Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1938)

FWC Snubs ITO’s Dual Blast; Work On for rr Understanding ” Los Angeles — Pox West Coast, largest theatre chain in the west and an adherent of the dual booking policy, does not intend to allow the possibility of a new campaign against the dualers by the Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California and Arizona to upset the work being done in cementing friendly relations between independent showmen and the circuit. That was the reaction expressed by FWC spokesmen in answer to a lengthy tirade against double billing, issued last week by Robert Poole, ITO general secretary, and which was interpreted as the first step in a new ITO drive to wipe out the practice. Although scorning to take official cognizance of Poole’s manifesto, FWC attaches declared they consider it only a demonstration of a ‘‘difference in opinion” between Poole’s organization and other showmen — both circuit and unaffiliated — which will have no effect on recently initiated moves toward more cordial relationships between FWC, the ITO and other theatre operators. The arbitration committee initiated by Charles P Skouras, FWC president, some months ago and under which FWC reports a broader understanding of the problems confronting both independent and circuit showmen is being worked out, is continuing to function “to the satisfaction of all parties concerned,” the FWC office said. Again unofficially, FWC drew attention to the fact that virtually all of the ITO members pursue the double-billing problem, indicating by innuendo that Poole’s drive should be confined to those exhibitors. Poole’s statement was prompted, the ITO secretary set forth, after he had witnessed a dual bill showing in a local house and emerged, he declared, with a sense of confusion and a complete loss of enjoyment because the themes and scopes of the two pictures on the program were so widely diversified. Through it, he asserted, he “came to a more perfect realization of why the theatre-going public are steadily increasing their complaints as to the quality of pictures the producers are releasing. “This example is so enlightening as to create the further realization that there is nothing wrong with the fine pictures the producers are making, but the method of presentation on a double bill is so involved as to confuse the minds of those EVERLY HILLS HOTEL and Bungalows A Country Club in the heart of the City. Near the various studios and surrounded by homes of the Movie Stars. Acres of Gardens, Swimming Pool, Tennis Courts, Badminton. European Plan. The rates are something of a pleasure in themselves. BEVERLY HILL S— C A L I F O R N I A witnessing these pictures,” Poole went on. “One could not but realize that herein lies the cause of the criticism of the theatregoing public that the producers are not making better pictures.” Haphazard and ill-advised dual bookings, Poole asserted, “naturally result in complete confusion as to the qaulity of the pictures witnessed.” Poole laid the impetus for his broadside to the ITO’s “continually increasing efforts for the past three years to convince producer and exhibitor that the double bill policy is breaking down every fundamental principle of the motion picture industry. The elimination of this policy would create a thousand times more good than the creation of the present ‘Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment’ campaign to awaken public interest in motion pictures.” FWC Secures Extension Of Bond Issue Los Angeles — Fox West Coast has secured approval of the California Corporation Commission for a 10-year extension of a $352,000 bond issue for the Fox Spokane Theatres Corp., an FWC subsidiary in Washington. Application for the extension was made last week by Charles Buckley, counsel for the circuit, after returning from a trip to the Northwest in the company of Charles P. Skouras, chain president. The bonds cover the theatre and the building in which it is lodged. SEATTLE (Continued from page 44) group of friends some very interesting pictures made in France 20 years ago . . . And of all things — the city has finally paved the alley on Filmrow . . . Joey Cooper getting a letter with a newspaper clipping from his lady friend Patty Lou Moran in Oklahoma City. The clipping showed Patty Lou with Mickey Rooney, the film star, as she greeted him on his arrival in the Oklahoma town. Visitors the past few days included: Dave Gross from Alaska to take a much needed rest; Howard McBride, in by plane from Spokane; Mickey DeLeo and Dave Stevens, Port Townsend, with a brace of ducks; Evor Halberg, Port Angeles; A. G. Basil, Raymond; Ted Wilson, Cashmere and Leavenworth; Dad Abbott, SedroWoolley; A. R. Trimble, Roxy Theatre, Toppenish; Carol Barney, American, now under construction in Arlington; Mrs. John Collins, who just recently opened a house in Dishman; Tom Shearer, Portland, and C. Roy Czerny back in town . . . Margaret Lenhart, that noted warbler of radio station KOL, made another personal appearance at the Palomar Theatre, appearing with Capt. Dobbsie. ID) IE N V IE R ^HE new Chief Theatre being built on the site of the old Rialto in Pueblo will be ready for a Christmas opening. The house, to seat 800, is being built by the Westland Theatres at a cost of around $50,000. Architecture is modern. The Tabor, after trying stage shows, has dropped them and gone back to double features for the full week. Stage shows, built here, had been used for Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a few weeks. The new Fox Theatre at Sterling, Colo., will be given a gala opening on November 30. Gibralter Theatres will close the Craig at Craig, Colo., recently taken over, for a modernization fob. The house will be closed for two weeks to ready for a Christmas opening. Westland Theatres has moved headquarters to the Old Victory Theatre Bldg. The two Victory theatres were recently taken over by Westland. Politicians expect the session of the legislature to last six months. With state finances said to be in bad shape, the senators a?id representatives will be looking for new places to place taxes. The new governor, Ralph Carr, says he is determined to pay the full old-age pension of $45 if it is at all possible. With present old-age pensions running around $25 to $30 it can readily be seen that everything will be taxed that can be. Carr says it may be necessary to boost the sales tax from two to four per cent. However, the Theatre Owners and Managers of the Rocky Mountain Region are exceptionally well organized this year, and they will fight to the limit any attempt to straddle additional taxation on an already burdened industry. LOS ANGELES (Continued from preceding page) miums . . . Fred Eull, of the Ramona Theatre, Ramona, in for bookings. Following the unfortunate example set by his nephew, Paul Glick of the Canoga Theatre, Canoga Park, Harry Milstein, who operates the Torrance Theatre in Torrance, was confined to the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital with bronchial asthma. Glick has been in the hospital for the past ten days with peritonitis. Majestic Distributing Corp. has added Pat Garlow to its sales staff, covering suburban areas, while Ralph Dostal, formerly a booker at Columbia, has joined the organization as city salesman and booker. Garlow was once southern district manager for United Artists and at one time represented GB in Kansas City. Along the Row: Kelly Seligman, with Mrs. Seligman, booking for his Columbia Theatre downtown . . . Ray Boasberg, from the Ritz, Inglewood . . . A1 Olander, grabbing some pictures for his Vogue and Cameo theatres in Montebello. 46 BOXOFFICE :: November 26, 1938