Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

32 .1/ o i i o n P ic t u r r X c w s 0 ctober 4 . ) 9 3 0 "Blue" Ordinance Splits Theatre Orange, N. J. — Half of the Palace theatre is situated in Orange and the other half in East Orange. Orange is about to legalize Sunday shows; East Orange remains simon-pure "blue." But Manager D. P. Shepherd is not dismayed. Hereafter he will rope off half of the 2.200 seats in his house, and his patrons can enjoy the picture while sitting in Orange. Across the deadline the seats will be vacant. Orange's new ordinance permitting Sunday shows raises the license fee from $150 a year to $100 a week. It comes up for final action Oct. 14, and its passage is expected. Sono Art to Release "Charge of Light Brigade" Sono Art-World Wide has acquired the American distributing rights to "The Charge of the Light Brigade," a Gainsborough production based on the poem byAlfred Lord Tennyson. The picture was made under the supervision of the British War Office. Censors Upheld Chicago — Circuit Judge Thomas Taylor. Jr.. indicated Wednesday that he would refuse the petition of Greiver Pictures for a writ of mandamus to compel the Chicago censor board to issue a permit for "The Primrose Path," a Willis Kent production which the censor board has had under consideration for the past two months. Greiver holds the local distribution rights of the picture. Hear Fire Cases Chicago — Charges of violations of tireprevention ordinances growing out of the use of acoustical insulating materials condemned by the Fire Prevention Bureau were heard against 26 theatres here Wednesday. After the admission of brief testimony the cases were continued to Oct. 22 at the request of attorneys representing the theatre interests Branson at Home Office Walter Branson has been promoted to the Pathe home office sales department by E. J. O'Learv, general sales manager. Branson started in the picture business at the Des Moines branch. He soon won promotion to branch manager there and later was transferred to St. Louis. C. R. Lundgren replaced him at St. Louis. Joins Montreal Board Montreal — Mrs. Clare Sullivan has been appointed secretary of the Film Board here succeeding -Miss Helen Channing. Mrs. Sullivan has had considerable experience in the work. \s Miss Foley, she was formerly secretary at Omaha. Xebr.. and more recently secretary of the Buffalo Film Board of Trade. Two Stars' Wills Filed Hollvwood — Lon Chanev left an estate of $550.00(1, the bulk of which goes to his widow. Milton Sills' estate of $100,000 is to go to his widow. Paramount British News in March London — British Paramount Sound News is to make its debut in March. The special edition for the United Kingdom will be developed at the Olympic Kinematograph Laboratories, Ltd., which is installing new apparatus for the purpose. A machine capable of turning out eight sound prints simultaneously is a feature of the equipment. The reel will be published under the supervision of Emanuel Cohen, head of Paramount's newsreel organization, who recently visited England in connection with the proposed new reel. Emanuel Cohen Wtr U" Negotiating $3,000,000 Deal In Sales Spurt Continuing the sensational spurt launched at the start of the current season. Universal now is completing negotiations with one of the major circuits for a 10-year franchise for its product. The deal involves $3,000.1 UK I annually. The new deal follows closing of a practically 100 per cent booking arrangement for the 800 theatres of the Warner chain. This involves a reputed $3,500,000 for Carl Lammle's organization. Negotiations now are under way by Phil Keisman, general sales manager for bookings over the Publix circuit. Earlier this season, a virtual blanket deal was closed for the RKO chain, involving an estimated $2,000,000. The Koxy deal and the booking of "A Lady Surrenders" into the Paramount. New York, were other sales achievements. This contrasts with last year, when a deficit was reported. This season the company has adopted a new production policy of "specials only." Phil Reisman New Trial for Alexander Pant ages Won on Appeal Los Angeles — Prejudicial error on the part of the district attorney and his deputy anil error of the court in refusing to permit defense counsel to examine a prosecution witness, regarding whether a criminal charge had been brought in Texas against the witness, won a new trial for Alexander Pantages, from his conviction and prison sentence for alleged assault. He has been at liberty under $100,000 bail. Omaha Speculates On Allied Entry Omaha — Whether Allied States Association will attempt invasion of this territory next Tuesday is a subject of speculation. The western Iowa and Nebraska exhibitor unit is to hold its semi-annual meeting Tuesday and Wednesday and there is a possibility that the St. Louis invasion will be duplicated. C. E. Williams is president of the local zone unit, which is affiliated with the M. P. T. O. A. Butterfield Circuit to Build Indoor Courses Detroit — The Butterfield Circuit is considering converting one or two of its closed houses into miniature golf courses for the winter, believing that the vogue will continue into the cold season. Gregg Coming Over the Pond London — E. S. Gregg, head of Western Electric operations in England, is en route to New York on a combined business-pleasure trip during which he will confer with John Otterson, ERPI chief, regarding future developments of company sound de Warners Opening Another The Warner theatre. West Chester, Pa., is nearing completion, and will in all probability be operated during the last of October or the first of the ensuing month. It will seat 1,646. Rapp & Rapp are the architects. Howard Directs Tibbetts Hollywood — Feeling a vacation necessary, King Yidor asked for a three months leave of absence from M-G-M and as a result William K. Howard will direct Lawrence Tibbetts in "The Southerner." Yidor was slated to direct Tibbetts. Rogers on Sales Jaunt Budd Rogers, director of sales for Sono .Art-World Wide, is on his semi-annual visit to the company's exchanges, where he will confer with branch managers and district supervisors on the sales' plan for the com pany's new product. Sherman in N. Y. with First Harry Sherman, president of Majestic Pictures, Ltd.. is in New York with the company's first picture, "Today." Majestic is distributing through its own franchise holders with J. D. Trop as general sales Harris with Columbia Hollywood — Robert Harris, formerly head of the M-G-M-scenario department, has been engaged by Columbia Pictures as associate producer on a long term contract. Reichenbach M. C. Harry Reichenbach is to be toastmaster at the testimonial dinner Oct. 11 for Harry Hershfield at the Hotel Commodore, New York.