The Film Daily (1931)

THE -iX^i*^ DAILY Friday, November 6, 1931 HAYS HAS PLAN TO AVOID CENSORABLEFIIM STORIES (Cmitinued jrom Page 1) further strengthen the Hays production code as it relates to material apt to arouse censorship advocates. Hays leaves New York for the Coast today. He vi^ill be away from his office for two weeks. Four Memphis Theaters Reduce Admission Prices Memphis — Admission prices have been reduced in the four "Your Theaters" operated by Memphis Theater & Equipment Co., of which Charles F. Boyd is managing director. The group includes the Ritz, Memphis, Capitol and Normal, which have cut from 25 cents to 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for kids. Two other "Your" houses, the Cameo and Chelsea, already were on a 10-15c policy. Start Nationwide Drive For Federal Film Control (Continued from Page 1) abroad, is the object of a crusade launched yesterday by the Twentieth Century Club. The club's committee of 15 will seek to enlist national public opinion on the issue. Big 4 Exchange Line-up With recently signed contracts going into effect currently in the Western territory, Big 4 has completed its national exchange line-up, and the 36 branches have already embarked upon a November-December Playdate Drive. The present exchange system is as follows: Capital Film Exchange, New York; Gold Medal Film Philadelphia; Gold Medal Film, Washington; Century Film, Boston; Century Film, New Haven; Standard Film Exchanges, Buffalo; Standard Film Exchanges, Albany; Fischer Film Exchange, Cleveland; Fischer Film Exchange, Cincinnati; Alexander Film Service, Pittsburgh; Excellent Pictures, Detroit; B. N. Judell, Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Milwaukee; Celebrated Film Exchange, Minneapolis; Midwest Film Distributors, Omaha; Midwest Film Distributors, Kansas City; Consolidated Productions, Denver and Salt Lake City; Sheffield Exchange System, Seattle and Portland; Cooperative Film Exchange, San Francisco and Los Angeles; All Star Features Distributors, San Francisco and Los Angeles; Allied Film Exchanges, Dallas and Oklahoma City; Home State Film Co., Little Rock; Arthur C. Bromberg, Atlanta, Charlotte, Birmingham, Tampa, and New Orleans; Excellent Film Exchange, Toronto, and Filmophone Renters, London, England. Rents Holding Reunion Sidney R. Kent and his brother, Larry Kent, leave New York immediately for San Francisco to attend the golden wedding anniversary of their parents. "S. R." departs Sunday and his brother today via plane. A LITTLE from "LOTS" Bv RALPH iriLK HOLLYWOOD A NN HARDING is enthusiastic about the story of her current production, "Prestige," because it is unlike any story she has made for the screen. It has a unique development and provides her with one of the best roles she has ever undertaken. The story was written by Tay Garnett, who is directing the picture, and Rollo Lloyd. Our Passing Show: Geneva Mitchell posing for publicity stills at the Mack Sennett studios; Arthur Tavares motoring to Culver City; Wallace MacDonald busy at Multicolor. Carmel Myers is the first star to appear on the "Hollywood Gossip" program over Station KHJ. The program will be given for a period of 26 weeks. * * ♦ Gilbert Roland and Bonnie Miller won the mixed doubles in the annual Herbert Brenon tonryiament at Malibu by defeating Ralph Ince and Elizabeth Dieke in the finals and Buddy De Sylva and Caroline Babcock in the semi-finals. Victor Schertzinger, Elizabeth Meehan, Cliff Hurd, Florence Sutton, Mrs. Oliver H. P. Garrett and Everett H. Seaver won consolation prizes. Prizes were presented by Brenon, Warner Baxter, Ronald ' Colman, William Powell, Carole Lombard, Leo Carrillo, Dolores Del Rio, Carl Laemmle, Sr., Clive Brook, Richard Barthelmess, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Hxjland and Milton Cohen. * * * Miguel C. Torres, young Mexican producer, has just released through Talking Picture Epics a film of the Mayan ruins in Yucatan, Mexico. Among the ruins are the Pyi'amid of the Sun in Tectihuacan, the Temple of the Thousand Serpents, and the immense Olympic Stadium, where the Mayan athletes staged their contests in the fifteenth century. The Torres picture is called "Zitari" and it brings to the screen Medea de Movarry, who portrays the Indian princess in the legend, which is enacted at the scene of the ruins. * * * George Archainbaud has discovered that "the bridge member who is absent gets the most slams." * * * "All-American Drawback" replaces "Great American Drawback" as the title of Mack Sennett's new football travesty, now in production under the direction of Del Lord. Harry Gribbon essays the title role, with a comedy cast