The Film Daily (1931)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Dai ly N e ws pa p e r Of Mo Hon Pict u res Now Fourteen Years Old VOL. LV NO. 1 *2 Ntwyccr, rciDAy,msr 5, 1931 » 4 I SIN Loew Will Drop Dual Bills if Indies Do Likewise CUT NEGATIVE COSTS40%, SAYS SCHULBERG Foreign Films for Dark Houses Planned by Warners Simon Gould is Placed in Charge of New Activity Reopening of dark houses thn i 'lit the country by inaugurating foreign picture policies is being planned by Warner Bros. Success of the new foreign talker policy at the Warner in New York has resulted in the plan. Simon (Jould, identified with little art theater activities in New York for a number of years, is in charge of the movement. 427 OPERATORS' LOCALS AGREE ON SUMMER REBATE Four hundred and twenty-seven out of 566 projectionists' locals have decided to adopt the William F. Canavan wage rebate plan. The 139 locals voting against the proposal, under which operators working for the six major circuits rebate part of their pay 'luring 10 summer weeks, will not (Continued /n Paae 3) Union Now Picketing All Lee Ochs Theaters Picketing of all houses owned or operated by Lee Ochs has been started by Local 306, M. P. Machine Operators Union, following the injunction granted by Judge John B. Johnson in the Supreme Court, Kings County. Before this injunction was issued, the union had maintained pickets only at the houses recently acquired by Ochs from Fox. The (Continued on Paae 3) 16MM Reproducing Unit Being Developed by W. E. Western Electric is developing a 16 mm. reproducer for use in connection with educational and industrial pictures. It will be ready for marketing next fall, with distribution of the equipment being handled by Electrical Research Products. Rehearsals on Set Take 28' , of Time West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Rehearsals on sets now take up 28 per cent of the time in producing pictures, according to John Cromwell, Paramount director, speaking before the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences. This could be cut to 5 per cent by allowing sufficient rehearsals before actual shooting starts, he said. The greatest weakness in pictures is in the acting, due to insufficient time to prepare, Cromwell declared. Sees Sponsored Film Clients Going Over to Vaudeville Predicting that national advertisers will now turn to vaudeville acts as an advertising medium, Bernard Lichtenberg, vice-president of the Alexander Hamilton Institute and chairman of the executive committee of the Association of National Advertisers, expects that this movement will reopen thousands of dark vaude houses. 80 Per Cent Tax Boost Ordered by Soviet Govt. Moscow — A decree raising all taxes on amusements from 10 to 80 per cent was issued yesterday by the Central Executive Committee. Motion pictures are included in the edict. The increase followed tinboosting of prices of basic commodities on an average of 50 per cent. Musicians May Let Up on Sound War Modification of the American Federation of Musicians' campaign against sound, and the re-election of Joseph N. Weber as president, are expected at the organization's annual convention which begins Monday at the Hotel Patten, Chattanooga. Vacancy caused by the death of VicePresident William Mayer will be filled. It is likely that the federation will reduce its assessment in connection with its publicity and advertising campaign against sound pictures. Indies Blamed for Continuance Of Dual Policy in Loew Houses Loew theater executives will be willing and glad to enter into cornpa* ta with independent exhibitors, in an effort to wipe out double-featuring in the metropolitan district, acting to J. R. Vogel, assistant to I ol. E. A. Schiller, in charge of Loew houses. Out of 67 Loew houses in Greater New York, Long Island. New Jersey and New York state, 1<> are playing double-features from one to four days each week. This policj i i ntirely i\u^ npetitive inde pendent nouses refusing to revert to balanced program." according to Vogel, who acknowledges thai many Loew houses have had the two feature program for years but would now be ready to drop the policy il all theaters within a reasonable dis tance would follow -nit. Para. Abai dons General Studio Cuts, Says Coast Head West Coast Bureau, THE FILM D.-ILY Hollywood — Negative costs must be cut from 20 to 40 per cent to conform with the lessened buying power, said B. P. Schulberg. head Paramount's west coast studios, in an address before the Academy of XL P. Arts and Sciences. General cutting of studio salaries have hi (Continued on Page 3) UNIVERSAL 10 CHANCE FIVE 1931-32 FEATURES Universal is planning to make five changes in its 1931-32 feature program. New pictures to be inserted are now being discussed by Carl Laemmle, Jr., R. H. Cochrane and Phil Reisman. D. J. Mountan To Make 6 Features for Universal Under his deal with Universal, D. J. Mountan will make six of the H action features planned by the company in addition to its regular features for next season. Mountan. who is just back from tl will make the six picture at Univet City. Duke Worne will direct the ud. Pittsburgh Sunday Shows Stopped by Authorities Pittsburgh — After running unmolested for the last four months, apparently with the knowledge and approval of b and county officials, Sunday night »bows in this district have been stopped I authorities. County detective* raided several performances, but made no arrests. The shows have been under benefit auspices.