The Exhibitor (Nov 1941-May 1942)

Business Good On Broadway Grosses Keep To Average New York — Business in the Broadway first-runs continued good last week. Grosses as reported to The Exhibitor by usually reliable sources, were as follows: “KINGS ROW” (Warners)— This did $9,500 on its eighth Friday, Saturday, and Sunday weekend at the Astor. "TO BE OR NOT TO BE” (United Artists) -This reported $11,800 on its third Saturday and Sunday at the Rivoli. Third week’s total is esti¬ mated at $24,000, and it forholds a fourth week. “ALWAYS IN MY HEART” (Warners) This one got $14,000 on its second Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Strand with stage show headed by Charlie Spivak and his orchestra. “BEDTIME STORY” (Columbia) — Show got $59,000 Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Music Hall with usual stage show, plus March of Time’s “Argentine Question”. “THE FLEET'S IN” (Paramount) — At the Paramount with stage show headed by Les Brown and Orchestra and Connee Boswell this did $22,000 Saturday and Sunday, with $47,000 estimated for the week. “SECRET AGENT OF JAPAN” (20th CenturyFox) — Action show got $4,300 Saturday and Sun¬ day at the Globe. Roxy with first week of “Song Of The Islands” (20th Century-Fox) reported fair results, and held over a second week ; Columbia’s “Invaders”, in its third week at the Capitol, and Universal’s , Ab¬ bott and Costello starrer, “R'de ’Em Cowboy”, at thd Criterion, also in its third week, also were doing reported good business. NY Discrimination Bill Passed Albany, N. Y. — The Assembly last week passed the Washburn bill making it a mis¬ demeanor to exclude citizens of the state because of national origin as well as due to race, color, or creed, from employment in defense work or from enjoyment of privi¬ leges furnished by theatres. Tires Okayed LAWRENCE, MASS.— Following an interpretation given by a regional di¬ rector, the Lawrence Rationing Board reversed its decision of last week, and granted certificates for two truck tires to Mrs. Beatrice M. Richards, operator of a film delivery service. The board previously said the appli¬ cant could not be regarded as a com¬ mon carrier under the rationing regu¬ lations. The ruling changing the original ruling is that “the theatre patrons are the ultimate consumers, and not the theatres receiving the films,” thus making it possible for the concern to qualify as a business conducted on a wholesale basis. March 25, 1942 Blackout Info. Soon WASHINGTON — Official blackout regulations for theatres would be made available this week, the Office of Civil¬ ian Defense announced last fortnight. Theatre owners can expect to receive them within a few days. Allied Meets On Sales Plan New York — Allied’s board of directors was expected to come to agreement on a new sales plan as evolved by UMPI at the meeting this week. According to reliable reports, it is indicated that Allied members of the UMPI sub-committee will go into the resumed UMPI sessions today (March 25) with a definite unified plan. Six Allied units have approved the UMPI plan with reservations; three have rejected it, and offered substitutions. The board will re¬ view the counter-proposals, substitute sug¬ gestions, and reach a compromise. MPTOA’s official attitude on the new sales plan is still in doubt. Rumors that the UMPI plan would be junked, and a new one drafted were de¬ nied. Since the five consenting companies have declared that the UMPI plan repre¬ sents the limit to which they will go, it is likely that the changes, if any, will be of minor importance. Consult The T erritory Screening Guide for Trade Show Information. UFA Petition Denied Washington — Petition of Ernest Eisele for permission to re-open UFA’s activities here was denied last week by the Treas¬ ury Department. Eisele, an official of UFA, sought to re-establish the company as a distributor of non-propaganda Ger¬ man pictures, but the Treasury Depart¬ ment refused the request. Meanwhile, the FBI is continuing an examination of UFA’s books. The Exhibitor’s Service Kit Is the Season’s Hit. Trustees' Fees Approved New York — Fees of $22,500 were awarded to attorneys and trustees of Fox The¬ atres Corporation last week by New York Supreme Court Justice Morris Elder. Trustees each receive $2,500, and their attorneys, Herson and Bertini, $7,500; Dwight, Harris, Koegel and Caskey, $5,000; and Henry A. Uterhart, $5,000. THE EXHIBITOR Lights Out In Atlantic City Theatres' Marquees Go Dark Atlantic City — America’s most famous white way, the Atlantic City Boardwalk, home of a million dollar amusement in¬ dustry, was “dimmed-out” for the duration last week end. A sudden order from the headquarters of civilian defense in Trenton, N. J., plunged the city in darkness, save for neces¬ sary safety lighting, and every theatre marquee and sign in the resort went out. The Boardwalk, with its theatres and piers, and national advertising signs, took on the appearance of a ghost walk. Far out to sea there were flickering lights of buoys and the solemn clang-clang of buoy bells. Otherwise all was quiet. A large electric sign on top of Central Pier, installed at the cost of many thou¬ sand dollars less than one month ago, was blacked-out as well as the moving signs on top of Hamid’s Million Dollar Pier. All amusement places had special meet¬ ings to map out the future plans. First effect was a dropping off of last show busi¬ ness. Steel and Hamid Piers, preparing to open for Easter, must also undergo a change in plans. Picture houses on the avenue are using only lights necessary in the box office and in the outer lobbies. Chief theatre warden I. Perlin has or¬ ganized each theatre of the 20 in the resort into individual units for blackout and raid work, and reports 100 per cent co-opera¬ tion on the first test. The resort’s dim-out is permanent for the remainder of the war. What effect it will have on summer business can only be guessed. State Director of Civilian Defense Leon¬ ard Dreyfuss gave very stern warning that if results are not satisfactory with the “dim-out” a complete blackout nightly will be ordered by the Army. Philly House Robbed Philadelphia — In the darkened Forum a few minutes after the last show had fin¬ ished on March 22, two armed men in¬ vaded the manager’s office, punched two employees, threatened five more with death, and then fled with $1700 in cash. The money, receipts from the perform¬ ances of two days, was taken from a safe which was opened by one of the employees while the muzzle of a revolver was pressed against his temple. Police, who were notified immediately of the theft, believed the two bandits had remained hidden in the theatre after the last show, then had crept stealthily to the manager’s office, where the employees were assembled. NY Doorman Measure Dead Albany, N. Y. — The Assembly labor and industries committee killed last week the second Moran doorman measure to require a seat for persons taking tickets in motion picture theatres in New York City. A companion bill is alive in the Senate. QUAD.