The Film Daily (1934)

THE •c&H DAILY Monday, April 30, 1934 W. B.-BRITISH STUDIO SLATED FOR ABOUT 26 London — Increase in production to about 26 pictures in the next 12 months is in prospect at the Teddington studios, recently bought outright by Warners. Irving Asher, in charge of the plant's activities, is now supervising additions in working space and improvement of equipment. A. T. & T. Probe May Have Wide Effect on Films (Continued from Page 1) the opinion of well-informed observers here. The resolution includes an investigation of Western Electric and Electrical Research Products, the A. T. & T. subsidiary in the amusement field, and calls for airing of methods of competition, practices, patents, accounting for royalties on patents, sale or refusal to sell equipment, etc. Testimony by Robert Robins, executive secretary of the American Society for the Protection of the Motion Picture Theater, before the National Recovery Review Board recently, is believed to have had something to do with inclusion of Erpi activities in the Dill resolution. Majors Deny Plans To Add Foreign Films (Continued from Page 1) cent cancellation privilege afforded by the code. Two first line companies, Fox and United Artists, have deals to distribute some foreign-made productions under arrangements made prior to the drafting of the code. In disputing the report, sales chieftains pointed out that under film contracts they specify which pictures, if any, are foreign productions so an exhibitor knows their origin at the time he makes his deal. A distributor who took on too many foreign pictures would be liable to foment sales resistance to his own pictures, it was pointed out. Wm, Danziger Joins Donahue & Coe William E. Danziger has joined the copy department of Donahue & Coe, Inc. He was formerly special advertising and exploitation representative of the Harold Lloyd Corp. and more recently with Paramount. Production Center for India Atlantic City — India is planning a Hollywood of the Far East and now hs representatives in America studying methods previous to the establishment of this film production center, according to Guru D. Lai, of Delhi, India, who attended the S. M. P. E. convention here last week and who is now going to Hollywood to continue his work of studying modern methods. There are about 30 production companies in Indii making talkies, and plans are under way to combine the larger, improve forces with new inventions, and establish eastern markets. « « SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS » » Ben Blue in "Very Close Veins" (Big "V" Comedy) Vitaphone 20 mins. Neat Comedy In this fourth two-reeler Ben Blue does a gold rush to the Klondike to take the cold treatment for an enlarged vein. Hitting the saloon, the gang mistake his talk about a vein for a strike of a rich gold vein. Works out into some good gagging and a big quota of laughs. Ben Blue has a swell line all his own, and is ably assisted by Shemp Howard as a frostbitten drunk. Other neat performances are contributed by Dorothy Dare Robert Gleckler, Harry T. Morey Directed by Harry Staub. "Beauty and the Beast" (Merrie Melodie) Vitaphone 7 mins. Fine Color Cartoon Done in Cinecolor, this is a real treat for youngsters and grown-ups. It introduces Little Mary and the Sandman of the classic fairy tale. She sleeps in her nursery, and floats off to slumberland where she meets all the Mother Goose playmates, while the little wooden soldier falls in love with her. Delightfully handled, bringing in a lot of fairy tale characters as she reads from her story book. The children will go for this one in a big way. Neat musical score by Norman Spencer, with music by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Produced by Leon Schlesinger. Steiner Closes Deals on Westerns Distribution deals on the four Jack Perrin westerns being made by B. B. Ray and Harry S. Webb for William Steiner have already been made with Marcy Pictures, New York; Imperial Film Exchange, Philadelphia and Washington; Affiliated Producers, Atlanta; Monogram Pictures, Dallas; Capital Film, Los Angeles and San Francisco; Selected Pictures, Cleveland, J. S. Jossey, Pittsburgh, and Capital Film, Salt Lake City and Denver. Steiner also is handling a series of Tom Tylers made by Ray and Webb. Northwest Building Activity Minneapolis — New theaters reported planned in territory include a house for the Como Park district, St. Paul; rival projects by Minnesota Amusement Co. and H. A. Rolbiecki in Winona; rebuilding of the burned theater in New Prague; a house in International Falls planned by W. B. Heick of the