Inside facts of stage and screen (January 25, 1930)

PRICE 10 CENTS ONLY THEATRICAL NEWSPAPER ON THE PACIFIC COAST ESTABLISHED 1924 EDITED BY JACK JOSEPHS Vol. XI Entered as Second Class Matter, April 29, 1927, at Post- office, Los Angeles, Calif,, under Act of March 3, 1879. Saturday, January 25, 1930 Published Every Saturday at 800-801 Warner Bros. Down- town BuildiM-, 401 West Seventh St., Los Angeles, Calif. No. 4 MEETING HELD ON NEW FILM CONTRACT; REPORT PROGRESS Lone of COSTS WOULD BOOSI LEGIT An effort is being made by many of the astute show observ- ers to determine exactly what is the cause of the general failure of shows to make money in the legitimate field. Aside from the Duffy theatres, all of the houses have generally found it tough sledding during the past year. Some ascribe it to the bad shows, but all of the losing shows have not been bad and some of them, went into the red despite the fact that business seemed to be flourishing. It is just a matter of arithmetic, say some of those who have dropped rolls of various propor- tions in the game. Primarily, all houses are charging too much rent, the consensus of opinion says, The basis of rental for the- atres was at one time based upon the seating capacity, that is ,a fixed price per seat per month es- tablished the rent. Then came the boom and rents went soaring so that the general price of $1.50 per seat for a well located theatre jumped up to $5 and $6 a seat and then some. An ordinary house like the Hollywood Music Box, with a seating capacity of less than a thousand, asks something like $4000 a month rental. Four or five dollars a seat per month is considered nominal by the land- lords. When the overhead of op- erating the house is considered— the advertising, light, heat, license, taxes, janitor services, wear and tear on furnishings, and inciden- tals, not to mention the show, the stage hands and the orchestra— it can readily be understood that, regardless of the type of show, the net will hover close to $5000 per week, and from that to almost anything, depending upon the type of show and the quality of the performers. $5000 a Week Profitless So a show doing an average business of $5000 is not making any money and in order to get the profitable weeks it is neces- sary to put on shows the cost of which is a great gamble. However, good shows properly presented will make money, as is evidenced by the consistent win- ning weeks of the Duffy houses. But one show at the El Capitan lost money last year, according to Henry Duffy. Only two of them fell behind at the Playhouse, and (Continued on Page 5) TED REICARD AND CHRISTEL LE VINE Musical Comedy Favorites Featured this week at Loew’s State, Los Angeles. Fanchon and Marco’s “Trees” Idea RADIO PICTURES WILL INCREASE COLOR USE Color is slated to play a big- ger part in the Radio Pictures pro- gram this year than last 'in line with the general trend toward color. Estimate is that big pic- tures will be up to one-half made in color, as compared to approxim- ately one-third in color during 1929. REPORT EQUITABLE TO BUY TEC-ART STUDIO! A report which was not con-+ A1 Mannon, president of Tec- firmed states that Equitable, the producing organization for the newly formed Motion Picture Con- gress, is negotiating to purchase the Tec-Art studios. The report said the new company also planned to purchase the Winter Garden ice skating rink nearby with the object of converting it into an ad- ditional sound stage. Art, and John Boyce-Smith, vice- president, are both in New York at the present time, but whether or not in connection with this rumored deal was not disclosed. Harry Hoyt, preminent as a Hollywood director and producer, has been named production man- ager for Equitable. * The long-heralded new standard contract for picture players was understood to be “hot” this week. While semi-official sources de- clared it to be still in the “forma- tive” stage, a meeting of framers of the new document was held at the Roosevelt Hotel Tuesday night at the supper hour, and reports emanating therefrom were that “progress had been made.” Principal feature of the proposed new contract, it is reported, is a limitation of the hours of work per week for freelance players, with provisions for overtime where other work shall be required. It is also rumored that the “on or about” clause of the present contract is given a definite re- striction in the new instrument, with the date of pay forced to start within 48 hours of the day named. Various other minor clauses, many, it is said, borrowed from the contract advocated by Equity at the time of the Equity strike last summer, are also in- corporated. First reports of the proposed new contract came immediately fol- lowing collapse of the Equity strike. Almost immediately pro- posals were made that a new con- tract granting many of the Equity demands should be written, both to lessen the bitterness which threat- ened for a time following the strike and also to prevent any pos- sible recurrance. When the report got bruited about that the plan's were being made, the proposition was allowed to cool off, all sources connected therewith stating that they knew nothing about it. The proposed new contract is generally called a new “Academy contract,” but it is actually being framed by representatives of the producers association and of the actors, the latter being- drawn both from among those known as the “loyalists” during the strike and those who were with Equity. MACKLIN MEGLEY IS DIRECTOR AT RADIO Macklin M. Megley, for five years general manager of the RKO vaudeville production department, has signed a contract to assist in stage direction of Radio Pictures. His first assignment will probably be on a musical show soon to go into production. £ YOULL SEE IT IN FACTS