Variety (Jul 1944)

We.lnrsday, July 5, 1944 Pfi&IETY PICTURES Summer Foldos Very Few, Although Freon Shortages May Force Some Despite cooling difficulties, : the 4>. tight manpower situation and main-, tenanee. problems, summer closings are so low; in number this year as io be almost infinitesimal, indicating that's new low of shutterings for all time will be established." ■ The vast Paramount chain of over j 1,000 theatres is among three major ! . circuits which have hot closed a single theatre tb date. Leonard H;, Goldenson,' v.p. over theatre' opera?- tions for Par, states also that no shutdowns are presently scheduled, though pointing out that the shortage of freon might,-.possibly-' force some temporary -shutdown's, particularly if some, theatres in hot areas run out, of tlve cooling fluid. •However, not- able i s th e la ct "t ha t even air of Pa r"s southern houses are open, including . its app'ro'jtiiijafc dozen drive-ins.,. James Brcnnan. general manager of We" RKO circuit, which in former years has darkened several houses, declares-they are not doing so this year, while, so f:ir. also,, none of the approximately 500 houses of the. Na- tional Theatres t20th-Fox), chain have closed down. ; : . Loew's lias only one closing, the : Lyric, Bridgeport, Conn.', which gets padlocked every summer.' Contrast- ed with the numerous annual sum- mer closings. of. former years, War- ners lias only four summer . shut- downs: the Tremont. Ansonia, Conn,; Grove, Clinton, Mass.; Capitol, Dan- bury, . Conn/, and the Roosevelt, Jamestown. N.. Y: However, it is closing the Wisconsin in Sheboygan. Wis., until further notice but does not classify this, as a summer closing, and also is shuttering, the. Griswold in Troy, N. Y„ but in latter case be- cause repai.rs. art necessitated due to. a recent fire. . >■ The closings among independents are also at an astonishing minimum, according to available information. Th* Brandt circuit, largest in the Greater N. Y. area and surrounding territory, which' formerly closed sev- , eral theatres'during the hot weather spell, this year has so far shuttered none at all. nor,are any on the iiii ? inediate schedule for darkening. ■CLIFFS' GOT RECORD 780G AT MUSIC HALL "The While Cliffs of Dover," which closed a seven-week run at the Mn- sie Hill. N. Y.. last. Wednesday night (28) grossed $780,000 on the engage- ment, the highest figure ever at- tained by any picture in the history of the industry over a period of seven weeks. It also established a record high for tnat length of time in rental back lb Metro, ...' Only four other pictures have played the Hal] as. long as sfeven weeks, those going that long in addi- tion to -White Cliffs" being "Ma- dame Curie" and "Mr. Lucky," while ' Mrs. Miniver" went .11 and ""Ran- dom Harvest" 10. "Cliffs," though wilhdrawi W ,w;hile. still doing, a very hi? business. 'outgrossed all' Others on the " seven weeks by at least $50,000. ■'< "■ . * Metro, which is selling "Cliffs" smgly under a sliding scale deal .ranging from a minimum of 25% -to a maximum of 50%, pulled-the .pic- ture out of the Hall because it wants to make it available to the entire market without delay due to the timeliness of iLs setting. Metro is ni ak ing-.-ff ava i I able at regular ad- missions but at the beginning is tak- ing deals that call for only week -ltands..or belter.' MgMi^i^.kili-^rmm was. closed 3^fe«' w 'th' Gits S. Eyssell, managing . director of the. Hall, for "Dragon peed." which will" follow the current 'Once Upon a Time." '■-'.:!' Thorpe Wants Biog Back Hollywood, July 4. Jim Thorpe, who sold his life story to Metro years ago, is trying to buy it back for filming purposes. Greatest of American'Indian ath- letes has contacted; an indie producer ready, to make the picture, titled "Ked Son of Carlisle." ,V,"'"'K'• MPRF Report Shows Big Increase in Assets Hollywood, July 4, _ Motion Picture Relief Fund, at its WW annual mooting, proclaimed W.3 its most successful year, with a Ml_ance sheet showing: net assets, or *1.»81.281. «an increase of $229,700 over 1942. Gross income from radio wr. the year amounted to. $456,329.