Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1940)

6 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, August 21, 1940 Switched to Films ANSAS CITY, Aug. 20.— For 15 years S. J. Whitmore, head of the Hotel Muehlebach, took a daily 2hour motor car ride at 3 P. M. Five years ago he switched to films for his daily "constitutional" because they're "restful, entertaining and cool." Threat of New Tax Fades in Ontario Toronto, Aug. 20. — Official announcement has been made by Prime Minister Mitchell Hepburn that the finances of the Province of Ontario are such that no new taxation to finance war, unemployment relief or other projects is contemplated and that no session of the legislature will be called in the Fall unless an emergency arises. Previously there had been an intimation from the Ontario Government that the amusement tax wouid be restored as a war measure after an absence of the admission levy for three years. Hepburn declared that current revenues are meeting budget requirements in spite of loss of income due to increased war imposts of the Federal Government which had cut into the provincial field. Music Hall Files Test Suit on Security Tax Radio City Music Hall Corp. yesterday filed a test suit in the U. S. District Court against the U. S. Government to recover $1,079 which the company claims was an excess payment of its 1938 tax under the Social Security Act. The plaintiff states that the tax was assessed on the salaries of star performers such as Jan Peerce and Henrietta Schumann and on specialty acts such as Buck and Bubbles and Tip, Top, Toe which supplement the permanent troupe. The plaintiff contends that they were specialty entertainers and as such independent contractors and not employes for which the company is subject to tax. AFRA Certified at KXOK in St. Louis Washington, Aug. 20. — The St. Louis branch of the American Federation of Radio Artists was certified today by the National Labor Relations Board as the sole collective bargaining agency for the regular staff, freelance actors, singers and announcers employed at KXOK, St. Louis. The board action was based on a secret election held July 31, which resulted in a unanimous vote for A.F.R.A. The station is owned by the Star-Times Publishing Co. Para. Leads League Paramount is still leading the Motion Picture Baseball League in the second half of the season's series, with three games won and none lost. Skouras and M-G-M are tied in second place, followed by Universal. Titling French Film Ralph Roeder has been assigned to write the titles for Robert Mintz's new French picture, "Le Chemineau," to be released in the early Fall. Off the Antenna THE marketing department of the N. Y. U. School of Commerce announced yesterday an apprenticeship course in radio to be conducted in cooperation with WMCA. Fifteen students in the advanced radio courses conducted by the School will be selected this Fall to serve as apprentices with the station. There will be assignments in the production department, script writing, publicity, promotion, news, announcing and sales. In addition, students with special training will be permitted to work in the music and engineering departments. The students will work at the station for one semester. An effort is being made to organize a placement committee which will aid the students in finding employment at the completion of their training. • • • Purely Personal: Lylc Talbot will do a thrice-iveekly Hollywood gossip show over WHN beginning Sept. 3 under sponsorship of National Shoe Stores. The program will be known as "Your Hollywood Informer," will have a tieup with Motion Picture magazine and ivill run 52 weeks. . . . Nat Berlin has been added to the WNEW continuity department. . . . Nancy Sheridan, wife of Dick Bard, WNEW publicity director, has been signed by Warners for "Jupiter Laughs," forthcoming Broadway production. . . . Gray Gordon, composer of "I'm an American," will be guest of Charles Baltin over WHOM Saturday night. . . . Lester H. Schroeder, formerly with Blackett, Sample & Hummert, has joined the media department of Compton Advertising. . . . Bea Wain, vocalist on "Your Hit Parade," is vacationing at Shawnee, Pa. • • • WMCA has completed construction on its new transmitter which will use 5,000 watts day and 1,000 watts night. The transmitter will be tested for two weeks between 1 :30 and 6 A. M. • • • With the sale of the seven-minute spot from 7:06 A.M. to the Olson Rug Co. for "Oddities in the News," WOR is now sold solidly for its early morning hours from 6:55 to 9 A.M. 4Boom' at $20,000 Cincinnati Smash Cincinnati, Aug. 20. — "Boom Town" established a record at the higher admissions on the first week of its test run at the RKO Capitol, where it grossed a tremendous $20,000. Indications are that it will continue for several weeks. "The Walt Disney Festival" had a good week with $4,900 at the RKO Lyric. Weather extremely hot. Local baseball games provided additional competition. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 14-17 : "The Ramparts We Watch" (RKO) RKO ALBEE— (3,300) (39c-47c) 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $12,000) "The Man I Married" (20th-Fox) RKO PALACE — (2,700) (39c-47c) 7 days. Gross: $8,900. (Average, $10,000) "Boom Town" (M-G-M) RKO CAPITOL— (2,000) (42c-60o) 7 d v Gross: $20,000. (Average, at 39c-4/e, $6,500) "The Walt Disney Festival" (RKO) RKO LYRIC— (1,400) (33c-42c) 7 days. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $5,000) "Doomed to Die'' (Mono.) "Carolina Moon'' (Rep.