Variety (March 1932)

AO VARIETY PICT E € B O S $ k: $ TuesdayV March 1, 1932 Stock Price Movements Nominal In One of DuDest Days of Year; Loew Bacb Away^ By AL GhEASON .Price movements of the amuse- inent shares oh the Stock Exchange backed and fliled: again yesterday (Monday) In.. meaningless manner dealings beiii^ cpnflned almost ex- clusively to professional floor ti'ad- ers. Turnover for the day wasiweli below 1,000,000, shares, one of the smallest seasioris of the year, Loew repealled its former top £it 32 early'In the day, but for the third tinie. backed, away froni that level, ending the session'at 31, once, more suens:estlng that there Is plenty of stock for sale at all levels above 31. Theatre bonds about held their own with trading confined to very few Issues and dealings in. these at a minimum.., . : . A; number of moderately . hctive entertainment stocks both oh the Big; Board dhd on; the Curb, didn't come out at all, but there.wais con- siderable activity, all on the down side, in General Theatres preferred; which eased oft on sales of ,6,000 shares to %, repeating, its previous low of early January, . The day . brought forth no hews either way, and the tendency throughout the industrial , list seemed to be to mark time until news from Washington furnishes Inspiration for a campaign on^ way or the other. • : Prices Static For a change picture stocks held relatively steady with, fractipnal gains' and losses evenly divided among" the active' Issues, while the general market lost ground defl-r nitely. Trading, however, was..; so quiet that sriiall movement took on no importance, except in the paiv ticular that any gains, however small, looked favorable in the face of a flock of dividend omissions or reductions, and other bad news. ■■ Probably the amusements were Irt - a position of :drastic deflation where only minor support was needed to put them in the plus cbl- ■amn,: especially. with Fox; Warner, RKO 'and Paramount selling at a price thfit offered small chances of ' profit to attract short sellers. Basic condition of the iridustry does hot inspire hope ^or an early upturn and for that reason bull sponsors probably know that any major run up of prices probably would meet opposition, both from liquidation of long stock and from speculative' short selling. Loew, the key to the film $tock situation, went through the week with a turnovel' of less than 15,000 shares,, smallest in many months, marking up a high at 32, which, represents a double top, and a low of 29,. range being only 3 points.. TjOcw's second retreat from 32 may be significant as suggesting that there is a good deal of stock for sale at that figure and it may requii-e a good deal of aggressiveness to push the issue through such an obstacle.. May well be that the stock's sponsors are merely holding their favorite steady for the time being, having in mind the uncertain state of trading, with dullness recognized as a waiting period foreshadowing a positive movement either way. If the bull drive, supposed to be In the making for the Presidential campaign, .develops the Issue might be taken In hand for an operation, but until there is some hint which way the cat will jifmp, the clique prefers to mark time. \ Picture business at the box; oiTlcc last week and the wreck before wa.s at" low ebb, and thei*e-Is small en- couragement for any - operation for an- advance based on developments within the tx'ade; that is to say, ph business conditions as distinguished from a technical market position. ^ In any event the' fact that the entertainment group held its own as against a loss: of nearly 4 points (Continued on page 25) : - LUDWIG-SKOURAS New Div. Mgr. to Head Publix- Skoupas Group in N. J., Pa., Va. Yesterday's Prices Sales.; 800 • 100 3,800 2,300 2,100 200 2,700 B30 22,100 . 