Variety (May 1946)

22 PICTURES N. Y.s Voluntary Brownout But RR Strike New Worry; Chi s $2,000,000 Loss Despite coal tince which has ► given virtual reprieve to show biz, New York is voluntarily continu- ing observance of the brownout un- til Mayor O'Dwyer gives the final "go" sign for full power consump- tion by all business. Meanwhile, threat of railway strike Saturday (18) has everyone jittery since no trains means ho coal. In other parts of the country the picture is still unpleasant, with the feeling prevalent that the two-week period will not be sufficient to im- prove things much. Only areas where there's been no worry are those with electricity supplied by water power, chief among them Southern California. Unique status of Minneapolis, where theatres and other places of amusement have gone along with brownout orders In spite of power abundance, has had show people there mystified. Northern States Power Co., which supplies the city, said that there was no cause for worry for at least three months, since water power could supply requirements. Chi Blr to Normal Chicago, May 14. After 10 days of confusion and an estimated $2,000,000 boxoffice loss, Chi show business was back to nor- mal Saturday (11) after word of the coal truce prompted the Illinois Commerce Commission to lift all but a few restrictions imposed May 2 as dwindling coal stocks necessitated a power curtailment. Film theatres, hardest hit of all, resumed fulltime operation and re- ported heavy b.o. as entertainment- hungry Chicagoans flocked to sec "movies at any time." After being closed for Ave. days last w eek, thea- tres were authorized by the ICC to operate on a 24-hour weekend basis instead of the original 2-6 p.m. daily schedule which had proven unsatis- factory due to poor boxoffice take. A few small enighborhopd houses installed generators r.ud operated throughout the dimout, but all loop houses remained shut with the ex- ception of Balaban & Katz's Apollo, which ran Thursday (9) and Friday j (10) with generator power. Legits, which played to good houses during the dimout, operating on makeshift power, reverted to city Juice. Civic Opera house, where j "I hope that Breen will take the op- Metopera concluded a week's run \ portunity to visit the continent and •Saturday (11). sent the chartered I talk to the French." Asked about boat "Mainsheet Eye" , on its way'l"? own plans to go abroad, the Railway Express' OK On Shipping of Films Helped During Crisis A real crisis for exhibitors and distributors throughout the country was averted last week through will- ingness of the Railway - fcxpress Agency to include film among' a small number of items that it would handle during the coal strike. Ex- press company, however, refused to accept accessories or any other ma- terials of a film nature. This pre- ceded 12-day truce. in coal strike effective Monday (13). Meantime, the threat of a railroad strike Saturday (18) has developed. If it eventuates distributors will face a real problem in the servicing of theatres. Emergency measures would probably include chartering of trucks, use of private cars, air- freight and some parcel post At the New York headquarters of the Railway Express Agency it was declared last week all film would be accepted for shipment, since it was considered of public importance along with newspapers • and maga- zines, also okay during the coal strike crisis. Limitations on commodities that could be handled were.exceptionally severe. . In addition to film and papers, Railway Express effective midnight Thursday (9) gave the green light to only the following items: All food for human consumption, livestock, printing paper including newsprint, printing inks, medicines and drugs, surgical instruments* and supplies, hospital and sickroom sup- plies, caskets and funeral supplies, flowers and articles that fall into a money classification such as bonds, etc. In connection with the livestock item, explained that this includes race horses. ' Breen to Eng. - Continued from pace S ; after-it furnished power to the stage for Saturday evening's performance. Polio Epidemic Closes San Antonio's Theatres San Antonio, May 14. Immediate closing of all public, private and Sunday schools north of. Commerce street' for two weeks and other drastic steps on theatres, dancehalls and other places of amusement were ordered here Saturday (11) by the Health Dept. as the city countered a serious polio epidemic. There have been 13 cases reported this year. In the last Ave days there has been one case reported each day. Curb also hits local Army camps as many of the camps