Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1937)

54 MOTION PICTURE HERALD October 9 19 3 7 IN THE COURTS Paramount Suit Awaiting Court The petition of the Paramount trustee for leave to settle for $2,150,000 cash the 1934 recovery action against former officers and directors of the company has been completed and is expected to be filed with Federal Judge Alfred C. Coxe in New York the latter part of this week. The petition was prepared by Root, Clark, Buckner and Ballantine, trustee's attorneys, and is now being studied by attorneys for the numerous defendants in the action. Judge Coxe will set a date for a hearing on the petition and, if approval is granted thereafter, the trustee's suit, which has been taken off the New York Supreme court calendar, will be formallv withdrawn. Trust Case Denial Filed by Electrics American Telephone and Telegraph, Western Electric and Electrical Research Products, Inc., filed joint denials in the United States District court in New York this week in answer to the $6,000,000 antitrust suit of Stanley K. Oldden, as assignee of the Pacent Electric Company. The plaintiff alleges that the violations involve the manufacture of sound film apparatus and parts. The defendants assert that more than six years have elapsed since the alleged act and' claim that the statute of limitations bars the present action. Dismissal of the suit with costs is asked. Bartholomew Contract Valid, California Court Rules Upholding the validity of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's contract with Freddie Bartholomew, Judge Emmett Wilson of the Superior court of California, granted a temporary injunction restraining Bartholomew from working for any other studio. The writ is effective until trial of the studio's demand for a permanent injunction. Colonel William Neblett, attorney for the child actor, announced that Freddie has been offered back to MGM at his former salary of $1,100 and that he already has returned to work, according to a United Press dispatch. However, the press service reported, at the studio it was said that if the actor has returned to work "he must be sleeping under a sound stage." Hart Suit Shifted To Federal Court The suit of William S. Hart and Mary Hart against United Artists for $185,000 which was started in the New York Supreme court has been shifted to the United States District court. Mr. Hart's suit is based upon an alleged wrongful block booking by United Artists of his 1925 picture, "Tumbleweeds," with a dog picture "Wild Justice." Mr. Hart's picture is said to have cost $302,000 to produce and grossed $300,000, while "Wild Justice" cost $15,000 and grossed $100,000. $2,808,505 Profit By GB in Year by BRUCE ALLAN in London Gaumont British made a net profit of £561,707 ($2,808,505) from its theatres and investments last .year, according to the company's annual report which was issued this week. The financial statement shows the profit was increased by a balance brought forward of £147,021 "($735,105) and the transfer from reserve of £435,278 ($2,176,390), making a total of £1,144,001 ($5,720,005) available. The annual meeting will be held October 15th. Deductions include provision for production losses amounting to £766,809 ($3,834,045), which are reduced by £200,000 ($1,000,000) from a special reserve created last year ; income tax, debenture sinking fund and interest reserve for amortization and depreciation plus the preference dividend paid last March, for a grand total of £1,112,047 ($5,560,235), making a net balance of £31,953 ($159,765), carried forward. The balance compares with £196,756 ($983,580) last year. No dividend on the ordinary shares is provided for. BOOK REVIEWS MOVIE MERRY SO ROUND, by John Paddy Carstairs. London: Newnes. 240 pp. Price 7s, six-pence. The title sets the tempo and the direction. Ostensibly intended to give motion picture fans who can read English (not necessarily the King's) some slight acquaintance with the technical mysteries of the medium which brings them their beloved screen personalities, this helterskelter dissertation upon matters "filmic" (to use an adjective much favored by the author) tells at least something about every department of motion picture fabrication. The author, according to a biographical note, has been a sort of jack-of-all-trades around studios both in his native England and in Hollywood, but he turns some affairs over to others whom he judges more expert; as, for example, costume designing to MGM's Adrian, art direction to Paramount's Hans Dreier, animated cartoons to Walt Disney, sound recording to Douglas Shearer. Additionally from other minds than the author's are chapters in which Jessie Matthews tells how it feels to be a star, and Joan Crawford describes how a star lives. Also, for some reason, there is an elaborately statistical discussion of the "Decline of the German Film Trade," written by Ivor Montagu. And England's Madeleine Carroll, now of Hollywood, contributes a Foreword. Incidentally, in referring to actual persons of the studios, which he does a great deal, Mr. Carstairs likes to add a word or two in friendly criticism, and in this some studio folk might have a curious interest. The criticism is never profound, however, and is almost always favorable. — G. S. OBITUARIES Clyde Armstrong Dead Clyde Armstrong, veteran actor of stage and screen, died in his sleep this week in New York. He was 58. Charles Werner Funeral services were held September 26 for Charles Werner, 74, who, for many years prior to his retirement in 1925, was connected with the distribution end of the industry in St. Louis, Mo. At one time he was branch manager for the Metro Pictures Corporation. William Hunt William Franklin Hunt, 63, Elk City, Okla., theatre owner died in Polyclinic hospital in Oklahoma City September 24. For the past eight years Mr. Hunt had operated theatres in Elk City. John J. Jacob John J. Jacob, 49, president of the Andalus Theatre Company, which operates the Andalus, a suburban house of Cincinnati, died last week at the Good Samaritan Hospital there after a five weeks illness. Lois Clark Lois Frances Clark, actress, in private life Mrs. Roger Harding, died last Friday at a Brentwood, Long Island, hospital in her 75th year. Harry Levey Funeral services were held in Denver last week for Harry Levey, former Salt Lake City film salesman and branch manager, who died of a heart ailment in Los Angeles, while on a visit. John O. Krause John O. Krause of Loew's State, New Orleans, died September 29th of a heart attack. Fifty years old Mr. Krause had been with Loew's State for 12 years. George Martin George Dorsett Martin, 36, head of the Martin Motor company and a partner in the Dixie theatre, Aberdeen, N. C, died Mondav, in Aberdeen. Morris Golden Funeral services were held Sunday for Morris Golden, father of Gilbert Golden of Warner Brothers advertising department, who died unexpectedly in New York on Fridav. Louis Weil Louis Weil, 82, a former owner of the Broadmour theatre in Kansas City, Mo., and the Royal theatre in Sioux City, la., died September 27 in Kansas City. 150 Attend MPA Lunch The new officers of Allied of New Jersey were guests Tuesday at the Motion Picture Associates' luncheon at the International Casino, New York. Approximately 150 exhibitors, salesmen and distribution executives attended the session.