Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 21, 192' MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Insiders' Outlook Vol. 35 March 21, 1934 No. 66 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN Editor JAMES A. CRON Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Motion Picture Daily, Inc., subsidiary of Quigley Publications, Inc., Martin Quigley, President; Colvin Brown, Vice-President and Treasurer. Publication Office: 1790 Broadway, New York. Telephone CIcle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1934 by Motion Picture Daily, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publications: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, THE MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and THE CHICAGOAN. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Victor M. Shapiro, Manager; Chicago Bureau; 407 South Dearborn Street, Edwin S. Clifford, manager; London Bureau: 6 Brookland Close, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Bernard Charman, Representative; Berlin Bureau: Berlin Tempelhof , Kaiserin-Augustastrasse 28, Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 19, Rue de la Cour-desNoues, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Sydney Bureau: 102 Sussex Street, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apartado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Glasgow Bureau: 86 Dundrennan Road, G. Holmes, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 11 Olaaz Fasor 17, Endre Hevesi, Representative. Entered as second class matter January 4, 1926 at the Post Office at New York City, N Y., under Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year: $6 in the Americas, except Canada $15 and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Tracy in Para. Deal Hollywood, March 20. — Having made a tentative agreement with Uni versal for three pictures a year, Lee Tracy is now considering a four picture deal with Paramount to cover a period of two years. The papers have not been signed, but this is expected shortly. "U" Signs Henry Hull Hollywood, March 20. — After a series of long distance telephone calls Carl Laemmle, Jr., has signed Henry Hull to a five-year contract calling for two or three pictures a year. Hull is now starring in "Tobacco Road" on the New York stage. MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC 1954-35 NOW /A/ PR£M/iA T/OA/ WHERE THE WORLD LOOKS FOR MOTION PICTURE PUKE »5, EMPHATIC and aimed straight for the vitals of any plan to make commercial the exploits of John Dillinger, sometimes described as Public Enemy No. 1, is the decision of the Hays board of directors yesterday. Their action will keep any such idea out of production, distribution and exhibition as conducted by the member companies of the M. P. P. D. A. which, of course, means the spine and nerve system of the entire industry. Fast on the heels of what went into Government records as the Patman bill hearing in Washington on Monday, the step should, and no doubt will, prove to the many snipers on the outside that all is not irresponsible on the inside. To Will H. Hays and his directors, a salute. . . . T The task of setting up grievance and clearance and zoning boards isn't over yet. Probably, it never will be. Many who read lightly forget that Code Authority may move members around and out for a variety of reasons. In connection with impartial men so far named, past identification with the industry may prove sufficient reason to remove them. In Washington, the general impression afloat sets up the NRA as opposed to any individual who has been tied in with film companies in former years. The thumbnail biogs which have been appearing in Motion Picture Daily for some weeks now reveal several appointees have handled legal or arbitration work for the industry from time to time. Ultimately, this may be viewed as sufficient to precipitate replacements. . . . T What a time those boards are in for once they get going ! Once it was the Film Board setup that supplied the industry with a clearing house for many disputes. That was several years ago now. Since then, some of the most flagrant complaints, alleged or otherwise, have been clearing through courts of law. That's been expensive and, what with dockets loaded to the gunwales, hardly rapid enough to accommodate issues that are vital because they were current. The story, brought into light very much from the below decks atmosphere in which it has been fulminating has it that interests, ambidextrous in that they sell and also show film, have been preparing complaints against independents by the carload. The idea is to be the first in line when the boards begin to sit. All very interesting because independents, who always see red when controlled first and subsequent runs are merely whispered, are reported proceeding along the identical front. . . . ▼ Much interest in Dave Chatkin's load of explosives on remote circuit operation from New York. It was the talk of the town in many quarters yesterday. More of that a trifle later, however. . . . "The House of Rothschild" and its merry pace at the Astor remind of '29, if you can still remember. The picture is doing a standout, smash business. . . . Persistent are those reports that Columbia proposes a foray into the play producing field. Officially, all you can get is a denial. Maybe perfunctory, maybe not. . . . T Up from Wall Street: The bankers have been talking to Sam Katz about a return engagement at Paramount. . . . Distributors are turning sour on costume pictures. . . . Vesting in the Balabans control of the Newman in Kansas City does not necessarily Stocks on Big Board Advance Net Columbia Pictures, vtc. Eastman Kodak Eastman Kodak, Fox Film "A".., Loew's, Inc Paramount, cts. . Pathe Exchange Pathe Exchange pfd. 'A". Warner Bros. High Low Close Change Sales 27'A 261/2 2754 + A, 500 454 4% 1,200 lS'A 15% IS'/ 500 Wz 88 89 + 54 2,100 133 133 133 +1 1,000 15^4 15 15 + Vi 300 32i£ 30^ 3lVz + v% 9,500 5 454 VA 5.700 3A 3A 3% + 54 2,500 im 19 + M 1,500 3AZ 3JA 3/2 + A 1,600 6Vs 654 + y» 4,800 Technicolor Rises Vs Point Sentry Safety Control. Technicolor High ■ A Low Close Net Change 854 854 + As Paramount Publix Bonds Up 1 High Low Close General Theatre Equipment 6s '40 9Az 9 9Vz General Theatre Equipment 6s '40, ctf 854 &/z Wz Loew's 6s '41, ww deb rights 98 97 97 Paramount Broadway 5}4s '51 34 34 34 Paramount Publix 5'/4s '50 49^ 4954 4954 Warner Bros. 6s '39, wd 55J4 55 55 Net Change + A. 54 —1 +1 + Vs Sales 400 100 Sales 25 3 2 2 3 6 indicate the Chicagoans are spreading their wings far afield. Paramount merely figured Kayc< control from New York was too long a cry. Chicago, being Vt hours nearer, the control-toBalaban idea seemed feasible, and is. . . . T Joe Schenck says that certain report is plain silly. . . . Tomorrow may be a very interesting day, news-wise. Then again, it may not. . . . How would a deal in one city be apt to change the balance of power pretty much throughout the country? You may be asking. We're not telling. . . . Drawing papers are a necessary something in all big business doings. The step is nc guarantee the documents will ever be signed. What is this bird talking about anyway? . . . K A N NB i Purely Personal JEAN HERSHOLT is here fr< Hollywood for a new collection film shots for his personal libra While in New York for two wee during which he'll take in a few pla Hersholt expects to film New Yc from the top of Radio City and otl spots. He quits the east next w< ;or Hollywood. Jane Wyatt is on her way ba to New York with a Universal cc tract after completing a series of te< She will return to the coast to st; work April 20. Christine Ames' "The Hum Side," Octavus Roy Cohen's "Tr; sient Lady" and Saga Landii "Long Live the Queen" have b< sold to Universal. . Lou Diamond, Paramount sh subject chieftain, who was due hi in town from the coast this week, prolonging his stay in Hollywood other week or 10 days. Constance Cummings and husband, Benn W. Levy, are in to^ and will sail for England later t week on the Berengaria. Mr. and Mrs. Con Conrad he returned from a Florida honeymc and are at the Warwick. AIichael Feist, a film director a son of Felix F., is in town for a br stay. Larry Weiner, head of the advi tising company bearing his name, j mourning the loss of his brother N. L. Nathanson, Paramount t| atre operating partner in Canada, in town on a brief visit. James Cagney will end a sh New York vacation the latter pi of this week. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Crawfc have been signed for a Yitaplu short. Aline MacMahon is due in X York tomorrow for a short vacati