Variety (Mar 1946)

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Wednesday, Morcli 13, 1916 U&RiETT 25 NO CEILING ON FILM GROSSES Pass-tb-HatlStill Necessary For Charities, Film Toppers Contend Adoption of exhib proposals to- Timil llieiiU'e collections to one week pel- yciir would slice benofU receipts to tilt; bone, film oflficials active in c^nipaisn promotions Sire contend- ing. Hilling back in the wStke ol latfU developments, film toppers declJii'd last week that exhibitors suppoi'tiii!,' the move "were, paying li,) set vice to charity drives without lucKiMs tliem over dh-eelly." Switch to the community chest, one-shot drive, pushed b\ some exhib organi- zations notably Allied States, came to tin' fore recently when Jack Ku.-ch. Allied prexy, turned down a cM foi financial aid to the theatre cimpaimi ot the American Cancer Sociotj. The proposition is "foolish,"' an- other ollicial said, because a patron ^\ill only shell out once durins the veok leRiudlcs ot the nLimbcr ol pvganiz,ati6ns: s:e ek i n g /support. •Wheic you v\oukl get 50c fiom an indnidiwl on three different occa- sions in the course of three" drives, you'll gi't the same 50c once in a &inRle canfpaign," he continued. The March ot Dimes which dcpend.s al- mo.st in loto on theatre collections and tlu; Rod Crosa, recipient ol about half its liind.-i from theatres, would be pailicuUuly hit, officials said. Ku'-cli. supportms exhib rcsHve- ness based on a fear that continued collections would drive patrons from the tlieatres. told his members at the annual meet o£ Allied of Illinois that he was asiainst any form ot collec- tion for the Cancer Drive. He pro- posed A limitation to one campaign per year. Meanwhile, cancer drive oflicials headed by Chailes Skoura.s, were enibaiked on what they tagged "a soffcning campaign" to rally as many cxhibs as possible behind pro,iected theatre-box jingling during Easter week Mail appeals have been made to e\eiy theatre man in America, ot- iiLMiiK declared, and so far the oppo- sition hasn't proved seriou.s. A lotttr wh.ch Kiisch said he had forwarded to thciii .setlinR forth his views had not been received, they said. Mind- ful ot exhib touchiness on the sub- ject, diive officials said that they hjve been careful not to approach any operator directly. The entire , drive would be on an invitational | basi- and there would be no "pres Salutes Helen Hayes Waslungton. March 12. Red Cross award to Helen Hayes for her part in aiding the recruiting of nurses during the war was presented this after- noon (12) at National Bed Cross headquarters here. Presenta- tion was broadcast by CBS. . NORTHWEST SAYS BIZ CONTINUES ON UPBEAT Minneapolis. March 12. Ti ado !5cnerally in this territory. incUicliny -show business, continues to iium over the corrcspondins pe- riod a year af;o and hit new hlRh'?, according to the latest Federal Re- serve bank rcpoi't for the district, covering January. Report icveals that business ac- tivity for the month was approxi- mately 1.^', greater than for the con-e.'iporidmg 1945 period. This was .iudned by Hie dollar value of de- partnieni store sales and the dollai value ot checks written against de- positois' accounts. Siwii/icanl for the film trade is the report's statement that "Consumers have funds." . W.C. Handy Theatre Planned for Memphis Memphis, March 12. Now NcRro theatre which Ciial- mois CuUins-Nate Evans combhic is bii'ldiiiR in the Orango Mound di.'?- tuet here will be called "The W. C, Handy Theatre" in honor ot the No- sro composer who took 'the blues fiom Bcale Street to Broadway. Handy, a native of Memphis, has promised to come here for the opcn- JiiS. Giant-sized illuminated pic- ture of the man who wrote "Mem- phis B)u6s," "St. Louis Blues" and Beale Street Blues" will be placed >n theatre's lobby. Evans plans to open every pro- Sraiii Willi playing ot the "Mem- pliis Blues" and close each one ^vith "St. Louis «iues." Truman To Fete Red Cross Film Leaders May 9 Motion picture industry's 24 out- standing Red Cross workers, selected from among both exhibs and film salesmen, will visit the White llouse. on, May 9 to : receive the; personal thanks of. .Presideiit Truman fdr, their etloi'ts in, the industry's Red Cross Drue, March 20-2C. In announcing confirmation of the White Housfi meeting ye.sterday ITue.sday), national cha irman Spy^ rOs P. Skouras pointed out it was the first time in the industry's history that a group of 4'orkers from tlie field would be honored by the President lor their work on behalf ol a public cause. It also marks the fii.st time film salesmen are partici- pating on a competitive basis^ along with exhibs in an indystry-wide program. ■.