Variety (May 1941)

23 PICTURES Variety Paramount Annual Earnings, 1935-40 1935 $3,153,167 1936 3,889,020 1937 6,045,103 1938 2,533,279 1939 2,737,533 First quarter $622,000 Second quarter.... 530,000 Third quarter 333,000 Fourth quarter.... 1,252,533 1940 $7,633,130 First quarter $1,606,000 Second quarter.... 1,478,000 Third quarter 1,726,000 Fourth quarter.... 2,823,130 1941 First quarter..:. .'.$2,475,000 . Wednesday, May 7, 1911 Satevepost Buy of Nordhoff-Hall Yam Gets Them Extra lOG on Pix Acceptance last week, by the Sat •vepost oi 'Botany Bay' gives au- thors Charles NordhoA and Jame£ Morman Hall an additional $10,000 for the film rights, which they sold to Paramount last year. Par bought the yarn before any of it was on paper, the arrangement being that $10,000 should be paid on delivery of B eO-page outline, $30,000 more on the acceptance of the manuscript for book publication by Little, Brown & Co., which took place several months ago, and another $10,000 if the story is bought for serialization by a ma- jor mag. That brings Par's total price for 'Bay' to $50,000. Par's $3,000 Net Loss Purchase by Warner Bros, last week of 'The Night Before Christ- mas,' Brosdway legiter backed by Paramount, let^ the latter company out With about a $3,000 loss on its investment in the flop comedy. WB paid $30,000 for it. Per policy in b.r.ing legits is to finance only those which it wants for picture purposes. It didn't feel, how- ever, that 'Christmas' was worth topping the WB offer to obtain film riglits. Par's investment was $6,250, which it put up along with equal sums by Howard S. Cullman, Mar- shall Field and Robert Lehman. Production cost about $13,500 to open (including $1,500 lost in a try- out week in Boston) and approxi- mately another $10,000 to operate on ' Broadway for three weeks, minimum time under Dramatists Guild rules before management can share in mo- tion picture sale. Backers, under the DG regulations, get 40% of film proceeds ($12,000) of which Par snares one-fourth. SOG in Hollow Table Leg Jams Up Theatre Owner Atlantic City, May 6. Deputy Internal Revenue Collector Milton A. Reed quoted Edward Skyrm, 74-year-old Somers Point theatre owner, as admitting that $80,- 000, taken from a hollow table leg in his home, had never, been re- ported on his income tax returns.' Skyrm was questioned by Reed for some time Friday (2) and at con- clusion, Reed stated, a full investiga- tion will be made. The theatre owner's legal right to the $80,000 was established after a Chancery Court suit in which his estranged wife, Mrs. Lucille Skyrm, was ordered to account for it. Testimony developed that Mrs. Skyrm took the money and buried $60,000 of it in the ground, from which hiding place it subsequently disappeared. Three neighbors of Somers Point are alleged to have re- moved the money from the hole and divided it. They were indicted for larceny and are awaiting trial. Coast Story Buys Hollywood, May 6. Harry Sherman purchased 'Hoppy's Holiday,' a western by Ceclle Lewis Kramer and Ellen Hansen Corby. Bernard Feins sold comedy, 'Mary Had a Little,' to 'Warners. Sam Katzman bought Martin Mooney's yarn, 'Mr. Wise Guy,' to produce for Monogram release. Merrick-Alexander Productions ac. quired 'Secrets of a Co-Ed,' by Carl King. Paramount purchased 'The Silver Queen,' by Forrest Halsey and Wil- liam Allen Johnston. Monogram bought 'The Trail of the Vampire,' by Carl Foreman and Charles Marion. Martin Mooney sold 'The Warden's Daughter' to Producers Releasing Corp. George R. Batcheller purchased *GW\s Town,' by Rex Hale, for PrO' ducers Releasing Corp. Fanya Foss and Bernie Giles sold •Matti O'Hara Comes Home' to Co- lumbia. PAR'S 3-MO. PROFIT $28,633; SAME AS'40 Pathe Film Corp.. net profit for the first three months of the new finan- cial year, ended March 31 last, to- talled $28,633, or about the same cs last year. Sole income coming from the dividend on 3,500 shares of Du- Pont Film Mfg. Corp. common was listed at $35,000 or the same as in the first quarter of 1940. Pathe listed the DuPont Film net profit as $439,258 for the first three months, with Pathe's interest $153,- 740. AUo that of this total $118,740 was undistributed and the undis- tributed amounts are not reflected in the income accounts of the com- pany. Stanley-Warner Philiy Staffers Talk Strike Philadelphia, May 6. Ushers, cashiers, doormen, as- tir rnt managers 'and cleaners at Sicnley-Wamer houses were talking