The Film Daily (1931)

i Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought ar*=*lFDAILY VOL. LVII NC 33 NEWrOPI^, AiCNDAr, NOVEMDEC9, 1931 J CENTS Kendell Creates World's Biggest Acoustic Firm FEWER~SHORT SUBJECTS FO?l932-33 Distributors Considering Probe of Collusion Between Exhibs and Checkers to Be Investigated Believing that they are losing a considerable part of the overage Vioney due from percentage dates because of collusion between dishoViest checkers and exhibitors, at leakt two companies are understood to u^ considering a "checkup on the checr.ers." One executive, who asked that) his name be withhold, declared it i^ difficult for distributors to get {Coutiniied on Pcuic 4) A^[|-CENSOIi$HIP STAND HELPS SALT LAKE MAYOR Salt Lake City — Louis Marcus, former prominent theater operator, who won by a wide margin in his candidacy for Mayor of this city, was aided considerably in his campaign by his stand against censorship. Marcus, who becomes Salt Lake's first Jewish mayor, defeated the present Mayor, John T. Bowman, a Mormon. The Welfare League campaigned against Marcus, charging that he opposed censorship of certain films. This agitation is conceded to have helped instead of hurt Marcus. Action Pictures Sets First Half of Lineup Action Pictures, which plans 24 features, has set release dates so far covering half of che lineup, six of which are completed. Finished pictures are "The Sky Spider," "Chinatown After Dark" and "Any {Contimicd on Page 2) Live Talent Added By Warners on Coast West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Less Stafford and his Radio Band have been signed for the Warner Bros. Hollywood theater. Vaudeville attractions are to be used at the Warner Downtown Hollywood house. Going Utilitarian Minneapolis — Automobiles, diamond rings, radios and the like are out as articles in gift tie-ups among Publix houses, and in their place will be potatoes, canned foods, wearing apparel and fuel, it has been decided by Eddie Ruben, divisional manager. The campaign to obtain necessities for the needy through gift tie-ups with local merchants will be called the "Mother Hubbard Drive." Don Chambers of the Publix out-of-town exploitation forces, heads the campaign. Record Attendance of 2,000 Expected at Academy Banquet Sachson Now Handling Warner Accessories Milton Sachson has been appointed chief of the poster and accessories department attached to the Warner theater circuit, succeeding Arthur J. Siegal, promoted to an executive post in the Cleveland zone of the circuit under C. J. Latta. Sachson {Lontmucd on Page 4) West Coast Bureati, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Approximately 2,000 diners are expected to be crowded into the Sala de Oro at the Biltmoi'e Hotel tomorrow night at the largest banquet in Los Angeles history when the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences holds its annual awards dinner. Details of handling the banquet have been [Continued on Page 4) Navy Dept. Has 243 Equipped Shows Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A total of 243 ships and stations of the Navy Department are now equipped to give motion picture shows, with all of them expected to have sound apparatus by spring. Included are 130 naval vessels and 73 shore stations using standard apparatus, while 40 recruiting stations are equipped with 16 mm. Publix Is Reopening Two Miami Theaters Miami, Fla. — L. J. Boone, formerly manager of the Community and Hippodrome, is now managing the Rex, which Publix has reopened. The circuit also is reopening the Fairfax this week, with Harry Weiss as manager. 2,000 Acoustic Engineers Employed in Kendell Merger Woodin Leaving to Assume New Coast Division Post Harry Woodin, formerly division manager for Fox houses in the metropolitan district, leaves today, via automobile, for the west coast where he will become a division manager for the Fox west coast theaters. As a result of a tie-up between Kendell and Dasseville, Inc., and National Sound Service Bureau, Inc., the largest acoustical engineering institution in the world has been created. The Film Daily learns. Under the amalgamation, 40 district offices are available for carrying on exploi [Continued on Page 4) em Cutting Shorts Programs Due to Invasion of Double Bills A substantial reduction in the number of short subjects to be produced for 1932-33 release is expected owing to a lessened demand, it is indicated by a checkup made by The Film Daily. Although approximately 1,500 were announced for production for current programs, the total for next season will be radically smaller. One important factor in reducing (Continued on Page 4) RRO-PATHnillDIO SHIFT GETS UNDERJAY DEC. 1 West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Physical amalgamation of Radio Pictures and RKO Pathe production forces will probably take place between Dec. 1 and 10, it is announced by David 0. Selznick, Joseph I. Schnitzer and Charles R. Rogers, production chiefs of the newly merged companies, on their return from New York. Such (Continued on Page 4) Harry Green Entering Indie Production Field Harry Green, stage comedian and former Paramount player, plans to produce a talking feature independently in New York, raising capital himself. If the picture clicks he will make more. Green intends to work a novelty stage act in connection with showing of the picture, which will be based on his recent stage play, "The Shyster." Canavan Urges Union Men To Aid During Movie Week William F. Canavan, as president of the I. A. T. S. E. and M. P. O., has written to members recommending that all donate their services at the benefit performances planned during National Motion Picture Week to help relieve the unemployed.