The Film Daily (1937)

THE Saturday, May 29, 1937 £BB"! DAILY MJED-MAJOR MEET ON CIRCUITS LOOMS (Continued from Page 1) jors disband the MPTOA and allow affiliated theaters to become members of Allied on the same basis as independent exhibitors. "I don't propose a Kuykendall conference," declared Steffes. "We should confer with men like Zukor, Barney Balaban and Schenck." Expansion of producer-owned circuits must be halted, Steffes told the convention, and interpolated the idea that the day of the 40 and 60 p. c. picture must end. "We don't want to destroy the producer and distributor," he insisted, "but we must curb them." Discussing Allied's legislative position, Steffes said that it has demonstrated that it had passed legislation controlling the affiliated circuits. "I'm not interested in a lot of empty promises from the producers" he declared. "They must agree to carry out whatever action they decide upon, before we go into conference. We will not stand for a company organization designed to hoodwink the public." Steffes foresaw a "united industry front to fight a common enemy." Independent circuits, too, need curbing, asserted Steffes, and recommended that major companies be required not to give them advantages in buying and penalize them for acquiring additional theaters. He said that the organization's legislative program should continue, pending reaching of an agreement with the producers. Sidney E. Samuelson expressed the opinion that the Defense Committee has the authority to act without a convention vote. Sol. Fisher of Minneapolis moved that the committee be explicitly given this power and a discussion of the issue followed, with President Nathan Yamins saying he would support the plan providing he was sure that producers would not interpret the move as a sign of Allied weakness. Starting something of an exchange with Steffes, Samuelson rose to his feet and registered objection to the convention changing the program as already laid out, pointing out that many members have already left for their homes. "What are you trying to pull now?" asked Steffes militantly of Samuelson. "We might as well adjourn and go home right now if we can't act on this matter," he declared hotly. The vote to authorize the committee to decide the question was then unanimously passed. /'The committee at an informal jeting after adjournment of the convention voted to proceed with the plan which virtually proposes a merger between the MPTOA and Allied. First formal session of the committee may be held in New York next week when the delegation of d "£Me" lu»» "Ms ff By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD COMPLETION of Nino Martini's Pac fie Coast tour late in June will find Director John Blystone set to signal the cameras for the start on RKO-Radio's "Music for Madame," which will have the young opera and radio tenor as its star, with Joan Fontaine in the feminine lead. Blystone has already placed his final approval on the shooting script and set construction will be launched at once. Casting assignments — M-G-M: Joan Crawford, "The Bride Wore Red"; 20th-Fox: Dolores Del Rio, "Lancer Spy"; Virginia Field, Phyllis Brooks, "In Old Chicago"; Franklin Pangborn, Charles Coleman, "Danger — Love at Work"; Universal: Grant Withers, "Radio Patrol"; Barbara Read, Tom Brown, "Too Clever to Live"; Paramount: Terry Ray, Virginia Dabney, "This Way Please"; Alonzo Price, Don Rowan, "Souls at Sea"; RKO: Adolphe Menjou, Gail Patrick, "Stage Door"; Columbia: Robert Warwick, "Man Behind the Law." T T T New contracts — M-G-M: William Thiele, director; Samuel Hoffenstein, Aurania Rouverol, Harry Ruskin, Roy Chanslor, writers; Jessie Ralph, actress; Paramount: Sandra Storme, actress; Andrew Stone, director. ▼ » » Grant Richards will enact the romantic lead in Major's picture "On Such a Night." Richards first appeared before the camera in Paramount's "A Night of Mystery." His contract is carried by Paramount and Major on a fiftyfifty basis. Allied leaders assemble in the East to attend hearings on the Hobbs industry investigation resolution scheduled for Tuesday in Washington. Steffes will immediately write to the majors extending an invitation to meet with his group. In the event that the producers accede to the Allied demands, its legislative program, both in Congress and in the various states, will be dropped, a spokesman indicated to The Film Daily. It was reported around the convention hall that the issue had developed strong differences among some of the Allied leaders, particularly between Samuelson and Steffes. Yamins, in his closing remarks, however, commented on the reports and declared