Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

gPEAKING at the testimonial dinner to Adolph Zukor at the Waldorf-Astoria Monday night, Will Hays referred to the Paramount board chairman as a “good neighbor.” The best proof of that remark is the neighborly spirit that prompted fllmites to travel hundreds of miles to pay tribute, through their presence, to a man that touches off a spark of friendliness wherever he goes. Among those were: Marcus A. Benn, Philadelphia showman; B. M. Berinstein of Los Angeles; P. A. Bloch, Paramount Philadelphia branch manager: A. J. Brylawski, Washington exhibitor; J. D. Dugger, Dallas branch manager for Paramount; John A. Harris, Pittsburgh exhibitor; Harry Kalmine, Philadelphia zone manager for Warner; Herman Rifkin, Boston distributor for Republic ; Lewen Pizor, Philadelphia exhibitor; J. R. Neth, Ohio circuit owner, and Guy Wonders of Washington. Herbert J. Yates and J. J. Milstein leave Friday tor the coast. Object: Republic’s annual sales convention . . . Frank M, Snell, Condor vice-president, leaves the same day for Chicago. There’ll be talk with President George Hirliman and the company’s production staff about future policy, expansion, etc. . . . George Weeks, GB general sales manager, is railing around the midwest exchanges . . . Cresson Smith, southern and western division sales manager for RKO, and Harry Michalson, short subjects sales manager, are on a tour of the company’s southern exchanges. Norton V. Ritchey, head of Monogram’s export department, is enjoying a belated vacation in Florida . . . From coast product conferences are S. Charles Einfeld, Warner advertising and publicity head; Norman Moray, short subjects sales head, and Carl Leserman, assistant to General Sales Manager Gradwell Sears. Sears is making a few stopovers en route . . . Herbert J. Ochs, Warner southern and western sales manager, is back after a few weeks in southern territory. “Gypsy Rose Lee has great talent. She’ll make a fine actress,” observed Howard Dietz between elevator stops in the Loew Bldg. . . . Herschel Stuart this week left the managership of the Consolidated circuit to take up Ms duties as treasurer of Monogram . . . Joseph P. Kennedy (he once made a “report” for Paramount) has been appointed by President Roosevelt as chairman of the maritime commission . . . Howard Hughes is planning a round-theworld flight this fall in a $250,000 specially built amphibian plane. Paramount wires from Hollywood that Boris Morros, studio music director and formerly manager of the Broadway Paramount theatre, who directed the presentation of “Paramount on Parade,” weekly air (Continued on page 19) Picket 28 RKO Houses in Orchestra Drive "Waikiki Wedding" Is Top Para. Opener New York — Capacity audiences, prior to and during Easter week, for “Waikiki Wedding” at the Paramount gave the theatre a greater attendance than “The Plainsman” which, earlier this year, established a ten-year record. As a result the Bing Crosby picture starts a third week on Wednesday to be followed by “Swing High” on April 14 Earnings of Roxg Hinge on Franchise New York — Future earnings of the Roxy Theatre depend almost entirely upon the house being able to arrange a long time franchise for pictures from a major company, in the opinion of Howard S. Cullman, receiver of the theatre. As a witness in the hearings being conducted before Special Master Addison S. Pratt as to the fairness of the offer made by 20th Century-Fox for the theatre, Cullman said he expected the Roxy to earn $300,000 this year and $500,000 in 1938 if it were franchised. Hearings May Be Brief The second week of the proceedings before the Special Master gave indications that the hearings might not extend as long as was first expected. Stockholders who receive nothing under the offer of 20th Century-Fox caused the present hearings by claiming that the theatre is not insolvent at the present time. The evidence which the stockholders depended upon, however, may not be developed as Federal Judge Caffey decided that soliciting of powers-of-attorney would have to be at the expense of the stockholders and not paid for by the receiver. It was not announced whether the stockholders’ committee has the funds to defray this expense. Cullman also disclosed that offers from Loew’s and Warner for the theatre property were among 50 received during the past year. The details of these offers were not discussed, but it was intimated that the 20t,h Century-Pox bid, which includes a 20-year franchise, new securities for bondholders and working capital of $650,000, topped all others. CAPITAL RETURNS "ECSTASY" Washington — “Ecstasy,”’ which had an eight-week run at the Belasco Theatre here, has been booked for an indefinite return date. New York — Failing to obtain recognition from Major Leslie E. Thompson, president of Radio-Keith-Orpheum, in its drive for reinstatement of orchestras in metropolitan theatres. Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians this week began a concentration of picketing activity at 28 RKO theatres in an effort to get Thompson “to change his mind,” Box office was informed this week by William Peinberg, Local 802 secretary. Two Otchestras in Each Borough Admittedly up against a losing battle to sway public opinion to a point where it would withdraw patronage from theatres not now employing musicians, Local 802 will continue its picketing campaign until its demands for a minimum of two orchestras in each borough are met, according to Peinberg. At a meeting with officials of Local 802 late last week, Thompson asserted that the success of the present RKO policy precluded the return of musicians. He cited the increase in operating costs and the fact that admission prices are now at their peak as reasons for not permitting the use of orchestras. MAYOR LA GUARDIA NAMES LABOR BOARD New York — Mayor F. H. LaGuardia has appointed an impartial city industrial relations board to assist in settling labor disputes. The non-salaried staff of the new agency consists of Karl N. Llewellyn, professor of law at Columbia university; Arthur S. Meyer, president of a real estate company, and Mrs. Anna M. Rosenberg, regional director of the Social Security Board. Burton A. Zorn, an attorney, was selected as secretary to the board at $5,000 a year. “This board will serve an extremely useful purpose in providing a place where participants in labor disputes will be able to find impartial assistance,” the mayor said. “It’s members will act directly as my representatives.” The mayor said he would soon name an industrial relations panel of citizens familiar with industrial conditions who will serve as arbitrators in cases submitted for arbiti'ation. IN GENERAL HUDDLE New York — Harry Asher of Boston, Henri Elman of Chicago and Louis Korson of Philadelphia, General Pictures franchise holders in their respective territories, were here for conferences with Mack D. Weinberger, General’s sales manager, this week. BOXOFFICE :: April 3, igsv. 15