The Film Daily (1931)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought I The Daily Newspaper O f Moti on Pi ctures Now Fourteen Years Old VCL. LV NO. 67 NEW YORK, SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 1931 13 CENTS BritishAmerican Producing Co. Launched on Coast BACHMAN AND HOFFMAN FORMING COMPANY Mercy Circuit in Northwest Goes to HughesFranklin Latest Acquisitions Make H-F Sixth Largest Group in U. S. West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Acquisition ot 18 'more theaters, including the Mercy Circuit of 12 houses in the Pacific Northwest, is announced by HughesFranklin Theaters, these deals giving the new group approximately 100 houses to date and making it the sixth largest circuit in America. More than $1,000,000 was involved in swinging the deal. The Mercy houses include: Liberty, (Continued on Page 12) PUBLIX MGRS. GET ORDERS AGAINST INDIE AD SHORTS All Publix theater managers have been notified by A. M. Botsford that advertising, commercial and sponisored films must not be shown without official approval of the home office. The order was necessitated on account of insistent solicitation by independent producers of advertising reels, in an effort to place their sponsored shorts in Publix houses. Tom Terriss Buys Off Van Beuren Contract West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Tom Terriss, known as the Vagabond Director, has bought off his contract with Van Beuren and is considering a world tour for the purpose of making a new Series of travel shorts in color. Terriss made 26 Vagabond Adventures last year for Van Beuren and had started on this year's series. Softies! London — The British Board of Motion Picture Censors has ruled that a picture of the "Little Red Riding Hood" story has "a terrifying effect on neurotic children." Getting the Family Slant Rome — Under the regulations that will govern the new board of motion picture censorship just set up by the Council of Ministers, a mother of a family will be required to sit with the censorship body. With her will be a representative of the fascist government, a member of the Ministry and a judge of the lower court. 82 SHORTS FOR TIFFANY Monogram Capitalization Increased to $75,000 Monogram Pictures Corp., headed by W. Ray Johnston, has increased its capitalization from 100 shares, no par, to $75,000. Eighty-two shorts are set for the Tiffany 1931-32 program, said Grant L. Cook Friday. Sixty of these will be single reels. The program will include Chimp, Voice of Hollywood and the Coach Howard Jones football series. Bell & Howell Establishing Engineering Division on Coast West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — In announcing acquisition of a site with a 240-ft. frontage on La Brea Ave. for the erection of a Class A building to house both professional and amateur activities, President J. H. McNabb of the Bell & Howell Co. states that it is the company's plan to establish an en (Continued on Page 12) Gaumont Circuit Loses Chaplin Film Booking London — Unwillingness of the Gaumont-British circuit to book Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights" under the terms offered has resulted in a deal being made with another cir cuit Jack Buchanan, Harry Edwards Head BritishAmerican Unit A. E. Penrod Saved; Frissell Still Missing A. E. Penrod. cameraman who has been missing in the Viking explosion off Newfoundland, was one of three Americans saved, according to a radio message received Friday. Varick Frissell, head of the expedition, is still missing. West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — B. & E., Limited, a British-American producing company, has been formed with Jack Buchanan as president and Harry Edwards as vice-president in charge of production. "Pagan Lady" will be the initial picture, made at the Tec Art Studios, and Walter Camp, president of Inspiration Pictures, will be associated with Edwards in the production. Columbia will distribute this feature. New Producing-Distribut ing Unit Planning 18 Features First Year A production and distribution organization is being formed by J. G. Bachman and M. H. Hoffman, who have just arrived in New York in connection with the project. Eighteen features are scheduled for the initial program covering the 1931-32 season. So far no short subjects are planned. Product will be handled through independent exchanges throughout the country under an arrangement whereby Bachman and Hoffman will be (Continued on Page 12) SIX-DAY WEEK MEASURE DEAD UNTIL NEXT YEAR Albany — The Assembly Committee on Labor and Industries has sent to the Rules Committee the Sargent bill amending the labor law to provide one day of rest in seven for motion picture operators. This means that the bill is probably dead for this year. Pathe 1931 Comedy Lineup All Finished by March 31 West Coast Bureau. THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — RKO Pathe's two-reel comedy department, under H. F. Lalley, is speeding up activity with a view of completing the 1930-31 program of shorts not later than March 31. Four two-reelers are now in work, leaving only three more to wind up the schedule. Frisked An underworld story without a gun in it has been bought by Radio Pictures. Tentative title is "The Dove." And it was written by James Whittaker — a former Chicago newspaperman.