The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1944)

5 GOV'T. GOLDMAN MOVE HAILED BY ALLIED "SYWA" Action Also Approved Washington — In a special bulletin last week devoted to the Government’s brief in the William Goldman case Allied States Association declared it “a model of clarity and conciseness in its exposition of the basic law applicable not only to the motion picture business but to all industries in which free enterprise is threatened with extinction by monopolistic control.” Allied said further: “In its comprehensive treatment of the law and the evil consequences of Judge Kirkpatrick’s decision, it supplies persua¬ sive arguments lacking in the presenta¬ tion for Goldman and establishes the case as one of national importance. “It is especially gratifying that the Gov¬ ernment has so skilfully exposed hypocrisy of the claim, which the distributors have many times advanced, that where they enter into exclusive or preferential deals with a single affiliated theatre or chain, there is no contract, combination, or con¬ spiracy among them. The brief says: “ ‘Each of them (the distributors) agreed with Warner that they would sell first run in Philadelphia only to Warner and would therefore, not sell to Goldman. While the licenses . . . were necessarily made with Warner as a theatre owner, through its theatre operating subsidiaries in the area, as a matter of substance they were made between two distributors, and covered an area where they are ostensibly competing.’ “Independent exhibitors will be grati¬ fied by the alertness and energy displayed by the Department of Justice in detecting the mbchief inherent in Judge Kirkpatrick’s opinion, and in filing so able a brief in defense of open competition and fair deal¬ ing in the motion picture business. Note of this action should be taken by all ex¬ hibitor organizations which are concerned with the rights of independent theatre owners, and are interested in their sur¬ vival.” The bulletin also commented on the re¬ cent UA decision not to sell “Since You Went Away” at advanced prices. It declared: “Independent exhibitors also will be gratified by the announcement that United Artists has abandoned its previously an¬ nounced plan of insisting on increased ad¬ missions for ‘Since You Went Away.’ “The company says that this switch in policy was in response to the ‘nation-wide demand for the immediate release’ of the picture. The picture apparently has done well at the Capitol Theatre in New York, aided in what degree we do not know by the personal appearance of Gene Krupa. “Whatever may be the reasons which prompted the change, we are glad to record that the protest against the plan of requir¬ ing an increase of 50 per cent in admis¬ sions originated in Allied ranks. . . . Pete Wood was the first to raise the issue, and he carried on in a series of effective com¬ munications and bulletins. National Allied issued a bulletin condemning the pro¬ posed admission hike, and questioning its legality. We can not believe that these activities did not play a part in persuading United Artists to change its plans. The outcome should spur all independent or¬ ganizations to greater activity in opposing practices and policies which are contrary to the interest of their members.” " The Tip-Off ” Gives Dope On Grosses COOL WEATHER AIDS B'WAY BOX OFFICES New York — Despite the year’s recordbreaking and protracted heat spell, the worst in 48 years, 20th Century-Fox’s “Wilson” at the Roxy zoomed to unprece¬ dented box-office heights in its second week. . With the first week establishing an alltime high for the theatre the second week continued SRO at every perform¬ ance, and business on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each day was bigger than on the first two opening weeks. Business in the other houses was likewise good, ac¬ cording to usually reliable reports reach¬ ing The Exhibitor. The break-down was as follows: "WILSON" (20th Century-Fox) — Roxy, with stage show, did $108,000 from Wednesday through Sun¬ day. Week is estimated to hit $150,000. "DRAGON SEED" (MGM) — Radio City Music Hall, with usual stage show, did $73,000 from Thursday through Sunday, with the week estimated ar $121,000. "JANIE" (Warners)— Strand, with stage show, did $22,500 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the week