Showmen's Trade Review (1939)

July 8, 1939 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 7 Kennedy's orner Putting the Moral before the story — Don't be afraid of using an idea, advertising or exploitation, just because it's been used by somebody else recently! Capitol Theatre's first break this week on "On Borrowed Time" is a personal endorsement signed by Major Bowes. Its heading: "Don't Stop Me If You've Heard This Before." Admitting that this korner may be partial to the idea for "Borrowed Time" because STR's review on the picture suggested just that as a good exploitation slant, we still think that Capitol ad a nifty. It has a twist that makes it different. Pictures have a past; are no longer in their infancy. "March of Time" reminds all of that in the new issue which shows clips from many memorable films — one "The Kiss," which goes back to last century, b'gum. Broadcasting companies, running up against something of a stone wall in getting films for television purposes, breathed a publicity-release sigh of relief by announcing acquisition of several foreign-made films for their programs. But! Television programs will use up more films than those foreign-film little theatres over here do — and look at the billing for several of the New York "arty" houses for the week and you read this: "Cavalcade," "The Power and the Glory," "The Emperor's Candlesticks"— all Hollywood-made pictures of seasons back are the features offered. We pay our compliments to: Lou Pollock, for he's a pappy of a boy baby; Drew Eberson, for he's a versatile fellow-architect taking over many important assignments in theatre design and construction for his father, John Eberson, and a real workmanlike movie director with several fine Hollywood films to his credit — and the papers about signed for him to return to the coast to direct some more pictures for a spell; after which, more theatre architecture. Majors Deny Gov't Charges In Answers to Equity Suit Claim No Knowledge of Many Allegations ; Dispute Sherman Law Violation A sweeping general denial to the allegations made by the government in its equity suit against them and their officials was made by the major companies last week-end in answer to the government's petition charg-^ ing them with violation of the Sherman anti-trust act. Each of the majors answered the suit for itself and its officials and affiliated companies. Paramount, for example, on behalf of itself, a subsidiary company and 19 individuals declared that the law was neither violated nor was there any intent to violate it and it denied 53 allegations in the complaint. Definitions of trade terms were disputed and so was the claim that the industry is dominated by the defendants. Other allegations in the government's brief which were disputed were as follows: that the first run market is closed to independents; that they are relegated to an inferior position; that film rentals are unconscionable and excessive; that market control is compatible with free competition; that there is a conspiracy to monopolize, through common plan, stars, directors and technicians; that pooling of stars violates the law; that there exists division of territory through a system of franchises and contracts; that the defendants are guilty of restraint of trade. The other replies were somewhat similar each of the defendants denying a large number of the allegations and claiming no knowledge of a great many others. Among those answering were the Chase National Bank, which while admitting ownership of 58 per cent of National Theatres Co. denied that it is an associated corporation with 20th-Fox. All of the defendants answered at the same time except UA and Columbia, which await action of the Court on their motion for further particulars. CrowdsMobNewYorkMovies Influx of Tourists, Extended Holiday Period Account for Extra Grosses Business at Broadway movie houses over the holiday weekend was bigger this year than in former years during the same period. With Independence Day falling on Tuesday, it was a four-day vacation for millions of@> New Yorkers and tourists, thus accounting for the heavy patronage. Cashiers were kept busiest Monday afternoon. Crowds were so large at Loew's State where Eddie Cantor was featured on the stage with "It's a Wonderful World" on the screen that ushers were recruited from the Mayfair, Criterion and Capitol, Loew-operated houses. When this failed to control the mass of humanity packing the sidewalk, police were called, who succeeded in forming lines in either direction to the box offices. Several times ticketselling was suspended, and hundreds were forced to wait two or three hours for seats. The Paramount, too, with Gene Krupa's band on the stage and "Man About Town" on the screen, had waiting lines extending around the corner along 43rd street. The Music Hall, Strand, Astor, Roxy and other first-run houses reported good business. TOPICAL TALKS AT BOARD MEET Hays Directorate Reports On Television CAN. EXHIBS TO HOLD MEET League Action May Follow Convention At the final session of MPPDA's quarterly board meeting held last Friday morning at the organization's headquarters, topical discussions of industry problems were featured. Progress of findings in the television field with respect to film industry relations was reported by Harry D. Buckley, chairman of the MPPDA Television Committee, as investigated by him and his co-committeemen, Charles C. Moskowitz and Paul Raeburn. National Contracts For UA 1939-40 Product National Theatres, Inc., including all of its five subsidiary cirsuits headed by Spyros Skouras, has contracted for United Artists' entire program of 28-32 pictures for 1939-40. L. J. Schalifer, vicepresident, acted in behalf of UA, while J. J. Sullivan, William T. Powers and Aubrey Schenck represented National. Toronto — Under auspices of the Anti-Protection League, a dominion-wide independent exhibitors' convention will probably be held some time in August. According to estimates, the League's organization program will be completed in 30 days, and the call for the convention is expected to follow. In the meantime, no move will be made by the League to negotiate for a settlement of its grievances, officials believing it will be in a more advantageous position to bargain when its agenda has been given nation independent exhibitor approval. ELECT COHN PREXY Picture Pioneers Make Col. Exec. Head of New Club Members of Picture Pioneers, industry veterans, elected Jack Cohn permanent "house manager" (president) of the organization at its first "conference" held last Friday night at the Barberry Room of the Hotel Berkshire in East 52nd street. Cohn, Columbia's vice-president, initiated the new organization. A Son Is Born A son was born last Sunday at the Sydenham Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Lou Pollock. Pollock is U's Eastern advertising chief.