The Film Daily (1935)

DAILY Tuesday, Oct. 22, 1935 DEFENDANTS SEEK DIRECTED VERDICT (Continued from Page 1) arrange their own program accordingly. The greater part of yesterday was taken up with the introduction of documentary data in the form of leases on the Shubert-Rialto and Orpheum theaters now being operated by General Theatrical Enterprises, Warner subsidiary, and various correspondence that had passed between Warners, RKO and Paramount relative to furnishing films for those houses; bond purchases by Warners and court records touching on the reorganization of the Ambassador, Missouri and New Grand Central. But five witnesses were heard and they required only 20 minutes at the very start of the session. They were called by the government to establish that without Warner First National, Paramount and RKO pictures there was not a sufficient available supply of high-class pictures to fill the needs of the Ambassador, Missouri and New Grand Central. The witnesses were: Clarence D. Hill, Columbia pictures; Clayton D. Lynch, M-G-M; Joseph Garrison, Universal; Benjamin B. Reingold, Fox; and William Feldstein, United Artists. None were cross-examined. At the opening of court Judge Moore announced that he had sustained the defense objection to the introduction of the contracts of Skouras Brothers Super Theaters Corp. made in 1928 for Warner and Paramount pictures and the cancellation of those franchises on July 29, 1932. Later in the day the court made these rulings: sustained objection of defense to use of financial statement of Warners. To support government's contention it would show the company was big and powerful enough to carry out alleged threats to do certain things as part of the conspiracy, but did permit the introduction of a list of bond purchases made by the Warner interests between February, 1932, and March 31, 1934, totaling $300,000. When court adjourned Judge Moore had not decided whether to permit introduction of a list of Warnerowned or controlled theaters throughout the country. Aid in Safety Campaign Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Under the leadership of H. A. Weinberger of M-G-M, enrollment of more than 400 officials and employees of the 17 local film exchanges in the Washington "Star's" Safety Council campaign to reduce traffic accidents is under way. All of the film folk will cooperate in the safety drive. Moxley Hill Dead Moxley Hill, 60, of the United Artists contract department died Friday. Funeral was held yesterday. NEWS of the DAY Beatrice, Neb. — The old Gilbert Theater here, landmark for two generations, has been sold to A. J. Brabec of Wilber. He will tear it down and replace it with a new and modern structure. Hartford, Conn. — The Palace has been closed for an indefinite period, probably about a month. Lou Cohen, manager, will assist Jack Simons, manager of the Poli, during the time the Palace remains dark. Canton, O — Mrs. Mabel C. Maurer, 51, wife of Fred C. Maurer, for many years identified with Canton's major theaters, is dead following an extended illness. Danville, Pa.— The Ritz Theater building was destroyed by fire recently, with damage estimated at $35,000, partly covered by insurance. No announcement as yet if the house will be rebulit. Bexley, O. — James M. Curl will be manager of the new Bexley Theater, opening this week. Bert Williams is president and treasurer of Ardmore Amusement Co., operators of the house. Ted Lindenberg is secretary. Ashland, O. — Mrs. Fon Sexton, operating the Lyric here, will reopen the Grand, Ironton, which has been dark for several years. Barberton, O. — Harold Makison is remodeling the Lyric, closed for more than a year, and expects to have it reopened late this month. Johnstown, O. — J. W. Dorsey has opened the Dorsey Theater, replacing old equipment with RCA High Fidelity. Union, N. J. — Nate Mutnick has been appointed manager of the Warner Bros. Union Theater, succeeding S. J. Munter. The change took effect October 19. New Orleans — Opening of the Palace, as a Bailey and Starr negro theater here, may be delayed due to the vigorous protests over merchants in the neighborhood of the theater. Mayer Heads Chest Drive West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — At meeting of the board of directors of the Association of Motion Picture Producers last week, Louis B. Mayer, who presided, was selected as chairman of the Motion Picture Division of the Community Chest. The quota of $200,000 set for the Motion Picture Division was accepted and the following studio contact men were named: H. A. McDonnell, S. B. Brennecke, Reeves