The Film Daily (1936)

14 DAILV Thursday, Dec. 3, 1936 INVITE EXECS. TO INDUSTRIAL MEETING •-: Pag* n tor associations and other film industry groups. The film executives will be requested to name a permanent member of the national council who could be a delegate from the Hays association. Major Berry will also explain the functions and scope of the national council, which is a voluntary organization not affiliated with the Government. Its membership consists of representatives of 147 industries as well as delegates from labor groups It acts as an industrial laboratory making recommendations to the President and Con Recording Equipment to Revert to Erpi in 1944 r.:inucJ from Page 1) jor companies have been paying for of the equipment since sound was instituted. Erpi has taken the stand from the beginning that the apparatus was only leased. Gregory Enterprises Will Build Ottawa, III., House Chicago — James Gregory, vice president of Gregory Enterprises announces plans are being completed for a new 1,100 seat theater to be erected at Ottawa. This will give the circuit three houses in Ottawa, when completed; the other two are the Roxy and the Illinois. The Sipe theater of the circuit at Kokomo, Ind. is being remodeled and will seat 1,300 when the improvements are completed. This week the Lew Wallace theater will be opened at Peru, Ind., with Bale Loomis manager. The new house cost $85,000 and seats 1,000. This will make 25 houses in the circuit, in Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. S. J. Gregory is president of the company. Extended Runs Planned in Pitt, by Harris Co. Pittsburgh — With its Palace Theater switched to a first-run policy, the Harris Amusement Co. is planning to give extended downtown engagements to every important film. Following their regular runs at the Alvin, the pictures will be moved to the Palace for indefinite engagements. The experiment was started with "Theodora Goes Wild" and followed this week with "Reunion." Chi. Censors 5-Day Week Chicago — Police Lieut. Harry M. Costello of the Chicago Censor Board says that the board will review approximately 6,500,000 feet of film this year. Board meets five days a week. a Oklahoma, Loyal to Singles, to Hear About Duals Oklahoma City— Duals will be discussed in this last stand of single feature programs when the MPTO of Oklahoma convenes here Dec. 14-15 for its annual convention, the subject being assigned C. O. Fulgham, of the Griffith Amusement Co., for a talk. Oklahoma is virtually unique in its allegiance to the single feature policy. Only a dozen houses in the state are using duals regularly. Coaxial Cable Tests "Up to Expectations" Testing of the recently installed A. T. & T. coaxial cable will continue during present month, The Film Daily is informed. Communion line, while popularly known as a "television pipe," is primarily designed for commercial telephone conversations between New York and Philadelphia, which cities it connects. Sources close to project indicate cable will not be officially tested for television until some time in 1937, although A. T. & T. engineers are said to have already informally demonstrated cable's basic practicability as television channel. Dr. Frank A. Jewett, president of Bell Telephone Laboratories, pronounced this week's tests "up to expectations" and added "we think we know how to use the cable for television, but it's several months off." Television was not demonstrated on the line Tuesday because terminal instruments now in use are not suitable for motion pictures. Pacific Maritime Strike Troublesome to Studios West Coast Bureau of THE FILM \DAILY Hollywood — Maritime labor troubles along the Pacific Coast are proving troublesome to studios, with the current strike forcing suspension of work on several films and delaying the start of others. Two pictures with maritime backgrounds have been postponed indefinitely by Universal Studio because of the strike. Samuel Goldwyn's production of "Hurricane" may be delayed until the strike situation is settled. The producer had planned to film the picture at Pago Pago but has been unable to ship equipment. Springfield, Mass., Will Get 2 New Neighborhoods Springfield, Mass. — Two new neighborhood film houses are planned here for early spring. Winchester Square Associates are planning to rebuild the huge block at Winchester Square into a movie theater. Western Massachusetts Theaters, Inc. has acquired land in the Forest Park section and will probably start in March on a new building. Both sections at present have movie theaters. "Libeled Lady" Stays On Portland, Ore. — Following