Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1933)

20 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 15, 1933 COUNCIL VOTES MANY FILMS FOR THE FAMILY Chicago Organization Lists as Many Pictures for Attendance by Entire Family as in Adult Grouping; 188 Reviewed The number of motion pictures recommended for family attendance practically equaled those classified as for adults, in an analysis of findings on 188 films previewed in the past year by committees of the Better Films Council of Chicago and Cook County. One objective of the organization, formed in April, 1932, is to encourage the showing of pictures suitable for the entire family on weekends, including Fridays. This aim, coupled with the thought of discouraging frequent and promiscuous attendance by children in midweek, is felt by members of the Council, of which Mrs. Richard M. McClure is president, to be to the advantage of the exhibitor. Adult pictures showing in midweek are previewed from the standpoint of being adult material. Mrs. McClure has compiled and edited the reports of six reviewing committees of four members each, who were admitted to firstrun theatres with the cooperation of the distributors and exhibitors. The results showed : Recommendation Pictures Percentage Adults and Young Adults... 66 35% Adults 55 29% Family 53 29% Adults Only (Censor Board ruling) 14 74% Total pictures previewed.. 188 110% The Council was informed that the subject matter of some of the Adult pictures was considered questionable and that others contained objectionable scenes, only eight of the 188 were stamped as mediocre and not deserving of patronage. Suitability of a number of titles was questioned and complaints concerning improper advertising were received. The Council was told that the question mostly asked is : "Why do they introduce so many unnecessary scenes showing drinking?" The previewing committees of the Better Films Council were in action less than nine months in 1932, and its list included threefourths of the pictures in the Box Office Champions. While the Council listings did not include a special classification for Juniors of from 8 to 12 years, it was noted that 20 of the 53 recommended for family attendance were among 51 selected for children in that age group. The Council pointed to the recent experience reported by one of its chairmen as evidence of the wisdom and fairness of its request for Family pictures for Friday nights and Saturdays. The manager of a small theatre that bids for children's patronage on Saturday afternoons had booked "Little Orphan Annie," and the number of youngsters that came was so great that the police were called to maintain order. Those unable to find seats were urged to attend a large circuit theatre across the street, and the picture there was "Call Her Savage." The chairman reported the children's disappointment and their lack of interest in the picture that dealt with adult problems, adding that in that instance some parents who do chose the film fare for their youngsters found their efforts wasted. Court's Decision On P ar amount' s Status Awaited With motion picture activities tentatively concentrated in Hollywood at an industrywide conference on rehabilitation, little of general importance happened during the week concerning the receivership situation at Paramount, RKO and in certain of the Fox theatre subsidiaries. However, the federal courts in New York were expected momentarily to rule on the status of Paramount. Paramount Publix Corporation continued operating without the customary trustee. The appointment was being held up until the United States circuit court of appeals settles the complaint of minority bondholders, who obtained a show cause order restraining Adolph Zukor and Charles D. Hilles, co-receivers, from any further action in the receivership. The action is aimed to have the company's voluntary bankruptcy petition set aside in favor of an involuntary petition, filed earlier. Creditors Await Decision Election of a trustee in bankruptcy by creditors will take place the day following the circuit court's decision. Adolph Zukor, co-receiver with Mr. Hilles, said he is not a candidate for the trusteeship, and, although no formal statement has been made by Mr. Hilles, it appears unlikely that he will be a candidate. Others mentioned for the post include Frank C. Walker and J. P. Kennedy. Mr. Zukor is now attending the industry conferences in the West. Walter L. Brown of the trustee's staff of Irving Trust Company left this week for Hollywood to inspect the studio properties preparatory to filing a report of the parent company's position. Meanwhile, the Publix trustee, Irving Trust Company, was making progress in liquidating theatre properties. Theatres returned to former owners included the State and Penn, at Uniontown, Pa.; State and Strand, Johnstown, Pa. ; Capitol, Mishler and Olympic, at Altoona, Pa., all turned back to George Notopolous. John Balaban is reported to be negotiating for Publix Detroit properties, numbering 14, and deals are underway in Ohio, Minesota and elsewhere. Another Publix subsidiary. Mountain States Theatres Corp., Denver, was adjudged bankrupt, and it appeared that the 14 theatres in this group would revert to former owners. Federal Judge Foster, in U. S. District Court at Denver, named Wilbur Newton receiver. An echo of the conspiracy suit filed some months ago by Edward Quittner, Middletown exhibitor, _ against Paramount Publix and others, which Paramount won, was heard Tuesday, when United States district judge Francis G. Caffey, in New York, denied a motion of Paramount's for an additional sum of $2,000 for defending the action. "The case was indisputably difficult and extraordinary," said Judge Caffey. "The statute, however, expressly calls for the exercise of 'discretion.' The proof adduced at the trial showed so much fault on the part of the defendants that I do not feel that the plaintiffs 1 y MRS. KICHAKD M. McCLURE should be penalized by being required to bear the additional item of costs sought to be imposed." Harold B. Franklin, whose contract as head of RKO theatres expired during the week, will continue operations under the receiver. Merlin H. Aylesworth, who is in Hollywood attending the industry conferences, said while en route that Mr. Franklin will continue, insofar as he is concerned. The Fox Theatre Situation Referee-in-bankruptcy McNab, in Los Angeles, will hear creditors of Fox West Coast on Thursday, when minority opposition is expected to the bankruptcy proceedings. George Skouras has been appointed trustee for Fox Metropolitan Theatres and Schine Theatres. A meeting will be held April 20. Practically no progress was made in Milwaukee in unraveling the twisted affairs of Midwesco Theatres, Inc., in a continued creditors' hearing held in the federal building there last week. First meeting of the creditors of the bankrupt Fox Midland and Fox Rocky Mountain Theatre comoanies will be held April 25 in the office of Fred S. Hudson, referee in bankruptcy, in the Grand Avenue Temple building, Kansas City. Nominations for a trustee will be made at the meeting, and it is likely that Herbert V. Jones, temporary receiver, will continue as trustee. M. B. Shanberg, former Fox Midland division manager, and Herbert M. Woolf, Kansas City financier, were paid $^,917 for a string of 60 houses sold to the Fox circuit, it is revealed in the schedule of assets filed by Fox Rocky Mountain. In the schedule, the atriount is listed as having been paid by Fox Rocky Mountain to Woolf and Shanbere for the account of Fox Midland, repayment of which was assumed by a contract between the two theatre companies dated August 25, 1930. It is listed as an unsecured claim against Fox Midland. The summary of Fox Rocky Mountain's specifications is given as follows: Debts — Taxes due to states, counties, districts and municipalities, $13,424; wages, not ascertained; other debts preferred by law, none; secured claims, $1,327,021; unsecured claims, $4,184,125; total debts, $5,524,571.40. Assets— Real estate, $37,147; cash on hand, $2,530; bills, promissory notes and _ securities, $266,701 ; equipment, $177,690 and uncertain items ;_ debts due on open accounts, $855,452; stocks, negotiable bonds, etc., $2,850,400 and uncertain items; total assets. $4,189,921. Summary of Fox Midland's schedule follows : Debts — Taxes, $5,772; wages, not ascertained; secured claims, $301,593; unsecured claims, $4,510,221; total debts, $4,817,588. Assets — Real estate, $98,324, and uncertain itetns; cash on hand, $3,765; hills, notes and securities, $450,000; equipment, $122,048.07; debts due on open accounts, $13,242; stocks, negotiable bonds, $150,000; deposits of money in banks and elsewhere, $28,500; lotBl assets, fg65,S79,92.