Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

24 Motion Picture News November 29, 193 0 Loew Extra on $14,600,332 Net With Harley L. Clarke attending his first meeting of the board, Loew's directors have declared an extra dividend of $1 a share on the common, in addition to the regular 75 cents quarterly dividend. The stock was placed on a $3 basis at the end of last year. Net of $14,600,332, equal to $9.65 on the 1,416,393 shares of common outstanding, is reported for the year ended Aug. 31. In the previous year, net was $11,765,956, equal to $7.91 a share. Balance sheet on Aug. 31 showed assets of $39,896,827, including $6,637,370 in cash and current liabilities of $9,316,416. Wins Bet on Notre Dame; Host to Team Chicago — Charles Butterworth, stage and film comedian, was host to 38 Notre Dame football players at the Saturday night performance of "Sweet Adeline," in which Butterworth is appearing at the Illinois Theatre here. Butterworth, a Notre Dame grad, showed his confidence in his alma mater's current team by giving Rollo Timponi, manager of the Illinois, thirteen points and even money on Saturday's game with Northwestern. Frank Carideo, Notre Dame quarterback, helped Butterworth collect on Saturday night. Butterworth, also on view here in Warner's "The Life of the Party," at the Roosevelt, caught the picture for the first time last week, and said he approved it highly. Equity to Assess Five Per Cent Levy on Aliens Alien actors brought to this country in the future will be required, instead of dues, to pay five per cent of their salaries, with a minimum of $10 weekly, to Actors' Equity Association, states President Frank Gillmore. Producing managers or the players must pay the five per cent levy, he said. The proposed change will become effective upon ratification by a general meeting to which it will be submitted within the next two weeks. Two More Iowa Houses For Harold Finkelstein Carroll, la. — Harold D. Finkelstein, general manager of the Finkelstein & Ruben circuit, until its acquisition by Publix, is losing no time in building up his independent chain. He started off wth three theatres at Spencer, la., and now adds two in acquisition of the Earl and Royal here from Earl Neu. Neu, who is a member of the directorate of Allied Theatres of Iowa, will operate the chain for Finkelstein. Stanley Net $1,366,992 For Year Ending Aug. 30 Philadelphia — The Stanley Company of America, over 99 per cent of whose capital stock is owned by Warners, reports net profits of $1,366,992 for the year ending August 30, 1930. In addition, the company states there was an inter-company profit of $5,926,139 accruing from the sale by Stanley of its holdings in First National common stock to Warners. Dirty Crack Why, oh why, are there two distinct Metro tables at lunch, asks the Motion Picture Club Bulletin? Zoning and Protection Up At Memphis Meet Memphis — Zoning and protection, with Sunday shows and the new exhibition contract as runners-up, will be the big topics to be discussed at the annual convention of the M.P.T.O. of Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi which opens at the Hotel Peabody Monday. A generous turn-out of mid-South exhibitors is expected for the meeting, which is the 20th semi-annual in the history of the tri-state organization. Jess F. Norman, president of the tri-states -association, and M. A. Lightman, president of the M.P.T.O.A. will be in charge. Among the speakers will be C. C. Pettijohn, general counsel for the Hays organization; Oscar Hanson of Tiffany, Dave Palfreyman. in charge of the theatre division of the Hays association ; Hal Hodes, accessory sales manager for Columbia and Frank Rogers, Central Western division manager for Western Electric. Ed Kuykendall, whose talk on the "Small Town Exhibitor" was one of the features at the national exhibitors' convention in Philadelphia, is also listed. Mr. Kuykendall, owner of the Princess at Columbus, Miss., is one of the most active members of the tri-states organization. Palfreyman will be one of the principal speakers on zoning. Social features arranged include a Sunday midnight benefit show, "The Film Folks' Frolic," several screenings and a banquet and dance. Iowa Allied Unit Invades Nebraska York, Neb. — Delegates from 20 cities and towns in central Nebraska attended the first meeting of Allied in this state preparatory to forming a branch of the organization. Representatives of the Iowa Allied, headed by Lester Martin, conducted the conference. Martin was the principal speaker. The independent operators subscribed to a program "of mutual benefit to prevent interference by chains and to avoid discrimination in their trade practices." The amusement tax, collective buying of insurance, poster exchange and other cooperative measures were discussed by the Iowans. No definite action was taken, nor was a date set for a second meeting of the tentative organization. Omaha — C. E. Williams, veteran president of the M. P. T. O. A. of Iowa and Nebraska, who recently was elected a director of the national organization, attached little significance to the meeting at York. Mix's Mother Injured Oil City, Pa. — Mrs. Elizabeth Mix. mother of Tom Mix, is at Oil City Hospital with both legs broken, following an automobile accident. Weskil to Head Northwest Unit Seattle — F. C. Weskil, theatre owner of Sand Point, Idaho, was elected president of Allied Amusements of the Northwest at the annual meeting in this city. Other officers are : John Danz, Seattle, first vicepresident ; William D. Ripley, Longview, second vice-president; and J. M. Hone, Seattle, re-elected executive secretary and treasurer. Trustees for the coming year will be : Al Rosenberg, Fox West Coast Theatres, Seattle; Milton Kenworthy, Moscow, Idaho; L. O. Lukan, Farwest Theatres, Inc., Seattle ; W. D. Gross, Juneau, Alaska ; John Hamrick, Seattle-Tacoma-Portland circuit owner ; Ray Grombacher, Spokane chain owner ; Walter Graham, Shelton, Wash. ; Louis Perunko, Tacoma, and W. D. Ripley, of Longview. Carolina Exhibitors to Hold December Meet Charlotte — With only one day in which to deliberate, the Theatre Owners' Association of North and South Carolina will hold its mid-winter session in Charlotte Dec. 8. Although plans for the program have been withheld by officials of the organization, it is learned from other sources that M. A. Lightman, president of the M. P. T. O. A., and C. C. Pettijohn, general counsel of the Hays office, may speak. M.P.T.O. of New England, Kutinsky's New Company Morris Kutinsky, who plans to line up a string of 150 houses in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire, will operate as the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New England, Inc., a company formed in Delaware this week. A producer tie-up is reported under way for development after the circuit is organized. No M.P.T.O. Meeting Yet With Electrics on Costs No action has been taken as yet by the M. P. T. O. A. to carry out the resolution, passed at Philadelphia, which calls for meetings with Western Electric and R. C. A. in an effort to reduce service charges. M. J. O'Toole states he is still organizing post-convention work and that the meeting will be held, date undetermined. Glen Dickinson Circuit Gets First 'Casey' House Kansas Citv — Glen W. Dickinson Theatres has invaded Kansas City with acquisition of the Bijou here. The firm has' 33 houses in Kansas and Missouri. The Biiou will be wired for Western Electric equipment and will reopen about Dec. 1. Nick Schenck Okays Natural Vision Films Chicago — Natural vision pictures, presented on wide screen, received passing tribute from Nick Schenck while in town en route to New York with Mrs. Schenck. "Their development," he said, "will be a distinct and valuable contribution to motion picture exhibition."