three weeks at the Broadway, "Libeled Lady" was moved to the Mayfair for a fourth week of continuous down-town run. And then continued for a fifth. Cameo Opens New Boston Offices; Accounts Jump Boston — Cameo Screen Attractions, Inc. has opened its new offices, under the managership of Samuel Davidson. Walter C. Gillis is office manager and the secretary is Ella Misky. Mr. Davidson announces that the Morse & Rothenberg circuit have contracted for the entire new group of product and that the M. & P. Theaters, Inc., have signed up for several serials. More than 300 accounts are on the books at the present time, representing a 25 f'r increase over last year. Boston Top Up for Cantor; Lincoln House Jumps Dime Boston — Prices at Keith's Boston Theater have been boosted to 65c all day long during the six-day run of Eddie Cantor's stage show and "The Smartest Girl in Town." Morning prices were formerly 35c. The 9:30 A.M. opening has been changed to 8 A.M. with 5 shows instead of 4. Lincoln ■ — Varsity has upped its price 10 cents to 35 cents without a patron whimper. New York Cameramen's Union Renames Miller William Miller has been re-elected president of the New York cameramen's local, with other new officers as follows: vice-president, Harold Muller secretary, Jay Rescher; treasurer, Frank Kirby; business representative, Charles Downs; sergeant-at-arms, Frank Landy. Members of the executive board named are: Fred Fordham, George Hinners, William Kelley, Edward Hyland, Walter Lang, Roy Edwards, Al Gold, Ulygate Whipple, James Pergola, Walter Nase. Ray Foster was made a trustee for three years. Lester Lang for a one-year term. Germaine, Price Boston Mgr. Boston — New Boston branch of Price Theater Premiums, Inc., just opened will be managed by Harry Germaine, formerly an auditor with Universal Pictures and for five years with Price Premiums in the Middle West. Gerald Swaebe, who was with Pathe for eight years and recently resigned from Academy Pictures, has joined the company as salesmanager. Changes In Pittsburgh Pittsburgh — Charlie Eagle, manager of the Enright Theater, was named manager of Warner's Stanley, succeeding Bill Scott. John McCurdy, recently manager of the Brooklyn Paramount, was appointed OHIO EXHIBS ATTACK LIGHTMAN STATEMENT Columbus, O. — An undertone of exhibitor antagonism to the new MG-M contract flared up yesterday afternoon in the open business session of the I. T. O. of Ohio convention. The exhibitors attacked the statements made Tuesday by Al Lichtman, M-G-M executive, and took exception to the high salaries and other dividends paid film executives.. The exhibitors held that the high production cost of films was no justification for preferred playdate and percentage clauses in the contract. They disagreed with a Lichtman statement to the effect that producers were vitally dependent upon foreign support for existence, contending that if salaries and bonuses paid film executives were in proportion to those of other industries the United States would easily be able to support all films produced here. A motion was made and carried authorizing Secretary P. J. Wood of the I. T. O. to communicate with Lichtman by mail the true sentiment of the Ohio group and the reaction of that body to his Tuesday address, explaining that out of courtesy to an invited guest the delegates refrained from expressing themselves in his presence. All officers of the I. T. O. were re-elected including Martin G. Smith of Toledo, president; Sam E. Lind of Zanesville, vice-president Charles Weigel of Cincinnati, vice-president; M. B. Horwitz of Cleveland, treasurer, and P. J. Wood of Columbus, secretary. Dwight Jones of Jackson was named to succeed Henry Bieberson of Delaware on the board of directors. Museum Gets Collections The Museum of Modern Art has received from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., a gift of two important collections of Surrealist books, material and memorabilia: the Paul Eluard Collection and the Dr. Camille Dausse Collection. Beery Obliges The Press Cleveland — Wallace Beery will arrive here Dec. 8 to preside without compensation over the amateur performances to be given in Public Hall under the auspices of The Cleveland Press. This is the Press' annual Christmas Party and has grown to become a local institution. Stein Forms Photo Co. Sol Stein, formerly in charge of production at Reel Photo Co., Inc.,| and recently on the sales staff of Consolidated Film Ind., Inc., has organized Photo Co., Inc., and opened a plant for the manufacture of photographic prints and enlargements at 209 W. 48th St., New York City.