The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1933-05-04
TO THE PEOPLE OF SAUK
CENTRE AND VICINITY

There have been some complaints
as to the pictures I am running
and I would like to take this OPP
portunity to explain some of the
problems of the theater business.
In the first place, there are vari-
GUS difficulties involved in buying
the pictures, Of which the public is
seldom aware. Everyone wants
new pictures, and in order to get
new pictures, have to buy them a
long time before they are made.
The only guide have in buying is
a lot of numbers and the stars
that are supposed to be in the pic
lures. Then later on, they often
change the stars who are supposed
to be in the picture.
In order to buy contract, have
to agree to take picture a week
and comedy. a week.
If, for example, one of the major
producing companies make five or
six big hit pictures. cannot play
any of them unless ] contract to
play their entire years production,
and this is the reason why we can
not play some certain pictures.
Now there are some $50 pictures
made in year and can only play
160 year at the most. Therefore
in buying contracts, I am placed in
a most difficult position under this
Block" system.
If you will just study the Mime
apolis papers, you will see that
most of the pictures I am playing
are being played in the first run
houses in Minneapolis. There are
only four so-called major compan-
les engaged in producing and I am
running pictures purchased from
three Of them.
You may feel that some other
town is showing better pictures
than am. It may be true at some
certain time. Some other town,
for the moment, is showing better
pictures, but if you will look at my
Programs for the next month, you
will find that, on the whole. my
pictures are equal to any.
Then, too, the various producing
companies have a habit of making
a run 1T pictures of a certain type.
For while it will be all gangster
pictures, then all war pictures,
then all animal pictures, and so on.
We have no jurisdiction over these
things. We have these contracts,
these pictures, and we must play
them. or pay for them.
try to find out what company
is gong to have the best first run
pictures and then try and buy that
product. I say try to buy, and I
say that advisedly, because there
are companies who think they
have the best on the market and
they, therefore, demand prices that
we know from experience we can
not afford to pay. So you see that
we are at the mercy&of the produc-
ing company most of the time.
We try at all times to give our
patrons the best possible pictures.
However I hope the foregoing re-
marks will make it clear to you
that many things in the buying of
pictures are beyond our power to
control, and that this fact, coupled
with the adverse business condi-
tons of the present time, make it
extremely difficult for us, always to
obtain the pictures we would like to
get.
If at any time, any one desires
me to show certain picture, or
wishes to discuss with me the pic
lures I am showing, shall be more
than glad to cooperate. We welcome
constructive criticism, and we shall
strive at all times to consider the
wishes of the community.
CILAS. PERRIZO,
Adv Mgr Oxford Theatre.