Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

June 17. 1039 SHOWMEN'S TRADE R E V 11-. W Page 5 W. F. RODGERS WITHDRAWS CODE Pact Steals Show at Minneapolis Allied Leaders Balk at it; But Sentiment For it Noted on Floor Minneapolis — Although Allied leaders on the floor of the convention which opened at the Nicollet Hotel here Tuesday, expressed themselves vigorously opposed to adoption of the trade practice code, it became evident during the sessions that individual exhibitors to a great extent would avail themselves of its benefits and trust to the future for more extensive reforms. Nate Yamins and Al Steffes both spoke in answer to the ringing appeal of William F. Rodgers that the convention declare in favor of the code, and that of Gradwell Sears calling upon the delegates to take favorable action. Sears defended the distributors' practice of asking for a 20 per cent increase in film rentals because of the 20 per cent elimination rights, stating that the cancellation privilege was for better selectivity rather than tlie right to cut down the returns to the distributors. Al Steffes attacked the code, blasting particularly at it for its legal language. In reply to Steffes' statement, "write the code without lawyers," Rodgers said "don't think you can sit down and write a code without lawyers," and he went on to emphasize that the legal language of which Steffes complained meant nothing but that the moral intent would be followed, and he threatened to fire any of his salesmen who attempted to invoke any subterfuges to get around the code. Abe Montague, of Columbia, also spoke for the Code on behalf of the distributors. Reports current within the convention hall itself indicated a conflict of ideas between leaders of certain units and the one-hundredper-cent-nat ion alAllied groups regarding action on the Code. (Continued on page 6) STR Canes Capture Conventioneers SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW starred at Allied's big gettogether. Those canes, with the familiar and popular STR monogram on a band decorating their handles were wanted in numbers far in excess of the liberal provision made to hand them out to all who wanted a walking stick. The Allied Convention number of SHOWMEN'S also went like hot-cakes from a stack that STR men thought would be ample — maybe we're too modest — but which dwindled to a lone "file" copy in no time. Seen and Heard at the ALLIED MEET -By Bob Wile A tumultous reception was accorded several Allied leaders on their arrival at the station. Abram Myers was "arrested" by three policemen and tossed into a patrol wagon, along with H. M. Richey, Arthur Howard and Moe Horowitz and taken in "state" to the Nicollet Hotel. Ed Brunnell, a Chicago exhibitor, was strapped to a wheeled stretcher and delivered to the hotel in an ambulance. A truck served as the conveyance for other delegates. Most popular spot at the convention headquarters was the tent of the Variety Club, luxurious, commodious and scrumptious. Whenever one wanted to find someone not on the convention floor, he needed only to look in the tent. STR's representative simply searched in the tent for everyone who was wanted and thus became an "always gets his man" correspondent the easy way. Al Steffes, who was responsible for most of the excitement before and plenty of it at the convention is on the verge of closing his World Theatre in Minneapolis. Reported that Publix has grabbed all the foreign product such as he was using. He never got a chance to air this point on the floor, however. Never was such a collection of bigwigs at one convention. What with Ed Kuykendall and Nate Yamins, Abram Myers and Dave Palfreyman and such "brothers under the skin" seen in deep conversation together, anything can be expected. With the arrival of delegates from two trains and a plane at the same moment on Monday night the desk at the Nicollet looked like an exchange when a big picture is released with the exhibs hollering for rooms with the same zest that they call for dates on a super-colossal (on flat rental). Anachronism : as one entered the Nicollet lobby a big sign read "All exhibitors welcome — RKO reception room, 1270 Sixth Ave., New York." Just an after dinner stroll ! The weather proved pretty trying to those who came from tropical climes like New York, Boston and other eastern spots. When they left they mopped their brows and fanned themselves and when they arrived they exercised vigorously to keep up their circulation and spirits (sic) in the chilly Minnesota clime. First out-of-towner to arrive was expresident Sidney Samuelson with his wife and his secretary, Sally Fisher. Those who had exhibits on the floor of the convention hotel were: Elliott Film and Theatre Equipment Co. of Minneapolis; MGM; Burch Mfg. Co., candy and popcorn makers; Liebenburg and Kaplan Co., carpets; Air-loc Seat Co.; Revolvo Display