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Scanned  from  the  collection  of 
Karl  Thiede 


Coordinated  by  the 
Media  History  Digital  Library 
www.mediahistoryproject.org 


Funded  by  a  donation  from 
David  Sorochty 


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I    The  Leading 
i    Daily 
I    Newspaper 
I    of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  1 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JUNE  1,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


$102,004,009 
Gross  of  Fox 
Film  in  1930 


Operating  Profit  Amounts 
To  $4.06  for  Year 


Gross  income  of  $102,004,009  and 
net  operating  profit  of  $10,251,827  are 
shown  in  the  annual  report  of  Fox 
Film  and  its  wholly  owned  subsidiar- 
ies for  1930,  issued  yesterday  by  Har- 
ley  L.  Clarke.  Net  operating  profit 
amounted  to  $4.06  on  the  2,525,660 
shares  of  A  and  B  stock  outstanding 
at  the  close  of  the  year.  Of  these 
shares  1,600,000  were  not  issued  until 

(Continued    on    page    4) 

RKO  Dominates 
Cincinnati  Field 

Cincinnati — It  is  now  practically 
certain  that  RKO  will  operate  the 
new  Paramount  which  is  nearing 
completion  here.  The  house  will  pass 
from  direction  of  Publix  through 
lease  to  RKO,  and  will  not  figure  in 
any  pooling  arrangement,  according  to 
the  setup  as  now  reported.     This  will 

(Continued    on    page   6> 


Thrifty  Germans  Are 
Foiled  by  Ufa's  Plan 

The  Germans  are  careful  buyers, 
thinks  Frederick  Wynne-Jones,  Ufa's 
American  representative.  If  they  can 
see  the  German  talkers  playing  the 
Ufa  Cosmopolitan  in  Yorkville  or 
elsewhere  later  at  cheaper  prices, 
they'll  wait,  he  says.  Therefore,  he 
has  determined  that  the  pictures  play- 
ing the  new  Columbus  Circle  house 
will  not  plav  anv  other  house  in  New 
York. 


Metro  Profit  for  28 
Weeks  Is  $3,535,439 

Metro-(joldwyn  Pictures  earned 
$3,535,439  in  the  28  weeks  to  March 
13,  1931,  after  all  charges  and  taxes 
were  met.  For  the  same  period  last 
\ear  the  company  reported  a  profit 
of  $6,076,322  before  taxes  and  other 
charges. 


On  the  Veldt 

Ed  Schiller  says  the  seats 
they  use  in  South  African  thea- 
tres are  so  close  together  the 
patrons  get  corns  on  their 
knees. 


Allied  Unit  Backs  Levy 
Of  Special  Circuit  Tax 


Jersey  Fireworks 


Fireworks  are  scheduled  for  June  3,  instead  of  July  4,  for 
New  Jersey  exhibitors  when  a  special  meeting  will  be  held  for  a 
showdown  on  the  Allied  question.  Reports  are  current  that 
unless  Allied  can  do  something  for  Jerseyites  in  regard  to  pro- 
tection and  the  contract  situation,  wherein  distributors  have  the 
right  to  take  certain  pictures  off  without  the  exhibitor  cancelling 
one  in  return,  Leon  Rosenblatt  and  his  affiliated  theatres  will 
withdraw  from  the  Jersey  unit.  Rosenblatt  has  five  theatres  and 
is  understood  to  be  interested  in  a  good  number  of  other  houses 
in   the   state. 

Rosenblatt  denied  intention  of  withdrawing  his  theatres  and 
affiliates  from  the  Jersey  unit,  stating  that  he  and  his  associates 
would  like  to  know  whether  Allied  will  help  the  independent 
exhibitor  in  solving  his   troubles. 


Fear  That  Indiana  Chain 

Store  Tribute  May  Be 

Extended  Is  Felt 


Shorts  Go  on 
Feature  Basis 
For  Columbia 


Chicago — "Sell  shorts  on  the  same 
basis  as  you  sell  features,"  is  the  mes- 
sage being  given  to  the  Middle  West 
convention  of  Columbia  in  session 
here.  The  three-day  meetings  opened 
Sunday.  Special  emphasis  is  being 
given  on  the  Mickey  Mouse  subjects, 
13  of  which  are  on  the  program  for 
the  new  season.  The  world-wide  re- 
ception given  the  Mickey  cartoons  is 

'        (Continued  on    page  6) 


Para.  Has  Nothing 
To  Say  About  Clara 

Hollywood — Paramount  will  neith- 
er confirm  nor  deny  Motion  Picture 
Daily's  story  that  efforts  are  being 
made  to  buy  up  the  six  months'  unex- 
pired portion  of  Clara  Bow's  con- 
tract. One  studio  official  declares 
Clara  is  still  seriously  ill  in  a  local 
sanitarium. 


Local  Operation  Is 
Policy  of  Franklin 

Dallas— Meeting  for  the  first  time 
with  50  of  the  Texas  and  Oklahoma 
managers  of  the  Hughes-Frank- 
lin circuit,  Harold  B.  Franklin  presi- 
dent and  general  manager,  assured 
them  that  the  home  office  would  not 
attempt  to  operate  the  theatres  from 
a  distance  but  would  leave  operations 
entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  local  man- 

(Cnntinued  on    page   6) 


Fail  to  Halt 
Twin  Bills  in 
N.  Y.  Area 


Possibility  of  eliminating  double 
features  in  the  Greater  New  York 
territory  is  seen  as  remote,  according 
to  a  concensus  of  opinion  by  various 
New  York  exchange  managers.  While 
attempts  are  being  made  to  do  away 
with  the  practice,  exhibitors  are  ap- 
parently finding  it  necessary  and  in- 
tend to  continue  with  twin  bills  as 
long  as  the  policy  shows  results.  Ex- 
change managers  are  making  every 
effort   to    efface   double    features,    but 

(Continued   on    page   2) 


Keep  Copy  Clean  Is 
Botsford'sReminder 

Publix  managers  have  been  ordered 
liy  A.  M.  Botsford.  advertising  and 
publicity  director,  to  observe  both  the 
letter  and  spirit  of  the  advertising 
code  drafted  by  the  Hays  organiza- 
tion. His  reminder  is  prompted  by 
reports  from  the  Hays  ofiice  that  sa- 
lacious and  morally  questionable  ads 
have   not   been  eradicated. 


New  Contract  Given 
To  Laemmle  Junior 

Carl  Laemmle,  Jr.,  who  a  few 
weeks  ago  was  named  second  vice- 
president  of  Universal,  has  been 
given  a  new  contract  as  general  man- 
ager of  Universal.  It  was  signed 
with    R.    H.    Cochrane,    vice-president. 


Reverberation  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court  decision  upholding  va- 
lidity of  Indiana's  graduated  tax  on 
chain  stores  already  is  being  heard 
against  circuit  theatres  with  lobbying 
under  way  by  the  .\llied  unit  in  Ohio 
for  a  tax  on  the  circuits  based  along 
the  lines  of  the  Indiana  levy.  The 
Allied  move  is  one  to  circumvent  a 
proposed  ten  per  cent  tax  on  admis- 
sions. 

This  is  the  first  known  move  aimed 
at  circuit  houses  to  come  from  within 
and  is  expected  to  crystallize  mis- 
givings in  New  York  circles  that  the 
chain  store  tax  may  extend  itself  to 
this    business. 

Circuit  operators   and  executives   in 

(Continued   on    page   6) 


Paramount  in  N.Y. 
ToLoew'sandRKO 

Paramount's  product  will  be  split 
between  Loew  and  RKO  in  Metropoli- 
tan New  York  this  season  with  35 
pictures  going  to  each.  Last. season 
Fox  replaced  RKO  on  division  of  tiie 
Paramount  product.  Contracts  for 
the  product  will  be  signed  this  week. 


Colored  Trailers  Plan 
Of  Meyer-Reiger 

Colored  trailers,  synchronized  and 
with  nuisic  and  eft'ects,  are  reported 
planned  l\v  Meyer-Reiger.  According 
to  plans  understood  to  be  under  way, 
80  feet  in  trailers  of  ISO  feet  will 
consist  of  color  scenes  while  tiie  bal- 
ance of  the  film  will  be  black  and 
white.  .Ml-color  trailers  may  follow 
later.  The  new  trailer  service  com- 
pany starts  activity  in  September  after 
a  complete  trailer  library  of  last 
year's  product  is  completed.  Offices  in 
Chicago  and  Los  Angeles  in  addition 
to  headquarters  in  New  York  are  ex- 
pected  to  be   operating  by  then. 


Cook  Back  Today  to 
Set  Tiffany  Line-up 

Feature  line-up  of  'i'iffany  and  .Sono 
Art  is  to  be  set  this  week  following 
return  today  from  the  Coast  of  Grant 
L.  Cook,  executive  vice-president  of 
Tiffany.  The  two  firms  will  have  ap- 
proxiniatel\'    52  features. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  June    I,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered    L".   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    ll.rhibitors    Daily    Re^ietv 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\ol.    30 


June    1.    1931 


No.    1 


Martin    Quioley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Adtertisinq  Manager 


^^1^  PrULISHKl)  daily,  except  Sunday 
fjTj  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^X    Daily.    Inc.,  a   Quiglev   Publication, 

Al  at  1790  Broadway,  New  \  ork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."'  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Ilollywoo<l  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  N'inc  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  .Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edxvin  S.  Clifford, 
.Manager. 

I^ndon  correspondent:  IP.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8- 10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  VV.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.   W.    9. 

Kntered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y..   under   Act   of    March    3.    1879. 

.Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


i 


Purely  Personal 


Not  a  Paramount 
On  Buffalo  Rialto 

Buffalo — For  the  first  time  in  its 
history,  Shea's  Buffalo  played  a  Fox 
picture,  "Doctors'  Wives."  More  in- 
teresting, Shea's  Hippodrome  also 
played  Fox  product  the  same  week, 
"Mr.  Lemon  of  Orange,"  both  fea- 
tures first  available  to  Loew's  Fox- 
Great  Lakes  here,  not  accepted,  and 
then  sold  to  the  Shea  organization. 
It  was  a  strange  situation  to  see  no 
Paramount  product  on  the  main  stem, 
and  two  pictures  from  a  rival  pro- 
ducer  in   Publix  houses. 


Third  A.  M.  P.  A.  S.  Meet 

Third  of  a  series  of  symposia  deal- 
ing with  art  and  technique  of  motion 
picture  production  will  be  held  Wed- 
nesday evening  at  the  Writers  Club  in 
Hollywood.  The  Academy  of  Motion 
Picture  Arts  and  Sciences  is  sponsor- 
ing the  meets.  Carey  Wilson  will  pre- 
side at  this  session  which  will  have 
"Cooperation  on  the  Set"  as  the  chief 
topic.  Adolph  Menjou  will  speak  for 
the  actors,  B.  P.  Schulberg  for  pro- 
ducers, Douglas  Shearer  for  sound 
engineers,  Virgil  Miller  for  cinema- 
tographers  and  Scott  R.  Beal  for  as- 
sistant directors. 


120  From  U.  K. 

London' — British  studios  will  pro- 
duce 120  features  in  1931-32,  which 
is  approximately  40  per  cent  of 
American  importations,  according  to 
Simeon   Rowson  of  Ideal. 


Lunt-Fontanne  Story 

Hollywood  —  Ferenc  Molnar's 
"The  Guardsman"  will  be  the  first 
starring  vehicle  for  Alfred  Lunt  and 
Lynn  Fontanne,  new  M-G-M  play- 
ers.    Sidney  Franklin  will  direct. 


"TarzarC'  for  M-G-M 

I  loLLvwooD — Edgar  Rice  Bur- 
roughs, author  of  the  "Tarzan"  stor- 
ies, has  been  commissioned  by 
M-G-M  to  write  an  original  story 
around  the  character. 


CURTIS  F.  NAGEL.  co-producer 
with  Howard  C.  Brown  of  tlie 
Educational  Romantic  Journeys  ad- 
vises that  hitherto  unpenetrated  places 
in  Algiers  will  be  seen  in  the  new 
series  now  being  made. 

Bkr.xik  Kr.\nz,  former  Brooklyn 
Paramount  salesman,  now  is  handling 
the  same  territory  for  RKO.  He  re- 
places Louis  Kutinsky  who  is  now  in 
the  home  office. 

Billy  Ff.rguson  and  Phil  De  An- 
gelis  can  take  some  bows  on  the  way 
they  plastered  the  (Greater  New  York- 
territory     with     M-G-M     institutional 


Harry  Kutinsky,  who  operates  a 
trio  of  Brooklyn  theatres,  is  negoti- 
ating to  take  over  two  more  in  the 
same  borough. 

A.  W.  ScHVVALBF.RG,  of  Warners, 
was  slated  to  be  married  last  week  end 
and  plans  to  spend  his  honeymoon  in 
Canada. 

J.  A.  Thorpe,  former  studio  man- 
ager for  British  International,  is  back 
in  New  York  from  Hollywood. 

Dick  Pearl,  now  in  town  on  im- 
portant business,  is  a  protege  of  the 
Graingers,  J.  R.  and  E.  C. 

John  Benas,  Jersey  exhibitor,  has 
a  badly  discolored  eye  from  a  recent 
automobile    accident. 

Joe  RosENzWEiG  spent  the  week-end 
at  Riverdale,  N.  J.  Jack  Ellis  went 
to  Camp   Maopac. 

MiLTON  Schwartz  arrives  on  the 
Coast  today  in  connection  with  his 
new   business. 

,\rthur  C.  Bromberg  is  in  town 
from  .Atlanta.    It'll  be  a  short  stay. 

Jack  Goldstein  is  handling  the 
German  picture   "Bockbierfest." 

Arthur  Loew  is  still  wearing  those 
smoked  glasses. 


Ten  Openings 

Broadway  is  now  in  the  throes 
of  more  openings  than  at  any 
other  time  in  its  recent  history. 
Ten  new  pictures  are  making 
their  debut.  Of  that  number, 
Motion  Picture  Daily  had 
caught  eight  before  they  reached 
Broadway  houses.  Two, 
"Ubangi"  and  "The  Five  \'ear 
Plan,"  are  to  be  reviewed.  The 
line-up: 

Astor — "A  Free  Soul"  (M- 
G-M) — Opening  Tuesday,  re- 
viewed by  Motion  Picture 
Daily   April    18. 

Capitol — "Daybreak"  (M-G- 
M) — reviewed    April     10. 

Criterion  —  "The  Smiling 
Lieutenant"  (Para.) — reviewed 
May   22. 

Globe  —  "Up  for  Murder" 
(Univ.) — reviewed  May  26. 

Hollywood  —  "Svengali" 
(Warners) — reviewed    May    1. 

Mayfair  —  "Donovan's  Kid" 
(Radio) — reviewed   May  5. 

Paramount — "The  Lawyer's 
Secret"  (Para.) — reviewed  May 
11. 

Rialto— "The  She  Wolf" 
(Univ.) — reviewed  under  title 
of   Mother's   Millions"  Feb.   19, 

RivoLi  —  "Seed"  (Univ.) — re- 
viewed April  21. 

Ro.xY  —  "Women  of  All  Na- 
tions" (Fox) — reviewed  May 
26. 

Strand — "Gold  Dust  Gertie" 
(Warners) — reviewed   May  2. 

Warners  —  "Three  Loves" 
(Associated  Cinemas  of  Amer- 
ica)— reviewed  May  28. 

Winter  Garden — "The  Mal- 
tese Falcon"  (Warners) — re- 
viewed April  9. 


Winnie  Sheehan  paid  Harry  Bux 
baum  a  visit  at  the  Fox  New  York 
exchange  Thursday  for  a  little  chat. 

Dave  Bader  has  bought  himself  a 
new  Tuxedo,  having  left  his  old  one 
on  the  coast. 


Decline  on  Stock  Exchange  Continued 


(As   of  Friday,   May    29,    1930) 

High  Low 

Consolidated     Film     Industries i 5  5 

Consolidated     Film     Industries,     pfd iiH  1344 

Eastman      Kodak 13454  12854 

Fox     Film     'A" 15^  145^ 

(General    Theatre    Equipment    new 4  3ii 

Loew's.      Ine 39i/$  375^ 

M-G-M     pfd 24  22 

Paramount    Publix •• 23?^  21^ 

Pathe     Exchange I'A  1 

RKO      1.^44  12 

Warner    Bros 754  S'A 

Warner  Bros,  pfd ■■ 18  18 


Net 
Close      Change 


5 

1344 
129M 
15 

m 
sm 

22 
22'A 

1 
12?^ 

6'A 
18 


-  % 

—  54 
-154 


-  'A 

-  54 
—25^2 

-154 


-  V> 

-  54 


Sales 

200 

100 

5.500 

10,800 

2.100 

5,60a 

600 

7,300 

300 

30,700 

23,700 

300 


Curb  Issues  Off;  Trans  Lux  Hits  New  Low 


High  Low  Close 

Fox     Theatres     "A" 254          254  254 

(ieneral    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 644          d  6 

Technicolor     654           654  6'A 

Trans     Lux     654          6  654 


Net 
Chajuie 

-  54 

-  54 


Film  Bonds  Irregular 


■40. 


High 

iO 

9SVi 

101 

80 

69 

8154 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39  w(f .^954 


General  Tlieatre   Equipment   6s 

Ixjew's    6s    '41    ex    war 

Paramount    Broadway    S!As    '51. 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s   '47 

Paramount    Publix   S'/is.   '50 

Pathe    7s    '.37    ww. 


Low 

29 
9544 
10054 
78 
67yA 
8154 
3754 


Close 

29 

9544 
101 
79 
68 
8154 
3854 


Net 
Change 

-  54 
-I-  % 


-fl 
—2 
-I-  Vk 


Sales 

800 

300 

200 

2,300 


Sales 

12 
2 
17 
24 
26 
6 
45 


Fail  to  Halt 
Twin  Bills  in 
N.  Y.  Area 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

most  of  them  are  finding  themselves 
checked  as  the  new  selling  season  gets 
under  way. 

One  district  sales  manager  for  a 
major  company  is  now  selling  a 
special  and  is  asking  exhibitors  not 
to  put  the  feature  on  a  double  bill. 
No  riders  and  no  other  agreements 
other  than  a  verbal  say-so  not  to 
twin  feature  the  film  is  all  the  as- 
surance he  is  getting.  While  his 
company  is  reported  to  be  including 
a  penalty  clause  in  contracts  is  other 
territories,  this  man  stated  Friday 
that  if  he  insisted  on  employing  writ- 
ten agreements  he  would  jeopardize 
a  large  number  of  accounts  which  he 
will  not  do.  He  is  getting  promises 
and,  notwithstanding,  expects  many 
theatre  owners  to  play  the  picture  in 
question  on  twin  bills  with  no  re- 
course for  breach  of  the  verbal  agree- 
ment. 

Other  companies  are  up  against  the 
same  problem.  One  exchange  man- 
ager whose  company  recently  went  to 
percentage  for  new  product  finds  that 
he  can't  dictate  policy  of  theatres  to 
exhibitors  and  is  therefore  asking  a 
stiff  percentage.  But  this,  he  de- 
clares,  will   not   stop   the   practice. 

The  primary  factor  that  precludes 
doing  away  with  double  feature  pro- 
grams is  the  circuit  question,  it  is 
stated.  In  Greater  New  York,  the 
concensus  is  that  unless  Loew's  stops 
it,  how  can  it  be  expected  indepen- 
dents will  eliminate  it.  The  same 
situation  prevailed  in  Chicago  recent- 
ly when  affiliated  and  independent  cir- 
cuits attempted  to  get  together  on  the 
subject  but  failed. 

With  the  advent  of  summer  and 
opening  of  resort  theatres,  this  sea- 
son will  probably  find  more  playing 
twin  bills  than  ever  before.  Even 
Coney  Island  is  going  in  for  it. 
Stauch's  there  now  is  offering  twin 
features.  Independents  operating  in 
cities  where  single  features  have  been 
the  rule  are  understood  to  be  plan- 
ning to  add  another  picture  to  the 
bill  in  a  hope  it  will  bolster  trade. 


Jolson  for  "Pastures" 

Al  Jolson  is  understood  to  be  clos- 
ing for  "The  Green  Pastures,"  Pu- 
litzer Prize  play,  in  which  he  will 
play   the  Lord. 


Warfield  Reduces  Scale 

San  Francisco — For  the  first  time 
on  record  that  the  theatre  has  cut 
prices,  the  Warfield  has  slashed  its 
admission  scale  from  90  cents  to  50 
cents.  The  new  scale  now  is  25 
cents,  35  cents  and  50  cents. 


Akerson  Sued 

Suit  for  $3,670  has  been  filed  against 
George  E.  Akerson  of  Paramount  by 
F.  B.  Keech  &  Co.,  New  York  stock 
exchange  firm.  No  cause  of  action  has 
been  made  public. 


Must  Stand  Trial 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Alfred 
Frankenthaler  ruled  Friday  that  John 
Flinn  and  Harry  F.  Lally  will  have 
to  stand  trial  on  indictment  charges  in 
connection  with  the  Pathe  studio  fire. 


f. 


hurry!' 

hurry  I 

or  you'll 

have  to 

play  a 

substitute 


I 


only  22y2%  of  all 
available  hooking 
time  still  open! 


there^s  only  one 


He  Can  not 
Be  Iwnitated! 


Greatest  champion 
in  the  history  of 
sports.  The  only 
man  who  ever  won 
every  important 
national  and  inter- 
national  golf  title! 


.'.'?<".•., 


A  Series  of 


*'HOW  I  PLAY 
!OLF!l 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  June    1 ,    1931 


$102,004,009 
Gross  of  Fox 
Film  ill  1930 


(Continued  from   faiic    1) 

April  17.  1930.  .After  deducting 
.'^1.040.3'J2  of  non-recurring  expenses, 
part  of  wliich  were  incurred  prior  to 
n>30,  there  remained  S().205.435  avail - 
ab'e  for  dividends.  Tiiis  was  e(|ual 
to  S3.(>4  a  sliare  on  tiie  stixrk  and  com- 
pares witii  a  net  profit  of  $9,469,051  in 
tlie  previous  year. 

Production  was  put  under  budget 
control  for  the  first  time  late  last  vear 
and  savings  of  at  least  $3,000,000  are 
expected  to  result  this  year,  the  report 
states,  while  in  1930,  administration 
a"d  distribution  costs  w-ere  more  than 
45  per  cent,  lower  in  compari.son  with 
film   rentals   than  they   were   in    1925. 

I'orei.gn  business,  wdiich  increased 
55  per  cent,  in  1929,  now  accounts 
for  3i  per  cent,  of  the  gross  film 
rentals  received,  the  report  continues. 
.Vewsreel  business  increased  21  per 
cent,  in  1930  over  1929  and  14  per 
cent,  during  the  Tirst  three  months  of 
1^31,  as  ct)mpared  with  the  first  quar- 
ter in  1930.  Theatre  receipts  of  direct 
subsidiaries  in  1930  arc  placed  at 
$51,414,(K)2,  as  compared  with  $39,- 
962,044  in  1929. 

.Vmortization  of  fihu  for  1930 
amounted  to  $27,305,357,  as  compared 
to  $24,158,544  in  1929.  and  deprecia- 
tion on  plant  and  e(|uipment,  exclu- 
sive of  studio  pro|)ertv.  was  $3,873,- 
560.  as  compared  to  $2,678,761.  The 
rei)ort  shows  not  on'y  the  earnings 
of  the  company,  as  certified  by  the 
firm  of  public  accountants  which  has 
aiidited  its  books  in  the  past,  but  indi- 
cates what  earnings  would  have  been 
under  the  system  of  accounting  em- 
I)loyed  in  the  audit  made  for  the  pur- 
pose of  financing  completed  in   .April. 

Ccnsiderable  interest  has  been 
aroused  over  the  methods  of  audit- 
mg  on  which  the  I'ox  report  is  based. 
Harley  I-.  Clarke,  in  the  annual  state- 
ment, goes  into  considerable  detail 
to  outline  the  differences  between 
Ihc  Price,  Waterhouse  and  the  Touche, 
N'iven  system,  the  latter  being  the  i)lan 
used  by  Fox.     He  says  : 

There  has  recently  developed  some  diver- 
-ily  of  opinion  respecting  the  details  of 
the  method  of  writing  oflf  the  cost  of  pic- 
tures, the  discussion  having  arisen  primarily 
because  of  the  advent  of  sound  films. 
Previous  to  sound  fi  ms.  your  company 
wrote  off  its  picture  costs  according  to  a 
schedule  prepare-l  by  Messrs.  Price,  Water- 
house  &  Co..  in  1926.  According  to  this 
schedule,  part  of  the  gross  rentals  received 
from  the  picture  were  set  aside  each  week 
to  amortize  its  cost.  In  the  early  weeks 
after  the  release  of  a  picture,  the  percent- 
?.t!c  of  cost  was  large  and  it  gradually 
decreased  over  a  period  of  78  weeks.  Though 
this  schedule  proved  fu  ly  satisfactory  in 
experience,  the  present  method  of  write-off 
of  your  company  is  more  drastic.  In  fact, 
the  actual  write-off  for  the  52  weeks  endeti 
December  27.  1930,  and  made  a  part  of  this 
rejKjrt.  exceeds  by  $1,487,176  that  which 
would  have  been  written  off  under  the 
schedule    of    1926. 

With  respect  to  the  sound  pictures  re- 
leased in  1929.  it  was  agreed,  on  the 
advice  of  the  auditors,  to  set  aside  weekly 
50  per  cent,  of  the  rentals  for  writing 
off  their  costs.  Tonscfiuently.  at  the  c'ose 
of  1919,  that  is.  at  the  beginning  of  the 
period  covered  by  this  rei)ort,  the  situation 
stowl  as  follows:  The  costs  of  all  silent 
pictures  had  l>een  entirely  written  off. 
whatever  the  date  of  their  release:  the 
costs  of  sound  pictures  released  during 
the  year  had  ^een  in  part  written  off  by 
applying  to  their  amortization  .tO  per  cent, 
'f  all  the  gross  rentals  received  from 
them:  and  the  inventory  of  the  company 
as    of    December    28,    1929,    had    been    estab- 


Spent  $187,810,297  on  Product 
in  16  Years 

Cost  of  Gross  Ratio  of  Costs 

year  ..j  Negatives  Rentals  to    Rentals 

I''H     4  J        Si.J.SO  $        J7-.iri  19..S% 

ly.^    3(,  7(,r.-M,!  ,;.jis.j,n  2.^.9 - 

l'l'>  52  1,289.78.S  4.244.658  .W.4  " 

1917  70  2,964,696  7,118.172  41.6" 

■918  7.!  .>.212.f^84  7..mU0I  44.0" 

19191  (,9  2.929  0  9  9,.?8().8a!  .U.2 " 

19;0  71  4..!17.40.i  12.6(R72S  .H.2  " 

1921  65  4.78.!.210  1.!. 715.000  .M.9  " 

1922  f«  4..iSO,08.>  12..127.957  ,!5..i  " 

192.!  51  4.821.456  11,242.629  42.9" 

1924     46  .1.610.4.!.!  9.926.025  .!6.4  " 

1925     4,!  5.226.809  11.7.50,515  44.5" 

I92h     51  8..!28,252  14.274.2.!4  58.J  " 

1927     46  8.5.58.101  17.012.875  50.3" 

1928     .55  10,.OT.365  22.626,747  45.9" 

19:9     53  16.142,216  30,80.>,974  52.4" 

Total     851  $81,734,055  $187,810,297  43.5% 

In  the  foregoing  talile  the  column  "Gross  Rentals''  includes  all  rentals  from 
pictures  released  during  the  respective  years,  regardless  of  the  fact  that  these 
rentals  were  received  over  a  period  of  about  two  years.  The  table  does  not 
include  the  pictures  released  in  1930  because  they  are  still  being  exhibited. 
On  the  date  of  this  report  20  pictures  had  not  been  released  in  foreign  coun- 
tries, from  which   Fox  states  it  receixes  33  per  cent  of  its  gross  rentals. 

Fox  Interested  in  1,013  Houses 

On  December  27,  1930,  Fox  i'ilni  owned  or  had  an  interest  in  1,013  oper- 
ating theatres,  532  of  which  are  in  this  country,  395  in  England  and  86  in 
.Australia. 

In  tlie  domestic  market,  Fox  expansion  is  evidenced  by  the  following  chart: 

Year  No.  Tlieatres  Gross  Receipts 

1927 2  $2,054,700 

1928 249  ,!3,923,783 

1929 455  39.962,044 

1930 532  51,414,002 

The  company's  annual  statement  carries  this  explanatory  note  in  con- 
nection with  the  above  figures : 

"The  second  column  gives  the  number  of  theatres  controlled  by  your  com- 
pan\  at  the  close  of  the  respective  years,  but  does  not  include  the  theatres 
operated  by  Fox  Theatres  Corp.,  an  affiliated  company.  The  last  column 
includes  the  receipts  only  from  the  dates  of  control  of  the  various  theatres 
and  hence  not  necessarily  the  total  receipts  of  the  theatres  during  the  year." 

Tax  Profit  Jumps  $782, 776 

52    Weehs  52    Weeks 

Ertded    Dec.  Ended  Dec. 

27,    1930  28,     1929 

Total   income   from   all   sources $102,004,009  $83,184,112 

Operating   expenses    54.563,268  42,7,>9.674 

Write  off  of   film   costs,   etc 27.305,357  24,158,544 

Depreciation     .^.873,560  "-^^H^l 

Interest     on     funded     debt 1,548,3.!0  1,672,652 

Net    profit    applicab'.e    to    minority    mterests 790,057  1,199,430 

Interest    on     one-year    gold    notes 2,290.250  

Discount     on     one-year     gold     notes 1,133.106 

Provision     for     Federal     taxes 248.254 

Net     operating     profit • 10.251.827 

Ncn-reeurring    expenses    1.046..-.92 

The  last  item  includes  a  number  of  matters  cleared  up  during  the  year. 
One  item,  totaling  $382,622,  consists  of  abandoned,  unprofitable  theatres 
leases.  The  remainder  covers  ''organization  expenses,  salaries  in  discontinued 
departments,  fire  losses,  legal  fees,  and  royalty  and  contract  settlements  of 
prior  years." 


1.266,000 
9.469.051 


lished  by  .Messrs.  Touclie.  Niven  &  Co.. 
the  auditors  of  your  company,  with  the 
concurrence  of  Messrs.  Price.  Water- 
house  &  Co..  who  represented  banking  in- 
terests in  connection  with  certain  financing 
and  who  were  consulted  with  respect  to 
the  inventory,  as  well  as  with  respect  to 
all  other  questions  pertaining  to  the  ba'ance 
sheet  and  the  statement  of  profit  and  loss. 
Your  company  accepted  this  inventory  and 
this  audit  in  full.  It  was  a  part  of  the 
report  filed  by  your  company  with  the 
New  York  Stock  Exchange:  it  was  printed 
in  its  annual  report  for  the  52  weeks  ended 
December  28.  1929;  it  was  the  basis  for  the 
financing  in  April.  1930:  and  it  has  been 
made  the  basis  for  all  subsequent  interim 
reports  issued  by  your  company.  Your 
company  continued  to  write  off  its  inven- 
•ory  during  1930  in  exact  harmony  with 
the  method  recommended  and  accepted  by 
the  iiuditors  for  the  sound  films  released 
in     19  9. 

In  connection  with  the  recent  refunding 
•  f  maturing  notes  of  your  comjiany,  Messrs. 
Pr=ce.  Waterhouse  &•  Co.  were  invited  to 
make  a  special  audit  for  an  interim  report 
as  of  September  27.  19.10.  In  this  audit 
they  ignored  the  inventory  which  had  been 
established  as  of  December  28.  1929  (which 
included   the   write-off  of   all   silent   pictures. 


amounting  to  $4,764,362),  and  determined 
one  for  an  earlier  date  (September  28. 
19-9)  which  is  inconsistent  witji  it.  More- 
over, their  ca'culations  of  write-off  were 
en  the  basis  of  a  new  schedule  which  was 
made  retroactive  for  52  weeks  to  Septem- 
l;er.  28,  1929,  or  to  a  date  three  months 
prior  to  the  period  that  had  been  closed 
in  the  audit  of  December  28,  1929.  This 
new  schedule  amortizes  film  costs  much 
more  rapidly  than  any  heretofore  used; 
according  to  it.  more  than  93.5  per  cent, 
of  the  domestic  allocations  of  negative 
costs    are    written   off    in    26   weeks. 

The  new  proposed  write-off  schedule  was 
based  on  the  rental  history  of  the  first 
29  sound  pictures  released,  four  of  which 
were  originally  planned  as  silent  pictures 
and  were  only  partially  dialogue  i)ictures. 
.At  the  beginning  of  1929  there  were  only 
1.046  theatres  in  the  I'nited  States  and 
("ana  la  that  were  equipped  with  sound 
reproducing  apparatus,  and  a  much  snia'ler 
number  were  equipped  in  foreign  countries. 
C'onsequcntly.  the  early  sound  i>ictures  were 
a  novi.'lty.  and  being  shown  largely  only 
in  rie  luxe  theatres  had  a  rehitiveiy  short 
life.  But  by  August.  1930.  there  were 
12,534  theatres  in  the  I'nited  States  and 
Canada  equipped  for  sound  reproduction, 
which   the  normal  number  of  positive  prints 


Released  851 
Pictures  in 
16  Years 


can  serve  only  in  the  course  of  many 
months,  and  consequently  since  that  time 
the  revenue  life  of  a  film  has  been  greatly 
prolonged  by  its  exhibitfon  in  second -run 
and  third-run  theatres.  Moreover,  there 
has  been  a  corresponding  jiro'.ongation  of 
the  life  of  films  exhibited  in  foreign  coun- 
tries. 

The  position  taken  by  your  company  is 
that  29  pictures,  four  of  which  were  not 
original  sound  pictures,  are  too  few  to  pro- 
vide a  solid  statistical  basis  for  an  amor- 
tization schedule,  and  that  the  results  for 
these  few  pictures  do  not  justify  abandon- 
ing Price,  Waterhouse  &  Co.  schedule  of 
19i6.  and  ignoring  and  contradicting  the 
experience  of  your  company  in  producing 
and  releasing  851  pictures  over  a  period 
of  16  years.  Moreover,  it  is  the  position  of  . 
your  company  that  the  first  sound  pictures 
produced  do  not  furnish  a  valid  statistical 
basis,  because  they  were  released  during 
the  exceptional  conditions  in  which  theatres 
were  in  the  process  of  being  wired  for 
sound  reproduction.  A  write-off  schedule 
based  on  films  now  being  released  would 
undoubtedly  approach  the  Price,  Water- 
house  &  Co.  amortization  table  of  1926. 
for  sound  pictures  have  taken  the  place 
of  silent  pictures,  being  distributed  by  the 
same  producers,  exhibited  in  the  same 
theatres,    and    viewed    by    the    same   public. 

As  a  consequence  of  the  lack  of  unani- 
mity of  opinion  respecting  the  matter  of  j 
treating  the  write-off  of  film  costs,  your 
company  asked  its  auditors,  Messrs.  Touche. 
Niven  &  Co..  to  determine  its  film  inven- 
tory as  of  December  27.  19,W.  This  Messrs, 
Touche,  Niven  &  Co.  have  done  in  a  certi- 
fied report  which  your  company  accej)ts 
and  includes  in  its  balance  sheet  printed 
<m  page  12.  The  basis  of  the  write-off  is  j 
OS  follows:  Since  67  per  cent,  of  current  " 
film  rentals  are  from  domestic  sources 
and  i.^  per  cent,  are  from  foreign,  67  per 
cent,  of  feature  picture  costs  are  written 
off  from  domestic  rentals  and  33  from 
foreign.  Fifty  per  cent,  of  the  gross  do- 
mestic rental  received  from  each  film  is 
set  aside  for  amortization  for  52  successive 
weeks  following  its  first  release.  If  the 
amount  thus  set  aside  exceeds  67  per  cent. 
of  the  cost  of  the  film,  a  credit  for  the 
difference  is  taken  into  the  income  account. 
If  it  falls  short  of  67  per  cent,  of  the 
costs,  the  deficiency  is  at  once  charged 
against  the  income  account  of  the  com- 
pany. All  subsequent  rentals  from  a  com- 
pletely amortized  film  are  taken  into  the 
general  income  of  the  company.  The  por- 
tion allocated  to  amortization  from  foreign 
rentals  is  treated  in  the  same  way  after 
making  allowance  for  the  later  release 
dates  and  for  the  fact  that  these  positives 
are   produced    in    foreign   countries. 

It  fol'ows  that  the  cost  of  every  negative 
film  is  necessarily  completely  written  off 
in  52  weeks  after  its  domestic  and  foreign 
release  dates,  instead  of  in  78  weeks  after 
the  domestic  release  date  as  under  the  1926 
write-off  schedule  of  Messrs.  Price.  Water- 
house  &  Co,  Oi  the  76  sound  pictures 
wdiich  so  ?5r  have  been  released,  the  do- 
mestic portion  of  the  costs  of  22  were 
entirely  written  off  before  the  expiration  of 
52  weeks  after  their  release  and  several 
were  completely  amortizerl  much  earlier.  For 
example,  the  entire  domestic  allocation  of 
cost  of  one  picture  was  complete'y  written 
oft'  in  less  than  5  weeks,  but  your  company 
continued  to  set  aside  50  per  cent,  of  the 
rentals  received  from  it  up  to  the  end  of 
the  52nd  week,  at  which  time  more  than 
twice  its  cost  had  tieen  amortized.  The 
average  percentage  of  cost  written  off  in 
26  weeks  for  all  sound  pictures  that  have 
had  both  domestic  and  foreign  rentals  for 
this  perio  I  is  73.5.  If  the  four  pictures  arc 
omitted  which  were  not  original  sound  pic- 
tures, the  percentage  written  off  in  26  j 
weeks  i*  77.6.  As  has  been  stated,  the  re-  ] 
cenlly  proposed  Price.  Waterhouse  &  Co.  ' 
schedule  writes  off  more  than  93.5  per 
cent,  of  domestic  allocation  of  costs  witliin 
26    weeks. 


Cast  for  "Silence" 

HoLLvwooD  —  Marjorie  Rambeau 
and  Charles  .Starrett  have  been  cast 
ill   ".Silence." 


Seek  Free  Shows 

PiTTSBURcH — Free  Sunday  night 
pictures  in  (^lympia  Park  are  being 
urged  here. 


VIe're  not  FISHING  fin-  Compliments  but 

HERE'S  ATRUE  FISH  STORY 

IHAT  WAtE  PROUD  TO  PRINT/ 


\ 


fl 


■  -Wlfcs, 


COLONIAL  No.  I  STAR  No.  2  DIXIE  No.  3         PASTIME  No.  4        CRYS.TAL  NO.  5 

lASPCI*  PARRISH  CORDOVA  OOAA  OAKMAN 


)o«  Johnson.   Dora        all  shipping  instructions  John  M.  Johnson,  Jasper. 

Purchasing  Agent  ^o  jasper  and  dora  Manager  of  Shows 


Jasper,    Alabama, Mny      19 


leao^ 


Columbia  Pictures   Coip,, 
729  Seventh  Avenue 
New  York  City 


Gentlemen: 

I  want  to  compliment  you  on  the 
consistent  high  quality  of  your  product.   I 
have  bought  every  picture  you  have  made, 

I  play  Columbia  100%,  and  only 
make  three  changes  per  week,  and  every  day 
I  play  Columbia,  I  can  go  fishing,  for  I 
know  that  I  am  having  a  good  show. 

Cordially  yours, 


Gilumbms^ 

SURE  nR£  HITS  MAKE, 

BusmssaPiBrnm 


.  -'V » ?■ 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  June    I,    1931 


Circuit  Tax 
Is  Backed  by 
Allied  Unit 


U  i"<'>>>ii<°<'   from    f'isif    1) 

Xi\\  \  ork  have  lieeii  disturhed  over 
such  a  tax  pussihihty  for  some  time 
and  are  fearful  the  Supreme  Court 
action  sustaining  Indiana's  chain  store 
law  may  give  impetus  to  an  extension 
of  that  tyiH."  of  legislation  in  other 
states. 

The  danger  to  this  luisiness,  as  it  is 
to  other  so-called  multiple  industries 
like  chain  hakeries.  chain  gasoline 
stations  and  chain  hotels  is  seen  in  the 
opportunity  thus  opened  up  for  state 
legislatures  to  secure  additional  taxes. 

The  Indiana  statute  provides  an  in- 
stance of  how  this  type  of  law  can 
work.  Stores  individually  owned  in 
that  state  pay  an  annual  tax  or  "li- 
cense fee"  of  $3.  Chain  stores  pay  a 
rising  scale  tax.  starting  at  $10  on 
each  of  the  first  five  and  up  to  $25 
on  each  store  over  twenty. 

Those  wlio  have  studied  the  law  are 
of  the  opinit)n  that  the  Indiana  stat- 
ute is  delihcratcly  discriminating  in 
intent  and  aims  to  bulwark  small 
husiness  operations  at  the  cost  of  the 
large. 


New  Coast  Office 

Hoi  l.^  woon — .MoriON  Pichkk 
1)aii.>  i.s  now  quartered  in 
new  ofiiees  in  the  Pacific 
States  Life  Building,  Vine 
and    Yu  ea    Streets. 

This  is  the  new  home  for 
Quigley  Publications,  which 
include  Motion  Picture  Her- 
ald, Better  Thralres.  Motion 
Picture  Almanac  and  The 
Hollywood   Herald. 


Chain  Store  Tax  Foe 
Dies  from  Gun  Wounds 

I.M>i.\N.\i'oi.is — Lafayette  .\.  Jack- 
son, who  led  the  intensive  though  un- 
successful fight  on  the  validitv  of  the 
Indiana  chain-.store  tax  law.  died  here 
from  wounds  received  while  resisting 
a  liold-up  in  the  office  of  his  chain  of 
grocery  stores. 


Local  Operation  Is 
Policy  of  Franklin 

(.Coiiliniicd  from   patje    1) 

agers.  He  declared  that  theatre  man- 
agement must  not  be  "standardized  or 
ritualized." 

I'Vanklin  announced  four  new  tiiea- 
tre.s  for  Texas  but  declined  to  state 
where  they  would  be  located.  Har- 
old RobI)  and  luiward  Rowley,  divi- 
sion managers  in  Texas,  will  conduct 
a  survey  of  the  state  in  a  few  days 
and  recommend  locations.  One  thea- 
tre, it  is  understood,  will  be  located 
in  the  Mission  shopping  district  in 
Highland    Park. 


Tobis  Forenfilms  Gets 
Charter  in  New  York 

Tobis  Forenfilms,  organized  in  Al- 
bany with  1,000  shares  of  common 
?tock,  will  maintain  headquarters  in 
New  York.  Milton  Diamond  is  to  be 
the  head  of  the  firm  which  will  im- 
IJort   and   distribute  foreign   talkers. 

Tobis  Theatre  Corp.  also  has  been 
formed  to  lease  and  operate  houses 
■  or  the  above  product. 


Four  File  Charters 

DovKU,  Del.— Charters  were  Hied  in 
tile  State  House  here  by :  i^allo  Pro- 
ductions, Inc..  to  produce  theatrical 
performance  of  all  kinds. 

Penn-Jersey  Picture-Ette  Corpora- 
tion, to  carry  on  business  of  photog- 
raphers;   10,000  shares,  no  par  value. 

Pul)lix-l.orain  Corporation  to  "pro- 
vide amusement  for  the  public" ;  100 
shares,  no  par  A-alue. 

Mid-City  Boxing  dub,  Inc..  to  op- 
erate theatres,  opera  houses,  etc.,  100 
shares,   no  par  \'alue. 


Para.  Releases  Three 

Hollywood — Paramount  has  re- 
leased Kdward  Sutherland,  director, 
from  his  contract.  Herman  Mankie- 
wicz  and  Marion  I)ix  were  also  let 
out. 


Para.  Buys  Two 

HrM.LVwoDD — Paramount  has  pur- 
chased "Cobra,"  play  by  Martin 
Brown.  Paul  Lukas  and  Kay  I'rancis 
will  be  co-starred.  The  company  has 
also  secured  "The  Man  with  the  Red 
Hair,"  mystery  story  by  Ben  W. 
Levy. 


Off  Detroit  Firm 

Df-Troit — M-C-.\I  is  reported  refus- 
ing to  sell  to  the  Co-operative  Book- 
ing .Service  Co.,  buying  combine  which 
has  the  backing  of  the  Michigan  ex- 
hibitor association,  a  unit  of  Allied. 


Expect  Decision  Soon 
In  Mpls.  Contract  Suit 

Minneapolis — Decision  is  expected 
to  be  reached  within  20  days  in  the 
test  suit  brought  by  Jack  DeMarce, 
Ben.son.  Minn.,  exhibitor,  attacking 
the  legality  of  the  uniform  contract. 
Briefs  in  the  action  now  are  being 
prepared.  DeATarce  is  represented 
by  S.  H.  Ilalpern,  former  counsel 
of  the  I'ilm   Board. 


Allied  Unit  Doubles 
Wis,  Membership 

Madfson,  Wis.— Membership  of  the 
."Mlied  In<lependent  Theatre  Owners 
of  Wi.sconsin  has  doubled  in  recent 
vyeeks,  according  to  Frank  J.  McWil- 
liams,  president.  McWilliams  at  one 
time  was  president  of  the  M.  P.  T. 
f).   .'\.   of   Wisconsin. 


From  the 
B.O.  Slant 


The  Moose  Hunt 

(  Disiirv — Ci>hi}iihia  ) 

A  Howl 

When  you  sa\'  it  is  up  to  the  Dis- 
nc\-.Mickey  Mouse  standard,  there  is 
nothing  left  to  be  said.  Mickey  with 
his  dog  sets  out  to  hunt  a  moose. 
Instead  the  moose  hunts  them.  Plenty 
of  new  gags  with  the  usual  fine  scor- 
ing. Less  characters  than  usual, 
with  only  a  flock  of  birds,  an  army  of 
fleas  and  a  skunk  for  incidental 
action.  It  tightens  a  well-conceived 
plot.  For  laughing  out  loud — Mickey 
Mouse  forever ! 


That's  News  to  Me 

{RKO   Pathc) 
Good 

Another  of  the  newspaper  yarns 
that  comes  in  for  a  brief  kidding. 
Tliis  is  one  of  the  new  series  the 
company  is  making  with  Frank  Mc- 
Hugh.  In  this  number  Helen  Je- 
rome Eddy,  Walter  Percival  and 
James  Donlan  are  very  good  in  Mc- 
Hugh's  support.  The  idea  revolves 
around  the  reporter  who  promises 
his  wife  to  quit  the  game  but  just 
can't  get  rid  of  that  undefmable  fever 
that  holds  him  to  the  game.  Running 
time.  20  minutes. 


Kings  or  Better 

{Coliiiiibia) 

Nifty 

Eddie  Buzzell's  bedtime  stories  for 
grown-ups  have  seldom  been  funnier. 
This  is  the  tale  of  a  king's  abdication 
of  his  throne  and  the  royal  family's 
subsef|uent  exile.  Spiced  with  many 
puns,  most  of  which  are  rib-tickling, 
there  are  laughs  for  everyone  in  the 
broad  burlesque.  Find  a  place  for  it 
on  your  bill.  Running  time,  8 
minutes. 


Shorts  Go  on 
Feature  Basis 
For  Columbia 


Explosion  Endangers 
Tec  Art  W.C.  Studio 

Hollywood — An  explosion  cjf  film 
in  the  cutting  room  of  the  Tec  Art 
studio  endangered  workmen  and 
threatened  the  structure,  but  firemen 
extinguished  the  blaze  after  it  had 
caused  damage  of  .several  hundred  dol- 
lars. .\  nositive  print  of  Hoot  Gib- 
son's   "Wild    Horses"    was    destroyed. 


Dave  Trachman  Dead 

David  Trachman,  assistant  to  Louis 
Xizer  in  the  legal  firm  of  Nizer  and 
Phillips,  died  Friday  morning  of  com- 
plications growing  out  of  an  attack  of 
scarlet  fever.  He  was  buried  yester- 
day.   

Rosner  with  Fox 

I  lf)LLYwof)D — fk-orgc  Rosner  has 
signed  with  Fox  for  two  story  as- 
signments. 


Monkey  Whoopee 

(lalkiiic/  Picture   Ethics) 

Excellent 

Dr.  Ditniars,  assisted  by  his  inquir- 
ing daughter,  tells  us  all  we  need  to 
know  about  monkey  shines.  Several 
dozen  varieties  of  the  jungle  cut-ups 
are  shown  and  interesting  habits 
explained.  Only  a  few,  we  learn,  can 
really  hang  by  their  tails.  And 
thereby  Ditmars  hangs  a  corking 
talc.     Ruiming  time,  8  minutes. 


Play  Ball 

(RKO  Pathc-Van  Bcurcn) 

Dandy 

The  menagerie  goes  Ijaseball  in  the 
latest  of  the  Aesop  Fables  series.  It 
has  a  lot  of  gags  and  many  new 
ideas  injected  in  the  theme  which 
is  supplemented  by  lively  music.  A 
cou|)!e  of  the  plays  elicit  laughs  that 
would  ordinarily  get  lost,  but  it's 
the  way  it's  done  that  garnets  the 
smiles.     Running  time,   10  minutes. 


Canada  Likes  Golf 

The  Bobby  Jones  series  of  12  Vita- 
phone  shorts  on  "How  I  Play  Golf" 
has  been  booked  solid  over  the  entire 
Canada  Publix  circuit.  The  deal  was 
put  through  by  B.  F.  Lyon,  Canadian 
sales  manager  for  Warners. 


(Continued  from   page    1) 
described  by  Columbia  oiificials  as  un- 
precedented. 

Home  offlce  executives  here  arc : 
Joe  Brandt,  president :  Jack  Colin, 
treasurer ;  Lou  Metzger,  director  of 
sales  :  Lou  Feinberg,  sales  executive  ; 
Rube  Jackter,  assistant  sales  manager; 
Hal  Hode,  sales  promotion  manager ; 
HIenri  Brunet,  manager  of  exchange 
operations ;  Milton  Hannock,  manager 
of  sales  accounting  dept. ;  Charles 
Mintz,  producer  of  Krazy  Kat  and 
"Scrappy" ;  Irving  Lesser,  Eastern 
representative  for  Walt  Disney  pro- 
ductions, and  Charles  McDonald,  vice- 
president  of  Wafilms  left  for  Chicago, 
where  a  similar  three-day  convention 
began  May  31  at  the  Congress  Hotel. 

In  addition  to  the  home  oflice  con- 
tingent   are : 

Pliif  Dunas,  S'.  Moscow  and  W.  Benjamin, 
district  managers  headed  tlie  Cliicago  dele- 
gation wliicfi  includes'  from  Atlanta.  W.  W. 
Anderson,  manager;  G.  Y.  Harrold,  U.  T. 
Koch,  F.  Shepard  and  W.  T.  Richards. 
From  Charlotte.  R.  J.  Ingram.  A.  E.  Rock 
and  L.  O.  Rose.  Chicago:  Dave  Diibin, 
manager;  C.  W.  Phillips.  C.  .St.  Clair,  E. 
W.  Jolinson,  C.  H.  Miller  and  T.  Green- 
wood. Dallas:  J.  B.  Underwood,  manager; 
R.  D'.  Bower,  W.  L.  Penn  and  Jas.  L. 
Mc Kinney.  Des  Moines:  J.  T,evy,  mana- 
ger; C.  C.  Brydon,  R.  D.  Ahelson  and  T. 
Murray.  Detroit:  C,  H.  Shalit,  manager; 
.S.  Nathan.son,  C.  L.  McCoy  and  B.  Rose. 
Indianapolis:  M.  Solomon,  manager;  H.  S. 
Gans,  W.  Ci.  Craig  and  O.  Kushner.  Kansas 
City:  L.  D.  Ross,  manager;  W.  Bradficld. 
J.  Rosenberg,  J.  Flynn  and  L.  T.  Garlow. 
Memphis:  J.  T.  Rogers,  manager;  T.  B. 
Haynes  and  T.  O.  Tuttle.  Milwaukee:  J.  L. 
Clarke,  manager;  H.  H.  Greenblatt,  .S.  R. 
Chapman  and  F.  W.  Gebhardt.  Minneapo- 
lis: B.  C.  Marcus,  manager;  M.  H.  Evidon, 
A.  B,  Leak,  S.  lO'ank  and  J.  H.  Jacobs. 
New  Orleans:  H.  Duval,  manager,  and 
J.  J.  Fabacher.  Oklahoma  City:  F.  L. 
Stocker,  manager;  E.  R,  Slocum  and  S.  E. 
Gibbs.     Omaha:     L.    D.    Durham,   manager; 

D.  L.     Donelson.     W.    Riddle    and    W.    C. 
Wallace.  ,St.   Louis:    H.   Kaufman,   manager; 

E.  Dumas, 'W.  M.  Light  and  S.  H.  Abrams. 


RKO  Dominates 

Cincinnati  Field 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

give  RKO  complete  dominance  of  the 
field   here. 

The  Paramount  is  stragetically  lo- 
cated in  a  busv  suburb  about  ten 
minutes  ride  from  the  downtown  sec- 
tion, and  has  a  fertile  territory  from 
which  to  draw. 


Radio  Promotions 

Hollywood  —  Radio  has  elevate! 
Lydell  Peck  to  as.sociate  producer, 
and  Pandro  Berman  to  sujiervisor. 
John  Burch,  former  assistant  studio 
manager  to  White,  has  also  been 
made  supervisor.  Fred  Fleck,  assistant 
director,  succeeds  Burch.  Sara  Nelson 
succeeds    Fleck. 

Gerathy's  Son  Marries 

Hollywood — Gerald  Gerathy,  son  of 
Tom,  writer,  was  quietly  married  to 
Laolyn  Northcott  at  Riverside.  Ohio. 
with  Carmelita  Gerathy  as  the  ooly 
witness.  The  girl  is  a  stepdaughter  to 
Chandler  Sprague,  Fox  dire-rtor. 


Books  Indie  Film 

Chicago — "Women  Men  Marry" 
has  been  booked  into  the  Woods  for 
a  seven-day  run.  It's  an  independent 
picture  produced  by  Headline  Pictures. 


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THE 

HOLLYWOOD  HERALD 

Lli^     (lie     aaiiu     |ai(/i^iai     a\ 
c/tcati  0^     com  m  undi 


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QUICLEY    PUBLICATIONS 


|||liliiiiiiii||i|iiiiilE 

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WOMEN 


OP 

ALL 


NATIONS 


ROXY 

NOW 


with 

VICTOR    McLAGLEN 

EDMUND      LOWE 

GRETA  NISSEN 

EL    BRENDEL 

FIFI    DORSAY    •    MARJORIE    WHITE 

Comedy  drama  with   characters   Quirt  and  Flagg   originally  created  by 
Laurence  Stallings  and  Maxwell  Anderson 

Quirt  and  Flagg  are  off  on  a  new  rampage!  •  "Join  the 
marines  and  see  the  world."  Did  they  want  to  see  it?  No. 
Just  its  women.  •  Swedish  sweeties,  French  frails,  Turkish 
harem  houris,  Nicaraguan  senoritas — light  or  dark,  slender 
or  chubby,  wise  or  otherwise  —  it's  all  the  same  to  them. 
•  Watch  Vic  and  Eddie,  that  great  box  office  team,  bring 
out  the  customers.  And  watch  them  bring  out  the  laughs. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  2 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  2,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


FILM  DEARTH  TO 
DIM  N.  Y.  RIALTO 


RULE  TWIN  BILLS 
OUT  IN  CHICAGO 


Ace    Publix    House    Shy 

Of  Product-B.  O.  Off 

In  Recent  Weeks 


Declared  shortage  of  meritorious 
product  tomorrow  night  causes  clos- 
ing of  Rialto,  Publix-United  Artists 
Broadway  house.  The  theatre,  which 
has  been  operating  under  a  long  run 
policy,  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
Broadway  stands  for  the  last  15  years. 

In  recent  weeks  business  has  been 
off  considerably,  hitting  around  $20,- 
000  as  a  weekly  average,  a  factor 
which  may  have  considerable  bearing 
on  the  decision  to  go  dark.  The  the- 
atre is  owned  50-50  by  Publix  and 
United  Artists.  The  latter  firm,  it 
was  stated  Monday  at  Pubhx,  is  con- 
{Continued  on  page   2) 


Kansas  Exhibs  Win 
AlUes  in  Blue  War 

ToPEKA,  Kas.— War  to  rid  the  state 
of  the  ancient  blue  laws  has  been  de- 
clared by  Kansas  exhibitors,  who  are 
now  formulating  plans  for  the  attack. 
Tentative  plans  call  fcr  a  committee 
of  prominent  and  liberal-minded  citi- 
zens to  work  together  to  bring  pres- 
sure upon  the  legislature  to  kill  the 
anti-Sunday  statutes. 
-  The  committee  is  to  be  appointed 
by  the  officers  of  the  M.P.T.O.  of 
Kansas  and  western  Missouri  and 
the  men  selected  will  be  some  of  the 

{Continued  on  page   6) 


Conkie  Claims  Basic 
Patents  on  Cartoons 

Denver— Waldo  J.  Conkie,  the- 
atre organist  and  inventor  of  process 
of  synchronization  with  sound  car- 
toons, has  assigned  his  claims  to  a 
holding  company.  Harry  Huffman, 
president  of  the  Aladdin  Theatre 
Corp.,  and  business  manager  of  the 
holding  company,  is  leaving  for  New 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


So! 

One   of   yesterday's   conversa- 
tions: 

"Anything   new   today?" 
"No,   nothing   new." 
"No.    No   mergers." 
"What!     No   mergers?" 
"Why    not?     Time's    ripe. 
Everyone's  enjoying   a  nice 
healthy  deficit." 


Cut  at  Studio,  Says  Brandt 

Chicago — More  money  can  be  saved  by  careful  production  activ- 
ities at  the  studios  than  by  deducting  minor  sums  from  the  pay 
envelopes  of  men  and  women  in  the  field,  Columbia's  Middle  West 
sales  organization  here  was  told  by  Joe  Brandt  and  Jack  Cohn. 
In  return  for  the  efforts  of  company  employees  in  the  season  just 
closed,  Columbia  will  make  no  salary  reductions  and  if  the  present 
progress  of  the  company  is  maintained,  salary  increases  will  be 
made,  it  was  stated.  The  three-day  session,  which  opened  Sunday, 
winds  up  here  today.  One  hundred  seventy-five  district  managers, 
exchange  heads  and  salesmen  are  here  from  the  central  and 
southern  offices. 


Ike  Ruben, 
Pioneer  Exhib 
In  N.  W.,  Dies 


Minneapolis — Surviving  his  part- 
ner, M.  L.  Finkelstein,  by  but  four 
months,  I.  H.  Ruben  of  Finkelstein  & 
Ruben  died  at  his  Minnetonka  home 
near  here.  He  was  63  years  old  and 
for  some  time 
has  been  suf- 
fering from 
heart  disease. 
Ruben,  who 
started  in 
business  as  a 
newsboy  in 
Syracuse,N.Y., 
entered  show 
business  at 
Des  Moines 
23  years  ago 
with  Finkel- 
stein. Soon 
afterward  the 
partners  trans- 
ferred opera- 
tions to  the  twin  Cities,  where  they 
built  up  the  Finkelstein  &  Ruben  cir- 

(Cotitinued  on    page    3) 


/.  H.  Rubin 


Frank  Fischer  Heads 
Wisconsin  Circuit 

Milwaukee— Frank  W.  Fischer 
formerly  manager  of  Warner  the- 
atres in  Elkhart,  Ind.,  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  circuit's  Wisconsin 
houses,  succeeding  Bernard  Depkin, 
Jr.,  resigned.  At  the  same  time  the 
contact  office  of  the  Wisconsin  cir- 
cuit has  been  moved  to  Chicago,  from 
where  the  Milvvaukee  and  Wisconsin 
affairs  of  the  circuit  will  be  under 
the  direction  of  J.  S.   Coston. 

Fischer  was  at  one  time  operator 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Schlesinger 
Loses  Patent 
Suit  vs  W.E. 


Washington— M.  A.  Schlesinger 
on  Monday  lost  the  final  round  in  his 
patent  suit  against  Western  Electric 
when  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court  refused  his  petition  for  a  re- 
view of  the  U.  S.  District  Court  de- 
cision denying  that  the  Stanley  Com- 
pany of  America's  W.  E.  equipment 
is  an  infringement  of  the  Ries  patent. 

Schlesinger  had  contended  that  the 
basic  Ries  patent,  issued  in  1926  and 
covering  the  photographing,  recording 
and  reproduction  of  sound,  was  in- 
fringed by  the  W.  E.  sound-on-film 
reproducer. 


Shearer  Will  Make 
Long  Run  Star  Bow 

M-G-M  tonight  will  launch  its 
newest  experiment  in  showmanship 
when  Norma  Shearer  in  "A  Free 
Soul"  makes  her  debut  at  the  Astor, 
New  York,  as  a  long  run  star.  Miss 
Shearer  has  been  built  up  steadily  in 
her  last  four  pictures,  all  of  which 
showed  box  office  draw,  according  to 
cash  reports  appearing  in  Motion 
Picture  Daily.  Now  M-G-M  fig- 
ures Miss  Shearer  is  ready  for  the 
long  run  division. 


a 


Progress*'  Reported 
In  Circuit  Tax  Fight 

Cincinnati  —  "Satisfactory"  pre- 
liminary progress  is  reported  by  the 
Allied  committee  which  recently  ap- 
peared before  the  General  Assembly 
lobbyists  at  Columbus  to  exert  influ- 
ence against  the  proposed  ten  per 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Exhibitors  in  One  Hour 

Decide  to  Ban  Policy 

''For  Industry's  Good" 


Chicago — After  two  months  of  ne- 
gotiations and  conferences,  exhibitors 
yesterday  went  to  bat  on  the  double 
feature  issue  and  in  a  one-hour  mass 
meeting  agreed  to  end  the  practice  at 
"the    earliest   possible   moment." 

Resolutions  adopted  called  for  abo- 
lition of  double  bills  and  committees 
were  appointed  to  work  out  a  plan 
by  which  pictures  already  contracted 
for  can  be  played  on  deferred  dates 
so  double  featuring  can  be  eliminated. 

If  no  plan  agreeable  to  exchanges 
is  drafted,  exhibitors  pledge  them- 
selves "for  the  good  of  the  business" 
not  to  double  feature  any  of  the  new 
season's   product. 

The  agreement  means  that  double 
featuring  will  be  killed  off  here  this 
summer.  More  than  300  theatres  are 
pledged  to  enforce  the  proposed  ban. 
Both  circuit  and  independent  houses 
are  included  in  the  agreement. 


Paramount  Adds 
New  Musical  Shorts 

Thirty-six  musical  and  16  dialogue 
single  reelers  are  on  Paramount's  re- 
vised schedule  for  1931-32,  states 
Larry  Kent,  head  of  short  subject  pro- 
duction. The  original  program  of  32 
two-reel  dialogue  films  will  be  car- 
ried out  without  change.  Previously 
it  had  been  planned  to  make  12  musi- 
cal and  40  dialogue  single  reelers. 

While  the  New  York  trade  buzzes 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Bow  Is  Washed  Up 
At  Paramount,  View 

Clara  Bow  and  Paramount  are  all 

washed    up,    New    York    film    circles 

believe,  due  to  the  illness  of  the  star 

and    adverse    publicity    which    is    said 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Ann*s  Deal 

Hollywood — Ann  Harding 
and  RKO  Pathe  have  settled 
their  reported  differences,  it 
is  understood.  Under  the  re- 
ported settlement,  the  star 
gets  a  three-year  contract  at 
$240,000  the  first  year,  $300,000 
the  second  year  and  $400,000 
the  third. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


ll 


Tuesday,    June    2,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Kegistered  U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Doily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


June   2,    1931 


No.   2 


Martin-    QuiGley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KAXN 

Editor 

James  A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^■^  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
[jlj  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^y   Daily,   Inc.,  a   Quigley   Publication, 

Al  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliain 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office;  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  ?10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Clean  Sweep 


1  N  Chicago,  Joe 
Brandt,  addressing  the  Colum- 
bia sales  force,  said  this  yes- 
terday: 

"Economies,  other  than  cut- 
ting employes'  salaries  can  be 
effected  in  this  business.  More 
money  can  be  saved  by  careful 
production  activities  at  the 
studios  than  by  deducting 
minor  sums  from  the  pay  en- 
velopes of  men  and  women  in 
the  field." 

Dl  S  CUSSION 
about  the  merits  and  other- 
wise of  salary  reductions  is 
rampant  in  the  trade  today. 
You  may  deplore  it.  You  may 
believe  the  move  is  sound, 
these  times  being  what  they 
are.  We  happen  to  know  the 
companies  that  have  made  cuts 
reached  their  decision  as  a  re- 
sult of  sheer  necessity,  not 
from  any  desire  to  make  $35 
stenographers  revert  from  silk 
to   cotton    stockings. 

We  also  know  that  what  Joe 
Brandt  points  out  is  the  pain- 
ful truth  and  that  the  place  to 
trim  until  it  hurts  is  Holly- 
wood. 


T 


HE  sore  spot  in 
the  entire  film  structure  is  the 
coast  with  its  ridiculous,  un- 
warranted salaries;  its  disre- 
gard for  the  dollar  and  its 
value. 

If  wages  are  to  be  trimmed,  the 
lowly  should  not  be  penalized  for  the 
elite  few.  If  the  pruning  shears  are 
being  sharpened,  let  them  do  their 
work  thoroughly.  There  should  be  no 
backing  of  water  for  relatives,  favor- 
ites,  henchmen   or   temperaments. 

KANN. 


WHEN  Motion  Picture  D.mly  exclusively  announced  on  April  15 
that  M-G-M  had  purchased  "Strange  Interlude"  and  would  make  it 
as  one  of  its  big  specials,  several  officials  of  the  company  branded  vhe 
story  as  a  lot  of  baloney,  countering  with  the  remark:  "What  would  the 
company  do  with  it?    It  has  no  story  and  there  is  no  action." 

But  just  as  was  said  then,  the  company  intends  to  spend  plenty  of 
do-re-nii  on  the  special. 

• 
Stockholders    of    Famous    Players-Canadian    Corp.,    who    refused    to 
turn   in  their   holdings   in  a   five-to-four   trade   for   Paramount    Publix 
stock   one   year   ago,   are   giving   vent   to   their   enthusiasm   because   of 
the  market  trend. 

• 
It  was  pointed  out  recently  that  the  five  shares  of  Famous  Players- 
Canadian  now  had  a  market  value  of  $140  as  against  the  trading  value 
of    $112   for    four    shares    of    Paramount    Publix,    while    the    dividend 
revenue  is  identical  for  each  unit  mentioned,  namely  $10. 

At  the  time  of  the  trade,  when  Paramount  Publix  gained  market 
control  of  the  Canadian  corporation,  the  listed  price  of  Famous  Players 
common  was  $58  per  share  as  against  $73  for  a  Paramount  share.  At 
that  time,  the  Paramount  dividend  was  $16  as  compared  with  $10  for 
five  shares  of  Famous  Players.  Paramount  dividend  since  has  been 
cut  to  $10  for  four  shares. 

• 

Here's  a  palm  for  the  Cleveland  exhibitor  unit  whose  president,  J.  J. 
Harwood,  says  the  goal  of  100  per  cent  membership  has  been  achieved 
for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  organization.  This  has  been 
Harwood's  hope  in  the  five  years  he  has  led  the  organization. 

It's  been  over  two  years  since  M-G-M  has  played  any  of  its  stuff 
in  South  Africa.  That,  and  inability  to  get  together  with  the  Schles- 
ingers  on  prices  which  Arthur  Loew  felt  his  product  rates,  explains 
why  Loew's  is  to  build  three  big  first  runs  in  the  far-away  British 
dominion. 

• 

That  "situation"  involving  a  certain  w.k.  executive  looks  as  if  it 
would  straighten  itself  out.  Embarrassing  last  Thursday,  it  got  hot 
on   Friday  and  friendily  yesterday. 

Paramount's  economy  program  will  be  felt  by  other  companies  with 
which  its  theatre  circuit  does  business,  for,  the  story  goes,  the  order 
has  gone  out  to  shave  rentals  to  a  minimum. 

H.  J.  Yates,  president  of  Setay,  is  confident  of  the  future  of  the 
company,  he  stated  at  Monday's  meeting  of  stockholders.  Yates  ad- 
mitted that  he  took  it  on  the  chin  in  the  stock  market  slump,  but  is 
strong  for  Setay's  prospects. 


6  Stocks  Hit  New  Low  in  Off  Market 


Net 
High    Low      Close      Chance 


Consolidated    Film    Industries 4}4  4%  4% 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 13^  WA  UH 

Eastman    Kodak     12934  125'A  125!^ 

Fox  Film  "A" 16  1434  15 

(leneral     Theatre     Equipment     new 4  3'A  334 

I.oew's,     Inc 37^  36'^  3654 

I. (Jew's.    Inc.,   pfd 85  83  83 

.M-G-M    pfd     23  23  23 

Taramount     Publix     2VA  20^  21 

Pathe  Exchan'ge    VA  1  1 

Pathe     Exchanue     "A" ^Vg  3%  3J4 

RKO    12  IVA  im 

Warner   Bros b'A  6  6?^ 

Warner   Bros,    pfd 16'A  WA  16'/, 

Trans  Lux  Drops  on  Curb 


-  Vs 
—2 

—VA 


—VA 
—3 

-1-1 

—VA 


-  Vi 

-  3i 

-  'A 
-VA 


Net 


High      Low      Close  Chanee 

Educational    •. 25  25  25  —  'A 

Kox    Theatres     "A"     2^  2!^  2'A  

(ieneral    Theatre    Equipment    pfd bVn  6  6  

.Sentry    Safety    Control 1  1  1  

Technicolor     S'/n  S'/i  554  —  34 

Trans    Lux    6Mi  SVi  S'A  —  Vi 

Decline  Anion ff  Bonds;  P.  F.  L.  Off  5 

Net 

Close  Change 

29  

9534  

101  

74  -5 

79i/i  ^134 

3754  -  34 


High  Low 

General    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40 2934  28 

loew's   6s   '41    ex  war 9534  9534 

Paramount    Broadway    55^s    '51 101  101 

Paramount    F.    L.   6s   '47 78  74 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 815i  7954 

Warner   Bros.    6s   '39   wd m%  36'A 


Sales 

600 

3.000 

8.000 

17.400 

8.900 

15,000 

900 

100 

10,800 

700 

200 

20.800 

13,700 

100 


Sales 

2.500 
200 
200 
300 

1.200 
900 


Sales 

24 

5 

2 

14 

30 

135 


Film  Dearth 
To  Dim  the 
N.  Y.  Rialto 


(Continued  from  page    1) 

siderably  behind  on  its  production 
schedule  and  Paramount,  which  has 
the  Paramount  to  supply  with  week 
stands,  has  no  feature  available  that 
is  considered  "good  enough"  to  put 
in  for  a  run.  Under  the  plan  of 
operation  the  two  firms  alternate  on 
bookings.  No  date  for  reopening  has 
been  set,  the  date  depending  upon 
availability  of  pictures.  Belief  in  some 
quarters  of  the  trade  is  that  it  will 
be  well  into  the  fall  before  the  house 
reopens. 


'I 


ll 


Mary  Wants  Babies, 
She  Tells  Londoners 

London — Mary  Pickford  is  inter- 
ested in  babies,  a  film  version  of 
Shaw's  "Anthony  and  Cleopatra"  and 
Barrie's  "The  Little  Alinister,"  she 
confided  to  Ernest  W.  Fredman,  edi- 
tor  of   The  Daily  Film  Renter. 

Fredman  says  that  during  his  inter- 
view Mary  referred  constantly  to 
babies  "which  she  talks  about  en- 
thusiastically." 


MacLean  Resigning 
As  Associate  at  Radio 

Hollywood — Douglas  MacLean, 
associate  producer  at  Radio,  is  re- 
ported to  be  resigning  when  his  cur- 
rent   contract    expires. 


Plunkett  In  Today 

Joe  Plunkett,  RKO  theatre  chief, 
arrives  from  Europe  on  the  lie  de 
France  today. 


London — -"No  theatres  have  been 
acquired  by  my  company,"  Joe 
Plunkett  said  prior  to  his  sailing  for 
the  United  States.  Reports  have  been 
current  that  his  European  jaunt  con- 
cerned theatre  acquisitions  a  la 
wholesale. 

Plunkett  took  particular  notice  of 
the  large  number  of  small  houses 
still  operating  here.  "These  'joints' 
are  absolutely  extinct  in  America 
where  they  have  been  replaced  by 
fine  neighborhood  houses.  You  won't 
have  them  long  here  either,"  he  said. 


Go  to  Trial 

John  C.  Flinn  and  Henry  F.  Lalley 
must  go  to  trial  under  indictments 
handed  down  in  connection  with  the 
Pathe  studio  fire.  Application  for  a 
writ  of  habeas  corpus  filed  on  behalf 
of  the  indicted  men  has  been  dismissed 
by  Justice  Frankenthaler. 


Foils  Theatre  Bandits 

Paterson,  N.  J. — Three  armed 
hold-up  men  fled  without  loot  after 
a  battle  with  Meyer  Phillips,  assis- 
tant manager  of  the  Warner  here. 
Two  thousand  dollars  in  receipts  was 
the   objective   of  the  thugs. 


Sheehan  Case  Postponed 

Winfield  Sheehan's  suit  against 
William  Fox  to  collect  $310,000 
reached  the  Supreme  Court  calendar 
yesterday  and  was  postponed  for  one 
week. 


Tuesday,   June   2,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Ike  Ruben, 
Pioneer  Exhib 
In  N.W.,  Dies 


(.Continued  from  pace   1) 

ouit    of    135    theatres    which    subse- 
quently  was   sold  to   Publix. 

Funeral  services  are  to  be  held  at 
2  P.  M.  today.  Surviving  are  four 
sons,  Edmund,  Albert,  Harold  and 
Sidney,  and  one  daughter.  Mrs.  W. 
B.  Borinstein. 


Al  Ruben,  prominent  insurance 
agent  and  well  known  in  the  industry 
here  and  in  Hollywood,  is  en  route  to 
his  family.  He  left  late  Sunday 
afternoon. 


"V"  Cut  to  Be  Cut; 
Only  Doubt  Is  When 

Universal  will  remove  its  salary  cut, 
recently  made  effective,  "when  and 
if  the  time  comes"  and  not  at  the  end 
of   the   summer,   as   reported. 

Said  Carl  Laemmle  yesterday  to 
Motion    Picture    Daily  : 

"I  am  sorry  you  published  the  tot- 
ally unfounded  story  that  salary  cuts 
put  into  effect  by  Universal  will  last 
only  through  the  summer  months.  It 
is  not  fair  to  the  loyal  employees  to 
get  their  hopes  up,  when  the  truth  is 
that  no  man  in  business  these  days 
can  possibly  know  what  the  condi- 
tions will  be  a  few  months  ahead. 
We  made  no  promises  and  we  im- 
plied no  promises  to  our  employees. 
We  told  them  the  plain  truth  and 
they  accepted  it  with  the  fine  spirit 
which  has  always  characterized  their 
actions.  When  and  if  the  time  comes 
that  we  can  restore  the  salaries  to 
their  former  levels,  we  shall  do  so. 
That's  as  much  as  we  promised  and 
every  employee  understood  it." 


Television  Is  No 

Danger — Sarnoff 

With  television  anticipated  by  the 
end  of  1932,  David  SarnofT,  president 
of  RCA,  states  the  industry  need  ex- 
perience no  alarm  over  the  impending 
advent.  "There  will  be  no  conflict 
between  television  in  the  home  and 
motion  pictures  in  the  theatre,"  he 
says. 

"Granting  that  we  can  develop  26,- 
000,000  potential  theatres  in  the  homes 
of  America,  public  theatres  will  con- 
tinue to  operate  because  people  go 
there  in  response  to  the  instinct  for 
group  emotions  and  see  artists  in  the 
flesh,"  he  stated. 


Television  an  Experiment 

Minneapolis — Radio  television  still 
is  in  the  experimental  stage,  states 
Arthur  T.  Haugh,  Chicago,  former 
president  of  the  Radio  Manufacturers' 
■  Association. 


Setay  Re-elects  Directors 

Directors  of  Setay,  investment  firm 
headed  by  H.  J.  Yates,  president  of 
Consolidated,  were  re-elected  at  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  company  held 
Monday. 


Maynard  Vacation  Ends 

Hollywood — Ken  Maynard  has  re- 
turned to  the  Tififany  lot  after  a  vaca- 
tion at  Columbus,  O.  His  next  pic- 
ture will  be   "The  Arizonian." 


H 
E 


THEATRE 


Construction  —  Equipment  —  Decoration  —  Operation  —  Management 


Various  Types 
Of  New  RCA 
Amplifiers 


The  amblificr  tvPcs  used  in  RCA 
reproducing  equipment  are  further  de- 
scribed in  this  instalment  of  the  series 
of  articles  by  Dr.  Alfred  N.  Gold- 
smith and  Max  C.  Batsel  appearing 
in    this   department   weekly : 

The  amplifier  illustrated  in  Figure  6  is 
the  same  in  principle  as  the  type  just 
described,  except  that  there  are  only  two 
power  amplifiers  and  both  the  voltage 
amplifiers  with  batteries  and  power  ampli- 
fiers are  mounted  in  one  rack.  All  ampli- 
fier units  and  component  parts  are  identical. 


Figure  6 

The  amplifier  illustrated  in  Figure  7  is 
the  same  as  the  two  just  described,  except 
that  only  one  voltage  and  power  amplifier 
are  provided.  The  amplifier  units  are  the 
same  as  for  the  other  types.  A  change- 
over relay  for  switching  from  one  projector 
to  the  other  at  the  end  of  each  reel  is 
mounted   on   one   of   the   panels. 

Another  amplifier,  which  has  been  de- 
signed for  smaller  theatres,  is  a  single 
unit  four-stage  amplifier  having  a  push- 
pull  power  stage  using  UX-250  Radiotrons. 
A  single  wall-mounted  cabinet  houses  both 
the  amplifier  and  filter  system  for  the 
plate  power  supply.  The  power  is  furnished 
by  a  three-unit  motor-generator  set.  The 
amplifier  is  transformer-coupled  with  single 
tubes  of  the  UX-112A  type  in  each  voltage- 
amplifier    stage.    The    plate    supply    is    fed 


Figure  7 


through  a  reactor  or  resistor  in  parallel 
to  the  transformer  primary,  the  trans- 
former primary  being  coupled  through 
a  capacitator  to  the  plates  of  the  tubes. 

The  volume  control  is  mounted  on  the 
amplifier  unit.  A  compensator  of  frequency 
control  is  mounted  on  the  filter  unit.  The 
controls  are  shown  in  the  illustration 
Figure  8.  In  this  photograph  the  ampli- 
fier is  shown  mounted  on  top  of  the  motor- 
generator  housing.  Figure  9  shows  the 
amplifier  and  filter  housing  with  the  front 
removed.  A  change-over  relay  is  mounted 
on  the  same  base  as  the  filter  system,  as 
well  as  two  signal  lamps  to  indicate  wliich 
projector  is  connected  to  the  amplifiers. 
All  connections  are  made  through  screw- 
type    terminals    for   ease    in    servicing. 

The  motor-generator  set  furnishes  power 
for    the    speaker    field    and    lamps    in    film 


reproducers    as    well    as    the    amplifier.    A 
filter     system     is    mounted     in     the    motor- 


Figure  9 

generator  set  housing  for  the  low  voltage 
supply  for  filaments,  exciter  lamps,  and 
speaker  field.  The  only  batteries  used  are 
two  small  dry  batteries  for  grid  bias.  Be- 
cause of  the  elimination  of  batteries  and 
simple  wiring  in  the  booth,  the  installation 
expense   is  kept  low. 


Fig.  8 — Amplifier,  motor-generator  set, 
and  control  panel.  View  showing  relative 
arrangement     and     enclosures     in     place. 


Erpi  Replaces 
Theatre  Audiphones 

Thirteen  more  theatres  are  now 
equipped  with  Western  Electric  Audi- 
phones,  as  the  Electric's  device  for  the 
hard-of-hearing  is  known.  The  latest 
Installment  list  includes : 

The  Granada,  Santa  Barbara,  Calif. ; 
Warner  Brothers'  Theatre,  Beverly 
Hills,  Calif.;  Largo,  Watts,  Calif.; 
Rivera,  Los  Angeles ;  Tivoli,  Kansas 
City ;  South  Troost,  Kansas  City ; 
Madrid,  Kansas  City ;  Nicholas, 
Fairmont,  Minn. ;  Metro,  Los  An- 
geles ;  Mirror,  Los  Angeles ;  Call, 
Algona,  la. ;  Iris,  Houston,  and  Em- 
pire,   Placerville,    Calif. 


The  company  yesterday  reported  it 
had  replaced  1,754  reproducers  of 
other  types  throughout  the  world. 


Adds  3,500  Square 
Feet  to  Roxy  Stage 

Addition  of  3,500  square  feet  to  the 
Roxy  stage  now  gives  that  theatre 
an  approximate  total  of  10,000  square 
feet,  said  to  be  the  largest  in  the 
world.  The  new  addition  was  built 
over  the  orchestra  pit  and  the  three 
organ  consoles.  Elevated  platforms 
were  also  erected  to  accommodate  the 
orchestra,  which  is  now  banked  up 
in  the  rear  of  the  stage. 


New  British  Reproducer 

London — Philips'  Lamps,  Ltd.,  will 
market  a  sound  reproducer  to  be 
known  as  the  Philisoner.  Top  price 
is  $8,750,  this  for  houses  seating 
4,000. 


AMAZING  RESULTS  AT  LOW  COST 

OLD  CHAIRS  MADE  NEW 

Repairing — Reseating — Upholstering 

ALLIED  SEATING  COMPANY 


GRamercy 
S-S833 


303  4th  Ave..   (23rd  St.) 
New  York  City 


EVENTUALLY.. 


WHY  NOT  NOWi 


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Gold  Medal  Flour 


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Cllve  Brook,  Richard  Arlen 
Charles  Rogers,  Fay  Wray,  Jean 
Arthur.  Max  Marcin,  Louis 
Gasnier,  dirs. 


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Paul  Lukas,  Kay  Francis,  Helen 
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Mitzi  Green,  Edna  May  Oliver, 
Jackie  Searl,  Louise  Fazenda. 
Norman  Taurog,  dir. 


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EDDIE  DOWIJNG. 


TOD  AY.. TOMORROW 

..NEXT    SEASON.  . 

DEPEND  ON 


PARAMOUNT 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    June    2,    1931 


Buffalo  Gross 
AtS24,000Due 
To  Band  Draw 


Blkk.^lo— Weather  ranged  all  the 
way  from  freezing  to  around  80  and 
business  fluctuated  in  inverse  ratio. 
Duke  Ellinston's  band  rates  credit  for 
most  of  the  $24,000  take  at  the  Buf- 
falo. The  Lafayette's  $16,000  was 
outstanding. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29: 

"DOCTORS'    WIVES"    (Fox) 

BCFFALO— U,500),  2.=;c-60c.  7  clays.  Duke 
Ellington  and  his  Cotton  Club  Orchestra 
headlining:  Publix  stage  show.  Gross.  $24,- 
000.     (Average.    $35,000.) 

"THE  BAD  SISTER"   (Univ.) 

CENTURY— (3,000),  25c-35c.  7  days. 
Grass:   $9,200.   (Average,   $8,200.) 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000),  2Sc-60c,  7  days. 
Ixjew  stage  show.  Gross:  $18,500  (Average, 
$18,500.) 

"MR.    LEMON    OF    ORANGE"    (Fox) 

HIPPODROME~(2.100),  25c-.=10c,  7  days. 
Five  acts  of  RKO  vaude  Gross:  $18,200. 
(Average.    $20,000.) 

"DRUMS    OF    JEOPARDY"    (Tiff.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,.100),  25c-35c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $16,100.    (Average,  $12,000.) 


Paris  Theatres  May 
Close  in  Tax  Protest 

Parls — Unless  tax  relief  is  forth- 
coming, Parisian  e.xhibitors  say  they 
will  close  their  theatres  in  protest. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Ministries  of 
Fine  Arts,  Labor  and  Finance  are 
considering  a  program  which  will  lift 
what  the  trade  characterizes  as  the 
unjust  burden  of  municipal  and  "poor" 
taxes. 


Warsaw  Houses  Close 

\\'ars.\w — Exhibitors  here  have 
closed  their  theatres  as  a  result  of  the 
enormous  municipal  tax.  Theatre 
owners  notified  the  authorities  a  week 
in  advance  that  unless  the  tax  was 
cut  during  the  summer  months  the 
theatres  would  be  closed. 

"Progress"  Reported 
In  Circuit  Tax  Fight 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

ceut  tax  on  independent  theatre 
grosses,  and  to  agitate  taxation  of 
circuit  theatre  operation  within  the 
state  to  conform  to  the  bill  to  tax 
chain  stores  within  the  state,  report 
satisfactory  preliminary  progress. 

The  committee,  headed  by  R.  Earl 
Myers,  president,  is  composed  of 
Frank  Ferguson,  manager,  Avondale ; 
Fred  Rowlands,  manager.  Parsons 
and  E.  J.  McDonald,  manager.  South- 
land, all  of  Columbus. 


Frank  Fischer  Heads 
Wisconsin  Circuit 

(Continued  from   page   1) 

of  a  circuit  of  theatres  in  Wisconsin. 
Charles  Nebel  has  been  succeeded  as 
manager  of  the  Venetian  theatre  in 
Racine  by  Bryn  Griffiths,  formerly 
advertising  manager  of  the  house. 
Nebel  had  been  connected  with  the 
circuit  only  a  few  months,  having 
been  formerly  with  the  Community 
Theatres  circuit. 


Gets  Records 
Of  Unions  in 
Chicago  War 


Chic.vgo — Assistant  State's  Attor- 
ney Charles  Lounsbury  yesterday  ob- 
tained a  subpoena  duces  tecum  from 
Judge  John  McCJoorty,  ordering  de- 
livery to  him  of  the  records  of  the 
Chicago  Alotion  Picture  Operators' 
Union  seized  last  Friday  in  a  raid  of 
the  state  attorney's  racket  bureau. 
This  action  came  after  Criminal  Court 
Judge  Harry  Fisher  had  ordered  re- 
turn of  the  records  to  the  union. 

Prosecutor  Lounsbury  said  yester- 
day taking  of  evidence  has  been  com- 
pleted and  that  he  will  go  before  the 
Grand  Jury  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment  seeking  indictment  of  union 
officials  on  conspiracy  charges.  This 
marks  the  latest  developments  in  the 
fight  of  150  Chicago  independent  the- 
atre owners  against  the  union. 

Prosecutor  Lounsbury  said  he 
hoped  to  retain  possession  of  the  rec- 
ords by  evidence  he  has  gathered  that 
inexperienced,  non-union  men  are 
placed  in  theatres  here  by  special  per- 
mits from  the  union's  official.  These 
men,  he  said,  are  supposed  to  pay  ten 
per  cent  of  their  salaries  to  the  union. 
Prosecutor  Lounsbury  asserted  that 
he  hopes  to  prove  by  the  records  that 
the  ten  per  cent  of  these  salaries  goes 
into  the  pockets  of  racketeering 
gangsters,  instead  of  into  the  union's 
coffers. 

Ralph  O'Hara,  assistant  to  Tom 
Maloy,  head  of  the  operators'  union, 
denied  the  charges  in  the  absence  of 
the  latter,  who  is  attending  a  meet- 
ing of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor  in  Washington. 

The  activity  against  the  union  fol- 
lowed complaints  from  CThicago  in- 
dependent exhibitors  that  they  were 
being  forced  out  of  business  this  sum- 
mer by  the  union's  extortionate  de- 
mands and  its  refusal  to  agree  to  a 
summer  wage  scale  adjustment  which 
would  permit  100  theatres  to  remain 
open  here. 

The  state's  attorney's  office,  con- 
ducting the  probe  of  the  union's  ac- 
tivities, seeks  to  prove  that  two  op- 
erators in  the  booth  are  not  neces- 
sary, although  required  by  the  union; 
and  that  the  elimination  of  one  man 
would  be  the  solution  of  the  ex- 
hibitors' problem.  Prosecutor  Louns- 
bury will  ask  an  indictment  of  union 
officials  for  conspiracy  to  injure  the 
exhibitors'  business  when  he  presents 
his  evidence  to  the  grand  jury  early 
in  the   week. 


Conkie  Claims  Basic 
Patents  on  Cartoons 

(Continued   from    par/r    1) 

York  to  enter  into  negotiations  for 
adjustment  of  the  financial  interests 
of  the  patent. 

Nearly  every  company  making 
animated  cartoons  is  using  the  sys- 
tem originated  by  Conkie  and  for 
which  patents  have  been  issued,  it  is 
claimed.  Conkie  worked  on  his  idea 
six  years  and  was  financed  bv  Don 
Alexander  of  the  Alexander  Film  Co. 
Sexeral  firms  are  said  to  have  made 
a  tie-up  with  Conkie  but  he  has  sold 
out  to  several  local  men  including 
Huffman  and  Fred  Wright,  formerly 
an    organist    but    now    an    attorney. 


Want  Gang  Ban 

Rough KEEPSiE,  N.  Y. — Gang 
films  have  played  out  their 
inning,  according  to  the  New 
York  State  division  of  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  which 
closed  a  three-day  meeting 
here  with  decision  to  appeal 
to  producers  to  drop  the 
underworld    type   of   film. 


Kansas  Exhihs  Win 
Allies  in  Blue  War 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
most  influential  in  the  state.  The 
leading  newspapers  are  reported  to  be 
willing  to  lend  their  support  to  the 
movement.  A  campaign  fund  of  from 
$25,000  to  $50,000  is  to  be  raised  to 
carry  on  the  fight. 


Wichita  Citizens 
Kick  Over  Traces 

Wichita,  Kas. — Serving  notice  it 
did  not  intend  to  forego  Sunday  mov- 
ing picture  shows  without  a  fight,  the 
Greater  Wichita  Association  voted  to 
gather  evidence  against  all  other  vio- 
lators of  the  blue  laws  if  County  At- 
torney (jeorge  L.  Adams  carries  out 
his  plan  of  closing  the  theatres  July 
5.  The  association  was  active  in  ob- 
taining a  city  ordinance  under  which 
the  shows  now  operate. 


Inventor  of  Talkers 
Now  Blind  and  Poor 

Paris — Being  the  inventor  of  the 
talking  picture  and  not  able  to  see 
them,  being  both  blind  and  too  poor 
to  pay  the  admission,  is  the  fate  of 
Auguste  Baron,  75,  who  is  at  the 
home  for  the  poor  here,  according  to 
Minott  Saunders,  of  Nea  Service. 
Baron,  it  is  said,  took  out  the  first 
patent  for  synchronizing  sound  and 
pictures  on  April  3,  1896.  On  Oc- 
tober 8,  1896,  he  got  a  German  patent, 
and  on  August  28,  1900,  filed  a  patent 
in  America  which  was  good  for  20 
vears.  With  $40,000  capital  he  pro- 
duced the  first  talker,  but  was  unable 
to  continue  through  lack  of  funds. 
His  blindness  is  attributed  to  failure 
to  protect  his  eyes  from  the  glaring 
lights. 


Talkies  for  Court  Records 

Peoria,  111.— Dean  E.  T.  Lee,  of  the 
John  Marshall  Law  School  of  Chi- 
cago, has  proposed  using  a  sound  film 
record  in  appealable  criminal  cases  for 
better  guidance  of  the  Supreme  Court. 
The  Board  of  Governors  will  report 
on  the  proposal  at  the  next  annual 
meeting. 


3  Firms  Pay  Dividends 

Regular  quarterly  dividends  of 
l<'astern  Theatres,  Ltd.,  Roxy  The- 
atre Corp.  Class  A,  and  Warner 
Bros.  Pfd.,  were  payable  yesterday. 
The  dividend  rates  were,  Eastern  the- 
atre, 50  cents,  Roxy,  87j^  cents,  and 
Warners,  96J4  cents. 


To  Make  Film  in  Africa 

Berlin — Hans  Sschomburgk,  Ger- 
man explorer,  has  left  for  Central 
.Africa  to  make  pictures  of  the  bush 
swamps  of  Angela,  near  the  border 
line  of  Northern  Rhodesia  and  the 
Belgian  Congo. 


All  St.  Paul 
Theatres  Hit 
Over  Normal 


St.  Paul — "Shipmates,"  "Seed" 
and  "Doctors'  Wives"  each  hit  $1,000 
above  the  average  intake  here,  the 
other  first  run,  "Daybreak,"  iDeing 
$500  over  normal,  in  a  generally  sat- 
isfactory week  here. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29: 

"SHIPMATES"    (M-G-M) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,300).    25c-50c.    7    days. 
Gross:     $8,500.         (Average,     $7,500.) 
"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 
RIVIERA— (1,600),     25c-35c-50c,     7     days. 
Gross:    $7,500.       (Average,    $7,000.) 
"SEED"     (Univ.) 
RKO      ORPHEUM— (2,600),      25c-50c.      7 
days.      Four   acts   vaudeville.      Gross:    $13,- 
000.       (Average.    $12,000.) 

"DOCTORS'    WIVES"    (Fox) 
TOWER-^d.OOO),  15c-2Sc,  7  days.     Gross: 
''000.      (Averaee.  $2,000.) 


Paramount  Adds 
New  Musical  Shorts 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

with  reports  concerning  a  complete 
studio  shutdown  by  Paramount  in  the 
East,  the  callboard  at  the  Astoria 
studio  provides  for  production  of  two 
features,  "My  Sin,"  starring  Tallulah 
Bankhead,  under  George  Abbott's  di- 
rection, and  "Unwanted  Women," 
both  slated  to  start  in  two  weeks,  with 
80  more  short  subjects  remaining  on 
the  schedule.  Of  about  150  let  out 
Saturday  at  the  studio,  most  were 
carpenters  and  electricians,  the  re- 
mainder including  39  from  the  sound 
department  including  several  projec- 
tionists, 8  cameramen,  about  eight 
from  the  music  department  and  several 
assistant  directors.  James  R.  Cowan 
IS  to  take  over  the  duties  of  J.  W. 
Fingerlin,  former  studio  manager,  it 
is    reported. 


Bow  Is  Washed  Up 
At  Paramount,  View 

(Continued  from  page   1) 
to  be  leaving  its  mark  on  her  draw- 
ing power. 

In  a  Denver  statement,  B.  P.  Schul- 
berg,  company  production  chief,  ad- 
mitted that  Paramount  is  debating 
whether  to  release  the  star  from  her 
contract,  which  expires  in  fall.  Schul- 
berg  says  she  wants  to  quit  the  screen. 

"Miss  Bow  is  a  mighty  sick  girl," 
said  Schulberg.  "She  wants  rest  and 
quiet  and  she  wants  to  quit  the 
movies.  I  doubt  that  she  will  ever 
make  another  picture." 

Incidentally,  Miss  Bow's  latest  pic- 
ture, "Kick  In,"  was  able  to  gross 
only  $46,200  last  week  at  the  Para- 
mount despite  the  fact  that  Morton 
Downey  was  on  the  stage  bill. 


Warners'  Plant  on 
Coast  Is  Darkened 

Hollywood — Warners  have  closed 
the  Sunset  Boulevard  and  Vitagraph 
plants.  Production  forces  of  Warners 
and  First  National  have  been  com- 
bined. 


The  Warner  home  office  said  yes- 
terday the  Sunset  Boulevard  studio 
has  been  practically  inactive  for  a 
year  and  that  it  is  used  only  when 
the  Burbank  plant  is  overcrowded. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.   NO.  3 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  3,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


Southeastern 
Unit  Planning 
Co-operative 

To  Be  Formed  at  Annual 
Confab,  June  15,  16 


Atlanta — A  buying  co-operative 
will  be  formed  in  this  territory  when 
the  Southeastern  Exhibitor  .Associa- 
tion holds  its  third  annual  convention 
here  June  15  and  16,  it  is  reliably  pre- 
dicted. Ed  Kuykendall,  Columbus, 
Miss.,  exhibitor,  and  Carter  Barron, 
manager  of  the  Fox  here,  are  sched- 
uled as  speakers  at  the  convention. 
Willard  C.  Patterson  of  Publi.x  is 
chairman  of  the  program  committee 
and  is  to  speak  on  operation  of  small 
town  houses.  A  number  of  leaders 
of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  have  been  in- 
vited to   address   the   sessions. 

As  the  convention  falls  one  week 
before  the  general  assembly  of  the 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


Radio  Makes  First 
Television  Picture 

If  and  when  National  Broadcasting 
is  ready  to  put  on  its  first  national 
television  show,  Radio  Pictures,  it  is 
understood,  will  produce  the  picture. 
It  was  reported  yesterday  that  the 
subject  will  be  feature  length. 

Officials  of  National  Broadcasting 
said  yesterday  that  naturally  Radio 
Pictures  %yill  make  the  picture,  but 
refused  to  comment  on  when  the  ex- 
periment will  be  made. 


Garson  to  Produce  in 
China  Via  Multicolor 

Hollywood  —  Harry  Garson  will 
produce  three  features  and  24  two- 
reelers  in  Shanghai  via  the  Multicolor 
process.  Native  casts  will  be  used, 
but  production  methods  will  be  Amer- 
ican. 

The  plan  also  provides  for  build- 
ing of  a  laboratory  in  Shanghai  and 
the  entire  deal  is  understood  to  be 
part  of  Howard  Hughes'  plan  to  pro- 
mote Multicolor  via  independent  pro- 
ducers financed  bv  the  Hughes  bank- 
roll. 


John  Flinn  to  Appeal 
Court  Habeas  Ruling 

Dismissal  of  a  writ  of  habeas  cor- 
pus in  the  Flinn- Pathe  fire  action  by 
Justice  Frankenthaler  will  be  ap- 
pealed to  the  Appellate  Court  of  the 
.State  of  New  York.  Pending  decisiiin 
of  the  higher  court,  the  action  can- 
not come  to  trial. 


Report  Erpi  Concentrating 
On  Non-Theatrical  Policy 


Going  Upl 


Chicago — Harley  L.  Clarke 
is  in  accord  with  Joe  Brandt, 
Columbia  president,  in  the 
latter's  stand  against  salary 
reductions  and  in  favor  of 
increases  where  possible. 

Clarke's  views  were  con- 
tained in  a  wire  to  Brandt 
congratulating  him  for  his 
declaration  against  wage  de- 
creases. 


Harry  Cohn  Is 
Pivotal  Man 
In  Col.  Wage 


Harry  Cohn,  Columbia  production 
chief,  is  the  pivotal  figure  in  Colum- 
bia's efforts  to  raise  salaries,  for  the 
company  expects  economies  at  the 
studio  to  provide  the  expected  in- 
creases. Joe  Brandt,  who  returned  to 
New  York  Tuesday  from  Chicago, 
took  the  lead  in  announcing  the  firm's 
plans.  He  also  reiterated  at  the  Chi- 
cago convention  that  no  deals  for  sale 
or  merger  of  the  company  are  under 
way  or  contemplated. 

Brandt  definitely  promised  that  if 
results  are  achieved  this  season  coni- 

{Continncd    on    pane   4) 


Rialto  Closing  Due  to 
Change  of  Policy 

First  announced  as  a  shutdown  for 
eight  weeks,  it  appeared  yesterday 
that  Publix  has  other  plans  for  the 
Rialto,  New  York.  Sam  Dembow, 
Jr.,  told  Motion  Picture  Daily  that 
the  house  will  reopen  in  about  ten 
days  or  as  soon  as  a  new  policy  can 
be  evolved  for  it. 


Chicago — R.  M.  Hatfield  has  beer 
appointed  temporary  general  manager 
of  Erpi's  central  division  offices  to  ef- 
fect a  reorganization  of  the  company's 
sales  forces  preparatory  to  a  change 
in  sales  policy  which,  when  effected, 
will  concentrate  Erpi's  major  sales 
efforts  on  the  non-theatrical  field. 

The  new  sales  policy  will  not  dis- 
regard the  theatrical  market  entirely, 
but  it  will  concentrate  the  greatest 
sales  ability  and  effort  on  the  non- 
theatrical  field  in  the  belief  that  the 
latter  market  now  holds  as  great,  or 
greater,  commercial  possibilities  as 
the  theatre  market  did  at  the  time  of 
the  industry's  change-over  to  sound. 

The  following  executive  reassign- 
ments  are  announced  by  Hatfield  for 
the  Central  division.  Harry  Dodge, 
formerly  Erpi  New  York  merchandise 

(Continued   on    page   2) 


German  Films  in  50 
Metropolitan  Spots 

Increased  popularity  of  German 
talkers  in  Greater  New  York  is  man- 
ifested by  the  number  of  theatres 
playing  foreign  versions  either  as  a 
permanent  policy  or  on  intermittent 
bookings.  About  50  theatres  in  this 
territory  now  are  playing  German 
product,  including  the  following 
houses;  Oxford,  Empress,  Luxor, 
Little  Playhouse,  Bronx ;  72nd  Street, 
Loew's  8Ath,  79th  Street,  Acme,  8th 
Street  Playhouse,  Europa,  Cosmopoli- 

[Continued    on    page    4) 


Milwaukee  Showmen 
Force  Review  Change 

Milwaukee — Local  first  runs,  with 
the  exception  of  Fox,  are  again  divid- 
ing their  advertising  copy  equally  be- 
tween the  Milwaukee  Journal  and  the 
Wisconsin  Nezus.  For  several  weeks 
the  first  run  downtown  houses,  with 
the  exception  of  Universal's  .\lharn- 
bra,    which    refused    to    play    favorite 

(Continued    on    page   4) 


Dime  Cut  in  B.  &  K.  Houses 

Chicago — Balaban  &  Katz  announced  a  summer  admission  reduc- 
tion of  ten  cents  in  the  company's  five  Loop  theatres,  effective  this 
week.  The  reduction  applies  to  week-day  evening  admissions  only, 
and  brings  the  top  for  those  periods  to  seventy-five  cents  for  all  seats, 
as  compared  with  a  former  top  of  eighty-five  cents.  The  former  scale 
of  35  cents  from  opening  to  1  P.  M.,  and  50  cents  from  1  to  6,  remains 
the  same.  No  change  has  been  made  in  holiday  and  week-end 
admissions. 

The  reduction  is  in  force  at  the  Chicago,  Oriental,  McVickers, 
Roosevelt   and  United   Artists  theatres. 


Seek  to  Raise 
Operator  Cut 
To  Ten  P.  C. 


Wage  Reduction  to  Save 
$100,000  in  N.  Y. 


With  a  seVen  and  one-half  per  cent 
cut  in  the  operators'  wage  scale  prac- 
tically secured  for  the  ten  weeks  be- 
ginning June  8,  it  is  understood  that 
heads  of  circuits,  affiliated  with  pro- 
ducers, are  negotiating  to  secure  a 
reduction  on  a  straight  ten  per  cent 
basis.  Deliberations,  which  have  been 
under  way  for  several  weeks,  are 
now  being  conducted  along  these  lines 
with  William  F.  Canavan,  president 
of  the  International  .Alliance  of  The- 
atrical and  Stage  Employes  and  Mov- 
ing   Picture   Operators. 

Canavan  has  no  authority  to  ask  his 
affiliated    unions    to    trim    their    wage 

(Continued    on    page   A) 

Allow  50,000  Feet 
Of  Film  in  Booths 

Increased  storage  from  5,000  to 
50,000  feet  of  film  in  projection  booths 
is  provided  in  a  new  fire  ordinance 
passed  yesterday  by  the  New  York 
Board  of  Aldermen.  The  old  ordi- 
nance providing  for  a  maximum  of 
5,000  feet  made  it  impossible  for  the- 
atres to  operate  in  New  York  with- 
out violating  the  code.  Practically  all 
theatres  have  been  operating  on  ap- 
peals from  violations  of  the  ordinance. 

Included  in  the  new  ordinance  are 
provisions  for  handling  of  film  in 
studios,  transportation  of  prints  from 
exchanges  to  theatres  and  retaining 
of  drapes  on  thea.tre  walls. 

Charles    O'Reilly,    president    of   the 

(Continued    on    page    4) 


N.  J.  in  Status  Quo 
On  Allied  Decision 

Action  on  whether  or  not  to  with- 
draw from  Allied,  expected  to  come 
up  yesterday's  meeting  of  the  New 
Jersey  theatre  owners,  has  been  de- 
ferred until  the  latter  part  of  this 
week,  Motion  Picture  Daily  learns. 
While  the  matter  was  discussed  yes- 

(Continued    on    pa(/e    4) 

$292,279  for  'Trader' 
In  17  B'way  Weeks 

"Trader  Horn,"  which  made  way 
for  "A  Free  Soul"  at  the  Astor  a 
few  days  ago,  grossed  $292,279  in  its 
17-week  run  at  the  Broadway  theatre. 
On   February   6,   the   picture   rounded 

(Continued    on    page    4) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    June    3,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Kcgis.ered    L.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol. 


luiie  .!.    19j1 


Xo.    3 


Martin    Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^m^  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
Ijlj  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
Vcl^    Daily,    Inc.,  a   Qu'K'ey   Publication, 

>l  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edzvin  S,  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  |10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


"A  Free  Soul" 

1  T'S  got  a  title  de- 
signed to  drag  'em  in  and 
probably  will.  Shearer,  dressed 
and  undressed,  acting  and  pos- 
turing. A  yarn,  that  often 
stretches  logic  thin,  but  a 
combination  of  ingredients 
that,  in  toto,  undeniably  is 
swell  box-office. 

You  also  get  love,  pure  and 
sullied.  Dialogue,  clever  and 
sometimes  not  so  clever.  Per- 
formances by  Lionel  Barry- 
more,  Jimmy  Gleason,  Clark 
Gable  and  Leslie  Howard  that 
are  expert  and  sincere  except 
when  the  material  makes  it 
difficult  for  them.  That's  "A 
Free  Soul,"  last  night's  pre- 
miere at  the  Astor.  Popular 
stuff,  no  doubt.  Certainly  not 
$2  worth  on  R roadway  or  any 

other   way. 

*    *    * 

Will  h.  hays 

used  some  language  in  his  talk 
before  the  conference  of  gov- 
ernors at  French  Lick.  Said 
he: 

"We're  not  running  on  sched- 
ule  because   the   old   .spirit   isn't 
pressing    on    the    throttle.     My 
hoyhood      vividly      recalls      the 
graphic    narratives    of    veterans 
who     participated     in     the     first 
and  second  battles  of  Bull  Run. 
But    I    did    not    think    I    would 
ever  witness   a   third    Bull   Run. 
destined  to  pass  into  history  as 
the    most    shameful    exhibit    of 
financial    leadership    the    coun- 
try  has   ever  witnessed. 
"As    long    as    our    billions    are 
held  in  restraint,  datnmed  at  the 
source,     prosperity     will     keej) 
gnawing  at   the   hambone." 
We    give    it    to    you    to-day 
without  comment.     It  doesn't 
require  any. 

KANN 


Purely  Personal       Report  Erpi  Is 


T  OU  COHKX  beat  Carl  l.aenimle. 
-I— 'Jr..  at  p«)l  at  the  Enipce  Club  on 
Monday.  Yesterday,  Junior  went  back 
tor  more.  He  liasn't  played  for  six 
years,  Init  wields  a  mean  cue.  never- 
theless. 

Maksai.i.nk  K.  Mookk.  manager  of 
the  Palace,  at  Dallas,  has  been  com- 
missioned a  lieutenant-colonel  of 
cavalry  on  the  staff  of  the  Peacock 
Military  Academy  of  Dallas  and  San 
Antonio. 

Charles  J.  Bkenxan.  who  recentl> 
resigned  as  city  manager  for  Warners 
at  Staunton,  \'a.,  due  to  ill  health, 
has  resumed  direction  of  the  New 
and  Strand  in  the  \'irgima  city. 

Carl  Laemmle's  biography  by 
John  Drinkwater  is  expected  to  go 
into  second  printing  shortly.  Four 
thousand  books  have  been  sold  in 
seven  weeks,   Putnams'  state. 

Henry  Ranoell,  Brooklyn  Para- 
mount manager,  is  not  decided  whether 
he'll  take  a  bungalow  at  one  of  the 
resorts  or  not  this  year.  He's  already 
spent  two  weeks  in  Florida. 

Ken  Murray,  veteran  vaudeville 
headliner,  has  signed  a  live-year  con- 
tract with  Radio.  He  has  leased  a 
home  in  Hollywood  and  will  make 
his  residence  there. 

Jack  Whiting,  who  has  been  ap- 
pearing; in  a  Broadway  musical  com- 
edy, left  yesterday  for  the  Coast  with 
Mrs.  Whiting,  ihe  former  Mrs.  Doug- 
las   Fairbanks. 

Louis  Kutinskv  transferred  from 
the  RKO  New  York  exchange  to  the 
home  office  Monday  as  special  sales 
representative  under  Charles  Rosen- 
zweig. 

Harry  Golde  has  discovered  a  new 
dish  at  the  Empee  Club.  It  consists 
or  rice,  milk,  cream,  a  dash  of  salt 
and  powdered  sugar.  He  says  it's 
good. 

Charles  S.  Goetz,  veteran  former 
state  right  operator,  has  joined  the 
American  Record  Co.,  subsidiary  of 
Consolidated   Film   Industries. 

Gloria  Swanson  sails  Friday  for 
a  vacation  in  Europe.  She  returns 
to  Hollywood  in  time  to  start  her 
next    picture   on   August    1. 


Ceiil  P).  De  Mii.le  was  slated  to 
leave  Hollywood  Monday  en  route  to 
New  York  on  tlie  first  leg  of  a 
European   trip. 

CIkadweli.  L.  Sears  and  .\.  W. 
Smith  leave  today  for  trips  to  War- 
ner-First National  branches  in  their 
territories. 

Gilbert  .Adrian .  .M-G-M  costume 
designer  and  tashion  expert,  has  ar- 
rived in  New  ^  ork  on  a  short  vaca- 
tion trip. 

Lou  Sxitzer,  Radio  accessories 
manager,  has  returned  to  the  home 
office  from  a  survey  of  the  southern 
branches. 

Joseph  Plunkett  returned  yester- 
day with  Mrs.  Plunkett  on  the  //<■  dc 
Frame  from  a  month's  visit  to  Eu- 
roi>e. 

Max  Cohen.  Universal  New  York 
exchange  manager,  is  looking  for- 
ward to  June  6.    That's  his  birthday. 

Lou  Baum  and  Eddie  Hyman  had 
quite  an  audience  at  that  billiard 
game  yesterday.    It  was  a  darb,  too. 

Yasha  Bunchuk  this  week  is  cele- 
brating his  second  anniversary  as  con- 
ductor of  the  Capitol  orchestra. 

J.\CK  Barnstyn  is  a  grandfather 
and  full  of  smiles.  The  family  addi- 
tion is  a  girl. 

Billy  Brandt,  a  respected  citizen 
of  Great  Neck  now,  plays  golf  three 
days  a  week. 

Bob  Cochrane  is  going  in  for  ten- 
nis in  a  big  way  now  that  summer 
is  at  hand. 

Charles  Wilson,  Boston  ex- 
changeman,  is  recovering  from  a  frac- 
tured  leg. 

Phil  Reisman  is  lonesome.  He 
hasn't  seen  that  horse  of  his  for  some 
days  now. 

Milton  Cohen  says  times  are  so 
bad  he's  gone  back  to  wearing  his  old 
clothes. 

Florence  Vidor  and  Mrs.  Adolph 
Zukor  arrived  on  the  Europe  yester- 
day. 

Abe  Sablotsky  and  John  McGuirk 
visited  the   M.P.   Club  yesterday. 


5  Stocks  Continue  Making  New  Lows 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated    I'ilin    Industries , 4'/^  i%  4 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd ll'A  WA  W/i 

Eastman   Kodak    \2TA  120;4  122 

Fox    Film    "A" 15^  UVi  14 

Gerteral  Theatre   Equipment  new VA  3^  3M 

I^ew'.s,   Inc Wa  36^i  36^ 

Ixiew's.    Inc..    pfd 85  84!/2  85 

Paramount    Publix    21;^  19^  20^ 

I'athe    Exchange IHi  1  1 

Pathe     Exchanire    "A"' iVf.  i'A  3'A 

RKO   U'A  ii"4  l^Vi 

Warner    Bros 6ii  SH  SH 

Warner    Bros,   pfd 17M  W/j  17M 


Net 
Change 

-  Vn 

-  '/2 
— 3'/2 

—  1 


-I-  Vn 

-\-2 


-■5/8 

-  H 

-1-154 


2  New  Lows  on  Film  Curb 


High  Low 

Columbia      Pictures      vtc     WA  1034 

lulucational   pfd    ww 2244  2244 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 2'/j  Z'/i 

General  Theatre   Equipment,   pfd 5%  55^ 

Sentry    Safety    Control 1  1 

Technicolor   554  35^ 

Trans   Lux   SVn  554 


Net 
Close  Change 


WA 

2V2 

S5^ 

1 

354 


-254 


-154 

-  !4 


Bond  Lists  Irregular 


'40. 


Hi«h 

29 

9534 

101 

79 

6944 

Pathe   7s   '37   ww n'A 

Warner    Bros.     6s     '.W     wil W/n 


General   Theatre   Equipment   6s 

Loew's  6s  '41  ex  war 

Paramount   Broadway  S'/iS  '51.. 

Paramount   F.    L.   6s   '47 

Paramount     Publix    S'/aS.     '.50. 


Low 

25 

9544 
100'/^ 
74 
67 
79/8 
WA 


Net 
Close     Change 

25  —4 

9544        

101  

79 

6944 
795^8 
34'/. 


+5 
4-144 

—  y?. 
—3 


Sales 

2,900 

900 

12.200 

34,900 

5,400 

4,400 

500 

21,500 

400 

1,100 

14,700 

12,100 

300 


Sales 

800 
2,500 
1.000 

600 
1,000 
3,300 
1,500 


Sales 

30 
1 
7 

26 

34 


82 


Concentrating 
On  Non-Theats 


(Continued  fro>n  patie    1) 

sales  manager,  becomes  central  dis- 
trict sales  manager,  replacing  R.  L. 
Rogers,  who  has  been  transferred  to 
Pacific  Coast  sales  work.  D.  Rouliff- 
son,  formerly  Minneapolis  sales  man- 
ager, has  been  named  assistant  to 
Dodge  in  charge  of  theatrical  sales, 
and  L.  C.  Courtemanche  is  Dodge's 
assistant  in  charge  of  non-theatrical 
sales. 

Further     reorganization     of     minor 
sales  personnel  will  be  made  by  Hat- 
field in  this  division  prior  to  his  de- 
parture July   1   for  Europe,  where  he     . 
will  direct  the  reorganization  of  Erpi's     j 
foreign  sales  offices.  J 


C.  W.  Bunn  of  Erpi  denies  that  his 
organization  contemplated  concen- 
trating on  the  non-theatrical  field  and 
said  that  Hatfield  had  been  sent  to 
Chicago  to  reorganize  that  division 
and  obtain  experience  prior  to  being 
detailed  to  the  London  office. 


Southeastern  Unit 
Plans  Co-operative 

(Continued  from  page   1) 
Georgia  legislature,  plans  for  combat- 
ting inimical  legislation  will  highlight 
the  session. 

Association  officials  deny  that  they 
are  planning  a  booking  combination, 
but  report  persists  that  Love  P.  Har- 
rell,  executive  secretary,  is  to  be 
buyer  for  the  proposed  co-operative. 

Retiring  President  Nat  Williams 
will  present  the  incoming  official  with 
a  gavel  made  of  material  taken  from 
the  Savannah  Theatre,  one  of  the 
nation's  oldest  houses.  Material  for 
the  gavel  was  donated  by  Fred  G. 
Weiss,  for  several  years  owner  of  the 
Savannah. 


New  Distributing  Unit     i 

Lynn  Pictures  Corp.  has  been  or-  ' 
ganized  in  Albany  with  200  shares  of 
common  stock  having  no  par  value. 
With  Henry  Lynn  as  president,  the 
firm  will  distribute  Jewish  Talking 
pictures  throughout  the  United  States. 

Two  ''Viking"  Outlets 

The  Master  Piece  Attraction  Corp. 
has  acquired  the  Philadelphia  terri- 
tory, and  American  Film  Corp.,  of 
which  Harry  Asher  is  president,  has 
acquired  the  New  England  territory 
on  "The  \'iking"  from  J.  D.  Williams 
and  .'\ssociates. 


Peskay  Rejoins  Goldman 

St.  Louis— Edward  Peskay  is  re- 
turning here  as  William  Goldman's 
assistant  in  operation  of  the  Warner 
houses  in  this  zone.  He  is  succeeded 
at  Philadelphia  by  William  Wilson, 
who  has  the  31  Philadelphia  houses 
i.iider  his  jurisdiction. 


Santell  Leaving 

It's  been  prisons.  Welfare  Island, 
night  court  and  the  "line-up"  at  police 
headquarters  for  Al  Santell  during  a 
brief  New  York  visit  that  ends  to- 
day. The  Fox  director  leaves  for  the 
Coast  to  start  work  shortly  on  "Sob 
Sister,"  now  that  he  has  absorbed 
"atmosphere." 


^ 


THE  OLD  FIGHTIN'  COCK  PRESENTS 


Marquee  Names  Never 
Before  in  Shorts  1 


RKO  PATHE 

RKO  PATHE  Pictures  pra-sold  direct  to  the  whole  familr 
every  Friday  night;  10:30  Eastern  Daylight  Saving  Time.  RKO 


THE 

STAR 

BUY 


OF  ALL  TIME! 


Produced  by 

MASQUERS  CLUB 
OF  HOLLYWOOD 

EVERY  BIG  STAR 

a  member  of  the  club 

EVERY  BIG  STAR 

a  member  of  the  casts 

First  Release 

STOUT  HEARTS 

AND 

WILLING  HANDS 

Story  by  Al  Austin  and  Walter  Weems 
Directed  by  Bryan  Foy 

WITH    100    HOLLYWOOD    HEADLINERS 

including 


FRANK  FAY 
LAURA  LA  PLANTE 
MARY  CARR 
OWEN  MOORE 
MAURICE  BLACK 
EDDIE  QUILLAN 
FORD  STERLING 
CHESTER  CONKUN 
HANK  MANN 
BOBBY  VERNON 
BRYANT  WASHBURN 


LEW  CODY 

ALEC  B.  FRANCIS 

TOM  MOORE 

MATT  MOORE 

GEORGIE  HARRIS 

MATTHEW  BETZ 

MACK  SWAIN 

CLYDE  COOK 

JAMES  FINLAYSON 

BENNY  RUBIN 

RICHARD  TUCKER 


AND    THE    ORIGINAL    KEYSTONE    KOPS 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    June    3,    1931 


"Lieutenant'' 
B'dway  High 
With  $16,800 


The  promise  held  out  by  Chevalier 
in  "The  Smiling  Lieutenant  in  its 
opening  three  days  came  through  in 
the  first  lull  week  of  the  Lubitsch- 
directed  picture  at  the  Criterion, 
which  did  $1(>,800  the  first  seven  days 
of  the  run.  That's  business  for  that 
theatre  and  the  best  performance  of 
last  week  on  Broadway. 

This  week  isn't  so  hot.  "The  She- 
Wolf"  at  tiie  Rial  to  did  a  paltry  $5,- 
700  in  five  days  to  Sunday  at  that 
theater,  which  is  nothing  short  of  ter- 
rible. The  three-day  holiday  week- 
end brought  the  Paramount  $33,300 
with  "The  Lawver's  Secret"  and  a 
stage  show;  the  Rivoli,  $11,000  w-ith 
the  start  of  "Seed"  in  its  third  week; 
and  the  Criterion.  $8,300  as  the  start 
of    "Lieutenant's"    second   full    week. 

Last  night  "A  Free  Soul"  opened 
at  the  Astor,  thereby  propelling 
"Norma  Shearer  into  the  extended  run 
division  for  the  first  time  in  her  ca- 
reer. The  Embassy,  on  its  all  news- 
reel  policy,  remained  consistent  at  $8,- 
206  and  the  Paramount  went  down  to 
$46,200  with  Clara  Bow  in  "Kick  In" 
and  Morton  Downey  on  the  stage. 

"Public  Enemy"  had  a  nice  fifth 
and  final  week  at  the  Strand  with 
$24,275.      Elsewhere,    it    was   quiet. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  28 : 

"TRADER   HORN" 

ASTOR— (1,120).  50C-S1.50.  17th  week,  7 
days.     Gross:  $9,970. 

"SHIPMATES"   (M-G-M) 

CAPITOL— (4,700),  35C-S1.50,  7  days. 
Stasre  show:  Ann  Pennington'.  Three 
Sailors,  Weslev  Eddv,  headliners.  Cross: 
$67,982. 

"DIRIGIBLE"   (Col.) 

CEXTRAI,— (910').     50c-$2.     8th     week.     7 
davs.        Gross:     $10,138. 
"THE   SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

CRITERIO.X— (850>,  ?0c-$2.  7  days.  Gross: 
S16.800. 

EMBASSY    (All    Newsreel) 

EMB.\S.SY— (59S).  J.ic.  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,206.25. 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 

GLOBE— (1.050.  35c-8.>c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,000. 

"SVENGALI"     (Warners) 

HOLLYWOOD— (1.549).  65c-85c.  5th  week, 
7  days.     Gross:  $14,151. 

"DONOVAN'S   KID"    (Radio) 

MAYFAIR— (2.,300).  40c-$I.  7  days. 
Gross:    $27,200. 

"KICK     IN"     (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3.700).  40c-$l,  7  days. 
.Stage  show.  Morton  Downey,  headliner. 
Gross:    $46,200. 

"INDISCREET"    (U.    A.) 

RLALTO— (1,904),     40c-$l,     4th      week,     2 
days    (Mav    25-26).       Ooss:    $3,500. 
"THE   SHE-WOLF"    (Universal) 

RIALTO— (1,904).  40c-$l.  5  davs  (May 
27-31).       Gross.    S5.700. 

"SEED"     (Univ.) 

RIVOIJ— f2.1Q3).  40c-Sl,  2nd  week,  7 
days.      Gross:    S27.900. 

"ALWAYS    GOODBYE"    (Fox) 

ROXY— (6,200).  50c-$l.,50.  7  days.  Stage 
show.       Gross:    $85,400. 

"PUBLIC   ENEMY"  (Warners) 

STRAND— (3.000).  35c-$l.  5th  week.  7 
days.       Gross:    $24,275. 

"BEGGAR'S    OPERA"    (Tobis) 

WAKNER.S— (I.49r)).  3.5c-7.5c.  2nd  week. 
7   days.       Gross:    $4,374. 

"PARTY  HUSBAND"   (F.  N.) 

WINTER  GARDEX— (1.49.3).  .3.5c-$l.  2nd 
week.    7   days.      Gross:    $18,655. 


A^. ./.  in  Status  Quo 
On  Allied  Decision 

(Continued  from  paye  1) 
terday,  Sidney  Samuelson,  president 
of  the  unit,  said  there  was  no  state- 
ment to  make  "as  yet."  It  is  expected 
that  another  meeting  will  be  held  at 
which  time  the  matter  will  be  threshed 
out. 


"Newly  Rich" 

(Paramount) 

Jj  ased  on  Sinclair  Lewis' 
story,  "Let's  Play  King,"  this  is 
a  mildly  diverting  kid  picture 
featuring  Mitzi  Green,  Jackie 
Searl,  Edna  May  Oliver  and 
Louise  Fazenda.  It  succeeds 
pleasantly  as  a  programmer, 
but  it  slips  in  trying  to  appeal 
to  both  juveniles  and  adults, 
with  gags  supplanting  drama 
and  pathos.  There  is  a  kick  in 
the  final  reels  wherein  Mitzi 
and  Jackie  and  the  young  king 
run  away  to  join  a  kid  gang  on 
the  waterfront.  Mitzi  and 
Jackie,  together  with  a  screen 
newcomer,  Bruce  Line,  perform 
splendidly  under  Norman  Tau- 
rog's  capable  direction.  Miss 
Oliver  also  is  excellent.  The 
title  of  the  feature  is  inappro- 
priate and  should  be  changed. 


$292,279  for  'Trader' 
In  17  B'way  Weeks 

(Continued  from  paae  1) 
out  its  first  five  days  with  a  $16,550 
gross,  while  for  the  next  week,  its 
first  full  week  at  the  house,  business 
reached  $21,311.  This,  incidentally, 
was  the  peak  figure  for  the  long  run. 
For  the  first  six  weeks,  the  gross 
maintained  a  steady  level  at  about 
$20,000  and  after  that  began  to  slide 
slowly  until,  in  its  last  week,  the  pic- 
ture did  $9,970. 


"Horn"  for  Capitol 

"Trader  Horn"  is  tentatively  slated 
for  a  run  at  the  Capitol,  New  York, 
starting  June  19.  The  picture  has  just 
closed  an  extended  engagement  at  the 
Astor. 


Pearl  Joins  Tec  Art 
As  Sales  Manager 

Dick  Pearl  has  joined  Tec-Art  Stu- 
dios as  sales  manager  and  will  handle 
t'lree  features  and  26  shorts  AI  Man- 
non  is  to  rnake  this  season.  Mannon  is 
producing  12  features  for  Hollywood 
Pictures  of  New  York  and  26  shorts 
for  Educational  release.  The  pictures 
he  is  making  on  his  own  will  be  sold 
to   independents. 

Pearl  leaves  Thursday  on  the  De 
Grasse  for  London  to  arrange  for 
distribution  abroad. 


Speculate  on  Warsaw 

Decision  of  exhibitors  in  Warsaw, 
Poland,  to  close  their  theatres  rather 
than  continue  to  meet  the  city's  enter- 
tainment tax  was  a  topic  of  discussion 
in  export  circles  yesterday.  "Just  an- 
other foreign  problem,"  was  the  way 
one  export  sales  manager  described 
the   Polish  development. 


Perkins,  Muni  in  L.  A. 

lloLLYvvofjD — Osgood  Pcrkius  and 
Paul  Muni  are  here  from  New  York 
to  play  leads  in  "Scarface"  for  Caddo- 
United  Artists. 


Mervyn  Directs  Gloria 

Hollywood — -Mervyn  LeRoy  has 
been  signed  by  Samuel  Goldwyn  to 
direct  Gloria  Swanson  in  "Tonight 
or  Never."  Work  will  start  August 
1  upon  the  star's  return  from  a  trip 
to  Europe. 


Seek  to  Raise 
Operator  Cut 
To  Ten  P.  C. 


(Cantiiiued  from  page  1) 
scale,  but  can,  and  has,  recommended 
thai  each  union  take  the  cut  for  the 
summer  weeks  in  view  of  business  de- 
pression existent  throughout  the  pic- 
ture business.  In  a  number  of  cities 
the  slash  is  already  operative  and  is 
expected,  in  effect,  to  become  national 
by  the  end  of  the  week. 

Last  night,  Operators'  Local  306 
declared  it  had  agreed  to  a  seven  and 
one-half  per  cent  wage  reduction,  de- 
scribing as  a  "rebate,"  on  salaries  of 
$60  a  week  and  over  and  a  five  per 
cent  reduction  on  salaries  under  $60. 
The  move,  voluntary  on  the  part  of 
306,  covers  all  theatres  in  the  Greater 
New  York  zone. 

The  plan  provides  the  full  salaries 
are  to  be  paid  each  week.  The  oper- 
ator will  then  turn  over  the  rebate 
to  the  theatre  manager,  securing  a 
receipt  which  is  to  be  forwarded  to 
306  headquarters  for  "present  and  fu- 
ture reference." 

The  savings  to  theatre  men  in  this 
zone  for  the  ten  weeks  involved  are 
computed  at  $100,000  at  union  head- 
quarters. 


Long  Union  Battle 
Ends  at  Portland 

Portland — After  bickering  for 
almost  two  years,  the  Operators' 
union,  local  159,  and  Colonel  Wood- 
law,  owner  of  the  Circle  and  Colum- 
bia theatres,  have  finally  reached  an 
agreement,  and  union  operators  are 
again  on  the  job  in  tliese  two  sub- 
sequent   run   houses. 


Allow  50,000  Feet  of 
Film  in  N,  Y.  Booths 

(Continued  from,  page    1) 

Theatre  Owners  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, has  been  advocating  the  new 
fire  ordinance.  If  the  new  ordinance 
had  been  rejected  it  would  have 
meant  the  closing  of  every  theatre  in 
the  state.  Many  houses  have  been  op- 
erating on  appeals  granted  when  the 
fire  department  recently  began  a 
spirited  enforcement  of  the  old  code. 
The  Paramount  and  Warner  studios 
in  New  York  have  also  been  affected, 
having  recently  experienced  investi- 
gations by  the  fire  department  and 
also  summoned  to  court  for  violations. 

The  new  code  recommended  by  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  will  be  ^iyen 
Thursday  to  the  mayor  who  is  ex- 
pected to  sign  it. 

Movement  for  changes  in  the  fire 
code  was  started  in  March,  1930,  and 
its  adoption  for  New  York  is  ex- 
pected to  set  an  example  for  the 
State  and  entire  country. 


Burger  to  Mexico 

The  call  of  the  Nomad  has  gotten 
Sam  Burger.  He  has  just  returned 
from  a  lengthy  trip  to  Australia  and 
now  he's  scheduled  to  hie  himself  to 
Mexico  City  for  a  few  weeks.  He's 
slated   to   leave  these   parts   June    14. 


Benson  Dies  in  L.  A. 

Lo.s  Angeles — S.  E.  Benson,  man- 
ager of  the  local  United  Artists  ex- 
change,   died    suddenly    of   heart    dis- 


Harry  Cohn  Is 
Pivotal  Man 
In  Col.  Wage 


(Continued   from   page    1) 

parable  to  last  year,  salary  increases 
will  be  made  b\-  tl)e  end  of  the  \ear. 
He  also  said  he  wants  the  sales  force 
to   ilictate    company    policies. 


Convention  Ended 

CiiKAGO — Meetings  of  individual  ex 
change  sales  forces  wound  up  Colum- 
bia's sales  convention  here  Tuesday. 

Columbia  Pays  Dividend 

Columbia  Pictures'  regular  quar- 
terly dividend  of  75  cents  on  preferred 
stock   was   payable   yesterday. 


German  Films  in  50 
Metropolitan  Spots 

(Continued  from    paae    1) 

tan,  Belmont,  Mecca,  14th  Street, 
Cameo,  Bohemian  Annex,  Plaza,  Little 
Carnegie,  Warners  in  Manhattan.  The 
Beacon  will  shortly  inaugurate  Satur- 
day midnight  shows  with  foreign 
talkers. 

Other  houses  going  in  for  lingual 
films  are  the  Little.  Newark ;  Bergen, 
North  Bergen ;  Temple,  Union  City ; 
Pastime,  Jersey  City ;  Bishop,  Ho- 
boken ;  Star,  Staten  Island,  and  Na- 
tional, Jersey  City. 


Milwaukee  Showmen 
Force  Review  Change 

(Continued   from    page    1) 

with  any  newspaper,  threw  a  larger 
portion  of  their  amusement  copy  over 
to  the  Ncivs  in  exchange  for  two  daily 
pages  of  theatre  news. 

Indications  are  that  Fox  will  also 
revert  to  its  former  policy  of  dividing 
its  copy  equally  in  the  near  future. 
Local  exhibitors  have  succeeded  in 
abolishing  the  star  and  ace,  king,  queen 
and  jack  ratings  used  by  the  Mil- 
zcaiikee  Sentinel  and  the  Journal,  re- 
spectively. Both  papers  continue  to 
feature  reviews,  but  haye  stopped 
using  these  identifications. 


Slammed  Again 

Pittsburgh — Hollywood  and  "the 
movies"  were  among  the  many  things 
generally  disliked  by  delegates  to  the 
Presbyterian  general  assembly,  the 
proceedings  of  which  would  have  made 
an  ideal   "action  talker." 

"We  are  witnessing  a  recrudesence 
of  paganism  with  Hollywood  blazing 
the  way,"  was  one  gem  from  the  re- 
port. An  attack  was  also  made  on 
billboards  that  display  "alluringly  at- 
tractive young  women"  who  have 
"found  something  better  than  mar- 
riage." 


Rob  Portland  Theatre 

Portland — Cracksmen  forced  open 
the  vault  in  the  Fox  Hollywood  and 
escaned  with  the  holiday  receipts  of 
$1,200. 


Studio    and    Location 
Sound  on  Film  Recording 

Low    Dally    or   Weekly    Rates 
Powers  Cinephone  Equipment  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE.,  N.  Y.     BRyanf  9-6067 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  4 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  4,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Cooper  Plot  VS. 

British  Films, 

Is  Changed 

10  D  E  Protests  Alleged 
Ban  on  British  Films 


Halifax,  N.  S.  —  Charging  that 
British  films  were  being  bought  by 
those  in  control  of  the  picture  busi- 
ness in  Canada  so  that  they  would  be 
placed  on  the  shelf  and  remain  there 
permanently,  the  Imperial  Order  of 
the  Daughters  of  the  Empire  attacked 
Col.  John  A.  Cooper  in  its  report  at 
the  annual  convention  here.  The 
declaration  was  made  that  the  pur- 
chase of  British  films  intended  for  the 
Canadian  market  was  a  sure  way  of 
insuring   their  failure. 

The  report  described  at  length  the 
acceptance    of    an    invitation    by    Col. 

(Continued   on    page   8) 


Jam  on  Permits  to 
Show  Vaude  Looms 

Exhibitors  operating  theatres  in 
New  York  will  have  to  forego  sum- 
mer stage  attractions  if  those  houses 
are  not  built  for  presentations.  .A-n 
order  handed  down  yesterday  by  the 
New  York  City  license  commissioner 
states  that  unless  theatres  playing 
vaudeville  during  the  summer  have  the 
necessary  permits,  operating  licenses 
will  be  revoked.  This  means  that  a 
large  number  of  houses  in  this  terri- 

(Continued   on   paqe   8) 

That  Allied  Snarl 
Up  in  Jersey  Today 

Another  meeting  of  New  Jersey 
theatre  owners  is  slated  for  today  in 
an  attempt  to  settle  the  question  of 
what  to  do  about  Allied.  Some  mem- 
bers feel  that  there  is  too  much  at 
stake  to  let  protection  and  film  buying 
drop  without  an  effort  to  fight  them. 

Some  contend  that  principal  reason 
for  joining  -Allied  was  to  have  the 
national    organization    come    to    Jer- 

(Contimied   on   page   8) 


Quitting;  Clara  Denies 

Hollywood — Clara  Bow  denies  suggestion  of  B.  P.  Schulberg  that 
she  is  retiring  from  the  screen.  She  says  she  has  two  offers  from 
other  producers  and  that  she  will  be  glad  to  get  a  release  from 
her  Paramount  contract  which  has  two  pictures  to  go,  feeling  it 
"better  to  be  free  of  all  contracts  until  I  am  better." 

Paramount  had  been  holding  up  production  of  "Manhandled" 
awaiting  Clara's  recovery.   She  suffered  her  breakdown  last  month. 


K.C.  Merger 
Alters  Zone 
Complexion 


Kansas  City — Complexion  of  the 
competitive  situation  here  and  in  other 
key  spots  of  the  territory  changes 
considerably  July  when  the  Dubinsky 
and  Publix  houses  are  merged  under 
operation  of  the  Dubinsky  Brothers. 
The  deal  was  completed  Wednesday. 
Included  are  the  Newman  and  Royal, 
Publix  first  runs  here,  and  the  Lib- 
erty and  Regent  which  the  brothers 
'lave  operated  for  years. 

Ed   Dubinsky  will  be  president  and 

{Continued   on    page    2) 


Carey  to  Star  in 
Eight  for  Artclass 

Artclass  yesterday  signed  Harry 
Carey  to  star  in  a  series  of  eight  pic- 
tures to  be  staterighted  under  the 
brand  name  of  "Super  Epics." 

This  increases  the  company's  line-up 
for  the  new  season  to  20  features  in 
three  series.  In  addition  to  the  Carey 
oictures,  six  will  be  sold  as  "Stand- 
ard Star  Series"  and  six  as  "Stand- 
ard  Supreme  Series." 

Louis  Weiss  leaves  for  Hollywood 
in  ten  days  on  an  extended  trip. 


N.Y.  Operator 
Unions  Feel 
Merger  Urge 

Negotiations  are  understood  to  be 
under  way  for  the  merging  of  oper- 
ators' unions  Local  300  and  Empire 
State.  The  two  have  been  competing 
with  each  other  for  the  last  year  with 
the  first  insisting  on  two  men  in  a 
booth  while  the  latter  demands  at 
least  one  operator  and  an  assistant. 
The  scale  of  both  unions  varies  at 
least  50  per  cent,  it  is  said.  Empire 
State  has  over  100  members  in  its 
organization  and  leaders  of  the  union 

(Continued   on   pane   81 

Where's  Depression 
Demands  Plunkett 

"What's  all  the  depression  talk 
about?"  asked  Joe  Plunkett  yester- 
day. He's  been  abroad  for  a  number 
of  weeks,  returned  to  New  York  on 
Tuesday  and  found  the  "blues"  were 
riding  in  the  ascendancy. 

"I'm  going  to  shoot  more  pep  into 
my  boys.  This  seems  to  be  the  time 
to'  do  it.  .A.broad  they  are  far  more 
bullish  on  optimism  than  they  are 
here.  When  business  is  bad  in  Eng- 
land, they  don't  say  it  will  remain  that 

(Continued   on    page   8) 


Circuit  Deals 
Hang  As  Indie 
Theatres  Sign 

Subsequent  Accounts  Are 
Sold  Ahead  of  1st  Run 


With  the  new  selling  season  well 
under  way,  subsequent  runs  are  being 
contacted  and  signed  up  by  exchanges 
pending  outcome  of  national  circuit 
deals  handled  by  their  home  offices. 
Deals  with  independents  for  second 
and  subsequent  runs  are  reported  be- 
ing closed  in  every  territory  of  the 
country,  exchanges  being  aware  of 
local    first   runs    contracts    in   work. 

This  development  is  meeting  no  op- 
position since  protection  granted  to 
circuits  is  considered  sufficient  to  pro- 
tect their  first  runs. 


New  Canadian  Budget  to 
Boost  Duty  on  Negatives 


Schwartz,  Yiddish 
Actor,  in  Talkers 

Abe  Leff,  Bronx  exhibitor,  has 
signed  Maurice  Schwartz,  Jewish 
stage  actor  for  a  talker.  In  addition 
to  the  feature,  Lefif  will  make  a  num- 
ber of  Jewish  shorts.  The  pictures 
will  be  made  in  an  eastern  studio  with 
casts  and  director  now  being  assem- 
bled. Leff  himself  will  handle  the 
pictures  nationally. 


Ottawa — Eilms  are  affected,  but 
not  to  a  degree  as  great  as  other  in- 
dustries, by  the  Bennett  budget  Sales 
ta.x  increase  of  from  one  t>  four  per 
:ent  does  not  embrace  pictures  be- 
cause they  are  rented,  not  sold,  but 
'he  proposed  increase  is  applicable  to 
posters  and  other  accessories. 

The  application  of  an  excise  tax  of 
one  per  cent  on  the  value  of  all  im- 
ported goods  will  add  to  the  cost  of 
negative  prints  entering  Canada  from 
other  countries,  the  arbitrary  valua- 
tion   for    duty    purposes    having    been 


eight  cents  per  foot  on  negatives.  This 
excise  tax  is  in  addition  to  the  regu- 
lar duty.  Comparatively  little  positive 
is  imported,  the  printing  being  done 
in    the    Dominion. 

There  also  are  general  features, 
such  as  a  one  cent  stamp  tax  on  all 
letters,  stamp  tax  on  all  checks  and 
an  income  tax  increase  of  two  per  cent 
on  corporation  taxes.  A  duty  of  IS 
cents  per  pound  on  foreign  periodicals 
may  not  be  applied  to  film  periodicals 
if  they  qualify  separately.  The  new 
tarifif  becomes  effective  Julv   1. 


Receiver  for  Lab 
Firms  Promised 

Supreme  Court  Justice  James  C. 
Cropsey  in  Brooklyn  declared  Wed- 
nesday he  will  appoint  a  permanent 
receiver  to  take  over  the  assets  _  of 
Intercontinental  Film  Laboratories, 
Inc.  and  Duplex  Motion  Picture  In- 
lustries,  after  a  long  line  of  witnesses 
had  testified  to  large  sums  of  money 
they  said  they  had  lost  exchanging 
Duplex  stwk  for  stock  of  Interconti- 
nental. 

Frederick  F.  Watson,  one  of  the 
defendants  and  president  of  Intercon- 
tinental, said  he  had  gone  to  Long 
Island  City  at  the  request  of  Frank 
H.  Hibberd,  president  of  Duplex.  Fol- 

(Continued  on  page   8) 


Rochester  Dropping 
22  from  Orchestra 

Rochester,  N.  Y. — Loew's  Roches- 
ter, 4,000-seat  house  and  biggest  thea- 
tre here,  has  cut  its  pit  orchestra 
from  40  to  18  pieces  for  the  summer. 
The  13-piece  stage  band  under  direc- 
tion of  Leonard  Campbell  was  left 
intact.  Campbell  became  director  of 
the    pit    orchestra    in    the    absence    of 

(Continued   on    page   8) 


68  Members  Now  in 
Oregon  Allied  Unit 

Portland — Northwest  unit  of  Al- 
'ied  has  in  good  standing  68  members 
with  102  theatres,  it  was  reported  at 
the  convention  here.  Eight  other 
members,  who  have  ten  theatres  now 
are  in  arrears.  Discussion  of  prod- 
uct, industry  practices  and  problems 
occupied  the  two-day  sessions. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,     June     4,      1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Fortnerl\    Exhibitors    Daily    Rexiew 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


liiin-   4.    1931 


No.    4 


Martin    Quiglev 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^-^  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
iVj  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V<|^    Daily,   Inc.,   a   Quigley   Publication, 

Al  at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacifia  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   \V.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    v.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Graham  Collapses  on 
Rochester  Stage;  Dies 

RcK'HESTicK,  N.  Y. — Cecil  Graham, 
.said  to  be  the  only  rope  jumping  tap 
(lancer  in  the  world  and  player  with 
Loew's  unit.s,  died  in  Genesee  Hospi- 
tal here  a  few  days  after  he  had 
collapsed  ofT-stage  at  the  Rochester 
from  double  pneumonia.  He  had  in- 
sisted on  playing  despite  advice  of 
fellow  actors  not  to  go  on.  He  was 
29  years  old  and  a  resident  of  King- 
ston, Jamaica.  The  entire  company 
paid  him  homage  at  an  undertaking 
parlor  before  the  remains  were  shipped 
to  Xew  York  in  charge  of  his  broth- 
er,   Herbert,  of   that  city. 


Rothafel,  Sarnoff 
Pay  Seattle  Visit 

Skattle — S.  L.  ("Roxy")  Rotha- 
fel  and  David  Sarnofif  spent  a  day  in 
this  city  en  route  East  and  looked 
over  the  local  RKO  interests.  Roxy 
was  given  wide  publicity  in  the  local 
newspapers,  and  appeared  as  "guest 
conductor"  of  the  symphony  orches- 
tra at  radio  station  KOMO  the  eve- 
ning of  his  visit  here.  Their  trip  to 
this  city  was  declared  to  be  "just  a 
friendly  visit"  with  no  particular 
business   in  mind. 


Gilda,  Gary  to  Give 
Ampanics  Real  Treat 

There'll  be  a  treat  for  both  the 
boys  and  girls  at  the  A.  \r.  P.  A. 
luncheon  today,  for  Gilda  Gray  and 
fiary  Cooper  will  be  present.  Lots 
of  action  is  looked  for.  Others  on 
the  honored  guest  list  are  Ethel  Nor- 
ris,  star  of  "Crazy  Quilt."  and  Sam 
JafFe  and  Siegfried  Rumann  of 
"The  Grand  Hotel"  cast.  Miss  Xor- 
ris  has  just  been  signed  by  Fox. 


Mrs.  Lasky  Exhibits 

LoNDO.N-  —  Mrs.  Jesse  Lasky  has 
opened  an  exhibition  of  49  of  Ikt  own 
paintings  here. 


Sullivan  Here 

Jack  Sullivan,  film  buyer  for  Fox 
West  Coast  Theatres,  is  in  N'ew 
York.    Annual  buying  trip. 


THE  return-ot-the-nanie-nioveiiient  is  gaining  impetus  in  two  direc- 
tions on  Broadway.  The  Capitol  is  endeavoring  to  bulwark  busi- 
ness with  attractions  like  Vincent  Lopez,  Helen  Kane,  Kate  Smith,  and 
George  Jessel.  Down  Broadway,  the  Paramount  is  doing  ditto.  And 
over  the  bridge  tomorrow  Clayton,  Jackson  and  Durante  do  a  week's 
turn  at  the  Brooklyn  Paramount. 

• 
They  do  insist  that  more  and  more  theatres   are  to  be   returned  to 
more  and  more  independents  by  more  and  more  circuits. 

• 
That  shimmering  and  closely  fitting  wliite  evening  gown  of  Norma 
Shearer's  in  "A  Free  Soul"  caused  some  eyes  to  open  at  the  Astor  t'other 
night. 

• 
It  isn't  onlv  the  sky  that's  blue  these  days. 

• 
Two  circuit  operators  who  have  no  interest  in  it  other  than  the  chance 
to  make  money,  said  yesterday  that  "Daddy  Long  Legs"  should  be  big 
at  the  b.  o.    Neither  one  of  them  is  connected  with  Fox. 

• 
Some  resentment  is  being  expressed  in  distributing  circles  over  the 
inference  drawn  from  the  newspaper  stories  which  were  printed  on  the 
closing  of  the  Rialto,  New  York  long  run  house.  The  closing  was  an- 
nounced as  due  to  unavalability  of  suitable  pictures  for  the  house.  Some 
felt  this  was  misleading  and  dangerous  information  to  hand  out  to  the 
public,  it  being  said  that  some  competing  firms  with  their  Broadway 
show-windows  would  take  the  position  that  they  should  have  been  ex- 
cepted from  what  was  regarded  as  a  general  indictment  of  pictures  and 
the  picture  business. 

Lots  of  gossip  making  the  rounds  about  Walter  Wanger.  Some  say 
he's  to  remain  at  Paramount  and  there  are  others  who  say  not.  He 
couldn't  be  reached  yesterday  for  a  statement. 


Frisch-Rinzler  Get 
17th  in  Brooklyn 

Increasing  their  Brooklyn  circuit  to 
17,  Louis  Frisch  and  Sam  Rinzler  have 
taken  over  the  Culver  and  Beverly 
from  Fox.  The  other  15  houses,  like- 
wise, were  acquired  from  the  same 
circuit. 


Changes  Name 

Alb.w'y — Beacon  Film  Company  of 
Manhattan  has  been  changed  to 
Beacon  Films. 


Griffiths  W  B  Director 
Seen  as  Merger  Move 

London — Election  to  the  Warner 
board  of  _R.  E.  Griffiths  of  Pathe- 
First  National  is  regarded  in  some 
quarters  of  the  trade  as  a  forerunner 
of  a  plan  to  merge  the  exchanges  of 
tiie  two  companies. 


An  exchange  merger  of  Warners 
and  First  National-Pathe  in  England 
is  regarded  as  "silly"  by  the  Warner 
home  office. 


K.C.  Merger 
Alters  Zone 
Complexion 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
general  manager  of  the  new  organiza- 
tion which  will  be  called  Publix- 
Uubinsky  Brothers  Theatres.  His 
three  brothers,  Barney,  Irwin  and 
William,  will  be  associated  with  him 
in  its  management.  When  the  change 
of  management  goes  into  effect  July 
5,  the  Liberty  automatically  will  be- 
come a  first  run  house  while  the  Royal 
will  take  over  the  Liberty's  second 
run  policy. 

No  money  changed  hands  in  the 
deal,  the  Dubinsky's  joining  fourteen 
houses  they  owned  in  Missouri  and 
Kansas  with  five  owned  by  Para- 
mount-PuljIix  in  a  straight  merger. 
The  Paramount-Publix  houses  are  the 
Newman  and  Royal  in  Kansas  City, 
the  Electric  in  Kansas  City,  Kansas, 
and  the  Paramount  in  Springfield  and 
Joplin.  The  Dubinsky  houses  are  the 
Regent  and  Liberty  here  and  houses 
in  Leavenworth,  Jefferson  City,  Ful- 
ton and  Missouri  points. 


Week  Closing  Policy 
New  Hal  Roach  Plan 

Culver  City — Hal  Roach's  studio 
closes  Saturday  for  one  week  under 
the  new  policy  of  closing  one  week  in 
each  five,  rather  than  the  usual  two 
months'  annual  closing. 


Stock  Issue  Rally;  W.  B,  Pfd.  Jumps  3^2 

Net 

Hi^h      Low      Close  Change  Sales 

fonsolidated     Film     Industries 4^4          3M          4  600 

Consolidated    Film    Ind.    pfd 12            11            12  -|-  ;4  1.300 

Eastman    Kodak     124^      118          \2AVi  +2'/^  17,200 

Fox    Film    "A"    1654        135/g        \Wa  -^Wi  18,700 

Gen'eral    Theatre    Equiri,    new 4             35^          ZYu  +14  5,900 

Txiew's    Inc 39^        3614        39Vn  -(-3  9,500 

Paramount     Publix     22'/^        2054        22i/4  -f234  13,300 

Pathe     Exchange     154          1              15^  +  Vi  500 

Pathe   Exchange   "A"    .3-5^          3             35^  -\-  V>.  300 

RKO     13            1154        12?4  -1-154  24,700 

Warner    Bros 754          5.54          75i  +W2  16,000 

Warner   Bros,    pfd 20?4        1854        203^  -1-354  4,900 

Curb  List  Slightly  Irregular 

Net 

High      Low      Close  Change  Sales 

Fox    Theatres    "A"     25^          25^          fA  200 

General   Theatre    Equip,   pfd 5^          55^          55^  4-5^  1,500 

National    Screen    Service    WA        19'A        1954  —  ?4  100 

■^errtry    .Safety    Control 1               1               1  800 

Technicolor     554          45^          554  -1-114  500 

Trans    Lux     6Vg          554          6Vf.  +1  700 

Bonds  Steady;  W,  B.  Gains  SV2 

Net 

High      Low      Close  Change  Sales 

Ceneral   Theatre    Equip.    6s    '40 2854        25            2754  +254  20 

Ix)ew's    6s    '41    ex    war 95^4        95?^        95^  10 

Paramount    Broadway    554s    '51 101          100^      101  4 

Paramount   F.    L.   6s   '47 79           78           78  —1  5 

Paramount    Publix    S54s    '50 69?^        69^        69%  +%  4 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 80           80           80  -\-  V>.  10 

Warner    ITros.  6s  '39  wd 38           3454       38  4-354  16 


Cinicof  Gets  Five 

Lazarus  Houses 

HoLLVwooi) — Harvey  Cinicof  has 
taken  over  S.  M.  Lazarus'  Circle  The- 
atre Circuit.  J.  J.  Franklin  had  been 
dickering  for  the  houses.  Cinicof  also 
has  acquired  the  Spreckles  at  San  Di- 
ego, to  add  to  the  five  houses  com- 
prising the  circuit. 


Vaude  Bills  Reduced 

San  Francisco — Vaudeville  acts 
have  been  cut  to  four  from  eight  at 
the  RKO  Golden  Gate. 


Make  Frisco  Cuts 

San  Francisco — Two  employes 
were  let  out  in  the  Warner  economy 
program  at  the  local  Warner,  where 
salaries  of  all  employes  were  cut 
from   10  to  20  per  cent. 


Pathe  Signs  Duryea 

[loLLYwoon. — George  Duryea  has 
been  signed  for  a  series  of  six  west- 
erns for  RKO  Pathe. 


Blessed  Events 

Hollywood — Mrs.  George  Fitz- 
maurice  is  the  mother  of  twins,  a  boy 
and  a  girl. 


Goulding  in  Paris 

Paris — Edmund  Goulding  is  here 
from  New  York  to  confer  with  Rob- 
ert T.  Kane  on  Paraniount's  Join- 
vilie  i)roduction  activities. 


Mix  Is  "U"  Star 

Uxiveksal  City — Universal  has 
signed  Tom  Mix  for  a  series  of  west- 
erns. 


a 


MR.  ROS§ 

HAS  TH  ^' 

FLOOR!" 


^^To  all  brother  exhibitors 

We  have  just  finished  playingTRADER  HORN 
at  our  DurfeeTheatre,  Fall  River,  Mass.,  and  after 
a  very  successful  run  played  to  capacity  business, 
we  are  bringing  the  picture  back  for  a  return 
engagement.  It  is  my  honest,  serious,  and  candid 
opinion  that  any  exhibitor  who  does  not  play 
this  picture  is  not  only  losing  money,  but  is  de- 
priving his  community  of  seeing  the  best  thrill 
picture  that  has  ever  been  shown/^ 

(signed)  C. H.ROSS,  Manager, DurfeeTheatre,  FALL  RIVER,  MASS. 


Aund/LtdA 


^na^Loc/ynjMi^^      ^^^^^nximA^ 


*rVE  SEEN  ALL  PROGRAMS  OFFERED  BD 


h^: 


I'M     PROUD     TO     BE     ONE 


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Wires      A»      C.     Hayman 
New     Lafayette     Theatr^ 
Buffalo,     N.     Y. 


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E     AS     WISE    AS     HAYMAN  — GE 


-^  i  1931 
^  SEP,,  ^°^"^es  COD,- 


//^# 


SET     WITH     COLUMBIA     NOW! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,     June     4,      1 93  ( 


Oklahoma  City  "Secret  Six," 
Theatres  Take  "Seed"  Denver 
It  on  the  Chin      Topnotchers 


(^Ki.,\ii().M.\  City — AniusenK-nt  parks 
reported  increased  business  during  the 
past  week,  merchants  reported  huge 
l)urchases  of  spring  and  linery — and 
exhibitors  reported  rotten  business.  In 
fact,  not  one  theatre  chalked  up  a 
normal  intake  for  the  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  Mav  29 : 

"TARNISHED   LADY"    (Para.) 

CAPITOL -(1.2ai),  10c-25c-.?5c,  7  >lavs. 
Gross:    Sfi.500.     (Average.    $7.(XX). ) 

"SHIPMATES"   (M-G-M) 
CRITERION  -(1,800),   10c-35c-50c,   7   days. 
Gross:  $5,500.     (.Average,  $8,000.) 

"LION  AND  LAMB"   (Col.) 
LIBERTY  —  (1.. 500),    10c-lSc-.?5c.    3 
Gross:   $600.     (.\verage  for  week,  $3,500.) 
"MEET   THE   WIFE"    (CoL) 
LIBERTY— (1.500),    lCc-15c-3Se,    4    days. 
Gross:  $700.     (Average   for  week.  $3. .500.) 
"YOUNG  SINNERS"  (Fox) 
MID-WE.ST— (1.500).      10c-25c-35c-50c,     7 
(lavs.     Gross:    $4,500.     (Average,    $7,500.) 
"PARTY   HUSBAND"   (F.   N.) 
WARNER  — (1.700).    10c-35c-50c,    7    days. 
Vaudeville.    Gross:  $6,700.    (Average,  $7,600.) 


days. 


99 


"Trader  Horn 

$12,000  Over 

Par  in  S.  F. 

Sax  Francisco — "Trader  Horn" 
and  "Subway  Express"  split  honors 
here  last  week,  the  former  getting  the 
excellent  figure  of  $31,000  ($12,000 
above  par)  at  the  Paramount  and  the 
Columbia  film  boosting  the  Golden 
Gate's  average  $4,000  to  $19,000. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  ledger, 
"Too  Young  to  Marry"  went  $2,000 
below  normal  at  the  Warfield,  and 
•  "Other  Men's  Women"  $6,500  under 
at  the  California.  The  other  first- 
runs  in  town  were  satisfied  with  lousi- 
ness. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  Mav  26: 

"SUBWAY  EXPRESS"  (Col.) 
GOLDEN    GATE- (2,800).   35c-40c-SOc-65c, 
7  days.     Eight  acts  RKO  vaudeville.  Gross: 
$19,000.     (Average.   $15.(X)0.) 

Week  Ending  May  27 

"DOCTORS'    WIVES"    (Fox) 

EL  CAPITAN-(3,100).  25c-'«)c-60c,  7  days. 
Jay  Brower  band,  stage  show.  Gross: 
$14,000.      (Average.     $13,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S   KID"   (Radio) 

ORPHEUM  (3.fm).  25c-35c-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $15.(X,0.     (.\veragc.    $12,000.) 

"TOO  YOUNG  TO  MARRY"  (F.  N.) 

WARFIELD  (2.70O),  50c-65c-90c,  7  days. 
Riibe  Wolf  band,  F.  &  M.  stage  revue. 
Grocs:  $19,fXX).     (Average.  $21,000.) 

Week  Ending  May  28 

"OTHER  MEN'S  WOMEN"  (Warners) 

CALIFORNIA  — (2.315),  3.5c-50c,  7  days 
Gross:    SH.iO').     (Average.    $15.(KX).) 

"SIX   CYLINDER  LOVE"    (Fox) 

FOX— (4.(/X)),  5t'c-65c-75c-$l.  6  days.  .Stage 
show,  Walt  Roesner  concert.  Gross:  $30,0()0 
(Average   for  7  days.  $34,000.) 

"PUBLIC  ENEMY"    (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.  -  (1,385),  35c-50c.  7 
days,  second  week.  Cross:  $9,10(X  (Aver- 
age,  $l0..5fX). ) 

Week  Ending  May  29 
"TRADER  HORN"   (M-G-M) 

Param-nint  (2,740).  3Sc  ;i0c-65c-90c  7 
flays.  Jess  Stafford's  band.  Gross:  $31,000. 
(Average,    S\'J.(xn.) 


Baseball  Lures  Fans 

Dknnkk— Since  it  is  playing  base- 
ball at  night,  the  local  Western 
League  Club  is  making  an  efTort  to 
■win  the  movie   fans. 


De.wkr — Warm  weather  and  the 
opening  of  the  fishing  season  did  not 
help  business  at  the  de  luxers.  For 
the  first  time  in  more  than  a  year  a 
picture  was  vanked  before  the  week 
was  up — "The  Hot  Heiress"  being 
pulled  after  three  days  at  the  Rialto, 
"Finn  and  Hattie"  being  substituted. 
''The  Secret  Six"  and  "Seed"  hit  the 
above-average  mark  bv  $1,500  and 
$1,000,  respectivelv. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing  May   28 : 

"THE  SECRET  SIX"  (M-G-M) 

DENVER-(2.,W1).  25c-35c-65c,  7  days. 
Publix  stage  show,  Denver  Cirande  orches- 
tra. Gross:  $16. .500.  (Average.  $15.00.) 
"SEED"  (Univ.) 
HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1,500),  35c- 
50c-75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 
HUFFMAN'S     TABOR- (1.900).     2Sc-35c- 
SOc.      7     days.      Gross:      SHO.OOJ.      (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"TARNISHED  LADY"   (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,000),       25c-35c-S0c,       7 
days.    Gross:    $11,000.    (Average.    $11,000.) 
"THE  HOT  HEIRESS"   (F.  N.) 
RIALTO-(1.040),      25c-3.5c-50c.      3      days. 
Gross:     $750.      (Average   for   week,   $3,750.) 
"FINN  AND  HATTIE"  (Para.) 
RIALTO— (1.040),      25c-35c-50c,      4      days. 
Gross:    $1,750     (Average    for    week.    $3,750.) 


"Viking"  Real 
Draw  in  Poor 
Philly  Week 

Philadelphia — With  the  advent  of 
hot  weather,  box-office  grosses  took 
a  decided  slump  here  and  gave  the 
managers  cause  for  worry.  Even  pic- 
tures that  had  proved  to  be  big 
money-makers  elsewhere  took  nose- 
dives. One  of  the  pictures  to  show 
real  strength  was  "The  Viking,"  the 
Frissell  Arctic  films,  which  took  in 
$6,500  in  four  days  at  the  Chestnut, 
a  good  figure  for  that  house. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  28 : 

"SKIPPY"    (Para.) 

ARCADIA  —  (600).    50c.    4    days.      Gross: 
$2,000.     (Average,    for    6    davs.    $3.C<10. ) 
"DOCTORS'    WIVES"    (Fox) 
ARCADIA  —  (600).    50c.    2    davs.      Gross: 
$1,000,     (Average    for   6   days.    $3,000.) 
"SEED"    (Univ.) 
BOYD— (2,400),  35c-50c-75c,  7  davs.     Gross: 
$13,000.     (Average.   $18,000.) 

"THE  VIKING"    (Masterpiece) 
CHEST?v!UT— (1.860).    35c-50c-75c.    4   davs. 
Gross:    $6,500. 

"THE    LADY    REFUSES"    (Radio) 
EARLE-(2.000),    25c-65c,   6   days.      Eight 
acts    vaudeville.     Gross:    $19,000.     (Average, 
$1,S,000.) 

"YOUNG  SINNERS"   (IFox) 
FOX  -(3.000),    .3.Sc-50c-7.5c,    6    davs.     Stage 
show.     Gross:   $20,000.     (Average.   $26,000.) 
"INDISCREET"    (U.   A.) 
KARLTON- (1.000),  40c-.50c,  6  days.   Gross: 
$5,000.     (Average.   $5,000.) 

"TARNISHED   LADY"    (Para.) 
KEITH'S  — (1.800),     ,3.5c-.50c-75c.     4     days. 
Gross:  $8,000.     (Average  for  6  days,  $15,000.) 
"CITY  STREETS"   Para.) 
KEITH'S- (1.800).     3.5c -.50c -7,5c,     2    days. 
Gross:  SS.OOO.     (Average  fr.r  6  davs,  $15,000.) 
"BiG  BUSINESS  GIRL"   (F.  N.) 
MASTRAUM— (4.800),   35c-.50c-7,5c.  6  davs. 
Stage     show.       Gross:     .$,38,000.       (Average, 
$40.000, 1 

"THE  PUBLIC  ENEMY"   (Warners) 
STANLEY    -  (3.70O).    .35c-50c-7,5c.    6    davs. 
Gross:    $12,000.     (Average.    $18,0(X).) 
"NEVER   THE   TWAIN   SHALL   MEET" 
(M-G-M) 
STANTON-(I,7(iO),  25c-6Sc,  6  days.   Grosst 
f9,000.     (Average,   $11,000.) 


Where's  That  Kick? 

New  Orleans — Clara  Bow's 
"Kick  In,"  shown  at  the  Saen- 
ger,  set  a  new  low  for  atten- 
dance records  at  that  theatre, 
all  of  which  may  prove  some- 
thing or  nothing. 


Public  Enemy 
Is  a  Flop  in 
Omaha  Spot 


Omaha— The  surprise  of  the  week 
here  was  the  poor  record  of  "The 
Public  Enemy,"  which  took  in  only 
$5,250  at  the  World,  the  figure  be- 
ing below  $2,250  below  normal.  It 
was  a  poor  week  all  around,  however, 
"Shipmates"  being  the  film  to  go  over 
par — and  to  the  tune  of  $250. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29 : 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 
ORPHEUM— (3.000),    25c-35c-60c,    7    days. 
Four   acts    RKO    vaudeville.     Gross:    $14,500. 
(Average,   $14,500.) 

"SHIPMATES"    (M  G-M) 
PARAMOITNT— (2,900),    25c-:.0c-35c-6Cc,    7 
days.     Ooss:     $8,750.     (Average.     $8..500.) 
"FIFTY   MILLION   FRENCHMEN" 
(Warners) 
.ST.\TE— (1,200).  25c,  4  days. 
(Average,    $1,200.) 

"THE  LOTTERY  BRIDE 
STATE— (1.200).  2,5c.  3  days. 
(Average,    $900.) 


Gross:  $850. 

(U.  A.) 
Gross:  $750, 


'THE  PUBLIC  ENEMY"   (Warners) 

WORLD-(2.5()0),  25c-4()c,  7  days.  Orville 
Rennie  and  stage  liand.  Gross:  $5.25(1. 
(Average,    $7,500.) 


Only  One  Is 
Under  Normal 
In  K.  C.  Week 

Kansas  City — There  was  no  gloom 
in  theatre  circles  here  last  week,  for 
only  one  picture  went  below  average. 
"Bachelor  Apartment"  was  the  leader, 
taking  $16,500,  or  $1,500  over  nor- 
mal, at  the  Mainstreet.  "The  Secret 
Six"  was  a  close  second  with  an  av- 
erage of  $1,400  at  the  Midland,  the 
gross  being  $15,900, 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  30: 

"BACHELOR    APARTMENT"    (Radio) 

MAINSTREET— (3,067),   35c-60c.   7   days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $16,500.     (Average,    $15,000.) 
"THE    SECRET   SIX"    (M-G-M) 
MIDLAND- (4,000).  25c-50c.  7  days.   Gross: 
$15,900.     (Average.  $14,500.) 

"THE   MILLIONAIRE"    (Warners) 
NEWMAN-   (2.000),  25c-60c,  7  days.   Gross: 
$13, .500.     (Average.    $12,500.) 

"WOMAN    HUNGRY"    (F.N.) 
O'RPHEUM  —  (1.550),      20c.40c.      3      davs. 
Gross:    $2.,^00,     (Average,    $2,000,) 

"THE  LADY  REFUSES"   (Radio) 
ORPHEUM  — (1.5.50).      20c-40c.      4     days. 
Gross:   $i.>(*).     (Average.   $.1,000.) 

"SVFNGALI"    (Warners) 
ROYAL— (9(X)).    2,5c-<3()c,   7   days.      Gross: 
$4,500.     (Average.   $4.,50U.) 

"VIRTUOUS    HUSBAND"    (Univ.) 
UPTOWN     (2,200).  2.5c-,50c,  7  davs.     Gross: 
$5,4(X)      (Average.     $6,000.) 


Dressier  in  ''Emma" 

I  loi.i.'i WOOD — Marie  Dressier  will 
appear  in  "P!mma,"  an  original  by 
l-'rances  Marion.  The  picture  will  go 
into   production   shortly. 


44 


Front  Page" 
Is  Held  Over 
In  Montreal 


MoNTRE.\L — "The  I'ront  Page"  at 
the  Princess  drew  $15,500,  in  spite  of 
hot  days,  and  Manager  Tom  Cleary 
decided  to  hold  it  over.  This  total 
was  $2,500  ove'  -iverage  and  good 
enough ! 

George  Rotsk)  offered  "Trader 
Horn"  at  the  Palace  after  it  had 
played  two  weeks  as  a  road  show  and 
took  in  the  house  average  of  $14,000, 
while  Manager  James  Adams  almost 
equalled  average  at  Loew's  with  $12,- 
500  on  "It's  a  Wise  Child"  on  the 
screen  and  Frances  "vVhite  as  the 
vaudeville  headliner.  The  Capitol 
was  a  shade  off  with  a  twin  bill  con- 
sisting of  "Bachelor  Apartments"  and 
"Cracked  Nuts,"  Manager  (jene  Cur- 
tis counting  $11,500,  as  compared 
with  the  house  average  of  $12,500, 

The  Imperial  was,  as  usual,  taking 
to  $3,800  on  a  double  fare  made  up 
of  "Aloha"  and  "Virtuous  Husband," 
which  total  was  about  equal  to  re- 
cent weeks.  The  Strand  made  a 
special  feature  of  "The  Finger 
Points"  as  a  single  attraction  in  place 
of  the  usual  double  bill  and  the  re- 
turns totalled  $3,400,  below  the  line. 
Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  Mav  29 : 

"BACHELOR  APARTMENT"  (Radio)  and 
"CRACKED    NUTS"    (Radio) 
CAPITOL— (2,670),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $11,500.      (Average.    $112,500.) 

"ALOHA"    (Tiff.)    and    "VIRTUOUS 

HUSBAND"    (Univ.) 
L\IPERIAI.^(1,914),    15c-25c-40c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $3,800.      (Average,    $5,100.) 

"IT'S  A  WISE  CHILD"   (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S— (2,982),      25c-4flc-50c-65c-75c,      7 
days.        Five      vaudeville      acts,      featuring 
Frances    White.     Gross:   $12„5(X).      (Average, 
$13.(XM.) 

"TRADER  HORN"   (M-G-M) 
PALACE— (2,600),      25c-40c-6Oc-75c-99c,      7 
days.    Previously  road-showed.     Gross:  $14,- 
000.      (Average,    $14,000.) 

"THE    FRONT    PAGE"    (U.    A.) 
PRINCESS— (2,272).  25c-35c-40c-50c-60c-65c. 
7    days.    Gross:    $:i5,50O.    (Average,    $13,000.) 
Held    over    for    second    week. 

"THE  FINGER  POINTS"   (1F.N.) 
STRAND— (750),    15c -2.5c -40c -50c,   7   days. 
Gross:    $3,400.      (Average.   $4,000.) 


"^Sinners"  Is 
Week's  Best 
In  Charlotte 

Ch.\rlotte — Box-office  receipts  con- 
tinued at  a  high  level  with  the  first 
week  of  real  summer  weather,  "Young 
Sinners"  being  the  week's  leader  with 
$(1,250  as  against  an  average  of 
$5,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending   Mav   v30 : 

"GOD'S    GIFT    TO    WOMEN"    (Warners) 

BKOADWAY-  (1.167).  2.5c-3.5c-50c.  3  da>s. 
Gross:    $4,2.50.     (Average,    $3,5(X).) 

"PUBLIC   ENEMY"    (Warners) 
BROADWAY     (1.167),  2.5c-.3.5c-.SOc.  3  da>^. 
Gross:    $1,250.     (Average.    $3,500.) 

"YOUNG  SINNERS"   (Fox) 
CAROLINA       (1.441),     40c-50c,     3     day^. 
Gross:    $6,250.     (Average.    $5,51X).) 

"UP    POPS    THE  T>EVIL"    (Para.) 
CARO'LINA     -(1.441).      40c-.50c.      3      davs. 
Gross:    $6,IXX),     (.\verage,    $5,500,) 


More  for' Strange  Woman' 

lIoLi.N woniT — Betty  Compson,  Colin 
Campbell  and  Arthur  Edwin  Carew 
yesterday  were  assigned  parts  in 
"Strange  Woman"  for  Radio. 


Thursday,    June    4,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"MilUonaire" 
"Gty  Streets" 
Portland  Tops 


Portland  —  Warm  weather,  a 
"walkathon"  and  the  circus  cut  heav- 
ily into  grosses  here,  "City  Streets" 
and  "The  Millionaire"  being  the  only 
films  to  hit  above  average,  the  for- 
mer taking  in  $14,900  at  the  Para- 
mount, with  Benny  Rubin  as  an  added 
attraction,  and  the  Arliss  picture 
drawing  $4,200  into  the  tills  of  the 
Music  Box  in  its  third  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  27 : 

"THREE  GIRLS  LOST"  (Fox) 

FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    3    days. 
Gross:    $1,600.    (Average    for    week,    $4,000.) 
"FINN   AND    HATTIE"    (Para.) 

FOX  RIALTO— (1,498),  25c-35c,  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,900.  (Average  for  week,  $4,000.) 
"CHARLIE   CHAN   CARRIES   ON"    (Fox) 

FOX  BROADWAY— (1,912),  25c-50c,  7 
days  (additional  Saturday  midnight  show.) 
Gross,  $3,800.    (Average,   $5,000.) 

"THE    MILLIONAIRE"    (Warners) 

HAMRICK'S  MUSIC  BOX— (1,800),  25c, 
3rd  week,  7  days.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average, 
$4,000.) 

"CITY   STREETS"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,068),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
F.  &  M.  Hollywood  Scandals,  Benny  Rubin 
in  person.  Gross :^  $14,900.  (Average,  $12,0IX).) 
"SEED"    (Univ.) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (1,700),  25c-50,  7  days. 
Eight  Vaude  acts.  Gross:  $9,800  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"LADIES'  MAN"  (Para.) 

UMITED  ARTISTS— (945),  25c-60c,  7 
days.    Gross:    $6,300.    (Average,   $7,000.) 


Boston  Gives 
^Seed' $22,000, 
Second  Week 

Boston — '"Seed"  was  the  bright 
S2pt  of  the  week  here,  grossing  $22,000 
at  Keith's  to  top  the  normal  intake 
by  $4,000  and  getting  a  holdover  as  a 
result.  Business  generally  was  spotty, 
due  to  the  air  maneuvers,  which  killed 
the  afternoon  business.  However,  the 
aerial  show  made  up  for  it  by  building 
up  the  evening  trade. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  28: 

"THE    GOOD    BAD    GIRL"    (Col.) 

KEITH-BOSTON— (2,500),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Vaudeville.  Gross:  $18,500.  (Average, 
$17,000.) 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (2,800),  30c-65c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$22,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 

"THE    SECRET   SIX"    (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  ORPHEUM— (3.100),  25c-50c.  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Aver- 
age,  $20,000.) 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  .STATE>-(3,700),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $21,500.      (Average,    $20,(560.) 
"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 

METRpPOLITAN-(4,350),  25c-60c,  7 
days.  Gilda  Gray  in  revue,  symphony 
orchestra.  Gross:  $33,500.  (Average. 
$32,000  ) 

"GOLD   DUST   GERTIE"    (Warners) 

OLYMPI.V- (2,500),  2Sc-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $15,000.      (Average,   $15,000.) 

"THE  PUBLIC  ENEMY"  (Warners) 

SCOLLAY  SQUARE-(1,800),  25c-SOc.  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Aver- 
age.   If  14,000.) 

"GOLD    DUST    GERTIE"    (Warners) 

UPTOWN— (2,000).  25c-60c,  7  davs.  Gross: 
$12,500.      (Average,    $12,000.) 


Warwick  Ward  in  Series 

London — Paramount  has  signed 
Warwick  Ward  for  a  series  of  talk- 
ers to  be  made  at  Ellstree.  The  first 
is  "The  Man  I  Killed." 


Bebe's  Break 

Sydney — Here's  one  for  Bebe 
Daniels  to  frame.  Advertise- 
ments issued  by  the  Lyceum 
read:  "Bebe  Daniels  in  'Reach- 
ing for  the  Moon'  with  Douglas 
Fairbanks,  Jack  Mulhall,  Ed- 
ward Everett  Horton,  Claude 
Allister."  Bebe's  name  appears 
in  60-point  type,  while  Doug 
and  the  others  nestle  back  in 
12-point.  American  advertising 
gave  Fairbanks  pretty  much  the 
whole  show! 


"Seed''  Proves 
Ottawa  High; 
^Lights'  Flops 


Ottawa — Rainy  weather  put  a 
crimp  in  the  holiday  plans  of  Ot- 
tawans  for  Ernpire  Day,  and  sent 
crowds  to  the  theatres,  but  a  warm 
spell  for  the  rest  of  the  week  kept 
many  outdoors.  A  local  sensation 
was  caused  when  Manager  Don 
Stapleton  took  "City  Lights"  off  the 
screen  at  the  Centre  after  it  had 
played  one  day  of  its  second  sched- 
uled week  and  substituted  "The  Hot 
Heiress"  for  the  last  five  days.  Chap- 
lin drew  a  fair  $5,700  for  the  first 
week,  but  the  picture  showed  signs  of 
tottering   and    was    withdrawn. 

The  box  office  hit  of  the  week  was 
"Seed"  at  the  Regent  where  it  scored 
$6,200,  against  the  house  average  of 
$5,400.  The  women  flocked  to  it  and 
kept  the  theatre  humid  with  their 
tears.  The  Avalon  played  a  second 
run  of  "Hell's  Angels''  and  the  house 
was  packed  to  the  tune  of  $1,800  for 
the  three  days,  as  compared  with 
average  of  $1,300. 

"Body  and  Soul"  was  also  above 
the  line  at  $1,500  for  the  last  half. 
"The  Iron  Man"  and  an  episode  of 
"Spell  of  the  Circus"  for  Saturday 
matinee  gave  B.  F.  Keith's  only  a 
reasonably  good  three  days  at  $3,600. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  29 : 

"HELL'S   ANGELS"   (U.  A.) 

AVALON— (990).  1.5c-2,5c-35c.  3  days. 
Gross:    $1,800.      (.Average.    $1,300.) 

"BODY  AND  SOUL"   (Fox) 

AVALON— (990),  1.5c-25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $1,500.      (Average.    $1,300.) 

"THE   HOT   HEIRESS"   (F.  N.) 

CENTRE— (1,200),  15c-25c-35c-50c-6Oc,  .« 
days.  Substituted  for  "Citv  Lights." 
Gross:    $.5,800.      (Average,    $4.600'.) 

"THE  PRODIGAL"    (M-G-M) 

IMPERIAL— (1.200),    10c-25c-35c-40c-50c.    6 
days.     Gross:    $3,000.      (Average.   $3,000.) 
"THE    IRON    MAN"    (Univ.) 

B.    F.    KEITH'S— (2,592),    15c-25c-35c-50c- 
60c,    3    days.      "Spell    of    the    Circus"    Sat. 
Mat.  only.     Gross:  $3,600.     (Average,  $3,700.) 
"MEN  CALL  IT  LOVE"   (M-G-M) 

B.    F.    KEITH'S— (2,592),    I5c-2Sc-35c-5nc- 
60c,  3  days.  Gross:  $3,500.   (Average,  $3,700). 
"SEED"    (Univ.) 

REGENT— (1,225).  15c-25c-35c-4Sc-60c-75c, 
6  days.     Gross:  $6,200.     (Average,  $5,400.) 


Twin  Bills  on  Saturdays 

Oklahoma  City — Changes  in  pol- 
icy have  been  announced  by  three 
city  theatres.  The  Warner  will  run 
double  features  on  Saturday  nights, 
previewing  the  following  week's  fea- 
ture with  no  additional  cost  to  pa- 
trons. In  order  to  meet  the  opening 
dates  of  other  city  houses,  the  Crite- 
rion and  Capitol,  Publix  houses,  have 
announced  F'riday  openings.  This  is 
the  first  deviation  from  .Saturday 
openings  ever  recorded  by  these 
houses. 


Seed''  Only 
Albany  Film 
Over  Normal 


Albany — Despite  summer  weather 
"Seed"  at  the  Mark  Strand  proved 
the  big  bet  of  the  week,  playing  to 
about  $8,500,  which  is  normal  for 
this  house.  While  daylight  saving 
kept  down  the  early  evening  shows, 
matinees  ran  heavy  and  the  second 
show  of  the  evening  packed  the  house 
to  its  roof  and  made  up  what  was 
lost  on  the  first.  This  was  the  only 
picture  in  the  city  during  the  week 
that  played  to  anything  like  normal 
business. 

The  Leland,  using  "Trader  Horn" 
for  its  second  appearance  in  this  city, 
did  only  mediocre  business.  The  Hall 
used  "Young  Sinners,"  but  went  up 
against  stiff  competition  next  door 
one  night  with  a  military  drill  that 
attracted  thousands.  All  in  all,  it  was 
not  a  successful  week  for  Albany's 
theatres  with  the  single  exception  of 
the  Mark  Strand. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending   May  28: 

"YOUNG   SINNERS"   (Fox) 
HARMANUS  BLEECKER  HALL— (2,300), 
35c-50c.    6    days.    Gross:     $C,400.     (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"TRADER  HORN"   (M-G-M) 

LELAND— (1,350).  25c-35c,  6  days.   Gross: 
$5,100.       (Average,     $6,000.) 
"THE  LADY  WHO  DARED"   (F.  N.) 

RTTZ— (1.146).  25c-35c.  6  days.  Gross: 
$3,900.    (Average,    $4,500.) 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

MARK  STRAND— (1,900),  35c-50c,  6  days. 
Gross:   $8,720.    (Average,   $8,500.) 

"TARNISHED    LADY"     (Para.) 

PROCTOR'S  RKO— (1.500).  25c-60c,  3 
days.  Vaudeville  units.  Gross:  $2,700. 
(Average,    $3,000.) 

"THE    ROYAL   BED"    (Radio) 

PROCrrOR'S  RKO^fll,500).  2Sc-60c,  3 
days.  Vaudeville  units.  Gross:  $2,600.(  Aver- 
age,  $3,000.) 


Films  Enjoy 
Big  Week  in 
Minneapolis 

MiNNE.\P0Lis — Extraordinary  busi- 
ness for  this  season  was  chalked  up 
by  Minneapolis  houses.  "Dirigible," 
playing  a  special  engagement  at  $L50 
top,  took  in  $16,500  in  eight  days,  get- 
ting within  $500  of  the  mark  set  by 
"Trader  Horn"  for  a  week.  "Kiki" 
went  $1,500  above  average;  "The 
Secret  Six,"  $4,000;  "Seed,"  $1,500, 
and  "Daybreak,"  $500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29 : 

"DRUMS  OF  JEOPARDY"   (Tiff.) 
ASTER— (812),     20c-35c.     7     days.     Gross: 
$1,500.      (Average,    $1,500.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"     (Col.) 
CENTURY— (1,640),      50c-,?1..50.      S      days. 
Gross:    $16,500.      (Special   engagement.) 
"KIKI"    (U.    A.) 
LYRIC     (1.238),    20c-40c.    7    davs.      Gross: 
$4,000.      (Average,    $2,500.) 

"THE   SECRET   SIX"    (M-G-M) 
MINNESOTA— (4,025).      30c-7Sc,      7     days 
Lou  Breesc,  master  of  ceremonies,  four  acts 
vaude,    orchestra.      Gross:    $24,000.      (Aver- 
age,   $20,000.) 

"SEED"     (Univ.) 
RKO    ORPHEUM— (2,900),    2.5c -3. 5c -.50c.    7 
days.      Four    acts    vaudeville.      Gross:    $15,- 
500.      (.Vverage,    $14,000.) 

"DAYBREAK"   (M-G-M) 
STATE— (2.300),       25c-35c-50c.       7       davs, 
Gross:    $8,500.      (Average,    $8,000.) 


Norma  Kisses 
Toronto  Fans 
Another  Week 


Toronto — Empire  Day,  a  national 
holiday,  boosted  theatre  attendance 
and  the  rainmaker  helped  considerably 
because  it  was  a  dismal  week-end 
with  copious  rain.  Patronage  was 
slack  the  day  after  the  holiday,  so 
that  conditions  were  pretty  well 
balanced. 

The  outstanding  hit  was  "Strangers 
May  Kiss,"  which  was  held  over  by 
Manager  Jules  Bernstein  of  Loew's 
after  registering  $18,000  for  the 
week,  Bernstein  has  had  hold-overs 
on  only  three  pervious  occasions  in 
his  18  years  at  Loew's.  There  were 
British  productions  at  two  first-run 
houses.  "Tell  England"  was  road- 
showed  at  the  Royal  Alexandra  The- 
atre at  $1  top  and  turned  in  a  weak 
$9,500,  as  compared  with  $16,000  for 
the  recent  first  week  of  "Trader 
Horn." 

"The  W  Plan"  at  the  Uptown  was 
more  popular  and  registered  an  aver- 
age $12,000,  which  was  good  under 
the  circumstances.  Shea's  was  above 
the  mark  at  $14,000  with  "Bad  Sister" 
and  a  vaudeville  headliner  featuring 
Roxy    celebrities. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29 : 

"YOUNG    SINNERS"    (Fox) 

IMPERIAL  —  (3,444),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c- 
75c,  6  days.  Publix  stage  show.  Gross: 
$15,000.     (Average,   $16,000.) 

"STRANGERS  MAY  KISS"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,200),  15c-25c-30c-40c-60c-7Sc, 
6  days.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average,  $15,000.) 
Held  over. 

"TELL  ENGLAND"   (British) 

ROYAL  ALEXANDRA— (2,100),  25c-50c- 
75c-$l,  6  days.  Prologue,  "Memories." 
Gross:   $9,500.     (Below  average.) 

"BAD    SISTER"    (Univ.) 

SHEA'S— (2,600),    30c-50c-60c-75c,    6    days. 
Five    vaudeville    acts,    featuring    Roxy    Fa- 
vorites.    Gross:  $14,000.      (Average,  $13,000.) 
"THE  MILLIONAIRE"    (Warners) 

TIVOLI— (1,600),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c,  6 
days,  second  week.  Gross:  $9.000. (  Aver- 
age,   $12,500.)    First   week,   $16,500. 

"THE    W    PLAN"     (British) 

UPTOWN— (3,000),  lSc-25c-35c-50c-60c,  6 
days.      Gross:    $12,000.      (Average,    $12,000.) 


"Bad  Sister" 
Indianapolis 
Bet  at  $8,750 

Indianapolis — Business  was  ter- 
rible here  last  week,  but  was  aided 
somewhat  by  the  Memorial  Day 
crowds  at  the  end  of  the  week.  The 
big  performer  of  the  week  was  "Bad 
Sister,"  which  grabbed  ofif  $8,750  at 
the  Circle. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  29: 

"THE  PUBLIC    ENEMY"    (Warners) 

APOLLO— (1,100),  25c-50c.  7  davs.  Gross: 
$6,000.       (Average,    $5,500.) 

"BAD  SISTER"   (Univ.) 
CIRCLE— (2,600)-    25c-50c.    9   davs.    Gross: 
$8,750.        (Average,    $8,500. ) 

"MAN    OF   THE    WORLD"    (Para.) 
INDIANA— (3,300),   2Sc-65c.   7  days.    Pub- 
lix  stage  unit.      Gross:   $19,()00.      (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"THE    GOOD    BAD    GIRL"    (Col.) 
LYRIC— (2,000),    2.5c-50c.    7    davs.    Gross: 
$8,500.        (Average,    SIO.OOO.) 

"KIKI"   (U.   A.) 
PALACE-(2,800),   25c-50c,   7  days.   Gross: 
{9,500. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,     June     4,      1931 


Australia  in 
Worst  Slump 
In  40  \ears 


Brisbane.  Australia — An  unparal- 
leled tale  of  woe  is  contained  in  the 
annual  report  of  the  Queensland  Ex- 
hibitors' Association,  just  adopted. 

"A  review  of  our  business  for  the 
past  twelve  months  produces  few 
thrills  of  pleasure."  the  report  pro- 
ceeds. "It  is  quite  superfluous  to  make 
the  woebegone  statement  that  we  are 
in  the  throes  of  the  worst  slump  ex- 
perienced for  over  40  years.  Our 
week-night  takings  are  such  that 
nearly  all  theatres  are  losing,  some 
heavily.  Saturday  nights  alone  giving 
us  the  wherewithal  to  carry  on.'' 

Continuing  in  the  gloomy  strain,  the 
report  states  that  some  theatres  are 
taking  more  with  sound  than  they  did 
with  silent  pictures ;  "but  there  is  a 
fly  in  the  ointment  here — the  high  rate 
of  film  hire,  and  the  enormous  weekly 
payments  on  equipments,  reduce  the 
profits  of  wired  theatres,  in  many  in- 
stances to  less  than  those  earned  in 
the  silent  days.  Dividends  were  fairly 
plentiful  in  those  halcyon  times,  but 
in  this  era  of  perturbation,  there  are 
more  'ends'  than  'divies.'  " 

Reductions  in  the  basic  wage  and 
increased  taxation  are  factors  blamed 
for  the  depressed  circumstances  :  "but 
we  must  preserve  a  smiling  face,  even 
if  any  alleviation  is  as  far  off  as  the 
millenium." 


Jam  on  Permits  to 
Show  Vaude  Looms 

(Continued  from  pane  1) 

tory  will  not  be  able  to  build  stage? 
in  front  of  the  screen  for  vaudeville 
purposes  as  in  past  years.  Theatres 
with  seating  capacities  around  600 
will  be  checked  up  in  the  new  move 
by  the  city  authorities. 


That  Allied  Snarl 
Up  in  Jersey  Today 

(Continued  from  pai/c   1) 

sey's  aid  in  time  of  need.  As  yet  no 
assistance  in  the  above  matters  have 
been  ofi'ered  by  Allied  and  rather  than 
support  the  organization,  a  number  of 
exhibitors  feel  that  as  a  wholly  in- 
dependent unit  they  can  continue  to 
fight  their  battles  as  in  the  past. 


New  York  Operators 
Feel  Urge  to  Merge 

(Continued  from  paye  1 ) 

are  said  to  be  in  favor  of  the  com- 
bine. 

An  official  of  306  yesterday  denied 
the  report,   stating : 

"There's  nothing  to  it  and  never 
will  be." 


"Trader"  Novelization 

M-G-M  has  placed  novelization  of 
"Trader  Horn"  in  405  newspapers 
throughout   the   country. 


More  from  Bobby? 

Hollywood — Having  completed  his 
.series  of  twelve  "How  I  Plaj  Golf" 
.'ihorts,  Bobby  Jones  has  gone  to 
his  home  in  Atlanta,  but  it  is  re- 
ported that  he  may  return  in  the  fall 
f')r   further  work  in   films. 


Purely  Personal 


TOE  GALLAGHER  of  Columbia, 
*-'  William  H.  Adler  and  Jack  Hess, 
of  RKO,  J.  R.  Manheimer'of  the  E-J 
Electrical  Installation  Company,  and 
Stanley  Hatch  are  up  for  membership 
and,  as  soon  as  the  proper  Motion 
Picture  Club  committee  meets,  will 
enter   the   fold. 

JoK  Plunkett  successfully  bor- 
rowed ears  belonging  to  Ben  Kahane. 
Nate  Blumberg,  Myron  Robinson  and 
E.  M.  Glucksmann  yesterday  while  he 
told  them  of  his  experiences  on  the 
Continent.  It  all  took  place  at  the 
Motion    Picture   Club. 

Ch.arlie  M.\cDoxali)  goes  into  the 
M.  P.  Club  as  soon  as  the  member- 
ship committee  gets  around  to  that 
application  of  his  which  Walter  Fut- 
ter  signed  and  M.  J.  Kandel  seconded. 

Dave  Lustig,  of  ^lanhattan  Play- 
houses, with  Dunninger,  mind  reader 
and  e.xposer  of  allegedly  fake  spirit- 
ualistic seances,  are  to  make  a  series 
of  26  radio  appearances. 

W.  A.  Keyes,  manager  of  the  Vic- 
tory, Dayton,  O.,  reached  the  city 
yesterday  and  was  a  visitor  at  the 
Warner  booking  department. 

Murray  Roth,  director  of  shorts 
at  the  X'^itaphone  studios  in  Brooklyn, 
returned  yesterday  from  a  two  weeks' 
holidav  in  Bermuda. 


Louis  Dischler,  veteran  of  show 
business,  is  making  quite  a  go  of 
Consolidated  Theatrical  Press  Corp., 
printing  firm  which  he  started  re- 
cently. 

Hans  Frohmax  of  Ace  Film  joins 
the  picture  club  soon.  The  Zenkers — 
Herman  and  Charlie — have  told  him 
it's  a  wise   move. 

.\l  Selig  likes  the  M.  P.  C.  rooms 
so  much  he  has  determined  to  join. 
Sime  Silverman  and  Lou  Rydell  are 
sponsoring  him. 

Harold  Rodner,  president  of  Con- 
tinental Theatre  Accessories,  leaves 
tomorrow  on  a  business  trip  to  the 
Coast. 

Ji.vi.viv  Durante  lunched  at  the  pic- 
ture club  yesterday.  Nobody  paid  the 
slightest  attention  to  him. 

Nate  Blu.viberg  is  mighty  proud  of 
that  very  nifty  watch  Joe  Plunkett 
brought   him  from   Elirope. 

Aleck  Schreiber,  of  the  Embassy, 
Detroit,  was  another  visitor  to  the 
Warner  offices. 

Marion  Davies  sailed  on  the 
Eitropa  for  the  Continent  early  this 
morning. 

The  Burgers — Paul  and  Sam — con- 
ferenced  over  the  luncheon  cloth  yes- 
terday. 

Gr.\nt  L.  Cook  is  bac'k  from  the 
Coast. 


Whereas  Depression 
Demands  Plunkett 

(Continued  froyn  page  1) 

way,  but  look  to  tomorrow,  not  next 
year,  for  the  turn." 

Plunkett  said  that  business  in  the 
West  End,  London's  Times  Square, 
is  good  when  pictures  are  good.  In 
Germany,  he  discovered  the  slogan  to 
be  "bread  first — then  the  movies."  Re- 
ports rampant  in  London  that,  fol- 
lowing on  the  heels  of  B.  B.  Kahane's 
trip,  he  had  gone  over  to  acquire  the- 
atres, were  denied  yesterday  by 
Plunkett.  "I  didn't  make  a  deal  for 
a  solitary  house,"  he  said. 

"When  I  reached  London,  the  Eve- 
ning Ncivs  carried  a  full  column  on 
the  first  page  declaring  I  had  arrived 
with  an  open  check  book.  Two  fel- 
lows made  a  long  trip  from  Ireland 
to  sell  me  a  couple  of  houses,  but  I 
wasn't  there  for  that  purpose  at  all." 

Plunkett  said  English  exhibitors 
were  trying  to  eliminate  double  fea- 
tures. 


Directors'  Wives 

In  L,  A,  Hospitals 

Hollywood — Wives  of  two  direc- 
tors are  in  hospitals  here,  one  re- 
covering from  an  emergency  appendi- 
citis operation  and  the  other  recuper- 
ating after  giving  birth  to  twins.  Mrs. 
Mary  .\iken  Carewe,  wife  of  Edwin 
Carewe,  was  reported  out  of  danger 
after  an  operation  for  appendicitis. 
.VI  rs.  George  Fitzmaurice  gave  birth 
to  twins  yesterday.  The  new  arrivals 
have  been  named  Patricia  and  Mich- 
ael. Director  Fitzmaurice  said.  They 
weighed  5^  pounds  each  at  birth. 


Milwaukee  to  Hold 
Mouse  Convention 

Milwaukee — Delegates  from  17 
Wisconsin  cities  will  come  to  Mil- 
waukee June  6  to  attend  the  Mickey 
Mouse  convention  which  will  be  held 
at  Fox's  Wisconsin  theatre  here.  They 
will  also  be  guests  at  a  banquet  at 
the  Hotel  Schroeder,  at  which  ath- 
letic, health  and  educational  leaders 
will  be  speakers.  M'ickey  Mouse  clubs 
now  have  a  membership  of  approxi- 
mately 25,000  kiddies  under  14  years 
of  age  in  Wisconsin. 


Rochester  Dropping 
22  from  Orchestra 

(Continued  from  page   1  ) 

Victor   Wagner,    on   a    three   months' 
vacation. 

The  Rochester  June  1  inaugurated 
its  new  air  cooling  system  which 
changes  ventilating  every  five  min- 
utes and  forces  ice  water-sprayed  air 
through  a  charcoal  screen  for  puri- 
fication. 


Two  Asheville  Firms 
Merge  7  Theatres 

.A.shkvu,le,  N.  C. — Organization  of 
the  Publix  Bamford  Theatres,  and 
appointment  of  Carl  R.  Bamford  to 
direct  its  affairs  has  been  completed. 
The  corporation  will  operate  all  of 
.'Vsheville's  seven  theatres,  including 
the  Imperial,  the  Plaza,  the  Para- 
mount, the  Princess,  the  Palace,  the 
Strand  and  tre  Auditorium. 

Bamford  has  operated  the  Para- 
mount, Princess,  Palace,  and  Audi- 
torium while  the  Plaza,  the  Imperial 
and  the  Strand  were  operated  by 
Publix. 


Cooper  Plot  vs, 

British  Films, 

Is  Changed 


(Continued  from  paiie  1  ) 

Cooper,  who  is  president  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Distributors  As.sociation  of 
Canada,  to  view  a  British  picture. 
"Escape,"  last  October.  It  was  given 
enthusiastic  approval  by  national  of- 
ficers of  the  I.  O.  D.  E.  but  subse- 
quently the  picture  was  released  only 
two  or  three  times  in  a  small  wa\- 
"where  the  audience  was  manifestly 
unsuitable."  The  organization  adopted 
the  report  as  a  protest  against  the  al- 
leged trade  ban  against  British  pro- 
ductions. 


Receiver  for  Film 
Lab  Firms  Promised 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

lowing  many  years  of  service  in  the 
mechanical  end  of  the  film  industry  he 
said  that  Hiblierd  had  talked  to  him 
about  establishing  a  laboratory  and 
that  he  worked  for  Hibberd  until  1926 
at  $100  a  week.  He  said  he  had 
nothing  to  do  with  the  sale  of  stock. 
In  1927  Watson  said  Hibberd  again 
approached  him  to  establish  and  take 
charge  of  a  laboratory.  This  was 
done,  he  said,  and  he  again  received 
$100  a  week  from  Hibberd  and  took 
his  orders  directly  from  him.  In- 
tercontinental was  then  established,  he 
said. 

Asked  by  the  court  if  he  had  ever 
constructed  a  laboratory,  the  witness 
replied :  "No,  I  understood  it  was 
nearly  completed,  but  not  quite  fin- 
ished." 

"Oh,"  exclaimed  the  court,  "you've 
not  had  time  enough — only  two  and 
one-half  years."  Watson  said  that 
Hibberd  received  7j/2  per  cent  com- 
mission on  all  stock  sales.  He  admit- 
ted he  had  an  agreement  with  him 
whereby  he  was  to  receive  5  per  cent 
and  Watson  2}/2  per  cent  but  he  said 
"I  never  got  2J/2  per  cent  or  any  per 
cent."     Hibberd  did  not  testify. 

The  Deputy  .Attorney  General 
charges  that  Hibberd  and  his  asso- 
ciates induced  stockholders  of  Duplex 
to  exchange  their  holdings  for  stock 
of  Intercontinental.  He  further 
charges  that  Duplex  was  a  profitable 
concern  at  the  time  of  the  exchange, 
and  that  even  now  it  could  be  operated 
on  a  profitable  basis. 

Defendants  are  Frank  H.  Hibberd. 
Jr.,  president  of  Duplex ;  Mrs.  Louise 
Nields,  secretary  of  that  company ; 
Frederick  F.  Watson,  president  of 
Intercontinental,  and  Jackson  Miller, 
secretarv  of  Intercontinental. 


Rush  RKO  House 

Albany,  N.  Y.— The  New  RKO 
theatre  is  being  pushed  rapidly  these 
days  and  the  walls  will  be  completed 
within  a  week  or  so.  During  the 
present  week  the  contract  was  let  for 
the  new  theatre   in  Glens   Falls. 


To  Direct  "Guilty  Hands" 

Hollywood — W.  S.  Van  Dyke  will 
direct  "Guilty  Hands"  for  M-G-M. 
It's  an  original  by   Bayard  Veiller. 


15  Papers  in  Tie-up 

With  addition  of  the  Cleveland 
Neiifs,  Hearst  Metrotone  News  Globe 
trotter  sound  newsreel  now  is  tied  up 
with   15  newspapers. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  5 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  5,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


$56,673,863 
2-Day  Gain  in 
6  Film  Stocks 


Market    Upswing    Sends 
Value  to  530  Million 


Market  value  of  six  of  the  picture 
stocks  listed  on  the  New  York  Stock 
Exchange  appreciated  $56,673,863  in 
Wednesday's  and  Thursday's  upswing 
of  the  general  market  and  at  the 
close  Thursday  were  more  than 
$100,000,000  above  their  lows  for  the 
year. 

Film  stocks  were  quick  to  improve 
with  the  general  list  having  attracted 
a  large  amount  of  new  buying  at  the 
levels  to  which  some  of  the  leaders 
were  forced  in  the  recent  deflation. 
This  factor,  together  with  shorts  cov- 
ering, brought  about  wide  recoveries 
from  recent  lows. 

Eastman     Kodak     gyrated     wildly 

(Continued   on  page   6) 


Australian  Firms 
Hit  by  Depression 

Sydney— Balance  sheets  of  three  of 
the  five  principal  amusement  com- 
panies here,  just  issued,  indicate  the 
extent  to  which  depression  and  crip- 
pling taxation  are  hitting  the  enter- 
tainment industry,  and  those  holding 
investments  in  it. 

Amalgamated  Pictures'  profit  of 
$106,900  for  1929-30  drops  to  a  profit 
of  $12,145  for  the  past  financial  year; 

(Continued   on  page   6) 


Mannon  to  Produce  8 
For  Indie  Market 

Al  Mannon  will  make  a  series  of 
eight  features  for  the  independent 
market  in  addition  to  the  features  «ind 
shorts  he  is  to  make  under  contract  to 
Hollywood  Pictures  and  Educational. 
Material  for  the  pictures  is  now  being 
sought  with  stars  and  directors  to  be 
selected  later.  Mannon  leaves  for  the 
Coast  Saturday  to  start  work  on  the 
first  of  these. 


Hoffberg,  Mannon  in 
Foreign  Outlet  Deal 

J.  J.  Hoffberg  has  concluded  nego- 
tiations with  Al  Mannon  of  Tec  Art 
studios  to  distribute  three  American 
features  and  26  Voice  of  Hollywood 
one-reelers  in  foreign  countries  except 
the  United  Kingdom.  A  Spanish  fea- 
ture, "El  Augilo  Y  El  Opal,"  is  also 
included  in  the  deal.  Dick  Pearl  sailed 
yesterday  for  London  to  arrange  for 
distribution  of  these  subjects  in  Eng- 
land, 


Chi  Operators  Facing 
Racket  Probe  by  U.  S. 


Check  Second  Man  in  Booth 
As  Chi  Union  War  Rages  on 


See  Schulberg 
Victor  in  P.  P. 
Studio  Rivalry 


Victory  in  the  ancient  rivalry  be- 
tween B.  P.  Schulberg  and  Walter 
Wanger  of  Paramount  appears  again 
to  have  gone  to  the  former. 

While  Paramount  has  nothing  to 
say  about  a  shutdown  of  its  Eastern 
plant  in  Astoria,  reports  around  the 
studio  insist  that  production  will  cease 
there  on  July  13  at  which  time  all 
domestic  production  once  more  will 
be  concentrated  under  Schulberg's 
management  in  Hollywood.  Between 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


Frisch  Seeks  4  More; 
Keeps  Fox  Managers 

With  17  theatres  now  in  the  Brook- 
lyn circuit,  Louis  Frisch  is  under- 
stood to  be  dickering  for  four  more 
Fox  houses  in  the  same  borough.  All 
managers  at  the  former  I*'ox  houses 
are  being  retained  by  the  new  opera- 
tors. 


Inspect  18  Theatres 
For  Illegal  Stages 

Eighteen  New  York  houses  have 
already  been  checked  up  in  the  first 
move  of  the  license  department  to  pre- 
clude vaudeville  performances  in 
theatres  not  designed  for  that  purpose. 
While  operating  licenses  have  not  been 
revoked  in  these  houses,  the  exhibitors 
have  been  warned  to  remove  impro- 
vised stages  in  front  of  the  screen. 


British  Quota  Law  Is 
Set  Aside  in  Ontario 

Toronto — Because  there  are  not 
enough  British  pictures  to  meet  the 
specified  five  per  cent  of  total  pre- 
sentations, the  British  quota  law  will 
not  be  enforced  in  Ontario.  Manitoba 
authorities  also  have  reached  a  similar 
decision. 


Chicago — Move  of  the  operators' 
union  to  block  the  grand  jury  investi- 
gation into  its  activities  by  refusing 
to  surrender  union  records  to  the 
state's  attorney's  office,  on  a  court 
order,  has  resulted  in  a  new  line  of 
attack  by  the  latter.  Meanwhile,  Fed- 
eral authorities  are  coming  into  the 
investigation. 

Investigators  are  visiting  projection 
rooms  in  theatres  to  check  work  actu- 
ally done  by  the  second  man  in  the 
booth.  Particular  attention  is  being 
paid  to  non-union  permit  men.  It  is 
reported  that  some  permit  men  draw- 
ing full  pay  were  not  even  reporting 
for  work. 

Assistant  State's  Attorney  Charles 
E.  Lounsbury,  who  hoped  to  be  able 
to     present     evidence     of     conspiracy 

(Continued  oh   page   6) 


Picture  Classics 
Weisfeldt  Venture 

Within  a  few  days  after  leaving 
Talking  Picture  Epics  as  head  of  dis- 
tribution, M.  J.  Weisfeldt  has  com- 
pleted organization  of  his  own  com- 
pany. Picture  Classics,  Inc.,  which 
will  produce  and  distribute  novelty 
shorts.  The  new  firm  will  make  and 
distribute  travel  and  scientific  sub- 
jects, song  films,  travesties  and  pic- 
tures designed  especially  for  kiddie 
patronage. 

No  definite  program  will  be  deter- 
mined upon,  the  output  to  be  gauged 
by  the  availability  of  suitable  subjects, 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Censors  Refuse  to 
Classify  Pictures 

Portland —  Robert  M.  Mount,  man- 
ager of  the  Portland  Better  Business 
Bureau,  was  re-elected  chairman  of 
the  municipal  censor  board. 

The  board  filed  a  resolution  by  the 
subsequent-run  houses  that  it  classi- 
fy pictures  on  the  basis  of  those  that 
were  proper  to  show  to  adults  only, 
those  that  are  proper  for  general 
family  shows  and  those  that  are  suit- 
able for  children.  The  board  held 
that  the  ordinance  does  not  give  it 
the  power  to  make  that  distinction. 


Special   Agent   Assigned 

As   Labor   Department 

Acts   on   Complaints 

Washington  —  While  Chicago 
operators  have  delayed  or  forestalled 
a  Cook  County  grand  jury  investiga- 
tion of  its  activities,  the  Federal  gov- 
ernment has  stepped  into  the  picture 
and  will  probe  racketeering  charges 
against  the  union. 

The  charges,  made  to  the  bureau  of 
labor  statistics  at  Washington,  will 
be  investigated  by  John  Anker,  special 
agent  of  the  Department  of  Labor 
assigned  exclusively  to  union  investi- 
gations. 

The  state's  attorney's  office  in 
Chicago,  balked  in  attempt  to  secure 
immediate  evidence  against  union 
officials  by  obtaining  possession  of 
records,  now  is  gathering  evidence 
for  conspiracy  indictments  from  other 
sources. 

These  include  inspection  of  theatre 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Manitoba  Raising 
Age  Limit  to  16? 

Winnipeg — The  Manitoba  govern- 
ment has  intimated  that  the  age  limit 
for  minors  attending  presentations  of 
pictures  classed  as  "adult"  films  by 
the  censors  will  be  raised  from  12  to 
16  years.  This  means  that  exhibitors 
will  not  be  able  to  sell  children's  tick- 
ets to  minors  under  16  years,  although 
adult  tickets  will  be  available  to  all 
for  so-called  adult  pictures,  restric- 
tion being  effected  through  the  box 
office  in  this  way. 


79  No,  New  Jersey 
Theatres  Now  Dark 

More  theatres  are  reported  closed 
in  Northern  New  Jersey  this  year  than 
ever  before.  The  total  of  dark  houses 
now  is  79,  a  count  shows.  The  terri- 
tory has  315  theatres  in  all.  This  does 
not  include  southern  New  Jersey  which 
is  handled  by  Philadelphia  exchanges. 
Many  of  these  houses  are  closed  per- 
manently. 


Baltimore  Ready  for 
Vote  on  Blue  Laws 

Baltimore — E.  Lester  Muller,  pres- 
ident of  the  city  council,  has  appointed 
six  members  of  that  body  on  a  eom- 
mittee  to  draft  ordinances  to  liberal- 
ize the  Sunday  blue  laws  for  this  city. 

Three  ordinances  have  been  drafted 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  June   5,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Fartmrlv    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


June    5,    1931 


No.    5 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^m^  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
fllj  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^y   Daily,   Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 

>l  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York, 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
Cfity,   N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


A  Honey 


rOKE  after  poke 
has  bfen  taken  at  gang  pictures. 
Breakfast  tete-a-tete  and  loung- 
ing robes  have  had  pretty  much 
their  own  way,  too.  The  pubhc 
has  had  more  than  its  share  of 
punk  pictures.  No  news  there. 
But  wlien  one  comes  along  that 
is  clean,  charming  and  whole-^ 
some,  that  is  news. 

"Daddy  Long 

Legs"  goes  back  to  the  Cinderel- 
la-type story.  No  weighty  dra- 
matic climaxes  burden  it  down. 
Likewise  you  are  never  in  doubt 
concerning  the  outcome.  But  Al 
Santell  has  supplied  a  sympa- 
thetic direction  and  an  appreci- 
ative tempo  that  reflect  them- 
selves in  their  effect  on  your 
emotions. 

Janet  Gaynor  is  immensely 
appealing  as  the  feminine  lead. 
Nothing  that  she  has  done  re- 
cently, it  is  our  opinion,  matches 
her  work  here.  Daddy  Long 
Legs  is  Warner  Baxter.  He, 
too,  comes  through  with  his  best 
performance  in  'more  months 
than  we  can  remember. 

V V  H  turn  this,  editori- 
al clearing  house  ovec  completely  to 
"Daddy  Long  Legs"  this  morning  for 
three  reasons: 

First,  because  show  business  re- 
quires show  pictures  and  this  attrac- 
tion is  definitely  that. 

Second,  because  "Daddy  Long 
Legs"  demonstrates  that  simple 
stories,  well  done,  make  fine  pictures. 

Third,  because  it  may  convince 
producers,  who  think  otherwise,  that 
there  is  no  substitute  for  wholesome- 
ness. 

KANN 


Purely  Personal 


GORDONS.  WHITK  is  receiving 
some  back-slapping  from  com- 
pany officials  on  the  fine  job  he  con- 
ceived and  executed  on  Kducational's 
annual  announcement. 

Mr.  .\xd  Mrs.  Walter  Wanger, 
Monta  Bell,  Harry  D'Arrast,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Blumenthal,  George  Ab- 
bott, Richard  F.  Hoyt,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leland  Heyward,  Gertrude  Lawrence, 
Beatrice  Lillie,  Tallulah  Bankhead, 
Fannie  Brice,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fredric 
March,  George  Gershwin,  Gil  Boag, 
George  Jessel  and  Colleen  Moore — 
all  of  them  more  or  less  connected 
with  the  business  of  motion  pictures — 
were  among  the  guests  at  that  swank 
party  thrown  by  Jules  (Cartier) 
Glaenzer  and  his  wife  the  other  night 
at  the  St.  Moritz. 

Herman  Rifkin,  president  of  Hol- 
lywood Films  Corp.,  New  England 
distributor  of  Mascot  serials,  is  in 
New  York  conferring  with  Tom  Mc- 
Connell,  Mascot  general  sales  man- 
ager, and  Charles  Reed  Jones,  direc- 
tor of  publicity.  He's  enthusiastic 
over  bookings  for  "The  Vanishing  Le- 
gion," first  of  the  four  Mascot  serials 
for  the  new  season. 

Al  Christie  is  pepped  up  over  the 
schedule  lined  up  for  the  new  season. 
He  plans  to  spend  several  weeks  in 
New  York  and  will  be  joined  here  in 
a  couple  of  weeks  by  brother 
Charles. 

J.  R.  Grainger,  Fo.x  genera!  sales 
manager,  is  getting  some  pleasant 
surprises  as  reports  begin  to  roll  in 
on  the  volume  of  business  being  hung 
up  for  Grainger  Month,  now  under 
way. 

Salesman  Harrison  of  the  Salt 
Lake  City  Fox  branch  is  reported 
to  have  sold  28.2  per  cent  of  possi- 
bilities in  the  first  two  weeks  of  sell- 
ing new  season  product. 

Milt  Silver,  of  Universal,  is  a 
proud  father,  a  daughter  having  been 
born  Wednesday.  The  six-pound 
youngster  has  been  christened  Jeanne 
Ritchie  Silver. 


*' Sweepstakes" 

(RKO-Pathe) 
fjOLLYWOOD  —  A  race  track 
drama  packing  a  punch  and  al- 
ternating between  comedy  and 
pathos  is  Eddie  Quillan's 
"Sweepstakes."  It  is  bound  to 
please. 

An  enthusiastic  audience 
thought  enough  of  the  picture 
at  its  preview  to  cheer  its  ap- 
proval. The  trials  and  tribula- 
tions of  a  jockey,  his  romance 
and  a  climax  wherein  he  stages 
a  comeback  astride  his  old 
horse  furnish  a  sure-fire  plot. 
Quillan,  Marian  Nixon,  James 
Gleason,  Lew  Cody  and  Paul 
Hurst  compose  the  cast  of  cap- 
able name  bets.  Direction  by 
Al  Rogell  is  deft  and  satisfac- 
tory from  start  to  finish. 

Exhibitors  can  bank  on  doing 
good   business   with   this   one. 

WILLIAM  A.  JOHNSTON 


Jerry  Safron,  eastern  sales  man- 
ager for  Radio  Pictures,  is  at  Jack- 
sonville, Fla.,  presiding  at  a  meeting 
of  southern  exchange  managers  and 
salesmen. 

Mary  and  Doug  completed  their 
trip  from  Chicago  by  plane  to  Los 
Angeles.  Their  early  morning  arrival 
in  Chicago  resulted  in  apathetic  press 
notices. 

Miriam  Hopkins,  Paramount  play- 
er, leaves  for  the  Coast  today  to  start 
work  on  her  next  picture. 

Gloria  Swan  son  and  Gertrude 
Lawrence  are  to  be  aboard  the  He  de 
France  when  it  sails  tonight  for  Ply- 
mouth. 

Sam  Lefko  has  resigned  from  the 
RKO  Pathe  sales  force  in  Philadel- 
phia. 


Film  Stocks  Advance;  E.  K,  Jumps  8^2 

Net 
High 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 4)4 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    nfd 1344 

Kastmaii    Kodak    133 

Fox    Film   "A" 1654 

General   Theatre   Equipment   new V/i 

I. (lew's.    Inc 4154 

Loew's.     Inc..     pfd 8754 

Paramount      Publix 24 

Pathe    F^xchange 154 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" VA 

RKO     WA 

Warner    Bros 75^ 

Warner    Rros.    pfd 19 


P"ox.  Theatres   "A" 2^i 

General   Theatre    Equipment   pfd dVa. 

.Sentry  .Safety  Control VA 

T<chnicolor   7^ 

Trans     I.ux ; 6Vi 


High 

General  Theatre  Equipment  6s  '40 2954 

Keith    B.    F.    6s   '46 62 

I.oew's  6s  '41  ex  war 96 

Paramount   Broadway   S'/aS   '51 101 

Paramount   F.    L:    6s    '47 80 

Paramount    Publix    5'/4s.    'SO 72 

Pathe   7s    '37   ww 82 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 39Ji 


Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

4-y, 

45^8 

+  5i 

300 

i2y8 

12^ 

-f  a 

300 

1255/, 

13254 

+S'A 

20,300 

i.s.v» 

16.^ 

+   7/8 

25,400 

354 

4 

-1-  % 

9.600 

39 

4054 

+  74 

17,800 

87'/, 

&7'A 

+25/2 

100 

2254 

2A 

+V/2 

15.600 

1>/, 

VA 

+  54 

800 

35/7 

VA 

4-  54 

600 

125^ 

1354 

-hi 

33,500 

65i 

7 

-5i  : 

19.100 

\7 

19 

-1-154      ■ 

500 

:tiv 

eCurb 

Net 

Low 

Close 

Chan  ire 

Sales 

25^. 

354 

4-54 

1,400 

554 

S7A 

+  54 

2,000 

15^ 

VA 

+  % 

100 

6 

7'A 

-f2 

2.700 

6 

■  ^   6% 

-  +  54 

700 

Kei 

th  Off  12 

Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

2S'A 

2954 

-\-2'A 

12 

62 

62 

—12 

1 

955^ 

9554 

7 

10054 

101 

4 

79 

80 

+2 

5 

6954 

715^ 

-t-m 

2 

8054 

82 

+2 

15 

3754 

38 

22 

See  Schulberg 
Victory  in  P.P. 
Studio  Rivalry 


^Continued  from  pane   1  ) 

now  and  then,  Wanger's  post  with  the 
company  as  general  manager  of  pro- 
duction is  reported  slated  for  import- 
ant developments. 

Persistent  is  the  story  that  Wanger 
is  out,  although  efforts  to  either  con- 
firm or  deny  yesterday  came  a  crop- 
per at  Paramount.  All  that  Wanger 
would  say,  when  reached,  was  that  he 
was  still  on  the  job. 

Times  Square  reports  had  it  that 
the  Long  Island  plant  would  close  at 
once  if  Tallulah  Bankhead  could  be 
persuaded  to  finish  the  remainder  of 
her  contract  in  Hollywood.  It  is  re- 
ported she  refuses  to  go  West,  hold- 
ing to  the  terms  of  her  agreement 
which  are  said  to  provide  that  she 
makes  her  pictures  in  New  York.  The 
July  folding  date  has  been  fi.xed,  it  is 
understood,  because  current  plans  for 
her   will   be  completed   by   that   time. 


Blofson  and  Hanower 
Quit  Tiffany  Posts 

Tiffany  branch  managers  in  New 
York  and  Washington  have  resigned. 
Dave  Rosengarten  succeeds  Al  Blof- 
son in  the  New  York  post  and  will 
work  under  Arthur  Greenblatt,  Edu- 
cational manager.  Irving  Hanower 
has  been  replaced  at  the  Washington 
exchange  by  Harry  Brown,  who  has 
been  transferred  from  the  Philadel- 
phia exchange.  Brown  was  formerly 
in  charge  of  the  Washington  office  be- 
fore being  switched  to  Philadelphia. 


Sell  '^Viking"  Rights 
In  New  York,  Jersey 

J.  D.  Williams  and  Associates  have 
sold  New  Jersey  and  New  York 
rights,  including  Buffalo  and  Albany, 
on  "the  Viking"  to  Harry  Thomas,  of 
First  Division  Pictures.  Other  terri- 
tories closed  thus  far  on  the  Frissell 
arctic  film  include  New  England, 
Philadelphia  and  Washington. 


Joseph  Farnham  Is 
Dead  from  Attack 

Hollywood — Joseph  Farnham,  vet- 
eran M-G-M  title  writer,  is  dead  at  his 
Beverly  Hills  home  from  heart  trou- 
ble. He  was  47  years  old.  He  titled 
"The  Big  Parade."  His  widow  sur- 
vives. 


Named  RKO  Bond  Trust 

The  Bank  of  America  National  As- 
sociation has  been  appointed  trustee 
of  $3,870,000  principal  amount  Radio 
Keith  Orpheum  Corp.  6  per  cent  goU] 
notes  due  serially  from  January  '. 
1932  to   1936.    •   :<■■""•'  "•'  ' 


Brilant  at  Columbia 

Arthur  M.  Brilant  is  now  handling 
trade  paper  advertising  copy  at  Co- 
lumbia, under  Al   Selig. 


Keeps  R.  &  R.  Staff 

Hollywood — Harold  B.  Franklin 
will  keep  the  Robb  &  Rowley  staff 
intact,   he  says. 


UNIVERSAL  MARCHES  ONI 


EAGLES 


ir  S)arring  Lew  Ayres,  the 
wistful  Paul  Baumer  of  "All 
Ouiel  on  the  Western 
Front,"  in  which  the  idol  of 
the  millions  dons  o 
uniform  again     ♦      *      ♦ 

MURDERS  IN  THE 
RUE  MORGUE 

it  Componior  pieceto 
"Draculo"  ond  "Franken- 
stein". . .  From  Edgar  Allen 
Foe's  hair-roising  story 
reod  by  countless  millions 
in  0  class  by  itself  for 
o   hundred  years!      *      * 

A   LADY 

OF   RESOURCE 

It  Arthur  Somers  Roche  wrote 
this  sensational  story  about 
the  Queen  of  the  Boot- 
leggers .  .  serialized  In 
Collier's  Magazine ...  now 
hitting  the  best-seller 
records.  Starring  Rote 
Hobart.  Directed  by 
Edward  Laemmle.      *      * 


FRANKENSTEIN 

it  the  story  that  hot  thrilled 
the  world  for  years  . 
surpassing  even  "Drocula." 
Sfarring  Belo  LugOfl 
(Draculo  Himself).  Adapted 
by  John  L.  Balderston,  from 
the  play  by  Peggy  Webling. 

EAST  OF  BORNEO 

it  Unparalleled  drama  of 
thrilling  eye-to-eye  experi- 
ences in  terrible  tropic 
jungles.  Starring  Charlat 
BIckferd,  Rote  Hobart 
and  Luplta  Tovar.  Di- 
rected by  George  Melford. 

LASCA  OF  THE 
RIO  GRANDE 

it  10,000  frenzied  cattle 
thunder  over  the  plaint .  .  . 
while  bad  men  .  .  .  bold 
men  .  .  .  fight  for  losca, 
Queen  of  the  Rio  Grande. 
Starring  Loo  Carille, 
Dorothy  Burgess,  John 
Mack  Brown,  Slim  Summer- 
ville,  Frank  Compeou.  Di' 
rected  by  Eddie  Laemmle 


DERAILED 


Wadsworth  Camp's  great- 
est story  .  .  .  crammed 
with  action,  thrills,  and 
two-ftsted,  red-blooded 
melodramol  Starring 
Ke««  Hobart.      *       * 


THE  GREAT 
AIR  ROBBERY 


A  thrill  a  minute... 20,000 
feel  above  the  earth  .  . 
daring,  devil>may-care 
freebooters  of  the  air  mafte 
Jesse  James  and  Captain 
Kidd  turn  over  in  their 
gravest        *      *      ♦      ♦ 


HEAVEN  ON 
EARTH 


*   Law  A) 


Slim  Sum- 


lyret, 

merville,Anita  Louise,  Horry 
Beresford  and  others, 
directed  by  Russell  Mack, 
in  a  greater  story  than 
"Seventh  Heaven."    ♦      ♦ 


UNIVERSAL 


BACK  STREET 


The  whole  world  is  throb- 
bing to  see  Fannie  Hurst's 
greatest  novel  on  the  screen 
. .  now  a  best  seller  every- 
wherel  Starring  Rose 
Hobart.  Directed  by  John 
Stahl.        *       ♦       *       * 


WATERLOO 
BRIDGE 


Robert  E.  Sheryvood's  sen- 
sational stage  play,  with 
Kent  Douglas,  Mae  Clark, 
Bette  Davis,  Enid  Bennett 
and  Doris  Lloyd.  Directed 
by  James  Whale,  who 
gave  you  "Journey's  End." 


IMPATIENT 
MAIDEN 

if  Written  by  Donald  Hen- 
derson Clarke,  author  of 
"Millie"  and  "Louis  Beretti". 
Storring  Sidney  Fox. 
Directed  by  Cyril  Gardner. 

LEW  AYRES  in 
MAN  HUNT 

it  What  more  can  you  ask 
than  the  star  who  appeals 
to  everybody  ...  in  a  story 
just  crying  to  be  filmed. 
Directed  by  William  Wyler. 
From  Bret  Harte's"Outcasts 
of  Poker  Flat."    *      *      * 

NICE  WOMEN 

■ff  Screened  with  all  the 
laughs  and  thrills  that  kept 
the  audiences  flocking  to 
New  York's  Fulton  Theatre 
for  months  . . .  The  story  of 
a  modern  girl's  battle  to 
get  her  man.      *      *      ♦ 

THE  SPIRIT  OF 
NOTRE  DAME 

it  Dedicated  to  the  incom- 
parable Knute  Rockne. 
Starring  Lew  Ayret.  By 

special  orrongement  with 
Christy  Walsh.    *      «      * 

BARBARY  COAST 

it  Played  against  the  glamor- 
ous, romantic,  sensational 
background,  where  men 
kill  for  a  smile,  and  die 
for  a  kiss.    *      *      ♦      * 

COHENS&KELLYS 
IN  HOLLYWOOD 

it  George  Sidney  and 
Charlie  Murray  home 
at  lost!  .  .  .  making  the 
laughs  where  the  laughs 
grow  thickest.     «      »      * 

HOMICIDE 
SQUAD 

ic  Thrilling  as  the  sound  of  o 
police  siren  ...  the  untold 
story  of  the  heroes  of  the 
low  ...  for  the  first  time  in 
motion  picturesi    *     *     * 


you 

a  winner   • 


me  newspapers  are  boosting  this  one! 

Here  are  two  reviews.everv  word,  from  the  f ii-st  two  openings 


3 


BOSTON    EVENING   AMERICAN— 


// 


THE  VIKING"  AT  PARK 

Life  of  Sealers  Depicted 

in  Film  Made  With 

Fleet  in  tee  Floes 


♦  ♦ 


The  Cast 


I^nke Charles    Starrett 

Mar}'    ......Louise   Huntington 

Jed    Arthur    VJnton 

Producer* 

Varick  Frisiiell  and  Hoy  Hates 
Director George   Melford 


By  HARLEIGH  SCHULTZ 

Li  the  realm  wherein  were  cradled  the  great  sagas  ol"  litera- 
ture, Varick  Frissell  fashioned  a  saga  of  the  gcreen.  Against  a 
background  of  Arctic  blast  and  icy  seas,  he  painted  a  stirring 
drama  of  adventure,  and  peril,  and  love.  He  died  in  ,\.he  per- 
fection of  his  task,  a  victim  of  the  very  dangers  he  so  vividly 
portrayed.  Now  comes  his  posthumous  reward  in  the  rnerit  of 
his  film,  "The  Viking,"  at  the  Park,  being  shown  for  the  first 
time. 

"The  Viking"  is  a  rare  picture,  and  rich  in  rare  thrills.  Its 
realism 'has  an  amazing  and  deep  appeal;  so  has  its  love  story, 
simple  and  sweet ;  so  have  its  sequences  on  the  snows  of  New- 
foundland, and  upon  the  ill- 
fated  steamer  Viking,  and 
upon  the  "pan"  floes  off  the 
Labrador  coast.  This  is  tlie 
epic  of  the  men  of  the  sealing 
fleet  and  their  derring-do  as 
they  "go  down  to  the  sea  in 
ships  to  do  business  upon  the  great  waters."  The  Frissell  eye 
c«Ught  the  whole  sweep  of  the  lives  of  these  island  men,  and  he 
b-js  left  a  remarkable  memorial,  in  the  lights  and  shadows  of  the 
•faster  effort.  He  supervised  a  noteworthy  picture,  a  real  con- 
tribution, not  only  because  of  deft  direction  and  expert  photog- 
raphy, but  because,  like  the  Icelandic  pioneers  of  a  thousand 
jears  ago,  it  has  struck  out  along  a  new  path  and  has  brought 
i?igor  and  freshness  to  the  silver  sheet  that  are  of  outstanding 
value. 

Gripping  Scenes  in  Ice  Fields 

This  is  the  magic  of  nature,  the  majesty  of  migh<-y' forces, 
-n«  tense  grip  of  the  Ice  King's  power.  The  picture  has  no  need 
of  iSir  Wilfred  Grenfell's  guarantee  of  authenticity  of  these  set- 
tings of  swirling  white  storms,  of  berg,  of  ocean  frosted  like  a 
huge  cake;  of  the  sealing  ship  crunching  her  way  along  with  a 
frozen  "bone  in  her  teeth";  of  black  specks  of  humanity  skip- 
ping  on  these  teeterboards  of  <5>  plot  'develops  its  punch.  Tti-; 
death;    of    all    these    and    many 


other  sights  and  sounds  that  defy 
the  Holywood  touch,  and  keep 
the  attention  taut  by  their  itinate 
••rJvnia  _  and.    genuineness.       The ; 

love  theme  is  unaffectedly  and 
convincingly  enacted.  Mary  Joe, 
V  played  by  I^ouise  Huntington,  is 
in  love  with  Luke  (Charles  Star- 
rett)  and  is  wanted  by  Jed,  who 
will  stoop  to  crime  .to  win  his  end. 
The  men  sail  aboard  the  Viking 
on  a  sealing  tri'p;  and  are  lost. 
Jed,  after  trying  to  slay  his  rival, 
is  blinded  by  the  ice  glare;  he  ia 
saved  by  his  intended  -  victim. 
Agaifi,  and  again,  and  again,  the  • 


actors  are  satisfactory;  but 
classier  even  is  Capt.  Robert 
Bartlett,  famous  Arctic  skipper, 
who  adds. a  glorious  he-man,  sea- 
dog  touch  to  the  film. 
•  •  • 
Interesting  is  ail  this;  there  is 
an  unusual  extra  thrill.  And  ,lt  is 
given  by,  a  couple  of  seals-^K^tik, 
so  we  may  call  this  baby  wnite 
chappie,  and  his  mother.  In  the 
queer  appearance  of  this  little 
fellow  is  humor;  but  in  his  fran- 
tic cries  for  help,  m  his  mother's 
rescue  of  him,  lies  deep  moving 
pathos.  The  in.cident  .:>>  ^  high  ■ 
light  of  a  natUraily  highlighted 
motion  picture. 


STRAND 
PREMIER 

AMESBURV 

STRAND 

BOSTON 
OLYMPIC 
PALACE 

STRAND.  SCOLLAY  SQUARE 
RIALTO.  SCOLCAY  SQUARE 

PARK 


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Mr.    J.    3D.   Williams 
Hew  Yorlc ,    N  .   Y. 

Dear  Mr.   YFilliams: 

W 

i! 
that  the  picture  '*T 

our  "business   100^  o 

with  additional  dir( 


Now    Booking 


For  New  York  City, 

Northern  New  Jersey, 

Albany  and 

Buffalo 


FIRST  DIVISION 
PICTURES,  Inc. 

630  -  9th  AVE.,  NEW  YORK 


_^      <Axtention  Domestic  and  Foreign, 

[TERRITORIAL  BUYERS! 


;  -^  and  read  the  oxhibitor*s  letter  / 


"  Evening  Circulation  in  New  England 


of   Peril, 
nltd   Love 


MONDAY,    MAY   25,    1931 


♦*"♦ 


ITMENT 

ET 


May  27,    1931 


RARE  TREAT  IN  THRILLS 


STRAND 
LYCEUM 

BELMONT 
STRAND 


;ry- happy   to   say 
"   has    increased 
recent  picture, 
petition, 
.ruly  yours, 
UAUSEMSNT   COMPANY 


Phese    Offices 

For  New  England 
AMERICAN  PICTURES,  Inc. 

HARRY  ASHER,  Pres. 

14  PIEDMONT  ST.,  BOSTON 


Eastern  Penn.  and  So.  N.  J. 
PHILADELPHIA  OFFICE,  1329  VINE  ST. 

Delaware,  Maryland,  Dist.  of  Col. 

and  Virginia 

WASHINGTON  OFFICE 

MASTERPIECE  FILM 
ATTRACTIONS,  Inc. 


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PUBLIC    LEDGEE-PHILADELPHIA, 


TO 


Chestnut  Presents 
'The  Viking;  Film 
Of  Frozen  North 

Authentic  Picture  of  Life 
Among  Seal  Hunteis 
Holds  Interest  ^ 


•The  Viking,"  film  of  the  Nojlh 
T.'iiich  opens  its  run  at  the  Chestnut, 
presents  itself  in  two  ways.  It  may 
be  \1ewed  merely  as  cinema .  entcr- 
taimiient  and  it  may  be  viewed  as  a 
document  of  the  cruel  North  which 
brought  a  cruel  end  to  its  producer. 

As  cinema  entertainment  it  is  of 
high  quality.  One  can  never"  tire  of 
films  that  give  such  honest  portrayal 
of  strange  parts  of  the  globe. 

Beginning  with  an  introduction  by 
Sir  Wilfred  Grenfell,  it;  pjimges  into 
the  story  proper.  Quickly  establish- 
ing a  slight  love  interest  which  serves 
to  hold  the  picture  together  in  se- 
quence, it  takes  the  audience  on  a 
seal-fishing  expedition  from  St. 
Johns.  The  girl  is  left  behind  on  the' 
dock,  the  two  actors  portraying  hero 
and  villain  wave  a  good-by,  the  signal 
suns  boom  and  the  ship  sails  away 
on  a  search  for  the  seal  herds  coming 
down  the  coast  of  Labrador. 

One  sees  depicted  the  usual  routine 
of  the  hardy  men  who  live  in  that 
bleak  country.  With  the  ship  fast 
they  go  overboard,  blasting  a  way 
through  the  ice,  sometimes  manning 
the  ropes  and  aiding  the  engines  with 
human  powei*.  Finally  come  the  seal 
herds.  The  camera  shows  the  gangs 
going  over  the  surging  ice  pans.  The 
glint  of  the  dull  sun  on  the  bergs  and 
floes  is  portrayed.  Tlie  catch  is 
rounded  up.  Tlic  villain  gets  in  the 
villainy  called  for  in  the  story.  The 
young  hero  iustifies  drama  by  saving 
the  li|e  of  the  man  who  plotted 
agahist  his. 

Tlaat  is  the  entertainment  fpaturc. 
One  cannot  leave  the  picture  without 
leUing  of  the  other  side,  however- 


mentioning  the  causes  underlying  the 
Koduction.  Several  years  ago  a 
young  Yale  man,  Varick  Fri^sell,  came 
in  contact  with  Sir  Wilfred  Grenfell 
and  his  mission  in  the  North.  He  be- 
came so  impressed  with  the  hardiliood 
of  the  people,  the, stern  fight  for  ex- 
istence in  the  bleak  country,  the  way 
they  wrested  a  living  from  the  land, 
i.hat  he  felt  a  necessity  for  recording 
theii- — to  us — picturesque  life.  He  de- 
.  eided  to  make  a  film, ' 

There  were  years  of  work  that  fol- 
lowed. Money  was  raised  anion? 
friends,  scenario  written  to  provide 
bo:<-ofHc2  atti-action,  actors  hired  ana 
taken  north,  a  ship  chartered.  Finally 
tlig  film  was  made— a  record  of  the 
dying  seal-fishing  industry. 

The  rest  of  the  story  the  world 
knows.  Frissell  rctui-ned  North  for 
"just  a  few  more  shots."  Newspaper 
headlines  told  of  his  tragic  end — of 
the  explosion  aboal-d  the  Viking  tliat 
took  two  dozen  lives. 

In  viewing  the  picture  one  remem- 
bers this  stern  reality  underlying. the 
production.  While  there  has  been — 
most  wisely— little  attempt  to  make 
the  tragic  explosion  a  box-ofBce  bal- 
lyhoo, one  feels  the  nearness  of  the 
sad  occurrence.  One  cannot  see  the 
vessel  used  in  the  film  story  without 
remembering  that  it  was  the  same 
Viking  which  later  was  shattered 
among  the  ice.  One  cannot  hear>the 
moaning  of  the  Arctic  winds  cauglit 
by  the  sound  cameras  without  think- 
ing of  the  struggle  of  the  survivors 
through  that  bleakness  to  the  land. 
'  But  takfin  as  a  document  or  a  pure 
film  entertainment,  ""The  Viking" 
holds  out  great  interest.  The  actors, 
Charles  Starrett,  Arthur  Vinton— 
how  in  town  with  "On  the  Spot" — 
and  Louise  Huntington,  act  easily  and 
w^l.  One  always  returns  to  reality 
even  here,  though.  The  better  actors 
are  the  real  seal  hunters  who  walk 
unnamed  and  miknown  before  the 
camei^a.  And  the  man  who  "steals 
the  siiow"— for  this  onlooker,  at  least 
_,— is  'captain  Bob  Bartlett,  the  New- 
foundland skipper  who  went "  North 
with  Peary,  and  who  piloted  the 
Viking  on  its  voyages  among  the  ice. 
Portraying  "Captain  Bob  Barker," 
•this  bleak  -  faced  Newfoundlander 
gives-  perfect  cinema  acting— that  is,' 
he  achieves  success  by  not  acting  at 
all.  'To  hear  him  yelling  to  his  mi-' 
seen  engineer  for  more  steam  is  a 
{treat  for  senses  that  are  weary  of 
j  synthetic  hardbolled  qualities. 
'The  picture  is  to  be  recommended 
for  all  those  who  like  cinema  freie 
from  the  touch  of  the  arc  lights. 

ERIC  M.  KNIGHT. 


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tnZ    tinCSt     tnZdtVCS  "^  SpecialisUmSpedaLPidutes^ 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,   June   5,    1931 


Check  Second   1^ 
Man  in  Booth 


In  Chicago 


{Coiitiiiucd  from  page  1) 

against  union  officials  to  the  grand 
jury  this  week,  was  obligated  to 
change  tactics  pending  hearing  of 
charges  of  contempt  of  court  against 
Tom  Reynolds,  president  of  the  union. 
The  hearing  has  been  set  for  today 
before  Chief  Justice  McGoorty  of  the 
Criminal  Court. 

Michael  Ahearn,  attorney  for  the 
union,  and  identified  as  one  of  Chi- 
cago's outstanding  criminal  attorneys, 
stated  that  if  Reynolds  was  found 
guilty  of  contempt  of  court,  the  case 
would  be  fought  through  the  Supreme 
Court  and  would  be  made  a  test  of 
the  validity  of  the  subpoena  duces 
tecum  order,  of  which  Reynolds 
stands  in  contempt. 

This  procedure  will  delay  grand 
jury  indictments  of  union  officials  in- 
definitely, inasmuch  as  pending  its 
settlement  the  union's  records  can  be 
withheld  from  the  state's  attorney  and 
it  was  from  these  records  that  Prose- 
cutor Lounsbury  hoped  to  obtain  the 
bulk  of  his  evidence  against  the  union. 

The  union's  records  were  seized  in 
a  raid  on  union  headquarters  by  in- 
vestigators for  the  racket  bureau  late 
last  week,  but  were  returned  on  a 
writ  of  replevin  obtained  by  Attorney 
Ahearn.  Assistant  State's  Attorney 
Lounsbury,  however,  immediately  se- 
cured a  subpoena  duces  tecum  from 
Chief  Justice  McGoorty  ordering  the 
surrender  of  the  records  on  Wednes- 
day morning.  Attorneys  for  the  union 
appeared  at  that  time  with  a  motion 
to  quash  the  subpoena,  and  when  this 
motion  was  denied  by  Chief  Justice 
McGoorty,  the  union  refused  to  sur- 
render its  records  and  the  contempt  of 
court  action  was  instituted. 

Action  against  the  union  was  in- 
agurated  by  150  independent  theatre 
owners  who  charged  that  the  union's 
demands  were  forcing  one  hundred 
theatres  to  close  here  for  the  summer, 
and  would  eventually  result  in  putting 
them  out  of  business. 

Prosecutor  Lounsbury  hoped  to 
prove  by  admission  of  the  union's  rec- 
ords as  evidence  that  inexperienced, 
non-union  men  were  placed  in  sound 
booths  here  on  special  permits  from 
union  officials,  and  that  ten  per  cent 
of  the  salaries  of  these  men  was  used 
by  the  union  for  racketeering  pur- 
poses. The  Chicago  Herald  &  Exam- 
iner charged  this  week  that  part  of 
the  fund  obtained  from  this  source 
was  used  for  the  defense  of  Danny 
Stanton,  notorious  Chicago  gangster, 
when  he  was  tried  for  the  murder  last 
summer  of  Jack  Zuta,  North  Side 
gang  leader  and  vice-monger. 


Picture  Classics 

Weisfeldt  Venture 

(Continued  from  paiie  1) 

Weisfeldt  says.  Recording  in  various 
languages  is  planned  and  a  number  of 
the  subjects  will  be  filmed  in  color. 
Weisfeldt,  a  veteran  of  distribution 
and  production,  sponsored  the  road- 
showing  and  regular  distribution  of 
"Simba."  In  addition,  he  directed  re- 
cording of  a  number  of  other  travel 
films  and  novelties.  With  Frank  R. 
Wilson  he  organized  Talking  Picture 
l-'.pics. 


Ampathetically  Speaking 

NOT  the  heat,  the  humidity,  nor  the  veal  cutlets  which  the  Dixie  Hotel 
grill  hands  out  could  keep  a  banner  crop  of  Ampa-ites  from  their  regular 
luncheon  meeting  yesterday.  They  gathered  around  like  flies  over  an  open 
jar  of  honey. 

• 
The  pieces  de  resistance  were   Gilda  Gray,   who,  as  Mike   Simmons  com- 
mented, got  her  first  dance  instruction  from  the  label  on  a  medicine  bottle; 
Gary    Cooper,    Paramount's   two    gun    man,    and    Ethel    Norris,    ingenue    of 
"Crazy  Quilt." 

• 
Gary  remarked  that  he  had  just  come  from  a  projection  room  showing  of 
his  latest  picture,  and  gave  that  as  his  reason  for  being  emotionally  inhibited. 
However,  the  boys  and,  for  that  matter,  the  argus-eyed  bevy  of  girls  present, 
didn't  seem  to  notice  that  about  Gary  at  all.  They  took  to  him  like  the 
Strand  takes  to  gang  pictures. 

• 
Prexy   Simmons   then  helped  his  fraternity  brothers  out  with  some  bibli- 
ography on  Gilda  Gray.    He  said : 

"I  owe  a  great  debt  to  Gilda  Gray.  She  it  was  who  introduced  me  to  the 
comfort  and  economy  of  celluloid  collars.  My  penchant  for  celluloid  collars 
dates  back  to  the  time  I  first  saw  Gilda  dance.  At  that  time  she  had  just 
introduced  muscular  hygiene  into  the  gentle  art  of  terpsichore,  and  I  took  it 
big.    So  big,  in  fact,  that  at  every  performance  my  collar  would  wilt. 

• 
"Seeing  Gilda  dance  became  a  great  expense  to  me.  I  explained  my  plight 
to  her.  She  advised  me  to  give  up  seeing  her  dance.  I  told  her  I  preferred 
giving  up  collars.  With  rare  wisdom  she  finally  solved  the  problem  by  pre- 
senting me  with  a  box  of  celluloid  collars.  That  helped  considerably,  though 
my  shirt  bill  continued  high." 

• 
Prexy  adjusted  his  monocle,  and  then  went  on : 

"Pschologists  who  have  studied  Miss  Gray's  dancing  have  called  her  a 
child  of  nature.  But  they're  dead  wrong.  When  Gilda  gets  into  action  with 
her  limbs  and  a  coat  of  tan,  she  makes  nature  seem  like  a  child !" 

• 
Later,   Mike  pleaded  with  the  boys   to   send   in   their  golf   scores — that   is, 
those  who  shoot  under  85.    The  boys  are  girding  their  loins  for  the  forth- 
coming tilt  with  the  Motion  Picture  Club  at  the  Fenimore  Country  Club. 

• 
Ampa,  too,  is  donating  a  mustache  cup  for  the  worst  golfer  with  the  best 
mustache,  and  Prexy  announced  he  had  picked  up  a  rare  item  at  an  anti- 
quarie's,  in  the  shape  of  a  French  mustache  cup. 

• 
"This  cup,"  exhorted  Prexy,  "is  the  same  on  which  Louis  XVI  kept  many 
a  stiff  upper  lip  during  the  French  Revolution.  Of  course  when  Looie  was 
guillotined  he  had  no  more  use  for  it,  and  that's  how  we  come  to  have  it. 
It  will  be  a  fitting  reward  for  that  chap  who  thinks  he's  driving  when  in 
reality  he's  only  guillotining  his  shots." 

• 
Others   who   were   introduced  were :    Regina    Crewe,    of    the    Neiv    York 
American;  Julia  Shawell,  of  the  Evening  Graphic;  Herb  Cruikshank,  of  fan 
mag   writing    fame;Mrs.    Victor    Watson,   wife    of  the   vice-president   of    the 
Hearst  Publications,  and  Jeannette  Sauer. 


Baltimore  Ready  for 
Vote  on  Blue  Laws 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

by  Dr.  Horace  E.  Flack,  head  of  the 
bureau  of  legislative  reference,  and 
Jerome  Sloman,  chairman  of  the 
council's   committee. 

Sunday  sales,  athletic  games  and 
Sunday  pictures  would  be  separate 
and  distinct,  according  to  the  plan 
of  the  three  ordinances  and  a  refer- 
endum would  be  on  each  rather  than 
on  all  of  them  together. 

After  2  P.  M.  Sundays,  pictures  and 
concerts  would  be  permitted  with 
extra  license  fees  for  the  Sunday 
shows  amounting  to  $20  for  theatres 
seating  less  than  200  and  $70  for  all 
over  1,000  seats.  This,  according  to 
the  proposed  part,  dealing  with  Sun- 
dav  movies. 


Pichel  Assigned 

Hou.vwoor) — Irving  Pichel  will 
play  the  title  role  in  Paramount's 
"The  Man  with  Red  Hair." 


Fox  in  Drive  to  Boost 
Sale  of  Accessories 

Fox  is  awarding  a  $10  prize  weekly 
to  ad  sales  managers  who  show  the 
greatest  increase  done  as  compared  to 
the  corresponding  week  last  year.  Ad 
Salesman  Corbett  of  the  St.  John 
exchange   won   the   first   prize. 


Tom  Patricola  in 
Educational  Series 

Hollywood — Tom  Patricola  has 
signed  for  a  series  of  Educational  two- 
reelers. 


Soviet  Boosts  Tax 

Mos(  ow — A  decree  raising  all  taxes 
on  amusements,  including  pictures, 
from  10  to  XO  i)er  cent.,  has  been 
issued  by  the  Central  Executive  Com- 
mittee. No  explanation  was  given  of 
the  move. 


Chi  Operators 
Facing  Probe 
By  the  U.  S. 

(Continued  from  parie  1) 

booths  to  determine  just  what  work  is 
done  by  the  operators  and  whether 
the  two-men  insisted  upon  by  the 
union  as  a  minimum  booth  require- 
ment is  essential. 

This  new  line  of  the  state's  attor- 
ney's attack,  it  is  understood,  will  be 
supplemented  by  the  government  in- 
vestigator, who  will  conduct  a  thor- 
ough investigation  into  union  activities 
in  Chicago. 


Union  Claims  Court 
Gives  Picket  Right 

Operators'  union  Local  306  stated 
yesterday  it  had  started  picketing  all 
houses  owned  or  operated  by  Lee 
Ochs  in  accordance  with  terms  of  an 
injunction  granted  by  Judge  Johnson 
in  Special  Term,  Part  I  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  in  Brooklyn.  Previously, 
said  the  union,  pickets  had  been  main- 
tained only  at  the  Manhattan,  Mosh- 
olu,  U.  S.  Ogden,  Tuxedo  and  Kings- 
bridge. 

The  union  last  night  issued  a 
lengthy  statement  outlining  a  number 
of  cases  involving  difficulties  with 
various  New  York  houses  which  it 
claims  to  have  won. 


$56,673,863  Two-Day 
Gain  in  6  Stocks 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

gaining  more  than  ten  points  in  the 
two  sessions  for  an  upswing  of  more 
than  $23,000,000  in  market  value. 
Paramount  appreciated  $12,000,000. 
Other  gains  were:  Fox,  $6,367,347; 
RKO,  $5,820,625;  Warners,  $4,709,- 
487;  Loew's,  $4,476,464.  At  the  close 
Thursday,  the  market  value  of  these 
stocks  was  $530,305,551  compared 
with  low  of  $420,493,318. 


Australia  Firms 

Hit  by  Depression 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Greater  J.  D.  Williams'  profit  of 
$140,725  for  1929-30  becomes  a  sur- 
plus of  $12,285 ;  and  Union  Theatres' 
Investments,  Ltd.,  drops  from  a  profit 
ot  $23,849  for  1929-30  to  a  profit  of 
$15,886  for  1930-31. 

Added  to  that  are  Hoyts'  surplus  of 
$404,000  for  1929-30  shrinking  to  a 
loss  of  $50,490  for  the  last  six  months 
of  1930;  and  J.  C.  Williamson's  1928- 
29  profit  of  $254,020  dropping  to  a 
deficit  of  $92,515  for  1929-30. 

The  disclosures  show,  therefore, 
that  within  two  years  these  five  con- 
cerns have  suffered  losses  amounting 
to  well  over  a  million  dollars,  with 
future  prospects  not  looking  as  bright 
as  they  did  12  months  ago.  Some- 
thing's bound  to  crack. 


''Dover  Road"  for  Brook 

lloLLYWOOD — Paramount  is  to  make 
"The  Dover  Road"  with  Clive  Brook, 
starting    in    .September. 


In  ''U"  Cast 

Universal  City— Leo  Carrillo, 
Mary  Brian  and  Noah  Beery  are  at 
Universal  for  "The  Homicide  Squad," 
which  has  gone  into  production. 


Friday,   June   5,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Dual  Feature 
Bill  Is  Top 
In  Prov. 


Providence  —  Edward  M.  Fay's 
move  in  spotting  double  feature  shows 
at  the  Majestic  proved  profitable  last 
week  when  "The  Finger  Points"  and 
"Misbehaving  Ladies"  rated  well 
enough  to  gross  the  week's  leading 
figure,  $13,500.  Loew's  State,  with 
"Daybreak,"  did  around  $15,000  but 
was  proportionately  lower. 

The  RKO  Albee  found  "Donovan's 
Kid"  fair  at  $8,000  and  the  RKO  Vic- 
tory hit  only  $3,500  with  "Drums  of 
"Jeopardy."  "Gentleman's  Fate,"  an 
MGM  feature  at  the  Paramount,  also 
failed  to  click,  garnering  less  than 
$7,000.  A  spell  of  hot  weather  is 
largely  responsible  for  the  slump  in 
grosses,   exhibitors   contend. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29: 

"DAYBREAK"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,800),  lOc-SOc,  /  days. 
Gross:    $15,000.     (Average,    SIS.OOC) 

"THE    FINGER    POINTS"    (F.    N.) 
"MISBEHAVING  LADIES"   (F.  N.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,400),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $13,500.     (Average,    $10,000.) 

GENTLEMEN'S    FATE"    (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT-(2,300),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $6,900.     (Average,  $10,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S   KID"   (Radio) 

RKO  ALBEE— (2,300),  lOc-SOc,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,000.       (Average,    $9,000.) 

"DRUMS    OF    JEOPARDY"    (Tiff.) 

RKO  VICTORY— (1,600),  lOc-SOc,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,500.      (Average,   $6,500.) 


Slight  Edge 
To  ^Daybreak' 
Houston  Run 

Houston — Honors  were  more  than 
even  last  week  in  box  office  perform- 
ances and  business  a  whole  lot  better 
than  the  preceding  four  weeks.  Ramon 
X'ovarro  brought  Loew's  State  to 
$11,500  and  the  lead  spot.  John 
Barrymore  broke  even  at  the  Kirhy. 
A  mystery  story  helped  at  the  Ma- 
iestic.  Tallulah  Bankhead  trailed  at 
the   Metropolitan  getting  only  $9,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  28 : 

"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 

KIRBY- -(1,645),  25c-35c-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:   $9,000.     (Average.  $9,000.) 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE>-(2,700),  25c-40c-60c,  7 
days.  Vaude  revue.  Gross:  $11,500.  (Aver- 
age,   $11,000.) 

"SUBWAY   EXPRESS"    (Col.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7 
days.  RKO  vaude.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Aver- 
age,  $11,000.) 

"TARNISHED    LADY"    (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (2,512),  25c-40c-60c,  7 
days.  Publix  stage  show;  local  chorus. 
Gross:    $9,000.    (Average,    $11,000.) 


Price  War  in  Brainerd 
Minn.  Is  Continued 

Brainerd,  Minn. — Basing  its  stand 
on  alleged  action  of  Jake  Gruesner- 
min  erecting  a  theatre  here  for  the 
sole  reason  of  selling  it  to  the  cir- 
cuit, Publix  is  determined  to  carry 
out  its  price  war  here.  The  circuit 
dropped  to  25  cents  top  when  Grues- 
ner  opened  his  house.  The  latter  de- 
nies he  built  the  house  to  sell  it  to 
Publix. 


Prodigal"  in 
Lead  in  Poor 
Seattle  Week 


Seattle — Business  generally  was 
quiet  despite  the  recent  closing  of  the 
Fox  and  Blue  Mouse.  Warm  weather 
had  the  usual  bad  effect  upon  grosses. 
Paramount  was  high  with  "The 
Prodigal"  plus  a  stage  show  headed 
by  Stepin  Fetchit  with  a  take  of 
$12,000.  "The  PubHc  Enemy"  at 
$7,500  was  average  at  the  Music 
Box.  "Tarnished  Lady"  was  disap- 
pointing $11,000  at  the  Fox  Fifth 
Avenue  and  so  good  for  but  one 
week.  The  new  first  run  policy  at 
the  Coliseum  apparently  will  click. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29 : 

"MR.  LEMON  OF  ORANGE"   (Fox) 

FOX    COUSEUM— (1,750),   25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.    Gross:    $6,000.    (Average,    $5,000.) 
"TARNISHED    LADY"    (Para.) 

FOX  FIFTH  AVENUE— (2,650),  25c-35c- 
50c-75c,  7  days.  Owen  Sweeten's  Band, 
farewell  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average, 
$12  000  ) 

"THE  PRODIGAL"    (M-G-M) 

FOX  PARAMOUNT  —  (3,150),  25c-35c- 
50c-75c,  7  days.  Fanchon  &  Marco  stage 
revue.  Stepin  Fetchit  in  person.  Gross: 
$12,000.    (Average,   $13,500.) 

"THE    AVEJMGER"    (Col.) 

LIBERTY— (2,000),  15c-30c,  6  days. 
Gross:    $5,500.    (Average,    $7,500.) 

"THE    PUBLIC    ENEMY"    (Warners) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950),  25c-35c-50c-75c,  7 
days.  Band.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average, 
$7,500.) 

"BACHELOR   APARTMENT"   (  Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,650),  25c-35c-50c- 
75c.  7  days.  RKO  vaudeville  headlined  by 
Charles  Foy.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average,  $13,- 
.SOO.) 


Trader's'  18 
G's  Wins  Top 
In  Cleveland 

Cleveland — A  touch  of  summer 
and  two  legit  stock  companies  split 
entertainment  takings  last  week  re- 
sulting in  just  fair  averages  for  films. 
"Trader  Horn"  in  its  pop.  price  run 
was  satisfactory  at  $18,000,  "Sven- 
gali,"  "Hell  Bound"  and  "Gentlemen's 
F"ate"  were  average.  The  others 
slipped. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29: 

"YOUNG    SINNERS"    (Fox) 
ALLEN— (3,300),    ,X)c-60c,    7   days.    Gross: 
$16,000.    (Average,    $18,000.) 

"GENTLEMAN'S   FATE"    (M-G-M) 
CAMEO— (1,200),    25c-50c,    7    days.    Gross: 
$5,000.    (Average,   $4,000.) 

"HELL    BOUND"    (Tiff.) 
RKO    HIPPODROME^(2,800),    25c-75c,    7 
days.    Gross:    $15,000.    (Average,   $15,000.) 
"THE   GOOD   BAD    GIRL"    (Col.) 
RKO    PALACE— (3,100),    7    days.    Gross: 
$21,500.     Vaudeville.      (Average,    $23,000.) 
"SIX    CYLINDER    LOVE"    (Fox) 
fTATE— (3,400),    30c-60c,    7    days.    Gross: 
$18,000.    (Average,   $20,000.) 

"TRADER   HORN"    (M-G-M) 
STILLMAN— (1,900),      40c-75c,      7     days. 
Gross:    $18,000.    (Average,    $15,000.) 
"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 
WARNERS'      LAKE— (800).      40c-60c,      7 
u'ays.    Gross:  $7,500.     (Average,  $5,000.) 


On  Summer  Schedule 

Hamilton,  O. — Reduced  summer 
schedule  of  prices  has  been  inaugu- 
rated at  the  new  Paramount,  the  re- 
vised scale  being  25  cents  for  mati- 
nees, with  40  cents  for  main  floor 
and  25  cents  for  balcony  evenings, 
Sundays  and  holidays.  Children,  10 
cents  any  time.  The  balcony  is 
closed    durinje;    the    afternoons. 


Ballyhoo 


London — Fox  is  advertising 
British  Movietone  News  as 
"the  equal  in  camera  strength 
and  in  gross  business  of  all 
other  newsreel  producers 
combined." 


'Strangers  in 
Second  Week 
In  Milwaukee 


Milwaukee — No  outstanding  busi- 
ness was  done  by  any  house  on  the 
street  here  last  week.  "The  Million- 
aire" and  "Strangers  May  Kiss" 
were  held  over  for  average  second 
week  at  the  Garden  and  Strand  re- 
spectively. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29: 

"A  TAILOR  MADE  MAN"   (M-G-M) 

ALHAMBRA— (2,660).     25c-35c-5Oc-60c.     7 
days.        Gross:     $8,500.        (Average,    $8,000.) 
"THE    MILLIONAIRE"    (Warners) 

GARDEN— (1,150).  25c-35c-50c-60c  (2nd 
week),  7  days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"MR.  LEMON  OF  ORANGE"  (Fox) 

MAJESTIC  —  (1.900).  15c-25-50.  7 
days.        Gross:     $8,000.        (Average,    $7,500) 

"YOUNG    DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 

PALACE— (2,587).  25c-35c-50c-60c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,500.       (Average.    $9,800.) 

"LAUGH  AND  GET  RICH"   (Radio) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,180).  25c -3Sc- 50c -60c.  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average, 
$13,500.) 

"STRANGERS  MAY  KISS'   (M-G-M) 

STRAND  —  (1.406),  25c-35c-50-60.  2nd 
week),  7  days.  Gross:  $7.(XK).  (Average, 
$6,500. ) 

"PARTY  HUSBAND"   (F.  N.) 

WARNER  —(2,500).  2Sc- 35c -500 -60c.  7 
days.       Gross:    $13,500. 

"YOUNG    SINNERS"    (Fox) 

WISCONSIN— (3.275),  25c-35c-50c-65c,  7 
days.  Fanchon  &  Marco  Idea.  Gross: 
$14,500.  (Average.     $13,000.) 


"Secret  Six/' 
'Seed'  Leaders 
In  Des  Moines 

Des  Moines — With  the  weather 
cold  and  wet,  "The  Secret  -Six"  at 
$10,000  did  exceptionally  well  at  the 
Des  Moines.  The  Paramount  played 
three  pictures  in  a  week  in  order  to 
advance  to  a  Sunday  opening  to  com- 
pete with  return  of  RKO  vaude  at 
the  Orpheum,  which  was  playing 
"Seed"  without  any  stage  bill.  The 
latter  feature  got  $9,000,  the  house 
average,  despite  the  lack  of  a  stage 
show.  ■-■ 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  29 : 

"SECRET   SIX"    (M-G-M) 
DES      MOINES— (1,600),      25c-35c-6()c,'     7 
days.     Gross:    $10,000.      (Average,    $7,000.)    . 
"SEED"   (Univ.) 
ORPHEUM— (2,000),    25c-3'5c-40c.    7    days. 
Gross:    $9,000.      (Average,    $9,000.) 

"SIX    CYLINDER    LOVE"    (Fox) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,700),       2.5c-35c-60c,       2 
days.     RKO  vaude.     Gross:    $2,000. 

"TARNISHED  LADY"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,7001,        25c-35c-60c,        2 
days.      RKO    vaude.      Gross:     $6,000. 
"FINGER   POINTS"    (F.   N.) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,700),       25c-3!;c-60c,       2 
days.    Gross:    $5,000.    (Average,    $12,000.) 
"DUDE    RANCH"    (Para.) 
.STRAND— (1,100),   20c-30c,  4  days.   Gross: 
$1,700.    (Average,   $1,700.) 

"MAKING   GOOD"    (Warners) 
'-  STRAND— (1,100),  20c-30c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$700.     (Average,   $700.) 


Cooling  Plant 
Star  Draw  for 
Chi  First  Runs 


Chicago — Cooling  plants  went  into 
operation  in  mid-week  for  the  first 
time  this  year  and  were  probably  as 
great  a  draw  for  the  sweltering 
pavement-pounders  as  any  theatre 
program  in  the  Loop.  Old  Lady  Na- 
ture also  favored  box  offices  at.  the 
end  of  the  week  when  she  washed  out 
picnic  and  motoring  plans  with  an  all- 
day  rainfall  on  Alemorial  Day.  The 
result  was  that  the  outdoor  enthusiasts 
turned  to  the  theatre  for  their  holi- 
day entertainment,  and  the  advanced 
prices,  effective  that  day,  succeeded  in 
swelling   grosses   nominally. 

"Secret  Six,"  aided  by  lavish  dis- 
play space  in  the  Hearst  papers,  held 
to  a  good  second  week  at  "McVickers 
with  $28,425.  "Front  Page"  finished 
a  pretty  three  weeks'  run  with 
$14,250  for  the  last  week  at  United 
Artists.  This  is  the  last  United 
Artists  picture  available  for  the  house 
until  the  first  of  the  new  season's 
product  comes  in  about  Sept.  1.  The 
theatre,  until  then,  will  play  miscel- 
laneous product,  with  Fox's  "Women 
of  All  Nations"  starting  off  the  open 
season. 

"Seed"  showed  considerable  strength 
in  overcoming  the  apathy  of  the 
Chicago  film-going  public  for  the 
State-Lake.  It's  first  week  drew 
down  a  nice  $28,500.  "Svengali" 
finished  an  unimpressive  two  weeks 
at  the  Roosevelt  with  $11,175  for  the 
last  seven  days.  "Tabu"  (Paramount) 
replaced,  and  opened  with  indications 
of  strength.  Other  run  houses  were 
nominal.  Stage  attractions  returned 
dividends  at  both  the  Oriental  and 
Palace.  "God's  Gift  to  Women"  re- 
placed "The  Finger  Points"  at  the 
Orpheum  and  will  do  about  $3,400  on 
the  week  ending  June  3. 

Week  ending  May  27: 
"THE   FINGER  POINTS"    (F.   N.) 

ORPHEUM— (665),  35c-50c-75c,  2nd  week, 
7   days.   Gross:   $3,260.    (Average,   $3,300.) 

Week  ending  May  28: 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

STATE  ■  LAKE— (2,776),  35c-50c-75c-85c. 
Gross:    $28,500.    (Average,   $30,200.) 

Week  ending  May  29: 
"THE   SPY"    (Fox) 

CASTLE— (299),  40c-60c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$2,980.  (Average,  $3,500.) 
"NEVER  THE  TWAIN  SHALL  MEET" 
(M-G-M) 
CHICAGO--(4,000),  35c-S0c-8Sc,  7  days. 
Publix  stage  unit.  Gross:  $37,250.  (Aver- 
age,   $46,000.) 

"BIG    BUSINESS    GIRL"    (Warners) 
ORIENTAL— (3,940),    35c-50c-85c,    7   days. 
Publix      stage     unit      with      Jean      Harlow. 
Gross:    $32,400.    (Average,   $36,500.) 
"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 
ROOSEVELT— (1.591).      35c-50c-85c,      2nd 
week.     Gross:    $11,175.     (Average,   $Z1,200.) 
"FRONT   PAGE"    (U.   A.) 
UNITED    ARTIST?— (1,700),    35c-50c-85c, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $14,250.   (Average,  $24,600.) 

Week  ending  May  30: 

"SUBWAY    EXPRESS"    (Col.) 

PALACE— (2,509),  j'5c-50c-75c-85c,  7  days. 
Five  acts  RKO  vaudeville  with  Leatrice 
Joy  and  Smith  &  Dale.  Gross:  .$23,725. 
(Average.    $24,000.) 

Week  ending  June  1: 

"THE   SECRET    SIX"    (M-G-M) 

McVrCKERS— (2,284),  35c-50c-85c,  2iul 
week.    Gross:   $28,425.    (Average,   $28,500.) 

Week  ending  June  2. 

"WOMEN    MEN    MARRY"   (State   Rights) 

WOODS— (1,166),  35c-50c-75c-a5c,  1st 
week.    Gross:    $5,375.    (Average,   $12,000.) 


Kutinsky  Gets  Fourth 

Harry  Kutinsky  has  acquired  his 
fourth  Brooklyn  theatre  with  acquisi  ■ 
tion  of  the  Lee. 


had  its  world  premiere 

at   the    CARTHAY    CIRCLE,    LOS    ANGELES, 
and 

A  world  of  sweetness  rolled  like  floating 
summer  breezes  across  the  silver  screen 

to  use  the  words  of  Jimmy  Starr,  motion 
picture  editor  of  the  Los  Ange/es  Express. 

Here  is  a  picture  without  a  gangster  in  it. 
Here  is  a  movie  without  obvious  villains, 
a  nice  relief  from  the  sordid  realism  of 
underworld  stuff 

exclaims  Eleanor  Barnes   in  the  Illus- 
trated Daily  News. 


with 


JANET     GAYNOR 

WARNER     BAXTER 


UNA    MERKEL 

Claude  Gillingwater,  Sr. 
From  play  by  JEAN  WEBSTER 


•  John   Arledge 

Kathlyn  Williams 

Directed  by  ALFRED  SANTELL 


ROXY 

NOW 

iiii[i:2aiiii 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  fi 


NEW   YORK,  SATURDAY,  .JUNE  6,   1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Mary  and  Doug 

Will  Appear  in 

1931  Pictures 


Fairbanks   Set   on   Film, 
But  Pickford  Isn't 


Botli  Douglas  Fairbanks  and  Mary 
Pickford  will  have  pictures  for  re- 
lease during  the  coming  season. 

Doug's  will  be  a  record  of  his 
travels  in  the  wild  meat  belt  of  the 
Orient.  Mary's  has  not  been  decided 
on  yet,  but  she  is  now  in  search  of  a 
story. 

"It's  going  to  have  plenty  of  good, 
wholesome  comedy,"   she   says.    "But. 

(Continued  on  page   2) 


U.  A.-Duffy  Deal 
Closing  Is  Awaited 

San  Fkaxciscu — Consummation  is 
^till  being  awaited  here  of  the  deal 
between  Henry  Duffy,  operator  of 
legitimate  houses,  and  United  x\rtists 
wliereby  Duffy's  plays  and  players 
will  be  at  the  disposal  of  United  Ar- 
tists, and  U.  A.'s  scenarios  and  screen 
stars,  in  excliange,  will  be  turned  over 
to  Duffy.  The  latter  operates  the  Al- 
cai-ar  in  San  Francisco,  and  the  El 
tai)itan  in  Hollywood.  Contracts,  it 
is  Icnown,  have  been  drawn  up  and 
arc  awaiting  the  ironing  out  of  final 
(ktails,  before  signatures  are  affixed. 
Duffy  is  expected  here  for  the  week- 
end and  will  then  return  to  Holly- 
v^'ood. 

Allied  Jersey  Allies 
Still  Doping  It  Out 

New  Jersey  theatre  owners  are  still 
undecided  on  that  Allied  question  and 
have  called  another  special  meeting 
at  which  another  attempt  will  be  made 
to  reach  a  decision  whether  to  stay 
with  ,\llied  States  Association  or  drop 
out  of  the  national  organization.  The 
meeting  has  been  called  for  June  9. 
i  f  the  matter  isn't  threshed  out  by 
then  it  will  be  carried  over  to  the  an- 
nual convention  in  .'Xtlantic  Citv  June 
18  and  19. 


Coals  to  Newcastle; 
Foreigns  to  Bronx 

The  Bronx  will  have  its  foreign 
picture  house  shortly  when  Morris 
Schane  reopens  the  Walton,  recently 
acquired  from  Fox.  He  will  open  the 
bouse  August  15  with  a  German 
talker,  but  will  not  confine  the  policy 
to  that  language,  booking  other  lin- 
guals   from   time  to  time. 


Hays  Sees  Hoover 

Washington— Will  H.  Hays 
had  a  4.5-minute  conference 
Friday  with  President  Hoover 
at  the  Executive  Mansion 
discussing  economic  condi- 
tions in  the  industry.  The 
tallc  was  held  before  the 
President  went  to  his  office. 
No  politics  were  discussed,  it 
is  stated.  The  industry  is  do- 
ing everything  in  its  power 
to  assist  the  government, 
Havs    told    the    President. 


Rialto  Opens 
With  Revivals 
And  Price  Cut 


A  break  for  all  distributors  under  a 
"revival"  policy  will  make  its  bow  this 
morning  when  the  Rialto,  New  York, 
which  closed  Wednesday  night,  re- 
opens. 

Admissions  have  tumljled  to  a  dur- 
ing-the-week  top  of  40  cents  and  a 
week-end  top  of  50  cents.  From  open- 
ing to  5  o'clock  the  price  will  be  25 
cents,  with  an  increase  to  40  cents 
from  five  to  closing.  This  compares 
with  the  old  scale  of  40  cents  to  1 
o'clock,   65  cents   to   5   P.   M.   and  85 

(Continued   on    page    2) 


Grainger  Closes  with 
ButterReld  Circuit 

James  R.  Grainger  returned  from 
Detroit  yesterday  with  a  substantial 
contract  tucked  in  his  pocket.  While 
there,  he  closed  with  Colonel  W.  S. 
Butterfield  for  the  Fox  product  to 
pla\'  over  his  entire  string  of  approxi- 
matelv   40  houses. 


THUMBS  DOWN  ON 
JUGGLING  DATES 


Only  1  Award 
Per  Firm  by 
M.P.  Academy 


f,()s  .\xGELES— Change  in  the  plan 
of  awards  this  year  of  the  Academy 
of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and  Sciences 
provides  that  no  individtial  company 
shall  be  entitled  to  more  than  one 
nomination  for  the  best  production, 
the  achievement  polling  the  highest 
votes  for  any  particular  company  to  be 
that  company's  entry.  There  are  fi\e 
nominations  for  this  award. 


Kid  Shows  Help  to 
Offset  Stage  Loss 

Sa.m  Fr.^ncisco— Facing  a  summer 
slump  and  handicapped  by  the  with- 
drawal of  stage  shows  from  their  pro- 
grams, local  motion  picture  houses 
are  concentrating  their  efforts  toward 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


New  Russian  80^ A  Tax 
Doesn't  Mean  a  Thing 

Increase  of  taxes  on  amusements  m 
I^ussia  means  nothing  to  the  export 
end  of  the  industry  here.  Practically 
no  American  pictures  went  into  that 
country  in  the  pre-talker  days  and 
now  that  sound  is  here,  exports  ha\-e 
fallen  to  an  even  lower  ebb. 

The  Soviet's  tax  increase  ranges 
from   10  to  80  per  cent. 


Independents  Not  in  on  Cut 
By  Unions;  Chi  Offer  Stands 


\'oluntary  wage  cuts  of  5  to  7^2 
per  cent  voted  by  local  stageliands 
and  operator  unions  apply  only  to 
theatres  of  Publix,  h^ox,  Warners, 
KKO,  Loew's  and  Universal,  so  inde- 
pendents will  not  benefit  by  the  move. 
It  is  estimated  by  the  International 
Allied  of  Theatrical  Stage  Employes 
and  Motion  Picture  Machine  Opera- 
tors that  the  ten-week  reduction, 
which  starts  June  8,  will  mean  a  cut 
of  $450,000.  The  scale  returns  to  cur- 
rent levels  at  the  end  of  the  period. 

Under  the  plan,  the  cut  is  to  be 
(Continued  on  page   2) 


CiiK  .\(;o — The  operators'  union  here 
will  not  rescind  its  recent  offer  of 
one  week's  work  without  pay  during 
June  in  favor  of  the  percentage  sal- 
ary rebate  to  circuit  theatres  proposed 
by  William  Canavan,  president  of  the 
International  Alliance  of  Theatrical 
Sta.ge  Employes  and  Motion  Picture 
Operators. 

The  offer  of  the  Chicago  local  to 
forego  a  week's  pay  during  June  was 
made  in  advance  of  Canavan's  pro- 
posal and  applies  to  independent  and 
circuit    houses   alike,    whereas    Cana- 

(Conlinurd   on    pnric   2) 


Films    Must    Be    Played 

In  Order  of  Release, 

Distributor  Edict 


Some  distributors  are  opposed  to 
the  juggling  of  playdates  and  want 
l)ictures  played  in  order  of  release. 
As  a  consequence,  these  companies 
will  demand  adherence  to  the  release 
order  of  productions  in  exhibition  at 
all  theatres.  Release  schedules  are 
compiled  to  serve  just  such  purpose, 
it  is  pointed  out.  Contracts  carry  a 
clause  providing  for  the  playing  of 
p-ictures    in    official    release    order. 

Insistence  of  exhibitors  upon  the 
privilege  of  playing  pictures  out  of 
order  of  release  was  one  of  the  high- 
ligiits  of  the  5-5-5  conferences  which 
drafted  the  standard  releasing  agree- 
ment, adoption  of  which  is  impending. 
Kxhibitors  contended  that  when  an 
unusual  box-office  card  came  along, 
tliey  should  be  enabled  to  play  it  as 
soon  as  available,  without  waiting  for 
its  date  of  release.  After  consider- 
able bickerings,   the  privilege  was   in- 

iContinucd    on    page    2) 


Stage  Shows  Out 
Of  Memphis  Houses 

ALii.MPHis — When  Loew's  State  dis- 
continues vaudeville  next  week,  Mem- 
phis will  be  entirely  without  stage  en- 
tertainment. The  RKO  Orphcum 
abandoned  vaudeville  five  weeks  ago, 
leaving  only  the  State  with  stage 
shows. 

The  State,  beginning  next  week, 
will  show  only  talking  pictures.  No 
announcement  has  been  made  of  fu- 
ture  stage   shows   in    Memphis. 


Little  Rock  Meeting 
Set  for  June  7  and  8 

Mk-mi'iiis.  Tenn. — June  7  and  8  are 
dates  set  for  the  spring  convention  of 
the  M.P.T.O.  of  ,\rkansas,  Mississippi 
and  Tennessee.  The  meeting  will  be 
held  in  Little  Rock  and  will  be  de- 
\(jtcd  to  business  sessions  only. 

Letters   sent   to   members   this   week 

(CoutiiiHcd    oil    I'liiic    2) 


Clara  and  Leo? 

If  Clara  Bow  is  going  to 
the  company,  it's  news  to 
M-G-M,  that  company  stated 
yesterday.  Coast  reports  have 
it  Clara's  deal  for  the  switch 
from   Paramount   is  all  set. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,   June   b,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\'ul.    jO 


Time   6.    1931 


No.  6 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^»^w^  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
IjTj  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V<|y  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
>l  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  iVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.    Y.,  under  Act  o£   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Paramount  Halts 
Expansion  in  U.  K» 

London — Belief  in  the  trade  that 
Paramount  is  after  a  circuit  in  England 
that  would  eventually  rival  Gaumont 
British's  have  fjone  galley  we-st  with 
-Statement  by  John  C.  Graham  that 
the  company  was  through  after  build- 
ing houses  in  Liverpool,  Leeds.  New- 
castle,  Glasgow  and   Belfast. 

Meanwhile,  current  reports  ha\e  it 
that  a  big  house  is  planned  for  Bir- 
mingham. 


Little  Rock  Meeting 
Set  for  June  7  and  8 

(Continued  from  page   \) 

by  Secretary  M.  S.  McCord,  read : 
"We  promise  you  a  meeting  this  year 
that  will  be  constructive  and  well 
worth  your  making  any  sacrifice  to 
attend.  There  will  be  no  registration 
fee,  nor  any  equipment  and  film  sales- 
men to  bother  you." 

.-\mong  the  topics  for  discussion 
will  be  business  conditions  and  the 
outlook  for  the  future,  the  new  sea- 
son's product,  .score  charges,  service 
charges,  zoning,  protection,  the  new 
contract  and  legislative  matters.  Hank 
D.  Wharton  is  president  of  the  organ- 
ization. M.  A.  LightiTian,  president 
of  the  M.P.T.O.A.  will  attend. 


Rialto  Reopens  With 
Revivals,  Cut  Prices 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

cents  to  closing.  The  new  scale  on 
week  ends  and  holidays  will  be  25 
cents  to  noon  and  50  cents  for  the  rest 
.')i  the  day. 

The  "revival"  policy  opens  with 
"Whoopee."  Among  other  pictures 
booked  are  "Street  of  Chance,"  "Ani- 
mal Crackers,"  "Caught  Short,"  "The 
Big  House,"  "Our  Blushing  IBrides," 
"The  Cock-Eyed  W^orld,"  "Little 
Caesar,"  "Holiday,"  "Common  Clay," 
"Hell's  Angels"  and  "Criminal  Code." 

Each  picture  will  be  held  as  long 
as  it  draws.  "Whoopee,"  for  instance, 
is  expected  to  he  held  two  or  three 
days. 


Purely  Personal 


JG.,  VON  Herberc,  Seattle  theatre 
•  executive,  has  purchased  some  185 
acres  on  Sucia  Island,  one  of  the  San 
Juan  group  of  islands  in  the  straits 
otif  British  Columbia,  some  12  miles 
soutii  of  the  International  border, 
where  he  will  build  a  summer  man- 
sion. Included  in  the  spacious 
grounds  will  be  an  extensive  landing 
field  for  airplanes. 

Howard  Dietz  is  the  one  film  man 
who  is  not  worried  about  depression. 
He  dropped  all  such  ideas,  if  he  ever 
had  any,  when  he  read  the  raves  of 
the  New  York  critics  on  "The  Band 
Wagon,"  which  Broadway  musical 
Howard  wrote. 

Jeanette  Loff  is  to  appear  in 
Schwab  &  Mandel's  musical  comedy, 
"Free  for  All,"  which  is  to  feature 
Jack   Haley. 

J.  L.  McKiNNEY,  former  special 
representative  for  Tififany  in  the 
Memphis  territory,  has  returned  to 
Dallas. 

"Bob"  McNeil,  president  of  Golden 
State  Theatres,  operating  14  northern 
California  houses,  sailed  Friday  for 
I  lonolulu  and  the  Orient. 

Harry  D.  (Fox)  Goldberg  sailed 
from  Montreal  yesterday  for  Bermu- 
da. \o\\  guessed  it :  annual  vacation 
stuff. 

I\Kii.\Ri)  Baktuelmkss,  accom- 
panied by  Mrs.  B.,  arrived  in  New 
York  yesterday,  lie  will  remain  ex- 
actly one  week. 

Bruce  Johnson  will  sail  in  about 
three  weeks  for  abroad  to  put  a  picture 
over  in  foreign  territory. 

George  Bilson  has  donned  smoked 
glasses  and  may  be  seen  sporting  them 
these  days. 


1 1  v  Daab  is  missing  from  RKO 
oftices  these  days,  having  hied  himself 
to  parts  unknown  for  a  brief  vacation. 

Jim  MiLKiAN  has  joined  Keystone 
Engraving. 

Cn.\Ri.ES  Goodwin,  of  Philadeli)hia, 
will  soon  desert  the  bachelor  ranks. 


17  in  Hunt  Circuit 

William  C.  Hunt  Enterprises  has 
taken  over  the  Gaiety  and  Centre  the- 
atres in  Trenton,  where  the  firm  also 
operates  the  State  and  Orpheum. 
These  two  additions  bring  the  total 
of  the  New  Jersey  circuit  to  17 
houses. 


Mary  and  Doug  Will 
Appear  in  1931  Films 

(Continued  from  page   1  > 

above  all  things,  I  want  it  to  be  warm 
and  human.  This  time  I'm  not  go- 
ing to  be  swayed  by  any  of  the  peo- 
ple in  whose  judgment  I  have  confi- 
dence. In  my  ne.xt  picture  I  am  going 
to  be  true  only  to  myself." 

Doug  says  he  intended  to  go  to 
work  as  soon  as  he  arrives  in  Holly- 
wood on  editing  and  cutting  his  ad- 
venture film,  preparatory  to  releasing 
it  as  a  travelogue. 


American  Record  to 
Make  Picture  Discs 

Synchronization  work  is  to  be 
started  soon  by  the  American  Record 
Co.  of  New  York  and  Scranton.  The 
firm,  which  is  a  subsidiary  of  Con- 
solidated Film  Industries,  has  a  re- 
cording studio  in  New  York. 


Phil  In,  Gus  Out 

Reix)rts,  published  here  and  abroad, 
that  Gus  Schlesinger  had  resigned  as 
Warners'  Central  European  represen- 
tative, were  confirmed  yesterday  by 
Sam  B.  Morris.  Phil  Kaufman,  who 
has  been  handling  sales  for  the  com- 
pany in  Berlin,  steps  into  Schles- 
singer's  post. 


Young  Here 

W.  J.  Young,  managing  director  of 
Reid-Hall,  Ltd.,  which  operates  six 
theatres  in  Bermuda,  is  in  New  York 
for  a  few  days.  His  company  distrib- 
utes Paramount,  M-G-M  and  War- 
ners-First National  in  the  islands. 


Votes  Sunday  Shows 

Chicago — The  city  council  of  Mat- 
toon,  south  of  here,  voted  this  week 
to  legalize  Sundav  films. 


Film  Stocks  Irregular;  E.  K.  Off  2V2 


High 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 4.)4 

Consolidated    Fifm    Industries    pfd 14 

Eastman    Kodak 133 

Fox    Film    "A" 18?/^ 

General  Theatre  Equipment   new 45i 

Loew's,    Inc 4354 

I.oew's,    Inc.,    pfd 87!4 

Paramount    Publix 2S!4 

Pathe    Exchange 1?^ 

I'athe    Exchange    "A" 3'A 

HKO    14!^ 

Warner    Bros 7'/i 

Warner    Bros.   piJ 20 

Fractional  Gain  on 

High 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc WA 

Fox   Theatres   "A" 3^ 

General  Theatre   Equipment   pfd 6^4. 

Technicolor     7 

Trans    Lux d'A 

Bonds  Advance;  G.  T.  E. 

High 

General  Theatre  Equipmerft  6s  '40 34 

Loew's  6s  '41  ex  war 96 

Paramount    Broadway    S'/zs    '-SI 101^ 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 81 

Paramount   Publix  S'/4s.   'SO 74 

Pathe   7s   '37   ww 8254 

Warner    Bros.    6s   '39   wd 4054 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Chanige 

Sales 

45/, 

VA 

-1-  Vi 

500 

1254 

1354 

+VA 

1,500 

12754 

128 

-254 

14,200 

165i 

16.34 

4-  Vs 

40,200 

4 

4 

5.400 

40 

40^ 

+  Vs 

47,800 

8754 

875i 

100 

22y, 

23 

-3/8 

44,500 

m 

lj/8 

-'A 

200 

354 

354 

-Vi^ 

200 

1354 

1354 

-  Vi 

33,700 

m 

7 

38.500 

20 

Cm 

30 

+1 

Net 

200 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

1054 

1054 

4-  % 

200 

2V« 

3 

+  54 

9,400 

6 

6'A 

+  H 

2.000 

7 

7 

-  54, 

100 

6Vi 

lun 

654 

nps 

-  54 
Net 

700 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

30 

33 

+3'A 

300 

9SVi 

96 

+  54 

6 

101 

10154 

+  54 

14 

7954 

81 

+1 

IS 

72 

73 

-1-154 

16 

825^ 

8254 

+  Vi 

22 

38 

4054 

-f254 

72 

Thumbs  Down 
On  Juggling 
Of  Dates 


(Continued  from  page   1  > 

coriiorated  in  the  contract,  the  pro- 
viso being  that  they  be  up  on  playing 
arrangement  and  the  balance  of  the 
playing  arrangement  was  to  be  safe- 
guarded. 

One  of  the  chief  factors  which  led 
to  exhibitors'  request  for  playing  pic- 
tures out  of  order  was  "The  Cock- 
Eyed  World,"  independents  declaring 
they  should  be  permitted  to  cash  in 
on  the  advertising  that  picture  re- 
ceived in  its  pre-release  and  first  runs. 


Independent  Houses 
Are  Not  in  on  Cut 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

taken  from  the  pay  envelopes  of  the 
individual  union  member.  Four  hun- 
dred and  thirty-one  locals  voted  to 
take  the  cut,  while  144  voted  against 
it.  Under  the  by-laws,  the  Interna- 
tional cannot  force  locals  to  take  a 
cut,  each  local  being  an  autonomous 
unit. 

Members  who  receive  less  than  $60 
weekly  are  asked  to  take  a  5  per  cent 
cut  and  those  receiving  above  $60 
asked  to  take  a  7^2  per  cent  cut.  The 
wage  cut  was  negotiated  by  the  six 
circuits  concerned. 


Chi  Operator  Plan 
Stands  as  Offered 

(Continued  from  page   1) 
van's    proposal    considered    only    the 
six  major  circuit  operators. 

Although  the  plan  of  salary  rebate 
suggested  by  Canavan  would  be  in 
force  for  ten  summer  weeks  beginning 
June  8,  Chicago  exhibitors  who  have 
accepted  the  local  union's  relief  offer 
assert  that  in  the  aggregate  it  would 
be  less  than  the  equivalent  of  one 
week's  pay  of  a  Chicago  operator. 

Essentially  all  Chicago  theatres 
that  are  remaining  open  for  the  sum- 
mer will  take  advantage  of  the  local 
union's  relief  ofTer.  Approximately 
100  theatres,  however,  found  no  re- 
lief for  their  predicament  in  the 
union's  ofifer  and  have  closed,  or  will 
be  closed,  before  it  goes  into  efifect. 


Held  in  Globe  Death 

Thomas  Dean,  fireman  at  the  Globe, 
N  .Y.,  was  arraigned  yesterday  before 
Magistrate  H.  Stanley  Renaud  and 
held  on  a  technical  charge  of  homi- 
cide in  the  death  of  Sophie '  Muck, 
who  was  injured  when  a  bar  from 
the  balcony  hit  her  while  attending 
the  show.  She  died  later  in  the  hos- 
pital. 


Barrymore  to  Stage 

KicTciirKAN,  Alaska — John  Barry- 
more  is  deserting  the  films  to  return 
to  the  stage,  he  said  on  his  arrival 
here.  His  wife,  the  former  Dolores 
Costello,  has  definitely  retired  from 
the  screen. 


Para.  Signs  Winston 

Paramount  has  signed  Harold 
Winston,  stage  director.  He  arrives 
on  the  Coast  this  week  to  begin  direc- 
tion on  his  first,  as  yet  untitled. 


speaking  6>/  HITS . . . 

XjLeRE  is  one  for  everybody!  It's  Eastman 
Super-Sensitive  Panchromatic  Negative, 
Type  2 ...  a  new  negative  film,  two  to  three 
times  as  fast  as  previous  emulsions  under 
Mazda  lights.  Possessed  of  an  unequalled 
combination  of  other  advantages,  it  is 
bound  to  improve  the  quality  of  sound 
pictures.  Yet  its  price  is  the  same  as  that  of 
regular  negative.  Eastman  Super-Sensitive 
Panchromatic  Negative,  Type  2,  is  a  film 
whose  effect  will  be  felt  throughout  the 
industry.  Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Roch- 
ester, New  York.  (J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Dis- 
tributors, New  York,  Chicago,  Hollywood.) 

Eastman  Super-Sensitive 

Panchromatic  Negative,  Type  2 


[Box  off  Ice  from 


wmsL 


mart  to  Twines fU 


tuith 


JANET  GAYNOR 

WARNER    BAXTER 

UNA  MERKEL 

JOHN  ARLEDGE      «      CLAUDE  GILLINGWATER,  SR.      '^       KATHLYN  WILLIAMS 


From  play  by  Jean  Webster 


DirecUd  b)'  ALFRED  SANTELL 


ROXY  NOW 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,   June    b,    1931 


99 


"Dude  Ranch, 

Vaude,  Winner 

In  Ciney  Race 


Cincinnati  -The  Albee,  local 
RKO  flagship,  sailed  into  port  with 
lop  money  tins  week  with  "Dude 
Ranch"  on  tlie  screen  and  Belle  Ben- 
nett heading  the  stage  siiow.  The  to- 
tal showed  $23,550,  which  gives  the 
house  a  little  better  than  $1,500  aver- 
age. 

"Bad  Sister"  proved  good  at  KKO 
Strand  with  a  gate  of  $4,648,  or  $1,148 
more  than  average,  while  the  RKO 
Famib'  on  a  split  week  basis  turned 
in  $2,714  with  "Dishonored"  (second 
run)  and  "Lonely  Wives,"  going 
over  the  top  by  $1,175.  The  larger 
RKO  houses  all  came  within  close 
striking  distances  of  their  appointed 
averages.  "Three  Loves,''  German 
silent-synchronized,  at  Erlanger  Grand 
Opera  House,  failed  to  hit  the  mark 
bv  about  one  grand,  chalking  up  a  to- 
tal of  $3,600,  while  "Kiss  Me  Again" 
at  Keith's  hit  exactly  average. 

.\lthough  unusually  hot  weather 
prevailed  and  amusement  parks  opened 
for  the  season  during  the  week,  busi- 
ness in  the  aggregate  was  only  about 
five  per  cent  off  from  the  week  pre- 
vious. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  Mav  29 : 

"THREE   LOVES"    (German) 
ERLANGER  GRAND  OPERA  HOUSE^ 
(1,600).  3()c-50c.  7  days.    Gross:  $3,600.    (Aver- 
age. $4,500.) 

"KISS   ME   AGAIN"    (F.   N.) 
KEITH'S—d.eOO).  30c-50c,  7  days.      Gross: 
$4,500.     (Average,  $4,500.) 

"DUDE   RANCH"    (Para.) 
RKO    ALBEE  — (3,300),   30c-50c-65c-75c,   7 
'lays.     Vaudeville    headed    by    Belle    Bennett 
and  Herman  Timberg.    Gross:  $23,550.    Aver- 
age.   $22.0(X).) 

"INDISCREET"   (U.  A.) 
RKO    CAPTTOL-(2,000).    30c-50c,    7   davs. 
Gross:   $12,375.     (Average,   $13,000.) 
"DISHONORED"    (Para.) 
RKO    FAMILY— (1.140),   20c-25c-3Sc(    sec- 
ond  run.   4   davs.     (^ross:    $2,714.     (Average, 
f 1,950.) 

"SKY  RAIDERS"    (Col.) 
RKO     FAMir>V       (1.140),     20c- 2.5c -.ISc.     3 
davs.     Gross:    $1,461.     (Average,    $1,050.) 
"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 
RKO  LYRIC  -(1.400).  30c-,50c,  7  day.s  plus 
Saturdav     midnight     shnw.      Cd-oss:     $11, .500. 
(Average.   $12,000.) 

"KICK    IN"    (Para.) 
RKO    PALACE  —  (2.700).    .Wc-50c.    7    day.s 
pins  Saturday  midnight  show.    Gross:  $13,300. 
Average,    $14,000.) 

"BAD  SISTER"  (Univ.) 
■  RKO    STRAND  -  (1.. 5.50).    25c-40c.    7    davs. 
Gross:    $4,648.     (Average,   $3,500.) 


Kid  Shows  Help  to 
Offset  Stage  Loss 

(Continued  from  page   \) 

kiddie  patronage.  The  RKO  Majes- 
tic has  organized  a  kiddie  booster  club 
whose  membership  is  more  than  2,000, 
Members  are  given  a  special  perform- 
ance every  Saturday  morning.  After 
the  performance,  they  arc  allowed  to 
witness  the  regular  program  all  for 
five  cents. 

The  Aztec,  Publi.x  owned,  has  or- 
ganized a  Big  firothcr  Club  along  the 
lines  of  the  booster  club.  The  plan 
contemplates  kiddie  matinees  every 
Saturday  morning  at  which  pictures 
of  interest  to  children  as  well  as  other 
portions  of  the  program.  The  kiddies 
will  choose  the  picture  they  desire  to 
see  the  following  .Saturday.  .A.t  the 
opening  program,  at  which  "Tom 
-Sawyer"  was  featured,  the  kifldies 
were    admitted    free. 

.All  the  grade  .\  theatres  here  have 
fixed  a  lO-cent  gate  for  children  at 
regular   performances. 


"Three  Who  Loved" 

(Knclio) 

tj.  OLi  vwooi) — Mildly  received 
bv  a  preview  audience,  "Three 
Who  Loved"  too  much  talk  and 
not  enough  action.  This  im- 
presses as  a  talker  of  the  early 
school. 

Hetty  Compson,  playing  an 
immigrant  girl,  is  sincerely 
loved  by  Conrad  Nagel  and  cas- 
ually flirted  with  by  Robert 
.Ames.  Betty,  however,  takes 
the  flirtation  seriously.  Nagel, 
playing  the  market  for  her. 
steals  to  cover  margins  and 
Ames  is  wrongly  jailed  for  the 
theft.  The  sympathy,  however, 
remains  with  Nagel  and  for 
that  the  treatment  is  to  be 
blamed.  Despite  the  odd  twist 
in  the  triangle  theme,  the  au- 
dience reaction  was  not  overly 
enthusiastic.  Performances  are 
capable  enough,  but  uninspired. 
On  the  basis  of  the  first  pre- 
view reaction,  this  appears  to 
be   moderate  program  fare. 

WILLIAM   A.  JOHNSTON 


Norma  Leads 
L.  A.  Parade ; 
Gets  $28,000 


Los  .\ngeles — "Strangers  May 
Kiss"  at  $28,000  at  Loew's  State 
found  business  good,  while  the  day 
and  date  showing  of  "Wom-n  of  .All 
Nations"  at  the  (Criterion  and  Chinese 
failed  to  create  any  sensation.  The 
Criterion  caught  $12,200,  which  was 
$2,200  above  average,  but  the  Chinese 
sank  to  $9,600,  which  was  $4,400  be- 
low   average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending    June   3  : 

"DAM\   ATRIVEDA"    (F.  N.) 

CAI.IFOK.XIA     1  NTEKNATIONA  1, 
(2.(100).      25c-5()c.      7      days.       Gross:      %S,m). 
(Avc-ragc.    $5,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

FOX  CAKTHAY  CIRCLE— (1.6.50).  7.5c- 
^'1.50.  ($5  premiere.)  George  Stoll  liand. 
Gross:     JlO.nnO.      (Average.   $12,500.) 

"WOMEN   OF  ALL  NATIONS"    (Fox) 

F().\  CRITEKIOX— (1.652).  35c-65c.  7 
lavs.      Grrss:    $12,20(1.      (.'Xveiagc.    $10,000.) 

"WOMEN   OF   ALL  NATIONS"    (Fox) 

f;RArMAN\S      CHINESE— (2,030).      2.5c- 
75c.     Gross:    $9,600.     (Average,   $16,000.) 
"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

C;ACMAN'.S  EGYPTIAN— (1.800).  10c- 
65c.  7  days.  Gross:  $3,,300.  (Average. 
$6,500.) 

"STRANGERS    MAY    KISS"    (M-G-M) 

l.OEW'S  STATE— (2,418).  3.5c-65c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $'8,000.      (Average.    $27,000.) 

"DRUMS    OF    JEOPARDY"    (Tiff.) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2.100).  25c-6.5c,  7  days. 
Grrss:    $8,500.      (Average.    $13. .500.) 

"YOUNG   DONOVAN'S   KID"    (Radio) 

ORPIIECiM-   (2.750).     3,5c-6.5c.     2nd     week, 
7  days.   Gross:   }V,000.     (Average.   $16,000.) 
"LADIES    MAN"    (Para.) 

I'.WTAGES  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000),  3.5c- 
65c.   7   days.     F.    S-    M.   "Three    Big   Figures" 
Idea.      Gross:     $12.7(«).      (Average,     $15,000.) 
"LAWYER'S    SFCRET"    (Para.) 

I'ARAMOCXT  (3. .596),  35c. 6.5c.  7  davs. 
Stage  revue.  luue  Purcell  in  ])crs<)Tk 
Gross:    S16.S0O.     (Average.    $25.0(10.) 

"STEPPING    OUT"    (M-G-M) 

RKO— (2.700),  .15c-6.5c,  7  davs.  8  acts 
RKO  vaudeville.  Gross:  $14,400.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"DISHONORED"    (Para.) 

UNITED    ARTLST.S— (2.10O),   .•!5c-6.5c    (2nd 
v/eck.)      Gross:    S7.500.      (Average,    J.'13,50O.) 
"PARTY    HUSBAND"     (F.    N.) 

V\ARNEf<  BROS.  DOWNIOWN- (2.4(X)). 
7  d;ivs,  35c -50c.  Gross:  $11,600,  (Average. 
$15,000). 

"PARTY    HUSBAND"    (F.    N.J 

WARNER     BROS.      HOLLYWOOD 
(3.000),      7      days,      3Sc-.50c.  Gross:      $12,800. 
(Average,  $14,000.) 


"Twain"  Aided 

To  $22,500  on 

Hearst's  Plug 


I'lALri  .MoKl-; — I  Iclpcd  liy  I  Icarst  ad- 
vertising and  a  stage  show.  "Never 
the  Twain  Shall  Meet,"  at  $22,500, 
led  Baltimore  in  an  off  week.  The 
house  average  is  $19,000.  Gloria 
-Swansoii  pulled  strongly  at  Loew's 
Stanley  with  the  added  draw  of 
I)cn  Lyon,  former  Raltiniorcan.  Miss 
Swanson  seeius  to  be  holding  up  here 
while  Chaplin,  Fairbanks  and  Pick- 
ford  are  losing  ground.  .Always  (iood- 
bye"  was  helped  by  Elissa  Landi's  lo- 
cal follf)wing.  "Svengali"  also  show- 
ed draw. 

Fstiniated  takings  for  the  we«k  end- 
ing May  28: 

"FINN    AND    HATTIE"    (Para.) 
KEITH'S— (2,500).    6    days,    starting    Fri- 
d'av    and    including    Sunday    midnight    show- 
ing.    Gross:    $5,840.    (.'\verage,    $5,500.) 

Week  ending  May  29: 

"ALWAYS   GOODBYE"    (Fox) 

NEW— (1600),  25c-50c,  7  days  from  Fri- 
day to  following  Friday.  Gross:  $7,000. 
(Average    for    six    days.    $8,000.) 

"THE    SKY    RAIDERS"    (Col.) 

RIVOLI -(1,982),    25c-50c.    6  days,    starting 
Saturdav.     Gross:    $6,800.    (Average,    $7,500.) 
"THE    HOT   HEIRESS"    (F.    N.) 

WARNERS'  METRO'POLITAN-(1,300). 
15c-50c,  6  days,  starting  Saturday.  Gross: 
$4..50O.    (Average,    $4.5(X).) 

Week  ending  May  30: 

"SVENGALI"     (Warners) 

AUniTORIUM- (1,600),  ,Wc-50c-75c-$l,  9 
days,  starting  Thursday  night  ami  ending 
on  the  Saturday  of  the  following  week,  in- 
ducting a  midnight  showing  Sunday.  Gross: 
$6,186.  (.Average  for  roadshow  policy  of 
three  shows  daily  and   for  Saturdav.   $5,000.) 

"THE    GIRL    FROM    THE    REEPER- 
BAHN"    (Sonor-Film) 

LITTLE— (267).    35c-50c,    6    days.     Gross: 
$900.     (Average,    $850.) 
"NEVER    THE    TWAIN    SHALL    MEET" 

(M-G-M) 

(Helped     by     large     national     campaign     in 

Hearst   papers   here) 

LOEW'S  CENTURY— (3,076).  25c-60c.  7 
days.       Other       attractions:       Loew -Capitol 


4^ 


Women''  Big 
Money  Film 
In  Portland 


I'oRi  i..\xi) — "Women  of  All  Na- 
tions" was  the  big  sensation  here,  al- 
most doubling  the  $5,000  average 
gross  of  the  l''o.\  Broadway.  The  in- 
take, $9,000,  was  good  enough  for  a 
holdover.  "Kick  In"  and  "Public 
Kneniy"  were  the  others  to  beat  the 
normal  figure  at  the  Paramount  and 
Music  I5ox,  respectively.  Outside  at- 
tractions and  warm  weather  helped  to 
pull  down  grosses. 

F.stiniated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing   Tune    4: 
"WOMEN    OF    ALL    NATIONS"    (Fox) 

FOX 


FOX 
Gross : 


FO.X 
Gross: 


I!RO.-\l)WAV— (1.912),      25c-50c,      7 
Gross:    $4,000.       (Average,    $5,000.) 
'QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 
RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c.    3    days. 
$1.5U0.     (Average    for    week,    $4,000.) 
"JUNE  MOON"   (Para.) 
RIALTO— (1.498J.    2.5c-35c.    4    days. 
$1,900. 
THE  PUBLIC  ENEMY"   (Warners) 
HAMRICK'S    .MUSIC    BOX— (1,800).    25c, 

7  davs.      Gross:    $5,300.       (Average,   $4,000.) 

"KICK    IN"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,068).    25c-60c.    7    davs. 
F.   &  M.  Varieties  Idea  with  Stepin   Fetchit 
in      person.        Gross:      $14,800.         (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 
RRO  ORPHEUM-(1,700).  2.5c-50t,  7  days. 

8  vaude    acts.        Gross:    $9.8(X).        (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"NEVER    THE    TWAIN    SHALL    MEET" 
(M-G-M) 
U.VTED      ARTISTS— (945).      25c-60c.      7 
davs.      Gross:  $3,500.      (Average,  $7,000.) 


stage    unit    "Riviera    Revels."    Gross:    $22,- 
.5,0.     (Average.    $19,000.) 

"THE    FRONT   PAGE"    (U.   A.) 
(Shown     uptown     after     one     week     at     the 
.Stanley    downtown) 
l.OEW'S     PARKWAY— (987),     15c-35c,     6 
(la\s.      Gross:    $4,6f)0.     (Average,    $3,500.) 
"INDISCREET"   (U.   A.) 
l.OEW'S     STANI,EY-(.-y,5?2),     25c-60c,     6 
days.     Grcss:    $19..W0.    (Average,    $17,500.) 
"MISBEHAVING   LADIES'    (F.    N.) 
l.OEW'S    VALENCIA-(1,487).    25c-.'i5c,    " 
davs.    Gross:    $2,7.50.    (Average.    $2,800.) 


NEW     YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant     4712... 

BRUL 

CHICAGO 

1727    INDIANA   AVENUE 
CALumet    269  1... 

LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

1 54     CRESCENT     STREET 
....STIIIwell       7940 

EASTMAN 
♦  F    L  M  S  * 

ATOUR 

Incorporated 

HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
,   .  .   Hollywood      4  12  1 

The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  7 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JUNE  8,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Unions  Firm; 
100  Chicago 
Houses  Close 


Additional    Closings    to 
Follow  Shortly 


Chicago— With  little  prospect  of 
obtaining  effective  summer  relief 
which  would  permit  them  to  operate 
profitably,  approximately  100  Chicago 
theatres  closed  this  week. 

Prior  to  Decoration  Day  a  canvass 
of  city  theatres  conducted  by  the  Ex- 
hibitors' Association  of  Chicago  re- 
vealed 49  closings.  On  June  1,  im- 
mediately following  the  holiday  week 
end,  an  additioffal  55  theatres  closed 
for  a  minimum  ten  weeks'  period.  Ad- 
ditiond  closings  are  scheduled  to  fol- 
low   throughout    June,    and    an    es- 

(Coiitinued  on  page  2) 


Reynolds  Up  Tuesday 
On  Contempt  Charges 

Chicago — Hearing  of  contempt  of 
court  charges  against  Tom  Reynolds, 
president  of  the  Chicago  Motion  Pic- 
ture Operators'  Union,  were  post- 
poned until  tomorrow  by  Chief  Jus- 
tice John  McGoorty  in  Criminal 
Court. 

The  contempt  of  court  proceedings 
against  the  union  official  were  in- 
stituted upon  the  union's  refusal  to 
surrender  its  records  in  compliance 
with  a   court   order   issued   earlier   in 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Independents  Must 
Make  Union  Deal 

Operator  cuts  for  many  Greater 
New  York  independent  theatre  owners 
will  have  to  be  taken  up  with  the 
unions  by  individual  exhibitors, 
Motion  Picture  Daily  learns.  No 
complaints  have  been  registered  with 
the  Theatre  Owners  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce as  yet.  but  if  the  members  of 
the  organization  feel  the  necessity  to 
reduce  operators'  salaries  during  the 
summer   months,   the   New   York   ex- 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


it 


Hollywood  Herald" 
To  Make  Bow  Today 

Hollywood — The  Hollyzvood  Herald, 
new  coast  daily  and  latest  enterprise 
of  the  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
makes  its  bow  this  morning. 

William  A.  Johnston,  for  many 
years  editor  of  Motion  Picture  News, 
will  be  editor.  Leo  Meehan  is  busi- 
ness manager,  while  the  staff  will  in- 
clude Frank  Pope  and  Lin  Bonner. 


Hays  Pouring  Oil  on 

Gangster  Film  Storm 


Fox  Studio  Morale  Stiffens 

Hollywood — A  lot  of  folks  on  the  Fox  lot  are  feeling  better 
these  days. 

Reports  of  changes,  of  retirement  of  Harley  L.  Clarke  from  the 
presidency  and  of  financial  difficulties,  originating  principally  in 
New  York,  were  a  little  difficult  for  the  personnel  to  figure  out. 
But  in  the  last  few  days  two  factors  have  changed  the  picture. 

First  was  that  strong  statement  hitting  at  politics,  malicious 
rumors,  et  al,  which  appeared  in  "The  Last  Word,"  coupled  with 
which  was  the  definite  statement  that  Clarke  planned  to  continue 
in  the  saddle. 

Secondly  was  the  financial  report  for  1930  which  showed  a  profit 
of  $9,205,435.  The  earnings  statement  created  a  buzz  of  comment 
on  the  lot  and  all  of  it  was  favorable. 


Jason  Joy  in  Canada  in 

Attempt  to  Save  9 

Banned  Films 


Civic  Shows 
Free  in  Parks 
Of  Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh — While  Sunday  shows 
are  prohibited  in  theatres  here,  the 
city  government  is  prepared  to  go  in 
for  Sunday  pictures  in  a  big  way  this 
year,  dispensing  them  free  in  the  city 
parks. 

Arrangements  now  are  being  con- 
summated for  the  installation  of  sound 
reproducers  in  nine  city  parks  and 
the  free  shows  are  to  begin  at  an 
early  date.  Previous  free  summer 
Sunday  night  shows  are  said  to  have 
created  havoc  with  theatre  business 
during  the  week. 


Bye-Bye  for  Stage 
Shows  at  Houston 

Houston — Stage  shows  are  saying 
goodbye  to  Houston  for  the  summer. 
Loew's  State  and  Majestic  have 
switched  to  a  straight  picture  policy 
and  the  Metropolitan  drops  Publix 
shows  on  June  19.  About  60  men  are 
out  of   work  as   a  result. 


Warner  Home  Office 
Expands  Quarters 

Addition  of  40,200  square  feet  to 
the  Warner  home  office  building  has 
been  completed,  with  moving  already 
started.  The  statistical  department 
has  moved  to  the  eighth  floor ;  the 
theatre  exploitation  force  now  occu- 
{Continucd  on  page  4) 


ColumbiaMaps 

Plans  to  Keep 

Salaries  High 


Hollywood — Plans  for  keeping  sal- 
aries of  Columbia  employes  on  an 
even  keel,  with  increases  rather  than 
decreases  in  the  offing,  are  to  be  dis- 
cussed at  the  three-day  convention  of 
the  western  sales  force,  which  winds 
up  here  today.  This  is  the  final  one 
of  the  three  regional  sales  meetings. 
Lou  B.  Metzger,  sales  chief,  is  pre- 
siding. 

Harry  Cohn,  vice-president  in 
charge   of    production ;    Sam    Briskin, 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Allied  Newsreel  to  Be 
Extended  to  Canada 

Toronto — Arthur  A.  Lee,  American 
representative  of  Gaumont  British, 
and  Oscar  Hanson,  head  of  Oscar 
Hanson,  Inc.,  distributor  of  the  new 
Allied  newsreel.  are  here  for  con- 
ferences with  Col.  John  A.  Cooper, 
president  of  the  distributor  and  ex- 
hibitor association.  Possibility  of  ex- 
tension of  the  Allied  newsreel  hook- 
up to  Canada  is  seen  in  connection 
with  Hanson's  visit. 


F.  &  M.  Units  Booked 
By  Publix  at  Denver 

Denver — Fanchon  &  Marco  Ideas 
are  replacing  Publix  units  at  the 
Denver.  This  is  probably  an  economy 
move,  as  it  will  eliminate  the  long 
jump  from  Chicago  to  here  with  no 
(Continued  on  page  4) 


Toronto — While  Will  H.  Hays  has 
stated  that  gangster  films  are  on  the 
way  out,  his  organization  is  under- 
stood to  be  considerably  perturbed 
over  the  attitude  against  such  pictures 
taken  by  various  municipal  and  state 
bodies. 

As  an  instance.  Col.  Jason  S.  Joy  of 
Hollywood,  representing  Hays,  is  here 
conferring  with  the  Ontario  censor 
board  on  its  antagonism  toward  the 
gangster  type  of  picture.  The  On- 
tario board  recently  raised  a  barrier 
against  such  films,  banning  nine  con- 
sidered as  outstanding.  Other  censor- 
ship  matters   also   were   discussed. 

Col.   Joy's  visit  here  is  understood 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


Wisconsin  to  Vote 
On  'Blues'  Repeal 

Madison,  Wis. — Whether  the  Wis- 
consin blue  laws  shall  be  repealed  was 
passed  on  to  the  voters  when  the 
senate  concurred  in  an  assembly 
resolution  calling  for  a  referendum  in 
1932.  Assemblyman  John  Grob- 
schmidt,  Milwaukee,  introduced  the 
resolution  after  his  measures  for  re- 
peal of  the  old  statutes  were  blocked 
by  the  1929  and  the  1931  legislatures. 

Wis,  M,P.T.O.to  Hold 
Bunkless  Convention 

Milwaukee — "A  strictly  business 
convention  minus  bunk  and  empty  res- 
olutions" is  promised  by  Fred  S. 
Meyer,  president  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O. 
of  Wisconsin,  in  the  two-day  conven- 
tion to  be  held  June   16  and   17  here. 

Several  legislators  are  scheduled  to 
address  the  convention  on  Tuesday 
afternoon  on  legislative  matters  perti- 
nent to  the  industry.  Among  those 
scheduled  to  talk  are  Don  V.  Smith, 
chairman  of  the  committee  on   public 

(Continued  ou  page  4) 


General  Film  Co,  to 
Handle  Equipment 

Memphis — General  Film  Co.  is 
the  latest  film  equipment  company  to 
l)e  organized  in  Memphis.  Offices 
were  opened  last  week  in  the  Clay 
Tate  Building. 

The  company  will  handle  the  dis- 
(Continued  on  page  4) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


|! 


Monday,  June  8,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitorj    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  oO 


1  UIIC? 


1«1 


No. 


Maktin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^m^  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
flfl  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
Xcl^   Daily,   Inc.,  a   Quigley   Publication, 

>l  at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telepnone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Uuigpubco,  iSew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  OfiBce:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edunn  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

Landon  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.    Y.,  under   Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  flO  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Clara  Plans  Rest 
On  Nevada  Ranch 

Hollywood — Clara  Bow  plans  to 
recuperate  from  her  recent  nervous 
breakdown  on  her  Nevada  ranch.  She 
plans  an  "indefinite  rest"  on  the  ranch 
located  near  Las  Vegas.  When  she 
returns,  Clara  intends  to  re-enter  films. 


A^.  F.  State  Body 
To  Be  Reorganized 

With  the  new  fire  code  for  New 
York  now  in  Mayor  Walker's  hands 
and  expected  to  be  signed  either  to- 
day or  Tuesday,  reorganization  of  the 
New  York  state  exhibitor  unit  will 
follow^  shortly.  Movement  toward  this 
end  was  started  some  months  ago,  but 
was  put  off  until  disposition  of  the 
fire  code,  which  was  then  in  the  hands 
of  various  sub-committees  of  the  board 
of  aldermen.  With  the  matter  now 
out  of  the  way  Charles  O'Reilly, 
president  of  the  T.O.C.C,  will  be  able 
to  get  away  to  attend  the  meetings  at 
Albanv. 


Arrival  at  Funeral 

Delayed  by  Fog 

Hollywood — Douglas  Fairbanks 
and  Mary  Pickford,  tlying  to  the 
funeral  of  the  latter's  cousin,  Finley 
Henson,  were  forced  down  by  fog  at 
San  Bernardino,  and  the  rites  were 
delayed  for  an  hour  pending  to.  their 
arrival.  They  made  the  rest  of  the 
trip  via  motor. 


Saturday  Kid  Shows 

Clfaeland — Loew's  Theatres  will 
offer  children's  program  at  1  P.  M. 
on  Saturday  afternoons  just  preceding 
the  regular  matinee  program  at  the 
(jranada.  Alhambra,  Liberty  and 
Doan  theatres.  Admission  to  the 
early  show  permits  the  patron  to  re- 
main for  the  regular  show  without 
added  cost. 


After  90  Houses 

Pakis — Pathe  Natan  is  reported  out 
after  90  additional  houses.  The  cir- 
cuit now  totals  140. 


HARRY  COHN  is  the  head  man  at  the  Columbia  studio.  Every  year 
he  has  been  taking  for  himself  a  long  vacation,  at  which  time 
Brother  Jack  takes  over  production.  This  year,  Jack  is  on  the  Coast 
for  an  extended  stay,  but  Harry  isn't  going  away.  It  might  be  another 
case  of  New  York  keeping  an  eagle  eye  on  Hollywood — and  costs.  Then 
again,  it  might  not. 

Have  you  heard  the  latest  theme  song?    It's  called  "Adjustments,  I 
Want  You." 

A  lot  of  theatre  operators  are  verra  much  interested  in  that  revival 
stunt  at  the  Rialto.    It's  been  done  before  at  the  same  house,  you  know. 

• 
Several  of  the  U.  A.  crowd  got  the  information  that  Mary  and  Doug 
would   contribute   to   that   company's   program   next    season    first   from 
that  exclusive  yarn  which  ran  in  Motion  Picture  Daily  on  Saturday. 

• 
That  revised  ordinance  governing  storage  and  handling  of  film  in 
New  York  theatres,  labs  and  studios  is  probably  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant legislative  victories  in  some  time.  Exhibitors  were  faced  with  the 
danger  of  equipping  their  booths  with  sprinklers  to  fit  over  projection 
machines,  among  other  things.  As  matters  stand  now,  it  is  expected 
underwriters  may  be  persuaded  to  reduce  insurance  rates,  while  the 
New  York  City  model  may  be  followed  in  other  localities  throughout 
the  country  as  well. 

• 
Two  years  ago  Consolidated  Film  Industries,  it  is  understood,  tried 
to  secure  an  option  on  the  DeForest  patents  covering  the  printing  of 
sound  film  positives. 

• 
What  has  happened  to  that  "positive"  assurance  of  jobs  to  the  Tiffany 
managers,  made  at  the  time  the  Educational  deal  was  closed? 

• 
That  row  between  exhibitors  and  operators  in  Chicago  promises  to 
develop  into  an  interesting  affair.  The  state's  attorney's  office,  halted 
temporarily  when  union  officials  contested  its  right  to  examine  union 
records,  now  is  proceeding  along  a  new  line  of  attack,  with  the  gov- 
ernment preparing  to  step  in  to  aid  in  the  probing.  The  blocking  of 
examination  of  the  union's  records  was  a  considerable  surprise. 

• 
Wisconsin's  jambores  between  its  rival  exhibitor  organizations  will 
come  to  a  head  this  month.  The  M.  P.  T.  O.,  which  has  the  Allied  char- 
ter for  the  state,  meets  June  16  and  17.  No  date  has  been  set  for  the 
confab  of  the  Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  Wisconsin,  which  is  seeking 
to  wrest  the  charter  from  the  rival  group.  Meanwhile,  efforts  are  being 
made  to  bring  the  two  groups  together  to  unify  independents  in  the 
state. 


Hays  Pouring 
Oil  on  Gang 
Film  Storm 


Entire  Market  Off;  E,  K,  Drops  IV2 

Net 

Higrh        Low  Close  Change 

ronsolidated    Film    Industries 4^          4%  4^2  

Consolidated    Film    Ind.    pfd Uyi        Myi  13^  

Eastman   Kodak    \27Vi  ]26  126'/^  —VA 

Fox   Film   "A" 16^        16  WA  —Vs. 

General  Theatre   Equip,  new 4%          3%  3^  —  Vg 

Loew's   Inc 405^        39'4  39^  ~l'/i 

Paramount   Publix    225/^        22  22'A  —  H 

Pathe   Exchange    W»          VA  VA  —  Vn 

RKO   UA        12^  12^  —3A 

Warner  Bros 6^          6M  654  —  Va. 

Curb  Issues  Talce  Fractional  Loss 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc 10!^  10  10  —  yi 

General   Theatre   Etjuip,   pfd 6^  6  6  —  14 

Sentry   Safety   Control VA  VA  VA  

technicolor   (-'A  6  6  — 1 

Tratis    I.ux     654  6  6  —A 

Bond  Issues  Show  Decline 

Net 

High        Low  Close  Change 

General   Theatre   Equip.  6s  '40 33  3i  32  —1 

Keith   B.   F.  6s  '46 62^^  62  62  

I.oew's  6s  '41  ex  war 9554  95J4  95)4  —'A 

Paramount   Broadway  S'/zs  '51 101  100  IfX)  —154 

Paramount    Publix    5^s    '50 72'A  72  72  —1 

Warner   Bros.   6s    ..19  wd 39  39  39  —VA 


Sales 

300 
100 
200 

2,700 
lOO 
600 

4,800 
200 

1.300 

1,.S00 


Sales 

600 
500 
100 
300 
900 


Sales 

4 
8 

5 
2 
1 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

to  be  the  forerunner  of  conferences 
with  other  censorship  boards  antl 
municipal  bodies  which  have  taken  ac- 
tion against   gangster    films. 


Hays'  Statement  Was 
Resented  by  Members 

Declaration  that  gangster  films  are 
on  the  way  out  was  made  by  Will  H. 
Hays  in  his  annual  report  some  weeks 
ago.  Hays  declared  that  a  changing 
cycle  of  public  taste  was  sounding 
the  deathknell  of  gangster  pictures. 
His  statement  is  said  to  have  caused 
considerable  resentment  among  pro- 
ducer members  of  the  Hays  associa- 
tion who  had  about  18  gangster  films 
in  work  at  the  time. 


New  Jersey  Exhibitors 
Heed  Gangster  Antipathy 

New  Vork  and  Philadelphia  ex- 
changes are  making  a  number  of  sub- 
stitutions as  a  result  of  the  protest 
against  gangster  pictures  made  by 
business  managers  of  schools  of  the 
state.  Request  has  been  made  to 
boards  of  education  to  help  supplant 
gangster  films. 


Unions  Firm;  100 
Cfii  Tfieatres  Closed 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

timated  25  theatres  will  be  on  a  week 
end  operating  schedule  by  the  end  of 
the  month,  opening  for  Fridays, 
Saturdays   and   Sundays   only. 

Most  of  the  closed  houses  are  small 
neighborhood  locations  whose  prin- 
cipal hoije  of  remaining  open  lay  in 
obtaining  an  adjustment  of  summer 
wage  scales  from  the  operators'  union. 
Denied  this,  the  theatres  were  obliged 
to  close.  It  was  the  advance  an- 
nouncement of  these  closings  which 
precipitated  county  and  Federal  in- 
vestigation of  Chicago  theatrical 
unions  which  are  now  in  progress, 
and  which  have  for  their  objectives 
indictments  of  union  officials  on 
charges  of  conspiracy  to  injure  the- 
atre business,  and  the  elimination  of 
one  operator  in  projection  booths. 


Bandits  Frigfitened  Away 

Chicago — .Slamming  of  a  door 
while  a  robbery  was  in  progress  at 
the  Marquette  Theatre  here  fright- 
ened away  gunmen  who  were  attempt- 
ing to  open  the  theatre  safe,  and 
saved  the  management  $1,500  in  cur- 
rency. 


New  Corporation 

Dover,  Del.— Publix  Bamford  The- 
atres, Inc.,  filed  a  charter  here  to 
operate  theatres  and  amusement  places 
of  all  kinds ;  100  shares,  no  par 
value.  Represented  by  Marion  Coles, 
Bronxville,  N.  Y. ;  Alice  L.  Brown, 
Yonkers,  N.  Y. ;  George  A.  Barry, 
New   York  City. 


Return  Play  for  'Trader* 

Hollywood — "Trader    Horn"    will 
open    a    return    engagement    at    the 
i  Chinese  starting  June   11. 


ADVENTURES  IN  AFRICA 

(Series  of  U  l-Reelers) 


BOBBY  JONES 

(Series  of  72 J 


S.  S.  VAN  DINE's 

detective  mysteries 
(12  2-Reelers) 


ROBERT  L.  RIPLEY 

(Series  of  73  ''Believe  It  Or 
Nof"  hReelers) 


No  matter  "wUat  kind  of  a 


BOOTH  TARKINGTON's 

(Series  of  73  l-Reelers) 


BIG  STAR  COMEDIES 

(Series  of  12  2-Reelers) 


PEPPER  POT 

(Ser/es  of  73  l-Reelers) 


LOONEY  TUNES 

(Series  of  73  7-Ree/ers 
starring  BOSKO) 


feature  you  play  there^s 


EDWARD  H.  NEWMAN'S 

(Globe-trotter  Travel  Talks 
13  hReelers) 


TED  MUSING'S 

Sport  Slants 
(Series  of  13  7-Ree/ers) 


MERRIE  MELODIES 

(Series  of  73  7-Ree/ers) 


BROADWAY  BREVITIES 

(Series  of  12  2-Reelers) 
(RUTH  ETTING  in  4) 


a  VITAPHONE  SHORT 


to  Make 


MELODY  MASTERS 

(Series  of  7  7-Ree/ers) 


MR.  and  MRS. 

JACK  NORWORTH 

(Series  of  6  l-Reelers) 


it 

VITAGRAPH,  INC.,  Distributers 


« 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  June  8,    1931 


ColunibiaMaps 

Plans  to  Keep 

Salaries  High 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

assistant  general  manager ;  Rube 
Jackter,  assistant  general  sales  man- 
ager :  Henri  Brunet,  manager  of  ex- 
change operations;  Hal  Hodes,  ac- 
cessories sales  manager ;  Charles 
Mintz  and  Charles  McDonald  are 
among  executives  here  to  address  the 
session. 

Jack  Cohn,  Columbia  treasurer,  will 
remain  here  for  several  months. 

This  means  that  both  of  the  Cohn 
brothers  wHl  be  on  the  scene  at  the 
same  time,  a  practice  a  little  bit  re- 
moved from  that  which  has  prevailed 
in  other  years.  Formerly  when  Jack 
came  here,  Harry  left  these  parts  on 
an  extended  vacation. 


Wis.  M,P.T.O.to  Hold 
Bunkless  Convention 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

welfare ;  Sen.  Thomas  M.  Duncan ; 
Sen.  Bernard  Gettelman;  Sen.  Oscar 
H.  Morris,  and  Assemblyman  John 
Grobschmidt,  who  after  six  years  has 
finally  succeeded  in  submitting  the 
blue  lav*  to  a  referendum. 

The  banquet,  which  will  be  held 
Tuesday  evening^,  will  be  addressed  by 
Frank  B.  Metcalfe,  chairman  of  the 
Milwaukee  censorship  board,  who  will 
speak  on  "The  Problem  of  the  Gang- 
ster Film" ;  Mrs.  Agnes  Charbon- 
neau,  only  woman  legislator  in  Wis- 
consin, who  will  speak  on  "Legisla- 
tion," and  Count  Enrico  Russo,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  on  "My  Impressions 
of  America." 


British  Films  to  Get 
Canadian  Outlet 

London — Sam  Smith,  who  has  just 
returned  from  the  States,  declares 
British  pictures  will  get  regular  dis- 
tribution in  Canada  now  as  a  result 
of  a  deal  closed  with  Regal  Films. 
The  first  program  will  consist  of  26, 
drawn  from  the  output  of  British  In- 
ternational, British  Lion  and  Gains- 
borough. 

Smith  also  stated  the  Canadian 
Government  does  not  propose  to  make 
an  issue  of  the  quota  at  this  time. 


General  Film  Co,  to 
Handle  Equipment 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
tribution  of  Kingsley  sound  reproduc- 
ing and  recording  equipment  in  five 
southern  states,  Tennessee,  Arkansas, 
Mississippi,  Louisiana  and  Alabama. 
The  equipment  will  sell  for  less  than 
$2,000  installed,  both  film  and  disc, 
according  to  Chester  F.  Kingsley, 
president  and  general  manager.  Kings- 
ley  has  been  identified  with  the  engi- 
neering department  of  General  Talk- 
ing Pictures  Corp.  and  RCA  Photo- 
phone. 


Milder  Downs  Pessimism 

"All  the  pessimism  in  the  world 
seems  to  be  right  here,"  said  Max 
Milder  Saturday  on  his  return  to  New 
York  from  a  trip  to  the  eastern  sec- 
tion of  the  country.  "No  one  is  yell- 
ing about  hard  times  and  no  one  is 
shrieking  or  moaning  in  the  Mid- 
west," he  stated. 


Purely  Personal 


JOE  Gallagher,  A1  Selig,  Eli  M. 
Orowitz,  Jack  Hess,  Arnold  Van 
Leer,  Hank  Linet,  Sidney  Garrett  and 
Hans  Frohman — the  latter,  incident- 
ally, of  Acme  Film,  not  Ace  Film  as 
reported — have  passed  the  member- 
ship committee  barrage  at  the  Motion 
Picture  Club.  It's  now  up  to  the 
board  of  directors,  but  there  won't  be 
any  trouble  about  that. 

Sally  Phipps,  one-time  ingenue  on 
the  Fox  lot,  is  now  Mrs.  Benedict 
Gimbel,  Jr.  The  Gimbel  family  owns 
the  big  department  stores  of  that  name 
in  Philadelphia  and  New  York. 

Al  Mannion,  of  Tec  Art,  left 
for  the  Coast  Saturday  after  several 
weeks  in  the  big  city.  Adolph  Pollak 
leaves  New  York  for  the  west  the 
latter  part  of  the  month  to  look  over 
production  at  the  studios. 

Charlte  O'Reilly  is  all  pepped  up 
over  the  passing  of  the  new  fire  or- 
dinance for  New  York  theatres  and 
states  that  approximately  $150,000  an- 
nually will  be  saved  exhibitors  in  in- 
surance rates. 

Rudy  Sanders,  president  of  the 
Brooklyn  Theatre  Owners  Associa- 
tion, is  full  of  smiles  these  days  with 
nary  a  care  of  the  summer  slump. 
He  has  two  of  the  finest  houses  in 
that   borough. 

Mike  Simmons  has  organized  an 
Ampa  golf  committee  to  meet  with 
Artie  Stebbins  and  the  other  crack 
golfers  of  the  Motion  Picture  Club 
at  the  golf  tournament  on  Wednesday. 

Douglas  Leishman,  manager  of 
branch  operations  for  Universal,  who 
was  taken  ill  in  Chicago  during  the 
company's  convention,  has  returned  to 
New  York. 

Max  Milder,  eastern  sales  man- 
ager for  Warners-First  National,  Sat- 


urday   returned    to    New    York    after 
a  ten-day  trip  in  his  territory. 

Jack  Bowen  has  bought  himself  a 
new  set  of  golf  clubs  for  that  film 
tournament.  He's  even  bought  a  cup 
to  bring  home  in  case  he  doesn't  win 
one. 

Al  Harstyn,  manager  of  the  San 
Jose,  will  soon  undergo  another  oper- 
ation necessitated  by  an  abscessed 
tooth. 

Joe  Skirboll  is  out  in  the  territory 
in  the  interests  of  "The  Viking,"  first 
J.  D.  Williams  and  Associates  p-o- 
duction. 

Eugene  Zukor  is  chairman  of  the 
motion  picture  industry  committee  for 
New  York  to  raise  $1,000,000  for  suf- 
fering Jews  in  Europe. 

Hiram  S.  Brown  is  minus  several 

baby   foxes.  They   were   stolen   from 

his    country  estate    at    Chestertown, 
Md. 

Dick  Pearl  left  Thursday  for  Eng- 
land and  will  be  gone  for  about  three 
weeks. 

Bill  Frank  believes  in  bigger  and 
better  contract  bridge.  He's  bidding 
only  grand  slams  these  days. 

Lawrence  H.  Rupp  will  be  guest 
speaker  at  the  "RKO  Theatre  on  the 
Air"  party  on  June  19. 

Arthur  Sachson  of  Warners-First 
National  playdate  department  Satur- 
day celebrated  his  birthday. 

Ned  Marin  misses  those  daily 
swims  at  Malibu. 

Milt  Silver  is  taking  the  respon- 
sibilities of  a  father  very  seriously. 

Walter  Eberhardt  is  getting  his  in 
early.    Vacation  starts  June  19. 


FM,  Units  Booked 
By  Puhlix  at  Denver 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

stops  between.  This  spot  will  break 
the  long  move  from  Seattle  to  St. 
Louis  for  Fanchon  &  Marco.  The 
opening  day  at  the  Denver  will  be 
moved  up  to  Wednesday  from  Thurs- 
day. 


Reynolds  Up  Tuesday 
On  Contempt  Charges 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  week.  The  state's  attorney's  of- 
fice here  is  seeking  possession  of  the 
union's  records  in  its  investigation  of 
racketeering  charges  which  have  been 
made  against  the  Chicago  local. 


Independents  Must 
Make  Own  Deals 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

hibitor  unit  only  then  will  take  action 
it  is  stated.  Non-affiliated  exhibitors 
seeking  reductions  will  have  to  deal 
with  the  unions  directly.  The  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce  recently  helped  re- 
new contracts  for  its  members  with 
Local  306. 


Warner  Home  Office 
Expands  Quarters 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

pies  a  part  of  the  eighth  floor,  while 
the  theatre  booking  department  is  en- 
sconced on  the  ninth  floor.  On  the 
10th  floor  is  the  domestic  accounting 
stafT.  Executive  offices  of  the  Bruns- 
wick company  and  all  music  subsidi- 
aries will  be  moved  into  the  new 
Warner  adjunct  later.  The  publicity 
and  advertising  departments  will 
move  to  the  sixth  floor,  possibly  next 
week.  With  the  new  additional  space, 
the  Warner-First  National  building 
now  occupies  a  total  of  135,000  square 
feet. 


First  German  Film 
In  Cleveland  Spot 

Cleveland — Loew's  Alhambra  will 
break  its  established  policy  when  it 
presents  the  German  film,  "The  Girl 
from  the  Reeperbahn,"  starting  June 
14.  This  will  be  the  first  foreign  lan- 
guage film  to  be  shown  in  the  Loew 
theatres  in  this  district.  The  future 
of  subsequent  German  releases  de- 
pends upon  the  result  of  this  engage- 
ment. 


Just  a  Habit 
With  Trader'; 
Leads  Cleve. 


Cleveland — It  was  "Trader  Horn" 
again  in  that  film's  second  week  at 
pop  prices  with  a  gross  of  $14,000. 
In  its  first  week,  the  film  caught  $18,- 
000  at  the  Stillman  and  walked  away 
with  first  honors.  Other  first  runs 
pulled  only  fair  business  competing 
against  fair  weather  and  two  dramatic 
stock  companies. 

Estimated    takings     for    the    week 
ending  June  3 : 
"THE   LADY   WHO   DARED"   (F.   N.) 

WARNER'S  LAKE— (800),  5  days,  40c- 
60c.     Gross:    $4,000.      (Average,   $5,000.) 

Week  ending  June  4: 
"UP   POPS  THE  DEVIL"    (Para.) 

STATE— (3,400),  7  days,  30c-60c.  Gross: 
$18,000.       (Average,    $20,000.) 

Week  ending  June  5: 

"LAWYER'S  SECRET"  (Para.) 

ALLEN— (3,300),  7  days,  30c-60c.  Gross: 
$15,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 

"THE    SPY"    (Fox) 
CAMEO— (1,200),    7    days,    2Sc-50c.    Gross: 
$4,000.      (Average,    K500.) 

"WHITE  SHOULDERS"   Radio) 
RKO     HIPPODROME— (4,500),     7     days. 
25c-75c.     Gross:   $14,000.     (Average,  $15,000.) 
"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 
RKO   PALACE— (3,100),    7    days,    25c-75c. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $21,000.     (Average,    $23,000.) 
"TRADER  HORN"  (M-G-M) 
STILLMAN— (1,900),  40c-75c.  (2nd  week), 
7    days.      Gross:     $14,000.       (Average,     first 
week,   $18,000.) 


Butterfield  Circuit 
Gets  W.B.-F,N.  Films 

E.  C.  Beatty  of  the  Butterfield  cir- 
cuit has  concluded  negotiations  with 
Max  Milder  of  Warners-First  Na- 
tional for  the  complete  line-up  of 
Warners,  First  National  and  Vita- 
phone  1931-32  product.  The  deal 
covers  40  theatres. 


"Viking"  N.  Y.  Premiere 

"The  Viking,"  produced  in  New- 
foundland by  Varick  Frissell,  will 
have  its  first  New  York  showing  at 
Leo  Brecher's  Central  Park  Tuesday, 
June  16,  replacing  "Tabu,"  which  will 
have  concluded  a  14  week  engagement 
then. 


Start  on  Paramount 

Glens  Falls — -The  work  of  exca- 
vating for  the  new  Paramount  thea- 
tre got  under  way  this  week  and  it 
is  expected  that  the  house  will  be 
ready  to  open  within  six  months.  The 
house  will  be  known  as  the  Para- 
mount and  will  have  a  seating  ca- 
pacity of  1,500.  It  will  be  located  in 
the  center  of  the  city. 


Lihson  Gets  Another 

Cincinnati — Abe  Libson,  who  is 
associated  with  his  brother  Isaac  Lib- 
son,  in  the  operation  of  Keith's  and 
several  small  houses  here,  has  taken 
over  the  Strand,  a  900-seat  house  at 
Newport,   Ky.,  just  across  the  river. 


First  in  Everything 

Michael  (Author)  Simmons  is  al- 
ready applying  first  aid  to  his  latest 
fillum,  "First  Aid,"  which  has  gone 
into  production  with  Grant  Withers 
as  one  of  the  leads.  He  had  efifected  a 
gargantuan  and  mammoth  exploita- 
tion tie-up  with  60  drug  concerns  ser- 
vicing 40,000  drug  stores  throughout 
the  '  country,  with  radio,  newspaper 
ads  and  window  displays  being  used. 


Monday,   June   8,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


From  the  Box-Off  ice  Slant 


Stout  Hearts  and  Willing 
Hands 

(RKO   Pathc) 

Swell 

RKO  Pathe  has  a  fine  bet  in  the 
Masquer  Comedies,  providing  the 
rest  are  of  the  same  caliber.  This 
number  is  a  travesty  on  that  sob 
drama  of  yore  and  has  enough  laughs 
in  it  to  satisfy  the  most  fastidious. 
What  a  cast !  Frank  Fay  is  the 
hero;  Lew  Cody,  the  villain  and 
Laura  La  Plante,  the  heroine.  Mary 
Carr  and  Alec  B.  Francis  are  the 
girl's  parents.  Even  the  original  Key- 
stone Kops  are  in  it.  So  is  the  fire 
depart  nent  and  the  army,  both  com- 
ing to  the  rescue  of  Our  Little  Nell. 
Bryan  Foy  directed  this  nifty.  Run- 
ning  time,   20   minutes. 


Streets  of  Cairo 

{Bray-Columbia ) 

Pleasing 

Because  it  confines  itself  more  to 
the  habits  of  the  people  of  Cairo  and 
less  to  mere  views  of  the  streets,  this 
"Rambling  Reporter"  travelogue  has 
considerable  entertainment  value.  You 
can't  go  wrong  with  this  where  a 
scenic  is  needed  to  round  out  the  pro- 
gram.    Running  time,  7  minutes. 


Ragtime  Romeo 

iM-G-M) 
So-So  Cartoon 

Nothing  unusual  in  this  "Flip  the 
Frog"  reel.  Flip  calls  on  his  lady 
friend  bringing  a  carload  of  musical 
instruments  with  which  to  serenade 
her.  Music  awakens  the  whole  apart- 
ment house  and  the  animals  dance  on 
the  lawn.  Old-maid  cow  calls  the 
police,  who  stop  the  festivities  by  tak- 
ing Flip  away  in  wagon.  \^ery  mild. 
Running  time,  7  minutes. 


'Alexander  Hamilton' 

(Warners) 

liaLLYWOOD  —  This  is  excep- 
tionally fine  and  intelligent 
entertainment.  It  has  plenty  of 
comedy  value  and  a  well 
rounded  story.  The  humanness 
of  Hamilton  is  stressed  by 
George  Arliss,  thus  avoiding 
the  stiffness  of  the  usual  cos- 
tume drama.  Hamilton's  prob- 
lems in  financing  the  country 
are  quite  as  applicable  today 
as  in  post  Revolutionary  times, 
so  this  is  easily  understandable 
by   modern   audiences. 

Arliss'  own  polished  work 
receives  splendid  support  from 
Dudley  Diggs,  Doris  Kenyon 
and  June  Collyer.  Dialogue 
and  direction  are  of  high 
calibre.  It  is  not  particularly 
episodic  and  ends  with  Hamil- 
ton's triumph  in  passing  a  fi- 
nancial bill  to  relieve  the  na- 
tion's situation.  Aaron  Burr's 
duel  is  not  mentioned.  The 
political  intrigue  theme  invites 
comparison  with  "Disraeli"  and 
.  this  picture  is  as  equally  well 
done. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


The  Way  of  All  Fish 

{Radio) 

Fair 

Ned  Sparks  nets  many  laughs  in 
this  short,  but  the  story  has  been 
developed  so  laboriously  that  there 
are  stretches  when  the  comedy  ele- 
ment is  entirely  overlooked.  Ned  is 
cast  as  an  amateur  fisherman  who 
has  Ijeen  told  that  anybody  angling 
for  trout  with  worms  is  worse  than 
a  worm  himself,  so  he  slugs  the  first 
one  he  catches  and  is  jugged.  Most 
of  the  laughs  come  during  his 
speech  in  the  courtroom  in  defend- 
ing himself.  Addie  McPhail  plays 
opposite.     Running   time,    18    minutes. 


The  Tune  Detective 

{Parainoiint ) 

Novel 

The  setting  for  this  short  is  a 
courtroom  where  an  excitable  Italian 
is  suing  another  composer  for  plagiar- 
izing a  melody.  Dr.  Sigmund  Spaeth, 
well  known  New  York  composer,  who 
gets  star  billing,  is  called  in  as  an 
expert  witness,  and  proves,  via  a  piano, 
that  the  characteristic  chord  in  both 
has  been  used  from  time  immemorial 
in  compositions  ranging  from  hymns 
to  jazz.  By  tickling  the  ivories  he 
demonstrates  that  scores  of  well 
known  melodies  possessed  similar 
characteristics.  There  are  several 
laughs  in  it  and  on  the  whole  it's 
decidedly  entertaining.  Running  time, 
8  minutes. 


Just  a  Gigolo 

{J'ifaM'oiie  Mo.  4817) 

Just  So-So 

A  song  novelty  which  may  appeal 
to  those  who  like  this  type  of  enter- 
tainment, but  the  tune  can  become 
mighty  tiresome  through  repetition. 
An  organist  and  a  singer  render  the 
melody  against  animated  sketches  that 
are  trite.    Running  time,  6  minutes. 


Fight  to  Live 

{Talking  Picture  Efyics) 

Enthralling 

Don't  miss  this.  Dr.  Ditmars  here 
shows  some  of  the  greatest  under- 
water curiosities  ever  filmed.  The 
reel  is  well  named.  It  is  truly  a  fight 
to  live,  as  the  ocean  denizens  grey 
upon  one  another  and  are  in  turn 
preyed  upon.  Packed  with  action 
and  t'lrills.     Running  time,  8  minutes. 


The  Meal  Ticket 

{Vitaphonc    12.30-31) 

Feeble 

Any  person  able  to  stand  21  min- 
utes of  German  dialect  spluttered  all 
over  the  place  by  Jackie  Pearl  takes 
a  lot  of  punishment.  The  afifair  is 
mighty  tough  on  the  eardrums,  and 
there  isn't  a  gag  in  the  piece  that 
rates  a  laugh.  Running  time,  21  min- 
utes. 


The  Headache 

{Paramount) 

Full  of  Laughs 

Billy  House,  the  fat  comedian,  has 


''White  Shoulders" 

(Radio) 

I\.  DRAMATIC  screen  adaptation 
by  J.  Walter  Ruben  of  the  Rex 
Beach  original.  Jack  Holt  plays 
the  suddenly  wealthy  mining 
engineer  who  returns  to  civil- 
ization looking  for"white  should- 
ers." A  sudden  marriage  with 
Mary  Aster,  show  girl,  fails 
when  Mary,  finding  it  impos- 
sible to  love  Holt,  leaves  with 
Ricardo  Cortez.  Holt's  revenge 
takes  the  form  of  forcing  the 
two  to  be  always  together,  after 
he  reveals  Cortez  as  a  crook. 
His  feeling  for  his  wife,  how- 
ever, overcomes  his  desire  for 
vengeance,  the  concluding  se- 
quence indicating  a  satisfactory 
solution.  Kitty  Kelly,  as  the 
friend  of  Miss  Astor,  provides 
what  little  comedy  there  is. 


been  given  a  vehicle  in  this  that  en- 
ables him  to  put  over  laughs  in  rapid 
succession.  Through  a  series  of  logi- 
cal events  he  gets  mixed  up  with  his 
former  wife,  although  possessing  a 
current  "headache,"  and  the  two 
make  the  fur  fly  when  they  meet  in 
hubby's  apartment.  Good  for  any 
type  of  audience.  Running  time,  20 
minutes. 

Splash 

{M-G-M) 
Excellent 

Amateur  high  divers  of  both  sexes 
strut  their  stuff  to  an  accompanying 
running  fire  of  dialogue  written  by 
Joe  Farnham.  The  diving  is  photo- 
graphed in  regular  and  slow  motion 
and  is  an  interesting,  well-executed 
study  in  form.  Farnham's  chatter 
lines  are  amusing.  This  short  is  well 
worth  a  booking.  Running  time,  9^ 
minutes. 


Fd  Climb  the  Highest 
Mountain 

{Paramount  Screen  Song) 

Good 

All  types  of  fans  will  enjoy  this 
screen  song,  for  the  title  allows  for 
action  and  the  characters  romp  about 
the  peaks  in  tune  with  the  harmony, 
eliciting  laughs  galore.  Running 
time,  6  minutes. 


Adventures  in  Africa 

No.   1.    Into  the  Unknown 

{Vitafhoiie  No.  4681-82) 
Excellent 

The  first  of  the  12  episodes  in  this 
new  series  and  while  the  major  por- 
tion of  the  footage  was  devoted  to  the 
preparations  for  the  safari  into  the 
African  wilds  there  is  a  terrific  punch 
climax  showing  a  lioness  and  a  hyena 
fighting  madly  for  possession  of  an 
animal  carcass.  This  scene  is  so  vivid 
that  it  brought  gasps  from  an  audi- 
ence on  Broadway.  The  series  was 
produced  under  the  supervision  of 
Wynant  D.  Hubbard  and  photo- 
graphed by  W.  Earle  Frank.  There  is 
a  synchronized  lecture  which  aids  in 
putting  over  the  short  and  some 
dubbed  sound  effects.  Running  time, 
18  minutes. 


Lemon  Meringue 

{RKO   Pathe) 

Gets  Over 

Beats  all  previous  Edgar  Kennedy 
comedies,  and  it  seems  the  company 
is  getting  around  to  giving  the  star 
the  right  material.  Florence  Lake 
is  okay  as  his  talkative  wife.  Dot 
Farley  and  William  Eugene  contrib- 
ute fine  performances  as  his  in-laws. 
The  gang  goes  into  the  restaurant 
business  with  the  wind-up  being  a 
general  slinging  of  pies.  Running 
time,   20  minutes. 


That's  My  Line 

{RKO   Pathe) 

Fair 

A  new  series  under  the  heading  of 
"Traveling  Salesman  Comedies"  in 
which  Louis  John  Bartels  takes  off 
the  part  of  the  salesman.  Paul  Hurst 
is  seen  in  the  part  of  a  Mexican  ter- 
ror in  love  with  Doris  McMahon 
and  threatens  to  kill  anyone  seen 
with  her.  Bartels  manages  to  es- 
cape Hurst,  but  after  this  afifair 
prefers  his  underwear  line  rather  than 
the  Mexican  border  line.  It's  just 
fair  with  practically  no  gags  in  it  at 
all.     Running  time,  20  minutes. 


Rough  Seas 

{Charley  Chase— M-G-M) 

Great 

On  a  par  with  the  average  Charley 
Chase  comedy,  which  means  that  it  is 
packed  with  laughs  and  deserving  of 
plugging.  In  this  one  Charley  is  re- 
turning home  from  France  with  the 
A.  E.  F.  and  smuggles  a  French  ma- 
demoiselle (Thelma  Todd)  and  a 
lively  monkey  aboard  ship.  With 
this  situation  as  a  background,  the 
author  and  director  have  woven  a 
story  that  is  replete  with  gags  that 
produce  roars.  The  monkey  nets 
more  than  his  share  of  them.  Direct- 
ed by  James  Parrott.  Running  time, 
20  minutes. 


For  Two  Cents 

{Vitaphone   No.    1078) 

Fair 

De  Wolf  Hopper  is  the  star  of  this 
short,  the  story  of  which  is  so  goofy 
that  it  would  have  sunk  without  him. 
He  is  given  eight  to  ten  hours  to  live 
by  his  physician  and  the  city  editor 
of  the  morning  paper  sends  a  reporter 
to  see  him  and  offer  him  $10,000  if  he 
will  die  in  time  for  the  A.  M.  sheet  to 
scoop  the  afternoon  rival  on  his  death. 
At  the  same  time  the  city  editor  of 
the  P.  M.  paper  dispatches  a  reporter 
with  an  offer  of  an  unlimited  amount 
if  he  will  live  until  after  the  deadline 
of  the  morning  sheet.  Hopper  dies 
for  the  A.  M.'s.  Running  time,  10 
minutes. 


The  Fly  Guy 

{RKO   Pathe) 
Good 

The  insects  predominate  in  this 
Aesop  Fable.  With  a  number  of 
jazzy  tune  surrounding  the  antics  of 
the  fly  and  his  mate,  it  bids  fair  to 
reap  plenty  of  laughs.  The  cabaret 
scene  in  a  bottle  is  swell.  Running 
time,   7   minutes. 


Waiting  Lines  Are 

Here  Again! 


LAWRENCE,  MASS. 

"Notwithstanding  record 
heat  wave  of  past  three 
days,  Women  of  All 
Nations  has  done  greatest 
business  since  Sunny  Side 
Up  and  is  continuing  to 
do  same.  More  favorable 
comment  throughout  city 
than  any  other  picture 
this  year.  A  positive  sen- 
sation.  Congratulations." 

CAPITOL  THEATRE 
H.  W.  BAILEY,  M'g'r 


PORTLAND,  ORE. 

BROADWAY;  "Women  of  All  Nations  big  $14,000."— Variety 

NEW  YORK 

ROXY;  "There  was  a  long  line  waiting  for  *Quirt'  and  *Flagg' 
yesterday  morning  when  the  doors  of  the  theatre  were  unlocked." 

—  NY.  Daily  News 
DETROIT 

FOX;  "Women  of  All  Nations  had  them  standing  over  weekend." 

— Variety 
SEAHLE 

Fifth  AVENUE;  "Women  of  All  Nations  strong  $15,000. "-Variety 

DENVER 

Huffman's  TABOR;  "Women  of  All  Nations  fine  $12,000."- Variety 

BALTIMORE 

New  THEATRE;  *' Women  of  All  Nations  good  $8,500."  -  Variety 


WALSH'S   V¥V/ItIEiM 

OP  ALL  NATIONS 


with 


VICTOR  McLAGLEN 
GRETA  NISSEN 

FIFI  DORSAY 


EDMUND  LOWE 
EL  BRENDEL 

MARJORIE  WHITE 


A  comedy  drama  with  the  characters  Quirt  and  Flagg  orig- 
inally created  by  Laurence  Stallings  and  Maxwell  Anderson 


YOU  TOO 

CAN  HAVE  A  LINE  IF  YOU  PLAY 


PICTURES 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  8 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  9,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Schlesinger  Is 
Undecided  on 
Print  Royalty 

**Fair    and    Equitable" 
Basis  Is  Promised 


M.  A.  Schlesinger,  head  of  Gen- 
eral Talking  Pictures,  has  not  de- 
termined on  what  line  of  action  he 
will  pursue  in  potential  collecting  of 
royalties  from  the  printing  of  sound- 
on-film  prints.  Schlesinger  was  victor 
in  a  sweeping  decision  handed  down 
bv  the  U.  S.  Court  of  Customs  and 
Patent  Appeals,  granting  to  Dr.  Lee 
DeForest  a  priority  patent  on  the 
printing  of  sound-on-film  positives. 
The  decision  culminated  a  long  fight 
on    the    issue    started    when    Freeman 

{Continued    on    pa(/e    3) 


Chain  Tax  Looms 
Up  in  Wisconsin 

Madison,  Wis. — A  state-wide  levy 
on  chain  theatres  looms  here  as  re- 
sult of  a  legislative  move  to  tax  chain 
stores  after  July  1.  The  lower  house 
has  passed  a  bill  so  drawn  and  pre- 
sented by  Senator  La  Follette  without 
a  dissenting  vote.  It's  now  up  to  the 
Senate  where  the  La  Follette  forces 
have  a  very  slim   majority. 

The  measure  contains  no  mention 
of  chain  theatres,  but  the  bill,  follow- 

(Contiitucd    on    page    i) 


Help  Exhibitor  Make 
Money,  Col.  Edict 

Hollywood — If  company  salesmen 
kre  content  with  "merely  selling  the 
exhibitor"  they  are  abusing  his  con- 
fidence for  they  should  do  everything 
in  their  power  to  lielp  showmen  make 
money,  Harry  Cohn  declared  in 
sounding  the  keynote  of  Columbia's 
western  sales  convention.  Salesmen 
should  ascertain  everything  that  can 
be  done  to  help  exhibitors,  Cohn  de- 
clared. A  trick  speech  by  John  P. 
Medbury  was  one  of  Monday's  high- 
lights. Home  office  executives  have 
entrained  for  New  York. 


Television  Star  at 
Radio  Show  Today 

Chicvgo — Television,  in  theory  and 
practice,  is  the  star  attraction  of  the 
radio  show  which  opens  here  today. 
Exhibits  of  the  latest  improvements 
in  television  will  highlight  the  ses- 
sions. The  occasion  is  the  annual  con- 
vention of  the  Radio  Manufacturers' 
Association. 


Canadian  Probe  Report 
Slated  for  Pigeon  Hole 


Fox  Closing  Houses  Rather 

Than  Go  to  Double  Features 

Policy  of  Fox  theatres  in  shying  from  double  features  is  mani- 
fested in  decision  to  close  a  number  of  theatres  throughout  the 
country  rather  than  add  a  second  picture  to  the  program.  In 
some  spots  where  burlesque  or  vaudeville  was  the  policy  and 
could  not  be  supported  through  the  summer  with  a  single  feature 
policy,   these    houses   have    been   darkened. 

In  Wisconsin,  where  Fox  Midwesco  theatres  have  been  playing 
vaudeville,  all  stage  attractions  have  been  withdrawn  for  the 
summer  and  those  houses  will  continue  for  the  ten-weeks'  period 
on  one  picture  policy.  Provided  the  new  policy  is  supported,  the 
circuit  may  decide  to  eliminate  vaudeville  in  many  of  its  houses 
in  that  state.  There  are  4.5  theatres  in  the  Midwesco  circuit  with 
representation  in  every  key  city  except  Mantawa.  None  of  these 
theatres  plays  double  features.  Policy  of  Warners,  Universal 
and  RKO  operating  in  the  same  sector  is  straight  single  feature 
programs. 


Wanger  Out  at 
Para.,  States 
■^Herald'  Yarn 


IloLLVwooi)  —  The  llollyiuood 
ficrald.  in  its  first  issue  yesterday, 
said  Walter  Wanger  is  delinitely  out 
f)f  Paramount  and  tliat  B.  P.  Schul- 
herg  is  now  absolute  head  of  this 
department  under  Jesse  L.  Lasky.  The 
Astoria  studios  will  close  July  13  and 
'hereafter  all  Paramount  pictures  will 
l)e  made  in  Hollywood,  the  story 
added. 

When  Wanger  leaves  the  organ- 
ization is  not  definitely  known,  but  it 
(Continued  on  pa(/e  6) 


Import  Limits 
Fought  in  Paris 
By  Hays  Aide 


Paris — Removal  of  all  limitations 
on  film  imports  is  sought  by  Harold 
Smith,  representative  here  of  Will 
H.  Hays  and  .American  distributors, 
in  conferences  now  under  way.  The 
sessions  have  as  their  purpose  the 
drafting  of  a  new  accord  to  replace 
that  expiring  next  October.  American 
distributors  have  had  to  handle  a 
heavy  percentage  of  French  films  in 
order  to  get   into  the  French  market. 

Changed  conditions  are  being  cited 

(Continued   on    pane    i) 


Grand  Jury  Action  Ahead  in 
Chicago  ^s  Operator  Tangle 


CiruAGO — Joe  Maloy,  head  of  the 
'jperators'  examiners  of  the  city  elec- 
trical department,  who  is  a  brother 
of  Tom  Maloy,  business  agent  of  the 
Chicago  operators'  union,  faces  the 
grand  jury  for  an  accounting  and 
suspension  as  a  result  of  the  inspec- 
tion of  the  department's  records.  The 
records  were  ordered  surrendered  to 
the  state's  attorney's  office  by  Mayor 
.\nton    Cermak. 

Records  of  the  department,  accord- 
ing to  Charles   E.   Lounsbury,  .Assist- 


ant State's  .Attorney,  indicate  con- 
nivance between  department  officials 
and  applicants  for  projectionists' 
licenses.  The  city  ordinance  requires 
that  projectif>nists  serve  one  year  ap- 
Iirenticeship  in  the  same  theatre  be- 
fore being  eligible  for  examination 
and  license.  Records  are  said  to  re- 
veal that  the  department  examined 
men  unable  to  spell  and  licensed  them 
prior  to  their  year's  apprenticeship. 
l.ou!isbury     says     that     affairs     of 

(Continued  on  paije  6J 


Dominion  Wonders  About 

Findings  as  Time 

Expires 

Ottaw.\ — What  has  happened  to 
the  film  probe  report?  This  is  a 
question  that  is  on  the  lips  of  every 
one  identified  with  the  picture  busi- 
ness  in  the   Dominion. 

According  to  parliamentary  proce- 
dure, as  laid  down  by  statutes,  the 
report  of  Commissioner  Peter  White 
should  have  been  brought  up  in  the 
House  of  Commons  within  two  weeks 
after  it  had  been  placed  in  the  hands 
of  Gideon  Robertson,  federal  minis- 
ter of  labor.  The  time  limit  has 
long'  since  expired  and  the  opportu- 
nity now  presents  itself  of  declaring 
the  report  ineffective  because  of  the 
delay,  it  is   stated. 

It  is  known  that  the  report  was 
examined  at  a  meeting  of   the   Cana- 

(Continned   on    pafic    ^) 


"U"  Central  Office 
Plan  Now  Working 

With  all  of  the  four  central  book- 
ing offices  now  in  operation.  Univer- 
sal expects  to  have  all  prii'ts  on  new 
releases  working  every  clay  of  the 
week.  The  latest  and  last  branch 
has  opened  in  Los  Angeles,  complet- 
ing the  division  of  the  country  into 
four   parts. 

ReiX)rts  persist  that  RKO  will 
shortly  adopt  the  system  patterned 
after  the  Universal  plan.  Frank 
O'Heron,  RKO  head  of  exchange 
maintenance,  could  not  be  reached  for 
a  statement  yesterday. 


Delay  Sheehan  Suit; 
Fox  Said  to  Be  III 

Illness  of  William  Fox  secured  a 
postponement  of  another  week  yester- 
day in  the  Supreme  Court  action  filed 
by  Winfield  Sheehan  against  his  for- 
mer chief  for  $310,000.  The  suit  in- 
vohes  a  block  ot  4,000  shares  of  Fox 
Film  which  Sheehan  claims  Fox  sokl 
without    authorization. 


Third  F,  &  R.  Partner 
Is  Seriously  III 

.St.  Paul — William  Hamm,  former 
backer  <if  Finkelstein  &  Ruben,  and 
for  years  head  of  the  Twin  City 
.Amusenient  Trust  Estate  which  was 
sold    to    Publix,    is    seriously    ill    here 

(Continued  on   page   i) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    June    9,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   I'.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Rcriciv 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30. 


June   9.    1931 


No.    8 


M.XRTIN     QUIGLEY 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^\  Pl'HI.lSHKl)  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  1|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^  Dailv.  Inc..  a  Quiglev  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,'  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  810  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  \V.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  H'einer,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
Citv,   N.    v.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
nostage:  $10  in  the  United  .States  and 
C"anada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Not  a  ''Must 


ft 


V^URRENT  at  the 
Paramount  this  week  is  "Vice 
Squad."  The  title  conveys  a 
])retty  good  idea  of  what  it's 
all  about. 

Here  you  get  a  close-up  of 
prostitution,  handled  so  that 
there  can  be  no  mistake  about 
it,  a  glorification  of  a  stool- 
pigeon  who  frames  women  for 
the  vice  squad  and  a  rather 
graphic  depiction  of  a  seamy 
side  of  life  without  which 
juveniles  attending  picture  the- 
atres can  well  get  along. 

/\S  a  picture,  "Vice 
Squad"  is  mediocre  entertain 
ment.  Competent  Paul  Lukas 
is  wasted  on  a  part  that  doesn't 
fit  him  and  makes  his  first  ven- 
ture into  starring  ranks  some- 
thing to  gloss  over  as  rapidly 
as  possible. 

In  acting,  the  performances 
are  uninspired  and  in  tempo, 
the  picture  dips  into  the  minus 
division.  The  entire  efifort 
gives  us  the  impression  that  it 
was  first  conceived  as  some- 
thing akin  to  the  startling  and 
then,  with  one  eye  turned  to- 
ward censors,  neatly  white- 
washed. 


Ti 


J I  F.  conclusions 
to  be  drawn  from  the  picture 
and  its  title,  however,  reach 
beyond  all  this.  The  question 
is  whether  this  sort  of  stuff, 
under  the  label  of  entertain- 
ment, is  the  type  of  picture  for 
audiences,  not  restricted  as  to 
age,  to  witness. 

Emphatically,    we   don't   be- 
lieve it  is. 

KANN 


Purely  Personal 


LOUIS  WKLSS  of  ArUlass  an- 
nonnce.s  that  Harry  Asher  of  Bos- 
ton has  bought  12  Artclass  features 
for  New  England,  and  Standard  Film 
Exchanges  have  taken  23  Artclass 
features  for  Pittsburgh,  Cleveland, 
Detroit  and  Cincinnati,  with  Charles 
Kranz   of  Artclass  in  charge. 

Hal  Hodes,  accessory  sales  mana- 
ger for  Columbia,  is  to  tour  West 
Coast  branches  of  the  company  be- 
fore returning  to  New  York.  Mean- 
while, the  home  office  contingent  is 
en  route  to  New  York  following  close 
of  the  Hollywood  convention  last 
night. 

SoNiA  ScHULBERG,  13  -  year  -  old 
daughter  of  B.  P.  Schulberg,  Para- 
mount studio  executive,  is  in  town 
and  leaves  for  Washington  Wednes- 
day. When  she  returns  she  will  go 
to  Europe  for  six  weeks.  Her  brother 
Seymour  soon  will  enter  Dartmouth 
college. 

Leo  McCarey  no  sooner  had  dis- 
embarked from  the  Coast  when  a 
phone  call  from  Howard  Hughes  took 
him  back  to  Chicago.  The  reason  re- 
volved around  a  story  that  Hughes 
wanted  McCarey  to  read  —  without 
interruption. 

Roy  V.  Litsey.  Warner-First  Na- 
tional office  manager  at  Memphis, 
can  keep  a  secret.  He  was  married 
on  March  14  to  Miss  Kathleen  Siler. 
He  broke  the  news  when  he  wanted  a 
vacation  to  take  a  honeymoon. 

Ikwin  Lesser,  formerly  of  the  non- 
theatrical  department  and  now  Brook- 
lyn salesman  for  Paramount,  took 
unto  himself  a  bride  Sunday  and  is 
now  enjoying  a  two-weeks'  honey- 
moon.   He  succeeds  Bernard  Krauze. 

Charles  Finesilver,  formerly  of 
the  Leo  Brecher,  .S.  &  .S.,  and  Fox 
circuits,  is  a  daily  visitor  in  front  of 
630  Ninth  Ave.  He's  not  attached  to 
any  |iarticular  theatre  at  present  and 
is  renewing  old  acquaintances  these 
days. 


Wai  PERSON'  R.  Rotuacker,  who  is 
on  an  extended  tour  of  the  world, 
writes  from  Sumatra  that  he  will  re- 
turn to  California  next  month.  From 
that  point  he  was  sailing  for  Japan, 
Borneo   and   the   Philippines. 

Manne  Brown,  former  Coast  dis- 
trict manager  for  Tiffany,  is  in  New 
York.  Manne  brought  with  him 
something  new  in  the  comedy  line, 
he  says,  a  "ring  tail"  comedy  that  is 
real   novelty. 

Eddie  Cantor  has  written  "Yoo 
Hoo,  Prosperity,"  which  Simon  and 
Schuster  will  soon  bring  out.  David 
Freedman  collaborated  with  Cantor 
on  the  book. 

JiMMiE  Talbert,  assistant  manager 
of  Loew's  State  at  Memphis,  will 
marry  Miss  Margaret  Hudson  on  July 
4.  They  plan  to  spend  their  honey- 
moon at  Biloxi,  Miss. 

Murray  Roth,  director-in-chief  of 
Brooklyn  Vitaphone  stvidios,  has  just 
returned  from  Bermuda.  He's  making 
several  tests  for  the  leading  roles  of 
"Penrod  and  Sam,"  Tarkington  series. 

.^L  JoLsoN  is  not  to  get  screen 
rights  to  "Green  Pastures,"  his  offer 
having  been  turned  down  by  Row- 
land Stebbins. 

Monte  Hance,  manager  of  the 
Saenger  in  Biloxi,  Miss.,  has  been 
elected  president  of  the  Lions  Club 
there. 

J.  J.  Fitzgerald,  Fox  Midwesco 
division  manager,  is  in  town  for  a 
few  days. 

Phil  Baker  and  Harry  Richman 
have  been  signed  to  appear  in  Vita- 
phone  shorts. 

I  Lewis  Milestone  arrives  in  Holl>- 
wood  Friday  accompanied  by  Nate 
Watt,  his  veteran  assistant. 

Herman  A.  Blum,  Maryland  unit 
leader,  is  in  New  York  for  a  brief 
visit. 

C-  V.  Hake,  manager  for  Fox  in 
Tokio,  is  in  New  York. 


Entire  Market  Shows  Gain;  E,  K.  Up  4% 


High  Low  Close 

Cunsolidated    Film    Industries 4'/4  4'/4  4'/a 

Consolidated    Film    Industries   pfd l^A  13  Iji 

Eastman     Kodak 1314^  124!4  131?^ 

r^ox     Film    "A" 17'4  15^  165^ 

General   Theatre   Equipment   new 4  V/k  iVn 

Loew's.    Inc 41!^  3844  41'/^ 

Par-Amount     Publix 23^  215^  23?^ 

RKO     UVf.  nVfi  MVi, 

Warner     Bros 7  6'/4  6J4 


Net 
Change 


-)-47X 
-I-  'A 


+VA 
+1 


Curb  Issues  Irregular 


High  Low  Close 

Colinnliia    Pictures 10  10  10 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 3  2sA  3 

ficnoral    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 6V^  6  fi-V^ 

^entrv    Safety    Control VA  VA  ^'A 

Technicolor     Si4.  S'A  S'A 

Trans    Lux 6M  5-54  6H 


Net 
Change 


+  Vf. 


4-  ■« 


Sales 

200 
20O 
4,600 
10,800 
1,6a) 
9,500 
10,400 
10,700 
3,200 


Sales 

10!) 
700 
.iOO 
100 
300 

son 


Bond  List  Also  Gains;  P,  F.  L,  Jumps  4 


General     Theatre     Kquipmeiit     6s 

Lofw's   6?,    '41    ex   war 

Paramount    F.    L.   6s    '47 

F'aramount     Publix    i'A?,,     'SO... 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 

Warner    Bros.   6s   '39   wd 


High 

,  32 
.  % 
.  85 
74 
.  82!^ 
,    40 


Low 

31 

95W 

80 

72 

82!^ 

38!4 


Net 
close      Change      Sales 

32  14 


95M 

85 

74 

82!^ 

40 


-^4 
-1-3 
-  '/4 

-1-1 


Slash  $5,000 
From  Ohio's 
Censor  Budget 


Columbus,  O. — The  state  financi 
committees,  seeking  to  slash  $10,000, 
000  from  the  general  appropriation  of 
$74,000,000,  ha\-e  pruned  $5,000  from 
the  film  censorship  appropriation  "f 
$58,(K)0,  thus  somewhat  reducing  tlic 
efficiency  of  that  department.  How  - 
ever,  on  account  of  vehement  outburst  ^ 
of  bitter  complaints  against  John  I, 
Clifton,  head  of  the  department  'if 
education  and  big  shot  of  the  censor 
board,  based  on  his  decisions  and  dele- 
tions, and  more  especially  his  tempor- 
ary ban  of  "The  Big  House"  during 
the  1930  political  campaign,  a  con- 
certed efifort  was  made  to  create  an 
independent  office  of  chief  censor  at 
$3,600  a  year,  but  the  powers  that  be 
turned  thumbs  down  on  the  proposi- 
tion. 

Those  in  authority  sought  to  divorce 
the  duties  of  censor  from  those  of  the 
department  of  education,  in  order  to 
relieve  the  latter  body  from  any  stig- 
ina  resulting  from  the  activities  of  the 
film  judge,  whose  office  functions  is 
an  integral  part  of  the  state  educa- 
tional  svstem. 


I 


Blue  Law  Victory 
Seen  as  N.Y.  Test 

Regarded  as  a  test  case  which  will 
have  an  important  bearing  on  Sunday 
opening  throughout  the  New  York 
State,  exhibitors  have  won  their  fight 
to  secure  an  open  Sabbath  at 
Chatham,   N.   Y. 

C.  B.  La  Pointe,  managing  director 
of  the  Crandall  there,  led  the  fight 
and  was  the  pivotal  factor  in  obtain- 
ing the  912  signatures  to  the  petition 
that  influenced  the  local  board  of 
trustees  to  drop  the  "blues"  in  favor 
of    liberal    Sundays. 


No  Pathe  Loans 

Hollywood  —  Loaning  of  RKO- 
l^athc  stars  henceforth  is  out,  take  it 
from  Charles  R.  Rogers,  who  says 
tliat  the  stars  are  to  confine  them- 
selves to  company  product.  Except- 
ing, of  course,  Constance  Bennett, 
who  also  is  under  contract  to  War- 
ners. The  star  is  finishing  "Bought" 
for  Warners. 


McCarey  Here  on  Script 

Leo  McCarey  is  in  New  York  con- 
sulting with  Ben  Hecht  on  story  and 
script  for  "Queer  People"  which  the 
former  will  direct  for  Howard 
Hur^hes,   Caddo  and   U.  A. 


Plans  Prison  Film 

HoLLYWOon — Paramount  is  to  make 
"Ladies  of  tiie  Big  House,"  a  story 
by  an  ex-convict  at  Folsom.  Louis 
Gasnier  and  Max  Marcin  will  direct, 
Peggy  Shannon  will  play  the  lead. 


Franklin  to  Operate 

Los  Angeles  —  Hughes  -  Franklin 
Theatres  probably  will  operate  the 
theatre  which  Carl  Laemmie  is  build- 
ing at  Vine  and  Hollywood. 


Tuesday,    June    9,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Canadian 
Probe  Report 
To  Be  Buried 


(Continued  from  /^afie  1) 

iliau  cabinet  after  announcement  had 
Ijeen  made  that  the  document  had 
been  sent  to  the  government  print- 
ing bureau  to  be  run  off  in  pamphlet 
form. 

One  version,  from  semi-official 
snurces,  is  that  the  "White  Paper"  is 
t(i  be  regarded  only  as  an  interim 
report  and  that  definite  action  has 
licen  postponed  sine  die. 

The  common  belief  now  is  that  ac- 
ticiii  has  been  postponed  forever  and 
that  the  investigation  will  be  allowed 
U>  meet  a  natural  death  among  the 
many  pigeon-holes  of  the  department 
lit   labor. 

fn  other  words,  there  will  be  much 
surprise  if  the  famous  probe  is  any- 
tliing  more  than  a  wash-out. 


Lee  Discusses  British 
Production  in  Canada 

Arthur  Lee,  American  representa- 
tive of  British  Gaumont,  discussed 
production  and  distribution  of  British 
films  in  Canada  in  a  week-end  ses- 
sion at  Toronto  with  Col.  John  A. 
Cooper,  head  of  the  Canadian  dis- 
tributor and  exhibitor  association.  He 
was  accompanied  to  Toronto  by  Oscar 
Hanson,  who  is  distributor  of  the 
.\llied    newsreel. 


Rochester  Changes 

Koi.  iiE.siKK,  N.  Y. — Changes  in  the 
Rochester  district   include : 

C.  C.  Perry,  former  Publi.K  divi- 
sional manager,  transferred  to  New 
N'ork  and  office  abolished ;  Harry 
Royster,  former  city  manager  for 
Publi.x,  now  in  full  charge  under 
New  York;  Herbert  Kaufman,  man- 
ager of  the  Regent,  Publix  house,  on 
vacation  to  recover  health,  with  his 
place  filled  temporarily  by  Charles 
Tibbits,  assistant  manager ;  Howard 
Cohen,  manager  of  the  Publix  Cen- 
tury, resigned;  Miss  Annette  Brill, 
secretary  at  the  Regent,  now  keeping 
books  for  both  Regent  and  Piccadilly. 


"God's  Country  and 
the  Man" 

(Syndicate) 

i  ATTERNED  after  the  usual 
western,  Tom  Tyler's  latest  has 
in  the  cast  a  newcomer  named 
Betty  Mack.  The  story  re- 
volves around  smuggling  of  arms 
across  the  border  and  attempts 
of  government  agents  to  appre- 
hend the  culprits.  Some  of  the 
fistic  encounters  in  which  Tyler 
figures  appear  to  be  far-fetched, 
but  the  picture,  in  the  main, 
adheres  to  the  usual  r^n  of 
westerns. 


De  Mille  Planning 
Big  Crusade  Film 

Cecil  De  Mille  will  have  his  own 
producing  unit,  if  plans  now  under 
discussion  develop.  The  move  is  re- 
ported to  provide  private  capital  for 
production  of  a  spectacle  dealing  with 
the  Crusades  which  "C.  B."  is  under- 
stood to  regard  as  his  major  effort. 

ft  is  understood  De  Mille  has  al- 
ways had  three  pet  subjects  in  mind, 
all  of  which  he  has  wanted  to  produce 
for  years.  The  Crusades  picture  is 
one ;  the  second  is  a  picture  dealing 
with  the  fall  of  Rome,  and  third,  with 
the  flood  as  narrated  in  the  Bible. 

De  Mille  is  now  reported  to  be  in 
Chester,  Pa.,  where  a  college  degree 
awaits  him.  He  will  then  come  to 
New  York  and  sail  on  an  extended 
European  trip.  Future  production 
plans  are  slated  for  development  on 
his  return.  His  itinerary  abroad  will 
include  a  trip  to  Russia  and  India. 


"Man  in  Possession" 

(.M-(i-M) 

11  OLLYW0013 — Here  is  a  risque 
farce  built  around  Robert  Mont- 
gomery. The  story  is  a  fast- 
moving    one. 

Montgomery  is  cast  as  a 
court  bailiff  who  remains  in  the 
home  of  Irene  Purcell  to  guard 
the  property  and  is  then  forced 
to  act  as  butler.  When  the 
family  arrives  for  dinner,  the 
complications  grow.  Montgom- 
ery spends  the  night  in  the 
Purcell  home  and  the  dialogue 
pertaining  to  this  situation  forms 
the  basis  for  most  of  the 
"spice." 

The  situations  are  of  the 
type  that,  in  the  past,  have 
persuaded  censors  to  use  their 
shears   generously. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


Travel  Twenty  Miles 
To  See  Banned  Film 

CoNNEAUT,  O.  —  Because  "Blue 
Angel"  failed  to  pass  the  Pennsyl- 
vania censor  board,  approximately 
3,000  persons  came  from  Erie,  Pa. 
to  see  the  picture  during  its  local  en- 
gagement. Erie  is  about  twenty  miles 
from  here. 


Trying  to  Beat  the  Heat 

Oklahoma  City — The  summer- 
time jinx  is  trying  his  best  to  sting 
Oklahoma  City  exhibitors  in  the  spot 
where  it  will  hurt  most.  With  hot 
weather  already  setting  in,  exhibitors 
are  trying  schemes  to  make  up  for 
loss  of  business  between  6  and  8  p.  m. 
when  houses  are  nearly  empty  during 
hot  weather. 

The  Retailers'  Association  has 
heaped  more  on  the  heads  of  the  suf- 
ferers by  opening  a  campaign  for  day 
light  saving  time.  Needless  to  say, 
the  showmen  are  fighting  the  move — 
and  are  being  ably  assisted  by  th^ 
city    bankers. 


Cut  Up  "Women" 

Philadelphia — The  Pennsylvania 
censors  wielded  the  shears  so  vio- 
lently on  their  first  view  of  "Women 
of  All  Nations"  that  the  picture  des- 
tined for  the  Fox  has  been  put  back 
on  the  schedule,  while  Fox  officials 
here  are  trying  to  arbitrate  the  mat- 
ter with  the  board.  "Always  Good- 
bye," with  Elissa  Landi,  has  been  sub- 
stituted. Eliminations  in  "Women," 
as  first  ordered,  cut  too  rnuch  footage 
from  the  film  to  fit  it  into  the  new 
program. 


Schlesinger  Is    Import  Limits 
Undecided  on  Fought  in  Paris 
Print  Royalty    By  Hays  Aide 


{Continued  from  ['atic  1) 

H.  Owens,  an  employee  of  Deh'orest, 
patented  a  printing  process.  The 
court  held  that  the  patent  belonged 
to    DeForest. 

Coming  just  at  the  time  when 
Schlesinger  was  defeated  in  the  Ries 
patent  action  against  the  Stanley  Co.^ 
which  was  in  effect  an  action  against 
Western  Electric,  the  Owens  case  is 
hailed  by  Schlesinger  as  "the  big- 
gest   thing    we've    got." 

He  says  the  rights  conferred  up- 
on the  company  by  the  Owens  case 
decision  will  be  administered  fairly  and 
equitably.  If  the  company  is  en- 
titled to  royalties,  "fair  and  reason- 
able" compensation  will  be  asked, 
Schlesinger    states. 

The  company  has  pending  a  sim- 
ilar case  versus  the  F^ox-Case  Corp., 
arising  from  a  patent  allegedly 
taken  out  by  an  employee  while  he 
A'as    on    the    DeForest    payroll. 


Here  Is  a  Real 

Family  Theatre 

Toronto — There  are  287  families 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Alhambra, 
neighborhood  house,  who  simpy  won't 
go  to  any  other  theatre,  according  to 
Manager  Bill  McKnight.  When  they 
all  go  at  once,  they  more  than  pack 
the  theatre.  The  reason  is  that  each 
of  the  287  families  has  received  a  set 
of  dishes  as  the  major  award  in  the 
lengthy  series  of  weekly  "prize  nights" 
conducted  by  McKnight.  And  the  Al- 
hambra was  one  of  the  three  winners 
in  Eastern  Canada  in  the  recent  Pub- 
lix managers'  bonus  competition. 


Perth  Exhihs  Unite 
To  Boost  Business 

Perth,  Australia — Distributors  and 
exhibitors  here  have  set  in  motion  a 
cooperative  drive  for  business,  with  a 
"come-to-pictures"  month  providing 
the  impetus.  Too  far  removed  from 
the  more  important  eastern  cities  to 
benefit  from  nation-wide  advertising 
and  exploitation,  Perth  has  devised 
this  plan  as  an  endeavor  to  cash  in 
on  the  little  extra  money  lying 
around. 

Hoyts  and  Union  Theatres,  with 
head  offices  in  Sydney,  have  okayed 
the  proposition  from  their  end,  both 
having  had  the  proposition  under  con- 
sideration for  some  time.  They  will 
assist  with  contributions  to  a  com- 
mon pool.  The  move  embraces  co- 
operative advertising,  the  enlistment 
of  support  of  civic  authorities,  press 
encouragement,  and  individual  stunts 
by  each  house,  whether  city  or  sub- 
urban, along  the  lines  of  the  Greater 
Movie  Season  instituted  by  the  Hays 
organization. 


Helen  to  Judith 

Hollywood — By  order  of  the  Para- 
mount supreme  command,  Helen 
Johnson,  who  appeared  in  "The  Vi(;e 
Squad,"  has  had  to  change  her  name 
to  Judith  Wood. 


{Continued  from  patie  1) 

by  Smith,  together  with  the  language 
limitations,  to  prove  his  contention 
that  the  French  market  cannot  sup- 
ply sufficient  pictures  to  meet  the 
quota.  Permits  are  being  "hocked" 
openly,  it  is  stated.  Action  is  ex- 
pected by  Thursday.  The  matter  is 
being  worked  out  by  Maurice  Petsche. 
Under  Secretary  of  State  for  Beaux 
Arts. 


Chain  Tax  Looms 
Up  in  Wisconsin 

{Continued  from  page  1 ) 

ing  the  formula  set  down  by  Indiana, 
is  considered  as  hitting  too  close  to 
the  chain  idea  for  theatres  for  the 
comfort  of  circuit  operators. 

National  Chain  Tax 
Not  Held  Logical 

Washington  —  A  national  chain 
store  tax,  which  might  conceivably 
include  theatres,  is  not  regarded  as  a 
likely  topic  of  discussion  when  the 
Congress  meets  in  the  fall.  Individual 
states  may  go  in  for  this  type  of  legis- 
lation, but  a  national  move  in  a  pre- 
presidential  year  is  not  regarded  as 
logical. 


Third  F,  &  R,  Partner 
Is  Seriously  III 

(Continued  from  paflc  1) 

of  heart  disease.  Heart  attacks  proved 
fatal  recently  to  his  two  partners. 
M.  L.  Fii:kelstein  and  I.  H.  Ruben, 
deaths  of  whom  occurred  but  a  few 
months  apart. 


H 


"Rebound" 

(Pathe) 


ollywood — This  is  a  per- 
sonal triumph  for  Ina  Claire. 
Donald  Ogden  Stewart's  light, 
witty  dialogue  exactly  suits  her 
style  of  playing.  The  humorous 
subleties  were  missed  by  a  pre- 
view audience.  They  seemed 
restless  during  the  final  dra- 
matic moments.  The  story  con- 
cerns two  young  people  brought 
together  on  the  rebound  from 
other  love  affairs.  They  marry, 
but  nearly  separate  when  first 
loves  reenter  their  lives.  The 
four  principal  roles  are  played 
by  Miss  Claire,  Robert  Ames, 
Robert  Williams  and  Myrna 
Loy,  all  of  whom  are  excellent. 
Edward  H.  Griffith's  direction 
is  adroit.  "Rebound"  compares 
favorably  to  "Holiday."  Theme 
and  treatment  are  similar,  al- 
though the  preview  reaction 
does  not  point  to  such  a  success 
for  this  picture.  It  has  strictly 
class   adult   draw. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


MARKS  the 
SPOT  Wl 


Good  old  Charlie  Chan— wise- 
cracking, humorous  and  lov- 
able Chinese  detective.  When 
he  gets  to  the  X  that  marks  the 
spot  the  missing  Mr.  X  is  only 
half  missing. 

Here's  a  thrilling  story,  not 
underworld  but  of  the  upper 
world. 

"Who  killed  the  beautiful 
movie  star?"  Your  audiences 
will  be  asking  it. 


RE  the  BODY  LAY 


And  "The  Black  Camel"  Marks  a 
Ne^  Kind  of  Mystery  Melodrama 


EARL      DERR 


J 


BIGGERS 
IGGEST 


SELLING      STORY 


THE  BLA<K  <AMEL 


with 


WARNER     OLAND 


SALLY 


BELA  LUGOSI 


Dorothy  Revier  Victor  Varconi 

Directed  by  HAMILTON  MacFADDEN 


EILERS 

J.  M.  Kerrigan 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    June    9,     1931 


Grand  Jury 
Action  Ahead 
In  Chicago 

(ContinucJ  from  fage  1) 

tlie  department  are  "rotten"  and  that 
much  more  evidence  has  been  ob- 
tained from  the  records  than  was 
expected.  Lounsbury  expects  to  give 
the  case  to  the  grand  jury  this  week. 
Operators  have  been  visited  in  the 
booth  by  State's  Attorney's  investi- 
gators and  those  who  refused  to  show 
their  hcenses  or  to  answer  investiga- 
tors' questions  are  to  be  held  for 
tiie  grand  jury  or  investigation. 


Deny  Quebec  Censor 
Chairman  to  Quit 

Montreal — Denial  has  been  given 
to  the  rather  widely-spread  rumor 
that  Eugene  Beaulac  had  resigned 
as  chairman  of  the  Quebec  board  of 
censors,  after  serving  for  some  six 
months,  because  of  alleged  disagree- 
ment over  censorship  standards. 

On  Saturday,  Chairman  Beaulac 
conferred  with  Col.  Jason  L.  Joy  of 
Hollywood,  representing  the  Hays  or- 
ganization, regarding  standards,  prac- 
tices  and   prospects. 


Mouse  Convention 
Big  Draw  in  Milw. 

MiLW.-\UKEE — The  Mickey  Mouse 
convention  held  at  the  Fox  Wisconsin 
went  over  with  a  bang  with  a  band 
and  parade  to  bang  out  the  music 
that  helped  put  it  over.  The  local 
Chamber  of  Commerce  and  business 
men  helped  put  it  over  vvitii  delegates 
from  all  over  the  state  attending. 

White  Forms  Firm 

Cincinnati — Maurice  White,  man- 
ager local  Columbia  exchange,  to- 
gether with  Michael  Sprangel,  this 
city,  and  Ray  Murphv,  Newport, 
Ky.,  has  organized  a  theatre  broker- 
age company  to  be  known  as  the 
Akren  Amusement  Co.,  with  head- 
quarters in  Newport. 


F.  P.  Confab  Off? 

Toronto  —  No  announcement  has 
been  made  regarding  the  convention 
of  theatre  managers  of  Famous  Play- 
ers Canadian  Corp.  this  year,  and 
there  is  a  possibility  that  no  confer- 
ence will  be  held,  it  is  intimated. 