sti'.ke this week unliiss the manage ment agreed to their demands for more dough. The employees are members of the ThcEtre Employees Union, Local B 100, an offshoot of the Motion Pic ture Operators Union of the lATSE The union had a contract with War ners which expired several week: ego and thus far there's b^en no in dication that the company would raise the ante. The union wants minimum sala rles rr.i^ed in all categories: Ushers to $18.50; doormen, ^ cashiers and chief of service to $25;'assistant chief of .service to $20; assistant managers (first run houses) to $40; assistant managers (key nabes) to $35; as- sistant managers (others) to $30. W.L. Brown V.-P. of W.E • Walter L. Brown took over his new position of general counsel and v.p. of Western Electric last Thurs- day (1), succeeding T. Brooke Price, who moved up to the position of general attorney for the American Telephone ^'Telegraph Co. Brown's Section had i>e«n made by the W. E. directorate; more than two weeks ago. ■ ' Brown also succeeds Price as gen- eral counsel 'for -Eleotrlcal Research Jfroducts, Inc„ and other Western Xlcctrle niteids. ■ . Veteran Exploiteer ^Continued from page H; ence in that line of work. They never thought of asking the exhibitor, who was familiar with his town, whether the things they outlined could be accomplished—whether his budget for advertising could stand it. This did not .make for friendly situations. Today, though, the cali- bre of man is vastly different. The exploitation man ' works with the manager, outlines campaigns to- gether, discard the impossible, and do the things that are least expen- sive but still power-pulling for the boxofTice. To me, this sending around of men who know what it is all about is one of the best things being accomplished by the distribut- ing companies. There is no doubt in my mind that such expert assistance these men give are a potent factor in greater boxoffice grosses.' This is but one of the many expres- sions heard and made by exhibitors voicing the same sentiments as Tru- ran. They also resent the smart Alec who comes to town, takes over with a flourish, tells what he did so and such a time in Chicago, Bos- ton or Punxatawney. They do re- spect the men who come to his city or town, have a job to do, confer with the exhibitor on all possibilites and ways and means of selling the picture to the public, make their tieups, contact the local editors and cover every end of their work. No boasting and planting his chassis in the theatre manager's office smok- ing a vile-smelling smokestack, or telling the girl behind the hotel cigar counter what a great guy he is— and at the end of the engagement send in a long phoney report of how big his ideas went over. The exploitation men who are regularly assigned to the various territories in the country are also valuable in the contacts they make with the editors of all the news- papers in their district. Once a man gains the friendship and confidence of the newspaper editor, and does not try to put anything over on him, he has a rare friend indeed. This is amply proved by the many spe- cial stories which appear in the new.spapers—.specials on fashions, sports, beauty, njotion picture news and planting of pictures on the at- traction he is exploiting. He also helps out in getting special material for such editors who require it. Field men today cover their ter- ritories by automobile and in this way can visit the smallest towns, meeting both the exhibitors and the newspaper people. Their routes take in, all sorts and conditions of ter- rain, but like the film salesmen, it is j all taken in its stride. Obstacles do not exist in their daily duties—they , have a job to do at a cerUin time and it is their business to be there. There is no playing or roystering— he can be a hail-fellow-well-met,'be the pleasant and genial host to those he has to come in business contact with, but soldiering on the job is fatal, j The playdate is set and the wheels Casanave's Pre-Trial Exam I °' exploitation and publicity must start to move—and to make it move, every minute counts. Not much time PAR'S FIRST QUARTER 1869,000 AHEAD OF'40 Paramount officially estimated its earnings for the first quarter of the current year, ended April 5, as $869,000 higher than the initial quar- ter last year. Company reported $2,475,000, after interest and all charges, for the initial quarter, as against $1,606,000 In the correspond- ing