The Film Daily (1933)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Fifteen Years Old VOL. LXI, NC. \4r NEW y©Cr, WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 18, 1933 > CENTS Fixed Charges Make Lower Admissions Dangerous B. & K. CIRCUIT IMPROVED ITS STATUS IN 1 932 U. S. Industries Going in Heavy for Goodwill Films Gov't Cooperation Is Big Factor in Growing Use of Industrials Production of industrial films is expanding and demand for the exhibition of such pictures is contantly growing with the result that greatly increased activity in this line is expected when general business hits its stride, according to Morton F. Leopold, who has had charge of the film work carried on by the U. S. (.Continued on Page 4) IA -NEB. ALLIED TO OFFER HONEY SAVING MEMBERSHIP Des Moines — A new membership plan, said to enable sufficient savings to exhibitors in the purchase of various materials to more than offset cost of the membership, is understood to be one of the features of the program for the annual convention of Allied Theater Owners of Iowa-Nebraska at the Hotel (Continued on Page 4) Louis Sarecky Is Signed As Columbia Supenisor Went Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Louis Sarecky, who has just finished supervising the W heelerWoolsey comedy, "So This is Africa," has been given a contract by Columbia to supervise a number of productions. Sarecky was formerly with Paramount for seven years and with RKO for four. Zukor Says Loyalty Will Pull Company Through "I count upon the loyalty and enterprise of every one of you men," declares Adolph Zukor in the current issue of Paramount Sales News. "You have never failed me before. I am certain that you will not do so now. The year that lies ahead of us will probably be the most crucial one in our history." He lists "The Island of Lost Souls," "Farewell to Arms," "No Man of Her Own" and "The Sign of the Cross" as money pictures. GROSS FALLS, NET RISES FOX PLANNING TO EXTEND OVER THE RKO CIRCUIT SHORT SUBJECT ACTIVITY Although the RKO and Orpheum circuits played to 400,000 less people last week compared to the corresponding week in 1932, a net profit of several hundred thousand dollars was shown. A weekly saving of $370,000 in operating costs was given as the reason for the net profit showing. Last week's attendance was 2,200,000 as compared to 2,6 10,000 last year. Fox is planning to extend its short subject activities in 1933-34 through distribution of 52 single reels in addition to its usual newsreel issues of two a week. The program will be made up of Magic Carpets, song cartoons and a series compiled from library shots made years ago. Protective Society Fires First Broadside In War Against Domination by Electrics r Show Runs till 4 A.M. Aided by novel lobby exploitation and by boosting from the police force, which it glorifies, "The Big Pay-Off" at the Globe continued its performances until 4 A. M. yesterday. The picture, a Mascot production being nationally released under the title of 'Pride of the Legion," will remain * second week at the Broadway house. A brief radio version will be broadcast over WOR Friday night. Unless the film industry takes immediate action to protect its interests against the future plans of the electrics, producers and exhibitors will be forced to pay $146,000,000 more to patent companies, in addi tion to the impending competition of television in the home which is expected to hit neighborhood houses in particular, it is stated in the first of a seres of bulletins in a nation(Continued on Page 4) Circuits9 High Fixed Charges Make Low Prices Dangerous Because of the high fixed charges under which most circuits have been operating, lowering of admission prices, unless it improves giosses, will create a serious problem necessitating a scaling down of funded debt or other measures, according to a summary of the situation by Dow-Jones, publishers of "Wall ' Street Journal." Taking Paramount as an example, DowJones points out that whereas the ratio of fixed theater charges have been safely figured at 20 per cent of the gross, the estimate for 1932 is about 40 per cent, compared with 30 per cent in 1981, 24 per cent in 1980 and 19 per cent in three preceding years. Inductions of $11,988,000 in theater operating overhead were made by Paramount in the 50 week* to Dec. 10, but receipts declined by $24,827,000 in the same period. January results have 1 n more encouraging and the next few wed. be watched with special interest. Every Executive Keeps a Copy of The Film Daily Year Book Handy— Advt. All Houses Disposed of by B. & K. Leased Back on Better Basis Chicago — By disposing of unprofitable properties and leasing them back on a more favorable basis, the Balaban & Katz circuit ended 1933 with as many houses as it had at the beginning and with its structure improved in other respects, it was stated yesterday by Barney Balaban, secretary and treasurer. Although the circuit operated in the (Continued on Page 4) WOULD CLASSIFY FILMS AS A PUBLIC UTILITY Pittsburgh — A resolution declaring that the film industry should be classified as a public utility and regulated by the Government accordingly has been passed by the board of directors of the National Reform Ass'n at a meeting here. Copies of the resolution have been (Continued on Page 2) Christie Plans Series On Topical Subjects HV.tr Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A series of comedysatires on topical subjects is planned by Al Christie. The first, on Technocracy, will be releaM'd by Educational in the "Vanity Series." Ernest Pagano and Swart Adamson have completed the first draft of the subject. More Warner Stars Wtt Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — tn addition to Bette Davis, Loretta Young. George Brent and Glenda Farrtll. recently added to the Warner star list, new players being groomed by the company for stellar honors now Include Helen Vinson, Sheila Terry, Allen Jenkins. Ruth Donnelly, Pre»fon Foster, Lyle Talbot, Claire Dodd. Aline MacMahon. Eleanor Holm, Patricia Ellis and Dick Powell.