Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, May 25, 1934 Fox Theatre Plan Sets 5 Big Divisions (Continued from page 1) from New York in two weeks to attend the Federal court hearing on approval of the Woolf-Shanberg settle"» ment. It is understood that this settlement calls for payments to the former operators over a period of years out of operating profits with no time limit set. It is expected this will take four or five years. An agreement along similar lines is about set on the Reed, Yemm and Hayes claims involving Fox purchases of their southern Illinois houses, now in the Midwest Division. This amounts to approximately $250,000. Note extensions are involved in this, it is understood. Spyros Skouras denies reports current here that the Skourases maywithdraw from the Fox Midwest unit, leaving Rhoden in full charge. This unit will be managed like the others with S. R. Kent heading the holding company, Sypros Skouras president of the subsidiary and Rhoden, general manager. Rhoden, it is understood, wants to take over complete operation of the midwest division, comprising Fox Midland and a portion of Fox Rocky Mountain to simplify administration and reduce overhead. At present the local office has to file reports with Spyros Skouras in the east and Charles Skouras on the coast, which means double supervision. Compromise Filed in Woolf-ShanbergCase Kansas City, May 24. — A proposed agreement was filed today in bankruptcy court here effecting a compromise in the Herbert M. WoolfM. B. Shanberg controversy with Fox West Coast Service Corp. and others over payment due former Fox Midland bondholders. Under the terms of the agreement their claim will be recognized as paramount to all others against the bankrupt estate. The agreement provides for the sale of Fox Midland assets subject to a Woolf-Shanberg lien securing the unpaid notes against the properties amounting to $478,214.50. Woolf and Shanberg will release the lien and in exchange will be given notes of the Fox Mid-Continent Corp. in the principal amount of $478,000, payable February IS, 1940, and to be secured by a mortgage on Fox Midland assets and certain other assets. Outdoor Opera Plan Set in Five Cities (Continued from page 1) seasons in each, are: St. Louis, July, August and September ; Cleveland, 12 weeks, beginning June 30; Milwaukee, six weeks, beginning July 2; Atlantic City, entire summer; Springfield, 111., six weeks, beginning July 8. Cities considering outdoor opera plans include Chicago, Kansas City, Detroit, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Rochester and Boston, "Telling," Olsen, $14,500 in Omaha Omaha, May 24. — George Olsen's band and Ethel Shutta rang the money gong at the Orpheum to the tune of $14,500 — the best week any house in this town has seen for many months. The picture was "You're Telling Me," but the stage bill was the real draw. "We're Not Dressing," despite the terrific competition, gave the Paramount an average week at $6,750, due to Crosby's big following among the collegians here. The house is getting along well with its single feature policy — the only one in a town of duals. "20th Century" and "Sisters Under the Skin" were moved out of the Brandeis in six days to give "Stingaree" an early opening. Business was bad at $3,500. The World, with "As the Earth Turns" and "Smoky," was in the red at $3,250. Total first run business was $28,000. Average is $22,850. Estimated takings : Week Ending May 16: "WE'RE NOT DRESSING" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,900), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,750. (Average, $6,750) Week Ending May 17: "Z0TH CENTURY" (Col.) "SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN" (Col.) BRANDEIS— (1,500), 2Sc-35c, 6 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,000) "YOU'RE TELLING ME" (Para.) ORPHEUM— (3,000), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage: George Olsen's band and Ethel Shutta. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $7,500) "AS THE EARTH TURNS" (Warners) "SMOKY" (Fox) WORLD— (2,200), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,250. (Average, $4,500) Halperins Plan 8; Radio May Release (Continued from page 1) under the banner of Halperin Productions with headquarters at Pathe. The two departed for New York tonight to make releasing arrangements, probably with Radio, it is reported here. Authors who will contribute scripts include Rex Beach, Vicki Baum, Garnett Weston, George Waters, Nina Wilcox Putnam and Albert Payson Terhune. Among the players they are negotiating with are Elissa Landi, Bebe Daniels, Edmund Lowe, John Boles and Gregory Ratoff. Chesterfield May Do 24 With Invincible (Continued from page 1) Hollywood to plan the new schedule, which will be definitely set on the arrival of Maury Cohen of Invincible. Chesterfield has already completed its schedule of nine for this season, while Invincible is now working on its eighth and will soon have the last in work. If the new season list is increased, each company would make 12 for the program of 24. Open Argentine Office Norton V. Ritchey of the Ritchey International Corp., export subsidiary of Monogram, has opened an office in Rosario, Argentine. It will be controlled by Monogram Limitada of Buenos Aires. 'Sadie McKee' Gets $20,000 In S.F. Spot San Francisco, May 24.— "Sadie McKee" proved the best money-getter of the week at the Warfield, grabbing $20,000. Average is $19,000. Another good one was "Viva Villa," in a subsequent run at the St. Francis, which went to $8,500. The Golden Gate was $500 over average with $13,500 on "20th Century," while the Geary also went well in the fourth week of "House of Rothschild," getting $8,500. Total first run business was $85,000. Average is $83,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending May 15: "20TH CENTURY" (Col.) GOLDEN GATE— (2,800), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville, band. