Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

Alert. Intelligent. Indispensable to the flotation Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY i . 50. NO. 101 NEW YORK. U.S.A.. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1941 TEN CENTS isagreement Delays British Fund Division Loew's Opposes Billings As Basis for Shares Division of the $20,000,000 alowed to be withdrawn from Britsh revenue during the ensuing 12 tooths by the eight major comlanies has been delayed due to op•osition by Loew's to the formula or apportionment of the remitftnces among the companies, it was ie ported. Seven distribution companies favor pportionmcnt of the remittances on 1 le same basis as last year, that is on percentage equal to each company's hare of gross billings in England for |fce year before. Loew's opposed this formula last car and tbe question went to arbi (Continued on Page 4) Republic Acquires Bromberg Franchise James R. Grainger, Republic Piclures president, has announced that ihe company has purchased the fran liise agreement beld by A. C. Brom■ H rg of Atlanta for the Soutlieast divi>ion. Bromberg. who has been in the ndustry since 1906, stated that he :>lans to retire from business. Tbe Bromberg organization has dis ributed Republic films since the latter -"mpany's inception and held the fran-liise for Atlanta. Charlotte, Memphis. New Orleans and Tampa territories. Grainger said that the personnel of he branches will remain. Bromberg, •vho was in New York on the deal, »\hich was announced Wednesday, paid he plans to leave shortly after the first of the year with Mrs." Bromberg for an extended tour of South America. Masters Heads Odeon And Empire Firms Haskell M. Masters resigned Wednesday as Western and Canadian sales manager for United Artists and will head the new Odeon Circuit in Canada and Empire-Universal Films, with headquarters in Toronto. Motion Picture Daily reported exclusively that the Odeon post had been offered to Masters. The resignation is effective immediately. It is believed that Carl Les {Continued on page 4) Ascap Sets Officers' Terms to Next April The Ascap board of directors on Wednesday voted to extend to April 1* 1942, the terms of all officers headed by Gene Buck, president. The annual election of officers is scheduled for April 1. The board's action was taken because no election was held last April due to the radio-music 'war.' Paramount Opens Sales Conference In Chicago Today Chicago, Nov. 20. — Barney Balaban, Paramount president, and Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board, will address the company's twoday sales meeting which opens at the Drake Hotel here tomorrow. Balaban will leave for the Coast at the conclusion of the session. Neil Agnew, vice president in charge of distribution, will preside at the meeting at Neil F. Agnew which general sales problems and sales plans for "Louisiana Purchase" will be discussed. The picture (Continued on page 4) 20th-Fox Claims Rights to Musical Twentieth Century-Fox has taken cognizance of reports that Vinton Freedley, producer of "Let's Face It," is offering the film rights to the play. Edwin P. Kilroe, copyright attorney of the company, has written Freedley regarding the matter, it was learned over the weekend. The musical show (Continued on page 4) Report Max Cohen to Take Squire Theatre It is reported that the Squire Theatre, on Eighth Avenue at 44th Street, will be taken over by Max A. Cohen, head of the Cinema Circuit. The house has been closed for several months. It formerly was a part of the old Consolidated Circuit. HOLIDAY GROSSES STRONG OVER U. S. Business SRO On Broadway Broadway film houses hung out the S.R.O. sign yesterday afternoon and didn't take it down until after the last show. Despite unseasonably mild weather and a record 70-degree temperature at 2:30 P. M., many of the estimated 1,000,000 persons who viewed the annual Macy parade made a full day of it at the Broadway theatres. Business at the early shows was slow because of the two-hour parade which started at 11 :45 o'clock at 106th St. and went down Broadway. By 3 o'clock, however, most houses were filled to capacity and remained so throughout the day. The Paramount with "Skylark" and Harry James' orchestra and Ray Bolger drew an estimated $11,600 for the day. This was reportedly better than the three previous Thanksgivings. "They Died With Their Boots On," another new picture, with Woody Herman's orchestra, brought the Strand its biggest Thanksgiving since the present policy was adopted four years ago, it was stated. The day's gross was estimated at $7,600. 'Suspicion' Opens with $19,500 At the Radio City Music Hall, "Suspicion," which opened yesterday, with the stage presentation drew an estimated $19,500, topping last year's figure by about $1,000. "Week-End in Havana" with a stage show at the Roxy garnered an estimated $10,000, about equal to last year. "The Chocolate Soldier" at the Astor grossed an estimated $2,100. The Capitol with "Shadow of the Thin Man" and the Rivoli with "How Green Was My Valley" did a capacity business from about 3 o'clock on. Four of the 21 legitimate theatres giving matinees reported standees, but many of the 26 shows experienced a lull in the evening. Outstanding were "It Happens on Ice" at the Center, which was packed at both performances and grossed an estimated $7,500, and "Lady in the Dark" at the Alvin, which reported 76 matinee standees and capacity in the evening. New Product, Favorable Weather Help Many Key First Runs Exhibitors in the 32 states observing Thanksgiving yesterday gave thanks for a healthy box-office. Few exceptions were reported last night, and these were due chiefly to bad weather. Winter roared over parts of the West and heavy rain fell in much of the South. With strong product available, numerous key city first runs moved up their opening a day to garner the holiday trade. Football, parades and other events were counter-attractions for matinees in many cities. St. Louis reported S.R.O. at most first runs, with business exceeding last year's. "Keep 'Em Flying" at the Fox was a standout. Downtown Providence was capacity by 4 P. M., with "Keep Em Flying" also here leading the parade. Chicago, Los Angeles Big Holdouts were the rule in Chicago's Loop. Los Angeles business was big with an array of strong product and, for the first time in years, no heavy holiday competition. Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Denver and Seattle reported matinees above normal and big night business. Boston theatres, quiet in the morning because of a parade which attracted 500,000 spectators, and football games, had a capacity rush beginning in the afternoon. Milwaukee, where family celebrations held sway, reported first runs slightly above average and subsequents spotty. Expected good business was ruined in Buffalo by a driving rainstorm, a celebration, rodeo and football, but "International Squadron" at the Hippodrome and "Shadow of the Thin Man" at the Great Lakes held up well. Defense Holiday Booms Baltimore Baltimore,Nov.20. — A holiday at defense plants today brought record attendance at downtown film houses. Mild, springlike weather helped. Most theatres opened new pictures today.