Harrison's Reports (1955)

188 HARRISON'S REPORTS November 19, 1955 TOA policies, and to the charges levelled against him and other TOA leaders by Mr. Shor to the effect that, after agreeing to support Allied's EDC program for Federal con' trols, they did a "sudden about-face" when the big circuits that support TOA "cracked the whip." If so, they are fooling no one but themselves, for their failure to defend TOA's policies and to deny the charge that they individually did not act in good faith in joining Allied in an effort to secure substantial relief from the film companies, makes it evident to all exhibitors, including their own members, that their position is indefensible. PROOF OF A LOT OF NOTHING Back in August, George Weltner, Paramount^ sales chief, announced that his company had established machinery for the purpose of alleviating "problems affecting exhibition, particularly theatres on the border-line of continued operation." Analyzing this announcement, Harrison's Reports, under the heading "A Lot of Nothing," stated in its August 20 issue that, despite the extensive manner in which some of the other trade papers played up Weltner's statement, most of the exhibitors will look upon his promise of aid as being decidedly limited and totally inadequate. That this analysis was accurate is evidenced by the fact that the exhibitors attending the Allied convention chose Paramount as a "close second" to Warner Bros, as the most disliked company because of unreasonable dealings. A SOUND PLEA Ben Marcus, former National Allied president and now regional vice-president, has released for publication the following letter, dated November 16, sent to Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox: "Dear Mr. Skouras: "May I congratulate you and your company upon your development of the 'New 55' CinemaScope. I was one of many exhibitors who attended the demonstration of this new medium showing parts of the beautiful musical 'Carousel.' This new photographic process gives CinemaScope the definition, clarity and depth, and eliminates distortion completely at the sides, which particularly will help the small capacity theatres. "May I thank you for your relentless effort and vision and enterprise for continually striving for improvement and perfection in the presentation of the motion picture entertainment upon the screens of the American Theatre. It is particularly gratifying to learn that it will not require any additional expense on the part of the American Theatre Exhibitor to use this process of presentation at his theatre. I was happy to hear your Mr. Darryl Zanuck tell us that 20th Century-Fox will not pass on the cost of development of this new process to exhibition. I was also happy to learn that 'Carousel' will be released about February 22 to all the theatres of America and not road showed as originally planned. "It was nice to have you at the National Allied Convention. It takes courage for the president of a film company to appear before an exhibitor group in light of the events that took place this last summer. However, many of the plans adopted at the National Convention by the exhibitors would have been unnecessary had the presidents of the companies been willing to listen to our problems and rectify the complaints or requests that were made by us. You, yourself, told us at our meeting with you that what we asked was very little and that we should have asked for more. "I do not know to this day what prompted you to change your mind from announcing the policy which you agreed to initiate on behalf of your company. But I cannot help but feel that had you done so, you might have set the pace for the presidents of the other film companies to follow, and we would not have to resort to taking drastic steps to get the little relief that we as independent exhibitors are looking for, and need very badly. "If distribution is sincere and desirous to eliminate the oppressive sales methods and practices which the exhibitors are complaining about, I believe that they should call a meeting of all the presidents and sit down and thoroughly analyze the merits of these complaints, and agree to eliminate these policies and practices on a national basis. I agree with you that what we ask is so little that there is no reason for them to deny our requests, as it would ultimately result to their financial benefit more so than exhibition." A READER HAS HIS SAY Dear Pete: I have been reading Harrison's Reports since I got into this business ten years ago, so I feel that I know you as a friend. I am thirty-three years old, happily married, have two wonderful children and we all have good health. That's my personal success story in the business. I owe it everything I love dearest. There's the other half of the story — about my unsuccessful position after 3650 days of heartbreaking effort and hard work in theatre exhibition. I blame it on many factors which I had no control over — such as Moscow film terms, competitive bidding, poor quality pictures, low number of pictures and on and on and on. I came face to face with another evil this afternoon, and I want to tell you about it. My Warner salesman telephoned me with a MESSAGE FROM HIS LEGAL DEPARTMENT! The legal department decided to sell my competitor an earlier run than we have had at the Franklin Theatre (Allentown, Pa.) since the theatre was built about forty years ago. The salesman appeared to be honestly disturbed at his company's decision, but he was "only carrying out orders" and it was his job to seek me out and deliver this message to me. On my last visit to the Warner office in Philadelphia, I spoke to the Sales Manager. He, too, stated that he would not hurt me in any way, for I have been a good customer, etc., but he will have to do what his LEGAL DEPARTMENT orders him to do. What in God's sweet earth has happened to us? The lawyers are running our business. The sales organization of every distributing company is a messenger group for the lawyers — from the General Sales Manager to the foot salesman! It is only obvious that these 10% brain trusts are purposely creating CASES so that they can keep the fat fees rolling to their plush push-button dens. Pete, I wonder what would happen if all of us — distributors and exhibitors — would fire the whole batch of lawyers for a reasonable period of time. Distributors and exhibitors are human beings — in fact, we're better than any one group of peoples on this blessed earth. We are charitable, forgiving, and above all, we are a fair-minded people. I am willing to wager everything that there is still a happy future in store for us showfolks, providing we get rid of the parasites — I mean the lawyers! With the exhibitors' overhead chopped down because of the "legal expense" deleted from the P fe? L statement, the distributor will surely look upon us in a more favorable manner. And with the fancy "legal departments" gone at the distribution end, I am sure that the film terms will come down at least ten per cent! I understand that the movie lawyers plus court costs average ten per cent. Let's face it — we are paying for it right now. The present downfall in business has me and every exhibitor very concerned. The pre-Christmas slump may spell the end to hundreds of little folk. I am one of these. The walls are shaking and a collapse is not far-fetched. What do you think, Pete? Kick this around a bit and maybe a good editorial in an early issue of your fine Reports will spark some of the good people on both ends of the business to take quick action. This lengthy letter sounds desperate, I know — but I'm sure there are hundreds more who feel like I do tonite. Each one of us must do everything possible in the next few months, or I fear the ship is sunk. — Sol Schoc\er, Lehigh Valley Theatre Corporation, AUentown, Pa.