Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PlCTtfRI DAILY Friday, February 16, 1934 McDonough And Depinet To Move Up {Continued from page 1) vho recently resigned as vice-presilent in charge of production has be_en nduced to change his mind and will emain in this capacity, assuming acive duty after a brief vacation in ionolulu. Pandro Berman, who has ;een executive assistant to Cooper, vill become an executive producer in harge of his own unit. Aylesworth asserted McDonough is hanging the form of the operating rganization so that executive activiies may be co-ordinated in Hollywood. He further stated officials and irectorate were proud of the record lade by Radio pictures in 1933 and /ere unanimous in their approval of ne program for the new season. <ox Midwest-Para. Deal Is About Set (Continued from page 1) lace Fox in a position of dominance i both towns, is virtually set. The Grubels are losers to the exjait of almost $3,000,000 by the re».nt decision of the U. S. Supreme ourt holding future rent claims jainst a bankrupt not provable. The aims were against Publix Enter•ises, involving long-term leases on e houses to be taken over by Fox id the Electric, Kansas City, Kan. idditional claims against Publix are |*nding for two or three months' rent ist due, said Grubel. Relinquishing these houses, Publix j now out of this territory with the ;:ception of Kansas City theatres and lase interests in St. Joseph, Mo., [operties operated by Dubinsky Bros. Jew Fox Met. Plan Ready Any Day Now {Continued from page 1) ited yesterday to Judge Julian Mack the U. S. District Court. The reivership was extended yesterday for other six months unless sooner ternated by the court. Simon Fabian Id Irving Trust Co. are the co-revers. On the reorganization committee e: Niver and Alvin Schlosser of alsey, Stuart & Co., William M. *ve of the Prudence Co., Max Hertz of Hallgarten & Co., and M. ckson of Graham and Parson. The me will be changed when the new up is completed. WC Referee Makes Decision Upon Fees -os Angeles, Feb. 15. — Decision s made today by Referee S. W. :Nabb on trustees' and counsel's s in the Fox West Coast receiverp. Each trustee was allowed $14,1.90 on account against a fee of 500 a week for the three of them :e July 29. Attorneys were allow$43,000 on account against $2,500 ekly during the same period, ough unsatisfactory to them, the ipients will accept the decision, rther settlement may be made later. State Court Hears Plea on Para. Suit The appellate division of the N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday took under advisement an appeal by Robert F. Levy, Paramount Publix bondholder, which seeks authorization to bring suit against Paramount Publix, Film Productions Corp., Chase National Bank and others in connection with the 1932 transfer to Film Productions Corp. of title to Paramount negatives. A lower court held last summer that suit could not be brought against the defendants named. A ruling from the higher court is expected in about three weeks. Samuel Zirn, counsel for Levy, described yesterday's action as "purely a preliminary technicality in an action to nullify the Film Productions transaction." The Chase Bank was trustee under a bond indenture involved. Blank Named Fourth Advisory Board Man Des Moines, Feb. 15. — A. H. Blank, Paramount theatre partner here, was elected as the fourth member of the national Paramount theatre advisory committee at a meeting of western partners of the company in session here today. Blank joins E. V. Richards, N. L. Nathanson and Karl Hoblitzelle on the national advisory committee which, when completed, will have a representative from both the middle west and New England territories. Meetings to elect the final two representatives will be held within the next few weeks. File P-P Equity Briefs Final briefs in connection with the payment of allowances aggregating $240,000 for the Paramount Publix equity receivership administration were filed yesterday by attorneys opposing the petition for payment. Federal Judge John Woolsey accepted the briefs and is expected to render his ruling on the amount of payments to be allowed in about one month. Publix to Duals in K. C. Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 15— With the aim of forcing the issue on price cutting, double bills and giveaways, Sam Dembow announced here today the Publix Newman, downtown firstrun, will go on a policy of double bills at 25 cents at all times beginning Feb. 23. Dembow left by plane tonight for Chicago with Ralph Libeau, Paramount district manager. Adding Two Exploiteers Columbia will increase its out-oftown exploitation force working on "It Happened One Night" from eight to 10. Two men are to be added to cover Cincinnati and Indianapolis playdates. The home office staff will handle the Music Hall showing, starting next Thursday. Cameo Deal Up Today Harry Shiftman and Jack Shapiro are expected to sign contracts with RKO today to acquire the Cameo. Shiftman and Shapiro have been operating the house for the past three weeks under a verbal