The Film Daily (1929)

F. N. Remains Separate, H. M. Warner Avers iTHE :Sf^ NEWSPAPER o/' FILMDOM AHDWEEKLY FILK DIGEST gi[™|[g|SMMJMMyi VOL. XLVIII No. 71 Sunday, June 23. 1929 Price 25 Cents WARNERS POLICY, PRODUCT OUTLINE IS COMPLETED With sales policies and product for the new year outhned, Warners Friday night completed its sales convention in New York. The force, together with First National division and branch managers joins with the Stanley organization today in an outing at Indian Point. Claude Ezell, sales manager, presided at both sessions. Talks were given by Max Milder, Earl Bell and Sam E. Morris, Spyros Skouras paid tribute to Jack Warner. Albert Warner and H. M. Warner for their energy and ability in building up their organization. Contracts and franchises were discussed by James .•\llen. Ezell, in his remarks, plugged the slogan, "It can be done," and told them to remember that "what Warner Brothers promise, Warner Brothers deliver." A. P. Waxman, (Continued on Page 4) BOON rOR SHORT SUBJECTS SEEN IN SOUND UPHEAVAL Atlantic City — There are no changed sales policies; the line-up of 76 two reel talkers, 12 Hodge Podges and 104 issues of Kinograms newsreel, already has been announced, but the unbounded enthusiasm of Educational's sales force is deserving of headlines. All present agree that the sound evolution will be felt to as great or even greater degree in the short subjects, as in features. Where one year ago, it was a real task to get in shorts at first run houses, the advent of sound finds a scramble for bookings, the managers report. And they arc confident of continued improvement next year. Today the general business discussions will continue, the convention (Continued on Page 2) M-G-M International News Is Hearst's Silent Reel M-G-M International News is to be the name of the combined M-G-M News and International Newsreel. under terms of the new deal between M-G-M and William Randolnh Hear.st. First issue of the newsreel (silent) will be issued July 27. Hearst Metrotone News will be the sound newsreel, first issue of which is scheduled Sept. 28. Lasky on "Legit" Atlantic City, N. J.— "The legitimate stage will never pass out because of talkers. If necessary, the motion picture industry will subsidize it," Jesse L. Lasky told the Paramount convention assembled here Friday. 88 SHORTS FOR 1929-30 P. F. L. LIST By JAMES P. CUNNINGHAM Atlantic City — Paramount will have 88 sound shorts in addition to the 65 features on its 1929-30 program, instead of the 80 previously announced, delegates to the eastern sales convention were told at the opening session Friday. Emanuel Cohen, short subject production chief, made the announcement of the change. Fifty-si.x of next year's features will be produced on the coast and 16 in New York, according to Wanger who addressed the salesmen. Of the short subject line-up, 60 per cent will be produced on the coast and the remaining 40 per cent in the East. A new policy is to be adopted cov{Contxnued on Page 3) isexchaWforcesmeet for"u"emrn confab Atlantic City, N. J. — With 18 American and Canadian exchanges represented. Universal today launches its Eastern sales convention here. On haiid arc the following home office executives: R. H. and P. D. Cochrane, Lou B. Met/.gcr, M. Van Praag. Ted Schlanger, Fred McConnell. Charles M. Steele. Charles B. Paine, Paul Gulick, Milton Silver, N. L. Manheim, Sidney Singerman, Sam B. Jacobson, Joe Weil. Herman Stern, Lee Balsly, H. M. Messiter and M. W. Greenthal. When the gavel sounds at the Ritz, Van Praag will wield it. The program of 55 features for next year will be announced and taken up in full de (Continued on Page i) R-K-0 May Build House at Philadelphia, Is Report Philadelphia — Radio-Keith-Orpheum may build here to secure a show window for Radio Pictures. UNIONS HAVEN'T MAPPED PLAN IN EQUITY DRIVE F.N. "EVERY CO-OPERATION" First National will remain a separate company from Warner Bros., Harry M. Warner, president of the iatter, assured division and branch manager^ of* the organization at its concluding session in New York Friday night. Each of the two firms is to stand on its own, Warner asserted, adding his assurance to that voiced on Thursday by Herman Starr, president of First National. The parent company, Warners, Inc., win extend "every conceivable support" to First National, Warner declared, in a lengthy speech which evoked enthusiasm from the convention. Warner dwelt upon the need for fairness and equity in the sale of films, calling upon all present to be "honest with yourself, your exhibitor, customer and your co-workers." Building on the right foundation assures success, he asserted, stating that (Cotitinucd cm Page 4) Third U. A. Convention At 'Frisco Thursday United Artists' third sectional sales convention, following those already held in New York and Chicago, has been set for San Francisco June 27. Paul Burger, assistant to Al Lichtman, and David Bershon. western division manager, have left New York journeying together to Denver, Salt Lake City and San Francisco, .^fter the convention Bershon will remain in Los Angeles and Mr. Bur (Continucd on Page 2) Williams Promoting Studio in England for Talkers In a cablegram from London F^riday. J. D. Williams again denied reports that he is leaving World Wide Pictures and said that he is promoting a big talking picture studio project in London. A similar cable from John Maxwell of British International substantiated the Williams' statement. Plans are under way for the erec(Continued on Page 2) Gillmore Confident; Seeks Debate with Producers on Equity Shop West Coajt Bureau, THE ULSt DAILY Hollywood — Plan of action of the unions has not been formulated in the fight for the Equity shop in talkers, J. W. Buzzell. secretary of the Los Angeles Central Labor Council, declared at a meeting of the Actor's Equity .Xssn. He pointed out, however, that 242 delegates, representing 102 local unions have voted to support Equity. Five million unionists will refrain from patronizing pictures starring Equity members who are opposing the Equity shop until these stars publicly renounce their position, Buzzell said. At the session, Frank Gillmore, Equity president, predicted victory and challenged producers to debate the Equity shop issue at the next Equity meeting. Insisting that Equity's activity on the Coast is not new, he reviewed his efforts to improve conditions for actors here since 1919. In 1922, he declared, the Coast actors' committee drafted a contract and said that when Will H. Hays became head of the produccr(Continued on Page 16) Nunes Named President of Connecticut Exhibitors New Haven, Conn. — Morris A. Nunes, New Haven, was elected president of the Connecticut exhibitor association at its annual meeting here. His first duty will be to send delegation to New York next Tuesday to bring the sound rental situation to attention of distributors, protesting against present charges. This is a mandate from the convention. No measures advocating any buying strike or other retaliatory steps are ad(Continued on Page 16) Abolition of Censors Agitated at Montreal Montreal — Demand for abolishment of the Quebec censors has been made here following the barring of. all children from picture theaters of the province. The courts recently reaffirmed the new law prohibiting the admission of children under 16 years iContinned <m Pag* i)