Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1930)

July 12, 1930 Motion Picture News 15 Warners Line Up 60 Chicago Houses; Tomahawking for Paramount's Scalp Bottomless? Chicago — It may be a legend, but a lot of exhibitors in this territory have themselves believing the Warner bankroll is "bottomless." In negotiations, closed and pending, for theatres in Chicago, Warner representatives have quieted all talk of "we'll think it over" with "name your price for cash." That's language any exhibitor can understand. Walsh's Salary Doubled; Gets 5 Year Fox Pact Hollywood — After Winfield Sheehan had spent three days on location near Moran, Wvo., watching progress on Raoul Walsh's current $1,300,000 special, "The Big Trail." he talked over a new term contract with the director and finally departed with one covering a period of five years. Under terms of the agreement, according to report, Walsh gets the largest salary paid to a director in the industry — whether pay checks come from Fox or any other companies. Unconfirmed reports state Walsh's new agreement provides him with a hundred per cent raise in salary during the first year of the contract, with graduated scale upward for the succeeding four years. Sheehan's successful negotiations with Walsh, which finally resulted in both parties getting together for a new contract were indicated exclusively by Motion Picture News several months ago, after various reports stated at that time that Walsh would leave the Fox fold on expiration of his present agreement in October. Marie Lubin Sues Herbert; Says He Was Cruel to Her Hollywood — After six years of married life, Marie Lubin has filed suit for divorce, charging her husband, Herbert, with beatings and attempts to defraud her. Mrs. Lubin seeks $4,500 a month alimony and $21,000 in attorney fees. She claims Lubin spirited her two sons, one aged two and the other five, out of the state and demands their custody. Lubin was the promoter of the Roxy in New York, later selling out to William Fox. Paramount in Small Ohio Towns, Cincy Report Says Cincinnati — What is construed here as indicative of Paramount's intention of invading smaller Ohio towns is seen in the move to erect a theatre in Fremont. One of our parcels of land has been acquired as a site for a prospective house. Overlooking No Bets — Every Publix Town in Windy City Area on List Chicago — Working almost entirely under cover, the Warners are girding themselves for a bitter battle with Publix. Scouts for the brothers have lined up and are shortly expected to take over about 60 theatres in Chicago and surrounding territory. Actually and in the open, the first independent theatre acquisition is the Shore at 75th and Kingston Streets on the South Side, which was purchased from Neil Dougherty, president of the building corporation which owned the structure. Bloom Brothers formerly operated the Shore. The house, which seats 1,400, is an important addition to the South Side chain comprising the former Federal Theatres and Coston houses, recently acquired by Warners. Further Indie buys in other sections of the city are in prospect, according to a report substantiated by the recent presence in the city of representatives of Spyros Skouras and the departure (Monday) of Jimmy Coston, Warners' Chicago theatre head, for New York presumably to recommend Indie houses here for Warner acquisition. Eyeing All Publix Towns Hammond, Indiana Harbor and East Chicago are three spots which have been given particular attention, but no Publix towns are to be overlooked. These various moves are taken for granted here as definite indicators that Warners are out to break down Paramount's powerful grip in the Chicago and Illinois territories. Those who know the bulldog persistence with which the Katz theatre organization can fight back expect to see what is fast developing into a hectic situation reach the boiling point soon. Mysterious "John D." John 1). Rockefeller is understood to be spending considerable of his vast wealth in an attempt to discover the walls of the first theatre built in the United States. What the oil magnate intends to do with them after unearthing the ruins is problematical. It may be that he has a theatre museum in mind for that $250,000,000 amusement center planned for New York's midtown sector. Six brick foundations were discovered, but all proved to be the unreal thing, there having been no indication of the materials being original. Exhibs are hereby warned not to chase away prowlers in the night who are found picking the mortar from their theatre walls. There may be gold in them thar bricks. What's Up? There's considerable speculation in amusement circles over RCA-Victor's announcement that it will add 7,000 workers to the payrolls. This action is taken by many observers to suggest that considerable increase in activity in radio might develop this fall, particularly since arrangements were made for RCA-Victor to manufacture for Radio Corp., Westinghouse Electric and General Electric. Those Semi-Nude Dames Get Blame For Chi Slump Chicago — The "street competition" introduced by torrid, mid-summer temperatures appears to be the newest worry of those Chicago managers whose theatres depena, in large, for their draw on flesh shows. The long skirt fad breathed its last here when Loop thermometers reached 80 degrees. The moth balls rolled out of last year's knee length dresses at that time and, as the mercury continued to mount, so did the hem-line. When the 90-degree mark was reached the temperature reading of the male loop hound coincided, for by that time matron and flapper alike had discarded most of the accessories whose principal utility is concealment. "Look," croaked a loop theatre manager the other day, "you can't get a man into a theatre on the strength of a flesh draw 'cause he's afraid he'll miss a better show if he gets off the street. Why, if we were to — " His voice trailed off into nothingness as he turned to follow with an avid stare a neat little brunette who passed, stockingless and disturbingly gowned in a few, close-fitting yards of white silk. She disappeared within a nearby office building. Getting an Eyeful "What was I saying?" the showman resumed. "Oh, why, if we were to dress our show girls like your respectable ladies dress for the street we'd be in court before sunset. Yes, sir. I'm telling you!" He paused. It was another brunette ; stockingless, also, and free, too, of anything that might have served for a brassiere. He turned back with a grin and continued. "I'm telling you. it ain't the heat that keeps them out of the theatres in the summer. No, sir. It's nothin' but the street competition, an' I don't meaa 'maybe'." His gaze wandered to the other side of the street where, coming toward us with a penetrating mid-afternoon sun at her back, leisurely strolled a tall, slender blonde. It (Continued on page 24)