Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

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. . Dan . . Nick . . The . . Sam . . Zulie ' B AMY A IL BRTHUR J. NEWMAN, Republic manager, was in New York attending a two-day sales meeting. Incidentally, the local exchange ranked about first in the contract and playdate drive, with two weeks remaining Houlihan, 20th . Century-Fox booker; Frank Williams. Benton circuit booker, and Seth Field, Schine circuit statistician, left by automobile for Miami a few hours before snow blanketed the Albany area . Goggan, operator of Town Hall, Cazenovia, has been one of the exhibitors vacationing in Florida. Christopher J. Buckley, operator of two theatres (only one has been open since last spring) in Bennington. Vt., is or will be taking sunbaths in Miami. Buckley was Albany's largest theatre operator before Si Fabian took over the string. Grand Amateur Night, which Larry Cowen has nursed into a big business getter, now has a radio sponsor, Rockwood Candy. Bill Kraemer, Schine booker, visited Filmrow exchanges. Ditto, Ollie Mallory of the Starr, Corinth: Jerry LaRocque of Shadoivland, Warrensburg; Leonard Rosenthal of the State, Troy; Sid Dwore, operator of tioo houses in Schenectady; George Thornton of Orpheum, Saugerties . . . Si Fabian here for first visit since returning from Miami, where Division Manager Lou Golding is now resting . . . Reported that Johnny Babbitt, formerly with Paramount, goes to RKO as assistajit booker . . . Henrietta Schoonbeck, at one time on staff of 20th Century-Fox, is now stenographer to Booker Al Marchetti at Universal. Edward J. Purcell, with Albany branch of Ross Federal Service, has recovered from an illness which confined him to a ho.spital . . . Emma Decker, secretary to Ralph Unks, manager of same office, will be married to Fred Spath, Hudson garage proprietor, February 25. After a honeymoon, couple will live in Hudson, Miss Decker's home town. Girls in 20th Century-Fox, where Miss Decker worked before joining Ross Service, gave her a shower and an electrical equipment gift at Kenmore Hotel. Edward A. Golden, Monogram general sales manager, expected here about March 18 in connection with the playdate drive . . . Warner's Ritz ballyhooed "The Invisible Man Returns" by having a man tramp the streets with an outfit that gave the illusion his head was a spring water bottle. Usher Jack Haas wore the rig. Knickerbocker Press storied that Paramounfs "The Great Victor Herbert" had been chosen winner of Boxoffice Blue Ribbon Award for January. Incidentally. Walter Connolly, who had the title role, won many friends here as a character actor with Proctor Players at Harmanus Bleecker Hall in early 1920's. His wife, Nedda Harrigan (daughter of the famous Ned Harrigan of Harrigan & Hart), was a member of the company. So were Minna Gombell, now a comedienne in pictures but then a leading lady, and Pierre Watkin, also a current film player. A local paper revealed the Hays office had ordered deletion of two lines in Mae West-W. C. Fields' picture, "My Little 18-D Chickadee," before it was screened at Warner's Strand. By a coincidence, it was another Universal film, "Destry," on which excisions were made at direction of the Hays organization, during a run at Strand "Gone With the two months ago . . . Wind" was held over for another seven days at Bleecker Hall, giving it a consecutive run of three weeks in Albany—most unusual. In Troy, the engagement was extended four days. Says New York Has Its Own "Grapes" Albany—For the second time within a week. "Grapes of Wrath" was projected into the headlines here when George A. Hall of New York, secretary of the State Child Labor Committee, told the Monarch Club that sections of rural New York have counterparts of John Steinbeck's characters, like the Joad family, hiring out for $150 a summer. Hall, who has served 34 years in his position, showed Monarch Club members about 50 pictures of conditions on upstate "plantations" where bean and pea crops are harvested. He estimated 25,000 workers, many of them small children, are recruited every winter by padrones (bosses) in the slums of such upstate cities as Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Utica, for family-unit summer labor. Most of them, Hall said, are Polish or Italian; the seasonal wage of the four-family group is $150. He declared that children as young as six, seven and eight do back-breaking work in the fields. The families are illclad and ill-fed, and the conditions under which they work will "open the eyes" of city observers when the privately-financed Child Labor Committee presents its report to the legislature, according to Hall. He exhibited pictures showing children packed into trucks which take turns at "60 miles an hour." Hall explained a bill in the legislature aims to lessen this hazard by limiting the number riding in trucks and providing seats for at least one third of the load. Hall described the plantation camps, the padrones' duties and "company" stores. Investigating one group of 764 laborers. Hall declared 45 per cent were found to be less