The Film Daily (1937)

THE 26 ■c&m DAILY Thursday, May 13, 1937 CANADIAN B. 0. SPURT REFLECTS BIZ UPTURN By A. C. MacNEISH FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Montreal, Que. — The economic uplift in Canada since Jan. 1 has reacted strongly in film grosses. The upward movement felt most_ in the larger cities during 1936 is now strongly reacted in the smaller cities and towns. During 1936, cities of over 100,000 population, having 22 per cent of the entire population and 30 per cent of the theaters grossed 50 per cent of the national income in the film industry. While places of under 10.000 population, having 63 per cent of the national population, and 53 per cent of the theaters, grossed only 18 per cent. For the first time since pre-depression days new theaters have been constructed in Greater Montreal; the Fifth Avenue, in Verdun, Astor, in St. Lambert's, and the Snowden in Notre Dame de Grace. Two were constructed in Drummondville, and others in Shawinigan Falls, Bourlangue, Hull, and.Rouyn in Quebec; one in Halifax, Nova Scotia; two in Toronto, and others in Simcoe, Sarnia, Ottawa, Timmms, Woodstock, Barrie, Leaside, and Waterloo Ontario; all withui the past four months. New theaters, in addition, are planned, or under construction, in Belleville, Ont., East York Township, Ont., Oshawa, Ont., Rouyn, Que.', Montreal Que. Leamington, Ont. Fort Erie, Ont., Ottay-% Ont., Sudbury, Ont. Rimouski, Odes,' Winnipeg. 'Man., and Thetfprd Mines, Several theaters in ToUonto and Montreal districts have wade extensive alterations, and two nf London, Ont., are now being completely renovated. The Star theater in Montreal has recently been reopened after being dark for some years. His Majesty s and the Imperial, changed over from legitimate to films some months ago, they have had record grosses; the former creating a record in showings, attendance and grosses for Montreal with "Wings of the Mornning" for 11 weeks, the latter, aided by community singing, radio advertising, and by introducing auction nights into Montreal has done fine biz. _. The success attending the Dinnerware GiveAway (ten cents charge for handling) at the Orpheum, encouraged five other theaters to embark on this policy, with equal success. Amateur Nights and Trucking Dance contests also brought higher grosses at some Montreal theaters. New Hot Springs Firm Little Rock, Ark. — Articles of incorporation have been filed by The Brown Theaters Co., Inc., of Hot Springs, naming Graham R. Hall, Little Rock, as resident agent. Incorporators are listed as Addys E. Brown, Hot Springs; William H. Williams, Little Rock; and Carroll J. Nicholas, Hot Springs. FMPC Launches Indie Studio Drive; Theater Picketing Said Ineffective (Continued from Page 1) large cities that initial picketing by members of Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers was without effect on b. o. biz. Announcement in Washington that the U. S. Department of Labor was maintaining a "watchful waiting" policy, with Secretary of Labor Perkins closely following reports from E. H. Fitzgerald and Ernie Marsh on the strike scene. IV est Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles, Calif. — Federated Motion Picture Crafts yesterday started a drive on independent studios, with the Studio Utilities Employees the first Federated organization to ask independents for wage increases from 60 to 82% cents per hour. The painters and machinists will also ask contracts with independents. The. con tract between the Screen Actors' Guild and major producers is expected to be for a five year period and providing for yearly conferences for revision. The newly formed society of Motion Picture Art Directors has appointed Max Parker, Richard Day, Van Nest Polglaze, Cedric Gibbons, Stephen Gooson and Felix Cunningham as a committee to meet with producers" regarding wage scales and 'Working conditions. THe'newly formed society of motion picture' editors will meet in a few days to decide, whether to be a Guild, organization or independent union, it was announced yesterday. The Association Of Motion Picture CoStumers, formerly affiliated with Federated, yesterday signed a four, year contract with the major studios. Pat Casey reported the strike as not hampering production and that production has increased in several studios. He also said that there is reliable information that most of the strikers are anxious to return to work and would do so immedi ately if not restrained by their leaders. He added that the strikers are being badly advised as studios are employing union painters as they need such workers, thus making it more difficult to re-employ these craftsmen when the stirke is concluded. Federated officials appealed to members of the Teamsters' Union to refuse to drive through the picket lines and declared their place is