We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
COVERING NEW YORK. NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE. MARYLAND, VIRGINIA AND EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
GOTHAM SET FOR GIVEAWAY FIGHT
Midtown Zoning Will Face Conrt Contest
New York — The action of the board of estimate in voting to establish a new restricted retail area in the center of Manhattan, which precludes the erection of motion picture theatres in the disputed territory, will have its aftermath in the courts.
Zoning Law Precedes Permit
Attorneys for Robert W. Goelet, a property owner with a site at 384 Park Ave. on which a permit has been obtained for a theatre, said they will seek to have their client’s rights determined in court. The law states that unless a substantial investment has been made toward the construction of a project the amended zoning law takes precedence over a permit. Little more than the foundation had been completed in the Goelet project.
The restricted district, which bars all forms of theatres, cabarets and public dance halls, embraces Madison Ave. from 23rd St. to 84th St., Fifth Ave. from 23rd St. to East 59th St., and Park Ave. from East 34th St. to East 58th St. Also 34th St. between Park Ave. and Broadway, 57th St. between Park Ave. and Broadway, and the side streets between 26th and 57th Sts., from a point 100 feet west of Fifth Ave. to 100 feet east of Madison Ave.
SURPRISE WITNESSES FEATURE RKO HEARING
New York — Hearings on the RKO reorganization plan will resume here June 16, following testimony this week before Special Master Alger. Surprise witnesses at the Thursday meeting were Si Fabian, Brooklyn theatre operator, who testified on his contingent claims against RKO, and Elmer Pearson ,former Pathe official, as an expert for the independent stockholders committee opposing the plan.
Convention Score "0," Sums Up ITOA
New York — After all the trade paper columns and discussions devoted to the recent national exhibitor conventions and their results, it remained for the Independent, organ of the New York Independent Theatre Owners’ Ass’n to sum up the situation, thus:
“A simple problem in arithmetic:
“MPTOA convention plus Allied convention equals 0.
“P. S. — When will the independent exhibitors of America realize they have just as much right to stay in business as producers, distributors and affiliated theatres?”
Compromise Chance on Citg Tax Slim
New York — Distribution companies will be given no special privileges in their effort to seek a compromise with the city comptroller’s office in the payment of interest and penalties in connection with the two per cent sales tax, it was learned this week.
With expiration of the period allowed for further contesting the New York court of appeals decision which found rentals subject to the tax, it is understood that counsel for the distributors are attempting to lower the interest and penalties through conferences with the comptroller.
“The distributors’ chances for getting relief are very slim,” a reliable city source informed Boxoffice. “There is no reason why they should be classified any differently from others who pay the tax. There is no basis for a compromise,” he asserted.
Relief Tax Extended
New York-— New York City’s emergency unemployment relief tax program has been formally extended to June 30, 1938, by the Board of Estimate.
Stubborn Battle Between Majors & Independents in the Cards
New York — The rebirth of audience games at metropolitan theatres of the Loew and RKO circuits is seen as precipitating a long and stubborn battle between the majors and independents, with the smaller exhibitors intimating they have no intention of standing by without retaliatory measures.
Their sentiment is that “the chance games belong” to the independents to compensate for various “unfair” trade practices and the absence of a differential in price between themselves, and the major competitors make the stunts a vital adjunct to their business.
At Skouras it was said the circuit would stay aloof from games “as long as possible,” but where “Loew’s and RKO crowd us, we’ll have to protect ourselves.”
Hopes for “Bellyfull”
RKO officials denied the simultaneous return of the games at their houses and Loew theatres constituted an agreement to stifle the independents. Nate Blumberg, head of theatre operations, told Boxoffice:
“We have no agreements to start or stop the games with anybody. As far as I’m concerned, the minute all of them get ready to throw them out, I’m for it. I think the whole thing is silly, but there’s only one thing to do and that is to protect ourselves. I have hopes that everybody will get their belly full and throw them in the ash can.”
Ban "Legal" Ballyhoo
New York — Theatre operators who use facsimiles of legal forms for ballyhoo purposes will lose thir effective exploitation aid after September 1. A new state law specifically prohibits the printing of any piece of advertising which imitates a summons, complaint or court process.
GB Outlet Continues
New York — Twentieth Century-Fox will continue the physical distribution of GB product in this country, S. R. Kent, 20thFox president indicated here this week.
EASTERN EDITION Is One of the Seven Sectional Editions in Which BOXOFFICE Is Published Weekly. The Other Six Editions Are: NEW ENGLAND, MIDEAST, CENTRAL, MIDWEST, WESTERN, SOUTHERN.
ALFRED L. FINESTONE, Eastern Editor, 551 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y., Phone Vanderbilt 3-7138. PRESCOTT DENNETT, Bond Bldg., Washington, D. C., V. W. MORROW. 73 W. Eagle St.. Buffalo. N. Y.