period of 1940. The first quarter earnings included $650,00() representing Par's direct and indirect net interests as a stock- holder in the combined undistrib- uted earnings for the quarter in par- tially-owned non-consolidated sub- sids. In the corresponding quarter last year this interest totaled $716,000. Earnings are equivalent to 89c on each common share as com- pared with 53c in the March quarter last year. Company deducted $270,988 for dividends accrued for the quarter on preferred shares. It computed nor- mal Federal income tax at 30% in writing off for taxes in the quarter. Paramount statement revealed that the company acquired 6,700 shares of first preferred stock at a discount of approximately $8,400 during the quarter, this amount having been credited to special capital surplus ac- cou'nt. Also in the quarter, 770 shares of second preferred was con- verted into 693 shares of common. •SCARE-'EM PIX, RADIO WONT H URT KIDS' Par Sending 'Wings' Got Pronto; Up Admissions? Placing 'I Wanted Wings' on gen- eral release around June 1 and de- livering the roadshows film under this year's pontract though that isn't mandatory. Paramount is seeking agreement from its accounts to play the film at increased admissions. Company is not forcing exhibs into doing this, however. Prior to general release Par is laying out around 50 pre-relecse dates for 'Wings.' These will be in the south, on the Atlantic seaboard and in the far west. They will be between May 10 and 25. Now at the Astor, N. Y., on a twree-daily run which principally has been in the nature of window- dressing, 'Wings' goes out Sunday (11) after six weeks. 'John Doe' Deals - Warner Bros.j selling 'John Doe' singly following 35 pre-release en- gagements, has closed deals with its own circuit, Fox-West Coast, RKO, Schine Bros., Welter Reade Theatres, Balaban & Katz, Famou? Players- Canadian, St. Louis Amus. Co. (F&M), Crescent Amus. Co., Fanchon &i Marco and the Friscina circuit. Entering national release this week, 'Doe' tees off in 365 different en- "^agenients. SHORTAGE OF STUDIO LABOR Hollywood, May 6. Fred Pelton, producer labor con- tact, says the shortage of studio labor still exists. He said workers are reaping a har- vest of overtime, and indicated that if the shortage increases it may be- come necessary for certain of the unions to open their ranks to new members in order to keep the studios supplied with the necessary number of workers. Robbing, Gruen Win Point, Herman Robbins and Toby Gruen, who are suing Charles L. Cssanave and National Screen Accessories for $165,000 as officers of National Screen Accessories, Incl, and National Screen Service Corp., won a major point over Casanave in N. Y. supreme court yesterday (Tuesday) when the court ordered the exemination before trial of Casanave to take place tomorrow (Thursday). . It also denied Casa- nave's cross-plea to examine them. A point won by Casanave was a court order for a bill of particulars to be served on the defendant by the plain- tiffs. Plaintiffs charge violation of fldu- cia'ry duties as an officer and direc- tor'on the part of Ca5an.-<ve, and as- sert i fraud-in stock deals.. for arm-bending or penny-ante. The exploitation man has become quite an important and valuable link in the complex chain of picture sell- ing. FOUB MORE 'ELLERT QUEENS' Hollywood, May 6. Deal for four more Ellery Queen stories was closed by Larry Darmour with Fredei'ick Dannay and Manfred B. Lee, authors of the novel and the radio show built on the same idea. Third picture of the old series, 'The Devil to Pay,' rolls Thursday (8) with Ralph Bellamy and Mar- garet Lindsay, in the leads. James Hogan direct^. Film Name Shorts In 'Newsreel' Form Frowned on by SAG Hollywood, May 6, The Screen Actors Guild has cracked down on the production of short subjects under the guise of newsreels. Harriett Parsons and other producers who have been turn- ing out these shorts with non-paid talent have been advised that Guild minimums will have to be paid in the future. The following letter has been sent by the SAG to the Colum- bia, Republic, Pathe, Cinema Celeb- rities and Sunshine Productions: 'The Screen Actors Guild has for some time countenanced the appear- ance of stars and featured players in short subjects such as yours on the theory that actors are agreeable to doing such work without pay for the publicity value that they receive. 