Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

Friday, March 8, 1940 Motion Picture Daily 5 Hollywood Review "Shooting High" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, March 7. — As nice an exhibition of box-office opportunism as the trade has seen recently, the teaming of Gene Autry with Jane Withers in a film dedicated solely to the cause of amusement, this production is rich in novelty values and ripe for showmanly enterprise. On tap is the generally circulated report that Autry, although receiving more fan mail than other star, is not seen in the "A" theatres of the country, a report which, true or false, gives a showman a wide-open chance to shout to the customers, "Here's Gene Autry now!" Autry plus Withers, or vice versa, is a marquee total any show shopper can comprehend. The story in which these stars appear is an airy nothing about the production of a western picture in a western town, the residents and the actors becoming embroiled in difficulties of this sort and that, mirthful for the most part, and the whole stopping now and again for Autry to sing a song, which he does most expertly and in a way entirely his own. Marjorie Weaver, Robert Lowery and Katharine Aldridge are among the numerous others present. The production is by John Stone, direction by Alfred E. Green, and the screenplay, an original, by Lou Breslow and Owen Francis, all hands laboring for laughs and getting a load of them. Running time, 65 minutes. "G."* Roscoe Williams Odeon Free Shows Plea Facing Defeat London, March 7. — The London J County Council, which governs theI atre licensing, is expected to reject I the application of Oscar Deutsch, I head of the Odeon Circuit, for free [ shows for the armed forces on Sunday afternoon. The showings were planned ] for the Odeon in Leicester Square. Exhibitors are greatly excited oyer tlnjwoposal, and have protested yigordufly. Deutsch, in conversations I with the Cinematograph Exhibitors I Association, has said that he will not withdraw his application, but it is expected he will not apply again if his I request is rejected. Deutsch had questioned the claim I that trade consultation should precede action on his application. West End film houses which had to limit their audiences to 2,000 during the blackout hours, may now increase that number, provided no standing is allowed. The removal of the restriction — direct result of conversations between the Home Office and a trade committee— leaves conditions of opening in the West End almost normal. Sir William Brass has been appointed Chairman of the British Film Institute. He replaces Sir George Clark. Thelma Cazalet has been elected to take over Sir William's previous post as Board of Trade nominee on the governing board of the Institute. Charge Clearance Illegal in Gary Suit Chicago, March 7. — Charges that the clearance system affecting the Palace, Gary, 111., is illegal were made at the opening here today in Federal court of the trust suit of the Gary Theatre Co. against Balaban & Katz, Warner Theatres and the major companies. Attorneys for Warners and the majors denied the charge concerning the clearance system made by Albert Gavitt, representing V. U. Young, head of the Gary firm. Young asked relief from the allegedly illegal situation. During the afternoon session, Young testified regarding past and present conditions in Gary. His testimony will continue tomorrow. Indications are that the trial, before Judge Holly, may , require several weeks. Settlement Reached In Dallas Trust Suit (Continued from page 1) take over Scott's River Oaks Theatre in suburban Houston, and the plaintiff will purchase a minority interest in six Interstate suburban theatres in North Dallas and will become manager of these houses. The decree itself gives judgment to \ Interstate and awards costs to Scott. The suit originated in a controversy j involving the sale of Scott's Varsity, Dallas, to Interstate. Yost Rites Today Funeral services for William Yost, veteran exhibitor, who died on Monday in Miami, are to be held at 2 P. M. today at the Universal Chapel, 597 Lexington Ave. Burial follows at the Lutheran Cemetery. "G"* denotes general classification. Film Associates, New Company, Is Formed Formation of Film Associates, Inc., to produce features and shorts in New York and on the Coast, was announced yesterday. Directors of the company, who are also stockholders, are Felix Greene, American representative for British Broadcasting Co. and a former producer and director for that company ; Gerald Heard, author ; Aldous Huxley, author ; Theodore Lawrence, former United Research Corp., engineer and sound technician for Paramount, 20th Century-Fox and United Artists ; Irving Reis, formerly of Columbia Broadcasting System and writer for Paramount and 20th-Fox, and Henwar Rodakiewicz, former writer for Paramount and M-G-M, and with production experience in Mexico and New York. H. William Fitelson is counsel for the new company. Headquarters are in this city. Distribution arrangements for the new company have not been concluded, yet. First production is scheduled to start in a few weeks and will be a feature based on an original script by Joseph Krumgold depicting historic events between the last and present wars. Kentucky House Passes Tax Slash Frankfort, Ky., March 7. — The Kentucky House of Representatives yesterday passed by a vote of 74 to one a bill to lower the admission tax. Backed by the State Revenue Department, the measure would lower the tax on admissions over $1, and exempt from the tax dramatic productions presented in municipally owned parks for charitable, religious or civic purposes. The measure is expected to be sent to the State Senate in a few days. Appeal '69th' Ban Warners plan to appeal the ban on "The Fighting 69th" by the Commonwealth Film Censor in Australia. The home office has cabled Australia for details, including the reasons for the ban. Seal Film in Crypt Columbus, O., March 7.