The Dream Merchants by Harold Robbins Read Free Book Online Page B

which the projector stood. “C’mon out and have a Moxie,” he invited Joe.
    They walked out to the stand and ordered their drinks. Johnny introduced him to George and his brother. For a moment they sipped their drink reflectively, then Johnny spoke. “Haven’t you got any other films? People are getting tired of the same show for three weeks straight.”
    Joe shook his head. “There isn’t much to be had, but we just got a new one-reeler that we can send you.”
    “What the hell good is one reel when we need a whole show?” Johnny asked.
    Joe looked at him for a moment before he answered. “I got something that might help you out, but it’s gotta be kept quiet.”
    “You know me, Joe. I’m like a clam when I gotta be.”
    Joe smiled at Johnny’s expression. “I guess yuh heard about the big companies gettin’ together to form a combine and control the picture business.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, I guess yuh know one of the reasons for that is because a lot of small producers are makin’ pictures an’ cuttin’ into their time. They want you exhibitors to play their kind of show, which is a short one, and they want to make sure that you get your pictures from them, so they combine. That way they control all the picture patents between ’em and nobody can make pictures but them.”
    “So what?” Johnny asked. “I still don’t see how we’re gonna get more pictures.”
    “I’m gettin’ tuh that,” Joe said. “Graphic’s joinin’ the combine an’ I’m leaving them to go with one of the independents who plans to make enough pictures for a new show every week.”
    “Sounds good,” Johnny said, “but where do we come in?” He sipped some Moxie up through his straw. “According to our agreement we can only show Graphic pictures.”
    “A lot of exhibitors figure what the combine won’t know won’t hurt ’em.” Joe replied. “Look—you got to take their pictures for three weeks, but you don’t have to play them for three weeks if you can’t do business with them.”
    “I see,” Johnny said, finishing his drink. “Let’s go in and see Peter about it.”
    On their way into the hardware store Joe told Johnny all he had to do to get the film was to go down to New York and sign a rental agreement.
    “Who’s this guy you’re goin’ to work for?” Johnny asked.
    “Bill Borden,” Joe answered. “He’s the biggest independent in the field.”
    “What you gonna do?” Johnny lit a cigarette. “Sell pictures for him?”
    Joe shook his head. “Nope. I’m through with that. I’m gonna make the pictures. I tole Borden that what he needed was a man who knew what the exhibitors wanted, and since I knew what the exhibitors wanted, I was the man he needed.”
    Johnny laughed. “You haven’t changed a bit since we worked carny. You could still shoot the bull with the best of them.”
    Joe joined in Johnny’s laugh. “But seriously, kid, it’s gonna be a great racket some day. I’d like to see you get in it.”

5
    Johnny stopped with his hand on the doorknob. He could hear Esther’s voice through it. She was talking to Peter.
    “Nu?” she was saying. “Aren’t you getting dressed yet? Doris and Mark you were going to take to the park today.”
    Johnny grinned to himself in the hall. He heard Peter’s voice indistinctly as he replied to his wife, but he couldn’t understand the words. Its tone was lazy and grumbling. Johnny grinned again. It was Sunday and he knew that Peter liked to spend the morning with his feet on a hassock reading the papers. He turned the knob and walked into the kitchen.
    Esther looked at him in surprise and then at the clock. “You’re up early, Johnny,” she said. There was a big pot bubbling on the stove behind her.
    He smiled at her. “I’ll only be a minute, I just wanted to ask Peter if he wanted me to pick up anything for him in New York.”
    “You’re going to New York today?” she asked.
    He nodded. She seemed a little peeved. He wondered