Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, August 4, 1938 "Birth" Gets Seattle Top Second Week Seattle, Aug. 3. — "The Birth of a Baby" led the town again in its second week with a take of $6,000 at the Liberty. This was $1,000 over normal. It was held again. "Always Goodbye" and "Passport Husband" went slightly over the line with $7,150 at the Fifth Avenue and the bill was moved to the Music Box. "Cowboy From Brooklyn" and "Accidents Will Happen" took $6,800 at the Orpheum and were moved to the Blue Mouse. Total first run business was $36,2o0. Average is 836,500. Estimated takings for the week ending July 26 : "LORD JEFF" (M-G-M) "YOU AND ME" (Para.) BLUE MOUSE — (950), 30c-40c-S5c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Orpheum. Gross: S3.200. (Average, $4,000) "ALWAYS GOODBYE" (20th-Fox) "PASSPORT HUSBAND" (20th-Fox) FIFTH AVENUE — (2,500), 30c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: S7.150. (Average, $7,000) ' THE BIRTH OF A BABY" (S. R.) LIBERTY— (1,800), 20c-30c-40c-55c, 7 davs. 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, 55.000) "SHOPWORN ANGEL" (M-G-M) "FAST COMPANY" (M-G-M) MUSIC BOX— (950), 30c-40c-55c, 7 days, 3rd week, extended run from Paramount. Gross: $3,350. (Average, $4,000) "COWBOY FROM BROOKLYN" (W. B.) "ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN" (W. B.) ORPHEUM— (2.450), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $6,000) "ROMANCE OF THE LIMBERLOST" (Monogram) "COUNTY HOSPITAL" (M-G-M) PALOMAR— (1,500), 15c-25c-35c, 7 days. Vaudeville headed by Deszo Ritter. Gross: $3,900. (Average. $4,500) "I'LL GIVE A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "THE DEVIL'S PARTY" (Univ.) PARAMOUNT— (3,050), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,850. (Average, $6,000) "Crime School" is Omaha Dual Head Omaha, Aug. 3. — "Crime School'' and "Romance of the Limberlost" were best by far for the week, pulling a smash $6,500 in seven days at the Brandeis to top weekly average by $2,500. "Cowboy from Brooklyn" and "Woman Against Woman" did a satisfactory $8,500 in seven days at the Orpheum, beating weekly par by $1,300. Total first run business was $20,500. Average is $16,700. Estimated takings : Week Ending July 27: "CRIME SCHOOL" (F. N.) "ROMANCE OF THE LIMBERLOST" (Monogram) BRANDEIS— (1,200). 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $4,000) ' BLOCKADE" (U. A.) "WIVES UNDER SUSPICION" (Univ.) OMAHA— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending July 28: "COWBOY FROM BROOKLYN" (W. B.) "WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (3.000), 25c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average. $7,200) Revive "Modern Times" Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" has been booked into the Globe following the run of "Highway Patrol." Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, Aug. 3. — Dolly Haas has been signed by Ernest Lubitsch to star in his first picture, "The Shop Around the Corner," in which the producer-director will be associated with Myron Selznick. Samson Raphaelson is adapting the Nicholas Laszlo play. Joan Brooks has been signed for the feminine lead of "Songs and Saddles," first of the eight Gene Austin vehicles Road Show Pictures, Inc., will produce . . . Robert Young replaces Allan Jones in M-G-M's "Honolulu" lead, due to a rewriting of the role . . . W'arners are preparing "Tough Angels," story of airliner hostesses, by Jerry Wald and Richard Macaulay. Ann Sheridan, Anita Louise, Jane Bryan, John Payne, John Garfield and Ronald Reagan are in the cast. Wilbur M. Peterson, operator of the Orpheum at Somerville, Mass., is here for a visit . . . Pat O'Brien, Joan Blondell and Bobby Jordan are set for the top roles in "Unfit to Print," Warner newspaper story . . . Next in the "Hopalong Cassidy" series will be "Songs of the Pioneers," according to Harry Sherman. Norman Houston is doing the screenplay . . . Dorothy Lamour and Fred MacMurray will be co-starred in Paramount's "Mantrap," story of the Canadian Northwest to be made in color. . . . Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland have been signed by Paramount to team in a feature comedy, with options for an additional three. + Casting — Warner assignments: Irving Bacon to "Angels with Dirty Faces," Lawrence Grant to "Devil's Island," Dick Purcell to "Torchy Gets Her Man," Minna Gombell to "Curtain Call," Gale Page to the feminine lead of "Crime Is a Racket," and Mayo Metho and John Ridge ley to "The Sisters" . . . M-G-M Charles Grapewin to "Three Loves Has Nancy," Hal Cook, Irving Bacon and Barbara Pepper to "Sweethearts," and Margaret Hamilton to "Stablemates" . . . Universal : Florence Roberts to "The Comet," and Isabel Jeans to "Youth Takes a Fling" . . . Darmour-Columbia : Beverly Roberts, Noah Beery\ Jr., Helen Jerome Eddy and Barbara Pepper to "Not for Glory" . . . Columbia : Kenneth Howell replaces William Henry in "Girls' School," with Heather Thatcher, Ann Doran and Beatrice Blinn joining the cast . . . RKO : Sally Eilers draws the top role in "Sing, Sister." Tim Holt, Rita Hayworth to "The Ranger Code," and Peggy Shannon to "Mr. Doodle Kicks Off." W riters — Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell have been signed to write the script for "Trade Winds" . . . Samuel Goldwyn has signed Irmgard von Cube to write an