The Film Daily (1934)

THE DUAL BILLS UPHELD BY CODE AUTHORITY (.Continued from Page 1) not dealt with by the Authority in its resolution. Charges that the Milwaukee clearance and zoning1 board had ex-' ceeded its authority, as provided by the motion picture code, were registered by Attorney Louis Nizer, who as counsel for Universal, Columbia E. N. Judels, and Security, as well as 30 independent exhibitors in that territory, led the assault on the schedule. Sidney R. Kent presided at the hearing, with the following Authority members and alternates present: R. H. Cochrane, Edward Golden, Nathan Yamins, Ed Kuykendall, Major L. E. Thompson, Harold S. Bareford, Austin C. Keough, J. Robert Rubin and Charles L. O'Reilly. Nizer took issue with several phases of the clearance schedule. He socked at its definition to the effect that 3,000 feet constitutes length of a feature and declared that the board had no authority to establish minimum admission prices as the code does not provide this latitude. Furthermore, he said, according to the schedule, a house which on only one night changes its admissions scale automatically assumes a new price classification. "The schedule only lacks a morality clause to make it a new code," observed Nizer, hammering away at the "upsurping" of an "unauthorized" power taken by the local board. Status of rebates is specified by the code itself, the attorney pointed out, and any tampering with the matter is beyond the jurisdiction of local boards. The code is "silent" on the double feature issue, Nizer stressed. He asked that article 17, in which houses playing duals, using stage shows and giving rebates, are penalized by being set back on pictures, be stricken out of the schedule. The code seeks to encourage production, which means employment, declared Nizer, and any ban on duals would be to the contrary. Edward Saunders of M-G-M, I. E. Chadwick, William Powers, I. Levenson and John Freuler also raised objections to the schedule. Levenson, representing Warner-First National, picked out, among other phases, the definition of a feature-length picture as he criticized the schedule, pointing out that Vitaphone is making three-reelers as shorts. Principles involved in setting up clearance schedules entered the discussions, with Kuykendall taking part. Fox Preparing "Inferno" West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAIT Y Hollywood — Philip Klein, who has just completed, together with Rose Franken, the screen version of the Mary Roberts Rinehart novel, "The State Versus Elinor Norton," has been assigned by Fox to write a motion picture adaptation in a modern treatment of the immortal Dante's "Inferno." &th DAILY NEWS OF THE DAY Toronto — Members dropped by the Ontario censor board in the economy move, as predicted recently, are Maj. J. Chancellor Boylen, who is succeeded as chairman by J. B. Hardwicke, and Mrs. L. Phillips and Mrs. P. Thorneloe. The board now is reduced to three members. Burlington, Wis. — For the second time in two months, the Plaza was held up, the latest robbery netting $400. The house is operated by Jack Yeo and was robbed two months ago of $500. Milwaukee ■ — Charles Koehler, booker for the B. N. Judell exchange here, is observing his first vacation in 25 years, an enforced one, recovering from an appendicitis operation. Haverhill, Mass. — William Burhoe is now operating the Strand, recently part of the Charles Morse Circuit. Portland, Me. — Fred Stone, manager of the New Portland Theater an E. M. Loew house, will marry Thelma Sparks next week. Decatur, Ind. — The Madison, Decatur's third motion picture house, has opened under the management of David Rice. Fort Wayne, Ind. — Pickets who patroled the fronts of the Creighton and Capitol for the past eight months have quit. Apparently the union trouble was patched up by Tony Nelleson, the owner of both theaters. Dowling Says 75% of Films Should Be Aimed at Family Seventy-five per cent of pictures should be made for family audiences, declared Eddie Dowling, stage and screen producer, in discussing the Legion of Decency movement yesterday in New York. If such a policy is adopted, thousands of persons whom objectionable pictures have driven away from the theaters would return, said Dowling. Picture producers must "keep faith" with the churches in turning out wholesome productions, Dowling warned, or swift and disastrous retaliation, partly via legislation, is certain to follow. He appealed for greater sincerity on the part of producers in conforming with the cleanup ideas of the church movement. Detroit Notes Detroit — Confirmation is still lacking on the report of George W. Trendle leasing the Paramount, now dark. Variety Club Outing has been changed to Aug. 21 at Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. Otto Bolle of Paramount exchange is chairman. Bernard Brooks and Raymond Schreiber are reopening the Crystal, formerly owned by Ben Cohn. Clarence Runkle succeeds Brooks as manager of the New Center. Louis A. Orsin will be in charge of distribution at Shamrock Film Exchanges, with offices in the Film Exchange Bldg. I. J. London will remodel and reopen the Ferry Field under the name of the Beacon. Central Theater Corp. and Montcalm Theater Corp., recently formed here, are Fox Theater subsidiaries, according to D. M. Idzal. John Crinnion of Amity Pictures was here this week visiting Monarch Exchange and conferring with L. A. Young. Harry Lush, exhibitor of Plymouth and Northville, is now in Alpena recuperating from an illness. Gaumont-Franco-Films Continuing Activities Paris — Gaumont-Franco-FilmsAubert has been authorized by the Government to pursue its activities despite the recent order to liquidate. A French-British-American syndicate will take over the GaumontFranco-Films. MGM PRODUCING UNl LIKELY FOR ENGLAI ik i (Continued from Page 1) !.'■■' rival and after conferring with i\ m Eckman Jr., the M-G-M chiefl CIAS Great Britain. While plans have j DMES' been fully worked out, it is urn DNE ' stood that from eight to 15 picti. might be made the first year. Stu< being considered include the Loni||ti»t Films plant, which is said to favored by Mayer if terms can agreed upon. Mayer said that M-G-M is now) ■■ a position to send part of its Hoi wood organization to Englsi Further study of the situation hj will be made by Fred Pelton of M-G-M studios who is now on way here. \iW St. Louis Notes St. Louis — Eddie Rosscan, fo erly with United Artists, has sumed his new post as B. N. Judt' local manager. Homer H. Harmon of the Shut advertising staff was married cently. Byron Moore is on vacation in Ozarks. "Windy" Wilbert, former exp tation man at the Ambassador, joined the Warner sales staff Denver. Ordered to Pay Vaude Scale Detroit — Theaters playing vaudeville, even one show a day, must pay the full code price of $7.50 a day, it has been ordered by Dante Dente, legal advisor of the NRA, this week. Case was brought by Actors Federation of America against several houses. "Side Streets" for Mayfair First National's "Side Street with Aline MacMahon, opens v^ mei a Monday night preview at Mayfair. Gardel to be at Opening Carlos Gardel will make a r. sonal appearance tonight at opening of the Teatro Campoarr Fifth Ave. and 116th St., with new Spanish dialogue featu "Cuesta Abajo", in which Garc, Mona Maris and Anita Campillo .11 pear. i; Everything Points Toward Busines Revival On A Big Scale This Fel * * * Well Planned Advertisir Paves The Way To Better Busines * * * The Buying Power Of Th Motion Picture Industry Reads Fill Daily Every Day * • *