Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, January 8, 1934 Publicity on Code Choices Set for Start Charging They're Receiving Cuts, Operators File Kicks (Continued from page 1) will be checked with the list of compliances. No one will be selected for any of the 32 zone posts unless he has signed the compliance form. Following the naming of set-ups of the two boards in the 32 zones, approval of Division Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt will be required. It hasn't been decided yet whether official appointments by the authority will be announced for the country or by zones. From all indications now, clearance and zoning boards will not be set to function until late February, or early in March. Authority Vacancies To Await Appeals (Continued from page 1) but advises the authority of the government's opinion on matters pertaining to organization structure. Whether Dr. A. Lawrence Lowell will withdraw his resignation and accept the Code Authority post has not yet been decided. If he continues adamant, his successor will be announced about the same time the third government representative, a woman, will be selected. Nebraska-Iowa Men Will Discuss Code Omaha, Jan. 7.— M. P. T. O of Nebraska and western Iowa is sponsoring a two-day meeting of all exhibitors in this territory on Jan. 9 and 10 to discuss the code with particular regard for regional issues. Invitations have been sent to more than 200 independent operators, according to C. E. Williams, M. P. T. O., president. (Continued from page 1) nish operators or stagehands for more than 40 hours per week for a set price, you will have to work out your contract and supply the additional men at ho cost to the employer." The claim is advanced, therefore, that while trimming working hours to increase the spread of employment is in keeping with the letter of the NRA. any enforced salary reductions traveling hand in hand with reductions in working hours to fit in with the 40hour maximum limit fixed in the code are not. On protest of James F. Burke, business agent of the Boston operators' local, it is reported Division Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt has ruled the Hub City local is an exception and is said to have permitted its men to continue their current contract of 49 hours weekly at the rate of seven working hours per day, seven days per week. This will mean a saving of $75,000 a year to men currently enrolled in that union. Burke's protest is believed to have hinged on the statement his union had no men on the bench awaiting jobs and that it had no way of acquiring them. The exception made in this case is apt to result in a flood of additional protests and appeals for similar action from other cities, the understanding here appears to be. Slender Hope Held For 1TOA-306 Deal Roxy Taxes Will Be Paid in Small Sums (Continued from page 1) Roxy, hopes gradually to diminish the balance by small payments from time to time. The court must approve all payments recommended by the receiver. Reorganization plans have not progressed since the hearing of the receiver's report before Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey on Dec. 12. At that time Carlos S. Israels, attorney for the first mortgage bondholders, advised the court four different plans were under consideration and that he anticipated closing one deal before the expiration of the extended receiver's term, June 12. Federation Ad Code Comes Up This Week (Continued from page 1) now slated to meet early this week to begin work on the codes. Temporary headquarters of the Federation have been established at P. S. Harrison's office, 1440 Broadway, pending choice of a location at 723 Seventh Ave. An investigation conducted by International Projectionist, which has been waging a campaign for clarification of code provisions relative to operators, shows 6 codes submitted to and approved by the President between July 9 and Nov. 17, 1933, contain a general provision that compensation is not to be reduced, although hours of labor are. according to its editor. James J. Finn. He says the film code is silent on this point and demands to know why. New Union to Hear Speech by Mitchell Theodore Mitchell, head of the Theatre Agents' and Managers' Ass'n, is on the list of speakers who will address the first mass meeting of members of the recently organized Local 118. Building Service Employes Union, to be held at Bryant Hall tomorrow nisjit. The organization now claims more than 1.600 members in the Greater New York area, comprising ushers, doormen, ticket takers, cashiers, janitors and scrubwomen. New wage scales for each employe classification will be set by the meeting and employed as the basis of collective bargaining for higher wages during subsequent meetings with theatre operators. (Continued from page 1 ) mitted a scale for independent theatres. Harry Brandt, head of the exhibitor organization, did not. It was agreed that Brandt would secure a list of