Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

4 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, October 30, 1 934 New Uses for Films Coming, Says Quigley {Continued from page 1) many of them were worthy of comparison with standard film product and were suited for auditorium projection. He mentioned a science film recently produced by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and said sub-standard width films were now being used extensively in science, physics, medicine, teaching and industry. He agreed with Quigley in saying that civic groups and others seeking specialized films should not depend upon the producers of theatrical film for their supply. In closing he thanked the S. M. P. E. for providing the apparatus that has made amateurs' work possible. The luncheon was one of the opening features of the four-day fall convention. At the morning session H. G. Tasker of the U. S. Research Laboratories was elected president as successor of Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith. Other officers named were : Executive vice-president, Emery Huse ; editorial vice-president, J. L. Crabtree ; convention vice-president, W. C. Kunzmann; secretary, J. H. Kurlander ; treasurer, T. E. Shea ; governors, M. T. Betsel and S. K. Wolf. Spring Meet on Coast Another of the opening day's developments was a decision of the board of governors to hold the spring convention next year in Hollywood. Closer relations with the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences and with engineers in the studio end of the industry were forecast by Tasker. Frances Taylor Patterson, director of photoplay appreciation at Columbia University, pleased the engineers by saying that she had always admired the technicians of the business, and had often found in the course of her work that students remembered outstanding technical phases of films more often than they remembered story angles. Subjects discussed at the morning session were: "Current Developments in Production Methods in Hollywood," Tasker; "The Use of Motion Pictures for Visual Education," Miss R. Hockheimer, director of visual education in New York City schools ; "The Motion Picture Industry in Russia," V. I. Verlinsky, Amkino Corp. A picture called "Fundamentals of Acoustics" was shown, and reports were submitted by R. F. Mitchell for the non-theatrical equipment committee, and by W. E. Theisen for the historical and musuem committee. Afternoon subjects were: "New Developments in Micro Motion Picture Technic," H. Rosenberger; "Some Technical Aspects of Wild Animal Photography," Martin Johnson ; "The Theatregoer's Reaction to the Audible Pictures as It Was and Now," Mordaunt Hall; "Historical Notes on X-Ray Cinematography," R. F. Mitchell ; "Roentgen Cinematography," R. F. James ; "Application of X-Ray Photography in Industrial Development Work," J. R. Townsend and L. E. Abbott; "Applications of High Speed Motion Picture Photography in Industrial Development Work," H. I. Day. At the evening session there was one talk — "Some Photographic .Aspects of Sound Recording," by C. E. K. Mees, followed by the showing of films. Sound will be the principal topic of the morning session today, with projection, architectural acoustic and theatre fronts making up the afternoon program. Legal Points Face Joyce on Para. Fees {Continued from page 1) questioned whether the allowances should be limited to the provisions of the old bankruptcy law which specify that the fees shall be two per cent of the moneys handled by the trustees for the bankrupt estate which, it is said, would limit the allowances to less than $50,000. Arthur A. Ballantine, of counsel for the trustees, argued that the old law does not apply, since Paramount filed for reorganization under the new Section 77-B, and pointed out that the new statute provides that the court shall set a "reasonable" allowance. He also argued that the trustees, in any event, should have allowances computed on the moneys handled for Paramount Publix subsidiaries, even though most of these were not, themselves, in bankruptcy. "The management and control of the producing and distributing subsidiaries," Ballantine said, "forms a very large part of the trustees' work. The budgets for those companies were set by the trustees and all checks disbursed by them are countersigned by the trustees." For Part Payment Now Malcolm Sumner, reported to represent holders of 14 Paramount bonds, advocated a part payment, "on account," at the present time with final payment to be made when the legal points involved have been decided either by the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court. He pointed out that the issues involved have not yet been determined in bankruptcy practice because of the newness of Section 77-B. Morton G. Bogue, representing Paramount creditor banks and, also, counsel for the bondholders committee of Fox Metropolitan Playhouses, stated that the "on account" payment was the procedure adopted recently by Federal Judge Julian W. Mack in the matter of allowances asked by the_ receiver and counsel for Fox Met which, like Paramount, has also filed for reorganization under Section 77-B thus bringing to bear on its situation, likewise, the provisions of both the old and new statutes on allowances. Samuel Zirn, counsel for several bondholders, argued that the trustees and their counsel are subject to the provisions of the old statute relating to compensation, that is the two per cent of the moneys handled for the bankrupt. He also argued that the moneys of the solvent subsidiaries should not be included in this computation. Para. Loses Appeal On Customs Ruling Washington, Oct. 29.