Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1935)

November 2, 1935 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 55 Russian Delegates Feature Closing Session ofSMPE The closing day's session of the Society of Motion Picture Engineer's thirty-eighth semi-annual convention at the Wardman Park hotel in Washington late last week was given over largely to the industry in Russia. Soviet film executives described Soviet expansion plans. J. C. Frayne presided at the final session. A paper was read by E. I. Sponable of Twentieth Century-Fox, who discussed elimination of the splice noise in sound films. E. C. Wente of the Bell Telephone Company recounted the contributions of telephone research to sound recording and reviewed his own investigations. A nondirectional moving-coil microphone was described by L. W. Giles of the same laboratories. "In 1935 the Soviet cinema industry's own factories will produce about 300,000,000 feet of cinema film of all kinds, which is 53 times greater than in 1931," said V. I. Verlinsky, head of the Amkino Corporation, distributors of the Soviet product in America. "During this year the number of studios in the U.S.S.R. increased to 19, with a total output of 300 full-length pictures. The Soviet film industry has grown to enormous proportions, employing 150,000 persons. With 32,000 theatres in the union now, it is planned to have a total of 70,000 by the end of 1937." Professor A. F. Chorine, who directs all motion picture technological work in Russia, extended an invitation to attend a conference of engineers in Moscow next spring in conjunction with the cinema festival. "Great interest," said Professor Chorine, "is being shown in a movement to bring sound pictures to the remotest corners of Siberia, to sections of the north and to Turkestan, and also to the reading rooms of collective farms." Vote Shows Audiences Favor Single Feature The Plaza Theatre, New York, which caters to Park Avenue trade, has announced the first results of its pool on dual features and the ballots show that out of 857 returned, only 120 voted for twin bills while 737 voted for the single picture policy. In Flint, Mich., on the other hand, exhibitors will meet soon to decide whether they will continue their present agreement to use but one double bill a week. James M. Minter, owner of the Ritz and Family, has said he would ask exhibitors to discuss the matter, but indications are, however, that the agreement will not be renewed. FWC Gets Pasadena House Fox West Coast Theatres has taken over the Tower, Pasadena, from the California Amusement Company, owned by Ray Miller and Robin Rowley, in exchange for the circuit's Pasadena. The Tower was recently transferred to the California Amusement Company by Ben Berinstein and B. H. Lustig. ANIMATED CARTOON SATIRIZES NEW DEAL The New Deal is being satirized with an animated cartoon in Philadelphia this week at a "Safeguard the Constitution" exhibition organized by the "Sentinels of the Republic," the organization which led the successful fight against the "pink slip" amendment to last year's Income Tax Law. Headed by Raymond Pitcairn, attorney and archiect, the sentinels are presenting a free continuous movie at the Garrick Theatre entitled "The Amateur Fire Brigade — A Parable of the New Deal" The picture will be taken on a tour of key cities following its run in Philadelphia. Clayton Sheehan Resigns Foreign Post With Fox Clayton P. Sheehan has resigned from his position of general foreign sales manager of Twentieth Century-Fox, a post he held for twelve years. Mr. Sheehan still had some time to serve the company under the contract he held, but he explained the agreement had been settled on terms "mutually satisfactory." His successor will not be named for some time, Sidney R. Kent, president, said. Walter Hutchinson, managing director for Fox in England, is reported as a likely successor to Mr. Sheehan. Mr. Hutchinson is scheduled to visit New York early next year. He has been with the Fox organization fifteen years. Meanwhile, Irving A. Maas, who has been assistant to Mr. Sheehan, is in charge of the department. Mr. Sheehan's resignation had been expected in reports that he would join his brother, Winfield Sheehan, who withdrew as Fox production head last July, in a new affiliation not yet made. Up to the time of his resignation, Mr. Sheehan had been in the employ of Twen tieth Century-Fox and its predecessor, Fox Film Corporation, for eighteen years. He joined the company immediately following his graduation from Harvard University, becoming Buffalo branch manager, then district manager for New York State and finally entering the foreign department. Goodwins Made Director Les Goodwins, screen writer now acting in "Husk" for RKO Radio, has been promoted to director. His first assignment will be a two-reel subject under the supervision of Lee Marcus. Suprenne Completes Two Supreme Pictures Corporation in Hollywood has finished two westerns starring Bob Steele. The films are "No Man's Range" and "Alias John Law." A. W. Hackel produced the pictures. Chance Games Increasing in Several States Despite opposition on several fronts, chance games in theatres are gaining ground, particularly in major cities, reports from the field indicate this week. In New York the powerful Loew circuit has tried "Broadway Handicap Night" with success. In Cleveland a large increase of Bank Nights followed a recent favorable court decision. Fox Midwest Theatres installed Bank Night in thirteen of its houses in Greater Kansas City. In Connecticut and Wisconsin gains also were shown. B. & K. Drops Screeno In Chicago, on the other hand, the Balaban & Katz theatres have dropped Screeno after a checkup showed that the game did little to increase attendance or total grosses. Indications pointed to a loss of favor by the various "prize nights" at most of the houses despite the recent adoption of Sweepstakes by the State-Lake theatre on the Lopp. The Booklyn Palace theatre introduced "Broadway Handicap Night" last week and brought out the largest crowd the house has had in years. As a result of the succesful inception there, other Loew houses are reported preparing to introduce the stunt. Screeno, which is being offered in other houses of the chain, will be continued, it is believed, and will not be discarded for a substitute. Twenty houses in Cleveland are now using Bank Night and about 100 in Northern Ohio since the recent court decision that the game does not constitute unfair competition and a number of houses are making plans to introduce Sweepstakes to their patrons. Fox Midwest Uses Bank Night Thirteen Fox Midwest houses in Greater Kansas City, including the first-run Uptown, began using Bank Night last week. The circuit is operating the promotion on a pool arrangement whereby patrons may register at any theatre and win by attending any other Fox house. In Bridgeport, Conn., the Loew organization has purchased Bank Night for the Globe and Screeno for the Lyric. It is also reported that five other Bank Night contracts are being considered over the Poli New England circuit, including the Bijou, New Haven. This is Loew's first venture into any special inducement plan other than amateur and stage shows in this territory. In Madison, Wis., the state attorney general's office has notified District Attorney William M. Gleiss that free distribution of cards bearing numbers which entitle holders to prizes is not a lottery. The question arose over the policy of a Monroe theatre's giving away money once a week to the holder of the lucky number. Despite a restraining order prohibiting authorities from interfering with Bank Night programs, granted by the superior court at the request of Affiiliated Enterprises, police in Indianapolis late last week arrested Mark G. Margolis, operator of the Rivoli, and Urban Anderson, former manager, charging them with operating a lottery. The drive was ordered following a riot at the Rivoli over an alleged conspiracy in the drawing for a Bank Night prize. Botsford \o Produce A. M. ("Bots") Botsford has been made a producer at the Paramount studios in Hollywood under Harold Hurley and has been placed in charge of thirteen pictures. He was formerly assistant to Henry Herzbrun.