Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

32 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 4, 19 3 1 Total Seating Capacities of Theatres in the U. S. Number Number of Seating Of People State Theatres Capacities Population Per Seat Alabama 255 105,443 2,645,297 Arizona 98 48,734 435,833 Arkansas 253 109,595 1,854,482 California 951 699,651 5,672,009 Colorado 262 128,296 1,035,043 Connecticut 193 173,775 1,604,711 Delaware 66 37,701 238,380 District of Col 48 41,254 486,869 Florida 260 129,945 1,466,625 Georgia 209 108,631 2,902,443 Idaho 211 76,784 445,837 Illinois 1,396 861,987 7,607,684 Indiana 635 304,178 3,225,600 Iowa 749 331,720 2,467,900 Kansas 544 225,624 1,879,946 Kentucky 525 244,269 2,623,668 Louisiana 270 128,404 2,094,496 Maine 265 127,244 797,423 Maryland 202 121,444 1,629,321 Massachusetts 547 497,156 4,253,646 Michigan 649 486,390 4,842,280 Minnesota 568 ., 231,386 2,566,445 Mississippi 246 109,178 2,007,979 Missouri 871 468,224 3,620,961 Montana 185 69,926 536,332 Nebraska 435 168,810 1,378,900 Nevada 51 23,324 90,891 New Hampshire 142 73,475 465,293 New Jersey 510 479,530 4,028,027 New Mexico 80 35,986 427,216 New York 1,833 1,576,980 12,619,503 North Carolina 341 143,504 3,170,287 North Dakota 291 81,910 682,448 Ohio 1,145 644,215 6,689,837 Oklahoma J63 172,140 2,391,777 Oregon 170 96,906 952,691 Pennsylvania 1,191 823,581 9,640,802 Rhode Island 91 72,644 681,232 South Carolina 157 58,323 1,732,567 South Dakota 269 91,347 690,755 Tennessee 242 118,821 2,608,759 Texas 1,025 471,252 5,821,272 Utah 257 102,636 502,582 Vermont 123 54,645 359,611 Virginia 295 . 136,352 2419,471 Washington 361 170,948 1,561,967 West Virginia 787 327,397 1,728,510 Wisconsin 590 318,087 2,980,282 Wyoming 77 34,009 224,597 TOTALS 21,284 12,143,761 122,696,577 10 People for Every Theatre Sect in U. S. 115,000,000 Pay 26^ Per Week to Film Theatres of U. S. Hollywood (QP) — The average American spends 26 cents a week to attend the motion picture theatre, according to figures revealed by the M. P. P. D. A. A total of 115,000,000, or nearly as many people as there are in the entire United States and dependencies, "go to the movies" every week, paying $30,000,000 for the privilege. The Hays organization declares that there are 17,097 motion picture theatres in the United States, and gives 13,515 as the number of those wired. The statistics further assert that two and a half billion dollars are invested in the world film industry, two billion of which represents its holdings in the United States. Exhibitors to Hold Meeting Dallas — First general convention of the Theatre Owners' Protective Association will be held here shortly. 25.9 8.9 17.0 8.1 8.0 9.2 6.3 11.7 11.3 17.4 5.8 8.8 10.6 7.4 8.0 10.8 16.7 6.2 13.4 8.6 9.9 11.0 18.3 7.7 7.5 8.1 3.8 6.3 8.3 11.8 7.9 22.0 8.3 10.2 13.9 9.8 11.7 9.4 29.7 7.5 21.1 12,3 4.7 6.5 17.7 9.1 5.2 9.3 6.6 10.1 Capone Says No On Film Report Of Buron Fitts Chicago — Al (Scarf ace) Capone stated that Buron Fitts, Los Angeles prosecutor who claimed he had been approached relative to Capone's appearance in a film, is, as a prosecutor, a cracking good press agent. Which was merely the Capone way of denying newspaper reports that he was to attack the citadel of picturedom. According to Fitts, Scarf ace Al was due to collect $1,000,000 from a producer who aimed to have him "shot" in the closing sequences. Fitts said he would run Al out of town if he showed himself in Los Angeles, and Al said neither he nor anyone representing him, had ever spoken to Fitts, and furthermore, he intimated, had no desire to. 200 Vitaphone Shorts Planned The Warner Vitaphone 1931-32 shorts program calls for 200 subjects to be released in series. Schedule is now in preparation. {Continued from page 11) less to average, with Nevada in top place for overseating, boasting only of one seat for every three persons. Utah has four people for every seat and West Virginia five. New York, California, Illinois and New Jersey each with eight persons per seat, are all below the national average. New York Has 1,833 Accounts Although all of the 21,284 accounts listed on the books of distributors are not in operation, nor are they all regular theatre structures (some are lodge halls, etc.), nevertheless, each is considered a theatrical account by major companies. They pay regular rental charges when operating. Actual number of theatres (i. e., theatre buildings) is said to range between 14,000 and 18,000. New York leads in the total number of accounts, having 1,833 with Illinois, and its 1,396 accounts, the runner-up. District of Columbia, with 48, and Delaware, 66, are, as usual, at the bottom of the list. Elsewhere on this page appears a complete tabulated index of capacities by states, with the total number of theatres, populations and average persons per seat also listed. Ontario Bill Provides 5% Quota for British Pictures A bill calling for a five per cent quota for British films has been introduced in the Ontario legislature, and is looked upon as a forerunner of similar action in other provinces. The measure is seen as a result of the recent inquiry under the Combines Act, and has already received second reading. Caddo Closes N. Y. Office H. Wayne Pierson, Eastern representation of Caddo, closes his connection with the company when the New York ofiice is discontinued this week. United Artists will handle the product. Waxman Shifts Personnel A. P. Waxman has engaged Eve Bernstein to handle fan magazine contacts, Rutgers Neilson in charge of national newspaper publicity and Jack Level will handle trade papers and edit the RKO Pathe Sun. Allied Leaders Confer Conferences on organization afifairs began the latter part of this week between Allied States leaders. Abram F. Myers, president, H. M. Richey and W. A. Steffes arrived in New York Thursday for the meetings. New Comedies Released Simple Simon Comedies, Inc., have taken larger quarters at 729 Seventh avenue, New York, and have lined up distributors in this country and Canada. "Hot Shivers" and "A Shocking Affair," first of six, will be released April 20.