Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

.V o v c >n b e r 1 , 19 3 0 Motion Picture News 55 Oldknow Speeds Fox West Coast Expansion Plan Los Angeles — Fox West Coast Theatres is rounding out its expansion program, with construction at a new peak, indicating, the company says, the return of business to normalcy. Oscar Oldknow is in charge of the circuit. The theatre and office building at Pomona is under way, as are the Bakersfield and Santa Barbara houses. The Fox, Anaheim and the Mission at Fullerton have let contracts for extensive remodeling. The nex Fox at Calexico was opened recent In Los Angeles, the Qscar oldknow Stadium is neanng completion and ground has been broken for the theatre at Westwood. Construction is under way on the Spokane, Phoenix and Billings theatres. In the Middle West, a number of houses are to be opened soon. These include theatres at Hutchison and Salina in Kansas and at Joplin, Mo. Legit at Film Prices Offered at Frisco San Francisco — Giving San Francisco a total of six downtown legitimate theatres, the Tivoli, Eddy Street near Mason, will be opened Friday, offering stage productions at "motion picture prices." This was announced by Richard Marshal, who will operate the house jointly with Irving Ackerman, of the theatrical firm of Ackerman and Harris, owners of the Casino. Comerford First Run At Rochester Reopening Rochester — Completely rebuilt after a $39,000 fire forced it to close last January, Comerford's Capitol, downtown house seating 1,200, reopens Saturday under management of Albert P. Kaufman and Milton Korock, assistant. The theatre was operated by Edward Fay of Providence at the time of the fire. Famous Division Post For Montreal Showman Montreal — Harry S. Dahn, for six years manager of the Capitol here, has been appointed division manager of Famous Players Canadian Corp. L. I. Bearg, of Boston, recently was appointed supervisor of company theatres here. Dussler Now Exhibitor Memphis, Mo. — W. H. Dussler of Atlantic, la., has bought the theatre here from W. A. Collins. Dussler has been interested in the mechanical end of the theatre business and this is his first investment as a theatre manager. With a Moral Hollywood — Not so very long ago one of the coast theatre chains invested in a few miniature golf courses for "experimental" purposes. Lately business has fallen off at one of these courses to such an extent it was dismantled and the material put up for sale. In the same city a rival theatre operator was building a new theatre. Passing the golf course he saw a nice pile of bricks and asked the man standing around if they were for sale. The reply was in the affirmative and immediately the deal was closed and the bricks are now being used in the new theatre. A feature of the deal was that neither fellow knew the other was manager of a rival house. Brookline to Vote On Sunday Shows Brookline, Mass. — "Do you want moving picture theatres in Brookline?' This is a question which will appear on the state election ballot in this town at the election Nov. 4. It will be the second time that the entire electorate of the town has been called upon to vote upon the question. In 1923 it was defeated 5,634 to 1,619. The matter has also come up in town meetings on several occasions, each time being defeated but by a smaller margin. This year nobody has any pecuniary interest in the matter, nobody is trying to get a theatre permit. It is merely to be an expression of opinion on the general question. Brookline adjoins Boston and is within easy distance of all Boston theatres. RCA Files Counter Claim In De Forest Patent Suit Wilmington — RCA Photophone • has filed answer and counter claim in the suit brought against it by the General Talking Pictures and DeForest Phonofilm in the United States Court here, denying patent infringements. The defendant company contends that the patents in question that involve improvements in recording and reproducing pulsations or variations in sound and other phenomena had not been issued to any one prior to patents granted John D. Myers in October, 1916, acquired by the defendant company. The plaintiff set forth in the bill of complaint that they owned the patents and that they had been the victims of infringement. Multi-Linguals to Be Resumed by Roach Hollywood — After dropping foreign versions for several months. Hal Roach has decided to make more of them, this time in French and Spanish only. Laurel and Hardy comedies will be in both tongues while the Charley Chase two-reelers will be produced in Spanish only. Open Door Policy For Songsters Is Witmark Policy Open door policy for all song writers will characterize operation of Red Star Music Co., Fox subsidiary under the new regime headed by Jay Witmark who has succeeded Pat J. Flaherty as general manager. Flaherty resigned after a difference over the allotting to another company of publication of a number of songs in forthcoming Fox pictures contending that Red Star should have exclusive publication rights. Realignment of the catalogue and reorganization of Red Star already is under way by Witmark, who was one of the founders of M. Witmark & Sons, Warner subsidiary. Jack Richmond who for more than 15 years was associated with Leo Feist. Inc. has replaced Charles Harrison resigned. Other changes are contemplated. At least 75 per cent of Red Star's catalogue will be popular songs, Witmark says. Jay Whitmark Hymer and Tracy to Be Permanent Team Hollywood — Warren Hymer and Spencer Tracy have been designated as a permanent comedy team as a result of their performance in "Up The River." Until Tracy returns to Hollywood, following his Broadway and road engagements with "The Last Mile," Hymer will perform individually in Fox pictures. At present he and Marjorie White are enacting comedy roles in "Oh, for a Man !" "Judge" Saef to Wed Boston — Announcement is made of the engagement of Jack "Judge" Saef of the executive staff of the Publix theatres here to Miss Ann Eisenberg of Mattapan. Miss Eisenberg is formerly of Cleveland. "Judge" Saef was associated with Harry Browning in theatre exploitation work. Badger's Next Set Hollywood — "A Lady for Love" is another stage play to be made into a talker. The story is by Alan Brunner Schultze, Clarence Badger will direct for First National and Loretta Young will have the leading role. Farley Joins Independent Omaha — Fred Farley, former assistant manager of the State (Publix i. has resigned to become manager of the Muse here, one of the Popular Amusement Co. houses. Farley has been with Paramount-Publix for the past three years. Howard with Sono Art Cleveland — M. C. Howard has joined the local Sono ArtWorld Wide sales force. $50 Tax Proposed Sunbury, Pa. — Tax of $50 per year on miniature golf courses is provided in a bill introduced in the city council.