Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

Paramount Executives to Coast for Conference Hollywood — Barney Balaban, Stanton Griffis, Neil F. Agnew and John W. Hicks jr. are planning to leave New York next week for production conferences at the Paramount studios with Y. Frank Freeman and William LeBaron. The eastern contingent is expected to remain about a week. David Rose, British managing director, is expected for the Christmas holidays. His wife and child arrived from London last week. He has been planning the trip for some months, but the outbreak of the war delayed his departure. He may take a clipper from Portugal and a plane from New York. Hicks Planning New Tour Of South America New York — John W. Hicks, head of Paramount’s foreign activities, is planning another tour of South America after the first of the year. New York — Having successfully concluded its demands for a 10 per cent wage increase and a second week’s vacation with pay for about 600 projectionists at ITOA member houses. Local 306 enters a scheduled arbitration meeting next week with major circuits over even more drastic demands greatly heartened by its initial brush with an arbitration board. The demands call for a 25 per cent boost. The union’s victory in its fight against the ITOA drew from members at a special meeting at the Hotel Astor the assertion they are “greatly dissatisfied” with the award against them. There is no possible appeal from the decision. Milton J. Handler, law professor at Columbia, is the fifth arbitrator in the unionmajor circuit dispute. He is an expert at labor arbitration and circuit executives as well as Local 306 look forward to a fair decision. Sitting on the board will be C. C. Moskowitz and Leslie E. Thompson for the circuits and Joe Basson and Bert Popkin for the union. The decision for ITOA members does not make the increase retroactive to September I, 1938, but a year later. In essence, it amounts to six and two-thirds per cent for the three-year period involved. Harry Brandt, president, told ITOA members he plans to leave November 20 on a country-wide trip that will take him to about 12 key cities for pre-arranged conferences with exhibitor leaders on industry problems. He expects to be gone more than a month. Brandt said he hopes to “consolidate views” on such matters as the government suit filed in New York, the trade practice code, film stars on radio, stars who have “outlived their usefulness” and other pertinent matters. In respect to the organization’s drive Pilgrims Have Way Of Doing Things New York — Most Broadway houses are opening Thanksgiving Day with new shows. "Drums Along the Mohawk" winds up a 20-day run for "Daytime Wife" at the Roxy, marking the first time in years the theatre has made a special change in honor of the pilgrims landing. Services in Buffalo for Frederic Ullman sr, Buffalo — Funeral services for Frederic Ullman, pioneer theatre owner, were held here. Ullman, 75, was the father of Frederic Ullman jr., vice-president of Pathe News. He is survived, in addition to Frederic jr., by another son, Richard, a brother. Dr. Julius Ullman, and a grandson and granddaughter. to rid air shows of film stars, it was revealed at the meeting that the ITOA has communicated with about 20 players asking them pointblank “whether they intended to compete with themselves on the screen by continuing to broadcast.” Copies of letters to the stars were sent producers and exhibitor organizations; the latter in an attempt to launch a nationwide campaign against the practice. The letters to the players said in part: “The theatre owners cannot stand by and watch their investments slip into nothing because stars make radio broadcasts which are inimical to the best interests of this industry; nor should theatre owners be expected to purchase pictures made by stars who destroy the value of their own pictures ... It has been definitely determined that the cumulative appearances of our picture stars on the radio have a deterrent effect at the boxoffice and are a blow to their own audience appeal.” Those the ITOA wrote, include Olivia de Havilland, Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Nan Grey, Walter Connolly, Merle Oberon, John Garfield, Edward Arnold, Loretta Young, Irene Dunne, Madeleine Carroll, Fred MacMurray, Miriam Hopkins, Joan Bennett, Claudette Colbert, Jean Arthur, Nigel Bruce, George Raft, Basil Rathbone, Paulette Goddard and David Niven. The arbitration award affects about 300 houses. It is estimated the lowest raise under the award is $5.20 a week for each projectionist. Meetings to determine the union’s demands took about a month. Dr. Paul Abelson, well-known labor arbitrator, acted as neutral member in the conferences. W. French Githens and David Weinstock represented the ITOA, and Joseph D. Basson and Charles Kielhum represented Local 306. No Cancellations on "Mr. Smith" Asked New York — Despite the controversy which has arisen over “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” not one exhibitor who has bought the picture has desired to cancel, A. Montague, general sales manager for Columbia, states. To exhibitors who have contracted for the picture which, like all Capra pictures in the last three years has been sold on separate contract, there is a desire on the part of Columbia to discuss any difficulty which may arise. “There need be no misunderstanding as to how Capra’.s picture, ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' is sold.” Montague asserts. “Much propaganda has gone forth in an effort to convince members of Congress that the Neely Bill is a necessity because exhibitors have purchased this outstanding picture as part of Columbia’s program for 1939-40. “The picture has been and is being sold as an individual picture, under an individual contract,” the Columbia general sales manager emphasizes. “It has been and is the desire of the distributor to show this picture in advance to any exhibitor in the United States who desires to see it. “For the last three years all of Frank Capra’s pictures have been sold separate and apart from the regular Columbia iirogram. “Our regular established customers have, of course, had 'the first opportunity to negotiate for ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.’ That is and always has been our policy with our regular customers. “Many of our regular customers licensed this particular Capra picture at the time they contracted for our 1939-40 program because in each instance these exhibitors insisted upon completing negotiations for ‘Mr. Smith,’ clearly indicating that they wanted to be assured that they would get this particular picture. “Thousands of exhibitors have already purchased this picture on separate contracts and there has not been a single request from any exhibitor in the United States to cancel or relieve him of his contract oa the film. “Despite the fact no such request has been presented. we are perfectly willing to discuss with any exhibitor who has contracted for the Capra picture any difficulty that has grown out of his having made such a contract. I want to stress, however, that this in no wise differs from our general policy. We are at all times willing to discuss with exhibitors particular situations where they have contracted for our pictures and where special circumstances arise that have to do with the playing of any particular picture.” Si Fabian Is Silent on Zanuck's Open Letter New York — Si Fabian, head of the Fabian circuit, is maintaining a “no comment” attitude toward Darryl F. Zanuck’s “open letter” deploring the exhibitor’s action in removing “Drums Along the Mohawk” from Proctor’s in Schenectady, N. Y., after the sixth day of a run Zanuck claims outgrossed the best product 20th Century-Fox has shown in the house this season. However, sources close to the upstate operator hint Fabian is incensed at the action of Zanuck in releasing his statement to the press before seeking an explanation via private correspondence. This is said to have prompted Fabian to remark he does not intend “to be used as a sormding board for Zanuck to reach exhibitors on a controversy that should not be decided in the press.” Final Meeting Monday for 1939 S, R, Kent Drive New York — Final meeting of the 1939 S. R. Kent Drive series will be held at the 20th Century-Fox exchange Monday morning. Herman Wobber, Drive Leader Moe Levy and District Manager William Sussman are slated to be heard. One Arbitration Victory Won, Union Set for Chain Battle 18 BOXOFFICE :: November 18, 1939