Co.; Paramount; International Enterprises; National Screen Service; Nation Wide Coupon Distributing Co. ; Svensson and Edstrom Vent and Canopy Co. of Minneapolis; RCA Mfg. Co.; RKO-Radio; Kroehler Seat Co.; National Theatre Supply Co. The weather was so chilly Southern delegates thought they were close to the North Pole. To make it worse the telephone operators' greeting in the morning was "It is eight o'clock and the temperature is 66 degrees." Which was a bit like rubbing it in — eh, what? W. F. Rodgers, who might be called the "angel of the Code" was greeted on the phone shortly after his arrival in this manner: "This is an exhibitor from 'Foul Drift', S. D. I want to know if under the code I wanted to buy the 'Traveltalks' would I have to take all the features to get them?" When the convention ended Rodgers was still searching through the Code to find the answer to that one. Mrs. Will McAchern of Park River, N. D., one of the many feminine delegates, said she didn't like to gloat that the drought was now in the East instead of in her bailiwick where it bad been for several years. Ted Main of St. Paul walked up to STR's table and said "The Bible's here again." For them kind words we thank you Mr. Main. L. E. Jorgenson of Salem, S. D. is a theatre manager and said he came to the convention only to tell 'em what's wrong — and could do it in one word: "Plenty." Hope it all turns out to your satisfaction Mr. Jorgenson. W. J. Gla«ser of Faribault, Minn., one of the coldest spots in the country poohpoohed some of the Southerners and complained of the heat. He mopped his brow while others went out in top coats. "Rotten" was G. Berquist's answer to our "how's business?" There must have been a film salesman close by. MORE SIDELIGHTS NEXT WEEK Distributor Chiefs At Allied Convention Those attending the convention representing the distributors were as follows: Columbia — Abe Montague, general sales manager; MGM — William F. Rodgers, general sales manager; Monogram — W. Ray Johnston, president and Edward Golden, vice-president; Paramount — Neil Agnew, vicepresident and general sales manager, and Austin Keough, general counsel; RKO-Radio — H. M. Richey. director of exhibitor relations; Reoublic — James R. Grainger, president; Twentieth CenturvFox — William Sussman and William Gehrine. divisional sales managers; United Artists — L. Jack Schlaifer, vice-president and western sales manager; Universal — William A. Scully, eeneral sales manager; Warner Bros. — Gradwell Sears, general sales manager of the company. Negotiations with Allied End. Exhibs May Deal Direct W. F. Rodgers charged Allied leaders and the negotiating committee with deliberately falsifying and bad faith, after a report of the Allied negotiating committee returned a verdict rejecting the Code. Rodgers' action brought a dramatic climax to the sessions on the floor of the Minneapolis Convention, where the Code had been discussed pro and con through long sessions since the meet opened Tuesday morning. Rodgers, in announcing his withdrawal of the Code, said that the report of Allied's negotiating committee left him no alternative but to withdraw the pact and have nothing further to do with Allied as an organization. Rodgers said he is prepared to prove that statements made in the Allied Committee meeting were false in most respects and maintained that the Code as presented at this session in substance is exactly what was agreed upon with the exception that the legal paraphrasing was the work of attorneys. In an interview with Rodgers after the meeting, the MGM Sales head and spokesman for the Distributors' Code Committee indicated that although the distributors would have no further dealing with Allied they would deal directly with all exhibitors whom he felt were in favor of the proposals and arbitration as provided for in the final text of the Code. The Convention was prepared to take a vote in the Thursday afternoon meeting at the time Rodgers announced his decision to withdraw the pact from further negotiation with Allied as a body. It was significant that no requests for a vote came from the floor after Rodgers' dramatic announcement. Many observers who have been impressed by rumors of differences of opinion between leaders of various units of Allied with respect to the Code, took this as further indication of a sentiment within Allied's own ranks for approval of the Code. Speaking after the meeting Rodgers said that he was heartily disappointed and really chagrined by the statement and action of Allied's Negotiating Committee, declaring this was the first time his personal integrity had been attacked. Among the many speakers who addressed the meeting on the final day of the meet were: Austin Keough, Neil Agnew, of Paramount; Bill Sussman and William Gehring, 20th-Fox; Wm. Scully, Universal; H. M. Richey, RKO; Ed Kuykendall, Abram F. Myers and Sidney Samuelson.