Motion Picture Daily (Jun-Aug 1931)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, June 26, 1931 Warners May Get Keith's In "PhiUy i 99 (Continued from page 1) appear to be greeted with cheers in the Stanley circles, inasmuch as this company recently closed the Boyd theatre from a combination of poor business and shortage of product. With the bulk of Paramount films, 36 being the reported number, going to Stanley-Warner, Keith's would be hard put to maintain its independent standing through lack of films. The mention of the theatre in the deal seems to be sort of a protection measure to the Al Boyd interests. "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" "Hell's Angels" on Twin Bill Program "Hell's Angels" has finally hit the double feature category and goes into the Castle Hill theatre in the Bronx for three days starting Saturday. The same house last week played "City Lights" on the same bill with "Doctors' Wives." It's a Cocalis-Springer house. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Paramount Now in Control at Hamilton Hamilton, O.— The Rialto, 860seat house, which has been operated by Jewel Photoplay Co., of which John A. Schwalm is president, has been taken over by Paramount on a 10-year lease. This gives Paramount control of the city with its new 1,500-seat house opened a few months ago and the recent acquisition of the Palace through lease. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Operators in New Orleans Accept Cut (Continued from page 1) wage scale is $45 a week, have already received a concession, the operators to work one man to a booth instead of two. Stage hands apparently will not take any cut, while musicians at the Saenger have done away with the overtime during June, which, for the first week, amounted to $250. "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Exhihs* Duty in Buy Now to Be Cited (Continued from page 1) buying spurt by exhibitors in order to safeguard new production quality, exhibitors are to be told. Under curtailed buying, it will be pointed out, studios are fearful of returns and averse to making big outlays on product. "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Loew 40 Week Net Drops $3,653,875 (Continued from page 1) the present dividend rate, despite drop in the net, is attributed by The Wall Street Journal to "depression proof" policies which the paper says the Loew management has followed. Purely Personal CHARLES E. KURTZMAN, special field representative and personal assistant to General Manager Harry Arthur, of Fox Theatres, returned on the Vecndam after a brief sojourn in Bermuda — Charlie's first vacation in eight years. Kurtzman has been supervising the activities at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis and was accompanied on this trip by Frank Hicks, assistant manager at the Fox St. Louis ; Forrest Richards, the St. Louis Fox art director ; Ron and Don, organists, and Maury Foladare, advertising manager of the Fox Theatre in Philadelphia. Stanley Gosnell, formerly manager of Loew's Valencia in Baltimore, who later went to Richmond to manage Loew's theatre, there, and then was at the Penn in Pittsburgh, for sometime, is back in Baltimore by request of William K. Saxton, Loew's city manager there. Gosnell will go back to his former post at the Valencia while Joe Kavanaugh, manager there pinch hits around at various theatres while others are on vacation. Miss Eleanor Klein, secretary to Mr. Saxton, is on vacation now. Olin H. Lambert, who has been transferred from the M-G-M branch at Albany to the Washington office, did plenty of handshaking at a farewell dinner tendered by his associates. When he left town he was sporting a gift traveling bag. Sam Morris rates a real palm for the manner in which Morris Month went over in May. The tremendous number of playdates is a fine tribute to the popularity Morris enjoys throughout the industry. Andy Smith can wear the smiles these days following closing of contracts for the Bobby Jones series of shorts in the 25 houses of the Publix circuit operating in the Boston territory. E. B. Hatrick, general manager of the Hearst film interests, leaves for the Coast in about two weeks for the Charles A. Leonard, publicity director for the United Artists Theatre in San Francisco, is recovering from an appendicitis operation. A. J. Vellner of the New York office is pinchhitting for him. Tames R. (Jimmy) Grainger, is celebrating the biggest week in Fox history. More circuits have been closed to date than were set in five months of selling in the 1930-31 season. LoRNA Balfour, daughter of the actor-director, makes her talker debut in "Merely Mary Ann," Fox talker which co-stars Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. Sam Leffler, manager of the Europa, Philadelphia, spent several days in Washington aiding Herman G. Weinberg to exploit "The W Plan." Archie Mayo visited the boys at the Motion Picture Club yesterday. Frances Starr, former Broadway stage star, has made two pictures to date for First National, but will make her debut, so far as release is concerned, in "Five Star Final." Harry Cohn, of Columbia has purchased a yacht and named it the Jobella, derived from the first names of his parents. It is 59 feet