The Film Daily (1935)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Seventeen Years Old -IF DAILY VOL. 68. NO. 41 NEW YORK. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17. 1935 TEN CENTS Columbia Stock to be Split Up Three for One WILL ROGERS' AIRPLANE DEATH STUNS INDUSTRY Pathe Exchange Assets Transferred to New Company New Setup, Pathe Film Corporation, Begins Functioning Pathe Exchange, Inc., has completed its plan of reorganization with the transfer of assets to Pathe Film Corporation, the new company which began functioning yesterday. Frank F. Kolbe is president of Pathe Film Corporation; Robert W. Atkins, executive vice-president; Arthur B. Poole, vice-president and treasurer; Willis Bright, vice-president, and T. P. Loach, secretary and assistant treasurer. Certificates for shares of stock of (Continued on Page 8) TRUCE IS CONTINUING IN UNION SITUATION Truce on the circuits' demand for a reduction in movie operators' wages will continue while negotiations looking toward a peaceful settlement of the wage scale issue proceed, it was said yesterday by circuit and union representatives. Any scale agreed upon by the circuits and Local 306 will be retroactive to Saturday, Aug. 10, the date when the reduction in pay was originally slated to go into effect. Harry Brandt Circuit Now Totals 42 Houses Signing of a long-term lease for the Queensboro theater, opening Sept. 15, brings the Harry Brandt circuit to a total of 42 houses. Another Brandt deal this week, previously reported, is for the new house being built in Stamford for opening about Nov. 1. "Call" Sets Rivoli Record Up to 3 P. M. yesterday, "Call of the Wild," United Artists release, had played to more than 31,000 admissions, surpassing the house record set by "Les Miserables," according to the WILL ROGERS By DON CARLE GILLETTE WILL ROGERS, ambassador of good-will for the screen and for America in general, the genial humorist whose stage, screen and radio activities, literary endeavors and political hobnobbing here and abroad had made him a world-known and worldloved figure, is no more. Airplaning with Wiley Post over Alaska, they crashed together into the Beyond. Words are too weak to convey the enormous loss in the passing of the universally popular entertainer. Not only his family and close friends, but the entire world is bereaved. Through his witty and incisive but always kind and considerate interpretations of the leading events and foibles of the day, Will Rogers had become a daily household visitor endeared to the millions, many of whom looked upon him not merely as entertainer but as philosopher and sage. The record of wholesome service that Will Rogers leaves behind him will be the best monument to his memory. Internat'l Film Festival In Brussels Next Month Brussels — An international movie festival will be held from Sept. 26 to Oct. 17 under the patronage of the King, who will offer a prize to the best picture made anywhere. U. S. wil also participate. Improved Conditions Reported by Nat Levy Conditions in the central states farm belt and its industrial centers are better than they have been in (Continued on Page 2) Reorganization Drafted For Higgins Enterprises Shamokin, Pa. — Hearing for the consideration of a reorganization plan under Section 77B of the Bankruptcy Act covering the Higgins Enterprises theaters will be held in the law offices of Frederick B. Moser in this city on Aug. 27 at 10 A. M., according to notice sent out by Lee Francis Lybarger, referee in bankruptcy, Mifflinburg, Pa. The reorganization plan has been filed in the District Court for the (Continued on Page 8) Fox Star and Wiley Post in Fatal Crash Near Pt. Barrow, Alaska The motion picture industry from Hollywood to New York, as well as north and south, was stunned yesterday to learn of the death of Will Rogers in an airplane crash 15 miles south of Point Barrow, Alaska. Wiley Post, noted aviator, pilot of the machine which figured in the tragedy, met his death with the picture star. The crash occurred early yesterday morning when the engine misfired as the plane took off from a native village. Commenting on Rogers' death, Sidney R. Kent, Fox president, said: "All of his friends and ce-workers in the Fox Film Corporation are in (Continued on Page 8) 2 WILL ROGERS FILMS READY FOR RELEASE Increase to 190009000 Shares Planned by Columbia Pictures Pettengill Will Speak At Allied Convention Congressman Pettengill, author of the block-booking bill pending in Congress, will address the Allied convention next Thursday at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Atlantic City. He will also talk at the convention banquet to be held the same evening. Al Steffes will arrive at the convention on Thursday from Minnesota. Frequently rumored split-up of Columbia Pictures common stock was verified yesterday in the filing of notice with the New York Stock Exchange of a proposed increase in authorized shares to 1,000,000 from 300,000. This would put the splitup on a basis of three new shares for each one now held. Fox will release the two Will Rogers pictures which have been completed for its 1935-36 schedule, it was stated yesterday in New York after word had been received of the death of the star and Wiley Post, noted aviator, in an airplane crash 15 miles south of Point Barrow, Alaska. The pictures are "Steam (Continued on Page 8) Italian Gov't Sponsors Tri-Lingual "Columbus" Rome— A subsidy of $500,000 has been given by the government for "Columbus," to be directed by Carmine Gallone in French, English and German. Picture will cost over a million in all. United Artists will distribute. Awarded RKO Fees Randolph E. Paul, special tax counsel in the RKO reorganization, has been allowed a fee of $20,000 by Federal Judge Bondy. Price, Waferhouse & Co., accountants, are granted $3,000.