The Film Daily (1931)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought yCL. LV NO. 125 NEW YCCr, TUlJCSDAy, HAY 2S, 1931 5 CENTS Reis Patent Case is Carried to Supreme Court SEEK GRIFFITH CIRCUIT OUSTER hToKLA. Para. Shifting Some New York Feature Production West The Death — of sponsored shorts — By JACK ALICOATE^ No motion picture Good Bye keynote of recent years Ad Films bas met with as much general satisfaction, both from within and without the industry, as the trend away from screen ad \ ertising or sponsored pictures. With So more chance of mixing than oil and Later, the married life of the sponsored reel and the screen was doomed from the start. That its moving day finds so little economic wreckage in its wake is no doubt due to its comparatively short sojourn. The departure of sponsored films was no doubt hastened by the militant Nick Schenck and his splendid uncompromising attitude toward them. Their passing is mourned by few. * * * All aboard for a Pictures cinematic trip n a u~~„J around the world. From Abroad AU you must have is a few bright dimes and the time to give to Broadway theaters. For instance, at the Central Park we have "Tabu" from the South Seas. At the Little Carnegie, "Le Million" from Gay Paree. South Africa is represented by the colorful "Trader Horn, and Germany offers us "The Beggar's Opera," "Zwei Herzen 1m H Takt" and several others. Those who take their technical cinema seriously might especially visit these foreign productions. There is something to learn from each. * * * "Smiling LieutenPictures ant" is delightfully On-a-String naughty bvt terribly nice . . . Trans-Lux Broadway twins seem to be standing Vm up at every performance . . . Some producer should get original and make a gangster picture . . . Have you had your salary reduced lately.'' . . . "Seed" is the biggest cry of the season . . . Film Golf Tournament looking bigger and better all the while. Eastern Schedule Calls for Two Pictures to Start in June In the face of reports that have been current to the effect that Paramount would either close its New York studio or transfer all its feature activities from this plant to the coast, Jesse L. Lasky yesterday announced that Tallulah Bankhead's (Continued on Page 7) SEVEN MORE THEATERS FOR DICKINSON CIRCUIT Kansas City— The Glen W. Dickinson circuit has obtained control of the Liberty, Malvern, Ark., the Princess, Aurora, Mo., the Lyric, Harrison, Ark., the Rialto, Searcy, Ark. and the Concord, Springdale, Ark. Dickinson also is entering Washington and Liberty, Mo., with two new houses this summer. Existing buildings will be remodeled. Castle Not to Cut Scale Despite Union's Consent Notwithstanding any agreements that may be made between unions and major producers on wage scale reductions, the current salaries being paid to cameramen by Castle Films will be maintained right along, Eugene Castle told THE FILM DAILY yesterday just before leaving for the coast. Cameramen on Castle's roster are getting from $150 to $175 weekly. The policy of maintaining present salaries will apply throughout the Castle organization. Paramount Retires Bonds By Open Market Purchase Paramount yesterday delivered to Chase National Bank, as trustee, $750,000 par value of its 20 year 5% per cent Sinking Fund Gold Bonds dated Aug. 1, 1930, foi cancellation (.Continued on Pane 7) WM. FOX SUES FOR SHARE IN PROFITS OF GRANDEUR A show cause order .returnable July 6 has been signed by Justice Ingraham in the Supreme Court in the suit brought by William Fox for a dissolution of Grandeur, Inc., in (Continued on Page 8) Two More Theaters Set In Loew-African Drive Loew's South African invasion will include two more theaters in ad dition to the house soon to be built in Johannesburg, said Colonel E. A (Continued on Page 8) Receivership Is Asked in Suit Charging Trust Law Violation Oklahoma City — Ouster of the Griffith Amusement Co. from Oklahoma on the grounds that it is operating in violation of the state antitrust laws is sought in a suit filed in the District Court by Clarence Tankersley, county attorney of Pottowa (Continued on Page 8) COLUMBIA'S NEW PRODUCT AIMED AT LONGER RUNS A special group of productions built around star and director personalities, with a view to obtaining longer runs on each picture and extended runs on many, will be made by Columbia next season, it was stated at the opening sessions of the New York sales convention yesterday at the Park Central Hotel. Several changes in sales (Continued on Page 7) DeForest Asks Supreme Court To Review Reis Patent Decision Warner Brooklyn Studios Resume Full Time July 6 Full activities will be resumed at the Warner Bros. Brooklyn studio July 6, following a shutdown of several weeks. The story, cutting and clerical departments are working through the shutdown period. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Petition for n of the Reis patent derision avt in favor of Western Electric by the Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia has been filed with the U. S. Supreme Court by Ge Pictures ' De Forest). H atenl relates to the method oi i sound waves photographicall) n (Continu, *> Waite Made Sales Mgr. For Para. News, Shorts Stanley Waite. formerly w< divisional sales representative for short features, has been appointed sales manager of Paramount and shorts, it was announced terday by S. R. Kent, in charge of distribution. Sales activities of this d( : is being concentrated under for both the eastern a I n di :Ui:u,-d On 50' ( of New York Houses Playing Double Features More than 50 per cent of the houses in Manhattan, Bronx and Kr. are pbyinR double features, it is indicated bv ■ checkup made by THE KIT.M DAILY. Practical all the theaters on the poBcjF -'re small neighborhoods.