Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1937)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 2, 1937 S.&C. Signs 10-Year Deal With Empire (Continued from page 1) taken place with the officials of Empire looking to a possible amalgamation of the two unions. Detailed terms of the wage and hour agreement entered into between Springer & Cocalis and the Empire union were not available last night. Lieutenant James Pyke of the Bomb Squad of the Police Dep't yesterday told Motion Picture Daily that his unit is pressing its investigation into the tear gas bombing Saturday night of seven Springer & Cocalis theatres located along upper Broadway from 72nd St. to 110th St., in which a number of people were slightly injured and patrons were forced from the houses by the fumes. Lieutenant Pyke, under whose jurisdiction is the investigation of the bombings, declared that policemen will be maintained at each of the 38 Springer & Cocalis theatres in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn until the "situation is cleared up." Two K.C. Houses Bombed Kansas City, March 1. — Two theatres here, the Roanoke and Sun, were bombed here early today. Both houses were closed at the time. Edwin S. Young, manager of the Roanoke, and C. W. Rohde and Homer Pautz, owners of the Sun, declared neither house employs union operators. Delaware Bill Asks Tax-Free Producing Dover, Del., March 1.— A bill exempting motion picture studios which shall be established in Delaware on or after July 1, 1937 from taxation for 15 years was introduced in the State Assembly here today by Repre sentative W. R. Ringler of Millvilie. The bill, an act amending the "valuation and assessment property" act, provides that for a period of IS years from the beginning of its operation film studios and plants, including all lands, buildings and chattels utilized in connection with the production of motion pictures and all raw materials going into the finished products of such studios and plants as well as the finished films, shall be exempt from valorem taxation. The exemption is not to apply to real estate owned by such studio and plants except real estate occupied as location required to house such studios and other buildings incidental to operation together with such lands as may be required to house officers and employes, or for warehouses, laboratories, cutting rooms, projection rooms, sets and locations. Sunday Bill in Delaware Dover, Del., March 1.— A bill calling for the State-wide legalization of Sunday motion pictures after 2 P. M., was introduced in the State Assembly here today by Representative John P. Hammill of Wilmington. The bill also provides that no employe in or about a theatre shall be employed on Sunday unless he or she has had at least 24 consecutive hours DECENCY IN MOTION PICTURES by MARTIN QUIGLEY Why there is and how there came to he a "Production Code" 100 pages — bound in Blue Cloth ONE DOLLAR POSTPAID Published by the MACMILLAN COMPANY available at THE QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP Rockefeller Center, New York City Explains Triples Kansas City, March 1.— Triple features bring in enough extra patronage to warrant the additional expense and decreased "turnover" only on Sundays, says E. S. Young, operator of the Roanoke and Central, who introduced the policy some months ago. Young runs a triple at his houses about one change a week. This is due, Young believes, to the fact that on Sunday people have time for a triple. of rest during the preceding six days. Violation of the measure calls for a fine of $50 or imprisonment of 10 days for the agent or officers of the company guilty of the violation. HammiU's bill is not the measure currently being formulated by the Law and Legislative Committee of the M. P. T. O. of Delaware and Eastern Maryland, it was stated today by Benjamin Shindler, a member of the committee. Oklahoma Reduces Planned Tax Oklahoma City, March 1. — A severe blow was dealt the Oklahoma tax commission by administration leaders here recently when the revenue and taxation committee reduced the commission's administrative share of the tax tnore than $200,000 and clipped $250,000 from a proposed amusement tax. H. Tom Kight, chairman, and Homer Odell, vice-chairman, took the lead first in stripping the tax commission of part of its administrative fund, and in reducing the theatre tax from a proposed five per cent to the present two per cent. Favor Sunday Measure Raleigh, N. C, March 1.— The Senate Committee on Counties, cities and towns, following a public hearing, reported favorably on Representative Cooper's bill to legalize Sunday films, baseball and pool rooms in Cherokee County. Illinois Considers 2 Bills Springfield, 111., March 1. — Two bills, both concerning theatres, were referred to Senate committees here this week. One measure, introduced by Senator Tuttle, reads, "a tax is imposed on persons engaged in or conducting any place of amusement to which admission has been charged and is collected at the rate of two per cent of the gross receipts so charged and collected." This bill, if passed, would be effective Aug. 15. All monies received as the proceeds of this tax would go to the old age assistance fund in the state's treasury. This plan is understood to meet with much approval among state's legislators. A second bill, introduced by Senator Meyers, asks that a state board of censors for films be provided. This board would consist of three members to be appointed by' the director of the Department of Registration and Education and would also censor all forms of film advertising. Films approved by the board would get a certificate from the department stamped on the film itself. The fee for consideration would be $3 for each 1,200 feet and $3 for each duplicate of a film. If Warner, "U" Reports Revealed by S. E. C (.Continued from page 1) 19 others which it claims it has no control over and therefore are not subsidiaries. Holders of 10 per cent or more of any class of securities, as of Feb. 1, last, were reported as Renraw, Inc., 14,358 shares; Sigler & Co., 20,720 shares ; H. M. Warner, 10,618 shares and Albert Warner, 21,035 shares, all in $3.85 cumulative preferred. Other securities held by officers and directors were $22,500 each, beneficially, of six and one-half per cent first mortgage gold bonds by H. M. Warner, Albert Warner and J. L. Warner. The company reported no change in its contractual arrangements but showed that between Nov. 30, 1935, and April 13, 1936, Jack L. Warner sold the company certain furniture, equipment and material for $105,323. It also reported that during the fiscal year the company filed a claim with the board of tax appeals for a deductible allowance as an offset against income tax deficiences and the Treasury held the claim conflicted in part with other claims filed by the three Warners brothers, and refused relief to all parties. To "avoid an impasse" the company entered into an agreement with the Warners, accepting their obligation to pay it $110,000 in substitution for its claim. "U" Reports to Oct. 31 The Universal report, covering the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, last, showed six wholly-owned and one partly owned domestic subsidiaries, two of which were inactive, and 28 foreign subsidiaries. Holders of 10 per cent or more of any class of stock were listed as the Universal Corp., 20,000 shares of second preferred and 229,027 shares of common, and Gruntal & Co., 1,922 shares of first preferred. The company reported that during the year as existing contracts expired, it made new agreements with Willard S. McKay as general counsel at $700 per week to April 1, 1937, and $1,000 per week thereafter to 1941, and with James R. Grainger as general sales manager, for two years from May 18, 1936, at $1,000 per week for the first year and $1,250 per week for the second year, with an option to retain his services for a third year at $1,500 per week. Laurel Incorporates Sacramento, March I. — Incorporation papers were filed here today for Stan Laurel Prod., Inc. Valuation of $100,000 has been listed. It is reported that Oliver Hardy has been assigned for a single picture. Sam Shirley Very III Chicago, March 1.— Sam Shirley of M-G-M, ill here, suffered a serious setback yesterday following an operation. John Divney Recovering Portland, March 1. — John Divney, manager of the Maine, is convalescing from an operation. He is home from Queen's Hospital. passed, the censorship bill will be effective Aug. 1. It is understood that theatre men are _ planning an intensive campaign against both measures.