Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1935)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 38 August 13, 1935 No. 37 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN Editor JAMES A. CRON Advertising Manager ^Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Motion Picture Daily, Inc., subsidiary of Quigley Publications, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1790 Broadway, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1935 by Motion Picture Daily, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publications, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, The Motion Picture Almanac and The Box-Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Victor M. Shapiro, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Manager; London Bureau: Remo House, 310 Regent Street, London, W. 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address: "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Berlin Tempelhof , Kaiserin Augustastrasse 28, Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 19, Rue de la Cour-desNoues, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Sydney Bureau: 600 George Street, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apartado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Glasgow Bureau: 86 Dundrennan Road, G. Holmes, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3, Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative. Tokyo Bureau: 47 Higashi Gokencho Ushigome-Ku, H. Tominaga, Representative. Entered as second class matter, January 4, 1926, at the Post Office at New York City, N. Y., under Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year: $6 in the Americas, except Canada $15 and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Mrs. Skouras Operated Greenwich, Conn., Aug. 12. — Mrs. Spyros Skouras was resting comfortably tonight following an operation at the Greenwich Hospital. A late report gave her condition as "fine." It was expected she would be able to return to her home in Mamaroneck shortly. Union Renews Picketing As Talks Resume (Continued from page 1) been blamed for a lot of things I know nothing about." He asserted Local 306 has been trying to get him to make a deal, which "I will never do." In addition to Basson, Charles C. Moskowitz, Loew's and Leslie E. Thompson, RKO, attending the wage conference are Thomas J. Williams and William C. Liller, from the Dep't. of Labor, Washington, and Col. Ruddick of the N. Y. State Labor Dept. Negotiations are expected to last several days. The circuits, in seeking a reduction in the present scale, contend that hundred of theatres in New York are paying as low as $1 an hour for the same work which the union is demanding %2.\2y2 from them. Loew's, RKO and Skouras also hold that the A.F.L. firmly stands for a definite and uniform scale in each locality, but Local 306 has no such scale and sets up different hourly wages and conditions for various type theatres. Circuit heads assert they are willing to pay a fair wage, but not more than the union extends to other theatres. Cleveland Parleys This Week Cleveland, Aug. 12. — First run operators will start negotiations this week with local unions on 1935-36 wage scales. The present agreement expires Aug. 31. It is reported that operators are asking a IS per cent increase and stage hands an increase of 25 per cent. Bailey, Greve Served In Prudence Probing Frank Bailey, former Paramount director, and William Greve, member of the bondholders' committee of Fox Metropolitan Playhouses, are among the officers and former directors of the Prudence Corp., realty investment organization for whom 52 subpoenas were issued yesterday to appear for examination under Section 21-A of the bankruptcy laws in a probe of the company's dealings. The Prudence Corp., and its subsidiary, Allied Owners Corp., were identified with the financing and construction of a number of theatres for Paramount, some of which in this territory were subsequently taken over by Loew's. Federal Judge Grover Moskowitz of Brooklyn appointed Adolph C. Kiendl, Brooklyn attorney, special master to preside at the examinations. Connors Takes Over More MGM Branches Supervision of M-G-M branches in Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Minneapolis, for which S. A. Shirley is district manager, will switch from E. M. Saunders, western division manager, to T. J. Connors, southern division head. The shift in the geographical setup will not take place until a number of pending deals are consummated. Their Last Yacht? Boston, Aug. 12. — Yachting apparel is now the vogue at M. and P.