Variety (Jan 1933)

Tr.rr;ay, Jonuary 31, 1933 PI eraRES VARIETY 23 Radio City Not in RKO Tangle Independently Operated Corps, by RKO- Hope of Aid Didn't Arrive Radio City, according to offlclal statements, Is not affected by the KKO receivership. This may Indi- cate that ihe powers behind the- project have formed some plan for the protection of R. C. In the first three weeks of R. C. operation, the two theatres at Rockefeller Crntre popped a deficit of around $"0C,000. That's divided between an estimated $486,000 on opening costs and around $186,000 In operating deficit. Latter amount was engendered entirely by the Mu- sic Hall, so far as figures show. There are Indications that much of this deficit may be borne by RockefUler Centre Itself, while part may biBiSspread over a year's period on the two theatres. Just how much Radio City played directly or Indirectly In Impelling the RKO executives either to hurry or to postpone receivership may never be told. That R. C. did play an important part one way or both under conditions is to be believed. Vain Hope It'fi known that until the open- ing of R. C. and despite certain In- side talk In RKO and the trade generally about receivership, the hope was entertained that R. C. would aid RKO financially through; Its grosses, but If It didn't there, still was RCA (SarnofTs company). Radio City was as much an RCA project as RKO's. The Rockefeller Centre was developed and under- taken for completion while David Sarnotr, president of RCA,'also was and contlnucB to remain chairman of the RKO board. It Is said that even financial pro- - tectlon from RCA could be limited under conditions tor RKO. It Is also said that RCA began to turn Its palm away from RKO when that memorable Wednesday morning af-v ter the opening, around five weeks ago laid the Music Hall low as an opening $2.60 flop. Since then there has been a re- versal In scale and business at the Music Hall. Exploitation (Continued from page 17) a matt where the letters are darker. A glossy black letter on a glossy white ground Is apt to be hard on the eyes, but a dull black will stand out against the gloss white surface. Where the ground Is the darker the gloss letter seems to stand out bet- ter under most lights and apparent- ly requires the aid of enamel to come through the larger mass of dark color. Figuring close, but It Is just these small points which amount to a lot In the long run. Hustles 'Em In Wanting to emphasize the change In prices at six o'clock, a theatre has Installed a light over the box ofllce and another on the marquee, the latter a 200-watt bulb. Both are dipped In red. So long as the light burns the afternoon price pre- vails, and the evening scale goes on immediately as the light goes out. Not only save time changing ad- mission price signs, but the lamp on the marquee hustles them. Fifteen minutes before the changeover the lamp Is switched to a blinker but- ton, and the fiash warns the lag- gard to hurry up. Lamp Is getting to be a gag, and the house figures that It really helps business, since many go to the show before supper who might stay home if they waited until after the meal It's an Idea Phoenix. Wayne Dallard, Fox manager, wanted to let the town know that Fanchon & Marco Big Beauty shows were returning to Phoenix. He had all fiag pole holes in side- walks plugged with standards on which were nailed placards herald- ing the return of the bigger shows. Everything went slick until some- one started to holler to the City Fathers, who finally reached the conclusion that city ordinance pro- hibited use of the holes for any standards except for flags. Dallard protected by letter of au- thorization from recently appointed chief of police. His standards re- mained Intact until permission re- voked later in the day. Estimated 200 placards used. Next day 5,200 ticket buyers saw his show. Extra Work Gams ^Hollywood, Jan. 30. Extra work for the past week went up 153 placenrients over the week previous, to a total of 4,803, considered good at this point in the production year. Top day of the week was (26) when 1,215 people worked.. Row- land Lee, making 'Zoo At Buda- pest,' Paramount-Schulberg pro- duction, was the heaviest user of extras during the week. ARTHUR HOLDS AS POU