Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

DAILY Monday, July I I. 1933 Outlook Best For 3 Years, Says Schenck (Continued from page 1) atres with the Odeon circuit, Mr. Schenck said he did not believe the reports were true. Twentieth Century-Fox and Loew's have a substantial interest in the G. B. circuit and United Artists owns SO per cent of Odeon. Mr. Schenck also denied reports that there is a deal on for acquisition by the United Artists Theatre Circuit of a large interest in the Fanchon & Marco theatres in St. Louis. As president of the U. A. circuit, Mr. Schenck said, he would know of such negotiations and none have been held. "Has F. & M. made an offer of any kind?" he was asked. "They may have made us an offer," he replied. "I guess they made an offer to everybody." Mr. Schenck spent the weekend with his brother, Nicholas M. Schenck, at the latter's home at Great Neck. Rowland to Produce In Spanish for RKO More Studios Voice Guild Vote Protests (Continued from page 1) Towne Nylander, regional director of the N. L. R. B., will ask Washington for official certification of the guild as the bargaining agent in spite of studio protests or if he will adopt some other procedure. Attorneys for the studios have asserted that they will not recognize the N. L. R. B. decision as binding. Contracts are to be signed in a day or two whereby William Rowland, independent producer, will make one film in Spanish for RKO release with options for several more. Production is to be at Eastern Service Studios with native casts. Musicals are planned. RKO thus joins other distributors which have begun to handle native language films for the Latin American market. Paramount and Monogram are financing the production of features for that area and Columbia and United Artists are finding such releases profitable. Ben Y. Cammack, RKO general sales manager for South America, says that the future of Spanish films in that market is uncertain because of the necessity of sustaining production on an expensive scale. Only the outstanding films in the native language are doing business. First Runs Strong Spanish films, however, are starting to do big business in the first runs, he reports, and the Nacional, which formerly played English language films exclusively, has adopted a policy of Mexican and Argentine pictures. Cuba is also becoming a production center, Mr. Cammack said. The first feature to be made there, "It Happened in Havana," opened a Havana run late last week. Regardless, in the larger centers and in the Latin American markets gen erally, Hollywood product is the predominant factor, as it is in other foreign markets, Mr. Cammack added. He reports that theatre building is booming in Mexico City, with large theatres under construction. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" played a total of 18 days in two theatres in Havana. Says Film Trade Is Excellent in Manila Business in the Manila area is booming, according to Ralph Brambles, representative of Luzon Theatres, Inc., a Manila circuit, on a visit here. Outside of the Philippine capital, native production is offerng competition, the total output being about 72 films a year from six companies, he added. Mr. Brambles said that conditions were so good that his company shortly will begin construction of a 1,500seat house. He is here to look over the season product and to purchase projection machines and other operating equipment. Mr. Brambles declared that the Manila theatre-going public is intelligently conversant with the English language and there is little need for dubbing, etc. Also, he added, they are discriminating and vociferously show their disapproval of weak pictures. Mr. Brambles will be in town for a few days before returning to the coast en route home. Farnol Named Ad, Publicity Head for U. A. Florida Ascap Stay To Be Argued Today (Continued from page 1) by the state during the former attorney general's tenure. The incumbent has sought to withdraw from the litigation, but Ascap is pressing the action in order to have it reach the Supreme Court as a test case on the constitutionality of the anti-Ascap laws which have ben enacted by five states. The hearing will be concluded today, it is anticipated. On Week-to-Week Basis Boston, July 10. — Charles W. Koerner, RKO division manager, is now keeping operation of the RKO Boston on a week-to-week policy. Louisiana Governor Signs New Tax Bill New Orleans, July 10. — The New Orleans amusement tax of two per cent on all theatres, night clubs, boxing exhibitions and similar attractions has been extended to 1940 by the signature of Gov. R. W. Leche on the legislative bill granting the continuance. Governor Leche also signed and placed in effect the one per cent general sales tax, which may soon be applied to all amusement admissions in addition to the amusement tax and a special one per cent municipal sales tax. Rulings are being sought as to whether