Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday. July 15, 1938 Board Votes Reorganizing For Academy {Continued from page 1) .generally seen in the United States. Old Academy dues varied from $42 i^ear for some classes to as low as )iaJ a year for others. New dues will ie $24 per year for every member of r(:he Academy. A new election is planned for the entire new board of governors and officers. A special committee, headed by W. R. Van Dyke, has worked for weeks lrafting a solid platform of principles md recommendations. On these the evised by-laws will be based. The x>ard is now at work on this by-law •evision, and the new setup will probably be announced within the next Itwo weeks. Harvard, Dartmouth Late, Says Kleinsmid Hollywood, July 14. — The decisions if Harvard and Dartmouth colleges to inaugurate films in their curricula are 11 years tardy, Dr. Rufus B. Von Kleinsmid, president of the University of Southern California, declared in a statement issued today. I Dr. Kleinsmid said: "Our courses began in 1927 with such men as Doug L las Fairbanks, Ernst Lubitsch and Milton Sills as members of the faculty. Our 22 courses now feature such subjects as television, film distribution, i continuity writing and the problems of the director and art technician." "Wonderful Time" Indianapolis Best Indianapolis, July 14. — "Having ! Wonderful Time," which was dualed with "The Saint in New York," did . well at the Circle, where $6,000 was taken, over par by $1,500. 'Man's Castle" and "Woman Against Woman" did $6,500 at Loew's, $500 under. The town was pretty well deserted ' over Independence Day, and a fireworks display staged by Sahara 1 Grotto skimmed a good many thouj sands away from exhibitors' doors. Total first run business was $21,500. Average is $22,500. Estimated takings for the week ending July 8 : "THE BIRTH OF A BABY" (G. N.) , APOLLO— (1,100), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,000. (Average. $3,000) "HAVING WONDERFUL TIME" (RKO) "THE SAINT IN NEW YORK" (RKO) CIRCLE— (2,800). 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $4,500) "MAN'S CASTLE" (Col.) i "WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,800). 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $7,000) "WHITE BANNERS" (W. B.) LYRIC— (2,000). 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Billy House; Diamond Brothers and other ^ acts. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $8,000) "Algiers" Benefit Set "A Night in Algiers," suggested by the Walter Wanger film, has been arranged for the Club Versailles next ' Monday by Leon Leonidoff, director of the stage shows at the Music Hall. It is being sponsored by the New ! York Exchange for Women's Work 1 for the benefit of its Vacation House Fund. "Wonderful Time" Big in Cleveland Cleveland, July 14. — "Having Wonderful Time" was tops here during a very hot week. The picture grossed $11,500 at Warners' Hippodrome where $10,000 is good business these days. It was moved to the Allen for a second week. "White Banners," playing a moveover from the Hippodrome to the Allen, finished the run at $4,000 which was par. "Lord Jeff" at Loew's Stillman, playing a second week following Loew's State, grossed $3,500, which was par on a moveover run. Total first run business was $36,000. Average is $35,500. Estimated takings for the week ending July 8: "WHITE BANNERS" (W. B.) ALLEN— (3,000), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,000) "HAVING WONDERFUL TIME" (RKO) WARNERS' HIPPODROME— (3,800), 30c35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $10,000) "ALWAYS GOODBYE" (20th-Fox) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $8,000) "PORT OF SEVEN SEAS" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,500), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $10,000) "LORD JEFF" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,900), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,500) "Holiday" on Dual $7,150 Seattle Lead Seattle, July 14. — "Tropic Holiday," with "Saint in New York," made the best showing in a week affected by fleet activities and a double holiday. The gross at the Paramount was $7,150, over par by $1,150. The bill moved to the Music Box. Total first run business was $32,900. Average is $36,500. Estimated takings for the week ending July 8: "CRIME SCHOOL" (F. N.) "GOODBYE BROADWAY" (Univ.) BLUE MOUSE— (950), 30c-40c-55c, 7 days, 3rd week, extended run from Orpheum. Gross: $2,650. (Average, $4,000) "HAVING WONDERFUL TIME" (RKO) "WIVES UNDER SUSPICION" (Univ.) FIFTH AVENUE— (2,500), 30c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,400. (Average, $7,000) "HOLIDAY" (Col.) LIBERTY— (1,800), 20c-30c-40c-55c, 7 days, 6th week. Gross: $3,850. (Average, $5,000) "THREE BLIND MICE" (20th-Fox) "HUNTED MEN" (Para.) MUSIC BOX— (950), 30c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Fifth Avenue. Gross: $2,850. (Average, $4,000) "GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS" (W. B.) "THE LADY IN THE MORGUE" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,450), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross $5,900. (Average, $6,000) "TIP-OFF GIRLS" (Para.) "THE MARINES ARE HERE" (Monogram) PALOMAR— (1.500), 15c-25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: "Hawaiian Follies." Gross: $4,100. (Average, $4,500) "TROPIC HOLIDAY" (Para.) "THE SAINT IN NEW YORK" (RKO) PARAMOUNT— (3,050), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,150. (Average, $6,000) Retitle "Now or