Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1935)

The Leading Daih MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the in All Branches VOL. 37. NO. 106 NEW YORK, MONDAY, MAY 6, 1935 TEN CENTS Suit Threats Pop Up After Jersey Ruling Contend Campi Cannot Negate Contracts Campi's clearance decision in favor of the Leonia, Leonia, has local exchanges in a stew. All distributors with the exception of Fox contend that Code Authority cannot negate contracts without providing for any loss which exchanges might sustain as a result of a decision. Julius Charnow, operating the Leonia, has sent all exchanges registered letters to the effect that he is booking all pictures playing at Englewood in accordance with the code verdict. He is also advertising the films (Continued on page 10) M-G-M to Continue Its Nat'l Campaigns Detroit, May 5. — Emphasis anew on national billboard and magazine campaigns is seen playing a vital part in M-G-M's plans for the new season. Unconfirmed, but expected, is the understanding the detail will be given the eastern regional sales convention which goes into its third and last day on Monday at the Book-Cadillac. Currently, the company is splurging on billboard and magazine display to (Continued on page 10) Sidney Talking Deal For Program on WH Negotiations are being conducted by Louis K. Sidney, in charge of Station WHN, for turning over the weekly half-hour show headed by Sophie Tucker to one of several sponsors. Sidney recently sold the station's amateur hour to Schenley's. If, and when, he disposes of the Tucker program, the Loew subsidiary will emerge from the red for the first time since it started operations. Rialto, Roxy Tussle For "Frankenstein" A Federal court action to determine whether the Rialto or the Roxy is entitled to play "The Bride of Frankenstein" under the joint buying agreement between the two houses, filed by Louis Phillips, of the Paramount legal staff, on behalf of the (Continued on page 6) Last of F WC Units Ares Taken Out of Bankruptcy Kansas City, May 5. — With the transfer of assets of Fox Midwest to Fox Midcontinent and Fox Rocky Mountain to Associated Theatres yesterday, the last of National Theatres' subsidiaries have emerged from bankruptcy. Elmer C. Rhoden will continue in charge of the Midcontinent group and Rick Ricketson as head of Associated. Other National subsidiaries are Wisconsin Amusement Enterprises, Inc., operating in Milwaukee under Harold J. Fitzgerald; Evergreen States Amusement Corp., a subsidiary of Fox Columbia Corp., which is controlled by National and is operated by (Continued on page 2) Mexican Currency Difficulty Clears By JAMES LOCKHART Mexico City, May 5. — Money difficulties are being gradually straightened out as a result of substitution of paper money and bronze coins for silver pesos. The American silver buying policy has forced up the price (Continued on page 6) Publix Great States Complaint Dismissed Chicago, May 5. — The grievance board dismissed the complaint of Publix Great States against the E.. E. Alger Amusement Co. when hearings revealed the complainant was itself (Continued on page 10) Newsreel Schedule Talks Due Thursday Deputy Administrator William P. Farnsworth will meet with Louis Krouse, vice-president of the I.A.T. S.E and executives of the newsreel (Continued on page 10) Another Crap Game Hartford, May 5. — Two men in a booth would start a crap game rather than adding to theatre safety, declared Mike Tomasino before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Morris Hadelman insisted it would be like "two cooks in a kitchen," and C. D. Burbank suggested that couches should also be installed. The committee is considering these words of wisdom. Openings Gain As Confidence Shows Return That there is a return of confidence among exhibitors in most sections is indicated by the increasing number of transfers, openings and renovations. In New England openings are especially marked. Middle Western states also report gains. In the Fifth Federal Reserve District, which includes Richmond, marked improvement in general business is reported. N. E. Openings Numerous Boston, May 5. ■ — Shifts' are numerous on the New England theatre map. Two are building, some have been transferred and a number are reopening. One new one, the Capitol, Franklin, N. H, has just been opened. It's a (Continued on page 10) 4 Purely Personal ► FAY WRAY recently returned from G. B. studios where she appeared in "Alias Bulldog Drummond" and in "The Clairvoyant," was guest of honor at a cocktail party tendered by the Ass'n of Foreign Press Correspondents at the Gotham Saturday. J. J. Parker, operator of the Fox Broadway and the United Artists, Portland, visiting from the Northwest. At the Waldorf. GEORGE SKOURAS has called off his plans to move his headquarters to the Academy of Music. He was supposed to change locations on June 1. Katharine Hepburn may do some summer acting for Lawrence J. Anhalt at Saybrook, Conn. • Max Gordon, in from Hollywood, goes abroad shortly. Norman ("Turk") Carter, attor (Continued on page 6) Dual Clauses Hang on U. S. Court Appeal Bans to Be Airtight If Decision Permits Airtight anti-double featuring clauses will be incorporated in new season sales contracts by a majority of large distributors if the Philadelphia Federal district court's decision holding such clauses to be illegal is reversed when the pending appeal is heard by the higher court, it was learned on Saturday. Conversely, it was said, if the lower court's ruling is upheld by the appeals court, double featuring may go unrestricted insofar as new season sales contracts are concerned. The Philadelphia case, brought by Harry Perelman, an exhibitor, was tried before Federal Judge George A. Welsh last December, to force major distributors to eliminate from their contracts the clauses prohibiting double featuring of their product. The (Continued on page 6) Pathe '34 Deficit Put at $78,705.74 Pathe Exchange, Inc., shows a sharp drop from 1933 in its annual report for the 12 months ending Dec 29, 1934. For 1933 the net profit was $380,629; for 1934 there was a net operating deficit of $78,705.74. In the foreword to the annual report Frank F. Kolbe, new president, says that profit for the year before interest, (.Continued on page 2) 66 Miserables" Hits $45,132, 2nd Week "Les Miserables" in the second week at the Rivoli was the best comparative box-office draw last week, tallying $45,132 for the second seven days. "Cardinal Richelieu" at the Music Hall garnered a fair $67,000 on the second stanza. "Mississippi," in (Continued on page 6) NVA, Masonic Clubs To Combine Benefits To avoid a conflict in dates, directors and committees of the N.V.A. Benefit Fund and the Educational Foundation of the Masonic Clubs of the State of New York have decided to combine their activities and stage (Continued on page 2)