's Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: 1270 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS Published Weekly by United States $15.00 (Formerly Sixth Avenue) Harrison's Reports, Inc., U. S. Insular Possessions. 16.50 M v , v Publisher Canada 16.50 Wew York £U> P. S. HARRISON, Editor Mexico, Cuba, Spain 16.50 A Motion Picture Reviewing Service Great Britain 17.50 Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors Established July 1. 1919 Australia, New Zealand, India, Europe, Asia .... 17.60 Itg Editorial p0iicy: No Problem Too Big for Its Editorial Circle 7-4622 35c a Copy Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor. A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XXXI SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1949 No. 19 THE NEED OF ORGANIZATION One of the greatest protecting factors for business is organization. When the members of a particular business are organized, they are able to put up an effective defense against all hostile forces. And yet there is a number of independent exhibitors who believe that being a member of an exhibitor organization is a waste, either of money, or of efforts, or of both; that those who head such an organization do so for the purpose of gaining some personal material advantage; and that, when an exhibitor does become a member, he lends his own strength for the benefit of others. Fortunately, the number of exhibitors who think this way is very small, and their theory is way wrong. There have been instances — very few, indeed — when leaders of an exhibitor organization obtained a personal material advantages, but during all the years of publishing Harrison's Reports I have watched independent exhibitor leaders sac rificing, not only money, but also their time to serve the interests of the independent exhibitors either nationally or locally, and receiving not even "thanks" for their sacrifices. There have been, and still are, instances where the burden was so heavy that it was a wonder to me why they did not throw up the sponge and say: "Let some one else, too, do some of the work." But they stuck by their guns and saw it through. These lines are addressed to those who are not members of an organization because of neglect or of erroneous beliefs. To such exhibitors I say: Look around you! Study even nature itself for a lesson in organization: Animals, birds, insects, fish — in fact all living organisms, travel in groups, for they know by instinct that protection lies in grouping. Cattle, for instance, when attacked by wolves, gather back to back to fight off the attackers. The outcome would be obvious were they to attempt to fight them singly. Take to heart the example of Aesop, the old Greek sage, who, in order to impress his sons with the necessity of collaborating with one another, took a bundle of sticks and showed them how difficult it was to break the bundle but how easy it was to break it one stick at a time. The question a non-member should ask himself after reading these lines and if he decides to join an organization, is this: "What kind of an organization should I join?" The answer is simple: "An organization that consists of members whose interests are identical." An exhibitor would be naive if he were to believe that joining an organization that is supported by producer-distributor money will serve his interests on all occasions. When there arises an issue that affects the interests of the producer-distributors adversely, even though it benefits the interests of the independent exhibitors, the officers of that organization either will protect the interests of those who represent the producer-distributors or will lose their financial support. The independent exhibitor must bear in mind that he who foots the bills is the boss — there is no other way around. Of the exhibitor organizations in existence, only Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, called "Allied" for short, consists of members whose interests are identical. I was present at its formation and have watched it grow strong and influential, not only within the industry, but also in Government circles. Why? Because of its fine leadership. Throughout the years, the Allied leaders fought, and are still fighting, tirelessly for the interests of all independent exhibitors. It is true that there are two or three regional independent exhibitor organizations that are not part of National Allied, but sooner or later these, too, will have to join Allied, for, though their influence may be strong locally, they are ineffective when it comes to a fight on national matters, unless they throw in their lot with Allied. This they have been doing for the past few years. If you are not a member of a local Allied unit, you should become one at once. Just now Allied is conducting a national membership drive in honor of Mr. Abram F. Myers, who has been the organization's outstanding leader throughout the twenty glorious years of its existence. Mr. Myers was Allied's national president as well as its chief counsel during the first years, and its general counsel as well as chairman of the board of directors afterwards. The leaders of the Allied units feel that this membership drive is a tribute that Mr. Myers deserves for his fine leadership. How fine has been his leadership may be judged from the fact that, of all the exhibitor organizations that have been formed in the history of exhibition, Allied is the only organization that has withstood the years without a break. If there is not an Allied unit in your zone, write either to Mr. William L. Ainsworth, Allied's president, 714 National Exchange Building, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, or to Mr. Abram F. Myers, Suite 1131, Dupont Circle Building, Washington 6, D. C, and inform them of your desire, either to become a member of an existing unit, or to organize a new unit in your territory. But if there is a local unit in your zone, apply for membership immediately. And, if possible, make your check out for more than just the organization dues to compensate in some measure for the hard work others have been doing for years while you have been receiving the benefits without any cost, cither of money or of effort. PRESUMPTUOUS "There is nothing more hazardous," says W. R. Wilkerson, publisher of the Hollywood Reporter, in a recent issue, "than the production of a motion picture, but our exhibitors never give that venture a thought, other than is it good or bad; how much they can pull into their theatres with the show; how much they can grab for themselves and how little they can pay for it. "The entire history of this business proves that even the very best of our producers can fail at times in their efforts to come out with an attractive, entertaining picture. Producers of good taste; men of tested judgments, yes, and the best of our studios, come out with occasional flops. These flops cost just as much as the hits, in many instances more, because of the nature of the subject, but to the exhibitor it's cither good or bad; fair or medium and they only want to (Continued on last page)