Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

October 5 . 19 29 1191 Fox and Zukor In Battle Of Giants For Nation-Wide Theatre Supremacy THE WESTERN SECTOR Franklin Guid i n g Huge Expansion Program ; Publix TerritoryInvaded THE gage of battle has been thrown into the ring and the two Titans are William Fox and Adolph Zukor. In California, Fox West Coast Theatres which shortly are to be advertised simply as Fox Theatres, are in the midst of an intensive expansion program under the guiding hand of Harold B. Franklin. Witli consummation of the Midwest deal whereby Fox secures 60 theatres in 30 Missouri and Kansas towns, the phalanx is now moving into Publix territory hitherto untouched by Fox. A tussle is impending between Fox and Paramount in Arizona and will undoubtedly extend into other sections of the intermountain territory as well. Fox further may be expected to move shortly into cities like Denver and Salt Lake City where Publix is active but where Fox has no theatres of his own. Eastward Trend The battle hinges almost entirely around theatres, whether built or acquired. At present, Fox West Coast is operating close to 400 houses in the western and mountain tiers. There will be many more. At the same time, it appears that holdings will be extended further East until a representative national chain is developed. Kansas borders on Colorado and Missouri on Kansas and thus, by virtue of the deal with Shanberg in Kansas City two more links in the cross-country chain have been welded. Computing from the West to the Middle West, there are a number of gaps existing today in the exhibition structure. From Missouri, the chain now jumps to Wisconsin where Fox Midwesco practically dominates the state. Universal owns a limited number of houses in the Badger State, but reports have been persistent for some time that Fox Midwesco will eventually acquire them, thereby obtaining practical domination of that zone. In the Greater New York territory, Fox Metropolitan Playhouses, Inc., augmenting the Loew holdings give Fox a significant (Continued on next page) Warners Sign Al Green To Forty Week Contract Hollywood, Oct. 3. — Al Green has been signed to a term contract by Warner Brothers to direct, following completion of "Disraeli," starring George Arliss, and ' ' The Man ' ' with John Barrymore. Green 's contract takes effect in March of next year, following the reopening of Warner Studios, and calls for a reported salary of $2,500 for 40 weeks of the ensuing vear. RADIO DEAL ON Seattle — While negotiations are under way, no deal is yet closed for acquisition of the bankrupt American Broadcasting Co. by Fox. The deal has been on for some time. (Hollywood Bureau, Motion Picture News) Hollywood — Observers hold the opinion that Fox will find it necessary to secure his own radio broadcasting outlet to counteract that Paramount tieup with Columbia Broadcasting and nation-wide hook-ups controlled by Radio-Keith -Orpheum. Fox Acquires Midland Chain In Swift Move Wesco Gains 60 Theatres Operating In Kansas And Missouri Kansas City — In a lightning-like move, developed and closed in 24 hours, Fox West Coast Theatres have acquired the Midland circuit operating 60 theatres in 30 Kansas and Missouri towns. A new division will be created to supervise operations. Harold B. Franklin signed the papers for Fox West Coast and M. B. Shanberg for Midwest. Approximately $3,000,000 are involved in the purchase which embraces the following points : Iowa Fort Madison, three theatres; Muscatine, two. Kansas Chanute, two; Clay Center, one; Coffeyville, three; Concordia, two; El Dorado, two; Hutchinson, five; Lyons, one; Madison, three; Ottawa, one; Pittsburgh, three; Snlina, two; Wichita, four. Missouri Boonville, one; Brookfield, one; Carthage, two; Kansas City, twelve; Marshall, one; Moberly, three; Nevada, one; Sedalia, three; Springfield, one; St. Joseph, two. Most of these theatres are equipped for sound, but where no device is now installed arrangements to do so will be made at once. It is reported here that Fox West Coast may augment this string in order to round out its Kansas and Missouri properties. Nat'l Screen Appoints Murphy Hollywood, Oct. 3.— Harold E. Murphy has been appointed west coast studio representative for National Screen Service, replacing Lester Blankfield, resigned after several years in position. Murphy was transferred from Chicago office of National Screen Service. EOX EXPANSION 400 In West Coast Line-Up At Present; Several Hundred Others Are Sought (Hollywood Bureau, Motion Picture News) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 3.— With roughly 400 houses in its line-up today, Fox West Coast Theatres are reaching out into many directions for new acquisitions. Several hundred additional are being sought. In the last few days, the circuit has extended operations into Kansas and Missouri through purchase of the Midland Theatre and Realty Co. and has either bought or acquired houses in Arizona, Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho all more or less virgin ground for the company. Fox Bucking Publix In Arizona Theater Zone Tucson, Ariz. — Harold B. Franklin, president of Fox West Coast Theatres on October 3 takes possession of the Diamas chain operating 14 theatres in Douglas, Bisby, Tucson, Nogales and Lowell. The deal is an outright buy by Fox. A new theatre will be built in Phoenix on the site of the city hall, purchased from the municipal government there. Globe and Martin's two houses in Globe are also Fox acquisitions. Publix controls Rickards and Nace who run a string of theatres throughout the state. Competition between the two circuits is of the keenest. L. A. Orpheum Goes To Fox For "Legit" Policy Los Angeles. — The Orpheum has been taken over by Fox West Coast Theatres, will be remodeled and opened about Oct. 16 as Fox's Palace. The policy will be two shows a day at $1.65 top and the opening picture, "Hallelujah." This move is designed to offset the Warners Downtown which opened last week as a two-a-day house at advance prices. Fox Active Up And Down Pacific Coast San Francisco. — The Arkush circuit opcrating in Palo Alto and other cities in the San Francisco peninsula district has been purchased by Fox West Coast. San Jose, Cal. — A 2,000 seat theatre is planned here by Fox West Coast. Santa Barbara, Cal. — Joe Toplisksy will build a 2,000 seat house here for Fox West Coast operation. Vallejo, Cal. — Fox West Coast will build a 1,250 seat theatre here. San Diego, Cal. — The new Fox house is (Continued on next page)