The Film Daily (1934)

THE j^S DAILY Wednesday, Sept. 12, 1934 DISCARD PURITY SEAL, JOHNSTON ADVOCATES (Continued from Page \) be affected by the Legion of Decency drive, Johnston stated. While it may be hurting the smaller towns somewhat, the larger cities are doing even better than normal business, he declared. Johnston said that Monogram sales were 25 per cent above last year, an average he hoped to see maintained. While on the coast he arranged for the next Monogram convention to be held in Hollywood in April. Business conditions are improved throughout the country and particularly in the theater field, Johnston observed. Even in the drought arep theaters are not feeling the effect at the box-office as much as might be expected, he said. Use of the purity seal will cos* independent producers about $25,000 yearly in salaries and adde^ film cost, Johnston stated. I. E Chadwick, who will devote almos' his entire time to functioning for the independents in the same way as Joseph I. Breen acts for the majors, will be paid on a per picture basis. Independents will give the purity seal practice a three-month trial, Johnston said. In talks with exhibitors, Johnston learned that there is general satisfaction with the workings of the grievance and zoning boards, but that in a few locations exhibitorF are complaining of delays in settling zoning schedules for the current season. No Price Boost This Fall Planned by Sparks Circuit (.Continued from Pane 1) New York yesterday, following his return from a trip to Canada and Bermuda. The decision was reached after a test made in 32 Sparks houses, he stated. Sparks opens a new house, the State, at Tallahassee, Sept. 27. The theater, which seats 1,100, replaces the old State which was destroyed by fire. S. Manheimer Lindsley Parsons Alice Lake Maurice Chevalier William Slavens McNutt MONG the PHIL M DALY • • • A RECEPTION was tendered by Mark Ostrer on behalf of his Gaumont-British corporation in the Perroquet Suite of the Waldorf-Astoria it was a sort of coming-out party for the British organization which has started after the American market in a forthright manner the expanding personnel of the American branch of the company was there acting as assistant hosts to Mister Ostrer including Jeffrey Bernerd, George Weeks and Arthur Lee everywhere over the cocktails we heard rumblings of two big pix the company has in the oiling "Chu Chin Chow" and "Jew Suss" both budgeting well over a half million which is Real Dough for British productions ▼ T T • • • FOR THE first time a British outfit is tackling the American Scene with some regard to American customs, traditions and general requirements for this display of intelligence and business acumen the Gaumont-British boys are to be congratulated personally we think they are going to travel far very far and as a Scotsman we sure appreciated the smile of the hat check gal on the way out as she declined our proffered tip with "Thank you sir, it has been TAKEN CARE of." if that ever happens to us at an American cocktail party they'll carry us out all horizontal from the Shock this expanding outfit is lining up New York film vets of experience for the various departments like Reg Wilson in the sales dep't and a,s Mister Ostrer remarked "We are .not looking for any special favors. We expect our product to sell strictly on the Entertainment Merits." a typically British sporting attitude ..Among those noted around the cocktail glasses were Walter Huston, Harold Lloyd, Sir Joseph Duveen, Grace Moore, William H. Chadman, Col. Joseph Hartfield, Sir Gerald Campbell, Conde Nast, Al Boyd, George Weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Field, Howard S. Cullman, Col. Erwin M. House, A. P. Waxman, James Roosevelt, Princess Rospigliosi, W. G. Van Schmus, Irving Lesser, Florence Britten, Margot Graham, Mrs. Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, Graham McNamee, Louis Wiley, Col. Julius Ochs Adler and Ted Husing T T T • • • NEWS FROM the city of fogs, warm beer and crowded pubs known as Lunnon Betty Hamilton stepped into Florence Desmond's part in "Why Not Tonight" and now every talent scout in town is after her but they don't know Universal has an option on the gal Lloyd Knechtel getting plenty pats on the back for his swell background and atmospheric shots in "One More River" Jack Alicoate. he visits enjoying ye ed of this paper, is the busiest guy in town the studios by day, attends the shows at nite hisself immensely before embarking for Paree Y Y T • • • DOINGS OF other celebs in Lunnon Jimmy Barker, the makeup guy, turning down some big jobs to keep his eye on the artists of Korda's "Scarlet Pimpernel" and that's one title no showman dare abbreviate on the marquee Sam Joseph reading every sailing schedule so that he won't miss Binnie Barnes the missus Everybody in town tickled to hear about Rufus LeMaire's new job as Metro's Hollywood casting director Rufus being here In Lunnon town Lucinda Reichenbach and Dave Bader sit ting in the Dorchester Grill talking about good ole days on Broadway, Hollywood and Palma de Mallorca Lil Mes senger, Radio's pop little talent scout, taking in all the first nites an' sleepin' with the rest of the gang thru some of em Carl Laemmle blew into town from Paris and had the newspaper lads down at the Dover Cliffs interviewing him while Joe Weil and Jack Ross looked on T T T • • • BACK ON the RKO Radio studio grounds is Katharine Hepburn making the initial scenes for "The Little Minister with John Beal as her leading man Crackajack reading in the modern style is provided in "Tender r uj i ' ■ « ' ^ritten by Wolfe Kaufman of "Variety" and published by Covici-Friede Gerry Oldak, sec on the Sam Dembow staff, suffered a fracture of the right leg SEE ATTY.-GEN1 IN FIGHT ON MUSIC TAX (Continued from Page 1) made as to whether or not the committee will file its own suit, seeking dissolution of Ascap, or lend its support to the Federal action insti-t tuted against the music association.' Members of the committee were to leave New York just after mid-1 night for Washington. The party was expected to include: Walter Vincent, chairman; Sam Dembow, Jr., Attorney Louis Phillips and Attorney Milton C. Weisman. E<J Kuykendall M. P. T. O. A. presi dent, is scheduled to meet the group in Washington today and return with it to New York in order to attend the Code Authority meeting; tomorrow. Cleveland Chatter Cleveland — Variety Club starts its fall activities Sept. 14 with a clam-: bake. Nat Lefton is chairman ot arrangements. Regular Monday luncheon schedule starts Sept. IT First dance will take place Nov. i at the Statler Hotel. M. A. Lebensburger has been in New York attending the First Di vision branch managers' meeting. G. W. Erdmann is back from the coast. "Chained" set a four-year recordfor straight film policy at Loew'i State. Lew Wasserman had been elected head of the Warner Club. Para, to Film "Jericho" in Texas San Antonio — Paramount wil film "Yonder Lies Jericho," by Sam B. Harrison, in Texas. Story wili soon go into production with Weslej Ruggles as director. THE INDUSTRY'S DATE BOOK Sept. 11-13: Annual convention of Fox Wes| Coast Intermountain theater division, Broad' moor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colo. Sept. 14: Clambake, Golf and Dinner-Dano of Cleveland Variety Club, Cleveland Sept. 14: Cleveland Variety Club Clambake Bratenahl Lake Shore Country Club, Cleve land. Sept 16: North Dakota Allied meeting, Man dan, N. D. Sept. 20: A.M P.A. Revels and Luncheon, Mo tion Picture Club, New York. Sept. 20: "Night of Stars" benefit under aus pices of United Jewish Appeal in aid ol German Jews. Yankee Stadium, New York Nathan Burkan, chairman. Sept. 25-27: Annual convention of Allied In dependent Theater Owners of Wisconsin Hotel Schroeder, Milwaukee. Oct. 1-2: Meeting of G. F. T. A. Independen Thealer Owners Ass'n, Robert Fulton Hotel Atlanta. Oct. 1-3: National Film Carriers convention Statler Hotel, Detroit. Oct. 7-8: Annual convention of M.P.T.O of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessei (Tri-State), Memphis. Oct. 29-Nov. 1: S.M.P E. Fall Meeting Hote Pennsylvania, New York.