Variety (May 1930)

Wednesday, May 21, 1930 PICTURES VARIETY 17 "Chain Stores" as Old-Style Meller, Played Before Grocers Des Moines, May 20. An old-fashioned meller in three acts, written by Neil Schaffner of the ' Neil and Caroline Schaffner Players, was played by that reper- toire company before the Briardale grocers' association in convention here last week. Company is composed of five men, three women. One scene, a village hotel. Present time. Town's one bank has failed, due to alleged robbery by bandits, and business in the village is pretty bad. Local grocer especially laments in- roads of chain store operations. His chief sympathiser is the widow who owns the hotel. Widow has two daughters. Elder Is in love with attendant at the oil station, but romance nearly goes on the rocks when the "young feller" gets a job in a chain store. The villain finds in the safe of the town's banker a letter incrimi- nating the banker in underhand deals about town. Meantime the grocer has attempted to borrow money from the ex-banker, but finds the banker won't come through un- less he can buy the grocer'^ home. Keason for banker's dirty attitude is his belief that there's oil on the grocer's homestead. And the villain falls for the •widow's younger daughter. In his ruthlessness he nearly vetoes her virtue. ■ In the nick of time, mother, sis- ter and the chain store sweetie ap- pear on the scene and proceed to put the k.o. on the villain. During the melee the letter taken from the banker's safe falls from the villain's pocket, and consequent exposure of the banker's treachery in getting the grocer's homestead and the oil revealed in its entirety. So endeth the climax. In the last act the ex-banker promises to restore all funds to be- fuddled depositors and makes the loan to the grocer which will enable him to dress up his windows and compete with chain store business and dress up his own front to win the widow. Somebody laughed when the vil- lage half-wit admitted pouring kerosene in the grocer's well— thereby providing the banker with a motive. - The villain commented that since there was every Indication that the chain store would be put to flight In the town and business become good, he would take up permanent resi- dence there. The Ingenue's virtue was still in- violate when the curtain fell. There were plenty of loop holes In the' dialog for making use of the name of the association for whom tfie play wsis presented, thereby giv- ing the "Independent" boys a big Worth while evening. Otherwise a terrible evening. CAMERAMAN'S CO. "VARIETY" MAN GIVEN CHARGE OF FOX, WASH. Hardie 'Meakin, "Variety's" rep- resentative, at Washington, D. C., for several years, assumed charge of the de luxe Fox theatre in that city Saturday, as managing direc- tor. Mr. Meakin had been on the direct staff of "Variety" and leaves it with .mutual regret. While representing "Variety" in Washington, Meakin had attended to the Fox advertis- ing copy. It attracted the atten- tion of. Major John Zanft, who su- pervises that Fox de luxer as port of his division. Meakin is thoroughly familiar with all branches of the show busi- ness. He started as an actor branched into the newspaper busi- ness in Washington, married there, and later became exclusive repre sentatlve for "Variety" In the Cap- ital. As such he has been of useful and general service to the show busi- ness, especially in matters of na- tional legislation. His efforts in In- dividual matters were often called upon. Plans Commercials with Lone Sound Truck in Northwest Hollywood, May 20. With the construction of a sound truck almost complete, Charles Piper, former Fox i^ovietone cam eraman in the northwest. Is gettlnj ready to establish a commercial picture company in Portland, Ore. Piper plans to maJce industrial talkers throughout Oregon, Wash ington, Montana, and Nevada. Truck is being built by James Balsley and Joseph Phillips, Disney sound engi neers. Tiff Rents Colony Tiffany made an outright rental