are full of new recruits in the 18-19 year bracket. Most all of the local first-run theatres are on the north side of Commerce street. Coming as it did Saturday afternoon (11), the an- nouncement curbed biz at all local houses over the weekend. Detroit Exchanges Settle With Backroom Employees Detroit, May 14. A 15% increase, retroactive to Dec. 1, 1945. was granted in a new con- tract signed with the Detroit Local B-25 of the IATSE by the local Mm exchanges. The 15**, increase will be added to scales now ranging from $25 to $48 a week for the 140 film handlers and shipping and poster department em- ployees in the nine exchanges here. The new contract, exchange of- ficials said,, is substantially the same as those in effect in other cities. The lowest paid employee will receive a minimum df $360 in retroactive pay. New (54,000 Canadian House Regina, Sask, C. V. Marshall, manager ol Em- press theatre, North Battleford, Sask„ starts work soon on new $5,000 house which will seat 1.000. Empress con- tinues in operation. 1 MPAA chief said he had lo "get or- ganized here" before going. Foreign 'Toughest* Other announcements at the ses- sion: Johnston said the foreign situation was probably the toughest facing the industry. He added that the Motion Picture Export Association is try- ing to find a way to get blocked funds out of Germany and various other foreign countries but has not yet found any solution. Johnston said MPAA would plug hard for free- competitive enterprise in the foreign market but that Ex- port Assn. will be kept in business to deal with monopoly situations in other countries: He reminded that 35% of the industry's revenue comes from overseas business and that this slice of revenue must be maintained by hook or crook. Just about every country in Europe presents a dif- ficult situation, he continued. Asked whether he was "optimistic" about the French situation, Johnston hedged, "I am not pessimistic." Regarding the current backlog of films which have been running into censorship troubles in various parts of the country, Johnston pointed out that most of the pix were approved by MPAA before he took over "I expect to enforce the motion picture code rigidly/ 1 he said, think the motion picture code is strong enough and does not need amendment,. if properly enforced.' He refused to cohiment on the "Out- law" suit- Session was held in the New MPAA headquarters building here into which Johnston is just moving, and included a tour of inspection of the premises. At present there is a staff of 18 in the building, including the force of the local MPAA office under Jack Bryson. Johnston plans to bring down ad ditional personnel from the • New York office, including the. small re- search unit. New York office is badly squeezed for room, partic- ularly since the Export Assn. needs space for expansion. I Picture Grosses I Continued from pate 13 SmSsii DENVER (Col) and "Night Editor" (Col), also Esquire, Webber; big $21,000. Ea«alre (Fox) (742; 35-74)—"De- votion" (WB) and "Smooth As Silk" (U), also Denver, Webber. Nice $3,000. Last week, "Gilda" (Col) and "Night Editor" (Col), also Denver, Webber, stout $4,000. Orphenm (RKO) (2,600: 35-74)— "Tarzan Leopard Woman" (RKO) and "Deadline at Dawn" (RKO). Sturdy $14,000. Last week, "Sailor Takes a Wife" (M-G) and "Pillow of Death" (U). fine $16,000. •-"rmrmmoBnt (Fox) (2.200; 35-74)— "Murder in Music Hall" (Rep) and "Carman of Paris" (Rep). Fine $10,- 000. Last week, "Jesse James" (20th) and "Return Frank James" (20th) (reissues), $11,000. Blalto (Fox) (878; 35-74)—"Drag- onwyck" (20th) and "Gay Blades" (Rep), after week at Denver, Es- quire, Webber, Aladdin. Good $4,000. Last week. ''Seventh Veil" (U) and "God's Country" (FC) (m.o.) good $3,500 Webber (Fox) (750; 35-74)—"De- votion" (WB) and "Smooth As Silk" (U), also Denver, Esquire. Around $3,000. Last week, "Gilda" (Col) and "Night Editor" (Col); also Denver, Esquire, good $3,500. Indpls. Ups Prices Bat 'Outlaw' Terrif $20,000 At Old Scale; V HG . Indianapolis, May 14. Film biz is up again here this •eek, aided by capacity take on The Outlaw," playing solo in its first stanza at Loew's. Figures also are boosted slightly by price hike put" into effect this week at Indiana and Circle. Lyric follows suit next week. Loew's remains at old scale. "Tomor- row Is Forever" is above average at Indiana, and "From This Day For- ward" looks strong at the Circle. Estimates far This Week Circle (Katz-Dolle) (2.800; 40-60) -"This Day Forward" (RKO) and •Riverboat Rhythm" (RKO). Okc $11,000. Last week, "Her Kind of Man" (WB) and "Smooth As Silk" U). Neat $10,000 at 35-55c scale. Indiana (Katz-Dolle) (3,300: 40-60) — Tomorrow Is Forever" (RKO). Extra good $14,000. Last week, "Vir- ginian" (Par) and "Strange Imper- sonation" (Rep). Sock $17,500 at 35- 55c scale. Keith's (Indie) (1,200; 35-65)— 'Crime of Century" (Rip) plus vaude. Sturdy $5,000 in weekend run. Last week, "Girls, of Big House" (Rep) and vaude, okc $4,500, same lime. Loew'* (Loew's) (2,450; 35-55)— "The Outlaw" (UA). Terrific $20,000, near capacity at this scale here. Last week, "Ziegfeld Follies" (M-G) (2d wk). nice $10,000. Lyric (Katz-Dolle) (1.600; 35-55)— "Virginian" (Par) and "Strange Im- personation" (Rep). Dandy $6300 on moveover. Last week, "Sentimental Journey" (20th), nifty $6,000, also moveover. Wednesday, May 15, 1946 Dimout s Effect on Chi Indicates Showmen Need Unity AD Over U. S. History Repeats There's nothing new in the theatre curtailment last week because of dwindling fuel sup- plies. A glance at the Dec. 12, 1919, issue of Variety tells of a . then current strike which re- sulted in a clampdown of thea- tres, with Chicago and New York, as now, particularly hit. Chi vaude and legit houses were limited by the regional coal committee to six performances weekly. Broadway -suffered through the brownout with all theatre signs doused. Loew's Won't Be Caught With Power Plants Down Loew's circuit isn't going to be caught with its power plants down again. During the coal strike last week, when private and municipal companies were rationing theatres in some cases to 24 hours of power a week, Loew's. was buying all the Diesel engines it could lay its hands on at the War Assets Administra- tion. Wherever used, the crude-oil op- erated Diesels paid for themselves after one days's operation by en- abling houses to remain open despite the coal famine. Loew's is return- ing to its normal electric power sup- pliers but is keeping the Diesels in reserve. UA's Sears and Gould Back Gradwell Sears, United Artists' distribution chief, returned to his desk Monday (13), and Walter Gould, foreign manager, returned yesterday (Tuesday), following eight weeks' visit abroad. Sears came in by ship from Sweden and Gould by plane from Paris. They had surveyed film conditions in England, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy and France, following negotia- tions .with the J. Arthur Rank inter- ests, which originally took them abroad. ♦ Chicago, May 14, Urgent need for a combined coun- cil of all branches or show business in Chicago, as well as in other cites is seen as result of what happened here during the first few days of the dimout. ..Striking suddenly, the Illinois Commerce Commission's order to shut off the lights found film and legit houses, niteries, ballrooms, etc, totally unprepared to meet the emergency. Other industries, band- cd together as they are in trade associations — such as the State Street Council, representing Loop department stores, etc.—merely sent their officers and attorneys to ICC confabs on securing relief from the order. Show biz officials, however, from the large circuits to smaller opcr- ators, were floundering around try- ing to get together on just what they wanted. All had different aims: some wanted late evening hours, others wanted afternoon hours, others wanted them bunched together. And some didn't know what they wanted. There was also confusion as to what branches of show biz should be represented at the confabs—that is, whether film execs, nitery and ballroom bps, etc, should meet with the board separately or together. As a result, meetings on relief for show biz were shoved off till the last minute, while other businessmen, with a knowledge of how to go about it because - of their organiza- tion through the years on similar matters of urgency, got in ahead. Eventually, of course, the show- men got some relief from the order, but if they'd gotten together sooner the consensus is the relief would have come sooner. RKO's 10th Golf Tourney RKO's 10th annual invitation golf tourney will be held tomorrow iThursday) at the Westchester Country Club. Ned E. Depinet is honorary chairman of the event. Details of the tournament arc In the hands of John Farmer and Dick Gavim' DRAGONWYCK'-VAUDE SOCKO 30G IN D. C. Washington, May 14. Biz is definitely off this week de- spite ideal weather and shutdown of theatres in nearby Virginia. News- paper confusion about whether the coal strike was ended or not prob- ably contributed to the slump. "Dra- gonwyck" at the Capitol is the really bright spot currently, and holds. Estimates for Thii Week Earle (WB) (2,154; 44-85)—"Road to Utopia" (Par) (2d wk). Mildish $18,000 on 10 days. Last week, solid $25,500. Keith's (RKO) (1,838; 44-80)— "Spiral Staircase" (RKO) (3d wk). Strong $14,500 after last week's big $19,000. Metropolitan (WB) (1.503; 44-70)— "Bandit Sherwood Forest" (Col) (m.