Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

May 23, 1931 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 29 Industry Itself Is Banning Gang Film, Avers Civic Leader Declaring that the industry itself is taking action to check the production of gangster pictures, Mrs. George C. Harrison, member of the Providence, R. I., Board of Public Safety, has announced her opposition to the suggestion of George T. Marsh, another member, that the board and local censor ban gangster films in this city. She cited announcements of two producers that they would release no more pictures based on gangster activities, and that of another who, she said, assured her only an exceptionally good story would cause them to violate a similar policy. Marsh's specific objection was to "The Front Page." Providence exhibitors say they wish only to cooperate with the board and Capt. George W. Cowan, police censor, yet declare that the public likes gangster films and that therefore they are money-makers. Among exhibitors who have voiced this point of view is Harry Storin of the RKO Albee, himself active in civic affairs. Gangster films have also been defended by the Providence Journal, which closed an editorial in reply to Marsh by saying that "if more films had the rich, vital quality of 'The Front Page' it would be a far happier duty to report on them." Dix in "The Home Coming" "The Home Coming" is the title of Richard Dix's next for Radio. Bernard Schubert, who did the adaptation and dialogue for "The Reckoner," Dix's current opus in production, is writing the new screen play. Doris Anderson has completed the script for "The Strange Woman," Radio picture authored by Ivan Lebedeff and Benn W. Lavy, and will leave Hollywood for Europe shortly. Richard Boleslavsky is directing the piece wherein Ivan Lebedeff is to have a featured lead. Carroll in Charge for Schine Howard G. Carroll, former manager of the Strand, Niagara Falls, N. Y., and prior to that associated with the Warner at Elmira, has been Rochester manager for Schine, heading five houses, headquarters at the Riviera. Edward C. May, organist, was named manager of the Riviera. He formerly was manager of the Liberty, where he played a daily radio organ program. New Ti+le for Powell Film William Powell's first for Warners will bear the title "The Other Man" instead of "The Co-Respondent." This is the picture in which Marian Marsh will appear opposite Powell. Allison Skipworth is also in the cast. It will be directed by Alfred E. Green. San Diego Silent House Silenced The Rivoli, San Diego's (Cal), last silent house, has closed after an unsuccessful run of several months. I). L. Hill, managed for Pacific National chain. Libraries and Spring Spring cleaning should serve as a reminder for all nnanagers to check Into their sheet music and record libraries. See that you have all titles and make sure of ready accessibility. Where sheet music is torn, a neat pasting job will prolong life. Check into this yourself. E. B. Coleman to M-G-M E. B. Coleman, for the past year director of publicity for Oklahoma City Regal houses, five in the Cooper-Publix chain, has taken over new duties as exploitation manager for M-G-M in the Southwest. At the present time Coleman is in charge of exploitation for "Trader Horn" in the South. Coleman was formerly connected with Publix stage shows in New England and Florida and prior to that time managed his own stock companies on the Pacific Coast. Corrigan to Direct "Daughter" Lloyd Corrigan, Paramount directorwriter, has received the double assignment of directing and adapting for Sax Rohmer's "Daughter of the Dragon." The production will bring Anna May Wong to the American screen once more after several years. She has been on the stage and screen in Europe for some time and recently returned to the United States to star in Edgar Wallace's "On the Spot." A. H. Rowe Succeeds Mullen Ben Mullen has resigned as manager of the Warner in downtown Pittsburgh, and is succeeded by A. H. Rowe, formerly of Publix. Ben MuUer had been at the Warner for 10 years, having worked for Harry Davis when the house was known as the Million-Dollar Grand, before it was acquired by Warners. Movies to Cheer Idle Theatres in Buffalo are backing the move of Mayor Charles E. Roesch's unemployment relief committee to aid in keeping up the morale of those out of work with motion picture entertainment. The Lafayette of Charles Haymann, managed by George Mackenna, is the first downtown house to act upon the suggestion. It is offering 200 free tickets weekly for ten weeks. City Develops Film Row A new Film Row has developed on Hyde Street, San Francisco, with five exchanges on the avenue, four in adjoining buildings. They are Universal, United Artists, M-G-M, Fox and Radio. La Rue Studios Chartered A charter was filed at Dover, Del., by the La Rue Studios, capital $100,000, and represented by D. B. Hillard, A. S. Young and A. M. Welsh of Wilmington.O Schines Acquire Three At Piqua, O., Schines have purchased the Ohio and Mays and acquired the lease of the Bijou, dark over two years. J. Meyer Schine is arranging policies. Fox Financial Statement Is Due May 25 The long-awaited annual financial statement of Fox Film Corp., which is expected to show earnings of slightly more than $4 a share on common stock, is scheduled to appear on Monday, after several postponements caused by differences between Harley L. Clarke, president, and Price, Waterhouse & Co., auditors for the bankers interested in the recent $70,000,000 refinancing. These differences center around the method of amortization to be used in preparing the annual statement. Net income of $10,200,000 is expected to be reported, which will cover the annual dividend the firm has been paying on the 2,525,660 shares of combined class A and B outstanding stock. Net in 1929 was $9,469,050. Contradicts Current Impression Despite an impression prevalent in trade and in financial circles that Clarke and the bankers' auditors had finally agreed to two separate reports, one each based on an old and new amortization plan for product, the Daily Investment News editorially pointed out this week that "This suggestion (made by observers) had the jocular quality of reducing corporate accounting to absurdity. After all," stated this publication, "if figures could be turned about to show whatever results desired, there could be no reason for any income statements. "What the report will do," it is stated, "is to analyze carefully the results which would obtain were the Price, Waterhouse system of amortization used, as against the amortization tables employed by Touche, Niven & Co., who have regularly audited the corporation's books." Harley L. Clarke will analyze in detail the income account as certified by Touche, Niven. The annual report, as the result, will be one of the most elaborate ever issued. Amortized on Earnings The method of amortization regularly employed by Fox is charged on the basis of film earnings. Fifty per cent of the first six months' income from films is charged to amortization. The Price, Waterhouse method sets forth a table which amortizes 93j^ per cent of the book value of a film in 26 weeks. The contention of Clarke with respect to this is that a production's life is very much longer than 26 weeks and therefore the amortization table of the bankers' accountants was too high and would not reflect the true earnings of the corporation. A further point made is that it would be unfair to ascribe such a drastic amortization table to the entire year 1930. This would make the amortization of film by this method retroactive. It is possible that in computing 1931 results the corporation may adopt the Price, Waterhouse amortization tables. These have been adopted already by Paramount-Publix and Warner Brothers. The annual meeting of Fox is scheduled for June 10, at which time new directors are expected to be named to the board, including A. H. Wiggin, chairman of the governing board of Chase National Bank. Shortly after the annual meeting directors will convene to decide on the next dividend, due on July 15. The meeting will be the middle of June.