Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 22, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD -WORLD 17 Predict RKO-Pathe Merger Completion by January First Marcus Denies Being Slated For High Executive with Pathe Deal Not Completed — Report Possibility R K O May Take Over at Least One Independent Article of Food Is Admission "Ticket" (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 20.— Fifteen thousand children will use some article of food for admission at the Thanksgiving Food Matinee to be held in Fox theatres in Manhattan and the Bronx on Saturday morning. It is expected that enough food will be obtained in this manner to provide meals for 5,000 needy families. Films That Sell Are Keeping Industry Thrifty: Reisman Motion Pictures Not Feeling Depression, U Sales Head Says on Coast (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 20.— Phil Reisman, general salesmanager of Universal Pictures Corporation, here for a conference with Carl Laemmle and to review current Universal product, declared this week that the film industry is not feeling the general depression to any great extent because producers are "getting wise to themselves" and are "giving the exhibitors and the public what they want." "A survey of the market reveals that neither exhibitors nor the public want any specific type of picture — the only demand they are making is for good pictures, whatever their general classification may be," he said. "The new and the unusual is being sought by exhibitors, however, due to the fact that talking pictures have lost their novelty. The producer who creates the unusual has the best chance for 1931-32." "Ad" Men to Discuss Problems at New York Meeting, Jan. 28-30 (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 20.— A national convention for the purpose of discussing the many phases of screen advertising is slated for New York January 28 to 30. It will be held at the Roosevelt hotel under the auspices of the Screen Advertisers Association, which is the motion picture department of the Advertising Federation of America. Among those who will be invited to attend are advertising agency representatives, advertisers, trade associations, producers and distributors, manufacturers and distributors of equipment and others. Columbia Earnings for Quarter $237,086; Net for Dividends $143,573 (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 20.— The financial statement of Columbia Pictures for the quarter ended September 27 shows earnings of $237,086 before amortization of film rights purchased. Net profit available for dividends equalled $143,573. name, the theatre is Oriental in design and furnishings. (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 20.— Despite reports to the contrary, the RKO-Pathe merger has not been completed. This was stated to a Herald-World representative today by a man informed of the status of negotiations. The deal has been on and off many times in recent weeks but it is understood now that things look favorable for its consummation by January first. Many rumors have been current regarding 2,200, has been opened. As indicated by its R K O's expansion program, and it was stated today by a person in the know in film circles that there is a possibility of the company taking over at least one of the independents after the first of the year. Lee Marcus Denies Transfer One report which spread along Broadway this week was to the effect that Lee Marcus would assume a high executive post with Pathe. Marcus, who is executive vice president of Radio Pictures, told the HeraldWorld, however, that "I don't know anything about it. They haven't made me any offer." This report gave rise to speculation that the R K O-Pathe deal had gone through and that Marcus' transfer was merely the initial step in consolidating the two companies. This apparently was without foundation. It is further understood that Cortland Smith, as head of Trans-Lux Corporation, of which R K O owns 50 per cent of stock, would be definitely concerned in the reorganization in the event that the pending deal is completed as now anticipated. Doubt $5,000,000 Figure David Sarnoff, president of RCA, who has been active with Joseph P. Kennedy in negotiations, has been unapproachable to representatives of the press, as have other executives who might know of the negotiations. B. B. Kahanae, vice president and secretary of Radio-Keith-Orpheum, told the HeraldWorld that he knew nothing of a deal. In reports which were current this week and which had the deal closed it was said that R K O had paid $5,000,000 for Pathe. Many have felt that this figure was absurd in view of the excellent product which Pathe has had this year, the worldwide value of its trade mark, and its newsreel. Screen Advertising Eliminated in Fox Circuit Theatres (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 20.— Harry C. Arthur, general manager of Fox Theatres Corporation, which comprises all houses East of the Mississippi, has issued an executive order effective immediately calling for the definite elimination of all screen advertising in the circuit theatres. It is understood that the new management has believed in such a policy for some time, and that this order is the final decision on the matter. Trailers on future pictures and house advertising at the individual theatres will be retained but is to be cut to a minimum. Though this ruling will result in the loss of thousands of dollars in revenue over the entire circuit, it is nevertheless felt by executives that the policy of permitting screen advertising by local merchants is a bad one and that the profit thus derived is not desirable. Heretofore, the house manager, under the supervision of the division manager, contracted for such advertising with the sanction of the home office. New Publix House Opens (Special to the Herald-World) BOSTON, Nov. 20.— The newest Publix house, the Oriental at Jamaica Plain, seating Scenario Sold to Rival Studio Costs Girls Job (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 20— Two girls in one of the big studios have been discharged from the scenario department on the charge that they used the studio's time to write an original which will shortly be produced here by another company. The girls claimed they wrote the play in their evenings and on Sunday afternoons. They sold it for $2,500. Kansans Look for Amusement Tax as New Governor's Plan to Shift Burden (Special to the Herald-World) TOPEKA, KAN., Nov. 20. — It is believed by many here that an amusement tax will be introduced in the January session of the state legislature and that the new governor, Harry Woodring, will favor such a move, as he has stated that he wishes to relieve the farms and homes of tax burdens. This may mean that the burden will be shifted more heavily on the shoulders of industry, with the motion picture interests being called on for their share. The motion picture people of Kansas, despite party affiliation, it is said, looked to Frank Hauke, Woodring's Republican opponent, as a friend of the industry and his election might have had some effect on Sunday shows.