— The U. S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals today rejected a petition of Paramount Publix Corp. for dismissal of a government appeal from a decision of the U. S. Customs Court in New York upholding the company's protest against rates of duty assessed against imports of projection apparatus and parts. The collector of customs had assessed the imports at a higher rate than the company felt proper and its protest to the customs court had been upheld. The petition for dismissal was based on the ground that the law required all such appeals on the part of the government to be made by the collector of customs or the Secretary of the Treasury and attacked the validity of an executive order issued by the President June 10, 1933, transferring the handling of all litigation to the Department of Justice. The court ruled that Congress has authorized the President to transfer the functions of any department to another department and ordered the company to file its briefs on the issues involved within 30 days. Denver Giveaways Amendment Drafted {Continued from page 1) giveaways unfair competition unless it has 75 per cent authorization to do so in writing. Nothing happened as a result of the "manifesto" several weeks ago in which theatre owners here decided to have nothing further to do with the code unless their demands were granted. Code Authority yesterday confirmed receipt of the Denver draft for a change in the code. It was pointed out that unless the local exhibitors banned giveaways by a 75 per cent vote, it was not a Campi matter and Denver exhibitors could do as they pleased in adopting a new method for giveaways. Up to date no action on premiums has been taken by Denver theatre owners, it was stated. Weeks Says G-B in All the First Runs George W. Weeks, general sales manager of Gaumont British, says he has closed deals for G-B product in every first run spot in America. The majority of the deals, he says, include the first group of eight releases. Among the circuits included are : Publix, Loew's, RICO, F. W. C, Warners, Al Steffes in the northwest, Fox Met, and Feiber & Shea. Para. Men Confer Here Myke Lewis of Los Angeles, Hugh Braley of Denver and Morris Mulligan, general manager of Paramount in Canada, are in town for home office conferences following the three-day Paramount divisional managers' meeting in Hot Springs. J. J. Unger, who also attended the session, left for Atlanta and New Orleans. Telle gen Held Suicide Hollywood, Oct. 29. — Lou Tellegen was found stabbed to death in his bathroom this afternoon. The police verdict was suicide, with despondency given as the motive. He was 53. Katz Wedding Expected Hollywood, Oct. 29. — The weekend wedding of Sari Maritza to Sam Katz caused little surprise in Hollywood circles. The ceremony was performed in Phoenix Saturday. NRA May Hold! A Hearing on Dues Schedule! — {Continued from page 1) most of the protests which have comr; in. While unable to say what step would be taken to iron out the situa j tion, Farns worth explained "there ha.' been so much difficulty, because of thr j failure to work out satisfactory schedules, we may have to call a publn hearing to speed things up." Although Farnsworth emphasize! that it is a matter of indifference t< him what sort of a schedule is adopted . his sole job being to see that one i approved which is satisfactory to th< entire industry, there are indication, that the recovery administration V* becoming critical of the captious atti tude of members of the industry which has placed so many hurdles ii the way of settlement of the questioij of finances. Because of this, it ha been intimated, the Administration may call the several branches of th 1 industry to Washington to thrash ou; the whole question in public hearing. 1 The majority of the complaints, u was said, take the attitude that on 1 percentage basis the smaller companiei receive a heavier tax than do those a] the top, although it is admitted tha in real money the latter pay more anj are further subject to assessments foj theatre holdings. The complaints a?; pear to take into consideration th| apparent effort of Campi to make thei burden as light as possible, which re suited in the independent group bein; called upon for a total contribution cj but $18,000, instead of the $30,000 fir; proposed. Ask Pro-Rata Basis In lieu of the present schedule, it u suggested that the assessments fc, distributors should be "based on th ! pro rata percentage that each distribt tor's gross income from film rental bears to the total sum of $180,00 which is to be paid by the distribute members as their share of code at thority costs." Among the complaints received, i addition to that of Johnston, were lef ters from Arthur C. Bromberg, Monc gram distributor in Atlanta; Premie Pictures Corp., St. Louis ; Monograi Pictures. Detroit; Gold Medal Fib Exchange and Majestic Pictures, Inc Philadelphia : Security Pictures, Inc New York ; First Division Exchange New York; Hollywood Film Corf Boston ; and Liberty Film Exchange Washington. The sole complaint against the e> hibitor assessments came in toda from Allied Independent Theatres c Wisconsin, signed by R. A. Tesc) business manager. Explaining that tr organization represents approximate! 100 houses. Tesch attacked the scher ule on the ground that "although tr major part of the total assessmei will be collected from independent as witness the $30,000 from towns c< less than 25,000" they are given r, proportionate representation and tr.1 schedule is therefore discriminatory. Tesch suggested that assessment "be based on ratio of class represerJ tation on Code Authority until ins i; j tent demand for proper representatio by thousands of independent exhibitoi are acceded."