Variety (Jun 1935)

Wednesday, June 12, 1935 PICTURES VARIETY 5 OHERSON'S COAST SURVEY Loew's Chi Building Threats Stymiedas WB Gets Metro Fix (]^ 5JU[)|(| jyp Chicago, June H. Second Important break In the Hne^up locally against Loew's build- ing projecta here occurred the past week when "Warners bought M-G prpduct. Deal calls tor remainder oC this season's pictures, plus the 1935-36 program. This follows pur- chase of Metro by the two northside Indie houses, Adelphl and Howard. .[With Warners scattered solidly throughout the southside, it about precludes any building by Loew's In that territory, despite continued threats to build throughout the dis- trict. So far Metro Is known to have sealed deals for only one south side spot, the Oak Park site, which is scheduled to be ready by Oct. 1. etro has talked I'.eals for a num- ber of other locations throughout the town, but nothing else yet set. Loew's is stalling any actual build- ing operation as long as possible, waiting for the start of the new selling season. If Metro breaks the wall of resistance Loew's will for- get about building. And If the op- position still remains Loew's be- lieves it can start building by August. Metro Is now Oi'fering nine pic- tures on percentage instead of the former line-up- of 14. Also has about dropped the preferred play- ing clause in many of larger spots. Overset Hollywood, June 11. With no assignments in sight, Paramount has Carl Brisson, Henry Wilcoxon and Lee Tracy up for loanouts. Tracy has been on the lot six months without a picture. U. S. Prosecutor Wants Immediate Trial in St. Louis RKO TO DISTRIB 'MARCH OF TIME' 'March of Time,' monthly news- reel, will be distributed nationally and abroad by RKO Dist. Corp. starting with issue No. 5, July re- lease. First Division in the east and several state rights distributors in the •middle west and other sec- tions of the U. S. will wash up with the fourth issue, now on release. In official circles, it was felt that a more complete national and European distribution was needed for 'March of Time' than was being supplied by F. D. The friendly break away from First Division also was based on the belief that 'March of Time' alone could not support that company's exchanges. Certain monies were advanced to First Division to attempt to build up that system oC c::changcs. This coin still remains with F. D. but it is the only interest which March of Time, Inc., now hold.s. There will be no changes in the editorial staff of '.March of Time' Productions for foreign release will be m.ide availaljle by shitting the narrator, usin;.; the language re- tiuired tor cich individual nition. SCHENCK CLOSES FOR 5 MORE BRITISH CINEMAS I.ondiin. June 11. Joe Schonclc. in associal ion with the Deut-sch ;ui(l Donada circuits, is settling t()d;iy (ho piirohasn of five | big cincin.'i;; rontroUod by "J^avid ! Eliss and A\'iiliam I''irlli. TlU'atrcs at present v pari oC a circuit of ■ Deal invoIvK Ci.Onn.OOO and com- | prises the ]li'.i,"-nl, 1'lyn-iouUi: Ilii)-I podroin<', ] )ri\-eiii)orL: J lippodrDinc, ! Derby ;uid two lioiisos in .■Vberdt.-en Bevhills Skip.s lO-Buck Morals of Agt, Class, lii-vi'i- llii:s, .lin-..- II. ! ;r.(-:l In. r"!"iit(-'l in it.--- nKj\-c. :;s (in till- ;iitir.-il (iini-ss of tlK-a'ii'K-i .'inii'its t'l .--(.M.i-Lict ll'.i'i;' buyine;,-^; vvillriii SM>;ii'.y o'ui- lhn\s bcfoi-c i.-^suiir.; .-i lii-cnsi". II'.m-c- , aftL'r .-111 lliat v>-iH In- n-iiuin-d to ! opcTii;-- a i)i':-.-i-r.;''; y will be lln- S-Vi i annunl U':\ InvesllKMiinii tap oC "-'n droppt'd. St. Louis, June 11. Russell Hardy, assistant U. S. At- torney-General, reported sent here direct by Attorney General Homer Cummings from Washington, hurled a series of charges against defend- ants in the long-delayed anti-Sher- man trust suit now pending against Warners, RKO and Paramount dur- ing the first day of preliminary argument before the newly ap- ])ointed Federal Judge George H. Moore. Brushing aside the conten- tions of defense attorneys, Sam .Tefferles and Jacob M. Lashly, Prosecutor Hardy declared for the records that further delay of this case would mean 'death' for the local boys operating theatres in- volved. Defense lawyers pointed to the extreme hot summers here as too much strain for judge, jury, at- torneys and witnesses, but Hardy in a strong voice urged the court to set the date immediately on the grounds that this was imperative from the Government's point of view and evidence. Hardy informed the Court the Gov- ernment would insist on the early trial of the case on its merits. The motions to be disposed of on June IS are a demurer, and a request for a bill of particulars. If it should be July when these were out of the way. Hardy said, the Government would insist that the trial proceed then. The indictment alleges a con- spiracy by Warner Bros., Para- mount, RKO and other motion pic- ture companies to refuse to supply films for exhibition at the Missouri, Ambassador and New Grand Central theatres. The Ambassador has been closed for several months. After speaking of the hot weather and the discomforts to all involved, Jefferies and Lashly said a New York attorney and former U. S. .Senator James A. Reed of Kansas City would bo unable to be present. Hardy, wlio presented the case to the gr;ind jury last .lanuary, when the indictment was returned, was bitter in liis characterization of the dofendanls. 