The Film Daily (1934)

Intimate in Character Internationa! in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Sixteen Years Old -1FDAILY VOL. LXV. NO. \4r4r Ntwyccr,Tnic$DAy, ju^e 21, 1934 .5 CENTS Loew, Warners in Joint Bid for Fox Met. Circuit 52 FEATURES, I Buffalo Board A A Snowball . . . rolls down hill : By JACK ALICOATE IT IS unfortunate that this church op' position movement to motion pictures has taken such a decided, and in some spots, vitriolic turn. Pictures, certainly, and under no stretch of the imagination, are as bad as they are being painted. Yet, like the proverbial snowball rolling down hill, this movement of opposition is gaining momentum with each new turn. In spots it is thoroughly unreasonable, but the movement has become more than a threat, is serious, and cannot be apparently ignored much longer. What this industry could stand is a united, conscientious job of reselling itself, through its own screens, to its hundred millions of film patrons. It is now apparent that the policy of turning the other cheek will not do. The industry of the motion picture has nothing to be ashamed of excepting its slowness to defend itself. NEWS reels are awaking from their recent inertia and once again showing signs of life. No branch of the business is so far-reaching in character, so alive, and so dignified as news reels, yet of late, they have fallen in popularity because time honored journalistic competition was pigeon-holed under the heading of friendly co-operation. Fans used to go out of their way to tell us they made regular trips to the theater for the sole purpose of newsreeling it. In those days news reels were hot. No single element adds more to the average program than the news reel, providing it is a NEWS reel. WE HAVE just talked to a substantial, clean-cut, moral producer who has a right to be worried. He asks: "And now where is the producer headed? What do they want us to produce? If we please one group the other bunch kicks. An honest, straightforward story is a cinch to be found unmoral by some, and, when we sacrifice intelligence and logic, the critics roast us for lack of courage. And if we take the middle course we are panned by everybody." We can sympathize with him for he is about right. I ON M-G-M PROGRAM Wick Violating Its Order Instructs Exhibitor to Comply Within Next Seven Days Buffalo — Following a second hearing, the Buffalo grievance board has again found that Edward Wick, operator of the Majestic, who has an injunction action pending against the board and local distributors, has failed to comply with its order to desist from price-cutting in violation of the code. The board gave {Continued on Page 14) FUTTER MAY PRODUCE 4 BRIT, QUOTA FILMS Walter Futter, producer of Columbia's "Travelaughs" and "Curiosities" has made tentative plans to produce a quota feature in England for major company distribution in both the United Kingdom and the United {Continued on Page 14) Shortage of Product Darkens N. Y. Rivoli Shortage of product for Broadway first runs, which has become more acute since 15 houses began to play this class of product either regularly or occasionally, yesterday {Continued on Page 14) 35 P. C. Shorts in Color Indicating further development of use of color in shorts is the fact that 35 per cent of the M-G-M program on this product next year will be so treated. Minus issues of the company's newsreel, 77 short subjects are scheduled. RKO IS SEEKING SIX MORE N. Y, HOUSES With negotiations opened for the acquisition of at least six more theaters in the metropolitan territory, RKO is continuing to strengthen its position in the Greater New York area. Deals are pending for taking over Frisch-Rinsler's Savoy, Brooklyn, the Manhattan Opera {Continued on Page 11) Gillett Joins Van Beuren As Cartoon Studio Head Chicago — ■ Burt Gillett, formerly associated with Walt Disney and director of "3 Little Pigs," has been appointed head of the Van Beuren cartoon studio, Amedee J. Van Beuren announced yesterday at the RKO convention. Gillett will make 13 one-reel subjects in two series known as Burt Gillett's Toodle Tales and Burt Gillett's Rainbow Parade. $4,000,000 Joint Offer Made For Fox Met. By Loew, Warners Sees Death of Immoral Films Drawing New Biz West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — When immoral pictures are eliminated, as a result of the current national crusade, thousands of new patrons will come into theaters, declared M. A. Lightman, former M. P. T. 0. A. president, yesterday while attending the {Continued on page 11) A joint bid of $4,000,000 in cash for the Fox Metropolitan Playhouses circuit was made yesterday on behalf of Loew's Inc., and Warner Bros, by Leopold Friedman of Loew's at a hearing before Judge Mack in U. S. District Court on the proposed plan of reorganization for the theater circuit. J. Robert Rubin, chief counsel for Loew's, told Film Daily that if the {Continued on Page 14) 40 Titles Are Announced At Opening Session of Convention Chicago — Forty titles included in the "M-G-M 1934-35 program of 52 features will be announced at the opening session of the company's annual sales convention today at the Hotel Drake. The company will also put out 181 shorts, including the Hearst-Metrotone News. The list made public is as follows: "The Merry Widow," with Maurice Chevalier and Jeannette MacDonald, Edward Everett Horton, Una Merkel, George Barbier and {Continued on Page 11) KUYKENDALL TO BACK PHILLY MPTOA UNIT Coming to the aid of the M. P. T. O. of Eastern Pennsylvania, which has been attacked by leaders of the recently-formed Independent Exhibitors Protective Ass'n in Philadelphia, President Ed Kuykendall of the M. P. T. O. A. will speak at a meeting of his affiliated unit in that city July 28. He will defend {Continued on Page 2) N. Y. Grievance Board Upholds Loew Charges N. Y. Grievance board yesterday upheld three Loew complaints, certified to the Code Authority two cases where interfering with negotiations with landlords was charged and dismissed the overbuying complaint of {Continued on Page 14) Starting Skouras Deals Booking deals for Skouras houses for 1934-35 will be started next week, Ed Alperson stated to FILM DAILY yesterday. First conferences are expected to be held June 29 at the Skouras offices.