Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

The Leading Dai! < Newspaper of the m Motion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent Faithful 1 Service to the Industry in All Branches VOL. 35. NO. 99 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1934 TEN CENTS Theatre Men Protest New Tax by City Intend to Argue Matter Before Aldermen Minor opposition of metropolitan theatre representatives was voiced yesterday at public hearings at City Hall on Mayor F. H. LaGuardia's new tax bill providing for a levy of one-twentieth of one per cent on gross receipts of New York enterprises over $15,000. Organized opposition to the measure will be made by the city's theatres when the proposed tax bill comes before the Board of Aldermen for a vote, according to Charles L. O'Reilly, president of the T.O.C.C. Yesterday's hearing was before a Board of Estimate committee. Austin C. Keough of Paramount, Isador {Continued on page 4) Maryland MPTO Hits Dual Exhibitor Role Baltimore, April 27.— The M.P. T.O. of Maryland has gone on record against exhibitors, in addition to operating theatres, engaging in production and distribution. Frank A. Horning, president of the unit, following an inquiry as to the views of the Maryland unit on the matter, says the board of directors adopted a resolution at its meeting yesterday, declaring : "That we, the M.P.T.O. of Maryland, are opposed to exhibitors engaging in the producing business and producer-distributors in the exhibition business." Ferguson Picks His Ampa Aides for Year William R. Ferguson, of M-G-M, new president of Ampa, has appointed the following committees to serve during his administration, 1934-35 : Trustees: Walter Eberhardt, 3 years; Kelcey Allen, 2 years; Si Seadler, one year; auditing: Edward (.Continued on page 3) Kansas City Censor Change Is Reported Kansas City, April 27— William E. Sullivan, city welfare director whose department has charge of film and stage censorship and general supervision over amusements, is slated to be removed, according to reports (Continued on page 3) Grievances Go Back for Use Of New Forms Campi Returning Them to All Parts of Country All complaints filed by exhibitors and distributors with Code Authority before official forms for registering protests were sent out are being returned to the complainants. Protests must be registered in triplicate on one of three types of forms provided by Campi. In practically all parts of the country this is holding up hearings before the grievance boards. Campi is insisting on a standard legal procedure for filing protests. All of the complaints filed previous to the sending out of the forms are void under the (Continued on page 4) Boards in Detroit Open Office May 5 Detroit, April 27. — Local code board offices will be opened in the Francis Palms (State Theatre) Building on May 5, according to E. S. Kinney, secretary. The suite is now being equipped with furniture. Local boards will not meet again until after that date. It is expected that the boards will meet on alternate Mondays, the clearance and zoning board one week and the grievance board the next. Kinney said that only one complaint had been received so far by the local boards, that being one which was sent to New York and forwarded here. Laboratory Code to Be Reopened May 9 Washington, April 27. — Modification of the recovery code for the film laboratory industry will be discussed at a hearing to be held at the Hotel Willard May 9, it was announced here today by Deputy Administrator William P. Farnsworth. The changes which have been proposed, it was said, involve standard costs accounting methods and the lowest reasonable cost of products. Legality of NIRA Act Is Questioned Albany, April 27. — Constitutionality of National Industrial Recovery Act and the State Enabling Act was questioned at a hearing before the (Continued on page 4) Put Clocks Ahead Clocks go ahead tomorrow morning at 2 o'clock for Daylight Saving Time, and stay that way until the last Sunday in September. Expect Early Endof A.T.&T. Trust Action Settlement of the anti-trust suit brought against A. T. & T., Western Electric and Erpi by the Stanley Co. of America, General Talking Pictures and Duovac Radio has been materially advanced by agreements on virtually all basic points and may be consummated some time next week, it was learned yesterday. What essentially amounts to an agreement has been reached with General Talking Pictures and Duovac, while all but final phases of a settlement with the Stanley Co., a Warner subsidiary, remain to be made, it is said. The first proposal for a settle (Continued on page 3) Farewell Luncheon Given to Patterson Willard C. Patterson, recently appointed Publix executive in Detroit under George W. Trendle, was given a farewell luncheon yesterday afternoon at the M. P. Club by Warner executives. Patterson leaves tomorrow night for the automobile city. Attending were Joseph Bernhard, I. J. Hoffman, Gradwell Sears, A. W. Smith, Don Jacocks, Moe Silver, Clayton Bond, Carl Lesserman, Abel Vigard, Lew Kaufman, Jules Levey, Ralph Budd, William Clarke, Frank Marshall, Herman Maier, Harold Rodner, Joe Hornstein, Jack Kelly, Lester Krieger and a number of others. Lew Brown Wants to Produce Films Here Lew Brown, who recently quit Fox as associate producer, admits he would like to produce independently in the east, but has not made up his mind as yet because of eight offers made to him by major companies. He says he can turn out pictures here cheaper than in the west. Brown is now considering production of a stage musical comedy, which he plans to do before reentering picture work. Sale of Stock Lessens Chase Power in Fox No Closer Gaumont Tie Is Seen by Kent By RED KANN Hollywood, April 27. — Chase National's sphere of influence in the affairs of Fox Film materially lessens as result of the sale of 200,000 shares of stock to Balfour. Boardman & Co.. Ltd.. London, with options for the purchase of 400.000 additional shares. At the same time Chase interests, which have invested over $115,000,000 to date in various Fox enterprises, will continue as holders of approximately 1,000,000 Fox shares. Sidney R. Kent today told Motion Picture Daily the probability was extremely strong that the English deal was engineered by Chase as part of its plan to gradually reduce its (Continued on page 3) Labor Muddle Goes On in Kansas City Kansas City, April 27. — With exhibitors and unions as far apart as they were six months ago on what constitutes an equitable contract, the labor situation in Kansas City continues in a muddle, and in all probability will not be clarified until the (Continued on page 4) Atkinson to Confer On Denver Theatre William E. Atkinson, president and receiver for Fox Theatres Corp.,, leaves for Denver next week to look over the Isis, now being operated under a leasing deal by Rick Ricketson, in charge of the Fox Rocky Mountain circuit of 11 theatres. Atkinson will confer with Ricketson and pass on a plan which calls for $10,000 in improvements for the house. Schlesinger Renews Deal with Warners Hollywood, April 27. — Leon Schlesinger has renewed with Warners for release of "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies." He will have 13 each for the new program, the "Melodies" to be in color. Beginning May 1 all release prints will be processed in Hollywood.