Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1930)

40 Motion Picture News July 5, 1930 Can You Believe It? Answering a talking picture back is the height of unemployment, according to "Bugs" Baer. Loew's Net for the Year Estimated Near $10 Loew's box office decline has not been sensational, despite seasonal depression, it is pointed out in an announcement which states that earnings for the quarter ended this month should show a good increase over the $2,963,076 reported in the similar period of 1929, equal after preferred dividends to $2.02 a share on the 1,355,129 shares of no par common stock. In the 28 weeks to March 14, the first half of the company's fiscal year, net income was $8,243,584, or $5.66 a share on 1,363,993 shares, a new high for that part of the year, comparing with $3.47 a share in the similar preceding period. The statement offered as a likely one the prospect that net income of Loew's for the full fiscal year to end August 31 will be around $10 a share after preferred dividends, as against a previous high record of $7.91 a share on 1,363,993 shares in the preceding twelvemonth. Extra dividend payments equal at least to the 75 cents paid last year are looked for after the close of the fiscal period. The extra in 1929 was declared in November. Two Pictures Bring Censors to Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, Ark. — For the first time in 20 years, this town has a censor board, newlycreated by the council. Members are appointed by the mayor. The censorship is declared to have been brought about by showing of "Streets of Sorrow" and "The Primrose Path." The mayor attempted to stop the showings, and when it was declared no ordinance empowered him to do so, censorship resulted. "All the Show on Screen" Loew's Rochester Slogan Rochester — Loew's Rochester went on an all-film policy last week, dropping vaudeville. Manager David Nolan announced a series of first runs and short would be run this summer under the slogan: "All the Show on the Screen." Cleveland Exchanges Move Cleveland — Warners and First National have moved into their new five-story building at Payne Ave. and East 23d St. Paramount expects to move into its new building on East 23d St. early next week at which time RKO will take over the present Paramount building. Operator Burned Seneca Falls, N. Y. — James Smith, operator at the Seneca theatre, was partly overcome by smoke and received light burns when fire broke out in the theatre >hortly after the first performance. Patrons left quietly. Big House'' Packs 'em in On the Coast Kill Daylight Saving Portland — Proposed daylight saving ordinance has been killed here. Los angeles — Unusual advertising ballyhoo, in which the Hearst papers played no small part, drew unmanageable crowds to the doors of the Criterion in the first week's run of "Big House," the M-G-M prison yarn which beat 'em all to a frazzle with its gross of $23,500, a rating of 235%. This high was only excelled by the first weeks of "Anna Christie" and "Divorcee," both record breakers. The heat, which sent thousands to the beaches and miniature golf courses and a light outbreak of infantile paralysis which resulted in a warning from health officers to keep children from large assemblies tended to make managers cry over lack of grosses. Hughes' "Hell's Angels" slid just a trifle, taking $29,600, which rates 185% at the Chinese. "HELL'S ANGELS" (Caddo) HOLLYWOOD— Grauman's Chinese, (2,023). 5th week, 7 days, twice daily, 75c to $1.50. Other attractions: Sid Grauman prologue. Gross: $29,600, Rating: 185%. "SO THIS IS LONDON" (Fox) LOS ANGELES— Fox Carthay Circle, (1.650). 2nd week, 7 days, twice daily, 75c to $1.50. Other attractions: Abe Lyman and band, Movietone news. Gross $18,300. Rating: 146%. "ROGUE SONG" (M-G-M) LOS ANGELES— Loew's State. (2,418). 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Fanchon-Marco "Idea in Blue," Movietone and Metrotone news. Opposition: "Big House," "Notorious Affair," "Byrd at the South Pole," "Shadows of the Law," "Svenson's Wild Party," "Fall Guy," "White Cargo." Gross: $21,700. Rating: 80%. "WITH BYRD AT THE SOUTH POLE" (Para.) LOS ANGELES— Paramount. (3,5%), 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Eddie Cantor comedy, "Insurance"; song cartoon, Paramuont news, Milton Charles organ concert. Opposition: "Rogue Song," "Big House," Notorious Affair," "Shadow of the Law," "Svenson's Wild Party," Fall Guy," White Cargo." Gross: $25,500. Rating: 102%. "BIG HOUSE" (M-G-M) LOS ANGELES— Fox Criterion, (1.652). 1st week, 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Comedy, Metrotone news. Opposition: "With Byrd at South Pole," "Rcgue Song," "Notorious Affair," Shadow of the Law," "Svenson's Wild Partv," "Fall Guy," "White Cargo." Gross: $23,500. Rating: 235%. "BAD ONE" (United Artists) HOLLYWOOD— Grauman's Egyptian, (1,800). 