Variety (Sep 1945)

Wcdneaday, September S, 194S PICTURES SnX EXHIBS LOOK TO ADADSH CUT EysseO Estimates $6,500;000 Record Music Hall Gross for '45 The Radio City Music Hall N Y, will grass aiound $6,500,000 this ye;u, it IS ebtimated by G S Eyssell, man- aging director of the tlieatie. It would be an all-time high for v\li<it is the top film theatrem the world. In August alone the Hall grossed about $575,000, the highest month il has enjoyed in its 13 years ol opeia^ tion The $6,500,000 figure for the thea- tie controlled and built by the Rockefeller Interests as & part o£ the Badlo City development/ compares ^\ith $5,800,000 for 1944, an mcieiiso ot S700 000 ^ While it may be hecdssary, to, throw ill a 10th picture foi 1945, tlioies a good possibility, says Ejbsell. that the end of December may see the KoU come out with only nine, a new annual low, which would cieate an average of between only fiv? and -iix. ■wSeks ,for each film. Goincidentally, this year sees .not a single RKO pictme on the Miisu Hall marquee, first time this Jius occurred since the theatre opened, Pictmes this calender year aic 'Na- tional Velvet" (M-G), on carryovei into Januaiy from Decembei oi 1944, "Song to Remember" (Col). "Tonight and Tacu Night" (Col). "Without Love ' tM-G). "Valley ol: Decisioiv" (M-G). "Bell for Adano" (20lh), 'Ovei- 21" (Col), which closes a three-week stint tonight (Wednes- day): "Our Vines Have Tender grapes" (M-G), opening tomorrow (Thursday) for an indefinite lun and "WeeUend at the Waldorf" (M-G) Which EysselV- figures may tarry through to the first of' the coming yeai It another picture li necessaiy it will brm'g the ^total played. 10, to thai ot 1944. Ba.sed upon a possible nine for the current calender year, the Hall will have plaved only 833 pictures smi'e • Its opening at the end of 1932 (Dec, 27). an average of 26 yearly. The first .\car (1933) was the toughest in the Hall's history with 47 pictures played over a 52-week pe- riod, Thcv included 20 from RKO, li lioir 20lh, five from Waincis four from Columbia, three from Uni- versial and one each from Paramount i and United Artists.; ■ ■ Since then the years and the num- I ber of pictures enjoying Hall: ten-| - aivcy ha\ e been; 1934 , 1935 *193fi 1937 1938 1939 . 1940 . 1941 . .... 1942 . . '1943 i.Y... Wt . .. . ... , 1945 , 'Fair's' 141 Bookings Iowa state-wide campaign for 20lh- Fox "State rair ' was so successful that instead of opening the opus at the Des Moines theatre, Des Moiaes, a.s initially planned, Tri States Thea- tre exe<;.s u.sed the Paramount also m order to handle the crowds attend- ing, the, preem, last week.' Bistead of 65 theatres, first slated, for initial statewide bookings, total has been boO-sted to 141 starting last week and continuing until tlie end oi this niOjDth, ■.',. ■-■„,'■•,■. Pre-Selling Pix Pre-selling drives on ma,ior ,:films far ahead of the openings have come in V lor some trade criticism., Ini-. porta at coin is spent tor ads m ntw.s- paper-s, car cards, posters, etc, her- alding the forthcoming- attraction, thus. Ill the opinion of ,some, in-, telling that the current attraction, u.suaHy, Irom another maror xom- pan.^■,:l,S■•on its way out of ,the hoiiae'. Actually, though,, the bill may n<jf be changing for any where from two, to five weeks. These drives, according to in- tormed circles; have a ..tendency to keeo downtown hlmgoers away from tlieatres.i.smce many feel that, since the picture is, -leaving' the house, they, may a.s well wait iinul it get.s to the nabes. These .campaigns thus, are, fell to have actually hurt the b.o,-of. cjurreiit attractions which, ijE allowed to grab .the ■spotligj.il from an ad-publicity-exploitation \ic\\- point during matority of .its run, would stay well above us control fig- ure and continue its more profitable engagement at the flrst-riin houses . S[E RETOflNEES E While hoping for continued stabil- fty. in -the ad,missioh;price structure, exhibitors in smaller cpmmunities see signs pointing to a gradual dip m admish prices. 'Generally biz is okay in the middlewest though some exbibs; claim it's not as good as. last year.