Variety (Dec 1929)

Wednesday, December 25, 1929 P I C T U R E S VARIETY 13 Cut Out AD Season Passes, Says Chain Theatre Man; Courtesy Grossly Ahused One of the theatre chaina, check- ing ]up on the pass situation, is re- quiring its managers to submit complete lists of season puss hold- era with reasons for the inclusion- 0 f each. City officials, policemen and firemen, outnumber newspaper men on many thei lists. • One theatre in a middle western town gives a season pass to the proprietor of a clgtu' stand in return for the use pf his phone In notify- ing local papers of program changes.' In another theatre an electrician isees all the pictures in return for free tinkering when the lights go blotto. The only house in a town of . 4,000 pop issues a sea- son pass to Mr. So-and-so "and family of four" because ho is the retired manager. of the theatre. In a number of instances former own- ers of the theatres have seemingly ejcacted a season pass in the trans- fer.:- ' • The nianager ot a'theiatre in a city of over 100,000 population has been issuing 27 season passes, spread among ten city offlcials and two newspapers. Apparently none of the 17 newspaper, passes go to dramatic departments. Thff annual Oakleys go to the general manager, the circulation nianager, the classi- fied a,dvertlslng manager; the na- tibhal. advprtiaing manager, the lo- cial idviertising manager, "the ad- vertising manager," the city editor, .the iasslBtarrt city'editor, an edito- rial writer and four made out to ^'representatives df the 'Daily Blah- blah'." /. . Eleven passes isstiecl to paper No, 1 in anbther midvrest itrtetropolis in- clude One for each of the three- dwiniers and one for the foreman of the composing room.. Paper No. 2 . gets 11, ohe for,, the publisher and another credited :to "son of the publisher.'.' Paper .Nov 3 is satisfied with three ttnnuails. to'vthe pubiisher, the .city editor, and the film critic. In one town of- 4,000 the theatre manager provides no season passes for any of the news boys, but issues a total of 20 for clt3r..officials, start- ing with the mayor and including .all eight councilmen. .- In a town of 10,000 the priess Is likewise of no importance in the amusement scheme, v But the fire chief,: the assistant fire chief and eight firemen get their year-longf ducats. So does the , chief of police, the assistant chief of police, the -desk sergeants and two cops. So does the sheriff and the sheriff's wife. : . Mrs. and Party A manager sent to a southern metropolis to take charge of one of the largest houses In to-wn found that his best loge was permanently reserved/ for a ^-Mrs. Card and party." A few questions among his peraonnel brought out that Mrs. Card was a terribly important In- dividuat who edited a magazine and apparently, controlled the clubwom- an vote and sentiment. Also that the pass Issued to "Mrs. Card and party" was never presented, but that membera of "party"', were drib- bling in all week and escorted to her loge. ; The manager kept a check for a week to see how l?irge Mrs. Card's party was, That week totaled 66; Deaplte predictions of dire con- sequences if he interfered with the lady'a privileges, the manager opened the loge to. cash customers and issued , orders that the' Card pass be honored only when pre- sented personally by Mrs. Card. After the first turndowns under the new rule the news spread swiftly in the circle pf Mrs. Card's friends and no more attempted to crash. Nor did Mrs. Card ever complain oyer her abridged priv- ileges. . Cut Out Season passes "If I had the say I would cut out season passes altogether," said an official of one theatre circuit "If the mayor, the chief of police, the president of the women's club, the publiaher a^.?iewspaper, j>x otlieria are entitled to the courtesies of a house for amy reason, the man- ager can use his judgment on issu- ing Individual passes. "The cashiers would be furnished a list of accredited newspaper re- viewers and authorized to pass them In on opening days. "The season pass is abused In so many cases that It should bo elimi- nated entirely." Free Week-Ends New management of a hotel at Palm Springs, Cal,, desert resort, is asking every studio to* ,send its celebs for week ends free of charge. . Playei's are going for the gag in a big way. N.W. Express Cos. Even Up For Delivering by Truck Chicago, Dec. 24. With film exchange trucks unable to distribute pictures In local ter- ritory as a. result of last week's blizzard, express companies retali- ated for the recent loss of film busi- ness by refusing to rush film de- liveries. Result .was that hundreds of ex- hibitors iii Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois, accustomed to semi-weekly or more. changes, had no pictures. In many instances they were forced to close houses for one and two days. , Excuse given by tlie express cpm- panles was thiat due , to Christmas traffic they could not guarantee speed or 24-hC)ur delivery. PUBLIX BUYS 100% Pays .