Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1936)
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MOTION PICTURI
DAILY
Thursday, December 31, 1936
Day-by-Day Chronology of '36
January
Jan. 2. — N. Y. exchanges begin collecting two per cent municipal sales tax from exhibitors pending court test of city's right to levy tax against film rentals. Motion picture securities increase $162,862,375 in market value during 1935.
Jan. 3. — Circuits' holiday grosses up sharply over preceding year.
Jan. 4. — Creditors' claim against RKO in reorganization proceedings reduced by approximately $22,000,000.
Jan. 6. — Defense motions for dismissal of Government's complaint to be heard in advance of trial at St. Louis. Studio guilds reported opening a drive for closed shop.
Jan. 7. — Treasury Dep't sees 25 per cent increase in 1936 theatre business in estimating tax returns.
Jan. 8. — St. Louis Federal court denies film companies' motion for dismissal of Government's equity case.
Jan. 9. — Spyros Skouras first witness in opening of trial of Government suit at St. Louis.
Jan. 10. — St. Louis trial opens. Creditors' claims against Fox Theatres Corp. reduced by $2,949,103 in receivership proceedings.
Jan. 11. — Circuits launch new expansion and strengthen programs in midwest and west.
Jan. 13. — Theatres in operation in U. S. may pass 15,000 mark, annual Film Board report expected to show. Industry sees no hope for revival of voluntary trade practice regulation to replace NRA code.
Jan. 14. — Samuel L. (Roxy) Rothafel dies in sleep at age of 53.
Jan. 15. — N. Y. Film Board reports 1,031 theatres open in local territory.
Jan. 16.— Retaliatory legislation seen possible against foreign countries which impose quota and tax restrictions on American films.
Jan. 17.— U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Philadelphia holds contract clause prohibiting double featuring illegal.
Jan. 18. — British trade group begins work on new quota law. Changeover to 2,000foot reel set back from April 1 to Aug. 1, Hollywood directors leave Academy to form new guild.
Jan. 20. — Warners report net of $1,031,315 for final 1935 quarter, greater than entire preceding fiscal year's profit.
Jan. 21. — Federal amusement taxes increase $1,026,625 in six-month period. City refuses to hear exhibitors in opposition to application of city sales tax to film rentals. Settlement of industry's obstacles to Mexican operations seen.
Jan. 22. — Distributors consider application for a rehearing of the anti-double featuring case in Philadelphia.
Jan. 23. — Annual Film Board report shows 15,378 of 18.508 theatres in U. S. open; increase of 826 in operation during the year.
Jan. 24. — Loew's may eliminate all chance games.
Jan. 25.— J. B. Clinton, president of Northwest Allied, urges joint action with M.P.T.O.A. on mutual efforts. Detroit patrons vote duals.
Jan. 27. — Dep't of Commerce reports 51,697 theatres in world equipped for sound, gain of 10.828 over 1934. Reliance Pictures to RKO in switch from United Artists.
Jan. 28.— Legion of Decency will issue single list of picture classifications through N. Y. Archdiocesan council, instead of sectional lists.
Jan. 29. — St. Louis action blows up, with Government prosecutor _ asking court to dismiss case without prejudice.
Jan. 30. — St. Louis court grants Government motion to dismiss litigation without prejudice. New Federal move seen possible.
Jan. 31. — Federal judge in Philadelphia appoints special investigator to weigh evidence of anti-trust law violations with view to grand jury investigation.
February
Feb. 1. — New copyright legislation seen as adverse to films.
Feb. 3. — Production Code Administration issues seals for 104 features and 74 shorts in two months time. M.P.T.O.A. to study possible competition with theatres involved in General Motors' free film entertainment.
Feb. 4. — Loew's contract with Erpi calls
for $100,000 annual minimum recording royalty fee, S.E.C. report reveals. Six Loew's and M-G-M officials receive approximately $2,000,000 participation in profits annually.
Feb. 5. — Erpi negotiates with producers on new recording license agreements, with lower royalties regarded sure. David L. Loew resigns as vice-president of Hal Roach Studios.
Feb. 6. — Nathan Yamins elected president of Allied, succeeding Sidney Samuelson.
Feb. 7— Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T.O.A. president, urges modification of sales policies following national tour.
Feb. 8. — William LeBaron named head of Paramount production with unit system installed. U. S. distributors resume selling in Mexico following adjustment of labor troubles there.
Feb. 10. — New York license commissioner launches move to halt giveaways. TransLux plans newsreel houses in all key cities.
Feb. 11. — Major distributors to apply for rehearing of anti-double feature case in U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Philadelphia.
Feb. 12. — House committee directed to hold hearings on Pettengill Federal anti-block booking bill.
