Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

The Leading ^Newspaper Motion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent iNthfJp Jf §ervi|el|to' the industry in All Branches VOL. 35. NO. 110 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1934 TEN CENTS Avers Meehan Will Retain KAO Holdings In Accord with Setup Now, Says Spokesman Fireworks on the inside at RKO over the Keith-Albee-Orpheum situation, either have spent themselves or have gone into a respite for the present with declaration made for him yesterday that Hike Meehan, controlling factor in RKO's most important theatre subsidiary, now is satisfied with the situation as it stands. The Meehan spokesman, a financial man with considerable downtown experience and a reluctance to see his (Continued on page 3) Fabian Is Seeking Manhattan Houses Simon Fabian, co-receiver for Fox Metropolitan Playhouses, is negotiating for Manhattan Playhouses, which operates 18 theatres in Manhattan. While no papers have been signed, lawyers for Fabian, as well as Meyer & Schneider, Ben Sherman and Jack Steinman are now checking over details. Fabian denied yesterday he was negotiating for anyone but himself and his family. He could not give an approximate date when the deal would go through. Before Fabian became co-receiver (Continued on page 2) Balaban on Board Barney Balaban, B. & K. head, yesterday was named to Paramount's national theatre advisory council as Chicago district representative by Sam Dembow, Jr., vice-president of Paramount Theatres Service Corp. John Balaban, also of B. & K., was named as alternate. The council, originally designed to include only six Paramount operating partners, each representing an important theatre division of the company, may be enlarged to include eight or more members, Dembow said yesterday. Already elected to the council in addition to Balaban are: N. L. Nathanson, Karl Hoblitzelle, E. V. Richards and A. H. Blank. Overbuying, Protection Curb Spreads Nationally St. Louis Feels Effect Of Church Film Drive St. Louis, May 10. — The national "Crusade of Decency" sponsored by the Catholic Church is assuming serious aspects here. Under the leadership of the city's Catholics, who make up some 65 per cent of the population, the genera' sentiment against objectionable pictures has reached the point where intelligent theatremen are beinning to take stock of the situation. Some observers hold the decline in attendance is attributable only in part (Continued on page 7) Immoral Show Bill Gets Lehman's Veto Albany, May 10. — The Quinn bill relieving the owner or license holder of a theatre, as well as performers and employes, of responsibility for the presentation of an indecent show has been vetoed by Governor Lehman on the ground the measure "would render ineffective the provisions of the penal law relative to immoral performances." "It would open the way for comparatively safe violations by irresponsible tenant producers, with immunity to the principal financial beneficiaries of indecent productions," adds the statement accompanying the veto. Phila. Group Plans Court Test on Duals Philadelphia, May 10. — Independent exhibitors gathered here today decided to raise a fund to start a court test on a contract which includes a ban on dual billing. Conspiracy in restraint of trade will be alleged. The case which brought the matter up involved duals only indirectly, but has caused considerable agitation. The meeting was not an M. P. T. O. session, but many who attended were M. P. T. O. members. Strike in St. Louis Puts House on Duals St. Louis, May 10. — As a result of the musicians' walkout at the Ambassador at the start of what was to have been a test return engagement of Ed (Continued on page 7) Clean Sweep Complete disassociation of Roxy, in name and in deed, from operations of the Music Hall finds the Roxyettes in their third week of re-christening as the Rockettes. Around the RKO offices, the idea is traced to W. G. Van Schmus, who represents the Rockefeller interests. Report Delay Brings Threat To Quiz NRA Washington, May 10. — Any attempt on the part of administration officials to withhold the Clarence Darrow report will result in a demand for a Senate investigation of the NRA, it was threatened today by Senator Nye of North Dakota, who was instrumental in having the National Recovery Review Board established. Nye scoffed at reports that the document had been referred to the Department of Justice, Federal Trade (Continued on page 6) M-G-M Set to Make Films in England M-G-M is definitely set to produce a number of pictures in England next season, Arthur M. Loew, head of the fcompany's foreign activities, stated yesterday upon his return from a twomonth tour of Europe. While plans for studio, staff and players have not been decided, Loew said the purpose behind the move is not so much the production of quota pictures as it is to make pictures in (Continued on page 2) Rulings of Code Boards Expected to Restrain Circuits' Moves Numerous complaints filed with grievance boards throughout the country charging overbuying and excessive protection are expected to result in more advantageous buying terms for the individual theatre operator and subsequent run when new season contract deals get under way. In this particular, the code is seen operating to the benefit of the "little man," even if indirectly, and to a great extent solves a problem that has vexed exhibitor-distributor relations for a long time, sometimes leading to (Continued on page 6) Chicago Case May Be Initial Appeal Chicago, May 10. — Possibly the first case to reach Code Authority will be that of Bartlestein vs. Paramount. Ben Bartlestein says he may appeal as a result of dismissal by unanimous vote of his charge that after (Continued on page 6) Campi Is Expected To Delay Decision No decision is expected today by Campi when preliminary discussions start on an appeal by Vitagraph and (Continued on page 6) Four Meetings Set Fox, Universal, Paramount and RKO are set to go on their annual sales conventions. Columbia, M-G-M and Warners are still talking plans. Monogram franchise-holders have met, but regional parleys are in the offing. Dates, definitely set, follow: May 31June 2. — Fox in New York. June 5-7. — Universal in New York. June 18-20. — Paramount in Los Angeles. RKO in Chicago.