Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 1 , 19 30 M o t i o n Picture News 21 Raskob and Fox and Smith and Hughes And Franklin and Schenck— What Now? Economy Along with the rigid economy program which has resulted in ouster of a number of employes, restrictions on stationery and office supplies, even extending into the booths of company theatres where costs have been shaved a few dollars weekly. Paramount PubIix has cut down publication of Publix Opinion to twice monthly. It formerly was a weekly. Its editor, Ben Serkowich. is resigning Nov. 1. They're All in This Week's Merger Stew; Dally with Dizzy Deals Paramount Staffs In Portland and Seattle Canned Seattle — Paramount has served notice on its employes at its theatres here and at Portland that their services are being dispensed with. The Portland ouster is effective Nov. I, while the local edict is effective Nov. 7. Speculation as to whether the theatres are to be operated bv Fox West Coast Theatres has prompted denials. The visit here of Robert Bender, personal representative ot Oscar Oldknow, executive vice-president of the Fox circuit, has renewed the report that Fox would take over the theatres, as first reported by Motion' Picture News. Changes in the personnel of the houses are anticipated. Robert Blair, Pacific Northwest division manager of Publix theatres, says the notice to employes is more or less of a formality to be complied with in connection with the abandonment of Seattle and Portland as route points for the Publix stage shows that have been showing here for the last two or three months. After the dates specified, it is stated, the houses will revert to their former policies of feature pictures and orchestra specialties, together with short subjects of a revue nature. Warners, F. N. May Add Five Each to '30-'31 List Warners and First National may step up their current programs from 35 to 40 pictures, an addition of five features on each list. The contemplated move is predicated on the company's belief that the additional groups can be handled without difficulty by the sales force. No decision, however, has been reached. Each studio has about seven more to go to round out the '30-'31 schedules. Lloyd in New York Harold Lloyd arrived in New York from the Coast Thursday to attend premiere of "Feet First" at the Rialto. The merger stew boiled over this week. After clouds of steam had cleared away sufficiently to permit a check on the casualties, the picture that unfolded itself had John J. Raskob. William Fox. Harold B. Franklin. Alfred E. Smith, who once ran for president of the United States, lined up on the same side of the fence, with Joe Schenck and Howard Hughes bringing up the rear. Reports from Hollywood indicate that Franklin may shortly be identified with Raskob in the latter's further participation in motion pictures. New York reports Smith and Fox have been indulging in plenty of conferencing of late, while the Smith association with Raskob has, of course, been known and recognized as a close one since the former governor of New York ran for the presidency on the Democratic ticket. Raskob owns a heavy block of Warner stock. Fox is reported to have been buying in, although at the Warner offices reports that Fox will shortly figure in the affairs of that organization are laughed at, and not so politely at that. Over at Fox Film whenever mention is made that William F. may again secure control of the companies he formerly headed, via finances secured from Raskob and the latter's banking affiliations, executives are inclined to get mad. But that story, too, refuses to down. More Mystery The missing link that connects these facts with Warners and Fox Film is a reported, but impossible-to-confirm yarn that if the move goes through, Warners. Fox and Loew's will he banded together under one control. Franklin enters the picture with plans to create a new chain on the West Coast with extensions throughout the country until it assumes national proportions. While Franklin is not talking except to indicate that something big is on the way. his brother. J. J., admitted to a Motion Picture News reporter in Hollywood this week that it was not at all improbable that his brother would be finally aligned with Bill Fox and Raskob. Raskob Serene Rumblings that Raskob is dissatisfied with his Warner affiliation are countered in the latter's offices with the statement that an offer to join the company directorate had been turned down, with Raskob reputedly expressing full satisfaction in the management as it now stands. Schenck and Hughes have been identified with the Franklins' theatre move, but Hughes stated definitely on the Coast earlier in the week that he was not "at this time" interested in the plans of the former head of Fox West Coast Theatres. Architecture On the Pan Authenticity of present-day "Moorish" architecture is more or less a lot of bunk, in the opinion of Theodore Komisarjevsky, formerly director of the Moscow Art Theatre, and now one of London's foremost stage producers, who makes startling disclosures in tracing the history of "Moorish" and "Spanish" motifs in THE SHOWMAN, which appears in this week's issue commencing on page 59. What Did Hughes Get from Joe for His $5,000,000? Hollywood — Howard Hughes has invested about $5,000,UUU in Art Cinema and, while that is a lot of money, the producer of "Hell's Angels" doesn't yet know definitely what he has bought. The explanation offered hinges around the mass of details yet to be worked out in connection with the buy. Hughes does, however, become Joe Schenck's partner in all of the pictures Art Cinema may finance. They will work hand in hand and Hughes will have equal say with Schenck as to what shall or shall not be produced. When "Reaching for the Moon," in which Doug Fairbanks and Bebe Daniels will appear, is finished and when Mary Pickford completes "Kiki," the United Artists studio will be shut down until after the first of the year. Hughes will make his headquarters on the lot, probably beginning next week. There are a number of small subsidiary companies which figure in the U. A. -Art Cinema setup. Coalescing them into the major picture is declared to present a detailed job which will take some time to complete. Hughes is responsible for the dope. Schenck maintains silence, but the film colony had a good laugh for itself over the latter's denial of the deal on a technicality a few days before it was closed. When he arrived here from New York, he said no deal for U A. was under way, ignoring the widely published reports that it was Art Cinema that was involved, not the distributing organization. Man Brunette Again Hollywood — May McAvoy declares that she is returning to the screen within a short time, but will not name the company. She i< returning as a brunette. The story is that Warners compelled her to be a blonde during the course of her contract with them, but now that her tresses are back to their natural shade of dark brown she again hears the call of the screen. But it's not coming from the Warner studio, she asserts.