- a»d general .revenue.-.outside of ra- <?»«..; reached $415,153. donated bv 10.- subscribers. Medical report showed 4,123 pa- W* .during 194.1, .with 124 major operations performed free. Plans for i»ture additions to the Motion Pic- ■.»»e Country House include a major :*m . minor - duty: and 60 hospital • ooitis, ., ean Hersholt. prexy. and fthet officers were reelected. Guizar's Life for Rep Hollywood, July 4. Tito Gui.zar, Mexican singer and guitarist, .is writing his autobiog- raphy as basis for a Htmusical; to' be produced at Republic,, where. he is under contract. . ' ■ Film will be packed with Mexican and South American tunes, aimed at stimulating trade south of the . bor- der. . :••'.;.': . •■'.•■.•'•".''•'' v.''' ' '.•.-■ '•■:■ PRC Sets Deal With NBC for Telev. Film; $7,385,000 Budget . PRC Will have a $7,385,000 budget for its 1944-45 program, Leon Prom- ke,ss. v.p. in charge of ..production, announced at annual sales conven- tion last week at the Essex House. N. Y.. - 1 .-.-'''-'* ,'- V'.:;'■:':' . It s the company's-biggest budget, and comes from pathe Industries. Inc.,-: a. coalition-of four PRC com- panies and three Pathe companies effected last week. - PRC w'ill release between 40 and 45 pictures .including westerns on its 1944-45 program. Schedule will be kept open for additional features. Company.will deliver about half this amount, others coming from its eight production units. Fromkess said that PRC had made a dea- with NBC on the Coast to produce a film that would'be televised after commercial run's,are completed. Picture will-be based on the life of Dr. Jose Rozza patriot martyr of- the Philippines, who! helped free the islands from Spain. NBC plans' to broadcast the story of the film in three half-hour programs on its "Pacific News" series simultaneously with the film open- ings both shortwave and on regular broadcast, WB C0NTRACTEES LIST HITS ALL-TIME MARK Hollywood, July 4. Contract list at Warners climbed Jto.an• all-time]High, moving into July With 25 star,s, 55 feature "players, 16 directors and 14 producers on the payroll. Stars include Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis. Rosalind Rus- sell. Barbara Stanwyck. Jack Benny Jack Carson, Nancy Coleman, Robert Alda. Joan Crawford, Olivia de Havilland. Errol Flynn," John Gar field. Geraldine Fitzgerald, Paul Henreid. Sydney Greenstreet, Walter Huston. Priscilla Lane, Joan Leslie, Paul Lukas, Ida Lupino, Jane Wy- nian, Ann Sheridan, Alexis Smith, Dennis Morgan and Irene Manning. Contracted directors are Michael Curtiz, David Butler, Delmar Daves Curtis Bernhardt. Robert Florey. Peter Godfrey, Edmund Goulding. Howard Hawks, James V. Kern, .lean Negulesco. I.eroy Prinz, Irving Rap- per, ' Vincent Sherman, Herman Shunilin,. Raoul Walsh and Sam Wood. Frank Smith Succeeds In Tom Gorman's Spot .:. { Chicago, July 4. Frank Smith, manager,, of the Pal- ace, has been upped to RKO theatre division manager in this territory following -Jlie resignation of Tom Gorman. Lstlei '» plans are lndefi- mtt. at th time Many Schreieei who, lias, been RKO eity manager at Columbus,; O.i has been brought- in as Smith's assistant. ;Smith has been with the-Orph.cum and RJ-CO circuits for 23 years. 17 as manager'of the Palace here.' Previ- oiiilv .he was. manager of the Or- pheum. Denver, and the old Lincoln Hippodrome. Chicago. As division manager lie. will' have supervision oyer Chicago. Champaign, 111., Kan- sas,Gity.. Des:Moincs and St. Paul... ■ Gorman, many years with the old Keith circuit and later RKO, is re- ported .considering a return- to the circt'ts.business.;' He was in 'the---big- top field prior to going into theatre management . ., -'-, Besides, managing the . Palace. Smith Will supervise the Grand, moreover theatre.. '\ .,'■''■.