Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1930)

20 Motion Picture News January id, 1930 Little Fellow" Faces Hard Job To Continue, Iowa Leader Says Towns Under 1,500 Doomed by Sound Overhead Is View of E. P. Smith — Others Experiencing Better Business Des Moines — While conditions are i towns of Iowa, exhibitors in towns of 1 :ontinuing (kie to sound overhead, dec exhibitor unit. The tendency to ehminate the Httle f ing to advantages of exhibitors in the larger communities adjoining, he says. This fact, coupled with better pictures, has resulted in a 25 per cent increase over the state gen-' erally. With the larger towns now able to compete with neighboring city houses, a further mcrease in net is anticipated. There now are about 200 Iowa sound houses, with Western Electric, RCA-Photophone and De Forest Phonofilm predominating. Des Moines — Although arbitration is not functioning in this territory, relations between distributors and exhibitors are proceeding smoothly, states E. P. Smith, president of the Iowa exhibitor unit. Maberry Resigns Columbia Post, Dunas Is Successor Chicago— Cecil E. Maberry, Middle West division sales manager for Columbia, has resigned. Phil Dunas, branch manager here, succeeds him, it is reported. Maberry some months ago relinquished the post of Columbia general sales manager, in order to return to the Chicago territory. Prior to joining the company he was Middle West district head for P. D. C. and Pathe. He was a vice-president of Goldwyn prior to that firm's merger with Metro. Dunas recently took over management of the Columbia Chicago branch, and prior to that was with United Artists at Washington. He came to that company from Universal, where he was sales manager of the Reginald Denny productions. R-K-0 Chain to Be Equipped for Steroscopic Pictures With the initial theatre designed for showing of third dimension pictures using the Spoor-Bergen process, completed at the R-K-0 studios on the Coast, plans are under way for equipping of the chain of R-K-O houses for the process. The new tilnis will project a picture about 50 per cent higher and 250 per cent wider than standard-size pictures. "Dixiana" is the lirst picture to be screened with the process, which is scheduled for regular release. The Columbia, New York, will probabbbe the first. It is planned to have the theatre so equipped by September. New Plaza Opening Leo Brecher's new Plaza, 58th St. between Park and Madison, New York, is to open Monday. It replaces the old Plaza at 59th and Madison, razed to make way for an office building. The old Plaza was a unique society institution, patronized by many of New York's social elite. mproving steadily in the larger-sized .500 and under face serious difficulty in lares E. P. Smith, president of the Iowa ellow who cannot afford sound is work Sound Nut Proves Small Town Bane Okeechobee, Fla. — Sound overhead has proven a boomerang to W. H. Russell at the Park here, with the result that the house has had to revert to silents. playing western Saturdays and remaining dark the balance of the week. The house couldn't afford the big pictures, Russell says, so the big towns nearby got the business on sound pictures. This coupled with hard times and storms made the last year a trying one here and in other small towns of the state. Sound overhead consumed about 85 per cent, of receipts, according to Russell. Nix on Rough Stuff Baltimore. — A quick three-column flash for tlie Hip, managed by Nat Keene, was turned down by "The Sun" because it was considered indecent. Exception was taken to the half-tcne on "Mexicali Tlose" (Columbia) which showed Sam Hardy leaning over Barbara Stanwyck lying on a couch. "The Sunday American" ran the flash. Writ Bans Straw Vote on "Blue" Law at Columbia Columbia, Mo. — Sunday shows will not be decided by a straw vote, the Circuit Court has ruled, granting a permanent injunction in favor of the Columbia Theatre Co., and against the city council. A temporary w-rit was obtained last November by the theatre company, charging the reform element had control of the election and there was no proper safeguard against election frauds. Maryland M.P.T.O. to Elect At Annual Meeting in March Baltimore— Allied States' M.P.T.O. of Maryland has appointed a nominating committee to select candidates for election at the annual meeting, scheduled for March 20. Poland on Duncan Story Hollywood — Joseph Franklin Poland has been engaged by M-G-M to write an original for the next Duncan Sisters filmusicai. Poland recently returned from a three months vacation in Hawaii after completing a year's contract with Pathe. N. W. Exhibitor Unit Now Operating Poster Exchange Minneapolis — Operation of a poster exchange by the Northwest exhibitor unit is under wav. Arson Hinted in Rochester Fire Rochester, N. Y. — Claiming traces of incendiarism appeared in the wake of a fire which Sunday swept the attic of Fay's, 1,200 seat downtown house, causing damage of $35,000, police held Edward Hardmg, janitor, for investigation, but placed no charge against him. The house is closed. Water drenched everything in the auditorium and on the stage. Gasoline soaked waste was reported found in a cupola on the roof by firemen. Harding denied he knew of its presence. Edward M. Fay, of Providence, owner of the theatre, called police long distance here to back up Harding's character. Arch McCallum, manager, said no date could be set for reopening. Pathe Fire Probe Expected by State ALBANY, N. Y. — Governor Roosevelt will be asked to appoint a committee to conduct an inquiry into alleged irregular practices in the Tammany administration in New York in a bill sponsored by Republican leaders in the legislature. One phase of the investigation will be a sweeping probe of the city fire department as a result of the Pathe studio fire, in which ten lives were lost. Exchange Investigation Is Launched at Toronto Toronto — Spurred by the Pathe studio fire in New York, the Ontario government has concluded a two-day investigation into film storage conditions at Toronto exchanges. Deputy Fire Marshal Lewis reported adversely against film storage at the Warner exchange and the inquiry was instituted when an appeal against a closing order was entered by the distributor. New regulations governing storage have been promised and lawyers representing distributors guaranteed co-operation in removing any fire menace where sound. Start Cincy House in Feb. Cincinnati — Construction on the $3,500, 000 theatre to be built here at Peebles Corner starts in Feliruarv. 1