Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday. March 20, 193 ( KMTA Plans Campaign for Membership Kansas City, March 19— An educational campaign to acquaint the public with the community importance of the theatre is planned by the KansasMissouri Theatre Ass'n. as part of an elaborate program of activity to be launched under the leadership of A. F. Baker, president, and R. R. Biechele, newly elected secretary-treasurer. The directors, meeting here, approved the plans and decided to initiate a membership drive to be launched at a convention here. Every exhibitor in the territory not now a member will be invited to join. A questionnaire on code administration designed to indicate to grievance and clearance boards the sentiments of exhibitors will be sent out. A statement by the directors said that the association's program will "sell the organization to the exhibitors and the exhibitors to the public." Members will be given a sticker to affix to box-office windows stating that the owner or manager is affiliated with the K. M. T. A. Directly in charge of the public relations work will be the directors in their districts, comprising S. E. Wilhoit, Springfield, Mo.; C. C. McVey, Herington, Kan. ; Sam Blair, Belleville, Kan.; John C. Stapel, Rockport, Mo. ; E. B. Danielson, Russell, Kan. ; Tom Edwards, Eldpn, Mo. ; Baker and Biechele. Taking cognizance of criticism directed at Biechele from some quarters because of the fact he is liaison officer between Kansas City distributors and the Kansas censor board, the directors' statement declares that in this work Biechele represents the interests of the exhibitors, that his present activities are indispensable and that "he can be depended upon to represent the best interests of exhibitors at all times." Harum, 99 "One Night" and "Nana 99 Big Money-Getters Visitor Ban Studio Drive for Economy Hollywood, March 19.— Barring of all visitors from studios is part of the drive to cut down overhead. It is figured delays on sets will be avoided and players will not be annoyed. The order came from the Producers' Ass'n. with the backing of all studios, but M-G-M and Fox have already issued instructions that no guests would be received in studio restaurants except with permission from executive offices. Miller Fights Charge Chicago, March 19. — Counsel for Jack Miller has interposed a motion to quash the contempt of court charge growing out of his alleged refusal to answer questions before a Federal grand jury on payments to Tom Maloy. This leaves the date for the next hearing open. Pasteur Story for Fox Hollywood, March 19. — Winfield Sheehan has bought "Humanity First," a story based on the life of Pasteur, for early production with Warner Baxter, Helen Twelvetrees and Mona Barrie heading the cast. Three outstanding draws overcame the Lenten handicap in a number of key spots last week. They were "David Harum," "It Happened One Night" and "Nana." "Catherine the Great" and "Queen Christina" also gave good accounts of themselves. The Lenten slump hit all the first runs in Montreal except the Princess, where "It Happened One Night" and "Shadows of Sing Sing" made up a dual bill. The $7,500 take was $1,500 up. "The Ghoul," with a stage show at Loew's, took a fair $10,000, but two duals, "Eskimo" and "Oliver the Eighth," at the Capitol, and "This Side of Heaven" and "The Girl From Maxim's" at the Palace had a hard time of it. Only one house in Detroit exceeded average. It was the Fox with 'I Believed in You" on the screen and Morton Downey heading a stage show. The $18,300 gross was over normal by $3,300. Every other house suffered badly, although "Queen Christina" had a fair $9,400 in its second week at the United Artists. The weak ones were : "Devil Tiger" at the Downtown, "Mandalay" at the Fisher, "Bolero" at the Michigan, and a dual, "Love Birds" and "Advice to the Lovelorn," at the State. "Harum" Good in Twin Cities "David Harum" rolled up $13,500 at the Minnesota and Paramount in Minneapolis and St. Paul Three other good draws in Minneapolis were : "Dark Hazard,' with $6, 500 at the RKO Orpheum; "Pa looka," with $6,000 at the State, and "Emperor Jones," with $2,500 in its second week at the World. "Moulin Rouge" had a fine $4,000 at the St Paul Riviera. "Mandalay" was normal with $4,000 at the RKO Orpheum. "Comrades of 1918," a German offering, pulled $2,000 at the World. Cleveland had a bad week. "The Avenger" with "Bottoms Up" on the stage at the Allen, topped the list with $6,000. "Success at Any Price" and five acts of vaudeville was off at $15,000 in the RKO Palace. One dual, "She Made Her Bed" and "Cross Country Cruise," topped average at $4,100 at Loew's Stillman. "Bolero" at Loew's State, "Journal of a Crime" at Warners' Hippodrome and "Frontier Marshall" and "Woman's Man" at Warners' Lake failed to stir up any excitement. "It Happened One Night" was a box-office tonic in Portland. The $9,000 gross at the Paramount, with "Ever Since Eve" as the other half of a dual bill, at the Paramount went over by $3,000 for a total of $9,000. "Money Can't Buy Everything" and "Love Birds" were also strong with $6,400 at the Broadway, and "I Like It That Way" and "Two Alone" reached the Hamrick's Oriental par with $2,000. Weak ones were: "Palooka" at United Artists, "Oliver Twist" and "Woman's Man" at Pantages, and "Man of Two Worlds" at Hamrick's Music Box. Philadelphia had what it takes to bring out the cash customers. "Catherine the Great" hit $7,500 at the Fulton, nearly double the average house gross. "Six of a Kind," with a stage show headed by Joe Penner, piled up $38,000, over average by $17,000. "Sleepers East" was strong at $6,700 at the Pitt, with a stage show. "Jimmy, the Gent," did a fine $5,500 at the Warner. "Wonder Bar" was a disappointment with $8,000 at the Stanley. 