Variety (Nov 1938)

Wednesday, N)((veiiiber 2,1939' AVERAGE ADMISSION HAS HELD TO 24c THIS YEAR; CRY FOR SHOWMANSlflP Giwmwajt, Prizes and Unbridled Competkioii Ambhg Factors for Keef^ing B,0, Scale Down- Question of Neely or Similar Legislation Doped ▲ 1 Average admission price in thei U. S, has held to the 24c. average In^ the last 12 months -despite a tem- porary-dip to 22%c duriztg the sum- mer dog days which slump was ac- celerated by general business reces- Bion early in bot weather period. Although this average «ational ad- mission is slightly abow the mean average .in the last six^r «ti^t years^ the iippreciation from 23c. and 23%c., which prevailed about a jrear ago, is so slight that few In th* trade are willing evea to describe it as an im- provenient.. There are three Invariable factors held re£i»6nsible loir the stalemate in average admission price for U. S. in recent years. One is unbridled comr petition. Another is lack of show- manship, plus the failure of com- petitors to agree with any dejgree of consistency on a price li£t. A third is the routine manner of selling shows, with the, inclusion of duals', special prize contest stunts and' ex- tra contests or giveway& and general neglect 6f selling the picture pro- gram to the public. Check this week brought rather unanimity of opinion in the trade that any considerable admittance price boost would depend largely on the amount of concerted energy dis- played by exhibitors in selling their programs. Recent experiences Indi- cate that e^diibitors put forth so lit- tle effort in selling tiieir actual screen entertainment that any ad- mission tut would not be justified by the resulting decline at the box- office. Theatre managers claim that the V arrival of giveaways and contests, to occupy nearly every night in the v^eek, have wiped «ut the bulk of Showmanship rendaining in circuit and most individual operations. The obvious ' drawback is that it keeps potential patrons always looking for bargains and often sub- ordinates the exhibitor's actual screen show to what be is giving away. Prevalence -of the same bar- gain pirograms, heing used .by near- est competitors, also hurt the subse- quent exhibitor, and indies. It forces them to lower admissions in many cases in order to gain any ad- vantage over. <«<arlier-run competi- tion. Question was brought forward this week as to whether or not the Neely bill, or some comparable an- ti-block measure, producing more individual product selling, .might help to holstet'the price, structure at film theWtres. One industry veteran estimated that selling of features singly or in blacks of only three or four doubtlessly would bring higher percentage film rentals, possibly en- hancing the value of pictures and calling attention in the most forcible pcfssiblie way that his screen fare was a valuable .article. Whether such moves would enable exhibitors to boost their scales will only be determined by actual testing of such anti-block bisdldog statute. Seems little doubt but that the stress laid on upped >wntal and the em- phasis laid on each feature by the new gelling method might conceiv- ably bring a return to old-fashion theatre showmanship which, in turn^ might improve the general admission scale. There is enough x^mism in cer- tain quarters of the trade to make some see in such new method of selling product a forced realization that 'the show is the thing,* and even wean exhibitors away from give- aways, contests and other freak means of bolstering the boxoftice. Certainly, if exhibs have to -pay more for their product, they will be more apt to exert strenuous efforts to put it over with the public. Styled by Goldwyn Hollywood^ Novi 1. Samuel Goldwyn is out %1;ZS0 for clothes—not for hims^ but for Jon