Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

The Leading Daily ^ Newspaper of the Motion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, intelligent aj^f'" , Faithfi OL. 35. NO. 15 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1934 TEN CENTS udge Bondy Critical of Para. Delay <cores Attorneys, Then Agrees to Withdraw Attorneys who have contested Paraount Publix receivership and banktptcy proceedings during the past ar were vigorously scored by Fedal Judge William Bondy when they peared in U. S. District Court here rsterday and asked Judge Bondy to thdraw in favor of some other judge connection with a scheduled hearg on the Paramount equity receivs' petition for payment of fees agtegating $250,000 incurred during the ven weeks of Paramount's equity re•ivership. Judge Bondy declared that he be(Contmued jn page 10) r. L. Nathanson Is 2nd Para. Advisor N. L. Nathanson, president of amous Players-Canadian Corp., in large of Paramount theatre operapns in Canada, was named yesterday the second member of a committee six which will serve as an advisory >ard for the circuit's theatre operaons. E. V. Richards of the Saenger rcuit, New Orleans, is the other ember of the committee who was uned earlier. Reports linking Nathanson' s name (Continued on page 10) hooper Orders New Production System Hollywood, Jan. 17. — Merian C. ooper, executive producer at Radio, is installed a new production system ader which each producer will be enrely responsible for his own unit »ra the selection of the story, to •eatment, cast and finished product. Cooper will pass on each phase of oduction as completed to save time >r all concerned. Heretofore proicers have lined up and have waited r conferences on details concerning "osress, preparation and production. Frozen Assents The Code Authority yesterday sent out assent forms to all territorial possessions of the United States. Those returned from Alaska will be regarded as frozen assents. Studios ' Pay to Extras Totals $15,986,940 in Seven Years Hollywood, Jan. 17. — Studios handed out 1,785,387 jobs to extras and paid them $15,986,940 for their labors in the seven years up to Jan. 1, 1933, according to figures compiled by the Central Casting Bureau. Placements for 1933 are not yet available. Here is the year-by-year tally: Average Wage Year Placements Wages Per Day 1926 259,258 $2,195,395 $8.40 1927 330,397 2,838,136 8.30 1928 276,155 2,469,711 9.15 1929 262,958 2,401,429 9.08 1930 252,446 2,460,012 8.45 1931 189,589 1,766,479 9.10 1932 214,584 1,855,778 8.00 Production, in its varied phases, will be discussed and analyzed at length in The Studio Number of MOTION PICTURE DAILY, out tomorrow. ITOA Lifts Goldwyn Ban After Parley Following the regular meeting of the I.T.O.A. at the Astor yesterday which was attended by Samuel Goldwyn and Al Lichtman, the unit lifted its ban against Goldwyn. The producer agreed to allocate prices of his product according to the classified run of theatres in each situation. This automatically removes the flat selling policy of percentages which ranged from 40 to 50 per cent of the grosses. Goldwyn and Lichtman discussed at length the problems of making high cost productions. The producer ex (Continued on page 10) Expect Quick Move In St. Louis Deal St. Louis, Jan. 17. — With the return from New York of Harry Greenman, resident manager of the Fox, and receivers of the theatre, court ap(Continued on page 11) Coast Majors Agree to Aid M. P. Academy Hollywood, Jan. 17. — Continuance of the Academy is assured by a promise of support from producers given in the early morning hours today. Producers agreed to contribute $50 for each completed feature toward expenses of the Academy so that it can carry on its technical research, conciliation and other services. King Vidor heads a committee which will plan for the Academy's future activities and financing. Other members are : Irving Thalberg, Jack L, Warner, C. B. DeMille, Lewis (Continued on page 10) Warners Pittsburgh Policy Stays As Is Pittsburgh, Jan. 17. — -Following a conference here yesterday between I. J. Hoffman, assistant to Joe Bernhard in the Warner theatre circuit, (Continued on page 11) March Thinks Percentage Deals May End Pay Rows Percentage agreements for principal players mav be the solution of the salary agitation, in the opinion of Fredric March. The NRA questionnaires and the fact that salary matters in the code were suspended for only 90 days convince him more developments are coming along this line. ''I believe most actors would be willing to try percentage agreements for a few pictures," he said, "to see how the plan works out. The trouble with the plan so far, is that most players don't know how to check up on the percentage. The percentage would (Continued on page 8) Rules Dee. 8 As Start for Eliminations Rosenblatt Decides 10% Clause Is Effective Washington, Jan. 17. — Exhibitors fully complying with the requirements of the code with respect to observance of contracts are entitled to the benefits of the 10 per cent elimination clause on product released after Dec. 7, even though the contract was made before that date, it was ruled today by Division Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt. A number of inquiries have been received from exhibitors regarding the elimination clause, Rosenblatt explained, and his ruling is designed to clarify the situation. The elimination privilege, while covering contracts made prior to the effective date of the code, (Continued on page 8) Authority Finance Problems Not Set Exhibitor imposts for financing the Code Authority will be distributed only among those signing assent forms, and the greater the number of compliances, the smaller the amount of assessment per theatre, the authority states. Those not signing the code will not derive any of the benefits and naturally do not have to contribute toward carrying the expense of the clearance and zoning and grievance boards, etc. Distribution and production also (Continued on page 8) No Time Limit Set For Code Protests Although recommendations for posts on the 32 clearance and zoning and grievance boards must be postmarked not later than Saturday midnight, the Code Authority advises there is no deadline for sending in protests. Exhibitors, distributors and producers (Continued on page 8) Cooperating Because many of the names suggested for nominations to the 32 clearance and zoning and grievance boards are illegible, the Code Authority has asked Motion Picture Daily to assist it in establishing correct spellings. The answer is: "Yes."