HEAD, DEFAULT OR NOT New Haven, Jan. 27. Whether the Poll people agree currently to Harry Arthur's terms or not. It Is pretty certain that the Interest due Feb. 1 from Fox New England theatres on the Poll bonds will not be paid. This Interest, amounting to' ^round $360,000, Is due from Arthur Theatres Corp. to Fox •New England, from whom the for- mer company leases the Poll houses. Regardless,, however, Harry Ar- thur, looks set as the operating head of the circuit for several months If the Poll peoplb decide to fore- close on the circuit for non-payment of the bond Interest, It may take several months to effect such b fore closure. Arthur's stay-on under these conditions is voluntary until the Poll people either pick his sue cesser or come to new terms with Arthur himself. His resignation as head of the outfit takes effect Wed nesday (1). There will be further confabs lo cally between the Poll people and banking reps with Arthur, with the bankers In New Yoric known to be desirous of - contlmiing Arthur In the circuit. It Is unlikely that Poll will take btick the circuit and operate the houses hlmse|lf, as his advancing years and lack of up-to-date con tact with the operation makes him disinclined to assume the task. Belgian Taxes Soar Brussels, Jan. 16. From February i Belgrlan govern ment tax on cinema seats between 14^ cents and 23 cents will be In- creased by 20% and over 23 .cents by 30%. Tax on dance hall receipts is to be augmented by 20%, and tax on refreshments In both cinemas and dance halls by 20%. This is part of the government's scheme to raise $67,142,850 required to balance the 1933 budget. BONDHOLDERS' SUITS On« Last Weak Agaiiwt Par Others Soma Tim* Ago Sues KBS for $14,500 Hollywood, Jan. 30. As a result of an auto accident near VlctorvUle several months ago, Phil Rosen has filed suit for $14,- 600 damages against Irving Starr, who was his supervisor at the time, and KBS Productions. Starr was driving the car, which belonged to the studio at the time of the acci- dent. Rosen says he was laid up and deprived of work at the rate of $750 a week. Pinched for a Standout 'Winnipeg, Can. M. Ooodni.'in of the Gaiety tied up on •I'r.v.prrlty" wltli Hud.son's Bay dept. stoie for a gigantic window Jacobs' Commish Suit Jenle Jacobs is out to collect $1,200, or 10% of a $12,000 contract for one year she negotiated with RKO for Eric Linden. The agent, through Julius Kendr ler, is suing on the coast. display showing the dawn of pros- perity In figures and scenic effects, all of which gave plenty of publicity to Marie Dressler's pic. Through this Mike Goodman got free street car cards furnished by the store; and plenty of attention. Anyway, he was pinched by police for block- ing up the sidewalk traffic on Port- age ave. with the crowds waiting to get in to 'Prosperity.' Another aft- ernoon and evening Mike totaled 3,000 dishes he gave away for the one day. Answer to the application of three bondholders, Reuben Oelford, l. Rlseman and M. Tellou, for a peti- tion In bankruptcy against Para- mount Publlx, filed Thursday (26), will be a general dental that the corporation is not solvent Is ex- pected to be made. Petitioners asked that bankruptcy be granted because on Dec. 10 Par- amount turned the Comerford group of theatres back to M. E. Comer- ford under a deal which made Com- erford a preferred creditor. What actually occurred in the Comerford deal was the setting up of a Pub- lix-Comerford partnership with Comerford having full operating powers, similarly to Kincey & Wll- by, E. V. Richards, others. The law firm of Cravath, De- Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood prior to Jan. 20 obtained an extension of 20 days in which to file answer against the suit brought Dec. 30 by another bondholder, L. H. Harris, who asked removal of Chase Na- tional Bank as trustee through Its permission to Par to pay a cash dividend on common stock June 28, 1930. This suit also alleged Par had lost $10,000,000 In buying stock of sub- isldlarles. Previously three suits by bond- holders generally attempting to set aside the deal of last spring by which Paramount placed film,nega- tives, as security for a |13i600,000 loan, alleging this violated bond in- denture, were disposed of. What's