Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1935)

8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, August 12, 1935 the "FORGOTTEN AUDIENCE" RCA now announces the RCA Sonotone Hearing Aid for use in theatres*. This enables the hard-of-hearing to enjoy motion pictures, giving them the sound with perfect clarity and purity of tone. These people have been unable to attend motion pictures since they became the "talkies". About 10% of the population have defective hearing. This is a vast "forgotten audience" that you can now bring back, and with them their families and friends who have been indirectly influenced to stay away— the millions of hardof-hearing have an even greater influence on the box office than the huge revenue they directly represent. What this means in money, in goodwill, and publicity, has been definitely shown in numerous theatres. The Sonotone Theatre, Chicago, has every seat wired. Others have 10 or more seats equipped. All show that the original cost is quickly repaid. Original installations are being expanded. You have a perfect check on results, for these new customers ask at the box office for the RCA Sonotone Oscillator. Many simple, inexpensive and very effective promotion plans are available for your use . . .Write for information on adding to your attendance by bringing back these lost customers. 'Regardless of the make of sound equipment installed. (^SONOTONE PHOTOPHONE DIVISION RCA Manufacturing Co., Inc. Camden . . New Jersey Police Warning All Theatres on Games {Continued from page 1) four Bronx houses, states it has not received any notice. Three other houses are playing screeno and two bank night. The I. T. O. A. is anxious to have a test case made on chance games so that it knows where it stands. Milton C. Weisman, attorney for the unit, will represent member exhibitors when the showdown comes. Refuses Injunction In Cash Night Case Detroit, Aug. 11. — Judge DeWitt H. Merriam has dismissed the petition of Ben and Lou Cohen, Roxy theatre, for a permanent injunction restraining Jacob Schreiber from using Cash Nights at the Colonial. Judge Merriam said his action was taken because outcome of the criminal case against Schreiber, now pending before Judge Christopher E. Stein, who will return a verdict on Sept. 2, would properly dispose of the matter. Judge Stein has indicated that his finding will be in favor of Schreiber, who is again using Cash Nights while waiting for the decision. Chance Games Boom Grosses in Chicago Chicago, Aug. 11. — Running unmolested Bank Nights and Screeno are doing big business in more than 250 neighborhood theatres here. Houses having Bank Night awards that have built to a considerable sum are using squads of police to keep traffic moving in front of theatres. Screeno fans are on increase, according to reports from various managers who expected idea to lose interest after first few weeks. With Gift Nights several times a week exhibitors here show no interest at present time in returning to double bills. Carewe On Way Here To Arrange Release Hollywood, Aug. 11. — Edwin Carewe is en route to New York seeking distribution for the church and school pictures he plans to produce. He is sailing for Rome, Paris, Barcelona and London on Aug. 16 on the Conte di Savoia to close deals for European distribution. Carewe, who claims he has unlimited financial backing, although he refuses to state just who his backers are, plans to produce as features "Daniel Boone" and "LaFitte, the Pirate," besides "Pilgrimage." His short subject program includes 10 scientific one-reelers, 10 travelogue two-reelers titled "How the Rest of the World Lives," 10 one-reelers titled "See America First" and 10 one-reel humorous cartoons. The pictures will be produced on 16 mm. and 35 mm. stock. New Detroit 1st Run Detroit, Aug. 11. — Definite date selected for the opening of the Lafayette, former "legit" house, as a first run picture house by Lou Wasserman, who operates several Cleveland theatres, is Aug. 29. "My Heart Is Calling" will be the opening feature. The house is now being remodelled and sound equipment installed. After 303 Years Lewes, Del., Aug. 11. — This 303 year old village has reared and kicked over the traces of the old blue laws and legalized Sunday baseball by a referendum among its 268 voters. The vote showed only 61 favored retention of the statute drawn up in 1740. Writers Call July's Films Year's Worst Hollywood, Aug. 11. — July releases represented the poorest efforts of the studios for any month this year, it will be pointed out in the Screen Guild's Magazine, out Monday. The reason is blamed on the end of the production year and producers' greater concern with next season's work. Miriam Hopkins was awarded the honor of giving the best performance of the month for "Becky Sharp." Noel Coward and Julie Hayden were also voted honorable mention for their work in "The Scoundrel" and Luise Rainer rated a second honorable mention for her performance in "Escapade." Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur were chosen for having written the best screen play in "The Scoundrel" and honorable mention went to Herman Mankiewicz for "Escapade" with second honorable mention to Francis Faragoh for "Becky Sharp." In the balloting for the best performance only 12 players from six pictures received one or more votes. Almost three times as manv players received votes last month High Court Test of Ohio Sales Tax Seen (.Continued from pane 1) uniformly and is, therefore, discriminatory. He cited as exemptions farm products at the source of supply as one instance to fortify his decision and expressed an opinion that the Legislature abused its privileges in enacting the statute originally. The judge had sustained a demurrer filed on behalf of an Akron restaurant owner who had been arrested on a tax violation charge and had ruled the method of obtaining the evidence was an "entrapment" method. Carlton Dargusch, chairman of the state tax commission, deprecates the decision and states he will refer it to the attorney general to determine the state's future course with the Supreme Court test heading up on the horizon. Exhibitors have been collecting the sales tax in lieu of the 10 tier cent admission tax previously in effect, but which was suspended for one year when the sales levy swung into operation. The Castle Passes On Chicago, Aug. 11. — The Castle, which for more than 20 years has been nrominent among the Loop houses, has closed and is being converted into a women's ready-to-wear store. Clarence Beck, owner-manager of the house, will take over the Casino on Madison St., opening this house about Sept. 1. The Casino was operated by Universal for many years. Resume Booth Scale Confab This Morning (Continued from page 1) at 1 A. M. Saturday. When the meeting broke up, operators had gained a point they had fought for since last Monday when union representatives walked out of a meeting with circuit heads. The circuits had refused to rescind the cut order, and unless such a move was made Local 306 declined to enter into negotiations and a strike, therefore, had loomed as a possibility by Saturday midnight. The withdrawal notice by circuits is for one week. Unless a compromise is reached, the unions will walk out again, it was stated. It is understood certain modifications in the present wage scale will be made. Union officials and members have been riled at the circuits for instituting arbitrary reductions. They declare the theatre heads went about the matter in "a childish way." The new union administration is backed 100 per cent by the members who were ready to picket Loew's, RKO and Skouras houses yesterday in the event the strike was not called off. Circuits Wanted Union to Budge For the past week circuit heads maintained they would not budge from their stand and that the union would have to make the first move. It was stated Saturday at union headquarters that Thompson called Basson late Friday night for an immediate conference which resulted in the week's truce. Provided both sides get together in the negotiations, a new contract will be drawn for a number of years effective Sept. 1. None of the three formulas drafted by Local 306, Charles L. O'Reilly and HarryBrandt during the NRA fact-finding committee negotiations will be considered during present confabs. The circuits are aware of the fact that the union has made considerable concessions to independents and are demanding relief in a number of theatres. According to Local 306, plans are under wav to increase wages in a number of unaffiliated theatres. A number of exhibitors who were given concessions during the NRA factfinding conferences will have them revoked, it was stated. Thompson on Saturday afternoon issued a statement in which he verified the entrance of state and federal labor men into the situation. He said he looked for a favorable outcome on the scale. Cincinnati Houses Will Escape Flood Cincinnati, Aug. 11— Although one or two subsequent run houses are located contiguous to the Ohio River and have suffered more or less damage from previous floods, no trouble of this kind is anticipated in the immediate future by reason of the upper tributaries pouring their excess waters into the Ohio. According to prediction of W. B. Schlomer, acting U. S. Meteorologist, the river will reach a crest of 40 or 42 feet within a few days.