Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, November 23, 1934 "Rhythm" Is $27,000 Wow On the Coast Los Angeles, Nov. 22. — Practically all of the first run excitement here last week was concentrated at the Paramount where "College Rhythm" topped par by $9,000 for a total gross of $27,000. This was especially noteworthy because most of the other first runs were in a bad way. "Fugitive Lady" and "Without Children," a dual, was the only other strong attraction. The take there was $4,100. "The White Parade" at the Chinese was good for $10,500, but this was $2,000 under normal. Total first run business was $80,450. Average is $81,700. Estimated takings for the week end'ng Nov. 21 : "THE WHITE PARADE" (Fox) CHINESE— (2,500), 30c-65c, 7 days. Stage: Sid Grauman's prologue, Raymond Paige and his orchestra. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $12,500.) "HELL IN THE HEAVENS" (Fox) 4 STAR— (900), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4 000 "THE WHITE PARADE" (Fox) LOEWS STATE— (2,413), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $8,850. (Average, $14,000.) "COLLEGE RHYTHM" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,595), 30c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Rube Wolf and his orchestra, F. & M. revue. Gross: $27,000. (Average, $18,■000.) "THE AGE OF INNOCENCE" (Radio) RKO— (2,700), 25c-65c. 7 days. Gross: :$5,500. (Average, $8,000.) "HELL IN THE HEAVENS" (Fox) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,100), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. "THE AGE OF INNOCENCE" (Radio) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD)— <3,O0O), 25c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,100. <Average, $14,000.) "THE FIREBIRD" (Warners) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN) — (3, 400), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: 6 acts vaudeville, Oscar Baum and his orchestra. Gross: $7,400. (Average, $12,000.) "FUGITIVE LADY" (Col.) "WITHOUT CHILDREN" (Monogram) PANTAGES— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,100. (Average, $3,200.) Ferretti Named As Carrier Executive The Carrier Engineering Corp. has appointed J. J. Ferretti, air conditioning engineer, assistant to A. C. Buensod, executive in charge of the company's theatre division. The appointment follows the company's announcement of a new air conditioning system designed for smaller theatres. Ferretti for many years was associated with Kooler-Aire and Arctics Nu-Air Co. of Minneapolis. He will •operate out of the Carrier office in the Chrysler Building. The main office and plant of the company are in Newark. Sets 3 Changes Weekly Paterson, Nov. 22. — The Regent Theatre has gone to three changes -weekly, presenting twin bills, with changes on Saturday, Monday and Thursday. This is the first time a theatre in the heart of the city has tried six pictures a week. Engels-Lebedeff Teamed Hollywood, Nov. 22. — M. H. Hoffman has signed Wera Engels and Ivan Lebedeff for "Sweepstake Annie." The wire services and local dailies have been featuring the romance between ihe duo for a couple of months. "Divorcee" Is Detroit Smash With $27,400 Detroit, Nov. 22. — "The Gay Divorcee" piled up a whopping $27,400 at the Fox last week. This is nearly double normal for the house. "Evelyn Prentice" was also strong, topping average by $2,600 for a gross of $22,600 at the Michigan. "We Live Again" grabbed a good $11,000 gross at the United Artists, but other first runs took it on the chin. Total first run business was $68,700. Average is $75,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Nov. 15. "CARAVAN" (Fox) "THAT'S GRATITUDE" (Col.) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,900. (Average, $5,000) "MERRY WIDOW" (M-G-M) (Second Run) BROADWAY -CAPITOL — (3,448). 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,700. (Average. $10,000) "BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET" (M-G-M) "BIG HEARTED HERBERT" (Warners) (Both Second Runs) FISHER — (2,975), 10c-30c-40c. 7 days Gross: $5,600. (Average, $10,000) "GAY DIVORCEE" (Radio) FOX — (5,100), 15c-65c, including tax, 7 days. Stage: Seven acts vaudeville. Gross: $27,400. (Average, $15,000) "EVELYN PRENTICE" (M-G-M) MICHIGAN— (4,100). 15c-65c, including tax, 7 days. Stage: Bob Murphy, Ray Huling and' Seal. Gross: $22,600. (Average, $20,000) "BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET" (M-G-M) (Second Run) STATE— (3,000), 10c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average, $5,000) "WE LIVE AGAIN" (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS — (2,070), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $10,000) "Lost Lady," Show $12,500, Montreal Montreal, Nov. 22. — Loew's was away out in front in the box-office race last week with a take of $12,500 on "A Lost Lady" and a vaudeville bill headed by Helen Kane. At the Palace there was a count of $9,500 with "Thine Is My Heart," while the Capitol was $500 less with a double comprising "Marie Galante" and "365 Nights in Hollywood." The second week of "Chu Chin Chow" brought $6,500 to the Princess, as compared with $9,000 for the first week. Total business was $37,500. Average is $37,000. Estimated takings for the week ending Nov. 17 : "MARIE GALANTE" (Fox) "365 NIGHTS IN HOLLYWOOD" (Fox) CAPITOL— (2,547), 25c-35c-4Oc-50c-6Oc. 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average. $9,500) "A LOST LADY" (F. W.) LOEWS— (3,115) , 30c-40c-45c-57c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Helen Kane: Pat Rooney; Maude Hilton & Co.; Hadreas-Laval Revue; Park & Clifford; Tom Barry; Victoria & Lorenz. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $10,500) "THINE IS MY HEART" (British) PALACE— (2.600), 34c-40c-50c-60c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $11,000) "CHU CHIN CHOW" (Gaumont British) PRINCESS — (2,272), 30c-35c-50c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week Gross: $6,500. First week: $9,000. (Average, $6,000) Form Bil-Art Studios Albany, Nov. 22— Bil-Art Studios, Inc., theatrical designers, has been chartered by William J. Kelleher, G. Arthur Richards and Henry Rosenblum. Add to Breen Cuts Columbus, O., Nov. 22.— Although some states are accepting the censorship of Joseph I. Breen as final, it is not sufficient protection for the public morals of Ohioans, declared Dr. Beverly O. Skinner, head of the state censor board here. "We do not feel that the national board is doing the job," he said, "and we have had to censor several pictures, some of them quite severely, before passing them for showing in Ohio." Sam Wood Is Signed By Reliance for One Sam Wood, who has been signed by Edward Small of Reliance to direct one picture, is now working on a script for "The Melody Lingers On" by Lowell Brentano. If the script works out, this will be Wood's next picture. Otherwise he will choose from six other books he has in mind. The director is anxious to return to the coast as soon as possible. He doesn't relish the idea of working in a hotel room. He prefers being in Hollywood where he can go out in the patio or the yard and work when he tires of indoors. Wood plans to leave sometime next week. He may be accompanied by Small. While here the director is looking over a number of plays and personalities he may sign. He says it's a grand thing to be in New York every once in a while. "You are in the heart of things and don't have to go far for the things you would not ordinarily come in contact with on the coast." Wood will do only one for Reliance. His deal with M-G-M is still in abeyance. Czechoslovak Radio Fees Go to Theatres Washington, Nov. 22. — Because radio broadcasts have hit film theatres in the smaller towns of Czechoslovakia, the government has ordered that a share of the receipts from radio license fees be turned over to the theatres, according to a report to the U. S. Department of Commerce from Commercial Attache Sam E. Woods in Prague. Broadcasting in Czechoslovakia is a monopoly, operated by a company in which the government holds a majority interest. The monthly fee for each receiving set in use in Czechoslovakia is 10 crowns (40 cents) and the receipts from this source are divided between the broadcasting company and the Czechoslovak Posts and Telegraphs. The amount of the subsidy to be distributed under the recent order was 2,000,000 crowns (approximately $80,000), states the report. CBS Increases Capital Albany, Nov. 22. — Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., New York City, has filed a certificate in the office of the Secretary of State increasing its capital from $3,750,000 to $7,500,000. British Films Get Very Few Code Slashes Few deletions are necessary British pictures submitted here for production code seals, according Vincent G. Hart, eastern assistant t<< Joseph 1. Breen, production codc administrator. "Evensong" and "Evergreen," two of the most recently submitted British productions, were passed with onl\ minor deletion, and this is said to have been the case with other British-made pictures approved earlier, despite the fact that British producers are not consciously guided by the production code in effect here. Hart said. Independent producers operating in the east are also submitting scripts to the local production code office in advance of production. The script oi the Select picture, tentatively titled "Bad Penny." which went into production at Biograph a few days ago. was anions the most recent to be submitted by an independent here. Martin Johnson's new picture. "Wings Over Africa." now being used in silent form for private lectures in the east, also was recently submitted and approved. The picture, with sound track added, will be released by Fox as "Baboona" later. An increase in production at the Brooklyn Yitaphone studio has made it necessary for Hart's office to set aside Fridays for screenings of Yitaphone product exclusively. An average of 15 to 20 reels are screened for code seals each Friday. The total number of code certificates issued by the eastern office since it began operating July 15, is now 210, of which 34 were for features. Color Shorts to Be Filmed in San Mateo San Francisco, Nov. 22. — Eighteen two-reelers, 12 musicals and six with historical backgrounds are planned for production at the San Mateo studios. All will be in color. S. A. Hedding, former Minnesota banker, is treasurer of San Mateo Studios, Inc., a 5500,000 company just formed to take over the old plant operated 10 years ago by Graf Brothers. Walter Irving, former Hollywood and New York newspaper man, will be production manager. To Seek Federal Action Havre de Grace, Md., Nov. 22. — The Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers pledged itself at its closing session here today to work for Federal legislation forcing producers to furnish "more desirable entertainment." The resolution said: "We are alarmed by the present motion pictures. We protest blind buying and other trade practices which prevent local exhibitors from responding to the public demand for more desirable entertainment." Mrs. Ralph J. Coppage, president of the congress, presided. III. Passes Sales Tax Springfield, III., Nov. 22. — Governor Horner's bills providing for a permanent sales tax have been passed by both houses of the state legislature.