really with the pickets and in the Federated organization. A union leader declared that highsalaried stars are contributing money to the cause of the striking crafstmen. Charles Lessing stated that he had received word from Homer Martin, president of the United Automobile Workers, that 11 Detroit theaters would be picketed starting today at 10:30 a.m. and continuing until 9 p.m. He said that he had received word that the International Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators in New York were meeting there to decide on similar action. Broadway's film theaters, before which picketing began on Tuesday and continued last night as organized labor's expression here of sympathy and support on behalf of affiliated union members on strike in Hollywood, told The Film Daily that the activities of the pickets has so far produced "no apparent effect" on box-office receipts. Similar reports came from other cities. Louis Weinstein, secretary of District Council No. 9 declared his council, with a membership of 16,000, is considering an extension of its picketing to all film theaters in the five boroughs. Formation of a united front by organized labor in this city to support the eight unions on strike in Hollywood, was indicated by Irving Schnurman, assistant secretarv, who said a "general conference" was likely. Sees Air Conditioning Field in Studio Stages John R. Hertzler, manager of the air conditioning department of the York Ice Machinery Corp., has returned from the coast where he surveyed air condhV'oning possibilities for motion picture studio stages. Hertzler foresees "a considerable market." GN Takes "Damaged Goods" A new, up-to-date picture version of the Eugene Brieux play "Damaged Goods," will be distributed by Grand National Films, Inc. Adapted by Upton Sinclair, the cast is headed by Pedro de Cordoba, Phyllis Barry, Douglas Walton and Arietta Duncan. Seattle Projectionists Get 10-40% Pay Advance Seattle — Projectionists employed in the 18 houses of the Sterling Theaters, Inc., circuit here receive wage increases of from 10 to 40 per cent under a new agreement signed with the union. Pact provides for an additional 10 per cent jump for operators in September. Holdsberg In Des Moines Des Moines — Harry Holdsberg is announced as the new manager of the Paramount Theater, Tri-States house here. He has recently been doing publicity work in Newton. Kermit Carr, former manager, is being transferred to Ottumwa as manager of the Ottumwa Theater, replacing Lou Braun, resigned. WARNER URGES FAIR* SHAKE FOR PRODUCERS (Continued from Page 1 ) vited exhibitors, heard WB's vice prexy in charge of production assert that producers want to make quality pix but that encouragement is vital. "Give the producers a fair shake and don't try to see how you can bargain to buy product," he urged, adding that six of his 1937-38 features would cost more than was formerly spent a few years ago on an entire season's program by many companies. Present were Spyros Skouras, head of National Theaters and others from his organization, including William Powers, Jack Sullivan, Ed Zabel and Aubrey Schenck; W. G. Van Schmus, Director of Radio City Music Hall; John J. O'Connor of RKO; Ed Fay of Providence; John Nolan of the Comerford Circuit; Joseph Bernhard, General Manager of Warner Bros. Theaters and his zone managers; Frank Freeman of Publix. Among those to address the convention yesterday afternoon were Major Albert Warner, Joseph Bernhard, Robert W. Perkins, Harold Bareford, Samuel Schneider, Jake Wilk and the following theater zone managers: John J. Payette, Herb Coplan, Harry M. Kalmine, Donald Jacocks, Nat Wolf, I. J. Hoffman, Ted Schlanger, J. E. Coston and M. A. Silver. Last night, the conventioneers saw "Brother Rat". This morning's session will hear S. Charles Einfeld, Edward Selzer, Herbert Crooker, Harry Goldberg and Joe Blum. Grad L. Sears will make the closing address this afternoon. Formal dinner will be held in the Empire Room at the WaldorfAstoria tonight concluding the sales meet program. Milwaukee House Acquired Milwaukee— Mitchell Theater Co. is now operating the Park, local neighborhood house, formerly conducted by F. B. Wasielewski. SICK REPORT Peru, Ind. — Lora Satterthwaite, 40, motion picture machine operator, is in a local hospital in critical condition from burns suffered in a fire in his projection booth. Film ignited when it jammed in the machine. Damage was slight. Clayton, N. Y. — May Irwin, veteran stage comedienne, is reported improving rapidly from a stroke. She has been removed from a local hospital to her summer home ^ the St. Lawrence River. ■c Lenore Ulrich, actress, who has been suffering from a foot infection at Doctors Hospital, has left for her home at Harmon, N. Y., having recovered from the ailment. r™»»S!»3 * 0 m m t * ~m 00 mm * m / v m