Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)
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MOTION PICTURE
DAILY
Tuesday, January 2, 1934
Year Was Swift and Momentous
(Continued from page 4) New Mexican sales law held in abeyance until June 12, as M-G-M's temporary injunction restraining its enforcement is extended to that date.
Apr. 10. — Industry leaders arrive in Hollywood with objective of establishing a new economic order in industry based on changed business conditions. Will H. Hays declares industry must balance its budget immediately.
Apr. 11. — Salary cuts must be rescinded by any company which an audit of its books shows was not hurt by emergency bank holiday, coast ruling holds. Cuts upheld for other companies, but only for period during which they showed actual losses.
Apr. 12. — Sympathy of industry interests in financial emergency seen influencing adoption of a new "gentlemen's agreement' among major companies involving elimination of costly competitive practices.
Apr. 13. — Major company heads consider setting up industry dictator on coast to control stars' salaries through organization of a United Booking Office.
Apr. 14. — Major companies' heads propose five basic economy plans to reduce industry overhead, viz.: cooperative newsreel coverage based on Associated Press plan; barter plan by which company funds tied up in foreign countries because of money embargoes would be released by using them to purchase foreign goods for resale here; reduction of film footage now devoted to screen credits; establishment of central purchasing depot for all studios; closer study of story purchases with eye on production costs.
Apr. 15. — Darryl Zanuck resigns as pro duction chief at Warners following dispute with company as to effective date of rescinding salary cuts for studio employes.
Coast conference of major executives ends with note of confidence in future. All companies but Universal decided on ending salary cuts. Plan for production dictator and United Booking Office to control star salaries abandoned.
Apr. 17. — Major companies agree in Hollywood to pool process patents and stories and cooperate further on loans of talent and studio properties to effect econo mies. Artists' Service Bureau to be or ganized, with Jason Joy in charge, to be "clearing house" for talent. Opposition to it voiced in Hollywood.
Apr. 18— Paramount Publix creditors elect Charles D. Hilles, Louis J. Horowitz and Eugene W. Leake trustees in bank ruptcy of company.
Apr. 19. — Important Hollywood talent voices for independent production.
Apr. 20. — M-G-M negative costs expected to be fixed by New York under plan worked out by President Nicholas M. Schenck and broached to Louis B. Mayer.
Darryl Zanuck associates with Joseph M. Schenck in new producing company which will release through United Artists.
Apr. 21.— Independent companies inter ested in physical distribution merger similar to that studied by major companies and calculated to save independents $1,000,000 an nually.
Apr. 22— Academy of M. P. Arts & Sciences nears open break with major studios following Conrad Nagel's resignation from presidency.
Apr. 24. — Possible savings to studios of $6,000,000 annually seen through operations of Artists' Service Bureau.
Apr. 25. — Monogram to double budget, W. Ray Johnston tells convention.
Apr. 26.— Will H. Hays' influence extended to enforce production code of ethics more effectively.
At>r. 27. — Motion Picture Daily learns no foundation exists for reports Will H. Hays will be replaced.
Apr. 28. — Plans to gauge story values before approving buys seen resulting in production economies and cleaner pictures.
Apr. 29. — Academy plans reorganization with producer representation limited to those not empowered to make contracts with talent.
May 2. — Highly competitive sales season seen with possible increase of field sales forces as result of return of 1,900 decentralized theatre accounts to field territory.
R. A. Rowland resigns vice-presidency of Fox.
May 3. — New season rentals may be higher as result of probable increase in dis tribution costs.
Paramount' s operating costs to be paid out of distribution revenue only; development seen increasing authority of George J Schaefer. general sales manager.
May 4. — Major distributors agree to hold no sales conventions this season prior to an approximate July 1 deadline, Motion Picture Daily learns exclusively.
May 5. — President Roosevelt's plan for government of industry through trade association agreements, involving three-year suspension of anti-trust laws, exclusively interpreted by Motion Picture Daily as having far-reaching effect for film industry if President's plans are approved by Congress. . .
All companies revise sales convention dates following agreement of distributors to hold no meets prior to July 1 ciate.
May 6.— Paramount will make no bank loans during 1934. To operate solely out of distribution revenue,
May 8. — Flood of bills introduced in 47 state legislatures affecting film industry seen subsiding with minimum of adverse legislation having been enacted.
