The Film Daily (1937)

THE Intimate in Character International in Scope lependent in Thought vol. 7i, Ncypo J---? 1 9 1937 )) NEW yoke, Saturday, april 17, 1937 . w ^mio: m -Vdaily The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Eighteen Years Old TEN CENTS Form Ke^Mt^a^Artists Corp., to Release Through U. A. ILL. SUPREME COURT RULES RANK NIGHTILLEGAL Kansas Censors Cut March of Time ' Court Episode Quality Shorts . . . and other needs = By CHESTER B. BAHN = LATE exhibitor replies to a FILM DAILY short subject questionnaire, still being received, only serve to give added emphasis to the findings published in the recent Spring Number of the Short Subject Quarterly. Insofar as the substitution of shorts for the second feature on dual programs is concerned, a revised, up-to-the-minute tabulation discloses even a greater percentage. At the time the Quarterly went to press, 72 p. c. of the exhibitors polled nationally had indicated their belief that their patrons would accept quality shorts in lieu of the prevailing second feature. Yesterday, this figure had advanced to 78 p. c. This renewed interest in short subjects on the part of film showmen, manifested on the eve of the new buying season, is as important as it is interesting. The short of late has been the "forgotten film" of the exhibitor and, to some extent, certainly, of the industry collectively. THEATER operators in criticizing the quality of some classifications of shorts are on safe ground. But if the short is to be restored to its former program prominence more than quality is essential. Increased playing time for them and showmanship, for example. It behooves the exhibitor to select his shorts wisely and to exploit and advertise them adequately. Here the film showman himself is not above criticism, witness the statistical breakdown of the Short Subject Quarterly survey. Only 65 per cent of the exhibitors reported that they advertised or exploited shorts, and such advertising and exploitation largely was restricted to lobby billing and a mere mention in newspaper display copy. IN SUCH a condition, there is mighty little to inspire the producer of shorts to ^crease budgets. (wi holds true as well of exhibitor buying „fflifference. It is all very well to cry for better shorts, but if exhibitors are little interested in buying, where does that leave the producer? The answer is fairly obvious. If quality shorts are needed, so, too, surely, is increased playing time for them. Sen. Wheeler's Remarks "Partisan and Biased", Board Holds Kansas City, Kans. — Current release of "The March of Time" yesterday ran afoul of the Kansas State film censors, with the Board of Review, of which Mae Clausen is chairman, turning thumbs down on the remarks of U. S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler, of Montana, included in the episode devoted to the U. S. Supreme Court controversy. Directing the elimination of all (Continued on Page 4) ASK MINN. HEARING ON CLASSIFYING RILL Following action of the Minnesota Senate's committee on civil administration in favorably reporting a theater classification bill, major companies have made formal request (Continued on Page 4) Michel Meets Roxy Plan Proponents; No Decision William C. Michel, 20th CenturyPox vice president, said late yesterday that he had an all-afternoon conference with representatives of (Continued on Page 4) Austria Drops Film Levy Vienna (By Cable) — The Austrian Government has officially cancelled a 25 per cent increase in taxes on imported films, following an American protest. PHILLY UNIT TO ACT ON RADIO QUESTION Attitude of the U. M. P. T. 0., Philadelphia theater organization, on the situation due to appearance of film players on the air will be determined at a meeting to be held Friday or April 30, stated President Lewen Pizor in New York yesterday. Pizor is a member of the M. P. T. O. A. committee appointed by President Ed Kuykendall as instructed by the Miami convention (Continued on Page 3) New Fox Brooklyn Offer In Prospect, Court Told Federal Judge William Bondy yesterday postponed final confirmation of the Si Fabian reorganization plan for the Fox Brooklyn Theater and office building when Joseph Nemerov, attorney of 225 Broadway, said that he was ready to produce an offer better than that made by Fabian. Nemerov declined to name his client, (Continued on Page 3) Fore/, Colman, Garnett to Head Units In New Renowned Artists Setup 19 Industry Figures Aid in Catholic Fund Drive Nineteen industry figures have been made members of the Motion Picture Division for the Catholic Charities drive which opens today with a luncheon given by Cardinal (Continued on Page 3) West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Capitalized at $2, 000,000, Renowned Artists Corp. has been formed to finance production units headed by John Ford, Ronald Colman, Tay Garnett and others and will release through United Artists. Sol A. Rosenblatt, who has been working on the new setup, will be one of the principal officers of the (Continued on Page 3) Upholds Chicago's Lottery Contention; 150 Theater Cases Affected Chicago — Bank Night was ruled a lottery yesterday by the Illinois Supreme Court which upheld the City of Chicago's contention in actions against 150 theaters named in Bank Night cases. The Court's opinion was read by Justice Shaw. GERMAN STUDIOS PLAN 110 FILMS— SCHAEFER German producers will turn out between 110 and 115 features this year and about the same number for next season, said Gus Schaefer, Paramount general manager in that country and Central Europe, yesterday, after arriving on the Manhatton for a five weeks' visit. But little theater construction is going on in Germany and Central Europe, he stated. Before departing for the United States, Schaefer conferred with John W. Hicks, Paramount foreign (Continued on Page 3) Condor Sets 10 for RKO, 14 for Grand National Condor Pictures will produce 10 features and 26 one-reel shorts for RKO release next season and 14 features for Grand National release, including eight Ken Maynard westerns, it was made known yesterday (Continued on Page 4) Greenthal Given the Air Regina Crewe, m.p. editor of The New York American, gave Monroe Greenthal the air last night over WOR when she interviewed the United Artists director of publicity and advertising. Oddly enough, a current U. A. release, "Love from a Stranger," entered the proceedings. Amateur reviewers were offered a prize for their opinion of the picture.