Inside facts of stage and screen (April 12, 1930)

ESTABLISHED 1924 EDITED BY JACK JOSEPHS Vol. XI Entered as Seconi Class Matter, April 29, 1927, at Post- office, Los Angeles, Calif., under Act of March 3, 1879. Saturday, April 12, 1930 Published Every Saturday at 800-801 Warner Bros. Down town Building, 401 West Seventh St., Los Angeles, Calif. No. 15 REPORT FOX SETTLEMENT TO PROVOKE FILM BATTLE GEORGE AND FLORENCE Australia’s Leading Ballet Producers NOW IS TIME FOR SMALLER THEATRE MEN SAN FRANCISCO, April 10.— The small theatre owner, whose business has been in a panicky state for the past year and a half, is on the road to .prosperity. If he isn’t on the road at least he stands a better chance of getting there than does the |srge theatre owner, in the opinion of .exhibitors ana exchangemen who have made a study of the present situation. When sound and talking pic- tures first crossed the horizon, theatre owners who installed talkie equipment, generally cleaned up, often at the expense of the smallie, whose trade flocked to the house advertising the audible films. Now the situation has reversed with four reasons given for the about face of the public’s atten- tion. The reasons are: 1. The small house ordinarily has better sound than the larger theatre with its balconies, arches and intricate construction. In any part of a thousand seater sound is infinitely better than in a three thousand or a four thousand chair house. Important Factors 2. Lower prices are an import- ant factor. Whereas the general admission for a downtown theatre is 65 cents, the usual tariff for a suburban house is from 25 to 40 cents. Add to this the fact that class A suburban houses under the present zoning law, get a feature picture within three to four weeks after its downtown run and at an average of 25 cents less admission, these two factors alone will oorral plenty of ticket buyers, who for- merly were wont to travel into the downtown area for flicker amuse- ment. 3. In addition to better sound the smaller theatre ordinarily has better projection. One theatre man- ager gives as a reason for this the fact that the chief of a smaller or suburban house is in closer con- tact with his projectionist and therefore on more friendly terms with him, _ and generally the latter will do his utmost to assure the house the best he can give. 4. The suburban house has the key to the parking problem, a bugaboo in the business life of any downtown film palace. This alone is responsible for a large part of the district theatre’s steady busi- ness. New Theatre Trend So evident is the new trend in theatre attendance that several men, formerly prominent in the (Continued on Page 2) REMODEL CALIFORNIA The California Theatre here is to close down next week for com- plete remodeling. The work is expected to be completed early in May. DAUGHTER INJURED Leona Marie Ogden, 6-year-old daughter of The Wonder Girl,’ playing the Million Dollar, fell and broke an arm last week. NO U. THEATRE Rumors that Universal is plan- ning a theatre on the corner of Sixth and Western, just purchased by Carl Laemmie, were denied at the studios this week. U., which recently got rid of all its theatres, is not planning any new ones, it was stated. In addition to this strategic corner, said to have brought $400,000, Laemmie owns the excellent theatre spot at the corner of Hollywood boulevard and Vine street, valuation of which is set at $1,500,000. LAUGHLIN WITH F. M. Jack Laughlin has been engaged by Fanchon and Marco to train the all-male chorus for the “Good- fellows” Idea. Laughlin formerly produced at the Carthay Circle, also in Chicago for Publix. He returned here a few weeks ago and Marco picked him up as soon as he found he was available. Frank Sebastian is sporting a new 16-cylinder Cadillac. MERGER TALES The Fox settlement is regarded by independents to be an adroit but complete victory for Winnie Sheehan. The appointment of William Fox to chairmanship of the advisory board for five years at a salary reputed to be half a million a year, they say, is nothing but a scheme to keep him out of inde- pendent production. They charge also that while the Paramount-Warner Bros, merger is held up officially, in reality it is a fait accompli. Persistent reports in inside cir- cles give credence to the belief that independent producers, dis- tributors and exhibitors are mar- shalling forces for an attack on both deals. General Furore The Fox settlement, far from resulting in a clearing atmosphere and a settling down to routine business, has resulted in a general disturbance in all ranks. Despite press reports from New York to the effect that the organization as a whole will remain unchanged, and the reported telephone mes- sage from Winfield Sheehan con- firming it, it is the frank belief of all that an earthquake in per- sonnel is in the cards and will break any hour. At the outset of the recent squabble in high places William Fox is known to have sent out an appeal to everybody in Los Ange- les and Hollywood in any way connected with Fox activities for sympathetic support, with the re- sult that as many as could strad- dled the fence, a few doughty souls taking definite sides either with Fox or Sheehan. Those who sponsored Fox claim to have no illusions as to their fate, and those who endeavored agilely to stay on the fence are now on the anxious seat, wondering if they are to be disciplined fpr not supporting Sheehan. Old Tales Rife There are persistent reports to the effect that the coming elec- tion of a new board will see Louis B. Mayer, Joseph Schenck and W. R. Hearst installed as the tri- umvirate, with Nicholas Schenck wielding presidential authority, Fox remaining chairman of the advisory board according to the terms of his contract. The ex- tent of actual influence on such a board, if elected, requires little speculation. When confronted with the ru- (Continued on Page 2) -YOU’LL SEE IT IN FACTS —- 11 ' ■■■' ^ -