The Film Daily (1931)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pi ctures Now Fourteen Years Old ►'CL. LV NO. 1C9 NEW yCPI^, SUNDAY, HAY 1C, 1931 2<5 CENTS $15,000,000 Outlay for Eastern Studio Schedules INFORMATIVE' ADJttPY IS PUBLIX AIM Films Strip Crime of Glory, Police Authorities Hold National Spokesman Says Gangster Pictures Show Up Racket Life "We believe that no preacher, no ourt, no police official could deliver more effective lecture to influence :ic youth of the nation against a rhninal career than the stories told l many of these crime films which trip the gangster of his mock-hero;m and show crime in all its sordidess." This is a. statement made in the (Continued on Paqe 12) rSINNERS" AT ROXY BUCKS STAGE VERSION 'Young Sinners," Fox production, pened Friday at the Roxy under nusual conditions involving a dayI lid-date showing with the stage verSon. playing a few blocks away at le New Yorker. The latter is uprating under admissions of $1 top tainst the Roxy's $1.50 top. Openlg day's receipts at the Roxy were bout $7,000 below normal. Sees Films Becoming Great Social Force Cold realism in films as in other jrms of art, the truth about the auses of unemployment and the ■Cturizing of other great social problems, will form the bulk of feature lotion picture presentations within lie next 10 years, according to Wil>n A. Barrett, executive secretary (Continued on Page 12) Malicious Distortion ? The Hays organization on Friday went to bat with New York daily newspapers in connection with statements published by three of them misquoting Francis ("Two Gun") Crowley, alleged killer, to the effect that bumping off cops is "the new sensation of the films." A photographic copy of the statement, included in a letter allegedly written by Crowley and his gun moll, indicated that the sentence actually read: "It's a new sensation of its own." Para. Spending $8,000,000 On European Studio Output Southeastern Exhibitors Meet June 15 in Atlanta Atlanta — Annual convention of the Southeastern! Theater Owners will be held here June 15. President Xat Williams will be in charge of the session. Paris — Approximately $8,000,000 will be spent by Paramount Films of Furope on European language talkers during the current fiscal year. which started March 1, says Robert T. Kane, general manager of European production. Number of pic (Continucd on Pane 9) Trophy for Baseball Champs Being Awarded by Film Daily Temples of Learning Rapidly Going Talker Installing of sound equipment in :hools, colleges and other temples if learning is going forward at a ipid gait, according to RCA Photohone. Recent contracts include the Fniversity of Cincinnati; St. Law;ence University, Canton, N. Y., and andusky, C, High School. A fitting trophy will be awarded by Tut-: Film Daily to the winning team in the M. P. Athletic Ass'n Baseball League, which opens its 1931 season tomorrow (Sunday). This prize is in addition to those being given by Joe Cicato of the Harrington Press, {Continued on Page 9) Gaumont Co. Acquires 12 Monogram Dramas ( ,,'inni' mt Company, Ltd., of I don, has acquired the United Kingdom rights to 12 dramas to be produced as part of the Monogram Pictures program for 1931-32. Theaters To Inject More Story Data in Newspaper Space Advertising copy containing actual information as to the story of features exploited, rather than copy filled with "claims" of what the public re-action will be to the pictures, will be the policy of all Publix houses hereafter, according to A. M. Botsford. Declaring that "claim" copy gives advertisements an egotis(Continucd on Page 12) VAUDEVILLEATIIOLLYWOOD PLANNED BY GOTTESMAN Alfred Gottesman is negotiating to lease the Hollywood from Warner Bros., and if the deal goes through, this will l>e the seventh theater under his operation. He has a vaudeville policy in mind for the house. Gottesman lately purchased the Rex and the building embracing it (Continued on Paqe 9) Eastern Studio Production Involves $15,000,000 Outlay More than $15,000,000 will be spent mi east coast production schedules during the coming season, according to present plans of producers here. Paramount, with a program ol ; least 16 features sel for its New York studio plus well over loo short subjects, Will expend ch.se to $10,000,000 on production alone. With the reopening of (lie Warner \ itaphone studios in July, an exten sive schedule aggregating an expenditure .-I close to $3,000,000 will get under way. These figures do not lake in the independent activities, of which there is considerable at pres,\ilh indications pointing to a decided increase al least to the ex tent of an additional $2,000,000. Warner Bros. Listing 43,619 More Shares In connection with the purchase by Warner Pros, of the class A stock of Skouras Pros. Enterprises and the St. Louis Amusement Co., application lias been made by Warner listing of 43,619 additional shai this company's common stock. Dual-Features Becoming Sore Spot in England London — Growth of the double feature practice in the British Isles is causing American distributors, pecially those handling short subjects, considerable apprehension. According to an estimate made yesterday, between 40 and 50 per cent of British theaters are playing tv feature bills. The policy is steadily encroaching on the de luxe field.