Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

24 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD October 18, 1930 Film Trade Supervises Sanatorium of NVA at Saranac Lake Provision to Care for 500 Indigent Actors of Both Vaudeville and Pictures Is Expected — Sam Katz Is New President (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 16. — The motion picture industry is assuming paternal supervision of the National Variety Artists Sanatorium at Saranac Lake, N. Y. Decision to participate in maintenance of this institution was reached a week ago at a conference at the headquarters of Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, and on Tuesday Hays, accompanied by Harry M. Warner, Sam Katz, Hiram S. Brown and Pat Casey, treasurer of the NVA Fund, visited the sanatorium. "DECAUSE of the depressed condition of ■M vaudeville and its virtual absorption by motion picture interests, all activities of the NVA have passed to film control with Katz the new president. Expect 500 to Be Cared For The sanatorium at Saranac is a million dollar institution and with the present facilities can take care of 125 patients. Seventy-eight tubercular cases are now receiving treatment at the institution. Under the management of motion picture interests it is expected that provision will be made for care of 500 indigent actors, kitchen facilities now being sufficient to handle that number of patients. While the poiicy in the past has been to admit only NVA patients, artists both of new two-story structure at 129 Hyde street. Kenneth Hodkinson is branch manager. M G M is now erecting an exchange building near that of Universal. Fox and R K O are said to be considering similar building projects. First National has moved into the Warner building. be admitted under vaudeville and studio will the new regime. Maintenance $200,000 a Year It requires slightly more than $200,000 to maintain_ the institution annually. Just what policy will be adopted by the motion picture leaders in endowing the institution has not been determined, although some action is expected at another meeting to be held here shortly. It was pointed out by one interested in the undertaking that if all artists in vaudeville and films would contribute at least $2 a year, annual maintenance of the sanatorium would be assured. NVA leaders in the past, however, have found this plan unsuccessful. U Exchange Finished (Special to the Herald-World) SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 16.— Offices of the Universal exchange have been moved into the Chicago Musicians Win Tilt with Republicans On Canned Radio Music Echoing the fight of the American Federation of Musicians against sound in the theatre, the Chicago Federation of Musicians has declared war on "canned" radio music — and won a victory, too. James C. Petrillo, president of the Chicago federation, launched an attack on the Republican party of Cook county this week because its candidates for office were allegedly using phonographic music devices in their campaigns instead of hiring musicians. The musicians threatened to throw their influence to the Democratic side in the political campaign and went so far as to start organizing a parade of 1,000 musicians to traverse the streets urging public support of Democratic candidates instead of Republican ones. Radio stations also received notice to the effect that members of the music organization would be withdrawn from their programs if they permitted Republican candidates to speak over the air. Inside 24 hours, Petrillo got word from the Cook county Republican chairman saying that no "canned" music would be used in the campaign and that only union musicians will be used when music is needed. Now everybody is happy. Paramount Profit for First 9 Months of 1930 Is 39% Above Same Period in 1929 (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 16. — The Paramount Publix Corporation earned 92 cents a share more on a larger amount of outstanding stock in the first nine months of this year than was earned in the corresponding period of 1929, according to the report recently made. Consolidated net profits, including earnings of subsidiary companies, after all taxes and charges, are estimated at $13,541,000, which amounts to $4.59 per share on 2,948,397 shares, the average number outstanding during the period ending September 27, 1930. This estimated profit is 39 per cent higher than the figure of $9,731,000, the amount reported for the corresponding 1929 period, and creates a new high record for the period in the history of the company. An official of the company is reported to have said the dividend for the year had already been earned with the normally best quarter of the year still ahead. The $4.59 per share earned this year compares with $3.67 last year on the 2,647,327 shares then outstanding. Profits for the three months ending September 27, 1930, also included in the report, are estimated, after all charges and taxes at $5,100,000 which amounts to $1.60 per share on 3,180,636 shares outstanding during the quarter. This represents an increase of 11 per cent over the $4,601,000 in the same period of 1929. This figure also creates a new record for the company during the summer quarter. Wall Street, it is understood, was somewhat surprised at the increase for the summer three months, as it was generally believed the hot weather during July and early August had cut severely into the profits of amusement companies. Sound Trucks Deliver Campaign Addresses For N. Y. Politicians (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 16.— Sound motion pictures are being used this year by candidates for office in delivering their messages to the people. Four specially equipped motor trucks, carrying RCA Photophone portable sound reproducing apparatus, have been recently circulating through rural New York state in the interest of candidates on the Democratic ticket. Two "performances" are given daily, one in the afternoon and one at night, the matinee being shown indoors with the apparatus being removed from the truck. Whenever the weather permits, however, the evening program is given outdoors, the loud speakers which conveys the sound being suspended above and at the rear of the truck. Electric power is secured by tapping the local supply. The outdoor screen measures six by six feet and the indoor 10 by 10 feet. The trucks are so equipped that a platform of sufficient size to accomodate one or two persons extends from the rear and a microphone connected with the loud speaker makes amplification of the voice possible. Two members of the Moving Picture Operators' Local of New York, accompany each truck, acting as operators at the showings and as chauffeurs while moving; from one location to another. Grand Jury Indicts 3 on Alleged Violation of Blue Laws in Laurel, Miss. (Special to the Herald-World) LAUREL, MISS.— Oct. 16.— Three officers of the Strand Amusement Company here have been indicted on three charges each for alleged violation of the Sunday closing ordinance. The indictments were made by a grand jury. The theatres involved are the Strand and Arabian houses, which have remained open on Sundays for several weeks without charging admission. Those indicted are Charles Green, Ben Schneider and W. S. Taylor. Frost Made West Coast Manager L. A. Division (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 16.— Oscar Oldknow. vice-president of Fox West Coast theatres, appointed Robert C. Frost to succeed J. J. Franklin as manager of the Los Angeles division, effective immediately. Mussolini to Control Theatrical Censorship (From Rome Correspondent) ROME, Oct. 16. — Premier Mussolini has announced his intention of controlling theatrical censorship. He is to have the final word in all decisions. Censorship will be placed under his department of the interior. Gibbs Heads Tiffany's Oklahoma City Office (Special to the Herald-World) OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 16.— C. A. Gibbs of Charlotte, N. C., has been named manager of the Tiffany exchange here. Gibbs succeeds Roy Avery, who has been transferred to St. Louis. John J. Kline Dead (Special to the Herald-World) BOONVILLE, MO., Oct. 16.— John J. Kline, owner and manager of the Princess theatre in Tipton, Mo., died in St. Joseph hospital, Boonville, October 14. He was 42 years old.