Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1941)

4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, July 7, 194J Industry USO Drive Off To a Flying Start Today B 'way Records Go As Holiday Booms Grosses (Continued from page 1) about $2,000 better, it was said at the theatre, than "All This and Heaven, Too," last year's attraction which was in a first week. An all-time matinee record was reported at the Paramount with "Caught in the Draft" in its second week and a strong stage show. On the full day, the theatre reported a gross of $15,000, a new record for July 4. At both the Music Hall and Paramount every show was a sellout, with standees, including the last shows. Roxy Breaks Record The Roxy reported that not only did its previous July 4 gross record crash but that "Moon Over Miami" set a new opening day record. The stage show is "Major Bowes' Star Parade." At the Strand, "Manpower" and Cab Calloway's band on the stage, and at the Capitol "They Met in Bombay" also drew tremendous grosses. "Sergeant York," on a reserved basis at the Astor, was a sellout. The Roxy, Paramount and some other Broadway houses had extra shows. Of the eight legitimate attractions which played matinees, five had standees, one was at capacity but does not permit standees, and two were near capacity. Night shows were big. Big 'Blossoms' Week The holiday rush came as a welcome relief to theatre men. However, "Blossoms in the Dust" had a big first week at the Music Hall with an estimated $90,000. The third week of "Man Hunt" with a stage show at the Roxy was good for about $26,000. At the Globe, "Underground" did in the neighborhood of $8,000 in a second week and is continuing. "Tight Shoes" at the Rialto was reported at about $5,000 in a second week. It was succeeded Thursday by "Hit the Road." An estimated more than 100,000 expected at two major league ball games here and 2,000,000 at beaches and resorts in the vicinity were compelled to spend the holiday indoors. Chicago Holiday Gross Up 10% at Loop Houses Chicago, July 6. — Visitors to the city increased Loop grosses on the holiday approximately 10 per cent over Sunday business, managers stated. Most houses filled early and had frequent waiting lines all day. Average business in neighborhood houses was off in some situations. 'Dragon' Opens Big In L.A. Despite Pickets Hollywood, July 6. — Focal point of theatre interest here on the holiday were the Hollywood Pantages and the Los Angeles Hillstreet, where Disney's "Reluctant Dragon" opened big on Friday despite picket demonstrations by the Disney striking cartoonists. More than 200 pickets bearing banners patrolled two-abreast the full block in front of the Pantages with the police keeping open a thin path to the box-office. Large numbers of ticket buyers had been drawn to the house by a big newspaper campaign. Similar demonstrations took place at the Downtown Hillstreet. Seek Nationwide Price Reduction For Service Men (Continued from page 1) dividually in each separate locality. The move to make the policy industry-wide is reported to have the backing and active interest of the theatre committee of the industry organization cooperating for national defense. Joseph Bernhard, Warner theatre head, is chairman of the theatre committee. Simultaneously, industry representatives are backing a movement in Washington to have the Federal admission tax eliminated entirely for the men in uniform, or, that failing, to have the tax based only on the admission paid, rather than the normal value of the ticket, as is now the case. For example, a service man purchasing a 40-cent ticket at the theatre's special price to him of 20 cents, is required now to pay a four-cent Federal tax. The move now underway in Washington seeks either the elimination of the tax or its reduction to two cents on such tickets. Loew's and its top executives, including Nicholas M. Schenck and C. C. Moskowitz are supporting the tax elimination move for the service men. They point out that whereas the uniformed patron can purchase a 99-cent ticket at the Capitol on Broadway for 25 cents, he must pay a nine-cent Federal tax on that ticket. The existing situation also entails explanations by cashiers, ticket-takers and other theatre attendants. Majors Win in Arbitration Case (Continued from page 1) of the State Operating Co., in Manchester, N. H., over Lucien Descoteau's Rex, Empire and Globe in the same city, is unreasonable and ordered the five consenting companies to limit the maximum clearance to 30 days after first run, and seven days after second run. No clearance is to be granted third runs. Conn. Open Air Theatre Files 'Some Run' Case New Haven, July 6. — The New Haven arbitration board has received its fourth complaint, filed by the College Open Air Theatre, Middletown, charging that the five consenting companies refuse to license pictures to the theatre. The complaint seeks "some run." The 900-seat open air theatre was built two years ago, but constant litigation over alleged violation of the building code prevented regular operation. The theatre recently won its case in court. Meanwhile, Warners have intervened in the Saybrook Theatre Corp. complaint on behalf of the circuit's Garde, New London. The complaint seeks elimination of