Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

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Title:: Motion Picture Daily
Date:: Jan-Mar 1940
Publisher:: New York [Motion picture daily, inc.]
Volume:: Motion picture daily
Leaf #:: 000410
Language:: English
Subjects:: Motion pictures, Motion pictures -- Periodicals
Collection:: Hollywood Studio System
Format:: Periodicals
Contributor:: Library of Congress, MBRS, Moving Image Section
Sponsor:: Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division
Coordinator:: Media History Digital Library
Description:: A New York-based daily trade paper published by Martin Quigley. The companion to Quigley's better known weekly publication, MOTION PICTURE HERALD, and a direct competitor to THE FILM DAILY, which was also published out of New York. Established in 1930, MOTION PICTURE DAILY enjoyed a circulation of roughly 5,000 readers most years of its four decades in print (a nearly identical circulation to THE FILM DAILY, but only one third of the readership of MOTION PICTURE HERALD, which reached a wider audience of exhibitors). In the 1930s, the MOTION PICTURE DAILY's editor, Maurice Kann, called on the movie industry to shift more production back to the East Coast. Any productions that filmed in New York received ample attention. New York City never regained its production lead over Hollywood, but the major studios used the Big Apple for their corporate and distribution headquarters. As a result, MOTION PICTURE DAILY tended to focus on economic and regulatory issues confronting the film industry. -- Eric Hoyt, 2014
Date Added:: November 03, 2022

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6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 5, 1940 Key City Grosses Reach $1,777,300 in 154 Houses Theatre receipts from 154 key city houses for the week ending Feb. 23-24 totaled $1,777,300, according to Motion Picture Daily's compilation of major city box-office reports. The total was one of the highest for the past year, being exceeded only by the three preceding weeks and the year-end holiday week, ending Jan. 5-6, when 159 houses reported $2,077,200. For the week ending Feb. 2-3, 157 theatres aggregated $2,171,600; for the week ending Feb. 9-10, the same number of houses reported a total of $2,025,300, and for the week ending Feb. 16-17, the total was $1,785,200 from 151 theatres. Following is a tabulation listing the total gross by weeks, and the number of theatres involved, from Jan. 1, 1939: Jan. 5 6,1939... 151 $1,829,822 Jan. 12-13 145 1,372,400 Jan. 19-20 146 1,368,322 Jan. 26-27 145 1,345,715 Feb. 2 3 147 1,469,400 Feb. 9-10 147 1,494,600 Feb. 16-17 146 1,393,100 Feb. 23-24 147 1,417,700 March 2 3 146 1,400,000 March 9-10 147 1,352,050 March 16-17 155 1,366,800 March 23-24 154 1,439,600 March 30-31 151 1,322,225 April 6 7 151 1,283,100 April 13-14 154 1,639,300 April 20-21 149 1,432,900 April 27-28 . , 151 1,401,600 May 4 5 154 1,386,280 May 11-12 155 1,352,845 May 18-19 154 1,318,300 May 25-26 155 1,274,050 June 1 2 153 1,256,050 June 8 9 143 1,141,700 June 15-16 141 1,133,950 June 22-23 137 1,150,960 June 29-30 138 1,168,750 July 6 7 125 1,159,550 July 13-14 136 1,146,600 July 20-21 136 1,130,620 July 27-28 136 1,190,000 Aug. 3 4 140 1,175,850 Aug. 10-11 137 1,276,750 Aug 17-18 132 1,233,800 Aug. 24-25 140 1,401,150 Aug. 31-Sept. 1 147 1,410,800 Sept. 7 8 145 1,490,144 Sept. 14-15 148 1,409,600 Sept. 21-22 151 1,399,745 Sept. 28-29 154 1,487,900 Oct. 5 6 . . 154 1,389,650 Oct. 12-13 137 1,279,000 Oct. 19-20 147 1,387,550 Oct. 26-27 147 1,363,300 Nov. 2 3 149 1,371,400 Nov. 9-10 138 1,386,200 Nov. 16-17 154 1,487,000 Nov. 23-24 154 1,421,200 Nov. 30-Dec. 1 154 1,565,300 Dec. 7 8 153 1,510,750 Dec. 14-16 147 1,201,750 Dec. 21-22 .. 149 1,182,900 Dec. 29-30 147 1,493,200 Jan. 5-6, 1940 159 2,077,200 Jan. 12-13 145 1,333,150 Jan. 19-20 140 1,453,300 Jan. 26-27 151 1,507,800 Feb. 2 .3 157 2,171,600 Feb. 9-10 157 2,025,300 Feb. 16-17 151 1,785,200 Feb. 23-24 154 . 1,777,300 (Copyright, 1940, Quiglcy Publishing Company, Inc.) 'Passage' Is Strong Lead In Twin Cities Chicago Gives Big $15,000 To 'Williams' Chicago, March 4. — "Northwest Passage" hit a smart $21,000 at the United Artists. 'Amazing Mr. Williams" at the State-Lake grossed an estimated $15,000. The weather was unsettled. Estimated takings for the week ending. Feb. 28— March 2 : "The Light That Failed" (Para.) APOLLO-(1,400) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $5,600. (Average. $6,000) "Shop Around the Comer" (M-G-M) CH1CAGOM4,000) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days. Stage: Benny Goodman & Band. Gross: $31,600. (Average, $32,000) "His Girl Friday" (Col.) GARRICK— (1,000) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $5,000) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) ORIENTAL— (3,200) (75c-$l.H)-$1.50) 7 days. 5th week. 3 shows daily. Gross: $45,500. (Average, $13,000) "Swiss Family Robinson" (RKO) "Honeymoon Deferred" (Univ.) PALACE— (2,500) (35c-55c-7Sc) 7 days. Gross: $10,600. (Average, $12,000) "Geronimo" (Para.) ROOSEVELT — (1,300) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,700. (Average. $11,000) "Amazing Mr. Williams" (Col.) STATE-LAKE— (2,700) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days. Stage: Luis Alberni and Revue. Gross: $15,600. (Average, $12,000) "Northwest Passage" (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700) (35c -55c -75c) 7 days. Gross: $21,000. (Average, $14,000) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) WOODS— (1,100) ($1.10-$1.50) 7 days, 5th week, 2 shows daily. Gross: $15,000. 