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December 17, 1927
MOVING PICTURE WORLD
7
EDITORIAL
Coming Events
INSPIRED, perhaps, by inside knowledge or by the Delphic gift of divination, Brookhart, of Iowa, has foreshadowed the report of the Federal Trade Commission on the recent Conference by his introduction of a bill which puts teeth into the jaws of those Siamese twin bloodhounds “ Cease” and “Desist.”
The selection of the Iowan insurgent as a standard-bearer seems somewhat fraught with political significance. He is the instigator of action in a group standing aloof from both sides of the Senate. And with his foil owers he holds the balance of power. To gain his ends he will not hesitate to line up with either faction.
His present action may be precipitate. May be uncalled for. Particularly inasmuch as the knell of block-booking was actually sounded in the Commission’s order to Paramount. There have been brief reprieves. There may be more. But block-booking, as practiced, was doomed with the sealing of the order.
Who shall say, however, that the distributing organizations are not entitled to the law’s legitimate delays while evolving a method of doing business which shall fulfill the dual requisites of adhering to the order while circumventing the chaos which a sudden upheaval in sales plans must induce? It is scarcely fair to dynamite a business affecting so many millions of citizens and billions of dollars.
Again, the producer-distributor contingent made a sorry showing at the Conference. Either it was inexcusably unprepared, or it was not ready to disclose its hand. In either case, the impression created was not helpful to its cause. It bred no confidence.
It is not impossible to effect changes in the machinery of distribution which will obviate the undesirable features of the prevailing system. That it has not been done before is lamentable. But there is still opportunity to make a virtue of this necessity. There are several plans in the formative stages. It behooves the distributor group to beat Brookhart to the punch. Unless, indeed, it is deemed desirable to permit politics to play battledore and shuttlecock with our industry as it has with others.
Let us hope that a fair and square sales plan will come to light before it is too late. One that will protect all interests. One that is workable. One that is equitable. The last most of all. There musn’t be any monkey-business.