Reel Journal (June 1931)

Page 6 THE REEL JOURNAL June 16, 1931. M. P. T. O. Hits at INDEPENDENTS’ BEST SEASON Wants Fairer Zoning PATHE WINS Supreme Court Decision on Old Contract Film Buffalo, —Judge Hinckley in Special Term of the Su¬ preme Court on Friday, June 12, denied an injunction sought by La Hay, Inc., op¬ erating the Lafayette Thea¬ tre, to prevent RKO-Pathe Distributing Corp. from per¬ mitting the showing of the Constance Bennett picture, “Born to Love,” in Shea’s Buffalo Theatre. Plaintiff sought to obtain the picture as one of those under the old agreement with the old Pathe company. The court reject¬ ed this theory. M. P. T. O. Claims Cir¬ cuits Are Asking Too Much Protection; Asks For New System. New York— The M. P. T. 0. A. is urging that new and fairer zon¬ ing plans be adopted and is claim¬ ing that the big circuits are de¬ manding “terrific protection, out of all reasonableness and unheard of in the business at any time.” Officials of the national organiza¬ tion point out that the committees that organized the first zoning plans, which were never put into effect, could be called into serv¬ ice to draft a new national sys¬ tem. FAVORS MERGERS Government Friendly to Consolidations _Washington— The favorable at¬ titude of the government toward the consolidation of Standard Oil Co. of New York and the Vacuum Oil Co. is interpreted to mean that the government is doing its part to aid constructive business enter¬ prises. The step by the govern¬ ment is looked upon as a means of opening up the possibilities for an okay on the Warner-First Na¬ tional case, Fox-Loew situation and lessening of interference be¬ ing enlisted by the minority op¬ posing the RKO-Pathe merger. Unknown Cast New York— D. W. Griffith will produce a talking pic¬ ture in the east with a cast of comparative unknown players, it was reported last week. The veteran director expects to uncover new tal¬ ent. The necessary finances have been secured and pro¬ duction will get under way in July. KLEINE PASSES Pioneer Film Man Dies in New York New York— George Kleine, one of the pioneers of the motion pic¬ ture industry in the exhibition and importing branches, died last week at his home here. Kleine was in¬ strumental in the building and de¬ velopment of early projectors and was active in the formation of the Motion Picture Patents Co. Says H. D. Edwards, Who Declares Next Year Offers Golden Opportu¬ nities for Producers. Hollywood ■— Independent pro¬ ducers can look to the next season as one offering the greatest op¬ portunities, according to H. D. Ed¬ wards, pioneer production execu¬ tive, who is to make “Pagan Lady” for Columbia release. “For the last several seasons the independent producer has felt that each year would be ‘the best,’ but each time something disrupted the forecast,” says Edwards. “Just when everything seemed right, along came the talkers. With the major companies having first call on all the recognized equipment, none being available to the indies until such time as sufficient equip¬ ment had been manufactured and set up in the major studios, it was practically impossible for the in¬ dependent producer to make the right kind of talking pictures. •Stars and featured players of the right kind for talking pictures also were cornered by the major com¬ panies. But now the best in equip¬ ment, acting talent, directors and stories are available to the inde¬ pendent. This is exemplified in my forthcoming production of ‘Pagan Lady,’ which will be directed by John Francis Dillon with a cast in¬ cluding Evelyn Brent, Conrad Na¬ gel, Chas. Bickford, Roland Young, Wm. Farnum, Gwen Lee, Leslie Fenton, Lucille Gleason, Wallace McDonald and Walter Percival." Fox Reorganized; New Directors are Elected New York — Reorganization of Fox Films was completed last week when eight new directors were elected. The reorganization be¬ gan a year ago when William Fox relinquished control after finan¬ cial difficulties had brought about his retirement from active inter¬ est in the organization. In a 15-minute perfunctory ses¬ sion of stockholders held in the theatre atop the company’s new headquarters, the change in direc¬ tors was effected without a dis¬ senting vote. The new members are Albert H. Wiggin, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Geo. M. Moffett, Frank O. Watts, Philip R. Clarke, David K. E. Bruce, Ed- wa Tinker and Samuel W. For- dyce. The old directors who were re¬ elected are Harley Clarke, the president; Matthew C. Brush, Win¬ field Sheehan and Charles W. Hig- leywn. At a meeting prior to the stock¬ holders’ session directors placed the class A and class B stocks on a $2.50 basis by the declaration of 62*4-cent dividends. Mr. Clarke said it was hoped the company would be able to return to the basis in the third quarter. Allied Bulletin Attacks Allied States for Taking Credit for Service Charge Re¬ duction. New York— M. P. T. O. A. is pointing its guns at Allied States Association and is accusing the lat¬ ter organization, of taking the credit for bringing about a reduc¬ tion of service charges. In the June issue of the M. P. T. 0. A. bulletin it is pointed out that a comittee discussed the matter with C. W. Bunn of Electrical Research Products several days before a committee of Allied men made a similar visit to Bunn. The initial move for the reduction, according to the bulletin, was made by Jack Miller of Chicago at the M. P. T. 0. A. convention four months be¬ fore the first conference with Erpi. The bulletin further criticizes Allied for its favorable attitude to¬ ward sponsored advertising. TWO NEW TITLES Radio Changes Names of Two Pictures Hollywood —“Transgression” is the new title that supersedes “The Next Corner,” Herbert Brenon’s latest production for Radio Pic¬ tures. Kay Francis and Ricardo Cortez are featured, with William Welch, Adrienne d’Ambricourt, John St. Polis, Wilfred Noy and David Dunbar. PAPA SILVER New York — A daughter was born last week to Gertrude and Milton Silver. Mr. Silver is ad¬ vertising manager of Universal. Silver, in announcing the event to P. D. Cochrane, sent the follow¬ ing wire: “Exclusive story immediate re¬ lease—Gala world premiere Jeanne Ritchie Silver, first appearance anywhere—eleven thirty p. m., June third—Finest production of kind ever played this house— Booked for indefinite run.” World Confab London— A World confer¬ ence of all branches of the motion picture industry is being planned here. Repre¬ sentatives from America and other parts of the world will be invited. The event will take place in London next year if the plans are carried out.