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, tion j Wood I "I ! "I Pot 0' Gold Counter Plan Is Abandoned Cleveland—The Pot O' Gold theatre plan has been a boxoffice flop, Clevelanfi exhibitors told P. J. Wood, secretary of jthe Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, jat a general meeting of the Cleveland Mo- Picture Exhibitors Ass'n held Tuesday. <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 13. Wood attended the meeting of Cleveland exhibitors to find out what results have been obtained after a four weeks trial at 54 theatres in the Cleveland area, and to enlist the Cleveland theatres in a state jorganization campaign to buck the Pot O' iGold radio program. However, instead of lining up the Cleveland theatres in his state campaign, after Ihearing how the plan failed to elicit anyjthing but boos. Wood plans to call off the 'whole thing and to refund to the approxi- ]mately 100 theatre owners the assessments Ithey have paid into the state organization. jyear. announced <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 28-29 as the (iates for the annual ITO convention to be beld this year at the Neil House, and in liew of the important issues facing the aidustry. asked for a large turnout from Cleveland. Ray Branch Cautions Dn Pot O' Gold Detroit—Comment on the Pot O' Gold jrograms that have aroused national in- .erest in the industry was guarded in a tatement to <strong>Boxoffice</strong> this week by Ray branch of Hastings, president of Allied Theatres of Michigan. Said Branch: am somewhat afraid that if you start |)n activity to combat it, you wall increase )Ublicity for it, and it will spread. Radio pperators will be able to say that it must lie popular, because it is arousing theatre jipposition. don't think that the idea of tying up m award with the theatre ticket, as in bhio, in defense, is good, because there is possibility that this is a lottery. "I think the best course is to ignore it. j ;ombating it is just giving the idea a (reat buildup, and the first thing, radio •ill start attacking the theatre. "I don't know that you can call the rogram a lottery. The language of the ct is very broad, and they have some de- ;nse there. A Trip Convinced The Solons Detroit—Louis B. Mayer in commenting on the Neely bill, recalled the visit to the M-G-M lot last year of several congressmen. He intimated that had more congressmen and senators found the lime to visit the Hollywood film plants that the Neely bill would not be so dangerously near passage. "These lawmakers told me," he said, "that they were flabbergasted to learn of the vast industry behind the exhibition of motion pictures. They told me that they had not read the Neely bill but would do so immediately. They did read it later, and after they had. I received letters from them telling me that since reading the bill they were opposed to it." there is nothing to stop listeners from tuning in to an out-state station." Another argument in favor of discontinuing any further effort to promote a thea- Co-op's Suggested Amendments On Neely Bill Held Good tre Pot O' Gold was the statement of a Irumor that the radio show will be off the Detroit—Commenting on proposals for tair within a few weeks. amendment to the Neely bill, offered by Cooperative Theatres of Michigan, Ray The state of the proposed three per cent Branch of Hastings, president of Allied tax on film rentals was another subject of Theatres, said: organization discussion. Secretary Wood "I am naturally in favor of local arbitration, W'hich Michigan Allied itself ap- reported that the taxpayers suit filed in Columbus to collect this tax. retroactive to proved in October at Kalamazoo. 'January 1935. will come up for hearing before the court of appeals in April of this "I would not definitely say it should be included in the Neely bill. We are trying to work toward the same end along other lines." Referring to other amendments proposed by Coop. Branch said. "Most companies are not forcing shorts, newsreels, and reissues now anyway. You don't have score charges from most or all companies now. "The provision to identify pictures always has been desirable. "Warner and M-G-M. at least, now have voluntarily adopted a 10 to 20 per cent cancellation clause, based upon average film rental paid. Increasing the percentage is apt to increase it to the point where it is uni'easonable. I think the clause we now have, which was voluntarily submitted by various distributors, is practical. "I can't speak on forced selective playing time, because I'm not personally a victim of it." Jaffurs Brothers Acquire The Star in Glassport Pittsburgh—James Jaffurs and his brother John have acquired the Star. Glassport. from Mrs. Stella Gorris, widow of the veteran exhibitor, Peter Gorris. A long-term lease was taken from Mrs. Gorris who had operated the house since the death of her husband. James Jaffrus is identified in exhibition at Wilmerding where he operates the Wilmer. ! "I am speaking personally, for not all lur members are in agreement with me on 'lis. Although I understand that, under Cyril Hume Reticketed state law. Michigan stations could be Hollywood—Cyril Hume. Metro scripter. has been given a new^ writing opped from picking up the programs. ticket. Capitalization Boost Opens Co-op Roster Detroit—Addition of new members to Cooperative Theatres of Michigan has been made possible by an increase in capitalization. Fred DeLodder, president, told <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. Capitalization of the company, which is a Michigan corporation, has been increased from $50,000 to S60,000. "We had a number of applications for membership," DeLodder said, "but w^e were unable to take in any more members, because we had no unissued stock. So we increased the capitalization in order to be able to act on new applications. The minimum amount of stock which one member must have is one share, at $100." Cooperative now centers the booking activities of a number of the principal independent circuits, as well as independent single theatre owners and upstate operators, with around 100 member houses. Report Horwitz Resigns As Ohio ITO Officer Cleveland—It is reliably reported along Filmrow that M. B. Hoi-witz. for 25 years an active leader in all exhibitor organization affairs, has resigned as treasurer and member of the board of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio. He has held this elective post since 1934. While Horwitz would neither affirm nor deny the report, it is understood that he differed with other board members on organization matters. Bert Stearn Testimonial Drive Is Gratiiying Cleveland—A. M. Goodman. United Artists branch manager, says that the results, to date, of the Bert Steam testimonial drive are most complimentary to the UA district manager, and expects the Cleveland office to be considerably ahead of its quota when the drive ends today. Exhibitors in this territory. Goodman states, have cooperated with new contracts and dates during the drive period and it is understood that Steam's other offices are making equally complimentary showings. Columbia Drive Starts Cleveland—The Columbia sales and billing drive, dedicated to honor Abe Montague's 15 years with the company, got under way on <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>17</strong> and will continue until May 10. Columbia Branch Manager Lester Zucker and his sales force are out to establish a record. Ahead in Scottsville Scottsville. Ky.—C. M. Caldwell expects to have his new theatre here ready for opening by April 1. The house, being constructed on the site of his Lyric Theatre which was destroyed by fire the latter part of December, will be larger than its predecessor. OXOFHCE : : H,?' <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>17</strong>. 1940 ME 47
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