The Film Daily (1934)

The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Sixteen Years Old -^FDAILY NEW yCCr, SATLCDAy, fEBPLACy 3, 1934 Part of Regional Boards to Start Early in March MAJOR RELEASES IN '33T0PPED LAST THREE YEARS Some Circuits Agree to Negotiate With Service Union Meet Next Week to Vote on Strike Against Unwilling Theaters Negotiations are under way between Paramount-Publix, Randforce circuit, the Rialto and the Roxy and the newly-organized Building Service Employes Union which seeks a closed shop, a 40-hour six-day week and a higher wage scale for ushers, ticket takers, janitors, matrons, and others, according to Charles C. Levy, secretary of the union. All other circuits which have received contracts have paid {Continued on Page 3) tri-ergWhearing postponed again Sound patent infringement suit i brought by American Tri-Ergon Corp., William Fox company, against various New York independent exhibitors and distributors has again been postponed, with the hearing now scheduled for Feb. 13 in the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court. Committee of 35 to Rate Pictures for Children Pelham, N. Y. — Under a plan adopted by the Pelham ParentTeacher Ass'n, a committee of 35 will preview films to determine suitability for children. Family pictures would be shown at the Pelham Theater on Friday nights, and juvenile films at special Saturday matinees. Picking Up Buffalo — Pickup in inquiries for new equipment in the last three weeks indicates that the tide has turned definitely in the direction of prosperity, says A. Beck, National Theater Supply manager here. Practically all of the theaters in Buffalo now are enjoying a much better patronage than they have had for three years. Denver Give-away War to Continue Denver — Competitive giving away of autos will be continued by Harry Huffman's eight houses and the other 15 that adopted the same policy in opposition. Huffman started the stunt by announcing six cars to be given away every other week. The other houses countered with a car weekly. Now Huffman says he will continue his policy indefinitely. HAYS OFFICE GROUP HOLD CODE CONFAB Operation of the film code as it applies to distribution and exhibition was discussed at a meeting of major company executives at the Hays office yesterday. About 25 representatives attended the session, which was partly devoted to definitions of the various clauses in the document. Embassy is Reopening As a Newsreel Theater Reopening of the Embassy as a newsreel theater is scheduled for next Saturday. Pathe News product will form the basis of the 45minute program. Fox Movietone recently gave up the house because of inability to agree on new rental terms. F. C. Woods, Jr., is managing director of the new enterprise, known as The Newsreel Theaters, Inc. WARNER-ERPI RULING EXPECTED TUESDAY Whether or not the Warner Bros. suit against Electrical Research Products seeking sound royalties will be tried in court or settled through arbitration will be known Tuesday when the Supreme Court of Delaware hands down a decision at Wilmington on an appeal filed by the defendant from a Chancery Court decision bringing the case within jurisdiction of the courts. Arguments in the case were made last November. Reports Better Outlook In Michigan and Illinois Detroit — Movie outlook in Michigan and Illinois is much improved, it is reported by Harold C. Robinson, manager of Film Truck Service. Many rural houses in Illinois have opened recently, and in Michigan the small town operators report increased business, he says. First Zoning, Grievance Boards Expected to Start Next Month H. M. Warner and Morris Going Abroad on Survey A survey of European conditions, including those in Germany, will be made by Harry M. Warner and Sam E. Morris on a trip abroad in March following the former's return to New York from the Coast, where he is now conferring on 1934-35 production plans. Morris is now recuperating from an operation at the Sydenham Hospital, New York. Some of the local zoning and grievance boards authorized by the motion picture code will begin functioning early in March, it was stated at the Code Authority office in New York yesterday. The various boards will start to operate as soon as they are set up. Personnels of a number of them will be ratified by the Authority at its next meeting Friday at the New York Athletic Club, as. the new quarters (Continued on Page 3) 338 Features Last Year From Nine Leading Companies Features released by nine major companies in the calendar year 1933 totalled 338, an increase of 20 over 1932 and 14 more than in 1931, it is shown in data compiled for the forthcoming 1934 FILM DAILY YEAR BOOK. Number released by each company last year was: Paramount, 58; Warner-First National, 55; Fox, 50; RKO, 48; M-G-M, 42; Universal, 37; Columbia, 32; United Artists, 16. JOHNSON URGES NEW MONOPLY DEFINITION Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — "A new definition of what constitutes a monopoly or a monopolistic practice is necessary now," said General Johnson last night in explaining the NRA's relation to the anti-trust laws. The NRA has no power to prevent monopolies, and in itself violates them by "restraining trade," therefore the necessity for the new definition, he declared. $202,312 Loss in 1933 For Keith's Memorial Boston — Keith Memorial Theater Corp. reports a 1933 loss of $202,312.75. Admissions totaled $730,563. Loew Fights for "Nana" Claiming its contract entitles it to "Nana" immediately after its first-run. now in progress at the Music Hall, the Loew circuit is understood to be demanding delivery of the picture fay United Artists as soon as it finishes its Music Hall engagement instead of after playing the scheduled two weeks at the big house and two more weeks at the RKO Center in Radio City. Picture is packing them in.