■ . . :•■ Twenty-four exhibs and salesmen, who will be selected on the basis of percentage of increase ol their con* tributions m- l!)4(i over last year, will become members ot an honorary .''24 Hour Club" and. as such, will be lotcd at s(>veral specially-arranged mdu-sliy I unctions, Closing dates lor the selection ot nominees to the club will be detci mined by the re- gional distribution and exhibition chairmen for their respective re- fiions and distiicts. One salesman and one exhib will; be 'nominated from each of the country's 12 ex- change centers. . While House visit and the greet- iiifi by President Truman will be followed by a Washington luncheon, to be attended by Basil O'Connor, Red Cro'^s chairman, and fihn indus- try leader.s ot the campaign. Skouras \mU deliver a report of the indus- try's collections to Truman at this time. Twenty-four hour visit to New York uill folloss the 24-hour visit to. Washhigton. Program for the N. Y. trip is currently being set and will bo topped Oil by an appreciation dinner tondeird the showmen by Skoura.s. Members of the club will have all expenses paid during the trips. ■ , . Iiidicalion.s that this year's drive would top last year's record collec- tion were seen in announcements that many thtatics throughout the country. . planned to . follow the world's three largest houses—Radio City Music Hsll. Roxy and Para- mount. N. Y—111 extending the Red Cuss dates through two weekends Nation;'! campaiRn commiltce, mean- while, is plishing , it.'! efforts, to ..ob- l.iui 100'!, Ihoatie iopreseiitation, to lop the 85";. that made audience col- leclaons in 194.'i AIY AliEAD ICE W'S Ei . Right now, in the opinion- of dis- tributors and theatie operators, there appears to be no ceiling on grosses, Upward trend in biisiness at the bo-xoffice since V-J Day last August leads showmen to comment that one peak on lop ot another is; being struck. It; had been expected that the saturation point would be reached, long ago. especially after the. war's end, but despite declines in towns that had army camps and defense plants to rely upon, the nation's average is away up. Grosses on the whole arc running as much as IS*"!- ahead of compaiable periods in 1945, it is claimed. This past ..Tanitary: was substan- tially ahead of tlie same month ,last year. The same was true: of Febru-, ary. Though a 'Short month, busi- ness avetaged up about the same a.^ for the longer January. While theatre operators cannot figure where all tlie patronage is ■cpming from, noted that' retvirnirig .^oldiSrs lay the niiUioiis and idle de-- tense workers arc a contributing factor. In some quarters it is .stressed that film tlieqtres are reap- ing the richest harvest in history partly because the quality of picture product is running exceptionally high. Not only that, it IS added, but virtually all companies are turning out stronger pix by comparison tl»an in former years.- ■. Housii^ Administrator Puts Clamp On Any and AO Amusement Kdg. But Can Complete Started Wwk No End to 'Jolson' Hollywood. March. 12. All postwar marathon records for production on the Columbia lot were broken when "The Jolson Story" moved into it.