for the Colony for two weeks to play "Sunny Skies" and "Border Romanced" Have an option If desir- ing to spot any other pictures. Colony may shortly close for the summer. "Song's" Fall Helease "Song o' My Heart" will finish Us run at the 44th Street, New York, May 31, when Fox's lease ex- pires. It is understood the McCormack special will be held until fall when It will be generally released after a run in the Roxy. Peter Milne, writing sUfE, Mack Sennett. John St. Polis, "Sez You—Sez Me. Fox, Dwight Frye, "A Handful of Clouds," WB. Billy Bevan and ZaSu Pitts, co icatured in a Larry Darmour com- edy. p aaude King, "Palm Beach Girl," Herbert Bunston, "Old English," VV B. Maude Turner Gordon, "Lfiwful Larceny," Radio. Layman's Suit Against Theatre Falls Down Posted Two men talking: "I'd like to see 'All Quiet on the Western Front.' " "Aw,, 1 hate western pic- tures." . "Gee, listen to him. It ain't a western picture, it's foreign." Brisk Competition Reported on For Griffith s 60 in Tex. & Okla. No Sunday Show, Small Town Mgr. Closes Theatre Claim of Hari-y Kaffack, non-pro, against the M. & S. Circuit, Inc., and the M. & S. Palace Theatre Corp., asking $50,000 for personal injuries sustained while outside the Palace theatre, 133 Essex street. New York City, was decided against him, with the theatre group awarded a Judg- ment of $108 for court costs. KafCack alleged that on Aug. 30, 1926, he was walking past the Pal- ace when a scaffold, on which work- ers were fixing thp marquee, col- lapsed and injured his foot. J. B. Kenney represented the M. & S. group. 'Open' Clause Construed New Haven, May 20. George H. Wilkinson owns the Wilkinson theatre, Wallingford, and leases from Fanny Ginsberg the Strand in the same town. The lease provides "the premises must be open at all times as a picture the- atre." Wilkinson contended this meant whenever the premises were open they must be opened as a picture theatre, while the»defcndant maintained the clause meant the theatre must be open every day. Court ruled the premises need not be opened daily as long as they were not actually abandoned. Par Execs at Frisco Paramount-Publix execs attend- ing the western sales meet of the company, starting Saturday (24), will return to New York June 2. .Operating executives attended the eastern convention at Atlantic City but will not go to 'Frisco, these in- cluding Sam ICatz, Sam Dembow, Jr., and D. J. Chatkin, as well as others from east. S. R. Kent, Jesse Lasky, Walter Wanger, B. P. Schulberg, John D. Clark, George Scliaofer and Charles E. McCarthy are the only execs, and all on picture end, going to 'Frisco. Coast Publix Changes San Francisco, May 20. Shakeup of executives in Publix offices here coming next month. Ralph Crabill, who has been in charge of theatre operation on the Coast, goes east. He is reported to have been assigned to Sam Katz' office in New York and will be re- placed out here by C. C. Perry. Charles Kurtzman, Publix divi- sional manager, also Is to be trans- ferred, probably to de.sk in east, but exact territory not yet divulged. Ivan Linow, "Just ImaKine," Fox. Carev WiLson adapting "Ble.s.s You, Sister!", Col. James Whittakor to dialog "Last of the Lone Wolf," Col. Adrienne d'Amhrlcourt. French version of "Slichtly Sc.-irlet." I';ir. Olive 'I"<-)1. H<-li'iif .MilljDd, JJi-rt Itfi.'irl). Li-\si.« I'ayiu; .-ind UoVif-na C;;il<', "I^'iwful Larf cny,'" Kudio. Minneapolis, May 20. When Mountain Lake, Minn., near here, voted against Sunday movies and the town council passed an ordinance prohibiting all Sunday shows except those for which no adml.