Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
. . When<br />
Pound Devaluation May Cause Rise<br />
In Ticket Prices in Australia<br />
By WILLIAM BEECHAM<br />
Australian Representative, BOXOFFICE<br />
PERTH, W. A.—L. C. Waterman, chairman<br />
of the South Australian Motion Picture<br />
and Theatre council, stated recently that<br />
the loss by American film producers following<br />
the devaluation of the Australian pound<br />
might necessitate a general rise in admission<br />
prices at cinemas throughout the Commonwealth.<br />
"The devaluation has meant that<br />
the distributors' frozen profits held in Australia<br />
have been reduced by one-third of their<br />
value," he said, "and since the cost of all<br />
goods imported from America is now Increased,<br />
there will naturally be higher costs<br />
for raw stock. Technicolor pr nts, advertising<br />
accessories and general equipment. Opinion<br />
in film circles here is that our distributors<br />
may have only two courses open to them<br />
— to cut their operating costs or to get more<br />
revenue, both from percentage and flat film<br />
rentals. If the latter method is chosen it will,<br />
of course, eventually lead to higher admission<br />
prices."<br />
[We<br />
hare the<br />
J. D. Williams shows its profit as £26.313.<br />
compared with the £26,006 of the previous 12<br />
months, and its dividend is at the rate of 6<br />
per cent. Spencers shows its profit as £18,662,<br />
compared with £18,499, and its dividend is<br />
also at 6 per cent.' We.sts shows its profit<br />
as £23,110, compared with £21,923, and its<br />
dividend is at the rate of 7H per cent.<br />
Amalgamated Pictures .-jhows its profit as<br />
£13,943, compared with £13.237, and its ordinary<br />
dividend is at the rate of 6H per cent.<br />
oil<br />
companies offering free subui'ban picture<br />
shows. Now comes news that in one countrj'<br />
town a leading Australian oil company not<br />
only presented a free picture show but also<br />
offered patrons free beer and sandwiches<br />
after the performance. In addition the<br />
Council of Adult Educat'on is now sponsoring<br />
free film shows in many centers.<br />
The Australian production, "Sons of<br />
Matthew" made Australian history recently<br />
when it was screened before Queensland<br />
members of parliament in the legislative<br />
council chambers. The screening was made<br />
possible by the installation of special sound<br />
equipment, and as far as can be learned<br />
marked the first tim.e any film has had its<br />
first screening in a House of Parliament in<br />
Australia. It was disclosed that Australian<br />
audiences will be able to see the swimming<br />
pool scenes deleted by the Johnston office,<br />
as the Au.stralian film censor has passed<br />
them. A spokesman for Universal Pictures,<br />
the company releasing the film throughout<br />
Australia, says that these scenes—taken<br />
Recently we<br />
amid<br />
had something to say in these<br />
beautiful surroundings and showing Wendy<br />
Gibb swimming In the nude in a woodland<br />
pool—are "very artistic."<br />
Clive Amott, managing director of United<br />
Artists of Australia, said recently that if an<br />
accurate popularity graph could be given for<br />
all types of films during the last 20 years, it<br />
is certain that westerns would reveal little<br />
or no falling off. "The appeal of musicals,<br />
NOW IS THE TIME! comedies and dramas has fluctuated through<br />
the years," he stated, "but for the confirmed<br />
western fan the outdoor action picture has<br />
DOUBLE<br />
always possessed an interest unaffected by<br />
other factors."<br />
YOUR LIGHT WITH OUR NEW<br />
Greater Union Theatres has paid unchanged<br />
dividends to<br />
VINYL<br />
its four holding companies<br />
for the financial year July 1, 1948, to<br />
June<br />
PLASTIC<br />
30, 1949. Ordinary dividends again were<br />
£75,000, half of which was distributed among<br />
the holding companies and half to the Rank<br />
organization in Britain. A preference dividend<br />
of 5 per cent also was paid. Greater<br />
SCREEN<br />
337 GOLDEN GATE AVE. • HE l-82<br />
SAN FRANCISCO 2. CALIF.<br />
Morris, Pres. Wayne Mayhew, C. W. vice-Pres.<br />
Jor<br />