- • ', Rural ejihit) 1 tors will not'only get a bis percentage of returning war^ plant woikeis who had migiated to the big cities in answer to big wages, but they will be hit by numerous boys returning from service in the next 14 , months. Admittedly, these smaller communities lost a compara- livelv larger number - in the draft. Willie all this means larger po- tential audience, from which to draw- patron.s. exhibitors generally ac- knowledge they won't pay present ddnnssion jcales — The fact that many will be out of work and that others will be re- ceiving less than formerly is bound to produce empty seats in the film houses. This automatically, will bring a lower-price scalci exhibs aver. Loew s Sets BMM Program For Theatres in Latin America Merger Forms New Indie : , Hollywood, Si pt. A. -:New , ,ihdie . known, as, Advcinced Pictures, Inc. lormed by merger oi company of Dave Fleischer, former Paramount cartoon producer, sand that of Peter Tinturmi composer, is rve!»otiating.ior releases, ' - Fust pictuie will be 'Heaven Only Knows,:' authored by David Boehm and purcha.sed lor a reported $60,000, Boehm i.s .sot to write script. Harold A Bakci, Chicago financiei, is angel- iing new firm,, ' : , 43 40 32 30 31 28 26 2() 1<> 11 It) 1-10 OAKLAND MGR. JAILED ON FALSE THEFT REPORT Oakland, Cal., Sept. 4. William Venard, 24,' manager of the Foothill theatre, is in jail on a charge of making a fal.se report of robberv. Venard claimed to have been held up and robbed of $1,875 in theatre funds on Aug.-27 while returning home fi'om tli6 theatre,• Police incjuiry developed that the monev was cached . in a friend s room. '. POLIO SPREAD MAY BAR KIDS FROM CHI HOUSES Chicago, Sept. 4: ■ There was strong indication-that children- may be barred from film houses here soon, with report ot .six new cases ot infantile para1}''Sis in Chicago by Dr. Herman N. BundeV son. Chi Board of Health prez..Kids under 14 are now being keptwout of theatresm nearby Michigan Citv, liid,. and in Freeport,- Belvidere and Rockford', III.- In the - latter.' citv, which has been spraved with DDT, new miracle insecticide. 24 lives ha\'e been taken by polio since ,Jul\ 1 Although no penalties have been fi.xed for violations by theatre ops.' It s believed that an order, adopted unanimou.sly by city councils of three latter-named niunicipalitiesi will be enioroed through cooperation Of ■parents. , , M<;a(iwlvil,e. opening; of .schools in Michigan City and Bolvidere ha.s been shoved back to. Sept. 10, With no opening, in view at all for Rock- lord, although Chi schools will opeii on schedule.-: Anntial Boone County fan at Bohideie. skedded'foi Sept. 7-9. has also been cancelled. Solve Cincy $l,MO BobberV ; Hamilton, O,, Sept. 4. Last week's $1,000 robbeiy ol the Foiesl theatre, Cincinnati, \\as be- lieved solved with the arrest here ol Floyd Skaggs four days later, accord- ing to Hamilton Chief of Police John G. Calhoun. The youth named two confedeiatcs. Schwalbe Temp Prod. Mgr. for Sol Lesser Hollywood, Sept. 4.. Ben Schwalbe has been inked as production manager for Sol Lesser pending return of Barney Briskin, Biiskiii will return to the ,tob aitci 'Several months of recuperating from ilUie.ss: ■ -; ■ , - , Schwalbe resigned last week a.s. esecutUe producer at PRC Yallee Quits Birdwell Yarn After Mooney Tiff , Hollvwood. Sept. 4, - Rudy Yallee .stepped out Of, the, Ru'.scll Biidwell lole in '1 Ring DooibelK at PRC lollowiii!; dif- (erence.s with producer Martui Moo- ney. ■, -"R'6bei;t, Sha.vnc will ii.ssume flack' role, ,which, jvas ,anhoiinccd to have been played bv the crooner, although he had not %et inKcd lonliatt D. of J. Discredits Speculation On Pre-Trial Decree Washington, Sept, 4, Although the rumor persists that the Government's anti-trust suit against the maiors may not get to- trial next month, with a new consent decree to be signed meantime, the Depti ot Justice says it has done nothing to encourage, this specula- tion. A special staff. is working long hours compiling documents and rec- ords for. the trial, and there has been no hint that the Government i\ill talk about a new decree onany basi.s other: than that'of divorcement." As yet. the majors, as a group, at lea.st, ale unwilling to accept that condi- tion.