Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 29, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 27 Oh, Well, Life Isn't ALL Sunshine, You Know! (Special to the Herald-World) LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28.— House Peters was haled into the justice of the peace court yesterday by William Simon and his wife, Fanchon, of Fanchon and Marco. Peters was accused of throwing rocks at houses and scolding the neighborhood children. Berlin Chamber Hits Unfair Critics When Talker Sales Slump But Hamburg Company with Eight Theatres Send SOS to Trade Press for Good Pictures fBy Berlin Correspondent to the HeraldWorld] BERLIN, Nov. 18 (By mail}.— The Berlin Chamber of Commerce has taken the unusual step of voicing an attack against the Berlin newspaper critics by asserting in its latest monthly report that the sale of German talking pictures abroad was handicapped through a number of unjustified reviews in the German lay press. The criticism by the lay press in the meantime has been amply justified by other persons whose opinions carry great weight. Herr Heinrich Schunzel, a popular producer and actor, has witten to a trade paper that the talkers of 1930 are approaching the level of the silents of 1910. The Henschel Concern, a Hamburg company, holding eight houses with 10,000 seats, has sent out a real SOS cry to the trade press with the headline: "Gentlemen, things cannot go on this way!" Says Business Fell Back The Henschel Concern says it did not expect the golden age to come when it had its houses wired, but it hoped to have the capital investment amortized in 15 or 18 months. This hope has failed. After a few initial successes the business fell back rapidly, and any run on the theatres is now out of question. The producers, the letter continues, adhere to the principle of quick and cheap productions, while pictures are wanted which really draw the public into the halls. Then the writer enumerates the few productions which patrons felt compelled to see (no Americans among them, as there were hardly any on the market): "West Front 1918," an over-realistic war picture produced by G W. Pabst for Nevo Film; "Night Birds," an Eichberg production made in Elstree; the Richard Oswald picture, "Dreyfus"; the Emelka Reichmann pictures featuring the singer, Richard Tauber; the Rene Clair picture, "Sous les Toits de Paris." Demand Better Pictures There the list ends, the Henschel Concern says, and whatever else is offered is apt to draw the exhibitors' blood out. The letter ends with an appeal to the producers for outstanding pictures and to Tobis and Klangfilm for cheaper sets under terms which the small exhibitor can bear. Lloyd Files Petition to Adopt Chum for Gloria (Special to the Herald-World) LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28.— Harold Lloyd and his wife, the former Mildred Davis, have filed a formal petition for the adoption of Marjorie Elizabeth Freeman as a playmate -for their own daughter, Gloria Mildred. Quittner Suit Brings Damages Asked of MPPD A to 10 Million Hays Organization, Paramount Publix and Netoco Accused of Destroying Business of Exhibitor as Well as Value of Theatres— Action Filed in U. S. District Court (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 28.— The $5,000,000 suit of Edward Quittner against the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America and Paramount Publix brings the damages sought from the Hays organization and various of its members to a total estimated at more than $10,000,000. of business. Later, it is alleged, a theatre was erected directly across the street from one of their houses and the Paramount the Quittner, an exhibitor of Middletown, N. Y., and the Middletown Combined Buildings Company filed papers this week in the United States district court here charging monopoly and conspiracy. The defendants are the Hays organization, Paramount Publix, Netoco Theatre Corporation, Adolph Zukor, Sidney R. Kent and Sam Katz. Ask $5,000,000 Damages The plaintiffs ask treble damages of $5,000,000, claiming that the business of their theatres has been destroyed by means of a conspiracy among the defendants and other film companies to monopolize the motion picture industry. They claim also that the value of their theatres as such has been totally destroyed. Complaint also is made of the acquisition of hundreds of theatres by companies identified with the Hays organization, of the practice of block booking, and of alleged threats to build theatres for the purpose of intimidating independent theatre owners to take their product. Charge Contract Conspiracy The papers charge a conspiracy to adopt a uniform contract containing "harsh and oppressive" terms and to organize film boards of trade which, it is charged, have coerced exhibitors into accepting unfair methods of arbitration adopted by the boards. It is further charged that members of the boards control more than 95 per cent of the motion pictures distributed and that the independent exhibitors have been compelled to accept their demands if they wished to get film. The plaintiffs allege that when they refused to sign a five-year contract to exhibit all the Paramount pictures threats were made that a competing theatre would be built and that they would be forced out These Merchants Should Be on the All-American (Special to the Herald-World) COBOURG, ONT., Nov. 28.— All is quiet on the Cobourg front, at last. But it was stormy while it lasted. It was the merchants of Cobourg vs. the merchants of Port Hope, a neighboring town, and the Capitol theatre here was the "lady" in the case. The Port Hope Capitol theatre had been pulling business away from the Cobourg Capitol, and away from Cobourg itself. The trouble was that the "lady" couldn't "talk" — she needed sound equipment, like the one in Port Hope had, and she needed a new heating system, too. Local merchants went into a huddle. They shifted, called signals and ran for Western Electric sound equipment, and a new heating system. Now business in Cobourg is normal again — thanks to the merchants. atre resorted to unfair methods, including price cutting, the purchase of substantially all available films and the employment of persons to stand in front of plaintiff's theatre to attract their patrons. Graham & Reynolds are attorneys for the plaintiff. Arthur Butler Graham represented the independents in proceedings against the Motion Picture Patents Company in 1910. ti All Quiet" Given Clean Bill by German Censors; Berlin Premiere Dec, 4. (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 28.— Al Szekler, Univei sal's general manager for continental Europe, has cabled the home office that "All Quiet on the Western Front" has passed the board of German censors, without a single change being recommended. Immediately following the decision of the censor, plans were made for the Berlin prmiere of the film, which will be shown at the Mozartsaal theatre on December 4. Efforts are being made to induce Erich Remarque, the author, to be present at the opening. With the Berlin showing, the picture will have played in all but five of the important world capitals. The latest performances were given in Tokyo, at the Roxy theatre in Antwerp, and Paris, where it is understood to have been hailed by the press. H. D. Blauvelt, First Cameraman to Fly Over United States, Is Dead (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 28.— Harry D. Blauvelt, the first cameraman to fly from the Atlantic to the Pacific and until two years ago one of the most active members of the Pathe News staff, died on November 18, at Middletown, N. Y., after a prolonged illness. Blauvelt started with Pathe in 1913. He took particular pride in the fact that he accompanied Theodore Roosevelt on his big game trip to Africa. He is survived by his widow, a son, and a daughter who live in Hackensack, N. J. Pathe Short Subjects To Show in South Africa (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 28.— Through a deal just completed between the International Variety and Theatrical Agency and the Pathe International Corporation, Pathe short subjects are assured distribution in the territory of South Africa for the season of 1930-31. The deal includes 26 of the Aesop Fables series, 26 Grantland Rice Sportlights, 26 of the Vagabond Adventure series and six Song Sketches, and is to take effect immediately.