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. 62 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1931 TEN CENTS Fox Breaks Up Circuit Rowland Job in NY-Hits Coast Studio Guesses Is Irked by ''Ridiculous Rumor'*; Lauds Sheehan Richard A. Rowland's job as a vicepresident of Fox is in New York and any statement that his affihation with the company in a general executive capacity means a Coast studio shakeup is "just so much loose talk, manufactured out of whole cloth." Guessing experts got busy immediately after Rowland's Fox connection was announced and rumors were circulated that Rowland would go to the West Coast studio in what probably would mean a shake-up. These were (Continued on page 4) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" English Dialogue Singapore's Choice American pictures have 99 per cent of the call in Bangkok and Singapore insofar as English language talkers are concerned, according to D. S. Garden, editor of Famous Features Syndicate. In the former city two houses already have been equipped for sound and a new theatre is being erected under the auspices of the King (Continued on page 4) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" New Radio Network With Film Affiliate San Francisco — A new nationwide radio network, with a film company affiliation is seen here with the announcement of the formation of the North American Broadcasting Company. The new network is planned to embrace all the western states, and (Continued on page 4) "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Burr to Make 11 Independent Films HjoLLYWooD — C. C. Burr will make 11 features for the independent state right market for 1931-32. Five of the productions will star Johnny Hines. Burr is now completing the Torchy s-vries for Educational. Another Racy Ban Hollywood — Paramount is the latest to join the list of companies against sex and sophistication. B. P. Schulberg says sex is through in favor of "good old fashioned romance and heart tug." Only one or two stars will continue in sophisticated stories, he says. Fox and Radio also have gone on record as tabooing sex and sophisticated stories in the future. 1-Man Policy Out, William Canavan Says T\vo-men-in-the-booth edict of the Chicago operators' union, which is the point at issue in the Chicago situation, has the full support of William Canavan, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. However, he points out that the fight is being handled locally by the Chicago union. Conferences probably will decide (Continued on page 4) "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Both Sides Stand Pat in Chi Fight Chicago — Aaron Saperstein and Tom Maloy met again yesterday following the failure of Monday's conference between states attorneys and labor leaders. Maloy signified willingness to make some concessions but stood pat on the demand that two men remain in the booth. Saperstein, on the other hand, was equally deter (Continued on page 2) Regional Units with General Manager In Full Charge Is New Operation Plan Fox Theatres is abandoning the national home office idea of operation in favor of regional units which will be operated as separate entities, with a general manager in complete charge of each district, which will be the approximate equivalent of the territory served by film exchanges. This decentralization move was announced yesterday at a meeting of district managers by Harry C. Arthur, general manager of the circuit, who believes the new system will "set a new standard in theatre operation" and "result in large economies." "Under the new plan," said Arthur, "every theatre will be given the most intensive supervision. Complete responsibility will be placed on the general managers who in most instances will be within a few hours of every theatre in their territory. The result of this will be very largely to decentralize and to localize theatre groups. In many instances those local interests which once were represented on the board of directors and who, to a large extent still are stockholders of the subsidiary exhibitor companies will be invited to resume that contact. "The new arrangement should also prove a stimulus to all producing companies. Under the system in general use heretofore, district managers and theatre managers were compelled to use whatever pictures were made by the controlling producer. Under decentralized management, studios will be stimulated to produce more pictures that will stand on their own merit." A few of the larger theatres classified as de luxe will be operated as sep (Continued on page 4) "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" U. A. Dickering With Fox in N.Y. Following completion of the Fox West Coast booking deal. United Artists now is dickering with Fo.x Metropolitan circuit for its complete line-up. .'\bout 90 theatres in Greater New York are embraced in the deal. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Amusement Stocks On Upward Swing Reversal of form of the stock exchange yesterday resulted in a rise of all the picture stocks except General Theatres which continued to drop downward to a new record low of |2 a share. With a turnover of 32,300 (Continued on page 4) New Dubbing Process Held Foreign Boon Hollywood — Solution of the problem of foreign language versions of American talkers, permitting production of versions which, so far as talking technique is concerned, meet the most exacting criticism of foreign audiences, has been brought about by the La Veillier-Meyer process, states William A. Johnston, writing in the Hollywood Herald. He terms the development the most (Continued on page 9) Open Houses Getting Break Chicago— Though not capitalizing the situation which forced the closing of 107 independent' theatres, circuit and affiliated houses are remaining open and doing tremendous business, particularly at night in neighborhoods and suburbs where closings predominate, and theatres remaining open serve large territories alone. Waiting lines have been in evidence at outlying theatres but the open houses are making no bid for this business by increased advertising or any departure from normal. The closed theatres have made a big dip in the advertising revenues of the local dailies.