Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1932)

March 26, 193 2 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 25 FILM THEFTS REDUCED ONE-HALF BY BUREAU AND SHIFT TO SOUND Only 24 Cases Investigated in 1931; Disposal Overseas More Difficult as "Shooting Galleries" Are Diminished An estimated 50 per cent reduction in thefts of film last year is attributed by the MPPDA to increased activities of the Copyright Protection Bureau in this country and to the increased difficulties of disposing of stolen film in foreign countries. Arthur S. Dickinson, in charge of Hays office investigations of film thefts, reports that only 24 cases of film thievery were investigated in 1931 as compared with double that number the preceding year. A larger amount of film, however, was involved in the smaller number of investigations last year due to the uncovering of two unusually large film "bootlegging" operations in the East. Convictions Effective Deterrents "Increased activities of the Copyright Protection Bureau," said Dickinson, "have succeeded in materially reducing the number of film thefts by acting as a restraint upon dishonest employees of film exchanges who occasionally worked in collusion with rings of film thieves. Convictions obtained in the past also serve as deterrents both to film thieves and to obscure laboratories which formerly engaged in 'duping' prints. The latter practice, though not entirely abandoned, has been practically eliminated in recent years, so that there are very few laboratories remaining which still engage in unauthorized 'duping'." The cooperation of the American consular offices in Central and South America, together with the change-over from silent to sound theatres, has succeeded in greatly decreasing foreign outlets for film stolen in this country. Central and South America, heretofore, have offered ready markets for disposition of stolen film, but the consular services are now checking every instance of questionable possession of American film, with the result that these countries are fast becoming less of a problem than they have been in the past. Aiding in the clearing up of these localities has been the advent of sound theatres which has eliminated numbers of irresponsible operators of Latin American "shooting galleries." These have given way to a better class of theatres, with fewer exhibitors willing to deal in purloined film. Were Difficult of Access Formerly, small theatres in the interior of Central and South America had no compunctions about buying and using stolen film. Located in remote towns, difficult of access, they had little fear of discovery or investigation, according to Dickinson. The three forms of thievery — outright theft, connivance with dishonest exchange employees, and "duping" — all are believed to be decreasing rapidly. When left unguarded, prints are occasionally picked up. rushed to nearby laboratories where duplicates are made within a few hours and the originals then returned to the spot where they were found. Occasionally, they are stolen from film delivery trucks and from exchange offices and shipping rooms. One of the newest ruses for obtaining film has been for a conspirator to approach an exchangeman with the announcement that he is about to reopen one of the darkened houses in the locality of the exchange and would like to borrow a picture to test the theatre's sound. The picture, of course, is never returned. Three such cases have been reported to Dickinson's office in the past few months. One recent investigation led to the recovery of several hundred reels of film stored in a barn near Indianapolis. From this location, a large number of theatres in many sections of the country were being served, some with new film obtained almost as rapidly as by first-run theatres. Included in the collection recovered were many prints which have been ordered destroyed by the distributors-owners because of damages and imperfections. Faulty parts of the film were cut out and the remainder rented out as a good print. RKO Financing Suit Dismissed Maney Joins RKO in Charge Of Publicity at the Palace Richard Maney, formerly publicity representative identified with the Erlanger and Jed Harris "legitimate" enterprises, has joined RKO, to handle publicity for the Palace in New York. Under the new arrangement, Arnold Van Leer will handle the Mayfair in New York and the Albee in Brooklyn. Richards Heads Radio Casting Charles Richards has been appointed casting director at the Radio Coast studio, following the promotion of Lynn Shores as head of the new talent department. Richards was former casting director at the RKO Pathe studio. Comedy Team, Kennedy Re-Signed Clark and McCullough, comedians, have signed for a new series of six short comedies for Radio. Edgar Kennedy, comedian, has also signed for a new series of six comedies, known as "Mr. Average Man." Louis Brock will supervise both groups. Paramount Re-signs Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch has signed a new contract with Paramount, whereby the director will handle three pictures a year. He leaves New York on Friday for the Coast, where he will produce. Judges Charles F. Stein and Albert S. J. Owens, of the Baltimore circuit court, by signed order have dismissed the receivership suit of J. Cookman Boyd against RKO. With the dismissal is seen the disappearance of the last vestige of stockholder opposition to the refinancing plan which gave RCA control of RKO. Boyd, Baltimore attorney and RKO stockholder, filed suit early in January attacking the legality of the financing plan. The suit was an amended complaint to a receivership action previously filed. B. B. Kahane, RKO counsel, filed a demurrer stating the financing plan was legal and properly voted upon without unnecessary delay, and asked dismissal of Boyd's suit. Joseph Plunkett, general manager of the RKO circuit, and Martin Beck, in charge of vaudeville bookings, left on Monday for Chicago to join Kahane and Plunkett's assistant Nate C. Blumberg, in a business conference. At the home office, Phil Reisman, former general sales manager at Universal, has taken over his new duties as general manager of the film booking department of the RKO circuit. Public Responsible for Film Standards, Says State Censor The annual report of the Maryland censor board, just published, points out that the public must share the responsibility for "evil" films, noting "evidence of a quite deplorable appreciation of this type of picture among regular theatre patrons, and the producers have not hesitated to capitalize this popularity." The board recommends some form of regulation of the attendance of minors at film houses, and attacks the character of recent films as "unwholesome." The report covers the period from October 1, 1930 to September 30, 1931. The board set its seal upon 4,738 miles of film, including prints, during the period covered in the report, which is 74 miles less than was ratified during 1929-1930. There was, however, a decrease of 1,881,491 feet in original films viewed, a fact accounted for by the reductions of output in the studios during the period. For its services the board received fees amounting to $35,245, as against $38,954 in 1930, marking a decrease in revenue of $3,709. Since the total expenses for the year were $31,816, the board was more than self-supporting. Will Hays, MacKenzie Return Will H. Hays returned to New York on Monday, after six weeks in Hollywood. Maurice MacKenzie, an executive assistant, accompanied Hays to and from the Coast. Lustberg With J. H. Hoffberg Jack Lustberg has become associated with J. H. Hoffberg Company and will specialize in the preparation and distribution of the company's product designed for South America.