Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1936)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, June 27, 1936 * Horen Heads Conciliation Unit in Spain (.Continued from page 1) ters here, some time ago, has reentered the major body, following conferences between Saiz and Enrique Aguilar, vice-president of the national organization. The unit was called Sector Centro after it rejoined. * * * It is estimated that approximately 100.UOO pesetas were lost to exhibitors during the recent amusement strike in Andalucia, during which all forms of entertainment closed. The striking elements threatened to establish openair theatres in tents in competition with the regular houses. The theatres in the area already have entered the summer closing period. * * * Hispano Foxfilm will release a total of 42 features during the coming season, of which 30 will be dubbed in Spain. The dubbing represents an increase of 20 per cent over the number dubbed during the current season, but the total of releases is slightly under that of the current year. * * * Considerable gains to the exhibitors in the affected areas are anticipated with the planned construction of a complete manufacturing plant of the Ford Motor Co. near this city, replacing the present assembling plant. General Motors also is considering the development of a manufacturing plant here. Cifesa, one of the major Spanish producing companies, has begun to dub pictures in German and French, following the success of several films during the current season. The company has established a branch in Paris for that purpose. * * * Jose Maria Salaverria, one of Spain's leading writers on the screen, devoted a column on the front page of the leading Barcelona paper, La Vanguardia, to the neglect by all producers, European and American, as well as Spanish, of the opportunities inherent in Spanish history for subjects for films, citing numerous possibilities. Ascap Wins Ruling On Georgia License (Continued from page 1) state and the $160,000 license fee would have greatly exceeded Ascap's collections in Georgia. In deciding the case brought to test the law, the state court held that only one license was required by the Ascap agent for the entire state. Although Ascap's attorneys said they were of the opinion that any license requirement for their agents w^as illegal, no appeal will be taken from the Georgia decision. Several other southern states have recently enacted licensing legislation designed to make it financially impossible for Ascap to operate within the state boundaries and the Georgia decision is regarded by the society as an important precedent in invalidating the legislation in the other states. Indications are that Ascap agents in these states will refuse to take out licences and thus bring other test cases. Steelman, Lawyer, Named Fox Trustee (Continued from page 1) by a group of creditors' representatives apparantly friendly to counsel for Fox, and Clarence E. Knauer, who was proposed by an opposing group whose spokesman made charges of "false and fictitious" claims and "fraudulent transfer of assets." Steedle's conclusions, made public in connection with the appointments, pointed out that "every single claim filed with the referee, except one not represented at the meeting, was disputed by some other creditor. Even hasty examination of the proofs of claims filed and the objections will disclose that weeks and weeks of testimony would have to be taken before the validity of the 43 claims filed can be passed upon and the claims allowed or disallowed." Analyzing the language of the bankruptcy laws, Steedle pointed out that "there can be no valid election (of a trustee) by the creditors unless and until all the claims filed are heard and passed upon by the referee." He emphasized that in the Fox case even if the referee were to sit every working day hearing these contested claims it would be several months before all could be heard and decided. Therefore he himself made the appointment. Counsel for creditors today continued their inspection of the Fox books and records. On July 6 there will be another formal hearing for questioning of several witnesses. On July 10 Fox himself will be submitted to examination by the lawyers for his creditors. May Ask Rehearing Of Sales Tax Case (Continued from page 1) this week that film delivered outside the city limits from New York exchanges is not subject to the tax, but film delivered to theatres within the city is. Attorneys for the distribution companies are of the opinion that the court overlooked several basic considerations in making its decisions and that, if a rehearing of the film exchanges' case is obtained, a more favorable decision might result. The rehearing, also, might be expected to strengthen the film exchanges' case even in the event it is taken to the Court of Appeals later. Distributors have been conferring on procedure in the case and are expected to make their decision some time next week. To Revive Old Films Old time films are to be presented at an open air theatre in Tudor City starting July 7. Dorothy Stone, head of the Stone Film Library, Inc., is sponsoring the shows. Programs' are to be made up of four-reel features, two-reel comedies and one-reelers. Newsreels will be included. The first show will have "Hoodoo Ann," featuring Mae Marsh and Bobby Harron; "Fatty's Busy Day," with Fatty Arbuckle, and "Twenty-five Years Ago," with Mabel Normand. Columbia Men Returning Chicago, June 26. — The Columbia contingent to the sales convention here left for New York on the Commodore Yanderbilt today. Fly to See Fight Columbus, June 26.