Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1935)

Mot+d Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent VOL. 38. NO. 37 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1935 TEN CENTS Para. Dropped 700 Theatres In Revamping Still Has the Largest Group, 1092 Houses Approximately 700 theatres were eliminated from the Paramount circuit during the two and one-half years of the company's bankruptcy, it is disclosed by a recently completed report of Paramount's theatre interests. With 1,092 theatres still remaining under the Paramount banner as compared with the 1932 peak of 1,800 houses, that company's theatre interests continue to be by far the most extensive of all, despite the amputation of 700 units. The theatres that went into the discard in Paramount's rehabilitating (Continued on page 6) Mrs. Skirball Dies In Crash; Son Hurt Mrs. Sarah Skirball, mother of J. H. Skirball, Educational sales manager, was killed and Joseph Skirball, her son, and Grace and Mildred, two daughters, were seriously injured in an automobile accident at Sewickley, Pa., on Sunday, according to brief information received here yesterday by Earle W. Hammons, president of Educational. Details of the accident was unknown here yesterday afternoon. Funeral arrangements for Mrs. (Continued on page 7) Cocalis Personally After Chain of 25 Sam Cocalis, who operates 14 theatres in Greater New York in addition to his interest in the Springer & Cocalis circuit, states he has a number of other deals pending which will bring the total to around 25. The deals, in some instances, are for one, two and three houses. Cocalis recently took over the Park, Newark, N. J., in a foreclosure sale. He is reopening the house Friday. Admitting he has a dispute on with Jack Springer, Cocalis denies the Springer & Cocalis circuit will split. Sheehan Weds Maria Jeritza in a Mission Santa Barbara, Calif., Aug. 12. — Maria Jeritza, noted opera diva, and Winfield Sheehan, former vice-president and general manager of production for Fox, married this afternoon at the historic Santa Barbara Mission. (Continued on page 7) Major Companies9 Advances Keep NVA Sanitarium Going The major companies have advanced sufficient funds to the N.V.A. Sanitarium at Saranac Lake to keep its doors open for 30 days and will meet at date undetermined at present to discuss plans for arranging sufficient finances to permit the institution for the theatrical tubercular to continue without suspension. The meeting will be set after the return from Hollywood of Will H. Hays, Harry M. Warner and John E. Otterson. The sanitarium has been in the red for some time and requires from $90,000 to $150,000 to make its financial position secure. Kansas May Tax Admissions To Share in Social Security Kansas City, Aug. 12.— With approval by Congress of the social security bill, the Kansas legislature is expected to go into a special session to provide for state participation in the program. The legislative council has been considering ways and means of raising money to participate in the program off and on since the legislature adjourned this spring. One plan it has suggested for raising funds is a 10 per cent amusement tax. Whether this will appear in its final recommendations to the governor and the legislature is not known. The session has been planned since the adjournments of the regular meeting late this spring, but Governor Landon has been waiting upon this action by Congress before calling it. The governor has indicated he would summon the legislature probably late in September. In order to participate in the social (Continued on page 7) K. C. Zoning Plan Evolved; Hits Premiums Kansas City, Aug. 12. — A clearance schedule has been worked out by independents and is to be presented to distributors within the next few days. In the form of a petition, the proposed plan has been signed by practically all local independent exhibitors except those out of town, among whom are J. F. Rigney of the Westport and Jay Means, president of the ITO, who operates the Oak Park and Bagdad. The schedule is almost identical with that in effect two or three years before the NRA came into the picture, except that giveaways are penal (Contimted on page 6) Studios Maintain Their Record Pace Hollywood, Aug. 12. — Production showed little fluctuation over former checkup figures last week with activity continuing at a record pace. The (Continued on page 7) All Writers Re-Sign, Buck Of Ascap Says A 100 per cent renewal of Ascap music writers' memberships on fiveyear contracts was concluded recently, Gene Buck, president of Ascap, said yesterday on his arrival here from the coast. He added that music publishers' membership renewals likewise were being made on an encouraging scale and expressed confidence that Warner's music publishing subsidiaries would renew their Ascap membership contracts. Buck admitted, however, that the Warner disagreement has not yet been cleared up. The Ascap president, who flew to (Continued on page 2) One Italian to 3 Imports, New Law Washington, Aug. 12. — One domestic picture of not less than 1,500 meters (about 5,000 feet) must be shown in all Italian theatres for every (Continued on page 8) Union Renews Picketing As Talks Resume Circuits Make Charge Of Discrimination With resumption of negotiations between Local 306 and major circuits on a new wage scale, the operators' union yesterday renewed its picketing campaign on independent houses in Brooklyn and Manhattan. In Brooklyn, a number of independent exhibitors who have refused to do business with Local 306 are being picketed while several Brandt houses on 42nd St. were the scene of Manhattan activity. By early afternoon 10 had been arrested. A spokesman for Joseph D. Basson, president of the projectionist's unit, stated yesterday that he believed Harry Brandt was behind the move of the circuits to cut wages. Brandt denied being the instigator. He said, "If Local 306 credits me with being the instigator I can't help it. I've (Continued on page 2) RKO Circuit Buys 18 From "U," GB's 16 Deals closed with Universal for the 18 pictures left on that company's split after its original deal with Loew's and a second contract for GB.'s 16 send RKO's film buys to 150 for the new season. This total is numerically six short of the New York circuit's requirements. James R. Grainger, Leo Abrams and Sig Wittman represented "U" in the transaction which closes out that company's lineup with major circuits (Continued on page 6) Cochran Figures in 20th Cent-Fox Plan By BRUCE ALLAN London, Aug. 12. — Charles B. Cochran, English revue producer ; Dr. Paul Czinner, Dixon Boardman, Oswald Balfour, F. J. Chart and F. M. Guedalla are associated as directors with Joseph M. Schenck in Inter-Allied Film Producers, Ltd., formed here as a private company to make, as (Continued on page 6) Herman to Imperial As Its Sales Head Louis Berman, former head of Popular Pictures, has joined Imperial Dist. Corp. as national sales manager. The company will show "Manhattan Butterfly," its first today. 1