Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1940)

34 MOTION PICTURE HERALD July 13, 1940 VAUDEVILLE AND STAGE SHOW SEASONAL SLUMP Dropped in Large Cities but Many Circuits, First Runs Plan Summer Bookings Vaudeville, that once pervasive entertainment medium, on the future of which many show business prophets have lost their standings as prophets, this week, from a glance at certain key city situations, appears to display the usual variability. In New York, Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, it is being curtailed, or dropped, or has been dropped, in many theatres, for the summer. In St. Louis, however, it has been revived successfully; in Rochester, it has been used in four Schine circuit houses ; in Detroit, several theatres have been using it; it is in vogue among Chicago neighborhood houses ; Wisconsin theatres are trying it, and, in Newark, at Proctors Theatre, vaudeville "came back" for the first time in three years. In St. Louis stage shows with name bands have attracted crowds to the St. Louis and Fox theatres. Ted Lewis and troupe, playing the former, drew $12,000 in one week last month, at a 40 cent top admission. The usual gross is $2,600, with a top admission of 35 cents. Kay Kyser and his "College of Musical Knowledge," at the Fox, also last month, drew crowds over one block long, before daily openings; and they broke all existing house records, drawing 127,000 persons, who paid over $43,000. Following them, at the same theatre, Orrin Tucker and Bonnie Baker attracted $25,000 to the boxoffice. Others who appeared in the St. Louis vaudeville trend, were Lou Holtz and Ethel Shutta, at the St. Louis. Four in Rochester In Rochester, the four Schine houses trying vaudeville were the Riviera and State, with vaudeville on Friday nights; and the Monroe and Dixie theatres, using it on Saturday nights. All are neighborhood theatres. A recent check of Chicago neighborhood theatres showed several using vaudeville on weekends, apparently as substitutes for the usual premiums, and other ideas. Among theatres in that city using vaudeville recently were the Warners' Ogden Lnd Stratford theatres, the independent Alex Theatre, and the Balaban and Katz Congress. The use by the Newark Proctors' Theatre of vaudeville took the form of "stage jamborees" on Mondays and Tuesdays. In Wisconsin, the Fox circuit has been experimenting with the vaudeville medium, using the William Morris agency. In Detroit, the Fox and Michigan theatres have tried vaudeville; also the Harper Theatre. In New York, the Brandt circuit, though it has dropped its vaudeville for the summer season, is planning enlarged use of it for the fall, at the Flatbush, Brooklyn ; the Windsor, Bronx; and the Carlton, Jamaica; and, perhaps, at more Brandt houses, and at other independent houses. William Brandt, operator of this type of entertainment for the Brandt circuit, is said to be visualizing the assurance to vaudeville artists of a large group of independent neighborhood houses, through which the artist or troupe could be assured of a ten week booking. A plan for such was formulated last year; but only partly fructified. In Philadelphia, vaudeville's outlook is less hopeful, Warner theatres having dropped the medium ; the Fays and Carmans theatres dropping it for the summer ; and the Towers Theatre, in nearby Camden, New Jersey, cutting vaudeville to weekends. In Atlanta, the Capitol Theatre is now employing vaudeville on weekends only. In Boston, the Keith's ended vaudeville, temporarily, on May 26th. Consolidated Shows $179,299 Net Profit Consolidated Film Industries, Inc., and its subsidiaries, report a net profit for the quarter ended March 31st of this year of $179,299, after the usual deductions, but before the surtax on undistributed profits. It is equal to 45 cents a share on the 400,000 shares of preferred stock, at $2. The figures quoted compare with $217,733, equal to three cents per share on 524,973 shares of common stock, for the March quarter of 1939, after dividend requirements. Osa Johnson to Make Personal Appearances Osa Johnson is booking personal appearances in connection with showing of her biographical picture, "I Married Adventure," covering adventures with her husband, the late Martin Johnson in years of exploration in tropic jungles. The picture is to be released by Columbia July 24th. The personal appearance tour is, however, being booked and managed, apart from the picture deals, by Clark H. Getts, who has been in charge of Johnson affairs since 1937 when the explorer lost his life in an airplane accident while on a lecture tour. Mrs. Johnson has not appeared in picture houses since the accident. Two Variety Club Gifts Two Variety Club tents have donated