$1,600,000 for Leech interest in Miami Houses Miami, Dec. 24. All of the. Leech interest in the locally operated Publlx houses ha-3 been purchased by I'ublix. It gives the chain 100%, Publi± is said to have paid $1,600,- 000 for It. The deal sews up for Miami for Paramount, other than tJniversars houses. Sale of National Circuit, Chi, Somewhat Intricate Chicago, Dec. 24. According to James Coston> the sale of the eQuity In the National Playhouses to the Bird Aniusement Corp. pf Milwaukee will make no immediate change since the houses will continue in the hands of the receivers and operated by the Cos- ton fiooking circuit.. Bondholders will bring foreclosure proceedings against the properties within two months, and at that time the equity-holder will be privileged to buy in the bonds or let the properties be foreclosed. In case of foreclosure, the Bird company assumes operating charge for 15 months, since under the Illinois statute the transfer of property following a foreclosure does not take place for 15 months following, the date of the sale; so that all assets and profits in that period will accrue to the Bird com- pany. "Capt. Blood," Special Hollywood, Dec. 24. "Capt. Blood" Bafael Sabitihi's story made by Vltagraph as a silent and acquired by. Warner Brothers In the Vltagraph purchase, will be remade as a special for 1930. Studio will make the sea yarn all Technicolor. Waldemar Toung, just finishing at Paramount, has been engaged to adapt the script to the talkers. No Smoking Rigid enforcement of the "no smoking" rules in motion pic- ture studios and office and lab- oratory, buildings -where film is handled, -with all warnings out, is demanded by the New York Fire Department in an. order Just issued. Where people caught smok- ing in these buildings were for- merly given a first warning, now anyone caught with a lit cig, cigar or pipe will be hand- ed a "ticket" to appear in court EDDIE WHITE Says Merry Christmas Master of Ceremonies at Earle Theatre, Philadelphia Fifteenth week and still going strong. "Many thanks to Wm. Goldman and Harry Shaw for all they have done for me.*' ' ' EDDIE. "Rogue's Sono" at Astor "The Rogue's Song," , first M-Q-M all-color, production. Is tentatl-vely slated to follow "Devil May Care" into the Astor, New York. It was scheduled to succeed "Hollywood Revue", at this $2 house, but was held Jo aUpw talker its" BhowihgT " ' : Second "Dp Fu." Hollywood, Dec. 24. Par&mount will make "Return of Dr. PU' Manchu" second In a series by Sax Rohmer. Roland Lee, who directed the Initial Manchu, will also meg this one. Thriller Is now In the hands of Lloyd Corrigan for adaptation. Dallas, Dec. 24. Publix has laid Out a split week policy for its combination houses here and in San Antonio.' It will o'into effect durin'g February from the present account; At' the same time Publix in Houston will go all sound, leaving but the two com- bination towns for Its week's dou- bling, of film features and stage shows In this section. With, the split, one half of the week will be devoted to the Publix stage unit and pictures, and on other half will be grind pictures only. The - stage shows alternate between the two cities, then pro- ceed to New Orleans for ia full week. . . " The policy calls for twice the dumber of feature films as formerly since there must be a feature on each split In each. of the two towns. Principal opposition, locally and in San Antonio is the Interstate, pifiying Fpx features arid R-K-Q booked vaude. U'S NEWSREEL NOW m 3,217 THEATRES Universal's newsreel is booked into 3,217 theatres, reported to be only 183 less than those which the company realized in its Hearst In- ternational hobk-up a year ago. Of the figure 40% is represented a,s be- ing in wired houses which use U's "talking reporter" disc service. The Laemmle. organization says it ia gradually working into the big chains, its reel getting pro- jections in some of the Fox and Publix out of town grinds. JUDGE THACHER CONFERS ON BEHAVIOR Meet Hays' and Dept. Jus- tice COunselr-^Described as ''Smiling' '^BLAZE 0' GLORY"—COHAN "Hell's Angels'V due in SprinQ- Hughes After "Sons o' Gtins" Sono-Art's "Blaze o' Glory," with Eddie Dowiing* coniei into the $2 Cohan, !New York,. Monday (DeCt 30), "Hunting Tigers" will close after two and a half weeks. Howard Hughes, Caddo's head, has issued instructions not to., sub- lease the house after March 1.. Ex- pectation is that "Hell's Angels" will be ready to make its long delayed debut at that time. Hughes is reported nibbling for the securance of the picture rights to "Sons o' Guns," current Broads way musical. • . Following a, four-hour conference ' Monday afternoon with government and Hays' attorneys, Federal Justice Thacher, shortly returned from abroad, Indicated that he will com- plete his outline for the film indus- try's behavior during 1030, shortly . after New Tear's. Jiidge Thacher, is described as smiling" at a lot of the suggestions and conditions turned in by Gabe Hess, representing Hays, aiid John Lord O'Brien with Stanley Thomp- son appearing for. the Department of Justice. While it was understood that the ; different written versions of the Union League Club . .confex-ences would be presented to Judge Thach- ei»,- denial was, made .at the Hays , office Tuesday that such had been the case. • There -Was no., clgish'^ among coun- sel in the jiidge's private citambers. It wais jELyerired, but the producer ahgle. of the get-together is that while the gpvermnent didn't seem to know exscctly what It