Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1940)

Page 6 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW August 24, 1940 Kuykendall Urges All Exhibs To Oppose Five Film Plan Would Work Hardship on Theatres Away From Exchanges And Place Theatre Men At Mercy of Distribs, He Says Further emphasizing his objection to the proposed consent decree and that of his organization, Ed Kuykendall, President of the MPTOA, this week urged all exhibitors, regardless of their affiliation to register theirf> protest against the five picture block proposal. In his statement, he pointed out that the buying of five pictures at a time would work a tremendous hardship on exhibitors located away from the exchange centers, increasing the cost of product considerably and forcing them to buy only a few days' program at a time. This would cause considerable confusion in a theatre's bookings and cause the exhibitor to show pictures much later than his run would allow. MPTOA President also insists this clause would put the theatre owner at the mercy of the distributor, as there would be no cancellation privilege and the exhibitor would be forced to buy all 5 pictures, to secure the probably 3 or 4 he felt suitable to his community. He further states it would destroy community selectivity, about which so much has been said lately, and serve no public welfare MPTOA has fought for years for a reasonable cancellation privilege in all contracts and the "5 picture block sale" without cancellation would destroy all cancelation privileges exhibitors may now have, or hope to get. Kuykendall states he is sure the Department of Justice is trying to impartially and fairly work out the trade differences in this industry, but that unless exhibitors inform them of their positions, they cannot be expected to have a full understanding of them. Therefore Kuykendall feels the Department will welcome exhibitor opinion, particularly because of the fact that exhibitors have not been permitted to participate in the hearings to date MPTOA has asked the Department of Justice, through the Assistant Attorney General Thurman Arnold, that its executive committee be given a hearing before the Department, before any final decisions are made. Columbus, O.— The ITO of Ohio, through Pete Wood, its secretary, has asked members to communicate to it their opinion on the consent decree and will consider them at a meeting of the Board of Directors next Thursday. Admitting that there is considerable controversy over the matter, Wood asks that the members state their own opinions so that the Board may consider them as a whole. Several other Allied units have already gone on record against the proposals. What, No Poster Preview? So Farnol Stages One New York witnessed its first ceremonial preview of a motion picture poster Thursday, when, in accordance with ideas of UA Advertising Director Lynn Farnol, a 24-sheet for "The Thief of Bagdad" was unveiled. "If there are previews of motion pictures and of art shows, why should there not be one of a poster advertising a motion picture?" queried Farnol in a telegram to the New York press, and by way of answering his own question, proceeded to invite all to come and see Artist Willy Pogany officiate at the unveiling, which stirred up a big stir among crowds at 48th St. and Sixth Ave. "Boom Town" |SMPE Picks Policy Praised Urge Exhibitors to Cooperate; Price Increases Justified Praise for MGM's policy on "Boom Town" has come from the ITO of Ohio through Pete Wood, secretary of the organization. Wood points out that the picture is grossing big money in all of the test spots where it is playing at advanced prices and that this has impelled MGM to urge all exhibitors to raise their prices 25% at matinees and 33 1/3% at night. Wood also announces that through an exchange of correspondence with William F. Rodgers, MGM sales manager, he has learned that it is entirely optional with the exhibitor as to whether or not he will raise his prices and that a failure to do so will not interfere with the delivery of a print to the theatre on the regular date of availability. Don't Dissipate Product Asks Fox {Continued from preceding page) announced 3 months ago, has elicited as much comment as the character of releases announced. According to Mr. Fox, the company's sales prove that Universal's 40-41 program has met with the anticipated result in that the Universal product is being rated as a "cushion" or the foundation of many accounts booking for the current season. The present production status, with completion of a high percentage of the compani^'s schedule, he said, puts Universal's studio as well as sales departments in a most favorable position. Production factors, such as casting, writing and directing assignments, he said, can continue for the balance of the schedule on a basis of best choice rather than compromises sometimes forced by the time element conflicting with availability of talent. Seeks to Put Issue of Sun. Movies to Voters _ In an attempt to have the question of Sunday movies placed on the ballots in November, C. Floyd