Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 4, 1934 Competition Keener, Says Laemmle, Jr. (Continued from page 1) pledged his entire resources to the creation of an unbroken succession of hits, the result of ample preparation of logical, entertaining stories, as well as the expenditure of unlimited time and patience. "Only in this way can the industry take full advantage of the opportunities presented and assume its place at the head of the procession which is now about to lead the business of the nation back to a normal condition. "During the doldrums of the past three years, with an altered outlook on the part of the people, producers have been able to form little idea of the wants of theatregoers. "To a great degree the creators of screen entertainment have been shooting in the dark and trusting to luck to ring the bell. But with the return to a more normal trend of thought and a state of increased prosperity, desires can be more accurately gauged and satisfied. "The past season has seen the production of many fine pictures ; no competent observer will deny that. But there must be no disposition to rest on past laurels, or to be satisfied with accomplishments from which we can receive no further benefit. Novelty is the demand of today, and we must not be content to produce simply good pictures of a former mold. More than ever, imagination must enter into the preparation of stories, to the constant attainment of something new and different in screen entertainment. "Competition among producers is keener than ever. This is the best thing that could possibly happen to advance quality of pictures." FWC Fees Pruned To Property Value (Continued from page 1) aggregate sum of $100,000 divided three ways. The law firm of Omelveny, Tuller and Myers asked for $43,950 on account, plus a weekly drawing account of $2,500 since July 29. McNabb offered $6,000 to each trustee on account, and $18,000 for the attorneys. All refused, preferring to await a more tangible inventory and an approximate valuation of the properties. The case was postponed to Feb. 13. Despite protests from T. L. Tally and L. B. George, minor claimants, demanding further investigation before considering the allotment of fees, McNabb declared he thought the trustees and attorneys were doing a good job of pulling the biggest bankruptcy fiasco into the light and beginning to show profits. M. A. Marks to Head Marcy Productions With M. A. Marks as president, Marcy Prod, has been formed to release "Public Stenographer," "The Big Race" and "The Moth." Nine others will be handled throughout the year. Ethics Code Holds On Coast: Ruggles If the production code of ethics has been laced more tightly with a new set of moral strings in order to meet code requirements and increasing clamor in critical quarters, Hollywood producers have not been advised of it, according to Wesley Ruggles, Paramount director, who, with his wife, Arline Judge, is spending a week here looking over the Broadway plays. Ruggles said yesterday that the production code of ethics as enforced by the M.P.P.D.A. studio relations office continues to be administered as before and constitutes the industry's only effort at self regulation of production. Ruggles, who directed "I'm No Angel," will make three pictures for Paramount this year, one of which will be "Yonder Lies Jericho," a novel by Samuel L. Harris, which Paramount acquired for Ruggles recently and in which he expressed a keen interest yesterday. He described it as an "epic of Texas." His first assignment on returning to Hollywood next week will be on "Shoe the Wild Mare," a Gene Fowler story. Ruggles said he was not aware of any studio's plans to reduce schedules to any unusual extent next season. Warners to Aim at World-Wide Appeal Warners will concentrate on pictures with a world-wide appeal to overcome the handicaps in the foreign market, declared Jack L. Warner, vice-president in charge of production, last night. "Owing to the widespread interest in pictures abroad," he said, "we can no longer afford to produce pictures for American audiences. For that reason we have determined to exert every effort to produce entertainment with universal appeal." Erpi Not to Slash Service Rates Here (Continued from page 1) tory is concerned, C. W. Bunn, Erpi general sales manager, said yesterday in commenting on reductions amounting to $1.30 per week placed in effect in the United Kingdom on Jan. 1. Bunn stated that while he was not familiar with the situation in England it was his impression that prevailing charges for servicing there had been higher than those in effect here. Killed in Theatre Hold-up Lynn, Mass., Jan. 3 — Fred Sumner, billposter at the Paramount, was shot and killed ; Harry Condon, engineer of the theatre, was seriously wounded and taken to Lynn Hospital; Leo Donahue, janitor, was clubbed over the head requiring hospital treatment, and 10 other employees were terrorized when three armed bandits entered the theatre and robbed the safe of $2,000. LeRoys Sail Today Mr. and Mrs. Mervyn LeRoy (Doris Warner) sail today on the Empress of Britain for a world cruise honeymoon. H amnions Signs Keaton Hollywood, Jan. 3 — E. W. Hammons has signed Buster Keaton