Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1936)

2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, November 20, 1936 Expect RKO's Bob Meets Boa Constrictor, Loew Deal for Plan Will Be Chimp Pulls Light, AND— U.A. Theatres Filed Monday (.Continued from page 1) zation of RKO which would have to be faced if all creditor interests were to be negotiated with at this time. The plan, therefore, probably will be filed without definitive agreements affecting such interests being included. The need for reorganization of the company probably will be urged upon the court and, according to indications, the court will be asked to determine the rights of claimants" or creditors' groups after the usual hearings. The decisions of the court then might be added to the plan as they were received. The present probability is that the plan will be filed with Federal Judge William Bondy when attorneys for Atlas Corp. appear in his court on Monday morning to ask a postponement of a petition by the RKO trustee to retire the last §750,000 of RKO gold notes outstanding. The postponement will be asked on the grounds that the plan will provide for treatment of these notes and a granting of the trustee's petition at this time would result in further delays in filing the plan. Intervention Granted William V. Hodges and John Moroney, as an independent committee of unsecured RKO creditors, were granted leave to intervene in the company's reorganization proceedings by Federal Judge William Bondy yesterday. Their committee represents in excess of $1,000,000 of claims against RKO, the largest of which are those of the Karl Hoblitzelle interests. Hodges is a director of the U. S. National Bank of Denver and Moroney is secretary and general counsel of the Hoblitzelle Corp. Members Vote Ampa New Lease on Life (Continued from page 1) will make a strenuous effort to collect some S770 in back dues : (2) Committees are on the verge of functioning— after they are appointed — to determine Ampa procedure and policy; (3) A complete new board of directors must be appointed to fill the vacancies caused by the resignation en bloc of the old board. The Ampa has for months been in a lethargic state, due for the most part to the difference of opinion as to the exact nature and purpose of the organization. Some had been holding out for purely social weekly luncheons, with song and dance and such : others were more bent on a serious-minded policy — serious discussions of serious problems. Still a third group, apparently more liberal, were thinking along lines of a ''craft" organization. Immediately, cries of "union" were raised — and that ended that. Then came the resolution last Thursday to give Ampa a painless death on the spot, which was held in abeyance until yesterday's session, when Ampa, by virtue of 41 lively votes, was given a new lease on life. If Bob Harrison of Teatro al Dia is pale today, it won't be from the usual cause. He had to step over a ninefoot boa constrictor to get into A-Mike Yogel's office yesterday, and the boa stuck out his forked tongue and winked. The winking was all right, but that knowing look — just as though the reptile recognized an old friend — was too much. Bob called up the Tavern immediately and asked if they were sure it was Seagram's in that Old Fashioned. He didn't hear the reply. A chimpanzee pulled out the lights, and nobody— not even Gertrude Merriam — knew where Xht snake was headed. The business of getting out the Managers' Round Table halted abruptly. When Capt. Rodney Pfeiffer got the lights turned on the chimpanzee had one arm around Miss Merriam's neck and wasn't feeling affectionate. Mike chuckled in a mild way and thought it was a good exploitation stunt. Harrison broke the running broad jump record and headed for W.C.T.U. headquarters. Halsey Raines phoned the W.C.T.U. that Harrison didn't mean it. Then he explained that Billy Ferguson was responsible for the idea. They're touring the country with the chimp and the boa as a stunt for "Tarzan Escapes." His Way or None Baton Rouge, Nov. 19. — When a March of Time crew went to the Capitol to get a few microphonic words from Gov. and Mrs. Leche for the sequence on the St. Lawrence waterways. Mayor Robert Maestri was ready for his turn. But he discovered that what he was to say was already prepared — and not by him. He balked, and the March of Time sequence will struggle along without the mayor's words. Orpheum Groups Get Kresel on RKO Plan (Continued from page 1) of halting court approval of the RKO plan until the issues raised had been settled. Orpheum stockholders have at various times in the past three years threatened litigation to set aside the absorption of Orpheum assets by Stadium Theatres, an RKO subsidiary formed in 1933. An Orpheum indebtedness of approximately 53.000,000 to RKO and KeithAlbee-Orpheum was compromised through the formation of Stadium, which assumed the obligation and, in return, took over various Orpheum properties. Stockholders of the latter