Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1930)

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VOLUME XLII NUMBER 2 NEW YORK CITY JULY 12, 1930 Inside Talk Again of Pathe to R-K-0 As Industry Divides Into Two Camps In Conference Hollywood — A well known comic on a well known lot occupies an office close enough to executive headquarters to hear all that goes on when the windows are open. "I see all the men and women go in and hear all of the conversations, too. The men all say 'yes,' and the women, 'no.'" Do Warners Own Harris Circuit? They Don't Know If Warners are the owners of the 25 Harris theatres, it's being kept a very dark secret, because no one in that organization could answer "yes" or "no" to the question asked by a Motion Picture News reporter : "Do Warner Brothers own the Harris circuit in Pennsylvania?" The query was prompted when it was learned that Warners are still trying to strike a bargain with "Denny" Harris for control of the string, despite the fact that Warners officially told the wide world, more than two months ago, that they had purchased the chain. What they forgot to mention, however, was the fact that the dial stipulated all cash — and plenty of it. Now Warners may lose out entirely, if they don't lay it on the line in a hurry. The chain operates 25 houses in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Ohio and was one of the few remaining important independent strings to sell out. Spyros Skouras, Warner theatre operating chief, is unavailable for a statement concerning the Harris mixup. He is out of town. Janet Gaynor Is Contrite; Awaits Sheehan Pardon Hollywood — Being off the regular weekly payroll since the middle of March, inside reports have it that Janet Gaynor is more than willing to return to Fox and to take any assignments that the executives decide are best for her talents. Winfield Sheehan, now on the coast, apparently knows that Miss Gaynor is anxious to "kiss and make up" so that a new start can be made. But Sheehan is said to feel "spanky" before she returns to the or (Continued on page 24) Bankers at It Again, but Public Indifference to Stocks May Kill Move Pathe to R-K-O? The financial checkerboard this week indicated that this amalgamation, discussed at least twice in the last six months and as often dropped, now has a strong chance of becoming fact. Through Lehman Brothers, R-K-0 bankers, and Elisha Walker of BancamericaBlair Company, Pathe bankers, it is understood the stock structure can be set up, but one of the snares that is causing trouble is the slow-motion rapidity with which the investing public today is gobbling new issues. Some speculation apparently exists as to whether or not a new stock flotation which an amalgamation such as this would call for could be sold in view of market conditions. The uncertainty may prove sufficient to again block any deal. The Two-Company Swing The drift of the industry toward two large companies would be further intensified by a Pathe-R-K-0 affiliation. On one side of the fence are Paramount, now playing ball heavily with Fox. That, in turn, ties in M-G-M and Loew's. United Artists is affiliated with Paramount through a franchise with Publix theatres. A U. A.-Paramount merger, as reported exclusively in Motion Picture News last week, continues a live possibility. The Paramount-Fox booking deal, which may be the prelude to closer business relations, immediately resulted in a product tie-up between Warners and R-K-O. Columbia is thrown into the Radio camp via a booking contract, with actual purchase reported if the first six pictures on Columbia's 1930-1931 program come through. Pathe associated with Radio is, therefore, considered by observers to be a logical step. This would then leave Universal and Tiffany on the outside. Hollywood Has Its Sherlock, So Beware!! Hollywood — There's no such thing _ as privacy in Hollywood or Beverly Hills. Fan magazine representatives, daily chatter writers, scandal-mongers of the eastern tabloids, and several hundred free lance writers (Continued on page 24) It's Dynamite! There's something brewing in the laboratory field — and it's not beer, either, although it will have a kick as potent as pre-war malt-and-hop juice, taking certain big interests by complete surprise and knocking 'em right off their pins. The fuse is now being adjusted to the gunpowder, and when the match is lit, watch the fireworks. Hanson Quitting? Exaggeration, He Says; Here's Dope Grant L. Cook, vice-president of Tiffany, says the report is silly. Oscar Hanson, general sales manager, declares his retirement is something like the well-known story of Mark Twain's death. Yet Motion Picture News learns that Cook will shortly return to Detroit, his home town, in connection with activities not concerned with Tiffany ; that Hanson will be succeeded by Phil Meyer, at present New York manager for the company. Cook says he goes to Detroit every weekend ; that there's nothing new in that. Hanson insists his hatrack at Tiffany is his — all his. New "U" Policy Gives Lupe Only $20,000 a Film Hollywood — Although holding option on services of Lupe Velez for a five-year term contract with annual options and salary for first year of $2,500 weekly, Universal made a new deal with the player for a five-year optional agreement calling for appearance in four productions yearly at a flat sum per picture. Under terms of the contract, Miss Velez receives $20,000 per picture from Universal, and is entitled to appear in productions for other first line companies when the outside engagements do not interfere with her (Continued on page 22)