Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1928)

February 11, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MO\ ING PIC 11 RE \\ « > K I I ) 21 Fox Deal for F. & R. Reported Set $915,350 Grossed in Details for Buying Chain in "Fox Week "; Amount N. W. Complete, Is Rumor Sets a High Record (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World ) NEW YORK, Feb. 7. — Fox reports gross receipts of $915,350 for the week ending January 27. The figure, which includes foreign and domestic business, is a new high weekly record. It results from the semi-annual celebration of "Fox Week" in motion picture theatres throughout the world. The previous high record was $829,000 for the week ending January 29, 1927. Phelps Decker Kills Self; Blame Despair Over Unemployment (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 7.— Phelps Decker, until recently scenario editor for Universal, committed suicide last week by gas. He was 41 years old. Despondency because of unemployment is said to be the cause of his act. The body was found by his wife. Decker assisted Elmer Clifton in the production of Pathe's "Down to the Sea in Ships." Arbitration Committee Cannot Try Non-Member Cases, M. P. T. O. Rules (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World ) PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 7.— The M. P. T. O. of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware has ruled that effective March 1 its committee on arbitration cannot sit on non-member cases before the board of arbitration. This action was made at the regular monthly meeting at which time the Brookhart bill was also endorsed. Officers for the ensuing year were elected and are as follows: Lewen Pizor, president; Floyd Hopkins, William Cohen, Sam Stiefel and M. Wax, vice-presidents; George P. Aarons, secretary; M. Lessy, treasurer; Columbus Stamper, Louis J. Appell and Mick F. Power, board of managers for three years, and Arthur B. Smith was elected an honorary member of the board of managers. Fire Injures Operator (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) ST. LOUIS, Feb. 7.— Fire in the operator's booth of the Palm theatre destroyed $600 worth of film and damaged musical instruments valued at about $600. Edward Baker, operator, was burned severely. E. C. Cunningham Dies (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World ) SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 7— Edward C. Cunningham, for years an exhibitor of Pacific Grove, Cal., passed away here January 30, at the age of 52 years. He was a native of Denver. "Edison" Week on West Coast LOS ANGELES. — West Coast Thomas A. Edison Week will be celebrated in every West Coast theatre from San Diego to Seattle. One of the features of the programs in all the houses will be the showing of old time reels. Purchase Would Give Fox Half of First National Stock, with Control Near By JOHN S. SPARGO NEW YORK, Feb. 7. — Official announcement will be made within a few days of the purchase of the Finkelstein & Ruben chain of approximately 150 theatres by William Fox, according' to present indications. Moe Finkelstein and others of the chain owners, together with their attorneys, have been in New York for several days and, it is understood, have held several conferences with the Fox officials and attorneys. Details Worked Out, Is Report Details of the deal have all been worked out and are awaiting the whipping ot all the various angles into legal shape for signing, according to an unverified but strong rumor. Nothing can be learned from the Fox offices, and this is not astonishing in view of Mr. Fox's experience a couple of years ago when he purchased 36 per cent of the stock of the West Coast Theatres. Negotiations for the closing of sufficient of the remaining stock to give Mr. Fox control, were apparently all settled and Sol Lesser had his pen in hand to sign, when something happened and Lesser got away without signing, Fox thereby losing control. Xow all the names will be on the dotted line before announcement is made by Mr. Fox of any theatre deal. The purchase of Finkelstein & Ruben it is generally believed, will give Mr. Fox almost, but not quite, control of First National. With his purchase of Wesco he secured 28 per cent of the First National stock. Finkelstein & Ruben is supposed to own 22 per cent. This would give Mr. Fox 50 per cent of the stock by the two deals. Those who know Mr. Fox are of the opinion that he has or knows where he can get a fewmore shares and that he will have full control. Fox Deal with F. & R. Closed, Coast Hears By DOUGLAS HODGES HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 7.— Fox Films last week closed a deal with Finkelstein & Ruben for purchase of its chain in the Northwest, according to unofficial report here today. The absence of Winfield Sheehan from Los Angeles makes it impossible to obtain confirmation but information of a trustworthy nature lends it authenticity. With the transaction Fox gets 22 per cent of First National stock which is added to 2S per cent bought last week. The total of 50 per cent is believed to be practically a controlling interest due to scattered stock owned bv franchise holders in East. Clara Bow Faces Knife; May Be Weeks in Hospital (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 7.— Specialists state that Clara Bow's pending appendicitis operation will result in her being required to remain in the hospital for several weeks. Plans for her work at the Paramount lot have been suspended until definite word has been received following the operation. Hold Free Sunday Shows ( Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) AMARILLO, Tex., Feb. 7.— After operators had been arrested twice, two Amarillo, Texas, theatres Sunday were run as free shows in an attempt to discover some means of operating Sunday shows locally without violating the state blue laws. There are more than 50 cases on court docket at Amanita awaiting trial. Guatemala Houses Closed (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.— All moving picture theatres in Guatemala have closed because of the alleged excessive special taxes imposed upon them, according to advices from the American Consul in Guatemala in a report made public by the Department of Commerce. Flames Sweep Two Theatres But Bravery of Organist and Comedian Avert Disorder Billy Ganz, organist at the Isis theatre, Kansas City suburban house, was headlined in the daily papers as the hero of the hour last week. As Billy was playing .a solo he saw Barnes shooting up from back stage. He summoned the manager, quietly, who requested the audience to file out as Billy played a march. As the last patron left the theatre the burning curtain fell across the console, showering Ganz with flaming debris, but Billy picked up his music and fled. Damage to the theatre was estimated at $15,000. Only six months before he lost $200 worth of music in a theatre fire in Sedalia. Heroism on a par with Ganz's was displayed last week when Rody Jordan, blackface comedian, told jokes and played a saxophone until smoke drove him from the stage in a fire at the Fair theatre, Amarillo, Texas, preventing disorder in the audience. The theatre was emptii d in an orderly manner, but was considerably damaged.