Variety (Jun 1935)

4 VARIETY P I C ¥ E $ Wednesdajt June 12, 1935 Deadline Soon for Film Companies To file Salary Papents, Bonuses Wnshington, June 11. Film companies desiring to con-, ceal details of salary payments, bonus or profit-sharing agreements, and stock ownership will be com- pelled to air this information in the near future, Federal Securities Com- mission 0 cials Indicated last week. With thr^ deadline on api)llcations for permanent listing of stcuritles occurring July 1, Commlsh is pre- paring to rule In each Individual case where plea has been made to keep such dope confidential. There will be no general policy order, but officials are pretty well agreed that data of this nature should and must be revealed to public gaze. Relatively few film concerns have reported in full on salary and bonus matters, several submitting this in- formation •confidentially and others asking more time before filing. With the exception of Paramount, practi- cally all Important enterprises in the picture field have made applica- tion to list their securities perma- nently on national exchanges. Keith-Albce-Orpheum, B. F. Keith Corp,, Consolidated and Pathe did not avail themselves of the privilege of asking that their salary, bonus and officers' stockholding reports be hushed, while Warner and Universal said they would come In with their dope later. Loew, Fox and Colum- bia, however, asked that their re- ports on these matters be withheld from public examination. 'Secret' Requests Several film companies also asked that some of their data on subsidia- ries and affiliates be kept iaecret, contending that publieatlon -would (Continued on page 69) 'B'way Joe' Tuned—Maybe Hollywood, June 11. Warners closied 'Broadway Joe,' the Joe E'. Brown picture, Saturday (8) upon completion of shooting the book. Studio will cut and assemble it before deciding whether or not to Include special musical numbers. I'icture is a backstage yarn with lots of musical atmosphere, which may be sufficient. Anti-Block BiO Bound Over TiD Next Congress Indexing Hollywood, June 11. Slim Summerville has a grading system for guests who call at his beach home. Privileges run according to the degree of friendship. Andy Devine rates the garage. Limiting Newshonnd List in Free Lunch ConseFTation Drive ■Hollywood, June 11. Unless papers or magazines have a circulation of 25,000, and are more than six months old, their corre- spondents will be denied credentials hereafter to visit the studios for publicity copy and help in securing stories. Arbitrary figure was set by studio publicity directors in a move to keep down the o clal credential list which now contains around 250 nanies. New okay list will be ef- fective July 1. Agit.atlon came about through studio complaint that hlnterlanders who have never done a day's news- paper work in their lives come here with credentials from their home town papers, which in reality are only a blind to get the visitors Into the studio for star gazing. Also It Is figured the cost of the lunches these amateur and not-im portant scribes eat adds up to an important item over the year, not counting the time wasted by p.a.'s in showini; them around. Washington, June 11. Legislative efforts to outlaw block-booking were dropped last week for the remainder of the cur- rent session of Congress, but plans were laid for a new drive next win- ter. As House supporters of the Pet- tenglU bill conceded there is no pos- sibility of obtaining hearings be- fore the present session winds, a companion measure was Introduced In the Senate by Senator Neely of West Virginia. This will permit picture reformers to start their fight In both branches when the legislators reconvene next Decern- bei". Introduction of the Neely measure signified clearly that film critics are determined to carry on their drive for Government supervision of dis- tribution practices. Previously they had hoped to push the Pettengill bill through the House this session and then work on the