Never" Hollywood, July 14. — The title of "It's Now or Never," M-G-M production featuring Robert Young, Ruth Hussey and Lew Ayres has been changed to "Rich Man, Poor Girl." "Gun Law," "Farm" $6,100 at Buffalo Buffalo, July 14. — First run takings were limp hereabouts over the holiday. "Gun Law" and "Prison Farm," the Century's dual, bucked up best under a broiling sun and grossed $6,100, better than par by $100. "Having Wonderful Time" drew fairly vigorous support under trying weather circumstances. It worked up a gross of $11,500, off average figures bv $500, but one of the top house totals in recent discouraging weeks. Total first run business was $32,400. Average is $38,600. Estimated takings for the week ending July 9 : "HAVING WONDERFUL TIME" (RKO) BUFFALO— (3,000), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $12,000) "LORD JEFF" (M-G-M) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $7,500) "WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN" (M-G-M) "BLIND ALLEY" (RKO) HIPPODROME— (2.500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $6,800) "PRISON FARM" (Para.) "GUN LAW" (RKO) CENTURY— (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $6,000) "SAILING ALONG" (G.B.) "THE CRIME OF DR. HALLE TT" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE — (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $6,300) "Josette" Is Washington's Money-Maker Washington, July 14. — "Josette" at Loew's Capitol with a take of $16,500, $1,575 under its average, made the best showing of the week. Another Loew theatre, the Palace, showing "Lord Jeff," had a gross of $10,000, $2,650 below par. Total first run business was $52,000. Average is $66,580. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax, for the week ending July 8 : "JOSETTE" (2»th-Fox) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: Major Bowes' Collegiate Revue. Gross: $16,500. (Average, $18,075) "LORD JEFF" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $12,650) "COCOANUT GROVE" (Para.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: July Jamboree, including Lucille Johnson, The Threee Biltmorettes, Will and Gladys Ahern, Max and His Gang and the 16 Dancing Debs. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $17,000) "THE DIVORCE OF LADY X" (U. A.) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $10,000) "THREE COMRADES" (M-G-M) (Return Engagement) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,325) "CRIME SCHOOL" (W. B.) (3 days) "WHITE BANNERS" (W. B.) (4 days) METROPOLITAN— (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,450) Director Job to Cortez Hollywood, July 14. — Sol Wurtzel has named Ricardo Cortez to direct "A Very Practical Joker," the third of the Roving Reporter series to be produced by the 20th Century-Fox studio. Mr. Cortez recently was signed to an actor-writer-director contract. "Fools," Show Hit $19,000, Philadelphia Philadelphia, July 14. — Heavy exodus over the holiday weekend and continued hot weather again took their toll of business. Again the only house to evade the curse was the Earle which grossed a topnotch $19,000 with "Men Are Such Fools" and a stage bill headed by Jan Savitt's Orchestra. "Rage of Paris" just nicked the average with $14,000 at the Stanley, but everything else was off. Total first run business was $68,900. Average is $73,800. Estimated takings for the week ending July 8 : "YELLOW JACK" (M-G-M) (2nd run) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $2,100. (Average, $2,800) "WHITE BANNERS" (W. B.) BOYD— (2,400), 37c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $14,000) "MEN ARE SUCH FOOLS" (W. B.) EARLE— (2,000), 25c-40c-55c, 6 days. Stage: Jan Savitt orchestra, Andrews Sisters, Gil Lamb. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $14,000) "ALWAYS GOODBYE" (20th-Fox) FOX— (3,000), 37c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $14,000) "BLOCKADE" (U. A.) (2nd run) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $4,000) "HOLIDAY" (Col.) (2nd run) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $4,000) "RAGE OF PARIS" (Univ.) STANLEY— (3,700), 37c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $14,000) "PRISON FARM" (Para.) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $7,000) Music Hall Refused Films as Unsuitable RKO pictures which the Music Hall has declined to play during the past two years were rejected as "unsuitable for the theatre," spokesmen for Rockefeller Center said yesterday in commenting on the $72,374 damage suit filed in Federal court here this week by Irving Trust Co., RKO reorganization trustee. The suit charges breach of the franchise agreement between the Music Hall and RKO for failure to play the minimum number of pictures annually specified by the contract. Rockefeller Center is named a defendant as guarantor of the Music Hall contract. The officials of the Center said the agreement calls for the playing of 20 RKO pictures in the Music Hall annually, but that during the two-year period involved in the suit "four or five" pictures less than the minimum were played. "The RKO trustee contends that the contract is a 'play or pay' one," a spokesman said. "We contend that quality and suitability must be taken into consideration." SWG Vote Protested By All 18 Studios (Continued from page 1) ters of the N.L.R.B. and the studio appeal would be made necessarily at some later date in the Federal Court, Ninth District, San Francisco, following the certification of the guild as bargaining agent.