The Film Daily (1934)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The D, nly N ewspe ipcr Of M o t i o n Pict ures Now S ixteen Years Old VOL. LX\. NO. 78 NEW yCCr, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1934 5 CENTX Recovery Review Board Concludes Code Hearings SUIT AGAINST ElECTRICTlS REPORTEFSETTLED Harry Cohn Laughs at Rumors of Columbia Sale Cut-Outs . . from a train window —By JACK ALICOATE-^^ C.L PASO, TEXAS ... As we look over " into MEXICO we can't help thinking of WALLACE beery in M-G-M's "Viva Villa" ... A NATURAL sure . . . Don't be SURPRISED if the LITTLE 3,600 seater in Radio City houses a BIG continental musical next fall . . . Nothing is more restful and SATISFYING to the average picture fan than a good scenic, PROPERLY scored . . . This industry should NOT allow any city, state or federal agency to TAMPER with its newsreels. Providing, OF COURSE, they meet the conventional demands of DECENCY. The constitution guarantees FREEDOM to the press. Newsreels are as much the PRESS as any newspaper ... A small-town EDITOR tells us that while he EDITORIALIZED against half dressed movie STILLS his readers continue to CLAMOR for them. • TEAR more than anything ELSE is hold* ing this industry back . . . Thoreau wrote: "Nothing is so much to be feared as fear. The sin that God hates is fear. He thinks atheism innocent in comparison" . . . HOWARD dietz is a natural SHOWMAN . . . Except that it IS there, we cannot think of a SINGLE reason why all production should be CENTERED in Hollywood ... If Delaware passes that law keeping all screen actors who have been divorced from the screen the age LIMIT for screen stars in Hollywood will be automatically lowered to sixteen . . . The BEST film sales executive is NOT the one who can get the most for a given picture but the one exhibitors want to continue doing business with because of SQUARE shooting. • MORE tax agitation is started because of the PRINTING of star salaries and box-office figures than ALL other causes combined . . . Why is it that ED wynn, a great comedian, is a FLOPISSIMO in pictures . . . The CATHOLIC church is becoming vitally interested in the screen for EDUCATIONAL purposes . . . It's hard to beat that Russian school for screen ARTISTRY . . . PETE smith is doing a SWELL jcb with that NUTS reel of his . . . a PIONEER in films is one who can REMEMBER when a property room consisted of a plug hat, a sword, three books, and a telephone stand. Reported Deal with DuPont Just Applesauce, Says Head of Company West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Rumors published in certain quarters about a pending deal whereby DuPont interests would acquire control of Columbia are laughed at by Harry Cohn, president of the company. The reports are "silly and ridiculous" he told Film Daily yesterday, adding that if any such deal were on, the story would come from him as major stockholder. Cohn and Edmund Goulding leave by plane tomorrow for New York. SCHENCKSAYS 75% WANT PLAIN STORIES Seventy-five percent of the public doesn't want stories with sophisticated treatments, declared President Joseph M. Schenck of United Artists yesterday. More sympathetic characters in yarns are needed (Continued on Page 11) John Arnold Is Re-elected Head of Cinematographers West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — American Society of Cinematographers has re elected John Arnold, president; Victor Milner, first vice-president; John Boyle, second vice-president: Thelma Dyar, (Continued on Page 11) $404,562 Columbia Net Net profit of $404,562.93, equal to $2.25 a share on the common stock, is reported by Columbia for the six months ended Dec. 30. For the full year preceding this period the company's net was equal to $4.10 a share on the common. MONOGRAM MEETING IS UNDER WAY TODAY By ARTHUR W. EDDY Atlantic City — Monogram has established temporary headquarters in this seaside hamlet prior to opening its annual sales convention at the Ambassador. Nearly 75 officials of the company and exchangemen have assembled for the session, which will conclude Saturday evening with a banquet. Highlight of the program will be (Continued on Page 12) Paramount May Release 4 Hecht-MacArthur Films Paramount is expected to distribute four features which Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur will nroduce at Eastern Service Studio. The writers, who are now in the country working on story material, have formed a new company. Production begins within 30 days. Hearings on Code Concluded; Labor Issues Up Next Week Actor Is Granted Tax Cut For Entertainment Outlay Overruling the Federal Board of Tax Appeals, the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals has granted a tax deduction of $1,687.10 to Sidney Blackmer for expenses incurred in entertaining critics, managers and others with a view to strengthening (Continued on Page 11) By WILLIAM SILBERBERG FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Washington — The Appearance and Testimony of Governor Floyd Olsen of Minnesota in behalf of what he termed independent exhibitors and opposition to the motion picture code as it allegedly affects their interests, highlighted the final day's hearings before the National Re (Continued on Page 12) Amicable Adjustment Made in Suit Against AT&T Group, is Report By N. M. MacLEOD FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Wilmington, Del. — What promised to be the biggest litigation in the film industry, the suit of Stanley Co. of America, Duovac Radio Corp. and General Talking Pictures against American Telephone & Telegraph, Western Electric and Electrical Research Products, charging violation of the anti-trust laws, and scheduled for hearing in U. S. District Court here starting today, has been settled or is being settled, Continued on Page 11) FIRST GULF UNIT MEET IS ATTENDED BY 10 By WILLIAM SPECHT FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent New Orleans — First convention of the new Gulf States Theater Owners Ass'n opened yesterday with 105 attending. Principal speaker at the afternoon session was Ed Kuykendall, M. P. T. O. A. president, who discussed the code, theater operations and the value of a national organization, although presentofficers of the Gulf unit, however, are oppose to affiliation. Kuykendall (Continued on Page 12) Famous Players Circuit Reports $104,884 Profit Toronto— Net profit of $104,884 is reported by Famous Players Canadian Corp. for 1933, compared with $21,984 the year before. The circuit is affiliated with Paramount Publix. Easter Business Ahead Broadway film house managers yesterday reported that the current Easter week business is the best in several years. Much of the attendance is being drawn from out-of-town visitors.