Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

4 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, March 31, 1934 Non-Assentor To Enjoy 10% Cancellation (Continued from page 1) senting to the code," it was held, "cannot be denied any of the rights and remedies afforded by the code save only that they will not enjoy the right to file complaints before the administrative agencies provided for in the code." However, it was added, "upon acceptance of any of the benefits and advantages of the code, such members of the industry may be assessed a reasonable amount, subject to the approval of the administrator, to help defray the expenses of administrating the code." More Boards Getting Prepared for Action (Continued from page 1) temporarv chairman of the clearance and zoning board, and A. Mendenhall for the grievance board, expect to call the first business sessions in ten days. Permanent quarters probably will be established in the Loyal. Chicago, March 30. — Some idea of the cost of operating grievance and clearance and zoning boards may be gleaned from the estimated budget of $1,000 per month set up by local appointees at their initial meeting this week. Following is an itemized statement of anticipated costs revealing how the local group arrived at its estimate : Office rent, $125 ; secretary's salary, $250; salary and expenses of two investigators, $400; telephone, $75 to $100; postage and telegraph, S50. The expense in the Chicago territory would be prorated among approximately 700 theatres and distributors. Atlanta, March 30. — Code committees held an organization meeting this week and adjourned until the first Monday in May, by which time a secretary will have been appointed by Code Authority. The next meeting was deferred in order that members might attend the M. P. T. O. A. convention in Los Angeles. Among those on the two bodies expected to attend the national meeting are Mitchell Wolfson, Miami : Oscar Lam. Rome, Ga. ; Nat Williams, president of the S. E. T. O. A.. Thomasville, Ga., and Robert B. Wilby, Atlanta. Kansas City, March 30. — Unable to reach a decision on choice of quarters and a secretary today, the local code boards will meet again Monday. June Metcalf, secretary of the K. M. T. A., is being considered for the secretarial post. Names for Advisers To Gov't Men Asked Washington, March 30. — Chairmen of the NRA labor and consumers' advisory boards today were asked by General Hugh S. Johnson to submit lists of nominees from which he can appoint labor and consumers' advisers to the administration members of code authorities. Orders were also issued directing all industries operating under codes and which do not already have such agencies to proceed immediately with the creation of industrial relations committees or boards for the adjustment ot labor complaints and disputes. The advisers will have no votes and will attend meetings only on invitation. They will, however, have free access to the minutes of all meetings and the right to appear before code authorities to make statements on specific subjects. The proposed industrial relations committees are designed to carry out the Administration's plan for compliance and settling of disputes by industry itself. The administration member of a code authority will be a member of such a board, without vote, and regional or local labor agencies may be set up where necessary or desirable. Lindsey Hears Coast Complaints Tuesday Hollywood, March 30.— Acting on orders from George Creel, state NRA administrator, Judge Ben Lindsey swings into action Tuesday, hearing all complaints of code violations filed by studio labor elements, who claim thus far they have had no action from the studio labor board. Lindsey will let extra complaints ride, inasmuch as Airs. Mabel Kinney, chairman of the extra committee, promised him that committee would begin hearing complaints. Just w:hat power Lindsey will have in adjudicating these complaints remains to be seen as both the studio labor and extra committees have that authority. Lindsey merely stated he was ordered to hear the complaints and report them to Creel. Lindsey's position has been forced by hundreds of complainants appealing to Creel for action which they claim has not been given them so far. Pat Casey has nothing to say. He is waiting to see credentials of power before he will recognize Lindsey's and Creel's authority to handle and adjudicate studio complaints. 20th Century Loans All But Two on List Hollywood, March 30. — All of 20th Century's contract talent with the exception of George Arliss and Ronald Colman will be farmed out during the company's three months' production siesta beginning May 1. Constance Bennett. Fredric March and Loretta Young will go to M-G-M and William Wellman and Walter Lang to Samuel Goldwyn. Wellman will direct Anna Sten in "Barbary Coast" and Lang, Eddie Cantor in "The Treasure Hunt." Joseph M. Schenck left for New York last night on U. A.'s 1934-1935 lineup. Darryl Zanuck will meet him there the latter part of April. In the same party are William R. Fraser, general manager for Harold Lloyd, who will confer with Fox in distribution of "The Catspaw" ; Howard J. Green, writer, who is vacationbound, and Ben Goetz. vice-president of Consolidated Film Industries. Shelby, O., House To Classify Films (Continued from page 1) B pictures. The plan is announced as "A New Deal in Admissions." Matinee price in the Class A division is set at 20 cents, with a 30cent evening rate. A 20-cent