Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 12, 1934 Operator Dispute In Chicago Settled (.Continued from page 1) provides that, pending arbitration, there shall be no strikes or lockouts the Administration explained that on Jan. 4 Division Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt was advised the operators in Chicago had disagreed with the exhibitors' association and had or dered a strike. "Immediately communication with Thomas E. Maloy, representing the operators union of Chicago, and direction of his attention to the pro visions of the code resulted in withdrawal of the strike order and an agreement to arbitrate immediately," it was stated. "The National Recovery Administration has just been advised that on Jan. 10 the arbitration was entirely successful and satisfactory to all parties concerned. The Administration has expressed its gratification to Mr. Maloy and to the Chicago Exhibitors Ass'n for their cooperation and entire compliance with the code." IATSE Wins Studio Jurisdiction Vote (.Continued from page 1) seems to be still on. Harold Smith, head of the I. A. T. S. E. local, calls it a "victory," and says he will insist that the Department of Justice force a recognition of his union in accordance with the National Recovery Act. H. P. Brigaerts, head of the I. B. E. W., says he is not alarmed over the apparent defeat. "They can vote until the cows come home," he says, "but we have a contract with the studios recognized by the National Labor Board." Pat Casey has nothing to say. Discuss Rules for Boards Under Code Charles L. O'Reilly, Nathan Yamins, J. Robert Rubin and Harold S. Bareford will meet at 11 o'clock this morning at Rubin's office to discuss the preliminary steps in preparing a manual of rules and regulations for the 64 clearance and zoning and grievance boards. The committee was appointed at the Code Authority session late Wednesday evening^ MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC 1954-35 NOW /A/ P/ifPA/iAT/O/V WHERE TH E WORLD LOOKS FOR MOTION PICTURE PRICt .J. S3 Looking 'Em Over "Easy to Love" ( Warners ) A fast-moving comedy of the double standard; highly sophisticated in theme but modified by the Edward Everett Horton treatment of inoffensive comic-seriousness. Adolphe Menjou, as the husband, is involved in an extra-marital affair with Mary Astor, which throws his wife, Genevieve Tobin, into the company of Horton, who has been the unresponsive escort of Miss Astor, while innocently in love with Menjou's wife. The latter, still in love with Menjou, definitely learns of his infidelity and, in an effort to recapture his devotion, makes a pretense of having an affair with Horton. The situation attains a climax in a roadhouse boudoir where the four have pursued Menjou's daughter and her fiance to save the girl from making what is known as a "mistake." It develops that the daughter has staged the affair to bring her parents to terms and effect a reconciliation, which she does. Menjou renounces Miss Astor; Horton renounces Miss Tobin and Horton and Miss Astor arrive at an under standing. The picture, though fast-moving, is largely dependent on its dialogue for development. Guy Kibbee, as a "marrying parson," appears in the final sequence to win as much amusement from the audience as anything that has gone before. A little broad in theme but essentially light in treatment and effect. (Olsenfs Big Moment' (Fox) "Olsen's Big Moment" will be all right with those who appreciate the El Brendel type of humor. Brendel is the superintendent of a swanky apartment building. He gets himself into a tight corner when he is confronted with the prospect of being killed by a wild-eyed lad if he fails to stop the gal he loves from marrying a monied souse or by a gangster who surprises his sister in the company of Brendel and the rich guy at a speakeasy and insists upon a marriage, threatening Brendel with "the works" if he does not see that the ceremony goes through. Brendel's big moment comes when he routs the gangster and his pals and brings the two young lovers together. Walter Catlett as the wealthy drunk steals the show. Barbara Weeks and John Arledge are the lovers. Malcolm St. Clair directed. 'Fugitive Lovers,'' this morning's opener at the Capitol, was reviewed by wire from Hollywood on Dec. 21. 