authorizations from his members who want to be included in the negotiations Thursday. The I.T.O.A. meets the day before. In a campaign to get its membership up to date, the I.T.O.A. expelled the Springer and Cocalis circuit, the first in the drive. Unless the A. H. Schwartz group pays its dues in a short timer it will be the next to be drop]>ed from the ranks. Code violation charges against the unit will come up for hearing before the NRA tomorrow. Amity Sets Exchange John M. Crinnion, Amity president, has closed a deal with a group headed by Ben Schwartz, Henry Horowitz and Sol H. Kravits to distribute Amity product through a New York Amity exchange. Also included in the agreement are the rights to distribute Tiffany and Quadruple pictures recently acquired by Amity from Fox. No Famous Theatre Creditor Dividend (Continued from page 1) mercial Investment Trust, Inc., •for $345,000. Famous Theatres' offer to settle these claims provides for the issuance of one share of its preferred for each $200 of claims. Assuming par value of the stock to be $100, the settlement offered would be on the basis of 50 cents on the dollar. Any cash settlement made will be on the basis of 35 cents on the dollar. Outside creditors have been given 40 days in which to decide on acceptance or rejection of the stock settlement offer, during which time no cash dividend will be paid by Famous. A number of contested creditors' claims still remain against Publix Enterprises, and may involve litigation. Irving Trust Co. does not withdraw as trustee in bankruptcy for Publix Enterprises until these have been finallv settled. Expect P-P Trustee Rule A ruling by the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals here on an action seeking the removal of the Paramount Publix trustees in bankruptcj is expected to be handed down today. The action was brought by Samuel Zirn, attorney for a Paramount Publix bondholders' group, and arguments were heard by the court last month. B Vay Duals In Fight for Films, Trade (Continued from page 1) a three-changes-a-week policy and reducing admissions from 25 cents to 15 cents. The Cohan, two blocks below the New York on Broadway, is double featuring revivals at 10 and 15 cents, as is the Globe, two blocks up on the other side of Broadway. Shortage of product set the policy of each. Gaiety Takes What It Can The Gaiety, former roadshow house, takes what it can in product, but makes an effort to get pictures as soon as possible. The tariff has been 25 cents there, but will undoubtedly be forced down by new developments. The Waldorf, on 49th Street near Radio City, entered the arena recently with comparatively new pictures double featured at 15 cents. The Broadway, at 53d St., made a brief bid for the "drifters' " trade on upper Broadway, offering double features and vaudeville for 25 cents, but went dark at holiday time, convinced that there wasn't enough business to go around. A half-dozen houses along 8th Ave. and on 42nd St., double featuring at 10 and 15 cents, are also drawing some of the Times Square trade for this type of program. Among these is the Harris, West 42nd St., which on Saturday ran "Gold Diggers of 1933," "The Fighting President" and five Disney shorts for 10 cents in the afternoon. Others May Join Them Additions to the list of houses in this competitive circle may come soon, with both the Criterion and the Embassy reported considering a double feature, low admission policy. The Criterion is now playing "Emperor Jones" on a return date at 25 cents and on the conclusion of the run may go to duals if product is available. The Embassy, recently closed as a newsreel house, may be reopened with duals. The result of the spread of the policy is that none of the houses involved in the competition is reported doing consistently good business, most of it depending upon appearance on the program of an exceptional drawing card, a comparatively recent release, which is rare, and on weather conditions. Frank Culp Resting Denver. Jan. 7. — Frank Culp, formerly city manager for Fox and now booking, has taken a leave of absence because of illness, and will spend some time in California for his health. His job will be filled by Bill Dollison, moved over from the Salt Lake Citv office. Goldsmith to Make Four Hollywood, Jan. 7. — Ken Goldsmith will make a series of four outdoor pictures starring Jackie Searle. Lobo, the dog, and Bingo, the horse. The first will go into production on March 1. Warners Plan $10 "Fashions" Opening As the initial step in an elaborate national exploitation campaign a premiere at $10 top is planned by Warners for "Fashions of 1934" at the Hollywood Jan. 18. A fashion parade will be held on the stage in conjunction with the opening. Following New York, the film will be booked into key theatres over the country. Special exploitation men will be sent from the home office to handle each showing. Warner to Coast Harry M. and Mrs. Warner sailed for Hollywood on Saturday.