the sales taxes of two per cent apply to theatre and other amusement admissions. Louisiana legislators ended the chance of passing an Ascap bill at the closing session of the biennial term when a measure carrying this into effect was withdrawn. (Continued from page 1) thai has been named director of exploitation and, in addition, will be in charge of United Artists trade paper advertising. ^t Ben Washer, former expl jitati,^ lirector, has been placed in charge oi United Artists publicity. Meyer Heck, who has handled the latter post for the past several years, will continue in the department as an assistant to Mr. Washer. The appointments are effective as of July 18, or as soon thereafter as Mr. Farnol is able to wind up his affairs at Donahue & Coe, where his successor has not yet been chosen. Among the accounts he handled at the agency were the Music Hall and the United Artists producers, Mr. Goldwyn, Walter Wanger, Edward Small and Alexander Korda. Hollywood Preview Saperstein Dies Of Heart Attack (Continued from page 1) Katz eliminate duals and comply with certain other requests on policy. Mr. Saperstein discussed the matt with Paramount officials at the ho office. Starting as an errand boy for t (jlube Theatre in Chicago at the a of 14, Mr. Saperstein became i spector, clerk, booker, salesman a assistant manager. He joined Mutua as assistant manager and became general manager in Chicago. Then he operated an independent exchange for two years. Later he branched into exhibition, taking a theatre on the site of the former Chicago Stadium. He now operates several theatres in Chicago, including the Lexington and the Avon. He was elected president of the Allied Theatres of Illinois and had retained the post ever since. He was in his eighth term as president when he died. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made. 20th-Fox Gets Ruling Federal Judge Vincent Leibell has ordered William L. Gross, as assignee of the creditors of Theatre Magazine Co., to show cause on July 12 as to why his suit for an injunction and an accounting of the profits of the 20th Century-Fox picture, "Earl Carroll's 1935 Scandals," should not be dismissed on the ground of insufficiency of fact. The plaintiff brought suit claiming infringement of the August, 1929, cover design of the magazine in the picture. Warner s-Koerpel Sign A release deal has been set between Warners and Jacques Koerpel for a series of shorts to be made by Commander Attilio Gatti, African explorer who left for the Belgian Congo on the Nonnandie last Wednesday. "Passport Husband" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, July 10. — Rival gangsters fighting for pin and marble machine gambling concessions, a South American dancer facing deportation unless she marries a respectable American citizen, and an innocent dupe of both the criminals and the girl furnish the ingredients of the plot of "Passport Husband," comedy coming from Sol M. Wurtzel's side of 20th Century-Fox. Stuart Ervvin, cast in his typical characterization of the dim-witted young man unsteady in love, among other things, is the chief character, supported by Pauline Moore, Douglas Fowley, Joan Woodbury, Robert Lowery, Harold Huber, Edward S. Brophy, Paul McVey, lion Chaney, Jr., and Joseph Sawyer. Previewed at a neighborhood theatre, the film drew many laughs, and the audience indicated its thorough acceptance. Apparent familiarity of the audience with pin and marble machines provides the hint that showmen might go out of the way to hook an exploitation campaign on this peg. James Tinling directed from the screenplay by Karen De Wolf and Robert Chapin, based on an original story by Hilda Stone. Erwin, busboy in a cafe in which Joan Woodbury is the featured dancer, is madly in love with her, although rivals for her affections are heads of two opposing gangs. Duped into marrying her, he finds that both gangs are anxious to make the woman a widow, so that she could legally take over his inheritance of the pin and marble game factory willed him by his uncle. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." Vance King Toronto to Enforce General Bingo Ban Toronto, July 10. — Deputy Police Chief Guthrie intends to enforce the ban on Bingo and other games of chance. A place where Bingo is played is now defined under the Criminal Code as "that in which payment is made to the operator either from the stakes played for or in the way of a direct or indirect fee from the players for the use of appliances, tables, chairs or any paraphernalia used in playing games of chance" and is officially designated as "a common gaming house." Bingo nights have proved formidable opposition to theatres. Mexican Consul Guest The Hon. Rafael de la Colina, consul general of Mexico, tonight will attend the "Mexican Night" performance of Monogram's "Rose of the Rio Grande" at the Criterion Theatre. He will be accompanied by 20 members of the consulate staff.