Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

NEWS BRIEFS All Independents Invited to Annual Allied Meeting House Action on Film Trade Probe "Routine” Judiciary committee’s recommendation that rules committee consider Hobbs resolution seen as usual move to get additional information for former group. No Minnesota Effort to Push Divorce Bill Special session to convene May 24 at governor’s call will be limited to general tax measures, with Allied content to wait two more years. Exhibitor Concession Campaign Is Stalled Establishment of conciliation boards, upon which depends most of concessions secured in MPTOA program, now far in future, survey of distributors reveals. Ascap to Appeal State Law Curbing Activity Music society to test constitutionality of Washington state statute; action already taken in federal court against similar Montana law. Dave Selznick to East to Talk Release Deal United Artists producer into New York for conferences looking to release of “Gone With the Wind’’ through Metro. Committee to Survey Radio Broadcast Effect Several hundred theatres in different sections will be questioned by MPTOA radio committee to determine extent of inroads by film stars ether programs. Electrics Suspending Service Charge in Row RCA and Erpi notify exhibitors affected by lATSE union lockout of sound equipment service men; Cleveland and St. Louis under ban, with Kansas City and Chicago next in line. Gotham. Independents See Federal Cleanup Action against the alleged Aluminum monopoly seen by ITOA of New York as forerunner of campaign by the department of justice against all industries. Monogram Sales Quota Exceeds Four Millions W. Ray Johnston, president, announces sales goal of $4,333,000 for 1937-38 at annual convention in Chicago; campaign to be launched May 12. SIX EXCHANGE KEYS HAVE UNION GRANTS Washington — Although the complete report of the lATSE drive to unionize exchange workers and minor theatre employes is not yet available, Louis Krouse at lATSE headquarters here Tuesday declared that the organization had granted charters to film exchange and theatrical locals in six cities to date. Attempts are being made to organize only where workers appear in sympathy with the movement, according to Krouse, assistant to lATSE President George Browne. “We have given specific orders to our representatives to push the movement only in such cases where workers themselves want organization or charter,’’ he said. Locals for exchange employes (B.l) and theatrical employes (B.2) already are in operation in St. Louis, Mo., Krouse said, with exchange locals additionally in the following spots: Boston, B.3; Cleveland, B.5; Philadelphia B.7; Buffalo, B.9, and Pittsburgh, B.ll. Charters have been granted each under American Federation of Labor supervision. Exchange employes already have established an agreement in Boston, Krouse said, which gives workers from 20 to 30 per cent increase in wage scales and a reduction in hours per week. GRAND NATT FORCE TO COAST MEETING New York — Sixty sales delegates and 20 studio production executives will attend Grand National’s sales convention at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, May 16 to 19. The date will mark the first anniversary of the company’s organization. Edward L. Alperson, president: Edward Peskay, vice-president in charge of distribution, and Edward Finney, director of advertising, now in Hollywood, are completing the 1937-38 schedule. It is expected to be announced as 65 features, including two series of westerns of eight pictures each. In addition to the three now in Hollywood, home office representatives at the convention will include: W. J. Neary, comptroller; Ann Rosenthal, leg’al adviser; James Winn and Sol Edwards, division sales managers; Alfred Crown, traveling Latin American sales representative; Jack Barnstyn, vice-president and foreign managing director; Edward Ugast, assistant foreign manager, and Harry J. Allen, supervisor of Canadian distribution, and Stanley Hatch. Grand National production and studio executives who will attend include: Victor Schertzinger, Eugcn Fronke. B. F. Zeidman, Zion Myers, George A. Hirliman, M. H. Hoffman, Andrew L. Stone, Edward Finney, Richard Rowland and Max Alexander. producers; Philip H. Krasne. resident attorney; Sidney M. Bidden, story editor and product'on executive; Harold Lewis, studio manager; A. E. Kaye, technical supervisor; Sam Wallis, studio comptroller, and Robert Luplow, auditor. A blanket invitation to all independent exhibitors to attend the annual convention of Allied States Ass’n of Motion Picture Exhibitors at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee May 26-28 is extended through Boxoffice by P. J. Wood of Columbus, Ohio, convention chairman, in a letter to this publication. “This invitation,” Wood observed, “is extended in good faith to all independent exhibitors, including Ed Kuykendall ( MPTOA president) and the independent members of his organization.” Strictly Business Commenting on plans for the meeting. Wood wrote: “As convention chairman, it is my intention to purge the sessions of all hooey and to stay away from meaningless resolutions.” In addition to consideration of the Allied program embracing restrictive efforts against block booking and “affiliated” theatres, convention delegates will hear a group of speakers on subjects of interest to theatre owners. Wood said. He indicated these subjects would include: “Additional Profit to be Obtained Through Proper Air Conditioning in Theatres,” “Television and Its Probable Effect Upon Motion Picture Theatres,” and “What the Distributor Can Do to Help the Exhibitor Sell His Merchandise.” Equipment Display A display of equipment will be held in connection with the convention. Wood said that 14 firms already have indicated they will occupy exhibition space. A meeting of the Allied directors will lead off the business sessions at 10:00 a. m. on May 26, with the convention formally assembling at 2:00 p. m. the same day. The second business session will start at 1:00 p. m. on May 27, with the annual banquet slated for 7:00 p. m. that evening. The final session will begin at 10:00 a. m. on May 28. Third “Divorce” Setback New York — With Ohio’s legislature recessing late last week until May 10, at which time little more than appropriation measures are expected to receive attention, Allied’s theatre “divorcement” program met its third setback. Similar measures are still pending in California, Michigan, Wisconsin and New Jersey, while only North Dakota has enacted such a bill. “Divorcement” bills failed in Indiana and Minnesota when their governing bodies adjourned sine die. About half of the industry's legislative problems have expired with adjournment of 23 state legislatures. There are still 23 legislatures in session. A special session in Minnesota has been called for May 24. RCA NET New York — Radio Corp. of America this week reported net income in the first quarter of 1937 of $2,243,057. BOXOFFICE :: May 8, 1937. 9