The Film Daily (1931)

THE junday, June 28, 1931 ■%t! DAILV III FILM BOARDS OUT IN CONSOLIDATION PLAN (Continued from Pane 1) tituted as an economic movement iitated principally because of itlawing of the arbitration and redit systems by court decree. in will handle the territory overed by the New Haven offio veil as it own district. Cincinnati vill be disbanded with Cleveland landling its work. The Buffalo iranch will assume duties of the \lbanv office. Closing of the Des Uoines office will transfer its funcions to the Omaha board. Chicago vill extend its jurisdiction to cover he closed Indianapolis office. St. Louis will handle the Kansas City activities and Seattle do likewise for Portland. Salt Lake City will take the Butte territory. Under the plan each disbanding Film Board will name one of itmembers to function a lai-on officer between local exchanges and exhibitors and the board which is taking over its duties. Discontinuance of the nine offices means saving through iffice. stenographic and secretarial Charles C. Pettijohn, head ot the Film Boards is now at the Coast after visiting a number of boards en route there from New York. Pathe-Journal Becomes Sole Reel in France par;s — Bv taking over its only competitor, the Eclair-Journal from M. Jourjon, the Pathe-Journal of the Patha-Xatan group becomes the sole newsreel in France. Burr Signs Writer Charles Gordon Saxton. formerly feature writer on the New \ ork "World," has been signed by Burr, to write dialogue for the new series of Educational-Torchy comedies. Jerry Ziegmond to Denver Kansas City — Jerry Ziegmond, manager of the Royal here, ha transferred to the managership of the Paramount in Denver. "Maciste in Hell" A picture worth consideration by any exhibitor, especially in localities with foreign settlements, is this Pittaluga production now being shown at the Warner on Broadway. It is something oft the beaten path — spectacular, mystifying dramatic, and expounding a symbolic morality without the least suggestion of being a preachment. It's a silent, with English titles and synchronized score as well as some sound, and the story, which involves romance as well as a fight between the devils legions and the virtuous souls on earth, is direct and dramatically absorbing. The scenes in Hades are fascinating while the Italian countryside views have their charm Though produced about two years ago in Itlay and containing some out of date touches in its technique, the production as a whole has merit. CILLETTE AlON mi 1*1 Ul<> rf/i ratOL IIIILMIIVLY • • • JUST TO prove that one concern in this film biz has not been stymied by this Depression Bogey, the boys over at Columbia are stepping out with a Happiness Drive Joe Brandt, after reading this kolyum religiously every morn for months, found himself feeling Happy over practically nothing it amazed him he analyzed the matter he sez to hisself "This goop Phil doesn't give me any news no tips on the stock market his 'inside dope' on the film biz is a lotta hooey he hasn't added a nickel to my bankroll just a lotta words strung together but you go on reading his junk, hoping against hope that some day you're gonna Get Somethin' that makes you Happy now, if he can cheer folks up with Phrases why can't I do it with Pictures?" so Joe got busy, and inaugurated the Happiness Drive for exhibs, from July 6 to August 15. • • • OF COURSE Columbia has to get somethin' out of it so the motto is: "Two or more Columbia productions on each program." during the five weeks a series of Happiness ads will appear in the trade papers golly, that make us feel Happy before the drive starts Columbia is gonna sell pictures and we are gonna gel sonic ads now if that doesn't make the exhibs Happy, then they have no gratitude but lookit what they get besides all this special folders will be sent to exhibs giving 'em a raft of New Idea on how to bring the cash customers in on the Happiness Thought novel cutouts on the short features will be issued during the Drive special prices on accessories during the summer months and a beautifully lithographed one-sheet lettered in blue against a silver background will be furnished gratis to exhibs playing the Columbia shorts one of the best we've ever seen well. Toe, here's Happiness to you and all your Gang if the rest of the film biz can get your Optimistic Slant, we'll all start goin' places and Doin' Things. • • • C. C. BURR, indie producer, has been searching high and low for a new femme lead for his new "Torchy" comedies with the young ccmic, Ray Cooke so he notified feminine America in the public prints that he wanted a nice unsophisticated type the first response was a photograph from a cullud gal in Alabam then C. C. realized his campaign was going to be a big success for in her accompanying letter she sez "Ah ain't commitin' mahself about tha' there unsofistikated. But ah has tried most everythin' else, and if youall don't overdo it, ah'm game for that, too." so you can realize that C. C. Burr is feeling very, very happy, along with Joe Brandt C. C. has got a real break at last • * * * • • • LUPE VELEZ claims she is the first yes-woman she gets so tired of explaining to interviewers why she isn't married, or even engaged, that now she just admits Every thing Eddie Luddy, directing Benny Rubin in "lulus Si7 zer," complimented the comic alter the first take on his mar velous lip technique with Lena Malena "That was gr*at. Benny!" sez Eddie "Where did you learn such marvelous lip technique?" Benny smiled modestly and sez "Wot? Ain't I played a trombone on the stage for 13 yea * » * ♦ • • • LESTER C. BRADY, editor of "Film Fun," is getting some more jokes for his rag he is on his honeymoon Rene Carroll, Sardi's hat check gal, had a film gent check his hat on her head, and she sez that called for a forfeit ..as she held out her hand diffidently and he sez "Sure!" and kissed her right on the mush ya can't fool a film man, Rene Two gypsy fortune-tellers have established themselves in a store near 50th Street and Seventh Avenoo two East Side exhibs approached and one .sez: "Let's go in and get gypped." and the otner sez "Nozzir, I patronize my old pals" — as he walked across to 729 Seventh Avenoo NEW WISCONSIN UNIT JOINS ALLIED ASSOCIATION (Continued fnirn Page J) unit, which ' the H Wisconsin, in ■ ndrnt cxhit. ils,. , national dir Allied. Charles E. Kurtzman Suporvisintf the R<>\\ Charlei I-.. Kurtzman, field rcpreDg l)( Luxe hm: ior Fox, Iia i super M-e the Roxy, which has been under the operating guidance of Harry Arthur, general man.:. the aters. Martha I.. Wilchinski, has rent and Albert siargoUe*, becomes director ng and publicity, assisted by Edgar Waite. U Makes Three-Reeler In Summerville Comedy A three-reel comedy, with Slim Summerville, has been completed by Universal. If the reaction able, it is understood the company will make additional comedies of the same length. Allied Enlarging Membership Drive Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Following a conference of North Carolina exhibitors and Allied leaders here in com: with the proposed membership drive, Abram F. Myers announces that a mass meeting will be called soon to discuss plans tor enlarging the scope of the North Carolina unit to include other stati ly South Carolina and Virginia. British Industrial Films London — British Industrial Films. Ltd., with John Maxwell and A. E Bundy as dirt I expected to start activity this summer. The pany will produce propaganda talkowing the growth of leading British industl « « « » » » Many Happy Returns Best wishes ind congratulations are estended by THE FILM DAILY to the following memberi of the industry, who are celebratinc their birthdays: June 27-2S Ernest Torrence Alberta Vaughn E. H. Calvert Robert Ellis H M. Walker Lois Wilson Polly Moran Louis King