Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

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Author and Editor Flaij Criticizers of Pictures New York — A book and a review of that book took a heavy-handed sock this week at professorial criticism of the motion pictures as an incentive to crime in the young. Reviewing in the May 15 issue of News Week the book, "Art and Prudence” by Professor Mortimer Adler, Raymond Moley lashes out at the "pseudo-science which tries to prove that the movies teach crime and immorality.” Characterizing Adler's book as "a thorough debunking of this high-falutin’ nonsense,” Moley says that “dry humor and a fine knowledge of the tricks of the research trade combine to make it a sizzling analysis of the mess of half-baked research about the movies which has been dished up to the public in the past ten years.” "Pseudo-Scientists” Only Recently "When many of us, as boys," Moley continues, "were getting ideas about going to college from the Frank Merriwell stories or were being inspired by Nick Carter to become detectives or criminals, sociologists, thank heaven, hadn’t learned to make scientific studies of our reactions to such influences. Now they do, unfortunately. In recent years universities and research foundations in increasing numbers have fostered the growth of a kind of pseudo-science which tries to prove that the movies teach crime and immorality.” Contending that “such studies never bother to find out whether boys are made better by good movies,” Moley points out that "their conclusions, which have become the basis for books and magazine articles by the score, have not only unjustly injured the better producers but have left conscientious mothers and fathers completely confused about the movie question.” Sees Better Understanding Ahead The analysis presented in Adler’s book should "open the way to greater cooperation between the movie industry and the social and religious bodies concerned with protection of the young and the week,” says Moley. “Such cooperation,” he believes, “rather than bungling political censorship, is the clear way to the ends of both art and prudence, better movies and better citizens.” New Warner Exchange New York — Warner is erecting a twostory building to house its New York exchange on the property recently purchased adjoining the Warner home office building at 321 W. 44th St. here. Demolition of a five-story building on the site was begun this week. The company’s exchange is now in the Film Center Bldg. Siage Exerting Pressure to Beat a Ban New York — Heavy pressure is heiny brought to bear on Grovernor Lehman by New York stage theatre interests to veto the bill empowering the city license commissioner to close theatres which in his opinion stage indecent shoivs. Joining in the protest and request for a public hearing are local newspapers, legitimate theatre managers, theatrical labor unions and actors. A mass meeting was to be held Sunday. RED CROSS PARLEY HEARS HAYS ADDRESS Washington — Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, urged a middle way in solving America’s social and economic problems in an address at a luncheon in conjunction with the annual convention of the American Red Cross here Thursday. "As a nation and as a people we have emerged from every crisis stronger and greater to continue the march of our national progress,” he said. “The prophets of doom have made literature, rather than history. Both extremes have been wrong — they who saw the decay of our institutions because of their fundamental character, and they who saw in their living growth a departure from our principles.” Tax Bills (Continued from preceding page) seven per cent admission tax on all tickets over 25 cents. Oklahoma has pending a sales and service tax, including a five per cent levy on admissions of four cents up. Oregon defeated a bill providing for a tax of one cent on each 20-cent admission or fraction thereof on all forms of amusement. Texas is still considering a bill that would increase the existing admission tax. Vermont eliminated a theatre levy in the revenue measure enacted, which includes a 10 per cent admission tax. Washington defeated a 10 per cent admission tax bill but passed a measure raising the exemption from 10 to 20 cents. Wisconsin has pending a general 10 per cent a.ssessment on amusements for emergency purposes. Tennessee is still considering a three per cent gross receipts tax that would include all places of amusement. South Carolina has pending a bill that would repeal the existing seating tax and returning theatres to a 10 per cent admission assessment. LABOR SQUABBLE IS SETTLED IN CAPITAL Washington — Slight labor troubles loomed for the Calvert, Warner’s latest addition to their local flock of houses, when the Glass-setters union claimed jurisdiction over the marble workers for the laying of Vitrolite — composite marble and glass — and brought dispute before the central labor union of the District of Columbia. The board arbitrated in favor of the marble men, but the decision was not favorable to the glazers who, up until a few days before scheduled opening, refused to glass the theatre and adjoining stores but finally went to work and finished on schedule. The Gem, the only house left here with segregated white and colored partitions, has been picketed by local Moving Picture Machine Operators Union No. 224 lATSE. This is possibly the only theatre in or around Washington on the “unfair” list. Comedy note was struck by various prospective ticket buyers when many questioned: “What picture is that you’re advertising on them signs?” STAGEHANDS UNION REELECTS OFFICERS New York — All officers of Theatrical Protective Union, Local 1, New York stagehands, were reelected at the annual meeting Sunday. Named to serve again for one year are James J. Brennan, president; Joseph L. Meeker, vice-president; John C. McDowell, secretary; John J. Garvey, treasurer; Vincent Jacobi and Frank Powderly, business agents, and Charles S. Murphy, sergeantat-arms. William F. Hall will again be chairman of the board of trustees, to which Morris Fox was reelected. Frank Cosgrove was the only new trustee chosen. KALMENSON EASTERN DISTRICT WB HEAD New York — Ben Kalmenson, central district manager for Warner, has been made eastern district manager with New York, Boston, New Haven, Albany and Buffalo under his supervision. Robert Smeltzer, mid-Atlantic district manager, assumes the central district in addition to his own area which includes Philadelphia and Washington. His added branches are Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit. RCA Increase New York — An increase of 35 per cent in theatre installations of RCA sound equipment as compared to the same period of last year was announced this week at the annual convention by E. M. Hartley, manager of the RCA Photophone division. RED CROSS CONVENTION SEES FILM Washington — The National Red Cross initiated their first night’s entertainment for the national convention here when they film premiered “Behind the Flood Headlines” at the DAR’s Constitution hall. 12 BOXOFTICE May 15, 1937,