Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1934)

30 MOTION PICTURE HERALD September 22, 1934 5 Films, 11 Stories Rejected by Breen Staff in 2 Months Of more than 100 features viewed by the staff of Joseph I. Breen, director of the Production Code Administration, five completed pictures and eleven stories have been rejected. Three of the pictures, after changes, have been approved and released. Most of the rejected stories have been discarded, others being rewritten. Reporting on the results of the two months of operation of the Production Code Administration, Mr. Breen declared that most of the product approved since July 15 has been of outstanding entertainment value and artistry. He said most stories written for films comply with the industry's code or require only few changes in lines or scenes. Observers on the Coast noted also that stories have maintained a level of health and vigor, with no tendency toward midVictorian priggishness, while avoiding the objectionable. The Production Code staff of seven reads the original story, then the shooting script, conferring with studio executives on deletions or changes, and finally reviews the completed product. In cases of what Mr. Breen describes as "cock-eyed philosophies of life, back-fence humor, and raw dramatization of sex," the staff suggests improved treatment to salvage the work of the writer. McNicholas on Air On Legion j JV irk Archbishop John Timothy McNicholas of Cincinnati, under whose leadership the Legion of Decency campaign against objectionable motion pictures was started several months ago, is scheduled to deliver the first of a series of four radio broadcasts under the auspices of the Legion of Decency on Friday of this week, over an NBC-WJZ network. Speaking on the purposes and program of the organization, Archbishop McNicholas will be followed on the three successive Friday evenings by other prominent figures identified with the movement. Monthly and weekly lists of approved pictures, rated as to family and adult suitability, are being issued by Dr. Edward _ S. Schwegler, diocesan director of the Legion of Decency in the Buffalo diocese. Monsignor Felix F. Kaup, acting head of the Catholic Church in Virginia, at Richmond, has issued a statement praising Protestant action in the state in aiding the Legion of Decency in its campaign. Active Legion of Decency support in smaller communities came from Council Bluffs, la.; Covington, Ky., adjacent to Cincinnati, and Elyria, O. Columbia Meeting Delayed The board of directors of Columbia Pictures has postponed its regular meeting from September 22 to September 29. Will Ask Temporary Trustee for Fox Theatres The appointment of a temporary trustee for Fox Theatres and an order approving bankruptcy proceedings for the company under Section 77-B of the new bankruptcy laws is to be asked this week of Federal Judge Martin Manton. Present receivers for the company are William Atkinson and Milton C. Weisman. Fox Metropolitan bondholders on Wednesday started discussions with Skouras Brothers and Randforce Theatres to develop a new operating contract as a basis for a plan of reorganization. Ivan Abramson, Producer, Dies Ivan Abramson, 65, producer and author, who died Saturday at Mount Sinai hospital, New York, was buried Sunday at Mount Lebanon Cemetery after services in Park West Chapel. Born in Russia September 3, 1872, he came to America and pioneered first in the field of publication of Jewish newspapers and periodicals and ventured into the theatrical field as manager of the Jacob P. Adler Company, following in 1905 with organization of the Ivan Grand Opera Company. Since 1909 he wrote, produced and directed more than 100 pictures. Forming Ivan Film Company, in which William Randolph Hearst was associated, and Graphic Film Corporation, he continued with Graphic until his retirement four vears ago. In 1917 he had written "Enlighten Thy Daughter." In 1933 he rewrote it and the production was distributed by Exploitation Pictures. Sonotone Offers New Stock Issue The Sonotone Corporation, organized in 1929, and actively engaged since 1930 in the manufacture and sale of hearing aid devices for the deaf, is issuing 100,000 shares of new common stock at $3 per share to the public for the financing of an expansion program and to provide new working capital for the company. The plan was announced last week at a luncheon in New York by Dr. Hugo Lieber, president. It is expected that at least $255,000 will be realized from the sale of the stock. Employees of the company have the privilege of purchasing the stock at $2.55 per share. The greater part of the issue is expected to be subscribed for by employees and dealers. Dr. Lieber reported that the company's net income for the six months ended June 30, 1934, amounts to $47,018, which compares with net of $90,863 for the entire year of 1933. The personnel of the company has been increased 590 per cent and the sales have gone up 700 per cent during the past two. years, Dr. Lieber indicated. Vergesslich Quits Majestic Joe Vergesslich has resigned as branch manager in New York of Majestic Pictures. 2 Millions Paid for 200 Books Used for Films in 18 Months Producers of motion pictures paid two million dollars for nearly 200 books purchased or scheduled for release in the year and a half from Jan. 1, 1933, to July, 1, 1934, writes William James Fadman, formerly story editor of Columbia Pictures and now associated with Leland Hayward, Inc., Agency, in The Publishers' Weekly. More than one-third of the 500 pictures scheduled and completed during the period resulted from book purchases, at an average of $10,000 a book, Mr. Fadman says. He predicts more mystery pictures this season than ever before, most of the purchases in this direction being as parts of series of books that have the same central character, permitting sequels. He believes more classics also will be filmed. Mr. Fadman's second article will be on "Selling Books to the Movies." Kuykendall Urges Higher Admissions An appeal for slight increases in admission prices is being carried into the South this week by Ed Kuykendall, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. He addressed the MPTO of North and South Carolina Wednesday at Charlotte and will speak before the TriState Theatre Owners at a two-day session starting October 7, at Memphis. In Chicago, Balaban & Katz has tentatively set five pictures from three companies for 25 cents minimum admission. The companies are United Artists, Columbia and Paramount. Present admissions are 20 cents. Of the 450 theatres in Chicago, 275 or so charge 15 cents up to 6 p. m. A general move is reported aiming at an increase to 20 cents for matinees. Admission price scales of the 80 E. J. Sparks theatres in Florida will not be increased this fall, Mr. Sparks said in New York. At Kansas City, the RKO Mainstreet has set its increased night price at 45 cents plus tax, for combination shows. The Tower went up to 25 cents matinee and 35 cents at night last Friday. Suburbans have delayed action. Reduction of prices has been extended in Milwaukee to the Oriental, Tower, Shorewood and Downer, neighborhoods. Minor Changes in Pathe Reorganizing The Pathe reorganization plan is undergoing minor changes as a result of the lack of a quorum at the stockholders meeting September 11, which was to have acted on the plan. An application for permission to hold an extraordinary meeting at which two-thirds of the stockholders are represented, and may approve or reject the plan, has been made to the New York supreme court by Coudert Brothers, Pathe counsel. The court allows 10 days for filing objections by stockholders, and if authorization is granted, 9r> days' notice of the meeting is given. The plan, therefore, is unlikely to be submitted before December.