Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

ITO TAKES NEDTBAl STRIKE STAffl) Labor Unrest and Taxes Hurt Takes San Francisco — Morgan Walsh, vicepresident and general manager of the Redwood Theatres, comprising 22 theatres in widely scattered spots in northern California returned this week from a swing around his circuit to report business “slightly off” as compared with this same period last year. However, the business thus affected, Walsh said, is not confined to theatres only, but also generally to practically all lines of business activity in California’s northern “hinterland.” Visited 12 Towns Walsh, who is president of the Northern California Independent Theatre Owners Ass’n, visited his theatres in Marysville, Yuba City, Woodland, Modesto, Oakland, Dinuba, Ukiah, Portuna, Fort Bragg, Eureka, Areata and Vacaville. Business leaders as a whole, in the territory visited, Walsh said, attributed the decline first to taxes, and secondly to labor unrest. During the past year, Walsh said, business was fairly good, but taxes for that period are now due and it comes at a time of decline. Federal income taxes, reai estate taxes, state income taxes and local municipal and county taxes are falling due at an inconvenient moment for most business men. This coupled with labor disturbances, principally strikes among agricultural and cannery workers, has combined to affect boxoffice receipts. ENDORSEMENT DENIED PETTENGILL MEASURE San Francisco — Endorsement of the Neely-Pettengill bill by the San Francisco district of the California Federation of Women’s Clubs was defeated after heated debate during the recent district convention here. Representatives of several thousand Northern California clubwomen voted finally to refer the measure back to individual clubs for further study, with the probability that the subject will not again be raised until next year’s convention. Major point made by those opposing the endorsement was that the bill, in its present form, differed materially from the original draft endorsed some time back by the state federation. Oakland Theatres Will Up Admissions Oakland — Following the lead of San Francisco theatres a few weeks ago, all eastbay theatres are planning a general increase in admission prices. The theatres, some 65 in number, are in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda and immediate suburbs. First-runs playi an increase of admission prices amounting to 15 cents above the current prices. Second-runs and neighborhood houses in general plan an increase of five cents. The new scale is to be effective May 16, following a series of conferences of exhibitors. There will be no general advertisements published annoujicing the increased price scale, but stories will be released to the local press. New Seattle Union Elects Officers Seattle, Wash. — The newly formed Filmrow union consisting of shippers, posters clerks and inspectresses have elected their officers. Phil Haberl of RKO was selected to serve as president with “Dutch” Ti’ammel of United Artists as vice-president. The office of business agent was voted to Eddie Briggs of Universal while Ilda Ewing was elected secretary-treasurer. Maude Richards of UA and the officers comprise the board of trustees. The job of sergeantat-arms was given to Morton Endert of Grand National. Union Is Operator-Sponsored Every exchange “back-end” was represented, making that part of Filmrow 100 per cent union. The group will have their own charter which is now on its way from Washington. Within the next few days a meeting will be called to decide the salaries and other demands they will ask of their employers. The operators and stage hands unions are sponsoring the new group. GOLDEN STATE WILL REMODEL SF UPTOWN So. California Operators Declare Position in Picket Threat Los Angeles — Prompted by the threat of picketing of all theatres by the Federated Motion Picture Crafts in that organization’s fight with producers, the Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California issued a statement of neutrality and a plea that all independent theatres be spared when and if the picket lines are thrown into action. “Inform Public” Jack Berman, president of the ITO, asked that the pubiic be made aware of the effects such action would have on independently owned and operated theatres. He said, “The producers positively and emphatically have no interest in the operation of any independent theatre in this territory and therefore the Independent theatre should not in any wise be affected by this present controversy. “Because of this, a boycott of independent theatres will not affect its purpose — economic pressure against the producers. In this instance, the innocent independent theatres will be perhaps the sole sufferers. “Recognize Conditions” “We urge the strikers and the general public to recognize these conditions and appreciate the position of the independent theatres. We are certain that they will not purposely cause needless injury to the ‘innocent bystander’ in the regrettable controversy.” T. L. TALLY TO OPEN LA CRITERION HOUSE Los Angeles — T. L. Tally’s Criterion Theatre, only dark first-run house in downtown Los Angeles, will be opened Friday, May 21, after being closed for over a year. The house will operate as a deluxe dual bill theatre on the same price scale as the rest of the first-run houses. The opening bill will feature United Artists’ “Elephant Boy.” The house has been given a chorough overhauling, including new signs, new neon and a remodeled marquee. Tally will operate the theatre himself. So far, neither the Grand National nor the Gaumont-British frist-run deals, which have been on the fire for the past few weeks, have been consummated, although Tally and exchange heads have been in session almost daily. Test WPA Players San Francisco — Both 20th Century-Fox and Warner talent scouts have had their eye on personalities of the WPA “Swing Parade” troupe currently playing the Alcazar Theatre here, it appeared this week, when nine players were given screen tests by the major studios. Mann at Coronation San Francisco — George Mann, head of the Redwood Theatres, is in London attending the coronation. He is expected to return here June 13 and will have been gone on his European jaunt some four and a half months. San Francisco — Golden State’s ace suburban house, the 1,500-seat Uptown, will be closed for two months this summer for extensive remodeiing. Plans are now being drawn which will materially alter both interior and exterior of the house. Joe Richards is manager of the theatre. POXOFnCE May 15, 1937. 47