Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February 14, 193 4 "Landing" Is $10,000 Hit, Minneapolis Minneapolis, Feb. 13. — "Happy Landing" was the only first run grosser in the Twin Cities. It drew $12,000 at the Minnesota where $10,000 is average, and $7,000 at the St. Paul Paramount where $5,500 is normal. "Nothing Sacred" grossed $6,000, slightly over average at the State here, where it was brought for a second week. Total first run business in Minneapolis was $27,000. Average is $27,500. Total first run business in St. Paul was $15,000. Average is $15,000. Estimated takings : Minneapolis Week Ending Feb. 3: "HAPPY LANDING" (20th-Fox) MINNESOTA— (4,000), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $10,000) "EVERY DAY'S A HOLIDAY" (Para.) ORPHEUM — (2,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $6,000) "VICTORIA, THE GREAT" (RKO) WORLD— (400), 25c-3Sc, 7 days, 5th week. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,000) "NOTHING SACRED" (U.A.) STATE— (2,400), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500) "THE BARRIER" (Para.) CENTURY — (1,600), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $5,000) St. Paul Week Ending Feb. 3: "HAPPY LANDING" (ZOth-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,500) "LOVE AND HISSES" (ZOth-Fox) ORPHEUM — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,000) "THOROUGHBREDS DON'T CRY" (M-G-M) "BLOSSOMS ON BROADWAY" (Para.) RIVIERA— (1.000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $3,300) "QUICK MONEY" (RKO) "HAWAIIAN BUCKAROO" (20th-Fox) TOWER— (1,000). 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,000) Cooper Managers Shift Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 13. — Managers have been shifted by L. J. Finske, division manager of J. H. Cooper Enterprises. E. A. Patchen has been moved from the city manager post in Pueblo, Col., to assist Walt Shuttee in Oklahoma City. Ike Hoig has gone from the Trail, Colorado Springs, to Pueblo, and Kenny Mead of the Orpheum here has replaced him. Leonard Goldman, formerly in St. Joseph, Mo., has been brought here by City Manager Bob Huffman for the Orpheum top spot. Form American Films Kansas City, Feb. 13. — American Films, Inc., has been formed here with W. L. Norris, president; Paul Humston, secretary, and Eleanor Bell, treasurer. The company, whose personnel formerly made up Consolidated Film Distributors, and Monogram Film Co. of Kansas City, Inc., will distribute independent product for the Kansas Citv area. Included in its present lineup are 10 United Artists features rereleases by Artcinema Associates, Inc. Two Firms Dissolved Dover, Del., Feb. 13. — Fox San Diego Theatre Corp. and Fox Westwood Theatre Corp. have been dissolved. Certificates of voluntary dissolution have been issued by the Delaware Secretary of State. Landing" $9,800 Milwaukee Leader Milwaukee, Feb. 13. — High money in a week of sub-zero weather and sleet went to "Happy Landing" and "City Girl" with a $9,800 take at Fox's Wisconsin, just $1,800 to the good. "It's Love I'm After" and "Swing Your Lady" collected $6,300 at the Warner, beating par by $1,300. "Some Blondes Are Dangerous" and "The Three Stooges" on the stage was good for $6,000 at the Riverside, $1,000 above average. Other business was off. Total first run business was $30,200. Average is $26,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 3 : "52ND STREET" (U.A.) "CHANGE OF HEART" (ZOth-Fox) PALACE— (2,400), 35c-50c, 5 days. Gross: $2,600. (Average, $5,000) "THE BUCCANEER" (Para.) "NO TIME TO MARRY" (Col.) PALACE— (2,400), 35c-50c, 2 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $5,000) "SOME BLONDES ARE DANGEROUS" (Univ.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 25c-30c, 7 days. Stage: 3 Stooges, Joe and Jane McKenna, Les Ghezzis, Ted Lester, Prince and Princess Salandria. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "THE HURRICANE" (U.A.) "SHE'S GOT EVERYTHING" (RKO) STRAND— (1,400), 35c-50c, 3 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $4,500) "BAD MAN OF BRIMSTONE" (M-G-M) "SHE MARRIED AN ARTIST" (Col.) STRAND— (1,400), 35c-50c, 4 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $4,500) "IT'S LOVE I'M AFTER" (W.B.) "SWING YOUR LADY" (W.B.) WARNER— (2,400), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,300. (Average, $5,000) "HAPPY LANDING" (ZOth-Fox) "CITY GIRL" (ZOth-Fox) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,800. (Average, $8,000) Johnston En Route Here Hollywood, Feb. 13. — W. Ray Johnston, president of Monogram, left today for New York. Prior to his departure he stated that 11 additional stories have been purchased for production on the 1938-'39 schedule and that John Carroll, star of "Rose of the Rio Grande," has been signed by the company to a term contract. Darmour Starts "Trail" Hollywood, Feb. 13. — Larry Darmour started production Saturday on "Stage Coach Trail," second of a series of outdoor pictures for Columbia release featuring Jack Luden, with Tuffy, shepherd dog. Joseph Levering will direct the original screenplay of Nate Gatzert. Ullman Going to Europe Frederick Ullman, Jr., vice-president of Pathe News, sailed Saturday on the lie de France. He will visit London and Paris and possibly other cities for the purpose of increasing the newsreel's European coverage. To Talk Labor Problems Mexico City, Feb. 13. — Film labor conditions will be one of the principal subjects to be discussed at the national convention of the National Federation of Cinematographic Industry Workers here Feb. 18 and 19. World Takes More Space World