Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

56 MOTION PICTURE HERALD August 8, 1936 B&K DOUBLE FEATURING STARTS IN SEPTEMBER Independents Will Follow Circuit's Policy; Theatre Lobby Radios Bring Star Broadcasts by WILLIAM F. CROUCH in Chicago After four years without double features Chicago theatres are to start playing them on or about September 11th. The Balaban & Katz circuit, which dominates theatre activities locally, will be the first to inaugurate the new policy. They will start double feature programs in their "A" houses with the advent of the new season's product and it will be but a matter of days before all other houses in their circuit, with the exception of the loop theatres, will follow suit. Instead of waiting for the new product to arrive via the regular clearance route, independent theatre men are planning to adopt the dual bills as soon as B & K has opened the way. To wait until the new product is available for them would be a financial blow and regardless of the clause in last year's contract that duals were not permitted the independent exhibitors plan to start using duals as soon as the opening gun is fired. That the distributors will raise any objections is unlikely. The double feature plan has been so successful in other cities, according to B & K executives, that it is deemed advisable' to return to the plan here. The B&K circuit is the only local group which is in favor of the dual program ; all other circuits as well as the independents are definitely opposed. Attempts were made last spring by B & K to start the double feature policy but a prohibitive clause in all city contracts ended the efforts. Warner Brothers theatres, the other leading member of the Chicago Exhibitors Association, is opposed to the return of duals, as are members of the Allied Theatres of Illinois, a group which includes the Essaness and other important but smaller independent circuits. With a number of deluxe neighborhood theatres that have from 4,000 to 5,500 seats, dual bills are deemed a profitable plan by the B&K group. The smaller independent houses, many of which have but 300 to 500 seats, have done all possible to prevent their return. Inability to get a "turnover" because of the length of the program is the reason given for this situation. The larger houses with plenty of seats can take care of the business when it comes but the smaller house has to resort to a "hold-out" when the rush hour comes. With the distributors granting B & K an extra seven days clearance between "C" week and the first-week-of-release, a fight is now on between Allied Theatres and B & K and the distributors. Conferences scheduled for this week may result in the settling of this conflict. If not, Aaron Saperstein, president of the Allied group, has been authorized to notify the attorney general that the "Consent Decree" handed down here by the federal court in April, 1932, has, in Al lied's opinion, been violated and that the matter of granting extra clearance should be subjected to arbitration. Allied's contention is that the extra clearance affects all first-week-of-release houses instead of just those which are in a competitive situation to B&K "C" week houses. The independent group feels that granting of clearance to houses that are in competitive locations is not out of line but to have the plan effect all first week houses is going too far. ' V Conferences between exhibitor groups and the Operators Union for the arranging of a new contract for the coming year, are scheduled for this week. Last year's agreement expired in January of this year but through a gentleman's agreement its regulations are to be upheld until September first, when a contract for the coming year is to be made. Last winter the union was asking for a 20 per cent wage increase. What their demands will be at this time is not known. Exhibitors were definitely opposed to the raise when it was last discussed and probably retain that attitude. V Downstate salesmen for local film exchanges report that sales have fallen off sharply the past few days. The continued dry spell throughout the middle western states and especially through the "cornbelt" has placed business in the doldrums in communities which depend upon agriculture for their livelihood. A search of all weather records fails to find a period that has been as dry as the past two months. Corn and small grains have been severely damaged. V Business in the loop lately has been exceptionally good, due no doubt to several strong attractions and livable weather. At the Chicago this week "Rhythm on the Range" and Major Bowes' Dance Band and Unit show are heading for a nice figure expected to pass the $40,000 mark. It is the best business in this big house in months. "Suzy" at the Roosevelt is another big money picture while "Green Pastures" at the United Artists is doing very well. Other loop theatres have been well above average and the next few weeks are expected to be the biggest of the year. The last weeks in August are usually high points. V George Weeks, general manager for Gaumont-British, was a Chicago visitor last week. He gave a luncheon for a number of leading exhibitors, at the Blackstone Hotel, and to preview two new G-B pictures, "Nine Days a Queen" and "Seven Sinners," both of which rated approval from the theatre men. Weeks also dispelled rumors of changes in the G-B sales set-up and said that no changes of any sort were contemplated. Other speakers at the luncheon, besides Weeks, included Clyde Eckhardt, W. A. V. Mack and Abe Fisher. V Voting for the Queen of the Cruise of the Chicago Amusement Publicists Association is heavy along Film Row and among the various theatrical groups in Chicago. The winner will receive a prize the night of the cruise which is midnight, August 18th. The affair will take place on the SS Roosevelt. Each ticket carries 1,000 votes for the Queen. Warner Bros., Essaness and other circuits are fast getting support for their favorite candidates. Harry K. Smythe, president of CAPA, is in charge. V Herb Elisburg is on the vacation list this week. Another to seek solace from a year's busy activity is Larry Stein. Both are press representatives, Elisburg for Essaness and Stein for Warner's. V Ted Weems and his orchestra have been booked into four Great States theatres for stage appearances. As a novelty with his band Weems will show the short film, "The Martins and the Coys," which illustrates the feud between these two clans while Elmo Tanner and Red Engle supply the musical background. The short film, which was first shown at the Chicago theatre, was made here by the General Film Laboratory and directed by your correspondent. V Mrs. Mabel Dietz, secretary of the Minneapolis Film Board of Trade, visited here last week with Miss Emma Abplanalp, local Film Board executive. V Local theatres are installing radios in their lobbies and waiting rooms so that patrons who wish to hear the various broadcasts of film stars from Hollywood can do so and not miss being at the theatre too. During one broadcast a few days ago almost as many patrons of a local theatre could be found in the lobby and waiting room listening to a broadcast by Franchot Tone and Joan Crawford as were inside the theatre auditorium watching Tone perform on the screen. V Monday, August 24th, is the date set for the annual Warner Club picnic. The affair this year will be held at Wicker Memorial Park in Highland, Indiana. Golf, softball, and other athletic events will highlight the program. V Robert Ripley's "Believe It or Not" unit show of freaks has been booked into the Chicago theatre for one week. Fair Trade Law Decision Awaited With decision on a test case involving the Wisconsin fair trade practice act expected this week the motion picture and other industries are focussing attention on the probability of tests of a similar Ohio measure. The law, which is similar also to those passed in 12 other states including California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Illinois, stipulates that, "Whoever knowingly and willingly advertises, offers for sale, or sells any commodity for less than the minimum price stipulated in any contract entered into pursuant: with the provisions of this ac,t, whether the said person is or is not a party to such contract, shall be deemed guilty of engaging in unfair competition and unfair trade practices and is actionable at the suit of any person damaged thereby.