Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1932)

October I , 1932 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 9 MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES SEEK AID OF INDUSTRY CROUPS IN CAMPAIGN Democratic Stage and Screen Division Plans Banquet and Parade in New York Oct. 16; Republicans May Form League With only five weeks remaining before election, both major political parties have announced plans to seek cooperation of members of the motion picture industry, theatre and radio. The climax of the Democratic stage and screen division's program will be reached on October 16 when a banquet will be held in New York at the Astor Hotel in honor of Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, presidential aspirant. This occasion will bring the Democratic nominee to Broadway for the first time during the campaign. It is expected that Governor Roosevelt will lead the parade from the Biltmore to the Astor and that 3,000 motion picture, theatre and radio stars and executives will be at the dinner. • All details of this celebration are being arranged through the Broadway division, of which Richard B. Gilbert is chairman, and Joseph Glantz, vice chairman. Tickets to the dinner, which is a part of the "Preelection Celebration of the Stars of the Stage, Screen and Radio as a Testimonial of Their Affection For and Support of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic Nominee for the Presidency of the United States," will be made of bronze and finished in tones of green-gold, with an inscription etched and embossed in black enamel. During the entertainment that will follow, 25 masters of ceremonies will take turns in introducing celebrities. The Broadway division is being assisted by an executive committee which includes, among others, Harry Warner, Norma Talmadge, Will Rogers, Marion Davies, Bert Lytell, Harry Richman and Winifred Sheehan, some working from Hollywood. Although the Republican party has not yet attempted to organize a group in the theatrical and allied industries, George Akerson, director of publicity at the WaldorfAstoria headquarters in New York, announced on Monday that a Republican Theatrical League may be formed in the near future. In the meantime, motion picture activities are being confined to a film, "The Master of Emergencies," which will be shown at political meetings. This picture, prepared with the cooperation of the New York State Republican headquarters committee, was written by Will Irwin and was originally shown during the 1928 campaign. The 1932 version, brought up to date by Mr. Irwin, includes a number of war scenes and shots of Mr. Hoover at important moments in his career. Milton J. Cross, NBC announcer, is narrator. As a further aid to political gatherings, the Republicans ha\e made use of a new device called the visaphone which combines recorded speech and pictures. Approximately ten of these machines will be employed to bring keynote speeches and speakers before voters. Still further cooperation between leaders of the Democratic campaign and the picture industry was indicated by the appointment, on Tuesday, of Charles L. O'Reilly, president of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce, as head of the motion picture division. Mr. O'Reilly, whose headquarters will be at the Biltmore hotel, New York, will shortly start a nation-wide tour for the purpose of contacting all producing, distributing and exhibitor groups. Roosevelt at Coast Pageant It was also learned early this week that the Democrats are planning to make a campaign picture, probably in the form of a newsreel, which will be used at political meetings. This picture may also be shown from sound trucks at open-air meetings. An important Democratic gathering, to be held under the direction of the New York State Committee, is scheduled for November 2, at the Madison Square Garden. A second parade of stage stars and others will be the feature of this meeting whose attendance, both afternoon and evening, is expected to total 30,000. While on his West coast tour, Governor Roosevelt attended the motion picture electrical parade and sport pageant held at Los Angeles last Saturday under the chairmanship of Jack L. Warner, who also heads the OP 1 j This Week Rage for giveaways is diminishing as exhibitors begin to realize that they are a false stimulus to the box office in their present form Page 10 Leading political parties seek cooperation of members and groups of film industry in campaign Page 9 Investigation of Erpi operations will be used by Warner Brothers in Stanley suit attacking mandatory servicing and service charges Page 22 Out of the Studio— Leo Meehan discusses the latest pictures from the production center Page 34 Canadians look for new fight over exhibition contract Page 3 3 Benjamin De Casseres weighs screen values of latest Broadway plays Page 17 FEATURES Editorial The Camera Reports Asides and Interludes Meetings J. C. lenkins — His Colyum The Junior Show Page 7 Page 13 Page 23 Page 3 6 Page 57 Page 56 DEPARTMENTS Stage Attractions Box Office Receipts Showmen's Reviews Chicago Managers Round Table Short Features Technological Productions in Work The Release Chart Classified Advertising Page 78 Page 3 8 Page 52 Page 59 Page 61 Page 59 Page 5X Page 77 Page 84 Page 90 Republicans Will Show Special Film by Will Irwin; Democrats Also Plan Picture, Expected To Be in Form of Newsreel motion picture division of the California Democratic organization. Will Rogers was spokesman and Conrad Nagel master of ceremonies. Among the stars listed as present were Joe E. Brown, grand marshal ; Warner Baxter, Lew Ayers, Constance Bennett, Joan Bennett, Wallace Beery, Nancy Carroll, Jackie Cooper, Claudette Colbert, Gary Cooper, Leo Carillo, Bebe Daniels, James Dunn, Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor, Sally Eilers, Ann Harding, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Ben Lyon, William Powell, Boris Karloff, Charles Ruggles, Warren William and Loretta Young. Accompanying Governor Roosevelt on his Western tour were Charles C. Pettijohn, general counsel for the Film Boards of Trade and legislative advisor to the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, and Joseph P. Kennedy, a former film executive and banker. Allied with the Republican campaign, although unofficially, are Will H. Hays and Louis B. Mayer. In a recent newspaper interview at Chicago, Mr. Hays made the suggestion that President Hoover undertake a cross-country campaign trip. "There is always a benefit from the intimate touch between the candidate and the voter," said Mr. Hays. Believing that the efforts of industry leaders to support either the Republican or the Democratic ticket gave rise to harmful speculation as to the probable use of the screen as an agency for political propaganda, the national board of directors of the Allied States Association, at a meeting at Chicago on August 22, passed a resolution that Allied independent theatre owners under no circumstances would permit the use of their screens for propaganda purposes. Objectionable Signs Ordered Off Broadway Following a recent complaint by the Broadway Association, New York City officials speedily moved to clean up all forms of objectionable theatre ballyhoo and advertising from the Roaring Forties. The campaign of the building department, which began last Thursday, has been directed at inflammable cloth signs and elaborate marquee displays. The ordinance provides that all marquee displays must be 10 feet above the sidewalk and not higher than eight feet above the marquee. Many swinging signs,, amplifiers and public address systems already have been removed. Following a conference in the office of Borough President Levy, two theatre representatives, Leopold Friedman, secretary of Loew's, and J. Henry Walters, special counsel for RKO, have been appointed to confer with John E. Gratke, managing director of the Broadway Association, in an attempt to work out a satisfactory compromise.