Bomb  K.  C.  Theatre 

Kans.\s  City — The  roof  of  the  Na- 
tional was  badly  damaged  by  a  bomb 
last  week.  The  employment  of  non- 
union projectionists  has  been  causing 
the  theatre  considerable  trouble  of  this 
kind  for  some  time. 


Golfers  Gapping 

Denver — Miniature  golf  courses 
are  giving  theatres  very  little  compe- 
tition this  year,  only  about  one-fourth 
reopening  this  year  so   far. 


Astor  Reaches  Stardom 

Mary  Astor  has  reached  the  status 
of  a  full-fledged  star  in  her  next  pic- 
ture for  Radio,  "Daughter  of  Joy.'' 
Herbert  Brenon  will  direct. 


''The  Sky  Raiders" 

(Columbia) 

J.  HERE  is  little  substance  to 
this  story  of  an  aviator  who 
likes  his  booze  and  gets  fired 
after  his  carelessness  causes  a 
plane  to  be  wrecked.  Later  the 
aviator,  played  by  Lloyd  Hughes, 
redeems  himself  by  aiding  in 
the  capture  of  a  band  of  air 
thieves. 

Marceline  Day  plays  the 
feminine  foil  and  Wheeler  Oak- 
man   the   heavy. 


Wanger  Out  at 
Para.,  States 
'Herald'  Yarn 


(Continued  from  ['age  1) 

is  understood  his  withdrawal  will 
come  shortly.  This  seems  to  be  the 
final  chapter  on  the  long-standing 
tussle  between  Paramount's  Eastern 
and  Western  production  heads,  accord- 
ing to  the  Herald. 

\Vanger  was  recently  acknowledged 
as  head  of  the  company's  production 
activities,  but  this  new,  changed  set- 
up follows  the  Denver  conference  at 
which  S.  R.  Kent  and  Schulberg  were 
present. 


Walter  Wanger  could  not  be  reached 
for  a  statement  yesterday.  He  is, 
however,  still  on  the  job  and,  ac- 
cording to  one  familiar  with  his  busi- 
ness affairs,  still  on  Paramount's 
payroll.  Reports  have  been  current 
for  about  ten  days  now  that  he  was 
to   retire   from   the  company. 

It  is  understood  he  has  no  contract, 
having  refused  one  when  his  last 
agreement  ran  out. 


Extra  Session  for 
Florida  Legislature 

Tami'A — The  regular  session  of  the 
Florida  legislature  has  adjourned 
without  passing  any  of  the  proposed 
revenue  bills,  several  of  which  were 
aimed  at  theatre  receipts. 

However,  the  governor  has  called 
a  special  session  at  which  "finance 
and  taxation"  only  will  be  considered. 
The  governor's  proposed  new  sources 
of  revenues  includes  the  recommend- 
ation of  a  "reasonable  tax  on  amuse- 
ments." 

Though  the  legislature  has  been  in 
session  for  two  months  and  several 
thousand  bills  have  been  introduced, 
none  of  major  importance  has  been 
passed  except  the  legalizing  of  pari- 
mutuel  betting  on  dog  and  horse  rac- 
ing, passed  over  the  governor's  veto. 


Form  Seaside  Theatres 

Ocean  View,  Va. — A  new  corpora- 
tion known  as  Seaside  Theatres,  Inc., 
of  Norfolk,  has  just  been  chartered 
to  own  and  operate  motion  picture 
theatres.  The  principal  office  of  the 
corporation  is  to  be  at  Ocean  View. 
Ofificers  are  Mrs.  Catherine  Lawrence, 
president ;  W.  T.  Haskett,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  A.  W.  Haskett,  secretary-treas- 
urer. Ivor  A.  Page,  of  Norfolk,  rep- 
resented the  corporation  in  making 
application   for  the  charter. 


H 
E 


THEATRE 


Construction — Equipment — Decoration — Operation — Management 


Twp  Experts 
Explain  RCA 
Reproducers 


In  this  article  Dr.  Alfred  Gold- 
smith and  Max  C.  Batsel  of  RCA 
laun-ch  into  a  description  of  the  types 
of  soiind-on-film  reproducers  used  by 
Fliotophone. 

Arrangements  for  switching  the  in- 
put of  the  amplifier  from  one  machine 
to  another,  for  changing  from  film 
to  disc  pickup  and  for  equalizing  the 
voltage  from  disc  record  and  film 
pickup  are  essentially  the  same  for 
all  equipments. 

The  output  circuits  from  either  disc 
or  film  are  arranged  to  work  into 
the  3500-ohm  input  circuit  of  the  volt- 
age  amplilers. 

A  control  panel  used  with  three  of 
the  amplifiers  includes  two  rheostats 
for  controlling  the  current  to  the  ex- 
citer lamps  and  ammeters  for  read- 
ing the  value  of  the  lamp  current. 

A  change-over  potentiometer  is 
provided  for  switching  the  amplifier 
to  either  machine.  If  more  than  one 
change-over  control  is  desired,  me- 
chanically connected  extensions  are 
provided  or  a  relay  system  is  installed 
which  can  be  controlled  from  either 
machine. 


Fig.  II — Sound  reproducer  and  synchro- 
nous disk  attachment  for  type  S  Sim- 
plex  projector. 

I'lgure  1 1  shows  a  film  reproducer 
as  used  with  the  control  panel  de- 
scribed above.  The  illustration  shows 
the  mechanism  mounted  on  a  Simplex 
projector.  The  projector  is  driven 
by  a  synchronous  motor  at  a  speed 
which  runs  90  feet  of  film  per  min- 
ute. The  sprocket  which  pulls  the 
film  past  the  scanning  light  beam  is 
mounted  on  the  same  shaft  with  a  fly- 
wheel. This  assembly  is  driven 
through  a  very  flexible  spring.  A 
brake  in  the  form  of  a  greased  leath- 
er pad  acts  as  a  viscous  brake  on  the 
flywheel  to  prevent  oscillations  of  the 
spring-driven  system.  A  holdback 
sprocket  is  provided  to  prevent  the 
take-up  tension  on  the  film  from  af- 
fecting the  tension  of  the  constant 
speed   sprocket. 


Fig.    12 — RCA    Photophone    sound   head. 

The  gate,  for  guiding  the  film  and 
holding  it  in  focus  at  the  scanning 
light  beam,  consists  of  a  set  of  stan- 
dard Simplex  lateral  guide  rollers 
nKJunted  at  the  top  of  a  curved  shoe 
and  a  pair  of  flexible  springs 
mounted  so  that  they  hold  the  film  in 
contact  with  the  polished  surface  of 
the  shoe.  The  curved  shoe  prevents 
the  film  from  buckling  and  running 
out  of  focus,  and  is  a  desirable  fea- 
ture. 

Three  lamps  for  the  scanning  light 
are  mounted  in  sockets  on  a  revolv- 
ing turret.  Each  lamp  can  be  pre- 
adjusted  in  position  so  that  if  one 
should  burn  out  it  is  only  necessary 
to  turn  the  next  one  into  position, 
thus  minimizing  the  interruption 
caused  by  the  lanjp  burning  out. 

The  lens  system  consists  of  a  con- 
denser lens  so  placed  as  to  concen- 
trate a  minimum  amount  of  light  on 
a  slit  4  mils  wide  mounted  in  the  en- 
closure of  the  cylindrical  barrel.  An 
objective  lens  system  focuses  an  im- 
age of  the  slit  1  mil  wide  on  the 
emulsion  side  of  the  film.  The  light 
passes  through  the  lilm  to  the  photo- 
electric cell  in  the  box  at  the  front 
of  the  machine.  The  entire  lens  and 
lamp  assembly  is  adjustable  for  fo- 
cusing and  aligning  the  scanning  beam 
on  the  film. 

A  transformer  is  mounted  in  the 
box  with  the  photo-cell  and  adapts 
the  output  to  a  3S00-ohm  circuit 
which  can  be  run  to  the  control  panel 
or  amplifier  without  appreciable  loss 
of  high  frequencies  caused  by  the 
capacity  of  the  circuit.  When  the 
control  panel  is  omitted,  the  rheostat 
and  meter  for  the  scanning  or  ex- 
citer lamp  are  mounted  in  the  photo- 
cell  box   as    shown   in    Figure   12. 

A  less  expensive  and  simplified 
type  of  sound-on-film  reproducer  is 
shown  in  Figure  12.  In  this  device 
the  sprocket  pulling  the  film  through 
the  scanning  gate  is  driven  directly 
through  precision  gearing,  and  filter- 
ing action  is  obtained  by  having  the 
film  drive  a  flywheel  by  means  of  a 
roller  located  just  below  the  scan- 
ning gate.  In  this  machine  the  lens 
assembly  is  not  adjustable  but  the 
focusing  adjustment  is  taken  care  of 
by  an  adjustment  of  the  objective 
lens.  The  scanning  line  is  located 
on  the  film  by  an  adjustment  of  the 
lateral  guide  rollers  at  the  top  of 
the  gate.  The  two  lamps  are  adjusted 
in  position  in  the  holders  and  it  is 
only  necessary  to  pull  one  holder  out 
and  insert  another  in  case  of  a  lamp 
burning  out. 


Fundamentals   of    Projection 


^^MALL  AREA  of  light  source  is  essential  to  the  projection 
of  a  clear,  sharp  image  on  the  screen.  The  crater  of  the 
carbon  arc,  just  a  few  millimeters  in  diameter,  is  the  ideal 
source  of  light. 

HIGH  INTRINSIC  BRILLIANCY  is  required  of  this  mi- 
nute area  of  light — sixteen  million  times  the  high  intensity 
of  screen  illumination  demanded  by  the  critical  patron. 
National  Projector  Carbons  afford  an  intrinsic  crater 
brilliancy  rivaling  that  of  the  sun  at  zenith. 

STEADY  LIGHT  is  equally  essential  to  satisfying  pro- 
jection. Extensive  research  and  years  of  experience  have 
enabled  National  Projector  Carbons  to  supply  the  steady, 
white  light  that  is  a  source  of  satisfaction  to  both  projec- 
tionist and  patron. 

/ 

Two  satisfied  patrons  pay  for  the 
National  Projector  Carbons 
used  at  each  performance. 


NATIONAL 

PROJECTOR 


CARBONS 


.  .  Sold  exclusively  through  distributors  and  dealers. 
National  Carbon  Company  will  gladly  cooperate  with  the 
producer,  exhibitor,  machine  manufacturer  or  projectionist 
on  any  problem  involving  light. 


NATIONAL    CARBON    COMPANY,    INC. 

Carbon  Sales  Division        '        Cleveland,  Ohio 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  1 1 1  ^  1^  and  Carbon  Corporation 
Branch  Salet  Officeit         New  York         Pittsburgh         Chicago         San  Francisco 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    June    9,     1931 


ii. 


Donovan, 
'^  Shipmates'' 
Pnll  in  K.  C. 


Kansas  City — "Donovan's  Kid" 
and  "Shipmates"  were  the  outstand- 
ing box-office  draws  of  the  week,  each 
going  $2,000  over  average  at  the 
Mainstreet  and  Midland,  respectively, 
the  grosses  lieing  $17,0(K)  and  $16,500. 
"It's  a  Wise  Child"  with  $7,000  beat 
the  Uptown  normal  figure  by  $1,000, 
but  the  rest  were  not  so  hot. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  6 : 

"DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 

MAl.X    STREET— (3,067).   35c-60c,   7   days. 
Vaudc.     Gross:    $17,000.      (Average.    $15,000.) 
"SHIPMATES"    (M-G-M) 
MIUI.AXD— (4.00O),       25c-50c.       7       days. 
Gross:    $16,500.     (Average.    $14..5O0.) 

"TARNISHED   LADY"    (Para.) 
NEWMAN— (2.000),       25c-60c.       7       davs. 
Gross:    $12,500.     (Average,    $12,500.) 

"CAUGHT  CHEATING"    (Univ.) 
OKI'HEUM— (1,550),       20c-40c,       3      days. 
Gross:    $2,000.     (.Average   3   davs.   $2,.500.) 
"THE    ROYAL    BED"    (Radio) 
ORPHErM— (1.550).       20c-40c,      4      days. 
Gross:    $2..50O.     (Average  4  days,   $4,.S0O.) 
"SVENGALI"     (Warners) 
KOVAI.,— (y(K)).     25c-60c.     7     davs.      Gross: 
$4.«.I0.     (.\vcraKe.    $4,500.) 

"IT'S   A   WISE   CHILD"    (M-G-M) 
l"rT()\V.\-(2.200),  2.5c-50c.  7    days.    Gross. 
$7,000.     (Average,   $f>.000.) 


^Women'  Hits 
Above  Seattle 
House  Average 


Seattle — "Women  of  All  Nations" 
and  "Seed''  were  the  outstanding  at- 
tractions here  last  week.  Tjenny  Ru- 
i)in  helped  the  take  at  the  Paramount. 
"Women  of  All  Nations"  bettered  the 
average  at  the  Fifth  .\  venue  by 
$1,000.  It  was  the  only  picture  in  town 
which    could   better   a   house   average. 

Estimated  takings   for  week  ending 

June  5 : 

"QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 

EOX  COEFSEUM— (2.000),  ZSc-35c-50c,  4 
days.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average.  7  days. 
$5.000. ) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

EO.X  EIETH  AN'EXUE  (2.7501.  2.5c-3.5c- 
.5<)c-75c.  7  days.  Gross:  $13,0(».  (.Xvcrage, 
$12,0fK).) 

"CITY  STREETS"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,150),  25c-.15c-50c-75c.  7 
days.  F'anclion  &  Marco  stage  show  and 
Bcnnv  Rubin  in  fierson.  Gross:  $12,500. 
(.\veragc,    $13..500.) 

"THE    FLOOD"    (Col.) 

EIBEKTY— (2,0(X)),  1.5c-30c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,000.     (Average.    $7,000.) 

"THE    PUBLIC    ENEMY"     (Warners) 

IIA.MRTCKS  .MUSIC  RON  (950),  25c- 
35c-50c-75c.  2nd  week,  7  davs.  Gross:  $5,000. 
(Average,    $7,500.) 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2.6.50),  2.5c -.!5c- 50c- 
75c,  7  days  RKO  vaudeville  headlined  by 
Trixie  Kriganza.  Gross:  $13,(XX).  (Aver- 
age,   $13,500.) 


Franklin,  Lazarus, 
Bershon  at  H-F  Meet 

Sa.n  I'ra.vcisco — Harold  V>.  Frank- 
lin, Jeff  Lazarus  and  Dave  Bershon 
attended  the  division  convention  here 
of  Hughes-Franklin  managers  yester- 
day and  left  last  night  for  Walla 
Walla  where  managers  in  flarl 
(  rai)i)'s  division  meet  on  Wednesday. 
The  meetings  are  to  consolidate  and 
organize  along  Hughes-Franklin  lines 
of  the  properties  acquired. 


"Ubangr 

(Willisim    ri/.or) 


J\  I'iciORiAi.  record  of  an  evpe- 
dition  into  the  Beljiian  (]onjSo  in 
which  Dr.  Louis  Newman  is 
said  to  have  lost  his  life.  Lack 
of  precaution  in  not  reloadinjl 
his  gun  when  approaching  a 
wounded  rhinoceros  is  given  as 
the  cause  of  his  death. 

In  slow  motion  a  similar 
scene  in  which  one  of  the  dogs 
is  pulverized  is  shown.  The 
action  shows  the  natives  in 
bizarre  costumes  on  festive  oc- 
casions and  in  semi-nudity  on 
ordinary   days. 

The  hunt  for  specimens  of 
African  jungle  life  makes  up 
most  of  the  footage.  In  many 
sequences,  photography  is  far 
from  clear.  A  running  fire  of 
dialogue,  said  to  have  been 
spoken  by  one  of  the  members 
of  the  expedition,  has  been 
added  to  what  is  otherwise  a 
silent   picture. 


"Trader"  at 
$28,000  Big 
Frisco  Card 


San  Francisco  —  With  capacity 
business  of  the  United  States  as  com- 
petition, "Trader  Horn"  knocked  'em 
over  at  the  Paramount,  turning  in 
$28,000  or  $9,000  over  the  house  aver- 
age. And  that  in  the  picture's  second 
week.  Its  chief  competition  was  "Wo- 
men of  All  Nations,"  which,  with  Ed- 
mund Lowe  in  person,  clipped  of? 
$38,000  at  the  Fox. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  wtc-k 
ending  June  2 : 

"MEET   THE   WIFE"    (Col.) 

GOLDEN  GATE^(2,800),  35c-40c-.50c-6.5c, 
7  ilays.  8  acts  RKO  vaude.  Gross:  $14.,i00. 
(Average,    $15,000.) 

Week  Ending  Wednesday,  June  3 

"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"(    Para.) 

\VARE]EI.,I)-(2,7(X)),  2.Sc-3.Sc-.5l)c,  7  days. 
Kiilic  Waif  band,  stage  sliow.  Gross:  $20,- 
m).    (Average,    $21,000.) 

"WOMEN   OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

I'O.X-  (4,600).    50c-6Sc-75c-$I.    7    days.      K. 
^S;    M.    stage    show,    Walt    Roesner    concert. 
Edmund    Lowe    in    person    iirst    three    days. 
Gross:    $38,000.    (Average,    $34,000.) 
"CITY   LIGHTS"    (U.   A.) 

U.MTED    ARTISTS- (1,300),    25c-40c-60c, 
7  days.     Gross:   $22,000.    (No  average  avail- 
able   yet.) 
"NOT    EXACTLY    GENTLEMEN"    (Fox) 

EL  CAPITAX-(3,100),  25c-40c-60c,  7 
days.  Jay  Brower  band,  stage  show.  Gross: 
$13,250.    (Average.   $13,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 

ORPHEUM  —  (3,000),  25c-35c-50c,  (2ml 
week)  7  days,  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average. 
$12,000.) 

Week  Ending  Thursday,  June  4 

"SVENGALI"     (Warners) 

WARNERS  —  (1,385),  3.5c-.50c,  7  days. 
"Adventures  in  Africa,"  first  of  series. 
Gross:    $14,000.    (Average,    $10,500.) 

Week  Ending  Friday,  June  5 

"TRADER    HORN"    (M-G-M) 

l'.\r<AMOr.\T  -  (2.740),  35c -50c- 65c- 90c. 
(2iid  week)  7  days.  Gross:  $28.00{J.  (Aver- 
age,   $19,000.) 


P.  P.  Postpones  Meet 

Monthly  meeting  ni  directurs  of 
Paraujuunt  yesterday  was  postponed 
until  next  Monday  out  of  respect  for 
the  memory  of  Mortimer  L.  Schiff,  of 
Kuhn,  Loeb  and  Company. 


"6  Cylinder 
Love"  PhiUy 
High;  $19,000 


Philadelphia — Not  so  good  this 
week.  "Six  Cylinder  Love"  boosted 
the  Earle's  average  intake  by  $1,000, 
grossing  $19,000,  but  the  rest  of  the 
story  isn't  so  pleasant.  "The  She 
Wolf"  took  $9,CO0  at  the  Stanley, 
which  is  only  50  per  cent  of  its  nor- 
mal take,  but  "The  Secret  Six"  miss- 
ed par  by  only  $1,000,  getting  $39,000 
at  the  Mastbaum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  4 : 

THE  FRONT  PAGE"  (U.  A.) 

ARCADIA— (600),     50c,     2    days.       Gross: 
$1,000.    (Average    for    6    days,    $3,000.) 
"DOCTORS'    WIVES"    (Fox) 

ARCADIA— (600),  50c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$1,800.    (Average    for   6    days,    $3,000.) 

"GOLD     DUST     GERTIE"     (Warners) 

BOYD— (2,400),  35c-50c-75c,  5  days.  Gross: 
$16,000.    (Average,    $18,000.) 

"THE    VIKING"     (Masterpiece) 

CHESTNUT— (1.860),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Gross:  $5, ,500.  (No  consistent  average, 
house  usually  devoted  to  legitimate  at- 
tractions.) 

"SIX   CYLINDER  LOVE"   (Fox) 

EARLE^(2,000),  25c-6.Sc,  6  days.  Eight 
acts  vaude.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average,  $18,- 
000.) 

"ALWAYS  GOODBYE"   (Fox) 

FOX— (3,000),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days.  F.  & 
M.  "Icy-Hot"  Idea.  Gross:  $24,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $26,000.) 

"LADY  WHO  DARED"   (F.   N.) 

KARLTON  —  (1,000).  40c-50c,  6  days. 
Gross:    $4,000.    (Average,    $5,000.) 

"CITY  STREETS"    (Para.) 

KEITH'S  —  (1.800),  35c-50c-75c,  4  days. 
Gross:     $10,000.    (Average,    $15,000.) 

"THE   SECRET   SIX"   (M-G-M) 

MASTBAUM— (4.800),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Stage  show.  Gross:  $39,000.  (Average,  $40,- 
000.) 

"THE   SHE    WOLF"    (Univ.) 

STANLEY— (3,700),  35c-50c-7.5c,  5  days. 
Gross:     $9,000.     (Average.    $18,000.) 

"BACHELOR    APARTMENT"    (Radio) 

STANTON  —  (1,700),  25c-6.5c,  6  days. 
Gross:     $7,500.     (Average,    $11,000.) 


$9,000  Best 
For  "Finger" 
In  Mill  City 


Minneapolis  • —  Best  comparative 
showing  of  the  week  was  "The  Fin- 
ger Points,"  which  got  $9,000,  or 
$1,000  above  average,  at  the  State. 
The  biggest  gross  went  to  the  Minne- 
sota, where  "The  Lawyer's  Secret" 
took  $21,000,  just  $1,000  above  aver- 
age. Fair  weather  and  the  first  days 
of  the   fishing   season   took   their   toll. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  5  : 

"THE    LADY    WHO   DARED"    (F.    N.) 

ASTER— (812).  20c-35c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$l,!i00.       (Average,    $1,500.) 

"A   TAILOR    MADE   MAN"    (M-G-M) 

LYRIC— (1.2.^8),  20c-4flc,  7  davs.  Gross: 
512,.SOO.        (Average.      $2,.S00.) 

"THE    LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 

,\II\NE.SOTA— (4,000),  ,TOc-75c,  7  days. 
Lo\i  Breese.  M.  C.  Four  acts  of  vaudc. 
Gross:    $21,000.      (Avcraffc.    $20,000.) 

"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM-(-',900).  2,5c -.?.5c-. 50c.  7 
days.  Four  acts  vaudc.  Gross:  $15,000. 
(Average,    $14,000.) 

"THE   FINGER   POINTS"   (F.   N.) 

STATE— (2,300),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,000.      (Average,   $8,000.) 


Cukor  on  Coast 

IloLLVufiiiii — George  Cukor  has  ar- 
rived here  to  resume  directorial  duties 
of  Paramount. 


Chicago  Falls 
For  Joan  to 
$47,275  Tune 


Chicago  —  Joan  Crawford,  the 
Loop's  perennial  favorite,  lifted  the 
Chicago  Theatre  out  of  a  slump  of 
several  weeks  duration,  returning  a 
gross  of  $47,275,  a  figure  sufficient 
to  earn  "Laughing  Sinners"  some 
additional  Loop  time.  The  picture 
was  moved  from  the  one  week  stand 
into    the    Roosevelt,    run    house. 

The  Palace,  a  consistent  performer 
with  its  succession  of  "name"  acts  for 
the  vaudeville  interitn,  maintained  a 
prosperity  stride  with  $26,900  for  the 
week.  Belle  Bennett  and  Herman 
Timberg,  the  headliners,  are  credited 
with  the  bulk  of  the  draw.  Another 
"in  person"  is  given  the  credit  for 
the  Oriental's  prosperous  week. 
Buddy  Rogers,  taking  the  bows  at' 
that  theatre,  attracted  $35,400  worth 
of  flapper  trade  to  the  theatre. 
"Women  of  All  Nations"  finished  a 
nice  introductory  week  at  the  United 
Artists,  getting  $28,350.  Balance  of 
the   Loop   business   was   spotty. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing   May   30: 
"WOMEN   MEN   MARRY"   (State  Rights) 

woe iJS— (1.166),  ,>'5c-50c-75c-85c,  5  days. 
Gross:  $2,185.  (Average  for  week,  $12,000.) 
House  cosed'  May  30  for  summer,  due  to 
lack    ot    suitable   product. 

Week  Ending  June  3 

"GOO'S  GIFT  TO  WOMEN"    (Warners) 

ORPHEUM— (665),  35c-50c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,375.       (Average,    $3,200.) 

Week  Ending  June  4 

"SEEJ)"    (Univ.) 

STATE  LAKE— (2,776),  35c-50c-75c-85, 
2nd  week,  7  days.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Aver- 
age,  $30,200.) 

Week  Ending  June  5 

"THE  SIN    SHIP"    (Radio) 

CA5:TLE^(299),  40c-60c,  7  davs.  Gross: 
$3,150.  (Average.     $3,500.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

CHICAGO— (4,000),  35c-50c-75c-85c.  7 
ilays.  Publi.x  stage  unit,  orchestra.  Gross: 
.$47,275.       (Average.   $46,000.) 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 

McVlCKEUS   —    (2.284).      ,Wc -50c- 7.5c -85i-, 
first  day.     Gross:  $4,365.     "Secret  Six"   (M- 
Ci-M),    final    four   days,    third    week.    Gross: 
$9,1.50.       (Average    for    week,    $28,.500.) 
"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 

OKIENTAL  —  (3,940).  .15c-50c-7.5c-8.5c.  7 
ifays.  Publix  stage  unit  with  Buddy  Rog- 
ers, orchestra.  Gross:  $35,400.  (Average, 
$36,500.) 

"TABU"    (Para.) 

ROOSEVELT-(l,591),  .15c-.50c-7.5c-85c.  7 
days.  Gross:  $10,100.  (Average,  $23,200.) 
"Laughing  .Sinners"  (M-G-M)  was  spotted 
Iiere  after  an  excellent  week  at  the  Chi- 
cago. 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

UNITED  ARTI.ST.S— (1.700).  35c-50c-7.5c- 
85c,  first  week.  Gross:  $28,350.  (Average, 
$24,600.y  Picture  got  nice  gross  in  spite 
of    luimerciful    pannings    from    local    critics. 

Week  Ending  June  6 

"GOOD    BAD    GIRL"    (Columbia) 

PALACE— (2,509).  35c-50c-7.Sc-85c,  7  days. 
Five  acts  RKO  vaude.  with  Belle  Ben- 
nett, Herman  Timberg,  Buster  West,  and 
orchestra.  Gross:        $26,900.        (Average, 

$24,000.) 


Start  ''Huckleberry  Finn** 

Hollywood — Paramount  is  continu- 
ing its  policy  of  turning  out  pictures 
with  kid  appeal,  having  put  "Huckle- 
berry Finn"  into  work.  Norman  Tau- 
rog  is  directing  and  in  the  cast  arc 
Jackie  Coogan,  Junior  Durkin,  Mit/:i 
Green  and  Jackie  Searl. 


Daylight  Saving  Fines 

Madison,  Wis. — Fine  of  from  $25 
to  $500  for  violation  of  the  proposed 
state  law  prohibiting  municipalities 
from  adopting  daylight  saving  time  is 
provided  for  in  a  new  clause  added  to 
the  bill. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  9 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  10,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


$100,000  to 
"Ashcan''  in 
Film  Probe 


Expense  Mostly  in  Legal 
Fees  of  Canada  Report 

Ottawa — Anticipated  pigeon-holing 
of  the  findings  in  the  investigation  of 
the  Canadian  industry  means  a  cool 
$100,000  thrown  into  the  ash  can,  pro- 
vided the  report  is  permitted  to  die 
a   "natural   death,"    as    now   indicated. 

The  commissioner's  report  was  to 
have  been  acted  upon  in  two  weeks 
after  it  was  submitted  to  the  Federal 
government  on  May  4.  Film  circles 
here    and    at    Toronto    feel    that    the 

(Covtinucd   on    page    2) 


Progress  in  Fight 
Of  Musicians  Cited 

Chattanooga  —  Fight  against 
"canned  music"  in  theatres  has  been 
successful  "in  a  measure,"  Joseph  N. 
Weber,  president  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Musicians,  told  the  an- 
nual convention  here. 

"The  Federation,"  he  added,  "is 
working  just  as  hard  to  preserve  the 
world  leadership  of  America  in  the 
field  of  cultural  music  as  canned 
music  is  working  to  destroy  it." 

Operators  Yield  Cut 
To  Independents  Also 

Independent  theatre  owners  in  New 
York  are  being  given  the  same  con- 
sideration by  the  operators'  local  306 
as  the  circuits  in  cutting  salaries  of 
projectionists  during  summer  months. 
At  a  meeting  held  by  union  officials 
last  week  a  resolution  was  passed  of- 
fering circuits  from  S  to  Tyi  per  cent 
induction  for  the  ten  weeks'  period. 
iThe  salary  cut  begins  this  week. 

Despite  the  unions'  voluntary  move 
to  reduce  operators'  salaries  for  sum- 
mer months.  Motion  Picture  Daily 
learns  that  a  number  of  exhibitors  in 
this  territory  will  not  accept  the  offer, 
preferring  not  to  be  obligated  to  the 
union  or  its  officials  in  any  way. 


Competition 

Brainerd,  Minn. — And  now 
whole  family  admissions  for 
50  cents  in  the  price  war 
under  way  here  between  Pub- 
lix  and  Jake  Gruesner.  Pub- 
lix  has  instituted  the  new 
family  rate  and  exhibitors  of 
nearby  towns  are  howling 
bloody  murder. 


Cancellation  in  Favor 
Of  Shorts  2-Film  Cure 


Balk  at  Strike 

Minneapolis — Although  the 
Northwest  exhibitor  associa- 
tion has  asked  members  to 
carry  out  a  buying  strike 
until  the  annual  convention 
here  September  9  and  10,  a 
number  of  members  are 
stocking  up  on  new  product. 
This  has  prompted  W.  A. 
Steffes,  general  manager  of 
the  unit,  to  warn  that  no  at- 
tempt will  be  made  to  settle 
difficulties  arising  from  con- 
tracts signed  between  April 
30   and  September   15. 


U.S.-F.N.Case 
Facing  Delay 
Till  October 


Case  of  the  Department  of  Justice 
against  Warners  in  a  move  to  stamp 
the  First  National  deal  illegal  under 
the  Clayton  anti-trust  law,  will  not 
come  up  before  July  and  may  be  held 
over  for  the  October  term  of  Federal 
Court  in   New  York. 

Trial   of   the  action   was   postponed 

at    the    request    of    Warners    and    the 

suit    placed   on    the    calendar    for    the 

July  term.    However,  it  is  doubtful  if 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Clara  Registering 
Anger — And  How! 

Hollywood — -"Hot"  is  the  nick- 
name tagged  onto  Clara  Bow,  the  "It" 
girl,  but  hot  isn't  the  word  for  it. 
The  flaming  redhead  is  seeing  red  and 
refuses  to  be  read  out  of  pictures  on 
anybody's  say-so. 

The  official  announcement  of  Clara's 
release  from  her  Paramount  contract 
was   issued   Tuesday  and   it  contained 

(Continued  on  page   6) 


Hearings  Resuming  in 
Vitaphone-Erpi  Row 

Arbitration  of  the  complaint  of 
Vitaphone  Corp.  (Warners)  against 
Electrical  Research  Products,  is  to  be 
resumed  at  an  early  date,  according 
to  George  E.  Quigley,  vice  president 
of  Vitaphone.  There  is  no  truth  to 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Indies  Fight 
Loew  14-Day 
Protection 


Local  New  York  independent  ex- 
hibitors are  resentful  of  Loew's  as  a 
result  of  new  protection  demands  be- 
ing made  with  purchase  of  next  sea- 
son's product.  Heretofore,  the  Loew 
circuit  has  been  asking  seven  days' 
protection,  but  with  the  new  season's 
releases  the  company  is  insisting  on 
14  days  ahead  of  second  runs. 

Independents  state  that  the  new  de- 
mand by  the  Loew  outfit  is  putting 
salt  on  the  wounds  of  poor  business. 
What  action  the  independent  theatre 
owners  will  take  has  not  yet  been  de- 
cided, but  it  is  indicated  that  a  con- 
certed appeal  will  be  made  to  ex- 
change managers  to  cut  down  the  14 
days  to  the  former  week  period. 


Kleine,  Industry 
Pioneer,  Is  Dead 

George  Kleine,  one  of  the  industry's 
founders,  died  at  midnight  Monday  at 
the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Helen 
Bold,  64  East  86th  St.,  after  a  long 
illness.  Funeral  services  will  be  con- 
ducted at  11  A.  M.  Thursday  at  133 
West  86th  St. 

Kleine  was  born  in  New  York  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1863,  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  E.  Kleine.  He  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  New  York  and  was 
graduated  by  the  College  of  the  City 
of  New  York  in  the  class  of  1882. 

Kleine's  father  was  engaged  in  the 
optical  and  scientific  instrument  busi- 

(Continucd  on  page  6) 


Hays  Put  Kibosh  on 
D,  W/s  'On  the  Spot'? 

London — Will  H.  Hayes  "did  di- 
rectly convey  to  D.  W.  Griffith  an 
intimation  that  as  dean  of  the 
American  directors,  he  should  not 
consider  making  this  picture  ('On  the 
Spot')  and  further  followed  it  with 
a  threat  of  what  would  happen  if  he 
persisted  in  doing  so,"  states  Ernest 
W.  Fredman  in  The  Daily  Film 
Renter  in  quoting  Simeon  Rowson  of 
Ideal   Films. 

Fredman  draws  the  conclusion  that 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Distributors  Hope  to  End 

Dual  Features  by 

Date  Switch 


Distributors  will  co-operate  with 
exhibitors  in  the  moves  back  to  a 
single  feature  policy.  With  double 
featuring  being  opposed  by  practi- 
cally every  major  company,  effort 
will  be  made  to  expedite  the  return 
to   a    one-feature    bill. 

Proposed  cessation  of  double  fea- 
turing in  Chicago  and  elsewhere  finds 
many  exhibitors  overbought  on  fea- 
ture product.  In  instances  where  an 
exhibitor  is  loaded  up  with  features 
and   wants   to   go   back  to  the  single 

(Continued  on  page   6) 


Legal  Zoning  Test 
Is  Planned  in  D.M. 

Des  Moines — Legality  of  extended 
protection  is  to  be  tested  in  suits 
planned  here  by  the  Allied  unit 
against  the  Hays  organization  and 
distributors.  Data  is  now  being  gath- 
ered by  an  attorney  engaged  by  the 
association.  S.  P.  Halpern,  one  time 
attorney  for  the  Minneapolis  film 
board,   is  acting  as  adviser. 


Warner  Studio  Will 
Close,  Coast  Hears 

Hollywood — There  hasn't  been  any 
official  pronouncement,  but  Warners' 
studio  is  declared  preparing  for  an 
indefinite  closing.  Many  Warnerites 
are  seeking  new  jobs. 


Sam  E.  Morris,  vice  president  and 
general  manager  of  Warners,  could 
not  be  reached  Tuesday  for  comment 
on  the  studio  closing  report. 


Probes  Pacts 

Washington — Abram  F. 
Myers,  president  of  Allied 
States  Association,  is  making 
a  study  of  the  various  con- 
tracts being  offered  this  sea- 
son by  distributors  to  deter- 
mine if  any  irregularities 
exist.  If  any  evidence  of 
illegality  is  uncovered,  suit 
will  be  instituted,  it  is  said. 
The  Allied  unit  at  Pittsburgh 
recently  took  exception  to 
several  clauses  in  various 
companies'  contracts. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   June    10,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 
Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  ilotion  Pictures  today 


Vol.   » 


June   10.   19,n 


No.   9 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 

^^|V  PUBLISHED  daily,  e.xcept  Sunday 
I  J|l  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^CI^      Daily,   Inc.,  a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Moortng, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    v.,   under   Act   of    March   3,    1879. 

Subscription     rates     per     year,     including 

eostage:     $10     in     the     United    States    and 
anada;  foreign  $1S.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Five  U.  A.  Regional 
Conventions  Slated 

First  of  the  United  Artists  regional 
conventions  will  take  place  in  New 
York  June  21  and  22.  All  eastern 
salesmen  and  managers  will  attend. 
The  second  meet  is  slated  for  Cleve- 
land on  June  23  and  24.  The  Chicago 
regional  is  scheduled  for  June  25, 
while  the  New  Orleans  session  will 
be  held  June  27.  The  final  meet 
takes  place  in  Los  Angeles  on  July  2. 
Al  Lichtman  will  preside  at  all  the 
confabs.     . 

Film  Golf  Tourney 
To  Be  Held  Today 

Weather  permitting,  Film  Daily 
will  hold  its  annual  film  golf  tourna- 
ment today  at  the  Fenimore  Country 
Club,  White  Plains,  New  York.  There 
will  be  a  banquet  in  the  evening. 

Judell  Expanding 
To  St.  Louis  Zone 

St.  Louis— Ben  Judell,  veteran 
Chicago  independent  distributor,  plans 
release  this  season  of  four  new  serials 
in  this  territory. 


Cuts  Dividend 

Columbia  has  reduced  quarterly 
dividends  on  the  common  and  voting 
trust  certificates  to  75  cents  a  share. 
Previously  it  was  $L50. 

In  the  New  York  Daily  Investment 
News  yesterday,  Joe  Brandt  was 
quoted  as  saying  Columbia  contem- 
plated no  dividend  reduction. 


WHETHER  Doug  Fairbanks  will  carry  out  his  announced  inten- 
tion of  making  a  picture  for  release  in  the  new  season  is  regarded 
in  some  quarters  as  problematical.  Doug  and  Mary  are  both  omitted 
from  the  new  United  Artists  program.  Fairbanks,  it  is  said,  would  make 
a  picture  only  if  he  can  arrange  for  financing  production  in  a  manner 
similar  to  the  deal  for  "Reaching  for  the  Moon." 

Keeping  four  first  runs  on  Broadway  supplied  with  first  run  product 
is  a  job  for  any  distributor.  The  Warners  have  discovered  it  and  that's 
why  the  Warner  Theatre  has  gone  to  its  present  foreign  talker  policy. 

They  do  say  the  present  revival  policy  at  the  New  York  Rialto,  now 
in  its  first  week,  will  last  about  two  more.  After  that,  what?  Time 
will  tell. 

• 

Fredric  March  is  receiving  the  same  prominence  as  Nancy  Carroll 
in  billing  of  "The  Night  Angel,"  which  is  opening  tonight  at  the  New 
York  Rivoli.    P.  P.  is  grooming  March  for  stardom,  j'ou  know. 

All  difficulties  between  Ramon  Novarro  and  M-G-M  have  been 
patched  up  and  a  new  agreement  has  been  made. 

An  unique  situation  exists  in  the  case  of  Warners  and  their  recording 
deal  with  Erpi.  Warners  have  a  recording  plant  of  their  own  (Bruns- 
wick), located  next  door  to  their  Brooklyn  studio,  but  are  reported 
prevented  by  their  contract  from  doing  any  recording,  theatrical,  non- 
theatrical  or  industrial,  except  some  synchronizing  work. 


$100,000  to 
"Ashcan"  in 
Film  Probe 


Delays  Golfee  Ordinance 

New  Rochelle,  N.  Y. — Mayor 
Walter  G.  Otto  has  postponed  for 
two  weeks  the  putting  into  effect  of 
the  new  ordinance  providing  for 
miniature  golf  courses  to  close  at 
11  P.  M.  The  ordinance  may  be 
amended  to  provide  for  midnight  clos- 
ing of  the  miniature  links. 


Scott's  Father  Dead 

Harry  Scott,  sales  manager  of  the 
Van  Beuren  Corp.,  is  mourning  the 
loss  of  his  father,  James  H.  Scott, 
who  died  in  Chicago.    He  was  71. 


iContinued  from  page  1) 

whole  af?air  is  a  wash-out,  and  the 
last  has  been  heard  on  the  report.  The 
1100,000  expense  of  the  prdbe  was 
mostly  in  legal  fees,  traveling  expen- 
ses and  court  costs.  All  companies 
were  represented  by  at  least  one  at- 
torney due  to  the  possibility  of  be- 
coming involved. 

About  the  time  the  report  was  com- 
pleted, Motion  Picture  Daily  re- 
vealed that  although  the  investigation 
was  to  determine  if  an  illegal  combine 
existed,  collecting  of  evidence  on  the 
comparative  film  rentals  paid  by 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp.  and 
independents   was   omitted. 


Fox  in  Tobis  Deal 
For  10  German  Films 

London — Fox  is  understood  to  have 
made  a  deal  with  Tobis  for  produc- 
tion of  ten  talkers  in  Berlin.  The 
first  is  reported  slated  to  get  under 
way  this  month. 


Clayton    Sheehan,  foreign  manager 
for  Fox,  is  en  route  to  London. 


State  Theatres  Dividend 

State  Theatres  has  declared  a  regu- 
lar quarterly  dividend  of  $2  on  pre- 
ferred stock,  payable  on  July  1  to 
holders  of  record  June  20. 


New  Speed  Camera 
Is  Shown  in  France 

Paris — With  30  photographs  of- 
fered in  proof  of  its  practicability,  a 
new  motion  picture  camera  which  pho- 
tographs phenomena  lasting  1/100, 
000th  of  a  second  has  been  demon- 
strated here  by  the  French  inventors, 
M.  Labarthe  and  A.  L.  Seguin. 


G.  T.  E.  Defers  Div. 

General  Theatre  Equipment  has 
deferred  payment  of  its  regular  quar- 
terly dividend  of  75  cents  on  the  $3 
preferred  stock  which  was  to  be  pay- 
able on  June  2. 


General  Market  Off;  E.  K,  Drops  ^Vs 


High 

Consolidated  Film  Industries 45^ 

Consolidated   Film   Industries  pfd 1354 

Eastman    Kodak 132^ 

Fox  Film  "A" 17^ 

General   Theatre    Equipment,    new 4 

Loew's,    Inc 42"/^ 

Paramount    Publix 23^4 

Pathe    Exchange 1J4 

Pathe  Exchange  "A" 3f^ 

RKO  13^ 

Warner   Bros 7 


Net 

Low 

Oose 

Change 

Sales 

4'A 

m 

-1-  % 

400 

13 

13 

200 

126^ 

127  J4 

-4% 

4,300 

16W 

1654 

-% 

9,000 

m 

m 

2,500 

WA 

WA 

-m 

8,200 

22'A 

% 

—1 

12,600 

l'/4 

200 

3% 

m 

-y» 

100 

13 

n'A 

-^ 

11,400 

tH 

6^ 

-'A 

4,500 

Fractional  Change  Shown  on  Curb 


Columbia    Pictures   vtc 9J^ 

Fox  Theatres  "A" 3 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 6Ji 

Technicolor    5|i 

Trans    Lux 6J4 


Net 

High  Low  Close  Change  Sales 

■     9Vg          9H  9Vi        —  %  100 

.3            3  3           700 

.    6ji      eyi  6%     -^Ys  700 

.     SH          S'A  SV2        400 

.     6J4         654  ay*       -Vi  500 


Huge  Capital  Added 
To  German  Industri 

Washington — Two     hundred     anO 
twenty-six    million    dollars    of    nev 
capital  were  invested  in  the  German 
film    industry    during    1924    to    1928,| 
George  R.  Canty,  of  Paris,  writes  to 
the    motion    picture    division    of    th 
Department  of  Commerce.    Less  thad 
one-third   of    this    amount    was    spenfl 
on     construction     of     new     theatresj 
Canty   reports. 


Canada  on  Upswing, 
B,  F,  Lyon  Statei 

B.  F.  Lyon,  Canadian  sales  manag( 
for  Warner-First  National,  is  back  i: 
New  York  after  having  visited  Mon-j 
treal,  Toronto  and  St.  John.  "The  out 
look  in  Canada  is  bright,"  said  Lyon' 
at  the  Warner  offices.    "The  tourist 
season  is  opening  up  and  it  is  going 
to  help  business  very  heavily. 

"Canadians  are  pleased  over  their 
new  tariff  bill.  It  is  going  to  have 
the  effect  of  bringing  a  great  many 
more  American  factories  across  the 
border,  which  will  not  be  a  bad  thing 
for  the  Dominion,  and  incidentally  a 
good  thing  for  the  film  industry." 


New  Serial  at  Roxy 

The  Roxy  theatre  continues  to  go 
in  for  serials  in  a  big  way.  With  the 
completion  of  Universal's  "Heroes  ol 
the  Flames,"  the  first  of  four  1931-32 
Universal  serials,  "Danger  Island," 
will  begin  showing  weekly  at  the 
Broadway  house.  The  remaininj 
three  serials,  "Battling  With  BufifaU 
Bill,"  "Heroes  of  the  Law"  and  an 
other  will  follow  after  "Dange 
Island." 


Bond  Issues  Advance;  P.  P,  Gains  5 


General    Theatre    Equipment    6s 

Ixjew's  6s   '41   ex  war 

Paramount   Broadway  554s  '51.... 

Paramount  F.  L.  6s  '47 

Paramount   Publix   55^s,   '50 

Pathe  7s   '37  ww 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 


'40. 


High 

.  32 
.  96 
.  101 

.  sm 

.  79 
.  83 
.   3954 


Low 

315^ 
9SH 
10054 
85 
74 
8254 
39 


Close 

32 
96 
101 

mA 

79 
83 
39J4 


Net 
Change 


+  54 


+5 
+  % 
-54 


Sales 

4 
3 
3 
14 
17 
14 
?0 


Jury  Chosen  in  Suit 

When  Winfield  Sheehan's  suitj 
against  William  Fox  is  called  fo 
trial  Monday  it  is  expected  to  pro 
ceed  immediately,  as  a  jury  alread; 
has  been  chosen  to  hear  it.  Sheehai 
is  suing  for  alleged  conversion  of  F03 
Film  stock  valued  at  $310,000. 


Studio    and    Location 
Sound  on  Rhm  Recording 

Low  Dally   or  WeeUy   Ratot 
Powart  Qnaphone  Equipmant  Corp. 
723-7fh  AVE..  N.  Y.    BRyanf  9-6067 


"'^i^g^^^mif 


''JOHN  BOLES  in  'SEED' 

gives  the  best 

performance  of  the  month 

—  Photoplay  Magazine 


"BOLES  SPLENDID  .  .  .  achieves 

greatness  .    .   .    — Los  Angeles  Express 

"  .  .  .  have   never  seen  John 
Boles  do  a  better  portrayal ..." 

—  Los  Angeles  Times 

".. best  thing  John  Boleshas  done." 

—  Louella  O.  Parsons,  Los  Ange/es  Examiner 

"THE  BEST  PERFORMANCE  OF 
THE  MONTH  .  .  .  John  Boles  in 

Seed  I  — Photoplay  for  June 

"...  letter  perfect  performance 
of  Mr.  Boies." 

— Marguerite  Tazelaar,  N.  Y.  Herald  Tribune 

" .  .  .   suave,  handsome  and 
sympathetic  ..." 

— Irene  Thirer,  Daily  News 


"A  bow,  a  low  bow,  to  Mr. 
Boles,  the  dramatic  actor." 

— N.  Y.  American 

"John  Boies  splendid." 

—The  Film  Daily,  May  17th 

"John  Boles  to  be  credited  with 

best  performance."    —The  Exhibitor 

"Boles  handsome  as  ever  .  .  . 
is  sure  of  his  ground  through 
every  reel ...  he  is  worth  seeing." 

— Evening  Graphic 

"John  Boles  gives  a  fine,  strong 
performance." 

— Bland  Johaneson,  Mirror 

"John  Boles  gives  a  sincere 
performance . . ."— n.y.  Sun, 


Of  course  he's  a  UNIVERSAL  star 
Watch  him  in  STRICTLY  DISHONORABLE 


PARAMOUNl 


When  a  real  star  gives  the  greatest  performance  of  his 
career,  that  means  money  for  exhibitors.  HERE  TWO  STRONG 
DRAWING  CARDS  — NANCY  CARROLL  AND  FREDRIC  MARCH— TOP 
BY  FAR  ANYTHING  THEY'VE  EVER  DONE  BEFORE!  More — Edmund 
Goulding,  creator  of  "The  Trespasser",  "The  Devil's  Holiday" 
and  a  score  of  other  successes — rises  to  inspired  heights ! 

THE  BIG  I^HOWI^  .  •  • 

Today  •  •  Tomorrow  •  •  Next  Season 


MACKS   THROUGH   WITH 
bREAT  LOXG  RUN   HITS! 


Amazingly  Different .  .  Important . . 
Exciting.  .The  Kind  You  Need  NOW  I 

THE  NIGHT 
ANGEir 

Starring 

NANCY    CARROLL 
FREDRIC  MARCH 

With  Phoebe  Foster^  Alan  Hale,  big  cast.   Written  and  directed 

by  Edmund  Goulding. 


lay    "The    Night   Angel".     Play  ''The  Lawyer's   Secret",  ^ 

The  Vice  Squad",  ''Confessions  of  a  Co-Ed",  Ruth  Chat-  "StartS  JuUe  lltll  at 

rton's  "The  Magnificent  Lie",  "I  Take  This  Woman", 
The  Secret  Call",  "The  Girl  Habit",  "Women  Love  Once", 
Forbidden  Adventure",  "Honeymoon  Lane".  All  before 
ugust  1 !  FEEL  THE  THRILL  OF  S.  R.  O.  NOW! 


KivolU  Xeiv  York, 
on  First  E^ng  Run!  i 


PARAMOUNT 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   June    10,    1931 


'Free  Soul" 
Starts  Well  at 
N.  Y.  Astor 


Business  all  along  the  street  was  off 
last  week.  The  week  saw  the  debut 
of  Norma  Shearer  as  a  $2  star,  her 
picture,  "A  Free  Soul,"  succeeding 
"Trader  Horn"  at  the  Astor.  The 
film  did  well  the  first  five  days,  con- 
sidering general  conditions,  getting 
$15,184.  This  week  business  is  hold- 
ing up  well  at  night,  although  matinee 
business   is   off. 

The  week  saw  the  closing  of  the 
Rialto  tor  asserted  lack  of  quality 
product.  Publication  of  the  story 
caused  somewhat  of  a  storm  and  is 
said  to  have  reacted  against  business 
at  other  theatres.  The  house  now  is 
trying  revivals  with  reported  indif- 
ferent success. 

Charlie  Chaplin's  "City  Lights" 
came  back  to  the  Cohan  on  a  subse- 
quent run.  catching  only  $3,084.50. 
'Seed"  moves  out  of  the  Rivoli  tonight 
in  favor  of  Nancy  Carroll's  "Tlve 
Night  Angel."  At  the  Strand,  the 
gross  sank  to  $11,348  on  "Gold  Dust 
Gertie,"  the  worst  week  that  house 
has  had  this  year. 

Currently,  the  Roxy  with  "Daddy 
Long  Legs,"  which  has  been  sold 
heavily  on  Janet  Gaynor  as  the  "7th 
Heaven"  girl,  and  "Vice  Squad,"  at 
the  Paramount  look  like  the  best 
bets. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  4: 

"FREE  SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

ASTOR— (1,120),  50c-$2.  5  davs.  Gross: 
$15,184  (June  2-6  inclusive.) 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

CAPITOL— (4,700),  .-ISc^l.SO,  7  days. 
Stage  show,  Fred  Waring  and  Pennsylvan- 
ians  together  with  Kate  Smith.  Gross: 
$60,831. 

"FIVE   YEAR  PLAN"   (Amkino) 

CE\TRAI^(910),  50c-$1.50,  7  days. 
Gross:   ^0.910. 

"CITY  LIGHTS"   (U.  A.) 
(Return    Engagement) 

GEO.  M.  COHAN— (1,500),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Gross:  $3,084.50  (June  1  to  7  inclus- 
ive.) 

"SMILING    LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

CRITERION— (850),  50c-$2,  (2nd  week.  7 
days.     Gross:  $16,400. 

EMBASSY    (All   Newsreel) 

EMBASSY— (598).  25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,433.25. 

"UP    FOR    MURDER"    (Univ.) 

GLOB&-(1,050),  35c-85c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,500. 

"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 
HOLLYWOOD  —   (1,549).      65c-85c,      6th 
week,   7   days.    Gross:    $10,247. 

"DONOVAN'S   KID"    (Radio) 
MAYFAIR-(2,300),  40c-$'l,   (2nd  week),   7 
days.      Gross:   $16,600. 
"THE   LAWYER'S  SECRET"   ,(Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,700),     40c-$l,     7     days. 
Stage    show,    headliners,    Rudy    Vallee    and 
his   Connecticut   Yankees.      Gross:    $61,600. 
"THE    SHE-WOLF"    (Univ.) 
RIALTO- (1,904).   40c-$l,   3   days.      Gross: 
$2,800    (June    1-3    inclusive.) 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 
RIV'OLI— (2,103),  40c-$l,  3rd  week.  7  days. 
Gross:    $'17,400, 
"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 
ROXY— (6,200),     50c-$1.50,    7    days.    Stage 
show.      Gross:   $74,801^). 

"GOLD  DUST  GERTIE"   (Warners) 
STRAND— (3,000),    35c-$l,    7    days.    Gross: 
$11,348. 

"THREE  LOVES"   (Associated  Cinemas  of 
America)    (German) 
WARNERS— (1,490),      35c-75c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $5,463. 
"THE   MALTESE   FALCON"    (Warners) 

WINTER  GARDEN— (1,493),  35c-$l,  7 
days.     Gross:  $16,692, 


Craft  Breaks  Arm 

Hollywood — William  Craft  is  suf- 
fering from  a  broken  arm  sustained  in 
an  auto  wreck. 


Walker  Honored 

Frank  C.  Walker  of  New  York, 
general  counsel  for  the  Comer- 
ford  interests  and  a  director  of 
Motion  Pic- 
ture Thea- 
tre   Owners 
of  America, 
has    been 
elected    one 
of  the  eight 
lay  trustees 
of    Notre 
Dame    Uni- 
versity. An- 
nouncement 
of  his  elec- 
ti  on    was 
made  at  the 
annual  com- 
mencement        Frank  C.   Walker 
exercises    in    South    Bend.     He 
was   the   choice   of   the   Alumni 
for  representation  on  the  Board 
which  governs  all  of  the  activ- 
ities of  the  university. 


Sweeten  Orchestra 
Ousted  in  Seattle 

Seattle — Owen  Sweeten  and  his 
orchestra,  a  16-piece  musical  aggre- 
gation that  has  been  prominently  fea- 
tured every  week  at  the  Fox  Fifth 
Avenue  since  that  house  has  been  the 
de  luxe  long  run  film  house,  and 
similarly  featured  at  the  Fox  theatre 
for  many  months  prior  to  that  time, 
this  week  felt  the  effects  of  the  se- 
vere retrenchment  policy  that  is  now 
being  effected  by  Fox  West  Coast 
Theatres,  Inc.,  in  this  territory.  The 
band  was  closed  and  has  been  re- 
placed only  by  a  featured  organist, 
Miss  Betty  Shilton.  It  is  estimated 
that  the  abolishment  of  Sweeten's 
group  will  effect  a  saving  of  more 
than  $1,000  weekly. 


Kleine,  Industry 

Pioneer,  Is  Dead 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

ness  in  New  York,  and  early  in  his 
career  the  son  went  to  Chicago  to 
engage  in  a  like  enterprise,  the  Kleine 
Optical  Company  in  Randolph  St., 
long  a  famous  and  strategic  address 
in  the  industry.  There  in  1895  Kleine 
came  in  contact  with  the  labors  of 
Edwin  Hill  Amet,  of  Waukegan, 
Wis.,  builder  of  a  projector.  This  led 
to  developments  which  made  Kleine 
a  major  figure  of  the  industry  in  its 
formative  years. 

Kleine  was  a  close  friend  of  Thomas 
A.  Edison  and  was  instrumental  in 
formation  of  the  Motion  Picture  Pat- 
ents Co.  and  organization  of  exchange 
systems.  He  also  was  earliest  in  the 
exploitation  of  features  with  "Quo 
Vadis"  and  subsequent  multiple-reel 
foreign  productions. 

Kleine  in  effect  retired  from  the 
active  affairs  of  the  industry  at  the 
end  of  the  World  War  period,  al- 
though until  a  year  before  his  death 
he  maintained  offices  in  45th  St.  for 
the  maintenance  of  his  extensive  rec- 
ords and  conduct  of  his  investments. 
He  leaves  a  considerable  fortune,  esti- 
mated by  friends  at  between  three  and 
four  million  dollars,  almost  entirely 
in  securities  outside  the  industry. 

Kleine  is  survived  by  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Bold,  and  a  sister,  Mrs.  J.  J. 
Thompson,  of  Bloomfield,  N.  J.  His 
wife,  Beatrice  Oldfield  Kleine,  died 
in  New  York  in  1923. 


^Purely 
Personal 


WILLIAM  RICCIARDI  is  in 
New  York  from  Sorrento,  Italy, 
where  he  received  a  cablegram  from 
Carl  Laemmle,  Jr.,  asking  him  to 
come  to  the  United  States  to  take  a 
test  for  "Strictly  Dishonorable." 

Harry  Rosenquest,  assistant  sales 
manager  for  Vitaphone  short  subjects, 
yesterday  left  for  a  tour  of  exchanges 
to  include  Cleveland,  Detroit,  Cincin- 
nati, Columbus,  Pittsburgh  and  Buf- 
falo. 

Terry  Turner,  former  director  of 
advertising  at  Loew's,  has  joined  the 
Fox  Theatres  home  office  staff  at 
New  Haven  and  will  handle  the  cam- 
paign on  the  new  cooling  plants  at 
the  Fox  Poll  and  Bijou. 

Harry  Scheidker,  Hannibal,  Mo., 
exhibitor,  is  proud  of  his  son's  feat 
in  winning  a  scholarship  at  the  Han- 
nibal high  school.  He  is  said  to  have 
attained  the  highest  average  in  the 
history    of    the    institution. 

Ruth  Roland,  whose  last  screen 
appearance  was  in  Sono  Art's  "Reno," 
will  be  the  headliner  of  the  vaude- 
ville bill  starting  Saturday  at  the 
New  York  Hippodrome. 

J.  D.  Williams  has  set  his  new 
picture,  "The  Viking,"  at  the  Central 
Park,  New  York,  where  it  opens 
June  16. 

Mrs.  I.  W.  Rodgers,  southern  Il- 
linois circuit  operator,  is  at  Sumter, 
S.  C,  on  a  vacation.  Her  son,  Car- 
son,   is   running  the  circuit. 


Clara  Registering 
Anger — And  How! 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

mutual  bouquets  between  Clara  and 
B.  P.  Schulberg.  But  Clara  hasn't 
forgotten  that  statement  made  by 
Schulberg  in  Denver  and  she  thinks 
he  had  a  lot  of  nerve  for  saying  she 
wanted  to  quit  according  to  a  state- 
ment made  to  Florabel  Muir,  Holly- 
wood correspondent  of  the  New  York 
Daily  Neivs. 

M-G-M  has  made  her  an  offer,  take 
it  from  Clara  who  says  she  has  been 
paying  agency  commission  to  Schul- 
berg ever  since  the  day  years  ago 
when  he  put  her  into  pictures.  A  lot 
of  water  has  run  under  the  bridge 
since  that  day,  but  Clara  says  she  has 
paid  and  paid.  Clara's  all  hot  and 
bothered  over  that  M-G-M  offer. 


Hearings  Resuming  in 
Vitaphone-Erpi  Row 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

reports  that  a  settleinent  has  been  ef- 
fected, he  said. 

Reports  have  stated  that  Warners 
received  a  "huge  sum"  in  settlement 
of  the  complaint.  The  arbitration 
proceedings  have  been  held  up  due  to 
the  court  activity  of  Samuel  Unter- 
myer,  one  of  the  arbitrators.  Vita- 
phone's  action,  involving  millions  of 
dollars,  was  based  on  allegation  that 
Erpi  was  not  as  diligent  as  it  should 
have  been  in  manufacture  and  sale  of 
reproducers,  thus  cutting  down  Vita- 
phone  royalties. 


Cancellation 
In  Favor  of 
Shorts,  Cure 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

feature  policy,  exchanges  are  reported 
ready  to  aid  by  cancelling  out  sur- 
plus features  in  favor  of  an  equitable 
substitution  of   short   subject   dates. 


Chicago  Returns  to  One 
Feature  Bill  August  1 

Chicago — Double  features  will  sing 
their  swan  song  here  about  August  1. 
At  a  recent  meeting  of  exhibitors, 
a  ban  on  double  featuring  was  voted. 


Oh,  Oh,  Publix  Goes  to 
Twin  Bills  in  Detroit 

Detroit — This  town  got  something 
of  a  surprise  and  a  shock  when  Pub- 
lix switched  to  a  double  feature  pol- 
icy at  the  State.  Recent  declarations 
were  made  that  the  circuit  was  off, 
twin-bills  in  Detroit.  I 


First  Run  Twin-Bills 
Attacked  in  Indiana 

Indianapolis— Double  featuring  by 
first  runs  was  attacked  and  exhibitors 
urged  to  insert  a  cancellation  clause 
in  contracts  permitting  withdrawal 
of  any  film  used  as  a  double  feature 
by  a  prior  run  at  a  meeting  here  of 
Associated  Theatre  Owners  of  In- 
diana. 


Hays  Put  Kibosh  on 
D,  W:s  'On  the  Spot'? 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Hays    banned    the    proposed    picture 
because  it  was  British. 


The  Hays  office  has  maintained  all 
through  the  "On  the  Spot"  contro- 
versy that  the  picture  was  not  banned. 
Efforts  to  reach  D.  W.  Griffith  yester- 
day were  unsuccessful. 


"Hell  Bound"  Is 
Passed  in  Chicago 

Chicago — After  four  weeks'  de- 
liberations the  Chicago  board  of 
censors  issued  a  permit  for  Tiffany's 
"Hell  Bound."  The  picture  was  re- 
leased without  any  deletions,  although 
the  censors  originally  asked  that  a 
dozen  dialogue  cuts  be  made.  On  ap- 
peal to  the  police  commissioner,  how- 
ever, the  exchange  obtained  a  review 
of  the  censors'  opinion,  and  the  pro- 
duction was  approved  in  whole  by 
Deputy  Commissioner  James  Scanlon, 
who  recommended  issuance  of  the 
permit  without  the  dialogue  deletions. 
The  picture  has  been  booked  here  by 
RKO   for  the  Palace. 

Gang  pictures  still  in  quarantine 
here  include  Warners'  "Public  Ene- 
my" and  Fox's  "Quick  Millions." 
Censors  have  reached  no  decision  yet 
on  either  picture. 


U,  S.-F.  N.  Case  Faces 
Dealy  Until  October 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

there  will  be  a  July  term  this  year, 
which  automatically  sets  back  the 
case  until  October.  John  Amen,  spe- 
cial assistant  to  the  Attorney  General, 
is  handling  the  case  for  the  govern- 
ment. 


Wednesday,    June    10,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


^Shipmates" 
'Sinners'  Top 
Milwaukee 


MiLWAUKEE^ — Business  perked  up 
during  the  week,  the  big  event  being 
the  roadshowing  of  "Dirigible"  at 
Brin's  Majestic  at  a  50  cent  low  and 
$1.50  top.  The  picture  was  shown 
twice  daily  and  marks  the  last  pro- 
duction to  appear  there  until  the  fall. 

"Laughing  Sinners"  at  Fox's  Wis- 
consin and  "Shipmates"  at  Universal's 
Alhambra  both  enjoye_d  good  business. 
■The  Davidson,  local  legitimate  house, 
is  again  playing  motion  pictures  and 
did  a  fair  business  with  "Up  Pops 
the  Devil." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  5: 

"SHIPMATES"   (M-G-M) 

ALHAMBRA— (2,660),    25c-35c-50c-6Oc,    7 
days.    Gross:    $11,000.     (Average,   $8,000.) 

"UP  POPS  THE  DEVIL"  (Para.) 

DAVIDSON— (1,437),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.     (No  average  available.) 

"HELL  BOUND"    (Tiff.) 

GARDEN— (1,150),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,000.     (Average.   $10,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"  (Col.) 

MAJESTIC— (1,990),  50c-75c-$1.0O-$1.50,  7 
days.    Gross:    $7,000.     (Average.    $7,500.) 

"WHITE  SHOULDERS"   (Radio) 

PALACE— (2,587),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.     (Average,  $9,800.) 

"BEYOND  VICTORY"  (RKO-Pathe) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,180),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7 
days.    Gross:  $14,000.     (Average,  $13,500.) 

"DUDE  RANCH"   (Para.) 

STRAND— (1,406),  2Sc-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average,  $6,500.) 

"THE    MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

WARNER— (2,500),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $14,000.     (New  theatre.) 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

WISCONSIN  — (3,275),  25c-35c-50c-65c,  7 
days.    Gross:  $16,000.     (Average,  $13,000.) 


Twin  Bill  Is 
High  Grosser 
In  Providence 

Providence — Another  banner  week 
was  chalked  up  for  the  Majestic  with 
a  double- feature  Warner  bill,  "The 
Millionaire"  and  "(jod's  Gift  to 
Women,"  which  grossed  close  to 
$13,000.  Loew's  was  fair  with  "Never 
the  Twain  Shall  Meet"  at  $12,000  and 
the  Paramount  hit  around  $8,000  with 
"Up  Pops  the  Devil."  The  second 
week  of  "Donovan's  Kid"  at  the  RKO 
Victory  was  down  to  $2,8(X)  following 
a  good  first  week  at  the  Albee.  With 
"White  Shoulders"  the  RKO  Albee 
caught  $7,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  4: 

"NEVER  THE   TWAIN, SHALL  MEET" 
(M-G-M) 
LOEW'S  STATE— (3,800),  10c- 50c,  7  days. 
Grass:   $12,000.     (Average,   $18,000.) 

"THE  MILLIONAIRE"  (Warners)  and 
"GOD'S  GIFT  TO  WOMEN"  (Warners) 

MAJESTIC— (2,400),  lOc-SOc,  7  days.  Gross: 
$13,000.     (Average,    $10,000.) 

"UP  POPS  THE  DEVIL"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  lOc-SOc,  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.     (Average,  $10,000.) 

"WHITE  SHOULDERS"  (Radio) 

RKO  ALBEE  — (2,300),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.    (Average,  $9,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S   KID"   (Radio) 

RKO  VICrrORY— (1,600),  lOc-SOc,  7  days. 
Gross:   $2,800.     (Average,  $6,500.) 


It  Happened 

One  of  the  New  York  in- 
dependent exchanges,  after  ship- 
ping a  print  of  one  of  its  pic- 
tures to  an  up-state  exhibitor, 
received  the  following  telegram 
the  next  day: 

"Have  received  film.  Where 
are  the  sprocket  holes?" 


Clara  Packs  a 
Mean  Wallop  in 
Indianapolis 


Indianapolis — Clara  Bow  is  still  a 
card  in  this  man's  town,  it  is  shown  in 
a  compilation  of  receipts  here  last  week 
when  "Kick  In"  got  $21,000  at  the 
Indiana  to  lead  the  town. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  5 : . 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

APOLLO-(1,100),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.     (Average,  $5,500.) 

"DUDE  RANCH"   (Para.) 

CIRCLE— (2,600),  25c-S0c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,500.     (Average,    $8,500.) 

"KICK    IN"    (Para.) 

INDIANA— (3,300),   2Sc-65c,   7  days.     Pub- 

lix  unit.    Gross:   $21,000.     (Average,  $20,000.) 

"ALWAYS    GOODBYE"    (Fox) 

LYRIC— (2,000),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,000,      (Average,    $10,000.) 

"DAYBREAK"   (M-G-M) 

PALACE— (2,800),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,400.     (Average,    $12,000.) 


"Wise  Child" 
Is  Best  in  Off 
Boston  Week 

Boston — With  circus  week  and 
commencement  week  combined,  and 
weather  of  mid-summer  variety,  the 
atres  had  one  of  the  poorest  weeks  in 
months.  Most  theatres  had  trouble  in 
averaging  business.  "It's  a  Wise 
Child"  with  $21,500  at  Loew's  State 
rated  high,  but  was  considerably  be- 
hind many  other  films  at  the  same 
theatre  in  the  past  few  weeks.  "Ship- 
mates" at  the  Orpheum  and  "Seed" 
for  a  second  week  at  Keith's  fared  a 
little  better  than  some  of  the  others. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  4: 

"PARTY    HUSBAND"    (F.    N.) 

KEITH -BOSTON— (2,500),  25c-60c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average, 
$17,000.) 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (2,800),  30c-65c,  2nd  week,  7 
days.     Gross:   $17,500.     (Average,   $18,000.) 

"SHIPMATES"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM- (3,100),  25c-50c.  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"IT'S  A  WISE   CHILD"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,700),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $21,500.      (Average,    $20,000.) 

"YOUNG   SINNERS"    (Fox) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,350),  25c-60c,  7 
days.  Revue.  Gross:  $32,000.  (Average, 
$32,000.) 

"WOMEN    OF  ALL   NATIONS"    (Fox) 

OLYMPIA— (2,500),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $14,000.     (Average,    $15,000.) 

"QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 

SCOLLAY  SQUARE— (1,800),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,   $12,000.) 


First  Honors 
In  Charlotte 
To  "Svengali 


Charlotte — Continued  good  weather 
helped  box-offices  last  week  with 
"Svengali"  doing  real  business  at 
$5,000.  This  was  $1,250  above  the 
house  average,  real  do-re-mi  at  this 
time  of  year. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  6 : 

"SUBWAY   EXPRESS"   (Col.) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35c-50c,  3  days- 
Gross:    $3,500.     (Average,    $3,750.) 
"SVENGALI"    (Wam«rs) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  2Sc-35c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $5,000.     (Average,    $3,750.) 

"THE    LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Grossi    $5,500.      (Average,    $5,500.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $5,250.     (Average,    $5,500.) 


"Women  of  AH 

Nations"  Tops 

Buffalo  Runs 

Buffalo — Weather  was  too  fair 
and  hot,  so  business  was  terrible.  The 
Great  Lakes  and  Century  did  better 
than  expected,  although  business  was 
below  average.  "Women  of  All  Na- 
tions" did  the  best  comparative  busi- 
ness. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  5 : 

"INDISCREET"   (U.  A.) 

BUFFALO— (3,500),  30c-65c,  7  days.  Pub- 
lix  stage  show,  "Winging  Home."  Gross: 
$21,000.     (Average,   $25,000.) 

"SVENGALI"   (Warners) 

CENTURY— (3,000),  2Sc-35c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,000.     (Average,    $12,000.) 

"WOMEN   OF   ALL  NATIONS"    (Fox) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $21,000.     (Average,   $22,500.) 

"PARTY  HUSBAND"   (F.  N.) 

HIPPODROME:-(2,100),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Five  acts  RKO  vaude.  Gross:  $17,800. 
(Average,    $20,000.) 

"EX-FLAME"   (Uberty) 

LAFAYETTE^(3,30O),  25c-35c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $11,000.     (Average,   $12,000.) 


'Bad  Sister's' 
$11,000  Good 
For  Houston 

Houston — "Bad  Sister"  was  good 
enough  to  lead  the  town,  although  it 
did  only  average  business.  Loew's 
State  hit  bottom  with  "Never  the 
Twain  Shall  Meet,"  grossing  $7,000, 
which  is  $4,000  below  the  normal  fig- 
ure. 

Estimated    takings    for    the    week 

ending  June  4: 

"FATHER'S    SON"    (F.    N.) 

KIRBY— (1,654),      25c-35c-50c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $8,000.      (Average,    $9,000.) 
"NEVER   THE   TWAIN    SHALL  MEET" 
(M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (2,700),  25c-40c-60c,  7 
days.  Vaude;  orchestra.  Gross:  $7,000. 
(Average,   $11,000.) 

"BAD  SISTER"    (Radio) 

MAJESTIC— (2,550),       25c-35c-50c-60c,       7 
days.      Vaude,    orchestra,    local    kiddie    re- 
vue.    Gross:    $11,000.      (Average,    $11,000.) 
"PARTY    HUSBAND"    (Warners) 

METROPOLITAN— (2,512),  25c-40c-60c,  7 
days.  Publix  unit,  Nick  Lucas  in  person, 
orchestra.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average,  $11,- 
000.) 


^Lights'  Dives 
In  Montreal 
On  Dual  Bill 


Montreal — One  of  the  features  of 
the  local  week  was  that  "City  Lights" 
played  as  half  of  the  twin  bill  with 
"Fighting  Caravans"  at  the  Strand, 
750  seats,  and  between  the  two  they 
raised  a  bare  $3,800,  which  was  be- 
low the  average  line.  This  was  the 
second  run  for  the  Chaplain  picture 
after  the  recent  special  three-week  en- 
gagement at  the  Princess.  The  fact 
that  no  children  can  attend  a  picture 
show  in  Quebec  has  helped  to  reduce 
the  Chaplin  following.  "City  Lights" 
was  doubled  up  without  objection  by 
United  Artists. 

The  second  week  of  "The  Front 
Page"  at  the  Princess  was  down  to 
$9,000,  after  a  first  week  of  $15,500. 
"Tarnished  Lady"  was  worth  $12,000 
at  the  Palace  Theatre,  which  is  al- 
most always  the  high  spot  of  the 
town,  but  this  total  was  $2,000  under 
average.  "Behind  Office  Doors"  and 
vaudeville  at  Loew's  were  fairly  good 
at  $11,500,  as  against  an  average  of 
$13,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  5  : 

"CHARLIE  CHAN   CARRIES   ON"    (Fox) 
and    "THREE    GIRLS    LOST"    (Fox) 

CAPTTOI^(2,670),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days- 
Gross:    $10,000.     (Average,   $12,500.) 

"THE  GREAT  MEADOW"   (M-G-M)   and 
"CAN    LOVE    DECIDE?"    (Warners) 

IMPERIAL— (1,914),  15c-25c-40c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,000.      (Average,    $5,100.) 

"BEHIND    OFFICE    DOORS"    (Radio) 

LOEW'S— (2,982),  25c-40c-50c-65c-75c,  7 
days.  Five  vaudeville  acts.  Gross:  $11,500. 
(Average,    $13,000.) 

"TARNISHED    LADY"    (Para.) 

PALACE^(2,600),  25c-40c-60c-75c-99c,  7 
days.     Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,   $14,000.) 

"THE    FRONT   PAGE"    (U.   A.) 

PRINCESS^(2,272),  2Sc-35c-40c-50c-60c- 
65c,  7  days.  Gross:  $9,000.  Second  week. 
(Average,    $13,000.) 

"CITY  LIGHTS"   (U.   A.)   and 
"FIGHTING    CARAVANS"    (Para.) 
STRAND— (750),    15c-25c-40c-50c,    7'  days. 
Gross:    $3,800.     (Average,   $4,000.) 


All  Oklahoma 
City  Theatres 
Hit  Dull  Thud 

Oklahoma  City  —  Something  is 
taking  box-office  receipts  for  a  ride 
here — and  the  depression  is  getting 
the  blame.  Every  picture  in  town  went 
$1,000  or  more  below  average,  "Wo- 
men of  All  Nations"  sinking  $2,000 
under  normal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  5 : 

"PUBLIC  ENEMY"  (Warners) 

CAPITOI^(1,200),  10c-25c-.S0c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $5,400.    .(Average,    $7,000.) 

"BEHIND    OFFICE    DOORS"    (Radio) 

CRITERION— (1,800),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,500.    (Average,    $8,000.) 

"CAPTAIN   THUNDER"   (Warners) 

LIBERTY— (1,500),     10c-15c-35c,     4     days. 
Gross:    $600.    (Average    for    week,    $3,000.) 
"GOOD  BAD  GIRL"  (Col.) 

LIBERTY— (1,500),  10c-15c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $800.    (Average    for    week,    $3,000.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"  (Fox) 

MID-WEST— (1,500),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $5,500.    (Average,    $7,500.) 

"SIX   CYLINDER  LOVE"   (Fox) 

WARNER^(1,700),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaude.     Gross:   $6,600.    (Average,  $7,600.) 


nd 

TRtMINDOUS 
WEIK 


Audiences  demand  more 


GAYNORw  BAXTER 


Da 


in 


ly  Lon^  Le|s 


"Rates  as  a  Smash"  -  Variety 


a^am 


smash! 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  10 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  11,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


William  Fox 
Off  Fox  Film 
Directorate 


Removal  Kills  Report  He 
Was  Again  to  Be  Active 


Removing  one  of  the  last  vestiges 
of  William  Fox's  active  connection 
with  the  company,  new  directors  of 
the  organization  were  elected  at  a 
perfunctory  meeting  of  stockholders 
Wednesday.  The  board  of  directors 
shaved  the  dividend  to  $2.50  an- 
nually declaring  a  quarterly  payment 
due  July  15  to  stock  of  record 
June  30. 

With  William  Fox  off  the  directo- 
rate,   his    only    connection    with    the 

(Continued    on    page    7) 


Seven  States  Left 
In  Tax  Situation 

Illinois,  Ohio,  and  Wisconsin  in  the 
North.  Alabarna,  Texas,  Mississippi 
and  Georgia  below  the  Mason  and 
Dixon  line.  These  are  still  the 
danger  zones — legislatively — for  the 
picture  business. 

Between  now  and  June  20  the 
worry  over  what  may  happen  will 
probably  develop  into  a  sizeable  head- 

(Confinued    on    page    7) 


Chi  Operators  Turn 
Over  Files  Today 

Chicago — Records  of  the  opera- 
tors' union  today  will  be  surrendered 
to  the  state's  attorney  following  a 
$100  contempt  line  levied  against 
Union  President  Reynolds  for  failure 
to   turn   over   the   records    previously. 


A  Miss 


N 


ANCY  Carroll  has  been 
climbing  steadily  up  the  ladder 
of  box-office  draw,  but  "The 
Night  Angel"  (Paramount) 
probably  will  set  her  back 
plenty.  It's  comedy  although 
it  doesn't  intend  to  be  funny 
and  a  Broadway  audience 
guffawed  and  applauded  at  its 
"serious"  sequences  at  the  Rivoli 
Wednesday  night.  An  implausi- 
ble story,  greatly  overacted  with 
the  big  scene,  when  the  hero  kills 
the  heavy  with  a  nail  file  (be- 
lieve it  or  not),  taking  down  the 
house.  Nancy  is  pretty  to  look 
at  and  Fredric  March  is  good, 
but   that's   about   all. 

K  A  N  N 


Unit  System  Seen  Way 
To  Prosperity  Return 


Dr.  De Millers  Diagnosis: 

"There  are  brilliant  minds  at  the  head  of  this  industry  and  its 
leaders  are  astute  business  men.  I  am  confident  of  their  ability 
to  bring  the  industry  out  of  its  present  crisis. 

"The  heads  of  the  industry  are  worried,  but  so  are  the  heads 
of  other  businesses.  The  motion  picture  industry  was  in  a  pre- 
carious position  before  the  financial  crash. 

"Hollywood  in  its  pruning  process  must  be  sure  not  to  remove 
the  vital  organs  of  the  picture  business. 

"New  production  methods  must  be  evolved  and  employed,  other- 
wise a  lot  of  'red  bandages  and  ice'  are  going  to  be  used. 

"We  are  in  the  show  business  now  and  mass  production  can- 
not prevail.  More  minds  must  decide  upon  screen  entertainment 
and  specialization  resorted  to,  for  the  public  no  longer  will  go 
to  a  theatre  just  to  see  any  picture. 

"Screen  drama  of  the  future  must  be  furnished  by  something 
else  than  a  gun  and  a  bedspring. 

"The  'big'  picture  of  the  sound  era  has  not  been  made.  'Cimar- 
ron' probably  was  the  closest  approach  to  it." 


Brothers  Putting  Money 
Back  In^  Jack  Warner  Says 


Tri-State  Seeks  90 
Days  Protection 

Minimum  protection  of  90  days  oyer 
houses  charging  ten  cents  admission 
day  or  night,  plans  for  establishment 
of  a  poster  exchange  to  sell  paper 
to  members  at  cost  and  protest 
against  pictures  with  unhappy  endings 
highlighted  the  annual  convention  at 
Memphis  of  the  Tri-State  exhibitor 
unit,  according  to  a  report  to  the 
M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  in  New  York  from 
President    M.    A.    Lightman. 

One  of  the  large  distributing  firms 
plans  to  copyright  posters  and  other 
exploitation  material,  the  convention 
stated  and  in  protesting  outlined  the 
alternative  of  establishing  its  own  ex- 
change   to    sell    to    members    at    cost. 

(Continued   on    page    2) 


Hollywood — Harry,  Jack  and  Al- 
bert Warner  are  "putting  back  cheer- 
fully" the  money  they  have  taken  out 
of  the  business ;  the  company  has  at 
its  disposal  ample  funds  and  its  posi- 
tion is  "solid  and  secure,"  states  Jack 
L.  Warner.  The  company,  he  says, 
is  meeting  the  present  situation  with 
certain  economies  which  are  "simply 
those  any  well  run  business  endeavors 
to  effect." 


Arthur  Reported  Out, 
But  It's  News  to  Him 

Current  up  and  down  P.roadway 
vesterday  were  reports  Harry  Arthur 
was  about  to  resign  as  general  man- 
ager of  Fox  theatres  in  the  Eastern 
half   of   the  country. 

Arthur  denied  the  story  of  his  res- 
ignation and  said  to  Motion  Picture 
Daily   yesterday: 

"When  am  I  supposed  to  quit.''" 


Milder  to  England; 
Smith  Successor 

Max  Milder,  eastern  sales  manager 
for  Warners,  has  been  made  man- 
aging director  for  the  company's  in- 
terests in  England.  His  appointment 
was  made  by  Sam  E.  Morris,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager,  after 
a  series  of  transatlantic  telephone  con- 
(Continued   on    page    7) 


E.  K.  Develops  New 
Patching  Method 

Rochester,  N.  Y. — Eastman  Kodak 
has  developed  a  new  method  of  sound 
track  patching  and  splicing.  A  mate- 
rial consisting  of  very  thin  clear  film 
base,  coated  with  emulsion  and  ex- 
(Continued   on    page    7) 


De  Mille  Believes  Mass 

Production  Must  Yield 

To  Specialization 


Abandonment  of  mass  production 
and  the  substitution  of  unit  picture 
making  were  advocated  by  Cecil  B. 
De  Mille,  veteran  producer  and  di- 
rector, as  a  means  to  "bring  the  in- 
dustry out  of 
its  present  di- 
lemma" in  an 
interview  yes- 
t  er  d  a  y  with 
Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily. 

"The  time  is 
gone,"  De  Mille 
said,  "when  a 
few  men  can  sit 
around  a  table 
and  decide  up- 
on 50  or  60  suc- 
cessful pictures 
for  a  season. 
We  are  in 
show  business 
now  and  are  going  deeper  into  it 
every  day.  Producers  who  can  make 
more  than  a  few  hits  a  year  are  rare, 
and  we  must  realize  that  fact,  evolv- 
ing new  production  methods  to  meet 
the  situation." 

Heads  of  the  industry  are  worried, 
De  Mille  continued,  "but  so  are  the 
heads  of  other  businesses."  He  ex- 
pressed  "complete   confidence"    in  the 

(Continued    on    page    7) 


Cecil  B.  DeMille 


Clara  Won't  Sign 
Fork's  Months  or  So" 

Hollywood — Clara  Bow  will  not 
sign  a  new  contract  for  "six  months 
or  so"  or  until  she  feels  sufficiently 
recovered  to  return  to  work,  she  says. 
She  denied  any  offers  from  M-G-M 
or  Hearst,  but  the  H ollyivood  Herald 
here  has  been  advised  that  Hearst 
is  interested.  B.  P.  Schulberg  refuses 
comment  on  the  statement  attributed 
to  Miss  Bow  that  he  has  taken  a  cut 
of  her  salary  ever  since  he  put  her 
into  pictures.  When  she  does  return 
she  will  free  lance.  Bow  said. 


Zanft  Out  as  V,-P. 
Of  Trans-Lux  Unit 

John  Zanft  yesterday  resigned  as 
vice-president  of  the  Trans-Lux 
Movies  Corp.  He  said  he  had  no  com- 
ment to  make  about  future  plans. 

Efforts  to  reach  Courtland  Smith 
regarding  Zanft's  successor  were  un- 
availing. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,    June    II,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 
Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   oO 


June    11,    1931 


No.    10 


M.^RTIN     QUIGLEY 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

J^ames   A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^|\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^     Daily,   Inc.,  a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

fentered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    v.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
ostage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
anada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


g 


The  War's  Over 

1  HESE  are  bar- 
gain days  up  and  down  the 
land.  Sixty  dollar  suits  don't 
cost  that  any  more.  Butter, 
eggs  and  other  food  commod- 
ities are  cheaper.  In  other 
words,  the  war's  over. 

One  way  of  meeting  the  sit- 
uation in  this  industry  is  to  cut 
prices.  This  has  been  done  in 
more  directions  than  is  per- 
haps generally  known.  Today 
the  general  impression  among 
those  whose  business  it  is  to 
watch  such  matters  is  that 
there  isn't  much  more  to  be 
done  that  way. 

JJ  UT  what  smart 
showmen  are  doing  is  this : 

They  are  analyzing  features 
as  rarely  they  have  before. 
They  are  weighing  the  kind  of 
program  to  build  around  each 
feature  in  order  to  reach  maxi- 
mum entertainment  quality. 
They  are  ditching  mediocre 
shorts  and  mediocre  features 
as  well  in  favor  of  the  best 
their  booking  arrangements 
can  provide. 

Necessity  is  the  prompter, 
but  regardless  of  the  reason, 
the  practice  is  the  smartest 
kind  of  showmanship.  You  fel- 
lows who  want  to  know  what 
to  do,  have  an  answer  in  this. 

1  HE  realization  is 
growing  that  it  is  far  better 
to  shunt  sleepers  off  the  screen 
and  pay  for  them,  if  necessary, 
than  to  take  a  chance  in  watch- 
ing that  box-office  gross  slide 
and  slide  to  the  point  from 
which  there  is  no  recovery. 
KANN 


CARL  LAEMMLE  extended  financial  assistance  to  Allied  States 
Association  in  the  deal  under  which  that  organization  recommended 
that  all  possible  consideration  be  given  to  Universal  product  this  year 
to  keep  competition  alive  in  tlie  industry. 

In  return  for  this  assistance,  the  various  Allied  units  are  permitting 
a  Universal  representative  to  address  their  state  gatherings.  No  effort 
is  made  to  sell  the  product,  the  members  being  asked  only  to  give  it 
careful  consideration  with  stress  placed  on  Carl  Laemmle's  long  service 
in  the  independents'  cause. 

• 

One  of  the  reasons  Paramount  is  said  to  have  discontinued  sponsored 
shorts  is  that  a  number  of  exhibitors  preferred  the  ad  shorts  to  com- 
pany's line-up  of  regular  shorts.  Now  that  the  ad  propositions  are  out 
of  the  way,  salesmen  are  reported  breathing  easier  since  there's  neither 
any  "ifs"  nor  "ors"  any  more. 

• 

Edward  Sedgwick  and  Howard  Hughes  have  agreed  to  disagree  on 
the  "Sky  Devils"  story,  so  Sedgwick  will  not  direct  the  picture.  There's 
no  hard  feelings.  Sedgwick's  just  of¥  the  picture.  He  will  start  another 
for  Hughes  in  a  few  weeks. 

• 

That  $250,000  auditorium  and  theatre  to  be  endowed  by  Harry  M. 
Warner  in  memory  of  his  late  son,  Lewis^  nestles  close  to  the  heart  of 
the  Warner-First  National  president.  Those  who  know  H.  M.  and  the 
great  affection  he  held  for  his  son  expected  something  of  the  kind.  Lewis 
attended  school  at  the  Worcester,  Mass.,  Academy  and  it  is  there  that 
the  proposed  memorial  will  be  erected. 


/.  Real  Neth  Taken 
For  Ride,  Returns 

Columbus — After  mysterious  tele- 
phone calls,  J.  Real  Neth,  Columbus 
circuit  operator,  was  abducted  at  mid- 
night by  two  men  in  an  automobile 
and  thrown  from  a  machine  near 
Marion,  SO  miles  distant.  His  in- 
juries were  not  serious.  For  some 
time  there  have  been  labor  troubles 
at  the  Neth  houses,  all  of  which  are 
on  an  open  shop  basis. 


New  RKO  Pathe  Star 

Hollywood — Charles  R.  Rogers, 
RKO  Pathe  production  head,  has  se- 
lected Tom  Keane  to  star  in  six  west- 
erns. These  pictures  will  be  made  at 
an  outside  studio. 


Patterson  Joins 

Warner  Theatres 

Willard  C.  Patterson,  veteran  Pub- 
lix  executive  in  Atlanta  and  the  South- 
east, on  Monday  assumes  an  execu- 
tive post  with  the  Warner  theatre 
department  at  the  home  office.  His 
appointment  was  made  by  Dan 
Michalove,   head  of   the   circuit. 


Fire  Law  Hearing 

Mayor  Walker  will  hold  a  public 
hearing  within  the  next  few  days  on 
the  new  fire  ordinance  for  New  York 
theatres.  The  ordinance  provides  for 
increase  of  45,000  feet  of  film  in 
projection  booths,  handling  of  film  in 
transportation  and  retention  of  drapes 
on  theatre  walls. 


Stocks  Show  Gain;  E.  K.  Up  5 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Cheuige 

('onsolidated    Film    Industries ^'A  4li  4'A        —  'A 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd U'A  UVt.        1254        —  V2 

Eastman    Kodak \i2Vi  127  13254        -f5 

Fox    Film    "A" 17^  WA        17'A        -|-1 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new ' 4  3^  3%        

Loew's,    Inc 4254  40  42  -\-VA 

Paramount     Publix 2354  22  227^        -f  i/^ 

RKO    13-^  125/^        13.5^        -1-54 

Warner  Bros 7  6^  7  -\-  Vf. 

Curb  Issues  Irregular 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

Columbia  Pictures  vtc 95i  954  954        —'/a. 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 3  27/^  S  

General  Theatre   Equipment   pfd 7  6^  6%        -\-  H 

Sentry    Safety    Control 1  1  1  —  % 

Technicolor .S54  .S54  5'A        —54 

Trans    Lux     6.]^  6  6V>.        -\-  V^ 

Bonds  Advance;  G,  T,  E.  Jumps  4 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Chetnge 

General    Theatre    Equipment   6s    '40 3154        3154  3154        -f4 

Loew's    6s    '41    ex    war 96  96  96  .... 

Paramount    Broadway    554s    '51 1015^  FX)?^  1015^  -|-  5i 

Paramount     F.     L.    6s    '47 91  87  91  -1-25^ 

Paramount    Publix    554s    '50 805i  78  80  -fl 

Pathe   7s   '57   ww 83  82  82  —1 

Warner   Bros.  6s   '39  wd 4034  3854  40^  -fl54 


Sales 

400 
l.OOO 
3,600 
21.800 
2,100 
6,000 
9,600 
8,400 
5,100 


SaJes 

IIX) 
700 
800 
300 
300 
1,100 


Sales 

51 
1 

7 

22 

29 

4 

140 


Purely 
Personal 


MICHAEL  L.  SIMMONS,  he  of 
Sono  Art  "six  syllable"  fame, 
gets  a  kick  out  of  doing  publicity  for 
"First  Aid,"  for  Michael  is  the  au- 
thor of  the  yarn.  He  says  Sono's 
latest  gag  is  nabbing  a  curiosity-seek- 
ing crowd  as  extras  for  the  picture. 

"Billy"  Ferguson  has  done  it 
again.  This  time  he  has  posted  40 
140  sheets  in  Greater  New  York  in 
addition  to  the  other  big  splashes  he 
has  made  on  "A  Free  Soul."  Phil 
De  Angelis   is  handling  the  posting. 

Al  Blum,  of  Warners  tax  record- 
ing department,  is  the  proud  daddy  of 
a  daughter,  which  arrived  on  the 
fourth  anniversary  of  his  wedding. 
Mrs.  Blum  is  doing  nicely  at  the  Me- 
morial Hospital  in  Brooklyn. 

Sidney  E.  Samuelson,  president 
of  the  New  Jersey  exhibitor  unit, 
gets  a  kick  out  of  tales  of  reported 
dissension  in  the  ranks  of  his  organi- 
zation. "Sid"  finds  everything  quiet 
on  the  Rapidan. 

Harry  Buxbaum  is  having  his 
New  York  exchange  done  over.  It'll 
look  like  a  bank  when  the  work  is 
completed,  Harry  says.  And  there's 
no  doubt  about  it  if  you've  seen  what's 
going  on. 

Lewis  W.  Flaunlacher,  veteran 
member  of  the  Motion  Picture  Club 
and  prominent  in  New  York  real 
estate  circles,  is  dead. 

Joe  Kelly,  of  Warners-First  Na- 
tional, is  passing  the  cigars  around 
for  the  third  time.  The  latest  arrival 
is  a  boy. 

Ralph  Clark,  general  manager  of 
Warners-First  National  Australian 
and  New  Zealand  branches,  is  in  New 
York. 


Tri-State  Seeks  90 
Days  Protection 

(Conttuncd  from  page  1) 

Praise  was  bestowed  upon  the  M.  P. 
T.  O.  A.  for  its  work  in  securing  re- 
duction of  service  charges  from 
Frpi. 

President  Lightman  plans  to  attend 
opening  of  the  Southeastern  Theatre 
Owners  convention  June  15  and  16  at 
Atlanta.      


W.  E.  Cuts  Dividend 

With  declaration  of  75  cents  divi- 
dend, payable  June  30  to  stockholders 
of  record  June  25,  Western  Electric 
has  reduced  the  annual  disbursement 
from  four  dollars  to  three. 


Consolidated  Dividend 

Consolidated  Film  Industries  on 
July  1  will  pay  regular  quarterly 
dividend  of  50  cents  on  the  preferred 
stock  to  holders  of  record  June  19. 


O'Brien  to  Coast 

Pat  O'Brien  leaves  for  the  Coast 
Tuesday  to  play  opposite  Irene  Dunne 
in  "Constellation  Mary"  for  RKO. 
He  has  just  finished  the  lead  opposite 
Nancy    Carroll    in    "Personal    Maid." 


Seeks  Lupe  Velez 

Earl  Carroll  is  reported  seeking 
Lupe  Velez  for  the  new  production 
of  "Vanities." 


i 


KEEP 


in  1931-32 1 


Miss 
Prosperity 


HERPS  HOW  TO  GET  THE 
SMACKERS  NEXT  SEASON ! 

Following  is  Revised  List  of  M-G-M  Pictures  in  1931-1932 


30  STAR  PICTURES 

MARION  DAVIES  (2) 
NORMA  SHEARER  (2) 
GRETA  OARBO  (2) 
JOAN  CRAWFORD  (2) 
JOHN  GILBERT  (3) 
WILLIAM  HAINES  (3) 
BUSTER  KEATON  (2) 
ROBT.  MONTGOMERY  (3) 
RAMON  NOVARRO  (2) 
WALLACE  BEERY  (2) 
LAWRENCE  TIBBETT  (1) 
LUNT-FONTANNE  (1) 
LAUREL-HARDY  (1) 
COSMOPOLITAN  (4) 

Special  Information  Forthcoming  About 

Marie  Dressier 
Productions 


13  EXCEPTIONAL  PICTURES 

FLYING  HIGH 
THE  CHRISTIAN 
BOARDING  SCHOOL 
THE  AWAKENING 
NIGHT  COURT 
RED  HEADED  WOMAN 
BRIDGE  VS.  BRIDGE 
AFTER  ALL 
ARSENE  LUPIN 
THREE  WISE  FOOLS 
GUILTY  HANDS 
THE  SQUAW  MAN 
HONOLULU 

5  ''MARQUEE"  Productions 

Five  Big  Productions  attuned  to  the 
psychology  of  the  entertainment  hour! 


The  Crowning  Glory  of 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 


(May  7th) 


A  6EM  OP  T 1 

A  OEM  or 


I 


AUGUSlfi 
FAMOll 
MODERN 
BEAUTI 


/ft 


WITH   A    CAST   OF 
PERSONALITIES, 
PLANTE,     JOHN 
FORREST  STANLEY 
OTHERS.    DIRECTE 


ANOTHER     IMASH     HIT     PRO 


ANDING  SCREEN 
•  ING  LAURA  LA 
•.,  JUNE  CLYDE, 
QUARTARO,  AND 
EORGE    B.    SEITZ. 


DEPENDABLE     COLUMBIA 


4 
^ 


THE  HOLLVWOOD   HERALD 


No^^  lkii«  come  A  no^w  publication  to 
%e^w"wc^  especially  Holly^^'ooil  as  tKe 
creatine  community  of  tl^e  motion 
picture  Kfl  It  i«  ne^^  but  comes 
into  beino  ^witb  all  of  tbe  large 
bacbground  of  eMperience  and  tbe 
unparalleletl  resources  anil  ^^orld 
^wide  representation  of  tbe  Quigley 
Publications  ^vwitb  tbeir  sixteen 
Tears  of  constructive  successes. 


Thursday,    June     II,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


William  Fox 
Off  Fox  Film 
Directorate 


iConthiued  from  page  1) 

company  he  founded  is  as  chairman 
of  the  "phantom"  advisory  board, 
which  was  declared  formed  when  Fox 
sold  his  holdings,  but  which  never 
has  met.  This  is  seen  as  spiking  re- 
curring reports  that  Fox  was  going 
back  into  the  company  in  an  active 
capacity. 

In  announcing  the  dividend,  Presi- 
dent Harley  L.  Clarke,  issued  a  pre- 
pared statement  declaring  that  he 
hoped  the  $4  dividend  rate  would  be 
resumed  in  the  third  quarter  and  de- 
clared that  under  the  new  system  of 
budgeting  production  he  expects  more 
than  $3,000,000  annually  can  be  saved. 
The  plan  has  been  in  effect  five 
months. 

Clarke  presided  at  the  meeting, 
which,  scheduled  for  2  P.  M.,  did  not 
start  until  3 :30  due  to  the  board 
meeting.  Clarke,  from  the  chair,  re- 
sponding to  a  stockholder's  query,  said 
he  had  nothing  to  add  to  his  printed 
annual  report. 

In  addition  to  William  Fox,  C.  B. 
Stuart  and  Ernest  Niver  of  Halsey, 
Stuart  &  Co.,  which  recently  retired 
as  bankers  of  the  company,  Albert 
H.  Wiggin  and  Corneliu_s  Vanderbilt 
head  the  new  directors  added  to  the 
board.  New  officers  of  the  corpora- 
tion are  to  be  elected  in  about  a 
month. 


E,  K,  Develops  New 
Patching  Method 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

posed   to   produce   opacity   is    used   in 
the  operation. 

The  patches  are  five  perforations 
long  and  are  cut  in  a  shape  designed 
to  cover  the  track  completely  for  a 
distance  equal  to  the  width  of  a  stand- 
ard splice  but  tapering  toward  each 
extremity  until  the  sound  track  is  en- 
tirely exposed.  When  a  properly 
mounted  patch  passes  through  the  re- 
producer the  light  reaching  the  photo- 
electric cell  from  the  sound  record  is 
reduced  gradually  to  an  insignificant 
intensity  and  so  continues  until  the 
splice  has  passed,  after  which  the 
light  passing  through  the  sound  rec- 
ord gradually  attains  its  original  in- 
tensity. This  eliminates  extraneous 
noises. 

Mounting  of  the  patch,  after  com- 
pletion of  the  splice,  is  very  similar 
to  the  splicing  process.  Pressure  clips 
for  holding  the  film  in  place  are  un- 
necessary since  one  stroke  of  a  cam- 
!  el's  hair  brush  is  sufficient  to  supply 
cement  to  the  shiny  side  of  a  patch, 
which  comes  into  contact  with  the 
shiny  side  of  the  film.  It  takes  five 
seconds  for  the  cement  to  dry,  East- 
man Kodak  says. 


Roach  Reopening  Set 

Hollywood — Hal  Roach's  studio 
will  reopen  Monday  after  a  week's 
layoff.  Under  the  new  plan,  the 
studio  is  to  close  one  week  after  each 
five  weeks'  of  activity. 


Replaces  Sedgwick 

Hollywood — Tom  Buckingham  has 
replaced  Edward  Sedgwick  as  direc- 
tor of  Howard  Hughes'  "Sky  Devils." 


New  Fox  Directorate 

Harley  L.  Clarke,  President,  Fox  Film  Corp. 

Albert  H.  Wiggin,  Chairman  of  the  governing  board  of  the  Chase 
National  Bank  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  Capitalist. 

Philip  R.  Clarke,  president.  Central  Trust  Company  of  Illinois, 
Chicago. 

Frank  O.  Watts,  Chairman,  board  of  directors  of  First  National 
Bank  of  St.  Louis. 

George  M.  Moffett,  president  of  Corn  Products  Refining  Co. 

Matthew  C.  Brush,  president,  American  International  Corp. 

C.  W.  HiGLEY,  president,  Hanover  Fire  Insurance  Co. 

WiNFiELD  Sheehan,  vice-president  and  general  manager.  Fox  Film 
Corp. 

David  K.  E.  Bruce. 

Edward  R.  Tinker,  president.  Interstate  Equities  Corp. 

Samuel  W.  Fordyce,  Fordyce,  Holliday  and  White,  attorneys. 


Seven  States  Left 
In  Tax  Situation 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ache,  but  on  that  date  sessions  in  five 
of  these  seven  states  adjourn;  Ala- 
bama runs  on  with  no  terminating 
date  set  while  Georgia  gets  under  way 
on  the  24th.  A  number  of  matters 
have  piled  up  in  Alabama  where 
legislators  meet  only  once  in  four 
years,  a  practice  peculiar  to  that  state 
alone  among  the  48. 

Connecticut  law-makers  called  it  a 
day  the  other  day,  and  closed  their 
deliberations  without  enacting  any 
legislation  held  inimical  to  the  indus- 
try. 


Nebraska  in  a  Special 
Session;  No  Tilts  Seen 

Lincoln,  Neb. — A  special  session 
of  Nebraska  law-makers  is  under  way 
here,  the  regular  session  having  closed 
in  April.  The  governor  and  the  legis- 
lative groups  haven't  hit  it  off  any 
too  well  on  the  matter  of  appropria- 
tions and  the  new  session  has  been 
called  to  do  something  about  it.  No 
measures  considered  adverse  to  the 
film  industry  are  on  tap. 


"Reasonable  Tax"  Still 
Hangs  Over  Fla.  Houses 

Jacksonville,  Fla. — That  "reason- 
able tax"  favored  by  Governor  Car- 
ton in  order  to  raise  some  of  the 
money  the  state  of  Florida  requires 
for  day-by-day  operations  still  hangs 
as  a  cloud  of  gloom  over  exhibitors. 
Just  what  the  governor  considers 
"reasonable"  remains  to  be  seen,  but 
it  may  take  the  form  of  a  tax  on  the- 
atre admissions.  Such  a  levy,  show- 
nien  continue  to  maintain,  will  darken 
additional  theatres,  this  time  perma- 
nently. 


"Victory  Is  Ours,"  Is 
The  Cry  in  Wisconsin 

Madison,  Wis. — Exhibitors  have 
passed  through  one  of  the  stiffest 
legislative  battles  in  years  and  are 
emerging  victorious  from  all  indica- 
tions. Daylight  savings  time  will  be 
outlawed  in  Wisconsin  if  the  govern- 
or approves  a  bill  concurred  in  by  the 
senate. 

The  senate  voted  20  to  seven  for 
the  bill  introduced  by  Assemblyman 
George  Hampel,  Milwaukee,  which 
provides  that  no  person  operating  a 
place  of  business  "shall  use  another 
than  the  standard  time."  It  carries  a 
penalty  of  $25  to  $500  and  ten  to 
thirty  days. 

On  June  4,  the  bill  providing  for 


Milder  to  England; 
Smith  Successor 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ferences   with   H.    A.    Bandy,   general 
manager  of  foreign  distribution. 

Milder,  who  has  been  in  the  in- 
dustry 25  years  in  the  exhibition  and 
distribution  fields,  joined  Warners  five 
years  ago.  Bandy,  who  is  making 
a  survey  of  Warner  properties  on  the 
Continent,  will  induct  Milder  into  his 
new  office.  Bandy  will  complete  his 
work  abroad  in  about  three  months. 


Smith  to  Combine 
East  with  South 

Andy  Smith,  veteran  Warner  and 
First  National  sales  executive,  will 
take  over  Milder's  duties  as  eastern 
sales  manager,  under  Claude  C.  Ezell. 
Smith  for  some  time  has  been  south- 
ern sales  manager  and  he  is  expected 
to  incorporate  these  duties  with  his 
work  in  the  eastern  division.  Smith 
came  to  Warners  in  the  merger  with 
First  National. 


Two  Postponed  Golf 
Tourneys  On  Today 

Weather  permitting,  two  golf  tour- 
naments slated  for  yesterday  get 
under  way  this  morning. 

One  is  The  Film  Daily's  party  tu 
be  held  at  Fenimore,  near  White 
Plains.  The  other  is  the  annual  RKO 
tournament  to  be  held  at  the  West- 
chester Biltniore.  The  latter  will  be 
a  two-day  affair  climaxed  by  a  din- 
ner at  the  clubhouse  tomorrow  night. 
RKO,  Radio  Pictures,  RCA  Photo- 
phone  and  RCA,  the  parent  company, 
will  be  represented  to  the  total  tune 
of  80. 


Little  Television 

Advance  Is  Seen 

C  H  I  c  a  G  0 — Although  much  was 
claimed  for  television  at  the  annual 
Radio  Manufacturers'  Association  ex- 
hibit, current  at  the  Stevens  Hotel 
here,  very  little  improvement  is  seen 
by  distributors  in  commercial-type 
televisors  demonstrated  at  the  exhibit 
over  the  same  type  equipment  of  six 
months  ago. 


an  operator  for  each  motion  picture 
projector  was  read  a  second  time  in 
the  senate  and  indefinitely  postponed. 
The  senate  then  refused  to  reconsider 
the  vote  by  which  it  was  indefinitely 
postponed,  which  means  the  death  of 
this  bill.  A  somewhat  similar  measure 
introduced  earlier  into  the  assembly 
was  withdrawn. 


Unit  System 
Seen  Way  to 
Prosperity 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

ability  of  industry  leaders  to  bring 
the  business  through  its  present 
crisis. 

De  Mille  paid  high  tribute  to  in- 
dustry leaders  in  declaring : 

"We  may  have  our  quarrels  and 
misunderstandings,  but  we  have  at 
the  head  of  this  business  clever  men 
and  they  are  sure  to  come  out  on 
top  in  the  present  situation. 

"Even  before  the  current  depres- 
sion," said  the  producer,  "motion  pic- 
tures were  in  a  precarious  position. 
The  novelty  of  sound  had  worn  off 
and  pictures  were  being  ground  out 
with  a  sameness  that  was  keeping  peo- 
ple away  from  theatres.  Now,  a 
new  production  system  must  be 
evolved.  I  don't  believe  the  pub- 
lic any  longer  will  patronize  pictures 
with  three  and  four  character  casts. 
And  it's  time  that  something  besides 
a  gun  and  a  bedspring  furnish  our 
drama." 

Those  producers  who  realize  the 
new  technique  of  sound  pictures,  he 
said,  "will  steer  the  ship  past  the 
reef  into  the  calm  waters  beyond, 
while  those  who  do  not  will  founder, 
iust  as  the  ship  Harvard  foundered. 
It  will  take  a  long  time  for  the 
waves  to  batter  the  ship  to  pieces, 
because    it's    a    strong    ship." 

Hollywood  should  take  care  in  its 
economy  moves  now  under  way  to 
avoid  cutting  away  the  vitals  of  the 
picture  business,  he  continued.  He 
cited  the  comparison  of  the  Chinese 
general  who,  finding  the  war  he  was 
waging  cost  more  than  his  resources, 
abolished  his  commissary  with  a  re- 
sult that  many  of  his  soldiers  starved 
and  the  rest  were  quickly  annihi- 
lated by  the  enemy. 

De  Mille  says  that  he  is  free  from 
all  alignments  and  affiliations  and  has 
no  definite  future  plans.  He  may  de- 
termine upon  them  while  in  Europe, 
or  may  wait  until  his  return  to  this 
country  in  the  winter.  He  denied 
that  he  has  any  plan  to  make  a  pic- 
ture to  be  financed  by  public  sub- 
scription and,  in  commenting  on  re- 
ports he  might  make  a  picture  based 
on  the  Crusades,  the  fall  of  Rome  or 
the  Flood,  declared  that  all  are  in- 
teresting subjects. 

The  director,  who  received  the  de- 
gree of  doctor  of  literature  at  Penn- 
sylvania Military  College  Tuesday, 
sails  from  New  York  June  24.  He 
plans  to  spend  a  month  in  Russia 
upon  invitation  of  the  Russian  gov- 
ernment, to  study  of  his  ancestry  in 
Holland  and  will  wind  up  his  sched- 
uled itinerary  at  Constantinople  in 
October.  Mrs.  De  Mille  is  accom- 
panying him. 


Sunken  Glass  Walks, 
H.  B,  Franklin's  Plan 

Hollywood — Innovations  to  be  in- 
troduced at  Hughes-Franklin's  auto- 
mat studio  theatre  on  Hollywood 
Blvd.  are  sunken  glass  sidewalks, 
which  will  permit  pitching  of  the 
floor  and  enable  passersby  to  see  the 
refrigerating  plant. 


"Greatest  Picture  of  tlie  \ear 


// 


held 


over 


NEW  YORK 

CHICAGO    . 

WASHINGTON 

INDIANAPOLIS 

DETROIT 

YOUNGSTOWN 

LOS  ANGELES 


nd  week 


ROXY 

McVlCKERS 

FOX 

.    APOLLO 

FOX 

PARK 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE 


DADDY  LONG  LEGS 


yfWh 


JANET  GAYNOR 

WARNER    BAXTER 


UNA  MERKEL  John  Arledge 

Tto-m,  i>lay  k>  JEAN  WEISTER 


Claude  Giliingwater,  Sr.  Kathlyn  Williams 

Bx-xtcitdi  b)f  ALFRED  SANTELL 


^•X 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  11 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  12,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Jesse  Lasky 
"Entrenched'' 
At  Paramount 


More  Active  in  Producing 
Than  in  Last  4  Years 


Jesse  L.  Lasky  is  more  firmly  en- 
trenched in  Paramount  than  ever  and 
is  more  active  in  protluction  than  he 
has  been  at  any  time  during  the  last 
four  years,  Motion  Picture  Daily 
is  informed 
from  a  reliable 
source. 

That  is  the 
answer  to  re- 
ports that  Las- 
ky is  retiring 
from  active 
charge  of  pro- 
duction. On 
the  contrary, 
he  has  a  firm 
hold  on  the 
reins  of  pro- 
duction, with  B. 
P.  Schulberg  as 
production  ex- 
ecutive chief  at 
the  East  and 
West  Coast  studios. 

During  recent  months  there  has 
been  a  cross-fire  of  comment  on  in- 
ternal affairs  of  Paramount.  These 
culminated  recently  in  report  that 
Walter  Wanger  is  retiring  from  the 
executive  personnel  and  that  all  pro- 
duction is  to  be  moved  to  the  Coast. 


What  Price  Glory  ? 

George  Kleine,  one  time  power  in  the  picture  business,  was 
buried  Thursday  from  a  drab  funeral  parlor  at  113  E.  87th  Street. 
Present  were  four  or  five  women,  advanced  in  age,  and  exactly  two 
film  men.  One  was  Larry  Giffen,  play  broker  who  sold  Kleine 
plays  when  the  later  was  active  in  production,  and  the  other, 
Harry  Cohen,  well  known  in  the  export  field  and  in  1906  Canadian 
manager  for  the  George  Kleine  Optical  Co. 


Jesse  L.  Lasky 


William  Hamm,  3rd 
F.&R.  Partner,  Dies 

St.  Paul— Death  has  claimed  the 
third  partner  of  the  former  Finkelstein 
&  Ruben  circuit,  all  of  whom  died 
within  the  last  few  months.  The  last 
of  the  trio  is  William  Hamm,  backer 
of  the  circuit  and  one  of  the  North- 
west's wealthiest  men,  who  died 
Wednesday  night  of  heart  disease,  the 
same  malady  which  claimed  the  lives 
of  his  late  partners.    He  was  72. 

Hamm   was   born  here,   the    son   of 

{Continued   on   page   6) 


Fox  Company 
Morale  Takes 
Upward  Turn 


With  the  atmosphere  of  doubt 
cleared  by  action  of  the  stockholders 
in  removing  William  Fox  from  the 
board  of  directors,  thus  defining  and 
emphasizing  the  position  of  Presi- 
dent Harley  L.  Clarke,  Fox  Films 
has  cleared  the  decks  for  action  with 
morale  at  a  high  pitch. 

Recent  weeks  have  found  a  num- 
ber of  conflicting  reports  in  circu- 
lation. Report  was  that  Clarke  was 
to  retire  as  company  president  and 
that  William  Fox  probably  would 
return  to  lead  the  firm  again.     These 

(Continued    on    page    2) 


Independents 
Seek  Futilely 
For  Theatres 


Writers  Act 

Hollywood  —  Recommenda- 
tions will  be  sent  to  producers 
by  writers  in  an  effort  to  elimi- 
nate repetition  of  the  situation 
in  the  P.  G.  Wodehouse  "salary 
fiasco"  in  which  he  allegedly 
was  paid  $104,000  to  write  a 
story  none  of  which  was  used 
on  the   screen. 


Film  Golf  Tourney 
Over  With  a  Bang 

Chalk  up  one  of  the  best  golf  tour- 
naments held  by  the  Film  Daily.  The 
19th  tourney  was  by  far  the  best  of 
any  yet  held  and  every  one  at  the 
Fenimore  Club  at  White  Plains  yes- 
terday was  loud  in  his  praise  at 
the  success  of  the  affair  and  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  committee  handled 
it.  It  was  a  swell  party  and  it  went 
over  with  a  bang.  The  morning  rain 
didn't  dampen  the  ardor  of  the  early 
birds.  About  125  attended  the  festivi- 
ties with  the  banquet  in  the  evening 
highlighting  the  event. 

Jack    Alicoate    opened    the    banquet 

(Continued    on    pac/e    6) 


Lack  of  available  New  York  the- 
atres is  more  pronounced  now  than 
ever  before.  Independents  are  in  the 
market  for  theatres  in  great  numbers, 
with  houses  at  a  premium.  The  trend 
is  in  contrast  with  two  years  ago 
when  Fox  was  in  its  buying  heyday 
and  exhibitors  were  anxious  to  sell. 
Today  Fox  is  doing  the  selling — what 
little  there  is — and  independents  are 
evincing  a  greater  demand  for  houses 
than  since  the  period  prior  to  turn- 
over of  the  industry  from  silent  to 
sound. 

Exchange  managers  are  being  ap- 
proached daily  by  exhibitors  out  for 
theatres,  and  are  being  asked  to  keep 
them  in  mind  if  they  hear  of  any- 
thing. The  New  York  Film  Board  of 
Trade  has  several  requests  on  file  from 
exhibitors    looking    for   theatres,   with 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


$307,500  Asked  in 
''U"  Story  Action 

Los  Angeles — Damages  of  |I307,- 
500  are  asked  from  Universal  in  a 
suit  brought  by  Otto  A.  Peters,  di- 
rector-writer, for  his  services  in 
writing  a  story  which  he  says  belongs 
to  him  and  now  is  held  by  Universal. 


Studio  Not  Closing, 
Jack  Warner  Says 

Hollywood — Warners  does  not 
plan  to  close  its  studio  now  or  at  any 
other   time,   states   Jack   L.   Warner. 


Goldberg  Returns 
To  Indie  Field 

Jesse  Goldberg  has  returned  to  in- 
dependent production  having  signed 
contracts  to  produce  eight  features 
for  Hollywood  Pictures  Corp.,  of  New 
York.  In  addition,  Goldberg  also 
will  make  two  pictures  for  another 
company.  All  will  be  made  on  the 
Coast. 

The  pictures  to  be  made  for  Hol- 
lywood are :  "Lovebound,"  by  James 
Gilbert :  "The  Mysterv  of  fudge  le 
Garde."  bv  Oscar  Schultz :  "The  Soli- 
tary Sin."  by  Victoria  Beak;  "Home 
Sweet  Home,"  based  on  the  song  of 

(Continued    on    page    6) 


Exhibs  Raise 
Defense  Fund 
To  Fight  Pact 

Money  Will  Be  Used  on 
Contract  Test  Case 

Granville,  111. — Exhibitors  in  this 
territory  are  raising  a  defense  fund, 
it  is  reported,  to  continue  the  test 
fight  on  the  legality  of  a  contract 
used  by  United  Artists.  First  round 
in  the  fight  was  won  by  United  Art- 
ists when  a  jury  here  awarded  judg- 
nient  for  the  full  amount  of  the 
claim,  declining  to  consider  the 
Thacher  decree  as  having  a  bearing 
in    the   case. 

In  finding  for  the  exchange,  the 
jury  held  that  the  exhibitor  had  evi- 
denced bad  faith  in  not  notifying 
the  exchange  that  he  had  resumed 
business  after  closing  his  theatre  tem- 
porarily for  the  installation  of  sound 
equipment  in  January,  1930,  so  that 
picture  shipments  might  again  be  re- 
sumed.      Lloyd    J.    Scriven,    attorney 

(Continued   on   page   6) 

Operators  Take  Cut 
In  Oklahoma  City 

Oklahoma  City — Forty-three  op- 
erators of  Union  .380,  MPMOA, 
have  offered  theatre  managers  here 
and  in  Chickasha,  Okla.,  to  take  a 
wage  cut  during  the  summer  months. 
The  move  on  the  part  of  the  opera- 
tors was  voluntary,  according  to  J. 
M.    Shelton,   president  of  the  local. 

The  wage  cut  will  go  into  force 
this  week  and  will  remain  in  force 
until    September    1.       The    operators 

(Continued   on  page   6) 


'U*  to  Place  Serials  in 
Fox,  Loeiv  Houses? 

Universal  is  negotiating  with  the 
'ocal  Fox  and  Loew  circuits  for  its 
four  new  serials.  The  deal  follows 
close  on  the  heels  of  the  Roxv  agree- 
ment and  calls  for  showing  in  50  of 
the  70  Fox  houses  and  40  Loew  the- 
atres. Each  circuit  will  get  two 
serials. 


''Ride*'  Threat  Fails 
To  Scare  /.  R.  Neth 

Columbus,  O.— A  little  thing  like 
a  "ride"  is  not  going  to  change  de- 
termination of  J.  Real  Neth,  local 
circuit  operator,  to  run  his  theatres 
as  he  sees  fit  and  the  Neth  houses 
will  continue  on  an  open  shop  basis. 
Neth  was  abducted  by  two  men,  driven 

(.Continued  on   page  61 


Smot  Creek 

Current  wisecrack  on  the 
Paramount  eastern  lot,  which 
is  scheduled  to  close  perma- 
nently soon: 

"I'll  Wanger  I'll  Lasky 
longer  than  you  will." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,   June    12,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered    U.   S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\"ol.    30 


June   12.    1931 


No.    11 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

Raines   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^|V  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^CI^     Daily,    Inc.,   a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone;  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Y'ucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4.  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    v.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Dead  to  Rights 

Right  up    the 

alley  that  this  column  has  been 
shooting  into  is  Cecil  De  Mille's 
slant  on  what's  wrong"  with 
production.  The  factory  idea 
is  all  wet,  if  the  method  places 
all  of  the  responsibilities  on 
one  set  of  brains.  This  is  his 
argument  and  with  it  we  con- 
cur. 

The  man,  in  this  business  or 
out  of  it,  who  can  spot  thirty 
or  more  successes  a  year  hasn't 
been  found  and  humans  being 
what  they  are,  probably  never 
will.  The  system,  as  it  stands 
today,  cannot  succeed  because 
it  attempts  to  draw  from  one 
individual  more  than  that 
single  mind  can  supply. 

Illustrating 

producer  experience  in  efforts 
to  obtain  a  steady  flow  of  be- 
lievable story  material  is 
"White  Shoulders,"  now  pass- 
ing out  at  —  and  from  —  the 
Mayfair.  It's  pretty  shoddy 
stuff. 

Here  you  get  a  pleasant 
mixture  of  bigamy,  robbery, 
adultery,  blackmail  and  mur- 
der in  an  attempted  blending 
that  refuses  to  blend.  The 
story  of  "White  Shoulders" 
(Radio)  is  loaded  with  im- 
probabilities and  crudities  and 
the  performances  of  Mary 
Astor,  Jack  Holt  and  Ricardo 
Cortez,  it  seems,  reflect  the 
hopeless  odds  they  had  to  com- 
bat. 

Inexpert  material  and  ineffectual  di- 
rection, coupled  with  a  type  of  yarn 
that  is  "out"  for  family  trade,  pre- 
clude this  picture  from  entry  into  the 
success  division. 

KANN 


Purely  Personal 


CHARLES  A.  HAYMAN,  head  of 
the  Buffalo  corporation  operating 
the  Lafayette  theatre,  spent  several 
afternoons  in  a  rival  theatre,  the  Cen- 
tury, where  episodes  of  "The  Greal* 
Train  Robbery"  were  shown  in  a 
"Movie  Memories"  reel.  Hayman 
played  one  of  the  bandits  when  the 
thriller  was  filmed,  and  thus  was 
watching  himself  23  years  after. 

Max  Stahl,  Chicago  manager  for 
Educational,  and  William  Weinshen- 
keer,  Tiffany-World  Wide  manager, 
are  doing  some  sleuthing  trving  to 
learn  the  identify  of  burglars  who 
ransacked  their  desks  and  other  parts 
of  the  office,  escaping  with  but  small 
loot. 

Al  Szekler  has  been  working  since 
Carl  Laemmle  sent  him  to  Berlin.  He 
already  has  secured  a  modification  of 
the  "All  Quiet"  ban  with  prospect 
that  all  objections  to  the  war  picture 
will  be  removed. 

A.  E.  Reoch,  executive  president  of 
RCA  Photophone,  has  been  elected 
chairman  of  the  board  of  directors  of 
RCA   Photophone,  Ltd.,  of  England. 

Louis  Kramer  has  taken  over  the 
New  Plaza  in  Brooklyn  and  is  chang- 
ing the  name  to  San  Pedro.  He'll 
play   Spanish  pictures  exclusively. 

Harry  Kutinsky  hasn't  taken 
over  the  Lee  in  Brooklyn,  a  last 
minute  hitch  being  responsible  for  the 
deal    falling  through. 

Dudley  Peck,  M-G-M  New  York 
exchange  office  manager,  is  attending 
the  national  confab  of  office  man- 
agers at  St.  Louis. 

Meyer  Fischer,  president  of  the 
Fischer  Film  Exchange  Company  of 
Cleveland  and  Cincinnati,  is  in  New 
York  for  a  week. 

John  R.  Freuler,  president  of  Big 
4,  still  has  the  fountain  pen  with 
which  Charlie  Chaplin  signed  that 
Mutual  contract. 


** Confessions  of  a 
Coed" 

(Paramount) 

11  OLLY'wooD — Despite  the  ex- 
cellent work  of  the  cast,  with 
Phillips  Holmes,  Sylvia  Sidney 
and  Norman  Foster  dividing 
the  honors,  this  production 
fails  to  hold  up  owing  to  a 
very  weak  story.  It  concerns 
the  life  of  a  college  girl  and 
her  affairs  with  two  men,  one 
the  father  of  her  child  and  the 
other    her   husband. 

The  climax  is  unsatisfactory 
and  left  the  preview  audience 
puzzled,  although  the  first  part 
was  fascinating  and  well  re- 
ceived. David  Burton  and  Dud- 
ley Murphy  directed.  The  work 
of  Claudia  Dell,  Florence  Brit- 
ton  and  Martha  Sleeper  is 
okay. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON. 


Joe  Seider  is  busier  than  a  bee 
these  days.  He's  added  two  more 
theatres  to  his  Long  Island  bookings. 

Al  Such  man  has  renewed  his  con- 
tract as  a  booker  for  Consolidated 
Amusements  Circuit  for  another  year, 

Al  Harstyn  is  in  the  hospital 
again  undergoing  a  second  operation 
caused  by   an  abscessed  tooth. 

Harry  Hart  has  been  appointed 
Big  4  branch  manager  at  Milwaukee, 
succeeding  Ben  Louthain. 

Charles  Krantz  of  Artclass  is 
leaving  today  for  Cleveland  on  a 
sales   trip. 

Sam  Warshawsky  has  an  idea  on 
48  sheets  for  Radio  Pictures,  but  it's 
still  just  an  idea. 

Robert  Kalloch,  designer,  has  been 
placed  under  contract  by  Fox  Film. 

LuPE  Velez  will  soon  make  an  ap- 
pearance in  an  act  at  the   Palace. 


General  Market  Irregular;  Fox  Up  V/% 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

Consolidated     Film    Irfdustries,     pfd 13  13  13  -|-  '/2 

Eastman    Kodak 133  129  132  —  %. 

Fox    Film    "A" 20"4  18^4  IWi  -\-Wf. 

General  Theatre   Equipment  new 454  45^  4!^  +  V* 

Loew's.     Inc 4354  42  42%  +54 

Paramount     Publix 23^  22^  23  +54 

Pathe    Exchange 154  154  ^Vi  —  Vs 

Pathe    Exchange   "A" Syi         354         3J4  +54 

RKO    1454  1354  1354  —54 

Warner  Bros 7'A  7!4  7Vi  +  Vt. 


Fractional  Gain  on  Curb 


High  Low      CIo 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 354  354 

(General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 7)4  7% 

Sentry   Safety   Control 1  1 

'I'echnicolor     65^  654 

Trans    Lux    6Vt,  654  65i 


Net 
Change 

-^  54 

+  '/» 


3Vs 
754 

1  

65^        +154 


Sales 

100 

2,30C 

75.100 

13,100 

15,300 

7,600 

700 

700 

14,300 

22,300 


Sales 

2,700 

5,400 
100 
200 
500 


Bonds  Active;  G,  T,  E.  Jumps  4^2  Points 

Net 

High      Low      Close     Change  Sales 

General    Theatre    Etiuipment    6s    '40 41            39           40!/^        +454  55 

Keith    I?.    F.    6s   '46 645^        6454        6454        +254  1 

Loew's  6s   '41   ex  war 9654       9654        9654        +  54  1 

Paramount    Broadway    S'/4s    '51 10154      10154      101!4        +5^  2 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 9154        90           90           —1  12 

Paramount    Publix    554s.    '50 8054        80           80            4 

Pathe  7s   '27   ww 82           8054        8054       —1)4  4 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39  wd 415i        4054        4054        80 


Fox  Company 
Morale  Takes 
Upward  Turn 

(Continued  from   pacje    1) 

were  spiked,  however,  by  the  stock- 
holders' action  and  the  change  in  mo- 
rale  was   noticeable   Thursday. 

To  the  higher-ups,  of  course,  the 
Fox-returning  angle  was  just  so 
much  rumor,  but  part  of  the  rank 
and  file  was  said  to  be  disturbed  by 
the  reports,  which,  it  was  hinted, 
foreshadowed  a  possible  shake-up. 

"The  sails  are  set  and  Fox  is  go- 
ing places,"  was  the  way  one  official 
put   it   yesterday. 


RKO  Officials  Wind 
Up  Tourney  Today 

Annual  RKO  golf  tournament  at 
the  Westchester  Country  Club  ends 
today.  Yesterday  the  qualifying 
round  was  won  by  Charles  Yates, 
of  the  vaudeville  department,  with  a 
score  of  83.  The  first  flight,  eligible 
for  the  championship,  includes  James 
H.  Turner,  Charles  J.  Freeman,  Pete 
Mack,  Horace  Webb,  Al  Borde,  W. 
C.  Fisher,  Yates  and  William  Mc- 
Caffrey, who  won  the  championship 
last  year.  Other  RKO  officials  com- 
peting in  other  flights  today  are  Hi- 
ram S.  Brown,  J.  J.  Mtirdock,  Lee 
Marcus,  S.  L.  Rothafel,  Julian  Street, 
Milton  Schwarzwald,  Leslie  E. 
Thompson,  J.  Henry  Walters  and 
seventy  others.  A  dinner  tonight  will 
end  the  tournament  program  where 
cups  and  trophies  will  be  awarded 
the  winners.  The  entertainment  will 
be  provided  by  Clayton,  Jackson  & 
Durante,  and  Fred  Keating,  magician. 


Competition  for  Natan 

Paris — Pathe  Natan,  perhaps  the 
biggest  theatre  factor  in  the  French 
industry  today,  is  to  have  competition 
if  plans  of  Leon  Brezillon  to  add  60 
to   his   present   18  houses   materialize. 


Para.  Outing  Saturday 

The  Paramount  Pep  Club  will  hold 
its  annual  outing  this  Saturday  at  As- 
bury  Park,  N.  J.  A  special  train  will 
take  members  to  and  from  the  outing 
place. 


"Movie-of-U"  Closes 

Al  Woods  has  closed  the  Movie- 
of-U  store  on  Broadway.  Business 
has  never  been  good  at  the  show 
window   since   its   opening. 


AMP  A  on  Summer  Plan 

Owing  to  warm  weather  and  the 
vacation  period,  meetings  of  the 
AM  PA  will  be  held  but  once  a  month 
during  the  summer.  No  meeting  was 
held  yesterday. 


Mander  in  from  Italy 

p.  G.  Mander,  executive  of  the  Pit- 
taluga  Company  of  Italy,  is  in  New 
York    from    Turin    for    an    extended 

stay. 


Jansen  Here 

W.  H.  Jansen  of  Industrial  and 
Educational  Films,  Inc.,  Shanghai,  is 
in  New  York. 


A  GENUINE  CLEANUP  for  EXCHANGEMEN  and  EXHIBITORS 


Season  1931-32 


BOX  OFFICE  NAMES 
IN  EVERY  PICTURE 


EVERY  TITLE    ^   ^   ^   ^ 
A  BOX  OFFICE  MAQNET 


STAR  FEATURES 

RCA  RECORDING 

FIRST  RELEASE  AUGUST  1st 

SUPREME  FEATURES 

RCA  RECORDING 

FIRST  RELEASE  SEPTEMBER  1st 


HARRY  CAREY 

STAR  OF  "TRADER  HORN 

In  A  Series  Of 

8  SPECIAL  WESTERN  EPICS 
Chock  Full  of  Speed 
And  Action 


PICTURES   WORTHY   OF   FIRST    RUN    SHOWINGS    EVERYWHERE 
AVAILABLE     AT     ALL     LEADING     INDEPENDENT     EXCHANGES 

National  Distributors 
WEISS  BROS. 

ARTCLASS  PICTURES  CORPORATION 

Phone  BRyant  9-3169  729    SEVENTH    AVE.,    NEW    YORK  Cables  Weisspict  N.  Y. 


^'MEETINQ    THE    RESPONSIBILITIES    OF    LEADERSHIP 


ff 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,   June    12,    1931 


"3  Girls  Lost" 
Takes  $25,600 
In  Cincinnati 


CiN'ciNNATi — "Three  Girls  Lost," 
with  Lupe  \'elez  heading  an  unusu- 
ally good  stage  show,  started  the  week 
in  high  gear  and  never  shifted,  com- 
ing through  with  top  money  at  $25,- 
600,  or  $3,600  over  the  average  figure 
for  the  house. 

"A  Connecticut  Yankee,"  which 
was  a  box-office  darb  at  RKO  Palace 
a  few  weeks  ago.  proved  another 
wow  in  its  second  run  at  RKO  Strand 
at  reduced  prices.  This  house  came  in 
second  best  for  the  week,  going  $2,- 
740  over  the  top  on  a  gross  of  $5,970. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  6 : 

"THE    DANCE   GOES    ON"    (German) 

ERLAXGER  GRAND  OPERA  HOUSE 
—(1,600),  30c-50c.  7  days.  Gross:  $3,000. 
(Average,   $4,500.) 

"VIRTUOUS    HUSBAND'"    (Univ.) 
KEITH'S— (1.600),   30c-50c,   7  days.  Gross: 
$5,000.       (Average,    $4,500.) 

"THREE    GIRLS    LOST"    (Fox) 
RKO    ALBEE— (3,300),    30c-50c-65c-7Sc.    7 
days.     Vaudeville  with  Lupe  Velez   headlin- 
ing.      Gross:    $25,600.        (Average,    $22,000.) 
"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 
RKO   CAPITOL— (2.000).    30c-50c.    7   days. 
Gross:    $10,820.       (.\verage,    $13,000.) 

"DIVORCE  AMONG  FRIENDS" 
(Warners) 
RKO      FAMILY— (1,140),      20c-25c-35c,      4 
days.      Gross:   $2,762.      (Average,  $'1,950.) 
"THE   SPY"    (Fox) 
RKO      FAMILY— (1,140),      20c-25c-35c,      3 
days.      Gross:    $1,488.      (Average,   $1,050.) 
"THE   SECRET   SIX"    (M-G-M) 
RKO  LYRIC— (1,400).  30c-50c.  7  days  plus 
Saturday    midnight    show.       Gross:    $13,690. 
(Average,    $12,000.) 

"SHIPMATES"     (M-G-M) 
RKO    PALACE— (2,700),    30c-S0c,    7    days 
plus     Saturday     midnight     show.         Gross: 
$14,570.       (Average,    $14,000.) 
"A  CONNECTICUT  YANKEE"    (Fox) 
RKO   STRAND— (1,350),    second    run,   25c- 
40c,     7    davs.        Gross:     $5,970.        (Average 
$3,500.) 


Omaha  Tells 
Sad  Story  of 
Poor  Intakes 


Omaha — Summer  is  here.  There's 
no  doubt  about  it.  Take  a  squint  at 
the  box-ofiice  figures.  It's  a  sad  story. 
Only  one  of  the  first  runs  managed 
to  hit  par. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  5 : 

"THE    IRON    MAN"    (Univ.) 
ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-.^Sc-60c,    7    days. 
Four    RKO   acts.     Gross:    $12,000.    (Average, 
$12,5(X).) 

"WOMEN   OF  ALL  NATIONS"    (Fox) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,9OT),    25c-,TOc-35c-60c,    7 
days.     Gross:    $7,000.    (Average   $8,500.) 
"GUN    SMOKE"    (Para.) 
STATE— (1,200).   25c,   4   days.     Gross:    $1,- 
200.    (Average,   $I,2fX).) 

"EX-FLAME"    (Tiff.) 
STATE— (1,2(X)),   25c,   3  days.   Gross:    $800. 
(Average,    $91)0.) 

"INDISCREET"    (U.    A.) 
WORLD- (2,500),   25c-40c,    7   days.    Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average,   $7,000.) 


Sound  Effects 

The  Associated  Press,  under 
date  line  of  June  8  from  Wash- 
ington, has  a  story  of  the  Rev. 
G.  Z.  Brown,  negro  pastor, 
preaching  for  12  solid  hours 
vithout    a   halt. 

This  sermon  contained  nearly 
100,000  words  and  during  its 
delivery  the  Rev.  Brown  ate 
four  lamb  chops,  a  chicken  leg 
and  drank  a  glass  of  milk. 

The  amazing  thing  is  that 
the  Rev.  Brown's  sermon  on 
the  evils  of  the  day,  requiring 
12  hours  to  deliver,  never  once 
mentioned  the  motion  picture 
of    sex    or    gang    variety! 

Incidentally,  the  attendance 
was  described  as  excellent  and 
the    collection    the    same. 


''Arty"  Slips,  Too 

Rochester,  N.  Y.— The  Little  The- 
atre, specializing  in  artistic  films  un- 
der direction  of  a  citizens'  committee, 
has  gone  into  second  runs  for  the 
summer.  Top  price  was  slashed  to 
3.')  cents  until   fall. 


^Ladies'  Man;' 

^Women'  Lure 

Baltimoreans 


Baltimore — Loew's  Century  proved 
the  big  money-maker  again  this  week 
with  "Ladies'  Man"  and  the  Loew- 
Capitol  stage  unit,  "All  Girl  Revue." 
and  the  gross  held  up  to  $22,000.  This 
was  about  a  thousand  under  the  prev- 
ious week,  but  a  hot  spell  struck  Bal- 
timore and  it  is  very  good  considering 
the  average  for  this  house  is  $19,000. 

"Women  of  All  Nations"  proved  a 
strong  draw  at  the  New,  taking  in 
about  $12,000  for  the  seven  days.  The 
new  refrigerating  plant  started  on 
Monday  and  this  helped  business 
greatly.  Average  for  seven  days  is 
about  $8,000. 

"The  Secret  .Six"  proved  a  fine  box- 
office  attraction  during  its  simulta- 
neous showing  at  Loew's  Valencia 
and  Parkway  theatres.  At  the  former 
the  gross  was  about  $3,000,  while  at 
the  latter  it  went  way  up  to  $4,800. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  4 : 

"MURDER"    (B.I.P.) 

LITTLE— (267),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$500.       (Average,    $850.) 

"LADIES'    MAN"    (Para.) 
LOEW'S    CENTURY— (3,076),    25c-60e,    6 
days.        Loew-Capitol    stage    unit.       Gross: 
$22,000.       (Average.    $19,000.) 

"THE    SECRET    SIX"    (M-G-M) 
(Simultaneously    with    Valencia.) 
(.Shown     uptown     after     one     week     at     the 
Stanley    downtown.) 
LOEW'S     PARKWAY— (987),     15c-35c,    ( 
days.       Gross:    $4,800.       (Average,    $3,500.) 
"THE    LAWYER'S   SECRET"    (Para.) 
LOEW'S     STANLEY— (3,522),    25c-60c,     6 
days.       Gross:    $18,200.       (Average.    $17,500.) 
"THE   SECRET   SIX"    (M-G-M) 
(.Simultaneouslv   with    Parkway.) 
LOEW'S    VALENCIA-(1,487),    25c-35c,   6 
days.      Gross:    $3,000.      (Average.   $2,800.) 
"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 
NEW— (1.600),    25c-50c,    7    days.        Gross: 
$12,000.       (Average.    $8,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 
KEITH'.S— (2.,500),    6  days    plus   a    Sunday 
midnight    showing.      Gross:    $6,080.      (Aver- 
age,  $5,500.) 

Week  ending  June  5: 

"THE   GOOD   BAD   GIRL"    (Col.) 

RIVOLI -(1,982),  2.Sc-.50c,  6  davs.  Gross: 
$6,000.      (Average.    57..50O.) 

"GOLD   DUST  GERTIE"    (Warners) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN— (1,300). 
15c-50c.  6  days.  Gross:  $5,100.  (Average, 
$4,500.) 

Week  ending  June  f>: 

"TEN    NIGHTS    IN    A    BAR    ROOM" 
(State  Rights.) 

AUDITORIUM  -  -  (1.600),  35c-40c-60c,  6 
days  plus  a  Sunday  midnight  showing. 
Gross:  $3,720.  (Average  for  this  policy 
would   be  about  $4,000.) 


"Indiscreet" 
With  $5,700 
Ottawa  High 


Ottawa — The  King's  Birthday, 
June  3,  gave  a  slight  impetus  to  the 
theatre  business,  but  the  opening  day 
of  the  Connaught  Park  Jockey  Club 
got  most  of  the  holiday  crowd.  Some 
U.  S.  tourists  were  here  for  Decora- 
tion Day,  but  spent  more  time  in  the 
taverns  than  at  the  shows. 

Clara  Bow's  "Kick  In"  at  B.  F. 
Keith's  failed  dismally  for  the  first 
half,  but  there  was  a  pick-up  for 
"Young  Sinners"  the  last  half,  doing 
$3,600,  or  close  to  average.  Clara 
Bow's  picture  drew  a  poor  $2,900,  the 
worst   in   weeks. 

"Indiscreet"  at  the  Centre  pulled  a 
nice  $5,700,  which  was  well  above  the 
line,  while  "Born  to  Love"  at  the  Re- 
gent also  grossed  $5,700,  although  the 
women  folks  said  they  did  not  like  the 
ending.  Real  outdoor  weather  made 
inroads  into  box-office  grosses  at 
various  houses. 

Estimated    takings    for    the    week 
ending  June  5 : 
"THE    BACHELOR    FATHER"    (M-G-M) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-35c.  3  days. 
Gross:    $1,300.       (Average,   $1,300.) 

"CONNECTICUT  YANKEE"    (Fox) 

AVALON— (990),      15c-25c-35c,       3      days. 
Gross:    $1.3C0.        (Average,    $1,300.) 
"INDISCREET"    (U.    A.) 

CENTRE— (1.200),  15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $5,700.     (Average.    $4,600.) 

"THE     LIGHTNING     FLYER"     (Col.) 

IMPERIAI^-(1,200),    10c-25c-35c-40c-50c,   6 
days.     Gross:    $2,800.     (Average,    $3,000.) 
"KICK    IN"    (Para.) 

B.  F.  KEITH'S— (2,592),  15c-25c-35c-50c; 
60c,  3  days.  Serial,  "Spell  of  the  Circus,'' 
Saturday  matinee  only.  Gross:  $2,900. 
(Average,    $3,700.) 

•'YOUNG    SINNERS"    (Fox) 

B.  F.  KEITH'S— (2,592),  15c-25c-35c-50c- 
60c,  3  days.  Gross:  $3,600.  (Average. 
$^  700  ) 

'  "BORN   TO   LOVE"    (RKO   Pathe) 

REGENT— (1,225),  15c-25c-35c-45c-60c-75c. 
6   days.    Gross:    $5,700.     (Average,   $5,400.) 


AH  in  Albany 
Take  a  Tumble 
Under  Normal 

Albany — Summer  weather  and 
daylight  saving  are  blamed  for  the 
fact  that  not  one  picture  hit  normal 
at  any  of  the  first  runs. 

Estimated     takings     for    the     week 
ending  June  4  : 
"WOMEN    OF   ALL   NATIONS"    (Fox) 
HARMANUS  BLEEKER  HALL— (2,300), 
300),   35c-60c,   6  days.   Gross:   $8,200.     (Aver- 
age,   $10,000.) 

"THE    SEAS    BENEATH"    (Fox) 
LELAND— (1.350),       25c-35c.       6       days 
Gross:    $5,100.      (Average,    $6,000.) 

"MANY    A    SLIP"    (Univ.) 
PROCTOR'S      RKO-(1,500).      25c-60c,      3 
Gross:    $2,600.      (Averag,    $3,000.) 

"GUN    SMOKE"     (Para.) 
PROCTOR'S      RKO— (1,500).      25c-60c.      3 
days.      Gross:    $2,600.      (Average,    $3,000.) 
"PARTY   HUSBAND"    (F.   N.) 
RITZ— (1,146),     25c-35c.     6    days.       Gross: 
$3,190.      (Average.    }I4,500.) 

"GOLD   DUST   GERTIE"    (F.   N.) 
STRAND— (1,900).  35C-.SOC,  6  days.   Gross: 
$6,200.      (Average,    $8,500.) 


Adds  an  Hour 

Columbus,  O.  —  RKO  Majestic, 
playing  a  split  week  policy,  will  here- 
after open  at  10  o'clock  daily,  thus 
adding  one  hour  to  the  day's  showing. 


Races,  Heat 
Sock  Films 
In  Toronto 


Toronto — There  wasn't  much  to  it 
but  heat  and  the  race  tracks  during 
the  past  week  and  even  if  a  picture 
was  good  the  crowd  did  not  seem  tn 
care.  "My  Past"  and  Duke  Elling- 
ton's orchestra  had  a  weak  lead 
among  local  first-run  houses  and  ga\e 
the  Imperial  a  total  of  $14,000,  the 
lowest  in  weeks  and  two  grand  under 
average.  Shea's  fared  relatively  bet- 
ter with  $12,500  on  "Dude  Ranch"  and 
vaudeville,  while  the  Tivoli  was  lit- 
tle worse  with  "Born  to  Love"  and  a 
Bobby  Jones  golf  short  for  $12,000, 
both  being  close  to  average. 

There  was  an  off  six  days  at 
Loew's,  where  Manager  Jules  Bern- 
stein had  held  over  "Strangers  May 
Kiss"  after  a  first  week  of  $18,00(j. 
Hot  weather  shaved  this  down  to 
$10,000  for  the  second  week.  The  Up- 
town had  a  popular  one,  considering 
the  weather,  in  "Behind  Office  Doors" 
and  this  took  in  around  $11,500,  which 
could  be  considered  a  summery  good. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  5 : 

"MY    PAST"    (Warners) 

IMPERIAL— (3,444),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c- 
75c,  6  days.  Stage  show  featuring  Duke 
Ellington's  orchestra.  Gross:  $14,000.  (Av- 
erage,   $16,000. 

"STRANGERS   MAY   KISS"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S^(2,200),  15c-25c-30c-4Oc-60c-75c, 
6  days.  Second  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Av- 
erage,   $15,000.) 

"DUDE    RANCH"    (Para.) 

SHEA'S— (2,()00),  30c-.50c-60c-75c,  6  days. 
Five  vaudeville  acts.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Av- 
erage,   $13,000.) 

"BORN   TO   LOVE"    (RKO  Pathe) 

TIVOLI— (1,600),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c.  6 
days.     Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,   $12,500.) 

"BEHIND    OFFICE    DOORS"    (Radio) 

UPTOWN— (3,000),  15c-2Sc-.«c-50c-60c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $11,500.      (Average,    $12,000.) 


Denver  Gives 
$12,500  High 
To  "Women" 

Denver — "Women  of  All  Nations" 
proved  the  biggest  magnet  in  town, 
and  the  natives  paid  $12,500  to  secj 
the  ladies  at  the  Tabor.  This  figure 
was  $2,500  above  the  average  mark. 
All  other  first-runs  were  around  av- 
erage or  worse.  With  the  Denver 
and  the  Paramount  moving  up  their 
opening  days  from  Thursday  to 
Wednesday,  the  current  pictures  were 
held  only   six   days. 

F^stimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  4 : 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

DENVER-(2,300),  25c-35c-65c)  6  days 
due  to  changing  opening  day  from  Thurs- 
day to  Wednesday.  Dave  Craig  and  Pub- 
li.x  stage  show,  Fred  Schmitt  and  Denver 
orchestra.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average  for  7 
days,    $15,000.) 

"QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (I„500),  35c- 
.50c-75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"  (Fox) 

HUFFMAN'S  TABOR— (1,900),  25c-35c- 
50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"UP   POPS   THE   DEVIL"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,000),  25c-35c-50c,  6 
days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average  for  7  days, 
$11,000.) 

"DUDE    RANCH'    '(Para.) 

RIALTC^— (1,040).  25c-35c-.S0c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3.7=1       (Average,    $3,750.) 


"the  Quigley  organs  are  now 
supreme  in  the  field  of  American 
trade  journaKsm. 

"They  are  taken  seriously  not 
only  in  the  U.  S.  A.  but— as  repre- 
senting American  opinion— 
throughout  the  world." 

—From  THE  BIOSCOPE 

LONDON 

MAY  20,  1931 


QUIGLEY  PUBLICATIONS 

MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 
MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 
THE  HOLLYWOOD  HERALD 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,   June    12,    1931 


M.P.  Club  Four 

Takes  Golfers 

Team  Play 


(Continued   from    pain-    1  ) 

with  a  silent  prayer  to  Dannenberg, 
the  first  editor  of  the  Film  Daily  and 
original  sponsor  of  the  tournaments. 
Al  Lichtman  then  took  over  the  reins 
as  m.  c,  reading  wires  from  Bobby 
Jones,  Earl  Gulick,  Tom  Meighan, 
Henry  King,  a  joint  wire  from 
Johnny  Farrell  and  Gene  Sarazen, 
and  a  cable  from  Pat  Garyn.  All  ex- 
cept Jones  have  attended  previous^ 
tournaments. 

In  introducing  Lichtman.  Alicoate 
declared  him  the  greatest  ni.  c.  ever, 
but  modest  as  he  is,  Lichtman  threw 
the  bouquets  into  Harry  Keichen- 
bach's  lap.  There  was  considerable 
regret  at  Reichenbach's  absence  and 
illness.  Through  the  courtesy  of  Bert 
Adler,  of  Fanchon  and  Marco,  Julian 
Hall  and  his  ambassadors  furnished 
the  entertainment.  Outdoor  RCA 
Photophone  apparatus  reproduced  a 
number  of  shorts,  including  "Par  and 
Double  Par.'"  a  Grantland  Rice  Sport- 
light,  and  two  Bobby  Jones  shorts, 
"Mashy  Xiblick"  and  "Medium  Irons." 
Miniature  Mickey  Mouse  dolls  were 
distributed  to  every  one  through  cour- 
tesy of  Walt  Disney  and  Irving 
Lesser.  Amkino  handed  out  attrac- 
tive Russian  ash  trays  and  the  Art 
Guild  distributed  golf  pencils  with  in- 
dividual golfer's  names  inscribed  in 
them. 

There  was  plenty  of  tenseness  when 
three  ties  were  discovered.  On  the 
low  gross  for  the  Motion  Picture 
Herald  cup,  Mitchell  May  and  Artie 
.Stebbins  evened.  At  a  toss-up,  May 
won  the  prize  with  the  DuPont  Pathe 
cup  going  to  Stebbins.  For  the  low 
net  P.  M.  three  tied  for  the  Ufa  bag. 
Herb  Fecke,  Ted  Curtis  and  D.  C.  Fer- 
guson tossed  for  the  prize  and  Curtis 
was  the  lucky  one.  Five  golfers  tied 
for  the  third  low  net  in  the  morning 
round.  The  National  Theatre  Supply 
cup  was  presented  to  Paul  Burger 
after  Arthur  Dickinson,  Captain  Ros- 
coe  Fawcett,  Billy  Ferguson  and  J.  D. 
Williams  tossed  him  for  it. 

Each  member  of  the  M.  P.  Club 
team  was  given  a  medal  by  Jules  E. 
Brulatour.  Through  the  courtesy  of 
the  A.  M.  P.  A.,  Walter  Eberhardt 
declared  Jack  Alicoate  the  winner  of 
the  mustache  cup  as  the  worst  golfer 
with  the  worst  mustache.  The  worst 
golfer  with  the  best  mustache  was 
Harold  Holt  of  the  .V.  Y.  American 
He  also  got  a  mustache  cup.  There 
were  a  number  of  other  suprises,  but 
all  in  all,  credit  goes  to  the  gang  that 
put  it  over.  They  worked  hard  and 
the  results  showed  it. 

Other  winners  were : 

William  Rabell,  who  took  permanent 
possession  of  the  Stebbins,  Leterman 
&  Gates  cup,  scoring  low  net  in  the 
afternoon.  Tom  Gerety  was  first 
runner  up,  taking  the  J.  P.  Muller 
cup.  -Arthur  Cohen  won  the  William 
Massce  cup  for  low  gross  in  the 
morning.  George  Blair,  Jr.,  was  run- 
ner up,  winning  the  Malcolm  Lab. 
cup.  Mitchell  Mav  scored  on  the 
birdies  and  walked  off  with  the  E.  K. 
trophy.  Henry  Siegel  won  the  Erpi 
trophy  for  low  gross  exhibitor  in 
the  morning.  Harry  Brandt  copped 
the  Motion  Picture  Daily  cup  for 
low  net  in  the  afternoon.  Vic  Brady 
scampered  ofiF  with  the  RCA  putting 
cup  and  Sam  Azurtine  was  first  run- 


H 


'Transgression' 

(Radio) 


Oi.i-Ywoou — Lacking  in  ac- 
tion and  emotional  appeal,  this 
is  slow  moving  drama.  Acting 
is  good  and  the  production  well 
mounted,  but  the  story  is  in- 
adequate as  screen  material. 
Paul  Cavanaugh,  Kay  Francis 
and  Ricardo  Cortez  carry  the 
brunt  of  the  acting  and  do  it  very 
well.  Herbert  Brenon's  direc- 
tion is  satisfactory  and  had  he 
had  something  to  work  with 
the  picture  might  have  had  a 
chance.  There  is  no  audience 
appeal  in  the  story  which  con- 
cerns a  lonely  wife  falling  for 
a  rascal,  finding  before  it  is  too 
late  that  she  loves  her  husband. 
W.  A.  JOHNSTON. 


Operators  Take  Cut 
In  Oklahoma  City 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

working  on  a  variable  union  scale 
are  under  a  two  year  contract  at  the 
present  time.  A  new  contract  has 
been  drawn  up  for  this  three  months 
period  which  will  cut  the  operators 
5  to  7^  per  cent  on  the  variable 
scale. 

"Realizing  that  business  is  bad  and 
that  summer  weather  is  likely  to  fur- 
ther hinder  the  theatre  business  and 
as  a  means  of  showing  our  apprecia- 
tion and  consideration  of  what  the 
managers  have  done  for  us  is  our  rea- 
son for  requesting  the  cut  in  order 
to  help  out  business  conditions,"  Shel- 
ton  said. 


William  Hatnm,  3rd 
F,  &  R.  Partner,  Dies 

(Continued   from    paiic    1  ) 

Theodore  Hamni,  a  leading  brewer. 
He  entered  his  father's  business  at 
the  age  of  13  and  built  it  up  to  one 
of  the  Northwest's  leading  industries. 
When  prohibition  sent  him  to  the 
realty  field  he  became  interested  with 
Finkelstein  &  Ruben,  one  of  his  ten- 
ants, in  operation  of  a  string  of  Twin 
City  theatres.  The  circuit  subse- 
quently was  increased  to  150  theatres 
in  Minnesota,  the  Dakotas  and  west- 
ern Wisconsin  and  was  sold  to  Pub- 
lix  for  a  reputed  $10,000,000.  During 
the  years  of  operation,  Hamm  was  a 
silent  partner,  with  Finkelstein  &  Ru- 
ben handling  operation  of  the  circuit. 
Hamm  was  prominent  in  politics, 
clubs  and  civic  affairs  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  St.  Paul  Auditorium  l)oard. 
He  is  survived  by  his  widow,  one  son, 
three   daughters    and    five    sisters. 


ner  up.  He  took  the  Continental  The- 
atre Accessories  cup.  Billy  Brandt 
was  second  runner  up,  copping  the  As- 
sociated Publications  cup.  Jack  Os- 
tendorf  walked  awav  with  the  driving 
cup  contributed  by  Jack  Cosman.  Run- 
ner up  for  the  Craft  Film  Lab  cup 
was  Arthur  S.  Dickinson.  Al  Licht- 
man claimed  the  best  dressed  golfer 
prize  by  Nat  Lewis.  The  Al  Licht- 
man plaque  for  low  gross  member  of 
the  M.P.  Club  was  won  by  Artie 
Stebbins.  Joe  Fleisler  again  was 
awarded  the  duffer  prize.  The  best 
team  match  play  was  won  by  the 
M.P.  Club  with  Henry  Siegel,  Al 
Lichtman,  Ed  Curtis,  and  Jack  Gut- 
tenfruend  comprising  the  team.  Prizes 
for  35  flight  winners  and  runners  up 
were  also  awarded. 


Independents 
Seek  Futilely 
For  Theatres 


(Continued  from  pane  1) 
every   one   being   given   the   same   an- 
swer :    "There  are  none  loose." 

In  addition,  brokers  are  being 
asked  by  exhibitors  to  try  to  convince 
theatre  owners  now  operating  to  sell. 
They  are  meeting  with  very  little  suc- 
cess and  as  a  result  are  looking  into 
the  possibilities  of  reopening  available 
dark  theatres. 

Evidence  of  the  current  theatre 
buying  situation  is  RKO's  purchase  of 
three  local  theatres  and  reports  that 
the  circuit  will  shortly  reopen  the 
Walter  Hampden  on  63rd  St.  and 
Broadway.  The  trio  of  theatres  taken 
over  are  Nick  Paley's  house  at 
Bronxville ;  the  new  house  he  is  build- 
ing at  Scarsdale  and  the  Castle  at 
Long  Beach.  Louis  Frisch,  who  took 
over  17  Fox  Brooklyn  houses,  is  after 
four  more  in  the  same  borough. 

Joe  Seider,  operating  nine  Long 
Island  houses,  has  acquired  the  Gar- 
den, Southampton,  and  the  Greenport, 
Greenport,  from  Mike  Glynn.  One 
broker  has  12  exhibitors  on  record 
after  theatres,  new  or  old,  over  300 
seats. 

Fox  at  one  time  had  over  130  the- 
atres in  Greater  New  York  and  now 
has  only  70,  with  the  selling  line 
about  to  be  drawn  with  the  sale  of 
just  a  few  more  houses. 

Goldberg  Returning 
To  Indie  Production 

(Continued  from   page    1  ) 

the  same  name ;  "State's  Evidence," 
by  Stanley  Foster ;  "The  Fugitive," 
by  Warren  Williams ;  "The  Reckon- 
-ng,"  by  Lola  Parsons,  and  "Crooked 
Streets,"  by  Carl   Dormont. 

Hollywood  Pictures  will  handle 
eight  pictures  in  the  United  States 
and  foreign  countries.  Goldberg 
leaves  for  the  Coast  next  week  to 
organize  his  staff. 


''Ride"  Threat  Fails 
ToScareJ.R.Neth 

(Continued   froni   page    1  ) 

about    50    miles    to    Marion,    O.,    and 
there   thrown  from  the   automobile. 

During  the  trip,  he  says,  the  men 
told  him  they  intended  to  "get  him ' 
because  of  his  open  shop  policy  main- 
tained during  the  last  two  years. 
During  that  time,  his  Clinton  the- 
atre has  been  bombed  at  a  damage 
of  $5,500  and  at  other  times  stench 
bombs  were  released  in  the  Grand. 


Replaced  by  Banker 

Retirement  from  the  board  of  di- 
rectors of  W.  C.  Michel,  a  vice-pres- 
ident of  I'ox  Film  and  long  an  asso- 
ciate of  Harley  L.  Clarke,  was  ar- 
ranged in  order  to  replace  him  with 
a  banker,  it  is  understood. 


M-G-M  Meet  Ends 

Ofifice  managers  of  all  M-G-M  ex- 
changes yesterday  wound  up  a  five- 
day  convention  at  St.  Louis  and  now 
are  returning  to  their  offices. 


Signs  Comedy  Director 

Hoi,i,Yvvoon — Stephen  Roberts,  com- 
edy director,  has  been  signed  by 
Paramount. 


Exhibs  Raise 
Defense  Fund 
To  Fight  Pact 

(Continued  from  paije  1) 
for  tile  distributor,  also  pointed  out 
to  the  jury  that  the  defendant  had 
purchased  the  United  Artists'  prod- 
uct exclusively  in  his  territory,  and 
that  his  contract  had  been  defaulted 
after  the  competing  Granville  the- 
atre, the  Paramount,  had  gone  out 
of  business.  | 

An  element  of  humor  was  injected  I 
into  the  case  when  Ernat,  by  way 
of  defense,  referred  to  the  "strike" 
clause  in  the  contract  as  his  justifi- 
cation for  not  playing  the  pictures. 
The  clause  exempts  the  exhibi- 
tor from  fulfilling  the  contract  in 
the  event  his  theatre  is  closed  by  an 
employes'  strike.  Ernat  misinter- 
preted the  clause  and  cited  a  strike  of 
miners  in  a  nearby  coal  field  as  his 
justification  for  defaulting  the  con- 
tract. He  believed  that  the  reduced 
patronage  resulting  from  the  shut- 
down of  the  mines  exempted  him  from 
his   obligation. 

His  claim  that  the  exchange  was 
not  damaged  was  disregarded  in  view 
of  what  was  regarded  as  bad  faith 
on  the  exhibitor's  part  and  the  will- 
ingness of  the  distributor  to  fulfill  its 
part  of  the  contract. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  testimony, 
a  local  farmers'  jury,  attired  in  over- 
alls, deliberated  two  hours  before  re- 
turning a  verdict  requiring  the  ex- 
hibitor to  pay  the  full  amount  of  the 
contract. 

The  first  contested  contract  case 
to  be  won  by  a  Chicago  exchange 
was  recorded  by  Educational,  against 
Mitchell  Bros.,  Chicago  exhibitors, 
several  weeks  ago.  Other  cases  have 
been  won  by  default  or  a  settlement 
made   out   of   court. 


Ruth  Stays  " 

Published  reports  that  Ruth  Chat- 
terton  returns  to  Warners  when  the 
impression  is  that  she  stays  at  Para- 
mount as  part  of  the  "peace"  deal 
worked  out  between  Adolph  Zukor 
and  Harry  M.  Warner  are  not  taken 
seriously  at  Paramount. 

How  the  Warners  feel  about  it  was 
not  known  last  night.  Sam  Morris 
could  not  be  reached  for  a  statement. 


''The  Two-Gun  Man" 

(Tiffany) 

IV  EN  Maynard  and  his  horse, 
Tarzan,  furnish  the  thrills  in 
this  western,  which  abounds  in 
action.  The  story  is  far-fetched. 
Ken  and  his  partner  are  two 
gun  men  who  aid  a  rancher  in 
a  range  war  being  sponsored 
by  a  syndicate.  After  a  series 
of  fights  and  complications.  Ken 
emerges  victorious.  It  develops 
that  he  is  a  United  States  mar- 
shal. The  fight  between  Tom 
Lonson  and  Maynard  is  excit- 
ing. Lafe  McKee  is  Maynard's 
partner,  a  wizened  fighter  ot 
the  plains.  Phil  Rosen  directed. 
Lucille  Powers,  Tom  London, 
Murdock  MacQuarrie  and 
Charles   King   are   in   the  cast. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  12 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  JUNE   13,   1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Finance  Crisis 
Is  Passed  by 
RKO-Brown 


Condition    Was    Serious, 
RKO   Prexy   States 


RKO  has  just  passed  through  a 
financial  crisis,  Hiram  S.  Brown, 
president  of  RKO,  said  yesterday  in 
addressing  members  of  the  RKO 
Golf  Assn.,  which  closed  the  two-day 
tournament  held  at  the  Westchester 
Country  Club  at  Rye,  N.  Y.  While 
Brown  did  not  name  the  particular 
crisis,  he  said  that  David  Sarnoff  and 
he  had  been  working  into  the  early 
hours  of  the  morning  for  the  last 
few  weeks  trjing  to  meet  the  situa- 
tion, seriousness  of  which  he  admitted 
but  refused  to  outline  in  detail. 

Brown  brought  out  the  fact  that 
the   company  was   in   need   of   money 

(Continued  on   paiic  .' i 


Rochester  Unions 
Get  Summer  Cut 

Rochester,  I\.  V. — In  line  with  a 
movement  throughout  the  country. 
Local  No.  253  of  the  motion  picture 
operators'  and  stage  hands'  union  has 
taken  a  voluntary  wage  cut  ranging 
from  75^  to  \2y2%  for  10  and  14- 
week  periods. 

Neighborhood  men  began  the 
movement  by  taking  a  12^%  slash 
for  14  weeks  ending  September  1. 
Downtowns  squawked  and  downtown 
operators  replied  with  a  voluntary  cut 
of  lYifc  for  10  weeks.  Downtown 
cuts  will  range  from  $5  to  $6  a  week. 
Calvin  Bornkessel  is  business  agent 
for  the  Rochester  union. 


Baltimore  Operators 
Take  a  10-Week  Cut 

Baltimore — A  voluntary  cut  in 
wages  has  been  taken  for  the  next 
ten  weeks  in  Baltimore  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  including 
about  50  projectionists.  This  num- 
ber is  small  in  Baltimore  because 
only  about  that  number  of  operators 
belong  to  Local  181  of  the  A.  F.  L. 
The    other    houses    here    are    manned 

{Continued    on    pape    2) 


Greenfield  &  Gordel 
In  Kutinsky  Pool 

Negotiations  are  urderstood  to  be 
under  way  for  the  merging  of  the  four 
Harry  Kutinsky  houses  in  Brooklyn 
with  the  three  theatre's  operated  by 
Dr.  Greenfield  and  Louis  Gordel.  The 
deal  is  expected  to  be  signed  before 
the  new  releasing  season  starts. 


Atlanta  Tax  Up 

Atlanta — The  financial  com- 
mittee of  the  City  Council  is 
considering  an  ordinance  to 
fasten  a  ten  per  cent  admis- 
sion tax  on  theatres  here  as 
a  means  to  eliminate  the  def- 
icit in  the  teacher  budget 
covering  teachers'  salaries. 


Court  Rules 
Against  Coy  in 
Booking  Case 


If  an  exhibitor  innocently  contracts 
for  pictures  which  already  have  been 
contracted  for  by  another  exhibitor, 
he  should  not  be  enjoined  from  play- 
ing the  pictures  concerned  if  such  in- 
junction would  damage  him,  the  Ap- 
pellate Division  held,  in  effect  Friday, 
in  denying  a  rehearing  to  the  Coy  Op- 
erating Co.  from  a  decision  handed 
down  by  Judge  Valente. 

Coy,  operating  the  Savoy  in  Jamaica, 

(Continued    on    pafie    2) 


Exhibitors  Cashing 
In  On  Vacations 

With  hundreds  of  thousands  of  pu- 
pils and  students  receiving  or  about 
to  receive  their  summer  vacations,  ex- 
hibitors throughout  the  country  are 
making  special  efforts  to  cash  in  on 
the  source  of  revenue  this  offers. 
Proper  bid  for  this  student  patronage 
now,  it  is  felt,  will  help  houses  keep 
out  of  the  red  this  summer  when  the 
call  of  the  outdoors  is  strongest. 


FOX  HALF  MILLION 
SALARY  IS  TARGET 


Puzzle:  Is 
Chatterton 
With  Para.? 


It's  developing  into  pretty  much  of 
a  mystery  as  to  what  company  is  to 
make  the  Ruth  Chatterton  pictures. 
The  dope  has  been  that  Ruth  went 
back  to  Paramount  under  terms  of 
the  truce  between  the  two  companies. 
But  there  is  the  little  matter  of  her 
Warner  contract  calling  for  payment 
of  $675,000  for  six  pictures  that  must 
be  cleared,  it  appears. 

The  contract,  so  'tis  said,  is  non-ne- 
gotiable and  if  so,  Ruth  is  in  a  posi- 

(Continued    on    page    2) 


Chi  Operator  Case 
To  Jury  Next  Week 

Chicago — Presentation  of  its  case 
against  the  operators'  union  on  rack- 
eteering charges  will  be  made  to  the 
grand  jury  by  the  state's  attorney's 
office  following  examination  of  the 
union  records.  This  is  expected  to  be 
completed  by  next  week.  The  union 
surprised  the  prosecution  in  not  con- 
testing the  adverse  decision  of  a  $100 
contempt  fine  against  President  Tom 
Reynolds.  Previously,  it  had  served 
notice  that  it  would  appeal  from  the 
court  order  directing  production  of 
the  records. 


Schulberg  Hits  DeMille 
Slant  on  Mass  Production 


Hollywood — -"It  is  amusing  to  have 
some  one  discover  that  people  in  the 
picture  lousiness  likewise  are  in  the 
show  business,"  states  B.  P.  Schul- 
berg in  commenting  upon  Cecil  B. 
DeMille's  statements  on  production  to 
Motion  Picture  Daily  in  New  York. 
DeMille  advocated  abandonment  of 
mass  production  and  substitution  of 
the  unit  system,  as  a  means  to  bring 
the  industry  out  of  its  present 
dilemma. 

"Was  it  ever  otherwise?"  Schul- 
berg queried.  "We  were  in  show  busi- 
ness in  silent  days  as  much  as  with 
sound.  There  is  a  misunderstanding 
aliout  what  is  called  mass  production 
e\en   by  picture  men.      Fvery  picture 


in  every  studio  receives  individual 
thought  and  attention.  Directors,  pro- 
ducer and  writer  decide  story,  treat- 
ment, cast  and  editing. 

"I  fail  to  see  the  difference  of  a 
single  unit  doing  this  on  a  secluded 
stage  in  a  one-unit  studio  or  20  units 
doing  the  same  in  a  larger  plant  under 
systematic,  co-ordinated  production 
control,  except  that  the  larger  plant 
has  more  and  better  facilities  and  a 
wider  range  of  directorial  and  writ- 
ing personnel  and  a  better  chance  of 
assigning  subjects  to  make  sure  the 
best  writing  and  directorial  talent  are 
aimed  in  the  right  direction.  Better 
pictures  are  the  result." 


Stockholders  on  Trail  of 

*' Advisory  Committee 

Chairman"  Pciy 


Severance  of  all  the  ties  of  William 
Fox  from  Fox  Films,  which  means 
cutting  off  that  $500,000  annual  sal- 
ary which  Fox  secures  under  a  five- 
year  agreement  when  he  sold  his 
holdings,  is  sought  by  one  or  more 
stockholders  of  the  company,  Motion 
Picture   Daily   learns. 

Legal  action  to  prevent  the  film 
company  from  making  further  pay- 
ments on  the  half-million  a  year  sti- 
pend to  Fox  is  the  course  to  be  pur- 
sued, it  is  said.  Fox  was  appointed 
head  of  the  company's  "advisory 
board"  when  he  sold  out  to  Harley 
L.  Clarke,  and  specified  $500,000  as 
the  price  for  his  services.  The  ad- 
visory board  has  never  met  and'  stock- 
holders are  reported  asking  "how 
come"  referring  to  the  Fox  salary. 

Fox  on  Wednesday  was  removed 
from  the  directorate  of  the  company 
by  action  of  the  stockholders.  This 
set  at  rest  rumors  to  the  effect  that 
he  might  return  to  the  presidency  of 
the  company. 


Action  Awaited  On 
Illinois  Censor  Bill 

Springfield,  111. — Action  on  film 
legislation  is  expected  here  daily  as 
the  Illinois  legislature  makes  its  plans 
to  adjourn  sine  die  June  20. 

The  most  important  industry  legis- 
lation pending  is  the  Ryan  bill,  pro- 
viding for  state  censorship,  and  the 
McCluggage  bill,  asking  an  operator 
for  each  projection  machine  in  the 
theatres  of  the  state.  The  latter  bill 
is  expected  to  meet  certain  defeat,  al- 

(Cnntinned   on    page   3) 


SamuelsonU  nworried 
By  Dissension  Report 

Sidney  E.  Samuelson,  president  of 
the  New  Jersey  exhibitor  association, 
is  unworried  by  reported  dissension 
in  the  organization.  Reports  have 
been   in  circu>ation  to  the  effect  that 

{Continued   on   page    3) 


70%  of  Publix  Costs 
Locally  Controlled 

.Seventy  per  cent  of  expenditures  of 
Publi.x  theatres  is  locally  controlled. 
Last  year  the  ratio  was  reversed  with 
the  home  office  controlling  70  per 
cent. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Safurday,    June    13,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Regisiered    U.   S.   Patent   Office 
Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  .50 


June   13,   1931 


No.   12 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

2ames    A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^r\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  Jl  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^CI^     Daily,   Inc.,  a   Quigley  Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted.  „     .,        o    .         t  -r 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  M^iHtam 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clxfford, 
Manager.  ,  „,     ,,     ,, 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Moonng, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    v.,   under   Act   o{   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Barnstyn  to  Make 
Cheap  Reproducer 

Aiming  at  small  theatres  which  he 
maintains  cannot  afford  the  repro- 
ducers of  the  major  electrics,  Jack 
Barnstyn  and  his  brother,  Loet,  have 
formed  the  N.  Y.  World  Industrial 
Co.,  of  The  Hague,  Holland,  to  mar- 
ket a  new  sound-on-film  projector  in 
Europe.  It  will  be  known  as  the  Ace 
projector.  Barnstyn  sailed  last  night 
on  the  Volendam  to  launch  operations. 

Barnstvn  also  has  lined  up  a  porta- 
ble recording  system  for  newsreel 
work  and  a  small  studio  recording 
system.  He  says  the  latter  will  make 
it  more  feasible  for  smaller  countries 
in  Europe  to  produce  talkers  in  their 
own  languages.  The  new  Audio 
Vision  Akeley  camera  is  an  important 
part  of  the   recording  units. 

M.  -A..  Kraus  is  director  of  sales 
for  all  three  equipments.  The  Ace 
system  is  manufactured  by  Sterling 
M.  P.  Apparatus  Corp.  of  New  York. 

Baltimore  Operators 
Take  a  10-Week  Cut 

(Conti)U(cd   front    pacic    1) 

bv  members  of  the  Independent  Op- 
erators' and  Managers'  Association, 
No.  1,  not  affiliated  with  the  A.  F.  L. 
The  split  came  several  years  ago 
when  the  union  members  demanded 
more  money  and  the  managers,  then 
prepared,  put  their  own  men  in  who 
had  passed  the   State  Board. 

Second  RKO  Meet  Set 

Chicago — RKO  will  hold  its  second 
regional  sales  meet  here  today,  when 
Jerrv  Safron,  Cleve  Adams  and  Lou 
Kutinsky  of  the  home  office  ar- 
rive here  for  the  meet.  Managers  of 
the  Chicatro.  Cincinnati,  Cleveland, 
Dallas.  Des  Moines.  Detroit,  Indianap- 
olis, Kansas  Citv.  Memnhis.  Mil- 
waukee, Minneapolis,  Oklahoma  City, 
Omaha.  Pittsburgh,  St.  Louis  and 
Sioux  Falls  will  attend. 


Ruth  Etting  for  4  More 

Ruth  Ettini  will  make  a  scries  of 
four  two-reel  shorts  for  Vitaphone  to 
be  included  in  the  "Broadway  Brevi- 
ties"  series. 


Purely  Personal 


GERRY  RUDOLPH,  director  of 
publicity  for  RCA  Photophone, 
surely  is  one  of  the  birds  who  gets  the 
breaks.  He  is  to  sail  Monday  morn- 
ing for  one  of  those  "five-day  cruises 
to  somewhere  aboard  the  President 
Hoover.  Harry  Braun,  company  en- 
gineer, is  going  along  to  see  that  the 
sound  equipment  aboard  the  liner 
meets  the  test,  and  to  determine  if 
Gerry  weathers  the  storm. 

Eddie  (Mule)  Lindemann,  vet- 
eran roadshow  man,  is  convalescing 
from  the  blackjack  wounds  he  re- 
ceived when  he  surprised  burglars  in 
his  hotel  room.  He's  not  mentioning 
names,  but  says  an  H.  B.  figures  in 
the  affair. 

Claire  Luce,  formerly  with  Fox 
and  who  spent  a  dancing  season  on 
the  Paris  stage,  is  returning  to  Hol- 
lywood in  fail.  Before  leaving,  how- 
ever, she  will  spend  a  vacation  at 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Raymond  Klune,  of  the  D.  W. 
Griffith  office,  may  be  high  hat  these 
days.  The  reason  is  that  he  has  moved 
to  new  quarters  in  the  Lefcourt 
Building  at   49th    St.   and   Broadway. 

Henry  Huffman,  Denver  exhibi- 
tor, is  in  the  big  city  with  Mrs.  Huff- 
man and  niece.  He  leaves  today  for 
the  Coast,  where  he'll  look  over  the 
Warner  studios. 

Abel  G.  Warshawsky,  brother  of 
the  redoubtable  Sam,  who  is  general 
press  representative  for  Radio  Pic- 
tures, has  sold  his  painting,  "After 
the   Storm,"    to   the   City   of   Paris. 

Max  Milder's  new  connection  as 
managing  director  for  Warners  in 
England  will  be  something  of  a  home- 
coming, for  12  years  ago  he  did  the 
same  thing  for  L.  J.   Selznick. 

George  Balsdex,  Warner  manager 
in  New  York,  was  host  at  a  party 
in  Milder's  honor  yesterday  at  Sardi's. 

JiMMiE  Bradford's  score  and  syn- 
chronization work  are  evident  in 
"Nomadie,"  which  opened  Friday 
night  at  the  New  York  Cameo. 


$1,000,000  Spent 

San  FRANCisco-t-United  Art- 
ists to  date  has  appropriated 
more  than  $1,000,000  in  theatre 
building  and  expansion  in  Cali- 
fornia, according  to  a  statement 
issued  by  Melville  Hirsch  of 
the  Monroe  J.  Rosenshine  of- 
fice of  the  United  Artists  The- 
atres of  California,  Ltd.  Deals 
have  included  new  theatres  in 
Berkeley,  San  Jose,  Richmond, 
Vallejo,  Palo  Alto  and 
San  Francisco.  Negotiations 
for  other  houses  in  California 
are  still  being  carried  on. 
Houses  are  each  limited  to 
1,250   seating   capacity. 


Dave  Rosenzweig,  Brooklyn  exhib, 
has  postponed  his  trip  to  the  Coast, 
but  yesterday  his  wife  and  daughter 
were    Pullman-bound   for   Hollywood. 

Louis  Frisch  says  he'll  confine  his 
circuit  exclusively  to  Brooklyn.  He's 
now  got  17  in  partnership  with  Sam 
Rinzler. 

C.  K.  Stern  and  the  gang  of 
M-G-M  office  managers  who  attended 
the  St.  Louis  convention  of  office 
managers  have  returned  to  New  York. 

Winnie  Lightner  gets  in  town 
today  from  the  Coast  for  a  brief 
vacation. 

Eddie  Schnitzer,  of  the  New  York 
Fox  exchange,  plans  to  move  to  Long 
Beach  permanently. 

Rudy  Sanders  is  not  only  president 
of  the  Brooklyn  Theatre  Owners  but 
also  is  one  of  the  few-  exhibitors  play- 
ing  single    features    in   that   borough. 

Phil  Dunas,  Columbia's  Middle 
West  sales  chief,  is  in  New  York  for 
home  office  conferences. 

Rudy  Kuehn,  manager  of  the  Park 
Lane  for  RKO,  lost  his  daughter  this 
week.    Many  friends  sent  condolences. 

Joe  Orn stein,  of  Fox,  yesterday 
left  for  Cleveland  on  a  short  vacation. 


General  Market  Active;  M-G-M  Up  2 

Net 

His^h  Low  Close  Change 

Corfsolidated     Film     Industries 454  4'/2  4'/i  

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 12^  12.54  12J4  —"4 

Eastman    Kodak \ii7/n  I29!4  133  -1-1 

Fox  Film   "A" WVt  18^/^  19'/4  -f  Vi^ 

General  Theatre   Equipment   new 454  4^  4Ji  -f-  Vi 

Loew's,    Inc 43'/4  41  42?4  -f  Vs^ 

M-G-M    pfd ?5  2S  25  -(-2 

Paramount    Publix. 2454  23  24  -1-1 

Pathe    Exchange 154  1!4  Wi  4-  V>. 

RKO     14  V%  135/^  -\-  lA 

Warner    Bros 854  T/f.  854  -+-  7^^ 

Warner     Bros,     pfd 185^  17  WVf.  —Wn 

Entire  Curb  List  Irregular 

Net 
Hi?h      Low      Close      Chancre 

Fnx    Theatres    "A" 3V,  35^  35^        —54 

General  Theatre   Eciuipment  pfd Wn.  754  95^        -\-Wn 

Technicolor     6  6  6  —  5^ 

Trans    Lux (-.Vn  654  654         

Bonds  Show  Gain;  P.  F.  L.  Gains  2 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

General  Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40 41  39  41  +  'A 

T^fw's   6s    '41    ex    war 96  96  96  —  Vi 

Paramount   Broadway   S'/s  '51 lOl'/J  10154  ini'/2  

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 9?  90  92  4-2 

"aramotin^    Publix    554s.    '50 SLVg        79  815^  -(-154 

P^ithe  7s   ',37   WW 80  80  80  —  5i 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    wd 42'/,         fO  42?^  4-154 


Sales 

100 

100 

2.800 

38.500 

12,500 

14.000 

100 

19.000 

ino 

22.800 

50.800 

700 


Sales 

1.400 

7.000 

100 

300 


Sales 

46 

2 
4 
14 
26 
1 
25 


Court  Rules 
Against  Coy  in 
Booking  Case 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

claimed  first  run  in  that  zone  of  "Hell 
Bound."  Long  Island  Operating  Co., 
operating  the  Merrick  in  Jamaica,  also 
claimed  a  contract  for  the  same  pic- 
ture and  called  upon  Tiffany  to  de- 
liver the  print,  an  action  which  Coy 
immediately  opposed. 

The  Valente  decision,  now  upheld 
in  the  higher  court,  dismissed  Coy's 
complaint  and  held  RKO  Booking  Ex- 
change and  the  Long  Island  Operat- 
ing Co.  innocent  parties.  Fitelson, 
Lerman  and  Mayers  represented  Tif- 
fany ;  Louis  Nizer,  the  Long  Island 
Operating  Co.,  and  B.  B.  Kahane,  the 
RKO  Booking  Exchange. 


Spanish  Local  Short 

The  first  Spanish  short  to  be  made 
with  local  talent  started  production 
yesterday  at  the  San  Jose,  110th  St. 
and  Fifth  Ave.  The  all-Spanish  legiti- 
mate cast  appearing  at  the  theatre 
will  also  be  used  in  the  picture.  The 
two-reel  film  will  be  shown  on  the 
screen   next   week. 


K.-A.-O.  Votes  Dividend 

The  board  of  directors  of  Keith- 
Albee-Orpheum  Corporation  have  de- 
clared a  regular  quarterly  dividend  of 
144.  per  cent  on  the  preferred  stock 
of  'the  company  payable  on  July  1, 
1031,  to  stockholders  of  record  at  the 
close  of  business  on  June  22. 


B,  Livingston  Bereaved 

Blanche  Livingston,  who  handles 
publicity  at  the  Fox,  Brooklyn,  is 
mourning  the  passing  of  her  mother, 
who  died  Thursday.  Funeral  services 
will  be  held  Sunday  in  Albany. 


Chatterton-Para. 
Status  Is  a  Puzzle 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

tion  to  hold  Warners.  Paramount,  it 
is  reported,  isn't  sold  on  paying  her 
the  kind  of  money  Warners  offered, 
so  it's  doubtful  if  the  pictures  will  be 
made  on  that  lot. 

Meanwhile,  Sam  E.  Morris,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of 
Warners,  says  that  he  knows  of  no 
change  in  the  situation  and  so  far  as 
he  knows  Miss  Chatterton  is  remain- 
ing under  the  Paramount  banner. 


Burr  Signs  Four 

Hollywood — C.  C.  Burr  is  rapidly 
lining  up  his  staff  for  the  new  Torchy 
comedies.  He  has  signed  Frank  Gay, 
Roland  Hilliard  Asher  and  George 
Amy  to  the  writing  staff  and  also 
placed  under  contract  Ray  Cooke  for 
the  leading  role  in  the  series. 


Orpheum  Dividend 

The  board  of  directors  of  Orpheum 
Circuit,  Inc.,  has  declared  a  regular 
quarterly  dividend  of  2  per  cent  on 
the  preferred  stock  of  the  company 
payable  on  July  1,  1931,  to  stockhold- 
ers of  record  at  the  close  of  business 
on  June  22. 


Saturday,    June    13.    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Finance  Crisis 
Is  Passed  by 
RKO-Brown 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

and  that  it  had  been  looking  for  the 
past  three  or  four  weeks  for  financial 
aid,  but  for  a  time  it  seemed  as 
though  none  was  forthcoming.  He 
told  members  of  the  RKO  Golf  Assn., 
Radio,  RKO  and  RKO  booking  ex- 
change that  his  worries  were  now 
over,  stating  that  the  company  was 
now  set  to  run  for  the  next  two  years 
and  so  far  as  he  was  concerned  it 
was  "to  hell  with  adversity  and  de- 
pression." Brown  said  that  a  few 
weeks  ago  he  made  a  statement  he 
was  opposed  to  salary  cuts,  and  added 
that  at  the  time  he  wasn't  worried 
about  salary  cuts,  but  what  did  worry 
him  was  whether  the  company  would 
be  able  "to  pay  any  salaries  at  all." 

Roxy  also  spoke  and  said  that  when 
Radio  City  opens  "RKO  will  be  at  the 
top  of  the  heap."  He  stated  he  had 
joined  RKO  at  a  financial  sacrifice, 
but  was  very  sure  now  that  he  would 
not  be  sorry. 


RKO  Winds  Up  Two 
Day  Golf  Tourney 

Rye,  N.  Y. — RKO  yesterday  wound 
up  its  two-day  golf  tourney  with 
about  25  members  of  the  RKO  Golf 
Assn.  scampering  ofT  with  prizes  at 
the  final  count  of  scores.  About 
80  members  attended  the  tourna- 
ment, which  terminated  with  a  ban- 
quet last  night.  Clayton,  Jackson  and 
Durante  failed  to  appear,  but  an  or- 
chestra composed  of  one  musician 
from  each  RKO  theatre  entertained. 
They  had  never  before  played  in  one 
group. 

The  main  prize,  a  leg  on  the  J.  J. 
Murdock  cup,  was  a  tie  between 
Cfiarles  J.  Freedman,  general  man- 
ager of  the  vaudeville  booking  office, 
and  Horace  Webb.  The  men  will 
hold  a  future  game  between  them- 
selves to  decide  the  winner.  The 
loser  gets  the  RKO  Golf  Assn.  cup. 
The  golfer  getting  his  name  three 
times  on  the  Murdock  Cup  keeps  it. 

Other  prize  winners  were :  Charles 
Yates,  James  Turner,  Frank  O'Brien, 
Senator  J.  Henry  Walters,  Harold 
Kemp,  Chester  Stratton,  Major  L.  E. 
Thompson,  Ambrose  powling,  Lou 
Baum,  Wavne  Christie;  Lee  Marcus, 
Fred  Shanberger,  Robert  Hawkins, 
A.  H.  Schnitzer,  Henry  Kalchcims, 
Jack  Dempsey  (not  the  fighter), 
A.  L.  Oz,  Bill  Mack,  Jack  Wiener, 
E.  W.  Ballantine,  Herman  Zohbel, 
E.  L.  McAvoy  and  Harry  Fitz- 
gerald. 

James  Turner,  assistant  to  Hiram 
S.  Brown,  was  elected  president  of 
tl^e  association,  succeeding  Charles  J. 
Freedman.  Harvey  Watkins,  secre- 
tary, was  elected  permanent  secre- 
tary. Roxy  was  admitted  to  mem- 
bership of   the   golfing   club. 


Economies  Called  Aid 
tn  Puhlix  June  Drive 

Curtailment  of  expenses  is  making 
itself  felt  in  the  five  Publix  divisions 
and  steady  strides  are  being  made,  it 
is  said,  toward  the  profit  objective 
set  by   Sam  Katz. 


It  Worked 

Denver — As  an  exploitation 
stunt  for  "Kiki,"  the  Rialto  an- 
nounced that  it  would  admit 
free  of  charge  all  couples  mar- 
ried fifty  years  or  more,  expect- 
ing a  maximum  of  25  to  apply 
for  the  free  ducats.  Instead, 
150  couples  who  have  cele- 
brated their  golden  anniversa- 
ries showed  up.  It  resulted  in 
a   lot  of   publicity. 


Dix  Cast  in  Special; 
Radio  Valedictory? 


Hollywood  —  Announcement  that 
Richard  Dix's  next  picture  for  Radio, 
"Frontier,"  will  be  produced  on  a 
large  scale,  has  revived  rumors  that 
it  will  be  his  last  for  that  company 
and  that  for  that  reason  the  company 
wants  a  big  one  from  him  before  his 
retirement. 


Seeks  Injunction  on 
"Born  to  Love"  Film 

Buffalo — Upon  suggestion  of  Jus- 
tice Clinton  I.  Horton,  the  Lafayette 
theatre  Wednesday  will  go  before 
Justice  Charles  H.  Brown  as  referee, 
seeking  a  permanent  injunction  against 
RKO  Pathe's  showing  of  "Born  to 
Love"  at  Shea's  Hippodrome.  RKO 
Pathe  is  providing  a  bond  to  indem- 
nify the  theatre  in  case  the  plaintiff 
is  victor. 

A  temporary  injunction  was  refused 
the  theatre  Friday  while  the  film  is 
current.  The  Lafayette  firm  alleged 
it  had  contracted  for  three  Constance 
Bennett,  three  Ann  Harding  and  two 
Helen  Twelvetree  pictures.  Frank 
G.  Raichle,  counsel  for  RKO  Pathe 
contended  that  the  contract  did  not 
prevent  the  release  of  additional  films 
v/ith  the  same  stars  to  other  theatres. 
M.  M.  Cohn,  Lafayette  counsel,  as- 
serted that  the  theatre  was  entitled  to 
the  first  three  Bennetts  released. 


Samuelson  Unworried 
By  Dissension  Report 

(Continued  from   page   1) 

Leon  Rosenblatt,  partner  of  Joseph 
M.  Seider,  past  president,  plans  to 
demand  a  showdown  on  the  matter 
of  affiliation  with  Allied  States  Asso- 
ciation, when  the  organization  holds 
its  annual  meeting  June  18  and  19  at 
Atlantic  Citv. 


66 


99 


Front  Page 
Albany's  Best 
Money  Film 


Albany — "The  Front  Page"  was 
the  best  money  getter  in  Albany  dur- 
ing the  week,  packing  the  Hall  each 
day,  while  matinees  ran  extremely 
well  considering  the  fact  that  the  film 
cannot  be  taken  as  a  woman's  picture 
in  the  way  of  entertainment.  The  pic- 
ture drew  close  to  $10,000,  which  is 
a  normal  week  for  the  Hall,  when 
daylight  saving  is  not  in  eff^ect.  Rain 
fell  several  nights  throughout  the 
week,  but  seemingly  without  doing 
any  harm  to  the  Hall,  which  grossed 
$9,150  for  the  six  days. 

From  the  standpoint  of  exploita- 
tion, "Ten  Nights  in  a  Bar  Room" 
at  the  Ritz  scored  heavily  with  Man- 
ager Farley  entirely  responsible.  The 
front  of  the  theatre  was  made  over 
to  resemble  an  old-time  bar  room  with 
swinging  doors  and  what  was  adver- 
tised as  "free  beer"  inside.  But  some 
excessive  "dry"  put  in  a  protest  to 
the  city  authorities  to  the  effect  that 
the  exploitation  was  altogether  too 
realistic  and  a  portion  of  it  had  to 
be  discontinued. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  11 : 

"THE    FRONT    PAGE"    (U.    A.) 

Harmanus-BIeecker  Hall— (2,300),  35c- 
50c,  6  days.  Gross:  $9,100.  (Average,  $10,- 
000.) 

"QUICK  MILLIONS"  (Fox) 

LELAND  —  (1,350),  25c-35c,  6  davs. 
Gross:  $4,890.     Average,  $6,000.) 

"THE   W   PLAN"    (Radio) 

PROCTOR'S    RKO— (1,500),    3    days.    25c- 
60c.     Gross:    $2,550,      (Average,   $3,000.) 
"I>ONOVAN'S    KID"     (Radio) 

PROCTOR'S  RKO— (1,500).  25c-60c,  3 
days.      Gross,:    $2,100.       (Average,    $3,000.) 

"TEN    NIGHTS    IN    A    BAR    ROOM" 
(Goetz) 

RITZ— (1,146),     25c-35c,     6     days.     Gross: 
$4,300.      (Average,   $4,500.) 
"THE   MALTESE  FALCON"   (Warners) 

STRAND— (1.900),  35c-50c,  6  davs.  Gross: 
$6,800.      (Average,   $8,500.) 


Why  Are  Censors? 

Chicago  —  Frances  James,  former 
actress,  appointed  a  member  of  the 
censor  board  by  Mayor  Cermak,  told 
reporters  that  while  she  considers  her- 
self "a  funny  person  for  a  censor," 
that  she  thinks  she'll  make  good  at 
it  because  "I  don't  think  many  things 
would  shock  me.  but  my  intelligence 
might  be  insulted." 


Three  Sign  Contracts 

Hollywood — Paramount  has  given 
new  contracts  to  three  of  its  players. 
Svlvia  Sidney,  Jackie  Searl  and 
Wynne  Gibson  are  the  players  to  be 
awarded  new  agreements. 


Boyd  Saves  Two 

Hollywood — William  Bovd,  while 
yachting  near  San  Pedro,  rescued  two 
men  thrown  overboard  by  an  explo- 
sion on   their  craft. 


"U*'  Completes  Four 

Universal  City — Thursday  was 
"completion"  day  at  Universal.  Among 
pictures  completed  were  the  feature, 
"Lasca  of  the  Rio  Grande,"  with  Leo 
Carrillo,  John  Mack  Brown  and  Dor- 
othy Burgess,  the  serial  "Danger 
Island,"  featuring  Kenneth  Harlan 
and  Lucille  Brown ;  a  Lloyd  Hamil- 
ton comedy,  "Robinson  Crusoe  and 
Son,"  with  Josephine  Dunn ;  and 
Daphne    Pollard   in   "Say   Uncle." 


Plan  New  Theatre 

Rockland,  Me. — Rockland  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  of  which  Joseph  Dondis  is 
vice-president  and  managing  director, 
has  commissioned  C.  W.  &  George  L. 
Rapp  to  prepare  plans  for  a  theatre 
to  be  built  on  Park  street  at  a  cost 
of  $50,000. 


The  Dove  Flies 

Los  Angeles — In  applying  to  the 
department  of  commerce  here  for  a 
pilot's  license,  Billie  Dove  revealed 
that  she  had  been  taking  secret  flying 
lessons  and  has  purchased  an  aero- 
plane. 


Golden  Tears 
For  ^Donovan' 
In  Mill  City 


Minneapolis — Hot  and  rainy 
weather  and  vacations  are  bearing 
down  on  business,  but  "Donovan's 
Kid"  brought  golden  tears  to  the  RKO 
Orpheum.  Kids  out  of  school  saved 
the   week-end. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  12 : 

"IT'S    A   WISE   CHILD"    (M-G-M) 

ASTER— (812),  20c-3c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,500.      (Average,    $1,500.) 

"GUN    SMOKE"     (Para.) 

LYRIC— (1,238),  20c-40c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,400.       (Average,    $2,500.) 

"LAUGHING    SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

MIMNESOTA— (4,000),     30c-75c,     7     days. 
Four      acts      vaudeville.        Gross:      $20,000. 
(Average,    $20,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S   KID"    (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,900),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.  Burns  and  Allen  heading  four  acts. 
Gross:   $17,000.     (Average,  $14,000.) 

"GOLD  DUST  GERTIE"   (Warner) 

STATE— (2,300),  25c-3Sc-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,200.      (Average.    $8,000.) 


To  Reopen  Studios 

Hollywood — July  15  is  set  for  re- 
opening of  the  Educational  studios. 
Al  Christie,  who  is  now  in  the  east 
looking  over  available  material  will 
soon  return  here. 


*^Lawyer'  Tops 
Beantown  with 
$35,500  Gross 

Boston — Business  was  not  so  hot 
with  "The  Lawyer's  Secret"  at  $35,- 
500  at  the  Metropolitan  leading  the 
town.  "Donovan's  Kid"  was  good  at 
Keith's,  getting  $20,000,  or  $2,000 
above  average.  "Daybreak"  at  $21,- 
000  and  "Young  Sinners"  at  $15,500 
also  were  above  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  11 : 

"MANY    A   SLIP"    (Univ.) 

KEITH-BOSTON  —  (2,500),  25c-60c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average, 
$17,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S  KID"   (Radio) 

KEITH'S— (2,800),  30c-65c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$20,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (3,100),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNER"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,700).  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $22,000.    (Average,    $20,000,) 

"THE    LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN  —  (4,350),  25c-60c,  7 
days.  Revue  "Monkey  Shines."  Gross: 
$35,500.    (Average,   $32,000.) 

"WOMEN   OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

OLYMPIA  —  (2.500),      25c-50c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $14,000.      (Average.    $15,000.) 
"YOUNG    SINNERS"    (Fox) 

SCOLLAY  SQUARE— n. 800),  25c-50c.  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"  (Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2,000),  25c-60c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,500.       (Average,    $12,000.) 


Action  Awaited  on 
Illinois  Censor  Bill 

(Continued  from   paae    ^) 

though  reported  out  of  committee 
favorably,  as  the  current  investiga- 
tion of  the  Chicago  operators'  union 
by  the  state's  attorney's  office  and  the 
Federal  government  has  served  to 
discredit  it  materially. 


New  W.  B.  House  Opens 

Morgantown,  W.  Va. — The  new 
Warner  theatre  was  opened  here  last 
night  with  the  local  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce and  various  business  organiza- 
♦^ions  taking  part  in  the  event.  Edward 
Alpersjpn  and  H.  R.  Maier,  of  the 
theatre  department,  were  on  hand. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    June     13,    1931 


46 


Sinners"  Big 
Sensation  in 
Des  Moines 


Des    Moines— "Laughing    Sinners 
was  a  sensation  here,  the  Des  Moines 
grossing  $11,500.  the  best  business  in 

The  Paramount,  which  has  obtained 
the  RKO  vaudeville,  formerly  played 
at  the  Orpheum,  is  putting  on  the 
only  stage  show,  but  business  was 
not  too  good.  "Woman  Hungry" 
got  $6,000  and  "Public  Enemy,"  $4,- 
000.  At  the  Strand  business  was 
good  with  S2,300  for  "Always  Good- 
bye." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  6 : 

"LAUGHING    SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

DES      MOINES— (1.600).      25c-35c-60c.      7 
days.       Gross:    $11,500.       (.\veraKe.    $7,000.) 
"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 
ORPHEUM— (2.000),    25c-35c-40c,    4    days. 
Grosii    $8,000.        (AveraRe,    $5,000.) 
"SINGLE  SIN"    (Tiff.) 
ORPHEUM— (2,000).    25c-35c-40c.    .3    days. 
Gross:    $6,000.       (Average.    $4,000.) 

"WOMAN   HUNGRY"   (F.  N.) 
PARAMOUNT- (1,700).       25c-35c-60c.        3 
davs.       Vaude.       Gross:    $6,000.       (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"PUBLIC    ENEMY"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT-d.rOO).       25c-.?5c-60c.       4 
davs.       V'aude.       Gross:    $4,000.       (Average, 
SS.bOO.) 

"ALWAYS  GOODBYE"   (Fox) 
STRAND— (1.100).   20c-30c.  3  days.   Gross: 
$2,300.       (Average.    $1,500.) 

"EXPLAIN"    (Tiff.) 
STRAND— (1,100).   20c-30c.   4  days.   Gross: 
$750.       (Average,    $900.) 


46 


Shoulders;" 
^^Secret"  Best 
In  Portland 


Portland — "The  Lawyer's  Secret" 
went  $3,300  above  average  at  the 
Paramount,  but  the  figure  was 
achieved  with  the  help  of  a  stage 
show  and  the  Shriners'  convention. 
"White  Shoulders,"  aided  by  four  acts 
of  vaudeville,  pulled  $9,700  into  the 
till  of  the  RKO  Orpheum,  the  take 
being  $1,700  over  normal.  The  rest 
of  the  first  runs  didn't  do  so  well. 
"Daddy  Long  Legs"  had  an  extra 
heavy  opening  when  it  was  spotted  in 
at  the  Fox  Broadway  following  the 
two  week  run  there  of  "Women  of 
All   Nations." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  10: 

"WOMEN   OF   ALL   NATIONS"    (Fox) 

FOX  BROADWAY— (1,912).  25c-50c.  5 
days,  2nd  week.  Grass:  $4,200.  (Average, 
$5.a)0.) 

"MEN   CALL   IT   LOVE"    (M-G-M) 
FOX    RIALTO— (1,498).    25c-35c.    3    days. 
Gross:    $1,500.      (Average   for   week.   $4,000.) 
"STEPPING   OUT"    (M-G-M) 
FOX    RIAI.TO     (1.498),    25c-35c.    4    days. 
GrtKs:    $2,000. 

"GOD'S  GIFT  TO  WOMEN"   (Warners) 
HA.MKIflC'S    MUSIC    1{OX-(1.800).    25c, 
5   days.       Ooss:    $3,700.       (Average.   $4,000.) 
"LAWYER'S    SECRET"     (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3.068),    25c-60c.    7    days. 
F.    &   M.    "The   Great    Raymond"   and    Sun- 
kist    Beauties,       Gross:    $15,300.       (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"WHITE    SHOULDERS"     (Radio) 
RKO      ORPnEUM-(l,700),      25c-50c,      7 
ilays.       Vaude.       Gross:    $9,700.       (Average, 
SS.OOO.) 

UNITED  ARTIST.S  (Dark  until  Aug. 
15.) 


*'Th€  Ridin'  FooV 

(Tlffanj  ) 

D  OB  Steele  in  another  hard- 
riding  western  which  gives  him 
plenty  of  opportunity  to  show 
his  fighting  ability.  He  and  his 
pal,  Ted  Adams,  are  rivals  in 
love.  The  pal  is  falsely  ac- 
cused of  murder  and  Steele 
saves  him  from  the  Vigilantes. 
Later  both  are  arrested  in  a 
false  charge  of  holding  up  the 
stage  coach.  They  escape  and 
are  saved  from  recapture  when 
one  of  the  dying  bandits  con- 
fesses. J.  P.  McCarthy  di- 
rected and  the  cast  includes 
Josephine  Velez  (sister  of 
Lupe),  AI  Bridges,  Fern  Em- 
mett,  Frances  Morris,  Eddie 
Fetherton  and  Jack  Henderson. 


L.A.  Theatres 
Below  Normal 
In  Dull  Week 


Los  Angeles — Business  generally 
was  mediocre  here,  all  houses  doing 
below  average.  "The  Maltese  Falcon" 
at  Warners  and  "Charlie  Chan  Car- 
ries On"  at  Loew's  State  proved  the 
best  gross  getters.  "Women  of  All 
Nations"  folded  at  the  Criterion  and 
Grauman's  Chinese,  with  "Trader 
Horn"  to  follow  at  popular  prices. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  10: 

"EL    IMPOSTOR"    (M-G-M) 

CALIFORNIA  INTERN  ATIONAL-(2,- 
COO).  2Sc-S0c,  7  days.  Gross:  $5,700.  (Aver- 
age.   $5,000.) 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 

FOX  CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,650),  75o- 
S1.50,  2n<J  week.  George  Stoll  and  band. 
Gross:    $8,400.       (Average,    $12,500.) 

"WOMEN    OF    ALL   NATIONS"    (Fox) 

FOX  CRITERION— (1,652),  35c-65c,  2nd 
week.  7  days.  Gross:  $7,50,1.  (Average, 
SIC.OOO.) 

"WOMEN    OF   ALL   NATIONS"    (Fox) 

(JRAUMAN'S  CHINESE— (2,030).  25-75c, 
2nd  week.  7  days.  Gross:  $6,400.  (Average, 
$",0C0.) 

"EAST  LYNNE"   (Fox) 

GRAUMAN'S    EGYPTIAN— (1,800),     10c- 
''''^r    7  days.      Gross:   $3,500.      (Average,   $6.- 
.500.) 
"CHARLIE  CHAN   CARRIES   ON"    (Fox) 

LOEW'S      STATE— (2,418),      .>5c-fi5c.      7 
days.        F.     &     M.     "Dream     House"     Idea. 
Gross:     $20,000.        (Average,    $27,000.) 
"NOT    EXACTLY    GENTLEMEN"     (Fox) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,100).  25c-65c,  7  days. 
Grcf.e:    $9,100.       (Average.    «13  50O.) 

"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 

ORPHEUM-(2,750).     35c-6.Sc.     2nd     week, 
7   days.      Gross:   $8  000       (Avr^sf    $16,000.) 
"HELL   BOUND"   (Tiff.) 

PANTAGES  HOLLYWOOD— a.OOO),  35c- 
65c.  7  days.  F.  &  M,  Idea.  Gross:  $10,- 
500.       (Average.    Sl^^.OOO) 

"VICE   SOUAD"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— ("3,59'^).     35c-65c.     7     .fays, 
"^•age     revue.     Rene     Williams     Orchestra. 
Gross:    $17,500.        (Average.    !';25,00O  ) 
"LOVER  COME  BACK"  (Col.) 

RKO— (2,700).  35c-65c.  7  days.  8  acts 
vaudeville.  Gross:     $14,000.  (Average, 

i^lS.OOO.) 

"TARNISHFD  LADY"   (Para.) 

UNITED  ART15TrS-(.-;  lOO).  35c-65c. 
Gross:    $6, .500.       (Average.    $13,500.) 

"MALTESE    FALCON"     (Warners) 

WARNER  DOWNTOWN— (2.400).  7 
davs.  35c-50c.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Average, 
»]■;  fWl ) 

"»*AI.TFSE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

WARNER  HOLLYWOOD— (,>.000).  7 
-"-v.:  35c-50c.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Average. 
»14nro.) 


Gets  Dickens  Stom 

Hollywood — ^George  Bancroft's  next 
nirture  is  to  he  based  on  Dickens' 
"Dombey  and  .Son."  It  will  be  started 
Tiilv  1  and  be  made  under  title  of 
"Rich    Man's    Follv." 


"Indiscreet" 
At  $8,500  Is 
St.  Paul  Best 


.St.  Pai'L — They  went  for  "Indis- 
creet" here  to  the  tune  of  the  best 
comparative  business  in  town,  the  film 
getting  $8,500,  or  $1,500  above  aver- 
age at  the  Riviera.  "The  Secret  Six" 
was  a  good  shot  at  the  Paramount, 
where  it  got  $8,500,  or  $1,000  above 
average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  5 : 

"THE    SECRET    SIX"    (M-G.M) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,300),    25c-50c,    7    days, 
Ooss:    $8,500.      (Average,    $7,500.) 
"INDISCREET"   (U.   A.) 
RIVIERA— (1,600),     25c-35c-50c,     7     day.s. 
Gross:    $8,500.      (Average,   $7,000.) 

"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 
RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,600).  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Puck   and    White   heading   four   acts    vaude. 
Gross:    $12,500.      (Average,    $112,000.) 
"GUN    SMOKE"    (Para.) 
TOWER— (1.000).   15c-25c,  7  days.     Ooss: 
$2,500.      (Average,   $2,000.) 


Robs  Theatre;  Sent  to 
Penitentiary  for  Life 

Rochester,  N.  Y.— Burglarizing  the 
Temple  Theatre  at  Geneva  has  cost 
James  Redmanoff,  47,  of  Buffalo,  his 
liberty   for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

Redmanoff  was  sentenced  to  Au- 
burn for  life  by  Genesee  County  Judge 
Horace  W.  Fitch  at  Canaiidaigua  last 
week  as  a  fourth  offender  under  the 
Baumes  law.  Redmanofif,  convicted  of 
the  burglary,  had  three  other  felony 
convictions   against   him. 


Get  Serial  Rights 

Standard  Film  Exchanges  in  Cleve- 
land and  Cincinnati  have  secured  the 
rights  for  Ohio  and  Kentucky  to  Syn- 
dicate's ten-episode  serial.  "The  Mys- 
tery Trooper."  starring  Buzz  Barton, 
Blanche  MehafYev  and  Robert  Frazer. 


^'Secret''  and 
^^Kiki''  Prove 
Denver  Best 


Denver —  Exhibitors  experienced 
fair  business  during  the  week,  only 
one  picture  skidding  under  the  aver- 
age mark.  "The  I,awyer's  Secret" 
took  in  $16,500  at  the  Denver,  heat- 
ing par  by  $1,500,  and  "Kiki"  grossed 
$5,500  at  the  Rialto,  which  is  $1,750 
over  normal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  11  : 

"LAWYEUl'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 

DENVER— (2,300).      25c-35c-65c.     7     davs. 
Gross:    $16,500.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"SEAS    BENEJVTH"     (Fox) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1,500).  35c- 
50c-75c.  7  days.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"ALWAYS   GOODBYE"    (Fo«) 

HUFFMAN'S  TABOR— (1,900).  25c-35c- 
.50c.  7  days.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average,  SIO,- 
000.) 

"LADIES'     MAN"     (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2.00(1),       25c-3Sc-50c.       7 
days.     Gross:   $12,000.     Average,   $11,000. 
"KIKI"    (U.    A.) 

RIALTO— (11  .WO),  25c-it5c-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $5,500.      (Average,    $8,750.) 


New  Color  Process 
At  Radio  Studios 

Hollywood — One  way  of  reducing 
expenses  is  to  install  a  new  lighting 
system  which  will  cut  SO  per  cent  of 
the  bills.  A  color  process  has  been 
installed  at  the  RKO  studios  which  is 
said  to  be  able  to  reproduce  the  spec- 
trum without  the  annoying  fringing  or 
overlapping  of  previous  color  pictures 
and  at  half  of  present  lighting  costs. 
Cooler  stages  and  doing  away  with 
excessive  use  of  make-up  to  heighten 
natural  flesh  tones  are  claimed  to  be 
highlights  of  the  new  process. 


I 


NEW     YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant     47  12... 


LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

154    CRESCENT    STREET 
....STIIIwell       7940 


EASTMAN 
•   FILMS  • 


J.  E._ 
BRULATOUR 

I  ncorporated 


CHICAGO 

1727   INDIANA  AVENUE 
CALumat    269  I  .  .  . 


HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.   .  .   Hollywood      4121 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.   NO.  13 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JUNE  15,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Lehmans  Out;  Copyright  AppUcatioii 

Chemical  Bank      rw\      tt^ji  ttj         t^» 

To  Radio  Aid    To  Holdovers  Under  Fire 

**  Crisis"    Removed    with 
New  Factors  in  Firm 


A  row  with  Lehman  Brothers, 
principal  bankers  for  the  RKO  group, 
was  the  "crisis"  and  entrance  of  the 
Chemical  National  Bank  of  New  York 
into  Radio  with  a  loan  of  $6,000,000 
to  finance  production  is  the  solution 
i  referred  to  without  name  by  Hiram  S. 
Brown  in  his  brief  talk  to  members 
of  the  RKQ  Golf  Association  at  the 
dinner  which  closed  their  two-day 
tournament  at  the  Westchester  Coun- 
try Club  Friday  night. 

Brown,     as     reported     in     Motion 

{Continued    on    page    4) 


National  Council 
To  Fight  Censors 

A  fight  to  halt  the  "steadily  widen- 
ing censorship  over  the  stage,  movies, 
books,  radio  and  the  press"  and  to  re- 
peal all  censorship  laws  are  the  objects 
of  the  National  Council  on  Freedom 
from  Censorship,  which  has  been 
formed  by  the  American  Civil  Liber- 
ties Union.     It  points  out  that  matter 

(Continued  on  page  4) 

Grainger  Closes  Long 
Canadian  Contract 

One  of  the  longest  term  film  con- 
tracts ever  negotiated,  has  been  signed 
by  Fox  Film  covering  all  its  pictures 
for  a  ten-year  period  beginning 
August,    1931,   in   the   136   theatres   of 

(Continued    on    page    2) 


No.  2 

Pnn,ADELPHiA  —  That  prize 
"boner"  attributed  to  Publix  in 
New  York  announcing  that  the 
Rialto  there  was  closing  for  lack 
of  product  is  finding  a  counter- 
part here  in  the  closing  of  the 
Boyd  which  is  dark  for  the 
summer.  Poor  business  and 
lack  of  product  are  given  as 
causes  for  the  closing. 


Schlesinger 
To  Continue 
Patent  Fight 


M.  A.  Schlesinger's  fight  against 
Western  Electric  charging  that  the 
company's  recording  and  reproducing 
equipment  infringes  the  Ries  patent 
owned  by  General  Talking  pictures  is 
"by   no   means   ended,"   he   declares. 

The  Supreme  Court  recently  re- 
fused to  review  a  decision  of  the  Ap- 
pellate Court  which  set  aside  verdict 
of  the  U.  S.  District  Court  at  Wil- 
mington, and  declared  that  the  repro- 
ducer does  not  infringe  the  patent. 
At  the  time,  the  impression  was  cre- 
ated that  this  marked  the  end  of  the 
litigation. 

The  suit  in  question,  that  of  Gen- 
eral versus  the  Stanley  Co.   (which  in 

(Continued    on    page    2) 


Gang  Films 
Put  On  Spot 
In  Milwaukee 


Milwaukee — Frank  Metcalfe,  pres- 
ident of  the  Milwaukee  Motion  Pic- 
ture Commission,  declares  that  the 
commission  is  opposed  to  future  gang- 
ster pictures.  It  was  said  that  the 
commission,  which  is  composed  of 
both  exhibitors  and  laymen,  came  to 
a  definite  decision  in  the  matter  after 
the  opinions  of  all  commissions  all 
over  the  country  had  been  determined. 

"People  everywhere  are  getting  tired 
of  the  gangster  films."  he  said.  "There 
has  been  protest  against  them.  It  has 
been    felt    by    women's    organizations 

(Continued    on    page    2) 


Home  Television 
Near — Aylesworth 

Atlantic  City — Home  television  is 
probable  within  a  "reasonal)ly  short 
time,"  M.  H.  Aylesworth,  president 
of  the  National  Broadcasting  Co., 
told  the  National  Electric  Light  As- 
sociation here.  He  says  that  the  era 
of  television  has  dawned  and  that  first 
general  application  of  it  probably  will 
be  presentation  of  close-ups  of  radio 
artists. 

The    day    will    come,    says    Ayles- 

(Continued    on    page    2) 


Distributors  Will  Appeal 

Adverse  Ruling;  Second 

Judge  Upholds  Law 


Whether  unauthorized  holdover 
showing  of  a  copyrighted  film  consti- 
tutes a  violation  of  the  copyright  law 
is  a  matter  that  the  United  States 
Appellate  Court  and  probably  the  Su- 
preme Court  will  be  called  upon  to 
decide. 

This  becomes  practically  certain  with 
the  handing  down  of  contrary  de- 
cisions on  the  subject  by  the  Federal 
Courts  for  the  districts  of  Massachu- 
setts and  Alaryland.  In  the  former 
instance  M-G-M  vs.  Bijou  Theatre 
Co.  and  Educational  vs.  Bijou  The- 
tre  Co.,  Judge  James  M.  Morton,  Jr., 
held  that  there  is  no  provision  in  the 
copyright  statute  concerning  the 
"scope  or  the  efi^ect  of  pictures"  which 
he  said  were  commercially  unknown 
when  .Section  1  of  the  current  act  was 
passed    in    1909    and    are    referred    to 

(Continued    on    page    4) 


Weber  Begins  32nd 
Term  As  President 

For  the  thirty-second  consecutive 
time,  Joseph  N.  Weber  is  president  of 
the  American  Federation  of  Mu- 
sicians. He  returns  to  New  York  late 
this  week  to  enter  upon  his  new  term. 
Weber  was  re-elected  without  oppo- 
sition at  the  convention  of  the  organ- 
ization at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  Other 
new  officers  are:    Charles  L.   Babley, 

(Continued  .on    page    2) 


You'll  Find  'em  tn  Every  Depression: 


Reprinted  by  permission   of  the   /.o.s  Aniiclcs   Times 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday.  June    15,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\'ol.   30 


June   15,   19ol 


Xo.   13  1 


MArtin    Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

2ames   A,    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 

f^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I    Jl  J     and     holidays,     by     Motion     Picture 

^         Daily,    Inc.,   a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  AH  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4.  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    v.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Socked! 

It  started  as  a 
social  function,  but  ended  on  a 
serious  note.  At  the  W'estchester 
Country  Club  the  other  night. 
Hiram  S.  Brown  got  on  his  two 
feet  and  told  80  RKO  and  Radio 
executives  that  so  far  as  his  com- 
panies were  concerned  it  was  "to 
hell  with  depression  and  ad- 
versity." 

When  he  said  it,  Brown's  jaw 
stuck  out  at  an  angJe  that  ex- 
pressed determination  and  fight. 
There  seemed  no  doubt  that  he 
meant  exactly  that. 

Times  are  tough. 
That's  the  one  thing  in  the  pic- 
ture business  on  which  all  hands 
agree.  But  the  impression  seems 
to  be  growing  in  some  quarters 
where  opinion  means  something 
that  perhaps  today's  the  day  to 
turn  the  mental  processes  away 
from  pessimism  and  toward  op- 
timism. 

An  illustration  of  slants  gone 
haywire  is  the  policy  of  one  com- 
pany to  lay  low  during  the  off 
period  and  rest  resignedly  on  the 
oars  with  the  intention  of  waxing 
vigorous  again  when  conditions 
turn  the  corner. 

i\  S  a  matter  of  fact, 
this  is  exactly  the  time  to  double 
up  on  initiative  and  enterprise. 
Emergency  situations  can  be  met 
only  by  action  —  forceful  and 
swift. 

We  commend  Brown's  and 
Radio's  attitude  for  that  reason 
and  because  it  indicates  deter- 
mination of  fighters  to  win. 

K  A  X  X 


SPONSORSHIP  is  a  big  thing  in  film  business.  For  instance,  there 
is  the  case  of  a  certain  exec  who  was  slated  for  the  boards.  Power- 
ful forces  were  aligned  against  him  and  it  seemed  that  he  would  go. 
But  at  this  juncture,  his  sponsors  stepped  in.  They  had  been  instru- 
mental in  bringing  him  into  the  company  and  had  to  vindicate  their 
iudgment;  and  so,  thev  put  up  a  real  battle  for  tlieir  protege  and  won. 

• 

The  furore,  pro  and  con,  raised  by  gangster  pictures  has  finally 
reached  the  point  of  sanity.  Warden  Lewis  E.  Lawes  of  Sing  Sing  is 
quoted  thus  in  the  New  York  Daily  News: 

"During  the  winter  there  is  a  picture  show  every  night  and  we  per- 
mit gangster  pictures.  They  are  so  absurd  that  they  hand  the  boys 
plenty  of  laughs." 

The  favorite  of  the  boys  in  the  big  stir  is  "Over  the  Hill"  and,  accord- 
ing to  Lawes.  some  of  them  are  still  talking  about  it. 

• 

Two  of  the  boys  who  recently  felt  the  retrenchment  axe  met  on  the 
street. 

"What  are  you  doing?"  asked  A. 

"Just  loafing,"  was  the  reply. 

"Well,  don't  loaf  in  my  territory." 


Home  Television 
Near — Ayelsworth 

{Continued  from  page   1) 

worth,  when  complete  scenes  will  be 
flashed  over  the  air.  such  as  plays, 
sporting  events  and  parades.  How- 
ever, he  adds,  "judged  by  our  present 
standards,  such  thoughts  are  highly 
fantistic,  although  by  no  means  im- 
possible of  realization  in  the  distant 
future." 

Within  a  year,  he  said,  a  television 
transmitter  will  be  installed  atop  the 
new  RCA  building  in  New  York  and 
another  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 


Grainger  Closes  Long 
Canadian  Contract 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

the    Famous    Players    Canadian    Cor- 
poration, Ltd  . 

J.  R.  Grainger  represented  Fox  in 
the  negotiations  which  covered  a 
period  of  six  months,  and  Arthur 
Cohen,  managing  director,  represented 
Famous  Players. 


Educational  Sets 
1931-32  Season  List 

Educational  will  release  128  sub- 
jects on  its  1931-32  schedule,  of  which 
52  will  be  two  reel  comedies,  and  76 
one  reel  subjects. 

Mack  Sennett,  who  has  been  pro- 
ducing short  features  exclusively  for 
Educational  since  his  entry  into  the 
sound  field,  will  make  26  two-reel 
comedies  next  season,  and  two  differ- 
ent one-reel  novelty  series.  Sennett's 
two-reel  comedies  will  be  divided  into 
three  groups;  there  are  to  be  eight 
Andy  Clyde  Comedies,  six  Mack  Sen- 
nett Comedy  Featurettes.  and  12  Mack 
Sennett  Comedies  . 


Firms  Declare  Dividends 

Balaban  &  Katz  has  declared  a  reg- 
ular quarterly  dividend  of  75  cents  on 
the  common  and  $1.75  on  the  pre- 
ferred stock,  payable  on  June  27  to 
holders  of  record  June  17. 

Eastern  Theatres,  Ltd.,  declared  a 
regular  semi-annual  dividend  of  $3.50 
on  the  preferred  stock,  payable  July  31 
to  holders  of  record  June  30. 


Entire  Market  Irregular;  Trading  Dull 


High  Low 

Consolidated    Film    Ind.    pfd 135^  135-5 

Fox  Film   "A" 20^^  195^ 

General  Tlieatre  Equip,   new 5  4^^ 

Loew's    Inc 42^  425^ 

M-G-M   pfd 25  25 

Paramount    Publix    24K  23Vi 

Pathc    Exchange    1%  V/l 

R    K   O    13%  1334 

W'arner   Bros SH  8 


Close 

135^ 
20 

5 
425^ 
25 
2454 

154 
135-^ 

m 


Net 
Change 

+  Vs 
+  Vz 

-I-  54 
-Vi 


-f  54 


-f  ■/. 


Curb  List  Steady 


High  Low 

Fox    Theatres    "A" '. .33^  354 

General   Theatre   Equip,   pfd 9  95^ 

Technicolor     6  6 

Trans    Lux    654  654 


Net 
Close    Change 

+  54 
-t-254 


33/^ 

6 
654 


Sales 

20l 
8.000 
4.300 
1,700 

200 
4.700 

100 
3.100 
19,300 


Sales 

200 

4,100 

100 

100 


Bond  Issues  Also  Irregular;  P.P.  Off  ^Vs 


High        Low 

General  Theatre    Equij).  6s   '40 42  40;^ 

Paramount    Broadway    S'/2S    '51 10154  10154 

Paramount   F.    L.  6s   '47 915^  905^ 

Paramount    Publix   554s   '50 805^.  7954 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 45  42 


Net 
Close    Change 

43  -fl 

10154 
9054 
7951. 
45 


-154 
-25/8 
+2Vs 


Sales 

29 
4 
6 

30 


Gang  Films 
Put  On  Spot 
In  Milwaukee 


{Continued  from  page   1) 

especially  that  the  gangster  story  is 
not  good  for  children  and  even  for 
many  adults.  Our  commission  r:ontacts 
with  police  departments  and  censor 
boards  through  the  country  and  we 
have  found  opinion  generally  against 
them.  Some  places  have  been  more 
strict  than  we  have." 

One  Milwaukee  exhibitor,  not  a 
member  of  the  commission,  said  that 
while  he  believed  it  was  time  "we 
stopped  rooting  for  the  gangster," 
gangster  films  at  present  are  the  most 
successful  from  the  box-office  stand- 
point. 


Patent  Fight  to  Be 
Continued  by  G.  T.  P. 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

efl:ect  was  a  suit  against  Western 
Electric),  concerns  only  one  jurisdic- 
tion, Schlesinger  says.  Suits  are  to 
be  brought  in  other  jurisdictions,  he 
declares. 

So  far,  the  litigation  has  concerned 
only  reproducing  equipment.  Schles- 
inger claims  that  the  validity  of  the 
Ries  patent  in  recording  has  been  ad- 
mitted collaterally  and  that  he  may 
institute  suit  on  the  recording  process. 

Schlesinger  points  out  that  the  Su- 
preme   Court  has   not   passed   on   the 
Ries  patent,  having  merely  refused  t 
review    the    Appellate    Court   decisio: 
upon  motion  of  Western  Electric  at 
torneys. 


Weber  Begins  32nd 
Term  as  President 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

Los  Angeles,  vice-president ;  William 
J.  Jerngood,  Newark,  secretary ; 
Harry  E.  Benton,  Boston,  treasurer. 
Jerngood  is  entering  his  thirteenth 
term  as  secretary. 

The  Federation  for  some  time  has 
been  conducting  a  campaign  against 
mechanical  music  in  theatres,  calling 
upon  the  public  to  rally  to  a  music 
defense  league  to  preserve  living  or- 
chestras in  theatres.  Progress  has 
been  made  in  this  campaign,  it  was 
reported  to  the  Chattanooga  conven- 
tion. 


le 


Buying  Co-op  Plan  to 
Feature  S.  E.  Meeting 

Atl.^nta — Plans  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  buying  co-operative  by  in- 
dependent exhibitors  of  Georgia,  Ala- 
bama and  southern  Tennessee  are 
scheduled  to  highlight  their  conven- 
tion here  today  and  tomorrow.  A  fight 
on  inimical  legislation  also  will  be 
mapped  at  the  sessions.  M.  A.  Light- 
man,  president  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A. 
is  slated  to  be  a  principal  speaker.  Of- 
ficers nominated  are :  O.  C.  Lam, 
president;  Hugh  Manning,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Love  B.  Harrell,  secretary- 
treasurer.  Nomination  is  tantamount 
to  election. 


Transfers  Story  Dept. 

Columbia  is  transferring  its  stor> 
department  to  the  Coast  studios  from 
the  home  office.  Jack  Cohn  and  fam- 
ilv  are  now  en  route  to  the  studio. 


QSfmfmonflL 

WttTfRIH 


THEY   ARE- 


N  A  SENSATIONAL  SERIES    OP 

MONOGRAM 


"PARTNERS T% TRAIL". "VANISHINCi    MEN 


'CAILOPINC  TMRU 


••     ••?»!£ 


MAN '"•'•DEATH  VALLEY" 


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MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday.   June    15,    1931 


Copyright  for 
Holdovers  Is 
Under  Fire 


{Continued  from  f^anc  1) 

only  in  the  classification  section  of 
the  statute  being  brought  in  there  by 
the  amendment  of   1912. 

Even  if  an  unauthorized  exhibition 
were  a  violation  of  copyright,  it 
would  be  inequitable  to  permit  the 
distributor  to  invoke  the  copyright 
statute  for  what  "is  really  a  viola- 
tion of  the  contract,"   the  court  said. 

The  copyright  law  gives  distribu- 
tors a  right  of  action  against  unau- 
thorized exhibition  of  copyrighted  mo- 
tion picture  films.  Federal  Judge  Wil- 
liam C.  Coleman  of  the  Maryland 
District  Court  ruled  in  the  case  of 
Tiffany  et  al.  vs.  Dowing  et  al.  His 
ruling  held  that  Section  1  of  the  copy- 
right law  embraces  motion  pictures. 

The  Massachusetts  ruling  "unques- 
tionably" will  be  appealed,  it  is  stated 
authoritatively.  Distributors  have  re- 
lied upon  the  copyright  law  to  curb 
unauthorized  holdovers,  prosecuting 
offenders  through  the  Copyright  Pro- 
tection  Bureau. 


Lehmans  Out;  New 
Bank  to  Radio  Aid 

(Continued  from  pane  1) 

Picture  Daily  Saturday,  was  wor- 
ried. So  was  David  Sarnofif.  Brown 
told  the  golfers  they  could  have  gone 
to  General  Electric  or  Westinghouse, 
major  background  factors  in  the  af- 
fairs of  the  RKO  group,  for  finances, 
but  that  they  preferred  to  avoid  turn- 
ing to  their  principals  for  financial  aid. 
He  intimated  that  the  financing 
deal  was  the  first  of  others  to  come 
and  then  elicited  cheers  and  applause 
from  the  80  men  present  with  the 
"to  hell  with  adversity  and  depression" 
punch  line.  Brown,  at  another  point, 
said  Radio  was  worth  $75,000,000,  the 
impression  prevailing  that  he  was  re- 
ferring to  the  production,  distribution 
and  theatre  units  combined. 


National  Council 

To  Fight  Censors 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

considered  obscene  in  a  film  may  be 
okayed  in  a  book  and  asks :  "Who  is 
to  decide  what  is  obscene?  A  police- 
man? A  politician?  A  professional 
vice  hunter? 

As  horrible  examples  it  cites  the 
following  cuts  ordered  by  censor 
boards : 

"Maryland  bars  a  kiss  on  the  neck,  but 
winks  at  a  drinking  scene.  Kansas  censors 
can't  stand  the  sight  of  a  whisky  bottle, 
but  kisses  on  the  neck  are  entertaining. 
In  Virginia  all  passion  must  be  blessed  by 
a  marriage  ceremony.  Ohio  doesn't  like 
pictures  d'ealing  with  jail  breaks  and  con- 
siders an  actress  in  her  underwear  as 
''indecent" — though  lingerie  advertisements 
in  the  newspapers  are  not.  New  York,  of 
all  places,  bars  scenes  showing  a  policeman 
or  an  official  accepting  graft.  Pennsylvania 
the  strictest  state  board  of  all,  is  likely  to 
bar  anything. 

"Since  the  talkies  have  entered  the  field, 
not  only  entertainment  features,  but  news 
reels  as  well,  have  come  in  for  their  share 
of  censorship. 

"The  federal  law  prohibits  interstate  ship- 
ments  of   prize  fight    films." 

The  council  is  composed  of  many 
nationally  known  men  and  women. 


Gummed  Up 

New      Orleans  —  The     Item 
carried  this  on  its  front  page: 
"To  Gum-Chewers: 

"Wrap  the  wad  in  a  piece  of 
paper  when  you  tire  of  chew- 
ing gum.  That  would  save  the 
clothes  of  many  theatre  pa- 
trons. When  you  get  rid  of 
gum  in  the  theatre  you  are 
carrying  gum-chewing  too  far, 
or  maybe  not   far  enough. 

"A.   Labas." 


'City  Lights" 
Holding  Well 
In  Frisco  Run 


S.AN  Fr.ancisco — The  recently- 
opened  United  Artists,  which  had 
"City  Lights"  in  its  second  week,  is 
continuing  strong  and  rolled  up  $18,- 
000  gross  last  week.  "Trader  Horn," 
in  its  third  stanza  at  the  Paramount, 
also  held  well,  getting  $16,000,  which 
is  only  $3,000  below  the  house  aver- 
age for  a  first  week.  "Seed"  did  well 
at  the  Orpheum,  while  other  houses 
did  average  business. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  9: 

"GOOD  BAD  GIRL"  (Col.) 
GOLDEN    GATE-(2,800),    35c-4Oc-50c-65c. 
7    days.      Four    acts    RKO    vaude.      Gross: 
$15,000.     (Average,  $15,000.) 

Week  Ending  June  10: 
"SEED"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-50c.    7    days. 
Gross:    $15,000.      (Average,    $12,000.) 
"CITY  UGHTS"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200),  25c-40c-60c. 
(second  week).  7  days.  Gross:  $18,000. 
(Average  not   yet  determined.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

FOX— (4,600).  50c-65c-75c-$l,00.  7  days. 
F.  &  M.  stage  show;  Walt  Roesner.  Gross: 
$37,300.      (Average.    $34,000.) 

"STRANGERS   MAY  KISS"   (M-G-M) 

EL  CAPITAN— (3,100).  25c-40c-60c,  7 
Bays.  Jay  Brower  band;  stage  show.  Gross: 
$13,400.     (Average,  $13,000.) 

"GUN  SMOKE"  (Para.) 

WARFTELD-(2,70O).  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Rube  Wolf  band.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average 
$21,000.) 

Week  Ending  June  11: 

"SVENGALI"  (Warners) 

WARNER— (1,385).  35c-50c,  second  week. 
7   days.      Gross:    $7,200.      (Average.    $10,500.) 

Week  Ending  June  12: 
"TRADER  HORN"   (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2.740).  35c-.50c-65c-90c. 
(third  week).  6  days.  Jess  S'taflFord's  band. 
Gross:  $16,000.  (Average,  first  week.  $19,000.) 


Bloom  Heads  British 
Releases  in  Canada 

Toronto — Dewey  Bloom,  veteran 
exploiteer  and  publicist,  has  been 
placed  in  charge  of  sales  and  exploi- 
tation of  the  British  Films  Division 
of  Regal  Films.  Ltd.  Bloom  has  had 
a  long  experience  in  the  legitimate  and 
picture  fields.  He  has  been  managing 
Gertrude  Lawrence,  stage  star,  and 
more  recently  handled  Canadian  en- 
gagements of  "Trader  Horn."  Bloom, 
who  is  a  Canadian,  will  headquarter 
at  Toronto.  The  division  Bloom  heads 
will  handle  Canadian  release  of  Brit- 
ish International,  British  and  Do- 
minions, British  Lion  and  Gainsbor- 
ough product. 


Finish  Mascot  Serial 

Hni.i.vwoon — Harry  Carey  and  Ed- 
wina  Booth  have  completed  work  on 
"The  \^anishing  Legion,"  Mascot 
serial,  and  their  first  picture  together 
since  "Trader  Horn." 


Gold  Dust  Out 

Wlien"Gertie" 

Tries  Philly 


PniL.M>KLPHi.\ — "Gold  Dust  Gertie" 
came  to  town,  but  she  collected  mighty 
little  gold  dust.  In  fact,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  city  paid  only  $7,500  to 
see  the  damsel,  as  against  an  average 
for  the  Boyd  of  $18,000.  It  was  the 
last  stand  at  the  house,  which  now  is 
dark.  Otherwise,  lousiness  along  the 
main  stem  was  so-so,  with  "Women 
of  .\11  Nations"  getting  $27,000  to  top 
the  Fox  house  average  by  $1,000. 
"White  Shoulders"  dove  to  $14,000  at 
the  Stanley. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  11 : 

"THE   FRONT   PAGE"    (U.   A.) 

ARCADIA— (600).  .SOc,  6  days.  Gross: 
S3, 200.     (Average.  $3,000.) 

"GOLD   DUST   GERTIE"   (Warners) 

BOYD— ($2,400).  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Gross:   $7,500.      (Average.  $18,000.) 

"TOO  YOUNG  TO   MARRY"   (F.  N.) 

EARLE— (2.000).  25c-65c.  6  days.  Eight 
acts  vaudeville.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average, 
$18,000.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

FOX— (3,000),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days.  Fan- 
chon  and  Marco  stage  show.  Gross:  $27,000. 
(Average,  $26,000.) 

"SEED"  (Univ.) 

KARLTON-d.OOO).  40c-50c,  6  days.   (Sec- 
ond run.)     Gross:  $5,500.     (Average,  $5,000.) 
"THE  LAWYER'S  SECRET"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (1,800),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.     (Average,  $15,000.) 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS"  (M-G-M) 

MASTBAUM— (4,800),  .35c-50c-7Sc,  6  days. 
Stage  show.  Gross:  $39,000.  (Average, 
$40,000.) 

WHITE   SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 

STANLEY— (3,700),  35c-50c-75c.  6  days. 
Gross:  $14,000.     (Average.  $18,000.) 

"THE  SECRET  SIX"  (M-G-M) 

STANTON— (1,700).  25e-6.Sc,  6  days.  (Sec- 
ond run.)   Gross:  $11,500.   (Average.  $11,000.) 


Vaude  Team's 
Biggest  Draw 
For  Seattle 


Seattle — Business  was  off  gener- 
ally the  Orpheum  with  a  take  of  $14,- 
500  high  due  to  Olsen  &  Johnson  and 
not  the  picture.  Business  was  slow  for 
both  "Daybreak"  and  "Never  the 
Twain  Shall  Meet."  "Indiscreet"  got 
average  lousiness  and  so  is  in  a  second 
week  at  the  Music  Box. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  12: 

"DUDE  RANCH"    (Para.) 

COLISEUM— (2.O0O),    2Sc-3.Sc-50c,    4 
Gross:     $3,000.       (Average,     4    days. 


FOX 

days. 

$3,500.) 


"GUN    SMOKE"    (Para.) 

COLISEUM-(2,000).    25c-35c-50c,    3 
Gross:     $1,550.       (Average,    3    days. 


FOX 
days. 
$2,000.) 
"NEVER   THE 


TWAIN   SHALL   MEET" 
(M-G-M) 

AVENUE— (2,750),    25c-35c- 
Gross:    $11,000.      (Average, 


FOX  FIFTH 
50c-75c.  7  days. 
$12,000.) 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 
FOX    PARAMOUNT— (3.1.';0).   2.5c-35c-50c- 
75c,  7  days.     Fanehon  &•  Marco  "Varieties." 
Gross:    $12,000.      (Average.   $13, .500.) 
"SWEET  KITTY  BELLAIRS"  Warners) 
"OKLAHOMA     CYCLONE" 
(Synd.  Pic.  Corp.) 
LIBERTY— (2.000).   l.Sc-.TOc.  7  davs.  Gross: 
$5, .500.      (Average,    $7,000.) 

"INDISCREET"  (U.  A.) 
MUSIC    BOX— (9,50).    25c-50c-75c,    7    days. 
Gross  $7,500.     (Average.  $7,500.) 

BEYOND  VICTORY"  (RKO-Pathe) 
^RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,6.50).  25c-3.Sc-.50c-60c- 
75c.  7  days.   RKO  vaude.  headlined  by  Olsen 
&  Johnson.  Gross:  .$14,500.   (Average,  $13,500.) 


Lupe  Big  Aid 
To  ^Rosie'  in 
Chicago  Spot 


Chrwco — The  Palace  took  in  $28,- 
500,  which  is  $4,500  above  average, 
but  Lupe  Velez  on  the  stage  was 
given  chief  credit  for  the  draw,  the 
film  entertainment  being  "Every- 
thing's Rosie."  "Daddy  Long  Legs" 
at  McVickers  boosted  par  by  $5,000, 
the  gross  figuring  $33,625.  Loop  busi- 
ness generally  was  off. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June   10 : 

"LADY  WHO  DARED"   (W.   B.) 

ORPHEU.M-(C*5).3.Sc-50c,  7  days.  Cross: 
$3,075.      (Average,    $3,200.) 

Week  Ending  June  11: 
"DER  LIEBES-EXPRESS"  (State  Rights) 

MONROE— (762),  25c-40c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $4,W)0.      (Average,   $3',000.) 

Week  Ending  June  12: 

"KICK  IN"   (Para.) 

CASTLE— (299).  j5c-40c-60c,  7  days.  Sec- 
ond i^oop  run.  first  week.  Gross:  S3,92S. 
(Average.   $3,500.) 

"THE   LAWYER'S  SECRET"    (Para.) 

CHICAGO— (4.000),  35c-50c-75c-85c,  7  days 

Publi.x      stage      unit      with      Lester      Allen, 

orchestra.  Gross:  $36,150.   (Average,  $46,000.) 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fok) 

McVICKERS— (2,284),  35c-50c-75c-85c.  1st 
week.     Gross:    $33,625.      (Average,   $28,500.) 

"THE  MALTESE  FALCON"  (Warners) 

ORIENTAL— (3,940),  j'5c-50c-75c-85c,  7 

days.      Publix   stage   unit   with  James    Hall, 

orchestra.    Gross:   $24,440.    (Average,  $36,500). 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

RCX3SEVELT— (1,591),  35c-50c-75c-85c,  7 
days,  2nd  Loop  week.  Picture  spotted  here 
after  excellent  first  week  at  CTiicago  The- 
atres. Gross:  $17,200.  (Average,  $23,200.) 
"DONOVAN'S   KID"   (Radio) 

STATE-LAKE— (2,776),  33c-50c-75c-85c,  8 
days.     Gross:   $29,100.      (Average,   $30,200.) 

'WOMEN   OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700),  35c-50c-75c- 
85c,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $15,250.  (Average, 
$24,600.) 

Week  Ending  June  IS: 
"CITY  LIGHTS"   (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUAI    (665).   35c-60c,   2nd   Loop   run, 
first  3  davs.     Gross:  $2,890.  (Average,  $3,200. 
"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 

PALACE— (2,509),  35c-50c-7Sc-85c,  7  days. 
Five  acts  RKO  vaude.,  headed  by  Lupe 
Velez,  orchestra.  Gross:  $28,500.  (Average, 
$24,000. 


Simplicity  Urged  on 
Screen  by  Sloane 

Hollywood — In  these  times,  more 
than  ever  before,  the  industry  needs 
simple,  sincere  stories  of  human  tribu- 
lations and  hope,  declares  Paul 
Sloane,  director.  Sophistication  is  a 
word  that  has  cost  the  industry  mil- 
lions, he  says.  It  is  the  antithesis  of 
sincerity. 

Get  back  talking  words  of  two  syl- 
lables, have  action  forthright,  natural 
characters  and  don't  effeminize  mate- 
rial, but  use  subtitles  for  the  carriage 
trade  is  his  advice.  Get  back  human 
comedy,  homely  sentiment,  virile  mel- 
odrama and  building  quickly,  sanely 
and  constructively  into  stardom  the 
promising  material  at  hand,  he  urges. 


One- Act  Plays  by 
Locals  Are  Urged 

Presentation  of  a  one-act  play  once 
a  week  by  a  local  dramatic  society  in 
houses  where  Fanehon  &  Marco  units 
do  not  play  is  urged  by  Fox  Theatres. 
This,  it  is  said,  will  supply  the  de- 
mand for  stage  entertainment.  | 

F.  &  M.  for  Butterfield 

Detroit — Routing     of     Fanehon     &    I 
Marco  stage   shows  over  the   Butter-     ' 
field  time  in   Michigan  is  under  con- 
sideration. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.  NO.  14 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  16,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Theatre  Closing  Fear 
Out;  New  Fire  Law  In 


Hollywood  Is 
[  Listening  As 
Money  Talks 

Production  Heads  Enter 
Era  of  Restraint 


Hoi-LVWOOD — Money  may  talk,  but 
jit's  a  delicate  subject  of  conversation 
|at  the  present  time,  owing  to  recent 
isalary  cuts  and  rumors  of  further 
Economies. 

;  In  the  past  whenever  retrenchment 
;talk  has  been  in  the  air  the  habitues 
jof  Hollywood  have  been  prone  to 
jsmile  condescendingly,  for  no  matter 
how  seriously  the  New  York  execu- 
tives took  themselves  in  the  matter, 
some  of  the  members  of  the  colony 
jhgured  the  axe  would  not  touch  them. 
1  The  situation  now,  however,  has 
[taken  on  a  different  hue.  Widespread 
salary  cuts  have  been  ordered  by  sev- 

1  (^Cantinued  on   page   6) 


NoDropinW.B.-F.N. 
Schedule  of  Seventy 

Reports,  current  for  several  weeks, 
that  Warners-First  National  planned 
to  trim  their  announced  70  picture 
total  for  1931-1932  were  met  yester- 
day by  a  statement  from  Sam  E. 
Morris  that  schedules  would  be  lived 
up  to  as  announced.  Six  pictures  on 
the  i5ew  program  are  either  in  the 
editing   stage   or   awaiting   release. 

Taking   cognizance  of   reports   cur- 

Itrent   in   Hollywood   that   the   Warner 

plant    would    close,    Morris    said    the 

{Continued    on    page    6) 


New  York  Run  Gives 
''Svengair  $106,444 

"Svengali"        (Warners)        grossed 
$106,444  in  its  six  weeks'  run  at  the 
iHoUywood,    New    York.     The    week- 
jby-week    figures    follow : 
Week  Ending  Gross 

May   7 $30,002 


Mav  14. 

Mav  21. 

May  28. 

Jimc  4.  . 

June  11. 


25,441 
17,867 
14,151 
10,247 
8,736 


Total    $106,444 


Still  Silent 

Ottawa — Another  week  has 
passed  and  there  is  yet  no  sign 
of  the  government  report  on 
the  investigation  into  the  pic- 
ture  business. 


Kent  Kills  Twin  Bills 

Upon  orders  of  S.  R.  Kent, 
double-featuring  has  been  dis- 
continued at  the  State  Theatre 
in  Detroit.  The  practice  was 
instituted  recently  at  the  the- 
atre, which  was  the  first  time 
twin  bills  had  played  a  first, 
second  or  third  run  in  Detroit. 
When  Kent's  attention  was 
called  to  the  matter,  he 
promptly  put  an  end  to  the 
double-featuring. 


New  Fox  Board 
Is  Try  out  of 
Bankers'  Idea 


Revamping  of  the  Fox  Film  direc- 
torate to  include  only  two  active  exe- 
cutives of  the  company  as  against  ten 
representing  large  banks  and  indus- 
trial enterprises  outside  of  the  film 
industry  is  being  considered  a  "bank- 
ers' tryout  in  Wall  Street,"  accord- 
ing to  The  Neiif  York  Times. 

"Wall  Street  observers,"  comments 
the  paper,  "are  prepared  to  watch  the 
future  progress  of  the  corporation 
with  keen  interest  on  account  of  the 
variance  in  opinion  among  executives 
of  motion  picture  companies  and 
bankers  generally  as  to  what  con- 
stituted necessary  expense  in  the  mak- 
ing   of    motion    picture    production." 

The  Times  states  that  Harley  L. 
Clarke   has    applied    many    axioms    of 

{Continued    on    page    2) 


Allied  Status 
In  Wisconsin 
Is  Meet  Topic 


Milwaukee — Status  of  the  Allied 
franchise  in  this  state  is  expected  to 
be  determined  during  the  annual  con- 
vention here  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of 
Wisconsin.  The  organization  opens 
a  two-day  convention  today  at  the 
Hotel  Pfister.  Screen  advertising, 
zoning  and  other  grievances  are  to  be 
aired  at  the  session.  Directors  held 
their  meeting  last  night. 

The  M.  P.  T.  O.  holds  the  Allied 
franchise  for  the  state,  but  recently 
there  was  organized  an  Allied  The- 
atre Owners  association.  This  is  said 
to  have  the  backing  of  the  national 
Allied  organization  and  was  formed  as 
a  result  of  reported  dissatisfaction  in 

(Continued    on    page    6) 

Profit  Forecast  Sends 
Educ'l  Up  19V4  Points 

Educational    showed    a    net    gain    of 

19/4    points   on   the    New   York   Curb 

Exchange    yesterday,    closing    at    42. 

The    jump    was    reported    in    financial 

(Confimied    on    page    6) 


McGraw  to  Star  in 
Series  of  Pictures 

John  J.  McGraw,  veteran  manager 
of  the  New  York  Giants,  is  reported 
to  have  signed  a  $250,000  contract  to 
appear  in  a  series  of  baseball  pictures. 


M'G'M  Won  HNick  Envelopes 
Of  Employes^  Schenck  Says 


Industry  Not  Invited 
To  Depression  Confab 

Mobilization  of  business  leaders  to 
recommend  a  course  of  action  de- 
signed to  lick  depression,  as  sponsored 
by  the  United  States  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  to  date,  does  not  include 
an  invitation  for  the  picture  business 
to  participate.  The  plan  has  not  been 
placed  before  the  Hays  organization 
for  consideration,  it  was  stated  at  that 
association's   office   yesterday. 


Salary  slashing  is  out  at  Loew's 
and  M-G-M,  Nicholas  M.  Schenck, 
president  of  the  two  affiliated  organi- 
zations, declared  yesterday  at  a  meet- 
ing of  directors.  The  company  is 
understood  prepared  to  effect  econ- 
omies in  other  ways,  rather  than  re- 
sort to  nicking  the  pay  envelopes  of 
employes.  M-G-M's  stand  lines  up 
that  company  with  Columbia,  Fox 
and  Radio  in  opposing  wage  reduc- 
tion?. 


Violations  End,  Storage 

More  Liberal  Under 

New  Bill 


By  WILLIAM  ORNSTEIN 

Rather  than  "paralyze  a  great  in- 
dustry by  closing  of  studios  and  the- 
atres, increase  the  unemployment 
situation  and  deprive  the  public  of 
its  greatest  entertainment,"  Mayor 
Walker  yesterday  signed  a  new  tire 
ordinance  giving  the  industry  in  New- 
York  a  complete  new  system  for 
handling  film  in  theatres,  laboratories 
and  studios.  The  new  law  now  per- 
mits 50,000  feet  of  film  to  be  stored  in 
theatres,  drapes  on  theatre  walls  and 
a  more  liberal  handling  of  film  in 
studios  and  laboratories.  Passage  of 
the  ordinance  means  that  theatre  vio- 
lations are  automatically  removed  and 
danger  that  New  York  houses  as  well 

(Continued    on    page    6) 


Eyssell  New  Publix 
D.  M.  in  N.  Y.  City 

Gustav  Eyssell  has  arrived  in  New 
York  to  take  over  his  new  duties  as 
district  manager  of  the  four  Publix 
houses  in  New  York  City.  A.  M. 
Botsford  called  him  to  the  big  city 
from  the  south,  where  he  held  a  sim- 
ilar position  with  jurisdiction  over 
the  Palace,  Dallas ;  Metropolitan, 
Houston,  and  the  Texas  in  San  An- 
tonio. 


Oakie  Squabble  Past; 
In  "Mister  Noodle" 

Hollywood — Jack  Oakie  and  B.  P. 
Schulberg  are  about  to  shake  hands 
and  declare  that  Oakie-Paramount 
squabble  over  salary  a  thing  of  the 
past.  It  is  understood  the  difficulty 
has  been  settled  and  that  Oakie  re- 
turns to  the  studio  to  appear  in 
"Mister   Noodle,"   as   per   schedule. 


Want  "Fair"  Zoning 

Frightened  by  the  depres- 
sion and  the  lull  in  business, 
circuits  are  demanding  "ter- 
rific protection,"  the  M.  P.  T. 
O.  A.  declares,  in  calling  for 
establishment  of  "some  fair 
method"  of  zoning. 

The  organization  advocates 
reassembling  of  the  zoning 
committees. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    June    16,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    E.rliihitors    Daily    Review 

a»d  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol. 


Tune   16.   1931 


No.   14 


Martin    Qi'icley 

EJitor-in-Chief   and  Pitblislicr 

MAURICE  KAXN 

Editor 

James    A.    Cron 

.-Ji/;yi(i.fiiii;  Manager 


^^\  Pl'BI.ISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays^  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^     Daily,    Inc.,   a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  \  ork. 
Telephone;  Circle  7  3100.  Cable  address: 
"Uuigpubco,  -New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

llollywoo>1  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliatn 
A.  Johnston.  .Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edzvin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  810  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.   VV.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    v.,   under   Act   o£    March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  LInited  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $1.1.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Operators  Sue 

For  Union  Ouster 

Albany — Two  operators,  claiming 
they  were  deprived  of  their  Hvelihood 
by  expulsion  from  the  operators' 
union,  asked  the  Court  of  Appeals 
this  week  to  determine  whether  their 
expulsion  was   legal. 

The  appellants,  Alex  Polin  and 
Charles  Schneider,  of  Brooklyn, 
charged  through  their  counsel, 
Charles  H.  Tuttle,  that  they  had 
been  ousted  from  the  Motion  Picture 
Operators'  Union  because  they  criti- 
sized   the   president,    Sam    Kaplan. 

They  brought  an  action  against 
Kaplan,  it  was  stated,  for  failing  to 
account  for  union  funds,  asserting 
he  had  used  coercion  to  get  the  job 
of  organizer  at  $20,000  a  year,  gifts 
of  S28,0()0  from  the  union  and  a  raise 
in  pay  as  president  from  $250  a  year 
to  SI  SO  a  month.  They  asked  to  have 
an  order  of  a  lower  court  reinstated 
so  they  can  earn  a  living,  claiming 
that  as  the  union  controls  most  of  the 
theatres  in  Greater  New  York  they 
have  been  unable  to  obtain  work. 


Fox  Suit  on  Today 

Suit  of  Winfield  Sheehan,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of 
I"ox,  versus  William  Fox,  charging 
the  latter  converted  4,100  shares  of 
I'"ox  I'ilm  loaned  him  by  -Sheehan,  is 
.scheduled  to  get  under  way  today  in 
Supreme    Court,    New    York. 


Verichrome  Film  Formed 

Ai.BANV,    X.    Y. — X'erichrome    Film, 
Inc.,    has   been   organized  here. 


The  above  company  is  an  Eastman 
KfKlak  subsidiary,  and  is  a  legal  for- 
mality in  connection  with  the  market- 
ing  of    Kwiak    Verichrome    I'ilm. 


W.  B.  Takes  Mortgage 

Warners  have  taken  an  $800,000 
mortgage  due  June  2,  1932  on  the 
Hollywood  theatre.  The  Pown  Corp. 
accepted  the  mortgage. 


Takes  Yonkers  Lease 

YoNKKks — RKO  has  leased  for  10 
years  the  corner  store  at  South 
Broadway  here. 


T  T  i.sn't  alwHys  in  the  conference  room  that  picture  contracts  are 
■*■  signed.  For  color,  tliat  Tom  Mi.x  contract  with  "U"  for  a  series  of  six 
westerns  captures  a  niche  all  its  own.  The  actual  papers  were  signatured 
in  Mi.x's  circus  car  at  Stamford,  Conn.,  last  Friday  afternoon.  Mix 
finishes  his  circus  contract  first  and  reports  at  Universal  City  in  October 
— horse  and  all,  for  Tony  is  an  important  part  of  the  deal. 

• 

Those  rumblings  about  changes  in  an  important  organization  per- 
sistently persist.  Something  or  other  is  supposed  to  have  happened  on 
the  last  week-end  cruise  of  the  Maiiretania.  That's  the  yarn,  believe  it 
or  not. 

• 

Carl  Laemmle  is  opposed  to  any  screen  advertising  and  his  readiness 
to  have  Universal  enter  into  a  cooperative  arrangement  with  Allied 
States  Association  is  in  spite  of  that  organization's  stand  on  sponsored 
reels,  he  makes  clear  in  a  letter  to  the  exhibitor  organization.  Laemmle 
advanced  financing"  to  Allied  in  return  for  that  organization's  recom- 
mendation that  members  give  all  possible  consideration  to  Universal 
product. 

• 

Sam  Rinzler  is  keeping  both  hands  busy.  With  tht  right  he  is  buy- 
ing theatre  and  with  the  left  he  is  operating  a  number  of  Brooklyn 
houses  in  opposition  to  Fox.  But  chroniclers  of  Off-the-Record  hear 
that  in  a  short  time  he  will  take  over  those  Fox  houses  that  are  in 
competition  with  his  chain  of  17. 

• 

He's  a  D.  M.  for  one  of  the  major  outfits  and  is  selling  one  of  his 
specials  with  the  proviso  that  it  doesn't  go  on  twin  bills.  He's  puzzled 
these  days  since  the  circuit  that  owns  the  company  will  be  one  of  the 
first  to  double  feature  the  picture  and  then  try  to  keep  independents 
from  following  suit. 


New  Incorporation 

DovKK,  Del. — Charter  was  filed 
here  by : 

Art-Craft  Pictures  Corporation,  to 
deal  in  all  kinds  of  motion  pictures. 
100  shares,  no  par  value.  Repre- 
sented by  Samuel  C.  Wood,  D.  P. 
Mitchell,  Jr.,  and  William  M.  Stevens 
of   New  York  City. 


May  Sue  on  Percentages 

London  —  The  Kinematograph 
Renters'  Society  threatens  to  institute 
exhibitor  suit  to  check  alleged  fraudu- 
lent returns  on  percentage  runs. 


In  Radio  Tie-Up 

Warner-First  National  stars  will 
be  featured  in  "The  Radio  Newsreel 
of  Hollywood,"  a  52-week  serial 
broadcast  which  gets  under  way  about 
June  22.  A  continued  story  will  pro- 
vide continuity  and  a  connecting 
thread   throughout   the   entire   series. 


''Viking"  Opens  Tonight 

"The  Viking,"  produced  bv  Varick 
l->issell  and  handled  by  J.  D.  Will- 
iams and  Associates,  has  its  New 
\'ork  premiere  at  the  Central  Park 
Theatre   tonight. 


Indifferent  Day  for  Stocks 

High  Low  Close 

Consolidated    Film    Industries SV»  4^  SH 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 1454  1354  13K 

Eastman    Kodak 1.3354  130^  130!^ 

Kox     Film     "A" 20-4  1911  W/g 

(ieneral    Theatre    E<iuipmein    new SJ.^  5  5 

I.oew's,    Inc 4254  40^  41 

Paramount     Publix WA  2354  23'!4 

Pathe     Exchange     "A" S'A  354  3'A 

RKO     1454  1354  1354 

Warni-r     Bros 9Vn  854  9 

W.-nner     Bros,     pfd 1954  1954  19)4 

Educational  Up  19^4  Points 

High  Low  Close 

Educational      42  3054  42 

Kox     'I'lieatres     "A" 3?4  354  ^/a 

fieneral    Theatre    E(|uipment    pfd 135^  11  1154 

.Sentry     Safety     Control 1  1  1 

Trans    Lux 654  bVn  (^'A 

♦  Bonds  Gain  Slightly 

High  Low  Close 

General    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40 4754  455^  46 

Keith    B.    F.   6s    '46 6454  6454  641/1 

I.<jew's     6s     '41     ex     war 96'A  9654  %K 

Paramount     Broadway     ,S54s     '51 10154  10154  10154 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 91  90  91 

Paramount    Publix    S54s.    'SO 801:;  SOA  SOA 

Pathe    7s     '.^7     WW 81  81  81 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    wd 49  46  4854 


Net 

Change 

Sales 

-f-  Vf. 

900 

+  'A 

600 

-354 

2,100 

-  'A 

15,30C 

16,800 

-Wi 

.•i.OOO 

-  Vi, 

8,f)0C 

100 

-Va 

8,200 

+  54 

.W.OOf 

-l-i!4 

300 

Net 

Change 

Sales 

-1-1954 

3,500 

—  54 

300 

-  m; 

l.MO 

100 

-  'A 

400 

Net 

Change 

Sales 

-1-4 

19 

1 

-f-  !4 

1 

2 

-I-  A 

12 

+  1 

12 

4-1 

1 

-f354 

58 

New  Fox  Board 
Is  Try  out  of 
Bankers'  Idea 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

"jjig  business  to  Fox,  chief  of  which 
it  declares  to  be  the  Inidgeting  of  ex- 
pense. 

"The  plan  has  not  been  in  opera- 
tion long  enough  to  judge  how  this 
change  will  work  out  contrasted  with 
the  budgeting  of  single  productions, 
but  Mr.  Clarke  said  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  stockholders  that  he 
expected  it  to  show  a  saving  of  at 
least  $3,000,000  in  production  expense 
this  \ear,"  continues   The   Times. 

The  paper  declares  it  is  expected 
the  progress  of  Fox  under  the  guid-  | 
ance  of  the  bankers  will  follow  much 
the  same  course  as  that  of  Paramount 
since  representatives  of  Kuhn,  Loeb 
&  Co.  were  elected  to  the  board  in 
1916.  "This  progress  has  been  almost 
wholly  in  the  development  of  the 
financial  structure.  Paramount  is  said 
to  have  the  most  stringent  system  of 
amortization  of  production  costs  in 
the  film  business,  and  the  amount 
charged  ofi^  to  depreciation  each  year 
is  great,  compared  with  the  deprecia- 
tion charges  of  most  industrial  com- 
panies," the  article  adds. 


"Gene''  Zukor  Heads 
Drive  for  Legion  Posi 

Eugene  Zukor,  newly-elected  com- 
mander of  S.  Rankin  Drew  Post,'! 
American  Legion  theatrical  unit,  is  | 
engineering  a  membership  drive  to 
draft  into  active  enrollment  all  work- 
ers in  the  show  business.  Serving  on 
Zukor's  comnfittee  are :  Aaron  Sa- 
piro,  George  Schor,  A.  F.  Cronhardt, 
Paul   Gould   and   John   McCloy.  , 


Working  Out  Plan 

Officers  of  the  Shubert  Theatre 
Corp.,  which  is  defaulting  on  inter- 
est due  on  its  six  per  cent  debentures, 
are  endeavoring  to  work  out  a  new 
financial  plan.  In  the  interim,  Broad- 
way reports  persist  the  company  is 
to  curtail  its  production  activities.         i 

Lee   Shubert  told  Motion   Picture  ' 
Daily  last  night : 

"Oh,  no.     We  will  be  busier  than 


Clara  on  Tour? 

Clara  Bow,  according  to  Interna- 
tional News  Service,  will  shortly  make 
a  "farewell  personal  ai>i>earancej 
tour." 

Publix,  it  is  understood,  recentlj 
negotiated  with  Miss  Bow  for  a  per-j 
sonal  appearance  in  the  New  York 
and  Brooklyn  Paramount  theatresJ 
but  negotiations  are  reported  dropped! 


''The  Sheik"  a  Remake 

Hollywood — Paramount  plans  as 
talker  remake  of  "The  Sheik,"  a| 
which  Rudolph  Valentino  skyrocketed* 
to  fame.  George  Metaxa,  Roumanian 
actor  recently  signed  by  the  conftfhny 
in  London,  will  do  the  sheiking  and  jj 
Claudette  Colbert  will  be  the  feminine' 
victim. 


"Featurettes"  Is  Name 

Columbia's  nine  groups  of  single 
reels  are  to  be  released  nndcr  the  gen- 
eral  title  of   "Featurettes." 


I 


A  Plain  Advertisement  Presenting  Facts 


WHY  IS 
PARAMOUNT  DOING 
A  RECORD  RUSINESS 

IN  SHORTS? 


1. 


Because  PARAMOUNT  kept  from  the  start  a  policy  of  putting 
the  same  high  class  stars,  showmanship  and  relative  money  into  pro- 
ducing shorts  as  into  the  best  quality  of  features. 


2. 


Because  PARAMOUNT  made  a  nation-wide  survey  of  theatres 
and  the  public  to  find  out  what  kind  and  what  number  of  shorts  are 
needed.     And  based  its  production  plans  on  the  results. 


3. 


Because  PARAMOUNT,  with  studios  in  New  York  and  Hollywood, 
alone  gets  the  cream  of  screen  and  stage  talent  for  shorts.  The  result 
is  big  star  names  and  wide  variety  in  our  shorts  that  no  other  com- 
pany cant  touch. 


4. 


ReeailSe  PARAMOUNT  SOUND  NEWS  not  only  scoops  all  its  rivals 
consistently  on  big  free-for-all  stories  but  continually  presents  sensa- 
tional exclusive  features.  And  gives  you  an  up-to-date,  100%  show- 
manship reel  twice  a  week. 


4  4  ^^^ 

Charlie  Ruggles        Smith-Dale  Dane-Arthur 

5. 


Ford  Sterling       AI  St.  John 


4    Lulu 
McConnell 


Billv  House 


4     Another 
Big  Name 


6 


Because  PARAMOUNT   TWO -REEL   COMEDIES   fulfill    the    two 
prime  requirements  of  this  type  of  entertainment:     (1)  Names  that 
sell  seats;     (2)  They're  really  funny.     32  for  1931-2. 

Because  PARAMOUNT  ONE-REEL  PRODUCTIONS  are  given  the 
same  careful  production  attention  relatively  as  Paramount  features. 
And  star  such  drawing  cards  as  Eddie  Cantor,  Lillian  Roth,  Eugene 
and  Willie  Howard  and  scores  of  others.     52  for  next  season. 


p " '• 

'■\  ''''. ' 

'''  ""\ 

,o 

^     <1 

^ 

^ 

A- 

'     o 

^ 

i(\\ 

a 

J 

~\^ --^^ 

7 


Because  PARAMOUNT  SCREEN  SONGS,  produced  by  Max 
Fleischer,  are  the  original  singing  cartoons  and  still  the  best  by  far 
on  the  market. 


8 


Because  paramount  TALKARTOONS  prove  by  sales  that  they 
are  the  leading  single  reel  novelties^available.  18  for  1931-2. 


9 


Walter  Hagen         Horlon  Smith         Geo.  Von  Elm         Jt>e  Kirk  wood 


Because  PARAMOUNT  PICTORIAL,  featuring  golf  stars  like  the 
above  and  big  shots  like  Rudy  Vallee,  Lowell  Thomas,  John  Philip 
Sousa  and  a  host  of  others,  is  a  little  giant  seat-seller.  One  reel. 
12  a  year. 


ftp 


IF  YOU  BUY  PRODUCT  OX  FACTS,  YOU  WAXT 

PARAMOUNT  SHORTS 


Tuesday,    June     16,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"Daddy  Long 

Legs''  a  Wow 
In  Baltimore 


Baltimore — The  New  theatre 
showing  "Daddy  Long  Legs,"  came 
near  the  record  mark  for  its  L600 
seats  by  taking  in  a  gross  of  $15,000. 
Its  average  is  $8,000. 

Audiences  were  enthusiastic  in 
praise  of  this  picture  and  the  crowds 
were  tremendous.  They  loved  Janet 
Gaynor  in  this. 

Next  for  high  was  Loew's  Stanley, 
where  Joan  Crawford  appeared  in 
"Laughing  Sinners."  The  gross  went 
to  $20,500,  which  is  excellent  for  this 
house  but  not  up  to  some  of  the  rec- 
ords Miss  Crawford  has  run  up  there 
previously. 

Loew's  Century  just  went  about 
average  with  a  gross  of  $19,000  on 
"Up  Pops  the  Devil,"  with  the  Loew- 
Capitol  stage  show,  "Breezing  Along." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  11  : 

"WHITE  SHOULDERS"   (Radio) 

KEITH'S— (2,500),  (>  days  plus  a  .Sunday 
midniRht  showing.  Gross:  $6,000.  (.\ver- 
age.  $5,500.) 

Week  Ending  June  12 
"LOVER  COME  BACK"    (Col.) 

RlVOLt— (1,982),  25c-50c.  6  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.     (Average,   $7,500.) 

"THE    PUBLIC    ENEMY"    (Warners) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN— (1,300), 
15c-.Wc,  6  days.  Gross:  $5,700.  (Average, 
$4,500.) 

Week  Ending  June  13: 
"FORI"    (Ufa) 

LITTLE— (267),  .35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$900.      (Average,    $850.) 

"UP    POPS   THE   DEVIL"    (Para.) 
LOEW'S    CENTllRY-(3,076),    25c-60c.    6 
days.       Loew-Cai)itol     stage     unit.       Gross: 
$19,000.      (Average,   $19,000.) 
(Sho'U'H    uptown    after    one    week    downtown 
at  Loew's  Stanley.) 
"INDISCREET"  (U.  A.) 
LOEW'S     P.ARKWAY— (987)      15c-35c.     6 
days.      Gross:    $4,200.      (Average.    $3,500.) 
"LAUGHING  SINNERS"  (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S    STANLEY--(3,522),     25c-60c,     6 
days.      Gross:    $20,500.      (Average,   $17,500.) 
"TOO   YOUNG   TO   MARRY"    (F.   N.) 
LOEW'S    VALENdA  -(1,487),    2.5c-35c,    6 
days.      Gross:    $2,400.      (Average.    $2,800.) 
"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 
NEW- --(1,600),     25c-50c.     6    days.       Gross: 
$15,000.      (Average,    $8,000.) 


ii 


"Daddy  Long 
Legs"  Panics 
Buffalo  Runs 

Bi:KrAL0 — With  the  weather  cold 
and  drizzling  rain  at  the  start  of  the 
week,  the  $27,900  chalked  up  by 
"Daddy  Long  Legs"  at  the  Great 
Lakes  was  sensational.  That's  better 
than  $5,000  above  average  and  the  best 
business  since  "Trader  Horn,"  which 
got  the  same  figure.  The  picture  gar- 
nered most  of  the  business  in  town, 
for  otlier  houses  were  away  off. 

Estimated    takings     for     the    week 
ending  June  12: 
"THE  LAWYER'S   SECRET"   (Para.) 
BITFFALO— (3,500),  35c-65c.  7  days.     Pub- 
li.N    stage   show.     Gross:    $21,800.      (Average, 
J25,000.) 

"IRON   MAN"   (Univ.) 
CENTURY— (3,000),  25c-35c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,700.     (Average.  $12,000.) 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 
GREAT   LAKES— (3,000).   25c-60c,   7  days. 
Ix>ew    stage    show.      Gross:    $27,900.      (Aver- 
age,  $22,.500,) 

"KICK  IN"  (Para.) 
HIPPODROME— (2.100),    25c-50c,    7    days. 
RKO      vaude.       Gross:      $16,500.      (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"BEYOND  VICTORY"  (RKO-Pathe) 
LAFAYETTE— (3,.W0),     25c-.35c,     7     davs. 
'Gross:    $10,iKXi.      (Average.    $12,000.) 


Long  Legs" 
Is  Charlotte 
Top  Notcher 


Charlotte — ^ Favorable  nublicity  in 
the  local  newspapers  and  pood  weath- 
er sent  the  box-office  receipts  for 
"Daddy  Long  Legs"  soaring  at  the 
Carolina,  making  it  the  week's  lead- 
er. However,  "Iron  Man"  at  the 
Carolina  also  topped  the  average  by 
$1,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  13 : 

"IRON    MAN"    (Univ.) 
BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.     (Average,  $3,500.) 

"PARTY    HUSBAND"    (F.    N.) 
BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:   $3,000.      (Average,  $3,500.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
CAROLINA— (1,441),      40c-50c,      3      days. 
Gross:    $6,000.       (Average,    $5,500.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
CAROLINA— (1,441),      40c-50c,      3      days. 
Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,   $5,500.) 


Gaynor  Film 
Best  of  Year 
At  Ind.  House 

Indianapolis — Janet  Gaynor  drew 
them  at  the  Apollo,  where  "Daddy 
Long  Legs"  nearly  doubled  the  aver- 
age and  got  the  best  business  of  the 
year  at  $10,000,  proving  that  good  pic- 
tures can  get  money.  Among  the  other 
houses,  the  Indiana  was  the  only  one 
at  par,  Brooke  Johns  being  given  part 
of  the  credit.  The  Gaynor  film  is  be- 
ing held  over. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  13  : 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 
APOLLO— (1,100),   25c-50c,  7  days.   Gross: 
$10,000.    (Average,   $5,500.) 

"DONOVAN'S    KID"    (RKO) 
CIRCLEr-(2,600),   25c-50c,   7   days.     Gross: 
$6,500.      (Average,   $8,500.) 

"THE  LAWYER'S  SECRET"  (Para.) 
INDIANA— (3,300),  2Sc-65c,  7  days.   Publi.K 
unit.     Gross:  $20,000.     (Average,  $20,000.) 
"THE   MALTESE   FALCON"   (Warners) 
LYRIC— (2,000),   25c-50c,  7  days.     Six  acts 
RKO      vaude.      Gross:      $8,500.       (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS"  (M-G-M) 
P,A LACE— 2,800),  25c-50c,  7  davs.     Gross: 
$9,500.     (Average,  $12,000.) 


H 
E 


THEATRE 


Construction — Equipment — Decoration — Operation — Management 


Cancel  $125,000  in 
Para.  Bldg.  Bonds 

Paramount  Broadway  Corp.,  a 
whoflly  owned  subsidiary  of  Para- 
mount Publix,  yesterday  delivered  for 
cancellation  to  the  Chemical  Bank  & 
Trust  Company,  trustee,  $125,000  par 
value  of  its  first  mortgage  5^% 
bonds  secured  by  mortgage  on  the 
Paramount  Building,  New  York  City. 
This  delivery  and  cancellation  was 
made  pursuant  to  the  sinking  fund 
provisions  of  the  indenture,  which 
call  for  a  redemption  of  $125,000  par 
value  of  these  bonds  on  June  1,  1931. 
The  original  issue  of  these  bonds  was 
$10,000,000,  and  after  the  cancellation 
of  the  foregoing  $125,000  there  will 
be  issued  and  outstanding  $9,250,000 
par  value  of  this  issue. 


Norivorths  in  6  More 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack  Norworth  will 
do  six  more  of  "The  Naggers"  series 
for  Vitaphone  under  terms  of  a  new 
contract  just  signed. 


5  New  Series 
For  Amer  Tran 
Amplifiers 


Newark,  N.  J. — American  Trans- 
former Co.  has  just  announced  five 
items  of  associated  equipment  espe- 
cially designed  for  use  with  Amer- 
Tran  Series  80  power  amplifiers.  The 
new  equipment  is  arranged  so  that  it 
may  be  used  with  other  standard  am- 
plifiers having  500-ohm  input  circuits, 
it  is  stated.  The  various  available 
units  are :  Master  Control,  type  C-81 ; 
Master  Control  with  one  stage  Pre- 
amplifier, type  A-88;  two  stage,  Low 
Level  Input  Amplifier,  Type  A-89; 
"A"  Power  -Supply  unit  (12-volt), 
Type  P-78,  and  Dynamic  Eield  Sup- 
ply  Unit,   Type  P-101. 

It  is  the  function  of  Master  Con- 
trol Type  C-81  to  control  volume, 
to  select  signals  from  a  500  or  200- 
ohm  source,  and  to  regulate  operating 
current  to  the  200-ohm  source,  it  is 
claimed.  The  volume  control  is  a  500- 
ohm  constant-impedance,  T-pad  at- 
tenuator and  the  output  impedance  is 
500  ohms.  The  Type  A-88  Master 
Contol  with  Pre-Amplifier  is  iden- 
tical to  Type  C-81,  except  a  one- 
stage,  low-level  amplifier  is  connected 
in  the  200-ohm  input  circuit,  it  is 
said. 

Input  Amplifier  Type  A-89  is  for 
raising  low-level  signals  to  values  suf- 
ficiently for  exciting  the  main  ampli- 
fier. It  employs  two  transformer- 
coupled  stages  utilizing  d.c. -operated 
227-type  tubes  and  has  an  output  im- 
pedance of  500  ohms.  It  is  available 
with  a  high-impedance  or  500-ohm 
imi)edance  input  and  is  supplied  in  a 
compact  metal  case  designed  for  wall 
mounting,  .American  Transformer 
states. 

Power  Supply  Unit  Type  P-78  has 
been  designed  to  provide  filament  cur- 
rent for  AmerTran  d.c. -operated  am- 
plifiers, such  as  Type  A-89.  It  has 
an  output  of  12  volts  filtered  d.c.  at 
1.75  amperes  and  operates  from  110- 
volt,  60-cycle  lighting  circuits.  Power 
Supply  Type  101  is  of  similar  de- 
sign but  provides  an  output  of  7.5 
or  15  volts  at  1.5  amps.  It  will  ener- 
gize the  fields  of  one  or  two  dy- 
namic loud  speakers,  the  company 
states. 


Erpi  Equipment  in 
New  Orleans  Hotel 

New  Orleans — ERPI  has  installed 
portable  sound  equipment  in  the 
Roosevelt  Hotel.  The  equipment  was 
installed  free  of  charge  the  hotel 
pledging  itself  to  make  it  available  to 
sa!«g«  conventions,  etc.,  whenever 
nec'^sary.  It  has  been  highly  success- 
ful in  presenting  sales  talks  to  a  sales 
convention  for  Coca  Cola,  a  centen- 
nial celebration  of  the  International 
Harvester  Company  and  other  events 
where  educational  sound  pictures  have 
been  shown.  The  films  are  made  by 
Educational  and  booked  through  its 
local    exchange. 


Westinghouse 
Tried  to  Buy 
Patent,  Claim 


Wilmington — Westinghouse  Elec- 
tric Supply  Co.,  subsidiary  of  the 
Westinghouse  Electric  and  Manufac- 
turing Co.,  sought  to  buy  the  Nak- 
ken  sound-on-film  patent,  it  is  charged 
in  infringement  suit  brought  against 
the  company  by  the  Nakken  Patents 
Corp.,  New  York.  The  Nakken  firm 
held  the  patents  rights  at  $500,000 
plus  royalties,  but  its  offer  was  re- 
fused,  the   bill  of   complaint  alleges. 

According  to  the  bill.  Patent  No. 
1,522,070  was  issued  to  Theodorus  H. 
Nakken  of  Rotterdam  on  January  6, 
1925  and  the  patent  was  then  assigned 
to  a  corporation  in  Holland. 

Later  a  reissue  was  applied  for 
when  the  patent  was  inoperative,  due 
to  defects  or  insufficient  specifica- 
tions, brought  about  by  errors  which 
it  was  contended  by  the  plaintif?  was 
due  to  inadvertence.  Reissue  Patent 
No.  16,820  was  issued  on  February  7, 
1928  and  was  assigned  to  the  Nakken 
Patents  Corporation. 

The  bill  brings  out  that  Nakken 
was  unaware  of  serious  errors  in  the 
original  patent  which  endangered  the 
protection  of  the  invention  until  No- 
vember, 1925,  when  it  is  alleged  that 
the  Westinghouse  Electric  and  Manu- 
facturing Company  started  negotia- 
tions for  its  purchase  from  Nakken. 
The  bill  alleges  that  he  ofifered  to 
sell  the  invention  to  Westinghouse 
for  $500,000,  plus  royalties.  West- 
inghouse is  alleged  to  have  declined 
the  offer  and  stated  that  it  would 
use  the  invention  because  the  patent 
was  no  good  in  that  it  offered  no  pat- 
ent protection. 

It  is  alleged  that  Westinghouse's 
subsidiary  has  since  continued  in- 
fringement of  the  patent. 

The  bill  states  that  among  the  cor- 
porations licensed  by  the  Nakken 
Patents  Corp.  to  use  the  invention  are 
Warner  Bros.,  Vitaphone  and  the 
French  Telegraph  and  Cable  Co., 
Inc. 

The  court  is  asked  to  enjoin  West- 
inghouse from  continuing  the  alleged 
infringement  and  to  order  it  to  file  an 
accounting  of  profits  derived  through 
the  alleged   infringement. 


Installing  Cooler 

Los  Angeles — The  Studio  theatre, 
300  seat  house  in  the  Franklin-Hughes 
circuit,  is  having  installed  a  Carrier 
Fngineering   air   conditioning   systenL 


Super-Lite  Lens 

The  Perfect  Screen  Lens. 
Adaptable  to  Any  Projector. 
More  Brilliant  Illumination. 
Clearer  Pictures.  Greater  Visi- 
bility. 

PROJECTION    OPTICS 
COMPANY,    INC. 

Rochester  New    York 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,   June    16,    1931 


Marcus  Loew 
Circuit  Profit 
Jumps  140% 

Toronto — Is  business  poor  in  Cana- 
da? Thej-  did  not  say  so  at  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  shareholders  of 
Marcus  Loew's  Theatres,  Ltd.  An- 
nouncement was  made  that  net  profits 
for  the  first  five  months  of  1931  were 
$96,628.  an  increase  of  $56,266  over 
the  corresponding  period  of  1930. 
This  represents  an  increase  of  140  per 
cent. 

For  the  last  fiscal  year,  ending 
January  1  last,  the  net  earnings  of 
the  Toronto  company  amounted  to 
$115,947,  while  the  net  profits  for 
1930  were  $52,298. 

Leopold  Friedman  of  New  York 
was  elected  to  the  board  of  directors 
to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  Lawrence  Solman  of  Toronto,  for 
years  an  outstanding  Canadian  show- 
man. 

During  the  past  five  months,  three 
features  have  been  held  over  at 
Toronto  Loew's  because  of  good 
business.  No  picture  had  been  held 
over  at  this  house  for  14  years  until 
"Whoopee"   came   along. 


Purely  Personal 


Hollywood  Listening 
As  Money  Talks 

(Continued   from    page    \) 

cral  large  companies,  and  rumblings 
of  further  "cleaning-out"  in  the  pro- 
duction end  followed.  The  boys  whose 
scribbled  signatures  on  vouchers  called 
for  money  are  beginning  to  wonder  if 
there  really  is  a  pot  of  gold  at  the 
end  of  the  rainbow.  And  they're  econ- 
omizing. 

Those  with  tender  sensibilities  were 
tdld  that  "the  bankers"  had  ordered 
tlic  wholesale  economies^  and  they're 
beginning  to  pay  heed — and  all  indi- 
cations point  to  the  jwssibility  that 
l)r()ducti<^)n  executives  are  entering  an 
era  of  restraint  as  far  as  finances  are 
concerned.  And  some  are  actually  as- 
suming an  air  of  humility. 


No  Drop  in  W.  B.-F.N. 
Schedule  of  Seventy 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

reason  for  reduction  in  pictures  now 
"shooting"  is  due  to  the  "enlarged 
capacity  of  the  studios  and  the  efficient 
production  methods  recently  institut- 
ed" which  enabled  the  two  companies 
to  turn  out  feature  pictures  in  con- 
siderably less  time  than  was  formerly 
the  case.  He  adds  rehearsals  have  re- 
duced retakes  as  well. 


CII.VKLIK  EIXFELD  celebrated 
his  fourth  wedding  anniversary 
yesterday.  For  lunch  he  had  beef  salad 
a  la  Astor,  tea  and  pound  cake ;  in 
the  evening  a  de  luxe  dinner  with 
Mrs.  E.  by  his  side  and  then  to  "The 
Band  Wagon." 

Pec;  Foley  is  the  latest  of  the  Foley 
family  to  win  a  Film  Board  secretary- 
ship. Her  two  sisters.  Clare  and 
Rowena.  are  secretaries  at  San  Fran- 
cisco and   Buffalo,   respectively. 

S.^^[  Morris  has  gonue  in  for 
yachting.  Bought  a  new  boat — a  50- 
footer — hired  a  crew  and  over  these 
week-ends  at  Neponsit  goes  in  for  the 
deep  sea  stufif. 

Monty  Salmon,  manager  of  the 
Fox  in  Brooklyn,  is  conducting  a 
regular  series  of  smokers.  Says  they 
help  create  better  understanding  with 
the  staff. 

Maurice  Doyle,  treasurer  of  the 
Imperial  Theatre.  Toronto,  for  years., 
is  a  full-fledged  manager,  having  been 
appointed  to  the   Parkdale  there.    • 


Norman  Moray  takes  over  Max 
Milder's  office  at  Warners  when  the 
latter  sails  to  take  over  his  new  post 
in    England. 

Harold  F.  Sliter,  officer  manager 
of  the  Fox  Bufifalo  division,  is  now  a 
benedict.  Mrs.  S.  was  formerly  Edna 
Kelly. 

Arthur  B.  Benson  is  now  com- 
pany manager  of  the  Fanchon  and 
Marco  "  North -South-East- West" 
unit. 

William  H.  Moxon's  new  job  is 
managing  "Olympic  Games,"  one  of 
the  F.  and  M.  stage  shows. 

George  Witherspoon  is  now  man- 
ager of  the  Fanchon  and  Marco  "To- 
morrow's  Stars"  Idea. 

Joe  Plunkett.  off  to  a  good  start 
last  fall  in  golf,  is  hesitating  and 
hesitating  this  year. 

David  Sarnoff  has  turned  over  his 
office  in  the  Palace  Theatre  building 
to  Roxy. 

Dick  Barthelmess  is  figuring  on 
leaving  for  Hollywood  tomorrow. 


Mystery  Deepens  in 
J.  R,  Neth  Kidnaping 

Columbus,  O. — Mystery  deepens  as 
detectives  continue  their  search  for 
the  two  men  who  recently  kidnaped 
J.  Real  Neth,  head  of  local  theatre 
circuit,  who  was  thrown  from  a  ma- 
chine 50  miles  from  here  after  having 
been  beaten  and  robbed. 

Detective  James  J.  Creedon,  who 
says  the  man-hunt  is  expected  to  ex- 
tend to  other  states,  declares  that 
Neth  was  "taken  for  a  ride"  for  only 
one  purpose,  and  it  was  not  merely 
to  rob  him.  The  kidnapers  planned 
to  take  his  life,  but  abandoned  the 
plan  for  a  certain  reason  Creedon  re- 
fuses   to   divulge. 

After  being  thrown  from  the  ma- 
chine Neth  walked  11  miles  before 
reaching  Marion,  it  has  been  estab- 
lished. 


Milder  Sails  Tomorrow 

Max  Milder  sails  for  London  to- 
morrow on  the  Leviathan  to  assume 
supervision  of  Warner-First  National 
sales  in   England. 


Theatre  Fall  Fatal 

Omaha — Mrs.  Xettic  .\nn  Wilson 
was  fatally  injured  when  she  stumbled 
and  fell  into  the  orchestra  pit  of  the 
Lake,  suburban  house.  The  theatre 
was  dark  at  the  time. 

Texas  Open  Sundays 

Dallas — Many  exhibitors  over  the 
state  have  opened  their  theatres  on 
-Sunday  since  the  governor  signed  the 
bill  legalizing  .Sabbath  shows. 


Wis,  Meet  Topic  Is 
Status  on  Allied 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
the  conduct  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O..  which 
is  headed  by  Fred  S.  Meyer,  Univer- 
sal manager  here.  Application  was 
made  by  the  new  unit  for  the  .Mlied 
franchise,  but  this  has  not  been  acted 
upon. 

The  banquet  will  be  held  at  7  to- 
night with  A.  C.  Gutenberg,  vice- 
president  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.,  giving 
the  address  of  welcome.  The  response 
will  be  made  by  George  Huebner  of 
Oconomowoc.  Addresses  will  include 
those  of  (ieorge  Fischer,  Milwaukee, 
convention  chairman:  Fred  Metcalfe, 
president  of  the  Milwaukee  Motion 
Picture  Commission,  and  Mrs.  Agnes 
Charbonneau,  only  woman  member  of 
the   state   assembly. 


New  Color  Film  Process 

London — Innovation  of  the  Spicer- 
Dufay  process  marks  the  latest  meth- 
od of  coloring  films.  Tiny  colored 
s«)uares.  each  a  seven  hundred  and 
fiftieth  of  an  inch  on  a  side,  in 
orange,  blue-violet  and  green^  are  the 
colors.  Members  of  the  Royal  So- 
ciety were  given  a  demonstration  here. 


Marston  Gambles  on 
Femme  Gambling 

F'or  years  now  Dr.  William  B. 
Marston,  objective  psychologist  and 
formerly  of  the  Columbia  University 
faculty,  has  been  "pysching"  women 
until  today  he  thinks  he  knows  pretty 
much  all  there  is  to  know — about 
reactions,  etc.,  etc.  However,  it 
seems  that  Marston  has  yet  to  fig- 
ure out  how  they  react  to  gambling. 
So— 

At  the  Warner  projection  room  to- 
morrow he  will  produce  24  of  the 
gentler  sex — blondes,  brunettes  and 
redheads — show  them  gambling  as  it 
is  done  on  the  screen  and  watch  what 
his    galvinator    reveals. 

The  gambling  background  will  be 
supplied  by  "Smart  Money."  The  rest 
of  the  story  is  that  the  new  Edward 
G,  Robinson  picture  opens  at  the 
Winter    Garden   the    following   morn- 


Profit  Forecast  Sends 
Educ'l  Up  19%  Points 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

circles  to  be  traceable  to  anticipated 
earnings  for  the  second  quarter  to 
June  30,  which  is  also  the  first  half 
of   the   company's    fiscal    year. 


Dover,  Del.— Educational  Talking 
Pictures  Co.,  Ltd.,  has  been  organized 
here,  listing  no  capitalization,  but 
65,000  shares  of  common  stock. 


Earle  W.  Hammons  told  Motion 
Picture  Daily  yesterday  that  the  new 
company  was  organized  to  handle  pro- 
duction on  the  Coast. 


''All  Quiet"  at  Rialto 

".All  Quiet  on  the  Western  P'ront" 
g(jes  into  the  Rialto  today  for  a  lim- 
ited run  under  the  new  revival  policy. 


New  E.  K.  Home  Film 

liastman  Kodak  has  developed  a 
new  type  film  for  home  cameras,  said 
to  be  capable  of  taking  indoor  pic- 
tures at  night. 


Fire  Ordinance 
Is  Signed  by 
Mayor  Walker 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

as   studios   will    be    forced    to    close, 
eliminated. 

Prior  to  the  signing  of  the  ordi- 
nance Senator  Henry  J.  Walters  of 
RKO,  who  represented  the  M.  P.  P. 
D.  A.,  stated  that,  as  the  new  ordi- 
nance stands  it  represents  a  complete 
system  of  handling  inflammable  film. 
Heretofore  there  have  been  no  laws 
covering  studios,  he  said.  He  told  the 
mayor  that  the  ordinance  under  which 
theatres  were  operating  was  20  vears 
old  and  permitted  only  5,000  feet  of 
film  in  booths.  Today,  he  said,  the 
average  feature  was  in  eight  reels, 
thereby  making  it  physically  impos- 
sible to  operate  a  theatre  without  vio-, 
lating  the  law.  John  J.  Dorman,  fire| 
commissioner,    stated : 

"There     is     nothing    on    the    books' 
which   took   care   of   the   studios,    and 
as  the  ordinance  now  reads  everything 
is  taken  care  of." 

Charles  O'Reilly,  president  of  the 
T.  O.  C.  C,  contended  that  picture 
shows  average  two  and  three-quarter 
hours  and  that  houses  today  are  using 
from  25  to  50  per  cent  more  film  to 
give  the  same  type  of  show  than  they 
did  previous  to  the  advent  of  talkers. 
Hence,  he  said,  it  was  impossible  to 
operate   without   violation  of  the  law. 

Mayor  Walker  asked  O'Reilly  how 
many  theatres  in  the  city  have  had 
fires  since  increasing  the  amount  of 
footage  in  the  booths.  "The  records 
are  remarkable,  although  I  don't 
know   off   hand,"    he   replied. 

"In  other  words  every  studio,  the- 
atre and  laboratory  is  violating  the 
law,"  the  mayor  said.  This  was  ad- 
mitted. 

"Well,  rather  than  make  the  unem- 
ployment situation  any  worse  than  it 
is.  paralyze  a  great  industry  and  de- 
prive the  public  of  a  great  entertain- 
rnent,  there  is  nothing  else  to  do  than 
sign  the  bill."  He  signed  it  and 
O'Reilly  then  grabbed  the  pen,  which 
he  says  he  will  frame. 

The  T.  O.  C.  C.  has  been  working 
15  months  on  the  new  ordinance  and 
sponsors  anticipate  that  it  will  result 
in  reduction  in  fire  insurance  rates. 
It  eliminates  the  penalty  clause  in 
current  form  of  insurance  policies  and 
wipes  out  various  litigations  Warners 
and  Paramount  are  facing  for  viola- 
tion at  their  local  studios. 

In  addition  to  O'Reilly  and  Walters 
representing  the  industry  were  Rudy 
Sanders,  president  of  the  Brooklyn 
theatre  owners ;  Leo  Fleishman  of 
Loew's,  J.  Gove  of  M-G-M,  Nat 
Goldberg  and  James  Murphy  of  Uni- 
versal, John  Hammel  of  Paramount 
and  Sam  Sonin,  secretary  of  the 
T.O.C.C. 


Permit  Sunday  Shows 
To  Aid  Unemployed 

Kearney,  N.  J.— Donating  20  per 
cent  of  the  gross  to  the  unemploy- 
ment fund,  RKO's  Regent  and  Lin- 
coln were  permitted  to  operate  Sun- 
day, marking  the  first  Sunday  shows 
here  in  two  decades.  The  Hudson 
did  not  enter  the  compact  and  its 
manager,  Ralph  D.  Reid,  was  arrested 
when  he  attempted  to  operate  the 
house. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  15 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  17,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


Sheehan  Wins 
Suit  vs.  Fox; 
Trial  Dropped 

Lawyers    Reach    Out    of 
Court  Agreement 


The  law  suit  brought  by  Winfield 
Sheehan,  general  manager  of  Fox 
Film,  against  William  Fox,  former 
president  of  the  company,  was  settled 
yesterday  while  a  jury  waited  and 
both  parties  were  about  to  proceed 
to  trial  before  Justice  Schmuck  in 
Trial  Term  18  of  the  New  York 
Supreme    Court. 

The  out-of-court  settlement  was 
handled  for  Sheehan  by  Nathan  Bur- 
kan  and  for  Fox  by  Samuel  Unter- 
myer.  Sheehan  claimed  Fox  owed 
him  $310,852,  this  being  the  proceeds 
of  approximately  4,000  shares  of  Fox 
Film  stock  which  Sheehan  had  main- 

CContinued    on    page    2) 


Radio  to  Deliver 
All  Films  Promised 

Radio  Pictures  will  round  out  the 
full  complement  of  34  pictures  on  the 
1930-31  schedule,  according  to  Char- 
les Rosenzweig,  distribution  chief. 
There  are  nine  Victory  pictures  and 
"The  W  Plan"  to  be  delivered  under 
the  program.  "Strange  Women"  and 
"Nancy's  Private  Affair"  now  are 
ready  for  release  and  the  two  more 
Victorys  which  will  be  delivered  in 
August  will  bring  the  number  to  nine. 


Globe  Gets  Go-by 
From  All  Circuits 

Poor  business  at  the  Globe,  New 
York,  is  reported  the  reason  for  the 
shutdown  of  the  theatre  with  RKO 
meeting  the  unused  term  of  its  lease 
between  now  and  the  end  of  June  at 
which  time  the  agreement  runs  out. 
This  reduces  the  number  of  Broad- 
way houses  showing  pictures  from  19 
to   18. 

Unless  RKO  makes  another  deal 
for  a  house,  this  will  reduce  its  first 

(Continued  on  patie  8) 


Rembusch  Hits  Film 
Boards  and  Allied 

Indianapolis — Frank  J.  Rembusch, 
who  fostered  the  Association  Against 
Business  Monopoly,  is  out  with  a  new 
blast  against  Film  Boards  and  the 
Allied  States  Association.  He  charges 
the  latter  organization  failed  to  pro- 
tect the  interests  of  independents  at 
the   hearings   on  the   copyright   bill. 


General  Salary  Slashes 
Are  Believed  Forestalled 


S.E.  Unit  Joins  MPTOA 

Atlanta — Persuasive  argument  by  M.  A. 
Lightman,  president  of  the  M.P.T.O.A.,  re- 
sulted in  affiliation  with  that  organization 
of  the  Southeastern  Theatre  Owners'  Asso- 
ciation now  winding  up  its  annual  conven- 
tion here.  Oscar  Lam  of  Rome,  Ga.,  was 
elected  president,  with  Hugh  Manning  of 
Teowah,  vice-president,  and  Love  B.  Harrell, 
secretary-treasurer.  Lightman,  Dave  Pal- 
freyman,  Ed  Kuykendall  and  Carter  Barron 
were   speakers  at  the  sessions. 


M.   A.   Lightman 


Bank  Loans  Paid^  Universal 
In  Strong  Financial  Spot 


Substitution 
Clauses  Hit  by 
Exhibitors 


Pittsburgh  —  Substitution  clauses 
in  current  contracts  are  hit  in  a 
resolution  passed  by  the  M.  P.  T.  O. 
of  Western  Pennsylvania  and  West 
Virginia.  The  organization  calls  at- 
tention to  action  of  the  trade  practice 
conference  in  declaring  such  substi- 
tution  an   unfair   trade   practice. 

The  clause  now  being  used,  the 
organization  says,  gives  the  distributor 
the  right  to  change  story,  star,  cast 
or  director,  giving  the  distributor  the 
right   of  substitution    "on   all   produc- 

(Coiitinued  on  page  8) 


No  New  Members  in 
Chi  Union  13  Years 

Chicago — Investigation  of  the 
operators'  union  is  under  way  by  the 
Grand  Jury.  Records  of  the  organ- 
ization are  being  examined.  Tom  Rey- 
nolds, union  president,  was  scheduled 
to  testify  Tuesday  and  other  union 
officials  will  be  examined  later. 

The  records  show  that  no  new  mem- 
bers have  been  admitted  to  the  union 
since  1918,  all  new  members  being 
permit  men  who  give  ten  per  cent  of 
their   salaries   to   the   union. 


By  careful  pruning  and  increase  of 
sales,  Universal  now  has  surplus 
enough  to  guarantee  financing  of  new 
season's  production,  Motion  Picture 
Daily  learns.  The  company,  it  is 
stated,  is  clear  of  bank  obligations  and 
a  statement  to  that  effect  now  is  be- 
ing prepared.  There  have  been  re- 
ports in  circulation  concerning  the 
company's  relations  with  bankers, 
most  of  them  all  wet.  Laemmle  is 
building  a  theatre  on  the  Coast  and  it 
is  expected  to  be  leased  to  Hughes- 
Franklin  Theatres. 


British  Films  Not 
Shelved — Cooper 

Toronto — Col.  John  A.  Cooper, 
president  of  the  Motion  Picture  Dis- 
tributors Association  of  Canada,  has 
denied  emphatically  that  Canadian 
companies  were  buying  up  British 
films  for  the  Dominion  in  order  to 
insure  their  failure,  as  charged  by 
the  Imperial  Order  of  the  Daugh- 
ters  of  the    Empire   in   convention   at 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


M-G-M  Decision  Against 

Slashes  Seen  as  End 

Of  Reductions 


Further  salary  slashing  in  the  in- 
dustry is  believed  to  have  been  fore- 
stalled following  action  of  M-G-M 
in  falling  in  line  with  other  com- 
panies which  have  declared  against 
wage  reductions.  Columbia,  Radio 
and  Fox  are  on  record  with  similar 
stands.  The  M-G-M  action  was  un- 
anticipated, for  the  company  is  known 
to    have    considered    salary    cuts. 

Assumption  of  definite  atandis 
against  salary  reductions  is  under- 
stood to  be  in  line  with  the  Hoover 
administration's  policy  against  wage 
cuts.  The  President,  it  is  said,  in- 
tends to  campaign  next  year  on  a 
platform  of  high  wages  and  is  calling 
upon  leaders  in  all  industries  to  main- 
tain present  levels. 


"Buy  Now  to  Help 
Business" — Meyer 

Milwaukee — "Buy  right,  but  buy 
now,"  President  Fred  Meyer  told  ISO 
exhibitors  who  met  here  yesterday 
when  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Wisconsin 
convention  got  under  way.  He  said  to 
showmen  present  this  was  the  time  to 
close  contracts  to  keep  the  industry 
prosperous. 

The  convention  is  slated  to  decide 
whether  the  organization  is  to  remain 
in   Allied   today   and   will   also   deter- 

(Continiicd  on  page  8) 


Chicago  Censors  Pass 
Two;  Hold  ''Enemy" 

Chicago — Shortly  after  passing  Tif- 
fany's "Hell  Bound,"  the  Chicago 
board  of  censors  issued  a  permit  for 
Fox's  "Quick  Millions."  Minor  dia- 
logue deletions  were  ordered.  No  per- 
mit has  been  issued  by  the  board  as 
yet  for  Warner's  "Public  Enemy," 
submitted  more  than  six  weeks  ago. 


Producers  Invited  to 
Join  Canadian  Body 

Toronto — Initial  steps  have  been 
taken  for  the  organization  of  a  film 
producers'  section  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Distributors  and  Exhibitors  of 
Canada,  of  which  Col.  John  A.  Cooper 
is'  president.  An  invitation  is  being 
extended    to    all    Canadian    companies 

(Continued   on   page   8) 


50  as  Nucleus 

Minneapolis  —  Fifty  theatres 
will  form  the  nucleus  of  the 
Minneapolis  buying  combine,  it 
is  understood.  The  member- 
ship is  expected  to  be  outlined 
at  the  annual  convention  of  the 
Allied  exhibitor  unit  to  be  held 
here   September  9  and   10. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    June    17,    1931 


1 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Kegistered  U.   S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\"ol.    30 


June    17,    1931 


No.    15 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^f\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  Jl  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^     Daily,    Inc.,   a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  \ork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollvwood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  l-V.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents 


Product 

W  HEN  the  char- 
acters battle  the  elements, 
"The  Viking"  (J.  D.  Williams 
and  Associates)  reaches  awe- 
some heights  rarely  before 
caught  by  a  motion  picture 
camera.  When  the  characters 
tussle  with  human  emotions, 
the  picture  goes  1915  and  it's 
very  bad. 

Produced  by  V^arick  Frissell, 
who  later  lost  his  life  when 
the  boat  that  gives  the  film  its 
name  blew  up,  "The  Viking" 
deals  with  seal  hunting  and 
two  seal  hunters'  love  for  the 
same  girl.  The  ice  and  sea 
stuff  are  terrifying,  fascinating 
and  comment  -  provoking  and 
will  stand  as  much  exploitation 
as  any  showman  may  care  to 
put  behind  them.  Those  unique 
sequences  may  be  enough  to 
send  the  film  over  if  the  plug 
is  heavy  enough. 

But  under  all  circumstances 
lay  low  on  the  story.  For 
safety's  sake. 

"Just  A  GIGOLO" 

(M-G-M)  sounds  melodrama- 
tic but,  is  diverting  fun.  Some- 
one on  the  M  -  G  -  M  lot  is 
bearing  down  on  Billy  Haines' 
wisecracking  in  favor  of  a 
more  subtle  approach  on 
comedy  situations.  That's 
something. 

The  gigolo  business,  as  you  might 
presuppose,  is  a  means  to  an  end  and 
that  end  is  to  find  out  if  the  girl 
Haines  goes  for  in  a  big  way  is  the 
faithful  kind.  In  the  process,  some  of 
the  circumstances  turn  risque,  but 
dialogue  and  handling  never  permit 
them  to  become  offensive.  Haines  is 
good,  but  Irene  Purcell's  aiifected 
high-nasal  English  accent  becomes  a 
pain.  Also,  she  is  inclined  to  overact. 
KANN 


V/'OU'VE  probably  heard  those   stones   about   Sid   Kent   taking  over 
*■   Paramount  production,  in  addition  to  his  job  in  distribution.  Here's 
the  inside  on  that : 

• 

Kent  attendetl  tliat  memorable  Denver  meeting,  held  not  so  long  ago, 
at  which  Ben  Schulberg  was  told  he  was  to  be  boss  of  the  studios. 
East  and  West.  From  that  confab  sprang  the  yarn.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  Kent  is  taking  no  more  interest  today  in  production  than  he  has 
in  the  past,  but,  curious  as  it  sounds,   that  interest  is  plenty. 

After  all,  he  has  to  sell  what  the  studio  turns  out  and  it,  therefore, 
becomes  entirely  reasonable  for  him  to  be  plentifully  concerned  with 
production  and  its  policies. 

• 

W.  A.  Steffes,  general  manager  of  the  Northwest  exhibitor  associa- 
tion and  founder  of  Allied,  is  in  New  York  en  route  to  attend  the 
annual  convention  of  the  New  Jersey  exhibitor  unit.  At  the  sessions, 
StelTes  is  to  defend  himself  from  allegations  that  he  was  on  the  payroll 
of  Sentry  Safety  Control,  which  company  effected  a  hook-up  with 
Allied.    Joe  Pastor,  Chicago  exhibitor,  is  accompanying  Steffes. 

• 
P.  G.  Wodehouse,  British  humorist,  is  not  going  to  work  after  his 
experience  in  Hollywood.  "Sudden  work  after  all  this  might  prove 
fatal,"  he  declares  in  a  wire  from  Hollywood  declining  Sam  H.  Harris' 
offer  to  appear  in  '"Once  in  a  Lifetime."  Harris  wanted  him  to  play 
the  role  of  a  playwright,  disillusioned  by  Hollywood.  In  reciting  his 
picture  experiences  Wodehouse  says  a  film  company  had  paid  him  a 
salary  of  $2,000  a  week  for  a  year  and  that  he  could  not  see  "what 
thev  engaged  me  for." 

• 

Who  is  the  chap  that  pulled  a  boner  at  the  last  public  hearing  of 
the  fire  ordinance  and  almost  caused  the  mayor  to  cut  the  hearing 
short  ?  0 

What  is  the  real  motive  behind  that  fire  ordinance  just  signed  by 
Mayor  Walker?  Who  is  the  man  it  will  benefit  most?  Circuit  heads 
can  tell  you. 


First  Columbia  Outing 

Columbia  will  hold  its  first  annual 
outing  Saturday,  June  27,  at  Karat- 
wnvi's,  at  Glen  Cove,  L.  I. 


Sold  to  Famous  Canadian 

RKO  Pathe  has  closed  its  1931- 
1932  product  with  Famous  Players 
Canadian    Corp. 


Hart  Gets  Post 

Milwaukee — Harry  Hart  has  re- 
placed Ben  Louthain  as  manager  of 
tlie   Big   4   exchange   here. 


Signs  Bessie  Love 

Hollywood — TifTany  has  signed 
Bessie  Love  to  play  opposite  Conway 
Tearle  in  "Morals  for  Women." 


Stocks  Irregular;  Loew's  Pfd,  Off  2% 


Hieh 

Consolidated     Film     Industries     .S.'n 

Consolidated     Film     Industries    pfd l.'V^ 

Eastman    Kodak    \?-2Va 


Fox    Film    "A"    

General    Theatre    K(|uipment    new 

l.oew's,    Inc 

l.oew's.     Inc..     pfd 

Paramount     Pnblix     ....    

Pathe     F.xchangc     

RKO     

Warner  Bros 


19.^ 

.S'/s 

4M/4 

85 '/s 

V'A 

m 


Low 

U'A 
129'A 
19!4 

4.)4 

40>4 
85/8 
22J4 
VA 
U 


Net 
Close    Change 

5-H        


U'A 
uz'A 

19^8 

5 
41.>^ 

85/8 

2.V/S 
VA 

1354 
S'A 


-  'A 

+2A 

-  'A 


+  H 

-2H 

-  % 


Sales 

100 

ino 

1.800 
4,700 
5,600 

_'.oon 

100 
5.400 

,100 

3,200 

13,900 


Fractional  Losses  on  Curb 


Hish  Low 

Fox    Theatres    "A"    iA  3^ 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd ll->^  10 

Technicolor     6  6 

Trans   Lux    6'A  6 


Net 

Close    Change  Sales 

3%         600 

10)4         —  .K  7.000 

6             100 

6            -  'A  700 


Bond  Issues  Slightly  Irregular 


High 

General    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40 47 

Keith   B.   F,  6s  '46   65 

l.oew's  6s   '41   ex   war 9754 

Paramount    Broadway    5'/2S    '51    10154 

Paramount    Publix   5!^s   '50 79'A 

P.-ithe   7s   ',17   WW 82 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '.19    wd 48/ 


Net 
Low      Close    Change 


42/ 
65     ■ 
96 

101/ 
79 
81 
46/ 


44 
65 

97SAs 
101. H 
79 
82 
47/ 


-2 

+  / 
+15'^ 
+  A 
-1/ 
-1-1 
—1 


Scdes 

18 
1 

17 
4 
4 

16 

24 


Sheehan  Wins 
Suit  vs.  Fox; 
Trial  Dropped 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tained  he  had  placed  in  Fo.x's  hands 
lor  sale. 

In  his  action  Sheehan  alleged  that 
on  Dec.  24,  1926,  he  turned  over  the 
stock  to  Fox,  who  agreed  to  return 
the  shares  on  request  or  the  proceeds 
in  the  event  he  sold  them.  Sheehan 
alleged  Fox  sold  the  stock  for  $410,- 
852  and  paid  only  $100,000. 

In  his  answer  Fox  entered  a  coun- 
terclaim for  $190,664.  He  admitted 
the  receipt  and  sale  of  the  stock  at 
the  figure  named  by  Sheehan.  He 
said  he  made  cash  advances  to  Shee- 
han of  1190,664,  and  invested  the  rest 
in  6,860  shares  of  the  preferred  stock 
of  the  Bankers  Security  Corp.  He 
said  he  had  been  holding  the  stock  as 
security  for  his  cash  advances  to 
Sheehan  and  was  ready  to  surrender 
it  if  Sheehan  returned  to  him  the 
$190,664. 

It  is  understood  the  settlement  on 
Sheehan's  behalf  was  for  upwards  of 
$250,000  turned  over  to  him  yester- 
day by  certified  check ;  that  his  stock 
was  returned  to  him  and  Fox's  coun- 
terclaim  entirely   withdrawn. 


Warner  Zone  Heads 
Will  Meet  Today 

In  answer  to  the  call  sent  out  by 
Dan  Michalove,  head  of  the  Warner 
Theatres  chain,  there  will  be  a  meet- 
ing of  the  zone  managers  in  New 
York  this  morning.  The  object  is 
to  acquaint  managers  with  the  com- 
ing Warner  and  First  National  Films. 
Among  those  to  be  present  are : 
James  Coston,  of  Chicago ;  C.  J. 
Latta,  of  Cleveland ;  Cullen  Espy,  of 
Indianapolis;  I.  J.  Hoffman,  of  New 
Haven;  William  Goldman,  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  Louis  Lazar,  of  Albany ; 
John  H.  Harris,  of  Pittsburgh ;  Leto 
Hill,  of  St.  Louis;  J.  J.  Payette  of 
Washington,  and  Harry  M.  Kalmine, 
of   Newark. 


Al  Brandt  Reported 
Dying  of  Cancer 

Joe  Brandt  left  hurriedly  for  Holly- 
wood yesterday  afternoon  as  the  re- 
sult of  a  telephone  call  from  Jack 
Cohn  advising  that  Al  Brandt, 
brother  of  the  Columbia  president 
and  attached  to  the  company's  pro- 
duction department,  was  dying.  He 
is   suffering  from   cancer. 

Brandt  will  travel  by  rail  to  Kan- 
sas City  where  he  arrives  tonight  and 
will  then  fly  to  the  Coast  Thursday 
morning,  arriving  there  about  8 
o'clock   the   same    night. 


Gets  ''Symphonies" 

"Silly  Symphonies,"  Walt  Disney 
:artoons,  again  are  to  be  on  the  Co- 
lumbia short  subject  program,  follow- 
ing  closing  of  new   contracts. 


Studio    and    Location 
Sound  on  Film  Recording 

Low   Dally   or  WaelHy    Rates 
Powers  Clnephone  Equipment  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE.,  N.  Y.     BRyant  9-6067 


WHOOPEE!!!! 


undisputed  King  of  Western  Stars  and 
''Tony"  his  Wonder   Horse signs  with 

UNIVERSAL 

production  starts  immediately  on  first  of 
6  greatest  talking  westerns. 

Industry's  most  significant  move  to  bring 
real  fans  back  to  the  theatres  I 


I 


a  winner  j 


CRIPPINC  DRAMJ^ 

TIFFANY 

PRODUCTIONS 

present 


F    F    A     N    y 


riusT 


OF  LIFE  IN  THE  ROUCH I 


( 


JAMES  CRUZE 

PRODUCTION 


The  soul  of  woman  laid  bare  in  the  foul 
slums!  She  ^ent  through  hell  to  reach  the 
heaven  of  her  man's  love! 

An  absorbing  human  drama  of  passion 
in  the  dark  ...  A  picture  aimed  for  the 
heart  interest  of  both  sexeS/  all  ages  and 
all  classes. 

IT  WA$  A  6REAT  PLAY! 
IT'S  A  GREATER  PICTURE i^v 


MY  RIGHT  HAS  BEEN  ROLIED  U 
MY  LEFT  HAS  BEEN  DRIVEN 
BACK*  MY  CENTER  HAS  BEEN 
$MASHED*««I   HAVE 
ORDERED  AN  ADVANCE 
FROM  ALL  DIRECTIONS 

...MARSHAL    FO<H 


AND   HE  SMASHED  THE  FOE  IN  ON 
ALMICHTY    SWEEP    TO    VICTORY 


tide  of  battle  should  be  a  timely  lesson  to  every  showman  in  th 
world  today.  •  •  Now,  if  ever,  is  the  time  to  bring  into  play  ever 
ounce  of  showmanship  you  possess  •  •  •  every  last  degree  o 
spirit  and  enthusiasm  of  which  you  are  capable.   The  Showmen 
of  America  are  the  shock  troops  in  the  Warfare  against  De- 
pression. . .  The  Titans  of  RKO-Radio  with  eyes  ever  on  the  box- 
office  back  you  up  with  a  great  line  of  new  attractions 

MOST  PRACTICAL  BUY  OF  THE    NEW   SEASON! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    June    17,    1931 


Fox  Chortles 
When  "Daddy" 
Does  $100,883 


"Happy  Days  Are  Here  Again." 
That's  tlie  theme  song  they're  warb- 
hng  these  days  at  Fox  following  the 
sensational  $100,883  chalked  up  by 
"Daddy  Long  Legs"  at  the  Roxy. 
And  this  week  the  same  picture  is  on 
its  way  to  an  estimated  $65,000. 

It's  been  some  time  since  the  big 
7th  Avenue  theatre  did  anything  like 
that  since  the  week  ending  April  16, 
when  "A  Connecticut  Yankee"  rolled 
up  §101,500,  to  be  exact. 

Estimated  takings  week  ending  June 

11: 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

ASTOR— (1,120),      50c-$2,      2nd      week,      7 

davs.      Gross:     $20,181.  , 

"NEVER   THE   TWAIN   SHALL  MEET" 

(M-G-M) 

CAPITOL      (4,700),      35c-$1.50,      7      days. 

Stage    show,    Ted    Lewis     and     Ins    Jubilee 

Jamboree.      Gross:    $50,306. 

"FIVE    YEAR    PLAN"    (Amkino) 
CENTRAI^(910),     S0c-$1.50.      2nd      week, 
7    days.     Gross:    $10,775. 

"CITY   LIGHTS"    (U.   A.) 
(Return  Engagement) 
GEO.     M.     COHAX— (1,500),    25c-50c,    2nd 
week,   7  days.    Gross:   $2,444.75. 

"SMILING   UEUTENANT"    (Para) 
CRITERION— (850),    5c-$2,    3rd    week,    7 
days.     Gross:    $14,500. 

ElMBASSY    (AU   Newsreel) 
EMBASSY— (598),    2Sc,     7     days.     Gross: 
$8,148.75. 

"LOVER    COME    BACK"    (Col.) 
GLOBE— (1,050),    35c-85c,    7    days.     Gross: 
about    $5,600. 

"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 
HOLLYWOOD— (1.549),         65c-85c,         6th 
week.   7   days.    Gross:   $8,736. 

"WHITE    SHOULDERS'    (Radio) 
MAYFAIR— (2,300),  40c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
about    $16,000. 

"VICE    SQUAD"     (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,700),     40c-$l.     7     days. 
Stage    show,    headlining    Rudy      Valle     and 
his      Connecticut      Yankees;      Gilda      Gray. 
Gross:    $53,600. 

"WHOOPEE"    (U.  A.)   and  "STREET   OF 
CHANCE"    (Para.) 
RIALT(^— (1,904),    40c-$l,    7    days.     Gross: 
$4,500. 

"SEED"     (Univ.) 
RIVOU— (2,103).      40c-$l.      4th      week,      6 
days.     Gross:   $12,400. 

"NIGHT  ANGEL"   "Para.) 
RIVOLI— (2,103),  40c-$l.     Gross:    $3„S0O. 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
ROXY— (6,200),    50c- -$1.50,    7    days.     Stage 
show.     Ooss:    $100,883. 

"LADY  WHO  DARED"   (F.   N.) 
STRAND— (3,000),   35c-$l,   7   days.     Gross: 
$14,193. 

"THREE  LOVES"    (Associated  Cinemas  of 
America)     (German) 
WARNERS— (1.490),   35c-75c,   2nd    week,    7 
days.     Gross:    $5,029. 
"THE  MALTESE   FALCON"    (Warners) 
WINTER    GARDEN— (1,493),    35c-$l,    2nd 
week,   7  days.     Gross:   $13,631. 


it 


Buy  Now  to  Help 
Business'' — Meyer 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

mine  whether  it  wants  a  new  zoning 
plan  for  the  state  or  continue  as  is 
without  a  formal  system.  The  con- 
vention will  also  go  on  record  as  op- 
posed to  salacious  advertising,  holding 
it  to  be  responsible  for  adverse  legis- 
lation directed  against  the  industry. 
The  convention  banquet  was  held  last 
night. 


Producers  Invited  to 
Join  Canadian  Body 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
having  laboratories  to  become  mem- 
bers of  the  group  which  will  also  in- 
clude talking  picture  equipment  firms. 
The  Canadian  association  will,  there- 
fore, comprise  all  branches  of  the 
moving    picture    business. 


"//I  Old  Cheyenne" 

(Sono   Art-World   Wide) 

KJ  NE  of  the  Thrill-O-Dramas 
in  which  Rex  Lease  is  starred. 
With  Dorothy  Gulliver  as  the 
feminine  foil.  Rex  is  seen  in 
the  role  of  Cheyenne,  a  stranger 
who  lands  on  the  ranch  of  his 
father's  friend  and  is  assigned 
the  job  of  clearing  up  the  mys- 
terious disappearance  of  his 
horses.  It  is  not  long  before 
the  hero  brings  the  villain,  in 
the  guise  of  the  foreman  of  the 
ranch,  to  justice.  There  is  a 
new  angle  in  this  western  in 
introducing  a  white  horse  thief, 
an  animal  adept  in  the  business 
of  luring  horses  from  their  cor- 
rals without  assistance.  Harry 
Todd  portrays  the  role  of 
Cheyenne's  partner.  Stuart 
Paton  is  credited  with  the  di- 
rection.   Audience  reaction  fair. 


British  Films  Not 
Shelved — Cooper 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Halifax,  N.  S.  Col.  Cooper  declared 
that  the  I.  O.  D.  E.  was  antagonizing 
motion  picture  men  in  Canada  and 
doing  more  harm  than  good  to  Brit- 
ish pictures   by   such   propaganda. 

"The  people  who  distribute  films 
in  Canada  cannot  sell  pictures  if  the- 
atre owners  won't  buy  them,"  Col. 
Cooper  declared.  "Sofne  British  pic- 
tures are  excellent  and  some  are  not 
good.  The  same  is  true  of  films  from 
the  United  States  and  Germany." 

The  Daughters  of  the  Empire  had 
mentioned  one  picture,  "Escape,"  as 
being  sidetracked  by  a  film  exchange 
in  Canada,  after  it  had  been  private- 
ly viewed  by  representatives  of  the 
Order.  This  British  film  had  been 
purchased  by  Radio,  had  been  tested  in 
a  number  of  theatres  but  had  not 
proved  popular.  It  had  been  with- 
drawn from  the  screen  in  one  subur- 
ban house. 


Photophone  to  Sell 
New  Reproducer 

RCA  Photophone  is  ready  to  market 
a  new  type  of  reproducer  for  theatres 
up  to  500  seats.  It  will  be  known 
as  the  RCA  Photophone  special  size 
equipment,  will  sell  for  $1,600  and 
will  be  available  on  a  down  payment 
of  $100  with  weekly  payments  of 
$25  a  week  over  a  period  of  104 
weeks.  According  to  Sydney  E.  Abel, 
sales  manager,  the  weekly  payment 
includes  rental,  insurance,  finance 
charges  and  service  on  the  basis  of 
one  call  a  month  which,  under  the 
plan,  fixes  the  service  charge  at  $32.50 
per   month. 

The  new  equipment  is  of  a  new 
belt  driven  design  with  AC  operated 
exciter  lamp.  With  consideration  of 
the  requirements  that  would  insure 
volume  in  an  auditorium  containing 
up  to  500  seats  and  having  a  cubical 
content  up  to  75,000  cubic  feet,  RCA 
Photophone  says  it  has  designed  an 
amplifier  that  is  24  inches  wide,  11 
inches  high  and  8  inches  deep  and 
that  it  can  be  placed  on  the  wall  of 
the  projection  booth  between  pro- 
jectors. The  apparatus  is  operated 
with  110  volt,  60  cycle  and  50  cycle 
AC  and  115  volt  DC  power  supply, 
with  slight  increased  cost  for  Powers 
projectors  or   DC  power  supply. 


Combines  21 
Ohio  Houses 


Cincinnati — Divisions  of  RKO 
here  and  at  Cleveland  are  being 
merged  with  headquarters  here.  This 
gives  the  Cincinnati  office  jurisdiction 
over  21  houses  in  Cincinnati,  Dayton, 
Columbus,  Cleveland,  Toledo,  Akron, 
Youngstown  and  Pittsburgh. 

John  L.  Firnkess,  Cleveland  di- 
vision manager,  has  been  transferred 
here  in  the  same  capacity,  succeeding 
John  L.  McCurdy,  who  is  leaving  for 
New  York  and  may  be  assigned  to  the 
foreign  field.  Bill  E.  Danziger  re- 
mains as  advertising  manager  of  the 
merged  divisions. 


New  Head  of  Ohio's  . 
Censor  Board  Named 

Columbus,  O. — Beverly  O.  Skinner, 
for  the  last  three  years  president  of 
Wilmington  College  at  Wilmington,  is 
new  director  of  education  succeeding 
John  L.  Clifton.  In  his  new  post. 
Skinner  will  be  in  charge  of  film 
censorship. 


Wolcott  Wins 

Df.s  Moines — Leo  Wolcott  of  El- 
dora,  retains  the  Film  Board  golf 
cup,  having  won  the  local  tournament 
yesterday  for  the  third  year.  He 
scored  a  38  against  a  43  for  Lawrence 
Kuhl  at  Corning. 


Mayo  Easthound 

HoLLVVvoon — Archie  Mayo,  director 
is  enroute  to   New  York. 


Substitution 
Clauses  Hit  by 
Exhibitors 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
tions  other  than  those  designated  by 
a  definite  book  or  play."  The  asso- 
ciation condemns  such  clauses  as  co- 
ercive "and  not  based  on  good  busi- 
ness principles." 

The  organization  meeting  also  con- 
demned holding  out  pictures  for  road- 
showing  in  instances  when  new  con- 
tracts with  increased  rental  are  in- 
sisted upon. 


Globe  Gets  Go-by 
From  All  Circuits 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
run    representation    of    Broadway    to 
one   house,    the    May  fair. 

The  limitation  also  applies  to  Col- 
umbia and  Universal  whose  product 
plays  the  RKO  circuit  on  franchise. 
It  was  reported  yesterday  that  RKO 
will  keep  the  Mayfair  for  its  own 
product,  shunting  the  other  two  brands 
to  the  Hippodrome  on  6th  Avenue. 

Joe  Plunkett  said  no  decision  had 
been  made  regarding  a  second  house, 
although  the  circuit  has  been  dicker- 
ing for  the  Gaiety. 


Schumann-Heink  Wins 

Los  Angeles — Ernestine  Schuman- 
Heink,  70-year-old  opera-concert 
singer,  yesterday  was  awarded  judg- 
ment for  |75,000  against  Edwin 
Carewe.  She  claimed  Carewe  in  1929 
agreed  to  star  her  in  a  picture  and 
that  she  had  to  pass  up  a  full  concert 
season  through  his  failure  to  make  it. 


Back  Again 

Hymie  Silverman  Announces 

The  opening  of  a  new  public  projection  room  with 
the  latest  R.C.A.-Photophone  equipment  where  quality, 
service  and  privacy  are  guaranteed. 

$125   PER  REEL 

Until  6  P.M.— Nights,  Sundays  and 
Holidays  by  Appointment 


MOTORIZED  TALKING 
PICTURE  SERVICE,  Inc. 

729  Seventh  Ave.  NEW  YORK  CITY 

Telephone:  BRyant  9-5721 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


VOL.  30.    NO.  16 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 

Intelligent 

and 

Faithful 

Service  to 

the  Industry 

in  All 

Branches 

NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  18,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


f'Buy  Right-Buy  Now" 


Authoritative 

R  OGER  W.  BAB- 
SON,  nationally  known  econo- 
mist and  forecaster  of  trends  in 
business,  started  a  conversational 
buzz  that  reached  clear  around 
the  country  when  he  predicted 
the  stock  market  crash  of  1929 
before  it  actually  happened. 

Now  he  prophesizes  that  a 
new  wave  of  prosperity  is  on  the 
wing ;  that  American  business 
either  has  taken  a  swing  upward 
or  will  within  the  next  few 
months  and  argues  for  a  sub- 
stantial increase  in  advertising  to 
fan  the  economic  stimulant  into 
a  blaze. 

1  N  a  message  to 
the  Advertising  Federation  of 
America,  now  convening  in  New 
York,  Babson  goes  on  record 
with  his  prosperity  prediction. 
Important  for  the  depression 
contingent  in  this  business  to 
know  about  are  Babson's  re- 
marks. They  drive  home  their 
own  point.    Says  he  : 

"The    most    conservative    econ- 
omists,  who  were  bearish  a  few 
(Continued    on   page    2) 
—■■BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Lefs  Go  to  Movie'' 
Drive  in  Wisconsin 

Milwaukee — Drive  for  summer 
business  featuring  the  slogan,  "Let's 
go  to  a  Movie,"  which  will  be  made 
national  if  co-operation  of  the  Hays 
organization  is  forthcoming  will  be 
undertaken  by  the  M.P.T.O.  of  Wis- 
consin, the  convention  decided  here 
Wednesday. 

Basis  of  a  statewide  organization 
to  better  combat  adverse  legislation 
in  Wisconsin  was  laid  here  Wednes- 

(Continued  on  page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Academy  Men  Must 
I  Be  Associates  for  Yr, 

'  Hollywood — Directors  of  the 
!  .\cademy  of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and 
'  Sciences  have  voted  to  admit  no  more 
.'  active  members  until  after  they  have 
served  for  a  year  as  associate  mem- 
I  bers.  Annual  meeting  and  the  awards 
j  dinner  wiil  be  held  November  4. 
!  Louis  B.  Mayer  is  chairman  of  the 
'  committee. 


M.P.T,0,A,  Urges  Members  to  Sign  Up  at 
Once  at  "Fair  Prices'* 


"Buy  Now"  is  the  advice  of  the  M.P.T.O.A.  to  its  member- 
ship providing  terms  are  fair.  However,  if  demands  are 
unreasonable  the  exhibitor  should  hold  off  until  prices  come  to 
more  reasonable  terms,  the  organization  advises. 

"Buying  at  a  fair  figure  now^  means  that  product  can  be 
played  w^hen  it  is  new,  but  this  advantage  is  offset  if  the  deals 
are  at  exorbitant  figures,"  the  association  states,  calling  for  use 
of  intelligence  in  the  situation.  "Each  exhibitor  must  stand 
on  his  own  rights,  but  in  all  cases  the  element  of  fairness  is 
essential,"  it  is  pointed  out. 

"It  is  imperative  that  exhibitors  buy  on  a  reasonable  basis," 
the  organization  continues.  "Otherw^ise  they  should  w^ait  until 
prices  are  right." 


Redhead  Outscores  Blonde^ 
Brunette  in  "Psych  ^^  Test 


Relations  of 
RKO-Lehman 
In  Status  Quo 


Hiram  S.  Brown,  president  of 
RKO,  yesterday  denied  that  there 
had  been  any  rift  in  the  relations  be- 
tween the  company  and  Lehman 
Bros.,  bankers  for  RKO  and  its  affil- 
iated amusement   enterprises. 

"There  are  three  members  of  Leh- 
man Brothers  on  my  board  of  direc- 
tors," he  said.  "They  are  men  of  in- 
fluence and  have  been  and  still  are 
extremely  helpful  in  matters  of  RKO 
financing.  I  regret  that  the  impres- 
(Conttnued  on  page   8) 

—'■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Cold  to  New 
Central  Booking  Idea 

There  will  be  no  central  booking 
office  system  for  M-G-M,  office  man- 
agers were  told  at  the  four-day  St. 
Louis  convention.  The  company  has 
a  master  booker  who  supervises  all 
bookings  at  the  exchanges  and  who 
is  always  on  the  road  visiting  these 
branches.  With  Parks  Agnew 
handling  this,  there  is  no  need  for 
another  department,  an  M-G-M  offi- 
cial informs  Motion  Picture  Daily. 

Meeting  of  the  M-G-M  office  man- 
{Continued  on  page   8) 


When  a  man  kicks  a  beautiful  girl 
in  the — er — posterior,  it  means  noth- 
ing in  the  cerebral  convolutions  of 
the  average  red-headed  girl.  But 
when  she  watches  a  poker  game  with 
several  grand  in  the  pot,  her  blood 
pressure   shoots   up  26  points. 

This  scientific  discovery  was  made 
yesterday  in  the  Warner  projection 
room  in  an  experiment  conducted  by 
Dr.  William  Marston,  formerly 
of  the  psychology  department  of  Co- 
lumbia University,  to  determine  the 
emotional  reactions  to  gambling. 
Three  blondes,  three  brunettes  and 
three   bricktops   were   shown   portions 

{Continued  on  page   8) 
—'■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Theodore  Dreiser 
Plans  'Tragedy'  Suit 

Following  private  exhibition  of 
"American  Tragedy"  for  Theodore 
Dreiser,  the  author  is  said  to  be  dis- 
satisfied with  the  way  Paramount 
handled  the  transcription  of  his  book 
and  plans  to  sue  to  prevent  it  from 
being    shown    to    the    public.      "The 

(Continued  on  page  S) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Jersey  Unit's  Status 
In  Allied  Up  Today 

Atlantic  City — Status  of  the  New 
Jersey  exhibitor  unit  in  Allied  States 
Association,  extended  protection  and 
circuit  competition  are  expected  to 
highlight  two-day  sessions  of  the  New 
Jersey  exhibitor  unit  which  gets  under 
(Continued  en  page  8) 


U.  S.  May  Sift 
Protection  in 
New  York  City 

Protection  move  by  Loew's  in  de- 
manding 14  days  over  subsequent  runs 
instead  of  seven  is  causing  quite  a 
stir  in  independent  exhibitor  circles  in 
New  York.  Some  theatre  owners  at- 
tribute the  move  by  Loew's  as  a  re- 
sult of  protection  demands  by  RKO, 
which  in  most  spots  received  two 
weeks  while  the  Loew  circuit  has  been 
taking  the  seven  day  agreement. 

When  Motion  Picture  Daily 
printed  the  story  last  week,  it  was 
news  to  a  lot  of  exhibitors  who 
haven't  as  yet  thought  of   new  prod- 

(Continued    on   page    2) 
—  ■■'■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Use  of  Space  Above 
Auditoriums  Sought 

With  the  new  fire  code  for  New 
York  signed  by  Mayor  Walker,  the 
next  piece  of  important  legislation 
concerning  local  exhibitors  will  come 
up  at  the  opening  of  the  next  legis- 
lative session  in  October.  This  deals 
with  the  building  law  which  pro- 
hibits building  over  a  theatre  audi- 
torium. 

In  several  instances,  Broadway 
theatres  have  built  over  auditoriums. 
The  Paramount  has  a  floor  built  over 
the    auditorium   but    this    is    used    for 

(Continued  an  page  8) 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cuts  Out,  But  Loew 
Managers  to  Prune 

f'"ollowing  declaration  of  Nicholas 
M.  Schenck  that  salary  cuts  are  out, 
a  pruning  process  in  Loew's,  Inc.  is 
under  way. 

At  a  meeting  of  Greater  New  York 
managers  held  at  midnight  Tuesday, 
Charles  C.  Moskowitz  told  the  as- 
sembled men  he  had  pledged  Schenck 
that  cuts  in  house  operation  would 
be  made. 


Opposes  Cuts 

Warning  against  salary  cuts 
by  exhibitors  is  sounded  by 
the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  Maintain- 
ing wages  at  current  levels  is 
good  business  judgment  and 
will  pay  dividends  to  the  the- 
atre, the  association  states. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   June    18,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Foniierty    Exhibitors    Daily    Revieiv 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\  ol.   .50 


Tune   IS.   1931 


No.   16 


.Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  Jl  1  and  holidaySj  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^     Daily,   Inc.,  a  Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Lite 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.   v.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Authoritative 

(Continued  from  fage  \) 

years  ago,  are  bullish  now  so  far 
as  the  future  is  concerned.  The 
only  real  'bears'  today  are  the 
'sold-out  bulls'  of  a  few  years  ago. 
The  old  law  of  action  and  reac- 
tion teaches  now  that  unparalleled 
prosperity  will  again  follow  the 
present  depression.  Statistics 
now  indicate  that  business  has 
seen  the  worst,  even  though  re- 
covery will  be  slow  and  tedious. 
"Irrespective  of  what  happens 
in  the  stock  market  in  the  next 
year,  I  am  \yilling  to  stake  my 
reputation,  based  on  thirty  years' 
experience,  that  business  has  now 
seen  the  worst ;  that  although 
change  will  be  slow,  it  will  be  in 
the  right  direction ;  and  that  with- 
in a  reasonable  time  this  country 
again  will  enter  a  period  of 
marked  prosperity.  Tell  your  mer- 
chants that  now  is  the  time  to  ad- 
vertise and  give  their  customers 
an  opportunity  to  benefit  from 
present  low  prices.  Some  day 
those  merchants  who  take  your 
advice  will  be  so  pleased  that 
they'll  have  the  ads  of  1931  cut 
out  and  framed." 


SIGNIFICANT, 
too.  is  the  slant  of  Governor 
Ritchie  of  Maryland  who  ex- 
pounds a  policy  that  should  find 
echoes  among  the  thinking  ex- 
ecutives of  this  industry.  Says 
he: 

"The  business  which  reaps 
profits  off  its  labor  when  times 
are  good  must  not  turn  that 
labor  over  to  citizens'  relief  com- 
mittees for  food  and  clothes  and 
the  necessities  of  life  when  times 
are  hard.  If  business  does  not 
realize  that  this  problem  belongs 
primarily  to  it.  if  business  does 
not  have  the  statesmanship  with- 
in itself  to  find  the  remedy,  then 
the  government,  whose  ultimate 
objective  is  to  care  for  its  citizen- 
ship, will  seek  the  remedy  and 
will  find  it." 

KANN 


T  JNITED  ARTISTS  officials  on  the  Coast  are  perturbed  over  the  re- 
^  port  that  Mary  Pickford  and  Douglas  Fairbanks  are  not  to  make 
any  more  pictures,  but  instead  will  confine  activities  to  direction.  They 
brand  the  reports  ridiculous.  However,  neither  Mary  nor  Doug  are  yet 
down   for   any   pictures   on   the   new   season's    United   Artists   program. 

Economy  note  from  a  press  agent : 

"Max  Ree,  Radio  Pictures  art  director,  has  out-DeMilled  DeMille,  in 
creating  a  three-room  cinema  bath  suite  for  Lily  Damita  in  'The 
Sphinx  Has  Spoken.'  Its  walls  and  floors  are  black  granite  tiles  relieved 
with  Chinese  red  screens  and  jade  green  trimmings.  Mirrored  floors, 
be- jewelled  onyx  accessories,  Sakryan  bath  mats  and  fringe  towels, 
complete  the  ensemble." 

• 

Richard  Dix  and  Radio  have  settled  their  differences,  it  is  understood. 
Until  recently,  the  dope  was  that  Dix  would  leave  Radio  and  that  the 
company  was  planning  a  big  picture  to  take  advantage  of  the  star's 
name  draw  before  he  took  his  departure.  However,  the  long  battle 
now  is  declared  to  be  settled — amicably. 


96  Sheets  Used  to 
Sell  "A  Free  Soul" 

Basing  his  decision  on  results  ob- 
tained on  "Trader  Horn,"  "Billy" 
I'erguson  is  repeating  on  96  sheets 
for  "A  Free  Soul."  Phil  Di  Angelis 
is  handling  posting  of  the  paper. 
Ferguson  says  that  the  experience  on 
"Trader  Horn"  emphasizes  the  pull- 
ing power  of  billboard  copy. 
■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Warner s,LoeWf  A  lone 
Try  Foreign  Policy 

With  Warners  and  Loew's  going  in 
for  foreign  versions,  the  attitude  of 
the  remaining  major  circuits  is  un- 
changed. Fox,  RKO  and  Publix  are 
understood  to  be  sticking  to  the  plan 
of  playing  regular  American  talkers 
in  their  own  theatres.  All  three  cir- 
cuits are  not  taking  to  multi-linguals, 
apparently  finding  enough  product  on 
the  market  to  keep  the  houses  open 
with  domestic  film. 

The  Warner  in  New  York  is  now 
operating  on   a   foreign  talker  policy. 


Report  Inspiration 
Deal  with  U,  A,  On 

Inspiration  Pictures,  which  for  a 
number  of  years  released  through 
United  Artists,  is  reported  negotiating 
another  distribution  contract.  Walter 
Camp,  Inspiration  president,  is  under- 
stood to  have  been  dickering  with 
Samuel    Goldwyn  on  the   Coast. 

In  the  meantime,  Emil  Jensen,  gen- 
eral manager  of  Inspiration,  and  H.  D. 
Edwards  are  producing  "Pagan  Lady" 
for   release  via  Columbia. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Three  File  Charters 

Dover,  Del. — Charters  were  filed 
here    by    the    following : 

The  Arc  Products  Corporation,  to 
operate  talking  pictures.  500,000 
shares,  no  par  value. 

Royal  Television  of  America,  Inc., 
to  deal  in  television  devices.  Capital, 
$500,000. 

M.  H.  S.  Productions,  Inc.,  Ltd., 
to  deal  in  motion  pictures  of  all  kinds. 
300  shares,  no  par  value. 


Entire  Market  Off;  Loew*s  Drops  IVi 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated  Film  Industries SJ^  SYg  S% 

Consolidated  Film  Industries  pfd 13V^  13^        13"^ 

Eastman   Kodak 132i/  130^  131^^ 

Fox    Film    "A" 19H  19  19 

General  Theatre  Equipment  new S  4.J4  4?4 

Loew's,    Inc 41 J4  40'A        WA 

Paramount    Publix 24  22?-^        2354 

Pathe    Exchange IK         1^         Ui 

RKO   1314  1354        1354 

Warner    Bros S'A  T'A         8 

Warner  Bros,  pfd 20  19  19 


Net 
Change 

-K 


-VA 
—  ¥i 
-54 
-VA 

-I-  'A 


-V2 
-54 


Sales 

100 

100 

1.500 

3,900 

4,800 

4,300 

6,400 

1,100 

2,800 

11,800 

200 


Curb  List  Also  Declines 

Net 

High       Low      Close      Change  Sales 

Fox  Theatres  "A" 3%          VA          M        —%  600 

General   Theatre   Equipment  pfd 10^        10;^        10?i        -f-  A  5,300 

.Sentry   .Safety   Control 1              1              1            100 

Trans    Lux 6!^         6            6           1,200 

Bonds  Irregular;  G.  T,  E,  Off  4 

Net 

High      Low      Close      Change  Sales 

General   Theatre   Equipment  6s   '40 43           40           40           —4  U 

Paramount   Broadway   S-^s   '51 101J4       10154       101!^        —54  3 

Paramount  F.  L.  6s  '47 915-^        89.54        9154        -|-  54  27 

Paramount   Publix   554s,   '50 80           78%        80           -(-1  12 

Pathe  7s  '37  ww 8454        84            8454        —254  4 

Warner   Bros.    63   '39   wd 47            46           46           ^VA  32 


U.S.  May  Sift 
Protection  in 
New  York  City 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

uct.  With  the  new  Loew  request 
plenty  of  complaints  are  promised. 
Exhibitors  predict  that  second  runs 
will  demand  two  weeks'  protection 
over  third  runs.  And  then  various  ex- 
hibitors may  be  running  to  Washing- 
ton trying  to  straighten  out  a  mess 
involving  protection.  In  some  quarters 
it  is  predicted  that  the  Washington 
threshing  machine  will  be  called  upijii 
to  sift  the  complication  within  the 
next  year. 
■■BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW 

Big  3  of  Carolina's 
Tax  Fight  in  N,  Y. 

The  Big  Three  of  North  Carolina's 
tax  fight,  Charles  W.  Picquet,  presi- 
dent of  the  exhibitor  association  of 
North  and  South  Carolina;  Harry 
Buchanan  and  H.  F.  Kincey,  are  in 
New  York  on  a  business  trip.  Bu- 
chanan led  the  fight  on  the  proposed 
admission  tax,  closing  his  theatre  at 
Sylva  in  order  to  devote  all  his  time 
to  the  fight.  When  he  returned  to 
his  home  town  from  the  capital, 
Raleigh,  it  was  to  learn  that  he  had 
been   elected  mayor. 

Kincey  is  interested  with  Publix 
in  a  California  circuit.  Picquet  has 
scheduled  July  20  and  21  for  the  or- 
ganization's annual  convention  at 
Wrightsville  Beach. 
-BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW- 

Budd  Gets  New  Post 

R.  W.  Budd,  for  some  time  con- 
nected with  the  Warner  theatre  de- 
partment, has  been  appointed  general 
personnel  manager  for  Warners  and 
subsidiaries.  William  Mullen,  for 
years  connected  with  Warners  and 
First  National,  continues  in  charge  of 
the  clerical  personnel  under  Budd. 
-BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW— 

Mrs.  Young  Dies 

Mrs.  Eva  F.  Young,  wife  of  Theo- 
dore Young,  head  of  Paramount's 
real  estate  department,  died  Wednes- 
day after  an  illness  of  several  months. 
The  funeral  will  be  held  from  the 
home  at  29  Stover  St.,  Jamaica,  L.  I. 

Time   of   the   funeral   now   is  being 
arranged. 
-BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Laemmle,  Jr.,  Leaves 

Carl  Laemmle,  Jr.,  left  for  Holly- 
wood yesterday  to  pick  up  production 
reins  at  Universal  City.  The  trip 
will  be  made  by  rail,  although  Junior 
did  consider  the  Panama  Canal  route. 


1 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

Latest  R.C.A. 
Photophone  Equipment 

per  reel  until  6  P.  M. 
Nights,    Sundays, 
Holidays  by   Appointment 

Under   the    personal    supervision    of 
Hymie    Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 
PICTURE   SERVICE,   Inc. 

729   7th    Ave.  BRyant   9-5721 


M.25 


"The  Answer  to  your  theatre^s  prayer 
has  come  from  Metro -Goldwyri' Mayer! " 


"The  Astor  has  a 
fit  successor  to 
Trader  Horn,"  m-^s 
N.Y.American.  And 
the  Astor  box-office 
(at  $2  top)  says  it 
with  S.  R.  O. 


PLAY  IT  IN  YOUR  THEATRE 
while  it  is  the  reigning  $2 
success  on  Broadway! 


There  is  no  sun 


\^  Po 


their  oNvn  >^  ^  ^^,^  itb  sn 

^^ewise  you  ome.    ^ 

ative   ^^y^vie'ir    effect 

^^tiig  a^  ^K     Zs  done  te- 

too,  com«       in    more 

.  \\^P"'demonstrat- ^,  ,,e  P^-^^^ 
^^ v^  v;eU  done,  tn     ^^^    con 

ness. 


MOT'/ 


OA/   ^/ 


cru^^ 


PAILV 


WHO 


V 


A 


"After  the  bustle  and,  din, 

Feuer  and  /ilth  of  iht  city, 
How  nice  to  chance 

On  a  field  of  romance — 
Something  that's  cleanly  and  pretty! 

Daddy  Long  Legs  is  a  delightful  shcf 
for  the  whole  family." 

— Chicago  Tribtif 


A  Nice  Relief 

"A  picture  without  a  gangster  in  it  .  J 
A  movie  without  obvious  villains  .  . 
A  nice  relief  from  the  sordid  realism  • 
underworld  stufi  which  has  glutted  tl 
shadowy  rialto." 

— Los  Angeles  Illustrated  Daily  Net 


f^i^,". 


DADD 

JANET 

WARNE 


UNA   MERKEL  John    AHedg 

From  play  by  JEAN  WEBSTER 


itute  tor 

ESOMENESS 


iveet  and  Refreshing  as 
rst  Breath  of  Spring 

V  world  of  sweetness  and  light  rolled  like 
mating  summer  breezes  across  the  silver  screen 
Daddy  Long  Legs  will  be  received  as  wel- 
ime  relief  .  .  .  from  the  general  run  of  things 
nema  .  . .  Charm  and  simple  loveliness  placed 
3on  screen  in  natural,  human  manner  .  .  .  As 
weet  and  refreshing  as  the  first  breath  of  spring 
.  Belongs  in  the  superclass." 

— hos  Angdts  Evening  Exprtss 


Charming  and  Refreshing 

"Out  of  an  era  of  gangsters  and  sophistication 
comes  Daddy  Long  Legs,  charming  and  refresh- 
ing, — Hollywood  News 

ideal 

'*Simple,  human  story  that  is  ideal  talkie  ma- 
terial .  .  .  Janet  Gaynor  in  her  best  role  .  .  . 
Superb  support  ...  If  it  isn't  the  best  talkie  of 
the  season,  then  you  name  the  one  that's  better 
.  .  .  Wins  4  great  big  Grade  A  stars." 

— Detroit  Daily  Mirror 


•     • 


•    • 


ooded  with  Purity  and  Sunshine 

'looded  with  sweetness,  purity  and  sunshine 
.  Like  a  lovely  white  lily  standing  alone  in 
e  morass  of  indecent  underworld  and  sex 
ories  with  which  the  silver  sheet  has  recent- 
been  darkened."  —  Detroit  Free  Press 


Complete  Triumph 

"A  complete  triumph  and  will  appeal  to  every 
taste . . .  Cleanliness  a  capping  factor  in  a  movie 
that  should  strike  a  happy  chord  in  every 
human."  —  Detroit  News 

Universal  Appeal 

"One  of  those  rare  talkers  with  universal  appeal 

.  .  Pathos,  punch,  humor,  kids,  romance  ...  It 

is  a  smash."  — Variety 


r 


LONC    LEOS 


\wi 


th 


GAYNOR 

BAXTER 

Claude  Gillingwater,Sr.  Kathlyn  Williams 

Directed  by  ALFRED  SANTELL 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,    June     18,     1931 


"Bill"  Haines 
Only  Card  to 
Houston  Fans 


HoLSTON" — 111  a  dull  week  here.  Bill 
Haines  led  the  batting,  breaking  even 
with  the  Loew's  State  average  of 
$11,000. 

\\ith  every  first  run  in  town  now 
operating  on  an  all-sound  program, 
managers  here  have  reduced  their 
figures  on  average  weekly  business. 
The  Kirby  is  down  from  $9,000  in 
averages  to  $5,000 ;  Loew's  State 
from  $11,000  to  $8,000;  the  Metro^ 
politan  from  $11,000  to  $8,000  and 
the    RKO    Majestic    ditto. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  12: 

"MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 
KIRBY— (1,654),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,.S0O.        (Average,    $5,(X)0.) 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"  (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S    STATE^(2.700),    25c-40c-60c,    7 
days.   Vaude.   revue.   Gross:  $11,000.     (Aver- 
age,   $8,000.) 

"YOUNG  SINNERS"   (Para.) 
METROPOLITAN— (2,512),    25c-40c-60c,    7 
days.      Publix    stage    show.     Gross:    $10,000. 
(Average.    $8,000.) 

"IRON   MAN"   (Universal) 
MAJESTIC— (2,250),       25c-35c-40c-6Oc,       7 
days.     RKO  vaude.     Gross:  $10,000.     (Aver- 
age,   $8,000.) 

''Buy  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 


66 


99 


Frenchmen 
Heads  Cincy 
With  $24,386 


CixciXi\ATi — Again  the  RKO  Albee 
grabbed  the  big  money  with  "Fifty 
Million  Frenchmen"  as  the  screen  at- 
traction in  addition  to  vaudeville  top- 
ped by  "Salt  and  Peanuts,''  local  radio 
entertainers.  The  house  rang  up  $24,- 
386,  or  over  the  average  by  $2,386. 

"Laughing  Sinners"  at  the  RKO 
Palace  carried  off  second  honors, 
coaxing  $16,232  from  the  fans'  grouch 
bags,  and  going  over  the  top  by  $2,- 
232. 

General  business,  park  opposition 
and  hot  weather  being  what  they  are, 
the  week  can  be  said  to  have  been 
satisfactory  in  collective  returns. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June   12 : 

"THE    NIGHT    IS    OURS"    (German) 

ERLAXCiER  GRANI>  OPERA  HOUSE- 
0,600),  JOcoOc.  7  days.  Gross:  $2,975. 
(Average.    $4,500.) 

"THE    LADY    WHO    DARED"    (F.    N.) 
KEITH'S— (1.600).   .iUc-.50c,   7  days.   Gross: 
S4.8«).    (Average,    $4,500.) 
"50   MILLION    FRENCHMEN"    (W.    B.) 
RKO    AI.HKE-  r3.,?0(t),    .«c-50c-6.5c-75c.    7 
clays.       \'au(lt.      Gross:      $24,386.      (Average. 
$22.000. ) 
"YOUNG   DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 
RKO    CAP1TOJ^-(2.000).    30c-50c,    7   days. 
Gross:    $11,690.     (.Average.     $13,000.) 
"THE  AVENGER"   (Col.) 
RKO      KA.\nLV-(l,140j,      20c-25c-35c,      4 
days.     Gross:    $2,636.    (Average,    $1,950.) 
"KICK   IN"    (Para.) 
RKO   FAMILY— (1.140),    second    run,   20c- 
25c-3Sc.    3    days.      Gross:    $1,419.     (Average, 
$12,000. ) 

"PARTY   HUSBAND"    (F.   N.) 
RKO      EVRIC— (1.40O).      .i<)c-50c.     7     days 
plus   .Saturday   midnight   show.     Gross:   $10,- 
028.    (Average,    $12,000.) 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
RKO    PALACF^(2,700).    ,TOc.5<lc.    7    days 
plus   .Saturd'ay   midnight   show.    Gross:    $16,- 
232.    (Average,    $14,000.) 

"SUBWAY    EXPRESS"    (Col.) 
RKO    .STRAiVD— (1,350),    25c-40c,    7    days, 
Gross:    $4,694.     (Average,    $.3,500.) 


Too  Realistic 

O-M.AiiA — Irv  Waterstreet,  di- 
visional p. a.  for  Paramount 
Publix,    builds   realistic   fronts. 

Tying  up  with  the  Jaap  Tire 
Co.  on  "The  Millionaire," 
George  Arliss'  auto  yarn, 
Waterstreet  transformed  the 
front  of  the  World  Theatre 
into  a  service  station.  Stand- 
ard gasoline  pumps  were  part 
of  the   props. 

The  house  crew  was  just  fin- 
ishing up  the  job  about  1  a.m. 
of  the  opening  day.  All  the 
lights  were  up.  Irv  was  en- 
thusiastically viewing  the  lay- 
out. 

A  car  drove  up  to  the  curb 
in  front  of  the  theatre.  The 
driver  looked  at  Irv.  Then: 
"Fill  'er  up  and  take  a  look  at 
the  oil." 


Shun  Films 
For  Racing 
In  Toronto 


Toronto — This  town  went  nutty  on 
horse  racing  during  the  week  and  the 
crowd  lost  plenty  with  the  result  that 
the  theatres  got  it  going  and  coming, 
the  bright  spot  being  a  rainy  Satur- 
day that  sent  most  of  the  public  to 
the  shows.  The  Tivoli  turned  in  an 
average  of  $12,500  on  "Seed"  and  was 
the  only  theatre  to  equal  par  for  the 
week.  Loew's  was  close  to  the  mark 
with  $14,000  on  "Indiscreet,"  which 
might  have  been  good  for  a  second 
week  under  more  favorable  condi- 
tions. The  Imperial  had  "The 
Lawyer's  Secret"  on  the  screen  and 
a  pack  of  chorus  girls  in  "Sweet- 
hearts," the  Publix  stage  unit,  but 
could  do  no  better  than  $14,500,  as 
compared  with  $16,000  as  an  average. 
"It's  a  Wise  Child"  was  a  fair  draw 
at  Shea's,  but  the  vaudeville  was 
mediocre  and  helped  to  keep  the  crowd 
away,  the  gross  here  being  $12,000, 
which  was  on  the  under  side  of  aver- 
age. Clara  Bow  made  her  final  ap- 
pearance at  the  Uptown  in  "Kick  In" 
and  the  papers  gave  her  front  page 
position  on  her  retirement  meantime, 
but  the  best  that  the  Uptown  could 
do  was  $10,500,  or  $1,500  below  the 
line. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending   June    12  : 

"THE    LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 

IMPERIAL  —  (3.444).  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c- 
73c.  6  days,  "Sweethearts."  Paramount 
Publix  stage  unit.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Aver- 
age. $16.00(1) 

"INDISCREET"   (U.  A.) 

I.OEW'.S- (2.088).      2.=;c-.OTc-40e-60c-75c.      6 
davs.     Gross:   $14,000.      (Average.   $15,000.) 
"IT'S   A  WISE   CHILD"    (M-G-M) 

SHEA'S— (2.600).  .30c-50c-60c-75c.  6  days. 
Five  vaudeville  acts.  Gross:  $12,000. 
(Average,    $13,000.) 

"SEED"    (Usiversal) 

TTVOI.I     (l.f/K)).    1.5c •25c -35c -50c -65c -75c.   6 
days.     Gross:    $12,500.      (Average.   $12..500.) 
"KICK    IN"    (Para.) 

I'PTOWX  (3,000).  l!;c-25c-3.5c-50c-60c.  6 
days.      Gross:    $10,500.      (Average.    $12,000.) 

"BUY   RIGHT—BUT   BUY   NOW 

Try  Ads  in  German 

CiNcixxATi — The  Erlanger  Grand 
Opera  House,  making  a  special  play 
for  the  German  speaking  patrons,  is 
running  its  newspaper  advertisements 
of  "Die  Nacht  Gehort  Uns"  (The 
Night   Is   Ours)    entirely   in   German. 


Grosses  Down 
In  Cleveland 
Film  Houses 


Cleveland — Ideal  outing  weather, 
two  dramatic  stock  shows  and  the 
opening  of  the  amusement  parks 
proved  perfect  alibis  for  the  poor 
business  hereabouts,  with  not  one  first 
run  going  above  par. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  11 : 

"PARTY   HUSBAND"    (F.   N.) 

LAKE^CSOO),  40c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.     (Average,  $5,000.) 

Week  Ending  June  12 

"NEVER   THE   TWAIN    SHALL   MEET" 

(M-G-M) 

STATE— (3,400).  30c-60c,  7  davs.  Gross: 
$17,000.       (Average,    $20,000.) 

Week  Ending  June  13 
"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

ALLEN— (3,300),  30c-60c,  7  days.  Grosss 
$15,000.       (Average,    $18,000.) 

"DUDE    RANCH"    (Para.) 

CAMEO— (1.200),  25c~SOc,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.        (Average.    $5,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 

HIPPODROME— (4,500),  25c-75c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $14,000.      (Average.   $15,000.) 

"WOMEN  OF   ALL  NATIONS"    (Fox) 

STILLMAX— (1.900).  40c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.  (Average.  $20,000  for  first 
week.) 

"ALWAYS   GOODBYE"    (Fox) 

PALACE— (3,100).  25-75c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$21,000.      (Average.  $23,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Kid"  Is  Big 
Noise  of  St. 
Paul  Stands 

St.  Paul — This  town  went  for 
"Donovan's  Kid"  last  week  in  a  big 
way,  the  picture  getting  $16,500  at 
the  RKO  Orpheum.  where  the  aver- 
age is  $12,000.  "Kiki"  surprised  at 
the  Tower  with  a  take  of  $3,000. 
which  topped  the  house  average  by 
$1,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June   12  : 

"THE    LAWYER'S    SECRET"     (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300).  25c-.50c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $8.0OO.       (Average.    $7,500.) 

"THE   FINGER  POINTS"   (F.  N.) 

RIVIERA— (1.600),  25c-35c-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $7,500.      (Average.    $7,000.) 

"DONOVAN'S     KID"     (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  day.s. 
"Youngsters  of  Yesterday"  heading  four 
acts  vaude.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Average, 
$12,000. ) 

"KIKl"    (U.    A.) 

TOWER— (1,000).  15c-25c.  7  davs.  Gross: 
?3,000.      (Average,    $2,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Upswing  of 
Business  Is 
Seen  at  O.  C. 

Oklahoma  City — Although  busi- 
ness still  is  in  the  doldrums  here,  last 
week  showed  considerable  improve- 
ment at  two  houses,  the  Criterion  and 
Warner.  At  the  former.  "Laughing 
Sinners"  pulied  $7,200  worth,  while 
"Many  a  Slip,"  aided  by  Al  and  Loie 
Bridge,    gave    the   Warner   $7,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending    June    12: 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS"  (M-G-M) 
CRITERION- (1,800).    10c-35c-50c,   7    days. 
Gross:    $7,200.      (Average.    $8,000.) 
"KICK   IN"   (Para.) 
CAPITOI^(1,200),     10c-25c-50c.     7     days. 


$17,000  Leads 
Providence  on 
Crawford  Film 


Prontdence — Joan  Crawford's  pull 
was  good  for  $17,000  at  Loew's  State 
tiiis  week,  not  so  hot  as  previous  pic- 
tures l)y  this  star,  but  good  enough  to 
make  the  house  heads  grin.  In  this 
town  today  $17,000  is  big  dough.  Sec- 
ond on  the  list  came  a  double-feature 
bill  at  the  Majestic,  "Always  Good- 
bye" and  "Six  Cylinder  Love,"  which 
grossed  $13,500,  a  smart  figure. 

The  Paramount  was  not  too  bad  at 
$9,000  with  "Lawyer's  Secret,"  but 
the  RKO  Albee  yanked  "Everything's 
Rosie"  after  si.x  davs,  when  it  failed 
to  hit  the  $5,000  spot.  The  RKO  Vic- 
tor v,  too,  was  down  to  rock  bottom 
at  $4,000  with  "Beyond  Victory." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  11 : 

"EVERYTHING'S  ROSIE"  (Radio) 

RKO  ALBEE— (2,300),  lOc-SOc,  6  days. 
Gross:  $4,800.     (Average,  $9,000.) 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS"  (MGM) 
LOEW'S  STATE^(3,800),  lOc-SOc,  7  days. 
Maurice     in     organlogues.       Gross:     $17, (WO. 
(Average.   $18,000.) 
"THE    LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (2.300),    lOc-SOc,    7    days. 
Brad  Braley  at  organ.  Gross:  $9,000.   (Aver- 
age,   $10,000.) 

"ALWAYS  GOODBYE"   (Fox)  and 
"SIX  CYLINDER  LOVE"   (Fox) 
MAJESTIC— (2.400),       10c-50c,      7      days. 
Gross:  $13,500.     (Average,  $10,000.) 

"BEYOND  VICTORV  (RKO  Pathe) 
RKO  VICTORY— (1,600),   10c-50c,   7  days. 
Gross:    $4,000.      (Average,   $6,500.) 

■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW— 


• 9 


^Millionaire 

Goals  Omaha; 

$9,500  Gross 

(3.MAHA — This  town  will  go  for  a 
good  picture  and  George  Arliss'  "The 
Millionaire"  proved  it  last  week  when 
it  copped  $9,500  at  the  World,  which 
is  three  grand  above  average,  at  a 
time  when  business  generally  was 
light.  "Laughing  Sinners"  at  the 
Paramount  was  slightly  over  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  12  : 

"DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 

ORPHEUM— O.OOO),  25c-35c-60c,  7  days. 
Vaude.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average  house, 
$12,500.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

PARA.MOUNT— (2.90O),    2Sc-30c-35c-60c.    7 
days.     Gross:    $8,500.     (Average,    $8,000.) 
"THE    MILLIONAIRE"    (Warners) 

WOin^D— (2.500).  25c-40c,  7  days.  Ooss: 
$9,500.      (Average,    $6,500.) 

"DUDE    RANCH"    (Para.) 

STATE— (1.200),  25c.  4  days.  Gross: 
$1,010.      (Average,    $1,200.) 

"SIX    CYLINDER    LOVE"    (Fox) 

SITATE— (1,200),  25c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$1,000.     (Average,   $900.) 


Gross:    4,400.      (Average,    $7,000.) 

"BIG  BUSINESS  GIRL"  (Fox) 

MID-WE.ST— (1,500),  10c-25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,500.      (Average,   $7,500.) 

"MANY   A   SLIP"    (Univ.) 

WARNER— (1,700),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Al  and  Loie  Gridge,  vaude.  Gross:  $7,500. 
(Average,  $7,600.) 

"EXTRAVAGANCE"  (Tiff.) 

LIBERTY— (1,500),  10c-15c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:   $800.     (Average,   full   week,  $3,000.) 

"LADY  WHO  DARED"   (F.  N.) 

LIBERTY— (1.500),  10c-15c-35c,  4  days. 
Gross:   $1,000.      (Average,   full  week,   $3,000.) 


RCA  PMOTOPUONE 

All  A.C.  Operated 
Special    Size  Equipment  for 

500  »AT  THEATRES 

*I600^ 

RCA  PHOTOPHONE  SPECIAL  SIZE  EQUIPMENT  for  theatres  of  500  SEATING  CAPAC- 
ITY and  under  is  now  ready!  Designed  and  built  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the 
smallest  theatres  . .  .  compact .  .  .  simple  in  operation  and  offered  at  a  price  that 
makes  it  the  salvation  of  hundreds  of  houses  that  heretofore  have  remained 
dark  or  unprofitable  with  silent  pictures  or  with  unsatisfactory  sound  equipment. 


COMPLETE  A-C  OPERATION 

No  Batteries  .  .  .  No  Motor  Generators  .  .  • 
Direct  Connection  with  the  A-C  Power  Line 
.  .  .  making  operation  extremely  simple. 
Built  for  small  projection  rooms. 

DESIGNED  FOR  SMALL  THEATRES 

Adapted  to  Simplex,  Powers  and  Kaplan 
Projectors,  operates  with  110  volt,  60  cycle 
and  50  cycle,  and  115  volt,  D-C  Power 
supply.  (Powers  and  D-C  equipments  at  a 
slightly  higher  cost.) 

AN  ENGINEERING  TRIUMPH! 

At  Last!  The  small  theatre  is  given  the  same 
opportunity  as  the  super  de-iuxe  house.  With 
confidence  the  small  theatre  owner  can 
proudly  advertise  his  RCA  PHOTOPHONE 
SPECIAL  SIZE  EQUIPMENT,  knowing  that  the 
box-office  attractions  of  the  major  studios 
will  be  presented  with  the  fidelity  of  tone 
and  perfection  that  characterizes  RCA 
PHOTOPHONE  performance. 


$100.00  DOWN,  $25.00  A  WEEK! 

On  the  Lease  plan,  this  RCA  PHOTO- 
PHONE SPECIAL  SIZE  EQUIPMENT  may 
be  installed  on  deferred  payments  as 
low  as  $25.00  per  week  which  includes 
lease  and  finance  charges,  insurance 
and  REGULAR  SERVICE  during  the  pay- 
ment term.  It  takes  but  a  very  few  extra 
admissions  to  pay  for  it  and  deliver  a 
profit  from  the  first  day  of  operation. 

For  further  information  communicate  with 
nearest  branch  office  or  direct  to 

Commercial  Department 

RCA   PHOTOPHONE,   INC. 

411  Fifth  Avenue        *        New  York  City 

A  Radio  Corporation  of  America  Subsidiary 

IS  Branches  in  Principal  Cities  of  United  States  and 
autliorized  Distributors  in  Foreign  Countries* 


PHOTOPHONE 


SOUND     EQUIPMENT, 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   June    18,    1931 


Relations  of 
RKO-Lehman 
In  Status  Quo 


(Continued  from  payc   1) 

sion  lias  been  created  that  there  has 
been  a  row." 

At  the  dinner  which  wound  up  the 
KKO  Golf  Association  tournament  at 
the  Westchester  Country  Club  on 
Friday  night,  Brown  told  the  80 
RKO  executives  present  that  the 
company  had  recently  experienced 
some  difficulty  in  arranging  some 
temporary  financing,  but  that  he  was 
glad  to  say  his  company  was  now  set 
to  go  for  the  next  two  years.  He 
made  no  mention  of   names. 

Motion  Picture  Daily,  in  re- 
porting his  statements,  made  it  clear 
that  Brown  had  not  used  names.  Re- 
port of  the  alleged  row  with  Leh- 
man Bros.,  the  withdrawal  of  that 
company  from  RKO  affairs  and  en- 
trance of  the  Chemical  National 
Rank  into  RKO  financing  were  pub- 
lished Monday  morning  on  the 
strength  of  information  gathered  by 
Motion  Picture  Daily  from  a 
source  other   than    Brown. 

It  is  understood  RKO's  money  re- 
quirements were  for  the  purpose  of 
financing  current  production,  princi- 
pally at  RKO  Pathe;  that  the  Leh- 
maiis  had  guaranteed  $1,000,000  if 
Brown  succeeded  in  raising  additional 
funds  elsewhere.  A  deal  was  then 
made  with  Chemical  National  for 
$6,000,000. 
—•'BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Cold  to  New 
Central  Booking  Idea 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

agers  marks  the  first  of  its  kind  ever 
held,  ^bout  75  executives  and  man- 
agers were  present  including  repre- 
sentatives from  the  home  office.  At- 
tending from  the  home  office  staff 
were :  C.  K.  Stern,  A.  F.  Cummings' 
who  had  charge  of  the  meeting ;  J.  S. 
MacCloed,  J.  Gove,  C.  J.  Sonin, 
Frank  McRoy,  Joe  Bezahler,  William 
Marsh,  C.  F.  Deesan,  Arthur  Lax, 
W.  D.  Kelly,  Rose  Klein,  and  Flor- 
ence Erlich. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Use  of  Space  Above 
Auditoriums  Sought 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

auditions.  It  cannot  be  leased.  Ex- 
hibitors feel  that  with  structures  built 
along  the  stringent  lines  set  down  by 
the  fire  department,  they  should  be 
permitted  to  take  advantage  of  the 
space  above   auditorium. 

The  line  of  procedure  in  fighting  the 
building  code  is  now  being  prepared 
with  details  expected  to  be  straight- 
ened out  by  October  when  the  Legis- 
lature convenes. 
—■"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOlV" 

$1,119,000  Left  to 
Actors'  Benefit  Fund 

Cambridge,  Mass. — Irving  Niles 
left  an  estate  valued  at  $1,119,000  in 
favor  of  the  Actors'  Fund  of 
America,  Inc.  Ten  cousins,  who  are 
protesting  the  will's  provisions,  have 
withdrawn  their  objections. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Shows  British  Film 

"The  Skin  Game,"  British  Interna- 
tional Productions  talker,  will  follow 
"Le  Million"  at  the  Little   Carnegie. 


Purely  Personal 


/^L'RTIS  F.  XAGEL,  co-producer 
^^  with  Howard  C.  Brown  and 
Claude  Fleming,  narrator  of  the  Ro- 
mantic Journey  series  released  by  Ed- 
ucational, has  returned  from  Africa. 

\'an  Ness  Philip,  manager  of  the 
foreign  department  of  RCA  Photo- 
phone,  has  signed  up  the  White  Star 
Line  for  installation  of  reproducing 
equipments  on  a  number  of  liners  the 
firm   operates. 

Bobby  Jones,  accompanied  by  his 
father  and  O.  B.  Keller^  are  in  New 
York.  The  trio  paid  their  respects 
to  Harry  M.  Warner  and  Dan  Micha- 
love  soon  after  their  arrival  in  New 
York. 

Max  Milder  and  A.  W.  Schwal- 
berg  of  Warners  were  guests  at  a 
dinner  Monday  at  the  Commodore 
Hotel,  New  York,  tendered  by  the 
sales   and  contract   departments. 

Meyer  Fischer,  president  of  the 
Fischer  Film  Exchanges  of  Cleve- 
land and  Cincinnati,  is  in  New  York, 
conferring  with  Tom  Guinan,  sales 
manager  of  Big  4  Film  Corp. 

M.  A.  Lightman,  M.P.T.O.A. 
president,  is  not  coming  to  New  York 
from  the  Atlanta  convention.  Instead, 
he  plans  to  come  to  New  York  from 
Memphis  in  about  a  week. 

Melvin  Hirsh,  of  Syndicate  ex- 
change of  New  York,  has  gone  and 
done  it.  He's  a  married  man  now  and 
touring  through  Canada  on  a  honey- 
moon trip. 

Max  Milder  and  Mrs.  Milder  are 
en  route  to  England  where  Max  is 
to  assume  his  new  post  of  hianaging 
director  for  Warners  in  Great  Brit- 
aiiL 

Harry  G.  Musgrove,  newly-ap- 
pointed Far  East  representative  for 
Radio,  leaves  Monday  for  Shanghai, 
where  he  will  make  his  headquarters. 

Louis  Cohen,  of  Fox  Theatres, 
can't  do  very  much  unless  he's  got 
one  of  those  cheroots  between  his 
teeth. 

Jerome  Kridel,  New  Jersey  exhibi- 
tor, has  deserted  the  bachelor  ranks. 
He's  speeding  his  honeymoon  at  Banff. 

"Buc:k"  Steffes,  Minneapolis,  and 
Joe  Pastor,  Chicago,  Allied  leaders, 
are  in  New  York  for  a  brief  visit. 


Jersey  Unit's  Status 
In  Allied  Up  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

way  here  today.  Among  speakers  who 
will  be  on  hand  is  W.  A.  Steffes  of 
Minneapolis,  who  is  expected  to  answer 
charges  made  against  him  by  one  of 
the  members. 

Rudy  Sanders,  president  of  the 
Brooklyn  theatre  owners'  association, 
is  here,  as  well  as  Leo  Abrams  and 
Sig  Wittman  of  '  Universal.  Leon 
Rosenblatt  may  not  be  able  to  get 
here  today,  but  will  attend  tomorrow's 
meet.  Rosenblatt  is  said  to  be  attack- 
ing the  unit's  affiliation  with  Allied. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Form  Partnership 

Nathan  Hirsh,  exchange  man  and 
theatre  operator,  has  signed  a  part- 
nership agreement  with  Ludwig  Satz, 
Jewish  actor,  to  make  an  operetta 
feature  and  a  number  of  shorts.  All 
the  pictures  will  be  made  in  the  east. 


Charles  Picquet,  H.  F.  Kincey 
and  Harry  Buchanan,  Southern  ex- 
hibitors all,  are  at  the  Lincoln  Hotel. 

Richard  Barthelmess,  after 
a  fortnight  in  New  York  looking  for 
story  material,  has  left  for  the  Coast. 

Tom   Spry  of  Boston  was   in  town 
yesterday      sampling      New      York's 
weather. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

''Let's  Go  to  Movie" 
Drive  in  Wisconsin 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
da)-  when  the  M.P.T.O.  of  Wisconsin 
adopted  a  resolution  which  enlists  its 
members  as  agents  to  contact  their 
state  representatives  and  keep  organi- 
zation officials  advised  of  legislators' 
stand  on  all   industry   matters. 

The  plan  calls  for  cultivating 
friendship  of  all  representatives  by 
exhibitors  in  home  districts  so  as  to 
be  able  to  approach  them  when 
needed  and  contemplates  possible  use 
of  screens  to  combat  election  of  un- 
favorable candidates  and  assist  cam- 
paigns that  are  favorable. 

Written  thanks  of  the  convention 
were  sent  to  legislators,  newspapers, 
clubs  and  individuals  who  aided  in 
defeating  the  two  operator  bills,  the' 
proposed  admission  tax,  a  bill  against 
appearances  of  child  entertainers  and 
daylight  saving  bill.  A.  D.  Kvool, 
chairman  of  the  legislative  commit- 
tee warned  against  Federal  efforts  to 
raise  $100,000,000  annually  from  ad- 
mission tax,  warned  against  operators' 
union  efforts  and  voted  issuance  of 
courtesy  passes  in  Wisconsin  theatres 
for  state  representatives.  President 
Meyers  credited  affiliated  theatres 
with  aid  in  defeating  all  unfavorable 
state  legislation  this  session.  The 
convention  opposed  publication  of 
theatre  grosses  on  the  grounds  that 
inaccurate  figures  direct  unfavorable 
attention  to  industry  revenue  inviting 
new  taxation  and  adverse  legislation, 
impair  negotiations  with  unions  for 
reductions  and  is  an  argument  for 
higher  rentals.  The  association  also 
opposed  publication  of  unverified 
large  salaries  in  the  industry  for  the 
same  reasons,  okaying  any  gross  sys- 
tem but  figures. 

Former  District  Attorney  E.  J'. 
Henning  told  the  convention  that  pub- 
lished grosses  and  stories  of  high 
salaries  seriously  impaired  negotia- 
tions with  unions  for  this  summer's 
rebate. 
—"BUY   RJCIIT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Business  Boom  Is 
Cited  by  Rosenquest 

Harry  Rosenquest,  assistant  sales 
manager  of  Vitaphone  shorts,  re- 
turned to  New  York  yesterday  after 
a  12  days'  trip  over  the  Eastern  ter- 
ritory. Among  the  deals  consummated 
on  his  trip  were  the  signing  of  book- 
ing contracts  for  the  entire  Bobby 
Jones  series  and  the  "Adventures  in 
.•\frica"  series  with  tiie  Butterfield 
circuit  of  Michigan  and  the  Schine 
circuit  of  New  York  State.  Rosen- 
quest reports  that  he  found  exhibitors 
far  from  complaining.  All  of  them, 
he  said,  felt  that  business  conditions 
were  on  the  mend. 
"BUY  RJGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Irving  Lesser  Resigns 

Irving  Lesser,  New  York  represen- 
tative for  Walt  Disney,  has  resigned. 


Redhead  Wins 
Over  Others  in 
'Tsych"  Test 

^Continued  from  page  1) 

of  "Smart  Money,"  a  gambling  pic- 
ture, which,  by  an  odd  coincidence, 
opens  today  at  the  Winter  Garden, 
and  their  reactions  were  recorded  via 
a  "galvinator"  and  a  blood  pressure 
pump.  By  another  coincidence,  the 
gentlemen  of  the  press  found  out  about 
it  and  were  present  in  force. 

Helen  Mack,  the  auburn-haired 
subject,  had  a  normal  blood  pressure 
of  102  when  the  picture  started  and 
it  fluctuated  considerably  during 
three  reels,  but  when  she  saw  Ed- 
ward G.  Robinson  shove  in  his  last 
$55,000 — and  lose — it  jumped  way  up 
128.  She  would  probably  have  reg- 
istered a  new  high  if  the  game  had 
been  craps,  for  she  confessed  later 
to  a  Motion  Picture  Daily  report- 
er  that   she   prefers    dice   to   cards. 

The  blonde,  Louise  Estes,  appeared 
by  her  mechanical  reactions  to  have 
been  somewhat  bored  by  what  the 
press  sheet  called  the  "thrilling  poker 
game."  Before  the  film  started  her 
pressure  was  124;  a  few  minutes 
later  it  was  102  and  then  it  took  a 
sickening  slump  to  92.  However,  at 
one  point,  wherein  a  canary  sang,  it 
went  to  1 18.  Blondes  must  be  a  dead 
loss  to  psychologists. 

Violet  Carson,  the  brunette,  broke 
all  records  at  the  meet,  her  puls( 
score  reaching  130.  She  got  a  run- 
ning start  at  the  sound  of  the  gun, 
starting  off  with  124  points.  However, 
it    skidded   to    104   at   one   time. 

The  blonde  and  the  brunette  alone 
registered  a  change  when  the  kick- 
ing  scene   was   flashed. 

There  were  lots  of  other  girls  pres- 
ent to  fill  out  questionnaires  that 
should  boost  the  sale  of  aspirin  to- 
day. 

Dr.  Marston  several  years  ago  was 
called  in  as  exploitation  advisor  by 
Universal  to  help  put  over  "The  Man 
Who  Laughs,"  and  as  a  result  a  na- 
tionwide contest  was  waged  on  the 
question:  "Why  Do  Sexy  Women 
Love  Homely   Men?" 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Theodore  Dreiser 
Plans  'Tragedy'  Suit 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
whole   tone  of   the  film,"   Dreiser    is 
quoted  as  saying,  "was  entirely  below 
my   standards." 

In  previewing  the  picture  on  the 
Coast  Motion   Picture  Daily  said : 

"The  audience  evinced  an  enthusias- 
tic reaction.  Looks  like  a  winner  and 
is  sure  to  receive  high  critical  praise." 


Efforts  to  reach  Charles  E.  Mc- 
Carthy, Paramount  official,  were  un- 
availing last  night  as  he  is  ill  at  his 
home  with  influenza  and  was  unable  to 
talk. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Becker  Moved  Up 

London — Dr.  Rudolph  Becker, 
managing  director  of  Associated 
Sound  Film  Industries,  has  been  ap- 
pointed managing  director  of  the 
Kuchenmeister  group,  which  controls 
Klangfilm-Tobis,  big  German  sound 
patent  group,  as  well  as  the  A.  S. 
F.  I.  and  its  subsidiaries. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


V^OL.  30,  NO.  17 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  19,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


Report  Radio 
Signing  Off 
Station  DIX 

star   Declares    That   He 
Has  Three  Offers 


Hollywood — It  looks  as  if  it's  all 
jflf  between  Richard  Dix  and  Radio 
Pictures.  The  on-again-off-again  deal 
is  quoted  by  the  star  as  being  all 
washed  up  and  Dix  says  he  has  three 
Dffers,  count  'em.  It  seems  that  the 
little  matter  of  salary  doubling  that 
le's  been  insisting  upon  do_esn't  sit  so 
well  with  Joe  Schnitzer. 

Dix  says  he's  been  given  to  under- 
stand by  Schnitzer  that  the  deal  was 
::old.      It's    understood    that    no    new 

{Dffer  will  be  made  by  the  company. 
{Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

Northwest  Operators 
Urge  Five-Day  Week 

Seattle — Problems  related  to  the 
projectionists'  field  and  plans  for  con- 
tinued assistance  for  unemployed  op- 
erators through  a  wider  sponsorship 
of  the  five-day  week  (with  five  days 
pay)  were  discussed  at  the  local 
:  meeting  of  Motion  Picture  Operators 
Union  delegates  from  all  parts  of 
Washington  state.  In  addition  to 
many  local  members,  and  O.  M. 
Jacobson  of  Tacoma,  a  member  of 
the  international  executive  board,  op- 
erators were  present  from  Tacoma, 
Yakima,  Bellingham,  Centralia,  Brem- 
erton, Wenatchee,  Olympia,  Mount 
Vernon    and    Everett. 

"BUY    RIGHT^BUT    BUY    NOW 

100  Houses  by  Next 
January,  Seider  Goal 

One  hundred  theatres  in  Greater 
New  York  by  January  1  is  the  goal 
set  by  Prudential  Theatres,  headed 
by  Joseph  M.  Seider.  The  firm  now 
has  25  Long  Island  houses,  three  on 
Staten  Island  and  six  in  New  Jer- 
sey. 


Aiding  Hungry 

Hollywood — Fifteen  West 
Coast  houses  will  stage  special 
matinees  Monday  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  Parent-Teachers'  As- 
sociation which  will  use  the 
proceeds  to  feed  hungry  chil- 
dren of  the  city.  Admission 
will  be  imperishable  food,  not 
money.  Oscar  Oldknow,  exec- 
utive vice-president  of  Fox 
Theatres,  is  sponsoring  the 
benefits. 


Hollywood  Counted  On 
For  "Buy  Now''  Impetus 


"Capone  BilV^  Passed 

Springfield,  111. — By  a  vote  of  77  to  34,  the  exact  required 
majority,  the  two-operator  bill  passed  the  House  Thursday.  The 
measure,  calling  for  one  operator  for  each  projector  in  the  booth, 
had  Senator  Daniel  Serritella,  cousin  of  Al  Capone,  and  Represen- 
tative Roland  Libonatti,  former  Capone  attorney,  leading  a  feverish 
last-minute  lobby.  The  bill  now  goes  to  the  Senate,  which  adjourns 
Saturday. 


Chicago — Newspapers  here  openly  charge  that  AI  Capone  is 
affiliated  with  the  Chicago  Operators'  Union,  and  refer  to  the 
two-operator  bill  as  a  Capone  measure  calculated  to  insure  him 
$1,000,000   revenue. 


Kansans  Unite 
In  Bitter  War 
On  Blue  Laws 


Kansas  City — Organizations  which 
have  for  their  purpose  the  awakening 
of  the  people  of  Kansas  to  the  un- 
fairness of  present  blue  laws  are  be- 
ing formed  in  a  number  of  towns  of 
the  state.  Sponsors  of  the  movement 
are  endeavoring  to  get  liberal-minded 
persons  to  join  the  association  and  to 

{Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY    RIGHT—BUT    BUY    NOW 

Seek  Dismissal  of 
U.  S.  'Ingagi'  Kick 

Petition  for  dismissal  of  the  Feder- 
al Trade  Commission's  complaint 
against  Congo  Pictures,  charging 
false  and  misleading  advertising  in 
the  distribution  of  "Ingagi,"  now  is 
under  consideration  by  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission,  following  its  fil- 
ing    by     Louis     Nizer,     counsel     for 

(Continued    on    page    2) 


Wis.  M.P.T.O. 
Slams  Allied; 
Quits  Body 


Milwaukee — Charging  that  Allied 
States  Association  did  not  extend 
promised  co-operation  and  guidance, 
but  instead  fostered  and  aided  a  com- 
petitive exhibitors'  unit  in  the  state, 
the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Wisconsin  voted 
unanimously  to  withdraw  from  Allied 
at    its    convention   here.      This    abro- 

{Contimied   on    page  4) 
"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Allied  Under  Probe 
At  New  Jersey  Meet 

Atlantic  City — Allied  States  As- 
sociation's activities  are  expected  to 
highlight  the  New  Jersey  exhibitor 
unit  convention,  which  today  begins 
the  real  work  of  its  session.  Yes- 
terday's proceedings  were  perfunc- 
tory, the  meeting  getting  under  way 
about  2  P.  M.,  with  President  Sid- 
(Continued  on  page  4) 


"Hell  Raisers^ ^  Immune  to 
Snappy  Films^  Say  Studes 


Palo  Alto,  Calif. — No  matter  how 
snappy  a  picture  may  be,  it  can't 
teach  the  younger  generation  much — 
if  anything.  But  the  y.  g.,  as  typi- 
fied by  the  students  of  Leland  Stan- 
ford University  here,  doesn't  want  the 
baldheads  and  bearded  ones  here  to 
tell  it  what  it  can  and  cannot  see. 

"Young    Sinners"    started    it.      As 


soon  as  the  picture  had  been  booked 
and  advertised  the  joy-killers  swung 
into  action.  The  Rev.  Oscar  Greene, 
chairman  of  the  censor  board,  im- 
mediately called  an  executive  session 
and  banned  the  production,  the  the- 
atre being  forced  to  comply.  This 
{Continued  on  page  4) 


Xiood  Pictures  Now  Seen 

As  Speeding  the  Return 

Of  Prosperity 

Eyes  of  the  industry  are  trained  on 
Hollywood  in  search  for  an  increase 
in  the  product  which  will  give  the 
necessary  impetus  for  the  "Buy  Right 
— Buy  Now"  movement  which  is  gain- 
ing momentum  in  the  industry. 

Apathy  of  exhibitors  toward  buy- 
ing early  this  year  is  known  to  have 
curtailed  distributor  grosses  to  a 
marked  degree.  In  order  to  offset 
the  effect  of  buying  strikes,  looming 
in  several  sections  of  the  country, 
exhibitors  are  being  asked  to  do  their 
buying  as  speedily  as  they  are  able 
to  make  equitable  deals. 

In  the  pictures  bein^  turned  out  by 

{Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY    RIGHT—BUT    BUY    NOW 

Kent,  Feist  Asked 
For  an  Explanation 

Philadelphia — Despite  the  prom- 
ise of  S.  R.  Kent  and  Felix  Feist 
to  M.  A.  Lightman,  M.P.T.O.A. 
president,  tying  in  of  features  and 
shorts  is  being  continued,  the  east- 
ern Pennsylvania  and  southern  New 
Jersey  unit  alleges  in  calling  upon 
them  for  explanations.  The  local 
zone  unit,  says  The  Exhibitor,  wants 
to  know  why  these  promises  were 
not  kept. 


"We  are  selling  M-G-M  shorts 
first  and  then  features  under  our 
sales     policy     for     1931-1932,"     Felix 

{Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

Bernerd Now  Director 
Of  Gaumont  British 

LoxnoN — Jeffrey  Bernerd  becomes 
managing  director  of  Gaumont  Brit- 
ish theatres  under  a  rearrangement  of 
e-xecutive  personnel  just  effected  here. 
Isadore  Ostrer  has  resigned  his  chair- 
manship to  become  president  of  both 
G.   B.   and   Provincial    Cinematograph 

{Continued  on  page  4) 


Offers  Trophy 

Quigley  Publications  have  of- 
fered a  cup  for  the  winning 
baseball  team  in  the  Motion 
Picture  Athletic  Association  in 
which  practically  all  major 
companies    are   members. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,   June    19,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


June    19.    1931 


No.    17 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^VfV  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


New  Product 

*'S MART  MONEY" 
will  probably  start  a  cycle  of 
gambling  pictures,  for  it  will 
hit  the  men — and  many  of  the 
Other  sex  —  between  the  eyes 
with  its  punch  and  drama.  Al 
Green  started  out  with  a  con- 
tinuity so  completely  jammed 
with  action  that  episodes  are 
snapped  off  without  mercy-^ 
and  the  tempo  is  rapid-fire  all 
the  way. 

