The Film Daily (1931)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought ^ The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictu res Now Fourteen Years Old "IFDAILY VCL. LVII NC. J9 NEWrCKI^, THUCSD^r, DECEMBER IC, 1931 5 CENTS WarnerF. N. Merger Case Postponed Until March . S. SENAJE MAY INVUlGATE RKO JnANCING ffcct Of Mellon's Theater Tax Proposal Minimized _Jpposition May Defeat or Reduce Proposed 10% Levy on Tickets Film circles yesterday greeted ithout excitement the recommenation of Secretary of the Treasury .ndrew Mellon, in his report to ongress, for a revival of the 10 er cent tax on theater admissions own to a dime. The proposal, {Continued on Page 7) JONTRIByniSTO FUND NOT COMINGFflST ENOUGH With only a few more contribuons received yesterday by the ILM DAILY RELIEF FUND, the )tal money received to date is far ehind receipts for the first three ays of the drive last year. A few undred dollars will not provide for {Continued on Page 7) ritish Co-op Exhibs Seek Deal With U. S. Distribs Gordon Craig, British film man, ill soon come to America in an ef)rt to persuade American distribu•rs operating in Great Britain to 11 to the exhibitor cooperative hich leading English exhibitors ive organized. Up to the present me American exchanges, taking le same attitude as the Kinema enters' Society, John Maxwell and ;hers engaged in production and stribution, have refused to sell to lis group. Canavan May Quit If Rebate Plan Fails A report in circulation along Broadway yesterday had William F. Canavan, president of the I. A. T. S. E. and M. P. 0. as having threatened to resign owing to failure of stage hands' and operators' locals to approve his 36-week wage rebate plan. According to one story the organization's board of governors, at its meeting yesterday, was considering Canavan's resignation. Efforts to reach officials of the union for comment on the report were unavailing. Warners SayReceiver Suit Is Without Foundation Coast Producers' Ass'n Makes Personnel Changes West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Three changes have been effected in the personnel of the board of directors of the Ass'n of M. P. Producers. Daryl Zanuck has replaced Hal Wallis, Samuel Goldwyn takes the position formerly occupied by Abraham Lehr and Hal Roach succeeds Benjamin Shipman. Bill of complaint filed yesterday in Chancery Court, Wilmington, Del., asking appointment of a receiver for Warner Bros, was declared by the company last night to be entirely without foundation. Although the complainant, Jules Endler of Passaic, N. J., sets forth in his bill that he is the owner of 310 shares of common stock, Warners stated that he is not a stockholder of record, (Continued on Page 5i 15 -Reel Comedy Planned by Sennett Holdovers All Over Besides setting many new gross records, Universal's "Frankenrtein" is on the way to establishing holdover records as well. Up to yesterday there were five cities — Cleveland, Boston, Detroit, Washington and Milwaukee — on the list of holdovers for three weeks. Seven cities already are holdovers for a second week, with a good chance of a third. In Rochester and Providence the picture has moved to a different house for a second week, while in 10 cities the regular half-week booking has been extended to a week or 10 days. IV est Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A 15-reel comedy roadshow feature, the cast of which will include at least nine comedy stars headed by Charles E. Mack of Moran and Mack, will be produced and directed by Mack Sennett. The (Continued on Page 5) Carl Laemmle, Jr., Assigns Five Universal Directors West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — New assignments for five Universal directors have just been made by Carl Laemmle, Jr., as (Continued on Page 5) Dept. of Justice Postpones Warner F. A^. Merger Case Wired Erlanger Houses Roadshowing "Al'ce" "Alice in Wonderland," the Unique Foto Film prodc'ion presented by Hugo Maienthau and which recently played to 6,700 admissions and turned away another 6,000 at a Saturday morning show for children at the Roxy, has been booked by the Erlanger circuit for roadshowing in (.Continued on Page 5) Trial of the Department of Justice anti-trust action against Warner Bros, and First National, has '-■een postponed until March 1 in the 'ederal Court, New York City. The "ase was due to have come up late this year. Postponement is due to the fact that Warner-First National attorneys are occupied with their companies' sound royalty case with Western Electric and Electrical Research Products now in arbitration. Probe of New Stock Plan To be Demanded by Senator Dill Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Immediate investigation by the United States Senate of the refinancing operations of RKO will be demanded by Senator Clarence C. Dill of the State of Washington, he declared yesterday. A resolution calling for the inquiry will be introduced in the Senate in a few days. Dill said. There are several phases of the (Continued on Page 2) WINS OPERATOR FIGHT Birmingham — Ending a controversy which began last summer, the operators' union has come to an agreement with the Birmingham Theatrical Co. whereby the circuit will use three instead of four projectionists in the downtown houses and one man in the neighborhood theaters. Union men resume Dec. 14 on a scale of $58.50 weekly. A dozen houses are involved. Multicolor Lab to Make Black and White Prints West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — All black and white prints for United Artists are to be made by the Multicolor laboratory, it is announced by Howard Hughes. He adds that Mul'icolor has weathered its financial crisis and is operating at a profit. Resume in Mexico Mexico City — All United States distributors have resumed accepting contracts following restoration by the Government of the former tax of eight pesos per kilo on films, replacing the obnoxious 75 pesos per kilo assessment. The exorbitant charge was effected last )uly, but removed upon protest of Mexican exhibitors.