Motion Picture Daily (Jun-Aug 1931)

The Leading Daily Newspaper of the Motion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Formerly Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today Alert, Intelligent and Faithful Service to the Industry in All Branches VOL. 30. NO. 56 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1931 TEN CENTS U.S. Aid May Be Sought in Mill City Row Exhibs Want to Know About *' Agreement" Minneapolis — If it is established, as charged, that distributors here have reached an agreement to refuse films to houses playing ten cent shows until six months after release date. Federal indictments of exchange managers will be sought, the Northwest exhibitor unit has indicated. Exchangemen have denied that any such agreement has been made. There has been considerable discussion concerning suburban houses which charge ten cents for brief periods after 6 P.M. Exhibitors take the position that the holding up of product for houses which choose to charge ten cents admission after 6 P.M. is unwarranted interference with their business. Drafting of an agreement on six months' clearance, they assert, would constitute restraint of trade. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Cleveland Heights Votes Sunday Shows Cleveland — With but one dissenting vote, an ordinance was passed to make Sunday shows legal. It is effective September 6. Passage was recommended by the council committee upon receipt of a petition carrying 9,000 signatures. The measure was passed with the understanding that it was to apply only to Sunday pictures. "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" $170405 Gross in "Smart Money" Run "Smart Money" grossed $170,405 in its six and one-half weeks at the Winter Garden, New York. The week to week figures follow : Week Ending Gross June 27 $46,551 July 4 35,036 July 11 26,964 July 18 22,347 July 25 18.347 Aug. 3 (nine days) 21,160 $170,405 "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Atlantic City Bids For Producing Firms Philadelphia — Atlantic City is making a bid for producing companies, hoping to become "The Holywood of the East," according to the {Continued on page 8) Independent Exhibs Speeding Comeback Trust Law Revision Seen Washington — Revision of anti-trust laws to meet the needs of business today is seen as a probable aftermath of the depression. Amendent of the Sherman act to permit elimination of unhealthful competition in industry is being proposed. Business leaders also are seeking to eliminate bars to consolidation in cases where the public interest is not threatened. Erpi Studies Course on New Patent Suits Victorious in its suit for an accounting against Sol Wallerstein, Broadway Theatre, Buffalo, for reproduction of sound pictures via Pacent equipment, Erpi is considering the advisability of similar suits against other users of Pacent apparatus, it is understood. The accounting was ordered after a Federal Court decision that the Pacent equipment infringed Erpi patents. An injunction (Continued on page 8) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Only 2 in Baltimore Sign for Para., MGM Baltimore — Due to the resolution against members of the M. P. T. O. of Maryland, Charles E. Nolte, President, playing Paramount and M-G-M pictures on percentage, only two theatres, the Overlea and the (Continued on page 8) Meyer-Reiger Adopts Trailer Franchise Plan Meyer-Reiger, trailer firm recently organized, has changed its distribution plans and will sell territorial franchises rather than establish its own national distribution system, states Louis Meyer. Service to theatres begins August 15. Twenty-eight territories will be assigned to franchise holders, with the home office maintaining a staff to cooperate with the territorial distribu (Continued on page 8) "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Claim 1300,000,000 Para.Property Value Boston — That Paramount has property valued at more than $300,000,000 and the salary of its president, Adolph Zukor is more than $500,000 a year together with commissions "and other emolument" are among allegations (Continued on page 8) ISO Chi Houses Ready to Close in Operator Fight No Unit Fostered Chi Operator Probe Chicago — No co-operation was extended the state's attorney's office in starting the investigation of the operators' union which has resulted in indictment of Tom Maloy and other officers of the union and Jack Miller, head of the Chicago exhibitor unit, says (Continued on page 8) Chicago — One hundred and fifty Chicago theatres next Monday will use only one operator in the booth of each and, if a walkout results, exhibitors will stand for closing of their theatres, Tom Maloy has been warned by Aaron Saperstein, president of Allied Theatres Owners of Illinois, and W. A. Stefifes, Northwest unit head, who is here co-operating with Saperstein in the operator situation. The threatened shutdown would (Continued on page 8) Circuits Turning Back Houses in Number of Territories Continuing the process of decentralization begun some time ago, major circuits are engaged in a number of sale and management deals, which will bring back independent exhibitors to the field on a scale unparalleled since the buying orgy almost engulfed them. The new trend, regarded as one of the most significant in the industry's recent history, is coincident with the swing of Coast studios toward unit production. The simultaneous movements, observers predict, will greatly change the complexion of the industry during the coming year. The impending deal with Fox under terms of which M. E. Comerford, veteran Pennsylvania and New (Continued on page 8) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Loew Sets Columbia Product in New York Columbia is selling away from RKO in Greater New York and is negotiating a deal which will assure a first run outlet on Broadway. Last year, the Mayfair and Globe housed the Columbia product, but no deal is to be closed in Greater New York between the two firms. Meanwhile, Loew's is getting Columbia in the metropolitan area and the Paramount houses will play it upstate. Reports are in circulation that the Columbia Broadway outlet will be one of the Warner stands. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Three Theatres Play Lieutenant Day, Date Boston — Publix is trying a new wrinkle with "The Smiling Lieutenant," playing triple day and date bookings, rather than the two-house booking usually resorted to. The picture is playing the Olympia, Fenway and (Continued on page 8) "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" "Common Law" Big Card for Portland Portland — Grossing $8,000 in its first three days. "The Common Law" showed the best draw at the RKO Orpheum since "Cimarron," according to Manager Gamble. The house average for a full week is $8,000.