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, 18T9. Yearly Subscription Rates: United States $15.00 U. S. Insular Possessions. 16.50 Canada 16.50 Mexico, Cuba, Spain 16.50 Great Britain 17.50 Australia, New Zealand, India, Europe, Asia .... 17.50 35c a Copy s 1270 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS (Formerly Sixth Avenue) New York 20, N. Y. A Motion Picture Reviewing Service Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors Its Editorial Policy: No Problem Too Big for Its Editorial Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor. Published Weekly by Harrison's Reports, Inc., Publisher P. S. HARRISON, Editor Established July 1, 1919 Circle 7-4622 A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XXXI SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1949 A FISH STORY WITH A MORAL Under the above caption, the following, in part, was published in a recent bulletin of the Motion Pic ture Exhibitors' Association of Queensland, in Bris' bane, Australia : "There is a small fish with a suction pad on top of its skull, known as the Remora — or Sucker fish. This little chap's intelligence is in no way impaired by the amount of brain space taken up by the suction pad, for he has been provided with it for the sole purpose of attaching himself to the underbelly of some large, unsuspecting fish. Here he lives a carefree life, as any fish that would make a dessert of him must also face the unpalatable first course of the large fish to which he is attached. The Sucker fish naturally knows that, no matter how fierce the fight his protector is engaged in, he at least is sure to get a few tasty fragments of torn flesh swept towards him from the struggle. To his palate, friend tastes just as sweet as foe. "The facts concerning the Sucker fish can be checked as correct by any ichthyologist; but there is a question one is inclined to ask when cogitating the little fellow's peculiar existence, and that is: WHY does the larger fish allow the Sucker fish to cling to it? In other words, which is the 'sucker'? "Compare the large fish to the M.P.E.A. of Q. and the Sucker fish with those who are not members of the Association yet benefit in every way from the activities of the Association. "They contribute in no way to the protection of their existence. They pay no levies or dues, while you as a member of the Association do. Again the WHY? And who is the 'sucker'? "The solution of the problem would not be for everyone to resign from the Association, as that would have the same effect as turning every fish in the seas into a Sucker fish. They would have nothing to benefit from. As far as we can see, the obvious thing to do is to try to persuade the non-members to join the Association and so contribute towards the upkeep of the organization whose existence is their benefit. . . ." Harrison's Reports hopes that these words will sink deep into the mind of every exhibitor in the United States, whether he is a member of an exhibitor organization or not. If you belong to an organization, you should exert every effort to persuade a non-member to join, for in doing so you would help greatly to strengthen your organization financially as well as numerically, thus making it an even more potent force in the constant battle to protect the interests of independent exhibition, both within and without the industry. As to those exhibitors who arc non-members, Harrison's Rf.ports wishes that it could find the magic words that would send them full speed to enroll in their regional exhibitor association, for the benefits No. 25 they will derive as members are invaluable to the successful operation of their theatres. Exhibitors often write to this paper for information and advice, and from the substance of their problems it is obvious that many of them are not organization members. Although we are pleased that they accept Harrison's Reports as a source of reliable information, another source, equally reliable and far better prepared to deal with their individual needs and problems, is available to them in their regional associations. The independent exhibitor organizations of today, particularly the Allied units, offer so many advantages that it should not be necessary to urge any exhibitor to become a member; such membership serves as an assurance that his interests will be well protected. As it has been pointed out frequently in these columns, there is no greater protecting factor for independent exhibition than organization, for by pulling together the independent theatre owners are enabled to put up an effective defense against all hostile forces. Fortunately, the independent exhibitors are blessed with organization leaders who are alert; very little goes on in this industry that escapes their attention, and their ceaseless efforts in battling against abuses that threaten the interests of independent exhibition entitles them to the support and gratitude of every independent theatre owner in the country. Do not feel that money paid to an exhibitor organization is money wasted; every dollar paid to it brings you back many hundred dollars' worth of protection. The dues you pay are just as necessary an expense as is the cost of buying film. If you are not a member of an organization, join one immediately! Do not be a "Sucker fish" on fellow exhibitors who, through hard work and payment of dues, are bearing the burden in the continuing fight to better the lot of all independent exhibitors. CLEARING UP A MUDDLED STATE OF AFFAIRS In the June 4 issue, under the heading, "Unbusinesslike Business Decisions," this paper commented on Eric Johnston's appointment of Francis S. Harmon, vice-president of the MPAA, to head the exhibitor relations department set up by the producers' association, and agreed with Mr. Spyros P. Skouras, 20th Century-Fox president, who protested the appointment on the ground that Mr. Harmon has had no experience with exhibitors and is, therefore, not qualified to head a program aimed at better exhibitor-distributor relations. It was stated in the same editorial that, since its inception in 1922, the helm of the producers' association has been in the hands of politicians and not prac( Continued on bac\ page)