Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Sep 1933)

8 MOTION PICTU RE HERALD August 5, 1933 THIS WEEK SIGNIFICANT STROKE At once a sharp blow and significant precedent was the decision last week rendered in New York supreme court by Justice Cohn against William Fox and his TriErgon Corporation, suing practically all companies for sound patent infringement, under the able hand of clever attorney Louis Nizer, defense counsel. Immediate decision denied a motion by Tri-Ergon attorneys for judgment without trial, supporting Nizer's contention that patent infringement action stood without the jurisdiction of a state court, was a federal matter. Though Leo Brecher and his corporations, Max Goldberg, Associated Cinemas, Inc., were immediate defendants, the decision is seen as significantly strengthening the position of other sued companies. . . UNION LAW AND ORDER With a promise of "law and order," no toleration of racketeering in union ranks, former Kansas City policeman Frank Dowd, projectionist at Loew's Midland, has become new business 'agent of the Kansas City operators' union, appointed by William C. Elliott of the parent IATSE as adhesive tape to patch the long severed diplomatic relations between the union and local independent theatre owners, headed by Jay Means. "Willing to do business" with Mr. Dowd and H. H. Dunavan, newly named union president, is Mr. Means. Commonsensible is Dowd's declaration: "We want as much employment for our men as possible at a fair living wage, but ... we want to be on good terms with the exhibitors, because after all they pay the freight. . . ZONING DISTRESS Fuming, wrangling for three months in an effort to concoct a satisfactory zoning schedule, independent theatre owners and circuit chiefs in Los Angeles have appealed to the local Film Board of Trade to call an unofficial meeting for distributors, exhibitors, affiliated or not, to apply the iron in a new attempt to straighten the situation. On one point alone are both •sides agreed: the necessity of price zoning as the only remedy for theatre rackets, two-for-ones, giveaways, bought previews, dual-billing. Immediate relief from numerous existing evils is seen as coming from an effective zoning program in the district. . . PERENNIAL WESTERN Staunch in his allegiance to his field of success is Tom Mix, perhaps greatest of all cinematic stars of the screen's early backbone, the Western. In Kansas City, vaudeville touring last week, Mix proved the courage of his convictions, announced early formation of a new company, in which he and the foremost writer of West ern fiction, prolific Zane Grey, would be partners, Grey to write, Mix to produce, star. November will see the start of production. Thinking of his "kid admirers," the hero of many a small boy's dreams has no desire to "rob banks, steal horses, hold up stage coaches, gamble, get drunk." His own boss, the youngsters will see "honor and romance and clean action." With hard cash, Mix will back his firm belief that the Western is not passe. . . . CAREER vs. MARRIAGE Automatically becoming subjects in one more experiment revolving about the modern complexity, career vs. marriage, Gloria Stuart, young' Universal player, and husband Blair Gordon Newell, promising sculptor, have entered into an unique compact. For one year they will remain apart, living alone, having concluded: "Our work prohibits devoting much of our time to each other." No budding Renoites are this pair, they insist, but rather two artistic temperaments, trying to give each other an opportunity to steer around marital reefs. Hence, the marriage recess. Frowned upon yesterday, perhaps, such a marital bargain today brings a tongue-cluck of sympathy. . . . In This Issue 95 per cent of 1,100 exhibitors oppose double featuring Page 9 Rosenblatt Invites all branches of industry to code conference in New York August 8 Page I I Better Films Council helps St. Louis theatres to increase box office receipts Page 10 Paramount asks Academy to discipline Sylvia Sidney for leaving picture Page 16 Independent supply dealers and manufacturers act on codes Page I 7 FEATURES Editorial The Camera Reports J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum Asides and Interludes In the Cutting Room DEPARTMENTS What the Picture Did for Me Showmen's Reviews Managers' Round Table Technological Short Feature News Chicago The Release Chart Box Office Receipts Classified Advertising Page 7 Page 33 Page 46 Page 23 Page 36 Page 47 Page 38 Page 51 Page 42 Page 60 Page 60 Page 61 Page 43 Page 66 MEMORIES REVIVED Many and many a long day has passed since motion picture history was made at the old Biograph studio in New York's Bronx Borough. Now reported under serious consideration are plans for reopening the elderly plant, aimed at independent production, with none less than the Empire Trust Company called financially interested. Though denying reports of substantial backing, RCA Photophone said discussions had been held for installation of RCA equipment in the event plans materialized. Numerous long memories will be stirred to recollection if once more the hum of activity pervades the old Biograph studio, . . REEL'S RIVAL New, startling possible rival of the motion picture and especially the newsreel, comes to light via a press dispatch from Madrid, in Spain, where an Argentine youth, Farando Crudo, has demonstrated his so-called photoliptophone. Virtually talking newspapers could very possibly be the result of development of the invention. Applying the principle of the sound film, the magical photoelectric cell, the invention, through photography of sound waves, makes records of paper, printed from the negative, which may be printed in newspaper, magazine. The paper is placed on a revolving cylinder in reproduction; a ray of light picks up the sound waves, reproducing the sound, as the needle operates in the phonograph. Yet may we purchase a talking newspaper on the corner, hear the news at home, without benefit of newsreel. . . SLIDING UPWARD Too slippery is the new sliding scale of sound film values employed by the county in setting tax assessments, say Los Angeles exchange men, rating the slip at 150 to 300 per cent above last year's figures. Assessor man declares allowance has been made for slower depreciation of silent films. Exchange man deponeth not, says fair rate on films with depreciation of from nothing to three months would be $12.50 a reel. Present scale is $50 on film with depreciation of from nothing to three months; $30, one to two months; $15, two to three months. The end is not yet. . . ACTIVE ERPI Happy indication of increased activity in time of trial is the gleeful announcement from general sales manager C. W. Bunn of Electrical Research Products that more than 500 United States film houses have contracted for installation of Western Electric wide range equipment during the past three months. Already have 200 been completed. The "corner" may at last be more than a dream. . . .