Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1938)

Editorial Offices: 9 rockefeller plaza, new york city; Publication Office: 4704 e. 9th st., Kansas city, mo.; Hollywood: 6404 Hollywood blvd.; Chicago: 332 s. Michigan blvd. ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY December 17, 1938 Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Vol. 34 Number 4 William G. Pormby, Editor; Jesse Shlyen, Managing Editor; J. Harry Toler, Modern Theatre Editor; Louis Rydell, Advertising Manager; Ivan Spear, Western Manager. BEN SHLYEN Publisher MAURICE KANN Editor-in-Chief J. H. GALLAGHER General Manager IT QUICKENS THE PULSE ■p*ROM a public statement by Karl Hoblitzelle and Robert J. O'Donnell: ™ "Interstate Theatres and Texas Consolidated Theatres feel that this year, more than any other, we have every reason to be thankful for the manifold blessings that we who live in this country enjoy. "The suffering, hardships and degradation that thousands of innocent people are suffering in Germany and Austria because of the ruthlessness and barbarism of their government, prompts us to translate our Thanksgiving into practical terms. We are, therefore, setting aside Wednesday, December 7, in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Austin, Galveston, El Paso, Abilene, Amarillo, Arlington, Breckenridge, Brownsville, Brownwood, Corsicana, Denison, Denton, Eastland, Harlingen, Mexia, McAllen, Mercedes, Paris, Ranger, Tyler, Temple, San Benito, San Marcos, Vernon, Wichita Falls, Waco and Weslaco; and Thursday, December 8, in Fort Worth and Albuquerque, N. M., a total of 137 theatres, when the entire gross receipts of every theatre will be contributed to the relief of the refugees from Germany and Austria." It was done. Special programs were arranged, minute-men speakers made appeals from the stages of a number of these houses. Tickets in blocks were sold. A telegraphic appeal asking distributors to lift rentals for two days was generally, but not completely, met. Interstate assumed all expenses and tax committments. Now, by preliminary but almost final count, approximately $40,000 is to be turned over to the authorized organizations handling the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish problems in Germany and Austria. Thus, the national spotlight concentrates chiefly on the two men who evolved the plan and, by sweepingly generous decision, pointed the broad way for others in the industry to follow. In New York, the start along the humanitarian road carved out by the movement begun in Dallas is the subject of deep discussion. There is a proper understanding of the high purpose and complete admiration for the expert thoroughness with which that purpose was developed and brought to fruition. The monetary results are important. Yet, there is something beyond. That something exemplifies itself in a continued realization of the place the industry must constantly assume in the community and the fabric of the nation. That something again emphasizes the impossibility of motion pictures and all that bear on them to attempt to remain entirely apart from the social, the political and the economic currents that flow calmly or rage violently around them. If there should be merit in the argument to which BOXOFFICE does not subscribe that films themselves must remain in vacuum-like aloofness from the problems of the day, it could follow Hoblitzelle and O'Donnell were wrong by injecting a technically foreign issue, and certainly a religious issue, into the normal function of their business. But who is there who would question the intent, the need or the propriety of their step? What they have done quickens this pulse, as it ought the pulse of the whole industry. This is a new and proud chapter, a line to hew to and to follow in the four corners of the land. 1C