««ion is charged, the Mountain Lake theatre started giving "free" shows on Sundays, No admission was charged, but each person entering the theatre was Sold a bar of candy or some other article of merchandise in lieu of the regular admission price. But the council refused to stand for this "evasion" of "the voters' mandate." It has put an entire halt to the theatre's Sunday operations by amending the ordinance to pro- hibit even fre« ^hows which. It made clear, it was allowing orig- inally only for the benefit of churches and ciylc organizations. As a result o? the council's latest action, the- town now faceis the prospect of being entirely showless as the owner of the only film house in town says that week-day patron- age is not sufficient-to pay oper- ating costs and lie will close his theatre permanently. This announcement has stirred up a rumpus in the town. The rum- pus is aggravated by the fact that business men of Heron Lake, Minn., nearby> realizing how much of an asset a picture theatre Is to them, have raised the funds to purchase modern sound equJpment and'them- selves operate a local picture the- atre With talkers. 'Journey V in R-K-0 House With 'Ingagi' Pulled Out . Pittsburgh, May 20. After losing 'Journey's End" to Warners, R-K-O got back the war picture when Tiffany decided to jump in ahead of U's "All Quiet." "Journey's End" opened a run at Sheridan Sq. Monday. TCndcrstood here that Warners, which also has "All Quiet," were to show U's picture first. Sheridan Squaj-e pulled "Ingagi" after eight days despite b. o. click of jungle picture, under strict or- ders of New Y'ork headquarters. SILENT FILMS CLOSE HOUSE Duluth, May 20. Local theatregoers walk out on silent Alms. Sunbeam, one of the smaller Publix houses, showing silent films, has closed. Others will have to close or wire. Doric, beautiful West Duluth house, had poor business with an antiquated sound system, and has installed Western Electric equip- ment. The theatre reopened with "Untamed," and turned 'em away. Katz' Spring Tour Sam Katz is not aiteudin.g the Par-Publi.'^ convention on in Pan Francisco, goin.sr on a brief tour of key centers before returning to New York. He left Atlantic City where east- ern division of P-P convention was held last week, to go to New Or- leans. He will visit 'Omaha, Dos Moines, Chicago and Minneapolis before reaching New York May 30. Katz is meeting J. J. Fitzgibbons, new operating supervisor on Class "B" theatres at Minneapolis, who will probably accompany him back east. Oklahoma City, May 20. Bri.sk competition is said to b» underway by larger circuits to buy the Clrlfllth string of about 00 pic- ture thoatros in Texas and this state. Names of bidders not stated. One report is that since the sale of the Interstate Circuit to R-K-O Karl lloblitzclle, I'omaining as th* Intorstato's director, intends to build for R-K-O in several of the Texan smaller towns, now occupied by the Dent or Griffith houses.' A rumor arising is that Paramount is much Intereste" in the reported building by R-K-O, and may be one of the bidders for the Griffith houses. Paramount through Saenger holds the Dent houses. MERCHANDISE IN INDIE LOBBIES IN MID-WEST Sews Up Madison, Wis. Chicago, W;ay 20. R-K-O sewed up Madison, Wis., this week, by acquiring the Capitol, large indie house. This gives the circuit Madison's two largest thc^ atres. Capitol will continue as a straight sound house, while vaud- film policy remains at the -Orpheum. Circuit also closed the deal for the Allen theatre, Racine, Wis., on a long lease. Vaudfilm policy will be Inaugurated there also. Detroit Strike Off Detroit, May 20. An injunction was Just given re- straining the Motion Pictui-es Operators Union local here from striking in sympathy with the lay- ing off of stage hands Ii) several 'all-sound houses by Judge Moinet. Injunction is returnable Monday (2G). Meantime a settlement has been reached. Ritz Theatre Judgment National Theatre Supply Co. has filed a default judgment for $2,095 in the Supreme Court against Mor ris Shahan ,of the Rltz theatre, the Bronx, for supplies furnished. Par Orders 15 Wurlitzer Organs; 1st Plans Did Not Call for Them Chicago, May 20. Independent theatres are follow- ing the lead of Publix in spotting merchandising machines in their lobbies. At first giving Publix the laugh for making their lobbies look like penny arcades, the Indies