■'''' ..-' At the' same time. RKO has aiaeed John Redmond, associate-of the late Mort H- Singer, in charge of the 16 Singer houses following a deal un-'. dei-"'which RKO purchased the 90%. interest of the Singer estate in the circuit, . under an option permitting i; to, acquire tl'i'e-house,i 100%-: . Special Master Advises Dismissal Par Suit Vs. J. H.Cooper, Interstate Dismissal of Paramount Pictures suit against Rialto. Inc.. J. H. Cooper Enterprises, Inc., and Interstate The- atres. Inc.. all Colorado corporations, was advised by Special Master Fran- cisW, H, A^iams, ill a report filed last week (28) in N. Y. Federal Court. Action also against Joseph. H. Cooper, president of the three com- panies was not acted upon. Adams was appointed by Federal Judge Murray Hulbert last October to con- due*, hearings oh a defense motion that they are not within the jurisdic? tioir of the court and are not trans; acting business in this state. Paramount's action seeks adjudi- cation of their rights to 50% of Class B stocks in Rialto and Cooper -Enterprises, also --a quarter-: interest in Class A stock in Interstate. Cooper is alleged to have breached a 1933 agreement, -ulider which he was in- duced to go into Colorado and re- organize and a<jfluire certain theatres oh a 50-50 basis. Instead he acquired them under, his own name, Par charged. . : ■ Special master was -to decide whether each; of the corporate de- fendants were doing business.in New York; Adams found- that Rialto was a real estate company, owning two theatres;-.which • they leased to the other companies. Interstate operat- ing three theatres iii Colorado,, and Cooper Enterprises, operating six theatres. Adams reported: "Their activities appeared to be confined to Colorado and Nebraska and other points outside of New York." Adams also reported that Cooper is president of the companies.- re- ceives a salary from Interstate and Enterprises, none from Rialto, and transacts his business when in New York".' at whatever, film company Oiftdfe he finds himself. '. •'," - FourN. Y. Buying-Booking Combos Now Represent Total of 191 Houses MacMurray to Play 'Rick' : - : Hollywood, July 4. Title role in "Rickenbacker: the Story of an- American" long delayed Win field Sheehan* production at 20th- Fox, goes to Fred MacMurray, as his first starrer on the Westwood lot. MacMurray recently washed up a long Paramount contract with "Mur- der, He Says." , DAVE MARTIN. BUYS TIVOLI (AUSSIE) STOCK '.-,. '• Sydney, July 4. Theatre Holdings. Ltd.. headed by Dave Martin, which also owns the Minerva, legit theatre here, has bought out the stock of George Dick- enson in the Tivoli circuit. Dicken- son was chairman of directorate, and Martin is reportedly stepping into his old spot. Wallace Parnell re- mains as general manager artd" pro- ducer.- -. ' Martin's post-war plans call for importing top-rank U. S. and Brit- ish talent to. play .his new circuit. Also dealing^with outstanding radio and nightclub interests for acts. Ini- tial step in this direction was the purchase,of the Roosevelt nightclub here, which will giye him material to double into the Minerva. Martin's plans call for air-travel for Broad- way legit stars here for a minimum of 13 weeks. Those with stock interest in Tivoli deal with Martin include Dan Casey and Here Mclntyie. of Universal; the Gus Mclhtyje family and Nor- hiaii Rydge. In.lenlion of Martin and his backers is to assume front rank : in this district in vjaiide-revvie. cab-.; aret aticl iegilimate undertakings; >. '.. J Warner Gross Soars In First Half , 43- , 44 But Net Off to $3,492,125 Despite an increase of more than $6,200,000 in gross income," Warner Bros, net operating profit for the first six; months v of present fiscal year amounted ; lo only $3 492.125 ais com- pared with $4,141,199 in correspond- ing period a year ago. Warners' fust six months of fiscal yeaiwhich ended last-Feb. 26, showed'94c"-per com-" mon share as against $1.06 in corre- sponding period last year; a year ago being figured after provision for pre- ferred stock dividends. Company has no preferred outstanding now. After . eliminating ; intercompahy transactions, gross income totalled $69,629,010 for the six months ended last Feb. 26 as compared with $63,- 409.868 in sixmonth . ended Feb,_ 27." 