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000) (15c -28c) 4 days. Gross: $1,100. (Average, $1,500) "You're Not So Tough" (Univ.) "South to Karanga" (Univ.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000) (15c-28c) 3 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $900) "Pride and Prejudice" (M-G-M) KEITH'S— (1.500) (39c-47c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $6,600) 'Tomorrow/ Revue Get $15,000, Buffalo Buffalo, Aug. 20. — "Beyond Tomorrow," with "George White's Scandals," a revue, rang up $15,000 at the Twentieth Century. "We Who Are Young" and Ben Bernie and his orchestra, with Henry Armetta on the stage, drew $18,700 at the Buffalo. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 17: "We Who Are Young" (M-G-M) BUFFALO — (3,489) (35c-40c-60c) 7 days. Ben Bernie and orchestra on stage, with Bailey Sisters, Donald Saxon, Johnny Barnes, Henry Armetta and The Three Arnolds. Gross: $18,700. (Average, $12,000) "They Drive by Night" (W. B.) "Golden Gloves" (Para.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000) (35c-55c) 7 davs. Gross: $8,900. (Average, $7,500) "The Man I Married" (20th-Fox) "Girl From Avenue A" (20th-Fox) HIPPODROME— (2,100) (30c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $6,800) "Beyond Tomorrow" (RKO) TWENTIETH CENTURY— (3,000) (30c35c-50c) 7 days. George White's Scandals, stage revue, with Ben Blue, Ella Logan, Billy Hayes, Craig Mathues, The Kim Loo Sisters, Ross Wyse, Jr., the Knight Sisters, June Mann, Christine Forsythe, Fred Manatt, Fran English, Leila Hayes, Olga Corey, Elinor Counts and the Scandals girls. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $7,500) "The Boys From Syracuse" (Univ.) "Love, Honor and Oh Baby" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE— (3,000) (30c-40c) 7 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average, $6,300) Broadcast Music Negotiating for Film Companies9 Use of Catalogues Broadcast Music, Inc., is negotiating with film companies for the use of BMI music in pictures. BMI claimed yesterday one deal has already been set. It was pointed out by BMI, which was organized by the broadcasting industry to fight Ascap, that a large part of the film exploitation comes from the playing of songs from pictures over the air. With broadcasters at present determined not to renew the Ascap contract which expires Dec. 31, it is pointed out that this source of publicity will be closed to film companies unless they use BMI songs. However, by using BMI music, the exploitation will be possible after Jan. 1, it was explained, and it is likely that broadcasters will do a good deal to push music from motion pictures. Landmark Gone Mexico City, Aug. 20.— Teatro Principal here, claimed to be the oldest theatre in the Americas, founded in 1752, is to be torn down and a skyscraper office building erected on its site. Since a fire which killed 14 persons in 1932, the theatre has been a film house. Wehrenberg, F.&M. Fight Triples Issue St. Louis, Aug. 20. — Fanchon & Marco is willing to discontinue triple bills here if the neighborhood theatres will drop giveaways, but Fred Wehrenberg, president of the M. P. T.O. of Eastern Missouri, has declared this arrangement is unsatisfactory. The issue has come to the fore in a dispute over clearance. Fanchon & Marco has asked for an increase from 14 to 21 days between second and subsequent runs, which would affect the Wehrenberg-Kaimann circuit of 25 houses. To prevent a clearance extension, Wehrenberg threatens not to do business with companies which accede to F. & M.'s demands. Wehrenberg has been negotiating with Harry C. Arthur, Jr., F. & M. general manager, which operates the St. Louis Amusement Co. neighborhood group, to discontinue triple bills at two houses. Wehrenberg said he offered to stop giveaways at his Apollo if F. & M. would stop triples at a house in the same neighborhood. However, Arthur insisted that all giveaways be abolished before he would discard triples, said Wehrenberg. 'Love Again' Draws $12,000, Providence Providence, Aug. 20.— Only bright spot in a duil week was the business at Loew's State where "I Love You Again" and "Out West With the Peppers," drew $12,000. Although temperatures moderated, continued good weather gave the nearby shore resorts advantage over the theatres. Estimated takings for the week ending Aug. 14-15: "I Love You Again" (M-G-M) "Out West With the Peppers" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,232) (28c-39c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $11,000) ' The Man I Married" (2Mh-Fox) "Manhattan Heartbeat" (20th-Fox) MAJESTIC— (2,250) (28c-39c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $4,600. (Average, $7,000) "Mystery Sea Raider" (Para.) "Scatterbrain" (Rep.) STRAND— (2,200) (28c-39c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $6,000) "Bullet Code" (RKO) "Hunted House" (Mono.) FAY'S— (1.800) (15c-28c) 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,500) "Pride and Prejudice" (M-G-M) "We Who Are Young" (M-G-M) CARLTON— (1.526) (28c-39c-50c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $1,900. (Average, $3,500) The Way of All Flesh" (Para.) (3 days) "Slightly Honorable" (U. A.) (3 days) "AH This, and Heaven Too" (W. B.) (4 days) "Mad Men of Europe" (Col.) (4 days) EMPIRE— (2,200) (20c-28c) 2nd run. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,700) Desch Joins RKO Kansas City, Aug. 20.— Douglas Desch, formerly branch manager here for Gaumont-British, later for Grand National, and until a few months ago, for Monogram, has gone to Dallas as office manager for RKO.