estimated at $44,000. "MR. SKEFFINGTON" (Warners)-Holly wood did $13,400 from Thursday through Sunday, with the week estimated at $20,000. "HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO" (ParamountParamount, with stage show, did $28,500 on Sat¬ urday and Sunday, with the week estimated at $77,000. "CANTERVILLE GHOST" (MGM)— Globe did $7,900 on Saturday and Sunday, with the week estimated at $18,000. "DEAD END" (Film Classics)— Gotham did $3,300 on Saturday and Sunday, with the week estimated at $6,300. "BATHING BEAUTY" (MGM)— Astor did $12,500 in six days, with M GM's "Kismet" opening yesterday (Aug. 22). MEETING ALL TRAINS New York — Foster B. Gauker, manager, MGM’s Indianapolis, Ind., branch, Edward Booth, Cincinnati, O., branch manager, and Jack Sogg, head of the company’s Cleve¬ land, O., office, were due in New York this week for a week’s conference with various department heads at the home office. B. D. Stoner, Pittsburgh, Pa., branch manager, who spent the past week in New York, left. Burtus Bishop, Jr., MGM dis¬ trict manager, with headquarters in Dallas, Tex., who also visited the home office, left for a vacation in Minnesota, accom¬ panied by Mrs. Bishop and their son. New York — Gary Cooper arrived last week, one day ahead of his schedule, after several weeks spent in visiting Army camps and hospitals throughout the coun¬ try. His trip east is primarily in connec¬ tion with his new activities as a producer, though he will spend considerable time visiting Army hospitals and camps here. Hollywood — Henry Hull left the coast this week for his farm in Connecticut. New York — Jane Wyman, Warner star, left last week for the coast. So did Mark Hellinger, Warner producer. METROPOLITAN EXHIBS COOPERATE WITH MAYOR Would Allow Break For "Up-to-1 6's" New York — At the request of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, local circuit heads and representatives held a conference last week at the Hotel Astor, and passed a resolution allowing youngsters up to 15 into theatres at children’s prices until Sept. 11, or when city schools will officially open. The resolution was intended to curb juvenile delinquency in the city by tak¬ ing the youngsters off the streets as much as possible. Participating in the conference were Loew’s RKO, Century Circuit, Brandt Circuit, Randforce Circuit, Jolson Circuit, and others with theatres in the city and its boroughs. Harry Brandt subsequently advised the mayor that the great majority of theatres had agreed to do this only to find that the Internal Revenue regulations required the same tax to be paid for children over 12 as adults. “If the theatre wants to admit them on the children’s rate, they must have a sep¬ arate series of tickets printed with sep¬ arate serial numbers,” the Mayor said. “It is going to take a few days to do that, and all the movie theatres are trying hard to comply. We are going to see if we just can’t use a rubber stamp on the regu¬ lar ticket.” Ex-Para. Men Killed New York — Second Lieutenant Charles Edward Coleman, son of Lester B. Cole¬ man, Paramount traveling auditor, listed as missing since a Flying Fortress of which he was a co-pilot was engaged in combat over Germany on March 23, has been officially reported by the War Department as killed in action, it was stated last week. Another recent service fatality in the Paramount family was that of Private William J. Walker, 19, who was killed in action in Italy. He was in the Phila¬ delphia exchange shipping department be¬ fore entering the Army in September, 1943. Disney Experiment Tried Washington — Francis Alstock, CIAA film chief, left for the coast and Mexico last week to experiment with films made by Walt Disney to teach reading. Scored in Spanish, they will be tried in Mexico in cooperation with the Mexican Ministry of Information. The four shorts will be exhibited to¬ gether with CIAA health films to city and rural dwellers. O'Donnell In Washington New York — Bob O'Donnell, Chief Barker, Variety Clubs of America, is sched¬ uled to meet Washington Variety Club officers on Aug. 29 to discuss dates for the national VC convention, which is expected to be held in the nation’s capital. Youngstein Leaves 20th-Fox New York — Max Youngstein left 20th Century-Fox last week. The Service Kit’s the Season’s Hit August 23, 1944 THE EXHIBITOR