Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

The Leading Newspaper II of, the Motion, j Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent and Faith full Service to' the Industry in All Branches VOL. 36. NO. 88 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1934 TEN CENTS Warner Sees Patent Ruling Theatre Peril Declares Fox Victory Creates Big Problem Philadelphia, Oct. 12— Harry M. Warner, head of Warners, struck a serious note at the sixth annual golf tournament and dinner dance sponsored by the Philadelphia Exhibitor today when he stated that the U. S. Supreme Court's refusal this week to grant a rehearing in the American Tri-Ergon patent case had created one of the most serious situations that exhibitors have ever faced. He prophesied that vital changes in the sound picture might be expected in the future as a result of the court's action in upholding William Fox's contention that double prints and flywheel patents controlled by him had been infringed upon. There were 70 entered in the tournament, while the attendance at the dinner-dance in the evening was 200. The tap golfer was Johnny Bachman. Thirty prizes were awarded. (Continued on page 3) Warners Cut Scales In Milwaukee Spots Milwaukee, Oct. 12. — Warners have announced new low prices for the Venetian, Egyptian and State, local neighborhood houses, with adults admitted for 15 cents every Saturday until 6 P. M. and every Sunday until 5 P. M. The circuit is now playing twin bills at both its Egyptian and State. A number of state cities have also gone in for dual features on a big scale and in Green Bay the Bay Theatre is offering five acts of vaudeville with two first run flickers every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. After several postponements the Strand will be opened Saturday by Warners on a 25c-35c scale with dual bills. Tussle Over Duals Continues to Rage Cleveland, O., Oct. 12. — An application to intervene in the case of the Center Woodland Amusement Co. against the Family Theatre in which Common Pleas Judge Alva Corlott last week granted a permanent injunction restraining the Family from showing duals, was filed by Lawrence Rich, attorney, representing Morris (Continued on pane 3) Hays Tells Catholic Meeting Films Purged by Church Drive The belief that the church drive against objectionable pictures has "wiped sin and shame from the screen" was expressed by Will Hays, M. P. P. D. A. head, in a letter read yesterday at the 11th biennial convention of the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae at the Waldorf-Astoria. "Current motion pictures," added the letter, "are meeting with an encouraging public response. "You have been, perhaps, the most severe of all the groups in your appraisal of pictures, but always your criticism has been specific and you have brought the weight of your opinion directly to the makers of pictures." Competition to Determine Protection, Campi Holds Theatres not in competitive zones cannot have protection over one another, Campi has decided after a heated discussion on this topic at Thursday's meeting. Some members of Campi held that theatres in zone "A" could have clearance on houses in zone "B" provided the proximity warranted. However, this idea was vetoed and the original plan stands as is. The Chicago clearance and zoning schedule was turned back to the local board on the ground that it violates all the principles for setting up schedules. This was the only general schedule discussed by Campi and now it goes back to the Windy City for an airing. Joe Levinson won his protest when Code Authority held that Brookline, (Continued on page 3) Plan Protest Over Dubinsky's Tenure Kansas City, Oct. 12. — Exhibitors in St. Joseph, Mo., are preparing to demand that Irwin Dubinsky be disqualified from serving on the local clearance and zoning board when their clearance schedule comes up for revision next Monday. The protest, it is said, will be on the ground Dubinsky Bros.' houses in St. Joseph are involved. While the setup originally drafted for St. Joseph is satisfactory to the opposition, Dubinsky has objected, claiming it does not allow his first runs adequate pro (Continned on page 3) Code Regulations on Extras Take Effect Washington, Oct. 12. — No protests having been lodged, the regulations on extras were made effective today by the National Recovery Administration. These regulations were submitted by the extra committee last month and (Continued on page 3) All Hands Deny St. Louis, Oct. 12.— Harry C Arthur of F. & M. and Thomas Dysart of the bondholders' committee today vehemently denied reports that the F. & M. circuit would lose the Missouri, Ambassador and St. Louis. The report had it that the houses may revert to Skouras, who recently was forced to vacate from the trio. F. & M. has 10-year leases on the three houses with $105,000 up as security. Jack Partington of the local F. & M. office yesterday added his to the St. Louis denials, declaring the reports "just a pack of lies." Spyros Skouras, who has been in St. Louis, returned yesterday by plane. Milwaukee Operator Scales Are Boosted Milwaukee, Oct. 12. — After weeks of dickering, exhibitors and the Motion Picture Projectionists' Union, Local 164, have arrived at an agreement for new wage scales retroactive to Sept. 1, when the old contract expired. The new scale provides for an increase ranging from 10 to 14 per cent, depending upon classification of the theatres. The increase in Class 1 houses is about 10 per cent with booth cost set at $341.88 per week, while the percentage of ante for Class 5 is similar with booth costs at $57.75 per week. Houses in Class 1(a) are subject to the largest boost, with booth cost at $285, (Continued on page 3) Assessments Again Turned DownbyNRA Revisions Suggested — May Be Set Monday Washington, Oct. 12. — Despite the fact that the code finance committee, consisting of S. R. Kent, Harold S. Bareford and Edward Golden, approved the revised producer-distributor assessment schedule, the NRA Division of Research and Planning has turned it down for a second time. The NRA has made certain recommendations for revision in a letter to Campi and it is understood that the changes will be made by Monday. All major companies had approved the plan and practically all of the independents agreed to it, but the NRA committee here would not accept it on the grounds that the formula for basic rates, based on gross business, is unfair to the small producer and distributor. It is apparent to Washington forces that the plan is wrong in the abstract and theory. It has been sent back for a third time. With the NRA turning the schedule down, the move is considered (Continued on page 3) Local Pool Aired In Second Meeting Local exchange managers yesterday met with Louis Nizer, executive secretary of the New York Film Board of Trade, and discussed the three-cornered pooling arrangements on Long Island between A. H. Schwartz, George Skouras and Joseph Seider. Reports were current that Springer & Cocalis may enter the pool with the booking-buying plan being extended to Brooklyn. No action was taken and another meeting will be called shortly. "Barretts" in 2nd Week Does $46,000 "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" continues to hold to good patronage at the Capitol, garnering $46,000 in the second week. The Paramount fell off considerably on the third and last week of "Belle of the Nineties," grossing $28,000. "Peck's Bad Boy" didn't hit the $33,000 expected at the Roxy, but came close to it with a $29,000 take. Both the Roxy and the Capitol hold over.