Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

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: February I '' Judge Walker Has an Answer for Allied Cole Explains Moral Side of Neely Bill n A IIL IIL A % I Continued from page 68) Crim at Kilgore and through that connection moved to Shreveport. (Continued from page 68) contract with one of the big companies for a is block of pictures what he going to get. He knows from his books just what average he can for pay that company's block of pictures and come out with a profit at the end of the year. He knows there will be boxoffice attractions, program pictures, some westerns and some pictures he would rather not play. He further knows that he can pay for these pictures that he does not want to play, which are always allocated at a low price, and oft'times in the end of the season, he can trade out for pictures in the new contract. This has been a current practice for years, and before Myers, with his suit stopped arbitration and the film board of trade, was a very common practice. The exhibitor knows he can not run outstanding pictures every day any more than the baker can sell cake every day instead of bread. Our business is different in from any other business that we is only line" have "one and that pictures. When we buy a block of pictures we are getting the line we have to have for our business. When a orders barrel of merchant a apples he knows there will be some ôod. some bad, and some medium; but that the profit on the good will make up for the loss on the bad. There is no business hi.a that does not have to depend upon wholesaler's reputation for a block order, and every line of business must depend upon producers and the wholesalers, as we do. This word juggler says, "If selling a number then wholesaling WILL, BE LAWFUL, and will continue under the bill." What does he mean? First he says "one conducting a wholesale busibuying v-holesale, etc' nferi but Competition I do not know just what he is driving There are in all 5.000. towns of over and towns less with one show usually run four or five pictures a week —and you will see we little fellows usually have I to a chance run ALL THE BIG PICTURES. will admit it is terrible for the "aged and infirm and juveniles" to have to travel all over my town looking for my show but if they will just go three or four blocks from home to the square and look around, they will be able to see my lights. Again he says, "The tact is that the distributors now sell and lease pictures singly and in groups less than the entire block whenever it is to their advantage to do so," and yet he Bill wants the Neely make them do this, as to says, to. he because they refuse "Oh, that mine enemy write a book!" "We are fortunate that this of "Moses" the industry wrote his "White Book" because in following his reasoning we meet him coming back at every turn. This reference to single shot selling of road is shows by him the strongest argument we can it offer against single picture buying because can it easily be seen that under we cannot keep out playing time covered and buy that way. Mr. Exhibitor, do you want to buy the boxoffice attractions each year, one at a time—make a contract for each one and then pick out one by one your program or mid-week pictures and one by one the Saturday pictures, and under this kind of buying try to keep your playing time filled? I do not. Sharing the Profits Now this is fine, but the trouble with the bill is proponents of the that they want to chisel in some way and "share the profits" without making any investment, regardless of how many small theatre owners they ruin. Every exhibitor in the business has made money if he uses his head for anything more than a hatrack. A system that has. through the efforts of producers and distributors, brought the Projectors and Sound for the Largest and Smallest Theatre ANo Portable 16 and 3r> mm equipment. HOLMES PROIECTOR THEATRE SUPPLY H.V 3473 1R20 Wyandotte St. Knnms City, Mo. Dallas— "I did make the statement that block booking did not force immoral or obscene films on the exhibitor, as the word immoral is customarily used, but it does force many objectionable pictures," Col. H. A. Cole, national Allied president, declared this week on his return from the east. In reference to the Neely bill debate he had with Felix Jenkins, 20th Century-Fox attorney, recently at Montclair, N. J., Cole added that "the moral issue is a part, but not the only issue involved in the bm." Cole said the Montclair PTA invited him to talk on the affirmative side of the bill against Jenkins who already was "booked" to speak before the group. It was merely an impromptu affair and only the high points of the bill were touched, he said. Cole's trip east was in connection with a new changeable letter sign in which W. W. Hays and A. W. Lilly of