'The Attornev-Cciicral felt tliat tiiis rase was so important.' ll.-u'dy said, 'that when Judge Davis l)()slponed it from A|)ril 2 because of the Ci)ni;e.stC(l condition of the dnrl;ot, the Attorney-Gcnoral a))- plied to tiie CliiPt .Tustico of the Supreme Coiu-t to designate another .Jiul.ue froni outside the circuit if nec'.'ssarv-, to .■<it' here and try the c;isi\' Hardy turtiu-r explained that wlu-n it became apparent that Judge Jlooi-o was appointed .'ind would soon ciuality for oCIico, that effort was drop|)('d. The Ihree theatres involved have !)een leased to a corporation in which t-'aru-liiin & Marco is inlf.-r- esl.-(l. .)U(lgv' iJavis (-Nf-used !;i;ns:elf CriiMi trial (;f Uie ajUi-U'ust suit be- cause 1:0 iuul ruled adversely to the ^\■arne:■s in a previous recviver.slilp suit, invulvinq ill'- llu!alr(.'s. WILL THEN DECIDE Selznick, Jed Harris Deals Chill, Meantime Huddling with Zukor, Lubitsch, Herz- brun in New York—Wat- terson Rothacker's Spot MANNIE COHEN? Paramount's studio situation will remain becalmed until. John E. Ot- terson, firm's new president, visits the Coast shortly arid makes a per- sonal survey. In the meantime, Ot- terson and Adolph Zukor continue their conversations regarding the studio -with Ernst Lubitsch and Henry Herzbrun. Watterson Rothacker is reported as a Paramount studio possibility; Belief Is that if Rothacker should be placed at Par It will be in an as- sociate production capacity and not the top berth. Indications were strong on Mon- day (10) night that Paramount might emerge from bankruptcy with new chieftains at the company's studios. It was felt Adolph Zukor might offe-.- to take personal charge of production. John E. Otterson, new president of Paramount, talked with Ernst Lubitsch and Henry Herzbrun most of Monday afternoon and well into the night. There followed official word that the conversations were to have continued on the following day, yesterday (Tues.), and that no de (Continued on page 29) But UA Likely Financing Lasky 100 a Picture Hollywood, June 11. Average of 100 players to the picture is being used at Metro according to a payroll survey. With eight films before the cameras checkup showed 861 people cast for parts, bits and walUons. This includes extras, although no large sets were in evidence. KORDAMAYBUY OUTSCHENCK INUA London, June 11. Alexander Korda may take an active hand in United Artists after the company is reorganized. Korda has just raised $2,500,000 here from Prudential Insurance Co., by way of a mortgage, using the as- sets of his London Films as the se- curity. Understanding here is that he will use at least part of the coin to buy out Joe Schenck's hold- ings In U. A. Korda and Schenck have been ver3' friendly from the very founda- tion of London Films and re))ort iicre is that Schenck, now that he's going over to Fox, v/ould like to sell to someone like Korda. If deal goes through Korda would still probably retain his production activities here, although spending some time every year in New York. New Scrib Deal On Fihn Credit In Acad Setup ollywod, June 11. Meeting tonight (Tuesday), Academy writers' committee sought to get producer connViitteemen to adopt virtually all scribbler de- mands of the defunct NRA flve-flve committee into the studio writers' code which has been in effect two years :.nd is now on the fire for re- vamping. Expected that most of the writer suggestions made at the NRA ses- sions will be adopted, with scenarists getting an equal in con cessions to the freelance contracts recently give actors. One of the jnincipal demands of the writers is for conformity in the matter of screen credits with the scribblers endeavoring to get the producers to agree to drop all writer credits from pictures except 'screen play by.' On this point the scenarists want to bury tor all time the 'adaptation' and 'dialog' credits, on the theory that It a person adapts or dialogs a picture he Is contributing equally with the continuity writer and that all should share under the one designation 