Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

20 MOTION PICTURE HERALD June 2 0, 19 3 1 ciaj A$IE)E§ & INTEI^LUDES By JAMES CUNNINGHAM Editors and publishers of the company's leading newspaper (many of which have at various times devoted considerable space to verbal flings at the industry and at the morals of some of its celebrities) behaved (?) in true convention style at the annual meeting this week of the Advertising Federation, in New York. . . . There ain't no justice! AAA Believe it or not, Maurice (Thrifty) Chevalier has given $1,500 to Actors' Equity for application to the needs of the sick, disabled and infirm members of the theatrical profession. . . . AAA Equity, incidentally . now has assets of nearly one-half million. . . . Although in its past fiscal year, the association grossed $155,255 and spent $175,000. . . . Red! AAA Just for the record: . . . That $500,000 annual payment to William Fox by Fox Film-General Theatres is not salary . . . but represents the time-payment manner in which Fox Film acquired his interests, totaling $18,500,000, in the Fox organizations. . . . The payments will be made over a period of five years. . . . AAA It is unlikely that the industry will spend, through the Hays organization, $1,000,000 in an elaborate goodimll campaign for the picture business. . . . The plan, which would utilise newspapers aiui billboards, still is in the preliminary discussion stage . . . zchere it u-ill remain. . . . AAA Marian Mel's job in California is to protect women and children in the Hollywood studio industry. . . . AAA Percy (Pioneer) Waters' job with Artlee Pictures is far removed from the days when he was a vitally important power in the picture business . . . and had a bank balance totaling $5,000,000. AAA Mike Rice, officially dubbed "Father Confessor" to the Hughes-Franklin group, describes that circuit's modus operandi as being based on "Democracy with Dignity ! — Loyalty without Servility! — Admiration without Envy!" AAA When gunmen broke into Educational's Chicago branch, they were unable to unearth more than $15 throughout the entire Educational-Tiffany -Sono Art-World Wide quarters. . . . Depression? AAA Some theatres, particularly circuit operated, lose up to $35 in a day through crooked staff men who swindle on resale of admission tickets. . . . The crooks are a big headache to circuit operators. . . . AAA Glenna Collett's current break in the country's front pages, regarding her engagement to marry, recalls the fact that this famous golfer was one of the first sports stars to be brought to the screen by Grantland Rice. . . . AAA The chap who wrote as "J J G." to Mark Hellinger in answer to Mark's recent A''. Y. Daily Mirror Laemmle article, and belittling the research work done by Dave Bader on Carl Laemmle's autobiog, is J. J. Geller, . . . who several years ago was personal representative of Laemmle, from which capacity he was discharged for coloring statements by Laemmle in connection with the life history of Carl, Sr., v^hich appeared in the Satevepost. . . . And for which that Curtis publication became quite heated at Laemmle, even threatening to expose the incident, which eventually was patched up . . . Ax-grinding? . . . In the Trenches Allied States Association of exhibitors says it "is now battling for: "Fair copyright laws. "Elimination of protection beyond prior run. "Lower service costs on sound equipment. "The end of block booking, which was declared illegal three years ago by the Federal Trade Commission. "Lower trailer costs. "Better contract conditions." The name of a mysterious "Mr. Forbes" is mentioned in connection with negotiations now being held at Chicago from which, it is reported, there will emanate a powerful production-distributor-exhibition organization. ... A special train brought certain prominent names from New York and other points to the conferences. AAA William K. Saxton, Baltimore city manager of Loew houses, made a bet with R. H. Cherry, treasurer of the Century in that town, that Cherry could not make small purchases in local stores with $5,000 and $10,000 bills if he was dressed poorly, was unshaven and bedraggled. . . . Cherry tried it at a five-and-ten, was promptly arrested and haled into police court where he was fined $1 and costs. . . . AAA .