Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISUTIVE MILLS GRIND DDT INDDSTRY BILLS Tax Proposals Form Bulk of State Proposals; Censorship Next The legislative mill is grinding full force on measures in Congress and state legislatures involving the motion picture industry. With the introduction of a bill in the house that would exact a two per cent gross receipts tax from exhibitors in the District of Columbia: the passage of a bill in Kansas providing for a two per cent retail sales tax, and a new measure in Colorado calling for a two per cent tax on admissions, the 1937 legislative balance sheet affecting the industry this week stands as follows: Forty-five measures pending in Congress. Approximately 290 bills awaiting action in 29 legislatures. Six bills passed in 19 states where sessions have adjourned. The bulk of the new legislation provides for various forms of gross receipts taxes, 19 such measure having thus far been introduced. Another burdensome form of legislation seeks to establish film censor boards in eight states. In both categories these represent new highs. At present but six states have film censorship. “Divorce” Score Even The campaign by Allied States Ass’n of Motion Picture Exhibitors to compel producers to divest themselves of theatre holdings stands at an even score. But one state. North Dakota, has passed a “divorce” measure, and its constitutionality has yet to stand a test. Indiana has killed a similar bill, while four more are pending in California, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Pettengill-Neely anti-block booking measure stands as the most serious of the industry reform bills pending in Congress following the action by the house immigration committee Wednesday in tabling the Dickstein alien actors bill. Among the 45 measures pending in Congress directly and indirectly affecting the industry are the following: In the House H. R. 1606 — To prevent shipment of articles made by per.sons employed more than five days per week or six hours per day. Introduced by Connery. H. J. Res. 17 — Regulating hours and conditions of labor to establish minimum wages, prevent unfair methods and practices, etc. By Ford. H. R. 1 — Federal industrial commission to aid unemployment in industry. By Ludlow. H. R. 22 — Federal motion picture council; licensing motion pictures to provide for wholesome films. By Culkin. H. R. 23— Regulation of block booking of motion pictures. By Culkin. H. R. 30 — Alien actors bill. By Dickstein. H. R. 1669 — Regulation of block booking of motion pictures. By Pettengill. H. R. 2506 — Uniform system of bankruptcy. By Wilcox. H. R. 2695 — Revision of copyright law (similar to Duffy copyright bill). By Moser, H. R. 2897 — Voluntary codes relating to fair competition, child labor, hours, wages, etc. By Lamneck. PI. R. 3004 — Copyright law revision. By Bloom. Tax-Free Bonds Termed "Greatest Tax Evil" New York — Permitting the bonds of the various divisions of government, federal, state and municipal, to go tax-free is the greatest evil in the nation’s tax situation, C. C. Pettijohn, general counsel of the MPPDA, said this week. H. J. Res. 194 — Taxing foreign subsidiaries of American film companies 50 per cent of income. By O'Malley. H. R. 4214 — To regulate sales in interstate commerce. By Colmer. H. R. 5275 — Revision of copyright law. By Daly. H. R. 5396 — Repeal of all admission taxes. By Peyser. H. R. 160 — Investigation charges violation by film companies of anti-trust laws; regarding block booking, blind selling, etc. Full text of bill in BOXOFFICE for April 3, page 6. By Hobbs. H. R. 6038 — License tax certain places of amusement in the District of Columbia. By Collins. In the Senate S. B. 10 — To regulate industry and foreign commerce and to provide and define additional powers and duties of federal trade commission. By O’ Mahoney. S. B. 668 — Child labor bill. By Capper. S. B. 7 — Copyright bill. By Duffy. S. B. 721 — Licensing corporations in Interstate commerce. By Borah. S. B. 592 — Child labor bill. By Clark. S. B. 153 — Block booking of motion pictures. By Neely. S. B. 100 — Regulate commerce against monopolies. By Tydings. S. B. 175 — Five-day week — six hours per day. By Black. S. B. 1077 — Creating Federal Trade Commission. By Barkley. S. B. 1485 — Prohibiting pictures of naval and military equipment. By Walsh and Sheppard. S. B. 1546 — Taxing sales in Interstate commerce. By Harrison. S. B. 1581 — Supplementing anti-trust laws. By Wheeler. VOL. 30 APR. 10 Reg. U. S. Pat. Office CONTENTS Editorial 3 News Briefs 6 Review Flashes 8 Blue Ribbon Award Film 9 Feature Reviews 11 Exploitation Previews 13 Short Subject Reviews 17 Selling Seats 18 First Run Reports 20 Boxoffice Barometer 21 Production Index Changes 22 Eastern Edition 23 Hollyivood 31 Neiv England 47 Mideast 55 Central 63 Midwest 67 Southern 75 Studio Crafts Win Ten Per Cent Hike New York — The motion picture industry’s production payroll was increased by $3,000,000 a year this week when the major producers’ committee negotiating with union heads here under the studios’ fiveyear basic agreement granted a 10 per cent wage increase to some 20,000 workers. Recognition for the Screen Actors’ Guild, representing 5,000 or more players and extras, was held in abeyance and will be negotiated between Kenneth Thomson, its executive secretary, and Pat Casey, head of the producers’ committee, on the coast. The Guild’s demands were supported by the major craft unions included in the basic agreement. The present wage boost represents a total increase in the last two years of 21 per cent, or approximately $6,000,000, Casey said. The unions receiving increases this year are International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes and Moving Picture Operators, the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Chauffeurs. The increase represents a compromise after long sessions in which the labor group agreed to a revision of its demands for “a substantial increase in wages.” ANTI-NAZIS DEMAND COLUMBIA HALT FILM New York — Continuing its campaign against film companies that deal in properties having their origin in Germany, the Joint Boycott Council of the American Jewish Congress this week requested Jack Cohn, vice-president of Columbia, to abandon its scheduled production of a feature based on “Schloss in Flanders,” the original of which is said to have been purchased by Columbia from German Tobis. In his reply to the Council, Cohn disclaimed knowledge of the transaction and said that the complaint had been forwarded to the coast studios, where final decision rested. The Council’s plan to boycott the Roxy and RKO theatres in and around New York in retaliation for RKO Radio’s refusal to take “The Soldier and the Lady” off its release schedule failed to materialize when Leo Spitz, RKO president, explained certain scenes from the Nazi-financed original, titled “Michael Strogoff,” had been bought in good faith. 4 BOXOFFICE :: April 10, 1937.