Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1937)

Thursday, January 14, 1937 MOTIQN PICTURE DAILY G. B. to Stay with 20th-Fox for Time (Continued from page 1) G. B. will be permitted to release "River of Unrest," first of five B. I. P. films signed for by Lee, exclusive of five Herbert Wilcox pictures. While Lee would not discuss the session, Kent stated : "I have nothing to say on the meeting except that 20th Century-Fox has agreed to handle one John Maxwell picture." With further details lacking, it is understood that further discussions will be held between Kent and Lee when pictures other than G. B.-made come up for distribution. The release date for "River of Unrest" is Jan. 10 and cancellation of many bookings would have been forced had Kent insisted on complying with the notification recently sent out that 20th Century-Fox could not handle product not made by G. B. Own Exchanges Still Considered Plans for establishing its own exchange system have not been dropped entirely by G. B., it is understood, and it is likely the company may set up its own national distribution outlet for next season. While Kent and Lee decline to discuss details of yesterday's conclave, the implication is that Kent conceded G. B. the privilege of using 20th Century-Fox exchanges for this one Maxwell film to save the company from an embarrassing situation. Although G. B. has taken on 10 outside pictures, the schedule of 24 announced at the annual sales convention has not been increased, it was pointed out. Isidore and Maurice Ostrer are scheduled to sail today on the Aquitania. They have been here the past few months conferring with Joseph and Nicholas M. Schenck and Kent on the Loew's-20th CenturyFox-G. B. stock deal. According to Isidore Ostrer, there has been no change as far as G. B. is concerned since he left London. G. B. Starts Sales Drive G. B. has started a play date drive which will continue until Apr. 3. In honor of the G. B. general sales manager the drive will be known as the George W. Weeks Playdate Roundup. U. A. Sets Deal for New Cartoon Series (Continued from page 1) unit are Kenneth McLellan, former head animator for Walt Disney, and Norman Stevenson, former Disney production manager. A staff of five animators and 40 artists has been assembled and is at work on the United Artists lot now. The series is designed to replace the Disney cartoons which will be distributed by RKO next season. Mrs. Cummins Buried Funeral services were held Tuesday for Mrs. Anna Cummins, wife of Samuel Cummins, of Eureka Prod. Interment was in the Lutheran Cemetery, Brooklyn. "Men Not Gods" to Rivoli "Men Are Not Gods" opens at the Rivoli Saturday. Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, Jan. 13. — Isabel Dawn and Boyce De Gaw are in Washington for Navy Dept. conferences on the script of "Wings Over Honolulu," Universal. Horace McCoy signed to term contract by M-G-M ; he's author of "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" . . . "Glove Spats," sixth of current Our Gang series, started . . . B. P. Schulberg holds up shooting on "Love Trap" because of illness of Gail Patrick . . . Al Wilson, production manager on Republic's "The Hit Parade," flies to New York to supervise set construction at Biograph Studio . . . Harry Glucksman, N. Y. exchange manager for Republic, here with Mrs. Glucksman for visit. Louis Hayward to appear in one a year for Universal for three years through deal with Radio . . . Al Lewis gets new producer's contract at Radio . . . Isabel Jewell and Claude Rains added to sick list . . . Peter A. Goode, survivor of Macon disaster, technical adviser on "The Go Getter," Warners . . . Frances Farmer to sing in Radio's "The Toast of New York." + Casting — Blanche Rayson in "Ever Since Adam," Republic . . . Alan Hale replaces Donald Crisp in "The Prince and the Pauper," Warners . . . Jack Oakie and Victor Moore in "Radio City Revels," Radio . . . Diana Gibson in "Escadrille," same studio . . . Roger Imhof in "Two Shall Meet," Grand National . . . 20th Century-Fox castings include De Witt Jennings in "That I May Live," Spencer Charters in "Fifty Roads to Town" and Ruth Peterson in "Dead Yesterday" . . . Barbara Read and Jean Rouverol in "The Road Back," Universal. Charles Irwin in "Stepping Toes," radio . . . Olin Howland and Charles Judels in "Marry the Girl," Warners . . . Patricia Ellis, on loan from Warners ; Jack LaRue, George Meeker, Julia Thayer, Helene Mitchell and Carleton Young in "Ever Since Adam," Republic. + New Contracts — Hi Moulton, musician ; Walter T. Strohm, technical expert ; Samuel Pokrass, writer ; Marjorie Weaver, Gloria and Barbara Brewster, actresses, signed to new pacts by 20th Century-Fox. + Directors — Phil Rosen gets new pact at Republic . . . Ray Enright to direct "Singing Marine," Warners . . . Ben Holmes given new contract bv Radio. + Title Changes — "Once Over Lightly" changed to "Don't Tell the Wife," Radio . . . + Writer — Harry Hershfield adapting "Get It First," Warners. Taxes Took 46-65% Of Highest Salaries (Continued from page 1) salary situation made by Motion Picture Herald. Illustrating the heavy taxes to which high salaries are subject, the Herald points out that 28 persons, representing as many taxation brackets, in New York and California, received an aggregate in salaries of $3,671,036 in 1935, but were subject to