Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1940)

Pledges lo Adjust 'Boom Town' Time New York — The first brush over exhibitor organization resentment to advance admission type attractions is a victory for the complainant. Taking the stand he "cannot deal in generalities,” William P'. Rodgers, M-Q-M's general sales manager, has assured Don R. Rossiter, executive secretary 01 Allied of Indiana, that upon receipt Oi "specific instances” in alleged disturoance of regular availability of "Boom Town ’ he will "correct it at once.” Rossiter informed Rodgers that, despite the latter’s ofiicial declaration "there is no thought on our part that the exhibitor’s run, availability, or clearance be disturbed where exhibitors do not cooperate” in raising prices, "numerous complaints” have been reported of a contrary attitude on the part of Wade W. Willman, M-G-M manager in Indianapolis. “In many instances,” Rossiter wrote Rodgers, “where the exhibitors would play the picture within 30 days after the larger Indiana cities, they are being held back as much as 60 days. Could it be that the cause of this is the exhibitor’s failure to increase admissions?” Rodgers informs Boxoffice he will stand pat on his “no disturbance” attitude, stating he will be “happy" to correct any abuses of it on the part of sales personnel and adds his company “won’t quarrel with any one if they don't want to increase admissions.” To Single "Boom Town” At Advanced Scales New York — “Boom Town” will play all Loew Greater New York houses single feature with advances in admissions. The picture opened Thursday at Newark and Jersey City, regular one-week houses, for extended runs. Local theatres on split week policies will go to full week on the film. At Loew’s, it is pointed out this is the first picture since “Gone With the Wind” to play without the aid of a second picture in all its theatres. Gov't to Give Columbia Data in Schine Case Buffalo — After waiting almost a year, Columbia won a federal court order directing the government to supply a separate bill of particulars in its anti-trust action against the Schine circuit and major distributors. The data Columbia seeks, and upon which it will base its answer, covers 34 alleged violations of the Sherman Act, including specific names of exhibitors whom the government charges were forced out of business, identification of situations where it is alleged Columbia participated in monopolizing first and preferred runs and other instances where Columbia was alleged to have conspired to withhold films under competitive conditions. Back From Coast New York — Charles L. O’Reilly, head of the motion picture division of the National Democratic Committee, returned Friday from the coast with Jack Connolly, also a member of the division, after setting up a working committee in Hollywood. The easterners spent a few days more on the coast than expected. fe' — ■ ' ' ~ 306-Empire Merger Waits on Browne New York — Negotiations on merging Local 306 with Empire will be resumed when George Browne, president of the lATSE, returns from the coast. Browne was in town last week and talked over the proposed merger with Local 306 executives. His return from Hollywood is indefinite. (Continued from preceding page) McDermott, under whom he worked in the accounting department. Samuel and Mrs. Goldwyn arrived here over the weekend after attending the Fort 'Worth and Dallas premieres of “The Westerner” . . . W. G. 'Van Schmus, managing director of the Music Hall, is reported as regaining his strength rapidly at his Long Island home and may be expected back at his desk shortly . . . Sam Brode, publicity specialist at the Hall, has been loaned to the Center in a similar capacity for the engagement of “It Happened On Ice,” the legit extravaganza that opens October 9 . . . 