Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Variety Club Chatter Vednesday, October 31, 1934 Dhio Grossed $19,846,000 During 1933 Washington, Oct. 30. — Ohio's 536 im theatres last year had box-office eceipts of $19,846,000 and payrolls of 4,156,000, while 19 legitimate and audefilm houses took in $884,000 on i aggregate payroll of $284,000, it as reported today by the U. S. Cenis Bureau. The bureau also reported on Illinois, inouncing that 447 film theatres had tceipts of $19,454,000 and payrolls of 4,470,000, and 104 legitimate and audefilm houses took in $13,652,000 id had payrolls of $2,653,000. Returns on the larger cities showed hicago to have 189 film theatres with xx-office receipts of $13,997,000 id payrolls of $3,447,000 and 36 :her theatres with receipts of $9,255,X) and payrolls of $1,803,000. Other linois cities for which figures were ;ported included Rockford, where 11 lm theatres took in $692,000 and had ayrolls of $96,000; Springfield, with ght houses taking in $496,000 with ayrolls of $114,000; East St. Louis, x houses with receipts of $238,000 id payrolls of $63,000; Peoria, three lm houses with receipts of $101,000 ad payrolls of $26,000, and five other teatres with receipts of $507,000 and ayrolls of $109,000; Decatur, three im houses with receipts of $89,000 nd payrolls of $19,000 and three other ieatres with receipts of 222,000 and ayrolls of $51,000; Evanston, three Duses with receipts of $303,000 and lyrolls of $40,000, and Cicero, five ouses with receipts of $198,000 and ayrolls of $51,000. In Ohio, Cleveland reported 76 film .eatres with receipts of $4,827,000 and lyrolls of $1,157,000; Cincinnati, 39 -eatres with receipts of $2,825,000 and lyrolls of $514,000; Dayton, 21 )uses with receipts of $1,236,000 and lyrolls of $238,000 ; Akron, 28 houses ith receipts of $1,240,000 and payills of $260,000; Canton, 10 houses ith receipts of $622,000 and payrolls $141,000; Youngstown, six houses ith receipts of $453,000 and payrolls $127,000; Toledo, 19 theatres with ■ceipts of $720,000 and payrolls of 79,000; Columbus, 19 theatres with ceipts of $1,340,000 and payrolls of ■44,000; Lakewood, six houses with ceipts of $198,000 and payrolls of ■1,000; Springfield, 10 houses with ceipts of $359,000 and payrolls of •0,000; and Hamilton, three houses ith receipts of $155,000 and payrolls $39,000. Max Marcus Passes Cleveland, Oct. 30.— Max Marcus, , known by the oldtimers in the inistry as "Daddy" Marcus, died after I lingering illness at his home, 13,033 Jclid Ave. He is survived by his ughter, Mrs. Omalie Miller; a andson, Henry, and a brother, Juts Marcus of Dresden, Germany. Marcus was born in Berlin. When came to the United States he heme affiliated with his brother-in-law, oe Mark, in Mark's Strand Theatre, £w York. He was a pioneer theatre owner re and an active member of the eveland M. P. Exhibitors' Ass'n., which he was honorary vice-presint until his retirement from business. Cincinnati Cincinnati, Oct. 30. — William J. Hilliar, who admits he is a magician par excellence, and, therefore, doesn't have to prove it, was one of the Kings for a Day last week, agreeing to perform the Indian rope trick without a rope. He proved to be a better magician than claimed. He, himself, disappeared, as a result of which Col. Arthur Frudenfeld, co-king, carried on the program alone, regaling the barkers with paraphrased Mother Goose rhymes applying to many of the members present. Wednesday afternoons has been set aside for women between 12 o'clock and 5 o'clock, during which they are given use of the club quarters for card games and similar festivities. Card nights, which proved so popular last season, have again been inaugurated on Friday nights. Next meeting of the Cincinnati tent is set for Nov. 12 when Barker Nelson Trowbridge is to be the regal one for the day. He promises some extraordinary talent from his Shubert Theatre. Father Cletus Miller, club chaplain, made his first appearance of the season at the tent last week, with the promise to be among those present at every meeting henceforth. New members added to the local roster include William Mack, United Artists, and Frank Cole, Lincoln Theatre. More Film Men Off Ontario's Payroll Toronto, Oct. 30— Three more heads have fallen in Ontario as a result of the further political slashing of Premier Mitchell Hepburn and the new Liberal Government. Thomas Scott of Toronto has been dismissed from the post of director of the amusements branch, Provincial Treasurer's Department, in which, for 10 years, he has had his finger on theatre taxes, collection of the amusement tax and administrative details. Scott, incidentally, was secretary of the M. P. Exhibitors' Protective Ass'n., the first organization for independents in Ontario, prior to his government appointment. Another official to go is E. Woodburn, Ontario inspector of theatres. The third to be lopped off was James J. Moxley of Ottawa, veteran theatre manager, who has been holding down the job of registrar of deeds at Ottawa for the Provincial Government. Moxley is building a new theatre in the capital. Scott and Woodburn will not be replaced. Their offices have been abolished. Madison Licenses Cut Madison, Wis., Oct. 30. — A reduction in theatre licenses ranging from $50 to $100 has been approved by the Common Council. Under the new schedule, theatres with a seating