— T h e Parkersburg, W. Va., Airport Co. is capitalizing on the Sehmeling-Louis fight pictures being shown at the RKO Majestic here. The company is running newspaper display advertisements featuring special air trips to Columbus to see the pictures, which are taboo in Parkersburg. Zukor Here Monday For Board Session (Continued from page 1) for the settlement or adjustment of John E. Otterson's five-year contract, which has four years to go. One of the proposals is said to involve a production affiliation between Otterson and Paramount. If an amicable adjustment of the Otterson contract is made early in the week, the Paramount board may proceed with the annual election of officers of the company, which has been twice deferred in the past week, reputedly because of the board's unwillingness to elect a new president of the company while the status of Otterson's contract remains a subject of controversy. In this event, Zukor might be in attendance at the meeting which would return him to the presidency of Paramount. Even in the event of an early election, however, it is belived that Zukor would return to the coast to complete the work he now has under way at the studio. "Poppy" Only Bright Spot Along Broadway (Continued from page 1) "Secret Agent" at the Roxy ended with $22,100, which the management considers good in view of the fine weather Saturday and Sunday. The Louis-Schmeling fight films at the Palace perked up business to the extent of a $12,000 week. "The ExMrs. Bradford" and "Educating Father" were the regular attractions. The Rialto on "The Last Outlaw" got $8,500 and for "Border Flight" and the fight reels, Arthur Mayer anticipates about $14,000. Indications are that Warners may reopen the Hollywood for an indefinite two-a-day run of "Anthony Adverse" in the late summer. At the Capitol, where "Fury" concluded a 21-day run, the intake for the last seven days was about $18,000. Brandon Applies for Film Carrier Permit Washington, June 26. — An application of M. H. Brandon, doing business as Film Transit Co., Memphis, Tenn., for certificate of convenience and necessity under the Motor Carriers' Act to operate a motor transportation service for films and commodities between Memphis and points in Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky was today made the subject of hearings to be held by the Interstate Commerce Commission at Memphis on July 23. So far as is known, this is the first application to be received under the act for operation of a film transportation service. 3 Play Selling Rules Agreed Upon by Guild (Continued from page I) could be sure of obtaining the film rights to the play which carried its investment while the rules for the sale of those rights were subject to momentary change. The new provision written into the instructions for Joseph P. Bickerton, arbitrator on the sale of film rights, specifies that the same conditions prevailing at the time that a backer becomes financially interested in a stage production must prevail for him at the time of the disposal of the film rights. The committee believes that through this provision a film company which finds the backing of a play attractive at any time will be guaranteed the same prevailing conditions when the film rights to that play are offered for sale later. The guild was opposed to the inclusion of the arbitrator's instructions in the five-year contract on the ground that the rules had to be kept flexible to meet seasonal changes in the theatre market and that this could not be done if the rules were made a part of the five-year contract. Spokesmen for the committee are confident that the new provision will end the threat of withdrawal of film money from the legitimate production field and that an equitable arrangement for both the investing film company and the playwright will be preserved. Gordon to Produce S or 4 on His Own (Continued from page 1) Europe, the producer signed for several plays and players but would not divulge the names. Mrs. Ben Goetz, who arrived on the same liner, will leave for Hollywood today to join her husband who plans to remain on the coast for another three weeks before returning to England to set up M-G-M's production unit there. Marcus Heiman, trustee in bankruptcy for the Orpheum circuit and president of the League of New York Theatres, accompanied Gordon on the journey. He said he went abroad for a vacation and that he had no plans at the present time. Emily Roosevelt, dramatic soprano and cousin of the president, returned from a tour abroad and asserted she is not entering the film business. Delay Hearing on Bill The hearing before Mayor LaGuardia on the city ordinance to permit the attendance of unaccompanied minors under 16 at film houses, was postponed from yesterday to next Wednesday morning. The bill, introduced by Alderman Murray Stand, has passed the Board of Aldermen and the Board of Estimate, and awaits the Mayor's signature. Seller to Direct "Live" Hollywood, June 26. — Lewis Seiler will direct "That I May Live," for Twentieth Century-Fox. The story is by David Lamson, and Robert Ellis and Helen Logan are now working with him on the screen play.