The Film Daily (1931)

Intima*ein Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Fourteen Years Old VOL. LV NO. 127 NEWYOCr, SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1931 25 CENTS More Air Time Is Planned for RKO Exploitation NEW GRIEF LOOMS OVER SPONSOREDFILMS See Increase in British Production by U. S. Firms English Film Status Now Declared Sounder Than in Many Years By ERNEST W. FREDMAN Managing Editor, "Daily Film Renter" London — With British-made pictures now established as box-office attractions that frequently beat American pictures costing much more, increased production here by U. S. firms is expected in the near future. Production in England now is on a sound and satisfactory basis, after (Continued on Page 12) OPPOSITION TO AD FILMS WILLPASS^SAYS COFFMAN The present sentiment exhibited in certain quarters against sponsored pictures is only a natural development which has made itself felt regarding all types of advertising, according to Joe W. Coffman, president of Audio Cinema, Inc. Magazines and newspapers orig (Continued on Page 2) Texas Producing Unit Lands on the Rocks Dallas — Bob Curwood Productions Co., organized to produce "The Kid from Mexico" at the Caruth ranch north of here, has gone on the rocks. About 45 Indians employed by the company were left stranded. The unit had been here for more than a month, and it had been reported that other productions might follow if the first was a success. Husky Theater Bandits Walk Away With Safe Atlanta — A safe containing) $250 and valuable insurance papers, carried away by thieves from the Empire on Monday night, has not yet been located. Television Being Forced, Says Franklin Dallas — Nation-wide spread of television within eight months was predicted by H. B. Franklin of Hughes-Franklin Theaters while here this week. Independent television short-wave broadcasters are forcing the big networks into this field immediately, he said. However, Franklin declared, television will not interfere materially with the prosperity of theaters. Metro-Goldwyn First Half Net 33 Per Cent Under Last Year Net profit of Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corp. for the 28 weeks ended March 13 was $4,017,544, before Federal taxes, compared with $6,076,322 in the corresponding period last yeai, or a drop of about 33 per cent, it is shown in the report of David Bernstein, vice-president and treasurer. Gross profit for the period was $7,004,382, against $9,163,203, and operating expenses amounted to $3,441,581. There was miscellaneous income of $454,743. Free Hand for H-F Managers Dallas — Local managers of houses in the Hughes Franklin Theaters circuit will be given a free hand in the operation of their units, and there will be no attempt to run things from the home office, said Harold B. Franklin, head of the new organization, while here for the regional meeting. Franklin told the managers attending the confab that theater management must not be standardized or ritualized. MO Planning More Time For Exploitation Over Air With more than 50 hours weekly in radio exploitation now being utilized by RKO for its Radio Pictures and RKO theater attractions, the policy not only will be continued during the season of 1931-32, but J. H. Turner, assistant to Hiram S. Brown, and Milton Schwartzwald plan to greatly increase it. Whenever practical the National Hour will be utilized to sell RKO-Radio's major attractions, as was done in the case of "Cimarron." RKO's Theater of the Air, broadcast from NBC station WEAF over a network of 44 stations, and the tri weekly RKO Luncheon Club, which takes the air for 15 minutes on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays over WJZ under direction of Mrs. Ruth King Owen, will be called upon from time to time to give Radio Pictures the benefit of their vast coverage. In addition to these periods sponsored by RKO from New York there are 39 individual RKO broadcasts emanating from stations in towns where RKO is represented by a firstrun theater. These programs are arranged by the local RKO managers and are designed to sell the RKO trade name and the current attractions at the theaters. Schools, Stores, Hotels Seen as Troublesome Competition Dropping of sponsored shorts by Paramount Publix and Warner Bros., together with the unfavorable attitude of other big companies toward commercials, has precipitated another possibility that is already causing some theater and circuit executives to worry. This is a move reported under way to greatly extend the (Continued on Page 2) ROBB-ROWLEY LINING UP MORE LOCATIONS IN TEXAS Dallas — Following the conference of Hughes-Franklin Theaters representatives here the past week, Harold Robb and Edward Rowley, division managers in Texas, are leaving in a few days for a survey of the state to line up more locations. Texas and California are to be the main objects of the circuit's expansion. Atlanta May Try Out Daylight Saving Time Atlanta — A trial of daylight saving time in Atlanta is proposed by J. P. Allen, president of the Atlanta Retail Merchants Ass'n, to be followed by a referendum and vote to determine whether it is to be adopted permanently. Brown Nagel Expedition Invades Sultan's Palace Rabat, Morocco — Through the courtesy of the French Government, the Nagel-Brown expedition, making "Romantic Journeys" for Educational, has been granted access to the Pasha's Palace at Marreksch and permission to film the famous dancers there. This is said to be the first time cameras have invaded the beautiful palace.