Harrison's Reports (1950)

Entered as second-class matter January 4, 1921, at the post office at New York, New York, under the act of March 3, 1899. 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 L 9n 1SI V Publisher Canada 16.50 Wew Iork zu> *• 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 Us Editorial p0uCy: 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. XXXII SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1950 No. 37 EAGLE LION ACQUIRES A PRIZE ASSET Harry Sherman, the veteran producer, whose trademark is the "western," and who is affectionately known throughout the industry as "Pop," has concluded a five-year picture deal with Eagle Lion Classics, calling for the delivery of fifty pictures at the rate of ten a year. Associated with "Pop" Sherman in this venture is Neil F. Agnew, former president of Selznick Releasing Organization, and former vice-president in charge of distribution at Paramount. Sherman plans to use the western theme in each of his pictures, and his program calls for the production each year of four top -budget pictures (two in Technicolor) , and six smaller budgeted westerns, all in Technicolor. Each of the top pictures will be made on a budget of approximately $1,000,000, and each will star Hollywood players of the first magnitude. The smaller Technicolor westerns will be produced at an average cost of $300,000 and will be known as the "Hashknife Hartley" series, based on the William C. Tuttle stories. Sherman plans to launch an intensive talent search shortly for the purpose of finding a new western personality to fill the role of "Hashknife," the cowboydetective hero of Tuttle's books. George "Gabby" Hayes, the popular western star, whom Sherman discovered, has been signed to an exclusive contract to portray the character of " 'Sleepy' Stevens," the hero's pal. Having launched the "Hopalong Cassidy" series, as well as numerous other westerns, "Pop" Sherman has long been acknowledged as a producer of the best westerns. A former exhibitor, he is one of the most kind-hearted people one can ever hope to meet, and all who know him personally think the world of him. Ever since he went into production in 1916, he has produced pictures that were, not only of good quality, but also decent and clean, let alone commercially saleable. Eagle Lion can indeed be proud of the tie-up it has made with Harry Sherman, particularly at this time when there is so much need for producers of his calibre. Harrison's Rfports wishes "Pop" Sherman continued success, for no one is more deserving of it than a man of his intelligence, ability, knowledge and bigness of heart. ALLIED TO CONSIDER COOPERATIVE BUYING OF EQUIPMENT A plan for cooperative buying of theatre equipment to combat existing high prices will be discussed at Allied's 1950 National Convention in Pittsburgh, according to Abram F. Myers, general counsel and chairman of the board, who had this to say on the subject in a bulletin issued to Allied members on Wednesday of this week: "Profoundly disturbed by the mounting costs of all manner of theatre equipment, indicating either inflation in the production or price-fixing among the supply dealers, Allied leaders are discussing the feasibility of buying such equipment cooperatively and eliminating so far as possible the middlemen's profits which are widely blamed for existing high prices. "Efforts are being made to point up the idea for discussion at Pittsburgh and this may prove to be one of the highlights of the convention." Elsewhere in his bulletin Mr. Myers had this to say on the problems of wartime operation: "The business outlook will be fully explored in order to see what lies ahead — and to prepare for it. "Whether or not the Korean police action spreads into another world war, our country is committed to a preparedness program which involves a return to a wartime economy. Many of us have seen it happen twice before, the inflationary tendencies, the trend toward cheap money and free spending. "The theatres' dollar intake may soon be on the upsurge but those dollars may be cheapened in value so that exhibitors will be well advised to closely supervise their operations and salt away some of them against the inevitable day of reckoning, the date of which is now unpredictable. "This is only one of the many important questions which far-sighted exhibitors are pondering and which will be discussed at Pittsburgh. Every thoughtful exhibitor has ideas on these problems and he should be on hand to share them with others. Every independent theatre owner should attend in order to listen to and sift the ideas of his fellow exhibitors." On the subject of the National Film Clinic, which promises to be one of the most important events at the convention, Mr. Myers had this to say: "Pictures are the exhibitor's lifcblood and no matter how interesting other subjects may be he must give first attention to the problems inherent in the licensing of pictures their boxofhec value and the terms and conditions on which they arc offered — or he will fail. "Some social clubs posing as exhibitor organisations with an absurd show of self-righteousness assert that films and film prices have no place in the discussions at exhibitor meetings. Allied has never subscribed to that view and holds that exhibitors have the same (Continued on bacl{ page)