Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

N ove m ber 2" . 1 9 30 M o t i o ii Pic tu r e N 31 Montreal Tax Shows Business At B. O. Is Good Montreal — Business in Montreal, Canada's largest city, keeps up to the mark, judging by the amusement tax returns locally for the past fiscal year. The total ticket tax paid at Montreal theatres was $1,058,519 for the past 12 months, of which one-half, $529,894. is retained by the city for local hospitals and orphanages. One year ago the amusement tax total was just over the million mark so that the current returns are practically equal to the previous mark. The city also made a neat sum in the taxation of theatres which are 65 in number in the city area proper. The seat tax collected from these houses totaled $56,246, an average of $867 per theatre for the 12 months. The highest tax is $1.06 per seat which is paid by one house having a capacity of 1,144. Forty-eight dance halls paid a total tax of $9,750. Denies "High Treason" Is Tinged with Soviet Slant London — "High Treason" was made by Gaumont with no political affiliations involved, W. J. Gell, managing director of the producing company, advises Motion Picture News in refuting statements credited in a Portland, Ore., dispatch to M. R. Bacon that the picture was charged with Soviet propaganda. Gell says: "If the picture portrayed anything realistic at all, it was the futility of war, but it was produced exclusively by this company and at their expense and the subject was chosen because it was unique, interesting and entertaining and for no other motive whatsoever. Fox Denver House Opens Denver — The Mayan (Fox), a 1,200seat house, has been opened. The Mayan idea was used in architecture and decoration. Dave Davidson, former manager of the Fox houses in Durango, Colo., is the manager, and Stanley Del Mar, formerly organist at the Criterion and Pantages, San Francisco, is organist. The house is a neighborhood and is located on the site of the old Queen, damaged by fire the first of the year. Actor-Exhibitor Dead Urbana, O. — William Clifford Shyrigh, 61, known professionally as Billy ("Single") Clifford, died suddenly at his home here. Since retiring from the stage as a vaudeville and musical comedy player two years ago, Shyrigh operated the Clifford here. Another Serial on Broadway With "The Spell of the Circus" going into the Cohan, Universal will have two talker serials on Broadway. "The Indians Are Coming," first chapter play ever offered at the house, is current at the Roxy. Declare 48th Dividend Dividend of $1 per share on the common is to be paid Dec. 27 by Paramount Publix. This is the forty-eighth consecutive cash dividend paid on the common. How to Crash Studios The way to get into the movies, says Margaret Stuart in Photoplay Magazine, is to be a relative of a producer, to be discovered by a director, to be a great foreign actress, a stage or operatic star, or an extra girl with a winning smile. Or, if that is impossible, it is well to be a football hero, a property boy, a caustic critic of the movies, a cigarette girl at a Hollywood hotel or a small time actor who looks like a gangster. Aviators (male or female), baseball heroes, golf champions and prize fighters need not apply. They only last a few months. Vermont to Test Constitutionality Of Its Sunday Law Albany — Vermont's Supreme Court is to determine the constitutionality of the state's Sunday amusement law, under which the state's attorney has been attempting to curb the operation of picture theatres and miniature golf courses. This decision was reached when it was decided to send the case involving I. W. McKay, manager of two theatres in Rutland, Vt., direct to the Supreme Court without jury trial in a lower court. Some time ago, McKay was arrested for operating his house on Sundays. He determined to make a fight and as a direct result the matter is now being carried to the Supreme Court. Operators of miniature golf courses in Rutland had also been arrested for keeping their places open on Sunday. Two of these were fined and have ceased to operate. Comerford-Publix Slip In Legit Shows at Scranton Scranton — Theatre-goers, after a lapse of almost three years, have just received their first taste of a legit production at the 1,900 seating capacity theatre in the city's new £2,000,000 Masonic Temple. A road company of George White's "Flying High" played before approximately 1,000 people at matinee, and a capacity house at night. A "flesh" orchestra clicked with Scrantonians. who have been living on mechanical music. This was the first of a series of legit attractions Comerford-Paramount-Publix will run in the heart of the anthracite coal fields at from $1 to $3 a seat. "Damaged Love" Ready Soon "Damaged Love," the Irvin Willat production based on the play by Thomas Broadhurst, will be released by Sono Art-World Wide in December. The story was adapted by Fred and Fanny Hatton. June Collver is starred, with Charles Starrett, Betty Garde, Heloise Taylor and Charles Purcell in support. Gleichman Has Pneumonia Cleveland — Word has been received here that Phil Gleichman, general manager of Warner theatres in this territory, was stricken with pneumonia while in Pittsburgh. 'Doorway to Hell' Gets $9,000 and 2nd Seattle Week Seattle — During a week of business below normal at most of the local theatres, "Playboy of Paris" and "Remote Control" were the topnotch attractions. The Chevalier vehicle played at the Paramount and did about $13,000. Again the program was padded to overflowing with shorts of every style and description, which had most of the audience squirming in their seats awaiting the feature. "Remote Control" and a Fanchon & Marco revue featuring "Miss Universe" plaved at the Fox Fifth Avenue to a gross of about $14,500. The Fox played a Paramount release, "The Virtuous Sin," which failed to make much of an impression. Business was about $10,000. John Hamrick's Blue Mouse took about $7,000 with "The Lottery Bride" and the Music Box around $9,000 with "The Doorway to Hell," which is being held for a second week. Fox's Coliseum was closed for renovating, and will open this week under a second run policy. Lillian Albertson's stage production of "New Moon" played the week at the Moore Theatre to very strong business at $2.50 top, and the Bainbridge Stock Company closed its run at the Metropolitan Theatre with ''Craig's Wife," which was well received. Estimated takings: "THE LOTTERY BRIDE" (Warners) BLUE MOUSE — (950), 25c.35c-50c-75c, 7 days. Added attractions: Vitaphone Varieties, news. Gross: "THE VIRTUOUS SIN" (Para.) FOX— (2,450), 25c-35c-50c-60c-7Sc. 7 days. Added attractions: "Dollar Dizzy" (Educational), news, band. Gross: $10000. "REMOTE CONTROL" (M-G-M) FOX FIFTH AVENUE— (2,750). 25c-35c-50c-60c-75c, 7 days. Added attractions: Xews, Fanchon & Marco's "American Beauty" Idea. Gross: $14,500. "DOORWAY TO HELL" (Warners) MUSIC BOX— (950), 25c-35c-50c-75c. 7 days. Added attractions: "Leather Pushers" (Univ.), news, band. Gross: $9,000. "PLAYBOY OF PARIS" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,150). 25c-35c-50c, 7 davs. Added attractions: "While the Captain Waits" (Para.), "You're in the Army Now" (Para.), Paramount Pictorial, Bouncing Ball (Para.), news. Gross: $13,000. Goldstein, Columbia "Rep" In LatinAmerican Field Louis Goldstein, for years sales representative for American distributors in Latin America, has taken over that territory for Columbia, with headquarters in Mexico City. He resigned from M-G-M, which he had been representing in Havana, to take over the post with Columbia. Big 4 Cast Complete Cast for Big 4's next talking Western has been completed, and as soon as script work is finished the picture will go into production. Wally Wales is the star and opposite him will appear Virginia Browne Faire. In support will appear Walter Miller, Franklyn Farnum, Fredric MacKay, Frank Lackteen, Bobbie Dunn, Vivian Rich and Jack Phipps. Alvin J. Neitz will direct. "U" Signs Stage Player Universal has signed Bette Davis, Broadway stage player.