Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

Friday, July 8, 1938 MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Robin Hood" Again Takes Boston Lead Boston, July 7. — "Adventures of Rubin Hood" still dominated the ft: pptown scene last week when it [f^fled $9,000 at the Paramount and I $6,000 at the Fenway, co-billed with "Little Miss Thoroughbred." Both features were second run, yet went lover par in both instances, drawing $2,000 in excess of the Paramount and $1,500 over at the Fenway. "The Rage of Paris" and "The Devil's Party" held up substantially on a holdover at the RKO Memorial, where they grossed $9,000. First week average is $13,000. Total first run business was $52,500. Average is §59,500. Estimated takings for the week end! ing July 2 : "ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD" (F. N.) "LITTLE MISS THOROUGHBRED" (W. B.) FENWAY— (1,382), 30c-50c, 7 days. Cross: $6,000. (Average. $4,500) "LORD JEFF" (M-G-M) "WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN" (M-G-M) LOEWS ORPHEUM— (2,970), 25c-35c-40c55c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $12,000) "LORD JEFF" (M-G-M) "WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN" (M-G-M) LOEWS STATE— (2,537), 25c-30c-40c55c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $11,000) "WHITE BANNERS" (W. B.) "RASCALS" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $11,000) "ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD" (F. N.) "LITTLE MISS THOROUGHBRED" (W. B.) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 30c-40c-55c, / days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $8,000) "RAGE OF PARIS" (Univ.) "DEVIL'S PARTY" (Univ.) RKO MEMORIAL — (2.907). 30c-50c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $13,000) "Banners" Is Best Grosser at Omaha Omaha, July 7. — "White Banners" and "Swiss Miss" pulled $6,600 in seven days at the Omaha for the best showing of the week. The gross was ■ SI. 100 over weekly par. "Wide Open Faces" and "Peniten1 tiary" grossed $4,300 in seven days at the Brandeis for a satisfactory profit of $300 over weekly average. "Lord Jeff" and "Accidents Will Happen" were aided by one-night p. a. of Mickey Rooney at the Orpheum and I squeezed out $6,800 in the course of the 7-day run. Exhibitors have had keen competi ■ tion from a racing meet and outdoor entertainments. Total first run business was $17,700. Average is $16,700. Estimated takings : Week Ending June 29: "WIDE OPEN FACES" (Col.) n "PENITENTIARY" (Col.) BRANDEIS— (1.200), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average. $4,000) "WHITE BANNERS" (W. B.) "SWISS MISS" (M-G-M) OMAHA — (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,600. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending June 30: "LORD JEFF" (M-G-M) "ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN" (W. B.) ORPHEUM— (3,000), 25c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $7,200) The Newsreel Parade Movietone News Vol. 20, No. 86 (20th Century-Fox) An aviation story is the lead for this issue. Also included are a number of other events of high caliber — in the newsreel sense. The photography and editorial handling of the subjects are in keeping with the reel's standard. Howard Hughes takes off from Burbank and arrives at Floyd Bennett Field to pose with Grover Whalen before his projected flight to Paris. Montana mustangs and Brahma steers throw cowboys all over the landscape. The Zachini brothers are fired from a cannon — the both of them. The exploration division offers camera-eye views of the turbulent Colorado River where a party of six scientists are feared lost. Summer fashions by Vyvyan Donner and Helen Claire show the latest in dirndls and sport and country wear. Lew Lehr has a time with Wilbur and his seal family at the Central Park Zoo. Co-eds frolic in the Rocky Mountains, above the snow line, where they find an aid to keeping cool in a frigid lake. Ed Thorgersen's sport department covers the scoring plays and baseball personalities involved in Wednesday's allstar game at Cincinnati. Running time, 10H mins. P News of the Day Vol. 9, No. 284 (M-G-M) The emphasis on the assortment of events offered here is on interesting variety. Subjects range from scientific experiment to the war in Spain and the well known American pastime. The Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the scene of the opening sequence. Two scientists of Chicago University are seen emerging after a study of sleep and time in the underground spot. The unique experiment invites puns but is given quite serious treatment. Howard Hughes' plane arrives in New York in the course of a transAtlantic flight. Italian troops are shown in battle on the Barcelona front with plenty of fireworks in the action. The Zachini brothers are fired from a cannon at Atlantic City. The film is reversed and shows them going back into the gun. Adelaide Hawley comments on the first cruise of the St. John's Guild for underprivileged children and mothers. The Sporting Page has that newsreel standby — motorcycles climbing hills and the important plays of the recent all-star baseball game of the National and American Leagues. Running time, 9 mins. P> Paramount News No. 97 (Paramount) The all-star baseball game between teams of the National and American Leagues comes close to being the only real piece of pictorial news in this issue of the reel. The