Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

E. K. Menagh Seeks Relief on Clearance Denver — E. K. Menagh, owner of the Star, Ft. Lupton, Colo., has filed the second case before the Denver arbitration board. He asks that all five parties to the consent decree be ordered to give him an even break with the Rex at Brighton, Colo., five miles distant, in bookings. Menagh claims the companies hold films back from him until after played by the Rex. Menagh asks for damages and such other relief as the arbiter sees fit to allow. Goodstein Arbitration Hearing Is Under Way Denver — The first day’s hearing before the arbitration tribunal of J. J. Goodstein Enterprises, Inc., product demand from Loew’s, Paramount and 20th-Fox, resulted only in direct examination of Goodstein and a declaration by defendants’ counsel that he hoped to prove that the companies did not wish to do business with Goodstein because of their interpretation of the “reputable and responsible” as well as the “minimum standards of theatre operation” clauses. Goodstein is asking for more product for his Longmont, claiming the Fox Longmont is overbought. Both theatres are in Longmont, Colo. Appeal Supports Impost Against Goldwyn Firm Washington — Samuel Goldwyn, Inc., Ltd., personal holding company of Samuel Goldwyn and successor to United Artists Studio, Inc., owes the government somewhat more than $5,000 under a decision of the board of tax appeals. The board refused to permit the company to deduct $16,600 from its adjusted net income as an amount used to retire indebtedness incurred prior to January 1, 1934, under the revenue act of that year, affirming a deficiency of $4,055.82 assessed by the commissioner of internal revenue and upheld also a penalty of $1,013.96 imposed for failing to file a return within the allotted time without reasonable cause for delay. The deduction claimed by the company was to meet an indebtedness incurred when Twentieth Century Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn in 1933 undertook to buy all the stock of United Artists Studio Corp. The board held that the indebtedness was incurred by Twentieth Century and Goldwyn and not by the holding company itself. To Study Buying Salt Lake City — Herschel Stewart, head booker here for Fox West Coast, has been temporarily transferred to the organization’s office in Los Angeles for a couple of months study of buying conditions in the trade under the consent decree. S. Saunders, from the FWC Denver office, is filling in for him here. The Docket Denver CASE NO. 1 — Filed February 19. Demand and submission involving dispute under Section VI (some run). Joseph J. Goodstein Enterprises, Inc., operating Longmont, Longmont, Colo. With: 20th CenturyFox Film Corp., Loew's, Inc., Paramount Pictures, me. Named as interested party: Fox Longmont, Longmont, Colo. Complainant claims that seven companies, including the three named in the case, refuse to sell him product in favor of the Fox, Longmont. George D. Begole, former Denver mayor, arbitrator. Hearing March 25. CASE NO. 2 — Filed March 24. Demand and submission involving clearance. E. K. Menagh, operating the Star, Ft. Lupton, Colo. With: Loew's, Paramount, 20th-Fox, RKO, Warner. Named as interested party: Rex, Brighton, Colo. Complainant charges the companies hold films from him until after played by the Rex. "Sea Woll" Shipboard Premiere Brings Stars San Francisco — Fourteen stars from the Warner lot came to San Francisco aboard the S. S. America to attend the world premiere of Jack London’s “Sea Wolf.” Accompanying them was a contingent of 100 newspapermen and studio officials. The premiere of the newest version of the “Sea Wolf” was really a triple feature since the film was shown on board ship, it opened at the Fox, and then was world premiered at the Bestiana in Sonoma. At the Sonoma showing Mrs. Charmain London, widow of the author, was hostess to the throng. After a welcome by Mayor Rossi upon their docking, the party held a press reception on board ship, went on a tour of London’s favorite haunts in Oakland, and then motored to Sonoma where they made personal appearances preceding the premiere. The stars were: Edward G. Robinson, Rita Hayworth, Ralph Bellamy, Priscilla Lane, Dennis Morgan, Mary Astor, John Garfield, Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan, Georgia Carroll, Charles Ruggles, Hobart Bosworth, Donald Crisp, and Marguerite Chapman. Bob Taplinger and Charlie Einfeld headed the Warner officials. PCCITO Convention Date Due Shortly Los Angeles — A late April or early May date for the second annual convention of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners will be announced by the board of trustees within a few days, according to Robert H. Poole, executive secretary of the organization. Preliminary plans and details of the pending meeting were discussed by the trustees at a meeting in San Francisco, attended by Rotus Harvey and Ben Levin, ITO of Northern California; William Ripley, ITO of Washington: Bob White and George Hunt, ITO of Oregon; Jack Y. Berman and Hugh Bruen, ITO of So. Calif, and Ariz.; Poole and Ed Roy, executive secretary of the ITO of Northern Calif. Meantime, Poole is actively representing the PCCITO in “Greek Week,” nationwide drive in which theatres are collecting funds for Greek war relief. He is a member of the local committee which also includes Charles P. Skouras, president of Fox West Coast Theatres, and W. E. Calloway, Warner exchange manager here. Collections are being handled throughout this territory by civic figures and clubwomen in the various communities, with Poole reporting that virtually every showman in the sector has pledged cooperation. Huy Joins RKO San Francisco — Charles Huy, formerly of the Golden Gate Theatre, has been appointed by Terry Turner, head of RKO’s field staff, to take over the San Francisco and Los Angeles territory for RKO. Eddie Rivers, formerly Hamrick-Evergreen publicist, is now in the Minneapolis district. Harry David Signs Altec Boise, Ida. — Harry David of Intermountain Theatres, Inc., has signed agreements to have Altec Service take care of the sound equipment in the Ada, Boise and Granada. At PRC's Chicago Convention — The boys from the western exchanges go into a round-table conference on sales proble?ns with O. Henry Briggs, Sig Neufeld and George Gill. Back center, left to right: Neufeld, Gill, Briggs. BOXOFFICE :: March 29, 1941 81