The Film Daily (1930)

THE THE NEWSPAPER OF FILM DOM All THE NEWS ALL THE TIME VOL. LIII No. 29 Monday, August 4, 1930 Price 5 Cents First National Studios To Rest For Eight Weeks TALKERS^ SPEED QUOTA MONEY COLLECTION Half of Fox Lineup To Be Finished by November The Mirror — a column of comment COMEDY is to get a bigger play on the new production schedules, says word from the Coast. Producers feel that this will be a good way to spread cheer, stir up optimism and hasten the revival of general prosperity. Producers are figuring right. * * * EARNINGS of Paramount and R-K-0 for the first six months of 1930, though affected by the slump in the second quarter, which is traditionally the worst, make pleasant reading when compared with the nets in the same period of 1929. Fan interest and attendance should be sharply stimulated very soon when the new season gets under way with its fresh crop of crisp attractions. That ought to jack up the profits for the finaj months so that the year's total will be entirely satisfactory. * * * OVERHEAD SLASHING, elimination of waste and general trimming of sails is now proceeding with systematic carefulness in the industry. The savings, however, seem to be confined largely to the distribution and exhibition departments. It is still the opinion of many that infinitely greater savings can be realized by going after the expenses in the production end. + * * HI', BOOKING DEALS are becoming the order of the day. Close on the heels of the record contracts '1 by Pox with Publix and Warners comes the selling of Warner product to Fox and Loew; Universal product to R-K-O; United Artists product to Warner, Publix and Loew — ai:d other deals still pending. Independent exhibs are looking on in amazement and asking each other where will the little fellow come out. The answer to it all will be made clear soon. It isn't as bad as it looks. 12 Pictures Completed — Studios Running Four Months Ahead West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Half of the Fox lineup of 48 pictures on the 1930-31 production program are expected to be finished by the first of November, according to Winfield Sheehan. The studios right now are running about four months ahead of schedule, Sheehan states, and 12 of the new season's pictures are just about completed. ROCKY MOUNTAIN EXHIBS APPROVEjONING PLAN Denver — Results of the work of the local zoning committee for this territory were adopted at the annual convention of the Rocky Mountain M.P.T.O. Ass'n. W. A. Steffes attended and talked on the recent 5-5-5 confab. Oscar Hanson of Tiffany spoke on the subject of friendly relations between exhibitor and producer. Harry Huffman was re-elected president; Mrs. Lee More, first vice president; Tom Murphy, second vice president; Gus Kohn, treasurer; Emmett Thurmon, general counsel. New board of directors includes L. J. Finske, Ed Schulte, W. B. Cook and A. J. Hamilton. Photoplay Courses West Coast Bur. THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Several important colleges are expected to institute courses in photoplay appreciation next year, according to the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences. Sixty students are now enrolled in such a course at the University of Iowa, where sound equipment has been installed and scenes from various films are being supplied by the Academy. TWO TECHNICAL AWARDS PLANNED BY ACADEMY West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Awards for achievements in sound recording and engineering are planned by the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences. {Continued on Pape 2) First National Product Booked by Butterfield First National has signed with W. S. Butterfield for the full showing of its new season product in the Michigan circuit, it is announced by Ned E. Dcpinet, following a visit of A. W. Smith, Jr., to Detroit for negotiation of the final details. Eight Weeks9 Suspension Ordered at F. N. Studios Discovered ! The latest is a radio booth in a studio. One has been installed in a sound stage on the RKO lot so that Amos 'n' Andy can do their two daily broadcasts while making their first talkie. Now we know why they call 'em Radio Pictures. West Coast Bureau. THE h 1 1 U DAILY Hollywood ■ — With three pictures to be made, First National will partly suspend operations for eight weeks beginning Sept. 2 During the lull the studios will make 18 foreign dialogue talkers. Starting in November production for the new year will continue throughout 52 weeks. Jack L. Warner said this differs from the past policy of completing the season's schedule as rapidly as possible. ) Returns Now Figured on OneYear Basis — Runs Cut One-Third Talkers have given considerable impetus to distributors in the collection of picture quota money.' Distributing firms are now figuring quota returns on a one-year basis, a$ compared with two years during the presound era. Under the current system intentions are to make 85 per cent of talkers quotas within six months following their release and (Continued on Page 2) lARE BEING MODERNIZED Paying particular attention to fire prevention, Paramount is modernizing its exchanges throughout the country. Eight buildings are now under construction and work will soon start on one more, with six additional new exchanges likely in the near future. Buildings have been completed recently in Montreal, Des Moines and Charlotte and an extension has been added to the Salt Lake City exchange. Under construction are structures at Butte, Portland, Ore., Chicago, New Haven, Columbus, Cleveland, Albany and St. Louis. Paramount has had but one exchange fire since 1923, this being at Charlotte. Now It's Horseshoes Horseshoe pitching is the latest bidder in the competition for the film theater's trade. De luxe horseshoe pitching fields are beginning to spring in various parts. But exhibs are hopeful. They feel that folks soon will be so oppressed with midget golf, night baseball, horseshoe pitching, etc., that they'll storm the theaters for relief.