Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

22 .1/ o I i o n P i c t it v c X e w s X ove in her 29 . 19 3 0 Publix, Deep in Red in Detroit, May Turn Back 6 Theatres to John Kunsky Big Shots Break Fire Laws Chicago — C. E. Beck, manager of the Castle, previewed "The Tiger of Berlin" (UFA) Friday night for a generous and imposing list of officials of the local bars of justice, arms of the law, heads of civic organizations and successful politicians. The house was jammed so that the walls bulged a little further into State Street. Even the aisles were filled with chairs, which was "okay" considering the potential influence of that audience. If the fire marshal himself had walked in and protested he would have been reading "Help Wanted" columns in Saturday morning's papers. Providence Fans No Saps; Only Ace Pictures Draw 'Em Providence — Electric signs mean something today to the dyed-in-the-wool theatre fan who studies his billing with the same care that he accords his radio program. Exhibitors here say that no more will the fans flock to a house merely because it has shown an ace picture the month before. Consistently good fare must be meted out or the business goes elsewhere. A check-up by Motion Picture News reveals some interesting facts concerning pictures which did sensational business and those that fell below normal. Loew's State, the biggest house downtown, which has a top gross of $25,000 and a low of $15,000, was found to have reached the peak with "Whoopee," "Caught Short" and "Let Us Be Gay." The billings that failed to hit their stride were "Doughboy," ''Du Barry" and "The Bad One." At the RKO Albee "All Quiet on the Western Front," 'Amos 'n' Andy" and the more or less unheralded "Her Man" were topnotchers. Among the lows were "The Santa Fe Trail," "Leathernecking" and "A Lady Surrenders." The high here is around $14,000 and low $8,000. At the little RKO Victory, seating only 1,600, "The Sea God," "Africa Speaks" and "Little Accidents" were smashes while the lowboys were "Eyes of the World," "One Mad Kiss" and "Beau Bandit." The good ones here catch over $10,000, while $7,000 is bottom level. The New Paramount, which has been in operation about six months, caught big money with "The Dawn Patrol," "Manslaughter" and "Young Man of Manhattan." Among the lesser attractions may be listed "The May from Wyoming," "The Virtuous Sin" and "Monte Carlo." High, $15,000; low, $10,500. "Common Clay," "Scarlet Pages" and "Old English" were big winners at the Majestic. ''Liliom," "Big Boy" and "Girl of the Golden West" were merely also rans. High gross at this house is $15,000 with Reported that $3,000,000 Is Due On Purchase; July, 1931, Set As Deadline Detroit — The next 6 months will tell a real story of changes in show business in Detroit, it is understood from authentic sources. A report, which is undenied by Publix officials in Detroit, states that unless payment of approximately $3,000,000 is made by July. 1931 to John H. Kunsky in settlement of the sale of the theatre circuit bearing his name, Kunsky will re-assume control of the Paramount. State, United Artists. Madison, Adams and Fisher. The Michigan was originally a Balaban & Katz-Publix house. Kunsky, together with George W. Trendle, his general manager, and Howard O. Pierce, formerly in charge of Kunsky advertising, have acquired control of radio station WXYZ in Detroit since they stepped out of the saddle almost a year ago. In view of the changes of policy which have been affected in the State theatre, which is now showing first-run pictures for one week stands at 25 and 50 cents admission, and in the Madison, which reopened Thursday with a 10-25-35 charge for second-run pictures and three changes a week, veteran showmen intimate that the handwriting is beginning to appear on the wall. A check of box-office reports on the Publix houses in Detroit is said to reveal that, as a unit, the chain has been operating in the red for the last year to the extent of $21,000 to $30,000 per week. It is a known fact that unless the Michigan theatre grosses close to $84,000 per week it runs at a loss. Just about a year ago, Publix took over the Grand Riviera, Annex, LaSalle Garden and Tuxedo theatres of the C. W. Munz Enterprises. A good sum of money was spent on renovations and changes as well as the installation of new equipment. At the present time the wise boys are pointing to the fact that fairly regular conferences are being held between C. W. Munz, president, Bert Williams, vice-president and general manager, and H. E. Applegate, secretary and treasurer of the Munz interests, because, they claim. Publix is going to release their holdings back to Munz. low around $9,000. It is considered significant locally that even a house as ornate and beautiful as Loew's State, with lobbies and lounging rooms that draw on their own merits, sinks below normal with a mediocre picture following a smash hit. As one exhibitor says: "Once it was possible to rest on the laurels of a sensational picture for a month or so, business following along in its wake. Today each film must be a crackerjack to win top money. On the other hand, if there is no special attraction in town each house will do fair business, proving that fans want to attend the theatre. Let one exhibitor have a smash hit, however, and he will collect all of the business if his competitors cannot offer something pretty fine on their own hook." Succoring Suckers Chicago — A new commercial film designed to show the folly of purchasing the wrong kind of securities was screened for a group of starving bond salesmen at the Tavern, downtown Chicago club. The production is entitled "An Investment in American Prosperity" and was turned out by the Burton Holmes laboratories here, with the cooperation of Corporate Trust Shares. It shows why investments in U. S. Steel and the like are preferable to those in HappyStrike Diamond Mines of Iowa, Inc. Sponsors of the picture say they are willing to exhibit it gratis, since prospective customers were found to be without regular admission funds. Sue Para., Hays For 'Conspiracy'; Ask $5,130,000 Charging conspiracy and unfair competition in efforts to drive them out of business. Edward Quittner and Middletown Combined Buildings Co., Inc., Middleton, N. Y., theatre operators, have brought suit for damages amounting to $5,130,000 against the Hays organization, Paramount Publix and the officers of the two firms, in Federal District Court. Violation of the anti-trust laws is charged. Quittner alleges Paramount built a theatre against him to force him to pay its terms for films and since then has resorted to unfair methods of competition and endeavored to shut off his supply of quality films. He also charges a conspiracy to enforce "unreasonable protection" against him. The veteran Middletown exhibitor was a member of the United States Intelligence Service during the war, and for months has been gathering evidence for his suit. Use Erpi Disc In Court During Aleograph Case San Antonio — Suit for an accounting of profits, which estimates place as high as $50,000,000 for alleged infringement of patcuts, is under way in Federal Court here between Aleograph Co. of America and Electrical Research Products. The Aleograph claims Erpi infringed its disc system in making and exhibiting talking pictures. A general denial has been entered by Erpi. A projection machine employing the Western Electric system of reproduction is in the courtroom to illustrate attorneys' argument.