Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

INDEPENDENTS NOW TURN TO ARBITRATION TO SETTLE "PLAYDATE STRIKE" LITIGATION No Probe Results for Two Months Los Angeles — Although Albert Law and his crew of department of justice deputies expect to complete their investigation into charges of monopoly and antitrust law violations, as filed against the major exchanges and the Fox West Coast circuit here by independent showmen and distributors, within a week, a Law attache declared from six weeks to two months very probably would elapse before the evidence— if any — can be compiled and forwarded to Washington, D. C. Law's probers have made the rounds of every major exchange and are, at present, paying their second visit to FWC headquarters. During their entire sojourn here no definite word has leaked out as to the results of their survey of the records and financial transactions of the offices involved. FWC Enthuses Over Drive; Independents Are Cautious Los Angeles — While Fox West Coast, Southern California’s largest theatre circuit, has definitely and enthusiastically gone on record as to the success, even in its early days, of the nation-wide “Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment” drive in this area, and its upward effect on grosses in FWC houses, independent exhibitors of the community are manifesting more leisurely caution before venturing opinions — individually or collectively — about the benefits, if any, to date of the campaign. FWC’s Charles P. Skouras, president of the chain and chairman of the regional campaign committee, painted a rosy picture in an official statement early in the week. Public Response Gratifying “Public response has been very gratifying,” the circuit executive declared, “and I am confident that the effort to reawaken interest in motion pictures as the best entertainment for the whole family will have permanent results.” He gave liberal credit to local newspaper advertisements and editorials, declaring that thousands of FWC patrons have mentioned the publicity. “The theatres, too, have contributed considerably,” Skouras asserted, “by incorporating special advertisements calling attention to the Movie Quiz contest in the regular picture announcements.” Meantime, the Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California, through Robert Poole, general secretary, has begun to issue questionnaires to its showmenmembers, asking them to record the boxoffice takes in their respective houses for the two-week period beginning September 15. A survey of the first two weeks of the drive will not be compiled, Poole said, because it would “hardly be a fair test.” At the same time Poole was to call a meeting of local exchange heads late this week in an endeavor to gain their cooperation in lining up the approximately 100 exhibitors who have not yet pledged their support to the campaign. Poole will begin to compile data from the questionnaires within a week, expecting to have the completed analysis ready for publication by the end of the month. The operation will be repeated every two weeks for some months, he said. Fox West Coast is already compiling records concerning the first few days of the drive as applicable to its houses, but spokesmen at the circuit headquarters could not, at this time, release definite figures. Demand for the “Movie Quiz” contest booklets continues ahead of the supply, according to reports this week from the Paramount exchange, local headquarters for campaign accessories. Sale of the booklets here has shot well beyond the 2,000,000 mark and shows no signs of letting up. Los Angeles Acers Cut Free List Los Angeles — Effective next week, all lirst-run theatres here will abolish their free list, only authorized reviewers for the metropolitan newspapers excepted. Passes now held will not be rescinded but will not be renewed when they expire. The ruling will affect the Downtown, Hollywood, Paramount, Hillstreet, Pantages, Chinese and State theatres. Convinced Paramount Is Desirous to Adjust Individually Los Angeles — Acting upon the recommendation of the directorate of the Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California as set forth in a resolution drawn up last week, the Mass Exhibitors Committee, representing some 45 unaffiliated showmen, announced the adoption of a resolution dropping its action against Paramount Distributing Co. and expressing confidence that the dispute can be amicably settled through arbitration. The ITO in its recommendation asserted that the tangle, which crystallized in a court action in October, 1937, would be turned over to its newly-appointed committee of three independent arbiters as one of the first problems to be considered by them. “We are firmly convinced,” the ITO recommendation declared, “that Paramount Pictures Corp. is sincerely desirous of satisfactorily adjusting each individual situation on a fair and honorable basis.” The Mass Exhibitors Committee also declared itself to be of this opinion, and in addition pointed out that a continuance of the suits, in which Paramount was charged with violating terms of its 1936-37 sales contracts, would “involve tremendous costs to all parties concerned, the burden of which would be carried by the exhibitors involved in the suit for the benefit of all exhibitors throughout the country.” “Paramount, by their subsequent action to the suits,” the resolution continued, “have corrected the evils complained about by exhibitors and state they will avoid the reoccurrence of such evils in their future sales policy.” Paramount attorneys were to be notified immediately of the action. An Industry Exhibit at Frisco's World's Fair San Francisco — Within ten days work will start on the construction of a replica of Hollywood Boulevard, Broadway of the film capital, as an exhibit feature at the World’s Fair here in 1939. The exhibit, to cover 105,000 square feet of ground, will reveal to Fair visitors the intricacies of motion picture making from the purchase of the story to its ultimate projection on the nation’s screens. Harry Joe Brown, 20th-Fox executive producer, is in charge of the exhibit. Sonja Henie to New One Hollywood — Immediately upon her return from a brief visit in London, Sonja Henie begins “Castles in Norway.” BOXOFFICE :: September 17, 1938 95