Motion Picture Daily (Jun-Aug 1931)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, August 13, 1931 First Test On Zoning Is Launched (.Continued from page 1) tor, who claims his theatre is outside the protected zone by one mile but that Publix included him in the protection radius to get 90 days' protection for its houses at Norfolk. Youngclaus says that the alleged conspiracy has for its purpose the control of distribution of film in Nebraska and Western Iowa. The action brought yesterday at Lincoln, Neb., by W. N. Youngclaus is the result of the zoning plans instituted last year, under which it was proposed to zone all exchange territories. A zoning agreement was made at Los Angeles between distributors, affiliated and unaffiliated exhibitors. In a number of other spots, agreements were reached, but after Allied States Association repudiated all protection agreements, threatening appeal to the government against the zoning moves in which it refused to participate, zoning was discontinued in most territories. In Los Angeles, the unaffiliated group withdrew from participation on the continuing committee provided in the protection agreement, insisting this move canceled the agreement. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Fox Circuit Split-Up Effective Aug, 31 (Continued from payc 1) a tremendous saving. The home office staff will be eliminated with bookers to be assigned to a theatre in their respective districts where they will make headquarters. Change in the operative plan of Fox theatres is for the purpose of giving stability to local operation. In setting up local boards of directors leaders of the various communities will lend their support in suggesting plans or ideas for better operation of the theatres. The local complexion of operation with general managers in charge of full operation is said to be the first time any circuit has ever put such a plan into effect. The new set-up of division managers is as follows : Harry Woodin, Manhattan, Bronx and Long Island; Harry Goldberg, New Jersey and Brooklyn ; Marshall Taylor, Albanv and Buffalo; Herschel Stuart, New England Division ; H. J. Fitzgerald, Midwesco and Chicago. The de luxe theatres will continue under the management of the following : Charles E. Kurtzman, Roxy, New York ; Monty Salmon, Fox Brooklyn; William H. Raynor, Fox Detroit; Harry Crull, ¥ox Washington, and Harry Greenman, Fox St. Louis. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Warner Oppositions Getting MGM Films (Continued from page 1) tification has been made either to the local distributing office or to the exhibitors who entered into contracts with M-G-M of any plan to break these contracts. 'BUY NOW" SALES The National Circuit of San Francisco, with, eight houses, has purchased Universal features 100 per cent. The contract was arranged between Kenneth Hodkinson of the Universal San Francisco exchange and L. R. Crooks. The houses are the National of Madera, California, the Strand of Modesto, the National of Modesto, and the Modesto of Modesto; the American of San Jose, the National of Marysville, the National of Stockton, and the National of Woodland. A contract has been arranged between Harold Fitzgerald, District Manager for Fox in Chicago, and Henry Herbel, Universal's Chicago exchange manager, securing Universal product for the Fox house in Chicago. The houses are the Sheridan, Terminal, Portage Park, Midwest, the Commercial and the Crown. Contracts have been signed between Dave Bershon of the Hughes-Franklin Circuit and R. J. Cadman, exchange manager and W. J. Heineroan for Universal, at Los Angeles, setting Universal product in the entire Hughes-Franklin chain. In addition to the house in Los Angeles, the chain includes the Babcock, Regent and Lyric Theatres in Billings, Montana and Our Theatre in Bellingham, Wash., the Yakima Theatre of Yakima, Wash., and the following houses in the Los Angeles territory : the Melrose, Riviera, Metro and Leimert of Los Angeles, the Chief of Hollywood, the Studio and Mirror of Hollywood, the Pico of Westwood, Belevedere and New of Whittier, Boulevard and Oxnard of Oxnard, Largo of Watts and the Orange Theatre of Orange, Calif. Cincinnati — William Calloway of RKO-Pathe has signed six theatres for the company's line-up of shorts and features. The theatres are the Rialto, Scarboro; Freeman, North folk ; War, War ; Ferguson, Charleston; Rialto, Kimball; Hippodrome, Delberton. Atlanta — The following ten situations have been signed by RKO-Pathe for features and shorts : Alexander City, Albertsville, Attalla, Boaz, Guntersville. Union Springs, Tuskegee, Troy, Carbon Hill and Winfield. "Hell Below Zero," featuring Garveth Wells, humorist, explorer, has been booked through Talking Picture Epics, Balabon and Katz — Publix houses in the Chicago territory and is running in the Roosevelt Theatre, Chicago, with Huckleberry Finn. Coi.uMBUs — Eleven theatres in this vicinity have signed up for RKOPathe's complete line-up of 1931-32 product. The houses are : Palace, Lancaster; Orpheum, Exina; La Max, Wilmington ; Empress, Garden, Grandview. Hudson, Alhambra, Royal, Ogden, Columbus ; Salem, Dayton. The Allied Film Exchanges, Inc., of Oklahoma City have booked Big 4's Westerns for 1931-19.32 in Quinton, Oklahoma City, Sapulpa and Eufaula, Oklahoma. H. K. Buchanan closed the deal. Aid Unemployed Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City has just issued a printed report of the result of