The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

11 WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS PICTORIAL SURVEY ANNOUNCED A survey released in Philadelphia by the Pictorial Review indicated that 77% of all women think movies are becoming more entertaining. No movie during 1 93 8 was considered offensively vulgar, 89% declared. Fifty-seven per cent objcted to screen advertising; 91% thought children under 14 should be allowed to go only to recommended movies; 69% would not permit them to see more than one movie a week; there was small difference of opinion on women smoking, with even division on women drinking in films. "Snov White” W2s voted the best movie. PREVIEWS Weekend previews included: Warners’ ''They Made Me a Criminal,” (92m), with John Garfield, Claude Rains, Ann Sheridan, May Robson, Dead End Kids, a high rating exploitable meller, with Garfield crashing through a topnotch performance; 20th Century-Fox’s "Chasing Da-ger,” (62m), with Preston Foster, Lynn Bari, Wally Vernon, a fast moving dualler; Metro’s "Stand Up and Fight,” (97m), with Robert Taylor, Wallace Beery, Florence Rice, an action-filled meller of early transportation days in Maryland, rated a good programmer. NO LOEW’S DECISION No decision was forthcoming last weekend in the Loew’s stockholders suit. ELLIOTT TERMS ANNOUNCED Terms of the deal whereby the suit begun by Herb Elliott, Philadelphia’s exhibitor, ag’inst Stanley-Warner, major film companies is being dropped were available over the weekend. Elliott will operate his Fern Rock; Stanley-Warner their Colney, but the two competitive houses are tied up in a six year deal, being booked on the basis of past experience to get the best possible grosses. No other theatre is affected. RKO REORGANIZATION CONTINUES The RKO reorganization hearings continued last weekend, with a reduction of $8 50,000 more in the major Rockefeller Center, Inc., claim against RKO proposed by counsel for the Atlas group. A new hearing is due January 5. Judge Bondy has indicated that the plan, with certain suggestions, is fair. Other modifications proposed deal with operation of Radio City Music Hall, the Center, as well as splitting of revenues, etc. PIRACY DAMAGES $532,000 Judgment of $532,000 damages against Metro, associates in favor of Edward Shelton, M. A. Barnes, playwrights, in their alleged "piracy” case against the company was confirmed by Judg: Leiddel in New York City last week. The authors charged plagarism of their play, charging that i: had been used as the basis for "Letty Lyrton.” LT-STONE GETS PARA POST Louis R. Lipstone, musical director for B laban and Katz circu t, was appointed head of Partmount studio musical department, succeeding Boris Morros. ITALIAN BAN BEGINS Beginning of 1939 saw the state monopoly ot importation of foreign films starting in Italy, with American firms withdrawing from distribution. Italy, to get American films, will have to pay cash in American dollars in America. Warners Organizing New Americanization Division Warners last fortnight decided to establish an Americanization department. Operation of the new setup takes place under supervision of Bob Taplinger, studio director of publicity. Department is headed by Jack Holmes, who has devoted past months to working with various patriotic, civic groups which regard the Warner shorts as a great national medium for promoting Americanism. Holmes has left Hollywood on a tour during which he will contact organizations desirous of screening the Warner short subjects as part of their campaigns to make America conscious of the nation’s great history. National Screen Sues Trailer-Made, Pathe Film National Screen Service filed suit last fortnight against Trailer-Made, Inc., asking accounting, damages, penalties. Company charges that Trailer-Made took sound tracks owned by National Screen, put them on its trailers. National Screen, in Federal Court, asked for an injunction against further distribution, use of its trailers with its music. Isadore Schwartz, Pathe Film Corporation are defendants. Complaint states that National Screen has had opportunity to examine only 30 of the trailers, that among those 3 0, it has already found 10 instances where its sound track has been pirated. Complaint charges that this is a fair example of the way the trailers run. It asks that TrailerMade submit for examination all the 5 00 or more trailers already produced. National Screen has its own music library, consisting of many hundreds of original copyrighted works which it has, at great expense, orchestrated, recorded on its own sound tracks. WEEKEND GROSSES Business on new, continuing pictures opening in key cities over the holiday week-end, as reported to The Exhibitor, included the following: ARTISTS AND MODELS ABROAD (Paramount) — At New York’s Paramount, with a stage show, did $34,000 over the week-end. THE BEACHCOMBER (Paramount) — At New York’s Rivoli, did $20,000 Saturday through Monday. THE DAWN PATROL (Warners) — Did $5 5,000 on the first week at New York’s Strand, or $20,000 above average; held for a second week. KENTUCKY (20th Century-Fox) — At New York’s Roxy, with stage show, did a terrific $43,476 Friday through Monday of the second week; holding over for third week. THE LADY VANISHES (Gaumont British) — At New York’s Globe, did $4,650 on the Saturday-Monday week-end to start the second big week. PYGMALION (Metro) — At New York’s Astor, still playing to capacity business in the fourth week. SWEETHEARTS (Metro) — At New York’s Capitol, still doing the best business of any Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald pictures, playing the second week. TOPPER TAKES A TRIP (United Artists) — At New York’s Radio City Music Hall, heading to an estimated $1 1 5,000 on the week, with a stage show. Over the entire territory, business was generally well above average, with midnight shows. Sunday prices over the double holiday aided in the increase in the box office. Jackter Columbia Drive Head Rube Jackter, assistant sales manager, has been appointed chairman of "Columbia’s Personal Achievement Campaign,” it was announced last week by Columbia. Joseph McConville, foreign sales manager, has been appointed honorary chairman of the campaign, which will get under way January 9, continue for 10 weeks through March 18. SPECIALISTS in the crealion of Smart Interiors! NOVELTY SCENIC STUDIOS, lnc. NTERIOR DECORAtORS Draperies Stage Curtains • Wall Treatments 3 1 8 320 West 48th Street-New York City IRWIN SEATING famous for its “NECK TO KNEE COMFORT “ AND SNAPPY APPEARANCE Distributed by National Theatres Supply Co. ENDORSED BY LEADING AUTHORITIES ON . . . Fire Prevention and Safety January 4, 1919 TRI