Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 1 , 1930 Motion Picture News 35 Iowa Allied Unit Meets to Battle On Protection Omaha — Opposition to protection and zoning is the reported object of a meeting of Allied Theatre Owners of Iowa to be held this week at Onawa, la. A meeting was held last week at Cherokee, la. Local film circles anticipate no excitement over the anti-zoning plans. Meanwhile, there is speculation as to when Allied States Association will go through with its plan to establish a unit here. The Allied organizers were expected to be on hand during the recent convention of the M. P. T. O. A. of Nebraska and Western Iowa, but changed tactics and did not show up. M. A. Lightman, president of the M. P. T. O. A., came to the convention to help hold members of the existing unit in line, in the event Allied's organizers were on hand. Lust New President Of D. C. Exhibitors Washington — Sidney Lust, film exchange and theatre owner here, has succeeded A. Julian Brylawski as president of the M. P. T. O. of Nebraska and Western Iowa, post Brylawski has held for eight years. Election of the new president of the organization took place at a recent meeting when Brylawski announced that he felt he had held the office long enough and that the time had come for him to step down and let another run the organization. Other officers of the association will be elected at the next meeting to be held soon. Ohio M. P. T. O. Meet to Fight Adverse Attack Columbus — The tenth annual convention of the M. P. T. O. of Ohio will be held here at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel on Nov. 18 and 19. Subjects of vital interest to be discussed, according to notices sent out by Business Manager P. J. Wood, include zoning and protection, score charges, and adverse legislation which threatens to put over an amusement tax. Open St. Louis Office Elliott Takes Charge St. Louis — Allied States Association has opened quarters here to handle the business of the recently formed local unit. Arthur Elliott, formerly RKO exchange manager at Detroit, will be business manager of the new Allied unit, which is rapidly rounding out details of its organization. Constructive Detroit — Credit H. M. Richey and the Michigan exhibitor unit with a constructive step to relieve the present unemployment crisis here. Members of the organization are donating ten per cent of receipts one night per week for use by the municipal government in alleviating distress. A Sticker Cleveland — Double featuring, which proved the monkey wrench in the machinery of the Chicago protection meetings, may be the stumbling block in the local zoning conferences. Independent theatre owners have asked for a 43-day protection limit on double feature pictures. Affiliated theatre owners presented a 105 day protection plan. Discussion brought about a compromise, with affiliated theatre owners agreeing to 64 days protection of double feature pictures, and independent theatre owners asking for 57 days protection. Cleveland Makes Third Attempt to Solve Protection Cleveland — "On again, off again" pretty well sums up the history to date of the proposed zoning schedules for this territory. For the third time exhibitors and distributors are at work trying to untie the protection knot. The first plan accepted by the exhibitor members of the zoning committee was rejected by the local distributor members. The second plan, which was accepted by both the exhibitor and distributor members, was disregarded by the Hays office because affiliated theatre owners were not represented on the committee. Conferring on the new plan are Martin P. Smith, chairman of the unaffiliated exhibitors committee ; P. J. Wood, secretary of the committee, all the members of the Cleveland Film Board of Trade, and, representing the affiliated theatres, W. J. Finney and Fred Desberg, representing Loew's; J. E. Firnkoess, representing RKO ; S. Dannenberg, of Buffalo, representing Publix, and Phil Gleichman and Earl Bell, representing Warners. No action was taken at this meeting on any of the affiliated demands in situations in which they are interested. Before the meeting started, Martin Smith asked that a definite method of procedure be defined in writing so that any plan, now evolved, shall not suffer a like fate as the two preceding plans. It was definitely stated by Al Mertz, chairman, that the plan must be submitted to the sales managers of each distributing company for approval and ratification before it raav become effective. 2 Managers Taken forRide;Lose$724 Omaha — Two suburban theatre managers here were taken for a ride and robbed of their combined receipts of $724 by a lone bandit as they were on their way to a bank at midnight. Ray H. Mason, Tivoli, lost $347 and K. L. Peter, of the Roseland, surrendered $377. The houses are located in the same block. The thief escaped after taking the showmen for a wild ride in the country. 'Childlike Cuss Words' Censored, Carroll Moans Boston — Earl Carroll, stage producer, paid a visit to Boston and before departing paid his respects to the Boston censorship rules in no uncertain terms. He asserted Boston is subjecting its theatrical shows to a group of people who seldom attend a performance and yet it can see no harm in the system. "I am perplexed by a system of censorship which allows one theatre to do and say things which are prevented in another. It is inconsistency which is not for the best interests of the theatres. "My opinion is that censorship in Boston is not sincere, because the city censor plays to the churches and not to the theatre-going public. Nothing against good taste should ever be shown in a theatre. "I cannot understand the city's attitude when the censor forces chorus girls to wear stockings during their dancing, with natural damage to the dancing, when he allows them to go stockingless on the streets. "Child-like cuss words are stricken out of some shows, yet much more profane words are allowed to go in others. Such censorship as Boston practices, with entire responsibility resting on one man, is hurting the entire theatrical business." Disagree on 'Common Law' Rights; Draw for Answer Hollywood — Rights to "Common Law" were bought by Charles R. Rogers in a unique manner. He owned the dialogue, play and television rights, but couldn't make it as M-G-M owned the silent rights. Slips were put into a hat and in the draw Rogers won, paying the price agreed upon by both parties previous to the draw. He will start production soon for RKO. Warners Planning New House at Washington Washington — A new Avenue Grand theatre is to be built on the site of 654-656 Pennsylvania Ave., directly across the street from the present theatre of that name in the Warner chain by that organization to seat 2,500 persons. It will be an atmospheric house and cost about $500,000. Opens Royal Theatre Salem — C. V. Rakestraw, who owns two local houses, has leased the Royal, closed since last January, and is now operating it with sound programs. Britain's Best London — Alfred Hitchcock, director of "Murder." has been awarded the Film Weekly certificate for the best production of the current season. A review of "Murder," current at the George M. Cohan, New York, appears on page 53.