Variety (Sep 1933)

Tuesday, September 5, 1933 P I CT ES 57 Strong Dual Stand (Continued from page 7) created for the purpose > f grossing more money to some and putting others out of business. 'That was not answered.' Necessary Faced with the tentative codes ■w.iich show - that, the exhibitors' committee not only favored dual re- striction but its elimination if 60% of the owners in a zone approve it, Indie spokesmen are prepared to flash wires from theatre owners claiming doubles are necessary for the survival of their boxofflce. They are also going to ask the govern- ment what will become of the other 40%, and if the NRA would relegate them to the forgotten class. All during August the indie mak- ers have been canvassing the coun- try and replies have been coming in. As the final touch to the evi- dence gathering campaign, conduct- ed through Federation of the M.P. Industry, Inc., channels. Monogram, because of Golden's capacity as com- mitteemen representing that branch, sent out an SOS on August 23. Just 10,000 copies were mailed to even lithographers, printers, raw stock companies, film laboratories, acces- sory corporations, theatre supply companies, motion picture operators' union, cameramen, directors, actors, writers, electricians, property men, carpenters, stagehands, tradepapers, engravers, Indle producers and dis- trlbs. Each of the recipients is asked to state the stand of his com- pany or "^individual status 'by the elimination of approximately 250 features produced in the United States.' The Indle producers are estimat- ing that at least 50% of all produc- tion used in the film theatre comes from sources other than those just provided by shorts, newsreel and a single feature. Why, then, they are asking, did not the codes restrict vaudeville and stage shows In pic- ture houses, as well as the second feature. The indle makers also refuse to be satisfied with reported polls of exhib organization leaders. They point to their own replies from the- atre owners which have datelines from all over the country, Including cities as well as small towns. P. J. Wood Converted Only exhibitor organization so far observed as favoring duals in the Indle collection, most of which is EMERY I DEUTSCH iff 'The Gypsey Violinist' Featured Soloist and Conductor PARAMOUNT New York Direction CBS Artists' Bureau PARK-IN THEATRES 'incorporated S\J IN YOUR CAR iffANOUEARTUt MOVIES U. S. Patent 1.909,357 Foreign Patents Pending 830 N. 7th St.. Camden, N. J. JAN RUBINI AND HIS ORCHESTRA ...Packing the house with original overtures... WARFIELD THEATRE SAN FRANCISCO INDEFINITELY M. H. SINGER'S 7TH composed of individual owner com- ments, Is from the MP Theatre Owners of Ohio. It's business man- ager, P. J. Wood, telling of elabo- rate stage shows In Columbus and Cleveland, writes: 'Until a short time ago I was bit- terly against double feature pro- grams, but since circuit theatres es- tablished this policy In the above- mentioned situations, I have been converted to think In the direction outlined In your statement to your sales force! Among typical wires, quoted In whole or in part, is one from J. J. Alterman, the Savoy, Jamaica, L.I., observing: 'Were we compelled to discontinue the double feature pol- icy we adopted two years ago our theatre could not remain open, for the reason that all suitable feature pictures are sold by releasing com- panies to either Loew, Skouras or Century theatre circuits In our zones. Prior to our adopting the policy under which we operate at the present time, we endeavored to adhere to single feature policy, showing pictures rejected by the aforementioned first runs In our zone, but found It Impossible to carry on. Largest theatre in the U.S. to take up the indie cudgels, the Fox, San Francisco, with 4,000 seats, re- corded: 'Please be advised we are unalterably opposed to any restric- tions in our contract precluding the playing of any producers' pictures on a double bill feature bill. NRA code has advanced our cost of oper- ation very considerably and if we are to remain in business all policy pertaining to our operation must be discretionary with us.' Peerless theatre, St. l>ouls, is also in the indle file with this brief: 'Unalterably opposed to elimina- tion of double features. If this fea- ture of independent theatre opera- tion is restricted It will cause un- told damage and hardship and re- sult In forcing the small exhibitor out of business. 