The Film Daily (1930)

THE -SBim DAILY Thursday, January 2, 1930 It's PublixAve. Nozv Portland, Ore. — In honor of Publix Theaters, property owners here have petitioned the Portland City Council to change the name of Main St. and Broadway, where the Publix theater stands, to Publix Ave. The move for a change came about when a complaint was registered that the present name typified an idea of a small town village street. DEPT. OF COMMERCE TO HOLD CONFAB ON FEB. I (.Continued from Page 1) according to E. I. Way, of the motion picture section of the Dept. of Commerce. Among the problems to come up for discussion are: cooperative sales efforts, sound pictures, industrial advertising and production policies. At present there are more than 375 companies in this country using or producing and distributing nontheatrical pictures, either for advertising of educational purposes, according to Way. Civil Service Examinations for Universal Chiefs (Continued from Page 1) by Carl Laemmle. The written test will be sent to each exchange manager and booking chief for completion, after which the papers are to be returned to Lou B. Metzger. Oral examinations then will be conducted at the home office by an examining board composed of Metzger and other high officials of the company. Average of the combined tests will constitute the promotion rating of each man. Bids Taken for Philly House Philadelphia — Bids have been taken for the new 4,000-seat theater Samuel Shapiro is building at Allegheny and Kensington Aves. The estimated cost of the structure is $650,000. The house will be named Midway. Rosenthal at Duluth House Duluth, Minn. — M. Rosenthal has been appointed manager of the Lyceum, a Publix house. Before coming to this city Rosenthal managed theaters for the past IS years in the East where he also conducted a vaudeville booking agency. Warner Revises Plans Ridgewood, N. J. — Construction on new Warner theater to be built here has temporarily been held up due to a revision of plans which are being made by the company's architects. Install Phonofilm at Aberdeen Aberdeen, Miss. — DeForest Phonofilm has been installed at the Temple here, according to Manager Elkin. Hays Organization to Insist on Ivan Abramson Suit Trial (Continued Trade and the Hays office, damages amounting to $1,300,000 are sought. Allegation is made that the "leading producers in this country engaged the services of William H. Hays for the purpose of organizing the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, Inc., and the various Film Boards of Trade. for the unlawful purposes of destroying competition of the independent producers and of monopolizing for their own benefit the exhibition of motion pictures." The plaintiff alleges that members of the Hays organization control "not less than 95 per .cent of all picture production in the United States and supply 22,000 theaters" with product. from Page 1) The Pettijohn statement, replying to the action, in part, follows: "The allegations in the complaint are so ludicrous that notice of the filing of the suit would be taken if it was not for the interesting fact that Senator Smith W. Brookhart appears as trial counsel. In all of his agitations against the orderly conduct of the motion picture industry the Senator has professed that his interest was to encourage wholesome entertainment. "The issue is clean-cut — shall exhibitors of the country be encouraged or required to show pictures of the kind Mr. Abramson produced or shall they not? This association and exhibitors' associations and all the responsible factors of the industry are against it. We welcome the showdown. "Whatever misfortune and cessation of importance has come to Mr. Abramson in the motion picture industry has come entirely through the type of picture which he persistently produced and offered for exhibition." 24 Columbia Features Already Set for Production in 1930 (Continued ing or a chance to begin shooting, and several more are in preparation. Only one, "Mexicali Rose," is ready for release, while "Murder on the Roof" is in the cutting room. Following is the list as it now stands, with additions to be made in the course of the vear: A David Belasco stage drama with a wellknown woman star, directed by Frank R. Capra. Now being adapted. Jack Holt in "Hell's Island." directed by Frank R. Capra. Preparing to go in work. Three specials starring Evelyn Brent. First storv being written. "The Melody Man" (Technicolor sequences), by Herbert Fields. T.orenz Hart and Richard Rodcers; with William Collier, Jr., Alice D.TV. John St. Polis; directed by R. William Neil. Practically completed. "For the Love o'l.il," from Liberty Mag a?ine's cover serial; with Johnnv Arthur. Sallv Star. Lee Kohlmar, John T. Murray and Vivian Oakland; directed by Victor Heerman. In work. "Murder on the Roof." from the mysterv serial in Liberty, with Porothv Revier. Mar"Jiret Livintrston, Raymond Hatton. William