Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

36 Motion Picture N November 29 , 1930 Department of Commerce Lists Yearly Progress Washington — Work of the Motion Picture Division of the Department of Commerce during the fiscal year ended June 30 called for a great deal of readjustment as a result of the changed conditions brought about by the introduction of sound films, it is declared in the annual report of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, just submitted by Director William L. Cooper to Secretary Lamont. This development, it is declared, is now stabilized, but further scientific discoveries involving the more effective application of color in film production, the use of wide film, and the public experiments on television are begining to cause further readjustments nearly as great and will continue to do so for some time to come. During the year the requests upon the division represented an increase of 25 per cent over 1929 and also cover a much wider range of services than ever before, including the furnishing of much foreign market data to companies manufacturing recording and reproducing apparatus and information as to the type of foreign-language version of talking pictures required in different markets abroad, it is pointed out. "The motion-picture equipment section," the report states, "extended its field of contacts and contributed a number of publications to that branch of the industry, including a survey of prospects for equipment sales in the Far East. The assistant chief of the division, who is in charge of this section, took a prominent part in organizing the convention of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers held in Washington last May, and his services in the cause of better film projection were publicly recognized by the Projection Advisory Council." Follies at Seattle to Adopt Tab Policy Seattle — After several months of operation under policies that included local stage revues, vaudeville and first run films, the Follies here closed this week "for repairs" and is scheduled to reopen later in the month with Will King and his musical comedy troupe from California. King and his company were local tab favorites for several seasons a number of years ago, prior to the era of stage revues and talking pictures. Since his departure, be has been appearing on Fanchon & Marco's circuit, and has also made several talker comedies. The success of this type of show now will be watched with interest by showmen of this territory. Fisher Celebrates Detroit — In celebration of the second anniversary of the opening of the Fisher, a unique party was held Tuesday, when the ten oldest married couples in Detroit and vicinity were the guests of the management. Applicants for the honors and the tickets sent in their names and marriage dates, and tickets were sent to them for the performance. James Oliver Curwood's "River's End" was the screen show Warships to Movies London — Germany's once proud fleet, scuttled in Scapa Flow, is to provide steel for a number of picture houses to be built throughout the country. The ships recently were raised from their ocean graveyard. Death Penalty Is Seen Way to Stop "Casey" Bombings Kansas City — Bombing of theatres because of alleged labor troubles may cease to be a menace here as a result of an effort on the part of prosecuting authorities to fix the death penalty on two confessed bombers of a partly-completed apartment house. The bombing took place Sept. 8. The two men. members of the carpenters' union, were arrested last week after detectives had been working on the case since the time of the explosion which endangered many lives. The apartment was being erected with non-union labor. A bombing law was enacted by the 1929 state legislature, which reads as follows : Section 1. Bombing defined. The wilful and malicious explosion of any bomb or other device charged with powder or other explosive is hereby declared to be and defined as bombing. Section 2. Penalty in case of conviction. Whoever shall wilfully and maliciously explode or who maliciously aids, counsels or causes -to be exploded any bomb or other device charged with powder or other explosives whereby any person is or may be put in danger of bodily injury or death, shall be deemed guilty of bombing and upon conviction thereof shall suffer death or be imprisoned in the state penitentiary for a term of not less than two years. As a result of several recent theatre bombings, the Sound Projectionists' Association, non-union group of operators, has asked for an injunction against the local operators' union, seeking to restrain the union from damaging the property of nonunion houses and from intimidating the association's members. The case was taken to the Federal court, and the granting or denial of the order is expected to come from Judge Merrill Otis within the next week. A report that Judge Otis had denied the restraining order was found to be in error, the judge asking that he be allowed to further investigate the situation. According to several members of the Sound Projectionists' Association, the union operators have threatened violence to various non-union projectionists and several of the association's members have been granted permission to carry firearms for protection. The last theatre here to be bombed was the Baltis, a suburban house, where a dynamite bomb was placed under the marquee several weeks ago. The house employed an operator belonging to the non-union union. If the two carpenters receive the death sentence for their confessed parts in the apartment bombing, it is believed that theatre bombing will be less popular as a way to settle disputes. Biz Off, Two in Baltimore Drop Newspaper Ads Baltimore — All newspaper advertising has been dropped by the Hippodrome, combination house managed by Nat Keene, and practically all has been dropped by Warners' Metropolitan, operated by the Warners' Washington branch and managed by R. G. Woods. At the Hipnodrome patronage has been off for some time, even though that house has been offering the public the Harvey Players in stock with orchestra, chorus and acts with talking pictures. The Metropolitan has been playing a varied program of Warner, Universal and some Fox pictures, and as this is in a residential uptown section the Washington office is undecided, since it took over the management a couple of months ago, just what the status of the house is and whether they should continue the present policy of firstruns or not. Matinees at that house are said to be nil, but with good pictures the night shows are jammed. Experimentation with advertising has been going on. What the attitude of the newspapers will be toward the curtailing of space by these houses is a matter of conjecture. "Blue Laws" Again to Be Under Fire in Wis. Milwaukee — Assemblyman John W. Grobschmidt has promised to renew his attack on the state's 75-year-old "blue laws" in the 1931 legislature. The bill failed in the Senate last term, but Assemblyman Grobschmidt is sure that it will be repealed by the next legislature. The statute which he proposes to repeal provides that "any person who shall keep open his shop, warehouse or workhouse, or shall do any manner of labor, business or work, except only works of necessity and charity, or be present at any dancing or public diversion, show or entertainment, or take part in any sport, game or play on the first day of the week shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $10." German Imports Dropping Steadily, Report Shows Washington — Film imports into Germany declined by about 33-1-3 per cent during the first nine months of 1930, as compared with 11I2'). George R. Canty, trade commissioner at Paris, reports to the Department of Commerce. During the first six months of the current year, 236 films were censored, contrasted with 315 for the same period last vear, and 401 in the first nine months of 1'L'S. Reopen Dayton House Dayton. O. — W. C. Chesborough, operating a chain of local theatres, to which the Salem has recently been added, has reopened the house which has been dark for several weeks pending installation of Western Electric sound equipment. New screen, seats and other improvements also have been installed.