Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1936)

Wednesday, November 25, 1936 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Legion of Decency Formed in Holland i Purely Personal ► By PHILIP DE SCHAAP Amsterdam, Nov. 14. — A Legion of Decency has been formed in Arnhem, Holland, by a Roman Catholic board. In the past the Catholic Church in this country has limited its action on product to be released to the same type of regulation exercised by the Government censor board, but at its first meeting the new group determined upon positive as well as negative action on films. The negative phase is expected to take the form of urging the Catholic people to refrain from attending such films as are deemed unsuitable by the Catholic board. The board's action is seen as of considerable importance to the film trade of this country, since approximately 35 per cent of the nation's population is Catholic. The Dutch M. P. Federation is expected to take specific action shortly in an effort to prevent further lowering of admission prices and to establish a minimum scale. With the depreciation of the Dutch guilder, the plan to establish a minimum, originated some time ago, was dropped as being unnecessary, but recently it has become apparent that some such action is vital. Archbishop Writes On Picture Rating Cincinnati, Nov. 24. — Concurrently with a letter which Archbishop John T. McNicholas, chairman of the Episcopal Committee on Motion Pictures, has sent to heads of all dioceses instructing members of the Legion of Decency to renew their pledges Sunday, Dec. 13, the archbishop has released a pamphlet titled "How to Judge the Morality of Motion Pictures." The pamphlet states : "It is generally recognized that entertainment is either helpful or harmful. A clear distinction must therefore be made between "(a) Entertainment which tends to elevate or to relax men and women physically or mentally, tired with the duties or occupations of everyday life, and "(b) Entertainment which tends to lower their ideals and moral standards of life." The pamphlet enters into a discussion of the influence of pictures on personal morality, the archbishop pointing out that a picture "must inevitably imply or present a moral thesis." Included is a quotation from the encyclical of Pope Pius XI on motion pictures. Bank Night for Century Century circuit yesterday closed a deal with Affiliated Enterprises for Bank Night in an additional five theatres. At the same time all questions relative to infringement have been disposed of. Affiliated recently settled a litigation on infringement with Harry Brandt of the Brandt circuit. Claude Ezell, general sales manager for Affiliated, left last night for Minneapolis, where, it is said, certain actions against exhibitors for infringing on the rights of Bank Night are pending. CC. PETTIJOHN,, reported as • greatly improved at Mt. Sinai Hospital yesterday, is planning to return to his home today with hopes of being counted in on the family's Thanksgiving dinner. • Lou Weinberg's son, Arthur, will arrive today from Andover, Mass., where he attends school. Fred Gluckman, son of Herman, and Joseph Meyers, son of Fred, arrived yesterday from Valley Forge, Pa., where they attend Valley Forge Academy. • Larry Beatus, Loew district manager in charge of Westchester, New Jersey and mid-town Manhattan, will leave today for a vacation in Hollywood. John Murphy, assistant to Joseph R. Vogel, will accompany him. • Ben Miggins, central European sales head for Twentieth Century-Fox, will sail today on the Nonnandie for his headquarters in Paris. On Dec. 23, he will meet Walter J. Hutchinson in Cairo, and then will make a tour of foreign exchanges. • Jay Gove has taken over the editorial reins of the Distributor, M-G-M house organ, now that M.E. Simons, former editor, has been made assistant to William F. Rodgers, general sales manager of M-G-M. • E. L. Alperson is back on the coast after a trip from Seattle. He intends to make a stop over in the middle west before returning to New York later in the week. • Lou Diamond, Paramount short subject head, will reach the coast Dec. 10 to screen subjects made by independent producers for Paramount release. • Nate Spingold and Joseph Seidelman have returned from the coast where they attended Columbia studio conferences. • George J. Schaefer and Harry Gold returned last night from Miami, Dallas and New Orleans. • Walter Reade is back from the coast. He was away two and a half weeks. • Al Lichtman wouldn't comment yesterday on reports that M-G-M has dropped the Ford radio deal. • Sidney M. Biddell, Grand National's story editor, arrived from the coast yesterday. • George W. Weeks, G B. general sales manager, returns today from a visit to