Kinematograph year book : 1931 (1931)

18 The Kinematograph Year Book. The chaining-up of theatres reached what may be called a condition of stabihsation. That is to* say, the big producer-distributor companies finally came to the view that it would not be profitable to control all, or even a majority of the theatres in America, assuming that this could be done. Only certain types of houses — chiefly the de luxe first-runs and the scarcely less de luxe " neighbourhoods " — can be operated at a profit in a big national circuit. This means, for one thing, that the independent exhibitor still has a place in the sun, provided he maintains a thoroughly modern theatre. The same thing applies to the independent v/ith a circuit. The question of " protection " is still far from being settled, and this is of major importance in the relation of producer-owned circuits to the independents. The Allied States Association of Exhibitors, headed by Abram F. Myers, formerly of the Federal Trade Commission, is pressing for a solution of the problem. The Exhibitors' Contract After considerable preliminary skirmishing, a new form of standard exhibition contract was agreed upon at conferences between distributor members of the Hays organisation, the .\llied and other exhibitor bodies, and it now appears that this n^uch-discussed question will be settled before the end of the year. The formal ratification by the state organisations in the Mlied is still to be given, but apparently it will come. On the whole, then, Nineteen-Thirty was a year of distinct progress, despite the fact that the country was in the throes of the business depression. The essential stability of the American industry was shown by the fact that it weathered the depression, probably with reduced aggregate receipts, but without being seriously damaged. This was accomplished, in part, by the reduction of overhead, as always happens in a period of general business uncertainty. Wide Film Obstacles As Nineteen-Thirty-one comes into view, the major problems on the horizon appear to be those of wide-film, or perhaps more accurately, widescreen, and third dimension. All the major companies are at work, through their technicians, on these, and it remains to be seen who will hit upon the most workable processes. That, however, is only one side of the problem. Just as important, if not more so, is the big question-mark of whether or not the industry, only a little more than three years away from the sound revolution, is going to let itself in for another tremendous upheaval. The Society of Motion Picture Engineers, which is doing notable work in the technical field, ruled out discussion of wide-film until the industry gets itself organised on standard width. In some quarters, it is pointed out that the change-over to sound cost the industry a tremendous sum— variou.sly estimated at S;250,000,000 to nearly twice that amount — and the wide-film, if generally adopted, would result in another enormous expenditure. There is always the possibility, however, that the public may suddenly " go " for some one picture on 70 mm. film, and the rush would then start to meet the demand. After the experience with sound, however, it appears, likely that such an eventuality is remote. Should you desire to BUY OR SELL It is impossible to deal better and safer than with the firm noted for giving satisfaction to all Clients. The Firm with practical experience in all Branches. NEVILLE & CHUBCHILL, '"""/vIK."" ""' 62, OXFORD STREET, LONDON, W.l. museum 5782.