'Long Lost Father" and "Meanest Gal in Town" failed to pan out at the Davis. Death Takes a Holiday" was a surprise in Los Angeles. Its $21,875 take with an F. & M. show at the Paramount was $3,875 up. "It Happened One Night" was also strong, reaching $8,700 at the RKO. "Queen Christina" held up to $14,800 in its fifth week at Grauman's Chinese. "Nana" fell off to $7,500 in its second week at United Artists. "Devil Tiger" was pulled after four days of its third week at the 4 Star. "Dark Hazard" was pretty weak at Warners' Hollywood and Downtown and "The Mystery of Mr. X" failed to make an impression at Loew's State. In Indianapolis "David Harum" led the town in its second week at the Apollo, getting $5,000, and "Nana" had a strong $4,500 at the Palace. "Mandalay" took a normal $3,000 at the Circle. "Ever Since Eve" was weak with $5,500 at the Lyric and a dual, "Meanest Gal in Town" and "Ninth Guest," reached $4,000 at the 3,000seat Indiana. Boston Prospers Big grosses were the rule rather than the exception in Boston. "It Happened One Night" went to $21,000, up by $5,000, at Keith's; "Coming Out Party" was an $18,000 wow at the Boston ; "Death Takes a Holiday," with a stage show, piled up $34,000 at the Metropolitan, and "Looking for Trouble" was good for $18,000 at Loew's State. Even the double bill, "Dark Hazard" and "She Made Her Bed," was a $9,000 par draw at the Paramount. The only weak bill was the same dual at the Fenway. With a total first run business of $21,900, Oklahoma City had an unusually good week. "Four Frightened People" and a stage show topped par by $1,000 at the Warner. The take was $7,500. "David Harum" was a $7,000 sensation at the Midwest. "Nana" got an average $2,000 at the Capitol. "Fashions of 1934" took it on the chin at the Criterion with $3,600, and the Liberty's split bill, "Love Birds" and "The Crosby Case," was low. Business fell off in Chicago with the total first run gross of $129,000 below normal by $8,000. "The Cat and the Fiddle" made the best showing, taking $41,000, up by $6,400, at the Chicago. "Palooka" was strong at $18,000 at the United Artists. "David Harum" took an above-par $14,000 at McVickers, but the other first runs had nothing to get excited about. "Blood Money" at the Oriental, "Success at Any Price" at the Palace, "The Song You Gave Me" at the State-Lake and "Massacre" at the Roosevelt were poor draws. Code Boards Are Asked to MeetQuickl (Continued from page 1) uals and to review the code in g< eral. Members of the boards are be: asked to send in recommendations secretaries as soon as possible so G Authority can make selections and the boards functioning. The purpose of the joint meetii will be to gather figures on the t mated operating expense of lo boards on a monthly basis, in addit to data on possible salaries for sec | taries. At Thursday's meeting of the thority, a short budget will be proved. Code Authority operates a week-to-week expense budget from time to time has had as m; as 17 employes and as few as n Price, Waterhouse will make an ai on April 1 for the first three man' operating expense of the author The report will be released about middle of next month. A uniform blank for filing proU is being made up by the autho and will be mailed to the field shor The purpose is to have all compla in legal order. Grievances must filed in triplicate and in the e\j of an appeal from a decision, a c of the grievance along: with the d | sion is sent to New York, where case will be reconsidered. Vending Code Submitted Washington, March 19. — The vending code has been submitted to the NRA and a hearing will be set shortly. Expect to Complete Boards on Thursdi (Continued from page 1) the division administrator on Th day. Of the two plans submitted for if York, the favored outline is the calling for three main boards to 1 die the three selling areas in Gre : New York. Certain major circuits understood objecting to this plan, it is believed to be wanted by the jority of local groups. Following a complete upset of Philadelphia boards, the selection c mittee is finding it difficult to n members without strenuous di proval of Quaker City independ However, this is expected to be ir< out by Thursday. Minneapolis Board Are to Be Revamp Because two Allied men had signed the code and a third man declined to serve, the Minnea boards are being referred back tc Code Authority board committee replacements. The committee n tomorrow at 2 P. M., when new pointees will be set for Josenh F man of St. Paul as the unaffiliatec hibitor of the grievance board anc Jack Haywood and Fred V. Ho fel, Allied men, on the clearance zoning board. Edward Ruben was being co ered for a post on this board, bu cause of his affiliation with A his possible appointment is out. Minneapolis unit has not signed j assent forms. iQ