The  central  figures  are  big 
time  gamblers,  a  premise  that 
doesn't  promise  much  on  paper 
in  the  way  of  entertainment, 
but  the  job  has  been  done,  and 
neatly.  Edward  G.  Robinson 
dominates  the  picture  with  his 
characterization  of  a  "can't 
lose"  Greek  gambler,  and 
James  Cagney,  Maurice  Black, 
Ralf  Harolde,  Morgan  Wallace 
and  Evalyn  Knapp  gave  all 
they've  got  in  the  way  of  grip- 
ping performances.  This  is  out 
as  far  as  the  kids  are  con- 
cerned, but  the  men  will  talk 
about  it. 

i^  OUR  new  Educa- 
tional shorts,  projection- 
roomed  yesterday,  proved 
pretty  dismal. 

First  was  "Jungle  Giants,"  a 
Lyman  Howe  Hodge-Podge. 
The  animals  were  undoubtedly 
wild,  but  the  entertainment 
value  tame.  Shot  silent,  but 
accompanied  by  a  running  fire 
of  dialogue.  Poorly  photo- 
graphed. 

"What  a  Head,"  Tuxedo 
comedy  produced  by  Al  Chris- 
tie, tried  hard  for  laughs,  but 
old     gags,     turned     over     and 


over  again,  made  the  going 
very  tough  for  actors  and  this 
reviewer. 

"The  Thayer  Trial,"  one  of 
the  Burns  detective  series, 
talks  its  way  through  12 
minutes  of  footage.  Action 
completely  minus.  Quality, 
ditto. 

"Movie-Town,"  a  Sennett 
comedy  in  Sennett-color.  Hard 
on  the  eyes  and  the  funny- 
bone,  although  those  who  may 
think  they  are  getting  a  peek 
into  Hollywood  and  its  inside 
may  find  something  diverting 
in  the  1,545  feet  of  film  that 
make  up  this  one.  We  didn't. 

Laurel    and 

Hardy  in  "Laughing  Gravy." 
411  nonsense,  but  all  funny.  A 
Capitol  audience  yesterday  bel- 
lowed so  much  the  laughs 
seemed  to  collide  with  each 
other.  This  is  one  to  go  for. 
KANN 

"BUY   RIGHT—BUT    BUY   NOW" 

Pizor  Releasing  New 
''Port  o'  Call"  Series 

William  M.  Pizor  has  acquired  for 
state  rights  distribution  a  series  of 
26  one  reel  travelogues  to  be  released 
as  the  "Port  O'  Call"  series.  Deane 
H.   Dickason  is  the  producer. 

Sales  will  be  handled  through  Im- 
perial Distributing  Corp.,  one  of  the 
Pizor-controlled   companies. 

'•BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY   NOW" 

Transamerica  Dividend 

San  Francisco — Quarterly  divi- 
dend of  ten  cents  per  share  on  out- 
standing stock  of  the  Transamerica 
Corp.,  payable  July  25  to  stock  of 
record  July  6,  has  been  declared  by 
directors.  The  company  had  been 
paying  25  cents  quarterly.  The  di- 
rectors also  voted  to  limit  the  par 
value  of  the  stock. 

'■BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

"C.  C,  p."  to  Coast 

C.  C.  Petti  John  left  New  York 
Thursday  for  a  three  weeks'  vacation 
trip  to  the  Coast. 


He  Explained  Why 

Claude  Flemming,  narrator 
of  the  "Romantic  Journeys" 
series  distributed  by  Educa- 
tional, was  guest  at  a  company 
luncheon  yesterday  at  the  Astor. 
A  natural  story  teller,  he  high- 
lighted his  experiences  with  the 
yarn  of  an  American  enter- 
tained royally  by  an  English 
peer. 

They  went  in  for  sports  to- 
gether in  a  big  way  until  the 
fox  hunting  season  came  along. 
The  first  day  of  the  hunt  came 
to  a  close  when  the  titled  Brit- 
isher abruptly  left  the  dinner 
table.  The  next  day  after  the 
hunt,  he  didn't  appear  at  din- 
ner at  all.  Sensing  a  situation, 
the  American  went  to  him  and 
said: 

"I'm  afraid  I  have  offended 
you,   sir.    What   have   I   done?" 

"You  know,"  replied  the  Brit- 
isher, "we  in  England  are  fond 
of  sports  and  perhaps  most  fond 
of  fox  hunting.  For  centuries, 
custom  has  ruled  the  hunt. 
When  the  fox  breaks  cover,  it 
is  usual  for  the  hunters  to  rise 
on  the  stirrups,  doff  their  hats 
and  cry:  'Heigh,  ho,  the  fox' 
and  not  'There  goes  the 
dirty   '." 


Defeat  of  Chain  Store 
Tax  to  Help  Circuits 

Columbus,  O. — Defeat  of  the  chain 
store  tax  bill  before  the  House  of 
Representatives  because  of  inability 
to  gather  sufficient  votes  to  pass  it 
may  mean  an  end  to  possibility  of  a 
similar  tax  against  circuit  theatres 
in  this  state. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Three  for  "Daddy" 

"Daddy  Long  Legs"  is  being  held 
over  for  a  third  week  at  the  Roxy, 
the  first  time  a  picture  has  played  that 
long  at  the  theatre  since  "Common 
Clay"  a   year   ago. 

The  decision  to  hold  over  the  pic- 
ture was  made  at  the  last  moment 
and  after  advertisements  for  "An- 
nabelle's  Affairs"  had  appeared  in  the 
morning   newspapers. 


Decline  Continues  in  Market;  E.  K.  Off  3 

Net 

High       Low       Close      Chafige  Sales 

Consolidated   Film   Industries  pfd 13^        13            13           ~  'A  300 

Eastman     Kodak 130^       128K       12854        —3  5,000 

Fox   Film   "A" 19            WA        WA        —  Va,  700 

General   Theatre   Equipment   new 4^          4^          4^        —  >4  4,800 

r.oew's,    Inc 4054        38.>|        39i4        —V/t.  4,400 

Paramount     Publix liVi        22J4        2254        —1  6,300 

RKO    13J^        12^        12J4        —Yi  7,200 

Stanley  Co.  of  America 

Warner     Bros IVf,          V/a,          7^—54  12,7CO 

Curb  Also  Off;  G,  T.  E.  Drops  BVa 

Net 

High      Low      Close     Chainge  Sales 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 3             3             3            —  %  700 

General   Theatre   Equipment   pfd W'/i          S'A          SVi        —254  2..SnO 

National  Screen  Service 20            20           20           -|-  K  100 

Sentry   Safety    Control 1               1               1             100 

Technicolor    55^           5%          SSA        —  Vf.  200 

Trans    Lux 5'/^          SM          514        —  K  200 

Bond  Issues  Slightly  Irregular 

Net 

High      Low      Close      Change  Sales 

General   Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40 40           37            37            — 3  19 

Keith,    B.    F.   6s.    '46 65            65            65            2 

Loew's   6s    '41    ex   war 97           97            97            -|-  5^  5 

Prramount    Broadway   55^s   '51 101^^       10154      101'/4        5 

Paramount    F.    L.   6s   '47 9154        90;/$        90'/$        —1  15 

Paramfunt    Publix   5!4s,    '.50 80            79!-^        7954        —  Vi  14 

Pathe  7s  '37  WW 85           84           85           +54  8 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd ^^Va        445^        44^        —1^  35 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

Latest  R.C.A. 
Photophone  Equipment 

$1    Of     ^^  '"'  until  6  P.  M. 
I^^J)      Nights,   Sundays, 

Holidays  by  Appointment 

Under  the   personal  supervision   of 
Hymie   Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 
PICTURE   SERVICE,  Inc. 

729   7th   Ave.  BRyant   9-S721 


Lightman  Sees 

Further  Cut  in 

Score  Charges 


Score  charges  will  be  reduced  this 
season,  declares  M.  A.  Lightman, 
president  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  selling  season 
last  year  a  much  higher  price  was 
charged  for  score  charges  than  those 
which  obtained  at  the  close  of  the  ' 
season,  he  says. 

"Naturally,  the  salesmen  are  start- 
ing out  to  get  all  they  caa  for  their 
product,"  he  continues.  "It  is  up  to 
the  exhibitor  to  fight  for  his  rights.  , 
If  you  put  up  enough  effort  you  can 
and  must  get  your  score  charges  at  a 
reasonable  figure.  Remember,  you  can 
call  it  anything  you  please  from  score 
charge  to  privilege  tax,  but  in  the 
last  analysis  it  is  part  of  your  film 
rental  and  you  must  take  that  into 
consideration  when  negotiating  for 
film." 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Warner  Zone  Mgrs, 
Close  Business  Meet 

Closing  day  of  the  business  ses- 
sions of  the  zone  managers  of  War- 
ner theatres,  called  by  Dan  Michalove, 
head  of  the  circuit,  and  held  in  the 
auditorium  of  the  home  offices,  was 
marked  yesterday  by  addresses  of 
technical  experts  in  the  various  phases 
of  theatre  operation.  Speakers  in- 
cluded C.  W.  Nickerson,  electrical 
engineer,  Joe  Hornstein  of  Continental 
Theatre  Accessories,  Walter  Meyers, 
head  of  the  Artists'  Bureau  connected 
with  Warner  Theatres,  Dave  Wesh- 
ner,  Willard  G.  Patterson,  Eddie  Al- 
person,  Don  Jacobs  and  R.  W.  Budd. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Seek  Dismissal  of 
U,  S,  'IngagV  Kick 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

Congo.  Nizer  pointed  out  that  the 
film  was  revamped  after  settlement  of 
the  action  of  Lady  Mackenzie  Film, 
Corp.,  vs.  Congo  and  that  in  its  new 
form  all  the  alleged  misleading 
sequences  were  eliminated  and  the 
lilm  approved  by  the  New  York 
censor  board  and  the  National  Bet- 
ter Business  Bureau.  He  also  chal- 
lenged jurisdiction  of  the  commission 
in   the  matter. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

"U"  Gets  Two  More 

Two  additional  newspapers — the 
Sioux  City  Trihtme  and  the  Memphis 
Press-Scimitar — have  tied  in  with  the 
Universal    talking  newsreel. 


LI  ILL 
RULES  P  m 


LONDON.  June  8  (AP).— The  p- 
government  commission  appointed  [fti 
to  adjudicate  differences  between  l^ 
Moslems  and  Jews  over  the  Wall-  [" 

I  Wall  at  Jerusalem  ruled  tqdaj       " 


to  adjudicate  diiierences  oe 
Moslems  and  Jews  over  the 
/the  lis  Wall  at  Jerusalem  ruled 
[r^aj.  sole  ownership  is  vestpti^ 
r  ,  '  Moslems,  but  Ui 
highly    ffgg  ^ 


iv. /.s«„-.  .    — —        *i 


lia 


.vices 


fc..„»tt  ^51^01   '^^ivie^i 


^      'im.     "'"'=•'■0., 
Of    the    ,  "''""ate  /  ""ea  • 


^■^^■i^lSTace  near  the  wa/c-  /  wors^jp    "  '^'s^^rait 
Wromet  ark  containing  the  per  /     ^^jj    _ 
scrolls  and  the  table  on  whfcup /tionj  .      ''<=aJ  'Peerj 
ark   stands.      The   appurtefcuj/or  th    '^^ '°'"^'<*tien  f 

may  be  used  on  special  fatj^/Qoj    ^  *aJJ  ana  *,    I  

or  days  of   public  Prayer  >  .    /  ^   aonov    .w  *  ^^'^^'el^H 

by  the  chief  rabbis  of  M  JllTtll^^'^'^  ther/r  "  ''e**  H 
on  the  Jewish  New  Yeart,^^/,  '  ^^Qches  /  °'"  ^'lelr  ^  ^ 
the  Day  of  Atonement,  f-''^  '"gs  ,,  p^n  J  ""^^f*  an/ ?  "'"1 
Moslems  shall  not  A^/Jetva  w^jJ.J-^'^'^'gd  a..  "'^^JJarl 
repair   or   demolish   anyv""^- /  ^oro>ffM^-^  not  »«    *  **^J  ei 


to    ad' 

Moslema 

^^.jcv.o  over  rights  to  the  use  of  the 
Walling  Wall  at  Jerus^ilem  lor  devo- 
tional purposes  today  ruled  that  th» 
£ole  ownership  of  the  wall  Is  vested 
in  the  Moslems.  - 


foie   ownersnip 
in  the  Moslems. 

At   the  same   time    the    conunlsslvyr 
held   that  the  Jews  should  have  ti%      J 
access  to  the  wall  lor  purposes  oiI/Jq   ^/  _^ 
votlon  at  all  times  under  deflnlte^;  */o^ "/ t-^, 


votlon  at  all  tlm 
ditlons  regarding 


to  the  wall  lor  purposes  of/«„  "V'S'»;t'!*o,'L''e?'^'°l*oV''4?*  Jj  »a/^       °'/ J^'" 
.t  »1,  times  under  defln.t^^-M;  ^4>.,^>&»4''^>'/?  '- >>' 


-.„„  ,1, 

"oite.ver,  , 


MILLIONAIRE 

George  ArlisS  •  Hailed  editorially 
as  the  finest  picture  of  the  year.  Big  busi- 
ness. Hold-overs.  Return  engagements  all 
over  the  country. 


SMART  MONEY 

Eclwaird  G.  llobiiiMiii  •  Set  for 

long  runs  in  dozens  of  key  city  houses  this 
week,  beginning  with  Winter  Garden, 
N.  Y.  Bigger  than  "Little  Caesar"  and 
"Public  Enemy".  Not  a  gangster  picture. 


NIGHT  NURSE 

Ksirliara  Stan  wyek  -Outstand- 

ing  hit  on  the  Warner  program.  The  talk 
of  the  trade.  Surest  thing  you've  ever  played. 


BOUGHT 

<'OIINiaill*€^  lU^llliett  •  Never  a 
better  picture  from  Constance  Bennett. 
Great  supporting  cast.  Marvelous  title. 
Good  for  double  playing  time  everywhere. 


iDte^ 
^herlf  2 

OwnerB 
of  the  ' 


/  dont  need 
/  it  with 
/    these  ^reat 

hits  commg 
i  to  you  one 
\  right  after ^ 
'%    another*' M 


BOS  KO 

LOONEY 
TUNES 

CHASEJ  THOSE 
B.  O.  81UES 


TODAY 
TOMORROW 
NEXT  YEAR 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


I 


Friday,   June    19,    1931 


Exhibs  Band 
And  Lick  Wis. 
Tax  on  Gross 


Milwaukee — Exhibitors  all  over 
the  state  lent  their  aid  in  defeating 
the  4  per  cent  tax  on  theatre  grosses 
with  more  than  10,000  names  present- 
ed to  the  legislature  on  petitions  op- 
posing the  bill.  Petitions  were  cir- 
culated in  theatres  throughout  the 
state  and  in  this  manner  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  these  signatures 
were  obtained. 

Exhibitors  from  Green  Bay,  Mari- 
nette, Madison,  Two  Rivers,  Marsh- 
field,  Whitehall,  Oconto,  Stevens 
Point,  Stoughton,  Merrill,  Racine, 
Shawano,  Sheboygan,  West  Bend, 
Rhinelander,  Ashland,  South  Mil- 
waukee, New  London,  Clintonville, 
Richland  Center,  Mayville,  Milwau- 
kee, Wauwatosa,  Berlin,  Waukesha, 
Superior  and  Rock  County  presented 
petitions  to  the  legislature  protesting 
against  the  measure. 

Even  Glidden  with  a  population  of 
approximately  625  presented  a  petition 
with  35  names,  while  Clear  Lake 
with  a  population  of  approximately 
only  75  more,  turned  in  a  petition 
with  99  names.  The  present  legisla- 
ture offered  the  exhibitor  more  prob- 
lems than  any  within  the  past  ten 
yeans.  One  of  the  guiding  hands 
throughout  the  session  was  Fred  S. 
Mever,  managing  director  of  the  Al- 
hambra  theatre  of  this  city  and 
president  of  the  M.P.T.O.  of  Wiscon- 
sin. 

'■BVY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Kent,  Feist,  Asked 
For  an  Explanation 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

F.  Feist  told  Motion  Picture  Daily 
yesterday.  "We  naturally  have  faith 
in  our  shorts  and  are  anxious  for 
the  exhibitor  who  plays  this  com- 
pany's feature  product  to  play  our 
shorts  also. 

"A  lot  of  matters  were  discussed 
at  the  5-5-5  conferences  several  years 
ago  and  a  lot  of  conditions  have 
changed   since   that   time." 

Feist  intimated  he  saw  no  reason 
why  M-G-M  should  be  held  to  prom- 
ises when   others   are  not. 

S.  R.  Kent  could  not  be  reached 
for  a  statement. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

Kansas  Citizens  Join 
In  Fight  on  Blue  Law 

(Continued   from    paye    1) 

contribute  to  a  fund  that  will  be  used 
to  seek  elimination  of  laws  which  pro- 
hibit   Sunday   recreation. 

Directors  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of 
Kansas  and  western  Missouri  have 
endorsed  the  plan  and  promised  it 
their  support.  The  exact  methods  to 
be  used  to  carry  out  the  work  have 
not  been_  determined,  but  it  has  been 
decided  that  five  towns  will  be  used 
for  experimental  purposes  to  test  pub- 
lic reaction  to  the  idea. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Mrs.  Young  Funeral 

Funeral  services  for  Mrs.  Eva  F. 
Young,  wife  of  Theodore  Young, 
head  of  Paramount's  real  estate  de- 
partment, will  be  held  at  2  P.  M.  to- 
day from  her  late  home,  79  Storer 
Street,  Pelham.  N.  Y. 


^Hell  Raisers' 
Are  Immune  to 
Snappy  Films 


(Continued  from    page    1) 

brought  forth  the  following  scathing 
editorial    in    the   Stanford  Daily : 

"With  a  shortsightedness  that 
would  be  uproariously  funny  if  not 
so  downright  idiotic,  the  organiza- 
tion known  as  the  City  of  Palo  Alto 
Board  of  Censors  has  seen  fit  to  bar 
the  showing  of  a  motion  picture  be- 
cause of  certain  immoral  sequences. 

"The  sequences  were  objectionable 
to  the  board  because  they  showed 
youths  and  girls  drinking  and  carous- 
ing. 

"Those  members  of  the  younger 
generation  who  are  in  for  h — 1  raising 
of  the  kind  depicted  undoubtedly 
know  all  about  it  without  being  shown 
a  picture  of  it." 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Fox  Payment  To 

Settle  Three  Suits 

Payment  by  William  Fox  of  $250,- 
000  to  Winfield  Sheehan  in  an  out- 
of-court  settlement  covered  three 
suits  for  1500,000  brought  by  Shee- 
han, Fox's  attorney,  Alvin  Untermyer, 
declares.  His  statement  is  to  relieve 
any  false  impression  gained  from  an- 
nouncement of  the  settlement. 

"One  of  the  suits  was  for  5860,000  and 
interest,"  said  Mr.  Untermyer,  "One  was 
for  $115,000  and  interest,  and  in  the  third 
suit  Mr.  Sheehan  sought  to  recover  $118,- 
000  including  interest,  beside  1,250  shares 
of  stock  of  the  Fox  Westwood  Corpora- 
tion. It  was  in  settlement  for  all  three 
suits,  in  which  Mr.  Sheehan  sought  $500,- 
000  in  addition  to  Fox  Westwood  stock, 
that   Mr.   Fox  paid  $250,000. 

"Under  the  settlement  Mr.  Fox  retains 
as  against  the  $250,000  paid  by  him,  6,850 
shares  of  preferred  stock  of  the  Bankers 
Securities  Corporation  of  a  market  value 
of  $140,000,  besides  dividends  of  $55,000  on 
this  stock.  Mr.  Fox  is  of  the  opinion  that 
the  Bankers  Securities  stock  which  he 
claimed  belonged  to  Mr.  Sheehan  is  alone 
worth  more  than  the  amount  paid  by  Mr. 
Fox   in   settlement." 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY   NOW" 

Radio  Signing  Off  on 
Station  DIX,  Report 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

Frank  Joyce,  Dix's  agent,  says  that 
"so  far  as  Dix  is  conceriied,"  negotia- 
tions are  over.  "They  rejected  the 
company  proposal  and  "say  for  Dix 
that  any  new  negotiations  must  origi- 
nate with  the  company  and  that  means 
a  new  deal   and  a   new  offer." 

The  star  of  "Cim"  declined  com- 
ment on  a  report  that  he  might  pro- 
duce independently.  Meanwhile,  Radio 
still  says  that  Dix  will  stay  with  that 
company. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Bernerd  Now  Director 
Of  Gaumont  British 

(Continued   from    page    1) 

Theatres,  Ltd.,  while  his  brother, 
Mark,  is  now  joint  managing  director 
of  two  companies  in  association  with 
C.  M.  Wollfif,  thereby  filling  the  post 
left  vacant  when  Will  Evans  re- 
signed. 

At  the  same  time,  Arthur  Jarratt 
and  H.  M.  McKem  join  the  board  of 
P.  C.  T.  and  W.  J.  Cell  and  Michael 
Balcon,  the  board  of  Denman  Picture 
Theatres,  Ltd.  All  of  these  various 
companies  are  controlled  by  Gaumont 
British. 


A  New  Thrill 

Hollywood  is  having  a  brand 
new  thrill,  according  to  Cecil 
B.  DeMille,  in  New  York  from 
the  coast  and  soon  to  sail  for 
Europe.  This  is  deep  sea  walk- 
ing, a  fad  which  DeMille  spon- 
sored. The  gag  is  a  helmet 
with  glass  front.  A  bathing 
suit  is  worn  by  the  "diver." 
Walking  around  on  the  bottom 
of  the  ocean  offers  a  kick  with- 
out precedent,  according  to  De- 
Mille. A  number  of  screen 
personalities  are  going  in  for 
the  new  sport. 


Allied  Under  Probe 
At  New  Jersey  Meet 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

ney  E.  Samuelson  outlining  proceed- 
ings scheduled  for  today.  A  meet- 
ing  was  held   last   night. 

Abram  F.  Myers^  president  of  Al- 
lied, arrived  here  yesterday.  He  is 
expected  to  outline  Allied's  position 
in  extending  co-operation  to  its  vari- 
ous units.  The  question  of  affilia- 
tions is  coming  up,  it  is  said.  It  was 
reported  here  yesterday  that  Univer- 
sal is  paying  Allied  $52,000  this  year 
to  plug  that  company's  pictures.  Tif- 
fany is  said  to  have  paid  Allied  $75,- 
000  for  its  aid  in  backing  sale  of 
franchises. 

Provisions  of  the  copyright  law  en- 
able maintenance  of  an  alleged 
monopoly  in  the  industry.  President 
Samuelson  said  in  his  report,  de- 
claring that  eventually  the  present 
system  of  distribution  will  be  sup- 
planted by  a  government-supervised 
central  distributing  organization  sim- 
ilar to  the  express  companies'  method 
of  operation.  Such  a  machine,  he 
predicted,  would  be  open  to  indepen- 
dents as  well   as  old  line  firms. 

The  public,  said  Samuelson,  must 
choose  between  the  special  provisions 
of  the  copyright  law  and  the  ordi- 
nary provisions  of  common  law,  add- 
ing that  the  people  won't  stand  for 
both  at  their  expense. 

Today's  meeting  will  consider  es- 
tablishment of  an  exhibitor  co-opera- 
tive, provisions  of  various  contracts, 
the  Allied  newsreel,  legal  decisions 
affecting  the  industry,  depression  and 
prices.  Samuelson  hit  yesterday  at 
Hollywood  waste,  saying  it  was 
saddled  upon  the  exhibitor  in  the 
form    of   higher    rentals. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Look  to  Hollywood 
For  Buy  Now  Impetus 

(Continued  from    page    1) 

Hollywood  within  the  next  few 
months,  observers  believe,  lies  the 
success  of  the  "Buy  Right — Buy 
Now"  movement.  The  demonstrated 
box-office  reaction  to  quality  product 
released  in  recent  weeks  proves  that 
the  slump  can  be  overcome  by  good 
pictures,  it  is  pointed  out. 

One  observer  declares  that  if  each 
company  can  turn  out  one  big  box- 
office  draw  between  now  and  the  end 
of  summer,  a  business  boom  will  be 
ushered  in  which  will  do  much  to  off- 
set  the    red    ink    of   recent    months. 

Exhibitors  are  cited  the  advantage 
of  playing  new  product  at  the  earliest 
possible  dates  in  connection  with  the 
"Buy    Right — Buy    Now"    drive. 


Wis.  M.P.T.O. 
Slams  Allied; 
Quits  Body 

(Continued   from    page    1) 

gates  the  Chicago  convention  pledges 
which  totaled  |5,000  and  of  which 
$3,0m  has  been  paid. 

The  action  on  the  Chicago  pledges 
came  as  an  amendment  proposed  by 
Charles  W.  Trampe,  exhibitor-dis- 
tributor, who  is  president  of  the  local 
Film  Board.  While  the  withdrawal  is 
permanent,  the  resolution  reads  that 
it  is  to  be  effective  until  "such  time  as 
the  national  organization  is  ready  to 
co-operate  with  the  state  association." 

The  convention  voted  against  spon- 
sored advertising,  but  criticized  meth- 
ods of  taking  the  fight  against  them  to 
the  newspapers.  Zoning  apparently 
was  favored,  but  not  the  Film  Board 
plan.  The  zoning  and  protection  reso- 
lution was  sidetracked  by  Trampe  and 
is  being  left  to  directors  for  future 
action.  President  Fred  S.  Meyer 
charged  that  both  exhibitors  and  ex- 
changes violated  past  protection  agree- 
ments. 

The  president's  request  that  exhibi- 
tors buy  now  was  tabled.  Admission 
price  reductions  were  opposed  witho.ut 
conference  with  directors  who  will  at- 
tempt to  settle  competitive  situation 
difficulties  thus  avoiding  price  wars. 
The  organization  announced  131  reg- 
istrations. 

Officers  reelected  in  addition  to 
Meyer  are :  A.  C.  Gutenberg,  vice- 
president  ;  James  Boden,  secretary ; 
L.  M.  Salb,  recording  secretary ;  Steve 
Bauer,  business  manager. 


Rival  Unit  Expected 
To  Get  Allied  Charter 

Madison,  Wis.  —  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  Wisconsin,  recently-formed 
association,  is  expected  to  get  the 
Allied  charter  for  this  state  following 
secession  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Wis- 
consin. Frank  J.  McWilliams,  vet- 
eran former  head  of  the  state  M.  P. 
T.  O.,  heads  the  new  unit. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Night  Baseball  Is 
Menace  in  Seattle 

Seattle — Night  baseball  has  made 
its  debut  here  for  the  1931  season,  and 
is  already  showing  a  tremendous  in- 
crease in  gross  business  over  the  first 
few  weeks  of  daytime  games.  Women, 
either  alone  or  accompanied  by  male 
escorts,  are  granted  free  admission 
every  evening. 

Among  the  several  thousand  patrons 
at  ball  games  during  weekday 
evenings  are  hundreds  that  would  be 
attending  picture  theatres  under  or- 
dinary conditions,  according  to  local 
theatre  operators,  who  see  night 
baseball  as  a  serious  menace  to  the- 
atre business.  Daytime  games  are 
played  on  Saturday  and  Sunday,  as 
before. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Active  in  Small  Towns 

Volume  of  small  town  business  be- 
ing written  by  Fox  is  running  ahead 
of  last  year  in  all  exchanges  except 
those  in  Canada,  the  firm  says. 


A  SMASHING  TESTIMONIAL  TO  THE 
DRAWING  POWER  OF  COLUMBIA  PIC- 
TURES AT  THE  BOX  OFFICES  OF  THE 
COUNTRY . . . 

•  •  • 

11,000  OF  THE  INDUSTRY'S  MOST  SUC 
CESSFUL  THEATRES-NOT  ONE  OWNED 
OR  OPERATED  BY  COLUMBIA -ARE 
TODAY  PLAYING  COLUMBIA  PICTURES 
CONSISTENTLY! 

•  •  • 

COLUMBIA'S  GREAT  BOX- 
OFFICE  PICTURES  WILL  MAKE 
YOUR  BRICK  JiND  MORTAR 
INVESTMENT  PAY  DIVIDENDS! 


N'T  DELAY 

ACT  AT  ONCE! 


rd  week 

by  popular  demandl 


world's  greatest  theatre 

holds  over 

year's  greatest  picture 

DADDY  LONG  LEGS 


wi 


th 


JANET     GAYNOR 

WARNER     BAXTER 


UNA    MERKEL 

Claude  Gillingwater>  Sr. 
From  play  by  JEAN  WEBSTER 


*  John  Arledge 

•  Kathlyn  Williams 

Directed  by  ALFRED  SANTELL 


P«X 


studios  produce  a^tother 


SAUSH 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.   NO.  18 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  JUNE  20,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Depression  ? 
Huh!  Refuses 
To  Cut  Wage 

Schenectady      Offer      Is 
Scoffed  by  Shirley 


Schenectady — Offer  of  operators 
md  stagehands  in  Farash  theatres 
lere  and  in  Troy  to  accept  a  wage 
;ut  has  been  rejected  by  the  company, 
tates  William  Shirley,  president  and 
general  manager.  Discounting  tales 
if  depression  in  theatre  business,  he 
iays  the  Farash  houses  are  enjoying 
:he  best  season  in  his  12  years'  ex- 
perience in  local  theatre  management. 

Some  local  houses  have  accepted  the 
eductions  offered  by  the  unions  at 
the  suggestion  of  William  Canavan, 
[.A.T.S.E.  president.  Shirley  also 
points  out  that  his  firm  has  not  laid 
off  any  employes  during  the  present 
economic  situation. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

Cut  of  Censor  Fees 
In  Chi  Is  Tabled 

Chicago — Proposal  asking  that  the 
rhicago  censor  board  issue  blanket 
)ermits  instead  of  individual  permits 
or  individual  prints  was  tabled  by  the 
"ilm  Board  of  Trade  here  this  week 
:o  await  the  return  of  prosperity. 
(Continued  on  payc  2) 
-BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

Price  Reductions 

By  Nafl  Supply 

Permanent  reduction  of  prices  on  a 
[lumber  of  articles  of  equipment  is 
Deing  made  July  1  by  National  The- 
atre  Supply   Co. 


LooJcin'  'Em  Over 

Reviewed  today  on  page  14 : 
"Black  Sea  Mutiny"  (Amkino) 
"Common  Law"  (RKO  Pathe) 
"East  of  Borneo"    (Universal) 

"Ex-Bad  Boy"    (Universal) 
"Five  Star  Final"  (First  Natl.) 

"Hell  to  Pay"   (Fox) 
"Lover,  Come  Back"    (Col'bia) 

"Million  Dollar  Swindle" 

"The  Skin  Game"   (B.I.P.) 
"Sleeping   Partners"    (Elstree) 
"Women  Love  Once"  (Par'm't) 

"Confessions  of  a  Co-Ed" 
(Paramount),  which  opened  at 
the  Paramount  yesterday,  was 
covered   on  June   12. 

"Men  Call  It  Love"  (M-G- 
M),  which  opened  at  the  Strand 
yesterday,  was  covered  on  Feb- 
ruary 5  under  its  former  title. 
"Among  the   Married". 


Debunking  Gangsters 

Providence — Evidently  the  arguments  pro  and  con  relative  to  the 
advisability  of  showing  gangster  films  reacted  in  favor  of  exhibitors 
when  "Public  Enemy,"  showing  at  the  Majestic,  rated  big  dough  and 
press  raves. 

The  Public  Safety  Board  here,  film  commentators  and  the  rank 
and  file  generally  held  a  hectic  debate  for  the  past  month  as  to  the 
effects  of  gang  doings  in  picture  form  on  the  young.  The  consensus 
of  opinion,  after  seeing  "Public  Enemy."  however,  was  that  few 
kiddies  would  care  to  emulate  the  exploits  of  the  two  young  racketeers 
who  are  bumped  higher  than  a  kite  before  the  fade-out. 


Houston  1st 
Runs  Delete 
Stage  Shows 


Houston — "Summer  thrift  policies" 
have  been  inaugurated  by  all  Houston 
theatres  with  the  dropping  of  vaude- 
ville and  unit  stage  shows  at  the 
Publix-Metropolitan,  Loew's  State 
and  RKO  Majestic.  Prices  are  uni- 
formly cut  to  25,  35  and  50  cents. 

.\nnouncement  that  stage  shows 
would  be  dropped  at  the  Metropolitan 

(Continued    on    page    2) 
'■BUY    RIGHT—BUT    BUY    NOW 

Sound  Service  for 
1,400  Independents 

W\th  1,400  members  already  de- 
clared lined  up,  National  Sound  Ser- 
vice Bureau,  Inc.,  of  New  York  now 
is  handling  installation  and  servicing 
of  all  independent  sound  reproducing 
equipment.  Members  are  located  in 
many  cities  of  the  United  States  and 
are  available  at  all  times  for  imme- 
diate emergencies.  With  none  of  the 
manufacturers  and  distributors  of  in- 

(Continued   on   page   2) 
■■BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

Chile  Studying  Tax 
Of  10  to  50  Per  Cent 

Santiago,  Chile — Tax  of  ten  to  50 
per  cent  on  admissions,  based  on 
prices  charged,  is  under  consideration 
hv  the  government,  it  is  understood. 
The  government  is  said  to  be  alarmed 
by  the  "constant  outflow"  of  money 
paid  to   picture   houses. 

'■BUY    RIGHT— HUr    BUY    NOW 

Feature  Is  Completed 
By  Multicolor  on  Q.T. 

Hollywood — Multicolor  is  cutting 
its  color  feature,  a  romance  of  early 
California.  The  film  was  made  on 
the  Q.T.  without  any  announcement 
of  its   filming. 


Bauer  Blames 

Al  Steffes  for 

Wisconsin  Jam 


Milwaukee — The  story  behind  the 
withdrawal  of  the  Wisconsin  M.  P. 
T.  O.  from  Allied  States  Association, 
as  recited  by  Steve  Bauer,  business 
manager  of  the  state  organization, 
charges  Al  Stefifes  with  responsibility 
for  the  move. 

-•Vt  the  time  internal  dififerences  were 
at  the  straining  point,  just  prior  to  the 
split  up  which  evolved  the  organiza- 
tion known  as  the  Allied  Independent 

(Crntimted    on    patic    2) 


Myers  Sees  Allied 
Born  Anew  in  Wis. 

.\tlantic  City — Directors  of  Al- 
lied States  .\ssociation  several  weeks 
ago  took  action  with  respect  to  Wis- 
consin, conditioned  on  the  action  of 
the  convention  just  held,  states  .\bram 
F.  Myers.  He  says,  however,  that  he 
does  not  feel  he  should  make  any 
statement  until  he  has  received  official 
notice  of  the  Wisconsin  unit's  ses- 
sions. In  any  case,  however,  he  adds, 
the  independent  movement  in  Wiscon- 
sin "will  not  sufTer  but  on  the  con- 
trar_\-  will  have  a  rebirth  similar  to 
that  which  occurred  in  Illinois  and 
Iowa." 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY   NOW 

Ban  ''HelVs  Angels" 
or  Else,  German  Edict 

Bekmx — Withdrawal  of  "Hell's 
.\ngels"  from  the  world  market  is 
demanded  of  United  Artists  by  the 
l~ederation  of  German  Motion  Picture 
Theatre  Owners.  The  picture  is 
branded  as  anti-German  and  "deroga- 
t()r\-  to  the  reputation  of  the  German 
people."  If  United  Artists  does  not 
comply  with  the  demand  not  to  sell 
the  picture  outside  the  United  States, 
the  federation  promises  to  take  retali- 
atory   steps. 


Jersey  Unit 
Sticks  With 
Allied  States 


A.  F.  Myers  Urges  Sale  of 
Beer  as  Trade  Cure 


Atlantic  City — New  Jersey  exhib- 
itors reaffirmed  their  allegiance  to  Al- 
lied States  Association,  agreed  to 
enter  an  anti-double-featuring  pact  if 
affiliated  theatres  will  do  likewise  and 
attacked  the  tying  in  of  features  and 
shorts  at  the  annual  convention  which 
wound  up  here  last  night.  Sidney  E. 
Samuelson    was    re-elected    president. 

On  the  ticket  with  Samuelson  are : 
Thornton  Kelly  and  I.  A.  Hirschblond, 
vice-president;  Irving  Bollinger,  sec- 
retary ;  J.  Unger,  assistant  secretary ; 
Mike  L.  Warren,  treasurer,  and  Louis 
Erofsky  and  W.  C.  Hart,  assistant 
treasurers.  Directors  are:  I.  A.  Roth, 
Harry  J.  Hecht,  Julius  Charno, 
Charles  Robinson,  Louis  Gold,  G. 
Sacardi,   Dave   Snapper,   L.   A.    New- 

(Continiied   on    page    2) 
'■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Bill"  Saal  Quits 
Publix;  Joins  Young 

William  .Saal,  director  of  theatre 
management  for  the  south  and  south- 
west for  Publix,  has  resigned  to  be- 
come executive  representative  for  L. 
.\.  Young  and  Grant  L.  Cook  of  Tif- 
fany. He  assumes  his  new  duties 
June  26. 

Saal  came  with  Publi.x  with  the  ac- 
quisition of  E.  H.  Hulsey's  interests 
in  Texas,  and  up  until  last  year 
handled  the  buying  and  booking  for 
all  Publix  theatres.  January  1  of  this 
year  he  assumed  the  duties  of  director 
of  theatre  management  for  Paramount 
Publix  in  the  Saenger,  Texas,  Okla- 
homa, .\rkansas.  New  Mexico.  .Ari- 
zona.  Utah  and   Idaho  territories. 


The  Trader  Again 

Centralia,  Wash. —  Page 
"Trader  Billy"  Ferguson  of 
M-G-M.  What  a  kick  he  would 
get  out  of  the  beard-growing 
edict  of  the  city  council,  which 
has  passed  an  ordinance  order- 
inij  the  male  population  to  grow 
whiskers  between  the  dates  of 
.luly  8  and  August  12.  It's  to 
provide  realism  for  the  annual 
Southwest  Washington  pioneer 
picnic,  but  there's  a  "Trader 
Horn"  exploiter  working  in  the 
territory — so   maybe 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    June    20,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


Tune  JO.   1931 


No.  18 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   .\.    Crox 

Advertising  Manager 


^^TN  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  Jlj  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^CI^     Daily,   Inc.,   a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  \ork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
••Quigpubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted.  „     .„        ,,  ,    .- 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A  Johnston  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  H^.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner.  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Houston  1st 
Runs  Delete 
Stage  Shows 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

was  made  four  weeks  ago,  eficftive 
yesterday.  Rumors  RKO  vaude- 
ville would  be  dropped  at  the  Majes- 
tic have  been  current  for  two  months. 
But  the  abrupt  announcement  Monday 
that  vaudeville  revue  would  be  pulled 
at  Loevv's  State  was  a  surprise.  De- 
cided improvement  had  been  made  in 
Loew's  stage  revues  the  past  two 
months. 

However,  Manager  W.  V.  Taylor 
of  Loevv's  has  always  maintained  that 
all  theatres  would  be  better  off  if 
stage  shows  are  dropped  the  first  of 
June  and  resumed  in  September,  if 
at  all. 

"The  picture  is  the  thing,  always, 
said  Taylor.  "If  we  have  a  good  pic- 
ture and  sorry  stage  show,  we  get  the 
business,  and  if  we  have  a  sorry  pic- 
ture but  the  best  stage  show  in  town, 
we  lost  the  business.  There  is  no 
guess  work  to  that.  It  has  proved  sc 
time  and  time  again." 

Theatre  business,  suffering  a  de 
is  said  by  managers  to  be  picking  \\\ 
a  little. 

"Bl'Y    RiariT—BUT    BUY    NOW 

Cut  of  Censor  Fees 
In  Chi  Is  Tabled 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Members  of  the  Film  Board  con- 
curred in  the  opinion  that  to  press  the 
plan  which  would  mean  a  reduction  in 
censor  board  revenue  during  the  citv's 
present  financial  crisis  would  be  futile 
and  might  injure  future  prospects  for 
the  plan's  adoption. 

.\t  present,  permit  fees  are  $3  a 
reel  for  the  first  prize  and  $1  a  reel 
for  each  subsequent  print.  The  plan 
would  substitute  a  blanket  ijermit  rate 
for  all  prints  of  the  same  picture  and 
would  mean  an  appreciable  saving  to 
the   industry  locally. 


Jersey  Unit 
Sticks  With 
Allied  States 


(Continued   from    put/c    1) 

berry,  Sam  Varbalow,  Ralph  Wilkins, 
W.  C.  Hunt,  Simon  Myers  and  A. 
Bannon. 

Declaring  that  the  current  depres- 
sion has  nothing  to  distinguish  itself 
from  its  predecessors  as  it  is  only  a 
natural  development,  Abram  F.  Myers, 
president  of  Allied,  declared  that  it 
"would   work   itself   out.'' 

"If  we  could  repeal  the  Eighteenth 
Amendment  or  at  least  legalize  the 
sale  of  beer,  this  would  do  more  to 
turn  the  tables  and  open  the  gates  of 
prosperity  than  any  other  factor,"  he 
declared. 

Myers  said  that  picture  men  are 
being  "pushed  out"  of  the  business  by 
bankers  and  leather  manufacturers 
who  have  no  experience  in  picture 
making   or   exhibition. 

There  are  10,000  independent  ex- 
hibitors in  the  United  States  who 
control  the  balance  of  buying  power, 
he  said.  They  should  co-operate  to 
make  their  position  felt,  he  said,  for 
all  distributors  know  they  represent 
the  difference  between  profit  and  loss 
on  pictures.  The  22  Allied  units,  he 
said,  represent  a  powerful  influence 
in  forestalling  inequalities.  He  pledged 
assistance  of  the  national  body  on  all 
matters  and  said  that  the  marshalling 
of  independent  buying  power  should 
continue. 

Samuelson  was  presented  with  a 
silver  service  by  the  members  with 
Myers  making  the  presentation.  Other 
speakers  were:  W.  A.  Stefifes,  Minne- 
apolis ;  H.  M.  Richey,  Detroit ;  Joe 
Pastor,  Chicago,  and  Leon  Rosenblatt 
and  Harry  Egert,  of  the  Progressive 
Poster  Exchange,  New  York. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Sound  Service  for 
1 ,400  Independents 

(Continued    from    pafif    1) 

denendent  sound  apparatus  able  to  pro- 
vide this  service,  the  organization  is 
at  the  immediate  beck  and  call  of 
thef.e  companies  as  well  as  theatres. 


Kidding 


OriAWA — Manager  Ray  Tub- 
man of  the  Regent  pulled  a  fast 
one  on  the  Street  Railway  Em- 
ployes' Union  when  officials  ar- 
ranged for  a  special  benefit 
midnight  performance  to  bol- 
ster funds  for  an  expected 
strike   over  wages. 

Tubman  booked  an  appropri- 
ate feature — "Only  Saps  Work." 


Exhibitors  Gleeful 
Over  Ohio  Censor 

Columbus — John  L.  Clifton,  head 
of  the  state  department  of  education 
and  chief  of  the  censor  board,  will 
sing  his  swan  song  July  1.  On  that 
date  Dr.  B.  O.  Skinner,  president  of 
Wilmington  College,  recently  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  White,  will  take 
over  the  office  as  Clifton's  successor. 
Ohio  exhibitors  generally  are  jubilant 
over  Dr.  Skinner's  appointment,  as  he 
is  credited  with  possessing  broad  vision 
and  of  being  eminently  fair  and  just 
in  his  decisions  on  any  subject.  More- 
over, he  is  said  to  be  keenly  interested 
in  pictures  and  a  friend  of  the  ex- 
hibitor. 

-BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Zukor  Decorated 

Adolph  Zukor.  whu  was  born  in 
Ricse,  Hungary,  which  he  has  gone 
back  to  visit  several  times  since  his 
arrival  in  America  as  a  boy,  was  deco- 
rated Friday  by  the  Hungarian  gov- 
ernment. Count  Laslo  Szechenyi,  Hun- 
garian minister  to  the  United  States, 
assisted  b\'  George  de  Ghika,  consul 
general  of  Hungary,  presented  to 
Zukor  the  decoration  of  commander 
in  the  Hungarian  Order  of  Merit, 
awarded   by   Admiral    Horthy. 

'■BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY   NOW" 

New  Shubert  Financing 

Plans  for  readjustment  of  the  capi- 
tal structure  of  the  Shubert  Theatre 
Corp.  are  under  way  through  which 
real  estate  properties  will  be  segre- 
gated. The  company  has  been  obliged 
to  request  postponement  of  its  fixed 
obligation  to  pay  interest  in  deben- 
tures and  the  waiving  of  sinking  fund 
requirements,  it  is  stated  in  a  letter 
to  the  holders  of  6  per  cent  gold  de- 
bentures, of  which  $6,450,000  of  the 
principal    amount   is   outstanding. 


E.  K.  Drops  Point  in  Off  Market 

Net 

High       Low       Close      Change  Sales 

Eastman    Kodak 129^       127          127'/        —1  6,200 

Fox    Film    "A" ISVz        17^        WA        9,900 

General   Theatre   Equipment  new 45^          4             4Ji        —  J4  5,600 

Loew's,  Inc 39'/$        38'/^        3854        —  '/  6,300 

Loew's,    Inc.,    pfd 85            85            85           —'A  100 

M-G-M    pfd 24SA        WA        2VA        —  Vf.  600 

Paramount    Publix 2254        215-^        22^^        -|-  H  6,900 

Pathe    Exchange VA          IJ^          Wf        —''A  300 

Pathe  Exchange  "A" '. 37/^          3             i%        +  Vi  100 

RKO     Wi        12'/        12'/        —54  3,500 

Warner  Bros VA          7%          7%        8,800 

Curb  Follows  Stocks;  Educal  Down  5 

Net 

High      Low      C'cse     Change  Sales 

Educational   37            37            37           -5  20.000 

Fox  Theatres  "A" 3             2%          3            700 

General   Theatre   Equipment  pfd ^H          8'/          85^        —  '/4  1,600 

Technicolor   5'/,          5'/          5'/        -  '/  100 

Trans  Lux 55^         55/         5s/        -  '/  200 

Bonds  Slightly  Irregular;  W.  B.  Off  2% 

Net 

Hiarh      Low      Close     Change  Sales 

General   Theatre   Equipment  6s   '40 .te/        33           ,35            —2  16 

Loew's   6s   '41    ex    war 97           97           97            2 

Paramount   Broadway   5'/s   '51 101'/      101'/      101'/         .....  2 

Paramount    F.    L.   6s    '47 9054        89'/        9054        +'4  24 

Paramount    PuWix    5j4s,    'SO 80           79'/        79'/        +%  4 

Pnthe    7s    '37   WW 86           85            86           -|-1  15 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '.39    wd 4334        41'/        41'/        -25A  29 


Bauer  Blames 

Al  Steffes  for 

Wisconsin  Jam 


iCuntinufd   from   page    1) 

Theatre  Owners  of  Wisconsin,  Bauer 
was  advised  by  Abram  F.  Myers  that 
Al  Steffes  would  attend  a  meeting  of 
the  state  association  in  a  Milwaukee 
hotel  for  the  purpose  of  attempting  tu 
settle  the  internal  disputes  and  prevent 
a  schism. 

On  the  day  set  for  the  meetini; 
according  to  Bauer's  story,  the  officer 
of  the  state  association  were  waiting 
in  the  hotel  selected  for  the  meeting: 
when  Steffes  phoned  them  from  an- 
other Milwaukee  hotel  and  asked  them 
to  appear  there  instead  of  at  the  ap- 
pointed place.  When  the  M.  P.  T.  0 
officers  arrived  at  Steffes'  hotel  room 
they  found  already  assembled  there 
the  individuals  identified  with  the  in- 
surgent element  of  the  Wisconsin 
organization. 

"Just  Happened  In" 

Asked  for  an  explanation,  Steffes 
stated,  according  to  Bauer,  that  he 
"just  happened  to  be  going  through 
town  on  his  way  to  Chicago"  and  hap- 
pened on  some  of  the  individuals  who 
were  present  in  his  room.  Steffes  had 
no  reply  for  their  comment  that  it 
was  odd  that  they  had  been  advised 
by  Myers  that  he,  Steffes,  would  be 
in  Milwaukee  that  day  to  attend  the 
meeting  of  the  state  association  for 
the  purpose  of  patching  up  the  dift'er- 
ences   which  existed. 

At  the  meeting  which  followed,  the 
insurgent  element  dictated  the  terms 
for  which  they  would  make  peace. 
Their  demands  were  chiefly,  that  all 
existing  officers  of  the  Wisconsin 
M.  P.  T.  O.  resign  immediately,  and 
that  eight  members  of  the  board  of 
directors  also  resign.  Steffes,  it  is 
charged,  supported  the  demands  and 
made  no  compromise  or  conciliatory 
gesture  whatever.  Shortly  after  this 
meeting  the  insurgent  element  set  up 
its  own  organization,  and  although 
not  possessing  an  Allied  franchise, 
uses  the  Allied  name. 

At  the  recent  Wisconsin  M.  P.  T.  O. 
convention,  at  which  the  state  associa- 
tion withdrew  from  Allied,  all  officers 
of  the  organization  were  re-elected  and 
only  three  new  members  were  named 
to  the  board  of  directors  among  the 
15   chosen. 

Allied  Silent 

No  further  communication  of  any 
kind,  Bauer  said,  were  received  by  the 
state  association  from  Allied  officials 
from  the  time  of  the  meeting  attend- 
ed by  Steffes  last  March  until  the 
annual  convention  of  the  organization 
in  Milwaukee  last  week.  At  that  time, 
Aliram  F.  Myers  wired  Bauer  re- 
questing a  wired  report  on  the  high- 
lights of  the  convention  business  and 
asking  the  results  of  the  election  of 
officers  and  directors. 

Since  tiie  annual  election  affected 
virtually  no  change  in  official  capa- 
cities of  the  Wisconsin  M.  P.  T.  O., 
and  in  view  o^  the  organization's  with- 
drawal from  Allied,  it  is  Regarded  as 
certain  that  the  new  organization  will 
be  granted  the^  disca"fded^\\'isconsin 
charter   bv   Allied. 


Saturday,    June    20,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hi,  Mickey! 


\I7  E  doff  the  editorial  straw  hat  in 
your  direction  today: 

Because,  in  these  times  when  crowned 
heads  are  not  easy  heads,  you  manage 
to  make  'em  giggle. 

Because  you  seem  to  have  a  perpetual 
good  time,  even  if  you  don't,  and  be- 
cause audiences  everywhere  feel  that 
way  about  it,  too. 

Because  our  seven  favorite  children 
are  willing  to  stand  for  anything  in 
feature  form  if  they  can  get  you  in 
short  form.  And  that's  carrying  it 
pretty  far. 

Because  you've  made  bad  shows  good 
and  good  shows  better  and  that's  prov- 
ing a  pal  indeed  to  the  fellows  who  run 
theatres  and  the  folks  who  pay  to  sit 
in  them. 

Because  you're  model  in  your  con- 
duct, which  most  of  us  are  not,  and 
because  you  manage  to  forever  keep 
your  nose  clean. 

Because  you  bring  credit  to  the  pic- 
ture business  and  a  constant  supply  of 
golf  sweaters  to  Walt  Disney. 

Because  you're  as  minus  in  tempera- 
ment as  some  stars  we  know  are  plus 
and  that  is  something. 

Because,  finally,  you've  given  us  more 
fun  in  digging  up  the  facts  that  follow 
about  you  than  we've  had  since  the 
bears  shooed  the  bulls  out  of  Wall 
Street  and  that's  a  long,  long  time. 

Hi,  Mickey! 

KANN 


^ho  Proc 


Adv. 


\on  Staff  of 

Iks  and 


4GRATULATIOKS 


K^i 


WILFR.ED  JACK90N 
°  Story  •    , 


TOh\ 
■=  Artist- 


JOHNNV 
CANNOM 
<-  Artist ' 


PUDV  ZAMO{^A 
"  Artist ' 


LE\^IS         DUVALL 


:f^%    HA7EL 

^       ]  SEWELL 

naktri^' 


FLOYD 

(30TTFREDS0M 

Artist  "^ 


Pi^ENCHV 
D&  TpEMAUDAN 
Artist  <- 


by  JACK  KIMO 
^  Artist- 


P" 


Cyhe  ASSISTANTS  to  the  PPODUCTION 
J'^         STAFF  QXtend  THEIR 


CONGRATULATIONS 

WALT 
DISNEY 


OTTO   EWGLAMDfR. 
-Asstto  Story  Dept- 


GEOaGE   LAN& 
-Asst'  Artist - 


CADOLVM  KAV  SHAFF^. 
'  Research. 


CECIL  SURCEV 
-  Asst.  Artist  - 


CAR.LOS 
MAMRIQUEZ 
-Asst.  Scealc  Artist - 


AAAISVIM  WOODVOAKiD 
-Asst.  Artist - 


AL  TALLIFECPO 
-  Asst.  Artist - 


WEBB 
SAMTH 
Asst. to  Story 
Dept . 


LELAMD  PAVNE 
Asst .  Cameram^a 


HAPDV  GQAMATKV 
-  Asst.  Artist - 


JOE    D   I6ALO 
-Asst.  Artist  - 


GEORGE  GI$ANDPRE 
-  Asst,  Artist - 


FCED  MOOQE 
-Asst.  Artist - 


F(5ANK  TlPPEI^ 
-Asst.  Artist  • 


JIMMIE  LOWEeeE 
Asst- 
Sound 
Ea^r 


CHUCK  COUCH 
S>  -Asst.  Artist - 


DICK   AAAGIOM 
-Asst.  Artist - 


ROV     WILLIAMS 
-  Asst.  Artist  - 


Saturday,    June    20,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


The  Evolution  of  Mickey  Mouse 


IT  is  slightly  more  than  two  years 
since  Mickey  Mouse  emerged  from 
the  inkwell  of  Walt  Disney,  gave  a 
;ouple  of  mouse-like  squeals  and  pro- 
;eeded  to  turn  the  short  subject  and 
particularly  the  animated  field  upside 
lown  by  his  capers,  ejaculations  and 
what  have  you. 

Good  old  Mickey,  who  now  serves 
as  a  meal  ticket  for  a  corps  of  pro- 
ducing executives,  animators,  sales- 
men, vendors  in  almost  every  con- 
ceivable line  from  rattles  and  books 
to  barbecue  implements,  first  goaled 
a  theatre  audience  September  19, 
1928,  when  in  "Steamboat  Willie"  he 
panicked  a  crowd  at  the  Colony,  New 
York.  After  that  it  was  just  how 
many  patrons  could  line  up  behind 
the    Mickey   standard. 

In  a  few  days  he  had  copped  honors 
at  the  Roxy,  where  short  subject 
showings  were  rare;  but  without  any 
^tage  fright  the  little  rodent  hogged 
the  bill  at  the  big  house.  An  independ- 
ent who  had  furnished  the  recording 
facilities  for  the  sound  cartoons, 
which  were  to  do  things  to  the  ani- 
mation field,  was  helping  out  on  the 
distribution. 

Independents  Got' Break 

Mickey  first  made  his  bid  with  in- 
^lependent  distributors.  Sales  went 
rapidly.  The  foreign  field  craved  the 
subjects  as  well  and  Walt  Disney 
was  riding  the  crest  when  Columbia 
made  its  bid  for  the  popular  subjects. 
What  that  firm  has  done  with  the 
Mickey     Mouse     subjects     and     their 


companion  series,  the  Silly  Sym- 
phonies, is  history.  Columbia  has 
made  Mickey  a  household  word  and 
has  given  the  subjects  wide  distribu- 
tion. 

In  order  to  properly  present  the 
idea  as  to  when  Mickey  was  first  con- 
ceived it  might  be  better  to  give  a 
few  highlights  of  the  life  of  his  crea- 
tor. 

Walt  Disney  was  born  in  Chicago 
in  1901.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  in  Chicago.  He  always  had  a 
natural  talent  for  drawing  and  for 
a  short  time  attended  the  Art  Insti- 
tute in  Chicago,  where  he  improved 
on  that  talent. 

Upon  his  return  to  the  United 
States,  after  a  year  in  the  World 
War,  he  went  to  Kansas  City,  where 
his  parents  had  moved.  He  bought  a 
second-hand  camera  and  for  a  time 
worked  as  a  free-lance  in  taking 
newsreel  pictures.  Later  he  entered 
the  advertising  business  and  it  was 
here  that  he  conceived  the  idea  of 
animating  drawings  for  motion  pic- 
tures, which  later  evolved  into  car- 
toons for  public  entertainment. 

In  1923  he  came  to  Los  Angeles 
with  but  one  idea  in  mind,  which  was 
to  make  better  animated  cartoons  for 
public  amusement.  Walt  and  his 
brother,  Roy,  went  into  business  in 
October,  1923,  with  a  capital  of  less 
than  $500  in  cash.  His  first  series 
was  known  as  the  "Alice  Cartoons." 
He  elaborated  upon  the  original  car- 
toon idea  by  double-exposing  live 
characters  in  with  the  animated  draw- 


ing of  animals.  It  was  really  "Alice 
in  Cartoonland"  rather  than  "Won- 
derland." These  cartoons  were  pro- 
duced for  a  couple  of  years,  after 
which  he  went  to  Universal  and  is 
credited  with  originating  the  idea  of 
Oswald  the  Rabbit,  which  today  is 
still    being    exhibited. 

It  was  during  the  production  of  this 
series  of  Oswald  the  Rabbit  that 
Mickey  Mouse  was  first  conceived. 
Disney  desired  to  increase  the  enter- 
tainment value  by  giving  more  atten- 
tion and  thought  to  the  plot,  gags  and 
stories,  more  detail  to  the  animation 
of  the  subjects,  having  in  mind  the 
fact  that  good  pictures  were  always 
in  demand.  In  a  word,  he  wanted  to 
put  more  money  into  his  product. 
The  producer  for  whom  he  was  work- 
ing did  not  agree  with  him  and  they 
parted  company. 

Trying  to  Crash 

While  returning  from  New  York 
he  plotted  out  the  first  story  which 
was  to  be  later  released  to  the  public 
as  "Plane  Crazy."  He  made  two  of 
these  subjects  and  tried  to  sell  them. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  sound  was 
first  becoming  known.  Al  Jolson's 
first  picture  had  been  released.  All 
the  large  producers  and  distributors 
were  scurrying  to  equip  their  studios 
and  theatres  with  sound  apparatus. 
The  consequence  was  that  he  could 
not  get  the  ear  of  any  producer  be- 
cause of  the  changing  conditions  in 
the  industry.  Realizing  what  he  was 
up    against    and    foreseeing    what    he 


must  do  to  sell  his  product,  he  imme- 
diately began  to  produce  a  cartoon 
which  could  be  synchronized  with 
sound.  He  then  evolved  the  present 
system  of  synchronizing  sound  with 
animated  drawings. 

Ridinp   the   Crest 

After  making  this  cartoon  which 
was  especially  drawn  to  be  synchro- 
nized with  music  he  returned  to  New 
York  to  have  it  synchronized,  as  that 
time  there  was  no  available  independ- 
ent sound  apparatus  on  the  Coast. 
Even  in  New  York  he  had  to  finally 
turn  to  an  independent  manufacturer 
of  sound  apparatus  to  get  his  work 
done.  He  then  tried  to  dispose  of  his 
product  to  all  the  producers.  In  fact, 
he  peddled  it  everywhere  but  no  one 
would  listen  to  him  until  finally,  as  a 
last  resort,  he  entered  into  a  contract 
with  the  individual  who  had  furnished 
him  his  first  sound  equipment.  After 
"Steamboat  Willie,"  Mickey  Mouse 
started  his  world  adventures. 

Vendors  of  various  commodities  were 
quick  to  see  the  possibility  of  Mickey 
Mouse  as  an  outstanding  individual 
character  to  help  promote  the  sale  of 
their  goods,  and  today  Mickey  Mouse 
is  being  reproduced  on  linen,  china, 
earthenware,  embroidery,  candy,  soap, 
dolls,  etc.,  in  fact  in  almost  every  con- 
ceivable manner  that  can  be  imagined. 
He  has  been  chronicled  in  song  and 
by  critics  everywhere  and  yet  he  is 
but  a  pen  and  ink  figment  of  the  brain 
of  his  creator. 


^  l\i  AY  I  take  this  opportunity  to  express  appreciation  to  the  loyal 
^^-^  ^  V^  staff  of  associates  who  have  aided  me  in  bringing  to  "Mickey  Mouse" 
and  "Silly  Symphony"  cartoons  whatever  degree  of  success  these  two  short 
subjects  have  attained.  I  also  wish  to  thank  the  exhibitors  of  the  world  for 
their  enthusiastic  reception  of  our  productions;  and  I  would  indeed  like  to 
register  a  note  of  gratitude  to  the  millions  of  film  fans  all  over  the  universe 
who  have  taken  to  their  hearts  "Mickey  Mouse"  and  welcomed  "Silly  Sym- 
phonies" with  their  applause. 

Sincerely, 


^ak  % 


idndu 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,   June    20,    193 


The  boys  tliciitscii-cs.  Here  is  the  gang  of  creators  respon- 
sible for  the  Mickey  Mouse  latighfests.  They're  at  ease  outside 
the  studios  uvfching  a  Punch  and  Judy  shov.'  staged  by  the 
Mickey  Mouse  dolls. 


A  panoramic  inezv  of  the  new  Walt  Disney  studios  in  Holly- 
K'ood,  nev.-  residence  of  Mickey  Mouse  and  the  "Silly  Sym- 
phonies," K'ifh  the  finishing  touches  being  put  on  the  structure 
by  decorators. 


Mickey  Mouse  Clubs  Cover  Nation 


MORE  than  750,000  children 
throughout  the  United  States 
are  enHsted  in  the  Mickey 
Mouse  Clubs,  a  movement  which  has 
spread  like  wildfire  since  it  was  intro- 
duced less  than  two  years  ago,  it  is 
estimated  by  Roy  Disney.  Harry 
Woodin,  at  the  time  manager  of  the 
Dome  theatre.  Ocean  Park,  Cal.,  who 
since  has  been  made  Fox  division 
manager  in  the  Bronx,  is  credited 
with  sponsoring  the  idea. 

To  date  375  clubs  have  been 
licensed  by  Walt  Disney  Productions, 
and  an  equal  number  are  unlicensed, 
Disney  believes.  The  average  mem- 
bership is  1,000.  The  clubs  have 
served  perhaps  as  the  greatest  single 


The  Mickey  Creed 


The  creed  of  the  Mickey  Mouse  Club  is  as  follows: 
"I  will  be  a  square-shooter  in  my  home,  in  school,  on  the  play- 
ground, wherever  I  may  be.  I  will  be  truthful  and  honorable  and 
strive  always  to  make  myself  a  better  and  more  useful  little 
citizen.  I  will  respect  my  elders  and  help  the  aged,  the  helpless 
children  smaller  than  myself.   In  short,  I  will  be  a  good  American." 


factor  in  the  movement  to  bring  chil- 
dren back  to  picture  theatres,  Disney 
thinks. 

The  Disney  organization  charters 
clubs,  gives  them  a  complete  outline  of 
activities,  supplies  accessories  at  cost. 


such  as  club  buttons,  membership  ap- 
plications, cards,  window  displays, 
posters,  etc. 

The  purposes  of  the  clubs  are  two- 
fold. ( 1 )  It  provides  an  easily  ar- 
ranged and  inexpensive  method  of  get- 


ting and  holding  the  patronage  of 
youngsters,  and  (2)  through  inspira- 
tional, patriotic  and  character-building 
phases,  it  aids  children  in  learning 
good  citizenship,  which  in  turn  fosters 
goodwill  among  parents. 

Membership  in  the  clubs  is  ©pen 
to  both  boys  and  girls,  and  because  of 
the  club  ideals  and  its  opportunity  for 
wholesome  juvenile  entertainment,  the 
clubs  have  received  the  backing  of 
charitable,  patriotic,  civic,  school  and 
church  organizations.  The  club  meets 
at  weekly  matinees,  usually  on  Satur- 
day morning.  The  program  opens 
with  a  Mickey  Mouse  cartoon,  which 
is  followed  by  other  subjects  particu- 
larly suitable  for  juveniles. 


Congratulations  to  Walt  Disney 
from  the  Studio  Personnel 


ROY  O.  DISNEY 

General  Manager 


GEORGE  E.  MORRIS 

Comptroller 


HARRY  HAMMOND  BEALL 

Director  of  Publicity 


J.  W.  MAC  FARLAND 

Western  Representative 

HENRY  WM.  PETERS 

Eastern  Representative 


LUCILLE  BENEDICT 

Mickey  Mouse  Clubs 


EDWARD  M.  FRANCIS 

Auditor 


GUNTHER  LESSING 

Legal  Advisor 


laturday,    June    20,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


The  Personalities  Behind  the  Laughs 


I  XT  ALT  DISNEY  is  a  modest 
\\    person. 

I  '  '  Creation  of  "Mickey  Mouse" 
jind  "Silly  Symphony"  cartoons  is  no 
!)ne-man  job,  and  Walt  realizes   it. 

He  is  always  ready  and  willing  to 
;ive  his  associates  full  share  of  credit 
or  their  part  in  carrying  out  and 
:)ringing  to  the  world  the  ideas  he 
ronceives. 

.  Roy  O.  Disney,  his  brother,  is  the 
general  manager  and  business  mogul 
;)f  the  studio.  He  has  as  his  aides 
;uch  men  as  George  E.  Morris,  the 
Comptroller;  Edward  M.  Francis, 
luditor ;  J.  W.  MacFarland,  western 
.ales  promotion  representative ;  Henry 
vVilliam  Peters,  eastern  sales  promo- 
ion  representative ;  Harry  Hammond 
3eall,  director  of  publicity;  Gunther 
^essing,  legal  advisor;  while  the  fair 
;ex  is  represented  by  Lucille  Benedict, 
nanager  of  the  Mickey   Mouse  Club. 

Members  of  the  production  staff 
vere  given  an  opportunity  to  do  thuml) 
lail  confessions  of  their  past,  present 
md  future  with  the  following  fatal 
esults : 

(Ed.  Note — Three  copy-readers  and 
wo  proofreaders  worked  24  hours 
vying  to  eliminate  the  mistakes  in 
:p filing  in  these  effusions.) 

Jakolyn  Shaker,  research  chief: 
"Was  born  of  poor  but  dishonest 
parents,  in  Indiana  by  special  per- 
mission of  Will  H.  Hays.  Came  to 
California  to  become  physical  cul- 
ture teacher,  but  discovered  there 
were  more  dumbells  in  movies  than 
in  gymnasiums.  Also  a  tendency  to 
plumpness  made  be  a  poor  adver- 
tisement for  my  chosen  profession. 
Have  spent  years  of  study  trying  to 
determine  whether  Mickey  Mouse 
sleeps  with  his  whiskers  inside  or 
outside   of   the  bedcovers." 

Frank  Churchill:  "I  was  born  in 
New  England,  but  somehow  escaped 
a  Puritanical  conscience.  Came  to 
Los  Angeles  at  the  tender  age  of 
four  and  am  still  hanging  around. 
Started  as  a  plumber  at  the  age  of 
twelve  until  I  read  in  a  magazine 
where  some  one  guaranteed  piano 
playing  in  twenty  lessons.  After  re- 
ceiving my  diploma  from  the  post 
office  I  immediately  went  to  work 
at  $16  a  week  in  a  Main  Street  pic- 
ture palace.  I'm  still  up  in  the 
dough.  At  present  I'm  trying  to 
write  musical  scores   for  cartoons." 

Dick  Lundy  :  "I  was  born  in  or 
around  the  locks  of  Saulte  St. 
Marie,  Mich.,  at  a  very  young  age. 
At  the  age  of  four  I  visited  Detroit 
for  about  ten  years,  where  they 
made  me  go  to  school.  I  then  got 
the  wanderlust  and  after  seeing 
several  towns  in  several  states  I 
landed  in  California  on  a  box  car 
one  foggy  morning  in  1921.  I  re- 
ceived my  art  education  at  Venice 
High  School  and  was  graduated 
from  there  in  1926.  Since  that  time 
I  have  been  called  battery-man, 
chaufifeur,  banker,  real  estate  sales- 
man, and  various  other  names. 
Since  1929  until  now  I  have  been 
having  the  happy  experience  of  see- 
ing Mickey  Mouse  do  the  right 
thing  at  the  wrong  time." 

Earl  Duvall:  "Born  June  7,  1898,  in 
a  front  room  across  from  the  Navy 
Yard,  Washington,  D.  C.  Public 
schools  too  difficult  .  .  .  entered 
business  college.  Big  success  at 
fourteen  as  page  for  U.   S.   Senator 


Just  a  Few  of  the  Reasons  Mickey  Mouse 
Cartoons  Are  What  They  Are 


rHE  lowdown  on  Walt  Disney,  as  seen  by  his  pal  and  inti- 
mate, Mickey  Mouse: 
(i)   Disney  is  married,  and  very  happily  so. 

(2)  Disney  owns  his  home,  ivhich  is  about  five  minutes'  drive 
from  the  studio. 

(3)  His  parents  are  living  in  Portland,  Ore.,  and  he  does 
not  get  to  see  much  of  them. 

(4)  His  best  pal  is  Mrs.  Disney,  -with  a  pet  Chinese  chow 
named   "Sonny"  running  a  close  second. 

(j)  His  hobby  is  his  zi'ork,  as  ez'ery  moment  of  his  time 
is  qivcn  to  it.  Even  his  hours  of  recreation  arc  given  over  to 
going  to  theatres  to  see  pictures  that  may  give  him  some  ideas. 
As  to  pastimes,  each  noon  hour,  the  gang  at  the  studio  repairs 
to  an  adjacent  empty  lot  for  a  game  of  baseball,  in  ivhich  the 
married  men  usually  play  against  the  single  men.  Walt  is  a 
keen  supporter  of  the  first  named  team, 

(6)  We  know  of  no  particular  aversion  unless  it  be  inter- 
ruptions zvhile  in  the  middle  of  a  story  conference,  and  this 
is  one  thing  he  does  not  countenance.  He  grants  intcrviezvs, 
but  only  by  appointment,  and  that  after  bnisiness  hours. 

(7)  He  has  no  unusual  habits  or  mannerisms,  unless  it  be 
an  habitual  concentration  on  some  gag  or  story  idea,  that 
makes  him  seem  absent-minded  and  at  times  utterly  oblivious 
to  his  surroundings,  whether  at  work  or  at  home. 

(8)  He  has  no  favorite  author,  nor  any  fai'orite  film  star, 
although  he  likes  to  attend  pictures  for  the  entertainment 
they  afford,  rather  than  for  any  personal  preference  for  any 
certain  star. 

(9)  Disney  doubles  for  )ny  voice,  as  well  as  most  of  the 
other  animal  noises. 

To  sum  ■up:  Disney's  whole  heart  and  soul  are  in  his  n'ork.  He 
eats,  breaches,  sleeps  and  dreams  of  it.  He  is  kind-hearted  and 
sympathetic.  He  has  a  great  love  for  animals  of  all  kinds,  in 
addition  to  being  a  lover  of  nature.  And  he  never  beats  his  wife, 
says  he. 


Joseph  Weldon  Baily  of  Texas.  Joe 
got  in  bad  with  Senate  and  Mrs. 
Duvall's  son  joined  the  regular 
army.  Served  during  the  war  at 
Hazelhurst  Field,  Mineola,  New 
York.  After  the  war  hooked  up 
with  Nezv  York  World  and  then 
entered  art  department  Washington 
Times.  Later  with  Washington 
Post,  Bell  Syndicate,  New  York. 
Came  to  California  for  no  reason 
whatsoever    and    Walt    gave    me    a 


job.      Married,    have    one    son    and 

hay  fever." 
Bert  Lewis  :  "Born  in  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Played    at    Philharmonic    one    year. 

Scored     many      pictures      such     as 

"Poliyanna,"  "Woman,"  and  others. 

Organist  at  various  theatres  before 

coming  to   Walt   Disney." 
Burt  Gillett:  Like  Hal  Roach  born 

in  Elmira,  New  York,  and  we  were 

both  brats  in  the  same  school  room 

for   years.      .Served    my    apprentice- 


ship in  life  as  a  newspaper  re- 
porter and  cartoonist.  Ten  years  of 
writing  and  animating  in  Mutt  and 
Jetf,  inkwell,  Fables  and  Felix  the 
Cat.  For  the  past  two  years  have 
been  helping  to  put  the  laughs  and 
life  into  Mickey  Mouse  and  Silly 
Symphony." 

Hazel  Sewell  :  "Head  of  the  inking 
and  painting  department.  Am 
Walt's  sister-in-law  and  they  say  a 
successful  wife  and  mother  besides 
running  the  traceing   dept." 

Bill  Garity  :  "They  call  me  the  chief 
sound  man,  and  I  make  all  the  noise 
around  the  studio.  Being  Irish  I 
enjoy  being  a  very  jolly  sort  of  a 
companion  for  the  sound  stage." 

Bill  Cottrell:  "Born  1906  South 
Bend,  Ind.,  of  English  parents. 
Learned  to  speak  English  in  1910. 
Went  abroad  in  1920.  Sentenced  to 
salt  mines  in  Siberia  for  soaping 
royal  wind  shield  of  Czar  Nicholas' 
carriage.  Escaped  to  California  in 
1923.  Attended  Occidental  College 
in  1920.  Awarded  consistent  fresh- 
man medal  1926,  '27,  '28,  which  in- 
cluded a  paid  vacation  at  Lincoln 
Heights,  the  third  year.  Two  years 
behind  the  crank  at  Disney's  camera 
and  has  never  been  in  focus  yet." 

Gilles  de  Tremaudan  :  "Am  called 
Frenchy  for  short.  Born  in  Manor, 
Saska.,  Canada,  because  my  folks 
lived  there.  Graduate  of  Franklin 
High  School  in  L.A.  Two  years 
playing  at  art  at  Otis  Institute. 
Expect  my  career  as  animator  to  end 
with  each  preview." 

Floyd  Gottredson  :  "I  have  it  on 
good  authority  that  I  was  born  in 
Utah.  (No,  Mormons  don't  wear 
horns.)  Played  hookey  from  art 
education  by  mailing  empty  enve- 
lopes to  my  correspondence  school. 
My  facial  attributes  are  a  composite 
of  striking  resemblances  to  Calvin 
Coolidge,  Bull  Montana  and  Richard 
Barthelmess.  (Ed.  N'fite  —  Please 
enclose  25c.  for  all  fan  photos,  to 
be  mailed  direct  from  Walt  Disney 
Studio.)  Awarded  aluminum  medal 
by  four  Marx  Brothers  for  invent- 
ing collapsible  jail  with  removable 
bars  in  1928.  Worked  as  projec- 
tionist until  Will  Hays  organiza- 
tion discovered  what  was  wrong 
with  the  industry,  then  suddenly  de- 
cided to  become  a  cartoonist  after 
19  years  at  the  drawing  board  have 
decided  to  take  up  art.  Employed  by 
Walt  Disney  for  the  past  two  years, 
and  as  long  as  Mickey  pays  the 
grocery  bill  I  can't  kick." 

Wilfred  Jackson  :  "I  was  born  in 
Chicago  but  moved  before  I  could 
join  Al  Capone.  Did  the  next  best 
thing  by  settling  in  Glendale.  .A.1- 
ways  had  a  yen  for  cartooning  and 
after  leaving  Otis  joined  up  with 
Mickey  Mouse  and  have  been  mak- 
ing a  living  ever  since." 

John  Cannon:  "For  no  good  reason 
I  was  born  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind., 
the  son  of  a  boilermaker.  The  re- 
form school  was  too  crowded  so  I 
enrolled  in  Venice  High  School.  I 
failed  in  everything  but  necking. 
Walt  Disney  gave  me  a  job  leading 
the  animals  out  on  the  sets.  I  mar- 
ried a  home  town  girl  and  now  that 
there  are  to  Cannons  we  can  make 
BOOM  BOOM,  and  soon  there  may 
be  some  little  cartridges  running 
around,  being  proud  of  their  POP  !" 

Jack  Cutting  :  "Fell  ofif  a  rose  bush 
in  Central  Park,  New  York,  about 
1908.  Later  transplanted  to  Cali- 
(Continucd  on  page  13) 


TH£^CREEN5  MOST  Pi., 


M^B^'^'^^  \ 


J^     Only  Unpaid 


A  Walt  Disney 

Comic 

Producer  of 

Silly  Symphonies 

COLUMBIA 
PICTURES 


LAR 


STAR 


M  1  (  H  i:  Y    M  »  V  s  i: 
l»    II  I  K 
i\  \  >i  A  T  i;  s 


Kil.  t.1...  (r..li.- 


I><-    (•> I    in     \mr> 


"75,000,000   Fans   Are 
Readin'  About  Me!" 

Mickey 

Here's      what      the      big     maigazines     say 
about  Columbia's  Mickey  Mouse  cartoons: 

American 5  page  story 

Theatre  Guild 5  page  story 

720  N.  E.  A.  Newspapers .  .  Full  page  story 

Time  Magazine Page  story 

Life    Full  page  cartoon 

Saturday  Eve.  Post Feature  cartoon 

Total  Reading  Public 75,000.000 

Your  Audiences 
Are  Made  for  You! 


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vihieh  hM  lo  do  wiih  a  puny  of  skrldon*  1 
from  a  ;>raveyarcl  and  dance  around  in  ihc  n 
nnnpinaiion  and  emoiinnal  cm  ilemeni  enili 
iiiinulF^  of  running  limr  of  ihiv  film,  a*  llie 
iponlanpity  of  the  bony  crcalurcs  pticil  la 
reprncni  a  high  mark  in  vUual  Inprnuiiy  u 
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12 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    June    20,    1931 


H\  H.  Peters,  Los  Angeles,  personal  rcprcscntatk'e  of  Walt 
Disney,  presenting  Chief  Mickey  Mouse  Art  Zirler,  Jr.,  of  She- 
boygan- and  Chief  Minnie  Mouse  Eunice  Schneeberger  of  Ken- 
osha, with  loving  cups  zvhile  the  sound  reel  cameras  grind  on. 


A  portion  of  the  Mickey  Mouse  parade  Zi.'hich  loas  headed  by 
the  Boy  Scout  drum  and  bugle  corps  and  their  color  bearers. 
Other  bands  included  the  Girl  Kiltie  band  of  Milwaukee,  the 
West  Allis  High  School  band,  the  Hales  Corners  band. 


First  Mickey  Convention  Big  Success 


MILWAUKEE— The  city  is  still 
talking  about  the  first  Mickey 
Mouse  convention  to  be  held  in 
the  United  States.  More  than  4,000 
kiddies  from  30  Wisconsin  cities  at- 
tended. Local  merchants  and  civic 
heads  took  an  active  part  in  the  enter- 
tainment of  these  youngsters. 

The  convention  opened  at  9  :30  a.m. 
with  a  big  show^  at  Fox's  Wisconsin 
featuring  Fancho  &  Marco's  "Mickey 
Mouse  Idea."  At  11  :30  a.m.  a  parade 
was  held  starting  from  the  Milwaukee 
Auditorium  and  passing  through  the 
business  district.  Floats  representing 
various  business  organizations  spon- 
soring the  clubs  and  seven  children's 
bands  were  included  in  the  parade. 

Many  merchants,  exclusive  shops 
merchandise  houses  acknowledged  the 
Mickey    Mouse    convention    by    deco- 


rating tlieir  windows  and  counters 
with  displays  of  the  popular  Mickey. 
More  than  300  ushers  and  personnel 
members  of  the  14  Fox  theatres  in 
Milwaukee  patrolled  the  line  of  march 
during  the  parade,  which  despite 
rainy  weather  was  a  colorful  success. 

An  informal  banquet  for  delegates 
selected  from  each  club  in  Wisconsin 
was  held  at  the  Hotel  Schroder  at 
1  :00  p.m.  Immediately  after  the  ban- 
quet the  boy  delegates  unanimously 
elected  Art  Zirler,  Jr.,  11,  of  She- 
boygan, their  Qiief  Mickey  Mouse. 
Alembers  of  the  Minnie  Mouse  divi- 
sion elected  Eunice  Schneeberger,  13, 
Kenosha,  their  Chief  Minnie  Mouse. 
Appleton  was  selected  for  the  next 
state  convention. 

Among  those  to  welcome  the  dele- 
gates both  at  the  theatre  and  the  ban- 


quet were  Dr.  J.  P.  Koehler,  city 
health  commissioner ;  Mrs.  W.  D. 
Isham,  president  of  the  Milwaukee 
council  of  the  Parent  and  Teachers' 
Association;  Mrs.  Dorothy  Enderis, 
superintendent  of  the  recreation  de- 
partment of  the  Milwaukee  public 
schools;  Sam  McKillop,  director  of 
the  Milwaukee  Public  Library ;  W.  H. 
Peters,  personal  representative  of 
Walt  Disney  and  Eddie  Vaugh  of 
New  York,  who  has  organized  Mickey 
Alouse  clubs  in  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. 

A  special  Mickey  Mouse  section 
was  featured  in  the  Friday  evening 
edition  of  the  Wisconsin  Nezvs  and  in 
the  Saturday  morning  edition  of  the 
Milivaukee  Sentinel.  A  $100  contest 
was    conducted    in    co-operation    with 


the  two  newspapers  in  connection  with 
this  special  section.  The  object  of  the 
contest  was  to  color  the  pictures  ap- 
pearing in  these  sections. 

The  first  prize  was  $50  in  cash, 
second,  |25,  third,  $10,  fourth,  fifth 
and  sixth,  $5  each.  In  addition  3,000 
free  tickets  to  a  Mickey  Mouse  show 
in  the  contestant's  neighborhood  the- 
atre, were  awarded  the  winners. 

The  convention  was  good  for  pub- 
licity in  all  state  newspapers  and  re- 
ceived plenty  of  ink  in  the  Milwaukee 
papers  as  well.  Each  of  the  various 
clubs  are  sponsored  by  merchants  who 
took  care  of  the  convention  expenses. 
In  Milwaukee  there  are  10  Mickey 
Mouse  clubs  sponsored  by  nine  mer- 
chants and  having  a  membership  of 
over  20,000. 


SURE-FIRE  EXPLOITATION  MATERIAL 

MICKEY  MOUSE  TOYS 

An    Extensive    Line    of    Items    which    Appeal 
to  All  MICKEY  MOUSE  Motion  Picture  Fans 


See  Your  Local  Toy 
or  Department  Store 
for  Exploitation  Tie- 
Up  Ideas 


Velvet  Doll 

Wood    Jointed    Figure 

Rubber  Sport  Ball 

Paper  Quoit  Game 

Metal  Drum 

Circus  Pull  Toy 

Mechanical  Drummer 

Metal  Sparkler 

Metal  Cricket 

Celluloid  Ringnose 

Puzzle 


Write  for  Catalogue 


Sole  Licensee  and  Distributor 


TOYS  AND  DOLLS 

GEO.    BORGFELDT    &    CO. 


44-60  EAST  23rd  STREET 


NEW  YORK  CITY 


uthorized  Mickey  Mouse  greetins  cards  ^re  now 
on  sale  in   eading  stores  and  greeting  card  shops  in  cities  from 
coast  to  coast.    The     Birthday"  card  illustrated  above  is  but 
one  or  the  many  clever  numbers  available. 

(o  contact  the   proprietor  of  a  card  shop  in  your  vicinity  will 
afford  you  an  excellent  opportunity  for  addi- 
tional Mickey  Mouse  publicity  in  conjunction, 
with  the  showing  of  the  film. 

We  will  be  glad  to  cooperate  with  you. 
Address    inquiries    care    of    The    Mail    Sales 
Department. 


'n^mrAaw 


Saturday,    June    20,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


13 


The  Personalities 
Behind  the  Laughs 

(Continued  froin   page   9) 

foriiia  soil.  Am  being  carefully 
cultivated  in  the  Walt  Disney  nur- 
sery. Started  career  as  cartoonist 
by  playing  on  the  Mickey  Mouse 
baseball  team.  This  naturally  lead 
to  animation. 

RoDOLPH  Zamora  :  "I  was  born  in 
Mexico  City.  My  dreams  were  to 
become  a  respectable  dope  fiend,  but 
I  could  not  accomplish  this  so  I  lost 
all  self  respect  and  became  a  car- 
toonist. I  lived  at  the  expense  of 
Pat  Sullivan  and  now  Walt  Disney 
carries  the  burden." 

David  Hand  :  "I  was  born  in  the 
shadow  of  my  father's  brick-yard  at 
Plainfield,  N.  J.  Visited  Plainfield 
High  School.  Tried  lumber-jack- 
ing in  the  North  Woods.  No  soap ! 
Studied  cartooning  under  Orr  and 
DeBeck  at  the  Chicago  Academy  of 
Fine  Arts  in  1917-18,  and  while 
there  located  my  future  wife. 
Started  animating  Andy  Gump  in 
Chicago  1919.  Fascinated  by  easy 
work  and  big  money  decided  to 
stick.  With  Bray  Studios,  Out-of- 
the  Inkwell,  Eastman  Educational 
Films,  and  now  Walt  Disney's 
Mickey  Mouse  and  Silly  Sympho- 
nies." 

Ted  Sears  :  "Born :  Pratt  Falls,  New 
York,  in  1900. 
"Educated  in  pool  rooms. 
"Youngest  graduate  of   Elmira  Re- 
form School,  '09. 
"Married  Eva  Tanguay  in  1913. 
"Two     children,     Lew     Cody     and 

George  Bernard  Shaw. 
"Favorite  sport :  Murder. 
"Batting  average :  237." 

Ben  Sharpsteex  :  "Born  in  Tacoma, 
Wash.  Graduated  from  agricultural 
college  but  gave  up  agrarian .  pur- 
suits to  help  out  Uncle  Sam's  Ma- 
rines during  the  war.  Marine  life 
made  me  so  lazy  I  could't  bear  the 
thought  of  hard  work  again  so  I 
became  an  animator,  joining  the  old 
International  Film  Company  in  New 
York.  Work  as  an  animator  on 
old  Mutt  and  Jeff  cartoons  and  on 
Fleischer's  "Out -of  -t  he  -  Inkwell." 
Twice  deserted  the  ranks  of  anima- 
tion for  newspaper  and  commercial 
art.  Guess  I  am  too  old  to  make 
another  change  so  will  stick  to  ani- 
mating as  long  as  it  sticks  to  me." 

W.  Norman  Ferguson  :  "I  was  born 
on  the  East  Side  of  New  York  in 
1902.  Played  games  in  and  out 
family  entrances  of  saloon  on  Second 
Avenue  until  chased  by  bartender. 
Sold  newspapers  on  Fifth  Avenue 
at  the  age  of  ten.  Had  ambition  to 
become  fireman  but  moved  across 
the  bridge  to  the  wide  open  spaces 
of  Brooklyn  and  decided  to  be  a 
cowboy  instead.  Was  transferred 
from  public  school  to  high  school 
in  Brooklyn  by  mistake  and  much 
to  every  one's  surprise  became  a 
stenographer.  But  consistent  mis- 
spelling forced  me  to  draw  pictures 
for  a  living.  And  then  came 
Mickey  Mouse,  with  whom  I  have 
been  associated  in  California  for  the 
past  two  years." 

Emil  Flohri  :  "Chief  cartoonist  for 
Judge  for  many  years.  Art  Direc- 
tor for  Once  a  Week  (now  Collier's 
Weekly).  Installed  color  system 
for  the  Nezv  York  Sunday  World. 
Studied  portrait  painting  in  Munich, 
also  landscape.  Painted  portraits 
of  four  different  Presidents  of  the 
United  States  and  various  movie 
stars  here  and  well  known  brokers 
and    society    people    of    New    York. 


I  can  paint  equally  as  well  with  my 
toes  as  my  fingers.  My  greatest 
ambition  has  always  been  to  paint 
the  princess  of  an  African  king,  but 
I  have  never  had  enough  cash  to 
get  to  Africa." 

Leslie  Clark:  "Born  only  in  1907 
due  to  the  bashfulness  of  my  fond 
pater.  Received  early  education  at 
the  corner  saloon  in  Bingham,  Utah. 
Entered  the  department  of  the  Pe- 
oria City  Street  Service  in  1919, 
which  later  afforded  opportunities 
for  many  follow-ups,  including  a 
position  of  beach  combing  on  the 
sands  of  \'enice.  Began  my  art 
career  designing  labels  for  to- 
mato cans  which  enabled  me  to  later 
break  into  other  Ijranches  of  artis- 
tic endeavors  such  as  decorating 
tire  covers.  At  present  I  am  with 
animated  cartoons." 

Jac  K  King  :  "I  was  born  in  Birming- 
ham. Ala.,  where  Al  Jolson  first 
heard  the  name  of  'Mammy.'  I  be- 
came restless  at  the  age  of  four 
and  decided  to  become  a  millionaire. 
Tn  1914  I  worked  with  Barre,  who 
was  starting  work  in  the  animating 
field.  Along  came  1917  and  the  LT. 
S.  joined  the  Allies.  Years  after 
the  Armstice  I  was  driving  a  truck 
wliich  ran  into  a  Ford.  The  man 
driving  the  latter  turned  out  to  be 
one  of  the  world's  greatest  humor- 
ists. His  name  was  Walt  Disney. 
Of  course  Walt's  ambition  was  to 
get  even  with  me  for  running  into 
him.  so  when  he  formed  his  Mickey 
Mouse  organization  he  sent  for  me. 
I'm  putting  one  over  on  Walt 
though  and  am  enjoving  it." 

Thomas  Palmer  :  "I  was  born  in 
New  York  under  the  signs  of  pro- 
hibition and  Tammany  Hall.  The 
urge  to  draw  substituting  the  pro- 
verbial spoon  in  the  infant's  mouth, 
I  decided  to  be  a  bleck  shipp.  After 
studying  life  drawings  at  the  Aca- 
demv  and  various  other  social  clubs. 


FIRST  PRINTING 
50,000  COPIES 


Adventures  of 

MICKEY 
MOUSE 

Here's  the  book  you  all  have 
been  waiting  for!  The  story  of 
Mickey's  adventures,  with  36 
colored  illustrations. 

David  McKay  Company 

Washington  Square,  Philadelphia 


got  tired  of  looking  at  contours  and 
drifted  'into  commercial  business. 
The  lure  of  the  flickering  funnies 
was  irresistible  so  I  entered  the  ani- 
mation business  with  Mutt  and  Jeff. 
Then  worked  with  Oswald  the  Rab- 
bit, until  Mickey  asked  me  over  to 
his  studio." 

'■BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOM'- 

National  Tie-Ups 
Boost  for  Mickey 

Mickey  Mouse  features  the  acces- 
sories marketed  by  several  dozen 
manufacturers.  Among  the  more  im- 
portant dealers  handling  tie-up  ma- 
terial are  these : 

School  tablets  —  American  Litho- 
graphic Co.,  52  E.  19th  St..  N.  Y.  C. 

Mickey  Mouse  Book — Bibo-Lang, 
Inry,   1595  Broadway,  N.  Y.  C. 

Toys,  dolls,  and  games — Geo.  Borg- 
feldt   Co.,  46  E.  23rd   St.,   N.  Y.   C. 

Pencils  and  pencil  boxes — Joseph 
Dixon  Crucible  Co.,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 

Pants,  caps  and  emblems — Fisch  & 
Company,  2816  S.  San  Pedro  St., 
Los  Angeles. 


Baby  blankets — I.  Ginzkey-Maffers- 
dorf.  Inc.,  295  5th  Ave.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Greeting  cards  —  Hall  Brothers, 
Grand  &  Walnut  Aves.  at  26th  St., 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Children's  silverware — International 
Silver  Co.,  Factory  E,  Meriden,  Conn. 

Novelties  —  Richard  G.  Krueger, 
Inc.,  395  4th  Ave.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Mickey  Mouse  Book— David  Mc- 
IQay  Company,  Washington  Square. 
Philadelphia. 

Badges  and  buckles  —  Philadelphia 
Badge  Company,  Philadelphia. 

Children's  stationery — Powers  Paper 
Company,   Springfield,   Mass. 

Paint  books  —  Saalfield  Publishing 
Co.,   Akron,   Ohio. 

Cigarette  snappers — Foster  D.  Snell 
Sales  Corp.,  307  5th  Ave.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Children's  knitted  wear  —  Olympia 
Knitting   Mills.   Inc.,   Olympia,   Wash. 

Printers  of  Mickey  Mouse  material 
— Savoy-Reeland  Printing  Co.,  630 
9th  Ave.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Trailers — Ad-Vance  Trailer  Corp., 
126-30  W.  46th  St.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Mickey  Mouse  Comic  Strips — King 
Features  Syndicate,  Inc.,  235  E.  45tii 
St.,  N.  Y.  C. 


MICKEY  MOUSE  STATIONERY 

For  the  first  time  this  popuUr  screen  feature  has  been  introduced 
into  attractive  writing  paper  for  young  people  through  an  arrange- 
ment on   an   exclusive    basis   with   the   copyright  owners. 

Attractively  boxed,  and  showing  an  assortment  of  four  designs 
printed  at  the  head  of  each  sheet,  it  has  proven  an  immediate  suc- 
cess. The  designs  are  assorted  in  equal  amounts  to  the  box  and  <;an 
be    supplied    in    white,    blue,    pink    and    buff. 

One  style  is  packed  in  the  conventional  stationery  box  and  one  in 
an  attractive  celluloid  desk  rack.  The  rack  decorated  with  a  Mickey 
Mouse   design   and   the  entire   item   wrapped   in  cellophane. 

Both    are    designed    to    sell    at    popular    prices. 

Powers  Paper  Company,  Springfield,  Mass. 


MICKEY  MOUSE 
COLORING  BOOK 


A  great  inducement  to  attract  the  youngsters  to 
your  Theatre.  Offer  it  and  a  coupon  for  five  cents — 
give  it  away  gratis  on  purchase  of  admission  ticket. 


32  Pages,  Size  15  x  lOYi,  16  pages  in  color. 
$65.00  Per  Thousand  F.O.B.  Akron. 


The   SAALFIELD    PUBLISHING   CO. 

AKRON,    OHIO 


14 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    June    20,     1931 


**Million  Dollar 
Swindle** 

(Radio) 
Hollywood — Walter  J .  Rubens" 
initial  directorial  effort  for  Radio 
seemed  to  thoroughly  satisfy  an  audi- 
ence at  its  preview  here.  It  stars 
Richard  Dix  and  is  fast-moving  mys- 
tery melodrama  carrying  plenty  ot 
suspense.  Dix  appears  in  a  role  which 
should  please  his  followers  and  also 
those  who  are  fed  up  on  gangster 
stuff,  but  who  like  action,  thrills  and 
mystery.  Ruben  shows  appreciation 
of  screen  treatment  and  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  a  story  which  maintains 
interest   from   start  to   linisli. 

LEO  MEEHAN 


''Five  Star  Final" 

(First  National) 

Hollywood — "Five  Star  Final" 
hits  a  high  point  in  pictures.  Here's 
the  "down  to  earth"  story  we're  al- 
ways talking  about,  deeply  human, 
realistic,  sweeping  and  stirring.  Here 
is  expert  direction  of  an  expert  script 
and  acting  so  genuine  by  a  wonder- 
fully-balanced cast  that  practically 
every  name  stands  out,  especially  Ed- 
ward G.  Robinson,  Marian  Marsh, 
Frances  Starr,  H.  B.  Warner  and  An- 
thony Bushell. 

The  dialogue  is  sparingly,  but  skill- 
fully, used  and  at  times  sweeps  the 
audience  to  new  heights  of  emotion. 
This  picture  will  figure  heavily  in 
box-office  headlines.  More  important 
still,  it  reveals  the  inherent  power  of 
talking  pictures  evolved  as  this  is  out 
of  studio  sincerity,  intelligence  and 
coordination.  It  is  an  impressive 
drama  exposing  yellow  journalism 
and  has  plenty  of  comedy.  Mervyn 
LeRoy's  direction  is  fine  and  the 
adaptation  by  Byron  Morgan  and 
Robert  Lord  very  good. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


'*The  Skin  Game*' 

(British  International  Pictures) 
.\  long-winded  drama  of  the  landed 
gentry  in  England  and  the  conflict 
between  the  Hillcrists  to  preserve  the 
ancestral  dignity  of  their  country 
home  and  the  encroachments  of 
industrial  enterprise,  as  individualized 
in  the  head  of  the  Hornblower  fam- 
ily. 

Despite  John  Galsworthy's  author- 
ship, it  is  difficult  to  imagine  that  a 
gentlewoman,  such  as  is  portrayed  by 
Mrs.  Hillcrist,  would  resort  to  black- 
mail to  keep  the  vjew  from  her  win- 
dows   from    being    sullied    by    factory 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

Latest  R.C.A. 
Photophone  Equipment 

$  1  or    '*"'  *'""  ""^  '  ^*  ^- 

*|     A  J       Nights,    Sundays, 

Holidays  by   Appointment 

Under   the    personal    supervision    of 
Hymic    Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 
PICTURE   SERVICE,  Inc. 

729   7th    Ave.  BRyant    9-5721 


chimneys.  Yet  this  is  what  she  does 
by  hitting  back  at  Hornblower 
through  the  questionable  past  of  his 
daughter-in-law.  A  bit  far-fetched 
for  us  to  assimilate,  particularly 
when  the  daughter-in-law  eventually 
attempts  suicide  by  throwing  herself 
into  a  pond  on  the  Hillcrist  grounds. 

The  acting  is,  in  the  main,  good, 
although  none  of  the  names  in  this 
all-English  cast  will  mean  a  thing 
to  audiences  here.  The  dialogue  is 
extremely  British  with  a  sideplay  of 
British  provincial  accents  thrown  in 
and  is  pretty  difficult  for  an  American 
ear  trained  to  Americanese  to  de- 
cipher. 

May  have  moderate  success  in  this 
market.  Certainly,  "The  Skin  Game" 
won't    cause    much    of   a   ripple. 

KANN 


"Black  Sea  Mutiny" 

(Amkino) 
Tliis  is  billed  as  the  story  of  the 
Red  revolution  in  Odessa  in  1918  and 
shows  how,  by  propaganda,  the  revo- 
lutionists won  over  the  men  of  the 
French  fleet  in  the  harbor  and  over- 
turned the  czarists.  The  picture  fol- 
lows the  general  Soviet  formula, 
praising  the  present  regime  in  Rus- 
sia, assailing  former  officials  and 
adding  a  slur  to  religion.  In  a  small 
New  York  theatre  the  audience  wildly 
applauded  every  piece  of  action  and 
every  subtitle  favoring  the  Soviets. 
The  film  contains  no  comedy  relief. 
Running   time,    53   minutes. 


"Ex-Bad  Boy** 

( Universal) 

Hollywood — An  adaptation  of 
"The  Whole  Town's  Talking,"  stage 
play.  "Ex-Bad  Boy,"  kept  a  preview 
audience  at  the  Belmont  laughing. 

The  dialogue  does  not  attempt  to  be 
smart  or  sophisticated,  but,  judging 
from  the  reaction  of  the  audience,  it 
clicked.  Bob  Armstrong  heads  the 
cast  in  a  story  that  deals  with  his 
adventures  in  love  with  Jean  Arthur, 
the  feminine  foil.  But  Jean  wants  a 
man  with  a  past,  and  Bob,  therefore 
proceeds  to  build  one — with  complica- 
tions. Running  time  (preview)  72 
minutes. 


''The  Common  Law** 

(RKO-Pathe) 
Hollywood  —  Constance  Bennett 
stars  in  this  sophisticated  drama 
which  an  audience  here  found  de- 
lightful screen  fare,  with  sparkling 
and  clever  dialogue,  but  abo^e  the 
heads  of  children.  Both  Miss  Ben- 
nett, playing  the  role  of  an  artist's 
model,  and  Joel  McCrea  give  splen- 
did performances,  it  appeared  to  be 
the  consensus  of  opinion  at  a  Holly- 
wood preview.  Credit  for  good  work 
is  also  due  Lew  Cody,  who  plays  a 
drunk ;  Marion  Shilling,  Hedda  Hop- 
per, Robert  Williams  and  Paul  Ellis. 


"Hell  to  Pay** 

(Fox) 
Hollywood — A  preview  audience 
gave  an  enthusiastic  reception  to  this 
Western,  thanks  to  its  modern  treat- 
ment, its  many  laughs  and  the  acting 
of  George  O'Brien,  Sally  Filers. 
Humphrey  Bogart,  Stanley  Fields. 
James    Kirkwood,    Rita    LaRoy    and 


Richard  Tucker.  Director  Irving 
Cummings  also  came  in  for  his  share 
of  the  acclaim.  There  is  a  lot  of 
outdoor  action  in  it,  romance  being- 
injected  when  O'Brien,  while  seeking 
the  murderers  of  his  father,  crashes 
his  airplane  into  the  bathroom  of  Miss 
Filers  while  the  latter  is  taking  a 
bath. 


i< 


Women  Love  Once* 


(Paramount) 
Hollywood — This  one  got  a  de- 
cidedly lukewarm  reception  from  a 
preview  audience  which  apparently 
was  of  the  opinion  that  it  contained 
too  much  dialogue  and  extraneous  ac- 
tion. While  Paul  Lukas  and  Eleanor 
Boardman  gave  their  usual  capable 
performances,  it  was  generally  con- 
ceded that  Marilvn  Knowlden,  child 
actress,  "stole  the  show,"  able  at 
times  to  evoke  tears  or  arouse  laugh- 
ter. The  climax  dragged  to  such  an 
extent  that  many  in  the  audience  left 
wh^n  the  tale  became  too  obvious. 
In  the  cast  are  Juliette  Compton, 
Geoffrey  Kerr,  Judith  Wood,  Claude 
King,  Paul  Nicholson,  Herman  Bing, 
Mischa  Auer  and  Florence  Enright. 
Edward  Goodman's  direction  received 
favorable  comment. 


yy 


"East  of  Borneo 

( Universal) 

S.\N  Bernardino,  Cal. — An  adven- 
ture picture  and,  based  on  audience 
reaction  at  a  preview  here,  one  of 
real   entertainment  values. 

The  story  deals  with  Rose  Hobart  s 
search  for  Husband  Charles  Bick- 
ford  in  the  wilds  of  Borneo.  It  ap- 
pears she  had  at  one  time  deserted 
him,  fearing  poverty,  to  discover  later 
that  love  outdistanced  fear.    Bickford, 


now  physician  for  a  native  prince, 
ignores  his  wife,  but  when  the  prince 
goes  for  her,  remembers  he  is,  after 
all,  her  husband.  Together  they  ride 
through   their   jam   to   the   clinch. 

Miss  Hobart  and  Bickford  rated  an 
ovation  from  the  audience  for  their 
work. 


"Lover  Come  Back** 

(Columbia) 

Domestic  melodrama  in  which  the 
eternal  triangle  is  brought  to  light 
again.  Jack  Mulhall,  in  love  with 
Constance  Cummings,  a  co-worker, 
gives  her  up  when  the  charming  Mary 
Brian  comes  along.  But  Mary  be- 
comes too  flirtatious  to  suit  her  hus- 
band, especially  after  she  had  been 
having  an  affair  with  her  hubb>s 
boss.  The  affair  ends  with  a  trip  to 
Reno  planned  by  Mulhall  and  Miss  i 
Cummings  swearing  off  playing  mis 
tress  to  her  former  boss.  The  rest  is 
left  to  one's  imagination. 

A    Broadway    audience    was    unen-j 
thused  over  this  one. 


"Sleeping  Partners* 

(Elstree) 
Hollywood — This  British  produc- 
tion was  previewed  in  Glendale  and 
managed  to  evoke  a  fair  number  oi 
laughs,  although  some  of  the  English 
bits  of  humor  didn't  get  over.  It  con- 
cerns a  bachelor  who  carries  on  an 
affair  with  a  married  woman.  The 
climax  comes  when  he  and  the  wo- 
man take  a  sleeping  potion  instead  of 
medicine  and  are  found  in  the  arms 
of  Morpheus  when  the  husband  re- 
turns. Seymour  Hicks,  who  produced. 
wrote  and  enacted  the  leading  role, 
and  Edna  Best  are  excellent  in  their 
parts. 


NEW     YORK 

I  540     BROADWAY 
BRYant     4712... 


LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

I  54     CRESCENT     STREET 
....STIIIwell       7940 


EASTMAN 
*   FILMS  * 


J.  F 

BRULATOUR 

Incorporated 


CHICAGO 

1727    INDIANA    AVENUE 
CALumet     269  1... 


HOLLYWOO  D 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD 
.   .   .    Hollywood       4  12  1 


speaking  of  HITS . . . 

JnLERE  is  one  for  everybody!  It's  Eastman 
Super-Sensitive  Panchromatic  Negative, 
Type  2 ...  a  new^  negative  film,  two  to  three 
times  as  fast  as  previous  emulsions  under 
Mazda  lights.  Possessed  of  an  unequalled 
combination  of  other  advantages,  it  is 
bound  to  improve  the  quality  of  sound 
pictures.  Yet  its  price  is  the  same  as  that  of 
regular  negative.  Eastman  Super-Sensitive 
Panchromatic  Negative,  Type  2,  is  a  film 
whose  effect  will  be  felt  throughout  the 
industry.  Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Roch- 
ester, New  York.  (J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Dis- 
tributors, New  York,  Chicago,  Hollywood.) 

Eastman  Super-Sensitive 

Panchromatic  Negative,  Type  2 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    June    20,    1931 


99 


"Shoulders, 
"Sinners"  Big 
In  Kansas  City 


K\NSAS  City — "Laughing  Sinner_s" 
laughed  its  way  to  a  fine  gross  of  $17,- 
300  at  the  Midland,  whose  average  in- 
take is  $14,500,  thereby  topping  that 
figure  by  $2,800.  "White  Shoulders" 
went  $2,000  above  average  at  the 
Mainstreet  with  $17,000.  With  the 
exception  of  the  Orpheum,  which 
closes  this  week,  all  the  first  runs  hit 
average  or  over. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  13 : 

"WHITE  SHOULDERS"   (Radio) 

MAINSTREET— (3,067),  35c-60c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $17,000.      (Average.   $15,000.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

MIDLAXD  —  (4.000),      25c-50c,      7      days. 
Gross:     $17,300.      (Average.    $14,500.) 
"THE    MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

XEWM  AN— (3.000).  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $12,500.      (Average.    $12,500.) 

"TOO   YOUNG   TO   MARRY"    (F.   N.) 

ORPHEUM— (1,550),      20c-40c.      3      days. 
Gross:    $1,500.      (Average,    $2,000.) 
"HELL    BOUND"    (Tiff.) 

ORPHEUM— (1,550),      20c-40c,      4      days. 
Gross:    $2,500.      (Average,   $3,000.) 
"KICK   IN"    (Para.) 

ROYAL— (900),    25c-60c,    7    days.      Gross: 
$5,000.      (Average.    $4,500.) 
"NOT    EXACTLY    GENTLEMEN"    (Fox) 

UPTOWN  —  (2.200),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,000.      (Average,    $6,000.) 

'■BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

"Lawyer''  Big 
With  $15,000 
In  Milwaukee 

Milwaukee — Only  fair  business 
was  reported  during  the  week  by  the 
majority  of  the  first-runs.  The 
Mickey  Mouse  convention  here  June 
6  helped  to  bolster  business  at  Fox's 
Wisconsin  over  the  week-end,  while 
RKO's  Riverside  also  enjoyed  a  fair- 
ly good  week.  Brin's  Majestic  went 
dark  for  the  summer  with  the  termina- 
tion of  a  second  week  on  "Dirigible." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  12: 

"STEPPING  OUT"   (M-G-M) 

ALHAMBRA— (2,660),     25c-35c-50c-60c.     7 
days.      Gross:    $5,000.      (Average,    $8,000.) 
"TEN  NIGHTS  IN  A  BARROOM"  (Goetz) 

DAVIDSON— (1,437).  25c-3.5c-50c,  8  days. 
Gross:    $6,000. 

"FATHER'S    SON"    (Warners) 

GARDEN— (1,150),  25c-35c-50c-6«c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,500.      (Average,    $10,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 

MAJJiSTIC— (1,990),    50c-75c-$1.00-$1.50.    6 
days.     Gross:    $4,500.      (Average,    $7,800j 
"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 

PALACE— (2,587),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $7,500.      (Average,    $9,800.) 

"THE    ROYAL    BED"    (Radio) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,180),      25c-35c-50c-6Oc.      7 
days.      Gross:    $14,000.      (Average,    $13,000.) 
"TRADER   HORN"   (M-G-M) 

.STRAND— (1,406).  25c -350 -500 -60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,000.      (Average,   $6,500.) 

"THE    PUBLIC     ENEMY"     (Warners) 

WARNER- (2,500),  25c -.35c -50c -60c.  7 
days.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average  not  avail- 
able.) 

"THE   LAWYER'S   SECRET"    (Para.) 

WISCON.SIN— (3,275).  25c-35c-50c-65c.  7 
days.     Gross:   $15,500.     (Average,   $13,000.) 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    3UY    .VOH"' 

Closing  at  Newark 

Newark — Paramount  will  close  the 
Newark  tomorrow.  With  reopening 
after  alterations  are  completed,  Publix 
plans  to  change  the  name  to  Para- 
mount. Adam  Adams,  partner  with 
Publix  in  the  house,  will  supervise 
alterations. 


Humidity  and 
Racing  Slam 
Ottawa  B.O.'s 


Ott.\wa — Horse  racing,  humidity 
and  heat  combined  to  put  a  nick  in  the 
box-offices,  but  the  race  track  is  again 
closed  and  there  is  little  left  but  the 
other  two  "haitches."  The  Centre  al- 
most led  off  for  the  week  with 
"Reaching  for  the  Moon,"  totalling  an 
even  five  grand  largely  through  Mike 
Wilkes'  tie-up  with  local  grocers  on  a 
ticket  stunt.  It  had  most  of  the  women 
in  town  putting  in  a  Kellogg  order 
to  earn  a  ticket  and  the  gossip  was 
such  that  all  the  rest  of  the  neighbor- 
hood went  to  the  show  anyway. 

The  run  of  "Trader  Horn"  at  the 
Regent,  after  playing  the  Imperial  as 
a  road-show  recently,  also  reached  a 
good  total,  doing  $5,100  or  $300  below 
average.  "Up  Pops  the  Devil"  was 
close  to  average  at  Keith's  for  three 
days  with  $3,500,  while  "Six  Cylinder 
Love"  was  $3,200  for  the  last  half. 
"Suspense,"  a  British  production, 
practically  trailed  the  procession  with 
$2,500  for  six  days  at  the  Imperial, 
as  compared  with  average  of  $3,000. 
Business  on  "The  Millionaire"  at  the 
Avalon  was  steady  at  $1,300  for  three 
days,  the  weather  being  the  only  thing 
against  it. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June   12: 

"THE    MILLIONAIRE"    (Warners) 

AVALO'N— (900),  15c-25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:     $1,300.       (Average,     $1,300.) 

"THE    CRIMINAL    CODE"    (Col.) 
AVALON— (900).       I5c-25c-35c.      3      days. 
Gross:    $1,150.       (Average,    $1,300.) 
"REACHING  FOR  THE   MOON"   (U.  A.) 
CENTR&-(1,142).      15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,      6 
days.      Gross:    $5,000.      (Average,    $4,600.) 
"SUSPENSE"    (British) 
IMPERIAL-(1.091),   10c-25c-35c-4Oc-50c.   6 
days.     Gross:    $2,500.     (Average,  $3,000.) 
"UP   POPS   THE   DEVIL"    (Para.) 
B.    F.    KEITH'S— (2,592).    10c-25c-35c-50c- 
60c.    3   days.     ".Spell   of   the    Circus"    (Univ. 
Serial     Sat.     Mat.     only).       Gross:     $3,500. 
(Average,   $3,700.) 

"SIX    CYLINDER     LOVE"     (Fox) 
B.    F.    KEITH'S— (2,502),    10c-25c-35c-50c- 
60c,   3   days.     Gross:    $3,200.     (Average,   $3,- 
700.) 

"TRADER  HORN"   (M-G-M) 
REGENT— (1,225).    15c-25c-35c-45c-60c-75c, 
6    days.      Gross:    $5,100.      (Average,    $5,400.) 
Previous  local   run   as   roadshow. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW' 

RKO  Acquires  Three 
In  N,  F.,  Is  Report 

RKO  is  understood  to  have  taken 
over  two  new  houses  and  a  third  is 
being  built,  all  in  Greater  New 
York.  Nick  Plaey's  theatre  at 
Bronxville,  and  the  new  house  he  is 
building  at  Scarsdale  are  to  be  taken 
over  by  RKO  along  with  the  Castle 
at  Long  Beach,  closed  all  winter. 

Move  for  acquisition  of  additional 
theatres  was  started  recently  when 
RKO  took  over  the  Park  Lane,  which 
now  is  playing  double  features  and 
ten   cent  matinees. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Headline  Maps  Second 

Mortimer  D.  Sikawitt,  president  of 
Headline  Pictures  Corp.,  is  in  Hol- 
lywood conferring  with  Charles 
Hutchison  on  the  casting  and  pro- 
duction of  the  second  of  a  series  of 
society  melodramas  which  are  be- 
ing produced  by  Headline  for  the  in- 
dependent market.  The  first  Head- 
line production,  "Women  Men  Mar- 
ry," recently  released,  has  been 
booked  in  RKO  and  other  first  run 
houses    throughout    the    country. 


u 


Gigolo"  Is 
High  in  D.  M. 
With  $7,000 


Des  Moines — "Just  a  Gigolo"  was 
the  talk  of  the  town  when  it  garnered 
$7,000  in  four  days  at  the  Paramount, 
which  is  $2,000  better  than  average 
for  that  period.  "Five  and  Ten"  at 
the  Strand  also  made  the  box-office 
happy,  clicking  $2,450  in  four  days 
against  a  weekly  normal  of  $2,400. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing  June    13 : 
"WOMEN    OF    ALL    NATIONS"    (Fox) 

DES  MOINES— $(1,500),  25c-3Sc-60c,  7 
da  vs.      Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,    $7,000.) 

"YOUNG    DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 

ORPHEUM— (2,000),  25c-35c-40c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $6,000.      (Average,   $7,000.) 

"THE   LADY   WHO   DARED"    (F.   N.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  25c-35c-60c,  3 
davs.  4  acts  of  vaude.  Gross:  $6,000. 
(Average,    $7,000.) 

"JUST   A   GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  25c-35c-60c,  4 
days.  4  acts  of  vaude.  Gross:  $7,0CO. 
(Average,   $5,000.) 

"FIVE   AND   TEN"    (M-G-M) 

STRAND— (1,100),  20c-30c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$2,450.     (Average  for  week,  $2,400.) 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Australian  Houses 
Cut  Salaries  10% 

Sydney — Wages  of  theatre  em- 
ployees and  musicians,  covered  by 
Federal  awards,  have  been  reduced  10 
per  cent  by  the  Federal  Arbitration 
Court,  bringing  sound  operators'  pay 
down  to  $30  for  a  38-hour  working 
week. 

While  the  cut  was  expected,  em- 
ployees have  already  started  a  cam- 
paign to  bring  about  a  reversion  to 
the  former  schedule.  Failing  that, 
they  will  agitate  for  a  lower  admis- 
sion scale,  believing  that  such  a  re- 
duction will  attract  greater  patron- 
age, and  that  more  jobs  will  be  cre- 
ated as  a  direct  consequence.  Ac- 
cording to  statistics  presented  to  the 
court,  80  per  cent  of  amusement  em- 
ployees here  are  working  for  from  $2 
to  $8  a  week,  or  for  just  what  they 
consider  pocket  money  in  the  good 
times. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Stage  Shows  Not 

Missed  in  Texas 

San  Antonio — RKO  and  Publix 
officials  are  gratified  at  the  response 
of  patrons  since  the  withdrawal  of 
stage  shows.  In  the  few  weeks'  try- 
out  thus  far  grosses  have  been  as 
high  as  before  stage  shows  were  with- 
drawn. 

Managers  of  RKO  houses  are  cer- 
tain their  houses  will  return  to  vau- 
deville in  the  fall.  They  base  their 
belief  on  information  from  central 
headquarters. 

If  RKO  returns  to  vaudeville  in 
the  fall  it  is  practically  certain  Pub- 
lix wilt  meet  the  competition  with 
a  return  to  stage  presentations. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Launch  Stage  Shows 
In  Expansion  Race 

Omaha — Popular  Amusement  Co., 
in  its  expansion  race  with  the  Neb- 
raska Theatres  Corp.,  has  instituted  a 
stage  show  policy  at  the  Military,  ace 
house  of  the  string.  The  former  chain 
now  has   10  houses;  the  latter,  11. 


"Seed"  High 
In  Dull  Week 
In  Montrea 


Montreal— It  was  an  off  weel 
among  first  line  theatres  with  one  ex 
ception,  the  Palace,  where  Universal': 
"Seed"  registered  slightly  better  thai 
average  with  $14,500,  thanks  to  the 
picture's  draw  for  women.  Rail 
helped  the  theatres  a  bit  one  day  but, 
otherwise,  the  weather  was  too  nio 
for  indoor  entertainment,  judging  b] 
the  go-by  attitude  of  the  crowd. 

Universal  also  scored  nicely 
Loew's  where  "The  Iron  Man"  alonf 
with  five  vaudeville  acts  drew  $12,' 
000,  as  against  the  average  mark  ol 
$13,000.  Montreal  is  largely  French 
(Tanadian  but  this  did  not  help  very 
much  in  the  patronage  at  the  Princess 
Theatre  for  "Fifty  Million  French 
men"  which  drew  $10,000  for  the 
seven  days,  average  being  $13,000. 
The  combination  of  "Born  to  Love"' 
and  "Laugh  and  Get  Rich"  at  the! 
Capitol  was  worth  $11,000,  or  $1,500 
under  average.  "Dishonored"  at  the 
Strand  scraped  out  the  week  with 
$3,400,  which  does  not  look  so  well 
against  the  average  of  $4,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  12 : 

"BORN  TO  LOVE"  (Pathe)  and  "LAUGH 
AND    GET    RICH"    (Radio) 

C.'\PITOL— (2,547),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  davs. 
Gross:    $11,000.      (.'Average,    $12,500.) 
"SINNERS'     HOLIDAY"     (Warners)     and 
"THE    FLOOD"    (Col.) 
IMPERIAL— (1,914),    15c-25c-40c,    7    davs. 
Gross:    $4,000.      (Average,   $5,100.) 

"THE   IRON   MAN"   (Univ.) 
LOEW'S— (3,115),      25c-40c-50c-65c-75c.      7 
days.     Five  vaudeville  acts.     Gross:   $12,000. 
(Average,   $13,000.) 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 
PALACE— (2,600).      25c-40c-60c-7Sc-99c,      7 
days.      Gross:    $14,500.      (Average,    $14,000.) 
"FIFTY    MILLION    FRENCHMEN" 

(Warners) 
PRINCHSS— (2,272),       25c-.15c-40c-50c-f.Oc- 
65c,  7  days.     Gross:  $10,000.     (Average,  $13.- 
000.) 

"DISHONORED"    (Para.) 
STRAND— (750),    15c-25c-40c-50c.    7    .lays. 
Gross:    $3,400.      (Average,    $4,000.) 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Billiard,  Handball 
Play  on  at  M.  P.  Club 

They're  playing  billiards  and  hand- 
ball with  a  vengeance  at  the  Moticn. 
Picture  Club  these  days.  Thirty-^ix 
members  have  enrolled  for  the  former, 
while  32  more  are  trying  out  their 
prowess  on  the  club's  four-wallL-d 
course. 

In  the  billiard  tournament  there  art- 
three  divisions  and  winners  of  eacli 
will  receive  a  miniature  billiard 
table.    To  date  the  returns  are  these  : 

Class  A — M.  Mueller  has  defeated 
Eddie  Hyman.    Score  125  to  99. 

Lou  Baum  has  beaten  Louis  Cohen 
with  a  score  of  125  to  68. 

Class  B — Lee  Ochs  winner  o\cr 
Tom  Wiley.    Score  100  to  72. 

Class  C — Al  Aaronson  winner  o\tr 
Herbert  Ebenstein.    Score  75  to  31. 

Phil  Meyer  winner  over  Leo  Klc- 
banow.    Score  75  to  53. 

Herman  Haskell  has  forfeited  Iiis 
game  to  Joe  Hornstein  in  the  latter 
division.  Semi-finals  are  to  be  held 
next  week  and  finals  at  an  undeter- 
mined date.  New  teams  include  Bruce 
Gallup  vs.  Arthur  Stebbins  and  Ldu 
Metzger  vs.  Jack  Alicoate. 

The  handball  tournament  is  nut 
Cjuite  so  far  advanced.  In  a  Class  H 
match  M.  .Shapiro  has  licked  E.  K. 
Straus  two  games  out  of  three. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  19 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JUNE  22,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


Ten  Thousand 
Independents 
Open — Myers 

Number  Holds  Balance  of 
Power,  He  Declares 

Ten  thousand  of  the  15,000  theatres 
now  open  are  being  operated  by  in- 
dependent theatre  owners,  according 
to  Abram  F.  Myers,  president  of  Al- 
lied States  Association.  Many  of  the 
closed  houses  will  reopen  in  the  fall, 
having  been  forced  to  darken  for  the 
summer  because  of  poor  business,  he 
says.  The  circuits  have  more  houses 
closed  this  year  than  ever  before,  the 
Allied  president  states,  as  a  result  of 
poor  product  and  depression. 

The  independent  theatre  owners, 
says    Myers,    control    the    balance    of 

{Continued   on   page    2) 
—••BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"-^ 

Prudential  Circuit 
Expansion  in  N.  J. 

With  100  houses  set  as  the  goal  by 
the  first  of  next  year,  new  acquisi- 
tions to  Prudential  theatres  will  be 
mostly  in  New  Jersey.  Houses  in 
closed  territories  will  comprise  most 
of  the  purchases.  It  is  understood  a 
deal  is  under  way  with  Charles  Hil- 
dinger  for  a  number  of  theatres,  with 
consummation  expected  shortly.  No 
circuits  will  be  involved  in  the  re- 
maining deals,  it  is  said. 
—"BUY   RIGHT    BUT   BUY   NOW" — 

Gangster  Films  Out  at 
Fox;  Sheehan  to  L,A, 

Gangster  pictures  are  out,  in  so 
far  as  Fox  is  concerned.  Winfield 
Sheehan  made  this  statement  prior  to 
his  departure  for  Hollywood  Satur- 
day to  assume  reins  of  production 
again  on  the  Fox  lot. 


The  Lowdown 

What  are  the  nation's  first 
runs  doing  by  way  of  busi- 
ness and  what  pictures  are — 
or  are  not — doing  it?  Box- 
office  reports  from  17  key 
cities,  published  on  pages  4, 
5  and  6  this  morning,  will 
suDpIy  part  of  the  answer. 
Cities  covered  include: 

Albany,  Boston,  Buffalo, 
Denver,  Los  Angeles,  Mil- 
waukee, Minneapolis,  Mon- 
treal, Omaha,  Ottawa,  Phila- 
delphia, Portland,  Providence, 
San  Francisco,  St.  Paul  and 
Toronto. 


Ding  Dong 

NIPTON,  Calif— If  wedding 
bells  ever  ring  for  Clara  Bow, 
Rex  Bell  will  ring  them,  the 
ex-redhead  admitted  in  an 
interview  here.  Her  present 
plans  call  for  writing  her 
memoirs  since  the  age  of 
three. 


Jersey  Stirred 

By  Clearance 

For  Circuits 


Although  it  didn't  come  up  for  dis- 
cussion at  their  Atlantic  City  meet- 
ing, New  Jersey  exhibitors  are  pretty 
much  perturbed  by  new  protection  and 
overlapping  demands  made  by  the  cir- 
cuits on  new  product  deals.  With  the 
first-runs  insisting  on  14  days  over 
the  second  runs,  second-runs  are  re- 
questing the  same  protection  clauses 
as  the  first-run  theatres.  The  subse- 
quent runs,  they  claim,  are  in  a  hole, 
and  it  is  a  pretty  bad  situation. 

The  situation  in  New  Jersey  is  the 
same  that  exists  in  the  New  York 
territory,  as  exclusively  published  by 
Motion    Picture   Daily.    Exhibitors 

(Continued    on    fage    6) 


N.  J.  Exhibs  Fight 
Demands  of  Union 

Newark — Exhibitors  of  Bayonne, 
Jersey  City,  West  New  York,  Union 
City  and  Hoboken  are  up  in  arms 
against  Operators'  Local  384,  which 
has  refused  to  cut  salaries,  the  num- 
ber of  men  in  the  booth  and,  in  one 
case,  has  demanded  an  increase  in 
wages.  With  ofifers  now  being  made 
to  exhibitors  by  a  newly  organized 
union  for  one  man  in  a  booth,  theatre 
owners  are  going  to  ask  for  a  show- 
down. If  they  can  get  no  satisfaction, 
they  say  they  will  pull  away  from  384 

(Continued    on    page    6) 
—'•BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Sanders'  Allied  Move 
Individual  Gesture 

Altliough  Rudy  Sanders,  president 
of  the  Brooklyn  Theatre  Owners 
Ass'n.,  has  made  individual  applica- 
tion to  join  Allied  States,  this  is  not 
to  be  construed  as  meaning  that  his 
organization  would  join  the  national 
body.  Sanders  Saturday  told  Motion 
Picture  Daily  that  any  of  the  Brook- 
lyn exhibitors  would  have  to  apply 
for  admission  into  the  national  unit 
themselves    if  they   wanted   to   join. 

Decision  to  join  Allied  came  after 

(Continued    on    page    6) 


INDIES  PROFIT  BY 
BUY   NOW  DRIVE 


No  Monopoly 

In  Industry  Is 

Shirley  View 


Schenectady  —  William  Shirley, 
president  and  general  manager  of  Fa- 
rash  Theatres  here  and  at  Troy,  who 
recently  attracted  attention  when  he 
refused  proffered  ofifer  of  operators 
and  stagehands  for  a  summer  wage 
cut,  says  that  all  talk  of  monopoly  in 
the  picture  business   is  the  bunk. 

"The  opinion  of  some  people  that 
the  big  trusts  control  the  picture  mar- 
ket is  not  founded  on  fact,"  he  de- 
clares. "It  has  been  my  experience 
that  the  leading  producers  are  fair 
and  always  stand  by  the  independent 
houses.  This  is  especially  true  in  the 
case  of  the  Farash  theatres  through 
my  being  intimately  acquainted  with 
the  heads  of  many  of  the  best  produc- 
ing companies.'' 
—••BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Paramount  3-Month 
Profit  Is  $3,515,652 

Paramount  Publix  Corporation  in 
its  consolidated  statement,  which  in- 
cludes earnings  of  subsidiary  com- 
panies, reports  combined  net  profits 
of  $3,515,652.22  for  the  three  months 
to  March  28,  1931,  after  deducting  all 
charges  and  reserves  for  Federal  in- 
come and  other  taxes.  The  above 
earnings  amount  to  $1.12  per  share 
for  the  three  months  on  the  common 
stock  outstanding. 


Rogers,  Out  of  Para.; 
To  Lead  Orchestra? 

Buddy  Rogers  is  out  of  Paramount, 
it  is  understood,  and  on  October  15 
will  start  work  under  a  contract  with 
National  Broadcasting  Co.,  appearing 
as  orchestra  leader  at  the  New  Yorker 
Hotel. 

NBC  now  is  said  to  be  negotiating 
for  Jack  Oakie,  presumably  on  a 
part-time  basis  for  doubling  between 
the  studio  and  as  an  orchestra  leader. 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Smith  Reported  Out; 
Not  at  All,  Says  He 

Reports  are  current  that  Courtland 
Smith  will  shortly  step  out  of  Trans 
Lux  and  Pathe  News. 

"It  is  perfectly  silly,"  said  Smith 
on  Saturday.  "I  am  with  Pathe  from 
beginning  to  end." 


Product  Shortage  Spurs 

New   Activity   by 

Old  Timers 


Independent  producers  and  distrib- 
utors are  the  first  beneficiaries  of  the 
"Buy  Right — Buy  Now"  movement 
now  gaining  impetus  throughout  the 
industry,  a  check-up  shows.  Continu- 
ation of  the  movement  promises  a 
rebirth  of  independent  production 
during  the  new  season  and  a  new 
lease  on  life  for  independent  ex- 
changes, prominent  independent 
leaders  declare. 

The  current  shortage  of  pictures  is 
providing  a  bonanza  for  independents, 
it  is  asserted,  with  some  of  them  en- 
joying a  demand  said  to  be  unparal- 
leled in  the  last  10  years. 

As  a  direct  result  of  the  current 
situation,  a  number  of  veteran  inde- 
pendent producers  are  "digging  down 
into  the  sock"  in  preparation  for  a 
return  to  production  activity.  Names 
which  have  figured  in  independent 
production  of  the  past  are  coming 
back  next  year,  according  to  present 
plans. 

— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Only  36  Theatres 
Closed  in  Canada 

Toronto — If  there  are  hard  times 
in  Canada,  the  official  summary  of 
wired  theatres  does  not  show  anything 
like  a  depression.^  A  table  compiled 
recently  for  the  use  of  the  film  com- 
panies generally  shows  that,  out  of 
a  total  of  689  talking  picture  theatres 
in  the  Dominion,  only  36  houses  have 

(Continued    on    page    6) 
— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW"— 

Pathe-Natan  and 
Gaumont  Combine 

Pari.s — France's  biggest  picture 
merger  is  now  a  fact.  Gaumont  and 
Pathe-Natan,  long  competitors,  have 
pooled  their  theatre  holdings,  250 
houses  in  all,  in  one  company  that 
represents  capital  investment  of  ap- 
pro.ximately  $40,000,000. 


*'Just  a  Censor" 

CLEVELAND— M-G-M  has 
withdrawn  "Just  a  Gigolo" 
from  distribution  in  Ohio  fol- 
lowing objections  of  the  cen- 
sor board.  The  film  was  shown 
a  week  at  the  Allen,  the  only 
showing  in  the  state. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


K^onday,  June  22,   1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vo\.  30 


June  22.  1931 


No.  19 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^•^■V  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  ivew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  VV.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Stagehands  Go  for 
5  Per  Cent  Reduction 

Milwaukee — Within  the  next  week 
or  ten  days  a  plan  will  be  put  into 
eflfect  whereby  Milwaukee  stage- 
hands will  refund  five  per  cent  of 
their  salaries  to  the  theatres  for  ten 
weeks  during  the  summer  months,  ac- 
cording to  Fred  S.  Meyer,  president 
of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Wisconsin. 

It  is  hoped  to  enlist  the  operators  in 
a  similar  movement.  The  purpose  is 
to  allow  stagehands  to  do  their  share 
to  aid  the  theatres  and  help  preserve 
their  jobs.  There  are  about  115  stage 
hands  working  in  Milwaukee  theatres. 
—"BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW"— 

Jimmy  Surrell  Dies 

Cleveland — Jimmy  Surrell,  man- 
ager of  the  Lucier  theatre  and  one  of 
the  best  known  local  exhibitors,  died 
Tuesday  of  pneumonia.  He  was  ill 
only  three  days.  His  wife  and  two 
children  survive. 
—'•BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW"— 

Start  Two  in  East 

Edward  Sloman  arrived  in  New 
York  Sunday  to  direct  Nancy  Car- 
roll in  "Wild  Beauty"  at  the  eastern 
Paramount  studio.  This  week  will 
also  see  the  start  there  of  "My  Sin,'' 
co-starring  Tallulah  Bankhead  and 
Fredric  March,  with  George  Abbott 
directing.  On  the  completion  of  the 
two  pictures  the  studio  will  be  closed. 
— "BUY   RIGHT—BUT   BUY  NOW"— 

Fitzmaurice's  Son  Dead 

HoLLYwcK)!) — Michael,    son    of    the 
Fitzmaurice  twins,  died  here  Saturday 
after  a  few  hours'  illness.  The  daugh- 
ter, Patricia,  is  doing  nicely. 
—•'BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW"— 

Warsaw  Houses  Reopen 

■  Warsaw — All  theatres  here  have 
reopened,  the  government  having 
granted  a  15  per  cent  reduction  in 
tax.     Houses    were    closed    for    three 

.weeks    in    protest   of   the   burdensome 
tax. 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Schenck,  Kelly  Abroad 

London — Joseph  M.  Schenck  and 
Arthur  W.  Kelly  of  United  Artists 
are  expected  from  New  York  shortly. 


P^ORTY-FIVE  hundred  smackers  for  a  week's  operation  at  the  New 
^  York  Rialto  is  simply  no  business  at  all.  It  also  explains  why  there 
are  no  cheers  for  the  theatre's  current  "revival"  policy  issuing  forth 
from  the  Publix  offices.  The  house  "nut"  is  way,  way  over  the  gross 
intake. 

• 

As  a  indication  of  the  way  of  theatre  business  these  days,  the  Para- 
mount and  Capitol,  right  here  in  New  York,  are  interesting.  Both 
houses  are  competing  pretty  keenly  with  and  for  stage  names.  Even  at 
that,  business  is  extremely  variable  and  generally  under  the  figure 
reached,  let's  say,  a  year  or  more  ago. 

• 

Demand  for  serials  by  exhibitors  has  reached  a  point  where  some 
distributors  refusing  to  sell  them  are  threatened  with  losing  out  in  the 
sale  of  its  features.  Universal  has  a  case  on  hand  where  a  circuit  buyer 
has  demanded  the  four  new  serials  to  be  released  next  season  and  if  he 
can't  get  them  all  there  will  be  no  feature  deal. 

• 

First  he  fought  against  "Ingagi."  Now  he's  battling  for  it.  That's 
the  switch  of  circumstances  in  the  case  of  Louis  Nizer,  attorney  for 
Congo  Pictures.  Nizer,  who  also  is  general  counsel  of  the  New  York 
Film  Board,  was  retained  by  the  Lady  Mackenzie  Film  Corp.  to  sue 
Congo  for  alleged  plagiarism.  So  well  did  he  argue  the  case  and  bring 
out  defects  in  the  picture's  authenticity  that  he  won  an  injunction  and  a 
$150,000  judgment. 

• 

In  the  settlement,  the  Lady  Mackenzie  firm  interests  were  taken  into 
Congo  in  reorganization  of  that  firm  and  Nizer's  oratorical  ability  won 
him  the  assignment  to  do  the  new  lecture  for  the  picture.  Now  he's 
engaged  in  fighting  the  Federal  Trade  Commission's  allegation  of  mis- 
leading advertising,  emphasizing  that  parts  originally  objected  to  have 
been  deleted. 

• 

With  Leon  Rosenblatt's  name  mentioned  frequently  as  the  prime  fac- 
tor behind  the  move — now  dead — to  pull  the  New  Jersey  unit  away 
from  the  Allied,  it  was  perhaps  natural  for  Al  StefYes  to  accuse  him 
of  the  statement  made  by  another  member  charging  that  Stefifes  had 
been  on  the  payroll  of  .Sentry  Safety  Control.  When  Steffes  heard  that 
he  accused  the  wrong  man,  he  apologized  to  Rosenblatt  before  all  the 
members  at  the  Atlantic  City  convention.  StefYes  is  still  trying  to  find 
out  who  made  the  crack. 

• 

Well,  they're  selling  Universal  down  the  river  again.  This  time,  an 
old  yarn  revived :  that  Bill  Fox  had  turned  over  the  check  that  makes 
the  company  his. 

Every  time  you  mention  it  to  Bob  Cochrane,  he  just  laughs  and 
laughs. 

Those  who  profess  to  know  insist  that  Carl  Laemmle  is  paying  Tom 
Mix  $10,000  a  week  for  that  series  of  six  westerns  which,  incidentally, 
will  be  marketed  as  specials.   At  that  figure,  they'd  have  to  be. 


Entire  Market  Rallies;  E,  K.  Jumps  6V4. 


High 

Consolidated  Film  Tnd,   pfd 12^ 

Eastman    Kodak    134i4 

Fox   Film    "A" 20}^ 

General  Theatre   Equip,   new 4% 

Loew's   Inc 41J^ 

M-G-M   pfd 24 

Paramount   Publix    245^ 

Pathe   Exchange    1}4 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 4 

R   K  O    13?^ 

Warner  Bros 8^ 


Low 

12'/2 

129^1 
18f^ 

4% 
39}^ 
24 
22^ 

VA 

4 
13 


Close 

121^ 

134>4 

20"^ 

4% 

4m 

24 

24^ 

m 

4 
13M 

m 


Net 
Change 

-1-654 

+m 

+  H 

-f3^ 
-  'A 
-fl^ 
-f  Vs 
+  A 
-fl54 
■fl 


Curb  Also  Gains;  G,  T.  E.  Up  1% 


High  L.OW 

Fox  Theatres  "A" 3  3 

General   Theatre  Equip,   pfd \VA  854 

Technicolor 6  6 


Net 
Close    Change 

3  

6  -I-  K2 


Bond  Issues  Active;  G.  T,  E.  Gains  4 


40. 


General   Theatre   Equip.   6s 

Loew's  6s  '41  ex  wwar 

Paramount  Broadway  SJ^s  '51 
Paramount  Publix  5j^s  'SO.... 
Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 


High 

.    39 

.   97J4 

.101^2 

.  4454 


Low 

36 

97 
101 
79^ 
4354 


Close 

39 
97 
101 

44  Ji 


Net 
Change 

-1-4 


-f  'A  ^ 
+  Vf. 
+2Yi 


Sales 

100 

600 

9,500 

3,400 

13,400 

100 

12,000 

200 

200 

7,000 

6,200 


Sales 

100 

4,900 

100 


Sales 

14 

4 
3 
14 
13 


Ten  Thousand 
Independents 
Open — Myers 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

buying  power  in  the  film  business. 
He  wants  them  to  marshal  this  buy- 
ing power  in  getting  prices  adjusted 
to  their  particular  situations  rather 
than  to  accept  arbitrary  allocations  by 
New  York  offices. 

Myers   says   the   remedy   for   closed 
situations  is  better   pictures  and  calls 
for    application    of    silent    film    tech- 
nique  to    talkers. 
— "BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" — 

"Capone*'  Operator 
Bill  Put  on  Spot 

Springfield,  111. — "Al  Capone's 
bill,"  as  it  is  described  by  Chicago 
newspapers,  the  two-operator  meas- 
ure, was  killed  in  committee  before 
the  Senate  adjourned  Saturday.  The 
state  censorship  bill  never  was  report- 
ed out  of  committee. 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

German  Sound  Merger? 

London — Berlin  reports  indicate 
Siemens  Halske  and  the  Telefunken 
electrical  interests  may  combine,  in- 
cluding Klangfilm  in  the  merger.  The 
move,  it  is  believed  here,  will  have 
an  important  bearing  on  sound  film 
patents. 
— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Warner  Broadcast  Starts 

Lender  the  title,  "The  Newsreel  of 
Hollywood,"  Warners  radio  broad- 
cast tie-up  gets  under  way  tonight, 
sponsored  by  an  oil  company.  Weekly 
broadcast  of  chats  with  screen  per- 
sonalities are  planned  with  36  main 
stations  participating  in  the  hook-up. 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Renews  Rogell  Contract 

HoLLYwooD^ — RKO  Pathe  has  signed 
Al  Rogell,  independent  producer- 
director,  to  a  long-term  contract. 
First  under  the  new  agreement  will 
be  direction  of  Eddie  Quillan  in  "Ed- 
die Cuts  In." 
— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

New  Jacohson  Aid 

Allyn  Butterfield  has  been  appoint- 
ed by  Carl  Laemmle  as  chief  editorial 
aid  to  Sam  B.  Jacobson,  editor  of  the 
Universal    newspaper    newsreel. 
— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Hix  Seeking  Material 

John  Hix,  creator  of  "Strange  As 
It  Seems,"  for  Universal,  has  started 
out  on  the  first  lap  of  a  tour  around 
the  world.  He  will  search  for  new 
material    for    the    short    subjects. 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

Latest  R.C.A. 
Photophone  Equipment 

$1    or     ^^  ^^"^  untQ  •  P.  M. 
1,^1)      Nights,   Sundays, 

Holidays  by  Appointment 

Under  the  personal   supervision   of 
Hymie   Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 
PICTURE  SERVICE,  Inc. 

729   7th   Ave.  BRyant   9-5721 


Play  it  again  .  .  . 
and  play  it  NOW 
the  world's  greatest 
money-getter 


oo\vJf°\ 


^'^'^  ts- °'°° 


tfice 


fortbo"'" 


flHft  »v*«'~' 


\PX>1 


ALL 
QUIET 


on 


th 


WESTERN 

FRONT 

Starring  LEW  AYRES 

Directed   by  Lewis  Milestone 


Just  Played  RIALTO,  N.Y. 
for  5th  Broadway  Run 


Presented  by 
Carl  Laemmie 


soR^^; 


140^^? 


lob»«^ 


Produced  by 
Carl  Laemmie,  Jr. 


UNIVERSAL 


you 


with  a  winner   • 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  June  22,   1931 


66 


Long  Legs" 
Steps  Fast 
In  Philly 


Philadelphia  —  Exhibitors  had 
little  cause  for  complaint  this  week, 
for  grosses  in  general  were  good. 
"Daddy  Long  Legs"  at  the  Fox  took 
in  $17,500  in  three  days,  average  for 
that  period  being  $13,000,  and  led  the 
town.  The  Fox  pulled  "Dude  Ranch" 
in  midweek,  although  the  take  was 
satisfactory,  in  order  to  give  the 
Janet  Gaynor  picture  another  three 
days.  "Smart  Monev"  beat  the  Stan- 
ley average  by  $1,000,  getting  $19,- 
000,  and  Universal's  "Up  for  Mur- 
der" boosted  the  Earle's  normal  by 
$500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  18: 

"THE  CONQUERING   HORDE"    (Para.) 

ARCADIA— (600).  50c.  3  da>s.  Gross: 
$1, .•?(». 

"TARNISHED    LADY"    (Para.) 
ARCADIA— (6(X)).    50c,    5    days.        Gross: 
$2,200.      (Average    for   6   days,   $3,000.) 
"UP    FOR    MURDER"    (Univ.) 
EARLE— (2,000),    25c-65c,    6    days.     Eight 
acts    vaude.        Gross:    $18,500.        (Average. 
$18  000  ) 

"DUDE    RANCH"    (Para.) 
FOX— (3,000),    35c-50c-75c,    3    days.    Fan- 
chon   and   Marco   stage  show.      Gross:   $11,- 
000. 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 
FOX— (3,000),    35c-50c-75c,    3    days.    Stage 
show.     Gross:  $17,500.     (Average  for  6  days, 
$26,000.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"   (M-G-M) 
KARLTON— (1,000),   40c-50c,   6  days,   sec- 
ond  run.      Gross:   $6,000.      (Average,  $5,000.) 
"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 
KEITH'.S— (1,800),     35c-SOc-75c,     6     davs. 
Cross:   $14,500.      (Average.   $15,000.) 

"YOUNG  DONOVAN'S   KID"   (Radio) 
-VIASTBAUM— (4,800),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Stage    show.        Gross:    $38,000.        (Average, 
$40,000.) 

"SMART    MONEY"     (F.    N.) 
STANLEY— (3,700),    35c-50c-75c.    6    days. 
Gross:   $19,000.      (Average,  $18,000.) 

"THE  SECRET  SIX"  (M-G-M) 
STANTON— (1,700),   25c-65c,   6  days,    sec- 
ond run.     Gross:  $7,500.     (Average,  $11,000.) 

— "BUY   RIGHT—BUT   BUY   NOW— 

Mercury  in 
Buffalo  Sends 
Grosses  Down 


99 


Buffalo — Business  dived  generally 
here,  hot  weather  getting  most  of  the 
blame  for  the  slump.  "Born  to  Love" 
benefited  by  publicity  accrueing  from 
the  futile  attempt  of  the  Lafayette 
to  prevent  the  Buffalo  from  showing 
the  picture,  but  it  fell  $3,000  below 
average.  However,  the  house  aver- 
ages cannot  be  used  as  a  gauge  in 
tcyrid   spells. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  19 : 

"BORN    TO    LOVE"    (RKO-Pathe) 

BUFFALO— (3,500).  .30c-65c,  7  days.  Pub- 
lix  stage  show.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average, 
$25,000.) 

"VICE  SQUAD"   (Para.) 
CENTURY— (3,000),      25c-3Sc,       7      days. 
Gross:    $8,800.      (Average.    $12,000.) 

"JUST    A    GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 
GREAT  LAKES— (3,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Loew   stage   show.     Gross:   $17,400.     (Aver- 
age,  $22,500.) 

"UP   POPS   THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 
HIPPODROME— (2.100),    25c-50c,    7   days. 
RKO  vaudeville.     Gross:  $15,100.     (Average, 
$20,000. ) 

"THE    GOOD    BAD    GIRL"    (Col.) 
LAFAYETTE-(3.300),     25c-35c,     7     days. 
Gross:   $9,000.      (Average,  $12,000.) 


"Sinners''  and 
"Shipmates 
High  in  L.  A. 

Los  Angeles — The  combination  of 
anniversary  week  and  "Shipmates" 
gave  the  Pantages  its  highest  gross 
in  months,  the  figure  reaching  $17,- 
500,  or  $2,500  above  average.  Joan 
Crawford  in  "Laughing  Sinners" 
made  the  normal  grade  of  $27,000  at 
Loew's  State,  and  "Seed"  and  "In- 
discreet" brought  in  satisfactory 
takes.  The  Paramount  hit  the  lowest 
spot  in  years  with  "Forbidden  Adven- 
ture," which,  despite  a  stage  show, 
grossed  only  $11,000  against  a  normal 
of  $25,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  17: 

"CARNE   DE  CABARET"   (Univ.) 
CALIFORNIA     INTERNATIONAL 
-(2,000),    25c-50c,    7     days.      Gross:     $4,100. 
(Average,    $5,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
FOX    CARTHAY    ORCLE— (1,650).    75c- 
$1.50,    3rd    week.      George    Stoll    and    band. 
Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,    $12,500.) 

"TRADER   HORN"    (M-G-M) 
FOX      CRITERION— (1,652),      35c-65c,      7 
days.     Gross:    $13,000.      (Average,    $10,000.) 
000.) 

"TRADER    HORN"    (M-G-M) 
GRAUMAN'S  CHINESE-(2.030).  25c-75c. 
Gross:    $4,900.      (Average,   $8,000.) 

"BORN   TO   LOVE"    (RKO-Pathe) 
GRAUMAN'S    EGYPTIAN— (1,800),    10c- 
65c,     7     days.       Gross:      $3,400.       (Average, 
$6,500.) 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS"  (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S      STATE— (2,418),      35c-6Sc,      7 
days.     F.   &  M.  "Vaud   Bits"   Idea.     Gross: 
$27,000.       (Average,     $27,000.) 

"THREE    GIRLS    LOST"     (Fox) 
LOS  ANGELES— (2,100),   25c-65c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,400.      (Average,    $16,000.) 
"SEED"    (Univ.) 
ORPHEUM— (2,750),      35c-65c,       7      days. 
Gross:    $15,000.      (Average,    $16,000.) 
"SHIPMATES"    (M-G-M) 
PANTAGES  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000),  35c- 
65c,  7  days.     F.   &  M.  "Circus  Days"  Idea. 
Gross:    $17,500.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"FORBIDDEN    ADVENTURE"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,596),    3.5c-65c,    7    days. 
Stage     revue.      Gross:     $11,000.       (Average, 
$25,000.) 

"UP   FOR   MURDER"    (Univ.) 
RKO— (2,700),     35c-65c,     7    days.      Vaude. 
Gross:  $15,000.     (Average,  $13,500.) 
"INDISCREET"    (U.    A.) 
UNITED      ARTISTS  —  (2,100),      35c-65c. 
Gross:    $15,000.      (Average,    $13,500.) 

"GOLD  DUST  GERTIE"  (Warner) 
WARNER      DOWNTOWN  —  (2,400),      6 
days,     35c-50c.     Gross:     $11,400.       (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"GOLD  DUST  GERTIE"  (Warner) 
WARNER     HOLLYWOOD  —  (3,000),     7 
days,    35c-50c.      Gross:    $11,500.      (Average, 
$14,000.) 
— "BUY   RIGHT—BUT   BUY   NOW" — 

"Legs"  Hikes 
Omaha  House 
Gross  $5,000 


Omaha — What  long  strides  "Daddy 
Long  Legs"  has  got !  It  walked  away 
with  a  gross  of  $12,000  at  the  Para- 
mount, thereby  going  $5,000  above  the 
average  figure.  Which  is  nice  busi- 
ness for  this  time  of  year.  "My  Past" 
was  jerked  at  the  World  when  it 
reached  only  $3,200  for  four  days 
and  "Daybreak"  was  substituted.  The 
latter  wasn't  so  hot,  either. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  19: 

"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-60c.    7    days. 

Dave    Apollon    and    three    other    RKO    acts. 

Gross:    $11. .500.       (Average.    $12,500.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900),    25c-30c-3Sc-60c,   7 

(Continued   on   page   5) 


"Legs"  Bright 
Ray  in  Denver; 
Gets  $10,000 


Denver — "Daddy  Long  Legs"  was 
the  bright  spot  last  week  and  is  good 
for  at  least  a  second.  The  combina- 
tion of  this  picture  and  Bobby  Jones 
shorts  was  a  real  magnet  for  local 
fans  and  they  flocked  to  the  Aladdin 
for  a  gross  of  $10,000.  Jones'  shorts 
are  being  shown  simultaneously  at  the 
Aladdin  and  Tabor.  "Party  Husbands" 
held  eight  days  at  the  Paramount  due 
to  the  switch  of  opening  day  from 
Thursday  to  Friday  but  the  picture 
flopped.  Other  houses  had  no  com- 
plaint. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  18: 

"DONOVAN'S   KID"   (Radio) 

DENVER— (2,300),  25c-35c-65c,  7  days. 
Fanchon  &  Marco  Idea,  "The  Dance"; 
Fred  Schmitt  and  orchestra.  Gross:  $14,- 
500.       (Average.    $15,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1,500),  35c-50c 
75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average, 
$7  000  ) 

"YOUNG    SINNERS"    (Fox) 

HUFFMAN'S  TABOR— (1,900),  25c-35c- 
50c.  7  days.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"PARTY    HUSBAND"    (F.    N.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,000),       25c-35c-50c,       8 
days.     Gross:  $9,500.     (Average,  $11,000.) 
"STEPPING  OUT"  (M-G-M) 

RIALTO— (1.040),  25c-35c-50c.     Gross:  $4,- 
250.       (Average,    $3,750.) 
— "BUY   RIGHT—BUT  BUY   NOW" — 

"Long  Legs''  is 
Seattle's  High 
With  $15,000 

Seattle  —  Fifteen  thousand  for 
"Daddy  Long  Legs"  was  Seattle's 
best  bet  last  week.  It  was  the  best 
in  many  weeks  for  the  Fox  Fifth  Ave- 
nue and  so  rated  a  holdover.  "The 
Lawyer's  Secret"  was  above  the  aver- 
age of  recent'  weeks  and  "Donovan's 
Kid"  also  hit  above  normal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  19 : 

"DON'T   BET  ON   WOMEN"   (Fox) 
FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-35c-50c,    4 
days.      Gross:    $3,000.       (Average.   $3,500.) 
"FINN    AND   HATTIE"   (Para.) 
FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-35c-50c,    3 
days.     Gross:   $2,000.      (Average.  $2,000.) 
"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
FOX    FIFTH   AVENUE— (2,750),   25c-35c- 
50c-75c.   7   days.     Gross:   $15,000.      (Average, 
$12  500  ) 

"THE  LAWYER'S  SECRET"  (Para.) 
FOX   PARAMOUNT— (3,150),   25c-35c-50c- 
75c,    7    days.        Fanchon        Marco's    "Great 
Raymond"   Idea.      Gross:    $13,500.         (Aver- 
age,   $13. .500.) 

"THE   LOVE   TRADER"    (Tiff.) 
LIBERTY- (2,000),  15c-30c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.       (Average,    $7,000.) 

"IiNDISCREET"'    (U.    A.) 
MUSIC     BOX— (950).     25c-35c-50c-75c,     7 
(L-iys   (2nd  week.)     Gross:  $6,000.     (Average, 
$7,500.) 

"DONOVAN'S   KID"    (Radio) 
RKO  ORPHEUM  -  (2,650),  25c-35c-50c-60c- 
"5c,    7    days.       RKO    vaudeville    headed    by 
Rae    Sanuiels.      Gross:     $14,000.       (Average, 
$13,500.) 

— "BUY   RIGHT     BUT  BUY   NOW" — 

To  Reopen  W.  B.  Studio 

Warners'  eastern  studio  in  Brook- 
lyn will  resume  full  operations  on 
July  6  for  the  production  of  Vita- 
phone  shorts,  the  company  announces. 
Since  the  slowing  down  during  the 
past  four  weeks  many  changes  have 
been  made,  and  the  studio  now  has 
three  sound  stages. 


"Long  Legs"  Is 
Phenomenal 
In  Albany  Run 

Albany  —  Business  which  Alec 
Sayles,  manager  of  Harmanus- 
Bleecker  Hall,  characterized  as  phe- 
nomenal, qualified  by  weather  condi- 
tions that  varied  from  heavy  rains  to 
mid-summer  heat,  brought  the  dollars 
rolling  in  during  the  week's  run  of 
"Daddy  Long  Legs."  The  picture  was 
the  biggest  money  getter  of  the  week, 
running  about  ten  per  cent  above  nor- 
may,  opening  heavily,  with  matinees 
showing  up  extremely  well  and  with 
the  crowd  standing  each  evening. 
Chris  Buckley,  owner  of  the  theatre, 
screened  the  picture  one  Sunday  night 
to  an  invited  crowd  of  some  300  or 
more  and  word-by-mouth  advertis- 
ing did  the  trick.  In  addition  he 
recommended  it  strongly  in  his  ads. 
Other  theatres  around  the  city  re- 
ported business  as  below  normal  or 
just  fair. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  18: 

"DADDY    LONG    LEC;S"     (Fox) 

HARMANUS-B  L  E  E  C  K  E  R  HALI^ 
(2,300),  35c-SOc,  6  days.  Gross:  $11,120. 
(Average,    $10,000.) 

"MEJV  CALL  IT  LOVE"  (M-G-M) 

LELAND— (1,350),  25c-35c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$5,30a     (Average,   $6,000.) 
"NEVER   THE   TWAIN   SHALL   MEET"  i 
(M-G-M) 

RITZ— (1,146),  25c-35c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$3,900.      (Average,    $4,500.) 

"DUDE    RANCH"    (Para.) 

RKO-(1,500),     25c-60c,     3    days.      Gross: 
{2,650.      (Average   three    days,   $3,000.) 
"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 
RKO— (1.500),     2Sc-60c,    3    days.      Gross: 
$2,500.     (Average   three   days,   $3,000.) 
"BIG   BUSINESS  GIRL"   (F.  N.) 
STRAND— (1,900),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$6,100.      (Average,    $8,500.) 

— "BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" — 

"Enemy"  and 
"Gertie"  Big 
In  Providence 


Providence — The  recent  press-aired 
controversy  over  gangster  films  and 
the  worth  of  the  picture  itself  pushed 
"Public  Enemy"  into  big  dough,  $14,- 
000,  at  the  Majestic  theatre.  For 
good  measure  a  second  feature,  "Gold 
Dust  Gertie,"  was  added. 

"Vice  Squad"  at  the  Paramount 
was  another  good  bet  for  the  week, 
catching  around  $9,500.  Loew's 
State  dropped  down  to  $12,000  with 
"Just  a  Gigolo."  "Transgression"  at 
the  RKO  Albee  pulled  around  $8,000 
and  the  RKO  Victory,  showing  "The 
Viking,"  did  $4,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  18 : 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,800),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $12,000.       (Average,   $18,000.) 

"PUBLIC    ENEMY"    (.Warners)    and 
"GOLD  DUST  GERTIE"  (F.  N.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,400),  10c-50c,  7  days.  Gross 
$14,000.       (Average,    $10,000.) 

"VICE    SQUAiy    (Para.) 

PARAMOU'NT— (2,300),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,500.       (Average,    $10,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

RKO  ALBEE— (2,300),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $8,000.     (Average,  $9,000.) 

"THE    VIKING"    (J.    D.    Williams) 

RKO  ■VICTORY— (1,600),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.     (Average,  $6,500.) 


Monday,  June  22,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


.99 


"Long  Legs 
Is  Held  Over 
In  Portland 


Portland — The  annual  Rose  Fes- 
tival and  Mardi  Gras  brought  the 
carnival  crowds  downtown  and  the 
theatres  profited.  "Laughing  Sin- 
ners" went  over  the  top  at  the  Para- 
mount to  the  tune  of  $3,800,  its  gross 
being  $15,800.  "Daddy  Long  Legs" 
shot  the  gross  of  the  Broadway  up  to 
$8,200,  average  being  $5,000,  and  was 
held  over  for  a  second  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  17: 

"DADDY   LONG  LEGS"    (Fox) 
FOX     BROADWAY— (1,700),     25c-50c,     7 
days.     Gross:    $8,200.     (Average,  $.S,000. ) 
"KISMET"  (F.  N.) 
FO.K     KIALTO -(1,498),    25c- J5c.    ,i    aj\s. 
Gross:    :(!2,500.      (Average,   $4,000.) 
"DUDE    RANCH"    (Para.) 
FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    4    days. 
Gross:    $2,100.      (Average,    $4,000.) 
"SEVENGALI"    (Warner) 
HAMRICK'S    MUSIC    BO.X^  "(1,800),    35c. 
Gross:    $4,600.      (Average,    $4,000.) 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
PARAMOUNT— (,!,068),     25c-60c,    7    days. 
F.  &  M.  "Broken  Dolls  Idea."     Gross:  $15,- 
800.      (Average,    $12,000.) 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 
RKO  ORPHEUM— (1,700),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaude.      Gross:    $11,200.      (Average,    $8,000.) 

— "BVY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

$25,000  High 
Goes  to  Tront 
Page'  in  Mpls. 

Minneapolis — In  spite  of  record 
heat,  "The  Front  Page"  did  a  whale 
of  a  business  at  the  Minnesota,  grab- 
bing off  $25,000,  which  topped  the 
house  average  by  $5,000.  "Every- 
thing's Rosie"  got  $16,000  at  the 
RKO  Orpheum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  19: 

"PARTY  HUSBANbS"  (F.  N.) 
ASTER— (812),    20c-35c,    7    days.       Gross: 
$1,400.       (Average,    $1,500.) 

"TARNISHED  LADY"   (Para.) 
LYRIC— (1,238),   20c-40c,   7   days.      Gross: 
$2,000.       (Average,    $2,500.) 

"FRONT  PAGE"   (U.  A.) 
MINNESOTA— (4,000),"    30c-7Sc,     7     days. 
Four  acts   vaudeville.     Gross:   $25,000.    (Av- 
erage,   $20,000.) 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 
RKO    ORPHEUM— (2,900),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.     Four  acts  vaude.     Gross:  $16,000  (Av- 
erage,   $14,000.) 

"PUBLIC    ENEMY"    (Warners) 
STATE— (2,300),      25c-35c-50c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $10,000.       CAverage,    $8,000.) 

—•'BUY   RIGHT^BUT   BUY   NOW" — 

"Legs"  Hikes 
Omaha  House 
Gross  $5,000 


(Continued  from  page  4) 
days.      Gross:    $12,000.      (Average,    $7,000.) 
"NOT    EXACTLY    GENTLEMEN"    (Fox) 
STATE— (1,200),   25c   3   days.      Gross:   $1,- 
200.       (Average    for   week,    $2,100.) 

"THE    MILLIONAIRE"    (Warners) 
STATE— (1,200),   25c,   4  days,    second    run. 
Gross:    $'1,000.       (Average,    $2,100.) 
"MY  PAST"    (Warners) 
WORLD— (2,500),    25c-40c,   4   days.    Gross: 
$3,200.      (Average  for  week,   $5,500.) 
"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 
WORLD— (2,500),    25c-40c,   3   days.    Gross: 
$3,000.       (Average    for    week,    $5,500.) 


His  Big  Idea 

Tampa— One  of  the  first  bills 
to  be  introduced  in  the  special 
session  of  the  Florida  legisla- 
ture was  a  luxury  tax,  provid- 
ing for  a  ten  per  cent,  tax  on 
admissions  to  theatres  and  other 
forms  of  amusement. 

The  bill  was  introduced  by 
Senator  Turner  of  Cedar  Key, 
a  little  city  that  once  had  a 
picture  show — just  once.  The 
senator  says  the  bill  is  his  own 
idea. 


"Rosie"  Cops 
$15,000  in 
Hot  St.  Paul 


St.  Paul — Going  for  comedy  in 
the  hot  week,  St.  Paul  gave  "Every- 
thing's Rosie"  at  the  Orpheum  $15,- 
000,  which  was  top  money  although 
the  Tower  got  the  percentage  rating 
with  "Gold  Dust  Gertie"  at  $4,000, 
which  was  double,  the  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  19: 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
PARAMOUNT— (2.300),     2.Sc-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $7,500.      (Average  $7,500.) 

"LADIES'    MAN"    (Para.) 
RIVIERA— (1,600),     25c-35c-50c,     7     days. 
Gross:    $5,200.      (Average,    $7,000.) 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 
RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Burns   and   Allen    heading   four   acts    vaude. 
Gross:   $15,000.      (Average.   $12,000.) 

"GOLD   DUST  GERTIE"   (Warners) 
TOWER— (1,000),    15c-2.5r,    7   days.    Gross: 
$4.(X)0.     (Average,  $2,000.) 

— "BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" — 

Boston  Likes 
^Gigolo';  $500 
Over  Average 

Boston — Despite  a  spell  of  mid- 
summer heat,  business  generally  was 
satisfactory  in  the  city  of  beans  last 
week.  "Just  a  Gigolo"  soared  $500 
above  average  at  the  Loew's  State, 
the  take  being  $20,500,  and  "It's  a 
Wise  Child"  broke  even  at  Loew's 
Orpheum  with  $20,000.  Other  first 
runs  went  under  normal,  but  not  de- 
cidedly so,  and  the  fact  doesn't  mean 
much  in  view  of  the  season. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June   18: 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 

KEITH'S  BOSTON— (2,500),  25c-60c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average, 
$18,000.) 

"WHITE  SHOULDERS"  (Radio) 

KEITH'S— (2,800),  30c-65c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$17,500.      (Average,    $18,000.) 

"IT'S    A   WISE    CHILD"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (3,100),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,700).  2Sc-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $20,500.     (Average,    $20,000.) 

"THE   VICE  SQUAD"    (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,350),       25c-60c,       7 
days.      Revue.      Gross:     $31,000.      (Average, 
$32,000.) 
"THE   MALTESE  FALCON"   (Warners) 

OLYMPIA— (2,500),  2Sc-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $14,000.     (Average,    $15,000.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

SCOLLAY    SQUARE— (1,800),    25c-50c,    7 
days.     Gross:    $14,000.     (Average,   $15,000.) 
"THE     MALTESE     FALCON"     (Warners) 

UPTOWN— (2,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $11,500.     (Average,    $12,000.) 


Grosses  Sag 
In  Montreal 
First  Runs 


Montreal — -Not  one  first-run  here 
hit  average  in  gross  receipts  and  the 
neighborhoods  were  even  worse.  Of- 
ficial mourning  within  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  for  the  death  of  Car- 
dinal Rouleau  helped  to  keep  the 
crowds  away  from  the  amusements. 
There  was  some  little  excitement  at 
Loew's  Theatre  with  Clara  Bow's 
final  bow  in  "Kick  In,"  where  it  was 
assisted  by  fair  vaudeville  to  $10,500, 
as  compared  with  the  average  of 
$13,000. 

"Daybreak"  at  the  Palace  looked 
like  "sundown"  in  the  box-office, 
where  the  count  was  $11,000  against 
the  average  of  $14,000.  A  hot  double 
at  the  Capitol,  "Young  Sinners"  and 
"Six  Cylinder  Love,"  drew  a  straight 
ten  grand,  the  average  being  $12,500. 
They  doubled  "Dirigible"  with  "Mis- 
behaving Ladies"  at  the  Strand  and 
the  resultant  take  was  a  fair  $3,600, 
the  average  being  $4,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  19 : 

"YOUNG   SINNERS"   (Fox)   and 
"SIX  CYLINDER  LOVE"   (Fox) 
CAPITOI^(2,S47),  25c-35c-50c-60c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,000.     (Average.   $12,500.) 
"SINGLE  SIN"  (Tiff.)  and 
"DAWN  TRAIL"   (Col.) 
IMPERIAI^(1,914),    15c-25c-40c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $3,000,     (Average,    $5,100.) 
"KICK    IN"    (Para.) 
LOEW'S— (3,115),     25c -40c -50c -65c -75c,     7 
days.      Vaude.      Gross:     $10,500.      (Average, 
$13,000.) 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 
PALACE— (2,600),    25c-40c-60c-75c-99c,    7 
days.    Gross:  $11,000.     (Average,  $14,000.) 
"EASY  MONEY" 
PRINCESS— (2,272).  25c-35c-40c-50c-60c-65c. 
7  days.     Gross:   $9,000.     (Average.  $13,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.)   and 
"MISBEHAVING  LADIES"   (F.  N.) 
STRAND     (7.50),     ]5c-2.5c-40c-,50c,    7    days 
Gross:   $3,600.     (Average,   $4,000.) 

— "BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" — 

$50,000  Take 

Of  ^Long  Legs' 

In  Frisco  Run 


San  Francisco  —  "Daddy  Long 
Legs"  walked  all  over  everything  here, 
grossing  $50,000  at  the  Fox.  This 
figure  is  $16,000  over  average — which 
tells  the  story. 

Business  generally  was  good  and 
showed  an  increase  over  last  week. 
"Seed"  boosted  the  $12,000  average 
of  the  Orpheum  to  $15,000,  and  "Five 
and  Ten"  also  pulled  up  the  War- 
field's  normal  par  figure  by  $3,000, 
getting  $24,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  16 : 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 
GOLDEN    GATE— (2,800).    35c-40c-50c-65c, 
7    days.     Vaude.     Gross:    $14,000.     (Average, 
$15,000.) 

Week  ending  June  17: 

"MR.   LEMON   OF  ORANGE"   (Fox) 

EL  CAPITAN— (3,100),  25c-40c-60c,  7  days, 
lay  Brower  band,  stage  show.  Gross: 
$13,500.     (Average,  $13,000.) 

"DADDY  LONG  I.EGS"   (Fox) 
FOX -- (4,600),       50c-65c-75c-$7,      7      days 
F  &  M   stage  show;   Walt  Roesner  concert. 
Ooss:  $50,000.     (Average,  $34,000.) 
"SEED"    (Univ.) 
ORPHEUM  — (3,000),    25c-35c-50c.    second 
week,    7    days.      Gross:    $15,000.      (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"CITY  LIGHTS"  (U.  A.) 
UNITED    ARTISTS— (1,200),    25c-40c-60c, 
(Continued    on    page    6) 


'Five  and  Ten' 

Takes  $14,500 

In  Milwaukee 


Milwaukee — Summer  apparently 
has  hit  its  stride  here,  much  to  the 
distress  of  the  box-office.  As  a  result, 
the  majority  of  first-runs  had  a  quiet 
week. 

Two  pictures  went  above  average, 
"Five  and  Ten"  beating  the  average 
of  $13,000  at  the  Wisconsin  by  $1,500, 
and  "The  Good  Bad  Girl"  at  the  Riv- 
erside grossing  $13,500,  which  is  $500 
above  normal. 

After  one  week  of  "Many  a  Slip," 
the  Alhambra  was  dark  June  19  for 
one  week  to  allow  for  the  completion 
of  the  installation  of  a  new  $50,000 
refrigerating  plant,  new  carpets, 
drapes  and  other  improvements.  The 
house  will  reopen  with  Universal's 
"Seed." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  19 : 

"MANY  A  SLIP"  (Univ.) 

ALHAMBRA— (2,660),    25c-35c-50c-60c,    7 
days.     Gross:    5,500.     (Average,   $8,000.) 
"TABU"   (Para.) 

DAVIDSON— (1,437),    25c-35c-S0c,    7   days. 
Gross:   $6,000.     (Average,  not  available.) 
"MY  PAST"  (Warners) 

GARDEN— (1,150),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.     (Average,  $10,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"   (Radio) 

PALACE^(2,587),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.     (Average,  $9,800.) 

"THE  GOOD  BAD  GIRL"   (Col.) 

RIVERSIDE  — (2,180),     25c-35c-50c-60c.     7 
days.     Gross:   $13,500.     (Average,  $13,000.) 
"TRADER  HORN"   (M-G-M) 

STRAND— (1,406),  25c-35c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average  $6,500.) 

"BIG  BUSINESS  GIRL"   (F.   N.) 

\V.\RNER— (2,500),  25c-35c-60c-oOc,  7  days. 
Gross:   $12,500.     (Average   not   available.) 
"FIVE  AND  TEN"  (M-G-M) 

Wl.SCONSIN  — (3,275),  25c-.3.5c-50c-C.5c,  7 
days.     Gross:  $14,500.     (Average,  $13,0(X).) 

—"BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" — 

"Long  Legs" 
Walks  Second 
Toronto  Week 


Toronto — One  surprise  package 
featured  the  past  week,  this  being 
"Daddy  Long  Legs"  at  the  Tivoli. 
It  was  held  over  for  a  second  week 
despite  warm  weather  and  horse  races 
after  registering  an  average  of  $12,- 
500. 

Manager  Jules  Bernstein  played  up 
Robert  Montgomery  as  the  latest  male 
star  for  the  engagement  of  "Ship- 
mates" at  Loew's  and  the  gross  was 
$13,000,  as  compared  with  average  of 
$15,000,  the  critics  giving  the  picture 
mild  approval.  There  was  a  very  fair 
week  at  the  Uptown  with  "Men  Call 
It  Love." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  19 : 

"ALWAYS  GOODBYE"  (Fox) 

IMPERIAL—  (3,444),  15c-25c-35c-.50c-6.5c- 
75c,  6  days.  Publix  stage  unit.  Gross: 
$13,000.     (Average,   $16,000.) 

"SHIPMATES"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  — (2,088),     25c -30c -40c -600-750,     6 
days.     Gross:   $13,000.     (Average,  $15,000.) 
"THE  PERFECT  ALIBI"  (Radio) 

SHEA'S— (2,600),  30c -50c -60c -75c,  6  days. 
Five  vaude  acts.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average, 
$13,000.) 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 

TIVOLI—  (1,600).  I5c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c, 
6  days.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Average,  $12,500.) 
Held  over   for  second  week. 

"MEN  CALL  IT  LOVE"  (M-G-M) 

UPTOWN  — (3,000),  15c-25c-35c50c-60c,  6 
days.     Gross:  $11,000.     (Average,  $12,000.) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  June  22,   1931 


^Devil  to  Pay' 
Only  Payoff 
In  Ottawa 


Ottawa— Only  one  featured  scored 
better  than  average  during  a  sultry 
week,  this  being  "The  Devil  to  Pay'' 
at  the  Avalon  for  the  first  half  with 
$1,400,  the  average  being  $1,300.  That 
mixture  of  soft  drinks,  "Mr.  Lemon 
of  Orange,"  at  the  Imperial,  also  ap- 
peared to  have  the  elements  to  slacken 
the  hot-weather  amusement  thirst  and 
registered  $2,900,  or  just  a  century 
under  par.  Empty  seats  were  con- 
spicuous at  the  other  houses  practi- 
cally throughout. 

For  the  first  time  in  weeks,  the 
Centre  dropped  below  average  with 
$4,500  on  "Woman  Hungry,"  while 
the  Regent,  local  key  house  of  the 
Famous  Plavers  circuit,  also  dropped 
below  the  mark  at  $4,800  with  "Day- 
break," the  average  at  the  Regent  be- 
ing $5,400, 

The  people  just  did  not  go  any- 
where except  for  a  ride  in  the  car. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  19 : 

"THE  DEVIL  TO  PAY"  (U.  A.) 
AVALON  —  (990),     15c-25c-35c,     3     days. 
Gross:    $1,400.     (Average,   $1,300.) 
"DANCE,  FOOLS,  DANCE"   (M-G-M) 
AVALON— (990,       15c-25c-35c,       3      days. 
Gross:  $1,100.     (Average.  $1,300.) 

"WOMAN  HUNGRY"  (F.  N.) 
CENTRE— (1,142),     15c-2Sc-35c-50c-60c,     6 
days.     Gross:  $4,500.     (Average.  $4,600.) 
"MR.  LEMON   OF  ORANGE"   CFox) 
IMPERIAL— (1.091),    10c-25c-35c-40c-50c,   6 
days.     Gross:  $2,900.     (Average,  $3,000.) 
"ALWAYS    GOODBYE"    (Fox) 
B.     F.    KEITH'S— (2.592),    10c-25c-35c-50c- 
60c,  3  days.     Gross:  $3.2m.     (Average,  $3,700.) 
"STEPPING  OUT"   (M-G-M) 
B.    F.    KEITH'S— (2,592).    10c-25c-35c-50c- 
60c,  3  days.     Gross:  $3,100.     (Average,  $3,700.) 
"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 
REGENT  —  (1,225).  15c-25c-35c-45c-60c-75c, 
5  days.     Gross:   $4,800.     (Average,  $5,400.) 
—••BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW— 

Sanders'  Allied  Move 
Individual  Gesture 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  Brooklyn  theatre  owner  heard 
Allied  States'  stand  on  the  Allied 
newsreel  and  the  body's  accomplish- 
ments in  the  last  year.  W.  A.  Stefi^es, 
at  the  closing  session  of  the  two-day 
meet  of  the  Jersey  theatre  owners  at 
Atlantic  City,  stated  it  was  not  com- 
pulsory for  members  to  take  the 
Allied  reel. 
— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW"— 

Revival  Nights 

San  Francisco — The  Warner  here 
has  adopted  a  policy  of  adding  a  re- 
turn    picture     every     Monday     night. 


Purely  Personal 


Solved? 

TOMS  RIVER,  N.  J.— I.  A. 
Kirschblond,  who  operates  the 
local  theatre,  says  he  has 
solved  the  protests  of  the 
Women's  Association  in  keep- 
ing off  the  screen  gang  pic- 
tures, said  to  be  unfit  for 
children  to  see.  Hirschblond 
runs  a  trailer  before  each 
picture  of  that  type  to  be 
shown  and  incorporates  in  all 
his  advertising  notices  to  the 
effect  that  the  picture  is  not 
recommended  for  children. 

It  works,  otherwise  he  would 
have  to  close  his  house, 
Hirschblond    states. 


Ai\l.  liOWMJvS,  division  manager 
•  here  of  the  Fox  West  Coast  the- 
tres  in  Northern  California,  commuted 
by  plane,  for  five  days,  every  day 
of  the  past  week,  between  Los  An- 
geles and  San  Francisco,  a  distance 
of  550  miles.  The  arrangejnent  was 
necessary  during  a  series  of  daily 
conferences  held  between  west  coast 
Fox  officials  in  Los  Angeles.  He  was 
accompanied  by  Robert  Bender  of  the 
company's   northwest  division. 

Jack  Sullivan,  film  editor  of  the 
Providence  News-Tribune,  is  taking  a 
three-months'  lay-off  to  visit  pals  in 
Hollywood.  Al  Marcello  has  taken 
over  the  job  of  telling  Little  Rhody 
about  the  cineina. 

Homer  Miles  has  sold  his  new 
play,  "Mary  Makes  a  Call"  to  Para- 
mount. The  story  will  be  prepared 
early  in  the  season  for  screen  adapta- 
tion early  in  the  new  season. 

Trvinc;  Chidnoff,  who  photo- 
graphed the  members  and  then  pre- 
sented the  gallery  to  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Club,  is  in  Europe.  He'll  be  gone 
two  months. 

Mayor  W.  F.  Kunze  and  Chief  of 
Police  Harry  Lindholm  have  been 
ordered  to  pay  costs  of  the  Minne- 
apolis   showing   of    "The    Birth   of    a 

Nation." 

Kenneth  Robinson,  who  directed 
"The  Last  Parade"  for  Paramount 
and  now  is  working  on  shorts,  has 
become  engaged  to  Audrey  K.  Dale, 
Broadway  musical  show  actress. 

Gordon  S.  •  White,  Educational 
publicity  and  advertising  chief,  left 
for  Canada  Saturday  on  his  vaca- 
tion. 

Herb  Cruikshank  and  Mrs.  C. 
(Regina  Crewe  of  the  Nezv  York 
American.,  yovi  know)  are  back  from 
a    ten    day    vacation    in    Bermuda. 

Greta  Garbo  has  been  voted  its 
favorite  film  actress  by  the  senior 
class  of  Boston  College.  She  won 
the  honor  there  last  year  also. 


Harry  I),  (joluberg.  Fox  theatre 
divisional  manager  for  Northern  New 
Jersey,  is  due  back  from  Bernnida 
this   morning. 

Max  Fleischmann  has  been  el- 
evated from  the  first  violin  ■  section 
of  the  Roxy  to  the  post  of  assistant 
conductor. 

Dick  Watts,  picture  critic  of  the 
'^hzti  York  Herald-Tribune,  is  back 
f  om  a  seven  weeks'  European  vaca- 
tion. 

Bennie  Berger,  president  of  the 
Northwest  exhibitor  association,  is  in 
a  local  hospital  undergoing  treatment 
for  ulcers. 

Roy  Disney,  who  is  temporarily  in 
charge  of  the  Walt  Disney  office  in 
New  ^'ork,  is  spending  a  few  days  in 
Washington. 

Stanley  Bergman,  head  of  Uni- 
versal's  short  production,  is  singing 
the  praises  of  Sally  Sweet,  whom  he 
terms  a  new  find. 

Aubrey  Vickers  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  A-Muse-U  Theatre 
in    Kosciusko,    Miss. 

Arthur  C.  Bromberg  has  been 
doing  a  real  job  of  closing  situations 
on  Big  4  westerns  in  the  South. 

Maurice  Chevalier  has  donated 
$1,500  to  the  Actors'  Fund  of  Amer- 


Sam  Sax  and  Mrs.  Sax,  Harry 
Charnas  and  Mrs.  C.  wound  up  a 
Bermuda   vacation   the   other   day. 

Maurice  Baron  and  Mischa  Violin 
this  week  were  given  joint  direction 
of  the  Roxy  music  department. 

Harky  Gold,  assistant  to  Al  Licht- 
man  at  U.  A.,  left  these  shores  for 
Bermuda    Saturday. 

Jack  Harwood,  Cleveland  exhibi- 
tor leader,  is  in  New  York. 


Resorts  Vie  for 
Vacation  Patronage 

Cape  Cod,  Mass. — With  every  little 
hamlet  blossoming  out  with  brand  new 
pictures  and  spick  and  span  equip- 
ment for  the  summer,  there  is  little 
danger  that  the  film  fan  will  lose 
touch  of  things  during  his  vacation. 
No  place  is  so  isolated  on  the  Cape 
that  it  lacks  its  cinema  palace,  no 
matter  how  i)etite,  and  it  is  significant 
that  big  pictures  play  these  demi-tasse 
houses  weeks  before  they  hit  the 
cities,   in   many   instances. 

In  the  majority  of  theatres  the 
sound  e(|uipinent  is  of  the  best  and 
managers  have  spent  real  dough  in  an 
effort  to  make  the  dycd-in-the-vvool 
fans'  stay  in  their  midst  enjoyable. 
—•'BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

M-G-M  Signs  Three 

Hollywood — M-G-M  has  signed 
new  contracts  with  George  Kelly  and 
Charles  MacArthur,  playwrights,  and 
also  with  Jean  Hersholt.  Kelly  and 
MacArthur  are  now  at  work  at  the 
Culver  City  studio,  each  being  busy 
on  an  original  screen  story.  Her- 
sholt's  last  role  was  in  John  Gilbert's 
"Cheri-Bibi." 


"f/"  Gets  New  Outlets 
In  Indianapolis 

Indianapolis — Universal's  product 
will  be  shown  in  the  Fourth  Avenue 
Amusement  Co.  houses,  the  Apollo 
and  Lyric,  next  season.  Formerly  the 
Skouras-Publix  houses,  the  Indiana 
and  Circle,  used  some  of  the  Uni- 
versal pictures. 

This  is  the  only  change  made  so  far 
this  year  here.  Skouras-Publix  houses 
will  continue  to  show  Paramount  and 
First  National  and  Loew's  Palace 
will  continue  with  M-G-M  and  United 
Arti.sts. 

The  Fourth  Avenue  houses  have 
c.xclusi\'e  rights  to  Fox  and  Warner 
products  in  addition  to  the  Universal. 
— "BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW"— 

Open  Projection  Room 

Motorized  Talking  Picture  Service, 
Inc.,  of  729  Seventh  Avenue,  has 
opened  a  new  public  projection  room 
for  both  talking  and  silent  pictures. 
R.C.A.  photophone  equipment  has 
been  installed.  The  room  will  be 
run  under  the  general  supervision  of 
Hymie  Silverman,  who  for  17  years 
conducted  public  projection  rooms  in 
the  same  building. 


$50,000  Take 
Of  ^Long  Legs' 
In  Frisco  Run 


(Continued  from  fai/c   .5) 
third    week,    7    days.      Gross:    $I3,.5(KI,      (No 
average  set  yet.) 

"FIVE  AND  TEN"   (M-G-M) 
WARFIELD— (2,700),   25c-35c-50c,   7   days. 
Rube    Wolf    band;    stage    varieties.     Gross: 
$24,000.     (Average,   $21,000.) 

Week  ending  June  18: 

"LAWYER'S  SECRET"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740),  35c-50c-65c-90c.  7 
days.  Jess  Stafford's  band.  Gross:  $17,000. 
(Average,  $19,000.) 

"THE   MALTESE  FALCON"   (Warners) 
WARNER  BROS.— (1,385).  35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,500.     (Average,  $10,500.) 
— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Only  36  Theatres 
Closed  in  Canada 

(Continued  from  pane  1) 

been  closed,  this  number  being  less 
than  half  of  one  per  cent.  Inciden- 
tally, there  are  also  20  non-theatrical 
installations  in  Canada,  these  beint; 
used  by  film  exchanges  and  censor 
boards    for    screening    purposes. 

There  are  no  statistics  regarding 
conditions  among  the  silent-film  the- 
atres of  Canada  and  these  are  re- 
garded as  largely  out  of  the  picture 
anyway  unless  arrangements  are  be- 
ing made  for  sound  installations  or 
are  being  rebuilt  to  conform  with 
fireproof    regulations. 

The  Manitoba  territory  has  the 
largest  number  of  closed  theatres,  ac- 
cording to  the  wired  list,  the  total 
being  12.  Seven  wired  theatres  of 
Ontario  are  dark ;  six  in  Quebec ;  one 
in  the  Maritime  Provinces ;  eight  in 
Alberta  and  Saskatchewan  and  none 
in  British  Columbia. 
—"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Jersey  Stirred  by 
Clearance  Demands 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

in  New  Jersey  are  not  so  much  wor- 
ried by  the  first-run  demands,  but  by 
the  second  runs,  which  they  call  over- 
lapping when  asking  for  14  days  be- 
fore third  runs  can  follow  second 
runs.  What  action  is  to  be  taken  has 
not  yet  been  determined. 


A^.  /.  Exhihs  Fight 
Demands  of  Union 

(Cont'inifed  from  page  1) 

and     employ    members     of    the    new 
union,  it  is  said. 

Chief  complaint  of  exhibitors  in 
seeking  one  man  in  the  booth  is  that 
practically  all  of  the  houses  in  these 
cities  are  now  operating  with  sound- 
on-film  apparatus  and  that  the  union 
insisted  upon  two  men  only  when 
disc  devices  were  first  used. 
— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Suffers  Breakdown 

Washington  —  Charles  Brennan, 
city  manager  of  the  Warner  theatres 
in  Staunton,  Va.,  has  suffered  a  nerv- 
ous breakdown  and  resigned  his  posi- 
tion to  undergo  medical  treatment. 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Hendee  on  Coast 

Hollywood — Harold  Hendee,  direc- 
tor of  research  for  Radio,  is  here  from 
New  York  for  the  purpose  of  co- 
ordinating his  activities  with  those  of 
the  Coast  department. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerlfi  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  20 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  23,  1931 


TEN    CENTS 


Multicolor 
Expands  in 
Hughes  Plan 

Schedule  Calls  for  Four 
In  Work  Constantly 

Hollywood  —  Howard  Hughes  is 
toing  after  general  laboratory  work 
i  |:or  his  Multicolor  plant.  He  is  com- 
(  oeting  with  Consolidated  in  his  drive 
or  color  business.  Hughes'  schedule 
;alls  for  four  pictures  in  work  con- 
stantly, which  is  the  normal  operating 
;apacity  of  the  Alulticolor  studio. 

Hughes'  idea  is  to  make  all  of  his 
■)wn  pictures  at  the  plant  and  is  un- 
derstood to  be  working  on  a  proposi- 
ion  to  swing  production  from  the 
vietropolitan  and  United  Artists  studio 
()  the  Hughes  plant. 


Cost  Only  $4,000,000; 
Will  Gross  $7,000,000 

Howard  Hughes'  auditors  have 
')een  busy.  Their  adding  machines 
lesterday  reported  that  "Hell's 
Angels"  has  already  grossed  "more 
lian  ;|y4,0OU,UOvj,"  tne  approximate  cost 
it  the  air  opus. 

Coupled  with  their  statement  is  one 
frum  United  Artists  which  predicts 
the  picture  will  gross  more  than 
$/ ,000,000,  modestly  described  as  a 
"new  world's  box-office  record?' 

■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NVW' 

t 'Smart  Money*'  Cops 
^mart  Money  in  N,  Y, 

"Smart  Money"  is  off  to  a  smash 
^tart  at  the  Winter  Garden,  grossing 
f34,000  in  the  first  four  days  of  its 
run.  The  Saturday  gross  was  $9,427 
and  the  Sunday  take,  $9,934,  or  a 
two-day  total  of  $19,462. 

No  other  attraction  playing  the 
theatre  this  year  has  approached  the 
pace  set  by  "Smart  Money."  The 
theatre  has  been  averaging  about 
!f30,000  a  week. 

■'BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

RKO  After  3  W,  B. 
Houses  in  Cleveland 

Cleveland — RKO  is  reported  to  be 
inegotiating  with  Warners  to  take  over 
the  Warner,  Lake  and  Variety.  The 
report    cannot    be    confirmed    locally. 


The  RKO  deal  for  Warner's  three 
Cleveland  houses  is  understood  to  be 
progressing.  Efforts,  however,  to 
reach  Dan  Michalove  of  Warners  or 
Ijoe  Plunkett  of  RKO  for  statements 
were   unsuccessful   yesterday'?"^''*----' 


*'Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now'' 

1  T'S  catching  on,  the  movement  to  "Buy  Right — 
But  Buy  Now." 

First  suggested  l^y  M.  A.  Lightman  as  spokesman  for  the 
Motion  Picture  Theatre  Owners  of  America  and  then  echoed 
by  Fred  Meyer  in  addressing  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Wisconsin,  the 
slogan  has  been  annexed  by  Motion  Picture  Daily  as  a  rallying 
cry  to  remove  the  industry  from  the  doldrums  which  some  of 
its  members  believe  exist  today. 

OTAGNATION  is  the  danger  to  be  faced  when  the 
buyer  and  seller  fail  to  get  together.  The  sales  forces  of  all 
distributing  companies  are  set  to  go.  There  is  no  delay  in 
circuit  deals  on  a  mass  buying  basis  which  are  usual  at  this 
time  every  year.  But,  here  and  there,  the  word  has  gone  out 
to  unaffiliated  exhibitors  to  build  up  sales  resistance,  lay  low 
over  the  summer  and  hold  off  their  purchases  until  the  fall. 
That,  too,  is  customary  in  this  season,  as  in  others  gone  by. 

1  HE  fastest  way  to  shoot  enthusiasm  up  to  the 
level  that  the  entire  industry  must  have  to,  is  to  keep  business 
inoving.  We  argue  nothing  for  the  distributor  and  nothing 
for  the  exhibitor  in  this  instance,  other  than  the  common  sense 
doctrine  of  keeping  business  moving.  Whatever  deals  are 
struck  by  the  buyer  and  seller  are  dependent  upon  individual 
bartering  and  no  one  individual,  divinely  or  otherwise  endowed, 
can  set  up  a  basis  on  which  to  close  them. 

1  N  order  to  sustain  morale  which  reaches  into  the 
studios  to  which  the  exhibitor,  like  or  not,  must  turn  for  the 
product  that  will  make  him  money,  it  is  important  for  sales  to 
move.  There  is  no  good  reason  why  this  cannot  be  done  now 
when  it  is  necessary  if  the  exhibitor  buys  now,  so  long  as  he 

{Continued  on   page  13) 


P.P.  Grooming 
Buddy  Rogers 
As  Tough  Guy 

Hollywood — Buddy  Rogers  has  had 
offers  from  National  Broadcasting  Co.. 
Florenz  Ziegfeld  and  Earl  Carroll,  his 
father  states.  However,  he  declares, 
Paramount  options  run  until  Novem- 
ber 1. 

Paramount  evidently  is  building  up 
Rogers  for  serious  roles  similar  to 
"The  Lawyer's  Secret."    The  next  two 

(Continued  on   page   13) 


Hoover  Stand 
On  War  Debts 
Aids  Stocks 


In  tune  with  a  generally  rising 
stock  market,  amusement  shares,  on 
the  strength  of  President  Hoover's 
war  debt  and  German  reparations 
stand,  rallied  yesterday.  Eastman 
Kodak  led  the  rise  opening  at  142 
and  running  up  to  144,  at  which  level 
profit  taking  pressed  the  stock  down 
to   137.     Later  it  rallied  sensationally 

{Continued  on  page  9) 


Hundreds  Given  Gate  at 
Radio  Hollywood  Studio 


Hollywood  —  RKO-Radio  has  cut 
hundreds  off  its  payroll  in  different 
departments.  Joseph  I.  Schnitzer, 
president  of  Radio,  says  that  the  lirm 
has  been  operating  at  the  peak  with 
sometimes  seven  or  eight  productions 
in  work.     Enough  pictures  have  been 


completed,  it  is  said,  to  comply  with 
releasing  arrangements  until  January. 
"We  are  returning  to  normal,  com- 
mon sense  basis,"  Schnitzer  continues. 
"The  studio  won't  close  and  the  sched- 
ule calls  for  an  average  of  four  in 
work,  which  is  the  normal  capacity." 


Allied  Asked 
Withdrawal  of 
Wisconsin  Unit 


"Entangling  Alliances' 
Irk  National  Heads 


That  Allied  scramble  in  Wisconsin 
was  settled  several  weeks  ago  so  far 
as  the  national  organization  was  con- 
cerned. Motion  Picture  Daily 
learns.  At  the  time,  Abram  F.  Myers 
and  Allied  directors  figured  that  it 
was  incompatible  for  Allied  to  operate 
in  Wisconsin  under  the  current  set- 
up. 

Allied  leaders  some  weeks  ago 
served  notice  on  the  Wisconsin  ex- 
hibitor association  that  it  would  no 
longer  tolerate  Fred  S.  Meyer  as 
president  of  the  organization.  Meyers' 
position,  it  was  stated,  was  untenable 
so  far  as  Allied  was  concerned.  His 
connection    as    an    employee    of    Uni- 

{Continued   on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Ticket  Tax  Is 
Feared  in  Florida 

Tampa — The  sales  tax,  in  which 
was  included  a  levy  of  10  per  cent  on 
theatre  tickets  and  other  amusements, 
introduced  in  the  Florida  Senate  last 
week,  met  with  such  opposition  from 
delegates  of  merchant  associations, 
who  have  been  appearing  before  the 
senate  committee  the  past  week,  that 
it   was  killed  in  committee. 

Then  Senator  Stewart  introduced 
{Continued  on  page  13) 

•■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Clinton  Wunder  Sees 
Musicals  Returning 

San  Francisco — "There  is  cer- 
tainly no  medium  through  which  our 
national  music  can  better  be  offered 
to  the  nations  of  the  world  than 
through  the  audible  motion  picture," 
declared  Clinton  Wunder,  ■  newly- 
elected  executive  manager  of  the 
Academy  of  Motion  Picture  Arts  and 

{Continued  on   page  9) 


Wunder  Is  Named 

San  Francisco — CHnton 
Wunder,  executive  manager 
of  the  Academy  of  Motion 
Picture  Arts  and  Sciences, 
has  been  elected  executive 
vice-president  of  the  organ- 
ization, it  was  announced 
here.  As  the  official  spokes- 
man of  the  organization, 
Wunder  interprets  the  work 
of  the  institution  before 
various    organizations. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    June    23,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.   S.  Patent  OflSce 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  30 


June  23.   1931 


No.  20 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  .A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 

^■^rv  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  Jl  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  \ork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  H''.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  VV.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   \V.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N..V.,   under   Act   of    March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Sheehan  Closes  Many 
Contracts  for  Talent 

Marcel  \  anel,  stage  director  of 
"Melo,"  has  been  signed  by  Fox  to 
direct.  Charles  Williams  has  been 
recruited  from  vaudeville  and  musical 
comedy  to  write.  Richard  Carroll, 
former  fiction  editor  for  Liberty,  has 
been  signed  as  an  executive  editor  of 
the  story  dcEartment.  Manya  Roberti, 
Elda  Vokel,  Greta  Bennett,  Allan 
Dinehart,  James  Dunn,  James  Todd, 
Raoul  Roulien,  Edward  Crandall, 
William  Pawley,  Olin  Howland  and 
Howard  Phillips  have  been  placed 
under  contract.  The  company  has 
purchased  "The  Lone  Wolf's  Son,"  by 
Louis  Joseph  Vance;  dialogue  rights 
to  "The  Brat,"  by  Maude  Fulton,  and 
"Heartbreak,"  by  Llewellyn  Hughes, 
and  Robert  Kallock,  has  been  signed 
to  design   costumes. 

All  of  these  deals  were  closed  by 
W'infield  Sheehan  during  his  stay  in 
New   York. 

-BUY   RIGHT— BLT   BUY   NOIV 

Reilly  on  Cine-Mundial 

Bill  Reilly  returned  yesterday  to 
Cine-Mundial  as  merchandising  man- 
ager. He  was  formerly  advertising 
and  promotion  manager  of  this  Span- 
ish magazine. 

In  addition  to  publishing  Cine- 
Mundial.  the  Chalmers-Ortega  Co., 
handles  American  representation  of 
16  newspapers  and  magazines  in 
Latin  .\menca. 

Reilly's  job  will  be  to  co-ordinate 
merchandising  and  publicizing  of 
.American  products  advertised  in  the 
C"halmers-Ortega    publications. 

■■BUY   RIGHT—BUT   BUY   .VOIf" 

Weiss  Announces  Cast 

Addition  of  James  Rennie,  June 
Collyer,  Dixie  Lee,  Natalie  Moor- 
head,  Lina  Basquette,  Arthur  House- 
man and  Clarence  Wilson  to  the  cast 
of  "Night  Life  in  Reno,"  first  of  the 
12  Artclass  dramas,  was  announced 
yesterday  by  Louis  Weiss.  Ray  Can- 
non will  direct  at  Tec  Art  .studios, 
Hollywood. 

■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   .WOIV 

U.  A.  Holds  Regional 

First  of  the  United  Artists  regional 
conventions  was  held  yesterday  at  the 
home  office  with  Al  Lichtman,  vice 
president  in  charge  of  sales,  presiding. 


-flZ-ARNER-FlRST  NATIONAL  and  the  combined  companies'  per- 
'  '  ionalities  stepped  right  into  the  radio  limelight,  beginning  last 
night.  A  365-da3-  broadcast  under  the  general  monicker  of  "The  Radio 
Newsreel  of  Hollywood"  started  its  first  lap  on  a  15-niinute  program, 
sponsored — and  that  means  paid  for — by  Vacuum  Oil. 


The  entire  smear  goes  to  W.-F.  N.  except  30  seconds  at  the  beginning 
and  so  many  seconds  at  the  close,  when  the  announcer  tells  the  ether 
fans  the  program  comes  to  them  via  makers  of  Mobilgas. 


The  hook-up  is  one  of  most  sweeping  ever  developed  by  any  producing 
organization  in  the  business  and  it  costs  Warners  nary  a  penny.  If 
you're  interested  in  learning  who  gets  the  credit,  Charlie  Einfeld  is 
the  man. 


There  is  an  undercurrent  of  speculation  afoot  in  some  quarters  as  to 
the  effect  of  that  Gaumont-Pathe-Natan  combo  which  places  250  French 
theatres  under  one  operating  wing.  Talk  is  that  American  pictures, 
already  experiencing  tough  sledding  in  La  Belle  France,  will  now  also 
have  to  combat  mass  buying  power,  friendly  or  not,  as  events  demon- 
strate it  to  be. 


Helpful  in  the  last  stages  of  the  bitterest  legislative  fight  this  in- 
dustry has  ever  known  is  a  statement  from  Publix  that  70  per  cent  of 
its  expenditures  are  locally  controlled. 

The  fight  this  year  has  revolved  largely  around  the  tendency  of  law- 
making bodies  to  pass  bills  taxing  chain  theatres  on  the  general  premise 
that  they  are  controlled  by  corporations  foreign  to  the  states  in  which 
they  operate  and  that,  for  the  privilege  of  sending  large  sums  of  money 
into  New  York  or  Chicago  headquarters,  such  theatres,  circuit-con- 
trolled, should  pay  a  tax. 

• 

Wisconsin  has  had  something  of  an  experience  in  exhibitor  organiza- 
tion judging  by  the  reports  from  Milwaukee.  It  just  seems  that  the 
powers  that  be  in  the  state  organization  weren't  acceptable  to  the 
national  organization^  so  when  a  new  unit  asked  for  a  charter,  it  found 
Allied  in  a  receptive  mood.  The  result  is  withdrawal  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O. 
of  Wisconsin  from  the  Allied  ranks  with  the  probability  that  the  new 
Allied  association  in  Wisconsin  will  supplant  it. 

• 

.Switch  of  Bill  Saal,  long  a  stand-by  in  the  Katz  ranks,  from  Publix 
to  TilYany  caused  a  ripple  in  the  trade,  coming  as  it  did  so  closely  on 
tlie  heels  of  Burt  Kelly's  transfer  from  the  theatre  organization  to  the 
Hammons- Young-Cook  camp. 

Linked  with  the  two  transfers  is  the  understanding  that  these  steps 
are  the  first  of  others  to  come  in  a  plan  to  build  the  TiiTany  personnel 
to  proportions  never  before  enjoyed  by  that  company. 

• 

.Some  of  the  boys  are  trying  to  figure  out  to  whom  Abram  F.  Myers 
pointed  when  he  told  the  Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  New  Jersey  at  their 
Atlantic  City  convention  that  leather  manufacturers  and  bankers  are 
pushing  film  men  out  of  the  business. 

• 

A  number  of  local  exhibitors  can't  understand  why  Rudy  Sanders, 
president  of  the  Brooklyn  Theatre  Owners,  asked  to  join  Allied  States 
Ass'n  as  an  individual  and  not  as  a  representative  for  the  unit  across 
the  bridge.    Allied,  by  the  way,  has  not  yet  accepted  his  request. 


Chevalier  Wins 

Mklhotkne,  -Australia  —  Maurice 
Chevalier  was  an  easy  winner  in  a 
contest  conducted  by  the  "Sun  Nezcs 
J^irrorial"  to  discover  the  most  popu- 
lar screen  star.  The  Frenchman 
recorded  33,292  votes,  outdistancing 
Norma  Shearer,  who  filjed  second 
place  with  17,251.  Ruth  Chatterton 
and  Clive  Brook  were  other  players 
who  came  to  the  fore,  being  placed 
fifth  and  seventh,   respectively. 


THE   LARGEST 

STOCK    SHOT   LIBRARY 

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Over     n. 000.000     feel     of     indexed     nega- 

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MORRIS      J.      KANDEL.      Pres. 

729    7th    Ave.  New    York    City 

BRYANT      9-4417-8 

Cable:    KANDELFILM 


Allied  Asked 
Withdrawal  of 
Wisconsin  Unit 


(.Continued   from    page    1) 

versal  was  felt  to  be  inconsistent  with 
.^llied's  arrangement. 

In  addition,  the  position  of  Charles 
W.  Trampe,  a  director  of  the  Wis- 
consin unit,  as  president  of  the  Mil- 
waukee Film  Board  also  was  a  sore 
spot.  Trampe  took  the  lead  in  block- 
ing establishment  of  protection  sched- 
ules at  last  week's  convention. 

.\nother   factor   in   the   situation    is : 
Steve    Bauer,   who   after   the   conven-j 
tion  laid  blame  for  the  rift  to  W.  A.f 
Steffes,    Minneapolis,   stating  the   lat- 
ter   fostered    a    new    organization    in  i 
Wisconsin.     Bauer  is  a  bone  of  con- 
tention   with    Allied    because    of    hisj 
position   as    business   manager   of   the 
unit   and  his   trucking   service   activi- 
ties.     This    connection,    it    is    felt    by 
Allied     leaders,     undermines     Bauer's  i 
position  with  the  Allied  unit. 

'■BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY   NOW 

Meet  on  Drive 

With  Eugene  Zukor  presiding,  the] 
committee  handling  the  membership^ 
drive  of  the  S.  Rankin  Drew  Post  oi 
the  American  Legion  meets  today  al 
the  Motion  Picture  Club  to  fur- 
ther the  plan.  The  objective  is  tc 
enroll  all  picture  men  in  the  Drew 
Post   ranks. 

■BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW 

On  Page  Nine 

.\11    financial    markets    of    various 
film  stocks   will  be  found  on  page  9. 


V 

1 

I 


SIX 
MIX 
PIX 


--and  "TONY"  too 


Ride  with  UNIVERSAL  dnd 
you  ride  with  d  winner 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

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Photophone  Equipment 

c-t    nt'     per  reel  until  (  P.  M. 
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Under   the   personal   supervision   of 
Hymie    Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 

PICTURE   SERVICE,   Inc. 

729   7th    Ave.  BRyant   9-5721 


LET'S  GO,  SHOW  BUSINESS! 


PARAMOUNT 

OFFERS  UNBROKEN  LINE 
OF  GIANT  PRODUCTIONS 


FROM  NOW 
THRU  1932! 


Read  the  glad  news 
on  the  next  pages ^^ 


s/^o/^ 


'THE  LAWYER'S  SECRET' 

t    KM       Clive  Brook,  Richard  Arlen,  Charles  Rogers,  Fay  Wray, 
Jean  Arthur. 

'THE  VICE  SQUAD" 

Paul  Lukas,  Kay  Francis,  Judith  Wood  in  193 1's  most 
timely  hit. 

"EORRIDDEX  ADVENTURE" 

Mitzi  Green,  Edna  May  (^^Cimarron")  Oliver,  Jackie  Searl. 
Sinclair  Lewis'  latest  story. 

"THE  GIRL  HARIT" 

CHARLIE  RUGGLES  starred  by  demand  in  the  year's 
funniest  picture! 

"WOMEN  LOVE  ONCE" 

Paul  Lukas,  Eleanor  Boardman,  Judith  Wood,  Geoffrey 
Kerr. 

T  TAKE  THIS  WOMAN ' 

'«  fSi       Gary  Cooper,  Carole  Lombard  in  Mary  Roberts  Rinehart 
v^^r'm       love-drama. 

"CONFESSIONS  OF  A  CO-ED" 

From  a  college  girl's  love-diary.    Phillips  Holmes,  Sylvia 
Sidney,  Norman  Foster. 

"THE  NIGHT  ANGEL" 

NANCY  CARROLL  and  FREDRIC  MARCH.  Long  run  hit 
at  Rivoli,  New  York. 

"THE  SECRET  CALL ' 

Richard  Arlen,  Peggy  Shannon,  Eugene  Pallette  in  start- 
ling love-mystery. 


THE   MAGNIFICENT  LIE 

RUTH  CHATTERTON  in  the  strongest  picture  she  has 
vet  made. 

HONEYMOON  LANE' 

EDDIE  DOWLING,  June  Collyer,  Noah  Beery,  Raymond 
Hatton  in  stage  hit. 


With  CLAUDETTE  COLBERT, 
CHARLIE  RUGGLES  and 
MIRIAM  HOPKINS.  Music  by 
OSCAR  STRAUS. 


TICKET  AGENCIES  SWAMPED 
WITH  DEMAND  FOR  "SMIL- 
ING LIEUTENANT"  SEATS! 
Paramount^ s  gay  triumph  tops 
all  legit  shows  in  popularity  at 
every   ticket   counter  in    town! 


CHEVALIER  -  LrBITSCH 
"SMILING  LIEUTENANT" 


$2    S.  R.  O.    B'WAV    HIT! 


THE  BUY 
WORD 

FOR  1931-2! 


The  Fastest  Selling 
New  Product 
Ever  Announced! 


HAROLD  LLOYD  PROD. 

SMILING  LIEUTENANT 

MONKEY  BUSINESS 

AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY 

A  FAREWELL  TO  ARMS 

24  HOURS 

NO  ONE  MAN 

THE  ROAD  TO  RENO 

DR.  JEKYLL  &  MR.  HYDE 

HUCKLEBERRY  FINN 

TOM  SAWYER,  DETECTIVE 

STEPDAUGHTERS  OF  WAR 

PERSONAL  MAID 

TOMORROW&TOMORROW 

MANHANDLED 

MY  SIN 

RICH  MAN'S  FOLLY 

THIS  IS  NEW  YORK 

THE  MAN  WITH  RED  HAIR 


MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK 

SECRETS  OF  A  SECRETARY 

WHERE  IS  MY  WIFE? 

TOUCHDOWN! 

SOOKY 

DAUGHTER  OF  THE  DRAGON 

THE  ROUND  UP 

GIRLS  ABOUT  TOWN 

EVENINGS  FOR  SALE 

THE  BROKEN  WING 

SHOP  GIRL 

SILENCE 

BREAK  UP 

TABU 

LADY  OF  THE  LIONS 

THE  STRANGE  GUEST 

TWO  KINDS  OF  WOMEN 

HALFWAY  TO  MARRIAGE 

MARINES 


UNCERTAIN  WOMEN 
SAL  OF  SINGAPORE 
HELP  WANTED 
CAUGHT! 

Short  Features 

104  SOUND  NEWS 
100  ONE  REELERS 

52  Productions 

18  Screen  Songs 

18  Talkartoons 

12  Pictorials 

32  TWO  REELERS 
4  Dane-Arthur 
4  Charlie  Ruggles 
4  Ford  Sterling 
4  Smith -Dale 
4  Al.  St.  John 
4  Billy  House 
4  Lulu  McConnell 
4  Another  Big  Star 


LET'S  GO9  SHOW  BrSIXESS,  WITH 

PARAMOUNT 


Tuesday,    June    23,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Union  Shares 
Drop  Because 
Of  Combine? 


Sydney  —  Rumors  about  Union 
Theatres  became  so  strong  here  that, 
in  one  day,  they  resulted  in  a  45  per 
cent  drop  in  value  of  Union  shares 
on  the  Stock  Exchange.  Gossip 
surrounding  U.  T.  has  been  in  progress 
here  for  months  and  boiled  over  on 
the  day  that  'change  prices  tumbled, 
scare-mongers  going  further  by 
spreading  a  report  that  the  Fox- 
Hoyts  group  had  submitted  a  definite 
proposition  to  Union  which  would 
virtually  mean  a  combination  of  the 
two   circuits. 

The  report  is  definitely  refuted  by 
Charles   Munro,  head  of   Hoyts. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOIV 

Sweating  Cops  Spoil 
Cool  Promotion  Idea 

Phila0ELI>hi.\ — Thirty  thousand 
pounds  of  ice  and  an  exploitation 
man's  idea  were  tumbled  into  the 
Philadelphia  sewers  only  recently  by 
perspiring  policemen,  while  the  sewer- 
rats  rejoiced  that  their  playground 
had  become  "20  degrees  cooler  than 
the  outside." 

Early  in  the  morning  the  Stanley- 
Warner  company  distributed  100  cakes 
of  ice,  each  weighing  about  300 
pounds,  on  strategic  corners  of  the 
downtown  section.  Frozen  in  the  mid- 
dle of  each  block  was  a  colored  plac- 
lard  exhorting  the  citizenry  to  "keep 
cool  with  Ed  Lowry  at  the  Mast- 
baum,''  with  a  plug  for  "Just  a  Gig- 
jolo"  on  the  other  side.  As  the  ice 
[began  to  trickle  away  under  the  heat 
iof  a  day  which  registered  96  degrees, 
complaints  were  received  at  the  police 
ibureau  from  pedestrians  and  shop- 
keepers. The  order  went  out  from 
iheadquarters  to  tumble  the  blocks 
into  the  sewer,  which  was  done 
"pronto." 

■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOPI-- 

Clinton  Wander  Sees 
Musicals  Returning 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

Sciences,  in  an  address  delivered  at 
the  annual  banquet  of  the  national 
convention  of  Federation  of  Music 
Clubs  in   San  Francisco. 

Highlights  of  Wunder's  address 
were: 

"The  necessity  of  enlivening  the 
silent  motion  picture  with  appropriate 
music  has  given  to  the  people  of  the 
world  more  music  than  they  ever  be- 
fore knew. 

"The  talking  picture  will  complete 
the  work  of  making  America  a  truly 
musical  nation. 

"Gradually  the  musical  is  return- 
ing. There  are  many  short  subjects 
today  featuring  music  as  a  balance 
to  the  dramatic  or  the  feature  pic- 
ture. 

"If   there  is  a  nation  wide  demand 

for   any   given   picture,    the   film    will 

be   shown   in   perhaps    14,000  theatres 

t. — whereas      without      such      demand, 

f  orders  for  the  picture  may  come  from 

linot  more  than   1,400  theatres. 

J      "Probably     the     screen's      greatest 

(i  contribution  to  music   to  date  is  that 

:j  it   has   made   the   world   conscious    of 

good  music." 


Arliss  to  the  Defense 

"It  is  useless  to  argue  that  the  brains  are  in  Wall  Street,"  said 
George  Arliss,  speaking  last  night  via  electrical  transcription 
over  the  radio  hook-up  that  introduced  "The  Radio  Newsreel  of 
Hollywood"  in  which  Warner-First  National  personalities  are  to 
appear   exclusively   through   a   sponsored   Vacuum   Oil   program. 

In  his  talk,  which  was  a  defense  of  Hollywood,  he  said  in  part: 

"It  is  the  box-office  results  that  influence  Wall  Street,  and  for 
these  results  the  pictures  alone  are  responsible  and  these  pic- 
tures are  made,  and  for  the  most  part  selected,  in  Hollywood. 
My  contention  is  that  if  the  business  were  in  the  hands  of 
ignoramuses,  moving  pictures  would  have  ceased  to  exist  long  ago. 

"Of  course,  there  are  black  sheep;  of  course,  there  are  scandals; 
but  remember  there  are  30,000  actors  and  actresses  in  Hollywood 
and  every  one  of  them  is  potential  copy  for  the  newspapers.  To 
keep  out  of  print,  you  not  only  have  to  be  respectable  but  lucky. 

""Ten  plays  have  to  be  turned  out  every  week  to  meet  the  public 
demand.  What  percentage  of  masterpieces  have  we  any  right  to 
expect  out  of  this  number?  Of  course,  there  are  bad  ones.  The 
marvel  is  that  the  level  is  not  lower  than  it  is.  But  the  managers 
don't  go  to  work  to  pick  out  the  worst  they  can  find." 


Australian  Survey 
Finds  U,  A,  in  Lead 

Sydney — Basing  an  estimation  on 
reviews  turned  in  by  reporters  in 
over  a  period  of  five  months,  Every- 
ones.  trade  paper,  considers  United 
Artists  product  as  the  leader  from 
the  box-office  standpoint.  Columbia, 
M-G-M,  Paramount,  Warners,  Fox 
and  RKO   follow  in  that  order. 

Out  of  138  features  reviewed,  only 
six  were  given  the  top  rating  of 
"big." 

■•BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOIV 

Bargain  Matinees 

T.AM  PA — Early  in  the  year  the 
Tampa  reduced  its  scale  from  50  cents 
for  matinees  and  60  cents  at  nights 
to  35  and  50  cents.  This  week  Man- 
ager J.  L.  Cartwright  is  trying  out 
a  "bargain  matinee"  that  cuts  the 
price  to  25  cents  for  the  opening  hour, 
1  p.  M.  to  2  p.  M. 

-BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOIV 

Rose,  Aldinger  Switch 

Omaha — C.  P.  Rose,  manager  of 
the  Columbus  at  Columbus,  Neb.,  and 
Harold  Aldinger,  city  manager  for 
Paramount  Publix  at  Norfolk,  Neb., 
have  exchanged  positions  on  orders 
from  Evert  R.  Cummings,  divisional 
manager  for  the  circuit. 


Admit  Kids  Free  in 
Chicago  Child  Week 

Chicago — Sixteen  theatres  of  the 
Essaness  circuit  here  will  be  thrown 
open  to  children  during  Chicago's 
current  observance  of  Child  Week. 
No  admissions  will  be  charged  chil- 
dren up  to  6  p.  M.  for  the  regular 
theatre  programs  throughout  the 
week. 

The  circuit  is  also  offering  prizes 
for  the  best  Mardi  Gras  costume  worn 
to  its  theatres  by  a  child  during  the 
week. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOIV 

Want  Sunday  Shows 

Cleveland — Of  9,014  cards  signed 
by  registered  voters  of  Cleveland 
Heights  in  a  survey  of  the  Sunday 
movie  issue,  66  per  cent  favored 
Sunday  movies.  The  remainder  was 
divided  between  those  who  were  op- 
posed and  those  who  favored  putting 
the  question  to  a  vote  of  the  people. 

'■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tiffany  Signs  Alice 

Hollywood — Alice  White,  who  has 
been  'free-lancing  since  severing  rela- 
tions with  First  National,  has  been 
signed  bv   Phil  Goldstone  of  Tiff^any. 


Stock  List  Continues  Upward;  E,  K.  Up  7% 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 6  6  6 

Consolidated   Film   Industries,    pfd UH  Uyi  13.M 

Eastman    Kodak 144  137  142 

Fox    Film    "A" 2134  19?^  2Q7/g 

General    Theatre    Equipment,    new 554  ^'A  5 

Ixiew's,    Inc 44  41J^  4254 

Loew's.    Inc..    pfd 86  SSVi  86 

M-G-M.     pfd 24;-^  24Vf  24^ 

Paramount    Publix .' 255^  24  25 

Pathe    Exchange I'A  IJi  IJ^ 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 5  4  5 

RKO    W4  1354  1454 

Warner     Bros 8-M  S'A  Syi, 


Net 
Change 

+  % 

+r'A 
+7H 
+  Va 
+  'A 
■+  Vs 
-f-1 
-I-  Vs 
+  ~A 
+  '4 
-hi 
-1-1 
-I-  54 


Film  Curb  Shows  Fractional  Gains 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 354  >'  3'/i  +  'A 

General    Theatre    Equipment,    pfd ll'/ii  WA  105^  +  ?« 

National    Screen    Service 20?^  254  20^  +  Vs 

Sentry    Safety    Control lA  Wi  VA  +  A 

Technicolor     6-54  5f^  6-54  -|-  H 

Trans    Lux 6Vi  5^4  65i  -|-  'A 

Bond  Issues  Active;  P.  P,  Jumps  1% 


General    Theatre    Equipment    6s. 

Loew's   6s.   '41,   ex   war 

Paramount    Broadway   554s,    '51. 

Paramount    F.    L.   6s,    '47 

Paramount    Publix   554s.   '50 

Pathe   7s.    '37   ww. 
Warner  Br 


'40. 


High     Low 


41  .^S 

,  97  97 

lOO'/l  10054 

.  90%  90'A 

8154  8054 

875^  8654 

6s,  '39,  wd 45M  fiVg 


Close 

.^851' 
97 

10054 
9OV4 
8154 
8754 
44M 


Net 
Change 


54 


-1-1-^ 
-1-154 

+  Vi 


Sales 

700 

800 

13.600 

.38,500 

10,200 

19,400 

200 

100 

35,800 

600 

1,000 

37.400 

26,800 


Sales 

2,500 
5.600 
400 
200 
1.600 
1,300 


Sales 

IS 
4 
4 
11 
24 
12 
46 


Hoover  Stand 
On  War  Debts 
Aids  Stocks 


(Continued    front    page    1  ) 

on  a  wave  of  buying  and  closed  7^ 
points  higher  at   142. 

The  most  impressive  feature  of  the 
day  in  picture  stocks  was  a  rally  from 
the  lows  of  an  early  setback.  Open- 
ing higher,  him  shares  encountered 
profit  taking  but  later  dropped  back 
to  close  above   Saturday's   final   level. 

Strength  in  the  Paramount  and 
RKO  Pathe  issues  featured  trading  in 
bonds.  General  Theatres  and  War- 
ner Bros,  convertible  6s  showed  very 
little  change. 

What  happened  yesterday  with 
some  of  the  principal  issues  on  the 
"big  board"  follows : 


Stock 


Monday's  Saturday's 
Close  Close 


13454 
205-s 
4% 

41% 

245/5 
154 

4 

1354 
854 


Consolidated     13.>4 

E.     K 142 

Fox    "A'- 20Vs 

G.    T.    E.,   new 5 

Loew's      42^ 

P.    P 25 

Pathe     154 

Pathe   "A" 5 

RKO 14M 

Warners   854 


"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Zukor  Spikes  Reports 
Of  Joinville  Closing 

Denying  reports  that  the  Joinville 
studios  will  close,  Adolph  Zukor, 
president  of  Paramount,  yesterday 
sent  a  cable  to  David  Souhami,  man- 
aging director  of  the  company's  French 
activities  to  that  efifect. 

Production  at  Paramount's  Join- 
vijle  studios  will  be  limited  to  40  pic- 
tures this  year  as  against  approxi- 
mately twice  that  number  last  year,  it 
is  understood. 


Eastward  Bound 

A  number  of  Paramounteers  are  on 
their  way  east,  including  Al  Shean, 
who  has  been  working  as  a  comedy 
constructionist  on  "Monkey  Business"  ; 
Phillips  Holmes,  Sidney  Buchman, 
scenarist,  and  Henrietta  Cohn,  Holly- 
wood's only  woman  unit  business  man- 
ager. 


SIX 
MIX 
PIX 


and  "TONY"  too 


Ride  with  UNIVERSAL  and 
you  ride  with  d  winner 


■  .iiwi  iiJi-iiiiMnwt- 


BAB$ON  POINTI 


WORLP^S  GREATEST  BUSINESS 
FORECASTER  PARADES  OPTiMISM 
UP  AND    DOWN    THE    NATION. 


HE  CALLED  THE  TURN  ON 
DEPRESSION  ...  NOW  HE  CALLS 
THE  TURN   ON    PROSPERITY 


// 


I  am  willing  to  stake  my  repu- 
tation, based  on  thirty  years'  ex- 
perience, that  business  has  now 
seen  the  worst;  and  that  within  a 
reasonable  time  this  country  again 
will  enter  a  period  of  marked 
prosperity.  Tell  your  merchants 
that  now  is  the  time  to  advertise.^' 

From  Mr.  Babson's  inspiriting  statement  read  at  the  Adver- 
tising Federation  of  America  Convention. 

ROGER  BABSON,  YOU  ARE  RIGHT! 
THE  TITANS  OF  RKO- RADIO  ARE 
FIGHTING  LIKE   BLAZES  TO  SPEED 


I 


Reg.  U.  5.W  Pot.  Off. 


THE  RETURN  OF  PROSPERITY' 


•     •     • 


36  GREAT  ATTRACTIONS. ..MOST  PRACTIC/k 
GOLDEN   ERA  ADVERTISING  CAMPAIGNS  WIT 


HE  WAY 


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Piii^^T  U  N  E     IN! 

>5'*r3^5vilA''!?'"':''rwtJI  ''D    1/^   <\    TurATnc    r\c    tub     aid" 


i«« 


''R  K  O  THEATRE  OF  THE  AIR" 
N.  B.  C.  Coast  to  Coast  Network 
EVERY  FRIDAY  NIGHT,  10:30  P.M. 
NEW       YORK        TIME 


Y    OF    THE    NEW    SEASON!     BACKED    BY 


OSPERITY  WRITTEN  ALL  OVER  THEMrTTT. 


12 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    June    23,     1931 


"Bad  Sister's" 
$17,000  Tops 
Casey  Grosses 


Kansas  Citv — "Bad  Sister"  took 
the  palm  here  last  week  with  a  gross 
of  $17,000,  which  topped  the  Main- 
street  average  by  $2,000.  "Women  of 
All  Nations"  also  was  strong  at  the 
Midland,  grabbing  off  $16,000  in  a 
house   which   averages  $14,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June   19 : 

"BAD    SISTER"    (Univ.) 
MAIXSTREET— (3,067).    35c-60c,    7    days. 
Vaude.     GrosE:   $17,000.     (Average.   $15,000.) 
"WOMEN    OF   ALL   NATIONS"    (Fox) 
MIDL.A.\D-(4.000),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $16,000.      (Average.    $14,500.) 
"VICE    SQUAD"    (Para.) 
NEWMAN— (2.0001,       2Sc-60c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $13.7.50.      (Average.    $12,500.) 

"UP    POPS   THE   DEVIL"    (Para.) 
ROV.-\I^-(900).    25c-60c.    7    days.      Gross: 
f4,500.      (Average,    $4,500.) 

"GOING   WILD"    (Warners) 
UPTOWN— (2.200),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,600.      (Average.   $6,000.) 


44 


■BUY   RIOHT—BUT    BUY   NOW" 

Born  to  Love" 
Top  Grosser 
In  Charlotte 


Charlotte — Considering  the  weath- 
er and  the  exodus  to  summer  resorts, 
business  wasn't  so  bad  last  week. 
"Born  to  Love"  proved  the  leader, 
topping  the  Carolina's  normal  by  $500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  20 : 

"OLD    ENGLISH"    (Warners) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35c-50c,  3  days 
Gross:    $3,500.    (Average,   $3,750). 

"GOLD    DUST    GERTIE"    (Warners) 
BRO.ADWAY— (1,167)    25c-35c-50,    3    days. 
Gross:    $3,000.     (Average.    $3,750.) 
"VICE  SQUAD"   (Para.) 
CAROLINA  — (1,441)      40c-50c.      3 
Gross:    $5,000.    (Average,   $5,500.) 

"BORN    TO    LOVE"    (Pathe) 
CAROLI.NA  — (1.441)      40c-50c.      3 
Gross:    $6,000.    (Average.  $5,500.) 


days. 


days. 


'srY  Rujnr—HUT  buy  now 

Joan  Crawford 
Takes  Cake  Of 
Houston  Week 

Houston — Joan  Crawford  in  "Young 
Sinners  '  was  the  big  card  here  last 
week,  getting  $8,500  at  Loew's  State 
in  the  first  week  of  an  all-picture 
show  policy.  "Always  Goodbye" 
pulled  at  the  Kirby  after  three  days 
of  "Blue  Angel,"  the  former  being 
substituted.    All  business  was  off. 

Estimated    takings     for     the    week 
ending  June  18 : 

"ALWAYS    GOODBYE"    (Fox) 

KIRBY— n.654),       25c-35c-50c,       3       days. 
Gross:    $700.    (Average,    full    week,    ^7,000.) 
"BLUE     ANGEL"     (Para.) 
KIRBY— (1,654),       25c-35c-50c,       4       days. 
Gross:    $2,8<X).     (Average,   full   week,   $7,000.) 
"YOUNG    SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
I,OEW'.S    STATE— (2,700),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
ilays.     Gross.!  $9,500.     (Average,  $9,00Q.) 
"LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 
METROPOLITAN— (2,312),    25c-40c-60c.    7 
days.      Publix    stage    show.     Gross:    $10,000. 
(Average,    $11. WW.) 

RKO  .MAJE.STIC -(2,250),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
flays.      Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,    $9,000.) 


Loop  Hit  for 
Loop  by  Heat 
In  Windy  City 


Chicago — Severe  heat  played  havoc 
with  Loop  business,  slipping  grosses 
25  per  cent  below  average  nearly 
everywhere  except  the  Chicago  Thea- 
tre. Good  reviews  and  stage  attrac- 
tions meant  nothing  with  pictures  hav- 
ing the  best  notices  slipping  equally 
with  poorest.  Continued  heat  over  the 
week-end  held  down  new  picture  open- 
ings also. 

The  gross  of  $45,100  achieved  by 
"Five  and  Ten"  at  the  Chicago  sent 
the  Davies  picture  to  the  Roosevelt 
for  a  second  week's  run. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June   17: 

"CITY   LIGHTS"    (U.   A.) 
ORPHEUM  —  (665),      2Sc-35c-50c-7Sc,      7 
days,  2nd  Loop  run.     Gross:  $4,035.     (Aver- 
age,   $3,200.) 

Week  ending  June  19: 

"TRADER  HORN"   (M-G-M) 

CASTLE— (299).    40c-60c,     1st     week.     2nd 

Loop  run.     Gross:  $4,200.     (Average,  $3,500.) 

"FIVE    AND   TEJV"    (M-G-M) 

CHICAGO (4.000),    35c-50c-75c-85c,    7    days. 

Stage   show   with   Havana   Casino  orchestra. 

Gross:     $45,100.      (Average,   $46,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
McVICKERS— (2.284),   35c-50c-75c-85c,   2nd 
week.      Gross:    $17,400.       (Average,    $28,500.) 
"THE   VICE   SQUAD"    (Para.) 
ORIENTAL— (3,940),       35c-50c-75c-85c,       7 
days.      Stage    show    with    Bennv    Davis,    or- 
chestra.    Gross:  $22,750.     (Average,  $36,500.) 
"ANNABELLE'S    AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 
ROO  S  E  V  E  LT— (1.591).      35c-50c-75c- 
8Sc,    first   week.     Gross:    $10,600.     (Average, 
$23,200). 

"WHITE    SHOULDEJtS"    (Radio) 
STATE-LAKE  —  (2,776),      35c-50c-75c-85c, 
1st    week.      Gross:    $16,250.      (Average,    $30,- 
200.) 

"WOMEN    OF    ALL    NATIONS"    (Fox) 

UTTTED    ARTISTS-(1.700).    35c-50c-75c- 
85c.     third    week,     final    five    days.      Gross: 
$8,600.     (Average,   $'24,b00  for  week.) 
"NIGHT     ANGEL"     (Para.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1.700),  35c-50c-75c- 
85c,   first  3  days.     Gross:   $9,200. 

Week  ending  June  20: 

"UP    FOR    MURDER"    (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,509),  35c-S0c-75c-85c,  7  days. 
Vaude,  orchestra.  Gross:  $20,850.  (Aver- 
age,  $24,000.) 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Band  Helps 
The  Indiana  to 
Normal  Take 

Inuianapolls — Hot  weather  is  be- 
ginning to  hurt  theatre  grosses  in 
this  city.  Only  one  house,  the  In- 
diana, reached  its  average  figure  with 
"Virtuous  Husband,"  but  Horacv* 
Heidt's  orchestra  was  given  the  chief 
credit  for  the  intake. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June   19: 

"DADDY    LONG   LEGS"    (Fox) 

APOLLO— (1.100).    25c-50c.     second     week, 
7    days.    Gross:    $5,000.    (Average,    $5,500.) 
"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 

CIRCLE-~(2,600).  2.5c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$6, 5m.     (Average.    $8,500.) 

"VIRTUOUS   HUSBAND"    (Universal) 

INDIANA— (3.300).  25c-65c,  7  days. 
Horace  Heidt  orchestra  Publix  unit.  Qfoss: 
$2fl.000.     (Average,    $20,000.) 

"STEPPING    OUT"    (M-G-M) 

LYRIC— (2,(X)0).    25c-50c     7    days.    Vaude- 
vi  le.    Gross:    $8,000.    (Average,    $10,000.) 
"NEVER.  THE^jjyVM^  SHAl*,  MJEET.V 
(M-G-M) 

PAr,ACE-(2,8O0).  25c-50c.  7  days.  Gross: 
V'.or/i.     (Average,    $12,000.) 


Triple  Bill 

Chicago  —  The  Warner  Or- 
pheum,  Loop  house,  is  featur- 
ing a  triple  unit  program  this 
week.  The  Orpheum's  bill 
headlines  "Monsters  of  the 
Deep"  (Talking  Picture  Epics), 
Columbia's  "Subway  Express," 
in  here  on  a  second  Loop  run, 
and  an  African  adventure  pic- 
ture. 

The  Fox  Monroe  is  the  only 
other  Loop  theatre  on  a  multi- 
feature  policy. 


Reeperbahn'' 
Is  Held  Over 
In  Cleveland 


(Para.) 
days.    Gross: 


Clexxland — Lupe  Velez  boosted 
the  gross  of  the  RKO  Palace  to 
$22,000,  appearing  with  "Up  for 
Murder."  "  At  that,  the  figure  was 
below  normal,  but  that  condition  was 
general,  Old  Man  Mercury  being  re- 
sponsible for  the  drop  in  business. 
"The  Girl  from  the  Reeperbahn," 
took    in    $10,500    at    the    Alhambra. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June    17: 

"MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

LAKE— (800),  40c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,003.    (Average,    $5,000.) 

Week  ending  June  18: 

"THE    VICE    SQUAD" 

STATE— (3,4<30),    30c-60c,    7 
$14,000.       (Average,    $20,000.) 

Week  ending  June  19: 

"GIRL      FROM      THE      REEPERBAHN" 
(German) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,400),     25c-S0c,     7     ddys. 
Gross:    $10,500.     (No    average    available.) 
"JUST    A    GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 

ALLEN— (3,300),  30c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$13,000.     (Average,    $18,000.) 

"GOLD     DUST     GERTIE"     (Warners) 

HIPPODROME— (4,100),  25c-75c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,    $15,000.) 

"UP    FOR    MURDER"     (Univ.) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,100),  25c-75c,  7  days. 
Lupe  Velez  in  person.  Gross:  $22,000. 
(Average,    $23,000.) 

"WOMEN   OF  ALL  NATIONS"  (Fox) 

STILLMAN— (1,900).  40c-7Sc.  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,000.    (Average,    $15,000.) 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY    NOV/" 

"Legs''  Leader 
In  Off  Week 
In  Okla.  City 

Oklahoma  City — Business  was 
still  off  here  last  week,  "Daddy  Long 
Legs"  at  the  Mid-West  leading  the 
iield,  although  its  gross,  $7,200,  was 
$300  under  normal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending   June    19: 

"DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 
CAP1TOI^-(1.200),      M)c-25c-.SOc,     7     days. 
Gross:    $5,400.     (Average,    $7.0(«.) 
"THE    LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 
CRITERION— (1,800).    10c-35c-50c,   7   days. 
Gross:    $6,!)00.    (Average.    $8,000.) 
"BIG    FIGHT"    (Tiff.) 
LIBERTY— (1,500),     10c-15c-35c,     y    days. 
Gross:    $500.     (Average    for    week,    $3,000.) 
"DRUMS    OF    JEOPARDY"    (Tiff.) 
LIBERTY— ("1,. 500).      10c-15c-35c,     4     days. 
Gross:    $400.     (Average    for    week,    $.^.000.) 
"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
MID- WEST— (1,. 500).       10c-25c-.^5c-50c,      7 
(lays; .  Gross:  ,$7i2i)0.  rlAveraffe.   $7',i)0a;)  ■"- 
"ALWAYS    GOODBYE"     (Fox) 
\\',\R.\KR     (1,7(1(1),     l()c-.55c-50c,     7     days. 


"Legs"  Boosts 
Gross  $5,000 
In  Des  Moines 


Des  Moines — It  didn't  seem  to  be 
summer  time  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Des  Moines  Theatre,  for  the  fans 
flocked  to  it  to  see  "Daddy  Long 
Legs"  in  such  numbers  that  $12,000 
went  into  the  safe  for  the  week.  In- 
asmuch as  the  house's  average  is 
$7,000,  the  $5,000  increase  proved 
sweet  music.  All  in  all,  it  was  not  a 
bad  week,  "The  Lawyer's  Secret"  and 
"Annabelle's  Affairs"  beating  normal 
also. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  20 : 

"DADDY    LONG    LECS"    (Fox) 

DES      MOINES  — (1,600)      25c-35c-60c,      7 
days.     Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,  $7,000.) 
"VIC^     SQUAD"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (1.700)  25c-35c-60c,  3  days. 
RKO  vaude.  Gross:  */.{.)oa.   (Average.  $7.(.KX), ) 
"LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 
PAR.\MOUNT— (1.700)   25c-35c-60c,  4  days. 
RKO  Vaude.  Gross:  $5,500.   (Average.  $5.000J 
"ANNABELLE'S    AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 
STRAND— (1,100),   20c-30c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$2,300.    (Average,    $1,700.) 

"UP  FOR  MURDER"  (Univ.) 
STRAND— (1,100)    20c-30c,   3   days.    Gross: 
$700.    (Average,    $700.) 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

*^Legs'  Leading 
Race  in  2nd 
Balto.  Wee] 

Baltimore  —  "Daddy    Long    Legs"^ 
held  up  wonderfully  during  its  second] 
week    at    the    New,    with    a    gross    ofj 
$10,000    claimed    by   the    management. 
Thi*;   is  $2,000  above   average. 

"Five  and  Ten,"  with  Marion 
Davies  and  Leslie  Howard,  pulled 
fairly  at  Loew's  Stanley,  aided  l)y 
a  heavy  campaign  of  publicity  and 
national  Hearst  paper  advertising. 
The  gross  was  figured  at  about  $18,500, 
which  is  above  the  average  of  $17,500 
for  this  house. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June   18 : 

"GUN  SMOKE"   (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (2.500)  25c-50.  6  days  plus  a 
Sunday  midnight  showing.  Gross:  $5,920. 
(Average,    $5.5(X).) 

Week  ending  June  19: 
"WOMEN    MEN    MARRY"    (Headline) 

RlVOLl— (l.'y8/)  25c-50c,  b  days.  Uross: 
$5,200.    (Average.    $7..50O.) 

"PUBLIC    ENEMY"    (Warners) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN  —  (l„30O) 
15c-50c,  2nd  week,  6  days.  Gross:  $3,9i)(L 
(Average.    $4,500.) 

Week  ending  June  20: 

"SEI    TU    L'AMORE"    (Italian    Talker) 

EMBASSY— (1,250)  25c-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$800.  (Average,  $1,200  for  this  class  and 
style   picture.) 

"YOUNG  WOODLEY"   (EUtree) 
LITTLE— (267)     .?5c-50c.     6    days.     Gross: 
$600.    (Average,   $850.) 

"THE  VICE  SQUAD"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S    CENTURY— (3.076)     (25c-60c.    6 

davs.     Loew-Capitol     stage     unit,     "Bag     of 

Blues."    Gross:    $20,000.    (Average,    $19,000.) 

"NEVER    THE    TWAIN    SHALL    MEET" 

(M-G-M) 

(Shown    uptown    after   one    week   at    the 

Loew's    Century    downtown.) 
LOEW'S     PARKWAY— (987)     15c-35c,     6 
days.    Gross:    $4, 0(10.    (Average,   $3,500.) 
"FIVE  AND  TEN"   (M-G-M) 
LO&W'S     STANLEY— (3,522)'   2ie^mc''-V 
days.   Gross:   $18,500,    (Average.   $17,500.) 
"PARTY  HUSBAND"  (F.  N.) 
LOEW'S    VALENCIA- (1,487)    25c-35c,    6 
.^l83tS'/.iC««!wt  $2*0%  <A»«:fg«,  •$2i(8903'!'  ■■»• 
"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
NEW— (1.600)    25c-50c,    6   days.    2nd    week. 
Gross:    $10,000.    (Average,   $8,000.) 


"fST'ff'iKaB 


Tuesday,    June    23,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


13 


Canadian  Bill 
For  Copyright 
Ready  for  Vote 


Ottawa — The  copyright  bill,  by 
means  of  which  societies  and  associa- 
tions in  Canada  will  be  enabled  to  im- 
pose a  music  tax  on  theatres  under 
government  control,  came  in  for  more 
discussion  in  the  Canadian  House  of 
Commons  when  the  printed  form  of 
the  bill,  as  amended  by  a  special 
parliamentary  committee,  was  tabled. 
The  bill  was  not  further  changed,  al- 
though there  was  a  lengthy  discussion. 
In  its  new  form,  annual  exhibitions 
and  fall  fairs  receiving  an  agricul- 
tural grant  from  the  government  are 
exempt  from  the  music  tax,  as  are 
religious  and  educational  organiza- 
tions. 

Announcement  was  made  that  the 
hill  would  be  passed  before  July  1  in 
order  to  qualify  under  the  Berne  Con- 
vention. There  has  been  considerable 
wailing  on  the  part  of  the  Perform- 
in-  Rights  Society  of  Canada  and 
other  copyright  organizations  regard- 
ing the  final  form  of  the  legislation. 

■•BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY   .VOW' 

Para.'RKO  Deal  in 
N,  Y.  for  Five  Years 

RKO  is  still  negotiating  with  Para- 
mount for  the  latter's  product  in  its 
,New  York  theatres.  The  deal  is  un- 
rderstood  to  provide  for  division  of 
product  with  Loew's  for  the  next  five 
years.  Albany  and  Buffalo  houses 
will  also  be  included  in  the  deal. 
"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  will  start 
off  the  1931-32  contract. 

-BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

F.  W.  C.  Promotions 

Denver — Due  to  the  retirement  of 
William  Fairchild  as  manager  of  the 
Lincoln  at  Cheyenne,  Fox  West  Coast 
iannounced  the  following  promotions : 
Chet  Miller  from  the  Fox,  North 
Platte,  Neb.,  to  Cheyenne;  Harry  B. 
Ashton,  manager  of  the  Longmont, 
Longmont,  Colo.,  to  North  Platte,  and 
iChas.  U.  Yeager  from  booker  to  the 
Longmont. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   .VO/I" 

Cleveland  Transfers 

Cleveland — Changes  in  management 
at  local  Loew  houses  include  the  trans- 
fer of  William  Weiss  from  assistant 
manager  at  the  Stillnian  to  manager  of 
the  Mall;  J.  Crow,  from  the  Mall  to 
the  Cameo  as  assistant  manager  ;  John 
Baker  of  the  State  to  the  Granada  to 
substitute  for  Arnold  Gates,  who  is 
vacationing,  and  Arthur  Catlin  to  the 
State,  following  the  closing  of  the 
IStillman,  where  he  was  manager. 

■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^'Lights"  at  Night 

Vallejo,  Calif.— Showmen  are  in- 
terestedly awaiting  the  outcome  of  a 
inovel  experiment,  an  all-night  show- 
ng  of  Chaplin's  "City  Lights,"  at 
the  Valmar.  While  the  house  will 
bpen  at  9  A.  M.,  it  will  remain  open 
a  full  twenty-four  hours,  or  as  long 
as  anvone  appears  to  buy  a  ticket,  ac- 
cording to  plans  of  Lou  Trager  and 
Phil  Frease,  operators.  Only  25 
tents  top   is   charged  by  the   Valmar. 


''Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 

(Continued   from    /'ni/c    1) 

buys  right.     Telling  him  how  \o  Iniy  right,  we  repeat,  depends 
on  his  own  sittiation.     He  knows  that  better  than  anyone  else. 

1  N  the  meantime,  optimism  signs  are  piling  up. 
The  Hoover  stand  on  war  debts  and  German  reparations  is 
reflecting  itself  favorably  on  the  stock  market.  Smiles  in  the 
New  York  trade  were  more  pronounced  yesterda}-  than  perhaps 
at  any  time  since  the  tape  hit  the  skids. 

The  Babson  statement,  first-paged  the  other  day,  has 
bolstered  a  lot  of  minds  and  spirits.  You  may  remember  that 
he  said  he  saw  the  turn  in  the  road. 

IN  OW  comes  Henry  Ford,  who,  too,  has  an  idea  or 
two  about  the  direction  in  which  the  nation's  business  is  head- 
ing.   Listen  to  what  he  says : 

"The  damage  was  done  when  the  gambling  fever  took  the  minds 
of  men  and  women  and  the  nation  off  their  business.  They  thought 
that  their  businesses  would  run  automatically  without  any  thought 
being  given  to  them.  Nothing  was  improved.  No  new  metliods  were 
adopted.  Business  men  made  the  stock  market  their  business.  Of 
course  when   business   suffers   your  stock  market  cannot   last  long. 

"Business  is  coming  back  when  each  business  man  goes  back  to 
that  spot  where  he  subscribed  to  that  get-rich-quick  philosophy  and 
picks  up  the  threads  where  he  turned  from  hard  and  fast  principles 
to  a  dream  of  easy  money  secured  without  thought  of  labor. 

"I  don't  say  that  everybody  is  cured  of  expecting  something  for 
nothing.  There  will  always  be  parasites  to  encourage  and  profit  by 
that  delusion,  but  I  do  say  that  more  people  are  thinking  todaj'  than 
there  were  a  couple  of  years  ago." 


N 


ARROWING  cases  to  the  picture  business  and 
right  at  your  elbow,  too.  you  have  instances  that  money  is 
waiting  to  be  spent  when  the  public  gets  something  to  spend  it 
on.  In  four  days,  to  be  specific,  "Smart  Money"  did  $34,000  at 
the  Winter  Garden  here  in  New  York.  And  in  a  theatre  that 
considers  it  has  been  doing  well  with  an  average  lousiness  of 
$30,000  on  the  week. 

"Daddy  Long  Legs"  is  doing-  things  to  box-offices  in  key 
cities.  Yesterday's  headlines  from  Philadelphia,  Denver, 
Seattle,  Albany,  Portland,  Omaha,  San  Francisco  and  Toronto 
furnish  the  proof,  if  you  are  stickler  for  detail.  And  today, 
additional  cities  join  the  "Long  Legs"  bandwagon. 

1  HE  conclusion  to  be  drawn  from  all  this  is  that 
money  is  plentiful.  You  can  make  the  public  part  with  it  if 
you  get  good  pictures,  turn  from  smart  showmanship  to 
smarter  showmanship,  forget  the  "lay  ofT"  attitude — some  call 
it  caution — that  goes  hand  in  hand  with  talk  of  depression  and 
make  the  shoulder  turn  the  wheel. 

But  remember,  sales  apathy  reflects  itself  in  the  studio. 
Studio  apathy  reflects  itself  in  production.  Production  apathy 
means   mediocre  pictures.     From  there  on,  anyone  can  fini.sh 

the  story. 

This  is  why  AIotion  Picture  Daily,  spokesman  this  morning 
for  the  Ouigley   Pulilications,  urges  the  exhibitor  to 

"Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 

K  A  N  N 


Allied  Oregon 
Unit  Changes 
Its  Name 


Writers  Meet  on  Plan 
For  More  Authority 

Los  .A.  XGELES— Writers  met  here 
last  night  to  consider  findings  of  tlieir 
committee  named  to  consider  exten- 
sion of  their  authority  over  scripts. 
Rupert  Hughes  presided  at  the  ses- 
si(  n  which  mapped  plans  for  submis- 
sion to  producers. 

•■BUY   RIGHT— BUT    BUY   NOW" 

New  M-G-M  Contracts 

Hollywood— M-G-M  has  signed 
new  long-term  contracts  with  Direc- 
tor Sam  Wood,  who  has  just  finished 
Robert  Montgomery's  new  picture, 
"The  Man  in  Possession";  John  Mee- 
han,  playwright  and  dialogue  writer, 
and  John  Miljan,  who  is  novy  playing 
a  leading  role  in  Greta  Garbo's  "Susan 
Lenox ;   Her   Fall   and  Rise." 


5  Newspapers  Join 
M^G-MNewsTie-Up 

Hearst  I^Fetrotone  News  has  added 
five  newspapers  to  its  "Globe  Trotter" 
tie-up.  The  new  papers  joining  are 
the  PhUadclj^hia  News,  the  Indian- 
apolis Star,  the  Buffale  Courier  E'x- 
t'ress,  the  Syracuse  Journal  American 
and  the  Rochester  Journal  American. 

■■BUY  RIGHT  -BUT   BUY  NOW 

Evalyn  Knapp  Hurt 

Hollywood  —  Evalyn     Knai)p     ft'll 

from  a  cliff  while  hiking  and  suffered 

injuries  to  her  spine.    It  is  feared  that 

she  may  never  be  able  to  play  again. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOIV 

Love  Stuff 

lIuLi.vwooi) — William  Powell  and 
Carole  Lombard  have  ap|)licd  for  a 
marriage  license. 


Portland — W.  E.  Tebbetts,  Port- 
land's pioneer  independent  exhibitor, 
who  operates  both  the  Oriental  and 
Laurelhurst,  was  re-elected  president 
of  the  Allied  Exhibitors  of  Oregon 
at  the  third  annual  convention  held 
here. 

Fifty  municipalities  of  Oregon  and 
southern  Washington  were  repre- 
sented, and  the  total  membership  of 
this  independent  theatre  organization 
included  nearly  100  theatres.  The 
convention  voted  to  change  the  name 
of  the  organization  from  the  Allied 
Exhibitors  of  the  Northwest  to  the 
Allied   Exhibitors   of   Oregon. 

The  following  is  list  of  officers 
■lected  for  the  ensuing  year :  Presi- 
dent, W.  E.  Tebbetts,  Portland;  first 
t-ice-president,  Guy  Matthew,  The 
Dalles ;  second  vice-president,  Stephen 
Parker,  Portland ;  secretary-treasurer, 
William  Cutts,  Portland;  board  of 
directors,  Mrs.  Myrtle  Buckmiller  o£ 
Baker,  Ore. ;  Ray  Stumbo  of  Salem, 
W.  A.  Dunlop  of  Grants  Pass,  Bob 
Uarsden  of   Marshfield. 

■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

To  Test  Films  For 
Public  School  Use 

Washington — ^Governors  from  all 
states  yesterday  were  asked  by  Presi- 
dent Hoover  to  help  in  organizing  a 
test  for  "the  purpose  and  place  ot 
sound  films"  in  public  school  instruc- 
tion by  requesting  school  officials  to 
select  a  boy  or  girl  to  come  to  Wash- 
ington for  the  making  of  the  tests. 

"At  the  intercession  of  the  repre- 
sentative public  school  authorities," 
the  President  wrote,  "Harley  L.  Clarke 
of  Fox  has  agreed  to  prepare  a  num- 
ber of  educational  films  for  this  pur- 
pose. It  is  not  proposed  that  it  shall 
lead  to  exclusive  privileges  for  any 
particular  film  company  either  in  the 
tests  or  in  subsequent  preparation  of 
films,  if  it  should  be  found  that  a 
definite  educational  value  can  be  in- 
troduced into  the  school  through  the 
use  of  such  films,"  the  President 
stated. 

■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

P.  P,  Grooms  Buddy 
Rogers  as  ''Tough" 

(.Continued  from  page  I) 
pictures  he  is  to  make  will  present 
him  as  a  mining  engineer  and  a  hard- 
boiled  marine.  If  he  comes  through 
okay,  the  options  undoubtedly  will  be 
exercised. 

■■BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Ticket  Tax  Is 
Feared  in  Florida 

(Continued    from    paijc    1) 

a  hill  to  assess  a  tax  of  10  per  cent 
on  all  theatre  tickets  and  other  amuse- 
ments where  the  prices  were  in  excess 
of  50  cents.  Should  this  bill  pass  it 
would  have  little  effect  upon  the  pic- 
ture theatres  of  the  state,  as  very 
few  are  now  charging  more  than  50 
cents.  Florida  exhibitors  nnist  watch 
their  step,  however,  as  it  is  hardly 
possible  that  they  would  get  such  a 
break,  especially  as  the  governor  is 
asking  for  a  "reasonal)le  ta.x  on 
amusements." 


Whut  an  authn 


,i 


EARL    DERR    B 


pays  tribuf 


producing  g 


as  shown  /n 


uo    :>UKjyvu    in         \\ 

TH  E  B  LAC  K<Ah 


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WARNER   OLAND 

SALLY      EILERS 

BELA    LUGOSI 
Dorothy  Revier  Victor  Varconi  J.  M.  Kerrigan 

Directed  by  HAMILTON   MACFADDEN 


dreams  about 

and  seMotn  gets  j 


16 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    June    23,     I 


931     I 


Purely 
Personal 


FRED  L.  FREEMAN,  known  to  all 
Florida  show  folks  as  "Uncle  Fred," 
who  for  many  years  operated  a  string 
of  theatres  in  the  northern  section  of 
Florida,  but  today  is  holding  the  fort 
at  the  Alimar,  Live  Oak.  is  celebrat- 
ing his  34th  year  as  manager  of  the- 
atres this  week  and  receiving  the  Con- 
grats of  his  brother   exhibs. 

Miss  LiLLiAX  Smith,  secretary  to 
Fred  Desberg,  general  manager  of 
Loew's  Ohio  Theatres,  will  be  mar- 
ried in  New  York  June  27  to  San- 
ford  Farkas,  former  manager  of 
i-oew's  State  in  Cleveland.  Farkas  is 
now  in  the  oil  business  with  head- 
quarters in  Boston,  where  they  will 
make  their  home. 

J.  P.  F.\UGHX.AX  and  Joe  Lissauer 
of  the  Warner  theatre  department  in 
Cleveland  have  left  to  drive  east. 
Faughnan  will  spend  his  vacation  in 
the  mountains,  and  Lissauer  will  be 
at  Lake  Placid. 

Fred  Schmitt.  director  of  the  or- 
chestra in  the  Denver,  Denver,  is  in 
Kansas  City  installing  a  14-piece  or- 
chestra in  the  Newman.  Dave  Craig, 
master  of  ceremonies  at  the  Denver, 
has  resigned. 

Ed  Cole  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager of  the  Capitol  in  Cleveland,  one 
of  the  Associated  Theatres  group,  suc- 
ceeding Milton  Bryer.  Cole  will  also 
supervise  the  Royal,  oi>en  three  days 
a  week. 

Al  Mertz  is  back  as  Cleveland 
RKO  branch  manager,  being  trans- 
ferred from  Cincinnati.  Ralph  Kin- 
zler  has  been  appointed  Cincinnati 
branch  manager. 

Harry  D.  Goldberg,  Fox  Theatre 
divisional  manager  in  northern  New 
Jersey,  returned  from  a  vacation  in 
Bermuda  yesterday,  accompanied  by 
Mrs.  G. 

Morris  Gluck,  former  ad.  sales 
manager  for  Paramount's  local  ex- 
change, now  is  manager  of  the  non- 
theatrical  department  at  the  same 
branch. 

Stuart  Barrie,  organist,  borrowed 
from  the  Brooklyn  Paramount  by  the 
Paramount  in  Denver  12  weeks  ago, 
has  returned  to  his  home  town. 

A.  W.  ScHWALP.F.RG  and  his  bride, 
formerly  Anna  Quint,  will  honey- 
moon in  Bermuda.  They  sail  from 
New   York  tomorrow. 

L  E.  Kjxg  has  taken  over  the 
management  of  the  Madison,  New 
York  City,  and  is  renovating  the  house 
before  opening  it. 

Elizabeth  Loxger(;ax  leaves  for 
Hollywood  July  1  to  spend  several 
months  there   with  her  lirother,   Phil. 

Mary  Pickforu  has  lost  $100,000 
on  that  Hollywood  miniature  golf 
course,  according   to   Winchell. 

"Arthur  Loew,  heir  to  the  Loew 
wealth,  is  now  soloing  it  in  the  skies," 
says    Walter    Winchell. 

J.  S.  McLeoi),  M-G-M  exchange 
maintenance  manager,  has  flown  10,- 
000  miles  since  the  first  of  the  year. 


T 
H 
E 


THEATRE 


Construction — Equipment — Decoration — Operation — Management 


Fountain  to 
Work  by  Use 
Of  Light  Ray 


Hollywood — The  Hughes-Franklin 
circuit  is  going  in  for  an  automatic 
drinking  fountain  at  its  new  Studio 
theatre  being  completed  here.  The 
fountain  will  bubble  water  as  the 
patron  bends  over  it  and  there  will 
be  no  levers  to  touch,  no  faucets  to 
turn,  no  concealed  plates  in  the  floor 
to  step  on  to  have  the  water  spout,  it 
is  said. 

The  fountain  will  look  like  the 
regular  bubbler  fountains  in  popular 
use.  The  mechanism  to  perform  the 
seeming  miracle  described  above,  is 
now  being  prepared  by  the  Hughes 
Development  Company,  Howard 
Hughes'  organization  of  inventors. 

This  drinking  fountain  will  be  con- 
trolled by  a  light  ray,  it  is  stated. 
A  person,  bending  over  the  fountain 
for  a  drink,  will  interrupt  the  light 
ray  with  his  head ;  the  interruption 
of  the  light  ray  will  release  a  hidden 
faucet  and  water  will  bubWe  up  to  the 
patron's  lips.  The  house  will  loe 
opened  in  August. 

■•BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOiV 

City  Inspectors  in 
Tour  of  N,  Y.  Houses 

New  York  City  ofificials  are  con- 
tinuing investigation  of  theatres  said 
to  have  improvised  stages  in  front  of 
screens  for  vaudeville  presentations 
during  the  summer  with  more  than  30 
theatres  having  been  visited  by  in- 
vestigators. Exhibitors  in  each  in- 
stance have  been  warned  to  remove 
the  stages  or  have  their  operating 
licenses   revoked. 

Charles  L.  O'Reilly,  president  of 
the  Theatre  Owners  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, yesterday  stated  that  he  was 
in  favor  of  the  action  taken  by  the 
license  department,  contending  the 
organization  would  back  the  law  in 
anything  it  does  for  betterment  of  the 
theatre. 

■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Drive  for  Earphones 
In  'Frisco  Theatres 

.Sax  Fraxcisco — .\  campaign  is  be- 
ing carried  on  here  by  the  San  Fran- 
cisco section  of  the  Council  of  Jew- 
ish Women  and  the  San  I'Vancisco 
League  for  the  Hard  of  Hearing  to 
ha\e  hearing  appliances  installed  in 
local  theatres.  The  campaign  has  al- 
ready received  the  support  of  the 
City  and  County  Federation  of  Wo- 
men's Clubs.  .According  to  ofificers  of 
the  club,  three  San  Francisco  thea- 
tres have  installed  the  apparatus  for 
the  convenience  of  deaf  people.  Other 
show  houses  will  do  the  same,  it  is 
announced,    if    the   demand   continues. 


Exhibs  Start 
Sprucing  Up 
In  Cleveland 


Clevelaxd  —  The  clean-up  season 
as  commenced.  National  Theatre 
Supply  Company  announces  through 
its  manager,  R.  W.  Cudmore,  that 
many  theatres  in  this  territory  are 
sprucing  up  with  new  seats,  new  car- 
pets and  new  equipment.  No  new 
theatre  projectii  have  been  announced, 
but  rumors  are  afloat  that  deals  are 
now  pending  lor  the  building  of  ap- 
proximately twenty  new  houses  in 
northern  Ohio.  Although  nothing  may 
come  of  this  program,  the  rumor  has 
value  in  that  it  shows  the  theatre 
owners  and  operators  are  optimistic 
and  are  looking  forward  to  a  business 
come-back. 

■■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Hey  wood-  Wakefield 
Plant  Is  Transferred 

Wakefield,  Mass. — The  Heywood- 
Wakefield  Company's  chair  plant  here, 
occupying  a  site  of  eleven  acres  and 
the  town's  largest  industry,  will  be 
closed  and  the  manufacture  of  chairs 
transferred  to  the  company's  plant  at 
Gardiner,  Mass.  There  have  been 
some  375  persons  employed  here.  As 
many  of  them  as  desire  will  be  trans- 
ferred to  the  Gardiner  plant.  An- 
nouncement of  the  closing  of  the  plant 
here  is  made  by  Richard  N.  Green- 
wood, president. 

'■BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

City  Withholds  License 

Albaxy — The  Griswold  in  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  must  spend  at  least  $70,000 
before  it  can  get  a  license  from  the 
city.  The  improvements  are  required 
under  state  laws  and  were  ordered  by 
the  fire  marshal.  The  theatre  was 
recently  leased  to  the  Farash  Com- 
pany of  Schenectady.  The  theatre  is 
about  70  years  old  and  has  been  closed 
for  some  time  following  the  city's 
decision  not  to  renew  the  permit  un- 
til improvements  required  have  been 
made. 

■BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

New  DeVry  Projector 

Chicago — With  introduction  of  the 
new  Q.  R.  S.  DeVry  portable  pro- 
jector, it  is  now  possible  to  convert 
the  silent  DeVry  portable  apparatus 
into  sound-on-film,  the  company  states. 
Engineers  of  the  company  have  been 
working  on  the  new  machine  for  sev- 
,Tal  months  and  have  completed  the 
new  unit. 

'■BUY   RKHIT—BUT   BUY  NO\]'^' 

Bennett  Leases  Exhibit 

Columbus,  O. — Everett  Bennett  has 
leased  the  Exhibit,  one  of  the  original 
houses  built  here,  which  has  been  dark 
for  several  months.  RCA  Photophone 
will  be  installed  and  other  improve- 
ments  made  before   reopening. 


Fox  Closes  4 
Theatres  in 
ConnecticuttI 


Rather  than  institute  double  fea- 
ture programs  to  pass  the  summer 
slump.  Fox  has  closed  four  Comiec- 
ticut  houses  and  one  in  Brooklyn. 
The  New  England  theatres  are: 
Lyric,  Bridgeport;  Palace,  Hartford; 
Nelson,  Springfield,  and  Poli,  Meri- 
den.  The  Brooklyn  house  to  go  dark 
for  the  summer  months  is  the  Roeb- 
ling. 

There  are  several  spots  in  Brook- 
lyn playing  double  features,  a  policy 
not  inaugurated  by  Fox  but  already 
in  vogue  when  the  circuit  took  over 
the  houses  two  years  ago.  Because  of 
local  conditions  the  circuit  has  not 
been  able  to  switch  to  a  single  feature 
policy. 

'■BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Fifi  to  Wear  Ray's 
Solitaire  20  Years 

Chicago— Fifi  D'Orsay  is  going  to 
Paris  in  the  near  future,  the  French 
actress   told   interviewers    while   here. 

Fifi,  who  admitted  the  closest  she 
has  ever  been  to  the  French  capitol 
was  Atlantic  City,  said  she  would 
really  like  to  see  Paris  before  she 
died.  She  sails  August  22  on  the 
Bremen,  she  said. 

Fifi  also  told  reporters  that  her  en- 
gagement to  Terrence  Ray,  film 
player,  "will  be  a  long  affair — prob- 
ably twenty  years."  She  exhibited  a 
ring,  the  gift  of  Ray,  and  said  the  in- 
scription which  it  bore  meant  that 
she  was  in  love  with  love,  and  not 
with  Ray,  in  particular. 

"We  both  think  it's  better  we  wait," 
smiled  Fifi. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Projectionist  Slain 

Chicago — Jake  Kaufman,  projec- 
tionist, was  killed  here  Sunday.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  involved  in  investi- 
gation of  alleged  motion  picture  oper- 
ators' racketeering  case  now  before 
the  grand  jury. 


SIX 
MIX 
PIX 


--and  "TONY"  too 


Ride  with  UNIVERSAL  and 
you  ride  with  a  winner 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert  f 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  21 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  24,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Brains  Needed-Franklin 


Appeal  Taken 
On  Copyright 
Adverse  Rule 


Hot! 


Headline   in   Fox   Dynamo: 
"  'Bad   Girl'   and  'Brat'   Alive 
with   B.   O.   Fuel." 


Hess  Seeks  to  Upset  Only 
Adverse  Court  Opinion 

With  several  decisions  in  its  favor 
upholding  the  contention  that  unli- 
:ensed  exhibitions  of  motion  pictures 
violate  the  copyright  law,  the  Copy- 
right Protection  Bureau  has  appealed 
decision  of  Federal  Judge  Morton  in 
District  Court,  Massachusetts,  hold- 
ing that  the  copyright  law  does  not 
apply  to  films. 

Judge  Morton's  decision  in  the  ac- 
tions brought  by  M-G-M  and  Educa- 
tional against  the  Bijou   Theatre   Co. 
f    Holyoke,    Mass.,    is   the   only    one 
where  a  contrary  view  of  the  subject 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
'BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Arbitration  Clause  Is 
Jnder  Fire  in  S t .  Paul 

St.  Paul — Arbitration  clause  in 
he  old  standard  form  of  contract  is 
:he  point  at  issue  in  suit  brought  in 
District  Court  here  by  George  Carisch, 
ocal  exhibitor,  against  M-G-M.  A 
ettlement  in  the  action  is  reported  to 
lave  been  rejected  by  W.  M.  (Bob) 
Workman,  local  M-G-M  manager. 
The  case  is  being  handled  by  Sam 
Halpern,  former  counsel  of  the  Film 
Board. 
— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Author  Sues  DeMille 
Over  ''Boatmen'' 

Summons  in  an  injunction  and 
damage  suit  has  been  filed  on  Cecil 
B.  De  Mille  by  Konrad  Bercovici, 
through  Jesse  A.  Levinson,  the  lat- 
ter's  attorney,  over  "The  Volga 
Boatmen." 

Bercovici,  according  to  Levinson,  in 
1925  wrote  a  story  from  which  De 
Mille  produced  "The  Volga  Boat- 
men,"   rights    for    which    M-G-M    is 

(Continued    on    page    7) 
— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Cut  in  Rentals,  Not 
Wages,  Minn.  Aim 

Minneapolis — Wage  cuts  are  re- 
ported as  opposed  by  local  showmen. 
Instead,  they  want  a  cut  on  film  ren- 
tals and  accessories.  Operators  are 
understood  to  have  profifered  wage 
reductions. 


Chicago  Union 
Officials  Face 
Murder  Charge 


Chicago — Secret  indictments  charg- 
ing murder  will  be  sought  against 
union  operator  ofificials  here  as  a  re- 
sult of  the  slaying  of  Jacob  Kauf- 
man, Chicago  projectionist,  who  was 
to  have  testified  against  the  union  in 
the  state's  attorney's  investigation. 
Tom  Maloy,  business  manager,  and 
Tom  Reynolds,  president  of  the  union, 
have  arranged  to  surrender  following 
a   city-wide  police  search. 

The  arrangement  was  made  by  Mi- 

(Continucd  on  page  8) 
—"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" — 

White  Gets  New  Post; 
Film  Probe  Seen  Dead 

Toronto — The  Canadian  Govern- 
ment announced  the  appointment  of 
Peter  White,  K.  C,  as  legal  adviser 
in  the  Parliamentary  probe  into  the 
Beauharnois  Power  Company's  pro- 
ject at  Montreal,  starting  immediately. 
White  was  the  commissioner  who  con- 
ducted the  investigation  into  the  pic- 
ture business  in  Canada  under  the 
Combines  Act.  He  presented  his 
report  to  the  government  at  Ottawa 
in  May,  but  no  action  has  been  taken 

(Continued  on  paqe  8) 
— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Hughes  to  Send  Party 
To  Film  Arctic  Opus 

Hollywood — Howard  Hughes  is 
sending  a  plane  to  Rockland  to  join 
the  McMillan  expedition  and  photo 
graph  the  party's  activities  and  also 
animal  and  Eskimo  life  in  the  Arctic. 
The  film  will  be  done  in  Multicolor. 
Glenn  Kerchner  is  chief  cameraman 
— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Ban  on  Daylight  Bills 
Sought  in  Wisconsin 

Madison,  Wis. — Governor  Phil  La 
Follette  now  has  before  him  for  con- 
sideration the  bill  making  illegal  the 
enactment  of  daylight  saving  ordi- 
nances. A  similar  measure  has  been 
I  passed   in   Minnesota. 


Mediocre  Pictures  Incompatible  with 
rent  Admissions,  He  Declares 


Cur- 


Harold  B.  Franklin 


Hollywood — Either  pictures  must  be  improved  in  quality  or 
admission  prices  must  drop  to  meet  current  "mediocrity." 

Distribution  is  geared  to  squeeze  out  of  the  exhibitor  "the 
last  dollar  he  can  afford." 

Theoretically  there  is  nothing  wrong  with  circuit  theatre 
operation,  but  actually  the  system  is  entirely  wrong,  killing  off 
individualism  and  showman  personality. 

The  plain  fact  is  that  good  pictures  are 
not  coming  through  in  numbers  which 
justify  huge  theatre  investments. 

Big  producing-company-owned  theatres 
control  so  much  of  the  playing  time  that 
if  product  is  below  par  it  seriously  and 
broadly  affects  the  theatre-going  habits  of 
the  public. 

Another  plain  fact  is  that  no  company 
can  fill  this  gap.  People  are  apt  to  get 
out  of  the  habit  of  going  to  theatres  and 
that's  what's  happening  today. 

These  are  among  the  observations  of 
Harold    B.    Franklin    of    Hughes-Franklin 

Theatres  commenting  upon  current  conditions  in  the  industry. 

"The  great  fault  with  pictures,"  he 
says,  "is  their  sameness.  There  is 
little  originality.  Belasco  and  Froh- 
man  never  followed  the  Shuberts. 
Picture  producers  just  follow  one  an- 
other. So  far  as  theatres  are  con- 
cerned, the  surface  indication  is  that 
the  country  is  over-theatred.  Princi- 
pally, this  is  due  to  the  fact  that 
there  is  not  enough  good  pictures  to 
go  around. 

"Vacant  seats  are  due  to  the  lack 
of  satisfactory  entertainment,"  Frank- 
(Continued  on  page  6) 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" — 

Patten  Blasts  Trade; 
Hays  Tie-in  Denied 

Tom  Patten  may  have  his  own  ideas 
about  bankers  and  the  picture  business. 
That's  one  thing.  But  when  he  talks, 
is  credited  with  serving  as  an  assistant 
to  Will  H.  Hiays,  thereby  giving  his 
remarks  a  semi-official  flavor,  that's 
another. 

Yesterday  in  the  New  York  Daily 
Ncu's.    Florabel    Muir,    writing    from 
(Continued  on  page  8) 
— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" — 

Film  Shortage  Closes 
Rivoli  in  Baltimore 

Baltimore — Due  to  a  shortage  of 
suitable  pictures  with  which  to  con- 
tinue running,  the  Rivoli  is  closed  un- 
til new  product  signed  for  on  the  RKO 
Radio  programs  is  available.  The 
Wilson  Amusement  Company  advised 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Brandt  to  Stagger 
Studio  Operation 

Joe  Brandt  returned  to  New  York 
from  Hollywood  yesterday,  leaving 
orders  at  the  Columbia  studio  to  rush 
pictures  and  keep  four  in  production 
at  all  times.  He  recently  caused  some- 
thing of  a  stir  throughout  the  industry 
when  he  stated  that  his  company 
would  not  cut  salaries,  despite  action 
along  lines  by  several  other  com- 
panies. 

Brandt's  idea  is  to  keep  the  studio 
working,  thus  preventing  unemploy- 
ment. He  feels  that  if  a  steady  aver- 
age is  maintained  rather  than  to  have 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Writers  Seek  End  of 
Story  Duplication 

Hollywood — ^Plans  to  eliminate  du- 
plication of  writers  on  a  single  story, 
screen  credits  and  new  contracts  with 
specific  conditions  for  staff  writers 
and  free  lancers  were  recommended 
in  proposals  for  producers  at  a  meet- 
ing held  here  Monday  of  200  screen 
writers  in  a  report  of  the  committee. 
Also  included  is  the  situation  of  roy- 
alties which  are  difficult  because  of 
peculiar  selling  conditions.  Writers 
are  anxious  to  have  more  originals 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   June  24,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.   S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


Tune  24,    19.U 


No.   21 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 

^S^  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  J    and    holidays,    by    Motion    Picture 

^^     Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 

at     1790     Broadway,     New     Vork. 

Telephone:     Circle  7-3100.     Cable    address: 

"Quigpubco,     iNew     York."      All     contents 

copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston^  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin    W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  .Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription     rates     per     year,     including 

stage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
anada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


po; 
Ca 


Solons  Slay 
Five  Illinois 
Adverse  Bills 


Chicago — With  the  adjournment 
Saturday  of  the  Illinois  general 
assembly,  all  remaining  legislation 
affecting  the  industry  here  died  a 
natural  death.  Not  a  single  adverse 
measure  was  enacted  during  the  se.s- 
sion,  although  five  bills  of  this  nature 
were  introduced.  Only  one — the  Mc- 
Cluggage  bill  requiring  an  operator 
for  each  projection  room — progressed 
as  far  as  a  house  vote.  This  bill, 
passed  by  the  house,  was  killed  in  the 
senate  committee  due,  largely,  to  the 
lobbying  of  Senator  E)aniel  Serritella, 
a  cousin  of  Al  Capone's.  Observers 
say  that  Serritella's  activities  in 
behalf  of  the  bill,  together  with  the 
current  sensational  investigation  of 
the  Chicago  operators'  union,  influ- 
enced the  Senate  against  the  measure. 

The  state  censorship  bill  was  killed 
in  committee  after  reaching  a  second 
reading  in  both  houses.  A  bill  seek- 
ing to  restrict  admission  of  children 
to  theatres  was  also  disposed  of  in 
committee. 

The  Illinois  general  assembly  will 
not  convene  again  for  two  years. 
Action  on  tabled  measures  affecting 
the  industry  is  highly  improbable  at 
special  sessions  which  may  be  called 
this  fall  for  tax  relief  purposes.  Jack 
Miller,  president  of  the  Chicago  Ex- 
hibitors' Association,  was  the  out- 
standing figure  in  marshalling  the 
successful  opposition  which  resulted 
in  the  defeat  of  the  adverse  industry 
legislation. 

— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" — 

Kutinsky,  Greenfield 
Complete  Bklyn  Deal 

Deal  for  merging  of  seven  Brook- 
lyn theatres  has  been  completed  by 
Harry  Kutinsky  and  Dr.  Leon  Green- 
field, the  former  operating  four 
houses  and  the  latter  three.  In  the 
arrangement  the  following  theatres 
are  brought  under  one  company : 
Paris  Court,  Gloria,  Atlantic,  Crystal, 
Eden,  Armory  and  Flora. 


Purely  Personal 


P  UGENE  ELMORE  claims  to  have 
-*--'  the  only  letter  of  recommendation 
signed  by  Marcus  Loew  back  in  the 
days  when  Loew  was  president  and 
general  manager  of  People's  Vaude- 
ville. The  letter  is  dated  in  the  early 
19O0's. 

Joe  Brandt  didn't  mind  his  plane 
trip  to  the  Coast,  but  when  he  was 
compelled  to  spend  the  final  seven 
hours  aloft  in  the  open  cockpit  of 
a  mail  'plane,  some  of  the  thrill  mys- 
teriously disappeared. 

Sam  Rifkin,  Washington  branch 
manager  for  U.  A.,  yesterday  spent 
a  good  part  of  yesterday  afternoon 
visiting  local  exchange  friends.  Sam 
was  formerly  New  Jersey  salesman 
for  the  company. 

"Bill"  Aschmann,  Big  4's  central 
division  manager,  now  is  in  Dallas  con- 
ferring with  Jack  Adams  of  the  Al- 
lied Film  Exchanges  in  the  Texas 
city. 

Gradwell  Sears  and  Carl  Leser- 
man,  of  Warner-First  National,  leave 
Sunday  for  Oklahoma  City.  From 
there  they  will  journey  to  Texas. 

Cecil  B.  De  Mflle  sails  today  for 
Europe  on  the  lie  de  France.  On  the 
same  boat  will  be  Harry  d'Abbadie 
d'Arrast,   Paramount   director. 

Glen  Allvine  just  managed  to 
squeeze  in  some  more  summer  plant- 
ing before  the  rain  poured  on  Long 
Beach   the  other  night. 

Artie  Stebbins  yesterday  pre- 
sented his  ten-year-old  son,  Gerald, 
with  a  $100,000  life  insurance  policy. 
A  birthday  gift. 

'"Buck"  Steffes  certainly  took  an 
unnamed  "trouble-maker"  to  task  in 
his  speech  at  the  New  Jersey  conven- 
tion. 

Walter  Eberhardt  is  recovering 
from  a  minor  operation  at  the  Murray 
Hill  Hospital. 

Harvey  Day  is  down  Atlanta-way, 
but  is  due  back  in  New  York  in  a 
day  or  so. 


Bob  and  Phil  Cochrane  continue 
to  go  for  tennis   in  a  very  big  way. 

Al  Lichtman  is  off  on  a  trip 
through  the  South. 

Bruce  Gallup  did  not  play  Briar- 
cliff   last    Sunday. 

—"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" — 

Taylor  Named  Col, 
Midwest  Div,  Head 

Harry  Taylor,  veteran  former  Uni- 
versal executive,  has  joined  Columbia 
as  district  manager  in  the  southern 
midwest  division.  In  his  new  capacity 
Taylor  will  have  supervision  over  the 
Oklahoma  City,  Dallas  and  St.  Louis 
offices,  headquartering  at  the  last 
named. 

—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Dane  and  Arthur 
Joining  Paramount 

Karl  Dane  is  now  en  route  from 
Hollywood,  stopping  over  at  Chicago 
and  arriving  in  New  York  on  July  1. 
With  George  K.  Arthur,  who  has 
teamed  with  him  in  pictures  before, 
the  comedian  is  scheduled  to  make 
comedies  for  Paramount  in  New  York. 

—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

U.  A.  Meet  Ends 

United  Artists  branch  managers  in 
the  east  yesterday  wound  up  the  two- 
day  meet  of  the  first  regional  conven- 
tion held  by  the  company.  Al  Licht- 
man, vice-president  in  charge  of  sales, 
presided  with  Paul  Burger,  eastern 
district  manager,  and  other  home  of- 
fice executives  present. 

— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" — 

Change  in  Name 

Hollywood — The  Film  Spectator 
has  appeared  in  a  new  typographical 
format  and,  at  the  same  time,  under 
the  title  of  The  Hollyivood  Spectator. 
Robert  E.  Sherwood  has  joined  the 
publication  as  associate  editor. 


Stocks  Slightly  Off;  W.  B.  Pfd  Drops  2 

Net 

High  Low      Close      Change  Sales 

Consolidated     Film     Industries 6'A  6             e'A        -\-  'A  700 

Eastman    Kodak 142  Um      14154        —'A  3,600 

Fox    Film    "A" 2VA  XM        20'A        —  Vg  13,000 

General    Theatre     Equipment    new 5  45^          4^4        —  'A  4,700 

Loew's,     Inc 43%  42!^       425^       —  .)^  18,700 

M-G-M    pfd- 24'A  24'A        2V/x        +  Vg  100 

Paramount    Publix 265i        24M        25            26,000 

Pathe    Exchange I'Ai          Wi          IV2        1,500 

Pathe    Exchange    '-A" 4i/i  4J4          4i/4        —'A  100 

RKO    ' 14%  14           14J^       —  Vi  20.600 

Warner   Bros 9  S'A          8'A        —A  26,300 

Warner    Bros,    pfd 1"  17            17           —2  100 

Curb  Issues  Show  Small  Gain 

Net 

High  Low      Close     Change  Sales 

Columbia     Pictures 12^  12"^        12^        +2yi  Wl 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 3?4          3%          3'A        800 

General  Theatre    E(|uii)nicnt  pfd 10^  9A          9'A        —  V»  3,200 

Sentry    Safety    Control VA  I'A          154        +  'A  100 

Technicolor     7  654          6;^        —A  400 

Trans   Lux   6A          6%          6'A        500 

Bonds  Irregular;  G.  T.  E,  Jumps  IV2 

Net 

High  Lo'w      Close     Change  Sales 

General    Theatre     Equipment    f)S    '4<) 40  39!^        40           -fl■^  17 

Loew's   6s    '41    ex   war 97"4  97!4        97%        -\-  A  1 

Paramount   Broadway   S'/^s   '51 101  lOOJ^      101            -^-  Vt  6 

Paramount   F.   L.   6s  '47 92  9054        91^4        -¥  Vi  18 

Paramount    Publix    5^^s,    '50 , 81K  81            81            —  '^  9 

Pathe   7s    '37    ww , 88  86           WA        —VA'  14 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 44-54  43           WA       —  Vi  66 


Sam  E.   Morris 


102,367  Dates 

Honor  Sam  E. 

Morris  in  May 

With  102,367  playdates  reported, 
the  Sam  E.  Morris  Month  drive  dur- 
ing May  resulted  in  the  biggest  rally 
by  branch  managers  and  salesmen.  In 
the  playdate  contest,  Harry  Lustig,  of 
Los  Angeles 
took  first  hon- 
ors with  Nat 
Beier,  manager 
of  the  New  Jer- 
sey branch,  sec- 
ond, and  Harry 
Decker,  Brook- 
1  y  n  exchange 
manager,  third, 
C.  R.  Osborn, 
manager  of  the 
Montreal  office, 
was  fourth,  and 
Eddie  Goldstein, 
of  the  New 
York  exchange, 
rated  fifth.  The 
metropolitan  district,  headed  by  George 
Balsdon,  Jr.,  figures  in  three  of  the 
first  five  places  in  this  drive,  which 
took  on  added  zest  with  the  offering 
of  a  prize  by  Dolores  Costello  to  the 
winner. 

Outstanding  in  the  drive  was  the 
billing  and  collection  section  which 
was  won  by  Harry  Decker,  manager 
of  the  Brooklyn  exchange.  J.  Butler, 
of  the  St.  John  exchange,  was  second 
and  N.  H.  Brower,  of  Seattle,  third. 
C.  Muehlman,  of  San  Francisco,  fin- 
ished in  fourth  place,  J.  O.  Rohde,  of 
Oklahoma,  fifth,  and  Frank  Meyers, 
of  Toronto,  sixth. 

The  Sam  E.  Morris  month  this  year 
saw  division  of  the  country  into  four 
parts,  each  sponsored  by  a  star  who 
contributed  a  prize.  In  the  Canadian 
division,  J.  Butler,  of  St.  John,  was 
awarded  the  Dorothy  Mackaill  prize. 
Brower,  of  Seattle,  led  for  honors  in 
the  Bebe  Daniels  competition.  Hanv 
Decker  copped  the  Loretta  Young 
trophy,  while  Arthur  Weinberger,  of 
St.  Louis,  won  the  Winnie  Lightner 
offer. 

— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Connie  Recovering 

Hollywood  —  Constance  Talmadge 
is  recovering  from  her  intestinal  op- 
eration. 


Studio    and    Location 
Sound  on  Rim  Recording 

Low   Dally   or  Weelily    Rafet 
Powert  Cinephone  Equipment  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE.,  N.  Y.     BRyant  9-6067 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

Latest  R.C.A. 
Photophone  Equipment 

l»^t)      Nights,   Sundays, 

Holidays  by  Appointment 

Under  the   personal   supervision  of 
Hymie   Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 
PICTURE   SERVICE,  Inc. 

729   7th   Ave.  BRyant  9-5721 


ROBINSON  as  a 

gambler  who  knows 
too  much  about  cards 
and  too  little  about 
blondes 


EDW.  G.  ROBINSON 

and  JAMES  CAGNEY 

And  this  Bevy  of  Beautiful  Blondes 

EVALYN      KNAPP,      Nod  Francis, 
Margaret  Livingston,    Gladys  Lloyd,    Polly  Walters 

Direcfed  by  Alfred  E.  Green 


Screen  story  and  dialogue  by 

Kubec    Glasmon,    John    Bright, 
Lucien   Hubbard,   Joseph   Jackson 


A  WARNER  BROS:  HIT! 


The  ONE  biG  Short  Peatur«i 


TWO  REEL 
COMEDIES 


There's  One  Big  Idea  you  can't  aflfclab 
to  forget  about  short  features.  ¥m^ 
eleven  years  there  has  been  just  ol't^ 
big  organization  dealing  in  the 
exclusively.    Even  in  this  day  of  sj 


Educationd 


I 


MACK  SENNETT 

AWPYCtVPf 

COMEDIES 

The  very  humanness  of  Andy  Clyde's  "Pop  Martin" 
characterizations  has  won  a  new  and  unique  place 
for  this  Sennett  ace.  His  name  is  on  more  marquees 
every  week.  It  should  be  on  yours  — as  the  biggest 
comedy  star  name  attraction  of  the  season. 


With  Harry  Gribbon,  Patsy  O'Leary  and  other 
equally  well-known  stars,  this  series  will  carry  on 
the  Sennett  tradition.  Then,  too,  there  will  be  new 
stars.  When  you  say  "Mack  Sennett  Comedies"  in 
your  lights  your  public  knows  you  are  inviting  it  to 
a  treat.  f 


MACK  iSlNNETT 

F -COMEDY  ^^ 
eaturettes 

"Match  Play!"  "He  Trumped  Her  Ace!"  "Holly- 
wood Theme  Song!"  Pictures  that  the  whole  indus- 
try recognizes  as  short  subjects  of  real  feature  merit, 
both  as  entertainment  and  as  ticket  sellers!  Now 
here  is  a  whole  series  of  them. 


>Ai^inrv 


V  <DO>MIEID>MIE§ 

ALCHaiSTIE  PRODUCTIONS 


Their  bright  stories,  the  attraction  value  of  such 
stars  as  Buster  and  John  West  and  Glenn  Tryon,  and 
the  masterly  Christie  production,  have  built  up  for 
Vanity  Comedies  a  popularity  that  makes  this  series 
a  vital  factor  in  your  program  for  next  season. 


HBDIE/^IL      MERMAID 


COMEDIES 

Audiences  want  more  like  "Crashing  Hollywood," 
depicting  the  studioland  capers  of  the  Ideal  Comedy 
Sensations,  those  ^'Hollywood  Girls."  Ideal  Come- 
dies will  provide  more  of  this  popular  type  as  well 
as  other  sure-fire  pictures  starring  some  of  the  big- 
gest names  in  stage  and  screen  comedy. 


COMEDIES 

For  more  than  a  decade  the  name  "Mermaid"  has 
been  synonymous  with  high  speed  and  laughter. 
There  is  vigorous  action  in  every  Mermaid  Comedy 
that  peps  up  any-  audience.  They're  mighty  hard  to 
equal  for*  laughing  purposes. 


COMEDIES 

TORCHY  IS  BACK!  The  popular  Sewell  Ford 
stories  promise  one  of  the  most  delightfully  enter- 
taining comedy  series  of  the  season.  And  Ray  Cooke 
is  a  "Torchy"  who  might  have  stepped  right  out  of 
the  pages  of  Ford's  stories  of  irrepressible  youth., 
Produced  by  C.  C.  Burr  at  Educational  Studios. 


ine-up  for  1931-1932 


lists  there^s  just  one  big  company 

fering  you  for  1931-1932  a  program 

(»  short  features   that  represents   its 

oole    effort,   its    whole    resources. 


Is  .  .  • 


^ictures  •  •  • 


mack\cnnctt 

CriEWITIES 

The  playground  of  Agua  Caliente  — Reno,  where 
they  grind  out  divorces  by  the  minute— and  ten  other 
subjects  of  equal  appeal.  With  their  humor  guar- 
anteed by  the  gireat  name  of  their  producer.  And  all 
photographed  in  natural  colors. 

LYMAN  H.HOWE'S 

HODGE-PODGE 


A  medley  of  oddities  from  here,  there  and  every- 
here.  Plenty  of  laughs,  now  and  then  a  thrill,  some- 
imes  maybe  a  tear.  But  always  a  moving  panorama 
of  the  strange  or  curious  or  wonderful  from  any 
part  of  the  world.  Edited  by  Robert  E.  Gillaum. 

COMEDIES  >• 

Short  rough-and-tumble  comedies,  packed  with 
action  from  the  jump.  With  popular  comedians. 
Direction  and  production  value  on  a  par  with  the 
best  two-reelers.  When  your  program  needs  just  a 
few  minutes  more  of  sure  laughs— Cameo  Comedies 
iare  the  thing. 


ONE  REEL 
SUBJECTS 


By  Frank  Moser  and  Paul  Terry 
Terry-toons  not  only  bring  the  greatest  line  of 
laughs  ever  packed  into  any  film  cartoons,  but  they 
add  a  lilting  swing  of  melody  that  your  patrons  just 
can't  resist.  Backed  up  this  season  by  one  of  the 
greatest  exploitation  ideas  yet.  Ask  about  it.  ^ 

^^  Jonroeus 

Hawaii,  Old  Mexico,  Algiers.  The  harems  of 
Morocco.  War  dances  in  Samoa.  Those  are  the 
dreamed-of  places  being  shown  in  their  natural  col- 
ors by  these  Romantic  Journeys,  with  their  thrilling 
stories  told  by  Claude  Flemming,  famous  world 
traveler.  Produced  by  Howard  C.  Brown  and  Curtis 
F.  Nagel.  :«'         ^'««4ftm^«si*>'"" 

CANIINDB^LS 

THE  PiilP 


PRODUCED  BY  MACK  SENNETT 

Man-eating  sharks!  Leaping  Tuna!  Fighting  marlin 
sword  fish!  Vicious  battles  to  the  death  in  the  depths 
of  the  sea.  A  great  new  series  made  by  Sennett  in 
years  of  fishing  off  the  Southern  Pacific  Coast. 


^^ShdAvCcvtlcixal  0  totuAji^ 


Q.^    ■ 


r-^  1 


"THE  SPICE  OFTHE  PROGRAM" 


yo " 


EDUCATIONAL  FILM  EXCHANGES,  Inc.,  e.  w.  hammons,  PreMem 


Member,  Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Distributors  of  America.  Inc.,  Will  H.  Hays.  President 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   June   24,    193 


Weak  Films  Imperil  theB.  O.— Franklin 


Public  Won't  Pay  for  Our 

Economic  Troubles, 

He  States 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

lin  declares.  "I  believe  it  obviously 
impossible  to  maintain  prices  for  in- 
ferior entertainment.  Today's  theatre 
prices  have  been  elevated  by  mounting 
costs  throughout  the  industry  at  the 
time  of  the  greatest  prosperity. 

Says   Exhibition    Changes 

"The  public  won't  continue  to  pay 
us  for  our  own  economic  troubles. 
Another  thing,  exhibition  has  changed. 
The  old  type  of  showmanship  largely 
is  gone.  Roxy,  Sid  Grauman  and 
many  others,  and  I  must  include  my- 
self, here  used  to  have  a  hand  in  pro- 
duction. 

"Where  are  your  leading  personal- 
ities in  show  business  today  ?  Nothing 
is  theoretically  wrong  with  circuit 
theatre  operation,  but  actually  the 
operation  is  entirely  wrong  and  kills 
oif  individualism  and  showman  per- 
sona, ity. 

"Showmanship  is  needed  here  in 
Hollywood  because  it's  a  direct  in- 
spiration here  in  production  head- 
quarters for  producers,  directors,  ac- 
tors, writers,  cameramen  and  all 
concerned.  A  series  of  big  theatre 
successes  here  will  put  production  in- 
dustry right  up  to  the  edge  of  finer 
and  better  things. 

"Success  or  failure  in  the  industry 
revolves  around  production,"  Frank- 
lin says,  "therefore  production  meth- 
ods are  of  deep  interest  to  the  entire 
industry.  It  is  of  particular  impor- 
tance to  exhibition,  because  produc- 
tion costs  are  in  a  measure  under- 
written by  the  theatres  of  America. 
Contractual  obligations  guarantee  the 
showing  ot  feature  releases  from  prac- 
tically all  studios,  before  completion. 
Because  of  this,  the  exhibition  end  of 
the  industry  is  'holding  the  bag'  and 
is  privileged  to  express  itself  on  this 
important  problem. 

"As  long  as  pictures  measured  up 
to  public  expectation  there  could  be 
no  justniable  criticism.  The  programs 
oi  the  past  years  as  a  whole  have  not, 
however,  measured  up  to  box-office 
expectations. 

Public    More    Critical 

"Pr(xiuction  gave  a  fairly  good  ac- 
count ot  Itself  during  the  early  days 
ot  sound;  however,  the  stimulated 
box-ottice  was  to  a  great  extent  due  to 
public  interest  in  sound  motion  pic- 
tures as  a  newly  perfected  device,  and 
not  because  of  the  pictures  shown. 
The  first  "talkies" — the  first  "musi- 
cals"— the  iirst  "westerns"  all  did 
business.  Having  passed  the  novelty 
stage,  the  public  has  become  more 
critical,  and  stay  away  from  box- 
(jffices  unless  pictures  of  merit  are 
shown.  Educated  through  the  press, 
radio  and  good  motion  pictures,  it  de- 
mands better  things  in  better  taste. 
Stimulated  Ijy  the  exciting  tempo  of 
our  times,  it  wants  action.  The  silent 
motion  picture  was  better  able  to  cope 
with  this  before  the  coming  of  sound. 
Speech  has  slowed  up  motion  pictures. 
It  was  much  easier  to  tell  a  story  in 
pantomime  than  in  speech  and  action. 
It  is  not  suthcient  to  borrow  stage 
plays  and  technique — ^the  sound  motion 


Bid  for  Kids — Franklin 

Hollywood — Effort  should  be  made  to  sell  the  40  per  cent  of  juvenile 
patrons  on  the  idea  of  film  entertainment,  Harold  B.  Franklin  declares. 

"It  has  been  estimated  that  over  40  per  cent  of  our  population  are 
persons  under  20  years  of  age.  If  production  is  to  be  influenced  by 
persons  of  more  mature  tendencies,  are  we  building  for  the  industry 
the  new  younger  patronage  to  whom  we  must  look  for  continued 
progress?  The  injection  of  a  youthful  viewpoint  is  therefore  neces- 
sary. The  ripe  and  tried  experience  of  our  best  production  abilities  and 
the  vim  and  courage  of  a  younger  element  will  make  an  unbeatable 
combination,  and  will  lead  production  into  higher  levels  of  enterprise." 


picture  must  evolve  a  technique  of  its 
own — it  must  develop  a  literature  of 
its  own,  that  will  interpret  situations 
with  regard  to  the  screen's  require- 
ments, and  that  will  'play'  naturally 
and  with  interest.  Development  along 
these  lines  will  come  from  within  the 
industry,  if  new  talent  is  given  every 
opportunity  to  express  itself. 

Lacking  In  Manpower 

"The  stress  and  strain  through 
which  production  is  now  passing  is 
due  to  a  great  extent  because  the  in- 
dustry has  not  developed  sufficient 
executive  manpower  to  keep  up  with 
the  demand  of  everlasting  chaiige. 
One  of  the  important  elements  in 
every  progressive  industry  is  its  re- 
search laboratory  organized  to  anti- 
cipate and  make  changes.  Industry 
recognizes  that  in  these  transient  days 
nothing  is  as  constant  as  change.  Com- 
mercial products  made  five  years  ago 
would  not  sell  today,  li  this  is  true  of 
automobiles  and  gas  ranges  it  cer- 
tainly must  be  true  of  motion  pic- 
tures. 

"Of  prime  necessity  is  a  constantly 
new  viewpoint,  which  can  only  come 
if  the  potent  production  executives 
draft  into  their  studios  talented  young 
men,  rate  them  as  associates,  and 
give  them  every  encouragement.  The 
complex  requirements  in  the  making 
of  an  entire  program  of  motion  pic- 
tures are  too  much  to  delegate  to  any 
one  individual,  no  matter  how  tal- 
ented. 

"Producing  executives  must  main- 
tain personal  contact  with  writers, 
directors,  players  and  technicians  to 
insure  a  quality  standard.  The  suc- 
cess of  most  pictures  depends  upon 
the  amount  of  time,  thought  and  ef- 
fort put  into  their  preparation.  This 
is  impossible  where  one  or  two  super- 
vise the  making  of  an  entire  program 
of  twenty  or  more  pictures. 

Vision    Is    Required 

"Where  a  studio  is  dominated  by 
one  individual  there  must  be  a  simi- 
larity in  the  pictures  that  come  from 
that  source.  Little  can  be  done  to 
build  studio  morale  or  loyalties  where 
responsibilities  and  rewards  are  not 
shared — where  there  is  a  lack  of  genu- 
ine enthusiasm.  Pictures  that  are  the 
result  of  high  pressure  routine  lack 
interest,  and  are  colorless. 

"They  are  created  without  vision ; 
their  characters  are  puppets  who  speak 
without  intelligence  and  conduct 
themselves  without  poise,  and  are  in- 
troduced in  unnatural  situations.  Too 
much  similarity  in  stories  indicates 
lack  of  initiative.  Many  pictures  of 
this  type  are  being  shown  on  the 
screens  of  the  country.  Is  it  any  won- 
der that  there  is  a  fading  public  in- 
terest in  motion  pictures?     If  the  mo- 


tion picture  is  to  hold  its  position  as 
America's  most  popular  entertainment 
and  continue  its  influence,  it  must  pull 
itself  out  of  the  rut  and  go  forward 
with  new  courage. 

"Top  production  heads  with  fore- 
sight will  divide  their  responsibility 
with  young  producers,  giving  them 
free  rein  and  encouragement.  This 
will  help  to  bring  the  fresh  viewpoint 
so  essential  in  a  creative  business. 
Dividing  production  responsibility  will 
inure  for  each  picture  proper  prep- 
aration and  production.  Stimulated 
through  competitive  effort,  these  pro- 
ducers will  generate  enthusiasm  and 
pride  in  their  work.  Each  picture 
will  be  the  visible  result  of  some  in- 
dividual. New  contracts  will  attract 
new  writers  and  new  personalities. 
Through  collective  effort  such  a  stu- 
dio will  capture  that  extra  something 
that  will  'feel'  the  public  pulse. 

"The  most  consistent  production  or- 
ganization in  the  industry  is  one  that 
started  with  plenty  of  producing  ex- 
ecutives. It  took  its  place  as  one  of 
the  great  producers  and  has  never 
receded  from  that  position." 

—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  — 

Famous  Deal  in 
Canada  Involves  136 

Toronto — Signing  of  the  ten-year 
contract  between  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corp.  and  Fox  Film  Corp. 
assures  the  showing  of  48  features  and 
104  news  reels  each  year  in  136  of 
the  Famous  Players  houses  through- 
out Canada.  While  this  is  the  longest 
contract  yet  signed  in  the  Dominion, 
Famous  Players  has  various  other 
important  booking  agreements.  The 
Canadian  company  has  a  contract  to 
show  a  selected  list  of  Warner  and 
First  National  features  at  its  theatres 
over  a  period  of  years  while  its  fran- 
chise with  Paramount  for  first  runs 
still  has  eight  years  to  run. 

While  the  contract  with  Fox  applies 
to  136  theatres.  Famous  Players  owns 
or  controls  203  theatres  in  the  Dp- 
minion,  this  total  being  practically 
one-fifth  of  all  the  theatres  in  the 
country. 

— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" — 

*'Ubangi"  to  Roxy 

The  Roxy  has  booked  "Ubangi"  for 
a  week  beginning  Friday.  T'ne  pic- 
ture, nationally  handled  by  William 
M.  Pizor  and  distributed  locally  by 
Capital  Film  Exchange,  is  one  of  the 
few  state  right  features  ever  to  play 
the  big  7th  Ave.  theatre.  The  plan 
is  to  show  "Ubangi"  at  morning  and 
supper  shows  with  a  Fox  picture  as 
the  main  attraction. 

Capital  has  also  sold  the  picture 
to  the  Brooklyn   Strand. 


Mastbaum  in 
Tough  Spot; 
Use  Pulmotor 


Philadelphia — In  a  desperate  ef- 
fort to  check  receding  grosses  at  th. 
Mastbaum,  the  flag-ship  of  the  Stan- 
ley-Warner chain  in  Philadelphia,  the 
exploitation  men  have  been  working 
overtime  to  concoct  new  stunts.  Last 
week's  feature,  a  wedding  each  night 
on  the  stage,  with  a  tie-up  with  local 
business  men  for  the  presents,  proved 
more  or  less  a  flop,  with  the  week 
grossing  less  than  the  previous  two. 
This  week,  the  Atenos,  European 
aerialist  troupe  are  giving  two  free 
shows  daily  on  a  mast  erected  on  the 
lawn  beside  the  theatre  to  attract 
crowds  to  the  sparsely  settled  neigh- 
borhood. 

Until  recently,  the  quality  and  quan- 
tity of  the  Mastbaum  shows  have  been 
enough  to  overcome  the  natural  handi- 
caps of  the  theatre's  location,  but  the 
May  grosses  set  a  new  low  record, 
with  various  unofficial  estimates  that 
the  house  went  into  the  "red"  for 
am.ounts  listed  from  $15,000  to  $30,000. 
With  the  Boyd  out,  the  Mastbaum  is 
counted  to  bring  in  close  to  40  per 
cent  of  the  Stanley- Warner  downtown 
theatre  gross.  Hence  the  natural  de- 
sire to  keep  the  weekly  figure  in  keep- 
ing with  the  terriffic  "nut"  of  the 
shows. 

Located  at  20th  and  Market  streets, 
the  Mastbaum  is  one  of  the  pioneers 
in  the  new  Rialto  that  is  supposed  to 
manifest  itself  when  the  new  Penn- 
sylvania Station  is  completed  and  the 
new  Post  Office  and  Federal  Building 
makes  its  appearance  in  the  vicinity 
of  30th  and  Market  streets.  Being 
a  pioneer,  it  is  off  the  beaten  track  of 
the  amusement  center.  A  Mastbaum 
patron  knows  just  where  he  is  going 
when  he  leaves  home.  The  house 
has  little  or  no  opportunity  for  "drop- 
in"  trade. 

This  location  handicap  has  mani- 
fested itself  quite  definitely  in  the 
case  of  the  Erlanger,  a  legit  house  of 
the  Erlanger  chain,  located  one  block 
westward  at  20th  and  Market  Sts. 
This  theatre  has  been  unable  to  play 
any  more  than  35  per  cent  of  its  time 
since  its  erection  four  years  ago.  RKO 
took  it  for  a  season,  but  failed  to 
make  a  go  of  it.  At  this  section  of 
Market  street,  there  is  no  subway 
elevated  station  nearer  than  five 
blocks,  while  the  surface  service  is 
slim,  making  both  theatres  hard  of 
access.  On  account  of  lack  of  de- 
velopment of  the  section  as  yet,  the 
adjoining  store  properties  of  both  the- 
atres, aimed  to  cut  down  the  heavy 
real-estate  overhead,  have  failed  to 
acquire  many  permanent  tenants 


"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 


Myers  Starts  Circuit 


\ 


Dallas — J.  W.  Myers,  formerly  of 
New  York,  is  establishing  a  circuit 
in  this  state  and  in  Louisiana.  He 
contemplates  about  fifteen  theatres  in 
the  two  states. 


Wednesday,  June  24,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


^Long  Legs" 
Strong  in  2nd 
N,  Y.  Stanza 


"Daddy  Long  Legs,"  in  its  second 
Roxy  week,  gave  that  theatre  more 
money  on  its  seven  days  holdover 
than  the  house  has  been  nabbing  with 
one  week  stands.  At  $77,500,  "Long 
Legs"  was  strong  and  sent  the  busi- 
ness for  its  14  day  run  up  to  a  total 
of  $178,383. 

Shearer  in  "A  Free  Soul"  tapered 
off  a  bit  at  the  Astor  last  week, 
grossing  $18,410  as  compared  with 
$20,181  the  week  before.  Over  at 
the  Capitol,  the  going  was  a  bit 
brighter  with  "Just  a  Gigolo"  on  the 
screen  and  Ted  Lewis  on  the  stage, 
rolling  up  a  $60,360  week,  which  was 
exactly  $10,054  ahead  of  "Never  the 
Twain  Shall  Meet,"  housed  in  that 
theatre  the  preceding  week.  Not 
much  fuss  is  being  made  over  "The 
Five  Year  Plan"  at  the  Central,  but 
the  picture  has  consistently  hung 
around  the  $10,000  mark  during  its 
run,  now  rounding  its  fourth  week. 

"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  dropped 
from  $14,500  to  $13,400  last  week, 
which  doesn't  affect  the  steady  clip 
the  Chevalier  picture  is  maintaining 
at  the  diminutive  Criterion.  With  the 
advent  of  "Chances"  at  the  Holly- 
wood, business  spurted  to  $16,454, 
which  is  plenty  in  view  of  the  $8,736 
that  marked  the  sixth  and  final  week 
of  "Svengali"  at  that  house.  The 
Mayfair  seems  to  have  hit  the  dol- 
drums for  a  permanent  stay,  manag- 
ing to  eke  out  an  average  these  days 
of  $15,000  on  its  week,  "Transgres- 
|sion"  last  week  actually  doing  $14,750. 
!  Business  at  the  Paramount  went  up 
$4,200  last  week  with  "I  Take  This 
'Woman"  on  the  screen  and  Rudy  Val- 
[lee  on  the  stage  to  a  gross  of  $57,800. 
I  The  rest  of  the  street  finds  the 
J  process  of  parting  the  public  from  its 
[shekels  pretty  tough  pickings. 
i  Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
I  ending  June  18  : 
'  "A  FREE  SOUL"   (M-G-M) 

I      ASTOR— (1,120),  50c-$2,  3rd  week,  7  days, 
i  Gross:    $18,410. 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"   (M-G-M) 
I      CAPITOL— (4,700),  35c-?J1.50,  7  days.  Stage 
I  show,  Ted  Lewis  and  his  Jubilee  Jamboree. 
.  Gross:    $60,360. 

"FIVE     YEAR     PLAN"     (Amkino) 
CENTRAL— (910),    50c-$1.50,    3rd    week,    7 
days.     Gross,   $10,200. 

"SMILING  LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 
CRITERIOPM— (850),    50c-$2,    4th    week,    7 
days.     Gross:   $13,400. 

EMBASSY  (All  Newsreel) 
EMBASSY— (598),     25c,     7     days.     Gross: 
$7,559. 

"CHANCES"   (F.  N.) 
HOLLYWOOI>— (1,549),    65c-85c,    7    days. 
j  Gross:    $16,454. 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 
i      MAYFAIR— (2,300),  40c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$14,750. 

"I   TAKE   THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,700),    40c-$l,     7     days. 

I  Stage   show,   headlining   Libby   Holman   and 

Rudy   Vallee   and   his   Connecticut   Yankees. 

Gross:    $57,800. 

,  "ANIMAL       CRACKERS"       (Para.)       and 

"ALL   QUIET    ON    WESTERN    FRONT" 

(Univ.) 

i      RIALTO— (1,904),    40c-$l,    7    days.    Gross: 

$4,500. 
1  "NIGHT   ANGEL"    (Para.) 

'       RIVOLI— (2,103),    40c4'l,    7    days.     Gross: 
$23  400 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
ROXY— (6,200),     S0c-$1.50,     7     days,     2nd 
week.     Stage    show.     Gross:    $77,500. 

"BIG  BUSINESS   GIRL"   (F.   N.) 
STRAND— (3.000),   3,5c-$l,   7   days.    Gross: 
$11,838. 

"THREE    LOVES"    (German) 
WARNERS— (1.490).    35c-7.5c,    3    rd    week, 
7  days.     Gross:  $3,594. 

"THE    MALTESE    FALCON"     (Warners) 
WINTER    GARDEN— (1,493),    35c-$'l,    3rd 
and  last  week,   7  days.     Gross:   $24,000. 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


"Full  of  Notions'' 

{  Radio) 

Hollywood — The  manner  in  which 
a  preview  audience  roared  with  glee 
at  this  new  Woolsey-Wheeler  vehicle 
stamps  it  as  one  of  the  funniest  of 
their  pictures.  Much  of  the  credit 
is  due  to  Douglas  MacLean,  asso- 
ciate producer,  who  wrote  the  story, 
and  to  Ralph  Spence  for  his  dialogue. 

Dorothy  Lee,  who  has  appeared  with 
this  comedy  duo  in  a  number  of  pro- 
ductions, was  greeted  with  a  round 
of  applause  when  she  made  her  first 
appearance  on  the  screen.  There  are 
two  good  song  numbers  which  make 
happy  interludes.  Jason  Robards 
made  a  hit  as  the  villain  of  the 
story.  William  A.  Seiter  directed 
and  kept  the  laughs  rolling  along. 


Short  Subjects 
The  Lure  of  Hollywood 

(Educational) 
Portraying  the  tough  experiences 
of  extras  seeking  work  in  the  studios. 
Just  as  two  girls  are  about  to  return 
home,  after  trying  unsuccessfully  to 
get  into  film  work,  they  get  a  lucky 
break  and  are  hired,  only  to  be  fired 
when  a  boy  friend,  jealous  of  the  at- 
tentions being  paid  to  them  bv  the 
male  star,  played  by  Bryant  Wash- 
burn, starts  to  hurl  pies.  Not  in  the 
old  days  have  so  many  pies  been  used 
in  a  comedy.  Directed  by  William 
Goodrich.    Running  time,  20  minutes. 


Trouble  from  a  Broad 

(RKO) 
Ford  Sterling  and  Lucien  Little- 
field  work  hard  to  garner  what  laughs 
there  are  in  this  concoction  of  the 
reunion  of  a  group  of  former  army 
officers.  The  gags  center  about  Fifi, 
the  French  dame  who  is  true  to  the 
whole  army,  and  who  becomes  annoy- 
ing when  inadvertently  told  to  use 
Sterling's  room  in  the  hotel.  Occupy- 
ing adjacent  rooms  and  accompanied 
by  their  wives,  the  fun  gets  going 
when  the  men  try  to  get  rid  of  the 
girl,  only  to  have  their  spouses  spy 
her.    Running  time,  10  minutes. 


Fisherman's  Luck 

(RKO  Pathe) 
An  Aesop  Fable  with  plenty  of 
novel  ideas,  especially  the  scenes  under 
water  where  the  fisherman  is  taken 
for  a  ride — an  enjoyment  ride — and 
meets  his  light  of  love  in  the  form 
of  a  fish.  Synchronizing  is  well  done 
with  a  number  of  catchy  and  melodi- 
ous tunes.    Running  time,  10  minutes. 


Strange  As  It  Seems  No.  9 

(Universal) 
The  magazine  of  the  screen  lists  a 
number  of  oddities  in  Multicolor,  the 
features  of  this  issue  consisting  of  a 
woman  and  her  daughter  who  have 
twelve  feet  of  hair  between  them ;  a 
Wisconsin  attorney  with  a  beard 
which  he  swears  he'll  not  snip  off 
until  prohibition  is  knocked  out ;  the 
cobra  plant  which  eats  flies,  mice  and 
other  vermin ;  an  East  Indian  who  al- 
lows himself  to  be  buried  for  three 
hours ;  two  women  who  operate  a  tele- 
phone company  in  Washington,  and 
Gov.  Ralph  Rolph,  Jr.,  of  (Talifornia, 
who  always  wears  boots,  doffing  them 
and  donning  them  for  the  benefit  of 
his  audience.  Running  time,  10  min- 
utes. 


Blue  Grass  Kings 

(RKO  Pathe) 
A  Grantland  Rice  Sportlight  deal- 
ing entirely  with  racing  horses.  A 
number  of  important  runners  are 
shown  in  addition  to  a  trip  to  the 
C.  V.  Whitnev  farm  at  Lexington, 
Ky.,  and  the  C.  V.  Whitney  stables 
at  Belmont,  N.  Y.  For  a  crack  wind- 
up  the  classic  derby  at  Churchill 
Downs.  Louisville,  is  shown.  Will 
certainly  please  turf  fans  and  for 
others  will  probably  prove  interest- 
ing.    Running   time,    10   minutes. 


Monkey  Business  in 
Africa 

(  Sennett-Educational ) 
A  travesty  on  African  adventure 
pictures,  with  Andy  Clyde,  Marjorie 
Beebe,  Frank  Eastman,  Luis  Alberni 
and  George  Gray  furnishing  the 
laughs.  Clyde  heads  a  picture  company 
that  invades  Africa  for  authentic  local 
color,  and  encounters  funny  adven- 
tures with  lions,  alligators,  snakes  and 
the    like.    Running   time,   22   minutes. 


On  the  Spot 

(RKO) 
Humanette  No.  12  and  using  the  gag 
of  the  reporter  sent  out  on  a  scoop 
and  then  delivering  it  over  the  phone 
to  the  wrong  paper.  Done  in  the  usual 
style  with  the  actions  of  the  heads 
coordinating  with  the  movements  of 
the  miniature  costumes.  Eddie  Border 
has  a  fast  line  of  patter.  Running 
time,  10  minutes. 


'Stepping  Out' 

And  Topsy  Hit 

Top  in  Cincy 


Cincinnati  —  Whether  it  was 
"Stepping  Out"  on  the  screen,  or 
Rosetta  ("Topsy")  Duncan  plus  a 
good  bill  on  the  stage,  or  a  combina- 
tion of  both,  that  kept  the  turnstiles 
clicking  at  the  RKO  Albee  is  not 
known.  The  fact  remains,  however, 
that  this  ace  house  again  ran  away 
with  the  field,  as  it  has  done  for  the 
past  several  weeks.  The  intake  hit 
$24,260,  topping  par  by  $2,260. 

All  of  the  houses  except  two  went 
better  than  average,  although  the  two 
exceptions  were  only  a  comparatively 
few  dollars  shy  of  the  mark. 

Comparisons  of  figures  show  that 
business  is  running  far  ahead  of 
similar  periods  of  last  year. 

Estimated    takings     for    the    week 
ending  June  19: 
"THE  PRIVATE  SECRETARY"  (German) 

ERLANGER  GRANI>  OPERA  HOUSE— 
(1,600),  30c-50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $4,750. 
(Average,    $4,500.) 

"SIX   CYLINDER    LOVE"    (Fox) 

KEITH'S— (1,600),  30c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,000.     (Average,   $4,500.) 

"STEPPING    OUT"    (M-G-M) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300),  35c-50c-65c-75c,  7 
days.  Vaudeville  with  Rosetta  Duncan 
headlined.  Gross:  $24,260.  (Average,  $22,- 
000.) 

"VICE    SQUAD"    (Para.) 

RKO  CAPITOI^(2,000),  30c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $12,433.       (Average,    $13,000.) 

"TOO  YOUNG   TO  MARRY"   (F.  N.) 

RKO      FAMILY— (1,140),     20c-25c-35c,     4 
days.      Gross:    $2,288.      (Average,    $1,950.) 
"THE    TWO-GUN    MAN"    (Tiff.) 

RKO     FAMILY— (1,140),     20c-25c-35c,     3 
days.     Gross:  $1,232.     (Average,  $1,050.) 
"YOUNG    SINNERS"    (Fox) 

RKO  LYRIC— (1,400),  30c-50c,  7  days 
plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$11,870.      (Average,    $12,000.) 

"WOMEN   OF   ALL   NATIONS"    (Fax) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700),  30c-50c,  7  days 
plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$13,718.      (Average,   $14,000.) 

"OTHER    MEN'S    WIVES"    (Warners) 

RKO  STRAND— (1,350),  25c-40c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,064.      (Average,    $3,500.) 


The  Bandmaster 

(  Universal) 
Oswald,  the  lucky  rabbit,  leads  a 
German  band  in  this  short,  which 
strays  from  its  original  theme  and  in- 
cludes some  gags  that  wring  laughs 
from  an  audience.  Running  time,  6 
minutes. 


Blues 

(Educational) 
This  Terry-toon  is  laid  in  the 
.South,  with  human  and  animal  char- 
acters bursting  into  song  at  frequent 
intervals.  It  is  on  a  par  with  former 
cartoons  of  this  series.  Running  time, 
6  minutes. 


She  Snoops  to  Conquer 

(RKO  Pathe) 
Daphne  Pollard  is  again  seen  doing 
her  usual  stuff — that  of  the  practical 
nuisance.  In  this  number  she  joins 
the  women's  police  force  and  sets  out 
to  put  an  end  to  all  vice.  She  pulls 
a  couple  of  boners  and  that  ends  her 
affiliation  with  the  department.  Run- 
ning time,  20  minutes. 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  — 

Warners  Sign  Team 

The  team  composed  of  Thelma 
White  and  Fanny  Watson,  known  as 
"The  Girl  Friends,"  has  been  signed 
by  Warners  to  star  in  six  of  the 
twelve  two  reel  "Big  Star  Comedies" 
to  be  produced  by  Vitaphone.  Thelma 
White  has  already  appeared  in  eight 
shorts  made  during  the  current  sea- 
son at  the  Brooklyn  Vitaphone 
Studio. 


Wrong  Title 

In  the  Montreal  box-office  reports, 
published  Monday,  the  title  of  the 
picture  playing  at  the  Princess  The- 
atre was  given  as  "Easy  Money."  It 
should  have  been  "Meet  the  Wife." 
— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" — 

Author  Sues  DeMille 
Over  "Boatmen" 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

allegedly  seeking  as  a  talker  remake 
with  Lawrence  Tibbett. 

De  Mille  discarded  the  original  and 
re-wrote  it  himself,  according  to 
claims  made  by  Bercovici,  who  now 
sues  for  $50,000  damages  on  the 
strength  of  the  reputed  De  Mille 
statement.  The  injunction  is  to  pre- 
vent sale  of  any  of  the  rights  in  the 
story. 

The  office  of  Nathan  Burkan,  repre- 
senting De  Mille,  has  no  comment  to 
make. 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  — 

Managers  Switched 

Hamilton,  Ont. — Famous  Players 
Canadian  corp  has  made  two  mana- 
gerial changes  here.  Robert  Knevels, 
formerly  manager  of  the  TivoH,  has 
been  appointed  manager  of  the  Capitol 
in  succession  to  Leonard  Bishop,  re- 
signed. E.  E.  Geyer,  of  the  Toronto 
head  office  staff,  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  the  Tivoli.  Bishop  previ- 
ously had  theatres  in  Ottawa,  Calgary 
and  Winnipeg. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   June  24,    1931 


Twin  Bill  Ban 
Seen  As  Aid 
To  Chi  Offices 


Chicago  exchange  mangers  are  look- 
ing forward  to  September  1,  the  date 
set  by  independent  and  circuit  owners 
for  dropping  double  features,  which 
IS  expected  to  prove  a  great  stimulant 
to  business  there,  Joe  Vergesslich, 
Chicago  branch  manager  for  Warner- 
First  "National,  now  in  New  York, 
told  Motion   Picture  Daily. 

In  the  first  place,  the  distributors 
will  be  able  to  get  more  money  for 
their  product  when  the  twin-bill  policy 
is  curtailed,  he  said,  and  with  all  the- 
atres playing  single  bills,  these  f^-a- 
tures  will  have  to  stand  on  their  mer- 
its. Exhibitors  will  choose  product 
they  think  best  and  in  the  long  run 
will  benefit  by  elimination  of  a  fea- 
ture from  double  film  programs,  he 
believes.  Vergesslich  said  that  there 
is  only  one  house  in  Chicago  playing 
triple  films  and  this  policy  will  also 
be    stopped    on    September    1. 

Vergesslich  returns  to  the  Windy 
City  either  Thursday  or  Friday  after 
winding  up  details  on  the  Balaban  and 
Katz  deal  with  home  office  executives. 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"^ 

White  Gets  New  Post; 
Film  Probe  Seen  Dead 

(Continued   from   page    1 ) 

by  the  Federal  authorities  and  the 
time  limit  for  Parliamentary  action 
on  that  report  has  expired.  The 
switching  of  White  to  the  Bauhar- 
nous  inquiry,  which  is  the  latest 
political  football,  is  taken  to  mean,  in 
some  quarters,  that  the  film  probe  is 
a  thing  of  the  past. 

—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"- 

Patten  Blasts  Trade; 
Hays  Tie-in  Denied 

(Continued   from   parte    1) 

Hollywood,  quoted  Patten  as  stating 
the  bankers  were  ready  to  move  in  as 
part  of  a  potential  plan  to  revamp  the 
industry  on  a  United  States  Steel 
plan.  Among  other  statements  at- 
tributed to  him  was  comment,  consid- 
ered not  so  nice,  about  producers  and 
relatives  and   fat  jobs. 

The  Hays  organization  officially  dis- 
claimed Patten  and  his  alleged  con- 
nection. "He  was  secretary  of  the 
California  association  eight  years  ago 
and  now,  after  a  long  period  of  si- 
lence, appears  in  print  as  a  'deputy 
extraordinary'  to  Will  Hays.  This 
is  not  the  truth,"  a  Hays  spokesman 
said. 
— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW"— 

Writers  Seek  End  of 
Story  Duplication 

(Continued   from    pane    I  ) 

used  instead  of  plays  and  novels,  it  is 
learned,  and  recommend  more  efficient 
story  readers  at  increased  salaries. 
The  committee's  report  will  be  sub- 
mitted to  producers  next  week  with 
meeting  expected  to  follow  between 
the  two  groups.  Rupert  Hughes  pre- 
sided at  the  meeting. 

—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Marilyn  Recovering 

Hollywood  —  Marilyn  Miller  is 
rallying  at  Hollywood  Hospital  fol- 
lowing an  operation  for  appendicitis. 


Want  Sunday  Shows 

Cleveland— Petitions  con- 
taining 9,014  signatures  ask- 
ing for  Sunday  shows  in 
Cleveland  Heights  were  pre- 
sented to  the  Heights  coun- 
cil. George  Harthorne,  city 
solicitor,  stated  that  the  issue 
will  be  formally  presented  to 
the  council  on  June  29.  The- 
atre owners  in  Cleveland 
Heights  declare  that  practi- 
cally 66  per  cent  of  the 
Heights  voters  favor  Sunday 
movies. 


Quebec  Tightens 
School  Censorship 

Montreal — Censorship  of  pictures 
for  presentation  in  parish  schools  and 
church  halls  in  the  province  of  Que- 
bec has  been  tightened  considerably 
by  the  new  chairman  of  the  censor 
board.  Censorship  of  this  type  has 
been  largely  a  matter  of  form,  but 
the  recent  protests  of  exhibitors,  in 
whose  theatres  children  under  16  can- 
not be  admitted,  that  some  of  the  pic- 
tures shown  were  not  fitted  for  juven- 
ile minds,  resulted  in  the  censors' 
action. 

— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Large  Ottawa  House 
Changes  Name,Policy 

Ottawa — B.  F.  Keith's  is  scheduled 
to  close  at  the  end  of  June  for  general 
remodelling  and  will  re-open  August  2 
with  an  entirely  new  Dolicv  under  the 
name  of  the  Capitol.  The  house, 
which  is  the  largest  in  the  Canadian 
capital  with  its  2,592  seats,  was 
onened  ten  years  ago  as  a  Loew 
theatre,  but  was  acquired  by  Keith- 
A.lbee  interests  six  years  ago  when 
Toe  Franklin  took  charge.  For  two 
vears  it  has  presented  pictures 
exclusively. 

—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Buys  Halliday  Contract 

Hollywood— -John  Halliday's  con- 
tract has  been  purchased  from  War- 
ners bv  William  Le  Baron,  Radio 
production  head.  He  will  first  appear 
'n  "Consolation  Marriage,"  starring 
Irene  Dunne. 

— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Mertz  Back  at  Cleve. 

CiNXiNNATr — Al  Mertz,  who  was 
recently  transferred  here  from  Cleve- 
land to  manage  the  RKO  exchange, 
has  been  transferred  back  to  Cleveland 
to  his  former  position  as  manager. 
Ralph   Kinsler   succeeds   Mertz  here. 

—"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW"— 

Hamilton  Rialto  Closed 

Hamilton,  O. — The  Rialto,  which 
Paramount  recently  acquired  through 
lease,  has  been  closed  and  may  be  con- 
\crted  into  a  business  room.  No 
announcement  has  been  made  as  to 
future  of  the  Regent,  vaudefilm,  ac- 
quired in  the  same  deal.  The  house 
has  been  dark  for  past  year. 

— "BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW — 

Hutchinson  Promoted 

Oklahoma  City — Warners  haye 
appointed  Robert  Hutchinson  general 
manager  of  all  their  theatres  in  this 
city,  succeeding  Leto  J.  Hill,  resigned. 
Hutchinson  was  manager  of  the 
Liberty  many  years. 


Chicago  Union 
Officials  Face 
Murder  Charge 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
chacl  Ahearn,  Al  Capone's  personal 
attorney.  Four  other  union  officials 
were  arrested  Sunday  but  their  appre- 
hension was  kept  secret  to  prevent 
release  on  habeas  corpus  proceedings. 
They  are :  Danny  Station,  alleged 
Capone  racketeer  facing  a  Wisconsin 
murder  charge  in  the  killing  of  Jack 
Zuta,  gangster,  last  summer ;  Ralph 
O'Hara,  assistant  to  Tom  Maloy ; 
Jack  Quinn  and  Edward  Donovan, 
union  organizers.  All  of  them  were 
scheduled  to  go  before  the  Grand 
Jury   Tuesday. 

Assistant  State's  Attorney  Charles 
Lounsbury  and  Charles  Bellows  are 
after  murder  indictments.  Meanwhile, 
the  union  is  reported  to  have  met 
secretly  and  authorized  officers  to  use 
funds,  estimated  at  $250,000,  to  op- 
pose prosecution  of  officers  and  the 
investigation. 

Nine  witnesses,  whose  identity  has 
been  guarded  to  prevent  possible  mis- 
hap have  been  summoned  to  tell  the 
grand  jury  of  the  Kaufman  murder 
and  furnish  a  description  of  the  slay- 
er. Kaufman  was  a  member  of  the 
operators'  union  here  for  15  years 
but  four  years  ago  campaigned  for 
Henry  Gusenberg  in  the  union  against 
Maloy.  Since  he  has  been  regarded 
as  an  insurgent  punished  by  frequent 
unemployment  and  assignments  to  low 
pay  theatres. 

At  the  time  of  the  last  election, 
Maloy  is  said  to  have  heard  that 
Gusenberg's  brothers,  alleged  gang- 
sters, planned  to  control  the  balloting 
by  force  and  so  asked  for  police  pro- 
tection. Coppers  with  rifles  and  ma- 
chine guns  stood  guard  while  Maloy 
was  elected.  A  few  months  later 
Frank  and  Peter  Gusenberg,  who  were 
said  to  be  identified  with  the  "Bugs" 
Moral)  gang,  were  among  the  victims 
in   the    St.   Valentine's   day   massacre. 

Kaufman  remained  an  insurgent  and 
was  to  have  testified  Monday  against 
the  union.  His  assassination  reopens 
the  murder  of  Patrick  Kind,  brother- 
in-law  of  the  Gusenbergs  and  a  pro- 
jectionist, who  was  shot  two  vears 
ago  in  a  vacant  building  adjoininr? 
union  headquarters. 

The  grand  jury  investigation  is  pro- 
gressing, meanwhile.  Union  inembers 
are  said  to  have  been  instructed  to 
resist  arrest  unless  served  with  a  war- 
rant or  grand  jury  subpoenri. 

"I  will  take  by  the  ears  any  member 
T  want,"  Lounsbury  declares. 


Maloy's  Brother  Also 
Under  Fire  in  Chi 

Chicago — The  Cook  County  June 
grand  jury,  hearing  racket  and  con- 
spiracy testimony  against  the  Chicago 
operators'  union,  has  recommended 
that  Assistant  States  Attorney  Cha-les 
E.  Lounsbury  present  a  portion  of  his 
evidence  to  the  civil  service  commis- 
sion for  possible  trial  charges  against 
Joe  Maloy,  head  of  the  city's  opera- 
tors' permit  department. 

Maloy,  who  is  a  brother  of  Tom 
Maloy,  business  manager  of  the  Op- 
erators' Union,  is  charged  with  being 
the  key  man  in  the  union  officials' 
revenue  racket  by  the  state's  attorney's 
office.  He  is  charged  with  having 
issued  operators'  permits  indiscrimi- 
nately and  even  fraudulently,  with  the 


Appeal  Taken 
On  Copyright 
Adverse  Rule 


(Continued   from  page    1) 

was  expressed  by  any  court.  It  was 
made  not  after  a  trial  but  upon  a 
preliminary  motion  made  shortly  after 
the  actions  were  instituted ;  and  an 
apjieal  has  been  taken. 

According  to  Gabriel  L.  Hess,  at- 
torney for  the  distributors  in  these 
matters.  Judge  Morton  based  his  de- 
cision upon  the  fact  that  motion  pic- 
tures were  commercially  unknown  at 
the  time  the  Copyright  law  was  en- 
acted in  1909.  Hess  stated  Judge 
Morton  overlooked  the  fact  that  mo- 
tion pictures  were  not  only  copyright- 
able before  1909,  but  that  court  de- 
cisions previous  to  1909  had  sus- 
tained their  right  to  copyright,  citing 
Edison  vs.  Lubin,  122  Fed.  240  (1903) 
and  American  Mutoscope  etc.  vs.  Edi- 
son Mfg.  Co.,  137  Fed.  262  (1905). 
—"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  — 

Brandt  to  Stagger 
Studio  Operation 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

production  proceed  by  spurts  that  the 
studio  can  be  kept  open  the  year  round. 
"This  is  an  experiment  to  stagger 
production  over  an  entire  year," 
Brandt  told  Motion  Picture  Daily 
yesterday.  "I  don't  know  how  it  will 
work  out,  but  we're  going  to  try  it." 


Hollywood — Al  Brandt,  brother  of 
Joe,    is    reported    improved.      He    is 
suffering  from  cancer. 
— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  — 

Film  Shortage  Closes 
Rivoli  in  Baltimore 

(Continued   from    page    1) 

Frank  Price,  Jr.,  manager  of  that 
playhouse,  to  close  June  19  at  mid- 
night to  remain  closed  until  July  18. 
Price  gave  notice  to  all  newspapers 
and  others  interested  as  soon  as  he  re- 
turned from  New  York,  where  he 
attended  the  convention  of  the  Ad- 
vertising Federation  of  America. 

— "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  — 

Okays  Stench  Bomb  Bill 

Austin,  Tex. — The  governor  has 
signed  the  stench  bomb  bill.  The  new- 
law  will  impose  heavy  fines  and  jail 
penalties  on  parties  found  guilty  of 
setting  stench  bombs  in  theatres 
henceforth. 


newly  licensed  men  returning  ten  per 
cent  of  their  salaries  to  the  union,  of 
which  they  were  not  members,  but 
who  issued  them  special  working  per- 
mits. 

The  testimony  of  11  operators  has 
been  heard  thus  far  in  the  course  nf 
the  investigation.  One  operator  \\a^ 
reported  to  have  testified  that  he  coiilil 
not  read  or  write  and  took  the  ex- 
aminations with  the  aid  of  an  ex- 
perienced operator.  Another  operator 
testified  he  had  listed  two  Seattle  the- 
atres which  did  not  exist  as  references 
for  his  apprenticeship.  A  city  ordi- 
nance requires  that  operators  have  a 
minimum  of  one  year's  experience  in 
a  theatre  before  being  licensed. 

It  was  estimated  that  Tom  Maloy 
collected  $300,000  annually  from  the 
permit  men. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  22 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  25,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


66 


Give  Wanger 
Liberty''  and 
Lots  of  Dough 

Relations  With  Para.  Are 
Entirely  Severed 

Several  things  have  happened  to 
Walter  Wanger  in  the  last  few  days : 

1 — He  is  all  through  at  Paramount. 
Which  means  that,  for  the  moment  at 
least,  he  is  out  of  work. 

2— A  t  w  o- 
y  e  a  r  contract 
signed  on  April 
28  which,  when 
drafted,  includ- 
ed a  number  of 
financial  provi- 
sions covered  in 
his  old  agree- 
ment has  been 
settled  for  cash, 
a  g  g  r  e  g  a  t  ing 
somewhere  be- 
tween $400,000 
and  $500,000. 
While  Wanger 
has  no  office  to 
report  to  this 
morning,  h  i  s 
bank  account,  on 
the  other  hand,  is  very  sizably  swelled. 

Nathan    Burkan,    who    represented 

(Continued  on   page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Zoning  Problem  Is 
Cause  of  Coast  Wait 

Hollywood — General  buying  move- 
ment here  is  delayed  by  the  zoning 
problem.  Fox  West  Coast  hasn't 
made  its  new  demands  and  most  ex- 
hibitors are  stalling  on  the  question. 
The  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  is  not  represented 
here  and  the  Allied  organization  heads 
are  advising  against  buying  until  fall 
to      avoid      "cutting      one      another's 


Walter    Wanger 


throats." 

F,W,C,  Buys  in  June, 
July,  Oldknow  States 

Hollywood  —  Oscar  S.  Oldknow 
says  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres  now  is 
negotiating  for  new  season's  releases, 
in  connection  with  the  "Buy  Right  But 
Buy  Now  Movement."  The  custom  of 
the  company  for  the  last  several  years 
has  been  to  buy  during  June  and  July 
and  there  is  no  reason  to  end  this 
policy  now,  he  states. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

National  Supply  Cuts 
Range  from  10  to  33 

Price  cuts  of  National  Theatre  Sup- 
ply Co.,  effective  July  1  range  from 
ten  to  33   1-3   per  cent,  the  company 

(Continued  on  paye  2) 


Stocks  Rally 

Motion  Picture  stocks  par- 
ticipated vigorously  in  the 
stock  market  rally  Wednes- 
day, heavy  buying  coming  into 
RKO,  Paramount  and  Fox 
when  the  general  market 
turned  upward. 

Eastman  Kodak  enjoyed  a 
characteristically  wide  run- 
up, while  there  was  a  heavy 
turnover  in  RKO,  which 
closed  2  points  higher.  New 
highs  on  the  current  rally 
were  reached  by  Paramount, 
Fox  and  General  Theatres, 
while  on  the  curb  market, 
General  Theatres  preferred. 
Fox  Theatres  and  'Trans-Lux 
were  well  taken  at  rising 
levels.  Amusement  bonds  par- 
ticipated in  the  general  im- 
provement, General  Theatres 
convertibles  featuring. 


MiUiken  Out 
In  Huff  Over 
Church  Stand 


Washington — Carl  E.  Milliken  is 
reported  resigning  from  the  adminis- 
tration board  of  the  Federal  Council 
of  Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 
The  reason  is  criticism  of  the  Hays 
organization  by  the  church  organiza- 
tions. 

Milliken  is  understood  to  have  re- 
signed because  of  a  forthcoming  re- 
port on  activities  of  the  council  criti- 
cising the  Hays  organization.  This 
report  is  said  to  have  been  prompted 
by  payments  to  members  of  religious 

(,Contint^ed  on  page  2) 


BRIBERY  CHARGED 
IN  CHI  UNION  JAM 


Maurice  Gets 
New  Contract 
R-i-g-h-t  N-o-w 

Maurice  Chevalier's  old  contract 
with  Paramount  has  been  torn  up  and 
a  new  one  signed  which,  it  is  under- 
stood, calls  for  a  series  of  six  or 
more  pictures.  Thus  comes  to  an  end 
speculation,  rife  for  several  months, 
that  the  French  comedian  might  hang 
his  hat  elsewhere. 

Chevalier  had  three  pictures  to  make 
under  the  terms  of  the  contract  which 
antedated  the  new  pact  and  these,  he 
told  Motion  Picture  Daily  last 
January  when  reports  had  it  he  might 

(Continued  on  page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Conspiracy  Charged 
To  Detroit  Co-op 

Detroit — Conspiracy  and  discrimi- 
nation are  charged  against  the  Co-op- 
erative Theatre  Service  Corp.,  Ray 
Moon,  Carl  W.  Burmele,  Ben  and 
Louis  Cohen  in  suit  brought  against 
the  exhibitors'  buying  combine  by 
Fine  Arts  Amusement  Co.,  headed  by 
Jacob   Schreiber. 

Schreiber  charges  the  co-operative 
with  using  his  offices  to  buy  film  away 
from  him  and  for  the  Cohen  broth- 
ers.     He  also   charges   the  organiza- 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


"Buy  Now,  "  Urges  Lightman 

Memphis— Why  M.  A.  Lightman,  president  of  the  M.P.T.O.A.,  sub- 
scribes to  the  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now"  movement: 

"One  outstanding  means  of  relieving  depression  is  for  every- 
one to  lend  as  much  support  to  business 
activity  right  now  as  possible.  Exhibitors 
must  ultimately  buy,  so  there  is  nothing 
to  be  gained  by  delaying  if  prices  are  fair 
and   the   contract  equitable. 

"But  one  outstanding  reason  for  buying 
now,  if  prices  are  right,  is  the  undeniable 
fact  that  sound  pictures  should  be  played 
new.  Exhibitors  buying  now  have  the  ad- 
vantage of  booking  product  immediately, 
thus  stimulating  summer  business  as  well 
as  being  up  on  releases  and  thereby  mak- 
ing a  healthier  condition  for  both  the  dis- 
tributor  and   himself. 

"It  is  easier  to  keep  up  with  the  race 
by  starting  when  the  bell  rings  than  to 
catch   up  later." 


M.  A.  Lightman 


Operators  Tried  to  Buy 

Off  Prosecutor y  Is 

Allegation 

Chicago  —  Officials  of  the  oper- 
ators' union  here  attempted  to  bribe 
attaches  of  the  state's  attorney's  of- 
fice, it  is  charged,  to  reveal  who  was 
giving  information  against  the  union 
and  who  originated  and  pressed  the 
current   investigation. 

Tom  Maloy  and  Tom  O'Hara,  union 
leaders,  are  said  to  have  admitted 
drawing  more  than  $20,000  annually 
from  the  union  but  deny  that  the 
unions  $250,000  fund  was  made  avail- 
able for  obstructing  the  investigation 
and  the  prosecution  of  the  union  and 
its  officers.  However,  the  sum  is  re- 
ported available  for  the  union's  de- 
fense. 

Joe  Maloy,  brother  of  Tom  and  head 
of  the  city's  licensing  department,  was 
called  before  the  Grand  Jury  to  tes- 
tify as  to  his  activities  in  granting 
operator  licenses. 


Grand  Jury  to  Probe 
Operator  Slaying 

Chicago — The  two  Toms,  Maloy 
and  Reynolds,  of  the  operators'  union 
are  to  go  before  the  Grand  Jury  to- 
day for  quizzing  on  administration  of 
affairs  of  the  union.  There  have  been 
no  significant  developments  in  the  in- 
vestigation into  the  murder  of  Jacob 
Kaufman,  projectionist,  who  was  slain 
on  the  eve  of  his  scheduled  testimony 
in  the  inquiry  into  union  affairs  on 
charges  of  racketeering. 

Crawford  Johnson,  Dave  Green  and 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
•'BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

See  Moral  Gain  in 
New  French  Ruling, 

Indications  that  the  French^  Gov- 
ernment will  remove  all  restrictions. 
against  imports  of  American  filrns. 
were  hailed  by  the  export  trade  in 
New  York  yesterday  as  a  potential 
moral  victory. 

Actually,       American      distributors 

(Continued  on  page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Wisconsin  Unit  Put 
On  Plan  by  Allied 

Milwaukee — Fred  S.  Meyer,  pres- 
ident of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Wisconsin, 
against  whose  re-election  an  ulti- 
matum   was    issued   by   Allied    States 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  June   25,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    I^aily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  30 


June  J5,   1931 


No.   22 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  J  and  holidaySi,  by  Motion  Picture 
^^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IViUiam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  H''.  H.  Mooring, 
The  BioscopCj  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

tntered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
(>ostage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


National  Supply  Cuts 
Range  from  10  to  33 

(Cotitiiiued   from    pacjc    1) 

States.  The  move  is  an  effort  for 
downward  revision  in  prices  of  the- 
atre supplies  and  follows  economies 
effected  in  production  and  distribu- 
tion, National  declares. 

J.  I.  Roberts,  company  sales  man- 
ager, says  that  the  firm's  sales  have 
held  up  "remarkably  well"  during  the 
past  six  months. 

"In  a  majority  of  our  branches  a 
marked  increase  in  sales  have  been 
shown,"  he  says.  Such  economies  have 
been  effected  in  both  manufacturing 
and  distributing  costs,  that  with  a 
substantial  general  increase  in  volume 
of  business,  it  is  now  possible  for  us 
to  pass  along  to  the  exhibitors  the 
benefits  of  permanently  lower  prices 
on  a  number  of  staple  supplies  and 
accessories." 

Current  with  this  move  for  adjust- 
ment in  consumer  cost,  the  company 
also  announces  the  completion  of  dis- 
tributing arrangements  on  several 
new  lines  of  theatre  equipment,  the 
demand  for  which  they  claim,  will 
materially  augment  their  sales  volume 
and  thus  tend  to  make  further  price 
revisions  probable. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Maurice  Gets  New 
Paramount  Contract 

{Continued   from    paije    1  > 

join  Warners,  were  to  be  finished  this 
year.  One  of  "the  triumvirate,"  "The 
Smiling  Lieutenant,"  is  completed. 

The  French  star  is  one  of  the  main- 
stays of  Paramount's  program  here 
and  abroad.  "The  Love  Parade"  is 
understood  to  have  grossed  about 
$1,000,000  in  France  and  French- 
speaking  countries  alone. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Conspiracy  Charged 
To  Detroit  Co-op, 

(.Continued   from    page    I  ) 

tion  with  using  information  given 
by  him  in  buying  pictures  for  the 
Cohens.  Moon  is  manager  of  the  co- 
operative and  Burmele  is  his  assistant. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount  Improvements 

Hollywood — Paramount  is  starting 
to  build  new  sound  stages  and  a  shop. 


T  T'S  not  only  on  home  ground  that  Maurice  Chevalier  makes  a  hit 
■*■  with  women.  The  Paramount  foreign  department  knows  from  figures 
what  he  means  from  a  sales  viewpoint 

• 

His  new  deal  with  Paramount  for  six  or  more  pictures  recalls  an 
experience  Joe  Seidehnan  went  through  some  time  ago  when  a  report 
reaching  the  Paramount  home  office  had  it  that  no  French  version  of  a 
then-in-production  Chevalier  feature  was  to  be  made. 

• 

Joe  literally  tore  through  the  executive  offices  in  his  rush  to  reach 
Adolph  Zukor  where  he  immediately  launched  into  a  sales  talk,  backing 
his  arguments  w^ith  figures.  All  of  the  effort  went  to  naught,  however, 
for  the  yarn  that  made  Joe  excited  proved  false. 

• 

The  cashier  at  the  Warner  theatre  looks  awful  sad  these  days. 


See  Moral  Gain  In 
New  French  Ruling 

(Continued   from    pane    1 ) 

have  been  experiencing  little  trouble 
in  France  in  view  of  the  current  regu- 
lations which  allow  in  free  sixty  per 
cent  of  the  total  1927  imports.  This 
restriction  has  been  liberal  enough  to 
accommodate  the  requirements  of  the 
industry  in  that  market. 

But  morally,  the  case  is  different  in 
that  the  French  move  is  regarded  as 
giving  the  .American  trade  "a.  front" 
which  may  prove  to  be  important  be- 
fore governments  which  now  have 
quotas  in  force  or  where  such  moves 
may  be  considered  in  the  future.  It 
was  said  in  one  quarter  yesterday  that 
the  French  move  was  hot  so  much  de- 
signed to  demonstrate  friendliness  to- 
ward American  lilms  as  it  was  a  slap 
at  Germany. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

RKO  Offers  Trip 

A  free  vacation  trip  to  Europe  and 
a  ten-day  stay  abroad  with  all  ex- 
penses paid  is  being  offered  to  the 
RKO  theatre  manager  whose  box-of- 
fice shows  the  biggest  increase  for 
the  month  of  July.  A  plan  of  cam- 
paign has  been  outlined  for  the  man- 
agers competing  for  the  honor  award. 


French  Theatre  Deal 
For  Operation  Only 

Paris — The  deal  between  Gaumont 
and  Pathe  Natan  is  not  a  financial 
merger,  but  an  agreement  on  opera- 
tion. 

In  addition  to  the  250  houses  jointly 
controlled  by  the  two  organizations, 
approximately  100  additional  theatres 
are  embraced  through  booking  ar- 
rangements. A  central  booking  ex- 
change is  in  the  offing. 

Both  companies  will  continue  to 
maintain  their  separate  producing 
units,  but  an  exchange  of  talent  is 
provided  for  in  the  operating  arrange- 
ment recently  closed. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

New  Story  for  Arliss 

"A  Successful  Calamity,"  the  play 
by  Claire  Kummer  in  which  William 
Gillette  appeared  some  seasons  ago 
under  the  management  of  Arthur  Hop- 
kins, has  been  purchased  for  screen 
uses  by  Warner  Bros.  The  story  will 
be  assigned  to  George  Arliss. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Franklin  Gets  ''U"  House 

Hollywood — ^Harold  B.  Franklin 
Wednesday  was  to  have  signed  a  lease 
for  the  theatre  Carl  Laemmle  is 
building  at  Hollywood  and  Vine 
Streets. 


Entire  Market  Rallies;  57 MO  Sales  for  W. 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

CunsoUdated    Film    Industries 7'/.  6^          7^  H-  ?4 

Consolidated     Film     Industries    pf<l 15  W-A  14^  -I-  % 

Eastman    Kodak     148'/$  140M  148^  -1-6'/^ 

Fox    Film    "A" 22Vt.  2014  2VA  -fm 

General   Theatre   Equipment   new 5!4  4^          5  -(-  !4 

Ixjew's,  Inc 45}i  43'/i  4454  -t-2;^ 

Paramount    Publix 27?^  25^  27"4  -h2>4 

Pathe    Exchange \%  VA          \%  -{-'A 

Pathe   Exchange   '  A" 5%  m         S'4  -\-  Vs 

RKO    1"/^  U'A  WA  -f2 

Warner  Bros 9'A  SVi         m  -\-  '/» 

Curb  Issues  Follow  Stocks;  Col,  Up  3ys 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

Columbia      Pictures     vtc 12  Wyi        12  -f3^ 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 4  SH  3U  -f  ^ 

General    Theatre    Equijiment     pfd H  9Vn        10'/4  -1-1 

Technicolor   77/4  7  7  -f  '/z 

Trans    Lux 6A  6'A  ^A  -\-  % 

Bonds  Also  Active;  Pathe  Gains  4% 

Net 

Hifli  Low  Close  Change 

General    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40 41  40  41  -1-1 

Loew's  6s  '41   ex  war 97!4  97!4  9754        

Paramount    Broadway    5'/^s    '31 101  100^  100^        —  V» 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s.    '47 91'/4  91!/J  9VA        

Paramount     Publix     S'/^s     '.50 81J4  81  &V/,        -f  '/^ 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 91  85J4  91  -1-444 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39   wd 44M  43  44  —  ■^4 


B. 


Sales 

1,600 
800 

7.000 
39,700 
12.200 
23.600 
47,600 

2,400 

3.100 
93,700 
57,900 


Sales 

,100 
4,500 
4.200 

800 

1,7«) 


Sales 

13 
1 
9 
2 
4 
66 
30 


Hy   Daab's   fine   institutional 
copy   socking   depression. 


Milliken  Out 
In  Huff  Over 
Church  Stand 


(Continued   from   page    1) 

groups.  Such  practices,  it  was  stat- 
ed, undermine  public  confidence  in 
pictures.  The  "honorarium"  to  mem- 
bers of  the  council  is  not  so  good  for 
the  morale  of  the  organization,  it  is 
stated. 

Milliken,  a  member  of  the  council, 
has  not  attended  meetings  since  a 
year  ago.  Since  that  time,  it  has  been 
intimated  that  his  resignation  would 
not  be  unwelcome. 

A  counter  blast  is  promised  by  the 
Hays  organization  to  the  Milliken 
situation.  This,  it  is  said,  will  take 
the  form  of  a  declaration  that  various 
members  of  the  council  are  on  the 
payroll    of    commercial    organizations. 

Milliken  at  present  is  on  the  Coast. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Peace  Pact 

London — Committees  of  the  Cine- 
matograph Exhibitors'  Association 
and  the  Kinematograph  Renters'  So- 
ciety are  expected  to  meet  shortly  to 
iron  out  difficulties  in  the  trade  rela- 
tions between  the  exhibiting  and  dis- 
tributing divisions  of  the  British  in- 
dustry. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Daylight  Projection 

Albany — Motion  Pictures  in  Day- 
light Corp.,  has  been  organized  with 
a  capital  of  $50,000.  The  firm  plans 
to  place  on  the  market  a  projection 
machine  which  will  show  pictures  in 
daylight.  Headquarters  will  be  in 
New  York. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Declares  Dividend 

Mansfield  Theatres,  Ltd.,  have  de- 
clared a  regular  semi-annual  dividend 
of  $3.50  on  its  preferred  stock  pay- 
able Julv  31  to  stock  holders  of  record 
June  30. 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

Latest  R.C.A. 
Photophone  Equipment 

Si  OC    '*''  *''"'  ""*''  *^-^^ 

i.Zt)      Nights,   Suntlays, 

Holidays  by  Appointment 

Under  the  personal   supervision  of 
Hymie  Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 
PICTURE  SERVICE,  Inc. 

729   7th   Ave.  BRyant   >-5721 


ASK  METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER! 


Tear  out  this  pcige^  indicate  which  ads  you 
and  we  will  furnish  mats  of  this  Aster  Theatre 
paign  now  running  to  S.R.O.  business  in  New 
Address  Advu  DepU  M^QM,  1540  B'way,  N. 


want 

cam^ 

York. 


lio*  of  |>r.-Kni<ii(on  ut  ih*'  A.M.  Tkuir.— 

■Mr-  NORMA 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   June   25,    1931 


66 


Give  Wanger 
Liberty"  and 
Lots  of  Dough 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Wagner  in  the  settlement,  refused  to 
discuss  terms  yesterday.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  he  didn't  even  say  Wanger 
was  through,  but  described  the  situa- 
tion as  one  which  placed  Paramount's 
former  general  manager  of  production 
"at  liberty." 

Jesse  L.  Lasky,  reached  late  yester- 
day afternoon,  had  nothing  to  say. 
Elsewhere,  it  was  learned  by  Motion 
Picture  Daily  a  formal  statement  is 
to  be  issued  today. 

Wanger  has  been  identified  with 
Paramount  for  years  and,  for  some 
time  now  has  borne  the  title  of  gen- 
eral manager  of  production.  Under 
his  new  two-year  contract,  it  is  un- 
derstood, he  was  to  be  in  complete 
charge  of  all  studio  activity,  no  matter 
where  centered.  This,  the  inside  story 
alleges,  placed  his  authority  over  all 
other  officials  of  tVie  production  de- 
partment and  made  him  responsible 
only  to  the  company's  board  of  di- 
rectors. 

This  situation  is  declared  to  have 
brought  to  the  fore  once  again  the 
long-standing  rivalry  between  the  East 
and  the  West  studios,  as  represented 
by  Wanger  and  B.  P.  Schulberg,  re- 
spectively. The  recent  Denver  meeting 
at  which  S.  R.  Kent,  Emanuel  Cohen 
and  Schulberg  were  present,  was  called 
for  the  purpose  of  informing  the  lat- 
ter that  a  change  in  plans  had  been 
made  by  which  production  would  be 
centered  under  him  and  not  Wanger. 
These  are  the  background  facts  under- 
stood to  have  led  to  the  difficulties  be- 
tween Paramount  and  Wanger,  re- 
sulting now  in  severance  of  the  lat- 
ter's  relations  with  the  organization. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Four  Theatres  Taken 
Over  by  Butterfield 

Detroit — W.  S.  Butterfield  theatres, 
Inc.,  enterprises  has  taken  over  the 
Holland,  Strand  and  Colonial  in  Hol- 
land, Mich,  and  the  South  Haven,  in 
South  Haven,  Michigan.  Henry  Car- 
ley,  who  formerly  operated  the  Hol- 
land theatres,  will  operate  the  the- 
atres in  Allegan  and  Otsego. 


Kids^  Cheers  Bring  Gang  Ban 

Chicago — The  city  of  Evanston,  Chicago's  largest  north  shore 
suburb,  banned  the  exhibition  of  gangster  pictures  this  week. 
The  action  was  taken  at  the  instigation  of  Police  Chief  F.  O. 
Freeman,  who  said  he  visited  an  Evanston  theatre  where  a  gang 
picture  was  showing  and  witnessed  small  boys  cheering  for  the 
gangster  characters. 


Wisconsin  Unit  Put 
On  Plan  by  Allied 

(Coiitivucd  from   page    1) 

Association,  insisted  upon  carrying 
out  the  wishes  of  the  Hays  organiza- 
tion in  reference  to  zoning  and  pro- 
tection. Allied  charges  in  a  statement 
on  the  recent  Milwaukee  meeting. 

"The  abrupt  cessation  of  activities 
calculated  to  help  the  independent  the- 
atre owners,  together  with  a  falling 
off  in  cooperation  with  Allied,  caused 
many  of  the  independent  members  to 
withdraw  and  form  'The  Allied  Inde- 
pendent Theatre  Owners  of  Wiscon- 
sin,' "  Allied's  statement  says. 

"The  recent  much  heralded  action  of 
the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Wisconsin  in  with- 
drawing from  Allied  is  the  natural  and 
expected  development  in  that  State 
md  clears  the  way  for  a  realignment 
that  will  greatly  benefit  the  inde- 
pendent theatre  owners. 

"The  fact  that  the  action  of  the 
M.  P.  T.  O.  was  taken  on  the  motion 
of  one  Trampe  (believe  it  or  not!), 
president  of  the  Film  Board  of  Trade, 
tells  the  whole  story  of  the  decline  and 
fall  of  the  older  Wisconsin  organiza- 
tion. 

"A  few  independent  exhibitors  still 
are  connected  with  the  M.  P.  T.  O. 
who  will  always  find  a  welcome  in  the 
Allied  ranks.  There  is  no  place  there, 
however,  for  the  Meyers,  Fitzgeralds 
and  Trampes." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Epics  Plans  Four 
Single  Reel  Series 

Talking  Picture  Epics  will  have 
four  new  series  of  single  reel  shorts 
for  the  coming  season  under  the 
heading  of  "Great  American  Cities," 
"Wanderlust,"  "Character  Studies  of 
Strange  People  and  Strange  Places" 
and  the  "Ditmars"  series.  In  addition 
there  will  be  six  one-reel  special  pic- 
tures of  the  Northwestern  territory 
of  the  United  States  showing  all  in- 
dustries and  historic  places  of  inter- 
est and  26  novelty  one-reel  subjects 
to  be  announced  later. 


Alicoate,  Muller  and 
Baum  in  Billiard  Tilt 

In  the  presence  of  a  real  billiard 
fan  gallery,  Jack  Alicoate  yesterday 
defeated  Bruce  Gallup  by  a  score  of 
125  to  lis  and  won  a  place  by  the 
side  of  Herbert  Muller  and  Lou  Baum 
for  the  lead  in  the  Class  A  division 
of  the  tournament  now  under  way  at 
the  Motion  Picture  Club.  The  three 
contestants  have  already  won  medals 
and  are  to  contest  for  the  lead  in 
their    division. 

Muller  had  defeated  Meyer  Shapiro 
by  a  score  of  125  to  97  and  Baum 
licked  Herman  Zohbel  by  a  score  of 
125  to  124  which  placed  them  in  the 
winning  class. 

Morris  Kutinsky  defeated  O.  R. 
McMahon  by  100  to  82;  Milton  Blum- 
berg  licked  Arthur  Abeles  by  100  to 
47  and  Lee  Ochs  conquered  George 
Dembow  with  a  run  of  100  against 
his  opponent's  97.  They,  therefore, 
head  Class  B. 

Kutinsky  and  Blumberg  are  now 
to  play  a  match  and  Ochs  plays  the 
winner.  The  loser  of  the  second  match 
wins  second  place  in  the  division. 
George  Dembow  plays  the  loser  for 
third   place. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

London  Hears  Gloria 
Holds  Two  Contracts 

London — Gloria  Swanson  is  oper- 
ating under  two  contracts,  according 
to  Today's  Cinema.  Under  terms  of 
one  she  makes  two  a  year  for  United 
Artists  and  in  between  is  permitted 
to  make  a  picture  on  her  own.  Dis- 
tribution of  the  "on  her  own"  picture 
appears  to  be  a  secret. 

The  same  paper  reports  "Queen  Kel- 
ly," Gloria's  last  silent  picture,  will 
be  distributed  abroad  and  perhaps  in 
the  United  States,  the  latter  decision 
depending  on  the  picture's  reception 
bv  foreign  audiences. 


Grand  Jury  to 
Probe  Slaying 
Of  Operator 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

John  Drake,  connected  with  the  gar- 
age where  Kaufman  was  slain,  stjU 
are  being  held  by  police.  Leo  Del 
Magro,  a  stagehand  said  to  answer  the 
description  of  Kaufman's  slayer,  also 
is  being  held,  although  not  identified 
by  witnesses  as  the  slayer. 

Maloy  is  said  to  have  been  terrified 
Wednesday  when  confronted  in  court 
by  Carol  Kaufman,  brother  of  the 
slain  man,  who  advanced  upon  Maloy 
with  hand  in  pocket.  Maloy  fled  be- 
hind a  pillar  and  demanded  that  Kauf- 
man be  searched,  but  the  latter  proved 
unarmed. 

Del  Magro  was  subjected  to  severe 
grilling  and  reenactment  of  the  crime 
at  its  scene.  Maloy  and  his  assistant, 
Ralph  O'Hara,  were  released  after 
refusing  to  sign  waivers  for  immunity 
in  testifying  before  the  Grand  Jury 
and  upon  promise  of  their  attorneys 
that  they  would  be  available  when 
wanted.  Other  suspected  in  the  crime 
were  released  on  the  same  conditions. 

Kaufman's  brother,  Carl,  delivered 
a  notarized  document  made  three 
years  ago  relating  instances  of  an  al- 
leged slugging  in  Maloy's  office  with 
Kaufman  as  the  victim  and  alleged 
death  threats  by  Maloy. 

Prosecutors  say  the  document  can- 
not be  used  as  evidence  except  to  es- 
tablish a  possible  motive  for  the  kill- 
ing of  Hoffman.  According  to  Henry 
Schoenstadt  owner  of  the  Picadilly, 
said  Kaufman  was  discharged  for  in- 
competence but  this  was  denied  by  the 
other  operator  at  the  theatre.  Schoen- 
stadt fainted  after  a  one-half  hour's 
grilling  by  the  state's  attorney.  Ma- 
loy, and  not  theatre  owners,  place  and 
discharge  operators  here. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Celebrate  Anniversary 

Celebrating  the  18th  anniversary  of 
the  organization  and  the  moving  into 
larger  headquarters,  the  Cocalis- 
Springer  circuit  yesterday  threw  a 
party  for  the  trade.  Former  quarters 
were  in  the  Symphony  theatre  with 
new  offices  now  located  at  2521  Broad- 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  23 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  26,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Myers  Reneges 
On  Buy  Now  to 
Aid  Prosperity 

Allied    Wants   Public   to 
Buy — Not  Exhibitors 


Abram  F.  Myers,  president  ol 
Allied  States  Association,  is  regarded 
is  having  talked  out  of  turn  this 
week  in  critizing  the  "Buy  Right-Buy 
Now"  movement.  Allied  is  putting 
its  members  on  the  spot  in  asking 
them  to  hold  off  on  buying  until  Sep- 
tember. Myers,  himself,  at  the  New 
Jersey  sessions  at  Atlantic  City  last 
week  gave  as  his  opinion  that  the 
panacea  for  existing  trade  evils  was 
resumption  of  buying  on  the  part  of 
the  public.  Meanwhile,  he  attacks 
early    buying    in    the    industry. 

He  claims  that  advocacy  of  early 
buying    in    an    alleged    a^ttempt    "to 

(Continued  on  payc  8) 


Allied  Charges  Plot 
Against  Jersey  Unit 

Washington — Allied  States  As- 
sociation sees  a  plot  in  the  reported 
dissension  in  the  New  Jersey  unit's 
Iranks,  attributing  it  to  that  organiza- 
[tion's  advice  to  members  to  go  slow 
Ion  buying  product.  Allegations  of  in- 
ispired  attacks  are  made  by  the  na- 
tional organization  on  the  issue. 

i       "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

i 

FreeReaderBanned 
ByWis.Newspapers 

Milwaukee — Exlitors,  publishers 
and  advertising  managers  of  news- 
papers in  the  Wisconsin  Daily  News- 
paper League  voted  not  to  carry  cer- 
tain film  advertising  and  to  publish 
radio  programs  (exclusive  of  local 
non-commercial  programs)  only  at 
paid  advertising  rates. 

League  members  voted  to  take  a 
united  stand  against  films  carrying 
advertising.  They  also  disapproved 
the  use  of  free  readers  for  film  adver- 
tisers in  news  columns  of  papers.  The 
league  met  at  the  Hotel  Schroeder 
here. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Weisfeldt  Sets  Six 
Features,  158  Shorts 

Six  features  and  158  short  subjects 
are  on  the  first  year's  Program  of 
Picture  Classics,  Inc.,  recently-organ- 
ized firm  headed  by  M.  J.  Weisfeldt, 
who  formerly  headed  distribution  for 
Talking  Picture  Epics.  Weisfeldt 
will  try  out  a  new  idea  with  a  series 
(Continued  on   page  2) 


"Now's  Time  to  Buy''— Arthur 

Harry  Arthur,  general  manager  of  Fox  Theatres,  is  for  the 
"Buy  Right — But  Buy  Now"  movement. 

"The  smart  exhibitor,"  he  states,  "will  buy  right  if  he  buys 
now  before  he  hits  a  rising  market  and  by  that  I  mean  a  rising 
film,  not  stock,  market. 

"The  Hoover  war  debt  stand,  the  gains  in  stocks,  and  the  return 
of  real  theatre  business  will  inevitably  change  the  frame  of  mind 
of  distributors,  their  sales  managers  and  their  salesmen,  and  that, 
inevitably  too,  means  the  price  of  film  will  go  up. 

"As  matters  stand  today,  the  exhibitor  has  a  natural  trading 
advantage  of  which,  as  a  good  business  man,  he  should  take 
advantage." 


Warners  May 
Get  Keith's 
In  "Philly 


Philadelphia — 'Report  is  preval- 
ent here  that  Keith's  theatre  is  to  be 
included  in  the  reconciliation  deal  be- 
tween Paramount  and  Stanley-Warner 
Company,  with  the  latter  taking  over 
the  theatre. 

The  Moon  Amusement  Co.,  which 
operates  Keith's  under  the  direction  of 
A.  R.  Boyd,  obtained  the  house  on 
lease  from  the  Shul}erts  a  year  ago 
to  show  Paramount  films  at  the  time 
of  the  break.  With  the  bulk  of  the 
new  season  Paramount  product  going 
to  Warners  under  a  new  deal,  the  ru- 
mor is  that  Stanley-Warner  also  will 
take  over  the  theatre.  The  idea  doesn't 

(Continued   on   page   6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Operators  in  New 
Orleans  Accept  Cut 

New  Orleans — Members  of  the 
local  prejectionists'  union,  following 
the  suggestion  of  William  Canavan, 
head  of  the  International  Alliance  of 
Theatrical  Stage  Employees  and 
Motion  Picture  Machine  Opera- 
tors, will  take  a  cut  of  five  per 
cent  on  all  salaries  of  $50  a  week 
and  a  cut  of  seven  per  cent  on  all 
salaries  of  $60  and  over.  This  will 
affect  operators  in  the  Publix  Saen- 
ger,  Strand,  Tudor,  Globe,  the  RKO 
Orpheum  and  Loew's   State. 

Neighborhood     houses,     where     the 

(Continued   on    hacie   ft) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Supreme  Court  Gives 
Licenses  to  RCA 

Washington — ^Licensing  of  RCA 
is  not  illegal  in  view  of  the  recent 
anti-trust  decisions  against  the  com- 
pany and  its  subsidiaries,  the  United 
States  Supreme  Court  has  ruled  in  a 
3  to  2  decision.  When  the  company 
and  affiliates  were  prosecuted  under 
the  anti-trust  laws  effort  was  made 
to   cancel   their   radio   licenses. 


Jesse  Lasky, 
Schulberg  in 
Saddle-Zukor 


Confirming  Motion  Picture  Daily's 
exclusive  announcement,  Adolph  Zu- 
kor  yesterday  made  a  statement  on 
Walter  Wanger's  retirement  from  the 
Paramount  production  department. 

He  also  hit  at  various  rumors  of 
possible  retirement  of  Jesse  L.  Lasky, 
thereby  confirming  the  story  appearing 
in  this  publication  on  June  12  that 
the  first  vice-president  of  Paramount 
was  the  active  head  of  the  company's 
production  activities. 

"I  definitely  want  to  state,"  said 
Zukor,  ''that  Jesse  L.  Lasky  is  now, 
just  as  he  has  been,  head  of  the  Para- 
mount Publix  production  department. 
Mr.  Lasky  is  in  control,  and  no  one 
supersedes  him  in  any  way  in  deal< 
ing    with    Paramount    picture    produc- 

(Continued   on    page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Powers  in  Trailer 
Field  in  M-R  Deal 

Pat  Powers,  president  of  Cinephone, 
is  reported  to  have  purchased  a  hah 
interest  in  the  Meyer-Reiger  Trailer 
Corporation.  The  price  for  the  half 
interest  is  around  $100,000,  it  is  said 
Powers,  it  is  further  understood,  will 
not  be  actively  affiliated  with  the 
trailer  firm,  confining  his  time  to  his 
other  interests. 

The  Meyer-Reiger  company,  for- 
merly exclusively  handling  film  labo- 
ratory work,  recently  announced  en- 
trance into  the  trailer  field.     This  fol- 

(Continued   en    page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Six  Foot  Television 
Image  Is  Projected 

U.  A.  Sanabria,  Chicago  inventor,  is 
in  New  York  demonstrating  his  tele- 
vision process.  The  apparatus  was 
shown  at  the  offices  of  the  Shortwave 
and  Television  Corp.,  of  Eighth  Aye 
and   14th   St. 


Exhibs'  Duty 
In  Buying  Now 
To  Be  Cited 


Sales  Forces   See  Move- 
ment Prosperity  Boon 


Buying  in  the  industry,  urged  by 
Motion  Picture  Daily,  is  gaining 
momentum.  Sales  forces  of  the  vari- 
ous companies,  terming  the  movemejit 
"one  sure  way  to  aid  the  return  of 
prosperity  in  the  industry,"  are  look- 
ing up  to  it  in  the  new  season's  drives 
now  under  way. 

They  are  being  instructed  to  do 
tlicir  part  to  hasten  return  of  buying 
and  orders  have  gone  out  to  expedite 
sales  through  the  most  equitable  deals 
possible.  This  course  is  anticipated 
to  end  buying  strikes  launched  in 
various  sections. 

Hollywood  needs   the   impetus   of  a 

(Continued   on   page   6) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Product  Shortage 
Charged  in  Closing 

Lack  of  quality  pictures  is  ascribed 
as  tlie  reason  for  closing  today  of  tlie 
Central  Park  Theatre,  59th  St.  and 
Seventh  Ave.,  New  York,  operated 
by  Leo.  Brecher.  Poor  business  in 
recent  weeks  also  is  attributed  to  clos- 
ing of  the  theatre.  The  house  proljably 
will  be  reopened  in  September,  it  is 
said. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Loew  40  Week  Net 
Drops  $3,653,875 

Loew's,  Inc.,  which  controls  M-G-M, 
is  expected  to  show  a  net  of  $8,128,- 
049  for  the  40  weeks  to  June  6,  which 
will  represent  earnings  of  approxi- 
mately 15.75  a  share  on  the  1,413,574 
shares  outstanding,  as  compared  with 
a  net  for  the  same  period  the  pre- 
vious year  of  $11,781,924,  or  $7.64  a 
share.    This  is  a  drop  of  $3,653,875. 

Explanation  for  the  maintenance  of 

(Continued   on    page   6) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Fox  Theatres  Loss 
Reduced  $765,764 

Deficit  of  Fox  Theatres  for  the  fis- 
cal year  ending  October  26,  1930,  was 
$765,764  less  than  that  of  last  year, 
it  is  revealed  in  the  company's  annual 
report.  For  the  year  just  reported,  the 
net  loss  was  $2,484,824.07,  while  for 
the  previous  year  the  deficit  was 
$3,250,588.92.  The  company  has  in- 
vested $7,335,692.99  in  controlled  and 
affiliated  companies. 


a 


victor  over 
adversity 


^Mr 


,R.  MARCUS  LOEW, 
now  passed  to  his  reward,  would  be 
an  interesting  spokesman  in  this 
period  of  timidity  and  wavering 
pessimism.  Someway  he  met  such 
problems  with  the  courage  of  a  be- 
lief in  America  and  the  assurance 
that  sound  service  in  amusements 
could  not  fail.  He  had  tough  times, 
too.  It  was  not  all  easy  going  up 
from  his  boyhood  on  the  Bowery  to 
the  great  heritage  of  substantial 
attainment  which  he  left,  an  enrich- 
ment of  the  whole  of  motion  picture 
tradition.  Marcus  Loew  never  quit, 
never  faltered.  He  was  certain  of 
his  tomorrows. 


This  advertisement 
is  the  first  of 
a  series  on 
success  in  the 
picture  industry. 


*     now  ts 
S     the  time  to 


0^ 


em 
cm 


iWi 


cm 


cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 


buy  &  sell 


cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 

cNK^'^j  ^^^  great  exhibitor  organizations  have  come 

^^^'^^  forward  with  aggressive  advice  to  their  members 

t}j^!!j  to    "buy    now   and   buy   right."    The    lethargic 

condition  of  the  day  cries  out  for  action.  The 
amusement  industry,  broadly  based  on  the  world's 
widest  market  and  the  most  fundamental  of  human 
desires,  has  today  no  cause  to  stand  and  wait 
^^^jjC;^  or  to  view  with  alarm. 

\W0^  "The  money  that  was  in  this  country  in  1928  and  1929  is 

t.'vT^s^  still  here,"  exclaimed  Mayor  Walker  of  New  York  the  other 

day.    "Where  is  it  hiding?" 


That  money  isn't  hiding,  it  is  just  warily  waiting.  Aggres- 
sive selling  can,  will  and  does  bring  it  out.     Amusement 
buyers  are  the  same  buyers  who  today  seek  unusual  values, 
^^_  or   appearances    of   value,    in   all    commodities.    The   good 

^J^X^^  selling  jobs  of  today  are  gathering  rewards. 

The  desire  of  people  to  "go  places" — their  desire  to  be 
amused — is  inherent,  so  the  picture  business  has  a  special 
•K^f^  advantage  in  today's  keen  selling  competition.    The  theatre 

tj^^^^  owner  and  the  producer  must  make  them  want  it. 

The  exhibitor  dollar  spent  for  product  now  is  high   in 
buying  power,  and  a  vital  contribution,  as  well,  to  the  con- 
v^^  tinued  success  and  normal  growth  of  the  industry.    Normal 

tJvTv>^  buying  activity  now  means  better  product  for  the  big  show 

season  to  come.     Every  motion  picture  success  of  the  past 
^JWTj  has  been  built  on  courage.     The  foundation  of  every  great 

^i-'^J^  success  in  the  industry  was  laid  in  days  of  adversity.   That 

is  where  the  victors  come  from. 


COLVIN    BROWN 

General   Manager 
Quigley  Publications 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 
THE  HOLLYWOOD  HERALD 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,    June    26,     1931 


Warners  May 
Get  Keith's 
In  "PhiUy 


i 


99 


(Continued   from   page    1) 

appear  to  be  greeted  with  cheers  in 
the  Stanley  circles,  inasmuch  as  this 
company  recently  closed  the  Boyd 
theatre  from  a  combination  of  poor 
business  and  shortage  of  product. 

With  the  bulk  of  Paramount  films, 
36  being  the  reported  number,  going 
to  Stanley-Warner,  Keith's  would  be 
hard  put  to  maintain  its  independent 
standing  through  lack  of  films.  The 
mention  of  the  theatre  in  the  deal 
seems  to  be  sort  of  a  protection  meas- 
ure to  the  Al  Boyd  interests. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Hell's  Angels"  on 
Twin  Bill  Program 

"Hell's  Angels"  has  finally  hit  the 
double  feature  category  and  goes  into 
the  Castle  Hill  theatre  in  the  Bronx 
for  three  days  starting  Saturday.  The 
same  house  last  week  played  "City 
Lights"  on  the  same  bill  with  "Doc- 
tors' Wives."  It's  a  Cocalis-Springer 
house. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount  Now  in 
Control  at  Hamilton 

Hamilton,  O.— The  Rialto,  860- 
seat  house,  which  has  been  operated 
by  Jewel  Photoplay  Co.,  of  which 
John  A.  Schwalm  is  president,  has 
been  taken  over  by  Paramount  on  a 
10-year  lease.  This  gives  Paramount 
control  of  the  city  with  its  new 
1,500-seat  house  opened  a  few  months 
ago  and  the  recent  acquisition  of  the 
Palace  through  lease. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Operators  in  New 
Orleans  Accept  Cut 

(Continued   from  page    1) 

wage  scale  is  $45  a  week,  have  al- 
ready received  a  concession,  the  op- 
erators to  work  one  man  to  a  booth 
instead  of  two.  Stage  hands  appar- 
ently will  not  take  any  cut,  while 
musicians  at  the  Saenger  have  done 
away  with  the  overtime  during  June, 
which,  for  the  first  week,  amounted 
to  $250. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Exhihs*  Duty  in  Buy 
Now  to  Be  Cited 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

buying  spurt  by  exhibitors  in  order 
to  safeguard  new  production  quality, 
exhibitors  are  to  be  told.  Under  cur- 
tailed buying,  it  will  be  pointed  out, 
studios  are  fearful  of  returns  and 
averse  to  making  big  outlays  on  pro- 
duct. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Loew  40  Week  Net 

Drops  $3,653,875 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

the  present  dividend  rate,  despite  drop 
in  the  net,  is  attributed  by  The  Wall 
Street  Journal  to  "depression  proof" 
policies  which  the  paper  says  the 
Loew  management  has  followed. 


Purely  Personal 


CHARLES  E.  KURTZMAN,  spe- 
cial field  representative  and  personal 
assistant  to  General  Manager  Harry 
Arthur,  of  Fox  Theatres,  returned  on 
the  Vecndam  after  a  brief  sojourn 
in  Bermuda — Charlie's  first  vacation 
in  eight  years.  Kurtzman  has  been 
supervising  the  activities  at  the  Fox 
Theatre  in  St.  Louis  and  was  accom- 
panied on  this  trip  by  Frank  Hicks, 
assistant  manager  at  the  Fox  St. 
Louis ;  Forrest  Richards,  the  St. 
Louis  Fox  art  director ;  Ron  and 
Don,  organists,  and  Maury  Foladare, 
advertising  manager  of  the  Fox  The- 
atre   in    Philadelphia. 

Stanley  Gosnell,  formerly  man- 
ager of  Loew's  Valencia  in  Balti- 
more, who  later  went  to  Richmond  to 
manage  Loew's  theatre,  there,  and 
then  was  at  the  Penn  in  Pittsburgh, 
for  sometime,  is  back  in  Baltimore 
by  request  of  William  K.  Saxton, 
Loew's  city  manager  there.  Gosnell 
will  go  back  to  his  former  post  at 
the  Valencia  while  Joe  Kavanaugh, 
manager  there  pinch  hits  around  at 
various  theatres  while  others  are  on 
vacation.  Miss  Eleanor  Klein,  secre- 
tary to  Mr.  Saxton,  is  on  vacation 
now. 

Olin  H.  Lambert,  who  has  been 
transferred  from  the  M-G-M  branch 
at  Albany  to  the  Washington  office, 
did  plenty  of  handshaking  at  a  fare- 
well dinner  tendered  by  his  associates. 
When  he  left  town  he  was  sporting  a 
gift  traveling  bag. 

Sam  Morris  rates  a  real  palm  for 
the  manner  in  which  Morris  Month 
went  over  in  May.  The  tremendous 
number  of  playdates  is  a  fine  tribute 
to  the  popularity  Morris  enjoys 
throughout  the  industry. 

Andy  Smith  can  wear  the  smiles 
these  days  following  closing  of  con- 
tracts for  the  Bobby  Jones  series  of 
shorts  in  the  25  houses  of  the  Publix 
circuit  operating  in  the  Boston  terri- 
tory. 

E.  B.  Hatrick,  general  manager  of 
the  Hearst  film  interests,  leaves  for 
the  Coast  in  about  two  weeks  for  the 


Charles  A.  Leonard,  publicity  di- 
rector for  the  United  Artists  Theatre 
in  San  Francisco,  is  recovering  from 
an  appendicitis  operation.  A.  J.  Vell- 
ner  of  the  New  York  office  is  pinch- 
hitting  for  him. 

Tames  R.  (Jimmy)  Grainger,  is 
celebrating  the  biggest  week  in  Fox 
history.  More  circuits  have  been 
closed  to  date  than  were  set  in  five 
months  of  selling  in  the  1930-31  sea- 
son. 

LoRNA  Balfour,  daughter  of  the 
actor-director,  makes  her  talker  debut 
in  "Merely  Mary  Ann,"  Fox  talker 
which  co-stars  Janet  Gaynor  and 
Charles  Farrell. 

Sam  Leffler,  manager  of  the 
Europa,  Philadelphia,  spent  several 
days  in  Washington  aiding  Herman 
G.  Weinberg  to  exploit  "The  W 
Plan." 

Archie  Mayo  visited  the  boys  at 
the  Motion  Picture  Club  yesterday. 


Frances  Starr,  former  Broadway 
stage  star,  has  made  two  pictures  to 
date  for  First  National,  but  will  make 
her  debut,  so  far  as  release  is  con- 
cerned, in  "Five  Star  Final." 

Harry  Cohn,  of  Columbia  has  pur- 
chased a  yacht  and  named  it  the 
Jobella,  derived  from  the  first  names 
of  his  parents.     It  is  59  feet  long. 

Mrs.  C.  H.  Buckley,  wife  of  the 
owner  of  three  Albany  theatres,  has 
returned  from  a  vacation  in  Ber- 
muda. 

John  Nolan,  assistant  to  James  R. 
Grainger,  Fox  general  sales  manager, 
is  back  in  New  York  after  a  tour  of 
central  states. 

John  H.  Swartout  of  Schenec- 
tady has  just  been  named  manager  of 
the  Griswold  in  Troy,  N.  Y.   Congrats. 

Arthur  W.  Kelly  sails  for  the 
Continent  on  July  6  or  8,  the  date  de- 
pending on  several  matters. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Cantor  Going  Abroad 

Eddie  Cantor  leaves  within  the 
next  few  weeks  for  an  extended  good- 
will tour  of  the  principal  cities  of 
Europe,  making  personal  appearances 
in  London,  Paris,  Berlin,  Vienna, 
Rome  and  other  cities  in  connection 
with  the  showing  of  his  second  talk- 
ing picture,  "Palmy  Days,"  just  com- 
pleted for  United  Artists. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Bette  Davis  III 

Universal  City — Rushed  to  her 
home  from  the  studio  yesterday  after- 
noon, Bette  Davis,  whose  work  in 
"Seed"  won  her  a  featured  role  in 
Universal's  production  of  "Waterloo 
Bridge"  with  Mae  Clarke  and  Kent 
Douglass,  was  reported  slightly  im- 
proved and  likely  to  avoid  the  neces- 
sity of  an  operation  for  append!  ritis. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Shunting  Patrons 

San  Francisco — Paramount,  one  of 
the  big  Market  Street  houses,  a  3,000- 
seater,  had  closed  its  Golden  Gate  en- 
trance and  shunts  all  patrons  to  the 
Market  street  entrance.  Paramount 
appears  now  to  be  the  weak  sister  of 
the  three  Fox  first-runs,  and  the  clos- 
ing of  the  Golden  Gate  avenue  en- 
trance is  a  slight  savings  in  overhead. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

R.  &  B.  Buy  Sixth 

Rugoff  and  Becker  have  added  the 
sixth  house  to  their  circuit  with  ac- 
quisition of  the  Lee  in  Brooklyn.  The 
circuit  operates  two  at  Long  Beach, 
two  in  Brooklyn  and  another  in  Long 
Island. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Henius  at  Joinville 

Paris — Wolf   M.    Henius,   formerly 

in  the   foreign   version  department  of 

the    M-G-M    studios    in    Culver    City, 

is   now   with    Paramount   at   Joinville. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cabanne  Assigned 

Universal   City — Christy   Cabanne 
is  to  direct  "Graft"  for  Universal  with 
Sue  Carol  and  Regis  Toomey  as  leads. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Bomb  Non-Union  House 

Portland — A  heavy  barrage  of 
stench  bombs  was  placed  at  the  Rivoli, 
recently-opened    non-union    house. 


Four  Out  of 
Five  Get  It 
In  Portland 


46 


Portland — Four  out  of  the  five 
first  runs  went  over  the  top  this  week, 
only  the  Rialto  falling  below  its  aver- 
age take.  The  Orpheum  got  the  big 
money,  $15,600,  or  $5,600  over  normal, 
but  the  credit  is  given  to  Olsen  & 
Johnson,  headlining  the  vaudeville 
bill,  instead  of  the  picture,  "Beyond 
Victory." 

"Daddy  Long  Legs"  beat  averai^i 
by  $1,400  in  its  second  week;  "Sven- 
gali"  by  $500,  also  in  its  second  stan- 
za ;  "Always  Goodbye"  by  $2,80(1. 
Heavy  showers,  which  drove  patrons 
in  from  the  streets,  were  responsible 
in  part  for  the  good  business  enjo.\r- 
throughout  town. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end 
ing   June  24 : 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 

FOX  BROADWAY— (L912),  25c-50c,  2n(l 
week,  7  days.  Gross:  $6,400.  (Average, 
¥5,000.) 

"DUDE    RANCH"    (Para.) 

FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-.35c,    3    days. 
Gross:    $L500.      (Average    for    week.    $4,0110.) 
"SIX    CYLINDER    LOVE"    (Fox) 

FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    4    clays. 
Gross:    $1,900.      (Average    for   week,    $4,000.) 
"SVENGALI"     (Warner) 

HAMRICK'S    MUSIC   BOX-(1,800),    2Sc, 
2nd    week,    7    days.      Gross:    $4,500.      (A\ri 
age,     $4,000.) 

"ALWAYS  GOODBYE"   (Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,068),  25c-60c.  7  days. 
F.  &  M.  "North,  South,  East,  West,"  Idea. 
Gross:    $14,800.      (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BEYOND    VICTORY"    (RKO    Pathe) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (1,700).  25c-50c,  7  days, 
Olsen  &  Johnson  and  3  other  vaude  acts. 
Gross:    $15,600.      (Average,    $10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

A  Free  SouF' 
Bucks  Denver 
Hot  Weather 

Denver — Warm  weather  paid  a  visit 
to  Denver  with  the  result  that  the 
fans  did  not  pay  as  many  visits  to 
the  theatres.  Only  one  picture,  "A 
Free  Soul,"  went  over  par,  ringing 
UD  a  total  gross  of  $16,000  against 
an  average  of  $15,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  25 : 

"A   FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

DENVER— (2,300),  25c-35c-65c,  7  days. 
Fanchon  &  Marco  "Varieties"  Idea,  Den- 
ver Grande  orchestra.  Gross:  $16,000,  (Aver- 
age.   $15,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1,500),  3.Sc- 
50c-75c,  2nd  week,  7  davs.  Gross:  $6,000. 
(Average,    $7,000.) 

"SIX    CYLINDER    LOVE"    (Fox) 

HUFFMAN'S  TABOR— (1,900),  25c-.-i5c- 
50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average,  $10.- 
000.) 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"   (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2.000),       25c-35c-50c,      7 
day.s.    Gross:    $7,500.    (Average,    $11,000.) 
"NEVER    THE   TWAIN    SHALL    MEET" 
(M-G-M) 

RIALTO— (1,040),  25c-35c-50c,  7  davs. 
Gross:    $2,500.    (Average.   $3,750.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Hook,  Line,  Sinker" 
Tour  for  Radio  Stars 

Wheeler  and  Woolsey  will  make 
personal  appearances  in  France,  Ger- 
many, Italy,  Sweden  and  Spain  this 
summer.  Woolsey  is  leaving  this 
week  to  join  Wheeler  in  New  York. 
They  are  to  make  personal  appear- 
ances with  "Hook,  Line  and  Sinker." 


AND     TONY    TOO 

IN  6  BIG  WESTERNS    .    FROM 

UNIVERSAL 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,    June    26,    1931 


Beaches,  Not 
Films,  Prove 
L.A.  Magnet 


Los  Axx-tLES  —  Extremely  hot 
weather  sent  them  scurrying  to  the 
beaches,  and  the  first  runs  took  it  on 
the  chin  as  a  result.  Only  one  pic- 
ture reached  par — "Rebound" — which 
registered  $14,500  at  the  l''ox  Car- 
thay  Circle  with  the  aid  of  a  $5  pre- 
miere. Average  for  that  house  is  $12,- 
500. 

'•  Never  the  Twain  Shall  Meet"  did 
well  with  a  gross  of  $26,000  at  Loew's 
State,  and  the  $13,500  figure  for  "Se- 
cret Six"  at  Pantages  Hollywood  was 
fair.  "Seed"  was  held  over  for  a 
second  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  24: 

"LA  FIESTA  DEL  DIABLO"   (Univ.) 

CAMFORNMA  lNTERNATIONAL-(2,- 
000),  .'Sc-50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $4,1(X).  (Aver- 
aitc,   $5,000.) 

"REBOUND"   (RKO-Pathe) 

FOX  CARTHAY  CIRCLE -(1,650),  75c- 
S1..W,  $5  premiere.  CeorRe  StoU  amf  Band. 
Gross:  $14.5(W.      (.\vcraKe.  $12,500.) 

"TRADER    HORN"     (M-G-M) 

K(>\      CRITERION— (1.652),      .^5c-65c,      7 
(lavs.      Gross:    $6.5<X).       (AveraRe.    $10,000.) 
"TRADER     HORN"     (M-G-M) 

C.RAUMA.N'S  CHINESE— (2.030),  25c 
75c,  2nd  week.  7  days.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Av- 
crage,    $8,000.) 

