The Film Daily (1931)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Fourteen Years Old VCL. LV NO. 71 NEW y©Ett, TULCSDAy, MARCH 26, 1931 5 CENTS Sunday Shows in Ohio Approved By Senate 23 to 1 CANADIAN DISTRIBrFIGHT 20*~QUOTA . . m Overselling Blamed for Mass of Unplayed Contracts The Spring — and other clean thoughts By JACK A LI CO ATE. Ifs Time Probably nothing is so distasteJo Clean Up fui to patrons as a shabby theater. And nothing is quite so cheap as soap, water, polish, paint and brooms. Check the lights on your marquee. Wash them regularly and they will be twice as brilliant. A little touching up and your lobby frames will shine like new. Give an inquiring double O to seats, carpets, drapes, booth and theater front. All can stand a little spring cleaning. You may go wrong occasionally picking a show, but you'll never miss by keeping your house constantly spick, span, clean and bright. * * * t We have re Important cently learned a Is the Screen little more about screens and their intimate relation to first-class projection. Screens must have constant and intelligent attention. Dust is their arch enemy and must be kept away for dust not only causes a grey and hazy picture but muffles sound and increases current cost as well. Don't blame the print if your screen is worn out. Get a new one and let it have your constant and intelligent attention. Patrons are unanimous in liking brilliant projection. * * * D ni And while on the He Clean subject let us sug Minded, Too gest as the part of wisdom, regardless of some thought to the contrary, the strict policy of keeping clean your program, advertising and exploitation contact matter. This does not mean freeing it from guts, but it does mean divorcing it from smut. In the entire history of the show business there was not even one individual to make either a permanent name or fortune by trading in dirt and suggestiveness. High Pressure Salesmen Held Largely Responsible for Evil Memphis — Stigmatizing over-selling as a great industry evil, President M. A. Lightman of the M. P. T. O. A., in an exclusive interview with The Film Daily yesterday, attacked high-pressure salesmanship methods which, he said, forces an exhibitor {Continued on Page 14) DOUBLE LANGUAGE BILL TO GET WARNER TRYOUT German dialogue versions of Warner Bros, productions will follow the revival next week of "The Jazz Singer" at the Warner theater, according to the present plans. It is also (Continued on Page 10) Two Candidates Tied For Wampus Presidency West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Another vote will have to be taken on April 7 to decide the new president of Wampas, following this week's results of 31 votes each for John Leroy Johnston and Joseph Steele. Phil Gersdorf has been elected first vice-president; Paul Snell, second vice-president, Lincoln Quarberg, secretary, and Jack Hill, treasurer. Slay Rumor Both Paramount and Fox yesterday stamped as cockeyed stories circulated in New York to the effect that Sidney R. Kent would become president and general manager of Fox. "Bunk" was the way the rumor was described. Fox refinancing amounting to $85,000,000 has been arranged, it was definitely learned. Formal annoucement will be made within a few days. Number of Good British Pictures Declared Insufficient Toronto — Declaring he did not believe there are sufficient British pictures of merit to make a 20 per cent English quota possible, Col. J. A. Cooper, president of the Motion Picture Distributors of Canada says a stiff fight will be waged against the Ontario government's plan to set such (Continued on Page 14) 25 Amkino Releases for U. S. Twenty-five Russian features will be distributed in this country during 1931 by Amkino, said President L. I. Monosson yesterday. In addition his company will bring '^over eight sound shorts, including musical, educational and cartoon subjects. The features, silent, dialogue and synchronized, will include the following tentative titles: "The Soil Thirsts," "Road Into Life," "The Quiet Don," "Jim Shuane,' "The Son of the Land," "Mother," "Rubikon" and "Mircho." Screen News Company Formed in Montreal Montreal — Associated Screen News, Ltd., with B. E. Norrish as managing director, has been formed here. Ohio Legislature Approves Performances on Sundays PHIL GLEICHMAN DIES IN MIAMI BEACH, FLA. Miami Beach, Fla. — Phil Gleichniaii, who recently gave up his post as district manager of Warner theaters in Ohio to go South for the benefit of his health, died here yesterday. Gleichman at one time was a prominent exhibitor. Columbus — Sunday movies in Ohio are now permitted on Sunday afternoon and evening, following adoption by the Senate yesterday of the Marshall bill by a vote of 23 to 1. The measure prohibits exhibition Sunday morning and by inference permits afternoon and evening shows. A large number of houses throughout the state already have been giving Sunday shows, but local opposition has been a sore spot in many communities. K1N0GRAM AD NEWSREEL IN NEW ALLIED CONTRACT A newly-drafted contract whereby exhibs identified with Allied units agree to use the Kinograms n< reel containing ;>• >een prerared by tlu R. Hanson Corp. The contract former! in which theaters i ive ly play commercial shorts produced by Hanson, will not be 1 in con _ iienoicti u«.«ii. It may be brought into use at a later date provided Hanson decides to make advertising films. This policy is contingent upon developments in the advertising and industrial picture field. LAEMMLE NAMES LESSER EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE Wtrt Coast Bmeau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Carl Laeinmle has engaged Sol Lesser as an executive associate. In this new post, which was especially created for him, Lesser will act as Laemmle's personal representative and relieve him i f various details.