The Film Daily (1931)

THE i^Sl DAILV Tuesday, September 15, 1931 $200,000 AVERAGE COST URGED BY M. P. T. 0. (Coitinued from Page 1) Delaware, in connection with the recent national protest meeting. The contention that quality and high production costs are synonymous is disproved by the numerous expensive pictures that failed to gross as much as many that cost comparatively little, the bulletin states,, and in some instances the heavy outlays are due largely to directors trying to outdo each other in the size of budget they are able to obtain for "super productions." Regarding the producers' argument that "stars are worth the fancy salaries they receive because they bring in the business at the box office — that answer is predicated on the theory that the star alone is responsible for the gross, which is not true. Put a star in three consecutively poor pictures and that star is definitely through as a drawing card. The star is but one of the contributing factors in the success of a production. The star, cast in a poor picture, will flop just as surely as the top-notch picture without any star will succeed and will help to Tnake stars of the leading players appearing in that attraction no matter how little known they are. A picture makes the star as frequently as the star makes the picture." The exhibitor unit declares that the movement initiated at the Astor Hotel meeting will be continued until results are obtained. Texas Atty. General May Probe Restraint (Continued from Page 1) derson, have employed a brother of the attorney general, who is a prominent Texas attorney, to handle certain legal phases in connection with a new purchase of product by these two theaters. COMING & GOING SYLVIA SIDNEY is on her way back to the coast to start work in Pararaount's "Ladies of the Big House." LEONARD KRIM of Mt. Clemens, Mich., and WILLIAM GUERINGER, formerly of the Saenger Circuit in New Orleans, were recent visitors at the Warner home offices. EDWARD L. KLEIN sailed Saturday to establish offices abroad for the handling of independent pictures. ALICE JOYCE arrived yesterday from the coast by way of the Panama Canal. JAMES V. RITCHEY, vice-president for foreign activities of Monogram Pictures, has left for a visit to London, Paris and Berlin to close pending deals on product. EDWIN H. (Buddy) MORRIS, vicepresident of the Music Publishers Holding Corp., subsidiary of Warner Bros., has left on a trip to the Coast. JACK COHN, of Columbia, returned from the coast yesterday. MR. and MRS. JACK MULHALL are in town. Short Shots From Eastern Studios By HARRY N. BLAIR JyTARJORIE BEEBE is scheduled to make her first Vitaphone short this week at the Warner studios in Brooklyn. Terry Carroll, sister of the famous Nancy, gave up her job as stand-in for Tallulah Bankhead in order to accept a role in a forthcoming Broadway stage production. An example of orderly and efficient crowd handling was demonstrated in a remarkable manner when a group of well over 200 extras were required for an elaborate costume ball scene in "The Cheat." One hour after the extras had reported for work they were made-up, costumed and on the set, all ready for work. Frank Heath and Fred Scheld marshalled the crowd, ably assisted by Herb Hayman and Eddie Baldwin. Mary may hav had her little lamb, but Tallulah Bankhead has her portable phonograph. Like Mary's lamb, everywhere that Tallulah goes, the phonograph goes along to provide lively tunes, mostly of a jazz nature. The latest beauty contest winner to make a bid for movie fame via the extra route is Sally Warren, a blonde, who recently won first prize in a contest held in Dlinois. Bill Black, who has been playing supporting roles in numerous pic tures made here for the past few years, will depart for Hollywood shortly, following an operation at the Mayo Bros, clinic in Rochester, Minn. The music staff at Paramount's New York studio, headed by Frank Tours, with Phil Cohen handling the business end, is equal to any occasion. This is proved by their ability to furnish absolutely authentic music for the Cambodian dance staged by George Abbott and Ruth St. Denis for an important scene in "The Cheat." Instruments peculiar to Cambodia were also obtained, at the result of much effort and expense. The Norworths, while on their recent