Chicago. • Dave Weinstock has gone to Miami for a vacation. Paul Gallico, writer, is back from Europe. • Herman Robbins has postponed his departure to the coast until tomorrow, a Ted Curtis of Eastman Kodak is in town from Rochester. Francis Lederer is due from the coast this morning. NEIL F. AGNEW, J. J. Unger and Bob Gillham returned yesterday from Boston where they conferred with Mullin & Pinanski, ofon the Zukor Jubilee. • Albert Lewin of Paramount, Herbert Wilcox, Claire Luce, Kay Francis, Zasu Pitts, Anna Neagle, Delmar Daves, Jimmie Campbell, Jean de Cavignac, and Harry Foster depart today on the Nonnandie. • Eleanor Powell will make a personal appearance at the Poli, Springfield, next Wednesday. Mayor Martin and Harry Shaw yesterday set the deal with Joe Vogel and M-G-M executives. • F. W. Lyons of Interstate Checking arrived in town yesterday by plane from Cleveland, Minneapolis and Chicago. He leaves today for New Orleans. • Edward G. Robinson has been awarded one of the Townsend Harris medals given annually to outstanding alumni of City College. • Don Hancock will spend today at the Garden taking pictures of the New York Rangers for a V an Beuren hockey short. • Norman Reilly Raines original, "Seal Poacher," has been purchased by First National as a starring vehicle for Claude Rains. • Raymond Friedgen has left for Key West and Florida points to film additional scenes for "Killers of the Sea." • Buddy De Sylva is due on the coast tomorrow to begin his producing activities for Universal. • Moe Silver, Warner theatre zone manager, returned to Albany yesterday after two days here. o Ted Schlanger and Lester Kreiger were in from Philadelphia yesterday. Mitchell Klupt will be given a birthday party today at the Tavern by the Monday Knighters. Irving Rapper, dialogue director for Warners, will leave for Hollywood via American Airlines on Friday. Toby Gruen's son arrives tomorrow from Tucson, Ariz., by plane to spend the holidays here. • Frank Snell of the Van Beuren office was in Philadelphia yesterday. • Lynn Farnol returned from the coast yesterday via American Airlines. • Tom Connors is back from Dallas and Chicago. Art Gottlieb of Columbia returned from the coast yesterday. • Stewart McDonald of Warners is due to return today from Pittsburgh. Herbert Marshall yesterday conferred with Leo Spitz. Helen Lynd is in from the coast. Indiana Ponders Tax Indianapolis, Nov. 24. — A state theatre tax is under consideration by the Indiana legislative committee now in session, it was learned today. No decision has been reached as to whether the tax would take the form of a levy on tickets or a license fee. The committee's recommendations will be made in January. Singer's Will Is Filed Los Angeles, Nov. 24. — Mme. Ernestine Schumann-Heink left an estate valued at approximately $35,000 in a will filed here today for probate. The major portion of the estate is bequeathed to the singer's five children. Medals, diplomas, etc., are given to the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. Name 2nd B. /. P. Film "Living Dangerously" is the title of the second B.I. P. film which G. B. will release in this country by arrangement with Budd Rogers, Alliance representative here. That a deal for a second B.I. P. film had been made was reported yesterday in Motion Picture Daily. The first was "Weekend Millionaire." Confirmation from MGM Hollywood, Nov. 24. — The official confirmation of William Koenig as general manager and of Joe Cohn and -Norman Krasna as associate producers was issued by M-G-M today. Koenig Luncheon Guest Hollywood, Nov. 24. — William Koenig, named M-G-M studio manager a few days ago, was tendered a studio luncheon today to give him an opportunity to meet company executives. "Reunion" in Portland Portland, Nov. 24. — "Reunion," in its opening day at the Orpheum here, grossed $1,800, which is five per cent over the figures obtained by "The Country Doctor." An extended run is indicated. Warners Reopen House Warners and Si Fabian have reopened the Griswold, Troy, for weekend operation. The two interests have a pooling deal in Troy and the Griswold has been closed for some time. RCA in 34 Warner Spots RCA High Fidelity sound equipment has been installed in 34 Warner houses since the first trial installation at the Stanley in Philadelphia, a few months ago. Eby, Scofield Injured St. Coud, Fla., Nov. 24. — John Eby, theatre manager, and Harold C. Scofield, Orlando radio announcer, were injured in an automobile accident here. "Pastures" in London London, Nov. 16. — "Green Pastures" will have its British premiere at the New Gallery, on Nov. 30. Starts a New Firm New Orleans, Nov. 24. — Mona O'Rourke, former secretary of the code board, has opened Personal Service Bureau, Inc.