Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1934)

28 Hohlitzelle To Aid Saenger Solution With appointment late last week of Karl Hohlitzelle, head of the Interstate Theatres circuit and a theatre operating partner of Paramount Publix, as intermediary in the current negotiations between the Paramount trustees and E. V. Richards in connection with Mr. Richards' participation in reorganization of Saenger Theatres, Paramount took another step forward in bringing together the many loose ends which still remain in the way of final reorganization. The Saenger negotiations, it is understood, center around an adjustment of the provisions for participation of Mr. Richards and Paramount, respectively, in the stock of the reorganized Saenger company. Under the original provisions, Mr. Richards was to receive all Class A stock of the new company for $25,000, with Paramount retaining all Class B shares. The trustees feel these provisions should be revised somewhat more in Paramount's favor. Settlement of the long pending $5,099,000 anti-trust suit brought against Paramount by E. M. Loew of Boston was agreed upon and a petition asking court approval is being submitted at once iji New York by special master John E. Joyce. The settlement figure, it is understood, is in excess ot $100,000. This marks the second anti-trust suit settlement by Paramount within a month, the first being a settlement of the Edward Quittner suit of $5,100,000 for $10,000. A settlement of the anti-trust suit brought against Paraniount bv A. B. Momand of Oklahoma for $4,900^000 is scheduled for early negotiation. George J. Schaefer, Paramount Publix general manager, filed a $98,000 claim Monday under his contract which the Paramount trustees disaffirmed in September, 1933. The agreement was to run until February, 1935. A proposed agreement under which Madison Operation Company, Paramount subsidiary, would relinquish its lease on the McVickers theatre in Chicago, and obtain release from all obligations in connection with the $1,600,000 mortgage bonds outstanding on the theatres, was approved by Federal Judge Coxe, who also approved a compromise and settlement of all claims against Paramount by Cecil B. De Mille Productions, calling for payment to De Mille of $202,915 by Paramount Productions. Zanuck Takes Bromfield Story Darryl Zanuck, production head of 20th Century, has purchased the film rights to Louis Bromfield's story, "De Luxe." A stage version, done by the author and John Gearon, will be produced on Broadway by Chester Erskin, in conjunction with 20th Century, in line with the Zanuck plan to use the stage in the nature of a laboratory for the screen. To Release French Films Paramount plans the release in this country of eight French pictures, beginning with this month. The pictures were produced at the company's Joinville studio near Paris. They will only be released in French-speaking communities and generally in Canada. MOTION PICTURE HERALD VAFEK COMMENDS FILM EDITORIALLY The management of the Harrison Theatre Corporation of Indiana calls attention to a highly laudatory editorial in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, commending the MGM picture, "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," which Tvas held over at the local Eniboyd theatre. The editorial points out that the newspaper had not hesitated in the past to criticize "offcolor" pictures, but declares it "is just as eager to praise as to condemn." Six Memphis Theatres Indicted for Sunday Films Indictments were returned recently against six Memphis theatres for operating on Sunday in the face of state and city "blue laws" by the new Shelby County grand jury. The indictments came as a surprise to theatre managers, as the old grand jury repeatedly had refused to indict. Indictments were returned against the Orpheum, Loew's State, Loew's Palace and the Strand, downtown theatres, and against two neighborhood houses. Germany Bars Two Of Most Popular Stars Two of the most popular motion picture players in Germany have been barred by the government from appearance in any future films. Adolph Wohlbreuck was barred on the ground that he is non-Aryan, Paul Hoerbiger for making indiscreet remarks concerning the Nazi regime during a private conversation. Miss Rolf Due in January Tutta Berntzen Rolf, Scandinavian actress signed by Winfield Sheehan of Fox while he was abroad recently, will come to the United States in January. She has appeared in films in various European countries. Abeles Assumes Duties Arthur Abeles has begun his new duties as manager of the Warner Mexico City exchange, succeeding Felipe Mier, who has taken over a projection and accessory business. Goldstein Heads Schine Club Louis Goldstein, chief booker for the Schine circuit, at Gloversville, N. Y., has been elected president of the Schiners Club, an employees' benefit association, for the year 1934-35. Graham With United Artists John Graham, until recently British International Pictures representative in Kansas City, has joined the local United Artists sales staff. Reports Business Better Charles Stern, assistant to Al Lichtman, general sales manager of United Artists, returning from a Buffalo trip, reported business in upstate New York better. November 10, 1934 Fred Meyer New Aide to Laemmle Fred S. Meyer, former president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, and long a leader in exhibition circles, leaves Milwaukee this week to become assistant to Carl Laemmle, as advisor on production from the exhibition standpoint at the Universal Studios on the Coast. A farewell party was given him Wednesday night. Mr. Meyer began his motion picture career, so to speak, in 1910 as manager of the Grand theatre in Chicago. From that time he was successively salesman, local branch manager in several cities and for several companies, theatre manager, and on several occasions representing Universal. He has been president of the Milwaukee Theatre Managers Association. In 1933 he took over the lease of the Alhambra theatre in Milwaukee, which he had previously managed. He is a vice-president of the MPTOA, and has represented the unaffiliated exhibitors on the grievance board. Royster Heads Ohio Paramount Subsidiary Harry L. Royster has been named general manager of South Ohio Theatres, Inc., at Hamilton, Ohio, a subsidiary of Paramount's Famous Theatres, organized to operate three theatres in Hamilton and two in Middletown. The move returns Paramount to a dominant position in both cities, involving leases on the Paramount, Rialto and Palace in Hamilton and the Paramount and Strand in Middletown. All but the Strand had been returned to the former owner, the Taft Estate, Cincinnati. Shirley Temple Is Sued By Agents in California Shirley Temple, 6-year-old Fox star, was named defendant in a suit filed in California supreme court last week. Elinor O'Reilly and Gene Mann, complainants, declared they are the agents of the child and obtained for her a five-year Fox contract and another for New York personal appearances at $7,500 per week. They asked the court to construe the terms of their contract in view of these engagements. The suit also named George and Gertrude Temple, Shirley's parents. New Orleans Neighborhoods Book Serials and Vaudeville Neighborhood theatres of New Orleans, 80 per cent of them, are turning to serials and vaudeville to supplement films in fighting the competition of night clubs and beer gardens. The move is made also to avert an expected attendance decline because of the new admission tax. Clifton Brennan Dead Clifton Brennan, 49, former president of the Motion Picture Operators' Local No. 163, Louisville, died there last week, following a heart attack. He had been president of the local for many years.