Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1948)

Ontario 20% Tax Return Would Far Exceed Need Independent Biltmore Opening in Toronto TORONTO— The Biltmore Theatre, first important independent theatre in Toronto’s central business section, will open April 15, according to B. S. Okun, president of Biltmore Theatres, Ltd., which has modern theatres in Oshawa and Kingston, both under lease to Odeon. Appointed to manage the 900-seat house is A1 Perly, manager of the Midtown in Toronto for six years and former president of the 20th Century Theatres Managers Ass’n. Perly has been in show business in Ontario since 1929, starting at the Famous Players Capitol in Hamilton. The 20th Century Theatres circuit has transferred John Kurk from the Imperial at Ottawa to manage the Midtown. The Biltmore will operate from 9 a. m. to midnight each week day. The opening attraction will be “Personal Column.” The Biltmore is surrounded by new theatres. About 100 yards to the south, 20th Century Theatres is constructing its first downtown theatre and to the north, Odeon is expected to open its ace Canadian house, the Odeon Toronto in a few months. Barbara Ann Scott Shorts Get Big Canadian Play TORONTO — With Canada in excitement over the Olympic figure-skating victory by Barbara Ann Scott of Ottawa, no less than 11 Toronto units of B&F Theatres, a subsidiary circuit of Famous Players, played up as an added attraction the National Film board release, “Champions in the Making ” which features the dainty champion. “Dancing Blades,” another NFB release featuring Miss Scott, has been making the rounds of 20th Century Theatres, opening simultaneously at the Glendale, Midtown and Esquire. Both pictures were produced by Audio Films, Toronto, for the board. Fire Drills Turned Down By St. John Exhibitors ST. JOHN — Exhibitors here have turned down a suggestion that they conduct fire drills. They rejected the proposal to hold them “at this time” on groimds that children in their audiences, and adults, too, might think it was a repetition of the case at the Kent in Moncton, where, with a fire raging in the theatre, the manager announced a “practice fire drill” and evacuated 400 persons without confusion or injury. The intention is to have fire drills when the reaction to the Moncton case had died out. Start Work in Rock Island On Border Replacement ROCK ISLAND, QUE.— Work was scheduled to start this week on the construction of a $75,000 theatre here to replace the Border, which was destroyed by fire March 8. It is expected that the new edifice, to be of fireproof steel and concrete construction, will be ready for formal opening the latter part of June. P. C. Taylor, manager of the local interests of Lorel Amusements, Inc., of Montreal, owners of the Border Theatre, said the building will afford the latest in theatre con TORONTO — The 20 per cent amusement tax proposed by the Ontario government would yield more than $6,000 000 a year for the hospitals of the province. This figure is based on the latest availabie figures on the federal 20 per cent war excise levy which the provincial authorities hope to take over. The Dominion statistics show a return of approximately $14,500,000 for the whole country of which Ontario contributed between $6,000,000 and $7,000,000. When Ontario levied its last provincial amusement tax ten years ago, the annual yield was slightly over $2,000,000. Then there is another interesting financial angle. Leslie M. Fi'ost, provincial treasurer, told the Ontario legislature the amusement tax would enable provincial authorities to raise the schedule of grants to hospitals by $3,200,000. He said the expected amusement revenue would be well in excess of that required amount. What actually looks to be the case, however is that, based on what the federal government has been deriving, the proposed Ontario levy should be more than $6,000,000, or double what has been promised to the hospitals. Last year’s Ontario grants to hospitals struction and conveniences. It will seat 500, 100 more than the old structure. There will be no balcony. Larger and more convenient rest rooms also will be a feature of the theatre, Taylor said. The approximate cost of the building alone will be $65,000. Equipment and accessories are expected to represent at least another $10,000. Odeon Gift Book Winners TORONTO — Odeon Theatres has announced the Dominion-wide competition on sales of Christmas gift books of admission tickets was won by Neil Main of the Regent at Sturgeon Falls in northern Ontario. The remaining awards went to western Canada. Brent Kelly of the Oak, Burnaby, B. C., was second, and Elliott Brown of the Odeon, West Vancouver, third. A special prize went to Sam Binder of the Avenue, Edmonton, for the largest individual sale. Rank Decides Not To Tour Canada Toronto — J. Arthur Rank, currently in the U.S., has decided not to visit Canada for a series of conferences with officials of his Canadian companies; instead, it was indicated, J. Earl Lawson, president of the recently formed J. Arthur Rank Organization of Canada, Ltd., will go to New York to confer with the British magnate there. Lawson also is president of subsidiary and affiliated Rank companies here. Rank visited here for the first time three years ago and again almost a year ago. totaled $2,200,000, which apparently came out of general funds. By raising the amount by $3,200,000, the hospital allowances would become $5,400,000, which figure is still considerably below what Ontario theatres have been paying into the federal treasury for the war-excise payments. It begins to look that the provincial government plans to have theatre patrons pay for the whole hospital allowance and have a considerable amount left over in the bargain. In the meantime the exhibitors and organized labor are preparing to battle the tax issue with the Ontario government, even though in the first test in the legislature a vote of 60 to 4 was registered in support of the amusement tax move. The question may still have a long way to go however, because the provincial levy is to be imposed when the federal government vacates the amusement tax field and there has been no definite word that Ottawa is to drop the impost at any particular date. Federal Finance Minister D. C. Abbott has said “as soon as possible.” That might mean one, two or three years, or perhaps a matter of a few months, but nobody knows. Odeon Theatres Patrons Pick British Best of '47 TORONTO — Ballot boxes have been placed in the lobbies of all Odeon theatres in Canada balloting on the best British film of 1947 as well as the best British actor and actress. The competition for the 1948 national film award is sponsored by the overseas Daily Mail, London. Thirty-six films are listed as eligible for the award, having been shown in Canadian theatres during 1947. The contest is explained in screen trailers. The voting has been relatively heavy with the early choice being “Black Narcissus.” Two Odeon Units to Open TORONTO — Two Odeon theatres are scheduled to open in April, the Odeon at Brampton, 25 miles from here, and the other in the east end of Toronto. The Brampton Odeon, which had been rebuilt from the Capitol, was scheduled to open March 22 but spring floods swept into the building causing considerable damage to the new seats and other appurtenances. 'The Raider' Dees Well TORONTO — Three Toronto theatres, the Circle, Ace and Kenwood had a healthy first run of the British film, “The Raider,” which is being released in Canada by Astral Films, Toronto. The picture was given a special screening prior to opening. Will Be Musical Comedy Star Ann Sothern has been chosen to portray the role of musical comedy star in Metro’s “Words and Music.” BOXOFFICE :: April 3, 1948 K 103