The Film Daily (1929)

\l-K-0 Realigning Houses as Picture Outlets ^NEWSPAPER (/FILM DOM I i\y ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME »L. XLIX No. 45 Thursday, August 22, 1929 Price 5 Cents it* i: nille hails "end IF EQUITY* STRIKE lit Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY 'llollywood — "Appreciation" to i se who defied Actors' Equity A.'n, in the recent strike, and no:i to holdouts that "the controversy is ended," has been extended by Cnl B. De Mille, president of the A'n of M. P. Producers. »The Equity Ass'n of New York I ie to Hollywood with demands wich meant virtual control of the ntion picture business," De Mille s;l. "This control was predicated nin conditions unwise, impractical a 1 unfair. The Equity movement did not Vfe the approval or sympathy of a U'jority of the working actors and (Continued on Page 2) (illmore-Canavan Confab on Equity Shop Awaited tfext move in the Actors' Equity /Is'n drive for the Equity Shop in ptures will await conferences in rw York between President Frank (lmore, and William Canavan, head i. the International Alliance of The3 ical Stage Employes and M. P. hchine Operators. Pending the references, Canavan says there is r thing to say on the subject. Gillnre is slated to leave today for the 1 st. In announcing suspension of t; ban on standard contracts, Gillr>re promised to return to the Coast i a few weeks to renew the fight hanwhile, there is a rush of play«i on the Coast to sign contracts 'ie lifting of the ban applies to <5tern studios also. Jhotophone Show Halted By Writ in Switzerland Permanent injunction, before trial infringement suit, against RCAlotophone equipment has been obned at Zurich, Switzerland by the >bis-Klangfilm interests, Milton iamond, New York representative the German firm, has been advised radiogram. The injunction halted (Continued on Page 2) Billy" Sunday to Sign Warner Talker Contract? Winona Lake, Ind. — Rev. William (Billy) Sunday, evangelist, will *n a talking picture contract, said involve $1,000,000, with Warners the next few days, according to (Continued on Page 2) Seek R. & N. Chain Involving 16 theaters in Arizona, a deal is under way and understood nearimg completion by Paramount, for acquisition of the Rickards & Nace chain. Universal owns a 50 per cent interest in the circuit, which has its headquarters at Phoenix ST. LOUIS HOSTILE TO FIGHT ON ARBITRATION St, Louis — Hostile ground was found by W. A. Steffes, Allied leader, in advocating that the eastern Missouri and southern Illinois unit withdraw from arbitration. Steffes, who came here as representative of Allied States Ass'n, found R. F. Woodhull, M.P.T.O.A. president, on hand to defend the arbitration system and advocate strong state units affiliated with the M.P.T.O.A., and C. C. Pet(Continued on Page 16) BLOCK BOOKING PROBE IN SEVERAL ZONES PLANNED SCRUTINY OE MERGERS E E N. W. UNIT TO FIGHT Minneapolis — With a number of the exhibitors named on a Film Board list submitted to the mayor for certification as arbitrators, declaring their names had been, submitted without their knowledge, court action to prevent resumption of arbitration here is planned by the Northwest exhibitor unit. The association, a (Continued on Page 16) Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Policy of scrutinizing mergers in advance of consummation to determine if any anti-trust law violation is involved, is to be continued, it is indicated by Attorney General Mitchell, who has requested an additional $75,000 for discussion of the anti-trust division of the Dept. of Commerce. More thorough study of cases is needed, it is the opinion of the attorney general and John Lord O'Brian, assistant attorney general in charge of the antitrust division. Meanwhile, the department is shaping its general anti-trust policy. No prescribed set of rules has been laid down, it appearing likely that there will be a policy developed from decisions reached in individual instances. Paramount Officials on Columbia Radio Board S. R. Kent, Sam Katz, Eugene J. Zukor, Ralph A. Kohn and Charles E. McCarthy have been elected Class A directors of the Columbia Broadcasting System, one-half interest in which is owned by Paramount. Class B directors are: William S. Paley, Jacob Paley, Jerome H. (Continued on Page 16) N. Y., Boston, Wash., 'Frisco Los Angeles, RKO Outlets Set Admission Tax Returns Drop Under New Scales Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Admission tax collections for the fiscal year ended June 30 last, reflected the 60 per cent decline anticipated by treasury actuaries when the exemption was increased from 75 cents to $3, totaling only $6,083,055.82, as compared with $17,724,952.08 in the fiscal year 1928, according to preliminary figures (Continued on Page 2) Radio-Keith-Orpheum is realigning houses as first run picture outlets for the RKO product. In New York, theEarl Carroll, Globe and Columbia will be the outlets, the latter to be named the RKO theater, after remodeling. In Boston, B. F. Keith's will be the theater, major vaudeville headquartering at the Keith-Albee. In Los Angeles, the Hillstreet, and in San Francisco, the Golden Gate, will be renamed RKO, as will the B. F. Keith, Washington, which will be remodeled. Eastern, Mid-West and Dallas Territories To Be Visited Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — New investigation of block booking and the manner in which the Code of Ethics drafted by the industry is being complied with is to be carried to several key cities by the Federal Trade Commission, THE FILM DAILY learns. Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Dallas are expected to be included in the itinerary of the special investigator in charge of collecting data for the commission. QUEBEC EXHIBITORS ADMIT DEFEAT IN KID BAN FIGHT Montreal — Quebec exhibitors have conceded defeat in their fight against the law prohibiting children under 16 years from attending a show where films are presented. A notice that no appeal from the court of appeals decision upholding the law, has been sent to the provincial government. Franchise Plans to Be Outlined at Meet Today Five year franchise plan of RKO and Tiffany-Stahl and the reducedpriced equipment to be placed on the market by RCA-Photophone, under agreements made by these companies at Chicago with Allied States Ass'n. and other independent exhibitors, are to be outlined at today's session (Continued on Page 16) Herrington for Franchise, RCA-Photophone Deals Pittsburgh— Thousands of exhibitors will be enabled to remain in business and houses now closed will be reopened through the RKO, TiffanyStahl franchise plans, and the new lower-priced equipment to be offered by RCA-Photophone, Fred J. Herrington, secretary of the western (Continued on Page 16)