Hall. Duds were bou^t for the younc actor to in^press London as a Goldwyn fa^toh plate when he went to Engjand on loan to star in Alexander Korda's 'Thief of Bagdad.' Picture has heed postponed indefinitely; and Ifoll is idling around Hollywood in a $1,230 wardrobe. Meanwhile, his ^250- a-week salary goes on without a picture in sight Scbefer Back East After MPTOA CoiiT4 Spitz w Coast Vinl Oklahoma Ci^, N<pv. 1. George J. Schaefer, new president of BKO Radio Pictures Corp^ K-A-O Corp., AKO Service Corp. and tite B. F. Kieith Goip.,, flies' back to New York tonight and is due in .New York Ihursiiby (3). Schaefer was to have gone on to Coast for his - first official visit to company's studios to look over pro- duction at first hand and for possible appointment of a new head of pro- duction. More important matters caused his return to New York at this time. HUMSWnHB'S Hollywood, Nov. 1. With Class A prodiKtion slowing down for a period, the Sol Wurtzel unit is doing the btiik of picture making on the 20th-Fox. lot. this month. Wurtzel's staff started shoot ing yesterday" (Mon.) on 'Charlie Chan in Honolulu' and on 'Camera Daredevils' "tttday <Ttres.). Others slated for November starts Are 'Texas Kid,' 'Sporte Series,' 'Big Town Girls,' 'Jones Family in Hollywood' and 'Mr. Moto in Porto Rico.' 'Wife, Husband And Friend' is the only A production set to start this month, Nearing completion are 'Thanks for. IJv^irything,* 'Jesse James,' .'Kentucky,' 'Little Princess,' 'Tailspin* and "Three Musl^eteers.* ANGEL FOR STRIP PIC SUES m HIS cirr ARRIVALS Lilian Emerson, Sylvia Briema, King 'Vidor, E. W. Hammons, Maria Mueller, Paul Draper, fflizat>eth Schurhann, Mr. and Mrs. M. Burdino, Richard de Rochement, Henri Dia- mant-Befiger, Monty Banks, George Blafck, Sam E. Morris, William Gell, Mr^. B. R. Lipscomb, C. V. R. Thojiolpson, Solomon iSagall, Arthur Sdgale,' Arthxir Levey, Earl ' Mac- donald Los. Angeles, Nov. 1. . A. P. Scott, one of the bankroUers of the Sally Rand picture, 'Sunset Strip Case," filed suit against George Hirliman, asking the court to estab lish his rights to a percentage of the net profits of the film. Scott claims he invested $7,500 at the request of Hirliman on proijiise that he would receive a cut of the picture's earnings. Also named as defendants are Dr. Eugen* Frenke, Esther Muir Coslow, W. Gawartin, H, M. Webster, F & H Productions and International Cinema, which holds the negative. L; A; to N. Y. L. F. Alpstock.. Adrienne Amps, Phil Berle. Ralph Bettison. Arthur Q. Bryan. Jaite Bryan. Eddie Cantor., Gary Cooper.' Lill Damita. Joe Donohue. Scott R. Dtinlap. S. Charles. Einfeld. Izzy • Ellinson. ■ Max Factolr^ Jr: Edgar Fairchild. Sidney Fields. Sidney Franldinv Bert Gordon. T. Keith • Glennan. Gordon Kahn. Vic Knight. Nola Liixford. S. Barrett McCormlck. Jimmy McHugh. Karen Morley. Neil Newman. Jack Piu-tington. Joe QuiUeit. Johi> Ralph., Anthony Rivers, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ro'-' ''^". Joe ^eidelnian. SandEQ* Shaw. ^ T. K. Stievenson. 'Mab;^ ^od"4' ' Jerry Waldi Spite's Coast Visit Chicago, Nov. 1. Leo Spitz, back in Chicago after vacating the prexy's chair at RKO, was the center of a flock of parties, luncheons and general welcome- lome celebrations last week. Friends in every walk and branch of life, taking in the amusement industry, political, legal and .general commer- cial fields made these welcoming salutes to Spitz on his return to'his Chi home grounds. Today (Tuesday) Spitz leaves for a short trip to the Coast, with the- atre circuit operator Mort Singer accompanying. RKO's Feak Trod. lotCd. Hollywodd, Nov. 1. Peak load of qine productions are in operation at RKO this week.. Hie Castles,' 'Beauty for the Age- ing' and 'Arizona Legion' went be- fore the cameras yesterday (Moh.). 