the independent distributor, and the independent exhibitors' bane. It is not compulsory, but if it exists it becomes compulsory. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Youngdahl, did you have some questions? Mr. YOUNGDAHL. No, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Are you through, Mr. Hinshaw? Mr. HINSHAW. Yes, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Well, we thank you, Mr. Chadwick. Mr. PATRICK. Let me ask one question. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Patrick. Mr. PATRICK. It has been about 14 years since you made a picture? Mr. CHADWICK. I beg your pardon? Mr. PATRICK. It has been about 14 years since you made a picture; a picture of any size or anything of that type? Mr. CHADWICK. That is not correct, sir. Mr. PATRICK. How long has it been? Mr. CHADWICK. I made the most important pictures distributed by Monogram from 1932 to 1936, including Oliver Twist, Black Beauty, Casey Jones, and so on; a series of pictures of that kind. Mr. PATRICK. Those are some of your pictures? Mr. CHADWICK. That question amazes me. Mr. PATRICK. You do not mind my asking it? Mr. PATRICK. So that you can change the amazement by the answer. Mr. CHADWICK. No, sir. Mr. PATRICK. Let us see; how many pictures have you made in the last 10 years? Mr. CHADWICK. Forty. Mr. PATRICK. Forty? Mr. CHADWICK. Approximately. Mr. PATRICK. What are some of the outstanding productions of yours within that period, the last 10 years? Mr. CHADWICK. In the last 10 years? Mr. PATRICK. Yes. Mr. CHADWICK. Smoke Bellew on a story by Jack London; Wine, Women, and Song. Mr. PATRICK. Wine, Women, and Song? Mr. CHADWICK. Yes, sir. That happens to be a great musical piece by Strauss. Mr. PATRICK. What year did you make Wine, Women, and Song? Mr. CHADWICK. 1934 or 1935; 1935 release; Blow of the Sea; Casey Jones; Hoosier Schoolmaster; The Bride in the Jungle; Oliver Twist; County Fair. Mr. PATRICK. What year did you make Oliver Twist? Mr. CHADWICK. Probably 1934. Mr. PATRICK. Smoke Bellew; what year was that? Mr. CHADWICK. 1931, I think. Mr. PATRICK. And who were your chief actors in those pictures; who were the stars? Mr. CHADWICK. Well, which picture, sir? Mr. PATRICK. Smoke Bellew; do you remember the star? Mr. CHADWICK. Tearle. Mr. PATRICK. He is dead now, is he not? Mr. CHADWICK. Yes, sir. Mr. PATRICK. And who starred in Wine, Women, and Song? Mr. PATRICK. Yes. Who starred in Oliver Twist? Mr. CHADWICK. Dickey Moore played the part of Oliver. The CHAIRMAN. We thank you, Mr. Chadwick. I understand that we have two more witnesses for the proponents. Mr. CHADWICK. May I now, in accordance with your suggestion, Mr. Chairman, submit letters from several of our member distributors, endorsing the views presented here, in whose behalf I am appearing? The CHAIRMAN. Very well. Mr. CHADWICK. Is that permitted, sir? The CHAIRMAN. Yes. (The letters referred to are as follows:) INDEPENDENT MOTION PICTURE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION, Mr. I. E. CHADWICK, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHADWICK: In a meeting of the Independent Motion Picture Producers Association held on May 6, it was unanimously agreed that we are in back of you 100 percent in your activities relating to the passage of the Neely bill. A resolution was passed authorizing you to act as our representative in all matters pertaining to the enactment of this bill. Wishing you success, with kindest regards, we are, Very truly yours, INDEPENDENT MOTION PICTURE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION. By HARRY S. WEBB, Secretary-Treasurer. Mr. I. E. CHADWICK, METROPOLITAN PICTURES CORPORATION, President, Independent Motion Picture Producers Association, Hollywood, Calif. DEAR MR. CHADWICK: You are hereby authorized to represent us at the hearing on the Anti-Block Booking Bill, known as the Neely Bill before the Committee on Interstate Commerce of the House of Representatives, at Washington. The proposed legislation is a magnificent step forward to free the motionpicture industry from monopoly, and its adoption will greatly encourage independent motion-picture production and exhibition. Its check on employment increase, especially in the smaller businesses, will be markedly for the better. The free competition which the Neely bill will encourage will extend to all branches of the industry, that is production, distribution, and exhibition. We request that you present these views in our behalf. Very truly yours, METROPOLITAN PICTURES CORPORATION. By HARRY S. WEBB. Mr. I. E. CHADWICK, CONTINENTAL PICTURES, INC., President, Independent