"UP  POPS  THE  DEVIL"   (Para.) 

GRAUMAN'S  EGYPTIAN— (1,800).  10c- 
65c.  7  days.  Gross:  $3,600.  (Average, 
$6,500.) 

"NEVER   THE  TWAIN   SHALL   MEET" 
(M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE~(2,418).  .>5c-6.=;c,  7  days. 
F.  &•  M.  "Hot  Java"  Idea.  Gross:  $26,- 
0O1.        (Average.    $27,000.) 

"THE   COMMAND   PERFORMANCE" 
(Tiff.) 

.■LOS      ANGELES— (2400),       25c-65c.       7 

days.      Gross:    $10,100.       (Average,    $16,000.) 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

ORFHEC.M— (2,750),      35c-65c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $10.00i).        (Average     .$16,000.) 
"THE   SECRET   SIX"    (M-G-M) 

PANTA(;ES  HOLI.YWCKID— (3,000).  35c- 
65c.      7    davs.       F.     &    M.     "Dream     House 
Idea.       Gross:    $13,500.       (Average.    $15,000.) 
"I    TAKE   THIS    WOMAN"    (Para.) 

PARA.MOCNT  (3.596).  35c-65c.  7  days. 
Stage  revuo.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average, 
$25,000.) 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 

RKO— (2,700),  35c-65c,  7  days.  5  acts 
vaudeville.         Gross:      $14,000.  (Average, 

$15,000.) 

"INDISCREET"    (U.    A.) 

UNITED    ARTISTS— f 2.100).    35c-65c     2nd 
week.      Gross:    $I0.3W).       (Average,    $13,500.) 
"SMART    MONEY"    (Warner) 

WARNER  IX)\VNT0WN— (2,400),  7 
days.  35c-.SOc.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"SMART   MONEY"    (Warner) 

WARNER  Ilf)l,l.Y\V(K)D  -  (3,000),  7 
days,  35c-S0c.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average, 
$14,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Roadshow  French  Film 

Montreal— .\fter  being  dark  a 
month,  His  Majesty's  Theatre  has 
been  reopened  for  an  unlimited  road- 
sho\y  run  of  the  l'>ench  picture,  "Le 
Million,"  under  the  formal  patronage 
of  M.  Edouard  Carteron,  French 
Consul-General.     Top  price   is  $1.50. 


Quota  to  End 

Paris — The  P'rench  quota  is 
no  more.  All  restrictions  have 
been  removed  by  the  Cinema 
Control  Commission  and  the 
actual  decree  which  will  bring 
in  .American  Films  without 
restriction  remains  for  the 
.Minister  of  Fine  Arts  to  sign. 
It  is  taken  for  granted  here 
that  this  will  be  done  with- 
out delay. 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


"The  Great  Lover*' 

(M-G-M) 

Hollywood — With  ,\dolphe  Menjou 
fitting  the  title  role  as  a  1931  model 
bathing  suit  fits  a  flapper,  M-G-M 
presents  the  screen  version  of  Leo 
Dietrichstein's  famous  stage  success, 
"The  Great  Lover."  A  splendid  sup- 
porting cast  includes  Irene  Dunn  of 
"Cimarron"  fame,  Ernest  Torrence, 
Olga  Baclanova,  Neil  Hamilton,  Ros- 
coe  Ates,  Cliff  Edwards,  Hale  Ham- 
ilton and  Lillian  Bond. 

In  spite  of  this  blue  book  of  screen 
names,  Menjou  takes  the  show  with 
superb  and  delicately  balanced  per- 
formance of  the  great  opera  singer. 
Much  interesting  back  stage  life  of 
grand  opera  is  shown  and  the  intro- 
duction of  pleasing  musical  numbers 
is  logical.  The  adaptation  and  dia- 
logue are  skillfully  handled  by  Gene 
Markey,  Edgar  Allan  Woolf  and 
John  Meehan.  Harry  Beaumont  han- 
dled the  production  without  ever  al- 
lowing tlie  interest  to  lag. 

LEO   MEEHAN, 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Confessions  of 
a  Co-Ed'' 

(ParaiiioKiil) 

"Upstairs  and  Down"  might  have 
been  a  more  appropriate  title  for  this. 
Every  time  Sylvia  Sidney  and  Claudia 
Dell  run  into  a  situation  they  stem 
their  emotions  by  hurtling  up  stairs 
or  down. 

The  title  may  drag  some  of  'em  in, 
but  the  picture  will  disappoint.  This 
is  the  time-worn  yarn  of  the  young 
girl  who  loves  too  well  and  who 
eventually  turns  to  another  boy  for 
marriage,  protection  and  a  name  for 
the  baby-to-come. 

As  you  might  expect,  the  big  love 
in  her  life — Phillips  Holmes  in 
this  instance — -returns  from  South 
America ;  there  is  a  scene,  Miss  Sid- 
ney forgets  her  marital  ties  and  re- 
turns to  the  boy  of  her  large  heart. 

The  trouble  here  is,  first,  the  story, 
and  secondly,  the  routine  manner  in 
which  it  was  developed  and  sympathy 
that  is  misplaced.  Against  its  handi- 
caps, the  cast  had  more  trouble  than 
it  apparently  was  successfully  able  to 
cope.  Miss  Sidney  is  a  capable  dra- 
matic actress,  but  when  histrionics 
run  afoul  of  bad  material  the  result 
is  apt  to  be  unfortunate.  Which  is 
what  happened  here. 

KANN 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

'The  Lawless  Woman* 

(Chesterfield) 
This  one  deals  with  June  Page,  a 
chorine,  who  kills  Baker,  an  under- 
world leader,  and  the  attempts  of 
Poker  Wilson,  another  gangster,  to 
claim  her  as  his  with  the  passing  of 
opposition.  However,  a  cub  enters 
into  the  triangle  in  a  search  for  the 
inside  of  the  killings,  and  before  it  is 
over  wins  the  show  girl,  gets  his  story 
and  is  willing  to  let  the  law  decide 
whether  the  eirl  had  a  right  to  kill 
the  underworld  denizen  or  not.  There 
is  a  sequence  showing  gangsters  tak- 
ing the  cub  for  a  ride  that  held  an 
audience  on  edge,  but  otherwise  the 
reaction  was  mild. 


"Lady  Who  Dared" 

(first  National) 
The  audience  reaction  at  the  the- 
atre where  this  was  caught  seemed 
to  indicate  Billie  Dove  had  missed 
fire  in  this  yarn  of  love,  diplomacy 
and  international  smuggling.  With  a 
competent  supporting  cast  which  in- 
cluded Conway  Tearle  and  Sidney 
Blackmer,  a  far  more  entertaining 
picture  could  have  been  turned  if  the 
material  and  its  handling  by  Director 
William  Beaudine  had  come  through. 
The  audience,  however,  was  lukewarm 
to  the  entire  proceedings. 


Short  Subjects 

''Money-Makers  of 
Manhattan" 

(Educational) 
This  Lyman  H.  Howe  "Hodge 
Podge"  depicts  the  many  unique 
methods  in  which  New  Yorkers  earn 
their  livelihood,  most  of  the  scenes 
being  taken  in  the  ghetto.  The  short 
winds  up  with  a  close-up  of  window 
washers  at  work  on  the  new  Empire 
Theatre.  It  will  probably  interest 
those  living  in  other  sections  of  the 
country  who  are  unaware  of  the 
rigors  of  trying  to  make  a  living  in 
the  metropolis.  Running  time,  7  min- 
utes. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"The  Albany  Branch" 

(Senile  tt — Educational) 
Five  writers  are  given  screen  credit 
for  the  story  in  this  short,  which  is 
a  dreary  hodge-podge  of  ancient  and 
ix)intless  gags  that  made  an  audience 
groan.  In  the  cast  are  Pearl  Kelton, 
Tom  Dugan,  Frank  Eastman  and  Alice 
Mosher,  and  it  was  directed  by  Mack 
Sennett.  This  just  doesn't  rank  as  a 
comedy.  Running  time,  16  minutes. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''By  the  Sea" 

(Educatioiml — Terry-Toon) 
On  the  general  order  of  cartoons  as 
they  are  being  made  today  and  okay 
as  a  filler.  However,  there  are  very 
few  laughs  in  it.  Running  time,  5 
minutes. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ruth  Doyle  Chicago 
Film  Board  Secretary 

Chicago— Ruth  Doyle,  F'ilm  Board 
secretary  at  Portland,  Ore.,  will  re- 
place Edna  Pfister,  Chicago  Film 
Board  secretary,  about  August  1,  it 
was  learned  here.  Miss  Pfister's 
resignation  is  effective  in  about  thirty 
days.  In  the  late  summer  she  is  to 
become  the  bride  of  Felix  Men- 
delssohn, Metro  Goldwyn  Mayer 
branch  manager  and  president  of  the 
Chicago  Film  Board. 

Miss  Katherine  Roehmer,  assistant 
secretary  of  the  Chicago  Film  Board, 
resigned    this    week. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Signs  Dramatic  Critic 

San  Francisco  —  Irving  Pichel, 
former  dramatic  editor  of  the  San 
Francisco  Neics.  and  active  in  inde- 
pendent production  here,  has  been 
signed  by  Paramount  for  "Murder  by 
the  Clock."  Previously  he  appeared 
with  Ruth  Chatterton  in  "The  Right 
to  Love." 


Myers  Reneges 
On  Buy  Now  to 
Aid  Prosperity 


(Continued    from   page    1) 

Stampede  theatre  owners  into  buying 
product  at  this  time  is  an  act  of 
treachery  to  the  independent  exhibit- 
ors of  the  country."     And  continues : 

"The  hysterical  campaign  inaugu- 
rated by  certain  exhibitor  organiza- 
tions and  trade  papers  to  stampede 
the  theatre  owners  into  buying  prod- 
uct at  this  time  is  an  act  of  treachery 
to  the  independent  exhibitors  of  the 
country. 

"1.  Business  conditions  are  so  un- 
settled that  there  is  scarcely  an  ex- 
hibitor who  knows  what,  if  anything, 
he  will  be  able  to  pay  for  pictures 
next  year. 

"2.  Few  of  the  producers  have 
made  announcetnents  that  really  give 
exhibitors  any  definite  information  as 
to  the  kind  of  product  they  will  re- 
lease. 

"3.  The  financial  condition  of  a 
few  companies  is  such  that  it  is  by 
no  means  certain  that  they  will  be 
able  to  furnish  the  product  they  have 
announced. 

"4.  With  rigid  economy  being  en- 
forced all  down  the  line,  wise  ex- 
hibitors will  want  to  see  some  of  the 
product  before  they  commit  them- 
selves   to    pay    the    prices    asked. 

"5.  This  office  has  received  letters 
from  two  producers  saying  that  they 
have  not  yet  decided  on  the  form  of 
contract  to  use  for  next  year's  prod- 
uct. 

"6.  The  campaign  is  designed  to 
leave  the  independent  exhibitors  hold- 
ing the  bag  in  an  uncertain  and  dan- 
gerous situation,  and  a  correct  esti- 
mate of  the  situation  is  being  made 
by  the  independent  exhibitors." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Managers  in  New  Posts 

Racine,  Wis. — Owen  McKivett, 
manager  of  Warners'  Venetian  hgre 
until  about  six  months  ago,  has  been 
renamed  manager  of  the  theatre.  He 
succeeds  Bryn  Griffith.  Mickey 
Gross,  formerly  publicity  man  for 
RKO  and  also  manager  of  the  circuit's 
Orpheum  and  President  in  St.  Paul, 
has  been  named  manager  of  Fox's 
State,  succeeding  Robert  Ungerfeld, 
who  has  rnanaged  the  theatre  for  over 
two  years. 


Dope  It  Out 

What  does  the  public  vt^ant  in 
the  way  of  pictures? 

The  New  York  Daily  News 
sent  its  "Inquiring  Reporter"  to 
find  out.  Here  is  what  he 
learned: 

One  woman  wants  "pictures 
of  every  day  life";  another, 
mystery  pictures,  and  the  third 
desires  "gripping  romances." 
One  man  registers  a  strong 
preference  for  gangster  films, 
"where  two  or  three  people  are 
killed  in  the  action";  a  second 
likes  "high  class  comedy  pic- 
tures," and  the  third  pictures 
with  pathos,  on  the  order  of 
"Broken  Blossoms." 

Production  executives  will  be 
happy  now  that  the  question 
propounded   above   is   settled. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.  NO.  24 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  JUNE  27,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


New  York  Gets 
^'Buy  Right— 
Buy  Now''  Yen 

Three  Indie  Circuits  Sign 
For  New  Product 


That  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 
spirit  has  caught  on  in  New  York. 
Three  large  independent  circuits  have 
come  through  with  new  product  deals 
that  run  into  plenty  of  money.  Yes- 
terday Joe  Seider  signe<l  contracts 
with  Fox  for  the  latters  entire  line- 
up in  all  of  his  22  theatres  in  Long 
Island,  Staten  Island  and  New  Jer- 
sey. Only  last  week  Seider  put  his 
signature  to  Paramount  contracts 
which,  according  to  insiders,  is  one 
of  the  first  big  deals  signed.  The 
Prudential  circuit  is  situated  in 
closed    towns,    and    incidentally    is    a 

(Coittiinicd   on    faiic   4) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW 

Chi  Operators  Are 
Quizzed  Every  Day 

Chicago — Members  of  the  Chicago 
Operators'  Union  are  still  being  hus- 
tled before  the  grand  jury  b>-  the 
state's  attorney's  office  to  testify 
despite  the  admonition  of  the  union's 
attorney,  Michael  Ahearn,  to  refuse 
to  appear  unless  the  notifying  officer 
has  cither  a  warrant  or  subpoena. 
The  testimony  is  being  taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  grand  jury  investi- 
gation, which  is  seeking  to  determine 

(Continued   on    fafic   4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW 

Talking  Picture  Epics 
Handling  Three  Ufas 

Frederick  Wynne-Jones  has  placed 
three  Ufa  features  with  Talking  Pic- 
ture Epics  for  American  distribution. 
They  are  "The  White  Devil,"  "The 
Last  Company"  and  "The  Immortal 
Vagabond." 

The  three  pictures  are  in  English 
dialogue. 


They  Found  Out 

Des  Moines — A  group  of  min- 
isters cheered  during  the  raid- 
ing by  police  of  a  "men  only" 
performance  in  a  theatre — then 
sat  through  a  special  perform- 
ance to  get  a  general  idea  of 
how  naughty  it  was.  Later  it 
was  characterized  as  "unspeak- 
ably obscene"  by  the  Rev.  W. 
G.  Williams,  president  of  the 
ministerial   association. 


Drop  Nine  Film  Boards 
In  Move  for  Economy 


Frisco  Prices  Tumble 

San  Francisco — For  the  first  time  in  years,  Fox  West  Coast  has 
reduced  admission  prices  for  the  summer.  In  80-inch  ads  carried 
in  all  four  local  papers,  the  circuit  announces  reduction  of  prices 
from  $1  top  at  the  Fox  to  60  cents,  and  at  the  Paramount  from  a 
top  of  90  cents  to  50  cents.  The  Warfield  has  reduced  its  admis- 
sion top  from  90  to  50  cents. 

As  a  result  of  the  strong  appeal  in  the  copy,  all  three  houses 
are  understood  to  be  doing  capacity  matinee  business. 


Schenck^Loew, 

Bernstein  Win 

9  Million  Suit 


Suit  of  Edward  G.  Stanton  against 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  David  Bern- 
stein and  Arthur  M.  Loew  for  an  ac- 
counting of  $9,000,000  in  profits  which 
he  alleged  they  had  received  by  sale 
of  their  Loew  stock  to  William  Fox 
and  the  Fox  Theatres  Corp.,  was  de- 
cided yesterday  for  the  defendants  by 
Justice  Salvatore  Cotillo  in  the  New 
York  Supreme  Court. 

Stanton  had  sued  as  holder  of  200 
shares   of   Loew   stock  and  on   behalf 

(Continued  on    page   2) 
"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Twin  Feature  Ban  Is 
Remote,  Says  Cocalis 

Possibility  of  discontinuing  double 
features  in  32  theatres  of  the  Cocalis- 
Springer  circuit  in  Greater  New 
York  is  remote,  according  to  Sam 
Cocalis,  who  told  Motion  Picture 
Daily   that   this   policy  must   be  con- 

(Continucd   on    paiie      4) 


Cohn  Spikes 
Report  He's 
Moving  Out 


Hollywood — "Why  should  I  sell 
out  considering  the  fact  that  theatre- 
owning  companies  are  not  making 
tlic  pictures  demanded  by  their  own 
theatres,"  Harry  Cohn,  Columbia  pro- 
duction chief,  wants  to  know  in  con- 
tradicting reports  that  he  is  leaving 
the  company. 

"The  future  looks  rosier  than  all 
the  years  we  have  been  building  up 
Columbia,"  says  Cohn.  "Secondly,  I 
am  free  here  to  produce  as  I  think 
best  and  couldn't  be  elsewhere.  Any- 
way,   I    haven't   been    asked." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW  ' 

Liberal  Sabbath  Is 
Sought  in  Baltimore 

Baltimore — Daniel  Ellison,  Repub- 
lican member  of  the  City  Council,  is 
planning  to  take  up  with  the  Attor- 
ney-General's office  in  Maryland,  the 
idea  of  having  three  ordinances   sub- 

(Continued  on    page   2) 


Clara  Turns  Down  $20,000  a 
Week;  Says  She  Won 't  Nude  It 


Hollywood — Clara  Bow  says  she 
has  turned  down  an  offer  which 
would  have  netted  her  $20,000  week- 
ly. She  also  asserts  she  has  turned 
down  an  offer  from  Earl  Carroll  to 
appear  in  his  "Vanities."  She  will 
talk  no  business  with  anyone  for 
the  next  two  months  and  then  only 
picture  offers,  she  says.  She_  says 
she  won't  appear  in  any  more  disrob- 
ing or  semi-nude  pictures. 

Rex    Bell    says    that    Miss    Bow    is 


in  good  condition  physically,  but  that 
her  nerves  still  are  bad.  Miss  Bow 
is  said  to  be  okay  financially,  having 
a  $250,000  trust  fund  which  cannot  be 
touched. 

Rex  Bell,  on  whose  ranch  Clara 
has  been  recuperating,  told  the  follow- 
ing story  about  the  star : 

"She's  getting  to  be  a  crack  shot,  but 
the  first  rabbit  she  shot  she  wept. 
I  looked  at  her  and  big  tears  were 
running   down   her   cheeks." 


Remaining   23  Offices   to 

Assume  Duties  of 

Stricken  List 


Film  Boards  of  Trade,  brain-child 
and  pride  of  Charles  C.  Pettijohn, 
will  be  reduced  from  32  American 
offices  to  23  on  July  1,  as  part  of 
a  retrenchment  move  inaugurated  by 
their  mentor. 
Reduction  of  the 
boards  by  nine 
will  result  in 
doubling  the 
work  of  as  many 
offices  in  adja- 
cent cities,  but 
will  remove 
from  the  Film 
Board  budget 
the  secretaries, 
their  assistants 
and  staffs  in 
.\lbany,  New 
Haven,  Cincin- 
nati, Charlotte, 
Des  Moines,  In- 
dianapolis, Kan- 
sas City,  Portland  and  Butte,  which 
are  the  cities  included  in  the  economy 
move. 

Boston  will  handle  Film  Board  mat- 

(Continued   en    paae   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Allied  Admits  Wise. 
Unit;  May  Okay  N.C. 

Allied  States  Association  has  ad- 
mitted the  Allied  Independent  Thea- 
tres of  Wisconsin  and  is  considering 
a  proposal  to  admit  an  independent 
organization  in  North  Carolina.  The 
latter    is    the    stronghold    of    Charles 

(Continued  on    page  2) 


C.  C.  Pettijohn 


Taking  Chances 

Louisville,  Ky. — Folks  who 
know  how  hardboiled  old  Uncle 
Sam  is  regarding  use  of  the 
mails  in  any  form  in  connection 
with  anything  that  can  be  con- 
strued as  a  lottery,  probably 
got  a  very  decided  kick  at  the 
Brown  Theatre  when  in  a  draw- 
ing involving  a  trip  to  the  Yel- 
lowstone, a  sack  containing  the 
ticket  stubs  was  carried  on  the 
stage.  It  was  a  nice,  brand 
new,  white  canvass  bag,  on  the 
side  of  which,  in  big  black 
stenciled  letters,  appeared  : 
"U.  S.  Mail." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    June    27,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAI  LY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\ol.    30 


Tune   27,    1931 


No.   24 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  iMew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  H-'.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.    v.,  under  Act  o£   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Liberal  Sabbath  Is 
Sought  in  Baltimore 

(Continued   from    page    1 ) 

mitted  to  the  voters  to  liberalize  the 
Sabbath  dealing  with  motion  pictures, 
sports    and    retail    sales. 

This  was  planned  to  be  done  at  first 
v»y  the  City  Council  but  members  wer« 
advised  that  only  one  ordinance  could 
be  drawn  up  by  the  State  Legal  De- 
partment. 

Two  amendments  concerning  Sun- 
day sales  and  one  lengthened  the  dis- 
tance which  games  could  be  played 
from  churches  to  300  feet  instead  of 
200. 

Mayor  Howard  Jackson  will  have 
the  ameixled  ordinance  taken  up  with 
him  by  the  City  Council  Blue  Com- 
mittee, of  which  Jerome  Sloman  is 
chairman. 

The  retail  grocers  objected  to  the 
Sunday  sales  applying  to  all  stores 
and  the  ordinance  was  amended  to 
take  care  of  this  by  having  only 
cooked  meats  and  other  foodstuffs 
prepared  for  consumption,  allowed  to 
be  sold  and  allowing  kosher  meat 
stores  open  if  they  are  closed  on 
Saturdays. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Will  H,  Hays  Defends 
Gangster  Productions 

The  screen  seeks  to  "debunk  the 
gangster,"  Will  H.  Hays  states  in  a 
letter  received  by  Mayor  Martens 
of  East  Orange,  in  answer  to  one 
Sent  him  by  the  latter  protesting  the 
showing  of  gangster  films.  The  slay- 
ing of  a  12-year-old  boy  by  another 
in  portraying  a  scene  from  "The  Sec- 
ret Six,"  led  to  the  protest. 

"A  divergence  of  public  opinion," 
states  Hays  in  the  letter,  "concerning 
these  films  is  offset,  however,  by  unan- 
imous scientific  judgment  which  ac- 
cepts these  pictures  as  crime  deter- 
rents." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Powers  Denies 

p.  A.  Powers  yesterday  denied  he 
had  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the 
Meyer-Reiger  Trailer  Corp.,  as  re- 
ported in  yesterday's  Motion  Picture 
Daily. 

He  did  admit,  however,  that  he  has 
had  and  is  having  "business  negotia- 
tions"   with    the    trailer    company. 


Drop  9  Boards 
In  New  Move 
For  Economy 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

tens  for  New  Haven;  Buffalo  for 
Albany ;  Cleveland  for  Cincinnati ;  At- 
lanta for  Charlotte;  Omaha  for  Des 
Moines ;  Chicago  for  Indianapolis  ;  St. 
Louis  for  Kansas  City;  Seattle  for 
Portland,  and  Salt  Lake  for  Butte. 
Exchanges  who  are  members  of  the 
Film  Boards  in  the  nine  cities  shortly 
to  be  stricken  from  the  list,  will  elect 
a  non-paid  secretary,  to  whom  all 
cases  involving  credit  will  be  referred, 
but  the  machinery  of  operation  in  the 
case  of  those  cities  will  be  handled 
by  the  board,  which,  under  the  plan, 
takes  on  the  additional  territory. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Schenck,  Bernstein, 
Loew  Win  Stock  Suit 

(Continued   from  page    1) 

of  the  corporation,  making  the  basis 
of  his  action  a  claim  that  the  three 
defendants,  as  directors  and  officers 
of  Loew's,  Inc.,  could  not  dispose  of 
their  stock  and  that,  if  they  did,  the 
profits  from  such  sale  should  have 
accrued  in  the  interest  of  the  corpora- 
tion. 

Justice  Cotillo's  decision,  in  ef- 
fect, held  that  no  such  restriction 
could  legally  be  placed  upon  the  de- 
fendants. 

The  case,  which  covered  a  period 
of  several  weeks,  unearthed  many  of 
the  details  leading  up  to  and  attend- 
ant upon  the  sale  of  the  majority 
Loew  stock  to  the  Fox  interests  and. 
in  the  main,  uncovered  little  by  way 
of  facts  not  already  known  to  the 
industry  at  large. 

Schenck,  Bernstein  and  Loew  were 
represented,  as  individuals,  by  Henry 
W.  Taft  and  Nathan  Burkan,  while 
Leopold  Friedman  represented  Loew's. 
Inc.  Stanton  was  represented  by 
House,   Holthusen  and   McCloskev. 


Coverage 


Seven  new  pictures  opened 
on  Broadway  yesterday.  Four — 
"The  Prodigal,"  "Sweepstakes," 
"Women  Love  Once"  and  "Gen- 
tlemen's Fate" — were  reviewed 
by  Motion  Figure  Daily  prior 
to  their  main  stem  advent. 
Three— "Road  to  Hell,"  "Hell 
Below  Zero"  and  "Annabelle's 
Affairs" — are  covered  today. 

The  line-up: 

AsTOR — "A  Free  Soul"  (M- 
G-M) — reviewed  by  Motion 
Picture  Daily  April   18. 

Cameo — "Hell  Below  Zero" 
(T.P.E.) — reviewed  today,  page 
4. 

Capitol— "The  Prodigal"  (M- 
G-M) — reviewed  under  title  of 
"The  Southerner"  Jan.  15. 

Central — "Road  to  Hell" 
(Public  Welfare) — reviewed  to- 
day,  page   4. 

Criterion  —  "The  Smiling 
Lieutenant"  (Para.) — reviewed 
May  22. 

Hollywood — "Chances"  (F.N.) 
— reviewed  May  2. 

Ma-^fair — "Sweepstakes"  (Ra- 
dio)— reviewed  .Tune  5. 

Paramount — "Women  Love 
Once"  (Para.)  —  reviewed  June 
20. 

Rivon — "Night  Angel"  (Para.) 
— reviewed   June   11. 

RoxY — "Annabelle's  Affairs" 
(Fox) — reviewed  today,  page  4. 

Strand — "Gentlemen's  Fate" 
(M-G-M) — reviewed  Feb.  4. 

Winter  Garden  —  "Smart 
Money"  (Warners) — reviewed 
editorially  June  19. 


M-G-M   Signs   Bernstein 

Henri  Bernstein,  French  playwright, 
has  been  placed  under  contract  by 
M-G-M.  Bernstein  is  in  New  York 
and  is  working  on  an  original.  He 
is  the  author  of  "Melo,"  in  which 
Basil  Rathbone  and  Edna  Best  ap- 
peared on  Broadwav  this  season,  and 
has  also  written  "The  Thief,"  "Ju- 
dith," "The  Hall  of  Mirrors," 
"Venom"  and  "The  Day."  His  latest 
play.  "Jupiter,"  is  to  be  presented  in 
Paris  in  November. 


Stocks  Continue  Upward;  Loew's  Gains  ^Vs 


Net 
Change 

-  54 

+  H 


+2ys 

+  V/2 


Hitrh  Low  Close 

Conso'ldated    Film    Industries 8  714  734 

Eastman    Kodak    1.5.^  149'4  152'4 

Fox   Fihn    "A" 21J4  2VA  2Wi 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new S  AVi  4% 

Loew's,  Inc 45^  44^  4S% 

Loew's,  Inc..  pfd 87'/$  87V5  8754 

M-G-M    pfd 24i/i  24V,  24'/^ 

Paramount    Publix 27'/;  26ii  27V2 

Pathe    Exchange We  VA  IVg 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 5M  SVi  SH 

RKO  17  16'4  16?^ 

Warner   Bros ; Ui  8'4  &Vti 

Warner   Bros,    pfd 18?^  183^  mi        -^  Vg 

Curb  Issues  Also  Active;  Col.  Up  /V2 


-t-  V4 


+  Yi 
-I-  V2 


High  Low  Close 

roluMil)ia  Pictures  vtc 1,1  \2Vi.  \'i 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 3V$  3'/^          3'/^ 

General  Theatre   Equipment   pfd 9^  9J4          ^^^ 

Sentry  Safety   Control 1!4  Wi          VA 

Technicolor     6V2  6'/^          6'/^ 

Trans    Lux 6^  tVi          &A 


Net 
Chang:e 

+1/2 


-I-  Vi 


Film  Bonds  Slightly  Off 


General    Theatre    Equipment    6s 

Keith    B.   F.    6s    '46 

Ix>ew's  6s  '41  ex  war 

Paramount   Broadwav  5'/'«   '51... 

Paramount   Publix   S'/jS.   '.W 

Pathe    7s    '37   ww 


High 

40 

641/^ 
98 
101 
81 
90 


Warner  Bros.  6s  '.^9  wd 43 


Low 

39 

64'/; 

98 
101 
80^ 
897/^ 
42 


Close 

39 

64'/ 

98 

ini 

81 
90 
42%. 


+  K 


Net 
Change 

-W2 


Sales 

600 

5,400 

9.700 

1,800 

11.300 

100 

100 

14.500 

400 

1,200 

19,800 

10,600 

100 


Sales 

400 
800 
500 
100 
100 
300 


Sales 

15 


Al    Santell    for    turning    out 

that  sweet  b.  o.  bet,  "Daddy 

Long  Legs". 


Allied  Admits  Wise. 
Unit;  May  Okay  N.C. 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

W.  Picquet,  first  vice-president  of 
the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  The  Wisconsin 
"jam"  resulted  when  Allied  directors 
served  an  ultimatum  on  the  M.  P. 
T.  O.  of  Wisconsin  stating  that  if 
Fred  S.  Meyer,  manager  of  Univer- 
sal's  Alhambra  in  Milwaukee,  was 
reelected  president,  Allied  would  re- 
voke the  unit's  charter. 

Nathan  Yamins,  Allied  leader  in 
New  England,  now  is  preparing  a 
summation  of  the  various  contracts 
put  into  effect  by  distributors.  Yamins 
took  a  leading  part  in  drafting  the 
proposed  standard  form  of  license 
agreement. 

•■BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

The  Reason  Why? 

London — Resignation  of  Isidore 
Ostrer  as  chairman  of  Gaumont 
British  has  created  a  good  deal  of 
comment  in  the  trade.  Ernest  W. 
Fredman,  editor  of  The  Daily  Film 
Renter  and  known  to  be  close  to  C. 
M.  Woolff  of  G.  B.,  says  the  move 
resulted  from  Ostrer's  desire  to  de- 
vote more  of  his  time  to  other  inter- 
ests. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  ' 

Mason  Here 

Cecil  Mason,  sales  manager  of 
Greater  Australasian  Films,  franchise 
holders  of  Columbia  Pictures,  is  in 
New  York  to  confer  with  Joe  Brandt. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Form  B.  I.  F.,  Ltd 

London — Organized  for  the  pur- 
pose of  producing  propaganda  films, 
the  British  Industrial  Films,  Ltd.,  has 
been  launched  by  John  Maxwell  and 
A.  E.  Bundy.  "Secrets  of  Industry" 
will  be  the  first  of  a  series  to  be  made 
at  Wellyn  and  Elstree. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW  ' 

Increases  Capital 

Dover  —  Publix-Wilby  Theatres. 
Inc.,  of  New  York,  have  increased 
their  capital  from  1,000  to  2,000  shares 
of  no  par  value  stock. 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

Latest  R.C.A. 
Photophone  Equipment 

Si    Of     ''"'  "^"^  until  •  P.  M. 
i<Z«)      Nights,   Sundays, 

Holidays  by  Appointment 

Under  the  personal  supervision   of 
Hymie   Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 
PICTURE  SERVICE,  Inc. 

729   7th   Ave.  BRyant   1-S7ZI 


An  improved 
method  of 
blocking  out 
splices  in 
sound  film 

X^  OW  the  sound  track  need  no  longer  be 
painted  out  at  the  joints  to  silence  splice  noise. 
The  Eastman  Sound  Film  Patch  enables  the 
laboratory  worker  to  block  out  joints  with 
greater  ease,  speed,  and  uniformity. 

The  patch  is  made  of  light-weight,  opaque 
film.  For  convenience  in  handling,  it  is  provided 
with  a  quickly  detachable  finger  tab.  With  the 
aid  of  this  tab,  a  simple  but  accurate  registration 
block,  and  cement,  the  patch  is  quickly  applied 
to  the  film. 

Because  of  its  design,  the  patch  is  practically 
inaudible  in  projection.  At  the  same  time  it 
obscures  a  minimum  of  the  sound  record,  and 
assures  fast,  accurate  treatment  of  all  splices. 
These  factors  make  the  patches  and  the  block 
a  valuable  feature  of  Eastman  Service. 

Eastman  Sound  Film  Patches,  per 

thousand $5.00 

Eastman  Sound  Film  Patcher 

(registration  block) 4-25 

EASTMAN  KODAK  COMPANY 

ROCHESTER,  NEW  YORK 

J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors 

New  York  Chicago  Hollywood 


■    I         I    I 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    June    27,    1931 


Chi  Operators 
Quizzed  Daily 
By  Grand  Jury 


(Continued   from   page    1) 

whether  the  union's  insistence  on  a 
second  projectionist  in  the  booth  con- 
stitutes conspiracj'. 

The  grand  jury  probe  of  the  union's 
affairs  has  been  extended  now  to  in- 
chide  administration  of  the  city  hall 
operators'  licensing  office,  presided 
over  by  Joe  Maloy,  a  brother  of  Tom 
Maloy,  business  manager  of  the  union. 
Records  of  the  department  seized  by 
Assistant  State's  Attorney  Charles 
Lounsbury  revealed  numerous  irregu- 
larities in  the  examination  of  appli- 
cants for  projectionists'  licenses,  it 
is  said.  Joe  Maloy  was  called  before 
the  grand  jury  this  week,  but  jurors 
and  prosecutors  refused  to  discuss  his 
testimony.  Records  of  Maloy's  city 
hall  department  have  been  turned 
over  to  the  civil  service  commission 
trial  board  for  examination. 

The  state's  attorney's  office  is  con- 
tinuing its  investigation  of  the  murder 
last  Saturday  of  Jacob  Kaufman,  in- 
surgent union  projectionist,  who  was 
to  have  testified  during  the  week. 
The  investigation  is  expected  to  re- 
sult in  the  voting  of  secret  murder 
indictments  against  union  officials,  ac- 
cording to  a  source  close  to  those  in 
charge  of  the  investigation. 

Information  has  been  made  available 
here  as  to  the  origin  of  the  investi- 
gation of  the  union  which  would  in- 
dicate that  Kaufman,  in  taking  his 
grievances  to  an  outside  source  for 
assistance,  unwittingly  drew  the  at- 
tention of  semi-official  agencies  to 
conditions  existing  between  Chicago 
theatres  and  the  projectionists'  local. 
These  agencies  are  reported  to  have 
enlisted  the  Chicago  Crime  Commis- 
sion and  the  state's  attorney's  office 
in  their  inquiry,  which  progressed 
secretly  for  three  months  prior  to 
the  general  summoning  of  Chicago 
exhibitors  to  testify  in  the  state's 
attorney's  office  regarding  their  re- 
lations with  the  union. 

Identified  with  the  secret  three 
months'  investigation  are  seven  inde- 
pendent exhibitors,  all  located  ,on  the 
North  Side  of  the  city,  and  all  recog- 
nized for  their  "aloofness"  from  gen- 
eral exhibitor  afifairs  and  their  ability 
to  refrain  from  talking.  According 
to  this  information,  enough  evidence 
was  gathered  from  this  source  alone 
to  warrant  launching  of  the  general 
investigation  without  the  taking  of 
testimony   from   any  other  exhibitors. 

When  told  this  story  and  invited  to 
comment  on  its  authenticity.  Assistant 
State's  -Attorney  Lounsbury,  in  charge 
of  the  investigation,  said :  "It's  the 
first  I've  heard  of  it." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  SOW" 

RKO's  "Patriotic  Week" 

In  response  to  request  by  \'ice 
President  Curtis  to  set  aside  a  week 
for  observance  of  signing  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  the  RKO  cir- 
cuit during  the  week  of  July  3  will 
celebrate  the  event  as  "Patriotic 
■Week." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Buchanan  Signed 

LoNDOx  —  Basil  Dean  has  signed 
Jack  Buchanan  for  the  lead  in  "Three 
of  a  Kind."  RKO  Pathe  will  dis- 
tribute. 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


'Goldie' 


(Fox) 

This  looks  like  an  effort  on  the  part 
of  Fo.x  to  create  another  Quirt-Flagg 
team  with  Warren  Hymer  and 
Spencer  Tracy  as  principals.  The 
attempt  doesn't  get  very  far,  at  least 
on   the   basis   of   "Goldie." 

The  story  is  extremely  slim  and 
is  episodic  all  the  way.  Hymer  and 
Tracy  are  sea-faring  men,  living  up 
to  the  hilt  the  tradition  about  sailors 
and  a  sweetie  in  every  port.  Hymer 
is  the  dumb  and  Tracy  the  smart- 
cracking  end  of  the  combination 
whose  love  affairs  criss-cross  all  over 
the    world. 

In  its  final  half,  the  yarn  attempts 
to  go  serious  when  Hymer  discov- 
ers he  has  gone  for  Jean  Harlow  in 
a  very  big  way.  But  Tracy  has  al- 
ready had  one  experience  with  this 
"tramp" — the  descriptive  noun  is  the 
picture's,  not  this  reviewer's — and 
eventually  succeeds  in  opening  his 
chum's  eyes  to  the  truth. 

Too  much  footage  for  an  almost- 
no-story  yarn.  The  gags  are  some- 
times laugh-provoking,  but  more  often 
not.  "Goldie"  may  get  by  in  subse- 
quent run  houses,  but,  no  matter  how 
you  look  at  it,  it  does  not  fall  into  the 
first  run  division. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Annahelle's  Affairs" 

(Fox) 

"Annabelle's  Affairs"  will  make 
audiences  titter  moderately  if  they 
can  stand  attempts  to  put  over  farce 
in  celluloid  form.  Being  what  it  is, 
story  material  skates  along  on  pretty 
thin  ice. 

For  instance,  you  are  asked  to  lend 
credence  to  a  situation  wherein  Jean- 
ette  MacDonald  fails  to  recognize  her 
own  husband  after  he  and  his  beard 
part  company.  Then,  too,  the  excuse 
for  the  excitement  is  made  to  revolve 
around  recovery  of  fifty  shares  of 
fabulously  wealthy  mining  stock,  pos- 
session of  which  turns  the  tide  of  for- 
tune from  Roland  Young  to  Husband 
Victor   McLaglen. 

It's  all  very  improbable,  artificial 
and  almost  totally  lacking  in  reason. 
Yet,  the  picture  has  its  moments,  even 
if  they  are  very  few.  In  point  of 
performances.  Young  leads  the  pro- 
cession. It  is  to  be  regretted,  ''ow- 
ever,  that  his  obvious  capabilities  are 
wasted  on  such  material. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Road  to  Heir 

(Public    IVcljare    Films) 

Here's  a  picture  that  has  nothing, 
from  any  angle  you  view  it,  to  rec- 
ommend   it. 

Slipped  into  the  Central,  New  York 
yesterday,  and  advertised  as  "show- 
ing everything,"  the  film  is  a  ter- 
rible example  of  story,  direction, 
])hotography  and  acting.  This  atrocity 
is  tied  in  with  a  "for  men  only" 
show  that  includes  the  usual  "come- 
on"  of  a  parade  of  living  models,  a 
lecture  on  sex  hygiene  and  motion 
pictures   that   illustrate  the   lecture. 

The  story  concerns  white  slavery 
in  Rio,  although  that  term  is  never 
used  to  describe  the  proceedings,  re- 
volves around  a  theatrical  producer 
who  ships  girls  to  Brazil  under  the 
guise  of  cabaret  entertainers  and  his 
daughter  who  is  thrown  into  the  net 
on  a  revenge  motive. 

Orplid   Films,   a   German    producer. 


is  responsible  for  this  celluloid 
crime.  No  exhibitor  who  expects  his 
patrons  to  return  to  his  theatre  can 
afford   to    show    it. 

KAN  N 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Hell  Below  Zero" 

(Taking  Picture  E/^ics) 
A  pictorial  record  of  the  Mountains 
of  the  Moon  in  equatorial  Africa.  It 
shows  the  natural  phenomenon  of  a 
location  where  the  temperature  runs 
the   full  range  of  the  thermometer. 

Carveth  Wells,  a  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Geographic  Society  on  the  Mas- 
see  Expedition,  delivers  the  lecture 
accompanying  the  picture.  The  pic- 
tures establishes  the  existence  of  the 
mountains,  which  until  a  few  years 
ago  were  considered  mythical. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Twin  Bill  Ban  Is 
Remote — Cocalis 

{Continued   from  page    1) 

tinued  because  of  the  circuit  situation. 
Cocalis  does  not  believe  that  single 
features  in  subsequent  run  theatres 
can  hold  up  by  themselves. 

When  questioned  whether  distribut- 
ors were  insisting  on  putting  their  pic- 
tures on  single  bill  programs,  he  said 
that  this  was  not  so.  Cocalis  further 
stated  that  the  exchanges  have  no 
right  to  tell  exhibitors  how  to  run 
their  theatres.  The  twin  bill  policy, 
he  said,  is  better  for  the  distributors 
as  it  gives  them  a  greater  outlet  for 
their  product,  and  they  are  asking 
and  getting  big  rentals  just  the  same. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Para.  Re-Signs  Brook 

Hollywood — Paramoimt  has  re- 
newed Clive  Brook's  contract. 


New  York  Gets 
"Buy  Right— 

Buy  Now"  Yen 


a  oiitiiiiicd  from  pane  1) 

member  of  the  New  Jersey  Allied 
unit,  whose  members  have  been  told 
by  Abram   Myers  to   "sit  tight." 

Unixersal  this  week  closed  a  deal 
which  is  said  to  run  into  six  figures. 
The  Cocalis-Springer  circuit  has 
closed  with  Leo  Abrams  of  the  "Big 
U"  exchange  for  100  per  cent  repre- 
sentation in  the  32  houses  of  that 
string  in  Manhattan,  Bronx,  Brook- 
lyn and  New  Jersey. 

Jack  Ellis  of  RKO  is  smiling  plenty 
these  days,  having  concluded  negotia- 
tions with  Louis  Frisch  for  100  per 
cent  outlet  in  that  exhibitor's  15 
Brooklyn  theatres. 

Several  big  deals  are  pending  and 
expected  to  be  signed  any  day.  The 
"Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now"  move- 
ment is  off  on  a  real  stride  in  Xew 
York,  and,  according  to  the  outlook, 
business  is  perking  up  nicely  for  local 
distributors. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Halperin  New  Publix 
Detroit  Division  Mgr. 

Detroit — I.  M.  Halperin  has  been 
promoted  by  Publix  to  division  man- 
ager in  charge  of  the  17  local  theatres. 
He  will  be  directly  responsible  to 
John  Balaban  and  Boris  ;\Iorros, 
present  head  of  a  music  department. 
Nat  Kalcheim  succeeds  Halperin  as 
head  of  the  production  unit  depart- 
ment. The  change  becomes  effective 
July  1. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Stromberg  to  Europe 

Hollywood — Hunt  Stromberg  sails 
from  New  York  for  Europe  on 
July  18. 


NEW     YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant     4712... 

^    •         I—    • 

BRUL 

CHICAGO 

1727    INDIANA   AVENUE 
CALumet    2691... 

LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

154    CRESCENT    STREET 
.   .   .   .    S  T  1   11  w  e  II       7940 

EASTMAN 
*  FILMS  * 

ATOUR 

ncorporated 

HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.   .  .   Hollywood      4121 

The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  25 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JUNE  29,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


^^Btiy  Now''  Is 
Urgent  Plea 
Of  Michalove 


Regards    Move    to    Hold 
Out  "A  Danger" 


Dan    Michalove 


The  "Buy  Right— Buy  Now"  move- 
ment has  won  the  whole-hearted  sup- 
port of  Dan  Michalove,  head  of  the 
Warner  theatre  department,  who  sees 
in  it  a  benefit  for  the  exhibitor.  In 
his  statement  he 
asserts : 

"The  exhibi- 
tor who  is  hold- 
ing back  on  his 
next  year's  buy 
is  creating  a 
dangerous  situ- 
ation for  him- 
self and  the  in- 
dustry at  large. 
The  reason  for 
this  is  evident. 
Since  theatre 
profits  depend 
primarily  and 
almost  solely 
upon  the  quality 
of  the  picture 
product  he  plays,  it  stands  to  reason 
that  producers  knowing  that  their 
product  has  already  been  contracted 
for  throughout  the  country,  will  put 
everything  they  have  into  those  pic- 
tures to  give  them  the  benefit  of  the 

(Continued  on   page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

U.  S.  Charges  Maloy 
Evaded  Income  Tax 

Chicago — -Tom  Maloy,  head  of  the 
local  opertors'  union,  is  facing  federal 
prosecution  for  income  tax  evasion, 
according  to  Robert  Neely,  collector 
of  internal  revenue,  who  says  his 
agents  uncovered  Maloy  bank  ac- 
counts indicating  that  his  income  is 
about  triple  that  of  his  filed  returns. 
Agents  working  on  the  case  for  some 
time  are  about  through  and  P^deral 
grand  jury  action  may  come  early  in 
till.'  week. 


Oppose  Double,  Go  for  Triple  Bills 

RKO  is  on  record  with  a  policy  stand  against  double  featuring. 
Yet  in  its  Keith's  Prospect  in  Brooklyn,  triple  features  are  the 
vogue  weekly.  That  house  ordinarily  plays  double  features  on 
Wednesday,  Thursday  and  Friday,  but  as  a  move  to  stimulate 
night  business  each  Friday  night,  a  preview  of  the  incoming 
feature  is  being  thrown  in  as  part  of  the  regular  twin-bill  program. 


Ask  Receiver 
For  St.  Louis 
W.  B.  Houses 


stolen  Sweets 

Thievery  of  the  cash  boxes 
and  the  candy  itself  from 
vending  machines  is  a  con- 
cern to  Publix.  Managers  are 
being  warned  to  empty  re- 
ceipts daily  and  to  move  the 
stock  to  their  offices  to  be 
filed  under  lock  and  key  every 
night.  All  losses  of  this  type 
are  being  charged  up  to  indi- 
vidual operations. 


St.  Louis — Returnable  tomorrow. 
Circuit  Judge  Moses  N.  Hartmann 
has  issued  an  order  for  the  St.  Louis 
,'\nuisement  Co.  to  show  cause  why 
a  receivership  should  not  be  ap- 
pointed. He  acted  on  a  petition  for 
a  receivership  filed  by  Jack  and  Katie 
Shea,  minority  stockholders  in  the 
amusement  company. 

Shea  is  manager  of  the  Montgo- 
mer\-,  wliich  is  not  affiliated  with  .St. 
Louis  Amusement.  He  holds  30  shares 
and  his  sister,  55  shares  of  the  Class 
".A."  stock.  The  i^etition  does  not  charge 
that  the  amusement  company  is  in- 
solvent, but  alleges  that  Warners, 
who  control  it,  have  directed  the  com- 
pany's   affairs    in    their    own    interest 

(Continued  on    page  2) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

See  United  Artists' 
New  List  Up  to  16 

United  Artists  program  of  14  for 
1931-32  season  is  expected  to  be  in- 
creased to  16  before  the  end  of  the 
season.  Douglas  Fairbanks  and  Mary 
Pickford,  while  not  yet  on  the  list, 
are  expected  to  come  through  with 
pictures.  Fairbanks  is  understood 
planning  to  supply  the  dialogue  for 
the  pictures  recently  taken  on  that 
trip  to  foreign  countries. 

With  the  minimum  of  16  this 
represents  two  less  over  last  year, 
when  the  schedule  was  18.  No  shorts 
will    be   distributed. 


Seek  Ban  on 
Censor  Pull 
In  Chicago 

Chicago — A  number  of  women's 
clubs  here  and  Dr.  Fred  Eastman  of 
the  riic  Christian  Century  Magazine 
are  agitating  to  bring  to  an  end 
"privileges"  allegedly  enjoyed  by  im- 
portant local  distributors  and  ex- 
hibitors. These  "privileges"  are  de- 
scribed as  moves  which  qyer-ride  de- 
cisions  of  the   censor   board. 

It  is  charged  that  "Laughing  Sin- 
ners" and  "Never  the  Twain  Shall 
Meet,"  M-G-M  features,  were  re- 
leased on  "Adults  Only"  permits 
from  the  censor  and  yet  they  are  be- 
ing shown  to  unrestricted  audiences 
by  Balaban  &  Kat/..  Acting  Police 
Commissoner  Alcock,  the  only  muni- 
cipal official  authorized  to  veto  censor 

(Continued  en    paqe  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sheehan  Rushes  East 
To  Meet  Co-Directors 

Hollywood  —  Winfield  Sheehan, 
who  returned  to  the  Fox  lot  Tues- 
day from  a  long  stay  in  New  York, 
again  left  for  the  East  on  Saturday. 
He  is  due  to  return  here  July   7. 


Signs  Not  Red 
But  Green,  Is 
Katz's  Belief 


Turn  in  Road  Here,  Says 
Head  of  Publix 


The  new  Fox  directorate,  which 
includes  important  names  in  the  bank- 
ing and  industrial  world,  is  yet  to 
hold  its  first  meeting.  Sheehan's  quick 
return  East  is  reported  for  the  pur- 
pose of  becoming  acquainted  with  his 
co-directors. 


Producers  "Running  Out  ^^ Is 
Church  Charge;  Hays  Denies 


Charging  that  the  Hays  organization 
has  had  difficulties  in  its  efforts  "to 
keep  refractory  members  from  'run- 
ning out' "  on  the  program  of  self- 
regulation  set  up  within  the  industry, 
the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches 
of  Christ  in  .America,  in  a  report  on 
motion  pictures  made  by  its  Depart- 
ment of  Research  and  Education,  is 
endeavoring     to     determine      whether 


cooperation  with  the  Hays  group  is 
"warranted  by  the  results." 

Hays,  as  spokesman  for  the  indus- 
try, hits  back  and,  by  actual  quotations 
from  the  factual  report  of  the  coun- 
cil's investigators,  submits  proofs  that 
the  charge  of  "running  out"  is  con- 
trary to  the  facts. 

Two  voluminous  reports,  containing 

(Continued  on   page   6) 


Bearish  for  the  last  six  months,  Sam 
Katz  has  joined  the  bull  market  Q{i 
optimism. 

"I  have  hitherto  refrained  from 
making  any  cheerful  forecast  about 
our  business  be- 
cause I  could 
not  honestly 
feel  that  condi- 
tions warranted 
them,"  he  says 
in  a  message  to 
the '  Publix  field 
force.  "Now, 
however,  for  the 
first  time  in 
over  si.x  months, 
I  believe  I  can 
strike  a  definite 
note  of  optim- 
ism in  speaking 
of  our  business 
in  the  near  fu- 
t  u  r  e.  All  the 
signs  seem  to  point  in  that  direction, 
as  a  result  of  President  Hoover's  pro- 
posal  for  debt  relief." 

This  is  how  Katz  views  it : 

"In    every    country    of    the    world, 
government  heads,  bankers,  industrial 
leaders    and    economists    are    hailing 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


Sam  Katz 


First  Cut  Dividend 
Paid  by  Paramount 

Paramount  Publix  paid  its  first  re- 
duced quarterly  dividend  of  62J/2  cents 
Saturday.  Accompanying  the  checks 
was  a  circular  stating  that  "despite 
the  competition  of  the  outdoors  and 
the  heat.  Paramount  believes  good 
pictures  plus  modern  cooling  plants, 
with  which  most  good  theatres  are 
equipped,  will  attract  tlie  public  in 
summer." 


A  Pip 


Chalk  this  up  as  one  for 
the  book.  It's  "I'm  Telling 
You"  (Paramount)  and  it 
presents  Willie  and  Eugene 
Howard  in  one  of  the  fun- 
niest skits  in  some  time. 
They  go  through  a  running 
fire  of  gags  that  are  a  treat. 
It's  a  pip  for  any  kind  of 
program. 

KANN 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  June   29,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE  I  44 

DAILY 

Registered   U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Fornxerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    SO 


June   29,    1931 


No.   25 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

Tames  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^|V  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I   Jl  J    and    holidays,    by    Motion    Picture 

^        Daily,   Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 

at     1790     Broadway,     New      Vork. 

Telephone:     Circle  7-3100.     Cable    address: 

"Qui^pubco,     iNew     York."      All     contents 

copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  _Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Ask  Receiver 
For  St.  Louis 
W.  B.  Houses 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

and  to  the  detriment  of  the  minority 
stockholders.  The  petition  names  as 
defendants  H.  M.  Warner,  Abel  Gary 
Thomas,  Albert  Warner,  Charles 
Skouras,  Sam  Carlisle  and  Samuel  B. 
Jefifries. 

In  another  action,  William  J.  Blake, 
owner  of  45  shares  "A"  and  six  shares 
of  "B"  stock,  seeks  a  receiver  for 
Skouras  Bros.  Enterprises,  Inc.,  own- 
ers of  the  controlling  stock  in  the 
St.  Louis  .\musement  Co.  The  action 
field  in  the  St.  Louis  circuit  court, 
like  the  Shea  suit,  does  not  charge  the 
company  with  insolvency  but  asks  the 
court  that,  if  a  receiver  is  appointed 
he  be  directed  to  bring  suit  against 
Warner  Brothers,  owners  of  the  vot- 
ing stock  in  the  Skouras  Enterprises, 
Inc.,  to  compel  the  Warner  interests 
to  account  for  their  management  in  the 
local  houses  involved.  Blake  claims 
that  this  management  has  been  detri- 
mental to  stockholders  of  the  Skouras 
Bros.  Enterprises  "A"  stock.  The 
I)etition  also  alleges  that  control  of  the 
theatres  could  have  been  sold  more 
advantageously  to  Paramount  and 
that  Warners  had  altered  the  method 
of  operation  to  "to  suit  their  own 
end." 

Sam  Jeffries  an  attorney  for  the 
.Skouras  and  Warner  interests,  de- 
clared Saturday,  the  receivership  suits 
are  baseless.  "The  management  of  the 
theatres  was  never  more  efficient  than 
when  under  Warner  direction,"  he 
said. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tree  Due  on  Coast 

Hollywood  —  Dorothy  Tree,  who 
has  appeared  in  several  Broadway 
shows  and  lately  a  member  of  a  stock 
company  in  Rochester,  is  due  here 
today  from  New  York  to  start  work 


Buy  Now"  Is 
Urgent  Plea 
OfMichalove 

(.Continued  from  page   1) 

best  possible  minds  on  story,  cast,  di- 
rection and  production  values. 

"If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  product 
is  not  generally  sold  far  enough  in  ad- 
vance, and  the  producer  is  not  able 
to  compute  the  probable  return  on  his 
investment,  it  stands  to  reason  that 
instead  of  giving  everything  he  can  to 
his  picture  product,  he  will  be  forced 
because  of  the  uncertainty  of  revenue 
to  stint  and  economize  beyond  the 
line  that  one  would  ordinarily  call 
healthy,  and  the  subsequent  result  will 
show  itself  in  the  actual  quality  of  the 
product   the   exhibitor   receives. 

"Realizing  the  vital  necessity  of  en- 
couraging other  producers  to  put  the 
best  possible  talent  and  stories  into 
work,  the  Warner  Theatre  Circuit  ini- 
tiated its  1931-32  buying  last  April, 
with  the  result  that  we  have  already 
closed  for  the  product  with  three  out- 
side major  producing  companies,  and 
are  now  in  the  process  of  closing  deals 
with  every  other  reputable  distributing 
company.  Where  ordinarily  this  cir- 
cuit did  not  close  for  its  complete 
picture  buys  until  late  in  August  or 
September,  this  year  will  witness  the 
consummation  of  practically  all  of  our 
deals  no  later  than  July  15. 

"The  public  has  shown  us  consis- 
tently that  they  will  patronize  any 
picture  of  merit.  This,  despite  the 
unusually  hard  year  we  have  just  gone 
through.  If  we,  in  the  exhibition  field, 
hope  to  continue  operating  our  thea- 
tres at  a  profit,  it  is  absolutely  essen- 
tial that  we  recognize  and  give  aid  to 
every  company  in  the  business  that 
has  anything  to  do  with  the  produc- 
tion of  motion  pictures.  Rather  than 
hold  back  therefore,  the  exhibitor's 
only  salvation  is  to  obtain  now  the 
very  best  that  the  industry  can  give 
him.  It  is  incumbent  upon  him  not  to 
eventually  buy  the  product  he  needs, 
but  to  buy  that  product  now.  This 
will    eliminate    anv    doubt    that    mav 


Signs  Not  Red 
But  Green,  Is 
Katz's  Belief 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

President  Hoover's  proposal  as  a  sure 
step  toward  stabilization  in  world 
trade  and  a  cure  for  business  depres- 
sion. A  wave  of  buying  enthusiasm 
has  swept  over  the  security  and  com- 
modity markets  of  the  world,  with  the 
world-wide  advance  in  prices  adding 
billions  of  dollars  to  open  market  val- 
ues. In  New  York  City,  there  was  a 
1,000,000  share  turnover  in  the  first 
half-hour  opening  of  the  Stock  Ex- 
change on  Monday  morning,  with  the 
widest  average  advance  for  the  month 
— most  of  it  realized  after  President 
Hoover's  announcement — since  Aug- 
ust, 1929. 

"Similar  buying  activity,  with  a 
corresponding  increase  in  values,  took 
place  in  practically  every  capital  of 
the  world.  This  recovery  from  the 
lethargy  and  timidity  which  has  char- 
acterized buyers  in  the  past  year  can 
only  result  in  one  thing — improved 
business  conditions  generally,  from 
which  our  theatres  will  directly 
benefit." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

H-F  House  in  Del  Rio 

Del  Rio,  Tex. — A  South  Main 
street  lot  has  been  purchased  at  a 
cost  of  $16,000  on  which  a  new 
$130,000  theatre  will  be  erected  for 
opening  in  September,  and  will  have 
over  $100,000  invested  in  the  plant 
and  equipment  by  the  Hughes- 
Franklin  chain,  announced  Paul  J. 
Poag,  manager  of  the  Princess  and 
Casino  theatres   here. 


G'iM.^. 


M.  A.  Lightman  for  the 
M.P.T.O.A.'s  support  of 
the  "Buy  Now"  movement. 


exist  in  the  minds  of  the  producers, 
and  set  them  free  to  put  those  values 
into  their  forthcoming  product  that 
will  spell  definite  satisfaction  and  max- 
imum return  at  the  box  office. 

"Let  the  exhibitor  'Buy  Right' — hut 
primarily  let  him  'Buy   Now.' 

"It  is  his  only  protection." 


Stocks  Continue  Higher;  E.  K,  Gains  4V4 


High 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 7^i 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 14^8 

Eastman    Kodak    156^ 

Fo.x  Film  "A" 22?^ 

General    Theatre   Equipment   new S'A 

Loew's,    Inc 45'A 

Paramount    Publix    285^ 

Pathe     Exchange     15^ 

Pa  the    Exchange   "A" SH 

RKO    17'A 

Warner   Bros SVg 


Low      Close 

7 'A.         7 'A 

W/i 

156K 

22'A 

45-^ 
28/8 

17 


i4;i 
1.W 
21 
4-14 
45 
27'4 

16K 


Net 
Change 

-  Vi 


-1-454 

-I-  Vi 


-  Vi 
+  Vi 


+  ^ 

+  Vz 


Sales 

700 

100 

3,600 

20,600 

.^,400 

9,700 

14,300 

400 

200 

15,800 

2,700 


Curb  Issues  Also  Advance 


Columbia    Pictures    vtc 

Fox   Theatres    "A" 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd. 

Technicolor     

Trans    Lux     


Net 

High 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

13V^ 

12 

12 

—I 

400 

3^8 

iV> 

M 

+  Vs 

600 

10 

9Va 

m 

+  'A 

1.200 

8 

7 

7'A 

-1-1 

400 

6 

6 

6 

-  54 

300 

Seek  Ban  on 
Censor  Pull 
In  Chicago 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

rulings,  denies  reversing  the  board  on 
two  pictures  under  fire.  Leo  Spitz, 
attorney  for  B.  &  K.  who  incidentally 
campaigned  for  newly-ekcted  Mayor 
Cermak,  put  Henry  Sonnenschein,  the 
mayor's  secretary,  on  the  spot  by  stat- 
ing it  was  Sonnenschein  who  advised 
the  circuit  to  ignore  the  censor  ruling 
after   looking   at   the   pictures. 

Sonnenschein  denies  his,  saying  he 
paid  his  way  to  see  "Never  the  Twain 
Shall  Meet"  and  gave  nobody  per- 
mission to  exhibit  it  counter  to  censor 
ruling. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Godfrey  Back  to  Law 

George  A.  Godfrey,  former  general 
booking  manager  or  RKO,  is  return- 
ing to  general  practice  of  law.  Prior 
to  his  booking  post  he  was  associated 
Orpheum  circuit.  He  will  also  repre- 
sent  a   number   of   artists. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

MacKain  to  Europe 

Clarence  MacKain  of  Universal's 
branch  operation  department  leaves 
tonight  for  Europe,  making  his  head- 
quarters in  London.  He  will  study 
branch  operations  in  the  company's 
foreign  offices. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Col.  Signs  Two  Directors 

Hollywood — Rowland  V.  Lee  and 
Edward  Sedgwick  have  been  signed 
by  Columbia.  Lee  will  direct  "Guilty 
Generation,"  while  Sedgwick  will 
megaphone  an  untitled  Graves-Holt 
vehicle. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

''Schools  Out"  Plan 

Buffalo — Shea-Publix  theatres  are 
going  after  kid  business  in  special 
"school's  out"  advertising  in  the 
newspapers. 


General   Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40. 

Loew's   6s    '41    ex   war 

Paramount  Broadway  5}4s  '51 

Paramount   F.    L.   6s   '47 

at   the    Paramount    studios.     She   was  |  ^^[,^ni"''3rw"  w^^'"'  '^ 

signed    to    a    term    contract    last    week.  I  Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    "w'd. '.'.'.'.'.'. '.'.'. 


Bonds  Irregular;  P.  F,  L,  Drops  2^2 


High 

.   40% 
•  9754 
.101 
.    91 
.   8IJ4 
.   90 
.  43 


Low 

39 
97 
101 
90 
81 
90 
42 


Net 

Close      Chauige  Sales 

-1-1  24 

—1  4 


40 
97 
101 
90 
8154 
90 
43 


-I-  Vi 


+  Vi 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

Latest  R.C.A. 
Photophone  Equipment 

f  1     Of       '*"'  ''''   OBtll   (  P.  M. 
*l    AJ      Nights,   Sundays, 

Holidays  by  Appointment 

Under   the   personal   supervision   of 
Hymie   Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 
PICTURE   SERVICE,  Inc. 

729   7th   Ave.  BRyant   9-S721 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  June  29,   1931 


"Free  Soul" 
Big  in  Rain, 
Albany  Says 


Albany — With  the  crowds  stand- 
ing 10  deep  one  night  in  tlie  second 
gallery,  Harmanus-Bleecker  Hall, 
with  "A  Free  Soul"  was  easily  the 
big  money  getter  for  the  week  in 
Albany,  bucking  nights  when  the 
mercury  stood  at  90  and  other  eve- 
nings with  rain.  Shearer's  picture 
went  about  $12,000  for  the  week, 
which  is  $2,000  above  normal  for  the 
Hall,  considered  extremely  good,  con- 
sidering weather  and  daylight  sav- 
ing. The  picture  opened  very  big,  de- 
spite extremely  hot  weather,  and  was 
the  only  picture  in  town  that  suc- 
cessfully coped  with  the  mercury. 
The  Leland  dropped  its  admission 
prices  during  the  week  and  according 
to  the  management  this  move  lielped 
out  quite  a  bit,  although  the  week 
was  below  normal.  The  Ritz  started 
in  with  double  features  in  Inicking 
daylight  saving  and  summer  weather. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  23 : 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

HARMANUS-BLEECKER  HAIJ.  -^ 
(2.300),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross:  $1I.6.S0. 
(Average,    $10,000). 

"ALWAYS  GOODBYE"   (Fox) 

LELAXD   —    (1,350),      25c-25c,      6     clays. 
Ooss:    $4,100.       (Average,    $6,000.) 
"A    SOLDIER'S    PLAYTHING"     (W.-B.) 

RITZ— (1,146),    25c-35c.    3    days.      Gross: 
$2,150.      (Average,    $4,500,    for   6   days.) 
"THE   SINGLE   SIN"    (Tiff.) 
"CAPTAIN    THUNDER"     (W.-B.) 

RITZ..  (1,146),  25c-35c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.  (Average,  $2,250  for  3  days.)  This 
house  is  now  playing  double  features  with 
a    change    every    three    days. 

"THE    (iOOD    BAD    GIRL"    (Col.) 

PROCTOR'S  R-K-O— (1,500),  20c-60c,  3 
davs.     Gross:    $2,600.      (Average.    $3,000.) 

"THE    LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 

PROCTOR'S     R-K-O— (1,500).     20-60c,     3 
davs.     Gross:   $2,800.     Average.  $3,000.) 
"SMART  MONEY"  (W.-B.) 

.STRAND— (1,900),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$7,100.     (Average,   $8,500.) 


ii 


"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

Free  Soul" 
High  Hitter 
In  Cleveland 


Clfatxand — Competing  against  ex- 
cessive heat,  "A  Free  Soul"  with 
$19,000  grossed  more  than  any  picture 
at  the  Allen  in  the  past  eight  weeks, 
the  figure  being  $1,000  over  par. 
Every  other  first  run  skidded  under 
normal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  25 : 

"MEN  OF  THE  SKY"  (F.  N.) 

WARNERS'  LAKE--(800),  40c-60c,  7 
days.     Gross:    $3,500.    (Average,    $5,000.) 

Week  ending  June  26: 

"FIVE  AND  TEN"  (M-G-M) 

STATE--(3,400),  30c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$17,000.    (Average,    $20,000.) 

Week  endinfi  June  27: 

"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 

ALLEN— (3,300).    30c-60c,    7    davs.     Gross: 
$19,000.    (Average.    $18,000.) 
"GIRL  FROM   REEPERBAHN"    (Fischer) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,400),  25c-50c,  2nd  week, 
7  days.  Gross:  $6,000.  (No  average  avail- 
able.) 

"STEPPING  OUT"  (M-G-M) 

CAMEO— (1,200),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.    (Average.    $5,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION."    (Radio) 

RKO    HIPPODRO>rE>-(4,100),    2Sc-75c.    7 
days.     Gross:    $12,000.    (Average.    $15,000.) 
"QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,100),  25c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $18,000.    (Average,    $23,nOf).) 


Heat  Smacks 
AH  First  Runs 
In  Providence 


Providence — Not  a  decent  spot  in 
the  city.  Heat  and  poor  films  com- 
bined to  make  this  week  one  of  the 
poorest  in  the  history  of  show  busi- 
ness here.  The  Majestic  topped  the 
list  with  a  double-feature  bill  of  "Wo- 
men of  All  Nationas"  and  "Camel's 
Back."  But  at  that  the  $10,500  it  gar- 
nered was  just  fair. 

All  other  houses  were  at  rock  bot- 
tom, Loew's  State  was  way  off  with 
"Five  and  Ten"  at  $9,500.  Paramount 
with  "I  Take  This  Woman"  nearly 
hit  bottom  with  slightly  over  $6,000. 
RKO  Victory  just  eased  into  the  $3,- 
000  spot,  while  the  RKO  Albee  was 
close  to  doing  a  flop  with  "Good  Bad 
Girl,"  at  $4,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  25 : 

"FIVE   "AND    TEN"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S     STATE  —  (3,800),     20c-75c,     7 
days.      Gross:    $9,500.     (Average,    $18,000.) 
"I   TAKE   THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT- (2,300),    10c-50c,    7    davs. 
Gross:     $6,000.     (Average,    $10,000.) 
"WOMAN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"  (Fox)  and 
"THE   CAMEL'S   BACK"    (Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,300),  10c-50c,  7  davs. 
Gross:   $10,500.    (Average.   $10,000.) 

"GOOD    BAD    GIRL"    (Col.) 

RKO  ALBEE— (2,500),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $4,500.     (Average.    $9,000.) 

"UP    FOR    MURDER"    (Universal) 

RKO  VICTORY— (1,600),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,000.     (Average,    $6,500.) 


ii 


•'BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Indiscreet'' 
Leads  a  Fine 
Boston  Week 


Boston' — Grosses,  like  the  stock 
market,  went  up  here  with  a  ven- 
geance. Every  first  run  in  the  city 
topped  its  average  gross,  "Indiscreet" 
leading  the  procession  with  $24,000 — 
$4,000  over  par.  "Daddy  Long  Legs" 
pulled  the  Metropolitan  out  of  the 
red  of  the  past  three  weeks  with 
$35,000— $3,000  above  average.  Other 
houses  had  nothing  to  complain  about, 
in  view  of  the  hot  weather. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
endine  Tune  25 : 

"LOVER    COME    BACK"    (Col.) 
KEITH-BOSTON— (2,500),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $20,500.    (Average.    $18,000.) 
"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 
KEITH'S— (2,800),  .TOc-65c,   7  days.   Gross: 
$21,000.     (Average,    $18,000.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S    ORPHEUM— (3,100),    25c-50c,    7 
days.      Vaude.     Gross:      $22,000.      (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"INDISCREET"    (U.    A.) 
LOEW'S  STATI^(3.700).  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $24,000.    (Average,    $20,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
METROPOLITAN    ^-    (4,350).    25c-60c.    7 
days.     Gross:     $35,000.      (Average,     $32,000.) 
"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 
OLYMPIA    —    (2.500).      25c-50c.      7     davs. 
Gross:    $16,500.    (.Average,    $15,000.) 

"THE    VICE    SOUAD"    (Para.) 
SCOLLAY    SOUARE-^(I.800).    35c-50c.    7 
days.    Gross:    $17,000.     (Average,    $15,000.) 
"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 
UPTOWN— (2,000).  25c-60c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$13,000.    (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lyon  on  Sales  Tour 

B.  V.  Lyon,  Canadian  sales  man- 
ager for  Warners-First  National,  is 
oflF  on  a  trip  to  the  coast  that  will 
embrace  all  the  cities  of  any  impor- 
tance in  his  territorv. 


ii 


?9 


ii 


Front  Page 
St  Paul's  Big 
Money  Maker 


St.  Paul — This  city  went  "Front 
Ppge"  with  a  bang,  and  as  a  result 
the  Paramount  box-office  took  in 
$9,200,  as  against  a  par  of  $7,500. 
"Tarnished  Lady"  and  "Hell  Bound" 
also  went  over  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  26: 

"THE  FRONT  PAGE"  (U.  A.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),    2Sc-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $9,200.    (Average,    $7,500.) 
"WOMEN     OF     ALL    NATIONS"     (Fox) 

RIVIERA— (1,600),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $7,000.    (Average,   $7,000.) 

"HELL    BOUND"    (Tiff.) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Four  acts  vaudeville.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Aver- 
age,   S12.000.) 

"THE  TARNISHED  LADY"   (Para.) 

TOWER— (1,000).  I5c-J.';<-.  7  davs.  Gross: 
$2,800.     (.\verage.    $J,OI)0. ) 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

$2,000  Above 
Par  Houston 
Legs"  Take 

Houston — The  combination  of  ro- 
mance, pathos  and  humor  proved 
again  that  it  is  sure-fire  audience 
stuff,  and  "Daddy  Long  Legs,"  playing 
the  Metropolitan,  hit  a  gross  of  $10,- 
000,  which  is  $2,000  above  average. 
"The  Public  Enemy"  started  slowly 
at  the  Kirby,  but  managed  to  reach 
par  bv  the  end  of  the  week  with 
$5,000." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  25 : 

"PUBLIC    ENEMY"    (Warners) 

KIRBY  —  (1,654),  25c-35c-S0c.  7  days. 
Ooss:    $5,000.      (Average,    $5,000.) 

"FIVE    AND    TEN"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S    STATE-(2,700),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.     Gross:    $5,000.    (Average.   $8,000.) 
"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
METROPOLITAN— (2,512),   25c-35c-50c.    7 
day.     Gross:    $10,000.    (Average,    $8,000.) 
"SEED"   (Univ.) 
RKO    MAJESTIC— (2,250),    25c-35c-50c.     7 
days.    Gross:  $8,000.     (Average,  $8,000.) 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW  ' 

^Seed'  Sprouts 
In  Buffalo; 
Others  Flop 

Buffalo — Hot  weather  and  the 
Ringling  Circus  kept  the  grosses 
down,  with  "Seed"  pulling  in  fair 
business  for  summer  time.  "Bachelor 
Apartment"  took  it  on  the  chin  for, 
after  grossing  $2,800  for  three  days 
at  the  Century,  against  a  weekly  a\er- 
age  of  $12,000,  it  was  yanked  and 
"Gold  Dust  Gertie"  substituted.  The 
latter,  however,  brought  in  only  $3,- 
100  for  the  last  four  days  of  the  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  26: 

"SEED"   (Univ.) 

BUFFALO— (3,500),  30c-65c,  7  days.  Pub- 
lix  stage  show.  Gross:  $23,500.  (Average, 
$25,000.) 

"BACHELOR   APARTMENT"    (Radio) 

CENTURY  —  (3,000),  2,5c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:   $2,800.    (Average   for   week,   $12,000.) 


'Daddy'  Beats 
Average  Mpls. 
Take  $12,000 


Minneapolis — Although  record  heat 
hit  this  city,  "Daddy  Long  Legs"  was 
unaware  of  it,  for  it  went  $12,000 
above  the  Minnesota's  average  for  the 
week,  the  gross  being  $32,000.  The 
conclave  of  the  Knights  Templar  help- 
ed generally,  all  of  the  first  runs  hit- 
ting average  or  better. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  26 : 

"DUDE    RANCH"    (Para.) 

ASTER— (812),  20c-35c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,600.    (Average,   $1,500.) 

"KICK   IN"   (Para.) 

LYRIC— (1,238),  20c-40c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,500.     (Average,    $2,500.) 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"  (Fox) 

MINNESOTA— (4,000),  30c-75c,  7  days. 
Four  acts  vaudeville.  Gross:  $32,000.  (Av- 
erage,  $20,000.) 

"HELL  BOUND"  (Tiff.) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,900),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.  Four  acts  vaudeville.  Gross:  $1.^,- 
000.    (Average,    $14,000.) 

"WOMAN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"  (Fox) 

STATE  —  (2,300),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,200.    (Average,    $8,000.) 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Legs"  Philly 
Leader;  Hikes 
Gross  $9,000 

Philadelphia — "Daddy  Long  Legs" 
stepped  on  it  at  the  Fox — and  how! 
Although  the  house  average  is  $26,- 
000,  the  Janet  Gaynor  film  took  in  a 
total  of  $35,000,  or  $9,000  over  nor- 
mal. AMiich  is  dough!  All  the  other 
theatres  fell  below  par,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  "Ladies'  Man,"  which  gross- 
ed $3,300  at  the  Arcadia— $300  to  the 
good. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  25 : 

"LADIES'    MAN"    (Para.) 
ARCADIA— (600),    50c,    6    days.      Gross: 
$3,300.     (Average,    $3,000). 

"EVERYTHING'S   ROSIE"    (Radio) 

EARLE— (2,000),  25c-65c,  6  days.    Vaude- 
y\Ue.       Gross:    $18,000.    (Average,    $18,000.) 
"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"  (Fox) 
FOX— (3,000),    35c-50c-75c,    6   days.    Stage 
show.     Gross:    $35,000.     (Average,    $26,000.) 
"MEN  OF  THE  SKY"   (F.  N.) 
KARLTON— (1,000),      40c-50c,      5      days. 
Gross:    $3,700..   (Average,    $5,000.) 

"THE    VICE    SQUAD"    (Para.) 
KEITH'S— (1,800),     35c-50c-75c,     6     days. 
Gross:    $14,000.    (Average,    $18,000.) 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"  (M-G-M) 
MASTBAUM— (4,800),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Stage  show.    Gross:  $35,000.  (Average,  $40,- 
OOO.) 

"SMART  MONEY"   (Warners) 
STANLEY— (3,700),    35c-50c-75c.    6    days. 
Gross:     $14,000.     (Average,    $18,000.) 
"GOOD  "IbaD  GIRL"  (Col.) 
STANTON— (1,700),     35c-50c-75c.     7    days. 
Gross:     $9,000.     (Average,    $11,000.) 


"GOLD   DUST   GERTIE"    (Warners) 

CENTURY  —   (3,000),     25c-,'Sc,     4     days. 
Gross:    $3,100,    (Average    for    week,    $12,000.) 
"ANNABELLE'S   AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Loew    stage    show.     Gross:    $18,000.    (Aver- 
age,   $22,500.) 
"THE    MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

HIPPODROME— (2,100),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaudeville.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Average,  $20,- 
000.) 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,300),  25c-35c,  7  days. 
Gross;    if8,900.     (Average,    $12,000.) 


I 


The  World's  Greatest 
Football  Players  Show 


Produced  by 

Stanley  Bergerman 

Directed  by 

Albert  Kelley 


ALL  AMERICA 
SPORT  REEL 


from  UNIVERSAL  of  course!! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,   June   29,    1931 


Frisco  Gives 
"Secret  Six" 
$14,750  Take 


Sax  Fkaxcisco — Grosses  were  gen- 
erally good  here  with  the  El  Capitan 
doing  phenomenal  business  for  a  sec- 
ond run  house  with  "The  Secret  Six." 
Its  gross  of  $14,750  was  $1,750  above 
average.  "Up  for  Murder"  went 
$1,500  above  with  $16,500  at  the 
(Golden  Gate,  and  "The  Black  Camel" 
$1,000  above  at  the  Warfield,  ringing 
up  $22,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  tiie  week  end- 
ing June  23 : 

"UP    FOR    MURDER"     (Univ.) 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2,800),  35c-4Oc-50c-65c, 
7  days.  Vaudevillr.  Gross:  $16,.';0<J.  (Aver- 
.-iKe.   $15,000.) 

Week  ending  June  24: 

"SECRET   SIX"    (M-G-M) 

EL  C.VPITAN^  (3.100).  25c-40c-60c.  7 
(lavs  lav  Brower  band;  stage  show. 
Gross:   "$14,750.     (.Xverage.    $13,000.) 

"ALWAYS  GOODBYE"   (Fox) 

FOX— (4,600).    .50c  -  65c- 75c -$1.    7    days.     F. 

6  M    stage    show;    Walt    Roesner    concert. 
Gross:    $34,000.     (Average.    $34,000.) 

"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 
ORPHEUM— (3,000).    25c-35c-50c.    7    days. 
Gross:     $8,500.     (Average.    $12,000.) 

"THE    VICE    SQUAD"     (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,740),    35c -50c -650 -90c,    7 
days.     Jess   Stafford's   band.     Gross:   $19,000. 
(Average.    $19,000.) 

"CITY    LIGHTS"    (U.A.) 
UNITED    ARTISTS— (1,200).    25c-40c-60c. 

7  days,    4th    week.    Gross:    $10,500.     (Aver- 
age  not    available    yet.) 

"THE    BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 
WAR H"IELD— (2.700).    25c-35c-50c,    7   days. 
Rube    Wolf    band;    stage    varieties.     Gross: 
$22,000.     (.\vera_ge,    $21,000.) 

Week  ending  June  25: 

"GOLD   DUST   GERTIE"    (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.  -(1,385),  35c-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:     $«,500.     (Average,     $10,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Seattle  Gives 
"Sinners''  Top 
Gross-!  14,500 

Se.\ttle — "Laughing  Sinners"  was 
the  high  gross  getter  here  with 
$14,500,  which  rated  it  a  grand  above 
the  average  intake,  and  "Daddy  Long 
Legs"  in  its  second  week  at  the  Fox 
Fifth  .Avenue  took  in  $11,000,  which, 
while  $1,000  under  par,  was  considered 
satisfactory. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  25: 

"KICK   IN"    (Para.) 

FOX  COLISEUM-  2.000).  25c-35c-50c.  4 
days.  Gross:  $3,(K)0.  Average  far  week, 
$5,000.) 

"SEAS    BENEATH"     (Fox) 
FOX    COLISEUM— (2.000),    25c-.15c-50c,    3 
days.      Gross:    $2,00).      (Average    for    week. 
$5  000  ) 

'DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
FOX    FIFTH    A\'K.\tE     (2.700).   25c-35c- 
.50c-75c.    2nd    week.    7    days.      Gross:    $ll.(IO(i. 
(Average.   $12.(X)0.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
FOX    I'AUA.MOUXT  (3,150|.    25c-.*5c- 

.50c-75c,  7  days.     Stage  show.  Gross:  $14,500. 
(Average.    $13,500.) 

"ROUGH     WATERS"      (Warners) 
I.lfiERTY     (2.f«)).        1.5c-3^)c.       7       <lavs. 
Gross:     $^,.W).     (Average.     $7,000.) 
"SVENGALI"     (Warners) 
MUSIC      BOX— (950).     25c<,3,tc-50c-75c.     7 
days.     Gross:      S7.5CX).     (Average.      $7,500.) 
"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Col.) 
RKO  ORPHEUM-(2.650),  25c-35c-50c-60c- 
75c.     7     days.      Vaudeville.      Gross:      $13,00, 
^Average,    $13,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lombard,  Powell  Wed 

Hoi.i.s  \\()0(j — Carole  Lomljard  and 
William  F^owell,  who  were  married 
here  I'Viday  night,  have  left  on  a 
lionevniDon    to    Honolulu. 


Producers  "Running  Out  ^^ Is 
Church  Charge;  Hays  Denies 


(Continued  from  page  1) 


the  charges  by  the  Council  and  the 
rebuttal  by  Hays,  were  made  public 
on  Saturday  and  culminate  a  dispute 
long-standing,  which  last  week  per- 
suaded Carl  E.  Milliken  of  the  Hays 
organization  to  resign  from  the  ad- 
ministration board  of  the  Protestant 
Church  group. 

For  newspaper  use,  the  council  has 
released  a  5,000-word  statement,  but 
the  factual  report,  outcome  of  a  full 
year's  investigation,  was  not  made 
public.  Hays,  in  his  answering  letter 
to  Bishop  Francis  J.  Council,  president 
of  the  Federal  Council,  pointedly  asks 
why.  "We  are  at  a  loss  to  under- 
stand," he  says,  "the  purpose  in  broad- 
casting a  statement  to  the  press  based 
solely  on  your  Department's  conclu- 
sions, without  distributing  t<j  the 
newspapers  at  the  same  time  the  facts 
developed  by  its  own  investigators  and 
upon  which  such  conclusions  must 
necessarily  be  based. 

"If  financial  considerations  are  the 
only  bar  to  the  general  distribution  of 
your  Department's  factual  report,  the 
Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Dis- 
tributors of  America  hereby  offers 
every  possible  cooperation  to  secure 
the  wide  distribution  of  the  report,  in 
order  that  the  public  at  large  and  the 
Protestant  churches  of  the  nation  may 
be  able  to  draw  such  conclusions  as 
the  facts  demand." 

Hays  made  an  important  point  of 
these  affirmative  declarations  regard- 
ing the  M.  P.  P.  D.  A.  which  appear 
in  the  Council's  report : 

That  this  organization  has  en- 
tertained  laudable   purposes ; 

That  it  has  set  up  helpful  pro- 
cedures ; 

That  it  has  done  constructive 
work  in  hammering  out  standards 
and  securing  recognition  of  those 
standards ; 

That  it  has  "no  small  accom- 
plishment" to  its  credit  in  the 
development  of  an  extensive  pro- 
gram of  cooperation  and  the  use 
of  preview   lists ; 

That  the  record  of  the  industry 
in  settling  disputes  by  arbitration 
is  impressive ; 

That  it  has  accomplished  some- 
thing noteworthy  in  the  matter  of 
employment  conditions. 

To  which  Hays  replied : 

In  answering  the  charge  that  mem- 
ber companies  are  inclined  to  "run 
out,"  Hays  digs  into  the  Council's 
unreleased  factual  report  and  quotes 
those  iwrtions  of  it  which  commend 
producer  cooperation  with  the  Studio 
Relations  Committee  in  changing 
scripts  to  conform  with  the  production 
Code  of  Ethics.  He  also  cites  the 
report  on  producer  cooperation  ex- 
tended to  Mrs.  Thomas  G.  Winter, 
who  is  serving  in  Hollywood  as  rep- 
resentative of  clubwomen ;  and  the 
manner  in  which  both  the  production 
and  advertising  codes  are  functioning. 

The  Council,  in  its  attack,  stresses 
payment  of  salary  to  officials  of  the 
religious  group  by  the  Hays  associa- 
tion and  construes  it  as  inviting  "a 
damaging  interpretation"  and  as  a 
policy  to  "undermine  public  confidence 
on  both  sides  and  to  give  rise  to  sin- 
ister inferences."  Admitting  that  such 
methfxls  have  often  been  used  by 
other  organizations,  the  Council  never- 
theless,  finds   in   them    illustrations   of 


the  "vague  and  indefinite  ethics  of  the 
business  community. ' 

To  which  Hays  replies ; 

"What  is  to  be  said  about  those 
who  betray  their  religious  constituen- 
cies by  demanding  and  receiving  com- 
pensation for  lecture  tours  on  the 
subject  of  'exposing  the  movies?' 
What  is  to  be  said  about  the  profes- 
sional 'pamphleteer'  who  deliberately 
mis-states  facts  and  figures  with  re- 
gard to  motion  pictures?  What  is  to 
be  said  about  those  whose  zeal  'to 
reform  the  movies'  begins  only  when 
they  discovered  that  the  industry  will 
not  comply  with  their  demands  for 
linancial   contributions  ?" 

Hays  then  cites  from  a  letter  writ- 
ten to  the  M.P.P.D.A.  on  June  14, 
1926  by  the  Rev.  George  Reid  An- 
drews in  his  then  capacity  of  chair- 
man of  the  Federal  Council  Com- 
mittee on  Religious  Drama  and  as 
executive  secretary  of  the  Church  and 
Drama  Association,  asking  for  10  per 
cent  of  the  gross  receipts  of  "King 
f>f   Kings." 

"From  the  day  he  was  finally  made 
to  realize  that  the  industry  would  not 
accede  to  this  and  subsequent  de- 
mands for  contributions,  the  Rev. 
George  Reid  Andrews  has  conducted 
a  campaign  of  statements  and  charges 
against  the  motion  picture  industry," 
states  Hays. 

"In  view  of  the  complete  silence 
maintained  in  the  conclusions  handed 
down  by  the  Department  of  Research 
and  Education  concerning  this  and 
similar  situations,  perhaps  there  is 
something  to  be  said  in  favor  of  the 
ethics  of  the  American  industrial  and 
business    community.'' 

Hays  concedes  that  the  self-regula- 
tion task  is  not  completed,  but  points 
out  the  difficulties.  "The  fact  remains 
that  progress,  and  steady  progress,  is 
being  made.  Insofar  as  the  Depart- 
ment of  Research  and  Education  has 
recorded  the  evidence  of  such  pro- 
gress, it  praises  the  doughnut  and 
condemns  the  size  of  the  hole,"  he 
states    in   conclusion. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Starlet  Helps 
^CameFTakein 
Indianapolis 

Indianapolls — "The  Black  Camel" 
took  the  lead  this  week  with  $10,500 
at  the  Lyric,  whose  average  intake  is 
$9,000,  but  it  was  generally  conceded 
that  Jean  Darling,  an  Our  Gang  star, 
was  the  big  draw.  "Daddy  Long  Legs," 
in  its  tliird  week  at  the  Apollo,  rang 
up  $5,100,  which  is  $400  below  normal.  . 
Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  26: 

"DADDY    LONG   LEGS"    (Fox) 
APOLLO— (1.100).     25c-50c,     7     days.     3rd 
week.     Gross:    $5,100,     (Average,    $5. .500.) 
"THE  LADY  WHO  DARED"   (F.  N.) 
CIRCLE-(2,600).   2Sc-.50c,   7   davs.     Gross: 
$7,500.     (Average.    $8,500.) 

"THE    VICE    SQUAD"    (Para.) 
INDIANA— (3,.S00).   25c-65c.   7   days.     Pub- 
lix   unit.     Gross:   $18,500.     (Average.   $20,000.) 
"THE  BLACK  CAMEL"  (Fox) 
LYRIC- (2.0OO).     2.=c-50c.     7     days.     RKO 
vaudeville.        Gross:        $10,500.         (Average. 
$9  000  ) 

"JUST    A    GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 
PALACE— (2,800),  25c-50c.  7  days.    Gross 
$9,600.     (Average,    $12,000.) 


Chicago  Loop 
Takes  a  Bath 
In  "Red  Ink'' 


Chicago — The  Loop  took  a  terrific 
dip  into  the  red,  with  the  heat  sending 
Chicagoans  into  the  cellars.  Balaban 
&  Katz's  Chicago,  the  Loop  leader, 
went  into  the  red  with  "Just  a  Gigolo" 
for  the  first  time  in  years.  The 
Oriental  did  likewise  with  "Party 
Husband,"  as  did  the  .State-Lake  with 
"Transgression." 

McVickers  replaced  "Daddy  Long 
Le^s"  on  the  fifth  day  of  its  third 
week  with  "A  Free  Soul,"  which 
clicked  a  nice  $12,750  for  the  first 
three  days.  The  United  Artists  was 
fair  with  "The  Night  Angel"  getting 
$21,650. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  24 : 

"MONSTERS     OF     THE     DEEP"     (State 
Rights)  and  "SUBWAY  EXPRESS"   (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (665).  .)6c-50c-75c,  9  days. 
Gross:    $4,110.      (Average,    $3,200.) 

"THE  NIGHT   ANGEL"    (Para.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1.700).  35c-50c-75c- 
85c,  first  week.  Gross:  $21,650.  (Average, 
$24,600.) 

Week  ending  June  26: 

"TRADER  HORN"   (M-G-M) 

CASTLE— (299).    40c-60c.    2nd'    week,    2nd 
Loop  run.     Gross:  $3,247.     (Average,  $3,500.) 
"JUST  A  GIGOLO'   (M-G-M) 
CHICAGO— (4,000),  35c-.S0c-75c-85c,  7  days. 
Stage  show  headed  by  Molly  Picon;  orches- 
tra.    Gross:    $33,250.      (Average,    $46,000.) 
"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 
McVICKERS— (2,284).  35c-5()c-85c.  3d  week. 
5   days.     Gross:   $11,400.      (Average,   $28,500.) 
"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 
McVICKERS— (2,284),    ,«c-.S0c-8.Sc.    first    3 
days.     Gross:    $12,750. 

"PARTY   HUSBAND"    (F.   N.) 
ORIENTAL-  (3.940),       3.5c-.50c-7.5c-S,Sc,       7 
days.        .Stage      show,      orchestra.        Gross: 
$19,450.     (.Average.  $36,500.1 

"FIVE  AND  TEN"   (M-G-M) 
ROOSEVELT— (1„S9'1).  .i6c-50c>75c-85c.  2ud 
Loop     week.       Gross:      $12,500.        (Average. 
$23,20,'!.) 

"TRANSGRESSION'    (Radio) 
STATE-LAKE— (2,776).  .?.5c-50c-7.Sc-85c,  1st 
week.     Gross:    $13,200.      (Average.   $.50,200.) 

Week  ending  June  27: 

"LOVER    COME    BACK"    (Col.) 

PALACE^(2,509),  35c-50c-75c-85c,  7  days. 
Vaudeville  headed  by  Rosetta  Duncan, 
orchestra.  Gross:  $20,650.   (Average,  $24,500). 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^'Gigolo''  One 
Grand  Above 
In  Charlotte 

Ch.\rlotte — Two  Ijargain  matinees 
at  the  Carolina  offset  part  of  the  rav- 
ages of  hot  weather  to  give  it  a  fair 
showing  for  the  week.  "Just  a  Gigolo" 
was  the  leader  with  $6,500,  rating  one 
grand  above  the  average  figure. 

P'stimate  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing   lune  17: 

"BIG   BUSINESS   GIRL"    (F.N.) 
BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35c-50c.  3  davs. 
Gross:    $3,000.     (Aveiage.    $3,750.) 

"SMART   MONEY"   (F.N.) 
UROADWAV     (1,167).  2,Sc-35c-.50c,  3  davs. 
Gross:     $4.00(1.     (Average.    $3.7.50.) 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
CAROLINA— (1.441).      40c-50c,      3      davs. 
Gross:     $4,500.     (Average.    $5,500.) 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"   (M-G-M) 
CAROLINA— (1.441).      40c-50c.      3      days. 
Gross:    $6,500.     (Average.    $5,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Splurge  on  Ads 

BuFKALo  — ■  Remembering  what 
"Strangers  May  Kiss"  did  here, 
M-G-M  spent  plenty  of  money,  going 
in  for  three-quarter  page  newspaper 
spreads,  on  "A  Free  Soul,"  playing 
at  the  (ireat  Lakes. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VO.  30.  NO.  26 


NEW  YORK.  TUESDAY,  JUNE  30,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


35-City  Pool  Under  Way 


lOc  Matinees 
Keep  Houses 
Open  in  N,  Y. 

Exhibs  Forced  to  Shave 
Scale  to  Keep  Going 


Ten-cent  matinees  are  increasing  in 
I  .reater  New  York  with  the  results 
declared  to  be  showing  marked  irn- 
provement  in  business  where  exhibi- 
tors have  revised  the  scale.  Shaving 
I  if  five  cents  from  the  afternoon,  in 
many  instances,  has  kept  open  theatres 
where  it  has  previously  been  impos- 
Mble  to  operate  at  the  former  scale 
and  meager  attendance. 

Changing  to  the  ten-cent  policy  has 
resulted     in     one      Brooklyn     circuit 

(Continued  on   page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Florida  Governor 
Seeking  More  Tax 

Tampa — The  first  "extra"  session 
of  the  Florida  Legislature  has  expired 
and  the  governor  has  issued  a  call 
for  a  second  extra  session  for  20  days 
commencing  July  6. 

During  the  60  working  days  of  the 
regular  session  and  20  of  the  first 
extra  session  the  legislature  failed  to 
(Continued  on  page  4) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

RJ,0'Donnell  Named 
To  Succeed  Bill  Saal 

R.  J.  O'Donnell,  divisional  district 
manager  for  Publix  in  the  Southeast, 
with  the  former  Saenger  circuit  his 
particular  supervisory  task,  yesterday 
succeeded  William  Saal  as  director 
for  Publix  in  the  South  and  South- 
east. 

Sam  Dembovfcf,  Jr.,  told  Motion 
Picture  Daily  yesterday  O'Donnell's 
successor  had  not  been  named.  Else- 
where, it  was  learned  that  the  post 
may  not  be  filled. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G'M  Returning  to 
Musicals,  Is  Report 

Hollywood — M-G-M  is  looking  for- 
ward to  return  of  musicals.  Max  Lief, 
author  of  "Hangover,"  who  recently 
came  out  here  to  do  dialogue,  has  been 
switched  and  now  is  doing  a  number 
of  lyrics  for  future  productions.  Lief 
has  had  a  number  of  songs  published 
to  his   credit. 


NBC  Moving  Along  in  Television 

Definite  indication  that  National  Broadcasting  is  moving  for- 
ward on  its  television  plans  is  seen  in  word  flashed  from  San 
Francisco  yesterday  that  a  30-story  "television"  building  is  planned 
there.  Don  Oilman,  an  NBC  vice-president,  is  authority  for  the 
statement. 

It  is  understood  that  NBC  is  considering  installation  of  four 
television  transmitting  stations  to  cover  the  United  States  and 
that  San  Francisco  will  be  one  of  the  quartette. 

"Radio  City"  in  New  York  is  regarded  by  insiders  as  national 
headquarters  for  television — if  and  when  that  the  type  of  broad- 
casting becomes  practicable. 


Dual  Features 
On  Death  Bed 
In  Cleveland 


Cleveland — Theatre  owners  of  this 
city  are  favoring  a  return  to  the  single 
feature  program  as  against  the  double 
feature  program  which  is  now  in  prac- 
tice in  the  majority  of  houses.  Claim- 
ing that  double  features  are  too  costly 
and  that  they  do  not  increase  attend- 
ance in  proportion  to  the  added  oper- 
ating expense,  many  of  the  circuits 
are  planning  to  discontinue  this  policy, 
starting  in  August. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fifteen  More  Close 
Doors  in  Chicago 

Chicago — Fifteen  additional  theatres 
closed  here  for  the  summer  during  the 
week,  bringing  the  total  of  summer 
closings  in  Chicago  well  over  100. 

Among  recent  closings  was  that  of 
the  Lexington,  owned  by  Aaron  Sap- 
erstein,  president  of  the  Illinois  Allied 
organization. 


Publix  Deal 
With  Wilby 
On  in  South 


Publix  is  preparing  to  step  out  of 
theatre  management  in  North  Carolina 
and  to  sell  a  fifty  per  cent  interest 
in  the  25  houses  it  operates  on  its 
own  in  that  state  to  Publix-Kincey 
Theatres,  provided  Bob  Wilby  will  go 
for  the  idea.  Publix-Kincey  is  owned 
half  and  half  by  Publix  and  Wilby 
and  his  associates,  with  management 
vested  in  Wilby,  who  arrives  in  New 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Circuit  Soon  to 
Evacuate  Brooklyn? 

Fox  Theatres  will  soon  be  out  of 
the  Brooklyn  territory  if  negotiations 
reported  under  way  for  disposal  of 
the  remaining  theatres  in  that  borough 
materialize. 

Louis  Frisch  and  Sam  Rinzler  are 
understood  getting  together  with  Louis 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Book  Publishers  Are  Seeking 
' 'Fair  Cut ' '  in  Picture  Rights 


200    to    300    Houses    in 

"Swaps"  Sought  by  5 

Major  Circuits 

The  biggest  theatre  pool  in  the 
history  of  the  industry  is  under 
way.  RKO,  Fox,  Loew's,  War- 
ners and  Publix — ^the  five  pro- 
ducer-controlled circuits — are  the 
leading  figures  in  the  move. 

Thirty-five  cities  and  between 
200  and  300  de  luxe  theatres  are 
involved  in  the  deliberations.  Be- 
tween circuit  head  deliberations 
and  lawyers'  council  rooms,  some 
of  the  discussed  arrangements 
may  hit  snags,  but  the  intent  to 
get  together  is  undoubtedly  se- 
rious. 

RKO  has  been  talking  to  Fox 
about  acquisition,  and  manage- 
ment of  the  Audttbon,  Park 
Plaza,  Crotona,  Fox  Brooklyn. 
Academy  of  Music,  Japanese 
Gardens  and  Nemo  in  Greater 
New  York.  A  Fox  official  ad- 
mitted yesterday  the  deal  had 
been  discussed,  btit  was  now  cold. 
It  will  probably  be  revived. 

Loew  executives  are  known  to 
have  inspected  a  number  of  Fox 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

MPTO  in  Maryland 
Hits  at  Percentage 

BiVLTiMOKK — The  M.  P.  T.  O.  of 
Maryland  is  on  record  as  opposed  to 
percentage  booking.  At  a  recent  meet- 
ing the  following  resolution  was 
unanimously   passed :  . 

"That  we,  the  members  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Theatre  Owners  of 
Maryland,  are  opposed  to  playing  pic- 
tures on  a  percentage  basis.  Any  mem- 
ber violating  this  ruling  shall  be  fined 
or  suspended  at  the  discretion  of  the 
board  of  directors." 


Secret  meetings,  it  is  understood, 
are  being  held  by  book  publishers  who 
are  banding  together  on  the  question 
of  percentage  of  the  movie  rights. 
The  publishers  are  said  to  be  getting 
together  on  the  new  form  contract 
which  will  provide  for  a  cut  on  the 
movie  rights  of  published  novels.  Au- 
thors in  the  future  may  have  to  split 
on  the  monies  accrued  from  picture 
and  talking  rights,  notwithstanding  if 


they  participate  in  selling  of  the  rights 
or  not. 

The  move  has  been  started  because 
publishers  aver  they  have  taken  all 
risks  in  publishing  an  author's  works 
and  then  the  author,  if  he  or  she  is 
lucky,  turns  around  and  sells  the 
rights  for  the  screen,  leaving  them  in 
the  cold  on  the  extra  money.  Publish- 
ers   have   only    been    paid   on    sale   of 

(Continued   on    page   8) 


Gag 


Emil  Jensen,  general  man- 
ager of  Inspiration  Pictures, 
is  back  in  New  York  from  an 
extended  stay  on  the  Coast. 

"What  kept  you  out  there 
so  long,  Emil?"  someone 
asked  him  yesterday. 

"Oh,  just  inspiration,"  was 
Jensen's  reply. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,   June  30,    1931 


I 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  30 


June  30,  1931 


No.  26 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

Tames  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^     Daily,   Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  JVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
A,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada:  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Get  This! 

1  HE  circuits,  there 
is  substantial  reason  to  believe, 
are  learning  very  rapidly  now 
that  there  are  more  kinks  in 
the  business  of  theatre  opera- 
tion than  theorizing  on  paper 
would  indicate. 

They  are  discovering — some- 
times to  their  costly  sorrow, 
for  instance  —  that  big  towns 
are  not  little  towns  and  contra 
wise,  too,  and  that  what  goes 
great  guns  in  New  York  is 
mere  pop  guns  in  Charlotte. 

Today  Bob  wiiby 

pays  a  very  infrequent  visit  to 
New  York.  What  brings  him 
here,  we  learn,  is  a  deal  where- 
by Publix  will  sell  fifty  per- 
cent in  the  25  North  Carolina 
theatres  it  now  owns  one  hun- 
dred per  cent  with  management 
going  to  Wilby.  Unexpressed 
and  behind  that  deal,  we  fur- 
ther learn,  is  the  rather  well- 
grounded  suspicion  that  Wilby, 
locally  known  and  locally 
entrenched,  can  make  a  much 
better  go  of  it  than  Publix. 
That's  that. 

ri  ERE  in  New  York 
and  right  under  the  nose  of  the 
trade,  something  identically 
geared  is  transpiring.  Fox  has 
turned  back  a  neat  carload  of 
theatres  to  independent  opera- 
tors. In  some  cases,  they  are 
the  men  who  originally  ran 
them,  but  in  all  cases,  local 
men.  Early  reports  indicate 
that  where  the  Fox  operation 
indifferently  clicked,  the  new 
operation  is  successful. 

The  conclusion  to  be  drawn 


IV/f  -G-M'.'^  New  York  exchange  has  inaugurated  a  novel  idea  which 
^^^  rates  plenty  of  Congrats.  In  order  to  keep  its  six  bookers  up  to 
date  on  the  product  so  that  they  can  talk  intelligently  on  each  subject 
when  an  exhibitor  queries  them,  the  company  curtails  bookings  on 
Thursday  afternoons  at  2 :30  so  that  these  bookers  can  look  at  a  picture 
once  a  week.  There's  no  other  known  exchange  in  the  country  doing  it. 
This  may  be  a  tip-off  for  the  others. 

• 

A  certain  publicity  man  is  writing  a  novel  of  a  mystery  current  in 
the  daily  headlines.  It's  being  penned  under  a  pseudonym  and  will  cause 
plenty  of  Cain  when  it  is  published  by  a  press  with  an  Indian  name. 

• 

William  Fox  knows  how  to  make  pictures,  Abram  F.  Myers,  presi- 
dent of  the  Allied  States  Association,  declared  at  Atlantic  City  during 
the  New  Jersey  exhibitor  meeting.  Myers  hopes  that  Fox  will  return 
to  the  picture  business. 

• 

What  a  lot  of  Bronx  cheers  "Sweepstakes"  got  at  its  opening  at  the 
Mayfair  on  the  wide  film  sequences.  It  turned  out  to  be  one  of  the 
real  laughs  of  the  theatre's  season,  although  the  laughs  came  where 
they   weren't   intended. 

• 

An  independent  circuit  that  has  a  booking  and  buying  deal  for  three 
years  with  a  national  circuit  is  understood  anxious  to  say  quits  at 
expiration  of  the  agreement  this  year.  Reason  is  that  some  time  ago 
the   circuit   planned   to   expand   but   because   of   the   hook-up   couldn't. 

The  product  franchise  tied  in  would  clash  with  the  other  circuit. 

• 

The  fact  that  companies  print  in  red  that  contents  in  house  organs 
are  confidential  is  apparently  a  good  reason  for  others  desiring  them. 
In  one  instance  a  house  organ  is  circulating  with  a  rubber  stamped 
warning  to  its  employees  that  its  news  is  confidential.  This  is  slapped 
on  at  the  bottom  of  page  one  so  that  no  one  can  miss  it. 

The  very  first  day  the  new  warning  was  issued  the  lead  story  which 
had  to  do  with  signing  of  a  circuit  deal  for  product  got  out.  Maybe  no 
one  was  sore ! 


Vets  Exploit  "Way 
Down  East''  Revival 

The  "Way  Down  East"  revival, 
with  the  original  music  set  to  a  syn- 
chronized score,  is  under  way  with 
A.  Grey  at  the  helm. 

Five  advance  men,  who  handled  the 
picture  when  it  was  first  released,  are 
now  in  the  field.  Lee  Reilly  is  hand- 
ling New  England;  John  T.  Thoma, 
Wisconsin,  Chicago,  Minnesota  and 
the  Dokotas ;  Ed  Linderman,  Eastern 
Pennsylvania,  Delaware  and  Southern 
Jersey ;  Cy  Connors,  Western  Penn- 
sylvania and  West  Virginia,  and  Sam 
Blair,  Indiana  and  Ohio. 


from  these  and  other  instances 
which  we  shall  tell  about  from 
inie  to  time  is  this : 

That  the  major  circuits  are 
'earning  they  don't  have  to  hit 
high  into  the  numerical  equa- 
tion to  be  effectively  effective 
in  their  operations. 

The  future  for  the  indepen- 
dent showmen,  therefore,  is 
getting  brighter  as  the  year 
grows  older.  Regardless  of 
whether  the  circuits  can  fail  to 
make  a  go  of  the  small  theatre 
town  situation  or  whether 
they've  made  up  their  minds 
not  to  bother  with  them,  this 
is  the  situation. 

It  should  spring  hope  in  a  lot 
of  minds. 

KANN 


Columhia-RKO  Tied 
For  League  Lead 

Erpi,  Warners,  RKO.  RKO  Pathe 
and  Columbia  were  the  victors  in  Sat- 
urday's games  in  the  Motion  Picture 
Athletic  League  for  thf>  Quigley 
Trophy.  The  RKO-Columbia  game 
to  determine  the  leadership  of  the 
league  ended  in  a  2>-Z  deadlock  and 
will  be  played  off  later  in  the  sea- 
son. The  league  standings  for  the 
week  ending  June  27  follow : 

Team                          W.  L.  Pet. 

Columbia   7  0  1000 

RKO 5  0  1000 

Warner    Bros 3  1  .750 

ERPI    4  3  .576 

Fox  2  3  .400 

National    Theatres...   2  5  .285 

RKO   Pathe 1  5  .167 

RCA   Photophone....  0  7  .000 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Brown  Succeeds  Watte 

Louis  A.  Brown  goes  from  the  ad- 
vertising department  of  Fox  Theatres 
in  New  York  to  Washington,  where 
he  succeeds  Edgar  A.  Waite  as  direc- 
tor of  publicity  for  the  Fox  house 
there.  Waite  is  now  Albert  Margo- 
lies'  assistant  at  the  Roxy,  the  latter 
having  taken  over  Martha  Wilchin- 
ski's   post. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

On  Page  Four 

Financial  markets  of  various  film 
stocks  will  be  found  on  page  four  of 
today's  issue. 


GiUpo. 


Truman    H.    Talley    for    that 

"Magic  Carpet  of  Movietone" 

series  of  shorts. 


Leo's  Action  vs.  Fox 
Delayed  Until  Friday 

Fo.x  Theatres  yesterday  asked  and 
obtained  a  four-day  extension  but  by 
Friday  must  divulge  why  salary  pay- 
ments claimed  by  Joe  Leo  to  be  due 
him   have   not   been    forthcoming. 

Leo  has  filed  an  action  in  the  Mun- 
icipal Court  for  $2,300  which  he  al- 
leges represents  salary  arrears  under 
his  contract.  Leo  is  reported  to  hold 
a  contract  that  runs  for  23  months. 
He  was  former  president  of  Fox 
Metropolitan  Playhouses  under  the 
William  Fox  regime,  but  became  in- 
active when  the  Greater  New  York 
houses  grouped  under  that  coroprate 
name  were  turned  over  to  Harry 
.\rthur  for  operation. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lou  Weinberg  Col. 
Short  Subject  Mgr, 

Lou  Weinberg,  Columbia  home  of- 
fice sales  executive,  has  been  ap- 
pointed short  feature  sales  manager. 
In  addition  to  these  duties,  he  will 
represent  Columbia  in  negotiations 
made  with  Loew  in  New  York  and 
also  will  be  Columbia's  East  Coast 
representative  on  matters  pertaining 
to   the   Fox   Circuit. 


Gallagher  Out 

Joe  Gallagher  has  resigned  from 
Columbia.  Prior  to  the  advent  of  Al 
Selig  as  director  of  publicity  and  ad- 
vertising for  that  company,  Gallagher 
bore  the  title.  Tater,  he  handled  spe- 
cial exploitation  on  "Dirigible." 


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BUSINESIS! 

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PRODUCTiVoM;/ 


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trade  mark  and  fair  ^^^^^ 

Manchester^ 


'     bel 


leve 


ine- 


'PARAMOUNT' 


"P  is  th 
'Hdus 


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trong( 


est 


A^PM 


Spi 


ogue  The, 


*'*>^'s    ieade, 
Kelliht 


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•or 


16  y 


ears 


been 


an 


un 


ource 


dable  pf« 


dud 


-Sn'o** 


IS 


for 

Circ 


US. 

itil 


Ol«'t 


^^pTkXMOIJNT  for 


*»We 

1931-2  because 


we 


believe  it  to 


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the  most  attractive  you 


ever 


offered."      __i,g|/t  Thetftres^Mic^ 


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gives 
tion. 


us 


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lete 


-Geo 


R.  »^  « 


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Opera 


Ho" 


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Il/ood"* 


lie, 


N.H- 


''Buy 

1931-' 
jomp 


in{ 


best 
any- 


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ffer' 


;dby 


to 


'Happy 
because  pro 


buy 
duct 


IfXuXMOliNT 


looks  goo 


dand 


-Fred  H.«; 


4s,Str«» 


fl>hil«^ 


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ire. 


service  alv^ay 


100%. 


-p.u. 


HoneH,Pri-<^^ 
jVlt.  Hop*-' 


Theo 


tre. 


W  . » «• 


Show  Business,  with      JL    jLlL-l- V/JL  9LX.T-H.W_^  ^^  jL^     JL 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  June   30,    1931 


35-City  Pool 
By  5  Circuits 
Is  Under  Way 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
theatres   in   Queens  and   Long   Island 
with  acquisition  and  management  the 
reported    twin   objectives. 

In  Cleveland,  RKO,  as  previously 
reported,  has  been  looking  over  the 
Warner,  Lake  and  \'ariety  as  one 
phase  of  the  pooling   move. 

In  Sioux  City,  it  is  understood  an 
RKO-Paramount  pool  has  been  con- 
summated with  the  former's  holdings 
going  to  the  latter. 

In  Racine,  the  move  is  understood 
to  be  taking  a  three-cornered  slant 
with  RKO,  \\'arners  and  Fox  work- 
ing out  details. 

In  Des  Moines,  Davenport,  Rock- 
ford  and  South  Bend  where  producer 
representation  is  centered  in  RKO  and 
Paramount,  deals  are  likewise  re- 
ported in  the  making. 

In  Spokane,  RKO  and  Fox  are 
talking  about   a  consolidation. 

The  general  plan,  it  is  learned,  calls 
for  the  closing  of  one  or  more  houses 
in  a  given  situation  with  the  com- 
panies in  the  pool  splitting  the  rent 
of  the  darkened  house.  So  far  as  can 
be  gathered,  each  deal  includes  a 
franchise  for  product  in  order  to  give 
the  producer-theatre  owner  a  guaran- 
teed outlet  for  his  film. 

Little  or  no  money  figures  in  the 
deliberations,  although,  as  a  natural 
business  move,  the  circuits  are  en- 
deavoring to  secure  cash  in  striking 
their  deals. 

The  circuit  heads  are  close-mouthed 
and  are  not  talking.  It  has  been  an 
admitted  fact  for  months,  however, 
that  with  some  exceptions,  practically 
every  large  string  of  theatres  is  ready 
to  part  with  some  of  its  holdings  on 
the  proper  terms. 


Fox  Circuit  Soon  to 
Evacuate  Brooklyn? 

(Continued  from  paije  1) 

Cohen  on  a  deal  to  take  over  the  17 
of  the  18  houses  Fox  now  is  operating 
in  Brooklyn.  The  Frisch-Rinzler  cir- 
cuit now  operates  17  in  the  same  bor- 
ough, all  of  which  were  recently  under 
the  Fox  aegis.  The  new  deal  will 
give  the  independent  circuit  34  houses 
and  bring  it  to  the  top  in  number  of 
theatres  under  any  independent  cir- 
cuit in  Greater  New  York.  The  Fox 
Brooklyn,  not  in  the  deal,  may  go  to 
RKO,   as  persistently   reported. 

When  questioned  regarding  the  re- 
port, Louis  l'"risch  yesterday  told  Mo- 
tion Picture  Daily  he  had  "nothing 
to  say  in  the  matter." 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY    NOW" 

Florida  Governor 
Seeking  More  Tax 

(Continued  from  pat/e  I) 
approve  all  the  different  tax  schemes 
advocated  by  the  governor.  The 
amusement  business  has  had  several 
"sock"  bills  intrtjduced,  but  none  went 
through  the  two  houses,  so  that  to 
date  there  is  but  one  bill  which  might 
affect  the  theatres,  and  that  is  the 
■'chain  store"  tax,  which  some  feel 
will  apply  to  circuits  as  well.  Others 
think  the  whole  bill  will  be  knocked 
out  in  the  courts. 


Publix  Deal 
With  Wilby 
On  in  South 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

York  today  to  discuss  the  reported 
deal. 

Publix-Kincey  operates  in  19  Caro- 
lina towns  on  the  partnership  arrange- 
ment. Publix  itself  has  25  houses 
under  its  own  operation  and  it  is  this 
group  which  will  go  over  to  Wilby  to 
be  added  to  the  Publix-Kincey  group, 
provided  a  deal  can  be  struck. 

The  significance  of  the  deal  is  un- 
derstood to  revolve  around  the  fact 
that  Publix  would  be  content  for 
Wilby,  as  a  partner,  to  manage. 

Four  Transferred  by 
Publix-Kincey  String 

Greensboro,  N.  C. — Emil  Bern- 
stecker,  manager  of  the  National  here 
for  two  years,  has  been  promoted  to 
the  city  managership  of  the  Publix- 
Kincey  theatres  in  Durham,  effective 
at  once.  Noble  Arnold,  city  manager 
of  Publix-Kincey  theatres  at  Rocky 
Mount,  will  succeed  Bernstecker  as 
manager  of  the  National  here. 

Bernstecker  will  succeed  Paul  V. 
Phillips,  who  is  being  transferred  to 
Salisbury  as  manager  of  the  Publix- 
Kincey  theatres  there.  Frank  Burns 
is  being  transferred  from  the  man- 
agership of  the  Publix-Kincey  cor- 
poration's theatres  at  Salisbury  to 
those  at  Rocky  Mount. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

$165,683  Judgment 
Against  George  Spoor 

Chicago — George  K.  Spoor,  former 
head  of  Essanay  Studios  here  and  for 
the  past  12  years  occupied  with  the 
development  of  a  third  dimension 
photography  process,  is  named  in  a 
county  court  tax  judgment  for  $165,- 
683.49  entered  by  Judge  Edmund  K. 
Jarecki. 

The  suit  was  entered  by  Henry  M. 
.Ashton,  delinquent  tax  attorney  for 
the  county  board,  for  taxes  and  pen- 
alties against  the  Aquitania  Apart- 
ment building  here,  of  which  Spoor 
is  principal  owner. 


Bargain  Hunters 

Tampa  —  Each  Wednesday, 
for  the  opening  hour,  1  to  2 
P.M.,  the  scale  is  reduced  to 
two  bits  at  the  Tampa  and 
what  a  wow  it  is.  This  is  the 
second  week  of  Manager  J.  L. 
Cartwright's  new  stunt  and  the 
success  has  been  sensational. 
Before  the  expiration  of  the 
hour  everyone  of  the  1,600 
seats  was  filled  and  there  were 
enough  standees  to  make  what 
would  be  a  fair  sized  crowd  at 
the  same  hour  with  the  regular 
prices. 


Cleve.  Exhibs 
Favor  Shdes 
For  Trailers 


Cleveland — The  Cleveland  Motion 
Picture  Exhibitors'  Association  at  a 
luncheon  went  on  record  as  opposed 
to  increased  rentals  for  pictures  taken 
out  of  a  group  for  road-showing  and 
then  re-sold  at  higher  prices. 

The  cost  of  talking  trailers  as  against 
slides  was  also  condemned  by  the  as- 
sociation, which  expressed  itself  as 
favoring  a  return  to  slide  announce- 
ments, especially  during  the  summer. 
"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

10-Cent  Matinees 
Keep  Houses  Open 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
owner  continuing  operation  of  four 
houses  for  the  summer.  Whereas  he 
was  formerly  losing  money,  he  says  he 
is  now  not  only  meeting  his  expenses 
but  making  a  profit  on  his  investment. 
He  has  instituted  the  policy  in  all 
houses.  Evening  prices  at  the  houses 
have  been  cut  from  20  cents  to  15 
with  double  features  on  all  shows. 

Night  prices  in  many  houses,  like- 
wise, have  been  trimmed  a  nickel  and 
is  reported  to  have  increased  business, 
although  the  difference  between  open 
and  closed  theatres  is  not  the  night 
price  cut  but  the  switch  to  ten  cent 
matinees. 


General  Market  Off;  E,  K,  Drops  5 


Hierh  Low  Close 

Consolidated     Film    Industries 7'A  7%  7'/2 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 14'/i  14^  lA'A 

Eastman    Kodak     154  1S1J4  151!^ 

Fo.x    Film    "A" 22'A  2VA  2Wt, 

General  Theatre   Equipment   n'ew 5  4J^  4^ 

Loew's,     Inc 4854  46J^  46^ 

Paramount     Publix 28^  27  27 

Pathe      ExchanKe 154  IVi  Wf. 

Pathe    Exchange    ".\" 5M  *Vi  SH 

RKO    16^  15V^  1S?4 

Warner    Bros 854  &V»  ^Vi 

Warner    Bros,    pfd 20  19  19 


Net 
Change 


Curb  Exchange  Dull 


High  Low 

Columbia     Pictures     vtc 15^  12'A 

Fox  Theatres  "A" 354  3'/J 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 9^  954 

Sentry    Safety    Control 15^^  15^ 

Technicolor   7}4  7/4 

Trans    Lux 6  fi 


Close 

uVg 

Wz 
954 
15^ 
754 
6 


— m 

-154 

-t-  Vf. 


Net 
Change 


-1-  '/« 
-54 


Bonds  Also  Decline;  B.  F.  K.  Off  IV2 


General    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40. 

Keith.    B,    F.    6s    '46 

I.f>ew*s   6s   '41    ex   war 

Paramount     Broadway    554s     '51 

Paramount    Publix   S5^s,    '50 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39  wd 


High 

.   4054 
.   645<; 
,   97"/; 
.101 
.   82 
.   90 
.    43 


I.AW 

39 

6454 
97 

1005^ 
815^ 
90 
4254 


Close 

395/2 
6454 
9754 
101 
82 
90 
4254 


Net 
Change 

-5/2 
—15/2 

-I-  54 


-t-  54 
-54 


Sales 

200 

100 
2,700 
17,300 
3.500 
14,000 
15,200 
300 
1.400 
16.900 
10.500 
300 


Sales 

600 
800 
1,000 
100 
200 
300 


Sales 

4 
1 
5 
4 

20 
6 

68 


New  Threats 
In  Operator 
Racket  War 


Chicago — The  most  important  wit- 
ness to  the  slaying  of  Jacob  Kaufman, 
Chicago  projectionist  who  "knew  too 
much"  about  the  officials  of  his  union, 
has    been    discovered.     He    is    J.    N.  1 
Rogers,  a  Chicago  manufacturing  ex-  ' 
ecutive    who    witnessed    the    youthful  . 
killer  of  Kaufman  flee  from  the  scene 
of  the  murder. 

Rogers  went  to  Kaufman's  side  and 
talked  to  the  dying  man.  When  the 
manufacturer  returned  to  his  car  he 
was  accosted  by  a  stranger,  he  said, 
who  asked  him  if  he  had  seen  what 
had  happened.  Rogers  replied  in  the 
negative,  and  then  was  threatened  by 
the  stranger. 

"You  don't  know  anything — see?" 
Rogers  quotes  the  stranger  as  saying. 
"Keep  your  mouth  shut,  or  you'll  get 
yours." 

Rogers  has  since  been  furnished  po- 
lice protection  by  the  state's  attor- 
ney's office.  It  is  believed  that  Kauf- 
man may  have  revealed  to  him  the 
identity  of  his  slayer. 

The  grand  jury  investigation  of 
Kaufman's  murder  and  the  conspiracy 
and  racketeering  angles  of  the  Chi- 
cago operators'  union  management  is 
being  drawn  to  a  close,  although  ham- 
pered by  the  fact  that  assistant  state's 
attorneys  in  charge  of  the  investiga- 
tion are  unable  to  cornmand  more  than 
an  hour  or  two  a  day  of  the  grand 
jury's  time,  as  numerous  other  racke- 
teering investigations  are  before  the 
June  grand  jury. 

Numerous  operators  have  been  sum- 
moned to  testify  and  other  operators 
are  being  questioned  in  theatre  pro- 
jection rooms  by  investigators.  The 
two  operators  employed  at  the  Armi- 
tage  Theatre  on  the  North  Side  fol- 
lowed the  advice  of  union  attorneys 
given  earlier  in  the  week  and  refused 
to  answer  questions  put  to  them  by 
investigators  who  visited  them  in  the 
booth.  The  two  were  summarily 
liigged  downtown  to  the  racket  bu- 
reau, but  one  operator  locked  the  pro- 
jection room  door  behind  him  and 
the  theatre,  owned  by  Herman  Bland, 
was  prevented  from  opening  that 
night. 


Operator  Turns  Down 
Summons;  Fears  Death 

Chicago — Crawford  Johnson,  Ne- 
gro operator  in  whose  South  Side 
garage  Jacob  Kaufman  was  "put  on 
the  spot"  a  week  ago  in  what  inves- 
tigators declare  was  a  move  to  pre- 
vent the  victim  from  testifying  in  the 
grand  jury  investigation  of  the  Chi- 
cago Operators'  Union,  has  been  re- 
leased from  custody  on  a  writ  of  ha- 
l)eas  corpus.  The  state's  attorney's 
office  believed  Johnson  was  "in"  on 
the  plot  to  kill  Kaufman,  insurgent 
membej  of  the  union,  but  was  unable 
to  show  cause  for  his  further  deten- 
tion. 

John  Clarkson,  a  projectionist,  was 
locked  up  on  a  charge  of  disorderly 
conduct  when  he  refused  a  summons 
to  testify  before  the  grand  jury  in  the 
investigation  of  the  Operators'  Union. 

In  spurning  the  subpoena,  Clarkson 
is  asserted  to  have  exclaimed :  "Do 
you  think  I  want  to  get  what  Kauf- 
man got?  Tell  the  jurors  to  light 
their  pipes  with  that  summons." 


KEEP      YOUR      EYES      ON      TIFFANY 


HAT 


KEEP      YOUR      EY 


ON      TIFFANY 


SI 


P 


KEEP      YOUR      EYES      ON      TIFFANY 


It's  easy  to  sit  back  and  let  sum- 
mer walk  away  with  part  of  last 
winter's  hard  earned  profits. 
But  it's  just  as  easy  to  swat  that 
summer  slump  with  better  pro- 
grams. Book  these  specially 
selected  productions  by  Tiffany 
—  available  NOW  and  just  the 
kind  of  fine  entertainment 
people  want— and  "^^Keep  Your 
Eyes  On  Tiffany"  for  a  big 
1931-1932  announcement. 


'THE  COMMAND 
PERFORMANCE 

A  JAMES  CRUZE  production 

with  NEIL  HAMILTON 
and  UNA  MERKEL 

Produced  by  SAMUEL  ZIERLER 


// 


//I 


// 


''DRUMS  OF 
JEOPARDY"' 

with  JUNE  COLLYER 

WARNER  OLAND 
and  LLOYD  HUGHES 


// 


THE  SINGLE  SIN 

with   BERT   LYTELL 
and  KAY  JOHNSON 

CAUGHT  CHEATING 

with  CHARLES  MURRAY 
and  GEORGE  SIDNEY 


// 


'ALOHA" 

with 

BEN  LYON 
and  RAQUEL  TORRES 


KEEP   YOUR    EYE    OPEN 


FPunv 


FOR  THE  1931-32  PROGRAM 


PRODUCTIONS     INC. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  June  30,    1931 


ii 


Daybreak''  Is 
Big  Draw  as 
Cincy  Sweats 


CiNci.vxATi — With  a  single  excep- 
tion, business  this  week  was  not  so 
hot.  The  weather  was.  With  Old 
Sol  wreaking  his  vengeance  on  a 
sweltering  public,  practically  all 
houses  took  it  on  the  chin.  The  nota- 
ble exception  was  the  RKO  Albee, 
where  the  receipts  again  marched  up 
the  hill  at  a  terjific  pace  with  "Day- 
break' as  the  screen  fare  plus  Guy 
Lombardo  and  his  orchestra  heading 
the  stage  show.  The  final  check  gave 
the  house  $4,902  better  than  average 
for  a  total  gate  of  $26,902.  This  house 
has  consistently  maintained  its  leader- 
ship in  grosses  for  the  past  several 
week. 

Despite  the  fact  that  the  combined 
grosses  fell  somewhat  short  of  the 
total  average  for  all  houses,  the  week 
is  looked  upon  as  satisfactory,  consid- 
ering the  various  competitive  factors 
with  which  the  theatres  have  to  con- 
tend at  this   particular  season. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  26 : 

"STUDENT  DAYS"  (German) 

ERLANGER  GRAND  OPERA  HOUSE— 
(1,600),  30c-50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $2,950.  (Aver- 
age,  S4,500.) 

"THE  GOOD   BAD   GIRL"   (Col.) 

KEITH'S— (1,600),  30c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
H655.     (Avej-age,   ?I4,500.) 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300),  35c-S0c-65c-75c,  7 
days.  Vaudeville  headed  by  Guy  Ix>m- 
bardo  and  his  Royal  Canadians.  Gross: 
$26,902.      (Average,    $22,000.) 

"GOLD  DUST  GERTIE"   (Warners) 

RKO  CAPITOI^(2,000),   30c-50c,   7  days. 
Gross:   $9,279.      (Average,  $13,000.) 
"MY    PAST"    (Warners) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,140),  20c-25c-35c,  4 
days.     Gross:   $2,33^.     (Average,  $1,950.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"  (Fox) 
(Second   Run) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,140),  20c-2Sc-35c,  3 
days.     Gross:   $1,255.     (Average,   $1,050.) 

"THE   PUBLIC    ENEMY"    (Warners) 

RKO  LTRIC— (1,400),  30c-50c,  7  days  plus 
Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross:  $9,575. 
(Average,    $12,000.) 

"THE  LAWYER'S  SECRET"   (Para.) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700),  30c-50c,  7  days 
plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross:  $12.- 
104.      (Average,    $14,000.) 

"HELL   BOUND"    (Tiff.) 

RKO  STRA]\D— (1,350),  25c-40c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $4,246.       (Average,     $3,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Omaha  Gives 
High  Coin  to 
Tive  and  Ten' 

Omaha — The  hottest  June  weather 
in  years  didn't  heln  theatre  business  in 
this  city,  although  "Five  and  Ten" 
lured  in  enough  people  to  boost  the 
average  take  by  $1,000,  the  gross  for 
the  week  being  $6,500.  The  rest 
couldn't  withstand  the  heat. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  26 : 

"THE    GOOD   BAD   GIRL"   (Col.) 

ORPHKU.M— (3.00f)).  25c-35c-60c,  7  days. 
Vaude.      Gross:  $12,000.     (Average,  $12,500.) 

"THE    LAWYER'S   SECRET'^   (Para.) 

PARA.MOUXT— (2,900),    25c-30c-35c-60c,    7 
days.      Gross:    $6,750.     Average,   7,000. 
"TAILOR    MADE   MAN"    (M-G-M) 

STATE^(1,200),  2Sc,  4  days.  Gross: 
$600.     (Average,    $1,200.) 

"THE    TARNISHED    LADY"    (Para.) 

STATE  — (1,200,  25c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$800.    (Average,  $900.) 

"FIVE    AND    TEN"    (M-G-M) 

WORLD— (2,500),  25c-40c,  7  days.  GroM: 
$6,500.     (Average,    $5,500.) 


Gigolo"  and  M.  a  Top 
Grosses  in  Balto  Houses 


Baltimore — The  combination  of 
William  Haines  in  "Just  a  Gigolo," 
with  Teddy  Joyce,  Baltimore's  fa- 
vorite m.  c,  in  the  Loew  Capitol  stage 
unit  "Crazy  Rhythms,"  proved  irre- 
sistible to  Baltimoreans  at  Loew's 
Century  and  the  box-office  showed 
wonderful  results,  the  gross  mounting 
to  $24,000,  whereas  the  average  is 
about  $19,000.  Crowds  started  to  pour 
into  the  house  Monday  and  even 
after  the  thermometer  went  into  the 
nineties  they  still  poured  in. 

Loew's  Stanley  has  a  poor  week 
with  "I  Take  This  Woman,"  the 
gross  dropping  from  the  usual  $17,500 
to  about  $15,500.  This  type  of  pic- 
ture did  not  appear  to  appeal,  al- 
though those  who  went  to  see  it 
seemed  to  get  much  enjoyment  from  it. 

"Annabelle's  Affairs,"  with  Jeanette 
MacDoiiald,  Victor  McLaglen  and  Ro- 
land Young,  proved  enjoyable  to  pa- 
trons of  the  New.  Critics  were  unani- 
mous in  praising  it  as  one  of  the  best 
comedies  of  the  season.  Gross  esti- 
mated at  $8,000,  which  is  just  about 
average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  25 : 

"TRANSCUiESSION"    (Radio) 
KEITH'S— (2,500),    6    days    plus    Sunday 


Gross:    $5,920.      (Aver- 


midnight    showing. 
a.?e,   $5,500.) 

Week  ending  June  26: 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

(Shown    uptown    after    being    road    showed 

downtown    at    Auditorium.) 

WARNER'S  METROPOLITAN— (1,300), 
15c-50c.  6  days.  Gross:  $4,800.  (Average. 
:i»4,500.) 

Week  ending  June  27: 

"THE    W    PLAN"     (Radio) 

LITTLE— (267),  3Sc-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$900.       (Averao-e      $850.\ 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"   (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S    CENTURY— (3,076).    2Sc-60c,    6 
days.     Loew-Capitol  stage  unit  with  Teddy 
Joyce.     Gross:    $24,000.      (Average,   $19,000.) 
"I   TAKE  THIS  WOMAN"   (Par.) 
LOEW'S     STANLEY— (3,522),     25c-60c,    6 
days.     Gross:   $15,500.     (Average,   $17,500.) 
"LAUGHING  SINNERS"  (M-G-M) 
(Simultaneously  with  Parkway) 
(Shown    downtown    at    Valencia    after    one 
week    at    Stanley    downtown.) 

LOEW'S   VALENaA-(l,487),   25c-35c,   6 
days.      Gross:    $2,800.      (Average,    $2,800.) 
"ANNABELLE'S    AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 
NEW— (1,600),    25c-50c,    6    days.      Gross: 
$8,000.      (Average,    $8,000.) 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS"   (M-G-M) 
(Simultaneously    with    Valencia.) 

(Shown     uptown     after    one     week     at     the 
Stanley   downtown.) 

LOEW'S  PARKWAY-(987).  15c-35c,  6 
days.     Ooss:  $3,800.     (Average,  $4,000.) 


Heat  Poison 
To  Ottawa's 
First  Runs 

Ottawa — With  the  Canadian  capi- 
tal experiencing  the  worst  heat  wave 
of  any  place  in  the  Dominion,  with 
schools  out  and  most  of  the  families 
headed  for  the  lake  sections  and  with 
Keith's  ready  to  close  for  repairs,  lit- 
tle attention  was  devoted  to  film  enter- 
tainment locally  during  the  past  week. 
Even  the  new  pajamas  on  the  girl 
ushers  at  Keith's  didn't  boost  the  box 
office  turnover. 

The  highest  score  of  the  week  was 
$4,500  at  the  Regent  for  "The  Law- 
yer's Secret,"  but  this  was  almost  a 
thousand  below  average.  "Never  the 
Twain  Shall  Meet"  at  Keith's  was 
$1,000  below  the  average  of  $3,700 
for  the  three  days.  The  Centre  was 
away  down  on  "Ex-Flame"  at  $3,800, 
while  the  Imperial  was  the  lowest  in 
many  weeks  at  $2,400  with  "The  Sky 
Raiders." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  26: 

MY    PAST"    (Warners) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-.35c.  3  days 
Gross:   $1,000.      (Average,   $1,300.) 

"FIFTY   MILLION   FRENCHMEN" 
(Warners) 

AVALON— (990),  lSc-25c-35c.  3  days. 
Ooss:    $900.      (Average,    $1,300.) 

"EX-FLAME"    (Uberty) 

CENTRE— (1,143),  15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $3,800.      (Average,    $4,600) 

"THE   SKY   RAIDERS"   (Col.) 

JMPERIAI.— (1,091),  10c-25c-35c-40c-50c,  6 
days.     Gross:   $2,400.     (Average,  $3,000.) 

"FORBIDDEN  ADVENTURE" 

KEITH'S— (2,592),  10c-25c-35c-50c-60c,  3 
days.     Gross:   $2,900.      (Average,  $3,700.) 

"NEVER   THE   TWAIN   SHALL   MEET" 
(M-G-M) 

KEITH'S— (2,592).  10c-25c-35c-50c-60c,  j 
days.     Gross:   $12,700.     (Average,  $3,700.) 

"THE  LAWYER'S   SECRET"   (Para.) 

REGENT— (1,225),  15c-25c-35c-45c-60c-7.5c, 
6  days.     Gross:  $4..S00.     (Average,  $5,400.) 


^Black  Camel' 
Leads  in  Poor 
Toronto  Week 

Toronto — Most  of  the  box-office 
returns  during  the  past  week  had  the 
sonibre  hues  of  the  thunder  clouds 
which  swept  over  Toronto  at  regular 
intervals.  The  bright  spot  of  the 
week,  however,  was  "The  Black 
Camel"  at  the  Imperial,  which  was 
brightened  considerably  by  the  pres- 
ence of  the  "Rhythm  Queens,"  a  Pub- 
lix  stage  band  composed  of  girls. 
They  made  some  personal  appear- 
ances, heard  some  local  amateurs  and 
otherwise  popularized  themselves.  The 
gross  result  was  a  cool  $14,500  in  a 
hot  house  that  averages  $16,000.  Man- 
ager Howard  Knevels  is  going  to 
turn  on  the  new  cooling  system  in  a 
few  days,  however,  and  this  should 
help. 

The  Tivoli  tapered  off  with  the  sec- 
ond week  of  "Daddy  Long  Legs," 
which  registered  $8,000  after  doing 
$12,500  in  the  first  six  days.  There 
wasn't  much  to  draw  them  to  Shea's 
with  a  bill  consisting  of  "The  Painted 
Desert"  and  five  average  vaudeville 
acts,  the  result  here  being  around 
$10,000,  or  three  grand  under  par. 
"Daybreak"  at  Loew's  was  just  so-so, 
taking  in  $12,500,  which  was  pretty 
low.  "Up  Pops  the  Devil"  was  rela- 
tively higher  at  the  Uptown  with 
$10,500.  Manager  Tommy  Daly 
doesn't  exactly  get  first  choice  of 
films,  but  patronage  at  the  Uptown 
is  steady. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  26: 

"THE    BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 

IMPERIAL—  (3,444),  15c-25c-35c-50c-60c- 
75c,  6  days.  Paramount  stage  unit. 
"Rhythm  Queens."  Gross:  $14,500.  (Aver- 
age,  $16,000.) 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'.S— C2.088),  ,25c-30c-4Oc-60lc-75c,  6 
davs.     Gross:   $12,500.      (Average,   $15,000.) 


Tree  Soul'  Is 
Best  Bet  in 
Okla.  City 

Oklahoma  City — "A  Free  Soul" 
was  the  bright  spot  of  the  week  here, 
beating  average  by  $2,000  in  grossing 
$10,000.  All  the  others  took  a  nose- 
dive, headed  by  "Chances,"  which  took 
it  on  the  chin  to  the  tune  of  $4,000— 
$3,500  under  par. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  26 : 

"WHITE  SHOULDERS"  (Radio) 

CAPITOL— (1,200),  10c-25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,000.      (Average,   $7,000.) 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
CRITERION— (1,800),   10c-35c-50c,   7  days. 
Gross:    $10,000.      (Average,    $8,000). 

"BEYOND  VICTORY"  (RKO-Pathe) 
LIBERTY— (1,500),     10c-15c-35c,     3     days. 
Gross:    $600.      (Average,    for    week,    $3,000.) 
"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
LIBERTY— (1,500),     10c-15c.35c,     3     days. 
Gross:    $1,000.      (Average   for   week,   $3,000.) 
"CHANCES"  (F.  N.) 
MID-WEST— (1,500),    10c-35c-50c,   7   days. 
Gross:    $4,000.      (Average,   $7,500.) 

"LOVER   <:X>ME    BACK"   (Col.) 
WARNER— (1,700),  10c-35c,50,  7  days.    Al 
and  Loie  Bridge,  stage  show.    Gross:  $6,(XX). 
(Average,   $7,600.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Daddy"  Goes 
7,250  Above 
In  Kansas  City 

Kansas  City- — Kansas  City  fell  in 
line  with  other  cities  and  gave  "Daddy 
Long  Legs"  a  gross  of  $21,750 — ^above 
an  average  at  the  Midland  of  $7,250, 
in  spite  of  the  intense  heat.  "Day- 
break" was  the  only  other  picture  to 
go  over  normal,  taking  in  $7,000  at 
the  Uptown  against  an  average  of 
$6,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  26: 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

MAINSTREET— (3,067),    35c-60c,    7   days. 
Vaude.     Gross:   $17,000.     (Average,   $15,000.) 
"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 

MIDLAND— (4,000),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $21,750.      (Average,   $14,500.) 
"LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (2,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $10,000.      (Average,   $12,500.) 

"GOLD  DUST  GERTIE"    (Warners) 

ROYAL— (900),  25c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,500.       (Average,    $4,500.) 

"DAYBREAK"     (M-G-M) 

UPTOWN— (2,200),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,000.      (Average,    $6,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fete  McCrillis 

East  Rochester,  N.H. — Frank  P. 
McCrillis,  veteran  theatrical  man, 
was  given  a  testimonial  benefit  at  the 
Opera  House  by  more  than  fifty  per- 
sons who  have  been  in  his  employ 
during  his  active  theatrical  career. 
He  is  79  years  old.  He  started  his 
career  52  years  ago  and  is  still  active 
in  the  theatrical  business,  operating 
road  shows  in  northern  New  England 
besides  hold  an  interest  in  many 
small  playhouses. 


"THE  PAINTED  DESERT"  (Pathe) 

SHEA'S— (2,600),  30e-50c-60c-75c,  6  days. 
Five  vaudeville  acts.  Gross:  $10,CiOO. 
(Average,    $13,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

TIVOLI— (1,600),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-7Sc,  6 
days.  Second  week.  Gross:  $8,000.  Aver- 
age,   $12,500.) 

"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 

1 'PTOWN— (3,000),  l,=ic-25c-35c-5Oc-60c,  6 
(lays.      Gross:    $10,.'iflfl.      (Average,    $12,000.) 


Tuesday,   June   30,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"Long  Legs" 
Is  Lead-Off 
In  Montreal 


Montreal — There  was  a  wide  va- 
riety of  pictures — American,  British 
and  French — and  the  film  interests,  at 
least,  took  considerable  interest  in  the 
outcome.  Tom  Cleary  of  the  Prin- 
cess opened  his  "British  Season"  with 
"Tell  England"  and  the  result  was 
a  gross  of  $8,500,  which  was  fair,  con- 
sidering the  weather  and  the  fact  that 
all  Montreal  celebrated  le  Fete  de  St. 
Jean  Baptiste  with  gorgeous  parades, 
picnics  and  fireworks. 

The  French  attraction  was  "Le  Mil- 
lion," which  was  road-showed  at  His 
Majesty's  with  a  resulting  $9,000  at 
$1.50  top,  also  not  so  bad.  But  the 
lead-oiif  of  the  week  was  "Daddy 
Long  Legs,"  which  scored  $12,500  at 
the  Palace,  fairly  close  to  par. 

Loew's  enjoyed  steady  patronage 
with  $11,000  on  "The  Lightning 
Flyer"  and  five  vaudeville  acts.  On 
top  of  everything,  Howard  Conover 
sprang  a  revival  of  "Dangerous 
Hours,"  starring  Clara  Bow,  at  the 
Imperial  to  cash  in  on  the  publicity 
of  Clara's  retirement.  Along  with 
"Air  Police,"  the  Bow  picture  was 
responsible  for  $4,200,  which  was  bet- 
ter than  recent  weeks. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  26: 

"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"     (Para.)    and 
"SKIPPY"    (Para.) 

CAPITOI^(2,547),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,500.     .(Average,    $12,500.) 
"LE  MILLION"  (French) 

HIS  MAJESTY'S— (1,700),  50c-7S-$l-$l-50, 
7  days.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average  for  film 
road    shows,    $13,000.) 

"DANGEROUS    HOURS"    (Para.)    and 
"AIR  POLICE"   (Sono-Art) 

IMPERIAL— (1,914),  15c-2Sc-40c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $4,200.     (Average,  $'S,100.) 

"THE  LIGHTNING  FLYER"   (Col.) 

LOEW'S— (3,115),  15c-40c-S0c-65c-7Sc,  7 
days.  Five  vaudeville  acts.  Gross:  $11,000. 
(Average,   $13,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

PALACE— (2,600),     25c-4Oc-60c-75c-99c,     7 
days.     Gross:  $12,500.     (Average,  $14,000.) 
"TELL    ELNGLAND"    (British) 

PRINCESS  —  (2,272),  25c-35c-4Oc-50c-60c- 
65c,  7  days.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average,  $13,- 
000.) 

"EAST  LYNNE"   (Fox)  and  "CAN  LOVE 
DECIDE?" 

STRAMD— (750),  15c-25c-40c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,000.     (Average,  $4,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Mike  Simmons  Will 
Need  First  Aid  Soon 

Mike  Simmons,  author  of  "First 
Aid,"  a  glorification  of  the  ambulance 
surgeon — at  home,  not  in  the  wars — 
has  received  word  that  his  brain  child 
has  been  handled  with  kid  gloves  all 
over  the  Sono  Art-World  Wide  lot, 
and  is,  in  fact,  in  the  cutting  room. 

Soon,  the  first  print  will  be  en 
route  to  the  home  office,  where  Mike 
will  have  the  double  job  of  perhaps 
taking  bows  for  the  authorship  of  this 
fifth  Thrill-0-Drama  on  the  com- 
pany's schedule,  and  blowing  bugles 
for  it  as  the  official  minnesinger  of 
.Sono  Art's  releases.  Mike  can  haye 
no  out  if  the  picture  doesn't  go  over, 
unless  the  author  complains  to  the 
press  agent  that  the  producers  have 
mutilated  his  original  story ;  or  the 
press  agent  wheezes  to  the  author  that 
the  latter  left  out  all  opportunities 
for  decent  publicizing. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Garyn  Sails 

London — Pat  Garyn  of  National 
Screen  Service  sailed  for  New  York 
yesterday. 


'Smart  Money' 

In  Smart  Coin 

In  Milwaukee 


Milwaukee— Several  thousand  del- 
egates attending  the  convention  of  the 
National  Association  of  Master 
Plumbers  here  this  week  helped  to 
bolster  up  the  box-office  a  bit  for 
what  would  otherwise  have  been  a 
pretty   weak  week. 

With  the  Alhambra  dark  for  instal- 
lation of  its  refrigerating  plant,  and 
the  Davidson,  local  legit  house  which 
has  been  featuring  pictures  during  the 
past  month,  closed  until  September, 
the  remainder  of  the  first  runs  had 
things  pretty  much  their  own  way. 

"Smart  Money"  did  a  nice  business 
at  the  Warner  for  $12,000,  while 
"Women  of  All  Nations"  was  good 
for  $8,000  at  Fox's  Strand.  "The 
Jazz  Cinderella"  was  pulled  at  the  end 
of  four  days  at  the  Garden  to  make 
wav  for  "Three  Girls  Lost." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending-  June  26 ; 

"THE  JAZZ  CINDERELLA" 
(Chesterfield) 

(;AKDEN-(I.150).  25c-35c-50c-60c.  4  days. 
Gross:  $2,800.  (Average  for  seven  davs, 
$10,000.) 

"THREE  WHO  LOVED"  (Radio) 
P.\LACE— (2,587).   2Sc-35c-50c-60c,   7   days. 
Gross:    $9,000.      (Average,   $9,800.) 

"LOVER    COME    BACK"    (Col.) 
RIVERSIDE— (2.180),      25c-35c-50c-60c.      7 
days.      Gross:    $14,500.       (Average,    $13,000.) 
"WOMEN    OF    ALL    NATIONS"    (Fox) 
STRAND    —    (1.406),      25c-35c-50c-6Oc.      7 
days.      Gross:    $8,000.      (Average,    $6,500.) 
"SMART    MONEY"    (Warners) 
WARNER— (2.500).  25c - 3.5c -.SOc- 60c.  7  days. 
Ooss:    $12,000. 

"ALWAYS    GOODBYE"    (Fox) 
WISCONSIN  —  (3,275),  2.5c-35c-50c-65c.  7 
days.       Fanchon     &     Marco     Idea.       Gross: 
$12.,500.      (Average,    $13,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Norma  Boosts 
Gross  $2,000 
In  Des  Moines 

Des  Moines — "A  Free  Soul"  took 
top  honors  in  this  city  last  week,  the 
Shearer  vehicle  grossing  $9,000,  which 
is  two  grand  above  par.  Business 
generally  was  only  fair,  a  hot  wave 
keeping  down  the  grosses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
8nding  June  27 : 

"A   FREE   SOUL"   (M-G-M) 

DES  MOINES— (1,600),  7  days,  2.5c-3.5c- 
60c.     Gross:    $9,000.      (Average.    |17,000.1 

"MISBEHAVING  LADIES"    (F.  N.   ) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  3  days,  25c-35c- 
60c.  Vaude.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average  for 
week,   $12,000.) 

"I   TAKE   THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  4  days,  25c-35c- 
60c.  Vaude.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average  for 
week,    $12,000.) 

"DRUMS  OF  JEOPARDY"   (Tiff.) 

STRAND— (1,100),  4  days.  20c-.TOc.  Gross: 
$2,200.     (Average,  $1,700.) 

"GOOD   BAD  GIRL"   (Col.) 

STRAND— (1,100).  3  days,  20c-30c.  Gross: 
$700.      CAverage,    $700.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Theatre  Aids  Poor 

Oklahoma  City —  Appro.ximately 
$4,000  was  added  to  the  Oklahoma 
City  milk  and  ice  fund  at  a  special 
preview  held  at  the  Criterion  after 
the  regular  show  Saturday  night.  A 
feature  of  the  program  was  the  show- 
ing of  "Confessions"  of  a  Co-ed,"  fur- 
nished by  Pat  McGee,  head  of  Okla- 
homa City  Ptrblix  houses. 


H 
E 


THEATRE 


Construction — Equipment — Decoration — Operation — Management 


Film  Machine 
Inspects;  Cuts 
Risk  Is  Claim 


Claiming  its  machine  reduces  fire 
hazards  caused  by  poor  and  shabby 
films,  cleans  dirt  and  oil  in  keeping 
prints  in  better  physical  condition  and 
it  can  handle  twice  as  many  reels  per 
day  over  the  old  method.  Film  In- 
spection Machine  Co.,  is  marketing  a 
new  equipment  which,  it  is  said,  will 
reduce  overhead  and  risks. 

Imperfections  in  films  heretofore 
unnoticed  by  the  method  of  running 
prints  through  the  fingers  are  unlikely 
with  the  advanced  method  of  inspec- 
tion, it  is  claimed.  Tears  and_  poorly 
made  splices  in  films  are  easily  dis- 
covered, the  manufacturer  says. 

The  machine  will  clean  oil  and  dirt 
off  the  surface  simultaneously  with 
inspecting  it  and  this  gives  better 
wear,  the  company  states. 

With  this  apparatus  one  girl  can  do 
from  90  to  110  reels  per  day  of  thor- 
oughly reconditioned  film,  it  is  stated. 
The  usual  speed  these  machines  work 
is  five  minutes  to  a  1,000  foot  reel. 
The  combination  of  inspecting  and 
cleaning  reduces  the  overhead  one 
half. 

By  keeping  films  in  excellent  con- 
dition and  thus  reducing  the  chance 
of  breaking  in  the  projector  and 
catching  fire,  the  company  states  that 
hazards  are  greatly  reduced. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Contracts  Awarded  on 
Boston  Paramount 

Boston — Contract  for  the  new 
Paramount  Theatre  has  been  let  to 
the  George  B.  Macomber  Co.  of 
Boston.  Total  cost  is  expected  to 
exceed  $2,000,00. 

The  new  theatre  will  occupy  the 
site  of  the  old  Adams  House,  between 
Washington  and  Mason  streets,  along- 
side the  RKO  Keith  Memorial 
Theatre.  The  Adams  House  won 
prominence  as  the  home  of  Calvin 
Coolidge  while  he  served  in  the 
Massachusetts  legislature  and  later 
during  his  term  as  governor  of 
Massachusetts  before  he  entered  the 
White  House. 

Contract  was  awarded  by  the  A.  H. 
Realty  Co.,  of  which  Ralph  C.  Car- 
penter is  treasurer.  The  realty  com- 
pany has  executed  a  25-year  lease  to 
Publix.  The  theatre  will  seat  1,900 
"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Party  Rooms'*  in 
New  Elwha  Theatre 

Portland — The  Elwha,  built  at 
Port  Angeles,  Wash.,  by  Julius 
Kirshberg  and  leased  to  the  Elwha 
Theatre  Corp.,  composed  of  Arnold 
Levy,  manager  of  the  house ;  Henrv 
Davidson,  Frank  Christman  and  B. 
Fey,  opened  with  "Cracked  Nuts"  as 
the  feature.  Among  the  innovations 
in  this  modern  house  are  two  "party 
rooms"  for  the  convenience  of  those 
who  wish  to  entertain  guests. 


New  RCA  Equipment 


New   amplifier   for   special   equipment 

developed  for     theatres      up      to     SOO 

seats    capacity 


Sound       head    for    RCA    Photophone 
"Special  Size"  reproducer 

RCA  Suspends 
Service  Fee  on 
Dark  Theatres 


J.  H.  Tingle,  treasurer  of  RCA 
Photophone,  has  sent  letters  to  all 
exhibitors  using  the  company's  repro- 
ducer that,  provided  theatres  are 
closed  30  days  or  more,  there  will  be 
no  service  charge  during  the  period 
of  darkness.  The  company  has  also 
standardized  service  charges,  which 
provide  considerable  reductions,  it  is 
said. 

Tingle  explains : 

"We  are  endeavoring  to  lighten  the 
financial  burdens  of  exhibitors  who 
find  it  necessary  to  close  their  thea- 
tres. Many  theatres  close  during  the 
summer  months  and  we  have  modi- 
fied our  previous  policy  by  suspending 
service  charges  during  the  period 
when  they  are  dark.  Upon  receipt  of 
two  weeks'  written  notice  of  inten- 
tion to  close,  we  shall  send  engineers 
to  the  theatre  to  service  the  equipment 
for  the  closed  period  and  upon  like 
notice  prior  to  re-opening  will  place 
the  burdens  under  which  many  exhibi- 
tors are  struggling  at  this  time  and 
take  this  method  of  bringing  them  as 
much  relief  as  is  possible." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Distributes  Visivox 

St.  Louls — The  Sprague  Visivox. 
home  talker  apparatus,  is  now  being 
distributed  here  by  the  Electric  Lamp 
and  Supply  Co.,  1113  Pine  street. 
The  Visivox  projects  16  millimeter 
films  and  is  also  adapted  to  amateur 
films.  It  plays  standard  phonograph 
records. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,   June   30,    1931 


Resignation  a 
Personal  Act, 
Says  Milliken 

"My  resignation  from  the  Adminis- 
trative Committee  of  the  Federal 
Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in 
America,  to  which  I  was  elected  in 
1924,  is  an  expression  of  my  personal 
feeling,  as  a  member  of  the  Adminis- 
trative Committee,  concerning  the  un- 
fortunate position  in  which  such  a 
clouded  report  places  the  Federal 
Council,  ^ly  resignation  was  in  no 
sense  associated  with  my  duties  as 
Secretary  of  the  Motion  Picture  Pro- 
ducers &  Distributors  of  America," 
said  Carl  E.  Milliken  yesterday  in  a 
statement,  forwarded  from  Los  An- 
geles where  he  is  attending  the  Na- 
tional Education  Association  conven- 
tion, in  comment  on  the  fracas  be- 
tween the  Hays  association  and  the 
Federal  Council. 

"Because  the  Department  of  Re- 
search and  Education  after  clarifying 
the  principles  on  which  honoraria 
were  paid  by  the  Motion  Picture  Pro- 
ducers and  Distributors,  beclouds  the 
issue  in  its  conclusions,  I  feel  that 
the  Administrative  Committee  has 
been  placed  in  an  unfortunate  posi- 
tion," he  said. 

"The  Department  of  Research  and 
Education  of  the  Federal  Council  was 
given  every  facility  to  determine  on 
its  own  account  whether  payments 
formerly  made  by  the  Motion  Picture 
Producers  &  Distributors  of  America 
were  or  were  not  justified  by  this  or- 
ganization's educational  purposes." 

Andrews  Hits  Back;  Says 
Hays  "Double  -  Crossed" 

Rev.  George  Reid  Andrews,  former 
chairman  of  the  Federal  Council's 
committee  on  religious  drama  and 
secretary  of  the  Church  and  Drama 
Ass'n  who  was  charged  by  Will  H. 
Hays  with  seeking  10  per  cent  of 
"The  King  of  Kings"  receipts,  hit 
back  yesterday. 

In  a  copyrighted  interview  in  the 
Bridgeport  Telegram,  he  charged 
Hays  intended  to  "through  me  to  con- 
trol the  organizations  with  which  I 
was  connected  and  manipulate  them  to 
his  own  advantage." 

The  Council,  the  interview  declared, 
once  prevented  production  of  a  pic- 
ture that  would  have  "scandalized  the 
Christian  world"  by  mention  of  a 
love  interest  in  a  film  with  a  religious 
theme.  Andrews  said  Hays  sought  "to 
buy  me  by  generous  offers  of  secret 
money."  His  explanation  of  the 
charges  and  counter  charges  relative 
to  "The  King  of  Kings"  was  that  he 
sought  to  assure  the  funds  for  future 
religious   films. 

"Hays  double-crossed  us,"  said  An- 
drews, "and  defeated  our  plan  to  make 
it  and  its  revenue  serve  the  churches. 
Let  him  deny  this.  He  refers  to  the 
defunct  Church  and  Drama  League. 
It  is  defunct  because  he  bought  his 
way  into  our  official  board  and  wreck- 
ed us  from  within  and  confused  our 
friends  without,  but  he  has  been 
caught  with  the  goods." 

He  also  predicted  the  report  would 
result  in  Hays'  resignation. 


Several  of  the  New  York  afternoon 
papers  yesterday  played  up  comment 
from  Rev.  George  Reid  Andrews  that 
the  Federal  Council  report  would  re- 


Ohio  Police 
Chiefs  Sock 
Crime  Films 


L().\DON,  Ont. — Strict  censorship  of 
the  gang  angle  in  pictures  depicting 
crime  to  be  shown  within  the  state  in 
the  future  received  attention  from  the 
Ohio  State  Police  Chief's  Association 
in  session  at  the  Hotel  London. 

On  motion  of  Chief  J.  J.  Mc- 
Nicholas  of  Youngstown,  O.,  which 
met  with  a  vote  of  approval  of  the 
delegates  present,  the  association  went 
on  record  that  the  Ohio  board  of 
censors  be  called  upon  to  exercise 
extreme  caution  in  allowing  pictures 
to  play  Ohio,  especially  those  dealing 
with  crime  stories,  and  that  all  refer- 
ence to  gangsters  be  cut  out  of  such 
pictures    in   censoring. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Paramount  Schedules 
20  Slapstick  Comedies 

Twenty  slapstick  comedies,  instead 
of  twelve  as  originally  planned,  will 
be  included  in  the  Paramount  1931-32 
program  of  shorts.  These  20  pictures 
will  be  the  first  slapstick  comedy 
shorts  ever  produced  at  the  Para- 
mount New  York  studio,  as  hereto- 
fore all  of  the  one  and  two  reel  films 
have  been  musical  or  dialogue  com- 
edy. Karl  Dane  and  George  K.  Ar- 
thur, Al  St.  John  and  Ford  Sterling 
are  under  contract  to  star  in  a  por- 
tion   of   this    group. 

There  has  been  a  definite  trend  for 
the  old  fashioned  Keystone  type  of 
comedy,  Larry  Kent  in  charge  of 
short    film   production,    explained. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Disney  Recovering 

Walt  Disney,  in  a  Hollywood  hos- 
pital following  a  tonsil  operation  is 
"getting  along  nicely,"  according  to 
word  received  in  New  York  yesterday 
by  his  brother,  Roy. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

To  Film  Rockfeller  Yarn 

Hollywood — Warners  will  make  a 
picture  based  on  the  life  of  John  D. 
Rockfeller,  Jr.,  with  George  Arliss 
if  the  story  meets  with  Rockfellers' 
approval. 


suit  in  Will  H.  Hays'  resignation  as 
head  of  the  M.P.P.D.A. 

The  possibility  was  held  to  be  silly 
in  responsible  quarters.  Contractually, 
Havs  has  five  more  years  to  go  un- 
der his  ten-year  agreement. 


Stresses  Films*  Value 
In  Modern  Teaching 

Los  AxGELES — Importance  of  mo- 
tion pictures  in  teaching  was  the  key- 
note in  the  speech  of  Carl  E.  Milliken, 
secretary  of  the  M.  P.  P.  D.  .'\.,  in  an 
address  before  the  annual  convention 
of  the  National  Education  Associa- 
tion here  last  night. 

Milliken  offered  the  full  facilities  of 
his  association  in  making  advance 
knowledge  of  certain  educational  sub- 
jects available  for  teachers  who  may 
find  the  screen  an  aid  in  teaching.  He 
suggested  the  National  Education  As- 
sociation might  set  up  a  previewing 
committee  similar  to  other  national 
associations,  which  will  permit  tutors 
to  see  pictures  before  released  and  so 
decide  which  are  fit  for  their  pro- 
grams. 


Chivalry 


Richmond,  Va. — The  Virginia 
censors  insist  that  ladies  be 
treated  like  ladies,  regardless  of 
their  cinematic  morals.  Where- 
fore they  have  eliminated  the 
biggest  punch  scene  in  "Smart 
Money,"  showing  Edward  G. 
Robinson  kicking  a  lady  right 
through   a   door    (open). 


U,A,to  Launch  New 
Year  with  12  Films 

Chicago — While  the  trade  in  New 
York  hears  that  the  United  Artists 
schedule  will  hover  around  16  fea- 
tures for  next  year,  the  company's 
sales  force,  in  regional  meeting  here, 
was  told  the  line-up  would  include  a 
round  dozen,  with  additions  perhaps 
later.  The  26  branch  managers  and 
salesmen  present  were  assured  that 
the  new  product  would  do  more  busi- 
ness at  the  box-office  and  that,  con- 
sequently, higher  rentals  were  ex- 
pected. 

The  12  pictures  will  be  sold  in- 
dividually on  their  own  merits,  as 
has  been  the  company's  policy,  the 
men  were  told.  Each  picture  is  to 
have  an  individual  publicity  and  ad- 
vertising campaign  with  which  to 
launch  it,  and  in  which  salesmen  in 
the  field  are  to  participate. 

Representatives  from  Chicago, 
Kansas  City,  Milwaukee,  Minneapo- 
lis, St.  Louis  and  Omaha  were  pres- 
ent. 


New  Orleans — United  Artists' 
southern  force  wound  up  a  two-day 
regional  sales  meeting  here  yesterday. 


Pubhshers  for 
"Fair  Ctif'  in 
Film  Rights 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

movie  rights  when  they  have  nego- 
tiated the  sale  or  otherwise  stipulated 
such  an  agreement  in  the  original  con- 
tract with  the  author.  In  the  future, 
authors  will  have  to  agree  to  split  the 
movie  rights  income  with  the  publish- 
ers or  there  won't  be  anyone  to  back 
their  literary  efforts,  the  report  has 
it. 

Recently  a  publisher  backed  a  new-  ■ 
comer's  novel,  which  is  said  to  have  > 
grossed  only  $700  in  sales  leaving 
the  publisher  in  the  hole  for  about 
$4,000.  This  same  author  later  sold  the 
picture  and  talking  rights  for  $22,000 
and  refused  to  distribute  any  of  the 
velvet  with  the  publisher.  After  this 
incident,  and  similar  ones,  the  pub- 
lishers decided  to  get  together  on  the 
subject  with  meetings  now  being  held 
to  decide  what  percentage  to  demand. 
It  is  understood  it  will  be  from  25  to 
50  per  cent. 

•'BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Knapp  Recovering 

Hollywood — Evalyn  Knapp  is  al- 
ready slated  to  appear  opposite  Wil- 
liam Powell  in  "Divorce  Detective," 
thereby  indicating  her  recent  injuries 
were  not  as  serious   as   first  thought. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Mendes  Coming  East 

Lothar  Mendes,  Paramount  direc- 
tor, is  due  in  New  York  today  to  di- 
rect Nancy  Carroll  in  "Wild  Beauty." 


FOR  RENT 

SACRIFICE  SUBLEASE 
APPROXIMATELY  3500 
Square  feet  of  highly  desir- 
able, light  space  at  729 
Seventh  Avenue*  Will 
Divide  ♦ 


Telephone 
Circle  7-3100  —  Extension  27 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  27 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JULY  1,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Warner,  Para. 
In  Huge  "Buy 
Now''  Confab 

Exchange  Contracts    on 
Playing  Time  Near 


The  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 
campaign  is  finding  its  staunchest  ad- 
vocates among  the  major  circuits. 

In  work  for  several  weeks  and  slated 
to  be  closed  today  is  a  deal  whereby 
the  entire  Warner  circuit  will  play 
Paramount's  1931-1932  line-up  on  per- 
centage. Exactly  what  the  contract 
will  run  into  in  terms  of  money  is 
something  difficult  to  compute  in  view 
of  the  sharing  provisions  of  the  agree- 
ment, but  conservatively,  several  mil- 
lions are  involved. 

Publix,  theatre  arm  of  Paramount, 
is  returning  the  "beau  geste."  By  sep- 
arate conferencing  entirely,  that  cir- 
cuit is  negotiating  to  show  Warner- 
First  National  pictures  nationally. 
Millions,  too,  are  involved  in  that 
booking  pact. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Prudential  Adds  4 
In  Long  Island 

Prudential  Theatres  Operating  Co. 
h-.s  added  four  to  its  string,  all  in 
Long  Island.  This  gives  the  circuit 
26  on  the  island.  The  Sag  Harbor, 
Sag  Harbor ;  Southampton,  South- 
ampton, and  Freeport,  Freeport,  are 
now  being  handled  by  the  circuit 
through  a  deal  with  Mike  Glynn,  who 
retains  an  interest  in  the  houses. 
The  Centre  Moriches  at  Centre  Mo- 
riches also  is  in  circuit. 

Two  theatres  will  be  opened  in 
about  two  weeks.  They  are  the  Mon- 
tauk  at  Montauk  Point,  and  the  Nan- 
tak  at  Nantak. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

RKO  Gets  4  Houses 
In  the  Bronx,  Report 

RKO    is   understood   to   have   taken 

over  four  theatres  in  the  Bronx  oper- 

I    ated  by   Bolte   Brothers.    The   houses 

'     involved  are  the   Wakefield,    Laconia, 

I     B.  &  B.  and  the  Burke.    All  have  1,- 

500  seating  capacity  except  the  B.  & 

B.,  which  seats  1,000. 

The  circuit  recently  acquired  Nick 
Paley's  theatres  at  Bronxville  and 
Scarsdale  in  addition  to  the  Castle  at 
Long  Branch. 


Outside  Producers  Fear 
New  Theatre  Pool  Bogey 


Good  Eyes  Instead  of  Glass 

New  Haven,  Conn. — Edward  G.  Levy,  executive  secretary  of  the 
M.P.T.O.  of  Connecticut,  has  this  to  say  about  the  "Buy  Right — 
But  Buy  Now"  movement: 

"Unquestionably,  I  am  in  accord  with  the  policy  of  which  'Buy 
Right — But  Buy  Now'  is  the  slogan.  Connecticut  exhibitors  have 
been  holding  back  from  buying  for  the  year  because  of  the  lack 
of  ability  and  opportunity  to  buy  right. 

"The  first  attack  of  the  advance  selling  force  by  the  distributors 
was  rebuffed  on  almost  every  front,  because  the  salesmen,  either 
of  their  own  volition  or  under  home  office  instructions,  attempted 
to  secure  increases  over  last  year's  prices,  ignoring  entirely  the 
lack  of  justification  for  such  a  policy  by  virtue  of  last  year's 
record,  present  conditions  and  the  general  apathy  -in  which  we 
now  exist. 

"Those  situations  in  non-highly  competitive  areas  will,  I  know, 
buy  now  if  the  salesmen  will  get  that  gleam  of  sympathy  and 
understanding  in  their  good  eyes  instead  of  their  glass  ones." 


Nate  Blumberg   of   RKO  yesterday 
denied    any    knowledge    of    the    deal, 

stating  that  his  company  was  not  out 
for   small   theatres. 


Bureau  Hunts 
Bicyclers  in 
Dallas  Region 


Dallas — The  Copyright  Protection 
Bureau  is  hot  on  the  trail  of  alleged 
bicyclers  and  is  concentrating  its  ac- 
tivities in  this  territory  in  order  to 
clear  up  the  offenses,   if   any. 

Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  Texas  is 
aware  of  the  move.  In  its  latest  bul- 
letin. Colonel  H.  A.  Cole  advises  ex- 
hibitors whose  activities  the  Copyright 
Protection  Bureau  is  probing  to  com- 
municate with  exhibitor  headquarters. 
Cole,  commenting  on  the  alleged  viola- 
tions,  says  in  the  bulletin  : 

"We  think  this  is  possibly  correct." 

The  Bureau  is  also  after  falsified 
percentage  reports  and  holdovers. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Virginia  Veterans 
War  on  Gang  Films 

Richmond,  Va.  —  Considerable 
speculation  is  rife  as  to  the  possible 
action  the  Virginia  department  of  the 
.'Kmerican  Legion  may  take  at  its  an- 
nual convention  in  Clifton  Forge  next 
month  in  regard  to  resolutions  for  the 
betterment  of  pictures.  Several  posts 
have  taken  action  in  opposition  to 
pictures  depicting  crime  and  gang- 
land activities. 

The  \'irginia  department,  Veterans 
(Continued  on  page  4) 


Urge  4-Night 
Closing  Plan 
In  St.  Louis 


St.  Louis — Plans  for  closing 
neighborhood  and  suburban  theatres 
of  St.  Louis  and  St.  Lo'iis  County 
four  nights  a  week  as  a  means  of 
reducing  expenses  during  the  current 
business  depression  were  considered  at 
a  meeting  of  St.  Louis  motion  picture 
theatre  owners.  Approximately  fifty 
independent  theatres  are  weighing 
the  proposal  that  they  close  their 
doors  on  Mondays,  Tuesdays,  Wednes- 
days and  Thursdays  until  next  fall. 
First  run  houses  would  not  be  affected. 

Leo  Hill,  general  manager  for  the 
Warner  houses  in  this  territory,  in- 
cluding the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co. 
string  of  22  houses,  has  discussed 
the  local  situation  with  officials  of 
the  Warner  organization  in  New 
York.      While   it    is    improbable   that 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Daylight  Saving  Is 
Banned  in  Wise. 

Madison — The  Hampel  bill  out- 
lawing dayligTTt  saving  time  in  Wis- 
consin has  been  signed  by  Gov.  Phil 
La  Follette.  The  bill  makes  it  an 
ofifense  to  use  any  other  than  standard 
time  in  business  places  in  Wisconsin. 
Violators  are  liable  to  a  fine  of  $25 
to  $50  or  10  to  30  days  in  jail  or  both. 


Reduction  of  Outlets  for 

Products  Seen  When 

Houses  Close 


Producing  companies  which  have  no 
theatre  allies  are  very  much  concern- 
ed over  the  35-city  pool  involving  from 
200  to  300  theatres  which  is  now  under 
discussion  by  operators  of  major  cir- 
cuits. 

The  non-e.xhibitor  companies  see  in 
the  consummation  of  the  move  a  nar- 
rower market  and  the  possibility  of 
reduced  outlets  for  their  product. 
What  is  proving  particularly  disturb- 
ing to  them  are  two  phases  of  the 
pooling   arrangements  as  now  set  up. 

Behind  the  circuit's  desire  to  merge 
holdings  and  co-ordinate  operations  is 
the  belief  that  expenses  can  be  re- 
duced and  grosses  improved.  This  ex- 
plains why  in  most  of  the  35  situa- 
tions now  included  in  the  deliberations 
the  plan  provides  for  the  darkening  of 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Charge  MGM,B.&K, 
Violated  Censor  Rule 

Chicago — Balaban  &  Katz  and  M- 
G-M  were  the  chief  beneficiaries  of 
the  overriding  of  censors'  rulings,  it 
is  revealed  by  a  search  of  the  rec- 
ords herein  as  part  of  the  campaign 
of  women's  clubs  and  Dr.  Fred  East- 
man, of  the  Christian  Century,  to 
put  a  stop  to  "privileges"  alleged  to 
have  been  enjoyed  by  distributors  and 
exhibitors. 

The  frequent  disregard  of  the  cir- 
cuit   and   the    producing    company    of 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Cities  Furnish  Bulk 
Of  Trade,  Court  Told 

Wilmington,  Del.  —  Final  argu- 
ments in  the  patent  suit  of  Cinema 
Patents  Co.  vs.  Craft  Film  Labora- 
tories, Inc.,  charged  with  infringe- 
ment of  film  developing  tanks,  are 
under  way  in  United  States  District 
Court  before   Judge   John   P.    Nields. 

Herbert  A.  Huebner,  New  York 
attorney,  informed  Judge  Nields  that 
the   bulk   of    the   big   business   of   the 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Consider  Your  Adam's 
Apple  in  L.  A.  Houses 

Los  Angexes — The  city  council 
has  passed  an  ordinance  permitting 
smoking  in  balconies  and  mezzanine 
floors  of  Class  A  theatres  here. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    July    I,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    RtvittB 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


July    1,    1931 


No.    27 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  H''.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4^  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


From  the  Waist 

1  HEY  were  at  it  a 
full  year.  Certainly  w^ith  no 
prejudice  for  motion  pictures, 
the  investigators  of  the  Fed- 
eral Council  of  the  Churches 
of  Christ  in  America  might  be 
said  to  have  gone  out  to  dig  up 
what  they  could  against  this 
business.  Yet  what  did  their  52 
weeks  of  probing  unearth  ? 

They  found  the  Hays  organ- 
ization has  "entertained  laud- 
able purposes";  that  it  has  "set 
up  helpful  procedures"  and 
"has  done  constructive  work  in 
hammering  out  standards"; 
that  its  arbitration  record  is 
"impressive"  and  its  activity  in 
bettering  employment  condi- 
tions, "noteworthy." 

/xLL  of  this  demon- 
strates how  misguided  we  must 
be.  It  was  our  thought  this  re- 
port was  to  escoriate  and  lam- 
bast  the  industry  beyond  re- 
demption. In  place  of  that,  we 
find  the  Council  spending 
money,  time  and  effort  to  in- 
form the  public  that  this  is  a 
pretty  good  business  after  all. 
Perhaps  it  issued  the  wrong 
report,  but,  regardless  of  that, 
we  are  serious  in  believing  the 
Council  rates  an  industry  bow 
of  thanks — and  clear  from  the 
waist,  too. 

U  N  I  V  E  R  S  A  L'S 
business  from  May  4  to  date,  is 
forty-nine  per  cent  ahead  of  the 
identical  period  last  year.  This 
isn't  a  press  yarn.  It's  the 
truth.  Our  eyes  have  told  us 
so. 

What  price  depression  now? 
KANN 


Purely  Personal 


MR.  KAY  is  the  new  name  of  the 
manager  at  the  Daly,  Bronx.  He 
changed  his  original  appellation  be- 
cause his  patrons  insisted  on  calling 
him  Mr.  Kay  instead  of  Mr.  Kliegel. 

Charles  B.  Taylor,  in  charge  of 
the  Shjea-Publix  public  relations  de- 
partment in  Buffalo,  is  back  from  a 
week's  vacation  trip  to  Quebec.  It 
was    Charlie's    first   in   five   years. 

Harry  Buxbaum,  Fox  N.  Y.  man- 
ager, has  a  shower  in  his  newly  re- 
novated offices.  He  can  even  play 
four-wall  handball  in  that  spacious 
new  office  of  his. 

Al  Harstyn  is  out  of  the  hospital 
after  a  third  operation  for  an  ab- 
scessed tooth.  He's  manager  of  the 
San  Jose  for  Manhattan  Playhouses. 

Valentin  Mandelstam,  author  and 
playwright  and  for  some  time  attached 
to  the  M-G-M  studio  in  Culver  City, 
has   returned   from  the   Continent. 

Ned  Marin,  Paramount  production 
supervisor,  gets  that  long-awaited 
swimming  at  Malibu,  after  all.  He 
leaves  for  Hollywood  today. 

E.  Bruce  Johnson,  foreign  man- 
ager for  J.  D.  Williams  and  Asso- 
ciates, is  on  his  way  to  Europe  in 
the   interests   of    "The   Viking." 

Jack  Sullivan,  picture  critic  of 
the  Prozndence  Daily  News,  sailed 
on  the  California  the  other  day  for  a 
long   holiday   in  Hollywood. 

Jack  Shapiro  had  two  runs  of 
seven  in  pocket  billiards  at  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Club  the  other  day  and 
hasn't  gotten  over  it  yet. 

Irving  Goodfield  of  Apeda  studios 
is  the  proud  daddy  of  a  second  boy. 
Mrs.  Goodfield  was  the  former  Louise 
.'^eide  of  M-G-M. 

Mike  Simmons  goes  for  Satur- 
days in  a  large  way  because  it  gives 
him  a  chance  to  go  Tilden  on  the 
tennis  courts. 

LiL  Dagover  will  sail  for  the  United 
States  on  August  4  to  begin  work 
under  her  new  contract  with  First 
National. 


Don  Clarke  is  spending  the  sum- 
mer in  New  England.  He's  on  a 
three  months'  leave  of  absence  from 
M-G-M. 

Ted  Schl.\nger  shakes  the  dust  of 
New  York  from  his  heels  today 
and  moves  into  the  cool  of  Rochelle 
Park. 

Al  ("Whiff")  Selig  is  sporting 
one  of  the  nicest  coats  of  tan  in  the 
trade. 

Seth  Parker  (Phillips  Lord)  is 
winding  up  his  broadcasting  work  pre- 
liminary to  his  debut  with  Radio  Pic- 
tures. 

Arthur  Greenblatt  is  patiently 
awaiting  July  15,  when  Educational 
will  hold  its  annual  confab  at  the 
Astor. 

Charles  MacDonald,  general 
manager  of  Wafilms,  has  returned  to 
New  York  from  the  Coast. 

Meyer  Schneider,  formerly  of  the 
M.  &  S.  circuit  in  New  York,  is  re- 
ported coming  back  to  the  field. 

George  Lefko  has  replaced  E.  A. 
Eschmann  as  manager  of  the  RKO 
Pathe    exchange   at    Pittsburgh. 

Sam  Sonin  may  operate  the  West 
End.  Long  Beach,  but  he  hasn't  been 
out  to  the  house  yet  this  season. 

Peggy  Foley,  secretary  of  the  Des 
Moines  Film  Board,  is  convalescing 
from  a  siege  of  illness. 

Bob  Jackson,  formerly  of  New 
York,  is  assistant  manager  at  the 
Lafayette,   Buffalo. 

Archie  Mayo,  Warner  director,  has 
arrived  in  New  York  for  a  week  of 
theatre-going. 

Milton  Lasdon  has  joined  Harry 
Kutinsky  in  operation  of  his  Brook- 
lyn circuit. 

Phil  Cochrane  is  now  swinging 
into  the  first  of  a  two  weeks'  vaca- 
tion. 

Otis  Skinner  is  back  in  New  York 
from   a   European  holiday. 


General  Market  Off;  E,  K,  Drops  3V2 

Net 

Hish      Low      Close     Change  Sales 

Consolidated     Film    Industries 75i          7             7           —  V2  800 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 14'/5        WA        MVJ        100 

Eastman    Kodak     \SOV2      UJYi      148           —3%  4,300 

Fox     Film     "A" 205^        19'/^        \9Vi        —Wk  11,200 

General    Theatre    Equipment   new 4-^          4^          45^        — l/i,  200 

Loew's.    Irtc 467/^       45!^        4554       —154  7,900 

Paramount    Publix 26%        26           26'4        —  %  12,900 

Pathe    Exchange VA          VA          IV2        —  Vf.  1,100 

Pathe     Exchange     "A" SV,          5             5           _  j^  ].200 

RKO     15«        147^        \SVi        —V2  15.900 

Warner   Bros Wi          7%          774        ~  Vi  16,900 

Warner    Bros,    pfd 19:^        \9Vi        1954        +  ?4  100 

Fractional  Loss  on  Film  Curb 

Net 

Hi^h      Low      Close      Change  Sales 

'  olumhia     Pictures    vtc 12,(4        i2Vs        1254        —  H  400 

Fox   Theatres   "A" .VA         3i^         35^—1^  900 

i/eneral    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 93/^          9             9           —54  1,400 

Trans    Lux 6             6             6            200 

Bonds  Also  Decline;  G.  T.  E.  Down  2V2 

Net 

,.            ,   .„,              „      .                                                              High      Low      Close      Change  Sales 

•  leneral    I  heatre    Lquipment   6s    40 39",  1.        37           37            — 2'/2  3 

i.oew's   6s    '41    ex    war 97            97            97            J/J  1 

Paramount     Broadway    .S^s    '51 102          102          102           -fl  2 

Paramount    I".    I>.    6s   '47 905^        89           89           —1  4 

Paramount     Publix    S'As.     '50 8254        81            81            —1  28 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww gg           gg           gg           _i  ^ 

Warner    Bros.   6s   '39  wd 41!/.        40           40           254  20 


Giijifc^. 


Cecil  DeMille  for  telling  the 

truth     about     what's     wrong 

with    a   lot   of   pictures. 


MacDonald  Sailing 
ToHushWeirdTales 

Hollywood — Jeanette  MacDonald, 
together  with  her  mother,  sister  and 
manager,  Robert  Ritchie,  will  leave 
in  three  weeks  for  New  York.  After 
a  stay  of  a  fortnight  therg,  during 
which  she  will  broadcast  twice,  she 
will  go  to  Europe,  playing  concert 
halls  in  England,  France,  Spain,  Ger- 
many, Italy  and  Belgium  at  a  reputed 
salary  of  $10,000  a  week. 

The  trip  was  planned  chiefly  be- 
cause of  stories  being  published 
abroad  connecting  her  name  with  that 
of  an  Italian  prince  and  stating  that 
she  is  in  some  European  hospital 
with  a  broken  back  while  her  double 
is  in  Hollywood.  These  stories  have 
been  appearing  for  weeks  in  the  press 
abroad,  especially  in  French  journals. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Chevalier  Sails 

Maurice  Chevalier,  accompanied  by 
Mme.  Chevalier,  sails  at  6  P.  M.  to- 
day on  the  Paris,  stopping  in  London 
to  replenish  his  wardrobe  while  Mme. 
Chevalier  will  proceed  direct  to  Paris 
to  do  likewise.  They  will  meet  in 
Paris  a  week  later  and  go  to  Cannes. 
The  star  will  return  to  this  country  in 
September  to  start  work  on  an  orig- 
inal  now   being  prepared. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Henigson  III 

Hollywood — Henry  Henigson,  Uni- 
versal studio  manager,  is  suffering 
from  blood  poisoning  and  is  confined 
to   a    local    hospital. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Sheehan  Due  Today 

Winfield  Sheehan  arrives  in  New 
York   from   Hollywood  today. 


Sfudio    and    Location 
Sound  on  P\\rx\  Recording 

Low    Daily    or   WeeMy    Rat«t 
Powerj  Cinephone  Equipment  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE.,  N.  Y.     BRyant  9-6067 


PUBLIC  PROJECTION 
ROOM 

Latest  R.C.A. 
Photophone  Equipment 

Si  or  **"  "*' """'  *  ^*  "• 

i.Z«)      Nights,   Sundays, 

Holidays  by  Appointment 

Under  the   personal  supervision  of 
Hynue   Silverman 

MOTORIZED     TALKING 
PICTURE   SERVICE,   Inc. 

729   7th    Ave.  BRyant   9-5721 


THE  MAD  RUSH 
FOR  TOM  MIX  IS 

SENSATIONAL! 

(No.  724  Straight  from  the  Shoulder  Talk  by  Carl  Laemmie, 
President  of  the  Universal  Pictures  Corporation) 

THE  SCOOP  OF  SCOOPS! 

THE  SIGNING  OF  TOM  MIX  BY  UNIVERSAL  IS  THE  UPHEAVAL  OF  THE  TRADEl 

NEVER  HAS  AN  ANNOUNCEMENT  BEEN  GREETED  WITH  SUCH  OPEN  JOY  AND 
excitement  by  exhibitors,  big  and  little. 

NEVER  IN  UNIVERSALIS  CAREER  HAVE  CONTRACTS  STARTED  TO  POUR  IN  SO 
sensationally — and  such  handsome  contracts! 

LESS  THAN  TWENTY- FOUR  HOURS  AFTER  WE  CONCLUDED  OUR  DEAL  WITH 
Tom  Mix  (and  oF  course  his  pony  ^'Tony^')  our  exchanges  were  deluged  with  calls  From  exhibitors. 

DEPRESSION  WAS  FORGOTTEN.  THE  BOYS  KNEW  THEY  NEEDED  SOME  EXTRA 
dynamite  For  their  box  oFFices  but  they  did  not  realize  that  it  was  Tom  Mix  they  needed  until 
we  told  the  world  we  had  him! 

TOM  MIX  BACK  IN  THE  MOVIES! 

TOM  MIX  IN  HIS  FIRST  TALKIES! 

TOM  MIX  IN  ACTION  AGAIN.  TOM  MIX  TO  PACK  THE  HOUSES  WITH  KIDS 
as  well  as  grown-ups. 

DONT   MAKE   ANY   MISTAKE   ABOUT   IT.    THIS    DOESN'T  JUST  MEAN   THAT 
westerns''  are  coming  bac!<  or  that  ''action  movies"  are  coming  back  —  it  means  that  MIX  is 
coming  bac!<.  That's  what  it  means  — and  that's  enough! 

GET  IN  IF  POSSIBLE.  DONT  HOLD  BACK  AND  THEN  TRY  TO  MAKE  UP  YOUR 
lost  opportunity  with  an  imitation. 

ITS  MIX  YOU  NEED  WITH  ALL  YOUR  HEART  AND  SOUL 

THE  BIGGEST  AND  LIHLEST  THEATRES  IN  THE  BUSiNESS  CAN'T  BE  WRONG  - 
and  they're  all  signing  on  the  dotted  line  gladly! 


Ride 


UNIVERSAL 


and  you  ride 
with  a  winner 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday.   July    I,    1931 


^Smart  Money' 
Is  Big  Noise 
On  Broadway 


"Smart  Money"  is  mid-summer 
Broadway's  big  noise.  Off  to  a  sen- 
sational start,  the  picture  did  $46,551 
in  its  first  Winter  Garden  week  and 
is  well  on  its  way  to  a  potential  $38,- 
000  to  $40,000  on  its  second.  That's 
lots  and  lots  of  money  for  torrid 
weather,  Broadway  and  depression. 

The  two  long-runners,  "A  Free 
Soul"  and  "The  Smiling  Lieutenant," 
appear  to  be  holding  to  the  level  reach- 
ed in  the  earlier  weeks  of  their  Astor 
and   Criterion   engagements. 

"The  Five  Year  Plan"  folded  at  the 
Central  last  week  with  $9,800,  or  $41,- 
685  on  a  four-week  run.  The  "pop" 
price  run  of  "Trader  Horn"  at  the 
Capitol  was  good,  the  theatre  gross- 
ing $58,125  as  against  $60,360  the 
week  prior  with  "Just  a  Gigolo."  The 
Hollywood  with  a  second  week  of 
"Chances"  finished  at  $12,521  which  is 
hardly  anything  to  get  ruffled  about. 
The  Mayfair  continues  to  find  the 
sledding  very  difficult,  although  this 
week  "Sweepstakes"  may  pull  the 
gross  up  a  bit. 

"Confessions  of  a  Co-Ed"  on  the 
screen  and  Rudy  Vallee  on  the  stage 
brought  the  Paramount  a  mere  $50,- 
600  last  week.  The  previous  week 
Gary  Cooper's  name  attached  to  "T 
Take  This  Woman''  resulted  in  a  $57,- 
800  gross.  A  drop  of  $7,200  is  real 
money   in  these  days. 

"X'ight  Angel"  did  $16,900  at  the 
Rivoli.  That's  pretty  bad.  Tomorrow 
night  "Newly  Rich"  goes  in  for  a  run. 

The  Fox  crowd  might  well  be  proud 
of  the  business  which  "Daddy  Long 
Legs"  rolled  up  at  the  Roxy.  The 
third  and  last  week  ended  at  the  $64,- 
000  figure,  making  the  total  for  the 
three,  $242,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  25 : 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

ASTOR— (1,120).  50c-$2,  4th  week,  7  days. 
Gross:    $17,400. 

"TRADER  HORN"    (M-G-M-) 

CAPITOL— (4,700),  35c-$1.50,  7  days.  Stage 
show,  headlining  Kate  Smith.  Gross:  $58,- 
125. 

"FIVE  YEAR  PLAN"   (Amkino) 

CENTRAL— (9101,  50c-$1.50,  4th  and'  last 
week,    7   days.     Gross:    $9,800. 

"SMILING  LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

CRITERION- (850),  50c$2,  5th  week,  7 
days.     Gross:    $11,000. 

EMBASSY   (All  Newsreel) 

EMBASSY— (598),  25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,516.50. 

"CHANCES"   (F.   N.) 

HOLLYWOOD- (1,549),  65c-85c,  7  days, 
2nd    week.     Gross:    $12,521. 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

MAYFAIR— (2,300),    40c-$l,    2nd    week,    7 
days.     Gross:    $11,000. 
"CONFESSIONS   OF   A  CO-ED"    (Para) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,700),  40c-$l,  7  days. 
Stage  show,  headhning  Ethel  Merman, 
Rudy  Vallee  and  his  Connecticut  Yankees. 
Groes:   $50,600. 

"DRACULA"    (Univ.)    and 
"HELL'S   ANGELS"    (U.   A.) 

RIALTO— (1.904),  49c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,500. 

"NIGHT  ANGEL"   (Para.) 

RIVOLI— (2,103),  40c-$l,  2nd  week,  7 
days.     Groes:    $16,900. 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

ROXY— (6,200),  50c-$1.50,  3rd  week,  7 
days.     Stage   show.     Gross:    $64,000. 

"MEN   CALL   IT   LOVE"   (M-G-M) 

STRAND— (3,000),  35c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$12,662. 

"MEET    THE    SISTER"    (German) 

W.A.RNERS  —  (1,490),  35c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $1,971. 

"SMART  MONEY"   (Warners) 

WINTER  GARDEN— (1,493),  7  days. 
Grcss:    $46,551. 


Theatre  Pool 
Bogey  Feared 
By  Producers 

QContinued  from  page  1) 

one  or  more  theatres,  dependent  on 
local  conditions.  This  would  mean  a 
reduction  in  outlets  and  a  consequent 
diminution  in  the  number  of  pictures 
required   for   operation. 

\\'hh.  the  contemplated  elimination 
of  outlets  go  hand  in  hand  plans  for 
an  exchange  of  product.  In  the  event 
RKO,  by  agreement  with  Paramount, 
determines  to  darken  its  theatre  in  a 
given  situation.  Radio  Pictures  will 
not  suffer  because  playing  time  would 
be  guaranteed  in  the  Publix-operated 
theatres  in  that  city. 

The  criss-cross  agreements  on  prod- 
uct are  designed  to  protect  the  dis- 
tribution department  identified  with 
all  of  the  circuits,  thereby,  according 
to  those  whose  alarm  is  growing, 
tightening  exhibition  outlets  for  out- 
side pictures. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Charge  MGM,  B.  &  K. 
Violated  Censor  Rule 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

the  "Adults  Only"  order  brought  a 
ruling  from  the  corporation  counsel's 
office  recently  that  censors  could  with- 
hold any  picture  until  all  deletions 
had  been  made,  instead  of  issuing 
"Adults  Only"  permits  and  depend- 
ing upon  distributors  and  exhibitors 
to    fulfill    the    playing    requirements. 

The  revelations  have  aroused 
civic  organizations  who  demand  that 
all  privileges  be  denied  to  companies 
and  that  censor  rulings  be  enforced 
without   partiality. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Cities  Furnish  Bulk 
Of  Trade,  Court  Told 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
motion  picture  industry  came  from  the 
houses  in  the  big  cities  and  not  those 
of  the  small  towns.  Judge  Nields  has 
been  under  the  impression  that  the  big 
business  came  from  the  proceeds  of 
the  small-town  motion  picture  houses. 
Huebner  discussed  the  length  of  the 
feature  pictures  stating  that  in  the 
large  cities  the  full  length  of  the  fea- 
ture films  are  shown,  but  they  are  cut 
when  the  films  are  shown  in  the  small- 
er towns.  The  original  film  of  "Hell's 
Angels"  was  13  reels,  or  about  13,000 
feet,  but  when  it  was  projected  in  the 
smaller  towns  the  film  was  cut  to 
about  8,000  feet,  he  asserted. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

To  Wire  Six  Liners 

A.  E.  Reoch,  executive  vice-presi- 
dent of  RCA  Photophone,  has  just 
signed  contracts  for  the  installation 
of  sound  on  six  transatlantic  lines — 
the  Majestic,  Homeric  and  Olympic 
of  the  White  Star  line  and  the  Mari- 
posa, Lurline  and  Monterey  of  the 
Matson  line. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Football  Yarn  Ready 

Hollywood — Universal  will  put 
"The  Spirit  of  Notre  Dame"  in  work 
on  July  20.  Lew  Ay  res  will  star  in 
the  production  and  roles  have  been 
given  to  three  of  the  "Four  Horse- 
men"— Stuhldreher,  Crowley,  Miller — 
and  to  Frank  Carideo  and  other  Notre 
Dame  football  heroes.  Knute  Rockne 
was  to  have  played  an  important  part. 


Tooting  His  Horn 

At  a  convention  dinner  in 
Hollywood,  Warner  Brothers 
used  a  novel  idea.  Instead  of 
using  place  cards  for  the  guests, 
copies  of  famous  novels  were 
placed  on  their  plates,  writes 
Walter   Winchell. 

When  Darryl  Zanuck  ankled 
in,  he  looked  all  over  for  his 
name,  and  finally  sat  down  in 
front  of  the  book — "The  Genius." 


Virginia  Veterans 
War  on  Gang  Films 

( Continued  from   page    1 ) 

of  Foreign  Wars,  in  session  in  Win- 
chester last  week,  adopted  resolutions 
urging  more  stringent  censorship  of 
all  motion  pictures  shown  in  the  state. 
It  was  charged  that  there  is  a  "grow- 
ing tendency  on  the  part  of  the  press 
and  motion  pictures  in  portraying 
features  of  crime  in  the  news  and  on 
the  screen." 

Protests  also  continue  to  be  made 
against  "too  much  canned  music"  in 
the  theatres.  Only  a  few  Virginia 
theatres  now  employ  organists.  Or- 
chestras rarely  ever  appear  in  Vir- 
ginia playhouses  and  only  when  stage 
plays  are  being  presented,  it  is  con- 
tended. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

46  States  to  Attend 
Talker  Test  in  D,  C. 

All  but  two  of  the  states  have  ac- 
cepted invitations  to  send  a  boy  and 
girl  delegate  and  school  ofiicial  each 
to  meet  in  Washington  July  6  to  take 
part  in  the  demonstration  of  the  value 
of  talking  pictures  in  schools.  The 
invitation  was  recently  extended  by 
President  Hoover  and  pictures  will  be 
furnished  by  Fox  in  co-operation  with 
a  number  of  leading  educators.  Dean 
William  C.  Ruediger  of  George  Wash- 
ington University  is  chairman  of  the 
committee. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

M-G-M  Signs  Bernstein 

Henri  Bernstein,  French  play- 
wright, has  been  placed  under  con- 
tract by  M-G-M.  He  is  in  New 
York,  working  on  an  original  story, 
but  sails  for  France  tonight  and  will 
complete    his    script   there. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

File  RCA  Patent  Suit 

Wilmington  —  Alleging  the  com- 
pany is  assuming  leadership  in  a  pat- 
ents pool  to  control  manufacture  of 
radio  sets,  a  bill  of  complaint  has  been 
filed  here  by  Poughkeepsie  Gold  Seal 
Electric  Co.  against  RCA  in  the  Fed- 
eral  District   Court. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Marcus  to  Coast 

Lee  Marcus,  president  of  RKO- 
Pathe,  leaves  today  on  a  five-weeks' 
trip  to  the  Coast,  making  stop-offs  at 
company  exchanges. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Sign  Up  Robinson 

Hollywood — Edward  G.  Robinson, 
who  leaped  to  the  front  as  "Little 
Caesar,"  has  been  given  a  new  long- 
term    contract   by   Warners. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Evolution  Film  Opens 

"The  Mystery  of  Life,"  an  evolu- 
tion picture  with  Clarence  S.  Darrow 
supplying  the  dialogue,  will  have  its 
premiere  at  the  Cameo  Friday. 


Urge  4-Night 
Closing  Plan 
In  St.  Louis 


(Continued   from  page    1) 

the  St.  Louis  amusement  houses  will 
adopt  the  curtailed  week,  it  is  al- 
most certain  that  some  house  will  be 
closed   for   the   summer   months. 

It  is  understood  that  projectionists 
have  tentatively  consented  to  the  new 
arrangements,  if  it  goes  through,  and 
they  would  be  paid  on  a  pro  rata 
basis  for  the  time  worked.  The  stage 
hands'  organization  has  not  indicated 
whether  it  will  co-operate  with  the 
theatre  owners.  Recently  the  pro- 
jectionists accepted  reductions  of 
from  5  to  7^  per  cent  in  their  basic 
wages. 

Already  a  number  of  the  smaller 
neighborhood  houses  of  St.  Louis  have 
closed  entirely  for  the  summer  sea- 
son and  many  others  will  follow  suit 
unless  they  are  able  to  adopt  the 
three-day  week  plan  of  operation. 

Conditions  through  the  St.  Louis 
film  territory,  including  eastern 
Missouri  and  southern  Illinois,  are 
very  bad.  It  is  estimated  that  about 
300  theatres  in  this  territory  have 
been  closed  while  many  of  the  re- 
maining 500  houses  are  operating  but 
part    time. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Warners  Sell  Part  of 
Brunswick  Holdings 

Warners  are  planning  to  dispose  of 
a  part  of  their  interests  m  their  Bruns- 
wick subsidiary,  it  was  learned  yes- 
terday. However,  enough  stock  will 
be  held  to  retain  control. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

More  ''Viking"  Sales 

Recent  territorial  sales  on  "The 
Viking,"  Varick  Frissell's  all-talker  of 
sealing  life,  are  reported  by  J.  D. 
Williams  and  Associates,  as  follows: 

Alexander  Film  Service,  Inc.,  of  Pitts- 
burgh, western  Penn'sylvania  and  West  Vir- 
ginia; Graphic  Excliange,  Inc.,  Detroit, 
State  of  Michigan;  B.  N.  Judell,  Inc., 
of  Chicago,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Eastern 
Missouri;  Mark  Ross  of  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota,  North  and  South  Dakota;  Mid- 
west Film  Distributors  of  Kansas  City, 
Mo.,  western  Missouri,  Kansas,  Nebraska 
and  Iowa;  Columbia  Pictures  of  Canada, 
Ltd..    of    Toronto. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Haik  Expanding 

Washington  —  Establissements 
Jacques  Haik,  S.A.,  is  preparing  to 
increase  its  capital  stock  to  $1,000,- 
000,  according  to  George  Canty's  re- 
ports to  the  Motion  Picture  Divi- 
sion of  the  Department  of  Commerce. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Rush  Radio  Lab 

Hollywood — Construction  of  the 
large  Radio  Pictures  film  laboratory 
is  to  start  immediately  because  of  the 
present  low  cost  of  building  material. 
President  Joseph  I.  Schnitzer  has 
okayed  the  revised  plans. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Schoedsack  to  India 

Ernest  B.  Schoedsack,  explorer- 
producer  of  "Rango,"  "Chang,"  "The 
Four  Feathers"  and  "Grass,"  is  to  sail 
from  San  Francisco  on  July  9  for  In- 
dia, where  he  will  film  scenes  for 
"The  Lives  of  a  Bengal  Lancer"  for 
Paramount. 


1 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert  t 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  28 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JULY  2,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Buy  Now,  cashi^ui  jq  'Educatc'  ExMbs 
tZttJi    To  Put  Endto  BicycHng 


Exhibitor    Unit   in   Line 
With  "Buy  Now"  Move 

Atlanta — If  exhibitors  buy  now, 
they  will  be  in  a  position  to  play 
pictures  earlier  and  thereby  take  ad- 
vantage of  national  advertising,  it  is 
the  opinion  of  Love  B.  Harrell,  ex- 
ecutive secretary  of  the  Southeastern 
Theatre   Owners'   Ass'n. 

Harrell  stands  foursquare  behind 
the  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 
movement.    This  is  why: 

"1 — Production  costs  have  to  have 
some  relativity  to  expected  revenue 
from  contracts.  By  buying  now  the 
theatre  should  get  a  better  quality  of 

{Continued  on  fagc   10) 


Echo  of  Pool 
Seen  in  RKO- 
Fox  Wis.  Deal 


Para.  Line-Up  Goes 
ToLoew,RKOinN.Y. 

.\nother  evidence  that  the  "Buy 
Right — But  Buy  Now"  campaign  is 
catching  hold  is  seen  in  a  booking 
deal,  final  details  of  which  are  now 
under  way  where  the  RKO  circuit  in 
Greater  New  York  will  play  fifty 
per   cent   of   the   Paramount  program 

(Continued  on  page   10) 


400  Warner  Houses 
To  Play  Paramount 

The  Warner  circuit  yesterday  closed 
its  booking  deal  with  Paramount.  It 
provides  for  the  approximate  400  the- 
atres in  the  Warner  chain  to  play  the 
entire  Paramount  line-up  for  1931- 
1932  on  percentage  deals. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Chatterton  Back  to 
W.  B,  Lot,  Report 

Hollywood — It  seems  that  after  all 
Warners-First  National  are  going  to 
keep  Ruth  Chatterton  instead  of  turn- 
ing her  over  to  Paramount,  as  re- 
ported some  time  ago.  The  star  is 
now  looking  over  a  number  of  stories 
which  she  will  make  for  Warners- 
First  National,  the  HoUyzvood  Herald 

(Continued   on   f'aiic    10) 


^Milwaukee — Repercussions  of  the 
35-city  pool  now  under  dicussion  by 
major  circuits  in  New  York  are  seen 
in  the  understanding,  general  along 
Film  Row  here,  that  Fox  Midwesco 
will  take  over  RKO's  Palace  Or- 
pheum.  Fox  has  also  taken  over 
over  RKO's  Mainstreet  in  Racine, 
giving  the  circuit  control  of  that  city 
and  it  will  formally  take  possession 
July  4. 

Several    months    back    it    was    an- 

iConiinucd   on    page   2) 
••BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Smoke  a  Fresh  Fag 
And  Solve  Mystery 

Production  of  a  sponsored  mystery 
serial  by  an  independent  producing 
company  tied  in  with  a  cigarette  and 
fan  magazine  publishing  house  is  re- 
ported now  being  discussed. 

According  to  the  report,  a  cigar- 
ette is  to  be  used  as  a  clew  through- 
out the  chapter  of  the  mystery  instal- 
ment. Just  how  the  magazine  would 
work  into  the  alignment  has  not  yet 
been  determined,  but  both  Towers  and 

(Continued   on    page    11) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

7  Companies  Close 
Early  Due  to  Heat 

Universal,  Warners,  Tiffany,  United 
Artists,  Educational,  Paramount  and 
M-G-M  called  it  a  day  early  yester- 
day afternoon  because  of  the  heat  and 
dismissed  employees  several  hours 
ahead  of  the  usual  closing  time.  Col- 
umbia, Fox  and  the  Hays  office  ad- 
hered to  their  regular  schetlule. 


Coverage 


Two  hundred  and  seventy 
features  have  been  reviewed  by 
Motion  Picture  Daily  from 
December  22,  1930,  to  June  30 
of  this  year.  The  pictures  cov- 
ered, the  distributors  handling 
them  and  the  date  of  review 
are  listed  on  page  9  of  this 
issue. 

Reviewed  today  are  "Mur- 
der by  the  Clock,"  "Son  of  the 
Plains,"  "Side  Show,"  "The 
Prodigal,"  "Politics,"  "The  Se- 
cret Call"  and  "The  Ridin' 
Kid."    Turn  to   page  9. 


Copyright  Bureau  Men  in 

National  Move  to 

Kill  Practice 


No  Paper  Saturday 

Motion  Picture  Daily  will 
not  publish  on  Independence 
Day,  July  4. 


'Adults  Only' 
Used  in  Chi  as 
Pull  Falters 


Chicago — The  "adults  only"  tag 
ordered  by  Chicago  censors  for 
"Laughing  Sinners"  was  dusted  off 
and  put  back  into  use  Sunday,  after 
having  been  ignored  by  Publix-Bala- 
ban  &  Katz  for  two  days.  Ignoring 
the  order  drew  the  criticism  of  Dr. 
Fred  Eastman,  professional  critic  of 
the  industry,  and  embarrassed  city 
hall     and     picture    officials     in    their 

(Continued  on  page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Nagel  Heads  Motion 
Picture  Relief  Fund 

Hollywood — Conrad  Nagel  was 
elected  president  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Relief  Fund  at  a  meeting  here. 
Ronald  Colman,  Mary  Pickford,  Will 
Hays,  Harley  L.  Clarke  were  chosen 
vice-presidents ;  Mike  Levee,  treas- 
urer ;  Sol  Wurtzel,  Cecil  B.  De  Mille, 
Warner    Baxter,    William    Randolph 

(Continued   on    page    11) 


Described  as  a  "campaign  of  educa- 
tion," the  Copyright  Protection  Bu- 
reau plans  to  send  representatives  in- 
to all  exchange  centers  in  an  effort  to 
reduce  bicycling  violations,  holdovers 
and  fraudulent  returns  on  percentage 
engagements. 

The  move  will  become  national  as 
rapidly  as  the  bureau,  now  reported 
limited  by  financial  budgets,  can  ex- 
tend it.  For  the  present,  it  has  been 
determined  to  concentrate  in  the 
Southeast  and  the  Southwest.  Con- 
tracts are  understood  to  have  been 
made  with  exhibitor  organizations  in 
(Continued  on  page  10) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Atlanta  Exchanges 
Worried  Over  Suit 

Atlanta  —  Distributors  privately 
express  concern  over  the  suit  for 
$114,000  filed  in  the  United  States 
District  Court  by  Mrs.  S.  M.  Turner, 
who  charges  violation  of  the  Sherman 
anti-trust  law.  The  case  is  returnable 
when  the  October  term  gets  under 
way. 

Mrs.  Turner  is  suing  the  Atlanta 
Film  Board  of  Trade,  Liberty  Spe- 
cialty Film  Co.,  Pathe,  First  National 

(Continued  on  page   10/ 
'•BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Helen  Will  ''Love''  on 
Lawns,  Not  in  Movies 

San  Francisco — Helen  Wills  pre- 
fers to  make  her   "love"   sets   on  the 
tennis   lawns   and   not   in    studio   sets, 
she  said  in  so  many  words  in  answer 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Hot  Cfiicagoans Seek  Cooled 
Theatres  and  Boost  Business 


Chicago — The  prolonged  heat  wave 
here  has  veered  from  a  business  de- 
pressant to  a  boon,  theatre  managers 
in  all  sections  of  the  city  report. 

When  thermometers  leaped  above 
90  degrees  a  week  ago  with  a  humid 
atmosphere     increasing     the     discom- 


forts of  the  heat,  theatres  were  de- 
serted. Beaches,  parks,  golf  links  and 
automobiles  were  caring  for  diversion 
seekers.  Continuation  of  the  hot  spell, 
however,  has  made  these  forms  of 
entertainment  unsatisfactory,  accord- 
(Continued   on    page    11) 


Free  Cooling 

The  entrances  of  the  big 
Broadway  houses  are  traffic 
snarls  all  unto  themselves 
these  days.  The  cooling  sys- 
tems, sending  icy  drafts  into 
the  streets,  are  persuading 
passers-by  to  linger  longer. 

One  of  the  legends  of  the 
street  is  that  the  tempera- 
ture maintained  in  the  lob- 
bies is  considerably  below 
the  average  in  the  theatre,  as 
an  added  inducement  to  bring 
the  cash  customers  in. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,    July    2,     1931 


MOTION  PICIXTRE 

DAILY 

Kegisiered    U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formeriy    Exhibitors    Daily    Revtew 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


July    .'.    1931 


No.   28 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Adv^ising  Manager 


^VfV  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
^  J|  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copynghted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W,  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  fVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March  3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


*  Adults  Only*  Used  in 
Chi  as  Pull  Falters 

(.Continued  from  page   1) 
attempts    to    explain    just    how    the 
incident  occurred. 

Leo  Spitz,  attorney  for  Pubhx- 
Balaban  &  Katz,  named  Henry  Son- 
nenschein,  Mayor  Anton  Cermak's 
secretarj-,  is  authority  for  disregard- 
ing the  censorial  order  and  playing 
the  picture  to  general  audiences.  The 
commissioner  of  police  is  the  only 
individual  authorized  to  override  the 
censors.  Sonnenschein  denied  "giving 
the  word"  for  "Laughing  Sinners' 
and  for  "Never  the  Twain  Shall 
Meet,"  another  Metro  picture  pink- 
ticketed  by  Chicago  censors  but  also 
played  to  unrestricted  audiences  by 
Publix-B.  &  K. 

Principal  reason  for  the  critic's 
wrath  is  said  to  have  been  a  leading 
advertisement  used  by  the  circuit 
appealing  to  parents  to  bring  or  send 
their  vacationing  school  kids  to  the 
theatres  showing  the  originally 
"pinked"  "Laughing  Sinners."  The 
picture  was  playing  simultaneously  at 
the  Uptown,  Paradise  and  Tivoli 
Theatres,  the  leading  outlying  B.  &  K. 
houses,  although  an  undercurrent  of 
criticism  of  Metro's  ability  to  evade 
censorial  dictates  has  been  in  exist- 
ence among  women's  clubs  and  civic 
organizations  which  lend  their  sup- 
port to  the  censor  board  for  sonie 
time. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Echo  of  Pool  Seen  in 
RKO'Fox  Wis,  Deal 

(Continued   from  page    1) 

nounced  that  Fox  would  relinquish  its 
Strand  in  Madison  to  RKO  uix)n  ex- 
piration of  its  lease.  This  deal  gives 
RKO  free  rein  in  Madison.  It  is 
commonly  known  that  the  Palace  in 
Milwaukee  has  been  somewhat  of  a 
white  elephant  for  RKO  during  the 
past  year  or  so.  The  deal,  when  and 
if  it  is  consummated,  will  leave  RKO 
with  the  Riverside,  vaudeville  house, 
in  this  city  and  give  Fox  three  local 
first   runs. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

William  J.  Craft  Dead 

Los  .AxGELE.s  —  William  J.  Craft, 
director,  died  here  yesterday  follow- 
ing a   short  illness. 


WHEN  a  Motion  Picture  D.mly  representative  (lueried  Louis 
Frisch  the  other  day  regarding"  that  new  Brooklyn  deal  with  Fox 
for  acquisition  of  the  circuit's  remaining  small  theatres  in  that  borough, 
the  reporter,  it  appeared,  knew  a  little  too  much  for  Frisch  to  den}-. 
The  meeting  between  the  two  went  something  like  this: 

• 

"Well,  Louis,  I  hear  you're  taking  over  the  balance  of  the  F^ox 
theatres  in  Brooklyn." 

"I  wish  I  could.    W'here  am  I  going  to  get  the  money?" 

"T  hear  )'ou  already  have  it,"  came  back  the  scribe. 

"W^ell,   I   don't   care  to   make   any  statements,"   w'as    Frisch's   retort. 

• 

What  the  reporter  didn't  tell  him  was  that  a  third  partner  was  buying 
into  the  Frisch-Rinzler  circuit,  putting  in  a  cool  million.  The  deal  was 
supposed  to  be  signed  Monday  night,  the  evening  prior  to  F-risch's 
little  chat  with  the  Motion  Picture  Daily  reporter.  But  there  were 
so  many  things  to  iron  out  that  it  couldn't  be  closed  in  the  time  ex- 
pected. One  thing  that  was  settled,  however,  was  a  five-year  franchise 
for  Fox  product,  which  is  included  in  the  deal. 

Provided  the  deal  with  Fox  goes  through,  the  Frisch-Rinzler  string 
will  be  the  largest  independent  circuit  in  Greater  New  York.  No  the- 
atres outside  of  Brooklyn  will  be  acquired,  Frisch  states. 

• 

That  mystery  yarn  current  in  the  daily  papers  has  been  written  as  a 
novel  in  five  days  by  a  publicity  man  of  a  major  company.  In  fact,  it 
will  be  out  for  sale  on  July  13. 

• 

'Tis  heard  about  town  that  Fox  has  sent  letters  to  owners  whose 
theatres  the  company  leased  two  years  ago  for  reduction  in  rents.  Out- 
come—  ? 

• 

That  Pat  Powers  deal  with  Meyer-Reiger  Trailer  Co.  is  reported 
signed  with  Powers  putting  in  $100,000  for  six  months,  after  which  he 
can  withdraw  his  money  if  he  wants  it.    Pat  still  denies. 

• 

Sam  Cocalis  had  his  own  ideas  in  advertising  when  he  took  over  the 
Heights  in  Brooklyn.  During  week  days,  he  admitted  patrons  free  for 
all  shows  and  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  charged  admission.  He  took 
plenty  of  business  away  from  his  opposition  that  first  week  and  chalked 
up  all  his  expense  to  advertising. 

Louis  Gordel  was  playing  "Skippy"  at  one  of  his  Brooklyn  theatres 
the  other  day  and  happened  to  see  a  mob  of  kids  leaving  the  house  after 
the  matinee  showing.  He  was  so  surprised  that  the  kids,  despite  the 
heat,  packed  the  theatre.    He  called  a  group  of  them  over  and  said : 

"You  dumb  kids.  Haven't  you  any  more  sense  ?  Why  not  go  swim- 
ming today  instead  of  stifling  in  a  theatre  ?" 

Which  may  either  prove  the  drawing  power  of  the  picture  or  Gordel's 
general  solicitude  for  children. 


Stocks  Advance;  E,  K.  Jumps  2V2 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated  Film  Industries 7M          7}4  7"4 

Eastman     Kodak     151  14554  150^ 

Fox   Film    "A" 20M  19"/^  20{4 

General   Theatre   Equipment  new 4Ji          A'/z  4|4 

Loew's.   Inc 4654  44}4  465^ 

Paramount    Publi.x 27  2554  265^ 

Pathe    Exchange 1^          154  15^, 

I'athe  Exchange  "A" 554          554  5j4 

RKO    1654  15  15M 

Warner    Bros,    pfd 854          8  854 


Net 
Change 

+  5i 
+2'A 

+  H 


+  Vs 

+  Vz 


+  Va 


Curb  Issues  Slightly  Irregular 


High  Low  Close 

C'oluml)ia    Pictures 14  13J4  14 

Fox  Theatres  "A" 35^  3'/i  3J4 

(leneral  Theatre   Ec|uipment   pfd 95^  854  9 

Sentry    Safety    Control 154  154  154 

Technicolor     6.>^  65i  6!4 

Trans    Lux 6  6  6 


Net 
Change 

+  V/2. 


Bonds  Irregular;  G.  T.  E,  Up  2 


Net 
Change 

4-3 


High  Low  Close 

General    Theatre   Equipment   6s   '40 39  385^,  39 

fxiew's  6s  '41  ex  war 975^  97  97 

Paramount    Broadway    55^s    '51 102  101  102 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 89  8854  8854 

Paramount   Publix  55^s,    '50 81  81  81  

Pathe  7s   '37  WW 90  8854  8854        — M 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 405^  i9'/2  4054        +  Yz 


-  'A 


Sales 

600 
2,800 
5,100 
3,900 
7,300 
7,000 
1,100 

800 
10,800 
3,900 


Sales 

300 
600 
1,300 
200 
300 
100 


Sales 

7 
6 
4 
6 
4 
5 
25 


Charlie  Einfeld  for  that  coast- 
to-coast    radio    tie-up    which 
costs    Warner-F.    N.    nothing 
but   brings   it  much. 


Educational  Slates 
3  Regional  Meets 

Three  regional  meetings  will  be 
held  by  Educational,  with  the  first 
one  scheduled  for  July  13  and  14  at 
the  Astor  Hotel,  New  York.  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  eastern,  southern  andi 
Canadian  branches  will  attend  the 
New  York  confab.  The  second  meet- 
ing will  be  held  at  the  Congress 
Hotel,  Chicago,  July  16  and  17,  with 
middle  western  representatives  attend- 
ing. The  final  meeting  will  be  held 
at  the  Brown  Palace  Hotel,  Denver, 
July  20  and  21,  with  the  western 
branch  managers  in  attendance. 

Home  office  executives  will  attend 
the  three  meetings  at  which  matters 
wiil  be  discussed  in  connection  with 
the  selling  of  Educational,  Tiffany 
and   Sono   Art-World    Wide  product. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Headline  Finishing 

Hollywood — With  the  addition  of 
Fletcher  Norton,  Lucille  Powers, 
Walter  Hiers  and  Edward  Phillips 
to  the  cast,  and  the  definite  selection 
of  "A  Private  Scandal"  as  the  title, 
Charles  Hutchison  is  shooting  the 
final  sequences  of  his  second  produc- 
tion for  Headline  Pictures  Corp., 
which  features  Marian  Nixon  and 
Lloyd    Hughes. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Orders  25  RCA's 

Twenty-five  complete  reproducers 
will  be  installed  in  the  Madan  cir- 
cuit of  Calcutta,  India,  by  RCA  Pho- 
tophone.  Van  Ness  Philip,  manager 
of  the  foreign  department  states. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

German  Film  Set 

"Die  Lustigen  Weiber  von  Wei," 
or  "Merry  Wives  of  Vienna,"  is  title 
of  a  new  German  film  going  into  the 
Little  Carnegie  as  soon  as  "The  Vit 
ing"  finishes  its  run. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Employees*  Dividend 

Rochester — Eastman  Kodak  has 
paid  its  20th  consecutive  annual  wage 
dividend  to  employees  throughout  the 
United  States  and  foreign  countries. 
The  company  yesterday  distributed 
$1,008,844,  representing  the  balance 
of  the  yearly  dividend. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Due  on  Coast  | 

Hollywood — Tala   Birell,   German-  ■ 
Polish   actress   who   will   be  groomed 
by  Universal  for   Garbo  roles,   is  ex- 
pected here  today.     She  has  signed  a 
five-year   contract. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

'Quake  Chases  Audience 

New  Milford,  Conn. — An  earth- 
quake here  caused  a  hundred  patrons 
to  rush  from  a  local  theatre.  No  one 
was    injured. 


OUR   PACE 
IS  YOUR 


More  than  your 


calls  for 


ere^s  the 


at  the  studio 

Half  of  Hollywood^s  pro- 
duction activities  consist 
of  trying  to  discover  what 
WARNER  BROS,  and  FIRST 
NATIONAL  will  do  next  to 
stand  the  industry  on  its  ear! 

at  the  theatres 

Exhibitors  who  have  been 
plugging  along  at  a  so-so 
pace  for  years  are  climbing 
over  each  other  to  buy 
Warners  and  First  National 

...RIGHT  NOW! 


//? 


HITS 

QUANTITY 

WARNERS  SET  A  HOT  PACE  WITH 


GEORGE 


A  R  L  I  S  S 


In    THE 


MILLIONAIRE 

Has  done  more  for  thea< 
tre  grosses  than  any  piC' 
ture  this  year! 


PUBLIC 
ENEMY 

with 

JAMES  CAGNEY 
JEAN   HARLOW 

Topping  "Little  Caesar" 
records  they  said  would 
never  be  equalled! 


BEBE 

DANI  ELS 


in 


THE 


MALTESE 
FALCON 

with 

RICARDO  CORTEZ 

Doing  winter  business  in 
the  height  of  the  summer. 


JOHN 

BARRYMORE 

In 

SVENGALI 

with 

MARIAN  MARSH 

Double  star  attraction 
that  is  getting  double 
grosses! 


and  while  the  seven  best  ^^leadership 

claimers^^  were  gasping 

for  breathy  we   eawne 

through  with  the  biggest 

fortune 

b  u  i  I  d  e  r 

of  thetn  ail. 


SMART 


ir 


W/ffl 

EDWARD  G. 

ROBINSON 


\  3tor0*  than  yiturf 

^|e  o  n  i  ra  «•  i^ 

^  .  eails  for   ^ 


JAMES  CAGNEY 
EVALYN     KNAPP 

More  than  capacity  busi- 
iiess  at  Winter  Garden, 
N.Y.  is  example  of  record 
grosses  every  spot  it  plays! 


STOP  BITIN 
YOUR  NAILS 

i 

Sure  well  keep  it  up 

ALL  SUMMER! 


Look 

what^s 

eominff 


CONSTANCE 

BENNETT 

in  the  hit  of  her  career 

BOUGHT/ 

with  Ben  Lyon  and 
Richard  Bennett 


BARBARA 

STANWYCK 


in 


NIGHT  NURSE 

with   Ben   Lyon,   Joan 
Blondell  and  Clarke  Gable 


FIRST  NATI0NALBi90n««f 


^ 


A 


DOROTHY 

MACKAILL 

in    THE 

RECKLESS  HOUR 

with  Conrad  Nagel,  Joan 

Blondell.  H.  B.  Warner, 

Walter  Byron 


Jlfore  than  your 

'    contract   ^ 

calls  for 


JOE  E.  BROWN 

BROADMINDED 

with     Ona     Munson, 
Marjorie  White,  William 

Collier,  Jr. 

Enough  to  make  a  hippo 

laugh  i 


BIG  BUSIN£:»;;> 
GIRL 

with  LORETTA  YOUNG 

Ricardo  Cortez,  Joan 
Blondell,  Frank  Albertson 

Big  Business 
Everywhere  1 


DOUGLAS 

FAIRBANKS 

JR.    in   his   first    starring 

role     CHANCES 

with    Rose    Hobart   and 
Anthony  Bushel! 

Tremendous! 


and  that  ain^t  ail! 


Now  WeWe 


Out-WARNERED 


Get 


^^A  box-office 
triutnptt,^^ 


— Hollywood  Re|>orter 


■  ' 

^m 

3»< 

m 

"Marks  another  step 

'      I. 

^,  M 

onward.   Takes   its 

HH|H| 

place    beside    "Dis- 

BBJWI 

raeli."  Arliss  gives  a 

xwwiMttS^^^iiMI 

^n 

superb    perform- 

^^^spp 

m 

ance.    Should   be   a 

§ 

wow."  —  Hollywood 

'iA. 

Reporter. 

KB 

GEORGE    ARLISS 

Tops  his  triumph  in  "The  Millionaire"  as 

ALEXANDER 
HAMILTON 

The  "Birth  Of  A  Nation"  of  the  talkies  with 

DORIS  KENYON,  JUNE  COLLIER 

DUDLEY  DIGGES,  ROLF  HAROLDE 

ALAN  MOWBRAY 

MONTAGU  LOVE 


More  than  your 
'   t^ontratft/ 
calls  for  . ' 


tviih  these 

1931 
1932 

STAR  HITS 


And. 


Thm 


"Barrymore's  artistry  is 
perfect.  Mariati  Marsh 
is  beautiful  as  well  as 
convincing.  Magnifi* 
cently  produced." 
—Photoplay  Magazine 


JOHN 

BARRYMORE 


in  THE 


MAD   GENIUS 


with  Marian  Marsh,  Chas. 
Butteqworth,  Donald  Cook 


And. 


This! 


WILLIAM 

POWELL 

outdoes  every  characteri- 
zation he  has  ever  given 
the  screen,  in 

OTHER  MAN 

with  Doris  Kenyon,  Marian  Marsh 
Louis  Calhern,  Allison  Skipworth 

Another  smashing  star  hit  for  193 1 '32 


c^. 


'*«oW  Po  THe^  PO  it? 
\p    I  ONLY  KNEW  THE 
WARNEK  WAY  I" 

prcvicwj-^^noopex^i  are 
going  NUTS  ot^er  the 
Warner  flood  of 
fortune   builders  I 


Samples— just 

samples  of  the 

FIRST 
NATIONAL 

1931-32  sensations 


And  Get 


iTHISaa 


"Guaranteed  to  make  you 
think.  Highly  entertain* 
ing,"  raves  Photoplay  Mag- 
azine about 


The 


RULING 
VOICE 

with 

WALTER  HUSTON 
LORETTA  YOUNG 

Doris   Kenyon,    David 
Manners,  Dudley  Digges 


Get 


Ever  if  \¥ord 

You   may   never   read 
such  praise  again:  — 


"Picture  one  of  greatest  since  in- 
ception of  talkies." 

—  Hollytvood  Reporter 

"Brilliant!  Proves  the  inherent 
power  of  the  talking  picture." 

—Hollywood  Herald 

"Powerful!  A  cinematic  jolt!" 

— L.  A.  Express 

"Most  entertaining  film  we  have 
seen  in  some  time." 

— Dan  Thomas,  N.  E.  A.  Service 

That's  the  kind  of  praise 
they're  singing  about 

F  I  VE 
STAR 
FINAL 

'  with  EDWARD  G. 

ROBINSON 

MARIAN  MARSH,  FRANCES  STARR 
GEORGE  E.  STONE,  ONA  MUNSON 
ANTHONY  BUSHELL,  H.  B.WARNER 


And 

iTHISh 

"On6  of  the  six  best  pic* 
tures  of  the  month.  Beau- 
tifully and  humanly  told. 
Cast  is  perfect." 

{Photoplay  Magazine) 


:sm 


The 

Bargain 


with 


LEWIS     STONE 
DORIS    KENYON 

Chas.  Butterworth, 

Evalyn  Knapp  and 

Una  Merkel 


IN  THE  PALM  OF  YOUR  HAND 


,.,.Hose,        STAR 


W 


J  HITS  from 

NER   B'^O* 
^  STAR 
|i»^    HlTSfrofTTJ 

FIRST  NATIONAL 


I 


the  moment  you  sign  that 

WARNER 

FIRST 
NATIONAL 


BROS,  and 


• 


Guaranteed 
VALUES 


SQUARE-DEAL 
CONTRACT 
for  1931-32 

VITAGRAPH,    INC.,   Distributors 


T 


Thursday,    July     2,     193! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


ii 


Coverage''  Is 
M.P.  Daily  Aim 
In  Reviewing 


Kcviczviivg  scouts  jor  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily,  East  arid  West,  have  cov- 
ered 270  features  jrom  December  22, 
1930  to  Jum  30,   1931. 

Many  of  these  pictures,  listed  here 
by  nam€,  distributor  and  review 
date,  were  caught  weeks,  and  in  some 
cases,  months  prior  to  their  general 
release.  "The  Prodigal"  is  one  in- 
stance of  many.  This  Tibbett  picture 
zvas  reviewed  from  Hollywood  on 
January  15,  but  only  now  is  current 
at  thit  Capitol  on  Broadway. 

Typical  of  review  coverage  is  the 
following  tabulation  covering  the 
period   outlined  above : 

Feature  Distributor      Reviewed 

Air   Police,   The Sono    Art- 

W.   W Mar.  17 

Alexander   Hamilton.  .Warners     June    8 

Almost  a  Honeymoon. Brit.     Inter'l..  .Jan.  Id 

Aloha   Tiffany    .  .Dec.  27.  1930 

Always  Goodbye   Fox   Apr.  27 

American   Tragedy    ..Paramount    ...May  29 

Annabelle's    Affairs..  .Fox June  27 

Avenger,   The   Columbia     Mar.  18 

Bachelor  Apartment.. Radio    Feb.  21 

Bachelor  Father   M-G-M  Feb.    4 

Bad   Sister    Universal    ....Mar.  12 

Beau  Ideal   Radio    Jan.  20 

Behind  Office  Doors..  Radio    Jan.  23 

(Reviewed    as    "Pri- 
vate Secretary") 

Beyond  Victory   Pathe  Apr.    9 

Big   Business   Girl....F.    N Mar.     5 

Black  Camel   Fox   ^'^y  " 

Black   Sea  Mutiny Amkino     June  20 

Body  and  Soul   Fox    Mar.     7 

Born    to    Love RKO   Pathe... Mar.  27 

Bright  Lights   Warners   Feb.  14 

Broadmin'ded   Warners     Apr.     2 

Brothers     Columbia     Jan.     7 

By    Rocket    to    the 

Moon     Ufa    Feb.     7 

Captain   Thunder    Warners   May  14 

Caught    Cheating    ....Tiffany     Mar.     4 

Chances    F.   N May     2 

Charley's   Aunt    Col Dec.    27,    1930 

Charlie  Chan  Carries 

On   Fox     Mar.  20 

Children   of   Chance. .. Brit.     Inter'l... Jan.  27 
Chiselers  of  Holly-        Willis 

wood     Kent. ..Dec.  31,   1930 

Cimarron     Radio    Jan.  27 

City  Lights    U.    A Feb.     7 

City  Streets   Paramount    ...Apr.     2 

Clearing  the  Range. .  .State    Rights.. Apr.  27 
Command 

Performance    Tiffany      Jan.  15 

Common  Law  RKO   Pathe.. .  .Jan.  20 

Compromised   Brit.     Inter'l. .  .Jan.  21 

Comrades   of   1918. ...  Nero    Feb.  26 

Confessions  of  Co-Ed. Paramoun't    ...June  26 

Connecticut    Yankee..  Fox     Mar.  18 

Conquering    Horde    ..Paramount    ...Feb.   19 
Cracked      Nuts      (Re- 
viewed   as    "Assorted 

Nuts")    Radio    Feb.  13 

Criminal   Code    Col Dec.   26,    1930 

Daddy   Long  Legs Fox   June    5 

Damaged   Love    Sono    Art- 

W.   W Jan.  20 

Dance.  Fools,  Dance. .M-G-M..  .Dec.    27,1930 

Dawn   Trail    Col Dec.    24,    1930 

Daybreak    M-G-M     Apr.  10 

Defenders   of    Law Continental   ...May  23 

Desert   Vengeance    . . .  Columbia      Feb.  27 

Devil  to  Pay U.   A..... Dec.   27,   1930 

Dirigible     Columbia    Apr.     4 

Dishonored    Paramount    ...Feb.  21 

Divorce   Among 

Friends   Warners   Apr.  10 

Doctors'   Wives   Fox     Mar.  26 

Donovan's  Kid   Radio    May     5 

Don't  Bet  On 

Women   Fox     Feb.  13 

Dracula    Universal     Feb.  21 

Drums  of  Jeopardy    ..Tiffany    Feb.  14 

Dude  Ranch   Paramount    ...Apr.  14 

Easiest  Way   M-G-M     Feb.  28 

East  Lynne  Fo.x    Feb.  26 

Everything's    Rosy    ..Radio   May     7 

East  of   Borneo   Universal     June  20 

Ex-Bad   Boy    Universal     ....June  20 

Ex-Flame    Uberty     Jan.  27 

Fair    Warning    Fox    Jan.  31 

Father's  Son   F.    X Feb.  21 

Fifty    Million 

Frenchmen    Warn'ers.Dec.   27.   19,W 

Fighting   Caravans    ..Paramount    ...Jan.  15 

Fighting  Sheriff    Columbia    May  23 

Finger  Points.   The...F.    N Mar.  13 

Finn'   and    Hattie    . . .  .Pai  imount     ...Jan.  31 

Five  and  Ten M    G-M      May  21 

Five    Star    Final F.    N June  20 


Feature 


Distributor     Reviewed 


Flood,  The   Columbia     Mar. 

Free   Soul    M-G-M     June 

Front   Page    LI.   A Apr. 

Full  of  Notions   Radio     June 

Gang  Buster   Paramount    ...Jan. 

Gentlemen's  Fate   M-G-M    Feb. 

Girl  from  Reeperbahn.  Tk.    Pic.    Ep. ..Feb. 
Girls   Demand   Excite- 
ment     Fox    Feb. 

God's   Country  and 

the  Man  Syndicate    June 

God's  Gift  to  Women.  Warners    Mar. 

Going  Wild   F.   N Jan. 

Gold    Dust    Gertie Warners     May 

Goldie    Fo.x     June 

Good  Bad   Girl Columbia    May 

Gorilla,    The    F.    N Mar. 

Great   Lover   M-G-M    June 

Great   Meadow   M-G-M    Keb. 

Gunsmoke  Paramount     ..Mar. 

Hell  Below  Zero   Tk.    Pic.    Ep...jaiie 

Hell    Bound    Tiffany    Jan'. 

Hell  To   Pay Fo.x     June 

High    Stakes    Radio   Apr. 

Homeland  Echoes   Otto  Trippel...Apr. 

Honor    Among 
Lovers    Paramount    ...Mar. 


Feature  Distributor     Reviewed 

Hot  Heiress   F.    N Jan.  22 

Hook,    Ldne   and 

Sinker   Radio..  ..Dec.   26,   1930 

How    He    Lied    to 

Her  Husband   Brit.    Inter'l... Jan.  17 

Hush  Money   Fox   May  28 

IlHcit    Warners     Jan.  20 

I'm   Telling  You   Paramount    ...June  29 

Indiscreet    U.    A Mar.    S 

In   Old  Cheyenne    Sono  Art- 

W.    W June  17 

Inspiration    M-G-M.. Dec.   24,   1930 

Iron   Man   Universal    Mar.  20 

It  Pays  to  Advertise. Paramount    ...Feb.     7 

It's   a   Wise   Child. ..  .M-G-M     Feb.  21 

Jaws  of  Hell Sono   Art- 

W.    W Jan.     7 

June  Moon  Paramount    ...Feb.  17 

Jungle    Hazards    State    Rights.. May  16 

Just  a  Gigolo   M-G-M     June  17 

Just   for   a   Son'g Sono   Art- 

W.    W Apr.  25 

Kept   Husbands   Radio    Jan.  20 

Kick   In    Paramount    ...Apr.  25 

Kiki    U.   A Feb.  19 

Kiss    Me   Again    F.   N Jan.  14 

Ladies  Man   Paramount     ...Mar  23 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


''The  Prodigal" 

{M-G-M) 

A  bit  short  on  story,  but  Ipng  on 
charm  and  tempo.  "The  Prodigal," 
nee  "The  Southerner,"  is  an  excellent 
instance  of  what  treatment  and  direc- 
tion can  do  to  what,  in  less  expert 
hands,  would  have  proven  a  sad 
affair. 

This  story  of  a  prodigal  son  who 
falls  in  love  with  his  brother's  wife 
and  eventually  wins  her  is  far  from 
startling  in  conception.  But  the 
dialogue  and  continuity  by  Bess 
Meredyth  and  Wells  Root  and  the 
direction  by  Harry  Pollard  have  com- 
bined to  give  the  picture  a  nice  lilt 
and  a  charming  twang  that  a  substan- 
tial audience  at  the  Capitol  reacted 
to  immediately.  Third  of  the  arch 
conspirators  in  this  pleasant  affair  is 
an  extremely  competent  cast.  Roland 
Young,  whose  flair  for  high  comedy 
ranges  all  over  him  like  a  streak,  does 
excellently  in  a  hobo  role.  Rathpr 
considerably  behind  him,  but  splendid, 
nevertheless,   is   Cliff   Edwards. 

Lawrence  Tibbett  here  does  more 
straight  acting  than  either  "The 
Rogue  Song"  or  "The  New  Moon" 
permitted.  His  song  numbers  are 
limited  to  three  and,  in  each  case, 
they  fit  into  the  action  logically  and 
smoothly.  Those  he  does  splendidly 
and  his  acting  is  not  far  behind  his 
vocal  capabilities.  Esther  Ralston  is 
extremely  good.  She  looks  and 
records  well  and  she  can  troupe. 
We're  in  favor  of  seeing  more  of  her. 

The  false  note,  and  its  a  whopper, 
comes  at  the  close  when  the  mother 
steps  into  the  family  feud  and  turns 
Antonia  from  brother  to  brother. 

It's  taking  dramatic  license  for  an 
awfully  long  ride.  KANN. 


'BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW 


''Son  of  the  Plains" 

(Syndicate) 

An  outdoor  picture  with  a  plethgra 
of  scenic  backgrounds  that  are  pleas- 
ing to  the  eye.  In  these  settings  takes 
place  the  story  of  a  newly  appointed 
deputy  tackling  the  Polka  Dot  Bandit 
on  the  first  day.  The  notorious  bandit 
has  held  up  the  express  office,  shot 
the  agent  and  scampered  off  with  the 
loot  and  drops  it.  J.  P.  MacGowan, 
the  heroine's  father,  picks  it  up  and 
is  shot  as  he  is  about  to  go  after  the 
thief. 

Tie  is  mistaken  for  the  bandit  and 
wounded,  returns  home,  causes  his 
daughter  to  become  suspicious  as  well 
as  the  deputy.     Rut  the  deputy  learns 


who  the  real  person  is  behind  the 
nefarious  title  and  it  is  not  long 
before  he  gets  his  man.  The  heroine 
gets  her  man,   too. 

Robert  Bradbury  has  included  the 
snow-capped  mountains  of  the  west 
as  a  background  for  the  hard-riding 
scenes.  Bob  Custer  is  seen  in  the 
name  role  while  Al.  St.  John  handles 
a  small  part  in  a  comedy  vein.  Doris 
Phillips  makes  an  attractive  heroine 
while  J.  P.  MacGowan,  Eddie  Hearn, 
the  villain,  and  Gordon  De  Main 
round  out  the  supporting  cast. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Side  Show'' 

(Warners) 

Hollywood  —  Reviewed  at  the 
Forum,  Winnie  Lightner's  latest 
struck  an  approving,  if  not  a  rousing 
reception. 

The  vehicle  is  Lightner  all  the  way 
and  was  obviously  written  around 
her  personality.  The  treatment  has 
her  "subbing"  for  various  freaks  of 
the  circus  side  show,  this  repertoire 
giving  her  opportunity  to  imitate  a 
hula-hula  dancer,  a  high  diver  and  a 
crooning  cannibal.  The  audience  went 
for  the  line-up  and  two  of  the  Light- 
ner songs  clicked  strongly  enough  to 
bring   forth  applause. 

The  dramatic  story,  which  is  far 
from  important,  has  Evalyn  Knapp 
entering  the  circus  contrary  to  Sister 
Lightner's  wishes.  Evalyn  and  Win- 
nie both  fall  for  Donald  Cook,  but  it 
is.  of  course,  obvious  who  wins  out 
in  the  end. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

'Murder  by  the  Clock* 

(Paramount) 

Sant.\  Monic.\  —  Paramount  cer- 
tainly didn't  mean  it  that  way,  but 
the  preview  audience  that  caught 
"Murder  by  the  Clock"  at  the  Cri- 
terion here  laughed  at  sequences  the 
producer  seriously  meant  to  be  seri- 
ous. 

The  applause  that  met  Lilyan  Tash- 
man's  work,  however,  was  of  the 
genuine  kind,  but,  by  and  large,  the 
reaction  was  very  mild  when  it  didn't 
break  out  into  open  and  what  looked 
suspiciously    like    derisive    laughter. 

The  story  deals  with  an  avaricioys 
woman  who  induces  her  husband  to 
kill  an  old  aunt  in  order  to  get  her 
money.  .She  then  persuades  her  art- 
ist lover  to  get  rid  of  her  husband, 
but  husband  is  brought  back  to  nor- 
malcy by  heart  injection  in  time  to 
ward  off  the  artists'  attempt  to  mur- 
der him  bv  stabbing.     Later  the  hus- 

(Conliiuiri!    on     pane    111 


Feature  Distributor     Reviewed 

Lady      Refuses,      TheRadio    Jan.  217 

(Reviewed  as   "For- 
gotten   Women").... 

Lash,  The  F.  N Dec.   31,   1930 

I^st   Parade    Col Feb.    7,    1931 

Laughing   Sinners    ...M-G-M    May  29 

Lawyers   Secret    Paramount    ...May  11 

Laugh    and    Get    RichRadio    Mar.    2 

(Reviewed  as  "Board 

and   Room") 

Lawless   Woman   Chesterfield    ..June  26 

Le   Million   (French) May   21 

Liebeswalzer    Ufa    May  23 

Lightning    Flyer   Columbia    Apr.    4 

Lion   and   the   Lamb.  .Columbia    Feb.     7 

Little   Caesar    F.   N Jan.  17 

Lonely  Wives  RKO  Pathe.. .  .Jan.  27 

Lost    Gods    Tk.   Pict.   Ep..Mar.     4 

Love   Habit    Brit.    Inter'l. .  .Jan.  31 

Lover    Come    Back    ..Columbia    June  20 

Mad  Genius   Warners     May    2 

Mad   Parade    Liberty    May    2 

Maltese   Falcon    Warners   Apr.    9 

Man  From  Chicago   ..Brit.    Inter'l... Jan.  17 

Man'  in  Possession M-G-M     June    9 

Man  of  the   World.... Paramoun't    ...Feb.  27 

Man    to   Man    Warners    Jan.     5 

Man  Who  Came 

Back    Fox Dec.   31,   1930 

Many  a  Slip    Universal     Feb.  26 

Meet   the   Wife    Columbia   Mar.  26 

Men   Call   It   Love 

viewed    as    "Among 

the  Married") M-G-M   Feb.    5 

Men  on   Call   Fox    Mar.     5 

Middle   Watch    Brit.    Inter'l.  ..May    7 

Millie  Radio    Jan.  22 

Millionaire,   The    Warners     Apr.     9 

Million     Dollar 

Swindle     Radio  June  20 

Mr.    Lemon   of 

Orange    Fox   Feb.  27 

Misbehaving  Ladies.. .F.    N Mar.  13 

Monsters  of  Deep Tk.    Pic.    Ep...May  16 

My   Past    Warners     Jan.  15 

Naughty    Flirt    F.    N April  16 

Never   the   Twain 

Shall  Meet  M-G-M     May  23 

Newly   Rich   Paramount   ...June    3 

New  Moon    M-G-M. .Dec.   26,   1930 

Night    Angel     Paramount    ...June  11 

Night  Birds   Brit.    Inter'l  ..Jan.    8 

No   Limit    Paramount    Dec.  27, '30 

Old  Broadway  Cus- 
tom   Radio  Apr.  27 

On'ce   a   Sinner  Fox    Jan.  17 

One   Heavenly    Night. U.   A Jan.  15 

Pagliacci    Leo   Brecher    .Feb.  27 

Paid    M-G-M    Jan.     5 

Painted    Desert    RKO    Pathe... Jan.  IS 

Parlor,    Bedroom    & 

Bath    M-G-M     Jan.  23 

Part-Time    Wife    ....Fox Dec.   27,   1930 

Party  Husband    F.   N May  16 

Perfect  Alibi    Radio   Apr.  IS 

Playthings    of 

Hollywood     State    Rig:hts..Apr.  13 

Primrose    Path    Holly.     Films.. Jan.  22 

Prodigal,  The  (Re- 
viewed      as       "The 

Southerners)    M-G-M    Jan.  15 

Public    Enemy    Warners    Apr.  30 

Pueblo   Terror    State    Rights.. Apr.     9 

Quick    Millions    Fox     Mar.  23 

Rango   Paramount    Dec.  24, '30 

Reaching    for    Moon..U.   A Dec.  26,   1930 

Rebound   RKO    Pathe... June    9 

Reckless    Hour    F.   N May    2 

Red    Fork   Range    Big   Four    ....Mar.    4 

Reducing    M-G-M.. .Dec.  26,  1930 

Resurrection    Universal   Jan.     5 

Rider  of  the  Plains. .  .Syndicate   May     1 

Riders  of   North   Syndicate    ....Apr.    4 

Ridin'    Fool    'J  iffany    June  13 

Right   of   Way    F.   N May    2 

Right    to    Love Paramount    ...Jan.     5 

Rio's    Road    to    Hell. .Pub.    W.    F.... June  27 

Road  to  Paradise F.    N Jan.  20 

Royal   Family    Paramount    Dec.  24,'.W 

Royal    Bed,    The    ...  .Radio. .  ..Dec.   26,    1930 

Scandal  Sheet   Paramount    ...Feb.     7 

Seas   Beneath    i''ox     Feb.     2 

Secret    Six,   The    M-G-M     Apr.  17 

Seed    Universal     Apr.  21 

Sheer   Luck    Bjg   Four May    6 

She  Got  What  She 

Wanted     Tiffany     Jan.     2 

She  Wolf  (Reviewed 
as  "Mothers'  Mil- 
lions")         Universal     Feb.  19 

Shipmates   M-G-M     Mar.  27 

Single  Sin   Tiffany     Feb.  13 

Sit  Tight   Warners    Feb.  21 

Six-Cylinder    Love    ..Fox    May     1 

Skin  Game   Brit.   Inter'l.. .  .June  20 

Skippv     Paramount    ...Apr.     7 

Sky    Raiders    Columbia     June    9 

Sleeping   Partners Elstree    June  20 

Smart    Money   Warners     June  19 

Smiling   Lieutenant    ..Paramount    ...May  22 
Soldier's   Plaything     .  Warners. Dec.   24,   1930 

.Son    of    India    M-G-M     May  Z"! 

Spy,    Tlie    Fox     Mar.  13 

Stenping   Out    M-G-M    Mar.  13 

Stolen   Heaven    Paramount    ...Feb.  14 

Stringers    May    Kiss.T-G-M     Feb.  26 

'Subway    Express    Columbia    May     2 

tiunt*-    f^.   N Dec.   27,  1930 

'■"unrise   Trail    Tiffany    JTar.  26 

'^vengali     Warners     May    1 

.Swanee  River Smo    Art- 

W.  W Tan.  31 

'Sweepstakes     RKO    Pathe... June    5 

Tnlm     Paran\()unt    ...Mar.  19 

(Contiinin!  en    fcae   11) 


10 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,    July    2,     1931 


Bureau  Aims 
To  "Educate" 
Exhibitors 


(Continued  from  page   1  > 

those  territories  and,  according  to  one 
familiar  with  the  work  of  the  bureau, 
preliminary  efforts  along  those  lines 
are  being  met  with  cooperation  on  the 
part  of  exhibitor  leaders. 

D.  C.  Liebler,  H.  Groves  and  Jos- 
eph Stern  are  three  bureau  repre- 
sentatives now  in  the  field  under  the 
plan.  Liebler  is  concentrating  on 
theatres  served  out  of  Oklahoma  City 
exchanges;  Groves  is  in  Dallas  where 
a  campaign  against  alleged  copyright 
violators  is  proceeding  while  Stern 
has  been  concentrating  in  Atlanta  w  ith 
the  cooperation  of  the  Southeastern 
Theatre  Owners'  Ass'n. 

The  bureau  is  proceeding  on  the 
theory  that  exhibitors  can  offer  no 
excuse  for  bicycling  film  or  for  hold- 
ing only  prints  for  playing  time  not 
provided  for  in  contracts  with  the  ex- 
change. The  bureau  is  known  to  lean 
toward  the  belief,  however,  that  ex- 
planation of  the  exchange's  rights  will 
do  much  by  way  of  removing  litiga- 
tion and  at  the  same  time  materially 
reduce  exchange  losses  now  computed 
to  run  into  millions  annually. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Atlanta  Exchanges 
Worried  Over  Suit 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

and  Fox.  She  operated  the  Salerno 
theatre  at  Salerno,  Fla.,  in  1927  and 
charges  that,  because  she  refused  to 
take  up  a  contract  with  Liberty  Spe- 
cialty held  by  the  former  owner  of 
the  theatre,  Jesse  Pith,  the  Film 
Board  arbitrated  and  secured  an 
award  against  her  with  the  result 
that  other  distributors  refused  to  fur- 
nish pictures  and,  therefore,  forced 
her  to  clo;v2  the  theatre. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Helen  Will  "Love"  on 
Lawns,  Not  in  Movies 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

to  reports  she  turned  down  a  $100,- 
000  oflfer  to  make  love  to  a  screen 
hero. 

"I  don't  want  to  be  a  movie  star, 
even  if  I  could,"  Miss  Wills,  or  Helen 
Wills  Moody,  as  she  is  known  to  the 
public,  stated.  Miss  Wills  apparently 
likes  the  stars  above  her  not  around 
her. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Saal  to  Be  Feted 
At  Informal  Dinner 

An  informal  testimonial  dinner  to 
Bill  Saal,  formerly  of  Publix  and  now 
with  Tiffany,  will  be  held  next  Wed- 
nesday evening  on  the  Hotel  Astor 
Rof;f. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Teach  Via  Films 

St.  Louis — First  test  of  teaching 
by  films  was  held  yesterday  at  the 
Washington  University  where  a  con- 
tinuous program  from  9:05  a.  m.  to 
3 :45  p.  m.  was  screened.  Ten  dif- 
ferent subjects  were  shown,  starting 
with  "Testing  of   Child   Intelligence." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Sloane  Re-Siyns 

Hollywood — Paul  R.  Sloane  has 
signed  a  new  directorial  contract  with 
Radio. 


Purely  Personal 


T  E.  CHAD\\TCK  yesterday  got 
A.  in  from  the  Coast.  The  first  thing 
he  did  when  he  got  off  the  train  was 
to  run  up  to  see  Harry  Thomas,  who 
is  handling  his  pictures.  What  was 
in  that  two-reel  can  he  carried  under 
his  arm? 

J.\CK  UxGERFELD  just  Couldn't  keep 
out  of  the  business  after  selling  his 
circuit  to  Fox.  Yesterday  he  returned 
from  Philadelphia  ajter  closing  a 
deal  for  acquisition  of  a  theatre  in 
those  parts. 

M-XTTV  R.\DiN  has  taken  over  the 
IMecca  on  14th  Street.  That's  the 
little  house  that  was  first  put  on  the 
pan  by  the  iire  department  about  a 
year  and  a  half  ago  for  violation  of 
the    tilm    storage    law. 

Adolph  Pollak  of  Hollywood 
Pictures  has  postponed  that  trip  to 
the  Coast  for  about  10  days.  When 
he  gets  out  there,  it'll  be  the  Holly- 
wood of  the  East  meeting  Hollywood 
•of  the  West. 

M.\RTH.-\  WiLCHiNSKi's  first  thought, 
now  that  she  has  resigned  as  publicity 
director  for  the  Roxy,  is  to  get  a 
vacation.  She  may  open  her  own  of- 
fice when  the  forthcoming  holiday  is 
ended. 

B.  F.  Lyon,  Canadian  sales  man- 
ager for  Warners-First  National, 
covers  his  job  thoroughly.  He  has 
been  known  to  travel  1,000  miles  off 
his  regular  itinerary  to  discuss  sales 
with  an  exhibitor  prospect. 

Leopold  Friedman  has  discovered  a 
new  way  to  combine  mint  and  julep 
and  the  result  is  what  is  known  as  a 
mint  julep.  Only,  he  says,  it's  a  very 
special  kind.    Yum! 

Ch.arles  Finesilver  is  back  at  the 
Third  Avenue.  It  seems  that  every 
time  someone  takes  over  the  house 
Charlie  is  hired  as  manager — but  not 
for  long. 

Val  Lewton  of  M-G-M  hasn't 
saved  enough  yet  to  get  that  car  he's 
been  yearning  for.  He's  got  that 
"Buy  Right — But  Buy  Now"  urge  but 
not  the  backing. 

Jack  Alicoate  and  Bert  Muller 
drew  a  real  gallery  yesterday  when 
they  played  off  the  final  in  the  Class 
A  division  of  the  Motion  Picture  Club 
billiard  tournament. 

J.  J.  Patterso.v,  formerly  assistant 
manager  at  the  Fox  Majestic  The- 
atre, Bridgeport,  Conn.,  is  now  man- 
ager of  the  Fox  Globe  Theatre, 
Bridgeport. 

Frederick  Ja.mes  Smith  isn't  a  bit 
concerned  by  reports  that  a  new  fan 
magazine  will  shortly  be  published 
on  the   style  of  his  Movie   Magazine. 

CiiARiJE  McCarthy  is  making 
short  appearances  at  his  office  at 
Paramount.  He  is  still  weak  from 
his  "flu"  attack. 

Ci.  L.  Stei.ver  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  the  Hempstead  Theatre, 
Hempstead,  L.   I. 

M.  Kleixmax  has  been  transfer- 
red to  the  Glenwood,  Brooklyn,  as  as- 
sistant  manager  and   treasurer. 

M.  Stei.xhauer  has  been  made  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Jackson  the- 
atre.   Brooklvn. 


Hang  It! 


Cincinnati  —  Disagreement 
between  the  painters'  and  up- 
holsterers' unions  as  to  who 
should  hang  tapestries  at  the 
RKO  Lyric  has  led  to  a  sym- 
pathetic strike  of  nine  RKO 
poster   artists. 

The  painters  contend  that 
tapestry  hanging  comes  within 
their  jurisdiction,  whereas  mem- 
bers of  the  upholsterers"  union, 
to  whom  it  is  said  the  contract 
was  awarded  by  the  New  York 
office  of  RKO,  persist  that  the 
work  belongs  to  them. 

The  poster  and  scenic  artists 
have  no  union  of  their  own 
here,  and  are  affiliated  with 
the    painters'   organization. 


George  Seed,  manager  of  the  Lead- 
er Theatre,  Brooklyn,  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  Supreme,  Brooklyn,  as 
manager. 

M.  Kaufman  is  now  assistant  man- 
ager and  treasurer  of  the  Stone  The- 
atre,  Brooklyn. 

H.  Lightstone  has  been  appointed 
assistant  manager  of  the  Crescent 
Theatre,   Astoria,    L.   I. 

Thomas  Van  Syckel  has  been 
made  manager  of  the  Leader  Theatre, 
Brooklyn. 

Jules  Fields  is  now  manager  of 
the  Blenheim  and  Parkway  Theatres, 
Bronx. 

Lou  Metzger  made  a  dazzling  ap- 
pearance in  a  very  white  linen  suit  at 
the    Motion   Picture   Club  yesterday. 

Joe  Seider  has  a  new  coat  of  sun- 
burn and  won't  tell  where  he  got  it. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Continued  for  Two  Weeks 

St.  Louis — The  Shea  action  for  a 
receivership  for  the  St.  Louis  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  Warner  theatre  subsidiary, 
comes  up  on  July  14.  The  delay  was 
granted  the  defense  after  a  change  of 
venue  removes  the  action  from  Judge 
Hartman's  consideration  to  that  of 
Judge  Rosscoff  because  of  alleged 
prejudice.  Six  additional  minority 
stockholders,  controlling  825  shares  of 
stock,  have  intervened  in  support  of 
the  Shea  action. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Van  Hyning  Elected 

Iola,  Kans. — Earl  Van  Hyning, 
president  of  the  M.P.T.O.  of  Kansas 
and  Western  Missouri  and  proprietor 
of  the  Kelley,  has  been  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  lola  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Griffith  to  Start  Monday 

D.  W.  Griffith  starts  work  Mon- 
day at  the  Audio  Cinema  Studios 
in  the  Bronx  on  "Struggle,"  by  John 
Emerson  and  Anita  Loos.  Zitta  Jo- 
hann  will  be  starred  and  Hal  Skelly 
supporting. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Actors  Injured 

Universal  City — William  Patton, 
Fred  Haynes,  Edawrd  Anton,  Wil- 
liam Rambeau  and  Joseph  Mills  were 
injured  here  yesterday  while  making 
a  picture. 


Buy  Now,  Cash 
In  on  Ads,  Is 
South's  Hunch 


(Continued  from  page   1) 

product,  because  the  more  contracts 
the  producer  has  the  more  liberal  he 
can  be  in  arranging  his  budget  for 
negative  cost. 

"2 — By  buying  early  the  theatre 
should  play  pictures  earlier  and  thus 
take  advantage  of  the  immense  na- 
tional advertising  that  is  released  with 
the  picture.  Small  town  theatres  can 
increase  their  good-will  by  playing 
closer  to  key  runs  as  well  as  avail 
themselves  of  the  advertising  from  the 
dailies  that  come  into  their  town  from 
the  key  cities.  I  believe  that  thou- 
sands of  dollars  are  lost  to  this  in- 
dustry yearly  because  picture  fans 
have  lost  their  enthusiasm  in  the  long 
waiting  between  the  national  advertis- 
ing on  a  given  picture  and  its  run  in 
some  of   the   smaller   towns. 

"3 — Nearly  every  exhibitor  now 
knows  what  his  requirements  in 
product  will  be  for  another  year.  He 
also  knows  reasonably  well  what  he 
can  pay  for  it.  If  he  can  now  buy 
right  in  accordance  with  his  needs, 
he  is  quite  silly  to  delay.  The  ex- 
hibitor's welfare  is  very  muchly  de- 
pendent on  that  of  the  producers. 
Here  is  an  opportunity  for  them  to 
show  faith  and  good  will  each  to 
the  other,  and  for  this  industry  to 
help  itself  in  all  its  branches,  by  a 
little   rnutual   cooperation." 


Para.  Line-Up  Goes 
ToLoew,RKOinN.Y. 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

for  next  season.    The  other  half  goes, 
as  usual,  to  the  Loew  circuit. 

For  a  number  of  years  prior  to  this, 
RKO  has  been  splitting  the  Para- 
mount line-up  with  Loew's.  Last 
year,  however,  its  half  went  to  the 
Fox  circuit,  as  part  of  the  National 
deal  between  Paramount  and  Fox. 
This  proved  to  be  one  of  the  impor- 
tant considerations  which  later  brought 
RKO  and  Warners  together  on  a 
reciprocal  booking  arrangement.  Now, 
however,  RKO  gets  Paramount  lo- 
cally and  Fox  does  not. 

The  RKO-Paramount  franchise  is 
understood  to  run  for  four  and  a 
half  years. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Chatterton  Back  to 
W,  B,  Lot,  Report 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

states  and  she  is  expected  to  decide  on 
her  first  within  the  next  few  days. 


Belief  in  the  trade  has  been  that 
with  the  signing  of  a  truce  between 
Paramount  and  Warners,  it  was 
agreed  that  Ruth  Chatterton  would 
stay  on  the  Paramount  lot.  In  other 
quarters,  it  has  been  reported  that 
Paramount  couldn't  see  the  stiff 
\veekly  stipend  Warners  had  agreed 
to  pay  Miss  Chatterton  and  that  ne- 
gotiations to  either  straighten  out  the 
salary  question  or  allow  the  Warner 
deal  to  stand  had  been  under  way. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW' 

Dates  Bohemian  Talker   ' 

Starting  Friday,  "Carnival,"  the 
first  Bohemian  talker,  will  be  shown 
at   the   Eighth   Street    Playhouse. 


Thur;day,    July   2,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"Coverage"  Is 
M.P.  Daily  Aim 
In  Reviewing 

[CuntiniiccI   from    page    9) 

Feature  Distributor      Reviewed 

Tailor  Made  Jlan i\Mj-M    i-eb.    27 

Ten  Nights  in   Bar 

Room   Goetz    .I'eL.  ^ 

Ten   Cents   a    Dance.  .Columbia     Mar.    7 

Texas    Ranger    Columbia      Apr.  ^9 

ITiis    Modern    Age....M-G-M     \l^y  15 

Three  Girls  Lost Fox    Apr.  17 

Three   Loves    A.    C.    of   A.. ..May  2i 

Three    Rogues    I-ox     Apr.    8 

Three  Who  Loved ....  Radio     June  _  6 

Tom    Sawyer    Paramount    Dec.  27,  30 

Too    Young   To  ,, 

Marry    Warners     May     ft 

Torch   Song   M-C,-M     Mar.  20 

Trader  Horn   M-G-M     Feo.     4 

Trails    of    Golden 

West    Cosmos  Ex Jan.  23 

Transgression    Radio     Jui.e  12 

Traveling  Husan'ds    ..R.idio     Apr.  27 

Two    Gun   Man    Tiffany    June  12 

Ubangi    Wm.    Pizor June     9 

Under    Suspicion    ....Fox    Dec.  31,  1930 

Under  Texas   Skies. ..  Syndicate    Jan.  15 

Unfaithful    Paramount    ...Feb.  19 

Up  for  Murder  Universal     May  26 

Up  Pops  the   Devil    .   Paramount    ...Apr.  27 

Vice   Squad    Paramount    ...June    9 

Viking,    l"he    J.D.Williams 

&    Asso June  17 

Virtuous  Husbands     .Universal     Mar.   16 

Way  Down  East A.   L.    Grey... Mar.  16 

West  of  Cheyenne Syndicate     Feb.  27 

Westward   Bound   Syndicate      Jan.  2z 

White  Shoulders   Radio     June    8 

Wild  West   Whoopee. Asso.    Film. ..Feb.   26 

Woman    Between    Radio    Apr.  18 

Woman    Hungry    . . . .  F.     N Mar.  21 

Woman    of 

Experience    RKO    Pathe. . .  Apr.  25 

Women  Love  Once...  Paramount   ...June  2C 

Women  Men  Marry.  .Headline  Mar.     4 

Women    of   All 

Nations     Fox   May  26 

W   Plan,   The    Radio     Mar.  21 

Yellow    Pass    Amkino     May    2 

Yankee   Don    R.   Talmadge 

Prod May  14 

You  and  I  Warners   Apr.  18 

Young  as   You   Feel . .  Fox     Apr.     8 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW 

Critics  Not  Strong 
For  New  Lukas  Film 

"Women  Love  Once,"  starring  Paul 
Lukas  and  now  current  at  the  Para- 
mount, hasn't  made  much  of  a  hit 
with  New  York  critics.  Five  of  eight 
reviewers  found  the  picture  "old,'.' 
"heavy"  and  "badly  directed."  Sev- 
eral believe  the  players  are  far  ahead 
of  their  material.  The  Daily  Mir- 
ror, on  the  other  hand,  thinks  the 
story  was  told  "smartly  enough  to  be 
interesting."  Consensus  of  their  opin- 
ion follows : 

^linerican — ***an  exquisitely  set  piece 
and,  if  the  scenic  excellence  were  equalled 
by  other  phases  of  the  production,  "Women 
Love  Once"  miefht  easily  be  a  pictorial  gem. 
***Paul  Lukas'**plays  with  a  simple  artis- 
try that  makes  his  performance  alone 
worth   viewing. 

Daily  Mirror — It  is  the  old  story  of  in- 
fidelity and  forgiveness,  told  smartly  enough 
to  be  interesting  and  j)layed  by  an  unusually 
competent  cast***Lleanor  Boardman*** 
charming***Paul   Lukas  splendid.*** 

Daily  News — ***provides  enough  drama 
to  hold  your  interest  fairly  well,  but  you'll 
find  it  heavy  and  depressing  for  summertime 
fare. 

Morning  Telegraph — There  is  only  one 
truljf  poignant  well-acted  scene***the  rest 
***is  a   badly  directed,   inept   movie.*** 

Post — In  spite  of  the  thoroughly  second- 
rate  story,  Eleanor  Boardman  gives  a  bet- 
ter performance  in  this  picture  than  she 
has  since  the  advent  of  the  talkies.  She 
is  simple,  unaffected  and  lovely  to  look  at, 
and  her  diction,  except  when  she^  speaks  of 
her"  "jools,"  is  immensely  improved.  Paul 
Lukas  also  copes  manfully  with  the  trite- 
ness of  his  role,  making  it  sympathetic  and 
believable. 

Sun — ***a  mildly  interesting,  if  rather 
slow  moving   program   movie*** 

Times — The  story***is  disappointing  and 
far    from    convincing*** 

World-Telegram — This  is  one  out  of  the 
musty  past,  famili^^  and  feeble.  Paul  Lukas 
***performing  his  usual  trick  of  stealing 
the    picture.*** 


Franklin  Boosts  24  Pictures 

Hollywood — Harold  B.  Franklin,  in  a 

letter  to  theatre  managers 

in   the   Hughes-Franklin   circuit,   lists 

24   features   which   he   con- 

siders  of  sufficient  calibre  to  defeat  the  depression,  with  instruc- 

tions that  they  must  be  exploited  and  advertised  in  a  big  way. 

The  pictures  are: 

Laughing  Sinners 

Free  Soul 

Shipmates 

Five  and  Ten 

Just  a  Gigolo 

Dishonored 

Smiling  Lieutenant 

Tabu 

Daddy  Long  Legs 

Smart  Money 

Women  of  All  Nations 

Rebound 

An  American  Tragedy 

Seed 

The  Millionaire 

Five  Star  Final 

The  Front  Page 

Donovan's  Kid 

Ten  Cents  a  Dance 

Miracle  Woman 

Transatlantic 

Public  Enemy 

Monkey  Business 

Secret  Six 

"Go  after  business  and  don't  wait 

for  it  to  come  to  you,"   is 

Franklin's  parting  shot. 

! 

Looking   ^Em  Over 


'Murder  by  the  Clock' 

(Continued  from   page   9) 

band  dies  from  fright  and  that's  that. 
Through  the  proceedings  a  half-wit 
son  of  the  aunt  succeeds  in  fastening 
suspicion  upon  himself  by  his  mys- 
terious and  questionable  actions.  There 
are  secret  doors,  subterranean  passage 
ways  and  the  usual  mystery  trimmings. 
"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Politics" 

(M-G-M) 

Long  Beach,  Cal. — If  audience  re- 
actions are  any  criterion,  this  new 
Marie  Dressier-Polly  Moran  comedy 
is  in.  The  paying  public  which  saw 
it  at  a  local  theatre  evidenced  its  re- 
action in  a  manner  that  was  unmis- 
takably for  the  picture. 

The  yarn  is  developed  around  the 
uprising  of  women  voters  in  a  city 
ruled  by  the  usual  politico-racketeer- 
ing rings.  Miss  Dressier,  who  has 
no  political  aspirations,  is  unwittingly 
made  the  champion  of  the  feminine 
cause.  As  one  means  of  bringing  the 
men  around  to  the  women's  point  of 
view,  she  orders  a  strike  that  reaches 
into  the  home  and  all  phases  of  wifely 
duty.  The  result  is  a  highly  enter- 
taining comedy  situation  which  the 
audience  here  went  for  no  end. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 


'CaughV 


{Paramount) 

Santa  Monica — Not  much  of  an 
audience  reaction  to  "Caught"  as 
shown  before  a  preview  audience  here. 

Comment  was  that  the  story  was 
old-fashioned  in  situation  and  treat- 
ment. It  is  based  on  incidents  in  the 
life  of  Calamity  Jane,  played  by 
Louise  Dresser.  She  heads  a  band  of 
outlaws  who  terrorize  the  country- 
side until  the  military,  as  represented 
hy  Richard  Arlen,  interferes.  He  suc- 
ceeds, naturally,  in  pinning  the  nec- 
essary evidence  on  her  and  ultimately 
discovers  what  any  audience  would 
have  doped  out  long  liefore  the  prin- 
cipals in  the  picture  did :  that  Arlen 
is   Miss   Dresser's  son. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

''Wild  Horse" 

{Allied  Pictures) 

Santa  Monica — Hoot  Gibson's 
new  western  is  good  entertainment 
of  its  type,  a  consensus  of  preview 
audience  opinion  indicated. 

Action  dominates  practically  all  the 


way  and  it  is  only  when  the  dialogue 
gets  in  a  lick  that  the  picture  lags, 
the  story,  as  usual  in  westerns, 
doesn't  mean  much.  Here  Hoot  is  a 
traveling  horse  wrangler  hunting  a 
job.  He  captures  a  v<i'\\A  horse,  a 
bank  robber,  runs  down  a  murderer 
and  has  some  time  Left  to  indulge  in 
fancy   riding. 

A  fight  between  two  horses  is  a  pip 
and  earned  a  spontaneous  round  of 
applause. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

"The  Secret  Call" 

{Paramount) 
Hollywood — Peggy  Shannon  makes 
her  debut  in  the  role  originally  in- 
tended for  Clara  Bow,  but  falls  short 
of  being  a  satisfactory  substitute,  in 
the  opinion  of  a  preview  audience. 
The  picture  itself  failed  to  stir  much 
excitement,  being  a  political  tale  of 
the  usual  formula,  the  son  and  daugh- 
ter of  the  rival  bosses  carrying  on  a 
love  affair.  Richard  .'Krlen  plays  op- 
posite but  his  part  seems  to  have 
been  written  in  merely  to  carry  Miss 
Shannon.  Stuart  Walker's  direction 
was  adequate,  although  many  se- 
quences lagged.  The  picture  is  based 
on  William  C.  de  Mille's  play.  "The 
Woman." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW 


it 


*f 


The  Ridin'  Kid 

{Big  4) 

Buddy  Roosevelt  is  the  lanky  star 
who,  in  running  down  a  pair  of  out- 
laws in  the  guise  of  the  Ridin'  Kid, 
does  plenty  of  unnecessary  hard  rid- 
ing and  foolish  acting.  In  reality  he 
is  a  government  official  sent  down  to 
clear  up  the  phoney  affair,  but  the 
surprise  finish  is  that  he  doesn't  get 
the  girl. 

He  turns  her  over  to  the  cowhand 
who  has  been  engaged  to  her  and 
passes  out  of  the  picture  without  a 
chip  on  his  shoulder  or  a  scruple 
against  the  better  man.  Photography 
is  very  bad.  Audience  reaction,  ter- 
rible. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Seek  ''RKO  Honor  Man" 

RKO  yesterday  began  a  contest  for 
the  manager  ranking  highest  in  show- 
manship and  salesmanship.  A  month's 
vacation  and  a  trip  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean will  be  awarded  to  the  "RKO 
Honor  Man."  The  contest  runs  to 
August   1. 


Chicagoans 
Seek  Houses 
With  Coolers 


{CuiitiiiKcd  from  page   1) 

ing  to  theatre  managers,  and  the 
crowds  are  now  turning  back  to  the 
theatres — the  refrigerated  ones,  how- 
ever. 

Balaban  &  Katz  report  a  25  per 
cent  increase  in  patronage  this  week 
over  the  same  number  of  days  last 
week.  Other  circuits  and  indepen- 
dent operators  estimate  comparable 
attendance  increases  this  week  in  air- 
cooled  houses. 

Estimates  of  golf  course  attendance 
confirm  theatre  managers'  reports, 
revealing  that  courses  were  only  at 
50  per  cent  normal  playing  capacity 
over  the  past  week  end.  Beaches, 
highways  and  parks  continue  receiv- 
ing throngs,  but  their  peak  periods 
occur  before  and  after  theatre  hours, 
indicating  that  cooler  theatres  are 
definitely  accepted  as  relief  agencies 
by  the  sweltering  thousands  in  the 
city. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Smoke  a  Fresh  Fag 
And  Solve  Mystery 

(Continued  from   page   1) 

Future  Publishing  Co.  are  mentioned 
as  the  publishers  behind  the  venture. 
Editors  of  both  companies  yesterday 
denied  any  knowledge  of  the  report. 
A  call  to  various  writers  to  supply 
the  script  has  gone  out  but  all  of 
them  so  far  have  been  turned  down  by 
the  cigarette  company,  believed  to  be 
R.  J.  Reynolds  Tobacco  Co.,  manu- 
facturer   of  Camel  cigarettes. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Nagel  Heads  Motion 
Picture  Relief  Fund 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Hearst,  Marion  Uavies,  Douglas 
Fairbanks,  Jr.,  Richard  Barthelmess 
and  Bebe  Daniels  were  elected  trus- 
tees. 

The  meeting  was  held  at  the  War- 
ner studio.  Jack  Warner  is  the 
retiring   president. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Alicoate  Wins  That 
Big  Billiard  Tourney 

With  several  dozen  members  con- 
stituting the  gallery.  Jack  Alicoate 
defeated  Herb  Muller  yesterday  in 
the  Class  .A  division  of  the  billiard 
tournament  at  the  Motion  Picture 
Club.  The  play-off  was  a  surprise, 
since  Muller  enjoyed  the  odds  over 
Alicoate  as  winning  contestant.  The 
score  was  125  to  lu5.  A  gold  medal 
and  miniature  billiard  table  go  to 
Alicoate.  Other  winners  in  the  "A" 
division  are  Muller  who  gets  a  sil- 
ver medal  as  second  best  and  Lou 
Baum  who  gets  a  bronze  medal  as 
third  best. 

In  Class  B,  first  honors  go  to 
Morris  Kutinsky  whose  prizes  are  a 
gold  medal  and  a  miniature  billiard 
table.  Lee  Ochs,  as  second  best  man, 
will  get  a  silver  medal  while  George 
Dembow  and  Milton  Blumberg  will 
match  play  for  the  bronze  medal 
designated  for  the  third  man  in  that 
class. 

The  Oass  C  play  has  not  been  com- 
pleted as  yet. 


Mn  and  Mrs* 
Meyer  Fine 
Previewed 
Norma  Shearer 
in  ^^A  Free  SouP' 


fit 

Mrs*  Fine  Just 
Adored  It! 


Mr*  Fine,  Who 
Runs  Fourteen 
Theatres,  Got 
Excited  About 
It! 


So  He  Wrote  a 
Letter  Which 
•We  Are  Proudly 
Reprinting 
On  This  Page ! 


MISTER  FINE 
DISCUSSES  A 
'2  PICTURE! 


"I  think,  without  a  doubt  'A  FREE  SOUL'  is  the 
greatest  Norma  Shearer  picture  that  was  ever  made, 
and  if  there  ever  was  a  picture  that  is  worth  $2.00 
admission,  TREE  SOUL'  is  the  picture.  Of  course,  we 
must  not  overlook  the  marvelous  work  of  Lionel 
Barrymore  and  Clark  Gable. 

"It  was  the  most  pleasant  evening  I  ever  spent  viewing 
a  picture  in  my  nineteen  years  of  experience.  I  am 
certain  that  whoever  sees  TREE  SOUL'  will  feel  the 
same  way  I  do  about  it.    It  is  pictures  of  this  kind  that 


will  make  box-office  records  .J  I  hope  that  Metro  will 
continue   the  good  work  that  they  have  in  the  past 


seasons. 


)) 


(Signed)  M.  S.  FINE,  J*^ociated  THEATRES,  Cleveland,  Ohio 

.      'ffO    ^.     -h •      .  ^   Oil  ^ I 


i>#> 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  29 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JULY  3,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


Ohio  M.P.T.O. 
Favors  "Buy 
Now"  Policy 

'Sympathetic  With  Move/ 
States  Unit  Head 


W.    M.    James 


thinking     on    both 


Columbus,  O.— The  "Buy  Right 
— But  Buy  Now"  movement  finds  a 
welcoming  chord  in  the  ranks  of  the 
M.P.T.O.  of  Ohia  William  M. 
("Billy")  James  goes  on  record  as 
declaring : 

"We  are  en- 
tirely sympa- 
thetic with  the 
movement  to 
encourage  the 
right  buying  of 
product  at  the 
present  time," 
states  Presi- 
dent James. 
"However,  if 
this  movement 
is  to  be  suc- 
cessful, it  is 
going  to  re- 
quire intelligent 
sides. 

"I  mean  by  this  that  the  distribu- 

{Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Movie  Memories" 
Unsponsored,  Listed 

Paramount  is  not  dropping  those 
"Movie  Memories"  shorts,  which  here- 
tofore have  been  issued  only  when 
sponsored  by  Chesterfield  cigarettes. 
Officials  of  the  company  have  decided 
to  continue  the  subjects  without  any 
vestige  of  advertising  and  have  chang- 
ed the  name  of  the  subjects  to  "Screen 
Souvenirs." 

Letters  have  been  sent  to  all  branch 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Rathner  Heads  ''U" 
Theatrical  Details 

Harry  Rathner  is  now  general  man- 
ager of  the  Universal  theatre  depart- 
ment and  is  handling  real  estate  de- 
tail for  the  same  end  of  the  Laemmle 
enterprise,  as  well. 

He  succeeds  Dan  Lederman. 


In  Lights 


On  the  electric  sign  that 
adorns  the  front  of  the  Warner 
theatre  on   Broadway: 

"MACISTE   IN  HELL" 
Based  on  "Dante's  Inferno" 

Smoking  in  the  Balcony 
On   the    marquee   of   a   neigh- 
borhood house  in  the  Bronx: 
"ROAD  TO  HELL" 
For  Women  Only 


Verbal  Agreements  Out, 
Sales  Managers  Decree 


Significance 
Of  Patent  Pool 
Trade  Topic 


Speculation  was  rife  in  the  trade 
yesterday  over  potential  outcome  and 
significance  of  reports  from  Washing- 
ton that  General  Electric,  Radio 
Corporation  of  America,  Westing- 
house  Electric  and  Manufacturing  Co., 
American  Telegraph  and  Telephone 
Company    and    other    companies   have 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Love  Dialogue  in  the 
Open  Annoys  Bronx 

That  nuisance  law  passed  last  year 
through  the  efforts  of  the  health  de- 
partment has  become  a  nuisance  to 
New  York  exhibitors.  Neighbors  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Daly,  Bronx,  have 
protested  the  sound  reproduction 
emanating  from  the  open  air  roof  of 
that  theatre,  with  the  result  that  a 
case  now  is  pending  against  Manhat- 
(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Majority  Holders  to 
Fight  St,  Louis  Suits 

St.  Louis — The  majority  interests 
of  the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.  gnd 
Skouras  Brothers  Enterprises,  Inc., 
will  vigorously  oppose  the  receiver- 
ship suits  that  have  been  filed  against 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Endorsed 

CiONVERSATION 
promises  in  future  dealings 
with  exhibitors  are  on  the 
slaughtering  block.  From 
now  on,  distributors  will  in- 
sist that  whatever  deals  their 
salesn).en  make  shall  be  set 
down  in  writing,  for  all  and 
sundry  to  read.  In  other  words, 
it's  going  to  be  unpleasant  in 
the  future  for  unscrupulous 
salesmen  and  unscrupulous 
showmen   alike. 

Which  is  exactly  as  it  should 
be.  It  is  good  form  and  noth- 
ing else  to  reduce  to  writing 
exactly  what  the  buyer  and 
the  seller  agree  upon.  Side 
agreements  savor  of  the  ille- 
gitimate and  simply  don't 
belong  in  orderly  commercial 
transactions. 

KANN 


Unions  Renew  Relief 
As  Chi  Houses  Close 


Chicago — Additional  closings  of 
Chicago  theatres  planned  for  this 
week  and  next  have  paved  the  way 
for  further  concessions  from  locals 
of  the  theatrical  unions  here.  Opera- 
tors and  electricals  granted  Chicago 
exhibitors  one  free  week  during  June, 
but  the  temporary  relief  afiforded  from 
this  source  did  not  offer  enough  relief 
to  exhibitors  to  forestall  further  clos- 
ings.  Twenty  more  theatres  are  sched- 

(Continued  on   page  4) 


"Pay  Now 


?9 


Depression  talk  apparently  hasn't  left  any  telltale  marks  at 
Columbia,  Consolidated  Film  Industries,  Keith-AIbee-Orpheum, 
Eastman  Kodak  and  Universal  where  treasurers  were  busy  this 
week  mailing  out  checks  to  cover  regular  quarterly  dividend 
declarations. 

Columbia's  dividend  is  18?^  cents  on  both  the  common  and 
preferred.  Consolidated  paid  out  50  cents  on  each  share  of  its 
preferred,  and  K-A-0  $1.75  on  its  seven  per  cent  preferred. 
Eastman's  check  per  share  was  $L25  on  the  common,  $1.50  on 
the  preferred  and  a  pleasant  affair  in  the  form  of  an  extra  of 
75  cents  a  share  on  the  common.  Universal's  payment  was  $2 
on   the  preferred. 

And,  by  way  of  rounding  out  the  list  to  exactly  half  a  dozen, 
the  State  Theatre  of  Boston  came  through  with  a  $2  dividend 
on  its  preferred. 


All    Deals   Must  Adhere 

To  Written  Contract, 

They  Tell  Forces 


Every  salesman  in  the  United  States 
either  has  received,  or  will  receive, 
instructions  from  his  sales  manager, 
sitting  in  New  York,  that  the  terms 
of  contracts  for  film  service  must  be 
made  in  writing  and  that  verbal  or 
"side"  agreements  with  exhibitors  are 
out. 

The  step  comes  as  a  voluntary  move 
on  the  part  of  the  national  distribution 
heads  and  is  designed  to  aid  the  Copy- 
right Protection  Bureau  in  its  self- 
styled  educative  campaign  to  eliminate 
three  of  the  evils  that  are  rampant  in 
the  buying-and-selling  machinery  of 
the  industry  today.     These  are  : 

1 — Bicycling. 

2 — Unauthorized  hold-overs. 

3 — Fraudulent  returns  on  perecent- 
age  engagements. 

The  sales  managers  are  informing 
(Continued  on  page  S) 

Seeking  Holdover 
Evidence  in  Tampa 

T.\MPA — Joseph     L.     Stein,     repre- 
sentative of  the  Copyright  Protection 
Bureau,    New    York,    has    been    here 
investigating    claims    of    "hold    over." 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Zukor  Decorated 
By  Second  Country 

Adolph  Zukor  was  decorated  for 
the  second  time  in  two  weeks  by  a 
foreign  government  yesterday  when 
representatives  of  the  Portuguese  gov- 
ernment officially  presented  the  Grand 
Cross  of  the  Order  of  Santiago,  one 
of  the  highest  at  the  command  of  that 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Three  in  Brooklyn 
For  Brill,  Kutinsky 

Sol  Brill  and  Morris  Kutinsky  are 
reported  to  have  taken  over  the  three 
Brooklyn  houses  operated  by  Henry 
Seigel.  The  theatres,  the  Park,  Ritz 
and  Berkshire,  were  recently  taken 
over  from  Fox  by  Seigel.     Brill   and 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


No  Paper  Tomorrow 

Motion  Picture  Daily  will 
not  publish  on  Independence 
Day,  July  4. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,    July    3.     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE  4 

DAILY 

Registered   U.  S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Rivitv) 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\"ol.   30 


Jul> 


1931 


No.    29 


Martin   Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publishtr 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

Jaues  a.    Ceon 

Advertising  Manager 


^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephont:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  iNew  York."  All  contents 
copyriihted.. 

Holfywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manaifcr. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
Londos,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent. 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Sabscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Purely  Personal 


MAJOR  Edward  Bowes,  A.  C.  Blu- 
menthal,  M.  H.  Aylesworth  and 
David  Sarnoff  are  members  of 
Mayor  Walker's  committee  to  wel- 
come Round-the-World-Flyers  Post 
and  Gatty. 

Louis  Kutinsky  gets  back  from 
Pittsburgh  this  week  after  closing 
several  RKO  deals  in  that  territory. 
He's  one  of  the  four  Kutinskys  in 
the  business.  The  surprise  is  that 
they    are    all    relatives. 

J.  W.  Ryan,  manager  of  Fox's  Al- 
bany exchange,  is  in  town  for  a  few 
days  talking  with  circuit  buyers.  He 
took  in  the  Roxy  yesterday  just  for 
the  fun  of  looking  at  a  Fox  pic- 
ture. 

Lulu  Schwartz  of  Progressive 
Pictures  last  week  lost  his  mother. 
His  father,  Jack,  is  affiliated  with 
Manhattan   Playhouses. 

Jack  Pearly,  Paramount  New 
Jersey  exchange  booker  has  gone 
and  done  it.     Married,  you  dope. 


F,N,  of  England  Wins 
Morris  Drive  Trophy 

The  International  Sam  ■  E.  Morris 
Month  contest  held  by  Warner-First 
National  abroad  has  been  won  by  First 
National  of  England.  The  contest 
lasted  five  weeks  and  was  the  most 
exciting  of  all  the  foreign  contests 
held  by  the  picture  producing  com- 
panies. It  was  also  the  most  success- 
ful, First  National  having  been  com- 
pelled to  exceed  its  quota  in  order  to 
win.  The  Paris  office,  in  charge  of 
Robert  Schless,  won  second  prize  for 
France  and  third  prize  went  to  Japan, 
where  the  Warner-First  National  in- 
terests are  looked  after  by  Horace 
Clarke.  Warner  Bros,  of  England, 
was  next  in  line,  the  four  leaders  being 
bunched  at  the  close.  The  prize^  a 
silver  cup,  was  won  last  year  by 
Warner  Bros,  of  England. 

In  the  Bobby  Jones  contract  con- 
test, Hiram  D.  Parks  of  Memphis 
won  first  prize — a  set  of  gold  clubs 
presented  by  Bobby  himself. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Mike  Wants  Good  Ones 

Mike  Manos.  owner  of  the  Manos, 
Grand  and  Strand  Theatres  in  Greens- 
burg,  Pa.,  was  a  visitor  at  the  War- 
ner booking  offices  yesterday.  When 
asked  about  business  in  his  territory 
Manos  said  it  was  all  a  question  of 
product. 

"Give  me  box-office  pictures  and 
there  will  be  no  howl  on  business," 
he  said.  "This  is  a  fine  time  to  look 
for  the  good  stuff  and  that's  why  I'm 
here." 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Mascot  Serial  in  Roxy 

"The  Vanishing  Legion,"  Mascot's 
first  serial  of  the  current  season,  will 
have  its  world  premier  at  the  Roxy 
on  July  4.  The  first  episode  will  be 
released  generally  throughout  the 
country  the  following  week,  showing 
leading  theatres  of  the  Fox,  Warner 
and  I.oew  circuits. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

York  on  Tour 

Hollywood — Gabe  York,  publicity 
and  advertising  head  for  Fox  West 
Coast,  is  on  a  swing  around  the  cir- 
cuit. 


George  Beattie,  ad  sales  manager 
of  the  Paramount,  Philadelphia,  has 
been  promoted  to  salesman  in  the 
same  exchange.  He  started  with  the 
company  in  1926. 

Nathan  Burkan  leaves  for  the 
other  side  next  Monday.  Just  a  pe- 
riodical trip  for  the  eminent  coun- 
sel. 

Dave  Lustig  of  Manhattan  Play- 
houses doesn't  mind  the  heat.  He's 
way  up  on  the  11th  floor  to  be  both- 
ered with  such  an  airy  subject. 

Al  Such  man,  booker  for  Consoli- 
dated Amusements'  15  theatres, 
leaves  today  for  Stamford,  N.  Y., 
for    a    week-end    vacation. 

Joe  Seider  had  a  hearty  giggle  yes- 
terday, laughing  off  reports  that 
Warners  were  dickering  to  take  over 
his    31    theatres. 

Joe  Brandt  pulled  a  symphony  in 
white  role  yesterday  as  he  strolled 
down    Seventh   Avenue. 


&m%. 


Si   Seadler    for    that   M-G-M 

insert  wherein  he  dusted  off 

box-ofhce  records. 


5  Issues  Jump  $46,269492  in  Value 

Paper  value  of  the  stocks  of  five  major  picture  companies  showed  a  gain 
of  $46,269,492  in  June,  according  to  statistics  compiled  by  the  Nezv  York 
Times  and  published  yesterday.  The  stocks  are  Fox  Film  "A,"  Loew's, 
Paramount,  RKO  "A"  and  Warners. 

The  average  net  gain  in  points  of  this  group  was  3.950  for  the  month  as 
compared  with  a  gain  of  1.527  points  for  14  chain  store  stocks ;  3.592  points 
for  14  copper  stocks ;  2.425  points  for  10  department  store  issues ;  1.406  points 
for  four  leather  stocks ;  3.708  points  for  three  mail  order  house  stocks  ;  2.400 
for  14  motor  stocks;  3.196  points  for  seven  motor  equipment  issues;  2.511 
points  for  22  oils ;  3.750  points  for  eight  railroad  equipment  stocks ;  2.835 
points  for  six  rubber  stocks;  1.917  points  for  nine  sugar  stocks  and  3.464 
points  for  14  tobacco  issues. 

Groups  that  showed  greater  fractional  gains  than  amusement  issues  were 
nine  building  stocks  with  a  rise  of  4.153  points;  four  business  equipment  issues 
with  gain  of  6.025  points ;  nine  chemicals  with  6.458  points ;  29  public  utilities 
with  5.315  points;  25  railroads  with  9.055  points;  13  steels  with  5.529  points. 

The  standing  of  the  film  group  at  the  end  of  June  was  as  follows : 

June  28, 
193  J. 

Shares    May, 
Listed 

Fox    Film    Corp..    CI.    "A"    2,425,660 

Loew's  Inc 1,462,684 

Paramount- Publix      3,232,769 

Radio-Keith-Orpheum,    "A"    2.378,406 

Warner    Bros.    Pictures    3,800,6.%  ^ 

Total      $46,269,492 

The  June  gain  in  value  of  $46,269,492  compares  with  a  loss  of  $71,720,861 
in  May;  a  loss  of  $113,972,433  in  April;  a  loss  of  $35,109,110  in  March  and 
a  gain  of  $34,602,923  in  February  of  this  year. 

Stock  List  Irregular;  E.  K.  Off  IV2 


Closing 

fay,        June, 

Net 

931         1931 

Ch'ge. 

Increase  Decrease 

15            19^ 

-f45/^ 

$11,218,678         

38^        4554 

-f  6% 

10,055,952        

22/8        26!/8 

+  4 

12,931,076        

nVi        1554 

-f  27/8 

6,837,917        

6/2,         7% 

+  m 

5.225,869        

High  Low  Close 

Cciibolidated      Film      Industries 7'A  7%  7/ 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 14  14  14 

Eastman     Kodak 151/j  149  149 

Fox    Film    "A" 20/a  19?^  If/s 

General  Theatre    Equipment   new 454  4!4  4>A 

Loew's,  Inc 47'4  45^8  4554 

Loew's.  Inc.,  pfd ^  8754  SJVa, 

Paramount    Publix 27  26^  2654 

Pathe    Exchange m         m  m 

Pathe     Exchange     "A" d'A          554  fA 

RKO  1^^  ^^y^  "^ 

Warner   Bros 614         &  8 


Curb  Issues  Also  Spotty 


TriiTi-cirT''  rr  ■  '     '     „■  u  . 

High  Low 

Fox   Theatres    "A" 3^         S'/g 

General  Theatre  Equipment  pfd 9  9 

.Sentry    Safety    Control 1}4  m 

Technicolor     6/  614 

Trans    Lux 6%  6 


Close 

3% 
9 

m 
6/2 

6 


Net 
Change 

4-  '4 

—  'A 
-\A 

—  Vn 

-V4 

—  H 
+  54 
-f  li 
+  'A 
+  H 
+  'A 
-'A 


Net 
Change 


+  'A 


Bonds  Advance;  Loew's  Gains  1 


'40. 


High 

,»'/, 

98 

101/ 

89 

81 

, ,    _      ,.      .        907/8 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39   wd 4054 


General   Theatre    Equipment   6s 

Loew's  63  '41   ex  war 

Paramount    Broadway  _5/s    '51 

Paramount   F.   L.  6s  '47 

Paramount     Publix     5/s,     'SO. . 
Pathe    7s    '37    ww 


Low 

39 
97 

101/2 
89 
81 
89 
.«/ 


Close 

39/ 
98 
101/ 
89 
81 

89/ 
39/ 


Net 
Change 

-f  / 

-I-  K2 


+  54 
—1 


Sales 

4()0 

100 
l„i00 
2.800 

500 
4,300 

500 

3,;oo 

4,30C 
6,O0C 
12,500 
5,100 


Sales 

100 
300 
100 
100 
800 


Sales 

3 
3 
2 
2 

4 


Dedicate  Fanchon 
And  Marco  Studio 

Hollywood — A  new  studio  was 
dedicated  here- — and  it  wasn't  a  movie 
one,  although  devoted  to  producing 
entertainment  for  de  luxe  movie 
houses.  It  was  the  new  Fanchon  and 
Marco  studio  on  Sunset  Boulevard, 
where  stage  revues  for  the  larger  pic- 
ture houses  spotted  all  over  the  coun- 
try, inclusive  of  the  Fox  Theatre, 
Brooklyn,  and  Academy  of  Music  and 
Audubon,    Manhattan,    are   made. 

Fanchon  and  Marco  supervise  the 
stage  presentations  at  the  Roxy,  but 
the  latter  are  produced  right  at  that 
theatre.  The  dedication  was  attended 
by  leading  executives  of  the  film  col- 
ony and  Governor  James  D.  Rolp^ 
made  a  special  trip  from  San  Fran- 
cisco to  make  the  dedicatory  speech 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Central  Park  Theatre 
Reverts  to  Shuherts 

Leo  Brecher  will  not  reopen  the 
Central  Park,  having  turned  the 
house  back  to  the  Shuberts  in  accord- 
ance with  a  provision  in  his  contract 
to  that  effect.  William  Raynor,  man- 
ager of  the  house,  may  be  shunted  to 
another    Brecher    post. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Hersholt  in  New  York 

Jean  Hersholt,  who  is  now  acting 
as  chairman  of  the  Danish  Olyrnpic 
Games  Committee,  arrived  in  New 
York  yesterday  from  Washington, 
where  he  has  been  conferring  with 
the  ambassador  from  Denmark  in  re- 
gard to  plans  for  the  1932  Los  An- 
geles Olympic  games.  Hersholt  will 
spend  about  a  week  in  New  York  be- 
fore returning  to  the  Coast. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Fox  Contracts 

Hollywood  —  New  contracts  have 
been  signed  by  Fox  with  the  follow- 
ing: 

Janet  Gaynor,  Elissa  Landi,  Greta 
Nissen,  Rosalie  Roy,  Hardie  Albright, 
J.  M.  Kerrigan,  El  Brendel,  Thomas 
Meighan  and  Juan  Torena,  players. 

David  Butler,  Hamilton  McFadden 
and  Alfred  Werker,  directors. 

S.  N.  Behrman,  writer. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Freund  to  Direct 

Hollywood  —  Karl  Freund,  noted 
German  cameraman,  is  to  forego  the 
camera  in  favor  of  direction. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Johnson  Quits 

Hollywood — Julian  Johnson,  asso- 
ciate producer  at  Paramount,  has  re- 
signed. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Wire  Goldwyn's  Home 

Hollywood — Samuel  Goldw\n  has 
contracted  for  an  RCA  Photophone 
reproducer  for  his  Santa  Monica 
Beach  home. 


Two   Records! 

POST  AND  GATT Y 

FLIGHT  AROUND  THE   WORLD  IN 

LESS  THAN  9   DAYS! 


PARAMOUNT 
SOUND  NEWS 

Rushes  air  mail  to  all  subscribers, 
at  no  extra  cost,  complete  story  of 

Post-Gatty  Arrival  in  New  York, 

and  flight  highlights,  all  in 

LESS  THAN  9  HOURS 

after  finish  of  record  world  dash! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,    July    3,     1931 


Significance 
Of  Patent  Pool 
Trade  Topic 


(Continued   from    Italic    1) 

been  discussing  with  the  government 
possibility  of  pooling  their  radio  pat- 
ents. 

The  government  and  the  companies, 
which  are  defendants  in  an  anti-trust 
suit,  are  negotiating  a  proposal  to 
create  a  pool  whereby  use  of  their 
patents  in  radio  and  allied  fields  would 
open  to  the  public  generally  upon  fair 
and  reasonable  terms  to  be  fixed  by 
independent  trustees. 

After  the  war.  General  Electric  and 
A.  T.  and  T.  pooled  a  large  number 
of  patents,  included  in  which  are  un- 
derstood to  be  basic  inventions  that 
figure  in  talking  pictures.  It  is  the 
future  of  this  i)atent  pool  that  is  now 
being  discussed  in  Washington. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Zukor  Decorated 
By  Second  Country 

(Continued   from    paiie    1) 

government,  in  appreciation  of  Para- 
mount's  presentation  of  the  Portu- 
guese talking  picture,  "A  Cancao  do 
Berqo." 

The  presentation  was  made  by  Dr. 
Joas  de  Deus  Ramos,  consul  of  Por- 
tugal, assisted  by  J.  Saavedra  de 
Figueiredo,  vice  consul,  in  company 
with  Sebastiao  Sampaio,  consul  gen- 
eral of  Brazil.  The  Portuguese  deco- 
ration follows  closely  the  presenta- 
tion of  the  decoration  of  Commander 
in  the  Hungarian  Order  of  Merit, 
awarded  by  Admiral  Horthy,  regent 
of  Hungary. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Three  in  Brooklyn 
For  Brill f  Kutinsky 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Kutinsky  now  operate  the   Inwood   at 
Forest    Hills.     Efforts  to   reach   Brill 
or    Kutinsky    at    the    Inwood    proved 
unavailing   yesterday. 


Seigel  to  Enter 
Indie  Production 

With  sale  of  this  trio  of  Brooklyn 
houses  to  Sol  Brill  and  Morris  Kut- 
insky, Henry  Seigel  plans  to  enter 
the  independent  production  field. 
Whether  he  will  produce  in  the  east 
or  on  the  Coast  has  not  yet  been  de- 
cided. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

No  Changes  at  Fox 

The  executive  personnel  of  Fox 
Film  remains  unchanged  for  the  next 
year.   The   officers   are : 

Marley    L.    Clarke.  .President 

WiSFiELD  Sheehan.  .  VicePresidetit-C  Icneral 

.Manage 
VV.  C.  Michel N'icePresident         and 

Trea.surer 
S.   R.   Burns Vicel'resident         :ind 

Secretary 
James   R.   Grainger.  .Vice- President        in 

CharK<:   of    Sales 
Glenn    Griswold.  . . .  \'ice-Presiden: 

.Sydney    Towell C'omptroller 

W.    S.    Bell Assistant    Treasurer 

Felix    A.     Jenkins.  .Assistant   Secretary 

J.    J.    KiTSON Assistant   Secretary 

F.    R.    Stoeckf.i Assistan!   Secretary 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Little,  Baltimore,  Closes 

Baltimokf. — The  Little  Theatre  has 
closed  for  the  season.  A  number  of 
foreign  pictures  have  already  been 
booked  when  the  house  reopens  in 
September. 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


''The  Sheriff's  Secret*' 

{States  Rights) 

The  producers  have  taken  quite  a 
bit  of  movie  license  in  making  this 
western  because  of  the  baby  angle. 
But,  notwithstanding,  it  provides  about 
an  hour's  entertainment.  Riding  on 
horseback  with  a  si.x-months-old  in- 
fant, showing  her  walking  railroad 
tracks  and  then  talking  to  her  as 
though  she  knew  what  it  was  all  about 
is  stretching  the  imagination  to  the 
extreme. 

A  bandit  stranger  walks  off  with  a 
baby  orphan  at  an  infant  show  and 
also  takes  the  first  prize  for  her, 
which  brings  on  the  wrath  of  the 
sheriff.  The  bandit  reveals  his  past 
and  the  hunt  begins  for  the  reward. 
The  heroine  is  brought  into  the  plot 
because  of  the  necessity  of  a  woman's 
care  in  bringing  up  the  child  adopted 
by  the  hero.  The  bandit,  it  is  re- 
vealed, has  returned  the  money  to  the 
original  owners  and  is  cleared,  but 
why  he  is  arrested  at  the  fadeout  is 
hard  to  conceive.  Jack  Perrin  is  the 
bandit  hero.  Bill  Franey  provides  the 
comedy  and  J.  P.  Hogan  wrote  and 
directed. 


Short  Subjects 


''Younger  Years" 

{RKO  Pallw) 
Here's  without  doubt  the  best  of 
the  Grantland  Rice  Sportlights.  It  is 
not  only  a  prize  for  juvenile  trade  but 
also  will  hit  the  family  folks  for  a 
good  share  of  patronage.  It  deals 
entirely  with  youngsters  engaging  in 
different  sports,  such  as  swimming, 
baseball,  football,  marbles,  etc. 
There's  no  acting  on  the  part  of  the 
children,  which  makes  it  all  the  more 
real  and  enjoyable.  Running  time,  10 
minutes. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Hello  Napoleon" 

{Universal) 

Most  of  the  footage  shows  four 
lunatics  in  an  insane  asylum  giving 
medical  treatment  to  Lloyd  Hamil- 
ton, the  antics  of  all  being  so  puerile 
and  lacking  in  humor  that  one  won- 
ders whoever  okayed  such  a  script. 
Directed  by  Harry  Edwards.  Run- 
ning time,   17  minutes. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Pale  Face  Pup" 

(RKO  Pathe) 
Aesop  Fables  has  its  own  ideas 
about  Indians.  In  this  number  we 
find  them  talking  Yiddish  and  doing 
the  Charleston,  acccjinpanied  by  their 
papooses  and  tom-tom  music.  Then 
there  is  the  story  of  the  little  weaver 
and  the  lover  cowboy,  who  has  to 
van(|uish  the  entire  outfit  before  he 
can  declare  the  girl  as  his.  The 
accompanying  instrumental  numbers 
enhance  the  picture  immeasurably. 
Running  time,  9  minutes. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

"Strange  As  It  Seems, 
No.  10" 

(Uniz'ersal ) 
Many  interesting  oddities  are  con- 
tained in  this  number,  the  outstand- 
ing feature  showing  an  Hawaiian 
catching  and  eating  an  octopus.  Will 
api>eal  to  all  types  of  theatregoers. 
Running  time,    10  minutes. 


"June  First" 

{RKO  Pathe) 
June  MacCloy,  flaxen-haired  and 
good-looking,  has  a  load  of  persqn- 
ality.  On  the  screen  she  uses  it  to 
her  advantage  to  fleece  admirers  of 
jewelry  by  telling  them  she  will 
marry  each  on  June  1.  She  collects 
the  tokens  as  a  means  of  getting  cash 
tor  a  contemplated  trip  to  Europe 
with  her  two  girl  friends.  Her  plan 
nearly  falls  through  when  she  is 
nabbed  lor  speeding  on  her  way  to 
tlie  boat.  Betore  she  is  through  with 
tne  coppers  tnere's  another  date  set 
lor  a  marriage,  which  is  just  another 
way  ot  getting  out  ot  the  jam. 
Marion  bnilling,  Gertrude  Short, 
jiinmie  Finlayson,  Harry  Holman  and 
Marshall  Ruth  round  out  the  cast, 
ixunning  time,  20  minutes. 

•BUr   KIGHI — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

"North  Woods' 

{Universal) 
This  Osv^ald  cartoon  is  entirely 
lacking  in  originality  and  will  elicit 
no  cheers  from  audiences.  Oswald  is 
a  Northwest  Mountie  and  in  trying 
to  get  his  man  runs  up  and  down 
the  landscape.  Running  time,  6  min- 
utes. 

•BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Pollak  to  Sell  Only 
When  3  Are  Finis  tied 

Reversing  the  usual  procedure  in 
selling,  Adolph  Pollak  will  not  start 
peddling  any  of  his  ^0  pictures  until 
che  first  three  are  ready  for  screen- 
ing. Pollak  yesterday  told  Motion 
Picture  Daily  that  he  "was  not  go- 
ing to  sell  conversation,  but  some- 
thing definite"  and  that  exhibitors  will 
have  a  chance  to  look  at  his  first  pic- 
tures belore  signing  contracts. 

With  "Salvage"  and  "Love  Bound" 
going  into  proauction  next  at  the  Tec 
Art  studios  in  Hollywood,  Pollak  ex- 
pects to  leave  lor  the  Coast  in  about 
ten  days  to  watch  the  process.  Jesse 
Goldberg  is  supervising  eight  of  the 
20,  while  Al  Mannon  will  be  in  charge 
of  the  rest. 

The  policy  of  not  selling  to  exhi- 
bitors before  the  first  three  are  com- 
pleted also  applies  to  states  rights 
distributors  seeKing  territorial  rights, 
Pollak  said. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Paramount  Dropping 
'Graff  from  Schedule 

Although  announced  in  its  pros- 
pectus as  one  of  the  coming  season's 
pictures,  Paramount  has  withdrawn 
"Graft,"  from  the  novel  "The  Glass 
Key,"  from  its  1931-32  list.  Universal 
is  making  a  picture  under  the  same 
title.  Gary  Cooper  was  to  have  ap- 
peared in  the  Paramount  picture. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Standard  to  Release 
Monograms  in  Ohio 

Cleveland — Monogram  Pictures 
will  be  distributed  by  Standard  Film 
Service  Co.  through  its  four  offices  in 
Cleveland,  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati  and 
Detroit. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Color  in  Pictorial 

Beginning  with  the  first  issue  of 
Paramount  Pictorial  for  1931-32,  one 
Technicolor  sequence  will  be  used  in 
every   issue. 


Chi  Unions  to 
Renew  Relief; 
More  Closing 

(Continued  from  parje    1) 
uled     to     close     here     Sunday     night, 
bringing    the    total    of    summer    clos- 
ings in  the  city  to  well  over  one  hun- 
dred theatres. 

Faced  with  extensive  layoffs  in  all 
sections  of  the  city  for  two  months 
beginning  next  week,  the  theatrical 
unions  here  are  reported  to  be  con- 
sidering additional  concessions  to  aid 
theatres  remaining  open.  It  is  un- 
derstood that  an  exhibitor  represent- 
ative has  broached  a  plan  for  contin- 
uing the  one  week  salary  rebate  oi 
union  employees  through  July  and 
August  for  all  theatres  remaining 
open,  and  the  proposition  is  under- 
stood to  be  under  consideration  by 
union    officials. 

Additional  theatre  closings  sched- 
uled for  this  week  include  the  Lindy, 
Plaisance  and  Forest  theatres,  owned 
by  Jack  Miller,  president  of  the  Ex- 
hibitors' Association  of  Chicago: 
Warner  Bros.'  Symphony  and  Shake- 
speare theatres ;  the  Garden,  Indiana 
Harbor,  and  the  Avalon,  in  addition 
to  numerous  other  neighborhood 
houses. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Love  Dialogue  in  the 
Open  Annoys  Bronx 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

tan  playhouses,  operators  of  the  house, 
in  the  Magistrate's  court. 

Residents  assert  that  the  sound  from 
the  theatre  is  a  nuisance  in  accord- 
ance with  the  law.  The  case  comes 
up  before  Magistrate  Harris  next 
Wednesday  with  the  Burkan  office 
representing   the   defendant. 

About  40  theatres  in  New  York 
will  be  affected  by  the  decision, 
Charles  L.  O'Reilly,  president  of  the 
Theatre  Owners  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, states.  He  does  not  believe 
that  the  law  when  passed  was  meant 
to  include  theatres  with  open  air  roof 
gardens. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Majority  Holders  to 
Fight  St,  Louis  Suit 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  concern  by  a  few  minority  stock- 
holders in  the  St.  Louis  Circuit  Court. 
Samuel  B.  Jeffries  of  the  law  firm  of 
Jeffries,  Simmons  &  Plummer,  local 
attorney  for  Warners,  has  denied 
that  there  is  any  basis  for  the  suits, 
and  he  stated  that  the  administration 
of  Warners  has  been  efficient. 

On  June  30  the  suit  filed  against 
the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.  by  Jack 
Shea  and  his  sister,  Katie  Shea, 
owners  of  85  shares  of  Class  A  stock, 
was  continued  to  July  14  after  the 
defendants  had  been  granted  a  change 
of  venue  from  Circuit  Judge  Moses 
N.  Hartmann's  court  to  Judge  Ross- 
kopf.  It  was  charged  that  Judge 
Hartmann  was  prejudiced  against  the 
defendants. 

Six  other  minority  stockholders, 
owners  in  all  of  825  shares  of  stock 
in  the  St.  Louis  .Amusement  Co., 
have  intervened  in  support  of  the 
Shea's  suit. 


'^^■'^ 


NEW  SHOWS!  NEW  IDEAS!  BACKED 
BY  DYNAMIC  GOLDEN  ERA  AD  CAM^ 
PAIGNS,  PROSPERITY  AHRACTIONS 
BURSTING   WITH   B.  O.   VALUES 

RKO-RADIO  STEPS  JAUNTILY  UP  TO  ^ 
OLD  DAVIL  DEPRESSION  AND  WHACKS 
HIM  FLUSH  ON  HIS  STUBBLED  CHIN! 


^•Vi. 


COMING  SOON! 

ANOTHER  TITAN  NATIONAL  AD  CAM- 
PAIGN  FOR  PAUL  SLOAN'S  BOUNCING 
CLICKER  'TRAVELING  HUSBANDS".  .  .  BIG 
COPY  IN  EVERY  IMPORTANT  DAILY  PAPER 
WILL  FOLLOW  PRELIMINARY  TRADE- 
PAPER  WARM-UP  .  .  . 

START  PLANNING  YOUR 
CAMPAIGNS    NOW! 


Reg.  U.  S 


)» 


V 


We've  already  told  you  about  I 

WATERLOO   BRIDG 

Picture   Number  One  I 


on  Universal's   greatest   lineup   in   21 
years  of  production . . .  and  now  comes 

HEAVEN 
ON  EARTH 

Ben   Lucian   Burman's   prize  novel  of   romance  i 
the  Mississippi  flood  area   that  bids   fair   to   rivai 
"SEVENTH  HEAVEN"  of  blessed  box-office  memory/ 
starring  the  idol  of  the  screen  and  supported  by) 
ANITA  LOUISE,  Harry  Beresford,  Charles 
Grapewin   and   others  .  .  .  Directed   by 

RUSSELL  MACK 

Ride  with 

UNIVERSAL 

and  you  ride  with  a  winner 


i: 


▲ 


JNIVERSALS  greatest  line-up 


» 


EAVENonEAMH 


Presented  by 
Carl  Laemmie 


Produced  by 
Carl  Laemmie,  Jr. 


S^ 


if 


-.A-  ^-^ 


1 


>T.«*v-. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,    July    3,     1931 


Ohio  M.P.T.O. 
Favors  "Buy 
Now"  Policy 


(Continued   from    pacie    1) 

tor  is  no  more  entitled  to  ask  pro- 
hibitivel}-  high  prices  than  the  ex- 
hibitor is  to  offer  unreasonably  low 
prices. 

"This  has  alwajs  been  the  difficulty 
at  the  beginning  of  every  selling  sea- 
son, and  we  will  never  get  awa\'  from 
it  unless  both  seller  and  buyer  can 
have  more  confidence  in  each  other."' 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Movie  Memories" 
Unsponsored,  Listed 

{Continued   from    page    1) 

managers  by  Stanley  B.  Waite,  Para- 
mount's  short  subject  sales  manager, 
announcing  the  new  inclusion  in  the 
shorts  schedule  with  release  set  at  one 
a  month.  The  shorts  will  comprise 
shots  of  old  motion  pictures  plus  run- 
ning comment  in  a  humorous  vein. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Indian  Pioneer  Dies 

Word  has  been  received  by  officials 
of  Paramount's  foreign  department  of 
the  death  in  Calcutta.  India,  of  Rus- 
tomji  Khursodji  Dotivala,  managing 
director  of  Madan  Theatres,  Ltd.,  and 
well  known  throughout  the  East  as  a 
film   pioneer. 

Mr.  Rustomji,  as  he  was  popularly 
known,  was  the  first  man  to  introduce 
pictures  into  India  on  a  commercial 
scale.  He  opened  the  first  picture  the- 
atre in  Calcutta  in  1913 ;  exhibited  the 
first  talking  film  in  that  country  in 
1919  and  last  year  brought  out  com- 
plete apoaratus  for  producing  native 
films.  All  theatres  throughout  Mad- 
an's  Circuit  were  closed  for  one  day 
as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  deceased. 


All  Deals  Must 
Be  in  Writing 


(Continued  from    page    1) 

their  men  that  no  excuses  will  be 
tolerated.  They  are  stressing  as  an 
important  point  the  fact  that  condi- 
tions governing  sales  are  to  be  in- 
cluded in  the  written  contract  and 
that  any  other  method  is  out. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Samuelson  Calls  for 
Special  Jersey  Meet 

Sidney  Samuelson  has  called  a  spe- 
cial meeting  of  Allied  Theatre  Own- 
ers of  New  Jersey  for  July  7.  Busi- 
ness not  taken  up  at  the  Atlantic  City 
convention  will  be  discussed. 

Original  plans  for  the  meeting  to 
follow  the  Atlantic  City  get-together 
called  for  a  boat  ride  on  July  9,  but 
this  has  been  found  impracticable.  The 
boat  ride  date  stands. 

Topics  to  be  discussed  at  the  special 
meet  will  include  the  cooperative  buy- 
ing plan,  protection  and  the  Allied 
newsreel. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Disney  Completes  Studio 

HoLLYWOOiy — Walt  Disney,  who  has 
just  completed  a  new  studio  and  of- 
fice building  on  Hyperion  Ave.,  has 
installed  RCA  Photophone  equipment 
in  the  projection  rooms  used  to  re- 
view the  daily  "rushes"  and  completed 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Walsh  Directs  Elissa 

Hollywood — Raoul  Walsh  has  been 
assigned  to  direct  "The  Yellow  Tick- 
et," Elissa  Landi's  next  picture  fol- 
lowing "Wicked."  Walsh  recently  re- 
turned to  Hollywood  from  New  York. 


NEW     YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
B  R  Y  a   n  t     4712... 

BRUL 

CHICAGO 

1727    INDIANA   AVENUE 
CALumet    2691... 

LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

154    CRESCENT    STREET 
....STIMweli       7940 

EASTMAN 
*   F    LMS  * 

ATOUR 

1  ncorporated 

H  OLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.   .  .    Hollywood       4  12  1 

Legs''  Fine  in 
Third  Week 
In  Portland 


"A  Free  Soul" 
Day  and  Date 
Leaders  in  L.Aj 


Portland — With  continued  in- 
clement weather,  business  has  been 
diverted  from  the  parks  and  outside 
attractions  directly  into  the  first  run 
houses,  registering  a  slight  increase 
in  bo.x-office  takes.  "Daddy  Long 
Legs"  was  continued  for  a  third 
week  and  above-average  receipts 
were  chalked  up.  "Just  a  Gigolo" 
at  Paramount  bolstered  up  the  F.  & 
M.  stage  show  "Sketches,"  with  mid- 
nite   matinees   drawing   well. 

Estimated    takings     for    the    week 

ending    July   2  : 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 

FOX  BROADWAY— (1,912),  25c-50c.  3rd 
week,  7  days.  Gross:  $6,200.  (Average, 
$5,000.) 

"HOT   HEIRESS"   (F.   N.) 
FOX    RIALTO— (1,498).    25c-35c,    3    days. 
Gross:    $l,3ao.       (Average   for    week,   $4,000.) 
"PARTY   HUSBAND"    (F.  N.) 
FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c.    4    days. 
Gross:    $1,800.      (Average   for   week,    $4,0C0.) 
"MALTESE    FALCON"    (Fox) 
HAMRICK'S    MUSIC    BOX— (1,800),    25c, 
7   days.      Gross:    $4,200.       (Average,    $4,000.) 
"JUST  A  GIGOLO"   (M-G-M.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,068).     25c-60c,    7    days, 
F.    &  M.    "Sketches"    Idea.      Gross:    $14,000. 
(Average,   $12,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 
RKO  ORPHEUM— (1.700),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaudeville.        Gross:        $11,200.        (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Start  ''Patriotic  Week" 

"Patriotic  Week,"  proposed  by 
Vice-President  Curtis,  will  start  to- 
morrow and  will  be  generally  ob- 
served in  all  RKO  cities  from  coast 
to  coast.  This  week  of  celebration, 
in  which  the  American  Legion,  city 
officials,  merchants  and  citizens  are 
co-operating,  will  be  ushered  in  with 
tonight's  broadcast  of  the  "RKO  The- 
atre of  the  Air"  at  10 :30  p.  m.  New 
York  time,  over  WEAK  and  the  NBC 
nationwide  network  of  forty-six  sta- 
tions. This  radio  salute  to  America 
and  Americans  .will  be  staged 
aboard  the  Leviathan,  flagship  of  the 
United  States  Lines,  and  in  this  set- 
ting the  patriotic  holiday  program 
will  be  rendered  by  the  RKO-lians, 
augmented  to  115  musicians  under  the 
leadership   of    Milton    Schwarzwald. 

In  inspiring  this  week's  activity,  the 
vice-president  wrote  to  Hiram  S. 
Brown : 

"Through  stage  and  screen  and  ra- 
dio, I  would  like  to  see  the  day  set 
aside  to  commemorate  the  signing  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  ex- 
tended into  a  full  week  of  patriotic 
thanksgiving.  I  should  like  to  see 
flags  flying  all  over  the  nation  dur- 
ing this  "Patriotic  Week." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Laemmle  Signs  Brown 

Hollywood  —  Roland  Brown  was 
signed  to  a  long-term  contract  yes- 
terday by  Carl  Laemmle,  Jr.  It  was 
Brown's  work  on  "Quick  Millions" 
which  brought  him  to  Laemmle's  at- 
tention. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Riesner  Assigned 

Hollywood — Charles  Riesner,  who 
directed  "The  Hollywood  Revue,"  and 
has  just  completed  Marie  Dressler's 
"Politics,"  will  direct  the  picturiza- 
tion  of  the  George  White  musical 
success,  "Flying  High."  Bert  Lahr 
has  been  brought  out  to  the  M-G-M 
studios  to  appear  in  this  picture  and 
A.  P.  Younger  is  handling  the  screen 
adaption. 


Los  Angeles — Excessive  heat  kep| 
the  beaches  crowded  and  the  theatres 
fairly  empty.  "A  Free  Soul,"  play- 
ing day  and  date  at  the  Criterion  ant 
Chinese,  garnered  the  best  grosses 
getting  $15,200  at  the  former  an( 
$13,500  at  the  Chinese,  both  figun 
being  more  than  $5,000  above  normal 
The  Warner  houses  found  business 
light  with  "Smart  Money,"  as  did  _th^ 
Paramount,  Loew's  State  and  Unit( 
Artists. 

Estimated    takings    for    the     we« 
ending  July   1  : 

"TRADER  HORN"   (M-G-M) 
CALIFORNIA    INTERNATIONAL  —  C 
000),     25c-50c,     7     days,      Spanish     versiol 
Gross:   $4,000.      (Average,   $5,000.) 

"REBOUND"    (RKO-Pathe) 
FOX    CARTHAY    CIRCLE^(1,650),    7S< 
$1.50,    2nd    week.      George    Stoll    and    Bad 
Gross:    $6,500.      (Average,    $12,500.) 
"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 
FOX     CRITERION  — (1,652),     35c-65c, 
days.     Gross:   $15,200.     (Average,   $10,000.) 
"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 
GRAUMAN'S  CHINESE— (2.030),  25c-75c, 
7   days.     Gross:  $13,500.     (Average,  $8,000.) 
"DISHONORED"    (Para.) 
GRAUMAN'S   EGYPTIAN  —  (1,800),  10c- 
65c,  7  days.  Gross:  $3,800.     (Average,  $6,500.) 
"FIVE  AND  TEN"   (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S  STATE— (2,418),  35c-65c,  7  days. 
F.   &  M.  "All  At  Sea"  Idea.     Gross:  $21,000. 
(Average,   $27,000.) 

"TOO    YOUNG    TO    MARRY"    (Warners) 
LOS   ANGELES— (2,100),   25c-65c,   7   days. 
Stage  show  with  Leon  Errol.     Joe  Tenner's 
Band.     Gross:  $11,000.     (Average,  $16,000.) 
"SEED"    (Univ.) 
ORPHEUM— (2,750),   35c-65c,   7   days,   3rd 
week.      Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,   $16,000.) 
"STRANGERS   MAY  KISS"   (M-G-M) 
PANTAGES  HOLLY\VOOD— (3.000),  35c- 
65c,     7    days.       F.     &     M.     "Vaude"     Idea. 
Gross:  $13,000.     (Average,  $15,000.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3.596).    35c-65c,     7    days. 
Stage     revue.       Gross:     $13,500.       (Average, 
$25,000.) 

"JUST  A   GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 
RKO— (2,700),  35c-65c,  7  days.     Vaudeville. 
Gross:    $14,000.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"INDISCREET"   (U.  A.) 
UNITED   ARTISTS— (2.100),    35c-65c.    3rd 
week.     Gross:   $7,000.      (Average,   $13,500.) 
"SMART    MONEY"    (Warners) 
WARNER  DOWNTOWN— (2,400),  7  days, 
2nd  week,  35c-50c.    Gross:  $8,200.     (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"SMART   MONEY"    (Warners) 
WARNER  BROS.  HOLLYWOOD— (3.000), 
7    days,    2nd    week.    35c-50c.      Gross:    $8,500. 
(Average,   $14,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Orchestra,  Vaudeville 
Dropped  in  Winnipeg 

Winnipeg — Both  vaudeville  and  the 
house  orchestra  have  been  discon- 
tinued at  the  RKO  Capitol  and  the 
policy  in  future  will  be  pictures  ex- 
clusively, according  to  Manager  H. 
M.  Thomas.  The  Capitol  was  the 
last  stronghold  of  stage  presentations 
in  Winnipeg. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Clarke  Set  on  Hobby 

The  Chicago  Civic  Shakespeare  So- 
ciety will  start  its  season  in  Chicago 
in  September  and  will  play  four  weeks 
or  more  in  New  York.  Harley  L. 
Clarke,  president  of  Fox,  is  president 
of  the  society,  which  is  a  hobby  with 
him. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

No  Legit  for  Ann 

Hollywood — Denial  of  rumors  that 
Ann  Harding  will  return  to  the  stage 
has  been  made  by  RKO  Pathe  offi- 
cials, who  declare  that  the  star's  three- 
year  contract  gives  them  exclusive 
rights  to  her  services.  She  is  now- 
working  on  "Devotion." 


CONGRATULATIONS 
CHARLES  R.  ROGERS 

You've  given  me  something  to  crow 
about   with    these   two   smash    hits! 


INA    CLAIRE 
REBOUND 

A  CHARLES  R.  ROGERS  PRODUCTION 

dravring  the  mobs,  novrl 


FOX  CARTH AY  CIRCLE  LA, 


EDDIE  QUILLAN 
SWEEPSTAKES 

A  CHARLES  R.  ROGERS  PRODUCTION 

held  over  for  2nd  weekl 

THE    OLD    FIGHTIN'    COCK  —  SHOWMAN'S    TOAST    FROM    COAST    TO    COAST! 


cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 

cm 
cm 
cm 

cm 
cm 

cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 

cm 
cm 

cm 

cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 


a 


victor  over 
adversity 


K.  HARRY  M.  WARNER 

is  one  of  the  braver  fetv  of  the  in- 
dustry of  the  motion  picture.  He 
has  had  all  the  kinds  of  breaks  there 
are  and  a  lot  of  thevi  have  been  bad. 
If  he  could  have  been  defeated  he 
would  have  vanished  from  the  sight 
of  the  screen  world  by  1915,  before 
"My  Four  Years  in  Germany,"  be- 
fore "Schooldays" — and  there  would 
be  no  Warners-First  National  insti- 
tution of  today.  Down  all  the  years 
front  the  little  nickelodeon  at  Green- 
castle  in  Ohio,  nearly  three  decades 
in  the  past,  he  has  had  an  abiding 
faith  in  this  industry,  his  industry 
and  its  tomorrow.  He  has  con- 
sistently sold  himself  and  the  indus- 
try.   He  never  quits. 


This   adverthcmeuf 
is  the  second  of 
a  series  on 
success  in  the 
picture  industry. 


cm 
em 
em 
cm 


r>^ 


''unlimited 
resources  and 
opportunities 


From  the  merry  state  ot  Maryland,  famed  for  fried  chicken, 
terrapin,  good  living  and  a  cheerful  view  of  a  good  world, 
come  plain  but  pleasant  words  about  the  state  of  the  nation 
and  the  outlook  for  business.  Governor  Albert  C.  Ritchie,  in 
the  course  of  an  address  in  New  York  the  other  night,  offered 
some  observations,  obvious  enough  but  also  obviously  some- 
what overlooked  in  some  of  the  fogs  of  pessimism  and  hysteria 
that  have  been  drifting  across  the  motion  picture  horizon. 


"Here,"  said  Governor  Ritchie,  "is  a  nation  of  120,000,000  people.  They 
have  an  infinity  of  wants  and  desires.  They  are  willing  to  labor,  to  buy 
and  to  sell.  They  are  filled  with  the  spirit  of  courage,  initiative  and  enter- 
prise. They  are  determined  to  maintain  high  standards  of  life  and  to  raise 
these  standards  higher.  They  live  in  a  land  of  unlimited  resources  and 
opportunities,  ,  .  .  He  must  have  little  faith  and  little  vision  indeed  who 
does  not  foresee  a  prosperity  and  contentment  even  greater  than  before. . . ." 


This  prospering  people  has  by  its  patronage  created  the  great  prospering 
institution  of  the  motion  picture.  They  will  maintain  it  and  keep  it  flourish- 
ing, if  the  makers  of  pictures,  the  distributors  of  pictures  and  the  exhibitors 
of  pictures  will  but  strive  to  keep  them  sold.  The  problem  is  selling,  sell- 
ing, selling.  Because  we  live  by  the  consumer  who  in  consuming  must  buy 
and  buy  and  buy.  What  he  will  buy  will  be  what  is  best  sold.  The  pictures 
are  just  as  good  as  they  ever  were,  and  probably  the  average  is  better.  The 
job  is  still  to  buy  and  sell.  The  man  who  waits  to  do  business  in  this  busi- 
ness will  still  be  waiting  after  the  business  is  done. 

GOLVIN    BROWN 

General  Manager 
Quigley  Publications 
MOTION     PICTURE     DAILY 
MOTION   PICTURE   HERALD 
J  THE   HOLLYWOOD  HERALD 


Nftr  lEVINE 

-resents 


^ 


k 


WITH 

HARRY  CAREY  ^  EDWINA.  BOOTH 


'i# 


NEW  YORIC 

OPENING  JULY  FOURTH 


MASCOT  MSTER  SERIAL 


MASCOT   H  PICTIRCS  Corp. 

1650  DROAD1VAY  -^^     NtW  YORK  CITY 

FORCiGN  DISTRIBUTOR  J.U.I40FFBER6  Co.  Inc.  I6S0  BROADVyAYNY  CableAddress  Ber&hoFT 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  30 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JULY  6,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


Reichenbach, 
Publicity  Ace, 
Buried  Today 

Dies  at  49  After  Eight 
Months'  Illness 


Funeral  services  will  be  held  at  2 
o'clock  today  at  Temple  Emanu-El, 
1  East  65th  Street,  for  Harry  L. 
Reichenbach,  who  died  from  cancer 
at  the  Doctors'  Hospital  in  New  York 
at  12:15  Fri- 
day afternoon. 
Dr.  Nathan 
Krass  will  of- 
ficiate  and 
among  the  hon- 
orary pallbear- 
er s  will  be: 
Grover  Whalen, 
Mayor  James  T. 
Walker,  A.  C. 
B  1  u  m  e  n  t  hal, 
Sydney  Solo- 
mon, Sime  Sil- 
verman, Robert 
Lehman,  Jesse 
L.  Lasky,  Harry 
Hershfield,  Rob- 
ert H.  Coch- 
rane, J.  Robert  Rubin,  \.  H.  Kohler, 
Walter  Wanger,  Lee  Ochs,  William 
Walsh,  Al  Lichtman,  Joe  Brandt, 
David  Freedman,  Jack  Alicoate  and 
James  Ridder. 

The  end  was  expected.  Reichen- 
bach, one  of  the  most  colorful  figures 
in   the  business,   press   agent  extraor- 

{Continued   on   page   4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Fox  Theatres  Sign 
For  W.B.-F.N.  List 

Further  strides  in  the  "Buy  Right 
— But  Buy  Now"  campaign  have  been 
made  with  another  big  deal  just 
signed.  Gradwell  Sears  of  Warner- 
First  National  has  concluded  negotia- 
tions with  Jack  Sullivan  of  Fox  The- 
atres whereby  the  Warner-First  Na- 
tional   1931-32    product    will    play    in 

(Contimted  on    page  2) 


Harry  L.  Reichenbach 


Butterfield  Circuit 
Buys  Radio  Lineup 

The  entire  Butterfield  Circuit,  op- 
erating through  the  state  of  Michigan, 
has  closed  for  Radio  Pictures'  1931- 
1932  product.  The  deal  was  closed 
in  Detroit,  with  Eastern  Sales  Man- 
ager Jerry  Safron  acting  for  Radio 
Pictures  and  Ed  Beatty,  general  man- 
ager of  the  Butterfield  circuit,  for 
that  organization.  Around  75  houses 
are  included  in  the  deal. 


Salute! 

Harry  reich- 
enbach has  passed  into  the 
headlines  he  so  often  obtained 
for  others. 

A  good  deal  of  the  glamour 
of  this  business  fades  in 
Reichenbach's  death.  There 
was  a  colorful  aura  about 
Harry.  For  years  he  had  been 
an  industry  personality.  He 
never  had  affixed  to  his  name 
high-sounding  titles.  He  was, 
in  fact,  a  press  agent — a  mere 
press  agent,  if  you  like,  yet 
more  widely  knowrn  and  more 
affectionately  regarded  than 
perhaps  his  mundane  estate 
would  indicate   possible. 

Harry  was  known  ajong  the 
industry's  highways  and  in  its 
by-lanes  for  his  rapier  -  like 
wit,  his  unfailing  sense  of 
humor.  Even  in  the  final  days 
of  a  harrowing  illness,  this 
nimbleness  of  mind  refused  to 
be  dimmed. 

He  wras  well  steeped  in  the 
tenets  of  friendship  and  clung 
to  them  staunchly.  Passing 
years  and  changing  conditions 
made  no  difference  to  Reich- 
enbach when  he  called  a  man 
his  friend.  Great  personal 
charm  was  his  and  under- 
standing too. 

Yet,  at  forty-nine  he  is 
gone.  That,  truly,  is  something 
to  be  regretted. 

K  A  N  N 


DEADLOCK  ON  CITY 
SALES  IN  CHICAGO 


Publix  Seeks  Fla. 
Deal  With  Sparks 

Atlanta — On  the  heels  of  the  im- 
pending deal  with  Robert  Wilby  to 
take  over  management  and  a  half  in- 
terest of  its  100  per  cent  owned  the- 
atres in  North  Carolina  comes  an- 
other. This  is  with  E.  J.  Sparks,  who 
is  active  in  circuit  operation  in  Flor- 
ida. 

It  is  understood  Publix  is  talking 
to  Sparks  to  take  over  its  houses  in 
all  Florida  towns  except  West  Palm 
Beach    and    Miami    on    a    fifty-fifty 

(Coittimied   on    parje  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Epics  Schedule  12 
Features,  88  Shorts 

Twelve  features  and  88  shorts  will 
comprise  the  1931-32  line-up  of  Talk- 
ing Picture  Epics,  the  company  an- 
nounces. 

Included  are  three  Ufa  English 
version  talkers,  "The  White  Devil," 
"The  Last  Company"  and  "The  Im- 
mortal Vagabond."  Lil  Dagover  ap- 
pears in  "The  White  Devil,"  produced 
by    Ufa    from    a    Tolstoi    novel    at    a 

iCoHtinued   on   page  4) 


Authors  Kick; 
Publishers  to 
Drop  Cut  Idea 


With  opposition  from  the  Authors 
League  of  America  and  the  National 
Association  of  American  Book  Pub- 
lishers, book  publishers  have  dropped 
plans  for  including  into  contracts 
with  new  authors  a  clause  for  a  per- 
centage of  picture  rights.  Publish- 
ers, while  dropping  the  plan  for  a 
uniform  contract  with  authors,  did  not 
state,  however,  that  the  percentage 
agreement  would  be  entirely  elimi- 
nated in  the  future.  One  publisher  in 
particular  is  planning  to  provide  for 
movie  cuts  in  contracts  with  new  au- 
thors,  it   is  said. 

The  reason  given  by  the  league  for 

(Continued  on    paqe   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Horwitz  Move  Cuts 
Dual  Feature  Use 

Cleveland — Following  the  local 
trend  to  discontinue  the  general  use 
of  douBle  feature  programs,  M.  B. 
Horwitz,  general  manager  of  the 
Washington  circuit,  has  entered  into 
an  arrangement  with  his  competitors 
whereby,  in  houses  of  three  changes 
a  week^  only  one  of  the  changes  will 
include  the  double  feature  policy. 
Single  features  will  prevail  during  the 
other  two  changes.  This  is  the  first 
move  on  the  part  of  local  exhibitors 
to  put  a  stop  to  this  practice. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Pathe  Reports  $73,999 
Loss  for  13 1-3  Weeks 

Loss  of  $73,999.16  for  the  13  1/3 
weeks  ended  May  2  is  reported  by 
Pathe  Exchanges,  Inc.,  and  is  based 
on  the  application  of  certain  profits  to 
reduction  of  ledger  value  of  assets  in- 
volved, the  company  states.  For  the 
4  2/3  weeks  ended  January  29,^  on 
which  date,  the  report  states,  "cer- 
tain properties  and  parts  of  the  busi- 
ness were  sold  to  RKO  Corporation," 
a  profit  of  $36,941  after  interest  and 
amortization  was  recorded. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Expect  White  Report 
Soon;  To  Be  Tame? 

Ottawa — The  Dominion  govern- 
ment finally  has  issued  an  official  in- 
timation   that    a    statement    would   be 

(Continued  on    page   2) 


Demands  of  Circuits  for 

Concessions  Hold  Up 

New  Season 


Chicago — While  buying  cir- 
cuits are  making  demands  on 
exchanges  for  reductions  in 
rentals,  country  theatres 
served  out  of  the  Windy  City 
are  going  ahead  on  new  sea- 
son buys  without  delay. 


Chicago — Selling  is  making  little 
progress,  a  canvas_s  of  local  distribu- 
tors  reveals. 

The  greatest  obstacle  to  city  sales, 
according  to  exchange  opinion,  is  the 
attitude  of  buying  circuits  which,  in 
their  fight  for  existence  here,  are 
making  exorbitant  demands  of  ex- 
changes  in  their  buying  negotiations. 

The  circuits'  demands  include  not 
only  substantial  rental  reductions,  as 
compared  with  last  year's  rentals,  but 
also  involve  increased  protection 
for  their  member  theatres.  The  growth 
of    buying    circuits    here    in    the    past 

(Continued  on   page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

To  Fire  Salesmen 
For  Verbal  Pacts 

When  new  regulations  promulgated 
by  sales  managers  and  banning  verbal 
and  "side"  agreements  become  effec- 
tive, summary  action  will  be  taken  if 
violations   are   discovered. 

Immediate  dismissal  for  offenders 
is  in  the  air  for  salesmen  who  at- 
tempt to  sidestep  the  new  order. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gallup  Resigns  U,  A. 
Post;  Home  Succeeds 

Bruce  Gallup,  for  several  years 
director  of  publicity  and  advertising 
for  United  Artists,  has  resigned.  Hal 
Home,  long  identified  with  theatre 
exploitation  in  the  Northwest  and 
recently  brought  into  New  York  by 
U.  A.,  succeeds  Gallup. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

U.  K.  Booking  Plan 
Again  Is  Trade  Topic 

London  —  The  British  trade  is 
curious  to  know  what  the  ultimate 
outcome  will  be  of  a  plan  suggested 
at  the  recent  Brighton  convention  of 
the  Cinematograph  Exhibitors  Ass'n 
for  revival  of  a  booking  office  to  pur- 
chase   films    for    its    members. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,    July    6.    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\o\.   30 


July   6,    1931 


No.   30 


-Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 

^\r\  PL'liLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  IJroadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliain 
A.  Johnston^  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent :  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscojie,  SIO  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  VV.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,'  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of   March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  ?15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Expect  White  Report 
On  Industry  Soon 

^Continued  from  page  1) 

forthcoming  on  or  about  July  8  re- 
garding the  picture  business  in  Can- 
ada based  on  the  interim  report  of 
Commissioner  Peter  White  on  the 
probe  into  the  industry  under  the 
Combines  Act.  This  report  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  government  in  May, 
but  no  action  was  taken. 

As  forecast  in  AIotion  Picture 
Daily,  the  government  officials  have 
now  classed  the  White  document  as 
an  "interim  report,"  thereby  getting 
around  the  law  which  compels  the 
Federal  government  to  table  the  re- 
port of  an  investigation  in  the 
House  of  Commons  within  two 
weeks  of  receipt. 

Because  of  this  attitude  on  the  part 
of  the  government,  it  is  not  expected 
that  the  White  findings  will  be  dras- 
tic or  comprehensive. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Theatres  Sign 
For  W,  B.-F,  N,  List 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Fox  West  Coast  and  Midwesco  the- 
atres, totaling  between  400  and  500 
houses. 

Other  contracts  received  by  the 
Warners  include :  Golden  State  The- 
atres for  the  entire  Warners-First 
National  product  at  the  Broadway, 
Capitol,  Diamond,  Palace,  New  Fruit- 
vale,  Fairfax,  Golden  State,  Granada 
and  Lincoln  Theatres,  Oakland ;  the 
Verdi,  Milano,  Daly,  Parkside,  Irv- 
ing, Excelsior,  Riviera,  Uptown  and 
Haight  Theatres  in  San  Francisco, 
and  the  Victory  in  San  Jose.  Con- 
tracts for  the  balance  of  the  Golden 
State  Theatres  are  to  follow. 

Contracts  for  the  entire  Warner- 
First  National  product  have  been  re- 
ceived from  the  Fishman  circuit,  oper- 
ating a  chain  of  theatres  in  Connec- 
ticut. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Clark  to  Coast 

Ralph  Clark,  distribution  head  for 
Warner- I'irst  National  in  Australia, 
left  Saturday  for  the  Coast  after  a 
month  in  New  York.  Before  sailing 
for  Sydney  he  will  visit  the  com- 
pany's Burbank   studios. 


Purely  Personal 


CHARLES  MANNING,  former 
Publix  musical  advisor  and  con- 
ductor at  the  New  York  and  Brooklyn 
Paramounts,  has  succeeded  Wilye 
Stahl  as  conductor  at  Shea's  Buf- 
falo. After  a  yacation  at  Sara- 
toga, it  is  understood  Stahl  will  en- 
ter the  radio  field. 

F.  N.  Phelps,  city  manager  for 
Warners  in  Cleveland,  got  300  office 
girls  to  attend  a  free  showing  of 
"Big  Business  Girl"  at  7  A.M.  and 
then  bought  them  cofTee  and  sinkers 
at  a  restaurant.  (Yep,  it  got  into  the 
newspapers.) 

Jack  Kuhne,  aviation  editor  of 
Fox  Movietone  News,  has  photo- 
graphetl  Niagara  Falls  from  an  auto- 
giro,  and  the  shots  may  or  may  not 
be  enjoyed  by  those  who  honeymooned 
there. 

Joseph  A.  Hinds,  former  owner 
of  the  Victoria  in  Watertown,  N.  Y., 
has  become  a  June  bridegroom.  The 
event  happened  at  Baltimore,  the 
bride   hailing  from   Cincinnati. 

Dr.  John  G.  Fravne,  consulting 
engineer  in  the  West  Coast  recording 
department  of  Erpi,  has  been  awarded 
the  grade  of  Fellow  by  the  American 
Physical    Society. 

L.A.WRENCE  Wegner,  manager  of  the 
Capitol  at  Clinton,  la.,  has  gone  and 
done  it,  the  bride  being  Evelyn  Erick- 
son  of  Fort  Dodge.  He  met  her  while 
managing  a  house  there. 

Walter  Eberhardt  leaves  the 
Murray  Hill  Sanitarium  today  to 
spend  a  week  convalescing  at  home. 
Then  back  to  Erpi. 

Lou  Rivers,  formerly  assistant 
manager  of  the  Tabor  in  Denver,  is 
now  holding  down  a  similar  post  at 
Loew's   State  in  Los  Angeles. 

.Svn  Garrett  misses  his  side-kick — 
Milton  Cohen — who  is  out  of  town. 
For  years  they  partnered  in  Inter- 
Globe   Export. 

Lou  Baum  is  in  the  running  for 
the  "Best-Dressed  Man"  contest  at 
the  Motion   Picture  Club. 


Six  New  Ones 

Broadway  theatres  this  week 
house  six  new  pictures.  Three 
of  them — "Laughing  Sinners," 
"The  Black  Camel"  and  "Broad- 
minded"  —  were  reviewed  by 
Motion  Picture  Daily  prior  to 
their  New  York  debut.  The 
other  three  —  "Girl  Habit," 
"Mystery  of  Life"  and  "Newly 
Rich" — are    covered    today. 

The  line-up: 

AsTOR — "A  Free  Soul"  (M- 
G-M) — reviewed  by  Motion 
Picture  Daily  April  18. 

Cameo  —  "Mystery  of  Life" 
(Univ.) — reviewed  today,  page  4 

Capitol — "Laughing  Sinners" 
(M-G-M)— reviewed  May  29. 

Central  —  "Road  to  Hell" 
(Public  Welfare)  —  reviewed 
June  27. 

Criterion  —  "The  Smiling 
Lieutenant"  (Para.) — reviewed 
May  22. 

Hollywood  —  "Chances"  (F. 
N.) — reviewed  May  2. 

Mayfair  —  "Sweepstakes" 
(RKO  Pathe) — reviewed  June  5. 

Paramount — "Girl  Habit" 
(Para.) — reviewed  today,  page 
4 

RivOLi — "Newly  Rich"  (Para.) 
— reviewed    today,    page   4 

RoxY — "Black  Camel"  (Fox) 
— reviewed   May    14. 

Strand  —  "Broad  Minded" 
(Warners) — reviewed   April  2. 

Winter  Garden  —  "Smart 
Money"  (Warners)  —  reviewed 
editorially  June   19. 


Pat  Garyn  and  Mrs.  Pat  hit  these 
shores  again  on  Saturday.  They  re- 
turned on  the  Europa  from  their 
short    vacation   abroad. 

Bert  Hen  son,  publicity  director  of 
the  Denver  Theatre,  Denver,  is  again 
a   father.     It's  a  girl. 

M ANNIE  Shure  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  RKO  Capitol  in  Cin- 
cinnati. 


Entire  Market  Rallies;  E,  K,  Gains  4% 

(Quotations    as    of    Friday,    June   3) 

Net 

High.     Low      Close  Change  Sales 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 8             7'4          8           -f  "/S  900 

Eastman    Kodak    153^      150          153}4        -|-4'4  3,000 

Fox     Film     "A" 21%        20^        21            -fl}4  7,300 

General    Theatre    iiquipment    new 4%          4^          4^        -V  Yi  1,300 

Loew's,      Inc 47%        46           46%        -|-1  9,400 

Loew's,     Inc..     pfd 90           90           90           -|-2J4  lOU 

Paramount    Publix 28}4        26Ji        27^        -f  %  15,7iX) 

Pathe    Exchange I'A,          1%          2           -\-  Yg,  9,600 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 8^          6^          854        +2Ji  18,000 

RKO     16%        16"^        165^        -f-  %  21,400 

Warner   Bros 8Ji          8^          Wz        +  'A  16,800 

Warner    Bros,    pfti' 19%        19%        19%        100 

Curb  Issues  Irregular 

Net 

High      Low      Close  Change  Sales 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc 12!^        12/j        12/^        --'4  1(X) 

Fox    Theatres     "A" 3J4          3'             3            ~  %  1,500 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 9%          &%          9            1,100 

Technicolor     7             7             7            -\-  'A  200 

Trans     Lux 6'A          6              (>'A         +   'A  70!) 

Bonds  Rally;  W.  B,  Jumps  IVz  Points 

Net 

High       Low      Close  Change  Sales 

General    Tlieatrc    Equipment    6s    '40 41            39yi        41            +VA2  17 

Loew's    6s    '41    ex    war 99           98           99           -fl  14 

Paramount    Broadway    S-^s    '51 101  ^^      WVA      lOlK        2 

Paramount   Publix   S/jS,   '50 81%        81%        81'4        +  'A  2 

Pathe    7s    '.?7     ww 91            90'A        90A        4-%  14 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    wd 41            40           41            +\A  15 


&w%. 


Joe  Brandt  for  his  very  defi- 
nite stand  against  salary  cuts. 


Buyers  Deadlock  in 
Chicago;  Seek  Cuts 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

year  has  made  competition  for  mem- 
ber theatres  exceptionally  keen,  and 
as  the  major  inducements  to  be  of- 
fered a  prospective  circuit  member 
are  the  advantages  which  a  circuit 
can  obtain  from  distributors — either 
in  price  or  protection,  or  both — new 
contracts  provide  an  open  season  for 
circuit    bargaining. 

An  example  of  the  demands  being 
made  by  the  buying  circuits  is 
offered  in  the  propositions  being 
made  distributors  by  the  Midwest 
Theatres  circuit.  This  combine  is 
demanding  a  full  50  per  cent  reduc- 
tion in  film  rentals  this  year  and,  in 
addition,  is  asiking  numerous  pro- 
tection concessions  for  member 
theatres. 

Exchanges  realize  that  any  conces- 
sion of  this  kind  is  later  used  by  the 
circuits  as  sales  matter  to  gain  addi- 
tional members,  and  that  the  in- 
creased membership  of  the  combines 
is  used  primarily  to  obtain  still  fur- 
ther concessions  from  distributors.  In 
consequence  few  exchanges  are  acced- 
ing to  the  circuits'  demands,  and  a 
city  buying  deadlock  is  the  result 
as  numerous  unattached  theatres  are 
awaiting  the  outcome  in  order  to  de- 
termine whether  joining  a  circuit  will 
be  more  advantageous  this  year  than 
the  former  policy  of   individual   buy- 


"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Authors  Kick;  Cut- 
in  Plan  Is  Dropped 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
its  opix>sition  is  that  publishers  do  not 
incur  enormous  expense  in  printing 
a  book  and  are  not  entitled  to  out- 
side profits  of  the  author.  They  do 
admit,  however,  that  stage  producers 
buying  books  for  transition  to  legiti- 
mate production,  are  entitled  to  in- 
clude clauses  for  percentage  of  mo- 
tion picture  rights  because  of  the 
large  expenditure  undertaken  by  them 
in    staging    the    show. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

11  German  Theatres 
Playing  "All  Quief' 

Berlin — Six  theatres  here,  one  in 
Hanover,  three  in  Hamburg  and  one 
in  Halle  are  now  showing  Universal's 
"All  Quiet  on  the  Western  Front" 
A!   Szekler  handled  the  bookings. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Rowson-Paramount  Deal 

London  —  "The  Officer's  Mess," 
Harry  Rowson's  first  independent  pic- 
ture, will  be  released  by  Paramount 
here. 


n^'iim. 


7hd?2S 


5^ 


A  vivid  romantic  story  of 
the  heroic  adventures  of 
an  ambulance  interne; 
fresh  and  original  in  its 
treatment;  tense  and 
dramatic  in  plot;  absorbing 
throughout. 


With 


GRANT  WITHERS 

Marjorie  Beebe 

Donald  Keith 

Wheeler  Oakman 

Directed  by 
Stuart  Paton 


^^CTURES  ifff^ 


ANOTHER 

SMASH 

TIHIftglLIL 


Story  By 

Michael  L  Simmons 


IDIHAlMlA 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,    July    6,    1931 


Reichenbach, 
Publicity  Ace, 
Buried  Today 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


'Newly  Rich" 

{Paraiiioiint) 
,^    ,.      TZ       \        ,,  ■      Not  a  "Skippy"  by  far,  but  never- 

(Continuea   from   page    1)  .i     ,  ,  ■   ^       '    ■      ,.■.•        i 

dinarv  and  after  dinner  speaker  de  ,  ^he  ess  a  charmnig  picture  is  Newly 
luxe,' had  been  ill  for  eight  months.  ;  K"^'^-  7u  Pl«asant  and  wholesome 
-  It  was  following  a  dinner  given  to  ,  ^'^f""  o^  HoUywoodian  child  stars 
Harry  Hershfield,  the  cartoonist,  last  '"jde  a  definite  hit  before  a  comfor- 
October,  at  which  Harry  was  toast-  .  tably-filled  Kivoli  on  Friday, 
master,  that  Reichenbach's  health  first  '  ,^y  '^^  chuckles  and  its  laughs,  the 
heoan  to  fail  him  adult    audience    indicated    that    Nor- 

Prominent  physicians  at  the  outset  |  5"^"  .  Taurog  had  done  it  again, 
disagreed  in  the'ir  diagnoses.  Several  i  ^itzi  Green,  infinitely  clever  troup- 
declared  the  illness  was  cancer ;  others  '  er,  is  excellent.  We  may  be  hay- 
interpreted  the  ailment  as  glandular  wire,  but  it  was  our  reaction  that 
trouble.  It  was  approximately  in  i  Jackie  Searl  was  better  here  than  in 
.March  of  this  year  when  Reichen-  "Skippy."  Bruce  Line,  as  the  boy 
bach's  family  learned  definitely  that  •<'"§■.  too,  put  up  a  fine  show.  Edna 
cancer  was  the  disease,  but  it  was  May  Oliver,  as  one  of  the  three 
only  in  the  latter  davs  of  Harry's  ill-  mothers  in  the  case,  is  a  panic  all 
ness  that  he  knew  the  truth  about  his  "pto  herself.  What  a  clever  come- 
condition.  dienne  she  is!     In  a  part  that  called 

Alternately  endeavoring  to  recuper-    for     broad     characterization,     it     ap- 
ate  at   his  home  and  at  the   Doctors'    peared    to    us    that    Louise    Fazenda 
Hospital,    Reichenbach,    at    least    dur-    overacted    shamefully. 
ing  the  final  six  months  of  his  illness.        The    story     concerns     the     experi- 
had  passed  through  a  "living  hell."         ences    of    Mitzi    and    Jackie,    picture 

The  first  cancerous  growth,  lodged  stars,  in  Hollywood  and  in  London 
under  the  breastbone  and  situated  in  where  they  happen  upon  high  ad- 
the  one  spot  where  doctors  agreed  venture  with  the  boy  king  who  wants 
an  operation  was  too  dangerous  to  to  be  more  boy  than  king  and  has 
attempt,    was    believed    to    have    been    his  own  way  for  a  time. 

removed    by     radium    treatment,    the  

severity  of  which  proved   such  a  tax  i 

on    Harry's    strength    that   his    family  |  ^'Givl  Hdhit** 

was  at  a  loss   to  understand  how   he  I  „  , 

stood    them.     It    was    less    than    ten  i  _       (Faramount) 

weeks   ago    when   a    slight    lump   was  !      If  you're  going  to  be  logical  about 

discovered    on    one    of    his    shoulders.  -  "Girl      Habit,"      you'll      find     plenty 

X-ray  treatment  then  ascertained  that    wrong  with  the  picture.    But  if  you're 

the  cancer   had   caught  on   elsewhere,    after    laughs,    you'll    find    enough    in 

l->om  that  time  on,  the  malignant  as-    this   Charlie   Ruggles   starring  vehicle 

pects    of    the    disease    asserted    them- ;  to    convince    you    it's    nice    entertain- 

selves   rapidly    until    in   the   last   days    ment.     The   Paramount  theatre  audi- 

of  the  illness  the  growth  had  extended    ence   on   Friday   seemed   to  go  for   it 

throughout    the    chest    and    into    the    handsomely. 

lungs.  I      Ruggles,    inveterate    flirt,    finds    he 

In  the  last  four  weeks,  Reichenbach  '  can't  stop,  despite  his  engagement.  I 
realized  that  his  affliction  was  fatal,  j  His  philandering  gets  him  into  a  load ' 
For  two  weeks  he  had  been  lying   in 


of  trouble  and  a  load  of  bullets — al- 
most. In  order  to  avoid  the  jealousy 
of  a  gang  leader  who  believes 
Ruggles  has  been  mixed  up  with  his 
wife,  Charlie  finally  maneuvers  him- 
self into  jail  for  protection. 

It  had  possibilities  and  Director 
Eddie  Cline  took  advantage  of  them. 
Ruggles  handles  his  tomfoolery 
pleasantly.  K  A  N  N 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''The  Mystery  of  Life" 

( Unii'ersal) 
With  an  explanatory  lecture  by 
Clarence  Darrow  and  Dr.  H.  M. 
Parshley,  professor  of  Zoology  at 
Smith  College,  this  tale  of  evoluti 
begins  with  the  origin  of  the  Uni- 
verse; the  beginning  of  animal  life, 
and  the  subsequent  ofif-shoot  of  man. 
Practically  every  phase  of  living  sub- 
jects comes  in  for  discussion  with 
actual  pictures,  charts,  miniature 
shots  and  mechanically-operated  an- 
imal scenes  included.  Throughout  the 
picture  are  interruptions  in  which  the 
eminent  Darrow  and  Professor 
Parshley  discuss  the  subjects  shown. 
-Animal  life,  its  classifications  and 
various  species  are  discussed  thor- 
oughly. Darrow,  in  one  of  the  talks, 
says  there  are  80,000  varieties  of  liv- 
ing matter,  two-thirds  of  which  are 
insects.  Many  microscopic  scenes  re- 
veal the  biological  manifestation  of 
the  animal  and  man.  In  another  scene 
Darrow  states  that  he  doesn't  believe 
man  is  descendent  of  animal  but 
both  are  from  the  same  source,  as  yet 
unknown.  An  audience  at  the  Cameo, 
New  York,  applauded  generously  at 
the  conclusion  of  the  lecture.  Ufa 
cooperated  in  supplying  most  of  the 
important  scenes  of  the  animal,  fish, 
and  irsect  life.  It  is  an  enthralling  as- 
semblage  of  facts   that   is   well  worth 


Unions  Refuse 

To  Cut;  Seattle 

Theatre  Dark 


a   semi-coma,   regaining   consciousness  ;  cook  for  Texas  cowboys,  manager  of 
only   for   brief  spells.  I  an  amusement   park   washed   away  by 

Reichenbach  would  have  been  fifty  { the  Johnstown  flood,  and  medicine 
years  old  on  March  17.  He  was  born  [  man,  he  was  scholar  cum  laitde  in  the 
at    Frostburg,    Md.,    in    1882,   the   son   academy    of   hard   knocks.     Before   he 


of  Charles  and  Matilda  Bear  Reichen 
bach,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eight  children  of  whom  six  survive. 
They  are  Walter,  Leon,  Joseph,  How- 
ard, Elsie  Reichenbach  and  a  sister, 
Mrs.  Lee  Haas.  Howard  Reichen- 
bach is  well  known  in  the  New  York 
trade  through  his  affiliation  with  the 
Prospect  Press,  printers.  His  widow, 
Lucinda  Bacon  Reichenbach,  whom 
Harry  married  in  Greenwich  in  1923, 
also  survives   him. 

The  film  industry  knows  Reichen- 
bach from  the  early  days  when  Jesse 
L.  Lasky  wrote  scenarios,  Samuel 
Goldwyn  wrote  checks  and  Harry 
wrote  press  yarns  out  of  the  same 
inkpot.  His  business  affiliations  over 
the  years  carried  him  into  the  ranks 
of  practically  every  important  com- 
pany  in   the   industry. 

It  is  said  of  Reiclienbach  that  he 
gave  Rudolph  Valentino  his  fir.st  job. 
In  his  experience,  he  had  handled 
personal  publicity  for  Gloria  Swan- 
son,  Wallace  Reid,  Thomas  Meighan, 


was  17  he  had  been  around  the  world 
twice  with  The  Great  Raymond  for 
whom  he  was  "fixer"  and  later  press 
agent.  Being  "fixer"  for  a  magician 
meant  the  delicate  job  of  arranging  all 
details  so  that  the  tricks  came  ofl^ 
without   a  hitch. 

The  Reichenbach  stunts  were  le- 
gion and  almost  legendary  in  the  in- 
dustry. During  a  printers'  strike  some 
years  back  and  not  to  be  daunted  when 
no  newspapers  were  being  published, 
he  secured  a  corps  of  town  criers,  put 
them  in  traditional  costume  and  let 
them  cry  out  the  news  of  the  day, 
featuring  the  announcement  of  his 
then-current  attraction.  He  placed  a 
lion  in  the  Belleclaire  Hotel  to  pub- 
licize "Tarzan  of  the  Apes." 

He  procured  columns  of  free  public- 
ity by  importing  eight  pseudo-Turks 
and  placing  them  in  a  Central  Park 
hotel  in  their  world-wide  search  of 
the  "Virgin  of  .Stamboul,"  where  they 
announced  $20,000  reward  for  the 
whereabouts    of    the   lost   daughter   of 


ICthel     Barrymore,     Charlie     Chaplin,  |  the    sheik.     He    instituted    inquiry   for 
Pola   Negri  and  others.  I  loneliness    as   a    cause    for   divorce    in 

Described  and,  moreover,  jxjpularly  j  centering  public  sentiment  about  a 
accepted  as  the  "highest  priced  press  j  picture  called  "Lonely." 
agent  in  the  world,"  Reichenbach's  <  He  changed  the  name  of  West  43rd 
earnings  are  reported  to  have  reached  ,  Street  into  "Dream  Street,"  the  name 
as  high  as  $5,(>00  and  $6,000  a  week,  i  of  a  film  he  was  then  exploiting  for 
I'y   turn   circus  waif,  acrobat,  spieler,;!).    VV.   (iriffith   and   aroused   country- 


wide protest  against  "blue  laws"  in 
his  campaign  for  "Outside  the  Law." 

Reichenbach's  stunts  usually  had  a 
joker  and  were  good  for  a  laugh.  As 
a  publicity  stunt  for  "Tarzan"  when 
New  York  life  pivoted  about  the 
Knickerbocker  Hotel,  he  launched  the 
career  of  "Prince  Charley,"  a  huge  ape 
which  capered  through  the  revolving 
doors  of  that  hostelry  one  night  with- 
out a  keeper.  "Prince  Charley"  was 
finally  captured  on  Broadway  and 
brought  to  the  police  station,  the  chase 
being  duly  chronicled  by  all  the  papers. 

Stricken  by  his  fatal  illness  in  the 
fall,  he  went  to  Palm  Beach  to  re- 
cover, but  he  failed  rapidly.  He  was 
busy  to  the  end,  devoting  much  of  his 
time  to  working  on  a  biographical 
book  revealing  the  inside  story  of  peo- 
ple whom  he  had  handled.  Simon  and 
Schuster  will  publish  the  work  in  a 
few   weeks. 

Interment  will  take  place  at  Union 
Fields  cemetery.  Cypress  Hills,  L.  I. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  May  Produce  in 
Australia  After  All 

London — Once  denied,  it  now  ap- 
pears Fox  will,  after  all,  produce  in 
Australia.  The  decision  depends  upon 
first-hand  information  gathered  by 
Clayton  P.  Sheehan,  who  visits  Syd- 
ney shortly. 

Fox  will  also  produce  quota  films 
in  Germany  in  conjunction  with 
Tobis. 


Sf.,\ttlk— The  Fox  Paramount  has 
closed  as  a  result  of  the  unwilling- 
ness of  union  operators,  stagehands 
and  musicians  to  cooperate  in  the 
adjustment  of  operating  costs  at  local 
Fox  West  Coast  theatres. 

Fanchon  and  Marco  stage  revues 
will  pass  up  Seattle,  with  the  Strand 
in  Vancouver  substituted.  The  cur- 
rent outlook  does  not  indicate  any 
possibility  of  the  reopening  of  the 
Paramount  or  the  return  of  stage 
shows  to  any  other  theatre. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Epics  Schedule  12 
Features,  88  Shorts 

(.Continued   from    page    1  ) 

reputed  cost  of  $800,000.  In  additiui 
there  will  be  six  special  features  syn- 
chronized with  dialogue,  music  and 
sound  efi^ects.  Already  set  in  this 
division  are  "Monsters  of  the  Deen,' 
"Hell  Below  Zero"  and  "I  Kiss  Yo'ur 
Little  Hand,  Madame,"  starring  Mar- 
lene  Dietrich, 

In  the  shorts  line-up  will  appear : 

The  Great  American  Cities  Series, 
produced  by  Phil  Brown,  with  "Up 
and  Down  New  York"  and  "The 
Heart  of  a  Nation"  (Washington) 
now  being  released. 

Lowell  Thomas,  radio  star  and  lec- 
turer, will  appear  in  and  provide  dia- 
logue for  a  Latin  American  Series  of 
six  travel  pictures  and  a  Far  East 
Series  of  six  travel  pictures. 

Frank  D.  Ormston  will  contribute 
a  series  of  character  studies  of  peo- 
ples in  remote  places,  the  first  two 
of  which  are  "The  Place  That  Time 
Forgot"  and  "Pompeii." 

Dr.  Raymond  L.  Ditmars  of  the 
New  York  Zoological  Society  will 
continue  his  series  of  novelty  pictures 
devoted  to  strange  and  unique  things 
in  the  animal  kingdom. 

The  Wanderlust  Series  will  be  made 
up  of  selected  single  reels  covering 
jaunts  in  interesting  places  of  the 
world. 

Ward  Lascelle  will  contribute  a 
series  of  six  subjects  devoted  to  the 
Pacific  Northwest. 

Intimate  Interviews  with  famous 
screen  stars  will  include  a  series  of 
26  recorded  visits  with  some  of  the 
best  known  screen  stars  in  Holly- 
wood. 

The  Chester  "Snooky"  monkey 
comedies  will  be  revived  and  re- 
leased by  Talking  Picture  Epics,  Inc. 
These  pictures  will  be  fully  synchron- 
ized with  music  and  sound  effects. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Puhlix  Seeks  Fla, 
Deal  With  Sparks 

(.Cdiitiiiiiril   from    page    I  ) 

partnership    basis,    but    with    manage- 
ment vested  in  Sparks. 

If  the  arrangement  is  closed,  it 
would  mean  withdrawal  of  Publix 
from  management  in  two  important 
Southern  states. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW  ' 

Only  Theatre  Burns 

Salineville,  O. — Fire  of  undeter- 
mined origin  destroyed  the  Raubner 
Opera  House,  the  only  theatre  in 
town.      Estimated   loss    is  $20,000. 


Monday,    July    6,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


•^Black  Camer 
Leads  in  Poor 
Denver  Week 


Denver — "The  Black  Camel"  was 
the  city's  leader  with  $9,000  at  the 
Aladdin,  or  $2,000  above  par,  but 
the  other  Huffman  house,  the  Tabor, 
hit  a  new  low  when  "Annabelle's 
Affairs"   brought   in   only  $7,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  2  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"I  TAKE  THIS  WOMAN"  (Para.) 

DENVER— (2,300),     25c-j'5c-65c,     7      days. 

Fanchon   &   Marco   Idea,    Fred   Schmitt   and 

orchestra.      Gross:    $13,000.      (Average,   $15,- 

(XXI.) 

"THE  BLACK.  CAMEL"   (Fox) 
HUFFMAN'S      ALADDIN— (1,500),     3Sc- 
50c-75c,   7  days.      Gross:    $9,000.      (Average, 
S7.000.) 

"ANNABELLE'S    AFFAIRS"     (Fox) 
HUFFMAN'S     TABOR~(1,900),     25c-35c- 
50c,     7    days.        Gross:     $7,000.         (Average, 
$10.(X)0.) 

"THE    VICE    SQUAD"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,000),        25c-35c-50c,        7 
days.       Gross:    $11,500.       (Average,    $11,000.) 
"BIG    BUSINESS    GIRL"    (F.    N.) 
RIALTO— (1,040),      25c-35c-.50c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $2,250.       (Average,    $3,750.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^^Free  SouF'  Is 
Chi  Leader  as 
City  Swelters 

Chicago — Loop  theatre  grosses 
continue  way  below  average,  stage 
attractions  being  given  the  credit  for 
two  of  the  three  bright  spots.  Ni- 
cola the  Magician  kept  the  Oriental 
out  of  the  red,  and  the  Paulist  Choir 
draw  at  the  Palace  helped  "Always 
Goodbye"  considerably.  McVickers 
was  prosperous  with  "A  Free 
Soul,"  which  grossed  $33,875  against 
an   average   of   $28,500. 

Blistering  heat  persisted  long 
enough  to  make  refrigerated  theatres 
a   refuge   for    sweltering    crowds   and 

[saved   the    Loop    from   a   worse   fate. 

I     Estimated    takings    'for    the    week 

ii  ending   July    1    and   year-round    aver- 

I  ages : 

i  "THE  SECRET   SIX"    (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (665),  3Sc-50c-75c,  2nd  Loop 
run,  1st  week  this  theatre.  Gross:  $3,695. 
(Average.    $3.3CO.) 

"NIGHT   ANGEL"    (Para.) 
UNITED    ARTISTS— (1,700),    35c-50c-75c- 
85c,    final   9   d'ays.      Gross:    $17,180.       (Aver- 
age,   $21,650.) 

Week  Ending  July  3: 
"LAST    PARADE"    (Col.) 

!      CASTLE^(299).  40c-60c,   1st  week.  Gross: 
i;  $3,270.      (Average,   $3,500.) 

"I    TAKE   THIS    WOMAN"    (Para.) 

i     CHICAGO— (4,000),  35c-50c-75c-85c,  7  days. 

Publix    stage    unit    with    Horace    Heidt     & 

i  Californians.        Gross:     $37,500.        (Average, 

t  $46,000.) 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
McVICKERS— (2,284),    35c-50c-75c-85c,    1st 
week.      Gross:   $33,875.       (Average,    $28,500.) 
"GOLD   DUST  GERTIE"    (Warners) 
OR1ENTA^-(3,940).       35c-50c-75c-8Sc,       7 
i  days.       PubUx    stage    unit    with    Nicola    the 
Magician,   orchestra.      Gross:    $26,200.      (Av- 
erage   $36,500.) 

"SMART  MONEY"    (Warners) 
ROOSEVELT— (1,591),  35c-50c-75c-85c,   1st 
week.       Gross:    $17,225.       (Average,   $23,200.) 
"SWEEPSTAKES"     (RKO'    Pathe) 
.STATE-LAKE   —    (2,776),   35c-50c-75c-85c, 
1st   week.      Gross:   $13,450.      (Average,   $30,- 
200.) 

Week  Ending  July  4: 

"ALWAYS    GOODBYE"    (Fox) 

PALACE  —(2.509).  35c-50c-75c-85c.  7 
days.  Five  acts  RKO  vaudeville  with 
Paulist  Choir.  Gross:  $24,650.  (Average. 
$24,000.) 


Stepping  Softly 

Buffalo — Shea's  Buffalo  ad- 
vertised "Smart  Money"  as 
"Not  a  gang  picture,"  so  the 
trend  here,  with  school  out  and 
the  kids  and  their  mammas  to 
be  pleased,  may  be  guessed. 


Gaynor  Film 
Gets  $19,500 
In  Cleveland 


a 


ii 


99 


Cleveland — Enough  legs  walked 
into  the  Allen  to  give  "Daddy  Long 
Legs"  a  f^ne  gross  of  $19,500— $1,500 
above  par.  It  was  during  the  hottest 
week  of  the  season,  too,  and  the  heat 
hurt  plenty  at  other  houses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  1  and  the  year-round 
averages : 

"BIG  BUSINESS  GIRL"  (F.  N.) 
WARNER'S    LAJCE    —    (800),    40c-60c,    7 
days.      Gross:    $2,000.      (Average,    $5,000.) 
"I    TAKE    THIS    WOMAN"    (Para.) 
?TATE  — (3,400),   30c-60c-   7  days.    Gross: 
$15,000.      (Average,   $20,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
ALLEN  —  (3,300).  30c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$19,500.      (Average,   $18,000.) 
"DIE     FORiSTECHRISTL"      (Interocean) 
ALHAMBRA   —    (1,400),   25c   matinee,    50c 
evening,     7  days.     Gross:   $6,000.     (Average, 
unavailable   und'er   this   policy.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
CAMEO  —  (1,200,  25c-50c,  7  days.    Gross: 
$3',000.       (Average,    $5,000.) 

"SMART  MONEY"    (Warners) 
RKO  HIPPODROME.  —   (4,200),   25c-35c- 
60c-75c,   7   days.     Gross:    $13,000.      (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"THREE    WHO    LOVED"     (Radio) 
RKO    PALACE— (3,100),    25c-75c,    7    days. 
Gross:  $19,000.      (Average,   $23,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Free  Soul/' 
Long  Legs 
PhiUy  Best 

Philadelphia  —  "A  Free  Soul" 
copped  the  top  honors  when  it  took 
in  $42,000  at  the  Mastbaum,  thereby 
going  $2,000  above  the  average  in- 
take. "Daddy  Long  Legs"  was  the 
runner-up,  grossing  $1,000  over  par 
to  get  $27,000  at  the  Fox.  Hot 
weather  kept  down  grosses  generally. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  2  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 

ARCADIA  —  (600),  50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$3,000.     (Average,   $3,000.) 

"FIVE    AND    TEN"     (M-G-M) 

EARLE  —  (2,000).  25c-65c,  6  days.  Vaude- 
ville.    Gross:   $18,000.      (Average,   $18,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

FOX  —  (3^,000),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days.  Stage 
show.      Gross:    $27,000.      (Average,    $26,000.) 

"SMART    MONEY"     (Warners) 

KARLTON  —  (I,fl(X)),  40c-.50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,000.      (Average   6  days,    $5,000). 

"NEWLY    RICH"    (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (1,800),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Gross:     $13,500.       (Average,    $15,000.) 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

MASTBAUM— (4,800),  3Sc-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Stage  show:  Gross:  $42,000.  (Average, 
$40,000.) 

"CHANCES"   (F.   N.) 

STANLY  —  (3.700),  3.^c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Gross:   $12,000.      (Average,   $18,000.) 

"HELL  BOUND"  (Tiff.) 

.STANTON- (1,700),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,   $11,0(.K).) 


Albany  Runs     Dual  Bill  Is 
Are  Overcome  Single  Draw 
By  the  Heat    In  Providence 


Albany — Terrific  heat  played  havoc 
with  the  theatres  during  the  week. 
With  the  mercury  standing  in  the 
nineties,  the  great  majority  of  peo- 
ple simply  refused  to  budge  from 
their  homes  or  from  their  cars. 
Many  houses  were  practically  de- 
serted, particularly  at  the  first  eve- 
ning show. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"CHARLIE  CHAN  CARRIES  ON"  (F.  N.) 

HARMANUS  BLEECKER  HALL  — 
(2,300),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross:  $6,200, 
Average,    $10,000.) 

"A    TAILOR    MADE    MAN"    (M-G-M) 

LELAND^(1,350),  20c-25c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$4,200.      (Average,    $6,000.) 

"MISBEHAVING  LADIES"  (F.  N.)  and 
"COSTELLO  CASE"    (Sono  Art) 

RITZ— (1,146),  25c-35c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$1,960.     (Average,  $2,250.) 

"ALOHA"   (Tiff.)   and 
"THE   LIGHTNING    FLYER"   Col.) 

RITZ— (1.146),     25c-35c,     3     days.      Gross: 

$2,000.      (Average,    $2,250.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

RKO  PROCTORS— (1,500),  30c-60c,  3  d'ays. 
Gross:   $2,300.      (Average,   $31,000.) 

"FORBIDDEN  ADVENTURE"  (Para.) 

RKO  PROCTOR'S— (1,500),  20c-60c,  3 
days.      Gross:    $2,400.      (Average,   $3,000.) 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

STRAND— (1,900),  25c-3Sc,  6  d'ays.  Gross: 
$5,900.      (Average,    $8,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Seattle  Gives 
^SouF  $15,000, 
Second  Week 

Seattle- — Because  it  topped  the 
Fifth  Avenue's  average  take  by  $3,- 
000,  ringing  up  a  gross  of  $15,000,  "A 
Free  Soul"  was  given  a  second  week 
at  the  house.  "Ladies'  Man"  was 
only  slightly  below  normal  at  the 
Paramount,  which  has  closed  because 
union  operators,  stagehands  and 
musicians  at  that  theatre  refused  to 
take  a  cut  in  wages  during  the  sum- 
mer. "Svengali"  was  mediocre  dur- 
ing its  second  week  at  the  Music  Box 
and  was   withdrawn  the   sixth  day. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  2  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"GENTLEMEN'S   FATE"    (M-G-M) 

FOX  COLISEUM— (2,000),  25c-35c-50c,  4 
days.      Gross:    $3,000.      (Average,    $3,500.) 

"SIX     CVT-INDER     LOVE"     (Fox) 

FOX  COLISEUM  —  (2,000),  25c-35c-50c,  3 
days.     Gross:    $1,500.      (Average,   $2,000.) 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

FOX  FIFTH  AVENUE^(2,750),  25c-35c- 
50c-75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"LADIES'   MAN"   (Para.) 

FOX  PARAMOUNT— (.>.150),  25c-35c-50c- 
75c,  7  days.  Stage  show.  Gross:  $13,0(X1. 
(Average,   $I3,.50O.) 

"THE    COMMAND   PERFORMANCE" 
(Tiff.) 

LIBERTY  —  (2,000),  15c-30c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,500.      (Average.    $7,000.) 

"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 

MUSIC  BO.X— (950),  25c-35c-50c.75c,  2nd 
week,  6  days.  Gross:  $5,100.  (Average, 
$7,500.) 

"GOOD   BAD   GIRL"   (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM  —  (2.650),  25c -.3,5c -.50c- 
60c-75c,  7  days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $13,000. 
(Average,    $13„50O.) 


Providence — Showmen  took  it  on 
the  chin  plenty  here  this  week.  Heat 
and  the  circus  combined  to  put  a 
crimp  in  business.  "Young  Sinners" 
and  "Women  Men  Marry,"  double- 
featured  at  the  Majestic,  topped  all 
bookings  with  a  gross  of  $13,500, 
leading  competitors  by  a  wide  mar- 
3;in. 

Business  in  all  other  houses  hit  the 
bottom.  Loew's  State  played  "In- 
discreet" and  was  way  off  with  re- 
turns of  $10,500.  "Girl  Habit"  at 
Paramount  went  under  and  drew 
slightly  over  $6,000.  RKO  Victory 
had  "Lover  Come  Back."  Went  pret- 
ty badly,  drawing  $2,800.  "Sweep- 
stakes" at  the  RKO  Albee  did  a  nose- 
dive and  pulled  $3,200. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  2  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"INDISCREET"    (U.    A.) 
LOEW'S  STATE— (3,800),  20c-75c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,500.       (Average,    $18,000.) 
"YOUNG   SINNERS"    (Fox)   and 
"WOMEN    MEN    MARRY"    (Headline) 
MAJEfTIC  —  (2,300),      10c-50c,     7     days. 
Gross:    $13,500.      (Average,    $10,000.) 

"GIRL  HABIT"   (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2„300),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $6,000.      (Average,   $10,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES    (RKO    Pathe) 

RKO  ALBEE  — (2,500),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,300.      (Average,    $9,000.) 

"LOVER    COME    BACK"    (Col.) 

RKO  VICTORY— (1,600),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $2,800.      (Average,    $6,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Norma  Beats 
Buffalo  Heat; 
Gets  $26,000 

Buffalo — Despite  the  fact  that  new 
heat  records  were  set.  Old  Man 
Weather  didn't  supply  much  competi- 
tion at  the  Great  Lakes,  where 
Norma  Shearer  brought  in  the  fancy 
figure  of  $26,000,  or  $3,500  above 
average.  The  rest  of  the  first  runs 
reported  brutal  business. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"I  TAKE  THIS  WOMAN"   (Para.) 
BUFFALO  —  (3,500),      30c-65c,      7      days. 
Publix   stage   show.     Gross:   $19,()00.     (Aver- 
age,  $25,000.) 

"ALWAYS  GOODBYE"  (Fox) 
CENTURY    —    (3,003,      25c-35c,      5      days. 
Gross:   $4,100.     (Average   for   week,   $12,000.) 
"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
GREAT   LAKES— (3,000),   25c-60c,  7  cTays. 
Loew    stage   show.     Gross:    $26,000.      (Aver- 
age,   $22,500.) 

"SIX  CYLINDER  LOVE"   (Fox) 
HIPPODROME  —  (2,100),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaudeville.         Gross:        $14,800.       (Average, 
$20,000.) 

LOVER  COME  BACK"  (Col.) 
LAFAYETTE— (3,.W)),     25c-,«c.     7     days. 
Gross:    $7,800.      (Average,    $12,0lX).) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Para,  Preparing  for 
U,K.  Studio  Drive 

London  —  Indication  that  Para- 
mount is  readying  for  a  real  produc- 
tion splurge  at  Elstree  are  seen  in 
building  plans  to  enlarge  the  stage  se- 
cured under  the  10-year  lease  from 
British   and    Dominions    Films. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,    July    6,    1931 


Fail  to  Agree 
In  St.  Louis  on 
Closing  Days 


St.  Lol'is — The  question  of  closing 
their  theatres  four  days  a  week  as  a 
means  of  cutting  expenses  and  losses 
during  the  summer  months  will  be 
decided  by  the  individual  exhibitors 
in  the  various  zones  of  St.  Louis  and 
St.   Louis   County. 

This  was  decided  at  a  meeting  of 
members  of  the  Motion  Picture  Ex- 
hibitors' League  of  St.  Louis  when  it 
became  apparent  it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  reach  a  general  agreement  to 
close  on  all  but  Fridays,  Saturdays 
and  Sundays. 

The  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co. 
string  of  22  neighborhood  and  subur- 
ban houses  definitely  declined  to 
agree  to  close  all  of  its  houses  four 
days  a  week,  but  it  is  understood  it 
plans  to  close  some  houses  for  the 
entire   summer. 

The  Mikado,  one  of  the  St.  Louis 
.\musement  houses  chain,  and  the 
Wellston,  both  on  Easton  avenue  in 
the  Wellston  district,  reached  an 
understanding  that  they  will  elimi- 
nate the  Saturday  afternoon  matinees 
that  have  failed  to  prove  profitable 
for  either  house. 

It  now  looks  as  though  about  12 
or  14  theatres  will  get  together  and 
close  four  days  a  week. 


Providence  Showmen 
Fear  Summer  Slump 

Providen'CE — Unemployment  and  the 
hue  and  cry  in  the  press  about  the 
scarcity  of  work  for  the  summer  has 
tightened  the  purse  strings  of  Rhode 
Islanders  with  the  result  that  show- 
men here  have  been  taking  it  on  the 
chin  for  the  past  month. 

Practically  every  house  in  the 
downtown  belt,  and  the  neighboring 
theatres  as  well,  are  feeling  the  pinch 
and  many  schemes  devised  to  offset 
the  feeling  that  budgets  must  be 
pruned  to  the  utmost. 

The  Majestic,  of  the  Fay  chain,  has 
had  considerable  success  with  show- 
ing double  feature  bills  and  for  the 
past  month  grosses  at  the  theatre  have 
held  up.  For  instance,  this  week,  in 
addition  to  "The  Public  Enemy,"  the 
theatre  also  is  spotting  Winnie  Light- 
ner   in  "Gold    Dust  Gertie." 

Exhibitors  who  have  laid  much  of 
the  decreased  patronage  to  balmy 
weather  and  the  beach  urge  now  are 
not  so  sure  of  the  theory.  Last  week 
brought  five  rainy  days  and  business 
was  off  everywhere. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sues  to  Exhibit 

''Birth"  in  Detroit 

Detroit — .Samuel  Carver,  lessee  of 
the  Shubert-Detroit  Opera  House,  has 
filed  a  petition  for  a  writ  of  manda- 
mus requesting  a  hearing  on  an  order 
for  Mayor  Murphy  and  Commissioner 
Watkins  to  show  cause  why  they 
should  not  be  restrained  from  inter- 
fering with  the  showing  of  "The 
Birth  of  a  Nation." 

Mayor  Murphy  suppressed  the  pic- 
ture in  February  on  the  ground  that 
it  degraded  the  negro  race.  Carver 
denies  the  allegation  and  points  out 
that  this  picture  has  been  shown  all 
over  the  United  States  for  many  years. 


Give  Minnies  the  Ha!  Ha! 

Philadelphia — Along  with  the  snows  of  yesteryear  have  gone  the 
"minnie"  golf  courses.  While  business  in  Philadelphia  hasn't  been 
any  too  good  in  movie  circles,  a  new  goat  is  being  hunted  to  take  the 
place  of  the  midget   courses  which  so  terrorized  film   men   last   year. 

It  has  been  estimated  that  in  the  Philadelphia  territory  only  half  of 
the  courses  are  in  operation  as  compared  to  last  year,  and  but  few  of 
them  are  doing  real  business. 


Critics  for,  Against 
Tibbetfs  ''Prodigal" 

To  Regina  Crewe,  critic  of  the 
NcK'  York  American,  "The  Prodigal" 
(M-G-M)  is  "an  unusual  picture." 
Julia  Shawell  on  the  Daily  Mirror 
feels  pretty  much  the  same  way  about 
it,  but  Irene  Thirer  of  the  Daily  News 
finds  the  picture  "not  a  very  happy 
return  for  Tibbett." 

The  remaining  New  York  critics 
have  varied  ideas,  but  a  consensus  of 
their  opinions  follows : 

American — Some  rollicking  comedy  and  a 
half  hour  of  really  e.xciting  singing  make 
an    unusual    picture*** 

Daily  Mirror — ***charming***tells  a  sim- 
I>le  story  in***exquisitely  lovely  surround- 
ings***Tibbett  personality  is  perfectly  fitted 
to  his  role***Esther  Ralston  is  a  positive 
revelation*** 

Daily  News — ***not  a  very  happy  return 
for  (Tibbett )***plot  goes  melodramatic  on 
him  and  the  reality  of  the  part  is  destroyed. 

EveniiHi  Journal — ***Tibbett  is  vocally 
impressive***Roland  Young  contributes  a 
delightful   performance. 

Herald-Tribune — It  is  a  pretty  feeble  sort 
of  story***''Without  a  Song"  remains  a 
good  number,  the  Messrs.  Young  and  Ed- 
wards continue  to  be  good  actors.  Miss 
Ralston  is  still  one  of  the  blondest  of  cinema 
blondes  and  Mr.  Tibbett  sings  as  thunder- 
ously  as  ever. 

Morninj]  Telegraph — ***when  (Tibbett) 
acts  himself  he  is  sincere,  capable,  efifective 
and  his  voice  still  is,  as  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned, one  of  the  finest  in  all  Hollywood. 
***Roland  Young***scores  in  a  performance 
that  is  worthy  of  every  possible  praise.*** 
One  of  the  finest  of  program  pictures. 

Post — The  virtues  of  "The  Prodigal"*** 
are  limited  ruthlessly  to  Mr.  Tibbett's  act- 
ing and  singing.  The  vehicle  is  not  worthy 
of  him***the  story  goes  to  smash  on  its 
contradictions    and   cross-purposes*** 

Suv — ***rather  feeble  fare***Mr.  Tibbett 
***has  the  finest  singing  voice  in  the  mov- 
ies***yet  Mr.  Tibbett  as  a  screen  type  just 
doesn't   quite   fit. 

Times — ***makes  for  excellent  entertain- 
ment.*** 

H'orld-Telegram — ***pretty  sorry  stufif  un- 
til Lawrence  Tibbett  puts  in  an  appearance. 
When  he  comes  upon  the  scene  it  picks  up 
immeasurably  and  when  he  begins  to  sing 
it  has  moments  of  distinction***the  plot*** 
is   hackneyed    and    tedious    stuff*** 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Sweepstakes"  Fares 
Well  With  Reviewers 

".Sweepstakes"  receive  a  varied  re- 
ception from  New  York  critics.  Nine 
(RKO  Pathe)  reviewers,  their  opin- 
ions "boiled  down,"  have  this  to  say : 

American — James  Gleason***manages  to 
make  entertaining  an  otherwise  colorless 
picture. 

Daily  Mirror — This  light,  little  racing 
story  receives  such  fine  handling  and  ofters 
so  many  laughs  with  its  thrills  it  makes  a 
diverting   picture*** 

Daily  News — ***lots  of  laughs***and  the 
tem])o***is  as  fast  paces  as  the  boss  that 
wins   the   big    race*** 

livening  Journal — ***good  light  enter- 
tainment. 

Herald-Tribune — ***James  Gleason  plays 
a  loyal** *race  horse  trainer***and  there- 
ujion  moments  are  supplied  in  which  a  furi- 
ously commonplace  photoplay  almost  per- 
suades one  that  it  possesses  a  certain  racy 
humor. 

Morning  Telegraph — Director  Al  Rogell 
***has  lifted  it  above  the  ordinary  run  of 
racing   films. 

Post — ***a  simple  and  obvious  little 
story,  clinging  safely  to  the  reliable  form- 
ula* **Gleason***gets    hearty    laughs. 

