The Film Daily (1933)

The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Fifteen Years Old w yccr, TtESCAy, jlily 2<s, 1933 .5 CENTS 'chenck Wires President Supporting Work Code ENERALlTUDIO STRIKTCALLED BY I.TT. S. E. ilm Intakes Covering RKO Production Needs— Depinet — 'it «« Mr. Kent . . who does things By JACK ALICOATE— JT of a week bristling with industry lews there is drama and unusual signce back of the complete financial anization of Fox. When the plan of lent was adopted by stockholders on f and Saturday last the great Fox 2iny was again placed in a commandosition in the field. Once again an jnding constructive industry achievecan be credited to the square-shootid industrious Mr. Kent. Writing down I forty million, adding new confidence imposing list of thousands of stockrs, and placing Fox once more on firm :ial ground, with a minimum of dislg voices, was a man-sized job. EspeI so in view of the great amount of red litigation that had gone before. 1 Sidney Kent entered Fox there were who shook their heads and said it not be done. So Sidney Kent went and did it 0 ANGE as it may seem, no amount of "''odes, conferences or co-operation will I] a single thing to this great industry ii s the exhibitor is a success. The ex >"b ir can only be a success if he makes "by. In other words, for this industry a jntinue, the theater owner must take I ire at the box-office than he pays out n tpenses and taxes. And the latter, » , is most important. The industry is 3\My carrying more than its share of K but is bravely carrying on. Contrary 0 neral impression this business is threat ii with additional taxation this year in I states. This should not, and must a.be. Another straw may break the :»fl's back. ~ AID while on the subject of general ' economics, it is essential that admisI prices, following the Washington 1 y, be raised all along the line. It was •^wholesale compatitive cutting of ad•nfipn prices, during the low ebb of the ■ssion, that almost wrecked the industry It is quality, and not price, that will bril them into the theaters from now on. A,; mce through the production programs of !e major outfits assures a steady flow of ijass pictures for fall and winter. Raise pri s now. ■r Says Company is in Best Position Since First of the Year RKO is now in a better position financially and also in regard to actual productions ready and in work, than it has been since the first of the year, Ned E. Depinet stated to Film Daily yesterday. He claimed that film grosses have been sufficient to provide for all the needs of the production department for making the rest of the 1932-33 schedule {Continued on Page 7) AMERICAN FILMS HIT BY NEW FRENCH QUOTA Paris — Only five Paris houses are permitted to show original versions of Hollywood talkies under a new quota law just put into effect to run until next July, unless the Ministry of the Interior decides otherwise. Dubbed films are limited to 140. American distributors supplied about {Continued on Page 7) Romberg and Harbach Are Signed by Fox Film Sigmund Romberg, composer of numerous operetta successes, and Otto Harbach, equally prominent as a librettist and playwright, have (Continued on Page 8) Fox Plans 4 in Germany Berlin (Special Cable to THE FILM DAILY)— Plans for the production of four German pictures were announced yesterday by Fox. RAISE PAY, CUT HOURS FOR S.O.S. PERSONNEL In support of President Roosevelt's recovery campaign, the S. 0. S. Corporation, equipment manufacturers and distributors, yesterday announced a blanket increase of 10 per cent in salaries, with reduced working hours, effective July 31. In addition, S.O.S. had already raised wages in some departments and also {Continued cm Page 7) Cartoon Comedy Feature Contemplated by Disney Theme songs, color, stories developed from Greek myths and an art school for animators were discussed by Walt Disney in an interview yesterday at the United Artists offices. Disney has plans worked out for a feature-length cartoon picture, but has been unable to find response from United Artists executives, he said. However, the creator of Mickey Mouse claims that the idea has merit and he will continue to {Continued on Page 8) United Artists, 20th Century To Support Gov't's Work Plan Harding, Bancroft Films Set by Twentieth Century West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Darryl Zanuck has concluded arrangements for borrowing Ann Harding from RKO to star in "Gallant Lady," which Gregory La Cava will direct as a Twentieth Century production for United Ar(Continued on Page 7) By WILLIAM SILBERBERG FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Washington — Approval and acceptance of the President's blanket code specifying maximum hours of work and minimum wages was contained in wires received at the White House yesterday from Joseph M. Schenck, of United Artists, and Twentieth Century Productions. Pledges of support previously had (Continued on Page 8) Walkout of Coast Sound Men May Extend to Theaters By RALPH WILK West Coast Mgr., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Charging producers had broken the basic agreement with the unions by employing non-union men for sound work, Richard J. Green, coast representative of the I.A.T.S.E., called a general strike against major studios effective at midnight last night. Cameramen, projectionists in studios, film editors, laboratory workers and mechanics (Continued on Page 8) EDDIE BONNS HEADS T SHORTS SALES Eddie Bonns, formerly Warner theater executive and recently special sales representative for Fox, has been appointed Universal short subject sales manager by James R. Grainger, general sales manager. Bonns, who left Fox about seven months ago, accompanied Grainger on his recent tour of the country and also his European trip. The (Continued oh Page 8) Union Officials Held In Seattle Bombings Seattle — Following eight weeks of secret investigation ordered by Mayor Dore, the president and business agent of the local operators' union are among five arrested in a roundup of persons wanted for questioning about four recent theater bombings here and one in Spokane. Pals Freddie Myers of RKO caught a stranger going through his office desk one day last week. The mug happened to be a racetrack bookmaker. At the court hearing, Myers was asked what his business was, and he replied, "I'm a film booker." Whereupon the prisoner exclaimed, "Oh, so you're a bookmaker too!"