1943. Warners'-earned surplus as of. Feb. 26 this year amounted to $25,- 410.465. ... .. . - r.■;.'-■'-'; However, Warners' actual net- was almost equal to that a year ago in the "first half of fiscal year in view of fact that the corporation wrote off $625,000 as a provision for unrealized losses on fixed assets, being mainly realty sales, contracted -subsequent to Feb. 26 this year but not yet con- summated. This figure is less the tax benefits "resulting"from the transac- tion, the company report noted. Company provision for Federal ex- cess profits and income taxes for the recently completed six months amounted to $9,110,000 or more than twice the net operating profit. Of this total, $7,110,000 was for, excess profits tax after postwar refund andS credit for debt retirement: . ."■ Gradually growing stronger in that- face of trading difficulties with the distributors and the value of mass purchasing power, buying-bookiiig combines operating out of N. Y. have annexed some additional accounts ti» provide a present total of"191 thea- tres under their control. . This figure represents close to 20% of all the independently-operated houses-in the area served out of the N. Y. exchanges Additionally, thw includes various indte„c.ircuils which ih themselves have strong buying power such as Walter Rcade. Fabian, Prudential, Skouras," Randforce and Triboro: Thus the percentage of houses in booking as.sociatioiis, a* compared . with the independents,, who are potentials-for buying out- fits, is almost • staggering. ' , ; ; .•.' ■Of the---foui—-buyiTTg-bO'oking'' or-- ganizations operating in N. Y. for the benefit of lower N. Y. state. Long Island and New Jersey ac- counts the largest is the Brandt cir- cuit, which, with a couple new addi- tion's, now is buying for 114 theatres. Joe Ingber, in charge of the buying- boqking for; Brandt, announ ces ha "haY-ad^fe'crT-tHe urove and "Regent, both in Brooklyn, to hisiist, Second, largest in N. Y., is ■ the Island Theatre Circuit, headed bV Ffank Moscato and Irving Pinsker,. which is now- buying and booking lor 41- houses. Associated Theatres of. N: Si; confining, itself . to New Jersey exhibs, has increased its total of houses to 21 with the addition of the .Savoy, .C'ifTside; N. ' J. Irving Dollinger, official of Allied Theatre". Owners of N. - J.-- who's president of Associated,, has given- up buying for. Die organization., placing the biiying- booking under the complete control of Jack Meitzer, who had formerly assisted Dollinger in. this work. .. . ".. The smallest N. Y. buying com- bine is the Stiefel Booking Office, but it is steadily growing and has just brought in the Gloria. Brook- lyn, to raise the total or. the boots to' 15, Sam Stiefel controls this buy- ing organization, '■'"/""V- - : ' -. 'MAN DOWN UNDER' BLASTED IN AUSSIE Sydney, July 4. Metro's "Man From Down Under," starring Charles Laughton, has been given a terrific blast by the press and the public here, with agitation under way to have the film banned | in this market. Picture is classed! as holding Australia up to ridicule. Aussie soldiers have protested abo„ut I the dialog, saying that it is a mixture \ of cockney and Irish with no real ; local lingo. Latest indication is that Metro- may recall "Man" if pressure con- J tinues. • Sheehan to Head All i Rep Indie Producers Hollywood. July 4" i Republic tipped Howard Sheehan' to the post of-executix-e producer, in i charge of all independently-made . pictures for release b;; that company. | Duties ■ include -supervision, of films . produced by Walter Colmcs; Sydney . Willianis and .Clifford Sandforth, ,' currently under contract on indie" deals."