Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

INVESTIGATOR BUSY PRAmCES Intermountain to Improve Houses Salt Lake City — A general program of improvements and addition of new equipment for Intermountain Theatres, Corporation houses in Utah, Idaho and Montana is contemplated according to Harry David, vice-president and general manager of Intermountain. David made this statement upon his return from the Paramount associates’ conference in Miami, Fla. At present remodeling and enlargement of the Intermountain Theatres general offices in the Capitol Theatre Bldg, here is being contemplated. MIDNIGHT JAMBOREE SET FOR APRIL 17 Seattle — A big Midnight Jamboree will be given by the Northwest Film Club on Saturday, April 17. Affair will start at midnight sharp and a new picture will be given a Hollywood preview. Vaudeville and surprise attractions have been arranged and all services donated. This will be the second annual Jamboree, and is staged for a charity fund maintained by the Film Club to take care of its destitute. The John Hamrick Music Hall wil be the spot for the show this year. The entertainment committee working for the success of the show consists of Herndon Edmonds, Jimmy O’Neal, Jean Spear, Rot Peacock, and Frank Christy. Eddie Lamb, secretary of the club, and trustees Roy Cooper and B. F. Shearer are also very active in the affair. Joe Cooper is chairman of the publicity committee. POOLE ARRESTED IN LABOR ARGUMENT Klamath Falls, Ore. — Accused of threatening O. M. Jacobson, theatrical union representative with a revolver, Harry W. Poole, motion picture theatre operator, has been arrested on complaint of Jacobson and released on $500 bail. According to District Attorney Hardin Bleckmer, the complaint against Poole grew out of an episode in Poole’s office last week, when Jacobson, I. M. Coleman, president of the Central Labor Council, got into a heated controversy with regard to wages and hours. “FIRST LADY’’ A SELL-OUT Portland, Ore. — Four stage performancs of Jane Cowl in “First Lady” at Mayfair was a complete sell-out. Nazis Try Pre-Preview Censorship Hollywood — Letters from the German consulate warning that if Universal’s proposed film, “The Road Back,” is detrimental to the German nation it will be barred from German showing, were reported to have been received by sixty leading actors here, “The Road Back” is a sequel to “All Quiet on the Western Front” which was barred in Germany. Northwest MPTO Reviews Measures Seattle — In a bulletin issued by Secretary Hone of the Northwest MPTO upon the close of the Washington state legislative sessions, are listed the bills affecting the industry that have both passed and failed. The bulletin stresses the need for a united exhibitor organization prepared to cope with exhibitor problems and to efficiently watch exhibitor interests. Four Become Law The bills affecting the industry that were passed, follow: Senate Bill No. 256; Amendment to the tax law assessing $.01 on $.10 admissions eliminating this assessment. Senate Bill No. 212; Barred the operation of slot machines. Senate Bill No. 186: Banned the operation of marathons, danceathons, or walkathons. House Bill No. 480: Requires the registration by Ascap of all copyright music it owns and imposes the jurisdiction of the state over Ascap. This law does not remove or cut the license fees exhibitors have been paying Ascap. Seven Measures Fail The bills affecting the industry that were killed follow: State Censorship Bill: Proposed a board of advisors to inspect all films coming into the state and requiring a certificate for those films before exhibition. House Bill No. 384: Would have authorized greyhound racing and created a racing commission. House Bill No. 441; In behalf of old age pensions. Would have assessed theatres $100 per year for license on each house and added ten per cent to present admission charges. House Bill No. 218: Required all places of public assembly having exit lights to equip each with an auxiliary battery system which would automatically light in the event the main current was disconnected. House Bill No. 570: Proposed to regulate Albert W. Law Continues Survey Efforts on Coast Los Angeles — Albert W. Law entered upon his third week of investigation into distribution and exhibition practices in the southern California area this week with the same air of reticence and secrecy which has characterized his activities since the special investigator sent out by the U. S. attorney general began his survey some days ago. While Law continued to subpoena and interrogate independent exhibitors in this district, supposedly to garner information concerning booking and distribution practices in answer to complaints that major distributors and exchanges were operating in violation of the Sherman anti-trust law, all efforts to obtain definite information on the matter have so far proved unavailable. Neblett Denies Connection Interpretations of his activities have formed the topic of discussion among the film city's dopesters, however, with varying reports heard on every hand as to Law’s past, present and future plans. While it is generally believed that the investigation was launched in answer to charges filed with the Department of Justice by the ITO of southern California, another report that Law was brought out here as a direct result of the machinations of U. S. Senator William Gibbs McAdoo and his local law partner, William Neblett, was blasted when Neblett told Boxoffice this week: 'T have not only heard this report, but I resent it. I am in no way connected with Mr. Law’s presence in southern California.” It is believed that Law will remain here for several weeks, and that his survey, however he conducts it, will be thorough and exhaustive. DENNY JOINS GRAND NATIONAL Los Angeles — Harry Denny, manager of Fox West Coast’s Cabrillo Theatre, San Pedro, for the past five years, has resigned to join Hi Peskay’s sales staff at Grand National. booths projecting pictures, requiring a fireproof booth for all exhibition of film. Insufficient support caused this measure to fall. Senate Bill No. 299: Provided for the closing of all business on Sunday. House Bill No. 553: Would have made the operation of all lotteries, raffles, gift enterprises a felony. Working Nationally The bulletin further reports that the organization is directing its efforts nationally to making the federal copyright law less stringent against copyright users, and toward obtaining a reduction of federal taxes involving admission prices. BOXOFFICE :: April 10, 1937. 41