Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

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The Leading Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent and Faithful i Service to' the Industry in All Branches VOL. 36. NO. 83 NEW YORK, MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1934 TEN CENTS RKOPayments Held Pending Court Action Proposed Deal Reduces Monthly Maturities Payment of accumulated maturities of $600,000 of principal amount of the $1,500,000 RKO gold notes outstanding, held by Consolidated Film Industries and secured by virtually all of the RKO investments in subsidiaries, is being held in abeyance pending submission of a new agreement to the U. S. District Court here providing for a reduction in the amount of the monthly maturities of the notes, it was learned Saturday. The new agreement, if approved by the court, may lower the maturities (Continued on page 8) First Run Situation Acute in St, Louis St. Louis, Oct. 7. — The first run situation has become acute. With four first runs in operation in recent months, there have been weeks when all of them have been in the black, but with nine running at present newspapers and billboards have been getting most of the benefit. World Series crowds are a big help at present, with "Dames," "She Loves Me Not," "Cleopatra" and "British Agent" running. There is some talk of a code complaint by F. & M. to get product. Washington Houses Take in $5,165,000 Washington, Oct. 7. — Box-office receipts of 195 film theatres in the state of Washington last year totaled S5.165.000, while 18 legitimate and vaudefilm houses took in $1,809,000, U. S. Census Bureau states. The bureau also released figures for Virginia, showing receipts of $4,129,000 by the 159 film and vaudefilm houses in the state. The film houses in Washington paid out $1,021,000 in salaries in 1933, the {Continued on page 8) Tries Gold Hooks Hollywood, Oct. 7.— Trout up Lone Pine way are so tired of rusty hooks that they won't bite any more. Gary Cooper is going to fool them with gold hooks and needle points. MPTOA Busy on Moves to Add Three State Groups New M.P.T.O.A. units are expected in northern New Jersey, Michigan and eastern New York. The three contemplated units, if organized, would invade territories dominated by Allied, which has considerable strength at these regions. Recently, Ed Kuykendall, president of the M.P.T.O.A., stated that a trio of new affiliations was being considered by his organization, but he would not mention the territories in mind. Allied last week annexed the G.F.T.A. Independent Theatre Owners' Assn. of Atlanta, which covers four states and raised the total of states in which Allied is represented to 32. Allied plans to invade all M.P.T.O.A. territories in due time and it is believed the M.P.T.O.A. will not sit back without making a like move against Sidney Samuelson's organization. Samuelson plans to add another independent organization to his ranks within the next few weeks, but will not tip off the unit until it aligns with Allied. Northern New Jersey is Samuelson's stamping ground, and if the M.P.T.O.A. ventures into this Allied stronghold, it is said Allied will make a strong play for additional southern territories. Deal on to Settle Suit by Quittner An out of court settlement of the long pending Edward Quittner monopoly suit asking triple damages in excess of $5,000,000 from Paramount Publix, the M.P.P.D.A. and a majority of its member distributing companies is being discussed and may be consummated in the near future, it was learned Saturday. The Quittner suit was tried in U. S. District Court here early in 1933 and dismissed by Judge Francis G. Caffey w:ho held that even if it were to be assumed that the defendants were guilty of a statutory violation there was no basis for determining the amount of damages suffered by Quittner as a result. Graham & {Continued on page 8) Columbia Directors Meet Here Tomorrow Columbia's board of directors meeting will be definitely held tomorrow after several postponements. Harry Cohn, president, will be unable to attend because of increased production activity on the coast which will require his presence at the studio. At the meeting seven directors will be elected and contracts of Harry and Jack Cohn, which are for three years as of July 1, 1934, will be ratified. L. A. Hearings Over, Coast Men Returning Following a three-day hearing on the Los Angeles clearance and zoning schedule, distributor and exhibitor members who came east for the hear (Continued on page 8) Settle Para. Tax Claim at $216,919 Settlement of a 1930 income tax claim of $471,452 filed against Paramount Publix by the Treasury Department has been made for $216,919, it was learned Saturday. Prior to the settlement the claim had been reduced to $389,094 after having been contested by the Paramount Publix trustees. At the time the tax was levied against Paramount by the Treasury Department, Arthur A. Ballantine of Root, Clark, Buckner & Ballantine, counsel for the Paramount trustees, was under secretary of the treasury. Because of this circumstance Ballantine has been eliminated from sharing in the fee paid his law firm for its services in contesting and settling the Federal claim. France to Abandon Import Quota Plan Paris, Oct. 7. — France will abandon its import quota system on Nov. 1 after a six months' study of its workings, the government has made known. Preparations for the change are being hurried in order that it may be made effective prior to Nov. 15, the date on which the government's extraordinary powers to make tariff (Continued on page 8) Expect a Break in Pittsburgh Ad Row Pittsburgh, Oct. 7. — A break is expected here shortly in the fight to win a lower theatre advertising rate. Right now, the situation remains as it has (Continued on page 8) British Deal Said to Hang On 2 Million Report Maxwell Eyeing Fox Gaumont Stock London, Oct. 7. — Negotiations for an amalgamation of British International Pictures and Gaumont British are understood to have broken down over a difference of about $2,460,000 on the purchase price. The opinion prevails here that negotiations may be resumed, but few will venture a prediction as to whether this will be in the near or remote future. Reports in the financial district over the week-end were to the effect that John Maxwell is now interested in purchasing the Fox 49 per cent in Gaumont British held by Chase National Bank. An offer has already been made, according to one report. Color is lent to the rumors by the Isidore Ostrer statement following (Continued on page 8) Mexico City Film Row Is Optimistic Mexico City, Oct. 7. — Film row is gratified and even optimistic over the assurance of President Abelardo Rodriguez to distributors, including representatives of nine American producers, who petitioned him to exempt the film industry from the proposed 10 per cent rental tax. While conferring with the President (Continued on page 8) Talks on Music Tax Go On Again Today A second meeting to discuss a compromise of the new music tax fees is scheduled for today between members of the exhibitors' emergency committee and E. C. Mills, general manager (Continued on page 8) Schlanger Colonel Added to the regiment of Kentucky colonels is Ted Schlanger of Warners' home office theatre department, who received his commission as aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Ruby Lafoon. i