Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

30 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 29, 1930 Playing Time in 4)200 Houses Qives Universal $15,000,000 Revenue Bookings Completed with All Big National Circuits — 40 Smaller Chains Comprising 700 Houses Also Are Signed (Special to the Herald-World ) NitW YORK, Nov. 28. — Universal has now completed its booking arrangements with all the big national theatre circuits, and about 40 independent circuits from which the company will derive a total revenue of $15,000,000. It is understood that the amounts involved in these recent circuit deals are $5,000,000 on the Publix and independents combined ; $3,000,000 for the R K O arrangement; $3,500,000 on the Warner booking; $2,500,000 on Fox West Coast circuit, and $1,000,000 for the Fox Metropolitan and Loew's New York circuits. HP HE two of the circuits with which nego■*■ tiations were most recently closed were Publix and Fox West Coast, both deals having been consummated this week. Previous to this, booking agreements had been signed with Radio-Keith-Orpheum, Warner Circuit, Fox Metropolitan, Loew's New York Circuit. In addition, 40 smaller circuits comprising 700 theatres have contracted for the 20 Laemmle specials and the short product. The Fox West Coast deal is said to have involved $2,500,000 in rentals for feature attractions alone. Playing Time in 4,200 Theatres Although the Publix deal has been underway for several months and has been virtually 100 per cent in operation, it was not until this week that the contracts were signed. Signing of all the big circuits and of the 40 smaller ones gives Universal, according to company officials, playing time in 4,200 theatres, giving U the greatest first run opportunity it ever has had. Included in the big Publix chain, which is intrenched in all the key zones, are the Publix-Gordon, Publix-Goldstein and Publix-Netoco circuits in New England; PublixComerford, Pennsylvania; PublixWalter Reade, New Jersey; Publix-Saenger, Southern states; Publix-Dent, Texas; PublixRickards & Nace, Arizona; Publix-Shea, Buffalo; Publix-Balaban & Katz, Illinois; Publix-Hostetter, Iowa and Nebraska; Pubjix-Finkelstein & Ruben, Minnesota and the Dakotas; and Publix-Sparks, Florida. In Independent Group In the independent group, the circuits are: Schine Theatres, up-state New York, 39 houses; Rupert Richards, New Orleans, 60; Griffith Amusement Co., Southwest, 54; Coston Theatres, Chicago, 56; the Co-operative of Detroit, 104; Glenn W. Dickinson, Kansas City, 24; Mid-Continent Circuit, Kansas City, 26; Robb & Rowley, Dallas, 24; Golden State Theatres, San Francisco, 34; St. Louis Amusement Co., 23; M. A. Lightman, Memphis, 22. Also Marvin Wise, Atlanta; Lucas-Jenkins, Atlanta; R. B. Wilby, Atlanta; Consolidated Theatres, New York; Manhattan Playhouses, Inc., New York; SpringerCocalis, New York; Leo Brecher, New York; Rosenblatt Circuit, Staten Island; Confederation Amusements and Lawrence Theatres, Montreal; Harris Circuit, New York; Lefkowich-Greenburger, Cleveland; Washington Circuit, Cleveland; Frank Durkee Circuit, Maryland; Interstate Circuit, Omaha; Nebraska Theatres, Inc., Omaha; City Theatres, Kansas City; World Realty Co., Omaha; United Theatres, New Orleans; Pirtle Circuit, St. Louis; Essaness Circuit, Chicago; Rogers Circuit, St. Louis; Leo Keiler, St. Louis; Fourth Ave. Amusement Co. and Broadway Amusement Co. (Fred Dolle), Indianapolis; Grombacher, Spokane; Alex Schreiber, Detroit; Associated Theatres, Maryland; Lake Amusement Co., Minneapolis; and National Theatres, San Francisco. Guns and Horses — But Dix Plunges In (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 28— Richard Dix,^ in playing the lead in "Cimarron" is proving himself one of the bravest men in Hollywood. Since he was a child, he has been afraid of guns and horses. 77»ere are more guns and horses in "Cimarron" than in any previous picture in the history of the industry. Dix has been plunging deliberately into the picture, even in shots where he hasn't been needed, to get close to both the things which cause this "complex." and he is winning out over his fear of both. Ottawa Draws Crowds To Juvenile Matinees With Added Features (Special to the Herald-World) OTTAWA, ONT., Nov. 28.— Special attractions are again drawing large crowds of juveniles to the theatres here. At a morning matinee Saturday, November 22, the Regent had a capacity house for "Feet First." The Avalon drew similar attendance when P. J. Nolan, manager, added "Black Waters," starring Rin Tin Tin, as an extra matinee feature. "King of Jazz" was the regular attraction. Children attending Saturday matinees at the Avalon are given membership in a kiddies' club. When their membership cards show attendance at 10 Saturday shows, a free admission is granted for the following week. Safe Crackers Amateurs But Get Theatre's $670 (Special to the Herald-World) SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28.— Safecrackers, declared by the police to be amateurs, got what they sought when they broke into the Lincoln Theatre, a neighborhood house. Hammering the combination off and manipulating the tumblers they looted the cash box of $670.43. The loss was discovered by manager Charles Michaels when he went to his office the next morning. Theatre Executive Dies (Special to the Herald-World) SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28. — Homer McElhaney, treasurer of the Geary theatre, passed away this week. Know Your Exchange Managers The exchange manager is the direct contact between exhibitor and distributor, and therefore it is to their mutual advantage to know each other. The Herald-World presents a series of brief sketches of exchange managers and their outstanding activities in the motion picture field. J. O. Rohd* JO. ROHDE, manager of the newly cen• tralized Oklahoma City branch of Warner Brothers, First National and Vitaphone, started in business with A. G. Spalding & Bros., selling athletic goods. In 1919 he became manager for Lucas Theatre Supply at Dallas. Two years later he signed with Fox as a salesman, going over to Universal the next year. In 1923 Rohde joined Pathe at Dallas, working as a salesman until late in 1926 when he was sent to New Orleans as manager. It was in Tanuary of 1929 that he joined Warner Brothers as manager in Oklahoma City. A J P. O'LOGHLIN, Canadian district man• ager for Fox with headquarters at Toronto, was born in Montreal and entered the film business in 1917 with Sawyer & Lubin, who had the first Metro franchise in Canada. O'Loghlin was general manager two years later for Regal Films, Ltd., Canadian distributor for Metro and First National. Next he became general manager for Specialty Film Import Company, handling Pathe product in Canada. From 1923 to 1924, O'Loghlin had his own company, Canadian Releasing Corporation, with the Canadian franchise for American Releasing Corporation's product. GEORGE LEFKO, Seattle manager for RKO Distributing Corporation, started in the film trade in 1913 at Cleveland and was with World Film until 1917. The next three years found him with Select Film, still at Cleveland, and from that connection he went in 1920 to Robertson-Cole, out of which organization came F B O which in turn became part of the RCA affiliations. He was city salesman for Robertson-Cole. Lefko was made Albany manager in October, 1929, and remained there only a month, being transferred to the Seattle office, over which he has continued to hold sway up to and including the present. J. P. O'Loghlin Gaorge Lafko