The Film Daily (1931)

y Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Fourteen Years Old VOL. LVNC. 122 NEW yCRIt, HCNDAy, MAY 25, 1931 ■5 CENTS S chine Enterprises Building Up New Theater Circuit U. A. CIRCUIT STAYIN([OUT OF INDJlf FIELD Straight Ad Films Spurred By Sponsored Shorts Ban Nat'l Advertisers Sign $60,000 Contracts for 11 Subjects Following closely on Paramount's announcement of the dropping of their sponsored short program, contracts for straight advertising films took on new life and, according to L. E. Franseen, of Alexander Films, seven national advertisers signed con (Continued on Page 6) NEW UNIVERSAL TO BE FINISHED BY APRIL With one feature completed and three more in production, indications are that Universale 1931-32 program will be completed by next April, Carl Laemmle, Jr., told The Film Daily upon his arrival from the Coast Saturday. "East of Borneo" has been finished and the pictures in production are: "Heaven on Earth," "Lasca of {Continued on Page 8) De Mille Says Talkers Give More Art Freedom Development of the talking pictures during the past two years has freed the hands of the creative irtist and is offering a freer rather than a more restricted art form, and has "insured a real drama of the people {Continued on Page 7) Night Baseball Worries West Coast Exhibitors West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Night baseball, with a "ladies free" policy, promises to spread along this coast to a degree that will cause particular worry to exhibitors. The nocturnal games have already been started at Wrig ley Field here, as well as by the Pa cine Coast League in Sacramento and at the new Seals stadium in San Francisco, and games will start through the northwest in June. Latin America Only 1 7% Wired West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Out of 5,300 theaters in Latin America, only about 900 have been wired to date, according to a paper prepared by C. J. North and N. D. Golden of M. P. Division, Department of Commerce, and to be read by Golden today at the convention of the Society of M. P. Engineers. The sound houses, however, represent nearly all of the larger first-runs, providing a big portion of the available revenue, says the report, which also adds that the wiring of the silents is going ahead at good speed. Color Symposium Will Open S.M.P.E. Meet in Hollywood Says B.O Wanted Personalities Latin-America in West Coast Bureau^ THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — English language pictures, if accompanied by Spanish titles adequately and understanding^ done still find favor in the chief {Continued on Page 7) West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Color is slated to take up most of the time on the opening day's schedule of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers' convention which is scheduled to get under way this morning at the Roosevelt Hotel. Nearly a dozen papers are listed in (Continued on Page 7) Wm. Fox Back in 30 Days W liam Fox is definitely set to actively return to the film industry, it is authoritatively learned by The Film Daily. He will make a formal announcement of his new plans within 30 days. Saul Rogers Vacates Roxy Theater Offices Offices of Saul E. Rogers in the Roxy theater building have been vacated, The Film Daily learns. Although Rogers' contract with Fox as (Continued on Page 8) New Circuit Being Organized By Schine Enterprises in Ohio E. M. Loew Wins Order For Delivery of Films Boston — A temporary order has been issued by the Superior Court in equity requiring Paramount to deliver pictures to E. M. Eoew's Theaters, Inc.. to maintain the status (Continued on Page 8) Piqua, O. — Schine Enterprises have purchased the Ohio, Opera House and Bijou and have appointed A. V. DcShetler. formerly manager of the Capitol, Cleveland, in charge as general manager, Schine Enterprises have also purchased the Fremont and Strand at Fremont, and the Hip (Continued on Page 8) 18 Theaters Now Under Construction, Says Jos. Schenck United Artists theater circuit now being developed will not go into territory occupied by independent houses, said Joseph Schenck Saturday, on his return to New York from the coast. Houses planned average 900 seats. Eighteen are now under construction. N. J. PROJECTION PLAN IS PROPOSED BY ALLIED Allied States Ass'n is planning to step into the protection situation in New Jersey and try to develop a plan more agreeable to its members in Sidney Samuelson's M.P.T.O. This matter will be discussed at the M.P. T.O. of New Jersey annual convention to be held at the Traymore, Atlantic City, June 18 and 19. In addition to protection, new season programs will be analyzed. A delegation of Allied leaders will attend the confab, at which Samuelson will preside. Joseph A. Davis Enters Exhibition Field in Conn. Southington, Conn. — Joseph A. Davis, formerly manager of the Warner Bros, exchange in New Haven, and Abraham M. Schuman, former owner of several Hartford houses, (Continued on Page 8) Attendance Increases Following Price Cuts Minneapolis — Since lower admission prices went into effect about two weeks ago, the State, Lyric and Aster have experienced a generous increase in attendance, a survey shows. On the other hand the Grand, another Publix house playing second-runs, also did big business with 'A Connecticut Yankee" at no reduction in scale.