-Publix headquarters. The "Discovery 2nd," a new 42-foot cruiser, slid down the runways of Hollers' Boat Yard at Savin Hill the other evening to the plaudits of theatre folk. Rose Falk swung the champagne bottle. Members of the M. and P.Publix staff are taking the craft to Buzzards Bay and thence to Bar Harbor, Me., on her maiden cruise. The boat is being manned by John J. Hanley, Capt. R. L. Silva, First Officer Leo J. Levenson, Engineers George T. McAleenan, John T. Loftus, and Joseph Rosen, all of the M. and P. staff. Gov't to Back N. Y. Theatrical Projects Washington, Aug. 12. — The Division of Applications and Information of the works program today announced President Roosevelt has approved allocations totaling $3,227,946 for circus and other amusement projects in New York City. Included in the allocations were $906,960 for the formation of road companies of professional and vaudeville actors to tour CCC camps in the second and third corps areas ; $1,521,764 to provide professional dramatic performances for the public in parks, schools, settlement houses, institutions and playgrounds ; $333,260 to provide circus units in the parks and playgrounds during the summer and in armories and in other suitable places during the winter; and $1,465,962 for orchestral, band and vocal ensemble units to give free concerts for the public at schools, museums, armories, parks and over the municipal broadcasting station. Kuykendall Deplores Demise of NRA Code Jacksonville, Fla., Aug. 12. — Ed Kuykendall, national M. P. T. O. A. president, today described the loss of the NRA .code as "a calamity" and expressed little faith in plans for a voluntary code which have been discussed in industry councils. He also declared it was too early to discuss the practicability of the reinstating of the Film Boards which, he continued, also has been discussed, thereby verifying a Motion Picture Daily exclusive to that effect a few weeks ago. Kuykendall spoke before the convention of the Southeastern Theatre Owners Ass'n. May Restrict Billboards Stratford, Conn., Aug. 12. — The planning board has before it a bill prohibiting construction of billboards within the town limits. Pending action, the building department is withholding all permits. Bridgeport and Milford theatres advertise in the town in competition with the local theatre. Novarro Here on Deal Ramon Novarro is in from the coast to arrange release for 'Against the Current," Spanish talker which he produced. Tuesday, August 13, 1935 All Writers Re-Sign, Buck Of Ascap Says (Continued from page 1) the coast three weeks ago, said he believed that the recent Washington State court order restraining Ascap from making new licensing agreements until the court was certain the organization did not constitute a monopoly would be set aside on appeal to a higher court. He reported there had been no noticeable increase in unlicensed performances of Ascap's copyrighted music since the Federal government's anti-trust suit was filed against the organization here. Buck said he would remain here for a rest and then proceed to Washington on Ascap affairs. Washington Deals Held Up Olympia, Wash., Aug. 12. — Ascap has been enjoined from entering into any further contracts in this state on the charge that it has built up a monopoly. All existing contracts are to be held in status quo until Ascap satisfies the court it is complying with the law. The action was taken by Superior Judge D. G. Wright. Bank Night Owners File More Actions Dallas, Aug. 12. — Suits have been filed in Judge William H. Atwell's U. S. district court for the Northern District of Texas by Affiliated Enterprises, Inc., owners and distributors of Bank Night against O. K. Theatres, Inc. (Oscar Korn), and P. Q. Rockett, alleging infringements of copyright. O. K. Theatres operates in about 12 Texas towns, mainly in the west. It is alleged to have evolved a giveaway plan of its own adaptation and for its own use in its theatres with no outside sales involved. The same conditions are claimed to apply for Rockett who operates three small towns in Dallas environs. The office of C. C. Ezell, national sales manager for Bank Night, advises other cases are in preparation for filing. Names mentioned include only exhibitors who operate in multiple stands. The cases are being handled for Affiliated by Eldon J. Dick, attorney of Tulsa. In 36 of Ohio's Towns Cleveland, Aug. 12. — Bank Night, sold locally by J. S. Jossey, is now playing in 36 Ohio towns. Only in Cleveland, Youngstown and Akron has the legal status of the stunt been attacked. In Youngstown, the common pleas court refused to grant an injunction to stop it. In Akron, the complaint has not yet been heard. In Cleveland, an injunction to stop Bank Night was refused by Judge Frederick Walther of Common Pleas Court. The case is now before the Court of Appeals and a decision, claimed to be the first issued by one of the higher courts, is expected this month. Pioneer Signs Jones Hollywood, Aug. 12. — Pioneer Pictures, Inc., has signed Robert Edmund Jones as color director as a result of his work on "Becky Sharp" and "La Cucuracha." He is now in New York and due here in September. Marco Says Deal Not Set Hollywood, Aug. 12. — Mike Marco said today that the production headquarters for F. & M. are still uncertain, but that two deals are pending for features. "39 Steps" Run Set Cleveland, Aug. 12. — "39 Steps" goes into the Allen for a first run engagement starting Aug. 24. WANTED Used Bell and Howell positive splicer and four-way Moviola synchronizing machine with rewinders. Box 666, Motion Picture Daily, 1790 Broadway, N. Y.