Senate next winter; now they are preparing to turn the heat on at both ends of the Capitol simultaneously when Congress comes back after Christ- mas. Both -measures will remain alive over the annual fall recess. Film cleanup topic came to life again Saturday (8) when the Balti- more conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, representing members In Maryland, D. C, and nearby Virginia, pledged support for any campaigning to Improve the qualities of screen entertainment Promised to cooperate with any groups or any other faiths in a gen eral crusade and condemned block- booking without specific reference to any legislative proposals. SCRIBS ON 'ROSE MARIE' FOR GRACE MOORE-EDDY Hollywood, June 11. Mai'cella Burke, ex-(an mag edi tor. and Ro.ss Wills join Metro writing slaff to prepare the screen piay of 'Ro.so Marie,' musical cur- rcn'Jy slated for Grace Moore and Nelson Eddy. Scrib duo recently sold 'Adventure For Three' to same studio. • 'I\tarle' will be produced by Hunt Stromberg. Studio made it silent in 1927. BIP's Prez TeBs Of Company s N.Y. Plans, Prospects John Maxwell, chairman and malnaglng director of British Inter- national Pictures, -feels that any thought which has, British Ijro- ducers submitting scripts In ad- vance to the Hays office for scru- tiny before the pictures come over to the'United States Is hooey. Max-well is here for a few days talking tilings over with his chief of ^tafl, Arthur Dent, who preceded him to the U. S. by a couple of weeks. Dent is here for the purpose of negotiating U. S. distribution for the BIP pictures. Previews of sev- eral BIP films were held in New York last week. BIP e^P^t^'s make around 25 films next year and of this number 11 or 12 will be shipped to the U. S. British International Is Inter- ested In the operation of or controls around 260 theatres in the United Kingdom. Maxwell indicates that this chain may increase, within the next few months to around 300. BIP would prefer a distribution hookup over Jiere with a major company and Is angling that way. Its plans for over here are not definitive as yet. BIP, however, alms to spend more on production than in previous years becau.ie of the greater quality need of its own chain of theatres, a great number of which are de luxe houses. There is no deal on at present between Gaumont-Britlsh and BIP for merging or changing control of either company, Maxwell jays. There had been some negotiations between the firms some tlma ago, but these fell through and have not been resumed. Maxwell returns to London next Week. WB Sets 50 Featm-es. 130 Shorts For '35-'36 at Convention in L. A; Radio's 50 for 1935-6 Radio will go out to sell a pro- gram of 50 for the 1935-'36 season, thjs number Including two from Pioneer Pictures, John Hay Whitney group, on which deal was recently closed. Company holds Its three-day con- vention at the Drake, Chicago, starting Monday (17), with home of- fice bunch headed by Ned E, Depinet and Jules Levy, taking off for there Saturday (15). U. S. History Pix Weak B.0, Radio Puts Off 'Grant' Cagney PrivaiC Dick Hollywood, June 11. James Cagney next will be a pri vate detective in Warner's 'You'll Have to Learn Sometime.' Yarn Is by Richard Wormser Script being written by Ben Mark son and Harry Sauber. Big FOX CONVENTIONEERS Group in N. Y.—Gehring Charge of Sales Drive Universal Putting: Seven In Work This Month K-.!ly\\ ood, June 11. Unive:-sii-. is starting its n'.-w pro- gram of 42 pictures with a hv'mtk'- ' puttiTig .seven in work by July !. . Only holdovffr Is 'ii-^Mr.i?.'.':r. Obsessidii.' VANISHING AK n<W;yv. oy^;, Jw.-.'r J J. Casting pi-<th)i-Tn id'-.y 'i^rA Fox r. 'Kn.monn' on ih'i h-;.-'ir .>r.;;j f^ii. John .Slon". v.lcy .;;!-p.V/iJ-;'.': >':, pl'-tur*-, h'3« b'.'-n vr.a';/."': 'o '■ players to \.i)\> li.t a« Jn'i,- ri>. ] Big Fox contingent was In and out of New York last week with Jack Sullivan, Pox-West Coast film buyer, Arch Bowles, RIok Rlcket- son, Harry Fitzgerald and Elmer Rhoden, F-WC dl.strlct chieftains lin.