Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

26 M o t i o it Piit u r e N e iv X o ve in bet 1 , 19 3 0 Hollywood Promoters Arrested in News Expose; Accused of Trimming Suckers Mix Returning Hollywood — Tom Mix is considering a return to the screen, following conclusion of his circus tour. The former ace western star has been out of pictures since May, 1929, when he joined the circus at a reputed salary of $15,000 weekly. One or two pictures may be made by Mix, but his decision will hinge on conferences with the circus owners. Carrier Deal to Merge Several Equipment Units The deal which will bring into one fold at least 15 air conditioning units, headed by Carrier Engineering Corp., is nearly set. Final consummation is expected within a few days, when plans will be launched to organize a new $15,000,000 unit. Carrier will merge with BrunswickKroeschell Co., with both concerns, it is said, representing 60 per cent of air conditioning installations in the country. Included in the consolidation is the York Heating & Ventilating Corp.. which has three subsidiaries, and with other units will swell the total involved to 15 companies. Carrier Company is the name adopted for the consolidation. Robert A. Kroeschell and A. C. Buensod will manage the theatre division, with Otto Armpach in charge of the air conditioning engineers. 75 Per Cent of Houses In Poland Now Wired About 75 per cent of Poland's theatres have been wired, with the remainder falling in line at a steady rate, according to William Rybak, who is in New York representing Cebe Film Co., Warsaw. There are no matinees in Poland, theatres usually beginning operations at 6 P.M. except on very rare occasions when a big feature of special appeal to children is shown. There are about 730 theatres in Poland, which has a population of 31,000,000. Warsaw, a city of about 1,100,000, has about 60 theatres. During the season of 1929-30 it is estimated that over 1,000,000 admissions were paid in Warsaw. Lorch Goes to Chicago Harry Lorch has returned to Chicago to take up his duties as western division manager. He replaces Harry Taylor, who is to become manager of the Kansas City branch. 'Josh' Binney and R. E. Wharf f Held Without Bail in Old Racket Hollywood — Film investment rackets, in exchange for which the investor is offered a chance to break into films, are expected to receive a setback here, due to the vigilance of Motion Picture News. H. J. (Josh) Binney and Robert E. Wharff, alias Bob White, are in jail without bail, awaiting prosecution for their part in the alleged racket. Binney, who is president of the Interstate Prod, and Amusement Corp., when arrested was in the process, it is charged, of closing a deal for some stock in his company, in return for which the purchaser was to receive an important role in "The Trek of the Titans." About ten days ago Wharff, who is listed (Continued on page 33) Indian" Serial Bringing Back Kids to Movies Paving the way for comeback of serials on a big scale, Universal's "The Indians Are Coming" is playing a leading part in bringing back children to theatres, say reports from exhibitors made public by the company. Thousands of children have been attracted to theatres playing the serial, presaging the winning back of child attendance, these reports show. A number of de luxe houses throughout the nation are playing the serial. Maybe It's Publicity or Maybe Not, Anyway — Hollywood — Local dailies report police here and at Pontiac, Mich., are man-hunting for Jimmy Trientas, a 16-year-old orphan, who is charged with having sent death threats to Ben Lyons and Bebe Daniels. Pontiac Sherlocks say the couple have received the following note : "You double-crossed me and you will pay, and if you don't pay me with money you will pay some other way and pay plenty." Then Bebe received a second note, this time in Greek, demanding that she send money to a town in Greece, only the sender, whoever he is if he is, failed to stipulate the amount. Newsreel Vet Dies San Francisco — An internal disorder was ascribed as cause of death here Thursday of Jack Gum, 46, International Newsreel veteran. Plan Two Openings Hollywood — Warners will borrow a leaf from Howard Hughes' manual and open "Life of the Party" day and date at both their local houses. Hughes got big results in New York with a dual showing of "Hell's Angels" at the Criterion and Gaiety, New York, where the film is still playing twin engagements. Bankers Plan to Light Fireworks As Costs Mount (Continued from page 19) An interesting speculation concerns itself with the financial pressure that has been brought to bear. The departure of representatives of M-G-M, Pathe, Paramount, Columbia and RKO for the Coast on or about the same time gives rise to the query if the moneyed interests behind the companies are not identical, or at least so closely identified that a general exodus of such importance can be maneuvered. Months ago, Motion Picture News pointed out. and has ,since reported new developments along those lines from time to time, that the bankers are digging into the operations of the industry on a wholesale scale. Not only have the inside workings in Xew York been thoroughly gone into, but investigators on the Coast, likewise, have been busy. Some of them have been functioning under cover. Others have been securing the required data via the social-entry wedge. A considerable mass of data has been prepared covering operations in Hollywood. Relatives and friends occupying positions made important by the high salaries, if not ability, have been checked, their background investigated and their duties scanned in order to find out whether they are competent to hold their jobs. Also if they are being overpaid and, if so, why and through whose orders. The results of the probe are likely to be sweeping. Many changes in the Coast lineup may be expected as a consequence. That overhead will be pared in wholesale fashion is definite. Photophone Earnings to Show Big 1930 Increase Profits of RCA Photophone for the first nine months of the year will show a substantial increase over the corresponding figure for 1929, it is indicated, although official figures have not been released by the company. On Jan. 1, 926 Photophones were in operation and since that time 1,200 new installations have been made. Its foreign earnings are increasing rapidly, it is said.