Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday. October 2. 1941 Six New Films Finished; 44 Now in Work Hollywood, Oct. 1. — Forty-four pictures were before the cameras this week, as six finished and eight started. Twenty-five were being prepared, and 65 were being edited. The tally by studio : Columbia finished: "Outlaw Ranger," "Confessions of Boston Blackie." In Work: "Blondie Goes to College," "Honolulu Lu," "Bedtime Story," "The Lady Is Willing." Goldwyn (RKO) In Work: "Ball of Fire." Korda (U. A.) In Work: "Jungle Book." M-G-M Finished: "The Girl on the Hill." In Work : "The Vanishing Virginian," "Steel Cavalry," "Johnny Eager," "Woman of the Year," "H. M. Pulham, Esq.," "Panama Hattie," "Babes on Broadway," "Her Honor." Monogram In Work: "Sis Boom Bah." Producers Releasing Finished: "The Miracle Kid." Started: "Swamp Woman," "Billy the Kid's Oklahoma Justice." Pressburger (U. A.) In W ork : "The Shanghai Gesture." Paramount In Work : "Tombstone." Started: "The Lady Has Plans," "The Fleet's In." RKO In Work : "Thundering Hoofs," "Joan of Paris," "Call Out the Marines." Started: "Valley of the Sun." Republic In Work: "The Devil Pays Off." Started: "Sierra Sue." Small (U. A.) Started : "Twin Beds." 20th Century-Fox In Work: "Remember the Day," "Rise and Shine," "Son of Fury." Started : "The Perfect Snob," "Castle in the Desert." Universal Finished: "Man or Mouse." In Work : "Melody Land," "Keep 'Em Flying," "South of Tahiti" (formerly "White Savage"). Warners Finished: "Steel Against the Sky," (formerly "Dangerously They Live"). Suspended: "The Man Who Came to Dinner." In Work: "Wild Bill Hickok Rides," "You're in the Army Now," "The Male Animal," "All Through the Night," "Kings Row," "Captains of the Clouds," "They Died with Their Boots On." Conn. Allied Opposes Joint Industry Plan (Continued from page 1) tional officers, as have others. "This is merely a matter of difference of opinion," said Dr. J. B. Fishman, president of Connecticut Allied, in commenting on the resolutions. In opposing the all-industry committee, he said, the organization felt that the interests of the independent exhibitor would be lost or subjugated if the proposal were to be placed in effect. Start of New Tax Brings No Change at Box-Office (Continued from page 1) neighborhood houses plan to reduce the price of special children's matinees from 10 cents to 9 cents, which is not subject to tax. National circuit operators were agreed that the first day's operation under the nex tax levy bore out their belief that it would not adversely affect business. RKO, Loew's, Warner and National Theatres officials pointed out that the most tangible effect of the new scales will be noticed at Saturday matinees, since the new Federal levy relates most directly to juvenile admissions of 10 and IS cents. Circuit officials pointed out that adult admissions are negligibly affected by the new tax, having been in effect heretofore on admissions from 20 cents up. It was also indicated that the public is "tax conscious" and already has accepted the fact that the cost of virtually everything is up and likely to go higher. That acceptance has made the public philosophical about all new taxes, it was stated. Most major Broadway houses reported excellent business yesterday. The Paramount, Roxy and Radio City Music Hall had standees during most of the afternoon and evening, accordto the theatres. The Strand reported good business and the Capitol said attendance was better than average for the afternoon, with capacity business last night. The Globe and Central reported business "rather slow" and the New York Theatre, first-run Western house, was off. Business also was slow at the New Amsterdam and other 42nd Street "grind" houses. Many theatres along Broadway provided radio reports of the Brooklyn-Yankees game, and most reportedly benefited from the post-holiday trade last night. The influx of World Series visitors is considered a factor in theatre attendance. Both first-run and neighborhood matinees in Brooklyn were below average. A matinee check showed 1,300 attendance at the Fox, 800 at the Paramount and about 1.000 at the Metropolitan. The borough's theatre operators, however, all attributed the decline to the holiday and the World Series, rather than to the new tax. Small Manhattan theatres had few complaints and fewer comments to make on the new tax, all reporting that they were passing it on, with no noticeable affect on attendance resulting. Few Complaints in Chicago Chicago, Oct. 1. — A check of Loop houses revealed no adverse reaction to the new tax. Theatre men reported a few mild complaints, but the ticket buying public generally is taking it good naturedly. Houses charging 15 and 20 cents have been preparing their patrons for the change with trailers on the screen and signs in the lobby for a week or more. Reduce Children's Price Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 1. — Theatres here have reduced their children's admission price from 10 to 9 cents in order that the newly reduced exemption on amusements will not Coast Exhibitors