Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

OVERSEATING MENACE CLEARER Illinois Not Ready for "Divorce" Bill Chicago — According to Aaron Saperstein, there is little likelihood of Allied’s “divorce” bill being brought before the state legislature for some time to come. Although bills are drafted for introduction into both senate and house, the present political setup is such, he says, as to make their present promulgation undesirable, and consequently they \vill be held up for an indefinite time, pei'haps throughout the present legislative term. The present political “battle” now being staged at Springfield, where inter-party lines are being tightly drawn over vital tax matters, would probably prevent even a hearing, much less any chance of passage, according to Saperstein, and for this reason, the bill will not be introduced until the current smoke clears away. MONOGRAM NAMES SCOTT TO ST. LOUIS Chicago — Announcement was made at the annual sales convention here this week of Monogram Pictures of the appointment of Harry Scott as manager of Monogram Pictures, Inc., in St. Louis. Named to the post last week in New York, Scott attended the convention here and leaves this weekend to take over his new duties in St. Louis. Two Tax Plans Brew St. Louis — Alderman Joseph Schweppe plans to present to the board of aidermen bills providing for the collection of a one-cent city sales tax to raise funds for unemployment relief. He also plans a gallon tax on liquor. He expected the two tax measures to raise between $1,200,000 and $1,500,000 annually. Fifteen Illinois Theatres Reported on Auction Block Commercial Television Still Remote Chicago — Television was minimized as a future competitor of motion pictures by Lenox R. Lohr, president of the National Broadcasting Co., in an address here this week. The tremendous cost of television will preclude its use anywhere except in the nation’s largest cities for years to come, he said. And even when it becomes practical, Lohr argued, it will not prove a serious contender for entertainment time and money. Lohr spoke before the Federated Advertising Clubs of Chicago. AWARDS HIGHLIGHT METRO CONVENTION Hollywood — The annual sales convention held here by Metro was highlighted Tuesday by the distribution of awards for achievements during the past year by the company’s sales force. J. E. Flynn, district manager headquartering in Chicago, won the Billings Competition, consisting of two weeks pay. Awards consisting of two weeks pay to the individual branch offices for most satisfactory achievement during the year went to the following: Manager Felix Mendelssohn, Officer Manager J. G. Kemptgen, Booker Miss E. Frank and Salesmen F. P. Ishmael, T. L, Mendelssohn, D. E. Ross and M. C. Brodsky of Chicago. One of the 13 salesmen credited with 100 per cent records in sales during the past year and rewarded therefore was E. J. Lipson, Milwaukee. Short addresses were delivered by District Manager John E. Flynn of Chicago and Branch Manager Samuel Shurman of Milwaukee. Special awards for general meritorious service, comprising a lion’s head pin with a bar and one star, went to several delegates. By CALVIN HERMER Chicago — Further indications that the current trend toward overseating in this territory, as exclusively reported in last week’s issue of Boxoffice, is becoming an immediate and dangerous menace, are seen in the fact that in only the last few days more theatres have been offered for sale than in many previous months. 15 Houses on Block Several theatre “brokers” here have reported a total of about 15 houses in Chicago and upper Illinois which now may be had at nominal figures. Only a few short weeks ago the same theatres could not have been bought at any price. The principal reason ascribed for the sudden turn-about in conditions is the loss by the theatres of the highly profitable cash games, which, before the recent Illinois supreme court decision accounted for nice revenues every week. In Chicago another contributory factor to the sudden slow-up of business is said to be the recently introduced double features. Outside of the “A” and “B” houses, which have sufficient pick of product to be able to consistently offer their patrons two top quality films each week, running them the full seven days, the general trend of business throughout the city has been decidedly off. Top-Heavy With Theatres Coupled with these conditions is the fact that more theatres are open and operating in Chicago and vicinity than ever before, and at the same time many more houses are contemplated for erection. When the cash games were flourishing, all houses running them were doing well. But now, with the games out in Chicago, and running in something less than half of the outlying Illinois houses, the number of seats is getting to be top-heavy as compared with the number of patrons of straight pictures. Competent observers claim that if very many more theatres are built the competition will become so keen and the business spread so thin that little profit will be made anywhere. CENTRAL EDITION Is One of the Seven Sectional Editions in Which BOXOFFICE Is Published Weekly. The Other Six Editions Are: NEW ENGLAND. MIDEAST, MIDWEST, WESTERN. SOUTHERN, EASTERN. CALVIN HERMER, Central Editor, 908 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111. Phones: Webster 2233-4-5. DAVID F. BARRETT, 5149 Rosa Ave., St. Louis, Mo. H. C. BRUNNER, 2820 N. 52nd St., Milwaukee, Wis.