'The Flying Irishman,' Douglas Cor- rigan film, gets the gun tomorrow (Wed".). Five others in work are: The Pure in Mindj* *Pacifl<; Liner,' 'Love. Affair,' 'The Great Man Votes' and "Fisherman's Wharf,' a Principal production for RKO released' . Corrigan reported for work at RKO as co-author and technical ad- visor on the story of his life, to be filmed ^s The Flying Irishinan.' He's working with Daiton Trunibo and Ernest' Pagano. 'Nation' Brou^t k at Under Its Otker News of btei^ Dietrich's $100,000 keynotes new French production trend,...Page 13 Forelfn film iituation....i/• iPage 13 Cantor crew cast..... Page 30 JolBon's ad lib costs NBC $15,000 ^«• • • • • • - Page 30 SAG'a radio show looks set ,,. i,. ;v.'. .Page 30 Radio reviews: Glenda Farrellj Jean Hersholt; Cro^y show. Texaco ....'.....«.... Page 34 Televlsioii called too 'vague' ,. Pace 36 Kurt WeUiy ASCAP ^redfape. ,..., ;.. ,1>age 45 Equity tougher on agents .Page 55 Cdnffiiik Stock lo 3 bdders Wil Rake Worbg Capy; Sabries . Sylvia Sidney washes' up at the Astoria' <L. L) studios' this ' week, Dudley Murphy having completed all sequences in 'One Third of a Nation,' Harold Orlob's filmization of the WPA play. Final camera work will' not be completed imtil end of this week and with cutting and editing to follow, delivery of pictiure to .Para- mount is not looked for before Dec. 1. Mufphy brought the film in con- siderably imder the budget figure set of $200,000 which'the trade considers remarkable in view of the compre- hensiveness of cast and production, plus difficulties occasioned by east- ern production problems. Sidney is working on a coopera- tive basis calling for $20,000 for five weeks' work, plus a share of the gross."' Clumps Stn Ae McCoy Hollywood, Nov. 1. Sen Yew Cheung, chemical sales- man, gets the role of Charlie Chan's son at aoth-Fox, succeeding Keye Luke. His first assignment is in 'Charlie Chan in Honolulu,' starting this week with Sidney Toler in the name role. Cheung is 23, born in California and a scteen novice. • He was selected from many tests. Phyllis Brooks plays the femme lead in 'Chan In Honolulu'; Picture is Toler's first as successor to the late Warner Oland. ^ ANOMRTKH FOR PAR COSTS Hollywood, Nov. 1. Paramount etudk> is due for an- other economic slash, in addition to the one last June. Stanton Griff is, executive committee chairman, is lengtiiening his stay another month. Barney Balaban, prexy, and Russell Holnuan, home office production head, are also staying an extra fort- hight. Griffis" attributed the need of new economies to the recent, wage in- creases and the shrinkage of Euro- pean grosses. No Par Quorum Paramount board meeting sched- uled for Thursday (27) was post- poned due to. inability to get a quorum with Adolph Zukor, chair- man; Barney Balaban, Stanton L. Griffis and Neil F. Agnew, now on the Coast No matters of a pressing nature were known as scheduled for aiction at this time. Next meeting v.-ill probably be held Nov, 24^ when most of the members of the direc- torate are expected to be in • New York. Early CaL Rainy Season Stalling: Goldwyn's Duo HoUsrwood, Nov. 1. Script trouble and the weather- man ar* causing Sam Goldwyn to a^ain postpone the start of '^Wuther- ing Heights' and 'Last Frontier.' Meteorologists predict ah early rainy season for this Ee<;rtion and both pictures call for considerable outdoor shooting. Glazer Leaving WB ' HolJIywopd, Nov. 1. Understood that Barney Glazer leaves. Warhe>rs .y?bp|», his ,pr.odycer ticket is punched out .this yr^'k. He, p.hifted to the Burb^ink! sf^iidiq a year ago on departii);g ParampujRt. BAD SnU. HORTS BOB BAKER ON LOCATION Hollywood, Nov. 1. Bob Baker, western star, was seri- ously injured on