^erlns cast on flln-i buys. Bill Gehring this year, instead of Herman Wobber, is tlie Fox Film drive commandant, (ithrlng with Roger Ferrl, spccinl ox ploitecr, are slated to \i:!iv<i S. Y lo:- points vy-Kt thin w-<V.. Cab'' Vorke, Hl'J'lio p'jb!!/,l:>- u'-H'l >:: ir'/!ft *r.*: ^.*j-.i '.--^/T; <* Not So Strange to Court, Hix Loses Filcher Suit Los Angeles, June 11 Declaring general public and pic- ture trade were not likely to be de ceived as to the nature of material covered by somewhat similar titles 'Strange as It Seems' and 'Stranger Than Fiction." Superior Judge Leon R. Yankwich ruled in favor of Uni- versal Pictures in John HIx's dam age suit for alleged infringement on his rights. Cartoonist had demanded $250,OOD on ground that the studio's use of 'Stranger Than Fiction' destroyed the vajue of his own 'Strange as It Seems,' which Universal formerly released. Judge Yankwich held there is no Inherent monopoly in a novelty film to the degree claimed by Hix. Felix Feist, Jr/s Scouting Rufus Le Malro lined up a flock of prospectives for Metro while abroad. No one signed, but on his Holly wood arrival he Is arranglni,' with Felix Feist, Jr. to visit London and Paris for some exhaustive film test ing. ,<,->i-. Stone Skcds Quintet For New Fox f rogram Uolly«ood, June 11. 'it f<-*;;.Cui-f';( [d hi: iiiriicd ij-/,ih<: '.-.'A W i\y.<-] unit at I'"ox './)': H'i'-'K iivniiitud will be pro- V.v .Ui\\ii i'\.'iu<;. '//.-.I ii.'iw, "VUhwUt In tlic !<),</ I*, iiiivi in piodN'-llDn, with ■hi K'MU'i, i,r y\yi-,' )ii.-a<'d to Z'' <lfi')<->' v,Hy diirloK Ih': i-.OinUil; v.ll-y '/Hi, ,'.|;<-'f: K.-<y'rjM top !lpot ^'y:lir.>,n\i,'/, lilo )fn-)?i'l'; 'I'.iuiiimn if^.-f.V ',r I'll- Ui-.'.t-n,' niii\ 'Wmiy^- <■-«( .1. 'r.i- ;t,:',iii..' ollywood, June 11. Radio has gotten cold feet on 'Mr. Grant' as planned and has shelved the picture temporarily, announc- ing that casting problems are hold- ing it up. Studio brought Walter Abel from New York as the star Stephen Roberts was to direct. Halt came after studio execs de- cided that the American public was not over enthusiastic about native history. Most American historical pictures have been poorly received at the boxoffice. Radio, -with a contemplated In- vestment of $700,000 in 'Grant,' felt .that an all-star cast was necessary to get profitable reaction. Lack of available names at present caused the picture to be taken off the schedule for the time being. B&K, LOEW^S BOSTON FILE WITH FEDl SEC. Washington, June 11. Balaban & Katz and Loew's Boston Theatres Co. last wcelv joined the • parade and requested Federal approval for permanent listing of their securities. Salary dope was withheld from the public by both companies, B&K submitting report on last year's compensation confidentially and Loew's Boston omitting similar data 'at this time.' Both firms said they have no bonus or profit-shar- ing agreements in effect. Revealing that Paramount con- trols 87.87o of its stock, Balaban fc KatJ! showed liability exceeding $9,000,000. Statement revealed 20,- 120 shares of $100 7% cumulative preferred are outstanding and rep- resent an obligation of ?2,012,600, while 264,200 shares of $25. common, involving liability of $6,005,150, arc out. Balaban subsidiaries Include 8 wholly owned and 6 partly owned. In turn the.se 14 own outright 11 sub-sids and partly own 10 more. Loew's Boston reported th-il Loew's, Inc., is the principal pare>-.f, controlling 54% of its securities. Only subsidiary is State Theatre (-'o., or which Loew's Boston has 98% control. Loew's Inc., Is listed .-IS the only fjrm or Individual hold- ing morn tlian 10% oC Loew's I5os- ton securities of any class. With NiclioLT.s M. Sehenck and David Bernstein holding 1 shure. each and Leopold Frledm,'\n owning- 10 ."Shares In order to qualify as dl- rectoi-s, only members of the boai-d listed as st.oelvholders are John 11. l^cvliii, HCeretary, with 295% shivres and Victor .T. Morils, assistant sec- ret,-M-y, v, il h .'lO,'?. Conip.