Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1945)

February 3, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 3 New Sources of Supply The sound business sense of cultivating exhibitor goodwill right now, even if customers are a dime a dozen, has been the subject of comment on this page several times in the recent past. Those potential sources of new supply for motion pictures (discussion of which was postponed at the Allied board meeting in Columbus pending the clear-up of raw stock shortages) may seem remote right now. But postponement of discussion of these new sources of supply in no way changes the writings that are sketched on the wall, and it is no secret to those who get around in this business that not one or two or three, but many men, who are able as well as willing, have very concrete and well advanced plans for launching new production enterprises. It is hard business sense to capitalize that opportunity which exists for the company already in business by treating the customers of today in a manner that will give the seller an edge on their patronage tomorrow — when there may be other concerns coming into the market with attractive merchandise. There is a lot of difference between reasonable treatment of a customer and "appeasement" of those minorities that appear in every phase of social, political and commercial life to obstruct and tear down with their selfish or wholly unintelligent demands. The rank and file of exhibitors who protest that selling policies of many of the distributors are too harsh, altogether too selfish and unmindful of the business conditions the smaller theatre operator faces, deserve to be heard and their difficulties given consideration. The exhibitors in that position today, it is true, are in the minority. But for that very reason the job of cooperating with them to give them a chance to improve their position and further develop potential new customers for screen entertainment is not an undertaking that will cost the distributor any large sums of money in the overall revenue from national distribution of his pictures. ▲ ▲ A Keep It Clean And speaking of "have nots," there are several of them in the production field — now that the raw stock pinch is being only too acutely felt in this industry. That there has been a growing impetus to independent production is self-evident. It is gaining momentum and according to all indicators will roll on like the ocean tides when the world reverts to normal. But if the war is acting as a restraint to the growth and power that appears to be in the very roots of the development, even that limitation cannot stop the will to live on the part of established independent producers. Thus we have, in the statement issued in New York this week by Samuel Goldwyn, clear-cut proof that these independent producers are going out to fight for "survival," as Goldwyn puts it, by carrying their battle to Washington for a revamping of the present quota system under which film allotments are made to the distributors for disposition to their own producing sources. This is something that could develop into one of those intra-industry tussles wherein tempers rise and charges and counter-charges ring in the outer atmosphere — outside the industry itself, that is. Such internecine flareups in the past have served mainly to generate a lot of hot air that came in handy for the ammunition factories of the politicians, "reformers" and assorted blowhards who find it profitable to attack and harass the industry. So it will be best for everybody who has any stake in this industry to keep this fight clean of all or any hot-headed word or deed, and it is up to the "haves" to make all reasonable concession to the needs of the "have nots." AAA Good Will Ambassadors An article recently published by STR gave a running account of some of the examples of outstanding work by theatremen around the country in behalf of local charity or civic causes. Naturally the theatremen have no monopoly on the performance of unselfish action which wins goodwill for the entire film industry. Of that we have a most notable reminder in the recent award, and acceptance remarks, of the Poor Richard Club's Gold Medal of Achievement to Bob Hope. The actor (whom the film industry may rightly claim more than any other branch of show business, since through that medium Hope really reached the millions that enabled him to fully develop his great talents) was in distinguished company when he joined the list of those whom the Poor Richard Club honored with its Award of Achievement. That Bob Hope well deserved the tribute for his outstanding work in entertaining America's fighting men on battle fronts, goes without saying. What further elevated Bob Hope as a truly worthy ambassador of show business was the eloquently modest and unselfish sentiment he voiced in his words of acceptance, when he said that he accepted the honor in "behalf of unknown soldiers of the entertainment world who traded their dressing rooms for pup tents." Our prettiest bow to that grand fellow and most distinguished ambassador of goodwill for his profession. Bob Hope.