The Film Daily (1930)

THE FUE MWM \l LI. OF FILM DOM AIL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME VOL. LIII No. 1 Tuesday, July 1, 1930 Price 5 Cents Lowering of Score Charges Looms As Certainty 5-5-5J4AKES HEADWAY ON CONTRACT DeForest Wins One of Four Points in Patent Suit Flops of 1930 — musicals take the lead ^z^By JACK ALICOATE^^^ IF YOU WANT our opinion, ind nobody up to this minute lias asked for it, on why the ibundant crop of Spring filmusfcals took almost a collective jrody and thereby practically to i filmcan committed box-office hari-kari, we would softly rebut that perhaps it was their own darn fault and not to be laid at the door of those who did or did not pay good money to give them the see and hear. A jreat majority of these screen musicals that came in like a lion and went out like a lamb were beautiful, but Oh! so dumb. We believe the musical talkie still has a chance regardless of the fact that it is now as welcome as the measles in most directions. "Sunny Side Up" was a smash because it combined story and action with honest-to-goodness comedy and bright tunes that one could remember. Filmusicals are not hopeless, (jiven original, intelligent and sympathetic treatment, they should come back with a bang. The Ten Best No. We know what you mean and it's not that at all. We are talking about the Ten Best Directors of 1929-30 as voted on by over 300 of the foremost editors, photoplay critics and reviewers in the country, and combining fan and trade publications as well as magazines and papers. The result of this poll has grown to be a national newsevent for release each July. It will (.Continued on Page 2) Court Holds Ries Patent is Infringed — Western Electric Appeals Wilmington, Del. — General Talking Pictures has emerged a partial victor in its sound patent infringement suit against the Stanley Co. of America, winning one out of four points, it was indicated in a memo (Continued on Page 6) six okuTcttTtheaters PASS TO WARNER CONTROL Oklahoma City — Purchase by Warner Bros, of the six Midwest Enterprises houses here from John Sinopoulo and Tom H. Boland, as reported in THE FILM DAILY of June 4, has been completed. The string includes the Orpheum, Em(Continued on Page 6) Dark Plot Toronto — An unknown advertiser in Canadian papers, using a box number, is warning independent exhibitors not to sell or affiliate with any theater chain until they receive a new proposition. COLUMBIA ROAD SHOWS ARE INCREASED TO 10 Columbia has increased its roadshow productions on the 1930-31 schedule from six to 10. These features, known as Extended Run Giants, will include "Arizona," "Dirigible," "Virtue's Bed," "Rain or Shine," "Tol'able David," "Charley'5 Aunt," "The Miracle Woman," "The Criminal Code," "Fifty Fathom: (.Continued on Page 6) No Par. Product for R-K-0 Following Fox, Loew Deal National Publicity Group Opens Office at Tec-Art West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Associated Publicists, comprised of Bill Henry, Bill Wire, Milton Watt and others, has opened offices at the Tec-Art Studios to specialize in national exploitation and publicity. As a result of a deal just made bj Paramount to sell its product to Fo> and Loew, the booking of Paramoun product in R-K-O houses will b< eliminated for the first time in nin years. This is regarded as significan in view of the close working arrangement now existing between Para mount, Fox and Metro. Score Charge Relief Seen As An Early Possibility Relief for small theaters by way of a reduction in score charges is understood to be planned by at least one major company. Under the plan, which is to be effected shortly, houses paying on an average of $25 for their features will be assessed a score charge of approximately $3.75, instead of an average of $6.50 as at present. Other important companies are considered likely to take similar steps in cutting score charges. A downward readjustment of charges was strongly urged by the M.P.T.O. (Continued on Page 6) Several Contract Points Agreed Upon — Knotty Problems Today Atlantic City — Under the able guidance of Sidney R. Kent, and with the wind blowing alternately hot and cold, the good ship Conference 5-55-5-5, otherwise known as the 5-5-5 confab, reconvened to a good start here yesterday and, though it narrowly missed the rocks several times, wound up the day well on the road to its destination. Leaders of the fray included Kent and Gabe Hess for the distributors; Abram Myers and W. A. Steffes for Allied; M. A. Lightman and Jack Miller for the M.P.T.O.A.; and Sam (Continued on Page 8) TIFFANY WILUXPAND COAST STUDIO PROPERTY Construction of a combination studio and office building, approximating 320x240, is planned by Tiffany on its Coast lot which will be augmented by acquisition of more land, Phil Goldstone, general production manager, said yesterday. After attending the company's annual sales convention in Chicago, Goldstone has been in New York buying story ma it out n ed on Page 8) New Canadian Company Making Talker Series Trenton, Ont. — Activity has been ■.Mimed at the Ontario Government film studio lure by a new enterprise, the Canadian Motion Picture Co., of which Len Humphries is director. The firm plans a series of talkers. 'Frisco's 3AWeek San Francisco — Something new in local film houses has been started at the Casino, which has gone to a policy of three changes a week and reduced its top from 40 cents to 25 cents.