Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

October 5, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 21 Two Units Use Same Set in Sono Art Film (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. l.—An innovation in talking pictures is being used by Sono Art in the filming of "Blaze O' Glory." According to George Weeks, as soon as Dowling and his company finish a scene and leave the set, another company speaking Spanish, move in and re-enact the same scene on the same set. The plan is for Eddie Dowling, who is starring in the picture, to work in the daytime and the Spanish company to work at night. Jose Bohr has the lead in the Spanish version. Arbitration Revived in Indiana; Metzger Calls Board "Outlaw" Motion Picture Trade Is Setting Pace for All Industries, Says Honorary President of American Association — 73,652 Disputes Settled in Five Years [By Special Correspondent of the Herald-World] INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 1. — Arbitration has been resumed in Indiana under a board named by Paul Q. Richey, president of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, but this board does not represent the Indiana organization, according to Charles R. Metzger, general manager, who calls it an "outlaw." Representatives of the Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana, composed of the leading exhibitors of the state, and representatives of the producers held a meeting here recently and the exhibitors apparently forgot their previous arbitration difficulties, for they decided to use this method to arbitrate disputes. Sound in Small Town To Be Discussed at Tri-State Meeting (Special to the Herald-World) MEMPHIS, Oct. 1.— Sound in the small towns will be the main topic of discussion at the Tri-State M P T O, which is to be held in Memphis October 13-14. This organization, which is composed of exhibitors from Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee is headed by M. A. Lightman, newly elected president of the M P T O A. Sound in the small towns will be discussed from every angle and the Tri-State body will try and determine whether or not the small owner can afford, in the longrun, to buy the cheaper sound devices, what part of his income he can afford to spend for film rental and how often he can afford to change his programs, in view of the increased costs of operation. They will also try to establish whether or not an exhibitor will be able to show a different sound picture every night as they have done with silent films. A Sunday of previews staged by Memphis film exchanges at Loew's Strand theatre, and a Monday of addresses, round table discussions and election of officers, concluding with the annual banquet and dance at Hotel Chisca will be, roughly, the outline of the Tri-State program. J. F. Norman, England, Ark., veteran secretary, is working with Lightman as program chairman. Assisting him are the three state vice presidents, R. X. Williams, Jr., Oxford, Miss.; W. F. Ruffin, Covington, Tenn., and John A. Collins, Paragould, Ark., as well as H. D. Wharton, Warren, Ark.; M. J. Pruniski, North Little Rock; T. W. Sharp, Little Rock, and M. S. McCord, Camden. Columbia Names Brunet Branch Operation Head (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 1.— H. P. Brunet has been added to the Columbia Home Office executives as manager of the exchange operation. He will have complete charge of the physical operation of the Columbia exchanges. Brunet takes over the work formerly handled by Clarence McKain, who is now abroad for the company. Gain Leaves P F L After Ten Years' Association (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 1.— J. J. Gain, recently assigned special post of director of physical operation between the Paramount Long Island and West Coast studio, has resigned from Paramount. He has served 10 years with the company. The exhibitors as an organization withdrew August 2 from the arbitration board. Board Members Named Members of the arbitration board representing the exhibitors are Earl Coble, Redkey; A. J. Kalberer, Lyric theatre, Indianapolis; R. E. Harold, Rushville; Raleigh Sipe, Knightstown, and R. Bansbach, Oakland City. Those on the board representing the producers are Charles Reagan, Paramount; Harry R. Graham, Pathe; Charles Penrod, RKO; Floyd Brown, First National, and George Landis, Fox Films. At the meeting, attorneys for the Indiana organization presented its claims for arbitration. Block Booking Was Factor Since the disagreement in August, Charles J. Pettijohn, chief of counsel for the Film Boards of Trade, has been attempting to bring about a new agreement to settle disputes. At the time of the disagreement, he asserted, the grievances of some of the exhibitors were about "fifty-fifty," half wrong and half right. At the time of withdrawal from arbitration, some of the exhibitors asserted they were fighting practices of the producers' association in forcing block booking. Film Trade Sets Pace, Says Arbitration Head (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 1.— The motion picture trade is setting a standard for all industries in arbitration, "relieving our American courts from the flood of unnecessary litigation which clogs them today," said Charles L. Bernheimer, chairman of the Committee of Arbitration of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, in a review of arbitration, just made public. Bernheimer, who has held this post 18 years and is honorary president of the American Arbitration Association. recounted the history of arbitration in the film industry the last five years and emphasized that in that period 73,652 disputes involving sums totaling $17,724,380 were settled without litigation. He pointed out that in 1928 there were 23,859 disputes involving $6,503,474 settled by the Film Boards without a single recourse to a court. "If other industries could line up their membership in favor of arbitration and get them to co-operate as . the motion picture industry has done," he said in part, "elimination of waste, accompanied by peace and good fellowship, would rapidly follow in its wake. 10,500,000 Film Deliveries "I understand that there are 10,500,000 deliveries of film, under written contract, each year in the United States. For the small theatre owner to have to depend on litigation to enforce delivery of currently popular films would be little short of suicidal. "I understand that changing conditions, due to the advent of sound, have been used as an excuse to attack arbitration in the motion picture industry. This is unfortunate. Warns Against Deviation "From my study of the change which arbitration has effected in the position of the motion picture theatre owner, especially from the standpoint of securing swift decision where he has a grievance, I can warn the whole industry that any basic deviation from the principles now obtaining would be a step backward toward the age of confusions and wastefulness. "However, I cannot urge too strongly in favor of having arbitration, of whatever sort or nature it be, take place only under the auspices of a recognized institution of high standing — one which would insure a correct and orderly handling of the case. Not alone would this help minimize the dangers and pitfalls which exist in loosely conducted arbitrations, but it would also help make the losing party in the arbitration less likely to find fault with the award." Rossheim Resigns from Stanley Company; Continues as Warner Brothers Director (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 1. — Irving D. Rossheim today stepped out of the presidency of the Stanley Company of America. He also resigned his position on the board of directors. He will continue, however, as a director of Warner Brothers. H. M. Warner, chairman of the board of Stanley and president of Warners, praised the splendid service rendered by Rossheim during his ten years with' the Stanley Company. During that period Rossheim contributed much to its constructive policies, he said, and leaves at a time when it is in excellent condition. Rossheim came to the Stanley Company in 1919 as comptroller and was subsequently elected treasurer. He became its president in January, 1928, and was reelected in April, 1929. During his administration, he was active in the consolidation of the interests of Warner Brothers, First National and Stanley.