Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1935)

14 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January II, 1935 Key City Grosses Go Into Nosedives Christmas Week Dubinsky and IATSE End St. Joseph Row Kansas City, Jan. 10. — Dubinsky Bros. Theatres have made peace with the I.A.T.S.E. operators' local in St. Joseph, Mo., and have reinstated employes who were replaced last fall during a bitter controversy. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The crux of the argument was the union's demand for continuance of two-men-in-a-booth at the three Dubinsky houses, the circuit contending locals in other cities had granted one-man operation. It is reported that the operators, ousted members of the Independent M. P. Operators' Union, whom Dubinsky employed after breaking with the I.A.T.S.E., have taken their case to the Regional Labor Board. Meanwhile a Federal court injunction Dubinsky obtained against the I.A.T.S.E. in St. Joseph remains in force. In Kansas City, operators at Dubinsky houses are employed under terms of an arbitration decision, which has been appealed by Local 170 to Compliance Director Rosenblatt. May Open in Milwaukee Milwaukee, Jan. 10. — Rumors are rife concerning the Majestic, downtown house dark for several years. One report has it that a former local theatre manager is dickering with the owners for reopening the house, while another says that the theatre will be torn out and replaced with store and office space. The lobby of the house has been occupied by a neckware establishment for many months. Another local downtown house, the Strand, slated for reopening Christmas day, has had its projection equipment repossessed and will continue dark. Warners were the last operators of the house. Dunnuck Gets 3 Houses Norfolk, Neb., Jan. 10. — Robert Dunnuck, lately with A. H. Blank's Tri-States Theatres, has become city manager of the three Harry Weinberg Central States Theatres here. Weinberg acquired the 800-seat Granada from Ellis & Larue, who had announced the opening of the house recently, rented film and put out advertising. Before the doors opened, however, Weinberg had acquired the house and Dunnuck came in to manage it along with the Grand and Rialto. Rowan Miller formerly was city manager. Turkish Houses Hold Up Washington, Jan. 10. — Despite unsatisfactory business conditions in Turkey, theatre business was about equal to that of last year during the first two months (September and October) of the present season, according to a report issued by the U. S. Department of Commerce. The Ipekdji Studio has just completed, the report stated, a Turkish film, "Batikli Damin Kizi" ("Girl of the Dilapidated House"), a drama of some 11,000 feet. It will be released shortly. Acquires Elyria Capital Elyria, O., Jan. 10. — John Perkas has formally taken over the Capitol, recently turned back by Warners. This gives him complete dominance of this town through his additional operation of the Rialto, Dreamland and Rivoli. Grosses took a nose dive prior to Christmas in the 22 cities where weekly statistics are gathered by Motion Picture Daily, reaching a point lower than at any time since last September—$1,070,800. During the first week of December the total picked up to $1,401,989, fig Theatre Six-Day Bill In Albany, Jan. 10. — Under the provisions of a bill introduced in the Senate by Julius S. Berg, Bronx Democrat, and referred to labor committee, the labor law is amended by providing every employer operating a place in which dramatic and musical productions are shown, shall allow employes, including performers, at least 24 consecutive hours' rest in each calendar week. Davis Succeeds Sonin M. I. Davis, manager of the Hongkong branch for M-G-M, has been promoted to general manager of the South Africa office, succeeding the late Carl J. Sonin. Davis is now in Shanghai conferring with the assistant manager of the office there, who will take his former place in Hongkong. Borzage Still Laid Up Hollywood, Jan. 10. — Frank Borzage is still in the Queen of Angels Hospital as a result of his fall from his polo pony day before Christmas. ures comparable with those of the last week in September and the first week in October, but for the week ending Dec. 13-14 the decline set in swiftly. Only five cities out of the 22 had increases for the week. They were Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Seattle. Grosses $1,419,815 1,412,844 1,344,137 1,385,533 1,386,935 1,288,992 1,386,736 1,389,743 1,305,450 1,369,576 1,401,989 1,244,610 1,070,800 