Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

Tuesday, January 9, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Trustees Stay On Para. Job, Court Decides {Continued from page 1) the post because of a former association with the Bankers' Trust Co., underwriter of a Paramount Publix refinancing plan with 11 other banks, and that Leake and Richardson, formerly in executive capacities with Film Securities Corp. and Fox Film Corp., respectively, rather than being disqualified by these associations as charged in the complaint, were actually of greater value to Paramount because of them. The opinion also endorsed all actions taken by Henry K. Davis, referee in bankruptcy for Paramount Publix, in the conduct of the election of the trustees and in subsequent procedure. Referring to Hilles, Judge Manton's opinion stated that he "seems to have acted in full performance of his duty toward the creditors with regard to ligigation" to set aside the $13,200,000 refinancing program of 1931 with which Hilles's former bank was associated. The opinion also found Hilles to be "accustomed to conducting large business affairs, and has imposed upon him now a trusteeship fraught with serious responsibilities, and has exhibited all the marks of integrity of purpose in fullfilling that trust, and under these circumstances should not be removed." The opinion noted that Hilles "had severed his directorship in the Bankers' Trust Co. at once." The abilities of Leake and Richardson and their experience in the film industry was regarded in the opinion as reasons for their election as trustees and did not serve to disqualify them, as charged in Zirn's complaint. Zirn first sought the removal of the three trustees and of Referee Davis last spring in an action subsequently denied by the U. S. District Court here. His action denied by the higher court yesterday was heard a month ago. Zirn said yesterday he would take the case to the U. S. Supreme Court at Washington. No Code Action by New Jersey Allied No action on the code was taken by Allied of New Jersey at its meeting yesterday. Sidney Samuelson, president, stated his unit had not been requested to sign the code, as assent was an individual exhibitor matter. At Code Authority headquarters it was stated that while no provision was made in the form sent out all units are expected to sign the assent blank. Saperstein Summons Code Talk Meeting (Continued from page 1) leaving the matter open to court action. A significant underscored paragraph in Myers' analysis reads: "You are not required to sign the code in order to register protest against clearance and zoning schedules before clearance H and zoning boards or Code Authority. l Allied has obtained a ruling from the NRA on this point." New Year's Grosses Get 1934 Off to Fast Start (Continued from Page 1) been maintaining in recent weeks and piled up a total first run gross of $129,000. This is $34,000 over normal. "Flying Down to Rio" pulled a big $23,000 at Keith's and "Dinner at Eight" hit $21,500 at Loew's State "By Candlelight" was another hit with $23,000 at the Boston. "Havana Widows," helped by a stage show at the Metropolitan, was good for $33,500. Providence went for "Dinner at Eight" with a rush and boosted Loew's State grosses $4,800 over par to $16,800. Business elsewhere was not affected seriously as a result "Only Yesterday" and "Breed of the Border" on a dual bill at the RKO Victory reached $1,100, and "Design for Living" and "Rainbow Over Broadway" were strong at the Paramount. "Flying Down to Rio" and "Fog" at the RKO Albee, "Lady Killer" and "You Made Me Love You" at the Majestic, and "Havana Widows'" with a stage show at Fay's were average. "Dinner" Denver Hit "Dinner at Eight" was also a sensation in Denver. It hit $17,000 at the Denver, topping average by $11,500. Taken as a whole, it was a big New Year week for the Colorado city. "Alice in Wonderland" was $3,000 up at $11,000 in the Denham. "Counsellor at Law" was a $14,000 hit at the Orpheum. "Rex, King of Wild Horses" was a better-than-average attraction at the Tabor. New Year's sent Philadelphia grosses skyrocketing. First run business reached $146,500. Average is $79,500. One of the outstanding draws was "Little Women," at $30,000, over normal by $18,000 at the Boyd. "The Girl Without a Room," helped by Ted Lewis and a revue at the Earle, reached $26,000, topping normal by $14,000. "I Am Suzanne" and a stage show at the Fox was $12,500 up at $26,500. "Dancing Lady" sent the Stanley gross $10,000 over par for a total of $22,000. The second week of "Roman Scandals" at the Aldine piled up $14,500, more than double the house average, and "Duck Soup," a second run at the Arcadia, was exceptionally strong at $6,500. Pittsburgh Starts Well Pittsburgh got off to a flying start for the new year with a total first run gross of $53,700, over normal by $16,700. Considerable credit for this went to "Dinner at Eight," which at $17,500 in the Perm, was over par by $5,500. "Girl Without a Room" at the Davis and "Hoopla" at the Fulton, the former playing four and the latter five days, were each over the six-day average. "Design for Living" was an oustanding draw at $13,750 in the Stanley, and "Convention City" was strong with $8,000 at the Warner. "Flying Down to Rio" was an outstanding draw at Hamrick's Music Box, Portland. It reached $8,000, topping par by $5,000. "Mr. Skitch" and "The Thundering Herd," at the Paramount, hit $6,000, well over normal, and "White Woman," with Henry Santry and his band was strong at the Liberty. Total first run business of $26,500 was about $5,700 over average. "Mr. Skitch" was the big holiday draw in Minneapolis and St. Paul with $8,500 in Minneapolis and $6,500 across the river. Holiday business boosted all takes. "Hoopla" took a total of $10,500, $6,500 in Minneapolis and $4,000 in St Paul. One of the surprises of the week was $6,500 for "The World Changes" and "Fifty Million Frenchmen" at the RKO Orpheum. "Dinner at Eight" was a smash in Cincinnati with a gross of $17,000 at the RKO Capitol. The ordinary take is $5,000. "Dinner At Eight" moved into the Capitol after a run at the Astor, N. Y., and took $58,410, and "Roman Scandals" held up to $40,280 in its second week at the Rivoli. "Son of Kong" had a strong $39,235 at the Roxy and the Strand garnered $21,205 with "Lady Killer." "House on 56th St" was good for $8,287 in its fifth week at the Hollywood. Wisconsin Case Up Soon Milwaukee, Jan. 8. — Certificate of the referee for review of an order made by him on Dec. 14, denying the petitions of Wisconsin Amusement Enterprises, Inc., and Fox Wisconsin Co. for an order dismissing the petition of the trustee for an order to show cause why said theatre firms should not file schedules of assets and liabilities is scheduled for hearing Jan. 13 before District Judge F. A. Geiger. Price War to Stop Feb. 2 In St. Louis (Continued from page 1) increase of 15 cents. The Fox, now operated by receivers, last week boosted the early prices from 20 to 25 cents and evenings from 35 to 40 cents. Stage shows at the Fox are scheduled to be dropped this week, the stage hands already having been notified to this effect With the ending of the price feud, another critical situation (faces the downtown first runs. That's shortage of product which will close the Central, Skouras operated, this week. The St. Louis has first call on RKO and Columbia, the Fox on Fox films, the Ambassador, Missouri and Central on Universal, Paramount and Warner-First National and Loew's State on M-G-M and United Artists. Skouras is finding the film supply from the three companies insufficient at this time to keep three houses operating. It is understood that the Fox and Missouri will change hands within the next week. Photographers Elect New officers have been elected by the International Photographers of the Motion Picture Industries, Local 644. They are: President, F. Walter Strenge; vice-president, Harry W. Smith; treasurer, Frank G. Kirby; secretary, Tom Hogan; business representative, O. V. Johnson; sergeantat-arms, F. Landi; trustee for three years, Ray Foster. What a picture! Give me more "Roman Scandals" and the depression will be a thing of the past. Leonard M. O'Neil, Cameo Theatre, Hartford, Conn. i