trip abroad, traveled to Spitzbergen, within 400 miles of the North Pole in an effort to keep cool. Arriving there, they bundled up in fur coats for a walk around the ice. Here, they found the heat so intense that all warm clothing had to be shed, proving the statement of Ripley in one of his "Believe It or Not" Vitaphone shorts that "Icebergs are hot and not cold." It seems that the reflection of the sun's rays on the ice produces an abnormal heat. "Southern India," second of E. M. Newman's "Travel Talks," being produced by Warner Bros., was completed this week at the Vitaphone studio. NEWS««OF«»THE«»DAy • Columbus, O. — The Southern, a 1,200 seat downtown house, now being remodeled, will be operated by the newly formed Southern Theater Co., Inc., of which John E. Jones is president and H. H. Palmer secretary. RCA Photophone is being installed. Louisville — Jack Boswell, formerly with the Keith interests, has been appointed manager of the vaudeville house of the Fourth Avenue Amusement Co. in Terre Haute, Ind. Charlotte, N. C. — Publix announces the old Alhambra here is to be practically newly equipped throughout and is to be reopened about Sept. 21 under the name of the State. Oakdale, La. — The Bailey has been taken over by W. C. Garrett, of Haslem, Tex., and the name of the house changed to the Scout. Beatrice Ober will continue as manager. St. Johns, N. B.— Staffs of the local film exchanges held their fifth annual picnic at Loch Lomond last week, all arrangements having been made by Miss Alice L. Fairweather of the Maritime Film Board of Trade. Cleveland — Bryan D. Stoner, MG-M Buffalo booker, has been transferred here as feature booker, succeeding Leo Jones, who has joined the Paul Gusdanovic circuit as theater manager and booker. Milwaukee — Distribution for Ultraphone in the Milwaukee territory and southeastern Wisconsin has been taken over by Charles Stone and Sam Levinsohn. Levinsohn is an officer of the Theater Seating & Equipment Co. Missouri Valley, Neb. — S. V. Brown has announced the formal opening of the Rialto to take place next week. This will be Publix's only competition in this town. Toledo — Van Wyck Benner, district sales manager for RCA Photophone, has had the state of Michigan added to his district. George H. LESS W,MORE VITALITY ADVOCATED BY JACK COHN (Continued from Page 1) beginning to realize that pictures must be made for the people and not for the gratification of an executive with an idealistic idea," said Cohn. " 'Street Scene', 'The Star Witness' and 'Fifty Fathoms Deep' are e.xcellent examples of what the public wants. Columbia fully realizes this condition and our pictures will be of the human-interest type, devoid of extreme 'arty' direction or theme." Continuing Committee Meets Again Thursday (Continued from Page 1) was stated yesterday ' by Walter Vincent, chairman. The M-G-M percentage sales policy will be further discussed and also the matter of score charges. Texas Escapes' Tax Measure Dallas — Motion picture interests of this state are relieved by action of the Governor in calling off the special session of the Legislature which had been announced to devise means of additional taxation. Wiley, formerly in charge of the Michigan territory, has been named as assistant to Benner with headquarters in this city. Detroit — Lillian Goldberg, operator of the Doric, plans to reopen the house with pictures only. Berkeley, Calif. — The Lorin, owned by Kaliski-Harband Theater Co., will be remodelled at a cost of $20,000. Viroqua, Wis. — The Viroqua Temple theater, operated for over 10 years by B. C. Brown, has been taken over by Koppelberger & Stuart. F. L. Koppelberger Is general manager of the La Crosse Theater*/ Co. Milwaukee — F. R. Trottman, for merly manager of the Gem, neighborhood house, has taken over the South Side Palace and reopened it under the name of the Ace. Winona, Minn. — Louis Roesneri was injured in an automobile acci-1 dent recently. His legs were brokeni and he sustained internal injuries. Roesner operates the State and the Winona in partnership with Pubfix. M.P. Bas nding eball L eague Sta of the Clu bs W. L. Pet. Columbia 11 1 917 RKO ... 9 2 818 ERPI .. 10 3 769 Warner 5 4 556 Fox ... .... 5 6 455 >athe . . 3 8 273 hJaticnal Theaters .... 3 11 214 RCA Ph )tophone .... 0 14 000