The Film Daily (1931)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Fourteen Years Old VOL. LV NO. 121 NEWyOCr, $LNDAy,MAy24, 1931 25 CENTS Department for New Talent Established by M-G-M AD FILMBAN BY INDUSTRY MAY BE GENERAL More Music, Less Talk (or New Paramount Shorts 36 One-Reel Musicals on Coming Season's Program Because of the predominance of dialogue in feature productions, Paramount's short subject program for next season has been altered to include a greater number of musicals and fewer with talk, it is announced by Larry Kent, head of the company's short subject production. The (Continued on Paric 3) fAX INCREASE MAY CLOSE IRISH RENTING OFFICES London (By Cable) — Closing of lm renting offices in the Irish Free State and the collapse of the film inlustry in that territory is threatened s a result of a 200 per cent increase n the tax on sound films. The new low falls after serious difficulties aleady created by the Irish censor, /ho in the last several weeks has reacted about 80 per cent of the films ubmitted. Television Audience Talks With Speakers Schenectady, N. Y. — Conversation y way of television was carried on etween an audience and speakers at le studio, in a demonstration for (Continued on Pane 2) Fi rst Texas Talker May Lead to Others Dallas — "The Kid from Mexico," ;ing produced by Bob Curwood roductions Co. at the Caruth ranch st north of here, will probably be e first of a series of Texas-made lkers, according to Clint Sheppard, olin County rancher and one of the takers of the project. Curwood is e former Universal western player. Iilt Hinkle also appears in the pici A Miracle— Clergy Favor Sunday Shows! A new twist in the Sunday show situation has occurred at Patchogue, L. I. When reports concerning a closed Sunday movement got into circulation there, clergymen went to Joe Seider of Prudential Theaters and reassured him that they are satisfied with the manner in which he operates and that they will oppose any efforts to force him to close on the Sabbath. Final Defeat of N. C. Tax Bill Ends Toughest Fight of Year $100,000 Theater Loss In Westfield, N. J., Fire Westfield, N. J. — Fire of unknown origin destroyed the Rialto here on Friday, causing a loss estimated at $100,000. The fire for a time threatened the whole business block. Charlotte, N. C. — Sighs of relief came from film industry circles Friday with the passage in the Senate and the House of the 15-cent advalorem tax bill, which replaces the heavy theater tax previously proposed, thereby ending the toughest (Continued on Page 3) Bombers Admit Being Paid Louisville — August Lewis and H. L. Currie, head of an independent motion picture machine operators' union, are held on a $2,000 bond on a charge of pouring out a stench bomb fluid in Loew's theater. Lewis confessed that he had been paid to pour out three bottles of the fluid and had intended to go on to the Strand or the Alamo. Personnel Cuts Made: In Warner Divisions Drastic cuts in the personnel of Brunswick and Xational Radio Advertising, Inc., divisions of Warner Bros., are bein^ made. The Film Daily learns. Retrenchment in the Brunswick and National Radio units, (Continued on Paae 2') M-G-M Creates Talent School Headed by Hinsdell, Piazza New Film Combine Probe Hinted in Canadian House Toronto— Possibility of an alleged motion picture combine in Canada being investigated by a Federal Parliamentary Committee at the present s^sinn of the Dominion Parliament was indicated, when at a meeting of the special House of Commons I "in (Continued on Paqe 2) IIVjI Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILV Hollywood — A department for developing new acting talent has been created by M-G-M. It will be headed In ( )liver Hinsdell, director of the Dallas Little Theater and one of the most prominent figures in the little theater field. Talent will be coached through presentation ol Stage plays and skits at the studio. Ben Piazzi is to be associated with Hinsdell. End of Sponsored Shorts Seen Hastened by Para. Action Possibility of a general discontinuance of sponsored shorts was indicated Friday in the lively reaction to The Film Daily's exclusive story on Paramount deciding to drop commercial films. Sam E. Morris of Warner Bros., the only other major producer now turning out such pic(Contiuued on Paae 3) $3,000,000 A YEAR SAVED UNDER PARAMOUNT CUTS Under the 5 per cent to 25 per cent salary cuts announced to employes by Adolph Zukor, Paramount is expected to save from $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 annually. The reductions, which apply to executives under contract who have voluntarily accepted the cut and are to remain in effect (Continued on Page 3) Max Milder May Get W. B. Post in England Warner Bros, are considering Max Milder, eastern sales manager, as sucicssor to Arthur Clavering, who recently left the organization after having been in charge of sales activities in tlie British Isles. In event such a transfer is effected, it is understood that Andy Smith, southern sales manager, will succeed Milder. Para. Ad Film Story Stirs Keen Interest Relative importance of the story published Friday exclusively in THE FILM DAILY, to the effect that Paramount is discontinuing sponsored shorts, was forcefully demonstrated in the numerous telephone and personal calls received by this publication. Inquiries came in a stream all day long.