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Ben Bernie and band, comedy, news. Opposition: "Devil's Holiday," "Recaptured Love." Gross: $6,300. Rating: 84%. "RECAPTURED LOVE" (Warner) HOLLYWOOD— Warner Hollywood, (3.000), 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Vitaphone Varieties, news. Opposition: "Bad One," "Devil's Holiday." Gross: $12,500. Rating: 89%. "SHADOW OF THE LAW" (Paramount) LOS ANGELES— United Artists, (2.100). 7 days, 35c to 75c. Other attractions: "Accidents Will Happen," cartoon comedy, Robt. Bruce's "Sunset Hunters," Paramount news, Gaylord Carter organ solo. Opposition: "Big House." "Rogue Song," "With Byrd at South Pole," "Notorious Affair," "Svenson's Wild Party," "Fall Guy," "White Cargo." Gross: $16,000. Rating: 119%. "NOTORIOUS AFFAIR" (First National) LOS ANGELES— Warner Downtown, (2.400). 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Vitaphone Varieties, news. Opposition: "Big House," "With Byrd at South Pole," "Rogue Song," "Svenson's Wild Party." "Shadow of the Law," "Fall Guy," "White Cargo." Gross: $13,500. Rating: 90%. "FALL GUY" (RKO) LOS ANGELES— RKO. (2,700). 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: RKO vaudeville. Pathe news. Opposition: "Big House." "Notorious Affair." "With Byrd at South Pole," "Rogue Song." "Svenson's Wild Party," "Shadow of the Law," "White Cargo." Gross: $12,200. Rating: 76<^ . "SVENSON'S WILD PARTY" (Fox) (Fox Movietone Follies of 1930) LOS ANGELES-Orpheum. (2,750). 7 days, 35c to 65c. Other attractions: Mickey McGuire comedy, Pathe news. Opposition: "Big House," "Notorious Affair." "With Byrd at South Pole," "Fall Guy," "Rogue Song," "Shadow of tin Law," "White Cargo." Gross: $11,000. Ratine: "WHITE CARGO" (Harold Auten) LOS ANGELES California, (2.000,), 2nd week, 7 days, 35c to 50c. Other attractions: Comedy, news. Opposition: "Big House." "Notorious Affair." "With Byrd at South Pole." "Rogue Song." "Shadow of the Law," "Svenson's Wild Party," "Fall Guy." Gross: $4,800. Rating: 64%. "DEVIL'S HOLIDAY" (Paramount) HOLLYWOOD— Pantages Hollywood, (3.000). 7 days, 40c to 65c. Other attractions: Fanchon-Marco "Country Club" Idea, comedy, Metrotone news. Opposition: "Bad One." "Recaptured Love." Gross: $16,200. Rating: 108%. And Good Pictures? Headline in a fan paper: Survivors in Hollywood Bemoan Passing of Actors and Corsets British Leaders Seek Revision of Quota Law London — No British picture shall be registered for quota as such unless a minimum amount has been spent on its production, at the rate of $750 per foot, with a maximum of $50,000, according to a proposed change of the Cinematograph Act of 1927, for which the Federation of British Industries and Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n. are fighting. Delegates of both bodies are working on the proposal with W. R. Smith, secretary of the board of trade. Further recommendation was made requiring the author of a British picture to be a subject of the Kingdom, and it is suggested that the present clause providing that 75% of salaries shall be paid to British subjects shall be abolished. The group stated that the breakdown of the quota law is a possibility and if this happened, foreign films would again monopolize 97% of British screens. No Shake-UD Planned in Canadian Famous Houses Ottawa — There will be no shake-up of managers in houses of the Famous Players Canadian chain as a result of its sale to Paramount, J. J. Fitzgibbons, director of the circuit, has assured managers. Fitzgibbons now is on a tour of the circuit. Fashion Deal Ties F. & M. Into 400 Stores in U. S. Los Angeles — Over 400 dress shops throughout the country will become "Fanchon & Marco Mode Shops" starting August 1. in a co-operative deal tieing in F. & M. with several dress manufacturers who will plug the slogan : "Fanchon Decrees the Fashion." Pineapple Artists Sought Milwaukee — Police are seeking bombers of the Greenfield and New World, south side independent houses. No real damage was caused by the bombs. Cause of the disturbance is given as labor trouble. Both of the theatres were splashed with paint several times prior to the placing of sticks of dynamite adjacent to the houses. Danish Talker in Work Copenhagen — Initial sound film of this country is in production at the studio of Xordish Films, Valby. Title is "Eskimoer," and it will be released in five languages : German, French, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish. Skandinavisk Telefilm and Nordisk Tonefilm are producing jointly. Flynn Appoints Brauer Cleveland — E. H. Brauer has been appointed M-G-M special representative-atlarge under District Manager Jack Flynn and will sell in all of the territory under Flynn's jurisdiction, Albany, Pittsburgh, Buffalo. Cincinnati, Cleveland and Detroit.