Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1937)

8 MOTION PICTURE HERALD March 20, 1937 This Week MPTOA for Self Rule Edward L. Kuykendall, reelected president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America on Tuesday, pledged the organization to sustained effort for self-regulation of the industry, telling the convention in his annual report, "The objective of the MPTOA is to bring about a better understanding between the three divisions of the industry — exhibition, production and distribution. We must — we will — demonstrate to the public and the government that we can conduct our own business in an ethical and businesslike way." The convention is reported on page 15 with pictures on page 11. Ostrers Improve Position Improvement of the Ostrer position in the struggle with John Maxwell for control of Gaumont British was indicated by Isidore Ostrer's announcement that he had received a letter from the Law Debentures corporation, trustees for GB, in which it was held that there is no reason for intervention by the trustee in the Ostrer move to transfer GB production and distribution to General Films Distributors. Bruce Allen in London continues his intimate chronicle of developments in the affairs of GB on page 41. Sales Tax Upheld Right of New York City to levy and collect a sales tax on films exhibited within the municipality was upheld by the court of appeals in a decision handed down Tuesday in affirmation of a ruling by the appellate division affecting approximately $2,000,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest withheld pending outcome of a test case. Background and connotations are canvassed on page 24. nNO LIMIT CAME" [Continued from preceding page] with the approval of press, and public and pulpit, enter into combinations jn restraint of indecency, it cannot so deal with the money which is now and then the root of considerable evils. "And, if we did do it and agreed," an august production chief remarked, discussing our suggestion, "the only result would be a foot-race away from the conference to take advantage of the other fellows while they were handicapped by the agreement. Remember back in the pre-code days. 'The Cockeyed World' had just opened with two kinds of furore, one its big box-office success, the other the storm of objection from the moralists. We had a meeting and it was solemnly agreed that we'd not do anything more like that. There were about ten men at the meeting. Before we all got back to our offices there were just three new productions of the same general tenor started. "Competition will never go out of production. It is not in the nature of creative work. We can't help it. It is like war." Once again, it would appear, decision will be had only by the ancient process of the irresistible force meeting the immovable post — with the ultimate result proving that one of them was not. Picture makers just will not play "table stakes". Studios Resume Activity Admission Level Rising New York, Albany, Detroit, Jacksonville, and Salt Lake City exhibitors increased admission prices during the week in consonance with the rising general level. Revisions effected are specified on page 23. SMPE Begins Survey The Society of Motion Picture Engineers has commenced a survey of the nation's theatres which contemplates standardization of theatre plans through study of compiled data on projection throw, screen sizes and dimensions, angles and related factors. Story on page 26. Hollywood studios resumed normal production activity after its week of tax-inspired indolence and 11 pictures were started as 5 went to cutting rooms, leaving a total of 39 on the stages. The story of the production week appears on page 31. Television in the News Television figured prominently in press dispatches when South African engineers reported optical and aural reception of signals broadcast from London and(> again, when a commercial film was televised by the Don Lee Broadcasting system from its station in Los Angeles. These and other matters pertinent to television are dealt with fully on page 72. Weigh "Divorce" Bills Hearings on bills sponsored by the Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors to divest distributing companies of their theatre affiliations in Ohio and Wisconsin adjourned with the measures tabled. Status of the bills and Charles C. Pettijohn's argument at the Ohio meeting that they are unconstitutional are reported on page 71. Rio Invites Producers Exemption from municipal taxes for 10 years is offered by the City of Rio de Janeiro to motion picture production companies now in operation or which may be organized within 3 years on the condition that 75 per cent of the personnel of the companies shall be native. The Brazilian offer is detailed on page 58. Settle Franklin Suit The Franklin Theatrical corporation's anti-trust action against Warner Brothers and affiliates alleging inability to obtain first run product for its theatres in Hawaii was settled in New York and the damage suit filed at the same time was dropped, terms of the settlement assuring the company availability of required product. Ramifications of the matter are dealt with on page 16. Spitz Replaces Aylesworth Leo Spitz, president of RKO, was elected chairman of the board of Keith-Albee-Orpheum and of the B. F. Keith Corporation, RKO subsidiaries of which he is also president, succeeding M. H. Aylesworth, resigned. Additional developments in RKO affairs are reported on page 24. Outline Nazi Plans The importance of so-designated cultural films in promoting the aims and accomplishments of the Four Year Plan of the Third Reich for German business and industry is emphasized in a foreign news service bulletin published by the German industry in which plans for the pictures are outlined. The bulletin is quoted on page 17. Plan More Conventions Plans under discussion by major distributors contemplate substitution of two or three sales conventions for the usual single meeting, the object being, naturally, more sales. The trend is reported on page 17.