financial gifts to aid underprivileged children and to help purchase school equipment. The Washington Variety Club presented a check of $200 to the Washington Council of Church Women to send underprivileged children to summer camp. Rudolph Berger, welfare chairman of the Variety Club presented the check to Mrs. Frank A. Linzel, president of the Council. The Indianapolis Variety Club, tent No. 10, presented to the Indiana University medical center and the Indianapolis public school system substantial checks to launch the blood bank at the University and to help purchase equipment for a department of psychiatry for the schools. Gibraltar Closes Three Three houses have been closed by Gibraltar Enterprises. They are the Oto, Scottsbluff, Neb.; Burro Alley, Sante Fe, N. M. ; and Riviera, Gering, Neb. IN N E W S R E E L S MOVIETONE NEWS— No. 86, VoL 22.— Kate Smith sings "God Bless America" on Independence Day Stimson gives views on defense to Senate_ committee Hartford, Conn., factory turns out airplane engines in mass production American industry mobilizes for defense. .. .Aerial sightseeing trip in west. .. -Fashions on the ranch Lew Lehr..... Dempsey on comeback trail scores knockout. MOVIETONE, NEWS— No. 87, Vol. 22.— French refugees in Spain Australian and Canadian troops in England Churchill inspects naval base. .. .Lehman at Plattsburg Willkie meets McNary Model airplane contests Sports. . . .Lehr. NEWS OF THE DAY— No. 284, Vol. 11.— Stimson and Knox interrogated by Senate committees American industry mobilized for defense. .. .Army in drive for recruits Kate Smith sings Irving Berlin's '"God Bless America" in holiday observance Fashions in fall hats Dempsey on comeback trail. NEWS OF THE DAY— No. 285, Vol. 11.— Churchill discusses invasion. ... British King decorates air heroes British children here Wilkie and McNary meet Forest fire Birthday Sports. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 89.— Canada Day at World's Fair Senate committees hear Stimson, Knox Newspaper and camera men receive awards Record Navy spending sets defense tempo Jack Dempsey on comeback trail at 45 Song "God Bless America" featured, on holiday observance. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 90.— Forest fires spread in heat wave Sonja Henie weds Dan Topping.... Model airplanes have day at Chicago championships Police probe World's Fair bombing Farley and President confer at Hyde Park Senator Wheeler ....Willkie meets McNary England prepares.... Montreal and New York welcome child refugees. RKO PATHE NEWS— No. 101, Vol. 11.— Independence Day commemoration featuring song "God Bless America" Stimson, Knox questioned by Senate committees. .. .Navy contract for 45 warships signed Baer and Galento before and after fight Catch 750 pound shark. RKO PATHE NEWS— No. 102, Vol. 11.— English ready for Nazi total war. ... English children evacuated to U. S Willkie meets McNary Business men at Plattsburg for Arm)' course World's Fair cow "signed" for films Swimming and diving championships held. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— No. 890, Vol. 12.— America faces task of national defense Airplane engine factory goes into high gear Knox and Stimson questioned by Senate committees. ... Fires menace Northwest woods.... Dog show on coast Indians defeat whites in polo Red Cross horse race staged in Hollywood. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— No. 891, Vol. 12.— Britain girds for Nazi assault Italian warship launched Willkie plans campaign President donates Hyde Park library to U. S Liner burns at New York pier Red Cross aiding war sufferers Aliens take citizenship oath Model planes on display in Chicago Rubber fins help swimmers English children arrive here Diving and swimming show. National Decency Legion Classifies 1 3 Pictures Of 13 pictures classified by the National Legion of Decency in its listing for the current week 11 were approved for general patronage and two were listed as unobjectionable for adults. The films and their classification follow : Class A-l, Unobjectionable for General Patronage: 'Andy Hardy Meets Debutante," "Crashing Through," "Danger Ahead," "Dr. Christian Meets the Women," "Fighting Mad," "The Golden Trail," "Mad Men of Europe," "Murder on the Yukon," "Sky Bandits," "Three Faces West," "Yukon Flight." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults : "I Want a Divorce," "La Marseillaise" (French) (Cut Version). GTE Dividend General Theatres Equipment Corporation has declared a dividend of 20 cents per share on the capital stock, payable July 15th to stockholders of record July 8th. Mix Personal Appearances Tom Mix, with a band of cowboy entertainers, is making personal appearances in Central and Eastern Ohio.