- .,:.-- - ■ ■ - „, ■' Tgji lis no: appointment has been made at this date for any discussion of decree possibilities beyond the brief and—irom the industry -view point^unsatistactory session with Attornev-Gencral Tom Clark and Assistant Attorney-General Wendell Bci'ge Aug. 24, At that time, the di- vorcement position of the Govern- ment was made clear. - _ . There 'IS still, however', a stron.g feeling" here that ,further attempts to keep the case out of court will be made in the next month. Trial is Scheduled for Oct. 8, and the defend- ants are -said to be anxious to stop it if possible. It has been rumored, too, but not confirmed here, that one or possibly two of the-defendants inav attempt to; settle: independently if the others refuse to accept the Government terms. •■ Maico $1,500,(100 Theatre Program Memphis, Sept. 4. : The Malco Circuit is planniirg a $1,500,000 program of constructfon, expansion and In■lpro^'ement as soon as rnaterials , are available,, M, A,, Lightman, -prexy, has tolfi cjty man-, ageis liom 31 cities in v\hith the circuit, operates. Program calls for a. new theatre on Main street, two new neighbor- hood houses and a dnve-m here; en- largement of the- suburban. Capitol theatre, remodeling of the Malco. organizat-ion'.s Main street shovv win- do-yi', and a new theatre at. Jackson, Tenn < Lightman told the managers at a banquet here that 241 of the com- pany's 700 employees were called to the colors during, the war, in- cluding his Own two sons. Three of the employees lost: their lives. All will be returned to their jobs, but there will be no di.smissals to make way for them. . Malco employees sold 424,000.000 worth of wai bonds Lightmfm revealed. "Divorcement Certain," Sex Cole A new consent decree will not be negotiated to avert trial of the Gov- ernments antirtrust suit against the . (Continued on page 18);/ Four Planucfl in Florida , , Miami. Sept. 4. A wave of new theatre construc- tion 1^ sweeping Greater Miami since the end of the war. Wometco The- atres, Inc.. one of largest chain the- atre operators m south Florida, is setting two new proiects. One theatre Will be: in the heart ot Miamis downtown districts: Tfte other will be in suburban Miami Shores^ north of Miami, The downtown house, tentatively named the "Florida, will be a 2,000- sealer The "Shoics 'Iheatie will (Continued on page 20> MONOGRAM PLANS TO SPEND 500G FOR BLDG. Hollywood. Sept 4 Monogram Bielures plans: $500,000 bliildihg eicpansion-program as soon as materials arc available, it was an- nounced by Trem Garr. Construction Will include new sound stage, new commissaiy, nev mill and carpenter shop and addi- tions to executive offices. ' >• , Loew'.s- International - (Metros has launched a $9 000000 theatre build- ing and remodeling progiam m South Ameiica greatest in its long : nitcrnational career. Project call.'!. for :-twd office biiilding.s and, eight , new or remodeled hbuSes.: : ; : Arthur Loewv. Locw'ii.International,: ,prcxy,.predicates the -whole setup on incieased bi/ icsulting fiom Locw's : pioneoung with synchronised pic- : tuies Even lessei films with Span- ,; ish dubbnig ptoduccd big icvcnue. - Loews has been encouiagcd by the - turn' ■ of ■ even'ts' after': only ';"cight' moiilhs of"dubt^iiig,, ."(iasiighf," iiii- lia'l synced film.' oufgro.s.scd 'IGone With the "yVind'* .in; .riea'rly-..-e.Ver'^.:''. Latin-Amei ican spot played Two theatres, housed m an eight or 10-story office building aie pio-: J£ct£!d -foi-Jlavana - Project -is - iigr"^ ured to cost over $4,000,000 One:, hou.se will seat 2.000. while the other Is to be a 1 000-seatoi Plans aie being studied to make part of the: stiuctuie a film center hou'-in'.; all ■ IJ S exchanges in the Cubaii capi- ■ tal In Buenos Airo.s another office buildins; and a .1 000-seat theatre aie planned This is a $3,000,000 pioi- ect. Also in Argentina, a l.ljOO-scat- theatre, the Opera, at Tucuman is ^bcing converted into a fiist-iun de- luxei, 'This house will have a new sound svstem and air-conditioning. Foi the 500,000 population city ot Valpaiaiso Chile Loew's is plan- ning a new 2 500-soat theatre to be l.noun as the Mctio It will cost around $1,000,000. , ^ ' : : Expandini? in Colombia Loews International is expanding in Ihiee cities ol Colombia Com- pany has started construction oil a 2 OOO-.'