May 9. — William Morris Agency reported ready to enter theatre operation to forestall further cuts of vaudeville and presentation acts' salaries.
Bankruptcy examination of raramouut Publix officers begins with Ralph Kohn, former treasurer, testifying theatre losses hastened company's financial difficulties.
May 10.— Final plans for industrial re covery go to President with provisions for Federal board to oversee trade agreements, designed to end cut-throat competition, restore wages and increase employment.
May 11. — Increased production of shorts seen resulting from curtailment of double featuring throughout country.
May 12. — Pooling of available story ma terial by major studios not having bad effeet on original or new story market.
May 13.— Sirovich bill for investigation of industry defeated in House
May 15.— Circuits see no summer film shortage but some are apprehensive over drawing power.
May 16. — Expect agreement on tariff truce at London economic conference.
Paramount Publix trustees in bankruptcy file action to have company's $13,200,000 credit transaction of March, 1932, set aside as preferential to 12 participating banks.
U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New York gives old Roxy exclusive right to use of name.
May 17. — Circuits considering vaudeville acts to bolster summer programs feared weakened by poor films. ,
Opposition to German Nazi regime abroad creating increased demand for American product to supplant German pictures,
May 18.— Federal licensing of industry to replace operation of anti-trust laws under President Roosevelt's industrial control plans.
May 19. — Cooperation of all industry ele ments to draft code of trade practice, wage scales and inter-company relations, seen required under President Roosevelt s plans.
Charles E. Richardson, treasurer of f ox Film and former head of Film Securities Corp.. slated to succeed Louis J. Horwitz as trustee in bankruptcy for Paramount Publix, Motion Picture Daily learns.
May 20.— Charles E. Richardson elected Paramount Publix trustee in bankruptcy.
May 21. — Major distributors consider second postponement of sales conventions.
May 27. — S. A. Lynch, former head of Southern Enterprises, returns to activity in charge of Paramount Publix theatres.
May 29. — Paramount seem aiming at retention of large national circuit control in appointing S. A. Lynch on reorganization.
May 31. — Film industry draws plans for participating of all its trade organizations in drafting a code under Federal industry control. Motion Picture Daily learns exclusively. Legislation making President s plan a law, now before Senate.
May 1. — Distributors studying proposal for contracting with exhibitors for fixed amount of playing time rather than for rental of specific pictures.
June 1. — N. L. Nathanson elected presi dent Famous Players Canadian Corp., sue ceeding Adolph Zukor.
Loew washing up exclusives. Policy ends in six cities when grosses fail to hold.
June 2.— Annual loss of $10,000,000 suf fered by distributors through infringement of copyright law by illegal showing of films.
June 3. — Warner business rising out of depression, according to npancial statement reporting loss of $3,442,325 for 26 weeks ending Feb. 25, 1933, as compared with net loss of $5,267,699 for year before
June 5. — Action on Artists' Service Bureau to await enactment of Administration Industry Control Bill
June 6. — Court ruling increases A. H. Blank's holdings in Omaha territory
June 7. — M.P.T.O.A. heads conferring or organization's participation in code.
June 8. — Will Hays calls for general meeting of all branches of industry to dis cuss preliminarv code plans
June 9. — George W. Trendle starts deal to regain control of Publix houses ip Detroit
June 10. — American showmen want fewer and better shorts. Motion Picture Daily survey shows.
Decline of double features increases short subject production for 1933-1934 by 50%
June 12. — United Artists to double out put for 1933-1934; plans 35 to 40
June 13. — N. L. Nathanson, new presi dent Famous Players Canadian, aims to re open every dark house in the chain.
June 14. — Industry Control Bill passed by Congress to put "new deal" in effectGeneral Hugh S. Johnson to be named administrator.
M.P.T.O.A. completes first draft of pro posed industry code.
Federal Court voids New Mexico law controlling film sales.
June 15.— Production and distribution codes to be drawn up in New York.
June 16. — Chatfeld circuit enters field by securing houses in Ohio and West Virginia
June 17. — President Roosevelt signs In dustrial Recovery Act
June 19. — Recovery Act may reopen 4,000 houses throughout country.
June 20. — Battle looms on coast over agents' code.
New uniform exhibition contract may be come part of distribution code.
June 21.— Codes would localize wide adjustment powers.
First draft of distribution and exhibi tion codes made public
June 22. — Industry prepares to tackle production code. Hays leaves for coast.