including Vernon Dent, Lincoln Steadman and Hugh Saxon. Geneva Mitche'l and Dorothy Granger provide the feminine lure. Rowland Brown's forthcoming Universal picture, "The Coppers," will launch two new names on film careers. One is Rolelle LaRue, whom the director discovered in a High School play, and another is Frances Bach, dancer. * * * Victor Schertzinger, Radio Pictures director and composer, has received a tempting offer to direct two pictures for a producing organization in Mexico. He also has been asked to write thematic and incidental music for the stories. Schertzinger is trying to steal 10 weeks from the calendar in order to accept. » * * Al Aborn is assisting Alfred E. Green in the direction of "Union Depot". Among players recently added to the cast are Nat Carr, Douglas Cosgrove and Ben Taggart. Chicago — Fred Franke, national auditor for Universal, left Chicago a few days ago for a business trip to San Antonio. He will return to Chicago shortly. M. L. Coppelman, U. district booker with headquarters in Chicago, is making his first trip thru his district. "Bing"_ Miller, assistant central booker, is at home convalescing from an operation on an infected eye. Gloucester — Gloucester is to have a new theater to replace the present Strand. The opening date has been set for about July 1 of next year. The new house will be named the Paramount and will most likely be under the management of Charles B. Craig, present manager of the Strand. Kansas City — 0. D. Woodward is here to confer on plans for reopening the Orpheum with a dramatic stock company. Melbane, N. C— The New Majestic opened recently. C. J. Ross, wellknown theater man of this section, is the manager. Minneapolis^ — John Reisman and Dave Wells, Publix managers in Minneapolis, have switched places, the former going to the Aster and the latter to the Grand. Newberg, W. Va. — Crystel has been sold by Mrs. W. B. Cockrell to V. C. Howell. House is open Saturdays. Clarksdale, Miss. — Sunday shows here will be discontinued Dec. 27. Theaters have been operating for several months with the proceeds going to charity, although Mississippi has a Sunday blue law. Ministers claim that operating the shows for charity is a violation of the law. Pins LAONCHES ACTIVITY IN VIRGINIA THEATER EIELD (Continued from Page 1) Pitts interests. Pitts is listed as president of the Pitts Tally-Ho The | ater, Inc., Fredericksburg, chartered as a $50,000 corporation. He is also head of Pitts Yoi*k Theater, Inc., ( Fredericksburg, with a capital of ' $15,000. T. G. Gaddy has sold the J Wonderland of West Point, to Pitts. It is also announced that the Weiss, Emporia, and the Wilbur, Orange, have been sold to the Pitts interests. Educational Units Working at Capacity West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — With five new comedies in production, Educational's producing units are working at ca t pacity. At the Educational studios a new and as yet untitled Mermaid comedy is in work under the direction of William Goodrich. C. C. Burr is completing the third Torchy comedy, "Torchy Turns the Trick", with a cast of 79. Al Christie is personally directing "For the Love of Fanny" at the Metropolitan studios, and Mack Sennett has two comedies in production — the tentatively ^ titled Andy Clyde comedy, "Let's Go Fishing", and "All-American Drawback" directed by Del Lord. Big Civic Ceremonies For W.-B. Philly Opening Philadelphia — With plans completed for ceremonies including a parade, airplane stunts, a "Prosperity Dinner" by the Chamber of Commerce and other civic participation, Warner Bros, will reopen the Boyd today coincident with the premiere of "Five Star Final" at the Stanley. The parade and street decorations are expected to draw some 100,000 to the vicinity of the Boyd and Stanley. "City Lights" .30 Weeks in Paris Paris — Charlie Chaplin in "City Lights" has closed a 30 weeks' run at the Folies Marigny and is now going into the Aubert Palace on the Boulevard for another run. Total gross at the Marigny was 7,000,000 francs. VI \j Fox Gets Sacramento House Sacramento — Negotiations have ^ been completed whereby the Fox West Coast Theaters takes over active control of the Alhambra, $1, , 000,000 local playhouse. Nakken Suit Afifects Warners Warner Bros, own an interest approximating 50 per cent of the Nakken Patents Corp. which has filed a ^ patent infringement suit at Wilmington against Universal Sound Systems, Inc. of Delaware. No Tiffany Rift Tiffany's distribution agreement with Educational runs for five years, dating from last March, said William Saal yesterday, in answer to a report that Tiffany was dissatisfied with the current situation.