'I have a small neighborhood the- atre and am the last theatre In my zone to secure pictures. The big chain theatres have a lower price of admission up to 2 p.m. daily than my theatre has, which is open only from 7 to 11 p.m., while these chain theatres, and there'are six In this city, show the following: An extra big feature, newsreel, novelty reel, two-reel comedy and a big stage show, which Is to my way of thlik- ing a double attraction. 'The chain theatres have the choice of selecting the heart of every program, while I, a small ex- hibitor, mu3t purchase entire gr6up from film company. 'Now if double programs are elim- inated, we, the small exhibitors, could not fill in from Independent film companies a good feature to counteract the poor feature we had to purchase in a block.' Can't Live Another angle is touched upon by Lou Rovner, who wired: 'Under no circumstances can we as independ- ent exhibitors live If the pirlvilege of double featuring 'is taken away from us. Our competitors have the pick of shows an^ have beautiful houses. Do not permit them to put that over.' The Princess theatre couches the same thought in different language with the addition: 'It is oiir only salvation In competing with the large deluxe chain theatres with their deluxe stage Shows and long prior runs and protection on pic- tures.' 'Any restriction on double fea- tures will drive me from business,' wired the Garden. Chicago. The Kearney theatre, Frisco, through Charles Michael, recorded any effort ct anti-dualism as a 'vi- cious measure,' and one that would cause 'untold. suffering in the inde- pendent field.' Commenting that double features are keeping the Globe and Stuart theatres, Boston, alive. B, Eteln Takes Brandeis Theatre On 10-Yr. Lease as Circuit's 7th Spot Chicago, Sept. 4. Last week brought the addition of one more theatre to the Mort Singer circuit through the midwest, the Brandeis, Omaha, going on his list under a 10-year lease. House will be remodeled and re- seated, to open about Oct. 1. With the Brandeis the Singer group becomes seven^ the others being In New Orleans, Minneapolis, Sioux City, Davenport, Cedar Rap- id^ and Dubuque. Policy will be pictures and occa- sional name shows for the stage. Poison Pen Perpieates Coast hdie Election With Metier Opposed Los Angeles, Sept. 4. Independent exhibs of Southern California are waging a bitter cani- palgn In anticipation of the annual election of directors of the Motion Picture Tlieatre Owners of So. Calif., called for tomorrew (5), postponed for various reasons since last May. Nine directors will be selected, who In turn will immediately elect officers. Bitter opposition against Gus Metzger, director and president, developed around the middle of last week, which had its climax in the circulation of an anonymous circular letter accusing the indie prexy of double-crossing and unfair dealing with the Indies. Poison pen circular accused Metzger of casting his lot with Charles Skouras. operating head of Fox-West Coast, and also attacked his work In connection with the recent exhIb code parleys In New York. Another attack on the indie leader was for his alleged procrastination In calling the an- nual election meeting of the asso- ciation, which brought about the immediate call for Tuesday's battle of the polls. Kohn Concentrating All Par Theatre Operations-Issued No Notice So Far Turning over all treasurer mat- ters to Walter B. Cokell prior to the latter sailing for Europe Friday (1), Ralph A. Kohn becomes active as a theatre executive, with his first of- ficial move the concentration ot widespread chain personnel under hint in quarters formerly occupied within Paramount by the construc- tion and maintenance departments. Anything pertaining to theatres, unless they can be disposed of by the small staff surrounding him, will now have to go to Kohn. His work in the home office will include direct contact with the Par and Publix Enterprises trustees, Lynch's re- organization committee, legal de- partment, etc. Finally ready to gtart in on his new job, Kohn toward the end of L«s Dally Walks Out Les Dally, B&K operative, man- aging director of the Paramount, New York, walked off the job sud- denly Thursday morning (3) and will probably retuirn to Chicago. On his resignation. Bob Weitman, formerly In charge of the Brooklyn Par for Publlx, stepped up to fill the vacancy. Dally was brought Into, New York a couple years ago by John Balaban when the latter was in charge of Publix theatre operations from the home office. last week began rounding up the re- mains of the Publix officials and de- partments, ordering all to transfer to the new 17 th floor quarters ho had chosen. This included Sam K. Dembow, Jr., and his staff, Leon Netter, Boris