The Film Daily (1931)

DAILY Thursday, June 18, 193 TIMELY TOPICS A Digest of Current Opinions c c 1 8 Non-Theatrical Competition Spreading? l'LAINTS arc being heard from several sources regarding unfair non-theatrical opposition; unfair in the sense that the parties sponsoring it are using methods that have a tinge of coercion to them. Educational bodies who present film shows for the students under their charge and let it be understood that unless the pupils attend and pay the small admission fee of ten or fifteen cents that they will be given demerit marks, which will count against them at the end of the term are, we believe, overstepping their authority. While these cases are not great in number there is the possibility of the custom spreading to surrounding places when it becomes known that neighboring places are making money in this way to defray some expenses along other lines. It is the duty of every exhibitor to investigate any case of this nature and find out if the film is furnished gratis by the exchange and if admission is being charged in one way or another. Naturally if they pay for the film, they are presumably entitled to charge admission and the only thing left for the exhibitor to do is to take it up with the parties concerned and try to have the practice abolished on the grounds that it is unfair competition with them, and let the ones in power know that they are heavy taxpayers and that their best interests should be protected against such practice. A little diplomatic action may stop this practice from spreading. — G. L. Southwell, New England Film News Europe has 33,870 motion picture theaters, an increase since 1926 of 11,445. RI4LT • • • RETURN OF Paul Nicholson to the screen recalls to Arch Reeve of Paramount's West Coast publicity, that he was the first stage actor to appear in motion pictures ...he has an important role in "Women Love Once" Nicholson's recollections are interesting he sez the first people to play parts on the screen were truck drivers, waitresses, telephone girls, delivery boys and others who wanted to make a little money on the side judging by some recent product, a few of these folks are still with us however, we'll let that pass Nicholson was credited with being the first stage actor drafted into pix by the late Wallace McCutcheon the latter is touted to have directed, supervised, written, photographed and produced the first motion picture shown in regular theaters. * * * * • • • THE FIRST pictures that tried to tell a dramatic story were made around 1896, at which time Nicholson made his debut dramatic motion picture history is written from the time of "The Kiss Scene" the first box-office hit which starred John C. Rice and May Irwin these first pictures were filmed in a blazing sun on the roof of the HackettCarhart building at 13th Street and Broadway the pictures consisted of one scene about 500 feet long they took five minutes to film McCutcheon turned out one subject each day his company was known as the American Muta scope and Biograph * * * * • • • THEY USED these first movies as "chasers" in vaude houses they were so hard on the eyes and flickered so badly that no one had the bravery to sit through them twice so by starting to run the reel the second time, the vaude manager cleared his house effectively for his continuous performance today the idea is still good with some pictures * * * * • • • SAM M. MOSCOW, Southern Division manager of Columbia, was honored by Governor L. G. Hardman last week the governor congratulated Sam on the spendid showing the southern division made at the recent national convention of the company and mebbe Ted Toddy, the demon exploiteer, and the rest of the boys in the southern sector ain t proud * * * * • • • THE HIGHEST priced jury that ever heard a case was drawn by Fox to try Elissa Landi in "Wicked" it included Oscar Apfel, Tom McGuire, Edward Eberle, Joe (Fox) Brown, John Elliott and Claire MacDowell and wotta swell chance a Hollerword star has with a jury of rival actors like that We now can give you dear readers the sequel to that classic story of the assistant director who spent his vacation walking up and down the front of the studio, yelling "No, No! POSITIVELY NO!" the goop went back to the lot after vacashe and absentmindedly said "No" and now he's on a Permanent Vacation • • • AND CAX you picture Maurice Chevalier and Primo Camera lunching at Sardi's Smiles and Smuscles Jeanne Greene is being considered for a role in Howard Hughes' "Scarface" De Dio and his animal circus, which has worked in various picture studios, including Paramount, have arrived in New York after playing in Fanchon & Marco shows Joe Rivkin has developed a well trained case of hay fever.. it arrives annually on Mother's Day and departs on Father's Day Ned Marin's first production for Paramount, "The Girl Habit." starring Charlie Ruggles, is getting a strong play right through the bookings * * * * • • • ADD SIMILES As primitively brutal as a pansy biting his lip as appropriate as a columnist addressing the graduating class at a girl's seminary It's not the space filled but the pace spilled that makes a coiumnist and the same to you, and many of them EXPLOITETTES A Clearing House for Tabloid Exploitation Ideas €) the = Attractive Ballyhoo For "Strangers May Kiss" A NOVEL exploitation campaign which included the distributing of candy kisses was used by Arthur Catlin, man ager of the Loew's Stillmaa Cleveland, Ohio, to put over "Strangers May Kiss." Catlin arranged to have four attractive young ladies, attired in black velvet page costumes with black tarns and white ribbon sashes across chest and back reading "Strangers May Kiss," distribute bags of candy on downtown streets. The bags contained copy reading "Kisses For Every One With a Pair of Red Lips, — Enjoy These Sweet Kisses, then see Norma Shearer in 'Strangers May Kiss' at Loew's Stillman." — Stillman, Cleveland Played Adults On "Skippy" « « « » » » OLAYING "Skippy" two day at the Publix-Palace, Corsicana, Tex., Manager Milton Overman did 80 per cent over normal business. Overman handled the picture as an adult attraction and laid off the kid angle as much as possible with the exception of a Parent Teachers Association tie-up. Special tickets were issued to students whereby they were permitted to see a matinee showing upon payment of ten cents. — Palace, Corsicana, Tex. . Many Happy Returns Best wishes ind congratulations are extended by THI FILM DAILY to the following mem bers of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays: June 18 Bruce Gallup Edmund Breese Blanche Sweet Richard Dix Jeanette MacDonald Dorothy Farnum Fred L. Porter Duke Martin Louis Alter