Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Dec 1933)

12 MOTION PICTURE HERALD December 23 , 1933 FILM DELIVERY FIRMS LAUNCH ASSOCIATION Committee Taking Steps to Ask for Own Code; Companies Serving 6,500 Theatres Represented; J. P. Clark, President Film delivery service representatives from all key cities met in New York this week in an efYort to obtain unity in this industry branch. As a first step they organized the National Film Carriers, Inc., naming James P. Clark of the Horlacher Delivery Service, Philadelphia, as president and treasurer. The film delivery truck services in all key cities constitute one of the most important branches in the industry, in that the responsibility for transportation of the bulk of screened film rests in their hands. Practically 75 per cent of all film deliveries in the country are handled by these services, the remainder being by railway express and air services. Companies Serve 6,500 Theatres At the New York meetings the companies represented serve 6,500 theatres and own and operate 575 trucks. Permanent headquarters are to be maintained in New York, at the office of Clinton Weyer, 110 William street. Announcement that the film truck services of the country had decided upon a united front was made Tuesday following a series of conferences behind closed doors. It was also announced that the group plans to petition the National Recovery Administration for a separate code of fair competition for the film delivery business. At present they come under the trucking code. "The trucking code," said Clinton Weyer, film insurance man who was chosen as secretary of the new organization, "is not applicable to this specialized line. We intend to take immediate action in an attempt to obtain recognition under a code of our own." A committee of three was appointed. Officers Elected Officers of the organization were named as follows : James P. Clark, Horlacher Delivery Service, Philadelphia, president and treasurer; H. O. Robinson, Film Truck Service, Detroit and Chicago, vice-president ; Clinton Weyer. widely known in the film insurance business, secretary. The board of managers will consist of E. E. Tamieson, Exhibitors' Film Delivery and Service Co., Kansas City : T. W. Gilboy, Gilboy Co., San Francisco ; L. M. Miller, Electric Delivery System, New Orleans ; M. H. Brandon, Inter-Carolina Delivery Service, Charlotte, N. C. ; Charles E. McCarthy, Film Transfer Co., Minneapolis; F. E. Smith, Smith Film Service, Inc., Syracuse; R. C. Jones. Chicago, and H. Decker, Film Exchange Transfer Co., Boston. An executive committee consisting of the following was chosen : L. C. Gross, Gross and Johnson, Cleveland; John Vickers. Carolina Delivery Service Co., Charlotte : George F. Callahan, Exhibitors' Service Co., Pittsburgh, and H. O. Robinson. Film Truck Service, Detroit and Chicago. Others at the meeting were E. S. Johnson, Gross and Johnson, . Cleveland ; J. Bradley. Film Pick-Up Service, Minneapolis ; P. F. Tal COTT, Theatre Service Co., Alinneapolis ; S. B. Bonello, Film Express Service, Minneapolis; C. W. Trampe, Film Service, Inc., Milwaukee: Ben Koenig. Milwaukee ; Alfred Sickles. Milwaukee; H. H. Howell Trucking Service, Inc., Rochester; G. C. Blackman, Syracuse; A. P. Siegel, Siegel Trucking Co., Inc.. .Albany ; Northwest Film Delivery Co., Seattle : P. L. Tanner, Film Transit Co., Cleveland; I. Albright, Theatre Transport Co., Toledo; H. B. Solomon, Cleveland ; L. Walz. Interstate Film Service, Minneapolis ; C. W. Jensen, Middle West Film Express, Minneapolis ; Harry' Kahan, Kahn Delivery Service, St. Louis, and M. Adelmax, New Jersey Messenger Service, Philadelphia. The purpose of the National Film Carriers, Inc., according to Mr. Weyer, is to permit an exchange of ideas between members of the industry and make possible a uniform standard of operation. Cleveland Group Hits Local Circuits Charges that a group of independent circuits in Cleveland has brought about an '"unbearable situation" which, unless immediately remedied, might be responsible for the closing of numerous independent suburban theatres, were revealed at meetings of independent exhibitors held last Thursday and Friday in Cleveland. A complaint, addressed to Sol A. Rosenblatt, deputy administrator for amusements, was prepared for consideration by the local grievance board. Blame for the Cleveland situation by the complainant exhibitors was placed at the door of local independent circuits despite the fact that all of the theatres, as well as the independent circuits, are members of the Cleveland Exhibitors Association. "The records of the Cleveland Association will show that a resolution was adopted which provided that the independent circuit members of this organization would clear sufficient product for the use of our group, provided we would raise our admission prices, which we did," said D. L. Schumann at the meeting last week. "The local independent circuits not only failed to clear any product, as resolved, but reduced their admission prices in the nearest competitive theatre." Mr. Schumann further declared that he and his fellow independents "now understand why certain interests were so determined in their stand against the code," and that his group was equally determined to "get a square deal" for their theatres in the future. Kentucky Club Women Plan Better Films Group Club women of Kentucky, from Louisville, as a center, are undertaking a Bette'Films movement, which is said to have no bearing on censorship. The movement is designed to be wholly educational, bringing the public, especially parents, to take more interest in the types of films children and young people see. ROUND TABLE HAS YULE PARTY Some 300 or 400 members of the Managers' Round Table Club of Motion Picture Herald will gather Thursday night at the Brass Rail in New York for the regular Christmas "get-together" of the club's members in New York and vicinity. Chairman A-Mike Vogel promised the lads some real entertainment, with Eddie Cantor heading an Imposing list of stage and radio stars who have promised to attend. Lew Preston, chairman of the entertainment committee, has arranged for the appearance of his Academy of Music orchestra. In addition to members and their friends, invitations were sent to Will White and George Skouras; W. R. Ferguson, Mort Blumenstock, Sam Rinzler, Lou Frisch, S. Charles Einfeld and R. M. Gillham. Round Tablers in and around Washington, D. C, are scheduled to gather in the Capital City on January 20 for their own local party. Court Overrules Maryland Censors The Maryland State Censorship Board received a severe set-back when, in Baltimore city court. Chief Justice Samuel K. Dennis upset the censors' rejection of "Blood Money," a Twentieth Century Productions feature, by saying that, in his opinion, the censors had a complete misconception of the purpose of the picture as well as possible effects. The board had proposed a comlete ban on the film throughout the state on the grounds that it tended to "incite to crime." "I believe the censor board has totally mistaken the object and effect of the picture," Judge Dennis said last week. "On the other hand, if the picture had been let alone, it would soon have censored itself and passed out of circulation by way of box office receipts. From the standpoint of public morals, there appears to be no objection to the picture on salacious grounds. It is a typical blood-tears-andthunder melodrama, and that's about all." Unable to appeal to a higher court the censors abandoned all action against "Blood Money" and announced the picture could be exhibited without a change. "We would appeal if we could but we cannot," said Bernard B. Gough, chairman of the board, this week. The complaint was that the film, with its story of a racketeer who controlled the administration of justice in the city in which he operated, tended to implant criminal ideas. Word also came last week that the Maryland censors had instituted a similar action against the Columbia Pictures news film. "What Price Speed?" made up from newsreel clips.