.cater at Call. 100,000 popula- ■ tion. It will include air-condition-' ing and late developments in solind and projection;: will cost $400 000, In iBaianquilld Chile. compan\ luis I taken over the l.!)00-.seat Apollo, and I will make it a' first-run: shoW-win- dow foi Metro product It will be ready to start as a LoewMetro op- eiation.ran J 1946, after undergoing ,- evtensive alteiations and m.stallalion of air-conditioning grid other jie\v ' equipment. Job-will co,st nearly $100 000 In Mqdellm, Chile Loews International recently acquired the Avenida and. now 1.S running it as a deluxe fiist-run This 1 OOO-sf-at the- atre was refurbished and givert air- conditioning at a co.st of nearly SIOO.OOO. Lofw's International oxpan.«iion,' however, is not devoted ontiioly to p]an,s abroad; plans are going fe.r- waul now on the 12-.stoiy ollice building synch) oni/.ation studios and lab on West 57th stieet, New Yoik. Structure promi.ses to be one of the most elaijoiate film company ollice buildings , in the-world: will rcput-'- ediy cos) clo^e to 'i>4.000.000 Sti uc- ,tui:e, which - runs through to ,Mth sticet cot only will house Locv\'s . complete: foreign, department, but - will contain about 12 piojcction rooms. HECHT DUE AT REP Hollv.jvood;' Sept. 4. Ben Hecht will; Check. in at Re- public Sept 20 undei his wi Iter- Idiiectoi-pioducci deal with the stu- dio;,:-' ■ :. ,,'■':;,■:;■,■,,,„■• -. ' Lee Garmcs will he associate pro- Ulucei' and head camel aman. Schlaifer Supervises 20th-Fox Ad-Pub ^$¥ome ^comes Special Co. Aide Hal - Horne, 20th7F6,x acU'crtisinK,, ptlblicily and exploitation chief,, gave- up that post last week and iinmcdi- dtclv d<.sumed a position a.s special consultant with the company Char- les Schlaiter his a.ssisUnt was placed in supervisory charge jestci- da\ (Tuo.s^i Spyros Skouras an- nounced that the- exploitation, ad, ■publicity and ; radio , departmciitH woiild st!iy .statiis quo- teiriporarilj', witi) Schlaifer ■supcrvi.siiig. He also revealed that Rodncy Bus 1 j,: Chrjsf,v, VVilbeit Jules Fields and Ted L1o\d heads ot e,\ploitation, adi, publicit.\ and radio, respectivelyi will stay in those posts Ala's: 'Youngslein, execi- ti\e assistant to Horne. also ktl 2Utn- Fo,\ .>> cstci da,v. • Home's new post with gOUi-Fox is on a. ngn-excUiMyc; basi.s', so he can carry on other activities.- Sl(ouias espiessed rcgiet at "the severance of what has been a ^ery happy relationship," Home's jjact as ad-publicit} chte't had about foui nine \ears to run An adjustment has been made. COMMIHEE ASKS FOR I.A.-5X-TAXjDNJIDMISH :/;,. Lo.s Angeles, Sept. 4. : . Tieeommendrilions in rcgaid to pio- pb.s-ed ,5',;, "adinissions, tax, go: before the. Cit.y-.C,()tio(=i|..next week with in- cficnt"idn,s, that committee on taxation and reveritie \\'ill.,tavot',the gousjc/, ::E,\hibifrtrs .vvho . tried to' explain then' position - at a eoromittce hearing virtually- wcr.o slapped down. Comr, ;mitte,c -deiMcd ".as.^ef'tions of cxhibs;, that' tntiyc is, alrried,-at tbcati'cs 'and.,' m-odC 'il>,-,plai|i, that levy, i.s pui'Cly ,a : ".soak-lhc'-t.'ix.payers;' 'gimmick.:' -,;P,;£ul VVi,lli|iiT!.s, general man:i-.£ier of;-. Southei n; Ci'lffornia Theatre D,W'iiei's. ,As,-'ii.l i.s - leaduv'S liglit against. the'-S.^i .■cHii, -',:-■' -;„:■; ' ' ■'- '', Metro's Freeman Goes East Schnitzer to Captain Sears lOOG Sa es Djive irl ;■ Le^rrinail ■ lai-'t vyceis ■ ,ti:''n'!cd Hollywood. Sept 4 , M., Bernard, Freeman, ^Metro's managing director lor Aliftralia and New Zealand, heads cast this week al'ior studio coi:i,tabs;;herc, - He w:iU. return tf> the Coast, in Novcnibei pieparatoiy to going bark 10 -Australia, C:, Kdwaid M. Schnit-zei. homeoffjce e\ec to captam the $100,000 Ciad Scar-' sulc.s- drive,which staiHccI- Aug. - 4,.aiitl continue.^ .th,rou.6h .Dec. 31. ; , Sdinit.er plans to toui comwny exthan;,es