Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

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lull, UK SNOW M I-: N ' S 'I' R A I ) K 1'. V I 1 w Page 3 to PI CI ciae Allied In Convention There have been too many insinuations and innuendoes surrounding Allied and its attitude on many important and vital matters. Threats, accusations, rumors, grape' vine reports and what have you, make the situation, perhaps, even more acute than it really is. However, Allied goes into its Annual Convention at a time when the air should be cleared and its stand on the various important issues clarified beyond all doubt. Allied should make it clear, once and for all, whether it is dedicated to a policy of construction or destruction, whether it is out to help the exhibitor or to merely harass the distributor; whether its actions are the actions of the organi2,ation as expressed by the members on the side lines or simply the attitude of the leaders who may be taking matters entirely into their own hands. Above all. Allied should justify its most unbelievable stand on forcing the industry into Federal regulation via legislation and, especially, what the exhibitor will gain through such regulation as against regulation from within. To the Allied officers, members and visiting exhibitors we extend greetings and the sincere hope that out of the Minneapolis Convention will come constructive, helpful activity and something important and valuable to the ex' hibitors who make the long journey to the convention city. Just remember what Bill Rodgers said in New York just a few weeks ago: "What is vitally needed today is a UNITED industry." It can never be a united industry so long as a systematic campaign is waged to break down efforts to make it so. A A A The Neely Bill Exactly as predicted, the Neely Bill was reported out of committee favorably by a large majority vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration and will, no doubt, be passed there. Then it must go through the lower house for consideration and it is there that it may again die in com' mittee. Which is exactly what happened to it a year ago. STR again states its position on this piece of legislation. We are definitely against it. No one has proven to our satisfaction that it will do anything constructive for either the exhibitor or the industry. On the contrary, there is every possibility that it will murder certain producing companies at the same time causing increases in film rentals far and beyond anything ever demanded before. Those who are pushing for this bill may get a lot of personal satisfaction out of dealing the guts of this indus' try an awful kick in the pants and what the average indc pendent exhibitor has to watch out for is that he doesn't get a swifter kick himself. A A A Enter, The Pioneers Credit Jack Cohn of Columbia for instigating the or' gani^ation of "Picture Pioneers", which in simple language means a group of men who have been affiliated with the motion picture industry for at least twentyfive years. We have been looking forward gleefully to the first get'together at which we would expect many long, white beards, crutches and ancient old men. But much to our ama2,ement, when we looked over the first list of mem' bers published, we found individuals who we thought were much younger than their listing indicated. Which makes us wonder how old some of them really are. And also, whether we shouldn't throw a confirma' tion party for ourselves. And how soon it will be before the Picture Pioneers are playfully dubbed the "A. K.'s." A A Another Movie Season Drive Much is being said about another movie season cam' paign for the opening of the coming season. Without further ado we emphatically say, "Absolutely!" While no one will deny the mistakes of the first cam' paign those who put forth so much conscientious effort certainly had the best interests of the industry and the campaign at heart. If certain phases did not work out as anticipated, they can be avoided in the next one. However, let's leave out the contest angle and con' centrate on the national advertising idea plus a far better play for local cooperation from the theatremen on the firing line in the theatres. Furthermore, those who organize such a campaign should not expect the trade papers to expend huge sums backing up the efforts of the committee and then see a half million dollars or more spent solely through news' papers. The trade papers are definitely entitled to some consideration since they play so vital and important a part in the scheme as a whole. So we hope the industry will again further its original effort to make the movicgoing public theatrcconscious and better acquainted with what the motion picture stands for. It will be effort and expense well worth \all we give to it. — 'CmC^' LEWIS