capacity of less than 500 must pay an annual license fee of $50, those with a capacity of more than 500 and less than 1,200 are charged a $100 fee and over 1,200 seating capacity a $200 annual fee. The previous license fee ranged from $150 to $300. Washington Washington, Oct. 30. — Time rolled back years and years to furnish the major diversion of the weekly luncheon of Tent No. 11, spread by Charles H. Olive and Sidney B. Lust, the kings for a day, when the 80-odd barkers and guests were regaled with photographs taken " 'way back when." Guests were Isaac Gans and Elwood Street, director of public welfare of the District of Columbia. Following the stereopticon glimpse into the past, the temporary kings presented Bob Murphy and family, Dorothy and Dick, from Loew's Fox stage show, and Charlie Hill, the original "tune detective," and Lora Hoffman, soprano, from the Earle stage. During the past fortnight four full and one associate members have been added to the register : Pete Macias, restaurateur and night club operator ; Arthur Godfrey and Harry C. Butcher, CBS announcers; Gene Ford, manager of Loew's Fox; and, associate member, Harry Summervtlle, managing director of the Willard Hotel, where the tent has its quarters. In the shift of officers on the Variety Club caused by the recent resignation of John J. Payette as chief barker and the advancement of Rudolph Berger into that position, J. Louis Rome, former second assistant, was made first assistant chief barker and Carter T. Barron was elevated from canvasman to second assistant chief barker. Harry S. Brown, branch manager for First Division, was appointed canvasman to make up the complement of 11 on the board of governors. Barker Butcher has been added to the publicity committee for the first annual dinner and ball on Nov. 24. Barker Godfrey was put to work on the entertainment committee. Canvasman Brown has been named as chairman of the House committee, taking the place of Canvasman A. Julian Brylawski, who has been given the chairmanship of the membership committee formerly headed by Barker Fayette. Educators Ask Ban On Brooklyn House _ The Board of Education has petitioned License Commissioner Paul Moss to revoke the theatre permit, granted the Trans Lux Movies Corp. in 1926 by former License Commissioner Sidney S. Levine, to erect a theatre adjacent to Erasmus Hall, High School, Brooklyn. Moss has reserved decision on the case until a later date and, meanwhile, work on the house, which was only started recently, has been temporarily halted. Arklamiss Asks $51^19 New Orleans, Oct. 30.— Claims held by Arklamiss Theatres against Saenger Theatres, Inc., total $51,919.24, it was learned here today. The Arklamiss claims, which are part of Saenger reorganization plans, apparently, cover a number of outside claims which the company took over as cheaply as possible. 19 Ask for End Of "Special Privileges" Omaha, Oct. 30. — Calling for the election of Edward R. Burke, Omaha, to the U. S. Senate, Division Administrator, Sol A. Rosenblatt, in the first of a series of political addresses, pleaded for the elimination of the "special privilege." "Those who challenge President Roosevelt's principle of abolishing special privilege are those who enjoy special privilege at the expense of the public welfare," Rosenblatt said. In addition, he pointed out that the Roosevelt policies call for war on crime and graft, to build up the moral and spiritual values of national life; likewise a reversal of the trend of the last three generations by swinging now in the direction of a wider distribution of wealth and the opportunities of the nation. "Ninety per cent of the banks of America showed increases in deposits in the six months from Dec, 1933, to June 30, 1934," he said. "That means people are back at work and earning money. These gains are nationwide." Among showmen present at Rosen4blatt's address were Will Singer, manager of the Brandeis ; Sam Epstein, president of Epstein Theatres, and Howard Shortly, representing Harry Goldberg interests. Rosenblatt was unable to meet with the local code board and a luncheon arranged for him with board members had to be cancelled. He conferred shortly with Regina Molseed, code secretary. Most of his spare time was spent in visiting his mother, Mrs. Mollie Rosenblatt. Germany Lists Film Employes at 7,000 Washington, Oct 30. — Seven thousand people are engaged inproduction in Germany, according to a report by Acting Commercial Attache Douglas Miller, in Berlin, to the U. S. Department of Commerce. Of this personnel, 6,000 are located in Berlin and 1,000 in Munich. All are organized in the Film Estate and are divided among 17 sections. The actors' section comprises about 5,000, while the remaining 2,000 are made up of directors, cameramen, sound men, architects, etc. Out of the 5,000 actors about 3,500 are listed as solo actors and 1,500 as extras. At present there is an influx of extras. Some 300 new applicants for membership are accepted daily, the great majority of applicants coming from theatres, music halls, and cabarets in Berlin and other cities. Mexico City Houses To Be Open Sundays By JAMES LOCKHART Mexico City, Oct. 30.— Film houses are to be allowed to remain open Sundays despite the fact that bakeries, dairies, butchers, restaurants, saloons and other activities have been put under the Sabbath ban.