-; 110th day of filming. Shooting still goes on. Washington, March 12. Drastic clampdown on con.struc- tion ol new theatres, studio sound stages and other amusement facili- ties is in the works. Wilson Wyatt, Housing Administrator, reaflirmed here yesterday (Monday k Signs in- dicated, however, that work already- started would not be stopped. CPA and National Housing Agency, which is drawing up the new order, described it as "drastic and fat- reaching." They said that more than $50,000,000 a week in labor and ma- terial was going into non-rcsidentiat building and "the new restrictions -have got to be slapped on quickly," . Aim: is the erection- of 2,700^000 homes during the next two years. Wyatt said the* new order banning start of construction on anything but homes would be issued "in a matter of days. " One bright spot in the pic- ture, as far as show business was / concerned, was a statement by other Washington officials Thar She Biows, 1st Post-Jackson Park Decish Suit Minneapolis, March 12. Prompted by the action of the Wa.-:hinglon officials that "persons U. S. supreme court in upholding a ' seeking to erect. new amusement decision awarding the Jackson Park facilities would have to show that theatre, Chicago. ,360,000 damages j L^™-^^^^^^^^ under what he declares is similar i construction may be permitted to 'HEAVEN'ASTRONOMIC GROSSER FOR RKO IN N.Y. A now alltime high of $525,000 is reported to have been grossed by the RRO Metropolitan New Vork circuit, exclusive of the^ Albee,,. Brooklyn, on "Leave Her to Heaven," 20tlv-Fox release which has. ,now reached the subsequent runs in the N. Y. area. Previous high on the circuit was Wai ner Bi o.s ' "Mildred Pierce." which i.s understood to have brought $440,000 to the N. Y. RKO ■circuit.' Althouiih Allied Tlieatre Owners of New Jersey some weeks ago passed a strong resolution attackin.;; 20th foi having changed sales terms on "Heaven," sold at an eaily date to some accounts on a flat basis. Allied exhibs ha\e .since contracted for , the^ picture; .Twentieth; subser qucntly had a session with an Allied exhibitor committee but refused to give ground, contendini^ that "Heaven" was worth the terms asked. circumstances, Bennie Berger, indc pendent circuit owner and North Central Allied presidents says he has instructed his counsel to file an anti- trust :. suit, ^ charging conspiracy, against major film distributors and the Minnasota Amus. Co. , Berger's complaint ensues frpm me' alleged refusal of ma.ior film, com- panies to sell anythuig but last runs to his Lyceum. Duluth. Before Ber- ger took over the house, following its abandonment by Minnesota' Anius., the Lyceum, he declares, had first runs for, 25 years. At the outset, Berger charges, the film companies refused to sell him. any runa for the Lyceum. He avers that he had to go to arbitration to get the present last runs, although he originally sought first or second run'-. He says he ha.sn't decided hoiv much: damages he'lJ a.sk.' B'klyn Par's Art Gallery Back to Pre-War Norm More than $250,000 has been spent in refurbishing the Brooklyn Para- mount and art treasures, valued at $8.'>0,000, which had been stored foi manv years, have been placed on exhibition agaiiKin the lounges and lobbies of the theatre. Hal Pei iera. color film expert and set designer for Paramount at its. Coast studios, was brought east to snpin-Mse redecoration of the hou.se. lie leUnncd to Hollywood last week. Brooklyn Paramount, for many yeais in a pool with Si Fabian, has "boen operated directly by Par since late last November. ' Ackerman's S.F. Canteen Site for Pktnre House Sa^i Francisco. March 12, The Stai^e Door Canteen here has been lea.sed by Irving Acker- man, who will convert it into a 500-seater. The American Thefitre Winn's lease on this propertj ex- pired Fob 1 and Ackerman signed a 20-yoar lease for. thc main flooE. . . Ackerman. who operates the Huc- ces.sful Nob Hill theatre in llie Fair- mont hotel expects to open the theatre, as yet unnamed, in ap- proximately .four-months. Sam Miller, w.k. locrll.v sir.d oivjier of the' old time Nugget restauraiU, has lea.sed the basonrvcnt under Ackcrman's new theatre and will opc'iato Coffee Dan'i. a late sf>ot run like the late great Coflee Dan's with ham and eggs on the skiliet and late entertainment. Coffee Dan's will have a separate entrance. Rep. Drops Bell, Flies Eagle Trademark Now Ilollyunod. March 12. ;RepubHc: announced 'the winner of a nationwide contest to change the studio masthead, formerly the Liberty Bell, but from now oh an; American eagle with wings out- spread. :■• The prize, amounting to $1.0<IOi went to -Howan Nunnally, a -sign painter. Award v.