Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1939)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 8, 1939 Business Called Healthier Without Games Giveaways Are Increasing in Chicago Area Chicago Population, 3,678,000 ; 10 first runs, 20,500 seats, 25c-75c; 304 subsequent runs, 298,336 seats, 10c-S5c. City officials stopped chance games at theatres in December, 1936, after they were used for about five years. Giveaways are on the increase. Theatre games took a sharp upturn about three years ago. About 70 per cent of the subsequents used them, but few first runs. It is estimated that from $500,000 to $750,000 was given away annually. Bank Night, Screeno and other lures were played. Exhibitors say business has been off 20 per cent, since games were banned, attributing the drop almost entirely to the elimination. However, it appears doubtful that many theatres would resort to games again, even if permitted. About 20 per cent of the churches, clubs and lodges in the city had chance games before theatres adopted them, but there was no noticeable increase in the number of such games or the size of prizes after they were introduced in theatres. Since the games were banned in theatres, they have increasd at other places. There is no prospect that they will be dropped. There has been no general protest from merchants or others about the games hurting their business. Indications are that money games will continue to be beyond the reach of professional promoters for another six months or so, at least. The coming city election may change things this spring but until then it is doubtful if any new games will be started in theatres. Several games are being prepared for theatre use within the next few weeks if they can get approval from city officials. Milwaukee Bingo Warrant Is Issued Milwaukee, Feb. 7.— Demand for action by law enforcement officials against Bingo from various exhibitors here has resulted in a warrant by the police department against August Gieldon, charged with operating a Bingo game under the name of a church group, in violation of a city raffles ordinance. At the same time, Deputy District Attorney George A. Bowman has referred to the attorney general's office information regarding Guest Night, a policy of drawings with cash or bottle goods as the award, offered by various taverns, and a complaint against the Hollywood, neighborhood house, where Manager Bert Nathan is conducting Prosperity Club, a giveaway. By SAM SHAIN Chance games and giveaways have been prohibited by law in many sections of the country. In places where games were banned after being prevalent there will be found two schools of opinion regarding the value of the games to the box-office. In some sections the laws preceded the games, and it is one of the facts brought out by this cross-country survey of chance games and giveaways by Motion Picture Daily that in such territories where the games have been operated in violation of the law, the opinion is that the picture business is healthier without the games. The fact continues unchanged that in larger cities games are condemned and that in smaller cities exhibitors like to have them. Also another fact which is still unchanged is that first runs generally shun the games, while subsequents use them. NORTH DAKOTA LAWS RIGID North Dakota has such rigid laws against lotteries that even premiums cannot be given away by merchants. That state is free of chance games and it is worth noting that the picture business is described as being quite healthy — healthier than in any other northwest state. In Chicago, the gateway to the west, it is estimated there was once from $500,000 to $750,000 given away annually in chance games. These games were stopped in December, 1936. Giveaways, however, are reported on the increase. Apparently the chance games proved more attractive than the present giveaways, for exhibitors claim business is off 20 per cent since the games were banned. Churches, clubs and lodges had chance games in Chicago before the theatre adopted them. In Indiana the games are held to be hitting a new high. South Dakota theatres indulge extensively in giveaways. Minneapolis and St. Paul do likewise. TACOMA EXHIBITORS OPPOSED On the other hand, in Tacoma and surrounding territory, where the law enforcement authorities have stopped the games, the exhibitors are so opposed to such stimulants that it is felt they would not resume games even if the authorities approved. Churches and clubs in this section of the country have games. San Francisco is declared to be a little Reno when it comes to games. Here, as in other big cities, the first runs won't have the games, but virtually all other runs use them. • Shifting back to the east, we find that in Rhode Island the sentiment is about the same as in Chicago, and that giveaways are not as good boxoffice stimulants as money games ; and that since the money games were banned grosses have