Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1935)

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MOTION PICTURE DAILY Australians Prepare For Start of Quota By CLIFF HOLT Sydney, May 5.— Although the New South Wales Quota Bill was brought down more than a month ago, there is little activity among producers or investors. Realizing that the first effects of the quota will not be felt for another 12 months, producers are apparently taking their time. Nevertheless, Mastergraft Film Corp., Ltd., and Film Players Corp. each capitalized at £50,000 have been registered. Directors of Film Players' read importantly. They include Sir John Butters, a director of Associated Newspapers, Ltd.; W. J. Bradley, K. C, well known barrister, and George H. Rayner, society figure. In the prospectus, the company claims to have made releasing arrangements in Australia and Great Britain and other countries. First production will be "The Burgomaster." National Studios, Ltd., who are not calling for public money, are all set to start shooting as soon as special recording equipment is landed from Great Britain. F. W. Thring, pioneer of local film production, has called a temporary halt to his Efftee activities in Melbourne, expecting the Victorian Government to introduce a Quota Bill similar to that which will operate in N. S. W. Important announcements as to Cinesound activities is expected here from Ken G. Hall, production head just back from the United States. Expeditionary Films, winners of the Commonwealth Government's £2,500 production competition, have increased the company's capital from £15,000 to £50,000. * * * The gift practice has assumed alarming proportions here. Furniture, radios, vacuum cleaners, crockery, etc., are figuring largely on the giveaway lists, one exhibitor going so far as to plug the line "Bigger and Better Gifts next Saturday" in his advertisements. Fearing dire results, the N. S. W. Exhibitors' Ass'n. called a general meeting which ended in a decision to enlist the M. P. D. A.'s aid in effecting a halt. The distributors were right behind the Exhibitors' Ass'n. decision, but, despite the ultimatum issued by exhibitors, the gifts continue. There is some talk of embodying a no-gift clause in a standard contract, if the distributors are agreeable. "English producers are offering extraordinary money to Hollywood players and directors who aren't worth one quarter of it. They're doing the silly things that sent Hollywood bankrupt," said Ken G. Hall, production head of Cinesound, when he returned after a six months' survey of studio activities in Hollywood. Hall expressed the opinion that the major producers will have to watch the independents, who, on a lower overhead, are delivering hits with almost the same consistency as the larger companies. "Encumbered with heavy operating costs, and lacking any really effective means of eliminating waste, the big production organizations are likely to find themselves embarrassed by the independents' competition," he said. * * * Pictures and vaudeville on a 50-50 basis are being revived by General Wall Street Small Gains Mark Big Board Net High Low Close Change Consolidated 334 334 334 + Vt Cons., pfd (IJiv) 1534 15 1SH + Vi Eastman 14454 141 & 14454 +2J4 Eastman, pfd ....15454 15454 15454 Fox "A" 15?4 1434 15 — 54 Loew's 405/6 3954 395/g + 54 Loew's, pfd 105 105 105 —154 M-G-M, pfd 2734 2734 2734 Paramount 334 334 VA Pathe 34 34 54 + V» Pathe "A" 954 834 834 RKO 254 2 2 Warner 454 334 454 + 34 Warner, pfd .... 2754 2434 2654 + ?4 Technicolor Off 1V2 on Curb Net High Low Close Change Sentry Control... 34 34 34 Technicolor 2654 2554 2534 —V/t Para. Pub. Bonds Gain 1% Net High Low Close Change General Theatre Equip. 6s '40 ctf 12 1134 1134 -y* Keith B. F. 6s '46 8054 8054 8054 Loew's 6s '41 ww deb rights. .10454 10454 10454 Paramount B'way 554s '51 5654 55 5654 + 34 Paramount F. L. 6s '47 8834 8834 8834 + 34 Paramount Publix 554s '50 9034 90 9034 +134 RKO 6s '41 pp... 40 40 40 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 6554 6354 6454 +154 (c) Plus stock extras (K and v] Paid this year. (Quotations as at close of June 5) Theatres Corp. in Brisbane. If the idea clicks, the policy may be extended to other states. Vaudeville and revues are enjoying a vogue in Australian cities just now, and it wis to be expected that picture houses would make a bid for their share of whatever revenue is going. Loew-Momand Claim To Get New Hearing (.Continued from page 1) 19 by Federal Judge Alfred C. Coxe yesterday. The claims aggregate more than $10,000,000 and are based on the triple damage provisions of the anti-trust laws. The motion seeks to determine what the exact amount of the claims should be, if any. On the same date Judge Coxe is scheduled to hear exceptions to Special Master John E. Joyce's report on the Loew and Momand claims which held that while actual damages from alleged anti-trust law violations might be provable against a bankrupt the triple damage provisions do not apply. Both Loew and Momand and Paramount are filing exceptions to this report. Sam Taylor-Roach Split Hollywood, June 5.