Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1935)

14 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 26, 1935 Holiday Is a Help; 'Lily' Draws $28,000 Washington's Birthday helped theatre grosses along the main stem last week. On the second week of "The Gilded Lily" the Paramount garnered $28,000. For the current week, with "Rumba" on the screen and Margo, who appears in the film, on the stage, the intake is expected to hit $40,000. "Devil Dogs of the Air" fared nicely during its second stanza at the Strand, tallying $22,000 for the week. "A Notorious Gentleman," at the Mayfair, hit around $8,000, while "Little Men," at the Astor, garnered about $6,000. "Carnival," at the Rialto, got $12,000, and this week's tally on "Car 99" looks to be headed for the same figure. The Rivoli, with "Right to Live," corralled $15,000, which is not good. "Night Life of the Gods" is aiming for $35,000 or better at the Roxy, where the week-end gross was $25,000. Sachs-Nelson Case Heard on an Appeal Max Sachs, operator of the Lexington, Chicago, appeared before a Campi appeal committee yesterday complaining against Charles Nelson of the Lawndale, same city. Sachs stated that Nelson is getting a week's protection on the Lexington while the Lexington does not ask for protection on its competitor. Nelson submitted his answer by letter. The committee consisted of F. Thomas Murray, Willard C. McKay and E. L. McEvoy. Golden's Father Passes Edward Golden is mourning the loss of his father, Abraham, who passed away in Boston last Friday at the age of 73. Burial was held Sunday at Maiden, Mass. Golden was planning to attend the M.P.T.O.A. convention in New Orleans after he completed his trip to Philadelphia, Cleveland and Chicago, but has called off the southern trip. Jack Jossey, Monogram franchise holder in Cleveland, is in town for a week's conference with W. Ray Johnston. A. K. Sperdakos Buried Montreal, Feb. 25. — Funeral services have been held here for Athanasis K. Sperdakos, pioneer Canadian exhibitor, who died last week from a heart attack at Quebec City. Sperdakos first entered the film business here in 1908 when he opened the Fairyland Theatre. He also helped organize the Canadian division of the M.P.T.O.A. James Coombs Services Funeral services were held yesterday for James P. Coombs, former grand opera basso and stage and radio singer, who died last Friday at his home in Great Kills, S. I. He was 65 years old. For the past few years Coombs has been a member of S. L. Rothafel's (Roxy) Gang. Tubman Loses Mother Ottawa, Feb. 25. — Funeral services will be held here for Mrs. W. J. Tubman who died here over the week-end. She is the mother of Fay Tubman, manager of the Capitol theatre. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Laddie" (Radio) Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Were Gene Stratton Porter alive today she would thrill to Radio's picturization of the famous novel in which her characters are recreated. Being a simple tale penetrating the sympathetic emotions, "Laddie" is wholesome, Grade A entertainment which should send box-office grosses zooming. The direction, performances and photography blend into a harmonizing whole, achieving the utmost in production responsiveness. The story deals with simple country folk centralizing on the romance between Laddie, portrayed by John Beal, and Gloria Stuart. The lad is a heartwarming son of the soil and the girl is a tender lass of aristocratic English lineage. The dramatic conflict features the social clash of the two families and the harsh opposition of Miss Stuart's father (Donald Crisp) to her marriage with Beal. Playing a featured role in the lives of the two families is Virginia Weidler, the little sister, whose innocent, childish contrivings finally weld a bond of understanding between Miss Stuart's family and her own, and also resulting in Crisp's forgiving his disowned son (William Bakewell) involved in espionage trouble in England. The picture uncovers little Miss Weidler as one of the finest child performers on the screen. The portrayals of Beal, Miss Stuart, Crisp, Dorothy Peterson and Willard Robertson are human and of the highest calibre. George Steven's direction is splendid from every angle. Ray Harris' and Dorothy Yost's screenplay is a finished piece, retaining all the Porter flavor. Harold Wenstrom's photography is superb. Being mass entertainment, this should gross plenty in all spots. No Production Seal. Running time, 70 minutes. "G". Sale of "Ziegfeld" Is Confirmed by "U" Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Universal has formally confirmed reports of the sale of "The Great Ziegfeld" to MG-M. It was explained that disagreements over policy on the production and the cost, which was estimated at $1,250,000, plus the fact that three postponements had been necessary, had caused the sale. The postponements were due to the fact that MG-M could not arrange for release of William Powell, who will be loaned to