.S"»(i  -***the  usual  jjuerile  race  track 
stuff,  puerile  as  to  plot,  and  as  to  dialogue, 
and  it  is  neither  jjrofcssionally  acted  nor 
photographed. 

World-Telegram — Its  plot  is  hackneyed,  its 
dialogue  is  trite  and  its  direction  is  hardly 
what  might  be  termed   fresh  or  imaginative.  I 


Most  N,  Y,  Critics 
Praise  "Annabelle" 

Five  of  the  seven  New  York  re- 
viewers who  covered  "Annabelle's 
Affairs"  (Fox)  which  closed  at  the 
Roxy  last  week,  thought  it  was  good. 
William  Boehnel  of  the  World-Tele- 
gram described  it  as  "just  mildly 
amusing"  while  Rose  Pelswick  of  the 
Evening  Jonnial  gave  her  endorse- 
ment to  Roland  Young. 

What  they  thought  is  this,  in  brief 
form : 

American — ***an    entertaining    comedy*** 

Daily    Mirror — Jeanette    MacDonald    is    a 

great   comedienne.      She   and    Roland    Young 

create  plenty  of  fun  in  this  mad  comedy*** 

Grade    A    farce*** 

Daily  News — ***Ofrers  many  deliciously 
amusing  moments  with  corking  good  play- 
ers*** 

Evening  Journal — It  is  one  of  the  mixed 
blessings  of  Hollywood  that  no  matter  how 
handicapped  a  director  or  a  writer,  the  in- 
stjtution  houses  people  like  Roland  Young. 
***he  has  been  ***doing  odd  jobs  and  sud- 
denly he  gets  a  chance***;  instantly  what 
might  have  been  just  another  movie  be- 
comes grand  entertainment,  ridiculous  and 
superb. 

Morning  Telegraph — ***a  light,  pleasant 
and  decidedly  entertaining  screen  vehicle 
***By  far  the  greatest  plaudits  may  be 
bestowed  upon  Roland  Young  for  an  out- 
standing   performance*** 

Times — ***good  fun***Hardy  does  well 
***Miss  MacDonald***most  pleasing*** 
McLaglen    is   quite   good*** 

World-Telegram — •  ***just  mildly  amus- 
ing***MacDonald***first  rate***McLagIen 
**does  nicely***There  is  an  expert  piece 
of   acting   by   Roland    Young*** 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Labor  Radio  Station 
Asks  for  Television 

Chicago— The  Chicago  Federation 
of  Labor  radio  station,  WCFL,  has 
applied  to  the  Federal  Radio  Com- 
mission for  a  television  transmission 
permit.  If  granted,  the  call  number 
of  the  television  station  will  be 
WIXAV.  It  will  be  operated  in  con- 
junction with  the  Short  Wave  and 
Television  Corp.  of  Boston  with  60- 
line,  20  pictures  per  second  transmis- 
sion. It  will  be  the  first  Chicago  tele- 
vision station  to  adopt  the  60-line 
scanning  standard,  as  those  now  in 
operation  here  employ  45-line  scan- 
ning. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Manitoba  Law  Ousts 
'Special*  for  'Adults* 

Winnipeg  —  New  censorship  and 
theatre  regulations  for  the  Province 
of  Manitoba  have  been  issued  in  prin- 
ted form.  No  provision  is  made  for 
a  British  film  quota,  although  the 
matter  was  thoroughly  discussed  in 
committee.  There  is  no  quota  plan 
in  Manitoba  because  there  were  not 
sufficient  British  pictures  to  make  up 
the  proposed  quota  of  five  per  cent. 
The  principal  change  is  that  pictures 
approved  for  the  entertainment  of 
grown-ups  are  labeled  "Adult"  instead 
of  "Special."  When  the  latter  word 
was  used  in  theatre  advertising,  as 
required  by  law,  it  was  taken  to  mean 
that  the  attraction  was  a  "super." 


Court  Stops 
Picketing  of 
R.  I.  Theatre 


Providence— As  a  result  of  a 
Supreme  Court  ruling  here,  members 
of  Local  No.  223,  Motion  Picture 
Machine  Operators  of  United  States 
and  Canada,  are  restrained  from 
picketing  in  front  of  the  Liberty 
theatre.  The  court  opinion  held  that 
patroling  of  the  streets  and  sidewalk 
was    "an    obstruction    of    public    use 

At  the  same  time  the  high  com 
upheld  a  Superior  Court  judge' 
injunction  against  the  union  forbid- 
ding picket  duty.  It  marked  the  first 
time  in  Rhode  Island  that  the 
Supreme  Court  was  called  upon  to 
settle  a  labor  dispute, 

Samuel  Bomes,  owner  of  the 
theatre,  has  several  neighborhood 
houses  here,  and  for  months  has  been 
bitterly  fighting  union  officials,  who 
demanded  that  the  theatre  man  accede 
to  their  demands  of  placing  unionized 
help  in  his  houses,  Bomes  refused, 
and  as  a  result  pickets  paraded  up  and 
down  the  street  and  sidewalks  in  front 
of  the  Liberty  with  placards  advertis- 
ing the  labor  dispute.  When  Bomes 
began  to  feel  the  inquisition  at  the 
box-office  he  went  to  court,  and  got 
an  injunction  to  stop  the  union. 
Labor  men  went  to  the  high  court  and 
lost. 

The  court  was  not  all  in  accord  on 
the  opinion.  Two  of  the  five  mem- 
bers upheld  the  right  of  the  union  .to 
do  picket  duty,  and  use  placards  to 
advertise   their   labor   difficulties. 


Discuss  Labor  Problem 

Cincinnati — Although  present  con- 
tracts with  operators  do  not  expire 
until  Sept.  1,  suburban  and  subsequent 
run  exhibitors  are  beginning  to  draft 
tentative  plans  for  next  season  to  be 
submitted  at  the  meetings  scheduled 
for  August. 

One  change  on  which  the  exhibitors 
appear  virtually  agreed  is  the  employ- 
ment of  one  operator  in  the  booth 
instead  of  two,  as  now  demanded  by 
the  union.  Downtown  houses  are  not 
included  in  the  formulative  negotia- 
tions. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cleveland  and  Cincy 
Offices  for  Monogram 

Monogram  Pictures  Corp.  last  week 
opened  branches  in  the  Film  Build- 
ing, Cleveland,  and  at  1632  Central 
Parkway,  Cincinnati,  leaving  only 
the  Minneapolis  territory  open.  Nat 
Lefton  will  be  in  charge  of  sales  in 
both  offices. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Mobile  Tries  Daylight 

Mobile,  Ala. — Mobile  is  experi- 
menting with  daylight  saving  time, 
having  advanced  clocks  an  hour. 
Pensacola,  Fla.,  is  the  only  other  city 
in  this  section  of  the  country  that 
has  daylight  saving  time  in  effect. 
Mobile  adopted  it  on  one  former  oc- 
casion, several  years  ago,  but  soon 
went   back   to   regular   standard   time. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Hinsdell  on  Coast 

Hollywood  —  Oliver  Hinsdell  is 
here  to  take  charge  of  the  newly  or- 
ganized acting  school  at  M-G-M.  Ben 
Piazza  will  assist  him. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  31 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JULY  7.   1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Trade  Combine  Charged 


Hammons  and 
Shapiro  Agree 
On  Exchanges 

Six  Operated  by   Latter 
In   Tiffany   Fold 


Earle  W.  Hammons  and  William 
D.  Shapiro  have  reached  a  tentative 
agreement  under  terms  of  which  the 
six  exchanges  operated  by  the  latter 
will  be  brought  into  the  Tiffany  fold, 
thereby  rounding  out  that  Educational- 
dominated  company's  national  ex- 
change system.  The  branches  are  lo- 
cated in  Boston,  New  Haven,  Pitts- 
burgh, Cincinnati,  Cleveland  and  De- 
troit. 

The  deal,  as  now  drawn,  provides 
for  Educational  to  utilize  the  Shapiro 
exchanges  for  physical  distribution, 
the   actual   agreement   beginning   with 

(Continued  on    paqe  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Giannini  Wears 
Judicial  Ermine 

Dr.  A.  H.  Giannini  of  the  Bank  of 
America  is  playing  a  new  role  these 
days.  Long  banker  to  many  film  com- 
panies as  well  as  to  individual  pro- 
ducers, Giannini  is  officially  launched 
on  a  career  as  an  arbiter. 

His  first  case  was  the  tangle  be- 
tween   A.    C.    Blumenthal    and    Billy 

(Continued  on   pope  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Botsford,  Holman 
Work  on  Ad  Slants 

Russell  Holman,  advertising  man- 
ager for  Paramount,  and  A.  M.  Bots- 
ford, advertising  and  public  Relations 
executive  for  Publix,  are  collaborat- 
ing with  the  Paramount  production 
department  on  what  is  described  as 
more  or  less  of  a  general  assignment 

(Continued  on    page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT-  BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Hatfield  to  U.  K.  for 
Erpi;  Otterson  Sails 

R.  M.  Hatfield,  former  Australian 
sales  manager  for  Erpi,  is  en  route 
to  London  where  he  will  succeed  E. 
S'.  Gregg  as  sales  manager  in  Lon- 
don. Gregg  comes  back  to  New 
York  under  the  company's  policy  of 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


Predicted  Two  Months  Ago 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Foilhfml 
Servtet  t» 
the  IndoMtr^ 


TEN  CENTS 


"Combine,"  Zoning  Limit, 
Arbitration  Lid  Feared 


'Drastic'  Move 

C'nJErotection 

sey  Plan 


First  to  the  industry  with  the  in- 
side story  of  the  Canadian  Govern- 
ment's "combine"  ruling.  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  tipped  the  highlights  of 
the  about-to-be-issued  report  on  May 
6   and  again    today. 


Canadian  Probe  Report, 

Shrouded  In  Secrecy — 

Findlngt  Hinted 


.«u«.  i^^  . 


23  Companies^  One  Ass  ^n 
Cited  in  'Combine^  Report 


France  Allows 
Free  Entry  of 
Foreign  Films 


Paris — Known  as  a  "cinematograph 
convention,"  Maurice  Petsche,  Under- 
Secretary  of  State  for  F"rance,  yester- 
day signed  new  government  regula- 
tions which  annul  the  French  licens- 
ing plan  and  give  free  entry  to  the 
films  of  all  foreign  countries  which 
impose   no   restrictions   upon   entry   of 

(Continued  on   page   4) 
"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  in  Break  With 
Detroit  Co-Operative 

Detroit — Taking  the  stand  recently 
announced  by  M-G-M,  Fox  has  called 
off  all  negotiations  with  Co-Operatiye 
Service  Corp.  Lester  Strum,  local 
Pox  branch  manager,  states  he  has 
found    it    impossible    to   get   together 

(Continued  on   page  4) 


Ottawa — Named  as  parties  to  the 
combine  which  the  Canadian  Govern- 
ment alleges  exists  in  the  industry 
are : 

Famous   Players  Canadian  Corp. 

B.  and  F.  Theatres,  Ltd. 

Radio-Keith-Orpheum  of  Canada, 
Ltd.,  and  eight  other  theatre  com- 
panies affiliated  with  Famous  Players 
Canadian. 

Motion  Picture  Distributors  and 
Exhibitors  of   Canada. 

Canadian    Educational    Films,    Ltd. 

Canadian   Universal    Film   Co. 

Famous    Lasky    Film    Service. 

Fox    Film   Corp. 

RKO  Distributing  Corp.  of  Canada. 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY   NOW" 

120  Theatres  in 

Philly  Now  Dark 

Philadelfmiia — Between  115  and 
120  of  the  800  theatres  in  this  territory 
are  now  closed,  with  indications  point- 
ing to  other  closings  later.  A  good 
number  of  the  houses  are  dark  be- 
cause of  general  depression  and  fail- 
ure to  get  relief  from  film  exchanges 
on  contracts.  While  the  number  is 
(Continued  on   page  4) 


So   Canada  Alleges — Up 

To  Each  Province  to 

Decide  Its  Course 


Nineteen  important 
findings  feature  the 
Canadian  Government 
report  which  holds  a 
combine  exists  in  the  in- 
dustry in  the  Dominion. 

These  will  be  found 
in  highlight  form  on 
page  8. 


OTTAWA— A  combine  ex- 
ists in  Canada.  The  govern- 
ment report,  result  of  six 
months'  investigation  by 
Commissioner  Peter  White, 
will  so  find  when  it  is  issued 
today.  Motion  Picture  Daily 
learns. 

It  is  now  up  to  the  provin- 
cial governments  to  deter- 
mine what  they  want  to  do 
about  it.  Prosecution,  under 
Canadian  law,  may  be 
launched  in  all  nine  prov- 
inces against  Famous  Play- 
ers Canadian  Corp.,  and  ten 
theatre  companies  affiliated 
with  it,  Paramount  Publix 
Corp.,  and  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Distributors  and  Exhibi- 
tors Association  as  principal 
parties  listed  in  the  forth- 
coming 234-page  document. 

Included  in  the  theatre  subsid- 
iaries of  Famous  Players  Can- 
adian  are   B.    and    F.    Theatres. 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Reichenhach  Buried; 
Leaders  Pay  Homage 

Members  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Club,  headed  by  Lee  Ochs,  turned  out 
in  force  yesterday  when  last  rites 
were  held  for  Harry  L.  Reichenbach, 
industry's  "roastmaster"  and  one  of 
its  most  colorful  personalities,  who 
died  at  the  Doctors'  Hospital  on  Fri- 
day. Present,  too.  was  an  A.M.P.A. 
delegation  led  by  Michael  L.  Simmons. 
But,  more  and  beyond  that,  was  an 
industry  gathering  of  important  exec- 
utives   at   Temple    Emanu-el    such   as 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    July    7,    1931 


MOTION  PIC1X7RE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


July   7,   1931 


No.  31 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^\W\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^^1  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
■■Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  DearSorn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Giannini  Wears 
Judicial  Ermine 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Brandt.  The  latter  had  sued  Blumen- 
thal  in  a  Nassau  County  court  for 
$600,000  which  he  alleged  was  his 
commission  for  whipoi'^-r  into  shape 
the  theatre  deals  that  ultimately  led 
to  formation  of  Fox  Metropolitan 
Playhouses,  Inc.  Blumenthal,  in  his 
answer,  had  denied. 

Selected  by  both  parties  to  arrive 
at  a  settlement,  Giannini  has  just 
voted  $35,000  for  Brandt.  The  money 
has  changed  hands  and  the  court  ac- 
tion dropped. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Botsford,  Holman 
Work  on  Ad  Slants 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

pertaining  to  company  advertising,  its 
slants  and  how  those  slants  might 
have  a  bearing  on  production.  The 
new  detail  is  additional  and  has  no 
bearing  on  their  present  posts. 

Reports  that  both  men,  long  with 
Paramount  Publix,  were  on  their  way 
out,  by  way  of  the  story  department, 
were  laughed  at  yesterday  by  Charles 
E.   McCarthy. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

W.  H.  Murphy  Dead; 
Once  Owned  "Talker'' 

Rutland,  Vt. — William  H.  Mur- 
phy, former  manager  of  the  Colonial 
theatre,  died  after  a  valiant  battle  at 
the  age  of  62.  He  served  in  the 
^'ale  Battery  in  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can War.  He  was  a  pioneer  motion 
picture  theatre  manager,  starting  his 
career  in  Boston.  Before  the  talker 
he  frequently  used  a  megaphone  and 
impersonated  the  characters  on  the 
the  silent  screen  from  the  wings.  He 
leaves  a  wife,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

B.  &.  K.  Dividend 

Chicago — Balaban  and  Katz  have 
declared  a  regular  quarterly  dividend 
of  75  cents  on  common  stock  and 
$1.75  on  preferred  stock  payable  Oct. 
3  to  stockholders  of  record  Sept.  15. 


Purely  Personal 


N' 


KK  ScHENCK,  Fclix  Fcist  and  W. 
R.  Rodgers  all  wore  smiles  yes- 
terday as  they  rode  up  the  elevator  in 
the   Warner   Building. 

Rudy  Sanders,  president  of  the 
Brooklyn  Theatre  Owners,  is  missing 
from  the  Film  Curb  these  days.  He 
prefers  the  Island  (Coney)  rather 
than  the  sweltering  Ninth  Ave.  lanes. 
His  son,  Julius,  is  assistant  manager 
of  the  Sanders  for  the  summer.  In 
the  fall  he  returns  to  Penn  U. 

Joe  Weil  has  been  delving  into 
evolution  and  he's  now  prepared  to 
exploit  "The  Mystery  of  Life"  with 
the  proper  biological  treatment.  For 
instance,  in  an  exploitation  bulletin 
he  invites  you  to  "see  why  male  ani- 
mals show  off  before  their  mates." 
Oh,  yeah? 

Mr.  Arthur  Stanley  Jefferson 
has  petitioned  a  court  in  Los  Angeles 
to  change  his  natne  to  Stan  Laurel. 
The  reason  is  that  that  is  the  mon- 
icker he  uses  when  he  plays  opposite 
Oliver  Hardy.  Stan  says  he  was 
born   in   England. 

Charlie  O'Reilly,  president  of  the 
T.  O.  C.  C,  is  anxiously  awaiting 
Wednesday  when  that  trial  against  the 
Daly,  Bronx,  on  nuisance  charges  on 
account  of  sound  emanating  from  the 
open  air   roof,  is  to  be  held. 

Joe  Schoen  may  not  attend  that 
boat  ride  of  the  New  Jersey  exhibi- 
tors, but  he  wouldn't  miss  that  special 
meeting  today  for  all  the  exhibitors 
in  the  world.    He's  100  per  cent  loyal. 

Jack  Ellis  is  mighty  proud  of 
those  contracts  on  new  season's  prod- 
uct now  in  his  possession.  RKO  is 
way  ahead  of  last  year's  business,  he 
says.    And  he  can  prove  it  I 

John  Richmond,  doorman  at  the 
RKO  Palace  in  Cleveland,  has  been 
awarded  a  $2,400  scholarship  at 
Carnegie  Tech.  He  was  graduated 
last  year  from  high   school. 

Donald  H.  Clewton  is  the  pen 
name  of  Val  Lewton  of  M-G-M.  It's 
a  combo  of  Donald  H.  Clarke  and 
his  own  name,  get  it? 


Harry  Buxbaum  still  can't  occupy 
his  new  office.  The  painters  were  still 
at  it  yesterday.  In  another  week  or 
so,  it'll  be  okay. 

Hal  Roach  has  been  made  an 
honorary  captain  of  the  Culver  City 
police   department. 

Charlie  Einfeld  has  a  roseate  col- 
or on  his  cheeks  these  days. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Johnsons  Back  With 
350,000  Feet  of  Film 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  Johnson  re- 
turned yesterday  from  their  African 
trip  with  350,000  feet  of  film,  much  of 
it  in  sound.  In  October  they  will  start 
a  lecture  tour,  after  which  they  will 
make  a  feature  of  the  pictorial  ac- 
count of  their  travels.  Fox,  it  is  un- 
derstood, will   release  it. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gallup  Considering 

Bruce  Gallup,  who  retires  as  direc- 
tor of  publicity  and  advertising  for 
United  Artists  the  end  of  this  week, 
is  considering : 

1 — A  vacation  that  will  run  sev- 
eral weeks. 

2 — Four  offers.  Two  of  them  are  in 
the  industry  and  two  outside,  but 
Gallup  has  arrived  at  no  decision  as 
yet. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Kelly  Sailing 

Arthur  W.  Kelly,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  foreign  sales  for  United 
Artists,  sails  for  the  Continent  to- 
morrow. 

Joseph  M.  Schenck,  scheduled  to 
accompany  him,  goes  later. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Burkan  Sails 

Nathan  Burkan  sailed  last  night  on 
the  Eurof^a  for  a  vacation  abroad. 
Winfield  Sheehan  and  Walter  Wanger 
were  among  those  down  at  the  pier 
to  see  the  traveler  leave  these  shores. 


General  Market  Off;  E,  K,  Drops  SVa 

Net 

High      Low      Close     Change  Sales 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 7%          7%          IVt,        —  Va,  200 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 145^        H'^        l-fj^^        -f  '/$  200 

Eastman   Kodak    150          148V$       150           —ZVi,  700 

Fox    Film    "A" 20"/2        19%        20i4        —54  2,500 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new V>/f,          ^Vt,          4J4        —  Vi  11,900 

Loew's,    Inc 465^        45^        46           —3^  3.400 

Paramount    Pub'ix 27j|         2(>i/%        TlVs,        —  Vt,  5,400 

Rathe    Exchange 2             1^          154—54  3,500 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" IVi          7             754        —1  4,800 

RKO 16'4        155^        16           —  Vt.  8.300 

Warner    Bros 83^          8^          8!4        —  54  5,700 

Curb  Issues  Irregular 

Net 

High      Low      Close      Change  Sales 

Fox    Theatres    "A" i'/g          3              3            2,100 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 9             8'/^          8'/^        —  V^  500 

Technicolor    714           7'/^           714         -\-  Vi  300 

Trans     Lux eVi          6'A          6'A         100 

Bonds  Advance;  P,  P.  Gains  7^4  Points 

Net 

High       Low      Close      Change  Sales 

General   Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40 40^        40^^        40>^        —  '/g  8 

Keith    B.    F.    6s    '46 64M        6454        645i        -f  54  1 

Loew's    6s    '41    ex    war 9854        98!4        9854        —54  1 

Paramount   Broadway   S'As   '51 102          10154       102           -^  'A  11 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 90           m'A        90            -fl  6 

Paramount    Publix   554s,   '50 825^        82           8254        -fl54  27 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww...., 905^        89%        90!^        -f-  54  5 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39   wd 41J/S        41            41^        -^  yi  5 


Harry  M.  Warner  for  the 
way  his  companies  are  step- 
ping since  he  and  his  brothers 
decided  to  run  things  with 
their  own  money. 


Hammons  andi 
Shapiro  Agree 
On  Exchanges 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

1931-1932  product.  Shapiro,  it  is  un- 
derstood, completes  his  arrangement 
with  Tiffany  with  the  releases  for  the 
season  ending  July  31. 


Christie  Features  May 
Go  Through  Tiffany 

Hollywood — The  Christies  plan  to 
enter  the  dramatic  feature  field,  re- 
leasing through  Tiffany.  The  broth- 
ers are  also  under  contract  to  make 
a  series  of  eight  two-reelers  for  the 
Educational  program. 

The  Metropolitan  and  Educational 
studios  here  are  now  being  operated 
by  Educational  Talking  Pictures 
Corp.,  recently  formed  in  Delaware 
for  this  purpose.  The  Christies  are 
understood  to  be  remaining  at  Metro- 
politan, but  Earle  W.  Hammons  is 
now  said  to  be  the  dominating  factor. 


Cook  Back  to  Law;  Out 
Of  Tiffany  in  Few  Days 

Grant  L.  Cook,  executive  vice-presi- 
dent of  Tiffany,  is  reported  plan- 
ning to  return  to  Detroit  to  re-enter 
law,  which  he  practised  before  enter- 
ing the  film  industry. 

He  retires  from  Tiffany  in  a  few 
days. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Hatfield  to  U.  K.  for 
Erpi;  Otter  son  Sails 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

returning  executives  to  headquarters 
after  two  or  three  years  of  foreign 
service. 

The  change  formally  will  be  made 
by  John  E.  Otterson,  president  of 
Erpi,  who  is  now  on  the  high  seas 
London-and-Europe-bound. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

"Fore"  in  Detroit 

Detroit — July  15  is  the  date  set  for 
the  golf  tournament  sponsored  by  the 
local  Film  Board.  It  will  be  held  at 
the   Knollwood   Country  Club. 


THE   LARGEST 

STOCK    SHOT   LIBRARY 

IN  THE  INDUSTRY 

Over     5.000,000     feel     of     indexed     nega- 
tives     and      positives      oontaining      scenes 
of     every     conceivable     description 
INSTANTLY     AVAILABLE 

General  Film  Library,  Inc. 

MORRIS      J.      KANDEL,      Pres. 

729    7th    Ave.  New    York    City 

BRYANT     9-4417-8 

Cable:    KANDELFILM 


The  Big  Stars . . 
The  New  Stars . . 


The  Box  Office  Stars . 


PARAMOUNT 


1 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    July    7,     1931 


France  Allows 
Free  Entry  of 
Foreign  Films 


(Continued   from    page    1) 

French-produced  films  into  their  own. 
The  move  is  extremely  important  to 
American  producers  and  eliminates  the 
last  vestiges  of  legislative  regulation 
against  exports  in  France. 

American  film  men  here  consider 
the  victory  more  moral  than  actual, 
since  the  regulations  now  antedated  by 
the  new  decree  were  liberal  enough  to 
take  care  of  American  needs  in  this 
country.  Notable  in  the  French  en- 
actment is  the  fact  that  this  is  the 
first  occasion  wherein  an  important 
world  power  has  removed  legislative 
barriers  against  films  since  Germany 
first  legislated  its  "kontingent"  in 
1920. 

Harold  Smith,  Hays  representative 
here,  said  yesterday  : 

"American  trade  opinion  is  highly 
favorable  toward  the  new  regulation. 
With  the  absence  of  artificial  restric- 
tions, it  feels  that  a  greater  stimulus 
now  exists  for  film  production  in 
France." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

120  Theatres  in 

Philly  Now  Dark 

(Continued   from    page    1) 

said  to  be  less  than  previous  years,  it 
is  expected  to  be  increased  above  the 
normal  summer  closing  figure  within 
the  next  few  weeks  unless  the  ex- 
changes come  through  with  contract 
adjustments. 


MiNNE.\POLis — Twenty-five  per  cent 
of  the  theatres  in  this  locality  are  now 
dormant  for  the  torrid  spell.  The 
number  is  on  a  par  with  former  years, 
despite  bad  business  in  general  trade 
here. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  in  Break  With 
Detroit  Co-Operative 

(Continued  from    page    1 ) 

with  the  organization  as  a  circuit. 
In  the  future  he  will  attempt  to  try  to 
sell  the  members  direct  and  if  this 
fails  will  sell  opposition  houses,  he 
says. 

Objection  to  selling  certain  houses 
in  the  Co-Operative  string  is  said  to 
have  brought  the  split.  The  same  ob- 
jection is  said  to  have  been  the  cause 
of  the  break  of  Co-Operative  with 
M-G-M. 


Co-Operative  Signs  * 
With  Para  and  F.  N. 

Dktroit— Despite  Allied  States  As- 
sociation advice  to  "sit  tight"  in 
buying,  the  Co-Operative  Service 
Corp.  has  signed  contracts  with  Para- 
mount and  First  National  for  new 
product  for  its  member  houses. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Colleen  in  Comeback 
In  $500,000  Picture 

Hollywood — Colleen  Moore  will 
stage  a  comeback  in  a  $500,000  pro- 
tion  to  be  made  by  a  new  independent 
unit,  according  to  lite  Hollywood 
Herald.  An  Eastern  banker,  states 
the  publication,  is  on  his  way  West 
to  complete  arrangements  for  the  pic- 
ture, which  may  be  followed  by 
others. 


Press  Prints 
Free  Calendar 
In  Baltimore 


Baltimore  —  The  Baltimore  Post, 
Scripps-Howard  evening  paper  here, 
is  publishing  a  "movie  calendar"  for 
all  residential  theaters.  This  is  being 
run  strictly  as  an  editorial  feature  be- 
cause the  paper  believes  it  has  sub- 
stantial news  value  and  will  increase 
circulation. 

Theatres  pay  nothing  for  this  serv- 
ice and  there  is  no  tie-up  between  the 
advertising  or  circulation  departments. 
The  Sunday  Stm  has  been  running 
such  a  calendar  for  over  a  year  with 
110  tie-up  and  it  has  proved  valuable 
to  the  paper  as  well  as  the  theatres. 

The  Baltimore  Neivs  (Hearst)  runs 
a  calendar  daily,  but  there  is  a  co- 
operative arrangement  by  which  the 
paper  gets  a  trailer  on  the  screen  urg- 
mg  the  public  to  read  its  program  in 
the  News  daily. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Multicolor  Launches 
Seven  Color  Series 

Hollywood — Howard  Hughes  has 
committed  himself  to  an  extensive 
program  of  short  subjects  in  Multi- 
color, which  he  controls. 

Six  units  are  working  in  various 
parts  of  the  world  and  a  seventh  is 
busy  here.  Harry  Garson  is  doing  a 
series  in  China  for  RKO  distribution ; 
John  W.  Boyle  is  now  in  Sweden 
getting  a  second  group  under  way, 
while  Leon  Britton  is  China-bound  to 
Jo  an  "oddities"  series  in  both  color 
and  sound.  Robert  Bruce  is  handling 
a  fourth  to  be  made  in  New  England 
and  Canada  for  Paramounts  release 
and  Alvin  Wyckoff  is  in  Calgary  to 
film  the  Calgary  Stampede,  to  be 
followed  by  others  shot  in  and  around 
Lake  Louise  and  Banff.  The  sixth 
unit  is  joining  the  McMillan  Arctic 
Expedition  and  locally  Wallace  Mac- 
Donald  is  directing  a  series. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

H-F  Gets  Long  Run 
Hollywood  Theatre 

Hollywood — The  Studio  Theatre 
on  Hollywood  Boulevard,  a  300- 
seater,  shortly  goes  long  run  under 
the  guiding  hand  of  Hughes-Frank- 
lin Theatres.  The  circuit  figures 
that  with  capacity  audiences  daily, 
the  house  can  pay  more  for  pictures 
on  percentage  than  the  larger  houses 
can — or   will. 

That's  the  theory  behind  the  plan. 
Localites  point  out  that  a  slightly 
important  factor,  too,  is  those  capacity 
audiences  H-F  pins  hopes  upon. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Two  Independents 
Slated  for  Beacon 

Two  independent  pictures  are 
slated  to  go  into  Warners'  Beacon, 
starting  Friday.  They  are  "Women 
Men  Marry"  and  "L'bangi,"  the  for- 
mer a  Headline  Picture  and  the  lat- 
ter being  distributed  by  William 
Pizor. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

W anger  to  RKO? 

Walter  Wanger  was  yesterday 
reported  joining  RKO,  according 
to   Walter   Winchell. 


H 
£ 


THEATRE 


Construction — Equipment — Decoration — Operation — Management 


Twin  City  Theatres* 
Coolers  Prove  Lure 

Minneapolis  —  An  extraordinary 
stretch  of  record  breaking  hot  weath- 
er has  been  a  boon  for  the  show 
business  for  the  last  few  days  in  the 
Twin  Cities. 

Tens  of  thousands  of  persons 
caught  suddenly  in  the  welter  of  kill- 
ing heat  that  has  taken  several  lives 
during  the  past  week  have  poured  in- 
to well-cooled  theatres  of  the  two 
towns  and  brought  plenty  of  money 
to  some  of   the  box-offices. 

Temperatures  have  run  as  high  as 
99  and  the  unusual  feature  of  the 
heat  wave  is  that  it  has  continued 
for  the  better  part  of  a  week.  Two 
or  three  days  of  excessive  heat  is 
usually  about  all  the  two  towns  get, 
at  one  sitting. 

An  interesting  fact  in  this  connec- 
tion is  that  Twin  City  houses  are 
for  the  most  part  cooled  by  Lake 
Superior  since  cooling  systems  used 
are  generally  deep  well  system  that 
bring  water  from  the  12,000  foot  level 
or  thereabouts.  The  water  at  that 
level  has  been  recognized  as  the  un- 
derground flow  from  Lake  Superior, 
nearly  200  miles  away. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Outdoor  Talker  Stunt 
Draws  in  Nebraska 

Meadow  Grove,  Neb. — This  town 
of  400  has  an  out-door  talker  which 
drew  a  crowd  of  3,000  on  opening 
night. 

Installation  was  made  by  Murrel  P. 
Simpson  of  Clearwater,  Neb.,  a  for- 
mer Omahan.  Local  business  men  are 
behind  the  project  from  a  commer- 
cial angle.  Looks  as  though  it  will 
bring  plenty  of  people  to  Meadow 
Grove. 

Simpson  built  his  own  sound  equip- 
ment   when   talkers    were    first    intro- 
duced.     For   a   time    he   operated   the 
smallest  sound  house  in  the  country. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

A  Nice  Cold  Drink 
With  Every  Ticket 

Tampa — A  free  cold  drink  with 
every  ticket  is  being  offered  by  Man- 
ager J.  E.  Ramos  of  the  Prince  to 
induce  people  to  desert  the  sizzling 
pavements  and  cool  off  in  his  sho^ 
shop.  The  stunt  packs  a  real  wallop 
this  hot  weather.  Prices  for  all  shows 
are  only  10  cents  and  15  cents. 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Exhaust  Fans  for  Three 

Baltimore — Two  large  exhaust 
fans  are  being  installed  in  each  of 
three  playhouses  operated  by  the 
Gaertner  Brothers,  including  the  Ritz, 
the  Vilma  and  the  Strand.  The  Na- 
tional Theatre  Supply  Company  is 
handling    the    work. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Plan  Lenoir  Theatre 

Lenoik,  N.  C. — Business  men  are 
considering  erection  of  a  |75,000  the- 
atre building  to  seat  1,000.  Con- 
struction is  expected  to  be  started 
shortly. 


Playhouse  Specialty 
Enters  Trailer  Field 

Special  skits  on  every  release  in  the 
form  of  a  black-out  in  dialogue  con- 
stitute a  new  type  of  trailer  that  will 
be  marketed  shortly.  Playhouse 
Specialties,  Inc.,  of  New  York,  has 
lieen  formed  for  production  of  the 
new  style  trailer  with  H.  A.  Lane 
president.  Arrangements  now  are 
being  made  to  open  distribution 
offices  in  key  cities  with  releases  set 
to  begin  August  15.  Trailers  will  be 
from  150  to  200  feet  long.  There  will 
be  color  trailers  included  later,  it  is 
stated. 

Lande  has  been  in  the  picture  busi- 
ness for  the  past  25  years,  he  states. 
He  also  has  operated  exchanges  in 
Pittsburgh,  Cleveland,  Cincinnati  and 
Bufifalo.  In  1912  he  produced  the 
first  Nick  Carter,  Buffalo  Bill  and 
Frank  Merriwell  series  as  an  inde^ 
pendent   producer,  he  says. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Here's  Broker  With 
12  Buyers,  No  Bids 

You've  probably  heard  these  consis- 
tent squawks  about  bad  business,  de- 
pression and  other  remarks  apropos 
of  what  this  business  is  coming  to. 
Notwithstanding,  there  apparently  is 
a  dearth  of  available  houses  for  show- 
men in  the  market  for  them. 

Eugene  Elmore,  veteran  exhibitor 
and  now  a  theatre  broker,  claims  that 
he  has  12  buyers  ready  to  take  over 
any  theatre  seating  over  600  and  that 
there  are  no  sellers.  What's  more  he 
can't  even  get  anyone  to  build  for 
his  clients  who  are  willing  to  look 
over  new  propositions. 

While  less  than  50  theatres  in  the 
New  York  territory  closed  for  the 
summer  months,  there  isn't  the  slight- 
est chance  of  the  owners  disposing 
of  them,  it  is  said.  Yet  many  of  tht 
houses  now  closed  may  never  re- 
open. With  building  at  a  low  ebb, 
this  is  given  as  the  prirne  reason  for 
shortage  of  theatres  in  the  local 
market. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Busy  in  Ottawa 

Ottawa — Immediately  after  the  re- 
opening of  Keith's  on  August  1  un- 
der the  new  name  of  RKO  Capitol, 
another  local  house,  the  Regent,  will 
be  closed  for  a  month  for  extensive 
renovations  and  additional  equipment. 
Upwards  of  $50,000  is  being  spent 
on  the  Keith  house,  according  to 
Manager  Joe  Franklin,  who  will  con- 
tinue in  charge.  Ray  Tubman  will 
continue  as  manager  of  the  Regent 
after  its  re-opening  and  also  of  the 
Imperial.  A 

"BUY  RIGHT'  BUT  BUY  NOW"     ^ 

Has  Illuminated  Frames 

Baltimore — Morris  A.  Mechanic, 
proprietor  of  the  New  Theatre,  first 
run  downtown  house  here,  has  had 
two  large  frames  put  up  on  either 
corner  of  his  marquee  facing  Lex- 
ington street,  in  which  he  can  place 
large  colored  paintings  of  the  stars 
in  the  pictures  playing  each  week.  At 
night  these  paintings  are  illuminated 
with  inverted  electric  lights. 


New  Light  Exceeds 
.  .  .  Sun's  Brilliancy 

M 

_LtJLODERN  projection  calls  for  a  light  source  equaling 
and  in  some  cases  exceeding  the  brilliancy  of  the  sun  itself. 

Sound,  color,  and  wide  films,  with  long  throws  on  porous 
screens  now  demanded  by  the  modern  theatre,  have  called 
for  a  most  intense  and  active  program  of  research  and 
development  to  keep  National  Projector  Carbons  ahead  of 
the  requirements  of  modern  projection. 

The  concentration  of  large  quantities  of  electrical  energy 
in  slender  carbons,  while  keeping  the  light  confined  to  a 
point  source,  represents  a  most  remarkable  advance  in 
lighting  practice. 

The  results  of  this  development  program  have  been  the 
production  of  National  Projector  Carbons  of  the  highest 
quality  with  economies  which  make  carbon  costs  extremely 
low  in  comparison  with  other  important  items  needed  for 
the  successful  operation  of  the  theatre. 

NATIONAL 

PROJECTOR     CARBONS 


National  Carbon  Company  will  gladly  cooperate  with 
the  producer,  exhibitor,  machine  manufacturer  or 
projectionist   on   any  problem   involving   light.  .  .  . 

NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Carbon  Sales  Division        '        Cleveland,  Ohio 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  ill  ■  ■  and  Carbon  Corporation 
Branch  Sales  Officest       New  York        Pilttburgh        Chicago        San  Francisco 


A 

C  apital 
I  nvestment 

that  keeps  on 
paying  its  avnn  'wsty 


THEATRES  can  no  longer  continue  to  oper-  WESTERN    ELECTRIC    assures    you    unmatched 

ate  profitably  without  the  best  sound.  apparatus — made  to  Bell  System  standards  of  pre- 

WESTERN   ELECTRIC — the  world's  sound  stand-  cision  and  quality  by  a  company  in  business  to  stay, 

ard — is  a  real  capital   investment — the   same  as  a  It  guarantees  you  patent  protection. 

weU-built  house,  comfortable  seats,  attractive  decora-  ERPI   SERVICE,  too,  prevents  costly  breakdowns 

tions — all  paying  their  share  of  dividends  — maintains  highest  possible  quality  of  reproduction. 

That^s  why  Western  Eiectric  is  a  protitabie,  capital  investment 

Westert^^^lectric 

S  O  U  N  p|II""''n|HsYSTE  m 

9f orthern  Electric  in  Canada 

Distributed  by 

Electricat  Research  Products  Inc. 

250  West  57th  Street,  New  York 


Tuesday,   July   7,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tough  Week 
In  Montreal 
Due  to  Heat 


Montreal — Several  local  managers 
turned  to  special  stunts  during  the 
past  week  in  an  effort  to  bolster  at- 
tendance. Manager  George  Rotsky 
ran  an  extra  midnight  presentation  of 
the  coming  week's  attraction  as  a  free 
treat  to  patrons  on  Thursday  night 
and  the  gross  for  the  regular  fea- 
ture. "The  Lawyer's  Secret"  reached 
M  2,000  for  the  week,  which  was  fair. 
Manager  James  Adams  added  eight 
extra  vaudeville  acts  for  one  night 
and  the  gross  for  "Bad  Sister"  and 
the  regular  vaudeville  was  $11,500  for 
the  week,  which  could  be  regarded  as 
steady. 

Manager  Howard  Conover  conduct- 
ed a  "Gift  Night"  as  a  special  in- 
ducement and  the  week's  gross  on  the 
double  bill  was  $3,900,  which  was  a 
little  better  than  recent  weeks.  The 
program  at  the  Imperial  comprised 
"Lady  Who  Dared"  and  "Hook,  Line 
and   Singer." 

It  was  a  tough  week  on  account  of 
the  heat,  but  theatre  business  was 
fair,  considering  everything.  Local 
exhibitors  are  resigned  to  their  sum- 
mer's fate. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"SVENGALI"    (Warners)    and 
"PARTY  HUSBAND"    (F.   N.) 

CAPITOL— (2,547),  25c-35c-S0c-60c,  7  dayp 
Gross:    $11,000.     (Average,    $12,500.) 

"LADY  WHO   DARED"    (F.   N.   and 
"HOOK,    LINE    AND    SINKER"    (Radio) 

IMPERIAL— (1,914),    lSc-25c-40c,    7    days 
Gross:    $3,900.     (Average,   $5,100.) 
"BAD  SISTER"   (Univ.) 
LOEW'S— (3,115),      25c-40c-50c-65c-75c,      7 
days.     Five   vaudeville   acts.     Gross:   $11,500. 
(Average,   $13,000.) 
"THE    LAWYER'S    SECRET"    (Para.) 
PALACE— (2.600),      25c-4Oc-60c-75c-99c,      7 
days.     Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,    $14,000.) 
"WOMAN   HUNGRY"   (F.   N.) 
PRINCESS— (2,272),         25c-35c-4Oc-50c-60c, 
65c,   7  days.     Gross:   $8,000.     (Average,   $13,- 
OOO.) 

"CITY    STREETS"    (Para.)    and 
"FINN   AND   HATTIE"   (Para.) 
STRAND— (750),     15c-25c-40c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $3,400.      (Average,    $4,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Oklahoma  City 
Theatres  Are 
Heat  Victims 

Oklahoma  City — Record  heat 
struck  this  city  last  week  and  took 
a  terrific  sock  at  the  box-offices,  all 
of  the  first  runs  slumping  badly.  The 
sad  story  is  told  below. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  the  year-round  av- 
erages : 

"MAN    IN    POSSESSION"    (M-G-M) 

CRITERION— (1,800),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,500.     (Average,    $8,000.) 

"I    TAKE    THIS    WOMAN"     (Para.) 

CAPITOL— (1,200),  10c-25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,000.    (Average,    7,000.) 

"HUSH  MONEY"   (Fox) 

MID-WEST— (1,500),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,000.    (Average,    $7,500.) 

"ANNABELLE'S    AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 

WARNER— (1,700),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,300.    (Average,    $7,600.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

LIBERTY— (1,500),     10c-15c-35c,     3     days. 
Gross:    $800.    (Average    for    week,    3,000.) 
"AIR    POLICE"    (Sono-Art) 

LIBERTY— (1,500),  10c-15c-35c,  4  days. 
Gross:     $700.     (Average    for     week,    $3,000.) 


Fox  Theatres 
Lead  Field  in 
San  Francisco 


San  Francisco — As  a  result  of 
their  general  slash  in  admission  prices, 
which  built  up  matinees,  the  Fox 
West  Coast  houses — the  Paramount, 
El  Capitan,  Warfield  and  Fox — did  a 
healthy  business  last  week.  The  Fox 
was  the  leader,  taking  in  $47,000  with 
"A  Free  Soul,"  the  Norma  Shearer 
vehicle  beating  average  by  $13,000. 

The  El  Capitan  was  up  $1,250  with 
"Shipmates,"  while  the  Warfield, 
playing  "Just  a  Gigolo,"  beat  par  by 
$1,000.  "Smart  Money"  at  the  War- 
ner also  was  over  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  30  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"LOVER    COME    BACK"     (Col.) 

GOLDEN  GATE^(2,800),  35c-4Oc-50c-65c, 
7  days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

Week  Ending  July  1 

"SHIPMATES"    (M-G-M) 

EL  CAPITAN— (3,100),  25c,  40c,  60c,  7 
days.  Jay  Brower  band;  stage  show. 
Gross:    $14,250.     (Average,    $13,000.) 

"A    FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
FOvX— (4,600),    35c-60c,    7    days.     F.    &    M, 
stage    show;    Walt    Roesner    concert.    Gross: 
$47,000.    (Average,    $34,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"   (Radio) 
ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $8,000.      (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BIG    BUSINESS    GIRL"    (F.    N.) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,740),       25c-35c-50c,         7 
days.     Jess    Stafford's    band.      Gross:    $15,- 
000.    (Average,   $19,000.) 

"JUST    A    GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 
WARFIELD— (2,700),    25c-35c-50c,    7   days. 
Rube    Wolf    band;    stage    varieties.    Gross: 
$22,000.     (Average,     $21,000.) 

"CITY   LIGHTS"    (U.   A.) 
UNITED     ARTISTS— (1,200),     25c-40c-60c, 
7  days,  5th  week.  Gross:   $11,400.   (No  aver- 
age   available.) 

Week  Ending  July  2 

"SMART     MONEY"     (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.— (1,385),  35c-50c,  7 
days.      Gross:     $11,000.     (Average,    $10,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'Smart  Money' 
Is  High  Spot 
In  Des  Moines 

Des  Moines — Rain,  vanquishing  the 
heat  wave,  boosted  grosses  for  the 
week.  "Gold  Dust  Gertie"  grossed 
$6,000  at  the  Paramount  for  the  first 
half  of  the  week  with  an  efficient  cool- 
ing system  to  help  make  the  guests 
comfortable,  but  after  the  cooling 
rains  "Smart  Money"  for  the  last  of 
the  week  grossed  $7,000. 

"A  Big  Business  Girl"  picked  up 
at  the  end  of  the  week,  too,  and  played 
the  seven  days  at  the  Des  Moines  with 
$7,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  4  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"BIG   BUSINESS   GIRL"    (F.   N.) 
DES      MOINES— (1,600),      2Sc-35c-60c,      7 
days.     Gross:    $7,000.     (Average,    $7,000.) 
"GOLD   DUST   GERTIE"    (Warners) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,700),        2.5c-35c-50c,        3 
days.     Vaude.     Gross:    $6,000.     (Average   for 
week,    $12,000.) 

"SMART   MONEY"    (Warners) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,700),       25c-35c-60c,       4 
days.     Vaude.     Gross:    $7,000.     (Average   for 
week.    $12,000.) 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 
STRAND— (1,100),   25c-35c,   4  days.   Gross: 
$2,150.     (Average,    $1,700.) 

"BEYOND    VICTORY"    (Pathe) 
STRANDS  1,100),   20c-35c,   3   days.   Gross: 
$1,150.     (Average,    $700.) 


"20  Degrees  Cooler" 

Buffalo  —  Charles  Raymond, 
manager  of  the  Fox  -  Great 
Lakes,  is  up  against  it.  He 
wants  to  take  a  vacation,  but 
the  reports  of  heat  waves  every- 
where have  got  him  worried. 
For  the  last  two  weeks  he's 
been  spending  most  of  his  time 
in  the  cool  theatre,  sending  out 
for  his  meals,  and  he  figures 
that  he'll  have  to  vacation  right 
in  the  place. 


Long  Legs" 
Ottawa  Top 
In  Heat  Wave 


Ottawa — The  heat  wave  knocked 
theatre  business  into  a  cocked  hat  and 
there  was  a  general  exodus  to  the 
watering  places,  the  town  taking  on  a 
deserted  air.  Relatively  the  best  was 
"Daddy  Long  Legs,"  which  drew 
$4,900  at  the  Regent,  but  even  this 
was  $500  below  average. 

Keith's  closed  for  a  month  with  a 
three-day  run  of  "Svengali"  which 
would  have  been  a  good  draw  at  any 
other  season,  but  which  gave  the 
house  a  farewell  of  $3,200. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"STRANGERS   MAY   KISS"    (M-G-M) 

AVALON— (990),       15c-25c-35c,      3      days. 
Gross:    $1,200.      (Average,    $1,300.) 
"CHARLIE   CHAN   CARRIES   ON"    (Fox) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $1,000.     (Average,   $1,300.) 

"DRUMS  OF  JEOPARDY"  (Tiffany) 

CENTRE^(1,142),      15c-25c-35c-50c-6Oc,      6 
days.     Gross:    $4,200.     (Average,    $4,600.) 
"WHITE    SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 

IMPERIAL— (1.091),    10c-25c-35c-40c-5Oc,    6 
days.     Gross:    $2,500.     (Average,   $3,000.) 
"THE    BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 

B.    F.     KEITH'S— (2,592),    ]0c-25c-35c-50c- 
days.       Gross:     $3,100.       (Average, 


60c,      3 
$3,700.) 


"SVENGALI"   (Warners) 

KEITH'.S— (2,502),    10c-25c-35c-50c- 
days.       Gross:      $3,200.       (Average, 


B.    F. 

60c,     3 
$3,700.) 

'DADDY  LONG  LEGS"  (Fox) 

REGENT— (1.225),  15c-25c-35c-45c-60c-75c, 
6   days.     Gross:    $4,900.     (Average,   $5,400.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

All  Is  Rosy 
With  "Rosie" 
In  Kansas  City 

Kansas  City — By  chalking  up 
$17,000  at  the  Mainstreet,  "Every- 
thing's Rosie"  led  the  parade  last 
week,  this  figure  being  $2,000  over 
par.  All  the  other  first  runs  managed 
to  hit  average,  aided  by  cool  weather 
the  latter  part  of  the  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 
MAINSTREET— (3,067),    35c-60c,    7    days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $17,000.    (Average,    $15,000.) 
"JUST    A    GIGLO"    (M-G-M) 
MIDLAND— (4,000),       25c-50t,       7       days. 
Gross:    $14,500.    (Average,    $14,500.) 

"I    TAKE   THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 
NEWMAN— (2,000),       25c-60c,       7       days. 
Gross:    12,500.    (Average,    $12,500.) 

"ALWAYS  GOODBYE"   (Fox) 
ROYAL— (90O),    25c-60c,    7    days.      Gross: 
$4,500.      (Average,    $4,500.) 

"THREE    GIRLS    LOST"    (Fox) 
UPTOWN— (2,200),         25c-50c,       7      days. 
Gross:    $6,000.      (Average,    $6,000.) 


AH  Houses 
Under  Par 
In  Toronto 


Toronto — Three  Toronto  theatres 
pulled  up  slightly  in  grosses  during 
the  past  week  despite  uncomfortably 
hot  weather,  largely  on  the  strength 
of  special  or '  timely  attractions,  but 
most  of  the  people  sought  the  amuse- 
ment parks  and  the  horse  races. 
Shea's  was  up  slightly  to  $12,000, 
thanks  to  a  program  made  up  of  "Mr. 
Lemon  of  (Drange"  and  a  vaudeville 
bill  headed  by  Henry  Santry's  or- 
chestra. 

Manager  Daley  played  up  a  short, 
"The  Bigger  They  Are,"  in  which 
Primo  Carnero  appears  along  with 
"Newly  Rich,"  the  point  being  that 
Carnero  was  appearing  in  a  local 
bout  on  Tuesday  night  and  the  papers 
devoted  much  space  to  the  Italian 
scrapper. 

Loew's  Theatre  was  up  a  bit  on 
"Laughing  Sinners"  at  $13,000,  but 
even  this  was  $2,000  below  par.  Busi- 
ness was  quite  at  the  Imperial  with 
"I  Take  This  Woman"  and  a  Publix 
stage  unit,  "Venetian  Serenaders." 
The  Tivoli  Theatre  had  a  British 
feature,  "Speckled  Band,"  in  which 
a  Toronto  actor,  Raymond  Massey, 
was  featured.  A  special  play  was 
made  on  this  fact  and  the  gross  was 
$11,500,  or  an  even  thousand  below 
average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"I    TAKE   THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 

IMPERIAL-(3,444),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c- 
75c,  6  days.  Publix  stage  unit,  "Venetian 
Serenaders."  Gross:  $14,000.  (Average, 
$16,000.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,088),  25c-,!Oc-40c-60c-75c,  7 
days.    Gross:    $13,000.    (Average,    $15,000.) 

"MR.    LEMON   OF  ORANGE"    (Fox) 

SHEA'S— (2,600),  30c-50t-60c-75c,  6  days. 
Five  vaudeville  acts.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Av- 
erage,   $13,000. 

"SPECKLED    BAND"    (British) 

TIVOLI— (1,600),     15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $11,500.     (Average,    $12,500.) 
"NEWLY    RICH"    (Para.) 

UPTOWN— (3,000),  15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $11,500.     Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Three  Films 
Over  Average 
In  St.  Paul 

St.  Paux — Three  theatres  above 
average  in  gross ;  one  breaking  even. 
That  is  the  box-office  history  in  this 
city  last  week.  "Daddy  Long  Legs" 
made  the  best  showing  with  an  aver- 
age of  $1,500,  "Transgression"  also 
going  over  par  to  the  tune  of  $1,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,000.    (Average,    $7,500.) 

"JUST   A  GIGOLO"   (M-G-M) 

RIVIERA— (1.600),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $7,000.    (Average,    $7,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM-(2,600)  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $13,000.     (Average,    $12,000.) 

"KICK    IN"    (Para.) 

TOWER— (1.000),  15c-25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,500.      (Average,  $2,000.) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    July    7,    1931 


Canadian  Probe  Action  Is  Up  to  Provinces 


Suits  in  Nine 
Provinces  Can 
Be  Instituted 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Ltd..  and  Radio-Keith-Orpheum 
of  Canada,  Ltd.  Particular  com- 
plaint is  made  against  Bloom  and 
Fine,  proprietors  of  B.  and  F., 
and  N.  L.  Nathanson,  former 
managing  director  of  Famous 
Players,  for  threats  which  the  re- 
port will  declare  were  made 
against  independent  exhibitors. 
The  M.  P.  D.  E.  A.,  the  Hays 
companion  association  in  the 
Dominion,  is  condemned  for  its 
trade  practices.  Sharp  criticism 
is  made  of  Famous  Players  for 
its  alleged  practices.  Protection 
is  hit  and  "enforced  awards"  of 
arbitration  described  as  "harsh 
and  unreasonable"  to  an  extent 
which  leaves  the  "exhibitor  en- 
tirely at  the  mercy  of  the  ex- 
changes." It  also  states  "that, 
under  its  present  management. 
Famous  Players  does  not  appear 
to  be  conducted  with  quite  the 
ruthless  disregard  of  the  rights 
of  others  and  of  the  public 
interest." 

The  report,  long  in  work  and 
long  expected,  has  been  the  sub- 
ject of  considerable  controversy. 
It  has  cost  the  Canadian  Govern- 
ment over  $100,000  and  a  half 
year  in  time. 


White  Finds  Para. 
Deal  Not  in  Probe 

Ottawa — The  absorption  of  Fa- 
mous Players  Canadian  Corp.  by 
Paramount  Publix  is  apparently  sat- 
isfactory, insofar  as  the  government 
is  concerned.  No  action  in  connec- 
tion with  this  deal  which  embraces 
Canada's  largest  film  company  is 
recommended  by  Commissioner  Peter 
White  in  his  report  which  is  expected 
to  be  made  pul)lic  today  on  the  ground 
that  the  methods  adopted  in  obtaining 
control  did  not  fall  within  the  scope 
of  the  six  months'  investigation. 

White  does  say  in  his  report,  how- 
ever: 

"If  shareholders  have  been  wronged, 
it  seems  to  me  their  proper  course 
would  be  to  seek  a  remedy  in  the 
courts  against  those  who  sold  them 
the  shares.  No  finding  of  mine  would 
advance  their  interest." 

Ross  Resigns  from 
Government  Post 

Toronto — On  the  eve  of  the  pres- 
entation of  the  White  film  probe  re- 
port in  the  House  of  Commons,  an- 
nouncement has  been  made  of  the  re- 
tirement of  W.  D.  Ross  from  the  post 
of  lieutenant-governor  of  Ontario. 
Mr.  Ross  was  formerly  a  director  of 


White  Scores  Alleged  "Combines''^ 

Ottawa — Hitting  at  protection,  methods  of  conduct- 
ing arbitration,  block  booking  and  the  methods  of 
operation  used  by  Famous  Players,  highlights  of  the 
"combine"  findings  of  Commissioner  Peter  White  are 
these : 


1 — That  protection  is  detri- 
mental  to  the   public. 

2 — That  the  activities  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Distributors  and 
Exhibitors  Association  are 
against  public  interest. 

3 — That  Famous  Players  have 
a  monopoly  in  many  important 
locations. 

4 — That  Famous  Players  and 
affiliated  companies  have  control 
of  vaudeville  in  Canada. 

5 — That  Paramount  Publix 
owns  93.786  per  cent  of  the  is- 
sued shares  of  Famous  Players. 

6 — That  detrimental  activities 
by  Famous  Players  include  ac- 
quisition of  theatres,  threat  of 
building  new  houses,  securing 
and  holding  of  theatre  sites, 
improper  use  of  buying  power 
and  causing  the  withholding  of 
suitable  pictures  for  exhibition. 

7 — That  Sam  Bloom  has  made 
threats  to  independent  exhib- 
itors in  Toronto. 

8— That  the  Motion  Picture 
Distributors  and  Exhibitors  As- 
sociation has  employed  subter- 
fuge in  professing  to  have  en- 
rolled in  its  ranks  exhibitor 
members  and  that  such  mem- 
bers are  merely  employes  of 
Famous   Players. 

9 — That  the  association  is  com- 
pletely controlled  by  the  Hays 
organization  of  New  York. 

10— That  block  and  blind  book- 
ing are  decidedly  detrimental  to 
the  public. 

11 — That  the  comoulsory  arbi- 
tration clause  in  film  contracts 
has  contributed  very  materially 
to  the  influence  and  strength  of 
Famous  Players  and  actually  to 
public  detriment. 

12 — That  protection  granted  to 
Famous    Players    is    far    beyond 


what  could  be  possibly  justified 
and  has  injured  independent 
exhibitors. 

13 — That,  by  this  protection, 
Canada  is  made  to  contribute 
a  share  to  the  extravagant  sal- 
aries  paid   to  picture  stars. 

14 — That,  under  its  present 
management,  Famous  Players 
does  not  appear  to  be  conducted 
with  quite  the  ruthless  disre- 
gard of  the  rights  of  others  and 
of  the  public  interest;  but  that 
the  present  management  is  still 
under  the  direction  of  American 
interests  who  control  the  com- 
pany. 

15 — That  the  industry  had  its 
origin  in  an  art,  but  that  in  the 
hands  of  persons  who  at  present 
control  it,  the  industry  has  be- 
come  purely  commercial. 

16 — That  the  Cooper  organiza- 
tion (the  M.P.D.E.A.)  has  en- 
gaged in  a  program  of  propa- 
ganda with  social  organizations 
with  the  idea  of  creating  a  false 
idea  of  the  objects  and  aims  of 
this  combination  of  producers 
and  distributors  with  Famous 
Players. 

17— That,  with  regard  to  Brit- 
ish films,  much  could  be  done  in 
placing  before  the  theatregoing 
public  British  manners,  British 
language  and  British  ideals. 

18 — That  the  parties  to  the 
combine  undertook  to  force 
awards  of  arbitrators  by  harsh 
and  unreasonable  terms,  leaving 
the  exhibitor  entirely  at  the 
mercy  of  the  exchanges. 

19 — That,  in  regard  to  credit 
rules,  these  distributors,  the 
M.P.D.E.A.  and  Famous  Players, 
constitute  a  combine  within  the 
meaning  of  the  Combines  Act 
and  a  detriment  to  the  public. 


23  Firms,  One  Ass'n 
Are  Cited  in  Report 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Columbia   Pictures  of   Canada. 

Regal  Films,  Ltd.  (distributors  for 
M-G-M  and  RKO   Pathe). 

United   Artists   Corp. 

Vitagraph,    Ltd. 

Tiffany   Productions  of   Canada. 

First    National    Pictures. 

Warner  Brothers  Pictures  and  Vita- 
graph,   Inc. 

"BUY   RIGHT-   BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Knapp  Gets  New  Pact 

Hollywood — Warners  have  given 
Evelyn  Knapp  a  new  contract  with 
"Pleasure  First"  as  first  under  the 
agreement. 

Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp.,  but 
resigned  from  the  board  when  N.  L. 
Nathanson  stepped  out  as  managing 
director  after  an  argument  with 
Adolph  Zukor  and  I.  W.  Killarh  of 
Montreal.  Ross  has  been  linked  with 
Nathanson  in  various  rumors  regard- 
ing circuits  projects  in  Canada  to  bat- 
tle Famous  Players. 


When  IV s  Taxing 

Time  in  Florida 

Tallahassee,  Fla. — Senator  Stew- 
art has  introduced  a  new  measure 
calling  for  ten  per  cent  tax  on  theatre 
and  other  amusement  tickets  over  50 
cents.  Few  theatres  are  charging 
more  than  the  stipulated  amount,  and 
hence  the  measure,  if  passed,  is  not 
regarded  as  serious.  Exhibitors  are 
preparing  to  combat  a  more  severe 
levy  expected  to  be  proposed  shortly. 
"BUY  RIGHT~BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Ohio  Sees  Fight  FilrriF. 

Cleveland — Forty-six  prints  of  the 
.Stribling-Scbmeling  fight  pictures  are 
booked  solid  in  Ohio,  according  to 
Nat  Lefton,  general  manager  of  the 
Standard  Film  Service  Co.,  which 
has  the  state  distribution  rights. 
Every  RKO  and  Warner  house  in  the 
territory   has   booked   it. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Awards  Contract 

Boston— Publix  has  awarded  con- 
tract for  building  of  a  new  1,900-seat 
house  to  George  B.  H.  Macomber  Co. 


Alter  White 
Report  as  Too 
Severe,  Claim 


Ottawa — There  is  high  authority 
for  the  report  emanating  from  sources 
close  to  the  Dominion  government  that 
the  original  findings  of  Peter  White, 
K.C.,  commissioner  of  the  probe  into 
the  picture  business  in  Canada  under 
Federal  auspices  was  very  critical  of 
one  of  the  larger  of  the  film  companies 
doing  business  in  Canada  and  that  ob- 
ject ion  had  been  taken  to  that  com- 
pany by  White,  particularly  on  the 
legal  side.  The  significant  assertion 
has  now  been  made  that  the  final 
White  report  will  modify  his  interim 
document  in  several  particulars. 

In  other  words,  one  of  the  reasons 
for  the  extraordinary  delay  in  the 
publication  of  the  White  findings  is 
taken  to  be  that  the  first  "paper"  was 
considered  altogether  too  severe  and 
would  have  demanded  too  much  action 
on  the  part  of  the  government.  It  has 
been  intimated  that  further  evidence 
was  obtained  since  White  submitted 
what  was  designated  as  his  official  and 
final  report  of  the  probe  and  this  mys- 
terious evidence  has  altered  the  com- 
plexion   of    things. 

"BUY  RIGHT^BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Reichenbach  Buried; 
Leaders  Pay  Homage 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

has  been  infrequently  seen.  They  were 
all  there  to  pay  final  respects  to 
Reichenbach's  memory. 

Launched  promptly  at  two  o'clock 
and  ended  barely  fifteen  minutes  later, 
the  services  were  simple  and  touching. 
Dr.  Nathan  Krass  told  briefly  of 
Reichenbach  and  his  career  while  Har- 
ry Hershfield  at  whose  October  dinner 
Reichenbach  made  his  last  public  ap- 
pearance spoke  briefly  of  what  he  felt 
for  the  man  whose  corporeal  remains 
rested  a   few  feet  below  his  gaze. 

The  honorary  pallbearers  were 
many.  The  city  was  represented  by 
Mayor  James  J.  Walker.  Broadway 
was  there,  as  exemplified  by  Walter 
Winchell.  The  field  of  finance  sent 
Robert  Lehman  of  Lehman  Bros.  In- 
dustry sent  Grover  Whalen.  The  mo- 
tion picture  business,  as  seemed  prop- 
er, contributed  principally  to  the  list. 
Present  were  Will  H.  Hays,  Jesse  L. 
Lasky,  Joe  Brandt,  J.  Robert  Rubin, 
A.  C.  Blumenthal.  Lee  Ochs,  R.  H. 
Cochrane,  Al  Lichtman,  Ben  Blumen- 
thal, Walter  Wanger,  Arthur  W. 
Stebbins,  Jack  Alicoate,  Martin  Quig- 
ley  and   Maurice   Kann. 

The  interment  was  at  Union  Field 
Cemetery  in  the  quiet  of  Brooklyn's 
Cypress  Hills.  Friends  and  mourners 
left  this  portion  of  the  ceremony  un- 
intruded  for  the  privacy  of  the 
immediate   family. 

"BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Anderson  Lawler  Signed 

Hollywood — Paramount  has  signed 
Anderson  Lawler  for  a  role  in  "The 
Road  to  Reno."  Peggy  Shannon  plays 
opposite. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  32 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JULY  8,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Heyl  Succeeds 
Abel  as  Sales 
Chief  of  RCA 


Foreign  Department  Head 
Given  New  Post 


E.  O.  Heyl,  who  has  been  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  foreign  af- 
fairs for  RCA  Photophone,  has  suc- 
ceeded Sydney  E.  Abel,  who  has  re- 
signed the  post  of  vice-president  and 
general  sales 
mianager  of  the 
company.  An- 
nouncement of 
the  appoint- 
ment was  made 
by  A.  K  Reoch, 
executive  vice- 
president. 

During  the 
past  eighteen 
months  Heyl's 
activities  have 
been  confined 
to  the  corpora- 
tion's interests 
in  foreign  fields 
in  which  he 
has  had  a  broad  experience.     He  be- 

{Continued   on   page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Report  Erpi  Behind 
Hammons;  Is  Denied 

Erpi  is  the  money  power  behind 
Earle  W.  Hammons  and  his  Educa- 
tional-Tiffany-World-Wide expansion 
program,  according  to  persistent  re- 
ports current  in  Hollywood.  Ham- 
mons, however,  denies  it,  as  does  P. 
{Continued  on  page   2) 


©  Underwood 

E.  a.  Heyl 


To  Couple  Tiffany 
With  World-Wide 

Decision  has  been  practically  made 

to   couple   World-Wide   with    Tiffany 

and   to   market  the  company's   product 

as  Tiffany  World-Wide.      Sono  Art, 

{Continued  on   page   2) 


Under  Way 

Paris  —  The  new  French 
import  regulations  are  retro- 
active to  July  1.  Under  their 
terms,  the  United  States  may 
export  pictures  to  this  coun- 
try   free. 


Translation  of  the  official 
Frenclt  decree  appears  on 
page  8. 


Canada  Won't  Bury  Case 
But  Act,  Is  New  Slant 


"Buy  Now''  Deals 


Fox  is  negotiating  with  the  Publix  circuit  on  a  national  booking 
deal,  the  terms  calling  for  percentage  engagements.  Several  mill- 
ions are  involved. 

The  William  Benton  circuit,  with  headquarters  in  Saratoga,  N. 
Y.,  has  signed  for  the  entire  Warner,  First  National  and  Vitaphone 
product  for  the  new  season  in  all  its  houses.  It  operates  in  Sara- 
toga, Plattsburgh,  Glens  Falls,  Mechanicsville,  Ballston  and  White- 
hall. 

The  State  and  Granby  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  have  contracted  for  all 
the  Warner  features  and  Vitaphone  shorts.  A  previous  deal  with 
Buck  Wilder  puts  all  the  First  National  product  in  the  Newport 
in  that  city. 

Publix  Theatres  in  Des  Moines  yesterday  closed  for  the  Bobby 
Jones  series,  the  last  spot  in  that  circuit's  territory  left  open. 

Publix  Northwest  Theatres  have  signed  for  Vitaphone  "Adven- 
tures in  Africa"  series. 

Cecil  B.  Maberry,  owner  of  two  houses  in  Missouri  and  one  in 
Kentucky,  arrived  in  New  York  yesterday  for  the  sole  purpose,  he 
said,  of  buying  pictures. 

Arthur  C.  Bromberg  of  Atlanta  has  sold  the  Big  4  line-up  in  37 
towns. 

The  Capital  Film  Exchange  of  New  York  has  closed  76  situa- 
tions for  Big  4  productions. 


State  Flays 
Chi  Operator 
Union  Chiefs 


Chicago— That  the  state's  at- 
torney's office  expects  conspiracy  in- 
dictments to  be  returned  against  of- 
ficials of  the  Chicago  Operator's 
union  some  time  this  month,  and 
that  investigators  of  the  union's  af- 
fairs are  in  possession  of  "enough 
evidence  to  send  all  officials  of  the 
union  to  the  penitentiary,"  were 
among  statements  made  to  Motion 
Picture  Daily  by  Assistant  State's 
Attorney  Charles  Bellows  as  the  new 
July  grand  jury  took  over  the  union 
investigation  begun  last  month. 

"How  long  it  will  require  to  com- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Warners'  Move  Curbs 
Continental  Growth 

The  operating  set-up  of  Continen- 
tal Theatre  Supply,  accessory  unit 
controlled  by  Warners,  is  undergo- 
ing a  change  as  a  result  of  which 
Continental's  own  offices  will  be  con- 
fined to  a  limited  number  of  cities. 
Some  of  the  functions  of  the  organi- 

jj^ontinued   on   page    2) 


Product  Lack 
Returns  Stage 
Shows  in  N.J. 


Declaring  that  there  is  a  scarcity 
of  good  product  available  for  next 
season,  New  Jersey  theatre  owners, 
after  discussing  each  company's  an- 
nouncement separately,  decided  yester- 
day to  meet  the  situation  by  again 
instituting  vaudeville  and  stage  pre- 
sentations. The  plan,  if  adopted,  will 
prove  beneficial  in  more  ways  than 
one,  it  was  stated  yesterday  by  Sid- 
ney Sanuielson,  president. 

Double  features  in  about  50  theatres 
will    be    eliminated    if    and    when    the 

(Continued   on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

M,  P,  Club  Deplores 
Reichenbach  Death 

A  resolution  expressing  regret 
over  the  passing  of  Harry  L.  Reich- 
enbach was  adopted  yesterday  by  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Club  and  will  be  forwarded 
to   Mrs.    Reichenbach    shortly. 

Paul  Gulick  was  elected  a  director 
in  Reichenbach's  place.  He  will 
also   continue    to    serve  as    secretary. 


Hope  Combine  Findings 

Will  Be  Pigeon-Holed 

Rapidly  Fading 

Toronto — Action  against  the  23 
companies  and  the  Motion  Picture 
Distributors'  and  Exhibitors'  Ass'n 
cited  under  the  Combines  Investiga- 
tion Act  was  considered  likely  yester- 
day. Reports  current  for  weeks  prior 
to  release  of  the  findings  that  they 
would  be  pigeon-holed  are  fading. 

The  act,  by  authority  of  which 
Commissioner  Peter  White  conducted 
his  six  months'  investigation,  pro- 
vides for  prosecution  of  the  parties  in- 
volved but  some  time  must  elapse  be- 
fore a  decision  is  taken.  The  find- 
ings,  as    noted,    are    first    referred   to 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Trade  Is  Surprised 
By  White's  Report 

The  White  report,  alleging  that  a 
combine  exists  in  the  Canadian  film 
industry,  came  as  a  surprise  to  many 
executives  in   New  York  yesterday. 

Several  executives,  all  of  them  re- 
fusing to  be  quoted,  privately  ex- 
pressed the  opinion  that  the  findings 
were  considerably  more  severe  than 
the  course  of  the  investigation  and  the 
time  consumed  in  preparing  and  issu- 

(Continued  -on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Support  Columbia, 
"U"  Is  Allied  Plea 

Los  Angeles — Allied  Theatre  Own- 
ers of  Southern  California  in  a  bul- 
letin letter  to  its  members,  says : 

"Universal  and  Columbia  film  ex- 
changes    have     definitely     committed 

(Continued  on   page    6) 


Nebraska  in  Line 

Omaha — "I  am  heartily  in 
accord  with  the  'Buy  Right — 
But  Buy  Now'  slogan,"  states 
Charles  E.  Williams,  presi- 
dent of  the  Motion  Picture 
Theatre  Owners  of  Nebraska 
and   Western   Iowa. 

"In  these  times  of  indeci- 
sion, every  citizen  from  the 
ditch  digger  to  our  President 
should  be  constructive,  which 
means  carrying  on  to  the 
best  of  one's  ability." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    July    8,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   L'.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


July  8,   1931 


No.  32 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James- A.    Cron 

Ad-certising  Manager 

^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cj^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
■Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  DearBorn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8- 10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

All  the  Time 

Wandering 

around  the  Warner  offices  yes- 
terday, we  ran  into  a  chap 
named  W.  A.  Keyes. 

It  seems  that  he  hails  from 
Dayton,  Ohio ;  that  he  is  presi- 
dent of  the  traction  company 
there;  former  president  and 
now  a  trustee  of  Dayton  Uni- 
versity ;  director  in  twelve 
companies  and  president  of 
several ;  owner  of  a  Dayton 
hotel  and 

Operator  of  the  1400  seat 
Victory  theatre. 


Ti 


H  E  other  day, 
Keyes'  advertising  man  sug- 
gested the  house  cut  its  ap- 
propriation, this  being  summer 
and  whatnot.  But  Keyes  told 
him  not  to  slash,  but  to  con- 
tinue to  make  plenty  of  noise 
about  the  Victory.  It  was  this 
exhibitor's  idea  of  good  busi- 
ness. 

Keyes  has  also  developed  the 
strange  habit  of  giving  regular 
parties  for  his  kiddie  patrons; 
and  telling  his  paying  constitu- 
ents —  when  asked  —  that  the 
feature  is  so-and-so  or  worse, 
but  that  the  bill  has  a  swell 
comedy  worth  anyone's  money 
to  sit  through. 

1  HE  other  night 
one  of  the  Victory's  stand-bys 
left  the  line  waiting  to  enter 
the  Loew  house  to  ex])lain  to 
Keyes  that  he  had  already  seen 
the  latter's  show.  That's  how 
Keyes  has  'em  going. 

Every  month  or 
so    Keyes    considers    it    good 


business  to  hop  a  rattler,  hit 
the  Big  Town  and  find  out 
what's  coming  his  way.  He 
wants  to  prepare. 

He  also  spends  much  time 
and  loads  of  midnight  oil  sit- 
ting through  every  picture 
that  plays  his  theatre.  In  the 
last  year,  he  has  turned  down 
twO' — we  know  what  they  are, 
but  won't  tell — paid  for  them 
and  substituted  other  attrac- 
tions. This  showman  is  taking 
no  chances. 

11.  IS  house  is  one 
of  five  first  runs  in  Dayton. 
One  is  closed;  Loew  has  a  sec- 
ond and  RKO  the  others. 
Therefore,  plenty  of  competi- 
tion. 

Last  year  on  a  $550,000  in- 
vestment he  showed  a  profit 
of  $1600.  This  year  he's  doing 
better  and  for  that,  according 
to  his  own  statement,  his  back- 
bone First  National  program 
is  the  answer.  Remember, 
this  may  be  a  free  ad  for  F.  N., 
but  after  all  the  exhibitor  is 
doing  the  talking. 

1  HE  lesson  in  all 
of  this  is  obvious.  The  case  of 
Keyes  further  demonstrates 
what  this  column  has  been  at- 
tempting to  forever  drive 
home : 

That  the  independent,  by 
merchandising  and  showman- 
ship and  the  use  of  his  brains, 
need  fear  no  circuit  compe- 
tition. Individual  management 
will  better  remote  control 
management  any  time,  night 
or  day. 

Keyes  proves  it. 

KANN 


Product  Lack 
Returns  Stage 
Shows  in  N.J. 


(Continued    from    pa_ge     1) 

idea  goes  through,  it  is  said.  Op- 
erators' expenses  will  be  trimmed  con- 
siderably with  reduction  of  about  half 
the  running  time  from  schedules  go- 
ing for  the  plan.  Overbiiying  of 
product  will  be  cut  to  a  minimum,  it 
is  stated,  with  the  vaudeville  and 
stage  shows  gaining  their  former  po- 
sition on   programs   over   features. 

Sidney  Samuelson  has  already  tried 
the  new  policy  at  his  Newton  theatre 
and  states  that  he  believes  this  will  be 
the  solution  to  the  problem  of  the 
exhibitor  who  cannot  get  quality 
product.  Arrangements  have  been 
made  to  have  representatives  of  vari- 
ous vaudeville  agents  present  at  the 
next  meeting  to  discuss  further  the 
situation,  since  it  is  believed  that 
stage  performers  can  be  gotten  much 
cheaper  today  than  ever  before. 

Definite  action  on  the  proposed 
plan  is  expected  to  be  taken  at  the 
next  regular  meeting. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warners'  Move  Curbs 
Continental  Growth 

(Continued    from    "page     1) 

zation,  as  they  affect  supplies  used 
by  various  of  the  400  Warner  the- 
atres, will  be  assumed  by  the  pur- 
chasing department  of  the  parent 
Warner   organization. 

This  is  taken  to  indicate  that  Con- 
tinental's plan  to  establish  stores  and 
sub-branches       in       all       key       cities 
throughout  the   United   States   is   of?. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Dislike  Accent 

Latin-American  audiences  in  the 
Argentine  object  to  talkers  in  which 
the  players  speak  with  a  Spanish  ac- 
cent, Raul  Gerruchaga,  chancellor  of 
the  Argentine  Consulate  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, stated  yesterday  on  his  arrival 
in  New  York.  Pictures  produced  in 
America  find  a  healthy  market  in  the 
.\rgentine,  he  said. 


Entire  Market  Off;  Heavy  Trading 

Net 

High      Low      Close  Change  SeJes 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 8             T-A          7'/^.        400 

Consolidated   Film   Industries  pfd 14^        14^        \A%        —  Vf,  200 

Eastman  Kodak 1523/4       143^      1453^        — 4'4  6.700 

Fox    Film    "A" 2m        19            19           — 1^  13,800 

General   Theatre   Equipment   new 4}/^          4J^          4J4         8,300 

r.oew's,  Inc 46%        43K        ^Wt,        —2]/^  18,600 

r.oew's,    Inc.,    pfd 88           88           88           —2  100 

Paramount    Publix .'•. 27^        25'A        26           —i%  19,200 

Pathe      Exchange 2              I'/J          V/2        —54  2,400 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 8             S'A          6^        _  %  5.000 

RKO   WA        15           15H1       ~  Vf.  22,700 

Warner    Bros 8>/i          75^           71^         _  ^  14,000 

Warner   Bros.,   pfd 177/^        17%        17^        —VA  100 

Curb  Issues  Also  Decline 

Net 

High       Low      Close  Change  Sales 

(^ohunhia     Pictures    vtc 11^         11             1 1  ^-g        ~  H  400 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 3%          3             3            1.200 

(Jeneral   Theatre   E(|uipment,    pfd 8^          8             8           —  '^  1,200 

Sentry    Safety    Control ]%          ]'/g          ]i/^        _  i^  joo 

Te<:lmicoIr>r  7'/i          7             7           —  'A  300 

Trans    Lux 6A          5-54          .''M        ~  Vs  800 

Bonds  Irregular;  G,  T,  E,  Off  7% 

Net 

High      Low      Close  Change  Sales 

ficncral    Theatre    Kfjuipment    6s    '40 41            .39;^        ,39^        —IVf.  9 

I.oew's    6s    '41    ex    war 99           98           98           !4  14 

Paramount   Broadway   5'/4s   '51 102-J4       101          102Ji        +54  4 

Paramount   F.   L.   6s   '47 90           89;^        89"^        —  %  5 

Paramount   Publix   5!4s,   '50 82           82           82  54  2 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 91'/i        90"^        90!/^        5 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    wd 4l!/i        40           40.J4        —  J4  29 


Joan  Crawford  for  an  expert 

performance      in     "Laughing 

Sinners." 


Hey  I  Succeeds  Abel 
As  RCA  Sales  Chief 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

came  identified  with  RCA  Photo- 
phone  in  1928  at  the  invitation  of 
David  Sarnoff,  president  of  RCA, 
following  extended  association  with 
a  number  of  the  country's  leading  in- 
dustrial  organizations. 

During  the  World  War  he  was, 
with  Julius  Rosenwald,  Chicago 
philanthropist,  a  member  of  the 
Council  of  National  Defense  and 
later  became  a  division  head  with 
Herbert  Hoover  when  the  latter  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  United  States 
Food    Administration. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Report  Erpi  Behind 
Hammons;  Is  Denied 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

L.  Thomson,  public  relations  chief  for 
Erpi. 

The  Educational  president  said  yes- 
terday that  the  report  probably  gained 
circulation  because  the  Metropolitan 
studio  in  Hollywood  is  Erpi-equipped 
and  because  the  Christies  are  reported 
set  to  launch  actively  into  the  non- 
theatrical  field  in  which  Erpi  plans  to 
become  increasingly  active.  Thomson 
told  Motion  Pilture  Daily  that 
Erpi  is  not  financing  any  picture  pro- 
ducers. 

If  the  Christies  do  proceed  with 
their  non-theatrical  program,  Ham- 
mons may  make  a  deal  to  handle  the 
physical  distribution  of  whatever  pic- 
tures they  produce,  he  said.  "Educa- 
tional, however,  would  not  handle 
sales,"  he  added. 


To  Couple  Tiffany 
With  World-Wide 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

which  formerly  had  coupled  to  it 
World-Wide  Pictures,  will  probably 
be  used  in  the  future  as  the  label 
for  individual  pictures  produced  by 
George  W.  Weeks  and  released  by 
Tiffany   World-Wide. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Warner  En  Route 

Hollywood — Jack  L.  Warner,  his 
wife  and  son,  are  New  York  bound. 
They  arrive  in  the  East  on  Sunday 
and  sail  on  July  18.    Vacation  stuff. 


I 


Studio    and    Location 
Sound  on  Rhn  Recording 

Low    Dally    or   WeeMy    Rata« 
Powers  C'tnephone  Equipment  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE..  N.  Y.     BRyanf  9-6067 


COPY...  BOY! 

♦ . .  and  make  the  first  editiony^ 


Staccato  Hum  of  the  City 
Room  at  Press  Time!.... 

Nimble    Fingers   Dancing 
across  Clicking  Keyboards! 

News  of  the  Show  World 
Flashing  to  an  Eager  Public! 


'"^•^to 


^^^k 


mi?m'i 


NATION 


OP- RANK     RE"*^,WERS 


STRIKING     VOTE     OF     PRAISE! 


Trade   and   Daily   Press    Collaborate    In 
Testimonial    to    RKO     Radio     Pictures! 


RKO 


PICTURES 


Reg.  U.  S.Vppt.  Off. 


Boston  Globe  (White  Shoulders) 

"Strong,  effective,  well  acted."     . 

Boston  Traveler  (White  Shoulders) 

"Highly  diverting...novel  plot."  . 

Ft.  Worth  StarTelegram(YoMngDonovan'sKid) 
"First-rate  entertainment."     . 

Cincinnati  Post  (Young  Donovan's  Kid) 

"Put  it  down  for  an  hour  of  joy."     , 

New  York  Times  (Transgression) 

"Admirably  directed."      .... 

New  York  Daily  News  (Transgression) 

"Most  satisfying" 

New  York  Herald  Tribune  (Transgression) 

"Well  worth  seeing"   .      .     .     .      . 

Lowell  Courier-Citizen  (Everything's  Rosie) 

"Cyclone  of  laughter."      .... 

New  York  Daily  Mirror  (Transgression) 
"Strong  woman's  picture."     . 

Detroit  Free  Press  (Transgression) 

"Brenon  scores  high."       .... 


Portland  Evening  News  (White  Shoulders) 
"Interesting  and  original."      .      . 

Springfield  Republican  (White  Shoulders) 

"Action  never  lags." 

Detroit  News  (Young  Donovan's  Kid) 

"Seeing  it  is  a  grand  experience." 

Hollywood  Filmograph  (The  Public  Defender) 
"Gripping  action  that  never  lags."    . 

Harrison's  Reports  (High  Stakes) 

"Excellent  ..>  strong  human  interest." 

Film  Mercury  (The  Public  Defender) 

"Splendid  Dix  starring  vehicle." 

Motion  Picture  Herald  (FuH  of  Notions) 

_    "Wheeler  Woolsey  never  funnier."   . 

Daily  Screen  World  (Full  of  Notions) 

"Set  record  for  comedy  productions." 

Boston  Traveler  (Transgression) 

"Ladies  are  going  to  adore  this  one." 

Detroit  Daily  Mirror  (White  Shoulders) 

"Vivid  drama... good  audience  stuff." 


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nners 
from  last  year's  line-up! 

Little  Accident  • .  A  Lady  Surrenders . . 

Free  Love .  •  Dracula  .  •  Seed . .  Iron  Man 

• .  Bad  Sister  .  •  Strictly  Dishonorable 

.  .  Fate  .  .  RIDE  WITH  A 

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you  buy  risht  because... 


Beginners  for  1931-32! 


Waterloo  Bridge  •  •  Heaven  on 

Earth  •  •  East  of  Borneo  •  • 

Homicide  Squad  •  •  Lasca 

of  the  Rio  Grande. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    July    8,     1931 


Shearer  Beats 
Par  in  Omaha; 
$2,500  Over 


Omaha — Norma  Shearer  was  the 
big  draw  here  last  week,  "A  Free 
Soul"  being  the  only  picture  that  hit 
the  average  mark,  and  it  went  over  to 
the  tune  of  $2,500,  the  gross  being 
$9,500.  "Transgression"  was  the  run- 
ner-up, the  take  being  $12,000,  only 
$500  under.  Matinees  generally  were 
good,  but  the  heat  kept  them  away 
at  night. 

Estimated    takings    for     the     week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  grosses : 
"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 
ORPHEUM— (.i.OOO),    25c-35c-60c,    7    days. 
X'aude.     Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,    $12,500.) 
"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
PARAMOUNT-(2,900),    25c-30c-35c-60c,    7 
davs.     Gross:    $9,500.     (Average,    $7,000.) 
"NEVER   THE   TWAIN   SHALL   MEET" 
(M-G-M) 
STATE-(1,200),     25c,     4     days.      Gross: 
$1,000.     (Average,    $1,200.) 

"UP   POPS    THE  DEVIL"    (Para.) 
STATE— (1,200),  25c,  3   days.   Gross:    $850. 
(Average,    $900.) 

"THE  FINGER  POINTS"   (F.   N.) 

WORLD— (2,500),   25c-40c,   4  days.   Gross: 

$3,000.     (Average    for    week,    $5,500.) 

"BLACK   CAMEL"    (Fox) 

WORLD— (2.500),    25c-40c,    3   days.    Gross: 

$2,200.     (Average   for  week.  $5,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'Twain'  Proves 

Topnotcher  of 

Boston  Runs 

Boston — With  the  vacation  exodus 
in  full  swing,  Boston  theatres  took  it 
on  the  chin  the  past  week.  Loew's 
State  made  the  best  showing  with 
"Never  the  Twain  Shall  Meet,"  but 
even  this  was  nothing  to  be  proud  of. 
The  Metropolitan  will  resume  dancing 
in  the  grand  lounge  beginning  July  9. 
Estimated  taking  for  the  week 
ending  July  2  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"THREE    WHO    LOVED"    (Radio) 
KEITH- BOSTON— (2,500),        25c-60c,        7 
days.      Vaude.     Gross:    $17,000.      (Average, 
$18,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO    Pathe) 
KEITH'S— (2,800),   25c-60c,   7  days.   Gross: 
$18,000.    (Average,   $18,000.) 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"   (M-G-M) 
LOEWS    ORPHEUM— (3,100),    25c-50c,    7 
days.      Vaude.      Gross:     $18,000.     (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"NEVER   THE   TWAIN    SHALL   MEET" 
(M-G-M) 
IX)EWS    STATE— (3,700),    25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $21,500.    (Average,    $20,000.) 

"I    TAKE   THIS  WOMAN"    (Para.) 
METROPOLITAN— (4,350),       25c-60c,        7 
days.     Gross:    $30,000.    (Average,    $32,000.) 
"SMART  MONEY"    (Warners) 
OLYMPIA-(2,500),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $14,000.    (Average,   $15,000.) 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 
SCOLLAY    SQUARE— (1,800),    25c-50c,    7 
days.     Vaude.      Gross:     $14,500.      (Average. 
$15,000.) 

"SMART    MONEY"    (Warners) 
UPTOWN— (2,000),        25c-60c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $11,500.     (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Coulter  Gets  Charter 

Richmond,  Va. — Walter  J.  Coulter, 
local  theatrical  magnate  and  a  pio- 
neer picture  promoter  in  this  state,  is 
listed  as  president  of  the  Beacon  The- 
atre, Inc.,  of  Richmond,  which  has 
just  been  chartered  with  authorized 
maximum  capital  of  $50,000  to  own, 
lease  and  operate  theatres.  Coulter's 
brother,  Robert  H.  Coulter,  who  is 
manager  of  the  Byrd,  is  vice-president 
of  the  new  corporation.  C.  V.  Black- 
burn is   secretary-treasurer. 


Refrigerator 
Theatre  Boom 
In  Milwaukee 


Milwaukee — The  searing  heat 
which  held  sway  over  the  city  for  six 
days  helped  to  drive  people  into  the- 
atres for  relief  in  many  instances.  As 
a  result  the  majority  of  the  local  first 
runs   enjoyed   a   fairly   good  business. 

Temperatures  hovering  around  100 
degrees  and  over  enabled  the  Alham- 
bra  to  feature  its  new  $50,000  cooling 
system  in  great  style  and  "Seed" 
played  to  a  $11,500  business  at  the 
house.  "Daddy  Long  Legs"  at  Fox's 
Wisconsin  was  good  for  $15,000, 
while  "Chances"  at  the  Warner 
clicked  for  $12,000. 

"Three  Girls  Lost,"  playing  for 
nine  days  at  Brin's  Garden,  enjoyed  a 
good  business.  "Women  of  All  Na- 
tions," playing  its  second  week  at 
Fox's  Strand,  was  good  for  $6,000. 
RKO's  Riverside  enjoyed  its  usual 
good  patronage,  while  "The  Girl 
Habit"  took  in  $8,500  at  RKO's 
Palace. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

ALHAMBRA— (2,660),     25c-3Sc-50c-60c,     7 
days.     Gross:    $11,500.     (Average,    $8,000.) 
"THREE  GIRLS  LOST"  (Fox) 

GARDEN— (1,150),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  9  days. 
Gross:    $11,500.     (Average,   $10,000.) 

"THE    GIRL    HABIT"    (Para.) 

PALACE— (2,587),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,500.      (Average,    $9,800.) 

"THE  RIGHT  OF  WAY"   (F.   N.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,180),  25c -35c -50c -60c,  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Ooss:  $13,500.  (Aver- 
age,   $13,000.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

STRAND— (1,406),  25c -35c -50c -60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,000.     (Average,   $6,500.) 
"CHANCES"   (F.  N.) 

WARNER— (2,500),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7 
days.  Gross:  $12,000.  (No  average  availa- 
ble.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 

WISCONSIN— (1,275),  25c-35c-50c-65c,  7 
days.  Fanchon  &  Marco  Idea.  Gross:  $15,- 
000.     (Average,    $13,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'Transgression 

Takes  $16,500 

In  MiU  City 

Minneapolis — A  pair  of  radio  en- 
tertainers from  one  of  the  small  sta- 
tions, billed  as  the  Holsum  Redheads 
and  plugging  a  brand  of  bread,  proved 
the  best  draw  of  the  week,  pulling 
"Transgression"  above  average  at  the 
Orpheum,  where  it  showed  signs  of 
weakening.  .  "Ladies'  Man"  showed 
the  best  pulling  power  and  "Just  a 
Gigolo"   went   over  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  3  and  year-round  averages : 
"SIX   CYLINDER  LOVE"   (Fox) 

ASTOR— (812),  20c-25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,400.     (Average,    $1,500.) 

"LADIES'    MAN"    (Para.) 

LYRIC— (1,238),  20c-40c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,500.    (Average,  ?2,500.) 

"THE  VICE  SQUAD"   (Para.) 

MINNESOTA— (4,000),     30c-75c,     7     days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $20,000.     (Average,    $20,000.) 
"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM-(2,900),  25c-.35c-S0c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Average, 
$14,000.) 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"   (M-G-M) 

.STATE^(2,.3(X)),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $8,.500.   (Average,   $8,000.) 


Norma  Boosts 
Take  $6,000 
In  Baltimore 


Baltimore  —  Norma  Shearer,  as 
usual,  packed  them  into  the  refriger- 
ated Loew's  Stanley  here  in  "A  Free 
Soul,"  the  gross  going  way  up  to 
$23,500,  whereas  the  average  is  about 
$17,500.  This  despite  the  torrid 
weather  that  prevailed  during  the  first 
three  days  of  the  week  when  the 
mercury  hovered  around  100  degrees. 
Large  national  advertising  campaign 
in  all  newspapers  worked  wonders 
with  the  public  and  showed  remark- 
able results. 

Next  in  line  for  a  good  B.O.  draw 
was  "The  Girl  Habit"  at  Loew's  Cen- 
tury with  the  Loew-Capitol  stage  unit, 
"Bouquet  of  Melodies,"  on  the  same 
bill.  This  grossed  about  $19,000,  which 
is  average  for  this  house. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  2  and  the  year-round 
averages : 

"THE    NIGHT   ANGEL"    (Para.) 
KEITH'S— (2,500),     25c-50c,     6     days     plus 
a   Sunday  midnight   showing.    Gross:   $6,400. 
(Average,    $5,500.) 

Week  Ending  July  3: 

"SVENGALI"     (Warners) 

WARNER'S  METROPOLITAN— (l,.?n0), 
6   days.   Gross:    $4,500.    (Average,   $4,500.) 

Weeking  Ending  July  4: 

"THE    GIRL    HABIT"    (Para.) 

LOEW'S  CENTURY— (3,076),  25c-60c,  6 
days.  Loew-Capitol  stage  unit,  orchestra. 
Gross:    $19,000.    (Average,    $19,000.) 

"FIVE  AND  TEN"   (M-G-M) 
(Shown     uptown     after     one     week     at     the 
Stanley    downtown.) 
LOEW'S     PARKWAY— (987),     15c-35c,     6 
days.    Gross:    $4,200.    (Average,   $3,500.) 
"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S     STANLEY— (3,522),    25c-60c,    6 
days.    Gross:     $23,500.     (Average,    $17,.S00.) 
"MEN    OF    THE    SKY"    (F.N.) 
LOEW'S    VALENCIA— (1,487),    25c-35c,    6 
days.    Gross:    $3,000.    (Average,   $2,800.) 
"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 
NEW— (1,600),     25c-50c,     6     days.     Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average,    $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT-^BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Houstonites 
Spend  Plenty 
To  See  "SouF' 

Houston — Norma  Shearer  in  "A 
Free  Soul"  led  the  procession  in  a 
week  of  strong  competition,  bringing 
the  gross  at  Loew's  to  $11,500,  or 
$4,500  above  par.  The  weather  was 
hot  and  the  beaches  provided  real  com- 
petition. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  2  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"THE  BLACK  CAMEL"  (Fox) 

KIRBY— (1,654),  25c-3Sc-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,000.     (Average,   $5,000.) 

"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (2,700),  25c-35c-SOc,  7 
days.    Gross:   $11,500.    (Average,   $7,000.) 

"WOMEN  OF  ALL  NATIONS"   (Fox) 

METROPOLITAN— (2,512),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.    Gross:   $7,000.   (Average,  $7,000.) 
"THE  VICE  SQUAD"   (Para.) 

RKO  MAJESTIC— (2,250),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.    Gross:    $6,500.    (Average,   $7,000.) 


Robbers  Buzzed 

Dayton,  O. — Burglars  who  prob- 
ably had  visions  of  a  rich  haul  in 
annexing  the  receipts  of  the  Buzz 
theatre,  suburban,  are  now  aware 
that  a  depression  exists.  After  forc- 
ing a  side  door  and  ransacking  the 
office  they  got  slightly  less  than  $50 
for  their  trouble. 


Good  Takes  in 
Indianapolis 
Despite  Heal 


Indianapolis — Only  one  picture 
fell  below  par  last  week,  despite  ter- 
rific heat.  Fifi  Dorsay  helped 
"Goldie"  to  ring  up  a  total  of  $8,000 
at  the  Lyric,  which  means  $2,000  above 
average,  and  "Freckles,"  of  Our  Gang 
comedies,  did  likewise  at  the  Circle, 
where  the  take  of  $6,000  was  one 
grand  better  than  normal.  "Chances" 
was  up  $2,000  and  "Indiscreet"  $l,5d0.j| 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

ANNABELLE'S   AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 

APOLLO— (1,100),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,500.     (Average,    $4,000.) 

"NEWLY   RICH"    (Para.) 

CIRCXE— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross:! 
$6,000.     (Average,  $5,000.) 

"CHANCES"  (F.  N.) 

INDIANA— (3,300),  25c-65c,  7  days.     Pub- 

lix  unit.    Gross:  $15,000.     (Average,  $13,000.) 

"GOLDIE"  (Fox) 

I.YRIC-(2,000),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Fifi, 
Dorsay  in  person.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average, 
$6,000.) 

"INDISCREET"  (U.  A.) 

PALACE^(2,800),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,500.     (Average,   $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Two  Go  Over 
Par  and  Lick 
Charlotte  Heat 

Charlotte — Not  so  bad  last  week. 
Despite  hot  weather,  two  attractions 
went  over  par,  "I  Take  This  Woman" 
grossing  $6,000  at  the  Carolina  and* 
"Broadminded"  hitting  the  $5,000 
figure  at  the  Broadway. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  5  and  year-round  grosses: 
"BROADMINDED"   (Warners) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:   $5,000.     (Average,  $3,750.) 

"THE  LADY  WHO  DARED"  (F.  N.) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-50c,  3  day.s. 
Gross:   $3,500.     (Average,  $3,750.) 

"I  TAKE  THIS  WOMAN"  (Para.) 

CAROLINA— (1,441).  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $6,000.     (Average,    $5,500.) 

"THE  NIGHT  ANGEL"    (Paiti.) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $5,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Support  Columbia, 
"U"  Is  Allied  Plea 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

themselves  to  this  association  that 
they  will  sell  to  the  independent  the- 
atres their  product  for  1931-32  away 
from  the  affiliated  circuit  theatres  and 
will  further  correct  any  unfair  clear- 
ance and  zoning  schedules  that  may 
now  exist  over  this  territory.  In  view 
of  this  stand  we  urge  every  independ- 
ent exhibitor  to  support  these  institu- 
tions and  give  them  the  best  deal  you  j 
possibly  can." 


Effort  to  reach  Joe  Brandt  and  Lou 
Metzger  of  Columbia  for  comment 
last  night  was  unsuccessful.  Phil 
Reisman,  likewise,  was  unavailable. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

End  '* Private  Scandal" 

Hollywood — Headline  Pictures  has 
completed  "A  Private  Scandal,"  in 
which  Marian  Nixon  and  Lloyfi 
Hughes  are   featured. 


DUIMBrA  ISTHEGEM 


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MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    July   8.    1931 


66 


SmartMoney'' 
Only  Shining 
Spot  on  B  Vay 


A  quiet  week  on  Broadway  was 
last  week.  Business  continued  to  be 
spotty  with  little  to  relieve  the  sum- 
mer doldrums  which  seem  to  have 
hit    the    New    York    picture    palaces. 

"Smart  Money"  continued  to  be 
the  bright  spot.  In  its  second  full 
week  at  the  Winter  Garden,  the 
Robinson  picture  nabbed  $35,036 
which  is  lots  of  money  for  any  pic- 
ture's second  week  at  that  theatre 
in   these   parlous   times. 

The  Rialto  jumped  to  $5,200  on 
the  week,  an  increase  of  $700  over 
the  earTier  weeks  of  the  theatre's  re- 
vival policy.  At  that,  however,  the 
going  there  is  pretty  sad.  "Anna- 
belle's  Affairs"  at  the  Roxy  ended 
at  $56,000,  the  lowest  business  at 
that  house  in  fully  26  weeks.  Over 
at  the  Strand,  "Gentlemen's  Fate" 
did  $14,302,  which  is  a  bit  ahead  of 
the  previous  week  when  the  attrac- 
tion was  $12,662.  And  at  the  War- 
ner, the  week's  take  ended  at  ex- 
actly $29  under  the  $2,000  mark. 

The  Hollywood,  after  eight  weeks 
of  "Svengali"  and  "Chances"  has 
again  closed. 

Estimated     takings     week     ending 

July  2nd : 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

ASTOR— (1,120),  50c-$2,  5th  week,  7  days. 
Gross:    $16,700. 

"THE  PRODIGAL"   (M-G-M) 
CAPITOI^(4,700),      3Sc-$l-50,      7      days. 
Stage  show,  headlining  Kate  Smith.  Gross: 
$51,360. 

"SMIUNG   LIEUTENANT'    (Para.) 
CRITERION— (850),    50c-$2,    6th    week,    7 
days.      Gross:    $8,600. 

EMBASSY    (ALL    NEWSREEL) 
EMBASSY— (598),    25c,    7    days.       Gross: 
$7,085. 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 
HOLLYWOOr>-(l,549),    65c-85c,    3rd    and 
last  week,  7  days.     Gross:  $11,521. 

"SWEEPSTAKES"     (RKO    Palhe) 
MAYFAIR— (2,300),       40c-$l,       7       days. 
Gross:    $12,500. 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,700),     40c-$l,     7     days. 
Stage    show,    headlining    Nan    Halpern    and 
Rudy    Vallee    and     His     Connecticut    Yan- 
kees.      Gross:    $49,100. 
"RETURN    OF    FU    MANCHU"    (Para.) 
and 
"THUNDERBOLT"   (Para.) 
RIALTO— (1,904),    40c-$l,    7   days.    Gross: 
$5,200. 

"NIGHT    ANGEL"    (Para.) 
RIVOLI— (2,103),     40c-$l,     3rd     and      last 
week,   8  days.      Gross:    $12,800. 

"ANNABELLE'S   AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 
ROXY— (6,200),    50c-$1.50,    7    days.    Stage 
show.      Gross:    $56,000. 

"GENTLEMEN'S    FATE"    (M-G-M) 
STRAND— (3,000),   35c-$l,   7   days.   Gross: 
$14,302. 

"MACISTE   IN   HELL"    (Macri   Film   Co.) 
WARN?:RS— (1,490),      35c-75c,       7      days. 
Gross:    $1,971. 

"SMART    MONEY"    (Warners) 
WINTER  GARDEN— (1,493),  2nd  week,  7 
days.     Gross:   $35,036. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Bill  Saal  Honored  at 
Testimonial  Dinner 

Bill  Saal,  who  resigned  from  Pub- 
lix  to  become  general  manager  of 
Tiffany,  will  be  honored  at  a  testi- 
monial dinner  in  the  Hotel  Astor  at 
7  P.  M.  tonight.  The  honorary  com- 
mittee for  the  event  is  composed  of 
Adolph  Zukor,  Sam  Katz,  Ralph 
Kohn,  L.  A.  Young  and  Sidney  Kent. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Klein  to  Europe 

Edward  L.  Klein  will  leave  shortly 
for  Europe  where  he  will  represent 
American   producers. 


Text  of  French  Import  Regulations 

The  regulations  signed  in  Paris  on  July  6,  1931,  under  which  this 
country  may  send  American  pictures  to  France  zvithout  restrictions 
of  any  nature,  follow. 

1932,  no  permits  for  the  exploitation 
of  foreign  films  under  the  provisions 
of  Art.  7  of  the  regulations  previously 
in  force  will  be  granted.  The  impor- 
tation and  exploitation  in  the  French 
territory  (or  French  protectorates) 
of  films  produced  abroad  in  countries 
where  French  film  production  is  not 
restricted  will  be  entirely  free,  under 
reserve  of  the  application  of  the  last 
paragraph   of  the   present   Article. 

With  regard  to  films  produced  in 
other  foreign  countries,  their  impor- 
tation and  exploitation  in  the  French 
territory  (or  French  protectorates) 
will  be  placed  under  a  reciprocity 
rule,  the  modalities  of  which,  concern- 
ing each  of  these  countries,  will  be 
established  by  the  Commission. 

The  Commission  will  determine  for 
all  of  the  foreign  film  producing  coun- 
tries the  maximum  number  of  talking 
films,  with  subsequent  synchroniza- 
tion in  French  (dubbed)  to  be  im- 
ported into  France  during  the  film 
year  '31-32. 

Article  5 

For  the  application  of  paragraph  2 
of  the  preceding  Article  the  average 
length  of  films  is  fixed  at  2,500 
meters.  The  importation  and  exploi- 
tation of  several  short  subject  films 
not  exceeding  a  total  length  of  2,500 
meters  are  considered  equivalent  to 
that  of  a  single  film. 

Article  6 

The  owners  of  permits  authorizing 
the  exploitation  in  France  of  films 
produced  abroad,  that  were  delivered 
according  to  Article  7  of  the  regula- 
tions previously  in  force,  must  make 
use  of  these  permits  before  July  15, 
1931.  After  this  date  the  validity  of 
the  permits  previously  granted  will 
expire. 

Article  7 

The  regulations  of  May  28,  1928, 
are  cancelled. 


Article  1 

The  film  year  for  which  the  present 
regulations  are  established  com- 
mences on  July  1  of  each  year  and 
ends  on  June  3(3  of  the  following  year. 

Article  2 

Is  considered  as  a  French  film,  a 
film  produced  in  studios  located  in 
French  territory  or  in  territory  under 
FreiKh  protectorate  or  French  man- 
date, by  French  producers,  with  the 
collaboration  of  exclusively  French 
elements,  under  reserve  of  certain  de- 
rogations which  may  be  admitted  by 
the  Commission  in  individual  cases. 

Article  3 

The  following  categories  of  films 
are  automatically  classified,  that  is 
to  say,  they  are  automatically  inscribed 
on  the  list  of  films  susceptible  of  re- 
ceiving a  visa : 

1.  All  French  films,  such  as 
specified  in  Art.  2  above  men- 
tioned ; 

2.  For  the  film  year  commenc- 
ing on  July  1st,  1931,  and  ending 
on  June  30th,  1932,  all  films 
which,  although  not  complying 
with  the  above-stated  definition 
of  a  French  film,  are  entirely 
produced  in  studios  located  in 
French  territory,  or  territory 
under  French  protectorate  or 
French  mandate ; 

3.  All  silent  films  regardless  of 
their  origin; 

4.  All  newsreel  films  and  all 
films  of  an  exclusively  advertis- 
ing character,  regardless  of  their 
origin; 

5.  Films  without  dialogue,  either 
talking  or  singing,  the  musical  ac- 
companiment of  which  is  recorded 
on  film  or  discs  or  synchronized, 
regardless  of  their  origin. 

Article  4 

For  the  film  year  commencing  on 
July   1,   1931,  and  ending  on  June  30, 


Canada  Won  H  Bury  Case 
But  Act^  Is  New  Slant 


(Continued 

the  provincial  authorities  who  may 
institute  proceedings.  If  they  do  not, 
the  I^'ederal  government,  after  a  lapse 
of  three  months,  may  proceed,  if  so 
minded.  The  text  of  the  report,  made 
public  yesterday,  but  highlited  one 
day  in  advance  of  its  release  by  Mo- 
tion Picture  Daily,  was  being  studied 
here. 

It  is  intimated  by  the  Dominion  gov- 
ernment that  if  any  of  the  provinces 
are  interested  in  preparing  a  joint 
action  the  cooperation  of  the  Federal 
government  might  be  secured. 

N.  A.  Taylor,  secretary  of  the  Ex- 
hibitors Cooperative  organization,  yes- 
terday called  upon  the  government  to 
take  legislative  steps  in  order  to  pro- 
tect the  interests  of  independent  ex- 
hibitors. 

Arthur  Cohen,  managing  director  of 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp. 
which  bears  the  brunt  of  the  attack  in 
the  combine  charge,  yesterday  de- 
clared the  company  had  in  no  way 
acted  to  the  detriment  of  the  Cana- 
dian public,  as  charged.     He  said : 

"In  all  the  evidence  at  the  hear- 
ings, and  I  was  there  all  the  time, 
there  was  not  a  solitary  complaint  by 
any  member  of  the  theatre-going  pub- 


from    page     1 ) 

lie  in  (Janada  either  as  to  overcharge 
or  inability  to  see  such  pictures  as 
their  local  theatre  had  purchased. 
That  is  the  only  thing  we  are  in- 
terested in.  The  findings  of  the  com- 
missioner simply  deal  with  trade  con- 
ditions which  are  universal  and,  in 
no  sense,  peculiar  to  Canada.  Pro- 
tection, block  booking  and  closed 
areas  are  essential  in  theatre  business 
throughout  the  world.  It  is  surely  of 
some  significance  that  there  has  been 
no  complaint  on  behalf  of  the  Ca- 
nadian public  regarding  any  practices 
we  have  indulged  in. 

"There  was  not  slightest  evidence 
that  there  was  anything  in  our  meth- 
ods we  have  to  be  ashamed  of.  The 
facts  would  lead  public  opinion  the 
other  way.  I  want  to  say  we  have 
played  every  good  British  picture 
that  has  been  made  available.  We 
have  not  shown  many  for  the  reason 
not  many  have  been  made.  The  best 
British  pictures  only  do  mediocre 
business,  although  they  are  improv- 
ing and  we  hope  do  better  in  future. 
In  regard  to  American  pictures,  much 
of  the  critical  talk  is  wide  of  its 
mark  as  the  American  motion  picture 
organization  is  an  international  affair 


State  Flays 
Chi  Operator 
Union  Chiefs 


1 


(Continued    from    page     1) 

plete  our  presentation  of  evidence 
against  the  union  officials,"  Prosecu- 
tor Bellows  said,  "depends  entirely  on 
how  much  of  the  grand  jury's  time 
we  are  allotted.  We  may  have  in- 
dictments within  two  weeks,  but  in 
any  event  we  will  have  them  before 
the  end  of  the  month.  We  have 
enough  evidence  now  to  send  every 
official  of  the  union  to  the  peniten- 
tiary." 

Prosecutor  Bellows  said  that  an 
unnamed  (Thicago  exhibitor  would 
testify  this  week  before  the  grand 
jury  that  while  he  paid  two  operators 
$125  per  week  each,  the  exhibitor 
himself  had  realized  no  income  from 
his  theatre  and  had  been  obliged  to 
rely  on  relatives  for  living  expenses. 
This  exhibitor  will  also  testify,  ac- 
cording to  Bellows,  that  his  second 
operator,  a  permit  man,  was  an  in- 
experienced former  farm  hand  who 
had  never  been  paid  more  than  $15  a 
week  and  his  keep  before  establishing 
a  connection  with  the  projectionists' 
union   here. 

The  state's  attorney's  office  is  also 
pursuing  its  investigation  of  the  mur- 
der of  Jacob  Kaufman^  insurgent 
member  of  the  operators'  union,  who 
was  shot  to  death  several  days  before 
he  was  to  have  testified  in  the  grand 
jury  quiz  of  union  activities. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Trade  Is  Surprised 
By  White's  Report 

(Continued    from    page     1) 

ing  the  report  indicated  they  would 
be. 

From  Ottawa  it  had  been  indicated 
for  many  weeks  that  Commissioner 
White's  conclusions  would  be  "tarne" 
and  that,  even  when  issued,  the  report 
was  destined  to  be  pigeon-holed  and 
forgotten. 

Speculation  existed  yesterday  over 
the  next  step  now  that  the  findings 
are  public  property.  Considerable  in- 
terest was  expressed  over  publication 
in  Motion  Picture  Daily  that  pro- 
cedure, if  any  should  develop,  is  now 
up  to  the  nine  Canadian  provinces  as 
individual  actions. 


with  directors,  authors  and  players 
coming  from  all  corners  of  the  world. 

"The  number  of  British  directors 
and  players  at  Hollywood  is  very 
large.  In  a  word,  we  don't  care 
where  pictures  come  from." 

Cohen  declared  Commissioner 
White  had  entirely  missed  the  mark 
in  condemning  protection  for  first 
runs  and  said  his  company  often  took 
protection  against  its  own  theatres. 
The  public  sees  pictures  where  and 
when  it  can  afford  to  pay,  Cohen  felt, 
and  protection  should  not  be  blamed, 

"I  fail  to  see  how  we  can  have  any 
undue  advantage  over  the  public  so 
far  as  influence  or  advantage  are  con- 
cerned, it  is  purely  the  operation  of 
economic  law  with  our  purchasing 
power  having  the  preference.  I  do 
not  see  where  we  are  injuring  the  pub- 
lic in  any  way  and  I  do  not  think  any 
evidence  was  given  to  indicate  that 
we  are." 

Col.  John  A.  Cooper,  president  of 
the  M.P.D.E.A.,  in  a  statement  made 
a  general  denial  of  White's  findings. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


¥0L.  30.    NO.  33 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JULY  9,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Morris  Crew 
Landing  "Buy 
Now"  Deals 


Contracts  Roll  in  for  New 
W,  B.-F.  N.  Product 


They  believe  in  the  "Buy  Right- 
But  Buv  Now"  movement  over  at 
kVarner-First  National.  Sam  E.  Mor- 
■is  goes  further  and  points  to  actual, 
ligned  contracts  by  way  of  evidence 
hat  exhibitors  are  believing  it  as 
veil. 

Apparently  Morris'  boys  in  the 
ield  have  been  going  places  and  get- 
ing  things.  Here  are  some  of  the 
ieals   for   the    1931-1932   line-ups: 

California 

The  following  theatres,  booking  through 
he  Golden  State  Theatres,  have  signed  for 
;he    en'tire    program : 

Verdi,    San    Francisco,    North    Beach   The- 
itres,  Inc.;   Carmel,  Carmel,   Monterey  The- 
atres   Co.;    Rivoli,    Berkeley,    West    Berke- 
{Conti}ntcd    on    page    5) 
BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

K.C.  Judge  Upholds 
Peaceful  Picketing 

Kansas  City — "Peaceful  picket- 
ing" by  labor  unions  was  upheld  by 
Judge  Fischer  of  the  Wyandotte 
County  Court.  The  decision  followed 
a    petition    for    an    injunction    to    re- 

(Continncd    on    page    5) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sunny  side  Up"  Is  to 
Be  Revived  at  Roxy 

"Sunnyside  Up"  goes  into  the  Roxy 
July  17  for  as  long  as  it  will  hold  up. 
[Originally,  the  picture  played  that 
itheatre  the  final  two  weeks  of  Janu- 
iary,  1930. 

A  product  shortage  is  reported  to 
ibe  the  reason  for  revival. 


a 


Heat 

Broadway  might  have  been 
hot  yesterday,  but  it  wasn't 
one-two-three  by  comparison 
with  the  following  "selling 
lines"  that  adorned  the  May- 
fair  front  for  "A  Woman  of 
Experience": 

THE  STORY  OF  A  CURVE- 
LADEN   BEAUTY  WHO 
WAS   TOO   WISE 
TO   LOVE 

BEAUTY   WAS    HER   PASS- 
PORT TO  THE  FORBID- 
DEN    FRONTIERS 
OF    LOVE 


Looking  'Em  Over 

Today  from  Hollywood, 
William  A.  Johnston  talks 
about  "An  American  Tragedy" 
in  its  re-edited  form.  Page  4. 

Leo  Meehan  analyzes 
"Honeymoon  Lane"  and  has 
a  word  or  two  to  say  about 
Ray  Dooley.    Page  4. 

Kann  reviews  "A  Woman  of 
Experience,"  yesterday's  open- 
ing at  the  Mayfair.    Page  4. 

Other  reviews :  "Salvation 
Nell"  and  "Hell  Bent  for 
'Frisco."    Page  4. 


ii 


U"  to  Spend 
Million  More 
On  New  Films 


Confident  that  the  acceptance  of 
the  "debt  holiday"  proposed  by 
President  Hoover  will  stimulate 
business  throughout  the  world  and 
justify  a  full-steam-ahead  policy, 
Carl  Laemmle  yesterday  announce-^ 
in  New  York  that  he  has  issued 
orders  to  increase  the  production 
budget  $1,000,000  for  the  coming 
year. 

"It  seems  to  me  that  a  moratorium 
on  war  debts  is  going  to  have  a  pow- 

{Contmucd  on  page  4) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

N,  /.  Operators  Wage 
35%  of  House  Takes 

Newark — Exhibitors  of  _  Essex 
County  are  pretty  much  worried  over 
the  operator  situation,  a  number  of 
them  complaining  that  unless  some 
action  is  taken  they  will  have  to  close 
permanently.  Those  hardest  hit  by 
the  local's  demand  for  two  men  in 
the  booth   claim   that   this   expense   is 

(Continued    on    page    5) 


SOCK  SEX  TITLES, 
DOLLAR  PUBLICITY 


Crisis  Faces 
Trade  in  Fall, 
Says  Johnston 

Hollywood — The  picture  business 
will  face  its  Armageddon  this  fall  and 
the  responsibility  for  averting  disaster 
rests  upon  the  producers,  declares 
William  A.  Johnston  in  The  Holly- 
-a'ood   Herald. 

"A  battle  will  be  fought  to  yank 
up  theatre  receipts  and  to  lower  pro- 
duction costs — a  real  battle,  so  real 
that  upon  its  results  one  way  or  an- 
other hangs  the  future  of  the  much- 
vaunted  American  industry  of  motion 
pictures,"   he  writes. 

"This   is  no  alarmist  opinion ;   least 

(Contiynied   on    page    5) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Combine  Report  Cue 
For  Flag-Waving 

Toronto — The  brief  held  for  more 
representation  of  British  pictures  in 
Canada  in  the  White  "combine"  re- 
port has  brought  about  a  flag-waving 
campaign  on  the  part  of  imperialistic 
newspapers    here.     In    headlines,    they 

{Continued   on   page   4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramounts  Go  Into 
S-W  Houses  July  24 

Philadelphia — According  to  pres- 
ent plans,  the  Stanley-Warner  Co. 
will  begin  to  use  Paramount  first-run 
product,    for   the   first  time    since   the 

(Continued   on   page   4) 


Saal,  Tiffany's  Operating 
Chief;  Honored  at  Dinner 


William  ("Bill")  Saal  will  be  the 
key  man  at  Tiffany,  probably  with  no 
other  title  than  executive  assistant  to 
L.  A.  Young.  The  actual  operations 
of  the  company  will  be  his  direct  re- 
sponsibility, it  was  learned  last  night 
at  a  Hotel    Astor  dinner  in  his  honor. 

Grant  L.  Cook,  e-xecutive  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  company,  is  expected  to 
continue  in  that  post,  despite  reports 
which  alternately  had  him  in  and  out 
of  the  organization  and  returning  to 
his  law  practice  in  Detroit.    If  the  re- 


ported arrangement  holds  water. 
Cook  will  divorce  himself  from  opera- 
tions and  devote  his  time  to  financing. 

The  Saal  dinner,  unusually  well  at- 
tended for  a  sultry  July  night,  turned 
out  to  be  one  of  the  most  representa- 
tive dinners  held  in  the  annals  of  the 
business.  Present  were  the  sales  man- 
agers of  practically  every  distributor 
in  the  industry,  or  their  representa- 
tives. Good-naturedly  many  of  them 
ascribed  their  presence  to  the  fact  that 

(Continued  on   page  2) 


Milliken,  Pettijohn  Cite 

Danger  of  Legislative 

Reprisals 


Hollywood — Emphasis  on  big  sal- 
aries, -costly  productions  and  gor- 
geous Hollywood  homes  in  publicity 
constitutes  a  danger  to  the  industry 
in  its  fight  against  legislation,  Charles 
C.  Pettijohn  and  Carl  E.  Milliken  of 
the  Hays  organization  stressed  at  a 
meeting  of  directors  and  producers 
here. 

As  a  double-barreled  warning, 
both  of  them  also  urged  against  the 
use  of  suggestive  titles  and  sex  stor- 
ies and  warned  their  use  made  the 
tussle  against  censorship  difficult  to 
ward  off.  Pettijohn  told  of  the  bit- 
ter legislative  fight  he  had  just 
completed  and  said  the  battle  next 
year  will  be  worse.  The  meeting  was 
largely  attended. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Montreal  Bluenoses 
Swing  Into  Action 

Montreal — Sunday  closing  has 
again  become  a  live  political  issue  in 
Montreal  with  the  Quebec  provincial 
elections  just  around  the  corner.  Va- 
rious local  retail  stores  have  been  or- 
dered closed  on  Sunday  and  there  has 
been  a  sudden  revival  of  conferences 
to  discuss  the  situation.  Local  ex- 
hibitors have  talked  over  the  matter 
privately  several  times  and  there  has 
l)een  a  scurrying  for  the  support  of 
candidates   in   the   coming   elections. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

William  Fox  Doesn't 
'Present'  Any  Longer 

That  whisper-like  credit  line  adorn- 
ing recent  Fox  pictures  which  reads 
"William  Fox  presents"  in  type  that 
only  a  very  good  optic  could  decipher 
is   now   completely  gone. 

Official  word  came  from  company 
headquarters  yesterday  that  the  three- 
word  presentation  line  "on  main  titles, 
domestic  and  foreign,  has  been  dis- 
continued by   Fox    F'ilm   Corporation."' 


Fox's  13  Week  Net 

Drops  $3,231,514 

Fox  Film  earned  $1,124,704  for 
the  13-week  quarter  to  March  28, 
1931,  as  compared  with  $4,356,218 
for  the  corresponding  period  of  1930. 
This  covers  the  parent  company,  its 
wholly  owned  subsidiaries  and  con- 
(Continued  on    page   5) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   July    9,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Kcyistered   f.  S.  Patent  Office 

Fornurty    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


July    9,    1931 


No.    33 


M.tRTI.S      QUICLEV 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^fv  PUULISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cj^     Uaily,   Inc.,   a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
••Quiijpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Y'ucca  Streets;  IViltiam 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
.Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope.  810  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   \V.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $1S.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Given  Layoff,  Henley 
Sues  W.  B,  for  $7,000 

Hollywood — Hobart  Henley,  direc- 
tor, has  filed  suit  against  Warners 
asking  for  $7,000  due  him  as  back 
salary.  Henley  alleges  he  has  a  con- 
tract calling  for  40  consecutive  weeks' 
work  at  S3, 500  per  week  and  on  June 
15  was  told  to  take  an  eight  weeks' 
layoff  without  pay. 

••BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Flinn  on  Coast 

Hollywood — John  C.  Flinn,  former 
Pathe  production  executive,  is  here 
from  New  York  to  take  up  his  new 
duties  as  associate  of  the  Collier- 
f-'linn- Frank  artists  agency.  He  ex- 
pects to  stay  here  six  months  before 
returning  east.  , 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

RKO  Gets  Cincy  Para. 

Ci.\tJx.s.\Ti — RKO  has  taken  over 
the  new  Paramount,  suburban  house, 
thereby  continuing  to  dominate  con- 
trcil  of  the  local  theatre  situation.  The 
deal  provides  for  an  annual  rental  of 
S45.000  for  21  years. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Vallee  Elopes 

West  OKAXfiE,  X.  J. — Kudy  Val- 
lee, radio  singer  and  former  film  star, 
was  married  to  Fay  Webb,  erstwhile 
film  actress,  on  Monday  here.  The 
pair  eloped  and  held  their  marriage 
a  secret  until  it  became  public  yes- 
terday. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Nolan  to  St.  Louis 

St.  Lolls — Ray  Nolan  has  been 
appointed  KKO  Pathe  branch  man- 
ager here.  He  was  transferred  from 
Kansas  City,  his  duties  there  being 
taken  over  by  T.  R.  Thompson,  for- 
mer   I'.    .\.    branch    manager. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW 

Schnitzer  Due  Tomorrow 

Joseph    I.     .Schnitzer,    president    of 
Radio      Pictures,     arrives      in      New 
York    from     lIollywrKid    t'fiflay. 
••BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

Re-Signs  Ruggles 

Charles  Ruggles  yesterday  signed  a 
new  contract  with  Paramount  and 
leaves  for  the  Coast  within  the  next 
few  days. 


Saal^  Tiffany ^s  Operating 
Chief;  Honored  at  Dinner 


(Continued  from  page  1) 


Saal  was  no  longer  at  Publix,  but  be- 
neath the  jocular  note  was  apparent 
an  unquestioned,  genuine  desire  to 
foregather  in  Saal's  honor. 

Indicative  of  the  extent  of  this  in- 
formal dinner  was  the  dais.  Sales 
managers  present  were  Lou  B.  Metz- 
ger,  who  represented  Columbia ;  Ned 
Depinet,  RKO  Pathe;  Felix  F.  Feist, 
M-G-.M;  Al  Lichtman,  United  Art- 
ists ;  Phil  Reisman,  Universal,  and 
Charles  Rosenzweig,  RKO.  Saal's 
former  associates  at  Paramount  and 
Publix  were,  of  course,  present  in 
force.  At  the  speakers'  table  alone 
were  Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  Austin  C. 
Keough,  David  J.  Chatkin,  Sam  Dem- 
bow,  jr.,  representing  Sam  Katz,  as 
well  as  himself ;  George  Schaefer, 
representing  Sidney  R.  Kent;  A.  M. 
Botsford,  Leon  D.  Netter,  Milton  H. 
Feld,  Boris  Morros  and  Arthur 
Mayer.  Earle  W.  Hammons,  now 
associated  with  L.  A.  Young  in  the 
consolidated  Educational  -  Tiffany  - 
World-Wide-Sono  Art  interests  was 
another,  as  was  Grant  L.  Cook. 

The  party,  signalizing  Saal's  asso- 
ciation with  Tiffany  following  12  years 
with  Publix,  where  latterly  he  was 
director  of  theatre  operation  for  the 
.South  and  Southwest,  was  a  load  of 
fun  from  start  to  finish.  George  Jes- 
sel  wisecracked  plenty  in  the  opening 
spot  with  Botsford,  as  toastmaster, 
filling  a  competent  second  spot.  Speak- 
ers included  Dembow,  Young,  Morros 
and  Lichtman.  They  poked  plenty  of 
fun  at  Saal,  but  produced  an  unneces- 
sary whitewash  for  their  wisecracks 
at  the  close  when  Botsford,  on  behalf 
of  the  Publix  home  office  group,  pre- 
sented the  evening's  guest  with  a 
platinum  wrist  watch.  On  the  honor- 
ary committee  were  Adolph  Zukor, 
San  Katz,  Ralph  Kohn,  L.  .A..  Young 
and  S.  R.  Kent,  but  in  active  charge 
of  arrangements  were  Dembow,  John 
Balaban,  Chatkin,  Botsford,  Feld, 
Morros,  Mayer,  Harry  Katz,  Leon  D. 
Netter,  Jack  Meredith,  Gaston  Dureau 
and  Jack  Baanan. 

One  of  the  usual  features  of  the 
evening  was  a  flood  of  congratulatory, 


telegrams  from  well  known  film  men 
in  various  sections  of  the  country. 
l-"rom  Ash  I'ork,  Ariz.,  came  a  mes- 
sage from  Harold  B.  Franklin ;  James 
R.  Grainger  wired  from  Chicago; 
Mike  Shea  from  Buffalo;  Max  Bala- 
ban from  the  Windy  City,  and  E.  V. 
Richards,  Jr.,  from  New  Orleans. 
E.  C.  Grainger  sent  his  congratula- 
tions from  Boston ;  Jay  Rubens  from 
Chicago ;  Levere  Montgomery  from 
New  Orleans ;  Jack  Mansfield  from 
Chicago;  L.  J.  Ludwig  from  Minne- 
apolis ;  Maurice  F.  Barr  from  New 
Orleans;  Nat  Wolf  from  Minneapolis; 
Harry  David  from  Salt  Lake;  Vin- 
cent R.  McFaul  from  Buffalo;  Max 
F"riedman  from  Des  Moines ;  Harry 
L.  Nace  from  Phoenix,  Ariz.,  and 
William  K.  Jenkins  from  New 
Orleans.  Unable  to  attend,  but  rep- 
resented by  wires,  were  Adolph 
Zukor,  Sam  Katz,  Ralph  A.  Kohn, 
Harry  M.  Warner  and  Sam  E.  Mor- 
ris. 

Among  those  present  were  : 

Ed  Ruben,  Sam  Dembow,  Jr.,  Arthur 
Mayer,  Harry  Katz,  Milton  Fekl,  D.  J. 
Chatkin,  Bob  O'Donnell,  Leon  Netter, 
(iaston  Dureau,  Jr.,  Paul  Raibourn,  M.  F. 
(iowthorpe,  T.  X.  Jones,  Jack  Hirch,  Harry 
Hollander,  John  Ban'iian,  A.  M.  Botsford, 
Lem  Stewart,  Jack  Meredith,  I..  L.  Ed- 
wards, A.  C.  Keough,  J.  A.  Walsh,  W.  H. 
Hig«ins,    Marty    Mullen,    Scott    Lett. 

Phil  Seletsky,  I-X)uis  Notarius,  J.  J. 
Deitch,  Leo  Miller,  Tracy  Barham,  Dave 
.Samelson,  W.  Borack,  Alex  Halperin,  So! 
Bragin,  Harold  Greenberg,  Joel  Golden, 
Harold  Goldblatt,  .Sol  Edwards,  Warren 
Duff.  Harry  Roberg,  Ralph  Kohn,  G.  B. 
T.  Frawley,  George  Schaefer,  Miles  Gili- 
bons,  P.  McDermott,  J.  Zimanieh,  J.  E. 
Fitzgerald,  Herman  Robbins,  M.  Van 
Praag,  Pat  Garyn. 

L  Schwartz,  Phil  Meyer,  Abe  Schnei- 
der, Lou  Metzger,  I.x)uis  Weinberg.  Rube 
Jackter,  Hal  Hodes,  L.  A.  Youn'g,  Grant 
Cook,  Carl  Goe.  Earle  Hammons,  Stanley 
Hatch,  Burt  Kelly,  Harvey  Day,  Budd 
Rojjers,  Ned  Depinet,  Eddie  McAvoy. 
Harry  Scott,  Charles  Rosenzweig,  Jerry 
Safron,    Louis    Cohn,    Ted    Schlanger. 

Harry  Lorch,  Sig  Wittman,  Fred  McCon- 
nell,  Felix  Feist,  Tom  Connors.  Eddie 
.Saunders,  Bill  Rodgers,  Al  Lichtman, 
Harry  Gold,  Charles  Klang,  Irving  Worm- 
ser,  Nathan  J.  Cohen,  Arthur  Gottlieb, 
Wm.  O'D'onnell,  Paul  Swift,  Gradwell  Sears. 

Kd  Hinchy,  W.  C.  Patterson,  J.  P.  Cun- 
ningham,    M.      S'olomson,     George     Walsh, 


Entire  Marlcet  Slightly  Irregular 

Net 

High  Low  Close      Change  Sales 

Consolidate.!     Film     Industries 75-8          7'A          7^        300 

Consolidated     Film     Industries,    pfd lA'A  W/i  WA        -|-  ^  100 

Eastman      Kodak      146  UVA  IW/i        — 1J4  4,600 

Fox     Film     "A" 19{4  WA        185^        —  ^  6,800 

General    Theatre     Equipment    new 4}4          ^Vi          4%        —  J^  1.700 

Loew's,    Inc 44^  423-^  Ai'A        —  H  8,900 

Loew's,  Inc.,  pfd 87  87  87           —1  100 

M-G-M,  pfd 24)4  24}^  24^        +%  100 

Paramount    Publix 25}i  24M  25           —1  8,200 

Pathe    Exchange IH          VAz          IVs        +  Va  1,000 

Pathe     Exchange     "A" 7K          OAs          6%        +  Vi  3,100 

RKO   1554  1454  14^        —H  14,200 

Warner  Bros 7%          7'A          7A        —  'A  6,800 

Curb  Issues  Off;  C.  P,  vtc  Drops  /Vs 

Net 

High  Low  Close     Change  Sales 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc 10^4  10}4  10J4        —VAs  300 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 27As          2%          27As        ~  As  200 

fJeneral    Theatre    Equipment,    pfd 8             7^          8            500 

Sentry    Safety    Control 1%           I'A          VA         100 

Trans  Lux : S%          SVg          SVs        —  Yi  400 

Bonds  Also  Erratic;  P,  F,  L.  Up  VA 

Net 

High  Low  Close      Change  Sales 

General   Theatre   Equipment   6s   '40 39  39  .39           —  i/$  2 

lA)ew's   6s   '41    ex   war 98  98  98            1 

Paramount   F.   L.   6s  '47 91  90  91           j-fl?^  7 

Paramount    Publix   5Ks,   'SO 825^  81K  SIK        —  .^  5 

Pathe   7s    '37    ww 91  90>/^  9QYi        5 

Warner    Bros.   6s   '.W   wd 41  40J4  41            -f  }4  40 


i^^- 


Gi^Kfe- 


Those   far-sighted   exhibitors 

who    are   getting    behind    the 

"Buy   Now"   campaign. 


\ 


Boh  Savini,  Sam  Shain,  Boris  Morros. 
A.  Cron,  William  Oldknow,  Robert  Wilby, 
Ed  Rowley,  Harry  G.  Ballance  and  "Red" 
Kann. 


Sallies  at  Saal 

"Lumiere  discovered  photography, 
Griffith  the  fade-out  and  Saal  the 
chisel,"  wisecracked  Al  Lichtman  to 
the  obvious  enjoyment  of  the  crowd. 
"And  as  long  as  the  memory  of  Saal 
remains  in  Publix  will  the  heritage 
stay  there." 

Sales    managers    present   who   have 
had    their     moments     making     terms 
with    Publix   product   deals    went    for 
this   in  a  big  way. 
• 

Said  Al  further: 

"Saal's  retirement  from  Publix  is 
the  emancipation  of  the  sales  man- 
ager. Not  since  Lee  surrendered  to 
Grant  at  Appomattox  has  there  beei 
greater  hope  held  out  for  the  South." 
• 

Sam  Dembow  said  Bill  had 
"worked  for  him,  with  him  and 
against  him"  and  told  a  parcel  of 
choice  stories  about  Saal  in  the  days 
when  Winnie  Sheehan  was  sales  man- 
ager for  Fox,  Dembow  a  field  repre- 
sentative and  Saal  a  buyer  for  E.  H. 
Hulsey   in   Texas. 

Herman    Robbins,     reposing     in    a 
corner  of   the   East   Ball   Room,   just 
laughed  and  laughed. 
• 

"Saal  was  the  guy  who  developed 
the  three  manager  plan  for  Publi.x," 
remarked  "Bots."  One  to  be  there, 
one  to  be  fired  and  one  in  reserve, 
was  the  way  he  described  it. 
• 

"What  a  background  he's  had,"  saiil 
Lichtman  of  Saal,  as  the  former 
turned  to  L.  A.  Young.  "Better  than 
any  man  I  know  in  the  business. 
I'irst  with  Hulsey,  then  Steve  Lynch 
and  then  Dembow — three  gentlemen 
if  I  ever  knew  any,"  remarked  Al 
sarcastically. 

But   the   gang    took    it    legitimately 
and  illegimately.     Which  was  exactly 
how  Lichtman  meant  it. 
• 

"Bill  is  a  young  fellow  with  great 
ideas,"  Lichtman  irrepressibly  con- 
tinued. "He'll  make  a  great  show- 
man yet,  if  you  have  enough  money 
to  finance  his  ideas,"  he  said,  turning 
again    to    Young. 

• 

Grad  Sears  of  First  National  was 
one  of  the  sales  executives  who  said 
he  came  because  Saal  was  no  longer 
with   Publix. 

• 

It  was  really  quite  a  dinner  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  Saal  no  longer  buys 
pictures  and  sales  managers  can  have 
nothing  to  sell  him.  A  lot  of  those 
present  got  a  real  kick  out  of  the 
thought  that  Saal,  as  a  distributor, 
will  know  how  hard  the  shoe  can 
pinch. 


I 


WHY  NOT 
MENTION   NAMES 
MR.  EDITOR? 


Motion  Picture  Daily  Advises  Its  Readers  to 

BUY*  NOW  ! 


"YouVe 
right  Leo!** 


,.<^ 


^ 


OV 


JULY  7th 


'rN<^=*si- 


'^^rfo'^** 


-^VS  -^,A^ 


vvv^"^"   V^^" 


rfhe  CROWNING  GLORY 
of  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 
in  1931-32. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   July    9,    1931 


"An  American 
Tragedy" 

(I'ariiniouiit) 

11  0L1.YW001) — Tightened  up 
considerably  and  previewed 
again.  "An  American  Tragedy" 
emerges  as  a  thundering,  vital 
courtroom  drama  —  unquestion- 
ably the  most  powerful  ever 
presented  on  the  talking  screen. 

Irving  Pichel  stands  out  for 
a  remarkable  characterization 
as  the  district  attorney;  so  also 
does  Charles  Middleton  as  the 
law>er  for  the  defense.  Phil- 
lips Holmes,  in  a  genuineh  re- 
pressed and  appealing  perform- 
ance, has  already  been  cited 
for   his    work. 

The  courtroom  sequence,  t.ik- 
ing  up  the  greater  part  of  the 
picture,  serves  much  more  than 
the  preceding  action  to  tell 
Theodore  Dreiser's  story  of  the 
boy  victim  of  .•Vmerica's  social 
and  industrial  order.  Whether 
or  not  the  portrayal  fully  inter- 
prets the  author's  conception, 
and  granting  that  various  and 
much  different  treatments  of 
the  two  volumes  of  the  text 
were  possible,  the  facts  stands 
out  that  a  most  difficult  job  of 
adaptation  has  been  skilfully 
accomplished  and  a  picture  pro- 
duced which  is  altogether  to 
the  credit  and  may  prove  to  be 
a  monument  to  the  po\«%r  and 
technique   of   talking   pictures. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


Paramount  Goes  Into 
S'W  Houses  July  24 

iContiiiucd    frum    pa^e     1> 

split  over  a  year  ago,  on  July  24. 
'1  he  first  of  the  35  Paramount  pic- 
tures will  be  "The  Smiling  Lieuten- 
ant," booked  for  the  Stanley  Theatre. 
It  is  rumored  that  later  in  the  season 
the  Boyd  will  reopen  to  show  many  of 
the  company's  films. 

In  the  meantime,  it  is  understood 
that  Keith's,  operated  by  A.  K.  Boyd 
for  the  past  year  as  the  Paramount 
hrst-run  house,  will  close  in  .August. 
Future  disposition  of  the  house  is 
uncertain,  though  it  is  believed  that 
the  lease,  which  has  a  vear  to  run 
before  it  returns  to  the  Shuberts,  will 
be  taken  over  by  Stanley-Warner. 
Lack  of  a  cooling  system  has  been 
affecting  the  theatre  lately  and  it  is 
hardly  likely  that  Stanley-Warner 
would  try  to  operate  it  for  the  rest 
of  the  summer. 

Though  Stanley-Warner  has  taken 
the  largest  percentage  of  the  Para- 
mount picture  schedule,  this  company 
will  still  continue  to  deal  with  inde- 
pendents for  the  thirty-odd  pictures 
left  on  the  schedule,  a  much  different 
arrangement  than  the  one  which  pre- 
ceded the  split. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Changes  Name 

WiLMiN(.To.\— The  Pathe  Film 
Manufacturing  Corporation  has 
changed  its  name  to  UuPont  Film 
Nfanutacturing   ("orporation. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Contract  for  William 

HoLLywo<ji>-  Warren  William,  screen 
recruit  from  the  legitimate,  now  has 
a  five-year  Warner-First  Xational 
contract.  Warner  scouts  saw  him  in 
the  stage  prtxluction  of  "The  Vinegar 
Tree"  on    Broadway. 


Looking  'Em  Over 


"A  Woman  of  Experi- 
ence" 

(RKO  Pathc) 

Tine  female  spv  story  is  at  it  again. 
But  in  the  instance  of  "A  Woman 
of  Experience,"  the  results  are  not 
at  all   fortunate. 

.A.  comparison  between  this,  the 
first  of  the  Helen  Twelvetrees  ve- 
hicles on  the  new  RKO  Pathe  pro- 
gram, and  Marlene  Dietrich's  "Dis- 
honored" appears  inevitable  for  both 
stories  are  cast  in  the  same  general 
mould.  But  where  "Dishonored"  had 
its  Dietrich  and  Von  Sternberg  di- 
rection, "A  Woman  of  Exi)erience" 
has  its  Twelvetrees  and  Harry  Joe 
Brown  direction  and,  therefore, 
doesn't    compare. 

Miss  Twelvetrees,  with  a  check- 
ered past,  feels  the  bite  of  the  pa- 
triotism bug  and  eijlists  in  Austria's 
intelligence  department.  On  her  first 
assignment  which  calls  for  nabbing 
Lew  Cody  with  the  goods,  she  fails 
because  she  falls  in  love  with  Wil- 
liam  Bakewell   and   he   with  her. 

Bakewell  thinks  her  virginal,  but 
apparently  all  of  \'ienna  knew  the 
truth,  except  the  hero.  At  any  rate, 
there  are  cross  currents  revolving 
around  submarine  duty,  decorations 
for  hero  by  the  government  while 
the  girl  gives  herself  to  Cody  in 
order  to  square  herself  with  con- 
science and  country.  The  story  log- 
icalh-  indicates  her  past  is  too  spec- 
tacular for  her  to  marry  the  boy,  but 
she  does  nevertheless. 

The  dialogue  is  bad  and  the  com- 
edy element,  dragged  in  by  the  nape 
of  Zasu  Pitts'  neck,  strained.  Miss 
Twelvetrees,  we  believe,  can  do  much 
better  work  when  the  odds  are  not 
stacked  against  her.  They  are 
here.  K  A  N  N 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Salvation   Nell" 

(Tiffany) 
Pre-war  stuff  with  the  action  start- 
ing in  1912  and  winding  up  in  1916. 
Relates  story  of  an  orphan  waitress 
who  falls  for  the  irresponsible  inebri- 
tte,  Ralph  Graves,  and  is  seduced  by 


him.  Taking  advantage  of  the  situa- 
tion, Graves  sponges  on  her  and  when 
he  kills  Mooney,  who  has  been  forcing 
iiis  attentions  on  the  girl,  she  is  left 
penniless,  as  he  is  sent  to  the  big 
iiouse  for  a  five-year  stretch.  Home- 
less, she  joins  tlie  Salvation  Army  and 
rears  her  child.  When  Graves  leaves 
the  pen,  he  hunts  her,  claims  her  as 
his  sweetheart,  but  refuses  to  back 
out  of  a  hold-up  in  which  he  has 
agreed  to  partake.  She  even  tries  to 
sway  him  by  passion,  but  he  sees 
through  her  scheme  and  he  leaves  the 
flat   after   socking   her  on   the   jaw. 

The  preachments  of  Salvation  Nell 
win  out  that  very  night  and  he  ulti- 
mately decides  to  tread  the  straight 
and  narrow.  Helen  Chandler  takes 
the  name  role  in  this  James  Cruze 
production.  Sally  O'Neill  plays  a 
small  part  as  Myrtle,  who  is  "out  for 
fun  and  going  to  get  paid  for  it." 
James  Cruze  directed  this  Edward  B. 
Sheldon  play  which  drew  applause 
from  a  part  of  the  audience  at  the 
Beacon  yesterday. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

'Hell  Bent  for  Frisco* 

iSonn  Art-World  IVide) 
A  Thrill-0-Drama  dealing  with  a 
reporter  on  a  Los  Angeles  paper  solv- 
ing the  mysterious  death  of  his  pal 
and  brother  of  the  girl  he  has  taken 
a  liking  to.  The  newspaper  angle  is 
well  played  up  as  is  the  racketeering 
business.  Charles  Delaney  portrays 
the  news  hound,  while  Vera  Reynolds 
takes  off  the  part  of  his  pal's  sister. 
Williain  Desmond  is  the  editor  and 
Wesley  Barry  comes  in  for  a  small 
role  as  a  newsboy.  The  story  deals 
with  Reynolds'  brother  being  shot 
while  in  an  auto  race  because  he  would 
find  out  too  much  if  put  to  work  by 
his  sister's  sweetheart.  Delaney  dis- 
covers the  truth  of  the  mysterious 
death  of  his  pal  and  it  isn't  long  be- 
fore he  learns  that  Vera  Reynolds' 
sweetheart  is  the  figure  behind  the 
murder.  In  clearing  up  the  mystery 
Delaney  not  only  scoops  all  other 
papers,  but  also  takes  his  pal's  sister 
for  another  scoop. 


'T"  to  Spend  Million 
More  on  Production 

(Continued     from     page     1) 

erful  influence  in  restoring  interna- 
tional confidence  and  national  pros- 
perity," said  I-aemmle.  "H  that  is 
so,  there  are  going  to  be  a  great 
many  more  people  who  will  be  able 
and  willing  to  spend  money  for 
ainusements.  Exhibitors  will  be  able 
to  take  in  more  money.  They  will 
need  inore  elaborate  and  better  pro- 
duced   pictures. 

"Universal  will  be  prepared  to  sat- 
isfy this  demand.  I  am  determined 
to  spare  no  effort  or  money  which 
will  make  those  pictures  thoroughly 
worthy  of  their  audience.  I  have  ap- 
portioned this  extra  insurance  of' 
success  among  the  pictures  in  the 
schedule  which  seem  already  to  have 
the    widest    possibilities    of    success." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Eldridge  Closing  Three 

Harold  Eldridge  will  close  three  of 
his  Bro'jklyn  theatres  for  the  summer 
— the  Avon,  Garfield  and  16th  Street. 
The  Bluebird  will  be  kept  open  on  a 
ten-cent  matinee  policy. 


Texas  Exhibs  Here 
To  Purchase  Product 

Dave  Bershon.  representing  Hughes- 
Franklin,  of  Los  Angeles,  accom- 
panied by  Harold  Robb  and  Ed.  Row- 
ley, of  the  Robb  &  Rowley  Circuit,  of 
Texas,  reached  the  city  Tuesday  on 
business  connected  with  the  circuit, 
which  has  been  acfpiired  by  the  Frank- 
lin and  Hughes  interests.  In  the  party 
was  Fred  M.  Jack,  manager  of  the 
Warners- First  National  exchange  in 
Dallas. 

The  object  of  the  trip  is  in  con- 
nection with  First  National  franchises, 
the  party  going  into  a  long  conference 
with  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Western 
general  .sales  manager  for  Warners- 
First  National. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Robinson  Is  Chaney 
Successor — Milder 

LoNrKj.M — Warners  have  discovered 
in  Edward  G.  Rol)inson  a  successor 
to  Lon  Chaney,  states  Max  Milder 
upon  his  arrival  here  to  take  over 
Warner-First  National  sales  in  Eng- 
land. 


"Honeymoon  Lane" 

(Paramount) 

iT.  QLLYWOOD  —  If  some  pro- 
ducer in  this  village  does  not 
discover  in  Ray  Dooley,  dis- 
covered years  ago  by  us  Follies 
and  vaudeville  fans,  a  candi- 
date for  one  of  America's  fa- 
vorite screen  comediennes,  tlian 
that  is  what's  wrong  with  pic- 
tures. 

"Honeymoon  Lane"  reveals 
the  secret  and  several  southern 
California  preview  audiences 
have  confirmed  the  suspicion 
we  old  timers  have  harbored 
for  years;  namely,  that  Ray  is 
very    funny    and    very   clever. 

Eddie  Dowling  and  Ray  Doo- 
ley, in  spite  of  amateurish  cut- 
ting which  fails  to  fully  cash  in 
upon  their  respective  talents, 
have  been  co-featured  in  a 
thoroughly  entertaining  comedy- 
romance  which  should  please 
plenty  of  folk  from  Broadway, 
Manhattan,  to  Broadway,  Los 
Angeles. 

The  comedy  sequences  are 
gleefully  supported  by  the 
splendid  work  of  Raymond 
Hatton,  George  Kotsonaros  and 
.4dolph  Millar,  with  Armand 
Kaliz  and  Noah  Beery  turning 
in   excellent   performances. 

It  is  the  last  picture  by 
William  J.  Craft,  who  died  a 
few  days  after  its  completion. 
It  is  wholesome  entertainment 
with  plenty  of  light  romance 
and  clean  fun  for  most  anyone. 

LEO   MEEHAN 


Combine  Report  Cue 
For  Flag -Waving 

(Continued    from    page     1) 

are  calling  for  greater  support  of 
English   pictures. 

Opinion  continues  to  vary  locally 
on  the  aftermath  of  the  'findings. 
William  Brady,  owner  of  the  Madi- 
son Theatre,  believes  the  Government 
now  will  probably  pass  regulations 
controlling  the  industry  and  that  the 
findings  set  up  a  clear  case  for  the 
independents.  He  is  the  son  of  J.  C. 
Brady,  for  years  president  of  the 
Canadian   M.   P.   T.   O. 

Colonel  John  A.  Cooper's  statement 
on  behalf  of  the  Motion  Picture  Dis- 
tributors and  Exhibitors  Association, 
declares  seven  and  one-half  per  cent 
of  all  pictures  handled  in  Canada  are 
British,  a  figure  that,  he  states,  is 
equal  to  quota  requirements  in  Eng- 
land. Cooper  does  not  deny  "a  normal 
connection"  exists  with  the  Hays  or- 
ganization, but  says  White  ignored 
the  fact  the  Canadian  association  was 
in  existence  several  years  before  the 
:-Iays  group  got  under  way. 

Toronto  newspapers  make  a  point 
of  the  manner  in  which  the  report 
censured  N.  L.  Nathanson,  althougli 
he  was  not  heard  at  the  inquiry  and 
is  now  practically  inactive  in  the  busi- 
ness. 

The  White  report  reveals  an  inter- 
esting sidelight— that  of  the  1,108  the- 
atres in  Canada  809  are  owned 
individually,  and  that  the  remaining 
299  are  in  circuits  of  three  or  more. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Headliner  in  Beacon 

"Women  Men  Marry,"  Headline 
production,  goes  into  the  Beacon  Fri- 
day   for   a    week's    run. 


I 


Thursday,    July   9,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"Long  Legs," 
"Free  Soul" 
Cincy  Highs 


Cincinnati — Despite  some  of  the 
hottest  weather  on  record,  individual 
grosses  took  a  decided  jump  for  the 
week  with  the  exception  of  the  RKO 
Capitol,  which  fell  considerably  short 
of  average  with  "Transgression." 
Otherwise,  all  houses  showed  plus 
signs  in  their  averages. 

Business  as  a  whole  was  approxi- 
mately 13  per  cent  ahead  of  the  pre- 
vious week,  while  the  total  figures 
showed  an  increase  of  about  ten  per 
cent   over    the    combined    average. 

"Daddy  Long  Legs"  at  the  RKO 
Palace  took  the  big  money,  topping 
par  by  $3,492  with  an  intake  of  $17,- 
492.  The  RKO  Lyric  with  "A  Free 
Soul"  was  a  close  second,  however, 
the  total  strips  showing  $15,130,  giv- 
ing the  house  an  overage  of  $3,130. 
The  picture  is  being  held  over  a  sec- 
ond week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  3  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"MEET    THE   WIFE"    (Col.) 
KEITH'S— (1,600),   .TOc-50c,   7  days.   Gross: 
$4,750.       (Average,    $4,500.) 

"THE  IRON  MAN"   (Univ.) 
RKO    ALBEE— (3,300),    35c-50c-65c-75c,    7 
days.      Vaudeville.      Gross:   $23,245.      (Aver- 
age,   $22,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"  (Radio) 
RKO   CAPITOL— (2,000),   30c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $10,319.      (Average,    $'13,00O.) 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 
RKO     FAMILY— (1,140).      20c-25c-35c,      4 
days.     Ooss:  $2,470,      (Average,  $1,950.) 
"SHIPMATES"    (M-G-M) 
RKO  FAMILY— (1,140),   second   run,  20c- 
25c-35c,   3   days.      Gross:    $1,330.      (Average, 
$1,0.50.) 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
RKO  LYRIC— (1,400),  30c-50c,  7  days,  plus 
Saturday    midnight    show.       Gross:    $15,130. 
(Average,  $'12,000.) 

"DADDY   LONG   LEGS"    (Fox) 
RKO    PALACE-(2,700).    30c-50Cj    7    days 
plus  .Saturday  midnight   show.     Gross:  $17,- 
492.      (Average,    $14,000.) 

"LAUGH  AND  GET  RICH"   (Radio) 
RKO    STRAND— (1,350),    25c-40c,    7   days. 
Gross:    $4,200.       (Average,    $3,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT-  BUT  BUY   NOW" 

K,  C,  Judge  Upholds 
Peaceful  Picketing 

(Continued    from    page     1) 

Strain  the  operators'  union  from  pick- 
eting in  front  of  the  Art  Theatre, 
Kansas  City,  Kas.,  a  suburban 
house. 

"Under  the  law  a  union  cannot  be 
enjoined  from  picketing  as  long  as  it 
is  done  in  a  peaceful  manner,"  the 
judge    declared. 


Last  week  the  Supreme  Court  in 
Rhode  Island  held  that  picketing  was 
illegal. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY   NOW" 

N.  /.  Operators  Wage 
35%  of  House  Takes 

(Continued    from    page     1) 

running  as  high  as  35  per  cent  of  the 
receipts. 

Plans  are  understood  under  way  to 
break  away  from  the  Newark  local 
and  hire  projectionists  of  the  Brother- 
hood Operators'  Union,  which  asks 
for  only  one  man  in  a  booth  and  a 
lower  wage  scale. 

Hudson  County  exhibitors  may  go 
for  the  new  union,  but  no  action  is 
expected  until  Essex  County  exhibi- 
tors decide  on  the  new  affiliation 
move. 


Morris  Crew 
Landing  "Buy 
Now''  Deals 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
ley  Theatres,  Inc.;  Hay  ward,  Hay  ward 
Theatres,  Inc.;  Strand,  Merced.  Merced 
Theatres  Co.;  State,  HolHster,  HolUster, 
Golden  State  Theatres,  Inc.;  Palace,  San 
Leandro,  San  Leandro  Theatres,  Inc.;  Mi- 
lano.  San  Francisco,  North  Beach  Theatres, 
Inc.;  Daly,  San  Francisco,  Excelsior 
Amusement  Co.,  Inc.;  Parkside,  San  Fran- 
cisco, (Jolden  .State  Theatres  and  Realty 
Corp.;  Monterey,  Monterey,  Monterey  The- 
atres Co.;  Granada,  Oakland,  Monarch 
'Tlieatres  Co.,  Inc. ;  Lincoln,  Oakland,  West 
Oakland  Theatres  Co.,  Inc.;  Irving,  San 
Francisco,  Irving  Theatres  and  Realty 
Corp. ;  Excelsior,  San  Fran'cisco,  E.vcelsior 
Amusement  Co.,  Inc.;  Riviera,  San  Fran- 
cisco. Buena  Vista  Theatre  Corp. ;  L'ptown, 
San  Francisco,  Republic  Theatres  Co.,  Inc.; 
Haight,  San  Francisco,  Fairmount  Tlieatre 
Co. ;  New  Rialto,  .San  Francisco,  S.  F. 
Wigman  Theatres  Co.;  Palmer,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Palmer  Theatre  Co.;  Independent 
booking,  Courtland  Theatre,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Mrs.  B.  Feld;  Belmont  Shores,  Long 
Beach,    Woolworth    Bros. 

Minnesota 

Rex,  Winthrop,  H.  Pirsch;  Alhambra, 
Minneapolis,  Harry  Dickerman;  Cozy,  Wa- 
dena, J.  C.  Quincer;  Eagle,  Eagle  Bend, 
Ralph    Orr. 

Nebraska 

Nebraskan,  West  Point,  West  Point  The- 
atres,   Inc.,    Delmar,    Morrill,    W.    H.    Sayre. 

Ohio 

State,  Akron;  the  Romwebber  Co.; 
Dreamland,  Elyria,  John  Pekras;  Lyric, 
Toledo,  The  Southway  Co.;  Superior,  To- 
ledo, the  Superior  Theatre  Co.;  Strand, 
Toledo.    Toledo    Strand    Tlieatre    Co. 

Oregon 

Holly,  Medford,  Pacific  Tlieatres,  Inc.; 
Lyric.  Huntington,  F.  Geddes;  McHal^y, 
John  Day  (name  of  town).  Flora  C!.  Mc- 
Haley. 

Pennsylvania 

Byrd.  Philadelphia;  Keystone,  Philadel- 
phia; Royal,  Philadelphia;  Ruby,  Philadel- 
phia;   State,    Milton;    Berwyn,    Berwyn. 

Washington 

Melodian.  Cheney.  Lulu  Neilson;  Ellens- 
burg,  Ellensburg,  Elbe  Theatre  Co.,  Inc.; 
Rose.  Roslyn.  Kittitas  Theatre  Co.,  Inc.; 
Lane,   Ole   Elum,    Kittitas   Theatre  C^o.,   Inc. 

Wisconsin 

Badger,  Merrill,  C.  H.  Stange;  Vista. 
Mukwonago  Paul  Nowaiske;  Ellesworth. 
Ellesworth,  Conrad  Mohr;  Rex,  Glidden. 
Conrad    Mohr. 


Sparks,  Shirley  Visit 
N,  Y.  to  ''Buy  Now'' 

E.  J.  Sparks,  head  of  the  Sparks 
Enterprises  in  Florida,  and  Frank 
Rogers,  general  manager  of  the  cir- 
cuit, spent  yesterday  at  the  Warner- 
First  National  office  going  over  pro- 
duct for  next  season. 

"When  we  see  something  good  we 
are  grabbing  it  without  delay,"  said 
Rogers.  "Hesitancy  is  dangerous  and 
we  are  buying  now." 

Another  visitor  was  William  M. 
Shirley,  president  of  the  Farash  The- 
atre Corp.,  operating  in  New  York 
State. 

"I  am  tieing  up  my  programs  for  the 
summer,"  said  Shirley,  "and,  having 
been  one  of  the  early  franchise  holders 
in  First  National,  I  continue  to  have 
a  leaning  toward  that  company. 

"No,  sir,  I  have  no  kicks  on  busi- 
ness, the  weather  or  anything  else.  I 
refused  to  take  the  offered  cut  in  sal- 
aries by  my  operating  forces.  I  am 
paying  full  salaries  to  all  my  people 
and  keeping  out  of  tiie  red." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Young  on  Para.  Lot 

Hollywood — Waldemar  Young  has 
signed  a  contract  as  Paramount  screen 
writer.  He  has  just  completed  "Pen- 
rod  and  Son"  for  First  National. 


Oh,  Yeah? 

Minneapolis — "Up  for  Mur- 
der" gets  a  slight  black  eye  in 
the  Journal  review  by  Merle 
Potter  because  it  presents  a 
reporter   constantly   intoxicated. 

Potter  insists  they  have  their 
sober  moments. 


Fox's  13  Week  Net 

Drops  $3,231,514 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

trolled  and  affiliated  companies.  To- 
tal income  from  all  sources  was  $25,- 
458,223  against  $26,975,744  for  the 
identical  period  of  last  year.  Total 
expenses  were  $23,105,235  which 
compares  with  $22,439,527  for  the 
1930   period. 

Income  available  for  interest  re- 
quirements of  the  parent  company 
and  I'ederal  income  taxes  was  $2,- 
352,988,  against  |4,356,218.  Interest 
requirements  on  the  one-year  6  per 
cent,  gold  notes  of  I^'ox  Film  and 
amortization  of  discount  and  expenses 
totaled  in  the  1931  quarter,  $1,228,- 
284. 

The  increase  in  operating  ex- 
penses of  theatres  'and  exchanges, 
the  company  says,  was  occasioned 
by  the  fact  that  the  1931  quarter  in- 
cludes acquisition  of  70  theatres,  ex- 
penses and  receipts  of  which  appear 
in  the  1931  quarter  but  not  in  the 
1930  quarter.  The  $1,228,284  for  in- 
terest and  amortization  of  discount 
and  expenses  appears  only  in  the  1931 
quarter. 


3  Months'  Net  for 
G.  T.  E.  $898,710 

Consolidated  and  condensed  state- 
ment of  profit  and  loss  of  General 
Theatres  Equipment,  Inc.,  for  the 
three  months'  period  ended  March  31, 
1931,  shows  net  sales  and  other  rev- 
enue of  $3,157,750.  After  cost  of 
sales,  general  and  administrative  ex- 
penses, depreciation,  totaling  $2,908,- 
367,  there  was  net  income  of  sub- 
sidiary  companies   of   $249,382. 

Income  from  dividends  on  Fox 
Film  Class  A  and  B  stocks  amounted 
to  $1,372,601.  Total  income  of  Gen- 
eral Theatres,  exclusive  of  its  equity 
in  the  undistributed  earnings  of  non- 
consolidated  controlled  companies 
was      $l"621,983.  After      interest 

charges  and  amortization  of  debt  dis- 
count and  expense,  amounting  to 
$723,273.  there  remained  net  income 
applicable  to  preferred  and  common 
stocks  of  General  Theatres,  exclusive 
of  its  equity  in  the  undistribi^ted 
earnings  of  non-consolidated  con- 
trolled  companies   of   $898,710. 

No  comparison  with  the  March  31, 
1930  results  was  made  public  due  to 
acquisitions  made   in    1930. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Eddie  Cline  to  Make 
Para,  Shorts  in  N.  Y, 

Edward  Cline  has  been  appointed 
producer  of  shorts  at  Paratnount's 
New  York  studio. 

The  1931-32  program  calls  for  20 
two-reelers  and  will  be  the  first  of 
the  slap-stick  type  to  be  produced  by 
the  Paramount  Eastern  studio  since 
it  opened.  Working  with  Cline  on 
the  production  of  the  one  and  two- 
reels  are  Aubrey  Scotto,  Ray  Cozine, 
.•\1  Ray  and  Casey  Robinson,  as  di- 
rectors. 


Crisis  Faces 
Trade  in  Fall, 
Says  Johnston 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

of  all  is  it  intended  as  such.  The 
writer,  in  the  past  eighteen  years,  has 
seen  many  a  scare  and  at  tunes  a 
crisis,  out  of  which  the  profitable 
business  tramped  triumphantly  on 
with  only  a  memory  of  some  huge 
shadows  on  the  wall. 

"But  we  are  not  facing  shadows  this 
year  of  1931.  We  are  facing  large 
economic  facts." 

Tracing  the  developments  of  the 
business  during  the  last  six  years, 
Johnston  points  out  that  in  1925  thea- 
tre receipts  began  creeping  down  and 
production  costs  upward  until  they 
came  close  to  each  other.  Just  as  the 
luies  seemed  to  cross  came  the  talkers 
and  theatre  receipts  shot  upward  to 
such  a  point  that  throughout  1929  the 
theatres  reaped  a  harvest. 

"This  continued  into  1930,"  he  adds, 
"and  then  the  two  lines  began  to  re- 
sume their  normal  directions ;  theatre 
receipts  downward ;  productions  costs 
upward. 

"Have  the  lines  now  crossed? 

"This  highly  important  question 
may  well  be  argued.  And  that  the 
summer  slump  is  here,  with  a  record- 
breaking  number  of  closed  houses,  is 
a   heavy   factor. 

"But  the  plain  facts  to  consider  are 
these :  If  the  lines  have  crossed  we 
are  for  the  first  time  in  picture  his- 
tory in  a  definite  loss  area;  and  if 
they  have  not  crossed  as  yet,  they  are 
certainly  pointed  to  cross  unless  some- 
thing radical  happens. 

"An  executive,  whose  judgment 
should  rank  highest,  stated  this  spring 
that  unless  theatre  receipts  bounded 
upward  with  a  vim  in  the  fall — and 
kept  up — the  industry  would  face  its 
great  crisis. 

"That  seems  logical.  This  is  no  time 
for  gloom.  But,  also,  it  is  no  time  for 
thin  optimism,  for  blind  hopefulness 
that  things  will  somehow  right  them- 
selves and  that  the  Great  God  of  the 
Movies  will  continue  to  beam  his  rosy 
blessings  and  condone  glaring  ineffi- 
ciency, opportunism  and  heartless  ex- 
travagance. 

"Hollywood  is  facing  today  a 
mighty  responsibility.  The  studios 
are  owned  by  the  New  York  com- 
panies and  the  New  York  companies 
are  owned  by  nationwide  stockholders. 
A  family  can  wreck  its  own  house,  if 
it  will,  but  not  the  other  fellow's.  Men 
have  no  business  at  the  head  of  studio 
affairs  today  unless  they  can  prove 
their  ability  without  politics  and  with- 
out luck.  The  business  of  produc- 
tion is  calling  for  man  power  as  never 
before.  If  it  doesn't  get  it,  production 
will  fail  and  the  test  is  right  here, 
nmu." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Two  Theatres  Burned 

Spenckr,  Ia. — Two  Finkelstein 
houses  were  destroyed  in  the  fire 
which  burned  the  entire  business  dis- 
trict with  an  estimated  $3,000,000 
loss.  Blaze  was  started  by  a  small 
boy  and  some  firecrackers. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lotta  Visits  Chicago 

Chkaoo — C.  J.  Lotta,  Warner 
zone  manager,  in  charge  of  33  Ohio 
theatres,  arrived  here  this  week  for 
business    conferences. 


CHEVALIER-LUBITSCH  HIT,  THE 
SMILING  LIEUTENANT",  IN  3rd 
S.  R.  O.  MONTH  AT  $2  CRITERION, 
N.  Y.,  PICKED  FOR  2 -A- DAY  RUN 
AT  CARTHAY  CIRCLE,  LOS 
ANGEL  j^S. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Induatru 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  34 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JULY  10,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


N.  W.  Showmen 
Charge  M-G-M 
Favors  Publix 

Gives  45  Days'  Protection 
Regardless  of  Zones? 

Minneapolis— The  Northwest  Ex- 
hibitors' Association  is  in  a  stew.  W. 
H.  Workman,  local  M-G-M  manager, 
it  asserts,  has  informed  members  that 
the  company  will  not  release  new  pic- 
tures to  independent  exhibitors  prior 
to  October  15  because  of  an  arrange- 
ment giving  Publix  45  days  exclusive 
right  to  book. 

The  exhibitor  unit  claims  that  this 
applies  not  only  to  Minneapolis,  but 
to  all  towns  and  cities  served  from 
this  exchange  center,  no  matter  how 
many  miles  removed  from  the  nearest 
Publix  house. 

.\1  Steffes,  in  particular,  is  bothered 
about  this.    "This,  in  my  opinion,"  he 

(Continued   on   page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

35  N.Y.  Houses  Buy 
RKO's  "Right  Now" 

In  addition  to  Louis  Frisch  and 
Sam  Rinzler  signing  for  RKO  prod- 
uct for  15  Brooklyn  theatres,  about 
20  independent  houses  in  Greater 
Xew  York  have  put  signatures  on  the 
dotted  line  for  the  company's  prod- 
uct. 

The  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now 
spirit  has  proved  to  Jack  Ellis,  man- 

(Contiiiued   on    page   6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Seattle  Seating  Is 
33%  Below  Normal 

Seattle— This  city  today  has  33  1/3 
per  cent  fewer  first  run  seats  than  it 
had  just  six  months  ago. 

At  that  time  there  were  approxi- 
mately 15,000  seats  in  seven  downtown 
first    run    houses— 8,350   belonging    to 

(Continued  on   page   6) 


On  Ball  Bearings 

A  certain  publicity  man 
around  town  was  hired,  fired 
and  re-hired — all  in  a  couple 
of  months  by  a  company 
where   changes   are   frequent. 

"Go  on  back  to  work,"  said 
the  head  of  the  department 
one  day.  "You're  in  again. 
Take  your  old  office." 

"Not  before  you  put  in  re- 
volving doors,"  shot  back  the 
p.a. 

He  knew. 


30'Day  Director-  Writer  Pact 
Plan  to  Result  in  Fireworks 


Think  Right! 


lijOME  exhibitors  in 
Minneapolis  and  environs  ap- 
pear to  be  unduly  excited 
about  the  "Buy  Right  —  But 
Buy  Now"  campaign  'which 
Motion  Picture  Daily  and  its 
companion  publications  in  the 
Quigley  group  are  conducting. 

They  are  endeavoring  to 
discount  it  by  charging  the 
genesis  of  the  idea  sprang 
from  distributor  suggestion. 
Discount  it  they  may,  if  they 
so  elect;  but  to  bandy  about 
charges  that  the  movement  is 
"insoired"  is  something  these 
men  have  no  privilege  to  do 
when  they  don't  know  what 
they   arc   talking   about. 

The  "Buy  Right— But  Buy 
Now"  idea  is  a  Motion  Picture 
Daily  development,  fostered 
by  this  publication  and  ex- 
tended to  the  entire  Quigley 
group  as  an  institutional  edi- 
torial policy  for  that  group. 
The  purpose  is  to  create  ex- 
citement in  the  exhibitor  mind 
in  the  hope  that  he  will  buy 
right,  but  buy  now,  thereby 
maintaining  a  normal  course 
in  business  and  avoiding  inter- 
trade  stagnation. 

That's  all  there  is  to  it.  In- 
nuendoes and  suppositions 
don't  belong,  because  there 
are  none. 

K  A  N  N 


Hollywood — If  the  studios  here 
proceed  with  a  reported  plan  to  drop 
long-term  contracts  with  directors  and 
writers  in  favor  of  a  system  which 
would  place  them  on  a  30-day  basis 
with  the  usual  options,  there  will 
probably  be  plenty  of  fireworks  dec- 
orating the  horizon  shortly. 

It  is  reported  that  Joseph  I. 
Schnitzer,  who  arrives  in  New  York 
today,  has  informed  RKO  directors  and 
writers  that  this  is  the  new  order  of 
the  day  and  that  all  other  studios 
with  the  exception  of  Paramount,  may 
be  expected  to  follow  through. 

How  rapidly  such  a  plan,  if  it  does 
develop,  can  be  made  effective  is 
something  that  interests  those  fa- 
miliar with  its  reported  intent.  On 
the  Radio  lot,  for  instance,  Herbert 
Breiion  and  Paul  H.  Sloane  recently 
signed  new  contracts  on  the  old,  long- 
term  l)asis.  On  other  lots,  there  are 
both  directors  and  writers  operating 
under  existing  agreements  which  vary 
considerably  in  time. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

F.W.C.-U.A. 
War  at  End; 
Signing  Truce 

They  started  the  war  on  the  Coast, 
but  thev'll  sign  the  treaty  in  New 
York. 

That's  the  way  the  United  Artists- 
Fox  West  Coast  scrap  looks  from 
present  indications.  Negotiations  are 
under  way  between  Al  Lichtman, 
general  sales  manager  of  United  Ar- 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


"BUY  NOW  SALES 


Charles  Rosenzweig,  sales  manager 
for  Radio,  opined  yesterday  that  there 
was  plenty  to  this  "Buy  Right — But 
Buy  Now"  campaign.  Off  his  desk 
and  pretty  much  picked  at  random 
were  these  deals  for  the  1931-1932 
line-up : 

The  Malco  Theatres,  headed  by  M. 
A.  Lightinan,  which  operate  in  10 
Arkansas  and   Tennessee  towns. 

The  McFarland  circuit  in  eight 
Michigan  towns. 

The  Memphis  Theatre  and  Equip- 
ment circuit  in  Tennessee  and  Arkan- 
sas. The  Butterfield  circuit,  operating 
in  a   raft  of   Michigan  towns. 

More  grins  over  at  Warner-First 
National  yesterday  and  more  enthusi- 


asms  for   the   "Buy    Right — But   Buy 
Now"  movement. 

Turned  into  the  home  office  by  the 
selling  crew  in  the  field  are  the  fol- 
lowing new  contracts: 

Empire  Theatre,  Pt.  Henry.  N.  Y.,  C. 
V.  Deny;  New.  Hoosic  Kails.  N.  Y., 
C.  V.  Deny:  Ameiulola,  Niagara  Falls, 
N.  Y.,  John  Amendola;  Apollo,  Chester, 
Pa.,  Mack  Amusement  Corp.;  Strand, 
Chester,  Pa.,  Mack  Tlieatres.  Inc.;  Manor, 
Croydon,  Pa.,  G.  W.  Miller;  Majestic, 
Shamokin,  Pa..  Hi^KinR  Enterprises.  Inc.; 
Aladdin',  Cocoa,  Florida.  1".  W.  Bryan; 
Music  Hall.  Plymuoth.  N.  H..  W.  Huck- 
ley ;  Iniliana  .State.  Lafayette,  Tnd.,  Col. 
Zelmer;  Roxy,  Boswell,  Ind..  Boswell 
Amuse,  Co,,  Inc.:  New,  Dewitt,  Ark.. 
Wilson  and  Elliott:  Princess,  Humbolt. 
Tenn.,  J.  F.  I.owrance;  Strand,  Tupelo, 
(^Continued  on  page  6) 


Can't  Reduce 
Service  Fees, 
Erpi  Asserts 

Price    Cuts    Mean    Loss 
In  Quality,  Claim 


Service  charges  must  remain  as  is, 
insofar  as  Erpi  is  concerned,  if  cir- 
cuits and  independent  theatre  oper- 
ators want  to  maintain  the  present 
level  in  reproduction  quality. 

In  these  days  of  economy  and  waste 
elimination,  circuit  heads  are  reported 
to  have  gone  over  the  items  on  their 
operating  cost  sheets  which  deal  with 
service  maintenance  and  to  have  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  something 
should  be  done  about  it. 

.A.t  Erpi,  however,  the  circuit  in- 
clination toward  cuts  doesn't  set  any 
too   well.    There  can  be  a  downward 

(Continued  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Only  One  Operator 
For  Cincy  Suburbans 

Cincinnati — Acting  on  precedents 
established  in  other  key  situations, 
suburban  exhibitors  will  insist  on  dis- 
pensing with  one  of  the  two  operators 
now  employed  in  booths,  when  the 
present  two-year  agreement  expires 
on  August  31. 

Exhibitors  point  out  that  when  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Darrow  Will  Combat 
N,Y.  Censor  Deletions 

Clarence  Darrow  is  set  to  fight  the 
new  deletions  ordered  by  the  New 
York  censor  board  from  "The  Mys- 
tery of  Life,"  which  include  pictures 
of  the  human  embryo  and  of  a  child 
nursing  at  its  mother's  breast.  In  de- 
fense, Darrow  states  "1  suppose  these 
censors  will  make  a  crusade  against 
the  Madonna  who  is  shown  nursing 
the   holy    infant    in   all    churches,    art 

(Continued  on   page  6) 


The  Breakdown 

"I  hear  So-and-So  is  out," 
remarked  a  certain  somebody 
yesterday. 

"That's  a  good  job,  too.  It 
should  pay  about  $400  a 
week,"  replied  somebody  else. 

"Yes,"  answered  the  first 
somebody,  "Three  hundred 
and  ninety-five  for  grief  and 
$.5  for  work." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,    July    10,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered    f.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\  ul.    }0 


July    10.    1931 


No.    34 


Martin    Quiglev 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^g\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  Jl  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^     Daily,   Inc.,  a   Uu'gley    Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Uuigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliain 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  CUicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
.Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope.  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Kleiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.   VV.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,  under   Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents 


Silents  Destroyed  in 
Frisco  Studio  Fire 

S.\s  R.AFAEL,  Calif. — The  explosion 
of  fire  which  destroyed  the  old  Cali- 
fornia Motion  Picture  Corp.  plant 
here  meant  the  destruction  also  of 
several  films,  including  "Salvation 
Nell,"  "Mrs.  Wiggs  of  the  Cabbage 
Patch,"  "The  Unwritten  Law"  and 
"Salomy  Jane,"  it  was  learned. 

The  company,  also  known  as  the 
Beatrix  Michelena  Motion  Picture  Co., 
featured  lilms  starring  Beatriz  Mi- 
chelena, wife  of  George  Middleton, 
San  Francisco  and  San  Rafael  club- 
man and  producer.  The  actress  is 
now  touring  Europe  with  an  operatic 
company. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

D,  W.  Griffith  Starts 
On  "Tfie  Struggle" 

D.  W.  Griffith  has  begun  direction 
of  "The  Struggle,"  from  an  original 
story  by  John  Emerson  and  Anita 
Loos,  at  the  Audio  Cinema  studio  in 
New  York.  Hal  Skelly  and  Zita 
Johann   head    the   cast. 

Griffith's  staff  includes  Richard 
Blaydon,  assistant  director ;  Joe  Rut- 
tenberg,  in  charge  of  photography; 
Raymond  A.  Klune,  production  man- 
ager, and  Vivian  M.  Moses,  publicity 
and   advertising   director. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Goetz  Back  to  Chi 

Chicago — L.  E.  Goetz,  independent 
producer-distributor,  will  close  his 
New  York  office  in  the  near  future. 
Goetz's  company  will  return  to  its 
former  headquarters  here  at  810  Sout!) 
Wabash   .Ave. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Sobler  Gets  Post 

IIoi.i.vwooD  —  I'enedict  Sobler  has 
been  apjxjinted  manager  of  the 
Hughes-I-Vanklin    Studio   Theatre. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Releases  "Dreyfus" 

Columbia  has  completed  negotia- 
tions for  the  release  of  "The  Dreyfus 
Case,"    priKluced    abroad. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Lily  Damita  Sailing 

I-ily  Damita  gangplanks  it  from 
New  York  to  Paris  tomorrow.  Vaca- 
tion business. 


THEY  have  a  system  over  at  Warners  and  it  covers  that  company's 
as  well  as  First  National's  product. 
All  pictures  received  from  the  Coast  are  hurried  into  the  projection 
room,  previewed  and  criticized.  If  a  consensus  of  opinion  holds  that 
improvements  can  be  made,  Harry  M.  Warner  takes  a  special  looksee 
and  returns  the  negative  to  the  studio  for  this  or  that  by  way  of 
brushing  up. 

It  can't  always  be  done,  particularly  when  release  dates  sneak  up  on 
pictures.  But,  as  a  general  procedure,  this  course  is  followed.  The 
Warners  are  keen  for  the  idea  and  declare  it  usually  works  out  for 
the  general  good. 

• 

It  can't  be  proved,  but  several  New  York  executives  guardedly  ex- 
pressed the  opinion  yesterday  that  there  was  much  of  a  political  slant 
behind  that  White  report — the  one  which  holds  a  combine  exists  in 
Canada.  One  opinion  had  it  that  those  portions  of  the  report  which 
dwelt  on  the  possibilities  of  British  pictures  in  the  Dominion  were 
significant  and  might  explain  the  cracks  taken  at  practically  every 
American  distributor  doing  business  up  above  the  line. 

A  certain  general  manager  of  a  big  independent  circuit  is  on  the  spot 
by  a  big  distributing  company.  Who  is  the  man  and  which  is  the  com- 
pany ?     And  why  ? 

Paramount  is  not  hiring  extra  help  to  fill  in  while  regular  employes 
are  vacationing  this  year.  All  are  getting  vacations  and  there's  a  lot  of 
doubling  up  on  part  of  those  not  away. 

That  Louis  Frisch  deal  for  the  remaining  Fox  Brooklyn  theatres  is 
nearing  completion  and  is  expected  to  be  closed  within  another  week. 
Just  a  few  more  details  to  be  ironed  out  and  it'll  be  over.  Sam  Rinzler, 
supervisor  of  those  houses  under  the  Fox  regime,  may  finally  get  his 
wish  and  quit  since  there  won't  be  any  reason  for  Harry  Arthur  to 
refuse  his  resignation  this  time. 

• 

Two  writers  were  approached  by  a  certain  agent  to  write  the  scenario 
for  a  contemplated  cigarette  mystery  serial,  but  after  thinking  it  over 
dropped  negotiations  because  of  the  advertising  angle  involved. 

Reports  yesterday  were  current  on  the  Rialto  that  Joe  Hornstein  and 
Sol  Brill  were  linking  with  a  third  partner  to  buy  the  Continental 
Theatre  Accessories,  New  York  branch,  in  the  Warner  Building.  War- 
ners laughed  the  matter  off,  stating  there's  no  truth  to  the  rumors. 

• 

"M.  E.  Comerford  and  William  M.  Vogel  present,"  reads  the  main 
title  of  "Honeymoon  Lane."  Eddie  Dowling  made  the  picture  for  Para- 
mount distribution. 

• 

This  is  the  first  time  in  his  long  career,  so  far  as  the  collective  minds 
of  the  Off-the-Record  chroniclers  could  recall  on  a  sultry  afternoon,  that 
Mike  Comerford  has  figured  in  production. 


General  MarJcet  Advances;  Loew's  Up  1 


High  Low  Close 

ronsolidated  Film  Industries 8  7^d          8 

Consolidated  Film  Industries,  pfd 14^  1454  1414 

Eastman    Kodak     14554  142  \W/i 

Fox    Film    "A" 18*^  17  17^^ 

General    Theatre    Eqiiipment    new 4;4  4  4 

I.oew's,      In'c 44^  433^  44i/J 

Paramount      Publix 2514  2AVn  2S'A 

I'athe      ExchauRe 174  1^          ]^ 

I'aihe    Exi:hanRe    "A" &%  7             77/i 

KKO    l5Mi  WA  144^ 

Warner    P,ros 754  754  7^ 

Warner     Bros.,     pfd V'A  V'/a  V</a 


Net 
Change 

-f  34 


-114 

-  '/s 
-1-1 
-f  'A 
-f  54 
-1-1 
+  'A 
+  ■/« 

-  34 


Curb  Issues  Irregular 


High 

Fox   Theatres    "A" 3 

(ieneral   Theatre    Equipment,   pfd 7% 

Trans     Lux     514 


Net 
Low      Close      Chanee 

2Vi  3  -I-  % 

7  7-1 

554         5'/,       -  'A 


Sales 

700 
200 
2,100 
17.500 
16,700 
5.000 
6,500 
1,600 
7^800 
9.300 
10,400 
200 


Setles 

400 
700 
100 


Bond  List  Also  Irregular;  Pat  fie  Gains  1 

High  Low 

i.eneral    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40 39!^  3754 

I^ew's    6s    '41    ex    war 98  98 

Paramount    Hroadway    554s    '51 1025^  1015^ 

Paramount     F.     L.    6s    '47 8954  895^ 

Paramount    Publix    554s.    '.SO 8154  8154 


Net 
Close      Change     Sales 


Pathe    7s    '37    ww 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    wd 


9154 

41 


91 

405^ 


38 
98 

10154 
8954 
8154 
915^ 
41 


-154 
-154 


4-1 


Qim%. 


Messrs.   Pettijohn   and  Milli- 

ken  for  urging  the  Coast  to 

fight  clear  of  sex  titles. 


Dubinskys  Operate 
Two  Publix  Theatres 

Kansas  City — Dubinsky  Bros,  have 
taken  over  the  operation  of  the  New 
man  and  Royal,  Publix  houses,  and 
shifted  their  Liberty  to  a  first  run 
de  luxe  house.  The  Liberty,  which 
is  next  door  to  the  Newman,  formerly 
was  a  second  run  grind.  The  Royal, 
which  has  been  a  first  run  house,  will 
become  a  grind  house. 

The  Newman  and '  Liberty  h  ave 
changed  their  opening  days  to  Sunday, 
a  practice  which  has  been  missing 
from  first  runs  here  for  several  years. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Pay  Too  Low,  Mifce 
Out  of  AMPA  Race 

Members  of  the  A.  M.  P.  A.  will 
meet  within  the  next  few  weeks  to 
elect  a  nominating  committee  which 
will  name  new  officers  for  the  ensuing 
year.  While  no  date  has  yet  been 
definitely  set,  it  is  expected  that  lunch- 
eons will  be  resumed  after  that.  Mike 
Simmons  does  not  expect  to  run  again 
for  office  because  the  pay  is  too  in- 
finitesimal. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Coming  and  Going 

Norman  Moray,  Vitaphone  sales 
manager,  returned  to  New  York  yes- 
terday after  a  short  jaunt  below  the 
Mason  and  Dixon  line.  Someone 
asked  him  if  it  was  hot  in  Washing- 
ton. In  answer  he  uttered  something 
that   sounded   like   "Hell !" 

Harry  Rosenquest,  of  the  Vita- 
phone  sales  staff,  left  yesterday  for 
Binghamton  and  points  along  the 
Delaware,   Lackawanna  and  Western. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Ready  for  Shooting 

Alterations  and  additions  at  the 
Vitaphone  plant  in  Brooklyn  are  ex 
pected  to  be  completed  by  July  27, 
at  which  time  production  will  be  re 
sumed  there  with  "Lucky  Thirteen" 
the  first. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Arliss  at  Hollywood 

The  Hollywood  Theatre  reopens 
next  month  with  George  Arliss  in 
"Alexander  Hamilton." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Rath  Out;  Cobb  In 

F.  Heath  Cobb  succeeded  Fred 
Rath  yesterday  in  the  Columbia  ad- 
vertising  department. 


WANTED 

Experienced    Advertising    and    Exploita- 
tion  Man   to  handle   trade  paper  adver- 
tising.      State     experience     and     salary. 
Address    Box    110, 
MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 
1790  Broadway,  New  York 


Friday,    July    10,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Lifetime  Job 

Albany — Harry  Brooks,  of 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  seems  to  have  a 
lil'elong  job  wished  on  him, 
and  doesn't  have  so  much  as 
a  sinjjle  word  to  say  about  it. 
All  of  which  leads  up  to  the 
fact  that  Brooks  has  just 
been  elected  for  the  21st  con- 
secutive time  to  the  office  of 
president  of  the  M.P.M.O.P. 
union.  And  that's  some  rec- 
ord. 

And  yet  another  operator 
in  Troy,  Al  LeMay,  has  also 
been  elected  for  the  twenty- 
first  time  as  secretary  of  the 
organization  which  Brooks 
i  is  so  long  headed.  Need- 
1  5S  to  say,  they  have  the 
r  utine  on  their  finger  tips 
a  d  if  the  members  have  any- 
t  ing  to  say  about  it,  and 
tl  ey  apparently  have,  these 
two  men  are  going  to  keep 
right  on  serving  as  officers  of 
the  Troy  local  for  some  years 
to  come. 


Chaplin  Gets  $78,400 
In  5 -Week  Frisco  Run 

San  Francisco — "City  Lights," 
which  opened  the  new  United  Artists' 
theatre  here,  grossed  $78,400  in  five 
weeks.  The  first  two  weeks  of  the 
picture  brought  practically  capacity 
business,  and  the  balance  of  the  run 
rang  up  healthy  grosses.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  record  of  the  receipts  by 
weeks : 

P^irst  week,  $22,000. 

Second   week,   $19,000. 

Third  week,  $13,500. 

Fourth  week,  $12,500. 

Fifth  week,  $11,400. 

At  this  rate,  considering  that  the 
house  has  only  a  1,200  seating  ca- 
pacity and  a  60-cent  top  price,  the 
picture  could  have  easily  gone  sev- 
eral more  weeks.  However  the  sec- 
ond-runs in  this  territory  will  be  able 
now  to  gross  lieavy  business  as  a  re- 
sult  of   the    short    premiere   run    here. 

Douglas     Fairbanks     in     "Reaching 
for  the   Moon,"  the   second   U.A.   ve- 
hicle,  opened  to  capacity   business. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

Buys  Ohio  House 

Plymouth,  O. — Joseph  Hickman 
of  Cleveland  has  leased  the  Deisler, 
which  has  been  closed  since  the  death 
of  Reuben  Deisler,  owner,  two  years 
ago.  Western  Electric  sound  equip- 
ment is  being  installed,  and  other  im- 
provements are  being  made  after 
which  the  house  will  reopen  under 
name  of  the  Plymouth. 

Hickman  is  also  negotiating  for  the 
Karolyn,  at  New  London,  Ohio, 
which  will  be  equipped  with  sound 
and  extensively  remodeled. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Renovate  Pastime 

Berea,  O. — H.  A.  Flynn  is  renovat- 
ing the  Pastime,  installing  new  chairs, 
screen,  projection  machines,  drapes 
and  a  new  RCA  sound  equipment. 
National  Theatre  Supply  is  doing  the 
redecorating   and    refurnishing. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Handle  Gibson  Films 

Cleveland — Selected  Pictures  will 
distribute  in  Ohio  a  series  of  six  Hoot 
Gibson  pictures  m^'^t  hv  M.  H.  Hoff- 
man, Jr.  for  A'ned  Pictures  Corp, 
Fred  Schram  and  Nate  Schultz  nego 
tiated  the  deal. 


Purely  Personal 


MIKE  SIMMONS  in  his  snappy 
magazine,  "Buzz  Saw,"  makes  tlie 
mad  assertions  that  "Selling  is  the 
genius  of  modern  civilization"  and 
that  "Civilization  is  merely  proper 
merchandise."  Put  those  in  the 
liook.  And  you  should  read  Mike's 
l>rinted  comments  on  his  own  "First 
Aid."  Sezze :  "Sizzles  with  story 
appeal.  .  .gripping  story...  brought  a 
grateful  reaction  from  the  audience 
...Mike  had  no  reason  to  be  ashamed 
...his  collea<Tues  are  all  proud  of 
him."     Haw ! 

Gerald  Wynne  of  the  Sono  Art- 
World  Wide-Educational,  etc.,  out- 
fit, has  an  Oxford  accent ;  Lou  Lif- 
ton  laughs  at  everybody's  jokes  but 
tells  none  of  his  own ;  Joe  Hesse  is 
wild  about  flowers ;  Peggy  Spargo  is 
the  favorite  crush  of  the  trade  paper 
boys ;  Joe  Rivkin  stutters  when  he's 
calm,  but  talks  smoothly  when  he's 
excited ;  Bob  Doidge  resembles  Paul 
Whiteman — in  the  scalp,  not  in  girth. 

.Cynthia  B.  Mantell,  daughter 
of  Edmund  Mantell,  owner  of  the 
Star  and  Ritz,  Bronx,  was  married 
last  Sunday  to  G.  M.  Rosenbloom 
of  Stamford,  Conn.  The  couple  are 
now  at  Yellowstone  Park.  The 
aroom  is  headed  straight  for  the  ex- 
hibitor business  when  he  returns. 

Harry  Huffman,  president  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Theatre  Owners' 
Association  and  owner  of  several 
Denver  theatres,  has  returned  home 
with  Mrs.  Huffman  from  a  trip  to 
New  York  and  through  the  Canal  to 
California. 

Cectl  E.  Maberry,  formerly  with 
Columbia  and  now  operating  two 
theatres  in  Missouri  and  one  in  Ken- 
tuckv.  arrived  in  town  Mondav  to 
purchase  product  for  his  houses.  He's 
at    the    Park    Central. 

Gus  SciiLESiNGER,  back  from  a 
long  stay  in  Berlin,  visited  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Club  yesterday  and 
shook  welcoming  hands  at  tables 
clear    around    the    restaurant. 

Al  Selig's  new  Ford  is  equipped 
with  shock  absorbers  and  a  lot  of 
other  de  luxe  trappings.  Al  is  doing 
his  first  driving  since  Hollywood  and 
ten   years    ago. 

J.  F.  McAloon,  western  sales  man- 
ager for  RKO  Pathe,  who  is  on  a 
tonr  of  exchanges,  is  at  present  in 
Minnespolis.  He  will  return  to  New 
York  July   13. 

George  Bilson  is  off  on  his  an- 
nual vacation  the  end  of  the  week. 
The  place  is  Meenahga  Lodge,  two 
miles  from  Ellenville  in  New  York's 
Catskills. 

Ben  Roman  has  resigned  as  New 
York  manager  of  Federal  Checking 
Service. 

"Dutch"  Frank,  New  York  inde- 
pendent exchange  owner,  is  producing 
a  series  of  kid  pictures,  the  first  of 
which  will  be  "Alice  in  Wonderland." 

A.  H.  Eicitenberg,  assistant  man- 
ager of  the  Denver  in  Denver,  has 
resigned  to  enter  business  with  his 
father  in  Kansas  City. 


MoE  Goldman  of  Judea,  back 
from  that  European  jaunt,  is  telling 
all  about  that  pinch  he  had  to  ex- 
perience   in    Spain. 

Frank  Price,  Jr.,  manager  of  the 
Rivoli,  Baltimore,  has  been  installed 
as  president  of  the  Advertising  Club 
of    Baltimore. 

Dorothy  Liftman  is  Hal  Hodes' 
new  secretary  at  Columbia.  She  was 
formerly  with  Warner-First  Na- 
tional. 

Dorothy  Brockman,  cashier  of  the 
Rialto  in  Denver,  has  just  changed 
her  name  to  Mrs.  Howard  E.  Simp- 
son. 

MoE  Streimer,  U.A.  New  York 
branch  manager,  has  returned  from  a 
Bermuda  vacation.  He  insists  there 
are  no  onions  down  that  way. 

J.  Roy  Young,  of  Kansas  City  and 
Emmert  D.  Nash  of  Sioux  Falls 
have  been  elected  to  Paramount's  100 
per  cent  club. 

Al  Blof.son,  former  Tiffany  New 
York  manager,  trekking  Seventh 
Ave.  yesterday  and  not  bothered  by 
the  heat. 

Paul  Burger  is  on  the  road  again. 
Yesterday  he  was  in  Washington,  but 
only  the  Lord  and  those  at  U.A.  know 
where  he  is  today. 

"Skip"  Weshner.  advertising  di- 
rector of  Warner  Theatres,  is  holi- 
daying for  a   couple  of   weeks. 

Jimmy  Grainger  is  doing  his  usual 
Pullman  stunt  this  week.  Arrives 
back  in   New  York   Monday. 

Louis  Kutinsky,  just  back  from 
a  trip,  leaves  shortly  for  Texas  to 
negotiate  RKO  deals. 

Harry  Suchman,  former  indie 
exhibitor,  gave  the  Film  Curb  the 
once  over  the  other  day. 

Lester  Ring  of  Stanley  Frame  is 
wearing  a  red  tie  these  days  to 
match  his  sunburn. 

Charlie  Einfeld  will  week-end  it 
this  year.  No  regulation  vacation 
for  him. 

Sidney  Samuelson  headed  the 
group  of  Jersey  exhibitors  on  that 
boat  ride  yesterday. 

Larry  Flynn  of  Paramount's 
transportation  department  has  entered 
the   benedict  category. 

Jesse  Levine  has  joined  the  Uni- 
versal sales  staff  in  Philadelphia. 

Harry  Gold  doesn't  take  to  Old 
Golds.    He  prefers  U.A.'s. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Sues  for  Eviction 

Columbus,  O. — Loew's  Broad,  to- 
gether with  Carl  Dennis,  policeman, 
were  made  co-defendants  in  a  $5,000 
damage  suit  filed  by  Harry  M.  Ab- 
garian,  69,  who  alleges  he  was  evicted 
from  the  theatre  on  May  2,  and 
arrested  on  a  charge  of  blocking  a*- 
aisle. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Ruth's  Next  Paramount 

Hollywood — Paramount  announces 
that  Ruth  Chatterton's  next  vehicle 
will  be  "The  Second  Life,"  which 
should  settle  the  gossip  about  her 
future    affiliations    for    a    few    days. 


Chiseling 

Omaha — RKO  Orpheum  chis 
eled  in  on  a  Paramount  gag 
when  it  sprang  a  stage  wedding 
the  night  before  "I  Take  This 
Woman"  opened  at  the  World. 
Local  house  had  made  plans 
for  several  weeks  for  the  foot- 
light   ceremony. 

Both  houses  fought  it  out  in 
their  ads.  Both  got  packed 
houses. 

Joe  E.  Brown  made  a  per- 
sonal appearance  at  the  Para- 
mount on  the  opening  night  of 
"The  Man  In  Possession." 
Brown  and  company  were 
en  route  to  Lincoln  to  shoot 
scenes  for  "Local  Boy  Makes 
Good"  with  the  A.A.U.  meet 
as  a   background. 

Brown's  appearance  was  Pub- 
lix's  answer  to  RKO's  padded 
stage  wedding  on  the  same 
night. 


Give  Churches  Break; 
Close  Four  Sundays 

Arlington,  Tex.— Although  the 
city  council  refused  the  demand  of 
ministers  for  an  ordinance  closing 
theatres  on  Sundays,  the  man- 
agers agreed  to  close  four  Sundays 
to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the  parsons' 
declarations  that  their  congregations 
would  be  enlarged  by  such  a  move. 
The  pastors  in  return  offered  their 
"moral  support"  to  the  movies  as 
long  as  they  did  not  conflict  with 
Sunday    services. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

St,  Louis  Exhihs  Bar 
"Trader  Horn''  Split 

St.  Louis — The  Motion  Picture 
Exhibitors'  League  of  St.  Louis  has 
adopted  a  resolution  against  the 
action  of  M-G-M  in  withdrawing 
"Trader  Horn"  and  playing  it  on  a 
40  per  cent  basis.  It  was  the  con- 
sensus of  the  meeting  that  the  only 
equitable  plan  for  playing  a  picture 
on  percentage  is  to  first  deduct  the 
legitimate  overhead  expenses  of  the 
exhibitor  and  then  split  the  net  pro- 
ceeds 50-50. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Two  File  Charters 

Dover,  Del.— Charters  were  filed 
here  by : 

Brandywine  Amusement  Co.,  to 
operate  places  of  amusement  of  all 
kinds.  Capital,  $100,000.  Represented 
by  Harry  W.  Mason,  Francis  E. 
Davis  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  and 
Addie  Ruth   Cooper,  of   Bear.    Del. 

Machine  Theatre  Corp.,  to  operate 
amusement  places  of  all  kinds.  One 
hundred  shares,  no  par  value.  Rep- 
resented by  H.  Denn  of  Flushing, 
N.  Y.;  Daniel  O'Shea  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  and  Gordon  E.  Youngman  of 
New   York   City. 


Dover,  Del. — A  charter  was  filed 
here  by  United  Comedy  Pictures  Cor- 
poration, Ltd.,  to  conduct  exhibitions, 
plays,  dramas,  etc.,  with  15,000  shares 
of  no  par  value.  Represented  by  J. 
Vernon  Pimm,  Albert  G.  Bauer  of 
Philadelphia  and  R.  L.  Spurgeon  of 
Wilmington,  Del. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Takiff  Arrives 

Harry  Takiff,  assistant  to  Joe 
Schnitzer  at  the  Radio  studio,  reached 
New  York  from  the  Coast  yesterday. 
He  will  be  here  about  two  weeks. 


4^ 

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a 


victor  over 
adversity 


R.  CARL  LAEMMLE 
an  intrepid  pioneer  of  the  industry 
has  been  through  all  the  periods  of 
ordeal  in  the  industry,  and  some  of 
his  own,  from  the  beginning.  And 
he  is  still  smiling.  When  he  was 
beset  by  the  powerful  Patents  Com- 
pany, he  grinned  and  fought — and 
advertised.  When  he  fought  %vith 
his  partners,  he  laughed  and  fought 
— and  advertised.  When  business 
was  good  he  crowed  about  that,  and 
%uhen  it  got  dull  he  got  excited.  If 
he  had  known  when  he  was  licked 
he  would  have  been  out  of  business 
in  1908,  /';/  1912,  and  again  in  1916. 
He  didn't  know  it  and  it  wasn't  so. 
He  has  always  believed  in  two  en- 
during facts,  the  motion  picture  and 
Carl  Laemmle.    He  keeps  selling. 


This  advertisement 
is  the  third  of 
a  series  on 
success  in  the 
picture  industry. 


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she  is 
just  a 


The  very  dignified  advertising  agency,  N.  W.  Ayer  &  Son, 
Inc.,  in  the  dignified  city  of  Philadelphia  took  a  page  of  the 
dignified  New  York  Times  the  other  day  to  remark  and  admit 
to  the  world  of  American  business  that  "advertising  is  a  work- 
ing girl."  It  is  a  pleasure  to  have  this  question  settled.  There 
are  slightly  divergent  ideas.  Howard  Dietz  holds  to  the  notion 
that  advertising  is  a  lion.  Hy  Daab  thinks  of  advertising  as  a 
robust  and  slightly  naked  young  giant,  a  Titan.  Bob  Cochrane 
thinks  that  it  is  a  sort  of  radio  activity  that  comes  "straight 
from  the  shoulder"  of  Carl  Laemmle.  Charles  McCarthy  for 
years  has  made  it  the  fire  and  smoke  from  a  Paramountain 
shooting  at  a  ring  of  stars.  Pathe  spent  twenty-five  years 
proving  it  was  a  rooster. 

And,  on  this  subject,  G.  F.  Kettering,  vice-president  of  General  Motors 
Corporation,  writes  in  Printer's  Ink:  "Advertising  is  to  me  a  story  about 
a  product.  I  believe  that  business  will  come  back  when  we  get  some 
products  that  people  want  to  buy.  ...  I  also  know  that  there  is  a  horrible 
thing  in  this  world  called  monotony  that  has  more  to  do  with  business 
than  anything  else.  .  .  .  //  you  want  to  kill  any  idea  in  the  world  today,  get 
a  committee  working  on  it." 

Mr.  Kettering's  remarks  charmingly  apply  to  some  aspects  of  the  motion 
picture  selling  situation  today.  It  is  pretty  clear  that  our  motion  picture 
industry  appears  these  days  to  be  influenced  by  the  genius  of  a  committee 
on  hard  times. 

This  working  girl,  "Advertising,"  has  often  proved  the  best  leading  lady 
in  the  business.  She  keeps  kissable,  and  she  can  do  a  bit  for  the  industry 
today,  if  the  gloom  committee  will  let  her. 

CDLVIN     BROWN 

General  Manager 
Quigley  Publications 

MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 
THE  HOLLYWOOD  HERALD 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,    July    10,    1931 


Free  Soul" 
Only  Money 
Film  in  L.  A. 


Los  A xcELES— Terrific  heat  hurt 
grosses  here  the  first  part  of  the  week 
and  business  was  oflf  generally.  The 
outstanding  exception  was  "A  Free 
Soul,"  playing  its  second  week  day 
and  date  at  the  Criterion  and  Grau- 
nian's  Chinese.  At  the  former  it  beat 
par  by  $5,300  and  at  the  latter  by 
$4,500,  thanks  to  the  Shearer  draw. 

"Big  Business  Girl"  flopped  to  the 
tune  of  $6,000  at  the  Warner  Down- 
town and  $4,500  at  the  Warner  Holly- 
wood, but  the  saddest  story  was  "Girl 
Habit"  at  the  Paramount.  It  took  in 
$10,000  against  an  average  of  $25,000. 
••Rebound"  took  a  $7,000  drop  in  its 
third  week  at  the  Carthay  Circle  and 
will  be  succeeded  by  "The  Smiling 
Lieutenant."  '•Seed"  in  its  fourth 
week  at  the  Orpheum  was  almost 
$10,000  below  par. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing Julv  8  and  vear-round  averages: 
"CUERPA   Y    ALMA"    (Fox) 

C.ALIFORNI.\  INTERNATIONAL  — 
(2,000),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $4,400. 
(Average.    $5,000.) 

"REBOUND"    (RKO    Pathe) 

FOX  CARTHAY  CIRCLE-(I.650).  75c- 
SI.50,  3rd  week.  George  StoU  and  Band. 
Gross:    S5.50O.      (Average,    $12,500.) 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

FOX  CRITERION— (1,652),  35c-65c,  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $15,300.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

GRAUMAX'S  CHINESE^(2,030),  25c-75c, 
7  days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Aver- 
age.   $8,000.) 

"THE   LAWYER'S   SECRET"   (Para.) 

GRAUMAX'S  EGYPTIAN— (1,800),  10c- 
65c,  7  days.  Gross:  $3,400,  (Average, 
$6,5C0, ) 

"MAN   IN   POSSESSION"    (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,418),  35c-65c,  7  days. 
F  &  .M.  "Modern  Minstrels"  Idea.  Gross: 
$22,800.      (Average,    $27,000.) 

"SIX   CYLINDER   LOVE"    (Fox) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,100),  25c-65c,  7  days. 
Stage  show  with  Leon  Errol,  Carleton  Kel- 
sey's  Band.  Gross:  $11,800.  (Average. 
$16,000.) 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,7.50),  35c-6Sc.  7  days,  4th 
week.       Gross:     $6,600.       (Average.     $16,000.) 

"YOUNG  DONOVAN'S   KID"   (Radio) 

.PAXTAGES  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000),  35c- 

65c,    7    days.     F.    &    M.     "Hot    Java"    Idea. 

Gross:    $I3,5(JO.       (Average,    $15,000.) 

"THE    GIRL    HABIT"    (Para.) 

PARAMOU.VT- (3,598),     35c-65c,    7    days 
Stage    revue,    Conchita    .Montenegro   in    per- 
son.     Gross:    $10,000.     (Average,   $25,000.) 
"THOSE     WHO    LOVED"     (Radio) 

RKO— (2,700),     35c-65c.     7     days.       Vaude. 
Gross:     $13,500.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"TABU"    (Para.) 

UXITED  ARTLSTS  —  (2,100),  35c-65c. 
Gross:    $8,600.       (.Average,    $13,500.) 

"BIG  BUSINESS  GIRL"   (F.  N.) 

WARNER  DOWNTOWX-(2,400),  7  days, 
35c-5()c.      Gross:  i?,000.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"BIG    BUSINESS    GIRL"    (F.    N.) 

WARNER  HOLLYWOOD— (3,0CO),  7 
days  2nd  week,  35c-50c.  Gross:  $9,500. 
(Average,   $14,000.) 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

35  N.  Y,  Houses  Buy 
RKO's  ''Right  Now" 

(Continued   from   page    1 ) 

ager  of  the  exchange,  that,  in  his 
case  at  least,  the  business  now  is 
far  ahead  of  that  of  last  year  at  the 
same  time. 

Theatres  already  signed  for  1931- 
,32  RKO  product  include:  Happy 
Four,  Gloria-Paris  Court,  Nassau, 
I  cho.  Graham,  New  Liberty,  Regent, 
,?  leridan,  Armory,  Cumberland, 
T  'ibby.  New  Gates,  Lincoln,  all  in 
Brooklyn;  Concourse,  Variety,  Park 
West,  New  York  City ;  Granada, 
Pearl  River;  Broadway,  Haver- 
straw;  Rialto,  West  New  York  and 
several  others. 


List  Sales 
In  "Buy  Now'' 
Movement 

(Continued  from   l^iuic   1) 


Miss..    Mar-Shan    Amuse.    Co.:    Ritz.    New 
Alh,iny,    Miss.,    F,    L.    Marshall. 

Rivoli,  Hartford,  Conn..  Rivoli  Corp.; 
Palace.  Xewton.  Miss.,  Kenneth  Wall; 
Rainbow,  Sulphur,  Okla.,  S.  In'gram :  Or- 
pheum, Randolph,  Neb.,  A,  A,  Ulm; 
Royal,  Charter  Oaks,  la.,  L,  A.  Bramson; 
St,  Johns,  Delafield,  Wis.,  Maior  F.  W. 
Monso;  Lakeview,  Lakeview,  la..  L.  M. 
Wilcox;  Madrid.  Madrid.  la.,  C,  Spencer: 
Grand,  Kno.xville.  la..  W.  A.  Graham; 
-\nd  Empire.  Storm  Lake,  la,,  G.  R.  Nor- 
man. 

American.  Canto,  N,  Y,,  Ideal.  Chat- 
eaugay,  N^.  Y.;  Community,  Blue  Hill. 
Maine;  Victory.  New  Haven,  Conn,;  Vic- 
toria, May's  Landirtg.  N.  T.;  Waller, 
Laurel.  Del;  Auditorium,  Erie.  111.:  Max- 
l>ilt,  Fleischman's,  N.  V.:  Tilton.  Tilton, 
N.  H. ;  Central.  Fairbury,  111.;  Lincoln, 
Lincoln.  Ill;  Stone,  Stone,  Ky,;  Virginia. 
Milton,  W,  Va. :  Iris.  Muskegon,  Mich.; 
Gem,  Appleton  City,  Mo.;  Strand,  Bridge- 
water,  S.  D.;  Kimo,  Albuquerque.  N.  M.; 
Dalton,  Pulaski,  Va. ;  Republic.  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. ;  Wayne.  Wayrfesbro.  Va. ; 
Cluster,  Baltimore,  Md. :  Columbia.  Bal- 
timore, Md. ;  Eureka.  Baltimore.  Md. ; 
Garden,  Cumberland.  Md. :  Capitol.  Meri- 
den.  Conn.;  Crescent  and  Aristo.  Louis- 
ville, Ky.;  Hudson,  Richmond,  Ind. :  Star 
and  Colonial,  Ouincv,  III;  Opera  House, 
Oberlin.  Kans. ;  Homestead.  Hot  Springs. 
Va.;  Liberty.  Cumberland,  Md. ;  Idle 
Hour,  Baltimore,  Md, ;  Orpheum,  Sault 
.Ste.  Marie;  Prin'ce  Edward,  Toronto; 
Princess,  Globe  and  Maple  Leaf.  Vancou- 
ver. B.  C,  and  Reston,  Reston,  Mani- 
toba. 

^RKO  Pathe  has  sold  its  first  four 
Personality  Group  features  to  War- 
ners for  immediate  showing  in  Phila- 
delphia and  Atlantic  City,  "Rebound," 
"A  Woman  of  Experience,"  "Sweep- 
stakes" and  "The  Common  Law"  are 
the   pictures. 


Showmen  Keen  for 
Wise  Bookings — Seed 

Harry  .A..  Seed,  manager  of  the 
Warners-First  National  exchange  in 
Buffalo,  was  a  visitor  in  New  York 
yesterday. 

'•The  exhibitors  in  my  territory  are 
more  keenly  alive  to  the  necessity  of 
making  wise  bookings  than  they  ever 
were,"  said  Seed.  '•A  number  of  them 
keep  in  touch  with  one  another  and 
they  are  hot  for  first-hand  informa- 
tion from  Hollywood.  They  are  all 
going  after  the  •sure  things"  and  are 
taking  no  chances  in  slipping  up  on 
them. 

"You  know  the  summer  season  in 
and  around  Buffalo  is  not  bad.  We 
get  a  great  many  tourists  and  the 
Falls,  our  only  competitor,  we  hail 
with  joy,  for  we  get  all  its  visitors 
which  helps  a  lot." 


Fine  Fall  Business 
Is  Roden  Prediction 

E.  C.  Roden,  manager  of  the 
Roden  circuit  in  Kansas  City,  now 
affiliated  with  Fox,  reached  New 
York  yesterday  and  spent  the  day 
making  the  rounds  of  the  Warners- 
First  National  offices.  Roden  dis- 
cussed product  with  Gradwell  L. 
Sears    and    Norman    Moray. 

•'It  gets  fiercely  warm  in  Kansas 
Citv  at  this  time  of  the  year,"  said 
Roden,  "but  we  should  not  complain 
of  that.  Old  Sol  inakes  the  wheat 
grow  and  that  makes  for  good  busi- 
ness. I  see  a  nuinber  of  fine  pictures 
in  sight  and  with  them  we  are  going 
to  do  a   fine  business   in  the   fall." 


Only  Clay 

Akr  on,  O.  —  The  Beucon- 
.lotiinal,  local  daily,  volunteers 
the  information  that  the  screen 
lover  serves  a  useful  purpose 
after  all.  He  enables  a  poor 
wife  to  forjiet  for  a  little  while 
that  her  husband  isn't  like  that. 


F.W.C.-U-A. 
War  at  End; 
Signing  Truce 

(Continued    from    pa<ie     1) 

tists,  and  Jack  Sullivan,  Fox  theatre 
buyer,  which  when  consummated  will 
find  the  former's  product  playing  all 
Fox   theatres   including   Fox   Wesco. 

Conferences  between  Sullivan  atid 
Lichtman  are  expected  to  result  in 
actual  signatures  being  put  to  the 
contract  within  the  next  few  weeks, 
it  is  said,  although  the  number  of 
houses  involved  in  the  deal  has  not 
yet   been   definitely   determined. 

•'BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW 

Only  One  Operator 
For  Cincy  Suburbans 

(Continued     from     pane     1) 

contracts  were  signed  it  was  neces- 
sary to  have  two  operators  because 
of  sound-on-disc,  but  since  introduc- 
tion of  sound-on-film,  they  contend 
that  one  man  is  sufficient. 

Suburban  operators  now  receive 
from  $55  per  week  in  houses  seating 
500  or  less  to  $70  per  week  where 
seating  capacity  is  800  or  less,  with 
a  scale  of  $80  in  houses  having  more 
than  800  seats.  Operators  in  the 
downtown  houses  work  on  an  $84  a 
week  scale. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

Can't  Reduce  Service 
Fees,  Erpi  Asserts 

(Continued    from     pane     1) 

slide,  it  is  maintained  there,  but  the 
slide  will  be  one  of  quality  if  it  is 
one  of  price,  Erpi  asserts  its  several 
price  reductions  over  the  last  three 
years  now  represent  the  minimum  un- 
der present   standards. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Sound  System 

Los  Anceles — A  new  studio  sound 
system  has  been  developed  by  Radio 
Installation  Company.  It  is  called  the 
"Rico"  system  and  is  said  to  employ 
the  double  system  of  recording,  the 
new  method  of  noiseless  recording 
with  precautions  having  been  taken 
against  all  climates  as  a  guard 
against  dampness. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

Lightman  Gets  Two 

Fort  Smith,  Ark. — The  New  is 
the  latest  house  to  be  added  to  Malco 
Theatres,  of  which  M.  A.  Lightman 
is  head.  The  house  had  been  operated 
by  Publix,  w  hose  lease  expires  in  Sep- 
tember, Lightman  and  W.  F.  Sonne- 
man  have  also  taken  over  the  Con- 
cord at  .Springdale,  Ark. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Declares  Dividend 

Boston — Loew's  Boston  Theatres 
have  declared  a  regular  (|uarterly 
dividend  of  15  cents  on  common  stock 
payable  August  1  to  stockholders  of 
record  July  18. 


N.  W.  Showmen 
Charge  M-G-M 
Favors  Publix 

(Continued    from    page     1) 


said  to  a  Motion  Picture  Daily  re- 
porter, "will  offset  some  of  the  propa- 
ganda that  has  been  published  in  your 
paper,  especially  by  exhibitor  leaders 
who  advise  buying  now  and  playing 
pictures  while  they  are  still  being  na- 
tionally advertised." 


Felix  F.  F'eist,  national  sales  man- 
ager  for   M-G-M,   said  yesterday: 

•'M-G-M  product  will  be  released 
to  independent  exhibitors  as  fast  as 
available  after  Publix's  protection  pe- 
riod in  the  Northwest.  I  don't  know 
offhand  what  the  circuit  has  by  way 
of  protection  in  that  territory,  but  I 
do  know  it  will  probably  be  the  same 
this  year  as  last,  provided  it  is  reason- 
able. If  it  isn't,  I  tell  you  M-G-M 
will  fight  to  make  it  so." 

Feist  anticipated  releases  will  begin 
next  month.  He  also  denied  that  W. 
H.  Workman  had  made  the  state- 
ment charged  to  him  by  the  North- 
west Exhibitors'  Association. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Seattle  Seating  Is 
33%  Below  Normal 

(Continued    from     pai/c     1) 

Fox  West  Coast  Theatres,  Inc.,  in 
three  houses;  2,650  in  RKO's  Or- 
pheum theatre ;  and  4,000  in  indepen- 
dent houses,  of  which  2,000  belonged 
to  John  Hamrick  and  2,000  to  Jensen 
&  Von  Herberg  in  their  Liberty 
theatre. 

Today,  Fox  West  Coast  controls 
4,750  in  two  houses ;  RKO  still  retains 
its  2,650;  Jensen  Von  Herberg  still 
retain  2,000;  and  John  Hamrick  con- 
trols  1,000  seats  in  one  house. 

Theatres  closed  during  this  period 
are  the  Fox  (2,450)  and  Fox  Para- 
mount (3,150)  by  Fox  West  Coast; 
and  the  Blue  Mouse  (1,000)  by  John 
Hamrick.  All  were  closed  during  the 
last  two  months.  No  theatres  were 
opened  during  this   period. 

Two  thousand  seats  were  added  to 
the  first  run  list  early  in  the  spring 
when  the  Fox  Coliseum  changed  its 
policy  from  second  run  pictures  to 
the  current  semi-weekly  first  run 
policy. 

There  is  no  indication  that  any  of 
the  theatres  now  dark  will  reopen  for 
some  time  to  come. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Darrow  Will  Combat 
N»  Y,  Censor  Cuts 

(Continued    from    page     1) 

galleries  and  religious  schoolbooks." 
Milton  B.  Koib  of  Classic  Pictures, 
producers  of  the  picture  being  dis- 
tributed by  Universal,  is  conferring 
with  Arthur  Garfield  Hays  prepara- 
tory to  instituting  a  legal  fight  against 
the  board. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW 

Denver  Fights  Carnivals 

Denver — An  ordinance  is  being 
prepared  for  submission  to  the  city 
council  barring  all  traveling  carnivals 
here.  This  action  is  being  taken  be- 
cause of  complaints  of  carnivals  op- 
erating  here   this   spring. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOh.  30.    NO.  35 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  JULY  11,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Screen  Writer 
Sacrificed  on 
Banker  Altars 


Wodehouse  Affair  Makes 
Goats  of  Writers 


Hollywood  —  The  lowly  screen 
vriter  has  often  had  occasion  to  kick 
ibout  the  treatment  accorded  him  in 
he  studios,  but  now  he  is  being 
hrown  upon  the  altar  of  Wall  Street's 
/vrath.  He's  the  goat  in  the  menagerie 
)f   bulls,   bears   and   lambs. 

It  all  started  when  P.  G.  Wode- 
louse  whimsically  burst  forth  into 
)rint  regarding  the  $104,000  he  drew 
rom  M-G-M  during  the  course  of  a 
,'ear  without  being  called  upon  to  do 
mything  in  return.  In  fact,  he  was 
distinctly  discouraged  when  he  sug- 
gested that  he  really  ought  to  earn 
Dart  of  his  $2,000  per  week. 

Wodehouse's  plaint  got  lots  of  front 
jage    space    and    hit    the    bankers    be- 

(Continued  on   page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Publix  Spotting  in 
F.&M.  Stage  Units 

Publix  will  soon  institute  Fan- 
chon  &  Marco  stage  units  in  all  its 
theatres  save  the  Brooklyn  and  New 
York  houses,  according  to  a  deal  just 
signed.  On  July  25  the  units  start 
playing  the  Oriental,  Tivoli,  Uptown 
and  Paramount,  Chicago :  the  Fish- 
er, Detroit,  and  the  Minnesota, 
Minneapolis. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Legal  Fight  Over 
"Life"  Film  Near 

Legal  fireworks  will  mark  the  dif- 
ficulties between  Classic  Pictures,  Inc., 
producer  of  "The  Mystery  of  Life," 
and  the  New  York  State  censorship 
board.  Yesterday,  Milton  H.  Kolb  of 
the  producing  company  gave  Arthur 
Garfield  Hays  the  word  to  proceed 
with  his  action,  first  appealing  to  the 
Board  of  Education  against  the  dele- 
tions made  by  the  board. 

Universal,  distributor  of  the  picture, 

(Continued  on   page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Unscathed  So  Far, 
Ohio  Is  Tax-Fearful 

Columbus,  O.— The  M.P.T.O.,  now 
breathing  freely  since  the  General  As- 
sembly adjourned  on  June  26,  consid- 
ers the  respite  a  brief  one.  The  or- 
ganization anticipates  state-wide  rev- 
enues will  fall  short  of  budget  re- 
(Continued  on   page  2) 


Trustees  Assigned  Loew 
Stock;  Fox  Can't  Merge 


"U"  Franchise 
With  Pubhx 
Is  in  Making 


Closely  held  but  under  way  are  un- 
derstood to  be  negotiations  between 
Publix  and  Universal  for  a  long-term 
franchise.  Three  to  five  years  is  the 
time  period  covered. 

The  deal,  if  it  develops,  will  open 
Publix  playing  time  for  Universal 
over  its  national  circuit,  beginning 
with  the  product  for  1931-1932.  The 
discussions  are  regarded  as  unusual  in 
the  opinion  of  the  limited  few  who 
know  about  them,  in  that  a  full  year 
must  elapse  before  the  potential  con- 
tract can  become  operative. 


'BUY  NOW  SALES 


Budd  Rogers  has  placed  the  Sono 
Art-World  Wide  line-up  first-run 
with  J.  Rappaport,  Hippodrome,  Bal- 
timore. 


Clex-eland — Fischer  Film  Ex- 
change, handling  Big  4  in  this  terri- 
tory, has  sold  the  following  Ohio  ac- 
counts   on    new    season's    stuff : 

E.    A.    Ely   of   the   Royal.   Oak    Harbor;   J. 
W.    Romweber    of    the    State,    Akron;    Mar- 
tin  G.    Smith   for   Royal,   Savoy,    E.   .Audito- 
rium   and    Westwood,    Toledo;    E.    E.    Cole- 
(    Continued  on  page  4) 


Who  They  Are 

"Who's      Who      in      Amer- 
ica"  has    this    to   say,   in    part, 
about     the     trustees     appointed 
by     Federal     Judge     John     C. 
Knox    to    hold    control    of    the 
Loeiv     stock,     originally     pitr- 
chcised  by  Fox  Theatres  Corp : 
Thomas  Watt  Gregory,  ex-attorney 
general   of   the   United  States.   Ad- 
mitted   to    Texas    bar,    1885;    prac- 
ticed    alone.      1885-1890;     assistant 
city    attorney,    Austin,    Tex..    1891- 
1894;    declined    appointment    as    as- 
sistant    attorney-general     of     Tex- 
as,    1894     and     district     judgeship, 
1897;   partner   law    firm   of   Gregory 
and    Batts,   formed    1900;    employed 
as    special    counsel    state    of   Texas 
to       prosecute       corporations       for 
(Continued  on   page   2) 


B.&K.,  RKO 
Divvy  Up  Fox 
In  Windy  City 


Chicago — They're  buying  now  and 
presumably  buying  right  in  the  B.  & 
K,  organization.  James  R.  Grainger 
left  for  New  York  yesterday,  but 
before  his  departure  finally  placed  the 
Fox  product  with  the  Publix  theatre 
subsidiary  on  the  same  terms  as  last 
year's  deal. 

B.  and  K.  gets  25  Fox  pictures  first 
run  for  the  McVickers,  Roosevelt, 
Chicago   and    Oriental   and   the   entire 

(Continued   on   page    2) 


Fox  West  Coast  Washing 
Up  All  Deadwood  Houses 


Hollywood — Fox  West  Coast  is 
reported  disposing  of  houses  which  the 
circuit  cannot  make  pay,  according  to 
The  HoUyii'ood  Herald  ye:  .crday. 

Within  a  few  months,  that  publica- 
tion states,  from  50  to  75  West  Coast 
theatres  will  pass  to  other  operators 
and  several  are  to  close.  The  West- 
lake  in  Los  Angeles  closes  today  and 
the  Egyptian  in  Hollywood  on  Wed- 
nesday. It  is  understood  the  West 
.A.dams,  the  Figueroa  and  the  Uptown 
go  dark  shortly.  Indicative  of  the 
drift  toward  outside  operation  is  the 
case  of  the  Glendale  at  Glendale  which 
closed   last    Saturday   but   reopens   to- 


morrow   under    independent    manage- 
ment. 

Whatever  houses  are  divorced  from 
Fox  control  will  go  to  small  inde- 
pendents or  operators  of  small  circuits. 


Fox's  plan  to  dispose  of  some  of  its 
theatres  in  the  West  to  independents 
is  similar  to  that  which  has  character- 
ized sales  of  Fox  theatres  in  the  East. 
Locally  Fox  is  gradually  stepping  out 
of  the  small  theatre  field,  preferring 
five-year  franchises  with  sale  of  the 
houses   instead   of   operating   them. 

It  is  understood  in  New  York  that 
franchise  agreements  are  being  made 
in  each  disposal  in  the  West. 


Court    Orders    Chase    to 

Turn  Issues  Over  to 

Its  Appointees 


Complete  elimination  of  any  merger 
between  Loew's,  Inc.,  which  controls 
M-G-M,  and  the  Fox  companies  was 
emphasized  yesterday  when  Judge 
John  C.  Knox  issued  a  supplemental 
decree  in  the  Federal  Court  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York  or- 
dering a  further  divestment  of  the 
majority  Loew  stock  held  by  Chase 
Securities  Corp.,  as  successor  of  the 
Fox  interest  in  that  stock,  and  as- 
signment of  it  to  three  entirely  dis- 
interested   trustees. 

The  trustees  named  by  Judge 
Knox  by  agreement  of  counsel,  are 
Thomas  W.  Gregory,  a  former  at- 
torney-general of  the  United  States ; 
Judge  John  R.   Hazel  of  Buffalo  and 

(Continued  on  page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Expect  Hectic  Time 
At  N.W,  Allied  Meet 

Minneapolis — Allied  Theatre  Own- 
ers of  Minneapolis  and  the  Dakotas 
will  hold  their  semi-annual  meeting 
here  September  9  and  10.  Declaring 
that  independents  were  set  to  fight  cer- 
tain abuses  to  the  finish,  W.  A.  Stef- 
fes,  general  manager  of  the  unit,  ex- 
pects a  minimum  of  200  to  attend. 
There  will  be  plenty  of  fireworks  as 
exhibitors  are  in  fighting  spirits  over 
losses  sustained  in  the  business  during 
the  past  year,  he  says. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Helen  Ready  to  Kiss 
Sheik  for  $?$?$?$?$ 

Hollywood — Helen  Wills  may  give 
up  her  standing  in  the  amateur  tennis 
ranks  and  go  into  the  talkers  after 
all.  This  despite  her  recent  remarks 
that  she  wouldn't  kiss  a  movie  sheik 
for    $100,000.      As    the    matter    now 

(Continued   on   page   4) 


Hughes-Puhlix  Deal? 

Houston  —  It  was  reported, 
but  unconfirmed,  late  last  night 
that  Howard  Hughes  had  bought 
the  Metropolitan,  Kirby,  and 
Queens  from  Publix  for  Hughes- 
Franklin  Theatres.  Houston  is 
Hughes'  home  and  it  is  here 
that  the  Hughes  tool  company, 
the  backbone  of  Hughes'  for- 
tune,  is   located. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  July    I  I,    1931 


MOTION  PICIXTRE 

DAILY 

Kegistered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  30 


July   n,   1931 


No.   35 


Martin    Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^'^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  j|l  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^<|^     Daily,   Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
■Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted.  „     .,        ~  r  r 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  WMiam 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  ]V.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  Sutes  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Who  They  Are 

(Continued    from    page     1) 

anti-trust  law  violations:  member 
of  firm.  Gregory,  Batts  and 
Brooks.  1908-1913;  special  assist- 
ant attorney  general  of  United 
States  in  charge  probe  and  prose- 
cution New  York.  New  Haven 
and  Hartford  Railroad  Co.  for 
violation  of  Sherman  Act,  191.3; 
attorney  general  United  States  in 
Wilson  cabinet,  Aug.  29.  1914  to 
March  4.  1919;  became  member  of 
firm.  Gregory  and  Todd,  Wash- 
ington, 1919;  member  President 
Wilson's  Second  Industrial  Con- 
ference. 1919-1920.  He  maintains 
offices  in  Houston  and  Washington 
and  is  70  years   old. 

John  Raymond  Hazel,  admitted  to 
bar  April  7.  1882;  district  judge, 
Western  District  of  New  York 
since  Tune.  1900;  administered  con- 
stitufional  oath  of  office  to  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  at  Buffalo,  immedi- 
ately after  death  of  President 
McKinley  Sept.  14,  1901.  He 
makes  his  home  in  Buffalo  and 
is  71    years  old. 

Thomas  Nelson  Perkins,  A.B., 
Harvard.  1891,  L.L.B.,  1894;  ad- 
mitted to  bar,  1893;  in  practice  in 
Boston  since  1894:  member  of 
law  firm.  Ropes,  Gray,  Boyden 
and  Perkins:  vice-president  Rail- 
way and  Light  Securities  Co.:  di- 
rector Merrimac  Chemical  Co.; 
State  St.  Trust  Co.;  Walter  Baker 
and  Co.;  St.  Mary's  Mineral  Land 
Co.;  and  various  other  public  util- 
ity companies.  He  makes  his 
home  in  Boston  and  is  61  years 
old. 


Marin,  Lasky,  Jr.,  in  L.  A. 

Hollywood  —  Ned  Marin  and 
Jesse  L.  Lasky,  Jr.,  are  here  from 
New  York.  The  former  will  super- 
vise on  the  Paramount  lot.  Young 
Lasky  is  his  assistant. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Swanson  Due  in  August 

Hollywood — Gloria  Swanson  is 
scheduled  to  start  "Tonight  or 
Never"  for  U.  A.  on  August  10.  She 
is  now  in  Europe. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Schoedsack  Sails 

Sax  Francisco — Ernest  B.  Schoed- 
sack, accompanied  by  his  wife  and  his 
brother,  Gustav,  as  well  as  a  camera 
crew,  sailed  yesterday  on  the  Presi- 
dent Adams  for  India  to  secure  ma- 
terial for  "Lives  of  a  Bengal  Lancer" 
for  Paramount. 


Screen  Writer 
Sacrificed  on 
Banker  Altars 


(.Continued    from     page     1) 

tween  the  eyes.  They  yelped.  A  writer 
getting  a  banker's  salary?  The  yelps 
were  heard  all  the  way  across  the 
continent.  The  big  moguls  in  Holly- 
wood decided  something  must  be  done. 
So  they  decided  that  hereafter  long 
contracts  for  the  scribbling  fraternity 
were  out:  30  days  would  be  the  maxi- 
mum. 

This  gesture  to  appease  the  bankers 
draws  only  smiles  out  here.  It  prob- 
ably will  stop  another  Wodehouse  in- 
cident, but  M-G-M,  which  has  65 
writers  on  its  roll,  has  just  borrowed 
William  Slavens  McNutt,  Robert 
Lord  and  Joe  Jackson  from  Warners, 
paying  the  latter  25  per  cent  more 
than  their  salaries,  and  giving  the  trio 
three  weeks'  extra  pay  as  a  bonus. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Legal  Fight  Over 

''Life"  Film  Near 

(Continued    from     page     1) 

holds  an  unusual  form  of  contract 
with  Classic.  It  provides  that,  in  the 
event  of  censor  difficulties,  the  right 
to  defend  the  picture  rests  with  the 
producer  and  not  the  distributor. 

Meanwhile,  the  run  at  the  Cameo  is 
being  extended. 

Opening  a  week  ago  Friday  at 
$666,  the  picture  closed  its  first  week 
with  $799,  and  a  total  gross  of  $4,927. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

B,  &  K„  RKO  Divvy 
Up  Fox  in  Chicago 

(Continued    from     page     1) 

program    of   48    for    subsequent    runs. 

By  another  deal,  Grainger  has 
placed  18  pictures  available  after  the 
B.  and  K.  deal  with  RKO  for  the 
Palace  and  State-Lake  first  runs, 
leaving  only  five  on  the  Fox  list  to 
lie  disposed  of  in  the  second  most  im- 
portant theatre  city  in  the  United 
States. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Richard  Hatton  Killed. 

Los  Angeles  —  Richard  Hatton, 
western  player,  was  killed  yesterday 
in  an  automobile  crash  here. 


No  Oriental 

Gag  from  Helen  Broderick's 
"Cold  Turkey": 

Old  Geezer:  "I've  got  a  yen 
for  you,   girlie." 

Helen:  "Talk  American 
money,   big  boy." 


Unscathed  So  Far, 
Ohio  Is  Tax-Fearful 

(Continued    from    page     1) 

quirements  and  that  a  special  session, 
potentially  dangerous  to  this  industry, 
will  be  called  in  January. 

Pete  Wood,  business  manager,  in  a 
letter  to  all  organization  members, 
says  many  of  the  M.P.T.O.  officers 
have  advanced  money  personally  to 
carry  on  operations  and  asks  theatre- 
men  to  come  through  with  their  dues. 

Among  legislative  pitfalls  avoided 
in  Ohio,  Wood  cites  a  recently-enact- 
ed statute  which  places  a  penny  tax 
on  every  sale  of  ten  cigarettes.  He 
says  it  was  a  toss-up  between  cigar- 
ettes and  theatre  admissions  and  only 
by  a  bitter  struggle  was  the  admission 
tax  defeated.  He  considers  theatre 
business  in  Ohio  gains  "many  millions 
of  dollars"  by  the  Sunday  opening 
law  which  becomes  effective  August 
2  and  gives  Ohio  houses  a  seven-day 
week. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Split  Puhlix  Areas 

Harry  Katz,  Publix  division  man- 
ager, has  added  Illinois  and  Indiana 
theatres  to  his  supervision.  These 
towns  were  formerly  in  Arthur  May- 
er's territory,  but  with  their  with- 
drawal Mayer  has  been  given  Utah 
and  Idaho  in  addition  to  his  other 
cities. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Film  Tests  End 

Washington — Fox  Film  yesterday 
concluded  the  four-day  national  test  of 
sound  pictures  in  education  under  aus- 
pices of  the  Federal  government. 
Resolutions  were  adopted  endorsing 
the  demonstration  and  urging  that 
similar  films  be  prepared  for  school 
use. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

To  New  York  Soon 

Hannah  Kass,  foreign  sales  man- 
ager for  Columbia,  returns  from  a  Eu- 
ropean trip  in  about  two  weeks. 


Stock  Market  Gains;  Sales  Heavy 

Net 

High      Low  Cose      Change 

Eastman     Kodak 149J^      144  Wyi        -f3 

Fox    Film     "A" 1754        155/^  16?^        —'A 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 4  3Vs  4  

Loew's.     Inc 46            44  4454        +  Vi 

Paramount    Publix 25^        24%  2534         -|-  V2 

Pathe      Exchange 2  1%  V/n        

Pathe     Exchange     "A" 7J4          75^  75^        —  Vi 

RKO     1554        147/s  147^       -1-  14 

Warner     Bros 75/^          7}^  TA        ■¥  'A 

Curb  Issues  Erratic 

Net 

High      Low  Close     Change 

Columbia     Pictures     vtc 10".^        WA  WA        —  Vi 

Fox     Theatres     "A" 2tA          2H  23A        —'A 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 7'A          7  7'A        4-  'A 

.Sentry     .Safety     Control I'/i  i'A  VAg         

Trans     Lux 5^/4          5H  554        +  Vi 

Bonds  Also  Irregular;  G,  T.  E.  Off  1 

Net 

High      Low  Close     Change 

Genera!    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40 37'/i        i7  37           —1 

Loew's    6s    '41    ex    war 98^        98  98'/2        +  'A 

Paramount    Publix    5'/^s.    '50 8154        81  81            —  54 

Pathe    7s    'i7    vivi 923/^        91'/^        91!^        

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39   wd 41  41  41  


Sales 

2,900 
13,700 
3,600 
6,000 
4.300 
1,300 
400 
4,100 
3,000 


Sfiles 

200 

1,200 

1,000 

100 

400 


Sales 

10 
4 
4 
33 
10 


Trustees  Are 
Assigned  Loew 
Stock  by  Court 


(Continued    from    page    1) 

T.  Nelson  Perkins,  a  Boston  attor- 
ney. The  decree  provides  these  trus- 
tees are  to  act  solely  as  officers  of 
the  court  and  in  no  wise  as  repre- 
sentative of  the  Fox  companies  or  its 
banking    affiliates. 

The  order  is  supplementary  to  the 
decree  signed  by  Judge  Knox  April 
13  of  this  year  directing  the  Fox 
interests  to  divest  themselves  of  the 
Loew  stock  which  they  had  acquired 
in  alleged  violation  of  the  Clayton 
act  and  other  anti-trust  statutes. 

The  impression  was  prevalent  last 
night  that  the  new  decree  constituted 
the  last  piece  of  legal  machinery 
through  which  the  original  govern- 
ment action  had  to  pass  and  that  the 
creation  of  the  trio  of  trustees  wiped 
out  the  divestment  action  against  Fox 
on   its    Loew   stock  acquisition. 

The  supplemental  decree  provides 
that  Chase  Securities  Corp.  and  Film 
Securities  Corp.,  which  controls  the 
contested  stock  and  which  in  turn  is 
controlled  by  the  Chase  corporation, 
shall  be  subject  to  all  injunctions  and 
restraints  previously  imposed  up- 
on the  Fox  interests  in  the  earlier 
decree. 

United  States  Attorney  George  Z. 
Medalie  and  Special  Assistant  Attor- 
ney-General John  H.  Amen  signed 
the  decree  for  the  government;  Rush- 
more,  Bisbee  &  Stern  for  the  Chase 
and  Film  Securities  Corporations, 
and  Ralph  S.  Harris  for  the  Fox  in- 
terests. 

Film  Securities  came  into  being  in 
April  at  the  time  of  the  financing  un- 
dertaken by  the  Fox  Film  under 
Chase  Securities  Corp.  Film  Securi- 
ties acquired  the  Fox  holdings  of 
660,900  shares  of  Loew's,  Inc.  for 
$29,000,000  in  cash  and  462,000 
shares  of  class  A  stock  of  Film  Se- 
curities. The  latter  sold  $20,000,000 
of  two-year  notes  to  the  banking 
group  and  issued  100,000  shares  of 
$7  dividend  cumulative  preferred. 
The  Class  A  stock  delivered  to  Fox 
carried  no  voting  rights  in  election 
of  directors,  but  voted  equally  with 
the  common  stock  on  other  matters. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cooper  in  East 

Gary  Cooper  will  work  opposite 
Claudette  Colbert  in  "Sal  of  Singa- 
pore" in  the  East  upon  his  return 
from  Europe.  Edward  Sloman  will 
direct. 

It  appears  now  that  Paramount's 
Eastern  studio  will  remain  open. 
"Why  not  ?"  says  Paramount.  "We 
never  said  it  was  going  to  close,  did 
we?" 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Tragedy"  at  Criterion 

Sunday  night  will  be  the  Criterion's 
last    performance    of    Chevalier's    pic-       1 
ture,    "The    .Smiling    Lieutenant"    and 
will  be  followed  by  Theodore  Dreiser's 
story   "An   American   Tragedy." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Macloon  to  Produce? 

Hollywood  —  Louis  Macloon, 
"legit"  producer,  is  in  from  New 
York.  He  may  enter  the  indepen- 
dent  field. 


A  PREDICTION 

An  1914  Eastman  announced  the  first  panchro- 
matic motion  picture  negative  film.  It  swept 
the  country ...  In  March,  1931,  Eastman  an- 
nounced the  first  stable  ultra-speed  panchro- 
matic— Eastman  Super-sensitive  Panchromatic 
Negative,  Type  2... It  is  predicted  that  just  as 
color- sensitive  film  has  practically  replaced 
color-blind  material,  so  the  new  Eastman 
Super-sensitive  will  make  slower  emulsions  vir- 
tually obsolete ...  Naturally  the  producers  and 
camera  men  who  are  adopting  this  remarkable 
film  now  will  reap  the  greatest  advantage  . . . 
Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  New 
York.  (J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  New 
York,  Chicago,  Hollywood.) 

Eastman  Super-sensitive 

Panchromatic  Negative,  Type  2 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  July    II,    1931 


Buv  Now  Deals 
Continue  at 
Steady  Pace 

(.Continued  from  page  I) 


man,  Rialto.  Daj-ton:  George  Furbeker, 
State,  Middleton;  Rappold  Bros.,  Colum- 
bus; C.  and'  M.  Amusement  Co.,  Strand, 
Cambridge  and  Putnam.  Marietta;  Farin 
Amusement  Co.,  West  End,  Cincinnati,  and 
Publix  for  the  State  at  Lexington,  Ky., 
and  H.  S.  Bernabey  for  the  Downs  the- 
atre,   Louisville. 


More  Warner-First  National  sales, 
as  reported  by  the  companies'  sales 
department  yesterday : 

State,  Cortland,  N.  Y.,  and  Regent.  Ge- 
neva. N.  Y.,  by  Schine  Theatrical  Enter- 
prises. Inc.;  Strand.  Middletown,  by  Chi- 
fos  Bros.;  Lyric,  Manchester,  O.,  by  War- 
ren Spencer;  Lyric,  Urbana,  O.,  by  Elmer 
Fritz;  Northern,  Columbus,  O.,  D.  C. 
Wright;  Victory,  Dayton,  O.,  Schwind 
Realty  Co.;  Walnut.  Lawrenceburg,  Ind., 
J.  Weddle ;  Lynn,  Chicago,  E.  Stepanek ; 
Emmett,  Chicago,  N.  Rudolph;  Edna,  Gib- 
son City.  111.,  T.  Orr;  Temple,  Leland, 
Miss.,  W.  R.  Patty ;  Suzore,  Memphis, 
Fred  Suzore;  Rex.  Ontonagon,  Mich.,  Kin- 
ter  and  Cohen;  Laurinum,  Laurium,  Mich., 
F.  J.  Martin;  Trout  Creek,  Trout  Creek. 
Mich.,  Kinter  &  Cohen;  Crystal,  Mass', 
Mich.,  S.  L.  Kinter;  Peak,  Sierra  Blanca, 
Tex.,  \V.  D.  Williams;  Majestic,  Chilli- 
cothe,  Tex.,  Thurman  &  Jeter;  Avon,  Du- 
buque,   Iowa,   James   Yiannias. 

Strand,  Mystic,  Iowa,  Mrs.  Clyde  Yates; 
Silver  Family,  Greenville,  Mich..  Silver 
Thea.  Co.;  Uptown,  Strong  City,  Kan., 
Lancaster  &  Gish;  Opera  House,  Lenora, 
Kan.,  John  Schieforeck;  Saflford.  Safford, 
Ariz.,  L.  F.  Long;  Rialto,  Stamford,  Conn., 
John  S.  Contoras;  Regent,  Erie,  Pa.,  F. 
Fairgraves;  New,  Seaford,  Del.,  F.  W. 
Braecfing;  State,  Nanticoke,  Pa.,  Nanti- 
coke  TTieatres;  Majestic,  Tamaqua,  Pa., 
Higgins  Enterprises;  State,  Trenton,  N.  J., 
Hunt's  Trenton  Theatres;  Palm,  Palmer- 
ton,  Pa.,  J.  E.  Ungerfeld;  Strand,  Mounds - 
ville.  W.  Va.,  The  Theas.  Co.;  O'Fallon 
Excello  and  Baden.  St.  Louis,  Clarence 
Kaiman;  Regal,  Wellsville,  Mo.,  John  F. 
Rees;  Bijou,  Arlington,  111.,  W.  B.  Coz- 
lan;  Playhouse,  Shelbyville,  111.,  F.  S. 
Russell;  Harlor,  Aberdeen,  Wash.,  C.  D. 
Beale;  New  Onancock,  Va.,  G.  H.  Scott; 
Strand,  Dundalk,  Md..  Dundalk  Amuse. 
Co.;  Capitol,  Tillsonberg,  Ont.,  and  Capi- 
tol,   Simcoe,    Ont.,    Robert    Hambleton. 

Six  more  circuits  have  booked 
RKO-Pathe's  Personality  Group  of 
21.  The  circuits  and  those  making 
the  deals  are :  Polka  Circuit  by  Wal- 
ter Branson,  Chicago  branch  man- 
ager ;  Community  Circuit  by  Lou  El- 
man,  Milwaukee  branch  manager ; 
Momand  Circuit  by  Ralph  Williams, 
Oklahoma  branch  manager ;  Phoenix 
Amusement  Circuit  by  Stanley  Jac- 
ques. Cincinnati  branch  manager ; 
Woempner  Circuit  by  Dick  Latshaw 
of  the  Minneapolis  office,  and  Simons 
Circuit  by  Dave  McElhinney  of  the 
Salt  Lake  City  branch. 

M.  E.  Comerford  of  the  Comer  ford 
circuit  signed  contracts  yesterday  for 
the  entire  Vitaphone  shorts  product 
for  the  1931-32  season  for  his  first-run 
house  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 


Ina  Goes  Heavy 

Hollywood  —  Maybe  the 
Greeks  had  a  word  for  it,  but 
the  film  fans  will  never  learn 
what  it  was  from  Ina  Claire. 
Sam  Goldwyn,  after  casting 
Ina  in  the  role  of  Jean,  came 
to  the  decision  that  she  should 
have  more  emotional  parts; 
so  somebody  else  will  play 
the  light-hearted  .lean  in 
"The  Greeks  Had  a  Word 
for  It." 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


'^Sherlock  Holmes* 
Fatal  Hour" 

(First  Dk'ision) 

Produced  in  England  with  Arthur 
Wontner  and  Jane  Welsh  in  the  cast 
and  enjoyed  by  the  premiere  audi- 
ence at  the  Warner  theatre  yester- 
day. The  sleuthing  of  the  impeccable 
Sherlock  Holmes,  who  with  his 
ubiquitous  assistant.  Dr.  Watson,  un- 
ravels the  mystery  of  a  bank  mur- 
der, which  causes  the  death  of  an  in- 
nocent party  whose  crooked  gambling 
methods  were  used  by  the  professor 
and  leader  of  the  criminal  machinery 
as  a  means  of  getting  him  to  smuggle 
money  abroad.  Scotland  Yard  falls 
down  on  the  case,  but  the  ingenious 
Holmes  comes  through  with  the  so- 
lution at  the  exact  time  he  predicted. 
Creepy  shadows  and  hidden  devices 
are  employed  to  add  eerie  effects. 
The  cast  is  little  known  on  this  side 
of  the  water,  but  all  are  capable  per- 
formers. The  suspicion,  which  may 
be  expected,  is  cast  on  all  but  the 
guilty  party,  but  one  can  hardly  ac- 
count for  Holmes  signing  off  by 
playing  the  violin. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Enemies  of  the  Law" 

(Capitol) 
And  still  they  come.  Here's  another 
gangster  film,  with  the  usual  ingredi- 
ents of  a  secret  underworld  leader,  a 
girl  police  spy,  a  cabaret  night  club 
owner  and  a  lot  of  shooting.  It  was 
produced  at  the  Fort  Lee,  N.  J.,  stu- 
dios by  S.  S.  Krellberg,  and  is  well- 
mounted  and  contains  a  well-knit 
story.  Mary  Nolan  does  fine  work  as 
the  stool  pigeon,  Johnnie  Walker  is 
convincing  as  the  gang  leader,  but 
Lou  Tellegen,  as  his  rival,  not  only  is 
reminiscent  of  the  nickelodeon  days 
in  his  acting,  but  his  falsetto  voice  is 
jarring.  The  picture  should  do  well  in 
spots  where  gang  films  are  still  popu- 
lar. It  was  directed  by  Lawrence 
Windown. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Helen  Ready  to  Kiss 
Sheik  for  $?$?$?$?$ 

(Co)itinued    from     page     1) 

Stands,  Miss  Wills  has  seen  her  agent, 
Leo  Morrison,  and  put  the  matter  en- 
tirely in  his  hands.  If  the  terms  of  the 
talker  contract  are  agreeable,  the  ten- 
nis champion  will  desert  the  ranks  af- 
ter she  completes  her  engagements  in 
the  east  a  few  months  from  now. 

While  no  company  is  mentioned  as 
now  wanting  the  racquet  star  for  a 
picture,  it  is  known  that  several 
months  ago  she  was  dickering  with 
Paramount,  Radio,  M-G-M  and  Uni- 
versal, but  in  each  instance  they  could 
not  get  together  on  money  and  other 
terms. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Maclnery  to  Orient 

HoLLYWWJD — A.  E.  F.  Maclnery, 
recording  engineer  for  Erpi,  sails  for 
the  Orient  July  16  to  make  a  field 
survey  and  demonstrate  his  company's 
recording  equipment. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Thalbergs  Returning 

London — Irving  Thalberg  and 
Norma  Shearer  (Mrs.  Thalberg) 
sailed  on  the  Bremen  for  New  York 
yesterday. 


Coverage 


AsTOR — "A  Free  Soul"  (M- 
G-M) — reviewed  by  Motion 
Picture  Daily  April  18. 

Cameo  —  "Mystery  of  Life" 
(Univ.) — reviewed  July  6. 

Capitol — "Five  and  Ten"  (M- 
G  M) — reviewed    May   21. 

Central  —  "Road  to  Hell" 
(Public  Welfare)  —  reviewed 
June  27. 

Criterion  —  "The  Smiling 
Lieutenant"  (Para.) — reviewed 
May  22. 

Mayfair — "A  Woman  of  Ex- 
perience" (RKO-Pathe)  —  re- 
viewed July  9. 

Paramount  —  "The  Secret 
Call"  (Para.) — reviewed  July  2. 

Rivon — "Newly  Rich"  (Para.) 
— reviewed  July  6. 

RoxY — "Hush  Money"  (Fox) 
— reviewed  May  26. 

Strand  —  "Enemies  of  the 
Law"  (Capitol  Films) — re- 
viewed  today  on  this   page. 

Warners — "The  Fatal  Hour" 
(First  Division) — reviewed  to- 
day on  this  page. 

Winter  Garden  —  ''Smart 
Money"  (Warners)  —  reviewed 
editorially  June  19. 


"Rocket"  Film  Spotted 

"By    Rocket    to    the    Moon"    is    the 
next  attraction  for  the  Eighth  Street 
Playhouse   beginning   Monday. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Franklin  Due  Monday 

Harold  B.  Franklin  is  due  in  New 
York   from   the   Coast   Monday. 


29  Houses  in 
Chicago  Area 
Closed  Down 


Chicago — Twenty-nine  theatres  in 
the  territory  served  by  Chicago  ex- 
changes have  closed  since  July  1,  and 
an  additional  39  theatres  in  the  same 
territory  have  adopted  a  reduced  op- 
erating policy  of  one  to  three  days  a 
week  during  the  same  period. 

A  few  additional  closings,  or  re- 
duced operating  schedules,  will  go 
into  efifect  July  12,  by  which  time,  it 
is  expected,  summer  closings  here  will 
be  over  with.  The  return  to  normal 
schedules  will  begin  about  Labor  Day. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  full  or 
part-time  closings  since  July  1  in  this 
territory : 

Theatres  Closed 
CITY 

Avaloe,  Alma.  Bugg,  Claremont,  Gar- 
field, Halster  (320  S.  Halsted),  Halsted 
(6108  Halsted),  Harmony  (Division),  Inde- 
peirdence,  Irving,  Karlov,  Kenwood,  Mor- 
ton Park,  Plaisance,  Temple  and  West 
End. 

COUNTRY 

Bensonville,  Center;  Bremen,  Rialto; 
Byron,  Rose;  Homer,  Pastime;  Le  Roy, 
Princess;  Rockford,  Strand;  Rockford, 
Capitol;  South  Bend,  River  Park;  South 
Bend,  Indiana;  Sterling,  Lincoln;  Vermont, 
Princess;  Warren,  Royal,  and  Watseka, 
Star. 

Theatres  Operating  Part  Time 
CITY 

American,  Apollo.  Armitage,  Avenue, 
Burnside,  Butler,  Charm,  Crane,  Eastside, 
Edwards,  Emmett,  Garden,  Gayety,  Grant, 
Hawthorne,  Homan,  Hollywood,  Lexing- 
ton, Lincoln,  I.indy,  Loomis,  Lorraine,  Met- 
ropole.  New  Mable,  Roseland.,  Rogers, 
States,  Thalia,  New  Strand,  Schindler's, 
Lucille. 

COUNTRY 

Clearing,  Clearirfg;  E.  Chicago,  Twin 
City;  Hinsdale,  Hinsdale;  Hobart,  Strand; 
Lyons,  Lyons;  Rockford.  Family;  Steger, 
Grand;    Whitink,    Capitol. 


NEW     YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant     47  12... 


LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

154    CRESCENT    STREET 
....STIIIwell       7940 


EASTMAN 
*  FILMS  * 


J.  F 

BRULATOUR 

I  n  c  o  r  p  o  r  a  t  e  d 


CHICAGO 

1727   INDIANA  AVENUE 
CALumet    269  I  .  .  . 


HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.  .  .   Hollywood      412  1 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  36 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JULY  13,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


To  Sue  or  Not 
Is  Ottawa's 
Big  Problem 

Action  on  White  Report 
Awaits  Cabinet  Meet 


Ottawa — The  last  combine  case  in 
this  province  netted  the  provincial 
government  $25,000  in  fines  in  an  as- 
sessment against  the  plumbing  trade. 
Whether  or  not  Ontario  will  jump  at 
a  similar  opportunity  in  an  attempt  to 
stage  a  repeat  performance  on  the 
basis  of  the  White  report  against  the 
film  industry  is  a  question  that  is 
creating  a  lot  of  pros  and  cons. 

Cabinet  ministers  are  scattered  at 
the  minute  and  until  the  full  cabinet 
holds  its  first  meeting,  the  course  to 
be  pursued  remains  in  shadows. 

Combine  Report  Is 
Topic  in  Toronto 

Toronto — Silence  reigns  among  ex- 
change managers  with  regard  to  the 
film  probe  report  and  the  apparent 
spokesmen  for  Canadian  trade  are 
Arthur    Cohen,   managing    director    of 

(Continued    on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Universal  3-Month 
Profit  Is  $255,783 

Universal  Pictures  Co.,  Inc.,  and 
subsidiaries  report  a  profit,  after  all 
charges  for  the  quarter  ending  May 
2,  1931,  of  $255,783. 

Current  and  working  assets,  in- 
cluding inventories,  totalled  $9,328,- 
258  and  current  liabilities,  $2,412,482. 
This  compares  with  current  and  work- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Mexico  Subsidizes 
Spanish  Productions 

Mexico  City — The  treasury  issued 
a  decree  Saturday  designed  to  encour- 
age the  production  of  motion  pictures 
in  Mexico  and  to  favor  talking  pic- 
tures  in   Spanish   over  those   in   Eng- 

(Contmued  on  page  8) 


Looking   'Em   Over 

The  lowdown  on  what  first  runs  everywhere  are  doing.  Box- 
office  reports  from  Albany,  Boston,  Buffalo,  Cleveland,  Charlotte, 
Denver,  Minneapolis,  Oklahoma  City,  Omaha,  Philadelphia,  Port- 
land, Providence,  St.  Paul,  San  Francisco  and  Seattle.  Pages  6 
and  7. 

William  A.  Johnston  looks  over  "Transatlantic,"  "Sporting 
Blood"  and  "Bad  Girl."  Leo  Meehan  tells  what  he  thinks  about 
"Susan  Lennox."   Page  3. 

Other  reviews  today:  "Guilty"  and  "Women  Go  on  Forever." 
Page  3. 


Up  in  the  Air 

There  had  been  one  of 
those  turnovers  in  a  film  ad- 
vertising department  and  a 
reporter  sought  details  about 
one  of  the  incomers. 

"What's  his  title?"  he 
asked. 

"Oh.  we  don't  hand  out 
titles  here,"  was  the  calm  re- 
sponse. "They  come  and  go 
too  fast  for  that." 


New  Contract 
Is  Discussed 
In  Washington 


Washington — Headed  by  M.  A. 
Lightman,  president  of  M.P.T.O.A., 
a  delegation  of  theatre  owners  Satur- 
day conferred  with  John  Lord  O'Brian, 
assistant  to  the  attorney  general,  re- 
garding the  proposed  new  uniform 
contract  for  which  government  ap- 
proval is  desired  before  it  can  be  put 
into  effect. 

While  officials  of  the  department  of 
justice,  in  conformity  with  their  usual 
policy,  refused  to  discuss  the  matter,  it 
was  indicated  that  the  exhibitors  laid 

(Continued   on   page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tobis  Set  to  Add 
16  Foreign  Houses 

Extension  of  the  foreign  talker 
plan  in  the  United  States  will  be  in- 
stituted shortly  when  Tobis  Theatre 
Corp.  opens  16  Europa  theatres  in 
Boston,  Washington,  Cleveland,  De- 
troit, Chicago,  Milwaukee,  St.  Louis, 
San  Francisco,  Los  Angeles,  Minne- 
apolis, Newark,  Pittsburgh,  Cincin- 
nati, Jersey  City,  Buffalo  and  New 
Orleans.    The  company  now  operates 

/CnvHiiued    on    page    7) 


Hope  to  Kill 
Chi  Dual  Bills 
By  September 

Chicago — They're  trying  to  double- 
cross  the  double  feature  vogue  here, 
but  recalcitrants  are  holding  up  the 
works.  However,  strenuous  efforts 
are  being  made  to  effect  the  reform 
by  the  end  of  the  summer. 

At  least  90  per  cent  of  Chicago  ex- 
hibitors have  expressed  a  willingness 
to  quit  the  dual  feature  policy.  Cir- 
cuits are  included  in  the  former  group, 
but  like  many  independents  will  make 
no  definite  agreement  to  abandon  twin 

(Continued    on    page    7) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Gunning  for 
Gilbert's  $10,000 

Hollywood — M-G-M  is  trying  either 
to  abrogate  or  buy  up  John  Gilbert's 
contract,  it  is  understood.  His  salary, 
at  $10,000  a  week,  is  something  the 
studio  executives  are  eyeing  with  par- 
ticular favor.  They  feel  they  would 
be  the  gainer  if  the  contract  were 
abrogated. 

The  agreement  has  several  pictures 
to  go  with  most  of  its  terms  couched 
in  legal  phraseology  that  is  said  to 
give  Gilbert  all  the  breaks. 


"BUY  NOW  SALES 


Chicago — Columbia  closed  first  run 
deals  for  its  entire  product  here, 
Jones,  Linick  &  Schaefer  getting  23 
for  the  Woods  Theatre  in  the  Loop 
and  three  going  to  Balaban  &  Katz. 
The  entire  product  will  also  go  into 
the   B.   &   K.   subsequents. 


Atlanta — Big  4  product  has  been 
sold  by  Arthur  C.  Bromberg  Attrac- 
tions, territorial  distributor,  to  the  fol- 
lowing accounts. 

Ritz,  Tifton,  Ga.;  Ritz,  ValJosta,  Ga. ; 
Ritz,  Alabama  City,  Ala.;  Princess,  Gads- 
den, Ala.;   Princess,  Haley ville,  Ala.;  Capi- 


tol, Clarksville,  Tenn. ;  Princess.  Cleveland, 
Tenn. ;  Princess,  Shelbyville,  Tenn,;  Ma- 
lestic,  Atlanta,  ('•a..;  Genu  Knoxville,  Tenn.: 
Alva-Carolina,  Morganton,  N.  C. ;  Grand- 
Pastime,  Hickory,  N.  C;  Colonial,  Tarboro, 
N.  C. ;  Hertford,  Hertford,  N.  C;  Imperial, 
VVarrenton,  N.  C. 


Tiffany  Goes 
Into  Tiffany 
Class  Shows 


Schedules  12  Productions 
For  Class  ''A"  Houses 


Tiffany  goes  into  the  expensive  neg- 
ative class  with  its  new  program  and 
the  first  under  the  Hammons-Educa- 
tional-Young  aegis.  It  is  understood 
that  production  will  fall  into  two  divi- 
sions :  pictures  designed  for  Class  A 
houses  of  which  there  will  be  approxi- 
mately 12  and  several  series  of  action 
pictures  for  Class  B  and  subsequent 
run  houses. 

As  an  indication  of  the  drift  under 
the  new  Tiffany  set-up  the  company 
has  purchased  talker  rights  to  "The 
Last  Mile"  for  $70,000,  a  figure  which, 
in  some  instances,  outstrips  what  the 
old-line  companies  have  spent  for 
story  rights. 

This  and  other  plans  are  expected 
to  be  outlined  to  the  combination 
shorts  and  feature  convention  which 
gets  under  way  at  the  Astor  today. 
Educational  and  Tiffany  representa- 
tives from  the  Eastern  half  of  the 
section  of  the  country  will  be  present. 


Educational  Starts  First 
Of  3  Meetings  Today 

The  annual  convention  of  Educa- 
tional Film  Exchanges  and  its  af- 
filiated organizations  will  get  under 
way  at  10  o'clock  this  morning  at  the 
Hotel  Astor,  when  home  office  execu- 

(Continued-  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

W anger  Reported  in 
New  Producing  Firm 

Broadway  hears  that  a  new  produc- 
ing company  under  the  name  of  the 
Directors  Guild  is  now  being  formed, 
according  to  Louis  Sobol  in  the  New 
York  Evening  Jowna!.  The  organiza- 
tion will  have  as  its  producers  Lewis 
Milestone,  Walter  Wanger,  King 
Vidor  and  Cecil  B.  DeMille,  the 
columnist   adds. 


Tampa— The  Temple  at  Perry  has 
signed  for  Big  4's  third  series  of  12 
Westerns. 


New  Orleans — The  Royal  at  La- 
fayette and  the  Opera  House  at  Crow- 
ley have  signed  Big  4's  third  Western 
series.  There  are  12  pictures  in  the 
group. 


Katz  and  Katz 

Sam  Katz  occupies  a  swan- 
ky Publix  office  on  one  of  the 
upper  floors  of  the  Para- 
mount  Building. 

Behind  the  soda  fountain 
in  Walgreen's  on  the  main 
floor  is  a  rotund  youth  with 
the  same  name  efficiently 
serving  the  public's  appetite, 
too. 

His  name  is  Sam  Katz. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  July    13.    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAI  LIT 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  30 


July  13,  1931 


No.  36 


Martin    Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^|V  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
••Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kutrier,"  Ber- 
lin.   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of   March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


New  Contract 
Is  Discussed 
In  Washington 


(^Continued  from  page  1) 
the  details  of  the  contract  before 
O'Brian  and  asked  that  he  give  some 
indication  of  the  department's  view  of 
their  legality,  pointing  out  that  all 
phases  of  the  industry  concerned  have 
agreed  upon  the  provisions  and  are 
desirous  of  eliminating  litigation 
which,  under  the  former  uniform  con- 
tract, kept  the  industry  in  a  turmoil. 

The  new  contract  has  been  pending 
for  some  time  as  a  result  of  apprehen- 
sions regarding  possible  Federal  action 
should  it  be  put  into  effect,  but  the 
department  now  is  believed  to  be  will- 
ing to  review  it  and  render  an  informal 
indication  of  its  attitude.  This  being 
part  of  the  administration's  plan  to  aid 
business  recovery  by  eliminating  to  the 
greatest  possible  extent  uncertainty  as 
to  what  may  happen  from  well-mean- 
ing plans  to  improve  conditions,  under 
which  heading  it  is  now  felt  the  pro- 
posed contract  falls. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Kibitzers,  Kidders  & 
Alibiers  Get  Together 

The  athletic  heroes  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Club  are  going  to  receive  the 
honors  due  them  for  their  prowess 
at  a  special  fete  on  the  night  of  July 
27,  when  the  waterfront  is  to  be  moved 
to  club  headquarters  for  a  real  old- 
fashioned   shore  dinner. 

In  other  words,  the  winners  of  the 
handball  and  pocket  billiard  tourna- 
ment are  to  have  the  shore  brought 
to  them  in  token  of  their  keen  eyes 
and  steady  hands,  which  may  not  be 
so  keen  and  steady  later  on.  The  en- 
tertainment committee  announces  that 
it  will  be  a  night  when  the  kibitzers 
and  kidders  will  reign  supreme  and 
when  all  losers  can  alibi  themselves. 
The  joker  is  that  it  will  cost  $5  to 
participate. 


REV'IVAL  of  "Sunnyside  Up"  at  the  Roxy  the  week  of  July  17  is 
said  to  have  another  reason  than  the  usual  desire  to  maintain  the 
gross.  The  picture,  an  out-and-out  musical,  was  one  of  the  big  babies 
of  the  1929-1930  season.  Reviving  it  may  give  Messrs  Slieehan, 
Grainger  ct  al  a  1931  slant  on  musicals  and  the  public. 

• 
Incidentally,   musicals,   in   modified   form,   are   heading  theatre-ward 
this  coming  season.    There  won't  be  so  much  dancing;  neither  will  there 
be  so  much  singing  as  in  the  first  deluge,  because  producers  still  recall, 
to  their  sorrow,  the  experience  of  '29-'30.     But  they're  coming. 

• 

Louis  Frisch  may  not  take  over  all  of  the  smaller  Fox  Brooklyn  the- 
atres, after  all.  He  will  take  over  a  good  number  of  the  houses,  never- 
theless, with  negotiations  now  under  way. 

Although  Frisch  at  first  began  negotiating  for  the  entire  group  of 
remaining  houses,  the  money  involved  in  the  deal  was  far  beyond  the 
capital  on  hand,  and  hence  it  was  impossible  to  include  all  the  houses. 
The  number  Frisch  will  take  is  still  undecided. 

• 

Spotting  one  of  its  pictures  into  a  circuit  house  in  New  York,  a 
certain  company,  fearing  the  production  wouldn't  go  over  so  well,  tried 
to  induce  the  circuit  chief  to  spend  some  money  advertising  it.  The 
request  met  with  a  curt  refusal  and  the  producer  put  out  his  own 
ballyhoo.  Then  came  the  fireworks !  The  theatre  man  ordered  it 
stopped  and,  failing,  commanded  that  the  name  of  the  theatre  be  taken 
off  on  the  plea  that  it  wasn't  dignified.  So  the  ballyhoo  is  ballyhooing 
the  picture  but  not  the  theatre. 

• 

Another  Broadway  theatre  front  is  decorated  with  a  large  inscription 
reading :  "It  took  four  men  to  teach  her  what  every  woman  knows." 

How  dense  she  must  have  been ! 

• 

In  one  of  those  quick-firing  outfits  the  other  day  the  president  picked 
up  the  house  phone  and  purred  into  it : 

"Please  send  Mr.  Blank  up  right  away." 

"But  he  was  discharged  three  weeks  ago,"  responded  the  hello  girl. 

And  that's  not  the  first  time  that's  happened,  by  any  means. 

• 

The  Fox  studio  is  excited  and  is  transplanting  some  of  the  tremors 
to  New  York.  It's  all  about  a  newcomer  named  James  Dunn  who 
appears  in  "Bad  Girl."    Winnie  Sheehan  says  this  boy  will  wow  'em. 

• 
One   of   the   junior   clerks   in   the   Warner-First   National   statistical 
department  whose  job  it  is  to  keep  Motion  Picture  Daily  posted  on 
"Buy  Now"  sales  is  on  the  verge  of  rebellion. 
Too  much  overtime,  he  says. 

• 
Many  nice  things  are  currently  afoot  about  Lou  Metzger. 
It  appears  he  is  building  up  a  real  following  among  the  Columbia  boys 
in  the  field.    That,  in  any  sales  organization,  naturally  means  results. 


Stock  List  Sags;  Trading  Dull 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

Consolidaterl     Film    Industries    pfd 14}4  I4!4  14J^ 

Eastman     Kodak     '. 1451^  1441^  145  11.2'A 

Fox    Film     "A"    167^  W/g  16}i  —'A 

General    Theatre    Equipment   new 4  3^  4           

Loew's   Inc 44ii  4354  44  —  ^ 

Paramount    Publix    25?^  25A  2S'A  —% 

Pathe    Exchange    I54  I.54  154  —  ■% 

Pathe    Exchange   "A"    75^  7!4  7%.  —5^ 

RKO     14.14  14J4  WA  —  Vf. 

Warner     Bros Jyi  7%  7%  —  y^ 

Curb  Issues  Very  Dull 

High      Low      Close    Change 
Net 
General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 7li         6%         6%       — 5^ 

Bonds  Erratic;  Pathe  Jumps  1 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

General    Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40 3654        35  35  — 2 

r^oew's    6s    '41    ex    war 99  9354  99  -h  'A 

Paramount    Publix   5'As,    'SO 81  81  81  

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 92'/^        92^^  92i^        -|-1 

Warner    Bros.   6s   '39   wd 41  41  41  


Sales 

100 

400 

3,100 

1,500 

2,500 

i,6no 
200 

200 
3,000 
1,600 


700 


Sales 

7 
6 
1 
6 


<mt%. 


Carl  Laemmle  for  increasing 
his  production  budget,  not 
decreasing,  and  thereby  evi- 
dencing his  faith  in  the  re- 
turn of  prosperity  in  the  in- 
dustry. 


To  Sue  or  Not  Is 
Ottawa's  Problem 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

Famous  Players,  and  Colonel  John  A. 
Cooper,  president  of  the  distributors 
association. 

Cooper  stated  that  any  commission- 
er acting  under  the  Combine  Act  is 
bound  to  play  the  role  of  prosecutor 
rather  than  judge  and  adds  that  he 
had  no  apologies  to  make  regarding 
his  own  record  in  connection  with 
British    films. 

"I  am  quite  ready  to  defend  that 
when  the  time  arrives,"  Cooper  said. 
Cohen  threw  no  further  light  on  the 
situation. 

Independent  exhibitors  continue  to 
wax  excited.  H.  A.  Kauffman,  man- 
ager of  Consolidated  Theatres,  Ltd., 
of  Montreal,  an  independent  chain  of 
five  houses,  declared : 

"They  did  not  get  to  the  bottom  of 
the  thing  at  all.  They  only  investi- 
gated conditions  in  Ontario  and  Brit- 
ish Columbia  and  did  not  call  wit- 
nesses from  Montreal  or  other  Que- 
bec cities.  They  have  not  heard  the 
half  of  it,  as  the  situation  in  Montreal 
is  even  Avorse.  The  combine  controls 
everything  here." 

Dewey  Bloom,  recently  appointed 
manager  of  the  British  film  division 
of  Regal  Films,  in  which  N.  L.  Na- 
thanson  has  a  large  interest,  said  that 
the  stage  was  all  set  in  Canada  now 
for  a  British  drive  and  announced  15 
British  pictures  for  scheduled  release. 
Bloom  pointed  out  that  Commissioner 
White  reported  no  real  effort  had 
been  made  to  market  British  films, 
but  that  Regal  now  had  its  organiza- 
tion well  under  way.  Regal  also  han- 
dled M-G-M  and  Pathe  and  was  nam- 
ed as.  party  to  the  combine. 

Surprise  is  expressed  here  that 
United  Artists  was  named  by  White 
since  United  has  been  on  the  outs 
with  Famous  Players  and  had  catered 
to  independents  for  a  year  or  more. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Headed  East 

Hollywood — Marilyn  Miller  expects 
to  be  discharged  from  a  local  hospital 
this  week  and  to  make  a  quick  trip  to 
New  York. 

John  Barrymore  and  Dolores  Cos- 
tello  are  headed  New  York-ward  via 
their  yacht,  the  Infania,  and  the  Pan- 
ama Canal. 


Sales  "BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

No.  Publix  Statement 

Efforts  to  reach  Sam  Katz,  Sam 
Dembow,  Jr.,  and  D.  J.  Chatkin  of 
Publix  for  a  statement  on  a  Houston 
report  that  Howard  Hughes  had 
taken  over  the  Metropolitan,  Kirby 
and  Queen  in  that  city  from  the 
I  Paramount  theatre  ally  proved  unsuc- 
i   cessful  on  Saturday. 


Monday,  July    13,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


"Transatlantic" 

{Fox) 

Hollywood — William  K.  Howard 
has  turned  an  improbable,  though  in- 
teresting, story  into  a  fascinating  pic- 
ture and  made  a  likeable,  almost  con- 
vincing Edmund  Lowe  out  of  an  un- 
likeable   hero. 

Expert  direction,  remarkable  camera 
work  by  James  Howe  and  a  distin- 
guished name  cast  combine  to  make 
this  box-office. 

From  the  moment  Monty  Greer 
(Edmund  Lowe)  sneaks  aboard  the 
smart  luxurious  transatlantic  liner 
until  a  London  bobby  takes  him  in  tow 
at  the  voyage's  end,  events  happen 
with  a  fast,  furious,  glittering  tempo 
against  a  background  that  will  make 
women  particularly,  but  most  any 
adult,  long  to  take  a  big  boat  trip 
to  Europe. 

The  running  duel  up  and  down  the 
steel  galleries  of  the  lofty  engine 
room  is  a  breathless  sequence  of  ac- 
tion photography.  Monte  pits  his 
sharp  wits  against  Handsome  (Earle 
Foxe)  and  the  trio  of  gamblers, 
Henry  Sedley,  Louis  Natheaux  and 
Bob  (not  M-G-M)  Montgomery.  His 
capable  hands  imravel  the  life  skeins 
of  the  banker  and  his  bride,  John 
Halliday  and  Myrna  Loy ;  the  aged 
lensmaker,  Jean  Hersholt,  and  Lois 
Moran,  and  even  the  wicked  siren, 
Greta  Nissen.  The  siren  dancer  and 
the  banker's  wife  he  has  known  in  his 
spectacular  past;  the  others  he  meets 
with  surprising  swiftness. 

Hudgiu  (Billy  Bevan)  affords  the 
comedy   relief. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


Honors  go  to  Frank  Borzage  for 
a  finely  sustained  balance  of  laughter 
and  tears  that  makes  a  record,  and 
to  Edwin  Burke  for  a  running  fire  of 
smart-cracking  that  never  falters. 
Sally  Eilers  does  her  best  work, 
teaming  right  along  with  Dimn. 
Minna  Gombell  registers  to  the  mark. 

With  pictures  like  this — and  Fox 
has  others — the  fall  box-office  looks 
rosy. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


"Susan  Lennox" 

{M-G-M) 

Hollywood — Having  sent  Miss 
Shearer  to  Europe  on  a  well-earned — 
or  much  needed — vacation  following 
her  appearance  as  a  gorgeous  lady 
of  dubious  morals  in  "Divorcee," 
"Strangers  May  Kiss,"  and  "A  Free 
Soul,"  M-G-M  seems  to  have  con- 
tinued its  "sin  and  succeed"  series 
with  Greta   Garbo. 

Gorgeously  mounted,  excellently 
cast,  expertly  directed,  it,  neverthe- 
less, is  proof  sufficient  that  in  its 
present  form,  the  Hays  code  is  noth- 
ing for  producers  to  worry  about  or 
that  it  is  all  in  fun. 

It  is  understood  M-G-M  intends 
doing  considerable  re-cutting  and  re- 
shooting  before  "Susan  Lennox"  is 
released.  Under  the  circumstances, 
this  writer  feels  it  is  unfair  at  this 
time  to  more  extensively  discuss 
what  appears  to  be  "a  delicate  sub- 
ject," to  say  the  least. 

LEO  MEEHAN 


"Sporting  Blood" 

{M-G-M) 

Glendale,  Gal. — When  preview  au- 
diences stamp  their  feet,  whistle  and 
yell,  it  would  seem  that  pictures  are 
getting  back  to  the  good  old  days  of 
movies  that  move  people.  That  was 
the  unusual  greeting  "Sporting  Blood" 
got  at  a  Glendale  house.  "Skippy"  is 
the  only  other  picture  that  brought 
such   applause  there. 

How  people  do  love  these  salt-of- 
-the-earth  pictures  about  dogs  and 
horses  and  their  ennobling  effect  upon 
human  beings  1  "Sporting  Blood"  has 
a  really  big  story.  Hunt  Stromberg 
decided  so  and  then  convinced. 
Charles  Brabin,  who,  with,  Harold 
Rosson,  has  filmed  a  picture  that  will 
be  loved  and  cheered  and  wept  over 
till  it  takes  a  top-notch  place  in  this 
season's  record. 

Clark  Gable  and  Madge  Evans  will 
receive  well-deserved  plaudits;  so  will 
Ernest  Torrence,  Lew  Co<ly  and  Ma- 
rie Prevost.  But  this  delighted  re- 
viewer takes  off  his  hat  to  the  sterl- 
ing work  of  John  Larkin,  who  car- 
ried little  Tommy  Boy  from  a  mud 
puddle  on  to  his  spell-binding  Derby 
finish. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


Women  Go  on  Forever 

{Tiffany) 
Hollywood — Previewed  here  at  the 
Boulevard  Theatre,  this  James  Cruze 
production  with  Clara  Kimball  Young 
in  the  leading  role  rates  as  fair  en- 
tertainment. Miss  Young's  perform- 
ance was  well  received,  as  were  those 
by  Marion  Nixon,  Paul  Page, 
Thomas  Jackson  and  Maurice  Black. 
The  story  centers  about  a  boarding 
house  in  which  the  doings  of  a  heter- 
ogeneous world  take  place.  The  plot 
drifts  aimlessly  until  Page,  the  taxi 
driver  in  love  with  Miss  Nixon,  is 
framed  by  a  racketeer  so  that  he  can 
have  an  open  road  in  making  the  at- 
tractive boarder.  It  is  not  long  be- 
fore the  racketeer  gets  hi_s  just  des- 
erts, but  not  until  there  is  a  duo  of 
killings.  The  love  thread  is  re-woven 
for  a  happy  climax.  Direction  of 
Walter   Lang  was   well   handled. 


iit 


Guilty  Hands" 

{M-G-M) 

Santa  Monica— If  the  reception 
here  is  any  criterion,  Bayard  Veiller's 
yarn  in  which  Lionel  Barrymore  again 
acts  and  directs,  it  looks  like  M-G-M 
can  count  on  this  one  for  good  results 
at  the  box-office.  Barrymore  domi- 
nates the  entire  picture  by  his  un- 
usual performance  and  it  is  this  that 
got  the  rounds  of  applause  at  the 
pre-view. 

The  story  pivots  about  the  planned 
marriage  of  Madge  Evans,  Barry- 
more's  daughter.  When  he  learns  that 
Alan  Mowbray,  a  ne'er  do  well,  is 
about  to  claim  his  offspring,  Barry- 
more kills  him  at  his  (Mowbray's) 
home.  With  Kay  Francis,  Mowbray's 
mistress,  accusing  Barrymore  for  the 
murder,  he  claims  it  a  case  of  suicide 


when  the  police  investigate.  As  Mow- 
bray's body  is  being  removed  from 
the  room  the  muscles  of  his  hand 
holding  the  revolver  contract  and 
cause  the  gun  to  shoot,  killing  Barry- 
more. 

The  novelty  of  the  climax  practic- 
ally took  the  audience  off  its  feet. 
William  Bakewell,  Alan  Mowbray, 
C.  Aubrey  Smith  and  Henry  Barrow 
chalf  up  performances  that  the  col- 
lectively well  done.  W.  S.  Van  Dyke, 
director  of  "Trader  Horn,"  has  add- 
ed another  wreath  to  his  bower  of 
successes. 


Shorts 


The  Critics  Say. 

IN  this  department,  the  New  York  reviewers  will 
find  a  mouthpiece  to  speak  their  piece  about  pictures  that  play  the 
Broadzmy  first-runs. 

For  instance,  their  opinion — cross-sectioned — is  this  about 


'Bad  Girl" 


{Fox) 
Hollywood — Fox  has  a  flashing 
winner  in  "Bad  Girl"  and  a  great 
find  in  James  Dunn,  Winfield  Shee- 
han's  discovery.  This  pulsing,  best- 
seller story  of  rough,  young  love 
groping  its  unconscious  way  to  ma- 
ternity has  been  handled  with  hearty 
realism,  yet  with  such  clean-minded- 
ness  that  it  should  serve  forever  as 
a  lesson  to  all  producers  that  pictures 
within  the  code  are  matters  of  treat- 
ment, not  of  theme. 


AMERICAN— TAe  best  of  the  Charlie 
Chan  series  yet  to  reach  the  screen***lVar- 
ner   Oland**  is  thoroughly  convincing*** 

DAILY  MIRROR— ^«  excellent  detec- 
tive picture. 

DAILY  NEWS— ***o  corking  mystery 
story*** 

EVENING  JOURNAL— r/ie  pictures  of 
Honolulu    are    real    and    enticing  if    you 

have  seen  and  like  any  of  the  Charlie 
Chan  pictures  you'll  find  this  the  most  in- 
teresting of  the  lot. 

GRAPHIC — One  of  the  smoothest  mur- 
der mysteries  to  occupy  a  Broadway  screen 
in    many    months*** 

HERALD-TRIBUNE- ♦'♦o  bit  more 
complicated  and  somewhat  less  satisfying 
than  its  predecessor,  "Charlie  Chan  Carries 
On"*** 

MORNING  TELEGRAPH— **♦(!  worthy 
successor   to   "Charlie    Chan    Carries   On." 

POST — ***the  story  is  admirably  put 
together  and  well  sustained. 

SUN — ***the  suspense  is  fairly  well  kept 
up'** 

TIMES — Warner  Oland***givcs  to  the 
picture   a    aond  and  even   performance. 

WORLD-TELEGRAM  —  ***very  well 
acted  and  it   holds  the  suspense. 


'Woman  of  Experience" 

RKO  Pathe 


AMERICAN  — •  ***strictly  conventional 
***cut  according  to  pattern*** Despite  trite- 
ness in  plot  and  insipidity  of  dialogue,  the 
story   is  frequently   well-enacted*** 

DAILY  MIRROR—^  good  strong 
movie***Miss    Twelvetrees    dominates*** 

DAILY    NEWS— '''a    mediocre    Him. 

EVENING  JOURNAL— ♦**m£>/o(ira)«a<«<: 
to  absurdity*** 

GRAPmC— The  star***is*** superior  to 
her  vehicle***A    tawdry,   stale   story*** 

HERALD-TRIBUNE- ***5'/i<?  is  not  a 
Marlene  Dietrich*** Miss  Twelvetrees  plays 
with  invariable  charm  and  with  indisput- 
able dramatic  resourcefulness.  ***  nothing 
but    a    milk-and-water    "Dishonored"*** 

POST — ***a  laborious  copy  of  the  usual 
spy  story***Miss  Twelvetrees**  steps  over 
the  banalities  of  the  story  with  admirable 
skill*** 

SUN—***rts  silly  little  plot  is  tilled 
with  loopholes,  it  is  clumsily  told  and  the 
dialogue  is  the  usual  Hollywood  theatrical 
hay.  Miss  Twclvetrees***is  a  mildly  clever 
little    actress*** 

'Tl^T.S***  audience  seemed  to  like  the 
picture    fairlv    well.     It    was    an    old    friend. 

WORLD-TELEGRAM— (7p7icfnHv  feeble 
tale  made  more  unreal  bv  some  dialoriue 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


**The  Vanishing  Legion" 

No.  1  "The  Voice  from  the  Void" 

{Mascot) 
Not  only  a  go-getter  for  juveniles 
but  looks  like  a  great  bet  for  adults 
as  well.  Starts  off  with  a  horse  fight 
with  Rex,  the  man  killer,  besting  his 
opponent.  The  initial  chapter  has  to 
do  with  Jed  Williams  being  hunted  by 
both  the  law  and  the  lawless,  his  cap- 
ture and  the  efforts  of  his  son  to  set 
him  free.  The  outlaws  are  out  to 
stop  Cardigan  from  bringing  in  sev- 
eral trucks  of  oil  and  they  succeed 
through  a  clever  ruse  that  brings 
about  the  smash  close  with  the  trucks 
going  to  ruin.  Harry  Carey  is  Cardi- 
gan, Edward  Hearn  is  Jed  Williams, 
Frankie  Darro  his  son,  Edwina  Booth, 
"The  Voice,"  William  Desmond,  the 
sheriff  and  Philo  McCullough,  Stev- 
ens, "The  Voice's"  head  man.  Run- 
ning time,  36  minutes. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Adventures  in  Africa" 

No.  3  "The  Lion  Hunt" 

{Vitaphone  No.  5103) 
Wynant  D.  Hubbard  focuses  his 
camera  on  one  of  the  small  villages 
of  Africa  where  a  couple  of  lions  have 
entered  the  cow  enclosure  and  started 
trouble.  The  rip  snortin'  lions  stop 
at  nothing  and  how  they  tackle  the 
bovines  with  their  horns  is  clearly 
pictured.  One  of  the  lions  escapes 
from  the  corral  and  it  isn't  long  be- 
fore he  is  brought  back.  One  is 
speared  in  the  enclosure  and  the  other 
annoyer  is  taken  alive  in  the  nets. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

''Campaign  Capers** 

{Universal) 
Universal  sponsors  another  batch  of 
laughs  in  the  second  of  the  Slim  Sum- 
merville  comedies.  The  marines,  Sum- 
merville  and  Harry  Gribbon,  continue 
their  liickering  and  gagging  with  Slim 
again  getting  the  worst  of  it.  What 
will  nrobably  get  most  of  the  laughs  is 
the  scene  where  dynamite  fuses  are 
wired  to  the  typewriter  keys.  Edward 
Kaufman,  supervised  the  short  which 
Harry  J.  Edwards  directed.  Running 
time,  20  minutes. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

''Cold  Turkey" 

{Vitaphone  No.  1215) 
Another  in  the  Helen  Broderick 
series  and  a  laugh  from  beginning  to 
end.  Vitaphone  is  supplying  the  com- 
edienne with  sure-fire  gags,  and  she 
clicks  big  in  all  of  her  shorts. — Run- 
ning time,   7  minutes. 


LET^S  GO 


9 


!$HOW 


BUSINESI^ ! 


LET'S  GO 


LET'S  GO 


because  business  in  general  is  coming 
back  with  a  whoop.  Because  picture 
business  needs  only  a  rallying  cry  and 
some  more  good  productions  to  bring 
boom-time   profits  to   theatres. 

because  PARAMOUNT,  the  industry's 
leader,  is  furnishing  the  slogan  and 
the  hits.  Sufficient  of  PARAMOUNT'S 
20th  BIRTHDAY  JUBILEE  PRO- 
GRAM for  1931-2  have  been  shown 
and  finished  to  brand  the  group  without 
question  the  best  in  20  years! 


LET'S  GO 


LET'S  GO 


because  "THE  SMILING  LIEUTENANT"  is  doing 
S.R.O.  at  the  two-a-day  Criterion,  New  York,  and 
Carthay  Circle,  Los  Angeles;  and  has  licked  terrific  heat 
at  the  United  Artists,  Chicago,  for  the  healthiest  gross 
in  a  year!  Because  previews  of  "AN  AMERICAN 
TRAGEDY"  led  the  wise  boys  to  tab  it  the  big  money 
show  of  the  year.  Because"MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK" 
and  THE  MARX  BROTHERS' "MONKEY  BUSINESS" 
are  the  talk  of  Hollywood. 

because  the  famous  stars,  the  rising  players,  the  best 
directors,  the  hottest  selling  books  and  plays  are  with 
PARAMOUNT,  where  YOU,  as  an  exhibitor,  know 
they'll  do  YOU  the  most  good.  And  the  avalanche  of 
signed  1931-2  PARAMOUNT  contracts  sweeping  into 
our  exchanges  proves  YOU  KNOW  IT. 


LET'S  GO, 
SHOW  BUSINESS 


livith 


Paramount 


The  PARAMOUNT  exhibiior 
in  1931^2  will  reap  greater 
profits  than  ever  before  ! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  July   13,   1931 


Cleveland  Is 
^Broadminded' 
With  $8,000 


Cleveland — There  was  nothing  to 
get  excited  about  in  the  way  of  film 
grosses.  "Broadminded'  cHcked  $8,- 
000  in  nine  days  at  Warners'  Lake, 
against  an  average  of  $5,000,  but  all 
the  other  first  runs  dropped  below 
yearly   averages. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  9  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"BROADMINDED"    (F.    N.) 

WARNER'S  LAKE— (800),  40c-60c,  9 
days.       Gross:    $8,000.       (Average,    $5,000.) 

Week  ending  July  10: 

"BLACK   CAMEL"    (Fox) 

STATE— (.^,400),  30c-60c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$16,000.        (Average,    $20,000.) 

Week  ending  July  11: 
"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Pam.) 

ALLEN— (3,300),  30c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$14,000.        (Average,    $18,000.) 

"SMART  MONEY"   (Warners) 
RKO      HIPPODROME— (4,100),      25c-75c, 
3nd   week,   7  days.      Gross:    $11,000.    (Aver- 
age,   $15,000.) 

"EX-BAD    BOY"    (Univ.) 
RKO     PALACE— (3,100),     25c-35c-75c,     7 
days.       Gross:    $18,000.       (Average,    $23,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Mr.  Humidity 
Visits  Boston 
And  Hits  B.O/s 

Boston — Mid-summer  business  has 
fallen  below  that  of  last  season  and 
many  theatres  which  were  able  to 
keep  balconies  open  last  season  have 
closed  them  this  year.  Hot,  rainy 
weather  with  high  humidity  has 
helped  to  keep  grosses  down.  The- 
atre advertising  has  been  slashed  to 
only  a  fraction  of  its  usual  size. 

Several  theatres  slid  below  par  dur- 
ing the  week.  "The  Night  Angel"  at 
the  Metropolitan  did  only  a  fair  busi- 
ness, while  Norma  Shearer  in  "A 
Free  Soul"  at  the  State  could  only  be 
called  fair  from  a  box-office  stand- 
point. Showing  of  the  fight  films  and 
Post-Gatty  flight  pictures  failed  to 
boost  grosses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  9  and  year-round  grosses : 
"ARIZONA"    (Col.) 

KEITH-BOSTON— (2,500),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    17,000.      (Average,   $18,000.) 
"EX-BAD   BOY"    (Univ.) 

KEITH'S  (2,800),  30c-65c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$■17,500.     (Average,  $18,000.) 

"INDISCREET"  (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM  —  (3,100),  25c-SOc, 
7  days.  Vaude.  Ooss:  $18,000.  (Average 
$20,000.) 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,700),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $19,000.      (Average   $20,000.) 

"THE     NIGHT    ANGEL"     (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,350),       25c-60c,       7 
days.      Gross:    $30,000.      (Average,    $32,000.) 
"SMART  MONEY"   (Warners) 

OLYMPIA— (2,500),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $13,500.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"CHANCES"  (F.  N.) 

SCOLLAY  SQUARE— (1,800),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $14,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"SMART    MONEY"    (Warners) 

UPTOWN— (2,000),  25c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.      (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Giesem  Gets  Dixie 

Bastrop,  Tex. — A  deal  has  been 
closed  whereby  F.  E.  Giesem  of  Aus- 
tin takes  over  the  Dixie  from  Gilreath 
and  Beaseman,  former  operators. 


Albany  Heat 
Drives  Folks 
To  Outdoors 


Albany — Low  ebb  was  reached  at 
Albany's  theatres  this  week  as  blister- 
ing heat  prevailed  day  after  day. 
Every  one,  or  seemingly  every  one, 
preferred  the  great  open  spaces  to 
the  theatres,  while  vacations  undoubt- 
edly took  hundreds  and  perhaps  thou- 
sands out  of  town.  There  is  one  thing 
certain,  however :  the  theatres  of  this 
city  have  nothing  to  fear  from  Tom 
Thumb  golf  courses  this  summer. 
These  latter  are  absolutely  dead,  the 
majority  either  closed  completely  or 
attracting  a  mere  half  dozen  players 
at  their  best. 

With  a  couple  of  circuses  booked 
for  next  week,  things  don't  look  any 
too  bright  for  the  immediate  future. 
"Daddy  Long  Legs,"  for  a  second  run 
at  the  Leland,  couldn't  even  pull  them 
in. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  9  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"PARLOR,  BEDROOM  AND   BATH" 
(M-G-M) 

HARMANUS-BLEECKER  HALL  — 
(2,300),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross:  $6,340. 
(Average,    $10,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG   LEGS"    (Fox) 

(LELAND— (1,350),  20c-25c,  6  days,  sub- 
sequent run.  Gross:  $2,900.  (Average, 
$4  500  ) 

"SMART  MONEY"   (W.  B.)  and 
"MEN   OF   THE  SKY"    (W.   B.) 

RITZ— (1,146),     25c-35c,    3    days.      Gross: 
$1,850.      (Average,    $2,250). 
"SHIPS    OF    HATE"    (First    Graph)    and 
"MEET   THE  WIFE"    (Col.) 

RITZ— (1,146),  25c-35c,  3  days.  <irt>ss: 
$1,700.       (Average,     $2,250.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"    (Pathe) 

R-K-O     PROCTOR'S— (1,500),     20c-60c,     3 
days.     Gross:    $2,400.      (Average,   $3,000.) 
"BROADMINDED"  (F.  N.) 

STRAND— (1,900),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$S,50(V     (Average,  $8,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^Vice'  ^Murder' 

'Sinners'  High 

In  Saint  City 

St.  Paul — •"Vice  Squad,"  "Young 
Sinpers"  and  "Up  for  Murder"  does 
not  sound  like  a  PoUyana  line-up,  but 
enough  residents  were  attracted  to 
give  the  Paramount,  Riviera  and  RKO 
Orpheum,  respectively,  grosses  that 
were  one  grand  above  normal.  The 
other  first-run,  the  Tower,  just  made 
par  with  $2,000  for  "The  Maltese 
Falcon." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"THE    VICE    SQUAD"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,500,      (Average,    $7,500.) 

"YOUNG    SINNERS"    (Fox) 

RIVIERA— (1,000),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,000.     (Average,    $7,000.) 

"UP    FOR    MURDER"    (Univ.) 

RKO    ORPHEUM    —    (2,600),    25c-50c,    7 
days.      Vaude.      Gross:    $13,000.      (Average, 
$12  CXX)  ) 
"raE    MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

TOWER— (1,000),  15c-25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.      (Average,    $2,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Horivitz  Darkens  House 

Cleveland  —  Harry  Horwitz  has 
closed  the  New  Broadway  until  there 
shall  be  signs  of  improvement  in  local 
business  conditions.  The  Olympia, 
another  Horwitz  house,  is  running  on 
a  part  time  schedule. 


"Possession, 
'Free  SouF  Top 
In  Portland 


Portland — "A  Free  Soul"  and 
"Man  in  Possession"  copped  first 
honors  here,  each  topping  par  by  $3,- 
OOO  at  the  Broadway  and  Paramount, 
respectively.  The  grosses  were  $8,- 
000  and  $15,000  at  those  spots.  "Gold 
Dust  Gertie"  and  "Up  for  Murder" 
also  were  in  the  black.  Theatres 
with  cooling  systems  plugged  them 
heavily  when  the  thermometer  reach- 
ed 98. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  9  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"A    FREE  SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

FOX     BROADWAY— (1,912),     25c-50c.     7 
days.        Gross:     $8,000.        (Average,    $5,000.) 
"MEN  OF  THE  SKY"  (F.  N.) 

FOX  RIALTO— (1,498).  25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:  $1,200.  (Average  for  vi-eek,  $4,- 
000.) 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 

FOX    RIALTO— (1,498).    35c-35c.    4    days. 
Gross:    $1,800.      (Average   for    week.   $4,000.) 
"GOLD    DUST    GERTIE"    (Warners) 

HAMRICK'S    MUSIC    BOX— (1,800).    25c, 
7   days.      Gross:    $5,700.       (Average,   $4,000.) 
"MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,068),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
F.  &  M.  "Tomorrow's  Stars"  Idea.  Gross: 
$15,000.         (Average.     $12,000.) 

"UP  FOR  MURDER"   (Univ.) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (1,700),  35c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Aver- 
age.   $10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Dual  Bill  Is 
High  Grosser 
In  Providence 

Providence — Playing  a  double-fea- 
ture bill,  "Svengali"  and  "Party  Hus- 
band," the  Majestic  came  through 
again  this  week  to  win  first  honors, 
bringing  grosses  to  $13,200,  _  $3,200 
above  average.  Although  Loew's  State 
took  in  more  coin  than  other  houses, 
it  went  below  par  by  $2,500. 

All  other  theatres  went  under  badly. 
RKO  Victory  played  "Three  Who 
Loved"  and  took  it  on  the  chin,  gross- 
ing only  $3,000.  RKO  Albee  counted 
$3,500  with  "Ex-Bad  Boy,"  while 
Paramount  was  able  to  gross  $6,300 
with  "Women  Lxjve  Once." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  9  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"THREE    WHO    LOVED"    (Radio) 

RKO  VICTORY— (1,600),   10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $3,000.       (Average.    $6,500.) 
"EX-BAD  BOY"  (Univ.) 

RKO  ALBEE— (2,500),  lflc-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,500.     (Average,   $9,000. 

"SVENGALI"    (Warners)   and 
"PARTY  HUSBAND"  (F.  N.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,300),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $13,200.     (Average,   $10,000.) 

"WOMEN  LOVE  ONCE"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,300.      (Average,   $10,000.) 

"MAN   IN  POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE^(  3,800),  20c-75c,  7 
days.      Gross:     $15,500.       (Average,     18,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Waco  Censor 

Waco,  Tex. — Succeeding  Mrs.  J. 
W.  Downs,  whose  salary  of  $75  per 
month  as  secretary  of  the  city  censor 
board  was  discontinued  here.  City 
Secretary  George  D.  Field  has  been 
appointed  city  censor.  No  picture  may 
be  shown  in  Waco  before  a  permit 
is  obtained. 


Norma  and  Joe 

Take  Honors  in 

Philadelphia 


Philadelphia — "A  Free  Soul"  and 
"Broadminded"  were  the  leaders  this 
week,  the  Norma  Shearer  vehicle  get- 
ting $7,000,  or  $2,000  above  average, 
at  the  Karlton,  and  Joe  E.  Brown 
boosting  the  Earle's  receipts  to  $18,- 
500,  which   is  $500  above   par. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  9  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"KICK    IN"   (Para.) 

ARCARDIA— (600),  50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$2,500.       (Average,     $3,000.) 

"BROADMINDED"    (F.    N.) 

EARLE— (2,000),  25c-65c,  6  days.     Vaude. 
Gross:     $18,500.       (Average,    $18,000.) 
"ANNABELLE'S   AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 

POX— (3,000),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days.     Stage 
show.      Gross:    $23,200.      (Average,    $26,000.) 
"A  FREE   SOUL"   (M-G-M) 

KARLTON— (1,000),  40c-50c,  6  days. 
Ooss:    $7,000.      (Average,   $5,000.) 

"I    TAKE    THIS    WOMAN"    (Para.) 

KEITH'S   —    (1,800),   35c-50c-75c,   6   days. 
Gross:   $12,500.     (Average,   $15,000.) 
"THE    MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

MASTBAUM— (4,800),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Stage  show.  Gross:  $35,000.  (Average, 
$40,000.) 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

STANLEY— (3,700),    35c-50c-75c,    6    days. 
Gross:   $8,000.      CAverage,   $18,000.) 
"ARIZONA"    (Col.) 

STANTON— (1,700),  3Sc-50c-7Sc,  6  days. 
Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,   $11,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Newly  Rich," 
Possession 
Top  in  Denver 

Denver — It  was  a  dull  week  gen- 
erally, although  two  pictures  man- 
aged to  top  the  average  mark — "Man 
in  Possession"  to  the  tune  of  $1,000 
at  the  Denver,  grossing  $16,000,  and 
"Newly  Rich"  beating  par  at  the 
Rialto,  the  take  being  $4,000.  The 
audiences  seem  to  have  got  a  kick  out 
of  the  antics  in  the  latter. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  9  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"MAN  IN  POSSESSION"  (M-G-M) 

DENVER— (2.300),  25c-35c-6Sc  7  days. 
Milt  Franklyn  and  Fanchon  &  Marco 
"Broken  Dolls"  Idea.  Fred  Schmitt  and 
orchestra.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"HELL   BOUND"    (Tiff.) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1.500).  35c- 
50c-75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $6,000.  .(Average, 
$7,000.) 

"THE    IRON    MAN"    (Univ.) 

HUFFMAN'S  TABOR— (1.900).  25c-35c- 
,50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,000),      '25c-'35c-50c.       7 
days.       Gross:    $10,000.       (Average,    $11,000.) 
"NEWLY   RICH"    (Para.) 

RIALTO— (1,040),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $4,000.         (Average,     $3,750.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Opens  Theatre 

Watson ville,  Calif. — FWC  opened 
its  Watsonville  Fox  here  after  expend- 
ing some  $50,000  remodelling.  The 
house  seats  1,200  and  has  a  50  cent 
top.  A.  M.  Bowles,  Charles  Thall 
and  other  Fox  officials  attended  the 
opening.  Mayor  Charles  Baker  was 
the  principal  speaker.  J.  D.  Graham 
is  manager.  Paramount's  "Newly 
Rich"  was  the  opening  attraction. 


Monday,  July   13,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"Lawless"  and  Yank  ''A  Free  Sour  in  2d 


"Possession" 
Frisco  Highs 


San  Francisco — Best  percentages 
for  the  week  went  to  the  Golden 
Gate,  which  presented  Olsen  and 
Johnson,  vaudevillians,  with  "Law- 
less Woman,"  and  to  the  Fox,  play- 
ing "The  Man  in  Possession,"  both 
houses  over  an  average  of  $5,000. 
"Never  the  Twain  Shall  Meet"  was 
the  third  to  go  over  the  par  mark. 
Hot  weather  was  responsible  for  the 
showing   of  the  others. 

Estimated  takings  for  the.  week  end- 
ing July  1 1  and  year-round  averages : 

"LALWESS   WOMAN"    (Chesterfield) 

GOLDEN  GATE-^(2,800),  35c-45c-50c- 
65c.  7  days.  Vaudeville,  with  Olsen  and 
Johnson.    Gross:    $20,000.   ,(Average,   $15,000.) 

Week  ending  July  8: 
"NEVER   THE   TWAIN   SHALL   MEET' 
(M-G-M) 

EL  CAPITAN— (3,100),  25c-40c-60c,  7 
days.  Jay  Brower  band;  stage  show. 
Gross:  $13,250.     (Average,  $13,000.) 

"MAN  IN  POSSESSION"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (4,600).  35c-60c,  7  days.  F  &  M 
stage  show;  Walt  Roesner  concert.  Gross: 
$39,000.      (Average,   $34,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO    Pathe) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    2Sc-3Sc-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $7,500.      (Average,   $12,000.) 
"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

PARAMOUNT— ,(2,740),       25c-35c-50c        7 
days.   Jess   Stafford's   band.   Gorss:    $13,000. 
(Average,    $19,000.) 
"REACHING   FOR   THE   MOON"    (U.A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200),  25c-40c-60c, 
7  days.     Gross:  $11,500. 

"PARTY    HUSBAND"    (F.    N.) 

WARFIEM>— (2,700),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Rube  Wolf  baiM;  stage  varieties.  Gross: 
$20,000.     (Average,  $21,000.) 

Week  ending  July  9: 

"SMART   MONEY"    (Warner) 

WARNER  BROS.-(l,385).  35c-50c).  2nd 
week.  7  days.  Gross:  $7,350.  (Average, 
$10,500.) 

Week  ending  July  11: 

"DIE    FORSTERCHRISTEL" 

COLUMBIA-(1,700),  35c-50c-75c.  7  days. 
Gross:   $10,000. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Hope  to  Kill  Dual 
Bills  by  September 

(Continued  from  page   1) 
bills    until    the    important    competitive 
situations    in   the    10    per    cent   group 
indicate  that  they  will  go  along  with 
the  rest. 

The  general  belief  here  is  that  a 
plan  will  be  worked  out  prior  to  Sep- 
tember 1  for  city-wide  abolition  of 
the  policy  in  all  theatres  which  play 
prior  to  the  tenth  week  of  general 
release. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tobis  Set  to  Add 
16  Foreign  Houses 

(Continued  from   page    1) 
theatres   in    New   York,    Philadelphia 
and  Baltimore. 

Milton  Diamond,  president  of  Tobis 
of  America,  has  just  signed  con- 
tracts w.ith  Moviegraphs,  Inc.,  Mo- 
viegraph  of  Maryland,  Europa  Cin- 
ema, Inc.,  Associated  Cinemas  of 
America,  Inc.,  and  Max  A.  Goldberg 
linking  these  units  with  the  Tobis 
organization.  Tobis  Theatres  Corp., 
together  with  Tobis  Forenfilms,  Inc., 
Tobis  Inc.,  and  Tobis  of  America,  is 
a  sister  company  to  Tobis  Tonbild 
Sundikat  A.  G.  of  Germany,  Films 
Sonores  Tobis,  Paris  and  Associated 
Sound  Film  Industries,  London,  all 
under  patronage  of  Kuechenmeister's 
Internationale  Maatschappij  voor 
Sprckende    Films,   Amsterdam. 


Seattle  Week;  Elks  Hurt 


Seattle — The  yanking  of  "A 
Free  Soul"  after  the  third  day  of 
its  scheduled  second  week  was  the 
highlight  of  a  week  that  was  gen- 
erally below  normal  despite  the  fact 
that  the  national  Elks'  convention 
brought  10,000  to  town.  Extremely 
hot  weather  helped  a  lot  to  put  the 
kibosh    on    trade. 

Although  "Gold  Dust  Gertie" 
went  into  the  Music  Box  for  a  con- 
templated fortnight's  run,  seven  days 
finished   it. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"I    TAKE    THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 

FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000).    25c-35c-50c,    4 


days.        Gross:    $3,000.        (Average,    $3,000.) 
"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 
FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-35c-50c,    3 
days.       Gross:    $1,500.        (Average,    $2,000.) 
"A   FREE  SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
FOX      FIFTH     AVENUE-(2,750),      25c- 
35c-50c,75c.     3     davs.     2nd     week.         Gross: 
$4,000.         (Average     for     week,     $12,000.) 
"MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 
FOX      FIFTH      AVENUE-(2,750),      25c- 
35c-50c-75c,   4   days.      Gross:    $7,000.    (Aver- 
age   for    week,    $12,000.) 

"AIR  POLICE"   (Sono-Art) 
LlBERTY-(2,000),        15c-30c.        7       days. 
Gross:    $6,500.        (Average,    $6,500.) 

"GOLD    DUST    GERTIE"    (Warners) 

MUSIC      BOX— (950),     25c-35c-50c-75c,     7 

days.        Gross:    $6,000.        (Average.    $7,500.) 

"EVEJIYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 

RKO      ORPHEUM— (2,650).      25c-35c-50c- 

60c-75c.    7    days.       Vaude.       Gross:    $13,000. 

(Average,     $13,500.) 


Omaha  First 
Runs  Better 
Average  Take 

Omaha — Not  much  cause  for  grief 
in  theatre  circles  here  last  week,  for 
every  first  run  beat  the  deadline  fig- 
ure. Both  "The  Man  in  Possession" 
and  "Sweepstakes"  went  over  par  to 
the  tune  of  $2,000,  grossing  $9,000 
and  $14,500,  and  "I  Take  This  Wo- 
man" bettered  the  grade  by  $1,000. 
Rain  on  the  Fourth  of  July  sent  them 
hurrying  to  the  cinema  palaces. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round 
grosses    averages : 

"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO    Pathe) 
ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-60c,    7    days. 
Four    RKO    acts.        Gross:    $14,500.     (Aver- 
age_,    $12,500.) 

"THE  MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

P.\RAMOU\T— (2.900).         25c-30c-35c-60c, 

7   days.      Gross:    $9,000,       (Average,    $7,000.) 

"LADIES'   MAN"    (Para.) 

STATE— (1,200).     25c.     4     days.         Gross: 

$1,600.        (Average,     $1,200.) 
"TOO   YOUNG   TO   MARRY"    (F.   N.) 
STATE— (1.200),     25c.     3     days.         Gross: 

$1,000.         (Average,     $900.) 
"I     TAKE     THIS    WOMAN"     (Para.) 
WORLD— (2,500).         25c-40c,         7         days. 

Cross:     $6,500.        (Average,    $5,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

All  Pictures 
Above  Average 
In  Charlotte 


Charlotte — Night  baseball,  re- 
sorts and  hot  weather  failed  to  do 
much  damage  here  last  week,  for 
every  feature  beat  the  average  fig- 
ure. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 
BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35cS0c,  3  days. 
Gross:     $4,500.         (Average,     $3,750.) 

"THE    MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

BROADWAY— (1,167).  25c-35c-50c-.  3 
days.       Gross:    $5,000.       (Average,    $3,750.) 

"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    COED"    (Para.) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c.  3  days. 
Gross:     $6,000.        (Average,    $5,500.) 

"THE  MAN  IN  POSSESSION"  (M-G-M) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c.  3  days. 
Gross:    $6,500.       (Average,    $5,500.) 


"Sinners"  Is 
Buffalo  Best 
With  $23,000 


Buffalo — All  the  first  runs  did  a 
little  better  than  the  previous  week, 
the  Great  Lakes  being  in  the  van  with 
"Laughing  Sinners,"  which  took  in 
$23,000,  beating  par  by  $500.  "Young 
Donovan's  Kid"  was  the  Hippo- 
drome's best  in  weeks,  the  matinees 
being   especially   good. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"SMART    MONEY"    (Warners) 
BUFFALO— (3,300),      30c-65c,       7      days. 
Publix    stage    show.       Gross:    $20,800.    (Av- 
erage.   $25,000.) 

"BIG    BUSINESS    GIRL"    (F.    N.) 
CENTURY— (3,000),       25c-35c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $8,000.        (Average,    $12,000.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
GREAT  LAKES— (3,000),  25c-60c,  7  days, 
r^oew   stage   show.      Gross:    $23,000.      (Aver- 
age,   $22.500. ) 

"DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 
HIPPODROME— (2,100),    25c-50c.    7    days. 
RKO     vaudeville.        Gross:    $18,200.     (Aver- 
age,   $20,000.) 

"THE    LION    AND    THE    LAMB"    (Col.) 
LAFAyETTE^(3,300).     25c-35c.     7     days. 
Gross:    $7,900.       (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Freuler  Lists  Titles 
Of  Twelve  Westerns 

Hollywood — With  work  on  the  first 
of  the  new  series  of  western  to  start 
shortly,  John  R,  Freuler,  president  of 
Big  4,  announces  the  titles  of  the  12 
as  follows :  "Headin'  for  Trouble," 
"Cyclone  Kid,"  "Lure  of  the  Range," 
"Desert  Spawn,"  "Rip  Roaring 
Broncs,"  "Mark  of  the  Spur,"  "Blazed 
Trails,"  "Highway  Riders,"  "Hard 
Pan  Gulch,"  "Rio  Grande  Raiders," 
"Guns  and  Saddles"  and  "Quick  Trig- 
ger Lee."  Upon  completion  of  the 
line-up  a  new  series  of  six  melodramas 
will  be  started. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Book  "Viking;'  First 
Indie,  Into  Roosevelt 

Chicago — The  Roosevelt,  Publix- 
Balaban  &  Katz  first-run  Loop  house, 
will  play  Varick  Frissel's  "The  Vik- 
ing" at  an  early  date.  This  is  the  first 
booking  ever  accorded  independent 
product  by  the  Roosevelt  under  Pub- 
lix-B.  &  K.  management.  Judel'.  Pic- 
tures is  the  local  independent  distrib- 
utor of  "The  Viking." 


ii 


Hell  Bound'' 
Is  Leader  in 
Okla.  City 


Oklahoma  City — "Confessions  of 
a  Co-ed"  was  the  only  picture  reach- 
ing par  last  week,  doing  $7,000  at  the 
Capitol,  with  all  other  houses  being 
below  normal.  The  Warner,  in  its 
last  week  before  its  six  weeks'  clos- 
ing, totaled  $6,400  with  "Hell 
Bound"  against  an  average  of  $7,600. 
Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"SMART  MONEY"   (Warners) 
CRITERION— (1,800),         10c-35c-50c-         7 
days.        Gross:     $6,500.        (Average,    $8,000.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    COED"    (Para.) 
CAPITOL— (1,200),     10c-25c-50c.     7     days. 
Gross:     $7,000.         (Average.     $7,000.) 
"BROADMINDED"    (F.    N.) 
MID-WEST  —  (1,500),      10c-25c-35c-50c.      7 
days.       Gross:    $5,600.       (Average,    $7,500.) 
"HELL    BOUND"    (Tiff.) 
WARNER— (1,700).        10c-25c-35c-50c         7 
days.      Gross:    $6,400.      (Average.   $7,600.) 
"LIGHTNING  FLYER"  (Col.) 
LIBERTY— (1,500),     10c-15c-35c,     3     days. 
Gross:    $600.      (Average   for   week,   $3,000.) 
"GOLDIE"    (Fox) 
LIB  ERTY-(  1,500),     10c-15c-35c,     4     days. 
Gross:    $650.       (Average    for    week,   $3,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Cool  Breezes 
Help  B.  O.  in 
Minneapohs 

Minneapolis — A  spell  of  cool 
weather  turned  the  thoughts  of  fans 
movieward,  and  as  a  result  three 
houses  clicked  above-average  takes 
and  the  other  two  just  made  the 
grade.  "The  Night  Angel"  received  a 
general  panning,  but  the  folks  trav- 
eled to  the  Minnesota,  nevertheless, 
giving  that  house  a  gross  of  $20,000, 
which  is  just  normal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"SVENGALI"    (Wat^ners) 

ASTER— (812),  20c-2Sc,  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,500.    (Average,   $1,500.) 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

LYRIC— (1,238),  20c-40c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,000.    (Average,    $2,500.) 

"THE     NIGHT    ANGEL"     (Para.) 

MINNESOTA— (4,000),  30c-75c,  7  days. 
Horace  Heidt  heading  vaude  bill.  Gross: 
$20,000.      (Average,    $20,000.) 

"UP   FOR  MURDER"   (Univ.) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,900),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average, 
$14,000.) 

"YOUNG  SINNERS"   (Fox) 

STATE— (2,300),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,000.      (Average,    $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Ellison,  Denver  Vet, 
Leaves  $15,000  Estate 

Denver — Homer  E.  Ellison,  vet- 
eran theatre  and  supply  man,  who 
died  recently,  left  an  estate  of  ap- 
proximately $15,000.  Two  sons.  Ho- 
mer and  Burns  Ellison,  who  were  as- 
sociated with  their  father  in  the  Fed- 
eral theatre,  will  share  the  estate. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Vita-Temple  Closes 

Toledo  —  The  Vita-Temple  closed 
Sunday  and  will  remain  closed  until 
further  notice.  Jack  O'Connell  has  in- 
formed the  Cleveland  Film  Board  of 
Trade. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  July    13,    1931 


'The  Spice ''  of  Educ  7 — Tiffany  Sales  Confab 


A.  S.  KlRKPATRtCK 
General    Manager 


STANLEY  W.  HATCH 
General  Sales  manager 


EARLE    W.   HAMMONS 
President 


BUDD  ROGERS 
Feature  Sales  Manager 


GORDON  S.  WHITE 
Publicity    Adv.    Chief 


Universal  3-Month 
Profit  Is  $255,783 

(Coiitiiiued  from  page  I) 
ing  assets  as  of  November  1,  1930, 
of  $10,154,188.50  and  current  liabili- 
ties of  $3,872,742.64.  Surplus  on  May 
2,  1931,  was  $4,279,954.71,  which  in- 
cluded $1,354,000  surplus  arising 
through  revaluation  of   land. 

The  company  states  it  has  efifected 
substantial  reductions  in  operating 
cost.  Expenses  for  six  months  to  May 
2  were  less  by  $538,977  than  those  of 
the  preceding  six  months,  and  $485,- 
506.67  less  than  the  expenses  of  the 
corresponding  six  months'  period  end- 
ing Mav  3,  1930. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Indict  Sponsor  of 
Two-Operators'  Bill 

Chicago— State  Senator  Daniel  Ser- 
ritella,  Capone  ally  who  championed 
the  compulsory  two  operators'  bill 
which  was  defeated  in  the  Illinois 
State  legislature  last  month,  was  in- 
dicted for  conspiracy  by  the  Cook 
County  grand  jury  here  Saturday. 

The  indictment  was  the  result  of  a 
lengthy  investigation  of  irregulari- 
ties in  Serritella's  administration  of 
the  Chicago  city  sealer's  office,  which 
he  occupied  prior  to  the  last  city  elec- 
tion. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Pathe  Loses  Suit 

Los  Angeles — Judgment  for  $102,- 
488  against  Pathe  Exchange,  Inc., 
was  awarded  to  the  Cinema  Finance 
Corporation  and  Nathaniel  H.  Spit- 
zer,  producers  of  "Ingagi,"  for  breach 
of   contract. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Mintz  Back 

Charles  B.  Mintz,  producer  of  the 
Krazy  Kat  Cartoons  and  the  Scrappy 
Cartoons,  returns  to  New  York  today 
from  Hollywood  after  an  absence  of 
eight  weeks. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cincy  Critic  Killed 

Cincinnati — Carl  B.  Adams,  33, 
dramatic  and  picture  critic  for  the 
Cincinnati  Enquirer,  was  killed  in  an 
automobile  accident  while  on  his  way 
to  Cumberland  Falls  for  a  week-end 
vacation. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Now  It's  the  Dinkases 

Hou.vwoon — Major  C.  Court  Treat 
and  Howard  Hughes  will  bring  Din- 
kas.  giant  cannibal  tribe  from  Africa, 
to  the  screen  in  "The  Fight  to  Live." 
Treat  plans  13  shorts  in  Multicolor 
in  addition  to  the  feature. 


Educational  Starts  First 
Of  Three  Meetings  Today 


(Continued  from   page    1) 


tives,  eastern  branch  managers  and 
producers'  representatives  will  inaugu- 
rate the  first  of  a  series  of  three  re- 
gional meetings.  For  the  second  suc- 
cessive year,  Educational  will  divide 
its  annual  national  convention  into 
three  district  conferences.  The  first, 
which  will  be  attended  by  the  heads  of 
exchanges  from  Boston  and  New  York 
to  Cleveland,  will  terminate  on  Wed- 
nesday ;  the  second,  or  middle-western 
meeting,  will  take  place  on  July  16 
and  17  at  the  Congress  Hotel, 
Chicago ;  and  the  third  at  the  Brown 
Palace  Hotel,  Denver,  on  July  20  and 
21. 

Earle  W.  Hammons  will  open  this 
morning's  session  with  an  address  of 
welcome.  With  the  acquisition  of 
Tiffany  during  the  past  year,  and  the 
subsequent  expansion  of  Hammons' 
activities  in  the  feature  field,  it  is 
expected  that  he  will  present  his  com- 
pany's plans  for  further  expansion  as 
well  as  a  detailed  analysis  of  Educa- 
tional's    short    subject    program. 

Following  the  address  by  the  presi- 
dent the  conference  will  hear  speeches 
by  \.  S.  Kirkpatrick,  assistant  gen- 
eral manager,  and  Stanley  W.  Hatch, 
general  sales  manager,  both  of  whom 
will  confine  their  talk  to  matters  per- 
taining exclusively  to  Educational  and 
its   interests.    An   address   bv   Gordon 


S.  White,  director  of  advertising  and 
publicity,  will  bring  the  day's  pro- 
gram to  a  close. 

Tuesday's  meeting  will  be  given 
over  largely  to  the  company's  inter- 
ests in  feature-length  productions.  The 
session  will  be  opened  by  an  address 
by  Budd  Rogers,  feature  sales  man- 
ager. Representatives  of  the  various 
producing  units  releasing  through 
Educational's  system  will  then  take 
the  floor.  The  speakers  will  include 
G.  C.  Reid,  producer  of  the  William 
J.  Burns  Detective  Mysteries  series ; 
Howard  C.  Brown,  co-producer  with 
Curtis  F.  Nagel  of  Romantic  Jour- 
neys ;  W.  B.  Frank,  representative  of 
Mack  Sennett  comedies ;  and  William 
Saal,  on  behalf  of  Tiffany.  An  open 
meeting  will  follow  a  talk  by  White 
on  aspects  of   feature  advertising. 

Individual  conferences  will  consti- 
tute the  Wednesday  program,  after 
which  the  home  office  executives  will 
leave  on  the  Century  Limited  for  the 
Chicago  meetings. 

Arthur  Greenblatt,  New  York;  Fred  G. 
Sliter,  Boston ;  Harry  D.  Noble,  New 
Haven;  Charles  Flaherty,  Albany;  H.  F. 
Brink,  Buffalo;  J.  Kaliski,  Pittsburgh;  J.  A. 
Bachman,  Philadelphia;  J.  H.  Beaver, 
Washington;  J.  H.  Butner,  Atlanta;  J.  E. 
Hoblis.  Cliarlotte;  L.  J.  Klar.  Cincinnati; 
H.  R.  Skirboll,  Cleveland;  and  J.  Travis, 
Canadian  Manager.  Arthur  Lucas  anu'  Jack 
Skirljoll.  special  representatives,  will  also 
attend. 


Chi  Carriers  Give 
Week  Service  Free 

Chicago — Additional  summer  oper- 
ating relief  was  won  for  Chicago  ex- 
hibitors when  the  Film  Carriers'  union 
announced  that  delivery  and  pick-up 
service  would  be  performed  without 
charge  for  all  theatres  open  during 
the  full  week  beginning  July  20. 

The  concession  came  as  a  result  of 
negotiations  conducted  between  Jack 
Miller  of  the  Exhibitors'  Association, 
and  Frank  Donovan  of  the  Film  Car- 
riers' union. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

The  Critics  Say 

(Continued  from   page  3) 
more    readily    adaptable    to    the    naive    effu- 
sions   of    an    earlier    day    in    the    talkies*** 
Miss    Twelvetrees    plays*** with    grave    dig- 
nity*** 


'Laughing  Sinners' 

M-G-M 


Mexico  Subsidizes 
Spanish  Productions 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

lish.  The  tariff  on  blank  films  was 
reduced  50  per  cent  to  one  peso  (50 
cents  Ainerican)  a  kilo,  or  two  and 
two-tenths  pounds.  Silent  pictures  re- 
quiring titling  here  will  be  eight 
pesos  ($4)  a  kilo  as  formerly,  but 
if  already  titled,  the  tax  will  be  18 
Ijesos    ($9). 

Talking  films  in  Spanish  will  be 
taxed  20  pesos  ($10)  a  kilo,  but  in 
any  other  language  a  duty  of  75  pesos 
($37.50)  a  kilo  is  provided.  Motion 
picture  cameras  are  on  the  free  list. 
The  decree  also  (irovides  that  phono- 
graph records  in  Spanish  will  be 
charged  only  one-half  the  duty 
charged    on    other    languages. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ingram  Joins  Ideal 

London — Rex  Ingram  will  make  a 
series  of   talkers  for   Ideal  Films. 


Etta  Klein  Sues  Ideal 
For  Contract  Breach 

Etta  L.  Klein,  through  her  at- 
torneys, Weinstein  &  Levinson,  has 
started  suit  against  Ideal  Pictures 
Corp.  and  Morris  J.  Kandel  for  $24,- 
720  in  damages. 

Mrs.  Klein,  who  was  engaged  by 
the  defendants  to  establish  and  con- 
duct their  foreign  department,  in  her 
complaint,  filed  in  the  Supreme  Court 
of  New  York,  alleges  fraud,  deceit  and 
breach  of  contract. 

Kandel  could  not  be  reached  for  a 
statement. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Laemmle  Here  Tomorrow 

Carl  Laemmle  will  arrive  in  New 
York  tomorrow,  completing  the  first 
leg  of  his  trip  to  Europe,  where  he 
will  confer  with  Erich  Remarque  and 
John  Drinkwater,  the  latter  author 
of  "The  Life  and  Adventures  of  Carl 
Laemmle." 


AMERICAN— /oan  Crawford  gives  one 
of  those  rarely  Honest  and  convincing  per- 
formances that  now  and  again  distinguish 
play-acting*** a  thorcnighly  satisfactory  screen 
story*** 

DAILY  MIRROR— /<V  strong  stuff*** 
Joan  gives  a  splendid  performance. 

DAILY  NEWS— Mw  Crawford  is  well 
enough  cast  and  she  gives  a  vivacious  per- 
formance***direction    is    mediocre. 

EVENING  JOURNAL— r/if  movie  is  a 
better  show  than  the  play  and  for  the  first 
15  minutes  Joan  Crawford  makes  the  hero- 
ine  believable. 

GRAPHIC— ***rt  weak,  dull  drama*** 
Miss  Crawford***  gives  the  uneven  part 
everything  possible.  In  fact,  it's  a  tribute 
to  her  and  the  two  leads  (Neil  Hamilton 
and  Clark  Gable)   that  it  holds  interest  at  all. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE  — p/aj>i„5  „,,*/,  a 
tenderness  and  a  curiously  touching  direct- 
ness, which  some  of  us  had  never  suspected 
her  of  possessing,  Joan  Crawford  provides 
the  best  performance  of  her  slightly  tumult- 
ous screen  career***The  film***is  nothing 
to  cheer  for  with  any  great  lustiness*** 

MORNING  TELEGRAPH  —  ***worth 
seeing***Clark  Gable  performs  capably, 
diligently   and   effectively 

'POS'V—***the  cabaret  girl  (Joan  Craw- 
ford) gains  an  authentic  and  sometimes 
powerful  appeal.***" Launhing  Sinners"  has 
enough  vigor  to  insure  iJs  success*** 

SUN — ***a  mild,  if  carefully,  and,  on 
the  whole,  intelligently  produced  talkie.*** 
she  (Miss  Crawford)  offers  a  well-rounded 
characterisation,  lighted  and  shaded  and 
entirely  believable  and  touching. 

TIMES — ***there  is  enough***to  distract 
the  not  too  critical  entertainment  hunter. 
Miss  Crawford***has  tempered  the  intense 
and  not  a  little  self-conscious  quality  of 
her  acting  without  hurting  her  vibrant  and 
breath-catchinn  spirit. 

WORLD-TELEGRAM— r/iaf  intensely 
interesting  and  gifted  actress,  Joan  Craw- 
ford***seems  to  have'  arri7'ed***an  ordi- 
nary story***largely  as  a  result  of  her 
work  that  the  film  becomes  the  best  talkie 
in  which  she  has  appeared  to  date. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.  NO.  37 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JULY  14,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Borzage  Joins 
New  Directors 
Guild,  Report 

loast  Has  Him  Lined  Up 
With  New  Association 


Hollywood — It  has  been  talked 
ibout,  so  Hollywood  hears,  but  be- 
ond  that,  the  plan  for  formation  of 
he  Directors'  Guild  has  not  pro- 
;ressed. 

Locally,  the  name  of  Frank  Borz- 
ige,  who  has  one  more  to  make  for 
*'ox,  is  being  linked  in  association 
vith  Cecil  "B.  De  Mille,  Lewis  Mile- 
tone,  King  Vidor  and  Walter  Wan- 
der. De  Mille  is  free  of  all  contrac- 
nal  relations ;  Milestone  never  makes 
nore  than  a  picture-to-picture  con- 
ract  and  Vidor  is  producing  at  M-G- 
\\  under  an  identical  arrangement, 
nsofar  as  formation  of  such  a  group 

(Confiinicd   on    page    2) 
"BUY   RIGHT^BUT   BUY  NOW 

'Al"  Aronson  Joins 
Tobis  Forenfilms 

Alexander  S.  ("Al")  Aronson  has 
oined  Tobis  Forenfilms,  Inc.,  in 
:harge  of  American  distribution.  This 
s  allied  with  Tobis  of  America  which 
)lans  a  circuit  of  19  foreign  language 
alkers  by   fall. 

.'\ronson  is  a  pioneer  in  distribution, 
lating  his  experience  to  1912  when  he 
oined  World  Film.  In  with  N.  L. 
Siathanson,  he  formed  Regal  of  Can- 
ida.  This  was  in  1915.  In  1917, 
(Continued  oh   page   2) 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

'Queer  People"  Is 
Queered,  W.  C.  Sure 

Hollywood  —  Howard  Hughes 
ieems  to  have  plenty  of  trouble  over 
'Queer  People."  Scheduled  for  pro- 
hiction  the  first  of  the  month,  the 
starting  date  has  been  indefinitely 
i>ostponed.  Off  the  record  conversa- 
tion has  it  that  Hughes  will  never 
nake  the  picture  because  of  picture 
:olony  sentiment  against  it  and  re- 
i)orted  difficulty  in  borrowing  players. 


''BUY  NOW  SALES 


Newark,  O.— The  Midland,  \uA\- 
orium  and  Grand,  al!  operated  by 
he  Midland  Theatres  Co.,  yesterday 
signed  for  the  complete  Warner-First 
National  program.  Mort  Shea  repre- 
sented the  theatre  company  and  A.  W. 
^"Andy")    Smith,  Jr.,  the  distributor. 


Miracle  Stuff 

Three  guesses  as  to  the 
identity  of  the  company 
which  sent  out  the  following 
blurb: 

"The  success  of  

adds    another   feather    to 

's    cap.     This    company 

has  been  particularly  fortu- 
nate, for  since  the  production 

introduction  of   in  the 

fall,  it  has  been  clicking  con- 
sistently (sic)  with  its  pro- 
ductions throughout  the  sea- 
son." 

Can  you  recognize  this 
great   outfit? 


Quota  Law  in 
Canada  May 
Follow  Report 


Vancouver — British  Columbia  is 
preparing  to  exhibit  and  distribute  on 
an  entirely  new  basis,  following  the 
report  of  Peter  White,  K.  C,  special 
Federal  investigator,  who  finds  that 
the  film  business  in  Canada  is  in  the 
grip  of  a  "combine." 

As   soon   as   the    report   is    received 

{Continued  on    page   6) 


KINOGRAMS,  ALLIED 
REEL,  TO  EDUC'L 


Tiffany  Lists 
Titles  of  Big 
Money  Films 


With  "Tiffany  Steps  Out"  as  its 
slogan  and  a  tri-cornered  financial 
deal  for  production  closed  yesterday 
by  L.  A.  Young  with  private  bankers, 
that  company  is  all  set  to  release  22 
features  and  three  series  of  shorts 
next   year. 

An    even    dozen   of    the    22,    as    re- 

(Continucd  on    page   6) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Dave  Selznick  Asks 
Paramount  Release 

Hollywood — David  Selznick,  exec- 
utive assistant  to  B.  P.  Schulberg,  is 
asking  a  release  from  Paramount.  The 
discussions  are  well  along,  but  dis- 
posal of  Selznick's  request  has  not 
yet  been  determined. 

In  the  meantime,  Selznick,  who  not 
so  long  ago  signed  a  new  contract, 
will  say  nothing  about  future  plans. 


Franklin  in  N.  Y.  to  'Buy  Now'; 
Harwood  Lambasts  Distributors 


"It  is  the  duty  of  everybody 
in  the  industry  to  buy  imme- 
diately," said  Harold  B.  Frank- 
lin, who  arrived  in  New  York 
from  Hollywood  yesterday  to 
launch  into  a 
'Buy  Now' 
movement  all 
of  his  own 
on  behalf  of 
Hughes- 
Franklin 
Theatres. 

"While  it 
is  also  their 
duty  to  buy 
right,  there 
is  no  need  to 
advise  exhib- 
itors because 
n  e  cessity 
guides  them 
in  this  con- 
nection. Competition  may  be  the 
life  of  trade,  but  circulation  of 
money  and  confidence  are  its 
bone  and  sinew.  Our  entire  eco- 
nomic   structure    is    based    upon 

(Continued   on  page   6) 


H.   B.   FRANKLIN 


Cleveland  —  "I  am  always  and 
ever  have  been  in  favor  of  any 
movement  that  will  bring  ad- 
vancement to  the  industry  in 
general,"  states  J.  J.  Harwood, 
president  of 
the  Cleve- 
land M.  P. 
Exhibitors' 
Ass'n,"  and 
I  think  the 
'Buy  Now' 
movement 
is  a  worthy 
one,  but 
why  not 
have  t  he 
p  roducer- 
distribu- 
tor do  hi.s 
share? 

"Why  not    j    j_  harwood 
consider 

the  exhibitor's  situation?  Owing 
to  the  depression,  and  the  woe- 
fully sad  lack  of  anything  like 
'fair'  product,  the  exhibition  end 
of  the  industry  has  suffered 
(CoHtitiued  OH  page  6) 


Sponsored    Short   Starts 

With  2,800  Contracts; 

104  a  Year 


August  28  marks  the  date  upon 
which  Kinograms,  as  a  talking  news- 
reel,  makes  its  debut  via  Educational. 
The  deal,  long  pending,  is  now  set 
and   provides   for  two   issues   a  week. 

Kinograms,  inactive  in  the  news- 
reel  field  since  February,  again  starts 
operation  as  a  sponsored  subject  un- 
der terms  of  its  arrangement  with 
Abram  F.  Myers  and  Allied  States 
Ass'n.  Capt.  McL.  Baynes  said  yes- 
terday 2,800  contracts  had  been  sign- 
ed with  members  of  various  Allied 
state  units  with  the  expectation  that 
the  number  will  total  4,000  before  the 
sales  effort  behind  the  newsreel  spends 
itself. 

Contracts    with    exhibitors    run    for 

(Continued  on  page   6) 


Hammons  Forecasts 
Optimistic  Outlook 

Production  and  distribution  of 
short  features  constituted  the  princi- 
pal business  discussed  yesterday  at 
the  first  of  the  series  of  three  re- 
gional sales  meetings  being  held  by 
Educational  and  affiliated  organiza- 
tions. The  eastern  confab,  which 
is  holding  sway  at  the  Astor,  will 
continue  tomorrow. 

Home  office  executives,  eastern 
southern  branch  managers,  produc- 
ers' representatives '  and  Paul  Terry 
and  Frank  Moser,  producers  of  the 
Educational -Terry-Toons,  and  G. 
Clifton    Reid,    producer   of    the    Wil- 

(Continued  on   page   6) 
"BUY   RIGHT     BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Shows  Pug  Films, 
Faces  Two  Charges 

Two  violations  are  charged  against 
S.  .S.  Weinberger,  manager  of  the 
Central,  in  connection  with  .showing 
i)f  the  Schmeling-Stribling  pictures  at 
that  theatre.  One  is  violation  of  the 
copyright    law    and    the    other    breach 

(Continued  on   page   2) 


Katz  Says  ''No" 

Houston  report  that  Hughes- 
Franklin  Theatres  had  acquired 
the  Metropolitan,  Kirby  and 
Queen  in  that  city  from  Pub- 
lix  is  "utterly  ridiculous," 
stated  Sam  Katz  yesterday. 

Harold  B.  Franklin:  "Dit- 
to." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,    July    14,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  30 


July  14.   1931 


No.  37 


Martin    Quiglev 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


f^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
^JtJ  3nd  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  BioscopCi  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kuwier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y..  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Common  Sense 

Hollywood, 

much  given  to  the  practice  of 
finding  victims  who  are  being 
ground  into  the  earth  by  the  pro- 
duction machine,  is  now  knee- 
deep  in  excitement  over  the  so- 
called  plight  of  screen  authors. 

Now  it  is  being  said  that  the 
writers  are  being  "thrown  upon 
the  altar  of  Wall  Street's 
wrath." 

This  is  the  fancied  deduction 
from  the  incident  in  which  P. 
G.  W^odehouse  admitted  receiv- 
ing $104,000  from  M-G-M 
under  a  year's  contract  without 
having  delivered  a  quid  pro  quo 
to  his  employers,  together  with 
the  apparent  plan  of  the  studios 
to  substitute  thirty-day  employ- 
ment contracts  instead  of  long 
term  agreements. 


Ti 


HE  Wodehouse 
incident,  aside  from  the  bad 
sportsmanship  of  his  statement 
to  the  newspapers,  is  a  natural 
accompaniment  of  the  zealous- 
ness  of  American  producers  to 
seek  out  and  hire  talent  which 
gives  promise  of  being  able  to 
contribute  to  the  betterment  of 
production.  There  is  inevitably 
much  hazard  to  the  producer  in 
this  operation.  It  takes  the  ac- 
tual test  to  determine  whether 
or  not  the  talent  which  has  been 
engaged  can  deliver  as  expected. 
Many  do ;  some  don't.  Wode- 
house apparently  was  among 
those  who,  when  the  package 
was  unwrapped,  it  was  found 
that  there  was  nothing  worth- 
while to  the  studio  on  the  in- 
side. 

Story  co.sts  have 


been  niountii:ig  to  dizzy  heights. 
Alany  writers  who  have  been 
held  on  long-term  contracts  have 
not  Iieen  able  to  deliver  consist- 
ently. Should  it  be  considered 
surprising  that  the  studios 
should  wish  to  limit  their  liability 
under  contracts  when  there  is 
not  plenty  of  work  scheduled 
ahead  for  the  writer,  or  when 
there  is  some  question  as  to  the 
writer's  ability  to  deliver  consist- 
ently? 

MARTIN   QUIGLEY 

"BVY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Borzage  Joins  New 
Directors  Guild? 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

is  concerned,  Hollywood  consequently 
considers  it  can  be  done.  Whether  it 
will  become  an  actuality,  however,  is 
an  entirely  different  something  again. 
It  is  understood  that  De  Mille  had 
several  discussions  with  Wanger  in 
New  York  about  the  plan  under  which 
each  man  would  be  responsible  for  a 
limited  number  of  pictures  a  year. 
Probably  the  outside  number  for  each 
would  be  two. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

AL  Aronson  Joins 

Tobis  ForenUlms 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 
Aronson  joined  Goldwyn  as  western 
sales  manager.  In  1919,  he  became 
national  sales  head  and  in  1924,  went 
to  abroad  to  consolidate  the  Metro 
and  Goldwyn  offices  at  the  time  those 
two  companies  merged.  Returning  to 
New  York  in  1929,  Aronson  organ- 
ized and  became  vice  president  of 
World   Wide. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Shows  Pug  Films, 
Faces  Two  Charges 

(Continued  froyn   page    1) 

of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Act.  In 
the  first  instance,  Arthur  Cohen,  man- 
ager of  Wallach's,  accuses  the  man- 
ager of  having  a  "duped"  print  of  the 
original  claimed  to  be  showing  at 
Cohen's  house.  In  the  second  charge 
the  government  does  not  permit  trans- 
portation of  fight  films  from  the  state 
where  the  action  takes  place. 


Gov'tApproval 
Of  Contract 
Is  Seen  Near 


Forward  strides  are  being  made 
toward  government  approval  of  the 
new  standard  contract  already  agreed 
upon  by  various  phases  of  the  indus- 
try. M.  A.  Lightman's  furtive  trip  to 
Washington  and  subsequent  meeting 
with  John  Lord  O'Brian  of  the  Fed- 
eral department  has  all  the  possibili- 
ties of  the  government  seriously  con- 
sidering the  new  contract   form. 

Lightman  yesterday  returned  from 
the  Capitol  but  declined  to  go  into  de- 
tails of  the  meeting  with  the  govern- 
ment official.  All  he  would  say  was 
that  "the  meeting  with  Mr.  O'Brian 
has  been  entirely  satisfactory  and  def- 
inite progress  was  made.  An  effort 
to  bring  about  conclusion  of  this  im- 
portant undertaking  will  be  followed 
this  week,"  he  said. 

No  time  is  being  lost  in  the  matter. 
Lightman  already  has  been  in  touch 
with  Gabriel  Hess  of  the  Hays  organ- 
ization on  a  certain  plan  and,  it  is  un- 
derstood, Hess  is  for  it.  Lightman 
has  an  appointment  with  Sidney  Kent 
for  ten  o'clock  this  morning  and  they 
may  arrange  meetings  which  may  pro- 
long over  the  week.  The  M.P.T.O.A. 
president  has  concluded  a  definite  plan 
for  approval  by  the  government  and 
it  looks  as  if  it  is  all  set. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Butler  Confers  Here 

David  Butler,  Fox  director,  is  in 
New  York  to  confer  with  George  and 
Ira  Gershwin  on  his  next  production, 
"Delicious,"  for  which  they  wrote  the 
music  and  lyrics.  Guy  Bolton  wrote 
the  book. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Helen  with  Ronald 

Hollywood — Helen  Hayes  will  ap- 
pear opposite  Ronald  Colman  in 
"Arrowsmith."  M-G-M  loaned  her 
to   Samuel   Goldwyn. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Milliken  in  Today 

Carl  E.  Milliken,  Hays  association 
secretary,  arrives  in  New  York  from 
Hollywood   today. 


Decline  Shown  In  General  Market 


High  Low 

Consolidated  Film  Industries S'/s  7H 

Consolidated   Film   Industries   pfd W/2,  14fi 

Eastman     Kodak     1A'^'^  142 

Fox  Film  "A" 16!4  iS'A 

(ieneral   Theatre   Equipment,   new 4  3% 

Loew's,   Inc 43J4  43 

M-G-M    pfd 24'^  24K 

Paramourtt    Publix 25  24^ 

Pathe    Exchange 1J4  154 

Pathe  Exchange  "A" 7'A  6J4 

•iKO    WA  liVa 

Warner    Bros 7'/$  7 

Warner   Bros,  pfd I6VS  WA 


Close 

H'A 

14354 

16^ 

4 

43-4 
24K 
25 

m 

7'A 
WA 

7/8 

16/2 


Net 
Cluuise 

-f  Vi 
+  54 

-m 


-M 
-!4 
-'A 
-Vs 
-Vs 
-'A 


Fractional  Losses  In  Film  Curb 

Net 
High      Low      Close     Change 

General  Tlieatre   E<iuipment  pfd 7  6)4  7  +  'A 

Sentry   Safety   Corftrol 1  1  1  —'A 

Trans    I.ux    SA  SA  S'A        —li 


Bonds  Again  Irregular 


'40. 


High 

.55 

987^ 

102 

90 

81 

Pathe  7.S   '37   ww 92i<$ 

Warner   Hros.  6s  '39  wd 41 


General    Theatre   Equipment  6s 

l.oew's  6s  '41   ex   war 

Paramount    Uroadway   S'AiS   '51.. 

Paramount   F.   L.  6s   '47 

Paramount    I'ublix  SJ^s,   'SO. 


Low 

35 

9&A 
102 
90 
81 
92 
40-54 


Close 

35 

9&A 
102 
90 
81 

92A 
41 


Net 
Change 


-'A 

+  A 
+  A 


Sates 

2,200 

3on 

3,400 
5,000 
1,800 
2,800 

100 
11,700 

500 
2,800 
9,700 
7,600 

100 


Sales 

600 
20(J 
5CKJ 


Sales 

2 
15 
1 
1 
1 
14 
26 


Gi'iMiL^. 


Tiffany,  for  its  confidence  in 
the  future  as  witnessed  by 
decision  to  step  into  the  for- 
midable six- figure  negative 
cost    classification. 


"Lieutenant"  Gross 
$88,850  in  7  Weeks 

"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  chalked 
up  a  gross  of  $88,850  in  its  seven 
weeks  at  the  New  York  Criterion. 
The  grosses  from  week  to  week  as 
gleaned  from  the  Motion  Pictuke 
Daily    files    follow : 

May  29 $16,800 

June     5 16,400 

June  12 14,500 

June  19 13,400 

June  26 11,000 

July     3 8,600 

July    10 8,150 


Total     $88,850 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Academy  Fights  Sexy 
Titles,  $$  Publicity 

Hollywood — The  Committee  on 
Public  Relations  and  College  Affairs 
of  the  Academy  of  M.  P.  Arts  and 
Sciences  is  spurring  itself  into  ac- 
tion, following  warnings  from 
Charles  C.  Pettijohn  and  Carl  E. 
Milliken  against  dollar  publicity  and 
sex  titles.  Lawrence  Grant,  chair- 
man of  the  committee,  has  volun- 
teered to  cooperate  and  a  program 
is  now  in  work. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Bancroft  Due  Friday 

George  Bancroft  is  due  in  New 
York  Friday  bound  for  Fore  River, 
Mass.,  to  make  scenes  for  "Rich  Man's 
Folly,"  which  John  Cromwell  is  di- 
recting. Archie  Hill  of  the  Coast 
staff  is  already  at  Fore  River,  as  is 
an  eastern  crew  consisting  of  Bill 
Steiner,  C.  A.  Tuthill,  Jack  Kenny, 
Lester  Neilson  and  F.  Serjack. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Allied  Meets 

Portland — The  Allied  Exhibitors 
of  I'Zastern  Washington  and  the  In- 
land Empire  are  scheduled  to  meet  at 
the  Danvenport  Hotel,  Spokane,  tn- 
day.  Secretary  James  Hone  "i 
Seattle   will   handle   the   gavel. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Chevalier  into  Rivoli 

"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  goes  into 
the  Rivoli  Thursday  after  a  seven- 
week  run  at  the  Criterion. 


THE  LARGEST 

STOCK    SHOT   LIBRARY 

IN  THE  INDUSTRY 
Over     5,000,000     feet     of     Indeied     nega- 
tives     and      positives      t^ntaining      seenos 
of     every     conceivable     description 
INSTANTLY     AVAILABLE 

General  Film  Library,  Inc. 

MORRIS      J.       KANDEL.      Pres. 

729    7th    Ave.  New    York    City 

BRYANT     9-4417-8 

Cable:    KANDELFILM 


I 


With 
Doll 


a 


Mill; 


on- 


ar 


N 


ewspaper 


GRAHAM  McNAMEE, 
National  Broadcasting 
Company  Ace. 


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Tie-Up 


The  most  widely  publicized 
piece  of  property  in  the 
motion  picture  industry 
backed  by  more  than  80  of 
America's  leading  news- 
papers and  the  best-known 
and  most  popular  voice 
in  the  world. 

THEY  MAY  IMITATE  IT, 

BUT  THEY'LL  NEVER 

EQUAL  IT! 


UNIVERSAL'S 

NEWSPAPER  NEWSREEL 


WITH 


GRAHAM 
McNAMEE 

as  the  talking  reporter 

Produced  under  the  personal  supervision  of  Sam  B.  Jacobson 


Ride  with  a  Winner! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"A  Free  Soul"  Thermometer 


$4,500  Up  in 
Indianapolis 


Tuesday,    July    14,    1931 


I  NDiAN  APOLis  —  The  exhibitor's 
prayer  for  cool  weather  was  an- 
swered— and  three  attractions  shot 
over  the  average  line.  Norma 
Shearer  in  "A  Free  Soul"  led  at  the 
Palace,  grossing  $13,000  against  a 
normal  take  of  $8,500;  "'White 
Shoulders"  beat  par  by  $2,000,  and 
"Up  for  Murder"  was  up  $500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"SMART   MONEY"    (Warners) 

APOLLO-d.lOO),  25c-50c,  7  d'ays.    Gross: 
$4,000.       (Average,     $4,000.) 

"BIG  BUSINESS  GIRL"  (F.  N.) 
CIRCLE— (2,600j,   2Sc-50c,   7   days.     Gross: 
$4..S0O.      (Average,    $5,000.) 

"WHITE  SHOULDERS"   (R^dio) 
INDIANA— (3,300),  25c-65c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$15,000.      (Average,    $13,000.) 

"UP    FOR   MURDER"    (Univ.) 
LYRIC— (2,000),    25c-S0c,    7    days.      Gross: 
$7,500.       (Average,     $7,000.) 

"A   FREE  SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
PALACE— (2,800),  25c-50c,  7  days.    Gross: 
$13,000.      (Average,    $8,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 


Socks  Ottawa 
Box  Offices 


99 


Lieutenant 
Smiles  in  Chi; 
Takes  $29,650 

Chicago — The  advent  of  cooler 
weather  failed  to  revive  Loop  grosses 
appreciably  and  new  openings  got  the 
money.  "The  Smiling  Lieutenant" 
opened  big  at  the  United  Artists,  the 
take  being  $29,650,  or  more  than  five 
grand  above  average.  "A  Free 
Soul"  dropped  quickly  in  its  second 
week  at  McVickers,  grossing  $8,000 
under  par.  Blanche  Sweet  on  the 
Palace  stage  failed  to  help  "Three 
Who  Loved."  Aided  by  the  fight 
pictures,  the  Castle  had  three  good 
days    with    "Laughing    Sinners." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  8  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"DONOVAN'S   KID"   (Radio) 
ORPHEUM— (665),    J5c-50c-75c,    1st    week, 
2nd    Loop    run.      Gross:    $2,260.       (Average. 
$3,200.) 

Week  Ending  July  10 
"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

CASTLE— (299),  40c-60c,  1st  week,  3  days. 
2nd  Loop  run.  Gross:  $1,412.  (Average, 
$3,S0r).j 

"THE    MAN    IN    POSSESSION    (M-G-M) 
CHICAGO--(4,00(J;,     35c-5fJc-85c,     7     days. 
Publix    stage    unit,    orchestra.      Gross:    $38,- 
450.      (Average,    $46,0W.) 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
McVICKERS— (2,284),   35c-50c-75c-85c,   2nd 
week.     Gross:    $20,275.      (Average,   $28.5«).; 
"THE    BLACK   CAMEL"    (Fox) 
ORIENTAI^(3,940),      35c-50c-75c-85c.      7 
(rays.     Publix  stage  unit,  orchestra.     Gross: 
$21,700.      (Average,    $.36,500.) 

"SMART     MONEY"     (Warners) 
ROOSEVELT— (1,591),  .Wc-50c-75c-85c,  2nd 
week,    final   6  days.     Gross:   $9,275.      (Aver 
age,    $23,200.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"   (RKO  Pathe) 

STATE-LAKE—  (2.776).      35c-50c-75c-8.5c. 

2nd   week.   Gross:   $7,225.    (Average,  $30,200.) 

"THE  SMILING   LIEUTENANT" 

(Para.) 

UNITED    ARTISTS— (1,700),    35c-50c-75c- 

85c,    first    week.     Gross:    $29,650.      (Average, 

$24,600.) 

Week  Ending  July  11 

"THREE  WHO  LOVED"  (Radio) 

PALACE  -(2.509J,  3Sc-50c-75c-85c,  7  days. 
Five  acts  RKO  vaudeville  headed  by 
Blanche  Sweet.  Gross:  $19,480.  (Average, 
$24,000.) 


Ottawa  —  The  complexion  of 
things  was  changed  considerably 
with  the  closing  of  B.  F.  Keith's, 
largest  house  in  town,  for  one  month 
and  with  the  opening  of  the  Embassy 
with  straight  vaudeville.  Many  of 
the  Keith  fans  turned  to  the  Embassy, 
but  the  picture  houses  also  picked  up 
a  bit.  There  isn't  a  theatre  in  Ot- 
tawa with  a  real  cooling  system, 
other  than  Keith's,  however,  and  the 
heat  played  havoc  with  the  week's 
grosses. 

The  leader  of  the  week  was  "Ship- 
mates" at  the  Regent  with  $4,200,  but 
this  was  nothing  to  brag  about. 
"Father's  Son"  at  the  Centre  drew  a 
scant  $3,900,  and  the  weather  was 
largely  to  blame.  The  Imperial  held 
up  fairly  well  with  "Women  Love 
Once"  at  $2,700,  the  femmes  giving 
this  one  their  preference,  if  any.  The 
Avalon  was  down  close  to  a  thou- 
sand on  both  ends  of  a  split  week  of 
"Indiscreet"   and   "Young   Sinners." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"INDISCREET"   (U.  A.) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-3'5c,  3  davs. 
Gross:    $1,000.      (Average,    $1,300.) 

"YOUNG   SINNERS"    (Fox) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-35c,  3  davs. 
Gross:   $1,050.      (Average,  $1,300.) 

"FATHER'S    SON"    (F.    N.) 

CENTRE— (1.142),      15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,      6 
days.     Gross:   $3,900.      (Average,  $4,600.) 
"WOMEN   LOVE  ONCE"    (M-G-M) 

IMPERIAL— 1.091),      15c-25c-35c4Oc-50c.     6 
days.      Gross:    $2,700.      (Average,    $3,000.) 
"SHIPMATES"    (M-G-M) 

REGENT— (1,225).  15c-25cl45cl60c-75c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $4,200.     (Average.   $5,400.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'Seed'  $3,000 
Over  Normal 
In  Milwaukee 

Milwaukee — Another  national 
convention  in  town  helped  to  bolster 
up  business  to  a  certain  extent  dur- 
ing the  week.  "Seed"  was  held  over 
for  an  $11,000  second  week  at  Uni- 
versal's  Alhambra,  while  "The  Vice 
Squad"  did  a  little  better  than  aver- 
age at  Fox's  Wisconsin  with  $13,- 
500. 

Business  at  other  first  runs  was 
just  average  or  a  little  above.  "The 
Spy"  was  good  for  $10,500  at  the 
Garden  and  "Gold  Dust  Gertie"  for 
$11,500  at  the  Warner.  Estimated  tak- 
ings for  the  week  ending  July  10  and 
year-round  averages : 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

ALHAMBRA-(2,660).  2.5c-3.5c-50c-60c.  7 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,030.  (Aver- 
age.   $8.rX)0.) 

"THE   SPY"    (Fox) 
GARDEN-(I.150).   2,Sc-35c-50c-60c.   7  days. 
Gross:    $10,.'50f).      (Average.    $10,aiO.) 
"NEWLY  RICH"  (Para.) 
PALACE— (2,587).   2Sc-35c-50c-«)c.   7    davs. 
Gross:     $9,f)00.      (Average.     $9,800.) 

"SIX    CYLINDER    LOVE"    (Fox) 
RrVER.'7IDE-(2,180),      25c-35c-.S0c-60c.       7 
days.      Gross:    $1.1'.000.      (Average.    $13.0r)0. ) 
NIGHT    ANGEL"    (Para.) 
STRAND -(1.406).   25c -35c- 50c -600,   7   (i'ays. 
Gross:    $6,500.      (Average,    $6,500.) 

"GOLD    DUST  GERTIE"    (Warners) 
WARNER— (2,500),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $11,500. 

"THE    VICE    SQUAD"    (Para.) 
WI.'::CONSIN-(3.275),      25c-35c-50c-65c.      7 
days.      Gross:    $13,500.      (Average,    $13,000.) 


Take  Your  Choice 

F'aramount  changed  its  mind 
about  the  title  of  "Forbidden 
Adventure"  when  it  reached 
New  York,  and  changed  the 
title  here  to  "Newly  Rich." 
However,  exhibitors  are  given 
the  option  of  using  either,  the 
company  states.  Most  of  them, 
it  seems,  are  in  disagreement 
with  the  action  in  the  big  town 
and  are  running  it  under  the 
longer  title. 


Wight  AngeF 
Is  Leader  in 
Des  Moines 


Des  Moines  —  Rain  and  cooler 
weather  proved  beneficial  to  theatre 
box-offices  and  the  week  was  general- 
ly satisfactory.  "Night  Angel"  at 
the  Des  Moines  leaped  two  grand 
above  the  $7,000  par  figure  for  the 
house,  and  the  other  first  runs  had 
nothing   to   kick   about. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  11  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"NIGHT     ANGEL"     (Para.) 

DES    MOINES— (1,600),    7    days,    25c-35c- 
60c.      Gross:    $9,000.      (Average,    $7,000.) 
"WOMEN    LOVE   ONCE"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,700),    3    days,    25c-35c, 
60c.      Gross:     $6,000.       (Average    for     week, 
$12,000.) 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,700),    4    days,    25c-3Sc- 
60c.       Gross:     $8,000.       (Average     for    week, 
$12,000.) 

"GOLDIE"    (Fox) 
STRAND— (1,100),  4  days,   20c-35c.   Gross: 
$2,500.      (Average,    $1,700.) 

"MANY  A  SLIP"   (Univ.) 
STRAND— (1,100),  3  d'ays,  20c-35c.    Gross: 
$850.      (Average,    $700.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Chances''  Big 

In  Baltimore; 

Is  Up  $7,000 

Baltimore — Loew's  Century  gave 
a  spurt  and  led  the  field,  showing  the 
exceptional  gross  of  $26,000  with  a 
program  consisting  of  "Chances"  and 
Fred  Waring  and  his  Pennsylvanians. 
This  beat  the  average  by  $7,000  in 
one  of  the  murkiest,  hottest  and 
rainiest  weeks  ever  experienced  in 
Baltimore. 

Other  spots  were  not  so  hot,  al- 
though "Man  in  Possession"  beat  par 
by  $1,000  at  Loew's  Stanley;  "Mal- 
tese Falcon"  by  $600  at  the  Met,  and 
"just  a  Gigolo"  by  $400  at  the 
Valencia. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  9  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 

KEITH'S— (2,500),  25c-50c.  6  days  plus  a 
Sunday  midnight  performance.  Giross:  $5.- 
360.      (Average.   $5,500.) 

Week  Ending  July  10 

"THE  MALTESE  FALCON"   (F.  N.) 

WARNER'S  MKTROPOLITAN-(l„^X)), 
6   days.      Gross:    $5,100.      (Average,    $4,500.) 

Week  Ending  July  11 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

LOEW'S  CENTURY— (3,076)i  25c-60c,  6 
days.  Loew-Capitol  stage  imit,  "Waring's 
Pennsylvanians,"  orchestra.  Gross:  $26,000. 
(Average,    $19,000.) 

"JUST   A   GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 
(.Shown    uptown    after    one    week    at    Lfiew's 


Grosses  Kept 
Down  by  Heat 
In  Montreal 


Montreal— Nothing  much  matter- 
ed during  the  past  week  in  Montreal 
because  of  the  exceptional  heat.  The 
Palace  held  the  star  position  with  "A 
Free  Soul"^  largely  on  the  strength 
of  Norma  Shearer,  who  is  Montreal's 
own  daughter,  but  the  gross  was 
down  to  $11,500  as  compared  with 
average    of   $14,000. 

The  Strand,  leading  theatre  of  the 
United  Amusement  chain,  had  a  good 
attraction  in  the  Schmeling-Stribling 
fight  picture  which  was  presented 
along  with  "The  Millionaire,"  the  re- 
sult being  a  gross  of  $3,800,  only 
$200  below  par.  "The  Middle 
Watch,"  a  British  film,  graced  the 
screen  of  the  Princess  as  one  of  the 
series  of  British  pictures  at  that 
house  and  the  takings  were  $7,800  as 
against   average  of  $13,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"ALWAYS   GOODBYE"    (Fox)    and 
"ANNABELLE'S     AFFAIRS"     (Fox) 

CAPITOL— (2.547),  25c-3.5c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,200.      (Average.   $12,500.) 
"PERFECT  ALIBI"   (British)  and  "GOD'S 
GIFT    TO    WOMEN"     (Warners) 

IMPERIAL— (1,914),     15c-25c-40c.    7    days. 
Gross:     $3,500.       (Average,    $5,100.) 
"NEVER   THE   TWAIN    SHALL   MEET" 
(M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (3,115),  15c-40c-50c-65c-75c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average. 
$13,000.) 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

PALACE— (2,600),  2Sc4Oc-e0c-75c-99c,  7 
d'ays.      Gross:    $11,500.      (Average,    $14,000.) 

"THE     MIDDLE     WATCH"     (British) 

PRINCESS— (2,272),  25c -35c -40c -50c -60c- 
65c,  7  days.  Gross:  $7,800.  (Average,  $13,- 
000. ) 

"THE    MILLIONAIRE"    (Warners) 

STRAND— (750),  15c-25c-40c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3',800.      (Average,    $4,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Three  Films 
Go  Over  Par 
In  Houston 

Houston  —  Despite  terrific  heat, 
three  pictures  went  over  par  last 
week — "I  Take  This  Woman"  by  $2,- 
000;  "Man  in  Possession"  by  $1,000, 
and  "Smart  Money"  by  a  grand  also. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  9  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"NEWLY   RICH"    (Para.) 

KIRBY— (1.6.S4).       2.5c-.?5c-.50c,       5       days. 

Gross:    $3,.S0O.      (Average    for    week.    $5,000.) 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

KIRBY— (1,654),       25c-35c-50c,       2       days. 

Gross:   $1,500.      (Average   for   the   week,   $5,- 

000.) 

"MAN  IN  POSSESSION"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S    STATE— (2,700),     25c-35c-50c,     7 
days.      Gross:    $8.00(1.      Average,    $7,000.) 
"I   TAKE   THIS  WOMAN"    (Para.) 
METROPOLITAN— (2,512),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.      Gross:    $9,000.      (Average,   $7,000.) 
"SMART     MONEY"     (Warners) 
RKO     MAJESTIC-(2,250).    25c-.Wc-50c,     7 
dayiS.      Gross:    $8,000.      (Average,    $7,000.) 


Century    downtown.) 

LOEW'S     PARKWAY— (987).     15c-35c.     6 

days.     Gross:   $4,000.     (Average,   $3. .500.) 

"THE    MAN    IN    POSSESSION"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S     STANLEY— (3. .522),     25c-60c,     6 

days.      Gross:    $18,500.       (Average,    $17,500.) 

"JUST   A   GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 
(Shown   uptown   after   one   week  at   Loew's 
Century    downtown.) 
LOEW'S    VALENCIA-(1.487),    25c-35c.    6 
days.     Gross:   $3,200.     (Average.   $2,800.) 
"THEIR    MAD    MOMENT"    (Fox) 
NEW— (1,600),     25c-50c,     6    days.      Gross: 
$6,000.      (Average,   $8,000.} 


Tuesday,    July     14,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


All  Toronto 
Theatres  Off 
In  Hot  Week 


Toronto — Refrigerated  theatres 
were  the  big  talk  in  town  during  the 
past  week,  Manager  Howard  Knevels 
making  a  play  with  his  new  ice  plant 
at  the  Imperial  in  newspaper  displays, 
ixisters  and  an  ice-cold  front.  And 
it  was  cool  inside.  Crowds  came  out 
of  curiosity  and  built  up  a  gross  of 
$14,700  for  "Young  Donovan's  Kid," 
the  house  average  being  $16,000. 

jerry  Shea  also  got  in  some  ice 
cracks  for  Shea's  Theatre  and  count- 
ed $10,800  for  "Six  Cylinder  Love" 
and  vaudeville,  average  being  $13,- 
000.  Tom  Daley  swung  into  line 
with  icicles  for  the  Uptown  and 
"Drums  of  Jeopardy"  accounted  for 
$9,500,  although  the  picture  did  not 
draw    very    enthusiastic    reviews. 

Loew's  made  it  $12,000  on  "A  Free 
Soul,"  which  was  $3,000  down  from 
normal.  This  was  fair  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  Loew's  isn't  so  cool.  The 
Tivoli  also  needs  more  ice  and 
"Svengali"  was  down  to  $10,000,  as 
compared  to  $12,500  for  average. 

Estimated    takings     for     the    week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages ! 
'^'YOUNG    DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 
IMPERIAL— (3,444),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c 
6    days.      "Monkey     Shines,"    Publix    stage 
unit.      Gross:    $14,700.      (Average,    $16,000.) 
"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S— (2,088),       25c-30c-40c-60c-75c,      6 
clays.     Gross:    $12,000.      (Average,   $15,000.) 
"SIX    CYLINDER    LOVE"    (Fox) 
SHEA'S— (2,600),    .30c-50c-60c-75c,    6    days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $10,800.      (Average,   $13,000.) 
"SVENGALI"   (Warners) 
TIVOLI— (1.600),    15c-25c-35c-SOc-65c-75c.    6 
cfays.     Gross:   $10,000.      (Average,   $12,500.) 
"DRUMS   OF   JEOPARDY" 
UPTO'WN— (3.000),     15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,     6 
days.     Gross:   $9,500.      (Average,   $12,000.) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Wrong  Picture 

In  the  Cleveland  bo.x-ofifice  figures, 
publishe<l  yesterday,  the  attraction  at 
Warners'  Lake  was  listed  as  "Broad- 
minded."  Instead,  "Chances"  was 
the  film  that  boosted  the  house  take 
by  $3,000. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

''Schnozzle"  in  Hollywood 

Hollywood — Jimmy  Durante,  alias 
"Schnozzle,"  is  in  from  New  York, 
flanked  by  Partners  Clayton  and 
Jackson.  Durante  is  under  M-G-M 
contract,  but  the  Broadway  night  club 
trio  will  probably  appear  in  a  local 
cafe   while   here. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Deny  Dickinson  Deal 

Kans.\s  City — There  is  no  deal  be- 
tween the  Hughes-Franklin  and  Glen 
Dickinson  circuits  for  changeover  of 
two  theatres  in  Chillicothe  and  Inde- 
pendence, Mo.  Denials  from  Rick 
Ricketson  of  H-F  and  Dickinson,  him- 
self, bring  the  rumors  to  a  close. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Miami  Union  Scale 

Miami  —  Miami  Theatre  Owners 
and  the  union  operators  have  come  to 
an  understanding  on  a  new  scale. 
Under  the  plan  one  operator  in  a  booth 
is  required  at  approximately  $1.28  per 
hour. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

"U"  Releases  Hamilton 

Hollywood — Lloyd  Hamilton  is 
finished  at  Universal.  His  option, 
just  expired,   has  not  been   renewed. 


66 


Devir'  Pops 
Up  and  Grabs 
Top  in  Cincy 


Cincinnati — Business  was  ap- 
proximately 10  per  cent  off  com- 
pared with  last  week,  although  the 
total  intake  slightly  exceeded  com- 
bined averages.  The  RKO  Albee 
swung  back  into  first  place  with 
"Up  Pops  the  Devil"  as  the  screen 
attraction,  and  Harry  Langdon  head- 
ing the  vaudeville.  The  combination 
gave  the  house  $25,029,  or  $3,029 
better  than  average. 

Second  week  of  "A  Free  Soul"  at 
RKO  Lyric  registered  $11,886,  prac- 
tically par,  which  is  considered  e-x- 
cellent  for  a  holdover,  especially 
after  the  picture  smashed  through  to 
unusually  big  returns  for  the  initial 
seven  days. 

Schmeling-Stribling  fight  picture, 
in  addition  to  "The  Hot  Heiress," 
helped  receipts  at  RKO  Strand  to 
show  an  average  of  $1,323  on  a  total 
gate  of  $4,823.  The  RKO  Family 
gained  somewhat  on  a  split-week,  but 
business  slumped  at  the  other  houses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  10  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"LONELY   WIVES"    (RKO-Pathe) 

KEITH'S— (1,600),  30c-S0c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,025.       (Average,   $4,500.) 

"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 
RKO    ALBEE— (3,300),    3.5c-50c-65c-75c,    7 
days.        Vaudeville     with     Harry     Langdon. 
Gross:    $35,029.        (Average.    $22,000.) 
"FORBIDDEN      ADVENTURE"      (Para.) 
RKO'   CAPITO  1^(2,000),    30c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:   $10,445.      (Average,   $13,000.) 
"A    SON    OF    THE    PLAINS'    (Syndicate) 
RKO—     FAMILY— (1,140),    20c-25c-35c,     4 
days.     Gross:   $2,518.      (Average,  $1,950.) 
"LAUGHING   SINNERS'     (M-G-M) 
RKO    FAMILY— (1,140),    second   run,    20c- 
25c-35c,   3   days.      Gross:    $1,356.       (Average, 
$1,050.) 

"A   FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
RKO    LYRIC— (1,400),    2nd    week,    30c-50c, 
7     days     plus     Saturday     midnight      show. 
Gross:     $11,886.     (Average,  $12,000.) 
"CHANCES"    (F.   N.) 
RKO    PALACE— (2,700),    30c-50c,    7    days 
plus  .Saturday  midnight   show.     Gross:  $11,- 
517.        (Average,    $14,000.) 

"THE   HOT   HEIRESS'    (F.   N.) 
RKO    .'iTRAND- (1,3.50).    2.5c-40c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $4,823.       (Average,    $3,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Kandel  Enters  Gen'l 
Denial  in  Klein  Suit 

M.  J.  Kandel  yesterday  made  a  gen- 
eral denial  of  the  contract  breach 
claimed  by  Etta  L.  Klein,  who  has  in- 
stituted suit  against  Ideal  Pictures 
Corp.  for  $24,720  in  damages.  He 
states  that  Mrs.  Klein  held  no  agree- 
ment, was  employed  on  an  "at  will" 
basis  and  made  no  deals  while  she 
was  in  charge  of  foreign  sales.  "No 
deal  was  consummated  during  her  stay 
or  after   it,"  Kandel  claims. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cinema  Patents  Corp. 
Sues  Meyer-Rieger 

Attorneys  for  Cinema  Patents  Corp., 
subsidiary  of  Consolidated  Film  In- 
dustries, Inc.,  have  filed  suit  against 
the  Meyer  Rieger  Laboratories  in  the 
United  States  Court  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York  for  alleged  in- 
fringement of  the  Gaumont  and  Spoor- 
Thompson  patents  on  film  developing 
apparatus  and  methods. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sheehan  En  Route 

Albuquerque  —  Winfield  Sheehan 
passed  through  last  night  en  route  to 
Hollywood. 


H 
E 


THEATRE 


Construction — Equipment — Decoration — Operation — Management 


Demonstrate 
New  Lighting 
Control  Board 


AIiLWAUKEE — A  demonstration  of  a 
new  type  of  lighting  control  system 
was  held  at  the  Pabst  Theatre  by 
Cutler-Hammer,  Inc.,  showing  a  $35,- 
000  control  board  to  be  used  on  the 
estate  of  Pierre  Du  Pont. 

The  new  system  illustrates  a 
radical  change  in  stage  lighting 
equipment.  It  occupies  considerably 
less  space  than  ordinary  dimmer 
equipment  and  can  be  placed  any- 
vvhere  in  the  theatre,  to  allow  the  op- 
erator to  experience  the  same  ef- 
fects as   the  audience. 

It  is  semi-automatic  in  form  and 
capable  of  producing  a  large  number 
of  lighting  effects.  By  means  of  the 
board  the  operator  has  full  control 
over  the  speed  and  intensity  of  the 
lights  at  all  times.  The  board  con- 
tains program  plates  which  can  be 
set  up  beforehand  and  adjusted  over 
the  control  switches  on  the  board 
within  a  few  seconds  in  order  to  ob- 
tain various  effects.  As  many  of 
these  plates  can  be  had  as  desired. 

Proportional  dimming  and  the 
automatic  blending  of  colors  are 
easily  affected  with  this  type  of  sys- 
tem which  can  be  used  with  any  type 
of    dimmer. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Western  Elec.  Plant 
In  Brief  Shutdown 

Chicago — Western  Electric's  Haw- 
thorne plant  will  remain  virtually  in- 
active for  the  next  two  weeks  while 
25,000  employes  vacation  simultane- 
ously. A  force  of  approximately 
500  will  be  maintained  to  care  for 
emergency  work  at  the  plant. 

This  is  the  third  successive  year 
the  plan  of  simultaneous  workers' 
vacations  has  been  carried  out  at 
the  Western  Electric  plant  here. 
Workers  employed  less  than  one  year 
are  not  paid  for  the  vacation  period. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Throw  Theatre  Party 

SoDUS,  N.  Y. — Installation  of  sound 
equipment  in  the  Arcade  Theatre  by 
C.  W.  Mills,  owner  and  manager,  thus 
assuring  retention  of  the  house  for 
this  village,  brought  an  expression  of 
gratitude  from  the  townspeople  here 
in  the  shape  of  a  theatre  party  staged 
by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and 
awarding  of  prizes  to  patrons.  The 
Sodus  High  School  Band  gave  a  con- 
cert in  the  lobby. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Invents  Oil  Shield 

Neosho,  Mo. — H.  L.  Newton,  pro- 
jectionist at  the  Orpheum,  is  the  in- 
ventor of  an  oil  shield  for  projectors 
equipped  with  Western  Electric  Uni- 
versal bases.  The  shield  prevents  oil 
from  dripping  into  the  delicate  parts 
of  the  sound  apparatus.  The  device 
is  small  and  inexpensive. 


Bus  Theatres 
Take  Talkers 
Into  Country 

Talkers  in  remote  country  spots 
will  be  available  shortly  when  the  new 
buses  especially  designed  to  screen 
motion  pictures  outdoors  make  their 
appearance  as  miniature  theatres.  The 
buses  are  equipped  with  Royal  "Z" 
projectors  manufactured  by  the  Pul- 
verman  Corp.  of  Duluth  and  New- 
York.  When  a  bus  is  drawn  up  two 
doors  at  the  rear  are  opened  and  a 
screen  is  disclosed.  Under  the  screen 
are  huge  horns  which  are  fed  electric- 
ally from  a  built-in  gasoline-powered 
dynamo.  The  projection  room  is 
guarded  against  fire  by  automatic 
sprinklers,  it  is  stated. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Television  Firm 

Dover  —  Having  acquired  Radio 
Technic  Laboratory,  Continental  Tele- 
vision Corp.  has  been  formed  to  man- 
ufacture television  equipment  at  New- 
ark, N.  J.  Officers  are:  Joseph  Leo- 
pold, president;  John  J.  Fettig  and 
Paul  R.  Nachenson,  vice-presidents ; 
E.  Gerard  Schmidt,  treasurer ;  D.  W. 
Hutchinson,   director. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cat.  Buys  Reproducers 

San  Francisco — Western  Electric 
has  sold  $39,519.56  worth  of  talking 
equipment  to  11  California  state  hos- 
pitals and  correctional  schools  and 
homes.  Announcement  of  the  purchase 
was  made  by  Rolland  A.  Vandegrift, 
state  director  of  finance.  The  equip- 
ment will  give  inmates  talking  pic- 
tures in  the  privacy  of  their  own  in- 
stitutions. 

"BUY  RIGHT— ^BUT  BUY  NOW 

Installs  Blower 

Baltimore  —  A  Supreme  Blower 
cooling  system  has  been  installed  in 
the  Cameo  theatre,  residential  house 
here  by  Robert  Kanter.  This  consists 
of  a  blower  6  feet  in  diameter  in  the 
rear  of  the  theatre  under  the  stage 
which  forces  air  into  the  house  while 
it  is  taken  out  through  vents  in  the 
roof. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Otto  Plans  Theatre 

Platte,  S.  D.— F.  F.  Otto  of  Bone- 
steel,  S.  D.,  has  announced  plans  for 
a  theatre  in  the  heart  of  the  business 
district.  House  will  cost  $25,000  and 
will  be  open  November  1. 


Super-Lite  Lens 

The  Perfect  Screen  Lens. 
Adaptable  to  Any  Projector. 
More  Brilliant  lllumlnttlon. 
Clearer  Pictures.  Greater  Vlil- 
bility. 

PROJECTION    OPTICS 
COMPANY,    INC. 

Rochester  New   York 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,   July    14,    1931 


Harwood  Takes  Dig 
At  Distributors 


(Continued  from   page    1  ) 

many  times  worse  than  productioiL 
Then  let  producers  help  the  situation 
hy  getting  out  some  product  that  the 
exhibitor  can  safely  recommend  to  the 
public  as  worthwhile  entertainment. 
You  say  Buy  Right.  That  is  what 
the  exhibitor  has  been  trying  to  do 
for  many  seasons.  Of  course,  this  sea- 
son it  is  more  imperative  than  ever 
for  him  to  do  so,  but  what  distribu- 
tors give  him  a  chance  to  buy  right 
especially  if  he  is  in  a  competitive 
situation. 

The  exhibitor  in  many  instances  is 
not  looked  upon  as  a  customer,  but  is 
compelled  to  pay  more  than  the  dis- 
tributor knows  the  business  will  per- 
mit. He  is  hemmed  in  by  inequitable 
clauses  in  contracts,  substitutions  of 
pictures  are  made  without  his  consent, 
pictures  he  has  already  under  contract 
are  taken  from  him,  road-showed  and 
then  if  he  wants  to  exhibit  said  pic- 
ture, he  must  pay  in  many  instances 
three  times  his  former  purchase  price, 
or  pay  them  on  an  inequitable  percent- 
age  contract. 

"Do  you  know  that  the  producer  in 
selling  percentage  cannot  see  less  than 
25  per  cent  regardless  of  the  theatre, 
its  overhead  or  whether  his  picture  is 
a  drawing  card  or  not?  Twenty-five 
per  cent  is  the  minimum  demanded 
and  many  Sunday  playdates  are  de- 
manded as  well.  No  theatre  can  do 
it  and  stay  in  business.  Metro-Gold- 
wyn-Mayer  and  Paramount  this  year 
are  insisting  that  12  to  14  of  their 
pictures  must  be  played  on  percent- 
age and  if  you  do  not  want  to  buy 
that  way  then  they  will  not  do  busi- 
ness. 

It  does  seem  to  me  as  though  the 
exhibitor  should  know  what  he  can 
pay  for  product,  but  the  branch  man- 
ager who  likewise  knows  what  said 
theatre's  income  amounts  to,  looks  at 
what  that  theatre  paid  last  year,  and 
for  years  prior  thereto  and  says  that 
he  must  have  an  increase  over  those 
prices.    Conditions  are  not  considered. 

It  is  the  silliest  damned  way  of  do- 
ing business  I  ever  heard  of  and  still 
it  is  the  custom.  In  all  other  indus- 
trial lines  the  customer  is  a  valued 
IKTsonage  and  treated  with  some  re- 
spect and  as  though  he  was  at  least 
semi-intelligent,  but  not  so  in  this  in- 
dustry. A  salesman  will  visit  the  ex- 
hibitor. The  exhibitor  tells  him  about 
his  business  and,  in  many  cases,  shows 
his  books  and  his  losses  for  the  year, 
and  then  that  salesman  will  make  up 
a  W'Ork  sheet  for  next  year's  product. 
I  will  gamble  that  it  is  ten  to  twenty 
per  cent  higher  than  the  past  year's 
prices  and  he  will  say  in  defense  that 
that  is  what  New  York  says  they 
must  get. 

"How  in  hell  is  anyone  going  to 
Buy  Right  under  such  conditions? 
The  independent  exhibitor  is  needed, 
but  it  is  time  the  national  producer- 
distributor-exhibitor  gave  him  some 
consideration  and  not  continue  to  force 
inequitable  and  unfair  contracts  down 
our  throats  in  order  to  have  branch 
managers  make  a  quota,  and  for  a 
time  make  sales-managers  look  like 
super-humans  when  it  comes  to  get- 
ting prices  for  the  poor  product  the 
exhibitor  receives.  Are  they  not  big 
enough  men  in  the  sales  end  of  this 
industry  that  dare  to  look  conditions 


Kinograms^  Allied  Reel, 
Goes  to  Educational 


(Continued  from    page    1) 

five-year  period,  cancellable  after 
three  years  on  a  90-day  notice.  The 
state  treasuries  of  associated  Allied 
organizations  profit  in  the  form  of 
dues  to  be  paid  directly  by  Kinograms 
which,  in  turn,  will  be  reimbursed 
from  the  national  advertisers  whose 
product  the  newsreel  will  exploit.  The 
benefit  reaches  further  up  the  line  into 
the  national  treasury  of  Allied  through 
assessments  to  be  paid  out  of  each 
state  fund. 

Actually  in  the  form  of  rental,  the 
reel  will  be  available  as  low  as  25 
cents  a  subject,  according  to  McL. 
Baynes. 

He  said  that  each  reel  will  include 
only  one  sponsored  subject,  running 
up  to  300  feet  if  that  amount  of  foot- 
age is  required  to  tell  the  story.  Deals 
are  under  way  with  not  more  than 
eight  advertisers  who  will  get  screen 
footage  on  a  basis  to  be  determined. 
For  instance,  if  a  contract  with  Wil- 
liam Wrigley  is  closed,  that  product 
will  be  exploited  on  a  stagger  plan, 
likewise,  the  others.  No  two  consecu- 
tive issues  will  advertise  the  same 
product. 

Reports  have  been  current  for  some 
time  that  the  Allied  reel  would  not  be 
Kinograms.  The  deal  just  closed, 
however,  dispels   those  rumors. 


Hammons  Forecasts 
Optimistic  Outlook 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

liam  J.  Burns  Detective  Mysteries, 
were  in  attendance  at  yesterday's 
meeting.  Both  sessions  today  will 
be  devoted  to  the  discussion  of  fea- 
ture product,  this  being  the  first 
time  branch  managers  collectively 
have  gotten  together  with  the  home 
office  executives  since  the  affiliation 
of  Educational   with  Tiffany. 

Earle  W.  Hammons^  president  of 
Educational,  opened  yesterday  morn- 
ing's session  with  an  address  of  wel- 
come to  the  delegates  and  expressed 
optimism  regarding  the  economic  out- 
look. 

.Stanley  W.  Hatch,  general  sales 
manager,  discussed  selling  problems, 
and  brief  addresses  were  made  by 
Terry,  Moser  and  Reid.  Joe  Riv- 
kin.  Educational  exploiteer,  outlined 
plans  for  developing  the  Terry- 
Tooners  Club  which  he  got  under 
wav  a  few  weeks   ago. 

Budd  Rogers,  feature  sales  man- 
ager, makes  the  opening  address  at 
this    morning's    session. 


Tiffany  Lists 
Titles  of  Big 
Money  Films 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

ported  exclusively  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  yesterday,  will  be  de- 
signed for  Class  A  houses.  The  ac- 
tion pictures,  10  in  number,  will  star 
Bob  Steele  and  will  be  produced  by 
Trem    Carr. 

The  backbone  product,  to  be  an- 
nounced in  detail  this  afternoon  to  the 
Educational-Tiffany  convention  at  the 
Astor  by  William  Saal,  operating- 
head-to-be  of  the  organization,  will 
include : 

"The  Last  Mile,"  "Those  We 
Love,"  "Racetrack,"  "Gossip,"  "X 
Marks  the  Spot,"  "Hotel  Continen- 
tal," "Luxury  Girls,"  "Strangers  of 
the  Evening,"  a  feature  with  Moran 
and  Mack  to  be  directed  by  Mack 
Sennett  with  the  entire  Sennett  stel- 
lar line-up  in  the  supporting  cast ; 
"Women  Go  on  Forever,"  "Morals 
for  Women"  and  "The  Monster 
Kills."  The  last  three  are  finished, 
and  six  others  are  now  in  production 
on  the  Coast,  including  the  Moran 
and   Mack   vehicle. 

It  is  understood  that  Tiffany,  which 
is  about  to  step  into  the  expensive 
negative  division,  is  dickering  for 
Norma  Talmadge  as  the  lead  in 
"Gossip"  and  with  Paramount  for  an 
important  woman  player  for  the  lead 
in  "Hotel  Continental." 

In  the  short  subject  line-up  will  be 
six  two-reel  "Chimp  Comedies,"  12 
"Voices  of  Hollywood"  in  one  reel 
and  a  series  of  six  one-reelers  to  be 
released    as    "Football    for    Fans." 


Educational  in  Chi 

Chicago  —  Educational's  midwest 
convention  will  immediately  follow 
the  company's  eastern  meeting,  with 
all  central  district  representatives 
convening  at  the  Congress  Hotel 
here,  July  16,  17,  and  18.  E.  ^y. 
Hammons  and  Stanley  Hatch  will 
conduct  the  three-day  meeting  here. 
The  third  sales  meet  will  be  held 
in    Denver   immediately   following. 


in    the    face    and    meet    the    situation 
foursquare? 

"You  know  that  the  public  is  tired 
of  the  mediocre  pictures  they  have 
been  seeing.  The  exhibitor  is  between 
the  public  and  the  producer.  If  he 
cannot  get  worthy  product  he  cannot 
buy  right  whether  he  buys  now  o' 
later." 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Michalove  in  South 

AsHEVHXE,  \.  C. — Dan  Michalove. 
head  of  the  Warner  theatre  circuit,  is 
visiting  his  home  town  for  a  few  days. 
Mixing  some  business  with  the  "old 
homestead"  idea.  Michalove  will  go  to 
Atlanta  and  other  .Southern  cities  be- 
fore rcturm'ng  to  New  York. 


Franklin  Strong  for 
'Buy  Now'  Campaign 

(Continued   from    page    I) 

production      and     the     circulation     of 
money  accruing  therefrom. 

"Wealth  is  just  as  much  movement 
as  it  is  possession.  By  buying  now, 
we  show  confidence  in  an  industry 
that  has  never  failed  to  come  through. 
Indging  by  the  programs  announced 
hy  important  companies,  it  will  come 
through  again." 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Pettijohn  Back 

Charles  C.  Pettijohn  reached  New 
York   yesterday   from    Hollywood. 


Quota  Law  in  Can. 
May  Follow  Report 


(Continued   from    page    1) 

here,  Attorney-General  Pooley  will 
consider  steps  to  meet  the  situation 
described  by  White.  He  has  full 
power  to  declare  that  a  combine  exists 
and  to  order  its  dissolution.  Pooley 
said  he  would  have  to  see  the  evidence 
adduced  by  White  before  he  decided 
on  action  along  these  lines,  but  indi- 
cated that  if  the  evidence  justified  it, 
he  would  act  promptly. 

