The Film Daily (1931)

THE Wednesday, April 15 lo°i DAILY REPORTS DRASTIC RESULTS FROM DOUBLE FEATURES (.Continued from Page 1) trons believe you are offering them a bargain because you have purchased the goods at a bargain price yourself. It has always been my contention that the secret of success in the show business is a well balanced program. Short subjects play an important part in this respect. "Another drawback of the double feature is the disappointment of the patrons attending the second show. The combined running time of the , double feature makes it impossible for them to see both features. Again they feel they have been duped. In my est.mation the double feature has proven itself a bad bargain all the way around. To continue the practise stamps your house as an emporium of cheap entertainment and eventually puts a de luxe cinema pallace in the grind class." Ohio Stench Bomb Bill Vetoed by Governor (Continued from Page 1) clared that such a law is badly needed, but believed that the act as framed is unconstitutional and makes no exceptions for banks, police and pthers authorized to have tear bombs in their possession. Press Luncheon for Floyd Gibbons Floyd Gibbons, war correspondent and NBC radio personality, whose entry into the movies as the star of an RKO Pathe series titled "Floyd (Gibbons' Supreme Thrills" was announced this week by A. P. Waxman, will be tendered a press lunchbon by RKO Pathe and NBC today at the St. Regis Roof, Fifth Ave. and >5th St. Among those who will atend are Hiram Brown, Frank Buck, H. H. Aylesworth, Grantland Rice, J. H. Turner, S. L. (Roxy) Rothafel, Mark Luescher, Amedee J. Van Beuren, Terry Ramsaye, Maurice Kann, Sime Silverman, Jack Ali:oate, Ned E. Depinet and C. J. icollard. Short Shots from Eastern Studios ~mBy HARRY N. BLAIRi ATURRAY ROTH, director-in-chief at the Warner Vitaphone studios, has made another raid on Broadway and is preapring an announcement of some brand new talent which he unearthed. Jack Haley, popular comedian who has appeared in "Good News," "Follow Thru" and many other Broadway musical successes is the latest Vitaphone recruit. He will appear in a baseball yarn called "Success" which was written Dy Fred Allen. Ben Bloomfield, formerly of Paramount and more recently with Simpie Simon Comedies, has been appointed studio manager of the RKO Pathe studio in Long Island City. Lee Renee, social registerite, lent proper atmosphere to a recent Vitaphone short with a society background . . . Mildred Lasker, tormerly of the Universal exchange, has turned to acting, having appeared in several shorts made at the Warner Vitaphone studio. Walter Strenge has joined the Paramount camera staff. He will be assisted by Frank Landi. Fox Sued Over Lexington Ave. Site Action to foreclose i mechanics' lean on the property in 58th St., between Third and Lexington Aves., pn which the Fox Film planned to Duild a theater, and for $150,000 damages for breach of contract, was begun yesterday in the Supreme Court by Aronberg-Fried Co.. Inc., contractors. Building operations on the proposed theater were suspended a litle over a year ago. Others named n the suit as defendants are Fox (Theaters, Inc.; Roxy Circuit, Inc.; Real Estate Enterprises, Inc., and the exington Ave. and 59th St. Corp. Yiddish House in Paris Paris — A theater that will specialize in Yiddish talking films will soon be opened here. It w'll be the first of its kind in France. Warner Bros. Invade San Antonio Territory (Continued from Page 1) over by Warners is the Trenton, Lynchburg, W. Va. At the Earle, Philadelphia, Warners have decided on a change in policy, and starting Friday, eight vaudeville acts in addition to the picture will be programmed. Western for 31 Publix Houses Boston — Herman Rifkin, president of Hollywood Films Corp., Boston, distributors of Syndicate and Monogram output in the New England territory, has booked "The Mystery Trooper," Syndicate's latest talking serial, into 31 Publix theaters throughout this territory. Carl (Red) Crawford recently joined the staff of Hollywood Films as city salesman. Lower Electric Bills for St. Louis St. Louis — If the new schedule of rates submitted by the Union Electric Light & Power Co. is approved by the state Public Service Commission, local theaters will save more than 25 per cent in their electric light bills. Goldhar and Elliott Honored Detroit — Jack Goldhar and A. M. Elliott, two retired members of the Film Board of Trade, were given a testimonial dinner Monday night at the Book-Cadillac Hotel. Elliott was president at the time of his retirement. Goldhar was appointed district manager for United Artists last month. Joe Penner, Vitaphone's stuttering comic, wowed a Broadway audience in a personal appearance made at the Beacon in conjunction with the showing of "Making Good," his latest short comedy. Paula Schmidt, fresh from Germany, was chosen by Ernst Lubitsch for the role of a Tyrolean girl in "The Smiling Lieutenant," while visiting her sister, Frieda Schmidt, studio manicurist. Thursday night is Paramount night at the Park Central Hotel pool. Maurice Chevalier, having completed his role in "The Smiling Lieutenant," is planning a brief vacation in Atlantic City with Kid Francis, lightweight boxer, a friend of long standing. Yvonne Vallee, headlining at various New York theaters, is no relation to Rudy Vallee. However, this diminutive French comedienne is very closely related to another celebrity, being Mrs. Maurice Chevalier in private life. LACK OF INDIE PRODUCT BRINGING ABOUT CRISIS (Continued from Page 1) aters will be forced to close before summer unless the supply of "wholesome, family pictures" is greatly increased to meet the demand, says Bellman. "Sophisticated and gangster features offered by the larger circuits are not box-office attractions to the smaller independent houses, where the community is one of homelife and not night-life," Bellman told a Film Daily representative yesterday. "The outlet is ready but the production of available independent productions is at a standstill. Wouldbe producers cannot secure financial backing, no matter what they offer as a story or star. The field is wide open. The independent shownmen are prepared to pay reasonable prices for good, but not necessarily exceptional, pictures. Right now is a great chance for production and if it does not come, it's hard to say what will happen." Photophone Equips 2 Hotels RCA Photophone has been installed in the Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix Ariz., and the Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colo.