The Exhibitor (Nov 1941-May 1942)

7 Technicolor In New Records Dr. Kcdmus Issues Report New York — Technicolor established new records for feature motion picture photog¬ raphy and volume of release prints, ac¬ cording to the 1941 report of Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president and general manager, Technicolor, Inc., last week. Bookings of prints for the first quarter of 1942 continue at this high rate. Twenty feature length Technicolor pic¬ tures were produced in 1941. More than half this number are in production or in preparation in the first half of 1942. The past year again continued the record of every year beginning with 1932, that the footage of Technicolor positive prints ex¬ ceeded that of any preceding year. Positive print footage in 1941 was 97,014,757, compared with 80,632,168 in 1940. The 1932 output was 5,526,128 feet. The financial report of Technicolor, Inc., and its subsidiary, Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, as of December 31, 1941, shows current assets of $4,351,440.15 and current liabilities of $891,275.93. Cash balance was $3,402,777.20, which alone is approximately 3.8 times the current liabilities. Net current assets were $3,460,164.22. Net profit, after deductions which in¬ cluded provision of $560,937.52 for Federal taxes on income, was $942,912.22. In 1940 this was $882,125.65. Dividends of $1 per share were paid in 1941, as against 75 cents in 1940. Net sales were $6,390,289.13, comparing with $5,103,404.58 in 1940. Of these revenues, 33.37 per cent was paid to labor, 12.15 per cent to taxes, and 3.57 percent for executive officers, management, and general clerical salaries. Doormen Seats Sought ALBANY, N. Y.— Senator Peter T. Farrell, Democrat, and Assemblyman Edgar F. Moran, Democrat, introduced last week a bill providing that in New York City motion picture theatre pro¬ prietors shall provide suitable seats for doormen taking tickets. The pre¬ vious seat bill, killed in committee, was state-wide in application. If the present bill passes, it is thought pos¬ sible that doormen in other sections of the state might claim discrimina¬ tion. March 18, 1942 MPTOA Stand Incomplete NEW YORK — It was indicated last week that the UMPI new sales plan is meeting with opposition in MPTOA units. Although the MPTOA poll is incomplete, strong opposition is de¬ veloping, according to Ed Kuykendall, president. Carl Buermele, general manager, Co-operative Theatres of Michigan, believes the UMPI plan to sell pic¬ tures four times a year would be a definite improvement over the present groups of five method. Buermele said last week that he “certainly is in favor of the UMPI idea as an improvement.” MPTO of St. Louis, MPTOA affiliate, has okayed the UMPI substitute plan with certain reservations, it is said. Emanuel Feted By Film Men Philadelphia — More than 450 film men and friends from all parts of the territory paid their respects to Jay Emanuel, pub¬ lisher of The Exhibitor and prominent independent theatreman, at a dinner tend¬ ered him on March 16 at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel under the auspices of the Motion Picture Associates, Inc., local salesmen’s organization. Among those seated on the dais were Ned E. Depinet, Sidney Samuelson, Carter Barron, Rabbi Simon Greenberg, H. M. Richey, Andy Smith, Harry H. Thomas, Jules Lapidus, Joe Eagan, Ted Schlanger, Bob Mochrie, Bob Gillham, William Sussman, George Dembow, S. Barrett McCor¬ mick, James P. Clark, Reverend Sylvester McCarthy, Oscar Morgan, Jules Levey, Claude Lee, Jack Alicoate, W. F. Crockett, Paul Terry, Arthur Greenblatt, Fire Mar¬ shal Jacob Clinton, Lewen Pizor, Ely Ep¬ stein, Earle W. Sweigert, Bernie Kreisler, Louis Nizer, Lou Pollock, toastmaster A1 Cohen, and committee chairman A1 Davis. The guest of honor was presented with a plaque and a check for more than $1000, proceeds of the dinner, which he turned back to the Motion Picture Associates. Principal speaker was Nizer, who paid tribute to Emanuel, as did several others, who spoke briefly. Telegrams from all parts of the country were read, including industry executives who could not be present as well as Holly¬ wood stars. The Motion Picture Associates also held a drawing, with five defense bonds awarded, in addition to a door prize. THE EXHIBITOR Business Average Along Broadway "Woman" Ends Sixth Week New York — Business along Broadway as reported to The Exhibitor from usually reliable sources indicated average to good box office returns from the current crop of first run product last week end. “KINGS ROW” (Warners)— About $16,000 was indicated for the seventh week of this at the Astor. “WOMAN OF THE YEAR” (Metro)— Sixth and last week at the) Radio City Music Hall for the Hepburn-Traey starrer with usual stage show saw $49,000 in the till on the Thursday to Sunday week-end. “TO BE OR NOT TO BE” (United Artists-Korda) — Second Saturday and Sunday at the Rivoli did $13,000. Second week is estimated at $26,000. “THE FLEET’S IN” (Paramount) -The nauti¬ cal comedy at the Paramount did a $24,000 Sat¬ urday and Sunday, with stage show headed by Les Brown and band with Connie Boswell. Week is estimated at $60,000. “ALWAYS IN MY HEART” ( Warners)— This meller did $21,500 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Strand. Stage show is headed by Charlie Snivak and orchestra. “SONG OF THE ISLANDS” (20th-Fox) — Tech¬ nicolor musical did $30,878 Thursday through Sun¬ day with the usual stage show at the Roxy. “ADVENTURES OF MARTIN EDEN” (Colum¬ bia) — Meller did a $4,000 Saturday and Sunday at the Globe. “The Invaders” (Columbia) at the Capitol is reported doing nicely in its second week, as is Universal’s newest Abbott-Costello, “Ride ’Em Cowboy”, at the Criterion. Philly Action Delayed Philadelphia — At the third meeting sponsored by The Committee of 38 at the Broadwood on March 16, two significant steps were taken in the campaign of terri¬ tory independents against high film prices. Attendance was over 125, representing about 250 theatres, a majority of indepen¬ dent houses in the territory. It was decided that individual exhibitors would continue to refrain from making deals for “Captains Of the Clouds,” al¬ though it was intimated that Warners had come forth with alternate deals instead of straight 40 per cent. Likewise, a ceiling price plan for 40 per cent pictures, as made by a group of independent exhibi¬ tors, was presented, and secured plenty of attention. The plan would be used in the case of 40 per cent pictures, and it was indicated that many exhibitors would sub¬ mit the plan to film salesmen who asked for 40 per cent deals within the next fort¬ night. (Editor’s Note: a copy of the plan appears elsewhere in this issue.) Next meeting of the group will take place on March 30. Gravatts Cleared Camden, N. J. — Federal Judge John Boyd Abbott, U. S. District Court, last week cleared Frank P. Gravatt, Atlantic City Steel Pier, Mrs. Florence Gravatt, and the S. C. A. Corporation, in which the Grav¬ atts are officers, of allegation of conspiracy in the anti-trust suit filed last fall by Mebco Theatres Company, operators, Em¬ press, Atlantic City, seeking damages in the amount of $69,000. Litigation, however, still stands, and awaits trial against all of the other defendants. In the complaint, it was alleged that Gravatt conspired in agreement with the Weilland interests to prevent the Empress from getting first-run picture product in Atlantic City. Gravatt sold Weilland the land upon which the New Embassy was built. QUAD.