Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 14, 1924 1 f Jp&hliu4>± bin Indies Are Silent On Buying Combine {Continued from page I) of those who ultimately might be enrolled in the ranks. The impression afloat that selling will not get under way until July this year gives proponents of the move sufficient time to get organized, it is declared by one on the inside, provided there proves to be something to organize about. Some Bull! Hollywood, March 13.— Uncle Cecil B. DeMille is looking for a bull with a back wide enough for niece Agnes de Mille to dance on — a docile bull, preferably black. Dubinsky Wins Stay Against Union Acts {Continued from page I) or fraudulent acts against the Dubinsky circuit. Dubinsky says the injunction sets a precedent under the Norris Act banning Federal labor injunctions unless violence is proved. The court order contained a denunciation of union tactics. St. Louis, March 13.— The Regional Labor Board has certified to the National Labor Board at Washington the Dubinsky case at St. Joseph, Mo. This action has been taken as a result of Dubinsky' s rejection of the regional board's ruling that the matter go to arbitration, that two men be used in a booth, and 13 discharged men be reinstated pending the final decision. The national board is expected to hold an early hearing. St. Louis Awaits Next Skouras Move Delay Is Granted in Portland Union Row Portland, Ore., March 13. — Federal Judge Fee today granted local projectionists three weeks to file an amended complaint in their suit against John C. Stille and John W. Martin of the Pantages charging the theatre failed to live up to the labor provisions of the code. The judge granted a motion of the defendants to vacate an order to show cause why a temporary restraining order should not be issued. He also allowed a motion to dismiss the bill. Following testimony by both sides today before the local NRA authorities, full details of the case were transmitted to Washington for final decision. This has the appearance of a test case between theatres and operators. (Continued from page 1) trol in the three big houses without some kind of a fight. Any deal for control of the houses must have court approval because the controlling company, Skouras Brothers' Enterprises, is in receivership. F. & M. have given notice to the stage help at the St. Louis, effective March 23, and Charles M. Kurtzman says a straight film policy will be started. The Fox, also operated by F. & M., abandoned stage shows several weeks ago. In the meantime Warners have a large force getting the Shubert-Rialto ready for opening with "Wonder Bar" on March 31. Rutenberg's Detroit Booking Suit Ended (Continued from page 1) leged effort to prevent him from getting film for the Iris has been withdrawn. He has been granted membership, formerly refused. The suit had been filed in combination with Julius Fischer of the Plaza, and it is expected that Fischer's case will be withdrawn this week. The suits of John O'Dell, head of a circuit of three houses, and of the Mayfair, slated to come up March 20, may be postponed due to a petition to change them to the law side of the court and have a trial by jurv. The suit of Sam Brown for $180,000 in Federal Court will not be withdrawn, it is stated. NewCo-op Company Now Being Formed A new producing and distributing company, now known as Royal Pictures, although its name may be changed, is in formation to produce a minimum of 18 pictures the first year and 24 annually thereafter. Emil Ellis, attorney, is one of the prime factors in the new organization and is active in arranging the necessary financing. Adolph Pollak will be president of the producin ' companv, which plans to spend between $30,000" and $40,000 on each picture, according to the companv sponsors. Distribution will provide for a fiveyear franchise and a control system which will keep management in New York while franchise-holders throughout the nation continue to operate i dividuallv. It is also planned to cut them in on the profits of the prod-king company up to 50 per cent. Thus, if the producing unit makes $100,000 a year and New York is set down as a 20 per cent territory, the local distributor will get $20,000 as his end of the earnings. Each franchise-holder, it is provided, is also to contribute toward a national deposit fund placed at $100,000 minimum and $250,000 top. Phil Meyer has closed for NewYork and Century Pictures of Boston for New England. It was declared for Royal Yesterday that 80 per cent of the nation already is set on distribution. St. Louis Labor Fight Goes Under Advisement St. Louis, March 13. — Following a hearing today, the Regional Labor Board took under advisement the complaint of the I. A. T. S. E. that three operators employed by the Ritz and Roxy in Blytheville, Ark., were discharged for joining the local union in Salem, Mo., w-hich has jurisdiction in that territory. The union asked that the men be reinstated and granted back pay from Jan. 7 and 9. The charges were denied by Mr. and Mrs. C. W. McCutchen, owners and managers of the theatres. Writers' Guild Row Stirs Free-for-All (Continued from page 1) so-called "Liberal" ticket as a candidate for the executive committee. He said that he was a member of the Academy and believed that more could be accomplished through the Academy conciliation committee than through an organization which is constantly in turmoil, with no apparent prospect of agreeing on a solid front. Fox to Sell Lloyd Picture Separately Harold Lloyd's first release for Fox. "The Catspaw." will be sold individually and not as a part of the company's 1934-35 releases. The picture will be completed next month and will be screened at the Fox convention, date of which has not been set. Hollywood. March 13. — Production on Harold Lloyd's "The Catspaw" has again been postponed, due to the illness of Director Sam Taylor. The picture is now three weeks behind schedule. Tracy Signs with "U" Hollywood, March 13. — Lee Tracy has signed a two-year contract with Universal calling for three pictures a year, with the right to sign with other companies when he is not working for "U." Pick Laughton's Next Hollywood, March 13. — Paramount has bought "The Prince of Darkness," an original by Harry Hervey, for Charles Laughton's next. Wurtzel East Saturday Hollywood, March 13. — Sol Wurtzel leaves for the east Saturday for a two weeks' pleasure trip to New York. Lines Up Accountants Hollywood. March 13. — The Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences has made arrangements for six Ambassador Hotel accounting girls and a certified public accountant, impartial to the picture business, to count ballots at the Annual Awards Banquet to be held there March 16. The Wampas met tonight to nominate 27 candidates for Baby Stars. Nominees are to be named Thursdav. Gets Detroit Trans-Lux Detroit, March 13. — The Trans-Lux built and operated here last season by the Daylight Theatres, Inc.. which has been closed for several months, has been leased by William A. London, operator of the Gladwin Park and several other houses. London will increase the present 300-seat capacity by an additional 400 seats Lawrence Lehman Better Kaxsas City, March 13. — Lawrence Lehman, manager of the RKO Mainstreet. has left Menorah Hospital where he spent two weeks for observation and treatment, and is expected to return to his post at the theatre in a few days. Meanwhile, Louis E. Mayer, recently • with RKO in NewYork, is pinch-hitting for Lehman. — mi I