In  the  meantime,  it  was  indicated 
officially  that  the  government  is  con- 
sidering and  will  probably  introduce  a 
quota  system  by  which  all  theatres  in 
the  province  will  have  to  show  a  cer- 
tain percentage  of  British  pictures. 

The  attorney-general  declared  that 
British  Columbia  audiences  were  not 
being  given  an  opportunity  to  see 
enough  British  pictures.  This,  he 
thought,  was  deplorable  from  a  patri- 
otic and  Imperial  standpoint,  particu- 
larly as  films  from  the  United  States, 
being  made  primarily  for  home  con- 
sumptions, "stressed  American  ideals 
and  were  filled  with  American  patri- 
otic appeal." 

"The  influence  of  the  screen  is  great 
now,"  said  Pooley,  "and,  as  Britishers, 
we  should  see  that  it  does  not  under- 
mine British  ideals.  When  the  films 
of  another  nation  are  shown  here  al- 
most exclusively  the  effect,  particu- 
larly on  the  young,  is  bound  to  be 
profound  and  undesirable.  A  quota 
system,  ensuring  the  showing  of  pic- 
tures made  within  the  British  Empire 
seems  to  be  the  solution  of  the  prol)- 
lem.  The  British  pictures  made  lately 
are  of  a  very  high  quality." 


British  Films  Not 
Given  Equal  Break 

Toronto — Frederick  S.  Revell,  Can- 
adian representative  of  British  Inter- 
national Pictures,  has  made  public  de- 
nial to  the  statement  of  Arthur  Cohen, 
managing  director  of  Famous  Players, 
to  the  effect  that  the  Canadian  circuit 
had  made  use  of  every  available  Brit- 
ish picture  and  that  the  Canadian 
public  had  not  responded  to  British 
films. 

Revell  claimed  that  British  pictures 
had  not  been  given  as  wide  a  showing 
by  Canadian  Famous  Players  as 
American-made  pictures  of  equal  en- 
tertainment value.  Revell  challenged 
Famous  Players  to  keep  British  pic- 
tures out  of  Canada. 

"By  virtue  of  their  good  work, 
English  stars  will  build  up  a  screen 
following,"  he  asserted,  "even  though 
the  day  of  British  films  dawned  many 
years  later  than  did  that  of  the 
American." 


Canadian  Legislature 
Raps  American  Films 

Ottawa — Following  the  probe  re- 
port, T.  H,  Bell,  member  of  the  On- 
tario legislature,  took  a  fall  out  of 
American  films  in  an  address  before 
the  County  Orange  Lodge  of  Ottawa, 
declaring  that  if  it  were  not  for  the 
censor  boards  in  Canada,  the  country 
would  be  over-run  with  pictures  fea- 
turing gangsters,  crime,  sex  and  nud- 
ity. The  nations  of  the  British  Em- 
nirc  should  get  together  to  encourage 
British  film  ideals  and  foster  the  Brit- 
ish industry,  he  said. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  38 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JULY  15,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Hollywood  Is 
On  Its  Toes 
Now-Pettijohn 

striving   Hard   to   Make 
Good  Films,  He  Says 


Hollywood  is  on  its  toes  as  never 
before,  recognizing  that  the  answer  to 
the  problems  facing  the  industry  to- 
day are  to  be  found  in  good  pictures, 
stated  Charles  C.  Petti  John,  general 
counsel  of  the 
Hays'  organi- 
zation, yester- 
day. He  re- 
turned from 
the  Coast  on 
Monday. 

Piroduction 
on    the    Coast," 
he  declared,  "is 
striving         as 
never   before  to 
make  good  pic- 
tures,     pleasing 
to      the     public 
and    with    box- 
office    value    to 
the      theatre?. 
From  the  heads 
of   studios   to  the  water   boys   on   in- 
dividual   sets,    I    could    not    help    but 
sense  the  most  sincere  enthusiasm  to 

(Continued   on    page    11) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Indies  Budget  Cool 
Million  on  One  Lot 

Hollywood — A  million  will  be 
spent  on  independent  production  made 
on  the  Tec-Art  lot,  Alfred  T.  Man- 
non  said  on  his  return  from  New 
York. 

Production  curtailment  by  the 
major  distributors  gives  the  indepen- 
dents the  biggest  chance  of  their  ca- 
reers, he  believes. 


C.  C.  PETTUOHN 


On  the  Payroll 

The  publicity  chief  of  one 
of  the  larger  companies  asked 
his  lieutenant  to  arrange  a 
lunch  for  the  press,  celebrat- 
ing some  innocuous  event  or 
other.  As  the  festivities  were 
in  high,  the  minnesinger-in- 
chief,  nudging  his  subordinate 
and  pointing  to  one  of  the 
men,  whispered: 

"I  guess  I  don't  get  around 
to  meet  the  gentlemen  of  the 
press  often  enough.  Who  is 
that   chap   over  there?" 

"Why,"  replied  the  lieuten- 
ant, "if  you  don't  mind  my 
refreshing  your  memory,  you 
hired   him  two  weeks  ago." 


167  First  Runs  in  28  Cities 

Grossed  $1,987, 789  Last  Week 

With  New  York,  as  might  be  expected,  leading  the  nation  at 
$306,963,  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  first  runs  in  28  cities  grossed 
$12,211  shy  of  $2,000,000  for  the  week  ending  last  Thursday  and 
Friday.  The  recapitulation  is  based  on  telegraphed  box-office  re- 
ports published  by  Motion  Picture  Daily. 

Twenty-five  key  cities  covered  are  in  the  United  States  and  three 
— Montreal,  Toronto  and  Ottawa — in  Canada.  What  the  totals 
show  follows : 


CITY  NO.  THEATRES  GROSS 

Albany     5  $20,690 

Baltimore    7  68,160 

Boston      8  140,000 

Buffalo    5  77,900 

Charlotte     2  22,000 

Chicago      9  149,727 

Cincinnati     6  71,599 

Cleveland    5  67,000 

Denver       5  45,000 

Des    Moines     3  26.350 

Houston     4  30,000 

Indianapolis    5  44,000 

Kansas    City    5  61,500 

Los    Angeles    14  146,400 


CITY 


NO  THEATRES  GROSS 


Minneapolis      5  48,500 

Montreal      6  45,800 

Milwaukee      7  75,000 

New    York   City    12  306,963 

Oklahoma    City    5  26,750 

Omaha      4  32,600 

Ottawa     4  12.850 

Philadelphia     8  113.700 

Portland      5  42.700 

Providence    5  41.500 

San   Francisco    9  141.600 

Seattle     5  41,000 

St.   Paul    4  31,500 

Toronto     5  57,000 


New  Scenario 
Gives  Scribes 
Happy  Ending 


Hollywood — The  screen  writing 
fraternity  out  here  expects  to  write 
a  happy  ending  to  the  dire  plot  pro- 
viding for  30-day  contracts,  instead 
of  the  long-term  afifairs  made  famous 
by  the  idle  P.  G.  Wodehouse. 

They  have  calmed  down  after 
throwing  a  varied  assortment  of  fits 
and  are  confident  that  instead  of 
being  the  victims  of  the  plot  they 
will  be  the  fair-haired  boys  anon. 
This  change  of  heart  is  based  on  the 
theory  that  the  new  no-contract  ar- 
{Continued  on  page  2) 
"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Breen  Joins  Hays 
As  an  Assistant 

Joseph  I.  Breen  has  been  made  an 
assistant   to  Will   H.   Hays. 

He  has  had  a  long  experience  in 
newspaper  work,  having  been  vari- 
ously associated  with  newspapers  in 
New  York,  Chicago  and  Washington 
and    with    the    Associated    Press.     In 

(Continued  on   pape  12) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Lichtman  Booking 
All  W.B.  Theatres 

The  colors  on  the  United  Artists 
horizon  are  bright.  In  addition  to 
having  a  number  of  franchises  with 
the  major  circuits,  Al  Lichtman  is 
getting  together  with  Warners  on  a 
booking  deal  to  take  in  the  entire 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


Prudential  in 
Deal  for  25 
More  Houses 


Believe  it  or  not,  in  these  off  days, 
Prudential  Theatres  will  take  over 
25  houses  in  Greater  New  York, 
provided  negotiations  understood 
under  way  for  the  houses  materialize. 

While  the  houses  involved  are  not 
known,  it  is  understood  that  one  deal 
provides  for  a  group  of  18  theatres 
while  the  second  deal  is  for  seven. 
If  and  when  the  deals  go  through 
the  circuit   will   considerably   increase 

(Continued  on   page  12) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Maynard  List  Boosts 
Tiffany  Total  to  30 

Ken  Maynard  will  continue  as  a 
star  in  Tiffany  westerns  and  decision 
to  produce  a  series  of  eight  May- 
nards  raises  total  of  pictures  on  the 
firm's  new  schedule  to  30.  Twelve  pic- 
tures designed  for  Class  A  houses, 
ten    starring    Bob    .Steele    and    eight 

(Continued   on    page    11) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Jersey  Allied  May 
Break  with  Unions 

Unable  to  obtain  relief  on  their 
present  contracts,  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  New  Jersey  will  break 
away  from  the  operators'  union  in 
Newark  at  expiration  of  present 
agreements,  Motion  Picture  Daily 
learns.      -Several     attempts     by     inde- 

(Continucd   on    page    11) 


Chi  Wants  to 
Know  if  B.&K. 
Put  on  ""Screws' 


Katz   Is    Subpoenaed    in 
Operators'  Union  Probe 


Chicago — Did  the  circuits  here  en- 
courage a  ruling  calling  for  two  oper- 
ators in  the  booth  and  high  wage 
scales  to  embarrass  independent 
operators?  How  many — if  any — 
special  favors 
and  privileges 
were  accorded 
the  circuits  In 
contrast  to 
treatment  re- 
ceived by  inde- 
pendents ? 

These  are 
questions  the 
state's  a  1 1  o  r  - 
ney's  office  is 
seeking  to  an- 
swer  in  the 
probe  of  afifairs 
of  the  oper- 
ators' union  now 

under  way.  Au-  ^-^^  KATZ 

thorities    are    investigating    allegation 

(Continued   on   page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

U,  S,  Forces  Probe 
Fight  Film  Traffic 

Inquiry  into  alleged  interstate  ship- 
ments of  pictures  of  the  Schmeling- 
Stribling  fight  is  under  way  by  a  num- 
ber of  United  States  district  attor- 
neys. Meanwhile,  in  New  York, 
Gramercy  Pictures,  claiming  exclusive 
rights  to  produce  and  distribute  the 
pictures,  is  pressing  a  claim  to  hold 
films  of  the  fight  seized  Saturday  at 
the  Central  theatre.  The  pictures  are 
being  shown  at  Wallach's  theatre. 


'BUY  NOW  SALES 


Cleveland — ^Sam  Blowitz,  head 
booker  for  Warner  theatres  in  this 
territory,  bought  the  entire  series  of 
Hoot  Gibson  pictures  released  by 
Selected  Pictures  for  17  Warner 
houses  in  Ohio.  Smith  and  Beidler 
also  bought  the  Gibson's  for  their 
chain    of    6    houses    in    Toledo. 


Boston — The  Park  has  signed  for 
full  Monogram  program  of  28  fea- 
tures. Each  will  run  a  week.  The 
deal  is  said  to  be  the  first  of  its  kind 
closed  by  an  independent  exchange 
in   this   territory. 


The    following   bookings   have   been 
received  and   confirmed   by   the   home 

(Continued    on    page    11) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    July     15,     193 


MOTION  PIC1X7RE 

DAILY 

i\egis;ere  i    L.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\o\.    30 


July   15.    1931 


No.   38 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief    and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^Vrv  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^^J  I'aily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  ISroadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Cln  le  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
'■Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope.  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kutrier,"  Ber- 
lin    W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y..   under   Act   of    iMarch    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


New  Scenario 
Gives  Scribes 
Happy  Ending 


(.Continued  from   page    1) 

rang«ment  will  favor  them  when  the 
studios  get  back  to  production  ca- 
pacity. Then,  they  believe,  they  will 
reap  the  harvest — with  all  the  studios 
scrambling  for  their  services. 

Production  e-xecutives  are  notifying 
writers'  agents  that  no  more  term 
contracts  will  be  signed,  and  the  col- 
ony interprets  the  action  as  being 
aimed  chiefly  at  imported  authors. 
The  studios,  however,  will  keep  bat- 
talions of  shock  troop  writers  as  the 
nucleus  of  a  dependable  staff  and 
will  engage  high-priced  scribes  when 
needed. 

Conferences  between  writers  and 
producers  will  be  held  this  week  in 
an  attempt  to  solve  the  grievances  of 
the  literary  boys.  The  producers  are 
expected  to  capitalize  the  new  rule 
by  an  implied  "Now  you  see  what 
we  can  do,  so  don't  ask  too  much." 

Paramount,  L'niversal  and  Colum- 
bia have  not  announced  the  30-day 
rule  yet,  and  may  not  because  staying 
off  gives  them  a  possible  chance  to 
i^rab  some  good  men.  M-G-M  insti- 
tuted the  week-to-week  idea  some 
months  ago.  but  forgot  it  when  Uni- 
versal grabbed  one  of  its  best  men 
and  signed  him  for  five  years. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Brenon  Funeral  Here 

Hollywood — Herbert  Brenon,  di- 
rector, is  on  his  way  east  with  the 
body  of  his  mother,  Mrs.  Frances 
Brenon,  who  died  at  his  home  in 
Malibu  Beach,  Calif.,  Sunday.  Fu- 
neral services  will  be  held  in  New 
York. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Johnston  Returns 

With  his  return  from  the  Coast, 
W.  Ray  Johnston,  president  of  Mono- 
gram Pictures,  announced  completion 
of  "Mother  and  Son,"  starring  Clara 
Kimball   Young. 


npH.AT'S  a  lot  of  money  L.  A.  Young  has  landed  to  finance  Tiffany's 
-■   all-Tiffany  class  program  for  the  new   season.    Final  details  were 
cleaned  up  yesterday  and,  state  those  who  know,  the  organization  will 
have  no  monetary  headaches  from  this  time  on. 

• 
Committed  to  the  theory  that  it's  all  or  none.  Tiffany  will  step  right 
into  the  Paramount-M-G-M  class  on  negative  costs,  the  new  plan  pro- 
vides. Significant  of  the  intention  is  purchase  of  "The  Last  Mile"  for 
exactly  70,000  iron  men.  That's  money  for  story  rights  in  these  or  any 
other  davs. 

• 
"A  Woman  of  Experience,"  first  RKO  Pathe  for  the  new  season,  was 
shot  via  Erpi  equipment,  despite  the  fact  that  the  Pathe  plant  is  RCA 
Photophone-equipped.  Reason  is  Charlie  Rogers  was  producing  the  opus 
independently  at  Universal  City  when  his  appointment  as  head  of  the 
Pathe  plant  developed. 

• 
When  Walter  Wanger  was  still  in  the  saddle  at  Paramount,  one  of  the 
plans    he    had    in    mind    was    creation    of    director-supervisors.     Thus, 
Lubitsch,  as  Wanger  envisioned  it,  would  make  probably  two  pictures 
a  year.    Ditto  for  Lewis   ("Milly")   Milestone. 

• 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  Wanger  had  Milestone  so  much  interested  that 
the  latter  was  fiddling  around  editing  pictures  at  the  Paramount  Long 
Island  studio  without  salary. 

• 
This  is  the  idea  beyond  the  nebulous  Directors'  Guild  in  which  the 
names  of   Wanger,    De   Mille,   Vidor,   Milestone — and   now,    Borzage — 
are  mentioned. 

• 

He  is  a  big  shot,  so-called,  in  the  theatre  end  of  the  business.  For 
years  he  has  been  drawing  down  heavy  sugar.  His  particular  weakness 
was  trying  to  outsmart  the  Stock  Exchange.  When  the  Big  Crash 
came  he  was  numbered  among  the  suckers.  Conveniently,  there  was  a 
brother-in-law.  A  telephone  message  sufhced  to  supply  the  needed 
coverage.  But  the  market  slipped  again  and  the  brother-in-law  had  to 
be  called  again.  However,  brother-in-law  came  through  and  saved  his 
film  business  relative's  face.  It's  nearly  two  years  now  and  brother- 
in-law  still  is  holding  the  bag.   Memories  ARE  short  in  the  film  business. 


Laemmle  Sets  Nine 

Arriving  in  New  York  yesterday, 
Carl  Laemmle  declared  that  Univer- 
sal has  set  in  the  first  nine  of  its 
new    schedule. 


New  Ufa  Set 

"Dolly  Macht  Karriere,"  Ufa  pro- 
duction, succeeds  "Die  Drei  Von  Der 
Tankstelle"  at  the  Cosmopolitan  Fri- 
day. 


Stocks  Quiet;  Entire  List  Down 

Net 

High      Low      Close      Change  Sales 

Consolidated    Film     Industries    pfd 14|^        14            14           —'A  700 

Eastman      Kodak 144          14VA      142           ~m  3,600 

Fox    Film    "A" WA        15'A        ISii        —  ^  5,200 

General    Theatre    Equipment,    new 4             3?^          3J^        —  14  2,400 

Lcew's,     Inc 43^4        42-5^        42-34        —  'A  2,900 

Paramount    Publix 24M        24^        244^        —H  4,300 

Pathe    Exchange 1^          1^          iVs        400 

Pathe     Exchange     "A" 7             6'/a          f>'A        —  14  2,300 

RKO    WA        135^        14           —A  4,500 

Warner     Bros 7!4          6%          7           —%  9,iO0 

Sentry  Safety  Up  IVs  on  Curb 

Net 

High      Low      Close      Change  Sales 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc 11            10            11            -|-  A  -'W 

Fox    Theatres   "A" 2^         2H         2H        100 

Gen'eral   Tlieatre    Equipment  pfd 7             6^          7            3iM 

Sentrv    Safety   Control 214          2'Ai          214        -|-1J^  200 

Tran.s     Lux SA          SA:          SV2         800 

Bonds  Reflect  Big  Board 


High  Low 

General   Theatre    Kc|uipment   6s   '40 35  35 

Keith,    B.    F.   6s   '46 69.>4        69J4 

Ix;ew's   6s    '41    ex   war 9854        98^2 

P.-.ramount   Broadway   SV2S   '51 102J4  102^ 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 91  90 

Paramount   Publix   S-^is,    '50 81  81 

Pathe   7s    '37    ww 92'/^        92 

Warner  Bros.  6s   '39  wd 41}^        40"^ 


Net 

Close  Change      Sales 

35            2 

69M  -  J4  i 

9m        +  Vi  3 

102^        +  V4  4 

90            14 

81            1 

92  —  'A  39 

AOA  —'A  19 


<rdm>. 


M.  A.  Lightman  for  endeav- 
oring to  clear  up  the  contract 
mess  in  an  effort  to  make  the 
wearisome  task  of  the  5-5-5 
conferences    bear    fruit. 


Chi  Wants  to 
Know  if  B.&K 
Put  on  ^Screws 


(Continued    from    page    1) 
that    the   union   has    been   engaged   ir 
racketeering. 

Sam  Katz,  Walter  Immerman 
Barney  Balaban  and  Morris  Kat; 
have  been  named  in  subpoenas  issuec 
by  Chief  Justice  Joseph  Sabath  o 
Criminal  Court  ordering  Balaban  & 
Katz  officers  to  turn  over  records  oi 
the  company.  The  firm  has  turnec 
over  its  records  from  1927  to  192S 
aijd  has  written  the  home  office  (Pub- 
lix) for  its  1930  records.  The  Chicago 
exhibitor  unit's  record  also  have  beer 
subpoenaed  and  surrendered  to  th( 
Grand  Jury  by  Jack  Miller,  president. 

To  date  testimony  in  the  investiga- 
tion has  been  supplied  only  by  inde- 
pendents. The  state's  attorney  wants 
the  records  to  determine  if  special 
privileges  were  accorded  the  circuits 
and  said  that  records  of  any  paymeijts 
to  Tom  Maloy,  union  president,  or  his 
organization,  not  readily  explainable 
would  be  so  construed. 


"This  is  the  first  I've  heard  of  it," 
Sam  Katz  told  Motion  Pictture  Daily 
Tuesday  when  queried  regarding  the 
Chicago    subpoena    issued    for   him. 


Chicago  Operator  Probe 
To  End  This  Week  | 

Chicago — Grand  Jury  investigation 
of  the  Chicago  Operators'  Union  will 
be  concluded  this  week,  according  to 
Assistant  State's  .A.ttorney  Charles 
Bellows,  at  which  .iime  conspiracy  in-j 
dictments  of  union  officials  are  exJ 
pected.  I 

The  investigation  was  begun  sia 
weeks  ago  and  during  that  time  ev3 
dence  was  presented  to  the  grand  jury' 
purporting  to  show  that  union  officials 
conspired  to  maintain  two  operators 
in  projection  booths  whereas  the  work 
required  but  one  operator.  The  cost 
of  the  additional  operator  is  said  to 
be  the  reason  for  the  increased  num- 
ber of  theatre  closings  in  Chicago 
this  summer. 


Studio    and     Location 
Sound  on  Fihn  Recording 

Low    Daily    or   WeeMy    Rafat 
Powers  Cinephone  Equipment  Corp. 
723-7fh  AVE.,  N.  Y.    BRyant  9-6067 


Get  Ready  For  The  Cycle;  Boys! 


HOLLYWOOD'S 
BEST  ^lEADERSHIP 
CLAIMERS"  HEAR 
ABOUT  THE  NEW 
WARNER  BROS. 
SENSATION  / 


HURRV    up/   WERE    60NNA 
MAKE     A    NURSE   PICTURE 
LIKE     WARMERS 


MAKE"  A  CARBOM 
COPY  OF  ^"HIGKT 
NURSE"    RIGHT  AwAY  / 


''••':«! 


Barbara 

STANWYCK 

in  the  greatest  of  all  dramatic  thrills 

NICHT 

NURSE 

Ben  Lyon,  Clark  Gable 
Joan  Blondell 

i^SaaSl  Directed  by 

WILLIAM  WELLMAN 


CRASHES 

through  to 
ne^  records 
at  Atlantic 
City  World's 
Premiere!!! 

A  Sensation 
at  the  Branford 
in  Newark  I 

BOOKED  FOR 
LONG  RUNS 
EVERYWHERE! 


J^torc  than,  your 


A  W/%lvlVClv  BKv^d* 


HIT! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    July     15,     1931 


Vaude  Scarce, 
Theatre  Back 
To  Pictures 


San  Diego,  Calif. — The  Fox  Cali- 
fornia, formerly  a  second  run  vaude- 
ville house,  was  rededicated  this  week 
as  a  first  run  high  class  member  of 
the  Fox  string  here.  Simultaneously, 
the  Fox  Orpheum  was  put  on  a  25- 
cent  basis  with  amateur  dramatics  and 
dancing  as  added  features.  Inability 
to  obtain  good  vaudeville  acts  caused 
the  change  of  policy  and  not  a  lack 
of   business. 

The  California  was  reopened  with 
considerable  ceremony.  Richard  Ar- 
len,  whose  picture,  "The  Doctor's 
Secret,"  was  the  first  attraction,  made 
a   personal   appearance. 

Robert  Cannon  becomes  manager 
of  the  California  and  J.  L.  L'Esper- 
ance  was  appointed  manager  of  the 
Orpheum  under  the  new  arrange- 
ment. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Prosecutor  Demands 
"Talker  Confessions" 

Denver — The  use  of  talking  pic- 
tures in  trials  is  urged  by  Earl  Wet- 
tengel,  district  attorney.  He  has  asked 
the  mayor  to  install  the  apparatus  at 
the  city  hall,  asserting  that  it  would 
save  money  in  stopping  long  argu- 
ments over  the  admission  as  evidence 
of  concessions.  Defense  lawyers  gen- 
erally contend  that  confessions  are 
obtained  under  duress,  and  Wetten- 
gel  claims  that  the  talking  pictures 
would  prove  whether  or  not  this  was 
true. 

The  actions  of  the  court  in  barring 
confessions  in  two  recent  murder 
cases  prompted  Wettengel  to  make 
his    recommendation. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Gives  Free  Sunday 
Show,  but  Is  Nabbed 

DuN.MELLEN,  Fla. — G.  M.  Chalker 
was  fined  $25  for  operating  his  house 
last  Sunday,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
he  charged   no  admission. 

Recently  an  election  was  held  here 
on  the  question  of  Sunday  shows  and 
it  was  defeated  by  a  very  narrow  mar- 
gin. Chalker  is  now  going  to  appeal 
to  the  city  council  for  a  refund  of 
the  25  bucks  as  the  overhead  on  the 
free  show  was  plenty  without  sticking 
on  the  extra  25  smackers. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Drops  Screen  Ads 

San  Antonio,  Tex. — RKO-South- 
ern  Corp.  has  eliminated  all  advertis- 
ing from  its  screen.  When  RKO  took 
over  the  Interstate  Amusement  Co. 
nearly  a  year  ago  it  fell  heir  to  an 
advertising  contract  with  the  Simp- 
son .Advertising  agency  of  Dallas. 
The  contract  under  which  screen  ad- 
vertising was  carried  in  all  the 
theatres  of  the  circuit  has  expired  and 
has  not  been  renewed. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Eldridge  Changes  Mind 

Harold  Eldridge  has  had  a  change 
of  heart  and  has  killed  the  idea  of 
closing  three  of  his  Brooklyn  houses. 
The  Avon,  Garfield  and  16th  Street 
were  slated  to  darken  this  week,  but 
under  revised  plans  will   remain  or)en. 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


"The   Vanishing  Legion" 

No.  2  "Queen  of  the  Night  Riders" 

{Mascot) 
Starting  with  a  few  scenes  of  the 
former  chapter,  the  second  installment 
provides  another  series  of  moments 
that  will  keep  the  kids  as  well  as 
grown-ups  on  edge  no  end.  Stacks  up 
as  a  fast  action  serial  with  Frankie 
Darro  coming  through  with  a  goodly 
quota  of  the  action.  Darro,  who, 
with  his  father  has  been  in  one  of 
the  trucks  as  it  was  about  to  run  off 
the  embankment,  has  escaped  and  is 
adopted  by  Harry  Carey.  With  Rex, 
the  youngster's  horse,  the  three  begin 
a  series  of  uphill  fights  to  ward  off 
the  enemy  who  has  been  trying  to  pre- 
vent Carey  from  going  through  with 
an  oil  well  proposition  he  has  agreed 
to  undertake.  The  issue  winds  up  with 
a  stampede  on  the  Carey  camp  that  is 
as  gripping  as  the  best  of  its  kind. 
In  this  chapter  the  power  behind  the 
"Voice"  becomes  known  to  Darro  as 
well  as  the  fact  that  his  father  still 
lives.    Running  time,  20  minutes. 


'^Adventures  in  Africa" 

No.  4  "Spears  of  Death" 

{Vitaphone  4712-13) 
Vv  ith  spellbinding  dialogue  running 
through  the  entire  scenes,  the   fourth 
of  this  series  is  pretty  much  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  third  issue.    The  first  part 
of  the  first  reel  and  the  entire  second 
reel   is    new   material   which   explains 
the  assagais,  as  the  spears  of  death  are 
known,  and  deals  with  the  imaginary 
''illing  of  a  lion  by  the  natives.    Wy- 
ant    D.    Hubbard   produced   the    pic- 
ures   in  the   African   veldt.    Running 
ime,   14  minutes. 


''The  Gigolo  Racket" 

{Vitaphone  1255-56) 
Helen  Morgan  comes  through  with 
two  numbers  in  this  concoction  about 
gigolos.  As  she  is  about  to  open  in 
a  new  play,  a  press  agent  gives  birth 
to  the  idea  to  get  her  engaged  to  a 
gigolo  for  a  front  page  smash.  Helen 
gets  engaged  to  the  man  of  her 
choice,  but  when  she  learns  that  her 
manager  has  offered  him  $1,000  to 
clear  out,  she  walks  out  on  the  show 
and  lands  her  man — who  wasn't  a 
gigolo  after  all.  Running  time,  19 
minutes. 


"The  Milky  Way" 

{Vitaphone  1323) 
Neely   Edwards  as  the   patient  go 
ing   into   impulsive  recitations  against 
milk  and  then  later  dreaming  of  put- 
ting  on   a   stage   show   favoring  milk 
steps  out  of  his  formula  style  of  act 
ing.    While   there   is   little  novelty   in 
the  routine   dancing  and  other  enter- 
tainment  in  the  show,  it  nevertheless 
provides  a  fairly  good  time  because  of 
the  milk  angle.   Running  time,  11  min- 
utes.   • 

"Sax  Appeal" 

{Vitaphone  1118) 
Joe  Penner  as  the  amateur  saxo- 
phonist, is  not  as  entertaining  with  his 
instrument  as  he  is  in  getting  residents 
to  throw  old  articles  at  him  while 
playing  it  in  the  street.  Which  is  all 
fine  and  dandy  for  his  father,  who  is 
in  the  junk  business  and  needs  the 
odds  and  ends  badly.  Penner  is  a  sure 
pinch  hitter  for  Harry  Langdon  and 
has  a  personality  that  made  a  Broad- 
way audience  applaud  this  number. 
Running  time,  8  minutes. 


^'Battling  Silver  King" 

{RKO  Pathe) 
Otherwise  known  as  the  Silvei 
King,  the  tarpon  is  a  ferocious  fighter 
when  "lined."  Grantland  Rice's  Sport- 
light  takes  in  a  series  of  three  differ- 
ent catches  as  well  as  the  hooking  of 
a  shark  that  nipped  a  goodly  portion 
of  a  "lined"  tarpon.  There  are  some 
slow  motion  shots  showing  tarpons 
whirling  in  the  air  after  being  baited. 
Running  time,  11  minutes. 


"The  Big  Irons" 

{Vitaphone  No.  4757) 
The  sixth  in  the  Bobby  Jones  golf 
series  and,  while  instructive  to  de- 
votees of  the  game,  it  will  please 
others  as  well  with  its  story  of  the 
office  underling  who  almost  gets  fired 
because  of  his  yen  for  the  game,  but 
gets  by  when  the  boss  learns  he  plays 
regularly  with  the  star  golfer. — Run- 
ning time,    11   minutes. 


"The  Gland  Parade" 

{Radio) 
Roscoe  Ates  as  the  stuttering 
window  washer  provides  a  good 
quota  of  merriment  by  his  wise- 
cracks. The  situations  are  bound  to 
provoke  laughter.  Louis  Brock  pro- 
duced it  for  Radio.  Running  time, 
18  minutes. 


Mid-West  in  Omaha 

Omaha — Mid-West  Film  Distrib- 
utors, Inc.,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  re- 
cently opened  a  branch  office  on 
Omaha's  film  row.  The  firm's  first 
real  placement  was  "Ten  Nights  in 
a  Barroom,"  booked  at  the  State. 
Monogram  pictures  will  be  handled 
exclusively  in  this  territory,  accord- 
ing to  C.  M.  Parkhurst,  branch  man- 
ager. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Big  4  Exchange 

All  Star  Features  Distributors, 
Inc.,  of  .San  Francisco  and  Los  An- 
geles, has  been  added  to  the  roster  of 
Big  4's  national  exchange  line-up  for 
1931-32.  It  will  distribute  the  12 
Big  4  all-star  Westerns  and  outdoor 
features    and    eight    melodramas. 


Sunday  Shows  Win 

Pine  Blukf,  Tenn. — By  a  2  to  1 
vote,  Sunday  movies  and  baseball  won 
out  here  in  heated  campaigns  to  legal- 
ize those  forms  of  Sabbath  entertain- 
ment under  acts  of  the  1931  legisla- 
ture. Malco  Theatres,  Inc.,  of  which 
M.  A.  Lightman  is  president,  have 
interests  here. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Seek  Wage  Cuts 

Denver — The  Alexander  Film  Co. 
and  the  Tompkins  Theatre  Co.,  both 
of  Colorado  Springs,  have  filed  notice 
of  intention  to  cut  wages  with  the 
state  industrial  commission.  The  film 
company  wants  to  cut  ten  per  cent  on 
all  making  $75  per  month,  or  371/2 
cents  per  hour,  while  the  theatre  com- 
pany did  not  file  its  desires,  and  the 
commission   asked   for  details. 


House  Closes 
In  Ol^Ia.  City 
For  1st  Time 


_  Oklahoma  City — For  the  first 
time  in  show  business  history  in  this 
city,  a  theatre  will  be  closed*  due  to 
summer  slump.  The  Warner  will  go 
dark  Friday  for  a  period  of  six 
weeks,  according  to  Robert  D. 
Hutchinson,  district  manager  for 
Warners.  It  will  be  opened  about 
August  15  when  it  is  expected  that 
RKO  vaudeville  can  be  obtained  for 
this  house  again.  The  Al  and  Loie 
Bridge  stage  show  and  the  Warner 
price  policy  of  50  cents  top  will  be 
moved  into  the  Liberty,  another 
Warner  house  which  has  been  oper- 
ating on  a  35  cents  top  price.  No 
employes  will  be  let  out  through  the 
change  due  to  vacations. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Exchange  Building 
Moving  Stirs  Frisco 

San  Francisco — Another  flurry  of 
new  exchange  moving  and  building  is 
on.  Ground  will  be  broken  next  week 
for  a  new  RKO  exchange  on  Hyde 
near  Golden  Gate.  It  will  be  next 
door  to  Universal.  A  new  Columbia 
exchange  is  now  in  course  of  con- 
struction directly  across  the  street. 
The  new  exchanges  built  during  the 
past  twelve  months  have  taken  in 
practically  every  company  except 
Paramount,  which  still  is  doing  busi- 
ness at  its  old  stand,  at  the  corner  of 
Golden  Gate  and  Leavenworth.  As 
it  is  now,  exhibitors  will  have  to  do 
considerably  more  walking,  on  their 
booking  tours,  than  heretofore. 

"BUY  RIGHT^BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Film  Talker  Comedy 
In  Wilmington,  DeL 

Wilmington,  Del. — The  first  all- 
talking  picture  ever  filmed  in  Wil- 
mington was  completed  and  shown 
in  the  Queen  Theatre  of  the  Stan- 
ley-Warner circuit.  Herrick  Pro- 
ductions of  Hollywood  filmed  "Our 
Own  Gang"  in  "His  Sekatary"  for 
the  Evening  Journal  and  Warners. 
Two  weeks  were  required  to  film  the 
comedy. 

"BUY  RIGHT    BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Publix  Gets  Three  in 
Rutland  and  Control 

Rutland,  Vermont — Publix  is  now 
in  control  of  this  city.  It  has  taken 
over  the  three  houses  operated  by 
Thomas  W.  McKay.  Plans  for  re- 
modeling the  houses  now  are  under 
way. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ask  Firm  Name  Change 

Chicago  —  Fox  Chicago  Theatres 
stockholders  will  vote  on  a  change 
of  name  of  the  local  operating  cir- 
cuit at  an  adjourned  stockholders' 
meeting  July  29.  Request  for  a 
name  change  is  asked  by  the  home 
office   of  Fox   Theatres   Corp. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ufa  in  Cleveland 

Cleveland — Representatives  of  I'ta 
have  been  in  town  looking  over  the 
situation  with  the  intention  of  leas- 
ing a  local  house  for  a  permanent 
foreign    picture    outlet. 


By  Now^ 

Wise  Showmen  Know 
F#X  Has  the  Hits 

ond  Buy  Now! 


RPDRATIDN 


OFFlCCOF 

James  R  Grainger 

vice  PRESIDENT 
IN  CMAPOE  OF"  DISTRIBUTION 


U  A       I     I  U  |V| 

650    TENTH    AVENUE 
NEW  YORK  CITY 


TELEPHONE   COLUMBUS  3320     CABLE  ADDPES  S,  FOXFILM   NEW  YORK 


July  14,  1931 


Mr.  lytertin  Quigley, 
1790  Broadway, 
New  York,  N.  Y, 

Dear  Mr.  Quigley: 

When  I  tell  you  that  I  am  heartily  in  favor  of  the  "buy  now** 
movement  sponsored  by  your  publications,  I  am  admitting  something  every-- 
body  knows  anyway;  I  am  always  in  favor  of  "buy  now*',  every  May,  June, 
July  and  August. 

We  are  right  in  the  midst  of  our  annual  selling  season  and  it 
seems  to  me  that  this  year  we  are  using  less  selling  effort  than  usual, 
because  theatres,  individually  and  in  small  and  large  circuits,  are  buy- 
ing based  on  the  best  possible  sales  argument  —  the  quality  of  Pox 
pictures  during  the  last  year. 

In  spite  of  the  toughest  year  within  my  memory,  Fox  pictures 
have  rolled  up  remarkable  earnings  diiring  the  sales  year  closing  this 
month.  Right  under  our  noses,  from  coast  to  coast,  "Daddy  Long  Legs" 
is  furnishing  a  better  argument  than  any  of  our  salesmen  could  present. 

A  year  that  begins  with  "CoEimon  Clay"  and  finishes  with  "Daddy 
Long  Legs"  and  provides  varied  and  profitable  releases  during  every 
intervening  week  is  a  year  that  furnishes  an  impressive  tribute  to  the 
great  producing  organization  at  Fox  Studios,  With  our  own  theatres,  as 
well  as  those  in  competition  with  us,  vying  v;ith  each  other  to  play  Fox 
pictures,  there  is  a  v/ell  defined  "buy  now"  movement  cooperating  with 
your  own. 

Completed  pictures  on' our  next  year's  program  prove  to  my  own 
satisfaction  that  there  is  no  possible  advantage  for  delaying  the  signing 
of  contracts  and  many  advantages  in  buying  now. 


Very  truly  yours. 


New  Season 


^^^^— 


New    Hits 


Theyll  lough  themselves 
info  o  year's  growth  ot 

WILL   ROGERS   ' 

youNO  AS  you  peei 

with  Fifi  Dorsay      •       Lucien  Littlefiel 

How  an  old  geyser  became  a  fountain  of 
youth  and  beat  the  younger  generation  at 
its  own  game. 

Directed  by  FRANK  BORZAGE 

Gangway    for    Stupendous    Melodramc 

TRANSATLANTM 

with 

EDMUND  LOWE  •  Lois  Moran 


John  Halliday 
Greta  Nissen 


Directed  by 

WILLIAM  K.  HOWARD 


Jean  Hershol 
Myrna  Lo 


The  excitement  of  a  lifetime  in  six  days  at 
sea.  Plenty  of  comedy. 

A   story   with  cosmopolitan  air  —  a  picture^ 
with  box  office  tang! 


,Mms^2^.. 


BUYING  NOW 


// 


The  public  may  be  patient  —  but  not  the  millions  waiting  for 


Janet  Gaynor  and  Charles  Farrell 


MERELY   MARY  ANN 

The  incomparable  team  of  exquisite 
romance  in  a  story  that  will  lift  you 
above  "7th  Heaven" —  emotionally  and 
financially. 

Directed  by  HENRY   KING 


ri 


'^ 


^l 


y 


Directed  by  FRANK  BORZAGE 


The   novel    fold    her    story  - 
The    picture   creates   her   life 

BAD  ^IRL 


wi 


ith 


SALLY  EILERS 
JAMES  DUNN 

Introducing  that  new  star,  James  Dunn,  th 
find  of  the  year.  A  he-man  from  the  sid* 
walks  of  New  York,  destined  to  intern; 
tional  acclaim. 


Smash 

H  ITS 


Buy 


Now 


Primed  in  U.S.A. 


WICKED 


^  VICTOR    McLAGLEN 
I  ELISSA  LANDI 

Bigger  than  "Common  Clay/'Lcndi  at  her 
glamorous  best.  A  tornado  of  action  and 
a  whirlwind  of  emotion. 

Directed    by    ALLAN    DWAN 


fKYLINE 


THOMAS  MEIGHAN 
HARDIE  ALBRIGHT 

The  color  and  contrast,  the  laughs  and 
tears  in  the  heart  of  a  great  city.  With 
a  tug  at  the  heart  of  the  multitude. 

Directed    by    SAM    TAYLOR 


SHE  WANTED 
A  MILLIONAIRE 

JOAN  BENNETT 
SPENCER  TRACY 
JAMES    KIRKWOOD 

More  thrilling  than  that  French  murder 
trial  of  an  American  beauty.  Here's  a  new 
twist  to  the  Cinderella  who  gets  her  man 
— and  then  decides  she  doesn't  want  him. 

Directed  by  JOHN    BLYSTONE 


OVER  THE  HILL 

.  .  .  MAE    MARSH 

returns  to  the  screen  in  a  drama  to  stir 
every  heart. 

Directed    by    HENRY    KING 


Wednesday,    July     15,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Fight  Censor 
Appeal  Board 
In  Australia 


Sydney — The  trade  here  is  protest- 
ing strongly  against  a  definite  agita- 
tion to  bring  aDout  complete  abolition 
of  the  Commonwealth  censorship  ap- 
peal board  and  to  vest  full  authority 
in  the  censor  board  under  the  chair- 
manship of  Cresswell  O'Reilly.  Those 
behind  the  agitation  advance  economic 
arguments  in  its  favor,  but  elimina- 
tion of  the  appeal  board  would  take 
away  the  industry's  only  safety  valve, 
which,  as  figures  prove,  is  absolutely 
essential. 

Out  of  54  features  rejected  by  the 
censor  board  last  year,  18  were  saved 
on  appeal,  and  more  with  cuts.  If  dis- 
tributors are  denied  this  right  of  ap- 
peal, the  censors  will  become  an  ab- 
solute dictatorship,  in  the  event  of 
which  unfortunate  positions  are  sure 
to  arise. 

A  divergence  of  opinion  between 
the  two  boards  has  always  been  evi- 
dent. It  came  to  a  head  on  one  occa- 
sion when  the  chief  censor  accused  the 
appeal  members  of  exciting  newspaper 
opposition  to  his  decisions  and  of  seek- 
ing Press  support  in  gaining  public 
sympathy  when  they  reversed  his  ac- 
tions. 

Abolition  of  the  appeal  board  be- 
cause of  excessive  cost  is  not  justified 
by  facts.  The  distributors  pay  a  fee 
of  $16  for  each  appeal.  If  the  appeal 
is  upheld  their  money  is  refunded ;  if 
dismissed  it  goes  into  the  Federal 
treasury.  And  in  addition  to  that  the 
censor  and  appeal  boards  are  main- 
tained by  a  direct  lineage  duty  im- 
posed on  foreign  pictures. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Royal  Guests  at  Para. 

The  King  and  Queen  of  Siam  yes- 
terday visited  the  Paramount  studios 
at  Astoria  and  were  the  guests  at  a 
special  luncheon.  Among  those  present 
were :  Prince  Svasti,  Princess  Svasti, 
Prince  Chirasakti,  Prince  Ameradat 
Kridakara,  Siamese  Minister ;  Chao 
Phya  Bijayendr,  Vipulya  Syastikula, 
Thavara  Chayant,  Mme.  Chayant.  Pra 
Norara,  Major  Prasobsri  Chirapra- 
vati,  Luang  Siri  Sombati,  Smaksnian 
Kridakara.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adolph 
Zukor,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eugene  Zukor, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  E.  Shauer,  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Emanuel  Stern,  Mrs.  Mildjed 
Zukor  Loew,  Jesse  L.  Lasky,  Emanuel 
Cohen,  George  Akerson  and  Sam 
Katz. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Leonidoff  Promoted 

Leon  Leonidoff,  Roxy  production 
director,  has  been  elevated  to  pro- 
ducer for  Fanchon  and  Marco  with 
offices  at  Hollywood.  He  leaves  Sat- 
urday for  a  four  weeks'  trip  to  Europe 
seeking  material.  Clark  Robinson, 
art   director   succeeds. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Signs  Marjorie  Gateson 

Paramount  has  signed  Marjorie 
Gateson  to  a  term  contract.  She 
leaves  for  the  Coast  shortly. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ripley  Plans  Trip 

Robert  L.  Ripley,  creator  of  "Be- 
lieve It  or  Not,"  sails  July  2i  for 
Nova  Scotia  for  new  material  for  his 
subjects. 


The  Critics  Say  . 

J.  N  this  department,  tJie  Nezv  York  reviewers  zirill 
find  a  nioutJipiece  to  speak  their  piece  about  pictures  that  play  the 
Broadzvay  first-runs. 
For  i)istance,  their  opinion^cross-sectioned — is  this  about 


'Girl  Habit' 


-Paramount 


AUKKlCAn—Ruggles*** excels  the  story 
that  was  provided  for  him. 

UAILV  MIRKOR  —  There  are  some 
hearty  laughs*** some  thoroughly  raw  lines 
***the  star  is  amusing  but  the  whole  pro- 
duction puts  poor  Charlie  to  a  severe  strain 
of  carrying  an  almost  one-man  show. 
_^^pAILY  NEWS — ***light  and  frothy  fare 
***It  is  the  sort  of  thing  that  Charlie  kug- 
gles   has    done   so   well    in   other    Pictures*** 

EVENING  JOURNAL— ♦**an  engaging 
and  e.rpert  comedian***the  authors  used  the 
most  obvious  situations. 

GRAPHIC  —  A  sparkling,  gay  comedy 
with  its  share  of  romance  and  fast-moving 
action*** 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— ***romWM  along 
with  curious  futility  and  a  minimum  of 
humor. 

MORNING  TELEGRAPH— ***r/!a«  the 
film  succeeds  in  being  amusing*** may  be 
attributed  to  the  fact  that  Mr.  Ruggles  is 
a  farceur  of  no  mean  ability.***If  Para- 
mount*** could  see  At  to  drop  about  15 
minutes  off  the  film  as  it  now  stands^  it 
would  prove  to  be  a  comedy  that  will  be 
truly    entertaining. 

POST — ***does  not  mafie  for  exhilarat- 
ing entertainment***a  trite  affair,  bankrupt 
in  its  situations,  its  dialogue  and  its  char- 
acterisations?*** It  must  be  reported  that  the 
audience  seemed   to   enjoy  it. 

SUN— ***obmOMj  stuff,  filled  with  hack- 
neyed situations*** What  saves  it  from  being 
a  loss  is***a  thoroughly  professional  telling 
of  its  talc,  a  competence  of  production  and 
i/ood  pictorial  and  plot  movement. 

TIMES — ***it  won  more  than  its  share 
of  laughs. 

WORLD-TELEGRAM  —  ***an  amusing 
enough  trifie***Ruggles***one  of  the  most 
expert  and  amusing  comics  on  the  screen*** 


'Newly  Rich' 


■  Paramount 


AMERICAN— 7/  you  like  child  actors, 
and  even  if  you  don't,  there  is  entertain- 
ment in  "Newly  Rich"***an  excellently 
fashioned   tale*** 

iJAILV  MIRROR — Dandy  entertainment. 

DAILY  NEWS  —  Take  the  kiddies  to 
this  one.     They'll  love  it. 

EVENING  JOURNAL  — ***/>ori  farce, 
part  burlesque  and  part  romance,  but  child 
actors  take  hold  of  the  show  and  put  it 
together  so  well  it  is  amusing  and,  at 
times,    really   moving. 

GRAPHIC — ***plenty  of  laughs  and  a 
good  story  interest  ** 

Norman  Taurog***has  managed  into  its 
unreeling  some  of  tliat  clever  appeal  which 
made   "Skippy"  a  superior  photoplay. 

MORNIi\G  TELEGRAPH— ■^** light  en- 
tertainment boasting  of  many  moments  that 
are   amusing. 

POST  —  ***narrowly  misses  the  high- 
flown  humor  and  appeal  which  the  oppor- 
tunities of  the  story  provide.  In  attempt- 
ing to  capture  the  spirit  of  Mr.  Lewis'  com- 
edy the  picture  lias  succeeded  only  in  iso- 
lated spots*** 

SUN — ***rates  but  little  in  the  realms 
of    the    movii^s***has   only   a    few    laughs*** 

TIMES — The  rejult  of  Paramount's  ex- 
cursion into  somewhat  unexpected  pastures 
is  a   qood  one. 

WORLDTELEGRAM  —  ***it  will  do 
well  as  a  serviceable  little  program  picture 
that  in  spots  should  appeal  to  both  the 
children  and  their  elders. 


'Broadtninded' 


-Warners - 


AMERICAN — ***pretty  obvious  fun  and 
not  infrequently  lapses  into  plain,  unadulter- 
ated   slapstick. 

DAILY  MIRROR— ***amMi.n9  as  the 
average*** 

EVENING  JOURNAI^***6road  it  is. 
***It  has  some  funny  scenes,  some  good 
cracks   and   Mr.    Brown    and   his   face. 

GKAPHIC — Brown***has  his  following 
and    to    those   the    film  will    be    fairly    amus- 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— ***%ft{  summer- 
time   entertainment*** 


POST — ***not  witliout  some  moments  of 
hilarity  even  to  a  not  particularly  ardent 
admirer  of  Joe  Brown.***"  Broadminded" 
***has  speed. 

SUN — ***When  Mr.  Brown  is  funny  in 
the  talkies,  it  is  nezvs.  He  so  seldom  is 
just  that***in  "Broadminded,"***he  is  oc- 
casionally humorous. 

TIMES  — '  ***  intended  primarily  ***  for 
those  who  like  their  comedy — well,  with  Joe 
E.  Brown. ***makcs  no  pretensions  beyond 
that  of  a  proqram  bit*** 

WORLD-TELEGRAM— H^ijfc  or  without 
Joe  E.  Brown***would  be  pretty  sorry  stuff. 
*** Either  you  like  Mr.  Brown  or  you  don't. 
I,  for  one,  simply  can't  go  into  convulsions 
over  Mr.  Brown's  facial  distortions*** 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Carnivals  Shut  Out 
By  Baltimore  Plan 

Baltimore — Residential  houses  have 
had  no  trouble  with  competition  from 
side  shows  and  traveling  carnivals 
here  this  season  because  of  the  co- 
operation of  the  city  government. 
Handling  this  situation  for  the  M. 
P.  T.  O.  of  Maryland,  of  which 
Charles  E.  Nolte  is  president,  is  a 
committee  headed  by  Thomas  D. 
Goldberg. 

When  Howard  Jackson,  present 
mayor  of  Baltimore,  was  up  for  elec- 
tion he  was  given  the  support  of  the 
picture  fraternity  here  and  a  trail- 
er, disguised  as  a  news  item  follow- 
ing newsreels,  was  thrown  on  the 
screens  at  all  playhouses  showing 
Jackson  makine  a  speech.  Jackson, 
it  is  said,  promised  the  movie  people 
that  he  considered  them  steady  tax 
payers  and  thought  their  interests  and 
investments  in  property  should  be  pro- 
tected from  invasion  by  traveling  car- 
nivals  in   neighborhoods. 

The  new  administration  has  kept 
its  promise  and  all  carnival  organi- 
zations that  wish  to  set  up  stands 
near  any  theatre  must  get  the  con- 
sent of  the  theatre  before  a  permit 
will  be  issued. 


Carnivals  to  Get  the 
Air  Now  in  Toronto 

Toronto — The  Toronto  city  coun- 
cil has  frowned  upon  the  staging  of 
carnivals  in  public  parks  for  alleged 
charity  purposes  this  year.  The 
result  was  the  announcement  recently 
that  the  Canadian  Legion  had  aban- 
doned the  plan  of  conducting  four 
carnivals  in  different  section  of  the 
city  this  season.  Two  years  ago  the 
Legion  procured  $8,000  through  these 
carnivals,  but  the  complaint  was  that 
most  of  the  money  was  taken  from 
the  city  by  the  carnival  proprietors. 
In  previous  years,  these  carnivals  cut 
deeply  into  the  business  of  neighbor- 
hood theatres  and  the  exhibitors  had 
registered    numerous    protests. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Percentage  Probe  in 
U,K,  Unearths  Plenty 

London — The  K.  R.  S.  and  the  C. 
E.  A.,  representing  distributors  and 
exhibitors  respectively  are  discovering 
things  in  their  joint  probe  of  per- 
centage engagements.  An  early  re- 
port reveals  that  21  exhibitors  thus 
far    have    falsified    returns. 


Filthy  Plays 
Killing  Stage, 
States  Actor 


Minneapolis — -"Filthy  sex  plays 
and  not  the  talkies  are  the  reason 
the  stage  has  gone  to  the  dogs,"  de- 
clared William  Fayersham,  vel^ran 
stage  star,  in  Minneapolis  this  week 
for  the  University  of  Minnesota  pro- 
duction of  "L'Aiglon." 

"Unless  the  picture  business  takes 
a  lesson  frorn  the  experience  of  the 
legitimate  stage  it  will  go  the  same 
way,"  was  his  further  warning. 

"Any  form  of  entertainment  is 
headed  for  the  dumps  that  doesn't 
produce  something  to  which  parents 
can  take  their  children  without 
shame.  There  hasn't  been  a  good  de- 
cent play  written  in  the  last  five 
years.  New  York  producers  won't 
touch  anything  that  hasn't  a  bedroom 
scene.  That  type  of  play  may  attract 
in  New  York,  but  it  won't  elsewhere. 
The  tastes  of  New  York  are  far  dif- 
ferent from  those  of  the  rest  of  the 
country.  But  even  in  New  York  the 
bedroom  drama  is  losing  out.  Un- 
less the  producers  abandon  it  and 
start  staging  decent  plays,  they  will 
kill   the   legitimate   stage." 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Empee  Club  Drive 
Snares  36  New  Ones 

The  two-months'  membership  drive 
waged  by  the  Motion  Picture  Club 
has  increased  the  roster  by  36,  as 
compared  with  23  brought  in  the  pre- 
vious 15  months. 

New  in  the  fold  are: 
J.   R.    Manheimer        T.   W.   Gerety 
Charles    McDonald   Stanley   Hatch 
Arthur   Gottlieb        George  Hoffman 


Lawrence   Fertig 
Louis   Herman 
Jay   Emanuel 
E.    M.   Glucksman 
J.   L.   Warner 
L.    L.    Lawrence 
Al  Szekler 
H.   Zenker 
T.  Wormser 
R.   Sanders 
A.   Greenblatt 
R.   S.  Wolff 
E.   M.  Orowitz 
J.  H.  Hoffberg 
L.   Weinberg 


William   H.  Adler 

M.   OcHS 

L.  Rosenblatt 

J.   F.   DujAT 

M.   J.   Kandel 

S.    Garrett 

B.   Serkovich 

H.   F'rohman 

A.   Van   Leer 

L.    J.    VORHAUS 

J.   J.  Hess 
A.    L.    Selig 
J.    H.    Gallagher 
L.  Weiner 

H.    A.     LiNET 


"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Bail  in  Middletown 

A/IiDDLETOWN,  O. — Waldo  Bail,  who 
has  been  in  charge  of  the  Tivoli, 
Garv.  Ind.,  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager of  the  Paramount  which  opened 
here  a  few  months  ago.  He  suc- 
ceeds  H.   J.   Thatcher,   resigned. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

First  Art  class  Finished 

Hollywood — "Night  Life  in  Reno," 
first  of  the  new  Weiss  Brothers-Art- 
class  pictures  is  in  the  cutting  room. 
"Pleasure,"  the  second,  goes  into  pro- 
duction July  24. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Sally  Signs  New  Pact 

Hollywood — I'^ox  has  signed  Sally 
O'Neill  to  a  contract  as  a  result  of  her 
work  in  "The  Brat,"  her  first  picture 
for   that  company. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Pathe  Signs  Williams 

Ht)LLY\\()OD — Roljcrt  Williams,  who 
made  his  film  debut  in  "Rebound," 
has  iieen  given  a  long  term  contract 
by  RKO  Pathe. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    July     15,     1931 


Fighting  Free 
Calendar  Idea 
In  Baltimore 


Baltimore — After  the  Baltimore 
Post  had  started  pubHshing  a  daily 
movie  calendar  for  residential  houses 
here  June  29,  without  charge,  and  no 
advertising  or  circulation  tie-ups,  be- 
cause it  considered  it  of  news  value, 
a  complaint  was  registered  against  it 
by  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Maryland,  of 
which  Charles   E.   Nolte  is  president. 

A  letter  was  sent  to  the  Fast  by 
Nolte,  requesting  it  to  discontinue 
publication  of  the  calendar  because  the 
organization  feared  it  would  interfere 
with  its  contract  with  the  Baltinioro 
Kezjs  (Hearst's),  by  which  the  News 
publishes  the  calendar  daily  and  has  a 
tie-up  with  the  organization  by  which 
each  house  runs  a  trailer  reading : 
"Read  this  theatre's  program  in  the 
Baltimore  News  daily." 

Andrew  Brashears,  managing  editor 
of  the  Post,  instructed  an  answer  to  be 
sent  to  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  that  the  paper 
considered  the  programs  of  news  in- 
terest and  would  continue  to  publish 
them  regardless  of  the  contract  with 
the  N'ews,  ^ven  if  the  Post  had  to 
send  someone  around  to  the  theatres 
each  day  to  copy  the  program  from 
the  frames. 

This  is  quite  unnecessary,  however, 
as  the  Sunday  Sun  publishes  the  resi- 
dential house  programs  in  the  movie 
section  free  of  charge,  also  considering 
them  of  news  value. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Produce  Talker  Short 
In  Oklahoma  Studio 

Oklahom.\  City — Oklahoma's  first 
film  production  company  for  the  mak- 
ing of  sound  shorts  has  been  organized 
here  and  is  known  as  Ramsey  Pro- 
ductions, sponsored  by  Arthur  Ram- 
sey, son  of  an  Oklahoma  oil  million- 
aire, and  Tom  Johnson,  formery 
manager  of  supplies  for  the  five 
Cooper-Publix  houses  in  Oklahoma 
City.  The  first  short,  a  talker  of  Paul 
Christianson  and  his  WKY  orchestra, 
was  recently  made  in  the  sunken  gar- 
den at  Ramsey's  home,  with  Ramsey 
directing.  It  will  be  a  two-reeler  and 
is  now  in  Hollywood  going  through 
the  process  of  development. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Dentist  Tries  to  Pull 
Operator  Union  Stunt 

Omaha— With  20  students.  Dr. 
A.  J.  Amick,  local  dentist,  is  organiz- 
ing the  Projection  Engineers  Associa- 
tion of  America  to  buck  the  Omaha 
.Moving  Picture  Operators'  Associa- 
tion. Latter  is  affiliated  with  the 
American   Federation    of    Labor. 

Officers  of  the  operators'  union  look 
upon  Dr.  Amick's  venture  with  con- 
siderable amusement,  since  his  "stu- 
dents" haven't  a  chance  for  a  job 
locally.  Amick  worked  his  way 
through  colleges  as  an  operator  in 
the  silent  days. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Neill  Contract 

Hollywood  —  Columbia  has  exer- 
cised its  option  and  re-signed  Director 
R.  William  Neill  to  a  long-term  con- 
tract. 


Making  It  Tougher  for  the  Orphans 

Dallas — Trying  to  be  nice,  the  Palace  Theatre  invited  all  the  orphan- 
ages of  Dallas  to  send  their  youngsters  to  a  free  showing  of  Janet 
Gaynor's  picture,  "Daddy  Long  Legs.  "  It  was  learned  later  that  all 
local  orphanages  except  one  declined  to  send  their  charges  to  the 
showing,  on  the  ground  that  the  picture  reveals  an  orphan  asylum  in 
an  unfavorable  light. 

While  the  scenes  depicted  represent  a  period  prior  to  the  modern 
method  of  caring  for  underprivileged  children,  the  local  establishments 
think  nothing  is  to  be  gained  by  introducing  their  inmates  to  the  more 
austere  forms  of  philanthropy. 

And  they  hang  pictures. 


Concert  Competition 
Off  in  Philadelphia 

Philadelphia — Judging  from  the 
slow  advance  sale  of  season  tickets 
for  the  summer  concerts  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Orchestra  in  Robin  Hood 
Dell,  Fairmount  Park,  this  musical 
series  will  not  prove  to  be  the  com- 
petition to  picture  houses  that  it  was 
last   summer. 

Last  summer  there  were  over 
200,000  paid  admissions  to  the  con- 
certs, which  ran  two  months  in  the 
open  air.  On  a  subscription  basis,  the 
■oncerts  averaged  21  cents  each  to 
he  patrons,  giving  a  full  program 
1  "01  n  one  of  the  most  famous  sym- 
phony orchestra  in  the  world — not 
to  mention  various  guest  conductors 
and  guest  vocal  stars — at  prices  less 
than  the  average  movie  admission. 

Mrs.  Clara  Barnes  Abbott,  chief  of 
the  municipal  Bureau  of  Music,  in 
charge  of  the  Robin  Hood  Dell  sea- 
son, announced  that  only  2,000  sub- 
scriptions had  been  sold,  with  12,000 
needed  to  make  a  showing.  The  men 
of  the  orchestra  give  their  services  on 
a  cooperative  basis  and  while  the 
season  will  go  on  as  scheduled  this 
year,  the  project  may  be  dropped  next 
year  unless  business  improves. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Nat'l  Theatre  Supply 
Reopens  in  D.  M. 

Des  Moines — The  National  Thea- 
tre Supply  Co.,  which  for  the  past 
several  years  has  been  operating 
through  the  Omaha  and  Chicago  of- 
fices for  Iowa  territory,  has  estab- 
lished its  branch  office  again  in  Des 
Moines,  locating  at  1123  High  Street, 
next  door  to  its  husky  competitor,  the 
Des  Moines  Theatre  Supply  Co.  B. 
F.  Silsbee,  who  came  from  Detroit 
to  take  the  management  here,  reports 
that  business  opened  up  nicely,  but 
that  fall  will  offer  a  real  showdown 
;)n  what  theatre  men  are  going  to  do. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Wholesale  Departm't 
For  National  in  Cleve. 

Cleveland — National  Theatre  Sup- 
ply Co.  is  installing  a  wholesale  de- 
partment in  conjunction  with  its  new 
enlarged  offices,  which  will  be  under 
the  direction  of  R.  F.  Walters.  Ray 
Cudmore  will  continue  to  handle  the 
retail  end  of  the  business. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Two  Omaha  Circuits 
Go  Double  Feature 

Omaha — Hot  weather  and  hotter 
competition  between  two  neighbor- 
hood circuits  has  brought  double 
features  to  the  local  suburbs.  About 
20  to  25  houses  are  billing  double  at 
least  three  nights  out  of  the  week, 
usually  Tuesday,  Wednesday  and 
Thursday. 


Thirty  Quebec  Houses 
Show  French  Films 

Montreal — Robert  Hurel,  presi- 
dent of  La  Campagnie  Cinematogra- 
phique  Canadienne,  Montreal,  gave  an 
outline  of  the  development  which  has 
taken  place  in  the  distribution  of 
French  talkers  in  the  province  of 
Quebec  since  the  organization  of  his 
company  one  year  ago.  Films  from 
France  are  now  being  regularly  shown 
in  30  theatres  of  Quebec,  the  key 
houses  being  the  Cinema  de  Paris  in 
Montreal  and  le  Theatre  Canadien  at 
Quebec  City.  The  products  of  all 
French  companies  are  distributed  in 
the  province  by  Hurel's  company,  the 
outstanding  being  Gaumont  and  Pathe 
Df  France. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Unfinished  Theatre 
Is  Sold  by  Sheriff 

Cincinnati — John  Hoover  of  this 
city,  who  was  awarded  the  contract 
for  a  new  theatre  building  at  Bucy- 
rus,  O.,  has  purchased  the  unfinished 
steel  structure  at  sheriff's  sale,  and 
will  complete  the  building  as  sole 
owner. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Circuit  Buys  Two 

In  Indianapolis 

Indianapoli  s — The  Fountain 
Square  Theatre  Corp.  has  taken  over 
the  Granada  and  Rivoli,  de  luxe 
houses,  from  the  I.  U.  Theatres  Corp., 
a  subsidiary  of  the  Universal  Chain 
Theatre  Corp.  They  will  be  re- 
modeled and  will  open  in  September. 
The  purchaser  operates  the  Fountain 
Square,  which  is  the  finest  de  luxe 
neighborhood  house  in  the  city. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Transported  Fight 
Film;  Are  Fined  $25 

Chicago — Harry  O.  Voiler  and 
Harry  M.  Pollock  pleaded  guilty  to 
transporting  Dempsey-Tunney  prize 
fight  pictures  in  interstate  commerce 
and  were  fined  $25  each  by  Federal 
Judge  John  P.   Barnes. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Pick  "Sundown  TraiV 

Hollywood — "Sundown  Trail,"  an 
original  by  Robert  F.  Hill,  has  been 
chosen  as  the  vehicle  for  RKO  Pathe's 
first  western  feature,  by  Charles  R. 
Rogers,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
production.  Hill  is  doing  the  screen 
play  and  has  been  signed  to  dir'^'"* 
Tom  Keene  will  star. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Plan  Standard  Contract 

London — The  K.  R.  S  and  C.  E.  A. 
official  bodies,  rei>resenting  distribu- 
tors and  exhibitors,  are  discussing  a 
standard  contract  form. 


Small  Towners 
Shunning  Gang 
Films  —  Steele 


Cleveland  —  Small  town  movie 
fans  will  not  go  to  the  theatre  to  see 
gang  pictures,  according  to  S.  C. 
Steele,  theatre  operator  in  Kent  and 
Ravenna.  They  will  have  nothing  to 
do  with  pictures  of  the  gang  type, 
Steele  stated,  and  gave  this  as  one  of 
the  reasons  why  business  is  worse 
this  summer  than  during  previous 
summers.  "The  Millionaire"  and 
"Daddy  Long  Legs"  both  did  well  in 
Steele's  houses.  Other  exhibitors  re- 
port that  these  pictures  pulled  busi- 
ness even  when  competing  with  exces- 
sive heat. 

Managers  of  local  vaudeville 
houses  state  that  light  comedy  acts 
are  the  biggest  drawing  cards  today. 
This  substantiates  the  claim  that  the 
local  public  is  against  heavy  melo- 
drama of  any  kind,  and  gang  melo- 
drarai   in   particular. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lists  1,000  Pictures 
In  $3,500,000  Suit 

Lincoln,  Neb. — Nick  Paper,  local 
exhibitor,  whose  $3,500,000  suit 
against  the  principal  producers  and 
exhibitors  has  been  marking  time, 
has  filed  an  amended  petition  in 
Federal  Court  listing  more  than  1,- 
000  pictures  he  said  he  had  under 
contract. 

Paper  claims  that  violation  of  the 
anti-trust  laws  by  the  producers  and 
exchanges  forced  him  to  close  his 
two  Lincoln  theatres.  He  was  re- 
fused films,  he  alleged,  after  he  de- 
clined to  put  up  a  large  deposit  to 
guarantee  a  $7,500  account  with  one 
of  the  exchanges. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Famous  Players  Hold 
Up  Canadian  Scale 

Toronto — Famous  Players'  houses 
in  Toronto  have  not  reduced  prices 
for  the  warm  weather  while  no  so- 
called  summer  policy  has  been  adopt- 
ed in  any  instarxe. 

Inside  reports  are  that  the  seasonal 
decline  in  box-office  grosses  is  run- 
ning from  15  to  20  per  cent  and  it 
is  figured  that  any  reduction  in  ad- 
mission prices  would  only  mean  that 
much  more  of  a  drop  in  grosses. 
Business  is  holding  up  better  than 
expected. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ford  Theatre  for  Sale 

Baltimore — Ford's  here,  one  of  the 
oldest  in  the  country,  which  was  for 
years  owned  and  operated  by^  the 
Ford  family  which  owned  Ford's  in 
Washington  at  the  time  of  the  as- 
sassination of  Abraham  Lincoln,  is 
now  for  sale,  according  to  a  sign  on 
the   front   entrance. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Get  Sunday  Shows 

Chicago — The  city  council  of  Ma- 
rion, 111.,  this  week  voted  to  legalize 
Sunday  films  over  the  protests  of 
Marion  ministers  who  fought  the  blue 
law  revocation  bitterly.  The  new 
seven-day  ordinance  increases  theatre 
licenses   from   $100   to   $200   annually. 


Wednesday,    July     15,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hollywood  Is 
On  Its  Toes 
Now-Petti  j  ohn 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

produce  these  results.  I  found  a 
thorough  understanding  by  all,  in- 
cluding directors,  actors,  writers, 
camera  men,  sound  technicians  and 
everybody  else,  that  the  revival  of 
good  times  in  the  picture  business 
this  fall  depends  on  their  individual 
and  collective  efforts.  They  know 
that  the  present  answer  to  all  motion 
picture  problems  of  the  day  is  pic- 
tures— good  pictures.  They  know  that 
the  theatre  box-office  is  the  pay-off 
station  for  everybody  connected  with 
the  business. 

"I  believe  that  the  industry  has 
one  outstanding  advantage  over  every 
other  business  in  the  United  States. 
We  see  automobiles  mechanically 
better,  more  attractive  in  design  and 
cheaper  in  price  than  ever  before,  but 
they  are  not  selling  as  many  as  they 
did  one,  two,  or  three  years  ago.  In 
our  shop  windows  we  see  most  attrac- 
tive merchandise,  with  prices  lower 
than  at  any  time  during  the  past  five 
years.  But  they  are  not  selling  as 
much  as  they  did  in  any  of  these 
years. 

"Motion  picture  entertainment  is  in 
another  category.  Good  pictures  can 
be  sold  and  are  being  sold  on  the 
basis  of  the  largest  possible  public 
acceptance. 

"The  answer  of  the  motion  picture 
industry  to  'depression'  must  be  pic- 
tures— good  pictures — and  I  believe 
we  are  going  to  get  them,  more 
good  ones,  in  fact,  than  in  any  pre- 
vious year.  I  believe  that  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry  will  be  the  first 
large  industry  to  step  out  of  the  busi- 
ness slump,  for  the  reason  that  the 
industry  is  going  to  have  product 
so  good  that  it  cannot  help  but  be 
sold." 

Carl  E.  Milliken,  secretary  of  the 
Hays'  association,  also  arrived  back 
in  New  York  from  Hollywood  yes- 
terday. He  had  gone  to  the  Coast  to 
address  the  recent  convention  of  the 
National  Education  Association.  His 
slant  on  activities  at  the  studios  is 
this: 

"I  found  nothing  but  the  most 
sympathetic  interest  and  cooperation 
on  the  part  of  directors  and  others 
in  reflecting  the  highest  possible  en- 
tertainment values  in  forthcoming 
production,  in  line  with  the  standards 
self-imposed  by  the  industry.  The 
machinery  of  cooperation  between  the 
organization  and  the  individual  studios 
is  functioning  with  ever  greater  mo- 
mentum. Executives  in  the  industry 
everywhere  realize  that  good  busi- 
ness and  good  public  policy  go  hand 
in  hand  in  the  development  of  mo- 
tion picture  entertainment.  The 
sense  of  responsibility  displayed  by 
all  concerned  is  most  gratifying  in- 
deed." 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

"Lab"  Trial  Date  Set 

Hollywood — Trial  of  Cinema  Pat- 
ents Company  vs  Columbia  Pictures 
involving  alleged  infringement  of 
Gaumont  and  Spoor  Thompson  de- 
veloping machine  and  process  patents 
•starts  Sent.  8  in  Los  Angeles,  before 
Special  Master  in  Chanery,  David  B. 
Head,  appointed  by  Federal  Judge 
George  Cosgrave. 


EducH  Sidelights 


P  ARLE  W.  HAMMONS,  prexy  of 
'—'  the  company,  got  a  real  kick  out  of 
posing  with  trade  paper  men. 
• 

Carl  Goe,  producers'  representative 
of    Tiffany,   ivas   absent  from  yester- 
day's sessions.    Carl  is  at  home  ill. 
• 

Gordon  White,  efficient  Educational 
advertising  and  publicity  chief,  gave 
some  real  pointers  on  advertising  com- 
pany  product. 

• 

A  whole  family  of  Tiffany  Chimp 
dolls  was  present  at  the  meeting  yes- 
terday, looking  very  virile  in  their 
cowboy  regalia. 

• 

Bill  Saal,  Hammons'  new  assistant, 
is  very  much  at  home  with  the  Edu- 
cational boys.  During  his  address  yes- 
terday, he  nonchalantly  un-did  his  tie, 
removed  his  collar,  and  proceeded  en- 
thusiastically with  his  pertinent  com- 
ments. 

• 

L.  A.  Young,  Tiffany,  president,  in 
an  effort  to  pay  a  glowing  tribute  to 
his   neiv   associate,    Bill   Saal,   almost 
ran  out  of  adjectives. 
• 

Saal  referred  to  Burt  Kelly  as  his 
former     associate,     present     associate 
and  sometimes  severest  critic. 
• 

Jack  Skirboll  believes  in  the  "Buy 
Nozv"  policy.  He's  purchasing  a  lam,p 
and  chair.  Now  all  he  needs  is  the 
girl. 


Just  as  a  matter  of  retaliation,  Ar- 
thur Greenblatt,  of  New  York,  took 
H.  F.  Brink,  of  Buffalo,  to  Hoboken 
for  you  know  what.  Arthur  "still  re- 
members the  night"  when  Brink  fed 
him  ale  in  Ottawa. 

• 
H.  D.  Noble,  of  New  Haven,  isn't 
complaining  of  nostalgia  for  the  col- 
lege toivn.  The  confab  is  being  held 
in  the  College  Room  and  Noble  chose 
the  seat  under  the  Yale  emblem. 

• 
F.  G.   Sliter,  of  Boston,  tells  some 
good   bean   stories.    And   speaking   of 
stories,  Curtis  Nagle  surely  is  entitled 
to  a  hand. 

• 
Educational' s  is  a  very  unconven- 
tional convention,  zvith  coats  conspicu- 
ous by  their  absence,  even  collars  and 
ties  falling  by  the  wayside.  Despite 
the  humidity,  however,  the  boys  are 
exhibiting  smiling  countenances. 

• 
J.  E.  Hobbs'  delightful  accent  seems 
to  add  flavor  to  the  Southern  gentle- 
mans  stories.    Ask  him  the  one  about 
the  injunction. 

• 
Sol  Edivards,  assistant  to  Budd 
Rogers,  went  ecstatic  over  Budd's  ad- 
dress yesterday.  He  used  more  adjec- 
tives than  an  enthusiastic  female  movie 
critic. 

• 
Add    hidden    bits    of    genius :     Joe 
Rivkin,  demon  exploiteer,  is  a  knock- 
out as  a  speaker. 


Maynard  List  Boosts 
Tiffany  Total  to  30 

(Continued  from  page   1) 
starring    Maynard    comprise    the   new 
season's   line-up. 

The  change  in  plans  which  previ- 
ously called  for  a  schedule  of  22  pic- 
tures was  outlined  Tuesday  to  dele- 
gates to  the  eastern  convention  of  the 
Educational-Tiffany-Sono  Art  sales 
convention  which  winds  up  this  morn- 
ing in  New  York.  The  second  of  the 
series  of  meetings  gets  under  way 
Friday  in   Chicago. 


Series  of  Six  Sport 
Films  for  Educational 

Bill  Cunningham's  Sport  Review,  a 
new  series  of  six  one-reel  subjects 
produced  by  Howard  C.  Brown  and 
Curtis  F.  Nagel,  has  been  added  to 
Educational's  line-up  for  the  coming 
season.  The  first  release  which  has 
already  been  delivered  is  "No  Holds 
Barred,"  a  wrestling  subject.  The 
story  for  each  subject  is  being  writ- 
ten by  Cunningham,  who  likewise 
serves  as  narrator.  He  is  featured 
sports  writer  on  the  Boston  Post,  and 
the  author  of  a  number  of  special 
articles  on  various  phases  of  sports 
for  Liberty,  Collier's  and  other  maga- 
zines. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Elizabeth  House  Running 

Elizabeth,  N.  J. — Shows  are  being 
run  as  usual  at  the  Plaza,  despite  al- 
leged sabotage  which  necessitated  call- 
ing off  Sunday's  matinee.  The  dam- 
age to  the  projection  machine  and 
booth   was   estimated  at  $10,000. 

The  house,  which  is  operated  by 
Abraham  Dollinger,  has  been  having 
difficulties   with   the   operators'   union. 


Jersey  Allied  May 
Break  with  Unions 

{Continued  from   page    1) 

pendents  have  been  made  to  eliminate 
one  of  the  two  operators  in  the  booth, 
but  all  have  met  with  no  success. 

Some  exhibitors  in  the  state  of  New 
Jersey  have  paid  out  as  much  as  35 
per  cent,  and  in  one  case  40  per  cent, 
of  the  house's  intake  for  projectionists' 
salaries.  Delegates  from  the  Brother- 
hood Operators'  Union,  newly-formed 
organization,  have  approached  the  Al- 
lied unit  as  a  body  offering  to  put  just 
one  man  in  a  booth  and  at  salaries 
less  than  the  Newark  local. 

When  present  contracts  run  out  on 
September  1  Jersey  exliibitors  will  not 
renew  them,  but  whether  Brotherhood 
men  are  signed  up  or  not  is  proble- 
matical since  some  theatre  owners  do 
not  like  an  operators'  union  in  any 
shape  or  form. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

St.  Louis  Suits  Continued 

.St.  l.ouis — Receiversliip  suits  against 
Skouras  Enterprises  and  the  St.  Louis 
.Amusement    Co.   have   been   continued 
in  Circtn't  Court  here  until  July  21. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Ted"  Young  Sailing 

T.  C.  ("Ted")  ^'ouIlg,  head  of  the 
Publix  real  estate  department,  sails 
on  the  Paris  for  Europe  tonight,  ac- 
companied by  the  Misses  D.  and  E. 
Young. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY    NOW" 

Constance  Bennett  Sails 

Constance  Bennett  arrives  from  the 
Coast  Friday  and  will  sail  on  the 
Bremen  that  same  nis'ht.  On  her  re- 
turn she  will  make  "The  Dangerous 
Set"   for   Warners. 


Buy  Now  Sales 
Keep  Coming 
At  Fast  Clip 


(Continued  from  page   1) 

office  sales  chiefs  and  call  for  the 
entire  Warner-First  National  product 
for   1931-32: 

ARKANSAS 

Metro,  Clarendon,  J.   W.  Crabtree. 

CALIFORNIA 

Lone  Pine  Hall,  Lone  Jine,  Ray  Pierson; 
Golden  State,  Riverside,  Hunt's  Theatres, 
Inc.;  American,  Trona,  American  Potash 
Chemical   Corp. 

IDAHO 

Isis,  Preston,  Lawrence  Jones;  Star, 
Malad,   Lawrence  Jones. 

ILLINOIS 

Palm,  Columbia  and  Strand,  Rockford, 
De  Forrest  Sound  Theatres. 

IOWA 

Iowa,  Atlantic,  Finkelstein  Theatres;  lona, 
Waterloo,  Jake  Rosenthal. 

KANSAS 

Royal,  Kansas  City,  John  Kongs;  Opera 
House,  Eildorado  Springs,  C.  A.  Bessier; 
Army  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Fort  Leavenworth, 
E.  G.  Smons;  Temple,  Yates  Center,  E.  S. 
Ringzenberg. 

KENTUCKY 

Selba,  Central  City;  M.  Pellman,  Mecca, 
Greenville. 

MISSISSIPPI 

Coliseum,  Cornith,  B.  F.  Lid'don;  Lyric, 
Oxford,     R.     X.     Williams. 

NEW  MEXICO 

Princess,    Tucumcari,    A.    Hurley. 

NEW  YORK 

Strand,  Dolgeville;  Strand  or  Star,  Og- 
densburg;  Grand  or  P'laza,  Malone,  Palace, 
Lake  Placid  Strand  or  Rialto,  Massena; 
Palace  or  Rialto,  Lockport;  Rialto,  East 
Rochester;  Granada,  Buffalo;  and  River- 
side. Buffalo,  Schine  Thea.  Enter.,  Inc.; 
Lyric,  Faust,  Chas.  Gerard;  State,  Roches- 
ter, Regoshine  Theatres  Corp.;  Riviera, 
Rochester,    Regoshine. 

OHIO 

Lincoln,  Cincinnati,  Lincoln  Amusement 
Co.,  Frank  Cole;  Savoia,  Columbus,  Joe 
Adorno;  New  Lind'en,  Columbus,  W.  C. 
Pullin;  Columbia,  Columbus,  W.  J.  Rus- 
sell; Ritby,  Tippacanoe  City,  Zerkel;  State, 
Middletown,  George  Turlukis;  I''ayette, 
Washington  Court  House,  Smoots  & 
Siinons:  Strand  or  tremont,  Fremont, 
Schine  Theat.  Ent. ;  Wallace,  Wooster,  J. 
Palfi.K  and  A.  Dice;  Holland,  Bellfintaine, 
Schine  Theat.  Ent.;  Garden,  Brillaint, 
D.    C.    Bishop. 

TEXAS 

Palace,  Memphis;  H.  Boren ;  Texas, 
Rusk.  Ran  &  Hughes;  Texas,  Pharr,  Mrs. 
T.  Jack;  Crystal,  Gilmer,  C.  H.  Cox; 
Queen,  Crosby  ton,  B.  P.  Estes;  Latiiar, 
Paris,  Musselman  Amuse.  Co.;  Palace, 
State  or  Circle,  Dallas,  C.  Wilson;  Audi- 
torium, Crockett,  E.  J.  Callahan;  Palace, 
Olney.  Kendall  &  E'adler;  Palace,  Weather- 
ford,    Kendall   &   Sadler. 

VERMONT 

Rivoli,     Springville,     Emil    Ostlund. 

WEST  VIRGINIA 

Fergerson,  Charlestoii,  Eureka  Aumse. 
Co.;  Jaeger,  Jaeger,  Rowley  &  Mahefty; 
Scarboro,    Scarboro,     E.    Henderson. 

WISCONSIN 

Grand,  Port  Washington.  Wni.  Roob; 
Grand,  Milwaukee,  A.  C.  Gutenberg; 
Vilas,  Eagle  River,  M.  Ashton;  Holly- 
wood, Milwaukee,  A.  E.  A.  Corp.;  Violet, 
Milwaukee,     E.     E.     Hemmings. 


Universal  has  just  concluded  a  deal 
with  Fox  Theatres  whereby  its  first 
serial  on  the  1931-32  schedule,  "Dan- 
ger Island,"  will  play  40  theatres  in 
Greater  New  York.  A  deal  for  Uni- 
versal features  is  expected  to  be  con- 
cluded shortly  with  the  Leon  Rosen- 
blatt circuit. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,    July     15,     1931 


Broadway  Too 
Hot;  Pictures 
Take  Slump 


Hot  weather,  but  grosses  not  so 
hot  on  Broadway  last  week.  At  the 
Winter  Garden,  '"Smart  Money"  con- 
tinued to  roll  up  the  dollars,  nabbing 
$26,964  for  its  third  full  week.  Nice 
going,  time  and  climate  being  what 
it  is. 

Over  at  the  Roxy,  matters  took  a 
brighter  turn,  with  "The  Black 
Camel,"  which  grossed  $74,000  as 
against  $56,000  the  previous  week 
with  "Annabelle's  Affairs."  Eighteen 
thousand  on  the  up  side  is  something 
in    these   dog-like    days. 

Aside  from  those  two  fairly  bright 
spots,  the  street  was  pretty  quiet, 
business  holding  to  about  the  same 
level   of  previous   summer  weeks. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending   July  9: 

"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 
ASTOR— (1,120),  50c-?2,   5th  week,  7  days. 
Gross:  $15.2.16. 

"LAUGHING  SINNERS'  (M-G-M) 
CAPITOI.— (4.700),  .«c-$l-50,  7  days.  Stage 
show  headlining  Ted  Clair;  Chilton  & 
Thomas.  Gross:  $68,375. 
"THE  SMILING  LIEUTENANT"  (Para.) 
CRITKRIOX— (8.^0),  50c-$2,  6th  week,  7 
days.     Gross:   $8,150. 

EMBASSY    (All    Newsreel) 
EMBASSY— (598),  2Sc,  7  days.  Gross:  $7,- 
462.50. 

"SWEEPSTAKES"   (RKO-Pathe) 
MAYFAIR— (2,300),  40c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$20,000. 

"GIRL  HABIT"   (Para.) 

PARAMOUXT— (3,700),     40c-$l,     7     days. 

Stage     show     headlining     Morton'     Downev, 

Bert   Gordon  and  Ted   Jlack.   Gross:  $45,400. 

"MOROCCO"  (Para.)  and  "RAFFLES" 

(Para.) 
RIALTO— (1,904),    40c-$l,    7    days.    Gross: 
$5,600. 

"NEWLY    RICH"    (Para.) 
RIVOLI— (2,103),    40c-$l,    7    days.       Gross: 
$15,800. 

"BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 
ROXY— (6.200),    5nc-$1.50,    7    days.     Stage 
show.      Gross:    $74,000. 

"BROAD    MINDED"    (F.    N.) 
STR.AXD— (3,000),    35c-$l,    7   days.    Gross: 
$16,700. 

"MACISTE   IN   HELL"   (Macri  Films) 
WAR. \ERS— (1,490),     35c-75c,     2nd     week, 
7  days.      Gross:   $3,276. 

"SMART  MONEY"    (Warners) 
WINTER   (GARDEN— (1,493),   3rd   week,   7 
days.  Gross:    $26,964. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Breen  Joins  Hays 

As  An  Assistant 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

recent  years,  Breen  has  been  turning 
his  attention  to  publicity.  He  has 
handled,  among  other  assignments, 
the  Eucharistic  Congress  held  in  Chi- 
cago in  1926  and  the  opening  guns  in 
the  campaign  for  the  forthcoming 
Chicago's  World  Fair.  In  the  past 
two  years,  he  has  been  assistant  to 
Stuyvesant  Peabody,  head  of  various 
coal  and  other  industrial  lines  in  the 
Middle  West. 

Breen  also  has  had  picture  experi- 
ence as  a  member  of  the  Chicago  staff 
of   the  Quigley   Publications. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lichtman  Booking 
All  W.  B,  Theatres 

(Continued  from    parje    1) 

W.  B.  circuit,  where  available.  It  is 
understood  that  Warners  do  not  hold 
an  option  on  U.  A.  product,  but  they 
are  negotiating  to  buy  all  product 
open  for  its  theatres. 


Purely  Personal 


D.WE  LL'STIG  has  gotten  out  a 
brochure,  "Secret  Book  for  Lov- 
ers," dealing  with  everything  in  the  in- 
tersts  of  love.  Dave  didn't  forget  to  get 
a  plug  in  for  the  Hollywood  theatre 
on  Ave.  A  between  Sixth  and  Seventh 
Sts.^  which  the  Manhattan  Playhouses 
Dperate. 

G.  W.  Erdmann,  business  manager 
of  the  Cleveland  Motion  Picture  Ex- 
hibitors' Association,  has  been  ap- 
pointed a  member  of  the  committee  to 
draft  a  new  code  of  prison  reform  to 
be  presented  to  the  new  Ohio  gen- 
eral assembly. 

Abe  Leff  has  released  Maurice 
Schwartz  from  his  contract  to  make 
English  and  Yiddish  versions  of  "The 
Dybbk"  and  "Travier,  the  Dairy 
Alan."  It  cost  Leff  $400,  but  he  is 
now  dickering  to  make  other  pictures 
in  the  east. 

Norma  Shearer  received  a  big 
hand  in  London  where  she  is  visiting 
with  Irving  Thalberg.  A  couple  of 
times  police  protection  was  necessary 
to  curb  the  enthusiastic.  A  press 
luncheon  was  one  of  the  best  attended 
in  years. 

Eve  Ettinger,  long  secretary  to 
A.  M.  Botsford,  is  now  writing 
"The  Women's  Viewpoint,"  new  col- 
umn in  Piiblix  Opinion.  She  dis- 
cusses pictures  from  the  feminine 
angle. 

Sam  Warshawsky's  play,  "The 
Woman  of  Destiny,"  will  be  pre- 
sented for  the  first  time  on  any  stage 
at  the  Wharf  theatre,  Provincetown, 
by  Mrs.  M.  H.  Hewes  the  week  of 
August   24. 

T.  E.  Hall,  assistant  manager  of 
the  Park  Plaza,  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  the  Nemo,  replacing  Eu- 
gene Karlin  who  has  been  assigned  to 
the   New   Jersey   division. 

Bob  O'Donnell  is  in  good  shape 
again.  At  the  Saal  dinner  last  week 
he  sprained  a  ligament  in  his  knee. 
Result :  Two  days  at  home  and  a  limp 
— not  serious — since  then. 

ToscHA  Samoroff  has  been  ap- 
pointed concert  master  of  the  Roxy 
orchestra  by  Conductor  Maurice 
Baron.  He  succeeds  Josef  Stopak, 
who  has  joined  NBC. 

H.  A.  Bandy,  foreign  sales  man- 
ager for  Warner-First  National,  is 
due  back  in  New  York  in  a  few 
weeks.  He's  been  on  the  other  side 
for  many  months. 

Charles  Mosher,  manager  of  the 
Riviera  in  San  Francisco,  has  left  for 
a  two  months'  vacation  trip  to  South 
America.  F.  King  is  pinch  hitting 
for  him. 

Robert  A.  McNeil,  general  man- 
ager of  the  Golden  State  Theatre 
Corp.,  is  expected  back  in  .San  Fran- 
cisco from  the  Orient  on  July  28. 

Joe  RiVKiN  hvads  for  Hollywood 
next  week  on  his  vacation.  Al  Sher- 
man, motion  picture  editor  of  the 
hforning   Telegraph,   goes   along. 

Charlie  Pettijohn  hasn't  so  much 
respect  for  trout  any  more.  He  caught 
nine  in  one  day  up  at  Arrowhead  while 
on  his  recent  Coast  vacation  trip. 


Joe  Schnitzer,  Radio  chieftain, 
who  arrived  from  the  Coast  on  Mon- 
day, is  expecting  to  leave  New  York 
Friday   for  Hollywood. 

E.  A.  McAuliffe,  for  five  years 
in  charge  of  the  Strand  in  Bellefon- 
taine,  O.,  is  now  managing  the 
Lincoln  in  Cleveland. 

Julie  Chapman,  First  Division's 
cashier,  takes  his  vacation  next  week, 
but  he'll  stick  around  Starling  avenue, 
where  he  lives. 

Eugene  Karlin,  former  manager 
of  the  Fox  Nemo,  has  been  assigned 
manager  of  the  Fox  Pascack,  West- 
wood,  N.  J. 

Al   Mertz,  Radio  branch  manager 

in    Cleveland,  has   added   Art   TofHer 

and    William  McCabe    to    his    sales 
force. 

George  Arliss  is  writing  a  story 
which  will  probably  be  his  next  talker 
when  he  returns  from  England  to  the 
Coast. 

Jack  Steinman  of  Manhattan 
Playhouses  is  vacationing  somewhere 
in  the  mountains  of  New  York  state. 

Frank  Schreihart,  chief  of  serv- 
ice at  the  Strand  in  Milwaukee,  has 
been   promoted   to   assistant   manager. 

John  J.  Fitzgibbons,  is  making 
progress  toward  recovery.  He  re- 
cently underwent  an  operation. 

Hy  Daab  won't  even  let  the  heat 
dim  his  enthusiasm.  He's  hatching  up 
ideas  to  capitalize  the  humidity. 

Don  Austin  is  the  new  manager 
of  the  Orpheum  in  Oakland,  Calif., 
succeeding  Willard  Welch. 

Mike  Simmons  is  back  from  a  mys- 
terious trip  that  had  nothing  to  do 
with  syllabic  conversation. 

Bob  Wilby,  never  very  keen  for 
New  York,  is  back  on  familiar  and 
home  ground :  Atlanta. 

Jack  Ellis  has  a  new  Reo  that's 
a  pip.  It's  the  latest  model  and  has 
all    the    latest    designs. 

Jack  Burke,  formerly  treasurer  of 
the  Crotona,  is  now  assistant  manager 
of  the  Park  Plaza. 

Irving  (Mickey)  Gross  has  been 
made  manager  of  the  State  Theatre, 
Racine. 

G.  S.  Yorke  is  "somewhere  in 
California"  on  a  tour  of  Fox  the- 
atres. 

Sherman  Webster  has  joined  the 
Warner   sales    force   in    Cleveland. 

Leon  D.  Netter  is  now  a  country 
squire    of    the    Bronxville    school. 

Don  Clarke  is  writing  another 
novel,  "Young  and  Healthy." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Common  Law  Premiere 

"The  Common  Law,"  starring  Con- 
stance Bennett,  will  have  its  pre- 
miere  at   the   Mayfair    Friday. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Booked  by  Orpheum 

Hollywood  —  Columbia's  "The 
Miracle  Woman"  goes  into  the  Or- 
pheum   on    July    17. 


"Free  Soul"  a 
Smash  at  K.  C. 
With  $21,000 


Kansas  City  —  Norma  Shearer's 
new  starring  vehicle  showed  its  heels 
to  the  rest  of  Kansas  City,  getting 
$21,000  at  the  Midland,  where  the 
average  is  $14,500.  Weather  was 
good    for    the    week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  11  and  year-round 
grosses : 

"CHANCES"   (F.  N.) 
MAINSTREET— (3,067),    35c-60c.    7    days. 
Vaude.  Gross.  $16,500.     Average,  $15,000.) 
"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 
MIDLAND— (4,000),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:   $21,1X10.     (Average,  $14,500.) 

"THE,  NIGHT  ANGEL"  (Para.) 
NEWMAN— (2,000),       35c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:  $11,000.     (Average,  $12,500.) 

"SMART  MONEY"    (Warners) 
LIBERTY— (1,000),  7  days.     Gross:  $7,000. 
(Average,  estimated   around   $4,500.) 
"SKY  RAIDERS"  (Col.) 
UPTOWN-(2,200),        25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average,  $6,000.) 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Prudential  Dickering 
For  25  More  Houses 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

its  string  of  26  on  Long  Island  as 
well  as  its  number  in  New  Jersey. 
Recently  the  company  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  Sag  Harbor,  Sag 
Harbor ;  Southampton,  Southampton, 
and  the  Freeport,  Freeport,  from 
Mike  Glynn  and  took  over  the  Centre 
Moritches  at  Centre  Moritches.  The 
Montauk,  at  Montauk  Point  and 
Nantak  at  Nantak  have  also  been 
added   to   the   circuit. 

Although  it  was  reported  in 
Motion  Picture  Daily's  exclusive 
story  on  June  19  that  in  seeking  a 
goal  of  100  houses  Prudential  would 
confine  its  acquisitions  to  closed  ter- 
ritories, the  majority  of  the  25  the- 
atres are  in  competitive  spots,  but 
not  in  opposition  to  the  Prudential 
string.  Prudential  has  most  of  its 
theatres  in  closed   situations. 

When  questioned  about  the  deals, 
Joe  Seider,  president  of  Prudential, 
refused  to  comment  beyond  stating 
that  he  is  enlarging  offices  at  630 
Ninth  avenue.  The  Casey  and 
'Wheeler  office,  an  affiliated  company, 
at  'Vanderbilt  avenue,  will  not  move 
over  to  the  Ninth  avenue  location. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

'Clear  As  BelV  Gong 
Expected  to  Sound 

Reverberations  of  those  early  (and 
hectic)  days  of  sound  pictures  are 
to  echo  in  Federal  Court,  New  York, 
when  suit  of  the  Irving  Trust  Co., 
tru.stee,  against  officers  of  the  bank- 
rupt Sonora  Products  Corp.,  accus- 
ing them  of  causing  a  $3,000,000  loss 
to  the  corporation  due  to  mismanage- 
ment, is  heard. 

Among  defendants  charged  with  "a 
corrupt  and  unlawful  agreement  and 
conspiracy"  in  a  stock  transaction  in 
which  they  are  alleged  to  have  pock- 
eted $1,500,000  in  profits  which  would 
have  gone  to  the  Sonora  firm  are : 
Percy  L.  Deutsch,  Victor  C.  Bell, 
Anthony  J.  Drexel  Biddle,  Jr.,  Ar- 
thur D.  Mendes,  Harris  Hammond, 
.-Vdam  Stein,  Jr.,  Malcolm  R.  White, 
Rov  G.  Martin.  Wiley  B.  Reynolds, 
W.'  R.  Reynolds  &  Co.,  and  W.  C. 
Bell  &  Co. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Fnrmerlu  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Todau 


Alert  f 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  39 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JULY  16,   1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Blind  Buying 
Hit  as  Danger 
By  Lichtman 

View     Pictures     Before 
Signing,  He  Advises 

Emphasizing  the  need  of  "discard- 
ing outworn  methods"  to  meet  the 
changed  order  in  the  picture  business, 
Al  Lichtman,  United  Artists  sales 
chief,  is  cautioning  exhibitors  against 

blind  buying,  say- 

ing  they  should 
view  every  film 
before   purchase. 

"No  theatre 
owner  can  suc- 
cessfully operate 
his  house  without 
a  thorough 
knowledge  of  each 
picture  he  ex- 
hibits, and  he 
that  knowl- 
cannot  obtain 
edge  without  first 
viewing  the  films 
he  brings  to  his 
a  u  d  i  e  n  c  e,"    he 

says.      "He    cannot    afiford    to    specu- 
late   upon    paper    promises    any    more 
(Continued  on  page  10) 

"BUY  RIGHT^BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Protection  Faces 
Fight  in  Nebraska 

Omaha — Evidence  is  being  col- 
lected by  the  Allied  Theatre  Owners 
of  Nebraska  for  proposed  court  ac- 
tion to  test  the  legality  of  protection 
given  Publix  throughout  the  state. 
The  Nebraska  unit  has  refused  to 
enter  into  any  protection  agreement 
with   distributors. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Schulberg,  Selznick 
Still  Talking  About  It 

Hollywood  —  Those  deliberations 
between  David  O.  Selznick  and  B.  P. 
Schulberg  anent  the  former's  release 
from  a  contract  that  places  his  salary 

(Continued   on    page    11) 


AL  LICHTMAN 


On  Herald  Staff 

Florabel  Muir,  considered 
to  be  one  of  the  best  of  the 
newspaper  fraternity  writing 
from  Hollywood  and  coast 
correspondent  for  the  New 
York  Daily  News,  is  now 
writing  a  column  daily  for 
The  Hollywood  Herald. 

Miss  Muir's  column  is  ex- 
clusive in  Hollywood  with 
The   Herald. 


Meet  Colonel  Al 

Flem  D.  Samson,  governor 
of  Kentucky,  yesterday  ad- 
vised Al  Lichtman  he  had 
been  appointed  an  aide-de- 
camp with  the  title  of  colonel. 

Lichtman  thus  finds  himself 
included  in  the  limited,  titled 
circle  that  includes  Major 
Edward  Bowes,  Colonel  E.  A. 
Schiller,  Major  Albert  War- 
ner, Major  John  Zanft,  Col- 
onel Fred  Levy,  Colonel  H.  A. 
Cole,  etc.,  etc. 


Publix  Steps 
Out  of  Theatre 
Field  in  West 


LABOR  WALKOUT 
IS  FEARED  IN  CHI 


Los  Angeles — Paramount  will  step 
out  of  active  exhibition  in  the  terri- 
tory from  Denver  to  the  Pacific  Sea- 
board if  a  deal  now  under  way  for 
lease  of  the  Paramount  here  to  Fox 
West  Coast  goes  through. 

Fox  West  Coast  would  operate,  but 
Paramount  distribution  would  get  a 
break,  for  the  deal  provides  that  the 

(Continued   on    page    11) 


Para,  3-Month  Net 
Over  Dividend  Rate 

Net    earnings    of    $2,225,000    after 

charges    and    taxes   are    estimated    by 

Paramount  for  the  quarter  ended  June 

30.     This  is  equal  to  70  cents  a  share 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Tiffany  Keeps 
Own  Identity; 
Saal  Gen.  Mgr. 


Tiffany  will  retain  its  identity  as 
a  producing  company,  releasing 
through  Educational,  L.  A.  Young, 
Grant  L.  Cook  and  William  Saal  em- 
phasized yesterday  in  a  joint  state- 
ment. While  Educational  will  sell 
and  distribute  the  company's  product, 
approval  of  contracts  will  rest  in  Saal, 
as  active  general  manager  of  the  com- 
pany under  the  guidance  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee.  Saal  will  make 
frequent  trips  throughout  the  country 
for  the  purpose  of  supervising  the 
sale    of    his    company's    product    and 

(Continued  on  page  11) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Columbia  Offers  Bow 
$5,000  Weekly  Check 

Hollywood — Harry  Cohn  says  he 
has  been  negotiating  for  some  time 
with  Clara  Bow  and  has  offered  the 
star  $5,000  weekly.  However,  George 
Frank,  her  manager,  denies  receiving 
such  ofifer  and  says  that  it's  not 
enough  from  Columbia  or  any  one 
else. 


Move  Seen  Sequel  If  One 
Man  in  Bootfi  Be- 
comes General 


Ex/libs  in  N.  W.  Urge  Go-By 
For  ' 'Buy  Now ' '  Movement 


Minneapolis — They've  a  pet  peeve 
here  in  the  north  country,  what  with 
the  heat,  humidity  and  all.  That  "Buy 
Right — But  Buy  Now"  movement  of 
Motion  Picture  Daily  has  the  na- 
tives hereabouts  in  a  stew  and  all  of 
the  boys  who  swear  allegiance  to  the 
Northwest  exhibitor  unit  —  so  their 
officers  say — are  pretty  sore. 

It  seems  that  some  of  the  boys  have 
been  whooping  'er  up  on  a  buying 
strike  movement.  They  say  they  will 
lay  ofif  buying  until  exchanges  turn  a 
couple  of  handsprings  with  a  cart- 
wheel or  two  thrown  in  for  good 
measure.  They  want  the  go  buy  idea 
to  be  a  go-by  affair  and  the  word  has 
been  passed  to  give  film  salesmen  the 
high,  wide  and  handsome. 

Now  it  seems  that  Motion  Picture 
Daily's  gesture  to  prevent  an  under- 
mining of  the  industry  structure  has 
been  singled  out  for  attack.    The  ex- 


hibs  of  this  sector  have  it  all  figured 
out,  judging  by  Al  StefTes'  latest  bul- 
letin. Will  H.  Hays  (none  other),  so 
Steffes  asserts,  passed  the  word  along 
after  his  reported  set-to  at  Wash- 
ington due  to  salary  cuts  in  the  in- 
dustry. 

Steffes  surely  lays  it  on  hot  and 
heavy  in  his  bulletin.  He'd  have  his 
members  believe  that  the  trade  press 
is  all  sewed  up  and  that  Hays  is  wield- 
ing the  needle.  Subsidy  and  lack  of 
courage  are  among  the  descriptive 
phrases  in  Steffes'  bulletin.  At  any 
rate,  it's  good  ammunition  for  the 
forthcoming  convention  of  the  North- 
west unit,  which  needs  a  new  bally- 
hoo, since  the  old  gag  of  Steffes'  re- 
signing and  being  taken  by  traitors  in 
the  fold  has  been  worn  threadbare. 
Meanwhile,  exchanges  are  taking  con- 
tracts and  sturdy  members  are  deny- 
ing heatedly  that  they've  bought  new 
season    contracts.     And    life   goes    on. 


Chicago  — •  Exhibitors  here  are 
fearful  of  a  general  walkout  of  union 
employes  if  any  appreciable  number 
of  theatres  adopt  the  one-man-in-the- 
booth  policy  following  offer  of  the 
state  attorney's  office  to  give  protec- 
tion to  such  houses.  The  move  was 
made  to  encourage  reopenings  and 
prevent  further  closings.  The  offer 
came  toward  the  close  of  the  Grand 
Jury  investigation  into  racketeering 
charges  brought  against  the  opera- 
tors' union. 

The  Madison  Street  and  Lindy  the- 
atres now  are  running  with  one  man 

(Continued  on  page  10) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sullivan  Buys  Pathe 
Lineup  for  FoxChain 


Other  developments  in  the 
"Buy  Right— But  Buy  Nowi" 
movement  will  be  found  on 
page  8. 


Add  Jack  Sullivan  to  the  list  of 
supporters  of  the  "Buy  Right — But 
Buy  Now"  movement.  Sullivan,  who 
does  all  the  buying  for  the  various 
Fox  circuits,  has  just  closed  a  deal 
with  RKO  Pathe  for  that  firm's  out- 
put in  theatres  of  the  circuit.  Twenty- 
(Continued  on  page  8) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

And  Now  "Tragedy" 
WiU  Enter  Court 

"An  American  Tragedy"  has 
proved  something  of  a  tragic  under- 
taking for  Paramount,  so  far  as  grief 
with  its  author,  Theodore  Dreiser,  is 
concerned,     for     Wednesday    he    cli- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


My  "Buddy" 

It  originally  was  Charles 
"Buddy"  Rogers  and  that's 
the  way  it'll  be.  Paramount 
has  decided  to  return  "Bud- 
dy" back  to  Charles  Rogers' 
name  because  it  believes  that 
the  public  will  not  recognize 
their  buddy  as  plain  Charles 
Rogers. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,    July    16.    1931 


" 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.   S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\ol.    .50 


July    16.    19.U 


Xo.    39 


Martin    Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  Ji  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Maiiager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  DearBorn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kutrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,    N.    Y.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Millions 

W  E  ask  you  this 
morning  to  consider  this : 

In  the  last  ten  clays,  799  cor- 
porations in  businesses  that 
range  from  the  manufacture  of 
nuts  and  bolts  to  the  sale  of  mo- 
tion pictures  have  declared  their 
regular    dividend    commitments. 

Forty  corporations  went  for 
extras ;  and  five  increased  their 
rates.  On  the  other  side  of  the 
ledger  and  not  nearly  tipping  the 
scales  their  way  you  find  that 
only  92  companies  passed  their 
dividends :  only  47  reduced  them 
and  only  five  deferred  action. 

VV  E  see  in  this  an  ob- 
servation fraught  with  great 
significance  in  these  sultry  days 
when  depression  seems  to  rule 
the  economic  waves. 

Those  799  dividend  declara- 
tions run  into  many  millions  of 
dollars.  It,  therefore,  appears  a 
rational  conclusion  to  draw  that 
business  at  large  isn't  so  badly 
off.  It  also  seems  to  us  to  indi- 
cate that  the  financial  backbone 
of  the  nation's  industries  con- 
tinues to  function  effectively  in 
its  economic  carcass,  even  if  it 
has  been  pretty  severely  jarred. 


1  HE  direct  appli- 
cation to  this  industry  should  be 
obvious.  Theatres  depend  on 
widespread  business  activity  for 
their  continued  patronage.  Divi- 
dend checks  mean  dollars  to 
spend. 

From   that    point    on.    anyone 
can  dope  it  out. 

K  A  X  X 


ONE  reason  Universal  hasn't  tied  itself  down  to  many  major  circuit 
contracts  is  its  concern  for  the  independent  exhibitor.  "U"  man- 
agers have  been  instructed,  it  is  understood,  to  split  product  with  the 
independents  in  all  situations  possible  regardless  of  the  circuit  position 
in  each  territory.    Allied  leaders  are  appreciative  of  this. 


In  his  regular  bulletin  to  members  of  the  Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
New  Jersey,  Sidney  Samuelson  says:  "Give  a  thought  to  Universal. 
This  company  is  playing  ball  without  attempting  to  tell  any  exhibitor 
how  to  run  his  business  and  I  think  it  opportune  to  point  out  that 
Universal  owns  very  few  theatres  and  is  making  a  real 'effort  to  produce 
qualitv  pictures. 

O 

"By  giving  Universal  fair  and  square  support  nozv,  we  will  be  aiding 
in  the  preservation  of  competition  among  distributors,  thereby  doing 
something  for  ourselves.  Let's  support  Universal  this  year  and  show 
this  business  that  independents  can  map  out  a  program  and  see  it 
through  successfullv." 

• 

Universal  is  understood  to  have  paid  Allied  $52,000  so  that  the  or- 
ganization will  be  able  to  continue  as  a  fighting  unit  for  independents. 


Northern  New  Jersey  exhibitors  are  up  in  the  air  over  M-G-M's 
reported  insistence  on  a  minimum  of  14  percentage  pictures  on  new- 
product  contracts.  The  company,  in  asking  that  25  per  cent  of  product 
go  on  a  split  basis,  is  said  to  be  insisting  that  at  least  two  Norma 
Shearer  pictures  be  classified  as  such  in  addition  to  12  others  to  be 
designated  as  specials.  Paramount  is  understood  to  be  asking  for  a 
minimum  of  14  percentage  pictures  but  will  not  pass  up  contracts,  as 
is  believed  in  the  case  of  M-G-M,  if  exhibitors  do  not  agree  on  the 
minimum.  Columbia  is  also  being  criticized  for  its  selling  tactics  on 
percentage  engagements. 

• 

]\I-G-M  is  taking  every  precaution  to  prevent  "Trader  Horn"  from 
hitting  the  two-ply  bills.  Although  it  has  a  clause  in  its  percentage 
contracts  that  "agreed  that  the  exhibitor  will  not  double  feature"  the 
picture,  the  company  is  keeping  the  running  time  to  125  minutes  so 
that  it  would  be  pretty  hard  to  get  another  feature  in  on  the  same  bill. 
However,  one  Boston  independent  recently  double  featured  "Trader" 
with  another  feature,  which  ran  70  minutes,  and,  adding  coals  to  the 
fire,  charged  only  ten  cents. 

When  M-G-M  got  wind  of  the  breach,  it  pulled  the  picture  and  the 
house  was  forced  to  go  dark  for  four  hours. 


Entire  Stock  List  Continues  Downward 


Net 

High  Low  Close  Chamge 

ronsolidated  Film  Industries 7^  7^  7^  —  J4 

Consolidated   Film   Industries  pfd 1334  IS'A  iSii  —  Yn 

Eastman  Kodak 141i4  \i7  139M  — 2}4 

Fox    Film    "A" IS'A  14f^  ISYz  —  Va. 

General   Theatre    Ek[uipment,    new V/t  3M  3^  —  Vi 

Loew's,    Inc '^Z'A  4VA  42H  —  y» 

Loew's,    Inc..    pfd 871^4  87J4  87!4  +  H 

Paramount    Publix 2V/s  223i  23'A  —I'A 

Pathe  Exchange I'A  VA  V/2  —  Vi 

Pathe     Exchange     "A" 6A  5H  6%        

RKO   1374  13^  \M  —  H 

Warner    Bros 7  6Vi  6J^.  —  '/z 

Sentry  Safety  Drops  to  New  Low 


cf>m%. 


"Bill"  Saal  for  that  rousing 
pep  speech  he  made  at  the 
eastern  sales  convention  of 
Educational,  despite  the  tor- 
rid  weather. 


Weisfeldt  Busy  on 
Distribution  Deal 


Fox  Theatres  "A". 


High 


General  Theatre   Equipment   pfd 7 

Sentry    Safety    Control 1 

Technicolor     6 

Tra ns  Lux S'/. 


Low 

2  A 

Vs 
6 


Net 
Close      Change 

2A      -  'A 


-V/s 

-1 


Sales 

300 

800 

9,100 

12,100 

4,000 

4,300 

100 

14,200 

500 

3,600 

8,800 

12,500 


Sales 

4,000 
400 
600 
400 
800 


Physical  distribution  of  the  product 
of  Picture  Classics,  Inc.,  independent 
distributing  firm  recently  formed  by 
M.  J.  Weisfeldt,  is  to  be  handled  by 
a  national  company,  it  is  under- 
stood. Classics  moved  yesterday  to 
new  and  enlarged  quarters  at  130 
West  46th  St.  Weisfeldt  could  not 
be  reached  for  a  statement  on  the  re- 
port his  firm's  pictures  would  be  re- 
leased through  national  exchanges. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Doubles  Up 
On  Booking  Deals 

JM-G-M  is  introducing  the  combi- 
nation booking  plan  in  its  various  ex- 
changes, with  the  Pittsburgh  office  the 
first  to  inaugurate  the  idea.  Hereto- 
fore exhibitors  booking  junior  fea- 
tures, or  shorts,  would  have  to  deal 
with  short  subject  bookers,  and  if  he 
wanted  to  book  a  feature  he  would 
have  to  talk  to  a  booker  handling  just 
features.  In  order  to  facilitate  book- 
ings of  the  features  and  shorts,  book- 
ers now  will  be  able  to  date  in  shorts 
as  well  as  features  without  switching 
the  exhibitor  from  one  desk  to  another. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Squaw  Man"  for  Astor? 

M-G-M  is  considering  putting  "The 
Squaw  Man"  into  the  Astor  following 
run  of  "A  Free  Soul."  The  Norma 
Shearer  film  is  expected  to  continue 
on  Broadway  for  another  three  or 
four  weeks.  It  is  now  in  its  sixth 
week. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Wedding  Bells 

Abe  Goodman,  member  of  the  Fox 
advertising  staft',  and  Pearl  Brandeis, 
in  the  accounting  department  of  the 
same  company,  marry  on  Septem- 
ber  10. 

Charles  Goldie,  office  manager  of 
the  Fo.x  publicity  department,  and 
Margaret  Spotz,  musician,  join  hands 
on  August  1. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lasky  to  Coast 

Jesse  L.  Lasky  left  for  Hollywood 
and  the  Paramount  studio  yesterday 
on    his    customary    mid-summer    trip. 


Bonds  Off;  P,  P.  Drops  1  Point 


General    Theatre     Equipment    65 

Keith.   B.   F.,  6s  '46 

Ivoew's    6s    '41    ex   war 

Paramount    Broadway   iYiS   '51... 

Paramount   F.    L.   6s   '47 

Paramount    Publix   5^s,    'SO 

Pathe   7s    '37   ww 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39   wd 


Net 

High 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

35'4 

34 

35 

19 

69M 

68 

69fi 

7 

9874 

•im 

98/8 

-'A 

15 

103 

102 

102 

-H 

21 

90'/, 

90 

90 

1 

81 

80 

80 

—1 

14 

92-/, 

92 

92^ 

+  'A 

20 

41 

40 

40 

-'A 

23 

Sound  Recording 

FILM   AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY     RECORDING     CO.     ol 

AMERICA.    INC 

1841    Broadway — New    York,    N.    Y. 

Columbus    S-31 81-3 182 


I  f ee[  that 


isoneofthe  best 
pictures  I  have 
ever  made  -  - 

CERTAINLY 
THE  MOST      ^^ 
INTERESTING  /  ' 


■m 


->^i 


^: 


-3 


'->Xi 


"A  lovelier  Constance  Ben- 
nett appears.  Will  the  cash 
registers  click?  You  bet!" 

— Hollywood  Re|>orter 

"The  public  will  just  eat  it 
up.  The  audience  clapped 
their  hands  off." 

—  MoHie  Merricfc 

"Preview  audience  definitel 
enthusiastic.  Her  best  screen 
portrayal."    —Hollywood  Herald 


m 


■\. 


v»v 


^' 


WARNER  BROS. 


with  BEN  LYON,  RICHARD  BENNETT  •  Directed  by  ARCHIE  MAYO 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   July    16,    1931 


Chevalier  Big 
At  $18,500  in 
Hot  L.  A.  Week 


Los  Angeles — Maurice  Chevalier's 
"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  walked 
away  with  honors  this  week,  getting 
$18,500  at  the  Carthay  Circle.  "A 
Free  Soul,"  playing  day  and  date  at 
the  Criterion  and  Chinese,  continued 
okay  in  its  third  week.  The  State 
nosedived  to  $16,200  with  "Anna- 
belle's  Affairs"  and  other  houses 
found  business  lighter  than  usual. 
"Chancer"  was  satisfactory  at  the 
Warner  houses  and  the  RKO  and 
Pantages  did  fairly  well.  Hot  weather 
drove  many  to  the  beaches,  hurting 
grosses  plenty. 

Estimated    takings     for    the    week 
July   15  and  year-round  averages: 
"EL    PRINCIPE    GONDOLERO"    (Para.) 

CALIFORNIA     INTERNATIONAL— (2,- 
000,    2Sc-50c,    7    days.     Gross:    H800.        Av- 
erage,   $5,000.) 
"THE   SMILING  LIEUTENANT"   (Para.) 

FOX    CARTHAY    aRCLE-(l,650),    7Sc- 
$1  50    $5  premiere.     George  StoU   and  Band. 
Gross:    $18,500.     (Average,    $12,500.) 
"A    FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

FOX  CRITERION— (1,652),  35c-65c,  3rd 
week,  7  days.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average, 
$10,000.^    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

GRAUMAN'S  CHINESE— (2,030),  25c- 
75c,  3rd  week.  7  days.  Gross:  $8,300. 
(Average,    $8,000.)  ^_       ^,,  ^  ,,^ 

"LAUGHING     SINNEJtS"     (M-G-M) 

GRAUMAN'S  EGYPTIAN-(1,800),  10c- 
65c.  7  days.  Gross:  $3,300.  (Average, 
$6,500. 

"ANNABELLE'S   AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,418),  35c-65c,  7  days. 
F  &  M.  "Divertissement"  Idea,  Meghn 
Kiddies.  Gross:  $16,200.  (Average,  $27,- 
000.) 

"THE   LADY   WHO   DARED"    (F.   N.) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,100),  25c-65c,  7  days. 
Stage  show  with  Leon  Errol;  Carleton 
Kelsey's  Band.  Gross:  $8,100,  (Average, 
$16,000.) 

"SEED"     (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,750),  35c-65c,  5th  week.  7 
days.     Gross:    $6,200.      (Average,    $16,000.) 

"THE   TARNISHED    LADY"    (Para.) 

PANTAGES'  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000),  35c- 
65c,    7   days.     F.    &    M.    "All   at    Sea"    Idea. 
Gross:     $12,800.      (Average.    $15,000.) 
"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"     (Para.) 

P.VRAMOUNT- (3,596),  3.5C-65C,  7  days. 
Round  the  World  Stage  revue.  Gross: 
$11,500.    (Average.    $25,000.) 

"EX-BAD     BOY"     (Univ.) 

RKO— (2,700),  35c-65c,  7  days.  Five  acts 
RKO  vaudeville.  Gross:  $13,200.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"NIGHT    ANGEL"    (Para.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (2,100).  35c-65c,  7 
days.  Organ  concert.  Gross:  $7,200.  (Av- 
erage,   $13,500.) 

"CHANCES"   (F.  N.) 

WARNER  BROS.'  DOWNTOWN— 
(2,400).  7  days.  35c-50c.  Gross:  $12,600. 
(Average,    $15,000.) 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

WARNER  BROS.'  HOLLYWOOD— 
(3,000),  2nd  week,  7  days,  35c-50c.  Gross: 
$13,000.     .Average,    $14,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Thalbergs  Return 

Irving  Thalberg  and  Norma 
Shearer,  accompanied  by  Irving,  Jr., 
arrived  in  New  York  on  the  Bremen 
from    Europe  yesterday. 


Berlin — \'isit  of  Irving  Thalberg 
to  Berlin  gives  rise  to  reports  in  the 
trade  that  M-G-M  will  produce  in 
Germany. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY  NOW" 

*'No  Smoking"  Rules 

Los  Angeles — The  proposed  thea- 
tre smoking  ordinance  has  been  ve- 
toed by  Mayor  Porter. 


A  Letter  to  Grainger 

MR.  JAMES  R.  GRAINGER, 

Vice-President, 

Fox  Film  Corporation, 

850  Tenth  Avenue, 

New  York  City. 

Dear  Mr.  Grainger: — 

I  have  read  your  very  inter- 
esting letter,  addressed  to  me, 
which  was  published  in  an 
advertisement  of  your  com- 
pany in  yesterday's  issue  of 
"Motion  Picture  Daily." 

We  appreciate  your  endorse- 
ment of  our  return-to-pros- 
perity campaign  now  being 
conducted  in  the  Quigley  Pub- 
lications. We  note,  however, 
that  you  refer  to  our  cam- 
paign as  the  "Buy  Now" 
movement.  The  campaign  ac- 
tually carries  the  suggestion 
of  "BUY  RIGHT"  as  well  as 
"Buy  Now." 

We  feel  sure  you  will  un- 
derstand why  we  wish  to 
have  the  campaign  referred 
to  under  its  full  title  of  "Buy 
Right— But  Buy  Now,"  be- 
cause as  a  sales  authority  in 
this  industry  you  know  that 
a  sale  to  be  successful  for 
either  the  distributor  or  the 
exhibitor  must  be  at  right 
price  and  under  right  condi- 
tions, as  well  as  at  the  right 
time. 

Very  truly  yours, 
(Signed)   MARTIN  QUIGLEY 

July  15,  193L 


British  Chain 
Is  Prediction 
Of  Nathanson 


Postpone  Trial  of 
Six  Alleged  Bombers 

Seattle — Trial  of  six  local  men 
accused  of  bombing  Seattle  theatres 
with  stench  and  gas  bombs  has  been 
continued  until  August  27  on  the 
state's  motion  by  Justice  of  the  Peace 
John    B.    Wright. 

William  W.  Kelso  and  William 
SmitTi,  heads  of  the  Pacific  Coast  In- 
stitute of  Motion  Picture  Engineer- 
ing of  this  city,  are  charged  with  pos- 
session of  the  materials  from  which 
the  bombs  are  made.  The  other  four 
defendants,  Marion  Bell,  Howard 
Wong,  Qyde  Spangler  and  Harry 
Booth,  are  charged  with  placing  the 
bombs   in  downtown   theatres. 

The  six  were  apprehended  over  a 
period  of  several  months  by  local 
police.  All  are  at  liberty  on  bond  at 
the  present  time. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Hip  Firm  Incorporates 

Baltimore — The  Hippodrome  The- 
atres has  filed  application  for  incor- 
poration with  the  Maryland  State  Tax 
Commission  here,  the  organizers  being 
.Sidney  L.  Nyburg,  L.  Edwin  Gold- 
man and  Raphael  Walter.  The  au- 
thorized capital  stock  is  100  shares  at 
no  par  value  and  the  purpose  of  the 
company  is  to  operate  all  types  of 
theatres.  This  company  now  controls 
the  Hippodrome  here,  formerly  owned 
by  Peace  and  .Scheck  and  managed  by 
Nat  Keene.  The  house  has  been  taken 
over  by  Izzy  Rappaport,  of  Philadel- 
phia. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

De  Mille  Goes  British 

London — "British  pictures?  They 
are  just  coming  into  their  own;  you 
are  beginning  to  make  some  very  good 
ones,"  said  Cecil  B.  De  Mille  to  trade 
naper  reporters  upon  his  arrival  here 
from  New  York. 


Toronto — N.  L.  Nathanson  has 
spoken  at  last !  In  a  brief  interview, 
Nathanson  avoided  all  reference  to 
the  severe  criticism  accorded  him  by 
C!ommissioner  Peter  White  in  the 
film  probe  report  in  which  many 
Canadian  companies  were  judged  to 
be  operating  as  a  combine.  But 
Nathanson  did  discuss  one  possibility 
briefly  and  that  was  that  the  next 
probable  step  in  the  Canadian  field 
would  be  the  establishment  of  a  chain 
of  houses  in  key  cities  which  would 
concentrate   on    British    films. 

Nathanson  would  not  say  that  he 
was  identified  with  such  a  project, 
but  his  company,  Regal  Films,  Ltd., 
recently  organized  a  British  film  di- 
vision. Hence  his  statement  appears 
to  deal  with  the  matter  of  prospec- 
tive business.  Regal  has  15  British 
productions  lined  up  for  early  re- 
lease, it  asserts. 


Ottawa — The  feeling  in  official 
circles  of  the  Canadian  capital  is  that 
one  outcome  of  the  White  combine 
report  will  be  a  flood  of  legislation 
dealing  with  the  film  distributing 
business  and  the  theatres  when  legis- 
lative sessions  _are  held  ne.xt  winter. 
These  will  be  introduced  in  the 
various  provincial  legislatures,  as 
well  as  in  the  Federal  House  of 
Commons,  by  vote-angling  politicians 
who  will  try  to  capitalize  on  the 
White  report,  it  is  felt.  Chief  among 
these  legislative  proposals  will  be  the 
quota  measure,   it   is  predicted. 

Already  R.  H.  Pooley,  attorney- 
general  for  British  Columbia,  has 
intimated  that  the  British  Columbia 
government  will  introduce  a  film 
quota  bill  at  the  session  at  Victoria 
next  February.  In  the  meantime,  the 
White  report  will  be  studied  and,  if 
the  action  is  considered  advisable, 
Pooley  will  order  a  dissolution  of  the 
so-called  film  combine,  he  declared. 
Other  provincial  governments  have 
not  yet  made  any  announcement  and 
the  Federal  authorities  are  still  wait- 
ing for  authorization  to  proceed  with 
anv  desired  action  in  behalf  of  the 
provinces. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Drop  Shorts  Program 

Cleveland — Short  subject  pro- 
grams, which  opened  the  Euclid 
Beach  Park  Theatre  early  this  month 
have  been  abandoned  in  favor  of 
regular  feature  attractions.  The  the- 
atre is  located  in  Cleveland's  largest 
outdoor  amusement  park  and  is  run 
by  Joe  Leavitt. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

2  Firms  Pay  Dividends 

The  Fox  Film  regular  quarterly 
dividend  of  62^2  cents  on  Class  A  and 
B  stock  was  payable  yesterday. 

Marcus  Loew's  Theatres  semi-an- 
nual dividend  of  $3.50  on  the  pre- 
ferred was  also  payable  Wednesday. 


Loew  Dividend 

Loew's,  Inc.,  has  declared  a  regular 
quarterly  dividend  of  $1.62^  on  the 
$6.50  preferred  stock  payable  on  Au- 
gust 15  to  stockholders  of  record 
July  31. 


Seattle  Unions 
Use  Sticker 
Propaganda' 


Seattle  —  Automobile  windshield 
stickers  that  admonish  readers  to : 
"Save  Our  Stage !  Patronzie  The- 
atres With  Stage  Shows !"  are  ap- 
pearing throughout  the  city  in  in- 
creasing numbers. 

They  are  being  distributed  and  dis- 
played by  members  and  friends  of  the 
local  stagehands'  and  musicians' 
unions,  principally  to  combat  Fox 
West  Coast  Theatres,  Inc.,  with 
whom  they  are  having  differences 
that  have  resulted  in  the  closing  of 
the  Fox  Paramount  and  the  abandon- 
ment of  Seattle  as  a  "stand"  for 
Fanchon  &   Marco's   stage   revues. 

At  the  present  time,  the  RKO 
Orpheum  is  the  only  local  theatre 
offering  stage  attractions  in  addition 
to  the  first  run  films. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Friday  Opening  Is 
Adopted  in  Minn. 

Minneapolis — The  4,000-seat  Min- 
nesota, operated  by  Publix,  has  gone 
to  a  Friday  opening.  The  change  had 
been  made  last  week  with  "The 
Man  in  Possession"  getting  the  six 
day   week  on  the   screen. 

This  now  makes  almost  a  clean 
sweep  of  the  Friday  opening  for 
Publi.x  houses  in  the  Twin  Cities. 
The  RKO  Orpheum  still  holds  to  the 
Saturday    opening,    however. 

No  change  has  yet  been  made  in 
the  newspaper  handling  of  theatre 
copy  except  to  shove  forward  the  re- 
views. Sunday  sections  are  the  same 
as  before  though  they  appear  prac- 
tically in  the  middle  of  the  engage- 
ment. There  is  usually  a  brief  boxed 
announcement  of  coming  attractions. 
Thursday,  however,  is  coming  to  be 
a  big  theatrical  advertising  day. 
"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Jackson  Appointed 

Chicago — William  A.  Jackson, 
Chicago  business  and  utilities  man, 
was  appointed  commissioner  of  gas 
and  electricity  by  Mayor  Anton 
Cermak,    succeeding    Tom    Kennedy. 

The  appointment  is  of  interest  to 
Chicago  exhibitors  as  the  bureau  of 
gas  and  electricity  rules  on  numerous 
phases  of  theatre  wiring,  decoration 
and  marquee  and  lobby  advertising. 
Also  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
commissioner  of  gas  and  electricity  is 
the  department  of  motion  picture  op- 
erators' examiners,  now  presided  over 
by  Joe  Maloy,  brother  to  Tom  Ma- 
loy  of  the  (Dperators'  union.  Joe 
Maloy's  department  is  now  under  in- 
vestigation by  the  grand  jury  for  al- 
leged collusion  in  qualifying  unfit  ap- 
plicants   for    operators'    licensing. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

See  Fight  in  Omaha 

Omaha— Despite  inter-state  com- 
merce rulings,  pictures  of  the  Schmel- 
ing-Stribling  fight  at  Cleveland  are 
part  of  the  program  at  the  Moon 
here,  downtown  grind  of  the  Popu- 
lar Amusement  Co. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Mason  a  Mother 

Shirley  Mason,  wife  of  Sidney 
Landfield,  director,  yesterday  gave 
birth    to    a    daughter. 


COOD  STRONG  STUFF 


Say  Nevi  York  Nev/spaper  Reviewers  of 


HUSH  MONEY 


! 


'THIS  IS  A  GOOD  ONE''  This  is  a  good 
one . . .  Genuine  novelty  and  suspense . . . 
Vastly  exciting . . .  Joan  Bennett  gives  sister 
Constance  a  run  for  her  money  as  an 
emotional  actress  . .  .  Good  strong  stuff. 

—  New  York  Daily  Mirror 


•  • 


u 


-?*; 


"WON  AUDIENCE^'  The  audience  ob- 
viously liked  "Hush  Mcmey"very  much. 

—  New  York  Times 


•  • 


"EXCELLENT    ENTERTAINMENT"  Out 

of  the  ordinary. . .  Excellent  entertainment. 

—  New  York  Daily  News 


•  • 


"FRESHNESS  AND  INGENUITY"  You 

will  be  struck  by  a  freshness  and  ingen- 
uity in  handling  it .  .  .  Intelligent  aaing, 
speedy  direction  and  smart  dialogue  . . . 
A  grateful  variation  on  the  usual  gang- 
ster theme.  —New  Yotk  Evening  Po^ 


\U<i(lltM>      ) 


at  the 


Roxy 


wi 


ih 


JOAN  BENNETT 
HARDIE  ALBRIGHT 

Owen  Moore      ^      Myrna  Loy 

Directed    by    SIDNEY    LANFIELD 


''COLUMBIA'S   PERCEN 


HITS   IS  THE   LARGEST  Oil 


Says    John    J.    Jones    of 
Jonesf  Li  nick    and     Schaefer 

X 


COLUMBIA'S   SHOWMANSHIP   GROUP 
FOR     THE     COMING     SEASON 

1931--.193  2 


"DIRIGIBLE" 

Overshadows  any  other  picture  ever  made! 

• 

A  Frank  Copra  Production 

Barbara  Stanv/yck  in  "Shopworn" 

"Vanity  Street"  by  Fannie  Hurst 

"Love  Affair"  by  Ursula  Porrott 

"Blonde  Baby"  with  Jean  Harlow 

Jack  Holt  in  3  dramas 

"The  Men  In  Her  Life"  by  Warner  Fqbian 

•  .  '  '■ 

2  stories  from  True  Story  Magazine 

"Then  Hell  Broke  Loose" 

• 

"The  Substitute  Wife"  by  Frank  R.  Adams 

•'  ^'^ 

"The  Final  Edition" 
ABorirdfa^Stanwyck — Frank  Copra  Production 

A  Jack  Holt — Ralph  Graves  Production 
"Pagan  Lady"  From  Broadway  Stage  Success 
."The  Artist's  Model"  by  Rupert  Hughes 
I         2  stories  by  Edgar  Wallace 


"Gentlemen  For  Sale" 
"The  Halfway  Girl"  by  Hawthorne  Hurst 

"Unwanted"  by  Bella  Muni  and  Abem  Finkel 

• 

"The  Guilty  Generation" 

by  Jo  Milward  and  James  Kerby  Hawkes 

• 

"Zelda  Marsh"  by  Charles  G.  Norris 

"Hollywood  Speaks" 
Buck  Jones  in  8  outdoor  productions 

Tim  McCoy  in  8  outdoor  productions 

• 

Walt  Disney's  "Mickey  Mouse"  Cartoons  and 

"Silly  Symphony"  Cartoons 

• 

Bryan  Foy's  "Monkeyshines" 

• 

Walter  Putter's  "Curiosities" 

Produced  by  Wafilms,  Inc. 

• 

Walter  Putter's  "Travelaughs"  Dialogue  by 
John  P.  Medbury.  Produced  by  Wafilms,  Inc. 

"Bedtime  Stories'_>/ttFi  Eddie  Buzzell 


Charles  Mintz's  "Krazy  Kat"  Cartoons, 
^.  "Scrappy"  Cartoons  ^'^'^^ 

Screen  Snapsbofs 


DON'T  WAIT-SIGN  YOURCC 


kCE    OF    BOX    OFFICE 


LL  FILM  COMPANIES! 


'•■•■  i- 


^T^^'^ 

'^'/!^ 

'-y^ 


'"!^- 


A    f""   fo»-    ,v^  ««   ,»., 

'«A«I-4*  "lost  «^ 


^i 


•^•?k 


■■P?<^.§SS^r^'     ■■-■ 


UMBIA  CONTRACT  NOW! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   July    16,    1931 


Sullivan  Buys  Pathe 
Lineup  for  FoxChain 


{Continued  from  page   1) 
one   star  features,   six   westerns,    139 
shorts  and  Pathe  News  are  included 
in  the  deal. 

Circuits  involved  are :  Fox  West 
Coast,  the  Schanberg  and  Rhoden  cir- 
cuits covering  Kansas,  Missouri, 
Iowa,  Nebraska  and  Illinois;  the  Fox 
Midwest  Circuit,  in  the  Wisconsin 
territory ;  the  Fox  Chicago  theatres ; 
the  Fox  Poli  circuit  in  New  England ; 
the  Fox  Upstate  circuit  in  New  York 
State;  and  the  Fox  Metropolitan  cir- 
cuit in  Greater  New  York. 


Fox  Books  Para, 

For  Middle  West 

Fox  theatres  in  the  Midwest  will 
play  Paramount's  complete  line-up  of 
features,  shorts  and  Paramount 
News,  according  to  deals  just  closed. 
Ralph  LiBeau,  Paramount  district 
manager  for  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis, 
Oklahoma  City  and  Des  Moines, 
closed  the  deal  in  New  York  last 
week.     It  covers   125  theatres. 


Philadelphia — Tony  Luchese, 
local  franchise  holder  for  Big  4,  has 
placed  that  company's  third  series  of 
westerns  with  the  followitig  theatres : 

Grand,  Baltimore;  Victor,  Richmond,  Va.; 
Forest,  Conshocken,  Pa. ;  Globe  and  Victor, 
Richmond,  Va. ;  Palace,  Berwick,  Pa. ;  and 
Broad  St.,  Harrisburg,   Pa. 


Atlanta — New  Big  4  sales,  closed 
by  Arthur  C.  Bromberg  Attractions 
out  of   Atlanta,   include: 

Columbus,  Whiteville,  N.  C;  Wanoca, 
Wallace,  N.  C;  Holly,  Mt.  Holly,  N.  C; 
Famous,  New  Orleans;  Suzore,  Memphis. 


Detroit — Excellent  Pictures,  local 
selling  unit  for  Big  4,  has  sold  the 
following    accounts : 

Rivoli,  Bay  City ;  Colony  and  Jefferson, 
Detroit. 


Los  Angeles — Big  4  melodramas, 
a  series  of  eight,  have  been  sold  by 
All  Star  Feature  Distributors,  Inc., 
to: 

Majestic,  Sairta  Monica;  Hippodrome,  Los 
.Angeles;   Mission,  Santa   Barbara. 


Kansas  City — Mid-West  has  sold 
the  third  series  of  Big  4  westerns  to 
the  Gem  here. 


The  following  booking  contracts 
covering  the  entire  Warner  Bros.- 
First  National  product  for  the  new 
season  were  cleared  at  home  office 
headquarters  yesterday : 
California 

Post  Exchange,  Fort  McDowell,  Capt.  G. 
E.  Kalsch;  Lyric,  Modesto,  H.  R.  Parker; 
Colfax,   Colfax,   G.    W.   Taylor. 

Connecticut 

New  Hamilton,  Waterbury,  Fred.  J.  Van 
Doren;  Rialto,  New  Britain,  Maurice  Ahl- 
strom. 

Georgia 

Golden,  La  Grange,   L.  J.  Duncan. 

Idaho 

Rialto,    Pocatello,    N.    B.    Grosman. 

Indiana 

Grand,   Gary,   City   Amuse.   Co. 

Iowa 

Empire,  Storm  Lake,  G.  R.  Gormen; 
Grand,  Knoxville,  W.  A.  Graham;  Granada, 
Webster  City;  Royal,  Spirit  Lake;  Solon, 
Spencer;  Iowa,  Jeflferson;  Earle,  Carroll, 
Finkelstein  Theatre,  Inc. 

Kansas 

Apex,  Topeka,   B.   F.    Payne. 

Kentucky 

Washington,   Maysville,   J.    B.   Russell. 

Louisiana 

Richelieu,  Tallulah,   W.  J.   Gilpin;   Amite, 


Purely  Personal 


M.\RK  LuESCHER  and  other  RKO 
officials  are  enthused  over  the 
scheduled  appearance  Friday  on  the 
RKO  Theatre  of  the  Air  of  Phillips 
Lord.  Lord,  who  is  the  "Seth 
Parker"  of  radio,  is  going  to  the 
Coast    to    make    his    debut    in    films. 

Fay  Wray  and  her  husband,  John 
Monk  Saunders,  are  en  route  to  the 
Coast,  where  Miss  Wray  is  to  ap- 
pear in  retakes  of  "The  Unholy  Gar- 
den," ordered  by  Samuel  Goldwyn, 

Leon  Rosenblatt  is  not  taking  a 
vacation  this  year  although  he'd  like 
to  take  another  trip  to  Switzerland. 
He  made  a  tour  of  the  Alps  about 
three  years  ago. 

Harry  Buxbaum  is  planning  to 
give  a  house  warming  shortly  to  cele- 
brate the  new  palatial  offices  he  has 
and  the  refurbished  exchange  quarters 
at  Fox. 

Charlie  Rosenzweig  and  brother 
Joe  had  an  informal  conference  on 
Broadway  at  46th  street  yesterday 
afternoon.     It  was  not  business. 

Rudolf  Sieber,  husband  of  Mar- 
lene  Dietrich,  arrived  yesterday  on 
the  Bremen  to  join  his  wife  and 
daughter   in   Hollywood. 


Amite,   V.   Currier;    Bienvenu,   St.   Martin- 
ville,    G.    Bienvenu. 

Maryland 

Palace,  Baltimore,  Ritz  Amuse.  Co.; 
Vilma,  Baltimore,  Vilma  Amuse.  Co.;  New, 
Sykesville,   H.   L.   Phelps. 

Michigan 

Victory,  Bay  City,  Roy  Carrow;  Republic, 
Detroit,  A.  W.  Rowland;  Lloyd's,  Han- 
cock; Lloyd's,  Menominee,  Ruben  Rosen- 
blatt. 

Mississippi 

Jefferson,   Fayette,   V.    Walker. 

Nebraska 

Moon,  Wilber,  Moon  Theatre  Co.;  Doug- 
las, Newman  Grove,  Douglas  Theatre  Corp.; 
Lyric,    Atkinson,    A.    J.    Miller. 

New  Hampshire 

Halcyon,   Colebrook,   W.   Buckley. 

New  Jersey 

Center  St.,  Trenton,  Hunt's  Trenton  The- 
atres Corp.;  Crescent,  W.  CoUingswood, 
Hunt's  Theatres  Corp. ;  Casino,  Wildwood, 
Hunt's  Theatres  Corp.;  Palace,  Cape  May, 
Hunt's   Theatres   Corp. 

NEW  YORK 

Strand,  Plattsburgh;  Rialto,  Glens  Falls; 
Capitol,  Whitehall;  Congress,  Saratoga; 
Rialto,  Cohoes;  Capitol,  Ballston,  and  State, 
Mechanicville,  William  Benton  circuit; 
Grand,  Rochester,  Schine  Theatres,  Inc.; 
Palace,  Geneseo,  Geneseo  Theatre  Corp.; 
Valley,  Spring  Valley,  Spring  Valley  The- 
atre Corp. 

North  Carolina 

Wanoca,  Wallace,  C.  F.  CandcII;  Carolina, 
Hamlet,   R.   P.   Rosser. 

Ohio 

Capitol,  Bellaire,  Intersetate  Theatres, 
Inc. 

Pennsylvania 

Strand,  Berwick,  A.  Hall  Ass'n.;  Temple, 
Berwick,  Edward  Skyrm;  New  Morley, 
Athens,  A.  L.  Hewitt;  New  Empress, 
Philadelphia,    Standard   Amuse.    Coi 

Rhode  Island 

Central,  Westerly,  Westerly  Theatre  Op- 
erating   Co. 

South  Carolina 

Strand,  Walhalla.  A.  C.  Phillips;  Marine 
Barracks,  Paris  Island,   W.  J.  Greem 

Texas 

Star,  Teague,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Covingtom 

Virginia 

Venus.  Richmond.  Venus  Theatres,  Inc.; 
Crewe,  Crewe,  A.  Nally. 

Washington 

Market,  Seattle,  R.  D.  Winkler;  Barclay, 
I^avenworth,   A.    C.   Barclay. 

Wisconsin 

Al    Ringling,    Baraboo,    C.    L.    Roser. 


Eddie  Klein,  who  goes  abroad  next 
week,  may  go  into  the  producing  end 
as  well  as  representing  several  dis- 
tributors. 

Dave  Levy,  M-G-M  New  Jersey 
manager,  is  on  the  road  for  the  first 
time  since  he  was  elevated  from  sales- 


Halsey  Raines  and  Sam  Forgots- 
ton  of  M-G-M  played  tennis  the  other 
day  and  Raines  lost  both  frames. 

Cresson  Smith,  RKO  Pathe  mid- 
western  district  manager,  is  paying 
a  visit  to  the  home  office. 

Norma  Shearer  and  Irving  Thal- 
berg,  in  New  York  from  Europe, 
leave  Friday  for  the  Coast. 

L.  Snitzer  has  resigned  from 
Radio  to  take  charge  of  accessory 
sales  at  RKO  Pathe. 

SiG  Wittman  is  a  regular  visitor 
at  Universal's  New  York  exchange. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gets  $10,000  Award 
In  RKO  Damage  Suit 

Cincinnati — Judgment  of  $10,000 
has  been  awarded  Blaine  E.  Lemert  in 
a  $25,000  U.  S.  District  court  suit 
against  RKO  Distributing  Corporation 
for  damages  claimed  to  have  been  sus- 
tained by  himself  and  wife  when  an 
auto  of  the  company  collided  with  his 
car  Jan.  21,  1930.  RKO  is  appealing 
the  case  to  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of 
Appeals. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tobis  Buffalo  House 
Report  Is  Scouted 

Buffalo — Reports  that  Tobis  would 
open  a  theatre  here  have  no  basis  so 
far  as  Miss  Emma  Albanalp,  secre- 
tary of  the  Buffalo  Film  Board  of 
Trade,  knows.  Theatres  available  in- 
clude the  Hollywood,  Shea's  Court 
Street  and  Gayety. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Newspaper  Backs  Up 
Para,  in  Dreiser  Row 

San  Francisco — Commenting  on 
what  Paramount  did,  or  is  alleged  to 
have  done,  with  Theodore  Dreiser's 
"An  American  Tragedy,"  the  San 
Francisco  Chronicle  says  that  neither 
Dreiser  nor  any  other  author  can 
hope  to  dictate  to  show  producers. 
"Authors  write  for  their  public — pro- 
ducers have  an  entirely  different  type 
of  public  to  please,"  the  editorial 
states. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Allporf's  Job  Over 

Paris  —  Fayette  W.  Allport,  bor- 
rowed from  the  Department  of  Com- 
merce by  the  Hays  association  to' 
handle  the  quota  in  France  and  Ger- 
many, has  finished  his  job  and  re- 
turns to  the  department  as  commercial 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Stromberg  Here;  Sailing 

Hunt  Stromberg,  M-G-M  super- 
visor, arrived  in  New  York  from 
Hollywood  yesterday  and  sails  for  a 
European  vacation  on  the  Bremen 
Friday  night. 


.^r 


And  Now  "Tragedy 
Will  Enter  Court 


(.Continued  from  page    I) 

maxed  a  long  series  of  squawks  by 
serving  the  complaint  in  a  suit  to  be 
filed  in  Supreme  Court  at  White 
Plains  to  prevent  showing  of  the  pic- 
ture, which  is  scheduled  for  an  early 
premiere  at  the  Criterion,  New  York. 

Dreiser  terms  the  film  "an  utter 
misrepresentation  and  libelous  distor- 
tion of  what  I  wrote"  and  says  its 
presentation  not  only  will  cause  him 
great  anguish  of  mind,  "but  irrepar- 
able injury  in  the  damage  caused  to 
his   reputation   in   public   esteem." 

He  claims  the  characters  have  been 
distorted,  that  the  trial  scene  is  not 
in  accurate  conformity  whh  court 
practice  and  that,  whereas  the  book 
was  an  indictment  of  the  American 
social  system,  the  picture  has  no  such 
significance. 

"The  inevitability  of  human  acts 
resulting  from  the  heredity,  back- 
ground and  bringing  up  of  individuals 
is  a  subject  worthy  of  portrayal.  It 
is  said  that  'An  American  Tragedy' 
has  succeeded  in  presenting  the  life 
of  a  real  human  being  and  has  made 
clear  the  motives  which  actuated 
him,"   asserts   Dreiser. 

"I  would  not  have  put  my  name  or 
devoted  my  efforts  to  telling  merely 
a  murder  story.  And  yet  this  is 
what  the  defendant  has  portrayed. 

"As  stated,  there  was  a  distinct 
understanding  that  the  picture  would 
properly  represent  the  novel.  In 
addition,  I  am  advised  that  where  an 
author  sells  one  thing  a  purchaser 
has  no  right  to  present  something  en- 
tirely different." 

Exhibition  of  the  film  in  its  pres- 
ent form,  Dreiser  says,  "would  be  a 
fraud  not  only  on  me  but  on  the  pub- 
He." 

About  Von  Sternberg 

Dreiser  has  been  "letting  Para- 
mount have  it"  for  some  time,  ex- 
hibits attached  to  the  suit  show.  For 
instance,  here  is  what  he  has  to  say 
about  Josef  Von  Sternberg,  director 
of  the  picture,  in  a  letter  to  Jesse  L. 
Lasky : 

"Personally,  I  do  not  sense  the 
mental  equipment  which  permits  him 
to  criticize  me.  So  far,  if  my 
knowledge  is  correct,  he  has  produced 
one  successful  picture,  which  chances 
to  carry  a  star  which  would  make 
any  picture  successful.  From  that, 
he  proceeds  apparently  to  the  assump- 
tion that  he  personally,  in  Hollywood, 
is  prepared  to  arrange  and  embellish 
the  literary  achievements  of  the 
world.     I  doubt  it." 

Samuel  Hoffenstein,  author  bf-^he 
script,  also  was  put  on  the  pan  by 
Dreiser  after  explaining  why  he  had 
been  unable  to  consult  Dreiser  in 
preparation  of  the  script.  Dreiser 
wrote : 

"Your  telegram  of  the  17th  is  the 
usual  Hollywood  swill  and  bunk. 
Sorry  to  see  your  name  attached.'' 
After  Dreiser  had  seen  the  script,  he 
wrote,  "to  me  it  is  nothing  less  than 
an  insult  to  the  book — its  scope,  ac- 
tions, emotions   and  psycholo^gy." 

Dreiser  yesterday  was  granted  a 
temporary  injunction  returnable  July 
22. 


Charles  McCarthy  when  reached  at 
his  home  last  night  had  nothing  to-  say 
about  the  Dreiser  suit. 


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'''Universal  pictures  as  a 
whole  were  superior  to  the 
standard  set  by  any  other 
company." 

Joseph  S.  Price 

Eagle  Theatre 

Philadelphia,  Pc 


"Your  product,  both  fea- 
tures and  shorts,  has  more 
than  lived  up  to  our  ex- 
pectations." 

Dan  Carrothers 

Hermosa   Theatre, 

Hermosa   Beach,  Calif. 


"Universal  has  been  the 
backbone  of  our  program 
and  showed  a  greater  net 
than  similar  type  pictures 
exhibited." 

A.  F.  Minor,  Mgr. 

Lama  Theatre  Co. 

Burbank,  Calif. 


"More  box  office  pictures 
in  your  product  than  any 
product  I  purchased." 


Amendola  Theatre 
Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. 


BH^ 


CO 


Ride  with  a  Winner! 


10 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,    July    16.    1931 


Blind  Buying 
Hit  as  Danger 
By  Lichtman 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

than  we  can  afford  to  mislead  him 
with  enthusiasm  over  pictures  \vhich 
we  ourselves  have  not  even  seen." 

In  line  with  this  platform.  Licht- 
man has  organized  an  exhibitors' 
service  denartment  designed  to  back 
up  each  L'.A.  picture  with  a  complete 
campaign  in  every  theatre  in  which 
the>-  are  shown.  Each  release  will  be 
accompanied  by  a  "well-rounded  cam- 
paign, one  which  will  sell  productions 
from  every  angle,  including  national 
stunts  and  tie-ups  and  every  other 
aid  imaginable." 

At  the  head  of  this  department  is 
Hal  Home,  veteran  exhibitor  and  ex- 
ploiteer  who  recently  became  adver- 
tisine  and  publicity  director  of  the 
company.  Ten  field  men  will  have 
headquarters  in  the  principal  key 
cities  of  the  country  to  execute  these 
campaigns.  Not  only  will  they  co- 
operate with  theatre  owners,  but  they 
will  also  arm  the  entire  crew  of  United 
Artists  salesmen  with  similar  material 
with  which  to  aid  exhibitors  in  every 
town  and  city  in  the  country,  Licht- 
man promises. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount  Ally  to 
Start  Television 

Columbia  Broadcasting  System,  in 
which  Paramount  has  a  50  per  cent 
interest  next  Tuesday  will  begin  tele- 
vision broadcasts  in  New  York. 
Eighty-four  stations  linked  to  WABC 
will  receive  the  broadcast.  This  will 
be  New  York's  sixth  television  station. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Buy  Huston  Vehicle 

Hollywood — Universal  has  pur- 
chased "Heart  and  Hand"  by  Olive 
Eden  as  a  vehicle  for  Walter  Hus- 
ton. His  son,  John  Huston,  will 
adapt   it. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW 

Wallace  Directs  Ruth 

Hollywood — Richard  Wallace  is  to 
direct  Ruth  Chatterton  for  the  sec- 
ond time.  Paramount  having  assigned 
him  to  megaphone  "Tomorrow  and 
Tomorrow." 


Aha! 

H^it'y wood  —  Sam  Goldwyn, 
th*  Miner  day,  said  Ina  Claire 
won't  do  "The  Greeks  Had  a 
Word  for  It"  because  he 
thought  she  should  play  more 
"emotional"  parts. 

Says  Florabel  Muir,  well 
known  columftist  *vho  is  now 
writing  daily  a«>*  exclusively 
on  th»  C^%t  'f*T  The  Holly- 
wooti  H^rttW: 

"Ina  CVAit*  did  not  reje«i 
"Clrtfeks*  bwause  of  aspira- 
tinns  tt)  be  a  dramatic  actr««»s 
h«t  fcrt^tfsre  she  can't  see  her- 
■self  playing  second  fiddle  to 
Loviell  Sherman  as  aclor-di- 
ffeetof.  Ina  is  the  smartest 
'Comedienne  we  hav«  and  is 
quite  tontent,  thairks,  with 
no  yearning  to  be  «»  emoter." 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


'Bought" 


(IVanters) 

Hollywood  —  Constance  Bennett's 
dramatic  work  won  her  considerable 
applause  at  the  preview  of  her  latest 
film  and  from  indications  she  is  sure 
to  add  a  new  list  of  followers  to  her 
standard. 

As  Stephanie  Dale  she  longs  for  the 
better  things  in  life  and  seeks  to  asso- 
ciate herself  with  the  cultured,  refined 
and  wealthy.  Believing  that  her 
parents  were  never  wedded,  she 
divorces  herself  from  the  drudgery 
and  commonplace  existence  to  make 
the  best  of  life.  She  meets  Ben  Lyon, 
a  struggling  novelist,  but  gives  him 
up  for  Meyer  (Richard  Bennett)j 
owner  of  a  group  of  gown  shops  and 
with  a  predeliction  for  music  and 
literature. 

Through  Meyer  she  meets  a  play- 
boy and  marries  him  for  the  better 
things  he  can  provide,  but  it  is  shortly 
that  she  realizes  that  money  cannot 
buy  intellect  and  kills  the  romance  by 
disclosing  her  past.  The  climax  to 
her  alleged  illegitimate  birth  comes 
when  she  goes  to  the  bedside  of 
Meyer,  who  is  ill  and  he  reveals  that 
he  is  her  father.  Richard  Bennett's 
performance  was  well  received  as  was 
that  of   Lyon  and   Raymond    Millard. 


a 


Rider  of  the  Cactus" 

{Big  4) 
Plenty  of  outdoor  action  in  this 
western  despite  triteness  of  fabric. 
Wally  Wales,  the  hero,  is  supported 
by  a  cast  that  rounds  out  a  nice  i>er- 
formance,  among  those  being  Buzz 
Barton  and  Lorraine  LaVal.  The 
story  has  to  do  with  a  stranger  fall- 
ing for  the  ingenue  and  her  mother, 
visitors  in  the  cactus  country,  and  in- 
advertently becoming  heir  to  a  box 
with  a  secret  map  with  its  description 
to  the  place  of  hidden  treasures.  An 
outlaw  learns  of  the  treasure  and  goes 
the  limit  to  get  possession  of  the  map. 
The  wind-up,  of  course,  shows  him 
getting  the  worst  of  it  and  the  lovers 
strolling  up  the  primrose  path.  There 
are  some  novel  touches  such  as  the 
Latin  inscriptions  on  the  map  and  the 
method  of  transporting  men  under 
covers  thrown  over  the  donkeys'  hack 
when  it  looks  like  a  battle  in  the  open. 
David  Kirkland  managed  to  get  in 
plenty  of  the  cactus  country  scenery 
in  directing  this  one. 


Shorts 


**Making  'Em  Love" 

(RKO  Pathc) 
Usual  Aesop  Fable  animated  car- 
toon stuff.  The  sponsors  probably 
Viave  run  out  of  ideas.  This  one  deals 
with  the  making  of  animated  car- 
toons which  may  garner  a  few  laughs 
and  then  again  it  may  not.  Running 
time,  9  minutes. 


'The  Lone  Starve  Ranger' 

(Rndin) 
Roscoe  Ates,  stuttering  as  usual, 
managed  to  'garner  a  couple  of 
laughs  at  the  Mayfair,  New  York, 
where  this  OTie  was  caught  yesterday. 
He's  a  s'tarving   stranger  in  quest  of 


food,  but  he  gets  everything  else  in- 
stead. How  he  gets  a  job  as  a  bar- 
ber, then  is  appointed  sheriff  and 
later  captures  Rattle  Snake  Pete  for 
the  $500  reward  is  good  for  as  many 
laughs  that  the  Broadway  audience 
lets  loose.  There's  no  leading  lady 
to  intrude  in  the  action.  Running  time, 
20  minutes. 

"Whippet  Racing" 

(M-G-M) 
Hollywood — A  Carthay  Circle  au- 
dience went  for  "Whippet  Racing"  in 
a  big  way.  This  short,  directed  by 
Ward  Wing  with  running  dialogue  by 
Pete  Smith,  traces  the  training  of 
racing  whippets  and  ends  with  a  real 
thriller  in  the  form  of  an  actual  race. 
Smith's  wise-cracking  dialogue  went 
over  with  a  bang  with  the  paying  pub- 
lic  the   night  this   was   caught. 


"The  Messenger  Boy" 

(RKO  Pathe) 
Benny  Rubin  takes  about  half  of  the 
footage  to  get  into  action — but  once 
he  sets  a  pace  he  is  really  funny.  The 
initial  half  dealing  with  the  pranks 
of  the  kid  Rubin  has  been  assigned 
to  take  care  of  is  just  fair,  but  the 
sequences  when  he  goes  into  a  mas- 
querade as  an  Apache  dancer  will 
crack  a  laugh  out  of  a  frozen  Scots- 
man. Running  time,  22  minutes. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Florida  Legislature 
Proposes  5  and  10  Tax 

Tampa — A  proposed  tax  on  so- 
called  "luxuries,"  including  a  tax  on 
theatre  admissions,  which  would  add 
5  cents  to  all  tickets  selling  up  to 
25  cents  and  10  cents  on  all  over  25 
cents  and  up  to  $1,  with  10  per  cent 
on  all  over  that  amount,  was  the 
opening  gun  of  the  second  extra  ses- 
sion of  the  Florida  legislature. 

On  top  of  this  wallop  in  the  House, 
Senator  Parker  came  to  bat  in  the 
Senate  with  an  amusement  tax.  The 
Senator  hadn't  heard  about  that  5 
cents  on  all  tickets  up  to  25  cents,  or 
may  be  he  had  a  heart,  for  his  bill 
would  only  sock  10  per  cent  onto  all 
tickets  selling  for  25  cents  or  more. 
Thirty  Senate  bills  were  introduced 
the  first  day  in  the  second  extra  ses- 
sion and  ten  of  these  were  for  new 
revenue. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Honor  Ike  Martin 

Cincinnati — Honoring  the  memory 
of  the  late  Colonel  Ike  Martin,  found- 
er and  for  many  years  generalissimo 
at  Chester  Park,  but  later  executive 
head  of  the  Orpheum  Theatre,  a 
bronze  tablet  has  been  erected  at  the 
park.  The  unveiling  was  a  civic  af- 
fair attended  by  city  and  country  of- 
ficials, newspapermen,  theatre  man- 
agers and  hundreds  of  friends  of  the 
colonel. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

North  Appointed 

Chicago  —  Tom  North,  formerly 
Van  Beuren  Chicago  representative, 
has  been  appointed  central  district 
manager  of  Talking  Picture  Epics, 
succeeding  Tom  McLaughlin.  Dis- 
trict ofifices  are  located  in  the  Univer- 
sal building  here. 


Exhibs  Fear 
Walkout  in 
Chi  Houses 


(Continued  from   page   1) 

in  the  booth  and  four  others  are  re- 
ported considering  a  similar  policy. 
The  wisdom  of  the  move  is  ques- 
tioned here  in  the  light  of  threat  of 
a  general  walkout. 

Jack  Miller,  president  of  the  Chi- 
cago exhibitor  unit ;  Walter  Immer- 
man,  district  manager  of  Publix  and 
Barney  Balaban,  secretary  of  Publix- 
Balaban  &  Katz,  were  circuit  execu- 
tives called  to  testify  in  the  probe, 
which  heretofore  has  depended  solely 
upon  independents  for  testimony. 

The  grand  jurors  will  question  the 
circuit  officials  in  an  effort  to  deter- 
mine whether  the  Chicago  Operators' 
Union  was  accorded  support  of  any 
kind  by  circuits  which  permitted  or 
aided  the  union  in  maintaining  two 
men  in  projection  booths  and  per- 
petuating a  high  wage  scale,  or  en- 
forcing any  other  regulations  which 
acted  to  the  detriment  of  circuit  com- 
petition, particularly  among  small, 
independent  theatres.  Complete  of- 
fice files  and  records  of  both  the  Pub- 
lix-Balaban  &  Katz  Corp.  and  the 
Exhibitors'  Association,  dating  back 
to  1926,  were  seized  early  in  the 
week  by  raiding  squads  attached  to 
the  state's  attorney's  office  and  are 
being  examined  for  evidence  of  any 
payments  made  the  union  or  to  union 
officials. 

The  state's  attorney's  office  has  ac- 
corded police  protection  to  prominent 
independent  theatre  leaders  who  have 
been  identified  with  the  investigation, 
and  protection  has  also  been  accorded 
the  homes  and  theatre  properties  of 
several  of  these  individuals.  This  pre- 
caution has  been  taken  in  spite  of 
the  denials  of  independent  leaders 
that  they  had  any  part  in  originat- 
ing  the   investigation. 

Assistant  State's  Attorney  Charles 
Bellows  states  that  he  is  confident  that 
indictments  will  be  returned. 

"RUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Photophone  Showing 

RCA  Photophone  today  will  dem- 
onstrate what  is  said  to  be  its  best 
example  of  recording  when  a  film  is 
shown  presenting  the  choir  of  the 
Mormon  Tabernacle  in  Salt  Lake 
City.  The  film  was  shown  at  the  con- 
vention of  the  Society  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Engineers  in  Los  Angeles.  To- 
day's showing  is  at  the  Photophone 
home  office   at   3    P.M. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Optimism  Note 

New  Orleans — To  date  no  houses 
in  the  suburbs  have  closed  due  to  bad 
business.  On  the  contrary,  business 
has  improved,  owing  to  excellent  pro- 
grams presented,  and  in  the  downtown 
section  cooling  systems  have  invited 
better  patronage  than   in  the  past. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Drops  Two 

Hollywood — Two  players  have  been 
dropped  by  M-G-M,  options  on  two 
extended  and  another  signed.  The  two 
to  be  released  are  Paul  Morgan  and 
Lester  Vail  while  Charles  Boyer  and 
Madge  Evans  will  continue  for  an  in- 
definite period.  Astrid  Alwynn  has 
been  added  to  the  company's  roster. 


Thursday,   July    16,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


N.Y.CriticsHai] 

PeggyShannon 

As  Film  Find 


For  her  first  major  picture,  "The 
Secret  Call,"  now  current  at  the 
Paramount  in  New  York,  Peggy 
Shannon  gets  a  real  critics'  break. 
Several  of  the  New  York  reviewers 
don't  throw  raves  about  her  vehicle, 
but  practically  all  of  them  like  Miss 
Shannon. 

Regina  Crewe,  in  the  American 
said : 

"Peggy  Shannon  proves  a  provocative 
youngster — a  clever  little  player  whose  fea- 
tures somehow  seem  a  composite  of  several 
different  favorites.  Her  personality  fails  to 
blaze  in  this  one,  yet  she  contributes  a  fine 
technical  performance.  We  wish  her  well 
and  believe  that  with  experience  in  fast 
company    she    will    blossom    to    full    bloom." 

Bland  Johaneson,  writing  in  the 
Daily  Mirror,  had  this  to  say  : 

"She  is  young,  trim  and  fetching.  Her 
face  is  not  that  of  just  a  sappy  ingenue 
and  her  personality  is  potently  appealing. 
Her  present  vehicle,  however,  leaves  some- 
thing  to  be   desired." 

Kate  Cameron,  of  the  Daily  News, 
after  declaring  Peggy  Shannon  as  the 
player  much  publicized  as  "the  prob- 
able successor  of  Clara  Bow,"  has 
this  to  say : 

"She  is  not  a  bit  like  Clara  Bow,  except 
that  she  is  red-headed.  She  hasn't  Clara's 
vivacity,  but  she  has  something  that  Clara 
lacks  in  talent  for  dramatic  acting.  She 
has  beauty,  charm  and  an  assurance  not 
often  possessed  by  inexperienced  screen 
players." 

Pare  Lorentz,  in  the  Evening  Jour- 
nal : 

'•*  *  *  The  loveliness,  grace  and  unusual 
voice  of  Miss  Shannon  make  the  'Secret 
Call'    an   exceptional   movie." 

John  S.  Cohen,  Jr.,  in  the  Sun : 

"As  for  Miss  Shannon,  she  is  still  an- 
other pretty  girl.  Her  face,  too,  is  a  bit 
stronger  than  that  of  most  of  the  ingenue 
visages  and  she  has  a  definitely  alluring 
screen  presence.  Here  she  occasionally 
doesn't  seem  quite  certain  of  herself,  but 
it  usually  does  take  a  girl  at  least  three 
pictures  before  she  can  really  thumb  her 
nose   at   a   microphone." 

"L.  M.,"  in  the  Times : 

"Miss  Shannon  is  attractive,  but  the 
'Secret  Call'  does  not  present  many  situa- 
tions calling  for  much  more  than  a  gentle 
stroll    through    its   various    sequences." 

William  Boehnel,  in  the  li'orld- 
Telegram : 

"As  for  the  new  sta_r,  she  seems  to  be 
an  attractive  enough  young  woman  who,  in 
her  first  screen  effort,  doesn't  display  any 
signs  of  ability  remarkable  enough  to  war- 
rant immediate  stardom.  But  then  it  may 
be  that  so  feeble  a  story  as  the  'Secret 
Call'  would  be  an  unsurmountable  handicap 
for  any  player  and  that  given  the  proper 
material,  Paramount's  faith  in  her  will  be 
justified." 

Julia  Shawell,  in  the  Graphic: 

"Miss  Shannon  has  a  charming  voice 
and  appears  at  ease  before  the  cameras. 
She  isn't  particularly  beautiful,  but  she 
looks  like  excellent  material  for  future 
leading    roles." 

Richard  Watts,  Jr.,  in  the  Herald- 
Tribune  '■ 

"*  *  *  But  even  if  she  doesn't  manage 
the  part  with  any  tremendous  distinction, 
she  is  a  likeable  and  attractive  girl  who 
possesses  a  certain  prettiness  that  is  earnest 
and    straightforward." 

Al  Sherman,  in  the  Morning  Tele- 
graph : 

"But  in  the  cast  itself  the  outstanding 
figui'e  is  Peggy  Shannon,  a  newcomer  to 
the  sci-een  and  the  girl  who  was  widely 
heralded  several  weeks  back  as  the  logical 
successor  to  Clara  Bow.  iliss  Shannon  has 
too  much  potential  dramatic  ability  to  be 
foisted  on  to  a  throne  which  is  supported 
by  a  claim  of  alleged  sex  appeal.***  Rather 
than  antagonize  any  Clara  Bow  fans  by  ar- 
bitrarily selecting  a  successor  to  the  'It' 
girl,  let  the  Paramount  powers  that  be, 
allow  Miss  Shannon  to  prove  herself — as 
she  has  in  the  'Secret  Call' — solely  through 
her  own  native  intelligence  and  dramatic 
ability,  fostered,  as  I  said  before,  by  proper 
casting    and    attraction."  ' 


Star  Dust 


r  EGGY  S  HAN- 
NGN,  billed  at  the  Paramount 
here  in  New  York  as  the  star 
"you'll  SO  wild  about,"  makes 
a  favorable,  but  hardly  start- 
ling, impression  in  "The  Secret 
Call."  In  fairness  to  her,  and 
to  whatever  histrionic  capa- 
bilities that  may  lie  dormant 
in  this  new  player,  however,  it 
should  be  pointed  out  at  once 
that  her  debut  material  is 
largely  to  blame.  In  "The  Se- 
cret Call"  Miss  Shannon  has 
little  chance  to  display  real 
ability,  provided  such  ability  is 
hers. 

This  young  w^oman  has  an 
asset  in  a  voice  "ivhich  is  vi- 
brant, low  and  resonant.  Also 
she  is  attractive;  particularly 
so  when  photographed  full 
face  and  somewhat  less  so 
when  shot  in  profile.  We  should 
like  to  see  her  in  a  role  that 
makes  demands  on  the  emo- 
tional scale.  It  will  then  be 
more  fair  to  judge. 

K  AN  N 


Schulberg,  Selznick 
Still  Talking  About  It 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

in   the    four    figure    class    every   week 
are  continuing. 

It  is  reported  that  Selznick  plans  to 
produce  independently.  He  is  also  a 
son-in-law  of  Louis  B.  Maver,  final 
"M"  of  M-G-M. 


Florabel  Muir,  writing  from  Holly- 
wood in  the  New  York  Daily  News, 
has  this  to  say  about  the  Selznick- 
Schulberg  matter : 

"Schulberg  and  Selznick  have  been 
'round  and  'round,  as  the  fellers  say, 
many  a  time  during  their  Paramount 
association.  There  was,  for  example, 
the  little  matter  of  "The  Street  of 
Chance,'  Oliver  Garrett's  original  film 
with  the  Rothstein  background.  Schul- 
berg scoffed  at  this  one  and  then  went 
to  Europe,  returning  to  discover  that 
under  the  supervision  of  his  young  as- 
sistant, Selznick,  it  had  skyrocketed 
up  to  become  the  big  bang  of  Para- 
mount's year. 

"David  and  Jonathan  bore  mutual 
hate  in  comparison  with  the  fraternal 
devotion  of  David  and  Myron,  and  it 
may  be  that  the  loathing  for  agentry 
entertained  by  Messrs.  Schulberg  and 
Mike  Levee,  Gold  Dust  twins  of  Par- 
amount, may  have  precipitated  the 
row  with  David." 

Myron  Selznick,  brother  to  David, 
is  head  of  the  Selznick-Joyce  agency, 
Hollywood's   biggest. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Deny  Hoffman  Report 

I.  J.  Hoft'man  is  not  going  to  resign 
zone  manager  of  the  Warner  chain  of 
theatres  in  New  England.  The  report 
which  had  Hoffman  leaving  his  pres- 
ent position  at  the  expiration  of  his 
contract  in  the  fall  was  character- 
ized in  the  Warner  offices  yesterday 
as   "unadulterated  bunk." 


Thornton  Delehanty,  in  the  Eve- 
ning Post : 

"Miss  Shannon  isn't  an  impressive  ac- 
tress, but  she  is  nice  to  look  at  and  that  is 
about  all  that  is  required  of  her  in  the 
part,  except  that  it  would  have  helped  if 
she  had  mastered  a  little  variety  in  her 
vocal    inflections." 


Tiffany  Keeps 
Own  Identity; 
Saal  Gen.  Mgr. 


(Continued    from    Daae     1) 

building  up  a  force  to  assist  him  in 
this   work. 

Cook  asserted  that  Tiffany  has  ob- 
tained sufficient  capital,  principally 
from  a  Detroit  banker,  to  enable  it 
to  carry  out  the  most  ambitious  pro- 
duction schedule  it  has  attempted^  and, 
while  he  declared  that  Educational  has 
no  interest  in  Tiffany  in  any  respect, 
he  admitted  that  it  had  loaned  a  sum 
to  his  company  to  carry  out  its  pres- 
ent program.  Educational,  likewise, 
he  said,  will  have  the  privilege  of 
putting  its  okay  on  pictures  to  be 
produced.  Otherwise,  Tiffany  is  a 
distinct  entity. 

The  statement  disposes  of  reports 
that  Earle  W.  Hammons  has  bought 
the  company.  Cook  declared  flatly  that 
Hammons  has  no  interest  in  any  way 
in  Tiffany.  L.  A.  Young  will  remain 
in  the  company  and  it  will  be  managed 
by  its  present  board  of  trustees,  to 
which  Saal  will  be  added.  The  ex- 
ecutive committee  is  composed  of 
Young,  Cook  and  Saal.  Phil  Gold- 
stone  will  remain  in  charge  of  pro- 
duction   "indefinitely,"    it    was    said. 


Edu&l  Chiefs  Off 
For  Chi  Convention 

Informal  meetings  yesterday  wound 
up  Educational's  three-day  sales  con- 
vention at  the  Astor.  In  the  after- 
noon, the  following  left  for  Chicago 
where,  at  the  Congress,  the  Mid- 
Western  meeting  gets  under  way  to- 
day: 

E.  W.  Hammons,  President ;  Burt 
Kelly,  assistant  to  the  president ;  Stan- 
ley W.  Hatch,  general  sales  manager ; 
Budd  Rogers,  feature  sales  manager ; 
Harvey  Day,  field  manager ;  Gordon 
S.  White,  director  of  advertising  and 
publicity;  Reginald  W.  Wilson,  in 
charge  of  sales  promotion ;  Arthur 
Lucas,  Southern  division  manage^; 
Bill  Saal,  A.  L.  Young's  representa- 
tive and  G.  Clifton  Reid,  producer 
of  Educational-William  J.  Burns  De- 
tective Mysteries. 

Branch  managers  to  attend  include 
Max  Stahl,  Chicago;  M.  H.  Starr, 
Detroit ;  H.  C.  Dressendorfer,  Indian- 
apolis ;  O.  S.  Barnett,  Louisville,  J. 
L.  Winn,  St.  Louis ;  W.  O.  GallowaXj 
Des  Moines;  J.  A.  Harris,  Mil- 
waukee ;  H.  B.  Johnson,  Minneapolis ; 
N.   P.  Eberley,   New  Orleans. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Frisco  House  Dark  on 
Creditors'  Pressure 

San  Francisco— Although  Otto 
Lochbaum  says  that  the  house  would 
have  been  out  of  the  red  in  30  days, 
the  second  run  Union  Square  has 
closed  after  three  years.  Lochbaum 
says  that  pressure  of  the  firm's  larg- 
est creditor  caused  it  to  go  dark. 
O.  M.  Larsen  is  a  partner  in  the  en- 
terprise. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Heads  Montana  Unit 

Butte — J.  A.  Billings,  Anaconda 
showman,  now  is  president  of  the 
Montana  exhibitor  association,  a  unit 
of  Allied. 


Publix  Steps 
Out  of  Theatre 
Field  in  West 


(Continued    from    page    1) 

company's     product     must     play     its 
namesake  theatre. 

This  is  the  house  kept  out  of  the 
leasing  agreement  closed  months  ago 
whereby  all  of  Publix  houses  along 
the  coast  were  turned  over  to  Fox 
for  operation.  Considered  important 
for  studio  morale  purposes,  the  Para- 
mount here  was  continued  under  Sam 
Katz's  management. 


Buffalo  —  Theatre  "swapping," 
discussed  informally  by  the  heads  of 
the  five  major  circuits,  may  take  con- 
crete form  here  in  the  passing  of 
Loew's  from  the  Buffalo  exhibition 
field  under  a  deal  which  will  vest 
operation  of  the  Great  Lakes  ;n  Pub- 
lix and  Mike  Shea. 


Sam  Katz  could  not  be  reached  last 
night  for  a  statement. 


Para,  3-Month  Net 
Over  Dividend  Rate 


(Continued    from    page    1) 

on  3,178,312  shares  outstanding  and 
covers  the  regular  quarter  dividend  of 
65  cents.  The  estimate  compares 
with  net  of  $3,600,000  for  the  corre- 
sponding period  last  year,  or  $1.21  a 
share  on  2,972,742  shares. 

The  estimated  six  months  net  is 
$5,740,000,  or  $1.81  a  share,  com- 
pared with  $8,434,000,  or  $2.98  a 
share,   in   the   first   half   of   last  year. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lightman  at  Carolina 
Meeting  on  Monday 

M.  A.  Lightman,  M.  P.  T.  O.  A. 
president,  leaves  this  week-end  for 
Wrightsville  Beach,  N.  C,  where  he 
is  to  be  a  principal  speaker  at  the 
convention  of  the  North  and  South 
Carolina  exhibitor  unit,  headed  by 
Charles  W.  Picquet.  Headquarters 
will  be  at  the  Oceanic  Hotel. 

"BUY  RIGHT- BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Griffith's  ''Hearts  of 
World''  to  Be  Revived 

"Hearts  of  the  World"  is  to  be  the 
next  of  the  D.  W.  Griffith  revivals  to 
be  synchronized.  A.  Griffith  Grey  is 
handling  production  and  distribution 
of  the  Griffith  films.  His  firm  now  is 
distributing  the  synchronized  version 
of  "Way  Down  East." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Junior  in  ''Seventeen" 

Hollywood — -Paramount  will  cast 
Junior  Durkin  in  Booth  Tarkington's 
"Seventeen,"  instead  of  Jackie  Coo- 
gan.    Stuart  Walker  will  direct. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

McNeil  Returning 

San  Francisco — Robert  A.  Mc- 
Neil, general  manager  of  the  Golden 
State  Theatre  Corp.,  will  return  July 
28  from  his  vacation  tour  of  the 
Orient. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

St.  Clair  Assigned 

Hollywood — Columbia  has  signed 
Mai  St.  Clair  to  direct  "The  Men  in 
Her  Life." 


H 


^^"°°''4i'    -n>^'-'^>' 


HAVE 

FELIX,  BILL,  TOM  &  EDDIE 

GONE  NUTS? 

No,  dear  reader^  Felix  F.  Feist,  Bill  Rodgers, 
Tom  ConnorSf  Eddie  Saunders  have  just 
seen  two  {count  ^em)  ISJew  M-Q-M  pictures 
that  climax  the  greatest  season  of  M-Q^M 
history — The  hell  with  hot  weather!  f^i/fk 


THE  GREAT 
LOVER 

ADOLPHE  MENJOV  and 

JREhlE  DVNhlE  are  superb  I 

It  is  one  of  the  greatest  pictures 

ever  made!   You  II  agree! 


Those  Gals 

DRESSLER 
MORAN  . 

POLITICS 

Better  than  '* Caught  Short''  and 
''Reducing"  rolled  into  one!  Honestly! 


METRO  -  GOLDWYN  -  MAYER 

Elected  again  for  1931-32! 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  40 


NEW  YORK,   FRIDAY,  JULY   17,   1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Finance  Crisis 
Fails  to  Harm 
German  Trade 


Business  Continues  Along 
Normal  Lines 


Berlin  —  Germany's  dire  financial 
condition  has  to  date  left  little  visible 
impress  on  the  film  industry  here. 

Attendance  at  theatres  is  good  and, 
in  production  and  distribution,  a 
check-up  demonstrates  that  business  is 
proceeding  normally. 

As^  a  matter  of  fact,  the  national 
economic  dirge  is  not  expected  by  the 
trade  in  Berlin  to  leave  any  immediate 
mark  in  the  picture  business  at  this 
time.  The  future,  like  all  futures,  is 
another  story. 

Trade  Here  Undisturbed 
Over  German  Depression 

Export  managers  in  New  York  are 
watching  German  developments  close- 
ly, but  little  upset  is  noticeable  in  the 
trade  over  the  situation. 

Chief  factor  in  this  attitude   is  the 

{Continued  on    page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Clara's  Going  to  Be 
Works  in  New  Deal 

Hollywood — Clara  Bow  is  going  to 
be  "It"  in  any  new  deal  she  makes, 
take  it  "from  her  manager,  George 
Frank.  Clara  is  going  to  be  the 
I  works,  make  no  mistake  about  that, 
under  terms  of  the  dictum  outlined. 

To  begin  with,  she  won't  sign  a 
term  contract  with  any  conipany  and 

{Continued  on   page    2) 


''Lousy"  Not  Libel 

A  much-used  film  adjective 
was  cleared  judicially  yester- 
day when  Justice  Peter 
Schmuck  of  the  New  York 
Supreme  Court  ruled  that 
statement  that  a  person  is 
"lousy"  in  his  engagements 
and  endeavors,  "meaning  that 
his  efforts  are  not  commend- 
able but  are  rather  inferior 
and  subject  to  unfavorable 
criticism"   is  not   libel. 

Justice  Schmuck  so  ruled 
in  dismissing  suit  for  $150,000 
damages  brought  by  the  Shu- 
berts  against  "Life,"  humor- 
ous weekly.  The  publication 
had  used  the  word  "lousy"  in 
connection  with  the  Shubert 
family. 


Union  Heads  and  Miller 
Indicted  in  Chi  Probe 


Coast  on  Its  Toes,  Says  Laemmle 


CARL  LAEMMLE 


Fast  on  the  heels  of  Charles  C.  Pettijohn's 
observation  that  the  studios  are  concentrat- 
ing on  pictures  as  never  before,  comes  Carl 
Laemmle,  just  in  from  the  Coast.  Said  he 
to  a  Motion  Picture  Daily  reporter  yesterday: 

"Hollywood  understands  that  it  is  now  up 
to  the  studio.  All  lots  are  working  harder, 
longer  and  more  seriously  on  fall  product 
than  in  any  other  period  that  I  can  recall. 

"The  studios  know  there  is  no  way  out; 
that  it's  up  to  them  to  deliver  not  good 
pictures,  but  real  pictures,  because  the 
realization  exists  that  this  must  be  done 
to  survive." 


Big  Executives 
QuietlyDiscuss 
New  Contract 


Quietly  and  with  no  fanfare  of 
trumpets,  industry  executives  .  are  re- 
ported conferring  in  an  effort  to  reach 
a  joint  decision  regarding  the  uni- 
form contract,  discussed,  drawn  up 
and  approved  by  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A., 
.\llied  and  distributors  as  the  trium- 
virate who  constituted  the  5-5-5  per- 
sonnel. 

It  is  understood  an  important  meet- 
ing was  held  yesterday  to  discuss  the 
intimated  approval  of  the  contract 
form  which  M.  A.  Lightman  has  ob- 
tained from  .Assistant  Attorney  Gen- 
(J^ontiuued   on   page   2) 


Can  Drop  RCA 
Service  After 
TwoYearsNow 


The  10  year  service  feature  in- 
cluded in  early  contracts  for  RCA 
Photophone  reproducers  is  being  re- 
duced to  two  years  with  options  rest- 
ing with  the  exhibitor.  The  move, 
brought  about  through  efforts  by  M. 
A.  Lightman,  president  of  the  M.  P. 
T.  O.  A.,  makes  the  service  phase  of 
Photophone  contracts  identical  in  all 
agreements,  reduces  the  dollars-and- 
cents  cost  to  exhibitors  and  is  expec- 
ted to  bring  relief,  long-sought  after 
relief,  to  theatre  operators. 

Photophone's  contracts  on  its  new 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Unit  System  Called  for 

In  Directors '  Guild  Idea 


Return  of  the  unit  system  of  pro- 
duction as  opposed  to  mass  production, 
so-called,  advocated  by  Cecil  B.  De- 
Mille  in  a  recent  exclusive  interview 
with  Moxrox  Picture  Daily  may  be 
undertaken  following  return  of  the 
director  from  Russia  late  in  fall. 

The  plan,  said  to  be  under  discus- 
sion for  months,  calls  for  Directors' 
Guild,  to  function  similarly  to  the  for- 
mer   Associated    Producers.      No    an- 


nouncement has  been  made  for  there 
are  many  details  to  be  ironed  out,  a 
major  one  of  which  is  financing. 

In  addition  to  DeMille,  members 
proposed  for  the  firm  are  Lewis  Mile- 
stone, King  Vidor,  Frank  Borzage 
and  Harry  D'Abbie  D'Arrast.  DeMille 
now  is  free  from  any  contract,  Borz- 
age  has  one  more  to  make  for  Fox, 
Milestone  one  for  Hughes  and  Vidor 
two  for  M-G-M. 


Racketeering   Charges 

Bring  Five  Counts 

Of  Conspiracy 

Chicago — Specifying  five  counts, 
each  which  on  conviction  carries  a 
penalty  of  one  to  five  years,  true 
bills  have  been  voted  by  the  Cook 
County  Grand  Jury  and  indictments 
charging  conspiracy  against  Tom 
Maloy  and  four  other  officers  of  the 
operators'  union ;  also  his  brother, 
Joe  Maloy,  head  of  the  operators' 
licensing  bureau,  and  Jack  Miller, 
president  of  the  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion of  Chicago.  Bond  of  $10,000 
was  set  on  each  count  with  criminal 
court  hearings  to  begin  early  next 
month. 

Union  officers  named  besides  Ma- 
loy are  Tom  Reynolds,  president ; 
Ralph  O'Hara,  operators'  union  or- 
ganizer, business  agent  of  the  the- 
atrical janitors'  union  and  Maloy's 
bodyguard ;  Frank  Clifford,  Maloy's 
assistant  business  agent,  and  Emmett 
Quinn,    union    steward. 

The  indictments  charge  conspiracy 
to    obtain     money     under     false    pre- 

{Continued  on   page   6) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Derr  Dickers  for 

Pathe  Settlement 

Settlement  of  differences  between 
E.  B.  Derr,  former  president  of 
Pathe,  and  the  company,  are  under 
discussion  on  the  Coast.  This  is 
forestalling  reported  plan  of  Derr  to 
file  suit  against  the  company. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  ' 

David  Selznick  Plans 
To  Produce  on  Own 

Hollywood — David  Selznick  has 
received  his  unconditional  release 
from  Paramount.  He  plans  to  pro- 
duce   independently. 


The  Opposition 

Phil  Reisman,  working  out 
a  large  circuit  deal  for  Uni- 
versal product  yesterday,  had 
a  tough  time  trying  to  think 
because,  outside  of  his  win- 
dow in  the  Heckscher  Build- 
ing, day  laborers  were  tear- 
ing up  the  pavement. 

"I  know,"  he  said,  "that's 
that  crowd  trying  to  make 
me  go  haywire." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,    July    17,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Kcgisiered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


July     17,    1931 


No.    40 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^•\r\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  Jl  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
'■Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Lite 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8- 10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  \V.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kutrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.   Y.,  under   Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Clear  and  Direct 

Caught   on  the 

run,  with  Bob  Rubin  waiting  to 
dehver  him  to  the  M-G-M  office 
yesterday  morning,  Irving  Thal- 
berg  said  a  mouthful  in  exactly 
fourteen  words : 

"Why  should  there  be  any 
spring,  summer,  fall  or  winter  in 
the  picture  business? 

We  echo  the  thought,  why? 


Purely  Personal 


D 


ESPITE  a  drop 
in  grosses  during  the  warm 
weather,  it  is  nevertheless  fact 
that  the  exhibition  business  is 
geared  to  operate,  and  does,  on 
a  52-week  year  basis.  It  is 
simple  deduction  to  draw  the 
conclusion  that  business  can  be 
maintained  on  something  ap- 
proximating an  even  keel  only 
if  the  flow  of  good  product  con- 
tinues without  interruption  and 
with  total  disregard  for  sea- 
sons. 

Thalberg  recognizes  this,  but 
we  speculate  over  how  many  dis- 
tributors feel  the  same  way 
about  it. 


O, 


PINION  varies  over 
whether  or  not  distributors  still  delib- 
erately hold  back  box-office  cards 
during  the  hot  weather  on  the  general 
theory  that  nothing  will  drag  the  pub- 
lic into  theatres  in  the  summer. 

There  is  more  than  a  suspicion  in 
our  minds  that  .several,  at  least,  are 
doing  that  very  thing.  The  practice 
should  be  discouraged,  in  any  season 
and,  more  particularly  in  this,  when 
the  public  continues  to  yell  to  the 
skies  over  the  mediocrity  of  current 
output. 

If  distributors  continue  to  want 
their  end  of  percentage  deals,  it  is 
very  directly  their  obligation  to  see 
that  exhibitors  are  supplied  the  film 
that  will  roll  up  grosses. 

That's    very    obvious,    isn't    it? 

KANN 


MAJOR  and  Mrs.  Albert  War- 
ner won  the  cup  for  low  score 
in  the  second  annual  ball-and-chain 
golf  tournament  held  Wednesday  at 
tlie  Pine  Cress  Country  Club  in  West- 
chester. The  tournament  was  only 
for  residents  of  Westchester  and  all 
entries  had  to  be  married  to  each 
other  and  had  to  play  as  partners — 
but  didn't  have  to  speak  to  one  an- 
other.     That's   the   gag. 

Paul  and  Mrs  Burger  copped  the 
runner  up  prize  for  low  net.  Paul  did 
more  kidding  than  playing,  according 
to  those  present. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Charnas 
took  a  prize  for  all  their  efforts. 
Veah,    the    booby    prize. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hai'rv  Warner, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Al  Lichtman, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ben  Goetz,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Arthur  Stebbins  were  also 
among   the  20  couples   playing. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Goetz  of 
Publix  also  scored  in  the  runner  up 
for   low  net. 

Artie  Stebbins  was  master  of 
ceremonies  at  the  banquet  that  night, 
but  he  was  pretty  careful  of  what 
he  said.      The   missus   was   along. 


Fox  Asks  for  Mitchell 
Books  in  Delaware 

Wilmington  —  William  Fox  has 
filed  a  petition  for  a  writ  of  manda- 
mus for  permission  to  examine  the 
books  of  the  Mitchell  Camera  Cor- 
poration, a  Delaware  concern,  in  the 
office  of  Pronthonotary  Harvey  Hof- 
fecker.  The  petition  was  filed  by  the 
State  of  Delaware  on  motion  of  Fox 
by  former  Judge  Hugh  M.  Alorris, 
who  represents  the  petitioner. 

The  petitioner  states  that  he  has 
been  a  director  of  the  camera  com- 
pany for  the  past  three  years  and 
wants  to  examine  the  books  and  rec- 
ords. 

The  answer  of  the  defendant  con- 
cern is  expected  to  be  filed  on  or  be- 
fore July  27. 


Al  Lewis,  scenario  editor  for  Fox, 
and  Richard  Carroll,  his  assistant, 
left  for  Hollywood  yesterday. 

Harold  B.  F'ranklin  has  left  for 
the  Coast.  He  was  in  New  York 
exactly  three  days. 

KrDoi.PH  SiEBER  joins  Marlene 
Dietrich  in  Hollywood  in  a  few  days. 
Why   not?      He's    Marlene's   husband. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Hedda  Hopping  On 
Sylvia's  ''Slander'' 

Hollywood — Florabel  Muir  in  the 
Hollyit'ood  Herald  says  that  Hedda 
Hopper  is  peeved  at  Sylvia  because 
of  the  Liberty  stories  and  is  writing 
a  comeback  for  Hollywood  defense. 
Hedda  says  "my  pen  is  tipped  with 
fire   and   dipped   in   vinegar." 

Hedda  claims  to  have  introduced 
Sylvia  to  the  Coast  fraternity  and 
says : 

"Sylvia  has  treated  Hollywood  and 
everyone  in  it  shamefully.  I  intro- 
duced her  here  and  got  her  started. 
She  owes  it  to  those  who  have  stood 
by  her  at  least  to  tell  the  truth  and 
truth  is  quality  totally  strange  to 
what   I   have   read." 

Hedda  took  a  slam  at  Jimmy  WHiit- 
taker,  Sylvia's  ghost  writer,  for  what 
he  said  about  his  former  wife  for 
being    ten   pounds    over    weight. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Executives  Quietly 
Discuss  Contract 

(Continued  from    {•age    1) 

eral  John  Lord  O'Brian  in  Washing- 
ton. 

In  the  meantime,  distributors  are 
using  various  forms  of  contracts  in 
their  new  selling  season  campaign. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUV    NOW 

Remick  Dies 

Detroit — Jerome  H.  Remick,  for 
years  president  of  the  music  publish- 
ing firm  which  liore  his  name,  died 
here  after  a  long  illness.  He  was  61. 
His  firm  was  sold  in  1928. 


&m%- 


Joe    Brandt    for    his    strong 

stand    against    salary 

reductions. 


Entire  Stock  Market  Rallies 


High  how  Close 

Eastman  Kodak 146  140^  146 

Fox    Film    "A" 16  IS'A  16 

(leneral   Theatre    Equipment,   new 4             3%  374 

Loew's,    Inc 44  415^  43% 

Paramount    Publix 24^  23  245^ 

Pathe    Exchange 1%          IVi  Wi 

Pathe     Exchange     "A" 7'/2          6^  7 

RKO    143^  13'/^  14^ 

W,-irner    Bros 6?^          6^  6;4 

Curb  Issues  Also  Advance 


Net 
Change 

+6'A 

+  Vi 
-I-  Vi 
+VA 

+m 
+  % 

+  54 
-I-  % 
+  % 


Sales 

4,200 
5.200 
1„TO0 
4,200 
6.600 
1.700 
L.TOO 
5.6(X) 
6,200 


Hi^h  Low 

Fox    Tlieatre.s    "A" 2V^  2'A 

Gener.il    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 7'A  7 

Seiitry   Safety   Control 1  1 

Technicolor    6  6 

Trans  Lux 5^  S'A 


Net 
Close      Change      Sales 


2'A 
7'A 

1 

6 

S'A 


+  Va 


+  'A 


3.0(10 
400 
100 
100 
200 


Bond  List  Irregular;  P.  F.  L,  Off  3 


High 

34'A 

69^^ 

99 

103 

89'/r 

Paramount    Publix   Sj/^s,   '50 79^^ 

Pathe  7s  '37  ww 92;^ 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39   wd 40 


General   Theatre    E<juipment   6s   '40. 

Keith,    B.    F.,   6s   '46 

Loew's  6s  '41   ex  war 

I'aramount  Broadway  5'/2S  '51 

Paramount    F.    L,    6s   '47. 


Low 

34 
69/2 
98  ^^ 
102 
87 
78/2 
92 
40 


Net 
Close      Change      Sales 

34/        -  / 
69/        -  K 


103 
87 
79J4 
92/ 
40 


-1-1 
—3 


Finance  Crisis 
Fails  to  Harm 
German  Trade 

(Continued   from    page    1) 

course  of  American  talkers  in  Ger- 
many thus  far.  With  rare  exceptions, 
dialogue  pictures  have  not  clicked,  this 
applying  naturally  to  original  versions 
in  English,  but  to  German  versions  of 
American  talkers  as  well. 

The  "kontingent"  situation,  which 
has  proved  disturbing  in  the  other 
years,  is  considered  to  be  generally 
well  in  hand.  Paramount  and  M-G-M, 
for  instance,  are  understood  to  have 
more  i)ermits  on  hand  than  either 
company  can  use. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Clara's  Going  to  Be 
Works  in  New  Deal 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

will  work  on  a  per  picture  basis.  She 
will  make  two,  or  not  more  than 
three,  pictures  yearly,  will  insist  on 
voice  in  the  selection  of  stories  and 
won't  consent  for  a  minute  to  any  un- 
draping  for  lewd  or  nude  efifect.  She 
also  intends  to  select  her  own  direc- 
tors and  casts.  She  may  agree  to 
work  for  several  companies  provided 
there  is  a  guarantee  and  split. 

Just  to  prove  her  independence, 
Clara  has  turned  down  a  "money  no 
object"  offer  from  Florenz  Ziegfeld, 
and  failed  to  give  Jack  Cohn  a  tumble 
when  he  raised  the  ante  on  his  pre- 
v'ious  bid  of  $5,000  weekly  to  bring 
Clara  into  the  Columbia  field.  Cohn" 
jffered  "anything  within  reason"  but 
Clara  didn't  budge.  She  says  she  has 
no  interest  in  the  stage  or  anythiiig 
else  except  pictures,  and  that  M-G-M 
and  Universal  are  after  her  services. 
Clara  admits  she  is  a  big  asset  and 
"intends  to  get  her   full   share." 

P.  S. — Clara  says  she  will  return 
to  the  screen  Oct.   1. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Thalberg  Leaves  Sunday 

Irving  Thalberg  told  a  Motion 
Picture  Daily  reporter  yesterday  he 
will  leave  New  York  for  Hollywood 
)n   Sunday. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Off  for  Europe 

Jack  L.  Warner  and  his  family  and 
Hunt  Stromberg  and  his  family  sail 
on  the  Bremen  tonight. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW"      J 

Hatrick  in  L.  A.        \ 

Hollywood — K.    B.    Hatrick,    gen- 
eral    manager     of    the     Hearst     film 
interests,  is  in   from   New  York. 
"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Ennis  Joins  Columbia 

Bert  Ennis  yesterday  joined  Colum- 
bia as  exploitation  manager. 


I 


PARDON 


--7 


<0,   MY  VERNACULAR''    g3> 


"vJ^ 


SAID  THE  SALESMAN  TO     /    y-^ 


^ 


THE  EXHIBITOR 


i.^a^i;^^ 


Connie  Bennett  and  Lew  Cody  are 
painting  Paris  pink.  Lew  keeps  the 
joy  joints  working  overtime. 

Connie  gets  tired  waiting  for  Lew  to 
keep  a  date  with  the  preacher  and 
leaves  him  flat. 

Joel  McCrea  is  an  artist.  He's  paint- 
ing old  Mother  Eve  and  needs  a 
good  model  bad. 

Connie,  down  to  her  last  dime,  asks 
for  the  job.  Covered  with  blushes  she 
poses.  P.  S. — She  gets  the  job. 


9     Joel  works  fast  on  the  painting.  And 
'^^:.  faster  on  Connie.   Two  weeks  later 
she's  fixing  his  breakfasts  for  him. 

They  throw  a  little  party.  A  Spaniard 
t  makes  a  play  for  Connie.  When  she 
^-^gives  him  thatta,  he  spills  the  beans 
about  Lew  Cody.  Joel   steams,  Con- 
nie walks. 


'    He  catches  up  with  her  a  month  later 
at  the  Art  Students'  Ball.   It's  the  big 
.^jj night    in    Paree,   where    everybody 
^  comes  and  everything  goes. 


Connie  is  with  the  Spaniard.  Joel  de- 
clares war  on  Spain  and  busts  up 
the  ball. 

Joel  wants  to  marry  her.  Connie  pro- 
poses trial  marriage.  "I  don't  care 
what  people  say,  just  so  you  keep 
on  saying  you  love  me." 


His  aristocratic  sister  has  been  hear- 
ing things.  She  gets  him  back  to 
America  on  a  phony  excuse.  And 
Connie  after  him. 

Sister  throws  a  big  yachting  party. 
And  "innocently"  invites  Lew  Cody 
as  one  of  the  guests 


Sister  is  out  to   make   a   sucker   of|^ 


Connie.  Lew  makes  a  play  for  her  all  "W/m 
over  again.  Joel  gets  jealous.  Connie  ^'    ^ 
gets  sore.  Sister  pats  herself  on  the 
back. 


Joel  socks  Lew,  grabs  Connie,  and 
they  hop  off  for  that  dear  Paree, 
stopping  only  long  enough  to  get  a 
squad  of  preachers  to  tie  the  knot 
good  and  tight. 

Roberf  W.  Chambers  knows  that  the 
ladies  love  love  stories.  He  gave  them 
more  than  their  money's  worth  in  THE 
COMMON  LAW. 

So  did  Connie.  By  the  time  she  walks 
into  that  studio  and  proves  that  the 
French  models  have  nothing  on  her, 
she  owes  the  customers  nothing.  They 
really  ought  to  pay  another  admis- 
sion to  see  the  rest  of  the  picture. 


Charlie  Rogers  has  handed  exhibitors 
one  of  those  box-office  naturals.  It 
opens  today,  RKO  May  fair,  New  York. 


RKO  Pathe's  Old  Fightin'  Cock  has 
something  to  crow  about  in  this  one. 


r- 


r 

HKO^PATtlE 


a 


victor  over 
adversity 


R.  GEORGE  EASTMAN, 
through  the  making  of  film,  is  one 
of  the  fathers  of  this  motion  picture 
industry.  Most  all  the  hick  he  ever 
had  was  bad,  and  all  the  breaks  he 
ever  got  were  against  him.  Perhaps 
that  is  why  he  has  built  one  of  the 
world's  greatest  industrial  institu- 
tions and  fortunes  beyond  the 
dreams  of  any  dreamer  about  "luck 
and  breaks."  He  spent  his  first 
winter  in  the  business  making  a 
stock  of  plates  for  the  summer  trade, 
and  in  the  spring  the  plates  all  went 
bad.  He  started  over,  ruined — // 
he  had  known  it.  His  product 
never  has  been  "good  enough."  Im- 
provements have  come  year  by  year, 
sometimes  day  by  day.  And  he  has 
eternally  kept  selling.  Everybody 
in  the  world  knows  about  Eastman 
and  Kodak.  He  told  them.  And 
he  is  still  telling  them. 


T/jis  aJvert'nement 
is  tide  fourth  of 
a  series  on 
success  ill  the 
picture  industry 


iWi 

cm 

em 
em 

em 
em 
em 

em 
em 

em 
em 
em 
em 


the  world 
is  not  coming 
to  an  end 


Despite  the  attitude  and  avowals  of  the  Committee  on 
Gloom,  Quigley  Publications  announce  with  confidence  that 
there  are  a  number  of  excellent  reasons  for  anticipating  the 
continued  existence  of  the  world,  and,  incidentally,  the 
amusement  business,  for  a  sufficiently  long  period  to  justify 
resumption  and  continuance  of  activity. 

There  are  ample  evidences  that  there  is  business  to  be  done,  and  that 
it  is  being  done,  by  aggressive  business  men  in  live  communities.  It  is 
axiomatic,  basic  and  beyond  argument  that  when  anything  can  be  sold 
amusement  can.  As  long  as  it  lives  the  human  race  will  have  its  fun.  The 
history  of  every  period  of  depression  and  stringency  proves  that  amuse- 
ment is  a  necessity,  not  a  luxury.  The  motion  picture  has  risen  to  domi- 
nance because  it  is  the  best  amusement  buy  in  the  world.  Good  pictures 
can  be  made  and  good  pictures  can  be  sold — but  neither  process  is  auto- 
matic.    They  do  not  just  happen.    Somebody  has  to  attend  to  the  business. 

Business  is  being  done,  all  over  the  country.  Merely  thumbing  over 
just  one  paper  today,  one  finds:  that  the  Wisconsin  Industrial  Commission 
reports  einployment  gains  of  7%  for  February  of  this  year  over  January, 
5%  for  March  over  February,  and  3%  for  April  over  March;  that  down  in 
one  little  tank  town  of  1200  population  in  Oklahoma  some  $50,000  worth 
of  farming  machinery  has  been  sold  in  sixty  days ;  that  Baltiinore  is  all 
steained  up  and  spending  $37,000,000  on  municipal  public  works,  right  now; 
that  Seattle  out  in  Washington  is  all  set  to  entertain  500,000  tourists  between 
now  and  October  1,  and  that  the  lowest  estimate  adinitted  up  there  is  that 
those  visitors  will  spend  $11,000,000.  It's  like  that  all  over  the  country, 
but  it's  the  busy  businesses  that  are  advertising,  selling  and  getting  the 
money.  The  customers  are  buying  what  they  want — but  you  have  to  make 
them  want  it. 


COLVIN     BROWN 

General   Manager 
Quigley  Publicatiom 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 
THE  HOLLYWOOD  HERALD 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,    July    17,    1931 


"Night  Nurse" 

(  U'ariit-rs) 

WHAT  Warners  meant  this 
to  be  is  their  own  secret. 
We  suppose  it  should  be  dubbed 
a  comedy-melodrama;  the  com- 
edy springing  from  weird 
efforts  to  make  laughs  while  a 
\oungster  is  dying  and  the 
melodrama  from  the  efforts  of 
an  unscrupulous  chauffeur,  in 
league  with  as  unscrupulous  a 
doctor,  to  kill  ofT  the  two  kids 
that  stand  between  them  and  a 
sizable   trust    fund. 

Barbara  Stanwyck  is  the 
night  nurse-heroine  who  glori- 
fies her  profession,  after  supply- 
ing the  blood  transfusion  that 
saves  the  life  in  question  and 
exposing  the  plot.  Nice  touches 
in  direction  have  the  characters 
waxing  dramatic  by  yelling  at 
the  tops  of  their  voices  while 
the  youngster  is  at  death's 
door;  Clark  Gable  proving  he 
is  the  heavy  by  hitting  women 
and  old  men  on  the  jaw.  Ben 
Lyon,  as  the  near-hero,  dodging 
in  and  out  of  the  picture  appar- 
ently whenever  the  director  felt 
like   it. 

Structurally  and,  in  point  of 
story  and  performance,  "Night 
Nurse"  simply  isn't.  Yet  at 
9:40  last  night,  the  Strand  or- 
chestra was  full  and  the  stand- 
ees three  deep.  Maybe  it's  the 
title;  maybe  it's  because  it  was 
the  only  new  picture  to  open 
on  Broadway ;  or  maybe  it's 
because   we're  ga-ga. 

K  A  N  N 


De  Sart  Resigns  as 
Para.  Sound  Chief 

Hollywood — Albert  De  Sart,  who 
has  been  with  Paramount  since  1927, 
has  resigned.  He  has  been  in  charge 
of  recording  and  latterly  served  as 
B.  P.   Schulberg's  assistant. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW 

Harris  on  Bookings 

John  H.  Harris,  zone  manager  of 
the  Warner  Pittsburgh  theatres,  ar- 
rived in  New  York  yesterday  in  con- 
nection with  booking  deals'  for  the 
houses  under  his  supervision.  In  the 
afternoon  he  attended  a  conference  of 
theatre  heads  presided  over  by  Dan 
Michalove,  general  manager  of  the 
Warner   chain. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Mirisch  in  N.  Y.  Again 

Harold  Mirisch,  sent  to  Memphis  a 
year  ago  to  manage  the  Warner  the- 
atre there,  has  been  recalled  to  New 
York  by  Dan  Michalove  to  join  the 
Warners-I'irst  National  booking  staff 
in  the  home  office. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Voting  on  Meeting 

Members  of  the  Society  of  Motion 
Picture  Engineers  are  to  ballot  by 
mail  on  the  convention  city  for  the 
organization's  fall  meeting  October  19 
to  22.  The  choice  is  between  New 
York  and  Detroit. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Protex  Firm  Moves 

Protex  Trading  Corp.,  distributor 
of  foreign  language  films,  moves  its 
offices  on  Monday,  July  20th,  from  the 
Little  Carnegie  Playhouse  building  to 
32  East  58th  street,  headquarters  of 
the  Leo  Brecher  organization  of  which 
it  is  a  subsidiary. 


Union  Heads  and  Miller 

Indicted  in  Chi  Probe 


(Continued  from    page    1) 


tenses,  to  commit  acts  injurious  to 
pul)lic  trade,  to  violate  the  ordinance 
governing  licensing  of  operators,  to 
do  illegal  acts  injurious  to  property 
of   others   and   to   commit   a   felony. 

The  felony  charge  concerns  slug- 
ging and  shooting  of  Milton  Krueg- 
er,  owner  of  the  Hinsdale,  18  months 
ago  in  the  Paramount  Exchange  here 
after  he  had  discharged  one  operator 
and  attempted  to  work  in  the  booth 
himself  to  save  money  and  to  keep 
him  from  closing.  Krueger  held  a 
union  card  at  the  time.  The  charge 
referring  to  violation  of  city  ordi- 
nances covers  alleged  collusion  be- 
tween union  officers  and  Joe  Maloy 
who  in  the  city  office  is  alleged  to 
have  licensed  unqualified  applicants 
for  operators'  permits.  Joe  Maloy 
also  faces  this  charge  and  an  addi- 
tional one  of  malfeasance  in  office. 
The  charge  against  Miller  is  com- 
pelling payment  of  money  to  settle 
labor  disputes.  It  is  alleged  Miller 
paid  to  the  union  more  than  $65,000 
collected    from   exhibitors. 


State  To  Push  Probe 
Into  Circuit  Operators 

Chicago — Successful  in  obtaining 
indictments  in  the  racketeering  in- 
vestigation against  the  Chicago  op- 
erators' union,  the  state's  attorney's 
office  now  will  press  probe  of  sus- 
pected aid  of  circuit  theatres  in  en- 
forcing union  edicts  to  embarrass 
small  houses.  Books  of  Balaban  & 
Katz  are  being  examined  in  this  con- 
nection. 

Authorities  also  are  redoubling  ef- 
forts to  locate  the  murderer  of 
Jacob  Kaufman,  insurgent  operator, 
killed  on  the  eve  of  testifying  in  the 
investigation. 


Independents  in  Chi 
Jubilant  Over  Outcome 

Chicago — Independent  exhibitors 
who  freely  testified  before  grand 
jury  are  jubilant  over  the  indict- 
ments and  believe  that  elimination  of 
the  second  man  in  the  booth  and 
reduction  of  allegedly  oppressive 
wage  scale  is  not  far  off.  This,  they 
say,  will  permit  reopening  of  many 
theatres  here  .and  prevent  closings  of 
many  others.  Aaron  Saperstein, 
president  of  Allied  Theatres  of  Illi- 
nois, who  has  been  furnished  a  body- 
guard since  the  early  stages  of  the 
investigation,  says  his  group  has  no 
quarrel  with  union  labor  and  only 
asks  elimination  of  superfluous  per- 
mit men  and  "greedy,  oppressive"  of- 
ficials. 


Claim  Reynolds  Received 
$8,500  Yearly  from  Erpi 

Chicago  —  Electrical  Research 
Products  paid  $8,500  annually  to  Tom 
Reynolds,  president  of  the  Chicago 
operators'  union,  according  to  evi- 
dence submitted  to  the  Grand  Jury 
investigation.  In  addition,  Reynolds 
received  $5,000  annually  from  the 
union. 

Other  evidence  indicated  that 
Louis  Bader,  alias  Leo  Brothers, 
convicted  of  the  murder  of  Jake 
Lingle,  held  a  union  card  signed  by 
Reynolds.      Emmett      Quinn,      union 


steward,  ns  said  to  have  received 
$150.50  for  every  sound  apparatus 
installed  in  Chicago.  Union  books, 
it  is  said,  were  closed  14  years  ago, 
and  since  then  only  permit  men  who 
paid  ten  per  cent  of  their  salaries 
as  back  dues  have  been  admitted  to 
membership.  All  of  this,  however, 
could  not  be  accounted  for  on  the 
union  books,  it  was  said. 


Miller  Denies  Collusion 
In  Chi  Operator  Storm 

Chicago — No  collusion  entered  in- 
to any  deals  he  had  with  the  opera- 
tors' union.  Jack  Miller,  president  of 
the  Chicago  Exhibitors'  Association, 
states.  The  charges  against  him,  ac- 
cording to  Charles  Bellows,  assist- 
ant state's  attorney,  imply  collusion. 
Miller  says  he  is  an  employee  of  the 
exhibitor  unit  and  only  carried  out 
its    instructions. 


Prosecutor  Calls  Case 
One  of  Most  Vicious 

Chicago — One  of  the  most  vicious 
cases  he  ever  prosecuted  is  the  de- 
scription applied  to  the  racketeering 
probe  of  the  operators'  union  by  As- 
sistant State's  Attorney  Charles  Bel- 
lows. He  says  that  efTorts  to  intimi- 
date, terrify  and  harm  witnesses  and 
to  bribe  officials  were  numerous  dur- 
ing the  investigation.  The  indictments 
were  kept  secret  upon  instructions 
from  the  Grand  Jury  Wednesday 
night,  but  when  report  of  the  action 
leaked  out.  Bellows  confirmed  the  in- 
dictments to  Motion  Picture  Daily. 


Maloy  Claims  Anti-Union 
Plot;  Charges  Hit 

Chicago — A  plot  to  suppress 
union  labor  is  the  manner  in  which 
Tom  Maloy  sums  up  the  indictments 
in  the  investigation  of  the  operators' 
union.  State's  Attorney  John  Swan- 
son,  however,  says  the  probe  is  an 
effort  to  help  union  labor  by  rid- 
ding the  organization  of  racketeer 
and  hoodlum  control.  A  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor  is  employed  in  his  office, 
Swanson   says. 


Myers  Sees  Move  a 
"Blow  for  Freedom" 

Washington  —  Allied  regards  the 
Chicago  labor  union  indictments  as 
"a  mighty  blow  for  the  freedom  of  the 
independent  theatre  owners,"  stated 
Abram  F.  Myers  yesterday  in  a  state- 
ment which  declared  in  part : 

"Tndictnients  have  just  been  returned 
against  Thomas  R.  Maloy,  head  of  the 
union;  Joseph  Maloy,  Ralph  O'Hara, 
Thomas  Reynolds,  E'mer  D.  Miller,  Frank 
J.   Clifford,  and   Emmet   C.   Quinn. 

"Tlie  Elmer  D.  Miller  included  in  the  in- 
ilictment  is  better  known  as  Jack  Miller 
of  the  Chicago  M.  P.  T.  O.  The  indict- 
ment is  the  culmination  of  a  long  struggle 
by  the  independent  theatre  owners  of  Chi- 
cago, under  Aaron  Saperstein,  to  free 
themselves  from  a  condition  that  was  fast 
putting   them    out    of    business. 

"Because  of  its  bearing  on  like  condi- 
tions in  other  Allied  territories,  the  Allied 
States  Association  has  supported  the  Chi- 
cago unit  in  the  strugg'e  and  has  desig- 
nated W.  A.  Steffes  as  its  representative  to 
assist  the  Chicago  group.  Mr.  Steffes  his 
been  in  Chicago  for  some  time  and  will  re- 
main   there  until   the   issue   is   settled." 


Can  Drop  RCA 
Service  After 
Two  Years  Now 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

type  of  equipment  designed  for  the- 
atres up  to  500  seats  call  for  a  flat 
service  rate  of  $32.50  a  month  on  a 
one-visit  basis.  Standard  size  equip- 
ments are  serviced  at  $65  a  month  for 
two  visits.  Prior  to  marketing  of  the 
new  small  theatre  reproducer,  many 
houses  up  to  500  seats  contracted  for 
the  so-called  standard  equipment  at  the 
$65  service  rate.  The  M.  P.  T.  O.  A. 
hopes  to  persuade  RCA  to  reduce  its 
charge  to  $32.50. 

Western  Electric  now  remains  as 
the  only  equipment  in  the  field  that 
insists  on  the  ten  year  service  feature. 


Photophone's  Best 
Recording  Praised 

RCA  Photophone  got  a  big  hand 
from  music  critics  yesterday  at  pre- 
sentation of  several  selections  re- 
corded in  the  Mormon  Temple  at  Salt 
Lake  City.  The  firm  terms  this  its 
best  example  of  recording  and  claims 
a  new  high  mark  in  the  recording  of 
high  and  low  musical  notes.  No  pic- 
tures accompanied  the  sound  which 
was  recorded  on  film.  Another  pre- 
sentation was  a  pictorial  and  audible 
presentation  of  the  sound  track  of  the 
film   recording   of   "Die   Fledermaus." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Koplar  Joins  in 
Fight  on  Skourases 

St.  Louis — Harry  Koplar,  former- 
ly partner  of  the  Skouras  Brothers 
in  the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.  and 
Skouras  Brothers  Enterprises,  has 
joined  four  minority  stockholders 
in  Circuit  Court  suit  for  a  receiver 
for   the   Skouras    firm.* 

Koplar's  sister,  Mrs.  Elsie  Prob- 
stein,  and  I.  Meyer  also  have  been 
added  as  plaintiffs  in  the  suit  orig- 
inally filetl  June  26  by  William  J. 
Blake. 

Skouras  Brothers  Enterprises, 
Inc.,  has  a  half  interest  in  the 
Skouras  Super-Theatres  Co.,  opera- 
tors of  the  Ambassador,  Missouri 
and  Grand  Central  in  St.  Louis,  and 
also  holds  the  majority  stock  of  the 
St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.,  which  has 
22  neighborhood  houses.  The  suits 
have  been  continued  to  July  21. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Brookhart  Plans  Bill 
Regulating  Firms 

Washington  —  Bill  providing  for 
Federal  regulation  of  all  corporations 
engaging  in  interstate  commerce  is  ex- 
pected to  be  presented  to  Congress  at 
its  next  session  by  Senator  Brook- 
hart,  father  of  the  bill  to  outlaw  blind 
and  block  booking  and  arbitrary  allo- 
cation of  product.  In  a  recent  speech, 
the  Iowa  senator  said  such  a  step  is 
"necessary  to  save  the  independent 
business  man  of  America  from  rujn 
at  the  hands  of  chain  monopolies." 

In  his  address,  delivered  at  Char- 
lottesville, Va.,  the  senator  pleaded 
for  an  association  of  independent  busi- 
ness men,  manufacturers  and  consum- 
ers to  fight  the  growth  of  chain  sys- 
tems. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  41 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  JULY  18,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Bill  Le  Baron 
Peace-Maker; 
Dix  to  Stick 


Scheduled  to  Appear  in 
2  Radio  Specials 

Hollywood — Peace  has  been  de- 
clared in  the  Richard  Dix-Radio  Pic- 
tures row  and  the  star  is  remaining 
with  the  company — at  a  substantial 
salary  boost,  the  Hollyii'ood  Herald 
asserts.  He  is  scheduled  to  appear  in 
two  specials,  ^"Frontier"  and  "Mar- 
cheta,"  accordfng  to  present  plans. 

The  differences  between  the  star 
and  the  company  were  ironed  out 
through  the  intercession  of  William 
Le  Baron,  Radio  production  chief, 
and  a  new  contract  will  be  signed 
within  a  day  or  two.  Negotiations 
were  resumed  this  week  by  Frank 
Joyce,  representing  Dix,  and  were 
(Continued  on  page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Balaban  to  Settle 
Chi  Twin-Bill  Jam 

Chicago — Current  Chicago  visit  of 
John  Balaban,  coupled  with  the  threat 
of  small  independent  exhibitors  to  cut 
admissions,  is  expected  to  bring  an 
early  agreement  here  on  abandoning 
double   features. 

Publix-Balaban  &  Katz,  although 
not  on  record  as  favoring  retention  of 
double  features,  at  least  has  not  given 
formal  notice  of  its  willingness  to  do 
away  with  the  policy  along  with  other 

(Continued   on   page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT^BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Informer  Gets  $15,000 
In  British  Blue  Suit 

London — Under  the  1871  blue  law 
which  provides  that  anyone  may  sue 
a  theatre  which  operates  on  Sunday, 
Miss  Millie  Orpen,  designated  as  a 
"common  informer,"  has  been  award- 
ed $15,000  in  a  suit  against  the  Hay- 
market  Capitol,  Ltd.  Stay  of  execu- 
tion has  been  granted.      She  claimed 

(Continued   on   page    2) 


The  First 

A  certain  big  film  buyer 
around  town — sales  managers 
know  him  well — played  golf 
over  the  Lakeville  course  the 
other  day  and  turned  in  a 
whopper  of  a  score. 

Which  induced  a  sales  man- 
ager with  him  to  remark: 

"That's  the  first  time  this 
bozo  ever  went  over  his  split 
figure." 


Paramount'  Warner  Pact 

Sealed  Today  in  Philly 


H.   M.    Warner 


Philadelphia — All  vestiges  of 
the  bitter  Warner-Paramount  fight, 
which  raged  for  nearly  a  year  and 
reached  its  greatest  intensity  in 
this  territory,  passes  today  when 
"Tabu"  opens  at  the  Stanton  as 
the  first  Paramount  film  under  the 
reconciliation  pact  between  the 
Adolph  Zukor  and  H.  M.  Warner 
forces. 

"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  was 
to  have  been  the  lead-off  film  to 
signalize  the  peace  treaty,  but  this 
was  set  back  three  weeks  while 
Paramount  and  Stanley-Warner 
are  mapping  an  extensive  exploita- 
tion   campaign    for   this   and  other 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


Adolph  Zukor 


Studio  Chiefs 
To  Reinstate 
Welcome  Sign 


Hollywood — The  studio  moguls 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
ban  they  placed  on  visitors  some 
months  ago  was  not  such  a  wise  move. 
It  is  slated  to  be  lifted  about  the  first 
of  the  month. 

Ostensibly  designed  to  save  players, 
writers,  directors  and  others  of  the 
studio  employees  from  the  importuni- 
ties of  agents  and  solicitors,  the  ban 
was  extended  to  include  newspaper- 
men and  trade  journal  reporters,  and 
the  resultant  howl  of  resentment  has 

(Continued   on   page   4) 

Puhlix  Production 
Dept,  Cut  to  Bone 

Deal  between  Publix  and  Fanchon 
and  Marco  whereby  the  latter  will 
supply  the  former's  theatres  with 
stage  units  brings  to  an  end  the  pro- 
duction department  at  Publix  and  lops 
about  15  employees  from  the  cir- 
cuit's payroll.  Boris  Petroff  and 
Frank  Cambria  will  continue  to  pro- 
duce units  for  the  Paramounts,  New 
York  and  Brooklyn.  All  other 
houses  playing  F.  &  M. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Producers  Prepare 
Case  in  Writer  Rift 

Hollywood — Another  snag  has 
hit  the  writer-producer  situation  with 
the  studio  executives'  delay  in  ar- 
ranging conferences  with  the  scribes, 
being  ascribed  to  their  desire  to  pre- 
pare a  bill  of  complaint  of  their  own. 
They  feel  that  inasmuch  as  the  writ- 

(Continued  on    page   2) 


Three  Smash 
Pictures  on 
Warner  List 


Hollywood — It  looks  like  a  field 
day  for   Warner-First   National. 

New  season  product  is  off  to  a  big 
start.  With  "Alexander  Hamilton" 
and  "Five  Star  Final"  generally  hailed 
as  big  pictures  by  local  critics,  local 
reviewers  are  still  talking  about  "The 
Star  Witness,"  previewed  at  the  First 
National  studio  the  other  night. 

Warners  are  so  convinced  they  have 
a  "smash"  picture  that  they  are  dis- 
pensing with  further  previews  and  are 

(Continued  on   page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Edelhertz,  Former 
Exhibitor,  Suicide 

Bernard  Edelhertz,  publisher  of 
The  America)!  Hebrcic,  former  chair- 
man of  the  executive  committee  of 
the  Theatre  Owners'  Chamber  of 
Commerce  and  exhibitor  with  theatres 
in  the  Bronx,  committed  suicide  yes- 
terday by  hanging  at  the  home  of  his 
son-in-law  Vsevolod  Scheer  of  666 
West  End  Ave.  Edelhertz  suffered  a 
nervous  l)reakdown  several  months 
(Continued    on    page    4) 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

W,B.  Books  "U' Films 
In  3  Million  Deal 

Warners  yesterday  culminated  a 
month  of  negotiations  by  booking 
Universal's  feature  product  for  next 
season  over  its  entire  circuit.  Al- 
though the  contract  is  for  percentage 
bookings,  the  lowest  estimate  based  on 

(Continued  on   page   2) 


Justice  Dept. 
Refuses  Okay 
On  New  Pact 


Cannot  Advise  on  Legal 
Rights,  It  Declares 


Washington — No  opinion  as  to  the 
legality  or  illegality  of  the  proposed 
new  standard  license  agreement  will 
be  given  by  the  Department  of  Justice, 
it  is  indicated  by  a  statement  from 
the  department  made  public  by  Al- 
lied  States  Association. 

Previously,  it  had  been  intimated 
here  that  the  department  would  give 
an  informal  okay  to  the  proposed 
agreement,  following  overtures  to  the 
department  by  M.  A.  Lightman,  M.  P. 
T.  O.  A.  president,  and  P.  J.  Wood, 
business  manager  of  the  Ohio  unit. 
Following  is  the  statement : 

"Mr.  Lightman  and  Mr.  Wood 
called  here  a  few  days  ago  to  ascer- 
tain the  attitude  of  the  department 
on  the  general  subject  of  the  right  of 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Schedule  Hot  Topics 
For  M'lps.  Meeting 

Minneapolis — Extended  protection, 
film  rentals,  the  "Buy  Right — But  Buy 
Now"  movement,  block  booking, 
double  featuring,  admission  price  re- 
ductions, current  forms  of  contract 
and  edict  of  some  distributors  that 
exhibitors  must  play  films  in  the  or- 
der of  release  are  subjects  which 
will  highlight  the'  annual  convention 
here    September    9    and     10    of    the 

(Continued  on   page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Camp,  Jensen,  Stokes 
Mannon  to  Produce 

Walter  Camp,  Emil  Jensen,  Al- 
fred Mannon  and  Fred  Stokes,  the 
latter  an  attorney,  have  organized  Pa- 
trician Pictures,  Inc.,  to  make  six  pic- 
tures in  its  first  year  for  independ- 
ent release.  The  series  will  be  made 
at   the   Tec-Art   studio  on   the   Coast. 

Jensen  leaves  Sunday  for  Holly- 
wood to  get  the  first  under  way.  Pa- 
trician    is    understood     to     be    partly 

(Continued  on   page   2) 


In  the  Fall 

Hollywood — "The  fall  re- 
leases will  show  what  Holly- 
wood can  really  do  when  it 
gets  down  to  the  serious 
business  of  making  pictures," 
writes  Florabel  Muir  in  The 
Hollywood  Herald. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    July    18,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Revitw 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\o\.    30 


July    18,    1931 


No.   41 


Martin    Quiglev 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^fv  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  Jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^^1  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  DeartJorn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope.  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner.  "The  Film  Kutrier,"  Ber- 
lin    W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents 


Schedule  Hot  Topics 
For  M'pls  Meeting 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

Korthwest  exhibitor  association. 
About  200  exhibitors  are  expected  to 
attend. 

The  exhibitor  unit  some  time  ago 
urged  its  members  to  refrain  from 
buying  new  product  until  after  the 
meeting  "on  account  of  general  de- 
pression, widespread  unemployment, 
closing  of  numerous  theatres,  poor 
class  of  product  and  poor  business.' 
Despite  these  alleged  factors,  "film 
companies  have  again  for  the  tenth 
consecutive  year  announced  an  in- 
crease in  film  prices,"  the  association 
states. 

'•BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

W.B,Books"U'' Films 
In  3  Million  Deal 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

its  guarantees  involves  rentals  of  be- 
tween $2,500,000  and  $3,000,000. 

Negotiations  were  handled  for 
Warners  by  Dan  Michalove,  E.  A. 
Alperson  and  Clayton  Bond,  and  for 
Universal  by  Phil  Reisman,  Ted 
Schlanger  and   Harry  Lorch. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

3  Smash  Pictures 

On  Warner  List 

(Continued  from    page    1) 

rushing  the  picture  East  to  open  on 
Br'oadway  in  the  next  three  weeks. 
The  picture  will  be  reviewed  in 
MoTiox  Picture  Daily  later  by  Wil- 
liam A.  Johnston  and  confirms  earlier 
whispers  of  its  hit  proportions,  bring- 
ing several  hard-boiled  critics  to  their 
feet  during  the  studio  preview. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Coming  and  Going 

Ed  Fay,  of  Rochester,  was  a  vis- 
itor in  the  city  yesterday,  stopping 
in  at  the  Warner-First  National  of- 
fices to  confirm  bookings. 

W.  P.  Burhoe,  of  the  Strand, 
Haverhill,  Mass.,  was  another  vis- 
itor. 

Among  the  Southern  exhibitors 
now  in  the  city  on  fall  bookings,  with 
Warner-First  National  is  Hubert 
Wales,  manager  of  the  Eustis  at 
Eustis,  Fla. 


Bill  Le  Baron 
Peace-Maker; 
Dix  to  Stick 


(Continued  from  page    1) 

made  possible  only  because  of  the 
warm  friendship  between  Dix  and  Le 
Baron. 

Previous  parleys  conducted  by  Jo- 
seph I.  Schnitzer  collapsed  after  a 
series  of  battles  and  when  Dix  finally 
rejected  all  proposals  it  appeared  that 
he  and  the  company  were  quits.  When 
preparations  were  started  for  "Secret 
Service"  Le  Baron  took  a  hand  and 
the  new  arrangement  is  the  result. 

The  deal  provides  for  only  two  pic- 
tures, both  to  be  completed  by  April 
1.  "Frontier,"  the  first,  probably  will 
be  started  in  October.  Wallace  Rug- 
gles  will  direct  it.  At  present  he  is 
making  "Are  These  Our  Children?" 
but  will  be  through  in  time.  As  soon 
as  he  has  completed  "Secret  Service" 
Dix  will  take  a  vacation,  which  may 
include  a  trip  to  the   East. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Producers  Prepare 
Case  in  Writer  Rift 

{Continued  from  page   1) 
ers   have   built  up  a   case,   they  want 
one   of  their   own.      The  date  of  the 
first   confab   is   to   be   set   early   next 
week. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

On  Chevalier  Yarn 

HoLLYWoon — Vicki  Baum,  author 
of  "Grand  Ho.tel,"  is  in  from  New 
York  to  work  on  a  story  for  jNIaurice 
Chevalier's  next. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Dr.  Rockwell  Signed 

Dr.  Rockwell,  vaudeville  headlin- 
er,  has  been  signed  for  one  of  the 
series  of  "Big  Star"  comedies  to  be 
released    by   Vitaphone. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Re-Sign  Viertel 

Hollywood — Paramount  has  given 
Berthold  Viertel  a  new  directorial 
contract. 


Coverage 

Five  pictures  opened  on 
Broadway  yesterday.  Three  of 
them — "The  Man  in  Posses- 
sion," "Murder  by  the  Clock" 
and  "The  Fatal  Hour" — were 
reviewed  by  Motion  Picture 
Daily  prior  to  their  debut  on 
the   big   street. 

"The  Common  Law,"  re- 
viewed earlier  from  the  Coast, 
is  again  covered  today  as  is  "A 
Holy  Terror,"  now  current  at 
the  Roxy.     The  line-up: 

AsTOR — "A  Free  Soul"  (M- 
G  M) — reviewed  by  Motion 
Picture  Daily  April   18. 

Cameo  —  "Mystery  of  Life" 
(Univ.) reviewed  July  6. 

Capitol  —  "Man  in  Posses- 
sion" (M-G-M)  —  reviewed 
June  9. 

Mayfair  —  "The  Common 
Law"  (RKO  Pathe) — reviewed 
today,  page  4. 

Paramount — "Murder  by  the 
Clock"  (Para.)  —  reviewed 
July  2. 

Rivoli — "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" (Para.) — reviewed  May 
22. 

Roxy  —  "A  Holy  Terror" 
(Fox) — reviewed  today,  page  4. 

Strand  —  "Night  Nurse" 
(Warners) — reviewed    July    16. 

Warners— "The  Fatal  Hour" 
(First  Division)  —  reviewed 
July  11. 

Winter  Garden  —  "Smart 
Money"  (Warners)  —  reviewed 
editorially  June   19. 


Camp,  Jensen,  Stokes 
Mannon  to  Produce 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

backed  at  least  by  Camp  who  is 
president  of  Inspiration  Pictures,  at 
present  on  the  inactive  producing  list. 
Jensen,  general  manager  of  Inspira- 
tion, continues  his  old  duties  with 
that   company. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Hurley  to  Direct 

Arthur  Hurley  will  direct  the  12 
S.  S.  Van  Dine  mystery  stories  to 
be  made   by    Vitaphone   in   Brooklyn. 


Market  Continues  to  Rally 

High  Law 

Eastman     Kodak WYi  14SM 

Fox   Film   "A" 27  26^ 

General   Theatre   Equipment,   new 4  i^ 

I^oew's,    Inc 445^  435^ 

Paramount     Publix 24^  23J4 

Pathe    Exchange 1^  Wt 

Pathe    Exchange-  "A" 7  6^2 

RKO   15  1454 

Warner    Bros y/i  dVn 

Curb  Issues  Advance 

High  Low 

Fox  Theatres  "A" 21/^  2'A 

General  Theatre   Equipment   pfd 7J4  754 

Trans   Lux    SH  S'A 

Bond  List  Irregular 

High  Low 

General   Theatre   Equipment   6s   '40 i^'A  34 

Keith,   B.    F.,   6s   '46 68  68 

Loew's    6s    '41    ex    war 98^  98 

Paramount    Broadway    S'As    '51 102^  lOlJ^ 

Paramount  Publix  SJ^'s,   '50 87  87 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 92"^  92^^ 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39   wd 40  40 


Close 

Sales 

146 

2,200 

27 

500 

3J^ 

6,600 

43J4 

4,600 

24H 

8,100 

Wi 

300 

m 

400 

WA 

8,300 

7 

3,500 

Close 

Sales 

2A 

300 

m 

400 

S'A 

300 

Close 

Sales 

34/2 

8 

68 

? 

98 

14 

m'A 

15 

87 

4 

92'A 

I 

40 

1 

Para.,  W.  B.      .i 
Begin  New    l| 
Pact  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Paramount   pictures. 

Keith's,  for  the  last  year  devoted 
to  exclusive  Paramount  showings,  will 
be  relinquished  on  July  28  by  the 
Moon  Amusement  Co.,  when  Stanley- 
Warner  takes  over  the  lease  and  is 
expected   to  close  the  theatre. 

The  Paramount-Warner  truce  was 
effected  some  time  ago,  between  Zu- 
kor  and  Warner,  without  injection  in- 
to the  deliberations  of  banker  groups 
of  either  firm.  The  reported  terms 
called  for  payment  of  $1,200,000  to 
Warners  on  rentals  claimed  due  and 
interchange  of  booking  time  between 
the   two   firms. 

In  this  territory,  Keith's  was  the 
Paramount  flagship,  the  Moon  firm 
being  headed  by  Al  Boyd.  Paramount 
product  was  sold  away  from  Warners 
and  to  independents  here. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Balahan  to  Settle 
Chi  Twin-Bill  Jam 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

circuit  and  independent  exhibitors 
early  this  fall.  Leading  officials  of 
the  company  are  understood  to  have 
favored  a  declaration  on  dispensing 
with  dual  features,  but  have  been 
balked  thus  far  by  Max  Balaban,  film 
buyer  for  the  circuit,  who  told  Mo- 
tion Picture  Daily  recently  that  he 
did  not  wish  to  go  on  record  at  this 
time  as  to  his  double  feature  policy 
for  next  fall. 

This  Balaban  &  Katz  indecision  has 
prevented  about  10  per  cent  of  the 
city's  exhibitors  from  aligning  them- 
selves with  the  other  90  per  cent  on 
record  as  favoring  a  return  to  single 
features.  The  minority  inaction,  in 
turn,  is  preventing  progress  from  be- 
ing made  with  plans  to  abolish  the 
dual    features. 

The  double  feature  policy  of  the 
circuit  is  under  discussion  at  this  time, 
with  John  Balaban,  here  from  the 
home  office,  understood  to  be  in  favor 
of  abolition  of  double  featuring  "for 
the  good  of  the  industry"  and  to  fore- 
stall price  cuts  by  independents. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Informer  Gets  $15,000 
In  British  Blue  Suit 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

a  $1,000  penalty  against  the  company 
and  each  director  for  each  Sunday 
show  given  since  December,  1930, 
when  the  high  courts  ruled  Sunday 
shows  illegal.  Her  case  against  the 
directors  failed. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Whittier  Goes  Dark 

Whittier,  Cal. — The  Scenic  has 
closed  its  doors,  and  the  town  is 
now    minus    a    picture    theatre. 


Sound  Recording 

FILM   AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY     RECORDING     CO.    of 

AMERICA,    INC 

1841    Broadway— New   York,    N.   Y. 

Columbus    5-3181-3182 


On  the  Coa^t  the 
Schibitor  Bulletin  - 

-"is  the  Keif  that  linlocKs 
the  door  ot  ei/erif  theatre 
manager  in  the  Pad  he 

Division  of  Inotion^ 
Picttite  VistributiOi 


Jan  '^oHtisco. 


V^-  San  vdiico?  ^^hoeniic 

c 


X. 


Address  All 

Communications  to 

PACIFIC  COAST 

EXHIBITOR-BULLETIN 

25  TAYLOR  ST.,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 

Thomas  D.  Van  Osten 
Publisher 

Clyde  Walker 

Mgr. 

Los  Angeles,  Hollywood  and  Southern 

California  Section 

666?  Gardenia  Ave.,    Long  Beach 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    July    18,    1931 


Justice  Dept. 
Refuses  Okay 
On  New  Pact 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
exhibitors  and  producers  to  agree  on 
the  use  of  a  standard  uniform  con- 
tract. Their  attention  was  called  to 
sub-division  III  of  the  decree  entered 
by  the  District  Court  in  U.  S.  v.  Para- 
mount, et  al.,  and  were  informed  that 
this  statement  embodied  the  view  of 
the  department.  This  department  is 
not  in  a  position  to  advise  on  legal 
rights   of   private   parties." 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Edelhertz,  Former 
Exhibitor,  Suicide 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ago  and  was  compelled  to  enter  a  sani- 
tarium for  recuperation.  He  was  51 
years    old. 

Funeral  services  will  be  held  at  10 
o'clock  Monday  morning  from  the 
Riverside  Memorial  Chapel  and  inter- 
ment will  take  place  at  the  Mount 
Pleasant  Cemetery.  Yesterday  Lee 
Ochs,  president  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Club,  asked  members  to  attend 
the  services  in  a  body. 

Edelhertz.  who  came  to  this  country 
from  Russia  in  1893,  had  had  a  varied 
career.  Starting  as  a  lawyer  in  1901, 
he  became  in  1917-22,  assistant  United 
States  attorney  general.  He  also  did 
considerable  work  on  the  first  uniform 
contract.  In  commenting  on  his  death, 
Will    H.   Hays   said   yesterday : 

"It  is  with  a  definite  sense  of  personal 
loss  that  I  learn  of  the  death  of  Bernard' 
Edelhertz.  .  .  .  Always  his  thought  and 
effort  were  to  the  end  that  his  life  might 
be  one  of  service  and  his  influence  will 
not  cease  with  his  passing.  His  thoughts 
were  replete  with  the  fullness  of  life  in  its 
highest    and    noblest    sense." 

Edelhertz  is  survived  by  his  widow, 
Clara  Edelhertz;  a  daughter,  Mildred 
and  another  daughter  and  son-in-law, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  \'.  Scheer. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Red  Cross  Short 

William  J.  Ganz  of  New  York 
has  produced  for  the  American  Red 
Cross  a  one-reel  subject  dealing  with 
the  history  of  the  organization,  in 
celebration  of  its  15th  anniversary. 
RCA  recorded  "The  Symbol  of 
Mercy." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Shake  N.  Y/s  Dust 

Dave  Bershon,  film  buyer  for 
Hughes-Franklin  Theatres,  left  for 
the  Coast  yesterday. 

Harold  Robb  and  Ed  Rowley  of 
Robb  and  Rowley,  now  part  of  the 
H-F  string,  left   for  Dallas. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lew  White  for  Records 

Stanley  Recording  of  America  has 
signed  Lew  White,  organist,  to  make 
a  number  of  discs,  which  are  appro- 
priate for  trailers.  They  will  be  13 
minutes   long. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

On  Way  to  France 

Jeanne    Helbling,    after    completing 
nine      foreign     versions      for      RKO, 
leaves    for    France    within    the    next 
ten  days.    She  is  now  in  New  York. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

"Boughf  at  Garden 

"Bought"  goes  into  the  Winter  Gar- 
den for  a  run,  following  "Smart 
Money."    No  date  has  been  set. 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


"The  Common  Law" 

(RKO  Pat  he) 

Ammunition  for  censors  from  the 
title  clear  down  the  line.  Yet  it's 
bo.x-oflice  if  exhibitors  can  get  the 
picture  as  shown  at  the  Mayfair  in 
New  York.  The  big  question  is : 
Will  they? 

Here  Constance  Bennett  estab- 
lishes her  illicit  love  affair  with 
Lew  Cody  in  the  opening  sequence. 
Later,  when  she  meets  Joel  McCrea, 
the  same  sort  of  relationship  is 
struck.  Even  when  McCrea  wants 
to  marry  her,  Connie  refuses  on  the 
plea  she  wants  to  make  certain  of 
their  love  before  the  marital  knot 
is  tied.  Eventually,  and  by  way  of 
dramatic    whitewash,    they   do. 

The  subject  matter  is  delicate ;  but, 
for  the  picture,  it  must  be  reported 
the  treatment  is  discriminating  and 
intelligent.  As  shown  yesterday,  the 
picture  occasionally  shifted  sharply 
from  scene  to  scene,  indicating  per- 
haps where  the  censors  applied  their 
hands.  Miss  Bennett,  it  is  our  opin- 
ion, gave  a  smart  and  capable  per- 
forn^ance.  McCrea  is  definitely  of 
the  stuff  that  makes  matinee  idols 
which  means,  we  suppose,  that  the 
women  of  the  nation  will  go  for  him 
in  a  big  way  ere  long. 

From  the  dollars-and-cents  angle 
e.xhibitors  have  Bennett,  a  real  draw, 
and  a  title  that  indicates  plenty.  The 
subject  matter  is  something  else 
again.  K  A  N  N 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

"Children  of  Dreams" 

( Warners) 

Oscar  Hammerstein  II  and  Sig- 
mund  Romberg  have  collaborated  on 
another  musical  romance,  this  one 
depicting  the  life  of  fruit  pickers  in 
California  and  singling  out  of  a  pair 
of  lovers,  each  a  singer.  An  audi- 
ence at  the  Beacon  yesterday  found 
an  inefifable  charm  in  the  apple  or- 
chard scenes  where  the  pickers  en- 
gage in  lilting  melodies,  carefree 
gaiety  and  revelry  and  take  to  their 
labors  with  considerable  pride.  The 
fugue  Marion  Schilling  and  Paul 
Gregory    sing   proved    enthralling. 

The  story,  in  short,  deals  with 
Miss  Schilling  and  Gregory,  fruit 
pickers,  who  fall  in  love  and  are 
forced  to  part  when  the  heroine's 
voice  takes  her  to  Italy  for  cultiva- 
tion. This  is  brought  about  when 
she  borrows  $3,400  from  her  sponsor 
to  pay  for  the  money  her  father  lost 
when  entrusted  with  it.  She  becomes 
successful  and  nearly  forgets  Greg- 
ory, but  when  she  returns  to  the  or- 
chard to  pay  a  visit  to  home  grounds, 
her  lover  is   on  the   spot  waiting. 

.\lan  Crosland  directed  this  oper- 
etta which  includes  in  the  cast  Tom 
Patricola,  Bruce  Winston,  Charles 
Winniger  and  Marion  Byron.  "Chil- 
dren of  Dreams"  is  touching  in  spots 
and  as  light  summer  fare  should  find 
a  welcome  patronage  wherever  it 
plays. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"A  Holy  Terror" 

(Pox) 
George  O'Brien  has  opportunity  to 
displav  his  ability  as  a  rider  and  his 
fine  physique  in  this  western.  It  starts 
off  with  a  New  York  setting,  with 
O'Brien  soon  leaving  for  the  West  to 
seek  the  slayer  of  the  man  he  be- 
lieves   to    be    his    father.     His    plane 


crashes  in  the  western  town,  where  he 
finds  the  girl  and  makes  a  couple  of 
villains  look  silly  when  they  try  to 
make  things  tough  for  him.  He  finds 
his  father,  who  had  killed  the  other 
man  accidentally.  The  father  then 
steps  in  the  way  of  a  bullet  intended 
for  his  son,  but  the  wound  is  super- 
ficial and  everyone's  happy.  This  has 
some  beautiful  scenery.  Irving  Cum- 
mings  directed.  Sally  Filers  plays  op- 
posite and  Humphrey  Bogart  and 
James  Kirkwood  are  other  principals. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sam  Fox  Music  Firm 
Publish  Fox  Music 

Sam  Fox  Publishing  Corp.  has  re- 
placed Red  Star  Music  Publishing 
Co.,  as  publisher  of  all  music  used 
in  Fox  films.  The  Sam  Fox  company, 
despite  the  similarity  in  names,  has 
no  corporate  relationship  with  Fox 
Films.  The  Red  Star  firm  was  a 
subsidiary   of   Fox    Film. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Theatre  Robbers  Held 

Hamilton,  O. — Two  youths,  re- 
cently apprehended  by  police  after 
thry  held  up  the  Public-Palace  box- 
office  last  month,  when  they  obtained 
less  than  $100,  have  pleaded  guilty  in 
municipal  court  and  were  held  to  the 
grand   jury  under  $3,000  bonds   each. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

John  McCarthy  III 

Providence — John  P.  McCarthy, 
manager  of  Loew's  State,  is  seriously 
ill  following  an  operation  for  appen- 
dicitis. McCarthy  was  taken  ill  while 
on  duty  and  was  rushed  to  the  hos- 
pital. Meanwhile  George  Jones,  as- 
sistant manager  of  Loew's  State,  Bos- 
ton, is  filling  in  for  ACcCarthy. 


Studio  Chiefs 
To  Reinstate 
Welcome  Sign 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

finally  penetrated  into  the  offices  of 
the   powers-that-be. 

The  new  rules  to  be  drafted  to  gov- 
ern the  admission  of  reporters  and 
writers  provide  for  the  issuance  of 
passes  which  are  revocable  upon  viola- 
tion of  rules  or  confidences. 

Several  Eastern  newspapers  ai' 
sending  men  here  to  get  the  "low 
down"  on  doings  in  the  studios  and 
prepare  blasts  for  publication.  The 
latest  to  arrive  for  that  purpose  is 
Harry  McClellan  of  the  Chicago 
Prihunc. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Butler  Race  Fan 

Cincinnati — David  Butler,  direc- 
tor, is  at  the  Netherland-Plaza  here 
while  attending  the  races  at  Latonia. 
He  confides  that  he  is  not  only  in- 
terested in  turf  events,  but  owns  sev- 
eral thoroughbreds  with  enviable  track 
records. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Norma' s  Next 

Hollywood — Norma  Shearer  is  to 
appear  next  in  Noel  Coward's  "Pri- 
vate Lives."  instead  of  "Smilin' 
Through." 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Dies  After  Crash 

Washington  —  G.  H.  (Jerry) 
Payne,  salesman  for  RKO  here  for 
five  years,  died  at  the  Alexandria, 
Va.,  hospital,  following  an  automo- 
bile accident.  Payne's  car  left  the 
road  while  he  was  rounding  a  curve 
and  crashed  into  a  tree. 


NEW     YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant     4712... 


LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

154    CRESCENT    STREET 
....STIIIweil       7940 


EASTMAN 
♦  FILMS  * 


J.  E. 
BRULATOUR 

Incorporated 


CHICAGO 

1727   INDIANA  AVENUE 
CALumet    269  I  .  .  . 


HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.   .  .   Hollywood      4  12  1 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.   NO.  42 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JULY  20,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Publix  Break 
On  Protection 
Target  in  N.  W. 

45-Day  Wait  for  M-G-M 
Prints  Irks  Exhibs 


Minneapolis — Whether  independ- 
ents of  this  territory  are  to  wait  45 
days  for  M-G-M  product  after  release 
to  Pubhx  is  a  question  which  will 
highlight  the  annual  meeting  here 
September  9  and  10  of  the  Northwest 
exhibitor  association,  its  president, 
Bennie  Berger,  told  Motion  Picture 
Daily. 

Publix  is  to  be  given  first  call  on 
the  product  to  prevent  conflict  on 
playdates  with  independents  in  com- 
petitive situations  so  that  no  prints 
will  be  available  to  independents  un- 
til Publix  situations  are  cleaned  up, 
Berger  says  he  has  been  informed  by 
the  local   M-G-M  office. 

This,  he  says,  has  the  effect  of 
giving  Publix  45  days'  protection 
over  every  independent  house  of  the 
territory,  regardless  of  whether  the 
independent  is  in  competition  with 
Publix,  or  100  miles  removed  from 
a    Publix   situation. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Grainger  Stresses 
"Sell  Right"  Need 

"By  all  means,  let's  not  only  buy 
right — but  sell  right  and  is  there  any 
good  reason  why  such  transaction 
should  not  be  consummated  right 
now?"  asks  James  R.  Grainger,  gen- 
eral sales  manager  for  Fox,  in  a 
letter  to  Martin  Quigley. 

"If  I  failed  to  stress,  in  my  recent 
open  letter  to  you,  the  'Buy  Right' 
part  of  your  slogan,  'Buy  Right— But 
Buy   Now,'   it  was,  believe  it  or  not, 

(^Continued  oil  paye  5) 


More  Chi  Smoke 

CHICAGO— Indictments  in 
addition  to  the  five  returned 
against  officers  of  the  Chi- 
cago operators'  union  will  be 
sought  by  the  state's  attor- 
ney. The  nature  of  the  in- 
dictments to  be  sought  was 
not  made  known. 

Assistant  State's  Attorney 
Charles  Bellows  believes  trial 
of  indicted  officials  cannot  be 
begun  prior  to  September, 
due  to  search  for  additional 
evidence.  He  freely  predicted 
convictions,  carrying  prison 
sentences. 


Sound  Thinned  Ranks 

London — Stampede  to  sound  has  driven  7,000  American  theatres 
out  of  business,  John  E.  Otterson,  Erpi  president,  told  trade 
paper  men  on  his  arrival  here  from  New  York.  He  described  these 
houses  as  "the  least  modern  in  type"  and  said  most  of  them  had 
been  operating  two  or  three  times  a  week.  Otterson  placed  full- 
time  theatres  in  operation  in  the  United  States  today  at  14,000, 
of  which  11,000  are  wired. 

Erpi  has  been  invited  to  turn  its  attention  to  Russia,  but 
Otterson  said  conditions  to  date  were  against  entering  that 
market. 


Distributors 
Asked  to  Stop 
Chi  Dual  Bills 


Chicago  —  Immediate  action  to 
eliminate  double-featuring  here  has 
been  urged  upon  distributor  home  of- 
fices by  the  Exhibitors'  Association 
of  Chicago  in  order  to  forestall 
threatened  general  admission  price  re- 
ductions   by    independent   theatres. 

The  home  offices  are  understood  to 
have  instructed  local  managers  to 
sell  new  product  with  availability 
based  strictly  according  to  admis- 
sions charged.  John  Balaban  is  here 
to  urge  B.  &  K.  to  return  to  single 
features  in  pre-release  houses  of  the 
circuit  which,  it  is  said,  would  re- 
move the  threatened  price  cuts. 

One  independent  theatre,  the  Or- 
pheus, already  has  cut  its  scale  from 

(Continued .oil  page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

British  Exhibs  Defy 
''Blue  Law''  Decision 

London — Despite  the  risk  of  similar 
suits,  theatre  owners  are  continuing 
to  operate  on  Sunday  in  defiance  of 
the  1871  blue  law,  following  award 
of  $15,000  to  Miss  Millie  Orpeh  as 
a  "common  informer"  against  the 
Haymarket  Capitol  for  Sunday  op- 
eration. Meanwhile,  appeal  from  the 
decision    has   been   taken. 


Weeding  Out 
Deadwood  in 
Swivel  Chairs 


Hollywood — Axes  are  being  sharp- 
ened by  producers  in  a  move  to  elimi- 
nate deadwood  at  various  studios, 
according  to  The  Hollyivood  Herald. 
A  number  of  high-salaried  employes 
who  have  failed  to  deliver  are  re- 
ported slated  for  the  ranks  of  the 
unemployed,  it  is  learned.  This  will 
follow  the  weeding-out  process  begun 
in    the    film    colony    some    time    ago. 

New  blood  is  to  replace  some  of 
the  old  and  so-called  "big  shots" 
who  have  failed  to  produce  and  are 
scheduled  to  go.  The  exodus  will  be 
slow,  but  steady,  for  the  need  to  lop 
ofif  unnecessary  expense  is  being 
realized  today  in  greater  degree  than 
ever  before. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Travel  Films  Only 
Is  Fairbanks  Plan 

Hollywood — If  his  first  travelogue 
picture  is  successful,  Douglas  Fair- 
banks will  confine  his  efforts  to  this 
type  of  ofifering  in  the  future,  he  says, 
declaring  he  is  through  with  the  fic- 
tion type  of  picture.  He  says  that 
talkers  are  too  slow  for  him.  Fair- 
banks made  a  travelogue  on  his  re- 
cent world  tour. 


''BUY  NOW  SALES 


Close  on  the  heels  of  the  Warner- 
Universal  product  deal,  Universal  has 
closed  a  contract  whereby  Paramount- 
Publix  Theatres  of  Canada  will  show 
its  pictures  throughout  its  entire 
chain.  Paramount-Publix  of  Canada 
has  180  theatres  stretching  from  coast 
to  coast.  The  present  contract  for 
next  season's  features  and  short  pro- 
duct involves  in  rentals  close  to 
$1,000,000.  Included  in  the  short 
product  (leal  is  the  Universal  News- 
paper   Newsreel.      Negotiations   which 


resulted  in  this  contract  were  carried 
on  by  Phil  Reisman,  Ted  Schlanger 
and  Clair  Hague  for  Universal,  and 
Arthur  Cohen  for  Paramount-Publix 
of  Canada. 

Charles  Rosenzweig,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  distribution  for  Radio, 
says  exhibitors  are  buying  actively 
throughout  the  country  and  even  in 
Hawaii.     Here  are  some  late  deals  : 

The  Greenfield  Circuit  have  closed 
for  the  New   Mission  and   New   Fill- 

(Coiitiiiiiied  on  pane  5) 


Court  Wields 
Power  in  U.S. 
Loew  Decree 


Naming  of  Depository  to 
Wind  Up  Action 

Case  of  the  government  against  Fox 
Film  and  Fox  Theatres  for  divest- 
ment of  the  controlling  block  of  Loew 
stock  will  be  ended  when  the  Federal 
Court  and  the  three  trustees  to  whom 
the  stock  has  been  assigned  agree  up- 
on a  depository  for  the  contested 
stock. 

The  supplemental  decree  issued 
earlier  in  the  month  by  Federal  Judge 
Knox,  who  appointed  Thomas  Watt 
Gregory,  Judge  John  R.  Hazel  and 
Thomas  Nelson  Perkins  as  trustees, 
removed  possibility  of  any  merger  of 
Loew's  with  the  Fox  companies.  This 
order,  which  supplements  the  consent 
decree  entered  into  by  the  govern- 
ment and  the  Fox  companies  when 
the  stock  was  sold  to  Film  Securities 
Corp.,  in  the  refinancing  of  Fox,  pro- 
vides  that   trustees   act   as   officers   of 

(Continued  on  page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount  Slates  4 
Films  for  L.  I,  Studio 

Paramount  has  decided  to  make 
four  features  at  the  Astoria  studios 
for  next  season,  and  early  in  August 
the  first,  "Sal  of  Singapore,"  co-star- 
ring Claudette  Colbert  and  Gary 
Cooper,  will  go  into  work.  The  studio 
is  now  being  used  to  make  the  slap- 
stick shorts,  but  will  be  closed  for 
several  days  this  week  owing  to  the 
indisposition  of  two  members  of  the 
comedy  company. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Musician  Walkout  in 
Indianapolis  Looms 

Indianapolis — Possibility  of  a  walk- 
out of  musicians  at  the  Indiana  and 
Lyric  August  1  looms  as  settlement  of 
their  controversy  with  exhibitors  seems 
remote.  The  union  refuses  to  consider 
a  cut  in  the  $80  scale,  it  is  stated. 


Legs  or  Eggs 

A  World-Telegram  writer, 
after  interviewing  Rudolph 
Sieber  on  his  arrival  in  New 
York,  discovered  that  the  hus- 
band of  Marlene  Dietrich  is 
anxious  to  get  to  Hollywood 
because  he  is  hungry  for  some 
of    her    famous    "eierkuchen." 

Whereupon  he  suggests  that 
the  German  star  be  known  as 
"Eggs    Dietrich"    hereafter. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,   July   20.    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vo\.  30 


July  20,  1931 


No.  42 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 

^\r\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  J|l  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^<l^    Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  \ork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted.  „     .,        _  t  -r 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Lite 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  iVtlliam 
A  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearb'orn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Moortng. 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kutrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y..  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879, 

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THOSE  Chicago  indictments  remind  one  old  timer  of  the  jams  he 
got  into  years  ago  in  the  Windy  City.  At  the  time,  the  exchange 
in  question  had  a  smooth  operator  in  charge  of  poster  sales.  Business 
was  on  a  cash  and  carry  basis,  but  the  exchange  was  on  the  short 
end  of  the  intake.  They  did  not  catch  up  with  him,  however,  until  the 
fellow  got  sick  and  the  gross  for  the  week  he  was  away  increased  by 
leaps  and  bounds. 

The  exchange  decided  on  a  bounce,  but  the  word  was  passed  by  his 
connections  that  he  had  better  be  kept — or  else.  As  the  old-timer  ex- 
plains, he  didn't  know  what  tough  bimboes  he  was  dealing  with  at  the 
time,  so  the  culprit  got  the  bounce.  And  then  the  exchange  had  to  hire 
two  private  detectives  to  guard  life  and  property. 


Is  Phil  Goldstone  out  or  in?  The  veteran  Tiffany  studio  head  has 
been  reported  in  and  out  probably  more  times  than  any  other  exec. 
Grant  L.  Cook  in  New  York  the  other  day  stated  that  Goldstone  definitely 
would  stay  with  the  company.  Now,  on  the  Coast,  Goldstone  says  that's 
all  wet  and  that  he  intends  to  quit  August  1.  He  will  stay  until  "Bill" 
Saal  arrives  from  New  York  and  expects  that  when  he  explains  his 
cludi'ng  j  position  to  Saal,  that  the  latter  will  give  him  his  release.  Goldstone 
plans  to  produce  elsewhere,  but  is  mum  on  his  future  connection. 


<ifm%. 


Al    Lichtman    for    his     new 
Exhibitors     Service     De- 
partment    designed     to 
help    revive    exploita- 
tion of  pictures  on 
an  extensive  scale. 


Grindstone 

Wednesday:     Charlie    Petti  John 

says : 

"Production  on  the  Coast  is 
striving  as  never  before  to  make 
good  pictures.  They  know  that 
the  answer  to  all  motion  picture 
problems  of  the  day  is  pictures." 
Friday:    Carl    Laemmle    to    the 

writer : 

"The  studios  know  there  is  no 
way  out ;  that  it's  up  to  them  to 
deliver  not  good  pictures,  but 
real  pictures,  because  the  realiza- 
tion exists  that  this  must  be  done 
to  survive." 
Saturday:  Florabel  Muir  in  The 

Hollywood  Herald : 

"Fall  releases  will  show  what 
Hollywood  can  really  do  when  it 
gets  down  to  the  serious  business 
of  making  pictures." 

W  E  checked  further.  The 
outcome  indicates  the  studios  un- 
derstand to  the  hilt  that  they  are 
on  trial.  Box-office  reports  today 
are  scanned  just  as  frequently 
and  every  bit  as  avidly  by  the 
makers  of  film  on  the  Coast  as 
they  are  by  circuit  heads  and  sales 
managers  here. 

New  York  has  been  talking 
plenty  to  Hollywood  and  not  all 
of  the  language  has  been  of  the 
polite  society  ilk.  Hollywood  has 
been  told,  in  effect,  tiiat  many  of 
the  worries  this  business  has  ever 
had  have  emanated  from  the  west 
and  that  something  has  to  be  done 
about  it. 

OO  Hollywood  is  work- 
ing. Diligently,  vigorously  and 
hard.  The  indications  are  that 
the  effort  is  getting  somewhere. 
We  don't  know;  nobody  knows 
until  the  product  comes  through. 


From  the  publicity  department  of  the  Paramount  Theatre  comes 
this  morsel : 

"Those  who  have  read  Rufus  King's  gripping  murder  mystery  tale, 
'Murder  by  the  Clock,'  cannot  guess  the  solution  to  the  screen  version 
until  they  have  seen  the  entire  film." 

Won't  Mr.  King  be  surprised,  though. 

• 
Theodore  Dreiser  may  have  his  own  ideas  about  "American  Tragedy," 
but  Paramount  appears  to  be  in  no  doubt.    Advance  billing  for  the  two 
dollar  Criterion  opening  has  "Paramount  proudly  presenting"  the  picture. 

• 
A    rather   accurate   examination   of   the    attractive    theatre   front   for 
"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  at  the  Rivoli  will  disclose  to  the  discerning 
soul  some  eye-filling  pictorial  matter  culled  from  La  Vic  Parisiennc. 
Those  Frenchmen ! 

• 

That  RKO  deal  to  book  the  four  Bolte  brothers'  houses  in  the  Bronx 
has  hit  the  skids.  Local  exhibitors  look  on  RKO's  gesture  in  trying  to 
tie  up  with  independent  circuits  as  a  move  to  buck  the  smaller  exhibitor 
in  this  territory.  The  A.  H.  Schwartz  deal  was  the  first  of  its  kind 
and  it  may  be  the  last,  according  to  insiders,  who  believe  that  they  can 
buy  cheaper  as  individuals  than  hooking  up  with  a  major  circuit. 

• 
Six  million  dollars  will  be  netted  by  Paramount  as  a  result  of  its 
franchise  deal  to  split  product  with  RKO  in  Greater  New  York.  Joseph 
J.  Unger,  D.  M.  for  the  company,  closed  the  deal  which  covers  a  period 
of  four  and  a  half  years  and  starts  with  "The  Smiling  Lieutenant." 
Loew  has  the  other  half. 


Names  Committee  for 
Annual  RKO  Outing 

Martin  C.  Monroe  is  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee  which  will 
handle  the  annual  outing  of  employes 
of  Radio-Keith-Orpheum,  RKO  Pic- 
tures and  RKO  Pathe  August  29  at 
Indian  Point.  A  Hudson  steamer  has 
been  chartered  for  the  event.  Jolin 
E.  Redmond  is  secretary  of  the  com- 
mittee and  Mark  A.  Luescher  and 
Leonard  P.  Grant  in  charge  of  pub- 
licity. 


What  is  of  prime  importance, 
however,  is  that  Hollywood  has 
planted  its  nose  to  the  grind- 
stone. That  makes  conceivable 
the  surmise  that  quality  pictures 
will  follow.  Emergencies  usually 
bring  decisive   action. 

KANN. 


Want  4  Stagehands 
At  Straight  Film  Spot 

Buffalo — Local  observers  see  the 
height  of  something  or  other  in  the 
demand  of  the  stagehands'  union  that 
the  Lafayette,  which  doesn't  have 
stage  shows,  carry  four  instead  of  the 
present  two  stage  hands.  There  have 
been  threats  of  picketing  and  the  like, 
hut  insiders  doubt  that  these  will  ma- 
terialize, since  when  the  facts  were 
known  feeling  undoubtedly  would  be 
unfavorable   to  the   union. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY  NOW" 


May  Start  Trans  Lux 
Theatre  in  London 

London — Trans  Lux  is  reported 
considering  a  theatre  for  London.  The 
theatre  is  regarded  here  as  the  first 
in  extension  of  the  idea  to  Europe. 


Ask  Distributors  to 
Stop  Chi  Twin  Bills 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

25  cents  to  five  and  ten  cents,  and 
its  competitive  situation  threatens  to 
cause  a  spread  of  the  price  slashing. 
The  Orpheus  is  classed  as  first  week 
of  general  release,  and  theatres  in 
this  classification  feel  that  double 
featuring  in  pre-release  houses  consti- 
tutes unfair  competition  and  war- 
rants price  cutting  at  general  release 
houses. 

Balaban  &  Katz  is  said  to  be  hesi- 
tant to  return  to  single  features  due 
to  improved  business  at  two  of  the 
circuit's  "A"  pre-release  theatres 
where  double  featuring  is  in  vogue. 
The  theatres  are  the  Granada  and 
Marbro,  both  of  which  were  former- 
ly   stage    presentation    houses. 

When  stage  shows  were  withdrawn 
from  the  theatres,  grosses  sagged, 
but  were  revived  again  with  the  in- 
troduction of  double  features,  largely 
due  to  the  fact  that  their  pre-re- 
lease "A"  classification  made  a 
choice  of  pictures  available  for  the 
houses  that  could  not  be  duplicated 
by  any  double  featuring  competition. 

However,   John   Balaban's   influence 
is  expected  to  override  objections  and 
bring   about   the   circuit's   cooperation 
in  ending-  double  featuring  here. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Depository  to  Wind 
Up  U.  S.'Fox  Suit 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

the  court  and  in  no  wise  representa- 
tive of  the  Fox  companies  or  its  bank- 
ing affiliates.  Film  Securities  Corp., 
is  controlled  by  Chase  Securities 
Corp.,  which  handled  the  Fox  re- 
financing. 

The  government's  action  was  brought 
against  Fox  Film  and  Fox  Theatres 
after  their  purchase  of  660,900  shares 
of  Loew's,  Inc.  Violation  of  the  Clay- 
ton anti-trust  law  was  alleged  and  an 
order  for  divestment  of  the  stock  was 
sought.  John  H.  Amen,  special  as- 
sistant attorney  general  in  charge  of 
prosecution  of  film  cases,  handled  the 
action  for  the  government.  Amen, 
who  succeeded  in  securing  a  consent 
decree  in  the  West  Coast  protection 
case,  entered  into  a  consent  decree 
with  Fox  officials  in  April  when  the 
Loew  stock  passed  to  Film  Securities. 
"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Divide  Selznick  Duties 

Hollywood — The  place  of  David 
Selznick,  who  resigned  this  week 
from  Paramount,  will  not  be  filled,  it 
is  declared,  his  work  being  distrib- 
uted among  other  executives. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 


Resigns  from  Fox? 

Hollywood — John  Considine  is  re- 
ported to  have  resigned  from  Fox. 


^MEDBllRY»t 


What  a  wit  this  Medbury!  When 
a  fellow  can  send  you  out  with 
your  sides  aching  from  laughter— 
we'll  say  he's  a  humorist  plus* 
TRAVELAUGHS  is  the  best  little 
dose  of  medicine  for  the  glooms  on 
the  market  today!  Bright,  spark- 
ling, witty,  the  funniest  big  little 
feature  to  date! 

GOOD?  THEY'RE  ALWAYS  GOOD 


'CAUSE  COLUMBIA  MAKES  'EM 

17   newspapers   throughout  the   United 

States  publish  Medbury's  laugh  columns 

''Maybe  I'm  Wrong", 

and  "Mumble  and  Mutter". 

20  million  fans  from   coast  to  coast 


read  them ! 


Waltei 
Futteis 


-wt/A.  John  P.  Medbuiy 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  July  20,    1931 


Unfaithful" 
Leads  in  Fair 
Albany  Week 


Total  $25^60  for  5   Theatres 


Albany — Everything  considered, 
and  that  includes  two  circuses  in  one 
week,  two  or  three  rainy  nights  and 
temperatures  that  ranged  in  the  nine- 
ties, the  theatres  of  Albany  fared 
fairly  well  during  the  week  and,  as 
one  manager  put  it,  held  their  own. 
The  best  money-getter  of  the  week 
proved  to  be  "Unfaithful,"  which 
seemed  to  be  able  to  bring  the  people 
to  Harmanus-Bleecker  Hall  despite 
counter  attractions  and  unfavorable 
weather  conditions. 

It  was  also  noticeable  that  there 
was  a  rather  different  sort  of  an  au- 
dience, made  up  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent by  women  past  middle  age  and 
also  girls  in  their  teens.  This  pic- 
ture got  off  to  a  good  start  with  an 
excellent  write  up  b)'  one  of  the  lo- 
cal dramatic  critics. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  16  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"UNFAITHFUL"    (Para.) 

HARMANUS-BLEECKER  HALL— (2,- 
300;,  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $10,000.) 

"DAYBREAK"  (M-G-M) 

LELAND— (1.350),  20c-25c,   6  davs.   Gross: 
$3,200.     (Average,    $6,000.) 
"GOD'S    GIFT    TO    WOMEN"     (Warners) 
and    "UBANGI" 

RITZ— (1,146),     25c-35c,     3     days.      Gross: 
$1,M0.     (Average,    $2,250.) 
"CHILDREN   OF   DREAMS"    (F.   N.)   and 
"ALIAS    THE   BAD    MAN"    (Tiff.) 

RITZ— (1,146),  25c-35c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$1,640.     (Average,  $2,250.) 

"NIGHT  ANGEL"    (Para.) 

RKO  PROCTORS— (1,500),  20c-60c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $2,500.     (Average,    $3,000.) 

"EVERYTHING'S    ROSIE"    (Radio) 

RKO  PROCTOR.S— (1,500),  20c-60c,  5  days. 
Gross:    $2,300.    (Average,   $3,000.) 
"THE  MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

STRAND- (1,900),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$5,850.     (Average,    $8,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

St.  Paul  Heat 
Drives  'Em  to 
Cool  Theatres 


Total  $31,200  for  4  Theatres 


St.  Paul — Because  this  city  has 
few  beaches,  the  fans  took  refuge 
from  the  heat  in  the  cooled  theatres 
with  the  result  that  three  houses  went 
over  average  and  the  fourth  just  hit 
par.  Both  "The  Night  Angel"  and 
"The  Public  Enemy"  went  up  one 
grand. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  17  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"THE    NIGHT    ANGEL"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT-(2.,300),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,500.    (Average,    $7,500.) 

"PUBLIC  ENEMY"  (Warners) 
RIVIERA— fl,rx)0).     25c-,'!.ic-50c,      7     days. 
Gross:    $8,000.     (Average,    $7,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"   (RKO-Pathe) 
RKO  ORPIIECM     2.60r)),   25c-5'tc,   7  days. 
Pat     Rooney    and     son     heading    four    acts. 
Gross:    $12,000,    (Average,   $12,000.) 
"CHANCES"  (F.  N.) 
TOWER— (1.000).   15c-25c,   7  days.   Gross: 
$2,700.     (Average,    $2,000.) 


"Night  Angel" 
Buffalo  Top 
With  $22,400 


Total  $81,800  for  5  Theatres 


Buffalo — Business  was  somewhat 
better  than  last  week,  thanks  to  more 
favorable  weather,  but  at  that  none  of 
the  attractions  managed  to  hit  par. 
The  feature  of  the  week  was  the 
swank  premiere  of  "Salvation  Nell" 
at  the  Lafayette,  with  regular  Holly- 
wood trimmings,  and  the  picture 
grossed  $10,000  against  an  average  of 
$12,000.  "The  Night  Angel"  did  a 
surprising  $22,400  at  the  Buffalo,  nor- 
mal being  $25,000. 

Estimated    takings    for    week    end- 
ing Julv  17  and  vear-round  averages: 
"NIGHT    ANGEL"    (Para.) 

BUFFALO-(3,300),   30c-65c,   7  days.   Pub- 
lix    stag-e    show.    Gross:    $22,400.    (Average. 
$  '5  000  ) 
"CONFESSIONS   OF  A   COED"    (Para.) 

CENTURY— (3,000),       25c-55c.       7       days. 
Gross:    $9,800.    (Average,    $12,000.) 
"THE  MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

GREAT  LAKES-(3,000).  25c-60c.  7  days. 
Loew  stage  sliow.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average, 
$22,500.) 

"WOMEN     LOVE    ONCE"     (Para.) 

HIPPODROME— (2.100).  25c-50c.  7  days. 
Vaudeville.  Gross:  $17,600.  (Average,  $20,- 
OOO.) 

"SALVATION    NELL"    (Tiff.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3.300),  25c-35c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,000.     (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^Legs'  High  in 
Providence; 
^SouF  Hits  Par 


Total  $41,300   for  5  Theatres 


Providence — Loew's  State  played  "A 
Free  Soul"  this  week  and  for  the  first 
time  in  months  made  par,  $18,000,  de- 
spite complaints  that  the  Monday  holi- 
day given  to  store  employes  is  rais- 
ing havoc  with  business.  The  Majes- 
tic, leader  for  the  past  three  weeks, 
went  one  grand  above  average  with 
"Daddy  Long  Legs." 

"Many  a  Slip"  slipped  plenty  at 
RKO  Victory,  knocking  grosses  down 
to  $2,100,  while  its  sister  house,  RKO 
.Albee,  managed  to  get  $4,200  out  of 
"Woman  of  Experience."  Para- 
mount did  badly  with  "Night  Angel," 
grossing  only  $6,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  16  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  .STATE— (3,800),  20c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $18.0OO.     (Average,    $18,000.) 

"DADDY  LONG  LEGS"   (Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,300),       10c-5flc,       7       days. 
Gross:    $11,000.    (Average,    $10,000.) 
"MANY  A  SLIP"  (Univ.) 

RKO  VICTORY— (1,600),  lOc-.SOc,  7  Hays. 
Gross:    $2,100.      (Average,    .$6,500.) 

"WOMAN   OF   EXPERIENCE"    (Pathe) 

RKO  ALBEE— (2,500),  10c-5f;c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,200.      (Average,    $9,000.) 

"NIGHT  ANGEL"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $6,000.     (Average,    $10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Mack  M.  C.  in  Buffalo 

Buffalo — Shea's  Buffalo,  without 
an  m.c.  for  several  weeks,  will  have 
Ted   Mack  in  that  capacity. 


"Possession"     'Woman' Beats 


$1,000  Over 
In  Mill  City 


Total  $47,500  for  5  Theatres 


Minneapolis— "The  Man  in  Pos- 
session" grabbed  off  top  money,  $21,- 
000,  at  the  Minnesota,  although  the 
week  was  shortened  one  day  by  a 
change  in  policy.  The  average  for 
seven  days  at  the  house  is  $21,000. 
"Smart  Money"  also  went  over  a 
grand  at  the  State.  A  hot  wave  kept 
grosses  down  generally. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  17  and  year-round  averages: 
"MEN    OF    THE    SKY"    (F.    N.) 
ASTER— (812),     20c-25c,    7     days.      Gross: 
$1,500.    (Average,    $1,500.) 

"THE    MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

LYRIC— (1,238),  20c-40c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.    (Average,    $2,500.) 

"THE   MAN   IN  POSSESSION"    (M-G-M) 

MINNESOTA— (4,000),  .lOc-zSc,  6  days. 
James  Hall  heading  vauu'eville  bill.  Gross: 
$21,000.    (Average,    $20,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO  Pathe) 

RKO  OR PHE,U.M— (2,900),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $14,000.  (Average, 
$14,000.) 

"SMART    MONEY"     (Warners) 

STATE— (2,300),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,000.    (Average,    $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Denver  Gives 
Top  Dough  to 
'Night  Anger 


Total  $41,000  for  5  Theatres 


Denver — Hot  weather  is  doing  its 
usual  damage  to  theatres  here,  but 
the  managers  are  resigned  to  this  state 
of  affairs  and  aren't  doing  much  com- 
plaining. A  good  stage  show  at  the 
Denver  helped  "The  Night  Angel"  to 
ring  up  a  gross  of  $14,000,  only  one 
grand  under  par.  All  the  rest  sank 
below   average  also. 

P^stimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  16  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"THE    NIGHT    ANGEL"    (Para.) 

DENVER— (2,300).     25c-35t-65c,     7     days. 
Fanchon   &   Marco  "North,   East,   West  and 
.South"    Idea.     Freu'   Schmitt    and   orchestra. 
Gross:     $14,000.     (Average,    $15,000.) 
"ARIZONA"    (Warners) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN-(I,500),  35c- 
50c-75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average. 
$7,000.) 

"GOLD    DUST    GERTIE"    (Warners) 

HUFFMAN'S     TABOR— (1,900),     25c-35c- 
5nc.   7   days.    Gross:   $9,000.     (Average,   $10,- 
000.) 
"CONFESSIONS   OF    A    COED"    (Para.) 

PARA.MOUNT— (2.000),        2.5c-3'5c-50c,        7 
days.     Gross:    $9,000.     (Average,    $I1,0(K).) 
"THE     GIRL     HABIT"     (Para.) 

RIALTO  (1,040),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $.i,OnO.      (Average,    $3,750.) 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Adds  Music  Features 

Buffalo — Charles  Manning,  direc- 
tor of  Shea's  Buffalo  orchestra,  plans 
to  offer  production  overtures  with 
choral  and  scenic  effects  when  the 
symjjhony  orchestra  is  augmented  in 
the  fall. 


Portland  Par; 
$3,000  Over 


Total  $39,900  for  5  Theatres 


Portland — "I  Take  This  Woman" 
took  the  week's  lead,  grossing 
$15,000  at  the  Paramount  and  raising 
the  average"  ante  by  $3,000.  "The 
Good  Bad  Girl"  was  also  above 
average  to  the  extent  of  $1,700  and  "A 
Free  Soul"  in  its  second  week  at  the 
Fox  Broadway  took  $6,300,  better- 
ing normal  by  $1,300. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  16  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 

FOX  BROADWAY— (1,912),  25-50c,  2nd 
week,  7  days.  Gross:  $6,300.  (Average, 
$5,000.) 

"GOLDIE"    (Fox) 

FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25-35c,    3    days. 

Gross:  $1,600.      (Average,   for  week,  $4,000.) 

"GENTLEMEN'S   FATE"    (M-G-M) 

FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    4    days. 
Gross:    $1,500.       (Average   for   week,   $4,000.) 
"SMART  MONEY"   (Warner's) 

HAMRICK'S  MUSIC  BOX— (1,800)  25c,  7 
days.     Gross:   $3,800.       (Average,   $4,000.) 
"I  TAKE  THIS  WOMAN"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,068),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
F.  &  M.  "Three  Big  Figures"  Idea.  Gross: 
?>'15,000.      (Average   $12,000.) 

"THE  GOOD  BAD  GIRL"  (Col.) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (1,700),  25c-50c  7  days. 
Vaude.     Gross:   $'11,700.      (Average,  $10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^Broadminded' 
Hikes  Omaha 
Gross  $1,500 


Total  $27,000  for  5  Theatres 


Omaha — "Three  Who  Loved"  led 
the  grosses  at  first  run  stands  last 
week  with  a  take  of  $13,500  at  the 
Orpheum,  but  the  best  comparative 
showing  was  made  by  "Broadminded" 
at  the  World,  where  the  gross  jumped 
to  $7,000  in  a  house  whose  average  is 
$5,500.  Other  houses  did  not  do  so 
well  on  the  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  17  and  year-round  averages: 

"THREE    WHO    LOVED"    (Radio) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-60c,    7    days. 
Four   RKO  acts.     Gross:   $13,500.    (Average, 
$12,500.) 
"CONFESSIONS   OF   A  COED"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900),    25c-30c-3.Sc-60c,    7 
days.    Gross:    $6,500.     (Average,    $7,000.) 
"YOUNG    SINNERS"    (Fox) 
STATE— (1,200),    25c,    4   days.    Gross:    $1,- 
000.    (Average.    $1,200.) 

"THEIR    MAD    MOMENT"     (Fox) 
STATE^(1,200),   25c,    3   days.    Gross:    $1,- 
0(X).    (Average,    $900.) 

"BROADMINDED"   (F.  N.) 
WORLU-(2,500),    25c-40c,   7    days.    Gross: 
,$7,0OO.     (Average,     $5,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Maciste"  Sales 

World's  Trade  Exchange,  Inc.,  has 
sold  "Maciste  in  Hell"  to  Capital 
Film  Exchange  for  Greater  New 
York,  Upper  New  York  and  North- 
ern  New   Jersey. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Faur  Re-Signed 

Hollywood — Paramount  has  signed 
new  contracts  with  Judith  Wood, 
Sam  Mintz,  Sidney  Buchman  and  S. 
K.  Lauren. 


Monday,  July  20,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Jersey  Allied  Unit 
Set  for  'Fireworks' 

Plenty  of  doings  are  expected  at 
Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  New  Jer- 
sey's next  regular  meejting,  among 
which  will  be  decision  on  return  of 
stage  shows  and  elimination  of  double 
features,  what  action  should  be  taken 
against  certain  film  companies  whose 
managers  are  alleged  to  be  giving 
its  members  indifferent  treatment  and 
the  new  contract  situation. 

Plans  for  the  next  meeting  place 
vary  from  the  regular  schedule  in 
that  members  of  the  unit  will  gather 
at  Asbury  Park  on  July  21  instead 
of  New  York  at  the  Lincoln  Hotel. 

"BUY  RIGHT^BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Spike  Vitaphone-Erpi 
Suit  Dropping  Report 

Hearings  in  the  arbitration  case  of 
Vitaphone  versus  Electrical  Research 
Products  will  be  resumed  about  the 
middle  of  September.  Vitaphone's  ac- 
tion concerns  royalties  alleged  to  be 
due  Warners  and  charges  Erpi  did 
not  wire  houses  as  rapidly  as  it  could 
have  in  the  early  days  of  sound  in- 
stallations. Scheduled  resumption  of 
proceedings  spikes  reports  that  an  out- 
of-court  settlement  in  the  case  had 
been  made.  The  contract  between  the 
two  firms  specifies  that  any  differences 
must  be  arbitrated  before  court  action 
is  resorted  to  by  either  party. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Rogers  Seeks  Release 
To  Lead  NBC  Band 

Hollywood — Buddy  Rogers  is  try- 
ing to  get  Paramount  to  release  him 
from  his  contract  so  that  he  can 
broadcast  with  band  for  NBC  start- 
ing October  15  at  the  New  Yorker 
Hotel  in  New  York.  Provided  h^ 
cannot  get  his  release,  Rogers  will  try 
to  have  his  agreement  revised  so  that 
he  can  broadcast  half  the  time  and 
make  pictures  the  other  half.  It  is 
understood  that  Paramount's  next  op- 
tion on  his  services  calls  for  a  $3,000 
weekly  salary. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Two  Musical  Stars  for 
New  Vitaphone  Series 

Contracts  are  expected  to  be  closed 
today  or  tomorrow  for  two  musical 
stars  for  the  series  of  Big  Star  two 
reel  comedies  being  produced  by  Vita- 
phone. Stars  already  signed  are  Phil 
Baker,  Harry  Richman,  William  and 
Joe  Mandel  and  Dr.  Rockwell.  Mur- 
ray Roth  is  to  direct  the  series  at  the 
Brooklyn  Vitaphone  plant. 

"BUY  RIGHT- BUT  BUY  NOW" 

McCarthy  Burial  Today 

Bridgeport,  Conn. — Funeral  serv- 
ices for  John  P.  McCarthy,  37,  for 
the  last  three  years  manager  of 
Loew's  State  at  Providence,  who  died 
of  peritonitis  following  an  operation, 
are  to  be  held  today  from  his  parents' 
home  here.  He  had  been  affiliated 
with  the  show  business  for  the  last 
23    years. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Honor  Muyhridge 

London — A  bronze  portrait  tablet 
of  Eadweard  Muybridge,  commemor- 
ating his  work  as  a  pioneer  in  pro- 
ic'Ction  of  motion  pictures,  has  been 
unveiled  at  Kingston,  near  here. 
Muybridge  made  extensive  investiga- 
tions into  animal  locomotion  in  con- 
nection with  his  experiments. 


Purely  Personal 


CRESS  SMITH  pulled  a  surprise 
Friday  when  he  was  married  at 
the  Little  Church  Around  the  Corner. 
"Jimmy"  Ashcroft  was  best  man. 

Seee  Goodlet,  Dallas  Dynamo,  won 
the  Pat  Garyn  cup  in  the  National 
Screen  Service  sales  drive.  Jack 
Flannery,  Boston ;  Sam  E.  Hacking, 
Boston ;  Harry  Kirchgessner,  Phila- 
delphia, and  J.  J.  McCabe  were  other 
winners  in  the  order  named. 

Hal  Horne,  who  burned  up  the 
track  as  an  exploiteer  and  theatre 
operator  in  the  West,  is  attacking  his 
new  job  as  head  of  U.  A.  advertising 
and  publicity  with  characteristic  vigor. 
Watch  that  new  service  department 
click  under  his  direction. 

Irene  Delroy  had  a  couple  of  big 
events  this  week.  Her  marriage  to 
William  L.  Austin,  Jr.,  Long  Island, 
took  place  the  night  before  opening- 
of  her  newest  picture,  "Men  of  th( 
Sky,"  at  the  Brooklyn  Strand. 

A.  Charles  Hayman,  president  of 
the  Lafayette  Theatre  Corp.,  Bufi'alo, 
is  vacationing  at  his  summer  camp  300 
miles  north  of  Toronto.  His  Lafay- 
ette is  to  be  closed  for  a  week  late 
in  August  for  improvements. 

Colonel  E.  C.  Beatty  has  joined  the 
"Buy  Now"  movement  by  signing  a 
contract  with  J.  R.  Grainger  for  the 
48  Fox  pictures  for  the  Butterfield 
circuit  in  31  cities  throughout  Michi- 
gan. 

Walter  Eberhardt,  just  out  of  the 
hospital  and  still  not  so  hot  on  his 
pins,  says  he's  walking  in  16  milli- 
meter style.  "And  in  slow  motion, 
too,"   someone   added. 

R.  A.  O'Brien  has  been  appointed 
RKO  Pathe  special  representative 
traveling  out  of  the  home  office  under 
the  supervision  of  E.  W.  Ballentine, 
manager  of  exchange  operations. 

Morris  Kutinsky  is  spending  his 
summer  at  Long  Beach.  Si  Seadler 
is  also  basking  there  and,  of  course. 
Glen  Allvine.  He's  a  permanent 
summer   citizen    of   the   beach    resort. 


Miss  Bijou  Fernandez,  who  has 
been  ill  with  summer  grippe,  return- 
ed to  her  desk  yesterday  in  the  Ar- 
tists' Bureau  attached  to  the  Warner 
circuit   theatres. 

Murray  Asher,  veteran  of  Ad- 
vance Trailer  Service,  recently  merged 
with  National  Screen  Service,  is  re- 
ceiving congratulations  on  a  new  ar- 
rival.    It's  a  girl. 

Pat  Garyn,  of '  National  Screen 
Service,  got  a  tough  break,  returning 
from  England  just  in  time  to  hit  the 
heat  wave. 

J.  A.  English,  and  not  J.  A.  Bill- 
ings, as  previously  reported  in  error, 
is  the  new  president  of  the  Montana 
exhibitor  unit.     Beg  pardon. 

Joe  Arkin  quit  the  billiard  tourna- 
ment at  the  Empee  Club  because  he 
found  his  opponent  was  Jack  Sha- 
piro, his  boss.     Joe's  a  smart  boy. 

Julian  Johnson,  for  10  years  with 
Paramount  and  more  latterly  a  pro- 
duction supervisor  on  the  Coast,  is  in 
New  York  for  a  few  days. 

Mortimer  D.  Sikawitt,  president 
of  Headline  Pictures,  shoots  some  hot 
enthusiasm  from  Hollywood  over  his 
latest,   "A   Private  Scandal." 

Sydney  E.  Abel,  who  recently  re- 
signed as  general  sales  manager  of 
RCA  Photophone,  is  vacationing  in 
the  Berkshires. 

Dave  Bader  accompanies  "Grand- 
pa" Carl  Laemmle  on  that  forthcom- 
ing European  jaunt. 

Joe  Leo  is  preparing  to  move  on 
that  proposed  new  circuit  of  his. 
Numbers   no  object. 

Bob  Cochrane  is  off  to  unknown 
parts.    Vacation  stuff. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Jack  Warner  Sails 

J.  L.  Warner,  vice  president  and 
chief  of  all  production  activities  on 
the  Coast  for  Warners-First  National, 
is  now  on  his  way  to  Europe  accom- 
panied by  his  young  son.  Jack,  Jr. 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


Trading  Light  in  Dull  Market 

Net 

High      Low  Close  Change 

Consolidated    Film    Ind.    pfd 14fg        14Ji  143/^  +  H 

Eastman   Kodak 145         I43!4  145  —1 

Fox  Film  "A" 165^        16  WA  +  'A 

General  Theatre   Equip,  new ^^4          ^Vi  ^Yi  —  !4 

Ivoew's    Inc 44           43J4  44  -H  54 

Paramount   Publix : lA'/t        23^  2iA  —  Vf. 

Pathe    Exchange W^         V/i  VA2  —  Vi 

Pathe   Exchange   "A" 7             7  7  +  y^ 

RKO    15            13>^  14!^  +  'A 

Warner    Bros 7             6J^  7  — 

Fractional  Gain  on  Film  Curb 

Net 

High      Low  Close  Change 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 2M          2ii  2-34  +  'A 

\atinnal   Screen   Service 2]'A        2\'A  2l'A  —  % 

Technicolor     6'A          6!^  6!^  -|-  54 

Trans    Lux SVt.          5'/$  5%  +  Vi 

Bond  Issues  Steady 

High      Low 

General    Theatre    Equip.   6s    '40 34.)4        34)4  3454  +1-54 

Paramount   Broadway  S'/4s   '51 W1A      100^  Wi'A  —A 

Paramount    F.    L.   6s   '47 8»'A        88A  SS'A  —A 

Pathe  7s   '37  ww 92H        92  92)4  +  A 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 40           40  40  — 


Net 
Close      Change 


Sales 

100 

800 

1,^ 

2,700 

500 

1,600 

100 

100 

3,900 

1,000 


Sales 

200 
200 
100 
500 


Sales 

1 
3 
I 
8 

4 


(Continued  fram  page  1) 

more  in  San  Francisco,  and  the 
Hawaii  Theatre  of  Honolulu.  The 
Auditorium  or  Vaudette  at  Conners- 
ville,  Ind.,  have  signed  contracts  for 
Radio  Pictures  as  have  the  Vermont, 
Colonial  and  Temple  in  Los  Angeles, 
the  Lyric  in  Carizoza,  N.  M. ;  Rialto 
in  lx>ng  Beach,  Cal. ;  Scenic  in  Sioux 
City,  la. ;  De  Sota,  Loyal,  Courtesy 
and  Buchanan  in  Detroit ;  State  in 
Newark,  Del. ;  Carlton  in  Jamaica, 
L.  I. ;  Inman,  Cambridge,  Mass. ; 
Amendala,  Rialto  and  Colonial  in 
Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. ;  Dreamland  of 
Holly,  Pa. ;  Peacedale,  Peacedale,  R. 
I. ;,  Rialto,  Lancaster,  New  Haven, 
Conn. 

Arkansas 

Hoyt's,  Fort  Smith,  Hoyt  Kirkpatrick. 

California 

Broadway,  San  Diego,  R.  D.  Whitson; 
Ward's,  Pismo  Beach,  Ivan  Rowley;  Ara- 
bian,  Oakland,   Carbine  and  Carbine. 

District  of  Columbia 

Talsoma,     Washington,     Talsoma     Theatre 
Corp. 

Idaho 

Onawa,  Onawa,   E.   Weekes. 
Illinois 

Princess,    Rushville,    Lloyd    Pearson. 

Maryland 

Dulse,    Leonardtown,    Kenneth    Dulse. 

Minnesota 

Family,  Pine  City,  H.  N.  Turner;  Camden, 
Minneapolis,    Wm.   Volk. 

Mississippi 
Grand,   Water  Valley,   W.   S.  Tyson. 
Missouri 

Peerless,  and  New  Shenandoah,  Oscar  Lehr; 
Courier,  Gallatin,   John   Courter. 
Montana 

American,   Harlowton,   Mrs.   C.   C.   Moore. 

Nebraska 

Lyric,  Takamah,  Weekes  &  Wickman. 

Ohio 

State,  Greenville,  Phil  Chakeres;  Murphy, 
Wilmington,    Phil    Chakeres. 

Pennsylvania 

American,  Erie,  Mrs.  J.  Faver. 
West  Virginia 

Matewan,  Matewan,  F.  W.  Hope  &  F.  M. 
AUara. 

Wisconsin 

Fox,  Osseo,  E.  H.  Anderson;  Garden, 
Osceola,  R.   Marks. 

Max  Fellerman  of  Bob  Wolff's 
New  York  staff  has  followed  up  his 
Frisch  circuit  deal  on  Pathe's  Per- 
sonality Group  with  a  similar  deal  for 
the  Tivoli,  Bobby,  New  Gates,  Nor- 
mandy and  Parascourt  theatres  in 
Brooklyn. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Grainger  Stresses 
Sell  Right"  Need 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

due  to  my  modesty.  I  take  it  for 
granted  that  whoever  buys  Fox  pic- 
tures is  buying  right.  I  further  as- 
sume that  the  record  of  our  product 
on  percentage  during  the  past  year 
has  convinced  any  critical  film  buy- 
er that  he  was  right  in  signing  his 
contracts   a   year   ago,"   he   continues. 

"In  previous  years,  we  have  had 
many  calls,  for  rebates  of  film  rental 
from  theatres  insisting  they  had  paid 
too  high  a  film  rental,  but  now  that 
percentage  playing  obliterates  any 
necessity  for  overcharging,  such 
complaints  are  reduced  to  a  mini- 
mum. If  we  cannot  agree  on  fixed 
prices,  let  the  public  decide  by  split- 
ting the  profits. 

"The  men  with  whom  I  have  done 
film  business  during  the  past  two 
decades  know  that  I  am  always  will- 
ing and  anxious  to  be  fair,  and  Fox 
I'ilm  Corp.,  under  its  present  man- 
agement values  highly  the  esteem  and 
good-will  of  the  theatres  which  are 
in  a  sense  its  partners  in  prosper- 
I  ity." 


m 


E   D    U    C  A  T   I    O 


N  T 


ANNOUNCES 


THRILLING   NEW 
SERIES   FOR 

1931-1932 

In  Addition  to 
Six    One-Ree 
Series  Previously 
Announced 


DL 


'%^>i)^%l 


'Muwmi 


^IHIAM 


SPORTS    REVIEW 

beginning  with 


%. 


W^NO  HOLDS  BARRED 

^^     ^^  featuring 

GUS  SONNENBERG 

CHAMPION      WRESTLER 


Bristling  with  exciting 
thrills,  America's  greatest 
sports  are  brought  to  the 
screen  and  vividly  described 
by  a  nationally  popular  sports 
writer. 

The  first  release  features  an 
outstanding  favorite  —  the 
man  who  brought  wrestling 
into  universal  popularity — 
"Dynamite"  Gus  Sonnenberg. 

Leading  wrestlers  of  the 

Produced  by 
/^     HOWARD  C.  BROWN 
and 
CURTIS  F.  NAGEL  f 


s 


United  States  and  foreign 
countries — modern  Goliaths 
hurling  hundredweights  of 
beef  and  muscle  to  the  canvas 
— crowd  this  extraordinary  sub- 
ject  with  thrills  and  drama. 
A  different  sport  in  each 
release,  these  pictures  will 
feature  exciting  incidents  of 
pronounced  popular  interest, 
described  by  Bill  Cunningham 
in  his  own  inimitable  way. 


2a  (r^^d.ux:<xtuyruxl  (RctuA£> 


BILL  CUNNINGHAM 
Famous  Sports  Writer 


If 


k 


EDUCATIONAL    FILM    EXCHANGES,    Inc.,   £.  IV.  MAMMONS,  President 


ifmber,  Mution  Pivture  Producers  and  Distributors  of  Americi,  Inc.,  Will  H.  Hay>.  President 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.  NO.  43 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JULY  21,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Here's  Allied 
Leader  Ready 
To  Do  Buying 

Careful  Buying,  Planning 
Called  Prosperity  Aid 

Denver — Harry  Huffman,  presi- 
dent of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Theatre 
Owners  Association,  is  one  Allied 
leader  who  endorses  the  "Buy  Right 
— But  Buy  Now"  movement  cham- 
pioned   by    Motion    Picture    Daily. 

Careful  buying  and  planning  now 
will  aid  greatly  in  bringing  about  a 
return  to  prosperity,  Huffman  be- 
lieves. The  veteran  showman,  who 
operates  the  Aladdin  and  Tabor  here, 
has  just  returned  from  a  trip  to  New 
York,  Panama  and  the  Coast. 

The  difference  between  people  in 
those  places  and  here  is  that  there 
people  are  advertising  that  there  is 
a  depression,  while  here  they  are 
working  to  forget  it,  according  to 
Huffman. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Educational  Winding 
Up  Sales  Meets  Today 

Denver — Educational  home  office 
and  field  men  today  wind  up  the  third 
of  the  firm's  regional  sales  meetings. 
Nine  branch  managers  from  the  ter- 
ritory from  Kansas  City  to  the  Coast 
are  in  attendance.  Bill  Saal  heads  the 
home  office  contingent  at  the  sessions, 
E.  W.  Hammons  having  returned  to 
New  York  following  the  Chicago  ses- 
sions. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Pacent  Reproducer 
W.  E.  Infringement 

Reproducing  equipment  of  the  Pa- 
cent  type  infringes  Western  Electric 
patents.  Federal  Judge  Clarence  G. 
Galston,  Brooklyn,  ruled  in  an  opin- 
ion handed  down  yesterday.  The  ac- 
tion against  Pacent  was  brought  in 
June,  1929  and  is  the  first  of  a  series 
of  similar  suits.  Sol  Wallerstein, 
Broadway  theatre,  Buffalo,  was  de- 
fendant in  the  action. 


Business  Spurts 

Omaha— Paramount  Publix 
officials  at  the  divisional  of- 
fice here  are  elated  over  a 
sudden  jump  in  business  at 
outstate  theatres.  Houses  in 
the  smaller  towns  have  all 
shown  a  pronounced  increase 
in  the  past  two  weeks,  par- 
ticularly in  western  Nebras- 
ka, according  to  Gerald  T. 
Gallagher,  district  manager. 


Move  to  Slash  Salaries 
Hitting  Stride  on  Coast 


Act  to  Check  Wage  Cuts 

Hollywood — Anticipating  a  general  move  to  reduce  players' 
salaries  as  part  of  the  economy  drive,  several  agents  are  making 
plans  to  checkmate  what  may  eventuate  into  a  fixed  wage  scale 
agreement,  The  Hollywood  Herald  said  yesterday. 

While  the  salary  reduction  movement  may  not  be  a  concerted 
one,  due  purely  to  individual  economic  conditions,  nevertheless  it 
is  general  enough  to  cause  agents  considerable  concern.  Some 
believe  the  situation  may  decidedly  imperil  the  agency  business. 

If  studies  set  maximum  salaries  for  specific  types  and  roles 
both  the  actors  and  agents  will  suffer  great  reductions  in  income 
and  it  is  not  impossible  that  business  representatives  of  players 
will  set  up  defensive  measures.  Salary  reductions  are  to  high- 
light the  next  general  meeting  of  the  Artists'  and  Managers' 
Association,  it  is  understood. 


Chicago  Mayor  May  Revoke 
Licenses  of  300  Operators 


Chi  Operators  Move 
To  Check  Al  Capone 

Chicago — Possibility  that  Tom 
Maloy  and  his  aides,  indicted  for  al- 
leged racketeering  in  conduct  of  the 
Chicago  operators'  union,  may  be 
ousted  from  the  association  or  a  new 
union  formed  is  seen  by  Assistant 
State's  Attorney  Lounsbury,  who 
handled  the  investigation.  Today, 
570  members  of  the  union  will  meet 
to  consider  the  situation.  A  letter 
sent  to  union  members  cites  24  counts 
against  Maloy.  Operators  who  at- 
tend will  not  be  harmed,  it  is  prom- 
ised. Maloy's  permit  men,  who 
turned  over  ten  percent  of  their  sal- 
aries to  the  union,  have  not  been  in- 
vited. A  direct  hook-up  with  Al  Ca- 
pone is  charged  against  union  offi- 
cials. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Koplar  Alliance  With 
Skouras  Foes  Amazes 

St.  Loui, — Harry  Koplar's  align- 
ment with  the  group  seeking  a  receiv- 
ership for  the  Skouras  enterprises  and 
the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.,  has 
caused  something  of  a  sensation  in 
local  film  circles.  The  ght  is  based 
on  sale  of  the  Skouras  firms  to  aWr- 
ners  for  approximately  $4,000,000. 
Sam  B.  Jeffries,  attorney  here  for 
Warners,  says  there  is  no  foundation 
for  the  charges  made  against  the  com- 
pany under  Warner  management  of 
the  houses  and  will  fight  the  case  to 
the  finish.  Next  hearing  in  the  action 
is  scheduled  for  today. 


Chicago — Elimination  of  the  second 
man  in  the  projection  booth,  the  ob- 
ject of  the  current  action  against  the 
Chicago  operators'  union,  is  believed 
imminent,  and  may  come  from  a 
wholly  unexpected  source. 

This  was  apparent  with  the  revela- 
tion that  Mayor  A.  J.  Cermak  will 
act  this  week  on  a  recommendation 
that  Joe  Maloy,  city  examiner  of  pro- 
jectionists, who  is  under  indictment 
for  alleged  irregularities  in  the  li- 
censing of  operators,  and  for  malfeas- 

(Contimied  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Florence  Strauss  New 
Columbia  Story  Head 

Florence  L.  Strauss,  formerly  as- 
sociated with  First  National  and  Fox, 
has  been  appointed  story  editor  of 
Columbia  Pictures.  She  will  make  her 
headquarters  in  the  East.  The  new 
Columbia  executive  leaves  for  the 
West  Coast  today  for  a  brief  stay 
to  confer  with  Harry  Cohn,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  production.  She 
will  return  to  New  York  in  a  few 
weeks. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Use  Screen  to  Solve 
Nation  Ills—0'Toole 

Wrightsville  Beach,  N.  C. — Use 
of  the  nation's  screens  in  solving  the 
present  "uneconomic  and  unnecessary 
unemployment  situation"  was  urged 
here  Monday  by  M.  J.  O'Toole,  sec- 
cretary  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.,  in  ad- 
dressing the  convention  of  North 
{Continued  on  page  6J 


Free-Lancers   First    to 

Feel   Pruning   Knife 

In  General  Move 


Hollywood — Salary  slashing,  be- 
gun some  time  ago  by  producers,  is 
gaining  momentum  at  the  studios  and 
soon  will  be  in  full  swing.  As  usual, 
the  free-lance  workers  are  first  to  feel 
the  axe.  Ever  since  the  retrenchment 
convulsions  began  to  shake  good  old 
Hollywood,  there  have  been  efforts  to 
shave  and  slice  the  pay  checks  of  non- 
contract  players. 

Even  stars  have  been  asked  to  ac- 
cept reductions  or  forego  previously- 
agreed  increases  when  their  contracts 
came  up  for  renewal. 

One  character  actor  was  asked  to 
accept  a  cut  of  $25  a  day  in  salary, 
which  was  standardized  at  $150  a  day. 
His  agent  told  the  casting  office  that 
the  actor  would  not  accept  the  slash. 
Almost  every  time  a  free-lance  player 
is  offered  a  part  effort  is  made  to 
induce  him  to  accept  less  than  his 
established  salary. 

The  offensive  against  salaries  dove- 
tails with  the  drive  to  weed  out  dead- 
wood  in  the  studios. 

Cites  Exodus 

"The  grandest  shaking-out  of  do- 
nothings  and  yessers  that  Hollywood 
ever  has  known  is  under  way,"  is  how 
The  Hollyivood  Herald  describes  the 
move. 

"5\>me    already    have    folded     their    tents 
(Continued  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Goe  Resigns  August 
1  from  Tiffany  Post 

Carl  J.  Goe,  for  several  months 
general  sales  manager  of  Tiffany, 
has  resigned.  His  resignation  be- 
comes effective  August  1.  Goe  suc- 
ceeded Oscar  Hanson  as  general  sales 
manager  of  the  company,  when  the 
latter  became  a  vice  president  and 
general   manager. 

Since  the   deal,   which    placed   phy- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Grainger  in  Ice 

The  air-cooling  system 
that  cools  the  big  preview 
theatre  in  the  Fox  home 
office  has  been  extended  into 
Jimmy  Grainger's  office. 

Now  Grainger  can  let  oflF 
steam  without  interruption 
and  keep  cool  at  the  same 
time.  The  only  thing  missing 
is  a  refrigerator  to  convert 
the  icing  air  into  cubes. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,   July   21,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    RevitV) 

tnd  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


July    21.     19.n 


No.    43 


Maktih    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^C|^    Daily,   Inc.,  a  Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1/90  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qunpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyriabted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Deart>orn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  Vf.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kutrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.    Y.,   under   Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

It*s  There 

1  F  we  tell  you  that 
the  crook  meller  formula  still 
clicks  and  if,  in  reply,  you  raise 
an  eyebrow  in  our  direction, 
we  hardly  blame  you.  Yet,  it  is 
a  fact  that  this  done-to-death 
type  of  yarn  can  continue  to 
grip  and  hold. 

"Transatlantic,"  made  by 
William  K.  Howard  for  Fox, 
defies  the  routine  and  comes 
through  as  an  engrossing  pic- 
ture. 

•  i\  banker  and  his 
wife,  his  mistress,  a  lens  grind- 
er whose  money  is  jeopardized 
by  the  banker's  failure,  a  gen- 
tleman crook  and  an  opposing 
mob  play  out  their  parts 
against  an  ocean  greyhound 
background.  Like  the  ship  it- 
self the  tempo  never  stays 
still. 

If  ever  we  saw  a  picture  that 
illustrates  what  an  intelligent 
directorial  hand  can  do,  this  is 
one.  Howard's  touch  is  always 
intelligent,  deft  and  telling. 
Not  only  is  it  the  clever 
nuances  of  his  competent  cast 
that  count,  but  very  pro- 
nounced dramatic  emphasis  is 
added  to  "Transatlantic"  by 
lighting  and  camera  angles. 

*'Transatlan- 

TIC"  is  one  of  the  best  ex- 
amples we  have  seen  of  an 
effective  combination  of  silent 
and  talker  technique.  The  re- 
volver battle  up  and  down  the 
spider-like  structure  of  the  en- 
gine room  provides  a  different 
and  walloping  kick.  We  rec- 
ommend it. 

KANN 


Purely  Personal 


p  HIL  REISMAN  lives  in  New  Ro- 
*  chelle.  The  other  night  he  drove  up 
to  the  house,  remained  a  few  minutes, 
emerged  with  a  bundle  under  his 
arm,  and  hurried  right  back  to  New 
York.  Why,  you  ask?  Harold  B. 
Franklin   can   tell. 

Nat  Kurtz,  for  nine  years  with 
Paramount's  New  York  exchange  in 
various  sales  territories,  has  resigned 
to  join  Harry  Buxbaum's  staf?  at 
Fox.  He'll  have  charge  of  the  en- 
tire  Jersey   territory. 

Ch.\rlie  Einfeld  is  going  in  for 
the  smile-that-won't-wear-of?  stufY. 
He  has  taken  off  eight  pounds  play- 
ing handball.  May  mean  nothing  to 
you,   but   it  does  plenty  to  Einfeld. 

S.^M  CocALis  recently  was  fooled 
by  a  Motion  Picture  Daily  repre- 
sentative when  the  reporter  didn't 
hand  him  a  summons.  Sam  thought 
the  leg  man  was  a  process  server. 

Paul  Burger  has  a  new  carpet  in 
his  office.  He  says  the  old  one  was 
saturated  with  tears  of  exhibitors. 
This  will  take  the  place  of  the  Wail- 
ing  Wall,   he   asserts. 

Sidney  Garrett's  temporary  dis- 
appearance from  the  Motion  Picture 
Club,  a  little  sleuthing  discovers,  took 
him    to    Montreal    and    Lake    Placid. 

Harry  Lorch,  western  sales  man- 
ager for  Universal,  is  up  for  M.  P. 
Club  membership.  Phil  Reisman  and 
Ted  Schlanger  are  sponsoring  him. 

Gary  Cooper  sails  tomorrow  for 
New  York  to  co-star  with  Claudette 
Colbert  in  "Sal  of  Singapore"  at  the 
New  York  Paramount  studio. 

Max  Milder,  so  the  Warner-First 
National  boys  hear  from  London,  is 
going  in  for  gray  toppers  and  spats. 
Can  you  imagine  that? 


Peter,  the  Great 

Mike  Simmons  is  going  into 
the  shoe  business  on  a  whole- 
sale scale.  In  addition  to  his 
own,  his  frau's  and  Michael, 
Jr.,  the  supply  now  includes 
a  youngster  dubbed  Peter,  to 
be  further  dubbed  "The 
Great,"  who  opened  eyes  on 
the  Big  Town  Sunday  after- 
noon. 

"Baby  lusty  and  mother 
smoked  a  Murad  three  hours 
after  the  child  was  born," 
reported  Mike  recklessly  yes- 
terday. 


cifm%. 


William    K.    Howard    for    his 
direction    of    "Transatlantic" 


Joe  E.  Brown  is  to  make  a  personal 
appearance  tour  of  Warner  theatres. 
His  act  will  open  July  31  at  the 
Warner  in  Milwaukee. 

Al  Rockett,  now  convalescing  at 
a  Hollywood  hospital,  is  to  go  to 
Europe  for  a  rest  after  his  discharge 
from  the  hospital. 

Herschel  Stuart  and  A.  L.  Such- 
man  are  now  members  of  the  picture 
club.     And  in  good  standing,  to  boot. 

Mort  Spring's  family  is  summer- 
ing in  Atlantic  City.  So  Mort  goes 
down    by    'plane    every    week-end. 

Paula  Gould,  veteran  publicist,  has 
her  latest  story,  "Pent  House,"  in  the 
.August  number  of  Screenlami. 

Herman  Robbins,  president  of  Na- 
tional Screen  Service,  returns  tomor- 
row from  his  vacation. 

Tony  Ricci  has  quit  as  Fox  New 
Jersey  salesman  to  take  care  of  his 
realty   interests. 

Ambrose  J.  ("Bo")  Dowling  ap- 
pears daily  now  with  a  flowered  but- 
ton-hole. 

Fay  Wray  en  route  to  Hollywood. 

Bert    Adler    is    vacationing. 


Loew*s  Takes  Charge 
Of  Capitol  Publicity 

The  Capitol  Theatre  publicity  and 
advertising  department  has  been  reor- 
ganized, with  supervision  of  its  ac- 
tivities now  placed  in  the  home  office 
advertising  department  of  Loew's 
Theatres,  instead  of  being  an  individ- 
ual unit.  Bessie  Mack  continues  to 
handle  the  Capitol  publicity,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Loew  publicity 
director.  The  Capitol  advertising, 
instead  of  being  handled  in  the  M- 
G-M  advertising  department,  is  be- 
ing prepared  and  placed  through 
Loew's  advertising  department. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Shea  Buffalo  Houses 
Playing  Paramounts 

Buffalo — After  a  long  dearth  of 
Paramount  product,  all  three  Shea- 
Publix  first-runs  are  playing  Para- 
mount  films  this  week. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Play  New  Season  Films 

"The  Magnificent  Lie,"  first  of  the 
new  season's  Paramount  pictures, 
opens  Friday  at  the  New  York  and 
Brooklyn    Paramount   theatres. 


Chas.  Bauman  Dies; 
Hold  Services  Today 

Funeral  services  will  be  held  this 
morning  at  9:30  A.M.  for  Charles  O. 
Bauman  who  died  in  his  58th  year  on 
Saturday. 

Bauman  was  prominent  in  the  early 
days  of  the  industry  as  a  partner  of 
Adam  Kessel  in  Kessel  and  Bauman. 
Operating  under  the  brand  name  of 
"Kay  Bee,"  the  company  first  brought 
Charles  Chaplin  to  pictures.  Original- 
ly bookmakers  at  the  Sheepshead  Bay 
race  track,  others  of  their  early  pro- 
duction ventures  included  contracts 
with  Thomas  H.  Ince  who  was  signed 
away  from  Universal,  and  Mack  Sen- 
nett  who  went  to  "Kay  Bee"  from 
Biograph. 

Bauman  is  survived  by  his  widow, 
Anna  ;  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Daniel  Kelly  ; 
a  brother,  August  and  a  sister,  Mrs. 
Philip  Brandneier.  The  services  will 
be  held  from  Bauman's  home,  8  Sur- 
rey Lane,  Great  Neck,  L.  L  Inter- 
ment will  be  at  Saint  John's  Cemetery. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Goldwyn  Signs  Joan 

Hollywood — Joan  Bennett  has  been 
given  a  term  contract  by  Samuel 
Goldwyn.  She  will  star  in  two  pic- 
tures  yearly. 


Two  New  Educational 
Managers  Appointed 

Chicago — Appointment  of  two  new 
central    district    managers    was    made   I 
during     the     Educational     convention    I 
here.     They  are  O.  S.  Barnett,  Louis- 
ville,  and   J.    A.    Harris,    Milwaukee. 
Both  are  promotions  from  the  ranks. 

Central  district  representatives  ex- 
pressed regret  over  the  absence  of  A. 
S.  Kirkpatrick,  assistant  general  man- 
ager of  Educational,  whose  illness 
caused  him  to  miss  this  year's  con- 
vention, the  first  in  ten  years  which 
he  has  not  been  on  hand  to  conduct. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

''Big  Trail"  Is  Basis 
of  Plagiarism  Suit 

Chicago — An  injunction  restrain- 
ing Fox  from  showing  or  leasing 
"The  Big  Trail"  is  asked  in  a  suit 
filed  in  U.  S.  District  court  here  by 
Mrs.  Florinda  Gardner,  writer,  who 
charges  illegal  use  of  a  scenario  of 
hers  in  the  production.  Mrs.  Gard- 
ner also  asks  an  accounting  of  the 
profits    from    the    film. 

The  bill  states  that  after  copy- 
righting her  scenario,  "The  Trail  and 
Trials  of  the  Mormon  Pioneers,"  on 
August  30,  1923,  she  submitted  the 
work  to  Fox,  which  later  returned 
it  as  unsuitable.  Mrs.  Gardner  then 
alleges  that  the  company  "unfairly 
and  illegally  used  the  results  of  my 
work  in  the  production  of  'The  Big 
Trail'." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Exchange  Deal  Set 

Cleveland — The  local  Educational 
exchange  will  take  over  the  physical 
distribution  of  all  Tiffany  product  on 
July  25,  according  to  H.  R.  SkirboU, 
Educational  branch  manager.  William 
Shapiro  retains  an  interest  in  the  six 
offices  which  he  formerly  operated 
under  a  franchise,  and  he  will  con- 
tinue to  be  in  charge  of  Tiffany  sales 
in  these  offices  which  are  Boston,  New 
Haven,  Cleveland,  Cincinnati,  Pitts- 
burgh and  Detroit. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Back  from  Honolulu 

San  Francisco — Film  folks  re- 
turning from  Honolulu  have  been 
trickling  through  this  town  en  route 
to  Hollywood.  The  latest  to  stop  off 
here  were  Gilbert  Roland,  Norma  Tal- 
madge,  Ben  Lyon,  Bebe  Daniels  and 
Louella  Parsons. 


Sound  Recording 

FILM   AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY     RECORDING     CO.     of 

AMERICA,    INC 

1841    Broadway — New    York,    N.    Y. 

Columbus    5-3181-3182 


SURE  FIRE  TODAY! 


MOTHER  love/ 


The  musical 
romance  that 
delighted  N.  Y. 
for  over  a  year! 

EDDIE 


CLEAN, 

wholesome 
romance/ 


DOWLING 


iff 


FUXf 


"HONEYMOON  LANE 


99 


JUNE   COLLYER 
RAYMOND   HATTON 
RAY  DOOLEY 
NOAH  BEERY 


en 


ffo//. 


yed 


A.    V.  &  D.   P 


u  ('  I  i  (>  ri  . 


Presented  by  M.  E.  Comerford 
and  William  M.  Vogel.  In 
association    with    Sono-Art. 


Released  by 


PARAMOUNT 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,   July   21,    193 


Chicago  Pulls 
Fibii  as  Heat 
Blisters  City 


Total  $N9,904  for  8  Theatres 


Chicago — Grosses  were  kept  at  a 
low  summer  level  by  the  return  of  a 
heat  wave  which  did  so  much  dam- 
age that  it  forced  Balaban  &  Katz 
to  pull  "Women  Love  Once"  at  the 
Chicago  after  six  days  during  which 
it  grossed  only  $26,250  as  against  a 
weekly  average  of  $46,000.  This  is 
an  unprecedented  procedure  at  this 
ace   week   stand. 

"Hell  Bound"  was  good  for  $23,- 
100  at  the  Palace,  with  Harry  Lang- 
don  and  four  other  vaudeville  acts 
helping  to  bring  it  within  $900  of  the 
par  figure  of  $24,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  15  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 
McVICKERS— (2,284),     35c-50c-75c-85c,    3d 
week,    7    days.      Gross:    $18,780.       (Average, 
528,500.) 

Week    ending   July    16: 

"THE   VIKING"   (Independent) 
R(X)SEVELT— (1,591),  35c -50c -75c -85c,   1st 
week.     Gross:  $16,450.     (Average,  $23,200.) 
Week   ending   July    17; 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para.) 
CHICAGO— (4,000),  35c-50c-75c-85c,  6  days. 
Publi.x   stage   show,   orchestra.     Gross:  $26,- 
250.       (Average,    $46,000.) 

"CHANCES'   (Warners) 
ORIENTAL— (3,940),      35c-50c-75c-85c,      7 
days.     Publi.x  stage  show,  orchestra.  Gross: 
$23,900.      (Average.   $36,500.) 

"WHITE   SHOULDERS"    (Radio) 
ORPHEUM— (665),  35c-50c-75c,  first  week. 
2nd    Loop    run.       Gross:    $2,864.       (Average, 
$3,200.) 

"A    WOMAN    OF    EXPERIENCE" 
(RKO-Pathe) 
STATE-LAKE    —    (2,776),   35c -50c -75c -85c, 
first  week.     Ooss:  $17,890.     {Average,  $30,- 
200.) 

"THE   SMIUNC   LIEUTENANT"   (Para.) 
UNITED    ARTISTS— (1,700),    35c-50c-75c- 
85c,   2nd   week.      Gross:   $20,670.      (Average, 
$24,600.) 

Week    ending  July    18: 

"HELL    BOUND"    (Tiff.) 
PALACE— (2,509),    35c-50c-75c-85c,   7   days. 
Vaudeville    headed   by    Harry    Langdon,    or- 
chestra.    Gross:   $23,100.     (Average,  $24,000.) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Indiscreet^' 
Up  $4,500  in 
Kansas  City 


Total  $59,400  for  5  Theatres 


Kansas  City — Despite  the  heat, 
theatres  generally  fared  well,  two  hit- 
ting average  and  two  going  above  the 
mark.  The  leader  was  "Indiscreet," 
which  drew  in  the  fine  gross  of  $19,- 
000  at  the  Midland,  whose  par  figure 
is  $14,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  18  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"SWEEPSTAKES"     (RKO-Pathe) 

MAINSTKEKT- (3,W)7),    35c-60c,    7    days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $15,(X»0.     (Average,    $15,000.) 
"INDISCREET"   (U.  A.) 

MIDLAND-(4,000;,  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $19,fXXJ.    (Average,    $14,500.) 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 

NEWMAN-(2,0fXJj,       35c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $12,500,    (Average,    $12,500.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 

LIHEKTY     (1,200),  35c -50c,  7  rfays.  Gross: 
$6,(XX).    (Average    not    determined    yet.) 
"STEPPING   OUT"   (M-G-M) 

UPTOWN-(2,200),  25c-S0c,  7  days. 
Ooss:   $6,900.      (Average,  $6,000.) 


^6 


Money"  and     "Seed''  Leader 
"Soul"  Lead       In  3rd  Week 
In  Baltimore    In  Milwaukee 


Total  $47,840   for  6   Theatres 


Baltimore — Torrid    weather    ham 
mered     box-offices     here     last     week. 
Night  patronage  at  all  houses  was  off, 
but    matinees    pulled    very    well,    es- 
pecially  in  the  refrigerators. 

Loevv's  Valencia  and  Parkway  and 
Warners'  Metropolitan  were  the  only 
ones  doing  much  above  average,  the 
first,  $1,000  more,  the  second,  $1,100, 
and  the  third  with  $1,500  above  aver- 
age. The  first  two  had  "A  Free  Soul" 
for  a  second  run  while  the  Met  had 
"Smart  Money,"  which  everybody 
liked. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  16  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"BIG  BUSINESS    GIRL"    (F.    N.) 

KEITHT— (2,500),  25c-50c,  6  days,  plus 
Sunday  midnight  performance.  Gross: 
$5,440.     (Average,    $5,500.) 

Week  ending  July   17: 

"SMART  MONEY"    (Warners) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN— (1,300). 
6  days.    Gross:   $6,000.    (Average,   $4,500.) 

Week  ending  July  18 : 

"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 

LOEW'S  CENTURY— (3,076),  25c-60c,  t 
days.  Loew-Capitol  stage  unit,  ''Get  Set,' 
orchestra.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average,  $19,- 
000.) 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
(Shown    downtown    after    one    week    at    the 
Stanley   downtown.) 
LOEW'S    PARKWAY— (987),     15c-35c,     6 
days.    Gross:    $4,600.    (Average,    $.5,500.) 
"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"     (Para.) 
LOEW'S    STANLEY— (3,522),    25c-60c,    6 
days.    Gross:    $15,500.    (Average,   $17,500.) 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

(Shown     uptown     after     one     week     at     the 

Stanley   downtown,) 

LOEW'S    VALENCIA— (1,487),    25c-35c,    t 

days.    Gross:    $3,800.    (Average,    $2,800.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  SOW 

"Trader  Horn" 

Doubles  Take 

In  Okla.  City 


Total  $25,000  for  5  Theatres 


Oklahoma  City — The  closing  of 
the  Warner  Theatre  helped  the  other 
first-runs  to  better  the  previous  week's 
intakes,  but  at  that  there  was  little 
to  brag  about.  "Trader  Horn"  was 
entitled  to  the  first  honors,  for  it 
doubled  the  weekly  average  of  $1,000 
at  the  Victoria,  suburban  house. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  17  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"NIGHT  ANGEL"   (Para.) 

CRITERION— (1.800).  U)c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,5(X).    (Average,    $8,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

CAPITOL  (1,200),  l()c-25c-.50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,500,    (Average,    $7,000.) 

"TRADER    HORN"    (M-G-M) 

VICT()RIA-(850),  10c-35c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,(XX).     (Average,    $l,(X)n.) 

"THEIR  MAD  MOMENT"   (Fox) 

MID-WE.ST— (l,500j,       10c-25c-.15c-50c,       7 
days.     Gross:    $5,(X)0.    (Average,    $7,500.) 
"UP   FOR  MURDER"   (Univ.) 

I,IBE1<TY-(1,500),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.  (Eirst  week  under  new 
policy.) 


Total  $70,000  for  7  Theatres 


Milwaukee,  Wis. — Another  hot 
spell  at  the  tail-end  of  the  week  had 
its  part  in  somewhat  spiking  box-office 
receipts.  "Seed"  took  in  $10,000  at 
Universal's  Alhambra  and  was  good 
for  a  third  week.  "A  Free  Soul" 
opened  big  at  Fox's  Strand  theatre 
and  was  good  for  $8,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  17  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"SEED"    (Univ.) 

ALHAMBRA— (2,660),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  3rd 
week.  7  days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average, 
$8  000  ^ 

"THEIR   MAD    MOMENT"    (Fox) 
GARDEN— (1.150),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,500.    (Average,    $10,000.) 
"ARIZONA"   (Col.) 
PALACE— (2,587),    25c-35c-50c-6Oc,    4  days. 
Gross:    $4,000.    (Average,   $9,800.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO-Pathe) 
RIVERSID-E— (2,180),      25c-35c-50c-60c,      7 
days.      Vaucfeville.      Gross:     $14,000.     (Aver- 
age,   $13,000.) 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
STRAND— (1,406),    2Sc-35c-5Oc-e0c,    7  days. 
Gross:    $8,000.      (Average,   $6,500.) 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warner) 
WARNER— (2,500),   25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Miss    Gene    Dennis    in    person,    (jross:    $11,- 
OOO. 

"I    TAKE    THIS    WOMAN"    (Para.) 
WISCONSIN— (3,275),      25c-35c-50c-65c,     7 
days.       Fanchon     &     Marco     Idea.      Gross: 
$13,500.    (Average,    $13,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Only  Two  Hit 
Par  Mark  in 
Philadelphia 


Total  $119,000  for  8  theatres 


Philadelphia — Last  week  was  a 
poor  one  for  theatres  in  the  Quaker 
City,  only  two  going  over  par  to  the 
tune  of  $1,000  each— "Three  Who 
Loved"  at  the  Earle,  where  it  grossed 
$19,000,  and  "A  Free  Soul"  at  the 
Karlton,  the  take  being  $6,000.  "Wo- 
man of  Experience"  took  a  drop  of 
$7,000  at  the  Stanley. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July   16  and  year-round  averages: 
"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 
ARCADIA— (600),   50c,  6  Jays.  Gross:  $3,- 
000.     (Average,    $3,000.) 

"THREE  WHO  LOVED"  (Radio) 
EARLE^(2,000),    25c-65c,    6   days.    Vaude- 
ville.   Gross:    $19,000.    (Average,    $18,000.) 
"THE    BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 
FOX— (3,000),    35c-50c-75c,    6    days.    Stage 
show.    Gross:    $24,000.    (Average,    $26,000.) 
"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
KARLTON  — (1,000),       40c-50c.      6      days. 
Gross:     $6,000.     (Average,     $5,000.) 
"GIRL    HABIT"     (Para.) 
KEITH'S— (1,800),     .^5c-50c-75c,     6     days. 
Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,    $15,000.) 
"THE  MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 
MASTBAUM— (4,»)0),  .«c-50c-75c,  6  davs. 
Stage   show.   Gross:    $36,500.    (Average,   $40.- 
000.) 

"WOMAN    OF    EXPERIENCE" 
(RKO-Pathe) 
.TTANLEY— (3,700),     .15c-50c-75c,     6    days. 
Gross:    $11,000.    (Average,    $18,000. 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 
STANTON  —  (1,700),      26c-65c,      6      days 
Gross:    $7,500.    (Average,    $11,000.) 


'Smart  Money' 

Par  in  Boston; 

Others  Down 


Total  $140,000  for  8  Theatres 


Boston — Some  improvement  was 
shown  over  last  week,  but  box-office 
grosses  are  still  far  from  satisfactory 
and  are  well  below  last  season's  to- 
tals. Transients  supplied  some  busi- 
ness for  the  downtown  houset. 
Nightly  dancing  in  the  cool  lounge 
at  the  Metropolitan  has  opened  for  the 
season,  helping  to  boost  grosses. 
"Smart  Money"  was  fair.  "Never  the 
Twain  Shall  Meet"  at  the  Orpheum 
grossed  well. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  16  and  year-round 
grosses : 

"UP    FOR   MURDER"    (Univ.) 

KEITH  BOSTON-(2,500),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $18,000.) 

"A   WOMAN   OF   EXPERIENCE" 
(RKO  Pathe)  ' 

KEITH'S-(2,800),  25c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$17,500.  (Average.  $18,000.) 
"NEVER  THE  TWAIN  SHALL  MEET" 
(M-G-M) 
LO'EW'?  ORPHEUM— (3,100),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  C^oss:  $19,500.  (Aver- 
age,  $20,000.) 

"THE  MAN   IN  POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE-(3.700),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $19,000.    (Average,   $20,000.) 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para.) 
METROPOLITAN-(4,350),        2Sc-60c,        7 
days.     Gross:    $31,030.     (Average,   $32,000.) 
"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 
OLYMPIA-(2.500),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $14,000.    (Average,    $15,000.) 

"SMART  MONEY"   (Warners) 
SCOLLAY    SQUARE-(1,800),    2Sc-S0c,    7 
days.     Vaudeville,   Gross:  $15,000.   (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 
UPTOWN— (2,000),   25c-60c,  7  days.   Gross: 
$11,000.    (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Montgomery 
Best  Bet  in 
Des  Moines 


Total  $21,900  for  3  Theatres 


Des  Moines — Star  power  proved 
the  victor  in  a  battle  with  renewed 
assaults  of  Old  Sol  upon  Des  Moines. 
The  temperature  went  up  and  up,  but 
the  B.  O.  showed  a  steady  increase  in 
business  at  the  Des  Moines,  where 
Robert  Montgomery  in  "The  Man  in 
Possession"  scored  in  a  smart  comedy, 
grossing  $8,000,  or  $1,000  above  aver- 
age. 

Estimated     takings     for    the    week 
ending  July    18  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 
"THE   MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

DP:S      MOINES— (1,600),      25c-35c-60c,      7 
days.      Gross:    $8,000,     (Average,    $7,000.) 
"TOO  YOUNG  TO  MARRY"  (F.  N.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  25c-35c-60c,  3 
(fays.  Vaude.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average  for 
week,    $12,000.) 

"FORBIDDEN    ADVENTURE"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  25c-35c-60c,  4 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average  for 
week,    $12,000.) 

"GIRL  HABIT"    (Para.) 

STRAND— (1,600),  20c-30c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$2,300.    (Average,    $1,700.) 

"THEIR    MAD    MOMENT"    (Fox) 

.STRAND— (1.600),  20c-30c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$1,100,    (Average,   $700.) 


Tuesday,   July   21,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Twin  Bill  Is 
B.O.  Draw  in 
Montreal  Heat 


Total  $44,200  for  6  Theatres 


Montreal — You  couldn't  strike  up 
a  conversation  with  anybody  in 
Montreal  during  the  week  except 
about  the  continued  hot  weather 
which  just  about  constitutes  a  record. 
Even  with  Montreal's  cosmopolitan 
population,  a  picture  like  "Women  of 
All  Nations"  with  Victor  McLaglen 
in  command,  could  draw  only  $11,000. 

Perhaps  the  best  of  the  assortment 
was  found  at  the  Capitol  where  two 
Paramount  features  were  relatively 
popular  to  the  tune  of  $9,800,  the 
twin  bill  comprising  "I  Take  This 
Woman"  and  "Forbidden  Adventure." 
Gary  Cooper,  in  the  former,  is  well- 
liked  here. 

Loew's  stepped  down  to  $9,000  on 
"Stepping  Out"  and  five  vaude  acts 
while  the  Princess  was  away  off  color 
with  nothing  much  in  the  way  of  a 
ballyhoo  for  "The  Colonel's  Lady," 
the  gross  being  a  meagre  $7,200,  the 
lowest   of   the   season. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  17  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

'•I    TAKE    THIS     WOMAN"    (Para.)     and 
"FORBIDDEN  ADVENTURE"   (Para.) 

CAPITOL— (2,547),  2Sc-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,800.      (Average,    $12,500.) 
"MEN    OF    THE    SKY"    (F.    N.)    and 

"THE    LADY    REFUSES"    (Radio) 
IMPERIAL— (1,914),     15c-25c-40c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $3,700.      (Average,    $5,100.) 

"STEPPING   OUT"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S— (3,115)       25c-4Oc-50c-65c-75c,       7 
days.     Five   vaudeville   acts.     Gross:    $9,000. 
(Average,    $13,000.) 

"WOMEN    OF    ALL    NATIONS"    (Fox) 
PALACE— (2,600),     25c-40c-60c-75c-99c,      7 
days.      Gross:    $11,000.      (Average,    $14,000.) 
"COLONEL'S    LADY"    (Col.) 
PRINCESS— (2,272),        25c-35c-4Oc-50c-6Oc- 
65c,  7  days.     Gross:  $7,200.     (Average,  $13,- 
0(X),) 

"KICK    IN"    (Para.)    and    "CONQUERING 
HORDE"    (Para.) 
STRAND^(750).     15c-25c-40c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $3,500,      (Average,    $4,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Heat  Knocks 
Out  Grosses 
In  Charlotte 


Total  $14,900  for  2  theatres 


Charlotte — The  weather  was  hot 
and  the  grosses  lukewarm.  That  tells 
last  week's  box-office  history  in  a  nut- 
shell."Son  of  India"  was  relatively  the 
best,  getting  $5,000,  or  $500  below 
average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  17  and  year-round  averages : 
"THE    GOOD    BAD    GIRL"    (Col.) 

BROADWAY— (1.167),  25c-.5()c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $2,000.    (Average,    $3,750.) 

"MEN    OF   THE   SKY"    (F.   N.) 

BROADWAY--(l,167).  25c-,SOc.  3  days. 
Gross:    $.5',200.     (Average    $3,750.) 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para. 

CAROLINA  — (1.441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $4,700.    (Average,    $5,500.) 

"SON   OF   INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

CAROLINA  —  (1,441),  40c-S0c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $5,000.     (Average,    $5,500.) 


Montgomery      Tropical  Heat    "Kiki"  Flops 


Best  Bet  in 
Indianapolis 


Total:  $38,500  for  5  Theatres 


I  NDiAN  APOLis  —  Robert  Montgom- 
ery's "The  Man  in  Possession"  made 
the  best  showing  last  week  getting 
$9,500  at  the  Palace  or  $1,500  above 
average.  "Lover  Come  Back"  at  $7,- 
000,  was  the  only  other  picture  which 
hit  above  par.  Nick  Lucas  helped 
the  take.     Heat  hurt  business. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  17  and  year-round  week- 
ly   averages : 

"THEIR    MAD    MOMENT"    (Fox) 

APOLLO— (1,100),  25c-50c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.        (Average,     $4,000). 

"PARTY  HUSBAND"   (F.  N.) 

CIRCLE— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Other 
attractions:  Bradley  Kincaid  in  person. 
Gross:    $5,000.      (Average,    $5,000.) 

"I   TAKE  THIS  WOMAN"    (Para.) 

INDIANA— (3,300),  25c-65c.  7  days.  Other 
attractions:  Piiblix  unit.  Gross:  $13,000. 
(Average,    $13,0000.) 

"LOVER   COME    BACK"    (Col.) 

LYRIC— (2,000),    25c-50c.      7    days.      Other 
attractions:  RKO  vaudeville.     Gross:  $7,000. 
(Average,    $6,000.) 
"THE   MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

PALACE— (2,800).  2.Sc-50c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,500.      (Average,   $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Shriners  Hit 
B.O,  Grosses 
In  Cleveland 


Total  $66,000  for  5  theatres 


Cleveland  —  Seventy  thousand 
Shriners  here  in  convention,  with 
daily  parades  and  night  exhibitions, 
shot  holes  in  grosses  generally. 
"Broadminded,"  playing  at  Warner's 
Lake,  alone  escaped  the  jinx,  getting 
$9,000  in  nine  days  against  a  weekly 
par  of  $5,000.  ffl. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing Julv  16  and  year-round  averages : 
.     "ANNABELLE'S    AFFAIRS"     (Fox) 

STATE— (3,400),  7  days,  30c-60c.  Gross: 
$15,000.        (Average,     $20,000.) 

Week    ending     Tuly     17: 
"THE  MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

ALLEN— (3.,100),  7  days,  30c-60c.  Gross: 
$13,000.       (Average,    $18,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"     (R-K-O     Pathe) 

RKO  HIPPODROME— (4,100),  7  days, 
25c-50c-75c.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"ARIZONA"     (Col.) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,100),    7    days,    25c-35c- 
75c.      Gross:    $18,000.       (Average,    $23,000.) 
"BROADMINDED"    (F.    N.) 

WARNER'S  LAKE— (800),  9  days,  40c- 
60c.  Ooss:  $9,000.  (Average  for  week, 
$5  000  ) 

'  "BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Showman-Mayor  of 
Seattle  Is  Recalled 

Seattle — Mayor  Frank  Edwards, 
former  exhibitor  of  this  city,  who  rode 
into  the  mayor's  office  of  Seattle  as 
his  first  political  venture  three  years 
ago  and  was  re-elected  by  a  tremend- 
ous majority  last  year,  was  recalled 
this  week. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Sunday  Shows  Win 

Central  City,  Neb. — At  a  special 
election  Sunday  pictures  were  legal- 
ized by  a  majority  of  232  votes. 


In  Toronto  Is 
B.O.  Damper 


Total:  $58,100  for  5  Theatres 


Toronto— Tropical  heat  reigned 
here  and  did  a  lot  of  damage  to  box- 
offices,  none  of  which  went  over  par. 
The  cool  Imperial  grossed  a  fair  $14,- 
500  with  "Sweepstakes"  and  "On  Ze 
Boulevard,"  Publix  stage  unit,  which 
was  appropriate  for  the  French  na- 
tional holiday,   Bastille  Day,  July   14. 

Shea's  was  better  than  recent  weeks 
with  $11,500  with  "Big  Business  Girl" 
and  five  attractive  vaudeville  acts,  the 
coolness   of   the  theatre   also  helping. 

Loew's  slipped  a  cog  or  two,  how- 
ever, with  "Never  the  Twain  Shall 
Meet"  which  registered  $11,800,  just 
so-so. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  17  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO-Pathe) 

IMPERIAL  —  (3,444),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c- 
7Sc  6  days.  Publix  stage  show.  Gross: 
$14,500.      (Average.    $16,000.)  .,^^.„, 

"NEVER   THE   TWAIN    SHALL   MEET" 
(M-G-M) 
LOEW'S— (2,088).     25c-30c-40c-60c-75c.        6 
days.      Gross:    $11,800.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"BIG    BUSINESS    GIRL"    (F.    N.) 
SHEA'S— (2,600),    30c-50c-60c-75c.    6    days. 
Five      vaudeville      acts.        Gross:      $11,500. 
(Average,    $13,000.) 

"CHANCES"   (F.   N.) 

TIVO LI— (1.600),    15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c,   6 

days.      Gross:    $10,500.       (Average,    $12,500) 

"WHITE   SHOUXJ5ERS"    (Radio) 

UPTOWN— (3.000),     15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,     6 

days.       Gross:     $9,800.       (Average,     $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^Transgression 

Leads  Houston 

In  Fair  Week 


Total  $27,700  for  4  theatres 


Houston — One  of  the  inexplicable 
turns  of  show  business  brought  box 
office  returns  last  week  far  above 
those  of  the  preceding  six  weeks,  al- 
though the  attractions  did'  not  seem 
to  warrant  the  spurt.  Only  "Night 
Angel,"  which  got  but  $6,500  at  the 
Metropolitan,  fell  below  average. 
"Transgression"  was  high  at  $8,500. 
The  heat  continued  with  Coast  storms 
adding   to   the    sultry    discomfort. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  16  and  vear-round  averages  : 
"Chan<:es"  (f.  N.) 

KIRBY— (1,654),  25c-35c-S0c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $5,000.     (Average,    $5,000.1 

"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S    STATE— (2,700),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
.lays.     Gross:    $7,700.    (Average,    $7,000.) 
"NIGHT  ANGEL"   (Para.) 
METROPOLITAN- (2,512),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
d'ays.     Gross:    $6,500.    (Average.    $7,000.) 
"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 
RKO    MAJE.STIC— (2,250).    25c-35c-50c.    7 
days.    Gross:    $8,500.     (Average,    $7,000.) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Closing  Columbus  House 

CoLU Minis — There  is  indication  that 
J.  Real  Neth  will  shortly  close  his 
Grand  theatre  in  heart  of  the  business 
district  for  extensive  remodeling.  It 
is  understood  that  architectural  plans 
have  been  developed,  but  Neth  refuses 
comment. 


On  Slams  in 
Ottawa  Stand 


Total:  $13,600  for  4  Theatres 


Ottawa — -Last  week's  hit  was 
"Laughing  Sinners"  at  the  Regent 
where  the  crowds  were  on  the  heavy 
side  all  week  in  spite  of  torrid  tem- 
perature, the  gross  being  $5,200  or 
only  $200  under  par.  A  good  week 
was  also  registered  at  the  Imperial 
where  the  attraction  was  "Gold  Dust 
Gertie,"  Winnie  Lightner  being  the 
magnet  for  $2,800  which  was  also 
close  to  average. 

The  local  flop  was  "Kiki"  at  the 
Centre  which  was  down  to  $3,600  on 
word-of-mouth  slamming.  There  was 
scarcely  a  counter-attraction  in  the 
way  of  outdoor  features  except  golf 
and  tennis  and  popular  pictures  had 
things  pretty  much  their  own  way. 

The  new  all-vaudeville  policy  at 
the  Embassy  took  some  who,  other- 
wise, would  have  gone  to  Keith's 
which  is  now  closed  for  repairs.  The 
Avalon  just  loafed  along  with  "Reach- 
ing for  the  Moon,"  first  half,  and 
"Six  Cylinder  Love,"  last  half,  the 
latter  accounting  for  a  bare  $1,050. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing   July    17   and    year-round    weekly 
averages : 
"REACHING  FOR  THE   MOON"   (U.  A.) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $950.      (Average,   $1,300). 

"SIX  CYLINDER  LOVE"   (Fox) 

AVALON— (990),      15c-25c-35c,      3      days. 
Gross:    $1,050.      (Average,    $1,300.) 
"KIKI"    (U.   A.) 

CENTRE— (1,142),      15c-25c-35c-5Oc-60c,     6 
days.     Gross:   $3,600.     (Average,  $4,600). 
"GOLD   DUST   GERTIE"    (Warners) 

IMPERIAL— (1,091),    10c-25c-35c-40c-50c,    6 
days.      Gross:    $2,800.      (Average,   $3,000.) 
"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

REGENT— 1,225),  15c-25c-35c-45c-60c-75c, 
6  days.     Gross:  $5,200.      (Average,  $5,400.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^Stepping  Out' 
Gets  Seattle 
Top  Money 


Total  $45,000  for  5  theatres 


Seattle — The  big  money  in  town, 
$13,000,  went  to  "The  Man  in  Pos- 
session" at  the  Fox  Fifth  Avenue, 
which  was  $1,000  better  than  deadline, 
but  "Stepping  Out"  at  the  Fox  Coli- 
seum did  relatively  better  by  beating 
par  by  $1,500,  grossing  $6,500.  As  a 
result  it  was  held  over  three  days. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  14  and  year-round  averages : 
"STEPPING   OUT"    (M-G-M) 

FOX  COLISEUM— (2,000),  25c-35c-50c-75c. 
7    days.    Gross:    $6,500.    (Average,    $5,000.) 
"THE    MAN    IN    POSSESSION"    (MGM) 

FOX  FIFTH  AVENUE^(2,750),  25c-.^5c-- 
75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average,  $12.- 
000.) 

"THE  OTHER  WOMAN" 

LIBERTY— (2,000),  15c-30c,  7  d'ays.  Gross: 
$7,000.    (Average,    $6,500.) 
"THE     MALTESE     FALCON"     (Warners) 

MUSIC      BOX-(950),      25c-35c-50c-75c,     7 
days.     Gross:    $6,000.      (.Average,    $7,500.) 
"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM  -  (2,650).  25c-35c-50c- 
60c-75c,  7  days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $12,500. 
(Average,   $13,500.) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,   July   21,    1931 


Salary  Slash 
Fight  Raging 
In  Hollywood 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
and     stolen    quietly    away;    others    are    on 
their    way   to    the   chopping   block. 

"And  when  the  bugle  call  is  soundei? 
for  the  big  Fall  drive  there  will  be  many 
cavities  in  the  ranks  of  major  and  minor 
studio    executives. 

"Big  production  executives,  such  as 
Louis  B.  Mayer,  Winfield  Sheehan,  B.  P. 
Schulberg,  the  Warners,  the  Cohns  and 
Sam  Goldwyn.  probably  would  not  admit 
they  are  bearing  down,  but  by  October 
1  many  heretofore  important  faces  will  be 
absent    from    some    important    places. 

"Just  as  necessity  is  the  mother  of  in- 
vention, so  has  necessity  been  a  blessing 
in  disguise  for  the  harassed  production 
heads.  Called  upon  to  economize  on  a 
big  scale,  they  have  turned  to  their 
trusted  lieutenants  for  help  and,  in 
numerous  cases,  have  failed  to  find  it.  In- 
stead, they  have  encountered  non-coopera- 
tion in  such  high  degree  as  to  approximate 
disloyalty— in  places  where  they  have  every 
reason  to  expect  100  per  cent  assistance. 
'"That  many  posts  heretofore  considered' 
important  are  to  be  abolished  is  indicated 
by  a  statement  issued  yesterday  by  B.  P. 
Schulberg,  who  stated  the  office  of  ex- 
ecutive assistant  vacated  by  Dave  Selznick 
has  been  wiped  out  with  its  duties  being 
split  up  among  several  studio  pro<luction 
executives. 

"In  all  studios,  dismissals  will  come 
under  the  head  of  economy,  but  the  actual 
reason  in  most  cases  will  be  that  the 
victims   are   unnecessary   or   incompetent. 

"This  is  the  first  time  that  a  major 
turnover  in  executive  or  near-executive 
jobholders  has  been  projected.  In  writing. 
acting  and  directorial  fields  the  personnel 
mortality  rate  is  high  and  frequent,  but 
until  now  the  boss  and  straw  boss  divisions 
have  been  let  alone.  Depression  however, 
has  proved  stronger  than  friendship  or 
contracts  anu"  the  guillotine  has  been 
wheeled    into   place. 

"One  branch  that  is  certain  to  show  a 
large  casualty  list  is  that  of  supervisors. 
These  will  be  reduced  in  number  and  raised 
in  ability.  Also  they  will  be  business 
men  and  not  volunteer  authors,  directors 
or    property    men    in    future. 

"On     one     big     lot     this     week,     a     high- 

salaried   supervisor   came  in   all   fagged   out, 

and_  when    asked    what    tired    him    replieu': 

"  'I've   been  chasing  around  two  full  day^ 

..rV"?    '°''    ^    ^"^    °'    long-horned    cattle.' 

Under   the   future   studio   programs,    such 

wearing    tasks    will   be   left    to   the   propertv 

men    and    their    assistants." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

W.BrF.N,  Executives 
On^Buy  Now"  Trips 

There  will  be  an  exodus  of  War- 
ner-First National  executives  from 
the  home  office  this  week.  Gradwell 
L.  Sears,  western  general  sales  man- 
ager, will  leave  this  morning  for 
Chicago  and  points  West.  Claude  C. 
Ezell,  eastern  general  sales  man- 
ager, will  also  leave  the  city  todav 
for  surveys  in  the  Washington  terri- 
tory. 

A.  W.  Smith,  Jr.,  eastern  sales 
manager,  left  last  night  for  Chicago. 
visiting  Cleveland,  Indianapolis  and 
Cincinnati. 

In  the  Warner  theatre  department 
Dan  Michalove  is  planning  to  instill 
a  lot  of  ginger  in  the  zone  managers 
regarding  Warner-First  National 
product   for    next   season. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Edelhertz  Buried 

Funeral  services  were  held  yester- 
day morning  from  the  Riverside 
Memorial  Chapel  for  Bernard  Edel- 
hertz, former  exhibitor  and  officer  of 
the  Theatre  Owners  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  who  committed  suicide  on 
Friday.  Interment  took  place  at 
Mount   Pleasant   Cemetery. 

A  delegation  representing  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Club  attended  the  serv- 
ices. 


*A  rizona 


{Columbia) 

Cleveland — George  B.  Seitz  has 
re-made  this  once  popular  play  of 
Augustus  Thomas  into  a  melodrania 
that  held  little  interest  for  audiences 
at  the  RKO  Palace.  Either  the  prob- 
lem appeared  to  be  too  old-fashioned 
to  be  interesting,  or  it  isn't  a  problem 
at  all,  according  to  present  day  stan- 
dards. 

Today  a  young  woman  of  doubtful 
morals  ordinarily  doesn't  go  into 
hysterics  when  her  young  man  lets 
her  down — even  if  he  is  a  six-foot 
West  Point  cadet  and  a  football  hero 
to  boot.  And  after  marrying  the 
young  man's  guardian  and  superior 
officer  in  retaliation,  a  present  day 
matron  wouldn't  compromise  herself 
and  the  young  man  in  order  to  break 
up  a  love  affair  between  him  and  her 
sister.  It  doesn't  ring  true.  Also,  it 
lacks  subtlety. 

Laura  LaPlante,  who  has  hit  the 
mark  in  comedy  parts,  fails  to  con- 
vince in  this  heavy  role.  Forrest 
Stanley,  as  the  superior  officer  and 
husband,  is  dignified  and  convincing. 
June    Clyde    as    the    sister    lifts    the 


drama  from  the  ages  with  her  youth 
and  buoyancy,  while  John  Wayne  is 
so  rei)ressed  one  suspects  he  has  no 
emotions  at  all. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

''The  Star  Witness'' 

(IVarncrs) 

Hollywood — The  hero  in  "The 
Star  Witness"  is  an  aged  veteran  of 
the  Civil  War.  There  is  not  a  love 
scene  in  the  entire  picture.  In  this 
picture  what  would  ordinarily  be  a 
background  is  made  the  foreground 
of    the   plot. 

Leads  are  made  of  those  who  by 
the  usual  recipe  would  be  character 
players.  And  all  this  with  such  suc- 
cess that  critics  arose  with  joy, 
shook  hands  with  each  other  and  with 
themselves  as  they  went  forth  from 
the  projection   room. 

The  theme  is  patriotism.  Against 
this  background  the  gangster  is 
shown  in  his  true   size  and  color. 

There  have  been  so  many  gang- 
ster pictures  that  a  brand  new  yarn 
was  needed  to  put  another  over. 
Warners  did  this  and  in  "The  Star 
Witness"  departed  from  all  the  old 
ingredients    of   picture    story    telling. 


Goe  Resigns  August 
1  from  Tiffany  Post 

{Continued  from  f>afie  1) 

sical  distribution  of  the  Tiffany 
product  through  Educational,  Goe 
has  been  serving  as  representative 
of  the  various  Tiffany  producers. 
Prior  to  joining  Tiffany  as  assist- 
ant sales  manager,  Goe  served  in  a 
similar  capacity  with  First  National 
and    Universal. 


March  in  Dual  Role 

Hollywood — Paramount  has  as- 
signed Fredric  March  to  the  dual 
role  of  "Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde," 
with   Miriam   Hopkins  opposite. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Buys  at  Chagrins  Falls 

Chagrin  Falls,  O. — L.  B.  Solether 
has  bought  the  Falls  theatre  which  he 
operated  for  the  former  owner,  O.  E. 
Selleck. 


44 


BUY  NOW  SALES 


Timmy  Grainger  dug  into  a  file  of 
contracts  yesterday  and,  nonchalant- 
like,  picked  out  a  few  deals  for  the 
new  Fox  line-up. 

There  is,  for  instance,  a  deal  with 
Morton  G.  Thalheimer  of  Richmond, 
Va.,  for  the  Capitol  and  Venus ;  with 
Ed  Fay  of  Providence  for  the  Majestic 
and  Fay's ;  with  Harry  Zeits  of  New 
Bedford,  Mass.,  for  the  State  and  the 
New  Bedford ;  with  Chris  Buckley  of 
Albany  for  the  Harmanus  Bleecker 
Hall,  the  Leland  and  the  State. 

Also  with  Nathan  Yamins  of  Fall 
River,  for  the  Bijou  and  State;  Tom 
Kearse  of  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  for  the 
Kearse ;  Hyman  Bros,  of  Huntington, 
W.  Va.,  for  the  Albee  and  Orpheum  ; 
Louis  Martini  of  Galveston,  for  the 
Martini  and  Dixie;  Ralph  Talbot,  of 
Tulsa,  Okla.,  for  the  Ritz,  Majestic 
and  Rialto;  C.  W.  Brown  of  Zanes- 
ville,  O.,  for  the  Imperial,  Quimby  and 
Liberty ;  Al  Boyd  for  his  Embassy  at 
Allentown,  Pa. 

Universal  has  signed  up  five  Leon 
Rosenblatt  theatres  in  Staten  Island 
and  New  Jersey  for  100  per  cent 
product.  Leo  Abrams,  manager  of 
the  New  York  exchange,  closed  the 
deal  with   Rosenblatt. 


The  following  sales,  published  yes- 
terday, cover  Warner-First  National 
sales,  credit  having  been  inadvertently 
omitted  : 


Chicago — Publix-Balaban  &  Katz 
signed  for  RKO  Pathe's  new  prod- 
uct, to  play  in  the  26  Chicago  the- 
atres of  this  circuit. 


Arkansas 

Hoyt's,    Fort    Smith,    Hoyt   Kirkpatrick. 

California 

Broadway,   San  Diego,  R.   D.   Whitson; 
Ward's,    Pismo   Beach,    Ivan    Rowley;    Ara- 
bian,   Oakland,    Carbine    and    Carbine. 

District  of  Columbia 

T'alsoma,      Washington,      Talsoma      Theatre 
Corp. 

Idaho 

Onawa,    Onawa,    E.    Weeks. 

Illinois 

Princess,    Rushville,    Lloyd    Pearson. 

Maryland 

Dulse,    Leonardtown,   Kenneth   Dulse. 

Minnesota 

Family,   Pine   City,   H.   N.   Turner,   Camden, 
Minneapolis,    Wm.   Volk. 

Mississippi 

jrand.    Water   Valley,    W.   S.   Tyson. 

Missouri 

Peerless,  and  New  Shenandoah,  Oscar  Lehr; 
Courter,    Gallatin,    John    Courter. 

Montana 

American,   Harlowton,   Mrs.   C.   C.    Moore. 

Nebraska 

Lyric,    Takamah,    Weekes    &    Wicknian. 

Ohio 

State,    Greenville,    Phil    Chakeres;    Murphy. 
Wilmington,    Phil    Chakeres. 

Pennsylvania 

American,    Erie,    Mrs.    J.     Faver. 

West  Virginia 

Matewan,   Matewan,    F.    W.    Hope   &   F.    M. 
Allara. 

Wisconsin 

Fox,     Osseo,      E.      H.     Anderson;      Garden, 
Osceola,    R.    Marks. 


Chicago  Mayor 
Seen  Forcing 
Man  in  Booth 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

ance  in  office,  be  dismissed  and  the  li- 
censes of  more  than  300  operators  be 
revoked.  The  recommendation  was 
made^  to  Mayor  Cermak  by  Assistant 
State's  Attorney  Charles  Lounsbury, 
co-conductor  of  the  action  against  the 
union. 

Revocation  of  the  licenses  of  300 
operators  would  automatically  elimi- 
nate for  the  present  the  second  man 
in  the  booth,  as  evidence  presented  to 
the  grand  jury  during  its  investigation 
of  the  union  revealed  that  the  union's 
books  were  closed  14  years  ago  with 
550  members. 

Since  then,  projectionists  licensed 
by  the  city  were  accepted  by  the 
union  as  "perinit"  men,  paying  no 
dues  to  the  union,  but,  it  is  charged, 
returning  ten  per  cent  of  their  wages 
to  union  officials.  The  550  accredited 
members  of  the  union,  together  with 
those  permit  men  whose  examinations 
or  licensing  showed  no  irregularities. 
would  not  be  sufficient  to  man  the 
Chicago  theatres  on  the  basis  of  two 
men  to  a  booth,  in  the  event  the  li- 
censes of  300  permit  men  were  re- 
voked. 

The  possibility  of  this  early  relief 
considerably  heartened  scores  of  Chi- 
cago exhibitors,  who  believed  elimina- 
tion of  the  second  man  in  the  booth 
was  still  retnote  despite  the  indict- 
ments of  the  union  officials  returned 
last  week  by  the  grand  jury. 

The  state's  attorney's  office  had  an- 
nounced that  no  criminal  action  could 
be  taken  against  the  indicted  officials 
prior  to  September,  due  to  plans  for 
further  investigations  which  are  ex- 
pected to  result  in  additional  indict- 
ments. 

Continuance  of  the  investigations 
embraces  a  search  for  the  murderer  of 
Jacob  Kaufman,  insurgent  union  op- 
erator, who  was  fatally  shot  on  the 
eve  of  testifying  before  the  grand  jury 
in  the  union  investigation.  John  Ma- 
cek,  said  to  be  einployed  by  the  opera- 
tors' union  as  a  "slugger,"  and  who 
has  been  missing  from  his  customary 
haunts  for  some  time,  surrendered 
for  questioning  in  connection  with 
Kaufman's    murder. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Use  Screen  to  Solve 
Nation  Ills—0'Toole 

(Continued  from   page   1) 

and  South  Carolina  exhibitors.  M. 
A.  Lightman,  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  presi- 
dent, also  is  to  be  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal speakers  at  the  meetings,  which 
wind  up  today.  Reelection  of  Charles 
W.  Picquot  as  head  of  the  Carolina 
unit  is   forecast   for  today. 

O'Toole  declared  the  screen  reaches 
more  than  100,000,000  Americans 
weekly  and  termed  it  America's  great- 
est medium  of  expression.  Theatre 
owners,  he  said,  "must  have  general 
prospertiy  to  succeed  and  also  owe  a 
great   duty   to  nation  and  people." 

O'Toole  proposes  taking  children 
out  of  industrial  pursuits  until  they 
are  15  years  old,  their  school,  food 
and  living  facilities  beinsj  provided  by 
law  until  they  reach  that  age;  a 
minimum  saving  wage,  five-day  week 
and  eight-hour  day,  and  a  pension 
for  all  workers  60  years  old  who  vol- 
untarily retire  from  work. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  44 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JULY  22,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Friends  Vote 
Confidence  in 
^Jack''  Miller 


a 


Chicago  Exhibitor  Prexy 
Praised  by  Colleagues 


Chicago — Essentially  every  promi- 
nent Chicago  theatre  executive  vol- 
unteered an  expression  of  confidence 
in  Jack  Miller,  president  of  the  Ex- 
hibitors' Association  of  Chicago,  fol- 
lowing the  indictment  returned  by 
the  Cook  County  grand  jury  this  week 
charging  Miller  with  participation  in 
a  conspiracy  to  compel  payments  for 
the  settlement  of  labor  disputes. 
Miller's  indictment  was  incidental  to 
the  two  months'  grand  jury  investi- 
gation of  the  operations  of  the  Chi- 
cago projectionists'  union,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  indictment  of  five  union 
(Continued  on  page  2) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Carolina  Unit  Hits 
'Federal  Regulation' 

Wrightsville  Beach,  N.  C. — De- 
feat of  the  Brookhart  and  Hudson 
bills,  scheduled  for  re-introduction  in 
Congress,  was  forecast  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  M.P.T.O.  of  North 
and  South  Carolina,  which  closed  here 
Tuesday. 

The  discussion  centered  around  the 
dangers  declared  attendant  upon  Fed- 
eral regulation  of  the  industry,  which, 

(Continued  on  pane  8) 
■'BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Reserving 
Co-Starving  Right 

Hollywood— Right  to  co-star  any 
players  the  company  sees  fit  is  re- 
served by  M-G-M  in  its  new  con- 
tracts. The  first  exercise  of  this 
right  will  be  in  "Mata  Hari,"  which 
will  co-star  Greta  Garbo  and  Ramon 
Novarro. 


Backed  Up 

Denver— Not  only  is  Harry 
E.  Huffman,  president  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Theatre 
Owners  Association,  an  Allied 
affiliate,  talking  about  the 
"Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 
movement,  but  he's  backing 
up  his  stand  with  action  as 
well. 

Huffman  has  signed  with 
Fox  for  that  program  com- 
plete to  play  his  Aladdin  and 
Tabor    theatres    here. 


166  Houses  in  28  Cities  Gross 

,889,323;  A  Drop  of  $98,226 

First  run  grosses  covering  166  theatres  in  28  cities  totaled  $1,- 
889,523  for  the  week  ending  last  Thursday  and  Friday.  This  com- 
pares with  $1,987,789  for  167  theatres  the  previous  week,  or  a 
drop  of  $98,226,  the  tabulation  being  a  recapitulation  of  box-office 
reports  published  in  Motion  Picture  Daily. 

Albany,  Buffalo,  Chicago,  Cincinnati,  Ottawa,  Philadelphia, 
Seattle  and  Toronto  grosses  showed  an  increase.  Baltiinore,  Char- 
lotte, Cleveland,  Denver,  Des  Moines,  Houston,  Indianapolis,  Kan- 
sas City,  Los  Angeles,  Milwaukee,  Minneapolis,  Montreal,  New 
Vork,  Oklahoma  City,  Omaha,  Portland,  Providence  and  San 
Francisco  are  down. 

Last  week's  figures  follow : 


City                                      No.  Theatres 

Albany     5 

Baltimore   6 

Boston    8 

Buffalo     5 

Charlotte    2 

Chicago   8 

Cincinnati     7 

Cleveland    5 

Denver     5 

Des    Moines    3 

Houston    4 

Indianapolis     5 

Kansas  City    5 

Los   Angeles   14 


Gross  City                                    No.  Theatres      Gross 

$25,360    Montreal   6  $44,200 

47,840    Montreal    6  44,200 

140,0a)    Milwaukee     7  70,000 

81,800    New     Vork    City 11  264,743 

14,900    Oklahoma   City S  25,000 

149.904    Omaha    5  27,000 

73,226    Ottawa     4  13,600 

66,000    Philadelphia      8  119,000 

41,(K)0    Portland    5  39,900 

21,900    Providence     5  41,30fJ 

27,700    San    Francisco    9  130,250 

.W,500    Seattle     5  45,000 

59,400    St.    Paul     4  31,20C 

145,200    Toronto   5  58,100 


Showmen  Ask 

Protection  on 

"Non-Theats" 


Philadelphia  —  Non-theatrical 
competition  will  highlight  the  forth- 
coming meeting  of  the  eastern  Penn- 
sylvania exhibitor  association.  The 
organization  for  some  time  has  been 
concerned   with   the    subject. 

Members  of  the  unit  are  being 
urged  to  insert  a  clause  in  contracts 
specifying  that  pictures  bought  will 
not  be  released  to  any  non-theatrical 
account  in  the  zone  concerned  until 
one  year  after  their  showing  by  the 
exhibitor.  This,  it  is  hoped,  will  re- 
lieve the  tendency  to  release  pictures 
too  early  to  non-theatrical  accounts. 
A  committee  to  draw  up  plans  to 
counteract  non-theatrical  competition 
has  been  named. 


Stanwyck  Off 
Columbia  Lot; 
"H'm''— Cohn 


Hollywood — Showdown  in  the  tiff 
between  Barbara  Stanwyck  and  Co- 
lumbia is  being  awaited  here.  Miss 
Stanwyck  was  scheduled  to  appear  on 
the  lot  Monday  to  start  work  in 
"Forbidden,"  but  didn't  show  up.  She 
still  has  three  pictures  to  make  for 
Columbia  and  legal  action  may  be 
taken  against  her  if  she  refuses  to 
work.  Under  the  arrangement.  Miss 
Stanwyck  appears  in  Warner  films 
between    her    Columbia    assignments. 

Harry  Cohn  says  she  demanded  a 
250  per  cent  salary  boost  under 
threat  of  going  to  Europe.  Cohn  re- 
plied that  it  was  the  "contract  price 
or  nothing"  and  that  three  boats  a 
day  sail  for  Europe. 


Florida  Vents  Its  Spite  on 
Industry  with  Ticket  Tax 


Tallahassee,  Fla. — In  a  vote  de- 
clared to  have  been  swung  by  recita- 
tion of  the  high  salaries  paid  to  film 
workers,  plus  jealousy  of  the  state  to- 
ward California,  the  admission  tax 
measure,  providing  for  a  sliding  scale 
of  taxation  on  tickets  to  all  forms  of 
entertainment,    passed    the    House   by 


44-42.     The  measure  now  goes  to  the 
Senate. 

The  bill  provides  for  a  tax  of  five 
cents  on  tickets  up  to  40  cents,  ten 
cents  on  tickets  from  40  cents  to  $1 
and  ten  per  cent  on  all  tickets  above 
$1.  The  House  rejected  a  proposed 
^Continued  on  page   2) 


Big  Canadian 
Comeback  Is 
New  Allen  Plan 


Re-entry  in  Theatre  Field 
Seen  as  Probe  Result 


Toronto — Return  on  a  big  scale 
of  Jule  and  J.  J.  Allen  to  the  Ca- 
nadian theatre  field,  where  they  oc- 
cupied a  dominant  position  until 
thrown  into  bankruptcy,  is  being 
forecast  here  with  filing  of  a  petition 
for  discharge  from  bankruptcy.  The 
petition   will   be  heard   in   September. 

It  was  just  nine  years  ago.  May 
29,  1922,  to  be  exact,  that  the  receiv- 
ing order  was  issued  against  the 
Aliens  ending  the  spectacular  theatre 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Family  Pictures" 
Needed,  Says  Lasky 

Hollywood — Economic  conditions 
have  brought  about  a  demand  for 
"family  motion  pictures,"  Jesse  L. 
Lasky  declared  on  his  arrival  here 
from  New  York  on  his  semi-annual 
visit   to    the   company's    studios. 

"Because  of  recent  business  condi- 
tions, thousands  of  families  through- 
out the  country  have  been  forced  to 
eliminate  help  from  their  households, ' 
he  said.  "This  means  that  the  young- 
sters now  must  accompany  their  par- 
ents to  the  theatres.  Good,  whole- 
some entertainment  that  will  appeal 
equally   to  these  grownups  and   their 

(^Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gangster  Films  on 
Way  Out  in  St,  Paul 

St.  Paul — Gangster  pictures  are 
on  the  way  out  in  this  sector,  a 
check-up  shows.  A  couple  of  films 
of  the  type  took  it  on  the  chin  in  the 
neighborhoods. 


Stickler  for  Principle 

London — Just  a  matter  of 
principle  was  Miss  Millie 
Orpen's  suit  against  the  Hay- 
market  Capitol,  in  which  she 
was  awarded  $15,000  as  a 
common  informer  in  connec- 
tion with  Sunday  shows  at 
the  theatre.  Just  to  prove  it, 
she  has  renounced  the  $15,000 
award. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  July  22,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


July   22,    1931 


No.   44 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^■^rv  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  J|  J    and    holidays,     by     Motion     Picture 

\l        Daily,   Inc.,  a   Quigley   Publication, 

at     1790     Broadway,     New      Vork. 

Telephone:     Circle  7-3100.     Cable    address: 

"Quigpubco,     >iew     York."      All     contents 

copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edivin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  BioscopCj  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Television  Near, 
Expert  Predicts 

Television,  today  comparable  to  the 
phonograph  of  1910  and  the  motion 
picture  of  1905,  will  advance  from 
now  on  as  surely  and  rapidly  as  has 
sound  broadcasting,  E.  K.  Cohan, 
technical  director  of  the  Columbia 
Broadcasting  System,  Paramount  ally, 
said  last  night  at  the  inaugural  pro- 
gram of  Television  Station  W2XAB. 
Television,  he  said,  will  progressively 
bring  to  its  audience  the  individual  and 
small  groups,  the  larger  groups  and 
complete  symphonic  and  stage  pre- 
sentation, the  outdoor  sporting  events, 
and  spot  news  events.  It  will  eventu- 
ally present  these  things  in  natural 
color,    he    said. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Educational  Plans 
To  Pre-release  Two 

Denver  —  "Cannonball  Express," 
the  first  Mack  Sennett-Andy  Clyde 
comedy,  and  "I  Surrender,  Dear," 
first  Mack  Sennett  Featurette, 
screened  for  Educational's  home  of- 
fice executives  and  western  branch 
managers  at  the  Denver  confab,  are 
to  be  pre-released.  "I  Surrender, 
Dear"  is  the  comedy  featuring  Bing 
Crosby,  radio  crooner. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sixth  Floor,  Please 

The  advertising,  publicity  and  art 
departments  of  Warners-First  Na- 
tional now  occupy  the  entire  sixtli 
floor  of  the  west  building  of  the  home 
offices  on  44th  St.  Heretofore  they 
have  been  scattered.  As  laid  out,  all 
of  the  assistants  of  the  advertising 
and  publicity  chief,  S.  Charles  Ein- 
feld,  have  separate  offices,  the  rooms 
having  been  freshly  decorated  and  re- 
furnished. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Laemmle  Sails  Tonight 

Carl  Laemmle  sails  tonight  for 
Europe  on  the  Eiiropa,  but  will  con- 
fine his  itinerary  to  England  and 
France.  He  will  call  on  John  Drink- 
water,  author  of  his  biography,  and 
hold  sales  and  production  conferences 
in  London  and  Paris. 


Confidence   in   Miller  Is 
Voiced  by  Chicago  Friends 


(^ContiHUCil  f 

officials  on  charges  of  conspiracy  to 
commit  live  criminal  acts. 

The  expressions  of  confidence  in 
Miller  by  leading  Chicago  theatre  ex- 
ecutives came  as  a  result  of  an  in- 
vitation to  Motion  Picture  D.mly, 
made  by  an  official  of  Allied  States, 
to  sponsor  a  demand  to  the  Hays 
organization  for  the  resignation  of 
-Miller  a.s  president  of  the  Exhibitors' 
.-Association    of     Chicago. 

The  opinions  of  the  local  theatre 
executives,  given  voluntarily  to  Mo- 
tion   PitTfRE   Daily,   follow: 

Barney  Balaban.  treasurer  Publix- 
Balaban  &  Katz  :  "I  retain  the  utmost 
confidence  in  Jack  Miller.  He  has 
done  inestimable  good  for  the  indus- 
try locally,  and  any  negotiations  he 
may  have  conducted  in  his  official 
capacity  as  representative  of  Chicago 
exhibitors  were  executed  I  am  cer- 
tain, for  the  best  interests  of  the  ex- 
hibitors. The  so-called  independent 
theatres  were  a  part  of  the  organi- 
zation he  represents  when  the  alleged 
irregularities  are  said  to  have  oc- 
curred." 

James  Coston,  director  of  Coston 
Booking  Circuit  and  Warner'  Chicago 
district  theatres :  "Jack  Miller  de- 
serves the  confidence  and  support 
of  every  Chicago  theatre  owner.  His 
work  in  the  interests  of  the  industry 
locally  has  been  of  inestimable  value. 
I  am  certain  no  selfish  motives  ever 
prompted  any  dealings  he  has  had 
with  any  organization  as  the  rep- 
resentative of   Chicago  exhibitors." 

Emil  Stern,  president  Essaness 
Theatre  Circuit :  "Jack  Miller  has  my 
confidence  as  a  man  and  as  an  execu- 
tive. He  has  always  worked  for  the 
benefit   of   the   industry." 

William  Elson,  director  RKO  The- 
atres, Chicago :  "I  believe  Jack  Mill- 
er has  well  demonstrated  his  value 
and   his   interest   in  the   Chicago   the- 


roni  fatw  1 ) 

atre  situation.  He  is  a  man  who  de- 
serves the  support  of  the  industry  he 
has    served   so   well." 

l'"loyd  Brockell,  president  Midwest 
Theatres  Circuit:  "Jack  Miller  will 
always  enjoy  my  confidence.  He  has 
been  an  unselfish  and  tireless  worker 
in  the  interests  of  Chicago  theatre 
business." 

Samuel  Meyers,  independent  the- 
atre owner :  "Jack  Miller  has  con- 
tributed more  to  the  betterment  of 
local  theatre  business  than  any  other 
one  individual.  He  was  the  outstand- 
ing figure  in  obtaining  the  defeat  of 
the  two  operators'  bill  sponsored  by 
the  projectionists'  union  in  the  last 
session  of  the  state  legislature.  It 
was  his  efforts  which  secured  reduc- 
tion of  payments  to  theatrical  union 
employees  this  summer  in  Chicago. 
His    record    speaks    for    itself." 

Miller  made  the  following  state- 
ment to    Motion    Picture   Daily  : 

"If  any  benefit  to  the  industry  re- 
sults from  this  investigation,  what 
happens  to  me  is  of  no  consequence." 

Miller  is  also  in  receipt  of  a  let- 
ter from  the  Hays'  office  assuring 
him  of  the  confidence  of  that  organi- 
zation in  himself.  The  letter  was 
signed   by   Charles   Petti  John. 

Unofficial  sources  report  that 
M!iller's  indictment  resulted  from  his 
refusal  to  divulge  information  re- 
quested of  him  by  the  grand  jury  per- 
taining to  alleged  payments  to  union 
officials  of  sums  exceeding  $65,000. 
These  sums  are  alleged  to  have  been 
collected  from  Chicago  exhibitors  and 
turned  over  to  the  union  for  the  set- 
tlement of  labor  disputes.  The  indict- 
ment, according  to  assistant  state's 
attorneys,  implies  collusion  wi<h  union 
officials  in  collecting  the  sums  al- 
leged to  have  been  paid  them  through 
Miller's  office. 


Lil  Dagover  Sailing 

Berlin — Lil  Dagover  sails  for  New 
York  August  19  with  a  First  National 
contract   among  her   possessions. 

Miss  Dagover's  initial  American- 
made  picture  will  be  "I  Spy." 


Lloyd  to  Europe 

Hollywood — Frank  Lloyd  has  a 
three-months'  European  tour  in  the 
offing.  He  sails  on  August  26  and  by 
that  time  will  have  completed  "The 
Age  of  Love"  with  Billie  Dove. 


Stocks  Again  Rally;  Loew's  Pfd  Up  3% 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated   Film  Industries 8  7"^  8 

Consolidated  Film  Industries  pfd WA  14J4        14^$ 

Eastman   Kodak 148^  146  148'/5 

Fox     Film    "A" 175/^  I6.14  16.34 

General   Theatre   Equipment   new 3J^  3?^  iVn 

r,ocw's,     Inc 46-34  45^  46"^ 

r.ocw's.    Inc.,    pfd... 91  90^4  91 

Paramount    Publix 253r  24}4  24K 

Pathc    Exchange IM  Wi  Wi 

Pathc    Exchange    "A" 7'/2  7  7 

RKO      1.SJ4  145^  UVfi 

Warner    Bros 7'/J  lYt  7Vi 

Curb  Issues  Also  Advance 


Net 
CheUige 

-f  y» 
+  K 
-1-2/2 

+  y» 

+  'A 
•f3.K 

-V2 

+  'A 


Columbia    Pictures    vtc 

I'ox   Theatres    "A" 

General   Theatre   Equipment   pfd. 

Sentry    Safety    Control 

Technicolor      

Trans    Lux 


High      Low      Close 


im 
VA 

W2 

6 


10/2 
2Vf. 
8 

VA 

6/2 

6 


ll!4 

25/8 

VA 
Wf. 

6 


Net 
Change 

-H  Va 
-  K 


Sales 

1,500 
700 
1 .70ii 
4.901^ 
2,700 
5.600 

2on 

14,.?0() 

,W) 

900 

7.600 

4,800 


Sales 

3nn 

700 
800 
600 
100 
500 


Loew's  Drops  IV2  Points  on  Bond  Market 


(General   Theatre   Equipment   6s 

Keith,   B.   F.,  6s  '46 

lyi-jcw's   6s    '41    ex    war 

Paramount    Broadway  5^s   '51.. 

Paramount   F.   L.   6s   '47 

Paramount   Publix  Sj^s    '50 

Pathe   7s    '37 


'40. 


High 

.   35'4 
.   68 
.   98 
.101 '4 

.  sg-^ 

.   7954 
93K 


Warner   Bros.   6s   '39  wd 41 


Lew 

35 
68 
97A 

89^ 
79 
93>4 
41 


Close 

35 
68 
97^i; 
10154 
89/2 
79% 
9354 
41 


Net 
Change 

+VA 


-1/2 
-I-  54 
+  V2 
+  / 
-f  H 
4-1 


Sales 

9 
5 
6 
2 
14 
15 
1 
7 


Dan     Michttlove     for     buying 

the  Universal  line-up  which 

demonstrntes     his      faith 

in  t/ie  "Buy  Right— But 

Buy  Now"  movement. 


Studio    and     Location 
Sound  on  Fihn  Recording 

Low    Daily    or   WeeWy    Rates 
Powers  Cinephone   Equipment  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE.,  N.  Y.     BRyan*  9-6067 


Erpi  Also  Victim 
Of  Unions,  Is  View 

Chicago— With  tlie  state's  attor- 
ney s  office  busily  preparing  to  bring 
to  trial  the  officials  of  the  Chicago 
operators'  union  recently  indicted,  it 
was  learned  unofficially  that  no  action 
is  contemplated  against  Electrical  Re- 
search Products  because  of  the  evi- 
dence revealing  that  Tom  Reynolds, 
president  of  the  operators'  union,  has 
been  on  Erpi's  payroll  for  several 
years  at  $8,500  annually,  and  that  Em- 
mett  Quinn,  treasurer  of  the  union, 
who  received  no  salary  from  the  or- 
ganization, was  paid  $150.50  for  every 
installation  of  Western  Electric  equip- 
ment in  Chicago  theatres. 

Evidence,  this  unofficial  source 
stated,  indicated  only  that  Erpi  wa^ 
just  another  unwilling  victim  of  the 
bludgeon  tactics  of  Tom  Maloy's  ad- 
ministration as  union  head.  Reynolds, 
according  to  this  source,  forcibly  ob- 
tained^ an  appointment  as  "chief  en- 
gineer" for  sound  installations, 
exacting  his  tribute  and  that  of  his 
iienchman,   Quinn,   in   that   capacity. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Florida  Inflicts  Tax 
On  Theatres  in  State 

(Conliiuicd  from  [hujc   1) 

cigarette  tax  and  higher  tax  on  gas«- 
line. 

In  the  heated  debate  on  the  admis- 
sion tax  bill  one  member  asserted  that 
"if  the  industry  could  pay  $500,000 
yearly  to  people  who  admitted  they 
did  no  work  it  could  afford  to  pay  aii 
admission  tax." 

The  Florida  tax  measure  is  the  last 
tax  bill  pending  in  legislatures 
throughout  the  country  which  met  this 
year.  All  of  the  others  have  been 
killed. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Custer  to  Make  Series 
For  Big  4  Corporation 

Hollywood — Bob  Custer  has  been 
signed  by  Big  4  Film  Corp.  to  star 
in  a  series  of  outdoor  films.  The 
first    will    be   "Headin'    for   Trouble." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Bernheim  to  Europe 

Hollywood — Julius  Bernheim,  Uni- 
versal supervisor,  is  en  route  to  New 
York  where  he  joins  the  Laemmle 
party  sailing  on  the  Europa  tomorrow. 


Vou  can't  miss  the  target  of  entertainment  with 
big  shots  from  the  Columbia  Short  Features!  Every 
one  is  a  100%  winner  and  each  a  distinctive 
novelty  in  itself. 


AFRICA  SPEAKS 
THE  LION  'A"  LAMB 

BROTHERS 

TOLLABLE  DAVID 

RAIN  OR  SHINE 

CHARLEY'S  AUNT 

MADONNA  t^h'^e  streets 

THE  FLOOD 

THE  SKY  RAIDERS 

THE  LIGHTNING  FLYER 


THE  CRIMINAL  CODE 

TEN  CENTS  A  DANCE 

THE  MIRACLE  WOMAN 

THE  LAST  PARADE 

THE  GOOD  BAD  GIRL 

MEET  THE  WIFE 

SUBWAY  EXPRESS 

LOVER  COME  BACK 

ARIZONA 

FIFTY  FATHOMS  DEEP 


BROADWAY  THEATRE 

BROADWAY    NR.    JEFFERSON 
BUFFALO.  N.  Y. 


.„TEe»M"«MI-TCO»P 


J  tJ   U    E 
Seventeenth 

19  3  1 


julv  7.  ■^931. 


'  '0'<1 


,   T      levine.   Manager, 
^^IvS^nln^l^cnaises,    Inc.. 


rxceptionelly   line   ...^.-  ^^^ 

„   ueeo  up  this  P»ce,   '^YlVures  heve   done 
If  UiaVEKSAL  can  keep  up   ^^^^   theee   pictures  n^^ 

productions  that   "111        ^^^^,tlve  „U1   find 
Ir..:ner-orhlrn^..  ^-slt   to  us.  ^^^^ 

X "-  -  r^-yr  t^ru^rih^t-^era  ^o.er^.id  .u 

'rrj.t^3rrairt^o^  the   line. 


Kindest  regards. 


Very  truly  yours, 


BEE  TEE  AUJSEMENT  CORP. 

BHW.CO 


^y^yyd^ 


George  FlecbF' 
General  UanaKer. 


ITH 


B^Z-SSi'^^^*-'^ <tv 

Signed-.  Lester  a.  Ives 
nuen  Theatre.  Tilden.l'e.r. 


BROOD'"''*  OT   '""■ 
PARKHILL  THEATRE 
«)S     BRO*D'»'*l'- 
YONKEBS.   NY. 

r»MFO  THEATRE 

<^  ,i£ON   OVENVJB, 

YC    .KERS.    N-V. 
BROADWAY   TTEATM 
4M  S    BROADWAY. 
Y0N«»5-   "   "• 
ST    GEORGE  PLAVMOUSE 

BBOOiaYN.   N.  Y 
MOMART  THEATRE 

"JTfulton  street. 

BROOn-YN.   N.V. 
APOLLO  THEATRE 
*    °M   M.TON  STREET. 

EROOiaYN.   N.  Y 
CAPITOL  THEATRE 
'  BAYSIDB,  1. 1. 

1    STRAND  THEATRE 
1         E1J2ABSTH,  N.  I- 
I    ROYAL  THEATRE 
'  ELIZABBTH.  H- J- 

I    GATTYTHEATRB 

1    STA-re  THEATRE 

1    BLMORA  THEATRE 
I  BUZAB^TH.  N    1- 

I   PARK  THEATM 

1       K>saii  PAW.  "  ' 


Bie  U.   Fila  Exchange 
63^  ninth  Avenue 
new  Yort  City 

Gentlemen;  acltnowledge 

receipt  of  °°5^_i93a. 

the  ee&Bon  l^'i^  p^r  , 

.■nfvlng  for  us  y°  .^^l  'found  your' 

It  13  most  g'^^^^^lthe  fact  t^'^\!tlsfactory.  , 

18  the  outstanaims  ^^e 

.  these  productions  also 
,e  feel  that  these  px 
money  for  us.  ,^je 

^-ftf  a  Bucceesful  year, 
nest  wishes  for  a  »" 
®®^  Yoors  very  truly. 


JV(3;CB 


i^sai^  PAW.  N  ' 

SYMPHONY  PI^OPEI^™*.'-* 

lilt  BRC'O'**' 


WIIM 


ERA/^ 


"Let^s  GOm  Show  Business! 


99 


THE  BIG 
ONES  ARE 


HERE! 


ff 


n55 


THE  !>^M1LING  LIEUTEXAXT 


Doing  S.  K.  O.  business  despite  terrific  heat  at  Rivoli,  N.  Y.  after  three  months  of  capacity 
at  ^2  Criterion,  N.  Y,  Complete  sell-out  every  performance  at  two-a-day  Carthay  Circle, 
Los  Angeles.  E(|ualling  all-time  records  at  long  run  United  Artists,  Chicago.  MAURICE 
CHEVALIER  in  ERNST  LUBITSCH'S  brilliant  production,  with  Claudette  Colbert,  Charlie 
Ruggl^s  and  Miriam  Hopkins. 


ff 


59 


MURDER  RY  THE  CLOCK 


Smash  hit  at  world  premiere  Paramount  Theatre,  N.  Y.,  Hollywood  Reporter  says: 
"PARAMOUNT  has  a  knockout  in  this  one.  Beats  any  picture  of  its  type.  Exhibs  can  push 
it  to  the  limit."     With  William  Boyd,  Lilyan  Tashman,  Regis  Tooniey  and  Irving  Pichel. 


MORE!    MORE! 


Hollywood  insiders  wire:  "PARAMOUNT  has  best  MARX  BROTHERS  riot  yet  in 
^MONKEY  BUSINESS.'  'SILENCE,'  with  Clive  Brook,  Marjorie  Rambeau  and  Peggy 
Shannon,  previewed  and  is  strongest  drama  in  months.  ""HUCKLEBERRY  FINN,' 
with  Jackie  Coogan,  Junior  Durkin,  Mitzi  Green,  Jackie  Searl  and  Eugene  Pallette, 
finished  and  will  surely  top  'SKIPPY'  highs.  'DAUGHTER  OF  THE  DRAGON,'  with 
Anna  May  Wong,  Warner  Oland  and  Sessue  Hayakawa,  sensational  novelty.  PARAMOUNT 
has  big  edge   on   everybody  with  wonderful    1931-32   product."     All  the   Big   Ones  — 


PARAMOUNT 


TOAOt  ^  ♦  **lf  „  MAftK 


Cparamomt 


A  STATEMENT 
ABOUT 

AN  AMERICAN 
TRAGEDY 

tSlG,  important  pictures  are  essential  today  to  gel  big  box  office  money. 
PARAMOUNT  presents  the  MOST  IMPORTANT  MOTION  PICTURE  IN 
YEARS— "AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY." 

1 IIEODORE  DREISER'S  book,  upon  which  the  picture  is  based,  has 
enjoyed  a  tremendous  world-wide  sale.  The  picture  has  had  reams  of 
front-page  publicity.  It  would  be  a  big-money  natural  even  if  it  were  not 
the  splendid  production  that  it  is. 

As  to  its  quality,  Motion  Picture  Daily  says:  "'AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY' 
is  a  thundering,  vital  drama.  A  monument  to  the  power  and  techni€[ue  of 
talking  pictures." 

Hollywood  film  mercury  says:  "^an  American  tragedy' 

will  make  exhibitors  more  money  than  any  product  of  PARAMOUNT 
previewed  this  year." 