company have contended that the transaction violated the New York corporation laws and benefited K-A-0 and RKO at the expense of Orpheum. Kressel was attorney for Fox Theatres Corp. when that company sponsored the reorganization of Fox Metropolitan Playhouses, under which Joseph M. Schenck's United Artists Theatres Corp. and K-A-0 acquired the metropolitan circuit. Delay Dillingham Sale The sale of various theatrical, picture and television rights of the Charles Dillingham estate, scheduled for public auction yesterday, has been postponed to Dec. 8. The sale is being conducted by Irving Trust, as trustee in bankruptcy, under the jurisdiction of Federal Referee John Joyce. Farnol, Bush on Coast Hollywood, Nov. 19. — Lynn Farnol and Rodney Bush arrived here today. Adverse Ohio Ruling To Bring an Appeal (Continued from page 1) will hear the case today, it was stated here. RKO is the sole distributor plaintff in the case, but its attorneys, Paxton & Seasongood of Cincinnati, are aided by the organized industry. The action is in the form of a restrainer against John Bricker, attorney general of Ohio, to prohibit the state from applying the law on the grounds of unconstitutionality. Bricker, who submitted an opinion that the law was unconstitutional prior to its enactment, is represented by Schwartz & Rocker. The Cleveland Independent Exhibitors Ass'n and Abram F. Myers, general counsel of Allied States Ass'n are cooperating in the defense of the law. The state will contend that the law comes under the public welfare clause of the Constitution and is similar to the authority under which state and municipal film censor boards are set up. Indications are that depositions taken earlier and documentary evidence will be sumbitted to the court and that no witnesses will be called. The court is expected to reserve decision. Cocalis to Open House Sam Cocalis will open the Crest, Ogden Ave., Bronx, on Dec. 15. Gulkis and Rosenzweig will open the new Craft. 232nd St. and Broadway, Dec. 25. Both theatres are being equipped by Joe Hornstein, Inc.. which also is reseating the 77th St.. Castle Hill, Beverly and Manhattan Opera House. Mrs. Earl Carroll Dies Mrs. Marcelle Montabat Carroll, wife of Earl Carroll, died Wednesday night at the Park East Hospital. Carroll flew from the coast yesterday. Mrs. Carroll had appeared in a number of silent films and on the stage. Milwaukee Union Raised Milwaukee, Nov. 19. — Milwaukee County exhibitors have agreed to a 2z/2 per cent wage hike for projectionists in an agreement reached with Local 164. The agreement applies to all class houses and expires Nov. 1 1937. Is Called Off (Continued from page 1) comment on the new tieup, but the company is understood to have been assured a steady outlet for its product at the U.A. Bids for the McYickers, under control of the Chicago Board of Education, will be opened shortly. B. & K. and Jones. Linick and Schaefer are after the largest house in the Loop. What either will do with it, if successful, is problematical at this time. Should B. & K. get it, the circuit will have all the first rims in the Loop with the exception of the Palace, RKO operated. B. & K. recently bought the State-Lake building and will take over the State-Lake on May 1. Penn to Get Big Films Pittsburgh, Nov. 19. — Ix>ew's Penn will play all outstanding attractions of M-G-M and Warners under terms of the pooling deal with Warners and Stanley. The Stanley will feature stage shows and films. When stage shows are absent, the Stanley also will play some of the big films. Warners will double feature product not played in the other two houses. Jackter on Coast Los Axgeles, Nov. 19. — Rube Jackter arrived today from New York to attend the two-day Columbia midseason sales session which gets under way in San Francisco on Saturdav. Through Artisti Associati Rome, Nov. 19. — "Cavalry," produced by ICI and reviewed in Motiox Picture Daily on Nov. 5, is being distributed here through Artisti Associati. Paramount 1st Pfd. Drops 7 Points Net High Low Close Change Columbia 37 36% 36% — H Consolidated 5 4J£ 5 + 54 Consolidated, pfd.. 17?| 17% 1/% — J4 Eastman 181J4 \%VA 1815| + % Gen. T. Equip.... 29H 29 29 — H Loew's. Inc 63j£ 63 63 — 1 Paramount 21H 20H 20y2 —1 Paramount 1 p:'d..l57 150% 150% —7}i Paramount 2 pfd.. 19l£ 18*6 18H — % Pathe Film 9H &A 9 RKO 10H m 9H — « 20th Century-Fox. 3856 37 37% — H 20th Century, pfd.. 47 4654 46% — 54 Warner Bros. . . . 17H 16H 16& — H Curb Up Slightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National .. 354 354 3J4 Sentry Safety ... % % % Sonotone 214 2% 2% + % Technicolor 24J4 24 24 + & Trans-Lux 5 4J* 4^ — ft Universal Pict. ..16 16 16 Little Bond Movement Net High Low Close Change Loew's 6s '41 ww deb rights 10156 101 101 Paramount B'way 3s '55 ".70 70 70 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100a* 100H 100J4 + J4 RKO 6s '41 pp ..10354 99% 10054 -+ % \Varner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9854 98 9854 — H (Quotations at close of Nov. 19)