are now casting' eyes at the grosses piled up by the candy vendors. First two spots to go for the machne.s were the Parkside and the Hamilton, with the nine theatres of the Co.ston circuit foUmving. Schoenstadt's five tlieatres also slated to go candy machine shortly. Deal for vendors call foi- .free In- stallation,' with $5 a month rental, and agreement that theatres buy candy from the Pack Shop, Inc., company selling .the rpachines. RCA Studio Delay New specifications for structural changes will further delay re-open- ing of the Gramcrcy 'RCA Photo- phone studio slated for joint occu- pancy by Vlctor-R-K-O. Fire department now orders the elimination of the curved roof on the building. Production of any sort Is not looked for at the studio before July at the earliest. Louis Brock Is making two or three shorts a week in Hudson Heights. N. J. Gratnercy studio has been closed since shortly after the Pathe fire. HOLLYWOOD CHAHER Paramount Publix has placed an order with Wurlitzer for new or- gans to be installed in a widely separated group of theatres, mostly hou.«es under construction, but also Including a few that have been ac- quired through recent purchase of indie strings. Of Par-Publix's own houses, ma- jority are scheduled to open be- tween now and the fall, with the late order for organ installation going in now because originfllly plans did not call for them. Since most of these theatres were started, demand has increased for something in the flesh in support of all-.sound policies, Par-Publix ap- parently figuring organists will meet that' demand to a. certain ex- tent. In various other tlif.-atres in Uie ciroult, already eq\iiijped, or- gan." "nave been put to work again. Special New Wurlitzers are specially built organs and include two of the large Balaban No. 4 types, others being Balahan.'; No. 3 and Publix Xo. 1. Dim f)f lartte on''.« ii<) iriln lln' new I'aramount, .Stapleton, S. 1., opf'ning ,S''-pt. 15, and- into Ute Par- amount, Lynn, Mass., opening July 1. Among o.tlufr installations are Paramount, Denver, opening Sept. 15; Paramount, Nashville, op.-^nlng N'ov. 1; Plaza, Kl Paso, Texa.s, open- ing Aug. 1; Paramount, Oakland, opening next year; Paramount, Ft. Wayne, oijcning Aug. 15; Para- mount, Hammond. Ind., opening July J; I>.araniount, Peek.sklll, open- ing July 1; Paramount, Middle- town, N. Y. .opening June 5; Oriental, MatLapan, Ma.ss., recently opened; Strai. ^ Providence, just remodeled, and the Paramount, Sa- lem, which opened last month. Comerford Anxiety Scranton, PaV, May 20. Despite statements of no changes in personnel of the Comerford or- ganization would result from the buy by Par-Publlx, minor -officials and employees alike arc anxious. M. TO. C'omr-rford remains as ■••'X-r- ator, with his nephew, M. B. Comer- ford, heretofore mgr., as socrolary. Busby Berkley has pugilistic am- bitions. Esther Muir Is a newcomer. Ilis first night in town Ted Healy made a boellne for the fights. Nan Ilalperin threw a party at Henry's for everybody on the R-K-O bin with her. Arthur Lyons has started growing lemon - trees in his back yard. At least one guest of honor faile<l to hear the speeches showered in his direction. The mishap oc- curred at Dave Solznick's recent bacheioi- dinner. Just before the cross-lire started, the prospective bridegroom was taken 111, retired and didn't retui-n until the verbal bouquets were over. Maybe he was just smart. Acoustics at Stanley Warners lias ordered that th<» Berliner Acoustic System be in- stalled in its Stanley, Newark, N. J. This follows upon the Berliner people having rectified the very faulty acustlcs of the Warners' Stanley, Jersey City, seating 4,200. Murphy's Added Sequence Hollywood, May 20. Dudley Murphy, directing short3 mostly, will direct an added se- quence to Gloria Swanson's "What a. Widow." Murphy got first picture break through directing some .sequences In "Sonya" for Miss .Swan.^on four years aL'o. afu-r In; had sliigcd tho '■J'.nUcl .Mf clianl'iue,"