The Film Daily (1934)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought ^^^^^^^^^ — . 7[ Th^fe Daily Newspaper OtfMotion Pictures w Sixteen Years Old VOL. LXV. NO. 121 NEW YORK, ThLCSDAy, A4A.y 24, 1934 <5 CENTS Loew Reported Making Bid for Fox Met. Houses consenTdecree to end vitaphonejrpi suit New Zoning Plans Halted by C. A. Pending Instructions Darrow's Report ... an emotional thunderstorm == By DON CARLE GILLETTE = T may sound like a far-fetched presumption to intimate that, in picking 'arrow to conduct the code inquiries, resident Roosevelt shrewdly foresaw that ny report made by the showman-barrister ould be so radically exaggerated that it 'ould automatically vitiate itself — and hereby promote stronger support for the IRA. At any rate, that is just about what has appened. It requires a full reading of Darrow's :ngthy brief, including the sections dealig with codes of other industries as well s the part concerning the movies, to reall appreciate how much luckier this or ny other industry can consider itself in aving the codes as they are rather than nything that might have been concocted </ political sensationalists who make a speialty of playing to a certain section of he grandstand. • TAKING the portion of the report de' voted to the film code — which was iven major attention and space — the furler one reads along the more it becomes ipparent that emotion and misguidance, not :ason and facts, supplied both the motiation and the dictation. With the code hearings dominated by arrow, who is noted for his spectacular xhibitions, especially when they have lenty of headline value, and the report ritten by Charles Edward Russell, a vetran socialist of the first order, nothing Ise could have been expected. The report speaks not only FOR itself ut even more volubly AGAINST itself. • F, as already hinted, the Darrow document has only served to strengthen faith i the NRA, then it has done a service i spite of itself. Now perhaps the code for this industry ill be given at least a half chance to low its workability before being subicted to further opposition by professional ostructionists. And when the necessity of changes be3mes apparent, let them be put in the ands of men who understand this busiess and have no anarchistic complexes. The need of the hour is for sane thinkig and sound procedure, not wild proosals based on outlandish unsupported (barges. Flinn Wires Local Boards to Temporarily Cease Work on Schedules Wired instructions went out to local zoning boards last night to the effect that they must temporarily cease work on local clearance schedules pending issuance of definite instructions within a few days by the Code Authority. The ban, however, does not apply to hearings on individual or group complaints which do not affect local clearance setups. The wire from John C. Flinn, Au (Continucd on Page 7) JOHNSON AND DARROW SEEN IN PEACE MOVE By WILLIAM SILBERBERG FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Washington — Marking the first time they have met personally since the beginning of the National Recovery Review Board, General Johnson and Clarence Darrow were understood to have arranged a (Continued on Page 2) Columbia Speeds Up Completion of Lineup West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Columbia studios are working at top speed to complete the current production schedule. Eight pictures are in work and four are being prepared for early shooting. In work are "One Night of Love", (Continued on Page 7) Kent Spoofs Report In a wire from the coast, President Sidney R. Kent of Fox makes unqualified denial of a report published elsewhere linking his name with Paramount. Kent says he has been on the coast for purely personal reasons because of the ill health of Mrs. Kent and that there have been no negotiations whatever for his return to Paramount. Kent leaves today for New York, arriving in time for the Fox convention in Atlantic City on May 30. 175 WILL ATTEND MONOGRAM CONFABS More than 175 will attend the three Monogram regional sales meetings to be held under the direction of General Sales Manager Edward Golden on May 26 in Salt Lake City, June 2 in Cincinnati and June 9 in New York, it was stated yesterday by W. Ray Johnston. Trem Carr will talk at the Salt Lake confab, attended by J. H. Sheffield, W. D. Frazer, C. J. Fames, Howard W. Stubbins, Floyd St. John. J. T. Sheffield, Sidney D. Weisbaum, Sidney J. (Continued on Page 6) Ralph Kohn May Enter Independent Production Ralph A. Kohn, who recently resigned from Paramount, is understood considering independent production. He has several other propositions under consideration. Kohn has opened an office in the Paramount building. Three-Cornered Fight Looms In Metropolitan Theater Zone Television Merger London — Marconi E. M. I. Television Co., Ltd., has been formed following a merger of the Marconi Company and Electric & Musical Industries, Ltd., in which RCA has a large interest. The new combination will promote television development. Concerned over prospects of Warner Bros. Theaters becoming important opposition in the New York area, Loew is understood ready to file a bid for the Fox Metropolitan circuit. Making of the Loew offer is reported contingent upon a move by Warner to acquire the group at the hearing to be held by Judge (Continued on Page 7) Long Drawn Out Action is Being Amicably Adjusted Bv NORMAN M. MacLEOD FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Wilmington, Del. — Vitaphone's injunction suit against Electrical Research Products, pending in Chancery Court here for the last 19 months and which has twice been before the State Supreme Court, is being amicably settled. A consent decree dismissing the important action, said to involve nearly $40,000,000 in claims against Erpi, will be filed with the court very soon, it is learned from authoritative sources. It is understood the decree in this (Continued on Page 7) MIDWEST SALES MEET IS SET BY WARNERS Third of the four regional business meetings planned by WarnerFirst National to discuss sales policies for 1934-35 will be held June 11-12 at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, it is announced by Grad Sears, who will preside. First of the meets take place May 28-29 in Montreal (Continued on Page 6) Three Wheeling Houses Disposed of by Warners Wheeling, W. Va. — Three local Warner houses, the Court, Liberty and Victoria, have been acquired by West Virginia Theatrical Enterprise, Inc., operators of the Capitol. R. T. Kemper, who was city manager of local theaters before they (Continued on Page 6) May Film "Dodsworth" Here Max Gordon is understood considering production of his Broadway stage hit, "Dodsworth," starring Walter Huston, as a feature at the Eastern Service Studio on Long Island. He will be partly financed by Eastern Service, it is understood. Both M-G-M and Universal are reported to have made bids for screen rights to the play.