Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, January 13, 1934 Referee Cuts 15% of Para. Receiver Cost (.Continued from page 1) Referee Davis recommended payment of $100,000 instead of the $125,000 asked by the law firm. Charles D. Hilles, co-receiver with Adolph Zukor, and now one of three Paramount Publix trustees in bankruptcy, asked $30,000. The referee's recommendation clipped $5,000 off this and recommended that Hilles be paid $25,000. Zukor's petition for $23,047, of which $4,502 has been paid, was approved in full. The equity receivers also asked an additional $59,784 for expenses incurred as ancillary receivers for the company in California and Illinois. The referee's report recommended payment of $41,000 of this amount. Legal Fee Cut $5,000 The $30,000 allowance asked for the law firm of Rosenberg, Goldmark & Colin, attorneys for Paramount, was reduced $5,000 by the referee. Cravath, De Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood, also attorneys for Paramount, had an allowance of $15,000 approved in full, while the allowance of Donovan & Raichle, attorneys, for $5,246, was trimmed to $4,000. A $15,000 allowance for O'Melvany, Tuller & Myers, Los Angeles attorneys, was clipped to $12,000 by the referee. The remainder, smaller allowances asked for law firms handling ancillary receivership affairs in Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, Ohio, California and New Jersey, and aggregating approximately $10,000 in all, were approved. Samuel Zirn and Saul E. Rogers, attorneys for Paramount Publix bondholders' groups, who led the opposition against the receivers' petition for allowances when it was submitted originally to Referee Davis during December, will oppose final approval of the payments by the Federal Court next week, each said yesterday, despite the approximate reduction of $46,000 made by the referee. Trustees Report Profit Paramount Publix trustees in bankruptcy reported yesterday that, despite regular progress being made on adjustment of the $250,000 claim against the company, no definite plan of reorganization is yet in sight. They reported that the company has been operating at a profit for several months and has been aided importantly by foreign revenues which have been benefited by current rates of foreign exchange. The trustees' statement came as a result of inquiries made of them concerning activities of Paramount certificates on the Stock Exchange yesterday. The certificates reached their highest level since being listed on the Exchange, rising 62r/2 cents a share to $2.62^, on an unusually active turnover of 117,500 shares. Once Upon a Time Hollywood, Jan. 12. — A second-string actress was called into the portrait gallery of a studio on a picture taken for publicity purposes. Upon arriving she said: "I am not in the mude" and the photographer retorted by saying: "You mean you're not in the mood." "Yes, something like that," she replied. have been filed with Referee Henry K. Davis and are slated to be acted on Jan. 22. The Paramount Publix payment is for services rendered by various accounting, auditing and real estate staffs on behalf of Publix Enterprises from Jan. 30, 1933, to Dec. 23 last. The payment to Michalove, which is in addition to $7,950 already paid him, is for advisory services on theatre leases and holdings of the bankrupt rendered last year. Michalove Files Petition Petitions for the payment by the trustee in bankruptcy of Publix Enterprises of $76t171 to Paramount Publix, and $15,000 to Dan Michalove Foreclosure Asked On Brooklyn Houses {.Continued from page 1) Inc., called for the purchase of the Valencia, the Pitkin and the Kings by the Loew organization for $11,000,000, to be paid over a period of 10 years. Foreclosure now, he said, would nullify that contract and would wipe out claims of creditors, including the holders of $2,000,000 in debentures. Flynn accused Manufacturers Trust, which he claims does not own a single bond, of seeking to foreclose for fees it might obtain. Hastings S. Morse, attorney for the bank, said in response : "W e are ' trustees under the bond issue. We have delayed five months to let them get together." He said that the bondholders' committee requested in writing to foreclose and that appraisal of the three theatres mentioned by Flynn is $9,400,000, with liens of more' than $14,000,000 against them. The argument on the motion to foreclose was postponed until Jan. 19 by Judge Inch. New St. Louis \" Gallant" Is Theatre Setup I Buffalo High In the Offing (.Continued from page 1) with F. & M. to turn over the Missouri on a partnership arrangement. F. & M. now operate the St. Louis and expect to close any day for the Fox. Receivers for the Fox are in New York completing the deal and are expected to return next week. In addition to turning over the Missouri to F. & M., Skouras will then negotiate a deal with Warners for the latter to run the Ambassador, it is understood on reliable authority. These deals will leave Skouras with the Grand Central, a