The Film Daily (1936)

THE Thursday, Dec. 3, 1936 REPORT 20TH-F0X, GB, LOEW IN HOLDING CO, (Continued from Pane 1) distribution of the three companies and place all GB theaters in the holding company. Kent and Schenck refused to make any statement pending final conferences to be held with Maurice Ostrer and Nicholas M. Schenck upon their arrival. An earlier report of the KentSchenck-Ostier conferences was that they were aiming towards revival of tha original deal under which 20th Century-Fox and Loew's would obtain substantial holdings in Gaumont British. Purchase of the Ostrer Brothers' shares in GB is reported being again discussed. Plans of Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew's, for arriving here early next week to join the meetings lends credence to the report. What effect, if any, the holding company deal or the revival deal will exercise on the status of John Maxwell in connection with the GB setup is not definitely known. According to speculation in wellinformed quarters, the situation, however, may wind up with Maxwell as a minority associate of Loew's and 20th Century-Fox in GB. When Isidore Ostrer, president of GB, landed in New York Nov. 23 from London, he tossed a bombshell in the situation by indicating that Maxwell was not going to get control of his company. He admitted, however, that the film magnate had acquired non-voting shares in the company but claimed he had no voice in its affairs. In view of the present conferences between Ostrer, Joe Schenck and Kent, it would seem that the Ostrers now regard the American deal as the most advantageous one, it is reported. Under conditions through which 20th Century-Fox own a 49 per cent interest in GB, via Metropolis and Bradford Trust Co., the company has the right to approve or reject any new financing plan. This angle might be stressed, it is understood, in preventing final consummation of the Maxwell control plan. Loew's and 20th Century-Fox would each secure a 20 per cent interest in GB under the original deal which both Schencks have from time to time insisted still holds good. Under the plan 60 per cent of the shares would remain in England. Maurice Ostrer, assistant managing director of GB, left New York yesterday for the coast to enter the proceedings. He is being accompanied by Arthur A. Lee as far as Chicago. BIG. NEWS j 2§ll> AS SEEN BY J THE PRESS 1 AGENT \ TO The dachshund has become Hollywood's most popular dog, according to a telephone census of the film colony. — M-G-M. ▼ T T • • • THAT SILVER Jubilee celebrating Adolph Zukor's 25 years as a producer will start in Hollywood this eve with a dinner given by the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences in his honor Darryl F. Zanuck will act as chairman George Jessel will be toastmaster the sponsoring committee in cludes Mary Pickford, Jesse L. Lasky, Louis B. Mayer, Cecil B. DeMille, Frank Lloyd Norman Taurog, Claudette Colbert, Grover Jones, Kay Francis, Waldemar Young Frank Capra, Carole Lombard, Howard Estabrook, William Powell . . . T T T • • • OTHER EVENTS that will do honor to Mr. Zukor during the Jubilee include a Paramount Studio Club dinner on the occasion of his 64th birthday, Jan. 7 an international premiere in the capitals of the world on Jan. 22 of "Champagne Waltz," the Paramount Silver Jubilee production a reissue of Mr. Zukor's first film, Sarah Bernhardt in "Queen Elizabeth" awarding of silver medallions to some 200 theater men now active as showmen who played A. Z's first pix 25 years ago in their theaters a series of civic dinners in the Grand Old Man's honor in New York, Washington and other principal cities during January ▼ ▼ T • • • THE S.R.O. sign has been up for two weeks now at the Fusion headquarters of Musicians' Local 802 with the election only two weeks away, candidates on the Fusion ticket have been swamped by new faces, day and night, to the tune of about 800 per week the central headquarters were opened one month ago and since then more than 2700 mu sicians have come in to meet and discuss with the candidates leading issues relative to the welfare of Local 802 the can didates include Selig S. Liese, Henry Maccaro, Harold Basch, Albert Casseday ▼ ▼ T • • • AND NOW Tay Garnett has finished his world cruise with 60,000 feet of film taken in odd corners of the world using the 105-foot auxiliary ketch Athene the vessel left Los Angeles a year ago, and has covered 25,000 miles according to Paul Schwegler, assistant to Garnett, the latter believes that hereafter Hollywood will not build so many expensive sets but will use background scenes taken abroad the pix that Tay plans producing are "World Cruise," "Trade Winds" and "Singapore Bound" scripts for these were taken along so that exact shots could be made. T ▼ T • • • FOURTEEN GIRLS who signed their letter as "A Bunch of Girls from Journalism School" gave Manager Herman Landwehr a gentle rib on "Love On the Run" playing at his Capitol theater the gals said in the letter "We'll admit that Gable is a grand teacher on love subjects, but he certainly is either a terrible newspaper reporter or else our profs at college are teaching us the wrong way to be reporters" incidentally a poll of 456 vet newspapermen and women who saw the pix reveals only two reporters who would admit they ever had that much fun or expense account on an assignment (we take pleasure in running this publicity blurb, because Ben Serkowich of the Capitol is one of the few pressageys we ever knew who realizes that criticisms of this nature are absolute boosts) T T T • • • DON'T OVERLOOK that AMPA luncheon today at the Edison hotel in the College Room ole Colonel Jay Flippen is the emcee, no less W. R. JOHNSTON WILL OPEN 7 EXCHANGES (Continued from Pane 1) quire branches now operating in several other key cities under deals now being negotiated, it was announced by Johnston, prior to departing from the coast for his trip east which calls for stopovers in Denver, Dallas, Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago. Johnston has been conferring with various state right exchange operators in Hollywood, in addition to his production setup talks with Scott R. Dunlap, production head. The group includes Howard Stubbins and Ray Olmstead of Los Angeles. B. N. Judell of Chicago and Sam Decker of Detroit. Franchise deals were discussed but none closed. Johnston made it known that no franchises will be awarded until after the first of the year when all Sterling plans for production and distribution are completed. He plans to be back in New York in time to attend a special meetine of Monogram stockholders on Dec. 18. Hal Home Joins Wanger As Production Executive (Continued from Pane I) identified with Wanger's organization as a production executive. Home's first assignment will be in connection with "Vogues of 1937", which is now being written by Sam and Bella Spewak. The picture will go into production early next month and will be produced in Technicolor. Home leaves RKO this week, starting with Wanger on Monday. « « « » » » GB To Release 8 Films in December, January Arthur A. Lee announces that GB will release eight productions during the months of December and January at the rate of one picture a week. Releases scheduled for December include: "Strangers on a Honeymoon", "The Northing Tramp", "Love In Exile", "Week End Millionaire" and "Living Dangerously.' January release schedule embraces "Head Over Heels in Love", "The Hidden Power", "Man of Affairs", and "River of Unrest." SHOWMAN'S REMINDER Canvass shops to get them to give tickets to your theater Instead of toys to children for their Christmas contributions to under-privileged children.