The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

7 Mayor LaGuardia Confers Julius Joelson Sells On Production in East Houses to M and P Circuit Cinema City Plan Proposed at Confab New York City — Progressing with his plan to induce the motion-picture industry to move from Hollywood to New York, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia said last week that pictures would be made in this city, after he had talked the matter over in a City Hall conference with a large group of labor union officials interested in the transfer. The mayor said: “This is one of a series of conferences I have had with all the trade unions, the artists, the stagehands and others concerned with the making of motion pictures — and we have decided that we are going to make motion pictures in New York. “Additional details will be made public from time to time. I am not going to discuss the details now, because I purposely want to make this statement allembracing. We will keep you informed from week to week.” In the meantime, it was reported that the mayor had asked the labor group to arrange for newsreels to record his announcement. News of the Day and Movietone News were approached on covering the event, but they decided later that they could not “make the necessary arrangements.” A plan under consideration calls for the building of a Cinema City, patterned after Radio City, on a site near the World’s Fair grounds in Flushing Meadows, Queens. The labor unions were reported ready to accept the transfer here of 10 percent of Hollywood’s production. It has been estimated that this would involve an expenditure of $25,000,000 a year and would provide steady jobs for 10,000 persons. The union representatives told the mayor that Hollywood producers, because of their huge plant investment on the West Coast, would fight his project “tooth and nail.” Warners Drive Set NEW YORK CITY— Plans for the Fourth Sears Drive, announced over the week-end, indicate that it will cover 16 weeks, beginning December 24 and ending April 13. District heads will be captains, under the supervision of Roy Haines and Ben Kalmenson, east and west. There will be $25,000 in cash prizes, with money to be split among three winning districts and branches. Independent’s Massachusetts Holdings Shift Boston — Julius Joelson sold his six theatres to the Mullins and Pinanski circuit, formally transferred ownership November 10. The theatres are the Capitol, Somerville; Ball Square, Somerville; Central, Somerville; Capitol, Arlington; Park, Taunton. The following changes have been made in M. and P. personnel: Arthur Pinkham to manage Park, Taunton, replaced at Allston, Allston, by Morris Streletsky, former assistant manager, Capitol, Allston; Howard Parker to Capitol, Arlington, replaced by John Van Buskirk at Park, Newton; Harry Mulqueen, formerly of Biddleford, to manage Central, Somerville; J. Suncannon to manager Capitol, Somerville; Steve Bresnahan, formerly Paramount, Lynn, managing Ball Square, Somerville. Managership of the Central, Somerville, was undecided at presstime. Joelson, for many years a Somerville exhibitor, has not reported his future intentions. IN THIS ISSUE Advance Shots 12 Editorial Page 3 Hints on Newspaper Advertising 14 In the Spotlight 6 Late News Highlights 7 National Mirror 9 National Mirror Picture Page 16 National Release Date Guide Inside Back Cover News of the Territory 17 Production Notes 13 Reviews (The Exhibitor Servisection) Blue Section Territorial Highlights 5 Warren Stokes Hollywood Newsreel 12 and in the BETTER MANAGEMENT SECTION Editorial Page Equipment News Is This Your Theatre? Leaders in Equipment Field National Tie-Ups Photolithographic Insert Press Books Seasonal Ballyhoo Selling Features “Selling Seats by Cleanliness and Comfort” Television 3 18 8 17 23 9 23 23 20 5 24 Business Up Again As Broadway Grosses Hop "Goodbye, Mr. Chips” Finally Leaves New York City — Big news along Broadway this week was not the business that “Ninotchka” was doing at the Music Hall, nor that of “The Roaring Twenties" at the Strand, nor even that of “Drums Along the Mohawk” at the Roxy — and there was pretty swell business at all three establishments— but the fact that at long last, meaning yesterday, the Astor brought in its third picture since December 8. 1938 With “The Mill On the Floss” opening yesterday, “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” took a spurt upward, to $7,000, on its final week Complete returns, as submitted to The Exhibitor from authoritative sources, follow: “DANCING CO-ED” (Metro) At the Capitol, opened November 9, is estimated to do $19,000 on the week. fair. “DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK" (20th Century-Fox)— At the Roxy, opened Novembei with stage show, did $30,494 on Friday. Saturday. Sunday of the second week, good. First weekend attendance was 69,031. “FIRST LOVE” (Universal) At th( R opened November 8, is estimated to do $30,000 on the week, good. “GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS” (Metro) M thi tor, opened May 15, did $7,000 on its 26th anil final week, ended November 13, good. “NINOTCHKA” (Metro) At the Radio City M usic Hall, opened November 9. with the stage show, did $68,000 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Sunday, very good. Estimated to take between $108,000 and $110,000 on the week, and to run at least a second week. “THE ROARING TWENTIES” (Warner | V the Strand, opened November 10. with stage show, did $31,200 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, very good. “RULERS OF THE SEA” (Paramount) At the Paramount, opened November 8. with stage show, did $20,000 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, good. Pathe Shows $192,002 New York City — Pathe Film Corporation showed net profit of $192,002.20 in a nine months’ report released last week end. Net operating profit for 1938 was $77,158. Brooklyn Lottery Arrest New York City — Manager A. L. Green, Oceana, Brooklyn, was arraigned in Coney Island court on a lottery violation charge last week, after police stepped in when “Lite-O-Win” was being run. He was held for a further hearing, indefinitely postponed. Krassner-Lasoff Troth New York City — Ted Krassner. buyer and booker for the Cinema Circuit, was last week end engaged to Miss Jacquelyn Lasoff, it was announced. Wedding takes place in January. World Pictures Host New York City — Archie Mayers. Irvin Shapiro and Ed Barison, World Pictures, were host at a Hotel Astor buffet last night (November 14) after the opening of “Mill On the Floss,” which they distribute. "Tower” World Bow in Prov. Providence — U’s “Tower of London ' gets its world bow here November 17 at Fay’s Majestic, it was announced early this week. November 15, 1939 QU AD.