-iny listed Its liability n.l $:i..SSl,2.rS.a3 based on 155,249 Vri '.Utstandin;; $2.T oonimon shares^ Silverstone Coming with Sehenck for UA Meet Willi ,li)sc|.h M. Si'hcncli. on the .•.'o.-(ii.-ii!il|(>, will i) iMuurloe Silver .;loiic, inaiia^fliig director of the l/'nlH-fl ArtlxlH Corp., Ltd., of Lon ilorl. 'rhcy-siiil for .Vew York .Sat- ui-(l,'iy (ini, ,-irrivlng June 20. Hllvir-Klori<; will remain in Amer I'-,-), for Die I'A s;iles convention on ilK' Coa't. In .Inly. Los Angeles, June 11. Warners annouhced at Its salosj convention today, 60 features 'Mrd'' 130 shorts for the ne-w year. Sami» number as last year. Of 62 2-reelers and 78 singles, all but 20 and'cartoons will be made In Brooklyn under Sam Sax. \ Increased budgets ordered on all features, with .Indications of higher rentals, but no changes in selling plan. Player lineup will remain abdut the same. Studio Is figuring draw- ing heavy on stage plays and booksi Promotions of A. W. Smith, Jr.v Gradwell Sears and S. Charles l&ln- feld as vice-presidents of Vltagraph Corporation, Warners distributing subsidiary, was announced by Harry M. Warner at the opening business session of the Warner- First National .sales convention at the Ambassador hotel yesterday (Monday). Over 300 execs, sales chiefs, branch exchange managers, theatre zone managers and h.o. execs are attending the convention running through Thursday (13). Special train carrying 200 conventioneers from eastern and southern points arrived Sunday (9), with the local Warner crowd going the limit on welcoming entertainment. Initial business session was brief, with Sears arid Smith alternately presiding;. Harry Warner was the principal speaker. Warner prexy stressed the upward trend of WB biz over two years ago. Joseph Bernard, in charge of Warner theatre operation, reported the outlook In the exhibition field Is brighter th.\n for the past four years. Other speakers were Major Albert Warner, Harold Bereford, company attorney; Robert Schlass,, in charge of continental sales; Sam' Morris, head of foreign sales. Entertainment features started Sunday, with a house party thrown for the visitors by Leon Schlcssln- ger, producer of Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies. Monday afternoon was spent at the Burbank studios, where a round of luncheon.s and cocktail parties kept the visiting firemen on the Jump. Conventioneers got down to real business today (Tuesday) and are scheduled to grind again all day Wednesday and Thursday morning. Convention proper winds up Thurs- day night -with a banquet at which prizes in the California or Bust drive will be awarded. Many dele- gates plan to stay over for a week to 10 days visiting studio and rest- ing. Income Tax Gan^^ster Trap Idea in WB 'Agent' Hollywood, J;ine 11. Warners will try and put 'Special -•Vgenl' Into work some time thja week with William Keishley direct- ing and Georf^e Brent in the lend. Story is -written around the grab- bing of gangsters through income tax evasion. Y.arn written by Al Cohn and Lesley Mason was bou.ijht. cifdit months ago, but shelved in order to .^et 'G Men,' con.sidercd a hotter subject, on the screen. PAR IN 'G' RUSH Speeding 'Men Without Names' On Ransom Money Angle Hollywood, .rune 11. Paramount's' ileii 'Wiihout Names- is heiiig rusiied, ^viLh sequences in- serted based 0)1 tracln;; serialized banknotes, to take advanta.tjo of publicity in the Weyei-liau.sei- ran- som note roundU|). Studio is showing new enlluisi- asin for the picture, despite beinvr beaten to the screen by iliiee ^i- .Afen films ali-eadv. 'Red Salute' Next Reliance for UA Hollywi;c)(l_. .Iiii'u^ Edward Small has set li u-l; -.Vnia- rur Girl' till later in the yt^ar, ri'ml will produce 'Red Salul'^' as his wxi llelianee feature for IJnif'd Ariisis. It is a tjomcdy drama froiu oi ii;:in.-il .ioreon play by Ilu |)lirey I'ea and slated to .start this wc-k. Sidney Lanlleld will diied, with Constance Cunin-iiiips and Vnliert Young toppingi