The Film Daily (1929)

Fox Expected to Leave Hospital in Few Days THE 7vfe NEWSPAPER 0/ FILM DOM ANDWEEKLY FILM DIGEST VOL. XLIX No. 17 Sunday, July 21, 1929 Price 25 Cents JERSEY UNIT TO TEST COMPOUND PROTECTION" Atlantic City — Admitting the neessitj and legality of protection, but leclaring that granted Stanley-Fab an in the state is illegal. New Jer exhibitors at their convention lere Friday, authorized Presideni ill M. Seider. to engage coun el to test protection in the state, rhirty-five exhibitors, representing bout 70 theaters attended. The ac ion followed recommendation of seider, who insists that the "com)ound protection," he says Stanley"abian secure-. over independent louses, is illegal. Seider was re lected president, despite bis wish to Page ■) ) ADJUSTMENTS FOR OVERSOLD EXHIBITORS TENTATIVE PLAN Injunction Against W. E. Equipment in Argentine Argentine American Film Co., disributor of DeForest Phonofilm in Vryentina, has obtained an injunction estraining operation of \\ estern ■".lectric sound reproducing equipment n the South American republic, Robrt C. Richter of Richter & Banzhof, \"ew York attorney for the company, Friday stated he has been advised by ■able. No Interruption in Wiring, W. E. Declares There will be no interruption of intallations of Western Electric equipnent in Argentine, the company statd Friday when news was received of he injunction obtained by Argentine \merican Films Co. Granting of ar njuction usually follows institution of iuit in Argentina, it was pointed out, ollowing which the defendant posts >cnd. The injunction is without prejldice to merits of the action, Westrn Electric states. Dperation of 8 Houses at Topeka, Kan. Merged Topeka, Kan. — Midwest Topeka Theater Corp., has merged operation d{ the Grand, Jayhawk, Orpheum, Novelty, Gem, Best, Crystal and Isis. L. M. Miller is head of the new company; G. L. Hooper, vice president; Maurice Jencks, secretary; E. C. Ah.oden, treasurer. Affiliated with the ■ompany are theaters at Kansas City, Wichita, Winfield, Welling, Liberal, Mewton, Hays, Dodge City, in Kansas and the following Missouri towns: Kansas City, Excelsior Springs and Kirksville. 10 Best Named Next Week Representing a blue book of directorial talent, the Ten Best Directors of the 1928-29 picture year have been selected by 304 newspaper, fan and trade publication critics. Announcement of the outcome of the poll will be a feature of the Directors' Annual and Production Guide, to be published next week by THE FILM DAILY. The volume, marking a radical departure in film trade publications, also will present the honor roll of directors, named by the nation's critics, among many other features. RAPID RECOVERY OF WILLIAM FOX CONTINUES By CHARLES .F. HYNES Mineola, L. I. — Recovery of William Fox continues rapidly at the Nassau hospital, inquiry at eight Vclock Saturday morning revealed. The executive has responded rapidly to treatment and his discharge from the hospital now is regarded as but a matter of a few days. There is to be a grand jury investigation of the accident near here, which cost the life of Fox's chauffeur. CONTRACT PLAYERS NOT TO BE CALLEDOUT BY EQUITY West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Equity does not need to call out contract players, for such a move would hurt the association's position with the public, Attorney Paul Turner declared in addressing Chorus Equity here. Editorial comment in the current issue "Equity" revealed the fact that the association was averse to asking help from allied crafts. A Cornerstone MONDAY: Trying to dope out how this business would function without arbitration is one tough job. You know, even such proponents of the current system as Will Hays and Charles Pettijohn will tell you there are flaws in the structure. We have never heard any claims for perfection advanced from any source. The method has been in operation for several years. That it has functioned remarkably well is demonstrated by the large number of actions and the millions of dollars involved which have been cleared away since the beginning. Errors have crept in, of course. The constructive remedial course is to point out where they are and then endeavor to bulwark the foundation so that the framework may be reinforced substantially and solidly. Those who have studied the situation will, therefore, understand why it is on this morning that efforts are being made to resume arbitration proceedings in Dallas and Indianapolis, two key cities where the state exhibitor units, allied with Allied, have pulled out in compliance with the Myers' edict of passive resistance until the sound situation is straightened out. We would sum up the present controversy over this matter by observing that, although arbitration as today constituted falls short of a completely satisfactory {Continued on Page 3) Distributors Would Create Special Machinery in Relief Move Exhibitors oversold on sound pictures will have opportunity to obtain adjustment if plans worked out tentatively by the sub-committee of sales managers is adopted when the full committees meet in New York Tuesdaj . Exhibitor committeemen may offer some other plan, at the session. The distributor committee, named upon request of the anti-Myers group of exhibitors, met Friday with all sales managers and the tentative plan was approved, subject to revisions. The program may be carried out through the work of special machinery prepared for the purpose, or through Film Boards of Trade. If the plan is adopted, it will be put into effect as soon as possible, distributors realizing that if relief is to be forthcoming to exhibitors declared facing business extinction due to high overhead, it must be granted quickly. Warner Stock to be Used to Buy Harms Music Firm Warner stock at $55 a share will be used to buy the Harms Music Publishing Co.. it is understood. The price is declared to be $8,000,000. Reports that a deal was under way have been current for several months. Warner Plans Held up at Youngstown House Youngstown, O.— Negotiations for the hotel to be built above the theater are holding up plans of Warners for a new house here. The theater is to seat 3,000, David Robbins, Warner representative states. Meanwhile, Publix yesterday opened the Paramount, formerly the Liberty, which has been rebuilt. $5,565,074 Estate Was Left by Jules Mastbaum Philadelphia — Exclusive of realty holdings, Jules E. Mastbaum, former Stanley president, left an estate of p,565 073 84 it is shown in tax appraisal returns by the executors. Mastbaum died Dec. 7, 1926.