The Hollywood Reporter (Jan-Jun 1933)

Vol. XII TODAYS FILM NEWS TODAY Tuesday, lanuary 17, 1933 Bie MERGERS UNDER WAY Long Anticipated Move Near; yV, K Meetings This Week May Put 7 Majors into 2 Companies •THE PRESENT WEEK. FROM ALL INDICATIONS. SHOULD BE THE MOST EVENTFUL IN THE LONG HISTORY OF THE MOTION PICTURE BUSINESS. There will be bpg doings on in New York this week. Doings that will affect the entire amusement business as It has never been affected before. The halt is about to be called, the end of the bubble is at hand, A new shuffle is about to be dealt. Who and what companies will be m on that deal and what cards they will draw are to be seen, but the fact remains there will be a deal and there will be a pot. There must be winners and losers, but pinning the badge on either would be too much of a guess right at this minute But keep your eyes glued on this sheet, keep your ears open in the general direction of the front office of any studio and you will get the news. • The hot parcel this morning is that TODAY Radio-Keith-Orpheum will have a most important meeting with its bankers. By the end of this day, , Radio should know whether it is going to stay in business or combine with another organization or turn its affairs over to another company. Starting with RKO you can take one company after the other, up and down the ladder and you will find them gone over pretty thoroughly during meetings — five of them — that are to be held in New York during this week. And by Saturday you may not be able to recognize this industry. Months ago, this column told you that the move was on to combine the majors in this business into three big units, each taking care of a particular type of product. That moment is at hand. Just who the three will be, and what others will not be. is for you and us only to guess right at this moment. It's not a tough guess though. How does this one fit with yours? Fox, Metro-Cold wynMayer and United Artists in one grouping. Paramount, Warners and Radio in another, with the rest of the field m a third group Or switch them around, shuffle them up, but stick to the three unit idea. • This business has to come to that. In the first place, there are too many pictures being made, too few getting (Continued on Page 2) Uncle Carl 66 Today is the 66th birthday of Uncle Carl Laemmie. To commemorate the occasion he will be given a 66-pound cake by members of his organization and the way he feels, he may consume most of that cake. Universal Closing For Short Period On the completion of the present group of pictures. Universal will dose down for a period of six or eight weeks, during which time stories will be prepared for production. During the preparation period, overhead will be decidedly lessened, maintaining the economical set-up of that organization. Hubbard Leaves Warners; May Join MCM St<:ff Lucien Hubbard, associate producer ^' Warner-First National, is leaving that organization as of this Wednesday. His contract expired and negotiations for its renewal did not meet with his approval. It is more than probable that Hubbard may join the MCM production staff after a short rest. MAJORS TO STOP LOAIVS OF TALEXT TO INDIES Fox Wants Bill Howard The major producers, distributors and theatre owners have declared a hands-off policy so far as the independent producer and distributor is concerned and, as of last week, no major studio will again loan the services of artists, writers or directors for use by the indies, regardless of the amount of money offered as a bait for such loans. It is further understood that the major chain -owned theatres have turned thumbs down on the exhibition of any independent pictures other than those now under contract. Instead of there being a scarcity of product, the new theme is that there is too much product, too many bad pictures, that production must be (Continued on page 3) New York. — Starting with an important meeting of RadioKeith-Orpheum and its bankers and continuing all week with each and every other company and its bankers, the present week will tell the future history of the motion picture industry as it affects the seven major companies. Fox Producers Transferred To The Story Dept. In a shakeup of executives and realignment of the production staff at Fox, associate producers William Goetz. Walter Morosco and Lydell Peck, move into executive positions in the story department under Julian Johnson. The production units headed by the trio will be disbanded within the next few days. Winfield Sheehan now has associated with him as producers for the company Jesse Lasky, Sol Wurtzel and Al Rockett. An official statement said that the switch of Goetz, Morosco and Peck to the story department was in line with the new policy of concentrating strength in story preparation Chas. Sullivan Resigns To Be Indie Producer Charles Sullivan, executive manager of Radio studio, resigned yesterday to enter independent production. His plans have not been completed as yet. so no definite announcement about date of start, brand of pictures and possible release is forthcoming. Depinet Here Tomorrow Ned Depinet, general sales manager of Radio, will arrive here tomorrow for a short stay. While here he will sit in with B. B, Kahane on the problem of the set-up of the Pathe plant at Culver City, what product is to be made there and who will make it. New Term For Charney Universal has signed King Charney to a new contract as general manager of the company laboratory, the Royal. Charney remains with the company for another year. He is also in charge of the studio's leasing department. From authoritative information gathered here over the week-end, Saturday will see the merging of the major portion of the industry's production and distribution, with the majority of first run houses, into two or three units. Just who are to be in each unit IS a question that is to be dickered for during the week's trading. Sidney Kent arrived by plane yesterday morning, making the trip in a 24-hour hop from the coast in company with Spyrous Skouras. Both were summoned East on a few hours notice. Jack Warner was summoned by his brother, Harry, at five o'clock Sunday (Continued on page 4) Holt Gets New Ticket Columbia has completed negotiations with Jack Holt which will give the star a new ticket on a straight two-year understanding. The deal was set yesterday and awaits the signatures of the principals. To Do Next Bow Picture New York, — Fox Film is anxious to star Clara Bow in "Marie Gallant"' and wants William K Howard to direct her. Clara is due here from Europe Friday. Robert Rubin On Way >■ New York. — J. Robert Rubin, of MCM, left for the Coast Saturday night to join the other executives in conferences at the studio. MCM Signs Otto Kruger ^MGM signed Otto Kruger yesterday to a seven year optional contract. His first picture has not yet been decided upon WRITERS' NUMBER Be Sure You Are In It Out. Feb. 15