Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

londay, March 19, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY I-G-M's List To Include 50 For 1934-'35 {Continued from page 1) iprovement" in general conditions d cited Loew's financial report for e first two quarters of the current ar showing gross income doubled as mpared with the same period a ar ago, as an indication of the exit of actual improvement. He said regards the outlook as "very couraging." Talent loans by M-G-M were given henck's approval with the statement at "we are agreeable to lending lent whenever it has an opportunity perform suitably for another comny." E. B. Hatrick, Hearst-Cosmopohn representative who accompanied lienck eastward, however, had a dif:ent view. Hatrick declared that lent loans, while favored by studios d of some possible benefit to proction, is "bad business because it is trimental to distribution and theatre anches of the companies to whon e talent is under contract." Hatrick declared that double feares "are menacing the quality of jdio output" as the policy "forces ihS production to supply the ineased demand for product." "Duals cannot be eliminated," he lid, "because theatre decentralization is returned operation to individuals ,iose policies the producers can no nger control. This situation makes nsideration of a curtailment of proction extremely doubtful," he added. lHatrick concurred with views on frieral business improvement, declarl that theatre grosses were up 15 20 per cent over last year. While New York he will discuss Cosmollitan's new season production plans d will confer with Truman Talley, neral manager of Fox Movietone i Hearst Metrotone newsreels, on nine subjects. [ope for Italian Film Concessions (.Continued from page 1) ly favoring American films and ;'ton. The Italian film industry has denced little or no stimulation as J"esult of Premier Mussolini's pro tive measures. 'aris, March 18. — A heavy incase of duties on imports was posted terday by the French government. S affects 25 American products. lerican films are not affected. jsting of the duties, however, les s the hope of American film men :Ee that films will be benefited by 'lerica's suspension of all foreign ie and liquor import quotas for a '-month period. et "Rothschild'* Dates r The House of Rothschild" has n set for a total of seven roadshow I agements by Al Lichtman, vice| sident and general manager of ! ited Artists. The dates so far are : m Beach, Beaux Arts, March Miami, State, March 24; Clevei, Ohio, and Boston, Majestic, *rch 31; Utica, Oneida, April 1, Hollywood, Grauman's Chinese, "til 3. Block Booking Talk Likely at Hearing {Continued from page 1) block booking be prohibited, but distributors would be required to furnish accurate synopses of all pictures offered to exhibitors before the films have been released and reviewed, and the Clayton Act would be amended to make it apply to license agreements and sales as w-ell as sales in interstate commerce. The hearing is being run by Congressman Patman, the Interstate Commerce Committee, which is in charge of the measure, merely having authorized him to go ahead. Whether any members of the committee will attend is not known. Only one hour and 25 minutes will be devoted to the question of censorship, and if the hearing cannot be completed in that time it will be suspended to some future date. Although Patman has been coy about disclosing who will appear, it is known that Abram F. Myers, Canon William Sheafe Chase and "some ladies," identity undisclosed, will present the case in favor of censorship, probably with Charles C. Pettijohn submitting the rebuttal. Whether A. Lawrence Lowell, president-emeritus of Harvard, or William P. Short will appear could not be learned. The introduction of the block booking bill is believed to have been actuated in part at least by the realization that some of his own witnesses undoubtedly will drag that question into the picture. There has never been a hearing on film matters at which this has not developed into one of the major features of the discussion. 4 Plans for Roxy; Arthur Has Edge {Continued from page 1) Arthur is now operating the house under a special arrangement with Receiver Howard S. Cullman. Under his management, the F. & M. presentation policy has taken the Roxy out of the red. Lubin's original plan was to restore S. L. (Roxy) Rothafel as impresario. Last week Roxy confirmed reports in London he was planning to build a big theatre in the West End of London. Just how this plan would jell with Lubin's idea for recovering the 7th Ave. Cathedral is not clear. If either plan is accepted, control will not change for at least six months. Arthur, according to insiders, holds the edge on bidding. Samuelson Names 4 Of Planned Advisors {Continued from page 1) Aaron Saperstein of Chicago, for the central division ; and Col. Harry A. Cole of Dallas, for the south. Two western appointees will be named following a personal survey of the situation by an Allied leader, probably Samuelson. New units will be chartered, several requests already having been received and referred to the vice-presidents, according to Allied. Next month directors and cabinet officers will meet at one of three spots : Washington, New York or Chicago. The latter city is understood the preferable spot and most conveniently located. Exhibitors to Seek Close Coast Contact {Continued from page 1) exhibitors will