The Film Daily (1931)

THE rUE NEWSPAPER OF FILM DOM 411 THE NEWS ALL THE TIME VCL. LV NO. .5 NEW rOCr, WECNE/DAY, JANLACy 7, 1931 <5 CENTS Publix Invading Ohio in Big Way — 5 Already Set PATHE^TRANS LUX MERGER IS RKfT PLAN National Confab Called on Allied -M.P.T.O. A. Merger The Mirror — a column of comment ALLIED STATES ASS'N directors have rejected the proposal to merge with the M. P. T. O. A as premature. ... In the first place, insert in your mind the fact that the Allied statement, although it calls the deal off, intimates thai eventually the merger may be brought about providing various situations are corrected. It's impossible to discount the optimism of this note. Apart from this, much of importance has already been achieved through the preliminary conversations held in New York on the proposed merger. Probably for the first time leaders of both exhib organizations have gone into a huddle — without verbal bricks filling the ozone. They've learned that the other fellows are not so bad, as previously suspected. And they've learned, no doubt, that their interests are pretty much alike. The industry owes plenty of thanks to the industry leaders who, by participating in those confabs, helped promote a greater spirit of amity. • PASSAGE of legislations adverse to the American industry is likely in Canada. .. .The situation there should not be dismissed lightly. It guarantees considerable trouble for U. S. distributors and theater operators. Conditions there require a great deal of sympathetic study. ADOPTION of a code of ethics governing non-theatricals is scheduled for the forthcoming confab on that kind of pictures The plan augurs well for the future of this new industry development. Starting with this sort of a policy — and sticking to it — should insure industrials producers of needed customer confidence. Affiliation Deal Is Still Warm Despite Action of Directors With announcement by Abram F. Myers of plans for a national convention of independent exhibitors in Chicago Feb. 10 and 11, indications are that the Allied-M. P. T. O. A. merger project is still warm, despite action of the Allied directors in rejecting the plan at their recent Chi(Continued on Page 8) FILM INDUSTRYCHIEFS GET BEHINDJU.A. WEEK This year's benefit drive for the X. V. A. Club, formerly a benevolent organization for vaudeville artists and recently put on its feet again through the efforts of film industry heads, will have the backing of an executive committee of (Continued on Page 2) 200 "Best Sellers" Kept Off the Screen Boston — Nearly 200 'best sellers' have been kept off the screen as a result of the care exercised by the industry to avoid the objectionable in productions, said Carl E. Milliken of the Hays Office in an address before a Ford Hall Folks gathering. 19,894 Wired Wash. Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Sound installations in theaters throughout the world now total 19,894, according to a survey announced yesterday by the M. P. Division of the Dept. of Commerce. The U. S. figure is given as 12,500, while Europe has 5,401. Courtland Smith Slated To Head Proposed Subsidiary RKO is understood planning to merge its Pathe assets with TransLux in a new subsidiary which will be headed by Courtland Smith. This company will produce shorts under the Pathe trademark, while all features will be released under the RKO (Continued on Page 8) Pathe Minority Stockholders Meet Tomorrow Night For Proxies A meeting of Pathe minority stockholders will be held in New York tomorrow night at 8 o'clock for the purpose of obtaining proxies in their campaign to prevent sale of Pathe to RKO. Papers in the minority stockholders' injunction action will be filed (Continued on Page 8) "Resurrection" at Roxy For Pre-Release Run Universal's "Resurrection", with John Boles and Lupe Velez, has been booked into the Roxy for its New York pre-release run starting Ian. 23. National release is set for Feb. 2. Five Theaters Already Set In Publix Invasion of Ohio New Television System Demonstrated in London London (By Cable)— A new system of television, presented on a two-foot ordinary screen and transmitted over wires, was successfully demonstrated here yesterday by the Gramophone Co. Wireless link can also be used, it is stated, but although the results are promising the apparatus is not yet developed for commercial application. Invasion of Ohio by Publix is under way, with five houses definitely planned. Theaters will be constructed at Mansfield, Middletown, Elyria, Fremont and Steubenville. Ohio at present is open territory. Publix is understood to be interested in two houses, one in Middletown and the other at Hamilton. Publix also has 10 other new (Continued on Page 8) COLUMBIA RELEASING 10 BETWEEN NOW AND FEB. 1 Columbia is speeding up its release schedule between now and Feb. 1, with 10 pictures slated to be put out in that period. The group includes "Ten Cents A Dance," "Dirigible," "The Last Parade," "Desert Vengeance" and six B. I. P. productions, among which are "Atlantic," "Middle Watch," "Young Woodley" and three others. Third Trans-Lux House Will Be on Madison Ave. Another Trans-Lux turnstile theater will be opened shortly on Madison Ave. between 58th and 59th Sts. This makes the third by Trans-Lux in the Metropolitan district. Hugo Riesenfeld Signed By Famous Artists of Air Hugo Riesenfeld has been signed by Famous Artists of the Air to handle all musical activities of the organization, engaged in electrical transcription broadcasting and specializing in exploitation for film companies.