Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

58 .1/ o t i o n P i c t it r e N e w October 11. 1930 Balaban & Katz Demand Stronger B. 0. Film Draw Chicago — Stricter box-office requirements than have ever before been designated for pictures playing Loop houses have been put in effect by Publix-B. & K. here. The move has been made to clear up an unprecedented number of unplayed pictures booked for the circuit's downtown houses. It is also an answer to complaints made by outlying exhibitors at the recent zoning conferences here. Outlying houses are obliged to wait on B. & K. for release of practically their entire list of pictures. The higher grosses demanded of pictures at Loop box-offices shortens their runs from one to two weeks. Present profit requirements are such that all B. & K. run houses are down to an almost uniform two weeks schedule. A picture's gross has to be extraordinary to get a third week. This is the second boost of gross requirements the circuit has made in the past six months. The first showed marked improvement in the local release situation, but a series of long run pictures in mid-summer put the circuit as far behind on play dates as ever. The resultant squawks from outlying exhibitors and even neighborhood theatre patrons, as well as B. & K.'s desire to keep down the levy on unplayed pictures, brought about the second boost. There have been no runs of more than two weeks since the last edict went into effect. At McVickcrs, "The Spoilers" and "Moby Dick" got only two weeks apiece despite good grosses. At the Roosevelt, "Journey's End" had only nine days, while ".Monte Carlo." which followed, rated two weeks only, although grosses were better than average. At United Artists, "Follow Thru" and "What a Widow" were in the money at the end of their second weeks, particularly the latter picture, but both were replaced, regardless. Miehle Addresses S.M.P.E. Chicago — The Chicago chapter of the S. M. P. E. had as its guest speaker at the regular monthly meeting Rudolph Miehle, motion picture technician of New York. About twenty-five members were in attendance at the meeting, held at the Webster Hotel. It was stated that one hundred Chicago delegates will attend the national meeting of the Society. November 6 was set as the date for the election of officers of the Chicago chapter. RKO Staff Revamped Chicago — Thorough revamping of the RKO Chicago sales force has been completed by William "Bill" Brumberg, newly appointed branch manager. The changes involve the following appointments: Frank Young, for the past seven years a salesman with United Artists in Chicago, will handle the Loop and certain outlying territories ; George R. Giroux, formerly an M-G-M "Legion of Honor" salesman at Los Angeles, to country territory; L. K. Rosenfeld, formerly with the RKO Cincinnati ofterritory; Harry Pathe Milwaukee William Brumberg fice, to country Brown, formerly salesman, to countrv territory. Ed Phelps and Mike Kahn, RKO salesmen, will continue to handle Chicago neighborhood territory. Brumberg, widely known throughout the Chicago territory, was host to a continual stream of well-wishers during his first week in his new post. General Register and Midwest in Combine Chicago — Expansion program which he says will be international in scope is to be launched following amalgamation of General Register Corp. of Illinois and Mid-West Ticket & Supply Co., according to D. H. Finke. presidenl of Mid-West. Capitalization of MidWest will be increased to SI. 000.000 to care for this expansion, which contemplates a trade advertising campaign establishment of sales and service offices in strategic locations throughout the world and extension of the company's ticket service in America. The MidWest Ticket & Supply Co. has been in operation for the past ten years, and was recently instrumental in effecting the merger of the Ansell-Simplex Ticket Co. Further development of Mid-West's service policy on Automatic and Simplex ticket registers is contemplated in the company's future plans. Frank Buys in Whiting Chicago — A. S. Frank, former owner of the Paulina theatre, has taken over the Capital at Whiting, Ind. The house was reopened recently by Frank after renovations. A. I. i Ibresk was the former owner of the Capital. 6 \Bluenoses" Lose Again in Evanston; Continue Battle Chicago — Evanston proponents of Sunday shows gained their first victory in a five months' fight to legalize the showings when .Master in Chancery George E. Gorman ruled last week in favor of granting the injunction against the city, which has been asked by the theatre owners. Gorman's ruling was that "the vote of the people expresses a public policy in favor of Sunday showing and renders nugatory the provisions of the ordinance preventing Sunday theatre entertainment." The ruling referred to Evanston's vote of last April, which gave Sunday shows a majority of 56. The city council refused to act on the results of the referendum on the grounds that the majority was polled in only two out of seven of the city's wards. The theatre owners retaliated by asking an injunction to prevent the city from interfering with Sunday theatre openings. Master Gorman's ruling was on this injunction. It will be referred to a court and judge this week, and though it is not obligatory for a judge to accept a master's recommendation, it is the usual course. William Lister, corporation counsel for Evanston, received the master's report and stated that the city would continue to fight Sunday shows. In the event a permanent or temporary injunction is granted, he said, the matter will be taken to the Appellate court. UFA Film Draws German Patrons Chicago — Local popularity of "Melody of the Heart" (UFA), now in its third week at the Castle here, is causing widespread comment in exhibitor circles. The large German population of the city accounts in part for the picture's box-office success, as Dick Beck, manager of the Castle, has estimated that 80 per cent of the attendance is of that nationality. Many patrons, he said, told him it was the first time they had ever attended a motion picture performance. Daily holdouts for the three weeks of the picture's run have been the order. At one time there were 450 prsons waiting outside. The seating capacity of the Castle is 300.