-as made by a -cbhiiriHlce oE: 14 hciitied by Herbert J. Vates, studio prexy. NEARLY $1,000,000 IN HOUSE FOR 'SPELLBOUND A gross of $1,000,000. or neai to it. highest ever in any soncalled run house on an engagement ol the same length, is seen for David O. Selz- nick's "Spellbound.'' currently in its 10th week al the A.stor. N. Y.. and scheduled to go a total of 23 On the first 18 weelcf already concluded picture has done $770,000. The oijening week m November, 194.5. set a new alltime high for the A.stor of $57,300. Sam Goldwyn's "Kid From; Brook- l.yn" (Danny Kaye» is slated ior Blaster week, with probable opening April 18, following ''Spellbound." Goldwyn and ScUnick alternate on luns at the Aslor under a dual leas- ing agreement. : ; get under way in cases where ex- treme need can be shown It prob- ably will mean more in the way oi permitting cxtenj.ive repair-.—which are frequently a mattei of public safety—than in starting completely new structures. Considerable building- has already' gotten under way in the amuseineat field.and there has been no definite decision yet as to whether continu-- ance will be permitted.: Howuver, the Civilian Production Administra- tion is reportedly opposing demand for a halt on this because of dif- ficulty in determining where to draw the line. CPA claims it Jacks an adequate field staff to enforce a .stopirconstruetion order. U Meeting Due Today Universal stockholders a n n iia 1 meetmg, slated for today (Wed.) at Wilmington, Del,, is principally to name 14 directors since shareholders at a special meeting rec-ently okayed the issue of preferred shares. Directors .ilaled to come up tor election are Nate Bluiriljcrg. .1. Cheever Cov.'din. Ottavio Prochetl. Paul G. Brown. D C. Collins. Wil- liam J. Germaan. Preston Davie. C. D. ''rulzman. John J. O'Connor. 3. Arthur Rank. Budd Ropers. Daniel il. Sheaffer, W. H. Tavlor, jr.. and Cliff Work. Linden, N. .1., Newest A 1.500-seater, costing $300,000, is .scheduled for construciion in Linden, N. J., by Plaza Associates. Site has been; purchased from former Majror : George McGillvray, Fred HcGill- vray, Sr., and Pilot Investment Co. . Plaza Associates also own the Plaza in Linden. , New Pcnnsy SOi-Seater. Pittsburgh. John Bixler, who owns and oper- ates two theatres in nearby Scott-^ dale, the Strand and the Arcade, contracted for a third, a new 800- seater,-.'' N(w California House Los Angeles. . Tom Sharpe is buildmg a 4.')0-seai film theatre in Perris, Calif., to be opqped this summer. Six Houses at Quebec Citr Montreal. New film house is slated at nearby . Quebec City, provincial capital. House will be built by France Films i-nd will seat 1.200. It will be the third theatre operated by tliis ciMft- pany in Quebec City. Proposed house means .six nev7 film theatres are planned here. Canadian CoiLsolidatcd Amuscmetita announced plans to erect four thea- tres in Quebec City while ; Famous Players will build one at suburban Sillery. Col. OMfield F!ack!ng HoU.vwood. March 12. Barney Oldfield. lormer V-iBrcrv correspondent in Lincoln <Neb.) and recently retired from the Armj' as a paratrooper Lt. Colonel, joins the Alex Evelove publicity staff at War- ners on Marcli lii. Oldfield will be assigned to handle publicity inattf^ on picture - ' Will Rogers" .in: "whicii ex-Congressman Will Rpgers, Jr., is to star. Par Repaets Hotton Hollywood, March 12. Paramount handed Betty Hutton a new term contract to replace the old one, which still had more than a year to go. , ;-.. ■.,.■.;. Actress joined tiie studio in 1941 and is currently vvorkinj; on her 13th picture, "The Perils of Pauline," Reagan's Coast Huddle Charles M. Beagah, vp. over dis- tribution for Paramount, is riow at the Coast studio discussing forth- coming releases and future produc- tion lineup. Meantime, it - was announced laist weelt by the studio that the first nine '.iiiontlis' product for this year woulfl run around $35,000,000 in cost.