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The Independent Exhibitor <^> ^> ^> <^> 301
or controlled theaters. In the first place, affiliated theaters usually were given their choice of films. In a number of instances, complaints were reported to the effect that affiliated theaters in various places purchased practically every available film, despite their inability to use them all, in order to cut off the supply to the independent exhibitors. In other instances, favored theaters were said to have demanded and received protection x on the first runs wholly disproportionate with their rights and necessities. These demands involved not only longer periods of protection, but also unreasonable extensions of competitive areas.
Many independent exhibitors believed that the introduction of sound pictures was utilized by producers as a method by means of which to hasten their monopolization of the industry. These exhibitors believed also that affiliated theaters found it to their own advantage to corner the supply of approved sound-reproducing apparatus. This was accomplished without collusion because sound pictures were new and the price of the reproducing equipment was prohibitive. When other less expensive, but generally pronounced satisfactory, apparatus was made available to the independent exhibitors, producers claimed the right not to furnish their films for reproduction on machines which they believed to be of inferior reproduction value. In some instances, claims of noninterchangeability were justifiable; in others, however, they were open to question. Where independent exhibitors were fortunate enough to secure generally accepted sound equipment, they were confronted immediately with greatly increased film rentals and, in addition, heavy score charges for the synchronized music right. A few exhibitors reported that the prices for the sound product and score charge represented an increase of more than 100% over that charged for similar types of silent pictures.
Although the Motion Picture Theater Owners Association continued to operate, it failed to remedy these difficul
1 See pp. 206-212. ^