Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1935)

The Leading Daily Motib^ Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent VOL. 38. NO. 52 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1935 TEN CENTS Ascap Begins Move to Fight GeorgiaTaxes Regarded as Starting of National Battle A test of the constitutionality of state legislation imposing heavy taxes on music licensing will be undertaken by the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers in Georgia at once, E. C. Mills, general manager of the society, said yesterday following his return from a month's study of new adverse influences affecting Ascap operations. The test will be in the form of a court action attacking the constitutionality of Georgia's law imposing a tax of $1,000 per county on music licensing agencies. Although similar laws have been enacted in Louisiana, Mississippi and Wisconsin, no effort to enforce them by attempts to collect the taxes specified have been {Continued on page 14) More K. C. Theatres Go for Zoning Plan Kansas City, Aug. 29.— Additional exhibitors have signed the petition for a clearance prepared by independent operators and forwarded for action to the home offices by local exchange managers. Ed Dubinsky has signed for the Liberty and Regent; Mrs. Maloney for the Paseo; Mrs. Burkey for the Summit. J. F. Rigney of the Westport, and Jay Means of the Oak Park and Bagdad are not yet back in town, (Continued on page 7) Schenck Named Head Of the New Fox Met Joseph M. Schenck was elected president and chairman of the board of Metropolitan Playhouses, Inc., the reorganized Fox Metropolitan company, at a first meeting of the board of the new company at the law offices of Milton C. Weisman yesterday. Weisman was elected vice-president and secretary, and William P. Philips, treasurer of United Artists Theatre Corp., was elected vice-president and treasurer of Metropolitan. Down to 18 Metropolitan, Playhouses, Inc., under its revised setup, has condensed its corporate setup into 18 subsidiaries. Admissions to Stay As Is, Operator Wage Early Survey Data Reveal ' Sc ales Talks Resume Today What is the drift in theatre admissions — up, down or none at all? Now that business conditions, it is conceded on all sides, are better, the industry lias been ruminating about the course theatres at large will pursue insofar as price scales are concerned. Motion Picture Daily today begins to furnish the anszver with Boston, Washington, Kansas City — big key centers, and Albany and Bridgeport, lesser key centers — reporting no shift. The cityby-city dopesheet follows. Other points will be covered in subsequent issues. New England Standing Pat Boston, Aug. 29. — New England is standing pat on admissions, it is revealed by a Motion Picture Daily survey just completed in this territory. There is every indication, furthermore, that theatres in this state will continue to stand pat. With the present seasonal competitive difficulties in this vacation area, many believe that the only sage change that could be made in admissions would be to scale them down during the summer months when parimutuel horse and dog tracks garner millions of dollars weekly, when beaches and lakes draw hordes, and when beano, golf, baseball, dances and macadam roads serve as a magnet for a majority of the populace. "Raise admission prices?" one theatre executive asked. "There wouldn't be any sense to it." M. and P.-Publix, operating the largest circuit in this territory, is not making any move to lift prices. According to an official of the company, (.Continued on page 7) Otterson May Make Coast Trip Oct. 1 John E. Otterson, Paramount president, who returned from a two months' survey of the company's studio yesterday, may return to Tlollywood about Oct. 1. Before leaving Otterson will pass upon agreements extending for one year the Paramount theatre operating and partnership contracts which expire Sept. 28. Preliminary drafts of these extension agreements have been prepared for his inspection and are awaiting his approval. Many of the pacts will have to be passed upon by the Paramount board, as well. American Inter naVl Plans 24 Features The American International Dist. Corp., recently organized in California, will release 24 pictures beginning Nov. IS, according to Max J. Weisfeldt, its (Continued on page 7) Kansas Prices Not Hiked Kansas City, Aug. 29. — Exchange managers, exhibitors and circuit operators report definitely that admissions throughout the western Missouri and Kansas territory have not been raised. They even go so far as to point out that no indications are apparent at the present time that they will be soon. There has been little change for the past eight months, either in Kansas City or outside it, unless the increased use of chance games and premiums can be taken to mean that prices actually are lower than they were a year ago. The increase in number of 10-cent nights in Kansas City is so small it could not be considered as lowering the general level of prices. First run managers have had no word on increased admissions for this fall, though this has been considered a possible development. Protection and the use of giveaways by suburbans this fall will probably determine such a move. Key cities like Kansas City, Wich (Continued on page 7) "Top Hat" Terrific In Music Hall Start "Top Hat" opened to terrific business at the Music Hall yesterday, setting a new first day record, according to RKO. By 4 P.M., approximately 13,000 paid to enter the theatre, it was stated. Fred Astaire, star of the picture, attended the second evening show with a party of friends. "Alice Adams," which finished a second week at the Music Hall, tallied about $75,500. _ The big noise of the week which closed last night was "Diamond Jim" at the Roxy, which grossed $41,922 in (Continued on page 7) Pathe Name Change Is Effective Today Pathe Exchanges, Inc., will legally drop the name today for Pathe Film Corp. It is understood the new company plans to move soon to the RKO (Continued on page 2) Circuits and Local 306 Agree to Discussion Representatives of major circuits and Local 306 will resume negotiations today on a basic wage scale for the local territory, it was agreed yesterday following a three-hour session in Charles C. Moskowitz's office at Loew's. Local 306 yesterday advised the circuits its board of directors and membership had rejected the theatre men's minimum and maximum offer ranging from 98 cents to $1.60 an hour. The union, however, expressed a desire to continue negotiations in an effort to reach a satisfactory agreement. Circuit executives contend that in New York they have been paying the highest wages to operators for the (Continued on page 14) Loew-RKO Proposed Jersey Pooling Off Loew's has called off a contemplated pool with RKO in North Bergen and Union City, N. J. A deal had been under way, but bondholders interested in the Loew house were not in favor of the arrangement. Reports that RKO and Loew were getting together on a joint booking deal for the Albee and Metropolitan in Brooklyn were declared erroneous yesterday. Loew's has just signed for half of Universal and 50 per cent of (Continued on page 7) Bank Night Crowds Put in Parking Lot Chicago, Aug. 29.— The Southtown, a B. & K. neighborhood de luxe house here, which will make a $1,200 bank night award tonight, was selling standing room at 3:20 P. M. today. By 5 o'clock the lobby was filled with 400 standees and the theatre's parking lot, which had been converted into an overflow accommodation, had 300 additional ticket holders. At that point the management of the house, which (Continued on page 7) No Paper Monday Motion Picture Daily will not publish on Monday, Sept. 2, which is Labor Day and a legal holiday.