Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Variety Club Chatter Nudist Film Wears Mindlin Suit Now Thursday, February 15, 1934 , New Theatre Union Recognized by Roxy I The Roxy gave recognition yesterday to Local 118, Building Service Employes' Union, with the signing hi a wage scale contract for the 21 lianitors and cleaners employed at [he house. Ushers, ticket takers, loormen and cashiers, employe classiications embraced by the union, were ,iot included in the contract signed by toward S. Cullman, receiver for the Koxy. It was understood that these employes were satisfied with present vages and hours and did not ask for representation in the negotiations. No decision on recognizing the :inion and returning striking employes pf the Paramount, Stapleton, S. I., to work will be made until Monday ivhen Paramount officials authorized o take such action will be back in he city from business trips, the NRA tegional Labor Board here was adised yesterday by Paramount. The Regional Labor Board recommended he preceding day that Local 118 be ecognized and the strike be brought P an end. Cleveland Checkers Complaint Targets Cleveland, Feb. 14. — Complaints ave been made to the Cleveland M. '. Exhibitors Ass'n. that local repreentatives of Ross Federal Service on necking assignments here have exloited theatre patrons by distributing ough drops, without charge, in connection with an advertising campaign f the manufacturer of the drops. In }me cases, it was charged, the checkrs' activities were carried on without ie consent or knowledge of the exibitor. Claude Saunders, general manager f Ross Federal Service, said yesteray that the company had received no ;port of the complaints said to have een made in Cleveland and declared nat the home office would not coun?nance such activities unless they ere carried on with the consent of le exhibitor whose theatre and pat3ns were involved. Varners Will Have 75% Finished Soon Warners claim to be farther along i their schedule than ever before at lis time of year. With the completion : four now shooting and 10 cutting 5 per cent of the total list will have :en finished. Those shooting are: "The Key," rur Coats," "Fog Over Frisco" and A'ithout Honor." Those cutting are : 3ot Air," "A Very Honorable uy," "Merry Wives of Reno," "Up j°r World," "Registered Nurse," rleat Lightning," "A Modern Nurse," Jimmy the Gent," "Harold Teen" 'id "Hit Me Again." Protect Boston Receipts Boston, Feb. 14. — Police have ■ranged a new check on theatre reipts to minimize holdups. Under the pw plan telephone calls notify police nen cash receipts are carried from eatres to banks, or taken to some ace for safekeeping. Police provide officer when needed, and are noti•d by telephone of the safe arrival the messenger when funds are rried without police escort. Columbus, Feb. 14. — Lawrence Burns of the Champion has returned from the Hocking Valley after reopening his coal mine, which had been closed down for the past four years. Four days at the mine and three days at the theatre each week means three days of gold nuggets and four days of black nuggets — rather a healthy combination. Jim Yarian, announcer, and Bert Williams, program director of Station WBNS, are putting on one of the finest programs in the Middle West each Sunday evening at 6 o'clock. Bert, with his symphony orchestra, is featuring Jack Richards and Billy Church, star vocalists of the Al G. Fields Minstrels. Bob Clark, son of Duke Clark, prexy, is making a big hit with his 12-piece orchestra in the Deshler U. 5. Expects More Show Tax Revenue Washington, Feb. 14. — A steady gain in revenue from the admission tax during the next 18 months is expected by the Treasury, it is indicated by figures in the report of the House Ways and Means Committee on the new tax bill. Actual receipts during the fiscal year 1933 were $14,520,512, it is shown, while estimates of future revenue predict a total of $15,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, next, and of $17,200,000 for the fiscal year 1935. Magna Signs Grinde Magna Pictures yesterday signed Nick Grinde, former M-G-M director, to do a series of shorts with Bert Lahr and Harry Richman. He arrives from the coast Monday. The company with which Meyer Davis, band leader, and A. J. Van Beuren are identified, releases through RKO and states it plans a feature to get under way about June 1. Sid Silvers Quits Fox Hollywood, Feb. 14. — Sid Silvers, Broadway comedian, and Fox have severed relations and the actor will leave for New York within a few days. B. G. DeSylva will make the trip with him, where the duo will do a show. Silvers' writer-actor contract, which had five months to run was bought up by the actor. "U" Re-Signs Zeldman Hollywood, Feb. 14. — B. F. Zeidman has signed a new Universal contract calling for four features to be made this year. His former contract called for two pictures, the last of which, "Glamour," he is now completing. His first on the new contract will be Vicki Baum's story, "I Give My Love." Form Dominion Theatres Dover, Del., Feb. 14. — Dominion Theatres, Inc., has been chartered here to operate theatres, music halls, etc., listing capital of $10,000. The incorporators are