Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

October 18, 10 3 0 M o I i o ii P i c I u r (• AT ,• w s 17 Tammany Pressure Compelling Walker To Sit Tight While Office Is Under Fire? Walker to Seek Other Fields ^T)C SHcrli) ffem $otK :t American TIRED OF HIS JOB, "Glitter All Off, Somebody Else Should Have It" NEVER AGAIN CANDIDATE City Employees' Duties Overlap, He Tells Realty Men "All the glory Is gone, all the glitter Is off" — these are James J. Walker's words, and they refer to his Job as mayor of New York.— "It Is Just a hard Job. and somebody else ought to have it." So he spoke last night at the Hotel Blltmore. addressing some 300 members of the United Real Estate Owners' Association. Explaining he realized the occasion was not one for political discussion, he nevertheless seized it to proclaim: "I am not a candidate for office, tnd if you add. and you'll never be again.' I'll not contradict it. But Mayor Walker, in a talk last night, declared he had no wish to run for office again, and especially for the office of Mayor of New York. In the midst of a speech before the United Real Estate Owners' Association in the Hotel Biltmore he suddenly departed from his main theme, that of the city charter, and exclaimed: "I am not a candidate for office at this time. This is not the time to make threats, but if you were to say 'or never will be again.' I would not contradict it. I have and have had no commitment other than the general interest of the city. "All the glory is gone and all the, glitter is off. Jt's just a hard job. Someone else ought to bave it. I want nothing save to leave the city a little better than I found it. That's all I want to live on for the rest of my life." The Mayor declared the city needs thorough revision of its chattel' "to meet present day conditions and nut conditions as they were in 1340 and 1850." He invited lvs heavers' to study the new Close on the heels of the exclusive MOTION PICTURE NEWS story that he would resign his post on January 1 to join the legal staff of Fox Film, comes a direct statement from Mayor James J. Walker that he was tired of his job and was ready to pass on the mantle of office to someone else. His statement was quoted, and significantly played up, in The World and New York American on Tuesday morning and is considered, in some quarters, as an indirect confirmation of the Fox story, despite the mayor's vehement denial of a Fox affiliation to newspapermen. Stock Exchange Turns Binoculars on Films (Continued from page 15) mittee communications sent or received relating to their financial condition. This recalls the charge made when receivership action against Warners was filed, that the suit was aimed to undermine the company's stock. Similar alleged motives are ascribed in circulation of other reports concerning picture firms. Hollywood Hears LeBaron Is On Skids; RKO Denies (Continued from page 15) eral understanding here is that Le Baron has about 18 months to run on his current agreement which grew out of Radio's excitement when "Rio Rita" hit the home office some time ago. In the meantime, variance in quality of the RKO output leads many to beiieve that Le Baron is very much on the spot. 'News' Story Denied by Mayor; Political Result Seen as Ruling Decision Upon whether Tammany will consent to retirement of Mayor James J. Walker of New York at a time when his administration is under fire probably will depend his course January 1, and his proposed association with Fox. Exclusive Motion Picture News report that the mayor is planning to retire from his office the end of the year and return to the industry as a member of the Fox legal staff rocked film and political circles. Walker has made vehement denial of the story which was picked up by national press associations and the New York dailies. But it may or may not be significant that neither by him nor by Fox was Motion Picture News asked to publish the formal denial. Opinion in inside circles persists that Walker's resignation would go through as indicated unless the Tammany chieftains decree otherwise. Officially, Walker had this to say: "There is nothing in it at all. It has not been suggested to me. I have no intention whatever of resigning for any reason. I deny it emphatically." However, early this week, the mayor sounded what may be the tip-off. when in a speech he announced he was tired of political life. "All the glory is gone, all the glitter is off," he asserted. "It's just a hard job and some one else can have it. I want nothing save to leave the city a little better than I found it. That's all I want to live on the rest of my life." Walker has been ill during recent weeks and Tuesday was confined to his bed with a severe cold. In one quarter, it is stated that pressure may be brought to bear upon the mayor to prevent his reported retirement, because of a belief that resignation in January would be a reflection on Tammany, and lead to accusation he was quitting under fire. William C. Michaels, Fox treasurer, told newspapermen he has heard nothing to indicate the mayor would join the organization. Franklin on Vacation; RKO Rumors Persist Hollywood — Harold B. Franklin, his wife and son, Elbert, leave this week for Canada. Franklin will spend the greater portion of his first vacation in fifteen years at Banff and Lake Louise, returning the first of the year. Before going Franklin said he had made no definite plans for the future and no announcement would be made until his return. Rumors that the former theatre chief will go with RKO as head of theatres on the west coast persist. It is understood that an offer has been made him by RKO, the terms of which, however, have not been disclosed.