Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1935 SHORT SUBJECTS from Philly by Nonamaker ANN MrDERMOTT and ANN ROSEN won Horlachcr Thanksgiving turkeys, which they generously turned over te> the lady who cleans the Capital Exchange . . . Oxford Theatre closed two days prior to Stanley-Warner assuming full charge . . . Boyd Theatre, Chester, cekhrates fir:t anniversary . . . JACK BLUMBERG celebrated first wedding anniversary Monday . . . BARNEY COHEN. Admiral to you, is honestly going to g;t married . . . The game business has now reached the pjir.t of how many flashy gifts you can afford to give out . . Having played most of the available headline colored asts SAM STIEFEL'S Fays is now in the repeat stage . . . The First Division crowd, both from New York and Philly. did themselves proud in the send-ott tendered ETTA SEGAL last Friday evening . . . BUDD ROGERS was in town Saturday fcr the Army-Navy Game . . . Called up JOHNN Y GOLDER and they got together artsrwards to discuss business and other things . . . BEN (Ma ter Art;) STERN did nicely with his O'Mahoney-Georgewrestling reels and is now lining up additional product to handle in the territory . . . It's unanimous on the street that business is terrible and that headaches are legion . . . Must be the pre-holiday slump; and Sundays have been no help to the small neighborhood houses, either. There are numerous reports that they do no mere in seven days than they did in six . . . Maybe COLUMBUS STAMPER and several ethers had the right idea by staying shut at that! . . . MOE (Europa) VERBIN ail booked up with plenty of Amk.no Russ stuff . . . Which reminds us ths: U-A's ' Red Ssilute" was picketed uneventfully at the Aldine by pacifists and ethers who no like because of subject matter against them and their cause . . . Censors ordered plenty of "art stuff" out of the Jimmy Savo "G'rl in the Case" indie; but we understand it's still a good picture . . . Caught an old, old Chaplin relic the other night rt a prvate 16mm screening. Rememb-r, ' Behind the Scenes"? Remcrr.br how ."-'d'ences u^rd to howl at this slaptick? . . . Time will tell on .rivone and anything — even the movies . . . Which lead" us to wonder wh thrr the geed old days weren't actually as much dvc » tedv? MOE SHERMAN. FD salesman for Scranton t rr'tery, t'ken suddenly ill Monday nits ju t as !v» wi preparing to leave on a tr p . . . OSCAR NEU^ELD r-mrt-d -Mff-rini; frem schizophrenia . . . JOE CONWAY, a ruck-r fcr any cir-us, went ovrr to New York just to see the circu--musicomcdv show ' Jumbo" . T "V ^ specularon on the Street on who might take over top dutif in Crmcrfcrd <"*reu°t. I r (1 r rav FRANK WALKER won't t-k-j ': . . TO" LEON continues to improve, b-;t is rt'U >^ pitaling. The Univcr-al rfli-e 't?.ff vKt.-d '■' ~ S-twrday evening ard k'b't-ed a'va" f-v ho.-rs . . . GEORGE FJNKELSTEIN U • Advertising, received binir. o~ ad acccs orie sales for last three-month period . . . Constance Bennett Signed Ey C Mi hid BM-on, product'on who is in Hollvwood in ( c chi-f of G-B. of Am-ri-"? talent, has signed Constance IVnn t; h rfr "i a series of pictures for the Br'tish romparv. Two ttcrVs have already been selected for t':e ferm-r RKO and Warner star and she will leave for England shortly to start work on the first. MERRITT CRAWFORD OBSERVING THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY NEW YORK. Hollywood bankrolls are back of at least onerhird of the legitimate stage productions, which have p ned on Broadway so far this season. Out of some orty-six stage plays produced to date, no less than ixteen are credited with being backed either wholly 3r in part by motion picture money, most of it from 3ne or another of the major film companies. Warner Brothers, M-G-M, and Paramount are said to be the heaviest plungers in this field, with various individuals figuring as the ostensible backers of other productions, but using the same kind of money. It is said, that more than three quarters of a million dollars has already been invested by film interests in stage plays since September, with the prospect of the figure passing well over the million mark before the end of the season. All of which should be interesting to motion picture showmen, who ultimately will have to pay in th.ir rentals, directly or indirectly, the million or so paid out by the big companies in their ventures in legitimate stage production, particularly, as more than two-thirds of the film-financed stage plays turned out this season have already proved to be "flops'' of the first magnitude. Stage production by the big film companies, with a view to developing new material for the screen, looks like a "natural'' on the blue prints. The money to be made on a successful stage play, as well as the added prestige at the boxoffice, which the screen version later will enjoy (thus whooping up the rentals, of course) is a temptation that the big film companies cannot be expected to resist. Last year they backed a few good ones. That is why they are plunging into heavy money in stage productions this year and are ready to throw more good money after bad. It's a system. Unfortunately, it is the exhibitor who must pay in the end, both for the successes and the ' flops," in increased rentals for his pictures. Moreover, a Broadway stage "success" is not invariably a guarantee of screen attraction quality. But the exhibitor pays just the same. So maybe the big boys aren't taking such a chance after all, when they dump a million or so into the legitimate stage play hopper this season. They know where they will get it back. This week the Film Daily Relief Fund starts its ninth annual drive for funds. This is a worthy charity designed to help needy motion picture men and their fann ies under the stress of sudden misfortune to tide over the emergency. It is organized to give quick and effective relief, without days of investigation, :o those needing it, as in praetieally every instance the applicant (and his eligibility) is known to some member of the Relief Fund Committee. Since its founding nearly a decade ago the Film Dailx Relief Fund has dispensed sums tolalling an average of #6,000 annually, without a cent spent for administration or expense. It has aided innumerable cases during this time and has helped to restore many n otion picture men to economic security, which might otherwise no: have been possible had not help been available at a critical time. It is to be hoped that the response to the Relief Fund's appeal tins year will be no less generous than it has been in the past. Motion picture nun must help cash other. The Committee for 1936 is as follows: Jack Alicoate, chairman; Don Merscreau, secretary, Film Daily; "Red" Kami, Motion Picture Daily; Al Lichtman, M-G-M: Lou Nizer, Film Board of Trad'; Billy Brandt, N. Y. M. P. Theatre'.* Chamber of Commerce, and Gordon White, president of the Association oi Motion Picture Advertisers. Possibilities of organized exhibitors tying up with an independent producing companv, while they are talked about from time to time, seem to be as far oil .1ever. Quite p op. rly the matter should be discussed and considered fro:;: all possible angles before any definite commitments are made. There are so many pitfalls in mo t propositions that naturally it is well to go slowly. Yet, it is .1 matter 01 such vital importance to all unkept exhibitors that it should not be delayed too long. C Continued on Page 6)