The Film Daily (1931)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Fourteen Years Old V€L. LV NC. 137 NlWyCCr, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1931 5 CENT* Wiggin, Vanderbilt on Fox Board; Dividend Cut 'UNHAPPY' ENDINGS JCORED BY M.P.T.O. Revival of Past Hits Urged By Carl Laemmle, Jr. Trends — in the Industry ByJACKALICOATE Trends are inStraus and teresting. They are the Wind very often ' the guide posts that point the way to Future-Town. For instance, at tin's time, or hereabouts, we find several industry straws Mowing directly up the allej of all three major branches of the industry, to-wit, production, exhibition and distribution. In the case of distribution the trend is somewhat confusing. It the order of the day. with many exhibitors, to confine their bookings to single pictures or small groups. This, naturally, makes for a slowing up of sales during the season that would normally bristle with activity. And here, again, enters the question of economics. Exhibitors looking to the future might well study this problem and its relation to the industry as a whole. Selling a single picture naturally costs more than selling forty. Most distributing concerns are having a hard time to keep out of the red. Any element that tends to increase exhibitor rentals in the future adversely affects the entire industry and. it would seem, is naturally to be avoided. * * * While the preachy The Trend in and esthetic things Production continue to go flop po the trend in production seem, to be straight toward the high-powered or kick story. A monien' of reflection leads one to the conclusion that practically all of the 4ii of the hour bring home r selling points with the gentility ol a twelve-inch siege gun. We hold no brief for many of the gangster pictures on the menu, but we do believe that no small measure of their (Continued on Fane 2) Many Old B. 0. Successes Good for Return Date, Says U Executive Revival of former box-office mhces>es as a means of bolstering business was urged by Carl Laemmle, Jr.. in an interview yesterday. There are vast audiences which have missea these pictures, he declared, and art anxious to see them. Discussing production activities at (Continued on Pane 4) MILDER DEFINITELY SET FOR WARNER POST ABROAD Appointment of Max Milder to the post of managing director of the Warner-First National interests in Kngland, first reported exclusively in Thk Fu.m Daily on May 2-1, was formerly announced yesterday by (Continent en Pane 4) Cecil DeMille May Make Production in England Cecil DeMille is reported to have been signed by British interests to direct a picture in London with an all-English cast for a flat sum of $250,000. In an interview with a FILM DAILY representative yesterday. Cecil DeMille stated that his proposed trip to Europe is merely in the nature of a vacation and that he expects to spend most of his time in England and Russia. J.L. Jacobs, Morgan Walsh Start Real Estate Firm San Francisco — J. Leslie Jacobs, at one time real estate director for Fox West Coast, and Morgan Walsh, former Warner Bros, exchange man (Continucd on Pane 4) JUVENILE CLUB MOVEMENT STARTED BY EDUCATIONAL Basing their move on the widespread success of Mickey Mouse clubs, Educational has formulated plans whereby several Terry Tooners Music and Fun clubs for children will (Continued on Pane 3) Morris D. Frankel Dies; Cincinnati Exhibitor Cincinnati— Morris D. Frankel. for many years in the local exhibition field with his brother, Isaac Frankel, (Continued on Pane 4) Fox Stock Cut to $2.50 Basis; Wiggin, Vanderbilt on Board Depressing Stories Hurt Business, Declare Tri State Exhibitors Little Rock, Ark. — "Unhappy endings" in pictures are having a depressing effect on theater patr and causing a loss in business, it wai declared at 'he semi-annual convention of the Tri-State Theater Owners held here. valenc* ci such story them' -tron^ly (Continued on Paae 3) JOHN ZANFT ENDS DUTIES AS TRANS-LUX VICE-PRES. Formal announcement of the i nation of Major John Zanft as vicepresident of Trans-Lux was made yesterday. First news of Zanft leaving the company was exclusivel; lished in Thk Film Daily on M Willard Patterson Joins Warner Theater Division Willard (i. Patterson of Atlanta, for \ ears a prominent figure in the southern theatrical field, and connected with l'ublix in thai tion. joins the Warner Bros, theater department at the home office in an executive capacity on Monday, it is announced hv Dan Mtchalow. head oi Warner theatl Gang of Five Bandits Holds Up Publix House Marion, Ind. — Theater bandits are operating in bigger units these days. Instead of the usual one, two or three, an aggregation of five descended upon the Paramount here, subdued the manager and two policemen, and made off with $835. This follows an $8,000 stickup several weeks ago. llondajr i* the day for the Bit? Short Subv-. lis lidueotional' s Announcement. of cottrw. A<lvt. [election of ,i board of directors including Albert H. Wiggin of the (base National Hank and Cornelius Vanderbilt, and cutting of the quarterly dividend from $1 to ul< '. cents. placing the stuck on a $_'.M> annual basis against $4 formerly, were tin chief developments at the adjourned annual meeting oi box Film held yesterday. Wiggin su< Charles B. Stuart of Halscy, Stuart ft Co., who withdrew following the ..turned 0* ''«'"• <) Myers To Defend Ad Reel Before Jersey M. P, T. O. After all, there il ONLY <>NK '•> Feature ipecialiit. Educattonars Announce merit «-ll »pp< ■" M' nelay. A.M. Atlantic City— President Abram F. Myers of Allied States Ass n is coming to the New |crscy M. P T 0 annual convention, scheduled for the Traymo/e Hotel, June 18 and 19. to dcfo/id the advertising newsreel proicct in which Allied is interested as a means ol Tho plan evoked much discussion at the New |ers«y unit s meeting in New York on Tuesday. Bit;