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $13,000) Week Ending May 16: "THE BLACK CAT" (Univ.) ORPHEUM — (3,000). 15c-35c-50c, 7 days. Ted Lewis and band on stage. Gross: $9,500. (Average. $9,000) "HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD" (U. A.) GEARY— (1,516), 55c-$1.10-$1.65, 7 days, 4th week. Two-a-day. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $7,000) "20 MILLION SWEETHEARTS" (Warners) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $8,000) "VIVA VILLA" (M-G-M) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400), 15c -25c -35c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $6,000) "SADIE McKEE" (M-G-M) WARFIELD — (2,700), 25c-35c-55c-65c, 7 davs. Stage, vaudeville, band. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $19,000) Week Ending May 18: "I HATE WOMEN" (Monogram) "MONTE CARLO NIGHTS" (Monogram) FOX — (4.600), 10c-15c-25c-35c, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $9,000) "TRUMPET BLOWS" (Para.) "NOW I'LL TELL" (Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,670), 15c-35c-40c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $12,000) "Melody" Portland Hit with Ellington Portland, May 24. — "Melody in Spring," with Duke Ellington and his band were a powerful combination at Hamrick's Music Box last week. The $6,500 take was over normal by $3,500. "House of Rothschild," in its fourth and final week at United Artists, took an average $5,000. "Wild Cargo" went $500 over the Blue Mouse par, getting $2,500, and was held over. Total first run grosses were $29,000. Average is $25,000. Estimated takings for the week ending May 17 : "SADIE McKEE" (M-G-M) BROADWAY— (1,912), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,700. (Average, $6,000) "MELODY IN SPRING" (Para.) HAMRICK'S MUSIC BOX— (2,000), 25c35c-55c, 7 davs. Stage: Duke Ellington and his band. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $3,000) "WILD CARGO" (Radio) HAMRICK'S BLUE MOUSE— (669). 25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $2,000) "IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT" (Col.) HAMRICK'S ORIENTAL— (2,040), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $2,000) "CHANGE OF HEART" (Fox) "THE WITCHING HOUR" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (3,008), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000) "WILD BOYS OF THE ROAD" (F. N.) PANTAGES — (1,700), 15c-25c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $1,800. (Average, (2.000) "HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD" (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (945), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average. $5,000) II "Rothschild" Hits $16,900 In 9th Week In its ninth week in the 1,012-seat Astor "House of Rothschild" was still outdrawing seven of the larger Broadway houses. It was the only attraction in the mid-town area worth talking about. "Change of Heart" at the Music Hall was fair at $67,000. "Manhattan Melodrama," in its second week at the Capitol, with Lanny Ross, Jack Benny, Mary Livingston and others on the stage, garnered $42,000. The Paramount had a weak $31,000 on "Thirty Day Princess." "Twenty Million Sweethearts" took $10,000 in its third week at the Strand. Also in its third week, "We're Not Dressing" was good for $14,800 at the Rivoli. Estimated takings : Week Ending May 15: "HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD" (U. A.) ASTOR— (1,012). 55c-$2.20, 9th week. 7 days. Gross: $16,900. Week Ending May 16: "CHEATERS" (Liberty) MAYFAIR— (2,300), 35c-85c, 6 days. Gross: $2,700. "CRIME DOCTOR" (Radio) RIALTO— (2,300), 25c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. "CHANGE OF HEART" (Fox) RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— (5.945), 35c-$1.65. 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $67,000. Week Ending May 17: "MANHATTAN MELODRAMA" (M-G-M) CAPITOL— (4,700) . 35c-$1.65, 2nd week, 7 days. Stage: Jack Benny, Mary Livingston, Lanny Ross and others. Gross: $42,000. "20TH CENTURY" (Col.) PALACE— (2,500), 25c-75c, 7 days. Vaudeville. Gross: $10,600. "THIRTY DAY PRINCESS" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,700), 35c-99c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $31,000. "GLAMOUR" (Univ.) ROXY— (6,200), 25c-65c, 7 days. Vaudeville. Gross: $16,830. "20 MILLION SWEETHEARTS" (War.) STRAND— (2,000). 25c-$1.10, 3rd week. 6 days. Gross: $10,000. Week Ending May 18: "STAND UP AND CHEER" (Fox) (4 Days) "WHARF ANGEL" (Para.) (3 Days) RKO CENTER— (3,700), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. ' WE'RE NOT DRESSING" (Para.) RIVOLI — (2.000) , 35c-99c, 3rd week, 11 days. Gross: $14,800. Publix Enterprises Bank Fees Approved (Continued from page 1) day by U. S. District Court Judge Francis G. Caffey. The petition, approved without reductions, asks $35,000 for Irving Trust and $75,126 for the attorneys. Although the affairs of Publix Enterprises have been wound up except for the settlement of a few contested claims, the company has not yet obtained its final discharge from bankruptcy. Columbia in a Rush Hollywood, May 24. — With five features in work, three set for a start in a few days and five in preparation, Columbia is in the midst of a rush. Those in work are : "One Night of Love," "Whom the Gods Destroy," "The Hell Cat," "Black Moon" and "Special Agent." Set for a quick start are : "The Defense Rests," "Blind Date" and "The Criminal Within."