— Sam Taylor's contract with Hal Roach has been terminated by mutual consent. Taylor's last directorial assignment from Roach was "The Vagabond Lady," and he was to have directed "The Honesty Racket." No new director yet has been chosen for that film. Mrs. Goodrow Gaining New Orleans, June 5. — Mrs. Fred F. Goodrow, who has been in a hospital for two weeks, is recovering. She is the wife of the First Division Manager. Ontario's New Tax Is Passed to Public (Continued from page 1) add the complete assessment of the Ontario government and not absorbing any portion of the tax. In passing on the whole of the tax to the people the brunt fell on the purchasers of tickets of 25 cents and under in face value, which were formerly tax free. The most strenuous objections were against the payment of a five cents tax on quarter admissions and a two cents levy on dime tickets for children. The policy of demanding the tax extra from the public is intended to make a nuisance oi the whole impost. This is also noted in the sale of two tickets, one for admission and one for the tax at box-offices. The greatest increase in the new tax is on the 30 cents admissions, which formerly called for two cents and now five. The upper range of admissions is not greatly disturbed and this is one cause for the big kick on the part of theatres with working class patronage since they are hit the hardest. Cal. Senate Passes 3% Sales Tax Bill (Continued from pane 1 J will cost studios and others $35,500,000 biennially. The Senate has also approved a $2,000,000 biennial chain store tax from which theatres are exempt, but has rejected the Assembly's income tax bill setting a rate one-third that of the Federal levy, offering a substitute measure cutting the rate to one-fifth. Kill Bill on Coin Devices Boston, June 5. — A bill introduced in the state legislature by Governor Curley to tax automatic weighing and vending machines $5 annually was defeated today when the house accepted the report of the ways and means committee which held that no such legislation was "necessary." It was shown at the hearing on the bill which, it was claimed, would put the department administering the tax on a paying basis, that the department in question was already returning a profit of $30,000 annually to the state. The bill, under the present setup, would have affected all theatres and Loew's two Boston houses alone would have been taxed an estimated $10,000 annually. A measure to license theatrical booking agents was passed by the Senate. It was favored by many film men who believe it will do away with unfair business methods by agents. More than two dozen organizations sent representatives to a hearing today to protest a bill calling for the appointment of a director of outdoor advertising to the legislative committee on mercantile affairs. Film men are opposing. Coast Indigent Ban Fails Sacramento, June 5. — The Assembly has refused passage of the -bill which would have placed armed guards at the state borders to exclude paupers. The bill was designed at the request of the studios and other big interests who see relief costs rising daily as 2,500 indigents a month pour into the state. Thursday, June 6, 1935 Warner Men Entrain For Coast Parleys (Continued from page 1) Los Angeles joined the New York group here as their train passed through early this morning. The delegation had to keep itself busy and awake until 3 :38 A. M. Included were Harry Kalmine, theatre zone manager; R. H. Dunbar, P. J. Krumenacker and Bob Lynch. Indianapolis, June 5. — Cincinnati and Indianapolis delegates to the Warner convention join the New York delegation at 10:50 Thursday morning. The group will consist of O. Kuschner, local branch manager ; F. Reimer, R. Shrader and M. De Fazio. A. Smitken, Cincinnati manager ; H. Bugie, R. Burns and J. P. Eigert make up the representation from that city. St. Louis, June 5. — The Warner conventioneers travel west from this point on a special train. The eastern delegation arrives at 4 P. M. Thursday and lays over until 6 :30. These groups join the trek west out of this city: Buffalo — Harry Seed, manager; J. Sitterly and J. R. Levee. Chicago — James Winn, manager; R. C. Herman, G. Weinberg, S. Rose, W. Kahl, T. R. Gilliam and James Coston, theatre zone manager. Cleveland — M. Mooney, manager; W. J. Brandt, F. Hathaway, Nate Wolf, theatre zone manager. Des Moines — E. Tilton, manager; F. S. Hannon, L. Alendelson. Detroit — Fred North, manager; W. B. Collins, S. L. Gilbert. Kansas City — W. Warner, manager; W. B. Adams, F. G. Diamond, F. Greenberg, R. McConnell. Milwaukee — R. T. Smith, manager; N. S. Bieringer, S. G. Honeck. Minneapolis — Leo Blank, manager; A. W. Anderson, M. Comer, H. B. Johnson, R. Lohrenz, E. Perkins. Montreal — M. J. Isman, manager; A. Gorman. Omaha — C. K. Olson, manager; F. S. Hannon, L. Mendelson. St. John's — L. McKenzie, manager. St. Louis — Hal Walsh, manager; T. M Eckert; M. J. Hill, L. Bona. Toronto — H. Paynter, manager; F. Gilbert. Winnipeg— W. Cohen, manager; G. Simmons. Allied to Meet in Hub Eastern regional directors of Allied will meet in Boston June 24 with Walter Littlefield presiding. Allied of New England is also scheduled to gather in Boston a day later. Sidney Samuelson, president of the organization, will attend both sessions. Bromberg Shifts June 21 New Orleans, June 5. — Arthur C. Bromberg Attractions, oldest of the independent exchanges in the South, will be known as Republic Pictures Corp. of the Southeast after June 21. Bromberg has exchanges in Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, Memphis and New Orleans. Tri-States to Meet New Orleans, June 5. — The Mississippi division of Tri-States M. P. T. O. will hold a convention June 16 and 17 at the Robert E. Lee Hotel, Jackson, Miss. Sold to B. I. P. Sherman S. Krellberg has sold English rights of "The Lost City" to B. I. P., having .closed the deal with John Maxwell and Arthur Dent.