Left of Pathe RKO Paid $5,000,000 for Producing Com- pany and Stars Jofius Singer at Liberty Julius Singer, one of the pioneers of the 16 millimeter field, has sev- ered all connections with home film. Including his Job with Universal, and his post as president of the 16MM Film Board of Trade. Singer started the Stay-at-Home department at Universal over 10 years ago. Declaring he hasn't retired, Singer states he's working on 'something r.ew'. RECEIVERS WILL LOOK INTO SERVICE CHARGE Par Recehrership Major distributors look to be af- fected under film deals with Pub- llx houses under the t>arent com- pany and various subsidiary part- nerships. Over and above collections which during the past year have been delayed In various instances, question arises as to, what read- justments will bd forced under deals written so far this year or under long-term franchises. It Is believed certain that the United Artists franchise, having several years to go, will be a point of major attack. This franchise, on the point system with rental fixed in accordance with situation and negative costs, has been one of Pub- Ilx's sore spots in Its deallngrs with UA. Another long-term franchise is held by Metro, whose product has had Its largest customer In the Pub- llx chain. Warner Bros.-First Na- tional up to last spring held long- term franchises In most of the Pub- llx key situations, but at the re- quest of Warners they were can- celled and this year a deal was written on a '32-'33 basis only at terms which it was stated by WB were more satisfactory than under 'outdated franchises.' Readjustments Presumably all film buys, whether seasonal or under franchises, will face eventual readjustment under the P-P receivership, over and above certain adjustments that have been made since theatre receipts started to fall off. The UA franchise is reported cer- tain to come up In the Saenger re- ceivership matter with H. V. Rich- ards as receiver-operator over that southern chain. An Instance which may be typi- cal of many Is cited In connection with the Intensive rental require- ments from Paramount under the UA franchise. It concerns a house which played 'Rain' and out of $1,000 gross on engagement, under the point system had to pay UA a rental of $700. Col Drops Brand Title Hollywood, Jan. 30. Columbia is dropping the trade name of 'Action Pictures' for Its minor dramatic features. Hereafter, they'll be known by the title of 'The Columbians.' First under the new tag Is 'Full Speed Ahead,' a railroad yarn by Horace McCoy and AI Jackson. Lou Sarecky supervises. With one stroke of his pen, when he signed for the appointment of receivers for Paramdunt-Publlx and for RKO Federal Judge William Bondy, without apparent knowledge, oosened the clutch of the electrics on the film biz. The receivership thing for these two film firms un- doubtedly is calculated to lead the way for the rest of the companies to throw off the equipment service charge and other phases of elec- trolysis. DeForest (General Talking Pic- tures) outlawed the service charge more than a year ago. More re- cently RCA followed suit, but ERPI alonQ of this Pig Three persists In clinging to it. The Inroad of re- ceivership has ERPI in a fix that way. That's because of the Fed- eral suits pending against it on the grounds that the service charge Is Illegal. That the receivers for both Para- mount and RKO will disaffirm that service charge thing on equipment contracts is reported fairly certain. It's known that RKO hasn't paid any such service charges for some time, even before receivership al- though ERPI protested. All of which tends to indicate that receivership Is to bear In a most important way on every phase of the Industry. It's not altogether on realty. Another hdie at Garden Another Independent picture has been bought by Harry Charnas for the Winter Garden, New TorH, un- der a policy which will enable War- ners to sell to other houses any surplus product after the Strapd Is taken care of. Newest Indle book- ing Is 'Strange People' (Chester- field). Others are being sought. 