Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

News in Brief Monogram Sales Quota Set High; Plans 42 Features Chicago — Announcing a sales quota of $4,333,000 for 1937-38, W. Ray Johnston, president, formally opened the fifth annual convention of Monogram Pictures, Inc., at the Drake Hotel here Friday. Enthusiastic support was pledged to the Monogram sales drive by representatives of the 30 branches. The campaign will be launched May 12 directly after the official opening of Monogram key city exchanges. Production costs will be raised on each feature, and in the case of the "specials” by a substantial amount, says Johnston. Augmented production budgets were likewise considered in determining the sale figure set for the coming season. With an average increase of 25 per cent in production budgets on all features. Monogram will re-enter the field in 1937-38 with a program of 42 releases, the largest number yet to be announced by the organization. Twenty-six dramas and two series of westerns will make up the year’s schedule, it was decided at the fifth annual convention now taking place at the Drake Hotel. Johnston is chairman of the various business sessions. The First July 1 Delivery on the first of the new Monogram releases has been set for July 1, at which time eight features are slated to be on hand in the exchanges. Heading the program is a special group of “Certified Attractions” for which important story properties have been purchased and outstanding players sought. The signing of Jackie Cooper to star in “Boy of the Streets” is the first step in the company’s plans to line up important name players. Titles in the group of specials thus far set are “Paradise Isle,” by Allen Vaughan Elston, with backgrounds filmed in Samoa, and Warren Hull and Movita in the principal roles: “Romance of the Limberlost,” by Gene Stratton-Porter; “College Sweetheart,” a musical based on Leona Dalrymple’s Woman’s Home Companion story, “Blind Date;” “Freckles Comes Home.” a sequel to “Freckles” by Jeannette Stratton-Porter and “Land of Sky Blue Water,” with the immortal melodies of Charles Wakefield Cadman. Other Features Other features scheduled are Jack London’s “Wolf Call” and “Queen of the Yukon,” the first based on “That Spot.” and the other on “Daughter of the Aurora;” Roy Cohen’s novel, “The Outer Gate;” Bret Harte’s “Luck of Roaring Camp;” “Hoosier Schoolboy,” by Edward Eggleston; Josephine Bentham’s Liberty Magazine story, “A Bride for Henry;” “Scandal,” from Kathleen Shepard’s “Tinetype of a Lady;” “Saleslady,” novel by Harold Morrow, and “Federal Bullets” by George Fielding Eliot. Others are “Blazing Barriers” by Edwin G. Reppone; “The Marines Are Here” by Franklin Adreon jr.; “False Colors” by Jack Randall Signed by Monogram Chicago — Jack Randall, educated at the high school in Quincy, III., where both his parents were born, will be starred in a series of western features, it is announced by W. Ray Johnston, president of Monogram Pictures. Randall flew in from Hollywood to greet the 150 representatives of the company, now holding its annual convention at the Drake Hotel. Will Ask Rehearing Illinois Gift Curb Chicago — According to counsel for the Iris Amusement Co., and Balaban & Katz, appeal for a rehearing from the recent supreme court ruling outlawing Bank Night in Illinois will definitely be made. Notice was served on the Chicago corporation counsel’s office last Saturday, May 1, that application for such rehearing would be made by the law firm of Spitz & Adcock, representing the Iris Theatre and B. & K., original defendants in the Bank Night case. This is the first step in the legal procedure of such cases, and is to be followed by formal application to the state high court at Springfield within the next few days. Claim Sufficient Presentation The arguments in the application for rehearing will be heard in brief form by the court as quickly as possible, and if granted, the rehearing on the case will be held the latter part of this month. Decision will probably not be rendered until some time early in June, just before the current term of the supreme court is ended. Counsel for the theatre defendants claim that the court ruled Bank Night to be a lottery without sufficient legal argument on that particular phase of the subject, most of the argument having been directed toward Section 1901 of the city code and Article 41 of the Charter of Cities and Villages, between the two of which the city has the power to prevent the distribution of gifts by chance in Chicago theatres. Henry Brandt; “The Thirteenth Man” by John Krafft; “Legion of Missing Men” by Norman S. Hall; “The Girl Next Door” by Stephen Warding; “Port of Missing Girls;” “The County Fair” by Felice Hepburn; “Flying Orders;” “My Old Kentucky Home;” “Telephone Operator.” "pHEATRE owners throughout the Northwest and Middle West territories are taking advantage of their opportunity to purchase and install in their respective theatres the deluxe AIR-LOC full-upholstered chairs being manufactured and sold by the AIR-LOC SEAT INDUSTRIES, INC. This company is selling its product directly to the theatre owner, thereby eliminating considerable cost that would otherwise go to dealers or salesmen. Those in charge of AIR-LOC SEAT INDUSTRIES, INC., state that most of the sales are being made without the use of salesmen and in so doing, it is made possible to give the exhibitor the finest quality product obtainable at the lowest possible cost. Recent demands for AIR-LOC chairs have been such that production has been more than doubled during the past 30 days. AIR-LOC chairs are now being offered in various types of aisle standards and with complete selection of upholstering materials from which to select patterns. Long-time payment plans are being offered, which now makes it possible for the smallest theatre to protect its business by giving its patrons the last word in comfort, inasmuch as through the easy time payment plan, the AIR-LOC full-upholstered chairs can be purchased for as little as five cents per chair per week. A few of the many new theatres now being constructed that will be equipped with AIR-LOC full-upholstered chairs are the following: W. R. Frank’s beautiful 1000-seat Avalon Theatre being constructed on Lake and Bloomington, in Minneapolis. Eddie Ruben’s new State Theatre at Montevideo, Minnesota. George Miner’s new Falls Theatre, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Cliff Norine’s new Frederic Theatre at Frederic, Wisconsin. — Adv. 72 BOXOFFICE May 8, 1937.