Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

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October 4, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD -WORLD 15 Say Opposition to Rezoning Only Hurts Small Exhibitors Protection Agreements Blocked In Chicago and New Orleans Harold B. Franklin in New Theatre Concern (Sficial to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 2.— Coincident with the resignation of Harold B. Franklin from Fox West Coast Theatres, it is revealed here that Franklin, Roy O. and Fred Miller, and Howard Sheehan had incorporated, under the name of Fox Cosmopolitan Theatre Company, Ltd., and received permission from the state corporation department to issue 3,000 shares of stock with no par value. Pathe Kills Foreign Talker Plan; Silents And Sub Titles Stay (Special te the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 2.— E. B. Derr, vice president and general manager of Pathe, today said that Pathe is giving up plans for talking pictures abroad. Sound copies are to be distributed only domestically, he explained. Pathe will, however, continue to sell silent pictures with sound tracks for foreign consumption. The purpose of the sound track will be to carry musical scores, which are written by Josiah Zuro, the company's musical director and composer. The procedure in production of foreign silents will be the same as that used for talking pictures, except that the English dialog will be removed after the film is finished. Sub-titles will be substituted and a few retakes made for proper synchronization. The first picture to be made under this plan is "Her Man." U. S. Importers at Prague Deny Inspiring Riot When German Films Were Used (Special to the Herald-World) PRAGUE, Oct. 2.— The charge made by several Prague newspapers that recent rioting and attacks on motion picture houses showing German talking pictures were inspired by importers of American films has been vigorously denied by the latter. Prague representatives of American film concerns have submitted the matter to their directors and to the American legation. Julius Schmitt, director of United Artists and film advisor to the Czechoslovakian government, in commenting on the situation, said,_ "I repudiate as a base and monstrous fabrication the insinuation that the demonstrations were financed by American film capital. We have absolute proof that this allegation has been used to excite prejudice against American films among the German speaking citizens of Czechoslovakia. The newspapers implicated in the case claim they published their insinuations on the basis of information from police headquarters. Efforts Stumble Over Allied, Clearances and Double Features — San Francisco Approves Plan (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 2. — Organized opposition to rezoning is only hurting the small exhibitor and he is the one whom organization is endeavoring to help. This is the view of those who have observed the difficulty in drafting new protection regulations, especially in Chicago, where opposition has been voiced by the local unit of Allied States Association. "Protection as adopted in Chicago is one of the fairest documents in the country," said C. C. Pettijohn, who with Gabriel Hess, also of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, was present when the rezoning plan for Chicago was ratified. [In Chicago it was stated officially that the plan had not been ratified but only initialed by some committee members.] Begin Ohio Publix House (Special to the Herald-World) STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, Oct. 2.— Work is to •tart late this month on a $300,000 Paramount Publix theatre to be erected here. The general contract has already been awarded. Determined efforts to achieve finally a definite solution of the zoning and protection issue in Chicago and New Orleans have failed, it became known this week following committee conferences. Though it is believed that some progress was achieved, the attempt is regarded as having fallen far short of success. In San Francisco, however, the same plan voted for reconsideration the week previously, met unexpected approval at a general meeting. The plan (presented in detail on an adjoining page) covers the full San Francisco territory, including part of Nevada. Flat opposition to any system restricting its members was asserted by the Independent Theatre Owners of Illinois, Allied States organization in Chicago, and this attitude is regarded as meaning little likelihood that any protection plan can be adopted in this territory with general approval. Double Features Hit Announcement of this position came following a series of conferences between distributor and exhibitor groups. Aaron Saperstein, president of the association, withdrew from the negotiations, and after a conference with Al Steffes of Allied, who had arrived for the day, dictated a telegram rejecting the plan in toto, to the Film Board of Trade. Specific objections to the plan, which in the main is understood to be very similar to that in operation last year, are stated by Saperstein to be aimed at restrictions placed on the smaller theatres, which comprise the membership of his organization. These restrictions provide that there can be no double features, two-for-one admission prices, or gift nights, prior to eight weeks after general release. This would make the period extend 17 weeks after first-run showings. "The big houses can run stage shows and give double shows in that way," declared Saperstein, "so why can't we?" Miller Group Seeks Changes It is also disclosed that the proposed system hasn't the full approval of the Exhibitors Association of Chicago, Jack Miller's organization, the membership of which includes many small houses and practically all of the larger ones. It is expected, however, that these objections will be ironed out without difficulty and that the plan, which is now to be referred to the distributor executives and ex hibitor groups through the Hays organization, will be in operation within two weeks with the approval of the distributors and the larger theatre operators in Chicago. It is even remotely possible that the Allied affiliate may give some measure of approval to a revamped plan. The Saperstein organization has announced that the plan will be lef erred to its members at a general meeting and that the officials will act according to the result of a majority vote. Both Abram F. Myers, president of Allied, and Steffes are expected to attend. See Pettijohn Insistence The Chicago protection situation has been in a turmoil all summer and was considered by some to have finally quieted down in an acquiescence to last year's system. The desire of the Hays organization to have a definite plan formally placed in effect in Chicago, as elsewhere throughout the country, led to a resumption of conferences, for which C. C. Pettijohn came from the Hays office. The plan placed before the meetings was that considered previously but which was more recently modified by representatives of the leading Chicago exchanges. Tiffany, Columbia and RKO, however, did not continue to be represented at these distributor meetings, it is understood, leaving M G M, Paramount, Fox, Warner Brothers, First National and Pathe to work out the system submitted at the meetings from which the Saperstein organization withdrew. Three Plans in New Orleans Besides Pettijohn and the distributor representatives, these conferences were attended by James Coston, representing Coston and Warner theatres; Jack Miller, Lester Retchin, independent exhibitor; Floyd Brockell of Publix-B & K Midwest, Max Balaban and Alex Haperin of Publix Chicago offices, and Austin Kehoe, Publix attorney, and William Saal, Publix general film buyer, both of New York. New Orleans faces the problem of getting together on one, or a combination of, three (Continued on page 26, column 1)