Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 29, 19 30 Mot i o n P i c / it r e N e w s 25 National Circuit, with Decentralized Local Management, Is Franklin Plan By Accident Harold B. Franklin is in New York in connection with his proposed national theatre chain. He usually stops at the Savoy Plaza, but decided he could cover more ground if he kept his whereabouts private. So he determined on the Chatham, for years the stopping place of many former First National franchise holders. No sooner had he crossed the portals when he realized that those who jump to conclusions would figure this as evidence that a deal with the ex-First Nationalites was in, which it isn't. Therefore, Franklin moved to another hotel. Seattle Liberty To Be Franklin Circuit Outlet? Seattle — Jensen & Von Herberg next week will make the Liberty a strictly firstrun house, and will play all First National releases in addition to a number of other first-run pictures obtained on the open market. The First National deal, it is understood, was made while Von Herberg was in New York a week or so ago, and is taken here as an indication that the old established Jensen & Von Herberg chain that sold out to Fox West Coast Theatres, Inc., some years ago is once more in the ascendency. This plan coupled with the report that original First National franchise holders may rally around Franklin as the nucleus of a new circuit, gave rise to belief that the Liberty in this city will be the local house under discussion in the chain. The Liberty now is operated by Jensen & Von Herberg, original franchise holders in First National, and has just been announced as the future home of all First National productions, effective next week. This comparatively new first run theatre, coupled with Jensen & Von Herberg's suburban and neighborhood houses, would give Franklin a strong foothold in this locality. To Open Houses Now Dark and Buy artd Build in Spots Not Overseated Maloy Critically III Chicago — While the crisis has been passed, the condition of Tom Maloy, of the operators and stagehands' union here, still is dangerous. He was stricken with pneumonia when returning from New York the first of the week. Harold B. Franklin does not intend to join any of the big circuits, but is going ahead with plans for a national circuit independent of producer-distributor affiliation. The former head of Fox West Coast, now in New York, made known his plans in a statement to Motion Picture News, emphasizing that he plans a chain, compact as to policies, but decentralized, so far as operation is concerned, local men to be used in order to keep the personal equation in theatres of the circuit. The company will buy and build theatres in all sections of the country where business considerations warrant. It will not lend itself to creating overseated situations and will seek houses outright, or the purchase of an interest in theatres large and small. Effort will be made in every instance to retain the local showman to operate. In addition to building and buying, the company also will offer an operating service to individual exhibitors, giving them the benefits developed by the national organization. Franklin says there are between 5.000 and 7,000 houses now dark and his organization will attempt to effect reopening of some of them. He will seek to work harmoniously with all distributors, he says. No set number of theatres has been determined upon, but a number of deals now are pending from Kansas City west. W.E. Plans $1,600 Small House Unit Launching an intensive drive for smalltown business. Electrical Research Products about January 1 will place on the market new reproducing equipment to sell for around $1,600, which will be available for houses up to 600 or 700 seats. Plans for launching the new equipment have been carried on secretly for some time. The company, it is said, realizes that if it is to get the business of the small towns it must gauge prices accordingly. A new photoelectric cell for standard equipments soon is to be marketed as an improvement. Whale's Next Set Hollywood — -"X Marks the Spot," an original, is to be James Whale's second picture for Tiffany. His first film was "Journev's End." A Wallop Hollywood — Carrying a punch approximating a sock in the jaw, Universale "Free Love" is a picture which should cause lots of talk — to the immense benefit of the box-office. It's a well directed and clever problem drama capably acted, w:th Conrad Nagel and Genevieve Tobin as the leads. GRANT Hot Off the Pan "Opinions on Pictures," a regular Motion Picture Mews feature, this week embraces reviews on eleven new feature releases and numerous shorts. Titles of the features which are reviewed, commencing on page 38, include: Are You There? Danger Lights (on wide film). Ex-Flame. Fast and Loose. Great Meadow. Men Without Law. Only Saps Work. Sin Takes a Holiday. Truth About Youth. Two Worlds. Wild Man of Kalihari. Double Feature Bills Stir Row In Windy City Chicago — Effort to curb double-featuring is being made by Aaron Saperstein, head of the Chicago Allied group, and Jack Miller of the M. P. T. O. unit. No agreement has been reached. The problem is acute locally, with houses under an expense not commensurate with receipts. Exchanges are squawking over low rentals and the loss of short-subject outlets. About 50 houses, including the circuits, are double-featuring here. "B. & K. is threatening double feature shows in selfdefense at all neighborhood houses. Miller is against the practice, but Saperstein has been unable to get unified decision from his organization and is unwilling to back cliques. No further meetings are scheduled. Robbers Continue to Patronize Chi. Theatres Chicago — The usual Sunday night theatre raids by local gunmen specialists produced $630 this week. The funds of the Illington and Marshall Square theatres had been picked up by a Brinks' armored car just prior to the bandits' advent at these houses. In consequence, they obtained only $10 at the Illington, which was taken from Tom Trant, manager, and $20 at the Marshall Square, taken from Emery Weber, cashier. Six men armed with a sawed-off shotgun and revolvers participated in these robberies. Later, four armed men waylaid George Madison, manager of the Crown Hippodrome Theatre, forcing him to return to the theatre and open the safe. Thev obtained $600. Almy With U. A. Cincinnati — Clifford E. Almy, former Warner manager at Cleveland, has been appointed sales manager of the local United Artist office.