Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1933)

L The Leading Daily Newspaper of the* Motion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent and Faithful the Indiistry in All Branches VOL. 34. NO. 93 NEW YORK. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1933 TEN CENTS Censors Here Ban 10, Cut 317 in Year Total of lf762 Examined 253 Under 1932 Ten fiilms were rejected in toto and eliminations were made in 317 of a total of 1,762 examined during the fiscal year ending on June 30, leaving 1,435 passed without cuts, according to the annual report made public yesterday by Irwin Esmond, director. During the previous year, the last under Dr. James Wingate's regime, the board examined 2,015 films and made eliminations in 326. Thus, in spite of the fact that the total number of films dropped by 273 the number of cuts was down by only nine. Scenes considered "immoral or tending to corrupt morals" drew the strongest critical attention from the board. Under this heading 1,124 eliminations were made. Eliminations (.Continued on page 9) Engineers to Seek 2,000 Membership . Chicago, Oct. 18. — Launching a "new deal" plan at the fall meeting of the Society of M. P. Engineers, in progress here, the organization today declared an objective of 2,000 members within the year. The plan calls for a sharp reduction of membership dues together with efforts to enlist technicians, architects and others contributing to the progress of the industry. At the S.M.P.E. banquet last night, Dr. A. N. Goldsmith, president, stated that the membership campaign will be instituted in key cities and said that the enlarged scope planned for the organization is part of a plan not only to increase the society's usefulness but (.Continued on pane 9) Rumor Marco Will Take Over St, Louis St. Lours, Oct. 18. — Recent visits of Mike Marco with Harry Koplar have started rumors that Marco is to take over the St. Louis, but Koplar denies this and says that the visits have been to talk terms on F. & M. acts now playing at the house. Charles Perry has succeeded Jules Karty as manager of the house. The house is to be closed next Thursday night for mechanical stages on the stage, according to the announcement. McDonough Is Put in Posts Of Franklin No Successor Named for Theatre Operations J. R. McDonough, assistant to M. H. Aylesworth, was elected yesterday to the executive posts in RKO subsidiary companies left vacant by the resignation of Harold B. Franklin, Aylesworth stated at the close of an RKO directors' meeting. The actual RKO theatre operating duties will probably be designated to someone within the theatre department in the near future, it is understood, with the appointment to be made either by McDonough or Aylesworth. The posts to which McDonough was elected yesterday are: President (.Continued on page 8) Report Marxes Set For U,A. Release Hollywood, Oct. 18. — Though both parties refuse to discuss it, rumors here are to the effect that the four Marx brothers and United Artists have reached a deal for release of their next picture. Reports are also current that Harold Lloyd is talking terms with United Artists. Loew Midland Suit Goes Over 10 Days Kansas City, Oct. 18. — Initial hearing scheduled for Thursday in the suit for a temporary receivership and an accounting of profits filed Tuesday against the Midland Investment Co., owners of Loew's Midland, by Herbert M. Woolf, M. B. Shanberg and F. H. Reid of this city, who hold half interest in the company, was (Continued on pane 8) Signs the Code Ben Berinstein, president of the Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California, has signed the code, he declared prior to his departure for Los Angeles last night. He also signed for two theatre companies in which he is directly interested. Washington, Oct. 18.— The board of directors of the Southern California exhibitor unit has confirmed by wire Ben Berinstein's signature to Deputy NRA Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt. Actors Again Wire Protest On Article 5 Washington, Oct. 18. — Incensed over the latest revision of Part 5 of Article 5, formerly Article 10, of the code, covering agents' activities, members of the Actors' Guild today sent protests to U. S. Senator Wagner and William Green, president of the A. F. of L. The wire, signed by Eddie Cantor and John Howard Lawson, asserts that producers are given autocratic (Continued on page 3) Pix Will Test Some Demountables Here Pix Theatres, Inc., recently organized to market demountable theatres throughout the country, will establish and operate two or three experimental houses itself before the end of the (Continued on page 8) Key Cities Show Steady Gains Since Low in June Box-ofifice reports gathered from 20 cities over a period of one year show there has been a slow, but steady, improvement since the second week in June when a new low of $948,712 was recorded. This improvement has continued, with only five minor setbacks, since the second week in July until it reached $1,292,201 for the week ending Sept. 15 and 16. For the 52nd week of the year's average, which ended Sept. 22 and 23, the total was $1,229,851. This is $397,663 below the high point reached Oct. 20 and 21 last year. Business for the week ending Sept. 22-23 fell ofif slightly in 13 spots, but in seven others there were slight gains over the preceding week. These (Continued on page 10) Hope to Have Code Settled By Saturday Reports for Johnson Are Being Prepared Washington, Oct. 18. — The hope that the film code could be presented to Administrator Hugh S. Johnson by Saturday night was expressed today by Deputy NRA Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt, following receipt of a report from the Labor Advisory Board. The board's report, the deputy said, was highly commendatory and raised no points of criticism which will necessitate changes. Reports from the Consumers' and Industrial Advisory Boards are hoped for tomorrow. Anticipating that none of the advisory boards will raise any serious objections to any points in the code, Rosenblatt today began writing his report to Johnson. The report will be lengthy, covering fully the negotiations leading to the development of the revised agreement made public yesterday. Deputies' reports to the administrator are confidential, since arguments for adoption of various provisions are often supported by sta (Continiicd on page 3) Allied "Bungling" Charged in Detroit Detroit, Oct. 18. — The charge that independents would have fared better at Washington code conferences had not Allied States leaders "bungled things" at the sessions and "bolted" the hearings, was made today at a meeting of 61 Detroit exhibitors gathered to discuss formation of a new independent exhibitor organization. A second meeting to complete the (Continued on page 3) Chase Film Moves Coming Up Friday Washington, Oct. 18. — Film security operations of the Chase National Bank will be exhaustively aired Friday by the Senate Banking and Currency Committee now investigating Wall Street activities. Under the questioning of Ferdinand Pecora, counsel for the committee, it was disclosed today that the Chase Securities Corp., a subsidiary of the bank, had carried $20,714,442 of Fox debentures and $10,700,000 of General (Continued on Page 8)