Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1946)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, February 16, 1946 Over, and Over Again There may be rhythm (which jive addicts tell us is terrifically important) but there is — to one in showbusiness — also a monotonous repetition of the "master plan" in these various and sundry Allied units' resolutions regarding the proposed Theatres Activities setup. Down in Washington — at a meeting attended by many AUied men who previously had accepted invitations to be present at the gathering at which the TAG was projected — the Allied high command put the inner circle injun sign (as is not unusual in the star-chamber techniques of that organization) on the Theatre Activities Committee plan. Whereupon, Allied men as a body reneged on the TAG meeting, including many who previously had signified in writing they would attend and at which the outlines were drawn for a national organization whose platform, purposes and set-up will be discussed out in the open — according to promises of those who making arrangements for the convention — at a national gathering in St. Louis next April. Since that time this Allied unit and that one, with the tiresome regularity we complain about, has been following in the "master's" footsteps. Somebody gets up and says that there is nothing in the TAG plan which cannot be done better by Allied and then a motion comes up, and is passed, in which the whole august bod}' declares itself devoutly in favor of a "free screen." In the viewpoint of this corner nothing is more healthful to a good, democratic, business-like way of settling on the best course, than to have an outspoken opposition to every proposal. To be outspoken, of course, one must first determine what the proposal is before either approving or putting the veto on it. However, in Allied's case this mealy-mouthed business of piously talking about a "free screen" in one breath and caverlierly dismissing in the next a plan which they haven't taken the trouble to find out the least thing about seems a bit too thick for this obser^'-er. Previously we have suggested — and we still think it's a swell idea — that theatremen owe it to themselves to find out what this TAG plan is all about. The men behind it are certainly of the stature, and the reputation on the basis of their long records in this industry, to command interest. Surely, this can't be a crackpot notion proceeding from the day-dreamings of tyros and theorists who are known for their accomplishments in fields of legalistic or political activities or organizational hocus-pocus rather than for their identification with the hard, down-to-earth work of running theatres, and running them successfully as an enterprise independent and apart from producer or distributor afl&liations. What we think is needed now is an inteUigent consideration of the Theatre Activities Gommittee proposal. That can come only if large numbers of independent, working theatremen and theatre owners individually inform themselves about this TAG movement. It won't do to turn the whole program down — sight unseen — in the present Allied style. Let great numbers of the theatremen themselves become acquainted with the plan. Let them look it over critically and impartially and come to a decision as to whether or not they believe it good for the theatres of this country to get together in such an organization and on such a program as TAG proposes. Then let them act — in good American fashion — entirely in accordance with their own free, independent beliefs and wishes. Worth Your While The chairman of the industry committee for American Brotherhood Week — that would be Spyros Skouras — has been doing an excellent job of setting up the whole plan for theatre participation in this campaign which will run for the week Februarj^ 16-24. Even without such an outstanding job of national organization for the week, the American Brotherhood Week movement would deserve the most spirited and whole-hearted eflFort on the part of all exhibitors. The exhibitor — the theatreman — is in the peculiar position of carrying a responsibility that ranges far beyond the scope of that which falls upon the shoulders of other business men. His theatre is the focal point of community interest and attention. He enjoys great benefits thereby. But he also has these responsibilities, and one of them is to line up and go to work for just such idealistic — and wholly necessan,^ — movements as is represented in the American Brotherhood drive sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Theatremen can be proud that their industry has so effectively focussed the attention of America on this movement (the public appeal of the Supreme Court Justices which appears in vour newsreels, is merely the culminating flourish to a fine job of public relations) ind it behooves all theatremen to show the excellent trailer and give the greatest showmanship punch to the whole idea which will be in the national spotlight during the week February 16-24. —''CHICK" LEWIS