Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

Saunders Renews Fight For Amusement Taxes OTTAWA — Declaring that municipalities require more revenue for pressing postwar needs, Mayor Robert H. Saunders of Toronto renewed his agitation for a civic amusement tax in addressing the amiual conference here of the Ass'n of Ontario Mayors and Reeves. The subject of his address was “Inadequate Municipal Revenue and Solutions Therefor.” Last year the Toronto mayor’s campaign for enabling legislation by the provincial legislature to permit cities and towns to impose a local amusement tax was met by strong opposition from theatre proprietors. The latter conducted a whirlwind publicity drive and staged many meetings of protest against the proposal which would have meant a duplication of the levy on theatre patronage. The federal government collects 20 per cent in excise on all theatre grosses. Mayor Saunders has now reopened fire on the exhibitors and it looks as if the theatres will have to organize for defense once more because he has sought the support of all municipalities in Ontario on the basis that other sources of revenue are inadequate. Pointing out that “in most cases our civic services need substantial improvement instead of curtailment,” and that taxation of real estate had reached its limit, Mayor Saunders pressed for a civic amusement tax as a new source of revenue. “I do feel,” he declared in his speech, “that an amusement tax is a logical levy for municipalities, collecting the revenue from a source which does not hit at the necessities of life and, in most cases, offering a considerable return.” (Prior to the war, the Ontario government collected a provincial amusement tax which netted $2,000,000 annually but it was abolished as a nuisance impost.) Mayor Saunders classed meals, hotel, sale and municipal income taxes as nuisance levies but did not include an amusement tax under the nuisance heading. 'Heir to Throne' Booked By All Leading Chains TORONTO — "Heir to Throne,” an Astral Films’ release which deals with the life of Princess Elizabeth, has obtained playdates in theatres of all leading Canadian circuits, including Famous Players, Odeon, 20th Century, Premier and Allied. It has already been shown at Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Calgary. “Man, One Family,” a controversial British short which was banned by the censor board in Alberta, is having its Toronto first run on the program with the French feature, “It Happened at the Inn,” at the International Cinema. IN THE ENGLISH MANNER— Ivan Ackery, manager of the Orpheum in Vancouver, is quite a showman, but it is unlikely that he will ever dress up his staff with fancier trappings than that worn by his new cashier Rhoda Bradley (third from right) when she was on the staff of theatres in London. Miss Bradley, who arrived in Vancouver in April to live with her parents, served as usherette, receptionist and cashier at several theatres in the Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square section from 1941 to 1946. She was present at several royal occasions. She is shown here with the staff of the Carlton Theatre. Miss Bradley was born in Portland, Ore., but was reared in England. During the war she served as warden in the South Kensington district. Six Years Immunity Causes Apathy Toward Roadshow CALGARY — Six years of ceiling prices throughout Canada have left patrons here with a distaste for roadshows such as the two which have recently played here. “Henry V” was loudly acclaimed by scholars and high school students but was largely ignored by theatre patrons. “The Best Years of Our Lives,” which played nine days in Edmonton and Calgary, drew sizable crowds for matinees, with about normal prices, but played to sparse audiences in the evenings. ... ' ' * * WAHOO y«Mi iqmewca*9^$cA£f9' curve. illll 1 iBaMTrfiw ■» Trfii AMUSEMENT C( )., 831 S. WABASH AVE., CHICAG Turnstiles in Toronto Revolve Desultorily TORONTO — After il weeks of “The Jolson Story” at the two theatres, “Sinbad the Sailor” went into the Tivoli and Eglinton to form the strong point of the week’s lineup of films despite the arrival of warm weather. The only holdover was the second week of "The Farmer’s Daughter” at Shea’s and it was interesting to note that a double bill played three houses including the Uptown where the top feature was “Time Out of Mind.” Business was only fair all around, even for “Carnival in Costa Rica” at the Imperial and “Copacabana” at Loew’s. Dufferin park drew thousands of turf fans and other outdoor amusement places also drew crowds for practically the first time this year, due to the late spring. (Average is 100) Capitol — Mr. District Attorney (Col); Blondie's Holiday (Col) 90 Eglinton — Sinbad the Sailor (RKO) 100 Imperial — Carnival in Costa Rica (20th-Fox) 95 Loew’s — Copacabana (UA) 95 Shea's — The Farmer's Daughter (RKO), 2nd wk 90 Tivoli — Sinbad the Sailor (RKO) 100 Uptown — Time Out of Mind (U-l); Little Mr. Jim (MGM) 90 Victoria — Mr. District Attorney (Col), Blondie's Holiday (Col) 90 Attendance Levels Off; 'Calcutta' Gets Six Days CALGARY — The early season’s slump at the theatres has eased off to some extent, but was expected to hit again with the arrival of the holiday season. While Calgary expects many visitors in the next three months, there will be a big exodus of citizens this year on vacation. Travel is easier by road, rail and air, while provincial summer resorts are spreading out enticing publicity. With such reduction of patrons in prospect, exhibitors find that every inducement must be made these days to get people into the theatres. A good picture, properly exploited, will still draw a summer crowd, but it must be good. Capitol — The Beginning or the End (MGM), 3 days , Poor Capitol — Imperfect Lady (Para), 3 days Fair Grand — Stairway to Heaven (U-I), 3-day holdover Very good Grand — Song of Scheherazade (U-I), 3 days Good Palace — Calcutta (Para), 6 days Good * Vancouver Business So-So; Warm Weather Prevails VANCOUVER — Showmen were looking for someone who can tell them what happened to local business suddenly. A general run of good pictures brought forth only moderate revenues. “Odd Man Out,” in its third week at the Vogue continued to do well. “It Happened in Brooklyn” at the Capitol was in second spot. A twin bill made up of reissues, “The Westerner” and “The Bohemian Girl,” held over at the Strand. Weather was real warm. Capitol — It Happened in Brooklyn (MGM).... Average Dominion — Singin' on the Trail (Col); 13 Rue Madeleine (20th-Fox), moveover Fair Hastings — Michigan Kid (U-I); Boston Blackie and the Law (Col) -Fair Orpheum — Easy Come, Easy Go (Para) Moderate Paradise — Bringing Up Father (Mono); Gentleman Joe Palooka (Mono) Fair Plaza — Song of Scheherazade (U-I), moveover. ...Fair Strand — The Westerner (PRC); The Bohemian Girl (PRC), 2nd wk Good Vogue — Odd Man Out (E-L), 3rd wk .. .Good Morris Beattie Vacations CALGARY — Morris Beattie of the Capitol, Red Deer, is spending a vacation in Victoria. Beattie made the journey across the Rockies by car. 114 BOXOFFICE :: June 14, 1947