Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Broadway Takes Light, With 4 Films Held Over Friday, March 23, 1934 KAO in Shift; Gives Circuit More Entity (Continued from page 1) of RKO structure and retain through a number of new allocations already set up, only houses owned or controlled by KAO directly or through its subsidiaries, of which B. F. Keith Theatres Corp. and the Greater New York Vaudeville Theatres Corp. are the principal two. Described on behalf of J. R. McDo.nough as a preconceived move, months old now, to strengthen the •'corporate integrity" of the major subsidiaries which go to make up Radio-Keith-Orpheum, the understanding is Meehan has had considerable, if not all, to do with the change, which appears routine enough, but which carries implications of consequences in the future which are not apparent in surface indications. Meehan Big Shareholder Meehan is understood to own or control about 26,000 shares of the 60,000 shares of KAO stock outstanding and, through an association of interests, a 51 per cent interest in the company, which is RKO's principal theatre subsidiary and the backbone of its exhibition interests. His representation on the KAO board is numerically greater than that of any group, including RKO, and his voice in the conduct of the former company increasingly more important in the last year. Actual changes in the operating setup in no wise reflect on the divisional managers, but merely fit into the plan of Meehan's to make the company more of an individual operation in the RKO scheme. The shift and how it will work are demonstrated by the following typical changes : The Chester, Coliseum, Franklin and Hamilton, until now handled by H. R. Emde, have been placed in C. B. McDonald s division. Proctor's 125th St., formerly handled by L. Goldberg, has been shunted into Emde's division, which will be known hereafter as the Proctoi division. The Empire and Union, formerly Emde's, have gone over to Goldberg. Proctor's 23rd St., once McDonald's, is now Emde's. Schenectady and Troy, home of Proctor theatres, have been taken from Charles W. Koerner and assigned Emde, as well. Koerner will hereafter concentrate on Boston and Lowell. Giving Emde an additional theatre not handled until now, the Rivoli at Rutherford, N. J., has been removed from James Brennan's division to further segregate KAO and Proctor houses. How Holdings Are Constituted The KAO holdings, complete, will break down as follows with official designations as they appear in the revised chart of the RKO theatre department : New York Senior Metropolitan Division, C. B. McDonald, division manager: AVbee, Kenmore;> Madison, Prospect in Brooklyn; Keith's in Flushing; Chester, Coliseum, Colonial, Fordham, Hamilton, Jefferson, Palace, 81st St. and 86th St., in New York; Making It Plain S. R. Nelson, in The Era, London theatrical weekly, has this to say about Cab Calloway: "He is a coagulation ot alpha particles bombarding the central nucleus of the audience with an increasing stream of scat. He is a triptych in rhythm; he cannot make the slightest movement when the band is playing which is not a contrapuntal line enhancing the whole musical structure." Keith's in Richmond Hill and Keith's in White Plains. New York Junior Metropolitan Division, L. Goldberg, division manager: Bushwick, Dyker, Greenpoint, Orpheum, Shore Road and Tilyou in Brooklyn; Central in Cedarhurst; Columbia and Strand in Far Rockaway; Empire, Franklin, Regent and Royal in New York; Park in Rockaway Park. Great Lakes Division, Nat Holt, division manager (no changes) — Palace and 105th St. in Cleveland; Majestic and Palace in Columbus; and Uptown in Highland Park. Massachuseats Division, Charles W. Koerner, division manager: Bijou, RKO Boston and RKO Keith's in Boston; Keith's in Lowell. Detroit Pool, David Idzal, director: Downtown and Fox. New JerseyWashington Division, James M. Brennan, division manager: Rivoli and State in New Brunswick; Broad, Capitol, Lincoln, Palace and Trent in Trenton; Keith's in Washington. Rochester District, J. Golden, city manager: Palace and Temple, Rochester. Syracuse District, W. J. Tubbert, city manager: Keith's and Strand, Syracuse. "Midnight" Passed After Ohio Changes Columbus, March 22. — Universal's "Midnight," which Ohio censors held up because they considered parts ot the script constituted a reflection on the district attorney, and thus violated that section of the Hays code which frowns on any Government official being depicted unfavorably on the screen, has been passed after changes. The Hays office disagreed with the censors' views, and contended that the picture was favorable rather than derogatory to the district attorney. Dr. B. O. Skinner, censor chief, recently summoned John W. Bricker, attorney general of Ohio, and Don Hoskins, county prosecutor, to view the picture and rule on his opinion. They concurred, and the action has been altered to the extent that prosecution is indefinitely indicated and the picture leaves the impression that penalty for the crime was inflicted. Thompson to Direct Hollywood, March 22. — Harlan Thompson, under contract to Paramount as a writer for the past six years, has been made a director. He will handle B. P. Schulberg's "Kiss and Make Up." KAO Board Meet Off A Keith-Albee-Orpheum directors' meeting, scheduled for yesterday, was postponed without a new meeting date being set. With four holdovers among Broadway