Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Mountain Exhibitors Endorse Campaign "Alexander Lay. August 25, 1938 risco Raises 15,800 Fund For Ad Drive (Continued from page 1) y meeting there within a few days, shibitors are rapidly completing mgements for local activities in Lection with the start of the drive, 1. Atlanta theatres have or»zed a parade with animated floats, : arranged for a proclamation i the mayor and have lined up spaper cooperation. Extensive iTiotional work has been arranged Richmond, Boston, Rochester, New en. Norfolk, Baltimore and humous other cities. VA Lets Members Decide on Campaign I he I. T. O. A. is letting its mem; decide whether or not to paroate in the Motion Pictures' GreatYear campaign. iter extended discussion a motion adopted yesterday stating that indual members are free to use their retion. Harry Brandt presided, [embers who addressed the meeting cated that the drive would help ness in certain situations, but •ned it would have no effect in ■rs because of the tardy availabilof films to subsequent runs, he I. T. O. A. will move its of> late in September from the Hotel coin to the Astor. jast May Have Parade Hollywood, Aug. 24. — Publicity diors of the Hollywood studios met Ly with Gabe Yorke, chairman of local committee of the Motion Pics' Greatest Year campaign, and ussed casting of the short subject, le World Is Yours," also the conplated parade of film celebrities in Uywood and Los Angeles to stimuthe start of the drive. Xo de:>n was reached on the parade, the I ter being tabled until further deis of the proposal can be worked incinnati Cooperating incinnati, Aug. 23. — Unanimous 'port and financial pledges of 10 is per seat were voted here for the don Pictures' Greatest Y'ear drive I Arthur M. Frudenfeld, division lager, RKO Midwest; Maurice ite, President of United Theatres ; \\ • Huss, Jr., president of Associ■ Theatres; Tracy Barham, general i lager of Southio Theatres, Inc., and roximately 100 independent exhibi;•, branch managers, salesmen and Ikers. Drive Is Incorporated he organization conducting the in try's current business promotion ! ipaign has organized as Motion ! tures' Greatest Y'ear, Inc. Officers I the corporation are : George J. j. aefer, president and executive firman; Frank C. Walker, treas "; Robert S. Benjamin of Phillips rsizer, secretary; Harold B. Frankbusiness manager; William Cro|i assistant to Mr. Walker, assistant surer ; Paul Gulick, controller and Iprdinator. Denver, Aug. 24. — The Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment campaign today received unanimous endorsement at the annual convention of the Theater Owners and Managers of the Rocky Mountain region and body went on record as urging all exhibitors to aid the drive as being finest thing ever to be brought up for the industry. Other resolutions urged that studios be closed to visitors and more especially to commentators who thrive on scandal, either actual or inferred, and that a copy of this resolution be sent advertisers sponsoring commentators over the air. The body opposed the entering of churches and schools into the exhibition field as a moneymaking venture but approved the use of films in visual education. The idea was that the exhibitor should work with educators instead of against them. The group asked that exchange branch managers be given more power in dealing with exhibitors and it was voted to demand either elimination or reduction of the Ascap charge, by law if necessary. New officers are : President, Chas. R. Gilmour ; vice-presidents, A. P. Archer, Mickey Gross, B. P. McCormick ; secretary, A. G. Edwards, and treasurer E. P. Briggs. Canadians Active in Supporting Drive Toronto, Aug. 24. — Canadian exchanges and theatre owners are actively supporting the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year campaign for the general benefit of the industry, and have no intention of demanding the inclusion of British films in the "Movie Quiz" contest. To date American headquarters have received pledges from Canadian interests totaling $14,000. The two companies releasing British product in Canada are Regal Films, Ltd., whose chief brand is M-G-M, and Empire-Universal, Ltd., which handles Universal. N. L. Nathanson, president of Famous Players Canadian Corp., has a substantial interest in both distributing companies. Famous Players is solidly behind the campaign as organized and Famous Players officials have urged all independents to do their share in boosting the drive to help business. Connecticut Rallies To Aid of Campaign Waterbury, Aug. 24. — General cooperation has been pledged here for the industry advertising campaign and "Movie Quiz" contest by nine theatres with 5,000 seats. In addition to Warners' State and Strand and the Loevv-Poli, independents who have agreed to participate include the Carroll, Hamilton, Cameo, Lido, Capitol and Alhambra. Bridgeport exhibitors, under the chairmanship of A. M. Schumann, and Hartford men, headed by Maurice Shulman, are holding meetings. In Hartford Mayor Thomas T. Spellacy, Chamber of Commerce officials and representatives of the Times and Conrant have been invited to attend a dinner. Elsewhere in the state the campaign is rapidly taking shape. 