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. 63 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1931 TEN CENTS Chi Exchanges Worry While Fihns Pile Up No Break Yet as Both Sides Hold Ground Chicago— Compromise proposals made at meetings of independent exhibitors and representatives of the operators' union yesterday were rejected, both sides standing pat in the controversy. Chicago— Closing of more than one hundred Chicago theatres threatens to disrupt local protection sched [ ules and presents exchanges with one 1 of their most perplexing problems m ' years. Bookings of the one hundred-odd theatres have been cancelled pending a' settlement of the two-operator dispute with the Chicago projectionists' union which will permit the theatres to reopen. Meanwhile, the theatres which have remained open are requesting adjustments of release schedules to conform with the present situation, and exchange managers are faced with the problem of disrupting city release schedules temporarily or else having large quantities of film (Continued on page 2) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" One-Man-in-Booth Pittsburgh Demand Pittsburgh — Independent theatre owners of Pittsburgh are demanding the elimination of one man in the booth of union houses. The present contract with the projectionists expires September 1, and committees representing both the exhibitors and projectionists are holding many meetings in the hopes of reaching an agreement. Expanding Pittsburgh — ParamountPublix, which took over 11 theatres in the Western Pennsylvania section on August first, is planning to add more theatres in this territory to its circuit. Theatres now under the Publix management include: Capitol, Mischler and Olympic, Altoona; Grand and Bradford, Bradford; Senate, Ambridge; Grand, State and Strand, Johnstown ; Capitol and State, Butler. First Test of Zoning Agreements Launched A Turn in the Road 1 HE decentralization of operation of Fox Theatres, announced yesterday by Harry C. Arthur, general mamager of Fox Theatres corporation, is a movement which challenges the attention of the industry. 1 HIS move comes in sharp contrast to the determined trend of the past few years under which largescaled unit operation was aggressively, and even frantically, sought after. Theoretically, large-scaled unit operation of theatres, patterned in plan after grocery and drug store chains, was most attractive; practically, it would appear from the Fox move, it is not without serious handicaps and difficulties. The decentralization of the Fox Theatres may be taken as notice to the trade that the great theatre circuit movement which for some time hovered over the industry as either a benefaction or a disaster — dependent upon the viewpoint of the particular observer— has definitely come to rest. MARTIN QUIGLEY FoxChainBreak'UpEffective Aug. 31;New Setup Outlined Rinzler Leaves Fox For Partnership Sam Rinzler, division manager for Fox Brooklyn and Long Island theatres since these houses were taken over by Fox Metropolitan, has resigned "to operate the 17 theatres he and Frisch recently acquired in Brooklyn from Fox. His territory will be divided between Harry Woodin and Harry Goldberg, the former adding to his supervision the Long Island houses, and the latter the Brooklyn group. The resignation becomes effective August 31. "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Seek Clara Bow for Publix Circuit Tour Publix is dickering for a personal appearance tour of Clara Bow for the entire circuit. The offer probably will be turned down as the star isn't ready yet to talk business, intending to stick to pictures. Fox's plan to decentralize its circuit into regional units will be put into effect August 31, Harry C. Arthur, general manager of the circuit, yesterday told Motion Picture Daily. Between 140 to 160 theatres will be split up into territorial units, he said. This list does not take in the 38 up-state New York houses which are being sold to Mike Comerford. LInder the new plan there will be (CoiiliiiKcd on paqc 6) "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" N, J. Indies Blame Circuits for 2 Bills Move for elimination of double featuring in New Jersey will be hastened provided the circuits fall in line, independent theatre operators declare. Circuits of Warners, RKO and Fox are represented with approximately 100 theatres in that state, 75 per cent of which now are playing twin bills, it is said. Independent exhibitors, anxious to (Continued on page 6) Restraint of Trade Is Charged in U. S. Court Action Lincoln, Neb. — First action to determine the legality of zoning agreements made by distributors and exhibitors, in cases where a certain group of exhibitors were not represented in negotiating the agreement, was instituted in Federal Court here yesterday when charges of illegal combination and conspiracy in restraint of trade were filed against all Omaha exchanges, their managers, Publix and the M. P. T. O. of Western Iowa and Nebraska. Plaintiff in the action is W. N. Youngclaus, Madison, Neb., exhibi (Continued on page 6) "BUY RIGHT — BUT BUY NOW" Warner Oppositions Getting M-G-M Films Cleveland — So far as is known by the local M-G-M exchange, all MG-M contracts made this year with Warner opposition houses in this territory are being approved intact. When M-G-M and Warners failed to get together on a proposition, the Cleveland M-G-M branch set out to sell all Warner opposition houses in the territory. They closed contracts in every town except those which Warner Brothers controlled. No no (ContinKcd on page 6) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Boles-"U" Differences To Come Up Friday Hollywood — Controversy between John Boles and Universal over the star's contract is expected to be acted upon Friday when his option comes up for consideration. Boles is said to be drawing |3,000 weekly with a guarantee of $100,000 yearly whether or not he works, and Universal is said to be seeking elimination of the guarantee. Boles has not appeared in a picture (Continued on page 6) "BUY RIGHT— BUT BUY NOW" Paramount, Nancy Carroll Settle Row Hollywood — Nancy Carroll and Paramount have settled their difficulties. She stays on at the same salary, said to be $800 weekly and with her bonus continued. The system gave her around $3,000 weekly last year and it is expected to be more this year.