YOUR<br />
Over 1,200 orphans from 16 homes in<br />
Count on ul lot Quick AcHoid<br />
In EAtRE Western Australia recently were given a pic-<br />
£^.^<br />
THEi THEATRE EXCHANGE CO.<br />
^201 Fill Fint Alls BIda. Portland 5. Orcoon<br />
after vehich they went by ferry to the South<br />
Perth zoo where they were given limch, entertained<br />
and provided with fruit and ice<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRE<br />
cream.<br />
NEW Junior in-A-Car Speaker. Unsurpassed Sea our In<br />
faithful reproduction. Can be tuned to suit the ear.<br />
Priced so that the smallest Drive-in can use them.<br />
Junction Box can be mounted V/z" 2" pipe.<br />
on or<br />
nic by the management and staff of the<br />
Grand Theatre here. Youngsters first were<br />
taken to the theatre to see "Bill and Coo,"<br />
Hoyts suburban cinemas in the Sydney<br />
area recently held a most successful Food<br />
for Britain drive, the aim being to provide<br />
5,000 food parcels which could be posted to<br />
reach England before Christmas.<br />
SEATTLE<br />
Tl<br />
pran Bergerson has resigned as manager for<br />
the Northwest Automatic Candy Co. and<br />
joined the Sterling Tobacco Co. in association<br />
with H. D. Bracken jr., in promotion of theatre<br />
candy and soft drink sales in the northwest<br />
. Dan Redden moved from the<br />
Paramount Theatre to manager of the Music<br />
Hall as a result of the Hami-ick-Evergreen<br />
splitup. the first thing he moved was the<br />
house cat.<br />
One hundred Filmrow families attended<br />
the annual Christmas preview party at the<br />
Jewel Box Theatre, followed by ice cream<br />
and cake at the Rendezvous cafe . . Other<br />
.<br />
Filmrow and theatre office parties extended<br />
from December 16 through the 23rd, ranging<br />
from exchange cocktail parties to dinner<br />
dances at golf and country clubs . . Ted<br />
.<br />
Galanter, MGM exploitation representative,<br />
and his wife Mildred were visitors.<br />
. . . Five<br />
Wally Rucker, manager, and Ken Mellgren,<br />
salesman for EL, flew to San Francisco to<br />
attend a sales meeting December 19-21 . . .<br />
Guy Maxey of WB and his wife celebrated<br />
their 39th wedding anniversary<br />
downtown houses were playing reissue programs<br />
during the pre-Christmas doldrums<br />
. . . Visitors to Filmrow included Lou Pressler,<br />
Aberdeen; Florence Benson, Fiiday Harbor;<br />
Joe Lewis, Snoqualmie; Lee Kirby, Monroe;<br />
A. G. Peechia, Eatonville; W. B. McDonald,<br />
Olympia; Walter Graham, Shelton, and Junior<br />
Mercy. Yakima.<br />
To Reopen Kiva Theatre<br />
GREELEY. COLO.—The Kiva Theatre here<br />
will be reopened Chi'istmas day following extensive<br />
remodeling now in progress. The<br />
boxoffice is being shifted from the center to<br />
the east side of the lobby, and a confection<br />
stand is being installed.<br />
To Reopen Fox Theatre<br />
SANTA ANA, CALIF.—The Fox Theatre<br />
here, closed several weeks ago for extensive<br />
remodeling, will be reopened Christmas day<br />
by the Fox West Coast circuit. Improvements<br />
will include air conditioning, new carpeting<br />
bv the Fox West Coast circuit.<br />
Coos Bay Drive-In to Be Ready Jan. 1<br />
COOS BAY, ORE.—The 500-car drive-in<br />
being constructed at a site on Ocean boulevard<br />
near here by W. A. Graeper of Portland<br />
is expected to be completed about January 1.<br />
A 60-foot screen tower is being erected at<br />
the north border of the tract. The parking<br />
area will contain 11 ramps, the first one 150<br />
feet from the screen. A building in the center<br />
of the area will house the projection booth,<br />
a snack bar and restrooms. Construction is<br />
being handled by Cartwright & Wilson,<br />
Toelle, Utah. Cost is $100,000.<br />
Services lor Vin Moore<br />
LOS ANGELES—Graveside services for Vin<br />
Moore, 71, veteran motion picture director,<br />
were held at the Pierce Bros. Hollywood mortuary<br />
in Vahalla cemetery. Born in New<br />
York, Moore came here 34 years ago and<br />
had been directing pictures since 1917. He<br />
had been wnth Universal and directed the<br />
Cohen and Kelly series. He is survived by his<br />
wife Virginia.<br />
54 BOXOFFICE December 24, 1949
Change language