The Film Daily (1936)

« Help the Relief Fund to Help-Hurry That Check! ! ! » Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictu res Now Eighteen Years Old -1FDAILY' VOL. 70, NO. 142 NEW YORK. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 16. 1936 TEN CENTS See Interstate Commerce Laws as Regulatory Aid FILM COPYRIGHT VIOLATIONS DECLINE! 1 P C. Hoblitzelle to Pay Para. $600,000 to Kill Buy-Back The Poll is On . . . And Interest Soars = By CHESTER B. BAHN = AS the momentum of The Film Daily's ** 15th annual "Ten Best" Pictures £olj is still further accelerated and the mail bag grows still heavier, there . agr* eral sidelights meriting industry consideration. For one, there is the virtually unanimous regret on the part of participating critics that they are restricted to the selection of ten pictures. To be sure, in the past years there have been critics who, on their own initiative ywere moved to give honorary mention to "Second Ten" lists. On this occasion, however, not only are the latter making their appearance with surprising regularity, but busy critics are taking time off to write that there were upwards of 40 pictures of potential "best" stature within the specified release period. — • — THAT, if you please, is at once a tribute to, and an appreciation of, the quality of the product which has flowed eastward from Hollywood during the year of grace fast ending. Box office gains of 1936 are perhaps due as much to improved picture quality as to the economic recovery. Of prime interest to the industry, too, is the increase in the number of newspapers, both large and small, which this year have elected to conduct local "Ten Best" polls in conjunction with that of The Film Daily. These local contests are varied in nature, with the first, simple pioneer plans undergoing elaborate adaptation in cities where alert publishers and editors sense the tremendous promotional and circulation possibilities. — • — IN this connection, a doff of the hat to the Chillicothe, 0., News-Advertiser, whose theater editor, Alvin C. Zurcher, devised a novel plan providing for the distribution of local poll ballots through the Majestic, Royal and Sherman theaters, with their managements and the paper joining to offer prizes to winners. All of which suggests that one major film news story of early January will be the result of The Film Daily's poll in which 406 critics already have voted. Improvement in Texas Properties Brings Cash Consideration The Hoblitzelle Corp. will pay Paramount $600,000 cash in consideration of cancellation by Paramount of its buy-back agreement on 'he Texas Consolidated Circuit, Film *±JAILY was authoritatively advised yesterday. JP John R. Moroney, secretary of the (Continued on Pane 10) REPORT BRISKIN WILL GET LONG-TERM PACT West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — RKO top executives are understood to have indicated that they will give Sam Briskin, production head, a long-term con (Continuerf on Page 4) Harry M. Warner and All Other WB Officers Renamed All officers of Warner Bros., including President Harry M. Warner, were re-elected by the board of directors yesterday at a meeting at the home office. Next session of the directorate is scheduled for Jan. 19. Kenr-Schenck-Berry Talks? Wash. Bureau, of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Sullivan D. Jones, assistant coordinator of industrial cooperation, yesterday stated that he expects Sidney R. Kent and Joseph M. Schenck, 20th Century-Fox officials, to come to Washington soon to confer with Major George L. Berry on developments in its motion picture program. HERE'S A CHANGE TO STRUT YOUR STUFF A short short story about a pioneer film man. Not many years ago he was sitting right up on the top. Everybody in the biz has heard of him by name at least. Some years ago the parade start (Continucd on Page 10) Roxy Reorganization Plan May Reach Court Friday Carlos Israels, of White & Case, counsel for the Roxy Theater first mortgage bondholders' committee, said yesterday that he was hopeful that a reorganization plan for the theater would be presented in Federal Court Friday. Hold Interstate Commerce Laws Route To Regulation of the Film Industry 100 More Theaters Added to N. Y. Exchange Sector Active theaters in the territory served by New York exchanges have increased by approximately 100 houses during the past year, according to a checkup just made. A year ago, there were about 1,000 open theaters. Increase is due to new construction and re-opening of dark houses. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Whatever regulation of the film industry is attempted by the Federal Government as a development of the National Council for Industrial Progress move may be accomplished through laws governing interstate commerce, according to generally reliable sources yesterday. Such regulation can be administered without collision with (Continued on Page 4) 1936 Violations Only 9.3 P. C, Reports Copyright Bureau Motion picture copyright violations were found in 9.3 per cent of theaters investigated by the Copyright Protection Bureau in 1936, as compared with 17.4 per cent the previous year, it is revealed in the annual report of this agency today. "In 1930 and 1931, irregularities in the form of one or more violations were found in 44.6 per cent of the theaters investigated," states the report, which was submitted by Jack H. Levin, director, and Gabriel L. Hess, attorney, of the bureau. The bureau meets today at the Hotel Astor to discuss its work for the coming year, the 10th year of its operation. Says the report, in part: "Under (Continued on Page 4) LORD RAGNOR COMING TO SET STUDIO DEAL Lord Ragnor, British banker and chairman of the board of British National of America, sails Saturday from London" and will remain here for about five weeks. Lord Ragnor (Continued on Page 4) Major Distribs. to File Briefs in Tax Appeal Briefs \. .11 be filed by major distributors next week with the Court of Appeals at Albany in connection with their appeal from a lower court (Continued on Page \) "Business Is Good" Detroit — United Detroit Theaters, Detroit's principal circuit, has experienced such a pickup of business that installation of a new double switchboard has been necessary at the offices to handle phone calls.