Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1937)

66 MOTION PICTURE HERALD December II, 1937 BEST YEAR SINCE 1930, HOYTS CIRCUIT REPORTS Trading Profit Increases One -Third, While Expenses Drop; Theatres Modernized by CLIFF HOLT in Melbourne The best financial year for Hoyts Theatres, Ltd., since 1930 is reflected by the company's balance sheet of June 30th, as announced this week. After providing for all taxation and depreciation and other charges the company's surplus stands at £81,305 ($406,525), compared with £61,088 in the previous year. Trading profit shows an increase of £20,217, or approximately 33.5 per cent by comparison with 1935-36. Expenses and taxation show a reduction from £339,650 to £330,690. The sum of £46,500 was required for dividends of 6 per cent on "A" preference shares and 5 per cent on "B" preference shares. The report says that the policy of expansion and consolidation of the company has been continued. New theatres were erected in Albury, New South Wales, and in conjunction with affiliated companies in Hartwell, Victoria, and Goulburn, N. S. W., all of which have shown satisfactory results. Since July 1, additional new theatres have been opened at Brunswick, Victoria, and Balmain, N. S. W., and in each case gratifying returns are being achieved, the directors report. Directors have undertaken expensive modernizing plans in conformity with their policy of keeping the theatres comfortable and uptodate. Much of this work has been completed, but there still remains a number of theatres where renovations are to be made. It is proposed to continue this work in the current financial year. A complete reconditioning program is being carried out in the Olympic Theatre Circuit, Bondi, N. S. W., in which the company is interested. The company does not at present propose to fill the vacancy on the board created by the decision of Stanley S. Crick, chairman of directors, not to be a candidate for reelection. V Epidemic Still Halts Matinees The infantile paralysis epidemic continues to average seven or eight cases a day in Melbourne suburban areas. Meanwhile theatre business is suffering its most serious reverse since the bubonic plague of 1920 caused a complete shutdown of theatres for several weeks. If accompanied by adults, children now are permitted to attend either city or suburban theatres, but Saturday afternoon suburban matinees are still cancelled and there is no saying when they will be resumed. A decision by the Exhibitors Association to resume them in suburbs where schools had been reopened, and where no cases had been reported for at least four weeks, met with a strong protest by the Consultive Council SHORT PRODUCT PLAYING BROADWAY Week of December 4 CAPITOL The Man in the Barn Metro Gold wyn Mayer Stockholm, Pride of Sweden. Metro Gold wyn Mayer CENTRAL Sracie at the Bat Columbia CRITERION Dummy Owner RKO Radio Devilled Ham RKO Radio MUSIC HALL Set 'Em Up Columbia Going Places, No. 41 Universal Modern Inventions United Artists PARAMOUNT I Never Change My Altitude Paramount Pick Your Favorite Paramount R I ALTO The Smart Way Educational RIVOLI Modern Inventions United Artists ROXY Billy Goat's Whiskers Educational Calling All Crooners Educational Who's Who? Educational on the disease and the association had no option but to rescind its decision. In its statement the council said that it regarded the gathering of young children at matinees a very real source of danger of spreading infection. Unless theatre proprietors altered their decision, the council said it would be forced to consider a recommendation to the Government that matinees be prohibited by an order-in-council. Replying to this statement, the association said it had no desire to defy the council, but it pointed out that matinees in all suburbs had been suspended for nine weeks and in some for nearly 12 weeks. The association therefore again emphasized its claim for compensation on behalf of its members, since they had directly suffered far more than any other section of the business community. Subsequently the Victorian premier (Mr. Dunstan) said the Government had no intention of compensating exhibitors who had been forced to close their matinees during the epidemic. V Publications Merge Announcement is made of the immediate unification of forces of the two Australian trade journals, Every ones and The Film Weekly. The board of directors of Film Weekly has been reconstituted to allow for representation of shareholders of Everyones, and the staff of Everyones will combine with Film Weekly in producing a new and enlarged publication. Everyones has been a vigorous force in the affairs of the motion picture industry here for the last 15 years. Its contemporary, Film Weekly, has had a younger life, but one filled with promise. The other medium in the trade newspaper field in Australia is Exhibitors' Monthly, the official mouthpiece of the various independent exhibitors' associations throughout the Commonwealth. V After 21 years with the company, Arthur Gregory, general sales manager, has tendered his resignation from Twentieth Century-Fox for reasons of ill health. Ernest Turnbull, formerly in charge of the activities of British Dominion Films here and now with Gaumont British, is reported likely to succeed to the post. V / Labor Boycott Threatened Threats to boycott theatres which employ non-union labor have been made in Adelaide by the Theatrical Employees Association. Unless an amicable settlement soon is reached with the employers, the Union declares it will ask the public not to patronize theatres which have been blacklisted. Union spokesmen say that some suburban theatreowners are employing non-unionists at wages far below award rates. It is their intention to apply to the Arbitration Court for application of the award to all theatre proprietors. V Vaudeville Return Indicated Reintroduction of overseas headline vaudeville acts in picture houses is seen as a major development here for 1938. The Snider and Dean management has been experimenting successfully, though spasmodically, with "big-time" acts in its first-release theatres for some time and is now on the lookout for suitable acts with which to extend the policy. Hoyts also is dickering for overseas talent, and Greater Union Theatres is unofficially interested. Opinion among the circuit executives is that acts must be really top notch to mean anything at the box office. This belief is strengthened by the statement made by Charles E. Munro, managing director of Hoyts, who says that his company is not interested in a cut-and-dried "combination" policy, but is ready to play genuine headliners. "My company is anxious to play the big stars," he said, "and we have already made quite a lot of progress in this regard as far as future bookings are concerned, but we are not interested in the ordinary routine acts. This is not a departure from our present policy, for we have been negotiating during the past four months for some important people. "Next year will see the appearance of quite a number of international stars on our circuit. It is my belief the combination of screen attractions and personalities of worldwide reputation will give added impetus, from time to time, to our business. The people who will be coming from abroad will be heralded by Australian-wide publicity campaigns." Paramount Distributing "Camino" Paramount Pictures Corporation last week announced that it has taken for world distribution, Mexico and the United States excepted, the Grovas-Mexican production, "Amapola del Camino," starring Tito Guizar. Paramount also signed Guizar for a role in "Big Broadcast of 1938."