for Educational's star comedy series. Coast B.O. Picks Up Los Angeles, Jan. 3 — Local theatres have recovered from the blow struck by the recent rain storm with remarkable attendances, with several first runs a complete sellout. Federation Adopts Plan for Finances (Continued from page 1) organization's finance and executive committees held at the First Division offices. The plan is understood to call for an assessment on producer members of $5 per negative reel release, and on distributors one of $2.50 per positive reel release, with a $50 annual minimum in each case. It was decided to establish organization headquarters at 723 Seventh Aye. and a committee will select an office location there today. Alec Moss, formerly with Preferred Pictures, was named executive secretary of the organization and will serve in a fulltime capacity. Establishment of codes of ethics for independent production and advertising will be initiated at a meeting of the Federation's committee on standards scheduled for either today or tomorrow at Monogram offices. Set Date on Naming Of Realty Trustees Despite strong opposition by counsel for Realty Associates Securities Corp., bankrupt, and attorneys for other bondholders, Referee in Bankruptcy Eugene F. O'Connor, Jr., yesterday in Brooklyn Federal Court agreed with the contention of Archibald Palmer, attorney for a minority bondholders' committee, and set Friday as the day for the election of bankrupt trustees of the corporation. Palmer asked for the election, citing the fact that last Saturday Federal Judge Marcus B. Campbell rejected a proposition offered by the corporation and that officers of the bankrupt and its affiliates have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud bondholders, concealment of assets and use of the mails to defraud. Judge Campbell, in rejecting the proposition, ruled the bankrupt could not offer to pay the fees of authorized bondholders' committees, but that the offer would have to be submitted to the referee of the bankrupt's creditors and, if agreed to by them, the referee was to submit to the court a modified or amended offer. Palmer contended liquidation was not for the best interests of the creditors and that, in view of the indictments made against officials of the corporation, the bankruptcy trustees must be elected. Opposition was voiced by Alfred T. Davison, attorney for the bankrupt, and by former Judge William R. Bayes, attorney for another group of bondholders. "I am of the opinion," Referee O'Connor said, "that the election of trustees is imperative. The tenure of the receivers should be temporary. I will proceed with the election of the trustees on Friday, Jan. 5, at 2 P.M." Herman Rifkin in Town Herman Rifkin, Boston independent exchange man, is in town. Dembow Given High Post in New Para. Co. (Continued from page 1) tive capacity than has been the case since S. A. Lynch re-entered the company as head of its theatre reorganization committee. Rumors had been persistent, on and off for months, that Dembow might take over Publix's upper New York State houses on his own, thereby removing him entirely from activity in the home office. In addition to the election yesterday of Kohn as president of Paramount Theatres Service Corp. and Dembow as vice-president, Y. Frank Freeman, formerly of the Paramount real estate department, was also elected a vicepresident, Walter B. Cokell was elected treasurer and J. D. Van Wagoner secretary. Dembow will supervise contacts with the field pertaining to actual theatre operations and will maintain contacts with distributing companies and will have charge of booking of stage attractions for Paramount houses wherever these are done by New York. Freeman will supervise contacts with the field in matters pertaining to leases, real estate, pooling agreements, fixed charges, insurance, purchasing, maintenance and building operation. Just prior to the election, stockholders of Theatre Management Co. met and changed the name of the company to Paramount Theatres Service Corp. Kohn explained that the change of name was made in order to avoid misunderstanding of its purposes, which are strictly of a service nature to assist managers in the field, it was said. "In view of the fact that Paramount's present management is definitely committed to the decentralized plan of theatre operation, it was felt that the name. Theatre Management Co., was a misnomer," Kohn said. Zukor to Coast Soon Adolph Zukor plans to leave for the coast within the next two weeks on his annual trip to the Paramount studios. Bob Gillham expects to trek west in about a week. Paramount Holds Lead Paramount holds its lead in the film bowling league despite the fact that Fox won, two games out of three, this week. Next Tuesday Fox will meet RKO. Miskell to Coast Soon William Miskell, formerly with the Paramount in Omaha, and now handling publicity for the Eighth Ave. theatres for Consolidated Amusements, has left for the Coast to join F. W. C. Dissolve Publix Unit Dover, Jan. 3 — Publix National Corp. was dissolved here today with the consent of the stockholders. "Zenda" to Be Musical Hollywood, Jan. 3. — M-G-M plans to remake "The Prisoner of Zenda" as a musical with Ramon Novarro.