V. Monc. Virginia Brown Faire; directed bv <^eorge B. Seitz. In cutting room. from Page 1) "Sweethearts on Parade," based on the popular song. "The Squealer," from the Broadway stage play. "Mexicali Rose," with Barbara Stanwyck. Sam Hardy and Arthur Rankin; directed by Erie C. Kenton. Ready for release. "Vengeance," drama of Belgian Congo. with Jack Holt, Dorothy Revier, Philip Strange; directed by Archie Mayo. Almost finished. "Last of the Lone Wolf," by Louis Joseph Vance. "Borrowed Love," from the play by Bide Dudley. "Ladies Must Play," marriage drama. "Jazz Daughters". "Sisters." starring Molly O'Day and Sally O'Neil. Story in work. "The Black Sheep," melodrama of an exiled youth. Going in work. "Paris Nights," drama with singing and dancing background. "Prince of Diamonds," by Gene Markey Storv in work. "Temptation," social drama. "Private Property," triangle drama. Ready for shooting. "Around the Corner," drama of New York: directed by Karl Brown and A. H. Van Buren. "Personality." with a popular woman star. Bert Naus at Granada; Other Puhlix Chansfes IVert Cnnst Bnreau, THE FTTM DAILY San Francisco — Bert F. Naus, man^£rer of the Rialto, Portland. Ore.. now is manadng the Granada here for Publix. Jack Gault. former otib1'Vitv and advertising director of the Rialto, has been apnointed manager of the house with Max Shane, formerly of the Paramount in Los Angeles, assuming Gault's former duties. Richmond Biiou Opens With W.E. Richmond — Paramount's "The Virsrinian" inaugurated the talker policv at the Bijou which was recentlv equipped with Western Electric apparatus. Georfire Kitzmiller, formerly of Norfolk, is manager. Saturday Change for Caoitol, Va. Richmond— Ivan I. Rosenbaum, manager of the Capitol here announces the bill hereafter will open on Saturdavs instead of Mondays, as previously. Abe Markowitz I.«aves RKO's 'Frisco Exchange We^t Con^. Bureau, THE FIT.M DAILY San Francisco — Abe Markowitz manaeer of the RKO exchanere here has resigned and William G. Wolf formerly of Denver, has replaced him. Loew's Festival Tieuo Loew's Inc. has lined up about 25 Chambers of Commerce to and in celebration of "Loew's January Festival." Tie-ups with Chambers and nierch-THts have been made in Svra(-tise. Rochester, Reading. Davton Fvansville. Jamaica, Bronklvn. Bronx. Jersey Citv. Houston, Memphis and other cities. Talk-A-Phone for Three Houses Clpveland, Tex. — In addition to the Palace here and Rex. Madisonville, the Colonial at Clarksville. Tevns, has been equipped with TalkA-Phone sound apparatus. All three houses opened with sound pictures Christmas Dav. IT'29Ei MAY REflCIU15,000,000 (Continued from Page 1) net income of $2,727,318 represented the best fourth quarter's earnings in the history of the company, according to the Wall St. News, in a statement from Los Angeles credited to Adolph Zukor. The company's earnings for the entire year of 1929 should exceed $15,000,000 which compares with $8,713,063 in 1928 and $8,057,998 for 1927, continued the publication. At this rate earnings of over $15,000,000 would be equal to over $5.65 a share on 2,647,326 shares of common stock outstanding on Sept. 30 last, or $2.65 a share in excess of the current $3 annual dividend rate. Films to be Discussed at Rollins College Talks Winter Park, Fla. — The role that motion pictures play in public opinion is considered to be of such importance by officials of Rollins Institute here that a round table discussion on the subject will take place throughout the week of Jan. 6 when the college will hold its second annual institute of statesmanship. Among those listed to participate in this discussion are: Huston Thompson, formerly with the Federal Trade Commission, as chairman; Carl Milhken, of the Hays organization, Abram F. Myers, head of Allied States Ass'n and Dr. William Sheafe Chase, of the International Reform Federation. In discussing pictures, "The Role of the Movie in Public Opinion" will focus attention on the coming influence of the cinema in public opinion and the question of its control and direction. Rippard Gets Richmond House Richmond — W. H. Rippard of Washington, has completed arrangements to take over the management of the Echo theater at Farmville. The house formerly was owned by the community. Eddie Wright at Harlingen House Harlingen, Tex. — T. B. Noble, district manager of Publix, has appointed Eddie Wright, former manager at Welasco, Tex., manager of the Arcadia, succeeding Jack Pickens. W. E. For Wilmington House Wilmington, Del. — Western Electric sound apparatus has been installed at the Park here, according to Joseph De Terio, manager. Bonner Manager at Midland, Tex. Midland, Tex. — John S. Bonner now is manager of the Yucca which recently opened here. Publix Gets Portland House Portland, Me. — The Strand has been taken over by Publix, according to an announcement. Harry Stone at Fox Butte House Butte, Mont. — Harry Stone is manager of the new Fox house here.