Greenville and himself are interested, and also on Allied business. He attended a national director's meeting in Washington where he was re-elected president. Cole said he conferred with department of justice representatives while in the capital. Frank Merntt Acquires Site in Birmingham Birmingham, Ala. — Purchase of the building at 2014 Second Ave., north, by Frank V. Merritt, theatre operator, for $65,000 has been announced. The purchased property, with a front of 25 feet on Second Ave., adjoins the Royal, owned by Mrs. Marvin Wise, sister of Mr. Merritt. fro the din side street modern wall" to the show- of today: has permitted me in my town of that 2.700 give my people the same pictures with to the same conveniences in every way, the same sound equipment used in the big often cities, permitting me to run boxoffice attractions ahead No. Mr. General Counsel, ngle sug- gestion for the improvement of the measure has been offered." because the Neely Bill is a "bungling and misguided attempt of some selfish minority to meddle disastrously with a great of the big town and give all this to my patrons at half the price that is charged in the big city, IS NOT WRONG. It may have its weak spots but it has made money for us and we certainly are against this legislation and "all legislation" no way benefit the public and on the other hand, r industry." The only remedy that can possibly it it it be offered for is to kill every time sticks uji it's slimy head. Ninety per cent of the theatre owners in Texas feel they are fully competent to do their own buying and booking without the help of a government board. You and your lawsuits put us the Film Board and we certainly do not wa_nt you to finish the job with this Neely Bill which ,\ou yourself can not explain. I appeal to all exhibitors to wake up and help end this racket that can have hut one end if the bill is passed— the closing of the small town BUFFALO COOLING EQUIPMENT 1026 SANTA FE BLDG. BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC. Dallas. Texas Wallace Walthall, manager of National. Screen Service, has been busy with the consolidation of film advertising accessories of several companies under the National bamier and with the transfer of Trailer-Made Service to the National Screen exchange, which, he says, is now being made. Horace Falls, the assistant general manager of Griffith Amusement Co., Oklahoma City, with Mrs. Falls, has been spending a few days in Mineral Wells. Among other visitors was C. W. Niece,. Crystal, at Hubbard. After an extended run with the flu, S. L.' Oakley, manager of the Dallas office of Jefferson Amusement Co., is back on the job. He said this was the first time he has been off his feet since taking his Dallas assignment several years ago. Leslie Wilkes, well-known Texas film man, is back in town after working for RKO in the St. Louis territory and a sojourn up into the New England states,, then down the Atlantic seaboard intot Dallas. R. P. Condron, operating the Star at Forney, said he was the only Texas exhibi-, tor who made money during the recent 13 straight days of near zero weather with ice. He closed the house tight during thatj time and went visiting in the Rio Grande' Valley. Hollis Boren of Memphis drove in Mon^^ day and did business both unth equipment; ' houses and exchanges. J, F. Willingham, M-G-M manager in| Memphis, paid Filmrow a visit this week' primarily to confer with C. V. Jones of the R&R Circuit on bookings for the Little Rock area. Willingham is a former Dallas - film man and old timers will recall him as booker and salesman when all film companies were doing business on Commerce -. street. , .^^ V. A. "Buddy" Walker, a partner with ,, L. M. Threet in the new theatre almost' M ready to open at College Station, was on the Roiv this week in connection with that enterprise. He hails from Norman, Okla.. where he attended OU several years ago. He has previously operated theatres in east Texas. Leroy Bickel, Dallas branch manager for M-G-M, is steadily improving after hos- ; pital confinement, dictating letters from his desk at the DaUas exchange and soon --_ will be out in the territory calling on TexaS' exhibitors. L. B. Brown, Regal and Ritz at Gatesville, and a good fisherman, visited DalUU, Monday. He said there has been no excitement in his town, but that you never can tell. Mrs. Earl Jones. Brownfield. successfully' operating the "3 R circuit there"— the (Continued on page 70 -D) BOXOFFICE : 17, 1940 ^