dropped. Non-theatrical places have the games. They get by under the guise of charity. North Dakota Entirely Free Of All Games At present some downstate Illinois theatres and surrounding towns, in some instances, run Bank Night. About 50 spots are doing so now although this is supposed to be in violation of the state law. In Indiana Bank Night is hitting a new high in business, reports show. Northwest While Minneapolis, St. Paul and surrounding areas are lush fields for chance games, the state of North Dakota, in the same distribution territory, is free of the practice. North Dakota has such stringent lottery laws that merchants cannot even give away premiums. Thus, money games have never been introduced in theatres, with the result that picture business in North Dakota is healthier than in any other state in the Northwest, according to circuit executives. "Theatre managers in North Dakota are fully able to capitalize upon picture possibilities with resultant box-office successes more in evidence than in neighboring states," a circuit head says. The strict laws and the fact theatres have no chance game competition to contend with are regarded as important factors. In the Twin Cities, there are approximately 100 theatres, of which 12 are first runs. Prices range from 10 cents to 50 cents. No first run has ever used money games, nor do they want them. However, virtually every suburban or subsequent house outside of the "loop" indulges in some form of money giveaway. Most prevalent is Bank Night, followed by Screeno. Beer joints throughout Minneapolis feature trick-titled money games patterned after the theatre games. Minnesota Amusement Co., Paramount affiliate and the Northwest's dominant circuit, does not permit its managers to advertise Bank Night in newspapers, thus protecting all con cerned from possible Postal law violations. Giveaways are prevalent in South Dakota. Bank Night has been a raging controversy in Wisconsin, with an alleged theatre lottery case recently tried at LaCrosse. A tearsheet from the Superior Evening Telegram shows six theatres in the town, with only one, the Superior, running a money game. East Orange, N. J. Population, 75,000 ; one first run, 1,658; one subsequent, 900, 15c-25c. First run has no giveaways. Second run plays Lucky once a week, costing the theatre about $2,500 a year. The manager hopes to abandon it. Rhode Island Money games have been stopped by the Attorney General, but only in theatres. They are permitted at churches and clubs because they are played for charity. Providence banned Bank Night in 1936, though it was permitted elsewhere in the state. Later a District Court judge upheld the game, being influenced by a Vermont decision which claimed "no lottery existed." In May, 1938, the Attorney General ruled that all such games were a racket, and the ban has stuck. There are cases pending in the courts involving game distributors and exhibitors which may decide the legal question. Prior to the ban, most Rhode Island theatres had games for about three years. Since they were stopped, exhibitors say grosses have dropped. They claim merchandise giveaways are not as good. Both first runs and subsequents in Providence had games, with an average of $1,300 given way annually at each house. Most played Bank Night and some Screeno. Church and club games antedated theatre games, but there was no noticeable effect when theatres adopted them or after they were dropped. Games at the non-theatrical places have become a "habit," and since they are considered "legal" when played for charity, they will continue. Merchants favor them in the small towns because they bring people in. • San Francisco Population, 635,000; nine first runs, 19,100 seats, 15c-75c; 69 subsequent runs, 68,688 seats, 10c-55c. San Francisco is a "little Reno" when it comes to money games in theatres. The first runs shun them, but virtually all others use games. They have been used about five years. Total given away annually is estimated at $200,000, including cash and merchandise giveaways. Lodges, clubs, etc., exceed theatres in the number of games by 10 to 1, according to Dan McLean, manager of the New Embassy, Market St. grind house. McLean advertises "world's greatest Ten-O-Win game," and gives away $100 at a time. He has stickers advertising the game pasted on windshields and other places. • Johnstown, N. Y. Population, 12,000; two first runs, 1,450 seats, 10c-25c. Smalley's, first run, uses Bank Night and Screeno two nights a week, with $300 given weekly. As in Gloversville, games have been used here about three years. They have boosted business and net club and lodge competition, Smalley says. No ads are permitted in the papers, but the patrons know the giveaway nights. Authorities are lenient. The Strand does not use stimulants. [This is the fifth of a series of articles surveying the giveaway situation in the country. The next will appear in an early issue.]