The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

RKO, Wrigley Announce Radio-New Star Tieup Talent Quest Will Give Jobs to Newcomers Leaders in two industries, RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., William Wrigley, Jr.. Company, last week joined forces in a nation-wide search for new movie talent under the aegis of Jesse L. Lasky’s "Gateway to Hollywood.” In the quest, they will use the nation-wide network of the Columbia Broadcasting System. Its purpose is to afford the "unknown” to crash the heretofore barricaded motion picture studio portals. Girls between the ages of 17 to 23, young men from 21 to 27 are eligible. Application blanks may be obtained at any of the 8,000 theatres in the United States showing RKO Radio pictures or direct from "Gateway to Hollywood,” Hollywood, California. Expert casting directors will make a preliminary selection of candidates to be interviewed in each of 24 regional cities on the basis of the photographs and information on the questionna're. Those chosen will be notified to appear at a key city on a given date where RKO Radio talent scouts, a local committee will select two semifinalists. Among the 48 thus remaining, the "Gateway to Hollywood” Committee will select nine boys, nine girls to come to Hollywood at its expense to appear on a coast-to-coast radio program broadcast each Sunday night over CBS network, sponsored by Wrigley for Doublemint. Two of the applicants will appear in a dramatic skit each week over a 13 -week period, beginning January 8. Ultimate winners — a boy, a girl — wil1 be awarded RKO Radio contracts at $12 5 per week for 20 out of the next 26 weeks to appear in featured roles prepared specially for them in an RKO Radio picture. ERPI Sets Foreign Deal Negotiations are going forward between ERPI, leading American manufacturers for the distribution, by ERPI’s foreign distributing companies, of complete booth equipment in approximately 5 0 foreign territories, according to an announcement last week by E. S. Gregg, general foreign manager of Electrical Research Products, Inc. “Bicycling” Leads “Holdovers” Two to One Copyright Bureau Report For Year Is Issued Bicycling” violations outnumbered "hold -over” violations two to one, according to the annual report of the Copyright Protection Bureau for the year ending October 31, 193 8, released last week. According to Jack H. Levin, director of the bureau, violations were found in only 16.73% of the theatres investigated during the current year, as compared with 44.6% during such years as 193 0, 193 1, although there was a slight increase from the percentage of 12.03 for th: year 193 7. The activities of the bureau centered in 34 states during the current year. According to the report, "This new predominance of bicycling presumably lies: (1) in an influex of new exhibitors, (2) the acquisition of one or more additional theatres by exhibitors previously operating single units or small circuits, and (3) the increase in the number of theatres operating in the United States by several thousand since 1 93 3.” The report also discusses investigations of showings under non-theatrical auspices, the cooperation secured both from the Adjutant Ge-eral of the War Department, from the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard Service in respect of preventing unauthorized exhibitions at C. C. C. Camps, Coast Guard units. The bureau co-operated closely with exhibitor organizations, individual exhibitors in a number of states who sought its aid in respect of "free shows,” although, upon investigation, it was generally found that such shows were given bv m~ans of 16 mm. prints of motion pictures which did nor belong to the maior distributors maintaining the bureau. A special investigation of the illicit distribution of duped, bootleg prints was reported as still pending. WEEKEND GROSSES Business on new pictures opening i i key cities over the weekend, as reported to The Exhibitor, included the following: THE BEACHCOMBER (Paramount) — At New York’s Rivoli, Saturday night through Mo'day, $19,700, indicating about $45,000 for week. Very big. BLONDIE (Columbia) — At New York’s Criterion, only fair business. A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Metro)— At New York’s Radio City, with stage show, gave big Christmas, estimated to hit $110,000. HEART OF THE NORTH (Warners)— At New York’s Rialto, did $7,300 on six days, holding over for a second week. KENTUCKY (20th Century-Fox) — At New York’s Roxy, $34,000 weekend, with stage show, big. THE LADY VANISHES (GB)— At New York’s Globe, $7,277 Saturday through Monday, terrific business. PYGMALION (Metro) — At New York’s Astor, continues big, playing to capacity audiences. SWEETHEARTS (Metro)— At New York’s Capitol, with a stage show, outgrossing all previous Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald pictures. Weather excellent, Monday business good throughout New York, hit by weather in other keys. WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS COLUMBIA PLANS DRIVE Dedicating its annual sales campaign to the salesmen, bookers, Columbia is calling its new drive "Columbia’s Personal Achievement Campaign.” Drive starts January 9, ends March 18, as a tribute to the sales organization. PARAMOUNT MEETING SET Paramount district sales manager, home office execs will meet in St. Louis January 7-9. Neil Agnew will preside, with division heads, home office heads in attendance. LOEW’S SUIT ENDS The stockholders’ suit against Loew’s, Incorporated, officers, which has been going on for several weeks ended with decision reserved by Supreme Justice Louis A. Valente. Attorneys will submit briefs, with an early decision due. WILMINGTON ANSWERS FILED President Nicholas M. Schenck, Loew’s filed separate answers last week to the suit filed by three New York stockholders in Chancery Court in Wilmington, Delaware, denying charges that excessive compensation fees, bonuses had been paid to officials, directors, also to Norma Shearer, widow of Irving Thalberg. Complainants are Edgar F. Steiner, Hana W. Goldstein, Louis Susman. They attacked in a suit filed early in the fall the var.ous alleged excessive compensations, including fixed, percentage payments, stock options provided under Loew’s contracts . Answers contend all acts, transactions of various directors contracts, agreements executed, payments made by Loew’s "were and are proper, lepal, just, fair and equitable,” were for the best interest and benefit of stockholders. Any setting aside of contracts or agreements, they contend "would cause irreparable damage.” MOTIOGRAPH DEAL Joseph B. Kleckner, president, Monograph, Incorporated, announced last week that his company had completed arrangements with ERPI for the distribution of Monograph projectors ia territories abroad. BALTIMORE "BINGO” ARREST Ten persons were presented by the Baltimore, Maryland, Grand Jury on charges of conducting or managing lottery enterprises at two Baltimore theatres. Defendants were Harry Silver, president; Frank Boucher, manager, as well as five others connected with the Linden; Samuel Stiefel, two others charged with operating a game at the Royal. SYRACUSE GAMES BAN Upstate New York reports had Syracuse banning chance games, effective January 1. December 28, 19)8