'screen play by.' SEE CHAS. BUNN WITH PAR UNDER OTTERSON Charles Hunn, general sales man- ager OL roiectrical Research Prod- ucts, Inc., is reported slated for an important po.st in Par.amount with John E. Otterson now company presideiit. When Erpi was formed, Otterson named Hunn general sales chief, l^efore going ]2ri)i, liunn w.a.'i in the distribution end of the picture in- du.stry. Tie stepped ' from I''irst .Vational to his present post. ollywood, June 11. United Artists group will do noth- ing toward making any additions to its organization until after its stockholders' meeting scheduled for June 22 in New York, but which undoubtedly will be postponed un- til the second week in July, when Douglas Falrbanl:s Is back In this country from Singapore and Charlie Chaplin is free to attend. Al Lichlman. vice-president and sales head of the company, and Hal Horne, advertising head, who have been here for ten days, leave today (U) for New York by plane. Mary Pickford, Sam Goldwyn and Charlie Chaplin, the member owners here, had two conferences with Lichtman during his stay. Both were devoted mostly to handling of present season's product which is yet -to come. Several propositions for release that had been submitted to Licht- man by outside producers for next season, were shelved. One was from Jed Harris, who claims he has suf- ficient finances to make three pic- tures which he wants the UA group to distribute. First one -would be 'Spread Eagle,' which he produced as a play In New York two years ago. In pase Harris does not get immediate action, which the UA group are disinclined to give, he will endeavor to make a deal with Columbia or another major, for the release. The David and Myron Selznlck proposition to join Is understood to be definitely out, as the UA bunch claims the brothers wanted too (Continued on page 2'J) ZANUCK EAST IN FOX HUDDLE Hollywood, June 11. Darryl Zanuck, just back from Alaska, is slated to hop east this v/eek to meet Joe Schenck on lat- ter's arrival from Europe. Pair will go Into a huddle with Sidney R. Kent and formally sign contracts which will merge 20th Century with , Fox. Later the three will come to the Coast together for round-robin conferences with Sheehan, Sol Wurtzel and other producers and executives on the Fox lot, Sla,tement Issued here by Zanuck said he would move in at Fox August 1, also declaring Fox pro- duction would be under joint con- trol of Schenck. Wlnfleld Sheehan and himself. Two new st,ages and other structures are being erected .at Westwood to accomodate 20th Century. See More Par Production in East; Otterson, New Prez. Favors It LAEMMLE'S 0.0. IN N. Y. \'isit of Carl L.afnr.iile to New this w(?i--k is to give the l.'ni- v.-rsal home qllice the om-i" o\--T. He (-:pine r-.'st .'iftcr attending tin- aiiiui;il U ronf.-ib in Chi'-ago. A certain amount of feature |)ro- duction by far in the e;jst is looked for this coming season, b.-iscfl in p.-irt (jii the fact that .Joliri 10. Otiersoii, new I'ur pri;.viil';nt, is p;u-tial to the east co.ast. Kjr-en'Jy i'iU- talki'il about malting a. mini- Muim fif six at Astoria, L. f., hav- ing agreed to t.-Ucc ov'- this pl;irit jjt2 tjM'l-'-r H ■ m a lif-w i'M.se uulli ri'organi/.ation plan the i'ru- 'li-U'-i' Co. .Allii-fl Owners, ti'"J In I'ru- di-P'---, -is aniorjg t!.e fon-'-s which (•li'(-!i-d fJitcrson pr'-.si'l"n?. 'it I'.'ir. ■^.roi-e.iver, Erpi, whi'.-h Ot'i-r.-ion h.i..-) h'';)'li-il .-iini-'- iri(-'-ption li.-).< |-.:i'l Lh'- .\.->tori; slU'lio unMci- P-ns'- from l';u- on a'nioi)th-lo-riio.n:li l)-.';is, '"iliiji:; plant til" K:isr.(;i-n Si-rviec .Sl.ii'lios. I'^'pi li''f-;<f.,| I;,.-! Ilfr-lit ami C'h.-irlie ,\I;i(;.\r rhuj- s(':is-jn on a pro- gr-im of lo'ir pi'-iin-es f';r r'-le.-is'- ihrou:;!i I rn-iin. 'o J';ir ■1 fii I|-)Ofl'- fo'ii-lli of \vliii-li rc- rri;).di'. D --.A for tlj" ,-;:h V.-.i' II-M worki-.l out. i-on vr-;il ion toir;or-- for I h) .'I ly '.-I III )rf, . V L'.-o- 1.'iri'.-i I)'.' Mf] LASKY BUYS YARN FOR NEXT STUDIO HOOKUP lIollywo(Ml,. Ju 1). Jc-ise ^-isK-y li;is i)urf-li;)sc(l the iKvi-.-n riiilUs to Kian .I.-inUis' new novel, Tjllde U'oi-ld.' Story will not bi- used on his Fox deal which v/.-ish'-s uj) ujion the c(jmpl''(ion of 'Hire's To Itomance' and 'Gay Jje- i-eptio/i, Ijotli now In |)roductl()n. Tndi'-ations are th-at Lasl<y will |.';:i.ve^ l''-.i.\- arounri the enrl of Jt.ly, .nst''.->?l rif Hi-pletnb-r. as plann"d. STUDIO FOR MONTREAL 3urt Kolly Understood Buildi Wi;h Canada Coin 1 follyv. ood, .Tune I i. t-;: ..il h'-rc lli.'il Hurt Kelly .-s Ij'-I-; - 11:--'iiircd by ( '.iri'idlan eai)- i-il v l v.-:!! (•;--.f-|, ;j stuilir) in .\lon- i| to pi'-i'ir" II";- h"-.; >■•• :in.,' to ni-il;e four M'-l ro .-I'M-ie.