Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1937)

Tuesday, June 29, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 21 New Shows On the Air "Richard III" The monstrous "Richard III" was brought vividly to the skyways last ■» night by John Barrymore in the second of NBC's cycle of Shakespearean epics. It was an impressive, gripping version of the Bard's bloodiest classic. ... a version which need not skulk behind an apology for having been produced on the air and not on the stage. Neither need NBC apologize for "streamlining" the hallowed Bard's works as several of the more erudite radio and drama scribes screamed last week. It is regrettable, of course, that it is not practicable to produce Shakespeare on the air without excessive word surgery, but in all fairness to NBC and to Barrymore, who, in addition to acting also handled the adaptation, we want to go on record as saying that the "streamlining" is intelligently done and in last night's instance the story in all its essential details remained clear throughout. Barrymore was, of course, the whole show. Despite the terrific handicap of the microphone's limitations, his delineation of the murderous, throneaspiring Richard was so tellingly real that one never was conscious of the lack of the visual. Elaine Barrie, as was to be expected, did not set the ether afire by her portrayal of Lady Anne. However, the actress who portrayed Queen Elizabeth did as fine a piece of Shakespearean acting as we have heard. Unfortunately, we do not know who she is. The Shakespearean productions are offered Monday at 9:30 P. M., E.D.S.T., on the NBC Blue. "Hi! There Audience" Following the initial broadcast of the new WOR series, "Hi! There Audience" two Sundays ago, this department criticized the comedy portions of the program. After the review appeared a telegram from the station urged us to tune in again the following week, promising an improvement. We're happy to report that WOR's productions department has kept its word. The humor this past Sunday was a vast improvement over that offered the preceding week, while the musical and vocal portions of the program maintained the same high level which was achieved on the opening broadcast. Ray Perkins deserves credit for coming back so happily after his distressingly dreary start, and for backing up the opinion of this department when we labeled his initial effort as simply being one of "those things," stating that he would unquestionably deliver in the broadcasts which are to come. Incidentally, next week's "Hi ! There Audience" should be even more of an improvement than last Sunday's, for Peter Dixon, one of the better production and script experts, has been assigned to help Perkins build the program. Banner Opposition to Plan for RKO Meets Attack {Continued from page 1) Corp. was not a "bonafide purchaser" of RKO securities and that RCA had agreed to reimburse Atlas if the proposed plan falls through. Rickaby heatedly denied this allegation and also denied Cohen's statement that RCA had financed a stockholders' committee which had accepted the plan. A request that the plan be amended to provide for issuance of new Class A stock was made by Harry J. Allen and William Saltiel, associate attorneys for John Stover, who represents Ernest W. Stirn, a holder of 1,234 Class A shares. The plea was based on alleged illegal conversion of Class A stock to common in 1931. Allen stated that the outstanding common is "junior" to the old Class A and that Class A holders were deprived of "preferential rights" when RCA allegedly exchanged 500,000 shares of Class B for common. Rickaby Charges Delay The exchange was denied by Rickaby, who contended that RCA received this stock for underwriting the 1931 issue of securities. He also charged that Stirn had delayed too long in bringing suit and that thousands of shares of common stock had been traded on the stock exchange with knowledge of Stirn's claim. Rickaby defended the Rockefeller Center settlement of its $9,000,000 claim for 500,000 shares of new RKO common. He pointed out that all creditors accepted the settlement and that rejection of the settlement might require a new plan to be written. Rickaby stated that few New York first run houses earned large profits but that the Music Hall's value to RKO was "a national advertisement." The plan was characterized as fair, equitable and feasible. Its feasibility is best shown by the earnings of the past two years and the reduction of the debt of subsidiaries by $4,000,000 to $5,000,000 according to Rickaby. He stated that he regarded rejection of the plan and continuation of the trusteeship as "inconceivable." To Ask Assets Appraisal Cohen revealed that he would ask Federal Judge William Bondy to order a physical appraisal of RKO assets in order to determine the true value of the common stock. He charged that Judge Bondy's previous order opposing the appraisal was made without notice to him. Fairness of the plan cannot be determined by the mere analysis of legal rights, according to Cohen. He said that the Rockefeller settlement was made because the Music Hall was believed to be on a profitable basis, but that figures subsequently revealed indicated that it would never be a profitable venture from the operating standpoint. Its value as an outlet for RKO Radio pictures was opposed by the fact that control of the management policy of the Music Hall was given to Rockefeller interests. Briefs will be