Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

s Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 27, 1939 'Fiddle' Beats K. C. Heat and Garners $9,600 Kansas Cm-, July 26. — ''Second Fiddle" garnered $9,600 at the Esquire and Uptown for the best showing in a week that proved surprisingly good for first runs, considering the extremely hot weather and the Blues* American Association all-star game the 19th, which drew 17,00®, and their subsequent home stay. "Second Fiddle" did S4,400 at the Esquire, where $3,000 is par, and $5,200 at the Uptown, where $4,000 is average. The picture was held at both houses. Big money went to the Midland with "On Borrowed Time" and "Stronger Than Desire" which were worth $11,800, up $300. Total first run business was $27,000. Average is S25.500. Estimated takings for the week ending July 18-20 : "Second Fiddle" (20th-Fox) ESQUIRE— (800) (25c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average, $3,000) "On Borrowed Time" (M-G-M) "Stronger Than Desire" (M-G-M) MIDLAND — (4,000) (25c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $11,800. (Average, $11,500) "Man About Town" (Para.) NEWMAN— (1,900) (25c-40c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,600. (Average, $7,000) "Second Fiddle" (20th-Fox) UPTOWN — (2,000) (25c-40c) 7 davs. Gross : S5.2O0. (Average, $4,000) 'Second Fiddle' Best Magnet at Montreal Montreal, July 26. — "Second Fiddle" at the Palace Theatre was the first fiddle in grosses for the past week among Montreal first-runs with a take of $8,500, attendance being boosted somewhat by the observance of Bastille Day among the FrenchCanadians. Estimated takings for the week ending Jul} 21 : "Tarzan Finds a Son" (M-G-M) "It Could Happen to You" (2©th-Fox) CAPITOL— (2,547) (25c-40c-55c-65c). Gross. S5,400. (Average, $8,000) "Good Girls Go to Paris" (Cot) LOEW'S— (2,800) (30c-40c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $8,000) "Ex-Champ" (Univ.) "The Family Next Door" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (919) (25c-35c-50c) 7 davs. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $5,000) "Second Fiddle" (20th-Fox) PALACE— (2,600) (25c-40c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $11,000) "Blackwell's Island" (W. B.) "Gracie Allen Murder Case" (Para.) PRINCESS— (2,272) (25c-35c-50c-65c) 7 days. Gross: S3.5O0. (Average, $6,500) WABY Asks More Power Albany, July 26. — WABY is about to file application with the F.C.C. for an increase in night wattage from 100 to 250. Primary coverage of Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Columbia counties, effective by day, would then be extended after dark, aiding the baseball and other "listener pull" programs. WABY attorneys in Washington are submitting the briefs. Buys 'Stanley' Rights Hollywood, July 26. — Rights to the semi-biographical novel, "Henry M. Stanley in England," by Georges Drumcurt. have been acquired by 20th Century-Fox. It will be filmed as a sequel to the forthcoming "Stanley and Livingstone" by the same studio. London Trade Notes London, July 26. — During the year ending June, 1939, another fourteen agreements on wages and hours were signed between the X.A.T.K.E. and the C.E.A. These make a total of thirtythree and negotiations are still going on in nineteen other areas. During 1938 10,000 new members were enrolled, while from January to June this year 4,400 have been added. George Smith has been appointed deputy chairman of the new British Film Production Association. The B.F.P.A., includes the F.B.I. Film Group which was recently merged with it. Guarantees as to the continued employment of cinema workers joining the Forces under the new Militia Act, are sought by the N.A.T.K.E.. from the C.E.A. The Union asks for the guarantee that employees joining up will have their jobs kept for them and that they will be paid wages whilst training in camp. S. K. Lewis, of the Birmingham branch of the C.E.A., has been nominated by his group for the vice-presidency of the Association in the 1940-41 period. A church in London which shows films after its Sunday service has not only had a projector installed, but has set up a neon sign outside the building. C.E.A. headquarters has advised its members to keep an eye on their insurance policies in order to see that they are covered from damage by bomb explosions in peace time. This precaution arises from recent bomb outrages carried out by Irish terrorists. Most exhibitors' insurances do not cover such eventualities, but the matter is adjustable by the payment of an additional premium. The circular points out, also, that recent explosions in cinemas have been made possible by bombs being carried in under cover of parcels, and warns exhibitors that they are entitled to refuse admission to anvone. New Incorporations Are Filed at Albany Albany, July 26. — Incorporation filed with Michael F. Walsh, Secretary of State, include authorization | for issuance of $100,000 capital stock to the Friedman Theatrical Enterprises, Inc., Newburgh. Directors are Theodore J. Friedman, Suffern ; | Harry J. Friedman. Xewburgh, and Rose Friedman, 705 Gerard Ave., Bronx. Papers were submitted by N. Joseph Friedman, Catskill. Other incorporations were : Cosmic Theatrical Agency, Inc., 200 shares, no par value. Directors are Tony Kobrin, 7323 67th Drive, Middle Milage ; Max Tepperman, 63 W. 73rd St.. and Albert Leving, 1061 Morris Ave., Bronx. Attorneys are Turchin £Sid Brown, 270 Broadway, Xew York. Documentary Film Productions, Inc., motion pictures, by John E. Cosgrove, Edwin E. Lindgren and David H. Jackman, 150 Broadway, New York. Charles W. Dibbell, 14 Wall St., Xew York, submitted the papers. 