Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

Monday, September 11, 1939 Motion Picture Daily 7 Insider's Outlook By SAM SHAIN TWENTY years along Broadway — it doesn't seem that long to Charles McDonald, metropolitan New York division manager of RKO Theatres, under John J. O'Connor. In the past two decades he has, of course, experienced much ; heard all kinds of gags ; encountered and become acquainted with an unusual number of personalities. His sense of humor undoubtedly has helped him toe the line in his daily operations. TO McDonald, one of the best gags spouted by a customer occurred one Thanksgiving Day in a Jamaica house. On that day, a large sign in front of the theatre carried the legend that 12 turkeys were to be given away at the theatre that night to lucky customers. Also, so-and-so in "College Scandal." And a customer passing by on his way into the theatre remarked : "Ah, 13 turkeys!" THE manager of one of RKO's uptown houses supervised by McDonald was summoned to the telephone : "Are you playing 'Joe Palooka' tonight?" "Madame," replied the manager, "we are playing two palookas." McDONALD likes to recall the time when "Frankenstein" played at the Mayfair, under RKO's direction. The picture ran for two weeks in December, 1931. The theatre, seating 1,706, played to 76,307 paid admissions, grossing $53,841, on the first week. McDonald claims that, from a comparative standpoint, this would mean $140,000 for the Capitol, with 4,465 seats, and for the Roxy, with 5,586 seats, a gross of $175,000. McDONALD believes that the single day's record for the number of times run is held by the Dempsey-Firpo fight picture. It was shown 27 times at the old Broadway on Saturday, Sept. 15, 1923, the day following the bout. Then, to settle an argument about the fight, the film was run again at midnight for a selected audience consisting of the late William J. Flynn, chief of the U. S. Secret Service ; Hypo Igoe, sports writer, then on the old World ; the late Arnold Rothstein, Jack Bleek, John Barrymore and last, but not least, Jack Dempsey and Firpo. INCIDENTALLY, Larry Waterman, an RKO alumnus and secretary to Nate Blumberg, president of Universal Pictures, discovered Gloria Jean, U's new child star. It was Waterman who. with his wife, an accomplished concert singer, heard the little girl sing one day at a party. He, thereafter, induced his superiors at Universal to give Gloria Jean an audition which sent her to Hollywood. THE only film theatre stage door with a bullet imbedded in it — RKO's Jefferson on E. 14th Street — but McDonald will tell that one some other time. No War Cuts I In Production 1 By Warners Hollywood, Sept. 10. — Warner Brothers will not curtail production, spread release schedules of big pictures or otherwise cheapen 1939-'40 r uJuct in the face of a potential loss ot-^Tj per cent of normal revenue due to theatre closings in England and France. This assurance was given Friday by Jack L. Warner at a press conference. On the contrary, he said, the company will release in the next four months ten quality pictures, and plans more, rather than fewer, features than were announced for the season. No salary or wage cuts will be instituted and no curtailment of personnel will take place, Warner added, although a general tightening of operations to eliminate unnecessary expense, such as previously contemplated expansion of the studio laboratory facilities, is expected. Warner made it plain that such economies as may be invoked will not be of a kind to diminish the quality or quantity of product, adding that adherence to high entertainment standards is essential in this or any crisis. Plans for production in England, normally amounting to 16 quota pictures, are cancelled, however. Asked whether the studio would produce more pictures similar in character to "Confessions of a Nazi Spy," Warner replied in the negative, mentioning that the production of "Underground," for instance, has been stopped. Warner commented : "America is neutral, and we are Americans. Our policy is 100 per cent neutrality. I produced 'My Four Years in Germany' in 1915, and other propaganda pictures, for the public health service and the Signal Corps. There will be no propaganda pictures from Warner Brothers this time." Harry Warner to Coast Harry M. Warner, president, prior to his departure for the Coast Friday from New York, said that Warners big budget films will be produced on schedule despite war conditions. He returned last week from Europe. Ampa Holds First Luncheon Sept. 28 Ampa will start its season's activities with a luncheon meeting designated as "Past Presidents' Day," scheduled Sept. 28. The purpose is to honor past presidents, who will be invited to give the members suggestions on how to make Ampa a service to the industry. Among those who will be invited are Charles E. McCarthy, Howard Dietz, William R. Ferguson, Ralph Rolan, Gordon S. White, Hal Home and others. For the first