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10
MOTION PICTURE
DAILY
Wednesday, January 22, 1936
Kansas City Bankers Find General Gain
Kansas City, Jan. 21. — Improved general conditions for Kansas City and its trade area, on which theatre men here base their predictions for at least a 10 per cent increase in grosses for 1936, are reflected in the Federal Reserve Bank's Monthly Review of agricultural, industrial, trade and financial conditions in the 10th Reserve District.
Findings of the Reviezv, which cover November and the first 11 months of 1935, are very encouraging. Comparing the first 11 months with the same 1934 period :
Business failures declined 17.7 per cent in number and 40.8 per cent in liabilities. Payments by check in 29 cities in the district were up 11.2 per cent and Federal Reserve Bank clearings, up 9.8 per cent. Wholesalers' sales were up 0.6 per cent, and retailers' sales for 32 department stores, 6.3 per cent. Retail trade was up seven per cent in November over November, 1934, and Christmas business, it was learned from other sources, was better than a year ago. Sales of groceries, dry goods, hard1 ware, furniture and drugs were up from 1.3 to 14.6 per cent in November, as compared with November, 1934.
Building Brings Lumber Gain
Continuing the 11 months' comparison :
Lumber sales were up 23.3 per cent. The value of building contracts awarded increased 14.6 per cent, while the value of residential contracts awarded went up 63.5 per cent and the value of building permits in 17 cities was up 75.8 per cent.
In production, flour was up one per cent ; crude petroleum, 6.9 ; soft coal, 15.3 ; zinc ore, 25.3, and lead ore, 35.6.
Wheat receipts were 7.3 per cent up; corn, 46.5 off, and oats, 118 per cent up.
Live stock receipts at six markets were off substantially, as was meat packing.
However, the "Dec. 1 condition of western ranges was much improved over a year ago and above the 10-year average," and "November rains over the central and eastern portions of the district materially benefited winter grains and enabled additional planting of winter wheat in areas with moisture deficiencies."
Also, live stock prices showed net gains of from 25 cents to $2 per cwt over October.
While life insurance volume declined, reports indicate that the volume of premiums is well over last year.
Hold Up "Show Goes On"
Hollywood, Jan. 21— Production on Sol Lesser's "The Show Goes On" will be suspended for three weeks while Bobby Breen recovers from an emergency operation for appendicitis. The young star was rushed to the Cedars of Lebanon hospital last week, and is doing nicely following the operation.
Providence Unanimous 1936 Will Be a Prosperous Year
I 'urn IDENCE, Jan. 21. — Voicing unanimous opinion that 1936 will be one of the best years ever enjoyed by the industry, Providence exhibitors look forward to better product, larger houses and bigger grosses.
They point with pride to the fact that some of the best films of the year came at the tag-end of the season which will give them extra momentum for the New Year. Then, too, every house downtown has at least half a dozen pictures set for the first two months that are expected to lift grosses sky-high.
Howard Burkhardt, manager of Loew's State, had no hesitancy, when queried as to the outlook, in saying that "there are plenty of good things to look forward to in 1936. Good product is coming and we should have a great season."
He then went on to point out some of the outstanding hits of the past year which did land-office business at his house. Heading the list was "Mutiny on the Bounty" which broke all house records. Other films written in large red letters were "Forsaking All Other s," "David Copperfield," "Naughty Marietta," "No More Ladies," "China Seas," "Anna Karenina," "Broadway Melody," "I Live My Life' and "A Night at the Opera."
Harry Schlinker, manager of the RKO Albee, also voiced optimism for a banner year. In addition to pictures, the house intends again to inaugurate a policy of stage presentations which will be in the form of revues. Among the pictures to which he pointed with pride as having done excellent business were "Roberta," "Alice Adams," "Top Hat," "The
Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Annie Oakley."
"Good times are on the way again," is the opinion of Bernard Fay and Jack Toohey at the Majestic. Quizzed as to the past season, Toohey said "Of course we've had a good year— don't you know we booked all the Shirley Temple pictures?"
Practically all of this little curly top's films were held over for a second week, in some cases moving to the Carlton after the first week at the Majestic. Other films that tickled the customers to the extent of disgorging were "Here Comes the Navy," "GMen," "Go Into Your Dance," "Shipmates Forever," "Life Begins at 40,' and "George White's Scandals."
"Going to Town" hit the high spot at the Strand, Providence's indepen dent house which two years ago was under the aegis of Paramount-Publix Ed Reed, feted recently for having put over one of the best years in the history of the theatre, sees nothing but bright lights ahead. He believes the 1936 output will be better than last year and that patrons will respond accordingly.
