Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

16 EXHIBITORS HERALD -WORLD October 4, 1930 "Meanest Buying Year" Laid to Percentage Plus 50-50 Split Exhibitors Operating and Booking Independent Chains Call Percentage Logical Rental Solution But Say Companies' Demands Bar Profits to Some Houses (Special to the Her aidWorld) NEW YORK, Oct. 2. — This has been "the meanest buying season we have ever encountered." That is the opinion expressed by a number of exhibitors operating and booking independent chains of from five to 20 theatres. Percentage, these men contend, has made the process of contracting for the 1930-31 product an extremely slow one, with the result that often there is a shortage of pictures for future playdates. Favor Percentage Principle In no instance did an exhibitor condemn percentage in its entirety. On the contrary, they all favored it, but stated that the difficulty arose in the methods of applying it. "We have no quarrel with percentage booking," declared a prominent chain operator. "In fact, I think it is the logical solution of the rental problem. "However, the percentage demands of some of the companies make it impossible for some of our theatres to show a profit. "Straight percentage without a split is very acceptable, and in a majority of instances that has been the basis of our contracts. We have been holding out, however, on those companies asking a percentage and a 50-50 split on all receipts over a certain gross. "It is the latter form of percentage which has made this the meanest buying season we have ever encountered. In some cases it has made a shortage of pictures for my theatres. "Two companies asking a percentage and 50-50 split have suggested that I book the product and get together later on the contract. This naturally would give me product immediately to set in, but such a plan does not appeal to me. How It Works "Just to show you how the percentage and 50-50 split work: One company, for instance, wants 25 per cent on receipts up to $800 and a 50-50 split above that. "Suppose we gross just $800. The company would get $200, and after I pay for shorts and other overhead my profit is just slightly over $26. The minute my receipts start dropping below the $800 mark I start losing. "Il is that knowledge, and an effort to try to avoid it, that have made this a tough buying season." Takes Film Board Post (Special to the Herald-World) MONTREAL, Oct. 2.— Mrs. Clare Sullivan has succeeded Miss Helen Channing as secretary of the Montreal Film Board of Trade. Mrs. Sullivan, formerly Miss Foley, has served in similar capacities at Omaha and Buffalo. Plan Radio Campaign For Advertising New Gloria Swanson Film (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 2.— Gloria Swanson's "What a Widow," which opened at the Rialto last Friday, is to be heralded for the next three weeks by one of the most extensive radio campaigns ever undertaken, it has been announced by United Artists. 952 radio stations in the United States and Canada will present vocal or orchestral renditions of the three songs in the picture, and it is planned to climax this international campaign by having Miss Swanson sing over an international hookup from Culver City, California, at the end of October. Coast-to-coast hookups of the National Broadcasting company, the Columbia company and the Quality group are being employed, and noted radio entertainers are participating in the campaign. Among those who will take part are Rudy Vallee, Billie Jones and Ernie Hare, Bernie Cummins, Wendall Hall, Phil Cook, Bert Lowns and Jack Albin. Incidentally, the star of "What a Widow" has been invited to make a concert tour of the United States and Canada next fall by the National Broadcasting Company's Artists' Bureau, singing from such stages as that in Carnegie Hall. Paramount Ready to Begin 100th Picture in Film Plant Near Paris (Special from Foreign Correspondent) PARIS, Oct. 2.— Production will soon begin on the hundredth talking picture made in the Paramount studios at Joinville, near here. A German cast is now being selected in Berlin for the picture that will mark the century figure in film production at the studios. Intensive production was begun at Joinville only six months ago. "Hell's Angels9 Banned in Toronto; Charge Film Reflects on Air Force (Special to the Herald-World) TORONTO, Oct. 2. — The Ontario board of censors has banned the air picture "Hell's Angels," which was scheduled for showing in a local theatre. The film is alleged to present an unfavorable picture of the Canadian Royal Air Force. The producers, it is understood, had declined to consider the board's request for elimination of certain scenes which were considered to cast a reflection on the personnel of the force, and therefore the board was unable to approve the picture. This explanation for the decision was made by Major J. C. Boylen, chairman. Hoover Has His Own Preview of "Big Trail" (Special to the Herald-World) WASHINGTON, Oct. 2.—Raoul Walsh's epic, "The Big Trail," a Fox picture, was given a special showing before President Hoover and his family and close friends in the White House. Arrangements for the preview were made by Harley L. Clarke, head of Fox, over long distance telephone from Chicago. Clarke was a luncheon guest of the President a few days ago. New Firm Formed Merging Christie And Metropolitan Charles Christie Heads Corporation —Capitalization $10,000,000, All Common Stock (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 2.— Actual merger of the Christie and Metropolitan Studios properties has been effected here in an agreement' just consummated calling for the purchase of interests in Metropolitan Sound Studios, Inc., the Christie Studio City properties, and the Christie Film Company by a new corporation called the Metropolitan-Christie Pictures Corporation. Incorporation is under the laws of Delaware, and capitalization, represented entirely in common stock, is for $10,000,000. Charles H. Christie, who with his brother Al, has long been an outstanding comedy producer, heads the new company, while William S. Holman, general manager of Metropolitan, will continue in that capacity in the new organization. Financing was through San Francisco and New York bankers, representatives of whom will serve on the board. James Cruze Finishes First Tiffany Special; Starts Another Soon (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 2.— James Cruze has completed directing of "She Got What She Wanted," the first Tiffany special. The film is now in the cutting room. Selected as one of the best ten directors by national poll in 1926 and 1928, Cruze has directed for Paramount, Pathe and Caddo. One of his most recent directorial vehicles is "The Great Gabbo." In handling the first of the Tiffany specials, Cruze directed his former wife, Betty Compson, who is starred in the picture. Other leading roles are taken by Lee Tracy and Alan Hale. Cruze is to direct another special production on which work will commence in a short time. This will be the second of the Tiffany specials for the new season. The title has not been announced. James Cruze Reopens After Installing Sound EAST ST. LOUIS.— The Columbia theatre here has reopened, following rne installation of sound. Louis Menges is the owner.