clearance in that city. (Continued from page 1) major companies, with pledges already made, while a concentrated effort will be made to obtain individual contributions from employes. The funds collected by the USO will be used to provide recreation and the proper environment for men in the United States armed services when they are on leave away from their camps. Cooperating with the USO are such organizations as the YMCA, National Catholic Community Service, Salvation Army, YWCA, Jewish Welfare Board and National Travelers Aid Association. Hazen has urged speed in the industry drive, and hopes to raise the industry quota within one week, instead of the 10 days allotted to the drive. Industry workers are urged to volunteer their contributions. "Don't wait to be asked," Hazen urged. The New York committee includes : W. C. Michel, 20 th Century-Fox; Richard Patterson, RKO ; Oscar A. Doob, Loew's ; Harry Buckley, U. A ; Abe Schneider, Columbia ; Austin C. Keough, Paramount ; Matty Fox, Universal; B. S. Moss, Si Fabian, George Skouras, Harry Brandt, Samuel Rinzler and Herman Robbins. Citizens Committee Has Five Army Units on Tour The Citizens Committee for the Army and Navy, which has been supplying mobile entertainment to Army camps for the past month, now has five units on tour, each operating at a cost between $1,000 ,and $1,500 weekly, it was stated by committee officials. Funds are supplied by private subscription but the United Service Organizations will aid the committee in return for the latter's refraining from making a public drive for funds while the USO campaign is on. Organizations participating in the USO drive provide facilities outside camps while the committee offers entertainment within the camp> boundaries. The units will suspend operations in camps during Army maneuvers starting about the middle of the month and will resume in August. Metro Adds Trade Showings in 3 Cities (Continued from page 1) Good," July 15 ; "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," July 21 ; "Down in San Diego," July 28. Phoenix, Strand Theatre, "Lady Be Good," July 14; "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," July 21 ; "Down in San Diego," July 28. Spokane, State Theatre, "Lady Be Good," July 17; "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," July 24 ; "Down in San Diego," July 31. 20th-Fox Organizes Exploitation Staff (Continued from page 1) phia; Joe Shea, Boston; Ward Farrar, Cleveland ; Tommy Thompson, Kansas City; Spencer Pierce, Atlanta; Richard Owen, Dallas ; Gabe Yorke, Los Angeles ; Eddie Solomon, Chicago, and Clifford Gill, Minneapolis. They will work under the supervision of Rodney Bush, exploitation manager. U. S.-Crescent Trial Opens In Nashville (Continued from page 1) has handled the Government's proceec ings here since the suit was file] against Crescent Aug. 11, 1939, n|f; dieted the trial will last five or ™ weeks. Under present plans, mornin : and afternoon sessions will be held si days weekly, he said. The Government's 150 witness?, have been summoned from New Yorl California, Tennessee, Michigan, Geot'l gia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missour Texas, Arkansas, several other state and the District of Columbia. Motion on Records A motion to quash Government sub; poenas issued June 27 directing de fendants Tony Sudekum, R. E. Baulc and Kermit C. Stengel, officials c Crescent, to appear with a mass c correspondence and data, will be pre sented tomorrow at the trial by Georg ; H. Armistead, Jr., chief counsel. In charge of Government prosecutio i will be Robert L. Wright and Allen j4 | Dobey, both of Washington, who wh work in conjunction with Hughe: I Assisting will be Seymour Simoi \ John F. Clagett, Frank Cunninghar' and Albert Bogess, all of Washington Besides Hughes, all are members c the Justice Department's anti-trust di vision. George H. Armistead, Jr., and Wi!; liam Waller, of Nashville, attorney for Crescent and affiliates, said the trh might last several months. Mitchell an j Poellnitz of Florence, Ala., represent Louis Rosenbaum, operator of a grou of North Alabama theaters. 'Little 3' Attorneys The three distributors will be repre; sented by Cornelius, McKinney an Gilbert of Nashville and by Louij Frohlich and Herman Finkelstein, Ai thur Driscoll, Edward C. Rafterj; Benjamin Pepper and Adolph Schime; of New York. After the New York consent dei cree. the Government's suit as to th, five consenting distributors, War; ners, Paramount, Loew's, RKO an 20th Century-Fox, was dismissed i the Crescent case. However, Attorne \ Hughes said, the transactions of Cres cent and associates with all of thi: major distributors remain a part c, the Government's case. U. S. Must Furnish More Schine Dah Buffalo, July 6. — Federal Judg| John Knight late last week ordered th Government to serve a more definite statement and a bill of particulars o: Schine Circuit defendants in the pend| ing Federal anti-trust suit her against the Schine theatre companies^ Columbia, United Artists and Univer'j sal. The Schine application for the orde ! which Judge Knight granted was mad: several weeks ago. The theatre det; fendants will have 10 days after serv; ice by the Government within whicl, to file their answer to the amendei ' complaint.