Feb. 13. — Dramatists Guild begins drafting new author-producer contract for increased share of proceeds from film rights. Senate sub-committee named to hold hearings on Neely anti-block booking bill.
Feb. 14. — Report Standard Capital Corp. completes details for financing purchase of control of Universal.
Feb. 15. — Walter Wanger signs 10-year production contract with United Artists.
Feb. 17. — E. C. Grainger resigns as eastern division sales manager of Twentieth Century-Fox to become general manager of Feiber & Shea. Federal court reduces reorganization fees of Fox Metropolitan Playhouses by more than half.
Feb. 18. — John E. Otterson reached preliminary agreement with Winfield Sheehan to produce for Paramount. Alexander Pantages dies in sleep.
Feb. 19.— Senate committee sets hearings on anti-block booking bill. N. Y. state court denied I.T.O.A.'s petition for injunction to prevent city from collecting sales tax.
Feb. 20. — Pioneer Pictures to make four for United Artists. Atlas Corp. reduces holdings in Paramount and Warners.
Feb. 21. — M-G-M asks exhibitors to relieve it from obligation of delivering pictures not made by end of season, in order to catch up on its release schedule. Federal court fines William Fox $235,082 for contempt.
Feb. 24. — William Sussman. assistant to John D. Clark, named Twentieth CenturyFox eastern division manager, succeeding E. C. Grainger.
Feb. 25. — Standard Capital's deal for purchase of control of Universal seen "definitely set."
Feb. 26. — Government files new equity action against distributors in New York as aftermath of St. Louis case.
Feb. 27. — Legion of Decency voices oppoposition to anti-block-booking legislation.
Feb. 28. — Irving Thalberg to get new 10year contract with M-G-M. although current pact has three years to run.
March 2. — Block booking bill is called no aid to small exhibitor by Sidney B. Lust before Neelv Senate committee.
March 3. — George Schaefer becomes vicepresident and general manager of United Artists. RKO gets distribution of Disney shorts.
March 4. — Paramount to keep its localized theatre plan, says Otterson.
March 5. — E. C. Mills of Ascap assails American adherence to the Berne convention on copyrights.
March 6. — "Mutiny on the Bounty," Victor McLaglen and Bette Davis win chief Academy honors. Paramount to make new films in three groups. Appeal of William Fox denied on judgment; his arrest ordered.
March 7. — Standard Capital to use own funds in exercising option for purchase of control of Universal.
March. 9. — Concessions on cancellations as urged by the M.P.T.O.A. held possible.
March 10. — Representative Culkin drops plan for legislation to create Federal film commission.
March 11. — Joint legislative committee in New Jersey agrees on 10 per cent tax on gross receipts of all amusements.
March 12. — Standard Capital expected to exercise option to purchase Universal by March 14 deadline.
March 13. — M.P.T.O.A. to name committee on new trade practice program. New Jersey tax meets defeat in Assembly.
March 14.— Control of Universal passes to Standard Capital, headed by J. Cheever Cowdin, today. Paramount rentals running more than $1,000,000 weekly.
March 16— Deposit of check $1,500,000 to Carl Laemmle closes Standard Capital — Universal deal.
March 17. — Federal Trade Commission, in committee report, sharply criticizes Pettengill Bill.
March 18. — House subcommittee hears S. R. Kent declare majority of independent exhibitors want block booking.
March 19. — Theatres hit by floods in six eastern states. Ascap brief to House Patents Committee attacks exhibitor position on copyright.
March 20. — Twentieth Century-Fox reports net profit of $3,563,087 for the vear ended Dec. 28, 1935.
March 21. — Film salaries are filed with the House Ways and Means Committee by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
March 23. — Floods seen as having taken heavv toll of grosses. Chance games expanding in many sections.
March 24. — Radio will have at least 48 features next season, says Jules Levy.
March 25. — National Screen, with Charles L. Casanave. forms American Display Co. Winfield Sheehan drops deal with Paramount.
March 26. — Federal Communications inquiry reveals $3,000,000 of A. T. & T. funds in production.
March 27. — British Board of Trade names committee headed by Lord Moyne to study revision of Films Act which expires in 1938.
March 2S. — Carl Laemmle declines post on board of the new Universal, and decides to retire.
March 30. — Federal Judge Davis in St. Louis allows appeal to U. S. Supreme Court of civil case dismissal without preiudice.
March 31. — No delay anticipated for newFederal suit in New York.
April 1. — Loew's goes into Chicago and Detroit, taking United Artists theatres there.
April 2. — New Pathe Film Co. plans formation of two new companies, one for production.
April 3. — -Universal transfer completed; to produce 36 features. Pathe merger will dissolve First Division.