submitted by attorneys on July 15, with July 26 set for reply briefs. On Aug. 5 a hearing will be held if Special Master Alger requires further testimony. Carriers Ask Retention of Pay Systems {Continued from page 1) further service, and the method of presenting and collecting bills is based upon the bookkeeping practices of the theatre industry. "So far as the credit problem is concerned," he said, "the film carrier does not have the problem of the general hauler. We have found that the practice of collection is not a problem ; the accounts are all good." Before the present 15-day rule was put into effect, he disclosed, some accounts were carried on a six months' or yearly basis. It would be impossible, he said, to operate on anything less than the present 15 days. Methods of bookkeeping followed in the industry were outlined by Levy, who explained that the average independent exhibitors pays his bills on some particular day of the week following receipt, while in the case of the circuits they must go to a central office for approval by an auditor. Accordingly, he pointed out, a change in the regulations would necessitate changes in bookkeeping methods which have proven satisfactory to both carriers and exhibitors over a period of years and would prevent the carriers from rendering service on a weekly basis. Representatives of the motor carriers also opposed the proposed regulation, and suggested that it be amended to give the carriers seven days, exclusive of Sundays and holidays, in which to pay them. Anything less than a 15-day period, it was contended, would necessitate the rendition of bills at too frequent intervals. M-G-M Building July 1 Hollywood, June 28. — Construction of five new sound stages on the M-G-M back lot will begin July 1. Wall Street Board Off; Para. 8 Points Net High Low Close Change Columbia 29 29 29 —1 Consolidated, pfd. 11 10}4 1054 — 54 Eastman 17254 172 172 — U Gen. T. Equip.. .. 2056 2054 2056 — Vs Loew's, Inc 73% 73% 73% —254 Loew's, pfd 10554 10554 10554 + 54 Paramount 18 1754 1754 — 54 Paramount 1 pfd.. 122 122 122 —8 Paramount 2 pfd.. 1654 1656 1656 — % Pathe Film 654 654 654 RKO 7%. 7}4 754 20th Century-Fox. 32%, 31 3154 —154 20th Century, pfd. 40 39 39 —3 Warner Eros 1256 1154 12 — 54 Technicolor Heaviest Curb Drop Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..2 2 2 Sentry Safety .... 54 54 54 — Vs Sonotone 154 154 154 Technicolor 2854 2654 27 —154 Trans-Lux 4Vs 4 4 — 56 Bonds Decline Net High Low Close Change Paramount Pict. 6s '55 1005-6 9954 9954 — Vs Paramount 8854 88 8854 — H RKO 6s '41 pp.... 10754 107 107 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9456 9454 9456 — Vs (Quotations at close of June 28) Film Stars on Air Hit by Kuykendall {Continued from page 1) today. "Some of the songs are so old by the time they reach the screen that listeners figure they must be Spanish-American War songs, and some of the pictures seem so familiar that people feel like they have seen them before and want their money back," said Kuykendall. Kuykendall admitted, however, that radio previews help in a limited way to build patronage for exhibitors but he thought it ridiculous that stars should go on the air 52 times a year, especially when they limit the number of pictures they make per year. Broadcasting should be used, if at all, with discretion, he contended. The "score charge" is on its way out, Kuykendall said, in his address on "As Theatre Owners, Where Are We Headed?" Government regulation was decried by him as well as by Col. T. E. Orr of Albertville, Ala., another speaker. Kuykendall's address was a highlight of Monday's session which was followed by the opening of a golf tournament. A closed session for exhibitors will be held Tuesday with President Moore in the chair. Election of officers will follow. Warners to Use Its Players in England {Continued from page 1) after making a picture for Warners in England, Wallis pointed out, and other stars like George Brent, Joan Blondell and Margaret Lindsey will go over, providing Asher has the proper stories for them. Wallis and Asher discussed a number of possibilities, but nothing has been set. The exact number of films to be made in England is indefinite, the Warner studio executive said, because of new quota regulations being discussed. Wallis will leave today for Hollywood with Harry M. Warner, Henry Blanke, and Jack Saper, the latter two identified with the Warner studio production department. Equity Asks Action On WPA Dismissals More than 600 members of Actors' Equity and .Chorus Equity recommended at a joint meeting held at the Astor yesterday that the council of their organizations take any necessary action, including strike action, to prevent the dismissal of any member from Federal Theatre projects. The action of the Equity groups is in line with that taken earlier by other A. F. of L. theatrical unions. The councils and executive committees of the unions, 11 of them in all, will map a united campaign beginning with initial meetings today to prevent the discharge of their members as a result of curtailed W.P.A. appropriations. The unions ask that the layoffs be confined to non-union and nonprofessional ranks within the Federal Theatre projects. Form Coronet Pictures Hollywood, June 28. — Associated in Coronet Pictures, a new organization here, are Leonard Goldstein, vice-president in charge of production; Lou Golder and Howard Lang, the latter two, agents who arranged the deal.