The Film Daily (1937)

THE -c&m DAILY Monday, Oct. 4, 1937 0. C. THEATER TILTS ADMISSION 15 CENTS (.Continued from Page 1) make the move. It is indicated that the old top figure of 55 cents in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa eventually will be restored. In other towns the prices have been hoveling: between 20 and 35 cents top, while the possibility that a straight 35 and 40 cent scale will be adopted. West Side Detroit Houses Weighing Admission Boost Detroit — Talk of a price boost among West Side houses was current at the week-end, following ironing out of a tough competitive situation by acquisition of the Capitol Theater by Cohn Brothers from Associated Theaters. Typical situation was noted at Joseph B. Mitchell's Rex Theater, where attendance has dropped slightly from last year at the same time, as is typical of other houses, but the net revenue has shown an increase. Secret is in the abandonment of giveaway schemes, which drew crowds but cost extra money a year ago. Seven Toledo Nabes Send Admission Scales Upwards Toledo, 0. — Admission prices in several neighborhood theaters have been raised, with others reported planning to take the same steps. The Lyric, Avalon, State, and Bijou have raised their admissions from 20 to 25 cents for adults, and the World has raised the admission from 20 to 25 cents on Sundays only. The Eastwood and Westwood will raise their rates next week from 20 to 25 cents. Lincoln House Ends Duals, Jumps B.O. Top 10 Cents Lincoln, Neb. — Milt Overman, Westland Theaters' city manager, has set the Vai-sity for single features after a summer of duals. Will also raise the price from 10-15 to 10-20-25. The first price jack in a year. Harding Funeral Today Funeral services will be held at Walter B. Cook Funeral Home, 117 West 72nd St., at noon today for Mrs. Lois Frances Clark Harding, 74, retired actress known on the stage as Lois Clark. She died Friday in a hospital in Brentwood, L. I. A sister, Mrs. Frances Mclver of New York, survives. THE WEEK IN REVIEW Columbia's Stage Plans — Zukor in London DOMESTIC (Continual from Page 1) budget for this purpose, it was stated, has already been set aside and active production is to commence soon. D. A. Doran, in charge of Columbia's story department, is expected to head the setup. * * * Another announcement, by President Harry Cohn, followed immediately to effect that company is prepared to sign the Dramatists' Guild basic agreement as an initial step in the program. Pronouncement breaks up united front maintained by the eight majors all last season against producing plays under the Dramatists' Guild contract unless changes desired by the companies were made. * * * Industry attention turned to Dallas during the seven-day span where U. S. District Judge William H. Atwell recently found for the Government in the action against the Interstate Circuit and eight national distributors to test validity of admish price regulation in subsequent runs through contracts providing the maintenance of specified minimum admissions. That the Government failed to prove conspiracy on the part of major distributors in its injunction action against them and the Hoblitzelle circuit will be contended by defense counsel in its appeal from decision of the U. S. Court at Dallas, it was indicated on Wednesday. * # * Ralph Rolan, vice-president of "March of Time" in charge of promotion since inception of that feature, resigned to accept a speial exec post attached to the sales and ad departments of RKO Radio. Ned E. Depinet, vice-president of latter company, said Rolan will assume his new duties today. * * * Following three months abroad, Louis B. Mayer returned to New York last Monday on the Normandie, stating that all M-G-M production scheduled for England will be designed as "A" pix. He reported (1) foreign business conditions as excellent and (2) Metro has no GB deal on tap. * * * A survey of exhibitor leader opinion as to what's to be done re the MPTOA 10-point trade practice program, will, it was learned, be undertaken by President Ed Kuykendall, who will hold conferences in seven cities in the course of a Coast trip this Fall. Swing will commence late this month when he Community Circuit to Reopen Cleveland House Dark 15 Years Clevejand, 0. — Max Lefkowich of Community Circuit is reconditioning the Tivoli Theater, Lorain Ave. and West 117th St.. which has not been used as a theater for the past 15 years. All new seats and equipment, as well as complete decorating is included in the job. goes to Seattle from his home in Columbus, Ohio. Kuykendall was reported working out idea for MPTOA sponsorship of an allindustry convention in 1938, with all associations representing allied trades invited to hold their annual meetings simultaneously with the exhib organization's sessions. FOREIGN (Continued from Page 1) study of the quota situation, calls for making of pix equal in quality to those turned out in company's Hollywood studio. Zukor and John W. Hicks, Jr., attended a two-day convention of Paramount's British and Continental European representatives at Grosvenor House. Other flashes from London told of (a) Victor Saville joining M-G-M's MPTOA-ALLIED MERGER CHANGES GALLED Nl 1 (Continued from Page 1) tional exhibitor associations have been made several times and on at least one occasion, were almost successful. Executive setup of the new association became a battle point and resulted in discarding of the plan. British unit at Denham as a producer and director; (b) Notification to stockholders by GB that payment will be made on Sept. 30 of the dividend for the half year ending on that date on the 5% per cent cumulative preferred stock, and (c) Acquisition of full film rights to the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas by newly-formed British company, General Cinema Finance Corp., Ltd., which will begin shortly to film them. COMFORT the Greatest Star of them all Whoever may be on the screen, the patron is in the seat. Stars come and stars go, but seat comfort pulls patronage the year 'round. We are specialists in seating comfort. Ask us ABOUT RESEATING YOUR THEATRE American Seating Company Public Sealing for Every School, Theatre, Church, Auditorium and Bus Requirement GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. Branch Offices and Distributors in All Trade Areas