April 4. — Four national distributors accept Kuykendall invitation to discuss trade practice adjustments. Stay refused I.T.O.A. in city sales tax case.
April 6. — New era is seen in control of trade abuses by virtue of Sugar Institute decision.
April 7. — Precedent at stake in M-G-M's "Letty Lynton" appeal. Time extended for same in New York Federal suit.
April 8. — Fortune survey finds 50 per cent of adults rarely attend films. K-O-A change to make Leo Spitz active factor.
April 9. — Final report of Daniel Bertrand on NRA urges Federal control of the industry.
April 10 — See no effect on current film measures in NRA report. Court holds there is no restraint of trade in clearance.
April 11. — M.P.T.O.A. names committee to confer on new trade practice agreements.
April 13. — New deal in distribution and exhibition is the hope of M.P.T.O.A.
April 14. — U. S. seeking quick action in trust case. All exhibitor groups may participate in trade practice conferences.
April 15. — Felix F. Feist passes after lin
Events are listed in the order in which they appeared in MOTION PICTURE DAILY and not always in chronological sequence.
gering illness. Nine national distributors to join conferences.
April 16. — Unrestricted cancellations up to 10 per cent held possible. A. T. & T. gains $20,000,000 from films.
April 17. — Major companies indicate readiness to offer concessions on trade practices.
April 18. — New Pathe firm called Grand National, headed by E. L. Alperson. M.P.T.O.A. favors curb on forcing of
shorts.
April 20. — Delay of Federal trust case to fall is seen likely.
April 21. — Fox, B. & D. conclude a distribution deal for Australia. Uniform agreement not expected on trade practices.
April 22. — Twentieth Century-Fox net for quarter is $1,239,760. Col. Walter S. Butterfield, veteran circuit operator, dies.
April 23. — Pope pleased by improved standards of American films. Belief gains Wanger to remain independent Paramount producer.
April 24. — Loew's 28-week net jumps to $5,033,038, J. R. Grainger signs new three-year deal as Universal sales chief.
April 25. — All studio crafts to receive 10 to 15 per cent wage increases for next year. I.T.O.A. sales tax appeal is denied.
April 27. — Settlement of St. Louis injunction case believed near.
April 28.— Joseph P. Kennedy expected to be appointed to advisory post in Paramount.
April 29. — U. S. Supreme Court tax decision seen as bearing favorably on the New York sales tax fight.
April 30. — Howard S. Cullman, Roxy trustee, being sought to head combined T.O.C.C. and I.T.O.A. Federal action against Ascap expected to go over until fall.
May 1. — St. Louis trust action ended; court approves. Three weeks of negotiations result in signature by U. S. District Judge John C. Knox. William F. Rodgers named successor of Felix F. Feist as M-G-M general sales manager.
May 2. — Joseph P. Kennedy joins Paramount as adviser.
May 4. — Leo Spitz revamping RKO theatre lineup.
May 5. — Keith-Albee-Orpheum and B. F. Keith profits for quarter show huge jump. Local 306 merger talks suspended.
May 6. — Adolph Zukor to head production in Paramount shift. Fight awaited on B. & K. dualing plan. Dissension in \\ riters' Guild; 13 members resign.
May 7. — Republic to join industry 10-point talks.
May S.— Ike Libson and W. N. Skirball form Essaness Theatre Corp.
May 9. — Copyright and booking bills expected to go over to next Congress session.
May 11. — Kent, Schenck reported discussing English production with unit headed by Lord Portal.
May 12. — M-G-M gives details on 33 pictures at Chicago meet.
May 13. — Trust cases dismissed in St. Louis as final step in controversy.
May 14. — Edward L. Alperson and associates take over 66,667 Grand National shares. "U" promises end of score charge.
May 15. — Trade policy talks resumed at RKO.
May 16. — ITOA charges MPTOA trade practice conferences are "mockery."
May IS. — Paramount moves to combat poster renting firms by offering sale or lease of accessories.
May 19 — Preference on Appellate Division calendar to be sought for sales tax case.
May 20 — Columbia assures MPTOA conferees of trade concessions.
May 21. — Allied closes Chesterfield playdate deal.
May 22. — F'ive distributors give indication of new score charge policy next season.
May 23. — Gaumont British never will be sold, Jeffrey Bernerd tells sales convention in New York.
May 25. — U.A. will have 26-30 next season, says George J. Schaefer; Twentieth Century-Fox may list 67 with shorts at 96.
May 26. — Joseph P. Kennedy delays departure from coast, thereby holding up report on company's affairs to directors. Paramount sets 65 for year's list.
May 27 — Radio sponsors battling for coast's film talent. Republic lists 52 features, four serials.
May 28. — Schine. Cocalis, Brandt and others bidding for Roxy. Percy N. Fur