Motion Picture Times (1931)

December 15, 1931. MOTION PICTURE TIMES Page 9 Philly Unit Stabs at Lichtman Reply Continued from page 4) “Palmy Days” anything but happy. Your statement that United Artists with a dozen pictures to distribute “is operating at a lower percentage cost than any other distributor in the world” proves that the age of miracles is not past. It does not, however, square with the recent attempt of your company to merge its distributing facilities with those of another well known producer distributor for reasons of economy. Nor does your statement sound reasonable in the light of the reported heavy losses chalked up by your organization over the past two years. Again quoting your statement: “. . . we have repeated over and over again that we do business on a ‘Look Before You Book’ policy.” How can the exhibitors “Look Before They Book” when you sell them pictures before the pictures are completed, before they are shown and before they are tested out at public showing to determine their box-office value? Every other film company takes this factor into consideration and when a clear case of overselling is shown, the film company invariably adjusts the one-sided arrangement. Not so with United Artists, however, which has consistently pursued a policy of “The Buyer be Damned.” You will recall, Mr. Lichtman, that two years ago this organization had composed a similar protest to the trade but was prevented from issuing it by your definite assurance at a three-hour conference in Philadelphia that $100,000 had been set aside by Richards Rumor (Continued from page 3) Speculation as to whether or not L. L. Dent would return to this business has been settled by close friends who declare that Dent has received at least $1,600,000 for his theatres, paid in full, and that he cares no further for the worries in connection with operating theatres. Bob O’Donnell, high Publix official, and Gaston Dureau, Publix divison booker, were in Dallas last week on a special mission, either in connection wth a turn-back of certain Publix theatres, or the setum of stage shows to Publix stages Information that leads out of the rumor stages was gained from a certain Dallas tradesman well informed on the subject, that something is in the air with Publix over the take-back of a flock of theatres only a short time under the national wing of Paramount. your company to adjust the complaints of exhibitors with legitimate grievances. We regret that you have seen fit in your statement to ignore entirely our complaint charging specific violation of Rule 11 of the Fair Trade Practice Code, which prohibits a film company with an exhibitor’s application for contract from negotiating with his competitor before the first contract has been either accepted or rejected. We are willing, however, to rest our case with the Fedei’al Trade Commission. As for the general contents of your statement — if the United Artists’ policies are right, then those of every other film company must be wrong. Here again we are willing to rest our case with the thousands of exhibitors through out the nation whose dealings with United Artists over the past ten years have left them disillusioned, embittered and hopeful that your m.ethods and policies will be brought to an early termination. We would welcome an investigation of our charges by Mr. Howard Hughes and the other producing members of your company in whose fairness we have implicit faith. Yours truly. Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Eastern Pa., Southern New Jersey and Delaware, Inc. Per Geo. P. Aarons, Secretary and Counsel. Oklahoma City Notes Warner Bros.’ Midwest, Warner, Liberty, Folly and Empress theatres admitted free Saturday, any kid bringing either an old or new toy, the toys to be distributed to the poor children of the city. Previews at Midwest Saturday night was “Yellow Ticket” and “Private Lives” at the Criterion. ♦ ♦ • Rialto putting on 10 cent matinees, and Ish Clark says that the stunt is bringing in good business. INSTALL NOW! OFF SEASON PRICES EXPIRE SOON! Low Factory Prices — Terms. No Humidity — No Noise — Even Distribution Washes, Filters and Dries the Air. J. 0. FORD, Factory Representative. CLIZZARD SALES C€. DALLAS OFFICE: 2009 Jackson St. NEW ORLEANS ATLANTA 504 Howard Ave. 125 Walton St. Good^All Special Sound System Powers Projectors IS an entirely NEW and different method of reproduction from the film. The method of operation of the sound head assures most smooth operation — resulting in even reproduction. There is not another sound system on the market today to compete with this system in natural tone — entire operation and in PRICE. Low Terms are offered on GoodAll’s own Financing Plan! WRITE TODAY FOR DETAILS GEO. W. SUMNER, Representative State of Texas Weatherford, Texas SOL. J. DAVIDSON, Representative State of Oklahoma 704 West Grand. Oklahoma City, Okla. Factory GOODALL ELECTRIC MEG. CO. Ogallala, Nebr.