Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1935)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 38. NO. 58 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1935 TEN CENTS Houston Looks For No Change In Admissions Cuts Not Heavy; Present Scales Held Normal This is tlie seventh installment in a national survey on the trend of admissions. Houston, Sept. 6. — Prices have never dropped to the level of those in many other localities and haven't so far to go to reach normal again. In fact, operators here consider the price level normal now and so no raise is contemplated. The Metropolitan and Majestic here, Interstate theatres, have a top of SO cents, including tax, and an early matinee price of 25 cents. Loew's top is 40 cents, and the Kirby, another first run Interstate theatre, is 35 cents. The better class subsequent runs have a top of 25 cents and a low of 10. A few have a 15-cent top with five cents for children. These prices (Continued on page 3) N. E. Theatre Shifts Continue Fast Pace Boston, Sept. 6. — Fluctuations along the theatre front are still very much in evidence in New England. The Haines in Waterville, Me., a college town, is back on the active list. The Crown in New London is dark. The Apollo in New Haven, which is being operated by H. Tabackman, has reopened. The Cameo in Hartford has been opened by A. Goldberg. The Princess, Rockville, opens Sept. 15. In Maine, the Powers, Caribou, (Continued on page 4) Skouras Asks Delay On St. Louis Trip St. Louis, Sept. 6. — An infected toe may keep Spyros Skouras away from the hearing set for Tuesday on the Government's application for a temporary injunction against Paramount, Warners and RKO. Skouras, who was subpoened early this week in New York, has asked the (Continued on page 3) Most Loew and RKO Houses Start Duals All local Loew theatres with the exception of the State yesterday adopted a dual feature policy with "China Seas" and "Bright Lights" as the initial attraction. RKO theatres, with the exception of the Palace, today (Continued on page 3) Browne, IATSE Head, Refuses To End Local 306 Strike Ban Washington, Sept. 6. — George E. Browne, president of the I. A. T. S. E., today declined to rescind an order recently handed down denying Local 306 the right to strike in the event negotiations between the circuit and union in New York reach an impasse. The International head met with a committee of five from Local 306. The committee made a special trip from New York for the conference with Browne. On telegraphic orders from Local 306, union members are accepting $1.60 an hour until negotiations on a basic wage scale are completed. Acceptance of this scale is not in the form of a salary, but is being paid in the form of I. O. U.'s, the understanding being that if a higher scale is agreed upon finally the operators will receive the difference on signing of a contract. Charges of unlawful assembly against 21 Local 306 pickets were yesterday dismissed by Magistrate Michael A. Ford in the West Side Court. 'Jim 9 at $45, 850 Impresses In 2d Week; B 'divay Strong "Diamond Jim," with a five-year attendance record and a new threeyear high to its credit in its first week at the Roxy, kicked in with a handsome $45,850 in its second week, which terminated Thursday night, a final count demonstrated yesterday. In the face of adverse weather and such competition as "Top Hat" at the Music Hall, "Anna Karenina" at the Capitol and "Page Miss Glory" at the Strand, but with the extended Labor Day weekend in its favor, the second stanza of the Universal picture gave an impressive account of itself, particularly in view of a negligent shrinkage of only $1,150 as compared with the first week take of $47,000. Business along Broadway reminded of old times. "Page Miss Glory" gave the Strand a whopping $33,751. The Paramount did $25,400 with "Two for Tonight," which is holding over, and the final eight davs of a three-week run gave the Rivoli $24,200 with "The Call of the Wild." "Accent on Youth," aided by the holiday naturally, stepped up business at the Palace to $13,600, where normal these days ranges between $7,500 and $10,000. The second week of "The Crusades" at the Astor drew $10,500. Sues Columbia Over Royalties on Series Samuel J. Josephs, attorney for Harry Levey, yesterday filed in the N. Y. Supreme Court an application for a temporary injunction seeking to restrain Columbia from paying Rex Film Corp. any monies or royalties due on "Voice of Experience." Hearing on the application is scheduled for Monday before Judge Hofstadter. Other defendants listed are Voe Pictures Corp., M. Sayle Taylor, (Continued on page 3) Goldwyn to Produce One Picture Abroad Samuel Goldwyn is planning to produce a film at the London Films studios in England in a move for exchange of talent and production facilities between United Artists producers on both sides of the Atlantic, it was learned yesterday. Government Probes Pact in Cleveland Cleveland, Sept. 6. — Government men are interviewing independent exhibitors here who were signers of last year's single feature agreement, which expired on July 8, also the signers of this year's agreement, that has been signed to date by 80 per cent of the theatres, but with no apparent hope of success. Independent producers and distributors are reported to be back of the (Continued on page 3) Seek Repeal of Bay State Pari Mutuels Boston, Sept. 6. — An initiative petition seeking repeal of the horse and dog racing pari mutuel bills was filed yesterday with Secretary of State Frederick Cook signed by the necessary 10 voters of every 20,000 registered. Circuits Here Going Back to Chance Games Loew's and Consolidated Plan Resumption Loew's and Consolidated Amusements are planning to reinstate chance games in their local houses sometime next week, it was learned yesterday. Both circuits dropped the games about three weeks ago when the district attorneys of all five boroughs issued orders to the police force to notify exhibitors to discontinue the practice. Eight Loew theatres were playing Screeno at the time they were abolished while a similar number of Consolidated units were featuring' Lucky. Whether the games will be extended to additional houses in the major and independent circuits could not be learned yesterday, but it is believed that where competitive situations are playing games the Loew and Consolidated theatres will adopt them. The move to again go in for games is predicated on two recent decisions (Continued on page 4) Long Again Asserts He'll Force Vaude New Orleans, Sept. 6. — U. S. Senator Huey P. Long has again threatened to force vaudeville into theatres. In a three-hour radio speech he said he would compel theatre owners to install vaudeville within a short time. Union musicians are urging Long to continue his pressure, as 35-piece orchestras were common before stage shows were ended. Long made no reference to musicians in his speech, however. Seeks Philadelphia Test on Sweepstakes Philadelphia, Sept. 6. — Dave Barrist and his Quality Premium Co. will back a test suit to establish the legality of Sweepstakes. The decision followed the arrest of one of the company's clients, Tom (Continued on page 3) Coast Independents Warned on "Rackets" Los Angeles, Sept. 6. — Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California has warned the membership that further spread of "rackets" — meaning (Continued on page 3)