— When the 2,000-cubic foot Crypt of Civilization under the library of Oglethorpe University, Oglethorpe, Ga., is sealed in May, to be opened 6,000 years hence, it will include 10,000 feet of 16 mm. film of Ohio travelogues, in protective containers, depicting scenic, historical, industrial and agricultural highlights of Ohio. Sign Union Contract For Buffalo Houses Buffalo, March 7. — A two-year collective bargaining contract for 200 cleaning women, matrons, porters and maintenance employes in all Shea theatres has been renewed by Buffalo Theatres, Inc., and the Theater and Amusement Employes' Union, according to Owen J. Kavanagh, business agent. The contract affects workers in three downtown and six neighborhood houses. Two-year agreements also have been signed with Century Theatre Enterprises, Inc., covering employes in the Twentieth Century, downtown house, and with the Dipson-Basil "circuit, for the Bailey. The last two named contracts, first ever negotiated, cover about 15 employes. Plan Seattle Ball Seattle, March 7. — A public "Movie Ball" will be staged here in April under the auspices of the Northwest Film Club, with Manager Joseph Cooper as chairman. The ball will take the place of the dance formerly sponsored each Fall by the M. P. T. O. W. E. P. Hearing March 21 Referee John E. Joyce yesterday fixed March 21 at 11 A. M. for continued hearings on bankruptcy proceedings of Educational Pictures. Officers of the company will be examined at that time. Philadelphia Gives$22,000 To 'Passage' Philadelphia, March 7. — "Northwest Passage" at the Stanley was a smash hit grossing $22,000. "Gone With the Wind," for its sixth week at the Boyd and Earle, held up well, grossing $56,100 at both houses. "Castle on the Hudson" and "Grapes of Wrath" drew $13,300 at the Fox. Estimated takings for the week ending March 1 : "Swiss Family Robinson" (RKO) "Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet" (W. B.) ALDINE — (1,700) (32c -42c -57c -68c) 4 days; 3 days. Gross: $9,700. (Average, $8,000) "Of Mice and Men" (U. A.) "Broadway Melody of 1940" (M-G-M) ARCADIA— (600) (32c-42c-57c) 2nd run, 5 days; 2nd run, 2 days. Gross: $3,400. (Average, $2,600) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) BOYD— (2,400) (86c-$1.14-$1.71) 6th week, 7 days. Gross: $26,300. (Average, $13,000) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) EARLE— (4,000) (75c-$1.14) 6th week, 7 days. Gross: $29,800. (Average, $14,000) "Little Old New York" (20th-Fox) "Castle on the Hudson" (W. B.) KARLTON— (1,000) (32c-42c-57c-68c) 2nd run, 6 days; 2nd run, 1 day. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $3,000) "Vigil in the Night" (U. A.) "Swiss Family Robinson" (RKO) KEITH'S— (2.200) (32c-42c-57c-68c) 2nd run, 6 days; 2nd run, 1 day. Gross: $3,800) (Average, $3,500) "Castle on the Hudson" (W. B.) "The Grapes of Wrath" (2fith-Fox) FOX — (3,000) (32c-42c-57c-68c) 7 days. Gross: $13,300. (Average, $13,000) "Northwest Passage" (M-G-M) STANLEY — (3,700) (32c-42c-57c-68c) 7 days. Gross: $22,000. (Average, $14,000) "The Saint's Double Trouble" (RKO) STANTON— (1,700) (32c-42c-57c) 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $4,500) New Pictures Start Good on Broadway Two new films, "Vigil in the Night" at the Roxy, and "Three Cheers for the Irish" at the Strand, make their bows on Broadway today. "Too Many Husbands" at the Music Hall and "Northwest Passage" at the Capitol got off to good starts yesterday. The second week of "Abe Lincoln in Illinois," with stage show at the Music Hall drew an estimated $60,000, while "The Blue Bird" with stage show at the Roxy also fared poorly with an estimated $25,000 for the week. At the Strand, "The Story of Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet," with Tommy Tucker's band on the stage, drew an estimated $39,000 for its second week. "Wolf of New York" opened yesterday at the Criterion. Extend RKO Time Federal Judge William Bondy yesterday granted a further extension to March 25 for filing of applications for final allowances in the RKO reorganization proceedings. Atlas Corp., proponent of the plan, obtained the additional time from March 15. Newsreels of Liner Arrival in New York yesterday of the British liner, Queen Elisabeth, attracted newsreel camermen representing the five companies. Special airplane coverage of the event was taken as well as shots by land and boat crews. Films were shipped to accounts separately as special releases.