Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1930)

July 5, 1930 Motion Picture News 42e Credit Rules and Contract Breaches Make Adoption of Deposits Certain Mae Likes Byrd Chicago — Mae Tinee, Chicago Tribune motion picture critic, has made a habit of bestowing asterisks on productions she reviews, four stars indicating to the world that the film thus honored was, in the infallible one's opinion, ace high. But Mae, or Frances, as her friends call her, couldn't find enough adjectives for "With Byrd at the South Pole," so she gave it five stars. It's the first time in history. Olsen & Johnson, Oakie and Jessel, Chi Name Draws The name draw battle in the Loop between Publix-B. & K. and R-K-0 continues, with B. & K. announcing this week that Jack Oakie will appear in person on the stage of the Chicago for the week beginning July 11. Will Rogers just completed a week at the same theatre, constituting, it is said, his first personal appearance in any picture house. The Chicago grossed $62,000 during the week of Rogers' appearance, $9,000 of which went to the comedian, leaving the house a balance well above average. George Jessel was R-K-O's name draw at the Palace during Rogers' engagement at the Chicago, while the R-K-0 StateLake headlined the comedy team, Olsen and Johnson, the same week. Other equally well known name draws are in prospect for both houses, R-K-O officials here state. B. & K. is also lining up some new drawing names for the Oriental, the circuit's other Loop presentation house. The new competition between the circuits had its inception when the Palace switched from a two-a-day house to a vaude-film policy with name draws recently. Women Dictate And Limit Kisses, Says Mrs. Winter Mrs. Alice Ames Winter won votes for the Hays' organization in a talk delivered before members of the Woman's City Club here last week. She spoke of the "length to which Hollywood producers have come to depend upon their women customers in matters of production guidance" and said that "women audiences dictate in matters of production taste, even determining the footage given to movie kisses." The reaction of her audience was ample testimony of the value of Mrs. Winter to the producers' organization. Gateway, Built For Sound, Gets Swank Opening A mile-long parade of decorated automobiles stirred up the northwest side business district in advance of a pre-view opening of Publix-B. & K.'s new Gateway, the first of the circuit's houses to be built on principles dictated by sound reproduction considerations. The house's acoustics, according to local engineers, is as near perfection as has yet been reached by local theatres. The Gateway also offers extensive free parking facilities to patrons, a second feature new to local theatres and one that will be copied in later Publix theatre construction here. The pre-view opening was attended by neighborhood dignitaries, film and theatre men and picture critics of the local dailies. The latter were fed at the Hotel Sherman in advance of the performance and reciprocated handsomely with their best "theatreopening-adjectives." Baby Contest is Business Builder A neighborhood baby contest is bringing them to the Portage Park theatre (Fox). Hundreds of youngsters have been entered in the preliminary events by their doting parents. The 25 best will be selected in the preliminaries, and from thesefinal winners will be chosen by the audience. A first prize of $50 in cash has been posted, with numerous secondary prizes also to be awarded. Shears for the "Arties" The Cinema Art Theatre has adopted a policy of double features, and while the change may have been due to business depression 'tis said that the Chicago long hair trade is not what it used to be. Bad Faith of Theatre Owners Reason, Exchangemen in Chicago State Two factors, it is now apparent, will make demands for deposits a common occurrence here when local exchanges start to sell new product. The first, as reported in Motion Picture News several weeks ago, is the unified interpretation of the new credit rulings made at a recent meeting of the Chicago Film Board of Trade. This interpretation, agreed to by all exchanges represented, calls for a demand for deposits from any and all exhibitors whose credit rating is the least bit doubtful. Any C. I. (credit inadequate) rating is certain to mean that a deposit will be asked for when the exhibitor so rated asks for a play date, local exchange men agreed. Many Breaches in Contract The second factor is the continued increase in the number of cases of contract breaches which exchanges have had to bring to court for settlement. A survey of all local exchanges conducted by Motion Picture News several months ago revealed that those having no contract cases in courts were the exception. A later survey reveals that court actions have been on the increase throughout the state in recent months, with the average number of cases pending in various courts at any one time ranging from three to ten. Many of the exchanges here are bringing actions in the downstate courts which, they find, are appreciably less congested than the city courts, making for earlier hearings and quicker settlements. The court's, save in exceptional cases, invariably uphold the contract and find in favor of the exchange, film men here report. Both factors, they say, will make certain an increasing demand for deposits in the future. $1,000,000 House for Aurora Aurora, 111. — This town will have a million dollar picture house, planned on the site of the theatre which formerly served as the former Temple of Music at the PanAmerica Exposition in Buffalo, in which President McKinley was wounded Sept. 6, 1901. The building was moved from Buffalo to Aurora in sections at the close of the exposition. "Blue" Law Wins Benton, 111. — City fathers refused to consider a petition to vote upon repeal of the Sunday closing law because there were insufficient signatures on the paper. Miller Buys from Nelson Quincy, 111. — The Star is now owned by John Miller, who purchased from Herman Nelson. W. E. in Vet Hospitals Veterans Bureau has ordered ERPI installations for 68 hospitals, which house thousands of sick and wounded soldiers.