Universal for another film. M-G-M agrees to take over William Anthony McGuire's staff, to pay for Universal's expenditures to date and to take care of the company's exhibitor contracts. Fox Exchange Has Fire A small fire broke out in the boiler room of the Fox exchange at 5 P. M. yesterday. Due to presence of mind of the telephone operator, who informed everyone in the two-story structure of the danger, no one was injured. Harry Buxbaum, sales manager, also aided in clearing the building of its employes and visiting exhibitors. At 5.30 the firemen quit the building and employes were discharged for the day. The damage was slight. Bernhard Denies Loss A report published in New York Sunday newspapers that the closing of the Roxy-Mastbaum, Philadelphia, was motivated by a 10week operating loss of $200,000 to $250,000 was characterized yesterday by Joseph Bernhard, general manager of Warner Theatres, as "absolutely incorrect" and "absurdly out of line with the facts." Mayer Gets Rialto Without Paramount When Arthur Mayer reopens the remodeled Rialto, which closes some time in April for demolition and reconstruction, Paramount will not have an interest in the operation. This will mark the first time in 17 years that the company has not had a hand in the management of the theatre. Under the new plans the house will seat from 600 to 800. Paramount has operated the Rialto since 1918 when the Gerry Estate bought the structure from Kuhn, Loeb & Co., and leased it to the company. Oscar Hammerstein originally built the theatre in 1899, when it was known as the Victoria. In 1915 Crawford Livingston and Felix Kahn of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., purchased the property and installed Samuel L. (Roxy) Rothafel as operator. Roberti Operated On Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Lyda Roberti has been operated on for acute appendicitis. She is resting comfortably at the California Lutheran Hospital. Miss Roberti was taken ill about a week ago. Mary Astor is at another local hospital receiving ice pack treatments, but may be forced to undergo an appendicitis operation. Rosenfield in New Post Portland, Feb. 25. — Joseph Rosenfield, who has been in Seattle, today was named city manager for Evergreen Theatres in Spokane, replacing H. D. McBride, resigned. H. M. Warner on Coast Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Harry M, Warner arrived here today for a twoweek stay. Trustees of Allied Approve Para, Deal Allied Owners' trustees yesterday approved the deal by which Si Fabian will take over the Brooklyn Paramount Bldg., exclusive of the theatre, for a reported consideration of $1,500,000. The transaction removes objections of Allied to the form of settlement of its $5,000,000 claim against Paramount in the latter's reorganization plan by saving Allied a $500,000 Federal tax. The settlement of Allied's claim against Paramount provides in part for a new 20-year lease on the Brooklyn Paramount between the two. Fabian is now operating the house under an arrangement with Paramount which terminates Sept. 1, at which time the temporary lease on the theatre which Paramount holds also expires and the new 20-year lease becomes effective. Fabian may negotiate a new operating agreement on the theatre with Paramount at that time. Discuss Settlement Of Suit in Chicago Chicago, Feb. 25. — Discussions of a settlement of the anti-trust suit brought here by Jack Rubin of Public Theatres and James Roden, owner of the Astor, against virtually all large distributors, are continuing with both sides having expressed a willingness to settle. An agreement on terms, however, is not expected at once and may result in further postponement of the scheduled hearing before Federal Judge Woodward, Wednesday, unless the settlement discussions are abandoned by then. Wall Street Eastman Up 2l/2 on Big Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia vtc (cl) 3854 37% 38 — % Consolidated Film 554 554 554 Consolidated Film pfd (54v) 1954 18% 19 ..... Eastman (5) 12254 119J4 122J4 +2/2 Eastman pfd (6).. 147 147 147 ..... Fox Film "A"... 10 10 10 — 54 Loew's, Inc (2).. 3554 3454 35% + 54 Loew's, Inc., pfd (654) 10454 10454 10454 M-G-M pfd (1.89) 28 28 28 ..... Paramount Publix 3% 3% 3% — % Pathe Exchange.. 1 1 1 ■ Pathe "A" 14 14 14 % RKO 154 1% 1% Warner Bros. ... 3% 3'A 3ZA — % Warner Bros, pfd 1954 1954 1954 — 54 Technicolor Rises % on Curb Net High Low Close Change Technicolor 16 1534 16 + 54 Trans-Lux (.10k). 3 2% 3 Keith Bonds Off 2% Net High Low Close Change General Theatre Equip. 6s '40 ...7}4 754 7*A Keith B. F. 6s '46 6754 6754 6754 —2% Loew's 6s '41, ww deb rights ....105 10454 105 + V* Paramount B'way 554s '51 4654 4654 46J4 —154 Paramount F. L. 6s '47 69 69 69 — 54 Paramount Publix 554s '50 695^ 69 69% — % Pathe 7s '37 ww.. 10254 10254 102J4 — Vs Warner Bros. 6s '39, wd 53% 53 53 254 (c) Plus stock extras. (k) Paid this year, (v) Defaulted in principal but not in interest. (Quotations at close of Feb. 25)