Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, May 10, 1934 Patman Bill Target of Attack in MPPDA Brief (Continued bill "are calculated to obstruct rather than serve the object in view." That the Patman bill would repudiate the NRA insofar as the industry is concerned and would "create a conflict of authority" thereby, is one of the principal objections made to it in the brief. The contention that the federal bill would "prevent the necessity of state censorship" is denied by Petti john, who points out that the measure does not abolish any of the six existing state censor boards, nor would it "prevent the creation of 42 additional boards should the remaining states see fit to establish them. "It trebles censorship by adding federal supervision, both before and after production, to existing state and municipal censorship and establishes a national censorship identical in principle with European political controls from page 1) which prescribe in advance what news may be printed and what films produced," the brief declares. Other objections stated are that the measure is "confiscatory" in that it places no limits on the expenditures of the commission which it proposes to establish and the fees stipulated in the bill "would amount to more than $8,000,000 annually," which would have to be borne by the industry in addition to maintenance of Code Authority and existing state and municipal censor boards. The measure is also opposed as "discriminatory," "unenforceable," "impracticable" and "unconstitutional." Pettijohn states in the brief that permission to file it was granted by Representative Patman, author of the measure, which is regarded as "dead" for this session of Congress, at least. Act for Early Revamping of Paramount (Continued from page 1) member of the Paramount board, from membership on the protective committee in order to disassociate himself from any single group of creditors prior to the submission of a reorganization plan, which must be approved by "various classes of creditors." The committee's letter informs the bond depositors of the withdrawal of the $178,000,000 claim on the Paramount Building, New York which was filed against the bankrupt estate. The claim was the largest single item in the total of more than $282,000,000 of creditors' claims which were filed against Paramount. Withdrawal of the bondholders' claim resulted from the recent agreement worked out with the trustees in bankruptcy for Paramount which involves the issuance of new bonds in the reorganized Paramount for equal exchange with the old. The committee's letter commends Kuhn, Loeb & Co. for the part it is playing in the Paramount reorganization and relates that $16,000,000 of claims filed against Paramount have been withdrawn or expunged to date, exclusive of the $178,000,000 bondholders' claim. Differ in K. C. on Protection Changes (Continued from page 1) other distributors serving these theatres will join in. W. A. Finney, Columbus, Loew's district manager, expressed resentment at the board's cutting the Midland's clearance in half. He said the house may go exclusive with the new season. He contends protection in existing contracts cannot be disturbed and the whole plan is illegal, adding the board cannot interfere with Loew's as it plays "its own pictures" (meaning M-G-M). Barney Toffee, Tower manager, said he intends filing an immediate protest. W. D. Fulton, an independent, who had expressed opposition to revision, said its opponents among independent suburbans are willing to comply for the present and give the schedule a chance to prove it is fair. All concerned profess a desire to see the cut-throat competitive situation cleared up. All houses must within seven days after the effective date of the new schedule, which is June 10, file their admission scales with the clearance and zoning board. They will be notified of their classifications, according to the prices filed. First runs with stage shows are to be deemed a dime less than the actual price charged. Seeks More Clearance San Francisco, May 9. — Fox West Coast, on behalf of the Warfield here, has filed a protest with the local clearance board against the existing 56-day clearance clause, demanding 90-day clearance because of the double bill crisis involving major second runs. Trio, Zanuck-Made, To Start U. A. List (Continued from page 1) Darryl F. Zanuck, producing head of 20th Century which made the trio. The pictures will be released for resort dates during the summer and go into general release with the advent of the new season. Zanuck so declared at a cocktail party given in his honor yesterday by Joseph M. Schenck, president of United Artists and the producer's partner in 20th Century, at the Stork Club, popular night spot and "speak" before prohibition but now turned restaurant. The party was one of the most representative held in the industry in New York in many months. Well over 150 attended including the New York columnists, daily newspaper