1 (Continued '. Evidently . . . W. A T IIL A\ W T A\ from page 69) Thos. E. Orr, Albertville, Ala.; Mack Jackmi, Alexander City, Ala.; Mrs. Violet Edvards, Monticello, Ga.; J. S. Tankersly jr., mijay, Ga.: W. R. "Bill" Griffin, Strand, 7ullman. Ala.; L. J. Brown jr.. Dixie. Jackon. Ga.; Mrs. Willingham Wood, Strand. Vashington, Ga.; R. D. Page, Maury. Mt. Heasant, Tenn.; L. C. Worthington. Brighton, Brighton, Ala.: Nat Williams, ''hoviasville, Ga.; Carl Hutton, Jefferson ".ity, Tenn.; Frank Doivler and so?i Bill, ram Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tenn. Willis Davis. L. & J. Theatres, made a 0-minute talk on the "Welcome South Jrother" program over WSB along the ines as to what the Variety Club was dong, on behalf of Wm. K. Jenkins, chief |arker. the Albany tornado will not ssult in cancellation of the world preliere of "The Biscuit Eater." planned for arly April. The Albany, where the preliere icill be held, has opened under emefency conditions and will stage a relief ?ithin the next two iveeks. Jimmy Harrison, Wilby-Kincey Theatres, I jack from Miami and exhibiting a Florida an. 1 S. Hackman. of the Dixie Film Exhange, has just closed a deal for the imous all-colored cast picture "Keep mnching." with Henry Armstrong . for key hns in the colored situations. Albany, Ga., Sticks To Premiere Plans Albany, Ga.—The tornado which last week left a trail of death and destruction here and in western Georgia, will not keep Albany from going through with the world premiere of Paramount's "The Biscuit Eater." This is the word dispatched to Robert M. Gillham, Paramount advertising and publicity head, by Adolph Gortatowsky, local theatre operator. Gillham and "Pete" Freeman visited here recently working out tentative plans for the premiere to be held on or about April 10. Broadcast for "Biscuit" Premiere Nearly Ready Albany, Ga.—Arrangements are said to be nearing completion for a nationwide broadcast in connection with the premiere of Paramount's "The Biscuit Eater" here in late March or early April. James O'Shaughnessy New Orleans—James "Pat" O'Shaughnessy, personally known to many producers and stars of note, is dead at the age of 56 years. At the time of his death he was vice-president and general manager of the Hotel Roosevelt. CIHIIAKILOTTIE JÛCH improved is the condition of J. H. Holliday, National Theatre Supply manager, after his return home from the hospital where he battled a two-week illness ... It is revealed that Larence Terrell, Paramount exchange cashier, and Miss Emlene Church of Atlanta have been married since early January. Oscar Morgan, southern division manager, paid the local Paramount branch a short visit . . . Hal Rosser of Sanford was a Filmrow visitor . . . RKO screened "Swiss Family Robinson" for the trade . . . Sympathy is extended to Bob Sirnril of National Screen on the death of his mother in Jacksonville. . Wade Yandle has switched his ad sales job at Paramount for a booking desk there W. Sharpe of New York was a National Screen visitor . . . "Gone With the Wind" blew strongly into the Imperial after playing two weeks at the Carolina . . Staging here last week was Edward Everett Horton in "Springtime for Henry." Constance Bennett appears March 27 at the Carolina in "Easy Virtue." Ross Howard Upped Oklahoma City—Ross Howard has been named new ad sales manager at the 20th Century-Pox exchange here. He succeeds Don Walil, recently promoted to ad sales manager of the 20th-Pox exchange at Memphis. John J. Mangham, Monogram Southern, 1 a visit to Miami where he will join W. W Johnston, president of Monogram, ad Eddie Golden, sales manager. Art Barry, city manager of Lucas & •nkins Theatres. MacoJi, Ga., in town on le of his very rare visits. Milton C. Moore, Riverside, Jacksonville, a., and Mrs. Moore in town for a few outhern Publishers View 'olumbia Short on Cotton Atlanta— "Threads of a Nation," a Combia single reeler that presents the iportance of cotton in everyday life, was reened Sunday. February 4. before the )Uthern Newspaper Publishers Ass'n, that nvened at the Biltmore Hotel. The film, in natural color, was produced V B. K. Blake, with the commentary pro- ",ded by Basil Ruysdael, radio announcer. HAVE YOU SEEN The New International CHALLENGER CHAIR Low in first cost — Low upkeep cost All steel upholstered back — 20 coil spring secrt. Regardless of what chair you consider buying look at our samples and get our new low prices first. FOUL ODORS 1 Are Unnecessary The KOZONO eliminates ALL odors electrically and PURI- FIES the air. Hundreds used throughout the nation by theday for catalogue and conv Ing proofs. Agents wanted The Kozono Co. IJ3-B Trade St., Charlotte, ? to- "Everything for the theatre except film" 321 S. Church, CHARLOTTE Phone 8620 150 Walton St., ATLANTA Phone WALnut 4613 I'XOFFICE :: February 17, 1940 70-A
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PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY ASSOCIA
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1 "Pinocchio" ; admission i over I
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SHOWMANSHIP CE A ZOLA . . \nship Br
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When CHARLES LAUGHTON sings it! . .