agreement. George Trilling is managing for the independents. Theatre Deals Come Up in Rembusch Suit Historical details of theatre acquisitions by Paramount and Fox, and the acquisition of First National by Warners comprised the bulk of testimony given yesterday in the trial of the Frank Rembusch anti-trust suit against major companies and the M. P. P. D. A., now in progress before Federal Judge Alfred M. Coxe. On the witness stand yesterday were Leon Netter, Paramount; Harold S. Bareford, Warners; E. C. Grainger, Fox, and Elek J. Ludvig, tormer Paramount general counsel. The spotlight was also thrown on franchise agreements during the day. The trial will be resumed today. Bowers Begins Series With Lowell Thomas Charley Bowers of Bowers Prod, is engaged with Harold Muller, his chief cameraman, on the production of the first of a series of comedies with Lowell Thomas. An improved photographic process of his own is being used by Bowers in the filming of these shorts. Material for the series will be taken from Thomas' own "Tall Stories." Nudist Film Suit Off Trial of a suit seeking an accounting of profits on "This Nude World," which was scheduled for yesterday in Supreme Court at Mineola, L. I., was postponed until today. The .suit was brought by Mike Mindlin, producer of the picture, against Herman Robbins, Toby Gruen and George Dembow, with whom, the suit alleges, Mindlin had a contract involving financing. Loew Back in New York Arthur and Mrs. Loew and Joe and Mrs. Vogel arrived by plane from San Francisco last night and were met at the Newark Airport by David Loew, Mort Spring, Dave Blum, Louis K. Sidney and Oscar Doob. Loew will remain in New York three weeks and then leaves for Europe. Moritz Heads Cincy Club Cincinnati, Feb. 15. — Allan Moritz, manager Columbia, has been elected president of the Cincinnati Variety Club, succeeding Bill Gehring, who goes to Chicago. Manny Shure and Marc Wolf remain as vice-presidents of the club. Chalus Off Tomorrow Andre Chalus, directing head of Film Union, S. A., distributors of Radio pictures in France, Belgium and Switzerland, who has been in this country conferring with Radio officials, sails for home tomorrow. Des Moines Spot Pulls Des Moines, Feb. 15. — The Varsity, a new modern suburban house, opened here New Year's Day by G. C. Mullenix, is proving a success. Schell Goes to Ambridge Ambridge, Pa., Feb. 15.— Bill Schell, for some time manager of Warners' Kenyon in Pittsburgh, has been transferred here as manager of the Ambridge. Ben Kalmenson Gets Warner Theatre Job Pittsburgh, Feb. 15. — Ben Kalmenson, manager of the Warner-First National exchange, has just been appointed to the Warner theatre department in charge of booking and film buying. Kalmenson succeeds Frank Damis, who was recently transferred to the New Jersey district as assistant to zone manager. Kalmenson is scheduled to take over his new duties Monday, at which time his successor in the exchange will be named. Newark, Feb. 15. — Don Jacocks has made several changes in his staff of Warner theatre men. Dick Hill, formerly assistant zone manager, has succeeded Cameron Dooley as district manager and Dooley now becomes manager of the Fabian. Frank Damis, who is being switched from Pittsburgh, will take Hill's former post. Washington, Feb. 15. — Charles Rich, local Warner salesman, succeeds Ben Kalmenson as branch manager in Pittsburgh. Electrics Silent on New Anti-Trust Suit Legal representative of Erpi and Western Electric declined to comment yesterday on anti-trust actions asking triple damages of $3,405,000 filed in Federal Court here this week by the Theatre Electrical Service and the Ninth Ave. Amusement Co., naming them defendants with A. T. & T. The legal spokesmen explained that they had not had an opportunity to examine the complaints yet. Indications are that a general denial will be entered by the defendants. Iowa Showmen Fight Proposed State Tax Des Moines, Feb. 15. — Iowa exhibitors gathered here yesterday to protest against the proposed 2y2 per cent admission tax pending in the State Legislature. Lester F. Martin, Allied secretary, was one of the leaders in the movement. Rochester Greets Troupe Rochester, Feb. 15.— The "Moulin Rouge" caravan arrived here on Ash Wednesday, but it made little difference. Loew's broke a house record, according to Lester Pollock, manager. The Times-Union sent reporters and photographers 15 miles outside of town to meet the visitors in order to catch the night edition. City officials were hosts to the visitors at a dinner at the Sagamore. The party leaves for Buffalo today. May Join the Post Irene Thirer, former picture critic of the Daily News, may join the Evening Post in a similar capacity. Thornton Delehanty now fills the post. The arrangement is said to be contingent upon a deal for Julius Cohen, now on the Journal of Commerce, to take over film advertising on the Post. If he so decides, Miss Thirer will be the critic. P. P. Meet Off to Mar. 1 A meeting of Paramount Publix creditors scheduled for yesterday was postponed to March 1.