original for Sigrid Gurie . . . Malcolm Stuart Boylan is working on Paramount's "The Lady's from Kentucky" . . . Universal assignments : Val Burton and Elliott Gibbons on the script of "Flying Cadets," Lee Loeb to "Swing that Cheer," Tom Lennon to "WTest Side Miracle," and Harold Buckley on his original, "Thunder Bugs," midget auto story . . . Warner assignments : Eddie Anderson and Charles Perry on the script of the second Nancy Drew story of the series, Abem Finkel on "Beethoven," Lawrence Kimble on "Women in the Wind," Kay Francis vehicle, Mark Hellinger and Ntven Busch on "Memphis Belle," Bette Davis vehicle, Norman Reilly Raine and Wally Klein on "Oklahoma Kid," to co-star James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. Report 52 Opened in Canada in 6 Months Toronto, Aug. 3. — During the first six months of 1938 in Canada, 52 theatres were opened, seven closed their doors and 54 changed hands, according to the half-yearly report prepared by the Film Board of Trade here. The 52 openings from Jan. 1 to June 30 included 45 entirely new theatres. Asks Change in Name Des Moines, Aug. 3. — Harry M. Weinberg, general manager for Central States Theatre Corp., has filed a petition in District Court for a change of his last name to Warren. His petition states that Warren is an old family name of Mrs. Weinberg. He also asks that Warren be made the legal surname of Mrs. Weinberg and their two minor children. Plans Another Drive-In Boston, Aug. 3. — Philip Smith is planning a second drive-in theatre in Detroit. Smith, who operates a chain in New England, recently opened automobile theatres in the Michigan city and in Cleveland. The new Detroit house will be ready for next spring, it is planned. Chile Saw 144 U. S. Films in Six Months By A. WEISSMANN Santiago de Chile, July 25. — During the first six months of this year, a total of 144 American films has been exhibited in Chile. Warners contributed 22 ; RKO, 22 ; 20th CenturyFox, 19 ; Universal, 15 ; Paramount, 16; M-G-M, 14; Columbia, 13; United Artists, 12 ; independents, six. During the period, 16 Argentine and 20 Mexican films were shown, as well as 23 in French, while only nine English and nine German were imported. Slessor Joins Warners London, Aug. 3. — Philip Slessor, former newspaperman, has been named publicity director for Warners' British studio at Teddington. Until recently he was connected with BBC and Gaumont British. Jerry Jackson, executive producer, made the appointment. To Build at Cincinnati Cincinnati, Aug. 3. — Avon Amusement Enterprises, recently organized here by Maurice Chase of the Chase Pictures Corp., and others, has leased a site for construction of a 600seat neighborhood house, on which work is scheduled to start Aug. 15. Cleveland and Toronto Drive Centers Today (Continued from page 1) minion will be scheduled by Mr. Fitzgibbons following the Toronto meet-^ ing. ™ Mr. Sears will assist Edwin Silverman, independent circuit operator, in conducting a meeting at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, tomorrow for the exhibitors of that city, Indianapolis and Milwaukee. Other key city meetings will be held next week. The campaign committee yesterday refined the slogan for the drive into "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment." Prior to that the word "movies" was used in the slogan. Morton G. Thalheimer, Richmond, independent circuit operator, was added to the list of exhibitor contributors to the campaign fund yesterday. Exhibitors are asked to contribute at the rate of 10 cents per seat for a total of $250,000 from independent theatre sources. More than $75,000 has been pledged by independents on this basis to date. Affiliated circuits are pledged to contribtue a minimum of $250,000 and producers-distributors, $500,000. Beulah Livingstone Joins Beulah Livingstone, motion picture publicist, has been added to the campaign staff headed by Paul Gulick. She has been granted a five-month leave of absence by Artcinema Assocites for the purpose. Miss Livingstone formerly was associated with Mr. Gulick in the Universal publicity department, served as publicity director for Joseph M. Schenck, was with First National on the coast and with Paramount in London. She will be assigned to writing feature and syndicate stories for the drive and will serve on the magazine committee headed by Al Wilkie. H. M. Richey Heads Campaign in Detroit (Continued from page 1) the sweltering heat now current to demonstrate their cooperation in the drive. Several wires were received from those unable to attend. Mr. Richey will start an immediate and systematic canvass of all independents not present for signed pledges of support. He will designate other committees to work with him. Jossey Out of Republic Cleveland, Aug. 3— With the signing of a new five-year franchise deal with Republic, Nat L. Lefton, became the sole Republic franchise owner in Ohio, having bought out the interest formerly controlled by J. S. Jossey. Mr. Jossey is now confining his activities to selling Bank Night. Milstein After Circuit A deal to take over a small circuit in Los Angeles is being consummated by J. J. Milstein, formerly Republic vice-president in charge of sales. He expects to leave for the coast the end of next week. After leaving Republic he organized Warwick Pictures, which produced "The Fight for Peace."