Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1935)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 29, 1935 Wired Houses Of World Cut, Study Claims (Continued from page 1) government and film industry figures becomes the sharper in view of the recently announced statistics of the Film Boards of Trade whose secretaries, by their own survey, concluded there were 18,263 houses in United States and not merely 10,143 arrived at by the Bureau of the Census last December. Currently, the Motion Picture Division, turning to the census bureau as its source, has trimmed American theatres from the 19,000 cited for 1933 to the 10,143 cited by census officials. That covers all theatres. The division further reduced sound theatres in this country from its own announced figure of 15,000 for 1933 again to the census calculation of 10,143. Big Gain in Europe Thus, while in the world's richest market, the statistics would indicate sound is reaching the public through fewer outlets, the division reports a decided gain in Europe where the 1,934 total is placed at 23,460 as against 20,934 for 1933. In that territory, the most pronounced gains are reported from Germany which is up 489 as compared with 4,000 for 1933 and France which now presumably operates 2,900 sound houses when it had only 2,550 in 1933. Reporting a wider spread of talking pictures, as well, are England, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Latvia, Turkey and Esthonia. Operating fewer sound houses according to the division, are: Russia, Spain, Austria, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Lithuania. Latin-America today has 575 more wired houses than it had in 1933, the current total being 2,783 as compared with 2,208. Brazil reported the largest increase — 275. While the rise was general, these countries show a decline: Chile, Honduras, Dominican Republic and Paraguay. Second only to Europe as a more fruitful market for sound is the Far East. Sound houses there in 1934 were 3,362 when there were only 2,539 in 1933. The gain of 823 was made chiefly in Japan and India which are accountable for 593 of the total increase. Loss in Africa, Near East Africa and the Near East showed less progress than the rest of the world, barring, of course, the startling difference between government and industry statistics embracing the United States. In that corner of the world, the total is given as 411 for 1934 as compared with 432 in 1933. A two-year comparison of sound theatres, prepared by Motion Picture Daily from the Motion Picture Division's statistics follows : Europe Sound Sound Country Theatres Theatres 1934 1933 England 4.608 4.414 Germany 4,489 4,000 France 2,900 2,550 Italy 2,095 1,079 Russia* 1,800 2,000 World's Sound Theatres in Drop, Gov't Bureau Asserts Washington, Jan. 28. — Wired theatres throughout the world in 1934 were 954 under the 1933 total of 41,823, but were 3,914 ahead of the 1932 figure at 36,955, according to a subsequent breakdown of statistics compiled by the Motion Picture Division of the Department of Commerce. Whereas the division credited the United States with 15,000 in 1933, the current total is given as 10,143, or the result reached by the Bureau of the Census in its survey made public in December. A three-year comparison follows: 1934 1933 1932 Europe 23,460 20,934 17,822 United States 10,143 15,000 14,000 Latin-America 2,783 2,208 1,830 Far East 3,362 2,539 2,147 Canada 710 710 777 Africa and Near East 411 432 379 Total 40,869 41,823 36,955 The film Board of Trade annual theatre survey, details of which appeared in Motion Picture Daily on Jan. 23, gave the United States total as 14,552 theatres in operation as compared with a total of 18,263 in the country. Spain 1,333 1,500 Czechoslovakia 1,025 818 Sweden 843 750 Austria 650 570 Belgium 650 400 Poland 428 353 Denmark 325 303 Hungary 315 267 Switzerland 310 302 Roumania 300 350 Netherlands 252 240 Norway 204 175 Yugoslavia 174 184 Portugal 168 107 Finland 120 120 Greece 107 100 Latvia 107 87 Bulgaria 88 109 Turkey 60 52 Esthonia 58 44 Lithuania 44 53 Albania 7 7 Total 23,460 20,934 *Includes all halls, converted_ churches and other local places of exhibition. Latin-America Sound Sound Country Theatres Theatres 1934 1933 Brazil 800 525 Argentina 600 542 Mexico 350 265 Cuba 150 131 Chile 148 160 Colombia 120 60 Uruguay 118 110 Porto Rico 93 87 Peru 85 77 Venezuela 75 44 Panama 36 25 Ecuador 27 22 Costa Rica 26 26 Salvador 24 11 Bolivia 20 19 Guatemala 16 12 Nicaragua 15 14 Honduras 14 18 Jamaica 14 8 