Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

May 2 3, 1 9 3 1 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 23 Chicago Theatres Brand Operators' Aid as Sarcastic The offer of Chicago projectionists to forego one week's salary during the month of June is not regarded by Chicago exhibitors as a sokition for summer operating problems. The projectionists met last week and voluntarily agreed to contribute one week's pay to their employers "to help tide them over a temporary period of depression." The exhibitors had previously asked for some adjustment of the wage scale for the three mid-summer months, which would permit the usual number of theatres to remain open here during the hot period. Exhibitor leaders now state that the operators' union action will in no way serve to ofYset summer closings, and characterized the action as a gesture of sarcastic magnanimity. "The union's announcement that it believes the exhibitors are in need of assistance to tide them over a period of depression is decidedly grim humor," said one exhibitor. "Their magnanimous offer to contribute a week's wages to their employers has all the charity and significance of tossing a bone to a dog. It will solve no exhibitor's problem. If they refuse a week's wages in June, as they say they will, it wall not permit a single theatre to remain open this summer that would have been obliged to close otherwise." Numerous exhibitors questioned stated that they would accept the union's weekwithout-pay offer, but all denied the action would forestall summer closings now deemed necessarv. Ann Harding on Coast Ann Harding, after completing a 4,000mile air trip in her new monoplane, has returned to RKO Pathe studios in Culver City to start work on "Devotion," tentative title for the Pamela Wynne novel, "A Little Flat in the Temple." Opens Ad Reel Office Technicolor has opened new New York offices at 400 Madison avenue, Frederick F. Bryant in charge, to serve advertising agencies in connection with color in sponsored reels. Filnn Booking Seen As Truce The Booking of "City Lights" into the Pantages in Hollywood is seen as a truce between United Artists and Fox West Coast. Joseph AI. Schenck is en route to New York. Daniels Contract Changed Bebe Daniels' contract has been transferred to First National from Warners. Her next is to be "Strictly Confidential," by Robert Fresnell and Walter DeLeon. Far East Head May Resign Tom D. Cochrane, ill at Tokio for some time, is expected to resign shortly as Paramount Far East manager, to be succeeded by J. E. Perkins, Shanghai manager. PEE WEE GOLF EMERGES FROM ITS WINTER SHELL Well. It's a "Super"! Employees gathered in whispering knots and looked askance at the door of Director Gregory La Cava's office at Radio's studio. "Hypochondriac!" said one in a stage whisper. Inside "Greg" sat tasting and frowning — first a spoonful of one brand of tonic, then a few drops of another, a third, a fourth, and so on, nodding and shaking his head by turns. An assistant director and a "prop" boy hovered solicitously near. Kneeling on the floor was a stranger, who resembled one of the Snnith brothers, displaying an array of nostrums, balsams, panaceas for all ills — an array of patent medicines which in the Mauve Decade was found on every shelf and in every stomach! Excitement grew keener as "Greg" pointed to a particular brand and said, "I'll take a case of this!" He had made a momentous decision! He had decided the kind of tonic that Edward Everett Horton should drink in his current opus. Florida 10% Tax Bill Is Fourth Adverse Measure A bill presented to the Florida legislature would levy a 10% tax on all theatre tickets, as well as soft drinks, candy, playing cards and the like. This is the fourth bill affecting theatres presented to the legislature. Two of them were tax measures and the third a Sunday bill, which was killed in committee. Alleged Fugitive Caught Norman King, 21 years old, was arrested at New Orleans and held for Detroit authorities, where he is said to be wanted for larceny of $3,400 from the Publix theatre, where he was cashier. According to the arresting officers. King admitted taking $200. but said that the rest had been stolen by others not in the employ of the house. Zulcor, Shubert Witnesses Adolph Zukor and Lee Shubert were called this week as witnesses in the trial of Irving Kaye Davis, playwright, who is being sued by a woman to whom he sold stock in the play "Veils." Zukor and Shubert are mentioned as having been interested in the purchase of the play. New United Artists Opens The new United Artists Theatre in San Francisco, formerly the Premier, will open May 28 with "City Lights" as the opening attraction. 'Minnie" Golf Courses Now Being Spruced Up tor Big Drive to Recoup Last Year's Losses Pee-Wee, the golf cub, who has been hibernating all Winter, is coming out of his hole. His owners and keepers in practically every town in the country have got out the brushes and combs, the vacuum cleaners and the paint brushes and are polishing and furbushing the baby in the hope that he will show some signs of activity this season and make up some of the losses he suffered last year. And, once again, theatre owners make ready to battle vigorously this form of opposition which last season made an appreciable dent in bo.x-office receipts. Mayor John C. Porter, of Los Angeles, just before he left for Paris, did his best to revive the more or less moribund infant. The official pulmotor, issued from the mayor's office at the request of owners of 2,400 miniature golf courses in the Los Angeles territory, reads : "To the citizens of Los Angeles, Greetings : "Miniature golf has become a popular national sport. As a wholesome outdoor recreation it is a contributory factor in the upbuilding of the health of our people. "The opening of the miniature golf season in Los Angeles, and the maintenance of these courses throughout the city, will provide employment for hundreds, a consideration of merit at this time. "Therefore, as mayor of the city of Los Angeles, I hereby proclaim the week commencing May 15, 1931, as 'Miniature Golf Week' and I trust that the public will lend its support to this health-giving activity. John C. Porter, Mayor." Armed with this spur to public interest, the golf course owners have become very busy. New fairways are being laid, new hazards installed, new inducements and ballyhoos being framed. For instance, the Mary Pickford golf course, on Wilshire Boulevard, is announcing a grand prize of a Chevrolet car. Still another course on Vermont Street is to give away an Austin. The prices at the lunch counters on the courses are being cut a bit and several are installing soda fountains. Some of the courses will not operate with golf this year. The Ruth Roland course was turned into a fishing camp last year and will continue that way. Several others became archery ranges and will remain so. Also a number of new driving ranges are being built, it being felt that there is more fun and exercise in walloping a golf ball on the nose with a driver or a brassie than there is in simply rolling it around on green carpet with a putter. So all the golf course owners are quite optimistic over the prospect of getting back some of the money they lost last year — and it was plenty. However, there is, as usual, a fly in the ointment. This fly is the Chamber of Commerce of North Hollywood. The proposition to indorse the mayor's proclamation was voted down.