Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

1206 Motion Picture News Theatre Building Business Map Including Analysis of Key City Attendance Averages Above Average Business Average Business Under Average Easiness e Very light new construction Light new construction Moderately heavy construction Heavy new construction i i i i i — i The map of the United States shown here is divided into seven territories, with colored shading indicating the division of new proposed theatre building as represented for the period from August 15th to September 15th. This new construction is represented in valuation of dollars and cents rather than number of projects. The shading is in four densities ; solid, which represents the greatest value of proposed theatres ; heavy stipple, which is second in valuation of new construction ; medium, which areas represent conservative building ; and the very light areas, where the investment in new theatre projects is very light. The information used in compiling the statistics visualized by the map was obtained through several reliable sources, and the map is to be considered as very nearly accurate in representing comparative theatre building activities in various sections of the country. The circles shown on the map are located in key cities and illustrate average of theatre attendance during the period from August 15th to September 15th, 19*). The diagrams indicate the relative attendance at the first-run theatres in these cities during the period covered. These are given by "averages," with symbols to indicate "Above Average" and "Under Average" box office returns. The term "average" as applied in this survey indicates satisfactory box office returns, based upon theatre expectancies, which, in turn, are governed by past earnings under similar or nearly similar conditions. These attendance statistics were compiled from an analysis of the Key City Reports, published weekly by Motion Picture News, and other sources of information gathered by this publication. HEAVY activities in new theatre projei ts are reported foi this month. The curtailment in building apparently is at an end and the industry is well on its waj to a program that will make up lost time during the past three or four montl Concrete evidence to tbi^ end is shown through the 41 new theatre projects which we report for the thim days ending September 15th Furthermore, [3 theatres are scheduled for ■ lough remodelli It is practically definitel) established that the theatre field will experience the most comprehensive remodelling schedule that it has ever had in its history. Various factors have caused h sound can be credited with hastening the' remodelling oi a great number of theatres. It 1 an ticipatcd that the number of theatres which will undergo re modelling will equal the number of new theatres that will be built. I In construction figures tor new theatre projects announced for this thirty-day report are as follows: In the United States and Canada, $13,467,000 will be invested in 41 theatres seating 54,325. Three of these theatres will cost over a million dollars and two between $51x1.000 and a million. The average for these houses show $328,000, seating 1,325 with an average cost of $247. These figures broken down according to territorial divisions give the North Atlantic States the first place with a program of $5,005,000 for six theatres and a total seating capacity of 13,200. Reduced to averages each theatre will represent $834,000 with 2,200 seats and a cost per seat of $379. Two thi ttres in this territory will cost over one million dollars. The Middle States call for $4,780,000 to be invested in