-- Vt- '/' : ;'.--. ; t- -i.'.. Robert V. Newman steps-, into ' Sheehan's old job as assistant to Al ' Wilson, sludio head, f WB Sets 2 For '44-45 ! Warner. Bros, has already set two' releases for, the 1944-45 season, belffg, "Jatiie" Sept. 2 and "Crime - Byj Night" Sept. »: '..' This cuinpany; »J well as others ordinarily have been only a. nionth! or six weeks ahead on release dates. | Sutherland Huddling On Prez Harding Biog Hollywood, July 4. J Edward Sutherland, who recently [ bought "The Life of Warren G. I Harding,", is huddling on pi'oduction ! details with Leonard Morris, Wash- , ington newspaper scribe who wis <tf the bedside .'who'ii the former Pr.esi-! dent died. "''.' - | .Picture,..ba^ed• on a biography by;' Kenneth Grayson, will be produced independently. Agency Sues Lew Landers Los Angeles,. July 4. > Lew Landers, director, was. sued I for $24,070 by the Small Co., Holly- : wood agents, charging him with breach of an agency .contract. .- :t Plaint.iff asks 10", of Landers'; earnings, ranging .from.; $400 to $1,- ; 500. a week, and dating back to Oeto- i ber, 1938; Agency, claims Landeisj repudiated a director contract. it ar- • ranged for him with Columbia, and ; wants recompense . for the fees it ' would- have earned. First director job for Landers'.-im-i der his new three-film contract,with the Pine-Thomas unit, for Paramount, -release will be "Homesick Angel." Picture, which, recently drew an tipped budget, gbe.i info work when | the Pine-Thomas, crew 1 washes .up I "Dangerous Passage." •'■ ■ WB SELS ITS PHILLY EARLE TO CHAIN STORE .Philadelphia, July 4. - The EarJep-only vaudefilmer here, and one of {he key houses in the Warner chain, has been sold to tha W. T. 1 Grant department chain, it was revealed here last week. Al- though the selling, price was not re- vealed, the property is assessed at $2,563,000. Grant's.: will not fake possession of the property for quite a while, Warner execs said. The theatre chain has been given an option al- lowing it to occupy the property un- til 1040 if need be. ■ Warners wiil ' probably build a new theatre for vaudUlm preseitta- tion after the, war, is soon as prop- erty- and building costs are sta- bilized. If no new house is built, vaude can be presented either at the Fox or Mastbaum. - The Earle'was built in 1923 at a cost, of $5,000,000 by the Stanley aird B F. Keith interests and at the lime was called the finest; vaudeville house in .the country. It was' named for George H Eai-le, ,lr:, father "of the fi/i race Governor of Pennsyl- vaiii.i. vv.ho. had a .financial interest in the .Stanley .Company.' of. America. The- h(,use was at ' tirsl xa'iied the Earlc. • but when some members of the h'tr.ih obiccted it was changed to-; the "Elrae" (Earie spelied -back- wards").;., later it was. changed pack when the 'family, con.-ented to. the use of the original nMre. ' ' Sales Meet Concurrent With UA's'Since' Preem Sales policy!on David O. SelzuickV "Since You-Went Away" wrill be set by United Artiste district sales man- agers concurrently with the opening at the Capitol, N. Y July 20, Art; invitation, premiere is being: -,dis- cussed ,' for the. .njght .before . coni- mencemeht of the run. While the admission," scale.?-at the Capitol wilt be increased. Neil F. Agnew, v.p. in charge of distribution for .'.Vanguard; iSplznicki, slates that- the .prices have hot. as yet been delerrriihed. . Gene Krupa band, at the Cap with the picture, will play a curtailed 25- minute?stageshow. Picture -runs two", hour* and so mimiu»i ;' ~ :