Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

26 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD October 5, 1929 MOTION PICTURE FINANCE Impressive Strength Is Shown By LAURENCE STERN NEW YORK, Oct. 1. — In a week of persistent heavy liquidation in the stock market the motion picture issues have displayed the most impressive strength of the year. This appears to be due to the fact — pointed out in these columns weeks ago, but just now receiving general recognition— that the industry is definitely in a period of expanding prosperity and that the various merger plans now being negotiated hold promise of still greater earnings. IMPORTANT market appreciation could ■*■ hardly be expected in a period of conspicuous speculative readjustment, and yet Fox Film stood up without even fractional loss after attaining a new high for the year on heavy buying. Paramount likewise established a new liiij.li and retained a small net gain. that this will probably lead to an important reorganization of the radio branch of the company's business. Warner Rrothers, on the other hand, has been declining raising a question as to the success of the negotiations looking toward merging this company with Paramount. A series of admissions and denials has surrounded the plan with confusion, but it is nevertheless regarded as near consummation. The action of the respective stocks seems to indicate that there has been some disagreement as to the terms of exchange. It is rumored that Technicolor, Inc., which is booked into 1931, may eventually be brought into this combination. One of the most interesting items of the week is the report, heard in authoritative quarters, that Shubcrt Theatres and Pathe Exchange will merge under the name General Amusement Company. Shubert's last report was disappointing, partly due to the competition of Broadway sound films. $18,060,000 Is Listed As Capitalization of Fox New England Chain (Special to the Herald-World) BOSTON, Oct. 1.— Fox New England Theatres, Inc., has filed its first statement of condition since the taking over of the Poli chain by Fox interests. It reveals for the first time that the capitalization of the Fox New England company is $18,060,000 and that the real estate held by the company is valued at $22,598,985. Mortgages are placed at $1,133,529, deposits on leases at $5,108, reserves, $145,082; surplus, $4,792,790, profit and loss, $160,718. The 100,000 no par shares are valued at $1,000,000. Value of furniture and fixtures is $846,746, vehicles, $1,350; accounts receivable, $866,178; cash, $437,093; accruals and deferred charges $546,835. The statement covers the period from October 28 last to July 5 of the current year. Robbers Force Safe to Fox Film, which is expected to earn $12 a share this year, probably will soon make formal announcement of it's enlarged corporate setup. The recent strength in RadioKeith-Orpheum shares is understood to reflect gradual improvement in the company's earnings. The decline in Radio, the parent organization, is due to the development of a very unfavorable competitive situation in the manufacture and sale of radio receiving sets. The writer is in a position to say Escape with $700 Cash (Special to the Herald-World) BEMIDJI, MINN., Oct. 1.