Hollywood  reporter  says:  "Surely  destined  for  big  things.  It 
cannot  fail  to  draw  — by  its  very  title  and  author.  With  the  names  of 
von  Sternberg  and  its  cast — exhibitors  are  sure  of  business.^' 

"An  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY"  was  directed  by  Josef  von  Sternberg,  with 
Phillips  Holmes,  Sylvia  Sidney  and  Frances  Dee.  It  will  open  at  the 
Criterion  Theatre,  New  York,  for  a  long  run  at  $2  admission. 

We  predict  that  "AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY"  will  do  more  to  bring 
boom-time  business  to  theatres  than  any  picture  released  this  season. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  July  22,    1931 


N.Y.  Smiles  at 
"Lieutenant''; 
Takes  $37,000 


Total  $264,743.25  for  11  Theatres 


They  are  discovering  the  truth  of 
an  old  theory  over  at  Paramount 
this  week :  that  good  pictures  will 
bring  'em  in  regardless.  "The  Smil- 
ing Lieutenant,"  in  its  "pop"  price 
run  at  the  Rivoli,  is  proving  the 
point.  For  its  first  full  week  at  that 
house — that  is,  the  week  ending  to- 
morrow— the  picture  will  close  to 
$37,000,  which  is  considerably  more 
monej'  than  the  Rivoli  has  seen  since 
the  week  ending  May  21  when 
"Seed,"  in  its  first  week,  grossed 
$37,100. 

Last  week,  the  Capitol  took  an- 
other nosedive  to  $55,078  with  "Five 
and  Ten."  That  intake  is  $13,000 
under  the  previous  week,  when 
"Laughing  Sinners"  played  the  the- 
atre. Also,  it  might  indicate  some- 
thing or  other  about  the  relative 
drawing  powers  of  Marion  Davies 
and  Joan  Crawford.  The  Paramount 
dipped  to  $41,000  with  "The  Secret 
Call"  while  "Girl  Habit"  did  $45,400 
the  previous  week. 

"Smart  Money"  continues  to  dp 
nicely  at  the  Winter  Garden,  but 
elsewhere  evervthing  was  Potomac- 
like. 

Estimated  takings  week  ending 
June  16: 

"A   FREIE  SOUL"   (M-G-M) 
ASTOR— (1,120),  50c-$2,  6th  week,  7  days. 
Gross:    $14,495. 

"FIVE   AND   TEN''   (M-G-M) 
CAPITOI^(4,700),       33c-$1.50,       7       days. 
Stage  show.     Gross:   $55,078. 

EMBASSY    (AU    Newsreel) 
EMBASSY— (498),    25c,    7    days.       Gross: 
$7,089.25. 

"A    WOMAN    OF    EXPERIENCE  " 
(RKO  Pathe) 
MAYFAIR— (2,300),  40c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$20,000. 

"THE   SECRET    CALL"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,700),     40c-$l,     7     days. 
Stage   show.     Gross:   $41,000. 
"THE    GREEN    MURDER   CASE"    (Para.) 
"THE    VIRGINIAN  '    (Para.) 
and 
"ALIBI"    (U.   A.) 
RIALTO-(  1,904),   40c-$l,   7   days.      Gross: 
$5,600. 

"NEWLY  RICH"   (Para.) 
RIVOU— (2,103),  40c-,$l,  2nd  week,  7  days 
Gross:    $9,800. 

"HUSH  MONEY  "  (Fox) 
ROXY— (6,200).     50c-$1.50,    7    days.     Stage 
show.      Gross:    $69,500. 
"ENEMIES  OF  THE   LAW   (Capitol) 
.STR.\.\D-(3,000),  35c-$I,  7  days.      Gross: 
$12,934. 
"THE   FATAL   HOUR"    (First    Division) 
\VAR.\ER.S-(1,490),       35c-75c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $6,900. 
„„  "SMART  MONEY"    (Warners) 
WINTKR    GARDEi\-(l,493),  4th   week,  7 
days.      Gross:    $22,347. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

^'Family  Pictures" 
Needed,  Says  Lasky 

(.Continued  from  fayc   \) 

children  is  the  type  of  screen  fare 
the  public  now  must  have." 

Simultaneously  with  Lasky's  ar- 
rival Paramount  stated  the  company 
is  prepared  to  launch  immediately  an 
intensive  production  drive,  with  22 
pictures  scheduled  to  start  within  the 
next  70  days.  These  augmented 
plans  will  aid  in  solving  Hollywood's 
unemployment  problem,  he  says. 

Ground  is  to  be  broken  during  the 
coming  week  for  the  construction  of 
two  new  sound  stages,  giving  the 
Paramount  studios  37,500  feet  of  ad- 
ditional space. 


A  New  Cycle? 

Opines    Walter    Winchell    in 
the  Daily  Mirror: 
"The    new    cycle    in    moom 
pitchers  will  deal  with  nurses 
and  hospital  patients." 


Roxy  Sets  in  Ten  Fox 
Films  in  2  Months 

Spotting  in  of  Fox  product  at  the 
Roxy  is  set  until  mid-September. 
Here's  the  list  of  opening  dates : 

July   24 — "Sunnyside    Up." 
July    31 — "Transatlantic." 
August   7 — "Young   As    You    Feel." 
August   14 — "Bad   Girl." 
August  21 — "Wicked." 
August   28 — "The        Spider"        (formerly 
"Jlediterranean    Cruise.") 

Sept.    4 — "Merely    Mary    Ann." 

Sept.    11 — "Skyline." 

Sept.   18— "The    Brat." 

Sept.   24 — "She    Wanted    a    Millionaire." 

"Merely  Mary  Ann"  will  run  at 
least  two  weeks,  according  to  Fox 
expectations,  which  naturally  will  set 
back  the  dates  for  the  last  three  pic- 
tures in  the  above  schedule. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Klein  Gets  Foreign 
Rights  to  New  Series 

Edward  L.  Klein  has  signed  con- 
tracts with  Donavin  Miller,  president 
of  Falcon  Productions,  Inc..  for  the 
foreign  rights  to  Boy  Scout  Produc- 
tions, a  series  of  13  two-reelers  being 
filmed  with  the  cooperation  of  na- 
tional chiefs  of  the  scout  movement. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

In  and  Out 

Herbert  Elder,  manager  of  War- 
ners-First National  exchange  in  New 
Haven,  was  a  visitor  at  the  home  of- 
fice yesterday. 

George  Schaefifer,  formerly  of 
Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  and  now  of 
Moundsville,  W.  Va.,  was  in  town  to 
book  First  National  product  for  next 
season. 

Leslie  Wilkes,  for  some  time  man- 
ager of  the  First  National  exchange 
in  Dallas,  Texas,  reached  the  city 
yesterday  and  was  in  conference  with 
Claude  C.  Ezell,  of  Warners-First 
National.  Wilkes'  trip  is  in  con- 
nection with  the  acquisition  of  theatre 
properties  in  the  west. 


"Woman"  Gets 

$4,000  Above 

In  Frisco  Run 


Total  $130,250  for  9  Theatres 


S.\N  Francisco — Folks  seem  to  be 
buying  gasoline  instead  of  theatre 
tickets  in  the  Golden  Gate  City,  for 
the  returns  at  thev  box-office  were 
nothing  to  cheer  about.  However,  the 
boys  at  the  Fox  did  not  have  much 
cause  for  gloom,  for  "1  Take  This 
Woman"  grossed  $38,000,  rating  four 
grand  above  par.  "Young  Sinners" 
was  up  a  trifle,  while  "Three  Who 
Loved"  and  "Annabelle's  AfTairs"  just 
reached  normalcy. 

"Children  of  Dreams"  was  pulled 
at  the  Warner  after  five  days,  during 
which  it  grossed  $4,500,  the  weekly 
average  being  $10,500.  Douglas  Fair- 
banks "Reaching  for  the  Moon"  lasted 
only  two  weeks  at  the  United  Artists. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  14  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"THREE    WHO    LOVED"    (Radio) 
GOLDEN    GATE— (2,800),    35c-40c-50c-65c, 
7   days.     Vaudeville.     Gross:    $15,000.    (Aver- 
age,   $15,000.) 

Week  ending  Julv  15: 

"YOUNG  SINNERS"  (M-G-M) 

EL  CAPITAN— (3.100).  25c-40c-60c,  7 
Tay  Brower  band;  stage  revue.  Gross:  $13,- 
250.     (Average.    $13,000.) 

"I    TAKE    THIS    WOMAN"    (Para.) 

FOX— (4,600).    35c-50c,    7    days.     F.    &    M. 
stage   show;    Walt   Roesner   concert.    Gross: 
$38,000.      (Average,    $34,000.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    COED"    (Para.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-3.5c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $10,000.    (Average.    $12,000.) 
"WOMEN   LOVE  BUT   ONCE"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740),        25c-35c-.50c,        7 
days.     Tess   Stafford's  banc?.     Gross:   $10,000. 
(Average.    $19,000.) 
"REACHING   FOR  THE   MOON"   (U.  A.) 

UNITED     ARTISTS— (1.200).     25c-40c-60c, 
7    davs.    second    week.     Gross:    $8,000. 
"ANNABELLE'S     AFFAIRS"     (Fox) 

WARFIELD— (2,700).  25c-35c-.50c,  7  days. 
RuT^e  Wolf  band;  stage  varieties.  Gross: 
$21,000.    (Average,    $21,000.) 

Week  ending  July  16: 

"CHILDREN   OF  DREAMS"    (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.— (l.,^85).  3.Sc-50c,  5 
days.     Gross:    $4,500.     (Average,    $10,500.) 

Week  ending  July  18: 

"FORSTERCHRISTL"    (German) 

COLUMBIA— (1,700).  35c-50c-75c,  7  days. 
Tliree-a-day,    second    week.     Gross:    $10,500. 


Big  Canadian 
Comeback  Is 
New  Allen  Plan  ^ 


(.Continued  from  [>a(ic  1) 

war  between  the  Aliens  and  Famous 
Players  Canadian  Corp.  One  out- 
come was  that  Famous  Players  took 
their  pick  of  the  Allen  theatres  at 
bargain  prices  and  further  estab- 
lished their  ruling  hand  in  the  Ca-, 
nadian  entertainment   field.  ' 

The  Aliens,  it  is  felt  here,  may  be 
the  ones  recently  referred  to  by  N. 
L.  Nathanson  as  planning  a  new  Ca- 
nadian circuit  to  specialize  in  Brit- 
ish picture  presentation.  When  the 
Aliens  crashed  in  1922,  they  had 
theatres  in  important  cities,  measur- 
ing about  even  with  Famous  PlayerSi 
After  the  crash,  they  organized  smal 
companies,  operating  suburban  and' 
small  town  houses.  They  now  have 
about   25   such  theatres. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 


he 

rsl 
^4 


Purely  Personal 


D.  W.  Griffith  was  the  recipient 
Saturday  of  a  life  membership  in  the 
I.  A.  f.  S.  E.  Local  No.  52.  The 
presentation  of  the  gold  card  was 
made  at  the  Audio  Cinema  studio, 
where  D.  W.  is  filming  "The  Strug- 
gle." 

Joe  Wf.il,  Universal  exploitation 
manager,  is  now  an  author.  He  made 
a  novel  out  of  Preston  Sturges'  play, 
"Strictly  Dishonorable,"  and  it  will  be 
published  August  15 — a  month  before 
"U"  releases  the  picture. 

Eddie  Dowling  and  Ray  Dooley 
are  driving  to  New  York  for 
premiere  of  "Honeymoon  Lane," 
which  opens  July  31  at  the  Para- 
mount theatres  of  New  York  and 
Brooklyn. 

Clark  Robinson,  former  art  di- 
rector who  now  is  production  chief 
at  the  Roxy,  Friday  will  present  his 


first  stage  show  under  the  new  ar- 
rangement. It  will  be  titled  "Pre- 
historic." 

Pauline  Garon  is  enjoying  a  holi- 
day in  her  home  town  of  Montreal, 
Personal  appearances  at  Loew's  are 
on  the  schedule. 

Frank  R.  Wilson  has  ambitious 
plans  for  Talking  Picture  Epics  and 
is  expanding  the  sales  force  at  a 
rapid  rate. 

A.  S.  KiRKPATRiCK,  general  man- 
ager of  Educational,  is  still  quite  sick, 
but  is  progressing  nicely  toward  re- 
covery. 

Rube  Jackter  has  lopped  ofi^  eight 
pounds  in  the  last  two  weeks  and  is 
rather  jubilant  about  it  all. 

Pauline  Moore,  signed  here  by 
Carl  Laemmle,  Jr.,  is  on  her  way  to 
the  Universal  City. 


Carolina  Unt  Hits 
'Federal  Regulation' 

(Continued  from  (<atie  1) 

it  was  said,  would  mean  party  con- 
trol ;  "party  control  where  anything 
approaching  a  medium  of  expression 
is  involved."  Exhibitors  who  favor 
the  bills,  it  was  stated,  "are  deliber-  ■ 
ately  asking  the  Federal  government 
to  take  charge  of  the  motion  picture 
business." 

The  convention  pledged  members' 
screens  to  help  North  Carolina  de- 
velop the  state  through  its  ten  year 
plan.  Charles  W.  Picquet,  president 
of  the  association,  named  Senator 
A.  G.  Sams  and  W.  G.  Culoe  to  call 
on  the  governor  and  enlist  theatres  in 
the  work.  Speakers  at  the  two-day 
session  included  M.  .\.  Lightman, 
president  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.; 
W.  J.  O'Toole,  secretary;  Senator 
John  Umstead  of  Chapelhill,  Senator 
Lunsford  Long  of  Roanoke  Rapids, 
Mayor  Harry  Buchanan  of  Sylva, 
N.  C,  J.  B.  'Sherrill,  of  Charleston, 
S.  C,  Jack  Barry,  director  of  per- 
sonnel for  Publix;  A.  B.  Wilby  ot  ^ 
Atlanta,  Davis  Palfreyrr(an  of  the 
Hays  office.  New  York ;  A.  J.  Bry- 
lawski,  chairman  of  the  M.P.T.O.A. 
legislative  committee.  Mayor  Walter 
Blair  of  Wilmington,  N.  C,  A.  C. 
LaRue  of  Philadelphia. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Bud"  Lennon  Dies 

Toronto — ¥.  R.  (Bud)  Lennon, 
general  manager  of  Exhibitors'  Co- 
operative of  Canada,  Ltd.,  died  here 
after  an  illness  of  a  year.  He  was  a 
veteran  of  the  film  business  and  in- 
terested primarily  in  independents. 
He  started  in  the  industry  18  years 
ago  with  Universal.  Co-operative  is 
a  buying  combine  for  about  60  inde- 
pendents. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  | 

Dedication  Plans  Set 

ToRRi.N'fiTON,  Conn. — Plans  are  un- 
der way  for  the  formal  dedication  of 
the  Warner  Theatre  next  month.  The 
event  will  have  all  the  Hollywood 
trimmings. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Wurtzel  Going  Abroad    y^ 

HoLr.YWOOD  —  Sol  Wurtzel,  second 
in  command  at  the  Fox  studio,  will 
spend  three  months  in  Europe  this 
year.    He  leaves  shortly. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  45 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JULY  23,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Credit  Refund  Ordered 


Florida  Kills 
Ticket  Tax,but 
Another's  Up 

Senate  Kills  House  Bill; 
New  Measure  Worse 


Tallahassee,  Fla.— The  industry 
may  yet  escape  Florida's  "spite"  tax 
on  admissions.  Passed  by  the  House 
by  a  vote  of  44  to  42,  the  Senate  com- 
mittee considering  the  proposed  law 
rejected  the  bill  late  Tuesday  night. 
This  became  known  here  yesterday. 

The  life  of  the  current  Florida 
legislature  has  several  more  days  to 
go,  but  the  probabilities  are  that  the 
law  which  would  give  the  state  five 
cents  on  tickets  up  to  40  cents  up  to 
ten  cents  on  $1  tickets  will  die. 

While  that  piece  of  legislation  ap- 
pears to  be  well  in  hand,  a  gross  sales 
tax     that    would    include    practically 

(_Continued  on  page   16) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Para.  Is  Confident 
In  "Tragedy"  Tangle 

Confident  of  vindication  in  the  in- 
junction suit  brought  against  exhibi- 
tion of  "An  American  Tragedy,"  by 
Theodore  Dreiser,  author  of  the  story, 
Paramount  is  going  ahead  with  plans 
for  opening  of  the  attraction  August 
5  at  the  New  York  Criterion. 
Dreiser's  temporary  injunction  was 
returned  yesterday  in  District  Court 
at  White  Plains  where  the  case  was 
taken  under  advisement  after  argu- 
ment was  heard. 


Dreiser  Bitter  in 
Rapping  "Tragedy" 

White  Plains — "An  American 
Tragedy"  was  characterized  yesterday 
as  "so  much  bunk  and  swill"  by 
Arthur  Garfield  Hays,  attorney  for 
Theodore  Dreiser  during  a  hearmg 
before  Supreme  Court  Justice  Graham 
(Continued  on  page  15) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Harry  Thomas  Gets 
Sharkey -Walker  Film 

First  Division  Pictures,  headed  by 
Harry  Thomas,  has  secured  distribu- 
tion in  New  York  of  the  Sharkey- 
Walker  fight  film.  The  picture  is 
scheduled  to  open  today  at  the  New 
York    Hippodrome. 


Ruth  With  Warners 

Hollywood — Ruth  Chatter- 
ton's  future  affiliation  seems 
to  be  settled. 

She  is  to  go  with  Warners 
in  October. 


Paramount's  New  York 
office  has  not  been  advised  of 
any  change  in  the  Ruth  Chat- 
terton  situation.  In  the 
Paramount  -  Warner  "truce," 
consummated  some  time  ago, 
it  was  stated  that  the  star 
would  remain  with  Para- 
mount. 


Paramount  to 
Piay  Stock  as 
Next  Dividend 


Depleted  current  assets  resulting 
from  repurchase  of  common  stock 
under  guarantees  given  with  property 
purchase  agreements  may  cause  Para- 
mount Publix  to  pay  its  next  quar- 
terly dividend  in  stock  instead  of 
cash,  according  to  Dow-Jones. 

Payment  September  10  of  $4,875,- 
000    under    reported    agreements    to- 

(Continued  on  page   16) 


Justice  Woolsey  Vacates  Decision  of  Judge 
Thacher  Validating  System 


ABANDONED  EIGHT  MONTHS  AGO 


Letter  to  Silverman  of  "  Variety  " 

The   following  letter   has   been   written   by   Martin   Quigley   to 
Sime  Silverman  of  "Variety": 
Mr.  Sime  Silverman, 
Variety, 

154  West  46th  Street, 
New  York  City. 
Sir: 

I  have  just  read  the  article  about  the  Quigley  Publications 
appearing  on  page  five  of  the  issue  of  "Variety"  dated  July  21, 
1931. 

The  entire  article,  in  all  of  its  references,  is  a  lie — and  a  lie, 
which  I  am  quite  aware — you  deliberately  caused  to  be  published 
in  full  consciousness  that  it  was  a  lie,  your  intent  obviously  being 
an  unscrupulous  assault  against  the  constructive  operations  and 
widening  development  of  the  Quigley  Publications  which,  consid- 
ered alongside  of  the  irresponsibility  and  viciousness  of  your 
paper,  may  well  give  you  concern. 

In  this  article  you  have  once  again  resorted  to  those  practices 
of  irresponsibility  and  viciousness  to  which  your  hand  has  grown 
so  accustomed  since  your  appearance  in  the  otherwise  respectable 
business  of  publishing  papers  devoted  to  motion  pictures. 

Yours  truly, 

(Signed)    MARTIN  QUIGLEY. 
July  22,  1931. 


Deposits  exacted  from  exhibitors  by  distributors  in  the  oper- 
ation or  enforcement  of  the  credit  committee  system  must  be 
returned  under  the  injunction  obtained  by  the  Department  of 
Justice  perpetually  enjoining  operation  of  the  credit  system, 
which  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  last  November  branded 
as  a  conspiracy  in  restraint  of  trade  under  the  Sherman  anti- 
trust law.  -The  credit  system  was  abandoned  about  eight 
months  ago. 

The  decree,  entered  in  Federal  Court  in  New  York  and  signed 
by  Justice  John   M.   Woolsey,  vacates  the   Thacher  decision 

holding  the  credit  system  valid,  and  is 
the  final  step  in  the  government's  liti- 
gation against  10  distributors  and  Film 
Boards  of  Trade  to  outlaw  the  credit 
systems  and  compulsory  arbitration  in 
the  industry.  The  credit  case  was 
won  by  the  government  on  appeal  to 
the  Supreme  Court  from  the  Thacher 
decision.  Judge  Thacher's  ruling  that 
compulsory  arbitration  was  illegal 
was  upheld  by  the  Supreme  Court. 

The  credit  system  injunction  re- 
strains any  agreement  to  refuse  serv- 
ice to  exhibitors  or  any  agreement  to 
make  service  conditional  upon  a  de- 
posit. It  admits,  however,  the  right 
of  distributors  to  exchange  informa- 
tion as  to  the  financial  and  moral  re- 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Hanson  Takes  New 
Post  in  Canada 

Securing  his  release  from  Allied 
States  Association  to  accept  "a  posi- 
tion too  lucrative  to  pass  up,"  Oscar 
Hanson  left  last  night  for  Toronto  to 
take  up  his  new  duties.  These  con- 
cern the  promotion  of  British  films 
and  the  furtherance  of  the  independent 
theatre  movement  throughout  the 
Dominion. 

Hanson  will  continue  temporarily 
the  handling  of  contracts  for  the  Al- 
lied newsreel  and  the  New  York  office 
of  the  firm  he  formed  to  distribute 
the   reel   will    be    maintained. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

2  Mickey  McGuires 
On  Peerless  Program 

Mickey  McGuire,  juvenile  charac- 
ter starring  in  the  Mickey  McGuire 
shorts  for  RKO,  will  star  in  two 
features  for  Peerless  Productions, 
new  company  which  plans  to  state 
right  24  features  during  the  new  sea- 
son. 

First  is  "Mickey''  and  second  is 
"Tomorrow's  Man."  Both  stories 
(Continued  on  page  15) 


Chain  Store  Tax 
Sought  in  Mass. 

Boston — Carrying  with  it  an  im- 
plied threat  against  circuit  theatres  of 
the  state,  a  bill  to  license  and  tax 
chain  stores  has  been  introduced  by 
Representative  Lemeuel  W.  Stwhzlyh 
in  behalf  of  the  Liberal  Civic  League. 

Only  chains  of  five  stores  or  less 
would  be  exempted  under  the  bill. 
The  tax  ranges  from  a  minimum  of 
$500  to  a  maximum  of  $2,700,  based 
upon  population.  Seventy-five  per 
cent  of  the  tax  revenue  would  revert 
to  the  community  and  25  per  cent  re- 
main in  the  state  treasury. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   July   23,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


July   23,    1931 


No.   45 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 

f^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I   J|  J    and    holidays,     by     Motion    Picture 

^        Daily,   Inc.,  a   Quigley   Publication, 

at     1790     Broadway,     New      York. 

Telephone:     Circle  7-3100.     Cable    address: 

"Quigpubco,     New     York."      All     contents 

copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4^  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of   March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Dialogue  and  Music 
To  Fill  Bronx  Air 

Musical  strains  and  all  the  dialogue 
possible  can  emanate  from  motion  pic- 
ture theatres  with  open  air  and  roof 
garden  adjuncts  without  exhibitors 
harborinn-  apprehensions  of  breaching 
that  nuisance  law  passed  last  year. 

The  Daly  theatre  in  the  Bronx  has 
just  been  victorious  in  a  case  brought 
against  Jack  Steinman  by  neighbors. 
Magistrate  Farrell  has  dismissed  the 
case  on  the  grounds  of  insufficient  evi- 
dence. In  the  future  if  the  dialogue 
and  other  emanations  from  the  Daly's 
reproducing  apparatus  on  the  roof  dis- 
turbs Bronxites  they'll  probably  make 
no  complaints,  for  the  judge  may  find 
them  nuisances  instead  of  the  talking 
apparatus. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Silent  Exchange  in 
Denver  Closes  Doors 

Denver — The  Mile  High  exchange, 
dealing  in  silents  only,  has  closed  its 
doors,  while  the  Sheffield  Exchange, 
while  not  dealing  exclusively  in  si- 
lents, reports  a  brisk  demand  for  non- 
talkers.  Charles  Gillen  was  manager 
of  the  Mile  High  exchange. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Buys  "Riverside  Drive" 

Beth  Brown's  "Riverside  Drive" 
has  been  purchased  by  RKO  Pathe 
for  Constance  Bennett's  new  starring 
vehicle. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Stern,  a  Cruiser 

Martin  Stern  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Club  is  handling  members'  bookings 
for  the  "Show  Boat"  cruises  leaving 
New  York  for  Halifax  every  Satur- 
day via  the  Belgenland.  The  William 
Morris  office  has  chartered  the  boat 
for  five  weeks. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Buy  Music  Rights 

Frank  Goodman  and  Lou  Handman 
and  Universal  Music  Co.,  Ltd.,  have 
closed  a  deal  whereby  they  have  re- 
purchased all  rights,  title  and  inter- 
est of  Universal  in  the  Universal 
Music  Co.  It  is,  however,  antici- 
pated that  the  two  organizations  will 
be  affiliated  by  an  arrangement 
-whereby  all  original  songs  or  music 
used  in  Universal  pictures  will  be 
published  by  the  Universal  Music 
Company. 


Purely  Personal 


RALPH  BELLAMY,  stage  actor 
now  appearing  opposite  Ruth 
Chatterton  in  Paramount's  "The  Mag- 
nificent Lie,"  declares  that  love-mak- 
ing on  the  stage  and  screen  are  con- 
siderably different.  A  kiss  on  the 
stage  lasts  only  a  moment,  he  says, 
whereas  retakes  of  a  love  scene  with 
Ruth  were  so  numerous  that  he  wilted 
fourteen   collars   and   nine   shirts. 

A.  Griffith  Grey  got  a  real  kick 
out  of  a  pep  letter  from  the  Reper- 
tory Theatre  in  Boston,  announcing 
that  the  synchronized  version  of 
"Way  Down  East"  had  cracked  the 
house  record  despite  the  heat,  the 
manager  wanting  to  know  when 
"Hearts  of  the  World"  would  be  ready 
and  expressing  the  belief  it  would  be 
an  even  better  bet. 

Stuart  Walker,  stage  manager 
for  David  Belasco  for  many  years, 
and  now  with  Paramount,  declares 
that  the  legitimate  would  not  be  los- 
ing its  patronage  to  the  talkers  if  it 
had  been  courteous  to  its  patrons 
"and  attended  to  its  own  business  of 
developing  talent." 

RoiiERT  De  Grasse,  cameraman, 
has  sailed  for  London  where  he  will 
photograph  a  Basil  Dean  feature  to 
be  made  by  Associated  Talking  Pic- 
tures,  a   Radio   subsidiary. 

Louis  Cohen,  who  came  East  a 
couple  of  months  ago  on  some  real 
estate  deals  for  Fox  Theatres,  leaves 
Saturday  for  the  Coast. 


Tuned  Down 

Cincinnati  —  The  shills  who 
have  been  a  part  of  RKO  op- 
eration here  are  now  being 
"good  to  their  Adam's  apples." 
They  have  ceased  to  ballyhoo. 
Although  wearing  the  same 
elaborate  uniforms,  and  occupy- 
ing the  same  positions  on  the 
sidewalks,  their  present  func- 
tion is  to  disseminate  informa- 
tion to  patrons  in  a  soft,  well 
modulated  voice. 


Si  Seadler  walked  into  the  Motion 
Picture  Club  yesterday  and  ordered 
a  whale  of  a  lunch — for  a  hot  day. 
"Just  saw  two  of  the  boys  playing  it 
out  at  handball  and  it  gave  me  an 
appetite,"  he  ofTered  by  way  of  the 
reason  why. 

Major  Edward  Bowes,  "father"  of 
the  Capitol  "family,"  will  celebrate 
his  sixth  anniversary  on  the  air  Fri- 
day evening. 

Leo  Brecher  sails  tonight  with 
Mrs.  Brecher  for  a  six  weeks'  busi- 
ness trip  to  Germany  to  close  deals 
for  product. 

Arthur  C.  Bromberg,  Atlanta,  has 
copped  first  prize  in  Big  4's  May- 
June  sales  drive. 

Dave  Blum  and  the  revenue  officers 
are  that  way. 


Immature  Golf  Is 

Fading  in  Denver 

Denver — Miniature  golf  courses 
are  not  feared  by  theatres  in  Denver 
this  year.  Only  three  have  been  li- 
censed up  to  now  as  against  50  last 
year.  All  indoor  outfits  have  given 
up  the  ghost,  and  the  money-maker 
last  year  has  been  made  into  a  trout- 
fishing  pond  said  to  be  in  the  red. 
An  attempt  is  being  made  to  reduce 
the  license  fees  on  the  golf  courses 
from  $50  to  $12.50  per  year. 


Censors  in  Va,  Reject 
'Confessions  of  Coed' 

Richmond,  Va. — No  appeal  has  as 
yet  been  taken  from  the  order  of  the 
state  censors  rejecting  in  toto  Para- 
mount's "Confessions  of  a  Coed." 
Virginia  is  the  only  one  of  six  states 
having  censorship  boards  to  reject  the 
production.  Harry  Hunter,  represent- 
ing Paramount,  is  considering  what 
steps  to  take  in  regard  to  possible 
court  action. 


Market  Off;  21,600  Sales  for  P,P, 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated     Film     Industries 1454  14^  1454 

Eastman     Kodak 147?4  143'/4  144 

Fox     Film     "A" 17  16!4  16!^ 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 3%  354  3% 

Loew's,     Inc 45'A  WA  4454 

Ixjew's,     Inc..     pfd 91  91  91 

Paramount     Publix 24'/^  235^  2iVi 

Pathe     Exchange 154  H/4  Wz 

Pathe    Exchange     "A" tVn  6%  6^ 

RKO      WA  1454  145^ 

Warner     Bros 7!4  7  7 


Net 
Change 

-I-  Y>. 

—  ^ 


-m 


- '/« 


Sales 

100 
3. .^00 
3.100 
1,700 
4.300 

100 
21.600 

30O 

200 
3.500 
2,000 


Curb  Issues  Also  Sag 


High 

Fox     Theatres     "A" 7'/ 

General    Theatre    P>|uipment    pfd 8 

.Sentry    Safety    Control 1!4 

Trarts    Lux     6 


Net 

Low      Close     Change  Sales 

7"/^          7/2        -  54  100 

8             8           —  !4  100 

1              1            —  Mi  200 

5'A          S'A        —  V2  1,000 


Bond  List  Spotty;  P,B.  Gain  IVg 


General    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40 

Loew's   6s   '41    ex    war 

Paramount    Broadway    S'As    '51 

Paramount   F.    L.   6s   '47 

Paramount    Publix    5^25,    '50 

Pathe   7s    '37   ww 

Warner   Bros.   6s    '39   wd 41'/1 


Net 

High 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

34'4 

3454 

34J4 

-  34 

2 

98 

975^ 

98 

-f  '/« 

23 

102  Vs 

10254 

10254 

4-l!/8 

1 

89 

89 

89 

-  'A 

2 

79'/, 

78'/. 

78'^ 

-1 

14 

93 

93 

93 

-  Vi 

2 

41/2 

4054 

40!4 

-  54 

23 

&m%. 


Earle  Hammons  for  the  speed 

he's    showing    in    whipping 

the   Educational-Tiffany- 

Sono     Art     set     up 

into  shape. 


Sound  Recording 

FILM   AND   DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY     RECORDING     CO.     of 

AMERICA.    INC 

1841    Broadway— New    York,    N.    Y. 

Columbus    5-3181-3182 


Omaha  Exhibitors 
Battle  Operators 


Omaha — Neighborhood  exhibitors 
and  the  operators'  union  have  taken 
their  fight  over  existing  regulations 
governing  the  suburban  houses  to  a 
committee    of    the    city    council. 

The  theatre  men,  headed  by  Harry 
Goldberg,  executive  of  the  Popular 
Amusement  Co.,  neighborhood  chain, 
asked  that  the  ordinance  be  amended 
to  do  away  with  the  60-day  resi- 
dence requirement  for  operators  and 
the  provision  that  two  men  be  kept 
in  a  booth.  They  also  asked  a 
change  in  the  examination  regula- 
tions. 

As  a  precaution  against  fires,  How- 
ard Jackson,  business  manager  of 
the  operators'  union,  insisted  that  two 
men  should  be  kept  in  the  booths  of 
all  houses.  He  also  stated  that  re- 
peal of  the  60-day  residence  clause 
would  permit  the  theatre  owners  to 
bring  in  operators  from  other  cities 
and  throw  Omaha  men  out  of  work. 

Following  the  nation-wide  wage  re- 
duction offered  the  major  circuits  by 
the  operators,  local  union  officials 
voluntarily  gave  all  Omaha  neigh- 
borhood houses  a  7j4  per  cent,  re- 
duction. 

Operators'  contracts  expire  Octo- 
ber 1.  Union  officials  view  the  fight 
as  an  annual  affair  and  express  little 
concern  about  its  outcome.  However, 
with  the  Popular  Amusement  Co.  and 
the  Nebraska  Theatre  Corp.  united 
on  the  question  of  an  ordinance 
change,  there  may  be  some  fireworks. 
The  two  circuits  own  or  control  all 
but   two   local   suburban  houses. 

The  council  committee  took  no  ac- 
tion following  the  conference.  An- 
other meeting  of  the  groups  is  sched- 
uled. The  theatre  men  have  retained 
Eugene  O'Sullivan,  successful  local 
criminal    lawyer. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Loew's  Ohio  Dividend 

Loew's  Ohio  Theatres  have  declared 
a  regular  quarterly  dividend  of  $2  on 
the  1st  preferred  payable  August  1  to 
stockholders  of  record  July  24. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Completes  2nd  Western 

Monogram   Pictures   has   completed 
"The    Montana   Kid,"   second   of   the 
series  of  eight  "Bill  and  Andy"  west-    »i 
erns    starring    Bill    Cody    and    Andy     * 
Shuford.       Harry    Eraser    wrote    the 
story   and   directed. 


OSE 


by  any 


other  NAME 


SMELLS  JUS7 
AS  SWEET! 


and  that 


■ 


m 


w  m  «  ^^ 


II 


I 


T 

BUT 


NAM 

BEHIND  THE 

PRODUCT 
PICTURE 

BUSINESS 

15  the  deciding  factor 
in  ticket-huying  today  I 


LET'S 

FOLLOW 
THE  PUBLIC 

—and  see  what 
makes  them  favor 
one  theatre  in 
preference  to 

another— (turn  here  please) 


OH,  SEE  THE  MONEY! 

Why  is  it  going  mostly  to  one  box -office? 

BECAUSE  THAT  EXHIBITOR  HAS  WON 
THE  CONFIDENCE  OF  THE  PUBLIC- 

But  how  did  he  win  their  confidence? 

HE  SHOWS  THE  OUTSTANDING  HITS 
AT  HIS  THEATRE! 

That's  the  best  reason  in  the  world  for  the  public  to  show 
preference  for  his  theatre,  isn't  it? 


HERE'S  WHAT 
HAPPENED  I 

PAST  YEAR  I 


THE 


For  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  motion  pictures 
ONE  COMPANY  completely 
dominated  the  screen — 
and  your  public  knows  it! 


^  (4' 

"Great  picture  that  'Secret  Six'  —  who 
made  it?!' 

"Metro  -  Goldwyn  -  Mayer." 


"I  certainly  enjoyed  'Min   and  BilP- 
whose  was  it?" 

"Metro  -  Goldwyn  -  Mayer." 


l^ 


"Joan  Crawford  in  'Paid'  was  a  peach- 
who  produced  it?" 

"Metro  -  Goldwyn  -  Mayer." 


"That  Garbo  woman  slayed  me  in 
'Inspiration' — who  made  it?" 

"Metro  -  Goldwyn  -  Mayer." 


"I  screamed  at  'Reducing'  —  what  com- 
pany did  it?" 

' '  Metro  -  Goldwyn  -  Mayer. " 


"  'Trader  Horn'  is  the  best  film  I  ever  saw 
— whose  is  it?" 

"Metro  -  Goldwyn  -  Mayer." 


( 


THIS  COULD  GO  ON  FOREVER- 

AND  IT  DOES,  on  the  next  page  tha 


nk  you!/ 


(continued  merrily  from  preceding  page!) 

ALL  IN  ONE 


'"Dance  Fools  Dance'  was  a  swell  Joan 
Crawford  hit — who  made  it?" 

"Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. " 


SEASON,  TOO 


"Joan   Crawford   in   'Laughing  Sinners' 
—  some  show — whose  is  it?" 

"Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. ' ' 


"Whoever  made  'Strangers  May  Kiss,' 
Norma  Shearer's  picture,  deserves  plenty 
of  credit." 

"It  was  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer." 


'f^ 


"I'm  keen  for  Bob  Montgomery! — 
'Shipmates'  was  swell!    Who  made  it?" 

"Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. ' ' 


■-^K 


'Norma  Shearer  in  'A  Free  Soul'  is  her 
best  yet!     Whose  is  it?" 

'Of  course!" 


"And  Dressler-Moran  in  'Politics' — 
Adolphe  Menjou  —  Irene  Dunne  in  'The 
Great  Lover'  and  more  coming!  They're 
all  M-G-M  hits!" 


WW   ^^  1^  b     ^    P  i 


METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

HAS 

CONFIDENCE  OF  ALL 

PICTURE  PATRONS 

Cash  in  on  that 


r 


good'Will  in  1931'32l 


METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 
PICTURES  GIVE  YOUR 
THEATRE  PREFERENCE 

OVER  ALL  COMPETITION! 

That^s  an  advantage  that  no  smart 
showman  can  afford  to  overlook! 


u 


V 


BUT,"  sa^'s  Mister  Exhibitor,  **how 
do  I  know  that  the  amazing 
quaUty  of  M-G'M  product  will 
continue  during  1931''32?" 

(That's  a  tough  question— but  you'll  agree 
we've  answered  it  in  the  following  pages—) 


/T^T^rr 


STUDIO    // 


WHILE  OTHER  STUDIOS 

ARE  IN  CONSTANT 


^  AfeJ 


TURMOIL 


The  World^s 
Qreatest 
Motion  Picture 
Studio  of 


METRO  -  GOLDWYN  -  MAYER 
MARCHES  FORWARD 

Safe  and  sane,  with  unchanged 
personnel,unimpaired  efficiency! 


BELOW:  The  M'G-M  Studio  is 
the  marvel  of  Hollywood — 
the  envy  of  all  studios! 
No  day  passes  without 
new  projects  for  its 
betterment ! 


j^>^U^S^ 

^ 

■  'fJawJ^Xfi'^ 

Bhiji"'»^-«-    l,-,*t' '  -'31     '♦.k^        ' 

SK 

^^'t 

WgnS 

nT'S. 

^gpat**^*^^^*'      MMjW*''''^       iir***^ 

^^^^J 

i^S^ 

^kT^  .rf**'***'^'^  **-^^^(^^^^ 

^j^v^^^ii^^^       ' 

^^^^ 

'^'^  ^ 

^^■uj^fl^^^L^                       ^^ 

igl^^^l 

^*»  J^J^ 

^^^^^^^m 

SI 

K 

=^ 

^'^  \^ii^^^B        '"^HVSi 

k.     ^ 

m^^^F^S 

Sf 

Perc^ 
of  al!  the  hits  in 

this  industrv  ^*r  the  past 

6  YEARS  ARE 
METRO  GOLDWYNa 
MAYER! 


-^ 


A.'  ..« 


.*a.  y 


NO  WONDER 

that  M-Q-M  has 
maintained  a 
production  superiority 
for  6  years! 

AND  THE  SAME 
SUCCESSFUL 
SHOWMEN  NOW 
GUARANTEE- 

{It's  a  promise!     Turn  here — ) 


^M.  WM/A  ^//3  wAa  i 


of  Metro-Goldwyn-IVIayer,    1931-32 


M'G-M  has  the  Stars  of  Today.  M-G-M  is 
grooming  the  Stars  of  Tomorrow.  M-G-M  is  the 
Star  outfit!  ^  "Kh^  ^   ^/VAi" 


AMONG  IVI-G-M  FEATURED  PLAYERS 

They  Guarantee  ^ta 

r 'Studded  Casts! 

Dorothy  Appleby 

Leslie  Howard 

Nils  Asther 

Dorothy  Jordan 

Lionel  Barrymore 

Joan  Marsh 

William  Bakewell 

Adolphe  Menjou 

Edwina  Booth 

John  Miljan 

Jackie  Cooper 

Polly  Moran 

Reginald  Denny 

Karen  Morley 

Kent  Douglass 

Conrad  Nagel 

Jimmy  Durante 

Ivor  Novello 

Cliff  Edwards 

Monroe  Owsley 

Madge  Evans 

Anita  Page 

Clark  Gable 

Irene  Purcell 

Ralph  Graves 

Marjorie  Rambeau 

Charlotte  Greenwood 

C.  Aubrey  Smith 

Neil  Hamilton 

Ruth  Selwyn 

Helen  Hayes 

Gus  Shy 

Leila  Hyams 

Lewis  Stone 

jean  Hersholt 

Ernest  Torrence 

Hedda  Hopper 

Lester  Vail 

Following  is  Revised  List  of  M-G-M  Pictures  in  1931-32  (July  yth) 


C\/\5^  V^V^^H;-^  Every  iveek  in  the  year  a  Star  for  your  Marquee.  That  has 

\^^'^^%^im!^m  ni/         been  M'G-M's  policy  since  its  inception.  A  policy  of  success! 


30  STAR 

Productions 


And  in  the  coming  year  M-G-M  again  brings  you  the  Stars 
that  Shine  in  Productions  that  Top  I 


2)    MARION  DAVIES — Strong  dramatic  vehicles,  nationally  promoted! 

2)   NORMA  SHEARER— Even  Strangers  May  Kiss  Their  Records  Goodbye  1 

2)  GRETA  GARBO— The  One  and  Only  ! 

2)  JOAN  CRhWfORB— Cheerful  eyefull  I  Joan  draws  a  housefull ! 

3)  JOHN  GILBERT  -   ''Phantom  of  Paris"  is  handsome  Jack  of  the  good  old  days! 
3)    ¥¥iLLIAII1   IIAIi^ES — Watch  Bill  Haines  in  his  new  roles.  A  revelation! 

2)  BUSTER  KEATON — He  is  making  the  best  comedies  in  the  industry! 

3)  ROBERT  MONTGOMERY— Pof»ulaWt^  that's  deserved!  A  great  future  ahead! 
2)  RAMON   NOVARRO — A  devoted  public  makes  him  a  consistent  draw! 

2)  WALLACE  BEERY— "Big  House",  ''Secret  Six"— And  now  clean  up! 

1)    LAWRENCE  TIBBETT — His  voice  alone  is  worth  the  price  of  admission! 

1)   LUNT-FONTANNE — hlew  York's  Theatre  Guild  stars  pick  M-G-M  for  their  debut. 

1)    LAUREL-HARDY — By  popular  demand!  Their  first  feature  length  comedy  'Tardon  V$." 

4)  COSMOPOLITAN — Big  productions,  nationally  advertised! 
Special  information  forthcoming  about  MARIE  DRESSLER  Productions! 


13  EXCEPTIONAL 
PICTURES 


FLYING  HIGH 

The  nationally  famed  Geo.  White  stage 
hit !  With  BERT  LAHR,  world's  greatest 
stage  comedian  ! 

WIFE  TO  HUGO 

The  sensational  novel  of  today.  By  Joy 
Bains.  It  packs  a  thrill  in  every  minute 
of  it. 

THE  AWAKENING  ^'"^Z"' 

John  Van  Druten  writer  of  stage  successes 
has  written  a  powerful  drama  for  M-G-M 's 
showmen  ! 


BOARDING  SCHOOL 

Flaming  youth  learns  about  life  and  love 
in  a  deluxe  society  school.  Helen  Meinardi 
has  written  a  knockout  yarn  ! 

ARSENE  LUPIN 

The  classic  crook  story  of  all  time.  You 
know  Arsene  Lupin's  wonder  tale.  It's 
right  up  M-G-M's  showman  alley  ! 

BRIDGE  VS.  BRIDGE 

Divorce  told  with  thrills  !  The  Liberty 
Magazine  story  by  Ed.  L.  McKenna  will  be 
real  talkie  excitement ! 

AFTER  ALL 

The  Van  Druten  play  that  holds  London 
spellbound  is  coming  to  Broadway.  And 
M-G-M  grabbed  it  for  the  talkies  ! 

GUILTY  HANDS 

Bayard  Veiller,  author  of  "Mary  Dugan," 
'Taid,"  etc.,  is  a  success  writer.  He  knows 
box-office.  Here's  his  latest  Big  One  ! 


HONOLULU 

A  btand  new  showman  idea  by  Mildred 
Cram.  The  most  exotic  locale  in  the  world 
dramatized  in  a  glorious  thrill  show ! 

NIGHT  COURT 

Drama  while  thecity  sleeps!  Charles  Beahan 
— Mark  Hellinger  have  ripped  into  a  gold 
mine  of  humanity  in  a  great  metropolis  ! 

RED  HEADED  WOMAN 

Satevepost  serial  by  KatharineBrush that's 
even  more  exciting  than  its  title.  It  moves 
like  a  lightning  bolt.  Catch  on  ! 

THE  SQUAW  MAN 

Cecil  B.  DeMille's  grandest  show.  Months 
in  production.  Fifteen  Big  Names  in  All 
Star  Cast.  Thrills !  Beauty !  A  money 
entertainment ! 

THREE  WISE  FOOLS 

Austin  Strong's  roaring  comedy  !  It's  a 
pleasure.  A  broadway  stage  success  that's 
going  to  be  a  topnotch  talkie  hit ! 


5  MARQUEE 
PICTURES 


M-G-M  SHORT 
SUBJECTS 


M-G-M  capitalizes  on  dramatic  ideas  of  the  moment !  We  did  it  with  "Caught 
Short"/'The  Big  House", "The  Secret  Six" and  others.  We'll  do  it  again  when  the 
time  is  right.  Among  "The  Marquee  Five"  will  be  important  vehicles  that  the  psy- 
chology of  the  entertainment  hour  suggests.  Important  pictures!  Depend  on  that! 

HAL  ROACH'S  DE  LUXE  COMEDIES  plus  the  Biggest  and  Most  Varied 
Short  Subject  Program  in  M-G-M  History!  Every  name  belongs  in  electric  lights. 
Shorts — but  sweet !  They  draw  like  Features  ! 


LAUREL-HARDY  (8) 

1^0  other  comedy  name  draws  like  thin  pair  !  Adver- 
tise 'em  like  features  and  watch  the  grosses  grow ! 

CHARLEY  CHASE  (8) 

Consistently  great  releases  have  built  him  into  a  top- 
notch  draw  on  any  program  anywhere  '. 

OUR  GANG  (8) 

They're  better  than  ever  !  New  ideas,  new  faces,  new 
heart-tugs !  They  bring  the  young  folks  in  as  well  as 
the  adults. 

THE  BOYFRIENDS  (8) 

Never  a  new  series  to  draw  such  exhibitor  response. 
Audiences  demand  more  of  these  merry  comedies. 


ZASU  PITTS,  THELMA  TODD  (8) 

What  Marie  Dfessler  and  Polly  Moran  are  in  features 
this  pair  will  be  in  short  subjects.  They're  great! 

FITZPATRICK  TRAVELTALKS(13) 

The  travel  films  that  have  won  leadership  by  popular 
vote!  M-G-M  brings  you  the  best! 

M-G-M   DOGVILLE  COMEDIES  (6) 

We've  got  bigger  and  better  plans  for  this  laugh  series. 
M-G-M's  hot  dogs  are  a  draw  on  any  marquee. 

SIR  HARRY  LAUDER  (4) 

Imagine  bringing  this  great  drawing  personality  to  your 
public  with  his  favorite  songs  and  stories! 


M-G-M  SPORT  CHAMPIONS  (12) 

Headliners  only!  Names  that  belong  in  lights!  The 
sports  world  in  grand  actiofi  talkies! 

FISHERMAN'S  PARADISE  (6) 

The  first  one  was  brought  back  to  Broadway  three  times! 
That's  a  record  for  a  short.  A  smart  series! 

FLIP  THE  FROG  (12) 

"Ub"  Iwerks  is  the  pioneer  of  all  cartoon  shorts  and  his 
"Flip  the  Frog"  has  more  [un  than  anything  he's  ever 
done! 

HEARSTMETROTONE  NEWS  (104) 

The  super-newireel  of  the  newspaper,  the  radio  and 
screen,  with  which  is  incorporated  THE  GLOBE 
TROTTER. 


(And  now  there's  just  one  more  thing  to  do — Look!) 


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Thursday,   July  23,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


15 


Para.  Sees 
Victory  in 
Dreiser  Row 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Witschief  on  the  author's  application 
for  an  injunction  to  restrain  the  com- 
pany from  exhibiting  the  film. 

Dreiser,  bedecked  in  white  un- 
pressed  duck  trousers,  a  blue  shirt 
ana  baggy  blue  coat,  heard  Humphrey 
J.  Lynch,  attorney  for  Paramount, 
state  that  "no  great  motion  picture 
company  could  allow  'an  eccentric 
author'  to  run  its  business." 

Dreiser,  accused  of  plagiarism  be- 
fore, showed  no  reaction  when  Lynch 
declared  that  Dreiser's  book  was 
merely  a  review  of  the  Chester  Gil- 
lette murder  case  in  1906  and  re- 
marked that  "if  there  was  ever  a  case 
of  plagiarism  this  was  it." 

Lynch  said  it  would  be  too  foolish 
to  imagine  that  the  360,000  words  in 
Dreiser's  story  could  be  boiled  down 
into  a  one  hour  and  forty  minute  pic- 
ture and  still  completely  portray  the 
book. 

"The  disorderly  house  scenes  in  this 
book  could  not  be  placed  in  any  mo- 
tion picture,"  Lynch  declared.  "If  we 
were  to  place  one  tenth  of  the  flirta- 
tion scenes  from  the  book  into  the 
picture,   it   could   not  be  produced." 

Rigid  censorship  laws  in  England 
and  Australia,  where  the  picture  is  to 
be  shown,  had  to  be  considered,  said 
Lynch.  Aloreover  he  said  the  com- 
pany has  spent  $689,000  on  the  pic- 
ture of  which  $138,000  went  to 
Dreiser. 

Hays,  in  his  argument,  said  Dreiser 
had  had  a  scenario  prepared  himself. 
Lynch  assured  the  court  that  the 
writer  of  this  scenario  was  a  "Bol- 
shevist" and  had  to  be  kept  out  of  the 
country,  whereupon  Dreiser  gufTawed 
loudly.  The  author  at  this  point 
leaned  over  to  Lynch  and  said  some- 
thing which  was  inaudible.  He  may 
have  intended  it  as  a  quip,  but  it 
didn't  meet  Lynch's  approval.  "Put 
that  in  your  next  book.  I  don't  care 
to  argue  with  you,"  he  was  heard  to 
say. 

Hays  told  the  court  that  the  open- 
ing "shot"  of  the  picture  showed  the 
hero  looking  at  girls'  legs  and  later 
glancing  into  the  window  of  a  wom- 
en's shop.  He  said  the  picture  started 
on  page  ISO  of  the  book,  entirely 
ignoring  the  earlier  pages.  Dreiser, 
his  attorney  declared,  intended  the 
book  as  an  indictment  of  society.  He 
intended  to  represent  the  hero  as  a 
victim  of  his  environment.  The  pic- 
ture depicted  him  as  a  "perverted  sex 
mad  creature,"  he  argued.  The  pic- 
ture is  entirely  devoid  of  any  of 
Dreiser's  philosophy  and  psychology. 
Hays  contended. 

Hays  asured  the  court  that  Dreiser 
did  not  think  so  much  of  the  mone- 
tary remuneration  but  wanted  to  pro- 
duce "a  great  picture,"  and  in  this 
desire  believed  he  had  the  support  of 
Jesse  L.  Lasky.  He  cited  clause  ten 
of  the  contract  which  declared  that 
the  completed  picture  was  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  author  for  suggestion 
and  criticism  and  that  the  producer 
was  to  do  all  in  its  power  to  meet 
his  wishes.  This  caused  the  court  to 
smile  broadly. 

Paramount  acted  in  bad  faith.  Hays 
said  and  it  was  February  16  before 
Dreiser  received  a  telegram  from  the 
scenario  department  informing  that  the 
scenario  had  been  completed  and  was 


Text  of  Credit  Decree 


UNITED     STATES 

DISTRICT     COURT 
Southern    District    of    N.    Y. 

United     States     of     America, 

Petitioner  FINAL 

— vs—  DECREE 

First  National  Pictures.  Inc.,  Ir*    Equity 

et.    al..    Defendants  45/99 

This  cause  having  come  on  for  hearing 
before  this  Court  and  having  been  deter- 
mined by  a  decree  entered  December  23. 
1929,  from  which  the  petitioner  appealed 
to  tiie  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 
which  has  reversed  the  decree  of  this 
Court  and  issued  its  mandate,  filed  here- 
in  January   20,    1931,    remanding   the   cause: 

NOW,  THEREFORE,  upon  motiort  of 
the  petitioner,  by  George  Z.  Medalie, 
Esq.,  United  States  Attorney  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York,  John 
Lord  O'Brian,  Esq.,  the  Assistant  to  the 
Attorney  General,  John  Harlan  Amen, 
Esq.,  and  Charles  H.  Weston,  Esq..  Spe- 
cial Assistants  to  the  Attorn'ey  General, 
of  Counsel,  for  relief  in  accordance  with 
the  prayer  of  the  petition,  and  the  de- 
fendants having  appeared  by  their  attor- 
neys, Messrs.  Cadwalader.  Wickersham  & 
Taft,  and  Cornelius  W.  Wickersham, 
Esq.,  Arthur  L.  Fisk,  Jr.,  Esq.,  and  Ga- 
briel L.  Hess.  Esq.,  and  submitted  a  dif- 
ferent   form   of    decree    of    counsel,    it    is 

ORDERED,  ADJUDGED  AND  DE- 
CREED  as   follows: 

First:  That  by  reason'  of  the  mandate 
of  the  Supreme  Court  issued  November 
24,  1930,  and  filed  in  this  Court  on  Janu- 
ary 20,  1931,  the  decree  of  this  Court, 
filed  and  entered  herein  on  December  23, 
1929,  whereby  the  petition  herein  was  dis- 
missed on  the  merits,  be  and  it  hereby  is 
vacated    and    set    aside. 

Second:  That  (1)  the  agreement  of  the 
defendant  distributors  to  cause  each  de- 
fendant Film  Board  of  Trade  to  adopt 
Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  Establish- 
ment and  Operations  of  a  Credit  Commit- 
tee, a  copy  of  which  Rules  and  Regula- 
tions is  attached  to  the  petition  herein  as 
Exhibit  "A" :  (2)  the  adoption  of  said 
Rules  and  Regulations  by  each  defendaift 
Film  Board  of  Trade;  and  (3)  the  carry- 
ing on  of  interstate  commerce  in  motion 
picture  films  by  the  defendant  distribu- 
tors in  conformity  with  the  provisions  of 
said  Rules  and  Regulations  cotTstitute  a 
conspiracy  in  restraint  of  interstate  trade 
and  commerce  in  violation  of  the  Act  of 
Congress  of  July  2,  1890,  entitled  "An  Act 
to  Protect  Trade  and  Commerce  against 
LInlawful  Restraints  artd  Monopolies," 
commonly  known  as  the  Sherman  Anti- 
Trust    Act. 

Third:  That  the  defendants,  their  offi- 
cers, agents,  servants  and  employees,  and 
all  persons  acting  under,  through  or  art 
behalf  of  them,  or  any  of  them,  hereby 
are  perpetually  enjoined,  restrained  and 
prohibited,    individually    and    collectively. 

1.  From  further  engaging  in  or  carry- 
ing out  said  conspiracy  or  any  other  cort- 
spiracy  similar  to.  or  having  a  purpose 
or    effect    similar    to    said    conspiracy. 

2.  From  doing  any  act  or  thing  whatso- 
ever having  the  same  purpose  or  effect 
as  the  acts  done  in  pursuance  of  said  con- 


spiracy, or  promoting,  or  tending  to  pro- 
mote, arty  of  the  purposes  and  effects 
thereof. 

3.  From  enforcing  or  carrying  out,  di- 
rectly or  indirectly,  any  of  the  provisions 
of  the  aforesaid  rules  and  regulations  or 
any  other  rules  or  regulations  identical 
therewith  or  similar  thereto,  or  having  the 
same  purpose  or  effect  as  the  aforesaid 
rules    and    regulations. 

4.  From  retaining  arty  sum  or  sums 
heretofore  received  from  any  exhibitors 
of  motion  pictures  in  the  United  States 
by  virtue  of  the  operation  or  enforcement 
of    the    aforesaid    rules    and    regulations. 

5.  From  entering  into  any  understand- 
ing, arrangement,  combination,  conspi- 
racy or  agreement  (1)  to  refrain,  either 
for  a  limited  or  an  unlimited  period  of 
time,  from  enterin'g  into  any  contract  for 
licensing  the  exhibition  of  motion  pictures, 
or  (2)  to  require  the  deposit  of  security 
by  the  licensee  as  a  condition  of  entering 
into   any   such   contract    with   such   licensee. 

Fourth:  The  provisions  of  this  decree 
shall     n'ot     be     construed,     however. 

1.  As  p_rohibiting  any  defendant  distrib- 
utor, or  any  member  of  any  defendant 
Film  Board  of  Trade,  from  exchanging 
either  directly  or  through  a  committee 
or  other  agency,  information  concerning 
the  financial  or  moral  responsibility  of 
any  exhibitor  of  motion  pictures  in  the 
United  States;  always  provided,  that  there 
shall  not  be  made,  in  conYiection  with 
or  in  supplement  of  such  exchange  of 
information,  any  comment  in  the  nature 
of  a  recommendation  as  to  any  action 
to    be    taken    thereon',    or 

2.  As  prohibiting,  restraining  or  inter- 
fering with  the  action  of  any  single  com- 
pany or  firm,  which  is  a  defetxdant  here- 
in, by  its  or  their  officers,  agents  or  em- 
ployees, whether  such  officers,  agents  or 
employees,  are  themselves  made  parties 
hereto  or  not,  from  actitrg  with  respect 
to  its  or  their  own  corporate  or  firm 
business,  property  or  affairs,  entirely  in- 
dependently and  free  from  any  agreement 
or  understanding  with  any  other  defend- 
ant distributor  or  defen'dant  Film  Board 
of    Trade,    or    member    thereof. 

Fifth:  Jurisdiction  of  this  cause  is  here- 
by   retained 

1.  For  the  purpose  of  enforcing  this  de- 
cree and  of  making  such  other  and  fur- 
ther orders  and  decrees  as  may  become 
necessary    herein,    and 

2.  For  the  purpose  of  enabling  any 
party  hereto,  to  apply  to  the  Court  for 
such  further  orders  and  direction's  as  may 
be  necessary  or  proper  in  relation  to  car- 
rying out  the  enforcement  of  the  provi- 
sions    of     this     decree,     or 

3.  For  the  purpose  of  applying  to  the 
Court  for  a  modification  of  this  decree, 
if  it  be  hereafter  shown  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  Court  that  by  reason  of 
changed  conditions  or  charfges  in  the  stat- 
ute law  of  the  United  States,  the  provi- 
sions hereof  have  become  inadequate  or 
inappropriate,  or  unduly  oppressive  to 
the  defendants,  and  are  no  longer  neces- 
sary to  assure  the  maintenartce  of  condi- 
tions   in    harmony    with    law. 

Dated    New    York.    July    21.    1931. 

JOHN    M.    WOOLSEY 
(U.S.D.J.) 


ready  for  inspection.  Dreiser's  law- 
yer claimed  the  author  communicated 
with  the  scenario  department  and  was 
informed  there  was  no  time  to  review 
the  scenario  as  production  had  to 
start  the  following  week.  Hays  also 
maintained : 

That  Dreiser  wired  to  Lasky  and 
the  latter  replied  there  might  be  time 
to  review  the  script,  but  that  a  few 
days  later  Dreiser  was  informed  he 
could  not  do  so  before  the  production 
was   started. 

That  when  he  finally  received  the 
script,  Dreiser  wired  Lasky  it  was 
an  insult.  Efforts  to  placate  the 
irate  author   followed. 

That  Lasky  paid  the  railroad  fare 
of  Dreiser  and  a  scenarist  to  Holly- 
wood where  Dreiser  was  called 
"Teddy"  by  Lasky  and  Josef  Von 
Sternberg,  director.  Hays  said  that 
Lasky  and  Von  Sternberg  began  is- 
suing statements  about  "genius,"  in 
all  of  which  Dreiser  was  included. 

Dreiser  didn't  wish  to  be  hasty. 
Hays  told  the  court,  so  he  invited 
a  group  of  authors  and  critics  to  a 
preview.      The  group  thought   it   was 


Tampa  Indie,  Dies 
After  3- Day  Illness 

Tampa  —  James  Thomas  Home, 
builder  and  operator  of  the  Park,  in- 
dependent house,  died  at  Tampa 
Hospital  after  an  illness  of  three 
days.  He  was  71  years  old  and  is 
survived  by  his  wife  and  daughter. 
The  latter  has  been  assisting  him  at 
the   theatre. 


"gross  grotesque"  and  that  it  didn't 
represetit  the  story  of  "An  American 
Tragedy." 

The  hearing  was  on  application  for 
a  temporary  injunction  pending  the 
trial  for  a  permanent  one.  Justice 
Witschief  reserved  decision  and  gave 
the  attorneys  until  Monday  to  file 
briefs  and  affidavits.  Hays  suggested 
affidavits  and  briefs  should  be  con- 
sidered final  evidence  and  that  no 
testimony  be  taken.  Lynch  said  he 
thought  he  could  agree,  but  first  pre- 
ferred to  discuss  the  move  with  Para- 
mount  officials. 


Return  Credit 
Deposits,  U.S. 
Court  Orders 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

sponsibilities  of  any  exhibitor,  pro- 
vided no  recommendation  is  made  of 
action  to  be  taken  and  the  right  of 
the  individual  company  to  act  inde- 
pendently on  credits.  The  District 
Court  is  retaining  jurisdiction  in  the 
case. 

Dealt  With  Fake  Sales 

The  credit  system  was  established 
by  distributors  to  offset  and  counter- 
act losses  caused  by  fake  sales  of  the- 
atres. Under  the  plan,  credit  stand- 
ing of  theatre  purchasers  was  investi- 
gated, and  where  warranted  in  the 
opinion  of  the  committee,  deposits 
were  asked  as  a  condition  of  service. 
Exhibitors  complained  to  the  gov- 
ernment that  the  system  was  oppres- 
sive and  was  forcing  theatre  purchas- 
ers to  assume  contracts  of  their  pred- 
ecessors. The  case  was  presented 
on  documentary  evidence  by  the  gov- 
ernment from  material  obtained  from 
Film  Board  files.  A  number  of  Film 
Board  secretaries  testified  for  the  de- 
fense. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

2  Mickey  McGuires 
On  Peerless  Program 

(Continued  from  page   1) 
were    written    by    Jacques    Kopfstein 
and  both  are  to  be  directed  by  Al  Her- 
man,   director    of    the    two-reel    com- 
edies. 

Peerless'  line-up  follows : 

"The  Sea  Ghost,"  by  Burnet  Hershey, 
with   Laura   La   Plante. 

"State's    Evidence,"    by    Stanley    Foster. 

"Nobody's    Children,"    by    Mae    Burrell. 

"Fortune's  Fool,"  by  John  Powers  Cop- 
ley  and  directed'  by  Albert   Herman. 

"Blind    Marriage,"   by   Sada   Synne. 

"Half  a  Wife,"  by  Arthur  Hoerl. 

"The  Warning  Shadow,"  by  R.  A.  Reade. 
"Innocent    Sinners,"    by    R.    Evans    Otis. 

"Mickey,"  by  Jacques  Kopfstein  with 
Mickey  McGuire,  directed  by  Albert  Her- 
man. 

"The  Fugitive,"  by  Warren  Williams. 

"The  Reckoning,"  by  Lola   Parsons. 

"Love  Bound,"  by  Horace  Vinton,  with 
Ralph  Forbes  and  Nance  O'Neil,  Myrna 
l-oy    and    Betty    Bronson. 

"Divorce   Mill,"   by   Glad'ys   Bronson. 

"The  Adventurous   Sex,"   by    Erwin   Klee. 

"Crooked   Streets,"   by    Carl    Dormont. 

"Tomorrow's  Man,"  by  Jacques  Kopf- 
stein. Albert  Hermaft  will  direct.  Mickey 
McGuire   starred. 

"Home,  Sweet,  Home,"  by  Lucius  Miller. 

"Mystery  of  Judge  La  Garde,"  by 
Charles  Reed  Jones. 

"Gamblers  All,"  from  play  by  Henry 
Clay    Pierce.      Albert    Herman    to    direct. 

"Worldly  Women,"  by  Hortense  Sander- 
son Rich  and  Ashton  Hemingway. 

"A  Solitary  Sin,"  by  Victoria   Beale. 

"Sporting  Chance,"  by  King  Baggot. 
Albert  Herman  to  jirect. 

"Modern  Youth,"  by  John  Powers  Cop- 
ley. 

"Honors  Divided,"  by  Amo  Delvaine. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Selznick  ''Set" 

Hollywood — David  Selznick,  who 
resigned  the  other  day  from  Para- 
mount to  enter  independent  produc- 
tion, is  on  his  way  East. 

Before  entraining,  he  said : 

"My  plans  are  about  complete.  We 
are  going  to  confine  ourselves  to 
quality    productions." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Irene  Delroy  Hurt 

Montreal — Irene  Delroy,  screen 
actress,  is  spending  part  of  her  honey- 
moon in  a  hospital  as  a  result  of  a 
fall  from  a  horse.  She  recently  mar- 
ried W.  L.  Austin,  Jr.,  of  New  York. 


16 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  July  23,   1931 


a 


99 


Lieutenant, 
Vaude  Team 
Draw  in  L.A. 


Total  $144,500  for  13  Theatres 


Los  ANGELES^"Smilin^  Lieuten- 
ant" continued  to  be  a  big  draw  in 
its  second  week  at  the  Carthay  Circle, 
grossing  $14,800  against  an  average 
take  of  $12,500.  Olsen  and  Johnson 
are  credited  with  a  major  portion  of 
the  $17,500  intake  of  the  RKO, 
which  had  "The  Lawless  Woman" 
on  the  screen.  Par  for  this  house  is 
$15,000. 

"A  Free  Soul"  closed  strong  at  the 
Criterion  and  Chinese,  in  its  fourth 
week  of  daj'  and  date  runs.  "Broad- 
minded"  clicked  satisfactorily  at  both 
Warner  houses.  Other  houses  had 
light  grosses,  but  showed  an  improve- 
ment over  the  previous  week.  The 
weather  has  been  extremely  hot  and 
the  beaches  have  hurt  theatre  trade. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  22  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"SU  ULTIMA  NOCHE"   (Ind.) 
CAUFORNIA     INTERNATIONAL— (3,- 
000).  25c-50c,  7  days.     Gross:  $4,900.     (Aver- 
age,   $5,000.) 

"SMILING  LIEUTENANT"  (Para.) 
FOX    CARTHAY    CIRCLE— (1,650).    75c- 
$1.50,   2nd   week,   7   days.     George  StoU   and 
Band.      Gross:    $14,800.      (Average,    $12,500.) 
"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 
FOX    CRITERION— (1.652),    35c-65c.    4th 
week,    7    davs.      Gross:    $8,300.      (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"A  FREE  SOUL"  (M-G-M) 
GRAUMAN'S      CHINESE— (2.030).      25c- 
7Sc,  4th  week,   7  days.     Gross:   $7,000.    (Av- 
erage,   $8,000.) 

"THE    BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 
LOEWS      STATE— (2,418),      35c-65c.      7 
days.         F.     &     M.     "About    Towrt"     Idea. 
Gross:    $19,200.       (Average    $27,000.) 
"SALVATION    NELL"    (Tiff) 
LOS  ANGELES— (2,100),  25c-65c.  7  days. 
Stage     show     with     Leon     Errol,     Carleton 
Kelsey's    Band.       Gross:    $9,000.       (Average, 
$16,000.) 

"THE   MIRACLE    WOMAN"    (Col.) 
ORPHEUM— (2,750),     35c-i6Sc,      7      days. 
Gross:     $9,200.        (Average,    $16,000.) 
"NEVER   THE   TWAIN   SHALL  MEEV' 
(M-G-M) 
PANTAGES    HOLLYWOOD    —    (3,000), 
35c-65c,   7   days.       F.    &    M.    "Modern    Min- 
strel"   Idea.        Gross:    $11,100.        (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"THE  SECRET  CALL"  (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,5%).    35c-65c,    7    days. 
Tom    Patricola    and    stage    revue.       Gross: 
$12,000.        (Average.    $25,000.) 

"THE   LAWLESS   WOMAN"   (Ind.) 
RKO— (2,700),    35c-65c,    7   days.    Olsen   and 
Johnson      in      person,      5      acts      vaudeville. 
Gross:    $17,500.        (Average,    $15,000.) 
"NIGHT  ANGEL"  (Para.) 
UNITED     ARTIST.S— (2.100).     35c-65c.     7 
days,   2nd  week.      Gross:    $6,000.      (Average, 
$13,500.) 

"BROADMINDED"   (F.  N.) 
WARNER  DOWNTOWN— (2,400),  7  days, 
3Sc-50c.     Gross:  $12,000.     (Average,   $15,000.) 
"BROADMINDED"   (F.  N.) 
WARNER       HOLLYWOOD— (3.000).       7 
days,    35c-50c.       Gross:    $13,500.       (Average, 
$14,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Mrs.  Neu  Dead 

Buffalo — Mrs.  M.  E.  Neu,  mother 
of  Oscar  Neu,  president  of  Neumade 
Products,  is  dead  at  the  age  of  7Z. 
Neu  is  here  from  New  York  for  the 
funeral. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Drop  *'Cincy"  Board 

Cincinnati — The  local  film  board 
has  folded.  Hereafter  the  southern 
part  of  the  state  will  be  handled  by 
the  Cleveland  office,  of  which  Mr= 
Georgia  Moffatt  is  secretary. 


Lullaby" 

(M-G-M') 

Hollywood — So  morbid  is  the  story 
of  "Lullaby"  that  an  audience  at  the 
Boulevard  gave  evidence  of  its  dis- 
satisfaction with  the  production,  in 
which  Helen  Hayes  makes  her  film 
debut.  The  overacting  of  the  actress 
aroused  adverse  comment,  as  did  the 
dialogue  supplied  by  her  playwright- 
husband,    Charles    MacArthur. 

The  action  is  largely  laid  in  Paris 
where  Helen  lives  with  an  artist,  has 
a  baby  by  him  without  the  benefit  of 
wedlock,  goes  to  live  with  Lewis 
Stone,  who  turns  out  to  be  a  jewel 
thief,  and  commits  suicide  when  she 
is  arrested  and  draws  a  ten-year 
term.  She  renounces  her  son  to 
avoid  spoiling  his  career  but  man- 
ages to  provide  money  for  his  edu- 
cation as  a  physician.  Reaching  the 
depth  of  degradation,  she  is  treated 
by  her  son  in  a  fatal  auto  accident. 

"Big  moments"  in  the  story 
evoked  snickers  from  the  preview  au- 
dience; the  comedy  situations  met 
with  silence.  An  excellent  cast,  in- 
cluding, in  addition  to  Miss  Hayes 
and  Stone,  Neil  Hamilton,  William 
Bakewell,  Eileen  Pringle,  Marie  Pre- 
vost,  and  Cliff  Edwards,  was  han- 
dicapped by  the  material.  Edgar 
Selwyn  directed. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Lasca  of  the 
Rio  Grande" 

(Universal) 

Hollywood — Here  is  a  Western 
with  a  different  treatment  that  inter- 
ested an  audience  at  the  Boulevard 
Theatre.  Leo  Carrillo,  John  Mack 
Brown  and  Dorothy  Burgess  in  the 
leading  roles  clicked  with  the  audi- 
ence, and  the  capable  performances 
of  the  entire  cast  and  the  direction  of 
Edward  Laemmle  won  commendation. 
The  punch  was  supplied  by  a  cattle 
stampede  and  the  comedy  by  Slim 
Summerville. 

Brown  is  cast  as  a  Texas  Ranger 
in  love  with  Miss  Burgess,  a  dance 
hall  girl  coveted  by  Carrillo,  the  vil- 
lain. She  kills  a  ruffian  in  self-de- 
fense, but  Brown,  who  is  taking  her 
to  jail,  allows  her  to  escape.  Later 
she  loses  her  life  in  saving  him  from 
Carrillo. 


''Woman  Pursued" 

(Radio) 

JlT.  ollywood  —  Radio  comes 
with  "Woman  Pursued"  by  and 
with  Ivan  Lebedefl  to  con- 
tribute another  excellent  pro- 
duction for  fall  box-office  re- 
vival. 

This  is  a  gorgeously  mounted 
story  of  Balkan  intrigue, 
cleverly  directed  by  Richard 
Boleslavsky  and  featured  by 
performances  of  Author-Star 
Lebedeff,  Genevieve  T  o  b  i  n  , 
Betty  Compson,  Ilka  Chase  and 
Arthur  Edmund  Carew.  It  is 
notable  for  its  unusually  bril- 
liant camera  effects  by  Leo 
Tover. 

Lebedeff,  as  a  romantic  Rus- 
sian officer  in  pursuit  of  spies 
in  Rumania,  should  give  the 
ladies  plenty  of  thrill.  Miss 
Tobin  and  Miss  Compson  will 
keep  the  men  interested  while 
the  ladies  enjoy  the  star. 

It  is  proof  again  that  the 
studio  boys  out  here  have 
peeled  off  their  coats  and  gone 
to  work  making  pictures. 

Leo  Meehan 


''The  Brat" 

(Fox) 

Hollywood — An  enthusiastic  recep- 
tion was  accorded  this  offering  by  a 
preview  audience,  thereby  justifying 
the  action  of  Fox  in  signing  Sally 
O'Neill  to  a  term  contract.  She  gave 
a  vivacious  performance  that  was 
hugely  enjoyed  and  excellent  photo 
graphy  and  good  direction  by  John 
Ford  added  considerably  to  the  box- 
office  appeal  of  the  film. 

There  was  a  plenitude  of  laughs 
and  several  times  the  merriment  was 
so  prolonged  that  the  dialogue  fol- 
lowing was  drowned  out. 

Members  of  the  cast  whose  work 
elicited  commendation  were  Allen 
Dinehart,  Frank  Albertson,  Margaret 
Mann,  Virginia  Cherrill,  June  Coll- 
yer,  J.  Farrell  MacDonald,  Mary 
Forbes,  Albert  Gran,  William  Collier, 
Sr.,  and   Louise   Macintosh. 


44 


BUY  NOW  SALES 


Ned  Depinet  has  sold  the  RKO 
Pathe  line-up  to  the  Central  States 
Theatre  Corp.  of  Iowa.  This  is  the 
small  town  circuit  operated  by  Abe 
Blank. 


E.  J.  Sparks,  operating  22  theatres 
in  Florida,  has  enrolled  in  the  "Buy 
Right — But  Buy  Now"  movement  by 
signing  contracts  with  J.  R.  Grainger 
for  the  Fox  product.  The  houses  in- 
cluded are : 

Imperial,  Jacksonville;  Alcazar,  St. 
Petersburg;  Beacham,  Orlando;  Jefferson, 
St.  Augustine;  Florida,  Gainesville;  Milane, 
.Sanford;  Dixie,  Ocala;  Arcade,  Ft.  Myers; 
.Sunset,  Ft.  Lauderdale;  Sunrise,  Ft.  Pierce; 
Palace^  BradentonJ;  Edwards,  Sarasota; 
Capitol,  Clearwater;  ?tar,  Arcadia;  Howell, 
Palatka;  Dolka,  Leland;  Capitol,  Plant 
City;  Broadway  Grand,  Winter  Park; 
Casino,  Ybor  City;  Sparks,  West  Tampa; 
Sparks,    Palmetta,    Ritz,    Tallahassee. 


Booking  contracts  were  completed 
by  Warners-First  National  whereby 
the  Midland  Theatres  Company  of 
Newark,  O.,  will  show  100  per  cent 
of  the  companies'  product  for  the 
new  season  at  the  Midland,  Audito- 
rium   and    Grand. 

Cleveland — Monogram  has  sold  its 
38-picture  line-up  to  the  following 
accounts  : 

Dreamland,  Elyria;  Garfield  and  New 
Victory,  Cleveland";  Columbia,  East  Liv- 
erpool; Rex  or  New,  Steubenville;  Lincoln, 
Dennison;  Yorkville,  Yorkville;  Rivoli,  Lo- 
rain; Lyceum,  Cleveland;  Hippodrome, 
Warren;  Valentine  or  Strand,  Canton. 


Memphis — S.  M.  Sachs  of  the 
RKKO  Pathe  office  has  booked  all 
Rooster  brand  shorts  in  the  Lightman 
and  the  Boyd  circuit  houses. 


Florida  Kills 
Ticket  Tax,  but 
Another's  Up 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

every  line  of  business  in  the  state  has 
bobbed  up  in  the  Senate.  The  bill,  in- 
troduced by  Senator  Young  of  Vero 
Beach,  takes  a  harder  rap  at  amuse- 
ments than  other  lines.  The  schedule 
for  amusements,  which  includes 
"theatres,  motion  picture  shows,"  etc., 
would  be  one  and  three-quarter  per 
cent  on  the  gross  receipts  up  to  $2,500. 
each  month;  two  and  a  half  per  cent 
up  to  $5,000  and  so  on  up  to  three 
and  a  half  per  cent  for  amounts  over 
$10,000.  The  tax  on  other  lines  of 
business  are  rated  at  one  per  cent  for 
the  first  $1,000  with  advances  for  each 
additional  $1,(X)0. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount  May  Pay 
Dividend  in  Stock 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

gether  with  dividend  payments  in 
cash  during  the  summer  period  when 
production  expenses  are  high  and  in- 
come low,  the  news  service  states, 
may  reduce  the  current  assets  ratio 
below  the  point  required  in  the  bond 
indenture. 

To  alleviate  this  situation,  the  cor- 
poration may  sell  $10,000,000  addi- 
tional debenture  bonds  or  substitute 
stock  for  cash  dividend  payments  for 
two  or  three  quarters  until  its  posi- 
tion is  built  up  out  of  current  income. 

The  stock  repurchase  is  under 
guarantees  given  in  connection  with 
a  number  of  theatre  deals,  it  is 
understood.  Paramount  in  acquiring 
several  circuits,  made  stock  deals 
guaranteeing  repurchase  of  the  stock 
at  80. 


Action  Up  to  Board  of 
Directors,  Firm  Says 

Action  on  Paramount  dividends  can 
be  taken  only  by  the  board  of  di- 
rectors, which  have  not  yet  passed 
upon  the  next  dividend,  states  C.  C. 
McCarthy,  director  of  public  rela- 
tions for  Paramount  Publix. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Home  Realigns  U.A, 
Ad,  Publicity  Force 

Reorganization  of  the  United  Artists 
advertising  and  publicity  department 
and  plans  for  establishment  of  the 
new  Exhibitors  Service  Department 
are  under  way  by  Hal  Home,  who  re- 
cently took  over  the  department. 

National  tie-ups  are  being  arranged 
as  a  preliminary  by  Charles  Baron, 
who  has  been  brought  into  the  home 
office  from  Detroit.  Monroe  W. 
Greenthal,  former  associate  editor  of 
the  Universal  newsreel,  and  Eugene 
Nathanson,  formerly  with  the  New 
York  Evening  Journal,  have  been 
added   to   the  advertising   department. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Leonard  Recovers 

San  Francisco — Charles  Leonard, 
publicity  director  of  the  United  Art- 
ists theatre,  is  back  at  his  post  after 
a  short  illness  and  operation. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.   NO.  46 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JULY  24,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


Continue  Plan 
For  Kinogram 
Ad  Newsreel 


New  Financing  Arranged 
And  Ad  Deals  Sought 


While  Oscar  Hanson  is  being  re- 
leased by  Allied  States  Association 
from  direc;tion  of  distribution  of  the 
Kinograms  sponsored  newsreel,  plans 
are  going  forward  for  issuance  of  the 
reel  August  28  as   scheduled. 

Captain  McL.  Baynes  of  Kinograms 
now  is  in  Chicago  where  new  financ- 
ing has  been  arranged  for  and  ad- 
vertising contracts   are  being   sought. 

Hanson  asked  for  his  release  to  ac- 
cept a  new  post  in  Canada  to  pro- 
mote showing  of  British  films  and  to 
further  the  independent  exhibitor 
movement.  He  will,  however,  con- 
tinue to  handle  newsreel  contracts  as 
long  as  his  services  are  required. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warner-F.N.  Sell 
To  Loew  and  RKO 

The  ink  flew  fast  over  at  Warner- 
First  National  yesterday  and  when 
signatures  were  dried,  it  appeared 
that  the  new  season  product  of  those 
companies  had  been  sold  to  the  Loew 
circuit  in  the  metropolitan  area  and 
to  RKO  for  its  Greater  New  York 
circuit.  In  the  negotiations  with 
Loew,  the  circuit  was  represented  by 
David  Loew  and  Eugene  Picker,  and 
the  distributor  by  Claude  C.  Ezell, 
George  Balsdon,  Jr.,  and  A.  W. 
Smith,    Jr. 

Acting  for  RKO  in  the  second  deal 
were  Jules  Levy  and  John  O'Connor 
while  Ezell,  Balsdon  and  Smith 
again  represented  Warner-First  Na- 
tional. 


Warner-F.  N.  Launch 
New  Season  Aug.  22 

Warner-First  National  officially 
begin  its  new  releasing  season  on 
August  22  with  "The  Star  Witness." 
Sam  E.  Morris  has  scheduled  12  pic- 

(Continued  on   page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

1400  Contracts  on 
Two  U.  A.  Pictures 

United  Artists  is  profiting  by  the 
"Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now"  move- 
ment and  to  date  more  than  1,400 
contracts  have  been  closed  on  "The 
Unholy  Garden,"  starring  Ronald 
Colma'n,  and  "Palmy  Days,"  star- 
ring Eddie  Cantor,  according  to  Al 
Lichtman,  distribution  chief.  This  is 
in  addition  to  sale  of  the  entire  out- 
put to  Publix  and  Fox. 


Maloy  Balks  "Rebellion'' 

Chicago — Meeting  of  union  operators  called  to  discuss  24  griev- 
ances cited  against  Tom  Maloy,  indicted  dictator  of  the  union, 
was  broken  up  by  Maloy's  threats  to  revoke  the  memberships  of 
those  attending  on  grounds  of  treason. 

Only  five  union  men,  all  of  them  deputies  of  Maloy  assigned  to 
report  on  the  meeting,  arrived  at  the  appointed  time.  Observers 
are  still  inclined  to  believe  that  a  new  undercover  attempt  to 
oust  Maloy  and  his  indicted  faction  from  the  union  will  be  made 
soon  by  accredited  members  of  the  union. 


Union  Chain 
In  Australia 
In  Bad  Spot 


Sydney — The  main  topic  of  con- 
versation in  film  circles  now  is  "What 
is  going  to  happen  to  Union  The- 
atres?" Business  has  been  very  bad 
recently  for  that  circuit  and  for 
Hoyts,  and  there  is  much  conjecture 
concerning  their  fate. 

Bankers  for  Union  are  repeatedly 
asking  that  the  circuit  be  sold  or 
leased  and  negotiations  are  on  with 
Paramount  and  Fox,  with  the  latter 
said  to  be  leading.  Paramount  wants 
to  pick  certain  houses,  but  the  bank- 
ers and  stockholders  are  said  to  be 
opposed  to  such  a  deal. 

There    is    no    relief    in    sight    for 

{Continued  on  page   13) 


Nathanson  in 
New  Attack  on 
Probe  Report 


Toronto — Sharp  comment  is  con- 
tained in  a  statement  issued  by  N.  L. 
Nathanson,  former  managing  director 
of  Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp., 
in  reply  to  the  combine  report  of 
Commissioner  Peter  White  following 
the  Canadian  film  probe.  Incident- 
ally, Nathanson  has  stirred  up  the 
old  battle  against  Adolph  Zukor  and 
I.  W.  Killam,  the  latter  of  Montreal, 
regarding  the  sale  of  shares  in  the 
Canadian  company  to  Paramount  by 
means  of  which  Paramount  obtained 
control. 

Although  Nathanson  was  "severe- 
ly reprimanded"  in  the  White  report, 

{Continued  on  page  IS) 


Cohn  Is  Interested  in 
Independent  Pictures 

Hollywood — Columbia  is  interested 
in  independent  productions,  states 
Harry  Cohn,  company  production 
head.  H  anyone  has  any  pictures, 
"send  them  along  as  we  want  to  see 
them,"  he  declares. 


Novarro  and  M-G-M 
Spar  on  New  Deal 

Hollywood — Ramon  Novarro  and 
M-G-M  are  still  sparring  over  finan- 
cial terms  of  a  new  contract.  Novarro 
will  co-star  with  Garbo  in  "Mata 
Hari"  but  the  agreement  is  said  to 
cover  that  orie  picture. 


Threaten  Theatre  Boycott 
If  Vaude  Is  Not  Restored 


Memphis — Threat  of  boycotting 
two  downtown  theatres  here  unless 
vaudeville  is  restored  is  hinted  by  A. 
E.  Weinstein  of  counsel  for  the  Civic 
Club  organization  composed  of  17 
civic  clubs  and  said  to  have  25,000 
members. 

Civic  clubs,  it  is  stated,  want  good 
vaudeville  returned  to  Memphis  and 
if  this  is  not  done  will  give  en- 
couragement to  neighborhood  theatres, 
Weinstein  stated.  The  attorney  is 
chairman  of  committees  named  to 
draft  resolutions  for  presentation  be- 
fore the  council.  He  says  that  con- 
ferences with  theatre  owners  will  be 
sought    next    week.      A    meeting    of 

{Continued  on   page   2) 


M-G-M  to  Re-Shoot 
Helen  Hayes  Picture 

Hollywood — Retakes  are  under 
way  on  "Lullaby,"  Helen  Hayes'  ini- 
tial starring  vehicle.  Both  Miss 
Hayes  and  her  playwright  husband, 
Charles  MacArthur,  feel  the  film 
would  kill  her  in  pictures. 

Offer  was  made  to  Louis  B.  Mayer 
to  do  over  the  whole  story  without 
charge  if  he  would  shoot  new  se- 
quences, to  which  he  agreed.  Clar- 
ence Brown  tentatively  has  been  set 
to  do  the  retakes,  replacing  Edgar 
Selwyn. 


Each  Company 
Decides  Own 
Credit  Plan 

Woolsey  Order  Formality 
To  Enforce  U.  S.  Edict 


Distributors  will  continue  to  deal 
with  credits  individually  as  they  have 
since  the  Supreme  Court  upset  the 
Thacher  decision  and  ruled  operation 
of  the  credit  committee  system  in  the 
industry  a  conspiracy  in  restraint  of 
trade. 

The  filing  of  the  injunction  decree 
by  Federal  Judge  Woolsey  was  a 
mere  formality  carrying  out  the  edict 
of  the  Supreme  Court  and  setting  up 
machinery  for  enforcement  of  that 
edict,  Gabriel  L.  Hess,  Hays  asso- 
ciation counsel,  states.  The  credit 
committees  were  abolished  eight 
rnonths  ago  when  the  high  court's  de- 
cision was  handed  down. 

Since  that  time,  each  company  has 
dealt  individually  with  its  credit 
problems,  levying  advance  deposits 
where   it   felt   the   risk  warranted. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

One  Man  in  Booth 
Asked  in  "Cincy" 

Cincinnati — Tentative  plans  and 
proposals  are  being  formulated  for 
next  season's  setup  at  preliminary 
meetings  now  being  held  between  rep- 
resentatives of  the  exhibitors  and  op- 
erators. 

The  law  firm  of  Le  Blond,  Mor- 
risey,  Terry  and '  Gilday,  together 
with  R.  Earl  Myers,  president,  and 
Fred  M.  Strief,  business  manager  of 
the  Ohio  Allied  unit,  are  represent- 
ing that  organization,  as  also  the 
Cincinnati  Motion  Picture  Exhibitors' 
League,  while  the  operators'  interests 

(Continued  on  page  13) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Rose  Hobart  and  "V" 
At  Parting  of  Ways 

Hollywood — Rose  Hobart  and  Carl 
Laemmle,  Jr.  have  come  to  the  part- 
ing of  the  ways,  according  to  Florabel 
Muir  who  says  in  The  Hollywood 
Herald : 

"The  blow-off  came  when  Junior  handed 
Rose  the  script  of  'Back  Streets'  in  which 
he  planned  to  star  her.  She  read  the 
script   and   said    'No,    thanks'. 

"  'I've  got  a  five  year  contract  with 
Universal,'  she  told  me,  'but  I  guess  it 
won't  do  either  of  us  any  good.  Junior 
says  I  don't  know  anything  about  movies 
and  maybe  he's  right.  I  hope  time  an(i' 
distance  will  soften  our  feelings  toward 
each  other.  I'm  going  back  to  the  stage, 
which  is  my  medium  and  where  I  know 
what  I  can  do.  There  has  been  no  re- 
lease of  my  contract,  so  I  can't  make 
any  more  pictures,  and  that  suits  me, 
too.'  " 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  July  24,    1931 


Kegisiered   U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Revitv 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\ol.    30 


July    .'4.    19J1 


No.    46 


Martin    Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^■^rv  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
\JlJ    3nd    holidays,    by     Motion     Picture 

^^     Daily,   Inc.,  a  Quigley   Publication, 

at     1790     Broadway,     New      Vork 

Telephone:    Circle   7-3100.     Cable    address: 

"Qui^pubco,     New     York."      All     contents 

copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H  Mooring 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road! 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier."  Ber- 
lin,   \V.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
*,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents 


U.S.  Suit  vs  Warners 
Slated  for  October 

Trial  of  the  government's  suit 
against  Warners  brought  under  the 
Clayton  anti-trust  act  in  connection 
with  the  Warner  acquisition  of  First 
National  is  scheduled  to  come  up  be- 
fore the  October  term  of  Federal  Dis- 
trict Court,  New  York. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Probe  Eye-Opener 
For  Public  in  Canada 

Toronto— "If  the  film  investigation 
has  served  to  bring  home  to  our  peo- 
ple the  realization  that  American  ideas 
and  American  thought  are  being 
spread  throughout  the  Dominion 
through  the  medium  of  motion  pic- 
tures, then  I  feel  the  inquiry  has 
served  a  good  purpose,"  states  On- 
tario's attorney  general,  W.  H.  Price. 
He  did  not  indicate  whether  the  prov- 
ince will  prosecute  participants  in  the 
alleged  combine. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Five  Years  Old 

Vitaphone  will  celebrate  its  fifth 
anniversary  August  6.  The  birthday 
will  be  observed  in  all  of  the  Warner 
theatres  in  the  form  of  special  pro- 
grams and  some  of  the  original  num- 
bers that  played  on  the  "Don  Juan" 
program  at  the  Warner  theatre  in 
New  York  may  be  revived. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Signs  Burton  King 

HoLF-vwooD  —  John  R.  Freuler, 
president  of  Big  4  Film  Corp.,  has 
signed  Burton  King  as  production  su- 
pervisor on  the  West  Coast. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Rothacker  on  Coast 

Hollywood— Watterson  R.  Rot- 
hacker is  back  in  Beverly  Hills  fol- 
lowing a  trip  to  the  Orient. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Mayo  Leaves 

Archie  Mayo  leaves  New  York  for 
Hollywood   via   the   Canal   tomorrow. 


Small  Gain  Shown  on  Dull  Market 


High 

Consolidated    Film    Industries RU 

Eastnjan   Kodak '...V.V.W.V.AAS'X 

Fox    Film    "A' J5^' 

General    Theatre    Equipment,   new 374, 

Loew's.   Inc '   451! 

Paramount    Publi.x 23|l 

Pathe    E.xchange ...'.....!!.!!!!.!!.!!....     IM 

^. '■.'.■■■■.;!;::;:::::::;:;::::  uh 
7/8 


Pathe    Exchange   "A' 

RKO 

Warner 


Bros. 


luaw 

m 

142 

16/8 

4454 
23 

VA 
7 

6M 


Net 
Close     Change 


145 
165^ 

45.M 

23 

7 
14^ 

7/8 


+1 
+   K 


Curb  List  Reacts  to  Stocks 


Fox    Theatres    "A" 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd'. 


High 

2^ 
7'A 


Sentry  Safety   Control 1 


Technicolor 


6/; 


Low 

7'A 

1 

6J^ 


Close 

2^ 
7'A 
1 
6'A 


+  H 
-H 
-  'A 
+  'A 
+  'A 
-f  'A 


Net 
Chauige 


-  'A 


Bonds  Irregular;  P,  P.  Off  V 


High 

General   Theatre    Equipment  6s   '40 34 

Loew's   6s   '41    ex    war 985^ 

Paramoimt     F.     L.     6s     '47 89 

Paramount  Publix  S^^s,  'SO 79 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39  wd 41^ 


Lowr 

33'-4 

98 

88 

77 

«) 


Close 

ii'A 


77 
41'^ 


Net 
Change 

—1 

+  ¥i 
—1 
-1/ 
+\'A 


Sales 

100 
2,300 
1,800 

800 
1,800 
8.200 

600 

100 
1,500 
4,300 


Sales 

6C0 
100 
10) 
100 


Sales 


Warner-F.N.  Sell 
To  Loew  and  RKO 

(Continued  from  fage  1) 

tures  with  definite  dates.  Here's  the 
line-up: 

The  Star  Witness,  with  Walter  Huston 
and  Chic  Sale.  A  Warner  release  available 
Aug.    22. 

Larceny  Lane,  with  James  Cagney  and 
Joan  Blondell.  A  Warner  release  available 
Aug.   29. 

The  Last  Flight  starring  Richard 
Barthelmess.  A  First  National  release  avail- 
able   Sept.    5. 

Alexander  Hamilton,  starring  George 
Arliss.  A  Warner  release  available  Sept. 
12. 

The  Bargain.  A  First  National  release 
available   Sept.    19. 

The  Road  to  Singapore,  starring  Wil- 
liam Powell.  A  Warner  release  available 
Sept.    26. 

PENROn  AND  Sam.  A  First  National  re- 
lease available   Oct.   3. 

Five  Star  Final,  starring  Edward  G. 
Robinson.  A  First  National  release  avail- 
able  Oct.    10. 

Expensive  Women,  starring  Dolores  Cos- 
tello.      A   Warner   release  available   Oct.    17. 

The  Ruling  Voice,  with  Walter  Hus- 
ton and  Loretta  Young.  A  First  National 
release  available   Oct.   24. 

Side  Show,  with  Winnie  Lightner.  A 
Warner   release   available   Oct.    31. 

The  Mad  Genius,  starring  John  Barry- 
more.      A   Warner   release  available   Nov.    7. 

The  1930-1931  program  winds  up 
with: 

Broad  Minded,  released  Aug.  1. 
Night  Nurse,  released  Aug.  8. 
The  Reckless  Hour,  released  Aug.   15. 
Bought,    released   Aug.    22. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Pollak  Lining  Up 
Peerless  Exchanges 

Adolph  Pollak,  general  manager  of 
the  newly  organized  Peerless  Pro- 
ductions, Inc.,  which  has  announced 
24  features  for  the  1931-1932  season, 
left  New  York  yesterday  for  a  tour 
of  the  country.  Pollak's  route  will 
take  him  through  every  key  city  in 
the  country  for  the  organization  of 
the  territorial  distributors  of  the 
Peerless  product.  On  completion  of 
his  trip,  he  will  visit  Hollywood  for 
a  conference  with  the  production  ex- 
ecutives of  the  three  Peerless  pro- 
ducing units. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Holding  to  30 

PARis^The  Pathe-Natan  consoli- 
dation is  making  what  some  in  the 
trade  here  consider  a  bold  bid  to 
capture  the  allegiance  of  the  inde- 
pendents in  holding  its  own  produc- 
tion line-up  to  30  pictures.  Pathe- 
Natan  needs  100. 


Montreal  Showman  Dies 

Montreal — M.  G.  Cockels,  man- 
ager and  one  of  the  owners  of  the 
System  theatre,  downtown  house,  died 
here.  He  was  54  years  of  age  and 
was  born  in  Greece,  arriving  in  Can- 
ada in   1896. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

May  Trim  Berlin  Taxes 

Berlin  — ■  Municipal  taxes,  long 
cause  for  complaint  by  exhibitors 
here,  are  expected  to  be  reduced  by 
$225,000    a    year    shortly. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Signs  Playwright 

HoLYWooD — John  Peter  Leister, 
playwright,  has  been  signed  by   Fox. 


Threaten  Memphis 
Theatre   Boycott 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  trades  and  labor  council  was  held 
last  night  and  union  operators  are  ex- 
pected to  issue  a  statement  by  tomor- 
row. 

Memphis  is  reported  to  be  losing 
$200,000  yearly  by  cutting  vaudeville. 
Weinstein  says  that  money  was  being 
paid  by  musicians,  stagehands  and  en- 
tertainers themselves  who  spent  money 
for  hotel  bills,  taxi  cabs  and  shopping 
in  the  downtown  section.  Performers, 
he  said,  usually  spend  everything  they 
make,  which  means  ready  cash  is  be- 
ing spent  every  week  in  Memphis. 
This,  he  says,  has  been  shut  off  as  a 
result  of  the  attitude  of  theatres. 
Every  effort  will  be  made  to  restore 
vaudeville  here,   said   Weinstein. 

The  Strand  is  closing  tomorrow 
night  at  the  end  of  three  days  in 
second  run  of  "A  Free  Soul."  The 
theatre  has  been  operated  by  Loew's 
since  1926  and  was  at  one  time  the 
city's  leading  house.  It  has  a  ca- 
pacity of  1,000.  This  leaves  but  four 
first    run    houses    here. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Laemmle  Optimistic 

Declaring  he  is  more  confident  and 
more  hopeful  about  general  business 
and  the  situation  of  Universal  than 
he  has  been  in  two  years,  Carl 
Laemmle  sailed  yesterday  for  Eu- 
rope. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Heads  Para.  Sound 

R.  J.  Engler  has  been  appointed 
general  sound  director  at  the  Para- 
mount New  York  studio. 


Theatre  Operators 


Are  you  taking  advantage  of  the  most  com- 
plete and  comprehensive  SOUND  SERVICE 
in  the  world?  National  Sound  Service 
Bureau  Inc.  has  a  competent  service  man  in 
your  back  yard  available  for  service  at  your 
convenience. 


NATIONAL   SOUND 
SERVICE   BUREAU 

723  7th  Ave.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Sixth  Floor 


Friday,  July  24,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


\X/E  find  it  pleasant   to  give   a  hand   to  Harry 
Thomas  this  morning: 

Because,  when  others  are  puUing  their  punches, 
he's  pushing  forward  with  no  abatement  in  speed 
or  pep. 

Because,  after  twenty  years  of  smihng  with  and 
cursing  at  the  picture  business,  he  is  about  to  step 
into  his  most  active  year. 

Because  he  is  quaint  enough  and  right  enough  to 
beheve  that  the  only  way  to  properly  merchandise 
pictures  is  to  give  each  one  individual  treatment. 

Because  he  is  optimistic  enough  over  returning 
prosperity  to  annex  a  program  of  almost  50  pic- 
tures for  1931-1932. 

Because,  finally,  of  all  the  independent  operators 
in  the  Greater  New  York  zone,  none  stands  in  better 
grace  with  the  exhibitor  than  he. 

KANN. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,   July  24,    1931 


First  Division 
To  Offer  Fifty 


"Individually  Sold  —  Individually 
Exploited." 

With  this  as  its  slogan,  First  Divi- 
sion Exchanges,  Inc.,  this  year^  will 
otTer  approxnnately  50  pictures  on  its 
schedule,  coincident  with  a  program 
of  expansion. 

The  firm,  headed  by  Harry  H. 
Thomas,  for  20  years  an  independent 
producer  and  distributor,  recently 
opened  an  office  in  Philadelphia  to 
supplement  activities  of  its  New  York 
exchange.  This  latter  office  serves  all 
of  New  York  State  and  northern  New 
Jersey. 

Plans  now  are  under  way  for 
branches  in  Albany  and  Buffalo  in 
connection  with  expansion  designed  to 
embrace  those  key  cities. 

The  50  pictures  on  the  First  Divi- 
sion list  for  the  1931-32  season  con- 
tain a  wide  variety  of  selections  de- 
signed for  all  classes  of  theatres. 

Every  picture  on  the  new  season's 
line-up,  Thomas  points  out,"  will  be 
backed  by  an  individual  exploitation 
campaign.  This  pre-selling  program 
calls  for  the  use  of  all  classes  of 
media  to  help  sell  seats  to  public,  he 
declares. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Two  of   Headline's 
Six  Are  Now  Ready 

Headline  Pictures,  which  made  its  | 
debut  with  "Women  Men  Marry," 
will  supply  six  pictures  for  release  by 
First  Division  Exchanges,  Inc.,  in  the 
New  York  territory.  The  initial  at- 
traction had  its  premiere  at  Warners' 
Beacon,  New  York,  and  has  been 
booked  for  early  showing  in  repre- 
sentative RKO,  Fox  and  Loew 
houses,  states  Mortimer  D.  Sikawitt, 
president  of  Headline.  In  the  cast  of 
the  picture  are:  Sally  Blane,  Natalie 
Moorhead,  Randolph  Scott  and  Ken- 
neth Harlan. 

The  second  picture  on  the  Headline 
list  is  "A  Private  Scandal,"  already 
completed  in  Hollywood.  This  feat- 
ures Marian  Nixon  and  Lloyd 
Hughes,  supported  by  Lucille  Powers, 
Theodore  Von  Eltz,  Walter  Hiers, 
Fletcher  Norton  and  Burr  Mcintosh. 
Charles  Hutchinson  directed. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

In  New  Territory 

Philadelphia — First  Division  Ex- 
changes, Inc.,  pioneer  independent 
distributing  organization  of  New  York, 
has  entered  the  local  distribution  field 
with  Al  Blofson,  formerly  Philadel- 
phia and  New  York  Tiffany  manager, 
in  charge.  Harry  H.  Thomas  is  presi- 
dent of  the  organization,  which  has 
been  operating  for  20  years  in  the 
New  York  territory. 


^ Line  ^ bout  Thomas 

TTT'HAT  kind  of  a  chap  is  Harry  H.   Thomas i^ 
yf^        This  is  zvhat  the  1931  edition  of  Motion  Picture  Almanac 
has  to  say  about  him: 

President  of  First  Division  Exchanges,  Inc. ;  married ;  has 
two  children. 

Started  motion  picture  career  as  an  exhibitor  in  1907  when 
he  opened  the  Bushwick  Palace  theatre  in  the  Williamsburg 
section  of  Brooklyn ;  six  years  later  became  associated  with 
Greater  New  York  Film  Company;  then  with  General  Film 
Company  which  at  that  time  took  over  the  Greater  New  York 
Fihn  Exchange ;  then  to  Fox  as  special  representative. 

Organized  Alexander  Film  Coinpany  in  1921  and  became  an 
independent  distributor ;  later  became  associated  with  I.  E. 
Chadwick,  who  was  president  of  Merit  Film  Exchange,  as  gen- 
eral manager  and  vice-president.  In  1926  Merit  Film  was  ab- 
sorbed by  him  when  he  organized  the  present  First  Division 
Exchanges,  Inc.,  exchange,  which  is  the  oldest  independent 
exchange  in  New  York  City,  and  shortly  after  acquired  the 
Commonwealth  Exchange  with  its  product,  Excellent  Pictures. 

Is  a  member  of  Fort  Greene  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  No.  922 ; 
an  active  factor  in  Elks  Lodge,  No.  22  in  Brooklyn  ;  member 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Club  of  New  York  and  vice-president  of 
Syndicate  Pictures  Corporation ;  vice-president  of  Sono  Art- 
World  Wide  Pictures  Corporation  and  vice-president  of  Prud- 
ence Pictures,  Inc.  and  in  association  with  Samuel  Zierler,  Tif- 
fany Productions  and  Educational  Pictures,  controls  the  world 
rights  for  James  Cruze  Productions,  Inc. ;  is  also  vice-president 
in  charge  of  distribution  in  the  newly  formed  Monogram  Pic- 
tures Corporation. 


"Ingagi"  on  List 

Harry  Thomas  now  is  han- 
dling distribution  in  the  New 
York  territory  of  "Ingagi,"  an- 
imal-adventure picture  which 
was  one  of  the  most  widely  dis- 
cussed pictures  of  last  year.  The 
picture  was  revamped  after 
protests  as  to  its  authenticity 
and  in  new  form  proved  a  strong 
card  at  the  Central,  Neiv  York. 


Gets  'Sherlock'  Film 
For  the  Entire  U.S. 

First  Division  Exchanges,  Inc.,  en- 
ters the  national  field  with  acquisition 
of  distribution  rights  to  "Sherlock 
Holmes'  Fatal  Hour,"  detective  mys- 
tery. 

The  picture  now  is  in  its  third 
week  at  the  Warner  Theatre,  New 
York,  and  today  begins  a  day  and 
date  showing  at  the  Beacon.  It  had 
been  bought  for  showing  at  the 
Brooklyn  Strand,  but  a  print  was  un- 
available on  the  dates  set  aside  for  it. 
However,  it  may  play  the  house  in 
August.  Warners  are  booking  the 
film  into  a  number  of  other  theatres 
of  the  circuit  and  it  is  being  dated 
by  RKO  and  Loew's. 

Critics  generally  have  praised  the 
picture's    audience    appeal. 


"Viking"  Handled 
In  N.Y.  by  Thomas 

J.  D.  Williams,  former  First  Na- 
tional general  manager  and  later  head 
of  British  International,  returns  to  the 
American  distribution  field  with  re- 
lease of  "The  Viking,"  which  First 
Division  is  handling  throughout  the 
New   York  territory. 

The  picture  was  made  off  the  coast 
of  Labrador  by  Varick  Frissell  who, 
with  a  score  or  more  of  others,  lost 
their  lives  in  the  explosion  which  de- 
stroyed the  ill-fated  whaler  ship,  "The 
Viking." 

"The  Viking"  is  the  first  indepen- 
dent picture  to  play  Balaban  & 
Katz's  Roosevelt  Theatre,  Chicago, 
where  it  was  held  over  for  a  three 
weeks'  run  and  then  was  booked  into 
others  of  the  firm's   Class   A  houses. 


''BUY  NOW"  SALES 


Cincinnati — Monogram's  1931-1932 
program  has  been  sold  to  the  follow- 
ing accounts : 

Empress,  Columbia,  C;  Columbia, 
Athens,  O. ;  Hollywood,  Maysville,  Ky., 
and    Hippodrome,     Columbus,     Ky. 

Over  at  Universal  they  insist  that 
business  is  booming,  despite  the 
weather.  One  of  the  important  local 
deals  signed  there  covers  the  30 
houses  of  the  Springer-Cocalis  cir- 
cuit in  New  York,  Brooklyn  and  the 
Bronx,  the  product  including  the  Tom 
Mix  series  and  a  large  slice  of  short 
subjects.  Leo  Abrams  of  Big  U  ex- 
change represented  the  seller  and 
Messrs.  Springer  and  Cocalis,  the 
buyers. 

The  deal  includes: 

Adelphi,  77th  Street,  Symphony,  Stod- 
dard, Essex,  Keystone,  Olympia  and  Dyck- 
man  in  Manhattan;   Ward,  Castle  Hill,  In- 


terboro,  Rosedale  and  Marble  Hill  in  the 
Bronx;  Park  Hill,  Broadway  and  Cameo  in 
Yonkers;  St.  George  Playhouse,  Mont- 
martre,  Heights  Apollo  in  Brooklyn;  Copi- 
tol,  Bayside,  L.  I.;  Strand,  Royal,  Gaiety, 
State  and'  Elmora  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J.  and 
Park,   Roselle  Park,  N.  J. 

Another  Universal  deal  covers  Fox 
Mid-West  of  Milwaukee.  There  are 
24  houses  in  this  circuit  which  was 
represented  in  this  "Buy  Now"  move 
by  H.  Fitzgerald,  division  manager 
for  I'^ox  and  by  "Peck"  Gomersall  and 
George  Levine  for  Universal.  The 
houses : 

Princess,  Milwaukee;  Fox,  Colonial  and 
Strand,  Green  Bay;  Oshkosh  and  Strand, 
Oshkosh;  Retlaw  and  Fond  du  Lac,  Fond 
du  Lac;  Wausau,  of  Wausau;  Fox,  Merrill; 
Antigo  and  Fox,  Antigo;  Fox  and  Lyric, 
Stevens  Point;  Majestic,  Beloit;  Jefferies 
and  Apollo,  Janesville;  Davison  and'  Odeon, 
Beaver  Dam;  Park  and  Avon,  Waukesha; 
Main  Street  and  Strand,  Racine;  and  Para- 
dise,  West  AUis. 


SofMonogram's 
28  Are  Finished 


Monogram  Pictures  Corporation,  a 
nationalization  of  iZ  independent  ex- 
changes in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada, has  completed  five  of  the  28  pic- 
tures announced  on  its  1931-32  sched- 
ule. These  are  distributed  in  Greater 
New  York  and  New  Jersey  and  in 
the  Philadelphia  territory  by  First 
Division  Exchanges,  of  which  Harry 
Thomas  is  president.  Thomas  is  also 
vice  president  of  Monogram  which 
gives  him  close  contact  with  the  pro- 
duction organization. 

The  pictures  completed  include: 
"Mother  and  Son,"  starring  Clara 
Kimball  Young,  with  Ernest  Hilliard, 
Bruce  Warren,  Mildred  Golden  and 
John  Elliott,  and  "Ships  of  Hate," 
starring  Lloyd  Hughes  and  Dorothy 
Sebastian.  Both  of  these  were  direct- 
ed by  John  P.  McCarthy. 

Also  completed  are  two  of  the  "Bill 
and  Andy"  westerns,  starring  Bill 
Cody  and  Little  Andy  Shuford,  twelve 
year  old  cowboy  youngster  who  has 
made  a  decided  hit  in  his  first  two 
pictures,  "Dugan  of  the  Badlands"  and 
"The  Montana  Kid."  One  Tom  Tyler 
starring  vehicle,  "Partners  of  .the 
Trail,"  is  also  completed. 

There  remain  six  "Bill  and  Andy" 
westerns,  namely,  "The  Law  of  the 
North,"  "So  This  is  Texas,"  "Okla- 
homa Jim,"  "Land  of  Wanted  Men," 
"Mason  of  the  Mounted"  and  "The 
Ghost  City,"  and  seven  Tom  Tyler 
releases,  namely,  "Vanishing  Men," 
"Galloping  Thru,"  "The  Man  from 
Death  Valley,"  "Two-Fisted  Justice," 
"Honor  of  the  Mounted,"  "Single 
Handed  Sanders"  and  "The  Man  from 
New  Mexico." 

The  ten  remaining  dramas  on  the 
Monogram  list  include  "Forgotten 
Women,"  "Klondike,"  "Isle  of  Hunt- 
ed Men,"  "The  Arm  of  the  Law," 
"The  Western  Limited,"  "Law  of  the 
Sea,"  "Police  Court,"  "The  Midnight 
Patrol,"  "The  Fatal  Alarm"  and  "In 
Line  of  Duty." 

Monogram  maintains  its  own  studios 
on  Sunset  Boulevard  in  Hollywood 
with  three  producing  units  in  work  at 
all  times.  Trem  Carr  is  head  of  pro- 
duction. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

For  "Buy  Right"  Move 

Exhibitors  of  New  York  State  and 
northern  New  Jersey  favor  the  "Buy 
Right — But  Buy  Now"  movement 
championed  by  Motion  Picture 
Daily,  it  is  shown  by  the  number  of 
contracts  closed  to  date  by  First  Divi- 
sion Exchanges,  Inc.,  headed  by 
Harry  H.  Thomas. 

A  number  of  circuit  deals  are  in- 
cluded in  the  group,  which  embraces 
all  classes  of  houses. 


Two  Pug  Films 

Two  price  fight  films  are  be- 
ing distributed  throughout  New 
York  State  by  First  Division 
Exchanges.  They  are  the 
Schmeling-Stribling  and  the 
Sharkey-Walker  films.  The  lat- 
ter is  playing  the  Hippodrome, 
New  York,  where  it  opened  yes- 
terday morning,  following  the 
l5-round  draiv  fought  the  night 
before. 


Friday,   July  24,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


^  Camera  Slant  on  Some  Thomas  Releases 


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Ti{}0  scenes  from  "Ship  of  Hate,"  first  of  Monogram's  28  in  which  Lloyd  Hughes  and  Dorothy  Sebastian  are  featured. 


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Tivo  scenes  from  "Night  Life   in  Reno,"  first   of  the  neiv  Artclass  releases.     Cast  includes   Virginia    J'alli,   Pat   O'Malley   and  others. 


"Women  Men  Marry"  is  the  first   of  Headline   Pictures'  four.     First  Division  handles   them       in   the  Nezif   York   territory. 


Scene  from  "The  Viking,"  another  on 
Harry    Thomas'  program. 


Scene  from  "Sherlock  Holmes'  Fatal  Hour,' 
also  a  Thomas  release. 


9  9 


Remarkable     because    Real!! 
A    Front   Page    News   Sensation 
The  First  All-talker  Produced  in 
the  Arctic 

Harold  B.  Franklin  opens  his  new 
Hollywood  Studio   Theatre  with    ''The  Viking 

And  this  master  showman  had  dozens  of  features  to  choose  from 

Max  Balaban  gives  it  2  weeks 
at  B  &  K  Roosevelt,  Chicago 

and  ENTIRE  B  &  K  PUBLIX  MIDWEST  CIRCUIT- 
AL^ here  is  the  way  his  big  newspaper  ads  read:  "Here,  Chicago,  is  drama  of  living  adventure! 
Here    is    Drama    of    the    Fighting    Spirit!      Here  is  Drama  of  a  most  magnificent  courage." 


I| 


BOOK  NOW  at  these  Offices 

NEW  ENGLAND 

American    Pictures,    Inc. 
14     Piedmont     Street 
Boston,    Mass. 
NEW  YORK  AND  NORTHERN  NEW  JERSEY 
First    Division    Pictures,    Inc. 
630    Ninth    Avenue 
Xew    York    City 
SOUTHERN     NEW     JERSEY,     EASTERN     PENN- 
SYLVANIA,  DELAWARE 

Masterpiece    Film    Attractions,    Inc. 
Phiakielphia,     Pa. 
DISTRICT    OF    COLUMBIA,    MARYLAND, 
VIRGINIA 
Trio    Productions,    Inc. 
Washington,    D.    C. 
ILLINOIS 

B.   N.   Judell,   Inc. 
Chicago,    111. 
INDIANA 

B.    N.   Judell,   Inc. 
Indianapolis,    Ind. 
MICHIGAN 

Graphic    Exchanges,    Inc. 
Film   Bldg..   Detroit,   Mich 
WISCONSIN,   NORTH  MICHIGAN 
B.    N.    Judell.    Inc. 
Milwaukee,    Wise. 
MINNESOTA,    N.    &    S.    DAKOTA,    WESTERN 
WISCONSIN 
Mark    Ross 
Minneapolis,    Minn. 
EASTERN   MISSOURI,  SOUTHERN   ILLINOIS 
B.    N.    Judell,    Inc. 
St.    Louis,    Mo. 
IOWA,  NEBRASKA 

Midwest    Film    Distributors 
Omaha,    Nebraska 
KANSAS,    WESTERN    MISSOURI 
Midwest    Film    Distributors 
Kansas    City,    Mo. 
TEXAS 

Syndicate    Picture   Co. 
Dallas.   Texas 
OKLAHOMA 

Syndicate    Pictures   Co. 
Oklahoma    Citv,    Okla. 
WESTERN  NEW  YORK 

First    Division    Pictures,    Inc. 
Buffalo,    New   York 
CENTRAL   NEW  YORK 

First    Division    Picture,    Inc. 
Albany.    New    York 
WESTERN    PENNSYLVANIA,   WEST   VIRGINIA 
Alexander   Film   Service 
Pittsburgh,    Pa. 
SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA    AND    ARIZONA 
Co-Operative   Film    Exchange 
Ix)s    Angeles,    California 
NORTHERN   CALIFORNIA,   NEVADA 
Co-Operative   Film    Exchange 
.San    Francisco,    California 
WASHINGTON,     OREGON,     NORTHERN     IDAHO, 
MONTANA 
P.    C.    Hurst   Co. 
Seattle,     Washington 
CANADA 

Columbia    Pictures  of   Canada,   Ltd. 
Toronto,    Montreal,     St.     Johns,     New     Brunswick, 
Winnipeg,    Calgary    and    Vancouver 
UNITED  KINGDOM 
Sterling    Film   Co. 
191    Wardour    St. 
London 


VARIETY  SAYS: 

IN  ITS  CINCINNATI  REPORT 


Keith  (Libson),  (1,600;  30-50)— "THE  VIKING"  (Ind.).  Ex- 
ceptional exploitation  for  this  house  may  draw  $4,500,  good. 
Last  week  "Lonely  Wives"  (Pathe)  dove  to  $2,000. 


THE  FILM  DAILY  SAYS: 

No  offering  this  season  has  come  anywhere  near  this  Varick 
Frissell  production,  "The  Viking,"  for  genuine  stark  beauty  and 
elemental  punch. 

N.  Y.  World -Telegram  ranks  it  one  of  TEN  BEST  of  the  year. 

Chicago  Daily  Times  ranks  it  one  of  its  DIAMOND  DOZEN  of 
the  year. 

Critics  of  New  York,  Boston,  Philadelphia  newspapers  urge 
their  readers  to  see  it.' 


<^€ 


Produced  by  VARICK  FRISSELL 
Directed  by  GEORGE  MELFORD 

This  is  the  picture  that  cost  the  lives  of  Varick 
Frissell  and  25  others  in  the  Sealer  Viking 
disaster. 

World's  Rights   Controlled  by 

J.  D.  WILLIAMS  and  ASSOCIATES 

11  W.  42nd  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y. 


A  NATIONAL  ORGANIZATION 

WITH  32  EXCHANGES  TO  SERVE  YOU 

NOW  BOOKING 

28  ACTION  Photoplays 

with 

Wesrem  EtecMc 
*:^!><s>-  NEW  ^<^>^:-^ 

PROCESS 


NOISELESS  RECORDING 


THE  FIRST  FIVE  NOW  AVAILABLE 
IN    32    BRANCH    OFFICES 


a 


MOTHER  AND  SON" 

WITH 

CLARA  KIMBALL  YOUNG 

BRUCE    WARREN,    MILDRED    GOLDEN, 

ERNEST  MILLIARD,  JOHN  ELLIOTT 


"SHIPS  OF  HATE" 

WITH 

LLOYD  HUGHES,  DOROTHY  SEBASTIAN, 
CHARLES  MIDDLETON 


"DUGAN  OF  THE  BADLANDS" 


WITH 

BILL  CODY,  ANDY  SHUFORD, 
BLANCHE  MEHAFFEY 


"PARTNERS  OF  THE  TRAIL"      "THE  MONTANA  KID" 


WITH 
TOM  TYLER  and  BETTY  MARA 


WITH 

BILL  CODY,  ANDY  SHUFORD,  PAUL  PANZEN 


TEN  MORE  MIGHTY  MELODRAMAS  TO  FOLLOW: 

"ISLE  OF  HUNTED  MEN"  "IN  LINE  OF  DUTY" 

"FORGOTTEN  WOMEN"  "THE  WESTERN  LIMITED^' 

"THE  ARM  OF  THE  LAW"  "THE  MIDNIGHT  PATROL" 

"THE  LAW  OF  THE  SEA"  "KLONDIKE" 

"POLICE  COURT"  "THE  FATAL  ALARM" 

THERE  WILL  BE  8  TOM  TYLER  WESTERN  CLASSICS  AND 
8  BILL  CODY-ANDY  SHUFORD  "BILL  AND  ANDY  WESTERNS" 

THE  ONLY  ALL-ACTION  PROGRAM  FOR  1931-32 

NOW  BOOKING  at  32  MONOGRAM  EXCHANGES 


630   Ninth   Avenue,   New   York 

56   Piedmont   Street,  Boston 

1046   Broadway,  Albany 

505    Pearl   Street,   Buffalo 

610  Film   Exchange  Bldgr-,  Detroit 

1701    Boulevard  of  the  Allies,   Pittsburgh 

Mather    Building,    Washington 

1516  Davenport   St.,  Omaha 

1928    S.    Vermont    Ave.,    Los    Angeles 

221  West  18th  Street,  Kansas  City 

Film    Building,   Cleveland 


404  No.   Illinois  St.,  Indianapolis 

252  E.  First  South  St.,  Salt  Lake  City 

151   Granite  St.,  Butte 

505  West  4th  Street,  Charlotte 

154    Walton   Street,   Atlanta 

714  Twiggs   St.,  Tampa 

529  N.  18th   St.,   Birmingham 

1239  Vine   Street,   Philadelphia 

1001    Perdido    Street,    New   Orleans 

Film   Exchange  BIdg.,  Dallas 


1632  Central  Parkway,  Cincinnati 

623    W.   Grand   Street,   Oklahoma   City 

3214  Olive  Street,  St.  Louis 

1304  South   Wabash  Ave.,  Chicago 

2075   Broadway,   Denver 

462  Glisan  St.,  Portland 

2418  Second  Ave..  Seattle 

284  Turk   St.,   San   Francisco 

641    No.   Seventh   St.,   Milwaukee 

279   Victoria   Street,   Toronto 

1255  University  St.,  Montreal 


NEW  YORK  EXHIBITORS  COMMUNICATE  WITH  FIRST  DIVISION  PICTURES,  INC. 


HELD  OVER  3.  BIG  WEEK 

WARNER  THEATRE-AND  BREAKING  RECORDS!! 


BOOKED  INTO 

Rli.0,   Loe^^^s  And  c^wevy 
■mportiint:  circuit  in   America 


SELECTED  BV 
THE  PRESS  AS 
THE  BEST  PICTURI 
OE  THE  MONTH 


SHEItLOCK 


OLMES' 


FATAL 


HOUR 


BASED  ON  THE  "EMPTY  HOUSE"  AND  THE  "FINAL  PROBLEM" 

BY  SIR  ARTHUR  CONAN  DOYLE 

READ  BY  MILLIONS: 
THE  WORLD'S  GREATEST  DETECTIVE 

Buffalo,  Albany  and   Qreater  New  York  Territory 
FIRST  DIVISION  EXCHANGES,  INC.,        630  Ninth  Ave.,  New  York  City 

HARRY  H.  THOMAS,  President 


National   rights   controlled   by    Harry    H.    Thomas.      Write,    wire   or   phone    for    your   territory. 


15  SMASHING  ROUNDS 

TO  A  DRAW 
Now  Ready 

EXCLUSIVE  OFFICIAL  MOTION  PICTURES 

OF  THE 

mickeyWALKER 

jackSHARKEY 

FIRST  ALL-TALKING  FIGHT  PICTURE 

ROUND  BY  ROUND  DESCRIPTION 

NEVER  IN  PUGILISTIC  HISTORY 
HAVE  THERE  BEEN  TWO  AMERICAN 
HEAVYWEIGHT       CHAMPIONS 

ALL    EXPERTS    HAVE    GONE    NUTS! 

MOST  INTENSELY   DISCUSSED  EVENT  IN  SPORTING  HISTORY 

NOW  PLAYING  DAY  AND  DATE 
RKO  CIRCUIT -NEW  YORK   STATE   ONLY 


FIRST  DIVISION  EXCHANGES,  IiiCm  630  Ninth  A  ve.<,  New  York  City 

HARRY  H.  THOMAS,  President 


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By   EDGAR    WALLACE 

who  wrote  "ON  THE  SPOT' 


Gripping  ! 
Dynamic  ! 


BUILDERS  V>*:??^:^J%^^\ 

OF  RODlEmMmgMBmi-\  interesting  ! 


or 


WRECKERS 
OF    SOULS 


WHAT  GOES  ON 
BEHIND  THE  SHAD- 
ED  DOOR  OF  A 
PHYSICIAN'S  CON- 
SULTING    ROOM? 


Distributed  in 

ALBANY  —  BUFFALO  and 
GREATER  NEW  YORK 


FIRST   DIVISION   PICTURES 


INCORPORATED 


HARRY  H.  THOMAS,  Pres. 

630    NINTH    AVE. 


N.    Y.    C. 


A  GENUINE  CLEANUP 
for  EXCHANGEMEN  and  EXHIBITORS 

PICTURES  WORTHY  OF  FIRST  RUN  SHOWINGS  EVERYWHERE 
AVAILABLE    AT    ALL    LEADING    INDEPENDENT    EXCHANGES 

BOX  OFFICE  NAMES  IN  EVERY  PICTURE 

Now  Ready 

"NIGHT  LIFE  IN  RENO" 

The  Sensational  Expose  of  the  Private  Lives  of  the 
Rich  in  America's  Divorce  Playground 


—  with 


VIRGINIA  VALLI 

DOROTHY  CHRISTY 
ARTHUR  HOUSMAN 
DIXIE  LEE 


JAMESON  THOMAS 

CARMELITA  GERAGHTY 
CLARENCE  WILSON 
PAT  O'MALLEY 


Directed  by  Ray  Cannon 

R.  C.  A.  PHOTO  PHONE  RECORDING 
EVERY  TITLE  A  BOX  OFFICE  MAQNET 


1^^ 


HARRY  CAREY 

Star  of  "Trader  Horn"  in  a  Series  of 

SPECIAL  WESTERN  FEATURES 

Chock  Full  of  Action  and  Speed 


National  Distributors 
WEISS  BROS. 

ARTCLASS    PICTURES    CORPORATION 


»hone  BRyant  9-3169 


729  SEVENTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK 


Cables  Weisspict,  N.  Y. 


''MEETING    THE    RESPONSIBILITIES   OF  LEA DERSHIP" 


Powerful!  Gripping!  Tensely  Dramatic! 


HEADLINE  ^%  -  -, 

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ONE  WEEK  AT 
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O^  Daring 

Afoderti  Drama 

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JAUUV    DLANE 

NATALIE  MOOWHEAD 

KENNETH  HARLAN 

R.    C.    A. 

RECORDING 


Distf-ibuted  in 

GREATET?  M.y 

and 
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By  -FI-RJ^T 
DlVlsTlON  PiCTUPCy 
650   NlNT+^  AV.  NYC 


WO"RUD'X    T^tGflTJ"  CONTT^OLL-ED  By 

H  E  AD  LINE     PI  CTUR  EJ  Ccp. 

729     ^^EvE:NTf^  avekiug:        n.y  c. 


A  First  Division  Release 


Friday,  July  24,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


13 


^Black  Camer 
Cincy  Leader 
With  $24,923 


Total  $73,226  for  7  Theatres 


Cincinnati  —  Although  not  all 
houses  showed  plus  average,  and  some 
failed  to  reach  par,  business  as  a  whole 
went  comfortably  over  the  top  this 
week  when  figured  on  the  basis  of  ag- 
gregate averages.  This  is  signicant, 
particularly  in  view  of  the  intense  heat 
which  reached  the  year's  record  dur- 
ing the  week  when  official  thermome- 
ter readings  indicated  over  100.  The 
refrigerated  show  shops  were  a  haven 
of  refuge  from  the  blistering  rays. 

The  RKO  Albee  maintained  its  po- 
sition of  leadership  by  turning  in 
$2,923  more  than  normal  on  a  gross 
of  $24,923  with  "The  Black  Camel" 
and  Fifi  D'Orsay  on  the  screen  and 
stage,  respectively. 

"Daddy  Long  Legs,"  after  hitting  a 
high  mark  on  its  first  showing  re- 
cently, again  wowed  'em  on  second 
run  at  RKO  Strand,  where  it  piled  up 
$5,508,  which  is  $2,008  over  the  line. 
RKO  Family  had  nice  gains  on  split 
week  booking  of  "Mothers  Cry"  and 
"The  Vice  Squad"  (second  run),  and 
Keith's  went  slightly  better  than  av- 
erage with  "The  Viking,"  the  first  in- 
dependent picture  to  play  this  house  in 
years.    Otherwise,   business   Was    fair. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  17  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"THE   VIKING"    (State   Righte) 

KEITH'S— (1,600)  30c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,850.       (Average,   $4,500.) 

"THE    BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 
RKO    ALBEE— (3,300)     55c-50c-65c-75c,    7 
days.   Vaudeville   with   Fifi   D'Orsay.   C>ross: 
$24,923.      (Average,  $22,000.) 

"I   TAKE   THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 
RKO   CAPITOI^(2,000),   30c-S0c,   7   days. 
Gross:    $10,730.       (Average,   $13,000.) 
"MOTHERS    CRY"    (F.    N.) 
RKO     FAMILY— (1,140),     20c-25c-35c,      4 
days.     Gross:  $2,572.      (Average,   $1,950.) 
"VICE   SQUAD"    (Para.) 
RKO     FAMILY— (1,140),     a0c-25c-35c,     3 
days,  second  run.     Gross:  $1,385.     (Average, 
$1,050.) 

"THE   NIGHT  ANGEL"    (Para.) 
RKO     LYRIC— (1,400),     30c-50c,     7     days 
plus     Saturday     midViight     show.         Gross: 
$11,167.      (Average,  $12,000.) 
"CONFESSIONS  OF  A  COED"  (Para.) 
RKO    PALACE— (2,700),    30c-50c,    7    days 
plus      Saturday      midnight      show.      Gross: 
$12,091.      (Average,  $14,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
RKO   STRAND— (1,350),    25c-40c,    7    days, 
second      run.         Gross:      $5,5C^.      (Average, 
$3,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Astralian  Union 

Chain  in  Bad  Spot 

(.Continued  from  page    1) 

Union  in  the  matter  of  rentals,  and 
this  has  aroused  the  anger  of  the 
10,000  stockholders  who  feel  that 
high  rentals  are  the  main  cause  of 
the   trouble. 

Stockholders  feel  that  lease  of  the 
circuit  to  Fox  or  Paramount  will 
leave  them  holding  the  bag.  Fox  now 
has  an  interest  in  Hoyts.  It  is  con- 
sidered improbable  that  either  of  the 
American  firms  would  make  a  deal 
which  would  do  aught  but  appease 
the  bankers,  due  to  alleged  overcapi- 
talization of  Union.  The  existing 
anti-American  sentiment  is  not  help- 
ing matters  any. 


'^Sweepstakes" 

Is  Winner  of 

Portland  Race 


Total  $42,200  for  5  Theatres 


Portland  —  "Sweepstakes"  swept 
everything  before,  it  this  week  "and 
won  the  race  by  a  wide  margin — $5,- 
OOO.  That  represented  the  overage 
for  the  house,  normal  being  $8,000 
and  the  gross,  $13,000.  "Black 
Camel"  did  nicely  at  the  Paramount, 
taking  in  $14,700  against  an  average 
of  $12,000.  And  these  records  were 
made  in  the  face  of   intense  heat. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  22  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"NIGHT    ANGEL"     (Para.) 
FOX     BROADWAY— (1,912),     25c-50c,     6 
days.     Gross:  $6,900.     (Average,  $5,000.) 
"FIVE  AND   TEN"    (M-G-M) 
FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    3    days. 
Gross:  $1,400.      (Average  for   week,   $4,000.) 
"THEIR    MAD    MOMENT"    (Fox) 
FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    4    davs. 
Gross:  $1,700.     (Average  for  week,  $4,000.) 
"NIGHT  NURSE"    (Warners) 
HAMRICK'S  MUSIC  BOX— (1,800),  25c,  7 
days.     Gross:  $4,500.      (Average,   $4,000.) 
"BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,068),     25c-60c,     7    days. 
F.   &  M.   "Vacation  Days."     Gross:   $14,700. 
(Average,    $12,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"  (RKO  Pathe) 
RKO  ORPHEUM— (1,700),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaude.     Gross:  $13,000.     (Average,  $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

That  Smile  of 
Maurice  Good 
Denver  Draw 


Total  $49,000  for  5  Theatres 


Denver — Maurice  Chevalier  smiled 
his  way  to  a  gross  of  $16,000  at  the 
Paramount,  the  grins  being  worth 
$5,000  more  than  the  average  take  of 
$11,000.  It  was  the  highest  take  the 
Paramount  has  had  in  months.  "The 
Secret  Call"  went  slightly  over  at  the 
Denver,  the  figures  being  $15,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  weeik 
ending  July  23  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"THE  SECRET  CALL"  (Para.) 

DENVER— (2,300),  25c-35c-65c,  8  days. 
Fanchon  &  Marco  "Sketches"  Idea.  Fred 
Schmitt  and  Denver  orchestra.  Gross: 
$15,500,     (Average,    $15,000.) 

"SMART    MONEY"    (Warners) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1,500),  3Sc- 
50c-75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average, 
$7  000  ) 

"MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 

HUFFMAN'S  TABOR— (1,900),  25c-35c-- 
50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average,  $10.- 
000.) 

"THE   SMILING  LIEUTENANT"   (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT    —    (2,000),    25c-35c-S0c,    7 
days.       Gross:    $16,000.       (Average,    $11,000.) 
"WHITE  SHOULDEJtS"   (Radio) 

RIALTO— (1,040),  25c-3'5c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,500.      (Average,   $3,750.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Wash.  Exchangeman  Dies 

Portland — Percy  C.  Heist,  45, 
well  known  film  distributor  here  for 
the  last  ten  years,  died  at  the  Monti- 
cello  Hotel,  Long  Beach,  Wash.,  fol- 
lowing a  heart  attack.  He  is  survived 
by  a  widow  and  two  children. 


"Miracle  Woman" 

(Columbia) 

A  bold  theme  is  this  one.  It 
always  takes  courage  to  make 
a  picture  with  a  religious 
theme  and  more  than  courage 
when  that  theme  dips  into  the 
realms   of   the   pseudo-religious. 

In  "The  Miracle  Woman," 
Barbara  Stanwyck  turns  sour 
on  her  faith  because  hypo- 
critical parishioners  discharge 
her  pastor-father  and  cause  his 
death.  Caught  in  the  back- 
wash of  her  emotions  by  Pro- 
moter Sam  Hardy,  she  develops 
into  a  fake  revivalist  and  turns 
her  meetings  into  a  commercial 
institution  of  considerable  pro- 
portions until  love,  as  you 
might  suspect,  comes  her  way. 
With  that,  the  desire  to  drop 
the  sham  bests  her  and  eventu- 
ally  she   does. 

This  looks  like  a  real  money 
picture.  Also  one  that  may 
throw  up  some  obstacles  for 
itself.  Frank  Capra's  treat- 
ment of  the  religious  morons 
often  waxes  sardonic  and  when 
it  isn't  that,  it  is  satirical. 
Miss  Stanwyck  here  probably 
does  her  best  work,  her  dra- 
matic crescendos  in  the  smash 
opening  scene  providing  a  few 
minutes  that  will  create  talk. 
David  Manners,  as  the  male 
lead,  and  Hardy,  as  the  heavy, 
are   excellent. 

K  A  N  N 


One  Man  in  Booth 
Asked  in  "Cincy" 

(.Continued  from  page    1) 

are  being  looked  after  by  Province 
M.  Pogue,  attorney,  with  Harry 
Schwartz,  president,  and  William  C. 
Hahn,  business  manager.  Motion  Pic- 
ture Operators'  Local  No.  165. 

Suburban  and  subsequent  run  ex- 
hibitors intend  to  hold  out  for  one 
operator  in  the  booth  instead  of  two 
as  now  required  under  the  union  con- 
tract which  expires  August  31 ;  other- 
wise, many  exhibitors  contend,  they 
can  not  make  the  grade. 

Operators  in  suburban  houses  now 
receive  a  wage  scale  ranging  from 
$1.37J^  an  hour  to  $2  an  hour,  ac- 
cording to  seating  capacity,  based  on 
a  40-hour  week,  although  the  actual 
working  time  is  considerably  less 
since  suburban  houses  are  open  only 
in  the  evenings. 

Downtown  houses  are  not  included 
in  the  pending  negotiations. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Clarke  Gets  Chi  Post 

Chicago — John  J.  Clarke,  former 
Chicago  branch  manager  for  Pathe, 
and  more  recently  with  Columbia's 
Milwaukee  office,  has  been  named 
Chicago  branch  manager  of  Talking 
Picture  Epics  by  Tom  North,  district 
manager.  Fred  A.  Mindlin,  former 
(ihicago  and  New  York  theatre  man, 
has  been  appointed  Milwaukee  branch 
manager  by  North. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'Common  Law'  Holdovers 

"The  Common  Law,"  RKO  Pathe's 
latest  Constance  Bennett  starring 
vehicle,  which  broke  records  over  the 
last  week-end  in  New  York,  Brook- 
lyn and  Atlantic  City,  is  being  held 
over  for  a  second  week  in  these  first- 
run  situations.  Today  is  national  re- 
lease day  for  the  picture. 


Nathanson  in 
New  Attack  on 
Probe  Report 


(Continued   from   page    1) 

Nathanson  replies :  "At  no  time  was 
I  asked  to  appear  before  the  com- 
missioner to  give  evidence  or  explain 
the  many  details  and  transactions 
regardless  of  the  fact  that  the  com- 
pany chiefly  under  investigation  had 
been  organized  and  developed  under 
my  management.  May  I  point  out 
that  Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp. 
was  not  under  control  of  Paramount 
Publix  Corp.  until  they  had  secured 
the  shares  last  year? 

"No  one  knows  better  than  Mr.  Killam 
that  control  of  the  company  was  main- 
tained and  kept  in  Canada  by  byself,  re- 
gardless of  the  fact  that  some  of  my  as- 
sociates had  disposed  of  their  interest  sto 
Mr.  Zukor  in  1925.  I  have  received  many 
expressions  of  commendation  from  Mr. 
Killam  in  the  past  for  the  action  I  took  at 
the  time  to  protect  Mr.  Killam's  interest 
and  that  of  the  shareholders  in  prevent- 
ing the  company  going  into  American 
hands. 

"There  are  a  number  of  question's  which 
the  shareholders  might  properly  ask  Mr. 
Killam  and  the  other  Canadian  directors 
as  to  refusing,  first,  to  consider  the  offer 
from  a  British  company  which,  they 
claimed,  was  partially  controlled  by  Amer- 
ican interests  (which  later  was  proven  not 
to  be  so  controlled),  and  then  approving  an 
offer  from  a  wholly-owned  American'  com- 
pany  on   an  ecxhange   of  shares. 

"The  responsibility  for  the  present  po- 
sition of  the  shareholders  must  rest  with 
Mr.  Killam  and  those  Canadian  directors 
who  refused  to  permit  these  shareholders 
to  voice  their  onjriion  on  the  sale  of  their 
shares  to  a  British  company  and  who  lat- 
er, with  their  approval,  made  possible  the 
exchange  of  shares  with  the  American 
compan'y."    i  ,.        '/ 

Nathanson  asserted  he  had  been 
very  proud  of  the  progress  of  the 
company  from  the  original  start  in 
1916  at  Toronto  to  its  development 
into  the  largest  chain  of  theatres  in 
Canada  "and  oj  the  loyalty  and  esteem 
of  the  employes  of  the  company  to 
whom  great^'«credit  must  be  due  for 
its  large  S&veJopnient."  Nathanson 
added : 

"I  know  of  n6'  acts,  of  the  company,  its 
employes  or  myself  which  were,  in  my  opin- 
ion, not  equitable  and  in  the  interests  of 
the  company  and  its  shareholders  and  also 
in  the  interests  of  th^  theatre-going  public 
of  Canada.  I  \vish  also  to  state  that,  at 
no  time,  was  there  arty  difference  of  opin- 
ion am<mg  the  directors  and  those  asso- 
ciated with  me  in  thf  management  in  re- 
gard to  the  corBpanj^'s  policy  or  any  of 
its  transactions,  nor  was  there  any  ac- 
tion taken  that  did,  not  have  the  full  ap- 
proval and  krio*ledge  of  the  directors  ol 
the   company. 

"I  wish  to  point  out  to  Mr.  White  that 
modern  theatres  were  erected  by  the  com- 
pany, giving  entertainment  to  the  theatre- 
goers of  Canada  at  the  lowest  ad'mission 
prices  in  keeping  with  the  quality  of  en- 
tertainment; that,  in  the  large  centres  par- 
ticularly, the  admissiOrr  prices  were  25  to 
40  per  cent  lower  than  in  corresponding 
American  cities,  and  that  the  theatre- going 
public  of  Canada  -■always  received  every 
possible   advantage   fr6m   the  company. 

"I  differ  from  Mr.  White's  statement 
in  which  he  say*  that  under  the  present 
management  there  is  a  greater  regard  for 
the  independent  exhibitors  and  the  public 
interest.  This  statement  is  contrary  to 
fact." 


Flag  Waving 

Sydney — ^The  strong  anti- 
American  feeling  in  Australia 
is  hurting  "Abraham  Lin- 
coln." The  picture  is  a  flop 
here,  although  those  who  see 
it  like  it.  However  mere 
handfuls  of  patrons  are  at- 
tending. 


cm 

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a 


victor  over 
adversity 


R.  ADOLPH  ZUKOK'S 
three  decades  of  success  in  the  in- 
dustry of  the  motion  picture  are  an 
evidence  of  the  justification  of  faith 
in  this  industry  and  assurance  of  the 
response  of  an  amusement  seeking 
public  adequately  served.  He  had 
his  bad  breaks  and  tough  times. 
"Queen  Elizabeth,"  the  picture 
which  awakened  the  dawn  of  mod- 
ern screen  history,  was  a  roadshow 
disaster.  He  had  strife  and  fires  and 
lawsuits.  He  was  beset  by  hard 
times,  hard  bankers  and  hard  luck. 
He  thought  about  retiring  with  a 
single  million  once,  when  things 
looked  bad.  He  stayed  and  won. 
He  never  faltered,  never  quit.  He 
believes  in  the  motion  picture  and 
its  tomorrow. 


This  advertisement 
is  the  fifth  of 
a  series  on 
success  in  the 
picture  industry 


cm 
em 

cm 
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all  in 
your  hat 


tJ^^jJj  Dad,  Mother  and  the  Kids  are  approaching  the  box  office. 

It  is  a  big  moment  in  the  world  of  the  motion  picture.  A 
sale  is  about  to  be  consummated.  That  is  all  that  the  busi- 
ness is  for.  If  it  happens  often  enough  business  is  good.  It 
has  to  happen  several  million  times  a  day  in  these  United 

iJ^/fj  States,  or  business  is  not  so  good. 

Now  what  does  this  sale  leading  up  to  this  box  office  moment  consist 
of?  The  answer  is  "a  sequence  of  states  of  mind."  Selling  motion  picture 
entertainment  involves  the  most  intangible  merchandise  in  the  world. 
That  merchandise  consists  only  in  the  opinion  and  state  of  mind  of  the 
motion  picture  exhibitor  about  that  state  of  mind  and  anticipation  which 
he  can  create  in  a  potential  audience  for  a  showing  of  a  set  of  shadows 
which  are  to  be  rented  to  him  at  some  future  date.  That,  we  submit,  is 
the  lightest,  thinnest  and  most  delicate  fabric  of  merchandise  in  the  world. 
It  consists  of  nothing  at  all  but  selling,  selling,  selling. 

True,  that  selling  has  to  be  based  on  something  that  does  not  deliver 
^^fr\  disappointment,  but  it  is  the  selling  that  is  bought  and  sold. 

And  that  is  why  the  great  Hollywood  community  is  only  a  part  of 

Cj^JvLj  the  truly  creative  machinery  of  artistry  in  the  motion  picture.     The  sell- 

^      _  ing,  that  intangible  essence  of  success,  that  priceless  ingredient  which  has 

CJv^>>J  neither  weight  nor  width  or  thickness  or  other  dimension,  is  put  into  the 

product   by   the    sum    total    of    the    activities    of    the    selling    organization, 

whether  it  be  in  the  promise  of  the  salesman  or  the  luring,  blandishing 

words  of  the  press  agent  and  the  advertising  writer. 

But  mostly  the  repute,  the  anticipation,  the  real  merchandise  quality, 
of  a  motion  picture  is  created  only  by  words,  long  before  the  shadows 
reach  the  screen  of  delivery.  It  is  that  priceless  ingredient  that  is  bought 
before  the  film.  It  is  the  valuable  part  of  the  picture  that  no  studio  can 
pack  in  the  film  can.    It  has  to  be  made  by  selling  and  of  selling. 


CDLVIN    BROWN 

General  Manager 
Quigley  Publications 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 
THE  HOLLYWOOD  HERALD 


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S  A  LLY 

O'NEIL 

ALLAN  DINEHART 
FRANK  ALBERTSON 
WILLIAM  COLLIER,  Sr. 
VIRGINIA  CHERRILL 
JUNE  COLLYER 

From  (Slay  by  Maude  Fulton 
Dialog  Direction  by  William  Collier,  Sr. 
Directed      by      JOHN       FORD 


HITTIN6  A  HOT  PACE 


cms 


neui  jefljon 
neuu  HITS 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30,  NO.  47 


NEW    YORK,    SATURDAY,    JULY    25,    1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Unions  Stand 
Pat;  Get  Air  in 
Indianapolis 

Drop    Vaude   and   Stage 
Shows;  35  Out  of  Work 


Indianapolis — -There  will  be  no 
more  stage  shows  or  vaudeville  in 
Indianapolis  after  August  1.  At  that 
time  the  contracts  between  the  thea- 
tres and  musicians  will  expire  and 
they  will  not  be  renewed. 

The  notices  for  the  musicians  and 
stagehands  at  the  Lyric  and  Indiana 
have  been  posted.  The  Lyric  uses 
seven  men  in  the  orchestra  and  the 
Indiana  15.  Including  the  stage  hands, 
this  throws  between  30  and  35  men 
out  of  work. 

The  union  refused  to  arbitrate  when 
the  theatres  asked  it  to  accept  a  cut 
in  the  $80  a  week  scale.  The  theatres 
were  willing  to  try  to  reach  an  agree- 
ment. 

The  Lyric  has  RKO  vaudeville  and 
the    Indiana    has    been    using    Publix 

(Continued   on   page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Para,  Ad  Splash  to 
Mark  Birthday  Party 

Paramount  gets  its  20th  Birthday 
Jubilee  under  way  next  month  via  a 
newspaper  advertisinsr  campaign  that 
calls  for  380,400  lines  to  appear  in 
317  newspapers  in  147  cities.  The 
first  copy  will  concern  itself  with  gen- 
eral release  of  "The  Smiling  Lieuten- 
ant." Each  piece  of  copy  will  run 
over  1,200  lines  and  will  tie  in  not  only 
the  Chevalier  picture  but  others  on 
the  company's  forthcoming  schedule 
as  well. 

In  September,  Paramount  will  fol- 
low through  with  another  big  cam- 
paign dealing  with  Paramount  Jubilee 
Month.  These  ads  will  be  eight  by 
nine  inches  each  and  will  be  institu- 
tional in  character  with  space  for  in- 
dividual theatres  to  advertise  their  at- 
tractions over  the  four  week  period. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ameranglo  Settles 
Suit  Against  Liberty 

Out-of-court  settlement  of  the  ac- 
tion of  Ameranglo  Corp.,  against  Lib- 
erty Productions  has  been  offered  with 
Ameranglo  receiving  about  $8,000.  The 
action  charged  breach  of  contract  un- 
der terms  of  which  Ameranglo  was 
agent  in  sale  of  foreign  rights  of 
"Mother's  Millions."  The  suit  was 
started  when  Liberty  sold  world 
rights  to  Universal  and  property  in 
possession  of  Universal,  Paramount 
and  Consolidated  Film  Industries  was 
attached.  Fitelson,  Lerman  &  Mayer 
were   attorneys    for   Ameranglo. 


Looking  'Em  Over 

Caught  in  Hollywood  and 
published  today  on  page  4. 

"Cougar,"  "Smart  Women," 
"The  Homicide  Squad,"  "Si- 
lence" and  "The  Road  to  Singa- 
pore." 

Caught   in   New   York: 

"The  Magnificent  Lie"  and 
"A  Jew  at  War." 


"U"  Circuit 
Endorses  "Buy 
Now"  Policy 

Universal  Theatre  Circuit  "heartily 
endorses"  the  "Buy  Right — But  Buy 
Now"  movement  championed  by  Mo- 
tion Picture  Daily,  declares  Harry 
Rathner,  general  manager  of  the  firm. 
Rathner  stated  before  leaving  last 
night  for  Winnipeg  that  he  plans  a 
swing     around     Middle     West     keys 

(Continued    on   page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warner  StudioForce 
Takes  Salary  Cuts 

Hollywood— Salary  cuts  of  from  5 
to  25  per  cent  have  been  put  into  ef- 
fect at  the  Warner  First  National 
studio.  About  235  persons  are  af- 
fected. A  similar  cut  was  made  in 
the  East  eight  weeks  ago. 

"Some  of  the  contract  players,  with- 
out suggestion  from  the  studio,  have 
volunteered  to  accept  a  cut  in  view  of 
their  idleness  during  the  lull  in  pro- 
duction," one  official  said. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Federal  Checking  to 
Open  Four  Branches 

Chicago — Expansion  of  Federal 
Checking  Service,  headed  by  Harry 
Ross,  is  under  way.  The  company 
this  rnonth  plans  to  open  new  offices 
in  Minneapolis  and  Des  Moines  and 
is  considering  branches  in  Atlanta  and 
Charlotte. 


SELLING  SPURTS 
IN  CHICAGO  ZONE 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


The  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 
movement  gained  the  support  of  the 
Robb  and  Rowley  circuit,  which  has 
signed  contracts  with  J.  R.  Grainger 
of  Fox  to  show  48  Fox  features,  the 
entire  output  of  the  company  for  1931- 
1932,  in  theatres  in  19  cities  in  Okla- 
homa and  Texas. 

Another  circuit  signed  by  Grainger 
is  Maine  and  New  Hampshire 
Theatres  Co.,  operating  in  16  New 
England  cities  and  towns.  W.  A. 
Sullivan  represented  the  circuit,  which 
is  in  these  towns : 

Auburn,  Auburn,  Me. ;  Empire  and 
Strand,  Lewiston,  Me. ;  Colonial  or  New, 
Augusta,  Me.;  Albert  or  Princess,  Berlin, 
N.  H. ;  Majestic  or  New,  Burlington,  Vt. ; 
Cumberland*,  Brunswick,  Me. ;  Capitol  or 
Star,  Concord,  N.  H.;  Fitchburg  and 
Shea's  Lyric,  Fitchburg,  Mass.;  Opera, 
Gardiner,  Me. ;  Dreamland,  Livermore 
Falls,  Me. ;  Bijou,  Wilton,  Me. ;  Playhouse, 
Montpelier,  Vt. ;  Rex,  Norway,  Me. ; 
Savoy,  South  Paris,  Me. ;  Olympia  or 
Colonial,  Portsmouth,  N.  H. ;  Strand,  R.um- 
ford.    Me. 

In  a  third  deal,  this  one  with  St. 
Louis  Amusement  Co.,  the  entire  Fox 
line-up  plays  that  circuit's  of  23  the- 
atres, most  of  which  are  in  St.  Louis. 
The  string : 

Shenandoah,  Tivoli,  Pageant,  Novelty, 
Moffett,  Mikado,  Manchester,  Lindell,  La- 
fayette, Hi-Pointe,  Gravois,  Grand-Floris- 
sant. Granada,  Downtown-Lyric,  Congress, 
Columbia,  Capitol,  Arsenal,  Union  or  West 
End  Lyric,  Shaw  and  Aubert  in  St.  Louis; 
Washington,  Granite  City;  and  Maplewood 
or    Powhattan,    Maplewood'. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Vitaphone  Resuming 
Work  in  Brooklyn 

With  a  number  of  changes  and  im- 
provements completed,  the  Vitaphone 
Brooklyn  studio  resumes  production 
Monday  with  "Lucky  13"  the  initial 
picture  on  the  schedule.  This  will  be 
followed  by  the  S.  S.  Van  Dine  series 
of  mystery  stories  to  be  released  as 
two  reelers. 


Publix^  Enthused^  Pins  Its 
Faith  on  New  Season  Films 


There  is  an  air  of  confidence  per- 
meating the  Publix  organization  and 
it  revolves  around  the  first  crop  of 
new  season  pictures.  Sam  Dembow, 
Jr.,  has  advised  his  men  in  the  field 
that  it  looks  like  a  real  fall. 

"It  seems  to  be  the  unanimous  opin- 
ion of  everyone  here  that  if  the  pro- 
ducers of  all  companies  had  held  back 


the  cream  of  their  product  for  the 
beginning  of  the  season,  they  could 
not  have  presented  a  stronger  line-up 
of  box-office  pictures  than  those 
booked  for  our  theatres  during  Aug- 
ust and  September,"  declares  Dem- 
bow. 
Close  on   Dembow's  heels   is  Leon 

(Continued   on  page   2) 


Exhibitors  Fall  in  Line 
Behind  **Buy  Now"  Move 


Chicago — Selling  in  Chicago  is 
finally  getting  under  way,  although 
country  buying,  which  was  first  to 
attain  volume  here  this  season,  con- 
tinues to  be  more  active  than  in  the 
metropolitan  area,  a  survey  of  ex- 
changes reveals. 

Warner-First  National  exchange 
reports  numerous  city  deals  closed 
and  is  ahead  of  its  last  year's  record 
on  country  sales  for  the  same  period. 
Carl  Lesserman,  district  manager,  is 
here  from  the  home  office  to  aid  in 
closing  several  important  metropoli- 
tan contracts,  and  the  company's  deal 
with  Publix-Balaban  &  Katz  is  re- 
ported to  be  just  about  set. 

Paramount  reports  a  good  volume 
of  country  sales  and  a  marked  in- 
crease in  city  deals,  with  several  im- 
portant ones  ready  for  signing.  Para- 
mount's  deal  with  an  independent 
buying  circuit  is  reported  near  an 
agreement,  with  signing  expected 
within  the  next  week  or  two. 

RKO  Pathe  has  arrived  at  terms 
with   Publix-Balaban  &  Katz  on  sub- 

(Continued   on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Holds  Right 
To  Co-Star  at  Will 

FIoLLYwooD  —  M-G-M,  it  is  under- 
stood, is  adding  a  new  clause  in  all 
new  starring  contracts  providing  that 
any  player  on  the  lot  can  be  co- 
starred  if  the  studio  sees  fit. 

First  under  this  arrangement  is  re- 
ported to  be  "Mati  Hari"  in  which 
Greta  Garbo  and  Ramon  Novarro  will 
get  equal  billing.  George  Fitzmau- 
rice  will  direct,  production  getting  un- 
der way  Monday. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

RKO  Pathe  SoundMen 
Strike;  Work  Goes  On 

Hollywood — Sound  men  on  the 
RKO  Pathe  lot  are  on  strike  in  pro- 
test over  wage  cuts.  Production, 
however,  has  not  been  halted  since 
electricians  are  allowed  to  run  sound 
devices  unless  their  union  interferes 
which  it  has  not  so  far. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  to  See  Books 
Of  Mitchell  Camera 

Wilmington — WilliaVn  Fox  has  se- 
cured an  order  permitting  him  to  ex- 
amine books  of  the  Mitchell  Camera 
Corp.  of  Hollywood.  Fox  has  about 
15,000  of  the  200,000  shares  of  the 
company. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,   July  25,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Kegistered   U.   S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Revitw 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


July    25,    1931 


No.   47 


Martin    Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^NfV  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
^  J|  J    and     holidays,     by     Motion     Picture 

^         Daily,    Inc.,   a   Quigley   Publication, 

at      1790      Broadway,     New      York. 

Telephone:     Circle   7-3100.     Cable    address: 

"Qui^pubco,     hew      York."      AH     contents 

copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscooe^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.  .Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Consolidated  S-Mos, 
Net  Is  Cut  In  Half 

Consolidated  Film  Industries,  Inc., 
reports  a  net  of  $285,901  for  the  three 
nionths  to  June  30,  as  compared  with 
$572,764  for  the  same  period  last  year. 
Current  earnings,  after  depreciation 
and  taxes,  are  equal  to  16  cents  a 
share  on  the  common,  as  compared 
with  72  cents  a  share  for  the  identical 
period  of  1930. 

For  the  first  six  months  of  1931, 
the  company  shows  a  net  of  $823,841, 
or  81  cents  a  share,  which  compares 
with  $1,239,922,  or  $1.55  a  share,  last 
year. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Schaeffer  Goes  Up 

G.  J.  Schaeffer  has  been  appointed 
divisional  manager  for  Paramount  in 
Central  Europe,  his  territory  includ- 
ing Germany,  Hungary,  Austria,  Po- 
land, Czechoslovakia,  Holland,  Ru- 
mania, Jugoslavia  and  the  Balkans. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Columbia  Joins  AMPP 

Hollywood — Harry  Cohn,  vice-pres- 
ident in  charge  of  production,  an- 
nounces that  Columbia  has  joined  the 
Association  of  Motion  Picture  Pro- 
ducers on  the  West  Coast. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Closes  "Lab"  Deals 

Hollywood — Arthur  Gottlieb,  presi- 
dent of  Du-Art  Film  Laboratories,  has 
closed  a  number  of  contracts  for 
work  at  the  firm's  New  York  and 
Canadian   plant. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

St.  Louis  Suit  July  27 

St.  Louis — Hearing  in  the  receiver- 
ship suit  of  minority  stodkholders 
against  Skouras  Brothers  Enterprises, 
Inc.,  has  been  contiaued  in  the  St. 
Louis  Circuit  Court  to  July  27  while 
the  similar  suit  against  the  St.  Louis 
Amusement  Company  is  to  come  up 
on  July  29. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

After  Hughes  Deal 

Hollywood — Lewis  Milestone  starts 
his  ^'oduction  ventures  with  David  O. 
Selznick  after  he  completes  his  cur- 
rent agreement  with  Howard  Hughes. 
Selznick's  Eastern  trip  concerns  fi- 
nances. 


Publix  Enthused^  Pins  Its 
Faith  on  New  Season  Films 


(Continued  f 

u.    Aetter    who    thinks    this: 

"The  August  releases  are  so  far 
above  what  we  have  been  getting 
that  it  is  a  revelation.  They  contain 
ten  or  twelve  highlights  which  will 
change  the  aspect  of  our  business." 

Dembow  bases  his  opinion  on  spec- 
ific pictures.  He  says  Paramount  will 
deliver  these : 

"The  Smiling  Lieutenant,"  "An 
American  Tragedy,"  "Huckleberry 
Finn,"  "Silence,"  "Secrets  of  a  Sec- 
retary," "Daughter  of  the  Dragon," 
"The  Road  to  Reno,"  "Monkey  Busi- 
ness" and  "My  Sin."  Apparently  he 
has  no  illusions  about  the  matter  for, 
in  connection  with  "The  Magnificent 
Lie,"  Dembow  is  telling  his  force 
this : 

"Although,  according  to  some  of 
the  boys  who  have  seen  it,  this  pic- 
ture is  not  entirely  up  to  the  stan- 
dards of  Chatterton  pictures,  yet  the 
draw  of  the  star  should  be  strong 
enough  to  make  this  one  a  money- 
maker." 


rom   page    1) 

Dembow  further  enthuses  about 
these  from  M-G-M  :  "Politics,"  "Mod- 
ern Age,"  "Susan  Lenox." 

And  from  Warner-First  National 
these : 

"Alexander  Hamilton,"  "Five  Star 
Final,"  "The  Star  Witness"  and 
"Bought." 

His  Fox  list  includes  "Young  As 
You  Feel,"  "Merely  Mary  Ann," 
"Transatlantic"  and  "Bad  Girl" ; 
from  Columbia,  "Dirigible" ;  from 
RKO  Pathe,  "The  Common  Law" ; 
from  Radio,  "The  Public  Defender" ; 
and  from  United  Artists,  "The  Un- 
holy  Garden"   and  "Palmy   Days." 

"These,  I  repeat,"  says  Dembow  in 
conclusion,  "are  only  the  high  lights 
and  in  the  aggregate,  constitute  the 
finest  group  of  pictures  that  were 
ever  offered  to  an  exhibitor.  It's  up 
to  the  boys  in  the  field  to  sell  them. 
They  contend  that  the  public  has  been 
clamoring  for  good  pictures.  Well, 
here  they  are !" 


"U"  Circuit  Endorses 
''Bun  Now'*  Policy 

(Continued  from   page    1) 
where    the    company    has    houses    and 
that  product  will  be  bought  for  these 
theatres  as  rapidly  as  is  expedient. 

"Buying  product  now  will  help  sta- 
bilize the  industry  and  give  producers 
needed  encouragement  in  raising  film 
standards  for  next  year,"  Rathner  de- 
clared. "Buyingf  now  also  gives  show- 
men more  time  to  concentrate  on 
Drogram-planning  and  gives  them  the 
advantage  of  new  pictures  as  rapidly 
as  they  are  available." 

Rathner  will  visit  Milwaukee,  Kan- 
sas City  and  Indianapolis  on  his  re- 
turn trip.  Universal,  he  says,  now  is 
engaged  in  consolidating  its  position  in 
theatre  operation.  The  company  has 
about  95  houses. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Releasing  New  Series 

RKO  Pathe  is  currently  releasing 
the  first  subjects  in  three  new  two- 
reel  comedy  series  on  the  1931-32 
schedule.  The  series  are :  Frank  Mc- 
Hugh,  Traveling  Man  and  Gay  Girls 
comedies.  McHugh  stars  in  his  ser- 
ies, Louis  John  Bartels  is  the  Travel- 
ing Man  and  the  Gay  Girls  are  June 
MacCIoy,  Marion  Shilling  and  Gert- 
rude  .Short. 


No  Date  Set  on  Para. 
N,  Y.  Studio  Closing 

Hollywood — No  date  has  been  set 
for  closing  of  Paramount's  New  York 
studio,  states  Jesse  L.  Lasky.  Robert 
A.  Kane,  he  says,  will  remain  at  the 
Jbinville  studio,  located  outside  of 
Paris,  despite  reports  to  the  contrary. 
Tallulah  Bankhead,  says  Lasky,  will 
make  "The  Cheat"  at  the  Astoria 
studio  with  Irving  Pichel  in  the  role 
formerly  played  by  Sessue  Hayakawa. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Naylor  Gets  Division 
Post  With  Columbia 

George  Naylor,  veteran  sales  ex- 
ecutive, has  been  appointed  Middle 
States  division  manager  for  Co- 
lumbia, with  supervision  over  the 
Omaha,  Des  Moines,  Indianapolis 
and  St.  Louis  offices.  Naylor,  who 
assumes  his  new  duties  immediately, 
will  make  his  headquarters  in  St. 
Louis. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Just  a  Threat 

Hollywood  ■ —  Joan  Crawford  and 
Douglas  Fairbanks,  Jr.,  report  they 
have  been  threatened  with  kidnapping. 
Clarence  Lanhart  is  being  held  by  the 
police  for  questioning. 


Entire  Market  Drops;  E,  K.  Off  5% 


High 

Consolidated   Film  Industries 7^ 

("onsolidated    Film    Industries    pfa' Hyi 

F^astnian   Kodak 143!4 

Fox  Film  "A" 16^ 

General   Tlieatre   Equipment   new 5% 

r.oew's,   Inc 44^4 

I*araniotmt    Publix 22^ 

Pathe    Exchange ISi^ 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 6J4 

RKO     U'A 

Warner    Bros 7 


Curb  Issues  Dull 


High 

General  Theatre  Equipment  pf<l 7!4 

Technicolor 6'/^ 

Trans    Lux 5% 


Bonds  Also  Off;  P.  P.  Drops  SV^ 


(Icneral   Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40. 

Paramount    Broadway   5^s   '51 

Paramount   F.    L.    6s   '47 

Paramount    Publix  Syls,   '50 

Pathe  7s  '37  ww 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 


High 

.    33K 
.  102/j 
.    87^ 
.    78 
.    94 
.  4054 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

75^ 

7.K 

-  H 

200 

14'/, 

WA 

-/8 

lUO 

l.W 

139^ 

-5/8 

5,400 

15!4 

1554 

-IH 

7,700 

3*4 

3.)4 

-  'A 

2,100 

43?^ 

43^ 

-m 

2.300 

22.V, 

22'/ 

-  'A 

10,000 

iy« 

1V« 

+  'A 

100 

654 

6/2 

-V2 

2i;o 

137/, 

13^ 

-Ya 

4,800 

674 

I 

67^ 

Net 

1,700 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

7'/r 

7/8 

-^8 

200 

6>/, 

6/i 

100 

5H 

S5/8 

-   /8 

too 

rop 

^s  3V, 

Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

3244 

32.)4 

-  / 

n 

102'4 

10254 

-  /8 

!4 

86 

86 

-2 

2.') 

737^ 

737/8 

-yA 

4S 

93 

93 

11 

4o;4 

4054 

-154 

5 

Off  Gangsters 

Hollywood — Claws  down  on 
gangster  themes  has  been 
voted  by  Mickey  Mouse.  He 
has  rejected  the  script  of 
"Putting  the  Bird  on  the 
Spot,"  as  the  screen  version 
of  "Cock  Robin"  was  to  have 
been  titled. 


Selling  Shows 
A  Spurt  In 
Chicago  Zone 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

sequent  run  houses,  but  the  deal  may 
not  be  signed  for  another  week.  The 
exchange  also  reports  a  high  volume 
of  country  and  suburban  sales. 

M-G-M  is  automatically  set  on  its 
Loop  runs  by  virtue  of  its  ten-year 
B.  &  K.  franchise.  Numerous  sub- 
sequent run  deals  in  the  city  have  been 
closed  and  two  deals  with  important 
buying  circuits  are  under  way. 

RKO  Radio  reports  country  sales 
in  good  volume  and  an  increasing 
number  of  city  deals  closed. 

Columbia  has  closed  for  its  first 
runs  and  deals  with  subsequents  and 
buying  circuits  are  under  way,  with 
city  sales  showing  a  weekly  increase. 

Fox  is  also  set  on  its  first  runs  and 
reports  country  and  metropolitan 
sales  showing  improvement  regularly, 
with  country  buying  at  its  peak. 

Universal  has  several  important 
city  deals  under  way  which  may  be 
closed  within  the  next  few  weeks  and 
reports  a  good  volume  of  country 
selling. 

United  Artists  and  Educational- 
Tiffany,  last  to  hold  sales  conven- 
tions this  year,  have  just  started  to 
work  on  new  product  selling. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Get  Contracts 

Marjorie  Gateson,  featured  char- 
acter actress  of  Broadway  has  ar- 
rived in  Hollywood  to  join  Para- 
mount's group  of  contract  players 
there.  Claire  Dodd,  former  Ziegfeld 
player,  has  renewed  her  Paramount 
contract. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Passes  Dividend 

Regular  quarterly  dividend  of  $1 
per  share  on  the  Class  A  stock  has 
been  omitted  by  General  Outdoor  Ad- 
vertising Co. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gets  Fox  Release 

Hollywood — With  two  pictures  to 
go,  Jeanette  MacDonald  has  secured 
her  release  from   Fox. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Landy  with  Columbia 

Hollywood — George  Landy,  veteran 
writer,  has  joined  Columbia's  scenario 

staff. 


Sound  Recording 

FILM   AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc    or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY     RECORDING     CO.     of 

AMERICA,   INC 

1841    Broadway — New   York,    N.    Y. 

Columbus    5-31 81-3182 


Saturday,   July   25,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


B.  C.  Invokes 
New  Picture 
Regulations 


Vancouver — Regulations  under  the 
Moving  Pictures  Act  passed  in  No- 
vember, 1929,  were  revoked  by  the 
provincial  government  and  a  new  set 
of  regulations  passed  governing 
many  points  in  connection  with  the 
censorship  and  inspection  of  films, 
and  the  operation  of  theatres. 

One  change  concerns  the  exhibit- 
ing of  films  or  parts  of  films  refused 
approval  by  the  provincial  censor,  but 
authorized  on  appeal  to  the  appeal 
board.  In  all  cases  where  this  has 
taken  place,  the  film  must  bear  the 
stamp,  showing  the  right  to  exhibit 
on  appeal. 

The  regulations  provide  for  a  scale 
of  fees  for  sound  and  silent  pictures, 
ranging  from  $3  each  1,000  feet  to 
$2  per  1,000  feet  for  sound  films, 
and  $1.50  per  1,000  feet  for  silents, 
and  advertising  trailers  with  propor- 
tionate costs  for  footages  under  1,000 
feet.  Other  types  of  films  and  slides 
are  covered  by  fees  for  inspection  at 
$5  per  1,000  feet,  and  proportion  costs 
for  lesser  footages,  with  slides  at  the 
rate  of  ten  cents  each,  over  a  flat-rate 
minimum. 

Licenses  for  film  theatres  are  set 
at  $300  for  the  full  time  theatre  with 
large  equipment,  down  to  $50  for  a 
limited  license. 

Under  the  Fire  Marshals  Act,  the 
government  simultaneously  passed  a 
fresh  set  of  regulations  dealing  with 
fire  hazards  in  theatres,  as  to  exits, 
entrances,  aisles,  seating  accommo- 
dation, and  the  equipment  and  oper- 
ation of  projection  rooms.  These 
regulations  force  the  employment  of 
two  projectionists  at  theatres  with 
specified  equipments  and  for  first, 
second  and  third  class  papers  for  pro- 
jectionists for  theatres  of  over  500 
seats,  500  to  200,  and  200  and  under, 
respectively. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sales  Force  of  Epics 
Expanded  by  Wilson 

Expansion  of  the  sales  force  of 
Talking  Picture  Epics  is  under  way 
by  Frank  R.  Wilson,  company  presi- 
dent, in  connection  with  the  program 
of  six  features  and  88  shorts  on  the 
company's  new  season  schedule.  Di- 
rection of  sales  recently  was  taken 
over   by   Ira    H.    Simmons. 

Other  new  additions  are :  John  N. 
Weber,  eastern  district  manager ; 
Tom  North,  Middle  West  district 
manager ;  William  G.  Minder,  south- 
ern district  manager ;  R.  A.  Mitchell, 
western  district  manager ;  Harry  G. 
Price,  Canadian  district  manager, 
and  William  Raynor,  New  York 
branch  manager. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Peshon  Death  Frees 
Frisco  from  Censor 

San  Francisco — Exhibitors  here 
have  little  to  worry  about  in  regard 
to  censorship.  Since  the  death  re- 
cently of  Corporal  Peter  Peshon,  who 
held  his  job  as  censor  more  through 
tradition  than  necessity,  no  one  has 
elected  to  do  any  of  his  work.  Com- 
plaints from  women's  clubs  or  other 
organizations  stir  the  police  to  ac- 
tion, but  since  Peshon's  death  none 
has    been    forthcoming. 


The  Critics  Say . 

IN  this  department,  the  New  York  reviewers  will 
find  a  mouthpiece  to  speak  their  piece  about  pictures  that  play  the 
Broadway  first-runs. 

For  instance,  their  opinion — cross-sectioned — is  this  about 


'Hush  Money" 


Fox: 


AMERICAN— *»»7'/j«  theme  is  lacking 
in  the  exhilarating  wine  of  originality,  but 
nonetheless,  it  serves  well  as  passing  enter- 
tainment*** 

DAILY  MIRROR— 5<ort»H3  as  a  con- 
ventional yarn***this  story  builds  up  to 
genuine  novelty  and  suspense.  It  is  good 
strong  stuff. 

DAILY  NKV/S—***excellent  entertain- 
ment. 

EVENING  JOURNAL  —  Owen  Moore 
makes  a  good  crook,  and  there  are  some 
charming  interior  sets,  but  on  the  whole 
"Hush  Money"  is  full  of  talk  that  is  not 
worthy   of  the  gentlemen  who   wrote  it. 

GRAPHIC  —  ***stilted***  follows  the 
general  plot  of  half  a  dozen  other  films  of 
its  type  and  hasn't  even  the  advantage  of 
good  direction  to  recommend  it. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— ".f/K.s/!  Money"  is 
unstiniulating   melodrama*** 

MORNING  TELEGRAPH— /<  is  a  trite 
little  tale,  but  it  has  been  so  well  told  by 
the  director  one  finds  it  easy  to  forgive  its 
obviousness*** 

POST — ***a  good  example  of  how  a  con- 
ventiional  idea  can  be  lifted  above  itself 
with  the  aid  of  intelligent  acting,  speedy 
direction  and  smart   dialogue. 

SUN — Now,  this  moth-eaten  crook  tale, 
***M  put  together  efficiently  enough.  .4nd 
it  moves  to  a  certain  extent.  Yet  it  is  so 
familiar  and  obvious  that  it  doesn't  mean 
very   much. 

TIMES  —  ***entertainment***  —  on 
nice  side,   not   the   deeply  thoughtful. 

WORLD-TELEGRAM— 5-.m/'/(?  and 
of  a  familiar  mould  though  it  may  be, 
'Hush  Moiiey"***is  fair  enough  movie 
melodrama,  as  good  as  the  average,  if  not 
better. 


the 


out 


'Five  and  Ten' 


:  M-G-M 


AWERICAN  —  ***The  best  film-drama 
Marion  Davies   has  ever  contributed*** 

DAILY  MIRKOR  —  Excellent  drama*** 
a  human  story  of  money  and  misery,  afford- 
ing Miss  Davies  an  unusually  strong,  lov- 
able role. 

DAILY  NEWS— Maj-ioB  is  slightly  out 
of    her    element***The    story    is    interesting. 

GRAPHIC  —  A  splendidly  directed  pro- 
duction, with  unusually  good  dialogue*** 
gives  Leslie  Howard  an  opportunity  to  steal 
a  picture  from  such  a  favored  star  as  Ma- 
rion Davies*** 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— T/j^  result  of*** 
a  distortion  of  theme,  combined  with  unex- 
Ivilarating  writing  and  direction  and  a  cer- 
tain formlessness  of  manner,  is  a  photoplay 
which  seldom  manages  to  achieve  any  real 
dramatic  or  comedy  interest. 

MORNING  TELEGRAPH  —  **»Mano» 
Davies  as  charming  as  ever***The  Capitol 
***may  zvell  chalk  this  film  down  as  one  of 
the  most  interesting  films  to  appear  on  the 
screen  of  a  movie  playhouse  that  has  housed 
more  than  its  share  of  hits. 

POST^/t  is  a  different  Miss  Davies  and 
an  effective  one,  her  ability  to  convey  the 
depths  of  suffering  being  nicely  tempered  by 
sincerity  and  restraint.  Nevertheless,  Miss 
Davies  can't  do  the  tempering  for  the  story 
and  the  other  characters. 

SUN — ***good  enough  program  entertain- 
ment,*** despite  the  general  familiarity  of 
its  outline,  despite  its  extremely  dubious 
popular  appeal  and  despite  a  certain  lack 
of  straightforwardness  in  dealing  relating 
its  family  troubles. 

TIMES — ***without  Miss  Davies  and 
Mr.  Howard,  "Five  and  Ten"  would  be 
only  a  something  reminiscent  of  the  old 
flickering  days  of  the  movies.  But  the  two 
are  supported  by  a  good  cast***and  manage 
to  move  the  picture  along  its  bright  way 
until  almost   the   end. 

WORLD-TELEGRAM— *»»in  many  ways 
an  entertaining  film,  but  which  is  so  spotty 
at  times  that  it  loses  much  of  its  punch. 


'Enemies  of  Law" 

— ;  Regal  - 


AMERICAN — M^est  of  the  water  tower 
***may  prove  satisfactory***entertainment, 
but  the  Strand  offering  simply  is  not  geared 
to  Broadway. 

DAILY  MIRROR— ***off^r.s  little  ex- 
citement, though  nothing  new  in  gangster 
situations***reasonably  entertaining  under- 
world   movie. 

DAILY  NEWS— ***/'»-e"ji  feeble  enter- 
tainment. 

EVENING  JOURNAI^***on  a  par 
with  most  of  the  gang  melodramas  that  have 
come  alona. 

GRAPHIC — A  cheaply  made  movie  which 
doesn't  rate  a  Broadway  showing*** 

HERALD-TRIBUNE — *** exciting  enough 
as  a  racketeer  story  and  the  cast  includes 
some  expert  players.***  Yet  the  picture 
never  comes  through  in  the  masterly  fashion 
many  of  its  predecessors  in  the  same  genre 
have  made  us  expect. 

MORNING  TELEGRAPH— To  sit  down 
and  waste  time  and  energy  in  discussing 
the  many  faults  of  "Enemies  of  the  Law" 
is  to  subject  myself  to  a  task  that  is  taste- 
less and  stupid. 

POST — ***a  mediocre  story***done  with- 
out the  acumen  and  verisimilitude  of  its 
legionary    prototypes. 

SUN — This  one  is  such  a  crabapple  that 
it  is  the  ultimate  gangster  film — the  gang- 
ster film  to  end  all  gangster  films. 

WORLD  -  TELEGRAM  —  ***a  slipshod, 
jumpy,  poorly  photographed  and  inexpertly 
acted  and  directed  variation  of  all  the  other 
racketeer  films  put  together. 


'Sherlock  Holmes' 
Fatal  Hour" 

Twickenhani- 


AMERICAN  —  The  mystery  itself  is 
"quite  elementary,  my  dear  Watson"*** 
But  just  the  same,  the  film  manages  to  be 
interesting*** 

DAlLi  MIRROR— ***doei  credit  to  its 
Englisli  makers***ln  spite  of  a  number  of 
tcciiical  faults***the  play  is  absorbing  from 
start  to  finish. 

EVENING  JOURNAL  — Ingenuous  as 
the  story  is,  and  able  as  the  actors  are, 
tnere  is  very  little  action*** 

GRAPHIC — For  a  British-made  picture 
this  Warner  tenant  is  unusually  good  and, 
except  for  its  technical  faults,  holds  interest 
through  every  reel. 

HERALD  -  TRIBUNE  —  From  beginning 
to  end  interest  is  sustained*** direction  and 
manner   of    telling    the   story    is    excellent. 

MORNING  TELEGRAPH— C/ii/iAie  most 
British  tilms***nas  merit  of  being  well  di- 
rected, suffering,  however,  from  the  typi- 
cally-British attention  to  detail***  holds 
one  s   interest   to    the    final  fade-out*** 

TIMES— ro*»*i;ie  hero***falls  the  duty 
of  phrasing  a  bit  of  dramatic  criticism, 
although  about  another   matter: 

"Elementary,   my   dear    Watson." 

WORLD  -  TELEGRAM  —  Wontner  *** 
playing  the  glamorous  sleuth  to  utter  per- 
fection***onc  of  the  best  of  the  English 
films  to  be  shown  on  this  side*** 


'Secret  Call" 

Paramo  unt- 


AMERICAN  —  ***well-produced,  well- 
directed  program  talkie,  possessing  added 
importance  for  its  introduction  of  Peggy 
Shannon. 

DAILY  MIRROR— /<  is  an  old-fashioned 
melodrama,  pepped  up  with  modern  dia- 
logue, but  staged  and  directed  in  the  lim- 
ited, circumscribed  style  of  a  footUght  pro- 
duction. 

DAILY  NEWS— Tfcc  drama  is  well 
worked  out,  but  the  long  arm  of  coincidence 
is  seen  stretching  out  into  the  picture  now 
and  then. 


^Purely 
Personal, 


HERB  McINTYRE,  RKO  Pathe 
district  chief  on  the  Coast,  has 
returned  to  his  division  after  home 
office  conferences.  Cress  Smith, 
Middle  West  sales  chief,  who  sur- 
prised friends  with  his  marriage  last 
week,  also  has  returned  to  his  terri- 
tory after  conferences  with  Ned 
Depinet,   general    sales    manager. 

Charles  Reed  Jones,  publicist  and 
author  of  mystery  novels,  has  joined 
the  newly  organized  Peerless  Produc- 
tions, as  director  of  advertising  and 
publicity.  His  28  page  year  book, 
produced  by  Harvey-Jaedicker,  is  in 
circulation. 

Feedric  March  and  his  wife,  Flor- 
ence Eldridge,  leave  late  this  month 
for  Hollywood  where  March  is  to 
play  the  title  role  in  "Dr.  Jekyll  and 
Mr.  Hyde."  March  has  been  in  the 
East   for   more   than   a    year. 

Lillian  Bond  was  the  first  star 
to  broadcast  on  a  television  tie-up 
from  shore  to  ship  in  last  night's  pro- 
gram sent  out  by  Columbia  Broad- 
casting System  to  the  S.S.  Leviathan. 

SoL  Shernow  has  a  new  candidate 
for  the  Warner  Club,  he  says  in  an- 
nouncing birth  of  a  daughter.  Mrs. 
Shernow  formerly  was  with  First  Na- 
tional. 

Constance  Bennett  plans  to  spend 
five  weeks  abroad  before  returning 
to  Hollywood  to  start  work  in  "Dan- 
gerous to  Love"  September  1  for 
RKO  Pathe. 

Polly  Moran  arrives  in  New  York 
next  week  to  make  a  series  of  per- 
sonal appearances  at  Loew  theatres. 
She  opens  August  14  at  the  New 
York  Capitol. 

Monty  Montgomery,  RKO  Pathe 
manager  at  Minneapolis,  is  recovering 
from  a  minor  operation  recently 
undergone. 

Oscar  Hanson,  sponsor  of  the  Al- 
lied newsreel,  is  enjoying  a  real  home- 
coming on  the  occasion  of  his  ac- 
ceptance of  a  new  post  at  Toronto. 

George  Arthur  Gray  is  the  latest 
addition  to  Al  Selig's  staff  at  Co- 
lumbia. 

William  J.  Riley  has  been  as- 
signed as  company  manager  of  the 
"Circus  Days"  Idea  by  F.  and  M. 


EVENING  JOURNAL  —  "T/t^  Secret 
Call"   is   well   worth  seeing. 

GRAPHIC — ***the  picture  packs  melo- 
dramatic action  in  every  reel  and  holds  in- 
terest until  its  rather  obvious  ending. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE  —  ***the  frailities 
of  "The  Secret  Call"  are  not  entirely  due 
to  its  lack  of  crinolines.*** Stuart  Walker 
'**has  directed  the  film  without  any  vast 
distinction*** 

MORNING  TELEGRAPH  —  ***should 
find  welcome  from  thousands  of  headline 
readers. 

POST — ***a  creaky  drama  of  betrayal 
and   revenge*** 

SUN — The  treatment  is  clumsy  and  obvi- 
ous and  the  dialogue  instead  of  being  prop- 
erly terse  is  miles  of  wordy  verbiage. 

TIMES — Miss  Shannon  is  attractive,  but 
"The  Secret  Call"  does  not  present  many 
situations  calling  for  much  more  than  a 
gentle   stroll    through   its   various   scenes. 

WORLD-TJ.LEGRAM— ***one  of  those 
highly  involved  and  theatrical  melodramas 
of  crooked  politics.***While  not  a  complete 
bore,  it  is  about  as  tiresome  and  poorly 
written  and  unimaginatively  directed  as 
anything  I  have  seen  on  the  screen  in 
•:veeks. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,   July   25,    1931 


Coverage 


A  dull  week  on  Broadway, 
insofar  as  new  pictures  are 
concerned.  Three  new  pictures 
opened  yesterday.  One — "A  Son 
of  India"  at  the  Capitol  was  re- 
viewed by  Motion  Picture 
Daily.  Two — "The  Magni- 
ficent Lie"  at  the  Paramount 
and  "A  Jew  at  War"  at  the 
Cameo — are    covered   today. 

The   line-up: 

AsTOR — ''A  Free  Soul" 
(M-G-M) — reviewed  by  Mo- 
tion   Picture   Daily   April    18. 

Cameo — "A  Jew  at  War" 
(Amkino) — reviewed    today. 

Capitol — "A  Son  of  India" 
(M-G-M) — reviewed    May    23. 

Mayfair — "The  Common 
Law"  (RKO  Pathe) — reviewed 
July   18. 

Paramount  —  "The  Magni- 
ficent Lie"  (Para.) — reviewed 
today. 

RivoLi — "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" (Para.) — reviewed  May 
22. 

RoxY — "Sunny  Side  Up" 
(Fox) — revival. 

Strand — "N  i  g  h  t  Nurse" 
(Warners) — reviewed    July    16. 

Warners — "The  Fatal  Hour" 
(First      Division)    —   reviewed 

July  n. 

Winter  Garden — "S  mart 
Money"  (Warners) — reviewed 
editorially  June  19. 


Sues  to  Protect  "Rep" 

Los  Angeles — Suit  for  $31,000 
damages  has  been  filed  against  Uni- 
versal by  B.  Reeves  Eason  alleging 
his  name  was  used  as  director  of  a 
poorly-directed  picture.  The  "credit," 
the  complaint  says,  cost  Eason  a  con- 
tract for  directing  three  other  films 
and  damaged  his  reputation. 


'The  Magnificent  Lie' 

{Paramount) 

Hollywood — A  vehicle  decidedly 
below  the  Ruth  Chatterton  standard 
and  one  that  failed  to  arouse  a  pre- 
view audience  out  of  its  lethargy. 
Most  of  the  trouble  seems  to  be  due 
to  a  story  that  is  unusually  im- 
plausible and  that  gave  the  star  little 
opportunity  for  displaying  her  talent. 

Ralph  Bellamy  is  cast  as  an  Ameri- 
can soldier  who  falls  in  love  with  a 
French  actress  in  a  hospital  at  the 
front.  Later,  while  she  is  touring  the 
States,  he  goes  to  the  theatre  to  see 
her  and  goes  blind  watching  her  per- 
formance. Chatterton  then  is  pre- 
vailed upon  to  impersonate  the  ac- 
tress, to  cheer  him  up,  and  she  falls 
in  love  with  him.  When  he  discovers 
the  deception  he  berates  her.  Angry, 
she  drives  an  automobile  into  a  ditch, 
wrecking  it.  The  accident  restores 
his  sight  and  all  ends  well. 

Of  the  supporting  cast  Stuart  Er- 
win  was  praised  particularly  in  the 
lobby  comment.  The  dialogue  came 
in  for  its  share  of  criticism.  Ber- 
thold   Viertel   directed. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Smart  Women'' 

(Radio) 

Hollywood — Myron  Fagan's  stage 
play,  "Nancy's  Private  Affairs," 
reaches  the  screen  as  "Smart  Wo- 
men" and  won  many  laughs  from  a 
preview  audience.  Much  of  the  fun 
is  elicited  from  the  troubles  started 
by  jealousy,  and  Robert  Ames,  Mary 
Astor,  Noel  Francis,  John  Halliday 
and  Edward  Everett  Horton  carry  on 
the  story  capably. 

The  audience  gave  evidence  of  its 
appreciation  of  the  work  of  all  the 
members  of  the  cast  and  also  the 
clever  dialogue.  Gregory  La  Cava's 
smooth  direction  drew  favorable  com- 
ment. 


''Road  to  Singapore" 

{Warner) 

Hollywood — This  is  William  Pow- 
ell's first  for  Warners  and,  according 
to  comment  of  a  preview  audience  at 
the  Forum  here,  his  best  in  some 
time. 

En  route  to  the  tropics,  Powell 
meets  Doris  Kenyon.  By  trickery, 
he  gets  her  to  his  island  home,  but 
Miss  Kenyon  escapes  to  join  her  doc- 
tor husband.  Despite  her  marriage 
and  perhaps  because  her  husband  is 
too  busy  to  r.ay  attention  to  her.  Miss 
Kenyon  eventually  goes  for  Powell 
in  a  big  .  way.  They  plan  to  elope. 
Bill  asks  her  to  be  very  certain  of 
the  step  she  is  taking,  thereby  demon- 
strating to  her  that  island  gossip  must 
have  had  him  and  his  reputation  all 
wrong.  The  fade-out  finds  Powell 
hotfooting  it  for  the  boat  that  carries 
Miss  Kenyon  away  from  the  island. 

Many  of  the  lines  given  Powell  are 
humorous  and  he  plays  them  for  all 
they  are  worth. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 


'Silence" 


NEW      YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant       4712... 


LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

I  54    CRESCENT    STREET 
.    .    .    .    STIIIwell         7  9  4  0 


EASTMAN 
*    FILMS    * 


J.  E. 

BRULATOUR 

I  n  CO  r  po  ra  ted 


CHICAGO 

1727  INDIANA  AVEMUE 
CALumet    2691    .    .   . 


HOLLYWOO  D 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
...Hollywood       4121 


(Paramount) 
^^  Hollywooi>— Despite  a  sordid  story, 
"Silence,"  which  was  a  success  as  a 
stage  play,  met  with  the  favorable 
reaction  of  a  preview  audience.  Max 
Marcin,  who  wrote  the  play,  co-di- 
rected with  Louis  Gasnier.  While  it 
has  been  changed  somewhat  in  the 
transition,  it  is  filled  with  suspense 
and  interest. 

Peggy  Shannon  in  a  dual  role  gave 
a  splendid  performance,  but  the  dif- 
ficulties of  make-up  did  not  get  over 
enough  dififerentiation  for  the  two 
parts.  One  impossible  situation  is 
the  planting  of  a  newspaperman  as  a 
prison  chaplain  to  get  a  confession. 
That  is  the  height  of  implausibility. 

Clive  Brook  and  John  Wray  di- 
vided acting  honors  with  Miss  Shan- 
non. Willard  Robertson,  Marjorie 
Rambeau,  Charles  Starrett,  Frank 
Sheridan  and  Charles  Trowbridge 
also  turned  in  performances  that  won 
much  praise. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 


'Cougar" 


(Talking  Picture  Epics) 
Hollywood— The  wild  animals  of 
California  form  the  subject  of  this 
offering,  but  it  has  been  padded  to 
such  an  extent  with  extraneous  scenes 
that  interest  lags.  It  was  the  gen- 
eral opinion  that  in  two  reels  it  would 
have   been  a   corking   subject. 

There  are  some  thrilling  scenes,  one 
of  which  showed  a  king  snake  killing 
a  rattler,  and  several  depicting  the 
capture  of  cougars,  but  in  between 
there  is  an  unnecessary  amount  of 
material  about  cooking  camp  break- 
fasts and  driving  over   roads. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'The  Homicide  Squad' 

(  Universal) 
Hollywood — Universal  has  pro- 
duced another  gangster  picture  in 
"The  Homicide  Squad,"  and  the  work 
of  Leo  Carrillo,  Mary  Brian,  Noah 
Beery  and  Russell  Gleason  won  the 
acclaim  of  a  San  Bernardino  preview 
audience.  Carrillo's  portrayal  of  the 
Italian  candy  maker  and  beer  baron 
won  high  praise,  and  he  supplied 
many    laughs    in    addition    to    thrills. 


Miss    Brian   also   received    much    ap- 
plause. 

The  story  is  of  the  usual  formula, 
with  a  mob  engaged  in  warfare  with 
the  police,  but  it  has  been  given  a  sur- 
prise ending  that  adds  to  its  enter- 
tainment value.  George  Melford  di- 
rected. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"A  Jew  at  War" 

(Atnkino) 

Another  propaganda  picture  from 
Soviet  Russia.  This  was  made  ap- 
parently to  sell  the  Jews  of  Russia 
the  idea  of  assimilation,  transferring 
from  small  shop  owners  to  cogs  in 
the  machine  of  communism.  The  story 
concerns  a  young  Jewish  tailor  con- 
scripted into  the  Russian  army. 
When  the  revolution  comes,  he  be- 
comes a  power  in  the  Soviet  and  re- 
turns to  his  town  as  director  of  the 
state-operated  shoe  factory,  which  re- 
places the  small  shoe  shops  of  the 
Jewish  merchants.  He  is  bound  to 
the  cause  and  is  killed  by  a  worker 
whom  he  had  discharged  for  drunk- 
enness, but  the  work  goes  on,  the 
picture  ending  in  a  flag-waving  bit 
of  sentimentality  concerning  the  new 
industrial  Russia.  The  propaganda 
sequences  evoked  applause  from  an 
obviously  pro-Soviet  audience  at  the 
New  York  Cameo.  The  picture  is 
laborious  as  to  detail  which  makes 
its   running   time   72   minutes. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Indianapolis  Unions 
Pat,  But  Get  Air 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

units.  The  theatres  will  announce  on 
their  trailers  commencing  next  week 
that  they  will  continue  with  an  all 
picture  program  after  the  first  of 
August. 

1  he  theatres  affected  figure  they  can 
make    more    money    without    the    tre-     ■ 
mendous  overhead  of  stage  shows.  * 

The  Fourth  Avenue  Amusement 
Co.,  of  Louisville,  which  owns  the 
Lyric,  also  owns  the  Apollo.  It  is 
rumored  that  the  Apollo  will  close,  I 
throwing  their  pictures  into  the  Lyric. 
The  Apollo  has  been  a  financial  loss 
ever  since  the  showing  of  "Daddy 
Long  Legs"  in  June.  The  Apollo 
does  not  have  a  cooling  system,  but 
has  the  best  pictures.  The  Lyric  de- 
pended on  vaudeville  for  its  draw. 

Union  officials  refused  to  discuss 
the  theatre  situation  here. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Suit  Over  ''Miracle" 

First  National  has  sued  Al  H. 
Woods,  Rose  B.  Woods  and  Joseph 
and  Madge  Menchen  to  recover  $80, 
507  for  alleged  failure  to  deliver  ex- 
clusive and  perpetual  rights  to  "The 
Miracle."  The  firm  says  it  paid  de- 
fendants $67,577  for  the  picture  rights 
and  $12,500  additional  to  prosecute  a 
suit  against  M-G-M  to  determine 
which  company  had  the  film  rights. 
The  agreement  was  made  August  31, 
1928  and  since  then  defendants  have 
failed  to  deliver  a  negative  then  ex- 
isting as  well  as  a  release  from 
M-G-M  and  other  needed  documents, 
First   National   claims. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gaumont  British  Net 
Well  Over  Million 

London — Gaumont  British  Picture 
Corp.,  Ltd.,  will  earn  well  over  $1,- 
000,000  for  the  year  ended  March  31, 
the  company  says.  For  the  year  end- 
ed March  31,  1930,  net  was  $1,097,120 
and  this  year's  earnings  will  show  a 
"substantial  increase,"  it  is  promised. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.  NO.  48 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JULY  27,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


In  the  Crystal 

Lx  IS  name  must  re- 
main  steeped   in   oblivion    for 
reasons  that  will  appear  obvi- 
ous after  you  finish  this.    But 
the  quotes  of  this  unquotable 
name  are  a  faithful  transcrip- 
tion of  how  an  important  ex- 
ecutive visualizes  the  ultimate 
and  rapidly  -  approaching 
breakdown     in     the     theatre 
structure  of  this  business: 
"As  definitely  as  you  and  I 
are  talking  is  the  conviction  in 
my   mind  that  the  major  cir- 
cuits  will   eventually   be   com- 
pelled  to   strip   themselves   of 
numbers  of  theatres  in  order  to 
operate    what's    left    success- 
fully. 

"The  exhibition  business, 
weighted  down  by  general  eco- 
nomic depression  and  sick  box- 
offices,  is  dividing  itself  into 
two  classes.  In  the  swing 
toward  independent  operation, 
you  will  find  not  only  B  houses 
reverting  to  individualized 
operation,  but  A  houses  as 
well. 

"Most  of  the  de  luxers,  how- 
ever, will  remain  in  circuit 
hands.  By  'de  luxers'  I  refer 
to  theatres  like  the  Roxy  or 
the  Paramount,  where  the 
gamble  is  great,  but  where  the 
returns  merit  that  gamble  if  the 
theatre  clicks.  The  producer- 
controlled  circuits  are  after  big 
money  and  are  willing  to  play 
their  chances  across  the  boards. 
"I  believe  you  will  find  the 
circuits  preferring  to  concen- 
trate on  houses  that  either 
show  big  profits  or  big  losses, 
leaving  all  other  types  of  oper- 
ations to  their  partners  or  to 
lone-hand  operators  who  know 
how  to  split  a  dollar  a  dozen 
different  ways." 

Merely  an  opin- 
ion, you  say.  Of  course.  Yet 
this  anonymity  occupies  a  posi- 
tion that  commands  for  his 
crystal-gazing  a  real  respect. 
There  is  no  longer  any  secret 
about  national  circuit  opera- 
tion and  its  record.  Far  more 
brilliant  chapters  have  been 
written  in  the  business.  With 
the  exception  of  the  Loew 
circuit,  and  perhaps  RKO  as 
well,  it  is  a  serious  question  if 
the   other   major   circuits   are 

{Continued  on  page  2) 


Paramount  Goes  for  Retake  Idea 

Retakes  have  been  ordered  on  all  Paramount  pictures  where 
such  practice  is  considered  necessary  under  a  new  policy  of 
"never  releasing  a  picture  until  it  is  as  nearly  right  as  possible 
from  a  box-office  viewpoint."  One  of  the  first  pictures  under  the 
new  plan  is  "An  American  Tragedy,"  and  another  is  "Personal 
Maid,"  directed  by  Monta  Bell  and  partially  re-shot  in  the  last 
ten  days  by  Lothar  Mendes,  who  was  brought  to  New  York  from 
the  Coast  for  that  purpose. 

The  retake  plan,  long  in  vogue  at  the  M-G-M  studio,  will  apply 
to  all  pictures  produced  by  Paramount  which  feels  that  the  addi- 
tional money  so  spent  further  safeguards  the  original  negative 
investment. 


Query  Method 

In  Management 

By  Cons'd'ted 


Wilmington,  Del. — James  E.  Mc- 
Pherson  and  a  group  of  stockholders 
have  filed  a  petition  for  a  writ  of 
mandamus  in  the  office  of  Prothono- 
tory  Harvey  Hoffecker  here  yester- 
day to  compel  the  Consolidated  Film 
Industries,  a  Delaware  corporation, 
to  allow  them  to  examine  the  books 
of  the  'corporatioti. 

It  is  stated  in  the  bill  that  the  peti- 
tioner own  21,000  shares  of  the  com- 
mon stock  of  the  concern  and  that 
they  desire  access  to  the  books  in 
order  to  ascertain  the  names  and  ad- 
dresses of  the  otlftr  stockholders  so 
they  may  consult  them  in  regard  to 
the    management    of    the   corporation 

(Continued   on   page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

St.  Louis  Skouras  House 
To  Recruit  Own  Shows 

St.  Louis — Production  of  its  own 
stage  shows  will  be  undertaken  by 
the  Ambassador,  Warner-Skouras 
house,  with  passing  of  the  Publix 
stage  units.  Publix  is  booking 
Fanchon  &  Marco  acts  in  a  number 
of  spots,  but  in  the  local  situation  the 
F.  &  M.  units  are  spotted  into  the 
Fox.  The  locally-produced  shows  are 
to  start  next  week. 


Fox  May  Sell 
35  Houses  to 
M.  Comerf  ord 


"Mike"  Comerford  is  negotiating 
to  take  over  35  Fox  theatres  in  vari- 
ous upper  New  York  cities  and  towns. 
The  move  is  considered  to  be  double- 
edged  in  significance. 

First,  because  those  familiar  with 
it  declare,  it  indicates.  Comerford 
and  I'rank  C.  Walker  are  determined 
to  expand  in  the  exhibition  field  on  a 
large  scale  now  that  many  of  their 
original  string  have  been  acquired  by 
Publix.  Secondly,  because  the  pro- 
posed sale  indicates  Fox  is  set  to  re- 

(Continued  on   page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Labor  Conditions  on 
Mend,UnionHeadSa; 

GuLFPORT,  Miss.— Labor  conditions 
throughout  the  United  States  are 
showing  an  improvement  and  Miss- 
issippi is  keeping  pace  with  this  ad- 
vance in  working  conditions.  Holt 
Ross,  president  of  the  Mississippi 
Federation  of  Labor,  stated  at  the 
meeting  here  of  the  state  branch  of 
the  I.A.T.S.E.  The  operators  and 
stagehands  chose  Jackson  for  their 
1932  conventions. 


Writers '  Game  is  a  Swindle 
Game^  Opines  FlorahelMuir 


Try  to  Reach 
Accord  Anent 
The  Contract 


Sales     Managers     Meet, 
But  Don't  Decide 


Distributors  are  endeavoring  to 
strike  a  stand  on  the  uniform  con- 
tract, drawn  up  and  approved  by  the 
5-5-5  conferences  in  which  distribu- 
tors, the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  and  Allied 
equally  participated. 

A  meeting  of  sales  managers, 
called  by  the  Hays  office,  was  held 
late  last  week  at  which  discussions 
relative  to  a  joint  decision  were  held 
without  reaching  a  definite  conclusion. 
Distributors  have  maintained  individ- 
ually that  adoption  of  the  contract 
was  out  because  their  legal  depart- 
ments held  approval  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  was  necessary. 

M.  A.  Lightman  has  been  confer- 
ring with  John  Lord  O'Brian,  assis- 
tant to  Attorney  General  Mitchell, 
and  is  also  understood  to  have  held 
meetings  with  sales  managers  in  New 
York.  In  the  meantime,  Abram  F. 
Myers  of  Allied  says  the  Justice 
Department  has  advised  him  it  can- 
not pre-determine  the  decision  of  pri- 
vate parties  on  a  matter  such  as  is 
involved  in  the  contract. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Montreal  Off  Half 
Million  in  Receipts 

Montreal  —  Theatre  receipts  in 
Montreal  took  a  drop  of  approximate- 
ly $500,000  during  the  first  six  months 
of  1931,  as  compared  with  the  cor- 
responding period  of  1930,  according 
to  the  city  report  on  theatre  tax  re- 
turns for  the  first  half  of  this  year. 
There  was  a  reduction  in  the  tax  re- 
turns of  $52,378  for  the  six  months. 
The  ticket  tax  is  10  per  cent  of  the 
theatres'  box  office  receipts. 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


Hollywood — The  studios  pay  eagerly 
for  writing  talent  and  are  swindled 
nine  times  out  of  ten,  according  to 
Florabel  Muir  in  Th^  Hollyiuaod 
Herald. 

An  author  pulls  off  a  trick  in  New 
York  and  is  promptly  snapped  up  by 
some  avid  producer  who  hopes  he 
isn't  a  dud,  she  states.  Said  author 
signs  a  juicy  contract  like  a  child 
laying   its  tongue    against   a   lollypop 


and  by  the  time  his  contract  expires, 
he  still  thinks  the  cutting  room  is 
where  the  studio  dressmakers  work. 
Miss   Muir   opines    further. 

Her  blast  is  precipitated  by  what 
she  describes  as  Horace  Liveright's 
"bleat"  in  the  Los  Angeles  Times, 
where  Margaret  Reid  quotes  the  book 
I  publisher  as  stating  : 

"I'll  gamble  that  if  the  movies  con- 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


The  following  bookings  calling  for 
the  entire  Warner-First  National 
product  for  1931-32,  indicating  further 
how  the  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 
movement  is  sweeping  through  the  in- 
dustry, have  just  been  confirmed: 
Arkansas 

Strand,    Paris,    G.    Carey. 

California 

Sequoia,  Mill  Valley;  Del  Paso,  No.  Sac- 
ramento; Tamalpais,  San  Anselmo;  Rose- 
ville,  Roseville;  El  Camino,  San  Rafael; 
Oaks  Berkeley,  Blumertfield  Circuit;  Clark, 
Vacaville,  W.  J.  Clark;  Dixon,  Dixon,  I. 
W.   Ware;   Pike,   Long   Beach,   I.   Victor. 

Illinois 

Paradise,       Moline,       Barney       Brotman; 

Strand,     East    Moline,     Charles    and    E.     J. 

Carpentier;    Lincoln,    Rock    Island;    Rialto, 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  July  27,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Revitv) 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


July    17.    19,n 


No.    48 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^fv  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
I  Jl  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^Cl^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Y'ucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston.  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
.Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  810  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  tVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City.  N.   Y..  under   Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

In  the  Crystal 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

not  overloaded  to  a  degree  that 
give.s  them  a  doubtful  prestige 
resting  in  numerical  provi^ess. 

The  folly  of  1929 
has  been  exactly  that  when  you 
view  it  in  the  light  of  1931.  It 
was  inevitable  that  the  mad 
actjuisition  of  theatres  at  war- 
time prices  would  create  a  dis- 
turbing backwash.  That  back- 
wash has  assumed  the  pro- 
portions of  a  raging  torrent 
since  the  first  of  the  year. 

Today,  therefore,  the  im- 
pression is  growing  that  it  is 
far  better  to  be  strongly  en- 
trenched in  fewer  houses  than 
to  be  theatre-poor  in  many.  As 
a  drift  of  the  times,  the  out- 
standing instance  of  Fox. 

There  appears  to  be  no  false 
])ride  in  that  direction.  Where 
losses  are  being  faced,  the  plan 
has  been  to  sell.  Many  houses 
have  passed  to  other  hands  and 
many  more  will,  if  negotiations 
now  on  tap  bear  fruit. 


1  HE  point  of  all 
this  is  that  the  forecast  which 
launched  this  discussion  should 
not  l)e  considered  either  vision- 
ary or  wild.  Stranger  things 
have  happened  in  this  business. 
KANN 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY    NOW 

Meeting  on  Vaude 

Return  Demand 

Memphis — Conferences  are  sched- 
uled this  week  between  the  Council  of 
Civic  Clubs  and  theatre  operators  con- 
cerning the  former's  demand  that 
vaudeville  be  returned  here. 


Stock  List  Spotty;  Universal  Up  5% 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated    Film   Industries 7-5^  7f^  7-Vi 

Eastman   Kodak li9'A  138^  139 

Fox   Film   "A" 15  15  15 

General  Theatre  Equip,  new 3)4  3S  iH 

Loew's  Inc 4i%  43>/i  43-^ 

Paramount    Publi.x 22f^  22i/J,  22'/. 

Universal   Pictures 51^  48^4  51^ 

Warner   Bros 7  6^  7 


Net 
Change 

-  % 

-  H 


+3M 
+  Vi 


Sales 

100 
400 
100 
400 
300 
400 
11,000 
700 


Trading  Dull  on  Curb 


High  Low  Close 

Fox  Theatres  "A" 7M  2'/^  2^4 

General  Theatre   Equip,   pfd 7>^  7%  7'A 

Technicolor   b'A  6'/i  b'A 

Trans  Lux 5^  ^H  ^Vi 


Net 

Change  Sales 

-I-  %  300 

100 

100 

100 


Bond  Issues  Active;  W.  B,  Gains 

Net 

High      L^w      Close      Change  Sales 

General   Theatre    Equip.    6s    '40 32           32           .^2             —H  2 

Paramount   Broadway  5^s  '51 102K'      102;^       102^          -\-  'A  I 

Paramount  F.   L.  6s  '47 i6'A.        35H        35^          —'A  14 

Paramount   Publix  5!4s.   '50 75            74^        74M          +%  14 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 41"^        41            4I/2          +\'A  14 


G-iit^. 


Sol    Lesser    for    the    quiet 

efficient  way  fie  ftas  gone 

about    discliarging   tfiat 

job   at    Universal. 


Resuming  Work  at 
Ontario  Gov't  Studio 

Trenton  —  Ontario's  government 
picture  studio  at  Trenton  is  again 
showing  signs  of  life  after  the  fiasco 
resulting  from  the  making  of  "Carry 
On.  Sergeant,"  in  which  Canadians  are 
said  to  have  lost  a  cool  $500,000  in 
cash.  James  Rothwell  has  leased  the 
studio  for  the  making  of  a  series  of 
shorts,  using  Canadian  talent.  The 
title  of  his  first  is  "Even  the  River." 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Fox  May  Sell 
35    Houses    to 
M.  E.  Comerford 

(.Continued  from  page   1) 

duce  its  theatre  holdings  in  the  East 
in  favor,  so  report  goes,  of  concen- 
tration in  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres 
and  the  western  half  of  the  United 
States. 

If  the  Comerford-Fox  deal  becomes 
fact,  it  is  understood  the  Fox  dis- 
tribution department  will  be  fortified 
by  live  year  franchises  for  product. 
In  the  ofifing  also  is  a  reported  deal 
whereby  Comerford  will  enter  Bea- 
con and  Olean,  N.  Y.,  with  new  the- 
atres and  acquire  the  now-building 
Publix  theatre  in  Glens  Falls.  He  is 
now  partner  with  Fox  in  the  Great 
Lakes  theatre  in  Buffalo. 

EfTorts  to  reach  Walker  for  Com- 
erford and  Harry  Arthur  for  Fox 
failed  on   Saturday. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW 

Query  Method 
Of  Management 
By   Consolidated 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

and  the  desirability  for  a  change  in 
management. 

The  petitioners  also  desire  to  in- 
quire into  the  advisability  of  passing 
the  last  dividend  when  earned,  and 
question  the  wisdom  of  increasing  the 
salary  of  the  president  from  $100,000 
to  $150,000  a  year  as  they  are  in- 
formed has  been  done. 

They  claim  that  they  asked  H.  E. 
Latter,  of  the  Corporation  Trust 
Company  which  represents  the  con- 
cern, to  see  the  books  and  permission 
was  refused. 


Little  Rock  Robbers 
Get  Loot  of  $3,000 

Little  Rock — Loot  estimated  at 
$3,000  was  obtained  by  two  robbers 
who  bound  three  employes  in  the  of- 
fice of  the  Arkansas  Theatre.  Erin 
K.  Clapp,  treasurer,  told  police  that 
two  men  entered  the  office  at  10  P. 
M.  as  he  and  Miss  A.  Cathey,  the 
cashier,  were  beginning  to  check  the 
funds.  The  robbers  took  the  Sun- 
day gross  from  the  table  and  other 
money  from  the  safe.  Clapp  loosened 
his  bonds  and  sounded  the  warning. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Vivienne  Osborne  Cast 

Hollywood  —  Vivienne  Osborne, 
stage  actress  recently  signed  by 
Paramount,  will  make  her  film  debut 
in    "Through   the    Window." 


Wooster  in  Dilemma 
On  Sunday  Pictures 

WoosTER,  O. — After  considering  an 
ordinance  presented  by  the  Wooster 
Ministerial  Alliance  and  backed  by 
signatures  of  800  citizens  opposed  to 
Sunday  theatre  operation  under  the 
new  Ohio  law  effective  August  3,  the 
city  council  was  advised  by  City  So- 
licitor Dean  Weimer  that  it  could  not 
definitely  settle  the  matter. 

Weimer  pointed  out  that  if  Sunday 
shows  were  prohibited  through  adop- 
tion of  the  ordinance,  exhibitors 
would  institute  petition  proceedings. 
Conversely,  to  reject  the  measure 
would  result  in  similar  action  by  the 
"anti"  forces,  while  to  evade  the  issue 
through  tabling  would  mean  that  the 
theatres  could  legally  operate  on  Sun- 
day. He  indicated  taht  it  probably 
would  be  necessary  to  leave  the  ques- 
tion to  a  vote  of  the  people  at  the 
next  election.  The  recently  enacted 
law  gives  municipalities  the  right  to 
enforce  local  option,  if  desired. 


FOR  RENT 

SACRIFICE  SUBLEASE 
APPROXIMATELY  3500 
Square  feet  of  highly  desir- 
able, light  space  at  729 
Seventh  Avenue^  Will 
Divide  ♦ 


Telephone 
Circle  7-3100  Extension  27 


flfad  Alicoate's  opinion  o 

^^MIRACLE  W 


w. 


nd 
werubodif 

aarees 


SL^S, 


"^'•e  M/rac/e  V^o^,„ 


-    "wiiian  ' 

^.''^'^  --te  0/  an  ;„  ''■"r^'-'^-yovcd 
f^'^('e;abe/ed;;3„^"^''<"'e./,a.ca„ 

«^-com.„s  Barbara  sr"'r  °'  "•-  "P- 
'f  notfcinj  e/se.  ''*  ^«»»an"  „  ,fc,, 

-'^L/COATE 


lOTHER  SMASH  HIT  FROM  DiPENDABUB 


'AiiilJSlAt! 


SIME 
SILVERMAN 


Variety 


says: 
.  .  .  you  will  see  this 
picture  because  it's 
worth  seeing. 

HOLLYWOOD 

HERALD  says: 

"Salvation  NeU"  has  been 
brought  to  the  screen  in 
a  most  entertaining  form. 


N4  44  2?    DL=F  BUFFALO  NY  n5P  JUL  9    1931 
BUDDY  ROGERS,  TIFFANY  P«ODUCTIONS= 
1501  BROADWAY= 

SENSATIONAL  PREMIER  OPEN  I  KG  Wl TH  SALVAT I  ON  NELL  LAST  NIGHT 
AUDIENCE  REACTION  VERY  GOOD  STOP  LOOKS  LIKE  A  BIG  WEEK  FOR 
LAFAYETTE  THEATRE  CONGRATULATIONS: 
:A  C  HAYMAN  NEWLAFAYETTE  THEATRE. 

134P 


BUFFALO 

TIMES  says: 


"Salvation   Nell   in 
Successful  Premier." 


KEEP      YOUR      EYES      ON      TIFFAN 


sensational  premier.... 


lEep    your    eyes    on    tiffany 


TT 


/ATI ON   N^n 


:eep    your    eyes    on     tiffany 


HJFFALO    CAME 

lUT    EN  MASSE. 


f 


Tanager  Hayman 
Predicted — 

nd  howl  'Salvation  NelF'  in  tlie 
•ttest  ureeli  of  tlie  year,  beat  tlie  previous 
i.  'weeU.s^  business  !  Soul-stirring  in  its  sin- 
rity!  Dynamic  in  its  action!  It  tells  of 
»nian^s  gallant  battle  ivitb  lust  and  sordid 
•verty— in  a  ivay  that  shoots  straight  to  the 
tart-strings  of  the  public. 


A  Real 
Money  Picture! 


Adapted  from 

EDWARD  B.  SHELDON'S 

Stage  Success 

Feafuring 

Ralph  Graves 

Helen  Chandler 

Sally  O'Neill 

Oirecfed  by 

JAMES  CRUZE 

Produced  b/  SAMUEL  ZIERLER 


An  Exploitation 
Natural! 


lAMES  CRUZE 


PRODUCTIONS,   INC. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,   July   27,    1931 


Marion  Davies 

Best  in  Torrid 

Albany  Week 


Total  $21,360  for  4  Theatres 


Albany — Marion  Davies  has  al- 
ways been  a  good  drawing  card  for 
Alban}-,  and  this  fact  was  again  dem- 
onstrated during  the  week  when  her 
latest  vehicle,  "It's  a  Wise  Child," 
gathered  in  close  to  $5,000  at  the 
Leland  even  though  it  was  suffocat- 
ingly hot.  This  is  within  a  thousand 
dollars  of  normal  business  for  this 
house  and  the  management  expressed 
much  satisfaction  over  the  week. 

The  best  the  "Doctors '  Wives" 
could  do  for  the  Hall  was  in  the 
neighborhood  of  $7,800,  but  this  was 
due  more  to  weather  conditions  than 
to  the  box  office  features  of  the  pic- 
ture. Meanwhile  another  theatre,  the 
Strand,  a  big  downtown  house,  has 
closed  for  a  month  or  more  for  re- 
decorating and  the  installation  of  a 
cooling  system.  This  is  the  third  the- 
atre downtown  which  is  now  closed, 
the  State  and  the  Clinton  Square  the- 
atre having  been  closed  for  some  lit- 
tle time,  with  the  Strand  now  join- 
ing the  group. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  2i  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"DOCTORS'    WIVES"    (Fox) 

HARMANUS  -  BLEECKER  HALL— 
(2,300),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross:  $7,800. 
(Average,  $10,000.) 

"ITS  A  WISE  CHIUy  (M-G-M) 

LELAND— (1,350),  20c-25c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$5,050.     (Average,  $6,000.) 

"BROADMINDED"    (F.   N.)   and 

"CAPTAIN   APPLEJACK"   (Warners) 

RITZ— (1,146)— 25c-35c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$1,900.     (Average,  $2,250.) 

"SKY  RAIDERS"    (Col.)   and 
"LAWLESS  WOMAN"  (Chesterfield) 

RITZ— (1.146),  25c-35c,  y  days.  Gross: 
$1,760.     (Average,  $2,250.) 

"MIRACLE   WOMAN"    (Col.) 

R-K-C)     PROCTOR'S— (1.500),     40c-60c,     3 
days.     Gross:   $2,500.      (Average,   $3,000.) 
"THREE  WHO   LOVE"    (Radio) 

R-K-O  PROCTOR'S— (1,500),  40c-60c,  3 
Q'ays.     Gross:   $2,350.     (Average.   $3,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Two  Over  Par 
In  Hot  Week 
At  Charlotte 


Total  $18fi00  for  2  Theatres 


Charlotte — Plenty  of  heat  here. 
Yet  "Politics"  and  "Donovan's  Kid" 
did  slightly  better  than  average  busi- 
ness at  the  Carolina  where  these  pic- 
tures shared  the  screen  last  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
July  24  and  year-round  weekly  aver- 
ages : 

"CHILDREN  OF  DREAMS"   (Warners) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35c-50c,  3  days. 
Grosa:   $2,500.      (Average,   $3,750.) 

"UP  FOR  MRUDER"  (Univ.) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:   $3,000,      (Average,  $3,750.) 

"YOUNG   DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),      40c-50c.      3      days. 
Gross:  $6,5(50.      (Average,   $5,500.) 
"POLITICS"   (M-G-M) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:   $6,000.     (Average,  $5,500.) 


Bargain  Bill 

In  1st  Place 
At  Providence 


Total  $49,200  for  5  Theatres 


Providence — "Miracle  Woman"  at 
the  Albee  and  the  Majestic  with  a 
double-feature  went  over  the  top  this 
week.  "Smart  Money"  and  "Big 
Business  Girl"  made  up  the  Majestic's 
bill,  taking  in  $13,500,  which  is  $3,500 
above  average.  The  Albee  went  one 
grand   to  the  good,   grossing  $10,000. 

"Son  of  India"  at  Loew's  State 
moved  along  nicely,  grossing  $16,000, 
two  grand  below  par,  while  Para- 
mount went  under  $3,000  with  "(Con- 
fessions of  a  "Co-Ed."  The  RKO 
Victory  took  it  on  the  whiskers  again 
this  week  and  was  able  to  get  only 
$2,700  out  of  "Arizona,"  $3,800  under 
average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  23  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"MIRACLE   WOMAN"    (CoL) 

RKO    ALBEE— (2,500),     10c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:  $10,000.     (Average,   $9,000.) 
"ARIZONA"    (Col.) 

RKO  VICTORY— (1,600),  I0c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $2,700.     (Average,  $6,500.) 

"SMART    MONEY"    (Warners)    and 
"BIG  BUSINESS  GIRL"  (F.  N.) 

MAJESTIC-(2.300),  I0c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $13,500.      (Average,   $10,000.) 

"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,800).  20c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $16,000.      (Average,   $18,000.) 
"CONFEISSIONS    OF    A   CO-ED"    (ParaJ 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300).  10c-50c,  7  Jays. 
Gross:  $7,000.     (Average,  $10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Geo.  O'Brien 
Rings  Bell  in 
Seattle  Stand 


Seattle — Continued  weather  kept 
all  houses  below  normal.  The  stage 
show  helped  push  "Up  for  Murder" 
to  $12,000,  which  was  the  week's  best 
gross.  George  O'Brien  made  a  good 
showing  at  the  Coliseum,  which  was 
the  only  house  to  click  above  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  24  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"A   HOLY   TERROR"    (Fox) 

FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-35c-50c,    4 
days.      Gross:    $3,500.      (Average,    $3,000.) 
"ANNABELLE'S    AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 

FOX    COLISELTM— (2,000),    25c-35c-60c,    3 
days.     Gross:  $2,500.     (Average,  $2,500.) 
"FIVE   AND  TEN"   (M-G-M) 

FOX    FIFTH   AVENUE-(2,750),   25c-.^5c- 
50c-75c,   7   days.     Gross:   $11,000.     (Average, 
$12,000.) 
"HELL  BENT  FOR  FRISCO  (Sono-Art) 

LIBERTY— (2,0a)),  15c-30c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.     (Average,  $7,500.) 

"SMART  MONEY"   (Warners) 

MUSIC     BOX— (950),      25c-35c-50c-75c,     7 
days.     Gross:    $6,500,    (Average,   $7,500.) 
"UP    FOR    MURDER'*^  (Univ.) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,650),  25c-35c-50c-60c- 
75c,  7  days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $12,000. 
(Average,  $13,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Shore  Dinner  Called  Off 

That  bringing-the-seashore-to- 
Times  Square  idea,  planned  tonight 
at  the  Motion  Picture  Club,  has  been 
called  off. 


"Night  Nurse"  Cool  Weather 

Wows  "Philly"  Helps  Buffalo 

With  $24,500    B.  O.  Grosses 


Total  $121,000  for  8  Theatres 


Philadelphia — Warners'  "Night 
Nurse"  was  the  prize  attraction  last 
week,  getting  $44,500  at  the  Mast- 
baum,  to  top  the  house  average 
by  $4,500.  "Sweepstakes"  showed 
strength  at  the  Earle,  where  it 
knocked  off  $20,000.  Other  spots  were 
off  considerably. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  24  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"GUN    SMOKE"    (Para.) 
ARCADIA— (600),    50c,    3    days.      Gross: 
$1,000.     (Average.    $3,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"  (RKO-Pathe) 
EARLE— (2,000),  25c-65c,  6  days.    Vaude- 
ville   on    stage.     Gross:    $20,000.      (Average, 
$18,000.) 

"HUSH  MONEY"  (Fox) 
FOX— (3,000),    .>5c-50c-75c,    6   days.      Stage 
show.     Gross:    $24,000.      (Average,   $26,000.) 
"MANY-A-SLIP"  (Univ.) 
KARLTON--(1,000),      40c- 50c,      6      days. 
Gross:  $4,000.     (Average,  $5,000.) 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para.) 
KEITH'S— (1,800),      35c-50c-75c,     6     d'ays. 
Gross:  $11,500.     (Average,  $15,000.) 

"NIGHT  NURSE"   (Warners) 
MASTBAUM— (4,800),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Stage     show.       Gross:     $44,500.       (Average, 
$40,000.) 

"REBOUND"   (RKO-Pathe) 
STANLEY— (3,700),    35c-50c-75c    6    days. 
Gross:    $8,000.      (Average,  $18,000.) 
"TABU"    (Para.) 
STANTON— (1,700),      25c-65c,      6      days. 
Gross:  $8,000.     (Average,  $11,000.) 


66 


•'BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

The  Miracle 

Woman"  Gets 

Cleveland  Top 


Total  $77,500  for  7  Theatres 


Cleveland — "The  Miracle  Woman" 
performed  a  miracle  here  by  being 
the  only  picture  going  over  par.  It 
grossed  $14,000  at  the  RKO  Hippo- 
drome, whose  average  is  $12,000. 
Horace  Heidt  and  his  Californians 
helped  to  boost  the  take  of  the  RKO 
Palace  to  $21,000  with  "Lover  Come 
Back,"  but  the  figure  is  $2,000  under 
normal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  23  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"CONFESSIONS  OF  A  CO-ED"  (Para.) 

STATE— (3,400),  40c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
}'16,000.      (Average,   $20,000.) 

"THE   NIGHT   ANGEL"   (Para.) 
ALLEN— (3,.30O),   30c-60c,   7   days.      Gross: 
$15,000.       (Average,    $18,000.) 

"LOVE    IN   THE   RING"    (Standard) 
ALHAMBRA— (1,400),      25c-50c,     7     days. 
Gross:  $6,000. 

"A    HOLY   TERROR"    (Fox) 
CAMEO— (1.200),  25c-50c,  7  days.     Gross: 
$4,000.      (Average,  $4,000.) 

"THE  MIRACLE  WOMAN"  (Col.) 
RKO    HIPPODROME   —    (3,800),    25c-35c- 
65c-75c,  7  days.     Gross:   $14,000.      (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"LOVER  COME  BACK"   (Col.) 
RKO      PALACE— (3,100),      25c-35c-75c,     7 
days.     Horace  Heidt  orchestra.    Gross:  $21,- 
000.      (Average,  $23,000.) 
"CHILDREN  OF  DREAMS"   (Warners) 
WARNER'S  LAKE— (800),  40-60c,  4  days. 
Gross:    $1,.500.      (Average   for    week,   $5,000.) 


Total  $79,600  for  5  Tlieatres 


Buffalo — A  few  days  of  cooler 
weather  helped  in  some  spots,  and 
several  were  close  to  normal.  The 
kids  swarmed  into  the  Century  to  see 
"Forbidden  Adventure,"  but  tickets  at 
15  cents  don't  build  strong  grosses. 
Top  money  for  the  week — $23,800 — 
went  to  the  Buffalo,  which  played 
"The  Public  Defender."  "Hush 
Money"  was  next  in  line  at  the  Great 
Lakes. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  24  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE   PUBLIC   DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

BUFFALO— (3,300),  30c-65c,  7  days.  Pub- 
lix  stage  show.  Gross:  $23,800.  (Average, 
$25,000.) 

"FORBIDDEN    ADVEJ4TURE'     (Para.) 

CENTURY— (3,000),  25c-35c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,000.       (Average,    $12,000.) 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 

GREAT  LAKES-(3,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Loew  stage  show.  Gross:  $21,200.  (Aver- 
age,  $22,500.) 

"THE    SECRET   CALL"    (Para.) 

HIPPODROME— (2,100),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaudeville.  Gross:  $15,700.  (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"MEET   THE    WIFE"    (Col.) 

LAFAYETTEr-(3,30O),  25c-35c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,900.       (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Heat  Murders 
O.C.  Grosses; 
Wurse'  Leads 


Total  $25,200  for  4  Theatres 


Oklahoma  City  —  With  weather 
here  still  at  a  record  heat  level,  the 
dear  old  public  is  hunting  for  swim- 
ming pools,  not  motion  pictures. 

Business  did  take  a  turn  for  the 
better,  however,  in  all  houses  but  the 
Liberty  which  housed  "Ex-Bad  Boy" 
although  the  circus  did  plenty  of  gen- 
eral damage  for  one  day.  The  leader 
here  was  "Night  Nurse"  which 
grossed  $7,500  at  the  Criterion  where 
the  average  is  $8,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
July  24  and  year-round  weekly  aver- 
ages • 

"SECRET  CALL"  (Para.) 

CAP1TOI^(1,200),  10c-25c-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $5,500.      (Average,   $7,000.) 

"NIGHT  NURSE"  (Warners) 

CRITERION— (1,800),  10c-35c-.S0c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $7,500.      (Average,   $8,000.) 

"EX-BAD    BOY"    (Univ.) 

LIBERTY— (1,500),  10c-35c-.';0c,  7  days. 
Other  attractions:  Al  and  Loie  Bridge, 
vaude.     Gross:    ..6.200.     (Average,  $7,000.) 

"BLACK  CAMEL"   (Fox) 

MID-WEST  —  (1,500),  10c-25c-35c-50c.  7 
days.     Gross:   $6,000.      (Average,  $7,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Marie  Dressier  Better 

Hollywood — Marie  Dressier,  who 
underwent  an  operation  on  her  right 
hip,  is  to  be  discharged  from  the  hos- 
pital  next   Tuesday,   it   is  understood. 


Monday,  July  27,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wheat  as  Tickets 

Amarillo,  Tex. — Theatres  of 
this  city  are  endeavoring  to 
help  the  farmer  solve  the  de- 
plorable  wheat  situation. 

In  an  effort  to  boost  the 
price  of  wheat,  these  theatres 
are  admitting  any  farmer  and 
his  family  for  a  bushel  of 
wheat.  The  offer  is  limited  to 
Saturdays,  which  are  the  days 
the  farmers  and  their  families 
make  their  weekly  trips  to 
town. 

Needless  to  state,  farmers  in 
droves  are  taking  advantage  of 
the  offer. 


Frisco's  Top 

Week  in  26; 
Colman  Leads 


Total    $150,000    for    9    Theatres 


San  Francisco  —  Everybody  is 
happy  here.  Business  here  developed 
a  decided  forward  spurt  over  the  pre- 
ceding week  and  gave  San  Francisco 
its  best  grosses  in  six  months. 

The  Paramount  held  over  "The 
Magnificent  Lie"  for  two  extra  days 
and  the  Orpheum  did  likewise  with 
"The  Miracle  Woman."  The  Warner 
Columbia  and  United  Artists  decided 
to  hold  their  attractions,  thereby  send- 
ing "Night  Nurse,"  "Private  Secre- 
tary" (German-made)  and  "The  Devil 
to  Pay"  into  this,  their  second  week. 
In  point  of  gross,  Ronald  Colman  in 
"The  Devil  to  Pay,"  came  through  as 
the  standard-bearer,  grossing  $15,000, 
against  an  average  $11,000  at  the 
United  Artists. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  25  and  year-round  averages  : 

Week  Ending  July  21 
"NIGHT  NURSE"   (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS— (1,385),  35c-50c,  7  days. 
Bobby    Tones    golf;    Adventures    in    Africa. 
Gross:    $10,500.      (Average,   $10,500.') 
"EX-BAD  BOY"  (Univ.) 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2,800),  35c-4Oc-50c-65c, 
7  days.  4  acts  RKO  vaudeville.  Gross: 
$'15,500.      (Average,    $15,000.) 

Week  Ending  July  22 
"SON  OF  INDIA"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (4,600),  35c-60c,  7  days.  F  &  M 
stage  show;  Walt  Roesner  concert.  Gross: 
$35,000.      (Average,  $34,000.) 

"THE  MAGNIFICENT  LIE"  (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT    —    (2,740),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.      Jess   Stafford's   band.      Gross:    $20,- 
000.      (Average,   $19,000.)      Picture   held   two 
e.xtra   days   for   $24,(XI0  on   nine   days. 
"HUSH  MONEY"  (Fox) 
WARFIELD— (2,700),    25c-35c-50c,   7   days. 
Rube    Wolf   band;    stage    varieties.       Gross: 
$21,000.       (Average,    $21,000.) 

"STEPPING  OUT"   (M-G-M) 
EL  CAPITAN— (3,100),  25c-40c-60c,  7  days. 
Jay    Brower    band;     stage    revue.        Gross: 
$14,000.      (Average,  $13,000.) 

"MIRACLE   WOMAN"   (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-50c,    7    days. 

Gross:    $10,000.        (Average,    $12,000.)     Held 

two    extra    days    making    $14,000    gross    for 

nine  days. 

"THE  DEVIL  TO  PAY"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED    ARTISTS— (1,200),    2Sc-40c-60c. 

7  days.     Gross:  $15,000.      (Average,   $11,000.) 

Week  Ending  July  25 

"PRIVATE   SECRETARY"    (German   film) 

COLUMBIA— (1,700),  35c-50c-7,5c,  7  days. 
Three-A-Day.      Gross:    $9,000. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount  Open  Soon 

Steubenville,  O.  —  The  Para- 
mount, a  new  house  now  nearing 
completion  here,  is  scheduled  to  open 
around  August  1.  Robert  Hicks  will 
be  transferred  here  from  the  New- 
man,  Kansas   City,   as   manager. 


"^Smart  Money' 
With  $13,000 
Omaha's  Lead 


Total  $28,950  for  4  Theatres 


Omaha — "Smart  Money"  was  the 
leader  here  last  week.  Playing  at 
the  World,  it  grossed  $7,200  against 
that  theatre's  average  of  $5,500.  Sec- 
ond best  was  "The  Miracle  Woman" 
at  the  Orpheum  which  sailed  $500 
over  average  business  to  a  gross  of 
$13,000  on  its  week. 

Estimated  takings   for  week  ending 
July  24  and  year-round  averages : 
"THE  MIRACLE  WOMAN"  (Col.) 
ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-60c,    7    days. 
Four    RKO    acts    headed    by    Venita    Gould. 
Gross:   $13,000.      (Average,   $12,500.) 

"THE    NIGHT   ANGEL"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,900),    25c-30c-35c-60c,    7 
days.     Gross:   $6,250.      (Average,   $7,000.) 
"A    HOLY    TERROR"    (Fox) 
STATE— (1,200),     25c,     4     days.         Gross: 
$1,000.      (Average,    $1,200.) 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"  (M-G-M) 
STATE— (1,200),  25c,  3  days.  Gross:  $1,500. 
(Average,   $900.) 

"SMART  MONEY"    (Warners) 
WORLD— (2,500),  2Sc-40c,  7  days.     Gross: 
$7,200.      (Average,   $5,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"5  and  10"  at 
$22,000  Gets 
Boston  Honor 


Total  $149,500  for  8  Theatres 


Boston — Grosses  took  a  turn  for 
the  better  last  week  as  compared  with 
local  performances  for  the  prior  three 
weeks.  At  that,  however,  business  is 
below  expectations  for  this  time  of  the 
year.  There  is  a  hopeful  outlook, 
however,  as  the  vacation  season  is  now 
in  full  swing  and  Boston  is  nightly 
filled  with  tourists  who  spend  while 
here. 

"Five  and  Ten"  carried  off  top  hon- 
ors at  Loew's  State  with  liberal  pub- 
licity, while  most  of  the  first-runs 
showed  increasing  business,  which  is 
also  being  reflected  in  suburban  thea- 
tres. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
July  23  and  year-round  weekly  aver- 
ages : 

"PUBLIC   DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

KEITH-BOSTON— (2,500),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Vaude.     Gross:   $19,500.     (Average,   $18,000.) 
"THE    MIRACLE   WOMAN"    (Col.) 

KEITH'S— (2,800),  2Sc-65c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$18,000.     (Average,   $18,000). 

"A  FREE  SOUL"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (3,100),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $18,500.  (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"FIVE  AND  TEN"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,700),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $22,000.      (Average,   $20,000.) 

"FORBIDDEN  ADVENTURE"   (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN  —  (4,350),     25c-60c,     7 
days.     Gross:   $31,000.      (Average,   $32,000.) 
"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 

OLYMPIA  — (2,500),      25c-50c,      7      days. 
"THE    BLACK   CAMEL"    (Fox) 

SCOLLAY  SQUARE— (1,800),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross,  $15,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"NIGHT  NURSE"   (Warners) 

UPTOWN  —  (2,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $11,500.     (Average,  $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Frazier  Produces  "Kid" 

Hollywood— Herry  Frazier  has 
been  signed  by  Trem  Carr  to  pro- 
duce "The  Montana  Kid,"  for  Mono- 
gram  release. 


Mpls.  Gives 
$24,000  to 
"Free  Soul" 


Total  $37,800  for  5  Theatres 


Minneapolis  — Ballyhoo  of  re- 
viewers, including  the  rating  given 
the  picture  by  Liberty  Magazine,  put 
over  "A  Free  Soul"  at  the  Minnesota 
to  $24,000,  which  is  $4,000  above  par. 
This,  despite  the  fact  that  some 
knocked  the  picture.  Business  at  the 
other    stands   was   just   average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  24  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"BIG  BUSINESS  GIRL"   (F.  N.) 
ASTOR— (812),    20c-25c,    7    days.     Gross: 
$1,400.     (Average,  $1,500.) 

"SON  OF   INDIA"   (M-G-M) 
LYRIC— (1,238),    20c-40c,    7   days.     Gross: 
$2,500.     (Average,  $2,500.) 

"A   FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
MINNESOTA— (4,000),     30c-75c,     7     days. 
Gross:   $24,000.     (Average,  $20,000.) 

"THE  GOOD   BAD    GIRL"    (Col.) 
RKO   ORPHEUM— (2,900),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.        Bob      Hope      heading      vaudeville. 
Gross:   $14,000.      (Average,  $14,000.) 
"CONFESSIONS  OF  A  CO-ED"   (Para.) 
STATE— (2,300),      25c-35c-50c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $8,500.      (Average,   $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Chicago's  Liberal 
Attitude  Cuts  Suits 

Chicago — No  picture  litigation 
has  been  placed  before  the  corpora- 
tion counsel's  office  here  since  the 
new  city  administration  came  into  of- 
fice in  April.  During  the  former  ad- 
ministration there  was  an  average  of 
two  picture  cases  per  month  con- 
tested by  the  city  through  the  cor- 
poration counsel's   office. 

The  reduction  of  picture  litiga- 
tion is  explained  in  rity  hall  circles 
here  as  being  due  to  the  manifestly 
more  liberal  stand  of  the  present  ad- 
ministration which  is  gradually  be- 
ing reflected  in  the  decisions  of  the 
motion   picture  censorship  board. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Radio  Production  in 
Spurt;  Ten  in  Work 

Hollywood — With  the  return  from 
New  York  of  Joseph  I.  Schnitzer, 
production  at  Radio  takes  a  forward 
spurt.  Ten  pictures  will  either  be 
finished  or  in  work  by  October  1. 

Two,  "Consolation  Marriage"  and 
"Are  These  Our  Children?"  are  in 
production  now.  The  others  will  in- 
clude "Secret  Service"  and  "Frontier," 
both  starring  Richard  Dix ;  "Home 
Town  Laughter,"  Ricardo  Cortez's 
first  starring  picture ;  "Sour  Grapes," 
featuring  Mary  Astor ;  "Peach  O' 
Reno,"  starring  Wheeler  and  Wool- 
sey ;  "Penthouse,"  starring  Hope  Wil- 
liams; "Boulder  Dam"  and  "Other 
People's  Business,"  starring  Phillips 
("Seth  Parker")  Lord. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Delaware  Units 

Dover,  Del. — Charters  have  been 
filed  in   State  House  yesterday  by : 

U.  A.  of  Brazil,  Inc.,  to  deal  in  mo- 
tion pictures.  1,000  shares,  no  par 
value.  Represented  by  C.  S.  Peab- 
bles,  L.  E.  Gray  and  H.  H.  Snow  of 
Wilmington,  Del. 

Advance  Trailer  Service  of  Illi- 
nois, Inc.,  to  deal  in  motion  picture 
films.  Capital,  $1,000.  Represented  by 
C.  S.  Peabbles,  L.  E.  Gray  and  H.  H. 
Snow  of   Wilmington,   Del. 


Theatre  on  Wheels 

Cincinnati — Local  exhibitors 
are  experiencing  another  source 
of  competition  from  the  Travel- 
ing Theatre,  a  civic  project 
sponsored  by  the  Public  Rec- 
reation Commission,  featuring 
vaudeville  acts,  specialties  and 
silent  movies.  The  theatre  on 
wheels  appears  at  different  sec- 
tions of  the  city  throughout  the 
week  to  provide  free  outdoor 
entertainment. 


Indianapohs 
Grosses  Fair; 
"AngeP'  Leads 


Total  $38,150  for  5  Theatres 


Indianapolis — A  fair  week  here 
with  dubious  honors  going  to  "Night 
Angels"  at  the  Indiana.  That  picture 
grossed  $14,500  against  a  house  aver- 
age of  $13,000. 

All  other  houses  were  down  except 
the  Lyric  with  "A  Holy  Terror," 
which  did  a  measly  $500  over  the  the- 
atre's average. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
July  24  and  year-round  weekly  aver- 
ages : 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 
APOLLO— (1,100),  25c-50c,   1  days.  Gross: 
$3,750.       (Average,     $4,000.) 

"THREE   WHO   LOVED''    (Radio) 
CIRCLE— (2,600),    25c-50c,    7    days.    Gross: 
$4,000.      (Average,    $5,000.) 

"NIGHT  ANGEL  "    (Para.) 
INDIANA— (3,300),   25c-65c,   7  days.   Other 
attractions:      Publix    unit.      Gross:     $14,500. 
(Average,    $13,000.) 

"A    HOLY   TERROR  '    (Fox) 
LYRIC— (2,000),    25c-50c,     7    days.      Other 
attractions:   ISlanche  Svi-eet   in  person.   RKO 
vaudeville.    Gross:  $7,500.    (Average,  $7,000.) 
"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 
PALACE— (  ,800),   25c-50t,   7   days.    Gross: 
$8,400.     (Average,    $8,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Good  Girl" 
Gets  Biggest 
St.  Paul  Break 


Total  $31,500  for  4  Theatres 


St.  Paul — Getting  better  breaks 
than  it  did  in  Minneapolis,  "The  Good 
Bad  Girl,"  aided  by  vaudeville,  en- 
abled the  Orpheum  to  click  off  $13,- 
500,  which  is  $1,500  above  average 
and  a  fine  showing  for  these  dog  days. 
Robert  Montgomery  helped  the  Para- 
mount to  climb  to  $8,500. 

Estimated    takings     for    the     week 
ending  July  24  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 
"THE  MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),     25c-50c,     7    days. 
Gross:    $8,500.      (Average,    $7,500.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 

RIVIERA— (1,100),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.      (Average,   $7,000.) 

"THE  GOOD  BAD  GIRL"   (Col.) 

RKO'  ORPHEUM— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Stuart  and  Lash  heading  four  acts.  Gross: 
$13,500.     (Average,   $12,000.) 

"SON  OF   INDIA"   (M-G-M) 

TOWER— (I,00O),  15c-25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.     (Average,   $2,000.) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  July  27,    1931 


^'Merely  Mary  Ann" 

(Fox) 

Hollywood  —  Another  of 
Fox's  promising  fall  line-up  is 
"Merely  Mary  Ann,"  co-star- 
ring Janet  Gaynor  and  Charles 
Farrell  with  the  former  in  the 
Cinderella  type  of  role  which 
audiences  love.  There  is  plenty 
of  humor  in  the  situations  and 
the  dialogue  and  excellent  di- 
rection  by  Henry  King. 

Beryl  Mercer  gives  another 
of  her  priceless  characteriza- 
tions which  contributes  largely 
to  the  picture's  success.  With 
Farrell  in  the  role  of  a  young 
composer,  opportunity  is  af- 
forded for  the  introduction  of 
music  which  a  preview  audi- 
ence seemed  thoroughly  to  en- 
joy. 

LEO  MEEHAN 


Writers*  Game  Is  a 
Swindle  Game — Muir 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

tinue  on  the  same  producing  basis  they 
will  go  to  pieces  within  two  years." 
To  which  replies  Miss  Muir : 

"You're  not  the  first  movie  misfit  that 
has  made  this  prediction,  Horace.  They're 
all  alike.  Louie  Bromfield,  sitting  on  top 
of  a  mountain  in  Switzerland  a  few  moriths 
ago  made  a  similar  crack  anent  Sam 
Goldwyn.  Sam  was  good-natured  when  I 
interviewed    him    about    Author    Bromfield. 

"'The  greatest  tea  drinker  we  ever  had 
in  Hollywood,'  said  Sam.  'But  he  didn't 
know  anything  about  the  movies  and  didrt't 
want    to    learn.' 

"Not  long  ago  Sam  had  to  send  another 
author  back  to  authoring,  this  one  being 
Ursula  Parrott,  who  had  written  some 
reeking. 'novels'  fit  for  ageing  spirtsters  or 
goatish    sophomores." 

Massing  her  attack  again  on  Live- 
right,  Miss  Muir  says  at  another 
point: 

"Some  of  these  lads  who  come  out  here 
on  the  assumption  that  the  industry  is 
an  all-day  sucker  and  nothing  else,  wait 
until  they  have  stayed  out  their  contracts 
or  got  themselves  into  the  doghouse  before 
they  start  yapping.  Then,  because  they 
have  nothirtg  to  oflfer  motion  pictures  and 
don't  take  the  trouble  to  learn  what  it's 
all  about,  they  sound  off  in  bitter  diatribe 
against  those  who  hand  them  their  pay 
checks." 

It  is  her  opinion  that  the  successful 
writers  are  those  who  get  the  nose 
down  on  the  grindstone  and  work. 
"They  haven't  time  to  high  hat  their 
meal  ticket  and  they're  too  busy  trying 
to  improve  pictures  to  sound  off  in 
print  about  what's  wrong  with  the 
movies,"  is  her  finale. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

In  Projector  Field 

The  Pulverman  Corp.,  manufactur- 
ers of  the  Royal  Zenith  Sound  Pro- 
jector, is  making  plans  to  sell  its  pro- 
jector unit  to  other  manufacturers  of 
sound  equipment,  stated  J.  V.  C.re- 
monim,  vice  president  of  the  com- 
pany, yesterday. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Robinson  to  Tour 

Hollywood — Edward  G.  Robinson, 
First  National  star,  leaves  July  31  for 
a  vaudeville  tour  in  the  Middle  West. 
It  will  be  a  brief  tour,  however,  for 
he  is  expected  back  at  the  Warner 
Bros,  studios  September  1  to  begin 
work  on  "The  World  Changes,"  by 
Wilson  Mizner. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Another  ''Miracle  Man" 

Hollywood — Paramount  is  plan- 
ning to  remark  "The  Miracle  Man" 
with  George  Bancroft  and  Irving 
Pichel  in  leading  roles. 


''BUY NOW  SALES 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Rock  Island;  Plaza,  Moline ;  Avoy,  Moline, 
Barrfey    Brotman    Circuit. 

Indiana 

Capitol,  Indianapolis,  Goulden  Theatres 
Corp. 

/oira 

Ritz,   Denison,   Henry   Saggau. 

Kansas 

lola,  lola,  lola  Amusement  Co.;  Novelty, 
Anthony,  J.  M.  Hobbs;  Nu  Era,  Oswego, 
H.    H.    Daniels. 

Louisiana 

Amusu,   Natchitoches,   D.   Li.   Suddath. 

Maryland 

Capitol,   Baltimore,  Capitol  Theatre  Co. 

Michigan 

Aloma,  Delthe  and  East  End,  Fred  De 
Lodder;  Flamingo,  Flamingo  Theatre  Corp.; 
Frontenac,  Paul  artd  Edward  Gayeski; 
Great  Lakes,  Great  Lakes  Theatre  Co. ; 
Knickerbocker,  Knickerbocker  Amusement 
Co.;  Maxine,  Maxine  Theatre  Co.;  Mid- 
west, John  Covelski  and  A.  Westaway ; 
Your,  Fred  De  Lodder;  all  located  in  De- 
troit. Richards,  Fhnt,  A.  Eiseman;  Michi- 
gan, Flint,  Michigan  Theatre  Co. ;  State, 
Grand  Ledge,  Guy  Goodrich;  Boulevard, 
Boulevard  "Theatre  Co.;  Ciiftierella,  Cinder- 
ella Theatre  Co. ;  Lakewood,  Wm.  Guens- 
che;  Rialto,  Rialto  Theatre  Co.;  Rivola, 
Rivola  Theatre  Co. ;  Roosevelt,  Roosevelt 
Theatre   Co.,   Detroit. 

Minnesota 

Agate,  Minneapolis,  I.  Hanson;  Hamline, 
St.  Paul,  Gran  Star  Amusement  Co.;  New 
Ray,  St.  Paul,  H.  L.  McGoon;  Star,  Lam- 
berton,  Mrs.  C.  N.  Carver;  Auditorium, 
Red    Wing,    G.    W.    Johnson. 

Missouri 

Crystal,  Crystal  City,  Crystal  Library  As- 
sociation; Wellston,  St.  Louis,  Fred  Rob- 
insort;  Delpheus,  Mound  City,  John  Yous; 
Westport,  Kansas  City,  J.  F.  Rigney;  Ro- 
anoke, Kansas  City,  A.  F.  Gibbons;  Doug- 
las, Lee  Summitt,  C.  M.  Norfleet;  Tarkio, 
Tarkio,   L.    C.   Hensler. 

New  Mexico 

Paris,    Santa    Fe,   Nathan   Salmon. 

New  York 

Royal,  Albany,  H.  Hellman;  Paramount, 
Albany,  Patroon  Theatre  Corp.;  Farman, 
Warsaw,  Aprile  &  Fisher;  Community, 
Catskill,  Oatsklill  Operating  Ca;  Star, 
Dansville,  James  Martini;  Naples,  Naples, 
Carolin  C.  Perriell;  Nunda,  Nunda,  Sarah 
Tantillo;  Glorio,  Brooklyn,  Gay  Court 
Amusement  Corp.;  Parascourt,  Brooklyn, 
P.  C.  Amusement  Corp.,  and  Rialto,  Mon- 
ticello,    Malo   Theatre    Corp. 

North  Carolina 

Sunset,  Asheboro,   White  Amusement  Co. 

Ohio 

Pantheon',   Toledo,   Pantheon   Theatre   Co. 

Pennsylvania 

Grand,  East  Stroudsburg,  Wm.  Blumen- 
berg   and   Victor   Austin. 

South  Dakota 

Liberty,   Webster,   H.    M.    Schenecker. 

Texas 

Majestic,  Glenrose,  Leslie  Kell;  Palace, 
Burkburnett,    Lester    Meyer. 

Virginia 

Franklin,   Franklin,    Franklin  Theatre   Co. 

Wisconsin 

Regent,  Prairie  du  Chien,  M.  E.  Mit- 
chell; State,  Hartford,  R.  Leach;  Century, 
Blair,  Art  Johnson;  Marinuka,  Galesville, 
Art  Johnson;  Rex,  Beloit,  Rex  Theatre  Co.; 
Myers,    Janesville,    Myers   Theatre    Co. 


Fred  Dolle  joins  the  "Buy  Right- 
But  Buy  Now"  movement  today  via  a 
contract  signed  with  James  R.  Grain- 
ier for  the  complete  Fox  line-up  for 
the  new  season.  Dolle's  company,  the 
Fourth  Avenue  Amusement  Co.,  op- 
erates these  theatres : 

Alamo,  Strand,  Uptown  Rialto,  Louis- 
ville, Ky.;  Luna,  Mars  artd  Family,  La- 
fayette,   Ind. ;    Lyric   and   Indiana,    Marion, 


Ind.;  American,  Grand,  Indiana  and  Lib- 
erty, Terre  Haute,  Ind.;  Logan  and  Luna, 
Logansport,  Ind.;  Apollo  and  Lyric,  Indian- 
apolis. 


Toronto — B.  &  F.  circuit,  one  of  the 
largest  unaffiliated  circuits  in  Canada, 
has  signed  with  Regal  Films  for  the 
RKO  Pathe  Fables,  Sportlights  and 
Vagabonds.    Theatres  included: 

Prince  of  Wales,  Eastwood  Gerrard, 
Teck,  La  Plaza,  Christie,  Beaver,  Mavety, 
York,    Parliament    and    Grover. 


Harrisbltrg — Wilmer  and  Vincent 
have  closed  for  the  Fox  product  for 
the   Colonial,   State  and   Victoria. 


Miami — Wolfson-Meyer  Enter- 
prises have  signed  for  the  Fox  pro- 
gram.   Theatres  covered: 

Biltmore,  Capitol,  Lincoln,  Lyric,  Ritz, 
Miami  and  the  Biscayne-Plaza  in  Miami 
Beach.  

Chicago — Talking  Picture  Epics 
report  contracts  closed  with  all  cir- 
cuit houses  in  the  district  for  "Mon- 
sters of  the  Deep." 


Central  States  Theatre  Corp.,  oper- 
ating in  11  Iowa  towns,  has  closed  for 
the  Fox  product.  Harry  M.  Wein- 
berg is  the  buying  exhibitor.  His 
houses : 

King,  Albo;  Ames,  Capitol;  Twin  Star, 
Ames;  Rialto,  Boone;  Palace  and  Rialto, 
Burhngton;  Ritz  and  Majestic,  Centerville; 
Ritz,  Clariton;  Ritz,  Capitol  and  Strand, 
Clinton;  Rialto  and  Strand,  Fort  Dodge; 
Englert  arrd  Garden,  Iowa  City ;  Palace  and 
Strand,    Mason    City;    Grand,    Oelwein. 


Boston — World  Art  Pictures,  New 
England  distributor  for  Big  4,  has 
closed  the  following  accounts : 

Park,  Commonwealth  Amusement  Enter- 
prises, Inc.,  Nashua,  N.  H. ;  Merchants', 
Merchants'  Theatre  Co.,  Quincy,  Mass. ; 
Acadia,  Aetna  Amusement  Enterprises, 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.;  Washington,  Wash- 
ington Amusement  Enterprises,  Boston; 
Auditorium,  Regent  Amusement  Enter- 
prises, Lynn,  Mass.;  Cameo,  American 
Amusement  Enterprises,  Pittsfield;  Rox- 
bury,  Roxbury  'Theatre  Co.,  Roxbury, 
Mass.;  Strand,  Huntington  Amusement 
Enterprises,  Norwich,  Conn.;  Atlas,  Atlas 
Theatre  Co.,  Adams,  Mass.;  Rialto,  Wor- 
cester; Union  Hill,  Ei  Klein,  Gloucester, 
Mass. 

John  Day,  Ore.— The  John  Day 
theatre  has  closed  for  the  RKO 
Pathe  features  and  shorts. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tallulah's  Next 

Tallulah  Bankhead's  next  starring 
vehicle,  tentatively  titled  "Woman 
Against  Woman,"  is  slated  to  go  into 
production  next  month  at  the  Para- 
mount New  York  studio  with  George 
Abbott  probably  directing.  The  script 
is  now  being  prepared  by  Adele 
Comandini,  Paramount  writer,  from 
the  Clyde  Fitch  play  "Woman  in  the 
Case  " 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Buys  Oakland  House 

Oakland,  Calif. — M.  L.  Marko- 
witz,  head  of  the  Melmak  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  has  added  the  local  Hip- 
podrome theatre  to  his  string  of 
shows.  The  hoyse  was  leased  from 
Wachs  Brothers,  leasing  specialists. 
Markowitz  operates  a  chain  of  San 
Francisco  houses. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Start  U.  A.  House 

Richmond,  Cal. — Work  on  the  new 
$150,000  United  Artists  theatre  start- 
ed here  this  week.  Henry  I.  Beller 
Company  are  the  general  contractors. 
No  completion  date  has  been  an- 
nounced. 


"Huckleberry    Finn" 

(Paramount) 

Hollywood — Equally  as  good 
as  "Tom  Sawyer,"  right  up  to 
the  mark  in  story  and  dialogue 
and  marked  by  better  acting, 
"Huckleberry  Finn"  bears  out 
the  cheerful  advance  reports  of 
the  picture. 

Junior  Durkin  carries  off  the 
honors,  but  also  credit  goes  to 
Jackie  Coogan,  Mitzi  Green, 
Jackie  Searl,  Clarence  Muse, 
Eugene  Pallette,  and  Oscar 
Apfel.  Generous  action,  fun, 
adventure  and  kid  love  interest 
stamp  this  as  ideal  family  fare. 

The  direction  of  Norman 
Taurog  is  excellent ;  so  is  the 
screen  treatment  by  William 
Slavens  McNutt  and  Grover 
Jones. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


Special  Stage  Shows 
Slated  for  Buffalo 

Buffalo — Special  stage  shows  may 
be  produced  for  Shea's  Buffalo,  com- 
ing here  from  New  York;  possibly  the 
same  ones  that  play  the  New  York 
and  Brooklyn  Paramount,  if  Michael 
Shea  fails  to  approve  the  proposed 
switching  of  Fanchon  &  Marco  circuit 
presentations  here  to  replace  the  pres- 
ent Publix  stage  shows. 

Shea  long  has  been  known  to  be 
particular  as  to  the  nature  of  stage 
shows  for  his  theatre,  and  often  has 
booked  outside  acts  and  "names"  even 
when  he  had  the  Publix  wheel  shows. 
With  Loew's  Capitol  revues  playing 
in  the  Fox-Great  Lakes,  competition 
is  keener  than  in  some  time.  In  ad- 
dition, Fanchon  &  Marco  shows  play 
in  the  Fox  Strand  at  Niagara  Falls, 
and  the  Falls  Fox  houses  are  com- 
petition for  the  Buffalo  houses,  de- 
spite any  attempts  downtown  to  depre- 
cate their  strength.  With  Fox  and 
M-G-M  pictures,  the  Falls  houses  are 
drawing  big  crowds,  even  in  the  sum- 
mer, comparatively,  because  of  the 
great   influx  of  tourists. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"         I 

Gang  Films  Blamed 
In  White  Plains  Case 

Gangster  pictures  were  blamed  by 
District  Attorney  John  C.  Coyne  for 
the  depredations  of  the  Dinan  gang 
in  White  Plains,  New  York.  Mem- 
bers of  the  gang,  last  member  of 
which  has  been  sent  to  jail,  suffered 
from  a  "moving  picture  complex"  car- 
rying out  in  real  life  what  they  saw 
on  the  screen. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Union  Trouble  Closes 
Theatre  in  Galveston 

Galveston,   Tex. — A.    Martini   has 
closed  the  Dixie  and  is  contemplating 
the  closing  of  the  Key.    A  bitter  con- 
troversy has  been  raging  between  the 
projectionists  union  here  and  Martini, 
neither  side  seeming  to  get  together     i 
on  a  wage  scale  that  would  be  satis-    I 
factory  to  both  parties.   The  fight  has     1 
been  going  on  several  months.  | 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Buys  "Oh,  Promise  Me" 

Negotiations  were  completed  Sat- 
urday whereby  Universal  acquires 
picture  right  and  title  to  "Oh,  Prom- 
ise Me,"  which  played  at  the  Morosco 
Theatre  this  season.  "Oh,  Promise 
Me"  is  by  Howard  Lindsay  and  Ber- 
trand   Robinson. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.  NO.  49 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JULY  28,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Keep  Theatres  j^j^e  UllitS  111  Offing 

W obber  Says 

To  Circuits 


No  Reason  for  Reversion 
Of  Houses,  His  View 


Hollywood — There  is  no  good  rea- 
son for  reversion  of  theatres  to  orig- 
inal owners  on  a  wholesale  scale  or 
even  a  slight  percentage  of  them,  de- 
clares Herman  Wobber  in  an  exclu- 
sive interview  with  The  Hollywood 
Herald.  It  would  be  poor  showman- 
ship for  circuits  to  relinquish  key  city 
houses,   he   feels. 

The  slump  in  theatre  patronage  is 
less  than  falling  off  in  other  lines  of 
business  and  is  due  almost  entirely  to 
the  financial  depression,  Wobber 
states.     Good    pictures,    he    says,    will 

(Continued  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Allied  Gets  S1,000 
In  Chi  Union  Probe 

Chicago — Subscriptions  amounting 
to  something  in  excess  of  $1,000  have 
been  made  to  Allied  Theatres  of  Ill- 
inois by  members  for  the  purpose  of 
financing  Allied's  participation  in  the 
current  state's  attorney's  investigation 
of  the  Chicago  projectionists'  union. 
No  announcement  was  made,  even  to 
subscribers,  of  a  definite  purpose  to 
which  the  money  would  be  put,  other 
than   the  general   information   that    it 

(Continued   on  page    2) 


Chi  Seeks  to  Clinch 
Case  vs.   Operators 

Chicago  —  Examination  of  mem- 
bers of  the  operators  union  will  be 
conducted  on  an  extensive  scale  dur- 
ing the  next  few  weeks  in  attempts 
to  obtain  evidence  for  additional  in- 
dictments of  officials  of  the  union  and 
to  clinch  convictions  on  the  five  in- 
dictments already  returned.   Assistant 

(Continued  on   page   2) 


For  It 

Hollywood  —  Proposal  of 
producers  to  base  wage  scales 
on  types  is  O.K.  with  Jean- 
ette    MacDonald.     Says    she: 

"It's  all  right  with  me  if 
producers  decide  to  pay  ac- 
cording to  the  character's 
occupation  —  that  is,  butlers 
so  much,  chambermaids  a 
little  less  and  gardeners  prac- 
tically nothing.  You  see,  I 
specialize  in  queens." 


Under  Selznick  Plan 


Unit  Shows  to 
Be  Built  for 
Warner  Time 


Warners  plans  production  of  unit 
shows  following  Paramount's  move  in 
dropping  of  the  Publix  units  and  sub- 
stitution of  Fanchon  &  Marco  Ideas. 
Heretofore,  a  number  of  Warner 
houses  played  Publix  units.  The 
units  will  be  made  up  by  the  Artists' 
Bureau,  Warner  subsidiary  headed  by 
Walter  Meyers. 

The  new  plan  will  go  into  effect  at 
the  Stanley  Theatre  in  Pittsburgh, 
and    the    Stanley    in    Jersey    City    on 

(Continued  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Prosecution  Is 
Welcomed  by  F.  P. 

Toronto — J.  P.  Bickell,  vice-presi- 
dent of  Famous  Players  Canadian 
Corporation  yesterday  asserted  the 
company  would  welcome  criminal 
prosecution  under  findings  of  Peter 
White  in  the  Combine  probe. 

"Directors  believe  no  such  prose- 
cution   would    succeed    because    they 

(Continued  on   page  5) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Menjou  and  Novarro 
Pacts  Not  Renewed 

Hollywood — Option  on  services  of 
Adolphe  Menjou  and  Ramon  Novarro 
have  not  been  taken  up  by  M-G-M. 
Menjou  will  free-lance  but  no  decision 
has  been  made  on  the  proposed  No- 
varro renewal.  M-G-M  and  other 
studios  feel  that  it  cannot  afford  to 
carry  high-priced  players  who  are 
used  only  occasionally. 


Specializing 

THE  kind  of  pictures  David 
Selznick  will  produce  re- 
mains to  be  seen.  He  doesn't 
know  himself,  although  he  ■will 
admit  he  expects  them  to  be 
real  attractions. 

But  we  do  know  this:  That 
the  way  that  young  Selznick 
is  proceeding  in  his  job  of  de- 
veloping a  producing  organ- 
ization of  his  ow^n  nestles  close 
to  the  ideas  of  this  writer. 
There  is  substantial  talk  of 
nine  units,  each  one  operating 
individually  and  concentrating 
on  the  task  of  making  four  or 
perhaps    six    pictures    a    year. 

The  idea  is  rooted  solidly  in 
good  judgment.  Production 
is  a  specialist's  business.  Each 
picture  is  a  job  all  its  own  and 
it  follows  no  one  man  can  turn 
out  from  4S  to  70  pictures  a 
year  and  make  all  of  them 
good.  It's  been  tried  for  years 
and  each  year  it  has  failed. 

Enthusiasts  are  reading  in- 
to the  Selznick  move,  impor- 
tant as  it  potentially  is,  the 
da'wn  of  a  new  production 
day.  Time  will  determine  that, 
rather  than  individuaJ  opinion. 
Selznick,  however,  should  be 
encouraged  for  his  enterprise. 

That's  exactly  what  we  are 
trying   to   do   here. 

K  A  N  N 


Co-Op,  to  Get  Going 
At  Minneapolis  Meet 

Minneapolis — Establishment  of  an 
exhibitors'  co-operative  here  is  re- 
ported under  way.  The  buying  com- 
bine will  be  outlined  at  the  exhibitors 
session  here    September  9. 


Machat  Plans  Middle  West 
Circuit  of  German  Houses 


Chicago — Plans  for  a  Middle  West 
circuit  of  small,  modernistic,  com- 
munity theatres  are  nearing  comple- 
tion here,  and  announcement  of  a  deal 
for  their  exclusive  showing  of  Ufa 
pictures  will  be  made  within  the  next 
week  or  two.  Ufa,  however,  will 
have  no  financial  interest  in  the  the- 
atres  or   any    further   relations    with 


them    than    is    provided    by    booking 
deals. 

Louis  Machat,  Chicago  independent 
exhibitor,  will  be  the  central  figure 
in  the  circuit's  operation,  and  will, 
in  addition,  become  the  central  dis- 
trict distributor  for  Ufa,  if  plans  now 
under    way    between    himself    and    F. 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


After  Bow,  Vidor  and  Six 

Others— "Milly"  To 

Handle  Six 


Nine  series  of  pictures,  each  pro- 
duction individually  made,  are  in  the 
offing  under  the  production  organiza- 
tion which  David  O.  Selznick  is  de- 
veloping. 

Describing  his  plans  as  "vague"  at 
the  minute,  Selz- 
nick, neverthe- 
less, is  dickering 
with  Clara  Bow, 
at  present  unat- 
tached, and  with 
King  Vidor,  at 
present  with  M- 
G-M,  for  his 
second  and  third 
units.  Lewis 
Milestone,  as 
noted,  is  a  part- 
ner in  the  first 
company,  Selz- 
nick -  Milestone 
Prod,  and  will 
be  responsible 
for  six  pictures. 

Two  will  be  directed  by  Milestone  and 
four  supervised  by  him. 

Selznick  arrived  in  New  York  from 
Hollywood  yesterday,  accompanied  by 
his  brother  Myron,  head  of  the  Selz- 
nick-Joyce  agency  which  handles  some 
of   the   biggest   names    in   Hollywood. 

(.Continued  pn  page  6) 


David   O.   Selznick 


Wanger  and  Selznick 
Go  Into  a  Huddle 

David  O.  Selznick's  first  day  in 
New  York  was  spent  largely  with 
Walter  Wanger,  former  general  man- 
ager of  production  for  Paramount  in 
which  company  Selznick  also  held  a 
high  production  post. 

The     two     former     Paramounteers 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


Atlanta — Following  is  a  list  of 
the  theatres  that  have  contracted  for 
the  entire  28  Monogram  Pictures  for 
the   Atlanta  territory : 

Regent,  Miami,  Fla.;  Prince,  Tampa, 
Fla.;  Alpha,  Atlanta;  First  Natl.  Sylacauga; 
Sky  Dome,  Miami;  Pompan'o,  Pompano, 
Fla.;  Royal,  Ala.;  Roxy,  Tallassee,  Ala.; 
Royal,  Atlanta;  Bijou  Nashville,  Lenox, 
.'Vugusta,  Ga. ;  Douglas,  Macon,  Ga. ;  New 
Frolic,  Jacksonville;  Central,  Tampa;  Roy- 
al, Tarpon  Springs,  Fla.;  Palace,  St.  Peters- 
burg, Fla.;  Marvin  Wise,  Birmingham; 
Dreamland,  Augusta,  Ga. ;  Rivoli,  Talladega, 
Ala.;  Garden,  Tampa;  Grand,  Winter  Haven, 
(Continued  on  page  5) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  July  28,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Kegis.erea    L  .   S.   Patent   Oftice 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Da.ly    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


July   28.    1931 


No.   49 


Martin    Quigley 

EJitor-iit-Cliief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Adi'crtising  Manager 


^•^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^X  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  \  ork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  OflSce:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Peerless  Will  Open 
Outlets,  Pollak  Says 

Chic.xgo  —  Peerless  Pictures,  Inc. 
will  open  its  own  exchanges  wherever 
it  is  unable  to  effect  a  deal  with  al- 
ready established  distributors  in  prin- 
cipal cities  throughout  the  country, 
according  to  a  statement  made  by 
Adolph  Pollak,  general  manager  of 
the  newly  organized  company. 

Pollak  is  here  in  the  course  of  a 
nationwide  tour  of  distribution  cen- 
ters for  the  purpose  of  lining  up  in- 
dependent distributors  for  the  24  new 
Peerless  productions. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Kane  Stays  in  Paris, 
Lasky  Says  on  Coast 

Hollywood — Reports  to  the  con- 
trary notwithstanding,  Robert  T. 
Kane  will  remain  in  Paris  in  charge 
of  Paraniount's  multi-lingual  produc- 
tion, according  to  Jesse  L.  Lasky. 

Kane  has  been  variously  reported 
as  returning  to  the  States  to  take 
over  the  Long  Island  studio  or  as  re- 
tiring completely  from  the  ranks  of 
the  company's  production  executives. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"U**  Closes  Down  in 
Chile;  Others  Pat 

Universal  has  determined  to  close 
its  office  in  Santiago,  Chile,  because 
of  revolutionary  uprisings  in  that 
country. 

Other  di_stributors,  however,  are  not 
following  suit.  Joseph  Seidelman  at 
Paramount,  Arthur  Loew  at  M-G-M, 
H.  A.  Bandy's  office  at  Warner-First 
National  and  Clayton  Sheehan's  office 
at  Fox  yesterday  reported  no  change 
in  their  Chilean  operations.  Several 
foreign  managers  expressed  belief  the 
current  difficulty  was  merely  a  poli- 
tical flurry. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

155  New  Erpi  Deals 

One  hundred  fifty-five  new  con- 
tracts for  theatre  installations  have 
been  closed  in  recent  weeks  by  Erpi, 
states  C.  W.  Bunn,  general  sales  man- 
ager. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Shulherg  East  Shortly 

B.  P.  Schulberg  is  planning  to  make 
a  trip  to  New  York  some  time  in 
September. 


TTARRY  COHN,  Columbia's  production  chief  on  the  Coast,  virtually 
*-  '■  lives  in  his  studio  office.  He  is  a  hard  worker  and,  report  would 
have  you  believe,  he's  just  as  hard-boiled.  But  here's  a  story  that  places 
Cohn  in  a  slightly  different  light : 

A  certain  independent,  after  spending  $100,000  on  a  certain  picture, 
found  himself  in  a  jam ;  his  partner  had  failed  to  deliver  his  quota  of 
iron  men.    The  night  before  payday,  this  independent  went  to  Cohn. 

The  conversation  ran  like  this : 

independent :  "Mr.  Cohn,  I'm  licked.  I've  got  a  $15,000  payroll  to 
meet  tomorrow  and  no  money.    We've  got  to  stop." 

Cohn:  "Go  ahead  and  finish  your  picture  and  we'll  go  through  with 
you.  You've  got  a  good  picture  and  you  are  entitled  to  a  fair  shot  at 
the  market  with  it.  We'll  take  a  chance  with  you  on  getting  ours  after 
you  get  yours." 

And,  by  the  way,  did  you  notice  the  great  interest  Cohn  is  expressing 
in  independent  production  ? 

Why? 

• 

"Al  Smith,  Frank  Walker  and  other  Tammanyokels  are  backing 
E.  Dowling's  new  flicker  'Honeymoon  Lane,'  "  states  Walter  Winchell 
in  the  Daily  Mirror. 

• 

Al  Szekler,  back  in  Berlin,  has  done  a  grand  job  for  Universal,  the 
company  privately  concedes.  "All  Quiet,"  banned  for  public  exhibition, 
is  now  being  shown  for  clubs  all  over  Germany.  In  four  weeks,  it  is 
understood  "U's"  end  of  the  gross  has  topped  $150,000  and  the  anticipa- 
tion is  the  picture,  long  a  target  for  political  footballing  in  that  country, 
will  net  the  producer  between  $500,000  and  $750,000  before  it  runs  its 
final  course. 

When  is  a  lion  like  a  rooster  is  a  question  puzzling  many  new  Orleans 
fans  as  the  result  of  sound  experiments  on  the  part  of  an  operator  at 
the  Tudor  who  succeeded  in  making  Leo,  M-G-M's  trademark,  crow  like 
Pathe's  triumphant  rooster  during  the  opening  of  an  M-G-M  feature 
at  a  local  theatre  recently. 

The  operator  had  just  completed  running  a  Pathe  comedy  when  he 
went  into  the  feature.  As  the  M-G-M  lion  flashed  on  the  screen,  he 
cut  off  the  sound  of  his  machine,  connecting  the  horn  with  the  machine 
in  which  the  comedy  reel  remained  and  allowing  the  sound  track  to 
run  through  the  rooster's  crow.  Result :  Leo  raised  his  lordly  head 
and  emitted  sounds  which  immediately  made  the  newspapermen  doul)t 
their  bootleggers. 

O 

James  E.  McPherson,  Consolidated  Film  Industries  stockholder,  who 
appears  to  be  disturbed  over  the  company's  management  and,  therefore, 
seeks  a  writ  of  mandamus  to  examine  its  books,  is  understood  to  be 
identified  with  the  American  Record  Company  which  two  years  ago 
passed  into  Consolidated's  hands  on  an  exchange  of  stock  arrangement. 

American  Record,  it  is  understood,  received  125,000  shares  of  Con- 
solidated stock  at  the  then  market  price  which  was  $20  a  share.  Yes- 
terday that  stock  closed  at  7.  All  of  which  may  have  nothing  or 
something  to  do  with  the  case. 


Stocks  Steady;  Trading  Dull 


Net 
Change 

—  % 


+ 


+  'A 

+  V% 

-f  Vf. 

-  'A 


High  Low      Close 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 714.  7  7 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 13Vi  1354        1354 

Eastman    Kod'ak 140^^  138  139 

Fox    Film    "A" 15^  15  15^ 

General   Tlieatre    Equipment   new 3ii         354         3i4 

Loew's,      Inc 44!^  4354        4354 

Paramount   Publix 23  22!^        22% 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 654         65^         65^ 

RKO     14J4  13'54        1454 

Warner     Bros 7  654  6?^ 

Spotty  Day  for  Curb  Issues 

Net 

High  Lmw      Close     Change 

Fox   Theatres    "A" 2^  2^  25^        _  i^ 

National    Screen    Service 195^  19  1954        — 15i 

Technicolor     6'A         6'A         654        

Trans     Lux 5!^         554         554        -1-  '/n 

Slight  Drop  Shown  in  Bond  List 


General  Theatre  JbqiiTpment  6s  '40 

Loew's   6s   '41    ex    war 

Paramount    Broadway    554s    '51 

Paramount   F.    L,    6s   '47 

Paramount     Publix    554s,     '50 

Pathe     7s     '37     ww 92!/i 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39   wd 42 


High 

3254 
9854 
10254 
8554 
7454 


Low 

3254 
98 
102 
85 
74 
9254 


Close 

3254 
98 
102 
85 
74 
9254 
42 


Net 
Change 

-  54 

-  ^ 

-  54 

-  54 

-  54 

-  V^ 
+  54 


Sales 

.TOO 

100 

2,500 

1,500 

400 

800 

7,400 

100 

3,200 

2,900 


Sales 

200 
500 
100 
100 


Sales 

20 
4 
6 
19 
15 
13 
48 


i^.^' 


Qm%. 


Herman    Wobber   for   his 

straight   -   from   -   the- 

shoulder    treatise    on 

what's  wrong  with 

the  industry 


Allied  Gets  $1,000 
In  Chi  Union  Probe 

(.Continued  from  page   1) 

would    finance    a    participation   in  the 
current   investigation   of   the   union. 

Assistant  State's  Attorneys  Charles 
Lounsbury  and  Charles  Bellows,  in 
charge  of  the  prosecution  of  seven  in- 
dividuals indicted  in  connection  with 
the  union  investigation,  stated  that 
they  knew  of  no  way  a  private  fund 
could  aid  their  prosecution  of  union 
officials. 

"It  is  apparently  being  raised  to  further 
some  private  investigation  of  the  organ- 
ization," said  Assistant  State's  Attorney 
Bellows.  "The  organization  may  have 
some  civil  action  in  mind;  possibly  obtain- 
ing of  an  injunction  to  restrain  the  union 
from  enforcing  its  agreement  calling  for 
two  operators  in  the  booth.  In  any  event, 
the  'war  chest'  is  of  no  interest  to  the 
state's    attorney's    office." 

The  subscriptions  were  solicited  at 
a  meeting  of  independent  theatre  own- 
ers last  week,  presided  over  by  Al 
Steffes,  and  attended  by  about  100 
exhibitors. 


Chi  Seeks  to  Clinch 
Case  Against  Union 

{Continued  from  page    1) 

State's  Attorneys   Charles  Lounsbury 
and  Charles  Bellows  state. 

Prior  to  the  return  of  indictments 
last  week,  examination  of  members 
of  the  union  was  avoided  whenever 
possible,  due  to  the  fact  that  early 
in  the  investigation  the  prosecutors 
learned  that  questioning  of  operators 
or  summoning  them  before  the  grand 
jury  resulted  in  formation  concerning 
the  investigation  being  immediately 
returned  to  union  headquarters.  With 
the  indictments  on  five  counts  of  con- 
spiracy already  returned  against  the 
union  officials,  the  prosecutors  feel 
freer  in  summoning  and  questioning 
members  of  the  union,  they  said. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

''In  Due  Course" 

Herbert  J.  Yates  will  answer 
charges  hitting  at  the  management  of 
Consolidated  Film  Industries,  Inc., 
filed  in  Wilmington  by  James  E.  Mc- 
Pherson, butJiis  answer  will  be  made 
"in  due  course." 

Attempt  to  translate  this  into  terms 
of  hours  or  days  came  a  cropper  at 
Consolidated  yesterday  afternoon. 


Sound  Recording 

FILM   AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY     RECORDING     CO.     ol 

AMERICA.   INC 

1841    Broadway— New   York.    N.    V. 

Columbus    5-3181-3182 


CONFESSIONS 
OF  A  SHOWMAN! 


"Now  that  I've  signed  this  1931-2  PARAMOUNT  contract,  Mr.  Salesman,  I 
confess  I'm  happier  about  it  than  any  business  deal  I  ever  made. 

"I  knew  from  the  start  I  had  to  have  PARAMOUNT  this  year.  It  takes  real 
quality  on  the  screen  to  make  real  money  at  the  box  oifice  today.  PARAMOUNT  has 
a  20-year  quality  record  behind  its  trade  mark  that  no  other  company  can  touch. 

"Then  take  stars.  The  big  drawing  cards  always  belong  to  PARAMOUNT. 
Favorites  like  Lloyd,  Bancroft,  Chevalier,  Dietrich,  Chatterton,  Marx  Brothers, 
Carroll,  Cooper,  Brook,  Lukas,  Arlen,  Bankhead,  Colbert,  Holmes,  March, 
Lombard,  Sidney,  Shannon  and  the  others,  presented  as  only  PARAMOUNT  can, 
mean  real  money  to  me. 

"When  I  read  PARAMOUNT'S  new  season  announcement,  I  said,  ^There's 
the  cream  of  the  1931-2  crop. 

"But  I  waited  for  actual  pre-release  performance  at  the  box  office.  I  in- 
vestigated reports  of  SMILING  LIEUTENANT  playing  three  months  of  S.  R.  O.  on 
Broadway  in  New  York's  hottest  summer  and  then  doing  sensationally  in  Chicago 
and  the  Carthay  Circle,  Los  Angeles.     It's  true. 

"I  saw  AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY  last  week.  All  the  fine  things  the  trade 
reviewers  have  said  about  it  are  too  modest.     It's  a  clean-up. 

"I  caught  MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK  at  the  New  York  Paramount.  How 
that  big  audience  went  for  it! 

"I  got  confidential  wires  from  Hollywood  telling  me  HUCKLBERRY  FINN 
will  out-gross  Tom  SAWYER,  SILENCE  is  the  best  melodrama  in  years  and 
DAUGHTER  OF  THE  DRAGON  is  a  honey.  With  a  special  rave  about  the  MARX 
BROTHERS  in  MONKEY  BUSINESS. 

"Now,  Mr.  Salesman,  you  understand  why  I'm  smiling.  You  had  about 
as  much  chance  of  getting  out  of  that  door  WITHOUT  my  name  on  that 
PARAMOUNT  contract  as  the  proverbial  snow-ball." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


$6,000  Fine 
For  "Co-Ed" 
Houston  Run 


Total  $25,500  for  4  Theatres 


Houston  —  Youngsters  in  their 
teens  kept  the  Kirby  consistently  in 
the  lead  last  week  with  "Confes- 
sions of  a  Co-Ed."  Business  all- 
around  was  a  little  better  although 
nothing  to  brag  about. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  23  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages : 

"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 

KIRBY--(1,654),  25c-35c-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:   $6,000.      (Average,   $5,000.) 

'THE  MIRACLE  WOMAN"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS    ST.ATE-(2,/00),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.      Gross:    $6,(X)0.      (Average,   $7,000.) 
"THE    SECRET   CALL"    (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (2.512),        25c-J5c  50c, 
7  days.     Gross:   $6,500.     (.Average,  $7,000.) 
"A   WOMAN    OF   EXPERIENCE"    (RKO) 

RKO  Majestic— (2,252),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days 
Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,   $7,000.) 


66 


•BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Co-Ed"  Gets 

$9,000  Gross 

In  Des  Moines 


Total  $25,200  for  3  Theatres 


Des  Moines — This  has  been  worse 
weather  than  the  drought  of  last  year. 
Cooling  systems  are  certainly  prov- 
ing worth  their  weight  in  gold. 

"Confessions  of  a  Co-ed"  was  the 
big  scorer  and  men  were  present  for 
the  matinees  as  well  as  the  women. 
It  grossed  $9,000,  which  would  be 
good  for  winter  time  business.  At 
the  Paramount  the  first  half  of  the 
week  suffered  from  the  competition 
with  "Hush  Money"  grossing  $6,000. 
"The  Maltese  Falcon"  with  Bebe 
Daniels  credited  with  good  drawing 
power  was  well  above  average  with 
$7,000.  "The  Black  Camel,"  popu- 
lar as  a  magazine  story  was  given 
high  praise  and  had  a  good  run  for 
four  days  at  the  Strand  grossing  $2,- 
300.  The  last  half  of  the  week,  the 
Strand  grossed  $900  with  "Great 
Lover." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  25  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages : 

"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 

DES    MOINES— (1,500),    7    days,    25c-35c- 
60c.      Gross:    $9,000.      (Average,    $7,000.) 
"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,700),    3    days,    25c-35c- 
60c.      Gross:    $6,000.      (Average,    $5,Sf)0.) 
"MALTESE    FALCON"    (Warners) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,700),    4    days,    25c-.55c- 
60c.     Gross:   $7,000.     (Average.   $5,500.) 
"THE    BLACK    CAMEL    (Fo«) 
STRAND— (1,100),  4  days,  20c-35c.    Gross: 
$2,300.     (Average,  $1,700.) 

"THE   GREAT  LOVER"   (M-G-M) 
STRAND-(1,1(X)),  3  days,  20c-35c.    Gross: 
$900.      (Average,   $700.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Buy  ''Tugboat  Annie" 

M-G-M  has  acquired  rights  to 
"Tugtx)at  Annie,"  published  in  the 
Saturday  Eveninc/  Post,  and  has  en- 
gaged its  author,  Norman  Keilly 
Raine,  to  prepare  a  script  based  on 
his  character. 


Tuesday,   July   28,    1931 


"Free  Soul"  Is 
Best  of  Week 
In  Milwaukee 


Total  $49,000  for  6  Theatres 


Milwaukee — There  were  no  out- 
standing pictures  in  town  during  the 
past  week  and  consequently  business 
was  fairly  quiet  along  the  entire 
front.  "A  Free  Soul"  was  good  for 
an  average  week  at  Fo.x's  Strand, 
while  "Doctors'  Wives"  enjoyed  a 
fairly  good  business  at  Universal's 
Alhambra. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  24  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages : 

"DOCTOR'S    WIVES"    (Fox) 

ALHAMBRA— (2,660)— 25c-35c-50c-60,         7 
days.     Gross:    $8,500.      (Average,   $8,000). 
"A    HOLY    TERROR"    (Fox) 
GARDEN— (1.150),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,r00.      (Average,   $10,000.) 
"THE  MIRACLE  WOMAN"   (Columbia) 
RIVERSIDE— (2,180),      25c-35c-50c-6Oc,      7 
days.     Gross:  $13,000.     (Average,  $13,000.) 
"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
STRAND— (1.406),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days 
(2nd      week).        Gross:      $6,500.        (Average, 
$6,500.) 

"BROADMINDED"    (F.    M.) 

WARNER— (2,500),  25c-35c-S0c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,0<X). 

"ANNABEXLE'S   AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 

WaSCONSIN— (3,275),  25c-35c-50c-65c,  7 
days.  Fanchon  Marco  Idea.  Gross:  $13,- 
000.      (Average,    $13,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

$17,000  High 
For  "Girl"  in 
"Casey"  Stand 


Total  $54,500  for  5  Theatres 


Kansas  City — ^"The  Good  Bad 
Girl"  was  the  leader  here  last  week, 
grabbing  ofT  $17,000  at  the  Main- 
street.  The  Midland  with  "The  Man 
in  Possession"  was  good  for  $16,500, 
which  was  two  G's  above  average. 
Other  houses  were  ofif. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  25  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages : 

"THE    GOOD    BAD    GIRL"    (Col.) 

MAINSTRP:ET— (3,067),    25c-60c,    7    days 

Vaude.     Gross:    $17,000,     (Average,   $15,000.) 

"MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (4,000),  25c-50c,  7  days.   Gross: 

$16,500.      (Average,    $14,500.) 

"THE   SECRET  CALL"    (Para.) 
NEWMAN— (2,0(X)),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:   $10,000.      (Average,  $12,500.) 

FORBIDDEN    ADVENTURE"    (Para.) 
LIBERTY-(1.200),        25c-50c.        7       days. 
Gross:    $5,500.      (Average,    $6,500.) 

"UP     FOR    MURDER"     (Univ.) 
UPTOWN— (2,200),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,500.      (Average,   $6,(X)0.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Award  Names  Out 

Hollywood — When  the  Academy  of 
M.  P.  Arts  and  Sciences  ballots  for 
its  annual  awards  this  year  the  names 
of  directors,  cameramen,  sound  tech- 
nicians and  art  directors  will  not  be 
voted,  but  the  particular  accomplish- 
ment with  which  they  have  been  iden- 
tified instead.  The  individuals'  names 
will  be  identified  later. 


Toronto  in  a 
Spurt;  Not  Up 
To  Mark  Yet 


Total  $59,400  for  5  Theatres 


Toronto — Rain  at  regular  intervals 
and  lower  temperature  during  the 
week,  coupled  with  more  popular  at- 
tractions, brought  better  business  to 
most   of   the   Toronto    houses. 

The  Imperial  had  a  good  combina- 
tion in  "Women  Love  Once"  on  the 
screen  and  Willie  Solar,  comedian,  in 
the  stage  show,  the  result  being  $15,- 
000,  or  only  $1,000  under  par.  Prac- 
tically the  same  situation  was  found 
at  Shea's  where  "Annabelle's  Af- 
fairs" and  a  sparkling  Harry  Delmar 
Revue  on  the  stage  accounted  for  $11,- 
800,  a  fair  jump  from  the  previous 
weeks.  Loew's  braced  a  bit  to  $12,- 
500  on  "Five  and  Ten"  but  some- 
thing has  to  be  done  about  the  cool- 
ing system  there  to  compete  with  the 
refrigerated  theatres.  "The  Night 
Angel"  at  the  Tivoli  was  branded  as 
another  "Blue  Angel"  by  the  review- 
ers and  Nancy  Carroll  isn't  so  hot 
here  anyway,  the  outcome  being  a 
fair    $11,400. 

The  Uptown  tapered  off  to  $8,700 
with  "Up  for  Murder,"  which  is  the 
lowest  yet  for  this  theatre.  All  of 
the  theatres  took  a  rap  on  the  chin 
on  Tuesday  night  when  roughly  150,- 
000  people  went  to  Sunnyside  Beach 
to  see  the  burning  of  an  old  lake 
boat. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  24  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para.) 

IMPERIAL— (3,444),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c- 
75c.  6  days..  Publix  stage  show.  Gross: 
$15,000.  (Average.     $16,000.) 

"FIVE  AND   TEN"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2.088),       25c-,TOc-40c-60c-75.       6 
days.       Gross:    $12,501).       (Average,    $15,000.) 
"ANNABELLE'S    AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 

SHEA'S— (2,600).  30c-5t)c-60c-75c,  6  days. 
Harry  Delmar's  Revue.  Gross:  $11,800. 
(Average,    $13,000.) 

"THE    NIGHT    ANGEL"    (Para.) 

TIVOLI— (1,600),    15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c,   6 
days.      Gross:      $11,400      (Average,   $12,500.) 
"UP     FOR    MURDER"     (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (J.OaO),  15c-25c-35c-50c-6Cc,  6 
days.       Gross:    $8,700.       (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Ottawa  First 
Runs  All  End 
Up  Under  Par 


Total  $13,250  for  4  Theatres 


Ottawa — There  was  only  one  the- 
atre here  that  made  a  fair  showing 
during  the  past  week — the  Centre 
with  "Tailor-Made  Man."  Even  this 
was  below  the  average  line  with  a 
gross  of  $4,100  for  the  six  days.  The 
Regent  grossed  more  at  $4,600  on 
"Young  Donovan's  Kid"  but  this  was 
still  further  below  the  year's  aver- 
age. 

A  fairly  bright  spot  was  the  Im- 
perial with  "Annabelle's  Affairs" 
which  attracted  the  women  folks  to 
the  tune  of  $2,600  but  this  was  also 

(Continued  on  pane  5) 


"Gigolo''  with 
Stage  Show,  Is 
Montreal  High 


Total  $49,800  for  6  Theatres 


Montreal — Business  came  back 
with  a  ban.g  at  Loew's  last  week 
when  Manager  J.  C.  Adams  put  over 
a  real  b.  o.  scoop  with  personal  ap- 
pearances of  Pauline  Garon,  native  of 
Montreal.  Pauline  was  presented 
with  the  key  to  the  city  by  the  mayor, 
supervised  a  "Garon  Resemblance 
Contest"  at  the  theatre,  was  gener- 
ously interviewed  and  made  the 
rounds  of  the  town.  On  the  bill  was 
"just  a  Gigolo"  which  was  just 
enough  to  insure  that  crowds  would 
come,  not  to  mention  five  acts  of 
vaudeville  for  good  measure.  It  was 
a  real  comeback  with  $13,800,  or  $800 
above  the  year's  average. 

The  Palace  did  fairly  well,  too, 
with  "Night  Angel"  at  $11,500. 
Montreal  likes  this  type  of  film.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  bust  of  the  week 
was  "Kiki"  at  the  Princess  where 
the  draw  was  $8,400,  which  was  $4,- 
600  under  average.  What  proved  to 
be  a  fairly  interesting  mixture  was 
the  double  at  the  Capitol  comprising 
"Sweepstakes"  and  "Speckled  Band." 
the  latter  a  British  detective  picture. 
The  take  was  $9,500,  hardly  enough. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  24  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"SWEEPSTAKES"     (RKO-Pathe)     and 
"SPECKLED    BAND"    (British) 

CAPITOI^-(2,547),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,500.      (Average,    $12,500.) 
"MY    PAST"     (Warners)     and    "DESERT 
VENGEANCE"    (Col.) 
IMPERIAL— (1,914),    15c-25c-40c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $3,400.      (Average,   $5,100.) 

"JUST  A   GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 
LOEWS- (3,115),      25c-40c-50c-65c-75c,      7 
days.      Pauline    Garon    in    personal    appear- 
ances     and      five      acts.        Gross:      $13,800. 
(Average,  $13,000.) 

"THE   NIGHT  ANGEL"   (Para.) 
PALACE— (2,600),      25c  ■40c -60c -75c -99c,      7 
days.      Gross:    $11,500.      (Average,    $14,000.) 
"KIKI"  (U.  A.) 
PRINCESS— (2,272),   2Sc35c-40c-50c-60c-65c, 
7   days.      Gross:    $8,400.      (Average,   $13,000.) 
"SO   MILLION    FRENCHMEN"    (Warners) 
and  "THE  FLOOD"  (Col.) 
STRAND— (7.50),     15c-25c-40c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:  $3,200.     (Average,  $4,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Writer  Demands  In 

Hollywood  —  B,  P.  Schulberg, 
chairman  of  the  producers'  committee 
of  the  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences 
which  will  discuss  writers'  demands 
with  the  writers  has  in  his  hands  the 
latters'  proposals. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Roy  Disney  on  Coast 

Hollywood — Roy  O.  Disney,  gen- 
eral manager  for  Walt  Disney,  has 
returned  from  an  extended  trip  to 
New  York,  and  will  spend  the  sum- 
mer at  the  studios. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Mystery  Offers  Tie-up 

I'irst  Division  Pictures  is  tying  up 
exploitation  of  "Should  a  Doctor 
Tell"  with  the  mystery  death  at  Long 
Beach   of   Starr   Faithful!. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Reopen  Thursday 

Alb.\ny — The  Strand,  entirely  re- 
decorated, reopens  Thursday. 


Tuesday,  July  28,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Novarro  Film 
Balto's  High 
With  $19,500 


Total  $62,690  for  7  Theatres 


Baltimore — Box-offices  showed  a 
material  increase  over  the  previous 
week's  lows  in  most  instances  with 
Loew's  Stanley  topping  the  list  at 
$19,500,  or  $2,000  above  normal  with 
"Son  of  India,"  in  which  Ramon  No- 
varro proved  a  fine  drawing  card. 

Weather  element — hot  and  humid 
— attempted  to  curtail  business  but 
thunder  showers  helped  cool  the  city 
and  night  business  came  along  as 
well  as  the  matiness  after  Wednes- 
day. 

"Forbidden  Adventure"  proved  a 
draw  at  Keith's  with  the  receipts  go- 
ing $1,140  above  average;  "The 
Black  Camel,"  was  enjoyed  by  New 
audiences  and  business  was  only  $500 
under  average ;  "The  Great  Lover," 
with  a  stage  show  at  Loew's  Century, 
did  about  $1,000  under  average  and 
the  weak  sister  on  the  list  was  "Six 
Cylinder    Love,"    at    Warner's    Met. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
July  23  and  year-round  averages : 

Week  Ending  July  24 
"FORBIDDEN     ADVENTURE"     (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (2,500),  25c-50c,  6  days  plus 
Sunday  midnight  showing.  Gross:  $6,640. 
(Average,    $5,500.) 

Week  Ending  July  25. 
"THE    GREAT    LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  CENTURY— (3,076),  25c-60c,  6 
days.  Loew-Capitol  stage  unit,  "Exit 
Smiling,"  orchestra.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Av- 
erage,    $19,000.) 

"MAR   IN  POSSESSION"    (M-G-M) 
(Shown    uptown    after    one    week    downtown 
at    the    Stanley.) 
LOEW'S    PARKWAY— (987),     15c-35c.    a 
days.      Gross:    $4,100.    (Average,   $3,500.) 
"SON   OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S     STANLEY— (3,522),    25c-60c.     6 
days.      Gross:     $19,500.      (Average,   $17,500.) 

"MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 
(Shown    downtown    after    one    week    at    the 
Stanley,    also    dowtown) 
LOEW'S   VALENCIA-(1,487),    25c-35c.    6 
days.        Gross:    $3,850.        (Average,    $2,800.) 
"THE    BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 
NEW— (1,600),    25c-50c,    6    days.        Gross: 
$7,5CO.         (Average,     $8,000.) 

"6   CYLINDER    LOVE"    (Fox) 
WARNER'S     METROPOLITAN— (1,300), 
6   a'ays.       Gross,    $3,600.       (Average,    $4,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ottawa  First 
Runs  All  End 
Up  Under  Par 

{Continued   from   paqe   4) 

quite  a  bit  off  in  comparison  with  av- 
erage. Keith's  Theatre,  largest  house 
in  town,  continued  closed  for  renova- 
tion but  even  this  fact  did  not  make 
much  difference,  Ottawa  being  re- 
corded as  the  hottest  place  in  Can- 
ada at  least  twice  during  the  week. 
The  fans   stuck  to  the  open. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  24  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"WOMAN    HUNGRY"    (F.    N.) 

AVALON-(990),  15c-25c-35c-  3  days. 
Gross:     $1,050.  (Average,     $1,300.) 

"ALWAYS    GOODBYE"    (Fox) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-35c,  3  d^ays. 
Grvss:    $900.       (Average,    $1,300.) 

"TAILOR-MADE    MAN"    (M-G-M) 

CENTRE— (1,142),         150-250-350-600.         * 
days.       Gross:    $4,100.       (Average,    $4,600.) 
"ANNABELLE'S   AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 

IMPERIAI^(1,091),  10;^25c-35c-50c.  6 
days.        Gross:     $2,600.        (Average,    $3,000.) 

"YOUNG    DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 

REGENT— (1,225),  15o-25c-35c-45c-60o-75c, 
6  days.      Gross:   $4,600.      (Average,  $5,400.) 


"Enemy''  Off 
To  Smashing 
Chi  Business 


'BUY  NOW  SALES 


Total  $160,540  for  8  Theatres 


Chicago — Weather  was  cooler  and 
business  was  better  with  the  Chicago 
and  State-Lake  staging  a  comeback. 
"Politics"  was  excellent  in  eight 
days  at  the  Chicago  and  the  picture 
was  moved  to  the  Roosevelt  for  a 
run.  "The  Miracle  Woman"  is  con- 
tinuing at  the  State-Lake.  The  Pal- 
ace had  a  nice  week  thanks  to  Fifi 
D'Orsay  on  the   stage. 

"A  Free  Soul"  rounded  out  its 
fourth  week  and  was  replaced  by  "Tht 
Public  Enemy,"  which  censors  have 
been  holding  up  for  three  months. 
The  latter  got  off  to  an  excellent 
start  at  $17,000  for  three  days.  "The 
Smiling  Lieutenant"  will  finish  a 
fourth  week  at  the  United  Artists. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  22  and  year-round  week- 
ly average : 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

CHICAGO— (4,000).        35c-50o-75c-85o.        8 
days.      Publix   stage   unit,    orohestra,   James 
Hall.       Gross:    $48,600.       (Average,    $46,000.) 
"A    FREE    SOUL"    M(G-M) 

IvTcVICKERS— (2,284),  35c-50c-75o-85o,  4th 
week.      Gross:    $11,250.       (Average,   $28,500.) 

Week  Ending  July  24 
"QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 

CASTLE^(299),  40o-eOc.  Gross:  $4,070. 
(Average,    $3,200.) 

"THE   SECRET   CALL"    (Para.) 

ORIENTAI^(.?,940),       35c-50c-75c-85o,      7 
days.      Publix  stage   unit,   orohestra,   organ. 
Gross:     $21,625.        (Average,    $36,500.) 
"THE     VIKING"     (Ind.) 

■ROOSEVELT  —  (1,591),  35c-50c-75o-85o, 
2nd  week,  final  8  days.  Gross:  $11,800. 
(Average,     $23,200.) 

"THE   MIRACLE    WOMAN"    (Col.) 

STATE-LAKE  —   (2,776),   35c-S0c-75c-85c. 
Gross:     $23,470.        (Average,    $30,200.) 
"THE   SMILING  LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

UNITED  ARTIST£i-(i,700).  35o-50c-75c- 
85c,  3d  week.  Gross:  $14,975.  (Average, 
$24,600.) 

Week  Ending  July  25 
"ARIZONA"    (Col.) 

PALACE— (2,509),  35c-50o-75c-85c,  7  Jays. 
Five  aots  RKO  vaudeville,  with  Fifi 
D'Orsay,  orchestra.  Gross:  $24,750.  (Av- 
erage,    $24,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Meyer  Going  to  Coast 
On  Expansion  Plan 

Meyer-Rieger,  new  trailer  firm,  will 
open  district  offices  in  Chicago  and 
Los  Angeles  under  its  plan  to  divide 
the  country  into  three  zones  as  ex- 
clusively reported  by  Motion  Picture 
Daily. 

Louis  Meyer  is  to  go  to  the  Coast 
in  connection  with  the  firm's  plans. 
He  will  be  gone  about  a  month.  He 
also  plans  a  survey  of  exhibitor  opin- 
ion on  trailers. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Form  Puhliicty  Firm 

Associated  Public  Relations  Guild, 
Inc.,  has  been  formed  to  handle  pub- 
licity for  screen,  stage  and  radio  stars. 
Harold  E.  Tillotson,  recently  with 
Paramount  and  Theatre  Service  Corp., 
is  in  charge.  Offices  have  been  open- 
ed in  New  York  and  London. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Health  Film.  Showings 

Motion  picture  showings  in  city 
parks  during  the  summer  is  planned 
by  the  New  York  Tuberculosis  and 
Health  Association  in  cooperation 
with  the  Department  of  Health.  Films 
on  health  only  will  be  shown. 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
Fla.;  Strartd,  Bartow,  Fla.;  Lincoln,  At- 
lanta; Ritz  and  New  Rialto,  Knoxville; 
fabalex  and  Princess,  I^  Grange,  Ga. ; 
Crescent,  Dade  C^ity,  Fla.;  Belle  and 
(iapitol,  Gadsden,  Ala.;  Princess,  Haley - 
ville,  Ala.;  Princess,  Shelby  ville,  Tenn.; 
Ritz,  Tifton,  Ga. ;  Palace,  Valdosta,  Ga. ; 
Patio,  St.  Petersburg,  Fla. ;  Cameo  an'd 
Strand,  Atlanta;  Pekin,  Montgomery,  Ala.; 
Majestic,  Nashville,  (ja. ;  Gay,  Newport, 
Tenn. ;  Palace,  Sevierville,  Tenn. ;  Seminole, 
Homestead,  1-lorida ;  Hollywood,  Holly- 
wood, Fla.;  Decatur,  Bainbridge,  Ga.; 
Blakely,  Blakely,  Ga.;  Victory,  Cairo,  Ga.; 
Olive,  Donaldsonville,  Ga. ;  Strand,  Dothan, 
Ala.;  Dixie,  Pelham,  Ga. ;  Strand,  Winder, 
Ga. ;  Alban'y  and  Liberty,  Albany,  Ga. ; 
Ponce  de  Leon,  Atlanta;  Haven,  (Tanton, 
Ga.;  Doradelle,  Copperhill,  Tenn.;  Palace, 
Lafayette,  .  Ga. ;  Majestic,  Atlanta;  Ritz, 
Alabama  (iity,  Ala.;  Capitol,  Clarksville, 
Tenn.;  Princess,  Cleveland,  Tenn.;  Princess, 
Gadsden;,  Ala.;  Avalon,  Avon  Park,  Fla.; 
C^ircle,  Sebring,  Fla.;  Vivian,  Lacoochee, 
Fla.;  Temple,  Perry,  Fla.;  Gem,  Knoxville; 
Ritz,  Jacksonville;  Lee,  Cuthbert,  Ga.;  Lee, 
Dawson,  Ga.;  Princess,  Enterprise,  Ala.; 
Lee,  Eufaula,  Ala.;  Princess,  Greenville, 
Tenn.;  Jefferson,  Jefferson  City,  Tenn.; 
Novelty,  La  Follette,  Tenn'. ;  Grand,  Lenoir 
City,  Tenn.;  Lyric,  Loudon,  Tenn.;  Gay, 
Sweetwater,  Tenn.;  Star,  Toccoa,  Ga.; 
Lyric,  Stuart,  Fla.;  Seventh  Ave.,  Miami; 
Vero,  Vero  Beach,  Fla. ;  Strand,  Lakeland, 
Fla.;  Liberty,  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  Appling,  Bax- 
ley,  Ga.;  Manavista,  (ihipley-Bonifay,  Fla.; 
Rivoli,  Douglas,  Ga. ;  Moultrie,  Moultrie, 
Ga. ;  Savannah,  Savannah,  Ga. ;  Royal, 
Sampson,  Ala.;  East  Co.,  Daytona  Beach, 
Fla.;   Arcade,    Kissimmee,    Fla. 

The  entire  Sparks  circuit  has  also 
gone  Monogram.  Theatres  included 
are  these : 

Imperial,  Jacksonville;  Alcazar,  St. 
Petersburg;  Beacham,  Orlando;  JefTerson, 
St,  Augustine;  Florida,  Gainesville;  Milane, 
Sanford;  Dixie,  Ocala;  Arcade,  Ft.  Myers; 
Sunset,  Ft.  Lauderdale;  Sunrise,  Ft.  Pierce; 
Palace,  Bradenton;  Edwards,  Sarasota; 
Capitol,  Clearwater;  Star,  Arcadia;  Howell, 
Palatka;  Dolka,  Leland;  Capitol,  Plant 
City;  Broadway  Gran'd,  Winter  Park; 
Casino,  Ybor  City;  Sparks,  West  Tampa; 
Sparks,    Palmetta,    Ritz,   Tallahassee. 


Universal  has  closed  with  Glen  W. 
Dickinson  for  next  year's  Universal 
features  and  short  product  over  the 
Kansas  and  Missouri  circuit  houses. 

The   houses    include : 

Bijou  and  Seelye,  Abilene,  Kans.,  Em- 
pire and  Strand,  (Thillicothe,  Kans.,  Dickin- 
son, Fayette;  State  and  Dickinson,  Garden 
City;  Dickinson.  Hiawatha;  Booth  and 
Beldorf,  Electric  and  Dickinson.  Indepen- 
dence; Dickinson  and  Colonial,  Horton; 
City,  Uptown  and  Cozy,  Junction  City; 
Dickinson,  Varsity  and  Orpheum,  Lawrence; 
Dickinson  and  Wareham,  Manhattan; 
Dickinson  and  Valencia,  Macon,  Mo.;  Dick- 
inson, Marceline,  Mo. ;  Dickinson'  and 
Neodesha,  Kan.;  Dickinson,  Odessa,  Mo.; 
Dickinson,  Osawatomie;  Uptown,  Parsons, 
Kan.;  Bijou,  Kansas  City;  Empire  and 
Strand,  Beloit,  Kan.;  Dickinson,  Osage 
City;  Dickinson,  Paola;  Dickinson,  Slater; 
Dickinson,  Smith  Center  and  Dickinson, 
Trenton,   Mo. 


RKO  Pathe's  Rooster  crowed  yes- 
terday about  these  deals  on  the  1931- 
32  product : 

Massachusetts 

BOSTON — Salesman  Frank  Ross  has  ne- 
gotiated contracts  with  the  Phil  Smith 
Circuit  for  features,  westerns,  comedies 
and  shorts.  The  towns  are:  Hudson,  Read- 
ing, Franklin,  So.  Boston,  Weymouth, 
Methuen  and  Ipswich,  Mass.,  and  E. 
Greenwich,    Rhode    Island. 

Mel  Ames  sold  all  product  to  these  three 
situations:  the  Richmond,  North  Adams; 
Academy  at  Southampton  an'd  the  Suffolk, 
Holyoke. 

Branch  Manager  Ross  Cropper  closed  the 
Academy,  Fall  River,  on  features  and 
shorts. 

Pennsylvania 

PHILADELPHIA-Robert  Mochrie  has 
closed  a  deal  for  four  houses  in  Ocean  City, 
N.  J.,  on  features  and  shorts.  Theatres 
are:  the  Morlyn,  Showboat,  Strand  and 
Daugherty's. 

PITTSBURGH— Salesman  George  Collins 
has  sold  features,  comedies  and  shorts  to 
Menlo  Theatres,  Charleroi,  Pa.  Harry 
Price  closed  the  Emporium  at  Emporium, 
Pa.,  on'  all  product.  Salesman  Elder  placed 
features    in    the   Grand,    Elkins,    Pa. 


Vaude,  "Kiki" 
Garner  Cincy 
High:  $24,232 


Total  $71,990  for  7  Theatres 


Cincinnati — The  collective  returns 
for  last  week  practically  equalled  the 
total  average.  The  breakdown  of  fig- 
ures gave  the  individual  houses  four 
plus  and  four  minus  signs  in  their 
averages.  However,  everything  con- 
sidered, business  can  be  said  to  be 
on    the   up-and-up   for   midsummer. 

Again  RKO  Albee  came  out  on  top 
of  the  heap  with  "Kiki"  on  the  screen, 
and  Nick  Lucas  with  four  other  acts 
supplying  the  vaudeville.  The  box- 
office  jingle  was  to  the  tune  of  $24,- 
232,  which  exceeded  the  house 
average  by  $2,322.  The  excessive 
hot  weather  was  interrupted  by  se- 
vere storms  on  three  or  four  success- 
ive days.  These  invariably  broke 
during  the  late  afternoon  or  early 
evening  and  undoubtedly  slowed  up 
the  night  attendance  to  a  more  or 
less  extent. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  24  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"MANY    A     SLIP"     (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (1,600),  30c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.        (Average,    $4,500.) 

"KIKI"    (U.    A.) 
RKO    ALBEE— (3,300),    35c -50c -65c -75c,    7 
days.       Vaude.    headed    by    Nick    Lucas    in 
person.     Gross:    $24,232.     (Average,  $22,000.) 
"MALTESE    FALCON"     (Warners) 
RKO    CAPITOI^(2,000),    3Oc-50c.   7   days. 
Gross:     311.867.  (Average,     $13,000.) 

"A    FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
■RKO   FAMILY— (1,140),    second   run,   20c- 
25c-35c,    4    days.       Gross:    $2,656.    (Average, 
$1,950.) 

"I   TAKE    THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 
RKO   FAMILY— (1.140),    second    run,    20c- 
25c-35c-,  3  days.     Gross:  $1,430.      (Average, 
$1,050.) 

"ANNABELLE'S    AFFAIRS    (Fox) 
RKO    LYRIC— (1.400,    30c-50c,    7    days    plus 
Saturday    miaViight    show.       Gross:    $10,595. 
(Average,    $12,000.) 

"SMART  MONEY"    (Warners) 
RKO    PALACE— (2,700),    30c-50c,    7    days, 
plus  Saturday   midnight  show.     Gross:  $12,- 
665.        (Average,    $14,000.) 

"NEVER   TWAIN    SHALL   MEET" 
(M-G-M) 
RKO    £:iTRAND^(l,350),    25c-40c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $4,455.       (Average,    $3,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Col.  Still  Leads  'Em 

Columbia  beat  National  Theatres  by 
a  score  of  five  to  four  at  the  Catholic 
Protectory  last  Saturday.  Erpi  trim- 
med RKO  Pathe  getting  five  runs  to 
the  opposing  team's  three. 

The  league  standing  as  of  Saturday, 
July  25,  follows : 

W        L  Pet. 

Columbia    9  0  1000 

RKO 7  0  1000 

Erpi 7  3  700 

Warner    4  2  666 

Fox  2  5  285 

RKO  Pathe   2  7  222 

National  Theatres  ..2  8  200 

RCA  Photophone   ..0  8  000 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Appear  with  Film 

Eddie  Dowling  and  Ray  Dooley 
will  appear  together  at  the  New  York 
Paramount  starting  Friday  in  connec- 
tion with  "Honeymoon  Lane." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Under  Same  Roof 

M.  Whitmark  &  Sons  and  Remick 
Music  Corp.  will  be  in  the  same  build- 
ing when  the  latter  moves  to  the  Hol- 
lywood Theatre  Building  on  Broad- 
way September  1. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  July  28,    1931 


Nine  Units  in 
Offing  Under 
Selznick  Plan 


(Continued  front  page  1) 

The  trip  concerns  financing  and  re- 
leasing arrangements. 

"We  are  out  to  lick  overhead," 
David  Selznick  told  Motion  Picture 
Daily.  "We  are  going  to  produce  in 
Hollywood,  but  we  are  not  ambitious 
enough  to  annex  our  own  studio.  We 
will  hire  space  as,  if,  and  when  re- 
quired." 

.Selznick  says  he  does  not  propose 
to  tie  himself  up  with  any  one  dis- 
tributor. Thus,  the  Alilestone  pic- 
tures will  go  through  one  company 
and  the  other  series  through  other 
distributors. 


Wanger  and  Selznick 
Go  Into  a  Huddle 

[Continued  from  page   1) 

spent  several  hours  together  in  the 
morning  and  several  more  last  night. 
The  fact  that  Wanger  and  the  Direc- 
tors' Guild  idea  included  a  series  from 
Lewis  Milestone,  now  affiliated  with 
Selznick,  lead  to  speculation  yester- 
day as  to  whether  or  not  Wanger  and 
Selznick  will  find  themselves  linked 
together  in  the  same  production  ven- 
ture. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Prosecution  Is 

Welcomed  by  F.  P, 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

have  been  advised  by  counsel  they 
have  not  been  guilty  of  any  offense 
against  patrons  of  their  theatres  or 
owners  of  competitive  theatres,"  he 
said.  Personally,  I  would  be  pleased 
to  answer  any  charges  laid  under  any 
act  of  Parliament  if  only  to  clear  the 
record  of  the  present  management. 

"Discrimination  against  certain  the- 
atre owners  as  alleged  simply  means 
owner  of  large  theatre  pays  consid- 
erable premium  for  right  to  present 
picture  for  period  varying  from  days 
to  months  in  advance  of  competitive 
theatre  owners  in  a  given  neighbor- 
hood. Protection  is  a  universal  prac- 
tice recognized  in  all  countries.  Any- 
one who  outbids  us  gets  the  picture." 

Discussing  British  films  Bickell  de- 
clared that  the  test  of  pictures  is  not 
their  origin  but  earning  power  and 
no  quota  law  could  override  the  pub- 
lic's judgment  of  the  value  of  a  pic- 
ture. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW 

Stromherg  Signs  New 
2 -Year  M-G-M  Pact 

Hollywood — Hunt  Stromberg,  su- 
pervisor, has  been  given  a  new  con- 
tract by  M-G-M.  It's  for  two  years 
retroactive  July   10. 

In  addition  the  company  has  signed 
Julian  Josephson  to  "create  and 
write"  "Under  the  Lilacs."  Bess 
Meredyth,  writer,  has  been  signed  to 
a  one  year  contract. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Wolf  Buys  Series 

Dallas — Al  Wolf  has  bought  the 
Richard  Talmadge  series  for  the  Dal- 
las territory. 


Machat  Plans 
Links  in  The 
Middle  West 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

Wynne  Jones,  Ufa's  American  repre- 
sentative,  materialize. 

Theatres  will  be  constructed  im- 
mediately in  Cincinnatti,  Cleveland, 
Detroit,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Louis. 
Machat's  Cinema  Art-guild  Theatre 
in  Chicago  will  also  be  a  unit  in  the 
midwestern  community  circuit,  which 
has  just  closed  its  deal  for  15  Ufa 
pictures.  The  theatres  will  cater 
primarily  to  German  patronage,  and 
additional  houses  may  be  erected  later 
in  other  midwestern  cities  of  large 
German  population.  The  arrange- 
ments will  definitely  supplant  any 
plans  for  the  organization  of  a  Ufa- 
owned  circuit,  at  least  in  the  midwest. 

A  unique  plan  of  financing  will  be 
attempted,  with  directors  of  the  cir- 
cuit hoping  to  obtain  50  per  cent  of 
the  required  capital  through  the  sale 
of  investment  securities  in  the  cir- 
cuit to  their  prospective  German 
patronage.  The  balance  of  the 
financing  will  be  done  by  the  group 
of  Chicago  architects  and  builders 
who  are  sponsoring  the  plan.  Their 
identities  are  being  closely  held  un- 
til the  deal  is  consummated.  The 
capital,  however,  will  be  entirely  from 
sources    outside    the    industry. 

The  theatres  will  be  of  an  ultra- 
modernistic  trend  introduced  in  Chi- 
cago by  Machat  at  the  Cinema  Art- 
guild  Theatre  and  the  Punch  &  Judy. 
All  furnishings  will  be  in  keeping 
with  the  architectural  designs,  and 
equipment  concerns  are  already  at 
work  on  new  conceptions  in  seats, 
lighting  fixtures,  furnishings  and 
other  equipment. 

The  theatres  will  be  of  the  in- 
timate, community  type  of  300  to 
400  seats.  Instead  of  a  lounge  serv- 
ice of  coffee  and  cigarettes,  the  the- 
atres will  offer  beer,  pretzels  and 
other  refreshments  native  to  their  ex- 
pected  patronage. 

Booking  deals  are  also  pending 
with  Tobis  and  other  foreign  pro- 
ducers, and  suitable  American  prod- 
uct will  also  be  used,  according  to 
Machat,  who  is  to  have  the  active  op- 
eration direction  of  the  circuit,  with 
Chicago    as    headquarters. 

'BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

To  Build  Unit  Shows 
For  Warner  Time 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

August  28,  and  at  the  Mastbaum,  in 
Philadelphia,  on  September  4.  Each 
house  will  have  a  producing  head  of 
its  own  who  will  balance  and  stage 
his  programs.  Joe  E.  Brown  is  the 
first  star  to  be  engaged  for  the  Stan- 
ley in  Jersey  City. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW 

'*  Vanishing  Legion"  Big 

Boston — "The  Vanishing  Legion," 
Mascot  serial,  playing  at  the  Metro- 
politan, has  broken  all  precedents  by 
having  been  booked  for  a  full  week 
at  the  city's  largest  house.  It's  be- 
ing shown  twice  daily.  The  Para- 
mount in  dating  the  serial  inaugu- 
rates chapter  films  in  that  house,  ac- 
cording to  Herman  Rifkin  of  Holly- 
wood  Pictures. 


Purely 
Personal, 


HG.  KNOX,  Dr.  Don  Mac  Kenzie, 
•  A.  P.  Hill,  F.  P.  Morgan,  J.  P. 
Maxfield,  S.  K.  Wolf  and  F.  L.  Hop- 
per, all  of  Erpi,  have  turned  author 
and  have  contributed  to  "Recording 
Sound  for  Motion  Pictures,"  a  new 
tome  edited  by  Lester  Cowan  of  the 
Academy  of  M.  P.  Arts  and  Sciences. 

Val  Lewton  and  Herbert  Kerkow 
(a  well-known  cartoonist  in  disguise) 
are  working  on  "Speak  For  Yourself, 
John,"  their  second  collaboration, 
which  will  be  completed  about  Aug.  L 
They  are  the  authors  of  "The  Star 
Fateful  Murder." 

J.  F.  Clemenger,  signed  recently  as 
narrator  and  writer  of  dialogue  for 
the  Educational-Lyman  H.  Howe's 
Hodge  Podge  Series,  is  now  record- 
ing dialogue  for  three  new  Hodge 
Podges. 

Herman  Zohbel  headed  the  list  of 
RKO  executives  who  made  the  week- 
end cruise  of  the  Leviathan  to  Nova 
Scotia.  Milton  Schwartzwald,  Nate 
Blumberg  and  Mark  Luescher  were 
among  those  on  the  voyage. 

SoNiA  ScHULBERG,  daughter  of  B. 
P.,  arrives  on  the  Coast  todav  after  a 
trip  to  Europe.  She  had  tea  with  the 
Prince  of  Wales  while  in  England, 
if  it  means  anything  to  you. 

Jack  C.  Perley,  formerly  Para- 
mount New  Jersey  booker,  has  been 
promoted  to  salesman  for  the  same 
territory.  Bernie  Brooks,  last  Brook- 
lyn exchange  booker,   succeeds. 

Ai,  Young,  chief  laboratory  worker 
of  Du-Art  Film  Laboratories,  is 
spending  his  vacation  supervising 
processing  at  the  firm's  new  Toronto 
plant. 

Jack  Meredith,  former  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  director  for  Saenger 
Theatres,  now  headquartering^  in 
New  York,  recently  paid  a  visit  to 
his   former  home  town. 

Jack  Ellis,  RKO  New  York  branch 
manager,  has  inaugurated  his  first 
date  drive  since  taking  over  the  helm 
at  that  exchange. 

Don  Clarke  has  already  sold  40,- 
000  copies  of  his  next  book,  "Young 
and  Healthy,"  which  will  be  publish- 
ed Sept.  1. 

Joe  Nolan,  secretary  of  Radio  Pic- 
tures, is  reciting  his  prowess  as  a 
fisherman  to  associates  at  the  home 
office. 

C  F.  Chandler  has  left  for  Cali- 
fornia to  make  his  home  on  his  lemon 
ranch.  He  does  not  propose  to  step 
out  of  the  picture  business. 

SiD  Wolf  is  going  in  for  swimming 
in  the  Park  Central  pool  in  a  big 
way. 

Lothar  Mendes  is  en  route  to  the 
Coast.  He  didn't  think  much  of  New 
York  in  July. 

Lillian  Gish  returns  to  New  York 
on  the  lie  de  France  today. 

Cleve  Adams  spent  the  week-end 
at  Rye  beach  with  the  family. 

S.  Price  of  Erpi  is  now  boastful 
father  of  a  baby  son. 

J.  M.  Normanly  left  last  night  for 
three  weeks  in  the  Maine  woods. 


Keep  Theatres 
Wobber  Says 
To  Circuits 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

bring  prosperity  back  to  the  theatre 
before  other  business  groups  can  get 
back  to  normal. 

Complaint  of  production  waste  can 
be  matched  with  proof  of  theatre  ex- 
travagance in  overseating,  building 
cost  and  luxurious  equipment,  Wob- 
ber asserts. 

Circuit  owners  must  show  interest 
in  community  problems  and  make 
resident  manager  jobs  permanent,  he 
asserts.  Zoning  changes  will  be  gov- 
erned by  local  conditions  such  as 
shifting  populations  and  new  theatres. 

Musicals  Important 

Musicals  properly  treated  and  not 
released  too  frequently  will  be  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  future,  Wobber 
believes.  A  mixed  menu  of  comedy 
and  sophisticated  sentimental  and 
musical  productions  will  bring  back 
the  public  to  the  theatre,  he  says. 
Unit  productions  made  by  independ- 
ents will  get  a  market,  he  believes. 

Wobber  says  he  has  no  sympathy 
with  croakers  in  or  out  of  the  indus- 
try who  cry  about  production  waste. 
He  says  it  probably  is  true  that  great 
sums  could  have  been  saved  if  certain 
productions  had  not  been  undertaken 
but  adds  that  the  industry  has  made 
progress  with  every  mistake  and 
learned  what  to  avoid. 

Exhibitors  make  as  many  mistakes 
as  producers  and  some  of  them  more 
lasting,  he  continues.  Pictures  are  not 
alone  in  costly,  oversized  plants.  Banks 
have  too  many  branches  and  steel 
plants  never  were  built  to  operate  at 
40  per  cent  of  their  capacity. 

There  is  just  as  much  intelligence 
directing  the  picture  industry  as  any 
other  line,  Wobber  asserts.  The  in- 
dustry, he  says,  has  men  of  financial 
daring  and  courage,  of  resourcefulness 
and  imagination  who  led  the  business 
from  comparative  obscurity  to  its 
present  high  rank  in  less  than  25 
years  and  the  future  is  safe  in  their 
hands. 

Wobber  believes  that  exhibitors 
have  suffered  less  proportionately  than 
any  other  class  and  that  prosperity 
will  come  to  the  theatre  ahead  of 
other  industries. 

"We  must  have  good  pictures  as 
poor  ones  will  drive  theatre  results 
even  lower,"  asserts  Wobber.  "The 
sale  of  amusement  like  the  sale  of 
any  other  commodity  depends  upon 
quality  of  product." 

Most  of  the  circuits  with  which  he 
is  familiar  are  making  money,  says 
Wobber,  and  can  continue  with  prop- 
erties now  being  operated  even  if  any 
occasional  house  has  to  be  discarded. 

There  always  will  be  changes  in 
protection  and  zoning  due  to  new 
houses,  new  policies  and  new  admis- 
sion prices.  There  never  has  been  a 
day  and  date  release  date  in  western 
cities  and  there  is  no  chance  of  such 
a  plan  in  future  except  in  cities  of 
great  population  or  covering  unusual- 
ly large  areas,  says  Wobber. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Fox  Signs  Three 

Hollywood — Contracts  have  been 
awarded  to  Howard  Emmett  Rogers 
and  Dimitri  Ostrov,  authors,  and 
George  Haddon,  technical  and  art  di- 
rector by  Fox. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  50 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JULY  29,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Warners  See 
Plot  in  St. 
Louis  Suits 


Koplar    Charged    with 
Instigating  Actions 


St.  Louis — With  Warners  contend- 
ing that  the  actions  are  to  force 
them  to  pay  an  excessive  price  for 
minority  stock  held  by  complainants 
in  Skouras  Brothers  Enterprises  and 
the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.,  hear- 
ing in  the  action  against  the  latter 
is  to  be  resumed  today. 

On  Monday  testimony  was  taken 
in  the  suit  against  Skouras  Enter- 
prises with  Harry  Koplar,  former 
business  associate  of  the  Skouras 
Brothers,  as  chief  witness  for  the 
plaintiffs. 

Warners  charge  that  Koplar  insti- 
gated the  suits  and  says  there  is  no 
ground  for  them,  asserting  the  com- 

(Continued    on    page    7) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Stanwyck  Film 
Goes  on  the  SheK 

Hollywood — Harry  Cohn  is  going 
through  to  the  bitter  end.  He  has 
ordered  "Forbidden,"  uncompleted 
Barbara  Stanwyck  film,  to  be  shelved 
and  has  assigned  Frank  Capra  the 
direction  of  "Gallagher,"  a  newspaper 
story.  Cohn  asserts  Miss  Stanwyck, 
who  he  says  demanded  a  250  per  cent 
salary  increase,  has  three  more  to 
make  for  Columbia  and  that  she  will 
make  those  pictures  before  going  to 
any  other  studio. 

The  player,  in  the  interim,  will 
probably  go  East  shortly  with  her 
husband,  Frank  Fay  who  says  he  is 
considering  stage  offers. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

Para.to  Net  $300,000 
From  Booking  Deal 

Another  booking  deal  which  runs 
into  the  hundred  of  thousands  has 
been  closed  by  Paramount  with  sign- 
ing of  contracts  with  Sam  Cocalis  of 
the  Cocalis-Springer  circuit.  The 
deal,  covering  30  theatres  in  Greater 
New  York,  will  net  the  distributing 
firm  about  $300,000  for  the  entire  new 
season's  line-up. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

All  Quiet  on  the  "iJ" 
Front;  Hobart  Back 

Hollywood  —  Everything  is  rosy 
now  between  Rose  Hobart  and  Carl 
Laemmle,  Jr.  Their  mutual  troubles 
are  over  which  means  Miss  Hobart 
returns  to  the  Universal  lot.  First 
under  the  peace  arrangement  will  be 
"Heart  and  Hand." 


First  Runs  Show  Increase; 

992,433  for  164  Houses 


First  run  grosses,  in  the  aggregate,  showed  a  shght  gain  for 
the  week  ending  last  Thursday  and  Friday,  as  compared  with 
the  preceding  seven  day  period.  Based  on  box-office  reports 
appearing  in  Motion  Picture  Daily,  164  theatres  in  28  cities 
last  week  collected  $1,992,433  from  the  public.  The  total  was 
$1,889,523  the  week  before  and  $1,987,789  the  week  prior  to 
that. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  current  returns,  although  representing 
a  fractional  gain  in  dollars  and  cents,  indicate  theatre  business 
is  better  in  view  of  the  fact  that  theatres  reporting  were  164 
as  against  166  the  week  before.  The  most  notable  increase 
is  shown  by  11  New  York  theatres  whose  bulk  intake  was 
$315,603,  as  against  $264,743  last  week  or  an  increase"  of 
$50,860. 


Last  week's  figures  by 

City  No.  Theatres 

Albany     4 

Baltimore     7 

Boston   8 

Buffalo    5 

Charlotte    2 

Chicago     8 

Cincinnati    7 

Cleveland     7 

Denver    5 

Des    Moines    3 

Houston    4 

Indianapolis    5 

Kansas   City    5 

Los    Angeles    13 


cities  follow : 

Gross  City                                   No.  Theatres      Gross 

$21,360  Minneapolis    5  $37,800 

62,690  Montreal     6  49,800 

149,500  Milwaukee     6  49,000 

79,600  New    York    City    11  315,603 

18,000  Oklahoma    City    4  25,200 

160,540  Omaha     4  28,950 

71,990  Ottawa    4  13,250 

77,500  Philadelphia   8  121,000 

49,000  Portland     5  43,200 

25,200  Providence    5  49,200 

25,500  San    Francisco    9  150,000 

38,150  Seattle     5  41,500 

54,500  St.   Paul   4  31,500 

144,500  Toronto     5  59,400 


Arbuckle  to 
Make  Screen 
Return  Try 


Hollywood — Roscoe  (Fatty)  Ar- 
buckle is  coming  back  to  the  screen 
as  a  comedy  star.  With  the  approval 
of  Earle  Hammons,  Educational  presi- 
dent, the  picture  will  be  made  on  that 
company's  lot. 

Under  the  plan,  the  picture  is  to  be 
made  in  two  versions,  one  with  Ar- 
buckle starred  and  one  with  some 
other  comedian.  The  choice  of  Ar- 
buckle will  be  left  squarely  up  to  the 
exhibitor.  Arbuckle  will  direct  the 
version  in  which  he  is  not  starred  and 
possibly  the  other  as  well. 


Bring  Your 
Own  Cot  Is 
Omaha  Gag 


Omaha — Paramount  has  gone 
"flop  house"  for  the  benefit  of  local 
hay  feverites. 

Both  ace  houses  of  the  chain.  Para- 
mount and  World,  are  oflfered  as  free 
refrigerated  sleeping  quarters  on  al- 
ternate nights  to  sufferers  of  the  mal- 
ady. Idea  belongs  to  Evert  R.  Cum- 
mings,  divisional  manager  and  a  hay 
feverite    of    long    standing. 

Relief  from  insomnia  is  anyone's 
in  this  town,  providing  he  brings  his 
own  cot.     Balconies  are  reserved  for 

{Continued    on    page    7) 


'BUY NOW  SALES 


Atlanta — The  Arthur  C.  Brom- 
berg  Attractions  of  this  city  have 
closed  the  third  series  of  12  Big  4 
westerns  in  fifteen  towns,  as  follows : 
Jacksonville,  Daytona  Beach  and 
Chipley,  Fla. ;  Moultrie,  Atlanta, 
Douglas  and  Savannah,  Ga. ;  Samson, 
Ala. ;  Crest  Falls  and  Greenville,  S. 
C. ;    China   Grove,   N.   C. ;    Kingsport, 


Tenn.   and   Plaquemine,   Marreri   and 
New   Orleans,   La. 


Baltimore — Frank  H.  Durkee, 
president  of  a  circuit  which  operates 
15  theatres  in  Maryland,  has  enlisted 
in  the  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 
movement  by   closing   contracts   with 

(Continued    on    page    7) 


U.  A.  Continues 
Building  Plan 
With  Deal  Up 

Houses  May  Be  Turned 
Over  to  Fox  West  Coast 


While  United  Artists  and  Fox  West 
Coast  are  negotiating  a  deal  under 
terms  of  which  the  latter  firm  will 
take  over  operation  of  the  proposed 
U.  A.  theatres  in  Far  Western  states, 
U.  A.  is  going  ahead  with  its  building 
plans. 

The  present  plans  embrace  a  num- 
ber of  Coast  cities  with  one  house,  in 
San  Francisco,  already  in  operation. 
A  theatre  at  Richmond,  Cal.,  is  under 
way  and  plans  have  been  completed 
for  a  house  at  Vallejo.  A  number  of 
other  cities  of  the  state,  as  well  as 
adjoining  states  were  to  be  embraced 
in  the  program  mapped  by  U.  A. 

The   proposed  turning   over   of   the 

(Continued    on    page    7) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Chi  House  Under 
State's  Protection 

Chicago — The  Clearing  Theatre, 
following  the  lead  of  several  other 
Chicago  exhibitors,  has  dismissed  its 
operators  and  is  accepting  protection 
from  the  state's  attorney's  office  in 
the  event  of  possible  union  retaliation. 
The  theatre  owner's  son,  who  holds 
a  union  "permit"  but  was  never  given 
a  theatre  assignment  by  Tom  Maloy, 
union  business  agent  who  controls 
employment  assignments  of  operators 
in  all  Chicago  theatres,  is  operator. 

The  Clearing  Theatre  figured  in  the 

(Continued    an    page    7) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Wanger  Just  Visits 
And  Visits  Selznick 

Walter  Wanger  is  making  no  state- 
ments. At  the  same  time,  he  is 
snending  considerable  time  with  David 
Selznick.  Wanger's  production  ideas 
coincide  with  Selznick's,  but  the  for- 
mer can't  do  a  thing  about  it  until  his 
Paramount  contract  is  either  abro- 
gated or  again  put  into  operation.  The 

(Continued    on    page    7) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Marxes  Get  $100,000 
From  Para,  for  Yarn 

Hollywood — Clever  boys,  Groucho, 
Harpo,  Zeppo  and  Chico.  The  Marx 
Brothers  have  completed  a  story  of 
their  own  which  they  are  reported  tO' 
have  sold  to  Paramount  for  $100,000, 
That's  only  part  of  their  playwright- 
ing  activities.  They  expect  to  turn  it 
over  to  Sam  Harris  for  stage  pro- 
duction as  well. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   July  29,    1931 


\ 


MOTION  PICTURE  4 

DAI  LY 


Registered   U.  5".   Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Datly    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


July    29,    1931 


No.    SO 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^^r\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
£  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V<|^   Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quig[pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  WilUam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  810  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4.  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    v.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Purely  Personal 


Moray  Says  Showmen 
Foresee  Good  Season 

"Exhibitors  are  awaiting  the  new 
season  with  the  feeUng  that  it  is  go- 
ing to  bring  back  prosperity  to  the 
theatre"  said  Norman  H.  Moray,  Vita- 
phone  sales  manager  yesterday  on  his 
return  from  a  trip  through  New  Eng- 
land in  which  he  visited  Boston,  Al- 
bany,   New    Haven    and    other    cities. 

"I  found  no  bewailing  of  conditions,'' 
said  Moray.  "Where  business  has 
been  bad  it  has  been  due  entirely  to 
the  quality  of  the  offerings.  With 
good  product  in  view  exhibitors  see 
better  times  ahead." 

While  in  Schenectady  Moray  sign- 
ed contracts  with  W^illiam  Shirley  by 
which  the  latter  agrees  to  take  the 
ejitire  Vitaphone  shorts  product  for 
the  State  and  Strand  for  the  new- 
season. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Shirk  Dies  on  Coast 

Hollywood — Funeral  services  are 
set  for  Adam  Hull  Shirk,  former  pub- 
licity chief  at  the  Paramount  studio, 
who  died  at  Hillcrest  Sanitarium.  He 
was  50  years  old.  Years  ago,  Shirk 
was  editor  of  the  Dramatic  Mirror. 
His  widow  survives. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

**Nurse'*  Got  $44,500 

"Night  Nurse"  grossed  $44,500  in 
its  sensational  week  at  the  Mastbaum, 
Philadelphia,  and  not  $24,500,  as 
stated  due  to  a  typographical  error. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

Augment  Stage  Show 

Gomez  and  Winona,  featured  danc- 
ers of  the  recent  "Crazy  Quilt,"  have 
been  added  to  cast  of  the  new  stage 
show  starring  Eddie  Dowling  and 
Ray  Dooley,  which  opens  Friday  at 
the'  New  York  Paramount  coinciden- 
tally  with  premiere  of  Dowling's  new 
picture,   "Honeymoon   Lane." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

In  "Miracle  Man" 

HoLLVwooB  —   Nancy   Carroll   will 
probably     play     the     original      Betty 
■Compson   role   in    Paramount's   talker 
remake  of  "The   Miracle   Man." 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Not  Yet  Set 

Hollywood  —  Julian  Josephson's 
deal  with  M-G-M  is  not  yet  set,  but 
is  expected  to  be  shortly.  He  will  do 
the  script  for  "Under  the  Lilacs." 


WALTER  K.  Hill,  publicity  writer. 
Jack  Level,  formerly  with 
Pathe's  advertising  and  publicity  de- 
partment, and  William  Grotz,  artist, 
have  been  added  to  the  staff  of  Har- 
vey-Jaedicker  Advertising  Art  Serv- 
i.ce. 

Charles  Reed  Jones,  who  has 
joined  Peerless  Productions  as  adver- 
tising and  publicity  chief,  is  the  au- 
thor of  "The  Mystery  of  Judge  La 
Garde,"  the  second  release  on  the  new 
company's    schedule. 

Rudy  Sanders,  president  of  the 
Brooklyn  Theatre  Owners,  says  he 
gets  more  headaches  as  head  of  the 
local  charity  fund  than  he  does  from 
operating  his   two  theatres. 

Gary  Cooper  has  returned  from  his 
European  vacation  trip  and  is  in  New 
York  to  start  work  in  "Sal  of  Singa- 
pore"  at  the   Paramount  studio. 

MoE  Streimer  has  taken  up  fishing 
and  spends  his  week-ends  at  Sheeps- 
head  Bay.  He's  got  a  couple  of  fish 
stories,   if  you're   interested. 

P«il  Dunas,  Joe  McConville,  M. 
Montague  and  George  Naylor,  Col- 
umbia execs,  are  in  New  York  for 
sales    conferences. 


Denny  Rosenzweiss,  New  York 
circuit  operator,  is  touring  the  west 
following  a  visit  to  his  cousin  Marcu.s 
Laub. 


P.\TSY  Reis  will  get  back  from  her 
Coast  trip  next  week.  She's  secretary 
for  Howard  Dietz  while  in  New  York. 

Jay  F.  Browne  has  been  appointed 
company  manager  of  the  "Broken 
Dolls"  Idea  for  F.  and  M. 

William  H.  Roddy  is  now  company 
manager  of  the  "Dream  House"  Idea, 
a  Fanchon  and  Marco  unit. 

W.  W.  Decker  has  been  appointed 
company  manager  of  Fanchon  and 
Marco  "Vaud  Bits"  Idea. 

John  A.  Brehany  has  been  made 
company  manager  of  "All  at  Sea,"  F. 
and   M.   stage  show  unit. 

Phil  Goldstone  has  completed  the 
first  three  pictures  on  the  new  sea- 
son's   Tiffany    line-up. 


Jack  Reis  has  been  appointed  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  Fox  Blenheim. 

Joe  Fischer,  veteran  Warnerite 
from  Singapore,  is  in  New  York. 

Nick  C.  Wagner  is  now  company 
manager  of  the  "Hot  Java"  Idea. 

Leon  Rosenblatt  has  been  touring 
Canada  for  a  brief  vacation. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Clergy,  Clubwomen 
To  See  Dowling  Film 

With  women  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Bureau  acting  as  hostesses,  the 
Brooklyn  Paramount  will  feature  to- 
morrow morning  at  8 :45  A.  M.,  a 
special  preview  of  "Honeymoon  Lane," 
under  sponsorship  of  the  Hays  organ- 
ization. The  picture  is  booked  for 
both  Paramounts  beginning  this  Fri- 
day. Special  invitations  have  been 
sent  to  representative  clergy  and  wo- 
men's groups,  through  cooperation  of 
the  International  Federation  of  Cath- 
olic Alumnae. 

Representation  from  every  women's 
club  group  in  Manhattan  and  Brook- 
lyn will  be  in  attendance,  includ- 
ing the  Jewish  Federation  of  Wo- 
men's Clubs,  the  D.  A.  R.,  Teaching 
Catholic  Sisters  of  Brooklyn  and  the 
Girl   Scout  Leaders,  etc. 

Mrs.  Rita  McGoldrick  is  handling 
the  event  for  the  Hays  organization, 
in  cooperation  with  Mr.  Robert  Weit- 
man,  managing  director  of  the  Para- 
mount. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Would  Enjoin  Fight  Film 

Effort  is  being  made  by  Rudolph 
Pictures,  Inc.,  to  restrain  showing  of 
the  Pathe  News  pictures  of  the  Shar- 
key-Walker fight.  A  show-cause  or- 
der has  been  obtained  by  Mayer  in 
Supreme  Court,  New  York,  claiming 
he  had  exclusive  film  rights. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

Dorothy  Lee  Renews 

Hollywood — Dorothy  Lee's  con- 
tract has  been  renewed  by  Radio  Pic- 
tures, according  to  an  announcement 
by  William  Le  Baron,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  production. 


Stocks  Show  Gain;  Trading  Dull 


High  Low  Clo.se 

Consolidated    Film    Industries BJ's          7'A  8 

Eastman  Kodak 143  1401^  142^^ 

Fox    Film    "A" 16'4        15?^  16j4 

General   Theatre   Equipment   new PA          354  3^4 

Loew's,     Inc 44J^        44^  4AVi 

Paramount     Publix 23J4        22y,  23 

Pathe     Exchange 1^4.          IVs  .     15/g 

Palhe  Exchange  "A" 6^         6  65^ 

RKO    I4y»        14  14!^ 

Warner    Bros 7>'8          6)4  7 


Net 
Change 

-fl 

+i'A 
+  % 


-  'A 
+  A 


Advance  Also  Shown  on  Curb 


High 

Fcx    Theatres    "A" 2'A 

General  Theatre   Equipment  pfu" 7^ 

.Sentry   Safety   Control 1 

Technicolor    6% 

Trans     Lux S'A 


Low 

2/2 

7'A 
% 


Close 

2/ 
7'A 
1 
6-/8 


Net 
Change 

-  A 

+  'A 

+  'A 

+  Vs 


Sales 

1.800 
1.500 
1,400 
500 
900 
5.300 

ion 

1,200 
1.900 
5,100 


Sales 

200 
200 
/OO 
200 


•40. 


High 

31/2 


General  Theatre   Equipment  6s 

Loew's  6s   '41   ex   war 

Paramount   Broadway   5/s  '51.. 

Paramount   F.    h.   6s   '47 

Paramount    Publix   5/'S,   '50 76 

Pathe  7s  '37  ww 92!^ 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39   wd 44 


im'A 

»7H 


j/2         ^yz        

:.  Up  2y4 

Net 

Low      Close      Change 

Sales 

29/2        29/2        ~2 

18 

98           98            

1 

102          102^        4-  'A 

3 

85/        87J4        -I-2M 

D 

73^        76           -\-2 

32 

92/        92/         

4 

42           44           -f2 

165 

A  Thriller 

A        FIGHT      between      two 
horses;      runaway     trucks 
down  a  mountain  road;    mys- 
tery lurking  near  and  far  and 
loads  of  suspense. 

That's  what  "The  Vanishing 
Legion,"  latest  of  Nat  Levine 
serials,  has  in  its  early  chap- 
ters. Yesterday  and  despite 
the  heat,  we  braved  a  projec- 
tion room  and  saw  the  first 
tw^o  episodes.  Our  blood  ran 
quicker,  but  it  was  the  serial 
not  the  heat  that  was  re- 
sponsible for  that. 

"The  Vanishing  Legion"  has 
plenty  of  stuff.  We  can 
imagine  a  house  full  of  kids — 
and  many  of  their  elders,  we 
suspect  —  going  for  it  hook, 
line   and   sinker.     We   did. 

KANN 


Freudenberger  Heads  t 
Meyer-Reiger  Sales  \ 

W.  J.  Freudenberger,  former  sales  ' 
manager  of  Advance  Trailer  Co.,  and 
until  recently  associated  with  Natioiial 
Screen  Service,  next  Monday  official- 
ly assumes  his  new  duties  as  general 
sales  manager  for  the  new  trailer 
service  to  be  offered  by  Meyer-Reiger. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Swanson  Film 
Start  Postponed 

Samuel  Goldwyn's  picturization  of 
the  Belasco  play,  "Tonight  or  Never," 
has  been  postponed  for  a  week  to 
await  the  delayed  arrival  of  Gloria 
Swanson.  Miss  Swanson  is  due 
on  a  week  from  Friday  (July  7th). 
She  underwent  a  minor  operation  in 
Paris  last  week,  which  retarded  her 
departure  a  few  days. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Greenfield- Kutinsky 
B'klyn  Deal  Dead 

Although  confirmed  by  both  parties 
as  set,  the  deal  for  merging  of  Dr. 
Leon  Greenfield's  theatres  in  Brook- 
lyn with  Harry  Kutinsky's  group  in 
the  same  section  has  been  called  off 
permanently.  Dispute  over  leases 
caused  the  break. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Robinson's  Next  Set 

Warners  have  acquired  "Honorable 
Mr.  Wong,"  based  on  the  play  by 
Achmed  Abdullah  and  David  Belasco. 
The  producers  plan  to  film  it  with 
Edward  G.  Robinson  in  the  title  role. 
Belasco  was  working  on  this  play 
when  illness  cut  short  his  career.  The 
story  deals  with  scenes  in  Chinatown 
of  New  York  and  that  of  San  Fran- 
cisco. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Hill  with  Columbia 

St.  Louis — Clarence  D.  Hill,  for- 
mer Tiffany  manager,  has  been  made 
manager  of  the  Columbia  exchange 
here. 


Studio    and    Locafion 
Sound  on  Fifm  Recording 

Low    Daily    or   WoeWy    Rates 
Powers  Cinephone  Equipment  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE.,  N.  Y.     BRyant  9-6067 


The  Biggest  Draw  in  Pictures! 


They'll  be   together  again  in 

Delicious  and  Salomy  Jane 


^Now  Shoo  ting  "j 


[/n   Preparation'^ 


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YOUR    receipts  are   sunny  side   up 
and  your  bank  roll  in  7th  heaven 
when  you  play  GAYNOR  and  FARRELL. 

■  Here  without  exception  is  the  great- 
est   money  team   in   the   business.    > 

Records  are  going  to  crack  wide  open 
when  MERELY  MARY  ANN  hits  the 
screen.     Besides 

GAYNOR  and  FARRELL 

you  have  Beryl  Mercer  and  J.  M. 
Kerrigan  in  this  play  by  Israel  Zangwiil, 
adapted  by  Jules  Furthman  and  direct- 
ed by  HENRY  KING. 


* 


I 


Ill 


A  THOUSAND  HEART  THROBS 

ROLLED  INTO  ONE 

MERELY    MARY    ANN,. 

just  the  romance  for  Janet  and 
Charlie,  the  perfect  lovers  of  the 
screen.  ■  Plenty  of  smiles  and  tears, 
sobs  and  sighs.  ■  Radiant  youth 
glorified  as  two  young  things  hunt 
happiness.  Women  and  girls  will 
love  it.  Men  will  flock  to  it.  It's  a 
thousand  heart  throbs  rolled  into 
one,  as  they  were  in  "Daddy  Long 
Legs."  ■  Henry  King,  a  director 
whose  record  is  brilliant  with 
success.  Nearly  a  dozen  of  his 
pictures  have  won  their  way  into 
the  big  money  class.  ■  Plan  now 
for  twice  your  usual  advertising, 
three  times  the  usual  run  and 
four    times    your    average    profits. 


It's  that  big. 


neuu  seflson 
neuu  HiTj 


Wednesday,   July   29,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


'Common  Law' 
With  $35,000 
Big  on  B'way 


Total  $315,603  for  11  Theatres 


It  was  a  busy  week  at  the  May- 
fair  last  week.  "The  Common  Law" 
grossed  $35,000,  thereby  indicating 
plenty  regarding  the  drawing  power 
of  Constance  Bennett  and  giving  the 
theatre  its  best  week  in  a  long,  long 
*^inie. 

Up  Broadway,  "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" gave  the  Rivoli  a  $38,200  week 
which  is  real  business  for  these  dog 
days.  "Night  Nurse"  brought  back 
the  Strand's  business  with  something 
of  a  wallop,  the  gross  on  the  week 
reaching  $28,480  as  compared  with 
$12,934  the  week  before  with  "En- 
emies of  the  Law." 

The  Paramount  intake  clambered 
from  $41,000  the  week  before  last 
with  "The  Secret  Call"  to  $52,100 
last  week  with  "Murder  by  the  Clock." 
Over  at  the  Capitol,  Bob  Montgomery 
demonstrated  his  draw  with  a  $60,609 
gross,  which  is  $5,000  ahead  of  the 
previous  week  when  "Five  or  Ten" 
played  that  house. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
July  23 : 

"A    FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

ASTOR— (1,120),  50c-$2,  7th  week,  7  days. 
Gross:    $13,641. 

"MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

CAPITOL— (4,700),  35c-$1.50,  7  days. 
Stage   show.     Gross:    $60,609. 

EMBASSY    (All    Newsreel) 

EMBASSY— (598),  25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,899. 

"THE  COMMON  LAW"  (RKO  Pathe) 

MAYFAIR— (2,300),  40c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$35,000. 

"MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK"   (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,700),  40c-$l,  7  days. 
Stage   show.     Gross:    $52,100. 

"THE   LETTER"    (Para.)    and 
"TOM    SAWYER"    (Para.) 

RIALTO— (1,904),    7    days.     Gross:    $5,100. 

"SMIUNG    LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

RIVOLI— (2,103),  40c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$38,200. 

"A  HOLY  TERROR"  (Fox) 

ROXY— (6,200).  50c-$l-50,  7  days.  Stage 
show.     Gross:    $62,000. 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 

STRAND^(3,000),    35c-$l,    7    days.    Gross: 
$28,480. 
"THE    FATAL    HOUR"    (First   Division) 

WARNERS— (1,490),  35c-75c,  2nd  week, 
7   days.   Gross:    $4,227. 

"SMART  MONEY"   (Warners) 

WINTER  GARDEN--(1,493),  5th  week,  7 
days.    Gross:    $18,347. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Bring  Your  Own  Cot 
Is  New  Omaha  Gag 

{Continued   from   page    1) 

women,  the  main  floor  for  men. 

Bedtime  is  11 :30  p.  m.  The  cool- 
ing systems  run  all  night,  and  attend- 
ants are  on  duty  to  wake  the  sleepers 
at  any  desired  hour.  The  theatre,  in 
other  words,  ofifers  all  the  conven- 
iences of  a  modern  hotel,  except 
breakfast  and  the  morning  paper. 

First  night  for  the  stunt  was  set 
at  the  World.  Weather  cooled  ofif, 
however,  during  the  afternoon  and 
only  a  few  took  the  cool  snooze.  The 
next  night  at  the  Paramount  was  bet- 
ter. 

Local  dailies  grabbed  the  yarn  like 
a  double  murder  and  suicide  all  in 
one.  City  editor  of  one  sheet  is 
a  hay  fever  victim  himself.  Press 
associations  also  shot  the  feature  out 
state. 


Warners  See 
Plot  in  St. 
Louis  Suits 


(^Continued  from   page    1) 

panics  are  sound  financially  and  are 
being  operated  for  the  benefit  of  all 
stockholders. 

Erwin  Meyer,  public  accountant, 
stated  in  the  Skouras  case  hearing 
that,  under  management  of  the 
Skouras  Brothers  in  1928,  Skouras 
Enterprises  made  big  profits  but  in 
1929  under  the  Warner  banner  did 
not  do  so  well  while  1930  wasn't  prof- 
itable at  all.  He  also  stated  that 
higher  prices  were  paid  for  Warner 
pictures  after  the  change  in  manage- 
ment took  place. 

In  1928,  counsel  sought  to  show 
through  Meyer,  the  Ambassador  paid 
$1,750  for  certain  Warner  pictures 
while  in  1930,  $4,500  was  paid  the 
cornpany  for  pictures  of  similar 
calibre,  while  the  rentals  for  Warner 
pictures  at  the  Missouri  experienced 
a  similar  increase.  Koplar  testified 
in  efifect  that  when  Warners  took 
charge  of  the  St.  Louis  houses,  Spy- 
ros  Skouras,  who  then  headed  War- 
ners' national  circuity  stripped  the  St. 
Louis  organization  of  its  best  men, 
including  Reeves  Espy,  George 
Skouras,  William  Goldman,  Stuart 
Barrie,  Dave  Silverman  and  others. 
He  also  told  what  he  knew  of  the 
charge  that  Warners  were  dictating 
to  Charles  Skouras  what  pictures 
were  to  be  played  at  the  Ambassador 
and  Missouri. 

A  number  of  letters  concerning  various 
pictures  that  Warners  wanted  to  play  the 
Amb.is.sador  because  of  the  higher  rentals 
were  introduced  and  Koplar  was  questioned 
concerning  conversations  he  had'  with 
Charles  Skouras  concerning  them.  Two  pic- 
tures in  question  were  "Fifty  Million 
Frenchmen"  and  George  Arliss  in  "The  Mil- 
lioi'aire." 

Koplar  testified  that  Charles  Skouras  had 
complained  to  him  of  interference  from  New 
York  in  his  conduct  of  the  Ambassador 
and  Missouri  in  St.  Louis  and  houses  in 
Indianapolis.  saying  that  he  "couldn't 
carry  water  on  both  shoulders."  He  also 
stated  that  Warners  sent  Charles  Skouras 
to  Oklahoma,  Memphis  and"  New  Orleans 
io  supervise  the  remodeling  and  opening 
of  houses  acquired  in  those  cities  although 
Skouras  Brothers  Enterprises  were  not  in- 
terested   in    them. 

The  complainants  made  an  attempt  to 
introduce  a  letter  from  Sam  Katz  of  Para- 
mount-Publix  to  Skouras  complaining  of 
the  results  being  obtained  in  £t.  Louis  and 
Indianapolis,  against  alleged  stripping  of 
the  St.  Louis  organization,  and  asking  that 
Charley  devote  his  entire  time  to  the  the- 
atres. Jucfge  Hogan,  however,  held  this 
epistle  could  not  be  introduced  at  this  time. 

Tlie  St.  Louis  Amusement  Company's 
answer  to  the  complaint  stated  that  under 
the  Warner  control,  despite  adverse  busi- 
ness conditions,  the  company  has  achieved 
the  strongest  financial  condition  of  its  ex- 
istence and  that  the  Warner  management 
has  been  both  honest  and  e..cient.  It 
is  also  pointecf  out  that  the  Warners  firm 
has  advanced  the  company  $87,000  and  has 
not  yet  received  anything  on  its  invest- 
ment. 

Tlic  answer  further  points  out  that  dur- 
ing the  first  six  months  of  its  fiscal  year, 
which  ended  on  Feb.  28,  profit  of  St.  Louis 
Amusement  Company  totaled  $89,928  and 
that  there  is  probability  that  the  current 
six  months  period,  ending  on  Aug.  31,  will 
also  return  a  substantial  profit  to  the  com- 
pany. It  is  contended'  that  because  of  their 
position  in  the  industry  Warners,  by  th3ir 
financial  support  have  helped  the  St.  Louis 
.Amusement  Company  to  weather  the 
chaotic  conditions  which  attended  the  gen- 
eral   introduction   of   talking  pictures. 

It  is  stated  that  at  the  time  the  Warners 
took  control,  the  company  was  committed 
to  purchase  reproducing  equipment  to  the 
extent  of  $208,281,  a  sum  it  would  have 
found  tfiffieult  in  paying  without  Warner 
assistance.  It  is  pointed  out  that  not  only 
has  this  indebtedness  been  paid  oflF  but 
$132,000  in  bonds  have  been  retired  and 
$28,000  deposited  to  apply  to  other  bonded 
intfebtedness.  All  of  these  steps  for  the 
strengthening    of     the    company's    financial 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

J.    R.   Grainger   for   the  48  new   sea- 
son   Fox    features. 
Theatres  included  are: 

Fulton,  Forest  Park,  Arcade,  Edgewood, 
Boulevard,  Waverly,  Baltimore,  Linwood, 
Grand,  Patterson,  McHen^y,  Pacy's  Gar- 
den, Belnord,  State,  Red  Wing  all  in  Bal- 
timore; Circle,  Annapolis;  .State.  H:ivr»  H» 
Grace. 


"The  Wilmer  and  Vincent  circuit 
in  Pennsylvania  has  booked  RKO 
Pathe  product,  features  and  shorts  for 
1931-32,"  reported  Ned  E.  Depinet 
yesterday.  The  following  theatres  are 
included  in  the  deal : 

State,  Colonial  and  Victoria,  Harris- 
burg;  Embassy,  (Tapitol  and  State,  Reading; 
Rialto,    Colonial    and    State,    Allentown. 


Boston — -World  Art  Pictures  of 
N.  E.  Inc.  have  booked  the  Publix 
houses  in  Chicopee,  and  Roxbury,  on 
Big  4  westerns.  Marcel  Mekelburg 
closed  the  deals. 


Jack  Ellis  of  the  RKO  New  York 
exchange  has  signed  Sol  Brill  for  the 
showing  of  RKO  pictures  in  the  lat- 
ter's  eight  houses,  six  of  which  are 
in  Staten  Island,  and  including  the 
Oasis  in  Brooklyn  and  the  Ritz,  Port 
Jervis 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Navy  Launches  First 
Photophone  Show 

Philadelphia  —  Approximately 
1,200  officers  and  men  attached  to  the 
Battleship  Pennsylvania,  flagship  of 
the  Atlantic  Fleet,  in  addition  to  a 
number  of  ofificials  from  the  Navy  De- 
partment in  Washington,  headed  by 
Commander  Reifsnider  of  the  Bureau 
of  Navigation,  last  evening  attended 
the  inauguration  of  sound  pictures  by 
the  Navy  Sound  Motion  Picture  Serv- 
ice. The  program  was  presented  by 
RCA  Photophone  apparatus  on  the 
quarter  deck  of  the  Pennsylvania, 
which,  for  the  event,  had  been  con- 
verted into  an  open-air  theatre.  The 
installation  is  the  first  of  300  to  be 
made  aboard  navy  vessels  by  RCA 
Photophone. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Producers,  Writers 
Start  Confab  Soon 

RoLLYWOOD — Producers  and  writers 
are  expected  to  hold  their  first  con- 
ference this  week.  The  writers'  de- 
mands are  already  outlined  in  writing 
and  are  in  the  hands  of  B.  P.  Schul- 
berg  who  heads  the  producers'  com- 
mittee of  the  Academy  of  M.  P.  Arts 
and  Sciences  which  will  handle  the 
matter.. 


position  having  been  taken  since  the  War- 
ners   assumed    control-  in    1928. 

The  reply  of  the  Skouras  Brothers  Enter- 
prises, Inc.,  is  equally  as  emphatic  in  de- 
nying that  the  concern  has  been  misman- 
aged, and  it  is  denied  that  bonuses  were 
paid  to  Spyros  and  Charles  .Skouras  in  the 
purchase  of  their  stock.  Touching  on  the 
$150,000  bonus  which  the  plaintiflfs  had 
charged  was  paid  to  Spyros  Skouras,  the 
company's  answer  explains  this  sum  was 
paid,  not  as  a  bonus,  but  in  settlement  of 
a  claim  growing  out  of  an  employment 
agreement. 

The  Skouras  Super  Theatres  Company, 
v/hich  operates  the  Ambassacfor  under  a 
lease  from  the  Skouras  Brothers  Enter- 
prises, and  the  Missouri  unrler  a  lease  from 
Paramount-Publix,  named  as  a  co-defend- 
ant in  the  receivership  suit  asking  that 
it  lie  dismissed  from  the  suit.  The  plain- 
tiffs had  not  asked  for  the  appointment  of 
,■>  receiver  for  the  Skouras  Super  Theatres 
Company,  but  the  concern  was  mentioned 
as  a  defendant  because  of  its  business  con- 
nection with  the  Skouras  Brothers  Enter- 
prises. 


U.  A.  Continues 

Building  Plan 

With  Deal  Up 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

houses  to  Fox  West  Coast  followed 
settlement  of  the  row  between  U.  A 
and  the  circuit.  This  was  effected 
when  Al  Lichtman  closed  with  the 
circuit  for  the  new  U.  A.  product. 

The  tussle  between  the  two  firms 
arose  when  U.  A.  members  charged 
in  a  public  statement  that  its  films  no 
longer  would  play  Fox  West  Coast 
houses  because  of  alleged  unfairness 
m  the  matter  of  rentals.  This  charge 
was  denied  indignantly  by  Harley  C. 
Uarke,  Pox  president,  who  said  in 
effect  diat  the  U.  A.  stars  were  "has- 
beens  and  that  his  company  always 
was  prepared  to  pay  fair  rentals  com- 
mensurate  with   draw. 


Hollywood— Any  action  in  the  pro- 
posed Fox  West  Coast-United  Artists 
operation  deal  will  await  return  of 
Uscar  Oldknow  to  the  city. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Chi  House  Under 
State's  Protection 

^       (Continued   from   page    1) 

States  attorney's  presentation  of  evi- 
dence to  the  grand  jury  during  its 
mvestigation  of  the  Chicago  Opera- 
tors Union.  Testimony  showed  that 
the  owner's  son  had  paid  $500  for 
his  operator's  "permit"  and  had 
never  been  given  work  by  Maloy 

The  Universal  exchange  projection 
room  closed  this  week  because  rentals 
were  not  sufiScient  to  pay  the  two  op- 
erators required  there  by  the  union 
and  leave  a  sufficient  margin  of  profit 
tor  the  manager,  Henry  Eigle.  About 
halt  of  Chicago's  exchanges  screen 
their  new  prints  at  this  projection 
room,  one  of  the  few  sound  equipped 
projection  rooms  available  here.  Its 
closing  works  a  serious  inconvenience 
on  a  number  of  exchanges  and  inde- 
pendent distributors  whose  own  quar- 
ters are  not  equipped  for  sound. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

W,  B.  Studio  Cut  to 
Include  Entire  Lot 

Hollywood  —  The  Warner  salary 
reduction  will  be  extended  to  em- 
ployes taken  on  again  for  the  pro- 
duction boom  slated  to  get  under  way 
the  first  of  next  week.  Asked 
whether  the  five-to-twenty-five  per 
cent  sliding  scale  would  apply  to  those 
who  start  work  on  Monday,  William 
Koenig,  studio  manager,  replied: 

"They  also  will  be  asked  to  co- 
operate." 

Koenig  states  the  organization  is 
running  in  skeletonized  form  now. 

All  scenarists  and  writers  have  been 
ordered  back  to  their  desks  by  August 
1    at    which    time   three    Warner   and 
three  First  Nationals  get  in  work.  ' 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

W anger  Just  Visits 
And  Vists  Selznick 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

latter   is  considered  an  extremely  re- 
mote possibility. 

The  general  impression  has  been 
tliat  Wanger's  settlement  with  Para- 
mount was  now  history,  but  technical 
detail,  such  as  the  reported  transfer 
of  money,  is  understood  to  be  hang- 
ing fire. 


WELFORD  BEATOIV,  publisher  of  ihe  HOLLYWOOD 

FILM  SPECTATOR,  is  famous  as  a  tough,  ahle  and 

honest  critic.    READ  ALL  of  livhat  he  says  about: 


^^AN  AMERICAN 


TRAGEDY 


T>^ 


Von  Sternberg  has  given  us  another  master- 
piece, another  outstanding  example  of  the  artistic 
heights  that  screen  art  can  reach ...  He  shows  us 
here  that  he  is  the  only  director  who  completely 
has  mastered  that  element.  He  makes  a  slave  of 
the  microphone;  he  makes  it  catch  voice  inflections 
that  apparently  were  not  created  to  comply  with 
its  demands,  and  we  have  real  talking  coming  to 
us  from  the  screen  instead  of  utterances  stilted  by 
their  regard  for  the  stage  manner  of  speaking. 

AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY  is  a  terrific 
picture ...  It  is  a  story  about  anyone,  dealing  only 
with  things . . .  that  have  happened  millions  of 
times  before  and  will  happen  millions  of  times 
again,  things  that  are  not  old  and  never  will  be 
new.  It  deals  with  a  boy  . . .  governed  by  ordinary 
human  impulses,  who  drifts  into  indulging  them 
and  is  engulfed  by  them.  It  is  a  straight  repor- 
torial  film,  pleading  forj  no  sympathy,  preaching 
no  sermon . . .  but  presenting  an  extraordinary 
succession  of  events  of  which  the  sum  total  spells 
tragedy  of  a  wholly  impersonal  sort. 

Von  Sternberg  makes  no  effort  to  express 
himself.  He  expresses  Dreiser. .  .with  an  authority, 
a  vividness,  a  compelling  power  greater  than  can 
be  found  in  the  pages  of  his  book . . .  With  stark 
realism  that  is  the  very  height  of  drama,  he 
relates  just  what  happens;  and  he  is  indifferent 
to  its  reception  by  us  or  its  effects  upon  us.  And 
he  achieves  tremendous  box  office  values. 

If  we  are  to  have  better  direction  than  we 
have  here,  I  think  it  will  come  from  von  Sternberg. 
He  may  excel  himself,  but  I  can  imagine  no  one 
equalling  him  . . .  The  court-room  sequence,  perhaps 
half  the  picture,  is  the  outstanding  dramatic 
triumph  of  the  talkie  mechanism.  Von  Sternberg 
does  not  create  a  trial  for  us.  He  reports  one . . . 
Here  the  camera  can  not  function  as  the  chief 
medium  of  expression,  and  for  the  first  time 
von  Sternberg  goes  completely  talkie,  and  does 
it    with    extraordinary    brilliance.      He    keeps    us 


in  the  court  room  for  perhaps  an  hour . . .  and  so 
adroitly  does  he  cover  his  lapses  of  time  that  when 
we  leave  the  theatre  we  feel  that  we  have  been 
at  the  trial  continuously  for  the  many  days  of 
its  duration. 

I  have  maintained  persistently  that  the  screen 
is  talking  itself  to  death  —  but  not  with  such 
talking  as  this.  Irving  Pichel,  district  attorney, 
Charles  B.  Middleton  and  Emmett  Corrigan, 
defense  attorneys,  do  not  read  lines,  do  not 
express  dialogue  writers.  They  read  their  men- 
talities and  express  themselves.  Pichel's  address 
to  the  jury  is  a  forensic  masterpiece,  in  delivery 
and  context  worthy  of  a  permanent  place  in  a 
record  of  great  orations . . .  Here  we  have  a  trial 
that  grips  us,  that  keeps  us  stirred  up,  that  never 
for  a  moment  permits  our  attention  to  wander . . . 

Holmes  holds  our  interest  because  the  story 
is  about  him.  It  is  a  drab,  negative  sort  of  part 
as  a  weak  boy  whom  fate  picks  up  and  destroys, 
and  then,  undisturbed,  passes  on.  I  don't  know 
any  other  boy  on  the  screen  who  could  hav«  han- 
dled the  part  with  the  rare  understanding  that 
Holmes  displays.  Sylvia  Sidney  gives  a  perform- 
ance that  is  distinguished  by  sincerity  and  im- 
pressiveness,  and  Frances  Dee  is  perfect  in  a 
part  that  needs  her  beauty  and  the  charm  of 
her   personality. 

The  cast  is  a  long  one,  and  there  are  no 
weak  spots  in  it. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


VOL.  30.    NO.  51 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JULY  30,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Golden  State, 
Fox  Invading 
The  Far  East 


Houses  in  Japan,  P.  /., 
And  China  Planned 


San  Francisco — Golden  State  The- 
atre and  Realty  Corp.,  which  oper- 
ates 40  theatres  in  northern  Cali- 
fornia, will  invade  the  Philippines, 
Japan  and  China  with  theatres,  R. 
A.  McNeil,  vice  president  and  gen- 
eral nianager,  stated  on  his  return 
from   a   vacation    trip   to   the    Orient. 

Four  theatres  will  be  built  at 
Manila,  Philippine  Islands ;  Hong 
Kong,  China,  and  Kobe  and  Tokyo, 
Japan.     The  Manila  project  will  cost 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Milestone  Tops  List 
In  Director  Poll 

With  a  poll  of  252  votes,  Lewis 
Milestone,  director  of  "All  Quiet  on 
the  Western  Front"  and  "The  Front 
Page"  leads  the  list  of  "ten  best  direc- 
tors" of  the  1930-31  season  conducted 
annually  among  trade,  newspaper  and 
fan  paper  critics  conducted  by  The 
Film  Daily.  About  300  critics  voted. 
Others  in  the  group  of  ten  and  their 
votes    are :        Wesley    Ruggles,    179 ; 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

N.  Y.  Unions  Still 
Discussing  Merger 

Negotiations  are  continuing  for 
merger  of  the  Empire  State  Opera- 
tors' Union  and  Local  306,  despite 
denials,  it  is  understood.  Several  new 
ingles  which  have  come  up  have  de- 
ayed  closing  of  the  deal  which  may 
ow  be  signed  about  Aug.  15,  it  is 
said.  The  two  unions  are  competing 
for  Greater  New  York  theatre  jobs 
for  their  men. 


No  Get-Together 

M-G-M  and  Warners  have 
failed  to  get-together  on  new 
season  product  in  any  situa- 
tions, because  Warners  de- 
cline to  meet  the  terms 
sought.  In  a  number  of 
spots,  M-G-M  is  selling  away 
from  Warner  houses,  notably 
in  New  Jersey,  Cleveland  and 
Pittsburgh. 


Columbia  or 
Else,  Barbara 
Must  Decide 


Hollywood — It's  to  be  either  or 
else  for  Barbara  Stanwyck,  who 
walked  ofT  the  lot  at  Columbia,  and 
indications  are  that  Harry  Cohn  in- 
tends to  make  it  else. 

Cohn  now  is  trying  to  get  Helen 
Hayes  for  the  Stanwyck  role  in 
"Forbidden,"  the  picture  which  was 
halted  when  Barbara  presented  her 
new  salary  demands.     However,  Miss 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warners  Hit  Henley 
In  Suit  on  Salary 

Hollywood — Warners  take  some 
healthy  wallops  at  Hobart  Henley  in 
their  answer  to  his  suit  of  $7,000 
salary  for  two  weeks  as  part  of  an 
unaccepted  eight  weeks  lay-ofT.  Hen- 
ley is  termed  "totally  unqualified,  in- 
capable and  incompetent  to  act  as  a 
motion  picture  director."  At  the  time 
the    plaintiff    entered    employment    he 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Common  Law"  Show 
Holdovers  a  Habit 

"The  Common  Law,"  RKO  Pathe's 
Constance  Bennett  starring  vehicle, 
although  it  started  its  initial  pre- 
release, run  but  two  weeks  ago,  has 

(Continued    on    page    4) 


"PHILLY '  AWAITS 
M-G-M--W.B.  TUSSLE 


Fla.  Solons 
Reject  Tax 
On  Theatres 


Tampa — After  100  days  of  bicker- 
ing, which  included  the  regular  ses- 
sion'of  60  days  and  two  special  ses- 
sions of  20  days  each,  the  Florida 
legislature  closed  without  passing  the 
iniquitous  theatre  admission  tax  which 
had  been  passed  by  the  House. 

In  the  final  rush  for  something  to 
tax,  both  houses  got  together  and 
decided  to  hand  it  all  to  the  motorist 
as  it  is  the  easiest  tax  to  collect  and 
the  motorist  haven't  any  lobby  to 
(Continued  on  page  8) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Night  Golf  Newest 
Opposish  in  Chi 

Chicago — Miniature  golf  graduates 
into  long  trousers  here  this  week,  and 
if  the  elongated  version  of  the  putter 
game,  which  died  here  this  year, 
proves  successful,  theatres  may  again 
have  competition  similar  to  that  ex- 
perienced last  year. 

"Night  golf"  is  the  name  ascribed 
to  the  latest  deformity  of  the  national 
pastime  by  its  promoters,  R.  D.  Cun- 
(Continued  on  page  8) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Police  May  Be  Drawn 
Into  Chicago  Probe 

Chicago — Possibility  that  police 
and  former  city  hall  officials  may  be 
drawn  into  the  state's  attorney's  in- 
vestigation of  the  Chicago  Motion 
Picture  Operators'  Union  is  voiced  at 
the  state's  attorney's  office. 

Prosecutors,  in  seeking  information 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Failure  to  Reach  Deal  On 

Product  Is  Cause — 

''Crisis"  Soon 


Phladfxphia  —  With  the  Para- 
mount fuss  all  settled  and  the  Para- 
mount product  returned  to  Stanley- 
Warner  houses,  the  S-W  organization 
are  watching  more  war  clouds  loom 
up  on  the  horizon. 

Rumors,  growing  in  strength  along 
the  local  front,  state  that  Metro  is 
ready  to  kick  over  the  traces  and 
withhold  its  product  from  the  Stanley 
chain  unless  its  terms  are  met  on  a 
new  contract,  terms  said  to  ask  for  an 
added  percentage.  The  "crisis"  soon 
will  be  reached. 

With  Stanley-Warner  holding  the 
lease  for  one  year  on  Keith's,  which 
held  the  Paramount  pictures  during 
the  last  year's  battle,  it  is  hardly 
likely  that  this  theatre  could  be  used 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Figures  Cited  to 
Hit  W.  B.  Control 

St.  Louis — In  support  of  their 
charges  that  Skouras  Brothers  Enter- 
prises, Inc.,  suffered  adversely  to  the 
detriment  of  the  minority  stockhold- 
ers after  Warner  Brothers  obtained 
control  of  the  St.  Louis  theatres  in 
the  Fall  of  1928  attorneys  for  the 
plaintiffs  in  the  receivership  action 
against  the  company  have  introduced 
in  evidence  before  Circuit  Judge  Gran- 

(Continued   on   page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Union  Enjoined  in 
Linden  Picket  Case 

Trenton — Vice  Chancellor  Berry 
on  Tuesday  handed  down  a  decision 
granting  Irving  Dollinger,  owner  of 
the  Plaza,  Linden,  a  permanent  in- 
junction against  the  Elizabeth  opera- 
tors' union,  which  has  been  picketing 

(Coiitir.ucd   on    page   8) 


"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  SALES 


With  the  Fox  circuit  signed  for 
RKO's  1931-1932  line-up  Radio  yes- 
terday closed  with  the  VVarner  string. 
The  deal  is  national  and  covers  the 
approximate  400  houses  in  the  War- 
ner circuit. 

Charles  Rosenzweig  and  Jerry  Saf- 
ron    represented    the    distributor    and 


E.  A.  ("Eddie")  Alperson  and  Clay- 
ton Bond,  the  exhibitor.  Radio  has  a 
third  big  circuit  deal  in  work. 


"Big  Bill"  Horwitz,  Houston  exhibi- 
tor, is  in  town  negotiating  with  War- 
ner-First National  officials  for  prod- 
uct for  the  Iris,  Ritz  and  Texan. 


C.  W.  Brown  is  the  newest  re- 
cruit to  join  the  "Buy  Right — But 
Buy  Now"  campaign.  He  has  signed 
contracts  with  J.  R.  Grainger  for  the 
48  pictures  on  the  new  season  Fox 
schedule  to  be  shown  in  his  Imperial, 
Quimby  and  Liberty  Theatres  in 
Zanesville,  O. 


The     following    booking    contracts 
calling    for   the    entire    Warners-First 
National   product  for  the  new  season 
coming    from    exhibitors   believing    in 
he    slogan,    "Buy    Right — But    Buy 
Now"  were  confirmed  yesterday : 
Arkansas 
Hoyt's,  Fort  Smith,  Hoyt   &  Kirkpatriclsi 
(Continued   on   page   8) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  July  30,    1931 


"Waterloo  Bridge' 

(Universal) 


H. 


OLLVwoou  —  Universal's 
"Waterloo  Bridge"  is  a  distinct 
triumph  for  Mae  Clarke  and 
Kent  Douglas  and  an  excellent 
directorial  job  by  James  Whale 
who    made    "Journey's    End." 

From  Robert  Sherwood's 
play,  it  is  a  story  of  a  girl 
whom  war  tossed  upon  the  cold 
pavements  of  London  and  who 
suddenly  finds  herself  lifted 
from  the  mire  by  the  great  love 
of  a  young  soldier  home  on 
leave  but  who  dares  not  take  it 
because  of  what  she  has  been 
through.  The  romance  of  these 
two  is  constantly  fraught  with 
tragedy  and  is  beautiful  in 
simple   naturalness. 

Frederick  Kerr,  as  a  testy  old 
British  major,  provides  some 
thoroughly  delightful  comedy 
relief.  Others  in  the  cast  in- 
clude Enid  Bennett  and  Doris 
Lloyd,  Benn  W.  Levey  wrote 
the  adaptation  and  Tom  Reed 
the  continuity. 

LEO   MEEHAN 


Voight  Comes  East 
For  Ad  Confabs 

Hubert  \'oight,  head  of  the  publicity 
department  at  the  Warners-First  Na- 
tional studios  on  the  Coast,  is  on  his 
way  to  the  home  ofTice.  Voight  will 
spend  several  weeks  here  getting  fa- 
miliar with  the  plans  laid  out  by  S. 
Charles  Einfeld,  head  of  the  adver- 
tising and  publicity  departments,  for 
the  exploitation  of  next  season's  prod- 
uct of  both  Warners  and  First  Na- 
tional. One  of  the  plans  in  connection 
with  Voight's  trip  east  is  to  meet  Lil 
Dagover,  under  contract  to  the  War- 
ners, on  her  arrival  in  this  country  in 
August. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

300  Workers  Busy  on 
Radio  City  Project 

With  some  300  men  employed,  ex- 
cavation work  is  under  way  for  Radio 
City,  $250,000,000  New  York  project 
sponsored  by  RCA  and  located  from 
48th  to  51st  streets,  and  from  Sth 
to  fith  avenues. 

Plans  call  for  completion  by  Oc- 
tober 1,  1932  of  the  building  housing 
the  International  Music  Hall  and  the 
world's  largest  theatre,  a  6,500  seater 
to  be  operated  by  S.  L.  (Roxy) 
Rothafel. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Neth-Union  Fight  Ends 

Columbus — After  having  operated 
the  Grand,  Clinton,  Cameo,  State  and 
Eastern  theatres  on  an  open  shop  pol- 
icy for  past  two  years,  J.  Real  Neth 
has  reached  an  agreement  with  the 
union,  and  that  16  union  operators  and 
two  mechanics  would  return  to  work 
at  his  houses  on  August  1.  Terms  of 
settlement  were  not  divulged. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Dirigible"  at  Pop  Prices 

Columbia's  "Dirigible,"  which  road- 
showed  in  20  key  cities  throughout 
the  United  States,  will  be  presented 
for  the  first  time  at  popular  prices  in 
.August.  RKO  is  playing  it  day  and 
date  in  a  number  of  houses. 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


"Guilty  Hands" 

(M-G-M) 

Hollywood — The  fine  acting  of 
Lionel  Barrymore  and  the  skillful 
direction  of  W.  S.  VanDyke  make 
the  spectator  oblivious  to  some  of  }he 
plot  discrepancies  in  what,  neverthe- 
less, is  a  powerful  and  engrossing 
murder  thriller.  The  picture  is  neces- 
sarily talkative  but  Van  Dyke's  action 
is  fast  and  most  diverting.  What 
with  Barrymore's  rendition  and  the 
fact  that  the  dialogue  is  excellent,  this 
is  another  instance  of  talk  so  well 
handled  that  it  merges  naturally  with 
the  action  to  develop  and  unfold  a 
dramatic  story. 

Kay  Francis,  Madge  Evans  and 
Alan  Mowbray  are  convincing  and 
the  supporting  cast  is  good.  Polly 
Moran  has  little  to  do.  The  picture 
was  entertaining  throughout  even  in 
its  preview  length.  It  goes  over  strong 
in  its  final  editing. 

W.   A.   JOHNSTON. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Ships  of  Hate" 

{Monogram) 

Reminiscent  of  the  silent  drama, 
this  story  of  seafaring  adventure 
mixed  with  diamond  smuggling  has  a 
quota  of  action  sufficient  to  satisfy 
fans  who  go  in  for  this  type  of  en- 
tertainment. The  story  of  the  seden- 
tary Captain  Lash,  ruthless  and  se- 
vere, is  depicted  by  Charles  Middel- 
ton.  Despite  his  lifeless  legs  he  man- 
ages to  get  about  and  cause  havoc 
with  his  motley  crew. 

Captain  Lash  and  Lloyd  Hughes 
are  not  on  speaking  terms  and  their 
meeting  at  a  drinking  dive  on  the 
waterfront  only  makes  matters  worse, 
especially  since  both  are  after  the 
same  dancer,  Dorothy  Sebastian.  The 
captain  has  Hughes  brought  to  his 
ship  through  a  ruse  and  after  taking 
a  lashing  the  hero  becomes  a  member 
of  the  crew.  In  a  crash  at  sea,  the 
heroine  and  her  husband  are  saved  by 
Hughes  and  again  both  vie  for  the 
girl.  The  husband  is  disposed  of 
easily  enough,  but  when  the  captain 
gets  a  bit  too  bossy,  a  mutiny  ensyes, 
and  he  is  placed  in  mid-air  dangling 
from    the    mast    top.      The    drunken 


mate    then    goes    after    the    girl    and 
again  Hughes  bests  his  enemy. 

The  yarn  ends  with  Hughes  releas- 
ing the  captain  from  his  bonds  and 
taking  off  in  a  tender  with  the  girl. 
It's  the  first  of  the  Monogram  group 
and  was  given  a  nice  reception  in  a 
Loew  house. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'*Dugan  of  Bad  Lands" 

(Monogram) 
Monogram's  new  starring  team, 
"Bill  &  Andy"  (Bill  Cody  and  Andy 
Shu  ford),  makes  its  debut  in  this 
picture.  Andy  is  the  cowboy  juvenile 
of  "The  Big  Trail"  and  the  pair 
make  a  picturesque  team.  They  have 
plenty  to  do  in  this  picture  in  which 
they  rescue  a  sheriff  from  his  crooked 
aides,  who  are  engaged  in  Mexican 
border  smuggling.  There  are  to  be 
eight  in  this  new  series.  Has  plenty 
of  action. 

Shorts 
"Danger  Island" 

{Universal  Serial) 

Kenneth  Harlan  is  a  two-fisted  sea 
skipper  in  this  drama  of  the  quest  for 
a  rich  deposit  of  pitch-blende  which 
contains  radium  in  large  volume.  The 
girl's  father  lost  his  life  in  the  quest 
for  the  denosit  on  an  uncharted  South 
Sea  Island  inhabited  by  savage  tribes. 

Harlan  goes  about  the  task  of  pro- 
tecting the  girl's  interests  on  the  ex- 
pedition and  has  a  tough  time  of  it, 
what  with  the  machinations  of  Walter 
Miller  and  his  henchmen.  It's  a  new 
sort  of  role  for  Miller  appearing  as 
the  heavy. 

There  is  a  lot  of  action  in  the  first 
three   chapters. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Let's  Play" 

{Universal) 
Another  of  the  Slim  Summerville 
series  with  the  regular  formula  fol- 
lowed without  a  deviation.  Tom 
Kennedy  replaces  Eddie  Gribbon  as 
the  burly  sergeant  who  is  always 
around  Slim,  the  bugler,  at  the  wrong 
time.  The  scene  is  laid  in  Arabia 
and  both  mugs  are  after  the  same 
girl.  You  can  guess  who  wins  her. 
Running  time,  18  minutes. 


Joan  Bennett  Hurt 
In  Fall  Off  Horse 

Hollywood — Joan  Bennett  is  re- 
ported in  serious  condition  from  in- 
juries received  in  a  fall  from  a  frac- 
tious horse  while  on  location  in  Stone 
Canyon.  She  is  expected  to  be  con- 
fined to  a  hospital  for  six  or  eight 
weeks  and  be  absent  from  picture 
work   for  about  three  months. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Epics  to  Handle  New 
I,  E.  Chadwick  Series 

I.  E.  Chadwick  is  reentering  inde- 
pendent production  with  a  series  of  12 
two-reel  comedies  featuring  Al  Alt. 
World  distribution  will  be  handled  by 
Talking  Picture  Epics,  headed  by 
Frank  R.  Wilson.  The  first  two 
comedies  already  have  been  completed. 


"Common  Law"  Show 
Holdovers  a  Habit 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

already  been  held  over  for  additional 
weeks  in  a  dozen  first  run  cities  in- 
cluding New  York,  Brooklyn,  Atlan- 
tic City,  Boston,  Detroit,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Washington,  Philadelphia  and 
Providence.  Ned  E.  Depinet,  com- 
pany sales  manager,  says  the  picture 
is  well  on  the  way  to  top  "Holiday's" 
hold-over    record. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Big  in  P/iiladelpIiia 

Philadelphia — At  the  Mastbaum, 
"The  Common  Law"  did  $20,000  the 
first  three  days  of  engagement,  de- 
spite terrific  heat.  The  picture  is 
scheduled  to  follow  for  week  or  more 
run  at  Carlton. 


