Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1940)

43 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 6 , I 9 II QUEBEC OWNERS HIT JUVENILE BAN; VANCOUVER MAY LIMIT FILM SEAT: First of Series of War Propaganda Films to Be Released April Nth; Famous Players Canadian Nets $904,324 Exhibitors in the Province of Quebec were forcefully reminded this week that the 12-year-old law which does not allow children under 16 years of age to attend theatre performances is still in effect, when a Verdun theatre man was convicted and fined $150. Showmen in the Quebec area have renewed their efforts to have the law repealed. The Vancouver city council has been requested by the British Columbia Theatre Association to set a maximum number of theatre seats to be allowed in each district. The Association held that there are already too many seats in the Greater Vancouver area and that construction should be regulated. ' Famous Players Canadian Corporation reported a net profit for the year 1939 of $904,324. Other financial statements on Canadian operations also showed profits. Quebec Manager Fined For Admitting Children by R. J. O'LEARY in Montreal Cyril Scrivens, manager of the Park theatre, Verdun, Quebec, was found guilty of infractions of the provincial law which does not allow children under 16 years of age to attend theatre performances. He pleaded guilty when confronted with the more than 30 children of 4 to 14 years who were to testify. The Crown Prosecutor, Lucien Beliveau, asked for the maximum penalty on three charges. The judge ruled that Mr. Scrivens must pay $50 and costs on each count, with the alternative of a month in jail. The fine was paid. The Quebec law has been attacked by theatre men, the public and members of the government since it was passed 12 years ago. Some Montreal exhibitors expect that the measure will be repealed, soon. Meanwhile, many of the smaller theatres admit children younger than the law allows, partly to arouse public opinion and force repeal. One move for repeal provides for a measure under which children may attend theatres whose programs have been approved by a special board. First of Propaganda Series Set The first of a series of Canadian-produced films, depicting the Dominion of Canada at war, is scheduled for release on April 11th. The first of the monthly series, "Atlantic Patrol," has been filmed and a commentary is being added. Others in the series are : "Private Lives," to show Canadian troops overseas ; "Women at Work," to illustrate how Canadian women are helping to win the war and a film based on the War Supply Board which is headed by Wallace Campbell. "Workshops of War" has been suggested as the title for the short on the board. The Finnish Aid Committee, sponsored by Karl F._ Altio, Consul-General of Finland, is still active in Canada, and the Castle production, "Finland Fights," distributed by the Associated BLAMES STRAIN FOR INFERIOR PICTURES Despite the money and talent in Hollywood, the production capital sometimes makes inferior pictures because of the "continual strain on actors, producers and directors, because of lack of coordination of entertainment factors, and because of constant revision of stories," Ernest Haycox, Portland author, told members of the city's Kiwanis club, in a recent address on his experiences during filming of Paramount's "Union Pacific." Story costs alone in Hollywood "are sometimes fantastic," he said, with as much as $32 5,000 spent on one story before production. Screen News, is being shown to raise money for reconstruction. "Ski Trails," a colored short depicting skiing in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal, is being hailed as one of the better Canadianproduced shorts. The film was produced by the Associated Screen News and directed by Gordon Sparling. Another in Production Another Canadian film on skiing is now in production. It will be produced by Louis Cochand, top-notch French-Canadian skier, according to the announcement of Lt. Col. J. L. r.oulaiiKer, director of the Provincial Tourist Bureau. The purpose of the film will be to attract tourists, especially from the United States, to the ski centers of the province of Quebec. The Hamilton United Theatres reported a net profit for the year 1939 of $48,195 against a profit of $54,453 for 1938. Operating profit last year was $73,920 and $77,167 the year before. A dividend was paid on the 6 per cent preferred stock and the earned surplus increased from $85,286 to $87,188. The working capital was $114,049 which compared with $167,702 for 1938. The Mansfield Theatre Company, Ltd., reported a net profit of $6,048, after taxes and depreciation for the year 1939. The company lost $33,527 in 1938. During 1939 a $3.50 dividend on the 7 per cent preferred stock, in arrears, was paid. A total of 348,507 radio sets was produced in Canada in 1939, and 246,707 of these in the second half of the year, according to the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. The value of sets sold last year was $20,005,519. There are now 50,000 more radio sets in Canada than in the previous record year, 1931. Vancouver Group Wants Quota on Theatre Seats by E. S. ROBERTS in Vancouver The British Columbia Theatre Association, composed of owners of surburban houses, has asked the Vancouver city council to set quotas which would limit theatre construction and regulate the maximum number of seats in each district. R. McTavish, president of the Association, told the council that there is now one the; seat to every seven persons in the Greater M couver area and he said, "New theatres are ing built in spite of the fact that the cit? already over-seated." The city council is considering what ac might be taken. Alderman Charles Jo* chairman of the city hall licensing commif claimed that the city had the power to 1 the number of theatre licenses. He said tha former years limitation had been practised i cause it was felt that overcrowding in amusement business would lead to lower st; ards of presentations service. In the radio field "overcrowding" in |i Vancouver area was relieved when two \ couver stations voluntarily went off the | Operations were suspended by CKCD, bat I by the Daily Province and CKFC, sponsorec the Vancouver Sun. There were six stat in the Vancouver area. CBR is the Cana<! Broadcasting Company station. CJOR CKWX have been allowed to increase ti power. CKMO keeps the same power it * before recent changes. Famous Players Canadian Nets $904,324 in 1939 Famous Players Canadian Corporation I ported a net profit for 1939 of $904,324 wf is equal to $2.12 per share on the comij stock. In 1938 the company made $974,78f $2.32 per share of common stock. Opera profit was $2,145,258 which compared V $2,231,659 in 1938. Surplus was incre nearly a half million, to $3,846,486. Total sets were fixed at $16,095,602. A dividem 25 cents a share, paid March 30th, was decla] N. L. Nathanson, president and certain op officers and executives, obtained options 27,000 shares of the no par value common si on December 30th. 5,000 shares at $15 v taken up on January 8th and 11,000 more to be taken by July 15th at $16 a share I another 11,000 by July 15, 1941, at $17 a sh Other Companies' Profits The United Amusement Corporation Limj reported a net profit -for 1939 of $94,640 wf compared with $85,467 in 1938. The work capital was increased during the year f| $114,601 to $215,088. Ernest A. Cousins ho the company which operates 27 neighborh theatres in the Montreal territory. Eastern Theatres, Ltd., Toronto subsid: of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, wl operates the Imperial theatre, reported a ;' profit of $41,905 for the fiscal year enc December 28th. After provision for all chai this is equivalent to $8.38 for each of the 5 seven per cent preferred shares. The opera profit was $71,644 against $94,733 in 1938. j Theatre construction and renovating in 0 ada has not been interrupted by the war. M theatres include : Kingsway theatre in the § ronto area, managed by Brock Farrow ; a i theatre owned by John H. Grylls in Beavert the Theatre Holding Corporation plans a i; theatre for Port Arthur this Spring. Thea that have been remodeled include : the K Lindsay, operated by Jane Edmonds ; Upfr in Orangeville. The Canadian Picture Pioneers Club ele officers at a luncheon meeting in Toronto March 27th. Captain Frank C. Badgley, director of J Canadian Government Motion Picture Bur 1 has been elected president of the Red Che-\ j Club, organization of war veterans. Dr. J. S. Thompson has been appointee the board of governors of the Canadian Br< casting Corporation.