wanted. Judge Thacher clearly indicated he has what Will be incorpoijated in the decree diready In mind. Hays men are confident arbitra- tion, called oft. awaiting the deci- sion, will be eoritlnued in January in the same olc|> way, with the pos- lilble exclusion of a-few minor de-^ tails. ' . ■ ' • , Salt Lake City, Dec. 24.. -Report here Is that Publix Is about to change playing policy herei arid In Omaha, for its picture and presentation theatre^. The stage show-feature will spWt between the two, giving each a half week of the st^ge show, with all pictures the other half. Texas Bars Fibns on Bas Dallas, Tex., Dec. 24. Films must not be transported in Texas by motor bus, accordiiig to a ruling passed by the railroad com- niisslon Thursday. . Order came following investiga- tion of a bus fire near San Antonio some time ago.. Claimed the .fire, which killed three persons, was caused by- exploding films. Local exchanges have beeri using busses extensively for sending films to west Texas and the iEUo Grande valley. . Ohio Again Kicks Out F N's "Wedding Rings" . , Toledo, Dec. 24. Ohio censors again threw out First National's "Wedding Rings" after giving the Pantheon permlSr sion to show It four days without a cut, The picture must be remade if shown In Ohio. Theatre got word Just two hours before scheduled opening. Union Operators at Same Topeka Scale as Paid Topeka, Dec. .24. Effective yesterday (23), all local theatres again operated by union men. Contract was signed by To- pekd. stage, hands, . .opeirators and musicians with Fox West Coast. This ends a walkout which start- ed Labor Day, 1928, when the' Na- tional Theatres Co., since selling to Pox, declared open shop. Under new contract, top scale for |)bc)th men is $65, same as was paid non-union men. Only two stage hands will be employed, and no musicians. , Fox will have closed three local theatres by the end of the year. Orpheurii and Cozy have already gone dark. Latter was a steady loser. Novelty re-opened with talk- ers. Can't C^ast ' Hollywood, Dec 24. Unable to get the proper cast at this time for "Miurder On the Sec- ond Floor," production has been moved ahead on the First National program to next summer. Sidney Blackmer, slated for the male lead will appear In "Other Men's Wives" at the same studio. OBIENTAL'S DEIYE Chicago, Dec. 24. Publix-B. & K, this week start an intensive campaign to bring the Oriental back Into stride. House has been In a bad slump for tWo months. Theatre yrill get the pick of pic- tures, plus special stage shows arid orchestral features. Bill Pine, for- merly In charge of publicity for both the Oriental and McVlcker's, will now conceritrate on the former site. "Eoyal Box's" Hideaway Warner's German talker "The Bay al3j)x,:!^eatiiringuMo.l^ ed at top px'Ices Tuesday at the sure seater 6 th Avenue Playhouse. . It is the premiere in this country. Talker was made in Warner's Brooklyn, .N. Y., studios. Having completed "The Case of Sclrgeant Grischa" for Radio, Her- bert Brenon arrived in New York Monday. Fire at New Brighton New Brigiiton; Pa., Dec. 24. Damage estimated at 135,000 was caused to the Empire, New Brigh- t o hT^'Tiy ^ Sri ""^^ Flames destroyed the rear part of the theatre, including the screen talker equipment and a new organ among other equipment. Firemen confined the blaze to the rear. 'Auditorium damaged only by water. The theatre la owned by Charles McDanel; leased by Mary Scaffell and C. I. Lewin. ORGAN JUDGMENT Wurlitzer Co., Has One Against . House at Kingston, N. V. A Judgment for; (6,200 lias been filed In the Supreme Court ag;airist Walter Reade by the Rudolph Wur- litzer Co. for a balance due ori i $13,760 organ purchased by the Broadway theatre, at Kingston, N. T. The suit, was liroiight , against Reade because he bought out the interest Of Harry Lazarus in the Kingston Theatre Corp, for |125,- tipp In September last and agreed to take over'all of its obligations. Report Publix-Shenandoah Purchase at $2,000,000 Lynchbur^r, Va., Dec. 24. Sritire holdings of the Shenan-f doah Valley Theatre Corp., subsid- iary of Universal* have been sold to Paramount-Publlx for a reputed $2,000,000. Nine houses are involv- ed, located as follows: Two In Win- chester, two In Harrisonburg,' two In Staunton,' two In Lieilngton and one In Clifton Forge. All are wived. Same company owns three in Dan- ville but. It Is understood, these are not affected. Deal Is the second to be carried out by Paramount since It cariie into Virginia three, months ago. The other transaction was at Lynchburg^ where the company bought four theatres outright arid the site for a fifth. Report is that Isaac Weinberg, who founded the Shenandoah chain and . was its president and gerieral manager, will remain . as general manager. . Fox Cutting Off Players Hollywood, Dec. 24. Fox's list of contract players Is now*. In the process of pruning. It will eliminate . Dorothy Burgess and Paul Page when their options come up for renewal at the end of this month. Others are to follow with ex- piration bf>..contracts=^next_ Spring. Chaney's Silent Hollywood, De(J. 24. Lon Chaney's next for MfG will be "Sergt. Bull" adapted froiri tho novel "Brother Officers." It is an English romantic war story and will be produced as a silent.