Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

Monday, May 7, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Schaefer Gets Kohn's Posts At Paramount (Continued from page 1) only to that of Adolph Zukor, president. Schaefer was elected president and a member of the boards of Paramount Theatres Service Corp. and Famous Theatres Corp., both of which are posts formerly held by Kohn. Paramount Theatres Service Corp. is a comparatively new subsidiary which was organized to handle all phases of theatre administration which remain with the home office under decentralized operations by theatre partnerships in the field. Famous Theatres Corp. is the subsidiary which took over the assets of Publix Enterprises under the bankruptcy reorganization of the latter last December. Famous acquired thereby the Publix interest in approximately 135 theatres throughout the country. Dembow, Jr., in Same Post Sam Dembow, Jr., continues as vice-president of Paramount Theatres Service, while Y. Frank Freeman continues as vice-president of Famous. The latter's activities have been confined mostly to the real estate phases of the theatre holdings, while Dembow's relate directly to theatre operations. Walter B. Cokell, treasurer of Paramount Pictures Distributing Corp., was elected to the board of directors of both Famous Theatres and Paramount Theatres Service Corp. at the same meeting at which Schaefer's elections were made. In addition to his new post as head of Paramount's theatre administration, Schaefer is vice-president of Paramount Pictures, Paramount International and Paramount Productions, as well as vice-president and general manager of Paramount Distributing. His authority thus extends to all phases of Paramount's domestic and foreign operations. Schaefer recently relinquished his post of general sales manager to Neil F. Agnew, former western division manager. It now appears certain that the move was made to relieve Schaefer of sales duties connected with that post in order to permit his accepting the ranking offices in the Paramount theatre subsidiaries. Schaefer's elevation is interpreted as settling for the immediate future, at least, recently revived reports that S. A. Lynch, chairman of the Paramount Publix trustees' advisory committee, and N. L. Nathanson, head of Famous Players Canadian Corp., were slated to take over high posts in Paramount. Harmon-Ising to Do M-G-M Color Shorts (Continued from page 1) Iwerks for P. A. Powers, which M-G-M is handling this season. The first subject of the new lineup will be a two-reeler. If this clicks, more two-reelers will follow. Otherwise, single reelers will be produced. The series will be either 12 or 18. Hal Roach is expected in New York within the next two weeks for M-G-M conferences. He has not decided on his new program yet and may reduce his schedule next year. The number of two-reelers may be cut down. Grosses Fall to Levels Reported Last September (Continued from page 1) Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los An j Providence and San Francisco, geles, Montreal, New York, Portland, I Spring seems to be the reason. Comparative figures for the last two weeks : Weeking Ending Weeking Ending April 27-28 April 20-21 Los Angeles New Philadelphia Pittsburgh . Portland . . . San Francisco St. Paul show this : Week Ending September 29-30, October 6-7 October 13-14 ... October 20-21 . . October 27-28 . . . November 3-4 . . . November 10-11 November 17-18 . November 24-25 . December 1-2 . . . December 8-9 . . . December 15-16 . December 22-23 . December 29-30 . January 5-6, 1934 January 12-13. . . . January 19-20 . . January 26-27 . . . February 2-3 . . . February 9-10 . . , February 16-17 . Februarv 23-24 . March 2-3 March 9-10 March 16-17 March 23-24 .... March 30-31 .... April 6-7 April 13-14 April 20-21 April 27-28 (Copyi . Theatres Gross No. Theatres Gross 6 $111,000 6 $114,000 4.1 ?nn , 7 106,500 7 117,500 6 42,900 6 50,200 27,000 40 000 6 71,300 6 79^900 . . 5 24,000 5 19,000 6 35,000 6 33,500 8 97,656 8 81,481 24,500 5 25,500 4 38,500 4 34,500 11 253.008 11 234,120 4 12,800 4 15,200 4 22,000 4 25,500 8 79,500 8 81,700 6 41.750 6 56,750 6 27,700 7 22.800 6 45,400 6 42.500 8 94,800 7 82,700 5 18,000 5 18,500 5 23,250 6 27,500 7 70,000 7 85.800 133 $1,307,764 135 $1,342,151 sses compiled from day to day reports for 31 weeks 1933. Theatres Grosses 135 $1,342,710 141 1,417,886 143 1,544,838 141 1,581,308 143 1,509,422 142 1,500,740 141 1,379,560 144 1,375,132 141 1,431,209 141 1,418,753 142 1,558,832 139 1,221,032 133 1,071,457 138 1,433,289 136 1,714,824 138 1,435,649 136 1,305,267 135 1,348,517 135 1,338,371 135 1,270,345 136 1,317,011 136 1,316,421 135 1,350,548 134 1,378,865 133 1,302,020 128 1,291,695 134 1,247,322 135 1,571,695 132 1,360,061 135 1,342,151 133 1,307,764 ight, 1934, Quigley Publications) M-G-M Discussing 4 Regional Meets (Continued from page 1) attend the regionals in addition to home office executive sales personnel. David O. Selznick and Irving Thalberg also may attend one or two of the meetings. Last year M-G-M held a number of regional meetings, as planned this year. A number of new features in the 50 scheduled and a handful of shorts will be shown to the district, branch and field sales forces. Score Charge Loss Claimed in Canada (Continued from page 1) are losing money on this item, they say. The argument used by Oscar Hanson, representing the independents, is that American producers do not impose a charge on films to foreign countries and that Canada should not be regarded as a domestic market by these companies. He also states that the score charge should be looked upon as part of production cost. Fight Brewing On Proposed Rezoning Plan (Continued from page 1) the RKO Mainstreet and Fox Uptown, both 40-cent houses. Alteration of the clearance schedule is regarded as a move to force up downtown first run scales, particularly the Midland, as the Newman is believed to be willing to raise the ante, provided the Midland does so. Vigorous protests are anticipated from suburbans, since it is estimated that 60 per cent of the suburbans are now double billing. This opposition is expected to be based on the contention that the board, in making no restrictions on first run duals, has discriminated against suburbans. Opposition is also in prospect on the ground that the code gave the clearance and zoning board no authority to disturb existing clearance this season. With the protection issue ruled upon, the board plans to take up the laying out of metropolitan areas for this territory. It will take a vote among exhibitors on banning premiums. Rogowsky Wants 10 Defendants Called (Continued from page 1) there is no provision in the code for this action, no steps along these lines are being taken. However, all principals have been notified to appear tomorrow when the hearing comes up. Louis Nizer, executive secretary of the New York Film Board, is slated to act as attorney for the defendants. Robert R. Rosan, Port Chester attorney, will represent Rogowsky. One of the points involved is whether action can be instituted on contracts signed before the code went into effect. Rogowsky claims Skouras has bought all major product but 50 per cent of Paramount, which he has. Slated to start the hearings at 10:30 A. M. is Howard C. Cullman's complaint against the Mayfair for distribution of cut rate tickets. Checkup Upon Union IS earing Completion (Continued from page 1) circuits will be required to open negotiations for new wage scales with the union, under the terms of an agreement proposed two weeks ago by Division Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt Rosenblatt met with Charles C. Levey, secretary-treaesurer of the union, and C. C. Moskowitz of Loew's at T. O. C. C. headquarters Saturday to arbitrate a recent strike called by the union at Loew's Metropolitan, Brooklyn, over the alleged refusal of the latter to reinstate three discharged employes. The strike was called off pending the arbitration. To Air Milwaukee Cases Milwaukee, May 6.— Second meeting of the local grievance board is scheduled to be held tomorrow at the Hotel Schroeder. Several complaints relating to reduced admission are slated for hearing.