In his list of big attractions for 1935 Reed placed these : "Big Broadcast of 1936," "Here Is My Heart,'" "Mississippi," "Gilded Lily," "Rumba,' "Lives of a Bengal Lancer," "Ruggles of Red Gap," and "Private Worlds."
Exhibitors point out that business has been cut into by the racing season at Narragansett arid by the fact that the textile trade is in a slump. "If we can have a good season despite that sort of competition and disadvantage there is no reason why the New Year shouldn't be one of the best," they contend.
Fheatre Boom Underway in Detroit Area
(Continued from page 1)
Wyoming Road and Penkell. Sites for the other two are to be picked within 30 days, he says.
Jeff Williams will increase the seating capacity of the Roseville from 630 to 700 in a few weeks.
Changes Gaining in South
Atlanta, Jan. 20. — Theatre changes are increasing rapidly all over the South, thereby reflecting improved agricultural and industrial conditions in this territory.
In North Carolina improvements are general and one new house is to be opened soon.
In other spots the changes include the renovation of the Carolina at Greensboro ; exterior and interior improvements to the Broadway, Charlotte ; remodeling of the Oasis, Kingston, owned by A. B. Huff and associates, and changes in the Seabreeze, owned by W. L. Paul, at Beaufort. _ In South Carolina George H. Harris has joined the expansion moves by leasing a brick building to convert into a theatre.
Florida developments include reno
vations and installations of new equipment at the Dixie, Apalachicola ; development of plans for a new house at Arcadia by G. K. Stanford, and plans for remodeling a building into a theatre at Sebring. Charles Morrison is backing the Sebring project.
One new house is being built in Georgia at Swainsboro by J. T. and C. W. Phillips, and another, damaged some time ago by fire, at Fitzgerald, is being rebuilt by the Roy Martin interests.
Alabama also has felt the pickup. The Crescent Amusement Co. has just acquired the Princess Theatre Building at Gadsden for $60,000.
Two Tennessee houses have been remodeled. The Princess at Lexington has been reopened and the Rex at Nashville is being equipped with new sound.
Schines Take 3 More
Delaware, O., Jan. 21. — Three new units have just been added to the rapidly expanding Schine circuit by acquisition of the Ohio and Majestic, at Athens, and purchase of a half interest in the Strand here. The three houses have been operated by Henry Bieberson, who built the local Strand more than 20 years ago.
Schines now operate houses in Wooster, Mt. Vernon, Ashland, Norwalk, Bucyrus, Van Wert, Bellefontaine and Piqua. They will build at Marietta, and are reported to have several other locations in sight.
Lincoln Film Men See Gain During 1936
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 21. — Substantial improvement in business noted by theatres here during December, in comparison with 1934 in the same month, has theatre men in optimistic spirits and firm belief is expressed in better grosses in 1936.
The December lull, ordinarily tough to cut in this area of low salaries, was about five per cent better than a year ago in the southern and eastern Nebraska towns. Dependence to a large extent in this territory is on the agricultural situation, a good crop and price year meaning excellent business.
Improvement here during 1935 was in direct proportion to the difference in crop values, which were totalled at $35,000,000 in excess of 1934. The forepart of the previous year was extremely bad all over the state, since early spring saw dust storms paralyze business for nearly a month and early summer saw Nebraska's most devastating flood all along the southern part of the state.
Under such a handicap, conditions were bettered and small town theatres have been getting a good play. Openings in the territory have exceeded closings. New Deal spending, although frowned on pretty generally in this area, has forced more and more money into amusements of which i theatres represent an overwhelming percentage.
No Receipts Tax Thus Far
Box-offices have survived a regular ] and special session of the state legislature without seeing a tax slapped on receipts and there is no session in sight for 1936, which will mean another worry off the mind. V audeville, hitherto rather an unknown article, i has sprouted in large as well as smaller towns where it was unheard of before. Lack of interest has been shown in Bank Night as a draw which I is believed the reason for the turn| to acts to support program pictures. Two-for-ones operate only in rare cases now, although double features seem to be a policy which cannot be dodged.
Optimism is expressed by City Manager Jerry Zigmond of the Lincoln Theatre Corp. here. "We showed some financial betterment in December," he stated, "not anything terrific, but it was on the up. Most of the business men around here seem to think we're in for more spending on the part of the public for 1936 and I'm sure we'll get our share. Releases so far look very good."
Mid-state, Carl Rose of York, cityj manager for the Blank Central States houses there, said:
"Our corn crop, far better than usual, is netting a nice upturn in busi j ness. Summer crops show signs ol being good, too."
Film salesmen insist exhibitors are] happier to see them around than alj any time in the last few years.
F. & M. Offices Moved
St. Louis, Jan. 20. — Fanchon f| Marco have moved local headquarter* from the Fox to the Missouri, whiclj; is about one block away from th^f former spot.