Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

The Leading Daily Newspaper of the Motion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent and Faithful J Service to the Industry in All Branches VOL. 35. NO. 2 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1934 TEN CENTS Upswing Has Begun, Says Abe Montague Circumstances Justify Hope, He States By ABE MONTAGUE General Sales Manager, Columbia I look forward to the new year for a gratifying answer to the business hopes and aspirations of the industry. Many circumstances and conditions combine to justify this. The industry has gone through a severe test. For a long time it was sinking from week to week and month to month with apparently no bottom in sight. (Continued on page 4) State High Rental Closed the Embassy The Embassy Newsrecl theatre in Times Square was closed yesterday as a result of inability of Movietonews, Inc., to obtain reduction of rental on expiration of the old lease. Operators of the house stated yesterday the Embassy's rental was the highest per seat of any theatre in the country. The Embassy was opened by the (Continued on fane 4) Authority Problems Before Committees Code Authority committees on financing, clearance and zoning and grievance boards met last night at the (Continued on page 8) It Won't Work One New York circuit operator yesterday made a last minute effort to nab appointment on either the clearance and zoning or grievance board. He had all managers in his houses wire the committee suggesting his name. But the committee knows the origin of the wires. Christmas Puts Theatre Grosses Back on the Map Christmas put the theatre business back on the map in 17 key centers last week. In Boston and Philadelphia the increase was remarkable, and in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, Portland, Kansas City and Buffalo it was big enough to stir up optimism. Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Cleveland, Omaha and Indianapolis failed to show indications of returning life. In Boston business was outstanding in every first run. The total take was $120,000. Average is $95,000. "Son of Kong" hit $22,000 at the Bostun, with Ben Bernie on the stage. A dual of "Alice in Wonderland" and "Son of a Sailor" at the Fenway had a big $11,500. The same combination at the Paramount took $12,000. Other Smile Time Disappointed generally in Saturday grosses, theatre business on Sunday and Monday was heavy all over the country, national circuit operators reported yesterday. big takes were : "Counsellor At Law," $21,000 at Keith's; "Going Hollywood," $20,500 at Loew's State; "House on 56th St.," $35,000 at the Metropolitan. New York's grosses were not outstanding. "Roman Scandals" was one of the bright spots with $48,000 at the Rivoli. "Mr. Skitch" reached $28,500 at the Roxy. Others were : Holly (Continued on page 4) Protection of Little Fellow Aim of NIRA Washington, Jan. 2 — "This code is not designed to promote monopolies or to eliminate or oppress small enterprises and shall not be applied to discriminate against them nor permit monopolies or monopolistic practices," routine phrase in all codes enacted under the NRA, appears to be on the road to something beyond merely a phrase under plans, discussed here, to make a change in the NIRA which would more directly establish safeguards for small business against any encroachment of monopolies. The effects of this program obviously would (Continued on pane 8) Film Stocks Gain as New Year Begins Amusement securities turned the corner in 1933 as widespread reports of business improvement made the outlook for the industry brighter than it has been in four years. The list of film stocks on the New York Stock Exchange showed net gains for the year ranging from one to more than 26 points. Activity in some shares was about on a par with 1932, while in others it was sharply increased. The year's lows generally were touched in the early spring when the nation was recovering from the sus (Continued on page 6) Western Theatres Join To Prevent Competition Denver. Jan. 2. — Organized for the purpose of protecting territory of its members against invasion by either circuits or individuals, Gibraltar Enterprises, Inc., has filed incorporation papers here. According to Charles R. Gilmour, president, if anyone enters any of the cities where the company has theatres, the company will at once build or remodel buildings that will give the newcomer stiff competition. The sum of $250,000 has been deposited in a bank for this purpose. The first new theatre to be built by the group will be started shortly after the first of the year at Silver City, N. M. The corporation is composed of six well known theatre men of the Denver territory and a former Denver exchange manager. Thirteen theatres are included with a seating capacity (Continued on page 8) Major Heads Silent About Salary Return u. A. Is Only Company To Act Definitely Executives of major companies in the main were non-committal yesterday in replies to queries whether or not they planned restoration of salary cuts in whole or in part. S. R. Kent, speaking for Fox, declared he had not been back in New York long enough to set up his first quarterly budget, admitted he had been thinking of the idea but said it all depended on the course of business in the next few weeks. A spokesman for RKO said that while the subject had not been discussed yet, it was not at all unlikely that it might be in the near future. George J. Schaefer, speaking for Paramount, declared there had been (Continued on page 8) Coast Production Falls; 31 in Work Hollywood, Jan. 2. — Production for the week ending Dec. 30 continued on the downward grade with but 31 features in work as compared to 32 for the preceding week and six short subjects as compared to nine for the previous period. Twenty-two features and nine shorts (Continued on page 2) Report Goldman Set On Phila. Circuit Phladelphia, Jan. 2. — W i 1 1 i a m ("Billy") Goldman, former zone manager for Warners here, is reported set to enter exhibition on his own with a local circuit of approximately a dozen houses as a nucleus. Expect President's Message to Be Brief Washington, Jan. 2. — Planning to address Congress personally tomorrow at the opening of the Congress session, (Continued on page 8) Title Shift Hollywood, Jan. 2 — One of those far North pictures, made near the pole, is no longer being referred to by its *riven title, but as "Frozen Asset."