'However, so many companies have started the production of similar reels, and so many complications have arisen concerning this use of Guild members in such reels that the Screen Actors Guild must hereby notify you that in the future it will have to enforce its contract more strictly in connection with these pic- tures. That is to say, you will be re- quired to pay at least the minimum scale provided for in the Basic Con- tract for anyone whom you use, and all conditions relative to the employ- ment contained in the contract shall apply, with the following exception: '1. You may photograph non-Guild member personalities without regard to the contract. 2. You may photo- graph non-Guild professional people without regard to the contract. 3. You may photograph without compensa- tion stars and featured players under newsreel circumstances as distin- guished from production circum- stances.' Newsreel circumstjinces do not permit makeup; special- dress or story continuity. Detroit, May 6. If Little Willie likes gory movies, blood-curdling radio serials and bru- tal comics, so what? His pa isn't a worse man for having gone to the old blood-curdlcr drama nor hiding dime novel terror behind his geography. That was the point of view of Dr. James S. Plant, noted child psycholo- gist and head of the Kssex County Juvenile Clinic, in a reassuring talk to parents here at the Michigan Chil- dren's Aid Society's 50th anniversary. His idea was that kids tend natiwally for the scary stuff and what they see and hear blows away like dandelion seeds in a hurricane. 'Parents should not worry too much about the movies and the comics. They'd be surprised if they could hear their children at play. ... If you ask a youngster what movie he likes best that he's seen, he'll invari- ably name the last one. . . . Remem- ber, the world in which you want the child to emerge is not nearly pleasant a place as his dreams. The world is a place of black eyes, bloody noses. He must be led into it by per- suasion,' KuykendaU's 'Good-WiU' Keynote for MPTOA's LA Conv. June 9-12 Ed L. Kuykendall, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, now at his home in Co- lumbus, Miss, will probably come to New 'York to discuss policy and plans before the convention of the association in Los Angeles June 9-12. Also a meeting of the executive com- mittee will no doubt be held before then. This year's powwow will be held in conjunction with the Pscific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners, whose headquarters are in Los Angeles. This organization, like the MPTOA, was against the consent decree but in KuykendaU's bulletin to members during the past week he made no mention of the decree at all 'nor did he indicate that it would be di!!cussed. Understood, how- ever, that it will be a major point of dif^cussion during the four-day get-together. Tours of the Hollywood studios will probably be programmed for the delegates, with Kuykendall sounding a keynote in stressing that good will ' is an import-.nt factor for .showmen j right now. In his bulletin to mem- bers, he .says: I 'By good will we mean more than 1 the importance of a better under- I standing between those who make I motion pictures in Hollywood and I the theatre owners who present the 'pictures to local communities throughout the country. Our busi- ne-^s more than any other rests on public good will towards motion pic- tures as good entertainment and the motion picture industry as an in- stitution. A lot of this has been lost or is non-existent. 'We believe an earnest and con- tinuing effort must be made by the responsible factors in the business to recover some of this lost good will, which has been dissipated in part at least by subversive agitation within the business and by irre- sponsible appeals to hatred and per- sonal prejudices that undermine and destroy public opinion.' Ostrow's 20th Debut Hollywood, May 6. 'Marry the Boss's Daughter' went before the lenses at 20th-Fox with Thornton Freeland directing, after moving over from Universal'where he piloted'Too Many 31ondes.' ' Picture is Lou Ostrow's first pro- duction on. the Westwood lot , REP. COASTING, FAR our AHEAD OF PROD. SKED Hollywood, May 6. Republic is so far advanced on its production schedule that only three pictures are working on the lot, with the lull expected to continue until June. Thus far the company has com- pleted 45 features, 23 of which are westerns. Program calls for 13 more ito. be ready. lorid6Uvery.by Aug. 11.