Harrison's Reports (1962)

130 HARRISON'S REPORTS September 1, 1962 The financial going has been downgrade these very recent few years. Others would have called it quite a long time ago. But, we kept holding on, trying to get out the best kind of a trade-review paper in the business, hoping* that we'd be able to keep publishing. Not that this may be the very end. But, from the way income square's with costs and upkeep, the outlook is not too encouraging. We may have reached the end of the road. Whatever faint hope there may be left, we will probe. Perhaps we can come up with a solution that won't yet call for writing "30" to this inspiring effort of getting out Harrison's Reports. The next week or two will tell. There will be no issues during this period of financial readjustment and economic r eappraisement. If we fail in our efforts, then this will be the last issue of the trusted paper. If we succeed, you will hear from us via the issues themselves going forward to you again. In the meantime, if this should be the last time we go to press, then endless expressions of gratitude are in order. Expressions of Profound Gratitude Away up on top of the list are the enduring stalwarts, these exhibitorsubscribers who have stood by us down through the years. To the newer subscribers, our deep gratitude. Nor are we forgetting the so-called archenemy of the exhibitor, the distributor. With the exception of two companies all the other majors were strong (in number) subscribers of this weekly. Frankly, they were a big percentage of our subscriber-strength. To them go our profound thanks and sincere appreciation. They continued to renew their subscriptions, year in, year out, no matter what our editorial attacks on some of their practices because they (the practices) may not have been for the best interests of the exhibitor who has been our only interest. Also, our thanks to several of the independent distributors for the circulation strength they added via their subscriptions. - and now, for a passage or two flavored with the sentimentalities that wedge their way, timidly, into this special kind of thinking, that prophetic interlude when a 43-year old effort in the realm of trade paper publishing, may have reached the end of the long, hard, unrelenting road. We can review the endless wars we fought to preserve the rights, and build the strength of the exhibitor. But, the back issues themselves have said it better than we can here in a few limited lines. Man Must Be Ready to Give An Accounting There was a time, not so long ago, when people gave more attention to that "now-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep" phase of day's end; when we gave a daily accounting to our god before we retired. We would mention such deeds that may have helped further the destiny of mankind. There is a parallel in the way we feel as we put to bed what may be the last issue' of this trade weekly: We never went to press without giving an accounting to our conscience that each and every issue (down through the years) was helping in some way further the destiny of that portion of mankind that reposed their trust in our guidance, - the exhibitor. In our conscience there shall always remain the spiritual-like residue of having, served well those who looked to us as a source of guidance, advice, help, trust! For all the sadness at a moment like this, that shall sustain us as we get ready to go elsewhere (within the boundaries of this industry) and find someone who will think us worthy of our hire.