Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1934)

18 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, December 7, 1934 British CEA Overbuilding Fight Starts By BRUCE ALLAN London, Nov. 30.— Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n. has started its campaign against overbuilding with the issue of a pamphlet, "Are There Too Many Cinemas?" This provocative piece of publicity consists, as had been announced in advance, of a reprint of Sam Eckman's paper on "Overbuilding," read to the exhibitors' summer conference at Blackpool, plus the legal opinion from W. E. Tyldesley Jones, K. C., as to the rights possessed by licensing authorities to veto new erection. There is also a foreword, by General Secretary Fuller, as to C. E. A. policy on this thorny question. Fuller makes a special protest against the erection of buildings by local speculators. Tyldesley Jones states very explicitly the important legal opinion that licensing authorities "have an absolute discretion as to the grant or refusal of a cinematograph license, and there is no appeal from their refusal." Expressing the view that, in considering an application for a new license, the authorities may "consider the number of cinemas already in a district and whether it is in the public interest that a license for a new cinema should be granted," Jones emphasizes that each application must be judged on its merits. "They cannot fetter their discretion by deciding beforehand that they will refuse all new applications," and they must consider only public interest and not "the effect of the new cinema on existing cinemas by reducing their profits . . . though a refusal is not invalidated because it inures for the benefit of the existing licensees." Another significant feature about the issue of this pamphlet marks a burying of the hatchet by Eckman and John Maxwell. Eckman supplies a postscript to his paper in which he emphasizes that he is not against all new construction and that he admits the reasonable nature of competition in districts where existing halls are out of date. Maxwell in his turn has expressed approval of the pamphlet. A public meeting is to be organized by the Trades Council at Manchester at which an appeal will be made to the public to refuse to patronize theatres which do not observe trade union conditions. This decision is the sequel to the alleged refusal of local exhibitors to discuss wage scales and working conditions with the National Association of Theatrical Employees. Of one hundred and fifty theatres in the Man Chester area fifty are "union" houses. Wage negotiations in London have resulted in a working agreement, for a trial 12 months, between owners and employes represented on the Joint Conciliation Board. The northwestern branch of the C E. A. has brought to the attention of the general council the alleged inclusion in a magazine film of items of an advertising character, puffing well known products. * * * The British Film Institute has issued as a leaflet a "Survey of the Situation Regarding Non-Theatrical Cinematograph Apparatus and Films" which includes details of all available apparatus for 9 mm., 16 mm. and 17.5 mm. films. The institute also goes on record in favor of standardization on the basis of the I. C. E. 16 mm. system already adopted in France, Italy and Germany. * *• * P. C. T. Construction, Ltd., a G-B subsidiary, made £101,000 profit for the year and pays four per cent on ordinary shares. P. C. T. C. is a financing company to the G. B. theatre companies. * * * An unnamed American production company is reported to be negotiating with the Irish Free State Government on the basis that it will erect a modern studio in return for sole production rights in the I. F. S. Irish stories will be acquired and the first film made next summer. Associated British Film Distributors (Dominion and Foreign), Ltd., has been formed by Basil Dean, chairman of A. B. F. D. which produced at the A. T. P. studio, Ealing, London, in order to cope with increasing sales abroad. * * * Cyril Harris has been appointed commercial engineer for W. E. in England, in charge of the nontheatrical field. Col. W. E. Dennis, previously commercial engineer, has resumed the duties of commercial operating manager. * * * Charles Scott and Campbell Black, who won the London-Australia air race, carried a Mickey Mouse mascot and a letter from Walt Disney's London representative to Mickey Mouse, Melbourne. * * * Arthur Dent, managing director of B. I. P. (Export), Ltd., has closed a deal with Consolidated Films of Johannesburg, whereby 25 British International films will be secured for full South African distribution. Among them are "Blossom Time," "The Great Defender," "The Old Curiosity Shop," "Radio Parade of 1935" and "Du Barry." British exhibitors running programs of more than three and one-quarter hours will be put on the barred list by distributors who are members of the Kinematograph Renters' Society. This entails the refusal of further films. The decision follows discussions between a deputation from the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n. and the council of the K. R. S. Double bills, in addition to newsreels and shorts, are hit by this decision. Distributors object to duals because big features are played on percentage and the cost of the supporting program reduces their proportion of receipts. Deny 2nd Sunday Vote Melrose, Mass., Dec. 6. — The City Council has turned down a petition to re-submit the question