Walter W. Gross, Arthur Israel, Jr., and Emery J. Woodall of Jackson Heights, L. I. Wallick Grill. Duke, Jr. and Donald, the two other sons of the Clark menage, are also playing in the orchestra, a la Lombardo Bros. They are in their fifth week. Cab Calloway was seen talking over his coming European trip with Jimmy Peppe of Valley Dale, Leo Haenlein of Olentangy Park and Russell Bovim of Loew's Ohio. Cab was guest of the club at the Valentine Party. Jack Kelly, business manager of Station WSEN ; Kenneth Reid, manager of Loew's Broad; Arden Strang, publicist of the RKO Palace, and Evan Lloyd, Paramount ad man, are entered in the city-wide ping pong tournament, representing the Variety Club. The club is planning on sending 40 to Detroit's first big party on Feb. 24. Hanson Circuit for British Film Looms Toronto, Feb. 14. — Formation of a circuit across Canada for handling British films is understood to have been started by Oscar R. Hanson. He has begun with the acquisition of the Carlton here, and is understood be dickering for various others houses in this city and Montreal. Hanson is identified with all branches of the industry in the Dominion as president of Empire Films,_ Ltd., and general manager of Associated Theatres, Ltd., which is a cooperative for independents. He is also general manager of Allied Exhibitors of Ontario which looks after the political interests of theatre owners. Empire Films is distributing British International and other product. According to plans, Hanson Theatres, Ltd., which is to be the name of the new project, will book at least 90 per cent British films. Troubles Grow for Vienna* s Theatres Washington, Feb. 14. — Vienna theatres are in a bad way and are disappointed because a proposed 20 per cent reduction in the amusement tax effective July 1 was not larger, according to reports from Commercial Attache T. L. Hughes to the Motion Picture Section of the Department of Commerce. Unemployment is increasing, according to the reports, sound equipment has not been amortized, and fastidious audiences are refusing to patronize any but the expensive jjictures. FWC Ruling Delayed Hollywood, Feb. 14. — Decision on trustees' and counsel's fees in the Fox West Coast receivership which was to have been announced today, was again set back today by Referee S. W. McNabb for study of the latest appraisers' report showing approximate value of the holdings reached $13,063,000, with the possibility of this figure being changed upon completion of the appraisal. The fees sought amount to approximately $152,000. Decision is looked for today. Trial of a suit for an accounting of profits on "This Nude World," nudist picture made in Europe last year by Mike Mindlin, is scheduled to open in Supreme Court at Mineola, L. I., today. The suit was brought by Mindlin and names as defendants Herman Robbins, Toby Gruen and George Dembow, who are officers of National Screen Service. Mindlin alleges in the suit that Robbins and Gruen financed production of the picture in accordance with a contract which was to have permitted him to share in profits. He alleges that he has received no remuneration and asks an accounting. Gruen, queried yesterday on the suit, denied that either he or Robbins had had anything to do with the picture, stating that it had developed from an agreement between Mindlin and Dembow made prior to the latter's association with National Screen. "This Nude World" was sold in some cities as "Back to Nature." Monogram exchanges distributed the picture in a number of localities. Gehring to Chicago In Fox Sales Shift Cincinnati, Feb. 14. — Bill Gehring, Fox manager here for several years, has been transferred to Chicago as sales manager, effective March 1. He will be succeeded here by Jim Grady, manager at Charlotte. Charlotte, N.C., Feb. 14. — Herman Biersdorf, salesman for Fox in Washington, succeeds Jim Grady as manager here. Philadelphia, Feb. 14. — A. J. Davis, formerly stationed here, will return to the local Fox exchange as sales manager while Sam Gross continues as branch manager. Davis is now manager in Milwaukee where Jack Lorentz replaces him. Baltimore, Feb. 14. — Arthur Melvia has succeeded Herman Biersdorff as the representative here for Fox. Biersdorff has gone to Charlotte, N. G, to manage the Fox office there. Rembusch Suit Heard The 52,000,000 anti-trust action brought against major companies and the M.P.P.D.A. by Frank Rembusch of Indianapolis went into the second day of its trial here yesterday before Federal Judge Alfred M. Coxe with further introduction of documentary evidence and brief testimony on trade terms and background. The trial will be resumed today. "Trade Paper Day" Today is "Trade Paper Day" at the Ampa. Guests of honor will include Gerald Campbell, British consul general in New York; Arthur Lyons, president, National Ass'n of Theatrical Artists' Representatives ; Walter Connolly, Phil Baker, Lilyan Tashman and Edmund Lowe. Roxy Back; No Plans Roxy is back from his vacation in Florida and declared yesterday he has no plans, but offers. Reports that the deal for his personal appearance tour over Paramount time had been called off were met with this reply: "They made me an offer."