the activities of the committee gotten up to relieve the unemployment situation in his city. According to it independent exhibitors will be prominent in the campaign. At Warner Bros. Stanley Theatre a special bill was presented and the theatre management was enabled to turn over $1,928.35 to the Mayor's committee. The Majestic earned $900.35 for the fund and at the Palace $45.90 was realized. Operators* Union Handing Out Toys Something brand new in union opposition to theatres operating on the open shop policy is being sponsored by Sam Kaplan, president of Local 306, in the battle between that local and the Ochs' New York theatres. Each week several women visitors cover the nine neighborhoods served by the open shop theatres, carrying toys for distribution to the children of the families usually patronizing the houses. One week it was a wooden paddle with rubber ball attached. Another week it may be a checkerboard ; perhaps the next week a doll or some other attractive toy. Whatever the article given away there is prominently attached the advice to enjoy the toy instead of going to the boycotted theatre. Union officials profess themselves as highly pleased with this type of campaign which they claim is getting most satisfactory results. "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" *' Bought** Clicking On Early Bookings Warner Bros, reports that on its pre-release bookings, Constance Bennett in "Bought" has been clicking at a rate which would indicate that it is going to be one of the big money pictures of the new season. In three days at the Garde, New London, it has grossed $1,400 above the same period for the previous week; at the Capitol, Springfeld, Mass., $2,000 above the same period the previous week ; while at the Strand, Syracuse, it has, in five days doubled the receipts for the same period last week "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Boles'U" Differences To Come Up Friday (Continued from page 1) since "Seed" some 18 weeks ago. A proposed settlement is for Boles to appear in a fixed number of pictures yearly. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" RKO Park Lane Opening The latest theatre acquisition bv the RKO circuit in Manhattan inau gurates its first program Saturday when the Park Lane, 89th street and First avenue, opens with "The Common Law." It has a seating capacity of 2,500. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Schwartz Takes Second A. Schwartz, operator of the Pastime, has acquired the Lyric, Bronx. "Polities'' Is Big Shot of Coast's Week Total $166,900 for 12 Theatres Los Angeles — "Politics" was the big noise here last week giving Loe^y's State a sensational take of $38,400, which is $11,400 above the average. "The Common Law" held up nicely at the Orpheum, finishing its second week with $15,000. "Huckleberry Finn" failed to hit the house average at the Paramount. "Young as You Feel" did well for a third week at Grauman's Chinese while "Tabu" at the Pantages Hollywood was off considerably. Estimated takings for the week end.ing August 12 and year-round weekly averages : "ESCALAVAS DE LA MODA" (Fox) CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL — (2,000), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000.) "SMILING LIEUTENANT" (Para.) FOX CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,650), 7Sc$1.50, (5th week.) 7 days. George Stoll artd Band. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $12,500.) "YOUNG AS YOU FEEL" (Fox) FOX CRITERION— (1,652), 35c-65c, (3rd week), 6 days. Gross: $8,700. (Average, first week, $10,000.) "YOUNG AS YOU FE^EL" (Fox) GRAUMAN'S CHINESE — (2,030), 25c65c, (3rd week). 6 days. Gross: $8,600. (Average, $8,000.) "POLITICS" (M-G-M) LOEWS STATE— (2,418), 35c-65c, 7 days. "Five Races" Idea. Gross: $38,400. (Average, $27,000.) "THE GREAT LOVER" (M-G-M) LOS ANGELES— (2,100), 25c-65c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $16,000.) "THE COMMON LAW" (RKO-Pathe) ORPHEUM— (2,750), 35c-65c, 7 days, (2nd week.) Gross: $15,000. (Average, for first week, $16,000.) "TABU" (Para) PANTAGES HOLLYWOOD— (3,000), 35c65c, 7 days. F. & M. "Black & White" Idea, news. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $15,000.) "HUCKLEBERRY FINN" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,596), 35c-6.5c, 7 days Oscar Baum and Stage revue. Gross: $21,500. (Average: $25,000.) "ALWAYS GOODBYE" (Fox) RKO-(2,700), 35c-65c, 7 days. News, 5 a<ts RKO vaude. Gross $14,000. (Average, $15,000.) "THE RECKLESS HOUR" (Warners) WARNER BROS. DOWNTOWN— (2,400) 7 days, 35c-50c. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $15,000.) "THE RECKLESS HOUR" (Warners) WARNER BROS. HOLLYWOOD — (3,000, 7 days, 35c-50c. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $14,000.) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" N, J, Indies Blame Circuits for 2 Bills (Continued from page 1) wipe out two-ply bills, are considering putting in vaudeville and stage attractions. However, many are holding back claiming that the circuits with first run representation in the majority of situations are double featuring and it would be suicide for the independent second runs to drop the practice. A number of independents in first run spots are holding down the single feature program, but in those instances the circuits afford no opposition. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Sullivan to Coast J. J. Sullivan, Fox Theatres' film buyer, has left for the Coast.