houses grosses were not sensa tional last week. "Six of a Kind" made the best comparative showing with $48,100 at the Paramount. "Spitfire" ended its stay at the Music Hall on the seventh day with a take of $73,000. "Palooka" held up to $27,000 in its second week at the Rivoli ; "Queen Christina" fell off to $28,500 in its second stanza at the Capitol ; "It Happened One Night" was good for $14,500 ; also in its second stanza, at the Palace, and "Wonder Bar" had a strong second week with $31,004 at the Strand. Estimated takings : Week Endinq March 12: "PALOOKA" (U.A.) RIVOLI— (2,200), 35c-99c, 2nd week, 7 days. Gross: $27,000. Week Endinq March IB: "HEAT LIGHTNING" (Warners) RIALTO— (2,300), 25c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. "SPITFIRE" (Radio) RKO MUSIC HALL— (5,945), 35c-$1.65, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $73,000. "QUEEN CHRISTINA" (M-G-M) CAPITOL— (4,700), 35c-$1.65, 2nd week, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $28,500. "IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT" (Col.) PALACE— (2,500), 25c-75c, 2nd week, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $14,500. "SIX OF A KIND" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (3,700), 35c-99c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $48,100. "MIDNIGHT" (Univ.) ROXY— (6,200). 25c-65c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $15,570. "WONDER BAR" (F.N.) STRAND— (2,000), 25c-$1.10, 2nd week, 7 days. Gross: $31,004. Week Ending March 16: "FASHIONS OF 1934" (Warners)— 4 days "LET'S FALL IN LOVE" (Col.)— 3 days RKO CENTER— (3,700), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4,800. Week Endinq March 19: "THE QUITTER" (First Division) MAYFAIR— (2,300), 35c-85c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. Demand New Deal Hollywood, March 22.— Seeking more authority for the responsibility invested in their jobs, the assistant directors' branch of the Academy will meet the producers' branch next week to urge why they should be forced to clear issues through numerous departments before any action can be taken. Goldwyn Gets Kiam Hollywood, March 22. — Samuel Goldwyn is bringing Omar Kiam. dress manufacturer and designer of the costumes of Broadway shows, here to design styles for all his future productions. Meets on Feting MPTOA Hollywood, March 22. — The I. M P. P. A. met last night to make final preparations for entertaining the delegates to the M. P. T. O. A. convention. McGuire on Long Term Hollywood, March 22. — William Anthony McGuire has signed a fiveyear contract with Universal to write, direct and produce. New Post for Butcher Hollywood, March 22. — In addition to acting as production manager at Fox, E. W. Butcher will be made an associate producer. His first picture will feature Stepin Fetchit. 7 "I Believed" With Downey Detroit High Detroit, March 22. — "I Believed in You," playing the Fox with Morton Downey heading the stage show, was the only picture to go over par last week. It netted $18,300, $3,000 up for this house. "Queen Christina," in its second week at the United Artists, almost hit the $10,000 average of that house, getting $9,400. Others just fair. Total for the week was $60,100 against $73,000 the previous seven days and an average of $75,000. Estimated takings for the week ending March 15 : "DEVIL TIGER" (Fox) DOWNTOWN— (2,750), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $10,000.) "MANDALAY" (Warners) FISHER — (2,975) , 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,600. (Average, $10,000.) "I BELIEVED IN YOU" (Fox) FOX— (5,100), 15c-50c, 7 days. Stage: Morton Downey. Frank & Milt Britton Band, Walter Powell and Tito. Gross: $18,300. (Average, $15,000.) "BOLERO" (Para.) MICHIGAN — (4.100), 15c-50c, 7 days. Stage: Johnny Perkins. Jerry and Her Baby Grands, 12 Aristocrats. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $20,000.) "QUEEN CHRISTINA" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 25c-50c, ,7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $9,400. (Average, $10,000.) "LOVE BIRDS" (Univ.) "ADVICE TO THE LOVELORN" (U. A.) STATE— (3,000), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $10,000.) Guy Matthews Is Head of Ore. Allied Portland, March 22. — Guy Matthews, The Dalles, was elected president ; George Applebs, vice-president, and William Cutts, secretary, at the statewide annual meeting of Oregon Allied today. Steve Parker, Portland; Guy Garrison, St. Helens ; M. Mattacheck, McMinnville, and Oscar Phelps, Hillsboro, were elected to the board of directors. To Rehire on New Basis Hollywood, March 22. — The Educational publicity department and other studio operative employes who go off the payroll April 1 will be rehired on a picture-to-picture basis, if and when production is resumed. Reports here are still persistent that Educational will concentrate its production in the East in the future. T ashman Services Today Private funeral services for Lilyan Tashman will be held today at the Universal Funeral Chapel at 2 P. M. Services will be conducted by Dr. Samuel H. Goldenson, of Temple Emanu-El, and burial will be in Washington Cemetery, Brooklyn. Opens on Coast April 3 Hollywood, March 22. — The "House of Rothschild" will have its premiere here April 3 at Grauman's Chinese. Berinstein Reopening Hollywood, March 22. — Ben H. Berinstein will reopen his Sunbeam at Compton, destroyed by the earthquake last March.