The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

10 Theatres Pledge Aid To Help Finns Drive February 17, 1 8 Set as Dates New York City — Described as one of the biggest relief drives ever undertaken by the motion-picture industry, independent and major exhibitors, representing 10,000 theatres, last week pledged a goal of $500,000 to Herbert Hoover, national chairman of the Finnish Relief Fund. Announcement that exhibitors in every state in the nation had agreed to set aside the week end of February 17 and 18 as “Help Finland Days,” when contributions will be received by the theatres for the relief of Finnish refugees, was made by Major Leslie E. Thompson, national chairman of the Motion-picture division of the fund. Vincent G. Hart, national director of the amusement division of the fund, pointed out that with this pledge, the stage and screen together have set a goal of $1,000,000 for the relief fund Major Thompson said that the theatres co-operating in the drive had agreed to use trailers, advising their audience that they can materially demonstrate their sympathies for the Finnish civilians on these days. Two girls, dressed in Fin THE EXHIBITOR nish costumes, will be stationed in the lobbies of these theatres during the hours they are open to receive contributions, the major explained. Nearly all circuits throughout the country— including the national circuits, RKO, Fox, Loew’s, Warners — and state associations of independent theatre owners are sending out full instructions to their managers this week locally to push the compaign. Among the co-operating agencies, in the areas served by The Exhibitor, are the leader, Frank O. Story, Boston’s Interstate Circuit; Colonel Harry A. Cole, president, Allied Theatre Owners; William F. Crockett, president, Motion Picture Owners of Virginia; S. J. Hyman, president, West Virginia Managers Association; Joseph H. Brennan, executive secretary, Allied Theatres of Massachusetts; Frank A. Hornig, president, MPTO of Maryland; Lewen Pizor, United Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Eastern Pennsylvania, etc.; Lee Newbury, president, ATO of New Jersey. BiofF Pleads Not Guilty Los Angeles — William Bioff, union leader pleaded innocent last week to charges of evading income taxes on about $85,000 in 1936 and 1937. Federal Judge Ralph E. Jenny ordered Bioff to appear February 5 for setting a trial date. Bioff was indicted by a Federal grand jury two weeks ago. Colbert, Baxter Head 1938 Industry Incomes Top Salaries For Trade Recorded Washington — Three actors, one producer, and one theatreman were the five highest paid individuals in the motionpicture world during 1938, it was revealed last week, when the U. S. Treasury announced its list of salaries in excess of $75,000. The motion pictures’ “best five,” with remunerations, were Claudette Colbert, $301,994; Warner L. Baxter, $279,807; Darryl F. Zanuck, $265,000; Harry L. (Bing) Crosby, Jr., $260,000; Spyros P. Skouros, $254,500. Among those listed, of interest to The Exhibitor’s readers, were: Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. — William S. Paley, $171,849; Edward Klauber, $<8,304. Eastman Kodak Company Frank W. Lovejoy, $115,419. Fox West Coast Agency Corporation — Charles P. Skouras, $78,000. Heron Productions, Inc — Helen Hayes, $113,458. National Theatres Amusement Company, Inc. — S. P. Skouras, $254,500 ; Charles P. Skouras, $175,000. Paramount Pictures, Inc. — John Barrymore, $105,833 ; Joan Bennett, $94,333 ; Jack Benny, $250,000 ; Claude Howard Binyon, $100,000 ; Robert (Bob) Burns, $155,952; Claudette Colbert, $301,944; Ronald Colman, $102,083; Harry L. (Bing) Crosby, Jr, $260,000; Walter Deleon, $89,475; Marlene Dietrich, $130,000; William Claude Fields, $93,166 ; Robert Florey, $76,500 ; Henry Hathaway, $115,541 ; Arthur Hornblow, Jr., $145,166 ; Lucien Hubbard, $121,000; Harold H. Hurley, $111,954; Talbot Jennings, $96,333 ; Fritz Lang, $85,543 ; William Le Baron, $182,467 ; James Mitchell Leisen, $115,000; Albert Parsons Lewin, $114,958; Frank Lloyd, $150,749; Fred MacMurray, $183,333; Herbert Marshall, $93,750 ; George Raft, $186,964 ; Margie Yvonne Reed (Martha Raye), $81,958; Wesley Ruggles, $199,061 ; Alfred Santell, $122,000 ; Preston Sturges, $143,000 ; Harlan Thompson, $95,791; Raoul A. Walsh, $107,083; William A. Wellman, $136,805 ; Adolph Zukor, $170,400. Radio Corporation of America David Sarnoff, $100,220. Samuel Goldwyn, Inc. — Gary Cooper, $140,129 ; Samuel Goldwyn, $156,000 ; Jascha Heifetz, $100,000; Archie Mayo, $167,812; Joel McCrea, $152,000 ; Merle Oberon, $130,285 ; Robert Riskin, $180,125; William Wyler, $75,583. Selznick International Pictures, Inc. — David O. Selznick, $181,500; Leslie Howard, $141,249; George Cukor, $119,687. Myron Selznick and Co., Inc. Myron Selznick, $130,000. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation — S. R. Kent, $181,705; Joseph M. Schenck, $106,000; Darryl F. Zanuck, $265,000 ; William Goetz, $106,000; Don Ameche. $98,000; John L. Balderston, $88,500 ; Warner L. Baxter, $279,807 ; Harry Joe Brown, $122,041 ; David W. Butler, $133,000 ; Irving Cummings, $105 000; Roy Del Ruth, $216,741 ; Alice Faye, $87,000 ; John Ford, $169,791 ; Mack Gordon, $100,250 : Raymond Griffith, $117,375 ; Jack Haley. $90,000:. Son.ia Henie, $113,000; Nunnallv Johnson, $119,166; Hlenry King, $133,500; Sidney Lanfield, $92,083; Walter Lang, $89,499 ; Sonya Levien, $77,066 ; Kenneth MacGowan. $104,333 ; Gene Markey, $87,166 ; Victor McLaglen, $125,475 ; Annabelle Murat, $87,500 ; Tvrone Power. $140,750; Gregory Ratoff, $104,333; William A. Seiter. $117,583: George J. Sommerville, $80,000; Shirley Jane Temple, $114,848; Sol Wurtzel, $182,583; Jack S. Yellen, $76,800; Loretta Young. $181,615. United Artists Corporation — Maurice Silverstone, $87,000. Walter Wanger Pictures. Inc. — Charles Boyer, $1^1.000; Henry Fonda. $105,000. Walter Wanger Productions. Inc. — Walter F. Winger, $130,000; Fredrick March. $136,311. Western Electric Company, Inc. — E. S. Blo^m, $88,755. Louis B. Maver. Metro head, who led all others on the 1937 list with $1,161,753 was not shown for 1938, nor were topranking Metro stars. The Treasury indicated there may be additions to the list, and at that time salaries of other film people may be listed. January 31, 1940