Espy, James Dent, Fred Metzler, Wm. R. Fraser, Fred Pelton, George Bagnall, M. G. Whitman, Mat O'Brien, Charles Hubbard and Joseph Gilpin. Fred W. Beetson will represent the affiliated industries. Present at the Association's board meeting were: Harry Cohn, E. H. Allen, Darryl Zanuck, Wm. R. Fraser, Louis B. Mayer, Henry Herzbrun, B. B. Kahane, Hal E. Roach, Fred Meyer and J. L. Warner. Skouras Action Up Tomorrow Trial of the Skouras injunction action, endeavoring to prevent RKO's 81st St. Theater from getting 20th Century-Fox product day and date with its houses in the same locality, will be reached in the New York State Supreme Court tomorrow. Musical "Our Gang" for Capitol "Our Gang Follies," Hal Roach musical short which is the first release of its type made by the creator of "Our Gang," will be presented on the Capitol Theater program with "Rendezvous," beginning Friday. Pacific Northwest Notes Seattle — Gordon Craig was recently appointed as the assistant manager of the Rex. Ben Stevenson is now manager of the Roosevelt. A fourth week for "Broadway Melody of 1936" is currently being scored at Hamrick's Music Box in Seattle. Bijou Enterprises Inc. has been incorporated by Warners for operation of their newly acquired Bijou Theater at Aberdeen, while Hoquiam Enterprises Inc. has been formed for similar operation of the New Hoquiam at Hoquiam. Glenn Hughes, newly appointed regional director of the federal theatrical projects, has returned from Washington and will organize immediately a number of theatrical relief projects throughout the Northwest. Buster Keaton Laid Up West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Suffering from a nervous breakdown and influenza, Buster Keaton is seriously ill in a local hospital. His physician, Dr. John Shuman of Santa Monica, said it was necessary to remove the comedian from his home to a hospital for complete isolation. Muni for "Good Earth" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Paul Muni, Warner star, is being borrowed by M-G-M to appear in "The Good Earth." As a result of this deal, Muni says there is no chance of his appearing on the Broadway stage this season. THIRD DIMENSION REVEALED TO SMPE (.Continued from Page 1) neers meeting at the Wardman Park Hotel. Professor C. Kennedy of Smith College, in a technical paper titled "Development and Use of Stereo ( Photograph for Educational Purposes", reported that the same proc j ess which has produced experimen I tal photos of campus statuary in I third dimension could be applied to movies to produce "actual, not illusionary" third dimension. J. W. McFarland of Eastman Ko [ dak, Rochester, followed with a I technical paper on "photography by [ polarigual light", demonstrating I photographs taken by the same sys1 tern. A. S. Dickinson, of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America told of efforts under way to put into effect the 2,000-foot reel throughout the industry by April 1, 1936. Ben Schlanger delivered a paper giving the opinion that theaters o: the future would have a maximu capacity of 2,000 patrons for thi proper showing of standard films. Other speakers yesterday included Congressman Sol Bloom, New York; A. Julian Brylawski, vice-president of M.P.T.O.A.; Mrs. Emily Newell Blair, NRA consumer chief; Nathan D. Golden, chief of the Motion Picture Bureau, Commerce Department, and Capt. John G. Bradley, chief of Division of Motion Pictures and Sound Recording in the new national archives. Entire list of S.M.P.E. officers headed by president Homer G. Tasker was reelected without oppo sition. Presentation of awards an medals will be made at the society'! semi-annual banquet tomorrow night when Will H. Hays will be the prin cipal speaker. Erpi has donated a special wide range sound system for convention purposes. It employs new high frequency speakers of the multi-cellular type, ordinarily heard only in special demonstrations of auditory perspective and not yet available for theater use. R. T. Friebus, Erpi apparatus design engineer, came here from New York to make the installation. Vaude Back lin Toronto House Toronto — -Imperial Theater, one of the major-sized film houses in this city, is returning to stage and screen shows, starting this week with "She Married Her Boss" for screen showing, and Olsen and Johnson in "Everything Goes" on the stage. "Dream" Opening in Hartford Hartford — Warner's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" opens at the Bushnel Memorial Theater here Thursday. Local celebrities and prominent socialites wlil make up the majority of the first-night audience.