Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1936)

The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the ln< In All Branches VOL. 40. NO. 154 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1936 TEN CENTS Engineers for 15-25 Super Power Spots Recommendations Going Before FCC Soon Washington, Dec. 30. — If the recommendations which will be submitted to the Federal Communications Commission by the commission's engineering division at the next meeting of the governing body of the broadcast industry are adopted, the nation soon will have a number of stations, possibly 15 to 25 in number, operating on a clear channel frequency of 500,000 watts. At present WLW, in Cincinnati, is the only station in America allowed a power of 500,000 watts, and this is on an experimental basis. The engineering division's report based on an exhaustive study of the engineering aspects of radio will further state that there is no engineering objection to the creation of such high-power stations, and will recommend that the number of clear channels be reduced from 40 (as at present) to possibly 25 to 30; that the band from 1,500 to 1,600 be (Continued on page 5) Radio Today — Page 5 Goldstein in Charge At Republic Studios Hollywood, Dec. 30. — E. H. Goldstein today was given complete charge of business administration at Republic studios and Jack Fier was placed in charge of serials and westerns. These moves were predicted exclusively in Motion Picture Daily Dec. 5. Fier's appointment is in the .nature of a promotion. The new posts will be effective Jan. 2. The revised personnel setup is the result of conferences held here between Republic officials and Herbert J. Yates. Bank Night Action Dismissed in Maine Boston, Dec. 30.— The U. S. District Court in Maine has dismissed an infringement suit brought against Bank Night by Harry Berman. Berman, a former dry goods dealer, who became the Maine Bank Night representative, claimed that a similar cash scheme of his had been infringed and adopted by Bank Night. He has another suit pending for commissions alleged to be due him from Roy Heffner. ITOA Holds a Significant Meeting— Nothing Happens The I.T.O.A. held a significant meeting at the Astor yesterday. The score charge and what it means to the small exhibitor were discussed, but no action was taken. As a matter of fact, no plans have been made on what to do about it, but when the members gather around the table in the next few weeks there is a remote possibility they will remind themselves that it is time to talk about the subject again. Labor was gone into yesterday, but no action was taken. Another meeting was planned last night, but no one was on hand that could reveal any of the details. Several weeks ago the organization announced a mass meeting planned in New York with members of the I.T.O.A. and U.M.P.T.O. of Philadelphia scheduled to attend. This was supposed to concern allegedly unfair selling practices by unnamed companies. No action, no date, as a matter of fact nothing has been heard of it since word first got around that something would be done about it. Then there's that vigorous campaign that the I.T.O.A. planned because Fire Commissioner John McElligott threatened to further an ordinance to ban smoking in theatres. Something was said about a fight. Nothing has been done about that, either. Univ. Corp. Takes Block of "U" Stock Washington, Dec. 30. — Acquisition in November of 3,500 shares of Universal Pictures common stock by the Universal Corp., Wilmington, Del., was disclosed tonight by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its semi-monthly report of stock transactions of officers, directors and large holders of corporation stocks. At the close of the month, the Universal Corp. held 229,027 shares of (Continued on page 6, 1936 A year's happenings in the industry, as mirrored in the day-by-day headlines of Motion Picture Daily for 1936, are presented on Pages 8-910 today. The complete financial recovery of the industry after four years of business depression is reflected in the earnings reports of representative production, distribution and exhibition companies which contributed to the headlines from the start to the end of the year. Another headline development, stemming from the industry's new economic order, was the complete revision and simplification of the corporate structure of the larger film and theatre enterprises and the resumption of dividend and bonus payments by virtually all companies. Para., Loew Stock Issues Hit New Highs All Paramount issues and Loew's soared to new highs on the stock exchange yesterday, the gains for the day being the greatest in some time. Other film stocks also showed substantial increases, with practically all issues closing at top prices. The reason attributed for the day's rise is the anticipated theatre returns for the next few days. According to (Continued on page 6) Hardwicke Distinguished in Well Done, Intelligent Play In a well done, thoughtful and intelligent play, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, restrained stalwart of the English theatre and a familiar through British and an occasional Hollywood-made film, made his American stage debut last night. The play was "Promise" by Henri Bernstein, English version by H. M. Harwood, produced by Gilbert Miller, presented at the Little Theatre. And that's all of that. An auspicious debut, this typewriter willingly, but nonetheless persistently, maintains. Poised, calm, always charming, occasionally somewhat the dullish for his own good and even contemplative, Sir Cedric's perform (Continued on page 10) Warners Not To Take G.N. Cagney Film Legal Angles Involved, It Is Explained Although a number of the circuit's houses have signed for Grand National's lineup, no Warner theatre will play "Great Guy," starring James Cagney. At Warners, it was admitted that the situation involved a legal question and not exhibition or prejudice. It was pointed out that Cagney some time ago won a suit to terminate his contract with Warners, following which the producer-distributor-exhibitor appealed. In handing down the decision, the judge pointed out that until a final court determination was made, Cagney had the right to work for anyone. Edward Alperson, president of Grand National, said it was true that Warners would not book the Cagney film, but the trouble is between Warners and Cagney and does not involve Grand National. "Great Guy" opened in six towns Christmas Day, including Allentown and Wilmington, and will open in a number of key cities today, and the Criterion on Broadway. Maury Cohen Joins RKO as Producer Hollywood, Dec. 30. — Maury Cohen, president of Invincible Pictures, today was signed by RKO as a producer. The duration of the contract could not be learned. Samuel J. Briskin stated that Cohen's duties will not be limited solely to B pictures, as had been reported. No new producer alliance will be made by Chesterfield Pictures this season as a result of the withdrawal of Maury Cohen from the independent (Continued on page 2) No Room for More Films, Says Kent S. R. Kent yesterday issued a statement clarifying the refusal of 20th Century-Fox to handle John Maxwell's B.I. P. pictures through its exchanges for G.B. The exchanges lack the facilities, he says. "We have not put a ban on anybody," says Kent. "Our agreement with Gaumont British made three (Continued on page 6)