Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1946)

EYE TO EYE EDITO Vol. 14, No. 24 1 November 25, 1946 America* jfndepeH^ent tflcticH Picture Journal Tage Three BULLETIN An Independent Motion Picture Trade Paper published every other Monday by Film Bulletin Company. M» Wax. Editor and Publisher. BUSINESS OFFICE: 509 BKO Building, Rockefeller Center, N. Y. 20. COInmbHs 5-2125. PUBLICATIONEDITORIAL OFFICES: 1239 Vine Street, Philadelphia 7, Pa., Rlttenhouse 6-7424; Barney Stein, Publication Manager; Isabelle Weener. Circulation Manager; Brnee Gallop, Business Manager; Frank Leyendeeker, Staff Representative. HOLLYWOOD OFFICE: 8580 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood 46. Calif., CRestvlew 6-2061; Sara Salzer, David Hanna. Subscription Rate: ONE YEAR, $3.00 In the United States: Canada. $1 00; Europe, $5.00. TWO YEARS. $5 00 In the United States; Canada. $7.50; Europe. $9.00. It was a coincidence that the following two letters reached the Editor's desk on the same day, but even stranger was the fact that the contents found a producer and an independent exhibitor seeing eye to eye on the explosive issue of film prices. * * * Dear Sir: I noted with much interest your editorial in the November Nth issue of Film Bulletin. Perhaps you would like to hear the other side of the story, without Drejudice. During the past five years the thousands of subsequent-run exhibitors, the common man of the motion picture industry as you refer to them, have been unwilling to meet the advancing costs of B product and low cost westerns. As far as Republic is concerned, costs during the oast fi«e years have risen approximately 85%, whereas 70% of the indeoendent exhibitors in the group you refer to gave no increase in rentals, while the other 30% gave an increase averaging I 0 % . I do agree with you that the B product situation, as well as low cost westerns, is unhealthy, but for an entirely different reason than stated in your editorial. That reason, as stated above, is that independent exhibitors have refused to meet the higher increased costs of production prevailing during the past five years. Should you like to review the records showing this result, that is, as far as Republic is concerned, I would willingly show you these records. With warm personal regards, Sincerely, HERBERT J. YATES, SR. President, Republic Pictures. Dear Sir: In your last issue of Film Bulletin, you editorialized on the so-called "Meat and Potatoes" pictures upon which most smaller exhibitors rely for their Drofi + s. I thought your comments were the soundest kind of common sense and I would like to express my personal views on some of the points you raised. I wonder if you realize just how serious the product situation has become for exhibitors like mvself, in comnetitive situations, durinq the last two or three years. With most of the major film companies deliverinq only about 20 or 25 pictures a year and demandina top Dercentaqe or outright terms on about half of them, we haven't gotten a fair share of the Drosoeritv this industry has had during the war years. The toughest part of this situation is the fact that the film men are usinq first-run grosses as the criterion on business generally and that is not a fair measurinq rod, because, as your editorial points out, the war prosoerity swelled first-run business far above its normal, proportion to subsequent-run business. . .. . ..... . i * . . ., What is a sound solution for these problems facing the average sub-run theatre owner? Personally. I think there is no better course for us to foflow'^ today than to give our fullest support to companies like Republic and. Monoqram. . ... ., , ... -:./;•■ n Take Reoublic, for instance. Here is a< comrxany that has been impo-oving: its product steadily ever since they started producing. ' That studio has been ' makinq the best westerns for years and their Drogram pictures are at least as qood as Columbia's or Universal's. On top of that, Republic has been turning out some damn good features that might not match Metro's deluxe specials, but certainly compare favorably as business-getters with the better pictures from other majors. It burns me up when I hear some exhibitors squawk because the Republic salesman asks a few dollars more for his product. Here is an outfit that can really provide some competition for the majors, and, certainly, their costs of production have gone up, yet lots of exhibitors seem to want to hold the comDany down because they don't want it to get ideas like the majors. That doesn't make sense to me. If the rank and file theatre owners are going to get any relief from the product shortage and from the high-handed tactics of the majors, they should bend backqrounds to encourage and boost Republic, as well as Monogram and any other independent companies, by paying more for pictures that deserve more. My advice to my fellow exhibitors is simply this: "Play ball with the independent companies and you'll live longer in this business." If you should print this letter, you may use my name, although I would prefer to remain anonymous. Very truly yours. * * * Our correspondent's preference to remain anonymous will be respected. His advice is heartily recommended to our exhibitor readers.