grind house, now closed. Warners are reported to be financially interested in the reorganization of Central States. Mack Death Leaves Series Unfinished (Continued from page 1) York about two weeks ago in Mack's car. They motored south through Washington to Mississippi, and made stops in New Orleans and various Texas towns. W. B. Franks, agent for the comedy team and Sennett representative here, had been receiving almost daily messages from them. A blowout was the cause of the accident and the car turned over. Mrs. Mack is in the South Side Hospital at Mesa, with a back injury. Sennett was badly shaken. The others were only bruised. For the past four years Mack had made his home at Newhall, Cal. This last trip was for the purpose of starting work on his fourth Educational short. Doug, Jr., Paris Bound Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., leaves today for Paris aboard the lie de France to attend the premiere of "Catherine the Great" at the Lord Byron Theatre on Jan. 19. "Catherine the Great" was directed by Paul Cz inner under the supervision of Alexander Korda with Elizabeth Bergner co-starring with young Fairbanks. It will be released here by United Artists. Others aboard the ship are Mary McCormic and J. Carlos Bavetta, French manager for Fox, who has been in New York for conferences with Clayton Sheehan. Preston Resigns Post Lew Preston, managing director of the Academy of Music, has resigned because of ill health. The resignation is effective immediately, and Preston will leave today for an extended sea trip. His successor has not yet been picked. Two Studios Offer Awards for Titles Hollywood, Jan. 12.— Two major studios are now offering cash prizes for the best submitted titles for current pictures. Other companies are expected to follow suit. Radio was the first to inaugurate this system, having attached a $50 cash incentive to employes on all title suggestions selected. Fox is now giving workers a chance to pocket $25 every time a title is accepted. Stage Shows Back in Pittsburgh Theatres (Continued from page 1) The first will be a tabloid version of the "Vanities." No announcement has come from the Stanley, although Joseph Bernhard is due here Monday for conferences with Harry Kalmine, Warner zone manager. With a Show Buffalo, Jan. 12.— "Gallant Lady" with a vaudeville bill took top honors here for the first week in Buffalo with a $22,000 gross. This is $7,000 over normal. "Hoopla," with "The Student Prince" on the stage, was $1,100 up at the Hippodrome with a $11,100 gross. "By Candlelight" took a normal $10,000 at the Lafayette. Total first run take was $58 000 Normal is $50,300. Estimated takings for the week ending Jan. 12: "GALLANT LADY" (U. A) BUFFALO (3,500), 30c-55c, 7 davS. Stage: Ralph Kirbery, Stan Kavanagh, CrrJ0"'£ec%i peggy Taylor & Co. Gross: :>22,O00. (Average, $15,000) "HAVANA WIDOWS" (F N ) "**f££ AN0 HIGH WATER" (Para.) $6,800. (Average, $6,000.; "DINNER AT EIGHT" (M-G-M) GREAT LAKES-(3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,900. (Average, $8,500.) "HOOPLA" (Fox) ' HIPPODKO.\1E_(2,100,. 25c-40c. 7 days. Stage: "The Student Prince," with George Hassell, Madolyn Mayo. Charles Hedley Gross: S11.100. (Average, $10,000 , "FAREWELL TO LOVE" (Madison) HOLLYWOOD-f300). 25c-40c, A days 2nd week. Gross: $200. (Average £800 I "BY CANDLELIGHT" (Univ ) * _ LAFAYETTE — (3.300), 25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Gene Sheldon & Loretta Fisher, Jack Starnes & Co.. Forsythe, Seamen & Farrell, Tex Pickard & seal Gross$10,000. (Average, $10,000.) Merian Cooper Goes Into 12 -Day Quiet Hollywood, Jan. 12.— Merian C. Cooper, now back at Radio Studios^ has ordered that no one attempt to see him on business matters for two weeks. The executive intends to spend the next 12 days doing nothing but reading and lining up stories for the new program. Kansas Houses Reopen Manhattan, Kan.. Jan. 12. Closed since Dec. 14 in protest against the Sunday show vote, three local theatres reopened last night following the request of merchants and the Chamber of Commerce. The mayor offered to permit Sunday shows provided they were censored by the parent and teacher association and that school children were barred from pictures not approved. The proposal was rejected and the theatres will operate six days a week. Greenman Here for Rest Harry Greenman. resident manager of the Fox, St. Louis, is in New York on his first vacation in three years. He will return west some time next week. Would Halt Car Raffle Milwaukee, Jan. 12. — Raffling automobiles at the motor show, which opens here tomorrow, has been temporarily prohibited as result of action taken by Manning Silverman, local independent exhibitor, who charges violation of the lottery law. The Milwaukee Auditorium Co. has been ordered to show cause tomorrow why a permanent injunction should not be issued restraining the lottery. "Henry" in Fifth Month Paris, Jan. 12.— "The Private Life of Henry VIII," is now in its fifth month at the Lord Byron Theatre here.