Rex, Calumet; an independent house for Mankato; another for Fairmont, and in Wisconsin two houses contemplated by George Miner for Rice Lake and Eau Claire. Gloria Stuart Sells Film Wat Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A home-made tworeel subject, filmed by Gloria Stuart over the past two years and embracing incidents in life snapped by Miss Stuart at random, has been sold by here to Universal for $10,000. "Bengal" Premiere in Columbus Columbus — Gala opening of "Beyond Bengal" will be held tomorrow night at the Hartman theater with the Governor of Ohio, the Mayor of Columbus, members of the state legislature and many civic notables in attendance. Demolishing Boston Loew House Boston — The Columbia, operated by Loew, has closed and is being torn down. Former Manager Edward Garrity is now in New York, whore he may take a new post. Laymon Finishes 1, Preparing 2 West Coast, Bureau of THE FILM I'AILY Hollywood — Gene Laymon, supervising producer for Imperial Distributors, New York, has completed "The Broken Coin," action feature from F.n original by James R. Gilbert ?nd Ellen Hansen. Cast included Earle Douglas, Ruth Hiatt, William Desmond, Donald Keith, Philo McCullough, Victor Potel and H. B. Carpenter. Al Herman directed with Ernie Miller at the camera. Laymon is now preparing on "Red Steel" and "Help Wanted." Deerholt Joins Romance Prods. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Ashton Deerholt, recently returned from a six-month stay in the Central American jungles filming the Joan Lowell Expedition, has been engaged as production manager for Romance Productions, Inc., now shooting the remaining episodes of "Young Eagles," the officially endorsed Boy Scout Chapter play. Liberty Distribution Deals Budd Rogers, general sales manager for Liberty Pictures, has closed distribution deals on Liberty product with Monogram Pictures of Detroit for Michigan, and with B. N. Judell for Milwaukee, Indiana, St. Louis and Chicago. Twin Cities Drop Dime Shows Minneapolis — Discontinuance of dime admissions in Minneapolis and St. Paul has had no effect on attendance, exhibitors report. The kid scale remains a dime, with 15 cents minimum for adults. W. E. Sound for Mayfair Western Electric sound system will be installed in Walter Reade's Mayfair theater. New Sound System Boston — The Triphonic System of Boston is selling its sound on film system here. Amy DesBiens is the inventor and manufacturer. 12 SUPERS PLANNED BY BRITISH EXHIBITOR London — Erection of 12 new supers, bringing his circuit to 20, is planned by Lou Morris. Two of the new houses are now under way, a 2,000-seater in Sutton and the re building of the Carlton, Norwich, from 810 to 2,000 seats. Academy Makes Revision In Standard Release Print {Continued from Page 1) extra six frames of picture "runout" after the final changeover dots. This will improve projection and contribute toward a smoother show in the theater. This recommendation, approved by the American Projection Society and the Projection Advisory Council and other projectionist organizations, will become a part of the newly revised Standard Release Print which goes into effect May 1. 8 Pictures Shooting At the RKO Studios West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Production activity at the RKO Radio Pictures studios is going full speed, with eight pictures currently in work. Two of them are big ones, each working in two units. These are "Cockeyed Cavaliers," WheelerWoolsey comedy, and "Down to Their Last Yacht," musical. Others in work are "Arabella," "Family Man," "Life of Vergie Winters," "Sour Grapes," "Murder on the Blackboard" and a comedy starring Gene Austin. Pizor Making Color Series "World In Color," a new series of 13 shorts in Magnacolor is being produced by William Pizor for next season release. Four have already been completed. One of these was made under water in the coral seas region. Art Blanding is the narrator. Distribution is not yet set. Birmingham Bans Nudist Film Birmingham — After a two-day run at the Homewood theater, "Elysia," nudist film, was withdrawn when police were given orders to arrest anyone attempting to show it. Drive Winners Get Bonus Cleveland — All members of the Warner exchange have received a two weeks' bonus check as their share of the fifth prize award in the eight-week playdate drive. Ban on Hitler Gags Major circuits are understood to have generally placed a ban on Hitler gags and jokes. At the request of the management of the New York Paramount, George Jessel, appearing in its current stage show, eliminated material referring to Hitler.