Dominican Republic 13 14 British West Indies 11 11 Bermudas 9 9 Paraguay 5 6 Haiti 5 3 Bahamas 4 4 British Guiana 2 2 Dutch West Indies 2 2 British Honduras 1 1 Total 2,783 2,208 Far East Sound Sound Country Theatres Theatres 1934 1933 Australia 990 990 Japan 877 450 India 506 340 New Zealand 366 324 Neth. Indies 172 131 China 157 120 Philippines 127 105 British Malaya 50 36 Straits Settlements 48 t.. Chosen (Korea) 24 t.. French IndoChina 18 18 Siam 12 12 Ceylon 9 7 Fiji Islands 3 3 Society Islands 3 3 Total 3,362 2,539 tNo statistics. Africa and Near East Sound Sound Country Theatres Theatres 1934 1933 South Africa 200 195 Egypt 72 72 Algeria 60 95 Syria 23 20 Palestine 22 16 East Africa 13 13 West Africa 7 7 Persia 6 6 Iraq 6 6 Madagascar 2 2 Total 411 432 "Chan" at $14,000; Is Given Holdover (Continued from page 1) "The Silver Streak" fared badly on account of the snowstorm. The 11day take was $13,500. "Baboona" hit a nice $15,000 at the Rialto and is being held over. "Bordertown," at the Strand, is expected to tally around $30,000 for the first seven days. It's being held a second week, followed by "Devil Dogs of the Air," which will probably go two weeks and then will be succeeded by "Sweet Music," with Rudy Vallee, which is dated in for three weeks. "David Copperfield" is holding strong on its second week at the Capitol and is set for another seven days with a probability of a fourth week. "Lives of a Bengal Lancer" garnered $45,000 on its second week at the Paramount. It holds for a third and last week with a possibility that it may go into another Broadway house adjacent to the Paramount. The same picture is in its second week at the Paramount Brooklyn and also is being held for a fortnight at the Paramount, Newark. At the Brooklyn theatre, "Lancers" speared $26,000 during the first session and Si Fabian is studying the possibility of a third week. Endorse Independents Philadelphia, Jan. 28. — The M. P. T. O. of Eastern Pennsylvania is on record for throwing support of its members to independent exchanges. Wall Street Big Board Net Low Close Change 3554 3554 —154 6% W* 54 20% 215i 54 112% 112% — 1% 144 144 2054 20% — % 32 3254 — 34 Most Lose on High Columbia vtc (cl) 36 Consolidated Film 6% Consolidated Film pfd (54v) 21% Eastman 113% Eastman, pfd. ..144 Fox Film "A".... 21% Loew's, Inc. (la) 3254 Loew's, Inc., (654) Param'nt Public. Pathe Pathe "A" RKO Warner Bros. Warner Bros., pfd Technicolor Up % on Curb Net High Low Close Change Technicolor 1254 12% 12% + % Trans-Lux (.20b) 3 3 3 Warner Bonds Off % Net High Low Close Change General Theatre, 104 104 104 + % . 454 3% 4 54 1% 1% 1% . 15% 15 15 % 2 25i 2 . 45S 3% 3% % , 22 2154 22 -1% General Theatre, 6s '40 ctf Keith B. F., Loew's 6s, '41 ww deb rights.. Paramount F. L. Warner Bros., 6s, 854 854 854 8% 8% 8% ..... 70 69 70 105% 105 105 — % '4554 44 44 —1 67% 66}4 67 "67% 6654 67 — 54 58 56 56% s/s (a) Plus cash extras, (b) Paid last year. (c) Plus stock extras. (v) Defaulted in principal but not in interest. (Quotations at close of Jan. 28) Bernerd for an End To Sales in Blocks (Continued from page 1) the Fox exchange and the press were in attendance. The two are on a tour of exchanges and are due back Monday. In England, no exchange has cause to chase dates, Bernerd stated, adding that it was "just too bad" for the exchange there if the exhibitor did not trust it. Gaumont British will see to it that every exhibitor who plays its pictures in this country will be satisfied, Bernerd promised. He declared his satisfaction with progress made by his American organization to date, complimented George W. Weeks, G. B.'s general sales manager, and revealed his organization has a deal calling for an interchange of stars with Fox. Next season's program will range from six to 16 pictures with Mark Ostrer arriving from London shortly to set the schedule. Bernerd also revealed that in the offing was a special to be made for the American market with a minimum of dialect and with more American faces. He conceded that the handling of salesmen in this country was a problem that was being worked out. Gaumont British today has 70 in the domestic field. "See every picture before booking," he advised theatremen present, continuing that Gaumont British will give allowances to any theatre losing money on the product. Asserting that anyone can sell pictures once, Bernerd gave it as his opinion that coming back year after year and increasing business constituted his idea of real salesmanship. Gaumont planned to do this, he concluded.