Pictures has taken additional office space in 729 Seventh Ave. Production Holds Level; 30 in Work Hollywood, Feb. 13. — With five pictures finishing and four starting, production dropped during the week to make 30 in work. Nine are being prepared and 56 are in the cutting rooms. Those starting are : "Three Comrades," M-G-M ; "Rose of the Rio Grande," Monogram ; "Alexander's Ragtime Band," 20th Century-Fox, and "State Police," Universal. The tally by studios : Columbia finished zero, shooting one, preparing zero, editing six ; Goldwyn, zero, zero, zero, zero; Grand National, zero, zero, zero, zero ; M-G-M, zero, four, one, one; Monogram, zero, one, zero, zero ; Paramount, one, four, one, seven ; Principal, one, zero, zero, two; RKO, one three, one, five; Republic, one, one, one, four ; Roach, zero, one, zero, one ; Selznick, zero, zero, zero, zero ; 20th Century-Fox, zero, seven, three, six ; Universal, one, two, zero,, two ; Wanger, zero, zero, one, zero ; Warners, zero, six, one, 22. In the short subject field, RKO started one. Columbia and M-G-M each finished one. Roach and RKO each are shooting one. A total of four are being prepared, and eight being edited. Attorney Sues B&K On Publicity Photo Chicago, Feb. 13. — Charging libel and asking $500,000 damages, Attorney Otis M. Gallant has filed suit in Circuit Court here against Balaban & Katz Corp. through his attorney, George Rabens. Gallant is suing because his name and picture, appearing in ambulance-chasing stories in the Chicago Times, was used in blowups which were displayed in various B. & K. theatre lobbies in an advertising campaign for a film called "Torture Money," shown here a year ago. Give Luncheon for Ford Charles E. Ford will be guest of honor at a luncheon being given by his friends in the industry at the Lotos Club today. Ford is scheduled to leave for Hollywood about Wednesday to begin production work for Republic. His resignation as editor of Universal Newsreel became effective last Saturday. William German of the Brulator office and R. B. Austrian of RCA Photophone are in charge of arrangements for the luncheon. Warners Set 6 Musicals Hollywood, Feb. 13. — Warners plan to make six musicals for production during the coming year. In addition to "Gold Diggers in Paris" and "Cowboy from Brooklyn" the company will produce "The Desert Song," 'White Horse Inn," "On Your Toes" and "Garden of the Moon." Protest U. S. Film Crews Vancouver, Feb. 13. — The Victoria Trades and Labor Council has decided to make representations to immigration authorities at Ottawa, the British Columbia department of labor and the Canadian Trades Congress against entry into Canada of film crews from the United States. Hearing Ordered on Stay for Time Ree Time, Inc., was directed Friday b Justice Bernard L. Shientag to sho\ cause Feb. 17 in the N. Y. Suprem Court why a temporary injunctio pending trial should not be issued t restrain exhibition of the March c Time reel which deals with the Na tional Maritime Union. The orde was obtained by Frederick N. Mjtar and Jerome King, chairman ancmj); retary of the union, and Clegg Oriv der, James Lampkin and Robert Stew art, seamen, who are the plaintiffs. The union seeks $200,000 damage and the members ask $50,000 each. The union contends that the filr holds their organization up to con tempt and ridicule and impedes its ac tivities. The seamen, who are unde indictment in the Brooklyn Federj Court for attempted mutiny on th S. S. Algic, also allege that wide ex hibition of the picture will prever them from securing a fair trial. The plaintiffs allege that the filr misrepresents them as demandin watermelon, beers and tomatoes, an gives a false impression of their ac tivities. It is also charged that telegram to Joseph P. Kennedy, for mer chairman of the National Mari time Commission, was misquotec Papers in the suit have not yet bee filed. 306 Continuing Its Local Theatre Drm Operators' Local 306 is continuin its drive to sign up neighborhood an subsequent run theatres in the Metro politan area. The Trent, in Brooklyi which employs the Empire union's op erators, is being picketed by Local 30 and the campaign against the hous will continue until it signs a contraci the union said yesterday. A contract with the Republic, for mer burlesque theatre on West 42n< St., is due to be closed this week witi the return of Dave Weinstock, on of the owners, from Florida. Ma: Rudnick has signed an agreement fo the Eltinge, also a former burlesqu house, the terms calling for employ ment of six men instead of five wit! an increase in booth costs from $27. to $330 a week. This agreement wil run a year. Both theatres have beei using Local 306 men since the; changed to films, but the scales wen below standard, according to thi union. McGuire in Local 244 P. A. McGuire, advertising and pub licity manager of International Projec tor Corp., was made an honorarj member of Local 244, I.A.T.S.E. a the monthly meeting of the organiza tion in Newark recently. The seconi annual goodwill dinner and dance o Local 244 was held at the Essej House, Newark, on Friday. Rites for Irving Bonoff Malison, Conn., Feb. 13. — Funera services were held Friday for Irving Bonoff, who for the past 18 years hac been operator with Leo Bonoff of thi Bonoff Theatre. Bonoff had an activi I part in planning and supervising thi construction of the new Saybrook Theatre last summer, but had been ii since that time. He was 48 at hii 1 death. He is survived by his wife, tw( children, his mother, his brother, Leo who carries on the active operation o; the two theatres, and a sister.