Morros. Louis Nota- rliis, George Walsh and sundrjr others. Just what Kohn'a exact policies on theatres will be as vice-president in charge of that branch, if they are to differ In Idea from those in ef- fect now, have not been made known by Kohn. Whether or not the home office staff will either be lessened or Increased is another question for Kohn to decide. Par's Control System Indications are there will be no immediate disturbance, but that of initial importance just now is a co- ordination with all partners and associates In the field. Servicing of theatres throughout the Publlx sys- tem, through the Theatre Manage- ment Corp.. setup of which Dem- bow Is president, is conllnulng as It hits beeni with functions of Dem-' bow and staff in this connection un- changed. The system to be devised for cor- porate control of Pa,r's interests in partnerships, with some means of . keeping a close check on what oper- ating associates are doing in the • field. Is also up to Kohn. So far as can be learned, tha new theatre v.-p- has not issued a single notice to date. Akron Ups Scales Akron, O., Sept. 4. Major Akron theatres have tilted admissions, effective Septeniber 1, but the state rather' than the the- atre will benefit. Night perform- ances at Loews, Palace and Strand have advanced to 40c £bp and in the afternoons to 30c. Colonial scale advanced proportionately. It's the first admission hike here in over a year. Still INTERNATIONALLY Known SIMEON KARAVAEFF Recently Completed a European Togr of Eight Months This Week (Sept. 1) Original Roxy, New York Direction NAT K.\hVHEm Crews, Musikers Give L. A. Houses Respite Los Angeles, Sept. 4. Wage contracts between local theatres and musicians and stage hands, due to expire Sept. 1, have been extended 30 days. Demands of the stagehands In elude a 100% Increase in working personnel and wage Increases ap proximating 20% to 3S%. Musicians are postponing draw ing up demands awaiting'the out come of the Industry NRA code. Major Back on Coast Los Angeles, Sept. 4. E. Port Major, chief film booker for Fox-West Coast, is back at his desk after five weeks in New York on film product buys for the new season. Major was summoned east through the illness of film buyer J. J. Sulll van, who was forced to return here to recuperate. noted that he would be willing to ride along with the rest of theatre owners. The Weber, Rex and Federal the atres, Denver, Colo., recorded for right to double after being In the business for the past 25 years with a single feature policy. 'In a free country every exhibitor should have the right to dictate his own business policy,' wired Fred Lee of tl-.e "Victory, ,Lamar, Col. From Centralia, Wash., as well as many other place.s, came objection to doubles being mentioned at all In the code. 'Forced elimination of double features means death of smaller neighborhood theatres and de f'teased employmont of theatre hflp,' commented the Senate, Buf- r-Alo- NEW YORK CITY AND BROOKLYN Paramount and Audubon Theatres Eight Months ST. LOUIS Ambassador Theatre Four Years PHILADELPHIA Mastbaum and Fox Theatres One Year CHICAGO Oriental and Chicago Theatres Five Months PITTSBURGH Stanley Theatre Seven Months ED. LOWRY NOW LOEW'S STATE Los Angeles Calif. "In case you haven^t yet fallen nnder his spell, Ed. Lowry Is a persuasive young man wlio gets closer to his audiences than any stage personality I have seen hereabouts In years. _y___-^„ —Aug. 9, '33, L. A. "HERALD-EXPRESS." "Ed Lowry is rapidly becoming one of the best-liked ceremony masters who ever came to Los Angeles ... the boy shows versa- tility and has one of the nicest personalities seen In any of our theatres. We'd like him to stay a long time. . . ''^^^.,.,--„ —Aug. 11, ^33, Los Angeles "EXAMINER." "Ed, Lowry's St. Louis rep must have preceded him here. The reception, plus the capacity hou.se, which greeted his Initial coast appearance at the State today should go a long way toward estab- lishing a confidence necessary for a Jong (.>n£:.-i{!rement . . - heres a unique type of stage m.c. posscs.slng pcrsor.nllty, a breezy style, an infectlou.s smile, loads of showman.«hlp and ability to do thmg.s^ in an intimate sort of way without becoming in Uip least bit offen.slve . . . Lowry works hard, never HO('M\r.i; to tire .and with- out apparent energy . . . backed by a .sm.'irt o'.chobtra, there's plenty enough divei-.slty of fare to make It .si/vnicthiii{!: worth while at the wicket . . . Lowry'.s opening day can be run up as a solid click and a ma.sler of ceremonies wliom the State patrons are going to like." —Tuly 20, -33, "VARIETY."