Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

Motion Picture News O c t o her 11 . 1 '. Allied to Ignore Zoning Confabs and Seek Federal Aid and Public Backing Another Switch? Hollywood— Producers in this movie town are understood to be seriously considering the advisability of a wholesale return to silent versions as a means of breaking into foreign markets. While full steam ahead will be the order of the day as regards foreign talkers, there are some who believe markets abroad are as yet insufficiently wired to make an appreciable dent, and silents are the only solution for heavy returns until such time as at least a majority of houses are wired. Paramount Plans Building Program In Foreign Cities Mergers in the foreign field and possible concentration of theatre outlets won't feaze Paramount. With an eye toward this eventuality, the organization is mapping plans for a quiet, but intensive, theatre building program in all important cities on the Continent. The company now operates a few houses in English cities, but proposes to swell the list through construction. The plan does not provide for acquisition of existing houses or circuits. The theatre policy in Europe calls for a close working arrangement where possible with important national interests in each field of operation, the plan perhaps going so far as to include a percentage of local capital in the building of the theatres. The multi-lingual production plan, actively under way in Paris for some months now, figures in the set-up. While Paramount feels talkers in various languages are necessary for maintenance of its exchanges in Europe, it is also figured the good will created thereby will prove to be an important factor in clearing the decks for the organization's theatre building activities. Lining Up Continental Sites; Graham in Charge London — Eugene Zukor and Morris Greenberg of the Publix theatre construction department are looking over a number of sites on the Continent, but no construction plans have been formulated as yet. Proposed Paramount expansion will be in the hands of John C. Graham, the company's European chief. New Fox Contracts Hollywood — Fox has placed Myrna Loy under long-term contract. Player was formerly with Warners. The studio has also signed C. Henry Gordon. First assignment is "Once a Sin Protection Snags Result in Decision for Newspaper and Radio Campaign Prepared to wash its hands of proposed zoning agreements, Allied States Association is planning to go to the public with a campaign against extended protection and block booking. The association probably will refuse to be a party to any zoning schedules and may even seek Federal relief if any schedules considered unreasonable are adopted. The Brookhart bill is expected to be amended to include a protection provision and may be backed by Allied. \Y. A. Steffes, general manager of the Xorthwest exhibitor unit, will start the ball rolling in the Minneapolis territory with a series of newspaper articles acquainting the public with the association's stand against block booking and protection. Radio broadcasts also will be used. The Chicago flare-up, attended by the big guns of the organization, put a real crimp into the situation as regards Allied participation. Leaders of the group take the position that the effort to restrict double-featuring and giveaways is in direct contrast to the consent decree entered in the West Coast case. While that decree concerns only southern California, the association feels that its principles should apply throughout the United States, so far as legality of protection limitations is concerned. The protection meetings have run into snags in all keys where Allied units are located and it now looks as though Allied will walk out on the meetings altogether. In his proposed campaign, Steffes will assert that inability of small-town exhibitors to obtain some pictures their patrons want to see due to their limited playing time, which is sewed up by a few company blocks, is hurting the business generally because patrons denied these attractions are resentful. He also will charge that extended protection is for the purpose of driving patrons into towns controlled by the chains, in order to see the pictures denied them by their community theatres. Et Tu, Junior! Hollywood — Discovered at last — a place in Hollywood where a Who's Who in the film colony is not observed. It's first come, first served, with a vengeance in local preview houses. At the advance showing of Paramount's "Morocco" at the Fox Ritz, Carl Laemmle, Jr., and his party of four arrived at 8:15. The S.R.O. sign had been out since 7. Junior managed to get in after some difficulty and was directed to the balcony. There an usher seated the party — on the carpeted stairs. The Motion Picture News reviewer had to move over to let them sit down. Salvation Maurry London — Depression, hard times, shortage of money — everywhere throughout the London trade one hears loud cries of "wolf!" Which prompts one (half) wit to suggest that Maurice Chevalier donate his salary of $20,000 weekly from local stage appearances to starving Londoners in the film business. This guy, apparently, doesn't know Maurice, who has already established a healthy reputation over in America for "nursing" salary checks, and giving away straw hats in the winter time. Zoning Battle Is Launched by Sen. Brookhart Grand Rapids, Mich. — Senator Brookhart has turned his attention to the zoning schedules now being drawn up or planned to various key cities, and believes that extended protection overshadows block booking in importance. As a consequence, he suggests amendment of the anti-discrimination provision of the Clayton Act, so it will apply to all leases as well as sales in interstate commerce. The senator, who is the author of the bill bearing his name which is designed to prevent block booking, made known his views at the convention here of the Michigan. He urged exhibitors to fight against the practices complained of and to enlist the {Continued on Poge 34-.-/ J Pantages New Trial to Be Decided Saturday Los Angeles — Charges of gross misconduct in trial of Alexander Pantages were reiterated in his answer to the state's appeal from the court decision granting a new trial to the theatre magnate. The Appellate court has until Saturday to pass upon the state's motion. Hearst an Exhibitor, but Ifs a Private Theatre Former President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge headed a list of society notables who attended the housewarming given by William Randolph Hearst at his Port Washington, L. I., estate. The occasion marked dedication also of Hearst's private theatre on the estate. It is equipped with RCA Photophone. Mary Garden Here Mary Garden, star of the Chicago Opera Company, is back from Europe. If a screen test proves satisfactory, she is to appear in talkers.