99 Is Terrific Chicago Hit Chicago, Aug. 24. — All records since the Century of Progress days were broken at the Chicago last week when "Alexander's Ragtime Band" opened for a Loop run. Grossing a terrific $62,600, which was $30,600 over average, the picture broke all records for a film attraction at this theatre. Other big grosses have been from stage name attraction plus big pictures. "Alexander" with a vaudeville show led everything in the Loop by a wide margin. "The Crowd Roars" at the U. A., "The Texans" at the Roosevelt and "Love Finds Andy Hardy" at the Apollo were the other attractions to get more than average business. Total first run business was $132,800. Average is $103,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Aug. 18: "LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY" (M-G-M) APOLLO — (1,400), 35c-55c-6Sc, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $6,500) "ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND" (20th-Fox) CHICAGO— (4,000), 3Sc-55c-7Sc, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville Revue. Gross: $62,600. (Average, $32,000) "RACKET BUSTERS" (W. B.) GARRICK— (900), 35c-5Sc-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $6,500) "LETTER OF INTRODUCTION" (Univ.) PALACE — (2,500) , 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage: Al Trahan & Revue. Gross: $16,800. (Average, $19,000) "DELINQUENT PARENTS" (JudeU) STATE-LAKE— (2,776), 20c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Verne Buck & Revue. Gross: $12,600. (Average, $13,000) Week Ending Aug. 19: "THE TEXANS" (Para.) ROOSEVELT— (1,300), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $11,000) "THE CROWD ROARS" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $16,400. (Average, $15,000) Cut Commercials to One Minute or Less The aversion of exhibitors showing advertising films to commercials of one reel or longer is shown in the fact that several large advertisers are cutting their films into short lengths for theatre distribution. Large firms such as the B. F. Goodrich Co. and the U. S. Rubber Co. have found that they cannot get their one-reelers into theatres, but by cutting them into lengths of one minute or less they are able to get distribution through the regular channels. Yaeger Takes Over House Denver, Aug. 24. — C. U. Yaeger of Bank Night is taking over the management of several southside houses from A. P. Archer and Joe Dekker, who have been operating them since their purchase by the three. Archer and Dekker retain their interests. The houses include the Gothic, Santa Fe, Jewel and the Pioneer. The Alameda, also in the partnership, has been leased to R. W. Wooldridge of Denver. The Alameda and Pioneer are closed, with the former scheduled for September reopening when closed early in the summer. Archer and Dekker will continue to operate their own five houses in north Denver. 9 Consent Move To Be Talked In Washington (Continued from page 1) sion in the theatre field by these companies until the issue had been decided by trial. In major company circles Mr. Arnold's request for a conference is regarded as the first step toward sounding them out on a consent decree. With reference to the suggested "stand still" agreement, should the theatre-holding companies fail to come to terms with the Department of Justice, the Government may then move for a temporary injunction restraining the defendants from adding to their circuits. The suit asks for a permanent writ. Meanwhile, as a matter of policy pending outcome of the action, the companies are not taking on any additional theatres. This is not an agreed-upon policy among the defendants, it is said, but the result of individual decisions. The Washington conference has been set for early in September to await the return from Europe of Col. William J. Donovan of special counsel for Irving Trust Co. and RKO, two of the defendants. It was explained that since the matter to be discussed affects five of the majors, attorneys for all should be present. Also, it is understood that Paul Williams, special assistant to the Attorney General, who is active in the suit, is away from Washington. Report 306 in Move To Take Over Empire (Continued from page 1) that he has not heard from Local 306 and if any merger negotiations are under way he knows nothing of them. Mr. Kindler said that Empire State's contract with Century circuit has four and a half years to run. This union has operators in about 100 theatres in the metropolitan area, he said, including the Cocalis circuit, Century and individual houses. Rogers to Make Film On Gus Edwards Life Hollywood, Aug. 24. — The spectacular box-office success of "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is seen echoed in Charles R. Rogers' disclosure that he has closed a deal with Gus Edwards to make a picture based on his life and incorporating a long list of song hits introduced by the impresario during his career. No release affiliation has been consummated as yet, although Mr. Rogers says three are in negotiation. It is indicated that the producer will seek Bing Crosby, who is permitted one outside picture under his Paramount contract, for the lead. Remodel 3 in Montreal Toronto, Aug. 23. — Extensive alterations and improvements are being undertaken in three first run houses of Montreal, units of Famous Players Canadian Corp. Air-conditioning plants will be installed in the Palace, Capitol and Princess.