long. Mrs. C. H. Buckley, wife of the owner of three Albany theatres, has returned from a vacation in Bermuda. John Nolan, assistant to James R. Grainger, Fox general sales manager, is back in New York after a tour of central states. John H. Swartout of Schenectady has just been named manager of the Griswold in Troy, N. Y. Congrats. Arthur W. Kelly sails for the Continent on July 6 or 8, the date depending on several matters. "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Cantor Going Abroad Eddie Cantor leaves within the next few weeks for an extended goodwill tour of the principal cities of Europe, making personal appearances in London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Rome and other cities in connection with the showing of his second talking picture, "Palmy Days," just completed for United Artists. "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Bette Davis III Universal City — Rushed to her home from the studio yesterday afternoon, Bette Davis, whose work in "Seed" won her a featured role in Universal's production of "Waterloo Bridge" with Mae Clarke and Kent Douglass, was reported slightly improved and likely to avoid the necessity of an operation for append! ritis. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Shunting Patrons San Francisco — Paramount, one of the big Market Street houses, a 3,000seater, had closed its Golden Gate entrance and shunts all patrons to the Market street entrance. Paramount appears now to be the weak sister of the three Fox first-runs, and the closing of the Golden Gate avenue entrance is a slight savings in overhead. "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" R. & B. Buy Sixth Rugoff and Becker have added the sixth house to their circuit with acquisition of the Lee in Brooklyn. The circuit operates two at Long Beach, two in Brooklyn and another in Long Island. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Henius at Joinville Paris — Wolf M. Henius, formerly in the foreign version department of the M-G-M studios in Culver City, is now with Paramount at Joinville. "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Cabanne Assigned Universal City — Christy Cabanne is to direct "Graft" for Universal with Sue Carol and Regis Toomey as leads. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Bomb Non-Union House Portland — A heavy barrage of stench bombs was placed at the Rivoli, recently-opened non-union house. Four Out of Five Get It In Portland 46 Portland — Four out of the five first runs went over the top this week, only the Rialto falling below its average take. The Orpheum got the big money, $15,600, or $5,600 over normal, but the credit is given to Olsen & Johnson, headlining the vaudeville bill, instead of the picture, "Beyond Victory." "Daddy Long Legs" beat averai^i by $1,400 in its second week; "Svengali" by $500, also in its second stanza ; "Always Goodbye" by $2,80(1. Heavy showers, which drove patrons in from the streets, were responsible in part for the good business enjo.\rthroughout town. Estimated takings for the week end ing June 24 : "DADDY LONG LEGS" (Fox) FOX BROADWAY— (L912), 25c-50c, 2n(l week, 7 days. Gross: $6,400. (Average, ¥5,000.) "DUDE RANCH" (Para.) FOX RIALTO— (1,498), 25c-.35c, 3 days. Gross: $L500. (Average for week. $4,0110.) "SIX CYLINDER LOVE" (Fox) FOX RIALTO— (1,498), 25c-35c, 4 clays. Gross: $1,900. (Average for week, $4,000.) "SVENGALI" (Warner) HAMRICK'S MUSIC BOX-(1,800), 2Sc, 2nd week, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (A\ri age, $4,000.) "ALWAYS GOODBYE" (Fox) PARAMOUNT— (3,068), 25c-60c. 7 days. F. & M. "North, South, East, West," Idea. Gross: $14,800. (Average, $12,000.) "BEYOND VICTORY" (RKO Pathe) RKO ORPHEUM— (1,700). 25c-50c, 7 days, Olsen & Johnson and 3 other vaude acts. Gross: $15,600. (Average, $10,000.) "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" A Free SouF' Bucks Denver Hot Weather Denver — Warm weather paid a visit to Denver with the result that the fans did not pay as many visits to the theatres. Only one picture, "A Free Soul," went over par, ringing UD a total gross of $16,000 against an average of $15,000. Estimated takings for the week ending June 25 : "A FREE SOUL" (M-G-M) DENVER— (2,300), 25c-35c-65c, 7 days. Fanchon & Marco "Varieties" Idea, Denver Grande orchestra. Gross: $16,000, (Average. $15,000.) "DADDY LONG LEGS" (Fox) HUFFMAN'S ALADDIN— (1,500), 3.Sc50c-75c, 2nd week, 7 davs. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $7,000.) "SIX CYLINDER LOVE" (Fox) HUFFMAN'S TABOR— (1,900), 25c-.-i5c50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $10.000.) "JUST A GIGOLO" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT— (2.000), 25c-35c-50c, 7 day.s. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $11,000.) "NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET" (M-G-M) RIALTO— (1,040), 25c-35c-50c, 7 davs. Gross: $2,500. (Average. $3,750.) "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" "Hook, Line, Sinker" Tour for Radio Stars Wheeler and Woolsey will make personal appearances in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Spain this summer. Woolsey is leaving this week to join Wheeler in New York. They are to make personal appearances with "Hook, Line and Sinker."