■i Universal press sheet attempts to impress e.vhibitors withe fact that "Up for Murder!" "Is NOT a gangster picture!" . . . And "It is NOT a Newspaper picture — do not play it up as such." . . . Which would be perfectly okay provided the same publicity did not contain a description of a story in which are involved a cub reporter, a newspaper editor, a fight and the inevitable murder ivhich is folloived by the shado7t's of that sinister looking electric chair. AAA A few paragraphs back, details of a tieup between RKO and Telechron clock interests was revealed. . . . The deal, by terms of which RKO guaranteed Telechron free "plugs" in RKO pictures, in return for publicizing of RKO product by Telechron, is now dead and here's why: .... RKO completed elaborate plans for a big campaign with Telechron and then initial pictures in which the clocks appeared were previewed. . . . They were seen about the walls and in most conspicuous comers of offices and homes, but in all instances they were big ones and not of the small desk and mantel variety which RKO agreed would be used. ... So the clock people balked because plans went awry and the deal was called off. AAA When Bobby Jones arrived home at Atlanta this week from Hollyimod he stated that never again would he appear in films. . . . But a "peek" in Bobby's bank book reveals an entry of a quarter of a million smackers as his share from Warners for that series of golf shorts. . . . Which leaves us wondering what Jones would do if Warners visited him at Atlanta with the offer of another $250,000 for a second series. . . . You guessed it! . . . pEW are aware that the now famous stock market crash of '29 is directly responsible for Universal still being interested in 119 theatres. . . . The company originally had 300 scattered throughout the country, but, unlike others, soon realized that making pictures and running theatres do not jibe always. . . . So, wisely relieving itself of a terrific headache, 150 were disposed of and then another group of 30. . . . which deals were followed by negotiations with Warners for the remaining 119. .. . The Laemmle-Warner interests could not get together, so Paramount entered the picture and successfully made a deal to take over what was left of the "U" circuit. . . . Contracts were practically ready for delivery, Paramount agreeing to pay part in cash and the remainder in stock which it guaranteed to buy back in two years at a figure approximately 20 points higher than the current late '29 market quotation. . . . But, alas, dynamite exploded in Wall Strasse, values went tumbling and before anything could be done about it, Paramount's stock, part of which it had intended to deliver to Laemmle, reached such a low figure, like all others on the big board, that nothing else could be done but call of¥ the deal. . . . And Universal still is looking for a buyer. . . . Which should set at rest those far-fetched yarns crediting Universal executives with having arrived at the decision to build up a new nationwide theatre circuit ! . . . AAA That telephone operator who was asked by her boss to call Jesse (independent distributor) Goldberg and when she put through the call accidentally asked for "Jesse James Goldberg." . . . AAA Twenty years ago this week : . . . Carl Lammle called his organization "The Biggest and Best Film Renter in the World!" and then sailed to Europe abroad the S. S. Kaiser Wilhelm. . . . Cameras in use were known as Warwick, Prestwich, Prevost, Debrie, Gaumont and Jenkins. . . . Kinemacolor was about to revolutionize the industry with color films, with Charles Urban sponsoring the move. . . . Burton King, Vinnie Burne, Blanche Cornwall and Romaine Fielding were some of the stars of the day, in Solax Productions. . . . Andrews Pictures (London) haughtily announced to the trade that it had "been granted some exclusive positions for cinematographing Their British Majesties' Coronation Procession." . . . The National Board of Review was plenty powerful. ... The Rex KNOWHOW Manufacturing Co. had headquarters on 11th Ave. (now "Hell's Kitchen"), New York. . . . AAA Owen D. (RCA) Young's White House aspirations are becoming quite pronoimced. AAA Although Paramount is quietly dickering with Morton Downey, radio-night club singer, for a series of musical shorts, Mort admits that as a screen actor he's a pretty good crooner. , . . Even Downey blushes at mention of that "Mother's Boy" feature, his first — and since then his last picture opus. . . . AAA Fox Theatre managers who have closed theatres under their jurisdiction are 'warned by the home office that they are responsible for the safeguarding of the contents and equipment of such theatres. . . . AAA Hollywood's "Camerad" reports that in on'' studio, while digging a hole to burn some old film, they came across the fossil remains of a song-writer — an extinct creature who for a short time over-ran Hollywood. . . .