Motion Pictures Association, The Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHADWICK: I hereby authorize you to represent us and express our views before the Interstate Commerce Commission, House of Representatives, in favor of the anti-block-booking bill, known as the Neely bill. Our many years in marketing pictures convinces us that only through legislative action can free competition in the motion-picture industry be restored. You cannot too strongly stress our advocacy of this measure. Yours very truly, Mr. I. E. CHADWICK, CONTINENTAL PICTURES, INC., MAJESTIC DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION, President, Independent Motion Pictures Producers Association, Hollywood, Calif. DEAR MR. CHADWICK: When appearing before the Interstate Commerce Commission for the House of Representatives in Washington, we will appreciate your expressing in our behalf the passage of the anti-block-booking bill, known as the Neely bill. Only through this passage can real competition exist in the motion-picture industry, and the stronghold of monopoly be eliminated. You have our approval to express the above views in our behalf. Very sincerely yours, Mr. I. E. CHADWICK, Washington, D. C. MAJESTIC DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION, ASTOR FILM Co. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, DEAR MR. CHADWICK: I have just been advised that you have left for Washington in the interest of the passage of the Neely bill which is generally known in the trade as the anti-block-booking bill. I, for one, want to urge you to exert every bit of pressure and effort to have this bill passed in order that the industry can once more pursue its own happy course with free enterprise and sane competition. I am of the firm belief that legislation of this kind will be the instrument by which current monopolistic practices will be eliminated from our industry. Feel free at any time to express these views in our behalf. Sincerely yours, LOUIS GOLDstein. The CHAIRMAN. I understand that there are only two more witnesses for the proponents, and we expect to close the hearings tomorrow morning as far as the proponents are concerned. The committee will stand adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. (Thereupon, at 4 p. m., the committee adjourned to meet the following morning, Tuesday, May 21, 1940, at 10 a. m.) MOTION-PICTURE FILMS TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1940 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. The committee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 a. m., Hon. Clarence F. Lea (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. STATEMENT OF H. A. COLE, PRESIDENT OF THE ALLIED THEATER OWNERS OF TEXAS, INC., AND ALLIED STATES ASSOCIATION OF MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS, DALLAS, TEX. Mr. COLE. My name is H. A. Cole. I live in Dallas, Tex. I am a theater owner and operator, having five theaters in north Texas towns. I have been president of the Allied Theater Owners of Texas, Inc., an independent exhibitor organization, for 17 years. I am also president of Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, an independent national exhibitor body. The Texas Association has gone on record in convention after convention in favor of the elimination of compulsory block-booking and blind selling. The latest resolution along that line was adopted in November 1939 when our association endorsed this very bill. Allied Theater Owners of Texas is affiliated with Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, a national association which I helped to organize in 1929. The formation of this national body became necessary when the then existing theater owners' association known as the Motion Picture Theater Owners of America, came under the control of the large theater chains, which in turn were controlled by the big producing and distributing film companies. I have a list of the affiliated regional associations, members of Allied States Association, which I wish to incorporate in the record at this point. The CHAIRMAN. Very well. (The list referred to is as follows:) LIST OF REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AFFILIATED WITH ALLIED STATES ASSOCIATION OF MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS Independent Exhibitors, Inc. (New England). Allied Theaters of Connecticut, Inc. Allied Theater Owners of New Jersey, Inc. Allied Independent Theater Owners of Eastern Pennsylvania, Inc. Moving Picture Theater Owners of Maryland, Inc. Allied Theater Owners of the District of Columbia, Inc. |