E. R. Tinker quits Fox for post with Fox West Coast.
July 1.— Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences asks code rule on talent loans.
July 3. — Skies clearing for Fox, Sidney Kent tells sales convention.
July 5.— Gross in keys $49,699,734 in 39 weeks ending June 23-24, Motion Picture Daily figures reveal.
July 6. — Exhibitor sentiment against dual billing increasing throughout country, Motion Picture Herald survey shows.
July 7. — Will Hays sounding out studios on code preparatory to general meeting on matter.
July 8. — Producers vote to go along with reorganization of Academy.
July 10. — Monogram to sell first run off Broadway. , . .
Code must set up wage basis and minimum working time.
July 12. — Film unions may be included in government inquiry into racketeering.
Frank C. Walker, vice-president of Comerford Theatres, named executive secretary of the Recovery Council by President.
July 13. — Representatives of independent distributing organizations lay plans for agreements on working hours and basic wage scale.
July 14. — Paramount Publix partners assemble in New York to get status cleared.
July 15. — Thirty-six-hour week set by M. P.T.O.A. at meeting in Chicago.
July 17. — Text of new exhibition code released by M. P. T. O. A. Thirty cents per hour set as minimum, with lowest theatre wage $10.80 weekly.
July 18. — James R. Grainger goes to Universal as general sales manager, succeeding L. J. Schlaifer.
May 23. — Negotiations between major studios and "Big Four" labor unions for new basic studio agreement end in deadlock as studios refuse to recognize I. A.T.Ss. E. demand for inclusion of film editors and cutters in their ranks.
May 24. — President Roosevelt's industrial control bill scheduled to go to House for
consideration tomorrow. ...
M. A. Lightman, M.P.T.O.A. president, will "swap" iobs with Ed KuykendaJL TriStates M.P.T.O. president.
May 25.— Elimination of RKO Roxy as a first run eases Broadway picture supply.
May 26. — George J. Schaefer made general manager of Paramount Publix and subsidiaries. .Seen killing report N. L. Nathanson will join
June 23. — Independents ask ban on pro ducer-exhibitor affiliations in code. Agreement on codes looked for in a hurry.
June 24. — Paramount plans to release 60 to 65 during 1933-1934.
June 26. — Majors to concentrate on names instead of titles in 1933-1934 sales activities as annual conventions get under way.
June 27. — Paramount will release 65 during 1933-1934.
June 28.— Twentieth Century denies talent raids, revealing itself for open market
June 29. — Announcements by major companies reveal musicals set for big comeback.
June 30. — Fox production to reach new high, with 54 announced for 1933-1934.
Policy of exclusive sales dropped by M.G-M and United Artists after year s trial.
July 19. — George W. Trendle gets Publix in Detroit.
July 20. — J. R. McDonough named general manager of RKO.
July 21. — Fox financing plan expected to go through.
July 22. — Fox stockholders vote new financing plan calling for reduction of common stock to one-sixth of that outstanding and cut of corporation's capital to $2,104.633.
July 24. — New England lining up solid against dual ban. Frowns on proposal contained in M.P.T.O.A. code.
Stockholders complete Fox refinancing plan with approval of new issue to care for $38,000,000 debt.
July 25. — All I.A.T.S.E. unions order general tieup of studios.
July 26. — "White collar" workers to get 40-hour week in compliance with President's voluntary employer agreements.
Colvin W. Brown, vice-president and general manager of Quigley Publishing Co., named assistant to Frank C. Walker, executive secretary of Recovery Council.
Sol A. Rosenblatt. Hew York lawyer, named by General Hugh S. Johnson to hear all amusement codes.
Studio strike fails to hold up production.
July 27 — Warners send up pay under blanket code.
July 28. — I.A.T.S.E. making national move to influence code, questioning 700 locals on hours and wages.
July 29. — Arbiters may be called in studio strike. In , ,
M P. Laboratory Ass'n. sets 40-hour week and $15 wage minimum under blanket code.
July 31.— Academy of. M. P. Arts and Sciences asks mediation in studio strike.
Aua. 1. — Strike no bar to studios as unions still hold out.
Aug. 2. — Warners ban sales to every code holdout, a plan aimed at theatres not pledging support to NIRA. Distribution code form is put into shape, ready for coordination with exhibitors.
(Continued on page 9)