The Film Daily (1935)

L Intimate in Character international in Scope independent in Thought ) The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Seventeen Years Old VOL. 67, NO. 145 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1935 TEN CENTS Fox-20th Incorporation Effected in Week— Schenck NEW NATIONAL INDEPT COMPANY BEING FORMED Lichtman's New U. A. Contract Runs for Five Years Viewing . . . the passing parade = By DON CARLE GILLETTE — YOU don't have to be gray-haired to remember back when independent producers were issuing almost daily proclamations on the desirability of solo production as compared with big-organization activities. But when Phil Goldstone went down the river to M-G-M the independent field lost much of its courage and audibility. Desertions increased, and this together with recent amalgamations has left the solo indie ranks about as thin as the curls on Guy Kibbee's pate. Will new independent producers enter the field? Perhaps, and doubtless. And perhaps there will come along a bunch of shoe-string promoters who don't know that the disintegration of the indie fold was due largely to the fact that few of the individual producers had the organization, facilities and finances to turn out the high quality of pictures required these days for b. o. success. — • — kyjORE invasion of the American scene • VI by British motion picture producers is in the offing. Latest of the English generals to arrive here for campaign conferences is Sam W. Smith of British Lion Film Corp., which, in case you don't know it, is rated by England as its most progressive independent producing and distributing company. That enterprising GB bunch certainly started something over here last summer. YESTERDAYS New York "Times" con* tained an editorial headed "What is 'Chiseling'?" in which an attempt was r j|to define the meaning of the term. .Vs very definite conclusion, however, was reached by the editorial writer. If the editor had assigned a reporter to the task, and sent him to any film row, a clear first-hand picture of the art in question could have been obtained without any trouble. Schenck's Stock Will be Retired After Acquisition by Company Al Lichtman's new contract as president of United Artists is for five years, the president-elect said at a press conference yesterday following his return from the coast on Wednesday. The U. A. board of directors will meet today to ratify this agreement, accept the resignation of Joseph M. Schenck, authorize the purchase of U. A. stock held by Jos. (.Continued on Pane 4) NATHANSON LINKED WITH BRITISH DEAL London (By Cable)— N. L. Nathanson is believed to be behind a project with Lord Beaverbro^k to reorganize British Lion Film Corp. on a big scale, with the idea of making {Continued on Page 22) Warners Not Involved In Phffly Double Bills Reported opening of two doublefeature houses in Philadelphia by a partnership including Arthur Siegel, stepson of Major Albert Warner, has no connection with the Warner (Continued on Page 4) W. E. Retiring Bonds Directors of the Western Electric yesterday voted to redeem on Oct. 1 at 105 and accrued interest the entire issue of $35,000,000 outstanding 5 per cent gold bonds. In the meantime the company will accept these bonds at the same price with interest to date of presentation. The company has sufficient funds to retire this obligation, and no new financing is involved. LEE A. OCHS DIES AT YORK HOSPITAL Lee A. Ochs, a veteran circuit operator and former national exhibitor leader, died at 1:15 o'clock this morning at York Hospital. He was stricken with appendicitis while attending the Film Daily Golf Tournament a week ago, and after an operation, his heart weakened. The funeral will be held Sunday. District Confabs Close RKO Sales Convention Chicago — With the holding of district conferences yesterday, the fourth RKO annual sales convention came to a close at the Drake Hotel. It was the most enthusiastic confab the company has ever held, and the (Continued on Page 21) Incorporation of Fox-20th Cent. Completed in Week, Say s Schenck MPTOA Board to Meet On Plans for Tribunal The M. P. T. O. A. will hold a meeting of its board of directors within a few weeks to consider way and m^ans of setting up an industry plan for the ironing out of differences between exhibitors and distributors. Place and date of the session has not as yet been determined. "A tremendous majority" of (Continued on Page 4) By ARTHUR W. EDDY Incorporation of Fox-Twentieth Century, merging Fox Film and Twentieth Century, will be accomplished in one week, Joseph M. Schenck told The Film Daily as he arrived on the Normandie yesterday. Sidney R. Kent will be president of the new company, said (Continued on Page 2'5) Complete Production Schedules of all companies will be one of the most important features of the 1935 Production Guide — out July 15. Mercury Lab Assists in Financing 70 Independent Films By EDWARD HARRISON A new national distribution organization, similar to Republic Pictures, is being set up under which franchised exchanges throughout the country would receive their entire year's product from a select group of producers, it was stated yesterday to The Film Daily by Nat Saland, head of the Mercury Film Laboratory. Saland said he expected (Continued on Page 4) ROACH WILLPRODUCE FEATURES REGULARLY Production of feature-length comedies at the Hal Roach studios will be a regular policy hereafter, it is announced with the return of Roach to the coast following conferences in New York with Nicholas M. Schenck, M-G-M president. First feature under the new policy will be "The Honesty Racket", written and directed by Roach. No abandonment of short comedy (.Continued on Page 21) See Congress Adjourning Without Film Legislation By PRESCOTT DENNETT FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Washington — If adjournment of Congress comes by July 1, as now indicated, chances for movie legislation in this session are very doubtful, it was admitted by Congressman Culkin of New York in a Film (Continued on Page 21) Tax Bill Passed in Penna. Harrisburg, Pa. — The Senate yesterday by a vote of 37 to 12 passed a bill imposing a tax of one cent on 25-cent admissions, two cents on admissions of 25 to 50 cents, and three cents on tickets over 50 cents. The measure, which is estimated to produce $6,000,000 in two years, originally imposed a 10 per cent tax.