that Allied is, to the contrary, stronger than when it came to Milwaukee. At the opening of the session, at the suggestion of Arthur Price as chairman of the Radio Competition Committee, a resolution was adopted attacking the appearance of motion picture stars on the air as unfair competition. A motion to amend the proposal to specify between the hours of noon and midnight was defeated. Reporting for the Insurance Committee, Arthur K. Howard of Boston discussed the arrangement between Allied and Lloyds of London. He stated that exhibitors in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania are participating in the plan and have paid $10,000 in premiums. Use of parking meters by cities to control auto parking was discussed, with a difference of opinion evidenced. Report of the Defense Fund Committee, as presented by H. M. Richey, of Detroit, was approved after he had stated that the theater divorce campaign will be prosecuted in all states with the okay of the committee. "There is no constitutionality worry in this respect," declared Richey, who also explained, briefly, the circuit tax bill based on the Louisiana chain store tax statute. He also recommended support of the Hobbs resolution ordering an investigation of the film industry. Governor Says N. D. Ready to Defend Divorce Statute Milwaukee — North Dakota will fight to establish constitutionality of its theater divorce statute in the U. S. Supreme Court if necessary, Governor William Langer has assured Allied which completed its annual convention at the Hotel Pfister yesterday. Addressing the annual banquet Thursday night, the North Dakota chief executive told conventioneers that he expects a test of the law will be filed within a few weeks and that the State will use its own funds to finance any court fight vital to its preservation. Settlement of Two Claims Against RKO is Favored (Continued from Page 1) the name of the Broadway and 47th St. Corp., for $345,000. Both claims were allowed by the court only for accrued rent under disaffirmed theater leases but as the result of a recent decision by the U. S. Supreme Court in a United Cigar Stores case, there existed the likelihood that three years future rent might also be allowed. This would have brought the Hoblitzelle claim to $1,393,036 and the Reade claim to $890,000. The Hoblitzelle claims are based on guarantees by RKO of seven theater leases entered into by the RKO Southern Corp., a subsidiary, with three Hoblitzelle companies. A. H. McCausland represented the Irving Trust Co. as trustee in negotiating the settlements. Carlos Israels, of White & Case, acted for the Hoblitzelle interests. ROACH SETS BUDGET OF $3,500,000 FOR 6 (.Continued from Page 1) "Rex, King of Wild Horses" in Technicolor. He is now dickering for several properties. In addition to the features, Roach will produce 12 "Our Gang" comedies. Jose Bueno Heads New Mexican Producers' Ass'n (Continued from Page 1) and Salvador Bueno, of Bueao & Beltran as treasurer. The association will serve as arbitrator for all conflicts arising within the industry that affect the producer. Immediate objective is to induce the Mexican government to abolish all taxes on Mexican pictures now in effect and have all dues pending for such taxes annulled. A more advantageous distribution of the Mexican film product in territories outside Mexico is also to be sought, it is announced. "Paris" Detroit Opening Gets Record Radio Plug (Continued from Page 1) territory as well as those of the Michigan radio network will carry the 30-minute program as a result of arrangements made by Para's Robert Gillham and execs, of the United Detroit Theaters. The program, which will originate at WXYZ will use a 30-piece orchestra, a 16-voice choral ensemble, dramatic actors, and the singing press agents, "Advance Men." In addition to aiding the Detroit opening, program will also benefit the Butterfield Theaters located throughout Michigan. Blanketing was decided upon by Paramount following the success of a similar multiple broadcasting idea used for "Waikiki Wedding." British and U. S. Cash Backs Korda in U. A. Offer (Continued from Page 1) da declined to say whether he would be required to put up an exact half of the sale price if the deal goes through. Prudential Assurance Co. which is supplying finances for Korda's production activities, is not interested in the new deal, Korda declared. He sails Wednesday on the Normandie for London. Reynolds, Accident Victim Detroit — John D. Reynolds, 23, son of the late Lynn Reynolds, long identified with the industry here, was killed in an auto accident. His bride of three months and mother survive.