raise the problem on the floor of the convention, and that there will be some vigorous criticism of the present lack of contact between exhibition and production forces. A well known exhibitor here at present, who refuses to allow his name to be quoted prior to the convention, says Hollywood has been making pictures for the purpose of satisfying itself and that it is high time to take an inventory of and give consideration to the exhibitors' viewpoint on trends in stories and box-office values of stars. He further stated that a live, continuous contact must be established between Hollywood and exhibitors which will function in such a, way that producers will heed the everyshifting tastes of the public. The argument is advanced that pictures are never sold directly to the public, but are sold to exhibitors who ought to, and do, know what their patrons prefer in plots, personalities and titles. Just how this producer-exhibitor contact will be worked out is not clear in the minds' of exhibitor spokesmen so far reached. Suggestions are to be sought along these lines, they say, from stars, directors and producers as well as the delegates, as it will be the first time in nine years representatives of the two branches have come together in a big way. Interchange of Views On Product Is Planned One of the highlights of the forthcoming M.P.T.O.A. convention, it was learned in New York on Saturday, will be round table conferences between production executives and exhibitors at which the latter will give the "Main Street" reaction and the likes and dislikes of their patrons an airing before those responsible for current types of pictures. The plan is viewed as a provocative one and, it is felt, tha,t should make an impression on those, who, while actively in control of production, are not directly familiar with exhibitor problems and audience reactions. This angle will be presented by a so far unnamed M.P.T.O.A. leader before studio executives at one of the sessions. The producers, probably through one spokesman, will be accorded opportunity to reply to the issue from their own point of view. M.P.T.O.A. members are being asked to submit questions concerning the NRA Code to national headquarters to be answered by the code committee at the convention. The committee which functioned in Washington will be under the chairmanship of Fred S. Meyer. Labor problems will be treated in the same manner by a committee headed by Jack Miller. These committees will stand throughout the convention, devoting their time exclusively to problems growing out of the code. Exhibitors are requested to submit their problems in writing now so that the committees can study them and prepare answers. Suggestions concerning the code are also desired and these will be commented upon. George Jacobs to Dallas George Jacobs, formerly identified with U. A. in Charlotte, today becomes office manager and chief booker of the company's Dallas office. Para. Places High Hopes on Pending Bill {Continued from page 1) mit bankrupt corporations to file petitions with Federal courts scaling down creditors' claims and stockholders' interests to a point where the company would have a chance to pull through its difficulties. Under such circumstances reorganizations would be facilitated, even though they would have to have approval of two-thirds of the creditors and a majority of stockholders. Washington, March 18. — Voting to make a favorable report on the proposed amendment to the bankruptcy law already passed by the House, the Senate judiciary committee has brought the measure a step nearer to enactment. Under the measure, corporations unable to meet their debts are to be granted the same privileges as have already been extended to individual business men, farmers and railroads by legislation enacted last session. B. & K.-J. L. & S. Battle Flaring Up {Continued from page 1) compete with the J. L. & S. State Lake has flared into the open. In local newspaper ad copy on the State-Lake program, J. L. & S. takes up some extra space to state : "Today —the third important event in entertainment history. First : We originated BARGAIN PRICES. Then: We originated three shows in one — vaudeville, stage revues, pictures ; and NOW the State Lake originates STELLAR CELEBRITY SHOWS. And at our regular bargain prices, too. WE ORIGINATE . . . OTHERS IMITATE." This week's program features Paul Ash. Under the reverse zinc on the State-Lake name appears the slogan, "The ORIGINAL Bargain Theatre." J. L. & S. has acquired the Majestic on Monroe St. B. & R. recently signed a five-year lease on the Garrick which it will open soon under a policy not yet revealed. J. L. & S. will open the Majestic April 1, but is stating no policy at this time. Gable-Colbert and Rogers Heavy Draws {Continued from page 1) at the Lafayette. It is the first demand holdover and the first dual bill to play a second week. The only other holdover at the house under the present management was "Before Midnight," which was held under contract. It is figured that more than 125,000 persons saw the dual in 12 days. St. Louis, March 18. — "It Happened One Night" lasted 19 days at the Fox. It was set in for seven days, but proved a wow. It was taken out only because "David Harum" was waiting to get in. Portland, March 18. — "David Harum" broke all first day records so far this year at the Paramount. It has been exceeded only by "Carolina." It equalled "Mr. Skitch." t