65 New Theatres Gained by Poland Washington, July 26. — An increase of 65, or 8.4 per cent, in the number of theatres in Poland in 1938 is reported by Jule B. Smith, acting commercial attache at Warsaw. Last year there were 834 cinema houses. The seating capacitv jumped from 272,812 in 1937 to 297,611 in 1938. Of the 14 largest cities in Poland, Warsaw led with 68 theatres. Attendance in Warsaw theatres in 1938 jumped 10.7 per cent, or from 5,762,970 in 1937 to 6,382,044 in 1938. H. /. Yates, Autry Sailing for England A party of six sailed with H. J. Yates on the Manhattan yesterday. Included were Mr. and Mrs. Yates ; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Titus, their daughter and son-in-law ; Richard Yates, a son, and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Autry. The party will accompany Autry on a personal appearance tour of England, Ireland and Scotland, returning here Sept. 12. _ While in London Yates will confer with Sam Smith, head of British Lion, Republic distributor there. AFRA Backs Board Chicago, July 26. — The American Federation of Radio Actors last night voted full support to the board of directors, saying they would back them in any stand they took in negotiations with stations and agencies. The AFRA convention opens here Aug. 24. London Council Okays 'Mamlock' London, July 26. — London CountyCouncil, the city's governing body, today passed "Professor Mamlock," Russian-made anti-Xazi film, for adult audiences. "I Was a Captive of Xazi Germany," independent film made in America, also was approved for adults. Deletions were demanded in both pictures. The Council took no action on Warners' "Confessions of a Xazi Spy" which recently was licensed by the British Board of Film Censors for universal exhibition. The Council viewed all three films following the censors' rejection of "Mamlock." N. Y. Allied Seeking Trade Code in State (Continued from page 1) which the independents feel would give them a better break. Col. H. A. Cole, president of national Allied, will report to the national board on the Xew York unit's decision to negotiate on the code. He discussed the matter with the Xew York directors here this week. Cole informed them that with the exception of the local group all Allied units which have met since the national convention in Minneapolis have endorsed the convention's action in rejecting the code. Cole left yesterday by boat for Galveston en route to his home in Dallas. Boston Gives '2nd Fiddle' Strong Play Boston, July 26. — "Second Fiddle" and "It Could Happen to You" equaled better than average winter grosses by taking $19,000 at tjijL Metropolitan this past week. fch; "Clouds Over Europe," dualing' with "Forgotten Woman," took second place with $14,700 at Keith Memorial. Third came "Tarzan Finds a Son" and "Stronger Than Desire" playing at both Loew houses, Orpheum and State, taking $13,600 and $12,200. Estimated takings for the week ending July 19 : "The Girl and the Gambler" (RKO) (1st run) (4 days) "SOS Tidal Wave" (Rep.) (1st run) (4 days) "Rose of Washing-ton Square" (29th-Fox) (2nd run) (3 days) "Inspector Hornleigh" (20th-Fox) (2nd run) (3 days) RKO KEITH BOSTON— (3,200) (20c-30c40c). Gross: $5,600. (Average, $7,500) "Clouds Over Europe" (Col.) "Forgotten Woman" (Univ.) KEITH M E M ORLAL — (2,907) 40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $14,700. age, $14,000) "Man About Town" (Para.) "Grand Jury Secrets" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (1,797) (25c-35c-40c-55c) 7 days. Both 2nd run. Gross: $7,000. (Average. $7,000) "Man About Town" (Para.) "Grand Jury Secrets" (Para.) FENWAY— (1,382) (25c-35c-40c-55c) 7 davs. Both 2nd run. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $4,500) "Second Fiddle" (2&th-Fox) "It Could Happen to You" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN— (4,332) (25c-35c-40c55c) 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $14,000) "Tarzan Finds a Son" (M-G-M) "Stronger Than Desire" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2.900) (2Sc-35c40c-55c) 7 davs. Gross: $13,600. (Average, $14,000) "Tarzan Finds a Son" (M-G-M) "Stronger Than Desire" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,000) (2Sc-35c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $12,200. (Average, $10,000) "Naughty But Nice" (W. B.) "Susannah of the Mounties" (ZOth-Fox) SCOLLAY— (2.500) (25c-35c-40c-50c) 7 days. Both 2nd run. Gross: £3.000. (Average. S4.000) (25c-35c(Aver Richey Finds Good Business on Tour Theatre business in the Cincinnati and Indianapolis territories has improved in the last 10 days, Henderson M. Richey, director of exhibitor relations for RKO, reported yesterday on his return from a trip to, those cities and Chicago. Richey was given that information by circuit heads. Business prior to the uptrend was considerably off. Richey's trip was a checkup with local exchange managers on clearance and other local problems. W anger Libel Suit Decision Reserved Decision was reserved yesterday by X. Y. Supreme Court Justice Felix B. Benvenga on the motion of Xews Syndicate, Inc., to dismiss a $1,000,000 libel suit brought against it and Ed Sullivan, columnist, by Walter Wanger. Defense contended that no libel was set forth, and none intended, in Sullivan's column which was printed May 21. Charles Schwartz, of Schwartz & Frohlich, stated that the publication had been made with "malicious intent."