admission will apply all day for Class B pictures. Children 10 cents at all times. Review Board, Campi Viewed Still at Odds (Continued from page 1) state how many members of the Authority were coming to Washington other than that "several" would be in the group, but implied that it was expected to put them on the stand after an informal conference and conclude the hearings on the code immediately. W hether the members of the Authority will assent to such a procedure has not been divulged. It this plan is followed, it will mean that supporters of the code will be given but a couple of hours to meet a situation built up by testimony taken over a period of two full days. Observers in Washington who have followed the proceedings before the Board with respect to the several codes on which it has held hearings are beginning to minimize the effects of the President's effort to assure small businesses of protection under the agreements. These men, including members of industries with codes on which complaints have been submitted but not yet heard, hold the opinion that the Board's investigations will be fruitless. They point out that the Board itself has no technical men conversant with trade practices of the industries which are under fire, and thus is not competent to make an impartial report on such matters. If reports are made to the President recommending changes in codes, they point out further, it will be necessary to secure technical opinion to support the Board's findings. The logical place to secure such information is the Recovery Administration. Thus, in the final analysis, even though the Board has refused to accept the offered co-operation of the Administration, that body will have the last word as to the propriety of the agreements which it negotiated. No Action on Budget No definite action was taken yesterday by committees on the code budget and the extra situation at meetings at Code Authority headquarters. Both committees discussed various phases of the subjects involved and will meet again shortly for further action. Spend Million Monthly Hollywood, March 30. — Harry Cohn stated today that Columbia will spend approximately $1,000,000 monthly in April, May and June to complete its current program by July 1. Productions involved include 19 features and seven tw:o-reelers. Plan Badminton Short Hollywood, March 30. — Warners will make a short subject based on badminton, using Jess Willard for a featured spot. He will be supported by Warner comedy players. Henry Blanke, an authority on the game, will direct. Swanson Coming East Hollywood, March 30. — Gloria Swanson leaves for New York Monday to arrange for personal appearances, after which she will return to M-G-M for "Three Weeks." Chicago FanAwaited with Varied Hopes (Continued from page 1) ing stage, but as balmy breezes continue the local citizenry may be expected to wake up and in only a short while, as the publicity guns begin to function, not only Chicago but the nation will be made conscious of the show. Motion Picture Daily, recalling that as far as the local industry is concerned, the guess on what the fair would do to theatre business last year proved 90 per cent wrong, has again put its ear to the ground for advance opinions and warnings. Last year, as the records will show, the almost unanimous opinion of exhibitors, aside from a few Loop optimists, was that the fair would be something more than the straw that broke the camel's back. Summer business, admittedly ridiculous at best, needed only the fair to send theatres six feet under the sod. How wrong these prognostications were is now a matter of history. Loop houses did recording-breaking business during the fair and neighborhood theatres, contrary to expectations, cashed in comfortably. Wary on Predictions As a result of all this wrong guessing on last year's event, local predictions are either not to be obtained or are sharply divided. Many of those who missed their guess previously are out to redeem themselves by vociferous assurances that the 1934 exposition will eclipse anything preceding it, and they don't mean maybe. Others, firstwater showmen, are more conservative. Their special basis of making comparison is grounded on the inherent showmanship principle that this year's fair must be regarded in the nature of a "second run." And, they argue, whoever heard of a second run clicking like a premiere. So, locally, any prediction is available on what the 1934 World's Fair will be and do for the industry, and when a checkup is made it will be found to be six of one and a half dozen of the other. One thing can be definitely stated at this time — that is, that there will be another "Hollywood at the Fair," says Oscar W. Rosenthal, who sponsored the concession last year. Last year the local industry didn't especially fancy Rosenthal's presentation of Hollywood and took occasion to tell Air. Hays so. Asked if he anticipated any cooperation from producers or other members of the industry, Rosenthal said : "They are welcome to participate if they want to, but I am not going to do any soliciting." Ohioans Advised to Delay on Percentage (Continued from page 1) association that a policy has been decided upon. In the first bulletin of the new organization, P. T. Wood, business manager, says : "As we have a certain w ell-defined program in mind to combat this evil, we urge all members to withhold the signing of any contracts for 1934-35 product until they learn from this office how they should proceed."