Harrison's Reports (1950)

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A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XXXII SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1950 No. 19 COMPO NOW OFFICIAL The Council of Motion Picture Organizations was launched officially on Monday and Tuesday of this week, when representatives of the ten charter member groups that conceived the organization last August met at the Drake Hotel, in Chicago, to report the ratifications of their groups, amend and approve the by-laws, and to elect temporary officers until a charter is granted to the organization by the State of New York in about two weeks. Following the granting of the charter, COMPO's Executive Board will hold its first meeting, at which time the following roster of officers will be nominated for a full term of one year: Ned E. Depinet, president, and nine vice-presidents, representing the heads of the different constituent groups as follows: Ellis Arnall, president, Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers; Harry Brandt, president, Independent Theatre Owners Association; Leo Brecher, president, Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Association; Roy Brewer, chairman, Motion Picture Industry Council; Abel Green, chairman, Trade Press Committee; Rotus Harvey, president, Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners; Samuel Pinanski, president, Theatre Owners of America; Ronald Reagan, co-chairman of the MPIC and president of the Screen Actors Guild; and Trueman Rembusch, president, National Allied. Robert J. O'Donnell, Variety, International delegate, was nominated for the post of treasurer, and Francis S. Harmon, of the Motion Picture Producers Association, was nominated as secretary. Since the officers nominated are representative of the constituent groups and are located geographically in various sections of the country, it is expected that substantially the same slate will be elected. The by-laws provide for a paid, full-time executive vicepresident, who shall be the chief administrative officer of the organization, but his selection was deferred pending a study of the qualifications of potential candidates by one of the five committees the president was authorized to appoint. This responsibility was delegated to the Committee on Management and Personnel, which will submit its recommendation to COMPO's Executive's Board, which in turn must act unanimously thereon. The other four committees authorized include a Committee on Organization, which will chart the functional setup of COMPO; a Committee on Finance, which will study the problems incident to the control of expenditures, and to the financing of COMPO through the voluntary contributions by exhibitors and distributors of one-tenth of one per cent of film rentals, with September I, 1950 set as the starting date for such contributions; a Committee on Additional Members for COMPO, such as supply organizations, firms handling various concessions, etc.; and a Committee on Planning and Program, which will chart the activities of COMPO. Abram F. Myers, chairman of COMPO's temporary Committee on Taxation and Legislation, was lauded by all present for the exceptionally fine job done by himself and his committee members in the fight for repeal of the Federal admissions tax. A resolution was adopted unanimously urging the continuation of an aggressive campaign in both the House and in the Senate, and promising full support in carrying out any plans the Committee may decide upon to bring about complete repeal of the tax. Mr. Myers, follow ing this expression of confidence, agreed to continue as chairman of the committee. Because of the recent suggestions that trade practices be included within COMPO's functions, and because National Allied and TOA made their ratifications conditional, many industryites looked upon the future of COMPO with misgivings, prior to the two-day meeting held this week. But any feelings of doubt and apprehension any one might have had were dispelled, according to those present, by the harmonious atmosphere that prevailed throughout the sessions, and by the demonstration of sincerity on the part of all concerned to get the movement under way. This was evidenced by the unanimous adoption of a clause in the by-laws specifically excluding trade practices from the organization's functions. Another cause for apprehension was a report that the TOA leaders, at several meetings conducted in New York last week, had complemented their original reservations with a number of conditions that, if adopted, would have so impeded the new organization's operations as to make it powerless. According to one report, Gael Sullivan, TOA's delegate at the meeting, did not advance these conditions in the interest of unity. The harmonious attitude that prevailed at all three meetings thus far held by COMPO's organizers is a clear demonstration that the industry's leaders have taken up the movement for a unified public relations program with sincerity and enthusiasm, and one cannot help feeling that any causes of friction that may still exist will be removed in due time. There is no question that, in COMPO, unity has been achieved. Let's put this unity to work — and fast! Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation 444 West 56th Street New York 19, N. Y. May 4, 1950 Mr. Peter Harrison Harrison's Reports 1270 Sixth Avenue New York, N. Y. Dear Pete : Your editorial "Let the Distributors Stop Penalizing the Exhibitor for His Showmanship Work" naturally interested me very deeply, because it comes at a time when the greatest need exists for the exhibitor and producer to try and work out their problems on a fair and equitable basis so that both will derive a fair profit and enjoy a healthy growth. I believe that this is what you want too, and I believe that you realize that the most acute issue that confronts our industry today is that of enabling the producer to continue to furnish films of high quality to the theatres so that both the exhibitor and distributor can remain in business and have a chance to prosper. It is the vital concern of the theatreman to realize that our whole industry faces a crisis because of the plight of the producing companies. Therefore, as an old exhibitor, I am dismayed by the philosophy put forth in your editorial by yourself and Colonel Cole asking for increased concessions in film rentals. It is equally dismaying to read the suggestion that some exhibitors decline to exert showmanship because they will pay more film rental to the distributor. As an old exhibitor, I think we should abandon any such antiquated suspicions. (Continued on back, pige)