Report No Effect Los Angeles, Oct. 1. — The start of the new Federal taxes showed no initial adverse effect at the box-office in this area, theatre men reported tonight. The feeling of theatre operators here is that no effect will be felt immediately, but that the tax would make itself felt over a period of months should curtailment of family entertainment budgets be necessary because of the higher cost of living. force them to collect the extra penny. Emmett Rogers, city manager for Wilby-Kincey. which operates the Tivoli, State, Rialto and Bijou here, said his theatres would charge 9 cents for children under 12 and adult admissions for all others. The Wilby-Kincey circuit heretofore charged 10 cents for "children under 14." The new tax forces them to lower the age limit to 12 years. All neighborhood theatres, owned by Independent Theatres, Inc., havealso cut children's admission to 9 cents. Cincinnati Scales Vary Cincinnati, Oct. 1. — No uniform scale of prices because of the tax was agreed u]>on at a meeting of the Greater Cincinnati Independent Exhibitors League yesterday. Some of the suburban houses, particularly in the lower admission brackets, will pass both the Federal impost and the three per cent State tax to the public, while others will add onlv the Federal tax. Chance Games Seen Killed in Kentucky Seattle Business Unaffected Seattle, Oct. 1. — The new Federal tax had little noticeable effect on Seattle box-offices. Business during matinees and the dinner hour was reported equal to other Wednesdays, considering the attractions. Some comment by the public on the new tax charge was reported, but no adverse criticism or hesitation in buying tickets. Rochester Adds Tax Rochester, Oct. 1. — Local theatres are adding the new tax to admissions but plan no general increase in scales, according to theatre men. Little Reaction in Newark Newark, Oct. 1. — The new tax schedule went into effect smoothly here. Surprise was expressed by some patrons at paying more for lower-priced tickets in some theaters. Attendance, however, was unaffected. Slight Effect in Minneapolis Minneapolis, Oct. 1. — Matinees were said only slightly affected here on the first day of the all-inclusive ticket tax. Evenings are expected to be affected negligibly. The new tax has been well publicized in newspapers. (Continued from pane 1) .stated that every chance game operator will be on the same footing as the Schine theatres here after the judgment is entered and prompt action will be taken against any theatre which continues the practice. On that basis, he said, he expects the ">es to be eliminated throughout thc^ e by the end of the week. The action against the Schine theatres asked for the forfeiture of the company's charter and a fine sufficient to punish the company for a five-year violation of the law. The settlement provides for the abandonment by the State of both those objectives, but the company makes the admission that operation of the games is illegal and agrees that it will discontinue the practice. Milwaukee Unchanged Milwaukee, Oct. 1. — Reports today_ from local first-runs indicated no Pathe Dissolution Plan Is Approved Pathe Film Corp. shareholders, representing 80 per cent of the outstanding stock, meeting here yesterday, approved the company's plan to exchange its holdings of du Pont Film Manufacturing Corp. common for shares of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. common and to dissolve Pathe Film. The stockholders also approved compensation to T. C. Davis, a director, of 300 shares of E. I. du Pont common. Under the approved plan, Pathe will transfer its 3,500 shares of du Pont Film to E. I. du Pont, receiving in return 56,750 shares of the latter's common. In the dissolution of Pathe, holders of 7,469 shares of preferred will receive from current cash resources payment of S100 a share plus accrued dividends. Holders of Pathe common will receive one share of E. I. du Pont common for approximately each 10.3 shares of Pathe. Buys PRC Franchise Chicago, Oct. 1. — George Topper, once manager of the Star & Garter and Haymarket theatres here and a public accountant in recent years, has purchased the local franchise of the Producers Releasing Corp. Charles Miller continues as branch manager. noticeable adverse effect on receipts as result of introduction of the new Federal tax schedule. San Francisco Awaits Test Sax Francisco, Oct. 1. — The big test of the new tax schedule is expected here on Saturday, when the levy will be added to children's tickets at matinees. Today, however, there was only slight reaction to the tax because only children's prices are affected at most theatres. Des Moines Matinees Drop Des Moines, Oct. 1. — Although suburban houses here reported no drop in attendance on the first day of the new tax, downtown second runs reported a noticeable decrease in matinees before 2 P.M., where admissions were advanced from 16 to 20 cents. First-run houses were not affected and expect an increase in business because of the smaller difference now between their price and that of the downtown second-runs.