300 11,400 800 1,700 CortB. P..... Ooris. F. pf.. Eastman K.. Fox .......... Gen. Th...., Keith p(...., Liocw ...'.... do p{. .(014) Par. Pub,.i. Pathe A..... RCA . nico ....... W. B... HlEh a% 10% soy, . 3% %■ 25 82 08 !<)% 4V4 0% a^A 8% •Net ,:I;dw..Last:CbEe, 10% . 10?4+ V*. -^8 ■ 78W. — % % - %■ 25 ■. 3m + % OS 0% +;.% 1) - % 314 +. %■ 816 %. 25 31 08 8%- . !>14 3H • CUKB ■ lOOiJe Forest... 1 11 0,000 Gen. Th. pf;. % 14 .14 , ■ ■ BONDS $8,600 Gen. Th.....'. ' 8% »14 314 ' l.OOOLbew ....... 88 88 88 12,O00Par. Pub,;.. 4014 4714 49ir+lli 1,000 W; B B's '30 82 82 32 STOCtPROMOTED CO. TO FILM SHORTS IN DET. Detroit,. Feb. 29. . * ■ . a1 hew outfit, Liberty Pictures, has opened up here with announced intentions of producing shorts. Adv. in ' the paperis for people, to act, then the applicants are solicited to .sell them voice training, dramatic training; etc. Outfit is under the direction of. Percy Knighton as director Efeneral. Outfit i& a stock promotion of .a nian named Murgl who has inter- ested a gi'oup of local Italians in the venture. Stock, money is deposited in escrow to prove the Intentions to produce a picture or more. Although the Better Busi- ness Bureau has investigated they haVe found nothing wrong. Fees start from $50. BUFFALO SLIDES DESPITE DIV. PASSING FOX WILL HOLD ROXY Although with tlie passing of the dividend due March 1 cohtrol of the Roxy wpuld be placed in the hands of. the Class A stockholders. It is probable Fox Film Corp. wiil con- tinue In operation oi the de luxer. It Is said a new contract will be ncgotlatied in all likelihood with Fox to'cover future operation of the theatre. . Present agreement on operation becomes automatically' abrogated through pas3lnp of the regular divi- dend on the Class, i". stock. Reputation Hurt, Avers Johnson, Suing Again Hollywood,. Feb. 29. Joseph Johnson, Sheehan exec locked off the Fox* lot by D.. E. Mclntire, has filed suit against Mc- Intire, E. R. Tinker, and Fox Film Cprp., for $200,000 reputation balm. JPhnson's previously filed suit against Fox for $49,600 breach of contract has been transferred to federal. Jurisdiction by Alfred Wright, Fox attorney, on grounds that Fox Is a foreign corporation. Johnson in his new. suit, charges Mclntire and . Tlnlcer with con- spiracy to wreck lils s'tahdlhg as an exec In the industry, and asks $100,000 for character damage and $100,000 exemplary damages. , , With no apparent bearing on his current, charges, Johnson's: com- plaint Includes a charge that Fox committed; an act of bankruptcy In preferring Buddy . DeSylva and others by settling' their contracts, while-ignoring his claim. L. J. Ludwlg, by reported ar rangenient betwe.-'n Publix and the Skouras Bros , will be In divisionaj operating . charge . of the Publix- Skouras ^rpup of theatres. Hie will make headquarters with the Sicou- rases in Xew 3fork and devote, all his time . to operating jurisdictioh of tHe" 23 P-S houses in New Jer- sey, P.ennsylvanla ahd Virginia-for flie Skdurrtses. Until recently Eudwlg was.Pub- lix's divisional director' at the hoiiie office for th^. entire middle and northwest. He rose to major operat- ing duties in Publlx from an audit- ing post. ^Creation' Again Holly wood, Feb. 29. Testing of players ha.s started at Radio for. tlie long-deiay§d' pre- historic animal story whichV had been called 'Creatloii,' Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong are in mind for parts. Picture will be modern, but with the. prehistoric stuff as a se- quence. Edgar Wallace wrote the story shortly before his death, Film has been on the list of possibilities since 1930 at Radio, studio spend- ing a lot of time experimenting with the machine operated animals .similar to., those in 'The Lost World* $2Q,000 