than 16 years of age, 29 per cent less than 14, and 17 per cent less than 12. He said the committee estimates "somewhere between one-half and one-third of the 25,000 are less than 16." New Corporations Albany—Exclusive Pictures Corp., New York, has been formed with Murray M. Sumner, Irving Markowitz and Samuel Spyer as incorporators. Another new corporation is Justine Tlieatres Corp., to conduct a theatrical business in the Bronx. Incorporators are David L. Minkoff, Paul P. Weiss, Andrew Kreiss and Albert L. Schwarz. Co-Op After Members Detroit—Increasing capitalization to $60,000, Cooperative Theatres of Michigan is after additional members. RIIICIIHIIMIOMD TJEPORTS of two colored theatres to be built on West Cary, one by the Lichtman circuit, the other by Herbert Green, former house manager of the Carillon and a native of Petersburg . . . Charlie Den- m mead, manager of the theatre in West Point, has made several trips here in search of electrical equipment for his house . Ben Pitts, well-known Virginia exhibitor and one of Fredericksburg's leading citizens, has been named to a chamber of commerce committee, which will take an active part in approving or opposing bills of interest to that locality. The nth annual Theatrical Ball held Valentine's night at Tantilla Garden, ivas a big success . . . Floyd Staivls and Bill Attmore are due back from Florida . . . Dave Peterson, Altec engineer from Washington, has been here relieving Mervin Ullman who is sick . . . Col. Peter Sau7iders. chairman of the board of censorship, has been confined to his bed . . . The Louis- Godoy fight pictures opened here at the National . . . Robert Brooks, operator at the Henrico, is the proud daddy of a neiv girl . . . Walter Hastings is now a member of the service staff at the Colonial. . Elizabeth Quisenberry, cashier at the is State, sick. Kathleen Benson is substituting . . . Nick Haefele. Baltimore manager for National Theatre Supply, was in town State bowling team took three games from the Park boys and jumped to first place in the standings for the first half . . . Jerry Murphy, salesman for 20th Century-Fox, was in town. Also Bob Folliard, manager of RKO's Washington office . . . Mrs. Peace, cashier at the Venus, is back at work after being out sick for a week . Bendheim jr., general manager of Neighborhood Tlieatres, Allen Sparrow, was out ill several days . . . Loew's manager, and Charlie Yerby, his assistant, are planning vacations after "Gone With the Wind" . Carter, cashier at the National, is stUl ill. BROADWAY (Continued from page 17) attractive contract and a fat bonus for signing. Broun ivent to his friend, Arthur Brisbane, for advice. On Brisbane's desk ivas a picture of Brisbane's father, a noted liberal in his day. After considerable discussion, Broun commented on the photo. "Your father has a nice head," Broun told Brisbane. Brisbane luas quiet for a minute and said, "he never ivould have worked for Hearst." "There's my answer." Broun replied quickly. 418,632 See Scenics Richmond—Pictures illustrative of the historic, scenic, and recreational features of Virginia were shown during 1939 to 418,632 persons in 44 states and the District of Columbia, N. Clarence Smith, chairman of the Virginia conservation commission, has announced. Handle Handy Industrials Albany—Albany and Buffalo exchanges of Harry Berkson, Monogram franchise holder, are now distributing Jam Handy indflstrials for General Motors-Chevrolet. BOXOFFICE :: February 17, 1940
The never-ending struggle between labor :'d producers, after an armistice of near- three months, has again manifested it- j HOLLYWOOD lews AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION South Americans Pick 'Wuthering Heights' "Wuthering Heights" has been chosen by the motion picture critics of South America as the best English-language film produced in 1939, according to the information received by Producer Samuel Goldwyn. Official notification came from Charles De Cruz, editor of "Heraldo de Cinematografista," a Buenos Aires trade paper. âbor Parleys Again !rab the Spotlight ;lf as the film colony's most significant irrent problem with the beginning of inferences between the producers, the :TSE and other American Federation of Ibor crafts, the outcome of which will iportantly affect some 15,000 screen 'rkers. Producers are endeavoring to demonfate that the 10 per cent wage increase finted last October should be rescinded, Ed have amassed a quantity of figures jrtaining to income and expenditures to IDve their point, as claimed by E. J. hnnix. that such a wage boost will prove ' iinous." The conference was agreed ion last December when the unions, at tit time, overrode Mannix's protests. } presenting the producers in the negotiatns is Y. Frank Freeman, while William I)ff. lATSE representative, is sitting in f the laborites. Vriting finis to one of the most bitter Ler-union wars ever fought in HoUyvod, the Screen Playwrights, Inc., petitned for and received producer permissn to dissolve their contract, leaving the f[d in the undisputed control of the S-een Writers Guild. John Lee Mahin, S president, explained