closest the editors could come to spot material was a group of shots of celebrities leaving for Europe, including Don Ameche and his wife, Eddie Cantor and part of his family, Medill Patterson and his bride, and American Ambassador to Belgium Davies and Mrs. Davies. Two other routine items cover the dedication of a tablet in Minnesota which is said to record a visit to the area of Vikings in 1362, and the performance of 1,000 players of string instruments, in convention at St. Joseph, Mo. A feature sequence pictures three adventurers, Lincoln Ellsworth, who plans a new plane dash to the Antarctic ; Captain Eyston, auto racer, who will attempt a new assault on his own speed record, and Howard Hughes, planning a world flight in a flying laboratory. Running time, 9 Universal Newsreel Vol. 10, No. 682 (Universal) There's a nice choice of material and some excellent editing in this release. : Five cameramen collaborated on the departure of Howard Hughes from the coast and his arrival at Floyd Bennett Field, and he is also shown with Grover Whalen. Italian soldiers advancing and seeking shelter and scenes of the Loyalists' abandoned positions in Spain make this sequence better than some of the recent coverage. A novelty is a dog using wheels under his hind legs so that he can run and walk in spite of paralysis. Other subjects are the training of girl drum majors, an auto race at Le Mans, France ; an historical football game at Florence, Italy ; a diving show with comedy stunts at Los Angeles, the victory of War Minstrel at Chicago and the Fourth of July celebration at Havana. Running time, 9 mins. K. RKO-Pathe News Vol. 9, No. 101 (RKO) The reel was reviewed prior to the arrival of footage on the major leagues' AllStar baseball game played at Cincinnati Wednesday. Approximately 150 feet on this subject will be sent out to subscribers. The contents of the reel, otherwise, comprise shots of Howard Hughes' arrival in New York preparatory to his projected transAtlantic flight, the convening of the Administration's new monopolies investigating committee, a marathon race to the summit of Pike's Peak, notable passengers on the Queen Mary on her last sailing from New York, an archery tournament in Los Angeles, and construction work in New Mexico on one of the world's largest smelters. With the addition of the footage on the AllStar game the running time of the reel will be approximately 7l/2 minutes. K. Charney Coming East Hollywood, July 7. — C. King Charney of Agfa will leave for New York tomorrow on a periodic visit to his clients. 12 Color Traveltalks Hollywood, July 7. — James A. FitzPatrick will make 12 Traveltalks in color for the 1938-39 shorts program at M-G-M. Four Holdouts End Battle of "Snow White 99 (Continued from page 1) New York. Then the battle was on in earnest. RKO, distributing, with Hal Home as Disney's representative sitting in on contracts, stood pat. Individual theatre owners and small circuits bought. Most big buyers waited. Finally, there were compromises both ways. The picture continued to roll up new highs in theatre after theatre. The compromises took the form principally of concessions on percentage terms, sliding scales upward, in exchange for extended and more favorable playing time. Concessions on one side or the other resulted ultimately in deals in all but four important situations. The Saenger circuit, with headquarters in New Orleans, and operating in Louisiana and Mississippi, stood out to the finish. E. V. Richards insisted on a flat rental and RKO sold away from the circuit. Griffith Balks The Grffith Circuit, Oklahoma and Texas, controlling a majority of the towns in which it operates, refused to play percentage terms and RKO sold where there was opposition. The Long circuit, in New Mexico, which has since become part of the Griffith circuit, bought the picture before the consolidation. The Mullin & Pinanski circuit, in New England, held out against RKO's single bill stipulation. M. & P. played the picture in its 14 single feature houses, but RKO sold away in the rest of the territory. The St. Louis Amusement Co., operating second and subsequent runs in St. Louis, refused to buy the picture on anything except flat rental. RKO sold around them, although Fanchon & Marco played the picture first run in St. Louis. Stipulations Listed Except for concessions on the base percentage in exchange for a better split or extra favorable dates, "Snow White" has been sold generally, on terms which included the following stipulations : Single feature restrictions ; double playing time ; weekend dates ; minimum admission of 15 cents; minimum guarantee of $50. "Snow White" is billing at the rate of approximately $100,000 rentals per week. Although it is nearing the 26th week of release, at which time high billings normally drop off sharply, the delay in closing many important situations will extend its period of active revenue beyond the average. Subsequent run engagements started July 1 in Los Angeles, and the neighborhood theatres in Detroit have still to show the picture. The subsequent run situation in Chicago has been delayed by exhibitor resistance to the demand for Saturday and Sunday playing time, but dates are now being set in that area. The conflict between seller and buyer has terminated in remarkably few casualties and a minimum of ill-will in a situation which was loaded with possibilities for trouble.