Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

19th Convention of Western Pa. MPTO Underway Oct. 23-24 Delroil Film Buying Moves Cautiously Detroit — Film buying in the Detroit territory is generally repoited at a standstill, by both exhibitors and distributors, while the deals with major exhibitor groups are being ironed out. Heading the lists, of course, are United Detroit and Co-Operative Theatres, the major local booking combine and affiliated circuit, respectively. United Detroit has been negotiating for weeks with various distributors, and is about to sign for new product. Co-Op, on the other hand, has actually signed two contracts, Universal and United Artists, although no details of the contracts are available for publication. Dickering is still under way with the other distributors, as these two will only give Co-Op a small percentage of the total product required for the approximately 100 theatres in the group. Settlement of the contracts for these two major groups will mean speedy solution of the film situation for other exhibitors whose buying is largely dependent upon what is done by the houses playing ahead of them in runs. Harris Amusement Leases Manos Jeannette House Pittsburgh — Harris Amusement Companies acquired Michael Manos’ new theatre at Jeannette under terms of a lease announced this week. The new theatre makes the 21st link in the new Harris chain. The theatre will be ready for opening around November 1. Seating capacity of the new house is 1,000. Harris circuit operates the Harris Theatre at Jeannette, and O. A. Kihchel, veteran independent, has the Princess Theatre there. Manos went ahead and built the new house in face of the fact that Harris and Kihchel had all major product under contract, and it was assumed from the start of construction that he would purchase one of the two theatres there or would lease to one of the operators of the town. Universal Pitt Branch Cops Contest Honors Pittsburgh — New Universal branch ran away with the honors in the business contest which closed several weeks ago. Jules Lapidus, manager, copped first honors in the country, the cash award being $300. Pour local salesmen were among the first seven sales representatives in the country, with awards as follows: Lou Hess, second, $225; David Barnlioltz, fourth, $175; Si Feld, sixth, $125, and William Satori, seventh, $100. Dave Miller, district manager, won the eastern award. Adapts "Daniel Boone" Hollywood — “Daniel Boone,’’ a historical featurette, will be adapted into screen form by Ernest Booth. E, W. Long Wins Renewal Of MU Vernon Lease Columbus — Announcement has been made in Mt. Vernon of a verbal agreement between trustees of the Knox County Memorial Building and E. W. Long, independent theatre operator, to renew Long’s lease on the Memorial Theatre for another year. The agreement, with option for renewal, will become binding as soon as a lease can be drawn. To obtain the lease Long raised his bid from $3,000 to $3,600 yearly. For the past five years he has paid $2,400. In deciding to renew Long’s lease, trustees ended a bitter controversy that began in July when the Schine circuit attempted to obtain the theatre with a bid of $3,750. At the time several civic and patriotic organizations sponsored petitions asking that the Long lease be continued. The Schine circuit had announced it would close the house if it obtained the lease, concentrating on the two other chain houses in the town. Charleston Penny Tax Hits Juvenile Trade Hardest Charleston, W. Va. — First reaction to the week-old one cent tax that each patron at local showhouses is assessed, is one of dislike as a nuisance. The tax is particularly onerous to the juvenile trade because a child’s admission now costs 12 cents (one cent state tax and one cent city tax) and these pennies often spell the difference between seeing the show or not. The assessment, which is applicable to all persons entering a theatre, is expected to raise $30,000 annually. Most exhibitors have signs over the boxoffices declaring they are forced to collect the tax over their protests. Independents in Cleveland Sign Pact With Operators Cleveland — Local independent exhibitors and officials of the operators’ union Tuesday agreed to a one-year contract, with wages and working conditions remaining virtually the same as last year. First run and affiliated houses had previously reached an agreement with the union. Gibbons in Campbellsville Campbellsville, Ky. — Harold Gibbons, until recently manager of the Majestic in Beaver Dam, Ky., is at the helm of the Alhambra 'Theatre here, a post he held two years ago. Assigns Gene Fowler Hollywood — Gene Fowler is writing an untitled story for Leo McCarey, RKO producer-director. Pittsburgh — Thirty years of exhibitor organization will be observed here Monday and Tuesday 'October 23 and 24), at the nineteenth annual convention of the Motion Picture 'Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. Convention headquarters are at the Roosevelt Hotel where registration is in charge of Miss Mathilda Kiel, assistant secretary of the local Allied unit. Col. Harry A. Cole of Dallas, president of national Allied, will be among those in attendance to greet the early arrivals. Abram F. Myers, counsel and chairman of the board of directors of national Allied, will be another guest. He is scheduled to deliver an important address 'Tuesday afternoon. Election Holds Interest Highlight of the TYiesday business session will be nomination and election of officers. Three members of the MPTO’s board of directors will be named at the same time as will members of the important labor committee. Present officers include M. A. Rosenberg, president, who will preside at the convention: Fred J. Herrington, secretary; Joseph Gellman, treasurer; members of the labor committee are Alex S. Moore, Dr. C. E. Herman and William D. Davis. Rosenberg, by his own announcement, will not be a candidate for re-election, but will, however, remain active in the organization. Non-members of the MPTO were extended invitations to attend the two-day business convention. They will be granted full privileges in everything but in voting for officers, directors and committee members. Next to Charles S. Philbrook, general chairman of the convention committee, the busiest person at the two-day confab is expected to be Frank Panoplos, of Clairton, chairman of the committee on grievances. Reports this week indicate that a number of new as well as old problems would be presented. Members of Panoplos’ committee stated that they welcomed all grievances and that they would present all such registered “squawks” at the proper time. Israel Roth is chairman of the committee on resolutions, which may prove more important this year than ever before, this because of the cry from alt sides for exhibitor relief or for a revival of code negotiations or for more “merchandising policies” or concessions from the various film producing and distributing companies. A legislative resume will be made by Fred J. Herrington, secretary, who is observing his 30th year in the industry as an independent leader. Joseph Gellman, MPTO of W. Pa., Inc., treasurer for many years, is chairman of the ways and means committee. He will report on finances and matters pertaining thereto. Philbrook is general chairman. M. N. Shapiro was in charge of publicity. A printed convention program was being prepared this week in advance of the two-day business meeting. Entertainment is in charge of Carl Poke. BOXOFFICE :: October 21, 1939 ME 53