- o.). Moderate $7,500. Last week, "Wife of Monte Cristo" (PUC), fine $12,000. Capitol (Loew) (3,434; 44-80)— "Dragonwyck" (20th) with vaude. Socko $30,000, and holds. Last week, "Walk in Sun" (20th) plus vaude, fine $26,000. Palace (Loew) (2.370; 44-70)— "Kitty" (Par). Sturdy $27,000 but below hopes. Last week. "Ziegfeld Follies" (M-G) (2d wk). $17,500. Colombia (Loew) (1,263; 44-70)— "Whistle Stop" (UA) (m.o.). Mod- erate $7,000 or better. Last week, "Bad Bascomb" (M-G) (m.o.). about same. 'Valley' Co-Stars Named Hollywood, May 14. Warners assigned Dane. Clark and Ida Lupino as co-stars in "Deep Valley," based on a novel by Dan Tothcroh. Honry Blankc will produce, from a screenplay by Salka Vierlel. Europe Travel — Continued from page 2 s said Abravancl have made n big dif- ference in helping advance taste for good music in Australia. They've rid Aussics of the feeling that concert- going was sissiflcd. If GIs could go, Aussies decided maybe it wasn't "soft" to attend. Abravanel, who has directed opera and symphony in Europe, conducted at Metropolitan Opera in 1937 be- fore swinging over to Broadway for "Lady in the Dark," "One Touch of Venus," "Seven Lively Arts," "Fire- brand of Florence" and "Day Be- fore Spring." He's still mixing in both media, being set for Carnegie "Pop" Concerts May 29. A&S Lyons agency is working on a film deal for him, Louis B, Mayer having made Abravanel a proposition based on watching him work with "Spring." Kurt Weill wants him for fall production of the musical "Street Scene," set to the Elmer Rice prizewinner, and Alan Lerner and Fred Locwe have asked him to conduct their new musical, 'Brigadoon," also slated for fall. Abravanel finds conducting a Broadway musical, night after night, not the easy chore it seems to be but a very lough job. The problem, after a few weeks, ho says, is to keep the show precise and alive. A conscien- tious conductor has his job cut out; if he's routine, the show goes stale; if he's erratic, the show falls apart. What Abravanel likes best about a Broadway show is the time one lakes lo prepare one. Planning, try- outs, ensemble work of production staff; Dothing is slipshod, hasly. You come to Broadway with a finished, product. Thai's more than you can say for a lot of operatic or concert presentations. UA Owners Continued from page 3 the newcomer knows anything about the film business. Raftcry would be close at hand to direct negotiations with banks and with producers, and lo advise on other problems. High respect in which he is held in banking circles has been one of Raftcry's major assets to UA. Through his connections he has been able readily to obtain bank funds for UA producers. If a big name outside the business is not lined up as his successor, it appears likely that another proxy close to the banking situation may be named. Among the other factors in choice of a prcz by owners Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin and David O. Selz- nick is a man who is a highly able administrator. As they see it. he should be of a temperament 10 keep close watch on the overall affairs and eventually to institute econo- mies to put the domestic operation on a more profitable basis. In that way, distribution chief Grad Sears would be left entirely to handle sales policy without having to wor- ry too much about operational de- tail. Sears, incidentally, returned to New. York, Monday (13), from a two-month trip abroad. Schnoz's Party Continued from page 1 Slipper, for that night only, will assume the name of the "Jimmy Durante Club," reviving the color of the Volsteadian era. The Schnoz will team up at lh« party with his old partners, dancer Lou Clayton, now his manager, and singer Eddie Jackson. His stooge, Mile. Fifl, will also appear, and the guests will hear, for free, all the old Durante favorites, including "Wood," "Fugitive from Esquire," "Inka Dinka Doo," "Umbriago," etc. In addition, Durante will do a piano accompaniment for Laurilz Melchior. Party is slated to begin at 11 p i"- The. Schiioz will arrive from the Coast on June 4, along with several film stars who are coming In for the affair. Joe Pasternak, Metro pro- ducer who originated the party idea, will also be on hand. Climaxing the celebration, Du- rante's latest Metro picture, "Two Sisters From Boston,", will have its Broadway preem a day later at Loew's Capitol.