for 'Lady'-^'Chaaters' $6,000 ,«t Century Buffalo, Feb. 29. /rakings are sliding oK currently, with ho excitement anywhere along the line. . Estimates for This Week Buffalo <Publlx) (3,600: 30-40-66) —'Lady With Past' (Pathe) and stage show; Should get $20,000 Last wieek 'Taxr (WB) and *(3irl Crazy' near $30,000. . Hipp (Publix) (2,400; 25-35-50) 'Plumber' (M-G). Probably good for around $12,000. Last week 'Way- ward' (Par) $14,t.l0. Great Lakes (Publix) (3^400; 26- 35^60)—'Shangh-^i Express* (Par) At $17,000 if pace is maintained liast -week 'Man Who Played . God' (WB) neat $14,500. Century (Publix) (3,400; 26^36)— 'Cheaters at Play'. (Fox). Off around $6,000, Last week 'Silent Witness' (Fox) $5,900. Lafayette (Ind) (3,400; 26)—'De- ceiver' (Col). Indicates about $7,500. Last week 'Run AroUnd' (Radio) and Blng Crosby short good for over $9,000. . NABES'FOREIGN nuns DISPLACE TWIN BILLS Foreign talker policies are threatr eninr to invade purely residential neighborhood sections around; New York in ah effort by Independent ex- iilbl£ors; to stehn present opposition and avoid film, shortage that's cramping operation. Several ex- hibs are reported considering the foreign talkers in upper Manhattan and the Bronx. It would take 'em out of doubie features for onie thing. Empress, at 181st street, Wash- Ingtoh Heights, has already moved out of third run pictures In favor of what's actually second run for- elgns for Greater New York and first riin in house's neljghborhood. Costello, Lee Ochs' house on Fort Washington avenue In lower Wash- ington Heights, recently started foreigns. Between the two, and a half dozen exhlbs In the Yorkville section oh the east side, it is be- lieved exhlbs further up on both the east and west sides, will be en- couraged to follow suiti Though limited In nunaber avail- able, exhib belief is reported that Xlddlsh talkers ih the Bronx and W\shlngtbn Heights. oUght to be a draw between German pictures booked. SEATTLE ORDINARY AS TRESnIX'CRABS $9;>00 ... Seattle, Feb; . 29. Auto shbw euttlng In some oii pictures this week.. 9eth Par^j^r fllin was pulled a.fter two days at the Coliseum, looking like- miser able $3,000. - Estimates fD.r TKia V/eek Fifth Ave. (Fox) (2,300; 35-60) 'Beast of City' (M-G). Maybe a slow $9,'000. Last Week 'Man I Killed (Par) no click at $8,000, new low, Orpheum (RKO) (2,700; 25-60) 'Prestige' (Pathe) and vaude. AbPut $9,600, fair. Last week 'Lady With Past' (Pathe), $11,200. :Blue Mouse (Hamrlck) (950-25> 'Cock of Air' (UA). Good at $2,700, Last week 'Unexpected Father' (U) did unexpected big biz, $3,500. Music Box (Hamrlck) (900; 25 50), 'Mah Who Played God' (WB) Big at $8,500. Last week second of 'Arrowsmith' (.UA); $5,500, Liberty (Jensen-von . Herberg) (2,000; 10-15-25). 'Holmes' Fatal Hour' (state rights). Near $6,000 good. Last week 'Pocatello Kid' (Tiff), $5,800. Paramount (Fox) (3,106; 25^35) 'Wayward'. (Par) and 'Silent. Wit ness- (Fox). Fair on $5,500. Last week 'Chance' (Pox) and 'Beau Hunks' (MrG),.$8;000. - MONTREAL SLOW Fair $11,000 for 'Man' and Cap's Tvyin Bill About Best Foreign Film's Rights Halts RKOV Booldflg RKO has: temporarily abandoned booking efforts on 'Sunshine Susie,' British musical bbught from Gains- borough, due to a claim oh the. pic- ture made by Capital Film Ex- change,, indie distributor. Test booking for Boston Thursday (3) holds, howevelf. Capital advised RKO that it owns a" rights to 'Prlvatsecretaerin,' Ger- man musical of virhlch 'Sunshine Susie' is an English version. Since the film was originally made by Greenbaum-Emelka, with the same actress, Renate Mueller, and the same songs and action as 'Sunshine Susie,' Capital says the version will be an infringement. Capital's con- tract with Greenbaum-Emelka Calls for 'all