The Film Daily (1936)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Eighteen Years Old VOL. 70. NO. 56 NEW YORK, FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 4. 1936 TEN CENTS Admission Hikes Extending in Western Pennsylvania ESTIMATE 8,000 THEATERS ON DUAL BILL POLICY Next Four Months' Release Schedule is Set by M-G-M 17 Productions Are Set for General Distribution Before January Marking the first time that it has set a x-elease schedule running so far ahead, M-G-M announces 17 productions designated for general distribution between now and Jan. 1. The. list is headed by "The Great Ziegfeld" and includes : The Freddie Bartholomew-Jackie Cooper-Mickey Rooney story of big city juvenile delinquency, "The Devil is a Sissy"; the sequel to the William Powell-Myrna Loy hit, "The Thin Man," whfch will be known as "The Thin Man Returns" and will star the same players; Eleanor Powell's new musical, "Born to Dance," in which Una Merkel, Frances Langford, Buddy Ebsen and Virginia Bruce will have featured roles, with music by Cole Porter; "Love (Continued on Page 6) 5 P.M. EVENING PRICE RATIFIED AT MEETING Evening admission prices in New York theaters will start uniformly at 5 P.M. under a plan ratified by theatermen at a meeting at the office of Charles Moskowitz at Loew's yesterday. The exhibitors, representing both circuits and independent operators, met to work out final details in connection with the plan to eliminate "early bird" effective this week-end. One hundred per cent support of the move was indicated by reports submitted. 45 New Players Are Signed By Universal for Training West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The New Universal has signed 45 new players, mostly unknown, whom they expect to develop into stars. The parade of talent was introduced to the industry at a lavish banquet at the studio. SIX GB PRODUCTIONS FOR MGM, 20TH-F0X London (By Cable) — Approximately six GB pictures a season will be divided between M-G-M and 20th Century-Fox for distribution in the United States as a result of the deal, reported to have been completed, under which the two American companies have bought into the Ostrer organization. The plan will not be effectuated, it is understood, until after the 1936-37 season. Cuts by Virginia Censors Down to Almost Nothing Richmond — Practically no cuts have been made in features examined by the Virginia censors in recent weeks. On the other hand, praise has been bestowed on a number of pictures for their outstanding qualities. Among these are "Swing Time" and "The Goi-geous Hussy", passed without a touch of the shears. 2-YEAR PHILLY POOL GOES IN EFFECT TODAY Under a two-year agreement, the management deal involving three Stanley-Warner and four Paramount theaters in Philadelphia goes into effect today, following signing of contracts in New York yesterday. Deal was exclusively reported in The Film Daily of Aug. 27. Monty Salmon, who has been operating the Paramount houses, completes his duties tomorrow, prior to joining Skouras Theaters. "Swing Time" at Music Hall Tops All Non-Holiday Biz "Swing Time", RKO Radio picture starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, has set a box-office record for a non-holiday week at the Music Hall and attained the second highest gross in the history of the mammoth theater. Top figure at the house was set by "Top Hat", {Continued on Page 6) Western Pennsylvania Theaters Plan Admission Boosts on Big Pictures Yamins and Myers to Speak At N. J. Allied Convention Nathan Yamins, national Allied president, and Abram F. Myers, general counsel and chairman of the board, will address the 17th annual convention of Allied Theaters of New Jersey at the Hotel Traymore, Atlantic City, Sept. 9-11. More than 200 exhibitors are expected to attend the session, Pittsburgh — A number of theaters in Western Pennsylvania towns, it is learned, are going to raise their admission prices for the first time in several years when playing the big pictures released this fall. Among the first to report tilting in prices are houses playing "The Great Ziegfeld" and "Anthony Adverse." The State in Altoona boosted its top from 25 cents to 40 cents with "The Great Ziegfeld" {Continued on Page 6) Survey Shows an Increase of 1,000 Theaters on Double Bills Approximately 8,000 theaters throughout the country are now regularly on double feature policies, this representing an increase of about 1,000 theaters as compared with a year ago, according to data compiled by industry agencies. Increase in duals during the past year has mainly occurred in small, non-competitive situations where theaters have gone into the policy in order to play off low-cost pictures. With 15,000 theaters now in active operation, more than 50 per cent are now on the dual plan, which is continuing to spread. 50C. EXTRA DIVIDEND DECLARED BY LOEW'S Loew's board yesterday declared an extra dividend of 50 cents on common stock, payable Sept. 30 to stockholders of record on Sept. 12. The board also declared the regular quarterly dividend of 50 cents on the common. Tn view of the improved earnings of Loew's, estimated at from $5.50 to $6 a share for the year, the 50-cent extra is regarded as likely to be continued in succeeding quarters, making total payments on the stock at the rate of $4 a year, against the current $3, which includes $1 extra. No Important Studio Shifts Are Being Proposed by Zukor Barney Balaban, Paramount president, yesterday told The Film Daily that as far as he knows, Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board in charge of production, will not propose any important studio changes when he confers at the company's home office next week. Arriving from the Coast on Satur(Contiuued <'» Page 4)