meeting, the directors have made arrangements with a restaurant at 5th Ave. and 44th St. Set 'CavelV Opening "Nurse Edith Cavell" will follow "Golden Boy" into the Music Hall under booking arrangements just completed. The Herbert Wilcox production is expected to open Sept. 21. Pick Board to Rule S. California I.T.O. Los Angeles, Sept. 10. — Members of I.T.O. of Southern California at the annual meeting Friday abolished offices of president and directors and instead created Advisory Board to govern the policies of the organization. R. H. ("Bob") Poole, business manager, was made executive director. Past President Albert A. Galston and Jack Berman, R. D. Whitson, Mrs. Jenne Dodge, C. A. Ferry, Al Gore, H. W. Bruen and Poole comprise the Advisory Board. A statement on the trade practice agreement and local situation concessions, promised by W. F. Rodgers, co-chairman of the distributor-exhibitor negotiating committee on the code, was not received because I.T.O officials said Rodgers lacked time. A complete report of past officers was unanimously approved by membership, which gave the new board "complete authority to continue the fine progressive policies established by the association during the past year." Change Film Opening "A Brivele Der Mamen," Joseph Green's newest Yiddish picture, previously announced to open at the Waldorf, will have its American premiere at the Belmont next Thursday. Coast Flashes Hollywood, Sept. 10. — Start of rehearsals and the signing of six supporting actors over the week-end marked Charles Chaplin's activities on "Production No. 6," also referred to as "The Great Dictator." Signed to support the star, Paulette Goddard, and Henry Daniell were Emma Dunn, Maurice Moscovich, Bernard Gorcey, Max Davidson, Nellie Nichols and Esther Michelson. Robert S. Taplinger, Warners studio publicity director, has had his contract extended for two more vears starting Oct. 1. Ben Judell of Producers Pictures Corp. will start shooting "Hitler — Beast of Berlin" on Sept. 14 with Sherman Scott directing. No cast has been set yet. Museum Schedule Set Museum of Modern Art, in its "Cycle of Seventy Films," has scheduled the following program for this week : Today, The Sociological Film; Tuesday, The Intimate photoplay ; Wednesday, Stage into Screen ; Thursday, The German Film Legend and Fantasy ; Friday, War in Retrospect ; Saturday, The Western Front; Sunday, Fairbanks and the Costume Piece. Another Crisis Warners are in a quandary aver a pending "colossal" deal with Soviet Russia. Some weeks ago Russian film officials inquired about "Confessions of a Nazi Spy" for Russia. Arrangements were made with Robert E. Schless, European manager at London, to send a print to Moscow. In view of the Soviet-Nazi anti-aggression pact, officials are undecided about shipping a print. The Russians also asked for a print of "Juarez," about the Mexican revolution. The Soviet has not bought an American film since "Modern Times." Paramount Sales Chiefs in Chicago Chicago, Sept. 10. — Neil F. Agnew, Paramount vice-president and general sales manager, presided over a sales conference with district managers and home office sales executives here Saturday and today. Attending were J. J. Unger, eastern division manager; Charles Reagan, western division manager; Oscar Morgan, southern division manager ; G. B. J. Frawley and Alec Moss from the home office ; district managers M. S. Kusell, Harry Goldstein, William Erbb, Allen Usher, Ralph Libeau, G. A. Smith, H. F. Wilkes and Hugh Braly and M. A. Milligan, Canadian general sales manager. There was a special screening of "Rulers of the Sea," "Disputed Passage," "Honeymoon in Bali," and "Seventeen." War Not Affecting 20th-Fox Release New season release schedule of 20th Century-Fox, as set up to Nov. 24, will not be affected by war conditions, according to the home office. The company has fixed release dates for 18 pictures. These will not be changed. Herman Wobber, general sales manager, and Walter J. Hutchinson, foreign chief, are due back today from the studio where they discussed possible readjustments in the production schedule made necessary by the war. They arrived on the coast Thursday with Robert T. Kane, in charge of British production. Auten Plea Denied Application by Harold Auten for an examination before trial of officers of Societe Pathe Cinema, S. A., was denied on Friday by Supreme Court Justice J. Sidney Bernstein. The application was made in connection with Societe Pathe's action for $350,000 which it alleges is due it from distribution revenues on certain of its pictures. Auten has entered a counterclaim against the company for $17,500. Charles Loewenberg Dies Milwaukee, Sept. 10. — Charles Loewenberg, advertising and publicity director for Fox -Wisconsin Amusement Corp., died in Cincinnati, O., according to word received here by H. J. Fitzgerald, general manager of the amusement company. He is survived by his widow and a daughter.