'Victor Jurgens, MOT cameraman, has left the coast for Australia on assignments . . . Tom Gerety, registering his own excitement, found it reflected in his sidekicks at the M-G-M publicity department when he told them his wife and former secretai’y, Natalie Hammerstein, presented him with a girl. It’s their first child . . . Mrs. Martin Johnson will make personal appearances with the roadshow bow of her picture, “I Married Adventure,” which opens at the Plaza September 23 . . . Sidney Franklin, M-G-M director, and his son, Sidney jr., are around from the coast for a short holiday . . . William E. Garity, chief engineer of the Walt Disney Studios, and a staff of technicians are here to confer with Hal Horne on the sound equipment necessary for the exhibition of “Fantasia” . . . Gene Autry will broadcast his “Melody Ranch” program from the CBS studios here during the pendency of the rodeo at Madison Square Garden in October. Austin C. Keough interrupted his vacation Wednesday to visit the Paramount home office . . . Herman Gluckman, exRepublic franchise holder, is back from a month in Canada. He has no plans, as yet . . . Jerry Buchbinder, partner with Leo Justin and Morris Jacks, has built a skating rink at Mt. Vernon, is building one at Bayomie, and has two more under consideration . . . Leon D. Netter, back from a week’s tour of Beaumont and Dallas, Tex., and New Orleans, says everything is suiiny in the south . . . J. J. O’Connor and Freddie Meyers flew to Syracuse Friday for one of their regular trips. The flight marked the first for Meyers . . . Bill Sussrnan, 2Qth-Fox division manager, is on a tour of exchanges under his supervision. Leo Spitz, Jules Levey and Sam Dembow spotted as a luncheon threesome at the Plaza . . . A1 Sherman on Wednesday observed his 13th wedding anniversary . . . Henri Diamant Berger, well-known French producer and director, is en route to Hollywood where he will establish himself. Politically, Berger is a member of the De Gaulle movement and thus anti-Petain . . . Charles D. Prutzman, Universal’s general counsel, has returned from his Lake Louise-Hollywood combination vacation and business trip. “It’s like being re No Sales Plan Set On Chaplin Film New York — UA is undecided on the policy for “The Great Dictator,” latest Charlie Chaplin film. The company is understood negotiating with Loew’s for the Astor and Capitol to show the picture on the same policy as “Gone With the Wind” in both houses. However, Loew’s refuses to make any commitments until home office executives see the film. Additionally, Loew executives feel that “GWTW” continues to net a handsome profit at the Astor on its two-a-day policy and probably can last until the end of the year. The Broadway showing is one of the few in the entire country and has been holding up above the $7,000 average week figui’e. Unless the Chaplin film is very unusual, Loew’s is not prone to withdraw “GWTW.” Also, it is reported UA is trying to make a deal with Harry Brandt for three simultaneous Broadway runs. There is also a deal on tap with John Wright at the Rivoli. For the present, however, nothing is set. Challenges Warner to Debate on Blue Laws Philadelphia — Rev. William B. Forney, secretary of the Lord’s Day Alliance, has worked up another stunt in his campaign against Sunday films. He has sent a letter to Harry M. Warner challenging him to a public debate on the question. The blue law advocate suggested the debate be held in Harrisburg, because it will be the scene of balloting on the question in November. Harrisburg is now closed tight on Sundays. Rev. Forney’s organization gave up its attempt to put the question on the ballot in Philadelphia, because the present political situation made it “not propitious,” but it is pressing the campaign in many other Pennsylvania cities and towns. Philadelphia Rexy Sold Philadelphia — The Rexy, once operated by Warner, has been sold by the Land Title and Ti-ust Co. for $98,000 to Philip Harrison. born,” he sums it all up . . . James R. Grainger, Republic’s president, is back from another of his coast-to-coasters, but this time insists he will stick around New York for a couple of weeks, at least. John Wright, managing direetor of the Rivoli, saw “The Long Voyage Home’’ the other morning and says it’s one of the best films he’s seen . . . Bill White says the Skouras circuit is not planning to expand its ad directory which now appears in the two local Hearst papers only . . . Ben W. Roscoe jr. of Republic’s studio force is in town . . . Lou Brock of RKO’s production staff is in town conferring with Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart and Frank Veloz on “They Met in Argentina” . . . Bette Davis is en route to the coast after spending the summer in New Hampshire . . . Col. H. A. Cole, Allied president, is not figuring on visiting New York before or after the New Jersey Atlantic City convention. 18 BOXOFFICE September 21, 1940