To prohibit and to prevent the trade practices known as "compulsory block-booking" and "blind selling" of motion-picture films in interstate and foreign commerce (1939)

8 TRADE PRACTICES IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY COMPULSORY BLOCK BOOKING AND BLIND SELLING ARE A BLIGHT ON CREATIVE EFFORT, PRODUCTION, AND EMPLOYMENT The most convincing testimony concerning the baleful effects of compulsory block booking and blind selling comes from those within the motion-picture industry. Carl Laemmle, a pioneer producer and until recently the head of Universal Pictures Corporation, says: Abolition of block booking will be a good thing for the industry. Of course, the picture producer won't like it because it means that he will be obliged to make only good pictures. ******* However, in the course of time, the producer will not be sorry if block booking is ruled out. He will not be obliged to make trash to compete with trash, and he can concentrate on high-grade product, make better pictures, and make more money. Variety, a leading publication devoted to the screen and stage, carried in its issue for December 14, 1938, an editorial entitled "Block booking not showmanship." It said, among other things: Every sales executive in the business knows too well that under block booking the weak are carried along with the strong, and if pictures of the major companies were forced to stand on their own quality as attractions and entertainment there would be an explosion in Hollywood which would eliminate the drones and properly focus approval on the real creators. Block booking is the Moloch which consumes good, bad, and indifferent product in its insatiable machinery. The wonder is not the scarcity of outstanding, smashing film hits, but that under the present system of industry operation there are any hits at all. The Motion Picture Herald for December 17, 1938, carried an editorial by its publisher, Martin Quigley, an authority on motion pictures, a part of which is as follows: The industry's greatest asset is the reputation of the motion picture. It should be cherished and preserved. This most decidedly is not done when pictures which are known to be below acceptable standards are forced upon the screens of thousands of theaters, not by any demand that exists for them — on part of either the public or the exhibitor — but rather by a system which automatically insures their distribution. Phil Goldstone, an independent producer of motion pictures and president of the Independent Motion Picture Producers' Association, wired that — Block booking has gradually killed off and almost eliminated independent production. If independent producers had a fair opportunity to market their product it would cause a complete revival of their industry and the employment of additional hundreds. I. E. Chadwick, a distinguished producer, who is now awaiting the enactment of the bill to clear the way for him to resume activity, put it this way: Abolition of block booking will emancipate the independent producer, distributor, and exhibitor, encourage competition and new capital and reemploy hundreds now inactive and unemployed. E. B. Derr, another independent producer, says: I believe the elimination of block booking is a good thing for the industry in general and it should surely improve the quality of independent production as it should open the screens not now available to us for our product.