'His Girl Friday' Grosses $4,400 St. Louis, March 4. — "Gone With the Wind," in its fifth week at the Loew's State, grossed $28,000. "His Girl Friday" drew $4,400 in its fourth week at the Missouri. Estimated takings for week ending Feb. 29 : "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,162) (7Sc-$1.12-$1.50) 7 days. Gross: $28,000. (Average, 25c -40c55c-scale, $13,000) "His Girl Friday" (Col.) "My Little Chickadee" (RKO) MISSOURI— (3,514) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average, $4,000) "Swiss Family Robinson" (RKO) "Blondie on a Budget" (Col.) FOX— (5,038) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $11,000) "The Light That Failed" (Para.) AMBASSADOR— (3,018) (25c-40c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $11,500) Benjamin Monogram Sales Head in K. C. William Benjamin, formerly Midwestern district sales manager for Republic, has been appointed vice-president and sales manager of the Monogram exchange in Kansas City. Benjamin has been associated with the industry since 1913, when he held a saelsman's post for the Central Film Co. in Indianapolis. His past affiliations also include Universal, RKO and Columbia. Loew-Lewin Set Third Hollywood, March 4. — Third production from the recently formed David L. Loew-Albert Lewin, Inc., will be "Mothers and Sons," an original idea which Irwin Shaw, New York playwright, has been engaged to adapt for the screen. "Flotsam" and "Night Music" will be the first two films which United Artists will release. Press Dinner April 12 About 3,000 are expected at the Eleventh Annual Dance and Entertainment of the Press Photographers Association of New York, at the Hotel Astor on April 12. Committee of arrangements is now making preparations for the event. William C. Green of the New York World-Telegram, is president of the association. Develop New Arc Lamp Designed to provide the small theatre with an economic means of high intensity screen illumination, the National Carbon Co. has developed a "one kilowatt" arc lamp which, it is said, is on the same level with the screen illumination in large houses. New lamp is applicable to theatres with screens up to 18 feet in width. Minneapolis, March 4. — "Northwest Passage" cleared $12,000 at the State in Minneapolis, and $7,800 at the Paramount in St. Paul. "Gone With the Wind" continued strong in b£, cities. ^ Estimated takings for the week ending March 1 : Minneapolis: "Northwest Passage" (M-G-M) STATE — (2,300) (25c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $4,000) "Remember the Night" (Para.) ORPHEUM— (2,900) (25c-40c) "The Dead End Kids" in person. Gross: $10,700. (Average, $4,400) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) CENTURY— (1,000) (75c-$1.10) 4th week. Gross: $16,000. (AVerage, $4,000) "Tower of London" (Univ.) GOPHER— (900) (25c) 7 days. Gross: $4,000. Average, $3,400 "Danger on Wheels" (Univ.) "Man Who Wouldn't Talk" (20th-Fox) ASTER— (900) (15c-25c) 7 days. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $1,500) "Meet Dr. Christian" (RKO) ESOUIRE (25c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $1,700. (Average, $1,200) "We Are Not Alone" (W. B.) WORLD — (400) (25c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $2,300. (Average, $1,100) St. Paul: "Northwest Passage" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT— (2,500) (25c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $4,400) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (2,000) (75c-$1.10) 6 days, 4th week. Gross: $10,400. (Average, $3,200) "Invisible Stripes" (W. B.) RIVIERA— (1,000) (25c) 7 days. Gross: $2,400. ( Average, $1,800) "Lion Has Wings" (U. A.) WORLD— (400) (25c-35c) 7 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average $1,100) "Sante Fe Marshal" (Para.) "High School" (20th-Fox) TOWER— (1,000) (25c) 7 days. Gross: $2,350. (Average, $1,600) 'Wind9 at $20,500 Is Montreal Lead Montreal, March 4. — "Gone With the Wind" registered $20,500 for its second week at Loew's. "Broadway Melody of 1940" at the Palace took $7,000. Estimated takings for the week ending March 1 : "The Fighting 6Sth" (W. B.) CAPITOL— (2.547) (25c-40c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $8,000) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,800) (75c-$1.13) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $20,500. (Average, $8,000) "Eternally Yours" (U. A.) "A Chump at Oxford" (U. A.) ORPHEUM— (919) (25c-35c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $5,000) "Broadway Melody of 1S40" PALACE— (2,600) (25c-40c-55c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average. $10,000) "Invisible Stripes" (W. B.) "Young as You Feel" (ZOth-Fox) PRINCESS — (2,272) (25c-35c-50c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $5,500) Variety Club Award To Martha Berry Pittsburgh, March 4. — Martha Berry, recipient of the Variety Clubs of America second annual Humanitarian Award, is expected to receive the citation and plaque in person April 20 at the annual Variety dinner in Dallas, according to National Chief Barker John Harris. Between 35 and 40 members of the local tent are planning to attend the Texas conclave, double the number that went to Detroit for last year's annual meeting.