fights' to the picture. No" legal action. Farnol, After London, To Reorg. UA Coast Pub. Lynn Farnol, accompanied by Mrs. Farnol, sailed^ Friday' (26) on the Mauretania for London to su- pervise the. advance publlcity-ad- vertlslng- campaign on .'Arrowsrrilth' (UA.) which opens a run at Tivoli, London, April 4.' Immediately oh return to the States, Parnol will leave for iHplly- . wood to ore:anize a special press de- piartment for Goidwyn. . . Farnol Is expected back in the U. S. the second week In April, leaving London Immediately 'Ar- rowsmith' opens. •■ Gold\yyn picture goes into the Tlvbli on straight percentage, set- ting something of a precedent for American-distributed product. CHEVAIIER MAYBE AT'$2 Chevalier, picture, 'One Hour With You,' may go into the now darkened Criterion, New, YorJr, for a $2 run. , One group in Paramount Publix is leaning toward a two^a-day r-un, after seeing the first print east, while another wants to place pic- ture into Rivoll and Rlaito for day- and-date pop runs as at first planned^ Monti'eal, Feb. 29. Fourth week of: Lent with heavy sport schedules isn't going to beany too good for the= film houses. Nabes are doing poorly. . Estimates for This Week His Majesty's (CT) (1,900; 60- $1.50). Legit, Dark this weelt. Last week All-British vaudeville show possibly got $7,600. Palace (FP) (2,700; 76), 'Man Who Played G6d' (WB). George Arliss will , attract the literati and doubtful of more than-fair $11,000 Last week 'Lovers Courageous' (M- G) had a poor reception; couldn't get above $10,000. Capitol ,(PP) (2,700; 60), 'Busi- ness and Pleasure' (F6x) and 'Silent Witness' (Fox)i Nothing special, but maybe $11,000. Last week 'Dance Team* (Fox) and 'Chan's Chance'. (Fox) an unexpected hit, $12,000. Loew's (FP) (3,200; 35-60), 'False Madonna' (Col) and vaiide. Liable to hold up at $13,600. Last week 'High, Pressure' (WB) $14,000, very good for time of year. Princess (CT) (1,600; 35-60), 'Men of Chance' (Radio) and 'Ladies of Jury' (Radio). May do fair $8,000. Last week all-British bill of 'Sher- lock Holmes' and 'Chance of Night Time' failed to get much above $7,000. Imperial (FP) (1,900; 25-40), 'Woman from Monte Carlo' (FN) and -Big Shot' (Pathe). Nothing out of the ordinary here, $2,800. Last week 'Left Over Ladies' (Tiff) and 'Branded Men' (Tiff) dropped to $2,300. Cinema de Paris (Ind) (600; 25- 60), 'Ma Couslhe Gaby' (French). Possible $1,800. Last week "A Nous La Liberte' (French) about $1,600. W. F. Canavan's Duties With Publix Defined Contrary to earlier reports, Wil- liam F. Canavan, former president of the I. A. T. S. E. (stage hands- operators), will be Importantly con- cerned in his new Publlx connectlon with labor ntiatters. They "will be of a general scope, it is said, and In no way interfere with the status of Harry Sherman. Latter, under title of director of special relations. Is in charge of general labor nego- tiations, contracts, etc./ for the chain. Canavan will act as contact be- tween Sam Denibow, Jr., and Sher- man Pn all labor questions coming up, it is indicated. Since up to now Dembow h.as been Sherman's Im- mediate superio. bh union matters, it Is pre-Siimec Canavan will be di- rectly over Sherman for.DembPw. Latter, recently placed . in dual operating ch?irge of Publlx with John Balaban, considerably increas- ing his duties, has been chairman of the committee representing all major chains excepting Fox in an- nual and other union negotlatipns. Canavan will take most all ^f this detail off Dembow's shoulders, it is presumed. . . While Sliei-man wa.s given a new contract recently extending to July, 1933,, it Is reported Canavan Joined Publlx withou; one. His salary Is not mentioned. Following recent visit in St. Louis, CanaVan stepped into his Publlx chair Thursday (25), taking the office foi'merly occupied by Jack Barry, head of. the personnel de- partment, which has been discon- tinucd. ■ COLUMBUS BRISK FIGHT 'Polly' at $16,000—'Exoress' $12.onft and.'Morgue' $7^0 \ Columbus, Fob, 29, A good fight this week with three theatres battling. Ohio, Palace and Broad are the combatants; Last Aveek: Grand did Its best jn two, years with 'Man Who Played God' and held pvei; for first time m two'years; 'Freaks,' at Broad, waa pulled after six bad days, being sup. ^Planted by 'Shanghai Express* Broad ,rioW. opens Fridays instead of Saturdays. Estimates for This Week Palace . (RKO). (3,074; 26-50) 'Rue Morgue' (U). Should hit $7:206 Last week 'Lady With Past' (Pathe) only. $6,300. : OhiP (Lbew-UA) (3,0()0; 25-50) 'Polly of Circus' (M-G). Joe Cook heading vnit, looks gCod for hearty $16,000. Last we 'Beast of City' (M-G) and Jean Harlow on stage lopped'em for $20^40(>. _^^ Broad (LoewrUAV i«)500; 35-50) 'Shanghai Express' (Fat). Should hit very good "$12,000: Last week 'Freaks' (M-G) dropped off to noth- ing, $5,900 on six days. Grand (Neth) (1,100; 16-35) 'Man Who Played God' (WB). First holdover in two years; "should get fair enough , $3,500 second - week. First week wa.j $7,200. Majestic : (RKO) (1,100; 15-25) Ladles of Jur ' (Radio). Just aver- age $2,400. Last week 'Panama Flo' (Futhe) $2,500. TRADE ALL RIGHT IN K. C.-TOUY' $17,000 Kansas city, Feb. 29, No trouble to find amusement at the picture houses this week. All are offering strong bills and early openings indicate better reports. Estimates for This Week Loew's Midland (4;000; 25-50)-. Polly of Circus' (MrG). Liked and expects close to $17,000. pretty good. Last week "Freaks' (M-G) new low, $8,000. Mainstreet (3.200;. 25-35-50-60)^ Ladies of Jury' (Radio) and vaude. Nearly all space allotted to Nick Lucas,'in person; ^oke for $18,000." Last week 'Lady With Past' (Pathe) $18,000. Newman (1.890; 25-35-50)—'Man Who Played God* (WB), Around weak $9,000. Last week 'Shanghai Express* (Par) reported $15,000, best, for months; picture sent to next door Liberty for second. week. Liberty (1,000;. 25-36)—'Shanghai : Express' (Par). Probably hear : !5.500. Last week 'No One Man* (Par), $4,600, Pantages (2.200; 20-35)—'Murder at Midnight' (Tiff). Only shadowy hand thriller on street this week; may lure for $5v000. Last week Smart Woman' did $4,800. Apollo (1,200; 35)—'Bottom of World' and 'Last Company.' With these two first runs on double bill should do $1,400, medium. Last week 'Merry Wives of Vienna,' $!,• 200, weak. RKO THINKS 'KILLED' TITLE IS BEHER B. 0. RKO does not believe the sub- stituted title of 'Broken Lullaby* for Paramount's 'Man I Killed' is good box office. Accordingly, When the circuit plays the picture Mar. 12 In all "^ti" houses under the Par franchise. It will exhibit It under the original title. Especially for the Greater N' T. houses. It is said RKO is of the bplnlon the strength of the Crite- rion opening and portion of run under .'Man I Killed' title is of con-. siderable benefit In itself.: Ihi Valentino Club Gets Closer in Mindlin Chase Chicago, Feb. 29. After months of lltlgalion ; and investigation the Chicago Valrii- tino . Memorial Club has had ^Ill^e Mindlin, New York . sure-so.'itor operator, .arl-ested on a warrant I'or misappropriating- funds froni tlte club. According to Information here Mindlin is being held in New V'U'k in $2,000 bonds. Named as the rom- plalnant is Adeline Linnell. secre- tary of the club, w:hlch entered into deal 'With Mindlin some time .iffo whereby the latter agreed to ons n theatre..here and .exhibit rt'vlv..ils of Rudolph Valentino's ploturfs. Club alleges. tliat 'Mln.dlin. C|'l-' lected $2,600 for that puriK^.xp, Vuit went back to New York and frtrj-V't about the whole thlnp