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i beck's Predicts Cycle of Films Wi
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êry bit €g fine as we had its pr
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! the I from : tions ' strengthenin
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; the Coated Paper Award Goes to UA
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I Complaint I 1 1—The ' 2—The I
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I I . . George . . William . . Edwa
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, discussed ; ecutives . Warners, i
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i Twentieth-Fox . . Claude . . Sam
Page 27 and 28: The never-ending struggle between l
Page 29 and 30: I ' Metro's ANNOUNCEMENT of the nom
Page 31 and 32: I I I Continued Metro Paces Upswing
Page 33 and 34: I Paul ' The to Death Valley for th
Page 35 and 36: I i Joe : February . . Ben . . Sylv
Page 37 and 38: . . Out-of-town . . H. Scoff at One
Page 39 and 40: : February 16MM COMPETITION INTO DI
Page 41 and 42: f Catcalls as Costello Confiscates
Page 43 and 44: I Miller, I I £71 ! Jack . vice-pr
Page 45 and 46: I The Indiana Employment Continues
Page 47 and 48: . hXCFHCE ''. 15 Now, Nothing But "
Page 49 and 50: I ICansas . . . Doug Kansas City Ba
Page 51 and 52: j ling. He was transferred here fro
Page 53 and 54: ' Kansas ' . . Frank • Continued
Page 55 and 56: , tion j Wood I "I ! "I Pot 0' Gold
Page 57 and 58: : tetroit; iayer Philosophizes U De
Page 59 and 60: . . Mrs. TGG) , . "Jim : Febmary .
Page 61 and 62: . . Bob . . Due ..C.J. . . . W. . .
Page 63 and 64: ' I Time : February Industry in Bos
Page 65 and 66: I ' David . . Charles . . Ditto . .
Page 67 and 68: . . The . . Dave . . Aaron : Februa
Page 69 and 70: ' i Boston—The High-Speed Picture
Page 71 and 72: ' moral Independent Staffs SaysNeel
Page 73 and 74: WAS GODOY ROBBED? 50 Hard-Boiled Th
Page 75 and 76: ! Had ' the ' play Dixie D o in s B
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Page 81 and 82: 1' holdovers : February IHIOU^TOM g
Page 83 and 84: Sask. MPEA Averts Hike in Licenses
Page 85 and 86: According to gossip. Wells. B. C, i
Page 87 and 88: ' c iMiWiiWJiOaganB^s^/îQ\/LQW5 o
Page 89 and 90: Foreign Language Features I Condott
Page 91 and 92: I the ' wily I Republic I That I fr
Page 93 and 94: "WIND" SCORES SURGING SUMS ACROSS N
Page 95 and 96: I I Hidden ! Melodrama. : Ing I I I
Page 97 and 98: ' . when , Comedy. ' tivlty ' Allen
Page 99 and 100: (. now—pay ' I : February 52 ^san
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Boxoffice - Feb. 17, 2014

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