Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

(.. cl obcr I . 1930 .1/ u I i o n Pic tu r e X e w s 31 Fox Expected to Get $4,000,000 Uihlein House .Milwaukee — The city and the Henry Uihlein Realty Co. have reached an agreement in the matter of property on the corner of Sixth St. and Wisconsin Ave. and the realty concern will erect a $4,000,000 theatre and office building on the corner. Who the occupants of the theatre will be has not been announced, although it is believed that it will be either Fox or Paramount, with the former the most likely lessee because no further effort has been made by that circuit to erect its new house here, announced over a year ago. The site is an ideal one with RKO's Palace-Urpheum directly across the street and Fox's Wisconsin, Milwaukee's largest theatre, diagonally across the street. George Uihlein. president of the realty company, has left for New York to close the deal with the eastern theatrical concern which will occupy the building. No Scientifically Trained Operators Neither Western Electric nor Electrical Research Products have at any time considered the replacement of projectionists with "highly trained operators with a scientific education," nor is any such plan under consideration, H. M. Wilcox, operating manager of Erpi, told Motion Picture News. Selection of projectionists, he pointed out. "is a matter for the theatre management and entirely outside of our jurisdiction." Victoria at Rochester Sold After Litigation Rochester, N. Y. — Long in litigation as the aftermath of foreclosure proceedings, the Victoria, downtown house, last week passed into the hands of Morris Kuhn of Rochester by purchase for $100,000. The sale, made from the Monroe County Court House steps, ended all legal procedure. Although Kuhn has not yet made his plans known, it is reported he either intends to remodel or lease the house. The theatre is unwired. Pathe Camera Silencer Developed on Coast Hollywood — The new camera silencer of Pathe's, which won first award of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, will be developed for use on all company talkers. The apparatus removes from sound production the cumbersome and immobile sound booths. German Plays to Warners "Shooting Gallery." by Alice SteinLandesmann and Carl Meinhard. and "Green Cat," by A. M. Willner and E. Rubricius, both German plays, were purchased by Warners, the former as a Dorothy Mackaill vehicle. Completes First James Cruze, who has completed his first picture for Tiffany, "She Got What She Wanted." The veteran independent is to supply a series of pictures for the new Tiffany program. Funeral Services For Dennis Harris Pittsburgh — Funeral services are to be held at Harris Terrace Saturday for Dennis Harris, veteran chain operator, who died following an appendicitis operation. The pioneer showman was 54 years old. He is survived by a wife and brother. The latter is Senator Frank J. Harris. Dennis Harris has been the operating head of the Davis-Harris circuit of theatres in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan which recently was sold to Warners. The circuit was founded by his brother, John Harris, whose venture at Philadelphia is said to have been the first picture house in the United States. Austrian Censorship Regulations Changed Vienna — Following severe criticism for permitting importation of films questionable for child audiences, the government's censorship board has ruled that hereafter all films not bearing the new inscription, "for general exhibition," are deemed unfit for minors. Lots of Secrecy Billie Dove returned Wednesday on the Kuropa from a vacation abroad, the vessel also bringing to these shores Howard Hughes. The A'eic York World, after duly informing its readers that Hughes spent §1.000,000 in making "Hell's Angels" and that hs dailv income is between $15,000 and $20,000, added: "His trip abroad, for some vague reason, was an enormous secret, and he traveled aboard the Europa under an elaborately assumed name." When a reporter naively inquired if she had married Hughes, Billie retorted in the Hollywood manner: "Be yourself!" Head of Censors In Massachusetts Faces Job Jam Boston — Major General Alfred F. Foote, in charge of censorship of films for Massachusetts, may be called upon to resign either as head of the Massachusetts department of public safety or as commanding officer of the Massachusetts National Guard, as a result of the ruling by the U. S. Comptroller General of the military bureau at Washington. General Foote is one of many officials affected by the ruling which would prohibit an officer drawing active or retirement pay from holding salaried office in another branch of the public service. General Foote is commander of the 26th Division, Massachusetts National Guard, is head of the Massachusetts state police force and is head of the department of public safety under which censorship of all films, including those passed for Sunday showing, comes. If it is necessary for him to give up one position or another, it is said he will resign his military position. He was in conference with Governor Allen for some time Monday on the matter, but declined to make any statement after the conference. Meyer Appoints Coinrnittee Aids Milwaukee — Fred S. Meyer, newly appointed president of the M.P.T.O. of Wisconsin, has announced the following committee appointments : president's advisory committee, Henry Goldenberg, chairman ; Jack Keegan, George Fischer, A. C. Gutenberg, all of Milwaukee, and George Huebner, Oconomowoc. Legislative committee, F. J. McWilliams, Madison, chairman; William Wiske, Red Granite; J. P. Adler, Marshfield; Jack Hickey, New London; and James J. Boden, South Milwaukee; Al Kvool, Henry Goldenberg, Charles Trampe and Jack Keegan, all "if .Milwaukee. George Huebner, Oconomowoc, is chairman of the membership committee, assisted by August Berkholtz, West Bend; George Fischer, Milwaukee; W. L. Ainsworth, Fond du Lac ; Frank Welter, Wausau ; Percy Palmer, Edgerton, and Al Roser, Baraboo. The finance committee is headed by Etta Wiesner and includes Ernest Langemack, Al Kvool, August Berkholtz, Bert Fischer, W. L. Ainsworth and F. J. McWilliams. A. C. Gutenberg heads the committee on Milwaukee affairs assisted by Etta Wiesner, Harry Billings, Bert Fischer, L. K. Brin, J. H. Silliman, Edward F. Maertz, Jack Keegan and A. Kvool. Paramount Stockholders Increased; Total 18J00 Paramount Publix Corporation stockholdernumbered 18.200 on September 5, 1930, as compared with 16,486 on June 6, 1930, ami 13.731 on March 7, 1930. The present number of stockholders is the largest number that the corporation has had to date.