Kernvilie (Calif.) location Monday (31) when the coach he was driving in a runaway sequence of the 'Phantom Stag?' turned over. He suffered facial injuries and a possible .fractured skulL Ernie Adams, actor, on coach, also injured but not critically. Picture, had a half day to go for windup with run- away saved for the finale due to its hazard. Washington, Nov. 1. Money-raising plan whidi in-» .volves eventual dealing in common, stock was laid before the Securities Si Exchange Commission last week, by Columbia Pietures. Immediate effect -is to permit private sale of tickets brlnglntg in over $500,000 to bolster working capital. Paper will be allotted ,to threa company insiders. In accordance with options granted mider their emplpy-. ment contracts, with provision for ultimate resale. Only 37,500 shares out of the authorized 1,000,000 are involved. The application handed the S.E.C. indicates Columbia has arranged to allow Samuel J. Briskin, Abraham Schneider, and Abrahson Montague to take advantage of a £round^k>or opportunity to pick up the ducats at a bargain price, Company asked consent to sell .them 25,025 shares at $13.53 in accordance with teriVks of .options running until 1940 with pro- viso they will be represented by v«t» ifig trust certificates ihat may -b* peddled at $]r5 each. In addition, the plan contemplates parceling another 11,875 in stock dividends. The document threw new light on Columbia's executive payrolL Harry Cohn, president, drew $1B2,020 last year; his brother Jack, as vice-presi- dent, got $104,220; and Schneider, the treasurer, received $65,220. Seven other topnotchers got $276;662. Con- tracts expiring next year guarantee Harry Cohn a weekly stipend of $3,500 and Jack $2,000. Schneider, under , a five-year pact initialed this past summer, gets $1,250 weekly for the first three years and' $1,500 week- ly for the rest of th« term. N. Y. to L. A. Lucius Beebe. Jimmy Fidler Dave Kapp. Al Jolson. Dorothy Haas. Patsy Kelly. Norman Krasna. Groucho Marx. Mrs. Nat MiUer. Ken Murray. Grover C. Parsons. ZsSu. Pitts. Luise' Rainer. Frank Seltzer. Ami Sotbem. Rose Stradner. AOVEItTISEMENT SAILINGS Nov. 11 (Londoa to New York), Gino Manzoni (Conte di Savoia). Nov. 5 (London to New York), Anna Neagle, Herbert Wilcox, Mer- rill White, Phil Reisman' (Norman- die), Nov. 4 (London to New York), Molly Picon (Washington). Nov. 5 (New York to Caracas), Vicente Gomez (Santa Paula). Nov, 4 (New York to London), Beg Connelly, J. H, Whitney, Steve PallOB, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr,, Jack Segal, Jack Corn, J. A, McConville ^Queen Mary). Oct. 29 (New York to Naples), Arthur W. Kelly (Rex). Oct. 28.. (N^w York to London), Lili Damita, E. E. Ronton,. ,Ifai. jHorne, Richard, Oppel,, Mrs.- Erj^lj, von Stroheim,, Paul Graetz, Mp. arid Mrs, , Albert p, Lasker (Doris Ken- yon Sills), (lie de France). SffilTZKY CMEHA <FRENCH) Eetabllehed and enlaxgeA by Leoii Slritzky and hia two sonB, Samy and Joe, the Siritzky Cir- cuit controls six of the moat im- portant houses In Paris and 32 In the Provinces. The' ^rreatent number of Im- portant French productions -fts well as American films have been premiered In Siritzky houses. Among: the best Fi-ench pictures which the Siritzky cir- cuit has exploited apo "Carnft de Bal," ''Pepe 1© Moko," "Grande Illiision," "Qual de Brumes" and "Prison aana Barraux." Present- ly being shown In Siritzky Paris houses are "Pfltebns de Femmes," -"Casbah" and "Katia," . For important productions to come In the -immediate future this. jQircuft h^s e^cclualvlty on are ''Hotel du. i^prd" .starring Annabella, ydlhr^Xisj;" wfth Vlvi- ane " Roiritfhee 'sStA'' ErIcH vort ■Stroh*hn and ^J'Etals"ane Ade-* ventUrlere" co^stairing Edwlse' FeuIUere and Jean. Alurat, • ''