income taxes estimated at $1,712,967, or a tax average of 46 per cent of the total gross income. In arriving at the figures, the Herald takes exemptions of $2,500 in each case from the taxable income in computing the state and Federal taxes. Among the 28 selected as typical, the Herald cites the much-publicized salary of $480,833 paid to Mae West in 1935, pointing out that California taxes amounted to $90,199 and Federal levies were estimated at $239,855, leaving a net income of $168,279. Winfield Sheehan, subject to taxation in New York, received a 1935 salary of $344,230, but was subject to estimated taxes, according to the Herald, of $27,088 to the state and $174,249 to the Government, leaving a net income of $140,393. Would Double Cal. Tax Sacramento, Cal., Jan. 13. — A bill has been introduced into the California legislature which would double the present tax rate, the highest in the country. Thau on Way East Hollywood, Jan. 13. — Benny Thau is en route to New York to confer with Louis B. Mayer before proceeding to London. Chicago McVickers To Comet, B&K Unit (Continued front page 1) late this afternoon by the Chicago Board of Education. The lease is for 30 years. Rental starts at $60,000 for the first five years and is increased to $62,500 for the second five years, $70,000 for the third five years, $70,500 for the fourth five years and $75,000 for the remaining 10 years. This is the minimum guarantee. Over and above these figures the Board of Education gets 15 per cent of the gross if a film policy prevails and 10 per cent if stage shows are used. The lease is expected to be signed shortly. B. & K. will redecorate the theatre for reopening in the spring. Show policy is undecided. Johnny Jones was the only other bidder for the property. Film Air Shipments Gained 130% in Year Film shipments by air express increased 130 per cent in 1936 over 1935, a study by the Railway Express Agency indicates. In November, 1936, the total number of film shipments in and out of New York was 3,167, against a total of 1,342 in November of 1935. Shipments by weight from Los Angeles to New York in November of last year were 3,028 pounds, compared with 1,288 pounds in November, 1935. The film industry has been among the largest and most consistent users of air express since its inception in 1927, the study points out. One of the greatest services, it is said, is the use of air express by newsreels in shipping prints to theatres over the country. Johnson Succumbs To Crash Injuries (Continued from page 1) Snark. He married Mrs. Johnson on his return in 1910. Later he opened a chain of nickelodeons in southern Kansas, and afterward, with Mrs. Johnson, he toured the western states and parts of Canada showing the South Sea cruise film. The course of their exhibition tour took them into remote places where they had to use acetylene gas for illumination. In 1912 they went to the islands in southern Pacific where they made their first film, "Cannibals of the South Seas." Following this they cruised about the South Seas making films at every group of islands, the result being "Captured By Cannibals," "Head Hunters of Malekula" and "On the Borderline of Civilization.' Continuing their travels, they sailed around Australia and then spent two years in Borneo making "Jungle Adventures." Next they went to the Malay States and Egypt where "Bessie the Adventuress" and "The Suez Canal" were filmed. For the next 15 years they traveled the length and breadth of Africa. The couple became authorities on native populations and the habits of wild animals. Filmed Many Jungled Pictures The African expeditions produced "Trailing Wild Animals," "Simba," "Across the World," and in recent years "Congorilla," the first all sound film to be made in the African interior. Johnson lectured extensively in this country and abroad and was the author of "Camera Trails in Africa," "Safari," "Lion" and "Congorilla." He was also associated with the American Museum of Natural History. Two years ago he returned from Africa with "Baboona," which was made with two airplanes to facilitate reaching remote places in Africa. The film was distributed by Twentieth CenturyFox. It was the first picture to be screened in an airplane for the press. Recently he had again visited the head hunter country of Borneo, this time using an airplane as in the recent African trip. Birmingham Plan to Tighten Supervision Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 13. — Amusement supervision in Birmingham will be extended and tightened in some respects rather than relaxed by the new department of amusment supervision which the City Commission proposes to create, according to commission President Jones and Commissioner Robinson, who told a group of protesting members of the Birmingham M. P. Council that the proposed new system will be given a trial. Pettersen Marzoni is scheduled to be director of amusement supervision and Mrs. Harriett B. Adams, present amusement supervisor, his assistant. The proposed ordinance will give the new department authority over theatres, circuses, fairs, carnivals, night clubs and other entertainments which are not now covered. Attend Pa. Session Pittsburgh, Jan. 13.— Fred Hernngton, secretary of the M.P.T.O. here, and William L. Brown of Tarentum have left for Harrisburg for the current session of the Pennsylvania legislature.