The Film Daily (1934)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Sixteen Years Old VCL. LXVI. NO. 93 NEW yCCrA, fCIDAV, OCTOBER 19, 1934 <S CENTS A. C. Blumenthal Grilled at Fox Theaters Hearing WM. FOX TO SUE ALL MAM AND INDIE COMPANIES H. M. Warner Plans Film Work for College Students Long Runs . . . and other good signs = By DON CARLE GILLETTE — IF YOU read your tradepapers you will ' have enjoyed seeing the unusual number of long runs and new b. o. records being set up by the early crop of the new season's films. Outstanding performers like "Barretts of Wimpole Street," "One Night of Love," "Jud^e Priest," "Mrs. Wiggs," "Count of Monte Cristo," "Chained" and a few others have piled up runs of from four to seven weeks — and some of the runs aren't over yet. This is only the advance guard of what promises to be one of the best product seasons in years. — • — The enterprise and daring attempt of Fox Movietone in sending a plane out to sea to bring in newsreels of the King Alexander assassination was just a sample opening gun in the genuine war for supremacy that has been started by the newsreel outfits. You'll see some real competition now — and lots more interesting reels. — • — Reverberations in the industry at large indicate that it didn't take long for the country to become Gaumont-British conscious once the G-B generators were set in motion. G-B has gone at things here in big-time style and is getting big-time attention. For this is show business and showmanship brings the results. Millions of Shirley Temple's fans are ', hoping that this captivating little artist will I soon get a better break from the Hollyl wood writers. The fans can't understand why such a i sweet child should be written into so many I crook stories. It doesn't look natural or plausible — and parent-moviegoers don't like the idea at all. Incidentally, lots of fans are eagerly I awaiting RKO's "Gridiron Flash" bringing ; back Eddie Quillan. This Quillan lad has always represented I clean family entertainment, and, in com I pany with Joe E. Brown, Bill Haines, Harold I Lloyd, Jack Oakie and others of this type, ' can do a lot to bring pop and mom as well |; as the kids to the theater. Tells N. Y. U. Film Class That Colleges Can Do Much for Pictures Harry M. Warner, president of Warner Bros., told the students in the motion picture course of the New York University School of Education last night that he had under consideration a plan to take one student from every college and give him a year in motion picture work to see what they can do if given this opportunity. He said that he believed that much could be done (Continued on Page 4) BRITISH FILM EARNINGS 15% OVER LAST YEAR Net earnings of established British film companies this year are between 10 and 15 per cent better than ast year, declares Maurice S. Myers, Tendon stock broker and (Continued on Page 9) Para. District Managers Will Meet in Hot Springs Paramount district managers will attend their annual Fall meeting at the Homestead Hotel, Hot Springs, Va., Oct. 26-28, Neil Agnew, gen (Continued on Page 9) Roxy Gets 18 Pictures The Roxy has bought 18 pictures for the 1934-35 season and will spot book other attractions to fill its needs. Under a joint deal with Universal, the Roxy and Rialto will each get eight of that company's features. The Roxy also has contracted for 10 Gaumont-British pictures. TELEVISION 5 YRS. OFF, AYLESWORTHPREDIGTS Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Telev.sion is st'll in the laboratory stage and it will be five years before its commercial practicability can be expected, declared M. H. Aylesworth yesterday in testifying before the Communi (Continued on Page 8) Universal Sets Releases Up to First of the Year Universal's release schedule has been set up to the first of the year, the list for the two final months of 1934 being as follows: "Cheating Cheaters," Nov. 5, "Strange Wives," Nov. 12; "Imitation of Life," Nov. 19; "Night Life of the Gods," Nov. 26; "Man Who Reclaimed His Head," Dec. 3; "Secret of the Chateau," Dec. 10; "Straight from the Heart," Dec. 24; "Good Fairy," Dec. 31. Hearing of Fox Theaters Case Is Continued to Next Monday Richmond Circuit After Other Houses in State Richmond — Acquisition of additional theatei-s outside of Richmond is contemplated by Neighobrhood Theaters, of which Sam Bendheim, Jr., is general manager. Since M. G. Thalhimer began to figure more prominently with Bendheim in the local situation they have acquired two downtown houses, the State and (Continued on Page 9) A. C Blumenthal was subjected to an exacting examination yesterday, before Federal Judge Martin T. Manton, by Archibald Palmer, counsel for creditors opposing the proposed Fox Theaters reorganization under Section 77B of the new bankruptcy laws. Palmer attempted to show that Blumenthal had more than an "academic" interest in assigning his claim of $400,000 against Fox Theaters to his sister, (Continued on Page 8) Five Additional Suits Over Tri-Ergon Patents Filed Yesterday Injunction and accounting actions will be filed by William Fox's American Tri-Ergon Corp. against all major companies and leading independent companie.s within a few days based on the U. S. Supreme Court's ruling on its flywheel patents. Supplementing the five injunction and accounting actions already instituted against major companies in connection with the American TriErgon double print patents, also substantiated by the Supreme Court, similar steps will be taken againsc the other first line companies. Suit against five more companies (Continued on Page 8) W.-B. TO NEGOTIATE NEW DEAL WITH ERPI Prior to termination of the Warner Bros. Theater agreement with Electrical Research Products providing for serving of equipment installed in 450 of the circuit's houses, it is expected that a renewal deal (Continued on Page 4) Ben Grimm Joining RKO Advertising Staff Ben H. Grimm, advertising and sales promotion executive, now advertising manager for Universal, within the next two weeks will join the RKO advertising department headed by S. Barrett McCormick. "Man of Aran" Given Two-A-Day Premiere "Man of Aran," produced by Robert Flaherty for Gaumont-British was given its two-a-day premiere last night at the Criterion theater before a typically smart opening night audience. The picture, filmed on a little (Continued on Page 2)