Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

4 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN 'BEANO' PALACES HIT BOSTON Theatres Converted . . . Boston, Mass., — The success of the lotto chance games in theatres has brought repercussions unlooked for. This city has been hit by the opening of a large number of "Beano" houses, where, at the price of five cents per card, the patron has a chance to win from $1.00 to $5.00. Indicative of the widespread popularity of the game is the fact that several former movie houses have recently been converted into these "Beano Palaces." Inability to obtain sufficient product or a satisfactory run on pictures have been in most cases the cause for exhibitors turning to this new form of amusement. While Boston itself is amply studded with these game emporiums, it is in the surrounding seashore resorts that one sees the extent to which this enterprise has been developed. In many spots there are from two to four games being operated on each city block, each capable of seating several hundred people. Squawks Difficult . . . The fact that theatres have been conducting similar games for years has exhibitors on a spot from which they can hardly register an organized complaint against this form of competition. Also, there is the fact that theatre men themselves are said to be interested in many of the "Beano Palaces." STAR RAIDING Fox After Cantor . . . A short time ago Sam Goldwyn raided the Paramount star list and last week found himself with a $5,000,000 suit on his hands. Gary Cooper was the prize involved in that case. But today it looks very much as if the same Goldwyn faces the prospect of going into court to protect one of his most valuable star properties. Eddie Cantor, long chafing at the delays in getting his film productions under way, is reported to be conferring with 20th Century-Fox officials prior to walking out on the remainder of his contract with Goldwyn. Two more pictures are to be made by the pop-eyed comedian for the U-A producer under this pact. Cantor claims that the delays before his last two pictures got under way cost him many of thousands of dollars. His Goldwyn contract provides that his productions are to start within "a reasonable time" and he has expressed himself as determined to force a legal show-down on the definition of this expression. Loss of the famed, versatile comic will be an irreparable blow to Goldwyn, having always been his leading money-maker. CHEAP INSURANCE FOR ALLIED Lloyd's . . . Liability insurance, long one of the troublesome problems of theatre operation is on its way to being most satisfactorily settled, for members of Allied States Association at least, if negotiations which the organization are now carrying on with representatives of Lloyds' of London go through The deal, first announced at the convention in Cleveland, promises to save theatres from 20' , to 5 0' i on their present rates. Aaron Rosenberg, of Boston, representative of the insurance company, conferred with a group of Allied leaders in New York on Tuesday. The exhibitors' group is understood to be asking that the deal be offered exclusively to its members. If the youthful agent can sell this idea to his company, we will see the first uniform insurance deal ever put over by a national exhibitor organization. GRAND NATIONAL SIGNS MORE Bickford — Fan Dancer . . . A fair portion of its 1936-37 product set, Grand National officials, Edward Alperson, Carl Leserman, Ed Finney, returned to New York at the beginning of this week to complete arrangements for their distribution. Before leaving the coast contracts were signed with Charles Bickford to make and star in four productions this season; Sally Rand, famed wielder of the fans, who will star in "September Morn," which strikes us as a very appropriate title. Earlier, the G-N executives had closed a deal with Douglas MacLean to produce a series for the company. He goes to work immediately on the first James Cagney vehicle. NEWS ABOUT FILMS AND MAKERS Republic Budget Up . . . A decision to increase the budgets on many of the coming season's productions was reached by Republic's board of strategy in Hollywood late last week. Present were financier Herbert J. Yates, general sales manager J. J. Milstein, Eastern s. m. Ed Schnitzer and others. Two specials on the program are slated to cost $5 00,000, by far the most pretentious efforts ever made by this growing outfit. Columbia has finally decided on "Interlude," an original by sure-fire Robert Riskin, for Grace Moore's next singing starrer. "I Was A Captive of Nazi Germany," indie propaganda film, opens at the Globe in N. Y. Saturday, but encountered censorial trouble out in Chicago. It was turned down in the Windy City on the ground that the Germans might demonstrate against it. Ohio has approved it. Mae West's "Personal Appearance" gets some strong cast support with the selections of Randolph Scott and Warren Williams for roles. G-B is giving "Nine Days A Queen" a gala send-off in this country with a two-a-day showing at the Four Star Theatre out in L. A. Edward L. Alperson, Grand National prexy, left for London today (Wed.) to negotiate deals for foreign distribution of G-N's product. Paramount has substituted Charles Ruggles for W. C. Fields in "Count of Luxembourg," Irene Dunne starrer. Illness of the latter comic necessitated the switch.