Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

D e c e in b er 6, 1 9 3 0 M o t i o n P i c I ii r e A 13 OUTLOOK down to the prop boys. But even that didn't do any good. The overhead on my picture only grew bigger." The report still emerges now and then that Richman may do another for United Artists. That is — perhaps. Joe Schenck may have not read the original blurb, but there are those who are speculating on what will happen after Schenck lamps Richman's cracks about studio politics and mounting overhead: The last topic is dynamite in several U. A. quarters where This Insider knows what's going on. In Ohio Here's something to ponder over : It isn't numbers of theatres that count in this day of celluloid concentration, but types, seating capacity and buying power. For instance: From a source that knows its onions comes some interesting figures anent the theatre situation in Ohio. This statistician computes the total number of houses in that populous state at 675. Six hundred are independent of producer or distributor alliance. Seventy-five make up the affiliate division. The independents do a $22,000,000 gross yearly. The affiliates, $28,000,000, or, reduced to simple mathematics, an edge of $5,000,000 over the lone handers. Another slant, if you like : The chains do 56 per cent of Ohio's total theatre gross with 75 theatres as against 44 per cent for the independents with 600 houses. These figures are believed to be accurate, but no guarantee trails along with them. Well, Well! Wouldn't the bankers be interested in learning the name of the company president who has openly admitted that he isn't fit to head his own enterprise? Not only that. The same executive advanced the identical remark about the heads of other organizations, although what they may think of him for making the crack in the presence of a halfdozen persons — not all of them in his employ or under his domination — is something else again. A Dilemma Publix is facing something of a dilemma in Detroit, where its theatres are reporting having a hard time of it trying to climb out of the red. estimates placing the weekly loss at between $21,000 and $30,000. The situation is reported so acute that there is possibility that the Kunsky houses will be turned back to John Kunsky, and the Munz houses to the Munz Enterprise. The opposition provided by Fox, RKO and the Cohen theatres is proving plenty strong in the automobile citv. It seems further that Publix elicited anything but cheers when it hiked the prices at the Paramount there from 75 cents to $1 for the run of "The Vagabond King." Also in the offing — reported, but not confirmed — are difficulties with Warners who are declared to be peeved over the comparatively poor showing made by "The Doorway to Hell," which re-opened the State there under its new policy. The picture did $13,000 on its week, which isn't so hot in view of big grosses in other key cities. As a result, it is said, the Warners have indicated thev might be willing to sell their product to Publix's Detroit opposition. Some of the gang in Detroit can't understand why Publix dips so heavily in the red when, for instance, Amos 'n' Andy rolled up better than $90,000 in three weeks at the RKO Downtown, to be followed by "Africa Speaks" and a gross of $27,000. Other competitive factors include the Fanchon and Marco dancing school, which is proving a real drawing card at the Fox. Also a talent contest staged by the same outfit which proposes to select two local girls to study at the F. and M. dancing school in Hollywood. Detroit apparently likes that sort of stuff. As closely as the truth may be approached, it seems to be a case of showmanship, plus adoption of one policy and no changes with shifting of the wind. THERE most probably will be an inquiry into the Sherman anti-trust laws to determine feasibility of revising them, but there is little likelihood of any change so far as the film industry and general business are concerned. The President in his annual message recommended such investigation, specifically referring to "enterprises closely related to the use of the natural resources of the country," particularly coal and possibly petroleum. However, that is not interpreted at the capital as indicative of any change of attitude toward monopoly on the part of the administration. The President specifically stated he does not favor repeal of the anti-trust laws declaring that "the prevention of monopolies is of most vital public importance." The President's recommendation is for conservation of natural resources. He pointed out that wasteful and destructive use and destructive competition are impoverishing both employer and worker, and conditions can't be remedied because of the prohibitive interpretation of the anti-trust laws. Star vs. Studio Just what will be the outcome of the jamboree between Ann Harding and the Pathe studio is a matter of conjecture on the Coast. Pathe gave Miss Harding a rousing send-off with "Holiday" and now the star insists that other stories selected for her be on a par with that successful opus, which raised E. B. Derr's position considerably as a producer. In fact, that picture is said to have been one of the major factors which advanced Pathe's trading position in the RKO deal. Pathe, however, has realized that in Miss Harding it has a good box-office bet and is averse to losing her services. An option is to be exercised in January. Miss Harding's peeve probably originated in the firm's action in loaning her to other companies, in which she did not fare so well as compared with "Holiday." THE INSIDERS Once Upon a Time — THERE was a fellow — big fellow, too — who was as regular as he was competent. The internal workings of his organization turned over one day and. when the machinery halted, this executive had considerably more of power than ever he had enjoyed before and that's saying plenty. In the earlier days in this same outfit production policies, selection of stories, casts and directors' assignments were discussed by a cabinet in which experts in their respective fields had alwavs proved invaluable. But today, the one-time regular has lost some of his balance, fails to consult as he formerly did, travels the wav pretty much alone, and the cabinet is largely a matter of history. The result is that all is not so well in production and that means, of course, not so well in sales. It further means that the personal relationship which once prevailed in the executive roost is no longer so cordial. That forebodes much that isn't so good.