'Strange People' will come in Feb. 10 unless 'Follow the Leader', the Ed Wynn revival, opening Wednes- day (3) is held over. Bloch Back in N. Y. Bert Bloch returns to New York next week to resume his post as story editor for Metro. Bloch was on the story treatment of 'Awakening* on the Afetro lot un- til Irving Thalberg's Illness, when Mayer told him to lay off, with that film shelved until Thalberg's return to activity. Bloch had given up the story editor post to take a writing assignment, but the previ- ous post not being as yet filled, he returns to It. Carewe's Musical Shorts Uollywood, Jan. 30. Edwin Carewe Is figuring on mak- ing a series of musical shorts. He hopes to get under way with them at Metropolitan after he com- pletes his World Wide feature, 'Tarnished Touth.' WB Borrows Darro Hollywood, Jan. 30. Mascot, which has Frankle Darro under contract, has loaned him to Warners for 'Mayor of Hell.' Picture formerly was 'Reform School.' Minor Watson Switched Hollywood, Jan. 30. Minor Watson, brought here by Radio for 'Our Betters,' will not go into that production. Instead he will go into Para- mount's 'Bedtime Story.' It is one of the curious angles of the RKO receivership that in di- rect influences for the action, the two most prominent should be Or- pheum and the Pathe Exchange. RKO's failure to meet part pay- ment of Its purchase price of Pathe Is the basis of the suit that got the consent receivership. In measure, the RKO acquisition of Pathe, purchase of which was to have been made out of future earnings, sizes from a practical standpoint with RKO's partnership In Orpheum. Latter was acquired without exchange of cash also. It was a stock deal coming from and with Kelth-Albee-Orpheum, but later separated Geometrically it might mean that nothing bought for nothing leaves nothing. ■RKO's aim to acquire Pathe was Impelled by a feared shortage of product due to Paramount's selling away from RKO or maybe. After RKO bought Pathe for $5,000,000, It found the Par product was avail- able anyway. The best that's left of Pathe, so far as RKO's outward possession shows, is Pathe News. This, through manpower has developed as a lieader In the biz under the direc- tion of Courtland Smith and Jack Connolly, general manager and edi- tor, respectively. Both formerly were with Fox. Neither the RKO theatre department nor the studio has. anything to do with the news- reel or Its handling. High expectations which were held out for such names as Ijlelen Twelvetrees, Ann Harding, and Constance Bennett, handed over to RKO by Pathe. at no little salary rates, with contracts still outstand- lng> have not been realized under the RKO studio handling. The the- atre b.o. tells that story. Pathe also had BUI Boyd and be was com- ing along as a femme attractor when he began to lapse under the RKO studio manhandling. Goetz Finishing at Fox Hollywood, Jan. 30. William Ooetz leaves the Fox lot March 16 when his contract Is up, after three years. He had been a supervisor until recently entering the reading de- partment. Likely he will go to Metro. JOLSON—5 YRS. AFTER Again in Film, on B'way Feb. 4— 'Jazz Singer' in '28 Exactly five years between Jol- son's first picture opening In New York and at the Winter Garden his latest. 'Jazz Singer' was shown on Feb. 4, 1928, and 'Hallelujah, I'm a Bum' will open on Feb. 4, 1933, at the Rlvoll. According to United Artists, the thing goes even further, because at that time, five years ago Jolson In- augurated a new form of entertain- ment in talking and singing fea- tures. He> Is now In new style of film, which It Is claimed will change musicals. 'Hallelujah' as called made In 'rhythmic dialogue, about 85% of the picture being In lyrics and song, made to fit Into the story de- velopment.' RCA Transfers Porter Hollywood, Jan. 30. G. Harold Porter, RCA represent- ative In San Francisco, takes charge of the Hollywood plant of RCA Vic- tor Co. this week. G. H. Hall, manager, has been op- erating the plant. Lewin to Europe Hollywood, Jan. 30. ,A1 LewIn, Metro producer, left here last night (29) for an eight weeks' trip to Europe In search of story material. He will visit London, Paris, Vien- na arid Budapest. Billy Snyder in Pix Hollywood, Jan. 30. After knocking about Hollywood for years, Billy Snyder, vaude m.c. and singer, got his first picture part In Warner.s' 'Elmer the Great.* i<n,v(ler also warbles weekly over KI'WC un the 'Navy Oil' program.