'Eight Girls in a Boat," this morning's opener at the Paramount, was reznewed from Hollywood on Dec. 16. Beecroft Realigns Sun Haven Studios St. Petersburg, Fla., Jan. 11. — Reorganization of the Sun Haven Studios, Inc., has been completed here with the naming of Chester Beecroft of New York, former production manager for William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan studio, as chief studio executive. Beecroft has already taken charge and has organized the studio personnel preparatory to starting production around Jan. 22. Beecroft is well known in the industry, having been production manager for Charlie Chaplin, Marion Davies, Douglas Fairbanks and others. The studio personnel as named by Beecroft follows : Frank Gatteri, assistant to chief studio executive; Fred V. Blair, general manager ; Harry G. Smith, scenario editor ; William A. Dawson and Richard Harrity, assistant scenario editors; Rondo Hatton, publicity director. Amity Buys More Shorts John M. Crinnion, head of Amity Pictures, has bought a series of pictures produced by Harold McCracken and M. J. Weisfeldt and released under the general title, "Seeing the U. S. A." Three are complete. They are : "Georgia," "Maryland" and "Out West Where the North Begins." New Yorkers Attend Hoblitzelle Session Dallas, Jan. 11. — New York executives are well represented here at the three-day conference of officials and managers of Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Circuit, Inc., and Consolidated Theatres, Inc., the two organizations now operating practically all the former Publix and RKO Southern houses in this territory. The two circuits control 86 theatres in 30 cities and towns. The meetings began Tuesday and will end tomorrow. Among those here from New York are: Harry Gold of United Artists; John C. Clark, Fox general sales manager; George J. Schaefer, Paramount general manager, and Stanley Waite; S. Charles Einfeld, director of publicity and advertising for Warners ; Jules Levey, general sales manager for RKO. Harry Ballance, southern district manager for Fox, and Carl Lesserman of Warners are also here. All the local exchange managers are attending. Hold Another Ad Meet Circuit heads and advertising representatives of the major distributing companies met last night at the Hays office for an interpretation of the advertising clauses by J. J. McCarthy. NRA Names Labor, Extra Committees (Continued from page 1) union, and Dick L'Estrange, California Federation of Labor. The extra committee, to work under Part 4 (A), Section 3 of the code will consist of Dr. A. H. Giannini, Mabel E. Kinney, Mrs. Una N. Hopkins, Fred Pelton, Dave Werner, M. H. Hoffman, B. B. Kahane, Casey. Charles Miller, Larry Steers, Lee Phelps, Allan Garcia and Fred D. Burns. Miss Kinney and Hoffman. Kahane, Miller and Steers are designated as the executive committee of ' the standing committee. No Walkout, States Attorney for ITOA Although Local 306 states that a meeting between the operators and the I. T. O. A., scheduled for yesterday, was not held because the exhibitor group walked out on the plans, Milton C. Weisman, attorney for the I. T. O. A., says that the scheduled session was called off by mutual consent and that he has a letter from Samuel M. Birnbaum, attorney for the local, to that effect. Weisman stated that he would meet representatives of the operators at any time to negotiate a basic scale agreement for local theatres. Complaints on File, Insists J. J. Finn James J. Finn, editor of International Projectionist, yesterday took issue with Division Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt's statement that no complaints on wage cuts under the code have been received by the NRA from operators. "I have in my files," he stated, "carbon copies of many complaints mailed to Administrator Rosenblatt, General Hugh S Johnson and other interested parties." « < Criticisms of Code Silly" — Rosenblatt (Continued from page 1) chairman, that he should never have permitted the code to go out in its present form, that it was loosely drawn and should be tightened up, Division Administrator Sol A. Ro \ senblatt characterized the charges as "silly," and not important enough to talk about. When Motion Picture Daily early I yesterday morning informed Rosenblatt of the charges, the reporter had to go into detail and even explain who Hodgson was. No Alternate for Yamim No alternate will substitute for Nathan Yamins on the Code Authority at any meeting, the New Englanc exhibitor says. It is doubtful whether Charles L. O'Reilly, president of th( T.O.C.C., will name an alternate. Ampa Directors to Meet The board of directors of the Amp; will meet today to discuss member ship and other details pertaining t( the organization.