Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

October ■/ . / 930 Motion Picture N c w S 25 Whitewash Charges Spur Department Of Justice to Push Film Prosecutions Talker "Covered Wagon" Hollywood — There's big dough in "The Big Trail." Practically alt of the Fox production ingenuity was thrown behind the picture, but the results warrant the effort in time and money Epic in sweep and concerning itself with the blaze-trailing that led to the settlement of Oregon, the picture has been built on a showmanship formula that can't miss. You get majestic panoramas of covered wagons set in a mountain background, physical thrills, spectacle, comedy, love, villainy, hokum, and even an Indian attack on the wagon train, (irown-ups and children will go for it no end. John Wayne, a newcomer, plays the lead. He has plenty to learn about acting, hut has appearance, looks and physique. A lot of women are going to have a new crush after thev see him. KANN Bar Poster Copy On 'Madam Satan'; Use Papers Only Hollywood — Copy for billboard advertising on "Madam Satan" prepared by Fox West Coast has been rejected by posting companies, so the chain will concentrate on newspaper advertising. The results will be considered in the nature of a test and may cause a change of policy by the circuit. Fox Theatres some time ago abandoned billboard copy in the East. When poster copy for "Madam Satan" was submitted request was made that it be modified. However, Frank Whitbeck, advertising and publicity director of the circuit, took the position that if the 24-sheet was wrong, then his whole campaign was all wet. Accordingly, he decided to use newspaper copy only to sell the picture. Herr Hugenberg Takes A Licking at the Polls Berlin — Speculation exists over possible influence of the Hugenberg defeat in the general election, in so far as Ufa is concerned. Hugenberg — the Adolph Zukor of Germany's film industry — owns the most powerful newspaper group in the country and is closely interested in the picture business through his Ufa company. Hugenherg's party — the National party — -is said to have been "ruined" by loss of control in the Reichstag. Dismissal of C. S. Harris Puzzle to Film Colony I. ns Angeles — After 23 years of service to the RKO Orpheum theatres. C. S. Harris, manager of the RKO theatre here, has been let out. This sudden dismissal came as a surprise to both Harris and theatre peop'e here and the reason is unaccounted for. RKO officials here would not make any statement regarding the change. R. Zeller, of Springfield, III., has taken over the management of the RKO. Teeatres in Dis Town Play Up to Da Kids Pahlenty Providence — It pays to be a kid in this town where youngsters can get in to see the best pictures for 10 cents. That price prevails in every show house in the downtown belt from 10 A. M. until 1 o'clock. Afternoons and evenings the price for children is 15 cents. Exhibitors say they find the price cut effective in checking the growing tendency of kiddies to turn thumbs down on talkers. Dialogue seems to bore children under 14 who still retain their desire to see the western heroes shoot 'em up rather than talkabout love under a soft spot on the sagebrush. Discharged Usher Killed While Seeking Revenge Chicago — Walter Bruchman. 17 vears old, a former usher in the Fox Sheridan Theatre here, was shot and killed by Chicago police when he drew a revolver from his pocket when the officers stopped him for questioning. Before losing consciousness. Bruchman explained that he "had wanted to shoot Frank Riley, manager of the theatre." Riley discharged the youth several days ago. Theatres and Equipment Exhibitor members of the MANAGERS' ROUND TABLE CLUB this week discuss innumerable phases of theatre equipment and its relationship to successful operation of showhouses, as Dart of THE SHOWMAN section for October, beginning on page 117, this issue. In the current SHOWMAN, which starts on page 61, is also presented an unusually interesting array of feature material covering the entire theatre equipment field. Congressional Inquiries and Independents' Squawks Bring Action Washington — Vigorous prosecution "i the pending cases against film distributors is planned by the Department of Justice. Spurred by threats of congressional investigations and the squawks of a number of independent exhibitors who charge that the various government actions have been whitewashed or are not being properly prosecuted, the department will concentrate on film cases, it is asserted. No intimation of the new program is given in the official report of the department just made public. Four film cases brought by the government are in the courts and three others are awaiting trial. The report, covering the fiscal year which closed June 30, merely notes the names of the various cases and their status at the cl'istof the year. The so-called Paramount case, involving arbitration, which resulted in the Thacher decree, and the so-called First National case, involving the credit system which Thacher upheld, are awaiting argument before the Supreme Court, w:hich is to hear the cases late this month. The suits against Fox, involving the acquisition of Loew's, and the action against Warners, which followed purchase of First National, are pending in the New York Federal Court. Two suits against Fox West Coast ami one against Balaban & Katz are awaiting trial. Injuns Make Hoopee, BuVs No Use, Western Agonizes Providence — The RKO publicity boys here put over a neat tie-up with "The Santa Fe Trail" when they coaxed a real. live Indian tribe to exhibit the marriage ceremonies, war dance and peace pipe smoke marathon on the stage of the Albee. As an added gesture of good will and showmanship, the braves took Mayor James E. Dunne into the council, gave him a headdress and dubbed him "Big Elk." Stories and pictures cracked all the dailies with big plays. Following the heavy newspaper breaks, the money takers at AJbee's settled down t < ■ await the riot for ducats. It failed to materialize and the picture was turned out at the end of the week with a meagre $8,000 intake, rating 15% less than par. Illness Causes Lapse of Del Rio's U. A. Contract Hollywood — Due to her prolonged illness. Dolores Del Rio has been let out at United Artists. The star has passed the crisis in the serious illness which has kept her bedridden for the last six weeks. She will need another month, at least, for --onvalescence. It is probable that she wi".l be signed again when work is resumed on "The Dove."