— Safe blowers forced the doors of the Elko theatre and opened the safe, containing $700 cash, the receipts of a Saturday and Sunday performance. Benny Berger, owner of the Elko, was in Bemidji the night of the robbery. He said all loss was completely covered by 34insurance. At the New York Theatres NEW FILMS R1VOLI — "Three Live Ghosts," a United Artists talker with Joan Bennett, Rohert Montgomery, Charles McNaughton, Claude Allister, directed by Thornton Freeland. Opened Sept. 28. COLONY — "Skin Deep," Warners' all talker with Monte Blue, Betty Compson, and Alice Day, directed by Ray Enright. Opened Sept. 28. CAMEO — "Afghanistan," Silent Soviet Travelogue. Opened Sept. 28. FILM GUILD CINEMA— "Growth of the Soil," silent Norwegian film based on novel by Knut Hamsun. Opened Sept. 28. CENTRAL — ."Young Nowheres," First National talker with Richard Barthelmess, Marion Nixon, Bert Roach, Anders Randolph, Jocelyn Lee and Raymond Turner, directed by Frank Lloyd. Opened Oct. 1. WARNERS — "Disraeli," Warner Brothers all talker with George Arliss, Mrs. Arliss, David Torrence, Joan Bennett, Doris Lloyd, Anthony Bushell and Michael Visaroff, directed by Alfred E. Green. Opened Oct. 2. GAIETY — "Sunny Side Up," Fox all talker with Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor. Opened Oct. 3. STRAND — "Hard to Get," First National all talker with Dorothy Mackaill. Opened Sept. 28. HELD OVER AND REVIVED CRITERION— "The Four Feathers," Paramount. Opened June 12. GLOBE— "Street Girl," Radio all talker. Opened July 30. ASTOR— "Hollywood Revue," M G M all talker. Opened August 14. EMBASSY— "Hallelujah," M G M all talker. Opened August 20. RIALTO— "Bulldog Drummond," United Artists all talker, p.p. Opened at Apollo May 2. WINTER GARDEN— "Gold Diggers of Broadway," Warners all talker. Opened August 30. SELWYN — "The Great Gabbo," James Cruze all talker. Opened Sept. 12. GEORGE M. COHAN— "Flight," Columbia all talker. Opened Sept. 13. ROXY — "Married in Hollywood," Fox opera. Opened Sept. 20. 55TH STREET— "A Royal Scandal," German silent. Opened Sept. 21. CAPITOL. — "Madame X," M G M all talker, first time p.p. Opened April 24 at the Sam Harris. r ttTLE CARNEGIE— "The Passion of Joan of Arc," Societe Generale des Films. Opened Sept. 28. (Played at this theatre for a month last winter. Return engagement by request.) Domestic Films in Poland Alone Are Free from Tax (Washington Bureau of the Herald-World) WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.— According to a decision of the Polish Government, cinemas exhibiting only domestically produced films, will be free of entertainment tax. Up to now the taxes paid by such cinemas amounted to 5 per cent of the gross receipts. Pathe Signs 2 Circuits (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 1.— The Hoffman Circuit in Connecticut and the Kallett in New York, have signed for Pathe's Silver Jubilee Season product. SECURITIES PRICE RANGE NEW YORK STOCK MARKET American Seating Brunswick-Balke-Colkndcr Consolidated Film Do. pfd Eastman Kodak Do. rts Fox Film "A" Keith Albee Orpheum Do. pfd Loew's, Inc Do. pfd. w. w Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. pfd Motion Picture Capita! Paramount Pathe Exchange Do. "A" Radio Corporation 1 Do. pfd. "A" Do. pfd. "B" Sales High 310,000 30% 4,400 39% 5,400 23% 4,500 25% 94,500 225% 361,400 7% 216,000 105% 400 37 1,500 111 34,300 68% 300 800 1,800 254.400 39.600 9,700 318,600 600 4.600 96% 24% 39 74% 10% 20% 95 54% 77% Week Ending September 28 oak-; T nw Plnsp Radio-Keith-Orpheum 14,400 30 3o Shubert Theatres 1,300 •iqi/ Universal Pictures 1st pfd 160 2i8' 9i.v Warner Bros. "A" 134,100 24% 25% Do nfd 700 206% 219% CHICAGO STOCK MARKET 5% 6% Marks Brothers evt. p 500 96% 98% Morgan Litho 200 $4 NEW YORK CURB 61% 63% Columbia Pictures 10.200 96 96 Con. Theat 2,000 24 24% Educational Pictures pfd 50 35 35 Fox Theatres "A" 40,000 70% 72 General Theatre Equipment 65.000 8% 9% Loew's its 1.300 17% 19 Do. war. 900 84% 87% National Theatre Supply 200 53% 54 Sentry Safety 6.200 76 76% Trans-Lux 3,900 Hk'h Low Clo:;e 77% 76 76% 41 39 40 67% 63% 63% 59% 52% 54% 50% 48% 48% 18% 17 17 20 20 20 33% 31 32% 20% 19 20 50% 50% 50% 29% 27 27% 66% 61 63% 33% 30 31 10 8% 8% 42 42 42 17% 13 13 13% 10% 10%