in his request that t SP's membership had dwindled to oy 26 and declared it "obviously makes n sense" to keep going. The agreement sU had five years to run and had stood ii the way of the signing of an official P ducer-SWG pact. The SWG, mean- Wile. held a routine board meeting. It is sliding by pending the return of ballots iriled to its membership asking for opin- JC5 on the Neely bill, and on the results (HollyiDOod Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.; Ivan Spear, Western Manager) Other Problems Fade as Time Nears for Awarding ''Oscars'' Announcement of official nominations coach." Walter Wanger; "Wizard of Oz." for achievements in the eight major divisions M-G-M, and "Wuthering Heights," Sam- of the 12th annual Academy uel Goldwyn. Awards selections has relegated labor Best performance by an actor—Robert strife, the war abroad and the myriad Donat in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips." Clark other industry problems to the hinterlands Gable in "Gone With the Wind," Laurence for the balance of the month. Seized upon Olivier in "Wuthering Heights." Mickey Rooney in "Babes in Arms." M-G-M. and as a prime topic for conjecture is the identity of the possible winner in each classification, with ballots for final selections already mailed out to some 12,000 eligible voters. Following are the nominations, from each division of which one winner will be named at the Awards Banquet February 29 Outstanding picture— "Dark Victory," Warner Bros.: "Gone With the Wind," Selznick International; "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," M-G-M (England) : "Love Affair," RKO Radio; "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Columbia; "Ninotchka." M-G-M; "Of Mi.ce and Men." Hal Roach; "Stageof which the groups' official stand will be taken. The Screen Actors Guild is awaiting word from producers as to when parleys are to be resumed concerning reclassification of extras and adjustments in their wage scales. Directorate is also set to consider the report tarned over to it by private investigators retained to probe charges of favoritism in the operation of Central Casting, on which conferences with producers will be sought. Other labor developments; The Screen Office Employes Guild, with membership now past the 1,300 mark, has appointed a committee to draft a constitution and. thereafter, to open negotiations with producers for a contract. Jurisdictional dispute between the Scenic Artists Ass'n and the Motion Picture Painters Local 644 over studio scenic artists was discussed at a National Labor Relations Board conference. Painters are challenging the SAA's claim to control over the craft, with indications an election will be ordered by the NLRB. RKO Signs Colman Ronald Colman has been signed by RKO Radio to appear opposite Ginger Rogers in "Good Luck." a story by Sacha Guitry. which George Haight will produce. Allan Scott is doing the screen play. James Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Best performance by an actress—Bette Davis in "Dark Victory," Irene Dunne in "Love Affair," Greta Garbo in "Ninotchka," Greer Garson in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," and Vivien Leigh in "Gone With the Wind." Best performance by an actor in a supporting role—Brian Aherne in "Juarez," Warner Bros.; Harry Carey in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Columbia; Brian Donlevy in "Beau Geste." Paramount; Thomas Mitchell in "Stagecoach." Walter Wanger; Claude Rains in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Bast performance by an actress in a supporting role—Olivia de Havilland in "Gone With the Wind." Geraldine Fitzgerald in "Wuthering Heights." Hattie McDaniel in "Gone With the Wind," Edna May Oliver in "Drums Along the Mohawk," 20th Century-Fox; and Maria Ouspenskaya in "Love Affair." Best direction—Victor Fleming, for "Gone With the Wind," Sam Wood for "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," Frank Capra for "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." John Ford for "Stagecoach." and William Wyler for "Wuthering Heights." Best screenplay— "Gone With the Wind." Sidney Howard; "Goodbye. Mr. Chips." R. C. Sherriff. Claudine West. Eric Maschwitz; "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," Sidney Buchman; "Ninotchka," Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Walter Reisch; "Wuthering Heights," Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht. Best original motion picture story "Bachelor Mother," Felix Jackson; "Love Affair," Mildred Cram. Leo McCarey; "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Lewis R. Foster; "Ninotchka," Melchior Lengyel; "Young Mr. Lincoln," Lamar Trotti. Balloting will be tabulated by Price, Waterhouse & Co. The banquet committee headed by Mervyn LeRoy is accepting reservations for the affair, to be held in the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel. BXOmCE February 17. 1940 H 19
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Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

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