Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

:4 Exhibitors Fight Decree; Majors Heed Protest (Continued from preceding page) tered against them up to June 30, 1942, the deadline set in the decree with the "Big Five". It was admitted unofficially, however, that they might again be involved in the case by the Government. The charges against them in the 1938 complaint have never been withdrawn from the Federal District Court records at New York. Disposition of the Consent Decree and the possibility of its changes are not worrying the sales departments of any the distributors. All are going ahead with product plans for the season which starts in September, as reported in Motion Picture Herald. Little change in the current sales methods, based on decree practice, appears likely. While not anxious to start a new court battle the lawyers are preparing their suggestions as to the decree's future with an eye to the actions of the groups which have been urging the Department of Justice to throw out the document and start over again. They note that both Allied States Association and Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America recommended changes, and that numerous regional exhibitor organizations have sent delegations and petitions to Washington to urge decree revision. "We must consider that if enough of this pressure is brought to bear the Government might 'get tough,' and seek trial of the New York case again," one lawyer said. But he expressed the hope that cooler heads would prevail and that any action on the decree would take advantage of the positive accomplishments of three years' experimentation. Among these benefits, he said, were an improvement in the quality of product, an advance in box office receipts which was not all attributable to a wartime boom, and much more effective and friendly adjustment of disputes between distributor and theatre. Arbitration, he said, had been an important impetus to this voluntary conciliation of disputes within the trade. The consenting companies also are watching to see what stand the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers will take on continuation of the decree. John Flinn, secretary of the society, is now in the east and reportedly has discussed this question with industry leaders and Government officials in behalf of Loyd Wright, head of the SIMPP. Mr. Wright, a leading coast attorney, was sharply critical a year ago of proposals of the United Motion Picture Industry conference to increase the size of blocks in which pictures might be sold. Coe Gives Industry Viewpoint at Dinner How "Hollywood Looks toward a New World" was outlined for Los Angeles civic and political leaders Thursday evening by Charles Francis Coe, vice-president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, at a dinner in the Hotel Roosevelt there. The affair was sponsored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and was presided over by John B. Kingslcy, its president. Mr. Coe was introduced by Judge Harlan G. Palmer, publisher of the 1 1 oily wood Citizen Invited film industry guests were Nate Blumberg, I. E. Chadwick, Y. Frank Freeman, Samuel Goldwyn, B. I'.. Kahane, Louis B. Mayer, Joseph M. Schenck, M. J. Sicgel, Harry and Jack Warner, Loyd Wright, Clifford Work. Darryl F. Zanuck. MOTION PICTURE HERALD July 10, 1943 . I — ~ i '■ ■ MGM Executives Are in Field 1 To Discuss Rental Adjustments Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer this week disclosed that it was sending home office and division sales executives to Cincinnati on July 9th to meet with exhibitors who are demanding adjustment in film rentals. It is the first step in a national analysis of all MGM contracts. Executives will rotate in their visit to each exchange, spending three days in each to confer with theatre operators. The Cincinnati delegation includes: E. K. O'Shea, eastern division manager; J. E. Flynn, western division manager; and J. J. Maloney, central division manager, together with Edwin W. Aaron, circuit sales manager; Harold Postman, assistant to W. F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales manager; E. M. Booth, . Cincinnati manager. Mr. Rodgers, in Chicago last week, commented: "We never want to be successful on the failure of others. Over a period of years, we have only succeeded, because of our customers and we want them to succeed with us. Any time we unintentionally overcharge a customer, we stand ready to be corrected immediately it is brought to our attention, without reference to home office, district manager or anyone other than those who made the contract." His announcement of the regional visits said: "There is nothing new in this year's procedure. Our last meeting of this type was held in Buffalo and we try to vary the meeting place for our first gathering to different parts of the country. After the first meeting, this time in Cincinnati, the sales executives will fan out over the country and each and every account will be given a careful and sympathetic analysis preparatory to the sale of our next group of pictures. "While of course attention will be given to accounts requiring consideration because of changing conditions, the purpose of these sales analyses is to properly appraise each individual situation so that when a sales approach is made it is based on accurate information. "We are convinced that only by individual analysis of every one of our accounts can an intelligent sales approach be made, and our experience of having done this for several years has proved that point. With our policy of placing the responsibility of sales decision with our branch and district managers, they have found such a scientific study of each individual situation advantageous to both ourselves and our customers." Schreiber Will Assist Zanuck at 20th-Fox Colonel Darryl F. Zanuck's new assistant, in his return to leadership of Twentieth CenturyFox production, will be Lewis Schreiber. The appointment was announced Tuesday in Hollywood. Mr. Schreiber, talent department executive, succeeds William Goetz, who resigned from the company to enter independent production. Assuming Mr. Schreiber's talent department duties are Robert Palmer, James Ryan and William Mayberry. R. L. Hough has been appointed general production manager, succeeding the late William Koenig. Pennsylvania Fairs Cut Wartime restrictions are taking a heavy toll of Pennsylvania's agricultural fairs and expositions, it is reported by Miles Horst, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture. Of the 125 fairs listed with the state department, only 50 organizations have reported that they will conduct exhibits this year. This compares with 68 fairs held last vear in the state, and 88 fairsin 1941. Start "Early Bird" Shows "Early bird" shows have been inaugurated" by two theatres in Boston, the Strand in Dorchester subdivision and the Oriental in Mattapan. In both instances special shows will be given at 6.15 and 8.15 A.M. on Wednesdays in order that war industry workers who are returning from or going to work may find time to attend. Reginald Barlow, Actor For 67 Years, Dies Reginald Barlow, actor of stage and screen, died in Hollywood Tuesday. He was 76. Mr. Barlow, a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, first appeared on the stage at the age of nine, in his father's minstrel troupe. He was in such stage plays as "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Silver King", "The Little Princess", and "The Sign of the Cross". After serving in the First World War he appeared in "Out of the Sea", "The Silent Witness" and others. On the screen he was seen in "The Washington Masquerade" and "The Witness Vanishes". Mr. Barlow's service in the First World War was as Colonel of the 304th Infantry Regiment. He previously saw action in the Spanish-American and Boer wars. He was decorated by Queen Victoria for military service in South Africa. Resigns Columbia Position James Flynn, Columbia booker in Philadelphia, has resigned. Walter Donahue has succeeded him. Mr. Flynn also was assistant office manager and held the position of business agent of the Film Exchange Employees Union, Local B-7. Raise Admission Prices Matinee and evening prices have been raised at Warners' Ohio theatre, and the Palace and 1. new's in Canton, O. Matinee prices are now 35 cents, evenings 50 cents. They were formerly 30 and 45 cents respectively. Children's prices rose from 10 to 17 cents.