and photoplay editors and critics and trade paper representatives as well as the executive personnel of U.A. Columbia Wins in Kan. Grievance Case Kansas City, Mo., May 9. — The grievance board today found for Columbia against Charles Stanley's Columbian, Wamego, Kan., handing down a decision under which the former can either force the latter to fulfill his contract or bring suit. It was testified Stanley turned his theatre over to his father-in-law with the alleged intent of breaking his agreement. Upon Glen Dickinson's explanation that the manager of the Varsity, Lawrence, Kan., disregarded his orders against free admissions, the complaint brought against his circuit by C. A. Schultz of Commonwealth Theatres was dismissed. Schultz was notified of Dickinson's promise that the offense would not be repeated. Dallas, May 9. — The case of Frels vs. the Jefferson Amusement Co. was decided today in favor of the former by the grievance board. The defendant will appeal. Meyer, Nolan Better Hollywood, May 9. — Fred Meyer and John Nolan are reported rapidly improving at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. Goldstein Is Made Cleveland Manager Harry H. Goldstein, formerly Paramount branch manager at Pittsburgh, was named Cleveland district manager, succeeding Edward Fontaine, by Neil F. Agnew, Paramount general sales manager, yesterday. Fontaine, previously, had been made Chicago district manager, succeeding Charles Reagan, Paramount's new western division manager. Dave Kimelman former Pittsburgh salesman has been promoted to branch manager there. Harold Rodner Returns Harold Rodner returned yesterday from a nine-day trip to the coast where he set up a Warner club. Temporary officers elected to the studio club are William Koenig, president, and Kenny Wright, vice-president. Permanent officers will be named in June. Take on Predari Short Inter-Continent Corp., headed by M. D. Strong, has secured distribution rights for New York state and southern New Jersey on C. John Predari's two-reeler, "Two Hard Workers." Foreign rights have also been secured. Fox Closing Saturday The Fox home office will close Saturday and every succeeding Saturday through the summer in observance of the five-day week. The Warner and M-G-M home offices have made no plans as yet to follow the lead of the other majors. Flash Review Three on a Honeymoon — Pleasant entertainment. . . . This film will be reviewed in full in a later issue of Motion Picture Daily. Eastman on $4 Basis Eastman Kodak common went on a $4 annual basis yesterday with announcement of a quarterly dividend of $1 per share. Reels Attain Full Freedom From Censors (Continued from page 1) M. P. P. D. A. general counsel, returned yesterday from a conference with Mayor Edward Kelly of Chicago at which a settlement of the newsreel issue was achieved. The details of the agreement, however, have not been disclosed, by agreement among the conferees. Other states in which newsreel censorship measures have been repealed are Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Newsreel organizations, working quietly, are credited with achieving the elimination of the legislation, no announcement of which was made during the progress of the work. Authority to Fill Vacancies on Boards Replacement of the three code board members who have resigned will be made by Campi at its meeting tomorrow. The men who have withdrawn are O. H. Lee of the Minneapolis clearance and zoning board, John Elliott of the Cincinnati grievance board and Moe Streimer of the Manhattan, Staten Island and Westchester clearance and zoning advisory committee. Next Tuesday Executive Secretary John C. Flinn will meet with 10 code secretaries of eastern boards and go over administration work and explain latest forms issued in connection with the code. Estimate Board Acts Upon City Tax Bill Mayor LaGuardia's tax bill designed to impose a levy of one-tenth of one per cent on bond brokers, factors and others doing a percentage business and one-twentieth of one per cent on the income of all other business passed the Board of Estimate branch of the Municipal Assembly yesterday. It is expected to yield $8,000,000 in revenue for the rest of this year. Theatres are planning to protest on the ground that it discriminates against properties already heavily assessed as real estate when it comes before the Board of Aldermen. Roach Talking Two From Laurel-Hardy Hollywood, May 9. — Hal Roach is considering two Laurel and Hardy features for M-G-M's program next season in addition to a series of shorts by the comedians. Roach is now conferring with Henry Ginsberg, who recently returned from New York inferences. Laurel and Hardy are represented with two features on the present schedule. Atkinson Leaves Sunday William E. Atkinson, president and receiver for Fox Theatres Corp., leaves for Denver Sunday to confer with Rick Ricketson on remodeling plans for the Isis, under lease to Ricketson. Atkinson returns sometime next week.