Hopkins, Wilmer and Vincent executive in Harrisburg, Pa., representing ail local theatre managements, is attempting to obtain signatures to a petition to that effect. Although only r,SOO signatures are required by law, Hopkins states hers is certain to have 7,000. The Pennsylvania Council of Churches meanwhile is organizing to fight Sunday films. Many church sermons are being devoted to the subject as a part of the campaign being led by the Federation Lord's Day Committee. New RKO Trenton House The RKO Trent Theatre at Trenton, N. J., will be closed after Labor Day and the building will be immediately demolished to make way for a new house on the same site, to open at Christmas time, John J. O'Connor, general manager of RKO Theatres has announced. Warner Managers Meet Harry Goldberg, director of advertising and publicity for the Warner Circuit addressed a meeting of Warner theatre and district managers in the Newark zone this week. Joseph Bernhard, circuit chief, presided. Monograjn To Move To Coast Business and Production Departments To Be Under One Roof; Foreign Department To Remain in New York Monogram's home office will be moved to the Coast within the next ninety days, it was announced this week, following a meeting of the Board of Directors. The business and production departments of the company win<§> Committees To Introduce 1941 Officers At Banquet Says Williford President E. A. Williford of the SMPE announced the names of the committees for the organization's Fall convention to be held in the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood from October 21 to 25. Officers-elect for 1941 will be introduced at a banquent and dance to be held in the hotel's Blossom Room on the final day. Another feature of the banquet will be the presentation of the SMPE Progress Award and the SMPE Journal Award. Convention committees are : Pacific Coast Papers — C. R. Sawyer chairman; L. A. Aicholtz, O. O. Ceccar^^'''S^' C. Faulkner, C. N. Batsel, W. A. Mueller, J. Stewart, H. G. lasker. Reception and Local Arrangements — H. •j. lasker, chairman; N. Levinson, K. F Morgan, P. Mole, A. M. Gundelfinger, H. W. Remerschied, G. S. Mitchell, L. D >J'''f?-9,"' ^ Rackett, H. W. Moyse, W. w Mueller, C. L. LooJens, T-rY C. Richardson, E. Huse J . O. Aalberg, R. H. McCullough, J. M Nickolaus, E. H. Hansen, R. (J Under! man, F. M. Falge. * Registration and Information — W C Kunzmann, chairman; C. W. Handley, S Harris, J. Frank, Jr., W. R. Greene. iianquet and Dance— N. Levinson, chairman; H. T. Kalmus, E. Huse, L. L. ^•n^-J^"?'"^^' ^ Linderman, G. ^ H. G. Tasker, W. C. McCullough, G. F. Rackett, J. O. Aalberg, K. F. Morgan, H. W. Moyse, J. L. Courcier. Hotel and Transportation — G. A. Chambers chairman; W. C. Harcus, F. L. Eich, ii. M. Honan, H. R. Lubcke, W. E. Theisen, L. M. Hoffman, S. P. Solow, D P Loye, D. J. Bloomberg, F. J. Durst, K. B Lambert, F. O'Grady, A. C. Blaney, D. B. Brown, J. G. Frayne. Convention Projection — H. Griffin, chairman; J. O Aalberg, C. W. Handley S^-„--^-j %^°'P''' ^ M. Nickolaus, T. K. Hilhard, H. A Starke, L. E. Clark, M. S. Leshing, A. F. Edouart, I. Serrurier, T Durst, R^ H McCullough, H. W. Remer: schiedL H. I. Reiskind, W. W. Lindsay, Jr.; Utticers and members of Los Angeles Projectionists Local No. ISO. Ladies' Reception — Mrs. L. L. Ryder hostess; assisted by Mrs. H. G. Tasker,' Mrs E. C. Richardson, Mrs. G F ^f'''?''*'^.'^''^;, W Moyse, Mrs. L. e' Clark, Mrs. G. S. Mitchell, Mrs. N. Levinson Mrs. P. Mole, Mrs. C. W. Hand'■f/i, Mrs. K. F. Morgan, Mrs W C Miller, Mrs B. Kreuzer, Mrs. A. M. Gundelfinger, Mrs. E. Huse, Mrs. G. A Chambers, Mrs. J O. Aalberg, Mrs. R. H. McCullough, Mrs. C. Dunning, Mrs ■t.. J. Durst Miss Ruth Williams, social director, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Publicity— J. Haber, chairman; L. A Aicholtz, W. A. Mueller, W. R. Greene, G. Chambers, S. Harris, A. M. Gundelfinger. New Equipment Exhibit — B. Kreuzer chairman; P. Mole, C. N. Batsel, K f' ^f°''^''-£' ?^ Harper, F. J. Durst, O. F.' Neu, F. M. Falge, G. H. Worrall, T. G. frayne, H. W. Remerschied, C. R. Daily, C. W. Handley. thus be combined under one roof. Only the foreign department under Norton V. Ritchey, is exempted from the move. The latter will rernain in New York but will function from the New York Exchange. Studio space is now being sought to house the east and west coast units of the company. W. Ray Johnston, President of the company, who acted as chairman at the board meeting, announced that several locations were being considered. Attending the meeting were : O. Henry Briggs, Trem Carr, Scott R. Dunlap, Thomas P. Loach, Steve Broidy, John Mangham, J. A, Sisto, Col. T. C. Davis. UA Denies Conspiracy In Gov't vs. Schine Action Joining with the other major companies who are defendants in the same action. United Artists through Edward C. Raftery, attorney, ^this week denied the Government's conspiracy charges in a suit against the Schine Circuit. Booking-Buying Deal The Rosenblatt and Welt Circuit has signed a deal to buy and book pictures for the City Theatre at Highland Falls, N. Y.