13-14 Gross $110,500 44,100 131,000 31,600 28,000 66,000 24,500 25,800 76,400 23,900 41,500 224,410 12,600 18,950 55,800 40,350 34,000 43,200 89,500 18,500 35,500 68,500 $1,244,610 Won't Censor "President* Memphis, Jan. 10. — Answering a request made by several local individuals that it take action against "The President Vanishes," current at Loew's State, on the ground the film is "psychologically wrong and encourages criminal tendencies," the Memphis censor board has taken the stand it can ban or cut a production only in instances of immorality or obscenity. Ruth Mix to Resolute Hollywood, Jan. 10. — With the object of eventually making her a feminine "stunt" star in action pictures, Resolute Pictures Corp. has placed Ruth Mix, daughter of Tom Mix, under a long-term contract. At present the actress is being co-featured with Rex Bell in a series. Levy Now on Bank Board New Haven, Jan. 10. — Edward G. Levy, general counsel of the M. P. T. O. A., has been elected to the board of directors of the Community Bank & Trust Co. here. McGinley Heads New Seattle Film Club Seattle, Jan. 10. — L. J. McGinley, Universal manager, has been elected president of the newly-organized Northwest Film Club. Hugh Bruen, suburban exhibitor, will be vice-president ; Ed Lamb, RKO manager, secretary-treasurer. Trustees will be Al Rosenberg of Evergreen State Theatres, Neal East of the Paramount exchange and B. F. Shearer of the B. F. Shearer Theatre Equipment Company. Formal opening of the club's quarters in the Washington Hotel was celebrated recently. A membership of 108 has already been signed, and it is expected that more than 200 will be listed before March 1. Buy Indianapolis Capitol Indianapolis, Jan. 10. — The Capitol has been purchased by the Central City Amusement Co., Carl Niesse is general manager. New sound equipment has been installed and the building is being remodeled. Double features will be shown week days with stage shows and pictures Saturdays and Sundays. Central City also operates the Ambassador, Cozy and Alamo, and has an interest in Zaring's Egyptian. Charter Two at Dover Dover, Del., Jan. 10. — Moultrie Theatres, Inc., of Moultrie, Ga., has been formed here with a capital of $50,000. The incorporators are J. L. D. Powell, C. H. Powell and J. O. Gibson of Moultrie, Ga. Dur Prod. Inc., has been chartered to produce and present plays and opera with a capital of $100,000. The incorporators are M. M. Lucey, H. I. Brown and L. S. Dorsey, Wilmington. Form Theatre Companies Albany, Jan. 10. — Cousins Theatre Corp., Bronx, has been chartered with 100 shares of no par value. Joseph Wolowich, Rose Kaplan and Mollie Singleman are the incorporators. Drama Holding Corp. has been chartered to operate theatres. Betty Finkelstein, Kate Heichman and Edna Schlein are directors and subscribers. Planning a 700-Seater Columbus, O., Jan. 10. — C. A. McDonald, who operates the Southland and Thurmania, has awarded a contract for a 700-seat ultra-modern neighborhood house to be known as the Arlington, work on which will be started at once. Plans call for completion in four months. Four Loew Houses Dark Boston, Jan. 10. — According to the E. M. Loew offices, 24 houses in the circuit are open. Only four are closed — two in Rhode Island, one in Maine, and one in this state. Open Louisville House Louisville, Jan. 10. — The National has reopened under the management of Tom Norman. The policy will be stage and first run pictures. Hale Huston is publicity director. New House for Brazil Brazil, Ind., Jan. 10. — A new downtown theatre is being completed here from a remodeled business building by a company headed by H. V. Neese. It will seat 500. Comparative grosses for the latest available periods : Week Ending Theatres Sept. 27-28 132 Oct. 4-5 132 Oct. 11-12 132 Oct. 18-19 131 Oct. 25-26 133 Nov. 1-2 135 Nov. 8-9 134 Nov. 15-16 133 Nov. 22-23 136 Nov. 29-30 137 Dec. 6-7 ; . . . 136 Dec. 13-14 135 Dec. 20-21 135 Comparative weekly Totals : Week Ending Week Dec. 20-21 Dec. Theatres Gross Boston 6 $64,450 6 Buffalo 5 36,700 5 Chicago 9 138,500 8 Cleveland 5 30,050 5 Denver 5 22,500 5 Detroit 6 61,700 6 Indianapolis 5 22,000 5 Kansas City 5 33,600 5 Los Angeles 9 66,500 9 Minneapolis 7 24,200 6 Montreal 5 35,500 5 New York 9 154,950 9 Oklahoma City 4 10,650 4 Omaha 3 16,900 4 Philadelphia 8 53,500 8 Pittsburgh 6 43,500 6 Portland 7 31,200 7 Providence 6 39,400 6 San Francisco 7 77,500 7 St. Paul 5 17,500 5 Seattle 7 36,700 7 Washington 6 53,300 7 135 $1,070,800 _ 135 (Copyright, 1935, Quigley Publishing Co., Inc.)