of Sunday shows to the voters on the ground that the city has voted on the matter once this year, at the special election last April, and therefore should not be called upon to vote again on the same question the same year. The petition asked that the question be submitted again at the city election next month. Vibrations Hollywood, Dec. 6. — Take it from Jack Lewis of the Producers Assn., it's a genuine thrill to win a poker hand when traveling 120 miles an hour. When Lewis garnered a full house on his recent trip East on the Union Pacific Streamliner, he wondered whether it was the train shaking, or just a case of poker nerves. A little later he was told they had just covered two miles in one minute. Revues Going Along Nicely In Providence Four New Concerns Chartered at Dover Dover, Dec. 6. — Eaves Sound Projectors, Inc., Show Van, Inc., General Electric Specialties Corp. and Radio Club of America-Poland have been chartered here. Eaves Sound Projectors, listed capital of $100,000. The incorporators are M. S. Cook, A. L. Raughley and J. M. Townsend of Dover. Show Van filed to engage in the theatrical and general amusement business, listing a capital of $30,000. The incorporators are Wayne D. Phillips, J. Jack Stanley and Edward Weinstein of San Antonio, Texas. General Electric Specialties filed to obtain and develop patents, listing capital stock of 2,000 shares, no par value. The incorporators are M. M. Lucey, H. I. Brown an<i L. S. Dorsey of Wilmington. Radio Club of AmericaPoland filed to do a broadcasting business, listing no capital stock. The incorporators are M. S. Cook, A. L. Raughley and J. M. Townsend of Dover. Atkinson Made Head Of Canada's Legion Toronto, Dec. 6. — Dr. Sam Atkinson has been named president of the Legion of Decency in Canada. The head of the movement is described as "formerly connected with the motion picture industry in Chicago." Dr. Atkinson asserted that "if any theatre in Ontario shows a picture that is on the black list, then the people may be advised not to attend that theatre at all," pointing out also that the movement is not confined to Catholics alone. "The Legion of Decency has been firmly established and many thousands of people throughout Canada will take the pledge," he added. Salvador Official Seeks Mexican Film By JAMES LOCKHART Mexico City, Dec. 6. — Dagoberto Galvidia, sub-secretary of state for San Salvador, is here inspecting film production with a view to increasing imports of Mexican films into San Salvador. He says Mexican pictures are popular there. Producers here are elated as they see the possibility of increasing exports. Fulton to Des Moines Des Moines, Dec. 6. — Robert K. Fulton is to be the new manager of the Roosevelt, new suburban theatre scheduled to open Christmas Day as a member of the A. H. Blank group. Building and decorating are being completed and equipment is now being installed. Fulton comes from the Strand at Waterloo, where he is being succeeded by Joe Stewart of the Garden in Des Moines. Providence, Dec. 6. — Revues as an adjunct to first run films are getting a great play and a big hand at Fay's, where they have been staged for the past month. Realizing that audiences were more or less fed up on the old-time five acts of vaudeville, Fay conceived the idea of the miniature revue and its success has proved the soundness of his theory. The revues have comics, dancers and torch wailers with a crowd of girls prancing through smart routines. It looks as though the policy is in for the winter. Omaha Again Hears Bank Night Charge Omaha, Dec. 6. — The grievance board established the fact that there was and is competition between the Capitol and Rialto theatres at Sioux City, Iowa, in a rehearing of a bank night case ordered by Code Authority. The Capitol, an A. H. Blank house, was the complainant against the Rialto, managed by E. E. Seff. The local board has found Seff guilty of bank night operation previously and he had appealed. Code Authority declined to hear the appeal until the local board had established the fact the houses were in competition. Seff was found guilty by the local grievance board on a second bank night charge brought by Nathan Dax, manager of the Hipp, Sioux City. Seff did not indicate he would appeal the second decision. Kansas Eying Move For Consumers' Tax Topeka, Dec. 6. — Exhibitors in Kansas are watching with interest the outcome of discussions of the governor's legislative advisory council, meeting here this week. Additional taxation measures are up for approval. Lieutenant Governor Charles W. Thompson, who is presiding, is expected to submit his consumers' tax bill under which this levy would be substituted for the general property tax on real estate. A consumers' tax, which is another name for the sales tax, would be applied to theatre admissions along with other services. The advisory council will make recommendations regarding legislation to be taken up at the full legislative session convening in January. Picketing Ban Upheld Portland, Dec. 6. — The Rivoli Theatre Co. has won the first round in its legal battle to prevent the M. P. Machine Operators' Protective Union from picketing its theatre. This has been going on for three years. Judge Tucker has overruled a demurrer filed bv the attornevs for the union. Sachs Back to Dallas Dallas, Dec. 6. — Harry Sachs has returned to Dallas to become booker for Interstate Circuit, handling the larger Texas cities. Sachs was recently with Warners' theatres at Cleveland.