"Monkey  Business" 

(Paramount) 

rT-OLLYWOOD  —  Paramount's 
"Monkey  Business"  is  a  smash 
laugh  comedy  equally  as  good, 
or  better,  than  previous  Marx 
Brothers  pictures.  A  Glendale 
preview  audience  howled  glee- 
fully at  the  antics  of  the  Marxes 
whose  rapid-fire  gags  never  let 
down.  Morman  McLeod's  di- 
rection is  excellent,  keeping  the 
piece  moving  in  fast  tempo 
continuously. 

Groucho,  Harop  and  Chico 
supplied  most  of  the  gags,  while 
Zeppo  carried  the  romantic  in- 
terest with  Ruth  Hall.  Both 
are  very  good,  too.  Rockliffe 
Fellowes,  Thelma  Todd,  Tom 
Kennedy  and  Harry  Woods  do 
capable  work. 

The  picture  has  a  slight  story 
thread  which  helps  hold  inter- 
est at  all  times.  The  story  by 
Sam  Perlman  and  Will  B.  John- 
stone is  very  good  and  the  dia- 
logue by  Arthur  Sheekman 
filled  with  laughs. 

The  entertainment  qualities 
of  the  picture  are  unlimited. 
This  is  a  potential  box-office 
success  as  were  the  Marx  pred- 
ecessors. 

W.  A.  JOHNSTON 


Pittsburgh  Meeting 
Slated  in  October 

Pittsburgh— Eleventh  annual  con- 
vention of  the  Motion  Picture  The- 
atre Owners  of  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania will  be  held  here  October  4,  5 
and  6,  states  Fred  J.  Herrington,  sec- 
retary. Allied  leaders  are  to  be  in- 
vited to  attend  the  sessions.  The  lo- 
cal organization  is  affiliated  with 
Allied. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Columbia  or  Else, 
Barabra  Must  Choose 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

Hayes  must  make  "Arrowsmith"  with 
Ronald  Colman  and  retakes  on  "Lul- 
laby." In  addition,  she  has  a  stage 
contract  with  Gilbert  Miller.  She 
wants  to  do  "Lullaby"  but  must  await 
word  from  Miller. 

Meanwhile,  Barbara  is  wanted  by 
First  National  for  "Safe  In  Hell." 
However,  under  her  contract  with 
Columbia  she  can't  appear  in  the  pic- 
ture until  she  makes  her  peace  with 
Cohn,  it  is  said.  The  contract  gives 
her  permission  to  alternate  in  Warner 
pictures  between  Columbia  assign- 
ments, it  is  understood. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warners  Hit  Henley 
In  Suit  on  Salary 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

represented  himself  an  able,  efficient 
and  competent  director. 

Ralph  Blum,  Henley's  attorney, 
says  the  contract  called  for  40  con- 
secutive weeks'  work  after  Henley 
produced  two  for  Warners,  "Captain 
Thunder"  and  "Mother's  Cry."  Hen- 
ley made  one  picture  under  his  new 
contract,  "Expensive  Women,"  and 
shortly  after  was  asked  to  take  a 
layoff.  He  said  the  director  agreed, 
providing  Warners  had  a  story  ready 
at  the  end  of  the  layoff  period.  He 
says  Warners  failed  to  do  so  and 
Henley  sued. 


#/ 


Try  This  One  on  Your 
Cash-Register! 

RKOmPATHE 


The  Old  Fightin'  Cock  crows  every  Fridoy  night  10:30  N.  Y.  »ime,  RKO 
THEATRE  OF  THE  AIR— NBC   hook-op  of  44  coost-to-coost  stationsi 

P.  S.  Dallas  Has  Best  Opening   Day  in 
Past  Twelve  Months! 


$40,000  at 

RKOMAYFAIR 

-VARIETY 

JANMAJT   BUSINESS    IN    JULY  t^ 

$32,000  at 
B  KLYN  ALBEE 

-VARIETY 


II 


JANUARY 

llsiWEsTiiriOlTT 

Hq\6  over  m 

NEW  YORK 

WASHINGTON 

BROOKLYN 

DETROIT 

PHILADELPHIA 

SAN  FRANCISCO 

ATLANTIC  CITY 

ALBANY 

BOSTON 

TROY 

PROVIDENCE 

SCHENECTADY 

FT.  WAYNE 

RKO  PAT  HE  presents 

CONSTANCE 

BENNETT 

The  Common  La 


w 


with  JOEL  McCREA,  Lew  Cody,  Robert  Williams,  Hedda  Hopper, 
Marion  Shilling.  Directed  by  PAUL  L.  STEIN.  From  the  novel  by 
Robert  W.  Chambers.  Screen  play  by  John  Farrow. 

A  CHARLES  R.  ROGERS  PRODUCTION 


DLD  FIGHTIN  COCKS 
iVESTERN  STAR^^M 


'outh  demands  youth.  The 
lew  generation  of  fans  de- 
riands  a  new  generation 
if  stars ! 


om  KeenC/  Charles  R. 
ogers'  sensational  box- 
ffice  discovery,  is  the  kind 
f  Western  star  the  kids 
tamp  their  feet  for! 


wo-fisted,  hard-ridin', 
traight-shootin',  rope- 
lirowin',   a    real   he-man! 


irst  release  THE  SUNDOWN 
tAIL,  August  28th. 


/ith  Marion  Shilling,  Nick 
tuart,  Stanley  Blystone, 
lurdock  MacQuarrie  and 
ther  well-known  players, 
tory  and  direction  by 
obert  F.  Hill. 


TOM    KEENE 

Young   and  Full  of  Pep! 


The  Old  Fightin'  Cock  crows  every  Fridoy 
night  10:30  N.  Y.  time,  RKO  THEATRE  OF 
THE  AIR— NBC  hook-up  of  44  coast-to- 
coast  stotionsi 


FHOM    HICO  ^PATHE 


:iDS      AND        THF        ARn\A#M-ilDCI 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  July  30,    1931 


Pliilly  Awaits 
M-G-M--W.B. 
Film  Tussle 


{Continued  from   page    1) 

by  Metro.  However,  the  Erlanger, 
a  legit  theatre  which  was  used  one 
season  by  RKO,  might  be  a  possi- 
bility though  at  the  present  time  it  has 
several  weeks  of  legitimate  bookings 
lined  up.  The  Chestnut,  of  the  Shu- 
bert  chain,  is  wired  and  has  played 
numerous  films,  with  the  Five  Year 
Plan  coming  here  soon,  while  it  is 
stated  that  the  Shapiro-Sablosky-Mc- 
Gurk  interests,  which  operate  the  Ar- 
cadia, an  independent,  have  an  inter- 
est in  a  building  site  at  18th  and  Mar- 
ket streets,  large  enough  to  erect  a 
deluxe  theatre.  This  same  organiza- 
tion is  now  putting  up  the  Midway 
Theatre,  a  3,200  seater  in  the  Ken- 
sington section,  which  will  be  operated 
independently. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Figures  Cited  to 
Hit  Warner  Control 

{Continued  from   page   1) 

ville  Hogan  in  St.  Louis  a  deposition 
of  Calvin  A.  Nichols,  chief  accountant 
of  the  theatre  department  of  Warner 
Brothers,  showing  profits  and  losses 
for  the  years  1928,  1929  and  1930. 

The  minority  stockholders,  includ- 
ing Harry  Koplar,  former  associates 
of  the  Skouras  Brothers  in  their  St. 
Louis  theatrical  ventures,  are  seeking 
the  receivership  charging  that  Skou- 
ras Brothers  Enterprises,  Inc.,  are 
now  being  operated  in  the  interests  of 
Warner  Brothers  chiefly. 

The  profit  and  loss  statement  for 
Skouras  Brothers  Enterprises  was 
shown  as  follows : 

1928   $320,119  profit 

1929   57,716  profit 

1930  56,560  loss 

Skouras  Super  Theatres  Corpora- 
tion, controlled  by  Skouras  Brothers 
Enterprises,  Inc.,  and  Paramount 
Publix  jointly  and  operating  the  Am- 
bassador, Missouri  and  Grand  Central 
theatres  in  St.  Louis  and  first  run 
houses  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  had  a 
profit  of  $524,3,36  in  1928;  a  profit  of 
$58,308  in  1929  and  a  loss  totaling 
$108,554  in  1930,  according  to  the 
denosition. 

Irvin  J.  Meyer,  a  public  accountant, 
testified  that  an  examination  of  the 
books  of  Skouras  Brothers  Enter- 
prises showed  that  six  Warner  pic- 
tures were  shown  at  the  Ambassador 
Theatre  in  1928,  the  rental  being 
$10,500  and  representing  4|4%  of  the 
total  receipts  from  the  pictures,  which 
were  $221,148.  In  1929  12  Warner 
pictures  plaved  the  Ambassador,  the 
rental  of  $36,157  being  11.11%  of  the 
receipts  of  $307,357,  while  in  1930  11 
Warner  pictures  were  shown,  rental 
being  $35,474,  or  15J4%  of  the 
receipts  of  $232,665. 

During  his  cross-examination  Mever 
revealed  that  he  is  holding  1.000 
shares  of  stock  in  Skouras  Brothers 
Enterprises,  Inc.,  in  trust  for  Harry. 
Xat  and  Samuel  Koplar.  He  said  lie 
would  return  this  stock  to  the  Kop- 
lars  whenever  they  demanded  it. 

In  his  opening  statement  to  the 
court.   .Samuel   B.   Jeffries,   of  counsel 


Golden  State, 
Fox  Invading 
The  Far  East 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

around  $1,000,000  and  will  be  housed 
in   an   office   building. 

"Sites  for  the  new  theatres  have 
been  acquired  through  lease  or  pur- 
chase and  start  of  the  building  pro- 
gram now  only  waits  on  the  archi- 
tects,"   McNeil    said. 

McNeil  says  there  is  much  discus- 
sion in  the  Orient  concerning  Ameri- 
can conditions.  He  says  he  found 
conditions  in  Manila,  Japan  and 
Hong  Kong  very  good,  but  other- 
wise China  is  sufifering  from  de- 
pressed   silver   values    and   civil    war. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Shea  Star  Witness 
In  St.  Louis  Trial 

St.  Louis — The  receivership  suit 
against  Skouras  Brothers  Enterprises, 
Inc.,  was  continued  yesterday  with 
Jack  Shea,  'manager  of  Harry  Kop- 
lar's  Montgomery  theatre,  and  his 
sister,  Katie,  giving  testimony  before 
circuit  Judge  Granville  Hogan.  Shea 
owns  30  shares  and  his  sister  55  of 
class  "A"  stock. 

Shea  testified  that  he  bought  his  stock 
following  a  meetirtg  of  theatre  managers 
and  other  employees  addressed  by  Spyros 
P.  Skouras  and  Harry  Koplar  at  which 
was  pointed  out  the  advantages  of  being 
co-partners  with  these  dominant  figures  in 
the  St.  Louis  amusement  world.  The  Sheas 
paid  from  $38  to  $50  a  share  for  their 
stock,    it    was    stated. 

An  interesting  part  of  the  testimony  was 
that  weekly  conferei«>es  of  managers  of 
various  theatres  were  held  and  special 
gatherings  on  occasions  presided  over  by 
George  Skouras.  with  Spyros  and  Charles 
dropping  in  while  George  and  Spyros 
-Skouras  exercised  close  personal  super- 
vision of  the  houses  prior  to  their  sale 
to  Warners  in  1928.  After  the  sale  the 
confabs  were  eliminated  and  district  mart- 
agers  did  most  of  the  supervising.  It  was 
also  brought  out  by  Shea  and  Walter  E. 
Finke,  a  former  employee  of  the  St.  Louis 
Amusement  company,  that  prior  to  the 
Warner  deal  the  company  bought  supplies 
on  the  open  market,  but  later  patronized 
only  Warner  subsidiaries.  The  economic 
upheaval,  caused  by  talkirfg  pictures  in 
1928  and  1929,  which  forced  the  St.  Louis 
Amusement  company  to  pay  for  musicians 
it  could  not  use,  was  pictured  by  A.  C. 
Thomas,  general  counsel  for  Warners,  in 
his  opening  statement  to  the  court.  He 
said  Warners  and  associates  own  93  per 
cent  of  the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.  stock. 

An  intervening  petition  asking  that  the 
suit  be  dismissed  as  groundless  was  filed 
yesterday  by  the  First  National  Co.  and 
Tausig,  Day,  Fairbanks  &  Co.,  a  stock 
and  bond  house,  which  are  handling  a 
bond  sale  for  the  amusemen't  company. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Frisch  Completing  Deal 

Negotiations  between  Louis  Frisch 
and  Fox  officials  for  acquisition  of 
about  18  Brooklyn  theatres  are  ex- 
pected to  be  culminated  some  time 
next  week. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Publix-Knobel  Deal  On 

Publix  is  understood  dickering  with 
Ben  Knobel  for  the  State,  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  with  the  deal  expected 
to  be  closed  before  the  end  of  the 
week. 


for  the  defendants,  said  that  it  would 
be  shown  that  the  plaintiffs,  including 
Harry  Koplar,  were  present  at  the 
meeting  at  which  the  matter  of  selling 
control  to  the  Warner  Brothers  came 
up  and  that  they  had  acquiesced  to 
the  deal. 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


(ContiiiucJ   frifui    page    1) 

California 

Arcade,  Holtville,  F.  Holmes;  La  Mesa 
La  Mesa,  L.   Maxwell. 

Connecticut 

New    Crown,    Hartfoid,    Charles   Repass. 

Illinois 

Palace,  Gilman,  E.  Sthmid;  Rialto,  Coa 
C  ty,  T.   Berta. 

Indiana 

Walnut.  Lawrenceburg,  J.  B.   Weddle. 

Kansas 

Auditorium,    Delphos,   Eli    Mullinax. 

Maine 

Cera,   Winthrop,    G.    DesgarJen. 

Maryland 

Liberty,  Cumberland,  Liberty  Amusemeni 
Co. 

Massachusetts 

Guild,   Norwoods,   Geo.   A.   Giles   Co. 

Michigan 

Regent,  Bangor,  Herbert  Wood;  Strand, 
Mviskegon  Heights,  Strand  Amusement 
C(.  ;  Avenue,  Detroit,  damage  &  Roth- 
stein;  Empress,  Grand  Rapids,  R.  K.  O. 
.M  d-West  Corp.;  Ambassador,  Detroit,  S. 
J.  Brown;  Washington,  Bay  City,  R.  P. 
L<ahy;  Riviera,  Tekonsha,  Tekonsha 
A_'ausement  Co.;  Woodward  Grand",  De- 
tri  it,  S.  J.  Broon;  Broadway,  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, Lee  Ward;  Fenkell,  Detroit,  S.  J. 
Brown. 

Minneapolis 

Strand,  Princeton,  E.  A.  Reynolds;  Grand, 
.\nnandale,   W.   S.   Sather. 

Mississippi 

Grand,  Water  Valley,   W.   S.  Tyson. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Union  Enjoined  in 
Linden  Picket  Case 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

and  distributing  circulars  to  Linden 
residents.  He  also  reprimanded 
union  officials  and  the  attorney  for 
the  organization  and  said  he  would 
hold  them  responsible  for  any  vio- 
lence or  other  illegal  acts  that  might 
ensue.  Two  weeks  ago  vandals  broke 
into  Bollinger's  theatre  after  he  re- 
placed union  operators  with  non- 
union men  and  wrecked  his  machines. 
When  the  union  started  picketing  he 
took  the  case  to  court  and  was  granted 
a  temporary  injunction  returnable 
July  28. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Milestone  Tops  List 
In  Director  Poll 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

George  Hill,  160;  Josef  Von  Stern- 
berg, 148;  D.  W.  Griffith,  139;  Robert 
Z.  Leonard,  137 ;  Charles  Chaplin, 
101;  John  Cromwell,  111;  Howard 
Hawks,  101 ;  and  Howard  Hughes, 
91. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Rogers  Joins  Gen'l 
Talking  as  a  V.-P. 

Frank  B.  Rogers  has  resigned  from 
Erpi  to  join  General  Talking  Pictures 
as  vice  president  in  charge  of  dis- 
tribution and  public  relations.  His 
last  post  with  Erpi  was  in  Chicago 
where  he  handled  mid-western  sales 
until  Harry  Dodge  succeeded  him  at 
which  time  Rogers  was  given  a  spe- 
cial assignment.  Dodge  continues  in 
Chicago    for    Erpi. 

In  connection  with  his  appointment, 
Rogers  hinted  yesterday  at  impor- 
tant developments  from  General 
shortly. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Nurse"  Clicking 

Indianapolis — "Night  Nurse"  at 
the  Apollo  last  Monday  topped  Sat- 
urday business  by  $110  and  Sunday  by 
$165. 


Fla.  Solons 
Reject  Tax 
On  Theatres 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
worry  them,  so  the  motorist  now  pays 
7c  per  gallon  tax  on  his  gas  and  the 
license  fees  were  advanced  50  per 
bills  were  introduced  in  the  two 
cent. 

During  the  three  sessions  a  dozen 
houses  for  the  purpose  of  levying  a 
tax  on  theatre  admissions.  The  gov- 
ernor in  his  message  advocated  a 
"reasonable  tax"  on  theatres,  but  the 
theatre  men  succeeded  in  keeping  the 
different  bills  from  passing. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Night  Golf  Newest 
Opposition  in  Chi 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ningham  and  Joe  Roseman.  It  com- 
prises nine  holes  of  golf,  of  distances 
from  75  to  165  yards.  It  occupies  an 
18-acre  tract  on  the  northwest  city 
limits.  The  use  of  wooden  clubs  is 
banned  on  the  course,  but  the  promot- 
ers claim  it  offers  full  possibilities  for 
the  use  of  all  irons. 

The  course  is  lighted  by  nine  steel 
towers,  each  75  feet  high,  with  a  total 
of  125,000  watts.  Cost  of  the  lighting 
system  was  $32,000,  and  cost  of 
electrical  current  is  estimated  at  $20 
nightly.  Capacity  of  the  course  is  36 
persons  at  one  time,  and  it  requires 
about  45  minutes  to  complete  a  round. 
Admissions  are  at  75  cents  in  daytime 
and  $1.00  at  night,  with  a  charge  of  50 
cents  for  additional  rounds  after  the 
first.  The  total  cost  of  the  course  was 
$43,000. 

Similar  ventures  at  Detroit,  Kansas 
City  and  San  Francisco  are  said  to 
have  failed  because  of  inadequate 
lighting,  but  the  lighting  system  in 
use  here  is  said  to  have  overcome  the 
difficulties  encountered  at  the  other 
courses. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Police  May  Be  Drawn 
Into  Chicago  Probe 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

concerning  the  shooting  and  slugging 
of  Milton  Kreueger,  a  recalcitrant 
exhibitor,  in  the  Paramount  exchange 
here  18  months  ago,  have  uncovered 
alleged  irregularities  in  the  manner  in 
which  Chicago  police  investigated  the 
attack  on  Krueger.  The  alleged 
irregularities,  according  to  the  state's 
attorney's  office,  point  toi  political 
pressure  having  been  brought  to  bear 
on  police  investigating  the  attack. 

Tom  Maloy,  business  agent  of  the 
union,  has  been  indicted  for  conspiracy 
to  commit  a  felony  as  a  result  of  the 
attack  on   Krueger. 

William  Canavan,  president  of  the 
I.A.T.S.E.,  has  been  in  Chicago  for 
the  past  several  days,  presumably  in 
connection  with  the  indictment  of  five 
officials  of  the  Chicago  local.  His 
attempts  to  communicate  with  the 
state's  attorney's  office  were  unsiic- 
cessful. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

In  for  Two  Weeks 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. — "Bought"  has 
been  booked  into  the  Strand  for  two 
weeks  when  one  week  stands  have 
been  the  rule  at  that  theatre  for 
.some   time. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  52 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JULY  31,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Petti  John  to 
Go  Producer? 

He  Says  ^^No'' 

Dickered   While  on  Last 
Trip,  Story  Goes 

Hollywood — The  Hollywood  Her- 
ald said  yesterday : 

"Charles  C.  Pettijohn  is  reported 
from  New  York  preparing  to  leave 
the  Hays   organization. 

"During  his  recent  visit  to  Holly- 
wood which  was  called  a  vacation, 
Pettijohn  is  understood  to  have  dis- 
cussed an  affiliation  with  a  major 
studio.  It  is  believed  he  will  return 
here  as  a  producer.  It  is  said  he 
wants  to  better  his  private  fortune 
and  be  in  an  atmosphere  less  strenu- 
ous than  legislative  work." 


Charles  C.  Pettijohn  one-worded 
his  reply  to  the  Coast  reiKirt  yester- 
day: 

"Silly." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

RKO  Pathe  Sponsor 
Of  European  Films 

RKO  Pathe  will  sponsor  produc- 
tion in  England  of  six  quota  pictures, 
some  French  and  British  films,  while 
a  number  of  its  American  productions 
will  be  remade  in  Europe  for  Conti- 
nental consumption,  states  T.  S. 
Delehanty,  vice  president  and  general 
manager  of  RKO  Pathe  Export 
Corp.,  who  has  returned  to  New  York 
from  a  three  months'  trip  abroad. 

The  British  films  will  be  made  by 
P.  D.  C.  Ltd.,  and  Associated  Talk- 
ing Pictures,  Ltd.     P.  D.C.  will  dis- 

(Continued   on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Oldknow  Pins  Faith 
In  Fall  Productions 

Hollywood — Oscar  Oldknow  of 
Fox  West  Coast  joins  hands  with 
Sam  Dembow,  Jr.,  of  Publix  in  agree- 
ing that  fall  product  looks  like  the 
i-eal  goods. 

In  a  message  to  his  field  force,  via 
The    Last    Word,    Fox    West    Coast 

(Continued   on  page   2) 


5  Day  Week 

Executives  and  production 
heads  of  Western  Electric 
have  been  placed  on  a  five- 
day  week  basis  with  salaries 
cut  10  per  cent.  This  makes 
the  five-day  week  apply  to  all 
of  the  26,000  employes  of  the 
company. 


600  in  Meyer-Reiger  Library 

Trailers  on  600  feature  subjects,  starting  with  June,  1930,  re- 
leases, will  comprise  the  library  of  Meyer-Reiger,  latest  entry 
into  the  trailer  field.  They  will  be  of  an  average  of  100  feet 
long,  and  include  dialogue,  sound,  animation  and  sound  effects. 
Louis  Meyer  will  leave  for  the  Coast  either  Wednesday  or  Thurs- 
day stopping  off  at  Chicago  where  he  will  appoint  a  manager 
to  take  care  of  the  company's  branch  to  be  opened  there. 


Large  Market 
Abroad  Seen 
By  Thalberg 


Hollywood — Full  evidence  of  a 
large  potential  market  for  American 
talkers  which  can  meet  European 
taste  was  found  abroad  by  Irving 
Thalberg,  he  told  William  A.  John- 
ston in  an  interview  published  in  The 
Hollyzvood  Herald.  Theatre  condi- 
tions abroad  are  better  than  he  ex- 
pected, Thalberg  said. 

"The  most  important  factor  today, 
so  far  as  the  American  industry  is 
concerned,"  he  declared,  "is  the  atti- 
tude of  the  foreign  press  toward  our 
pictures.  The  press  abroad  is  ad- 
versely critical  to  an  astounding  de- 
gree. 

"British  papers  are  more  fair,  but 
the  Continental  papers  are  filled  daily 

{Continued   on  page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Pathe  News'  Drive 
On  Crime  Lauded 

Boston — Mayor  James  M.  Curley 
has  given  official  approval  to  combat 
crime  launched  by  Pathe  and  has 
issued  instructions  to  the  law  and 
police  departments  of  Boston  to  co- 
operate with  the  Pathe  cameramen  in 
films  to  be  taken. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Clara  Bow  Defamer 
Faces  10-Year  Term 

Los  Angeles — Frederick  H.  Gir- 
nau,  publisher,  convicted  of  sending 
obscene  matter  through  the  mails, 
faces  sentence  today  of  ten  years  in 
Federal  prison  and  fine  of  $12,000. 
His  conviction  is  the  outgrowth  of 
published  articles  purporting  to  re- 
veal the  "love  life"  of  Clara  Bow. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NQ^' 

S,  Cal.  Operators 
Take  90  Days'  Cut 

Los  Angeles — Southern  California 
operators  have  agreed  to  a  IS  per 
cent  wage  cut  f-r  a  90-day  period, 
which  probably  will  prevent  closing 
of  more  Fox  West  Coast  houses  and 
result  in  the  reopening  of  some. 


Gang  Films? 
^^Bad  Stuff" 
Says  Capone 


Chicago — Gangster  pictures  are  in- 
jurious to  American  youth,  take  it 
from  no  less  an  authority  than  Al  Ca- 
pone.- "king"  of  American  gangsters, 
who  was  to  have  been  sentenced  yes- 
terday by  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment to  a  prison  term. 

Capone  evidently  feels  strongly  on 
the  subject  of  the  preservation  of 
American  youth,  for  he  declared  he 
had  been  offered  $2,000,000  to  write 
a  book  and  had  received  "lots  of 
offers"  from  picture  producers. 

"You  know,  these  gang  pictures — 
that's  terrible  kid  stuff,"  declared  the 
erstwhile  Chicago  overlord.  "Why, 
they  ought  to  take  all  of  them  and 
throw  them  into  the  lake.  They're 
doing  nothing  but  harm  to  the  youn- 
ger element  of  this  country.  I  don't 
blame  the  censors  for  trying  to  bar 
them. 

"Now,    you    take    all    these    young- 

(Continiied   on   page   3) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

25  Independents 
In  Supply  Alliance 

Tw^enty-five  independent  supply 
dealers  in  as  many  cities  of  the 
United  States  have  federated  in 
.Affiliated  Theatre  Supply  Dealers, 
formed  this  week  in  Chicago.  The 
firms  plan  to  co-operate  in  business 
building  plans,  advertising  and  de- 
velopment of  new  equipment  projects. 
Each  dealer  member  retains  owner- 
ship of  his  exchange  in  the  set-up. 

J.  E.  Robin  is  president  of  the  com- 

(Continiied   on   page   3) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

German  Theatres  Hit 
Slump,  Taxes  Show 

Berlin — Extent  to  which  the  pic- 
ture business  has  slumped  in  Ger- 
many is  indicated  in  the  Government 
tax  returns  which  dropped  14  per 
cent  for  the  12  months  to  March  as 
against  last  year.  Attendance  in 
Berlin,  by  wav  of  specific  example, 
dropped  from  58,500,000  to  56,500,000 
in  that   period. 


Columbia  to 
RKO  Rivals 
In  Chicago 

Deal   Indicates   Hitch  in 
Franchise  Renewal 


Chicago. — Columbia  is  selling  away 
from  RKO  in  Chicago  and  has  two 
first  run  and  one  subsequent  run  deal 
already  set.  Balaban  &  Katz  is  tak- 
ing four  features  for  the  Loop,  pre- 
sumably for  the  McVickers,  while  the 
balance  of  Columbia's  26  will  play 
the    Woods    first    run. 

Last  season  all  product  of  Colum- 
bia went  over  RKO  time  under  a 
blanket  deal,  and  the  action  here  is 
taken  to  indicate  that  difficulties  have 
arisen  on  continuance  of  the  fran- 
chise arrangement. 

All  B.  &  K.  subsequent  runs  will 
play  the  Columbia  product  and  a 
number  of  other  deals  with  independ- 
ents are  reported  under  way.  One  of 
these  is  said  to  be  with  the  Gumbiner 
string   of   outlying   houses. 


Columbia    is    still    negotiating    with 
RKO  on  a  deal  in  New  York. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tiffany  in  First 
Runs  in  Chicago 

Chicago. — First  run  Loop  showing 
for  each  of  Tiffany's  12  pictures  des- 
ignated as  specials  is  provided  in  deals 
ready  for  signing  here  by  William 
Weinshenker,  Educational  feature 
manager. 

Although  details  of  the  deals  are 
being  withheld  until  they  have  been 
actually  closed,  it  is  understood  that 
terms  have  been  agreed  upon  by 
Educational     and     Jones,     Linick     & 

(Continued  on   page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Boarding  School"  to 
Be  Purged  of  Dirt 

Hollywood — M-G-M  has  post- 
poned indefinitely  production  of 
"Boarding  School."  The  story  is  to 
be  rewritten  and  material  considered 
risque    eliminated. 


Chi  Buying 

Chicago — Buying  began  in 
volume  a  little  more  than  a 
week  ago,  and  is  now  assum- 
ing a  steady  pace  throughout 
the  city. 


See  page  3  for  yesterday's 
"Buy  Right — But  Buy  Now" 
sales. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  July  31,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.   S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly    Erhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


V.I.    30 


July   31.    1931 


No.    52 


M.\RTIN     QuiCLEY 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

«  Advertising  Manager 


^•^p\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
C  j|  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
S^<  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Y'ucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  corresponde«t:  H'.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,  under   Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Oldknow  Pins  Faith 
In  Fall  Productions 

{Continued  from  page    1) 

house  organ,  Oldknow  bases  his  pre- 
diction for  the  fall  on  these  compan- 
ies  and   these   pictures. 

Fox 

Tra.nsatlantic. 

Bad  Girl. 

Merely  Mary  Ann. 

Young  as  You  Feel. 

The   Brat. 

Heartbreak. 

She  Wanted  a   Millionaire. 

Sob  Sister. 

M-G-M 
Sporti  ng   Blood. 
Guilty    Hands. 
Susan   Lenox. 
Politics. 

The  Phantom  oe  Paris. 
The  Great  Lover. 
Hell  Diver. 
The  Guardsman. 

Paramount 

Thb  Smiling   Lieutenant. 
An  American  Tra(;edy. 
Daughter  of   the   Dragon. 
Indiscretion. 
Rich  Man's  Folly. 
The   Road  to  Reno. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

RKO  Pathe  Sponsor 
Of  European  Films 

iCtnttiiiiinl  from    pmic    \) 

tribute  in  England  and  RKO  Path*; 
Export  Corp.  will  handle  the  rest  of 
the  world  except  the  United  States. 
Basil  Dean  will  supervise  the  series 
and  Maurice  Elvy  will  direct.  The 
first  picture  will  star  Jack   Buchanan. 

Delehanty  is  oi>timistic  over  condi- 
tions abroad.  Jack  Kennedy  and 
Capt.  H.  E.  Auten,  representatives  in 
Great  Britain  and  Continental  Europe 
respectively,  accompanied  Delehanty 
on  his  tour  of  the  European  countries. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW 

Winchell  in  Series 
For  Lyman-Howe 

"On  Broadway  with  Walter  Win- 
chell" is  the  title  of  a  series  of 
short  reel  pictures  of  Manhattan  life 
being  produced  under  supervision  of 
Robert  Gillaum,  general  manager  of 
the  Lyijian  Howe  Films  Co.,  of 
Wilkes-Barre. 


Large  Market 
Seen  Abroad 
By  Thalberg 


(Continued   from    page    1) 

with  articles  and  reviews  openly  and 
unrestrainedly  hostile  to  American 
pictures,  studios  and  operations,"  he 
continued.  The  worst  of  it  is  that 
this  sentiment  is  obviously  a  reflection 
of  the  American  press. 

"Everything  critical  of  pictures  and 
productions  that  appears  in  our  news- 
papers is  quoted  at  length.  A  curious 
situation  exists  for  the  foreign  papers 
are  as  one  in  praising  their  own  prod- 
uct and  decrying  ours,  whereas  our 
own  newspapers  seem  eager  to  go  out 
of  their  way  to  lavish  praise  on  the 
artistry,  so-called,  of  French  and  Ger- 
man productions  which  reach  our  the- 
atres. 

"One  would  think  that  America 
would  take  pride  in  a  leading  industry 
which  has  conquered  the  world  trade 
to  such  a  remarkable  degree.  Ameri- 
can studios  and  theatres  have  per- 
formed a  gigantic  and  most  creditable 
task  and  we  should  at  least  have  home 
recognition,"  continues  the  M-G-M 
production  executive. 

"It  is  high  time  to  be  constructive 
and  the  good  work  could  well  start  in 
Hollywood.  It  is  about  time  for  all 
to  speak  of  the  creditable  work  being 
done  and  stop  the  irresponsible  bick- 
ering that  exists." 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Joan  Bennett  Will 
Recover  from  Fall 

Hollywood — Joan  Bennett  will  re- 
cover from  injuries  sustained  in  a  fall 
rom  a  horse  without  permanent  in- 
jury her  physician  states.  However, 
she  will  be  confined  to  Hollywood 
Hospital  from  8  to  12  weeks. 


Barbara  Bennett,  sister  of  Joan,  is 
en  route  to  Hollywood  by  airplane  to 
be  at  tlie  bedside  of  her   sister. 


Tiffany  in  First 
Runs  in  Chicago 

(Coiitixiied   from    patic    1  ) 

Schaefer  for  eight  Tiffany  features 
to  play  the  Woods  Theatres.  C.  E. 
Beck  may  take  the  other  four  for 
the   Castle    Theatre,    it    is    reported. 

The  Loop  deals  will  probably  be 
closed  within  the  next  week,  and  sev- 
eral other  important  Tiffany  sales 
are  reported  ready  for  signing,  de- 
spite the  fact  that  the  company  was 
last  to  begin  new  product  selling. 
"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warners  Aid  Families 
Of  Child  Gang  Victims 

Entire  proceeds  of  opening  night 
of  "The  Star  Witness,"  at  the  Win- 
ter Garden  will  go  to  families  of  the 
five  children  shot  last  Tuesday  by 
gangsters  in  New  York. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Asher  in  N.  Y. 

E.  M.  Asher.  Universal  associate 
producer,  is  in  New  York  and  expects 
to  return  to  Hollywood  this  week  to 
resume  work. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Governor  at  Preview 

Albany. — Breaking  precedent,  Gov- 
ernor Roosevelt  and  family  attended 
a  special  preview  of  "Honeymoon 
Lane." 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Epics  Premiere  Today 

Talking  picture  Epics'  "The  Im- 
mortal Vagabond,"  has  its  American 
premiere  today  at  the  Warner,  New 
York.  The  picture  was  made  by  Ufa. 
Dialogue  is  in  English. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"U"  Short  at  Roxy 

Universal's  first  short  on  the  new 
season's  product,  "First  to  Fight,"  a 
four-reel  Slim  Summerville  comedy, 
is  now  playing  at  the  Roxy. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Ufa  Paying  Dividend? 

Berlin — Ufa,  according  to  report, 
will  pay  a  dividend  this  year,  its 
first    since    1925. 


Eastman  Kodak  Up;  Slow  Market 


High 

Consolidated     Film     Industries 75^ 

Consolidated     Film     Industries     pfd 14 

Eastman     Kodak     138M 

Fox    Film    "A" ISJi 

General    Theatre     Equipment    new 3i4. 

Loew's,    Inc 45^4 

Paramount      Publix 23-5^ 

Pathe    Exchange i'/i 

RKO     W/i 

Warner    Bros 6?^ 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

7V, 

7/^ 

400 

14 

14 

-  Vi 

100 

135/2 

1.^8 

+m 

3,000 

15 

155/i 

+  A 

5,000 

3V« 

3Vi 

+  Vf. 

1.300 

43-4 

45/2 

-fi 

6,400 

ZZVi 

23'A 

3,400 

VA 

PA 

-    /8 

100 

13'/2 

14 

+  !4 

5,500 

6^8 

6.)4 

3,000 

Columbia  Drops  2;  List  Unsteady 


High 

Columbia      Pictures 12 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc U 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 25^ 

General   Theatre    Fquipment   pfd 71/J 

Sentry    Safety    Control ^ 

Technicolor     7 

Trans    Lux     514 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

11 

12 

> 

300 

10 

11 

~  !4 

300 

25/8 

2^ 

+    /8 

100 

67/r 

7 

-  'A 

200 

% 

Vs 

-    /8 

100 

7 

7 

200 

5/4 

554 

-  'A 

100 

Paramount  Bonds  Off 


High 

General   Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40 305^ 

Loew's  6s   '41    ex   war 93^ 

Paramount    Broadway    S'As    '51 102 

Paramount    F.     L.    6s    '47 88 

Paramount   Publix  S'/is,  'SO 76/ 

Pathe   7s    '37    ww 90^^ 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39  wd 44 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

30 

305^ 

-t-  / 

9 

98 

98 

40 

102 

102 

-1-  Vi 

2 

87/ 

88 

+m 

12 

73 

73 

-^ 

14 

90 

90 

—2/ 

3 

43/ 

44 

35 

Purely 


Personal 


A  BE  GOODMAN  and  Charles 
-^^-  Goldie,  both  members  of  the  Fox 
advertising  and  publicity  stafT,  are 
about  to  step  into  the  state  sometimes 
described  as  marital  bliss.  So  last 
night  the  department  gave  them  both 
a  dinner  at  Beefsteak  Charlie's.  Glen 
.AUvine  forgot  Long  Breach  long 
enough  to  act  as  master  of  ceremonies. 

Hy  Daab,  dynamic  Radio  adver- 
tising chief,  is  said  to  have  something 
new  up  his  sleeve  in  advertising  the 
transcontinental  day  and  date  release 
August  15  of  "Traveling  Husbands." 
If  he  tops  the  "Amos  'n'  Andy"  and 
"Cim"  campaigns,  that  will  be  sump'n. 
A  big  splurge  is  being  made  on  the 
press   book   for   the   picture. 

Sidney  Samuelson  tried  to  get  two 
pressbooks  on  "Dirigible"  from  the 
Columbia  exchange  the  other  day  and 
he  had  to  put  up  a  stifif  battle  before 
he  got  the  second  one,  which  Colutp- 
bia   considers   valuable. 

Jim  Mulvey  is  now  ensconced  on 
the  twelfth  floor  of  the  Godfrey  Build- 
ing. He's  Sam  Goldwyn's  Eastern 
generalissimo,  you  know. 

Henry  Eckman,  formerly  of  M-G- 
M's  Washington  branch,  leaves  today 
for  China  where  he  will  represent  the 
company. 

Sylvia  Sidney  is  in  New  York 
from  Hollywood  for  the  premiere  of 
"American  Tragedy"  August  5  at  the 
Criterion. 

Polly  Moran,  M-G-M  comedienne, 
appears  in  person  with  "Politics"  at 
the  New  York  Capitol,  starting  today. 

Joe  Moskowitz  has  acquired  a 
"court-room  look."  He  is  now  han- 
dling  legal  affairs  for  United  Artists. 

Gordon  S.  White,  the  various  Edu- 
cational sales  conventions  behind  him, 
has  left  Hollywood  for  New  York. 

Sam  Ro.se\',  cameraman  for  Seiden 
Films,  yesterday  became  a  daddy  of 
a  7-}4-pound  boy. 

Monroe  Greenthal  has  joined  the 
U.  A.  publicity  department  under  Hal 
Home. 

Mike  Simmons  is  going  in  for 
night  motoring  clad  in  pajamas 
and — 

Sol  Brill  is  recuperating  from  a 
heart  attack  which  he  suffered  Mon- 
day. 

C.  E.  Kessnich,  M-G-M  district 
manager,  is  in  town  for  a  few  days. 

Leo  Brecher  gets  back  from  that 
European  jaunt  in  September. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'^Groundless" — Yates 

Petition  by  J.  E.  McPherson  and 
other  stockholders,  understood  to  be 
identified  with  the  American  Record 
Company  now  owned  by  Consolidated 
Film  Industries,  Inc.,  to  examine  the 
books  of  the  latter  corporation  was 
described  by  H.  J.  Yates  yesterday  as 
"groundless." 

"The  petition  was  filed  solely  in  the 
hope  of  harrassing  the  management 
and  for  other  ulterior  motives,  all  of 
which  will  be  demonstrated  at  the 
proper  time,"  remarked  Yates. 


Friday,   July   31,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


New  Use  for  Films 

Trenton — This  city  has  one 
film-goer  who  remembers  the 
pictures  she  sees.  The  rea- 
son: A  jealous  husband,  ac- 
cording to  divorce  complaint 
of  Mrs.  Ruth  N.  Bauer,  who 
alleges  that  for  ten  days 
every  time  she  returned  from 
a  picture  house  he  questioned 
her  closely  as  to  what  film 
she  saw,  at  what  theatre  she 
saw  it  and  the  actors  in- 
volved. This,  she  said,  was 
checked  up  with  the  news- 
papers, to  determine  if  she 
was  telling  the  truth. 


Advertising  in  Cabs 
Columbia  Innovation 

Columbia  is  placing  advertising  on 
its  product  in  1,000  taxicabs  through- 
out Greater  New  York.  The  new  ad- 
vertising process  is  known  as  the 
Adometer.  It  is  built  into  the  pas- 
senger compartment  and  is  a  rotary 
which  displays  each  ad  at  the  rate  of 
four  times  e^ery  15  minutes.  The 
machine  is  installed  in  Parmelee  and 
other  chain  system  cabs.  It  is  esti- 
mated that  each  cab  carries  an  aver- 
age of  40  passengers  daily.  Colum- 
bia says  it  is  the  first  picture  com- 
pany to  use  the  new  device. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Canada  Film  Man 
Suffers  a  Stroke 

Toronto — Fred  W.  Martin  of 
Windsor,  promoter  of  the  Detroit- 
Windsor  vehicular  tunnel  which  is 
now  in  successful  operation  and  who 
was  undertaking  a  film  project  at 
Windsor,  suffered  a  stroke  while  in 
Toronto  and  is  now  lying  in  a  seri- 
ous condition  in  the  General  Hos- 
pital. Martin,  who  was  originally 
a  captain  in  the  Salvation  Army,  had 
been  trying  to  get  British  Gaumont, 
TifTany,  Educational  and  other  com- 
panies interested  in  the  erection  of 
a  film  studio  for  the  making  of  quota 
pictures. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

25  Independents 
In  Supply  Alliance 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

pany,  L.  G.  Doliver,  vice-president, 
R.  G.  Tannehill,  secretary-treasurer 
and  business  manager.  There  are  five 
other  directors,  as  follows :  George 
McArthur,  G.  H.  Breneman,  A.  E. 
Thiele,  H.  F.  Dusman  and  H.  W.  Gra- 
ham. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sex  Angle  in  Films 
Bothers  Censors 

London — The  sex  angle  in  current 
product  is  under  scrutiny  by  the  Brit- 
ish Board  of  Censors.  Distributors 
were  present  at  the  first  meeting  on 
the  subject  outcome  of  which  is  ex- 
pected to  drastically  curtail  the 
trend. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sees  Admission  Cut 

London — E.  Bruce  Johnson,  in 
from  New  York,  says  American  the- 
atres will  be  compelled  to  cut  admis- 
sion prices  to  meet  the  general  trend 
of  all  businesses  in  the  States. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Madan  Lands  40  More 

London — The  Madan  circuit  has 
increased     its     Indian     string    by    40. 


BUY  NOW"  SALES 


Golden  States  Theatres  Circuit  of 
California,  operating  in  38  situations, 
has  purchased  Universal  feature 
product  for  1931-32  in  a  contract  just 
closed  between  R.  A.  McNeil,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of  the 
Golden  States,  and  W.  J.  Heineman 
and  Kenneth  Hodkinson,  division 
manager  and  exchange  manager  of 
Universal's  San  Francisco  office.  It 
is  a  complete  100%  deal,  including 
features,  short  product  and  news  reel. 
The  theatres : 

Daly  City,  Daly  City;  State,  Amazon, 
Palmber,  Irving,  Haight,  Parkside.  Ri- 
viera, Milano,  Verdi,  Excelsior,  Broadway, 
New  Rialto  and  Uptown,  San  Francisco; 
New  Fruitvale,  Fairfax,  Dimond,  Granada, 
Capitol,  Parkway,  Palace,  Golden  State, 
Plaza,  Lincoln  and  Broadway,  Oakland; 
Rivoli,  Berkeley;  Palace,  San  Leandro; 
Hay  ward,  Hay  ward;  Golden  State  and 
Monterey,  Monterey;  Grove,  Pacific  Grove; 
Carmel,  Carmel;  State,  HoUister;  Merced 
and  Strand,  Merced;  New  Santa  Cruz 
and  Unique,  Santa  Cruz,  and  Victory,  San 
Jose. 

The  company  yesterday  also  closed 
a  100%  deal  for  feature  product  with 
the  East  Texas  Amusement  Com- 
pany. The  theatres  included  in  this 
contract   are : 

Jefferson,  Liberty,  Tivoli  and  Peoples, 
Beaumont;  Stranda,  Orange;  Strand,  Peo- 
ples, Pierce  and  Dreamland,  Port  Arthur; 
Palace  and  Strand,  Henderson;  Rembert, 
Longview;  Pines,  Lufkin;  Austin,  Nacog- 
doches; Strand,  Kilgore  and  Queen,  Vic- 
toria. 

Because  of  the  geographical  dis- 
tribution of  the  circuit's  houses,  the 
deal  was  made  jointly  by  Bob  Mcll- 
heran  of  Universal's  Dallas  office,  and 
Louis  Baxley  of  the  San  Antonio 
office,  and  Tom  Clements,  general 
manager   of   East   Texas   Amusement. 


Tulsa — Ralph  Talbot  has  contrac- 
ted with  Fox  for  the  new  line-up  to 
play  the  Ritz,  Majestic  and  Rialto. 


Arthur  C.  Bromberg,  southeastern 
district  manager  of  Monogram  Pic- 
tures Corporation,  this  week  closed 
a  contract  for  the  use,  100  per  cent,  of 
the  28  Monograms  in  the  21  towns  of 
the   Sparks   Circuit   in  Florida. 

The  entire  Vitaphone  short  series 
have  been  bought  by  Fred  Dolle  of 
the  Dolle  circuit.  Theatres  involved 
include  six  in  Louisville  and  houses 
in  Indianapolis,  Kokomo,  Lafayette, 
Logansport,  Marion  and  Terre  Haute. 
Harry  Rosenquest  acted  for  Vitaphone 
and  Fred  Dolle  for  the  circuit. 


Albany — All   Fox   theatres   in   this 
zone  have  purchased  the  "Adventures 
in  Africa"  series  of  12  subjects. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Chain  Store  Tax 
Sought  in  New  York 

Retail  merchants  of  New  York  met 
last  night  to  map  plans  for  enact- 
ment of  a  tax  on  chain  stores  of  the 
state,  similar  to  the  Indiana  tax, 
which  has  been  upheld  by  the  Su- 
preme Court.  Retail  merchants  of 
New  Jersey  and  other  states  are  con- 
sidering similar  steps,  carrying  with 
them  the  threat  of  circuit  theatre 
levies. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Virginia  Legion  to 
Pan  Gangster  Films 

Richmond —  Resolutions  denounc- 
ing a  surfeit  of  gangster  crime  pic- 
tures are  expected  to  cause  considera- 
ble discussion  at  the  convention  of 
the  Virginia  Department  of  the 
American  Legion,  to  be  held  in  Clif- 
ton Forge. 


Gang  Films? 
^^Bad  Stuff" 
Says  Capone 


(Continued  from   payc    \) 

sters  who  go  to  the  movies.  You 
remember  reading  dime  novels,  may- 
be, when  you  were  a  kid.  Well,  you 
know  how  it  made  you  want  to  get 
out  and  kill  pirates  or  look  for  buried 
treasure — you  know.  Well,  these 
gang  movies  are  making  a  lot  of  kids 
want  to  be  tough  guys,  and  they  don't 
serve  any  useful  purpose." 


Formal  Indictments  to 
Be  Returned  Today 

Chicago — Formal  return  of  indict- 
ments of  the  seven  principals  in  the 
investigation  of  the  Chicago  Oper- 
ators' Union  will  be  made  today  with 
the  dismissal  of  the  Cook  County 
July  grand  jury.  The  indictments 
were  prepared  immediately  following 
the  voting  of  true  bills  two  weeks  ago 
naming  Tom  Maloy,  business  agent 
of  the  union;  Joe  Maloy,  his  brother, 
city  examiner  of  motion  picture  oper- 
ators ;  Jack  Miller,  president  of  the 
Exhibitors'  Association  of  Chicago; 
Ralph  O'Hara,  Maloy's  bodyguard 
and  business  agent  of  the  Chicago 
Theatrical  Janitors'  Union;  Tom 
Reynolds,  president  of  the  Operators' 
Union ;  Emmett  Quinn,  union  treasur- 
er, and  Frank  Clififord,  Maloy's 
assistant  business  agent. 

Indictments  in  addition  to  those 
which  will  be  formally  returned  today 
are  expected  later,  as  a  result  of  the 
state's  attorney's  investigation  of  the 
union  which  is  continuing.  Testimony 
was  taken  this  week  from  scores  of 
Chicago  theatre  owners  not  questioned 
in  the  earlier  investigation,  and  had 
to  do  particularly  with  the  exhibitors' 
relations  with  the  union  during  the 
past  three  years,  the  object  being  to 
uncover  as  many  instances  of  union 
coercion  as  possible. 

In  spite  of  earlier  indications  to  the 
contrary,  there  seemed  little  likeli- 
hood that  action  on  the  revocation  of 
licenses  held  by  several  hundred 
"permit"  operators  would  be  taken  by 
Mayor  A.  J.  Cermak  this  week.  The 
state's  attorney's  office,  however,  ex- 
pects early  action  on  its  recommenda- 
tion made  to  the  mayor  last  week. 


"Hell  Bound"  Escapes 
Chi  Gangster  Ban 

Chicago — Objections  of  clergy  and 
women's  clubs  to  the  showing  of  gang 
pictures  in  Rogers  Park  Theatres 
here,  which  have  kept  several  out- 
standing pictures  of  that  order  from 
important  North  Side  bookings,  will 
not  be  pressed  in  the  case  of  "He'J 
Bound,"  local  distributors  of  the 
Tiffany  feature  have  been  advised. 

Although  the  elements  which  have 
definitely  vetoed  gangster  picture 
showings  in  the  North  Side  com- 
munity have  refused  to  endorse  "Hell 
Bound"  in  any  way,  they  have  at  least 
indicated  that  they  will  not  actively 
oppose  its  playing.  In  consequence, 
Balahan  &  Katz  has  confirmed  a 
booking  f)f  the  picture  for  the  Gran- 
ada Theatre,  and  other  Rogers  Park 
bookings  are  now  assured. 


So! 

Omaha  —  Lack  of  strong 
pictures  has  compelled  the 
World  to  go  split  week  for 
the  rest  of  the  summer,  ac- 
cording to  the  Paramount- 
Publix   divisional   office    here. 


Nat  Levine  Set  in 
All  Zones  on  Serials 

With  the  closing  of  three  franchise 
contracts  this  week,  Nat  Levine, 
president  of  Mascot  Pictures  Corp., 
has  effected  100  per  cent  American 
distribution  for  his  four  serials  of 
the  1931-1932  season.  Jack  Roher, 
Excellent  Film  Exchange,  Toronto, 
will  distribute  the  pictures  through- 
out the  Dominion  of  Canada;  Jack 
Berkowitz,  Standard  Film  Ex- 
changes, Albany  and  Buffalo,  will 
distribute  the  serials  in  Upper  New 
York  State,  and  Chase  McDermond, 
Salt  Lake  City,  has  acquired  the 
rights  for  the  Rock  Mountain  terri- 
tory. 

"The  Vanishing  Legion,"  starring 
Harry  Carey  and  Edwina  Booth, 
Mascot's  first  serial  of  the  season,  has 
already     been     released. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Hearing  of  St.  Louis 
Case  May  End  Today 

St.  Louis — James  B.  Castle,  former 
auditor  of  the  St.  Louis  Amusement 
Co.,  yesterday  was  main  witness  in 
giving  testimony  at  the  receivership 
suit  against  the  company.  He  stated 
before  Circuit  Judge  Hogan  that 
Steve  Butler,  former  business  man- 
ager of  the  musicians'  union,  was 
paid  $150  a  week  by  the  company  in 
1928,  1929,  1930,  receiving  a  total  of 
$13,200   for    unrevealed   duties. 

A  copy  of  Spyros  Skouras'  con- 
tract with  Warners  was  introduced 
in  evidence,  revealing  he  was  paid 
$75,COO  annually  in  1929  and  1930  as 
head  of  the  company's  theatre  de- 
partment and  was  also  given  $150,000 
extra  when  the  contract  was  termi- 
nated  Feb.   6,   1931. 

Presentation  of  the  plaintiff's  case 
to  support  their  application  for  the 
appointment  of  a  receiver  for  the 
St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.  probabl>- 
will  be  completed  today.  The  defense 
is  expected  to  enter  a  demurrer  ask- 
ing dismissal   of    proceedings. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Rival  Cameramen 

Union  Is  Formed 

International  Cameramen  and  Sound 
Technicians'  Union  has  been  formed 
with  Harrison  C.  Meyer  as  president. 
Headquarters  are  in  Brooklyn.  Sher- 
man Pratt  is  secretary  of  the  organi- 
zation. Initiation  fee  is  $50.  The 
work  of  each  member  is  guaranteed 
to  the  employer  by  cash  bond  put  up 
by  the  union,  it  is  stated.  This  is  the 
second  cameramen's  organization  in 
the  East,  the  other  being  the  Interna- 
tional Photographers  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Industries,  New  York. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ask  Darrow  Film  Ban 

Dayton,  Tenn. — Ban  on  Clarence 
Darrow's  film,  "The  Mystery  of 
Life,"  as  "an  anti-Biblical  and  anti- 
Christian  picture"  is  asked  by  the 
Dayton  Ministerial  Association.  This 
town  a  few  years  ago  was  the  scene  of 
Tennessee's  famous  anti  -  evolution 
trial  in  which  Darrow,  as  counsel  for 
the  defense,  was  a  chief  figure. 


MILLIONS  OF  FOOTB 

HAVE  WAITED  YEARS  FOR  H 

The  KNUTE  ROCKNE  System... 
The  "Pop"  WARNER  System... 

For  the  first  time  on  any  screen  a  comparison 
of  the  world's  greatest  winning  football  systems 
with  the  world's  greatest  football  players  show- 
ing  how   it's   done  ... 

Five  football  reels  ready  now  .  .  .  three  more  to 
come  .  .  .  and  they  are  all  a  part  of  the  BIG  26 

CHRISTY   WALSH 

ALL  AMERICA 

SPORT  REELS 


picturing  on  the  screens  of  the  world  the  outstanding  Figures  in  every  line  of  sport 
. .  .  and  in  action  . . .  football  with  such  stars  as  Brill,  Mullins,  Metzger . .  .Vincent 
Richards  in  tennis  .  .  .  Charlie  Paddock  .  .  .  world's  fastest  human  in  track  .  .  . 
'Doc"  Meanwell  .  .  .  America's  foremost  basketbo*!!  coach  and  mentor  of  Uni- 
versity Wisconsin  team  and  many  others  equally  famous. ..  equally  SUREFIREIH 


from  UNIVERSAL  of  course; 


I 


em 
cm 
cm 

cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 

cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 

cm 

cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 


This  advertisement 
is  the  sixth  of 
a  series  on 
success  in  the 
picture  industry 


a 

victor  over 

adversity 

Mr.  M.  £.  COMERFORD, 
in  his  career  as  a  motion  picture 
exhibitor,  has  become  a  personal 
exem-plification  of  the  quality  of 
success  which  comes  with  the  defeat 
of  adversities.  He  began  more  than 
twenty-five  years  ago  with  a  little 
theatre  in  the  anthracite  region  of 
Pennsylvania.  It  was  one  of  the 
great  battle  grounds  of  the  capital 
and  labor  strifes  which  arose  in  those 
low  wage  years.  Mr.  Comerford  was 
faced  with  the  problems  of  the  then 
bitterly  struggling  motion  picture 
industry  and  the  problems  of  the 
industrial  and  social  conditions  of 
the  strike  torn  country  he  served. 
He  had  a  hand  in  all  these  struggles 
and  having  that,  he  won  a  share  in 
the  victories  that  came  out  of  them. 
He  expanded  his  interests,  built  and 
bought  theatres,  and  he  sold  enter- 
tainment to  an  entertainment  hun- 
gry country.  Mostly  his  battle  was 
selling  them'  and  keeping  them-  sold, 
in  hard  times  and  good  times.  He 
bought  pictures,  sold  his  way  to 
success. 


tJ^ 


^(9///^ 


out  of  the 
woods 


A  long  time  ago  when  life  in  this  wide  country  was 
simple,   when    merchandise    was    scarce    and    merchandisers 

tl^jfj  few,  Mr.   Ralph   Waldo   Emerson,  a    New  England  philoso- 

pher, wrote  something  to  the  general  effect  that  if  a  man 
built  a  better  mouse  trap  than   his  neighbors,  even  though 

tJ^^  his  house  were  in  the  woods,  the  world  would  beat  a  path 

to  his  door.     That  was  very  true — in  its  day. 


Sometime  later  when  the  industrial  era  had  got  well  under  way  an- 
other Yankee   philosopher,   Fra    Elbert   Hubbard   of   East   Aurora,    came 
forth  with  the  assertion:  "He  who  bloweth  not  his  own  horn,  the  same  it 
shall  not  be  blown."     And  Elbert  Hubbard  could  sell  anything — including 
^jX^^  a  roycroft  mouse  trap,  if  he  had  had  one. 

fJ^|J^2  Now  merit  is  still  a  great  thing.     No  permanent  success  can  come 

w^ithout  it.  But  merit  in  the  shady  stillness  of  the  tall  timber  will  never 
be  discovered.  The  busy  boy  with  his  mouse  trap  displayed  on  the  main 
road  w^ill  get  the  business. 


Once  upon   a   time   in   the  motion  picture   industry  selling  consisted 
in  telling  the  clamoring  exhibitor  when  and  what  film  the  exchange  would 
C^^kl^l  '^*  \\vm.  have.     And   exhibition   selling  consisted   of  a  phonograph  in   the 

lobby  and  a  one  sheet  on  the  side  of  the  house. 

^^^'^  The  exhibitor  clamors  no  longer  and  the  public  shops  before  it  buys 

^J^/J^  at  the  box  office. 


Also  the  show  business  is  a  business  of  vociferation.  From  the  be- 
ginning it  has  had  its  barker,  its  ballyhoo,  its  calliope.  They  say  "silence 
is  golden" — but  not  in  the  show  business. 

tJjX^^  The  business  of  today  and  tomorrow  will  be  done  by  those  who  do 

the  selling.     The  pages  of  Quigley  publications   talk   to  more   customers 
every  week  than  all  the  traveling  salesmen  of  the  industry  can  in  a  month. 


COLVIN  BROWN 

General  Manager 
Quigley  Publications 

MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 
THE  HOLLYWOOD  HERALD 


The  TECHNICOLOR  work  in 
"THE  RUNAROUND^^  is  tlie 
finest  example  of  color  photog- 
raphy I  have   ever   seen  .  .  . 


The  picture  constituted  a  rigid  test  of  TECHI^ICOLOR'S 
nei^  printing  process.  TECHNICOLOR  successfully  met 
every  production  challenge  in  the  studio  and  has  ob- 
tained beautiful  results  upon  the  screen. 


The  colors  are  brilliant  and  strikingly  contrasted.  In 
addition,  TECHNICOLOR  has  achieved  in  ^«THE  RUN- 
AROUND ''  a  perfection  of  registration  and  a  sharpness 
of  definition  ivhich  represents  a  truly  amazing  advance 
over  all  previous  color  pictures. 


(signed)    WILLIAM     LE     BARON 

Producer,  Radio  Pictures 


■-MT* 


TECHNICOLOR 

TECHNICOLOR       MOTION       PICTURE       CORPORATION 
ROSTON     •     •     HOLLYWOOD     •     •     NEW  YORK 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  53 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  AUGUST  1.  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Copyright  Law 
Passage  Sure, 
MPTO  Feels 


Industry    Should    Help 
Write  Law,  It  Says 

Passage  of  a  copyright  bill  is  cer- 
tain in  the  next  session  of  Congress, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  M.P.T.O.A., 
which  says  the  industry  should  help 
write  the  law.  The  organization  is 
calling  upon  members  to  have  their 
personal  lawyers  study  the  1931  Copy- 
right Bill  and  to  suggest  changes  or 
amendments. 

If  the  new  law,  which  the  M.P.T.- 
O.A.  says  will  be  rushed  to  passage 
at    the    next    session,    embraces    the 

(Continued  on   page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Roach  Signs  Term 
Pact  With  M-G-M 

Hal  Roach,  now  in  New  York,  has 
signed  a  new  contract  for  an  indeter- 
minate number  of  years  with  M-G-M. 
The  new  agreement  supersedes  the  old 
one  and  provides  for  closer  co-opera- 
t  i  o  n  between 
Roach  and  the  [ 
company  which 
has  released  his 
product  since  it 
entered  the 
short  subj  ect 
field  four  years 
ago. 

Roach  is  to 
supply  40  two 
reelers  and  one 
feature  for  the 
1931-32  pro- 
gram. The  two 
reelers  are  in- 
cluded   in    five 

series  of  eight  subjects  each  starring: 
Charlie  Chase,  Laurel  &  Hardy,  Our 
Gang,  the  Boy  Friend  and  Zasu  Pitts 
and    Thelma    Todd. 


HAL  ROACH 


Salary  Cuts  Should  be  Made 
When  Essential — Warner 


Declaring  that  "the  first  urgent 
necessity  is  to  keep  people  working  for 
their  own  sakes  and  for  that  of  busi- 
ness in  gener- 
al," Harry  M. 
Warner  says 
that  "wage  re- 
ductions should 
occur  only 
when  necessary 
for  the  protec- 
tion of  business 
and  employee." 
Such  reductions, 
he  believes, 
should  be  "as 
slight  as  pos- 
sible." 

"I  am  of  the 
opinion,"  said 
Warner,  "that 
the    matter    of 


H.  M.   WARNER 


salary  and  wage  cuts  is  receiving  al- 
together too  much  irresponsible  dis- 
cussion. No  one  wants  to  reduce  sal- 
aries for  the  sake  of  reducing  them. 
On  the  other  hand,  there  are  innum- 
erable cases  today  where  companies 
are  faced  with  the  alternative  of  cut- 
ting salaries  and  wages  or  closing  up 
shop   altogether. 

"A  factor  to  be  considered  is  that 
with  the  present  reductions  in  the  cost 
of  living,  a  moderate  reduction  in 
salary  or  wages  means  no  real  loss, 
but  does  mean  continued  consumption 
which    insures    business    and    salary. 

"My  belief  is  that  the  first  urgent 
necessity  is  to  keep  people  working 
for  their  own  sakes  and  for  that  of 
business   in  general." 


W.  E.  Wins  Writ  in 
Pacent  Buffalo  Suit 

Judge  C.  G.  Galston  of  the  Federal 
District  Court  yesterday  granted  the 
Western  Electric  Co.  an  injunction 
and  an  accounting  of  profits  against 
Sol  Wallerstein,  of  the  Broadway, 
Bufi^alo.  This  follows  the  decision  last 
week  declaring  that  the  Pacent  repro- 

(Continiicd   on   page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Saperstein  to  Get 
Five  Houses  Today 

Chicago — Sale  of  the  five  Bland 
Bros,  theatres  to  Aaron  Saperstein, 
president  of  Illinois  Allied  Theatre 
Owners,  will  be  consummated  today. 
Theatres  involved  are  the  Armitage, 
Famous,  Oak,  Olympia,  and  Rogers. 
The  deal  divests  Bland  Bros.,  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  and  theatre  supply 
dealers,   of   all   Chicago  theatre  hold- 


Says  U.  S.  Faces 
Loss  of  Far  East 

Toronto  —  Unless  American  pro- 
ducers better  the  quality  of  their  out- 
put they  are  in  danger  of  losing  the 
Far  East  market  to  Russia,  warns  Dr. 
Toyohiko  Kawaga,  Japanese  social  re- 
former who  is  here  attending  the  in- 
ternational   Y.    M.    C.    A.   conference. 

Russian   films,   he   said,   are   becom- 

(Continued   on    page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Weisfeldt -Wilson 
Row  Goes  to  Court 

Summons  and  complaint  in  action 
for  approximately  $56,000  brought  by 
M.  J.  Weisfeldt  against  Talking  Pic- 
ture Epics  and  its  president,  Frank  R. 
Wilson,  have  been  served  upon  the 
latter.  Weisfeldt  alleges  that  amount 
is  due  him  under  the  arrangement 
made  with  Wilson  when  the  two 
formed   Epics,    from   which   Weisfeldt 

(Continued   on    page   8) 


Loew's  Going 
Into  "PhiUy;' 
Belief  There 


Already     Selling     Away 
From  WB—Seek  Sites 


Philadelphia — There's  to  be  a 
fight  following  the  breaking  off  of  re- 
lations between  Warners  and  M-G-M, 
this  territory  feels,  with  the  latter's 
parent  company,  Loew's,  prepared  to 
invade  this  territory  from  which  it 
has  for  so  long  held  aloof. 

M-G-M  already  is  reported  making 
deals  with  independents  selling  the 
product  away  from  Warners  and 
Loew's  is  said  to  be  investigating 
available  downtown  houses  and  sites. 

There  are  a  number  of  groups 
which  would  be  willing  to  build  for 
Loew's,  it  is  stated,  but  they  insist 
on  a  long-term   lease.     Remembering 

(Continued   on    page    8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Publix  Turns  Back 
9  Florida  Houses 

Continuing  the  shift  of  manage- 
ment of  theatres  to  its  local  partners, 
Publix  Friday  sold  nine  Florida  the- 
atres to  Consolidated  Theatres  of 
Florida  (Sparks)  in  which  Publix 
has  a  50  per  cent  interest.  The  deal 
includes  five  houses  in  Tampa,  two 
in  Lakeland  and  two  in  Daytona.  Con- 
solidated now  has  61  Florida  theatres. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

McCarey,  Zeidman 
To  Produce  on  Own 

Hollywood — Perhaps  Dave  Selz- 
nick  has  started  something.  Now  it  is 
reported  Leo  McCarey  will  join  hands 
with  Bennie  Zeidman  in  a  new  inde- 
pendent   production    venture. 

McCarey  has  obtained  his  release 
from  Howard  Hughes  because  of 
postponement  of  ^'Queer  People." 


''BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  SALES 


Glen  W.  Dickinson  has  joined  the 
"Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now"  move- 
ment. He  has  signed  with  J.  R. 
Grainger  for  the  Fox  pictures  to  be 
played  in  theatres  operated  by  the 
Dickinson  circuit  in  24  cities  in  Kan- 
sas and  Missouri.    The  theatres : 

Lyric  and  Seeley,  Abilene,  Kan.;  Dick- 
inson, Beloit,  Kan.;  Strand  and  Empire, 
Chillicothe,  Mo.;  Dickinson,  Fayette,  Mo.; 
State,  Garden  City,  Kan.;  Dickinsorf,  Hor- 
ton,  Kan.;  Dickinson,  Hiawatha,  Kan.; 
Booth  and  Beedorf,  Independence,  Kan. ; 
Dickinson  and  Electric,  Irtdependence,  Mo.; 


Uptown  and  Cozy,  Junction  City,  Kan. ; 
Bijou,  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Varsity,  Dickin- 
son, and  Orpheum,  Lawrence,  Kan.;  Dick- 
inson, Macorf,  Mo.;  Dickinson  and  Ware- 
ham,  Manhattan,  Kan.;  Dickinson,  Marcel- 
ine.  Mo.;  Dickinson,  Osage  City,  Kan.; 
Dickinson,  Osawatomie,  Kan.;  Dickinson 
an'd  Crescent,  Neodesha,  Kan.;  Dickinson, 
Odessa,  Mo.;  Empress,  Paola,  Kan.;  Up- 
town, Parsons,  Kan.;  Farris,  Richmond, 
Mo. ;  Victory,  Rogers,  Ark, ;  Auditorium, 
Slater,  Mo.;  Dickinson  and  Plaza,  Trenton, 
Mo. 


Boston — Following  is  a  list  of  the 
theatres    which    have    contracted    for 


the  entire  Monogram  Product  m  this 
territory : 

Bijou,  Springfield;  Academy,  Fall  River; 
Cameo,  W.  Haven;  Strand,  West  End, 
Barnum,  Rialto,  Palace,  American  and 
Hippodrome,  Bridgeportj  Plaza,  New 
Haven;  Olympia,  Cambridge,  Mass.; 
Strand,  Chelsea,  Mass.;  Premier,  New 
Haven;  Union  Hill,  Gloucester,  Mass.; 
Olympia,  Bangor,  Me.;  Orpheum,  Dover, 
N.  H.;  Opera  House,  Woodsville,  N.  H. ; 
Pequot,  New  Haven;  Strand,  Skowhegan, 
Me.;  Alhambra,  Waterbury,  Conn.;  Savoy, 
Ft.  Kent.  Me. ;  Powers,  Caribou,  Me. ; 
Strand,  Willimantic,  Conn.;  Capitol,  Water- 
bury,   Conn.;    Capitol,    Lowell,    Mass.;   Vic- 


toria, Lowell,  Mass.;  Champlain,  Swanton. 
Vt. ;  Majestic,  Holyoke,  Mass.;  Laconia 
Gar.,  Laconia,  N.  H. ;  Magnet,  Claremont, 
N.  H. ;  Scenic,  Keene,  N.  H. ;  Hamilton, 
Dorchester,  Mass.;  Tilton,  Tilton,  N.  H.; 
Victory,  New  Haven:  Plymouth,  Plymouth, 
N.  H. ;  Central,  East  Boston,  Mass.;  Rialto, 
Stamford,  Conn.;  Hamilton,  Waterbury; 
Empire,  New  London;  Playhouse,  Chicopee, 
Mas«. ;  Strand,  Haverhill,  Mass. ;  Halcyon, 
Colebrook,  N.  H.;  Gem,  Bristol.  N.  H. ; 
Music  Hall,  Plymouth,  N.  H.;  Star, 
Groveton,  N.  H.;  Strand,  Lawrence,  Mass.; 
Atlas,  Adams,  Mass.;  Roxbury,  Roxbury, 
Mass.;  Auditorium,  Lynn,  Mass.;  Kameo, 
Pittsfield,  Mass.;  Washington,  Boston; 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  August  I,   1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  OaBce 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  30 


August   1,   1931 


No.  53 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^i'\r\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
r  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Young  Heads  Educ'l 
Studio  Publicity 

Hollywood — Lon  Young,  veteran 
film  publicist,  has  been  engaged  by 
Educational  to  take  charge  of  the  pub- 
licity at  its  coast  studios.  Ray  Hoad- 
ley,  who  had  been  handling  this  job, 
has  been  put  in  charge  of  publicity  at 
the  Tiffany  studios. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

St.Louis  Warner-F.N, 
Deals  Wait  on  Trial 

St.  Louis  —  After  Abel  Cary 
Thomas,  counsel  for  Warners,  as- 
sured Judge  Hogan  that  the  St.  Louis 
Amusement  Co.  would  not  enter  into 
a  new  contract  with  the  musicians' 
union  without  notifying  the  court  in 
advance,  and  would  not  buy  Warners 
or  First  National  product  until  the 
case  is  disposed  of,  the  St.  Louis  Co. 
receivership  case  Friday  was  con- 
tinued until  Sept.  28.  Thomas  and 
Leto  Hill,  district  manager  for  War- 
ners, both  asserted  the  theatre  firm 
does  not  intend  to  renew  contracts 
with  the  union  which  expire  Sept.  1, 
and  has  no  negotiations  under  way 
for  music. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Eight  Years,  $2,000 
Fine  for  Bow  Libel 

Los  Angeles  —  Frederick  Girnau, 
publisher,  who  defamed  Clara  Bow  in 
a  series  of  articles,  was  sentenced 
Friday  to  eight  years  in  prison  and 
fined  $2,000  for  sending  obscene  mat- 
ter through  the  mails.  He  must  serve 
four  years  and  two  months  and  then 
will  be  paroled  and  cannot  engage  in 
publishing  for  ten  years.  Judge  Holl- 
zer  terms  the  Girnau  articles  "unfit  to 
be  fed  to  swine." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Epics  Gets  New  Series 

Talking  Picture  Epics  has  acquired 
distribution  rights  to  the  "Wild  Life 
Series"  being  produced  on  the  Coast 
by  Elmer  Clifton.  His  associates  in 
the  enterprise  are  George  and  William 
Allen.  The  first  two  pictures  of  the 
series  already  have  been  delivered  to 
distributors. 


Purely  Personal 


DEWEY  BLOOM,  division  inan- 
ager  of  Regal  Film  Limited, 
Toronto,  put  over  a  splendid  bit  of 
publicity  in  connection  with  a  pre-view 
showing  of  "Uneasy  Virtue"  at  the 
Tivoli  when  he  had  a  photographer  at 
the  theatre  to  take  still  pictures  of  vari- 
ous people  of  prominence  in  the  audi- 
ence. These  were  used  in  thumb-nail 
style  together  with  their  comments  on 
the  film  production  in  newspaper  ad- 
vertising in  connection  with  the  im- 
mediate current  showing  at  the 
Tivoli. 

Mack  Goldman  continues  with  the 
Remick  Music  Co.  as  radio  and 
orchestra  manager,  in  removal  of  that 
company  tomorrow  to  space  to  be 
occupied  jointly  with  M.  Witmark  & 
Sons  in  the  Hollywood  Theatre 
Building. 

Ed  Savin,  genial  business  manager 
of  the  Brooklyn  Vitaphone  Studio, 
who  was  injured  about  two  weeks 
ago,  expects  to  be  back  on  the  job 
next  Monday.  While  riding  in  a  taxi, 
the  machine  was  struck  by  another 
car.  A  severe  scalp  wound  necessi- 
tating 20  stitches  and  a  badly  bruised 
leg  were  sustained  by  Savin. 

M.  J.  Weisfeldt,  who  recently 
formed  Picture  Classics,  has  com- 
pleted his  first  picture,  "I  Am  Siam," 
which  he  recorded  by  RCA  Photo- 
ohone  equipment  at  the  Ideal  studio. 
It  will  be  released  in  August. 

Stanley  Hatch  of  Educational 
<;ees  a  bis:  vear  ahead  for  Tiffanv. 
He's  especially  sold  on  "Women  Go 
On  Forever."  and  savs  if  the  Coast 
keeps  'em  coming,  Tiffany's  future  is 
in  the  bag. 

Herbert  Muller,  formerly  of  the 
Muller  and  Schwartz  circuit,  is  re- 
norted  to  have  acquired  an  interest 
in  the  Walton.  Bronx,  in  partners 
with   Morris   Schane. 

Abe  Blumstein,  who  buys  lots  of 
pictures    for    lots    of    Fox    theatres, 


shortly  passes  into  the  M.P.  Club 
fold.  Henry  Siegel  is  his  mentor 
and  Phil  Meyer,  the  endorser. 

Dave  Snapper  is  running  all-shorts 
shows  every  once  in  a  while  at  the 
Strand,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  And 
the  gag  has  gone  over  with  a  bang. 

B.  J.  Kearney,  another  Educa- 
tional exec,  is  holding  a  real  hand — 
four  of  a  kind,  all  boys.  The  latest 
arrived  a  couple  of  weeks  ago. 

Hal  Roach  is  in  New  York,  hav- 
ing flown  here  from  the  Coast  in  his 
own  plane,  as  usual.  He  will  remain 
in  the  East  about  a  week. 

Gradwell  Sears  is  up  for  Motion 
Picture  Club  membership.  Al  Licht- 
man  is  the  proposer  with  Lou  Metz- 
ger,  his  second. 

SiG  Wittman  is  getting  acquainted 
with  local  exhibitors.  He  is  a  fre- 
quent visitor  at  the  Big  U  exchange. 

FiFi  D'Orsay,  the  "it"  comedienne 
of  the  screen,  opens  this  afternoon  at 
the  RKO  Albee  in  Brooklyn. 

Edmund  Mantell,  Bronx  exhibi- 
tor, has  been  having  trouble  with  his 
left  ear. 

Eugene  Castle,  industrial  film  pro- 
ducer, is  en  route  to  Europe. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Singapore  Hollering 
Uncle  on  Gang  Films 

Gangster  and  other  underworld  pic- 
tures are  bane  to  theatres  of  Singa- 
pore, Joe  Fischer,  whose  Capitol, 
Singapore,  introduced  to  the  Far  East 
advanced  architectural  and  presenta- 
tion. Finding  pictures  minus  these 
themes  presents  a  real  problem,  de- 
clared the  veteran  showman,  who  is 
visiting  New  York. 

"Maybe  I'm  wrong."  he  told 
Motion  Picture  Daily,  "but  I  fear 
a  continuance  of  the  strain  will  alien- 
ate my  public,  even  if  the  censors  do 
pass   such   pictures." 


Stocks  Irregular;  Loew's  Up  /% 

Net 

High      Low      Close     Change  Sales 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 1.354        MVi        1354       —'4  100 

Eastman    Kodak     139'/,      USVz      nSM        —2^  13.000 

Fox     Film     "A" 16           1514        16           +  Vs.  2,300 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 354          3H          35^        —  'A  1,300 

Loew's.    Tnc 467^        4454        467/^        -f-l5^  7,400 

M-CM  ipfd 25'A       25'-^       25'/^       -h  'A  300 

Paramount   Publix 2>5^        23            235^        -h  'A  2.200 

Pathe    Exchange VA          VA          VA        1.200 

P»  the   Exchange   "A" 654         654         654       —  V>.  300 

RKO     1454        1354        13^       —Vs.  3,500 

Universal    Pictures    pfd 54            54           54           -t-  54  3,000 

Warner    Bros 7            654         654        .....  2,600 

Curb  Issues  Slightly  Off 

Net 

High      Low      Close     Change  Sales 

Kox    Theatres    "A" 254         254         254        -I-  '/«  200 

Ceneral    Theatre     Equipment    pf(f 7            654         654        —  >A  800 

Technicolor     7             7             7            400 

Trans     Lux 554         554         554        2,600 

Bond  List  Also  Spotty;  P,  P.  Gains  3 

Net 

High      Low      Close      Change  Sailes 

General    Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40 3054       30           30           —  54  21 

Loew's    6s    '41    ex    war 975i        97^        975^        —  ^  7 

Paramount    Broadway     554s    '51 102          102          102            1 

Paramount   F.    L.    6s   '47 8854        8654.        87           —1  26 

Paramount    Publix    554s.    'SO 7654        7354        76           4-3  43 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 8954        8954        895^        —54  7 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39    wd 4354       435^       435^       —  ^  26 


G4it%, 


Clara  Bow  for  her  courage  in 

carrying  out  prosecution  of 

Frederick  H.   Girnau  for 

allegedly   defaming  her 

character 


Passage  of  Copyright 
Law  Sure,  It  Is  Felt 

{Continued  from  page   1) 

"Berne  Convention"  arrangement,  it 
may  mean  that  theatre  owners  will 
pay  six  or  more  sets  of  music  license 
tax  instead  of  one. 

The  organization  contends  that 
there  should  be  no  license  tax  at  all 
required  where  talking  pictures  are 
exclusively  used,  as  the  producers  pay 
for  the  use  of  the  copyrighted  music 
on  the  film. 

Producers  could  record  the  music 
on  the  film  and  put  the  film  on  the 
shelf  and  no  license  fee  could  be  ex- 
acted, it  is  pointed  out.  It  is  only 
when  the  music  thus  recorded  is  re- 
produced in  a  theatre  attended  by 
those  who  pay  the  admission  that  the 
law  requiring  the  fee  becomes  oper- 
ative, it  is  stated.  Thus,  the  pro- 
ducer pays  the  performing  fee  in  fact 
and  this  is  charged  back  to  the  ex- 
hibitors, which  should  be  sufficient, 
the  association  feels. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Firnkoess  Handling 
All  Ohio  RKO  Houses 

Cleveland— J.  E.  Firnkoess.  dis- 
trict manager  for  RKO  houses  in 
northern  Ohio,  has  been  promoted  to 
district  manager  for  all  Ohio  RKO 
houses,  with  headquarters  in  Cincin- 
nati. Columbus,  Cincinnati  and  Day- 
ton have  been  added  to  his  territory 
which  formerly  included  Qeveland, 
Akron,  Youngstown,  Toledo,  Oil 
City,   Pa.,  and   Pittsburgh. 

Charles  Winston,  formerly  RKO 
district  manager  in  Boston,  has  been 
appointed  general  manager  of  the 
three  Cleveland  RKO  houses.  He 
will  also  handle  the  publicity  for 
these  houses,  previously  handled  by 
Milton   Crandall. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

RCA  Engineer  Drowned 

Albany — Funeral  of  Gordon  W. 
Jewett,  testing  engineer  for  RCA 
Photophone,  was  held  at  Watertown, 
N.  Y..  Jewett  was  drowned  at  Round 
Lake,  about  IS  miles  from  Albany, 
while  swimming.  ji 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"       fj! 

Manager's  Wife  Dies 

Louisville — Mildred    Austin    Miis- 
selman,  42  years  old,  wife  of  Johnson  j 
Musselman,    manager    of   the    Rialto,   ' 
died  here. 


Sound  Recording 

FILM   AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY     RECORDING     CO.     of 

AMERICA.    INC 

1841    Broadway — New    York.    N.    Y. 

Columbus    5-3181-3182 


Saturday,  August   t,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


(( 


ff 


The  Unholy  Garden 

(United  Artists) 

HoLLYWWD  —  The  popularity  of 
Ronald  Colman  and  the  lavish  beauty 
with  which  Samuel  Goldwyn  always 
mounts  his  productions  undoubtedly 
will  help  this  otherwise  pretty  silly 
story  about  gangsters  in  the  Algerian 
desert  written  by  Ben  Hecht  and 
Charles  MacArthur  and  directed  with 
his  usual  flair  for  pictorialism  and 
characteristic  indifference  to  drama 
and  movement  by  George  Fitz- 
maurice. 

Such  artists  as  Estelle  Taylor,  Fay 
Wray,  Tully  Marshall,  Warren  Hy- 
mer,  Mischa  Auer,  Lawrence  Grant, 
Uhlrich  Haupt  and  Lucille  La  Verne 
contribute  the  best  support  possible  to 
Colman's  sincere  efforts  to  be  con- 
vincing. 

With  considerable  recutting  re- 
shooting  which  it  is  understood  Gold- 
wyn will  do,  "The  Unholy  Garden" 
may  be  much  better  than  in  its  pres- 
ent form.  This  picture  will  be  com- 
mented upon  again  later. 

LEO   MEEHAN. 


<tr 


.ff 


The  Guardsman 

iM-G-M) 

Glendale,  Gal. — A  picture  that  is 
different  and  one  which  drew  laughter 
and  applause  from  a  preview  audience. 
Direction  is  deft  and  clever,  the  audi- 
ence found  and  the  lines  are  clever. 

Opinion  was  that  the  vehicle  is 
ideally  suited  for  the  talker  debut  of 
Alfred  Lunt  and  Lynn  Fontaine. 
Fine  work  is  done  also  by  Roland 
Young,  Zasu  Pitts  and  Herman  Bing. 

The  story  is  of  a  jealous  husband 
who  disguises  himself  as  a  guardsman 
in  order  to  test  his  wife's  affections. 
Ernest  Vajda  and  Claudine  West 
adapted  the  story  by  Ferenc  Molnar. 


"Daughter  of  the 
Dragon" 

{Paramount) 

Santa  Monica — This  is  the  third 
of  the  Fu  Manchu  yarns  and  it 
abounds  in  chills  and  thrills.  It  shows 
the  return  to  London  of  Dr.  Fu  Man- 
chu, (Warner  Oland)  long  thought 
dead,  for  the  purpose  of  killing  his 
enemy  (Holmes  Herbert).  Fatally 
injured  when  he  attempts  the  murder, 
Fu  Manchu  induces  his  daughter 
(Anna  May  Wong)  to  swear  she  will 
kill  the  son  (Bramwell  Fletcher),  but 
the  latter  is  saved  from  the  trap  by  a 
Chinese  detective  (Sessue  Hayakawa). 

Suspense  secured  in  treatment  over- 
comes weaknesses  of  the  story  from 
the  audience  standpoint.  Direction  of 
Lloyd  Corrigan  obviously  satisfied  the 
audience  with  the  work  of  Miss 
Wong,  Warner  Oland  and  Hayakawa 
voted  effective  and  that  of  the  other 
principals  pleasing. 


"The  Monster  Kills'* 

(Tiffany) 

Hollywood — Mystery  fans  will  go 
for  this.  The  preview  audience  that 
sat  through  "The  Monster  Kills"  felt 
that  way  about  it  the  other  night. 

There  are  four  murders  and  one 
suicide    in  this,   but   unlike   a   lot   of 


Coverage 

Six  new  pictures  took  their 
bow  on  Broadway  Thursday 
and  yesterday.  Five  of  them — 
"Politics,"  "Public  Defender," 
"Honeymoon  Lane,"  "Transat- 
lantic" and  "The  Reckless 
Hour" — were  reviewed  by  Mo- 
tion Picture  Daily  before  they 
hit  the  Main  Stem.  One-— 
"The  Immortal  Vagabond" — is 
covered  today. 

The  line-up: 

AsTOR — "A  Free  Soul"  (M- 
G-M) — reviewed  April   18. 

Cameo  — "A  Jew  at  War" 
(Amkino) — reviewed   July   25. 

Capitol  —  "Politics"  (M  -  G  - 
M) — reviewed  July  2. 

Mayfair— "Public  Defender" 
— reviewed  June  20  as  "Million 
Dollar  Swindle." 

Paramount  —  "Honeymoon 
Lane"  (Para.) — reviewed  July  9. 

Rivoli — "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" (Para.) — reviewed  May 
22. 

RoxY— "Transatlantic"  (Fox) 
— reviewed  editorially  July  2L 

Strand — ' 'The  Reckless 
Hour"  (F.  N.) — reviewed  May 
2. 

Warners  —  "The  Immortal 
Vagabond"  (Talking  Picture 
Epics) — reviewed  on  this  page. 

Winter  Garden  —  "Smart 
Money"  (Warners) — reviewed 
editorially  June  19.  "Star  Wit- 
ness" (Warners) — opening  Mon- 
day night — reviewed  July  21. 


murder  mysteries,  the  producer  was 
clever  enough  to  play  up  the  comedy 
element  which  the  audience  went  for 
in  a  big  way. 

The  yarn  is  of  the  usual  formula. 
Clever  acting  by  Brandon  Hurst,  Les- 
lie Fenton  and  Aileen  Pringle  did 
much  for  the  proceedings,  a  consensus 
of  opinion  seemed  to  be  Alice  White, 
once  a  star  in  her  own  name,  plays  a 
small  part  and  does  it  very  well. 
Frank  Strayer  did  a  commendable 
directorial  job. 


"Wicked'* 

{Fox) 

Hollywood — An  audience  at  the 
Uptown  found  this  picture  highly  dra- 
matic and  interesting.  It  is  about  a 
wife  (Elissa  Landi)  who  shoots  a 
policeman  in  an  effort  to  protect  her 
robber  husband  (Theodore  Von  EHz). 
She  is  given  temporary  release  from 
prison  so  her  child  may  be  born  out- 
side prison  walls.  Later,  she  secures 
permanent  release  through  the  efforts 
of  a  friend  (Victor  McLaglen). 
When  she  finds  her  child  has  been 
adopted  she  kidnaps  her  but  finally  is 
triumphant,  leaving  with  McLaglen 
for  Australia  and  a  new  start. 

Miss  I-andi  performs  some  heavy 
dramatics  in  a  manner  which  found 
favor  and  the  audience  was  impressed 
by  the  work  of  McLaglen,  Von  Eltz, 
Irene  Rich  and  Una  Merkel.  Allan 
Dwan's  direction  also  was  favorably 
commented  upon. 


"The  Immortal 
Vagabond" 

{Talking  Picture  Epics) 
If  the  reception  given  by  the  first 
audience  at  the  Warner  is  any  criter- 
ion as  to  the  course  of  this  picture  in 
the  United  States,  it  bids  fair  to  meet 
a  real  demand.  The  patrons  gener- 
ously gave  vent  to  their  appreciation 
of  this  musical  romance  of  Vienna, 
which  was  produced  by  Ufa  with  dia- 
logue in  English. 

A  charming  fugue,  "The  Moun- 
taineer," a  composition  written  by  the 
indigent  schoolmaster,  runs  through- 
out. Acting  and  direction  are  well 
handled  but  in  its  entirety,  the  picture 
is  a  trifle  lengthy.  The  story  of  the 
wanting  schoolmaster  who  writes  an 
opera  and  is  acclaimed  overnight  at 
the  sacrifice  of  losing  his  sweetheart, 
the  reported  death  of  the  composer 
when  a  thief,  who  has  stolen  his 
clothing,  is  found  drowned,  his  return 
to  the  village  to  find  the  inhabitants 
unveiling  a  monument  in  his  honor, 
and  the  reconciliation  with  Anna,  is 
effectively  pictured.  The  village  sur- 
rounded by  natural  picturesque  back- 
grounds lends  beauty  to  the  story. 
Liane  Haid  makes  a  pleasing  heroine ; 
Gustav  Frolich,  a  commendable  com- 
poser-lover; H.  A.  Schlettow,  an  en- 
gaging rival,  and  Karl  Gerhardt  a 
scheming  and  solicitous  parent. 


Shorts 


"The  Animal  World  of 
Make  Believe" 

{Talking  Picture  Epics  No.  5) 
Dr.  Raymond  Ditmars  continues  his 
interview  series  on  biological  subjects, 
this  one  dealing  with  the  coloration 
and  mimicry  of  animals,  insects,  etc., 
in  their  fight  to  live.  Animals  such  as 
the  Walking  Stick  and  the  Mantus  are 
only  two  of  the  specimens  discussed 
and  pictured.  It  is  not  only  instruc- 
tive but  diverting  as  well.  Running 
time,  9  minutes. 


"Good  Pie'' 

(Vitaphonc) 
There  always  is  a  laugh  in  the  old- 
time  pie-throwing  slapstick  and  this 
caused  plenty  of  titters  at  the  New 
York  Strand,  even  though  some  were 
inclined  to  regard  it  as  silly.  Bill 
Wayne  starts  out  to  publicize  the 
pies  of  his  girl  friend's  father,  and  as 
a  publicity  gag  goes  about  town 
throwing  pies  into  the  faces  of  all  and 
sundry.  The  newspapers  print  the 
story  which  puts  over  the  brand  of 
pies. 


"Crashing  Reno" 

{Pathc) 
A  burlesque  on  the  Reno  divorce 
mill.  The  story  is  far-fetched  but  has 
laughs,  resorting  to  good  old-fash- 
ioned slapstick  to  put  them  over. 
Daphne  Pollard  and  Eddie  Gribbon 
are  the  central  figures.  Daphne  en 
route  to  Niagara  Falls  with  her  new 
husljand  and  Eddie  en  route  to 
Reno  trying  to  unsell  his  wife  on  the 
idea  of  divorcing  him.  A  series  of 
mixups  ensue,  in  which  the  respective 
wives  and  husbands  are  made  to  ap- 
pear unfaithful,  but  it's  all  straight- 
ened out  in  the  end. 


"The  Spoon" 

{Bobby  Jones-Vitaphone) 
In  this,  the  seventh  of  the  Bobby 
Jones,  "How  I  Play  Golf"  series, 
Bobby  demonstrates  the  use  of  the 
spoon,  illustrating  the  mistake  of  us- 
ing a  No.  1  iron,  when  the  shot  calls 
for  use  of  the  spoon.  The  picture  has 
a  story  with  Zelma  O'Neall  complain- 
ing to  her  judge  friend,  Walter  Hus- 
ton, that  her  husband  is  neglecting  her 
for  golf.  They  go  to  the  course 
where  friend  husband  is  being  given 
some  pointers  by  Jones.  All  ends 
well  with  Zelma  herself  becoming  an 
addict. 


"First  to  Fight" 

{ Universal) 
A  pip  and  without  a  doubt  the  best 
of  the  Slim  Summerville  series.  Plenty 
of  action  and  comedy  are  provided  by 
the  gangling  bugler  and  Eddie  Grib- 
bon, the  burly  sergeant,  who  leave  the 
A.  E.  F.  to  join  the  Marines.  The 
boys  continue  to  make  a  play  for  the 
same  girl,  a  nurse  in  this  case,  with 
neither  getting  her  in  the  end.  The 
radio  sequence  is  a  wow  for  laughs. 
It's  in  four  reels  and  Universal  is 
selling  it  as  a  special.  You  shouldn't 
think  twice  about  grabbing  it.  Run- 
ning time,  44  minutes. 


"A  Land  That  Time 
Forgot" 

{Talking  Picture  Epics) 
The  roving  camera  takes  in  the 
everyday  happenings  of  a  little  town 
in  Italy  by  the  name  of  Albarella, 
where  the  inhabitants  live  in  trulies, 
so-called  huts  made  by  the  natives 
themselves.  Everything  that  happens 
in  this  small  hamlet  is  encompassed 
by  the  lens  and  it  makes  for  nice  en- 
tertainment.   Running  time,  9  minutes. 


"Babykins*' 

(Vitaphone) 
Pee  Wee  Singer  and  Bill  Halligan 
do  their  stuff  in  this.  Bill  puts  Pee 
Wee,  midget,  into  a  baby  show,  where 
Pee  Wee  cops  the  prize.  Then  for 
$2,000,  he  agrees  to  let  a  woman 
adopt  the  "baby."  Some  comedy  bits 
are  introduced  when  Pee  Wee's  fos- 
ter mother  tries  to  treat  him  as  a 
baby.  Bill  and  Pee  Wee  flee  in  a 
cab,  but  the  driver  turns  out  to  be  a 
cop  who  had  been  trailing  them. 


"The  Naggers  in  the 
Subway" 

{Vitaphone) 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack  Norworth  have 
their  troubles  in  the  subway,  what 
with  hubby  carrying  the  parcels  after 
the  missus  has  gone  shopping.  The 
incident  in  which  the  passengers'  hats 
are  thrown  about  is  fairly  amusing, 
but  the  other  incidents  are  far  from 
funny.    Running  time,  11  minutes. 

"Models  and  Wives" 

{ Universal) 
George  Sidney  and  Charlie  Murray 
become  heir  to  a  lingerie  shop  and 
their  antics  as  salesmen  provide  a 
good  number  of  laughs.  The  wives 
of  both  men  hound  them  and  are  al- 
ways ready  to  pick  on  them  at  the 
least  provocation.  Usual  type  of  Mur- 
ray-Sidney comedy.  Running  time,  18 
minutes. 


Pir^t  of  ¥m% 
JoUh  Jade 
Chorum  o 


''Dazzling  Brillic 
Entertainment 

"Races  along  at  c 

length.  A  moti< 

suspensefully. 

tertainment 

entire  pro* 

of  popu 

dazzlii 


C^O>X<)Y 


TRANSATLANTIC 

wirh 

EDMUND  LOWE  •  LOis  moran 

John  Halliday  Jean  Hersholt 

Greta  Nissen     •     Myrna  Loy     •     By  Guy  Bolton 
Directed  by  William  K.  Howard 


lew  reason  HITS 
lemewerH  into 
InthuHiimtie  Frame! 


II 


Ordinary 

3ace  through  all  its  thrilling 
e  that  moves  smoothly,  swiftly, 
lit  is  technical  perfection  and  en- 
inary.  Howard's  craftsmanship  lifts 
3  a  zenith  of  artistry  and  the  certainty 
val.  A  directorial  achievement  actually 
rilliance." — BAgina.  Crewe,  NewYork  American 


iW 


le  brilliance  of  Howard's  direction.  He  must 
dly  be  one  of  the  most  satisfying  film  makers  in 
ywood.    You  have  the  feeling  that  an  imaginative 
d  intelligent  mind  is  at  work.  Smartly  handled  ...  A 
lynamic  motion   picture.     Genuinely   exciting.     Cast 
excellent."  — Richard  Watts,  New  York  Herald  Tribune 


II 


91 


Not  A  Dull  Moment  In  It 

"There  is  not  a  dull  moment  in  the  film.  If  you  are 
feeling  bad  about  having  missed  your  yearly  European 
trip  or  if  your  plans  for  a  week  end  jaunt  on  one  of  the 
big  liners  have  gone  awry  you  can  console  yourself  by 
taking  a  vicarious  trip  on  TRANSATLANTIC  this 
week."  — Kate  Carmron,  New  York  Daily  News 


II 


II 


Vastly  Entertaining 

"It  happily  points  the  way  to  a  new  film  technique  — 
more  movie  and  less  chatter,  and  is  a  vastly  entertaining 
melodrama."  — Bland  Johaneson.  New  York  Daily  Mirror 


II 


II 


Swell 

"Swell  entertainment. ..best  Roxy  film  in  many  weeks." 

— Rose  Pelswick,  New  York  Evening  Journal 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  August  I,   1931 


''BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW   SALES 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
Merchants,  Quincy,  Mass.;  Strand,  Nor- 
wich, Conn.;  Arcadia,  Portsmouth,  N.  H. ; 
Park,  Nashua,  N.  H. ;  Auditorium,  Brattle- 
boro,  Vt. ;  Allen,  Orpheum  and  Casino,  New 
Bedford,  Mass.:  American,  Fairhaven, 
Mass.;  Liberty,  Hartford;  Regent,  Arling- 
ton, Mass.;  Davis  Sq.,  Somerville,  Mass.; 
Wemick,  Chicopee  Falls,  Mass.;  Park, 
Boston:  Loring  Hall,  Bingham,  Mass.; 
Globe,  Manchester,  N.  H.;  Capitol,  Sanford, 
Me.;  Hollywood,  Charlestown,  Mass.; 
Strand,  New  Bedford;  Portland  and  Casco, 
Portland;  Majestic,  Fitchburg,  Mass.;  Dor- 
chester, Dorchester,  Mass.;  Capitol,  Paw- 
tucket;  Rivoli,  Bridgeport;  Strong,  Bur- 
lington, Vt. ;  Regent,  Worcester;  Broadway, 
Dover,  N.  H. ;  Olympia,  New  Bedford; 
Eagle,  Lubec,  Me.;  Colonial,  Keene,  N.  H.; 
Globe,  Bridgeport,  Conn.;  Le  Roy,  Paw- 
tucket;  Family,  Worcester;  Opera  House, 
Middlebury,  Vt.;  Bellevue,  St  Albans,  Vt.; 
Opera  House,  Middlebury,  Vt. ;  Strand, 
Maynard,  Mass.;  Rialto,  Woonsocket,  R.  I.; 
Star,  Whitinsville,  Mass.;  Capitol,  Win- 
chendon,  Mass.;  Ideal,  Springfield,  Vt.; 
Olympia,  Worcester,  Mass.;  Plymouth, 
Worcester,  Mass.;  Bialto,  South  Norwalk, 
Conn.;  Acme,  Eastport,  Me.;  Strand, 
Palmer,  Mass.;  Strand,  Woonsocket,  R.I.; 
Palace,   Meriden,  Conn. 


And  still  they  pour  in  at  Warner- 
First    National.      New    contracts    for 
1931-1932  product  follow: 
Alabama 

Strand,    Alexander   City,   Hack   Jackson. 

Arkansas 

Capitol,  Little  Rock,  Arkansas  Amuse- 
ment  Co. 

California 

Superba,  San  Diego,  Pacific  National 
Theatres,    Inc. 

Illinois 

Capitol,  Canton,  Chas.  Kuchan ;  Ran- 
dolph, Chicago,  Frank  Levine;  Wallace, 
Chicago,  C.  Stem;  Austin,  Chicago,  C. 
Stem;  Langley,  Chicago,  M.  M.  IField- 
man. 

Indiana 

Forsythe,  East  Chicago,  B^st  Chicago 
Amusement  Co.;  Cresent,  Jasonville,  T.  A. 
&   Olive    M.    Burkhartft. 

Iowa 

Gem,  Charles  City,  M.  J.  Kuech;  Re- 
gent,   Cedar    Falls,    M.    R.    Blair. 

Kansas 

Colonial,  Alma,  W.  E.  Thowe;  Per- 
shing, Kansas  City,  Fred  Meyn;  Doric, 
Eckhardt,     Ed    Rowland. 

Kentucky 

Bourbon,  Paris,  Phoenix  Amusement 
Co.;  Madison,  Richmond,  Phoenix  Amuse- 
ment  Co. 

Louisiana 

Ideal,    Ponchatou,     E.     Antony. 

Massachusetts 

Baylies  Square,  Rialto,  and  Royal,  New 
Bedford,  O.  Tessier;  Stoneham,  Stone- 
ham  Theatre  Co.;  Capawock,  Vineyard 
Haven,  S.  J.  Kelly. 

Michigan 

Pren(ral«,  Detroit,  Woodward  Theatre 
Co.;  Garden,  Detroit,  Woodward  Theatre 
Co.;  Highland  Park,  A.  C.  Standart;  Up- 
town, Detroit,  A.  C.  Standart;  Norwood, 
Detroit,  Woodward  Theatre  Co.;  Strand, 
Detroit,  C.  S.  Koppin;  Calvin,  Dearborn, 
Woodwarrf  Theatre  Co.;  Ideal,  Middle- 
ville,  Clayton  Bennett;  Elmas,  Maple 
Rapids,  Earl  Boling;  Wenonal,  Bay  City, 
R.  P.  Leahy;  Blackstone,  Detroit,  J. 
Schreibcr;  Colonial,  Detroit,  Colonial  The- 
atre Enterprises;  Fine  Arts,  Detroit,  Fine 
Arts  Amusement  Corp.;  Ideal,  Detroit,  J. 
D.  London;  Wolverme,  Detroit,  G.  E. 
Fink;    Rialto,    Grayling,    J.    Olsen. 

Missouri 

Rialto,  St.  Joseph,  Frank  Cassi;  Palace, 
Kennett,   E.   B.  Vandiva. 

Minnesota 

Palace,  Luveme  H.  Jochins;  Dale,  St. 
Paul  and  Faust,  St.  Paul,  Rubenstein  and 
Kaplan. 

Montana 

Lyric.   Havre,   J.    B.    Moore. 

Nebraska 

Majestic,    Blue   Springs,    G.    N.    Bragg. 

New  Hampshire 

Colonial,  Laconia,  Laconia  Amusement 
Co.;  Coniston,  Newport,  A.  C.  Chadwick; 
Premier,    Littleton,    J.    B.    Elames. 

New  Mexico 

Princess,    Deming,    F.    L.    Nordhaus. 


New  York 

Regent,  St.  Regis  Falls,  F.  W.  Lemieux. 
Regent,  Syracuse,  OneidJa  Theatre  Corp., 
.M.  J.  K.illet,  President;  Victoria,  Buffalo, 
Victoria  Theatre  Co.,  V.  Lownes,  Jr^  Mgr. 

Strand    Old  Forge,  Mrs.  G.  Harry  Brown; 

North  Carolina 

Duke  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Durham,  Quadrangle 
Pictures;  Iris,  Belmont,  Mrs.  Wade;  Pas- 
time,   Lumberton,    Lumberton    Theatre   Co. 

Oklahoma 

StrancT,  Texhoma,  Ed  Rowland;  Buffalo, 
Pawnee,  E.  E.  Ryan;  Armfield,  Cordell, 
F.    G.    Roberts. 

Ohio 

Faurot,  Lima,  G.  A.  Ritzier;  Rex,  Cleve- 
land, R.  Shastny;  Elite,  Defiance,  Defiance 
Amusement    Co. 

Murphy,      Wilmington,      Phil     Cbakeres; 
Cleveland,    L.   J.    Friedman. 
State,     Greenville,     Phil     Chakeres;     Sun, 

Oregon 

Heilig,   Eugene,    World   Attractions   Co. 

Pennsylvania 

Victoria,    Frackville,    M.   J.    Kerrigan. 

Rhode   Island 

Liberty,  Providence,  &  Bomes;  Holly- 
wood,   East    Providence,    S.    Bomes. 

South  Carolina 

Westminster,  Westminster,  B.  L. 
Mitchell. 

Texas 

Dixie,  Athens,  Darbandt  Bros. ;  Payne, 
Glade  Water,  Mrs.  L.  B.  Payne;  Strand, 
Overton,    J.    E.   Adams. 

Virginia 

Roland,  Virginia  Beach,  Roland  Amuse- 
ment   Corp. 

Lyric,  Blacksburg,  Commonwealth  The 
at  re  Corp. 

West   Virginia 

Rialto,  J.   Frank  Gilbert. 

Wisconsin 

Uptown,  Racine,  Uptown  Majestic  The- 
atre Co.;  Home,  Portage,  E.  L.  Weisner; 
Majestic,  Vudahy,  Circuit  Theatres,  Inc.; 
Shorewood,  Milwaukee,  Shorewood  Theatre 
Co. ;  Classic,  Waiertown,  Watertown 
Amusement  Enterprises;  Waupun,  Wau- 
pun,     E.    L.     Weisner. 

Chilton,  Chilton,  John  Steenport;  Lincoln, 
Sheboygan,  George  Rauscher. 


The  32  houses  of  the  T.  &  D.  Jr. 
Circuit  of  California  have  brought 
Universal  product  for  the  coming  year 
100  percent.  Contracts  were  signed 
between  W.  J.  Heineman  and  Ken- 
neth Hodkinson  for  Universal,  and 
M.  Naify,  for  the  T.  &  D.  Jr.  The 
houses  include : 

State,  Martinez;  T  &  D  Jr.,  Lodi;  T  & 
D  Jr.,  Paso  Robles;  Mystic  and  Cali- 
fornia, Petaluma;  Majestic,  Granada  and 
Wigwam,  Reno;  California,  Sacramento; 
California,  Dunsmuir;  Liberty,  Susanville; 
State,  Red  Bluflf;  Redding,  Redding;  State, 
Auburn;  Senator  and  National,  Chico; 
State,  Oroville;  Glade,  Lindsay;  Plaza, 
Healdsburg;  California  and  Cline,  Santa 
Rosa;  Tulare,  Tulare;  Strand,  Alameda; 
State,  Oakland;  Royal,  Alhambra,  Victoria, 
Metropolitan,  Harding,  Coliseum,  Alexan- 
dria, and  Westwood-Balboa,  San  Francisco. 


Wilmer  and  Vincent  yesterday 
signed  for  the  RKO  line-up,  the  deal 
having  been  closed  for  the  distributor 
by  Jerry  Safron.  Theatres  included 
are  these: 

Colonial,  State  and  Victoria,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.;  Capitol  and  State,  Reading;  Embassy, 
State    and    Colonial,    Allentown. 


Buffalo— M.  A.  Shea  goes  "Buy 
Right — But  Buy  Now"  with  a  con- 
tract for  the  new  Fox  product  to  play 
these  theatres: 

Park,  Youngstown.  O.;  State.  Manches- 
ter. N.  H.;  and  Colonial.  State  and  Tre- 
mont,   Nashua,    N.    H. 


Fay  in  Line 

Providence  —  "Your  slogan, 
'Buy  Right — But  Buy  Now'  is 
a  one  hundred  per  cent  con- 
structive idea.  You  can  count 
on  me  to  act  along  those 
lines,"  states  E.  M.  Fay,  op- 
erator of  Fay's,  Carlton,  Ma- 
jestic, Rialto  and  Capitol  the- 
atres here  and  Fay's  in  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y. 


Another  Universal  deal  covers  the- 
atres operated  in  Texas  by  Colonel 
H.  A.  Cole.  L.  C.  Baxley  of  "U's" 
San  Antonio  office,  closed  the  deal 
which  covers  these  houses : 

Palace  and  Grancf,  San  Marcos;  Se- 
quin   and   Queen,    Wharton. 

A  third  contract  covers  Fred  Dolle 
and  the  4th  Ave.  Amusement  Com- 
pany of  Louisville.  The  contract  was 
signed  with  E.  T.  Gomersall  and 
Floyd  Brown,  exchange  manager  for 
Indianapolis.      The  houses  are : 

Apollo  and  Lyric,  Indianapolis:  Mars, 
Luna  and  Family,  Lafayette;  Liberty, 
Grand  and  Indiana,  Terre  Haute;  and  In- 
diana.  Marion. 


Indianapolis  —  Harry  Vonder- 
schmidt  has  entered  into  a  contract 
with  Floyd  Brown  of  Universal  to 
play  Universal  for  the  coming  year. 
The  theatres  in  the  circuit  are: 

Indiana,  Bloomington,  Ind*. ;  Von  Ritz, 
Bedford;  Voncastle,  Greencastle;  and 
Vondera    of    Crawfordsville. 


Alba.n-y— Chris  Buckley  has  closed 
with  James  R.  Grainger  for  the  com- 
plete Fox  line-up  to  play  the  Har- 
manus-Bleecker  and  Leland  here. 


Among  the  contracts  for  RKO 
Pathe's  1931-32  line-up  coming  across 
Ned  E.  Depinet's  desk  yesterday  were 
deals  with  the  Alger  circuits  in  Illi- 
nois covering  these  theatres : 

Park,  Champaign;  Capitol,  Morrison; 
Rexy,  La  Salle;  Aida,  Oglesby;  Peru, 
Peru;  Colonial  and  Princess,  Urbana; 
New,     Princeton. 

A  second  contract  with  the  Rodgers 
circuit  covering  these  houses': 

Yale,  Anna,  111.;  Ritz  and  Home,  Blythe- 
ville,  Ark.;  Gem  and  Jackson,  Cairo,  111.; 
Barth,  Carbondale,  111.;  Liberty,  Caruthers- 
ville,  Mo.;  American,  Charleston,  Mo.; 
Criterion  and  Jewell  Poplar  Bluff,  Mo.; 
Malone,    Sykeston,    Mo. 

A  third  with  the  Blackhills  Amuse- 
ment Company  of  South  Dakota  em- 
bracing these  houses : 

Elks,  Rapid  City;  Hot  Springs,  Hot 
Sprmgs;  Belle,  Belle  Fourche;  Deadwood, 
Deadwood. 

"BUY  RICHT-^BUT  BUY  NQW" 

Showmanship  Era 
Predicted  by  Balsly 

Following  a  trip  to  various  Fox 
exchanges,  Lee  D.  Balsly,  advertising 
accessory  sales  director,  states  that 
"showmanship  cannot  be  suppressed 
behind  futuristic  theatre  fronts  for 
very  long."  He  predicts  an  outbreak 
of  showmanship  during  the  next  few 
weeks.  The  public  is  shopping  for 
shows  and  the  way  to  get  shoppers 
is  to  attract  their  attention,  he  de- 
clares. "Many  exhibitors  are  plan- 
ning to  bill  their  towns  like  circuses 
for  the  new  season's  product,  because 
some  choice   locations   are   available." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Get  Police  Protection 

CoLUMBu.s — Police  protection  now 
is  being  given  managers  or  cashiers  in 
local  houses  whenever  receipts  are 
being  transferred  to  theatre  safes  fol- 
lowing a  series  of  holdups.  Several 
houses  secure  a  bluecoat  guard  when 
money  is  being  banked. 


Up  to  Individual, 
Says  Van  Hyning 

loLA,  Kan. — It's  up  to  the  individual 
exhibitor  to  determine  whether  or  not 
he  should  buy  now,  believes  E.  Van 
Hyning,  president  of  the  M.P.T.O. 
of  Kansas  and  Missouri. 

"I  feel  that  the  selling  season  has 
been  advanced  until  it  comes  at  the 
wrong  time  of  the  year,"  he  thinks. 
"The  distributor  at  present  is  in  the 
tag  end  of  a  season  when  nearly 
always  there  is  a  lot  of,  to  say  the 
least,  mediocre  product  that  the  ex- 
hibitor is  dissatisfied  with.  Insofar 
as  the  salesman  is  concerned,  there 
is  not  sufficient  product  completed  for 
him  to  know  what  he  is  talking  about. 

"The  exhibitor  is  in  the  middle  of 
a  poor  business  period  and,  in  many 
cases,  doesn't  know  whether  he'll 
even  be  in  business  next  season  and  is 
in  no  mood  to  even  think  about  new 
product,  let  alone  contract  for  it. 

"Any  experienced  exhibitor  should 
know  when  to  buy  or  lay  off  as  con- 
cerns his  individual  situation,  and  if   j 
in    doubt    should    consult     exhibitor   Ij 
friends  or  leaders."  ^ 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Buy  Now  if  Price 
Is  0,K,,  Wehrenherg 

St.  Louis — This  is  how  Fred 
Wehrenberg,  president  of  the  M.P. 
T.O.  of  Eastern  Missouri  and  South- 
ern Illinois,  views  the  "Buy  Right — 
But  Buy  Now"  movement: 

"I  say  exhibitors  should  buy  now, 
if  the  prices  are  reasonable,  fair  and 
equitable  in  keeping  with  the  intake 
at  the  box-office,  but  the  exhibitor 
must  be  very,  very  careful  not  to  buy 
more  product  than  he  needs  and  to 
pay  no  more  than  his  business  will 
permit  him. 

"If,  however,  deals  are  unreason- 
able, then  it  is  up  to  each  theatre 
owner  to  delay  buying  until  the  prices 
are  what  he  can  afford  to  pay." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

GlynnMade  Fox  Sales 
Disbursement  Head 

James  A.  Glynn,  who  has  been  in 
charge  of  sales  statistics  at  the  Fox 
home  office,  has  been  appointed  Sales 
Disbursement  Comptroller  by  James 
R.  Grainger.  His  new  duties  will  be 
to  analyze  and  handle  all  disburse- 
ment reports  of  U.  S.  and  Canada 
branches. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOV" 

Decision  Monday 

Decision  by  Supreme  Court  Jus- 
tice Graham  Witschief  on  Theodore 
Dreiser's  application  for  a  permanent 
injunction  restraining  Paramount  from 
exhibiting  "An  American  Tragedy" 
will  be  handed  down  Monday,  the 
judge   made   known   yesterday. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gallup  Denies  Report 

Reports  that  he  had  stepped  out  of 
film  advertising  and  publicity  into  the 
hotel  field  with  the  debut  of  the  new 
Waldorf  as  his  initial  effort  in  that 
direction  are  declared  untrue  by  Bruce 
Gallup. 

Ivy  Lee  is  handling  the  Waldorf  as- 
signment. 


A  PREDICTION 

XN  1914  Eastman  announced  the  first  panchro- 
matic motion  picture  negative  film.  It  swept 
the  country ...  In  March,  1931,  Eastman  an- 
nounced the  first  stable  ultra-speed  panchro- 
matic— Eastman  Super-sensitive  Panchromatic 
Negative,  Type  2... It  is  predicted  that  just  as 
color- sensitive  film  has  practically  replaced 
color-blind  material,  so  the  new  Eastman 
Super-sensitive  will  make  slower  emulsions  vir- 
tually obsolete . . .  Naturally  the  producers  and 
camera  men  who  are  adopting  this  remarkable 
film  now  will  reap  the  greatest  advantage . . . 
Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  New 
York.  (J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  New 
York,  Chicago,  Hollywood.) 

Eastman  Super-sensitive 

Panchromatic  Negative,  Type  2 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  August   I,    1931 


Cliatterton 
Gets  $19,500 
At  L.  A.  Para. 


Los  Angeles  —  Will  Rogers  in 
"Young  as  You  Feel"  led  the  town  so 
tar  as  proportionate  return  is  con- 
cerned at  the  Chinese  and  Criterion 
getting  $14,000  and  $15,000  respec- 
tively in  its  day  and  date  showings. 
The  Paramount  jumped  $7,000  above 
last  week  with  "The  Magnificent  Lie" 
for  a  total  of  $19,500  on  the  week. 
"Honeymoon  Lane"  had  tough  sailing 
at  the  United  Artists  and  couldn't  pull 
that  house  out  of  its  slump.  It  got 
$4,500,  a  new  low  for  the  house  which 
has  been  hovering  around  the  $7,000 
mark.  "The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  was 
very  satisfactory  and  the  Warner 
houses  found  "Night  Nurse"  okay. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing   July    29   and    year-round    weekly 
averages : 
"HAY    QUE   CASAR   AL   PRINCIPE" 

(Fox) 
CALIFORNrA      INTERNATIONAL— (2,- 
000),      2Sc-50c,      7      cTays.        Gross:      $4,200. 
(Average,    $5,000.) 

"SMILING  LIEUTENANT"   (Para.) 
FOX    CARTHAi'    CIRCLE-(1,650),    7Sc- 
$1.50.   3rd   week.    7   davs.     George   StoU   and 
Band.      Gross:    $12,000.      (Average,    $12,500.) 
"YOUNG  AS  YOU  FEEL"  (Fox) 
FOX      CRITERION— (1,652),      35c-65c.      7 
days.      Gross:    $15,100.      (Average,    $10,000.) 
"YOUNG    AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 
GRAUMAN'S      CHINESE— (2,030),      25c- 
65c.     Gross:   $14,000.      (Average,   $8,000.) 
"SON   OF   INDIA"    (M-G-M) 
LOEWS  STATE— (2,418),  35c-65c,  7  days. 
"Black    and    White"    Idea.      Gross:    $21,500. 
(Average,    $27,000.) 

"CHILDREN  OF  DREAMS"  (F.  N.) 
LOS   ANGELES— (2,100),   25c-65c,   7  days. 
rtage    show    with    Leon    Errol.      Gross:    $8,- 
000.     (Average,   $16,000.) 

"THE    MIRACLE   WOMAN"    (Col.) 
ORPHEl'M- (2,750),     35c-65c,     2nd     week, 
5   days.      Gross:    $5,000.  .   (Average,   $16,000.) 
"FIVE   AND   TEN"    (M-G-M) 
PANTAGES  HOLLYWOOD-(3,000),  35c- 
65c,    7    days.      F.     &     M.     "Divertisement" 
In'ea.      Gross:    $9,900.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
THE     MAGNIFICENT     LIE"     (Para.) 
PAR.A.MOUNT— (3.596),    35c-65c,    7    days. 
Oscar     Baum     and     stage     revue.       Gross: 
$19,500.       (Average,    $25,000.) 

"ARIZONA"  (CoL) 
RKO— (2,700),  35c-65c,  7  days.     Olsen  and 
Johnson  in  person,  5  acts  RKO  vadueville. 
Grou:    $11,000.      (Average,    $15,000.) 

"HONEYMOON    LANE"    (Para.) 
UNITED     ARTISTS— (2,100),     35c-65c,     7 
days.      Gross:    $4,500.      (Average,    $13,500.) 
"NIGHT  NURSE"    (Warners) 
WARNER      BROS.      DOWNTOWN— (2,- 
400),     7     days,     35c-50c.       Gross:      $12,200. 
(Average,    $15,000.) 

"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 
WARNER      BROS.      HOLLYWOOD— (3- 
000),      7      days,      35c-50c.        Gross:      $13,600. 
(Average,    $14,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Weisfeldt-Wilson 
Row  Goes  to  Court 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

resigned  a  few  months  ago.  He  had 
been  vice-president  in  charge  of  dis- 
tribution since  inception  of  the  com- 
pany. The  case  will  be  heard  in  Su- 
preme Court,  New  York.  Ira  J. 
Schuster  is  attorney  for  the  plaintiff. 

Frank  R.  Wilson  could  not  be 
reached  last  night  for  a  statement  on 
the  Weisfeldt  action. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Brilant  a  Legit  Producer 

Arthur  Brilant,  veteran  publicist 
and  exploiteer,  leaves  Columbia  to- 
day to  work  on  production  of  his  play, 
"Clara  Deane"  in  association  with 
Stanley  Sharpe,  former  Ziegfeld  gen- 
eral manager.  Rehearsal  is  to  start 
in  about  two  weeks. 


That  Party 

It  was  a  case  of  leather  tongues 
and  big  heads  in  the  Fox  advertising 
and  publicity  department  yesterday 
and  all  of  it  was  traceable  to  the 
bachelor  dinner  given  to  Abe  Good- 
man and  Charlie  Goldie  the  night 
before. 

*  *     * 

/(Tjoi  McGrail  ivas  chairman  of  the 
arrangement  commiittee — also  chair- 
man of  the  committee  which  escorted 
Gregory  Dickson,  the  toastmaster, 
honw.  After  trying  eight  apartment 
houses,  ami  being  ejected  from  three, 
they  left  the  toastmaster  on  a  marble 
bench.  It  ivas  the  right  house.  He 
found  out  the  next  morning. 

*  *     * 

.■\be  answered  the  phone  every  fif- 
teen minutes.  Pearl  wanted  to  know 
how  he  was  behaving.  He  didn't 
know  himself  from  9  :40  on. 

*  *     * 

The  toastmaster  sat  down — twice — 
and  missed  the  chair  each  time. 

*  *     * 

Goldie  intended  to  go  home  after 
the  party.     He  says  so  himself. 

*  *     * 

Dan  Dougherty  gave  the  prospec- 
tii'e  bridegroom  his  blessings — and  ad- 
vice. The  third  young  Dougherty  ar- 
rived at  his  home  about  seven  hours 
before  the  party  started.  Dan  ivas 
doing  zvell  when  last  seen. 

*  *     * 

Early  Friday  morning  Harry  Lewis 
was  in  favor  of  prohibition. 

One  guy  lost  his  vacation  money  in 
a  crap  game. 

*  *     * 

Yep,  it  ivas  a  swell  party  but  most 
of  the  Fox  publicity  and  advertising 
boys  hope'  no  more  guys  decide  to  get 
married  this  summer.  It's  too  hot — 
for  bachelor  dinners. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

W,  E,  Wins  Writ  in 
Pacent  Buffalo  Suit 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

ducing  equipment  in  the  Broadway 
Theatre  infringed  thtee  patents  of  the 
Western  Electric  Reproducing  System. 
Execution  of  the  injunction  is  de- 
layed provided  the  defendant  posts  a 
$5,000  bond  and  within  20  days  per- 
fects his  appeal  to  the  higher  court. 
The  defense  in  the  infringement  auit 
was    conducted   by    Warner    Brothers. 

Former  Federal  Judge  John  R. 
Hazel,  of  Buffalo,  was  appointed  Spe- 
cial Master  to  determine  the  amount 
of  damages  and  the  major  part  of  the 
litigation  costs  were  assessed  against 
the  defendants. 

Western  Electric  is  appealing  that 
part  of  Judge  Galston's  decision  in 
the  infringement  action  which  declared 
the  Lowenstein  grid-bias  patent  in- 
valid and  also  the  ruling  that  the 
Blattner  patent  was  not  infringed  .upon 
by  the  Pacent  equipment.  The  I  owen- 
stein  patent  was  declared  valid  by 
Judge  Winslow  of  the  Federal  District 
Court  in  1926. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Says  U.  S.  Faces 

Loss  of  Far  East 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

ing  increasingly  popular  in  Japan.  Al- 
though they  are  strongly  propagandist, 
the  stories  are  good  and  the  photog- 
raphy fine.  Hollywood  "is  out  of  date 
in  Japan  as  regards  these  details," 
the  doctor  continued,  warning  Ameri- 
can producers  "they'd  better  watch  out 
or  they'll  lose  the  Japanese  market." 


Loew's  Going 
Into  "PhiUy;' 
Belief  There 


(Continued  from  page   1) 

Paramount's  experience  last  year  in 
battling  Warners  in  this  territory, 
however,  the  long-term  idea  is  said  to 
present  obstacles.  For  Paramount, 
the  local  film  row  feels,  did  not  do 
as  well  with  its  Keith's  theatre  and 
independent  outlets  as  it  would  have 
in  a  deal  with  Warners. 

The  break  between  M-G-M  and 
Warners  came  when  the  latter  refused 
to  play  percentage  in  all  its  situa- 
tions, as  was  reported  demanded  by 
M-G-M. 


When  asked  whether  Loew's  would 
go  into  the  Philadelphia  field.  Col. 
E.  A.  Schiller  yesterday  replied : 

"How've  you  been?  Hasn't  the 
weather  been  hot?" 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Peerless  Getting  Set 
In  Most  Key  Spots 

Peerless  Productions  has  made  pre- 
liminary arrangements  for  territorial 
distribution  in  most  keys  and  in  cities 
where  satisfactory  deals  cannot  be 
made  will  open  its  own  exchanges, 
according  to  Adolph  Pollak,  general 
manager,  who  returns  today  from  a 
national  tour.  The  firm  will  have  24 
releases. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Europe-Bound 

En  route  to  Europe  today  are  Jean- 
ette  MacDonald,  P.  J.  Mandell  of 
Warners,  Lotti  Loder,  actress,  and 
Hal  Skelly,  actor.  Al  Rockett,  Fox 
associate  producer,  leaves  shortly  for 
the  other  side  and  will  return  to  the 
Coast  at  the  end  of   October. 


$17,500  High 
For  "Lie"  in 
Denver  Heat 


Total  $48,500  for  5  Theatres 


Denver — Despite  excessive  heat, 
the  Denver  rolled  up  $17,500  with 
"The  Magnificent  Lie,"  which  was 
$2,500  above  average.  Rains  cooled 
the  temperature  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  week.  The  Aladdin  with  "Broad- 
minded"  also  had  a  good  week  at 
$8,000.  "Son  of  India"  at  the  Para- 
mount also  topped  average  at  $11,500 
and  "The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  did 
well  in  second  run  at  the  Rialto, 
where  it  was  spotted  in  immediately 
following  its  week  at  the  Paramount. 
"Sweepstakes"  was  off  at  the  Tabor. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  30  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE   MAGNIFICENT  LIE"    (Para.) 

DENVER^(2,30O),  25c-35c-65c,  7  days. 
Fanchon  &  Marco  "Sketches"  Idea:  Fred 
Schmitt  and  orchestra.  Gross:  $17,500 
(Average,    $15,000.) 

"BROADMINDED"     (F.     N.) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— 1,500),  35c- 
50c-75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO-Pathe) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1.500).  35c- 
50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,000),       25c-35c-50c.       7 
days.      Gross:    $11,500    (Average,    $11,000.) 
"THE  SMILING   LIEUTENANT" 
(Para.) 
RIALTO— (1,040),    25c-35c-50c    (2nd    runt, 
7    days.      Gross:    $3,S00.      (Average,    $3,750.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Seek  Anti-Picketing  Writ 

Napa,  Cal. — Claiming  they  picketed 
in  front  of  his  theatre,  J.  N.  Toc- 
chini,  owner  of  the  State,  is  seeking 
a  court  injunction  and  $1,0(10  damages. 


NEW      YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant       4712... 


LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

I  54    CRESCENT    STREET 
.    .   .    .    STI  llwell         7  9  4  0 


EASTMAN 
.    FILMS    • 


J.E.   =^ 

BRULATOUR 

I  ncorporated 


CHICAGO 

1727  INDIANA  AVENUE 
C  A  L  u  m  e  t    269 1    .    .   . 


HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.   .   .   Hollywood       4  12  1 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  54 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  AUGUST  3,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Ruth  Stays  at 
Warner  Under 
Ironclad  Pact 


Will  Not  Be  ''Farmed' 
Any  Other  Firm 


to 


Ruth  Chatterton  joins  Warners  in 
the  fall  Motion  Picture  Daily 
learns,  despite  varied  reports  that  she 
might   remain    with    Paramount. 

Her  contract,  it  is  understood,  is 
ironclad  insofar  as  her  services  are 
concerned  and  does  not  permit  the 
Warners  to  "farm"  her  to  any  other 
studio.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
agreement  is  said  to  embrace  a  clause 
that  makes  such  procedure  impossible. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Films  Only"  After 
Seattle  Union  "Jam" 

Seattle  —  The  Fox  Paramount, 
closed  four  weeks  ago  by  Fox  West 
Coast  Theatres,  Inc.,  because  of  dif- 
ferences that  the  circuit  is  having 
locally  with  musicians,  operators  and 
stagehands'  unions,  has  again  been 
opened,  according  to  an  announce- 
ment made  by  Robert  W.  Bender,  Fox 
division  manager  in  this  territory. 

It    is    understood    that    the    theatre 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Good  Films,  Cool 
Houses  Beat  Heat 

Minneapolis  —  Another  stretch  of 
real  hot  weather  has  convinced  Minne- 
apolis theatre-men  that  the  vagaries 
of  the  thermometer  make  little  or  no 
difference  at  the  box  office. 

While  it  is  true  that  a  score  or 
more  of  bathing  beaches  do  a  tre- 
mendous opposition  business  when  the 
thermometer  begins  to  hit  the  high 
spots,  there  are  those  who  say  that 
nothing  drives  the  public  out  of  hot 
flats  and  apartments  like  a  good  hot 
spell  and  for  those  who  haven't  formed 
the  swimming  habit  the  natural  mecca 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Six  Films  With 

Music  on  Fox  List 

At  least  six  of  the  48  pictures  on 
the  1931-32  line-up  will  introduce 
music  numbers.  These  include :  George 
and  Ira  Gershwin's  "Delicious"  with 
Janet  Gaynor  and  Charles  Farrel! ; 
George  (Buddy)  de  Sylva's  "Merely 
Mary  Ann"  with  Janet  Gaynor  and 
Charles  Farrell ;  "In  Her  Arms," 
adapted  from  "Fazil,"  and  "Young  As 
You  Feel"  with  Will  Rogers. 


Favors  ''Buy  Now" 

St.    Louis — Warners    favor 

the    "Buy    Right But    Buy 

Now  Movement"  it  was  indi- 
cated by  Abel  Gary  Thomas, 
company  counsel,  when  he 
said  that  while  under  the 
stipulation  in  the  St.  Louis 
Amusement  Co.,  receivership 
case  no  Warner-First  Na- 
tional contracts  will  be  made 
pending  its  outcome,  con- 
tracts will  be  made  with 
other   distributors. 


10  Week  Tour 
For  Legit  on 
Coast,  Is  Plan 


Los  ANGELESi — Fox  West  Coast 
will  attempt  to  revive  legitimate 
drama  on  the  Coast  offering  one  night 
stands  in  its  key  picture  houses.  If 
the  plan  is  successful  it  will  be  spread 
over  the  entire  circuit,  it  is  said.  Such 
a  move  would  make  a  ten-week  circuit 
for  legit  on  the  West  Coast. 

The  first  show  sought  for  one-night 
stands  is  Ethel  Barrymore  in  'A 
School  for  Scandal."  Negotiations 
with  the  star  have  hit  a  snag,  it  is 
stated,  due  to  percentage  demanded 
by    the   star,   but   other   deals    are   on 

(Continued  on  page  3) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Fight  for  Vaude 
At  Memphis  Up 

Memphis — No  further  action  has 
been  taken  in  the  alleged  "vaudeville 
war"  between  civic  leaders  and  thea- 
tre officials  in  Memphis,  according  to 
A.  E.  Weinstein,  attorney  and  chair- 
man of  the  resolutions  committee  for 
the    Council    of    Civic    Clubs.      Wein- 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


"PHILLY"  SHOWMEN 
ASK  ARBITRATION 


Chi  Showmen 
Running  Own 
Projectors 

Chicago — Scores  of  Chicago  exhib- 
itors will  dispense  with  operators  to- 
day and  run  their  own  projection  ma- 
chines, accepting  the  protection  of 
state's  attorney's  police  for  their  thea- 
tres in  order  to  prevent  possible  union 
retaliation. 

An  offer  of  police  protection  for 
any  theatre  dispensing  with  its  oper- 
ators was  made  by  the  state's  attor- 
ney's   office   two   weeks    ago   and   has 

(Continued  on  page  3) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Stage  Shows  to  End 
Twin  Bills  in  N.  J. 

Progress  is  being  made  by  New 
Jersey  exhibitors  in  re-establishing 
vaudeville  and  presentations  as  a  move 
to  eliminate  double  features.  At  the 
last  meeting  of  Allied  Theatre  Own- 
ers of  New  Jersey  a  committee  was 
appointed  by  Sidney  Samuelson,  pres- 
ident, to  discuss  terms  with  vaudeville 

(Continued  on   page  3) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Says  West  Can't 
Change  Todd  Name 

Hollywood — Hal  Roach  threatens 
suit  against  Roland  West  for  chang- 
ing of  Thelma  Todd  to  Alison  Lloyd 
in  billing  "Corsair,"  just  completed 
on   the    Coast   for  United   Artists   re- 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


M-G-M,  Loew  's  Have  Feet  on 
Ground,  GoingAhead-Mayer 


Hollywood — M-G-M  is  not  under- 
going any  shake-up,  regards  the 
value  of  name  players  as  it  always 
has,  just  as  it  regards  the  valuable 
services  of  all  important  elements  of 
production  and  is  going  right  ahead 
as  before.  Louis  B.  Mayer  declared 
in  hitting  reports  of  a  shake-up, 
which  followed  release  of  Adolphe 
Menjou,  Marjorie  Rambeau,  Charles 
Bickford  and  others. 

"There  is  no  reason  to  be  panicky," 
said    Mayer.      "Picture    receipts    are 


down  a  little  but  not  much  and  the    work,  ability  and  sincerity.' 


ground  under  our   feet   is  as   solid  as 
ever. 

"Nicholas  Schenck  feels  the  same 
about  the  situation,"  he  continued, 
"and  is  going  on  as  Marcus  Loew  did 
— solidly  and  steadily,  with  no  over- 
expansion  to  regret  and  no  theatres 
to  turn  back.  He  has  an  organization 
built  over  the  years  which  functions 
in  yes  or  no  fashion.  Here  we  func- 
tion exactly  the  same.  There  is  no 
place  here  nor  anywhere  for  incom- 
petents.     What    is    needed    is    hard 


Petition    Exchanges    for 

Voluntary  1-1-1  Plan 

For  Disputes 

Philadelphia — Return  of  arbitra- 
tion to  this  territory  is  being  sought 
by  the  M.P.T.O.  of  Eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania, which  is  petitioning  exchanges 
to  aid  in  setting  up  arbitration  ma- 
chinery for  its  members. 

A  voluntary  system  of  arbitrating 
disputes  is  sought  and  letters  have 
been  sent  to  all  exchanges  asking 
their  co-operation  in  establishing  it  to 
end  costly  litigation  and  unsettled 
conditions  which  have  followed  in  the 
wake  of  the  abandonment  of  the  ar- 
bitration system,  due  to  the  arbitra- 
tion decree. 

Under  the  plan,  members  of  the  unit 
propose  that  all  disputes  with  ex- 
changes be  submitted  to  a  board  of 
three  members. 

Each  case  would  have  its  individual 

(Continued  on  page  3) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW  ' 

Dreiser  Denied  Writ 
To  Halt  "Tragedy" 

Theodore  Dreiser  lost  the  first 
round  in  his  fight  to  prevent  Para- 
mount from  showing  "An  American 
Tragedy,"  which  is  expected  to  mean 
that  the  film  will  have  its  premiere 
Wednesday  at  the  Criterion  as  sched- 
uled.    Dreiser  Saturday  was  denied  a 

(Continued  on   page  3) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Ellman  Promoting 
Studios  at  Chicago 

Chicago — Financing  is  reported  to 
have  been  obtained  for  Hollywood- 
Chicago  Studios,  an  independently 
promoted  production  organization  and 
recreation  center,  which  is  expected 
to  be  in  readiness  here  by  the  time 
of  the   1933  World's  Fair. 

Henri    Ellman,    Chicago    film   e.xec- 

(Confinued  on  page  3) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Many  Ohio  Towns  Get 
First  Sunday  Shows 

Cleveland — Sunday  shows  were 
presented  for  the  first  time  or  the  first 
time  in  years  yesterday  at  a  number 
of  Ohio  towns,  under  the  new  law 
which  makes  such  shows  a  matter  of 
local  option.  Provisions  of  the  law 
enable  presentation  of  Sunday  shows 
in  any  municipality  except  where  they 
are  expressly  prohibited  by  local  ordi- 
nance. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August  3,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  today 


Vol.    30 


August    3.  T931 


No.    54 


Martin    Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James  A.   Cron 

Advertising  Manager 

^•\r<\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondemt:  H'.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Fox M'g'r sin  West 
In  New  Assignments 

Hollywood — Changes  in  the  oper- 
ating personnel  of  Fox  West  Coast 
Theatres  include  these : 

Harry  Bailey  replaces  R.  P.  Borst  as 
Manager  of  the   Belmont. 

R.  P.  BoRST  replaced  Harry  Bailey  as 
Manager  of   Boulevard. 

Louis  Golden  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager   of    the   Jewel    &    Crystal    Theatres. 

Ralph  McGowan  replaces  Charles 
Jones  as   manager  of   Alexander,    Glendale. 

Charles  Jones  will  be  appointed  mana- 
ger of  the  Westwood  Theatre,  Westwood, 
when   it  is  opened. 

BoR  CuzAN  replaced  R.  G.  Haines  as 
manager  of  the  Embassy. 

Ray  Edwards  replaces  Daniel  McGrew 
as   manager   of   Rosemary,   Ocean   Park. 

Richard  Spier  is  manager  of  the  Para- 
mount &  California  Theatres. 

-Albert  Stetson  transferred  to  Fox, 
Phoenix,   as   manager. 

Harold  Stetson  replaces  Albert  Stetson 
as  manager  of  Fox  and  Lyric  in  Tucson 
with    supervision    over    Nogales. 

Oliver  Thompson  temporarily  manager 
of  Grand,  Douglas,  Ariz.,  under  supervision 
of  William  Hughart. 

J.  R.  Allen  replaces  Harold  Murphy 
at   Olympia,   Wash. 

J.  B.  Fronkier  replaces  Geo.  Goodwin 
as    manager   of    Strand,    Havs,    Kans. 

C.  A.  Stewart  replaces  J.  B.  Fronkier 
as   manager   of    Whiteway,    FVedonia,    Kans. 

H.  E.  Ulrich  replaces  C.  E.  Morris  as 
manager  at  Springfield,   Mo. 

Don-  Farquharson  replaces  Lloyd  Rich- 
mond as  manager  of  Kennedy,  Kirksville, 
Mo. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Reopens  August  28 

The  Hollywood,  New  York,  re- 
opens August  28  with  "Alexander 
Hamilton." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Long  Beach  House 

Rugoff  and  Becker  are  building  a 
new  3,300-seat  theatre  at  Long  Beach, 
L.  I.  They  also  operate  theatres  in 
Brooklyn. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Beery-Cooper  to  Team 

Hollywood — Wallace  Beery  and 
Jackie  Cooper  are  to  be  teamed  in  a 
prize  fight  story  to  be  directed  for 
M-G-M  by  King  Vidor.  The  title  is 
"The  Champ"  and  the  story  is  an 
original  by  Frances   Marion. 


TN    Hollywood,    Dave    Selznick    is    making   his    office    pro    tem    with 
A  Brother  Myron  at  the  Selznick-Joyce  agency  headquarters. 

In  New  York,  Weaker  Wanger  makes  his  office,  also  pro  tem,  with 
Leland  Heyward  and  the  American  Play  Company. 

Myron  represents  American  Play  on  the  Coast.  American  Play 
represents  Myron  in  New  York. 

Any  wonder  the  snap-judgment  boys  are  tying  Dave  and  Walter 
in  on  the  same  production  jaunt? 

• 

Max  Balaban  is  a  high  muckamuck  with  Balaban  &  Katz,  which  is 
controlled  by  Publix  and,  therefore,  has  more  than  a  passing  interest 
in  Paramount  product.  Yet  that  didn't  deter  him  from  sending  a  spon- 
taneous wire  to  Jimmy  Grainger  praising  "Bad  Girl." 

The  circumstances  being  what  they  are,  Jimmy  is  pleased.  Well, 
why  not? 

• 

It  hasn't  been  a  bed  of  roses.  For  instance,  reflecting  what  Para- 
mount feels  is  the  statement  made  to  his  western  sales  force  by  John  D. 
Clark  in  "20th  Birthday  Jubilee  News,"  official  organ  of  the  Paramount 
distribution  department : 

"All  of  us,  production,  distribution  and  theatre  departments,  have 
passed  through  what  we  believe  to  be  the  toughest  season  of  our  expe- 
rience. ..." 

• 

Officials  of  film  exchange  circles  in  Toronto  are  agreed  that  the 
Beauharnois  Power  Scandal  is  the  best  thing  that  could  have  happened 
from  the  viewpoint  of  the  film  trade  in  Canada.  The  Beauharnois 
revelations  before  the  Parliamentary  Committee  immediately  took  public 
attention  from  the  Peter  White  film  probe  report  in  which  White  de- 
clared the  film  companies  were  participants  in  a  trade  combine.  The 
film  tangle  was  forgotten  at  once  when  the  news  came  out  that  numer- 
ous politicians,  including  senators,  had  benefitted  to  the  extent  of  around 
$5,000,000  through  the  distribution  of  slush  funds  by  the  promoters  of 
the  Beauharnois  power  project.  Everything  else,  including  the  alleged 
film  combine,  has  dwindled  into  insigTiificance  in  the  light  of  Beau- 
harnois developments. 

"Sunnyside  Up"  came  off  the  Roxy  screen  after  six  days  and  "Trans- 
atlantic" put  in.  That  supplies  some  sort  of  an  answer  about  musicals 
and  whether  or  not  they  will  go. 


U.  A.  Dates  Three 

United  Artists  has  set  release  dates 
on  the  first  three  of  its  1931-32  pic- 
tures as  follows :  "The  Unholy  Gar- 
den," September  5 ;  "Palmy  Days," 
Sentember  26;  "Street  Scene,"  Oc- 
tober 17. 


"Marcheta"  Dix's  Next 

Holly wo')i> — Richard  Dix  will  do 
"Marcheta"  instead  of  "Frontier,"  im- 
mediately following  his  completion  of 
"Secret  Service."  "Frontier"  has 
been  moved  back,  Irene  Dunne  is  to 
ro-star  in  "Marcheta"  which  Victor 
Schertzinsrer  will  direct. 


Small  Gain  Shown  on  Stock  Market 


High  Low 

Eastman    Kodak .' U'/]4  iMVn 

Fox    Film    "A" 155^  l.S.^ 

General    Theatre    Equip,    new 3^4  35/^ 

T-oew's    Inc 46^  457-^ 

Paramount    Publix 23'A  23"4 

Pathe    Exchange 15^  \s^ 

R    K   0 141^  14 

Warner   Bros 7  6^ 


Curb  Issues  Quiet 


High 

General  Tlieatre   Equio.  pfd 65^ 

N'ational    Screen   Service \9'4 

Trans    Lux $'4 


Low 

m 

19'/a, 
?.'A 


Close 

136'^ 

23H 

14 
7 


Close 

19/, 
5J4 


Net 
Change 


+  Vt 
-\-  'A 


Net 
Change 


-m 


Sales 

S(X) 
200 
200 
800 
1,000 
100 
200 
600 


Sales 

200 


Bond  List  Unsteady;  Keith  Off  2 


High 

30 

66 

97.14 

102'/5 

76'/, 

89^ 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39wd 43ji 


General  Tlieatre   E>iuip.  6s   '40. 

Keith   B.   F.  6s  '46 

Loew's  6s  '41   ex  war 

Paramount   Broadwav   5!4s   '51. 

Paramount    Publix   5/s,   '50 

Pathe  7s  'i7  ww. 


Low 

30 
66 
97^ 
lOlM 
76 
8954 
43H 


Close 

30 
66 
97:54 
102/, 
76/ 
893/ii 
43J^ 


Net 
Change 


—2 

+  v» 

+  Vi 

+  '/a 


100 
100 


Sales 

15 
1 
2 
6 
4 
6 
1 


Purely 
Personal 


PM.  MANDER,  assistant  general 
.  manager  of  Pittaluga,  Italian 
firm,  is  returning  to  E'urope  carrying 
with  him  a  warm  glow  of  friendship 
for  American  producers  and  distribu- 
tors, for  the  fine  reception  accorded 
him  in  New  York. 

Nat  Furst,  RKO  Pathe  branch 
manager  in  New  Haven,  came  out 
first  in  the  Johnny  Farrell  golf  reels 
sales  contest.  Nat  came  to  New  York 
Saturday  to  receive  the  award,  a  de- 
luxe bag  of  sticks,  from  A.  H.  Schnit- 
zer,  short  subjects  sales  manager  on 
Ned  E.  Depinet's  staff.  The  com- 
petition was  keen  with  Furst  and 
Ross  Cropper,  of  Boston,  running 
neck  and  neck.  Furst  won  with  a 
234  per  cent  lead  over  Cropper. 

Pauline  Garon  arrived  in  Mon- 
treal from  Hollywood  for  a  holiday. 
This  is  how  she  has  been  "resting" : 
Made  personal  appearances  at  Loew's 
Theatre,  Montreal,  three  times  daily 
for  seven  days ;  supervised  a  Garon 
Resemblance  Contest ;  attended  nu- 
merous civic,  social  and  sport  func- 
tions and  made  scheduled  visits  to 
stores — all  in  one  week.  Last  week 
was  split,  with  three  days  at  the 
Capitol  Theatre,  Quebec  City  and 
three  at  the  Capitol  Theatre,  Three 
Rivers,  Quebec.     Poor  Caroline  ! 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Sound  Films  High  in 
Educational  Value 

Sound  pictures  are  twice  as  effec- 
tive as  siients  in  educational  work  it 
is  indicated  by  a  nationwide  visual 
educational  test  made  by  the  United 
States  commissioner  of  education  made 
public  today. 

The  report  shows  that  the  boys  and 
girls,  from  the  District  of  Columbia 
and  47  States,  answered  correctly,  on 
an  average,  19  more  questions  out  of 
SO  on  each  test  after  seeing  sound 
educational  pictures,  prepared  by  Fox, 
than  they  did  before.  This  is  an  aver- 
age gain  of  38  per  cent. 

The  only  other  test  comparable  to 
this,  but  using  silent  film,  was  con- 
ducted bv  Dr.  David  C.  Knowlton  in 
1928.  This  experiment  showed  an 
average  gain  of  19  per  cent. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Minimum  of  18  j 

From  Big  4  Firm 

Big  4  Film  Corp.,  will  have  a  mini- 
mum of  18  pictures  for  1931-32  re- 
lease, states  President  John  R.  Freu- 
ler,  who  is  in  New  York  from  the 
Coast.  There  will  be  six  starring 
Bob  Custer,  six  starring  Buzz  Barton, 
six  melodramas  and  possibly  some 
specials,   Freuler   states.  j 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW     ^ 

Epics  Gets  *' Ghost*'  Series 

Talking  Picture  Epics  has  acquired 
"Ghosts  of  Other  Days."  a  new  series 
of  shorts,  produced  by  George  J.  Lan- 
caster. The  first  of  the  series  is 
"Ghost   Town." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW  l 

Dorsay  on  RKO  Hour   \ 

RKO'S  next  broadcast  will  be  sent 
out  from  the  Skv  Salon  at  the  St. 
Moritz  Hotel.  Fifi  Dorsay,  film  star, 
will  appear  in  the  broadcast  Aug.  7. 


Monday,  August  3,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Philly  Exhibs 
In  Move  for 
Arbitration 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

board  under  a  l-I-l  system.  One 
member  of  such  board  is  selected  by 
the  exhibitor,  one  by  the  distributors 
and  these  two  agree  upon  a  third  dis- 
interested party.  There  is  no  machin- 
ery for  enforcement,  the  litigants  be- 
ing only  morally  bound  to  carry  out 
decisions  of  the  board. 

The  proposed  system  worked  out 
successfully  recently  in  a  case  involv- 
ing Columbia  and  the  Kenwick  Thea- 
tre. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Stage  Shows  to  End 
Twin  Bills  in  N.  J. 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

agents  and  musicians'  and  stagehands' 
unons.  Two  theatres  recently  adopted 
the  policy  and  at  least  25  more  are 
expected  to  follow  before  the  end  of 
the  summer. 

Instead  of  holding  meetings  in  New 

York    as   heretofore,    the   Jersey   unit 

has    decided    to    make    Asbury    Park 

meeting  headquarters  for  the  summer. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Fight  for  Vaude 

At  Memphis  Up 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

stein  declared  that  nothing  had  been 
done  pending  the  action  to  be  taken 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Council  repre- 
sentatives and  theatre  operators  to  be 
held  early  this  week. 

Last  week  the  Council  of  Civic 
Clubs,  with  25,000  members,  spon- 
sored a  movement  to  force  downtown 
Memphis  theatres  to  bring  back  vau- 
deville. Threat  of  boycotting  the 
houses  unless  vaudeville  was  restored 
in  two  theatres,  was  hinted  at  by 
Weinstein. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Stage  Shows  Dropped 
In  Stagehand  Row 

New  Orleans — Production  over- 
tures, bringing  into  play  the  Saenger 
pit  orchestra,  will  replace  the  local 
stage  shows  at  the  Saenger  here,  due 
to  a  disagreement  between  the  man- 
agement and  the  stagehands'  union  as 
to  the  number  of  stagehands  who 
must  be  employed. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Mexico  Wars 
On  Road  Billboards 

Santa  Fe,  N.  M. — New  Mexico  has 
declared  war  on  billboards  and  other 
roadside  advertising  within  the  rights 
of  way  of  highways  of  the  state.  All 
signs  illegally  existing  have  been 
ordered  turned  down. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Winnipeg  Hits  *'W alkies" 

Winnipeg — Authorities  have  taken 
action  against  the  "walkies"  under  the 
Lord's  Day  Act,  two  marathons  hav- 
ing 38  competitors  between  them  be- 
ing ordered  stopped  because  the  con- 
tests were  continued  over  Sunday. 
The  police  threatene<l  the  cancellation 
of  the  $500  license  fee  of  one  theatre 
where  a  march  was  in  progress  unless 
the  competition  was  immediately 
halted. 


EUman  Promoting 
Studios  at  Chicago 

(Continued  from  page   1 ) 

utive,  who  is  identified  with  the  studio 
and  recreation  project,  states  that 
construction  will  begin  on  the  pro- 
posed units  within  30  days,  although 
he  declines  to  identify  the  financial 
backers. 

The  project,  according  to  Ellman, 
will  consist  of  a  main  studio  buildinc;, 
450x400  feet,  and  two  smaller  studio 
buildings ;  an  open  air  cafe  and  danc- 
ing'pavilion  with  accommodations  for 
3,500;  an  open  air  swimming  pool 
with  accommodations  for  2,000,  a  large 
radio  broadcasting  station,  and  other 
amusement  and  recreation  concessions. 

The  project  will  be  located,  it  is 
said,  on  an  80-acre  tract  at  109th 
Street  and  Harlem  Avenue,  on  the 
southwest  city  limits,  and  will  ac- 
commodate 25,000  persons.  Accord- 
ing to  present  plans,  twelve  talking 
features  and  52  short  subjects  will  be 
produced  in  1933  for  commercial  dis- 
tribution. 

The  nroject,  according  to  Ellman. 
will  be  maintained  as  a  permanent 
production  and  amusement  center. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Says  West  Can't 
Change  Todd  Name 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

lease.  Roach  has  built  Miss  Todd  as 
a  comedy  star,  and  she  is  still  under 
contract  to  him  and  feels  that  the  pro- 
posed change  in  name  will  be  injurious 
in  the  series  of  comedies  in  which  she 
is  to  be  co-starred  with  Zasu  Pitts. 
Miss  Todd  was  loaned  to  West  for 
the  one  picture.  West  changed  her 
name  to  "remove  the  comedy  lot 
stigma." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Boston  Censor  Blast 
Arouses  Theatre  Ire 

Boston — City  Censor  John  M.  Ca- 
sey has  aroused  the  ire  of  managers 
here  as  a  result  of  a  radio  broadcast 
in  which  he  declared  censorship  was 
necessary  because  producers  offer  lit- 
tle else  but  the  glorification  of  inde- 
cency and  immorality. 

The  official  censor  later  modified  his 
declaration  a  bit  by  declaring  the 
legitimate  stage  to  be  the  worst  of- 
fenders. He  declared  it  the  duty  of 
the  mayor  and  licensing  board  to  pro- 
tect the  masses  rather  than  any  par- 
ticular class  and  scored  "cultured  and 
artistic"  citizens  who  protested  that 
the  stage  should  be  true  to  life. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Censorship  Tried 
By  Hastings  Mayor 

Hastings.  Neb. — Two  months'  trial 
of  censorship  is  under  way  here.  A 
two-man  board  responsible  to  him  has 
been  appointed  by  Mayor  William 
Madgett.  There  are  two  Publix  and 
two  independent  houses  here. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Publix-Kincey  Adds 

Concord,  N.  C. — Publix-Kincey 
Theatres,  of  Greensboro,  has  secured 
a  long  lease  on  the  Paramount  here 
from  J,  A.  Cannons,  states  H.  F. 
Kincey.  William  E.  Cooper,  of  Dur- 
ham, has  assumed  management  of  the 
theatre  which  will  be  improved. 


Chi  Showmen 
Running  Own 
Projectors 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

been  accepted  by  several  theatres. 
Monday's  action,  however,  comes  as 
the  first  concerted  move  on  the  part 
of  Chicago  exhibitors  against  the 
union. 

Virtually  every  Chicago  operator 
has  been  working  on  two  week's 
notice  since  the  first  of  the  summer. 
The  "notice"  requirement  for  Mon- 
day's action,  therefore,  has  been  com- 
plied with. 

Numerous  Chicago  exhibitors  not 
aligned  with  the  "layoff"  action  fear 
a  general  walkout  of  theatre  union 
employes. 

Formal  return  of  the  indictments, 
prepared  some  time  ago,  of  five  offi- 
cials of  the  operators'  union  and 
Jack  Miller  and  Joe  Maloy,  was  made 
last  week.  Bail  will  be  set  in  crim- 
inal court  today. 

The  corporation  counsel  has  acted 
on  the  recommendation  of  Assistant 
States  Attorney  Charles  Lounsbury 
for  the  revocation  of  city  licenses  of 
"permit"  operators,  for  the  issuance  of 
which  Joe  Maloy,  city  examiner,  has 
been  indicted  for  malfeasance  in 
office.  The  corporation  counsel's  re- 
port will  be  given  to  Mayor  A.  J. 
Cermak  within  the  next  day  or  two. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

''Mother's  Million"  It 
Was  and  Now  Is 

After  changing  the  original  title  on 
two  different  occasions,  Universal  has 
decided  to  retain  "Mother's  Millions" 
as  the  final  name  of  that  picture.  The 
picture  was  produced  by  Liberty  Pro- 
ductions under  that  name,  but  when 
Universal  took  it  over  for  distribu- 
tion the  title  was  changed  to  "The 
Wolf  of  Wall  Street."  People  kept 
away  from  the  theatres.  Then  it 
was  changed  to  "She  Wolf"  and  that 
title  didn't  seem  to  click  with  the  ulti- 
mate decision  to  change  it  back  again 
to  the  working  name. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Siegel  to  Continue 
As  Theatre  Operator 

Henry  Siegel,  independent  ex- 
hibitor, who  planned  to  become  an  in- 
dependent producer  provided  he  sold 
his  three  theatres  in  Brooklyn,  has 
called  off  the  producing  project.  The 
deal  for  disposition  of  his  trio  of 
houses  to  Sol  Brill  and  Morris  Kutin- 
sky  has  hit  the  skids.  Thus,  Siegel 
will  continue  to  devote  his  time  to 
theatre  operation.  He  is  now  dicker- 
ing for  new  product  with  the  various 
film  companies. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Trans-Ocean  Television 

Schenectady  —  General  Electric 
yesterday  broadcast  television  pictures 
in  the  first  trans-Atlantic  attempt.  It 
was  hoped  the  pictures  would  be  re- 
corded in   Berlin. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Selznick  Under  Knife 

Myron  Selznick  is  at  a  New  York 
hospital  following  an  operation  for 
appendicitis. 


10  Week  Tour 
For  Legit  on 
Coast,  Is  Plan 

(Continued  from  paqe  1) 

with  Mrs.  Leslie  Carter  in  "The 
Shanghai  Gesture,"  Walker  White- 
side in  "The  Typhoon,"  Billie  Burke 
in  "The  Vinegar  Tree,"  Joe  E.  Brown 
in  "Elmer  the  Great,"  and  others. 

If  the  Barrymore  contract  is  com- 
pleted the  troupe  will  open  here  and 
then  swing  to  San  Diego,  Santa  Ana, 
Pasadena,  Glendale,  San  Bernardino 
and  Santa  Barbara. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Dreiser  Denied  Writ 
To  Halt  "Tragedy" 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

temporary  injunction  to  halt  the  pic- 
ture version  of  his  story  which  he 
says  is  not  a  film  of  his  story  at  all 
but  rather  a  murder  story  of  what 
was  intended  to  be  an  indictment  of 
society. 

In  denying  application  for  the  tem- 
porary writ.  Judge  Graham  Witschief 
in  White  Plains  said  Paramount  had 
met  its  agreement  with  the  author, 
although  it  has  not  established  that 
the  letter  and  the  script  of  the  novel 
have  been  adhered  to. 

The  production  of  the  picture 
Justice  Witschief  said  cost  $500,000. 
Dreiser  received  $138,000  for  the 
rights  and  the  right  to  alter  the  story. 

Opinions  of  critics  that  the  picture 
is  a  true  representation  of  the  letter 
and  spirit  of  the  picture  were  sub- 
mitted by  the  Paramount  Publix  in 
refutation  of  Dreiser's  allegations  that 
its  social  and  psychological  points 
were  ignored. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Stanley -Warner  to 
Keep  Keith's  Open 

Philadelphia — In  spite  of  con- 
trary report,  Stanley- Warner'  com- 
pany will  try  to  keep  open  Keith's 
theatre,  recently  acquired  from  the 
Moon  Amusement  Co.,  as  a  part  of 
the  Paramount-Warner  reconciliation 
deal. 

The  house  did  good  business  during 
the  winter  and  spring  season,  but  lack 
of  refrigeration  has  been  holding  down 
summer  trade.  Although  the  Stanley- 
Warner  outfit  has  darkened  the  Boyd, 
a  de  luxe,  cooled  theatre  of  2,400  ca- 
pacity, indication  of  the  Keith's  policy 
comes  with  the  announcement  that 
"The  Woman  Between,"  a  Radio  film 
would  be  opened  there  today. 

While  originally  intended  as  a 
legitimate  house,  and  still  being  con- 
trolled by  the  Shuberts,  Keith's  has 
one  of  the  best  locations  in  town,  be- 
ing within  two  squares  of  practically 
every  large  department  store  in 
Philly  and  being  right  in  line  for  a 
good  matinee  drop-in  trade. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Add  New  Props 

Hollywood — Production  activities 
at  the  RKO  Pathe  studio  have  made 
necessary  the  enlargement  of  the 
studio  property  department  under 
George  Sawley.  Eighteen  truckloads 
of  new  furniture  have  been  delivered 
to  the  new  department  within  the  last 
week. 


ouSaida 

nUVEIADOHS- 


Every  dollar  and  every  facility  at  G>« 
lumbla*s  command  has  been  devoted 
to  the  creation  of  new  ideas  in  unique 
novelties  and  our  untiring  search  to  give 

you  the  best  in  comedy  feature  shorts. 

• 

WALTER  PUTTER'S 

TRAVELAUGHS 

wiih 

JOHN  P.  MEDBURY 

World's  Greatest  Newspaper  Columnist 

Medbury,  in  his  fast  rapid-Fire  comment, 
will  hand  you  laughs  From  the  Four 
corners  oF  the  globe.  You  laugh  while 

you  travel  around  the  world. 

• 

A  built-up  reader  audience  oF  twenty 
million  people  through  the  daily  news 
columns  oF  more  than  three  hundred 
newspapers  —  including  seventeen 
Hearst  papers  —  plus  one  hundred  mil- 
lion radio  Fans  From  coast  to  coast.  A 
genuine  box-oFFice  bet! 

you'll  laugh  till  you're 
blue    in    the    face! 

NIFTY  LAUGHS 
ZIPPY  LAUGHS 
PEPPY  LAUGHS 

TRAVELAUGHS 

Produced     by     V/a  films,     Inc. 


CoKunbiahas  the  best  shoi-t  £^ 


»4it^1^jSV  ^iv    ii.i£§:6^-Ji:^j<,iAvi^^j¥lUii.JfSv 


iahg^j5.*.ii>^*  witSw  JS^M>»«fcdj^^^^^^g^^ji;.!fi»^ 


ijou  cant  beat  em! 


The  personification  of  a  million  kids  in  one! 

SCRAPPY 

We'll   say   he's   scrappy.    Chuck   full   of  wiggle, 
wriggle,  giggle,  mischief. 

The    most    pestiferous     lovable    imp    that    ever 
galloped  into  the  hearts  of  an  audience. 


Frisky,  frolicsome,  frivolity  of  facetious  youth. 
Unique  bit  of  genius  that  makes  the  whole 
world  kin. 

A  new  idea  in  sound  cartoons 

Produced   by  CHARLES    MINTZ 

Creator   of    Krazy    Kat 


BRYAN    FOy 

MONKEYSHINES 

ANIMAL    COMEDIES 

The  greatest  variety  of  trained  animal  actors 
ever  screened. 

The   big  American   family  audience  will   fall 
head  over  heels     in  love  with  them. 

SOMETHING  NEW  IN  SHORT  FEATURES 


ores  the  boKcf&ce  Proves  it/ 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August  3,    1931 


All  1st  Runs      Heat  Is  Big 
Over  Average  Card  of  Week 
In  St.  Paul         At  Seattle 


Total  $23^00  for  4  Theatres 


St.  Paul^ — -Business  is  good  in  St. 
Paul,  which  benelitted  by  the  break  of 
the  heat  wave.  "  A  Free  Soul"  at 
the  Paramount  with  a  take  of  $9,500 
was  the  best  performer  of  the  week. 
"The  Miracle  Woman"  went  to  $13,000 
at  the  RKO  Orpheiim  and  "Smart 
Money"  got  $8,000  at  the  Riviera, 
with  "The  Secret  Call"  climbing  to 
$2,700  at  the  Tower.  A  good  week 
all  around  with  every  stand  above 
average. 

"A   FREE  SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $9,5(10.     (Average,   $7,500.) 

"SMART    MONEV    (Warner) 

RIVIERA— (1,000).  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,000.      (Average.    $7,000.) 

"  THE    MIRACLE    WOMAN"    (CoL) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,600).  25c-50e,  7  days. 
Bob  Hope  heading  four  acts.  Gross:  $13,- 
000.     (Average,  $12,000.) 

"THE    SECRET    CALL"    (Para.) 

TOWER— (1,000).  15c-25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,700.     (Average,  $2,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Minneapolis 
Gives  Hand 
To  Shannon 


Total  $40,000  for  5  Theatres 


Total  $52,000  for  5  Theatres 


Minneapolis — Peggy  Shannon 
copped  top  honors  from  a  percentage 
standpoint  when  the  heat  wave  broke 
in  midweek.  She  pushed  the  gross  of 
the  Lyric  up  to  $3,500  with  "The 
Secret  Call."  Barbara  Stanwyck  was 
strong  in  "The  Miracle  Woman"  at 
the  RKO  Orpheum  and  "The  Magni- 
ficent Lie"  came  through  nicely  at  the 
Minnesota. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  31  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"FIVE  AND  TEN"   (M-G-M) 

ASTER-(812),  20c-2Sc,  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,500.     (Average,  $1,500.) 

"THE   SECRET  CALL"    (Para.) 

LYRIC  (1,238),  2()c-40c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$.I.5(X).        (Average,    $2,500.) 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT   LIE"    (Para.) 

.MI.N.NESOTA  (4,fX)0),  30c-75c,  7  days. 
Allan  and  Canfield,  heading  vaudeville. 
Gross:  $22/X)0.     (Average,  $20,000.) 

"THE   MIRACLE   WOMAN"    (Col.) 

RKO  OKI'HKC.M  (2,W»,  25c-35c-50c.  7 
days.  Frank  kicliardson  heading  four  acts. 
Grtss:    $16,000.      (Average,    $14,000.) 

"I   TAKE   THIS   WOMAN"   (Para.) 

.STATE— (2.30f».  25c-35c-S<lc,  7  days. 
Gnm:    $9,000.      (Average,   $8,000.) 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Sandwich  Men  Out 

Milwaukee,  Wis. — With  the  pas- 
sage by  the  common  council  of  an 
ordinance  prohibiting  sandwich  men 
from  carrying  signs  on  their  shoulders 
on  the  city's  streets  advertising  mer- 
chandise, theatres  in  the  future  will 
be  unable  to  publicize  their  pictures 
in  this  manner.  The  ordinance  does 
not  pertain  to  strike  pickets. 


Seattle — With  continued  hot 
weather,  business  at  local  stands 
again  was  below  normal.  There  were 
no«  outstanding  performances  by  any 
of  the  cards  offered. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  31  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"BIG    BUSINESS    GIRL"    (F.    N.) 

FOX    COLISEUM— (2.000),    25c-35c-50c,    4 
days.     Gross:    $3,000.      (Average,   $3,500.) 
"PARTY   HUSBANDS"    (F.   N.) 
FOX    COLISEUM-(2.000),    2Sc-35c-50c.    3 
days.     Gross:   $2,000.     (Average,  $2,500.) 
"THE    BLACK   CAMEL"    (Fox) 
FOX   FIFTH  AVENUE^(2,750),   25c-35c- 
50c-7Sc.   7   days.     Qross:   $11,000.      (Average. 
$12,000.) 

"RAINBOWS     END"     (Tiff.)     and 

"MONSTER  OF  THE   DEEP"   (Talk.  Pic. 

Epics) 

LIBERTY— (2,000),  15c-30q,  7  days 
Gross:   $6,000.      (Average,   $7,500.) 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 
MU.SIC     BOX-(950),     25c-35c-50c-75c,     7 
days.     Gross:    $6,000.      (Average,   $7,500.) 
"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO   Pathe) 
RKO      ORPHEUM-(2,650),      25c-3Sc-50c- 
60c-75c,    7    days.      Vaudeville.      Gross:    $12,- 
000.      (Average,   $13,500.    ) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^Common  Law' 
Rocks  Philly 
With  $44,000 


Albany  Heat 
Can't  Block 
'Common  Law' 


Total  $24,500  for  4  Theatres 


Total  $132,400  for  8  Theatres 


PKir.AnF.I.PHTA    —    "Thp         Comn-'O-- 

Law"  was  the  smash  attraction  at  local 
stands  grabbing  off  $44,000  at  the 
Mastbaiim,  which  is  big  business  in 
the  middle  of  summer.  "The  Son  of 
India"  with  $21,000  did  well  at  the 
Earle  and  "Night  Nurse"  was  strong 
at  the  Karlton  where,  in  a  second  run 
after  its  big  Mastbaum  showing,  the 
picture  got  $6,200. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  30  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"FORBIDDEN   ADVENTURE    (Para.) 

ARCADIA— (600),  50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$2,200.     (Average,  $3,000.) 

"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

EARLE-^(2,000),  25c-65c,  6  days.  Vaude- 
ville,     Gross:    $21,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 

"NIGHT  ANGEL"    (Para.) 

FOX  (3,000),  35c-50c-7.5c,  6  days.  Stage 
show.     Grass:    $22,500,      (Average,   $26,000.) 

"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 
KARLTON     (1,000),    40c-50c.    (2nd    run)    6 
days.     Gross:   $6,200.      (Average,   $5,000.) 

"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 

KKITlf.'V-d.SOO),  35c-50c-75c.  6  days. 
Gross:    $17.0fK).     (Average,   $15,fX)0.) 

"THE  COMMON  LAW"  (RKO-Pathe) 

.MA.STBAC.M  (4,800),  35c-5f)c-75c,  6  days 
Stage  show.  Gross:  $44,000.  (Average 
$40,000.) 

"THE  RECKLESS   HOUR"   (F.  N.) 

STA.VLEY  -(3,7rxj),  3.5c-50c-75c,  7  days 
Gross:    $12,«/).      (Average,    $18,000.) 

"MURDER    BY    THE    CLOCK"    (Para.) 

.STA.\TOX-(1,700),  2Sc-65c.  6  days 
Gross:   $7,500.     (Average,  $11,000.) 


Albany — "The  Common  Law"  was 
the  best  money-getter  in  Albany  dur- 
ing the  week,  in  fact  panning  out  so 
well  at  Proctor's  R-K-O,  that  the 
usual  policy  of  three  day  booking  was 
extended  so  that  the  picture  ran  the 
eiit|ire  week,  although  the  vaudeville 
end  of  the  program  changed  on 
Wednesday.  Despite  the  mercury  that 
touched  97  one  day  during  the  week 
and  hovered  in  the  nineties  during  the 
remainder  of  the  week,  "Common 
Law"  played  to  $6,900  for  the  week, 
which  is  above  normal,  by  $900. 

Other  business  was  below  normal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  30  and  year-round  weekly 
average : 

"ANNABELLE'S   AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 
HARMANUS-BLEECKER  HALL  (2,300), 
35c-.SOc.    6   days.      Gross:    $7,100.      (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"STEPPING  OUT"    (M-G-M) 

LELAND-(1,350),  20c-25c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$4,800.    (Average,    $6,000.) 

DEFENDERS  OF  THE  LAW"  (Standard) 
and   "THE   FLOOD"    (Col.) 

RITZ— (1.146),  25c-35c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$3,900.      (Average,   $4,500.) 

"THE  COMMON  LAW"   (R-K-O  Pathe) 

RKO  PROCTOR'S— (1,500),  20c-60c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $6,900.      (Average,   $6,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Providence 
Still  Goes 
For  Bargain 


Total  $43,900  for  5  Theatres 


Providence — Offering  a  dual  bill, 
"Chances"  and  "Broadminded,"  the 
Majestic  cleaned  up  again  this  week, 
grossing  $13,000,  three  grand  above 
average.  While  Loew's  State  also 
grossed  $13,000  with  "The  Great 
Lover,"  it  went  below  par  by  $5,000. 

l'~or  the  first  time  in  weeks,  the 
RKO  Albee  showed  signs  of  improve- 
ment. Playing  "The  Common  Law," 
it  hit  the  $8,500  mark,  slightly  under 
average.  Its  sister  house,  the  RKO 
Victory,  had  "The  Public  Defender" 
and  took  in  $3,400,  while  the  Para- 
mount was  able  to  get  only  |6,000  out 
of  "Forbidden  Adventure." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  30  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.)    and 
"BROADMINDED"    (F.    N.) 

MAJE.STIC     (2..!00),       I0c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:     $13,fK)0.       (Average,    $10,000.) 
"THE    GREAT    LOVER"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S       .STATE-  (3,800).       20c-75c,       7 
days.      Gross:    $13,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 
"THE    COMMON    LAW"    (Radio) 
RKO     ALBEE-(2.5n0),     inc-50c,     7    days. 
Cross:   $8,500.      Average,   $9,(K)0.) 
"THE     PUBLIC     DEFENDER"     (Radio) 
RKO   VICTORY-(I.6(K)),    10c-50c,   7   days. 
Gross:   $3,4fX).      (Average,  $6,500.) 
"FORBIDDEN    ADVENTURE"     (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,300),     lOc-SOc,    7    days. 
Gross:   $6,000.      (Average,  $10,000.   ) 


$15,900  Puts 
"Lie"  in  Lead 
At  Portland 


Total  $41,400  for  5  Theatres 


Portland — "The  Magnificent  Lie," 
aided  by  a  strong  stage  show,  street 
parade  and  other  heavy  plugging,  ran 
the  gross  of  the  Paramount  up  to 
$15,900,  demonstrating  that  exploita- 
tion can  bring  'em  in  despite  torrid 
weather.  "Night  Nurse"  at  the  Music 
P)0x  rounded  out  a  12-day  run,  get- 
ting $3,300  for  its  last  five  days  or 
$7,800  on  the  full  run.  "Annabelle's 
Affairs"  at  the  Fox  Broadway  went 
only  six  days. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  29'  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"ANNABELLE'S   AFFAIRS"    (Foot) 

FOX  BROADWAY— (1,912),  25c- 50c,  6 
days.      Gross:    $4,500.      (Average,   $5,000.) 

"THE    GREAT    LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

FOX  RIALTa-(l,498),  2Sc-35c,  4  days. 
Gross:     $1,500.       (Average,     for    full     week, 

$4,000.) 

"MISBEHAVING  LADIES"   (F.  N.) 

FOX  RIALTO— (1,498),  25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $1,200.        (Average,     for    full    week, 

$4,000.) 

"NIGHT  NURSE"  (Warners) 

HAMRICK'S  MUSIC  BOX— (1,800).  2Sc, 
5    days.      Gross:    $3,300.      (Average,    for    full 

week,    $5,000.) 

"RESURRECTION"    (Univ.) 

HAMRICK'S  MUSIC  BOX-(l,80O).  25c, 
2   days.     Gross:    $2,200.      (Average,   $5,000.) 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,068),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
F.  &  M.'s  "Circus  Days"  Gross:  $15,900. 
(Average,   $12,000.) 

"THREE  WHO   LOVED"   (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (1,700),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $10,.500.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Night  Nurse" 
Wows  Buffalo 
With  $26,500 


Total  $81,300  for  5  Theatres 


Buffalo — "Night  Nurse"  effective- 
ly beat  the  heat  and  gave  Shea's 
Buffalo  a  take  of  $26,500,  which  is 
the  best  week  the  house  has  had  since 
the  summer  began.  A  sensational 
stage  show  saved  "A  Son  of  India" 
at  the  Great  Lakes  and  at  that  the 
house  was  under  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  31  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 

BUFFALO— (3.300),  ,TOc-65c,  7  days. 
Puhlix  stage  show.  Gross:  $26,500.  (Aver- 
age, $25,000.) 

"UP    FOR  MURDER"    (Univ.) 

CF.N'TURY-(3,000),      25c-3Sc,      7      days. 
Gross:    $9,800.      (Average,    $12,000.) 
"SON   OF   INDIA"   (M-G-M) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Loew  stage  show.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Aver- 
age,  $22,500.) 

"CHANCES"    (F.   N.) 

HIPPODROME— (2,I0O),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
RKO  vaude.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"THREE  WHO   LOVED"   (Radio) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,300).  25c-35c,  7days. 
Gross:    $10,000.      (Average,   $12,000.) 


Monday,  August  3,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"Enemy"  Gets 

Year's  Record 

In  Chi  House 


Total  $173,865  for  8  Theatres 


Chicago — Loop  grosses  maintained 
high  summer  levels  established  two 
weeks  ago  with  no  indications  of  let- 
up unless  extreme  weather  conditions 
occur.  Main  floor  holdouts,  unusual 
in  the  Loop  during  summer,  were  in 
evidence  at  McVickers,  the  Chicago 
and  Oriental.  The  McVickers  had  a 
great  week  with  "Public  Enemy," 
which  ploughed  through  to  $37,800  or 
$9,300  above  average. 

Estimated  takings  and  year-round 
weekly   averages : 

Week  ending  July  29: 

'PUBLIC   ENEMY"    (Warners) 

McVickers  —  (2,284),  35c-50c-75c-8Sc. 
Gross:     $.^7,80O.         (Average,     $28,500.) 

Week  ending  July  31: 

"QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 

CASTLE— (299),  40c-60c.  Gross:  $3,280. 
(Average,   $3,500.) 

"YOUNG    AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 

CHICAGO—  (4,000),  .i'5c-50c-75c-85c,  7 
days.  Publix  stage  unit.  Gross:  $44,250. 
(Average,    $46,000.) 

"THE   GREAT   LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

ORIENTAI^(3,940),  .^5c-50c-75c-85c,  7 
d'ays.  Publix  stage  unit.  Gross:  $26,160. 
(Average,    $36,500.) 

"POLITICS"     (M-G-M) 

ROOSEVELT  —  (L591),  35c-50c-75c-85c, 
2nd  Loop  week.  Picture  moved  here  after 
excellent  opening  eight  da^g  at  Chicago 
Theatre.  Gross:  $18,925.  (Average,  $23,- 
2C0.) 

"THE   MIRACLE  WOMAN"    (Col.) 

STATE- LAKE— (2,776),  35c-50c-75c-85c, 
2nd  week,  final  5  days.  Gross:  $12,450. 
(Average,    full    week,    $30,200.) 

Week  ending  Aug.  1: 

"GIRL    HABIT"     (Para.) 

PALACE— (2.509),   35c-50c-75c-85c,   7  days. 
Five   acts    RKO    vaudeville    with    Nick    Lu- 
cas.    Gross:  $21,700.     (Average.  i24,000.) 
"THE    SMILING    LIEUJENANT" 
(Para.) 

UNITED  ARTIST.S-(l,70O),  .!5c-50c-75c- 
85c,  4th  week,  final  5  days.  Gross:  $9,300. 
(Average,    $24,600.) 

(Due  to  error  in  transmission,  the 
Schmelmg-Stnbhng  fight  film  was  not 
billed  as  last  week's  attraction  at  the 
Castle,  with  "Quick  Millions,"  this  week's 
carc(.  listed  instead.  The  fight  film 
grossed    $4,070    last    week.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW  ' 

Lie''  Leads 
In  Off  Week 
At  Charlotte 


66 


Total  $17,500  for  2  Theatres 


Charlotte — Hot  weather  and  night 
baseball  took  a  hand  to  keep  all 
grosses  below  average  except  "The 
Magnificent  Lie"  which  got  $6,000  or 
$500   above   average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  31  and  year-round  week- 
ly  averages ; 

"MOTHERS     MILLIONS"     (Univ.) 

BROADWAy^(l,167),        25c-35c-50c,        3 
days.        Gross:    $3,000.        (Average    ,$3,750.) 
"THE  RECKLESS  HOUR"    (F.   N.) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-J5c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $3,500.        (Average,    $3,750.) 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:   $6,000.       (Average.    $5,500.) 

"THE   GREAT    LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $5,000.        (Average,    $5,500.) 


Roses 

Warner  Bros.  Pictures,  Inc. 
New    York 
Motion    Picture    Daily, 
New  York. 
Gentlemen: 

Please  accept  my  thanks  for 
the  1931  Motion  Picture  Al- 
manac. All  those  vcho  partook 
in  getting  this  Almanac  up 
should  be  congratulated,  as  it 
is  truly  an  asset  to  any  mo- 
tion   picture    office. 

Very  truly  yours, 

HERMANN   STARR 

Vice-President 


"Shoulders/' 
Lie,"  Fight 
Houston  Tie 


ii\ 


Total  $25,400  for  4  Theatres 


Houston — ^Although  pictures  were 
decidedly  average  and  had  few  draw 
names,  business  picked  up  enough  last 
week  to  put  two  theatres  above  aver- 
age. These  were  the  Metropolitan 
with  "The  Magnificent  Lie"  and  the 
RKO  Majestic  with  "White  Should- 
ers,"  each  of  which   did  $7,700. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  30  and  year-round  week- 
ly   averages : 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"     (Para.) 

KIRBY— (1,654),  25c-35c-40c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,000.        (Average,    $5,000.) 

"THE  GREAT  LOVER"   (M-G-M) 

LOE'W'S  STATE— (2.700),  25c-35c-40c,  7 
days.      Gross:   $6,000.      (Average,   $7,000.) 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT   LIE"    (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (2,512),    25c-35c-40c,    7 
days.      Gross:   $7,700.       (Average,   $7,000.) 
"WHITE    SHOULDERS"     (Radio) 

RKO  MAJESTIC— (2,250),  25c-35c-40c,  7 
u'ays.       Gross:    $7,700.        (Average,    $7,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Politics"  a 
Hit  in  Omaha 
With  $11,700 


Total  $32,000  for  4  Theatres 


Omaha — M-G-M's  "Politics"  was 
the  big  noise  last  week  so  far  as  com- 
parative showings  go  and  it  grabbed 
off  $11,750  at  the  Paramount  or  $4,- 
500  above  the  house  average.  "Sven- 
gali"  proved  a  surpriser  at  the  State, 
where  it  was  held  for  a  six-day  run 
on  a  four-day  booking. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  31  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages : 

"LOVER  COME  BACK"  (Col.) 
ORPHELTM— ^^.OOO),    25c-,»c-60c,    7    days. 
Four    RKO    acts.       Gross:    $13,250.       (Aver- 
age,   $13,000.) 

"POLITICS"     (M-G-M) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,900),    25c-30c-35c-60c,    7 
days.       Gross:    $11,750.        (Average,    $7,000.) 
"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 
.STATE— (1,200),  25c,  6  days.     Gross:  $1,- 
800.         (Average,     $1,500.) 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para.) 
WORLD— (2,500),   25c-40c,   4   days.   Gross: 
$3,030.        (Average,    $3,200.) 

"THE   SECRET   CALL"    (Para.) 
WORLD— (1,200).   25c-40c,    3    days.    Gross: 
$2,000.       (Average,    $2,500.) 


12  Trees  Big 
Week's  Card 
At  Cleveland 


Total  $81,000  for  7  Theatres 


Cleveland — In  spite  of  the  contin- 
ued heat  and  the  heavy  opposition  of 
outdoor  opera,  Helen  Twelvetrees  in 
"A  Woman  of  Experience"  was  able 
to  get  $15,000  or  $3,000  over  average, 
which  was  the  best  showing  of  the 
week.  "The  Public  Defender,"  aided 
by  Fifi  D'Orsay  in  person,  pushed  the 
RKO  Palace  to  $23,000,  which  is  the 
house  average. 

Estimatde  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  30  and  year-round  weekly 
.iverages  : 

"THE    SECRET    CALL"    (Para.) 

STATE— (3,400),  30c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$17,000.     (Average,  $20,000.) 

"THE   RECKLESS   HOUR"    (F.  N.) 

WARNER'S  LAKE— (80O),  40c-60c,  7 
days.      Gross:    $3,000.      (Average,   $5,000.) 

Week  ending  July  31: 

"A    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 

ALLEN— (3,300),   30c-60c,   7   days.     Gross: 
$16,000.      (Average,   $18,000.) 
"Love  Express"    (German,   Foreign  Talking 
Pictures  Corp.) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,400),  50c,  7  days,  (eve- 
nings only).  Gross:.  $3,500.  Average, 
$6,000  on  full  time  basis.) 

"THEIR  MAD  MOMENT"  (Fox) 

CAMEO— (1,200),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,500.     (Average,  $4,500.) 

"A    WOMAN    OF    EXPERIENCE" 
(RKO  Pathe) 

RKO     HIPPODROME-(3,800),     25c-35c- 

$12'000)  ''''^''       ^''°^'     ^^^'*"'       (^^"^»^' 

"THE     PUBLIC    DEFENDER"     (Radio) 

RKO  PALACE-(3,100),  25c-35c-75c,  7 
I^^Ia.     K^^     D'Orsay     in    Person.       Gross: 

$23,000.     (Average,   $23,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Leo  Playing 
In  Politics  to 
End  O.C  Jinx 


Total  $26,300  for  4  Theatres 


Oklahoma  City — Just  try  to  keep 
his  nibs,  Leo  the  M-G-M  Lion,  in 
check.  He  came  through  here  last 
week  to  break  a  summer  jinx  with 
$9,000  at  the  Capitol.  The  picture 
is  a  holdover,  something  brand  new 
in  summer  operation  here.  "The  Mag- 
nificent Lie"  slipped  to  $5,500  at  the 
Criterion,  which  is  unusual  as  the  pic- 
ture has  been  clicking  pretty  gener- 
ally. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  31  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 

CRITERION— (1,800).  10c-35c-50c,  7  days 
Other  attractions:  Billye  Deaton  (organ). 
Gross:    $5,500.        (Average,    $8,000.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

CAPITOL— (1,200),  10c-25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,000.        (Average,    $7,000.) 

"COMMON    LAW"     (RKO    Pathe) 

MID-WEST-(1,500),  10c-25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.       Gross:    $6,200.       (Average,    $7^500.) 

"ARIZONA"    (Col.) 

LIBERTY-(1,500),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $5,600.       (Averace.    $7,000.) 


"Co-Ed"  Leads 
In  Off  Week 
In  Milwaukee 


Total  $54,300  for  6  Theatres 


MrLW.\uKEE — It  was  a  very  quiet 
week  for  exhibitors  here  with  busi- 
ness for  the  most  part  below  average. 
"Confessions  of  a  Co-ed"  ran  a  day 
over  the  full  week,  but  merely  because 
the  theatre  is  starting  its  new  show  on 
Fridays  instead  of  Thursdays  to  ac- 
commodate the  Fanchon  &  Marco 
Ideas.  All  local  first  runs  are  now 
opening  their  new  programs  on  Fri- 
day with  the  exception  of  RKO's 
Riverside,  which  continues  to  hold  to 
Saturday. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  31  and  year-round  averages : 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

ALHAMBRA— (2.660),     25c-35c-50c-60c.      7 
days.      Gross:    $6,500.      (Average,   $8,000). 
*  MEET  THE   WIFE"    (Col.) 

GARDEN— (1,150),  25c-35c-50c6Oc,     7  days. 
Gross:     $8,000,       (Average,     $10,000.) 
"THE    COMMMON    LAW"    (RKO-Pathe) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,180),     25c-35c-50c-60c.       7 
days.      Gross:    $12,500.      (Average,    $13,000.) 
"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"     (Para.) 

STRAND— (1,406),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $5,500.      (Average.    $6,500.) 

"THE   RECKLESS   HOUR"   (F.  N.) 

WARNER— (2,500),        25c-35c-50c-65c,       7 
days.      Gross:     $8,700.       (Average,    not    de- 
termined.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 

WLSCONSIN— (3,275),  25c-35c-50c-65c,  8 
days.      Gross:    $13,000.      (Average,    $13,000). 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

'Comnion  Law' 
Week's  Best 
At  Beantown 


Total  $153,500  for  8  Theatres 


Boston — Further  general  improve- 
ment was  noticeable  this  week.  The 
bottom  of  the  pit  apparently  was 
reached  two  weeks  ago  for  with  the 
opening  of  the  new  season  ne.xt  week 
and  the  gain  made  this  week,  Boston 
theatres  are  returning  to  their  old 
form. 

The  Metropolitan's  "Confessions  of 
a  Co-Ed,"  Loew's  State's  "Son  of 
India"  and  Keith's  "The  Common 
Law"  vied  for  top  honors  last  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  30  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE    LADY   WHO   DARED"   (F.   N.) 

KEITH -BOSTON— (2,500),  25c-60c.  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average, 
$18,000). 

"THE  COMMON   LAW"   (RKO-Pathe) 

KEITH'S  —  (2,800),       2.5c-65c.         7       day.s. 
Gross:     $19,500.       (Average,    $18,000). 
"THE    MAN    IN    POSSESSION"    (MGM) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (3,100),  25c-50c.  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average, 
$20,000. 

"SON    OF    INDIA"    (MGM) 

LOEW'S  STATE  -  (3,700),  25c-50l-.  7 
days.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average,  $20,000.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,350),  25c-60c.  7 
days.      Gross:    $32,500.      (Average,    $32,000). 

"MURDER    BY   THE   CLOCK    (Para.) 

OLYMPIA-(2,500),      25c-50c.        7      days. 
Gross:    $14..S0O.       (Average,    $15,000). 
"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 

SCOLLAY   SQUARE-(]  800),   25c-50c.     7 
days.      Vaude.      Gross:    $15,000.      (Average 
SM5.000). 
"'^T^'^R^'*     BY     THE     CLOCK"    (Para.) 

UPTOWN -(2,000),  25c-60c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $12,000.      (Average,    $12,000). 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,   August  3,    1931 


Gov't  Can't 
Alter  Taste, 
Paper  Warns 


Vancou\^r — "Of  all  the  combines 
operating  in  Canada  the  motion  pic- 
ture one  is  least  detrimental  to  the 
public  interest,"  says  the  Victoria 
Times.  "There  are  numerous  others 
dealing  in  the  household  requirements 
of  the  people,  organized  in  the  shelter 
of  a  high  tariff  wall,  which  the  gov- 
ernment investigates  and  prosecutes 
but  which  will  not  be  interfered  with 
in  either  way.  *  *  *  A  motion  picture 
combine  might  be  bad  enough,  but  as 
far  as  its  eflFect  upon  the  public  is 
concerned,  it  is  innocence  personified 
in  comparison  with  the  financial  ban- 
ditry which  has  been  filching  the  pub- 
lic pocket. 

"As  far  as  the  quality  of  the  motion 
picture  product  in  Canada  is  con- 
cerned, whether  we  have  a  combine 
or  not.  makes  no  difference.  This  is 
determined  absolutely  by  the  public, 
subject  to  the  provincial  censorships 
which  are  supposed  to  protect  the  pub- 
lic morals  by  banning  indecent  or 
otherwise  undesirable  films.  A  motion 
picture  is  a  commodity  which  survives 
of  falls  on  its  merits.  It  will  not  suc- 
ced  because  it  is  British,  Canadian, 
America.  German  or  Zanzibarian. 

"The  idea  that  government  regula- 
tion can  determine  the  taste  of  the 
public  in  respect  to  picture  films  is 
stunid  beyond  childishness.  It  would 
be  just  as  easy  to  decide  by  regula- 
tion the  color  of  the  public  hosiery. 
A  good  picture  will  attract  good 
patronage  if  it  is  filmed  in  Dahomey, 
and  all  the  characters  in  it  are  Da- 
homians.  A  bad  picture  will  fail  to 
attract  if  every  player  in  it  figures  in 
Burke's  Peerage  and  can  trace  his  or 
her  family  back  to  the  Heptarchy. 
Hence,  no  matter  what  happens  to  the 
motion  picture  combine  in  Canada, 
public  taste  will  continue  to  determine 
the  quality  and  character  of  the  pic- 
tures shown  in  this  country — as  well 
as  in  every  other  country  on  earth." 


<i 


"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Films  Only'*  After 
Seattle  Union  Jam 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

will  be  operated  as  a  "films  only" 
house  for  the  present,  inasmuch  as 
the  union  differences  are  still  un- 
settled and  the  musician  problem 
makes  it  impossible  for  Fanchon  & 
Marco  acts  to  return  to  the  theatre 
during  this  period  of  controversy. 
Vancouver,  B.  C,  will  remain  on  the 
route  list  for  the  acts,  pending  fur- 
ther settlement  of  the  local  difficulties. 
"Politics"  will  be  the  attraction  for 
the  reopening  of  the  Paramount.  The 
picture  was  booked  into  the  Fox  Fifth 
Avenue  for  the  coming  week,  but  will 
be  replaced  at  the  latter  house  by 
"The  Magnificent  Lie,"  in  order  to 
allow  a  comedy  attraction  to  reopen 
the  Paramount. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Plans  Vaudefilm  Policy 

Coi.UMBUs — It  is  learned  from 
sources  considered  reliable  that  RKO 
Palace  will  adopt  a  vaudefilm  policy 
around  Sept.  1.  The  house  now  plays 
straight  pictures. 


"BUY  NOW"  SALES 


Nestling  in  the  Warner-First  Na- 
tional sales  records  are  contracts  with 
these  theatres  for  the  1931-1932 
product : 

California 

Granada,  La  Jolla,  Granada  Enterprise, 
Ltd. 

Connecticut 

Colony,    Bridgeport,     A.     C.     Tomasino. 

Illinois 

Gem,    Chester,    A.    M.    Beare. 

Indiana 

New    Main,   Lafayete,   C.    E.    South. 

Kentucky 

Louisville;     Aristo,     Louisville; 
Louisville:      Schwartz      Amuse- 


Lincoln, 
Crescent, 
nient    Co. 


Massachusetts 


L.    Mc- 
Central 


Jackson,     East     Weymouth,     A. 
Gory;       Central,       East       Boston 
Square    Theatre    Corp. ;    Colonial,    Andover, 
Colonial    Theatre    of    Andover,    Inc. 

Michigan 

Lancaster,  River  Rouge,  T.  W.  Lan- 
caster; Southlawn.  Grand  Rapids,  R.  G. 
Taylor;  Bad  Ax,  Bad  Ax,  Byron  Watson; 
Arcade,  Detroit.  Wade  Allen;  Dunhjar'. 
Detroit,  C.  &  W.  Operating  Co.,  Grande, 
Detroit,  T.  W.  Lancaster;  Warfield,  De- 
troit,  M.    Teitel. 

Minnesota 

Sandon,  Blue  Earth,  H.  Sandon;  Won- 
derland,    Windom,     Redding     &     Stroud. 

New  Hampshire 

Gem,    Bristol,    W.    Buckley. 

New  Jersey 

Victoria,  Westville,  M.  Rayer;  Fenwick, 
Salem,   C.    Rappaport. 

New  York 

Opera  House,  Lowville,  C.  Sesonska; 
Colonial,  Albany,  Berinstein  Realty  Inc., 
Strand,  Rochester,  Linwood  Amusement 
Corp.;  Madison,  Rochester,  Exhibitors 
Theatre  Corp.;  Grand,  Buffalo;  Marlowe, 
Buffalo,   M.   M.    Konczakowski. 

North  Carolina 

Peerless,  Coolemee,  Erwin  Cotton  Mills, 
Inc.;  Marion,  Marion,  Marion  Amusement 
Co. 

Virginia 

Newport,  Norfolk,  Newport  Theatre,  Inc. ; 
Gates,  Portsmouth,  Gates  Theatre,  Inc.; 
Olney,  Norfolk,  Star  Theatre.  Inc.;  Lincoln, 
Marion,   Lincoln  Theatre  Co. 

Washington 

Roxy,   Winlock,   K.  A.   Spears. 

West   Virginia 

Hurts,  Mannington,  W.  B.  Urling;  Vir- 
ginia, Paden  City,  W.  J.  Burke,  New  Star, 
Richwood,   Cherry  River  Amusement   Co. 

Wisconsin 

Home,  Antigo,  John  Hanus,  Palace, 
Waupaco,   Waupaco  Amusement   Co. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Good  Films,  Cool 
Houses,  Beat  Heat 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

is  the  theatre  with  its  cooling  system. 

In  one  group  today,  some  of  the 
picture  fans  were  asking  why  the 
churches  didn't  take  a  leaf  from  the 
theatre  books  and  put  in  coolers. 
Summer  closing  of  evening  church 
services  has  lately  recruited  the  Sun- 
day night  audiences  for  theatres  to 
an  appreciable   extent. 

Given  a  good  attraction.  Minneap- 
olis theatres  can  count  on  the  audi- 
ence in  summer  as  well  as  in  winter 
and,  though  there  are  several  "closed 
for  the  summer"  signs  up,  there  is 
ample  evidence  that  other  factors  bore 
on  the  situation  and  that  the  signs  are 
mostly  alibi  signs.  Lack  of  adequate 
cooling  systems  is  believed  to  have 
had  a  great  deal  to  do  with  the  clos- 
ing of  the  Seventh  Street,  the  Cen- 
tury, and  one  or  two  neighborhood 
houses. 


Allied  Makes    !  F.  &  M.  Faces 


Its  Own  Probe 
In  Chicago 


Chicago — Allied  States  is  going 
ahead  with  its  own  "investigation"  of 
the  Chicago  Operators'  Union  with 
funds  subscribed  by  members  of 
Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  Illinois 
last  week. 

Numerous  investigators  have  been 
retained  by  the  organization  and  are 
at  work  running  down  evidence  to 
further  the  continuation  of  the  state's 
attorney's  investigation  of  the  union, 
which  has  already  resulted  in  the 
indictment  of  five  union  officials  and 
two  alleged  associates.  Allied  of 
Illinois  has  also  retained  a  staff  of 
three  or  four  young  attorneys  who 
are  aiding  the  state's  attorney's  office 
in  its  assembling  of  evidence  against 
the  union  already  at  hand,  and  doing 
other  detail  work  which,  the  state's 
attorney's  office  says,  will  hasten  the 
preparation  of  the  criminal  cases 
against  the  seven  indicted  officials  and 
perhaps  bring  about  an  earlier  trial 
date  than  was  at  first  believed  pos- 
sible. 

Allied  leaders  are  also  furnishing 
the  state's  attorney's  office  with  infor- 
mation concerning  past  malpractices 
of  the  union  here  and  are  presenting 
new  witnesses  and  informants  regu- 
larly for  questioning  by  Assistant 
State's  Attorneys  Charles  Lounsbury 
and  Charles  Bellows,  in  charge  of  the 
investigation. 

The  prosecutors  are  predicting  con- 
victions of  all  seven  indicted  princi- 
pals, and  add  that  additional  indict- 
ments are  in  prospect. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sledding  Tough  for 
^Minnies*  in  St,  Louis 

St.  Louis — Miniature  golf,  which 
was  somewhat  of  a  rage  in  St.  Louis 
and  its  environs  last  Summer,  suf- 
fered greatly  this  year. 

Last  year  the  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Board 
of  Public  Service  issued  64  permits 
for  such  golf  courses,  but  this  year 
to  date  but  23  "shrimp"  golf  layouts 
have  been  licensed. 

A  tour  of  the  city  any  night  will 
very  quickly  show  that  few  of  the 
courses  are  doing  as  well  as  in  1930. 
Considerable  price-cutting  is  also  tak- 
ing place.  Last  year  the  universal 
price  for  miniature  golf  was  35  cents 
per  game.  This  year  the  price  has 
been  slashed  to  25  cents  for  the  first 
game  and  20  cents  for  repeat  games 
and  some  course  owners  are  only 
charging  15  cents  and  10  cents. 

Some  courses  that  averaged  $100  a 
day  are  now  lucky  to  do  $35  or  $40. 
As  a  result  the  number  of  employes 
around  the  golf  layouts  has  been  cut 
to  the  bone  and  their  wages  reduced. 
Last  year  some  of  the  golf  layouts 
did  $1,500  a  week  and  more  and  their 
net  profits  were  high. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Morrison  Reelected 

Denver — J.  Morrison  (Fox),  is 
serving  another  term  as  president  of 
the  Denver  film  board  of  trade.  Duke 
W.  Dunbar  is  the  paid  secretary- 
treasurer.  These  with  the  following 
constitute  the  board  of  directors :  C. 
J.  Feldman,  J.  S.  Hommel  and  S.  N. 
Feinstein. 


Acid  Test  in 
Minneapolis 


Minneapolis— The  Minnesota  the- 
atre, which  has  made  a  great  deal  of 
its  stage  show  in  its  successful  ef- 
fort to  take  an  average  of  $20,000  or 
so  weekly  out  of  its  box,  has  gone 
Fanchon  and   Marco. 

Since  the  hey  day  of  Finkelstein 
and  Ruben  the  principal  Minneapolis 
theatre,  whether  it  was  the  State  or 
the  Minnesota  has  gone  to  some  ex- 
pense and  trouble  to  produce  its  own 
stage  show.  Productions  from  the 
State  used  to  tour  the  Northwest 
serving  the  chain  of  F.  &  R.  houses. 

This  policy  continued  with  the 
Minnesota  until  within  the  past  few 
I  lonths  when  the  productions  have 
*  illen  more  into  the  vaudeville  type 
■  id  have  been  billed  as  such. 

Introduction  of  the  Fanchon  and 
Marco  shows  into  Minneapolis  is  ex- 
pected to  bring  a  lot  of  acts  that 
Minnesota  patrons  haven't  seen  be- 
fore and  the  fact  that  these  shows 
are  assembled  in  Hollywood  and  do 
their  touring  as  a  unit  is  expected  to 
satisfy  the  appetite  for  a  unit  show 
that  has  long  been  developed  here. 

It  will  be  something  of  a  test  for 
the  booking  agency,  however,  for  the 
stage  shows  have  been  a  big  factor 
in  keeping  the  Minnesota  with  its 
4,000  seats  out  of  the  red  and  the 
patrons  have  grown  to  expect  a  lot. 
The  strong  opposition  of  the  RKO 
Orpheum  with  a  three  hour  vaude- 
ville and  picture  show  will  have  to 
be  reckoned  with.  The  new  billing 
starts  Friday. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Hays  Goodwill  Film 
Slated  in  Denver 

Denvek — Duke  Dunbar,  secretary 
of  the  Film  Board,  has  completed  ar- 
rangements whereby  the  Hays  or- 
ganization film  "Meet  the  World," 
will  be  shown  to  the  convention  of 
the  World  Federation  of  Educational 
Associations  at  their  annual  conven- 
tion here.  The  film  was  made  by  the 
Hays  public  relations  department  and 
shows  the  value  of  motion  pictures, 
and  particularly  newsreels,  in  getting 
various  nations  acquainted  with  each 
other. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Dishabille 

Buffalo — The  heat  again !  For- 
merly stags  in  the  gallery  of  a  15-cent 
double-feature  downtown  grind  only 
took  off  their  coats.  Now  it's  shirts, 
too,  and  sometimes  undershirts,  if 
any. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Klein  Gets  Post 

Cleveland — A.  E.  Klein  has  been 
appointed  manager  in  charge  of  sales 
of  RCA  Photophone  sound  equipment 
in  Pittsburgh.  Klein  has  been  in  the 
sales  department  of  the  Cleveland 
RCA  Photophone  office. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Added  to  "Salvaged"  Cast 

Hollywood — Clarence  Wilson  has 
been  added  to  the  cast  of  "Salvaged," 
which  William  Nigh  is  directing  for 
Peerless  Productions,  Inc.  Laura  La 
Plante  and  Alan  Hale  head  the  cast. 
The  story  is  an  original  by  Burnet 
Hershey. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  55 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  AUGUST  4,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Kansas  Blue 
Law  Defied 
At  Wichita 


Theatre  Operates  Sunday 
Without  Interference 


Wichita,  Kas. — Blue  laws  here 
were  defied  again  Sunday  when  Mrs. 
Barron  opened  the  Kansas  Theatre  to 
a  capacity  crowd.  Mrs.  Barron  has 
conducted  one  Sunday  show  since  the 
Sunday  labor  laws  were  invoked 
against  pictures  on  July  15.  A  war- 
rant charging  33  counts  of  the  labor 
law  was  prepared  but  was  not  served 
when  she  failed  to  open  the  show  on 
succeeding  Sundays. 

Mrs.  Barron  is  backed  in  her  move 
to  test  the  Sunday  closing  law  by  the 
recent  election.  No  effort  was  made 
to  enforce  the  law  here  Sunday.  The 
local  Fox  house  remained  closed. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Comerford  Talks 
Over  Deal  with  Fox 

Discus.  ,ons  are  continuing  in  the 
deal  of  M.  E.  Comerford  to  take  over 
Dperation  of  35  upstate  New  ^  ork  Fox 
theatres,  Harry  C.  Arthur  of  Fox 
and  Frank  C.  Walker  of  the  Comer- 
ford   interests,   admitted   yesterday. 

The  deal  is  in  connection  with  pro- 
posed expansion  of  the  Comerford 
circuit  and  reported  decision  of  Fox 
to  curtail  theatre  activities  in  the  East 
in  order  to  concentrate  on  its  holdings 
in  the  West. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount  Hit  as 
Trust  in  U.S.  Suit 

Boston — Charging  that  since  1916 
Paramount  has  acquired  in  whole  or 
in  part  stock  of  competing  corpora- 
tions and  has  carried  on  a  system 
which,  it  is  declared,  makes  it  impos- 
sible for  independent  exhibitors  to  re- 
main   in   business,    six    New    England 

(Continued  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

3  More  Bronx  Houses 
For  Indie  Operation 

Three  Fox  theatres  in  the  Bronx 
will  switch  to  independent  operation 
on  September  1,  when  Exhibitor  Sil- 
verman takes  over  the  Blenheim, 
Parkway  and  Belmont.  The  deal  for 
change  in  ownership  is  said  to  have 
been  signed.  Fox  recently  dropped 
the  Walton  when  lease  on  the  house 
expired.  Silverman  also  operates  the 
Bennenson.  Harry  Arthur  denied 
that  these  houses  had  been  sold. 


Boilings  in  the  Pot 

Dave  SELZNICK  may  have  started  more 
than  he  himself  understands. 

Behind  the  partnership  he  and  Lewis  Milestone  have  struck 
is  an  interesting  yarn  that  tinges  this  embryonic  torch-bearing 
venture  with  something  outside  the  pale  of  the  routine. 

For  instance,  Selznick  held  a  very  fat  contract  with  Para- 
mount. Effort  was  made  to  have  him  stay  as  executive  assist- 
ant to  Ben  Schulberg.  If  it  had  been  merely  a  question  of  leav- 
ing Paramount's  pastures  for  greener  ones,  there  is  reason  to 
believe  he  could  have  continued  supervising  in  other  major 
studios.    Only  he  didn't.     He  wanted  to  step  on  his  own. 

For  Milestone,  it  should  be  said  that  he  had  on  tap  a  contract 
to  direct  two  pictures  for  a  certain  organization  at  exactly 
$125,000  the  picture.  Yet  thumbs  down  it  was,  because  Mile- 
stone preferred  to  maintain  his  individuality,  make  his  own 
pictures  and  take  a  chance  on  the  profits. 

KJF  REAL  significance,  likewise,  is  the  re- 
action of  two  high  Coast  executives,  whose  names  will  remain 
unknown,  when  they  heard  of  the  Selznick- Milestone  coalition. 
Report  has  one  of  them  saying: 

"The  move  is  sound  and  it  is  right.  I  hope  others  follow 
suit." 

Said  the  other,  and  again  according  to  report: 

"Here  I  am  charged  w^ith  making — pictures  a  year.  All 
the  w^orry  is  mine  and  all  the  blame  when  they  don't  click. 
I'd  be  much  better  off  were  I  to  turn  out  twelve  a  year.  More 
money  for  me,  more  happiness,  less  grief." 

It  hardly  would  be  fair  to  give  you  their  names.  It  must  be 
sufficient  to  tell  you  that  both  of  them  are  important  men  in  an 
important  company  that  turns  out  pictures  by  the  mile  every 
year. 

1  HESE  inside  stories  are  being  aired  this 
morning  not  because  they  happen  to  suffuse  either  Selznick 
or  Milestone  with  roseate  light.  Rather,  because  the  step  these 
two  men  have  taken  appears  to  have  brought  into  the  open  at 
last  the  long-dormant  opinion  existing  in  some  Hollywood 
quarters  that  the  way  to  quality  pictures  leads  to  the  special- 
ized, non-factory-made  production. 


r  OR  years,  the  incentive  to  pvoduce  inde- 
pendently has  been  dead.  Until  a  handful  of  months  ago  it 
took  Spartan  courage  to  venture  into  competition  with  the  old- 
line  companies.  Today,  the  going  is  still  precarious,  but  the 
sad  performance  of  major  producers  has  at  least  implanted  the 
nerve  to  try. 

We  can  conjure  up  no  more  helpful  a  development  than  the 
rise  of  w^orthwhile  independent  production.  Helpful  to  the 
exhibitor  because,  conceivably,  it  will  increase  the  flow  of 
superior  pictures.  Helpful  to  the  producing  fraternity  at  large 
because  it  will  reduce  the  number  of  pictures  the  major  stu- 
dios will  have  to  make  and,  reasonably,  open  the  door  to  the 
possibility  that  those  they  do  turn  out  will  be  better. 

Schulberg  first  attracted  Paramount's 

(Continued  on   page   2) 


Warners  and 
M-G-M  Again 
Talk  Turkey 

Removal  of  Obstacles  to 
Deal  Under  Way 


Everything  is  rosy  again  between 
M-G-M  and  Warners  with  executives 
of  both  companies  now  negotiating 
a  deal  whereby  Metro's  product  will 
play  in  Warner  theatres.  The  exhibi- 
tion deal,  which  was  on  for  some 
time,  is  said  to  have  come  to  an  abrupt 
halt  when  Warners  did  not  meet 
M-G-M's  terms. 

As  a  result  M-G-M  has  been  selling 
away  from  Warners  in  a  number  of 
spots,  the  first  known  to  be  in  New 
Jersey  where  Leon  Rosenblatt  secured 
the  product  ahead  of  Warners  in  five 
situations.  Before  Rosenblatt  signed 
the  M-G-M  deal  he  took  no  chances 
in  being  used  as  a  boomerang,  asking 
M-G-M  to  assure  him  a  deal  would 
go    through,    before    he    would    talk 

(Continued  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount- Warner 
Peace  Treaty  Set 

Formal  peace  was  signed  yesterday 
between  Paramount  and  Warners, 
with  closing  of  a  deal  for  showing 
of  the  Warner-First  National  output 
over  the  Publix  circuit  of  some  1,200 
theatres.  This  writes  finis  to  the 
battle  between  the  two  firms  which 
has  raged   for  more  than  a  year. 

The  new  deal  embraces  all  situa- 
tions not  provided  for  in  the  fran- 
chise    agreement     between     the     two 

(Continued  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Milestone  Films 
Probably  to  M-G-M 

Selznick  -  Milestone  Productions, 
first  of  the  independent  units  planned 
by  David  O.  Selznick,  may  release 
through  M-G-M.  While  Selznick  is 
negotiating  in  New  York  in  several 
directions,  it  is  understood  M-G-M 
has  the  edge  on  other  distributors  for 
the  proposed  series. 

Milestone  will  direct  two  and  super- 

(Continvcd  on  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Vaudefilm  Policy  Up 
As  RKO  Execs  Meet 

Return  of  vaudeville  to  a  number 
of  situations  is  among  subjects  to  be 
discussed  at  quarterly  convention  of 
RKO  divisional  managers  which  opens 
today  in  New  York  at  the  Hotel 
Pierre.  District  executives  are  to 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August  4,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Regiitered  U.   S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\'ol.   30 


August  4.   1931 


No.  55 


Maktin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

James   A.    Cron 

Advertising  Manager 


^'<Sr\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
r  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
N^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  corresponde»t :  H'.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
Cit^,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of    March    3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Pathe  Reports  Loss 
For  Nine  Weeks 

Net  loss  of  $31,801  after  expenses, 
film  amortization,  etc.,  is  reported  by 
Pathe  Exchange  and  subsidiaries  for 
the  nine  weeks  ended  July  4,  1931. 
The  loss  is  based  on  application  of 
certain  profits  to  reduction  of  ledger 
value  of  assets  involved. 

Income  account  of  Pathe  and  sub- 
sidiaries for  the  nine  weeks  ended  July 
4.  1931,  (bases  on  the  application  of 
•rertain  profits  to  reduction  of  ledger 
value  of  assets  involved)  follows: 
Received  in  liquidation  of  receivables, 
stories  and  investments  $112,635; 
gross  sales  and  rentals  $952,865 ;  divi- 
dends and  interest  received  $73,776 ; 
gross  income  $1,139,276;  ledger  value 
of  receivables,  stories  and  investments 
liquidated  $123,021  ;  film  amortization 
and  costs,  and  costs  of  other  opera- 
tions, including  general  salaries  and 
expenses  $760,789 ;  profit  on  certain 
operations  applied  to  reduction  of 
ledger  value  of  assets  involved  $230,- 
551;  accrued  interest  payable  $56,716; 
net  loss  $31,801. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

15  New  Pictures 
Mark  Para.  Jubilee 

With  15  feature  films  of  its  1931- 
1932  program  already  completed  and 
ready  for  release,  Paramount  has 
inaugurated  its  20th  jubilee  celebra- 
tion with  a  new  production  program 
which  will  tax  the  capacity  of  the 
company's  studios  in  N'ew  York  and 
Hollywood.  During  the  month  of 
.Xugust  IS  new  pictures  will  be  put 
in^o  profluction. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Not  Moving  Studios, 
Ray  Johnston  Says 

Monogram  Pictures  is  not  contem- 
plating moving  from  its  Sunset  Boule- 
vard studios  in  Hollywood  to  the 
Tiflfany  lot,  W.  Ray  Johnston,  presi- 
dent, states. 

"We  have  recently  signed  a  lease 
for  a  year  on  the  -Sunset  Boulevard 
property  and  installed  a  great  deal 
of  new  equipment,  and  do  not  con- 
template producing  elsewhere  at  any 
time,"  Johnston  said. 


Boilings  in  the  Pot 

{Continued  from   {>aiie    1) 

attention  because  he  made  good  pictures  cheaply  in  the  inde- 
pendent field.  Louis  B.  Mayer's  ultimate  affiliation  with 
M-G-M  is  traceable  to  the  days  when  he  made  pictures  on 
his  own.  Harry  Rapf,  Hunt  Stromberg  and  Bernie  Fineman 
on  the  same  lot;  Charlie  Rogers  at  Pathe,  Eph  Asher  at  Uni-. 
versal,  Sam  Goldwyn  at  United  Artists  are  merely  some  of 
those  who  have  or  are  now  producing  on  their  own.  Inde- 
pendent production,  properly  organized  and  efficiently  oper- 
ated, has  a  long  and  illustrious  record  behind  it.  There  is 
nothing  new  in  the  method  and  nothing  of  w^hich  the  big  pro- 
ducing and  distribution  organization  need  be  in  doubt. 


r  OR  that  reason,  it  appears  to  us  that  of 
great  constructive  value  would  be  a  policy  of  industry  en- 
couragement for  the  Selznicks,  the  Milestones  and  others  like 
them  who  prefer  to  make  few^er  pictures  each  year  because  it 
is  their  belief  they  v^rill  be  better. 

The  one-man  system  hasn't  w^orked  out.  It  never  will  be- 
cause the  strain  of  turning  out  thirty  or  forty  or  seventy  pic- 
tures a  year  is  too  severe  for  any  one  individual  to  carry.  This 
industry,  often  reckless  in  its  splurges  into  new^  production 
formulae,  therefore  might  w^ell  consider  trying  the  many- 
manned  system. 

If  it  fails,  the  old  plan  remains  as  the  one  to  fall  back  upon. 
If  it  succeeds,  a  major  trouble  may  be  solved.  Why  not  give 
it  a  whirl? 

KANN 


Des  Moines  GolRes 
Gives  Up  the  Ghost 

Des  Moines — But  two  miniature 
golf  courses  have  applied  and  paid  for 
licenses  at  the  city  hall  as  compared 
with  more  than  twenty  courses  that 
were  thriving  last  year.  Officials  of 
the  license  board  stated  that  there 
were  several  other  courses  operating, 
this  year,  but  that  they  were  doing  so 
little  business  that  the  office  had 
merely  notified  them  that  they  should 
apply  for  license,  but  had  not  pressed 
the  matter.  Prices  at  the  two  courses 
which  are  doing  steady  buseiness  have 
been  reduced  to  15  cents  from  the  25 
cent  admission  of  last  year. 


United  May  Produce 
Abroad,  Hints  Kelly 

London — United  Artists  is  consid- 
ering producing  in  England  and  on 
the  Continent,  stated  Arthur  W.  Kelly 
upon  his  arrival   from  New  York. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

R'K-0  Profit  Drops 

Net  profit  of  Radio-Keith-Orpheum 
Corp.  for  the  six  months  ended  June 
30  was  $969,732.12,  which  compares 
with  a  profit  of  $2,166,133.38  for  the 
corresponding  period  in  1930,  the  com- 
pany announced  in  a  financial  state- 
ment issued  yesterday. 


Stocks  Rally;  19,900  Sales  For  W.  B. 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    8  8  8 

Kastman    Kodak     139.5^  lil^A  WVz 

I'ox    Film    "A"    W/i  \SS/i        155^ 

(lencral   Theatre    Equipment,   new    3J4  35^  3^ 

Loews.     Inc 47?/^  46'/$        47 

Paramount     Publix     24'/^  23!4  24 

Pathe     Exchange     \s/f,  \\A  15^ 

Pathe    Exchange    "A"    (,'/i  6li  6!4 

RKO      .  14^  137^  1414 

I  niversal    Pictures,    pfd S71/J  55  55 

Warner    Bros TA  6%  75^ 


Net 

Oicinge 

-f  Vz 
-fl 


-h  V2 


-I-  54 


Sales 

1,000 
.>.500 
2.800 

700 
9.100 
7.200 

500 

m 

4.300 

50 

19,900 


Curb  Issues  Slightly  Irregular 


High 

(Vjluiiiliia     Pictures     j) 

Columbia    Pictures,    vtc In 

General   Tlieatre    Equipment,    pfd C'U, 


Low 

Close 

Net 
Change 

Sales 

10 
10 
6'A 

11 
10 

("A 

+  V4 
—1 
-  Vz 

600 

300 

3,300 

Bond  List  Also  Shows  Gain 


High 

General   Theatre   Equipment  6s   '40    29^ 

r>oew's   6s   '41    ex   war    98 

Paramount    Broadway    S'/js    '51    Wl'A 

Paramount   F.  L.  6s  '47   87 

Paramount    Publix    S'As    '50    78i/^ 

Pathe   7s   '37  ww    90 

Warner   Bros.    6s   '.39   wd 44^ 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

28'^ 

2SA 

-  VA 

8 

y73/« 

98 

+  'A 

4 

m'A 

lOl'A 

—1 

1 

87 

87 

1 

77'A 

77'A 

-1-1 

9 

88 

90 

4 

4374 

4454 

+IVk 

20 

Florida  Operators 
Strike  Despite  Pact 

Miami — Union  operators  employed 
at  Wolfson  Meyer  Theatre  Enter- 
prises' houses  have  broken  their  con- 
tract recently  signed  for  one  year  and 
have  gone  on  strike  at  these  houses 
only,  although  they  have  similar  con- 
tracts with  other  independent  theatres 
in  Miami.  Refusal  of  their  demand 
for  $2.55  per  hour  for  Sunday  work 
caused  the  walkout. 
^  The  contract  as  now  written  covers 
Sunday  work  at  regular  pay.  The  cir- 
cuit is  unable  to  sue  operators 
for  performance  contract,  as  Sun- 
day work  is  not  legal  in  Florida. 
In  the  event  of  a  settlement  they  will 
demand  cash  bonds  to  guarantee  per- 
formance of  any  contracts  entered 
into. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

RKO  Plans  VaudeHlm 
House  at  Columbus 

Columbus — That  RKO  will  build  a 
new  house  here  to  replace  the  Majes- 
tic, on  which  present  lease  will  not 
be  renewed,  is  in  the  bag,  according 
to  those  in  the  know.  Frequent  visits 
of  circuit  officials  during  past  few 
weeks  are  said  to  have  been  for  the 
purpose  of  determining  on  the  site 
for   the  proposed  building. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Frisch  to  Take  15 
Fox  Theatres  Sept,  1 

With  the  deal  all  set  except  for 
signatures,  Louis  Frisch  will  take 
over  15  Brooklyn  theatres  from  Fox 
on  September  1.  Included  in  the  deal 
are  the  Marcy,  Commodore,  Roebling, 
Capitol,  Ambassador,  Stadium,  Su- 
preme, Stone,  Congress  and  Republic. 
The  Frisch-Rinzler  circuit  already 
operates  17  former  Fox  theatres  in 
the  same  borough.  Harry  Arthur  de- 
nies this  stating  the  deal  has  not  yet 
been  closed.  ii 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT   BUY  NOW"        ■! 

Goldwyn  Plans  Trip 

Samuel  Goldwyn  is  expected  to 
come  east  from  the  Coast  before  the 
end  of  August.  He  may  bring  in  the 
first  two  subjects  on  the  new  program 
and  stay  in  town  for  opening  of  "The 
Unholy  Garden"  at  the  Rivoli,  Au- 
gust 26. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Film  Romance 

Oklahoma  City — Culminating  a 
romance  which  began  when  he  came 
here  a  year  ago  from  St.  Louis,  John 
F.  Schoeppel,  manager  of  the  War- 
ner, on  July  19  married  Thelma  Will- 
iams, one  of  the  cashiers  at  the  house. 
Schoeppel  took  a  honeymoon  vacation 
and  spilled  the  news  when  he  returned 
last  .Saturday. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Get  Jersey  City  House 

Charles  O'Reilly,  president  of  the 
Theatre  Owoers  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, and  Louis  Geller,  treasurer, 
have  taken  over  the  Palace,  Jersey 
City.  RKO  operated  the  house  a 
number  of  years  ago. 


Sound  Recording 

FILM   AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY     RECORDING     CO.     of 

AMERICA,    INC 

1841    Broadway— New    York,    N.    Y. 

Columbus    5-3181-3182 


^Ot3^ 


^^^^^tio^ 


lNV*« 


1^^^ 


Ot3^^ 


r00^^\ 


hc^^ 


.^isi^^ 


^^^^ 


^  Great  Opportunity!     Read  the  Oe  tails  I 

You're  familiar  with  PARAMOUNT'S  mighty  1931-2  program  of  pictures  and 
stars.     It  marks  the  climax  of  20  years  of  PARAMOUNT  quality  leadership. 

It's  convincing.  It's  the  one  line-up  essential  to  theatre  success  today.  The 
trade  agrees,  judging  from  the  continual  flood  of  1931-2  signed  PARAMOUNT 
contracts. 


15  Paramount  1931-2  Pictures  Are  Finished  and 
Ready.  Special  Screenings  of  5  of  Them,  Picked 
for  Variety  of  Subject  Matter,  Will  Be  Held  at 
Your  Paramount  Exchange  Week  of  August  10th! 


1.  THE  SMILIXG  LIEUTENANT 

Maurice  Chevalier  in  the  brilliant  Ernst  Lubitsch  production  with  Claudette 
Colbert,  Charlie  Ruggles  and  Miriam  Hopkins.  Find  out  why  it's  played  three 
months  at  S.  R.  O.  in  N.  Y.,  broken  records  in  Los  Angeles  and  Chicago! 

2.  AS  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY 

Based  on  Theodore  Dreiser's  sensational  novel.  Von  Sternberg's  masterpiece 
with  Phillips  Holmes,  Sylvia  Sidney  and  Frances  Dee.  The  nation's  talking  . 

3.  H1JCKLERERRY  FINN 

Successor  to  TOM  SAWYER  and  hailed  in  previews  as  twice  as  good.  Jackie 
Coogan,  Junior  Durkin,  Mitzi  Green,  Jackie  Searl,  Eugene  Pallette.  Directed  by 
Norman  Taurog,  who  made  SKIPPY. 

4.  SECRETS  OF  A  SECRETARY 

Claudette  Colbert,  Herbert  Marshall,  Georges  Metaxa.  Directed  by  Geo.  Abbott* 

5.  SILENCE 

With  Clive  Brook,  Marjorie  Rambeau,  Peggy  Shannon  and  Charles  Starrett. 
Directed  by  Louis  Gasnier  and  Max  Marcin. 

Added  Attraction:    THE  HOUSE  THAT  SHADOWS 

BUILT.  A  flash-back  of  20  years  of  motion  picture  progress, 
starring  the  screen's  greatest  personalities.  No  man  interested 
in  his  business  should  miss  it! 

PARAMOUNT  j^^ 

het^s   Gom  Show  Business  I  ^'^^h 


Tuesday,  August  4,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


'Sweepstakes" 
Race  Winner 
In  Cincinnati 


Total  $70,832  for  7  Theatres 


Cincinnati — It  was  again  a  con- 
test between  Old  Sol  and  the  theatres 
last  week  when  the  temperature 
staged  a  comeback  to  flirt  around  the 
hundred  mark.  The  show  shops  got 
the  reaction  to  the  extent  of  sending 
aggregate  grosses  below  the  line  for 
the  first  time  in  many  weeks. 

However,  in  the  segregation  of  re- 
turns, the  RKO  Albee  carved  another 
notch  in  its  record  for  big  money,  out- 
grossing  the  previous  good  week  by  a 
very  considerable  margin.  The  shekels 
piled  up  to  the  extent  of  $25,775,  pluss- 
ing  the  established  figure  by  $3,775 
with  "Sweepstakes"  racing  across  the 
screen,  and  Bessie  Love  romping 
across  the  stage  at  the  head  of  a  good 
vaude  bill.  Otherwise,  three  houses 
went  slightly  over  their  averages,  and 
three  fell  below. 

Laurel  Miller,  astrologer  in  person 
at  RKO  Capitol  as  an  added  attrac- 
tion to  the  screen  feature,  "Women 
Love  Once,"  failed  to  pull  'em  in  to 
the  extent  expected  despite  extensive 
publicizing.  Returns  at  this  house 
registered  $9,730,  as  compared  with 
$13,000  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  31  and  year-round  averages : 
"ALWAYS    GOODBYE   "    (Fox) 

KEITH'S— (1,600),  30c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,450.      (Average,    $4,500.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO-Pathe) 

RKO-ALBEE^(3,300),  35c-50c-65c-75c ,  7 
days.  Vaudeville  headed  by  Bessie  Love. 
Gross:    $25,775.     (Average,   $22,000.) 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para.) 

RKO-CAPITOL— (2,000),  30c-50c,  7  days. 
Laurel  Miller,  astrologist,  on  stage.  Gross: 
$9,730.     (Average,    $113,000.) 

"THE   FIGHTING    SHERIFF"    (CoL) 

RKO      FAMILY— (1,140),      20c-25c-35c,      4 
days.     Gross:    $2,487.     (Average,   $1,950.) 
"MEN    OF   THE   SKY"    (F.   N.) 

RKO     FAMILY— (1,140),     20c-25c-35c,     3 
days.      Gross:    $1,340.      (Average,    $1,050.) 
"THE    GREAT    LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

RKO  LYRIC— (1,400),  30c-50c,  7  days, 
plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$9,521.      (Average,    $'12,000.) 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700),  30c-50c,  7  days 
plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$13,284.      (Average,    $14,000.) 

"THREE   WHO   LOVED"    (Radio) 

RKO  STRAND— (1,350),  2Sc-40c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,265.     (Average,    $3,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''U"  Adds  3  Papers 

Universal  has  added  three  more 
newspapers  to  the  list  sponsoring  the 
Graham  McNamee —  Universal  news- 
reel.  These  are  the  Middletoivn  Press 
of  Middletown,  Conn.,  the  Evening 
Republican  of  Mitchell,  S.  D.,  and  the 
Stamford  Advocate  of  Stamford, 
Conn.,  bringing  the  total  of  papers  co- 
operating on  the  newsreel  to  eighty- 
one. 


Washington — A.  E.  Lichtman  for 
the  Lichtman  Circuit  of  nine  houses 
in  and  around  Washington  has  pur- 
chased Universal  pictures  100  per 
cent  through  A.  Hiber,  Washington 
exchange  manager.  The  houses  in 
which  the  product  will  be  played  are 
the  Lincoln  and  the  Booker  T  in 
Washington,  the  Olympic  in  Alexan- 
dria, Va.,  the  Attucks,  Regal  and 
Manhattan  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  the 
Capitol  in  Portsmouth,  Va. 


BUY  NOW"  SALES 


That  the  "Buy  Right— But  Buy 
Now"  movement  is  gaining  momen- 
tum is  demonstrated  by  the  following 
contracts  confirmed  by  the  Warner- 
First  National  sales  heads: 

Arkansas 

Community,  Pine  Bluff,  C.  F.  Bonner; 
Best,  Hot  Spring,   Wheatley,  Howe  &  Hoy. 

California 

Post  Exchange,  Mare  Island,  P.  S.  Mac- 
Donald;  Delano,  Delano,  F.  Panero;  Sut- 
ter, Sacramento,  Tony  Lubelski;  Granada, 
Alhambra,    C.    Ferry. 

Colorado 

Navajo,  Denver,  G.  Notarianni;  Victory, 
Denver,    Victory    Amusement    Co. 

Georgia 

Dixie,  Atlanta,  T.  Williams;  Silvertown, 
Thomastown,  C.  E.  Beach;  State,  Glen- 
ville,  J.  A.  Alexander;  State,  Stotesboro, 
E.   R.    Collins. 

Illinois 

El  Tovar,  Crystal  Lake,  Polka  Bros.; 
Fargo,   Geneva,   Polka   Bros. 

Indiana 

Majestic,  Evansville,  Evans ville  Operat- 
ing  Corp. 

Iowa 

Grand,  Dubuque,  John  Maclay;  Dream- 
land,  Carson,   Harold   Smith. 

Kansas 

Princess,    Lincoln,    Mayme    Mysselman. 

Michigan 

Cinderella,  Detroit,  Cinderella  Theatres 
Co.,  Inc.;  Roosevelt,  Detroit,  J.  N.  Rob- 
ertson. 

Missouri 

Colonial,  Monroe  City,  A.  N.  Christian; 
New   Pruett,   Centralia,   Mrs.   E.   Pruett. 

North  Carolina 

Sanders,  Smithfield,  H.  P.  Howell;  Para- 
mount, Farmville,  R.  G.  Lang;  Louisburg, 
Louisburg,    H.     P.    Howell. 

New  York 

Regus,  Binghamton,  Commerford  Thea- 
tres, Inc.;  Strand,  Endicott,  Commerford 
Theatres,  Inc.;  Community,  Hensonville, 
Catskill   Amusement   Corp. 

Nevada 

Ely,  Ely.  W.  G.  Hull;  Fallon,  Fallon. 
W.    G.    Hull. 

Pennsylvania 

Colonial,  Farrell,  John  Leslie;  Roosevelt, 
Pittsburgh,    Hendel    Corporation. 

South  Dakota 

Vita,    Spearfish,   J.    P.   O'Neil. 

Texas 

Rialto,  Kingsvtlle;  Rialtoi,  Kenedy; 
Rialto,  Beeville,  R'alto,  Three  Rivers, 
booked  by  Hall  Industries;  Melrose,  Dallas, 
P.  G.  Cameron;  Texan,  Goose  Creek,  Goose 
Creek   Amusement  Co. 

Tennessee 

Ritz,    Elizabethton,    E.    E.    Ferryman. 

Utah 

B.    &   B.,   Grantsville,   Bolinder   and   Brim. 

Wisconsin 

New  Capitol,  Manitowoc,  Land  'O  Lakes 
Theatres  Corp.;  Allen,  Jefferson,  W.  F 
Copeland;  Geneva,  Lake  Geneva;  Delevan, 
Delevan;  Plaza,  Burhngton,  booked  by 
Community    Theatres,    Inc. 

Canada 

Orpheum,  Blairmore,  Alberta.  R.  Rinaldi; 
Palace,  Coleman,  Alberta,  R.  Rinaldi;  Ava- 
lon,  Souris,  Manitoba,  A.  Baldwin;  Blue- 
bell, Toronto,  M.  Gebertig;  King  George, 
St.     Catharines,     Sullivan    and     Mcllwain. 


A.  G.  Constant  has  bought  from  J. 
R.  Grainger  the  48  new  season  Fox 
films  for  showing  in  the  State  and 
American  theatres  in  East  Liverpool, 
Ohio. 


Ottawa  Sees 
Hot  Weather 
Slump  Knell 


Total  $13,875  for  4  Theatres 


Ottawa — The  general  opinion 
among  exhibitors  of  Ottawa  is  that 
the  local  theatres  turned  the  corner 
of  the  mid-summer  slump  during  this 
past  week.  Keith's  is  re-opening  as 
the  Capitol  early  this  month  and  the 
come-back  of  the  largest  house  in 
town  on  a  more  brilliant  basis  will 
help  the  whole  show  business,  it  is 
felt.  July  is  a  tough  month,  gener- 
ally, but  with  the  annual  fair  in 
August  and  many  people  back  from 
the  river  resorts  the  box-offices  will 
be  more  busy  from  now  on. 

The  pick  during  the  last  week  in 
July  was  "A  Free  Soul"  at  the  Re- 
gent, which  registered  $5,000  for  six 
days — quite  close  to  average.  "Big 
Business  Girl"  also  gave  the  Centre 
a  boost  after  its  recent  tumble, 
Loretta  Young  being  worth  $4,400  on 
a  lower  price  scale. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  31  and  year-round  averages : 

"DADDY    LONG   LEGS"    (Fox) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:   $1,150.     (Average,  $1,300.) 

"THE    BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 
AVALON— (990),      15c-25c-35c,      3      days. 
Gross:    $1,025.      (Average,    $1,300.) 

"BIG   BUSINESS   GIRL"    (F.   N.) 
CENTRE— (1,142),     15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,     6 
days.      Gross:    $4,400.      (Average,    $4,600.) 
"THE   SPECKLED    BAND"    (British) 
IMPERIAI^(1,091),       10c-25c-35c-40c-50c, 
6  days.     Gross:   $2,300.     (Average,   $3,000.) 
"A   FREE  SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
REGENT— (1,225),     15c-2Sc-35c-45c-60c-75c, 
6   days.      Gross:    $5,000.      (Average,    $5,400.), 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

^Husband'  and 
"Secret  Call" 
Toronto  Tops 


Total  $57,600  for  5  Theatres 


Toronto — The  Imperial  and  Shea's 
grabbed  ofif  what  business  there  was 
in  Toronto  and  the  reasons  were  quite 
evident.  For  one  thing,  they  had  the 
real  screen  and  stage  attraction.  The 
Imperial  had  a  pair  of  trumps  in  "The 
Secret  Call,"  a  popular  hot-weather 
film,  and  Nan  Halperin  on  the  stage. 
The  pot  at  the  end  of  the  six  days 
was  $15,500,  only  a  bit  below  par. 

Shea's  off^ered  two  aces  in  "The 
Party  Husband"  on  the  screen  and 
Rosetta  Duncan  as  the  vaudeville 
headliner  and  they  were  responsible 
for  $12,000,  also  good.  Loew's  had  a 
repeat  run  of  "A  Free  Soul"  and  got 
the  transient  trade  to  the  tune  of 
$10,500,  as  compared  with  $12,000  on 
the  same  picture  several  weeks  ago. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  31  and  year-round  averages: 

"THE    SECRET    CALL"    (Para.) 

IMPERIAL— (3,444),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c- 
75c,  6  days.  Publix  stage  show  featuring 
Nan  Halperin.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Average, 
$16,000.) 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S-(2,088),       25c-30c-40c-60c-7Sc,       6 


Dog  Days  Hit 
Film  Business 
In  Montreal 


Total  $47,000  for  6  Theatres 


Montreal — The  tourists  are  in 
Montreal  again,  but  they  are  not 
spending  money  freely  while  the  anti- 
juvenile  law  prevents  the  visiting 
families  from  taking  in  the  picture 
shows.  The  theatre  business  has  been 
distinctly  off-color  here  this  summer 
and  a  pick-up  is  hardly  expected  until 
Labor  Day. 

Loew's  led  the  list  during  the  past 
week  with  "The  Black  Camel"  and  at- 
tractive vaudeville,  the  count  being 
$11,000  against  the  theatre's  average 
of  $13,000.  "Young  Donovan's  Kid" 
was  classed  as  a  gangster  picture  at 
the  Palace  and  did  not  draw  more 
than  $10,500,  whereas  the  Palace  aver- 
age is  $14,000.  "Dude  Ranch"  was  the 
popular  one  of  the  double  bill  at  the 
Capitol,  the  other  feature  being  "The 
Vice  Squad,"  and  the  gross  was  an 
even  $10,000.  The  start  of  a  prize 
contest  for  patrons  helped  the  Capitol 
total,  but  the  year's  average  here  is 
$12,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  31  and  year-round  averages: 

"THE      VICE      SQUAD"       (Para.)      and 
"DUDE    RANCH"     (Para.) 

CAPITOL  —  (2,547),       25c-35c-50c-60c,       7 
days.    Gross:    $10,000.      (Average,    $12,500.) 
"GUILTY   IN   LOVE"    (Para.)   and  "THE 
SIN     SHIP"     (Radio) 

IMPERIAL— (1,914),  15c-25c-40c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,800.      (Average,    $5,100.) 

"THE    BLACK   CAMEL"    (Fox) 

LOEW(!S— (3,115),  25c -40c -50c -65c -75c,  7 
days.  Five  vaudeville  acts.  Gross:  $'11,- 
000.      (Average,    $13,000.) 

"YOUNG    DONOVAN'S    KID"    (Radio) 

P^ALACE- (2,6CO),  25c-4Oc-60c-75c-99c,  7 
days.      Gross:    $10,500.      (Average,    $14,000.) 

"PLUNDER"    (British) 

PRINCESS—  (2,272),  25c-35c-4Oc-50c-60c- 
65c,  7  days.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average,  $13,- 
000.) 

"UP     POPS     THE     DEVIL"     (Para.)     and 
"SKIPPY"    (Para.) 

STRAND— (750),  15c-25c-40c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,200.      (Average,    $J4,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Weisfeldfs  Answer  in 
Reply,  Wilson  Says 

Frank  R.  Wilson  had  no  statement 
to  make  Monday  on  suit  brought 
against  him  by  M.  J.  Weisfeldt.  The 
company's  statement,  he  said,  would 
be  made  when  its  answer  is  filed  re- 
futing claim  made  by  Weisfeldt  that 
it  had  breached  its  contract  with  him. 
Weisfeldt  is  suing  for  some  $56,000  in 
connection  with  the  contract  he  says 
was  breached. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Fox  Moves  in  Dallas 

Dallas — Fox  has  moved  its  ex- 
change to  1801  Wood  street. 


days.     Gross:  $10,500.     Repeat  Run.     (Aver- 
age,  $15,000.) 

"PARTY    HUSBAND"    (F.   N.) 

SHEA'S— (2,600),  30c-50c-60c-7Sc,  6  days. 
Five  vaudeville  acts  featuring'  Rosetta 
Duncan.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average,  $13,- 
000.) 

"UNEASY    VIRTUE"     (British) 

TIVOLl— (1,600),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c, 
6   days.     Gross:    $9,800.      (Average,    $12,500.) 

"FATHER'S  SON"   (F.  N.) 

UPTOWN— (3,000),  15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $8,300.     Average,   $12,000.) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,   August  4,    1931 


Warners  and 
M-G-M  Again 
Talk  Turkey 


((.  oiitiiiucJ  from  pa<ic    1) 

terms.  This  was  done  and  Warners  is 
said  to  have  lost  out  in  the  five  spots. 

.\  number  of  independents  in  Cleve- 
land and  Pittsburgh  in  opposition  to 
Warners  have  been  trying  to  buy 
M-G-M's  product  with  protection 
over  Warners  and  are  being  stalled, 
they  claim,  because  they  believe 
M-G-M    is   selling   W^arners. 

When  asked  regarding  the  M-G-M 
Warner  reported  cessation  and  re- 
sumption of  negotiations,  Felix  Feist 
yesterday  denied  any  knowledge  of 
any  break,  stating  that  "we  have  never 
stopped  negotiating  with  Warners." 
Kddie  Alperson,  buyer  for  Warner 
theatres,  could  not  be  reached  for  a 
statement. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Paramount-Warner 
Peace  Treaty  Set 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

companies.  The  two  firms  had  been 
at  odds  since  the  breakdown  of 
merger  negotiations  between  them 
slightly  more  tlian  a  year  ago.  Since 
that  time,  each  has  played  the  pro- 
duct of  the  other,  only  in  those  spots 
which  were  embraced  in  franchise  ar- 
rangement. 

The  Publix  deal  gives  the  Warners 
outlet  in  the  theatres  of  every  im- 
portant national  chain  due  to  previous 
contracts  consummated  within  the 
past  few  weeks  with  RKO,  Fox, 
Loew,  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres. 
Warners  also  have  closed  contracts 
with  every  other  major  and  minor 
circuit  operating  throughout  the  coun- 
try, which  assures  them  100  percent 
national   coverage,   the  company   says. 

Philly  Week's  Line-up 
Emphasizes  Truce 

Philadelphia — Paramount  makes 
a  decided  come-back  into  the  Phila- 
delphia first  run  field  on  this  current 
week's  schedule,  emphasizing  the 
Paramount-W'arner  truce.  Previously 
forced  to  be  content  with  a  first  run 
at  Keith's  and  a  second  run  at  the 
.Arcadia,  Paramount  will  have  no  less 
than  three  first  runs  on  view.  Keith's 
has  "Confessions  of  a  Co-Ed"  as  its 
last  feature ;  Stanley-Warner's  Stan- 
ton, brings  in  "Murder  by  the  Clock" 
and  the  Fox,  which  still  has  a  couple 
of  Paramounts  on  its  schedule,  makes 
if  unanimous  with  "Night  Angel." 
The  Arcadia  is  presentinR  "Forbidden 
Adventure"  ("Newly  Rich")  as  a 
second  run. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Rebuilding  Albany  House 

Warners  arc  rebuilding  the  Strand 
in  Albany,  states  Herman  Maier, 
chief  of  the  construction  department. 
Reopening  is   set   for   August   15. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Safire  Adds  Another 

Sol  .Safire,  operator  of  the  Fimpress, 
Bronx,  has  acquired  his  second  the- 
atre in  that  borough.  He  has  just 
taken   the    Miracle   from   Jaime   Bros. 


Purely  Personal 


GEORCiE  W.  Erdman.n,  business 
manager  of  the  Cleveland  ex- 
hibitor unit,  has  been  appointed  "big 
brother"  for  three  boys  who  broke 
frames  and  stole  photos  at  the  Lincoln 
Theatre.  The  boys  are  to  report 
regularly   to   Erdmann. 

HiEERT  VoiGHT,  head  of  Warner- 
First  National  Studio  publicity  on  the 
Coast,  is  in  New  York  conferring 
with  S.  Charles  Einfeld,  company  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  head,  on  new 
season's  product. 

BuDD  Rogers,  feature  sales  manager 
for  Educational,  visited  the  key  ex- 
changes in  Seattle  and  Portland  dur- 
ing the  past  week.  He  was  the  guest 
of  Wally  Rucker,  Educational  man- 
ager. 

Al  Young,  chief  of  the  technical 
department  of  the  Du-Art  Film  Lab- 
oratories and  Film  Laboratories  of 
Canada,  Ltd.,  has  returned  from 
Toronto. 

Joe  Merrick  has  been  named  man- 
ager of  the  Portland  Universal  Ex- 
change. The  appointment  was  made 
by    Division    Manager   Hieneman. 

Gradwell  L.  Sears,  western  sales 
manager  for  First  National,  has  left 
New  York  for  Chicago  and  Kansas 
City  on  a  week's  sales  trip. 

Loretta  Young  is  to  be  cast  as  a 
Brooklyn  waitress  in  her  next  picture, 
"Blind  Spot."  It  will  be  a  First 
National  attraction. 


Clikf  Boyd,  manager  of  Keith's  in 
Cincinnati,  is  considered  an  authority 
on  thoroughbred  dogs,  which  he  raises 
as  an  avocation. 

In  his  extensive  kennels  he  has  37 
pedigreed  canines,  the  total  value  of 
which  runs  well  into  five  figures. 

Genevieve  Tobin  and  Universal  are 
observing  an  anniversary.  It  is  just 
a  year  since  she  signed  a  contract 
with  Universal. 

Arthur  Gottlieb,  president  of  Du- 
Art  Film  Laboratories,  flew  back 
from  Hollywood  and  arrived  last 
night. 

Kay  Francis  starts  work  on  that 
new  Warner  contract  in  September. 
She  now  is  resting  at  Malibu  Beach. 

James  Cagney  plans  to  spend  a 
brief  vacation  in  New  York  catching 
a  number  of  legit  .shows. 

R.  W.  Horn,  Erpi  salesman,  has  a 
new  wrinkle  in  calling  cards.  It's  an 
especially  wrapped  cigar. 

Don  Marquis  has  signed  with 
Paramount      to      do      dialogue      for 

"Sooky." 

Oliver  Garver,  publicist  at  the 
Paramount  Hollywood  studios,  is  the 
proud  father  of  a  boy. 

Mae  Murray  is  seeking  a  divorce 
alleging  cruelty. 


Good  Films  Get  the 
Money,  Exhih  Says 

Good  pictures  will  get  money,  de- 
clared F.  Lieberman,  president  of  the 
System  Theatre  Corp.,  Lowell,  Mass., 
while  in  New  York  booking  new  sea- 
son's product.  Lieberman  closed  with 
Claude  Ezell,  Warner  sales  manager, 
for  the  Warner-First  National  pro- 
duct. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Milestone  Films 
Probably  to  M-G-M 

(Continued  from  par/e   1) 

vise  four  others. 

.Selznick  hopes  to  have  eight  addi- 
tional units,  releasing  the  subsequent 
series  wherever  he  can  make  the  best 
deal. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

F,  &  M.  Producing 

Units  in  4  Cities 

Fanchon  &  Marco  now  is  producing 
new  stage  units  in  four  cities  simul- 
taneously, following  addition  of  the 
de  luxe  Publix  houses  to  the  F.  &  M. 
time.  .Shows  are  built  in  New  York, 
I  iollywood,  Detroit  and  St.  Louis. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Statue  Manager  Indicted 

Hou;  TON — Harry  Spencer,  former 
stage  n  inager  of  the  RKO  Majestic 
here,  is  under  indictment  in  Austin  on 
a  char?  :  of  receiving  and  concealing 
jewelry  stolen  from  the  home  of  the 
Austii.  ijostmaster.  Dave  Schlesinger, 
former  Houston  jeweler,  was  convict- 
ed of  the  same  charge  and  sentenced 
to  servt.  three  years  in  the  state  peni- 
tentiarj  at  Huntsville.  The  trial  was 
in  Austin.  Chief  attorney  for  Spen- 
cer and  Schlesinger  was  former  Gov- 
ernor Dan  Moody. 


Vaudefilm  Policy  Up 
As  RKO  Execs  Meet 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

come  from  all  parts  of  the  nation  to 
confer  with  Joseph  Plunkett,  vice 
president  and  general  manager  of  the 
circuit  and  his  assistants,  Nate  Blum- 
berg  and  L.  E.  Thompson.  Those 
attending  are  :  Charles  B.  McDonald, 
Joseph  Lee,  H.  R.  Emde,  J.  M.  Bren- 
nan,  Harry  McDonald,  Lou  Golding, 
J.  E.  Firnkoess,  William  Elson,  Mor- 
gan C.  Ames,  A.  S.  Rittenberg,  Len 
Brown,  CliiT  Work,  Homer  Gill  and 
Leo  M.  Devaney. 

"BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Independent  Circuit 
Started  at  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati — G.  C.  Granger,  until 
recently  in  charge  of  the  Kaypee,  an 
independent  house  at  Mt.  Gilead,  O., 
taken  over  by  Paramount  a  few  weeks 
ago,  and  B.  W.  Bickert,  formerly 
Paramount  manager  at  Marion,  O., 
have  formed  a  partnership  to  acquire 
a  circuit  of  theatres.  They  have 
lea.scd  a  house  at  Loudonville  and 
another  at  Millersburg,  while  options 
have  been  taken  on  houses  at  New 
London,  Bellvue  and  Vermillion,  all 
in   Ohio. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Peerless  Starts  Third 

Hollywood— With  its  two  initial 
relea.ses,  "Salvaged"  and  "Love- 
bound,"  nearing  completion  at  the 
Tec- Art  Studios,  Peerless  Produc- 
tions is  preparing  to  start  shooting  on 
three  additional  productions  within 
the  next  two  weeks.  It  has  announced 
twenty-four  for  the  1931-1932  season. 


Paramount  Is 
Hit  as  Trust 
In  U.S.  Suit 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

firms  have  brought  suit  in  Federal 
Court  here  for  triple  damages  aggre- 
gating $3,750,000  under  the  Clayton 
anti-trust  act. 

Plaintiffs  in  the  action  which  al- 
leges conspiracy  in  restraint  of  trade 
are : 

Capitol  Amusement  Co.,  Lynn., 
Mass. ;  E.  M.  Loew's,  Pawtucket,  R.I., 
Theatre,  Inc.;  E.  M.  Loew's,  Inc.,, 
Somerville  and  Dorchester,  Mass.,  and 
Pawtucket,  R.  I. ;  E.  M.  Loew's  En- 
terprises, Inc.,  Hartford ;  Dorchester 
Theatre  Co.  and  Hudson  Amusement 
Co.,    Portland,   Me. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cleveland  Hts.  May 
Repeal  Sunday  Law 

Cleveland — Repeal  of  the  ordinance 
prohibiting  .Sunday  shows  at  Cleve- 
land Heights  is  expected  to  be  asked 
following  circulation  of  a  petition 
with  5,000  signatories.  If  the  recom- 
mendation is  accepted.  Sunday  shows 
will  make  their  bow  here  August  8. 

Following  passage  of  the  local  op- 
tion law,  Sunday  shows  were  pre- 
sented this  week  at  Bellaire,  Martin's 
Ferry,  Steubenville,  Yorkville,  Bridge- 
port, Newcomerstown,  Urichsville, 
Cadiz,  Salem,  East  Liverpool,  East 
Palestine  and  Lisbon. 

Because  of  local  ordinances,  Sun- 
day shows  are  prohibited  at  Delaware, 
Athens,  Marietta,  Cambridge,  Oxford, 
.A^lliance  and  Wooster. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gang  Victims  Benefit 
By  'Witness"  Take 

Proceeds  of  the  two  shows  at  the 
Winter  Garden  last  night  of  "The 
Star  Witness"  are  being  turned  over 
by  Warners  to  families  of  the  chil- 
dren struck  by  gangsters'  bullets  in 
the  shooting  outrage  of  last  week. 
The  new  film  replaced  "Smart 
Money." 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 


\ 


First  Run  House 
In  San  Diego  Folds 

San  Diego — The  Spreckels  Theater 
here  closed  its  doors  last  week  for 
alleged  non-payment  of  rent.  The 
lease  was  cancelled  on  non-appearance 
of  managers  in  court. 

The  Spreckels  is  the  first-run  play- 
house here  to  close.     It  opened  about 
a    year    and    a    half    ago    and    played 
Universal  and  Columbia  pictures. 
"BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

*  Peanut  Vendor'  Author 
To  Get  Film  Breakl 

New      Orleans— The     author     ofl 
"The  Peanut  Vendor"  gets  a  break  at] 
last.       Feli-x     Lecuone     of     Havana,! 
passed  through  New  Orleans  enroute ' 
to  Hollywood,  with  a  band  of  Cuban 
musicians,    selected    by    Ben    Piazza, ' 
who   recently   went   to  Cuba   to   hunt 
talent    for    a    new    film.      Of    course,  , 
Felix  was  first  pick.     He  didn't  make 
a  nickel  out  of  "The  Peanut  Vendor" 
and  little  more  out  of  "Oh,  Mominez"  '. 
and  "Fiesta,"  it  is  said,  but  he'll  prob- 1 
ably    cash    in   from    now    on.      He    is  I 
under  contract  to  M-G-M. 


First  Motion  Pictures  of 

lindbergh 

baby;; 


Now  the  whole 
world  can  see 
the  world's 
most  famous 
baby  ....  in 


Issue  No.  63 

Out  Wednesday, 

August  5th 


UNIVERSAL 

TALKING    NEWSREEL 

of  course 


Two  Patrons 


•    •    • 


Buy  Your  Carbons 


T 


.  HE  modern  theatre  and  its  furnishings  represent 
the  acme  of  splendor.  The  staff  is  thoroughly  trained. 
Managers  carefully  select  pictures  in  accord  with  popular 
taste.  This  lavish  expenditure  to  attract  patronage.  Yet, 
if  the  screen  is  dim  or  the  light  unsteady,  valuable  pat- 
ronage will  be  lost and  two  empty  seats  cost 

more  than  your  carbons. 

Light  is  the  most  important  factor  in  the  operation  of  a 
motion  picture  theatre.  That  is  why  National  Projector 
Carbons  are  preferred  by  the  projectionist.  They  are  depend- 
able. And  the  manager  knows  that,  with  good  projection, 
patrons  will  return  and  bring  their  friends. 

National  Projector  Carbons  give  the  steady,  brilliant  white 
light  necessary  for  the  quality  of  projection  demanded  by 
theatre-goers  today.  Their  uniform  quality  is  assured  by 
the  experienced  organization  behind  them.  Two  satisfied 
patrons  will  buy  them. 

CTOR     CARBONS 

National  Carbon  Company  will  gladly  cooperate  with 
the  producer,  exhibitor,  machine  manufacturer  or 
projectionist   on   any  problem    involving    light.  .  .  , 

NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Carbon  Sales  Division        '        Cleveland,  Ohio 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  I  I  I  ■  ■  and  Carbon  Corporation 
Branch  Sale*  Officas:        New  York        Pittsburgh        Chicago        San   Francisco 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.  NO.  56 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  5,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


U.S.  Aid  May 
Be  Sought  in 
Mill  City  Row 

Exhibs    Want    to    Know 
About  *' Agreement" 

Minneapolis — If  it  is  established, 
as  charged,  that  distributors  here  have 
reached  an  agreement  to  refuse  films 
to  houses  playing  ten  cent  shows  until 
six  months  after  release  date.  Federal 
indictments  of  exchange  managers 
will  be  sought,  the  Northwest  exhibi- 
tor unit  has  indicated. 

Exchangemen  have  denied  that  any 
such  agreement  has  been  made.  There 
has  been  considerable  discussion  con- 
cerning suburban  houses  which  charge 
ten  cents  for  brief  periods  after  6 
P.M. 

Exhibitors  take  the  position  that  the 
holding  up  of  product  for  houses 
which  choose  to  charge  ten  cents  ad- 
mission after  6  P.M.  is  unwarranted 
interference  with  their  business. 
Drafting  of  an  agreement  on  six 
months'  clearance,  they  assert,  would 
constitute  restraint  of  trade. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cleveland  Heights 
Votes  Sunday  Shows 

Cleveland — With  but  one  dissent- 
ing vote,  an  ordinance  was  passed  to 
make  Sunday  shows  legal.  It  is  ef- 
fective September  6.  Passage  was 
recommended  by  the  council  commit- 
tee upon  receipt  of  a  petition  carrying 
9,000  signatures.  The  measure  was 
passed  with  the  understanding  that  it 
was  to  apply  only  to  Sunday  pictures. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

$170405  Gross  in 
"Smart  Money"  Run 

"Smart  Money"  grossed  $170,405  in 
its    six    and    one-half    weeks    at    the 
Winter    Garden,    New    York.        The 
week  to  week  figures  follow : 
Week  Ending  Gross 

June  27 $46,551 

July     4 35,036 

July   11 26,964 

July   18 22,347 

July  25 18.347 

Aug.    3  (nine  days) 21,160 

$170,405 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Atlantic  City  Bids 
For  Producing  Firms 

Philadelphia — Atlantic  City  is 
making  a  bid  for  producing  com- 
panies, hoping  to  become  "The  Holy- 
wood  of  the  East,"  according  to  the 

{Continued  on  page  8) 


Independent  Exhibs 

Speeding  Comeback 


Trust  Law  Revision  Seen 

Washington — Revision  of  anti-trust  laws  to  meet  the  needs  of 
business  today  is  seen  as  a  probable  aftermath  of  the  depression. 
Amendent  of  the  Sherman  act  to  permit  elimination  of  unhealthful 
competition  in  industry  is  being  proposed.  Business  leaders  also  are 
seeking  to  eliminate  bars  to  consolidation  in  cases  where  the  public 
interest  is  not  threatened. 


Erpi  Studies 
Course  on  New 
Patent  Suits 


Victorious  in  its  suit  for  an  ac- 
counting against  Sol  Wallerstein, 
Broadway  Theatre,  Buffalo,  for  re- 
production of  sound  pictures  via  Pacent 
equipment,  Erpi  is  considering  the 
advisability  of  similar  suits  against 
other  users  of  Pacent  apparatus,  it  is 
understood.  The  accounting  was 
ordered  after  a  Federal  Court  deci- 
sion that  the  Pacent  equipment  in- 
fringed  Erpi   patents.     An   injunction 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Only  2  in  Baltimore 
Sign  for  Para.,  MGM 

Baltimore — Due  to  the  resolution 
against  members  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O. 
of  Maryland,  Charles  E.  Nolte, 
President,  playing  Paramount  and 
M-G-M  pictures  on  percentage,  only 
two    theatres,    the    Overlea    and     the 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Meyer-Reiger 
Adopts  Trailer 
Franchise  Plan 


Meyer-Reiger,  trailer  firm  recently 
organized,  has  changed  its  distribu- 
tion plans  and  will  sell  territorial 
franchises  rather  than  establish  its 
own  national  distribution  system, 
states  Louis  Meyer.  Service  to  the- 
atres begins  August  15. 

Twenty-eight  territories  will  be  as- 
signed to  franchise  holders,  with  the 
home  office  maintaining  a  staff  to  co- 
operate  with   the   territorial    distribu- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Claim  1300,000,000 
Para.Property  Value 

Boston — That  Paramount  has  prop- 
erty valued  at  more  than  $300,000,000 
and  the  salary  of  its  president,  Adolph 
Zukor  is  more  than  $500,000  a  year 
together  with  commissions  "and  other 
emolument"     are     among    allegations 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


ISO  Chi  Houses  Ready  to 
Close  in  Operator  Fight 


No  Unit  Fostered 
Chi  Operator  Probe 

Chicago — No  co-operation  was  ex- 
tended the  state's  attorney's  office  in 
starting  the  investigation  of  the  oper- 
ators' union  which  has  resulted  in  in- 
dictment of  Tom  Maloy  and  other  offi- 
cers of  the  union  and  Jack  Miller,  head 
of   the    Chicago   exhibitor   unit,    says 

(Continued   on    page   8) 


Chicago — One  hundred  and  fifty 
Chicago  theatres  next  Monday  will 
use  only  one  operator  in  the  booth  of 
each  and,  if  a  walkout  results,  exhibi- 
tors will  stand  for  closing  of  their 
theatres,  Tom  Maloy  has  been  warned 
by  Aaron  Saperstein,  president  of  Al- 
lied Theatres  Owners  of  Illinois,  and 
W.  A.  Stefifes,  Northwest  unit  head, 
who  is  here  co-operating  with  Saper- 
stein in  the  operator   situation. 

The     threatened     shutdown     would 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Circuits    Turning    Back 

Houses  in  Number 

of  Territories 


Continuing  the  process  of  decen- 
tralization begun  some  time  ago, 
major  circuits  are  engaged  in  a  num- 
ber of  sale  and  management  deals, 
which  will  bring  back  independent  ex- 
hibitors to  the  field  on  a  scale  un- 
paralleled since  the  buying  orgy  al- 
most engulfed  them. 

The  new  trend,  regarded  as  one  of 
the  most  significant  in  the  industry's 
recent  history,  is  coincident  with  the 
swing  of  Coast  studios  toward  unit 
production.  The  simultaneous  move- 
ments, observers  predict,  will  greatly 
change  the  complexion  of  the  indus- 
try during  the   coming  year. 

The  impending  deal  with  Fox 
under  terms  of  which  M.  E.  Comer- 
ford,   veteran   Pennsylvania  and   New 

(Continued   on    page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Loew  Sets  Columbia 
Product  in  New  York 

Columbia  is  selling  away  from  RKO 
in  Greater  New  York  and  is  negotiat- 
ing a  deal  which  will  assure  a  first 
run  outlet  on  Broadway.  Last  year, 
the  Mayfair  and  Globe  housed  the 
Columbia  product,  but  no  deal  is  to 
be  closed  in  Greater  New  York  be- 
tween the  two  firms.  Meanwhile, 
Loew's  is  getting  Columbia  in  the 
metropolitan  area  and  the  Paramount 
houses  will  play  it  upstate.  Reports 
are  in  circulation  that  the  Columbia 
Broadway  outlet  will  be  one  of  the 
Warner   stands. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Three  Theatres  Play 
Lieutenant  Day,  Date 

Boston — Publix  is  trying  a  new 
wrinkle  with  "The  Smiling  Lieuten- 
ant," playing  triple  day  and  date  book- 
ings, rather  than  the  two-house  book- 
ing usually  resorted  to.  The  picture 
is   playing  the  Olympia,   Fenway  and 

(Continued   on   page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Common  Law"  Big 
Card  for  Portland 

Portland — Grossing  $8,000  in  its 
first  three  days.  "The  Common  Law" 
showed  the  best  draw  at  the  RKO 
Orpheum  since  "Cimarron,"  accord- 
ing to  Manager  Gamble.  The  house 
average  for  a  full  week  is  $8,000. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  August  5,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formtrh    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Purely  Personal 


Vol.  30 


AuKUSt  5.   1931 


Xo.   56 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-inChxef  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 
JAMKS  A.   CRON 
Advertising  Manager 


^^rK.  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
lH  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V<|X  Daily,   Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 

>l  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  Wtlliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  btreet;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  corresponde«t:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.   Y.,  under   Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Film  Royalties  Raise 
Estate  of  Novelist 

film  royalties  have  nearly  trebled 
the  estate  of  Richard  Harding  Davis 
since  the  author's  death  in  19i6. 
When  he  died,  he  left  |49,029,  but 
film  and  dramatic  royalities,  chiefly 
the  former,  have  increased  it  to 
$136,000,  it  is  shown  by  an  account- 
ing filed  in  White  Plains  by  the  Bank 
of  America,  executor  and  trustee. 
The  largest  item  is  sale  of  67  stories 
to  Fox  for  $54,000. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Puhlix  Building 
Charlotte  Alhambra 

Charlotte,  N.  C. — Reconstruction 
of  the  Alabama  here  to  provide  Pub- 
lix  with  a  better  showhouse  to  re- 
place the  burned  Imperial  Theatre 
soon  will  be  started. 

The  improvements   will  cost  in  ex- 
cess of  $25,000.    Whatever  plans  Pub- 
lix   may  have  had  for  rebuilding  the 
Imperial  have  been  abandoned. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Beaudine  to  Columbia 

Hoi.LY\vooi> — William  Beaudine  has 
been  signed  by  Columbia  to  direct  sev- 
eral productions,  the  first  to  be  "The 
Man  in  Mer  Life." 

"BUY  RIGHT    BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Showing  Gibbons  Film 

Moyd  Gibbons'  first  picture  will  be 
the  first  film  to  be  screened  on  top 
of  the  Empire  State  Building,  world's 
tallest  structure.  RKO  Van  Beuren 
Corporation,  producers  of  the  thir- 
teen "Floyd  Gibbons'  .Supreme  Thrills" 
will  screen  the  first  release,  "Wood- 
row  Wilson's  Great  Decision,"  at  a 
special  showing  following;  a  luncheon 
to  the  press  today. 

"BUY  RIGHT    BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Plague  Closes  Theatres 

Belmo.nt,  \.  C. — Theatres  and 
other  public  gathering  places  here 
have  been  ordered  closed  as  a  precau- 
tion against  what  is  believed  to  be 
an  outbreak  of  cerebro-spinal  menin- 
gitis, which  has  already  claimed  three 
victims  in  this  vicinity. 


HUBERT  VOIGHT  came  in  town 
with  Elmer  Fryer,  head  of  the 
still  department  at  the  W.B.-F.N. 
studios.  They  are  waiting  for  Marion 
Marsh  to  arrive  Monday  and  they  will 
take  pictures  of  her  in  various  parts  of 
New  York,  as  exteriors  for  her  next. 
Lil  Dagover  wmII  get  in  from  abroad 
on  the  24th  and  Voight  will  escort 
her  back  to  the  Coast,  stopping  off 
at  various  cities  on  the  way. 

Ruth  W.\terbury,  fan  magazine 
editor,  and  Norman  Kranza  arrived 
in  town  on  the  same  train  Voight 
and  Fryer  did. 

Karl  Dane  and  George  K.  Arthur, 
co-stars  of  a  series  of  two-reel  come- 
dies, are  at  Newport  for  scenes  for 
their  new  Paramount  comedy,  "Join 
the  Navy." 

Major  Edward  Bowes  of  the  Capi- 
tol is  wearing  a  broader  smile  nowa- 
days, having  made  a  hole-in-one  at 
the  Sleepy  Holly  Country  Club. 

Leo  Abrams,  Universal  New  York 
exchange  manager,  is  reported  en- 
gaged to  Charlotte  Kessler,  also  iden- 
tified with  a  picture  company. 

Frank  Lloyd  will  leave  for  an  ex- 
tended tour  of  Europe  upon  complet- 
ing the  direction  of  Billie  Dove  in 
"The  Age  for  Love." 

A.  S.  Kirkpatrick  of  Educational 
is  convalescing  from  his  recent  illness 
and  is  expected  to  return  to  duty 
within  a  few  days. 

"Pat"  Garyn  may  have  to  learn 
the  sign  language  if  that  paving  work 
on  46th  St.  keeps  on.  It  sounds  like 
a  miniature  war. 

David  Idzahi.,  manager  of  the  Fox 
Theatre,  Philadelphia,  has  been  elect- 
ed to  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  by 
unanimous  vote. 

Jack  (Larry)  Gardner,  Boston 
RKO  manager,  is  in  New  York  on  a 
visit.     Larry's  an  ardent  baseball  fan. 


William  M.  Wilkinson  has  been 
made  company  manager  of  the  Fan- 
chon  &  Marco  "Vacation  Days"  Idea 
on  tour.  It  opens  tomorrow  at  the 
Denver  Theatre,  Denver. 

Mike  Simmons  leaves  this  week- 
end for  a  vacation  in  the  Adirondacks. 
It's  to  be  "Hark,  hark,  the  lark"  from 
now  on. 

Herman  A.  Chrisman  has  been 
made  booker  and  office  manager  at 
Columbia   Memphis   exchange. 

ToM  Thornton,  formerly  selling 
for  Universal,  has  joined  the  Denver 
Columbia  branch. 

Ed  Hurley  has  joined  the  publicity 
department  of  the  Fox  Theatre  in 
Washington. 

Gloria  Swanson  will  land  Friday 
from  the  Paris  after  a  vacation 
abroad. 

M.  J.  Weisfeldt  rises  to  remind 
that  his  first  picture  is  "I  am  from 
Siani." 

George  Ross  is  now  in  charge  of 
Columbia's  Milwaukee  exchange,  be- 
ing transferred  from  Kansas  City. 

Sol  Brill  is  at  his  home  recovering 
from  a  recent  heart  attack. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

RKO  Gets  Break 
In  Cincinnati  Sheet 

Cincinnati — Following  the  recent 
dissension  between  RKO  and  the  Cin- 
cinnati Enquirer,  the  only  morning 
and  Sunday  paper  in  the  city,  which 
was  amicably  settled,  the  local  cir- 
cuit office  crashed  the  sheet  during 
personal  appearance  of  Laurel  Miller, 
astrologer,  at  the  Capitol,  in  the  big- 
gest tieup  ever  put  over  here. 

During  the  week's  engagement,  five 
pages  of  exploitation,  and  the  equiva- 
lent of  three  pages  of  reading  matter 
appeared  in  the  Enquirer,  which,  in- 
cidentally, carries  a  daily  horoscope 
by  the  astrologer  as  a  regular  feature. 


Dull  Day  for  Stock  Market 

High  Low 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 754  7^4 

F.astman    Kodak 138J^  135H 

Fox    Film    "A" 15^4  15'/^ 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 3^4  35/^ 

r,oew's,     Tnc 47  46Mi 

Paramount     Publix 235^  23J^ 

Pathc    Exchange 1^  VA 

RKO    14  13^ 

Warner    Bros T/z  7!4 


Curb  Issues  Irregular 

Higrh  Low 

f"olumbia    Pictures 11^  \\]4 

Cohimbia     Pictures    vtc 10  10 

General   Theatre   Equipment   pfd 6%  S% 

Sentry   Safety   Control ^  % 

Technicolor     7^i  7 

Trans    Lux S'A  S'A 


Bond  List  Rallies;  P.  F.  L.  Gains  3 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Ch2mge 

General  Theatre  Equipment  6s  '40 29  28J^        28?^        +3^ 

Ixjew's    6s    '41    ex    war 98  9754        97^        —'A 

Paramount    Broadway   5'/is   '51 101J4  101^  101}^        +  'A 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s   '47 90  90  90  -|-3 

Paramount    Publix    S^s,    'SO 78  78  78  +  'A 

Pafhe   7s    '37   ww 91J4  91  9VA        +2'A 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 4SJ4  44J4       45^4        +  'A 


Net 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

7-/« 

+  v^ 

200 

1.37 

- '/ 

3,20C 

15'/ 

-  Vs 

1,200 

3^ 

900 

46'/ 

- '/ 

4,200 

2m 

-  3/ 

1.800 

V4 

- '/ 

200 

7p, 

- '/ 

2,60C 

6,400 

Net 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

11'/ 

+  /a 

300 

10 

100 

6 

-  % 

3,100 

7/« 

LOOC 

7'/4 

+  'A 

1,000 

5J4 

1,200 

Prinz  to  Stage 

Warner  Units 

In  ^ThiUy' 


Le  Roy  Prinz  was  signed  by 
Warners  yesterday  to  take  charge  of 
the  flexible  unit  shows  to  be  produced 
as  part  of  the  programs  at  the  Magt- 
baum  Theatre,  Philadelphia.  The  first 
of  the  new  shows  will  be  staged  on 
August  22,  when  the  Warners  will 
introduce  their  own  bills  in  their 
houses  in  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  Wash- 
ington, Milwaukee  and  Jersey  City. 

Prinz  has  had  considerable  experi- 
ence in  staging  legitimate  shows,  hav- 
ing put  on  the  Earl  Carroll  "Sketch 
Book,"  "Vanities"  and  "Top  Speed." 
Each  of  the  theatres  in  the  Warner 
chain  featuring  stage  shows  as  prel- 
udes to  pictures  is  to  have  a  producer 
of  its  own.  Prinz's  work  in  Phila- 
delphia will  be  supervised  by  William 
Goldman  and  Al  Kays. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Epics  Gets  Shorts 
With  Femme  Appeal 

"Let's  Go  Places"  is  the  title  of  a 
series  of  unique  travel  pictures  to  be 
handled  by  Talking  Picture  Epics, 
Inc.,  and  which  are  designed  to  have 
especial  appeal  to  the  female  portion 
of  theatrical  audiences.  The  series  will 
consist  of  visits  to  little  known  places. 

The  accompanying  recorded  talks 
will  be  written  and  spoken  by  Emma 
Lindsay  Squier,  authoress,  a  regular 
contributor  to  "Collier's,"  "The  "La- 
dies' Home  Journal"  and  "Good 
Housekeeping." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Exhibitors  Trying  to 
Get  Republican  Meet 

Philadelphia— Pledge  of  co-opera- 
tion to  the  mayor  and  William  Gold- 
man of  Warner-Stanley  in  their  ef- 
forts to  bring  the  national  Republican 
convention  to  Philadelphia  in  1932  has 
been  made  by  the  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania exhibitor  unit. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

A.  M.  P.  A.  Nominations 

Members  of  the  A,  M.  P.  A.  will 
meet  tomorrow  at  the  Dixie  Hotel, 
where  a  nominating  committee  to  se- 
lect officers  for  the  ensuing  year  will 
be  appointed.  Michael  Simmons,  in- 
cumbent, will  not  run  again  for  presi- 
dent. Elections  will  follow  within  the 
next  few  weeks. 


Studio    and    Location 
Sound  on  Film  Recording 

Low    Daily    or   Weekly    Ratat 
Powers  C'inephone  Equipment  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE.,  N.  Y.    BRyant  9-6067 


Sales 

4 
9 
1 
5 
1 

15 
15 


SOUND  MOVIOLA 

jnd    Expert  Assistjnce 

available  per  day  or   week 

DU-ART 
FILM    LABORATORIES,    Inc. 

245  W.  55th  St.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Phone:    Col.    5-4907 


COM 


SOON 


BACKED   BY  NATIONAL 


ADVERTISING 
FOREMOST 


IN  AMERICA'S 
PAPERS. 


DAILY 


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TUNE  IN! 


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IINDS 


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WANDERING  MEN! 
WONDERING  WIVES! 

Every  Heartbeat  Asks  "Where  are  They 
Tonight?" — They're  Everywhere!  Blazing 
the  Trail  for  Business!  While  Around 
them  Whirls  Life's  Mad  Kaleidoscope.  A 
Thousand  Miles  from  Home  with  No 
One  to  Answer  To! 

Here  Is  Their  Story!  Packed 

With  Suspense!  Tense  With 

Excitement! 

with 

EVELYN  BRENT  ij 

HUGH  HERBERT .  FRANK  ALBERTSON        ' 
CONSTANCE  CUMMINGS 
DOROTHY    PETERSON 
DIRECTED  BY  PAUL  SLOANE 


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RKO-RADIO      PICTURE 

'RKO  Theatre  of  the  Air"N.B.C.  CoasttoCoast  Network  Every  Friday  Night,  10:30  P.M.  New  York  Time 


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MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   August  5,    1931 


"Politics"  Is 
DesMoinesAce 
With  $11,000 


Total  $26^00  for  3  Theatres 


Des  Moines — Everyone  is  seeking 
a  good  laugh,  and  when  they  heard 
that  there  was  one  at  the  Des  Moines 
they  flocked  there.  From  one  to  an- 
other the  word  was  passed  and  the 
B.  O.  mounted  steadily  during  the 
week.  "Politics,"  with  Dressier  and 
Moran  rang  the  bell  with  a  record 
breaking  business  of  §11,000  for  the 
week.  This  was  in  the  midst  of  very 
hot  weather. 

"Broadminded,"  at  the  Paramount 
for  the  first  three  days,  was  just  above 
average  with  $6,000,  while  the  last 
half,  with  "Transgression,"  grossed 
Sl.OOO  above  the  usual  amount.  The 
Paramount  County  Fair  on  the  stage 
and  Rin  Tin  Tin  in  person  helped  to 
swell  the  coflfers  during  the  "Trans- 
gression" booking.  "Son  of  India," 
with  $2,400,  was  25  per  cent  above 
average.  "Ex-Bad  Boy,"  with  $900  for 
the  last  three  days  at  the  Strand  was 
checked  as  "good." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  1  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

DES      MOINES— (1,600),      25c-35c-60c  ,     7 
days.     Gross:    $11,000.     (Average,   $7,000.) 
"BROADMINDED"    (F.    N.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),    3    days.    25c-35c- 
60c.     Gross:   $6,000.     (Average,    $5,500.) 
"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),    4    days,    2Sc-35c- 
60c.     Gross:    556,500.     (Average.    $5,500.) 
"SON   OF   INDIA"   (M-G-M) 

STRAND— (1,100).  4  days,  20c-35c.  Gross: 
$2,400.     (Average.   $1,700.) 

"EX-BAD   BOY"    (Univ.) 

STRAND— (1.100).  3  days,  20c-35c.  Gross: 
$900.     (Average,   $700.) 

"BUY  RICHT^BUT   BUY   NOW" 

'Gertie'  Rakes 
In  Gold  Dust 
In  Ind.  City 


Total  $45^00  for  5  Theatres 


Indianapolis — TJie  Lyric,  showing 
"Gold  Dust  Gertie,"  and  local  vaude- 
ville favorites  with  radio  reputations, 
took  in  the  exceptional  figure  of  $12,- 
OQO,  which  is  five  grand  above  aver- 
age. That  is  real  business  for  the 
summer.  "The  Girl  Habit"  went 
$3,500  above  par  at  the  Circle  and 
"Women  Love  Once"  also  was  up  at 
the  Indiana. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  31  and  year-round  averages: 
"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 

APOLLO— (1,100),  25c  to  50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,700.     (Average.    $4,00rj.) 

"THE    GIRL    HABIT"     (Para.) 

CIRCLE— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$«,500.     (Average,    $5,0(X).) 

"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para.) 

INDIANA— (3,300),   25c-65c,   7   days.     Pub- 
lix   unit.    Gross:  $13,500.     (Average,  $13.fX)0.) 
"GOLD  DUST  GERTIE"   (Warners) 

LYRIC— (2,000),  25c-50c.  7  days.  RKO 
vaudeville.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average,  $7,- 
000.) 

"THE    GREAT    LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

PALACE— (2,800),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,500.     (Average,    $8,500.) 


Haw  ! 


Ottaw.4 — "Influence"  of  the  American  picture  on  Canadians  has  fur- 
nished fodder  tor  many  a  political  speech  and  natives  of  the  Dominion 
have  shuddered  at  this  menace.  Denunciations  of  this  nature  reached 
a  climax  when  the  government  declared  that  a  "movie  combine"  ex- 
isted above  the  border,  and  American  distributors  were  assailed  in 
the  probe   report. 

Last  week  "The  Speckled  Band,"  a  British  production  starring 
Denton  Massey,  a  Canadian,  played  the  Imperial.  It  took  in  $2,300. 
The  house  average   is  $3,000. 

There  is  a  suspicion  here  that  the  politicians  in  the  Capital  who 
have  been  squawking  for  British  pictures  failed  to  attend  the  Imperial. 


'Transatlantic'  "Polities''  and 


And  'Polities' 
Big  on  B'way 


Total  $293,924  for  11  Theatres 


It  looks  something  like  old  times 
these  days  around  the  Roxy  and  the 
Capitol,  where  "Transatlantic"  and 
"Politics"  are  the  attractions.  The 
former  is  giving  the  Roxy  a  sensation- 
al comeback  after  its  brodie  of  last 
week  on  revival  of  "Sunny  Side  Up," 
which  dipped  to  $39,800.  It  was 
jerked  on  its  sixth  day  to  make  way 
for  "Transatlantic."  Early  morning 
lines  at  the  Capitol  are  attesting  to 
the  popularity  of  Polly  Moran  and 
Loui.se  Dresser  in  "Politics." 

Warners  switched  bookings  at  the 
\yinter  Garden  to  cash  in  on  the  pub- 
licity of  New  York's  gangster  out- 
rages, spotting  in  "The  Star  Witness" 
Monday  ^  night,  and  holding  ofif 
"Bought"  to  reopen  the  Hollywood 
August  14.  After  a  big  newspaper 
campaign,  the  picture  opened  with  a 
bang. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  July  30  and  year  round  weekly 
averages : 

"A    FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 
ASTOR-(1.120),   50c-$2,   8th   week,  7  days. 
Gross:    $12,100. 

"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 
CAPITO  1^(4.700),       3.';c-$'1.50,       7       days. 
Stage    show.        Gross:     $67,754. 

EMBASSY    (All    Newsreel) 
KMBASSY-(598),    2Sc,    7    days.        Gross: 
$7,717. 
"THE    COMMON    LAW"    (RKO    Pathe) 

MAVFAIR— (2..^00),    40c-$l.    2nd    week     7 
davs.      Gross:    $27,311. 
"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3.700).     40c-$l.     7     days. 
Stage    show.      Gross:    $63,700. 

"MANSLAUGHTER"    (Para.) 

and 

"THE    MIGHTY"    (Para.) 

RI ALTO- (1,904).    7   davs.      Gross:    $15,400 

"SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 
RIVOLI— (2,iaV).      40c-$l,      2nd      week.      7 
days.       Gross:    .^?4.100. 

"SUNNY   SIDE   UP"    (Fox) 
(Return    Engagement) 
ROXY  -(6.200).    .S0c-$1.50,    6   days.       Stage 
show.      Gross:   $39,800. 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 
STRAND-(3.000).     35c-$l,     2nd     week,    7 
'lavs.       Gross:    $21,432. 
"THE    FATAL    HOUR"    (First    Division) 
WARNERS— (1.490),    .35c-7,5c.    3rd    week.   7 
days.       Gross:    $3,450. 

"SMART    MONEY"     (Warners) 

WINTER  GARDEN-(1.493),  6th  week  9 
days.     Gross:    $21,160, 

"BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Haines  City  Advertises 

Haines  City,  Fla.— The  Chamber 
of  Commerce  and  Florida  Military 
Institute  are  backing  a  motion  pic- 
ture which  is  being  made  here,  which 
will  show  scenes  and  activities  of  this 
section,  and  which  it  is  proposed  to 
send  out  for  exhibition  in  central 
states. 


^Cfomnion  Law' 
Friseo  Highs 


Total  $164,100  for  9  Theatres 


San  Francisco — Heat  and  depres- 
sion mean  nothing  to  the  public  when 
it  wants  to  see  a  picture.  Here  is 
the   story : 

"Politics,"  the  Marie  Dressier  and 
Polly  Moran  vehicle,  took  in  $50,000 
at  the  Fox,  beating  average  by 
$16,000. 

"The  Common  Law"  boosted  the 
Orpheum's  normal  take  of  $12,000  to 
$19,000,  or  an  overage  of  $7,000. 

"Women  of  All  Nations,"  "Ari- 
zona" and  "The  Girl  Habit"  also 
climbed  up  into  the  black  figures. 

Estimated    takings     for     the    week 
ending      July      29      and      year-round 
grosses : 
"WOMEN    OF    ALL    NATIONS"    (Fox) 

EL      CAPITAN— (3,100),      2Sc-40c-60c.      7 
days.       Jay      Brewer     band,     stage     revue. 
Gross:     $13,500.      (Average.   $1J,000.) 
"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

FOX— (4,600),  35c-60c,  7  days.  F.  &  M. 
stage  show,  Walt  Roesner  concert.  Gross: 
$50,000.      (Average.    $34,000.) 

"ARIZONA"   (Col.) 

GOLDEN  GATE^(2,800),  35c-40c-50c-65c. 
7  days.  RKO  vaudeville.  Gross:  $15,350, 
(Average.    $15,000.) 

"COMMON    LAW"    (RKO-Pathe) 

ORPHEUM— (3.000).    25c-35c-50c.    7    days. 
Gross:     $19,000.      (Average.    $12,000.) 
"THE    DEVIL   TO   PAY"    (U.   A.) 

UNITED  ARTLSTS— (1,200).  25c-40c-60c, 
7  days,  second  week.  Gross:  $10,000, 
(Averace,    $11,000.) 

"THE  GIRL  HABIT"   (Para.) 

WARFIELD-(2.700),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Rube  Wolf  band,  stage  varieties.  Gross: 
$22,000.      (Average.    $21,000.) 

Week  ending  July  30: 

"NIGHT    ANGEL"     (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2.740),  25c-35c-50c.  7 
days.  Captain  Dobbsie.  Hapovtime  Crew. 
Jess  Stafford's  band,  (iross:  $18,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $19,000,) 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS— (1„^85).  second  week. 
7   days.     Gross:     $8,250.     (Average.   $10,500.) 

Week  endinp  Auo.  1: 

"PRIVATE   SECRETARY"    (German  film) 

COLUMBIA— (1.700).  35c-50c-75c.  Gross: 
W.OOO. 

"BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Ban  Walkathons 

Toronto — After  banning  carnivals 
this  year,  the  City  of  Toronto  has 
(jflicially  put  its  foot  down  on  walka- 
thons when  promoters  broached  the 
subject  to  civic  officials.  The  walking 
festivals  have  proved  popular  in  only 
one  city  of  Canada,  this  being  Van- 
couver, B.  C,  where  marriages  and 
other  stunts  were  mixed  in  with  the 
travelogue.  The  walkathon  at  Mon- 
treal was  a  flop ;  the  one  at  Hamilton 
was  called  ofif  after  a  few  days ;  pro- 
moters got  the  cold  shoulder  at 
Ottawa  and  Winnipeg  did  not  take 
to  it. 


"Seeret  Call" 
High  Grosser 
In  Baltimore 


Total  $60,400  for  7  Theatres 


Baltimore — Refrigerated  Loew's 
Century  was  the  only  first  run  house 
doing  very  good  during  this  week. 
There  "The  Secret  Call"  and  the  stage 
unit  "Revue  Moderne,"  proved  a  good 
draw  with  receipts  $1,000  above  aver- 
age, even  though  the  first  four  days  of 
the  week  were  the  worst  ever  experi- 
enced here  for  continued  heat  and 
humidity. 

"Honeymoon  Lane"  pulled  Keith's 
up  to  $6,400,  about  $900  above  normal, 
but  Ruth  Chatterton  died  gradually  as 
the  week  waned  in  "The  Magnificent 
Lie"  at  Loew's  Stanley,  the  receipts 
barely  reaching  the  average  of  $17,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing July  30  and  year-around  averages : 

"HONEYMOON     LANE"     (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (2,500),  25c-50c,  6  days,  plus 
a  Sunday  midnight  performance.  Gross: 
$6,400.     (Average,    $5,500.) 

Week  ending  Aug.  1: 

"THE    SECRET   CALL"    (Para.) 

LOEW'S  CENTURY— (3,076),  25c-60c,  6 
days.  Loew-Capitol  stage  unit,  "Revue 
Moderne,"  orchestra.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Av- 
erage, $19,000.) 

"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 
(Sltown    uptown    after    one    week    at    Loew's 
Centura    down  town) 
LOEW'S     PARKWAY— (987),     15c-35c,    6 
days.     Gross:    $3,500.      (Average,    $3,500.) 
"THE   MAGNIFICENT   LIE"    (Para.) 
LOEW'S    STANLEY— (3,522),    25c-60c,    6 
days.     Gross:    $17,500.     Average,   $17,500.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 
(Shoivn    downtown    after    one    week    at    the 
Loew's    Century,    directly    under    tliis 
theatre.     dn7vntoivn) 
LOEW'S   VALENCTA-(1.487),   25c-35c,   6 
days.     Gross:    $3,200.      (Average.    $2,800.) 
"TOO  MANY   COOKS"   (Radio) 
NEW— (1,600).    25c-50c.    6   days,     Walker- 
Sharkey    fight    films.     Gross:    $6,500.      (Av- 
erage.  $8  000.) 

"UP    FOR    MURDER"    (Univ.) 
WARNER'S     METROPOLITAN— (1,300), 
6   days.     Gross:    $3,300.     (Average.   $4,500.) 
"BUY   RIGHT^BUT   BUY   NOW" 

"Magnifieent 
Lie"  Is  $2,500 
Over  in  K.  C 


Total  $53,300  for  5  Theatres 


Kansas  City — It  took  "The  Mag- 
nificent Lie"  to  lick  the  heat  here, 
the  Paramount  production  grossing 
$15,000  at  the  Newman  against  the 
house  average  of  $12,500.  Not  so  bad. 
"Party  Husband"  beat  par_  by  $100, 
and  "The  Common  Law"  just  made 
the  average  figure. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  1  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"COMMON    LAW"    (RKO-Pathe) 

MAINSTREET-(3,067),    35c-60c,    7    days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $15,000.     (Average,   $'15,000.) 
"SON   OF   INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (4,000),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,000.     (Average.    $14,500.) 

"THE   MAGNIFICENT   LIE"    (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (2,000),  3Sc-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $15,000.      (Average,    $12,500.) 

"HONEYMOON    LANE"    (Para.) 

LIBERTY  (1.200).  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,200.      (Average    not    determined.) 

"PARTY  HUSBAND"   (F.  N.) 

UPTOWN— (2,200),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gro-o^:    $6,100.      (Average,    $6,000.) 


Wednesday,   August  5,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Acumen 

t^  REDIT  "Skip"  Weshner 
-*  with  a  real  punch  news- 
paper campaign  on  "The  Star 
Witness,"  which  had  an  aus- 
picious opening  Monday  at  the 
Winter  Garden.  The  picture 
was  spotted  in  a  hurry,  so  that 
"Skip"  and  his  lieutenants  had 
to  move  fast  in  getting  the  pic- 
ture before  the  public.  "Skip" 
looked  up  to  New  York's 
gangster  warfare  to  bring  home 
to  the  public  the  parallel  situa- 
tions of  the  picture.  A  good 
job,   well    done. 

HYNES 


Klein  Named  Foreign 
Big  4  Representative 

Edward  L.  Klein  has  been  appoint- 
ed representative  for  Big  4  in  con- 
tinental Europe,  Africa  and  the  Near 
East.  He  will  distribute  six  all-star 
westerns  as  follows  :  "Beyond  the  Rio 
Grande,"  "Ridin'  Law,"  "Firebrand 
Jordan,"  "Bar  L  Ranch,"  "Canyon 
Hawks"  and  "Trails  of  Danger" ;  six 
Wally  Wales  Westerns,  including 
"Breed  of  the  West,"  "Red  Fork 
Range,"  "Hell's  Valley,"  "So  This  Is 
Arizona,"  "Riders  of  the  Cactus"  and 
"Flying  Lariats,"  and  the  melodramas, 
"Sheer  Luck"  and  "Trapped,"  as  well 
as  the  two-reel  comedies,  "A  Radio 
Razzberry"  and  "The  Wages  of  Gin." 
Klein  will  make  his  headquarters  at 
Paris. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Technicolor  Process 
Introduced  on  Friday 

New  process  of  Technicolor  will  be 
introduced  Friday  at  the  New  York 
Strand  in  Radio's  "The  Runaround," 
directed  by  the  late  William  Craft. 
The  film  is  done  entirely  in  color.  Ra- 
dio is  following  this  with  "Mom," 
which  also  will  be  done  entirely  in 
color.  The  new  process  is  said  to 
eliminate  grain. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fanchon  &  Marco 
Unit  Clicks  in  Mpls. 

Minneapolis — Opening  of  Fanchon 
&  Marco  unit  as  the  stage  show  at 
the  4,000-seat  Minnesota  hit  most  of 
the  reviewers  favorably.  The  first 
show  is  billed  as  "Tomorrow's  Stars" 
and  features  Bessie,  Veronica  and 
Walker,  Mary  Miles,  Wanda  Allan 
and  others.  Stan  Malotte,  the  organ- 
ist, adds  one  of  his  novelties  and  Lou 
Breese  is  still  master  of  ceremonies 
and  in  charge  of  the  theatre's  excel- 
lent orchestra. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Another  'Cincy*  First  Run 

Cincinnati — Benjamin  A.  Cohen 
has  taken  a  15-year  lease  on  the  Ly- 
ceum, an  abandoned  downtown  house 
once  devoted  to  road  attractions,  at  a 
total  consideration  of  $150,000.  He 
plans  extensive  remodeling,  and  may 
open  the  house  with  pictures. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Stanley  Making  Trailers 

Stanley  Recording  Co.  has  con- 
tracted with  National  Screen  Service 
for  recording  of  a  series  of  sound-on- 
film  song  trailers.  Lew  White  is  or- 
ganist and  Norman  Brokenshire  the 
announcer. 


''BUY  NOW  SALES 


The  "Buy  Right — But  Buy  Now" 
movement  continues  to  sweep  through- 
out the  country.  Warners-First  Na- 
tional declare  that  it  has  done  won- 
ders in  stimulating  exhibitors  to  see 
to  it  that  they  pay  attention  to  their 
programs  by  getting  the  best  that  is 
to  be  had  as  early  as  practicable. 

Listed  herewith  are  the  booking 
contracts  calling  for  Warners-First 
National    product   received    yesterday. 

Alaska 

Coliseum,  Juneau,   W.  D.   Gross. 

Arkansas 

Lyric,   Mena,    E.    C.    Pearson. 

California 

Eg^yptian,   Indiao,   G.   C.   Pawley. 

Florida 

Lyric,    Dunnellan,    G.    M.    Chalker. 

Idaho 

Panida,    Sandpoint,    F.    C.    Weskill. 

Illinois 

Gaelic,  Chicago,  John  Remijas;  Deerpath, 
Lake  Forest,  Polka  Bros. ;  Pickwick,  Park 
Ridge,  Polka  Bros.;  Family,  Quincy, 
Crooks  and  Crooks;  Acadia,  Cliicago,  John 
Remijas ;  Desplaines,  I>esplaines,  Polka 
Bros.;  De  Luxe,  Chicago,  C.  Golin;  Capi- 
tol,   Springfield,    C.    K.    Franklin. 

Kentucky 

Tabb,   Mt.  Sterling,  H.   B.  Turner. 

Louisiana 

Paramount,  Elizabeth,  E.  K.  Ahrens; 
Maurins,    Reserve,    L.    J.    Maurin. 

Michigan 

Ferry  Field,  Detroit,  Ferry  Field  Amuse- 
ment Co.;  Buchanan,  Detroit,  Buchanan 
Theatre  Co.;  Courtesy,  Detroit,  Courtesy 
Theatre  Co.;  Grand  Riviera,  Port  Huron, 
Mike  Chargot;  Oakman  Boulevard,  Detroit, 
Oakman    Boulevard   Theatre   Co. 

Minneapolis 

Wonderland,   Windom,  Redding  &  Stroud'. 

Missouri 

Edmonds,  Oak  Grove,  Mae  Edmonds; 
Giliox,  Monett,  M.  E.  Gilliox  and  C.  E. 
Morris;  Belmont,  Kansas  City,  Rube  Fin- 
kelstein;  Peoples,  Pleasant  Hill,  E.  P. 
Fisher. 

New  York 

Shadowland',  Ellenville,  Joseph  Spadaro; 
Elrin,     Endicott ;     Comerford    Theatres     Co. 

North  Carolina 

Carolina,    Hamlet,    R.    P.    Rosser. 

New  Jersey 

Rialto,     Paterson,    Meyer    Greiman. 

Ohio 

Wilmar,  Columbus,  T.  L.  Snowden;  Ox- 
ford, Oxford,  Joe  Hieser;  Tivoli,  Akron,  T. 
Barden  and  H.  Malone;  Princess,  Spring- 
field, Phil  Checkeres;  Southern,  Spring- 
field,   C.    C.    Jackson. 

Pennsylvania 

Liberty,  Carnegie,  Peter  Gorris ;  Strand, 
Bridgeville,  J.  O'H.  Rankin;  American, 
Vestaburgh,    Peter    Profili. 

South  Dakota 

GranJ,     Brookings,    F.    T.    McCarthy. 

Utah 

State.   Salt   Lake  City,   Joseph   Lawrence. 
Washington 

Olympian,   Port   Angeles,    E.    A.    Halberg; 
Audian,  Pullman,  Martins  Garage  Co.,  Inc. ; 
Rose,   Colfax,   F.   C.   Weskill. 
West  Virginia 
War,    War,    War   Theatre,    Inc. 

Wisconsin 
Mikadow,       Manitowoc,       Great       Lakes 
Amusement    Co. 

Texas 

Rialto,  Sinton,  Hall  Industries;  Rialto, 
Cuero,  Hall  Industries;  Rialto,  Arkansas 
Pass,  Hall  Industries;  Rialto,  Alice,  Hall 
Industries;  Rialto,  Refugio,  Refugio  Amuse- 
ment   Corp. 


Cincinnati — Eleven  theatres  in 
Ohio  have  been  closed  for  the  entire 
1931-32  RKO  Pathe  program  by 
Stanley  Jacques,  branch  manager  at 
Cincinnati,  and  Salesman  A.  L.  Su- 
garman.  The  situations  are :  Palace, 
Lancaster  ;  Orpheum,  Xenia ;  La  Max, 
Wilmington ;  Empress,  Columbus ; 
Garden,  Columbus ;  Grandview,  Co- 
lumbus ;   Hudson,  Columbus ;   Alham- 


bra,  Columbus  ;  Royal,  Columbus  ;  Og- 
den,  Columbus ;  Salem,  Dayton. 


Another  deal  involving  six  towns 
in  West  Virginia  was  secured  by 
Salesman  H.  E.  Callaway  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati territory.  Houses  are  the  Ri- 
alto, Scarbro  ;  Freeman,  Northfork ; 
War,  War;  Ferguson,  Charleston;  Ri- 
alto, Kimball ;  Hippodrome,  Delber- 
ton.  All  features  and  shorts  go  on 
this. 


Atlanta — W.  J.  Collins  of  the 
RKO -Pathe  Exchange  closed  deals  for 
features  and  shorts  in  the  following 
ten  spots :  Alexander  City,  Alberts- 
ville,  Attalla,  Boaz,  Guntersville, 
Union  Springs,  Tuskegee,  Troy, 
Carbon  Hill  and  Winfield. 


Galveston,  Tex. — A.  Martini 
showed  his  approval  of  the  "Buy  Right 
— But  Buy  Now"  movement  by  sign- 
ing contracts  for  the  48  new  season 
Fox  pictures.  They  will  be  shown  in 
the  Martini  and  the  Dixie  Theatres. 


Monogram  Pictures  reports  that  the 
following  California  theatres  have 
contract  for  the  entire  list  of  28. 

Loma,  Burbank;  Rialto,  Long  Beach; 
r'arisian,  Los  Angeles;  Ravenna,  Los 
Angeles ;  Dale,  Long  Beach ;  Rialto,  San 
Bernardino;  Temple,  ^an  Bernardino;  Lin- 
coln, Stockton;  Nippon,  Sacramento;  Prin- 
cess, Frisco;  Star,  Stockton;  Crystal, 
Porterville;  National,  San  Jose;  Circle, 
Frisco;  Mexico,  Sacramento;  Union  Sq., 
Frisco;  Strands  Grass  Valley;  Nevada, 
Gardrenville ;  Hidalgo,  Los  Angeles:  Na- 
tional, Los  Angeles;  Mission,  Santa  Bar- 
bara; Empire,  Santa  Rosa;  Strand, 
Petaluma;  Shamrock,  Frisco;  Lyric,  Marys- 
ville;  Bijou,  Visalia;  Sunset,  Los  Angeles; 
Graham,  Graham;  Pompeii,  Frisco;  Daly, 
Los  Angeles;  Belvedere,  Los  Ajigeles; 
Strand,  Los  Angeles;  Burbank,  Los  An- 
geles; Optic,  Los  Angeles;  Art,  Los  An- 
geles; Moon,  Los  Angeles;  Regent,  Los 
Angeles;  Lyceum,  Los  Angeles;  Kinema, 
Escondido;  Savoy,  Los  Angeles;  Regent, 
Oakland;  Palace,  Pittsburgh;  Gem.  Oak- 
land; Acme,  Frisco;  Lyceum,  Fresno; 
Jose,  San  Jose;  Auburn,  Auburn;  S'ilver 
Palace,  Frisco;  Rialto.  Sacramento;  Vic- 
toria, Frisco;  Gridley,  Gridley;  Lone  Pine, 
Lone  Pine;  Meralto,  Los  Angeles;  Laugh- 
lin.  Long  Beach;  Park  View,  Frisco; 
Strand,  Santa  Rosa;  Avalon.  Martinez; 
Liberty,  Sacramento;  Star,  Reedley;  Royal, 
Hanford;  Orpheum,  Flagstaff;  Forum. 
Barstow;  Wonderland,  Los  Angeles;  Vir- 
ginia,   Bakersfield. 


Cleveland — Nat  Lefton,  general 
manager  of  Standard  Film  Service 
Co.,  announces  that  Loew  has  bought 
the  entire  short  subject  product  for 
Cleveland,  Akron,  Canton,  Tole4o, 
Columbus,  Dayton  and  Louisville. 


Gold  Medal  Films  Co.,  Philadelphia, 
distributor  of  Mascot  serials,  has 
made  the  following  sales  of  "The 
Vanishing  Legion,"  "The  Galloping 
Ghost,"  "The  Lightning  Warrior"  and 
"The  Eagle's  Shadow,"  the  entire 
Mascot  line-up  for  the  1931-1932 
season : 

Aldine  Theatre,  Atlantic  City;  Astor 
Theatre,  Atlantic  City;  Lyric  Theatre,  At- 
lantic City;  Ventor  Theatre,  Atlantic  City; 
Aldine  Theatre,  Baltimore:  Brodie  Thea- 
tre, Baltimore;  Carey  Theatre.  Baltimore; 
Dunbar  Theatre,  Baltimore:  Goodtime 
Theatre,  Baltimore;  Lafayette  Theatre, 
Baltimore;  Preston  Theatre,  Baltimore; 
Regent  Theatre,  Baltimore:  Collins  Thea- 
tre, Covington.  Va.;  Strand  Theatre.  Cov- 
ington, Va.;  Palace  Theatre,  Coatesville, 
Pa.;  Broad'way  Theatre,  Danville,  Va.; 
Pastime  Theatre,  Duryea,  Pa.:  Plaza 
Theatre,  East  Stroudsbui-gh ;  Strand  Thea- 
tre, East  Str^udsburgh ;  Fourth  Street 
Theatre.  Easton;  St.  Mary's  Auditorium, 
Freeland,    Pa. 

Opera    House,    Girardville.    Pa. ;    Newport 


Splendid 

ti'TpHE  Great  Decision,"  first 
X  of  the  Floyd  Gibbons 
subjects,  gives  that  series  an 
auspicious  start.  In  ten  min- 
utes, a  kaleidoscope  of  the  war 
and  the  part  Woodrow  Wilson 
played  in  it  passes  before  you 
in  short,  staccato,  dramatic 
newsreel  shots  enlivened  by 
Gibbons'  rapid-fire  monologue. 
It's  like  turning  back  a  page 
of  stirring  history.  Gibbons' 
rapid-fire  delivery  keeps  the 
narrative  booming  along  and 
nowhere  along  the  line  does  his 
story  or  the  picture  lag. 

This  is  a  different  kind  of 
short  and  worthy  of  any  show- 
man's attention.  A  Van  Beu- 
ren  Picture  produced  for  RKO 
Pathe   release. 

K  A  N  N 


Gets  First  License 
For  RCA  Television 

Freed  -  Eiseman  Television  and 
Radio  Corp.  yesterday  became  the 
first  licensee  under  the  RCA  television 
patents.  The  license  also  embraces 
manufacture  of  radio  equipment,  states 
Arthur  Freed,  president  of  the  com- 
pany. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Roach  Feature  at  Capitol 

"Pardon  Us,"  Hal  Roach  full  length 
comedy  with  Laurel  and  Hardy,  has 
been  booked  for  the  Capitol  starting 
August  21. 


Theatre,  Glen  Lyon,  Pa.;  Dixie  Theatre, 
Newport  News;  Diamond  Theatre.  Hazel- 
ton;  Family  Theatre,  Hazelton;  Strand 
Theatre,  Lancaster;  Elks  Theatre,  Middle- 
town,  Pa.;  Palace  Theatre,  McAdoo,  Pa.; 
Strand  Theatre,  McAd'oo,  Pa.;  Roxy  Thea- 
tre, Martinsville,  Pa. ;  Bijou  Theatre, 
Milton,  Pa. ;  Legionaire  Theatre,  Milton, 
Pa.;  Cockade  Theatre.  Petersburgh,  Va.; 
Idle  Hour  Theatre,  Petersburgh,  Va.;  Al- 
hambra  Theatre,  Pliiladelphia :  Penn  Thea- 
tre, Philadelphia;  Crosskeys  Theatre, 
Philadelphia;  Fairmont,  Philadelphia;  Elite 
Theatre,  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  Howard  Thea- 
tre, Philadelphia;  Eagle  Tiieatre,  Phila- 
delphia ;    Leader    Theatre,    Philaa'elphia. 

Model  Theatre,  Philadelphia;  New  Em- 
press Theatre,  Philadelphia:  Ideal  Thea- 
tre, Philadelphia:  Oxford  Theatre.  Pliila- 
delphia; Plaza  Theatre,  Philadelphia:  Rex 
Theatre,  Philadelphia;  Richmond  Theatre, 
Philaa'elphia;  Strand,  Philadelphia;  Wynne 
Theatre,  Philadelphia;  Capitol  Theatre, 
Scranton;  Majestic  Theatre,  Shamokin, 
Pa.;  Neutral  Theatre,  Simpson,  Pa.:  Lib- 
erty Theatre,  Philadelphia;  Maiestic  Thea- 
tre, Tamaqua,  Pa.;  Bijou  Theatre.  Tren- 
ton; Greenwood  Theatre,  Trenton:  Princess 
Theatre,  Trenton;  Strand  Theatre,  Tren- 
ton; State  Theatre,  Trenton;  Rialto  Thea- 
tre, Trenton;  Dunbar  Theatre,  Washing- 
ton; Capitol  Theatre,  Wilkes  Barre;  Na- 
tional theatre,  Wilmington;  Millwald 
Tiieatre,  Wytheville,  Pa. :  Hersker  Thea- 
tre, West  Hazelton:  Rialto  Theatre.  West 
Chester. 


Contracts  for  Big  4  productions 
have  been  closed  by  the  Capital  Film 
Exchange  of  New  York  as  follows : 

New  York  City:  Washington,  Pershing, 
Mecca  and  Claremont.  Brooklyn:  Wash- 
ington, Navarre,  Bay.  Crystal,  Nostrand. 
Rige,  Royal,  Venus,  Etude,  Garfield, 
Classic,  Miriam,  Mapleton,  Parkway,  Avon 
and  16tli  Street.  Other  snots  closed  were 
the  Embassy  at  Bayonne,  N.  T.;  Stratton, 
Mid'dlstown,  N.  Y.;  Raymond,  City  Island, 
N.   Y. 


In  Texas  Big  4  contracts  were 
closed  by  the  Allied  Film  Exchanges 
of  Dallas  on  the  new  series  of  12 
westerns  with  these  theatres : 

Opera  House,  Tacksboro.  Palace.  Over- 
ton; Odeon,  Fort  Worth;  National, 
Graham;  Crystal.  Gilmer;  Payne,  GLAD- 
WATER.      Gladwater. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  August  5,    1931 


Indie  Exhibs 
Are  Speeding 
Comeback 


{Continued  from   page    1) 

York  operator,  returns  to  the  inde- 
pendent fold  on  an  extensive  scale, 
is  expected  to  be  announced  within  a 
few  days.  Thirty-five  upstate  New 
York  houses  are  involved. 

More   Deals   Pending 

Fox  also  has  pending  deals  for  44 
other  New  York  state  and  Northern 
New  Jersey  theatres.  One  of  these  is 
with  Louis  Frisch  and  involves  15 
Brooklyn  theatres ;  another  is  with 
an  unnamed  independent  for  18  Long 
Island  and  seven  New  Jersey  houses. 
M.  Silverman  is  negotiating  for  three 
Fox  Bronx  houses,  the  Blenheim, 
Parkway  and  Belmont. 

Publix  has  just  completed  a  deal 
with  E.  J.  Sparks  under  terms  of 
which  his  Consolidated  Theatres  of 
I'^lorida  takes  over  nine  Florida  the- 
atres. This  is  part  of  the  general 
program  of  the  company  to  turn  over 
operation  of  theatres  to  its  local  part- 
ners, where  feasible. 

A  similar  deal  is  pending  in  North 
Carolina,  where  Publix-Kincey  is 
owned  50  per  cent  by  Publix  and  50 
per  cent  by  Robert  Wilby.  Publix 
proposes  to  sell  its  holdings  to  Wilby, 
it  is  stated. 

In  the  Kansas  City  territory,  Pub- 
lix recently  completed  a  deal  with 
Dubinsky  Brothers,  which  gives  them 
operation  of  the  houses  jointly  owned 
with  Publix.  Similar  deals  are  re- 
ported pending  in  a  number  of  spots. 

Warners    Divesting: 

In  the  Philadelphia  territory,  War- 
ners recently  began  divesting  itself  of 
a  number  of  houses  in  a  move  which 
placed  Ben  Amsterdam  back  in  the 
independent  spotlight.  Ben  August 
17  begins  operating  the  Atlanta  The- 
atre Co.,  with  12  houses  under  its 
control.  The  12  houses  will  be  taken 
over  from  Warners  and  include  the 
nine  houses  of  the  former  Jake  Fox 
circuit  and  three  other  Warner 
houses. 

Sale  of  the  houses  to  Amsterdam 
marks  the  first  time  that  Warners 
have  turned  back  houses  to  independ- 
ent operators.  Amsterdam  is  plan- 
ning acquisition  of  a  number  of  other 
houses,  and  Philadelphia  anticipates 
more  deals  to  mark  return  of  inde- 
pendent  exhibitors. 

In  addition  to  these  deals  with  dis- 
tributing-exhibiting firms,  the  last 
year  has  witnessed  a  general  return 
of  independent  operators.  Names 
long  familiar  in  exhibition  are  repre- 
sented in  this  development. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Three  Theatres  Play 
Lieutenant  Day,  Date 

(Co}ilini'cd  from  pane   1  I 

Uptown  and  the  picture  is  expected 
to  get  two  weeks  in  all  three  houses, 
giving  it  six  weeks  of  playing  time 
and  hastening  its  release  to  the  sub- 
sequent runs. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

RKO  Mgrs.  at  Meet 

Managers  of  the  various  RKO 
theatres  throughout  the  country  are 
in  New  York  attending  meetings  pre- 
sided over  by  Joseph  Plunkett.  The 
confabs  will  last  until  Thursday. 


150  Chicago  Houses 
Are  Ready  to  Close 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
throw  1,500  union  men  out  of  work 
instead  of  the  approximately  300  who 
would  be  discharged  under  the  one- 
man-in-the-booth  policy.  Exhibitors 
this  Monday  were  to  have  begun  op- 
eration of  their  own  projectors,  but 
last-minute  objections  delayed  the 
plan.  Such  a  move,  it  was  felt,  would 
work  a  hardship  on  other  theatrical 
unions,  as  a  general  walkout  would 
be  inevitable.  The  move  also  would 
work  a  hardship  on  theatres  not  a 
party  to  the  plan.  The  new  proposal 
puts  all  responsibility  in  the  matter 
upon  Maloy,  exhibitors  say. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

No  Unit  Fostered 
Chi  Operator  Probe 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

Prosecutor  Bellows  in  commenting  on 
AUied's  offer  of  co-operation. 

"Our  work  is  practically  over  now," 
said  Prosecutor  Bellows  in  comment- 
ing on  offers  of  co-operation.  "We 
have  been  in  possession  of  enough  evi- 
dence to  obtain  convictions  for  some 
time.  If  these  offers  had  come  two 
or  three  months  ago  when  it  was  ex- 
ceedingly difficult  to  obtain  co-opera- 
tion of  any  kind  to  further  the  investi- 
gation they  would  have  been  of  vastly 
more  value.  As  it  is,  all  that  can  be 
done  with  the  'war  chest'  the  Allied 
States  Association  is  reported  to  be 
raising  is  to  put  it  to  their  own  use  in 
making  private  investigations  or  in 
providing  additional  protection  for 
those  of  their  members  who  feel  they 
require  it.  However,  this  office  stands 
ready  to  furnish  protection  at  any 
time  to  any  one  legitimately  requiring 
it  through  having  aided  the  investiga- 
tion. 

"The  investigation  was  started  by 
an  accumulation  of  complaints  and 
pleas  for  aid  from  many  Chicago  ex- 
hibitors. Any  number  of  them  were 
not  affiliated  with  any  organization 
whatever,"  he  said. 

Complaints  had  been  received,  he 
said,  even  prior  to  the  city  election 
last  April,  but  action  was  not  taken 
until  it  was  evident  that  the  union's 
demands  would  force  numerous  thea- 
tre closings  here  this  summer. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

B,  &  K.  to  Splurge 
On  Newspaper  Ads 

Chicago — Increased  advertising  space 
in  all  Chicago  newspapers  will  be  em- 
ployed by  Publix-Balaban  &  Katz  for 
the  announcement  of  new  product 
bookings  beginning  today. 

The  copy  will  describe  the  new 
product  as  the  best  ever  made  availa- 
ble to  theatres,  reflecting  the  most  re- 
cent technical  improvements  and  based 
on  better  story  material,  acting  and 
direction,  according  to  W.  K.  Hol- 
lander, advertising  manager.  The 
new  product  advertising  will  run  in 
addition  to  the  space  regularly  used 
by    Publix-Balaban    &    Katz    theatres. 

The  circuit's  new  show  season  will 
be  opened  in  its  five  Loop  theatres 
with  such  bookings  as  "Merely  Marv 
Anne,"  "An  American  Tragedy," 
"Monkey  Business,"  "Trans-Atlantic," 
"Huckleberry  Finn,"  "Bad  Girl,"  "Su- 
san Lenox,"  "This  Modern  Age." 
"Confessions  of  a  Co-Ed"  and 
"Bought." 


Meyer-Reiger  Erpi  Studies 
Adopts  Trailer  Course  on  New 


Franchise  Plan 


(Continued   from   page    1) 

tors.  This  staff  of  six  men  will  work 
under  Walter  J.  Freudenberger,  gen- 
eral sales  manager.  Contracts  will 
be  for  five  year  periods  on  a  sliding 
scale.  Meyer-Reiger  will  guarantee 
to  spend  $25,000  annually  on  national 
advertising. 

The  Meyer-Reiger  trailers  will  con- 
sist of  action  stills  animated  with 
color  interspersed  wherever  it  is 
needed.  It  will  also  have  an  off 
screen  voice  synchronized,  announc- 
ing the  high  lights  of  the  coming  at- 
tractions and  each  trailer  will  be  syn- 
chronized with  music  and  dialogue. 

There  will  be  three  types  of  trail- 
ers:  De  Luxe  of  about  150  feet.  Class 
2  A  about  100  feet,  and  Class  3  B 
about  65  feet. 

All  production  work  will  be  car- 
ried on  in  New  York  and  service  will 
be  done  through  the  28  franchise 
holders. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Claim  $300,000,000 
P,P,  Property  Value 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

made  in  the  suit  for  triple  damages 
aggregating  $3,750,000  brought  against 
the  company  by  E.  M.  Loew  circuit 
and  affiliates.  Coercion,  unlawful 
agreements  and  combinations,  threats 
and  other  unlawful  acts  are  charged 
in   the   complaint. 

The  six  plaintiffs  are :  Canitol 
Amusement  Co.,  Lynn,  asking  $250,- 
000  damages ;  Loew's  Pawtucket  The- 
atre, Inc..  $250,000;  Loew's,  Inc., 
Boston.  $150,000:  Loew's  Enterprises, 
Inc.,  Boston,  $200,000:  Dorchester 
Theatre  Co.,  Boston,  $250,000,  and 
Hudson  Amusement  Co.,  Boston, 
$150,000. 

Neither  Charles  C.  McCarthy,  Par- 
amount public  relations  head,  nor  Aus- 
tin Keough,   Publix  counsel,  could  be 
reached  yesterday  for  a  statement. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Theatre  for  Colleae 

Winter  Park  Fla. — A  theatre  to 
cost  $100,000  will  be  built  here  for 
Rollins  College,  a  gift  to  the  institu- 
tion from  Mrs.  Edward  W.  Bok.  of 
Philadelohia.  Mrs.  Bok  is  the  widow 
of  the  builder  of  the  famous  Bok 
Singing  Tower  at  Lake  Wells.  Con- 
tract for  the  construction  of  the  new 
theatre  has  been  let  to  Geo.  C.  Hess- 
ler  of  Jacksonville.  The  theatre  will 
he  named  the  Annie  Russell. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sfartina  Another 

Hollywood — Nat  Levine,  president 
of  Mascot  Pictures,  has  beeun  nrepa- 
rations  for  the  earlv  production  of 
"The  Galloping  Ghost."  in  which  Har- 
nld  ("Red")  Grange.  Illinois  halfback. 
^vilI  he  starred.  B.  Reaves  CRreezy) 
F.qson.  director  of  Levine's  "The  Van- 
ishing Legion,"  Mascot's  first  serial 
of  the  s<»ason,  will  direct. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Thomas  Transferred 

Okt.attoma  City — Ray  Thomas, 
formerly  house  manager  of  the  Lib- 
erty here,  has  been  transferred  to  the 
same  nosition  at  the  Mid-West.  Both 
are  Warner  houses.  He  succeeds  Roy 
Eby,  resigned. 


Patent  Suits 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

against  further  use  of  the  infringing 
equipment  also  was  issued. 

Former  Federal  Judge  John  R. 
Hazel  was  named  Special  Master  to 
determine  the  amount  of  damages 
Wallerstein  should  pay  Erpi.  Three 
patents  of  the  Western  Electric  sys- 
tem are  declared  infringed  by  the 
Pacent  equipment.  Wallerstein  was 
defended  by  Warners. 

"BUY  RICHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Only  2  in  Baltimore 
Sign  for  Para.,  MGM 

(Continued  from  page  I) 

Irvington,  have  signed  so  far  to  play 
pictures  of  the  former  company  be- 
cause their  contracts  were  made  prior 
to  the  adoption  of  the  resolution  on 
June    11. 

So  far  as  known  no  residential 
house  in  Baltimore  has  signed  for 
M-G-M  productions  for  the  1932  sea- 
son. It  is  estimated  that  unless  offi- 
cials of  those  companies  make  some 
arrangement  by  which  their  product 
can  be  bought  on  a  flat  basis  as  well 
as  percentage,  the  residential  houses 
will  hold  them  out,  which  will  cause 
a  loss  to  those  companies  here  of 
about  $150,000  for  the  season. 

There  are  reports  around  that  per- 
haps these  companies  may  try  to  buy 
in  enough  residential  houses  at  stra- 
tegic points  in  the  city  for  an  outlet 
for  their  product.  Last  year  report 
was  that  the  Durkee  chain  had  been 
sold  to  Warners.  This  did  not  mate- 
rialize,  howevei. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Screen  University" 
Proves  a  Success 

Buffalo — A  whole  day's  instruc- 
tion through  the  use  of  talking  pic- 
tures, using  one  of  several  programs 
developed  by  Electrical  Research 
Products,  was  tried  out  before  1,300 
summer  students  at  the  Buffalo  State 
Teachers  College.  Dr.  George  B. 
Neumann,  co-director  of  the  summer 
session,  praising  the  "screen  uni- 
versity," said  it  is  a  "promising  de- 
velopment and  foretells  the  time  when 
students  will  have  the  benefit  of  not 
only  a  single  staff  of  educators,  but 
of  the  country's  best  in  the  field." 

Methods  of  teaching  reading  were 
demonstrated  in  two  reels  by  Dr. 
Arthur  I.  Gates,  Teachers  College, 
Columbia  University ;  scientific  meth- 
ods for  diagnosing  and  remedying 
difficulties  in  learning  arithmetic,  by 
Dr.  G.  T.  Buswell,  educator ;  and 
Dr.  David  Eugene  Smith  was  heard 
in  a  lecture  on  "The  Play  of  Imagi- 
nation in  Geometry." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Atlantic  City  Bids 
For  Producing  Firms 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

Exhibitor.  Negotiations  are  expected 
to  be  opened  soon,  the  publication 
states,  with  a  number  of  companies, 
among  them  the  Charlie  Chaplin  or- 
ganizations. Mayor  Bacharach  is 
backing  the  movement,  it  is  stated. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 
Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


^OL.  30.    NO.  57 


NEW   YORK,   THURSDAY,   AUGUST   6,    1931 


TEN  CENTS 


VI-G-M  Would 
Buy  Back  N.J. 
Deal  Contract 


Vitaphone  's  5th  Anniversary 

1  ODAY  marks  the  fifth  anniversary  of  that 
vast  and  fundamental  development  in  motion  picture  enter- 
tainment which  came  with  the  introduction  of  sound. 


Reported  Move  to  Pave 
Way  for  Warner  Sale 

With  a  deal  with  Warners  now  ap- 
earing  imminent,  M-G-M  is  under- 
tood  trying  to  buy  back  the  contract 
lade  with  Prudential  Theatres  in  New 
ersey,  which  gives  that  firm  the  new 
eason  product  in  five  Jersey  spots  in 
pposition  to  Warners. 

William  Scully,  district  manager  for 
/[-G-M,  says  he  has  no  knowledge  of 
fforts  to  buy  back  the  Prudential 
ontract,  it  is  understood  that  Leon 
Rosenblatt,  of  the  theatre  firm,  has 
ejected  offers  said  to  have  been  made 
lim  in  this  connection.    M-G-M  closed 

iCjiitinucd    on    l^agc    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sang  Films  Hit  by 
Police  Association 

Schenectady  —  Gangster  films 
A'hich  "tend  to  glorify  the  criminal" 
were  condemned  in  a  resolution 
massed  by  the  New  York  State  Police 
Benevolent  Association,  which  plans 
to  take  its  protest  direct  to  producers. 
k  letter  of  protest  is  to  be  dispatched 
by  the  organization  to  producing 
firms. 

Gangsters  should  be  shown  up  in 
their  true  light  as  public   enemies,   it 

{Continued    on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

British  Strides 
Shown  in  Profits 

London — Reflecting  the  forward 
strides  made  this  year  by  British  com- 
panies, British  International  Pictures 
reports  a  trading  profit  of  |933,305  for 
the  year  ending  March  31  compared 
with  $890,000  for  the  same  period  of 
the  preceding  year.  Dividend  on  the 
common  will  be  eight  per  cent,  the 
same  as  last  year. 

Associated  British  Cinemas'  profit 
for  the  same  period  is  $2,157,255  com- 
paring with  $1,411,695  for  the  previous 
year.  This  firm  also  will  pay  dividend 
of  eight  per  cent  on  the  common. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Companies  Speed  Up 
Producing  Abroad 

London  —  American  producers  are 
speeding  their  plans  for  production  of 
pictures  here,  with  Warners  the  lat- 
est firm  to  consider  British  films. 
Paramount,  which  recently  completed 
"These  Charming  People,"  at  EUs- 
iContinued   on   page    2) 


f  IVE  years  ago  this  evening  Warner 
Brothers  presented  at  the  Warner  Theatre  on  Broadway,  New 
York,  their  production  of  "Don  Juan,"  proclaiming  to  the  world 
the  arrival  of  the  audible  screen. 

Like  in  the  case  of  many  another  great  development,  its 
merits  and  far-reaching  consequences  w^ere  not  universally 
recognized.  The  usual  skepticism  attended  the  exhibition  of 
the  first  production  in  sound.  Many  leading  showmen  limited 
their  approval  to  carefully-guarded  expressions  w^hich  did 
nothing  more  than  recognize  what  they  believed  to  be  only  the 
appearance  of  an  interesting  novelty.  Others,  more  cynically 
inclined,  thought  that  the  technic  of  story-telling  upon  the 
screen  had  been  hurt  and  not  helped. 

I N  the  face  of  all  of  this  there  was  no  lessen- 
ing whatsoever  in  the  confidence  of  the  Warner  Brothers  in 
the  development  w^hich  they  were  the  first  in  the  industry  to 
recognize  and  properly  evaluate;  there  was  no  wavering  in 
their  determination  to  carry  on.  How^  w^ell  justified  was 
their  confidence  and  how  successful  they  were  in  furthering, 
artistically  and  commercially,  the  audible  screen  are  now^  mat- 
ters of  common  knowledge. 

i-  HIS  five  year  anniversary  must  be  also  the 
occasion  of  much  gratification  to  that  vast  scientific  organiza- 
tion, the  Western  Electric  Company,  a  subsidiary  of  one  of  the 
world's  greatest  businesses — The  American  Telephone  auid 
Telegraph  Company.  The  commercial  use  of  sound  and  the 
spoken  w^ord  in  motion  picture  entertainment  w^as  a  realizatioii 
out  of  years  of  diligent,  expert  and  expensive  experiment  in 
the  laboratories  of  the  Western  Electric  Company. 

The  motion  picture  has  benefitted  tremendously  from  this 
development. 

To  these  enterprising  pioneers  who  were  responsible  for  its 
realization,  the  industry — and  the  public,  as  well — owes  both 
gratitude  and  appropriate  recognition. 

MARTIN     QUIGLEY. 


Unit  System 
Of  Production 
Gains  Impetus 

Goldstone  and  Bachmann 
Are  Latest  Recruits 


Unconcerned  Over 
Musician  Absence 

Indianapolis — While  there  has  been 
no  change  in  the  deadlock  existing 
between  musicians  and  local  theatres, 
the  union  expects  to  reach  an  agree- 
ment within  a  month  to  return  musi- 
cians to  the  theatre.  Meanwhile,  how- 
ever, showmen  found  business  so  good 
over  the  week-end  that  they  are  not 
concerned  in  the  situation.  The  Lyric 
and  Indiana  dropped  stage  shows  last 
(Continued    on    page    2) 


Steady  Climb  of 
Grosses  Continues 

Grosses  of  164  theatres  in  28  cities 
for  the  week  ending  last  Thursday 
and  Friday  totaled  $2,044,696,  which 
was  an  increase  of  $52,263  over  the 
preceding  week,  a  check-up  of  Motion 
Picture  Daily  box  office  estimates 
shows. 

The  figures  reflect  the  steady  gain 
being  made  by  theatres  in  these  key 
cities  during  recent  weeks.  Last 
(Continued   on   page   2) 


Hollywood — Swing  to  unit  produc- 
tion is  gaining  impetus,  with  a  num- 
ber of  veteran  producers  declaring  for 
the  system  and  preparing  to  strike  out 
on  their  own. 

The  latest  recruits  are  Phil  Gold- 
stone  and  Jack  Bachmann,  both  of 
whom  formerly  were  active  in  the 
independent  field.  Goldstone  has 
relinquished  his  post  as  Tiffany  pro- 
duction chief  in  order  to  strike  out  at 
the  head  of  his  own  producing  firm. 
Likewise,  Bachmann  has  retired  from 
Paramount,  where  he  has  been  an 
assistant  to  Schulberg,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  producing  six  pictures  on  his 

{Continued    on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tiffany  Set  to 

Sail,  Cook  Says 

With  its  stories  for  the  new  year 
selected  and  most  of  the  scripts 
completed  or  in  preparation,  Tiffany 
is  set  to  resume  production  this  week, 
states  Grant  L.  Cook,  executive  vice 
president.  Sam  Bischoff,  who  re- 
signed from  Universal  to  become  pro- 
duction chief  for  the  studio,  will  start 
work  on  "X  Marks  the  Spot"  and 
"Branded"  as  his  first  efforts. 

Meanwhile,  James  Cruze  is  prepar- 
ing production  of  "Racetrack,"  which 
will  star  Leo  Carrillo.  Already  com- 
pleted on   the  new   line-up  are  "Wo- 

(Continued    on    pane    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Dismissal  Denied 
In  W.  E.  Patent  Suit 

Judge  Coleman,  of  the  United 
States  District  Court,  Southern  Dis- 
trict of  New  York,  yesterday  sustain- 
ed Western  Electric  Corporation  in 
denying  the  motions  of  General 
Talking  Pictures  to  dismiss,  for  lack 
of  jurisdiction  the  patent  infringe- 
ment suits  brought  by  the  Western 
Electric  Company.  Judge  Coleman 
also  denied  General  Talking  Pictures' 

(Continued    on    pane    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

John  Considine  May 
Remain  on  Fox  Lot 

Lo.s  Angeles — John  Considine,  Jr., 
may  not  be  leaving  Fox  as  previously 
reported,  it  is  indicated  bv  his  assign- 
ment to  direct  Victor  McLaglen  and 
Edmund  Lowe  in  "Disorderly  Con- 
duct." Meanwhile  he  is  planning  to 
leave  for  New  York. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  August  6,   1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.   S.  Patent  Office 

Formtrly    Exhibitors    Daily    Revtew 

and  Moiion  Pictures  Today 


\ol. 


August  6.   1931 


No.   57 


Martin    Quiglby 

EditoT-in-Chtef  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
Advertising  Manager 


^t^wt^  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
!■  I  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
><!<   Daily,   Inc.,  a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Tafephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"QuiKpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
coprrtghted.  ,        „  , ., 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
J.  Johnslon,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondemt:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope.  S-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
I/ondon,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,  under   Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Gang  Films  Hit  by 
Police  Association 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

was  asserted  in  a  resolution  passed  at 
Wednesday's  meeting. 


Gang  Films  Rapped 
By  Brooklyn  Judge 

Declaring  the  industry  has  only 
itself  to  blame  for  the  poor  business 
about  which  he  says  it  is  complaining, 
Judge  Taylor  in  County  Court 
Brooklyn  rapped  gang  films  in  sen- 
tencing to  the  reformatory  two  youth- 
ful gunmen  who  said  they  received 
their   inspiration   from   gang  pictures. 

"Gangster  and  sex  pictures,  which 
seem  to  predominate,  are  killing  the 
goose  that  lays  the  golden  eggs,"  he 
said.  "No  responsible  parent  cares  to 
take  children  to  these  pictures. 
Maybe  some  day  the  industry  will 
again  become  respectable ;  but  until 
then  it  will  not  be  a  financial  success." 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Steady  Climb  of 

Grosses  Continue 

(Continued   from   paqc    1) 

week's  figures  by  cities  follow : 

City  No.  Theatres  Gross 

Albany     4  $24,500 

Baltimore     7  60,400 

Boston     8  153,500 

Buffalo    5  81.300 

Charlotte    2  17,500 

Chicago     8  173,865 

Cincinnati    7  70,832 

aeveland     7  81,000 

Denver     S  48,500 

Des    Moines     3  26,800 

Houston      4  25,400 

Indianapolis     S  45,200 

Kansas    City    S  53,300 

Los    Angeles    13  150,500 

Minneapolis      5  52,000 

Montreal    6  47,000 

Milwaukee     6  54,300 

New  York   City   U  293,924 

Oklahoma    City    4  26,300 

Omaha     4  32,000 

OtUwa     4  13,875 

Philadelphia      8  132,400 

Portland     5  41,400 

Providence-    5  43,900 

San  Francisco  9  164,100 

Seattle     S  40,000 

St.   Paul   4  33,300 

Toronto     5  57.600 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Signs  Helen  Mack 

Helen  Mack,  grownup  child  player, 
has  been  signed  by  Fox.  She  leaves 
August  14  for  Hollywood. 


M-G-M  Would 
Buy  Back  N.J. 
Deal  Contract 


(Continued  from  page    1) 

the  deal,  it  is  said,  when  it  appeared 
that  an  impasse  with  Warners  )iad 
been  reached. 

When  he  negotiated  the  deal,  Rosen- 
blatt is  said  to  have  insisted  upon 
inunediate  approval  of  the  contract 
after  terms  had  been  reached. 

M-G-M  is  said  to  be  the  only  com 
pany  to  have  given  Prudential  its 
entire  output  in  opposition  to  War- 
ners. Paramount  and  Fox  have  split 
their  product  between  Prudential  and 
Warners,  it  is  said. 

Rosenblatt  could  not  be  reached  for 
a  statement. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Companies  Speed  Up 
Producing  Abroad 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

tree,  was  so  pleased  with  the  result 
that  a  permanent  unit  is  to  be  main- 
tained here  with  Walter  Morosco  in 
charge.  Fox  recently  completed  "Two 
Crowded  Hours"  as  its  initial  British 
picture. 

Meanwhile,  Universal  is  said  to  be 
considering  production  in  Paris  with 
its  new  ally,  Consortium  International 
Cinematographique. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Dismissal  Denied 
In  W,  E,  Patent  Suit 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

motion  to  withdraw  their  general 
apoearance. 

The  decision  means  that  General 
Talking  Pictures  must  file,  within  the 
next  five  days,  an  answer  to  the 
patent  infringement  suits  brought  by 
Western  Electric  that  have  been 
before  the  United  States  District 
Court,  Southern  District  of  New 
York,  for  almost  a  year. 


Unconcerned  Over 
Musician  Absence 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

Friday  following  a  dispute  with  musi- 
cians. 

On  a  check  at  the  Indiana,  a 
Skouras-Publix  house,  Sunday  it  was 
found  that  more  people  attended  the 
theatre  than  on  either  of  the  two  pre- 
vious Sundays.  With  the  reduction 
of  price  from  65  cents  top  to  50  cents 
anywhere  in  the  house,  the  amount 
taken  in  was  practically  the  same  as 
the  two  previous  Sundays. 

At  the  Lyric  Fourth  Ave.  house, 
according  to  the  manager,  A.  J.  Kala- 
berer,  considering  the  amount  of 
money  taken  oflf  of  the  overhead,  they 
are  making  more  money  without 
vaudeville.  Of  course  this  statement 
only  considers  the  week  end. 

No  refunds  were  recorded  at  the 
Indiana  and  there  were  only  a  few 
protests  at  the  Lyric.  Those  were 
mostly  from  out  of  towners  who  ex- 
I>ected  to  see  vaudeville. 

Rumor  around  town  has  it  that  the 
Indiana  will  return  to  stage  shows 
when  the  Fanchon  and  Marco  units 
start  coming  through  in  place  of  the 
Publix  units  which  they  used  in  the 
past. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tiffany  Is  All  Set  to 
Sail,  Cook  Says 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

men  Go  On  Forever,"  and  a  feature 
temporary  titled  "The  Monster 
Kills,"  Title  of  the  latter  will  be 
changed.  Burt  Kelly  is  temporarily 
stationed  at  the  studio  representing 
the  eastern  office. 

Cook  expressed  enthusiasm  over 
prospects  of  Tiflfany  under  its  new 
arrangement  which  gives  Educational 
physical  distribution  of  the  product. 
TifTany  plans  12  pictures  as  specials 
in  addition  to  its  program  pictures 
for  1931-32. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Start  Oct.  1 

Distribution  of  Meyer-Reiger  trail- 
ers will  start  October  1,  instead  of 
August  15. 


Market  Off;  19,600  Sales  For  Fox 


High 

Kastman     Kodak 136 

Fox    Film    "A" ]5'A 

Gcmeral    Theatre    Equip,    new 3^ 

I^ocw's    Inc 46'A 

Paramount    Publix     23% 

Pathe    Exchange    VA 

RKO     UVi 

Warner    Bros 7^ 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

133*4 

134'^ 

-2'A 

4,100 

14'4 

1454 

-m 

19,600 

3'/^ 

3'/^ 

-  % 

5,100 

46 

46 

-  'A 

2,800 

23 

23 

-H 

2,300 

l'/2 

VA 

1,200 

13'/, 

U'A 

-  a 

4,000 

T'A 

7K4 

-  'A 

4,900 

Curb  Issues  Also  Decline 


High 

Columbia    Pictures    11^ 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc 10 

Fox  Theatres   "A"    2^ 

General    Theatre    Equip,    pfd 6'A 

Sentry    Safety    Control ^ 

Technicolor    7 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

11'/. 

nn 

+  Vi 

500 

10 

10 

100 

2V< 

2'A 

-  H 

700 

5-4 

554 

-H 

5,500 

.y« 

H 

-Vi 

6O0 

6y, 

7 

-54 

600 

Bond  List  Irregular 


Unit  System 
Of  Production 
Gains  Impetus 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

own  this  year.  His  company  will  be 
Famous  Attractions  and  M.  H.  Hoff- 
man will  be  a  partner. 

The  new  moves  follow  that  of 
David  Selznick,  who  resigned  as  one 
of  the  Paramount  studio  chieftains  to 
become  an  independent.  Selznick  has 
teamed  with  Lewis  Milestone.  Nine 
units  are  scheduled  to  be  enrolled 
under  their  banner. 

Meanwhile,  Walter  Camp,  Emil 
Jensen,  Fred  Stokes,  and  Alfred 
Mannon  have  formed  Patrician 
Films,  planning  six  features  for  inde- 
pendent release.  Howard  Hughes  of 
Caddo  is  continuing  his  unit  system  of 
production.  In  addition,  a  number  of 
directors,  notably  Cecil  B.  De  Mille, 
are  considering  formation  of  a  direc- 
tors' Guild  for  unit  production. 

Prior  to  his  departure  for  Europe, 
De  Mille  in  New  York  made  to 
Motion  Picture  Daily  a  scathing 
indictment  of  the  "machine"  system 
and  said  unit  production  was  the  solu- 
tion to  the  problem  of  good  pictures. 

Considerable  encouragement  was 
given  to  the  independent  movement 
when  Paramount  took  over  Liberty's 
"The  Mad  Parade"  for  release  and 
Universal  took  over  Liberty's 
"Mother's  Millions."  The  company  is 
said  to  be  willing  to  consider  any 
independent  product  of  merit.  Harry 
Cohn  of  Columbia  recently  stated  that 
he  was  interested  in  looking  over 
independent  product  for  release 
through  his  firm. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Talkers  Clicking  in 
Philippines — Roth 

Talking  pictures  are  all  the  rage 
and  silent  pictures  are  passing  out  in 
the  Philippines,  according  to  W._  J. 
Roth,  Erpi  manager  who  supervised 
the  first  Western  Electric  installation 
at  the  Rialto  in  Manila  and  is  home 
on  a  vacation  after  two  years'  con- 
tinuous service  abroad. 

There  are  13  Western  Electric 
Sound  Systems  functioning  in  the 
islands  but  ten  of  them  are  located  in 
the  large  cities. 

"This  is  not  a  surprising  condition 
when  one  realizes  how  many  native 
dialects  there  are  and  that  only  about 
25  per  cent  of  the  entire  population 
understands  and  speaks  English," 
Roth  declared. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Solomon  Sales  Mgr. 
Of  Hollywood  Picts, 

Meyer  Solomon  has  been  appointed 
sales  manager  of  the  Hollywood  Pic- 
tures exchange.  New  York,  by  Jack 
Bellman  and  Adolph  Pollak.  Holly- 
wood is  to  distribute  the  24  Peerless 
features. 


High 

General    Theatre   Equip.   6s   '40 295/^ 

lyjew's   6s   '41    ex   war ^'A 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 90J4 

Paramount   Publix  S54s,   '50 79 

Pathe   7s    '37   ww 911/J 

Warner   Bros.    6s    '39   wd 45j^ 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

27 

27 

^ 

7 

97'A 

975^ 

—  54 

1 

90 

90^4 

+  M 

12 

7854 

79 

-1-1 

16 

91  Vi 

915^ 

1 

45 

4554 

■4 

Sound  Recording 

FILM    AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY      RECORDING     CO.     of 

AMERICA,    INC 

1841    Broadway— New    York,    N.    Y. 

Columbus    5-3181-3182 


''SPORTING  BLOOD'' 
A  $2  PICTURE  IS 
COMING  DIRECT  TO 
YOUR  THEATRE! 

Any  other  company  would  have  road -showed  '' Sporting 

Blood."  Coast  reviewers  gave  a  hint  of  its  importance  when  they 
previewed  it,  ''Brought  forth  a  panic  of  applause  at  the  conclusion/' 
states  the  Hollywood  Herald.  ''It  will  be  loved  and  cheered  and  wept 
over  'till  it  takes  a  top-notch  place  in  this  season's  record,"  says 
Motion  Picture  Daily.  Then  the  print  came  East  and  it  became  the 
talk  of  New  York's  film  row. 

^^Sporting  Blood"  belongs  in  the  Astor  Theatre  for  a  $2 

engagement.  But  M-G-M  will  release  it  immediately  to  exhibitors.  This 
summer,  as  never  before,  M-G-M  with  its  release  (just  to  name  a  few) 
of  Dressler-Moran  in  "Politics";  Norma  Shearer  in  "A  Free  Soul";  Greta 
Garbo  in  "Susan  Lenox"  and  now  "Sporting  Blood"  is  virtually  keeping 
hundreds  of  theatres  alive!  Exhibitors  are  frank  in  telling  us  that! 
And  we  are  meeting  the  needs  of  exhibitors  with  product  that  is  keep- 
ing seats  filled.  For  those  exhibitors  who  are  now  making  deals  on  next 
season's  film  service  it  is"  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  M-G-M  is  more  than 
a  fair  weather  friend.  M-G-M  is  your  hot  weather  friend  too,  depend- 
able when  things  are  right  and  equally  dependable  when  adverse  con- 
ditions have  to  be  faced! 

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER 

The  Industry's  Leader! 


UNPARALLEL 

DRAMA 

of  uncharted,  barbaric  jungles... with  thrilling  eye- 
to-eye  experiences  in  terrible  tropic  lands  . . .  with 
strange  wild  jungle  beasts  woven  into  the  romantic 
story  in  a  manner  unsurpassed  on  any  screen  .  .  . 
Story. . .  stars  and  background  . .  .What  a  money- 
getting  combination  to  24-sheet  to  a  waiting  world. 

BIG   PICTURE 
NUMBER  3  ON 

UNIVERSALS 


0 


Greatest  line-up  with 

ROSE  HOBART 


CHARLES  BICKFi 


A 


A 


I  <  v* 


Presented  by  Carl  Laemmie 
(  /      Produced  by  Carl  Laemmie,  Jr. 

Directed  by 

GEORGE 
MELFORD 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  August  6,   1931 


Vitaphone   Celebrates  Fifth  Anniversary 


First  Program 
Brought  New 
Era  for  Screen 


Completely  revolutionized  by  a  new 
form  of  entertainment  at  which  it 
first  scoflfed  derisively,  later  tolerated 
and  then  stampeded  to  in  force,  the 
motion  picture  industry  today  joins 
hands  with  Warners  in  observing  the 
fifth  anniversary  of  the  sbund  picture. 

It  was  just  five  years  ago  tonight 
that  X'itaphone,  billed  to  "thrill  the 
world,"  came  through  on  that  promise 
to  create  a  real  sensation  in  the  in- 
dustry. Five  years  of  struggle  and 
hardship  against  doubt  and  ridicule, 
five  years  of  striving  toward  the  goal 
—its"  way  lighted  chiefly  by  the  fore- 
sight and  courage  of  the  Warner 
brothers— that  is  the  history  of  Vita- 
phone  which  today  finds  fulfilled  every 
dream  and  prophecy  of  its  sponsors. 

Real  foresight  actuated  the  Warners 
when  they  took  up  the  challenge  of 
sound  pictures  and  worked  with  West- 
ern Electric  to  meet  that  challenge. 
It  was  the  foresight  of  showmen,  who 
saw  in  the  embryonic  new  medium  of 
expression  the  hope  of  reviving  a 
public's  failing  interest  in  the  motion 
picture. 

But  it  took  real  courage  as  vvell, 
for  the  Warners  were  met  on  all  sides 
by  scoflFers  and  doubting  Thomases, 
who  were  sure  that  it  was  "just  too 
bad"  for  the  boys,  who  were  gambling 
their  all  on  the  new  development. 

The  failures  which  had  strewn  the 
path  toward  synchrony  of  sight  and 
sound  were  numerous  and  were  re- 
counted by  the  doubters  who  prophe- 
sied the  Warners'  efforts  would  meet 
similar  result. 

The  Guiding  Force 

In  these  trying  days  of  hope  and 
uncertainty,  the  guiding  and  driving 
force  was  the  late  Sam  Warner,  who 
envisioned  the  tremendous  revolution 
sound  pictures  were  destined  to  bring 
about  and  who  lived  to  see  his  dreams 
fulfilled  and  his  judgment  vindicated 
before  his  untimely  death  occurred 
just  when  sound  pictures  were  coming 
into  their   own. 

After  the  long  months  of  experi- 
ments and  tests,  the  new  entertain- 
ment was  ready  for  the  acid  test  of 
public  opinion.  Warners  had  taken 
over  Hammerstein's  old  temple,  the 
Manhattan  Opera  House,  and  there 
had  bent  their  efforts  to  making  talk- 
ing films  which  would  strike  the  popu- 
lar fancy. 

When  all  was  considered  in  readi- 
ness, 600  billboards  in  New  York  car- 
ried the  vivid  promise  that  Vitaphone 
was  coming  "to  thrill  the  world."  That 
was  the  only  promise  made,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  dictate  of  H.  M. 
Warner.  He  had  thrilled  to  a  demon- 
stration of  the  finished  product  and 
stuck  to  promise  of  thrilling  the  public 
only  in  all  advance  copy. 

There  were  three  openings  of  the 
original  program  on  which  so  much 
depended.  The  first  was  on  August  4 
for  scientists  and  technicians  of  the 
American  Telephone  &  Telegraph  Co., 
the  Bell  Laboratories  and  Western 
Electric.  The  second  was  for  the  ex- 
ecutives    and     attaches     of     Warner 


They  Gave  Us  Talkers 


H.   M.    Warner 


Albert   Warner 


"Jazz  Singer'' 
Led  Stampede 
To  Sound  Film 


Jack   Warner 


The  late  Sam   Warner 


Brothers  and  the  third  night,  the  pub- 
lic was  admitted. 

The  Night  of  Nights 

A  representative  audience  gathered 
that  night  of  August  6,  1926,  to  wit- 
ness film  history  in  the  making.  What 
it  saw  when  the  house  was  darkened 
was  the  image  of  Will  H.  Hays  walk 
onto  the  screen  to  congratulate  the 
Warners  on  their  momentous  under- 
taking and  to  prophesy  many  of  the 
developments  which  the  ensuing  five 
years  witnessed. 

Then  followed  the  regular  screen 
program.  The  New  York  Philhar- 
monic Orchestra  under  the  direction 
of  Henry  Hadley  played  the  Tann- 
hauser  Overture ;  Marion  Talley,  then 
a  reigning  Metropolitan  Opera  House 
star,  gave  an  aria  from  an  opera; 
Efrem  Zimbalist  gave  a  violin  selec- 
tion, Harold  Bauer  was  heard  at  the 
piano  and  Anna  Case  was  heard  with 
the  Metropolitan  Opera  House  chorus 
in  a  one-act  opera,  "La  Fiesta."  The 
highlight  of  the  program  was  the 
singing  of  "II  Pagliacci"  by  Martinelli, 
a  number  that  is  still  in  demand. 

The  feature  picture,  John  Barry- 
more  in  "Don  Juan,"  then  came  and 
simply  boasted  of  a  synchronized  mu- 
sical score  played  by  the  Philharmonic 
Orchestra. 

Warners  saw  in  the  reception  of  the 
opening  bill  great  success.  Their  cour- 
age and  belief  never  wavered.  They 
did  see  the  necessity  of  going  slowly 
and  for  a  time  they  confined  them- 
selves to  the  making  of  short  num- 
bers and  giving  their  feature  pictures 
only   a   synchronized    musical   setting. 

The  promise  of  the  Vitaphone  thrill 


was  fulfilled.  Public  reaction  proved 
that  and  the  box-office  at  the  Warner 
Theatre  added  further  testimony  to 
the  fact. 

In  the  industry,  however,  opinion 
was  divided.  General  opinion  was 
that  a  new  novelty  had  been  secured, 
but  many  were  skeptical  that  the  new 
"toy"  could  supplant  the  silent  film. 
Why,  the  very  first  essential  of  pic- 
tures' appeal  was  silence,  it  was 
pointed  out.  Films  spoke  a  universal 
language  and  sight  and  sound  couldn't 
mix. 

Industry  leaders  were  frankly  indif- 
ferent to  the  new  development.  Ex- 
hibitors were  apathetic  and  the  wiring 
of  theatres  to  show  the  new  sound 
pictures  was  a  slow  process. 

"Jazz  Singer"  Starts  Stampede 

Rut  the  Warners  refused  to  be 
daunted  and  went  steadily  forward. 
Their  progress  v/as  slow  and  sure  in 
paving  the  way  for  a  talking  screen, 
as  an  evolution  of  the  musical  screen 
they  had  introduced.  Succeeding  feat- 
ures were  synchronized  only. 

With  the  novelty  of  synchronized 
pictures  wearing  off,  and  the  doubt- 
ters  ready  for  the  "I-told-you-soes" 
of  Vitaphone's  wake,  Warners  came 
forward  October  5,  1927  with  "The 
Jazz  Singer,"  presented  at  the  War- 
ner Theatres.  In  that  picture,  the 
star,  Al  Jolson,  sang  several  songs 
and  appeared  in  one  dialogue  sequence. 

From  that  night  on  the  success  of 
sound  pictures  was  assured.  The  Jol- 
son film  created  an  immediate  and 
tremendous  sensation.  However,  there 
were  but  a  handful  of  theatres 
throughout    the    country    equipped    to 


show  Vitaphone  films.  In  introduc- 
ing, "Don  Juan,"  "The  Better  'Ole," 
and  "The  Jazz  Singer,"  Warners  in 
many  instances  were  compelled  to 
lease  and  wire  theatres. 

"The  Jazz  Singer"  started  the 
stampede.  From  every  section  of  the 
nation  came  orders  for  reproducing 
equipment  and  the  fast-spreading  revo- 
lution sounded  the  deathknell  of  silent 
films.  There  was  lively  debate  rag- 
ing in  the  industry  as  to  just  how  far 
the  Warners  could  go  in  flirting  with 
dialogue.  Some  argued  that  the  pub- 
lic would  never  stand  for  a  talking 
screen,  the  aura  of  silence  had  to  be 
maintained. 

Completing  the  Revolution 

With  characteristic  canniness,  the 
Warners  prepared  for  the  new  de- 
velopment. "Old  San  Francisco"  in- 
troduced sound  effects,  in  which  the 
roar  of  flames  and  the  crash  of  walls 
came  from  the  screen.  There  fol- 
lowed snatches  of  dialogue  in  "Ten- 
derloin," which  evoked  smiles  where 
none  was  intended.  Followed  "The 
Lion  and  the  Mouse,"  which  went  a 
step  further  and  then,  "Lights  of  New 
York,"  the  first  all-talking  film.  The 
effect  was  electric  and  definitely 
marked  the  switch  to  the  all-talking 
type  of  screen  entertainment.  War 
ners  then  made  the  first  screen  oper- 
etta, "The  Desert  Song."  Since  the 
introduction  of  Vitaphone,  Warners 
had  continued  production  of  singing 
and  talking  shorts  of  which  it  has 
made  more  than  2,000. 

The  complete  surrender  of  the  in- 
dustry  to  sound  took  place  in  1928, 
when  all  major  producers  adopted 
production  of  sound  pictures,  and 
theatres  of  all  sizes  and  classes  hast 
ened  to  enter  the  fold  of  houses 
which  were  playing  to  big  grosses 
made  possible  by  the  pioneering  of 
the  Warners. 


Three  More  Films  on 
'30-'31  Warner  List 

Three  pictures  remain  to  be  re 
leased  by  Warner  Bros,  and  First 
National  before  the  close  of  the  pres- 
ent  season.  The  first  is  Barbara 
Stanwyck  in  "Night  Nurse,"  which  is 
set  for  general  distribution  on  Satur- 
day. First  National  will  release  Dor- 
othy Mackaill  and  Conrad  Nagel  in 
"The  Reckless  Hour,"  on  the  15th 
inst. ;  and  Warners  will  release  Con- 
stance Bennett  in  "Bought"  on  the 
22nd  inst.  The  first  on  the  1931-32 
schedule  will  be  "The  Star  Witness," 
now  being  shown  at  the  Winter  Gar- 
den. 


A  Capitol  Gag 

The  Capitol  has  a  new  gag.  A  list 
of  "unknowns,"  names  taken  from  the 
telephone  book,  is  being  printed  daily 
on  the  Motiograph  machine  on  the 
roof  of  the  house.  Those  who  iden- 
tify their  names  will  be  guests  of  the 
theater  the  following  night. 


COLUMBIA 
HITS  FOR 
BROADW^ 

NEW  YORK 


A  greater  love  story 
has  never  been  told! 

WARNER 

THEATRE 

(Beginnins  August  28th) 


Adapted  from  the  play,  "Arizona,"  by 
Augustus  Thomas.  In  the  cast:  Laura 
La  Plante,  June  Clyde,  John  Wayne. 
Directed     by    George     B.    Seitz. 

STRAND 

THEATRE 

(Beginning  August  14th) 


More  Hifs /?am  DependableColumbia 


THE  OLD  FIGHTIN'  COCK  WAKES 
UP  THE  PICTURE  BUSINESS! 


CONSTANCE    BENNETT 
THE     COMMON     LAW 


With  JOEL  McCREA,  Lew  Cody,  Robert  Williams,  Hedda  Hopper,  Marion  Shilling. 
From  the  novel  by  Robert  W.  Chambers.    Screen  Play  by  John  Farrow 
Directed  by  PAUL  L  STEIN. 

A      CHARLES     R       ROGERS     PRODUCTION 

ASSOCIATE      PRODUCER     HARRY     JOB     BROWN 


JANUARY       BUSINESS        IN       JULY! 


32    Towns    Last    Week     •     32    New     Records! 

NEW  YORK  •  BROOKLYN  •  LOS  ANGELES  •  CHICAGO  •  BOSTON  •  SAN  FRANCISCO  •  WASHINGTON  •  DALLAS 
PHILADELPHIA  •  ATLANTIC  CITY  •  CLEVELAND  •  DETROIT  •  KANSAS  CITY  •  ROCHESTER  •  SAN  ANTONIO  •  TROY 
PROVIDENCE  •  OMAHA  •  MILWAUKEE  -  SEAHLE  •  TACOMA  •  ALBANY  •  OKLAHOMA  CITY  •  SCHENECTADY 
R.  WAYNE   •    MEMPHIS   •   SYRACUSE   •   FT.  WORTH   •   GRAND  RAPIDS   •   HOUSTON   •   SOUTH  BEND   •   LOWELL 

Hot  or  Not,  the  Public  Lined  Up  for  Blocks  and  Stood  Up  for  Hours! 


RKO^PATHE 


The  Old  Fightin'  Cock  crows  every  Friday  night  10:30  N.  Y.  time,  RKO 
THEATRE  OF  THE  AIR  — NBC  hook-up  of  44  coasMo-coost  stations! 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  58 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  AUGUST  7,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


Good  Times 
Ahead,  Says 
H.B.  Franklin 


Says  Crop  of  Good  Films 
To  Turn  the  Tide 


Los  Angeles — Forthcoming  product 
indicates  that  important  producing  or- 
ganizations have  struck  their  stride 
and  these  pictures,  together  with 
seasonal  improvements  offer  opportu- 
nities which  will  I 
lead  to  return  of 
normal  box-office 
results,  declares 
Harold  B. 
Franklin,  operat- 
ing  head  of 
Hughes  -  Frank- 
lin Theatres,  in 
a  message  to  his 
organization. 

"We  are  back 
in  show  busi- 
ne!ss !"  he  de- 
clares. We  are 
on   the  threshold 

of    what    will    be  H.  B.  Franklin 

the  most  produc- 
tive period  of   1931.     It  is  generally 
recognized   that   the   months    immedi- 

{Continued   on  page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

St.  Louis  Firms  Seen 
Divorced  Next  Year 

St.  Louis — Statement  of  Abel  Gary 
Thomas,  attorney  for  Warner 
Brothers  in  the  receivership  proceed- 
ings against  the  St.  Louis  Amusement 
Company,  that  the  company  does  not 
contemplate  renewing  its  contract  with 
musicians'  union  September  1  is  taken 
iin  local  circles  as  meaning  that  the 
neighborhood  circuit  plans  to  go  its 
individual  way  without  giving  much 
thought  to  what  happens  to  the  first 
run  houses  operated  by  the  Skouras 
Super  Theatres  Corporation. 

The  first  runs   in  question   are  the 

(Continued   6n   page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Oscar  Hanson  Heads 
NewExhibitor  Co-op 

Toronto  —  Oscar  Hanson,  former 
general  sales  manager  of  Tiffany  and 
more  recently  head  of  distribution  for 
(the  proposed  Kinograms-Allied  news- 
reel,  has  a  two-fold  mission  in  Can- 
ada. One  is  as  managing  director  of 
'British    Gaumont    Corp.,    of    Canada 

d  the  other  is  general  manager  and 
secretary-treasurer      of       Community 

(Continued   on    page   8) 


Plan  Greater  Movie  Season 

St.  Louis — Inviting  others  in  the  industry  to  get  behind  the 
movement,  St.  Louis  will  observe  Greater  Movie  Season  in 
September.  Independents  here  are  hooking  up  with  Warners  and 
the  Skouras  Enterprises  for  a  special  advertising  campaign  on 
the  month.  Fred  Wehrenberg,  president  of  the  eastern  Missouri 
and  southern  Illinois  exhibitor  unit,  predicts  the  event  will  "bring 
business   back   with   a   bang." 


Los  Angeles — Hughes-Franklin  Theatres  this  month  is  launching 
its  Greater  Talker  Season.  Franklin  has  adhered  to  the  fall 
observance  for  several  years. 


Milwaukee — Fall  drive  for  business  along  the  lines  of  a  Greater 
Talker  Season  was  urged  recently  by  the  M.P.T.O.  of  Wisconsin 
through  its  president,  Fred  S.  Meyer,  who  asked  the  Hays  organi- 
tion  to  sponsor  such  a  drive. 


August  to 
Turn  Tide 
For  Actors 


ii 


Hollywood — August  is  to  mark 
turn  of  the  tide  in  the  employment 
situation  for  actors  and  extras,  with 
all  studios  except  First  National  and 
Warners  more  active  than  at  any  time 
since  last  spring,  states  the  Hollywood 
Herald.  September  will  be  better 
from  the  employment  standpoint  and 
October  probably  will  find  production 
at  capacity  on  all  lots,  it  is  stated. 

Pictures  starting  this  month  will 
provide  work  for  700  to  1,000  part  and 
bit  players  and  more  than  15,000  ex- 
tras. Major  studios  have  listed  47  fea- 
tures and  independents   probably  will 

(Continued    on    page     7) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Big  Shot"  Writers 
Out,  Goldwyn  Says 

Hollywood — No  more  "name" 
writers  will  be  hired  by  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn except  on  a  royalty  basis.  The 
United  Artists  production  chief  says 
he  will  hire  young  "learners"  on  sal- 
ary, but  no  more  "big  shots." 
Writers  here  favor  the  royalty  plan 
if  it  can  be  worked  out,  but  see  a 
complication  in  the  claiming  of  royal- 
ty by  both  the  author  and  adapter 
claiming  royalty  and  in  cases  where 
several  writers  work  on  the  same 
story. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Hohart  Henley  Brings 
Another  Warner  Suit 

Hollywood — ^Hobart  Henley  has 
filed  a  second  suit  against  Warners, 
this  time  for  four  weeks'  salary  at 
$3,500  weekly.  In  conferences  with 
Darryl  Zanuck  he  is  said  to  have  re- 
fused a  compromise  offer. 


Gangster  and 
Racy  Films 
Out  at  Fox 


Sex  problems  and  underworld  stor- 
ies, are  being  banned  from  the  Fox 
production  schedule  for  1931-32.  Offi- 
cials of  the  company  in  sifting  through 
the  material  in  its  files  are  steering 
clear  of  problems  dealing  with  sex 
and  gangster  yarns.  Efforts  are  be- 
ing made  to  pick  material  that  will 
appeal  to  the  younger  element,  espe- 
cially patrons  between  the  ages  of  14 
and  18. 

Forty-five  stories  of  the  coming  48 
pictures  are  set,  studio  oiificials  have 
advised,    and    buying    has    begun    on 

(Continued    on   page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

State  Reciprocal 
Aims,  Ufa  Urges 

Declaring  that  the  German  quota 
regulations  are  "most  essential  to  the 
development  and  maintenance  of  Ger- 
many's own  film  industry,"  and  that 
the  quota  does  not  bar  foreign  films 
from  the  German  market,  Ludwig 
Klitzsch,  president  of  the  board  of 
Ufa  directors  calls  upon  America  to 

(Continued    on    page    7) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Good  Job  Done  in 
'Tragedy,'  Is  View 

Paramount  did  a  good  job  in  trans- 
ferring Theodore  Dreiser's  "An 
American  Tragedy"  to  the  screen. 
That  is  the  consensus  of  New  York 
critics  after  premiere  of  the  picture 
at  the  Criterion.  The  close  adher- 
ence to  the  novel  is  cited  as  one  of 
the  film's  drawbacks,  although  on  the 
whole  the  picture  found  favor  with 
the  reviewers.     Dreiser  last  week  lost 

(Continued   on    page   8) 


150  Houses  in 
Chi  to  Close 
Next  Monday 

Operators  Reject  Single 
Man  in  Booth 


Chicago — One  hundred  and  fifty  in- 
dependent theatres  here  close  Monday 
and  will  stay  closed  until  the  extra 
man  in  the  booth  is  eliminated,  W.  A. 
Steffes,  Allied  leader  who  is  here  from 
Minneapolis  co-operating  with  Aaron 
Saperstein  in  the  operator  fight,  de- 
clared following  a  meeting  of  union 
operators  where  the  one-man  propo- 
sal was  rejected. 

Undaunted  by  threat  contained  in  an 
anonymous  letter  that  he  would  be 
put  on  the  spot,  Steffes  denied  the  plan 
is  to  reopen  the  houses  in  a  week  with 
non-union  operators  under  police  pro- 
tection. 

"Our  only  objective  is  the  return  of 
the  one-man-in-the-booth  system  and 
we  will  accomplish  that  if  the  theatres 
have  to  stay  closed  25  years,  Steffes 
said.  There  is  a  possibility  that  50 
affiliated  houses  may  join  the  inde- 
pendents in  closing. 

Allied  has  retained  Kirkland,  Flem- 
ing, Green  &  Martin,  one  of  the  city's 
leading  law  firms,  and  has  been  ad- 
vised by  Kirkland  that  the  wage  scale 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Maloy  Not  Changing 
His  Stand  in  Chi 

Chicago  —  That  one  hundred  fifty 
Chicago  independent  theatres  will  close 
Monday  is  certain,  as  no  reply  to  the 
Allied  leaders'  demana  for  a  return 
to  one  man  in  the  projection  booth 
has  been  received  from  Tom  Maloy, 
business  agent  of  the  projectionists'" 
local. 

When  queried,  Maloy  stated  that 
there  was  little  probability  of  Al- 
lied's    demand    being    complied    with 

(Continued  on  page   8) 


Protests  Charity 

Pittsburgh  —  Sunday  pic- 
tures at  two  downtown  houses 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Little 
Sisters  of  the  Poor  Home, 
destroyed  by  fire  with  loss 
of  47  lives,  have  been  pro- 
tested by  Robert  M.  Black- 
wood, secretary  of  the  Sab- 
bath Association  of  Western 
Pennsylvania.  Blackwood  de- 
mands that  the  Sabbath  laws 
be  enforced. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  August  7,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly    Exhibitors    Daily    Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


Augujt  7.   19,U 


No.   58 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
Advertising  Manager 


^•^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  jj  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V*l^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^pubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager,  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondeat :  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope^  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent, 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,  under   Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.  Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Deadline  Set  On 
'Politics'  Campaigns 

September  15  is  the  date  set  by 
M-G-M  as  the  deadHne  for  contes- 
tants to  send  in  campaigns  on  "Poli- 
tics." Si  Seadler  is  promoting  the 
idea  in  conjunction  with  Billy  Fer- 
guson, exploitation  director,  with  three 
prizes  offered  exhibitors  for  the  best 
stunts.  The  first  prize  is  for  $50,  the 
second  $30,  and  the  last  $20. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Columbia  Dividends 

Columbia  has  declared  quarterly 
stock  dividend  of  2J/4  per  cent  on  its 
common  payable  October  2  to  holders 
of  record  September  3  and  has  de- 
clared a  cash  quarterly  dividend  of  75 
cents  on  the  preferred,  payable  Sep- 
tember 2  to  holders  of  record  August 
18. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Dividend 

Regular  quarterly  dividend  of  47% 
cents  has  been  declared  on  the  M-G-M 
preferred,  payable  September  15  to 
stockholders  ot  record  August  28 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

British  Editor  Here 

Following  a  brief  visit  in  Canada, 
Miss  L.  H.  Clark,  editor  of  Today's 
Cinema,  London,  is  en  route  to  Hol- 
lywood, where  she  will  spend  several 
weeks  getting  a  line  of  the  product 
for  the  coming  season.  Miss  Clark 
is  expected  in  New  York  the  latter 
part  of  August. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY    NOW" 

Warner  Opening  Aug.  19 

Governor  Wilbur  Cross  of  Con- 
necticut is  to  give  the  dedicatory  ad- 
dress at  opening  August  19.  of  the 
Warner  Theatre  in  Torrington.  Al- 
bert Howson  will  be  master  of  cere- 
monies. 


WHEN  Motion  Picture  Daily  recently  published  the  story  of 
Paramount  getting  a  certain  figure  on  a  booking  deal  closed  for  a 
group  of  Greater  New  York  theatres,  a  g.s.m.  of  one  of  the  major  com- 
panies called  his  local  branch  manager  on  the  phone  and  asked  him  why 
his  company  couldn't  get  the  same  price  for  its  product.  The  g.s.m. 
forgot  for  the  moment  that  his  company  was  releasing  22  features  less 
than  the  other  company.  He  also  slipped  up  on  the  fact  that  Para- 
mount is  releasing  more  than  100  shorts,  which  were  included  in  the 
deal,  and  this  g.s.m. 's  company  has  none  on  its  program. 


A  relative  of  a  big  production  executive  was  hired  in  the  same  studio 
last  week,  and  those  who  know  the  exec  are  wondering  how  come,  since 
the  official  is  against  relatives  working  in  the  same  plant.  The  young 
man  tried  to  approach  the  big  boss  and  couldn't  even  get  a  tumble.  The 
next  trick  he  pulled  landed  him  the  job.  He  contacted  the  exec's  brother- 
in-law,  working  in  the  same  plant,  in  order  to  get  set.  Maybe  the  g.m. 
isn't  burning  up. 


He  had  been  with  the  company  well  over  a  year.  Then,  a  new  man 
was  brought  in.  Of  course,  the  newcomer  isn't  to  replace  the  other 
man,  he  was  merely  being  brought  in  on  a  special  assignment.  When 
shortly  after  the  vet  was  given  the  air,  he  protested  to  the  boss  on  what 
he  shouted  was  a  dirty  deal. 

"Now,  who  could  have  done  that  ?"  wanted  to  know  the  boss,  who 
was  generally  understood  to  be  the  sponsor  of  the  newcomer. 


Alma,  which  is  the  professional  name  by  which  Mrs.  A.  Griffith  Grey 
is  known  on  the  operatic  stage,  passed  up  an  attractive  tour  in  Switzer- 
land, because  she  would  not  waive  the  color  line  and  appear  opposite 
one  of  the  principals.  Alma  has  received  enthusiastic  press  notices 
since  making  her  debut  in  opera  in  Italy. 


Don't  be  surprised  to  hear  any  day  now  that  one  of  the  big  blocks  of 
stock  in  a  transaction  during  the  expansion  orgy  will  revert  to  its 
former  owner. 

• 

Prosecutor  Bellows,  who  is  handling  the  Chicago  operator  probe, 
explodes  the  myth  that  any  organization  was  responsible  for  bringing 
about  the  investigation  which  has  resulted  in  indictments.  There  had 
been  something  of  a  bandwagon  affair  in  the  matter  of  claiming  credit 
for  the  investigation.  Allied  States  Association  is  engaged  in  some 
probing  on  its  own  account  and  has  raised  a  war  chest  for  the  purpose. 


"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Roach  to  Coast 

Hal  Roach  is  enroute  to  the  Coast 
after  a  short  stay  in  New  York.  He 
will  make  stopovers  on  the  way. 


Stocks  Suffer  Loss;  35,100  Sales  For  Fox 

Net 

High      Low      Close      Change  Sales 

Consolidated     Film     Industries VVr          7Yi          7Vi        —  ]4.  200 

Consoliated    Film    Itrd.    pfd 14%        14            14^        -f  ^  500 

Eastman   Kodak    134H      132^      133?^        — 1-5^  4,600 

Fox    Film    "A" lA'A        \2fyi        13           — 1}4  35,100 

General    Theatre    Equip,    new ,iV,          .^          31^        —  Yi  W.Mi 

I»ew's   Inc 45}4        44J4        45           —1  6,700 

Loew's   Inc.   pfd 92!^        92"^        92}^        -f]J4  600 

Paramount    Publix    23           225^        22%        —  Yi  4,000 

I'^ih;   Exchange    V/i          VA          1J4        400 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 5%          5M          5%        —^  600 

RKO IPA        1354        13H       —'A  4,000 

Warner   Bros 7^          7             7           —  J4  4,600 

Curb  Also  Drops;  Col.  Off  V/s 

Net 

High      Low      Close      Change  Sales 

Columbia    Pictures    10            10           10           —V/i  100 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc 9^          9             9—1  300 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 25^          2Yi          2J4        —  54  1,100 

General   Theatre    Equip,    pfd iYt,         AYi          A'/i        —  ^i  8,800 

Trans   Lux    5'A          5             5           —A  1,5*00 

Bonds  Off;  G,  T,  E.  Drops  5% 

Net 

High       Low      Close      Change  Sales 

General    Theatre    Equip.   6s   '40 26           23            23^        —3%  26 

Keith    B.    F.    6s    '46 67           65^1        67           -hi  4 

Loew's  6.i  '41   ex  war 98           97Vi        971A        --  A  4 

Paramount    Broadway    S^^s    '51 lOlM      10154      101 5i        1 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 89           87'A        &7A        —iA  12 

Paramount    Publix   5!^s,   '50 i^'A        77'/2        77j.i        —\A  14 

Pathe   7s    '37    ww °V/i        90-91            —A  16 

Warn'er   Bros.   6s   '.W   wd 45J4        45           45            ~  y^  20 


Good  Times 
Ahead,  Says 
H.B.  Franklin 


(Continued  from  page    1) 

ately  ahead — August,  September,  Oc- 
tober, November — are  months  in  which 
seasonal  improvement  in  business 
comes  normally. 

"Business  is  now  down  to  bedrock. 
Progress  must  come  when  men's  in- 
genuity has  been  sharpened  by  adver- 
sity. The  job  now  is  to  take  advan- 
tage of  the  opportunities  before  us. 
From  now  on,  we  must  depend  on 
facts  and  not  theories.  We  can  only 
go  forward  on  the  wings  of  action. 
There  is  no  room  for  the  man  who 
wants  to  mull  it  over ;  the  need  is  for 
men  who  will  hustle.  This  is  no  time 
for  obsolete  theories  or  inexperience. 
Times  such  as  these  make  us  remexn- 
ber  that  work  and  service  are  the  real 
backbone  of  business  progress.  These 
are  the  requirements  for  the  last  half 
of  1931 ! 

"A  careful  survey  of  forthcoming 
product  indicates  that  the  important 
producing  organizations  have  struck 
their  stride. 

"Such  product  truly  justifies  a 
Greater  Talkie  Season  campaign. 
These  productions  together  with  the 
seasonal  improvement  bring  to  us  op- 
portunities that  will  lead  to  norrnal 
box-oflfice  results.  Wise,  aggressive 
showmanship  will  give  a  good  account 
of  itself! 

"Success  will  not  come  to  the  timid, 
to  the  stand-patters,  or  those  who  are 
easily  discouraged.  It  is  not  safe  to 
bet  on  the  slow,  weak  or  the  stupid, 
because  in  these  times  there  is  no 
"drifting"  into  achievement.  We  can, 
if  we  but  will,  work  our  way  out  by 
planning  and  facing  problems  boldly — 
by  ingenious  thinking,  energetic  effort 
and  the  substitution  of  enterprise  and 
unceasing  watchfulness  for  specula- 
tion !  A  prosperous  box-office  will 
come  to  those  who  understand  that 
during  unusual  times  results  can  be 
achieved  only  by  unusual  methods. 
We  must  step  on  the  gas.  More  and 
more  solid  hours  of  work  are  now  nec- 
essary. It  takes  just  that  extra  effort, 
that  extra  courage  to  stay  on  top,  with 
the  leaders.  Success  is  not  accidental. 
It  is  the  result  of  intelligence,  deter- 
mination, ability  and  show-sense. 

"During  times  of  stress  there  is  too 
much  inclination  to  blame  conditions 
for  our  troubles.  Passing  the  buck 
will  not  get  us  by.  What  we  do  with 
our  opportunities  now  will  determine 
where  we  stand  when  the  smoke 
clears.  These  are  times  for  action. 
There  is  no  problem  that  will  not  re- 
spond to  intensive  hard  work.  The 
difficulties  tliat  we  are  facing  are  a 
test  of  our  fitness.  Nothing  real  is 
ever  accomplished  excepting  under  the 
pressure  of  necessity.  Achievement  is 
often  a  child  of  Stress,  sired  by  Cour- 
age. Character,  intelligence,  hard 
work  never  fail  to  wrest  success  from 
the  most  adverse  circumstances.  Out 
of  every  crisis  new  leaders  emerge. 
Where  will  you  stand?  The  time  haa 
come  for  us  to  plan  our  biggest 
months ;  to  plan  for  success." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

N.  J.  Exhih  Hurt 

Pete  Adams  and  Mrs.  Adams  were 
slightly  injured  when  the  car  they 
were  riding  in  met  with  an  accident. 
Adams  is  part  owner  with  Publix  in 
two   New  Jersey   theatres. 


JAMES  DUNN 
SALLY  EILERS 


in 


BAD  CIRL 


James  Dunn 


JAMES  DUNN 

from  the  sidewalks  of  New  York  to  stardom 
with  just  one  picture. 

Personality  alone  couldn't  do  it.  Talent  alone 
couldn't.  Only  a  lot  of  both  plus  the  vital 
spark.  He  has  each  and  it. 

Today  a  name.  Tomorrow  a  NAME  and  what 
a  difference!  For  in  BAD  GIRL  he  gets  a 
crown  of   glory  for  a  very  great  performance. 

He  carries  you  from  laughter  to  tears  in  a 
fleeting  second. 

He  wrings  your  heart. 


i 


&  Sally  Eilers 


SALLY    EILERS 


"can  sidle  up  to  a  lad  who  makes  her  heart  flutter  and  say 
'gee,  but  you're  a  funny  guy,'  in  a  way  that  convinces.  She  is 
the  same  sort  of  girl  that  James  Dunn  is  boy  which  is  doubt- 
less the  reason  why  'Bad  Girl'  is  one  of  the  most  veracious 
etchings  of  life  Hollywood  has  turned  out  in  many  days." 

— -Flordbel  Muir  in 
NEW  YORK  DAILY  NEWS 


No  picture  you  ever  ran,  not  even  "Common 
Clay,"  had  half  the  emotional  appeal  of  this. 


-    i  Mm 


\ 


THE  BUUK 

Swept  the  country.  Picked  by  Literary 
Guild  as  their  monthly  selection,  jumped 
at  once  into  best  seller  class. 

There's  a  bite  to  the  story  that  makes 
all  who  read  it  talk  about  it.  You'll 
get  that  same  word-of-mouth  when  you 
play  the  picture. 

358,000  copies  sold  and  still  selling  big. 
One  of  the  most  sensational  books  in 
years  filmed  as  the  most  human  story 
you  ever  screened. 


j^ 


"-4;r<r 


m^ 


'f 


'   --^ 


■"'^••f^ 


«M»1 


^/■••' 


jf^ ' 


/g^ 


~fm* 


JAMES    DUNN 
SALLY   EILERS 

BAD    GIRL 


/n 


Minna  Gombell 


w/ 


\\h 


William  Pawley 


From    Vino    De/mor's    novel   and 
play  by   her  and  Brian  Marlowe 

Directed  by   FRANK  BORZAGE 


f 


"/  consider  'Bad  Girr  the  great- 
est   human    interest    picture    ever 


made. 


// 


— Max  Balaban 


neuj  S€flsc 

r»  ^  1 1 1     LI  n 


Friday,  August  7,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Rogers  Film 
Strong  in  2nd 
W  eek  on  Coast 


Total  $147,570  for  12  Theatres 


Los  Angeles — Will  Rogers'  new 
picture,  "Young  as  You  Feel"  proved 
a  bell-ringer  again  this  week,  garner- 
ing $11,600  on  its  second  stanza,  fol- 
lowing its  previous  $14,000  for  its 
first  seven  days.  "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" held  up  well  in  its  fourth  week 
at  the  Carthay  Circle,  where  it  got 
$11,000.  "The  Common  Law"  at 
$18,000  was  a  fine  bet  for  the  RI^ 
Orpheum  in  a  week  which  otherwise 
found  business  off. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  5  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"LA    INCORRIGIBLE"    (Para.) 

CALIFORNIA  INTERNATIONAL  - 
(2,000),  25c-50c,  7  da>s.  Gross:  $5,000. 
(Average,    $5,000.) 

"SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

FOX  CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,650),  75c- 
$1.50,  'Ith  week.  George  StoU  and  Band. 
Gross:  $11,000.  (Average,  for  first  week, 
$12,500.) 

"YOUNG  AS   YOU   FEEL"    (Fox) 

FOX  CRITERION— (1,652).  35c-65c,  (2nd 
week),  7  days.  Gross:  $11,600.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"YOUNG   AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 

GRAUMAN'S     CHINESE      (2,030),     25c- 
65c,     2nd     week,     7     days.       Gross:     $11,270. 
(Average,    for   first   week,   $8,000.) 
"HUSH   MONEY"   (Fox) 

LOEWS  STATE-(2,418).  35c-65c,  7 
days.  "Stars  of  Yesterday"  Idea.  Gross: 
$15,000.      (Average,    $27,r(00. 1 

"THEIR    MAD    MOMENT"    (Fox) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,100),  25c-65c,  7  days. 
Stage  show.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average, 
$16,000.) 

"THE  COMMON  LAW"   (RKO-Pathe) 

ORPHEUM— (2,750),  35c-6Sc,  7  days. 
Gross:    $18,000.       (Average.    $16,000.) 

"MAN     IN     POSSESSION"     (M-G-M) 

PANTAGES  HOLLYWOOD  —  (3.000), 
35c-65c,  7  days.  F  &  M  "Vaudeville  Bits" 
Idea.     Gross:   $12„50O.      Average,   $15,000.) 

"MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK"   (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,596).  35c-65c,  7  days. 
Stage  shew.  Gross:  $18,700.  (Average, 
$25,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"     (RKO-Radio) 

RKO— (2,700),   35c-65c,    7   days.      Olsen   and 
Johnson    ir.   person,   5   acts   RKO   vaudeville. 
Gross:    $14,500.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.  DOWNTOWN  (2,400), 
35c-50c,  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,500. 
(Average,   $15,000.) 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.  H  O  L  L  Y  W  O  O  D- 
(3,000),  35c-50c,  2nd  week.  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.      (Average,   $14,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

R.  &  R,  Say  It  With 
Dates  for  Vitaphone 

Robb  &  Rowley  yesterday  helped 
Vitaphone  celebrate  its  fifth  anniver- 
sary by  signing  for  the  complete  line- 
up of  Bobby  Jones  golf  shorts,  the 
"Adventures  in  Africa"  series  and  the 
others  on  the  schedule.  Sixteen  houses 
in  the  circuit  are  embraced  in  the  deal, 
most  important  of  which  are  located 
in  the  following  Texas  and  Okla- 
homa towns :  Corpus  Christi,  Laredo, 
San  Angelo,  Palestine,  Ennis,  Mus- 
keego  and  McAllister. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

Getting  "Cincy"  House 

Cincinnati — Fritz  ("Doc")  Witte, 
editor  of  the  Freie  Presse,  local  Ger- 
man daily,  will  take  over  the  Royal, 
downtown  independent,  when  it  re- 
opens around  August  15  after  instal- 
lation of  sound  and  ventilating  sys- 
tem, it  is  reported.  Witte  is  non- 
committal. 


Denver  Wild 
As  'Politics' 
Gets  $25,000 


Total  $53,000  for  5  Theatres 


Denver — Those  two  M-G-M  stand- 
bys,  Polly  Moran  and  Marie  Dressier 
certainly  whooped  'er  up  this  week  at 
the  Denver,  proving  that  weather 
means  nothing  when  you've  got  a  real 
card.  They  finished  the  stanza  Thurs- 
day, with  a  gross  of  $25,000,  which 
was  the  year's  high  mark  by  a  good 
$7,000  margin. 

"Politics"  called  for  the  ropes  every 
day  and  often  the  standees  were  out 
to  the  sidewalk,  with  the  lobby  usually 
filled  an  hour  and  one-half  before  the 
first  show  was  out.  It  got  more  word- 
of-mouth  advertising  than  any  picture 
in  years.  Other  houses,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  Paramount,  were  below 
average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  6  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

DENVER— (2,300),     25c-35c-65c,     7     days. 
Milton     Franklyn     and    Fanchon     &    Marco 
Idea.      Gross:     5*25,000.       (Average,    $15,000.) 
"THE   HOLY    TERROR"    (Fox) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN  —  (1,500),  35c- 
50c-75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 

HUFFMAN'S  TABOR— (1,900),  25c-35c- 
50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average,  $10,- 
000.) 

"MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK"   (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,000),       25c-35c-50c.       7 
days.      Gross:     $11,500.      (Average,    $11,000.) 
"EVERYTHING'S   ROSIE"    (Radio) 

RIALTO— (1,040),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $«,500.      (Average:    $3,750.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Dog  Racing  Nicks 
"Cincy"  Box  Offices 

Cincinnati — Resumption  of  dog 
racnig  is  hurting  business  plenty,  with 
exhibitors  squawking  over  depleted 
intakes.  The  track,  located  15  miles 
from  here,  was  operated  for  two 
seasons  until  closed  two  years  ago  by 
newly-elected  county  officials  who 
claimed  violation  of  Ohio  law.  Pres- 
ent operation  circumvents  legal  lia- 
bility through  a  special  system  of  bet- 
ting, which  acts  as  a  smoke  screen, 
and  the  project  is  attracting  thousands 
of  persons  nightly  within  a  100-mile 
radius. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Unit  Has  Narrow 
Escape  from  Wreck 

Hollywood — Fox's  "The  Cisco 
Kid"  company  had  a  narrow  escape 
from  a  train  wreck  near  Yuma  while 
on  their  way  to  location.  The  first 
section  of  the  train  was  wrecked,  but 
the  second,  on  which  the  company  was 
riding,  was  unscathed.  Director  Irv- 
ing Cummings  heads  the  unit  which 
includes  Edmund  Lowe  and  Warner 
Baxter. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Adding  to  Hook-Up 

Six  stations  will  be  added  to  the 
36  stations  on  the  Coast-to-Coast 
hcok-up  of  the  Radio  Newsreel  of 
Hollywood,  "a  broadcast  furnished  by 
stars,  directors  and  other  studio  work- 
ers." A  number  of  Warner-First  Na- 
tional stars  have  been  signed  for  the 
broadcasts. 


August  to  Turn 

Tide  for  Actors 

{Continued  from  page    1) 

have  half  that  many.    About  75  shorts 
will  be  started. 

Here  are  the  August  schedules,  with 
indicated  number  of  acting  and  extra 
jobs,  as  estimated  by  studios. 

PARAMOUNT 
Picture  Parts     Extras 

Stadium      20  600 

Once  a   Lady    15  300 

The   Bachelor   9  200 

Come   on    Marines    25  800 

Dr.   Tekyll  &  Mr.   Hyde 10  300 

The    Man    I    Killed 10  1,000 

Night    Before    Marriage 12  250 

Girls   About    Town    12  200 

Ladies  of  The  Big  House 20  700 

Working    Girl    15  200 

Sooky    15  150 

MGM 

Flying   High    7  200 

Emma     7 

Mirage      7 

Mata    Hari    8  500 

The    Champ    5  300 

A    Family   AfJair    7 

The    Cuban    9  250 

FOX 

Sob    Sister     31  600 

Heartbreak      7  1,000 

Dollar    Bill    10  2,000 

Surrender   9  1,000 

COLUMBIA 

The  Ghost  Walks   24  55 

Gallagher    32  63 

The   Deadline    10  80 

UNIVERSAL 

Spirit   of  Notre  Dame 25  500 

(parts    here    confined   to    star 

and  football  squad) 

Frankenstein     15  200 

Heart   &   Hand    4 

Murders    iii    Rue    Morgue 12  3(K) 

RKO-RADIO 

Secret   Service    IS  300 

Sour   Grapes    10  100 

Are   These    Onr   Children? 20  200 

Other     People's     Business 20  150 

RKO-PATHE 

Plans  call  for  four  features  and  eight 
shorts,  using  about  100  actors  in  latter. 
About  1,250  people  to  be  used  in  two  fea- 
tures, no  estimates  for  other  two,  as  scripts 
are   not   ready. 

EDUCATIONAL   AND    TIFFANY 

4  Tiffany   features    50  500 

1  Cruze    feature    10  300 

6  Sennett   comedies    50  300 

6  Educ.   2-reelers    50  2.50 

2  1-reelers     45  60 

HUGHES— U.   A. 

Cock   o'    the   Air 13  500 

Sky    Devils    10    350  (est.) 

Tonight   or    Never 9 

Arrowsmith    3  (incomplete) 

Greeks  Had  a  Word  For  It.     6  (incomplete) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Spry  in  New  York 
On  Puhlix  N.  E.  Deal 

Tom  Spry,  manager  of  the  War- 
ners-First National  exchange  in  Bos- 
ton and  dean  in  the  distribution  end 
of  the  film  industry  in  New  England, 
was  in  the  city  yesterday  in  connec- 
tion with  next  season's  product  of  his 
companies.  His  main  business  is  in 
connection  with  the  bookings  of  the 
Paramount-Publix  theatres  in  Boston 
under  the  new  order  of  things  by 
which  Publix  is  to  show  the  entire 
Warners-First  National  product. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Maberry  Forms  New  Firm 

Vandalia,  Mo. — ^^T  r  a  n  s  Lux 
Amusement  Co.,  has  been  incorporated 
with  100  shares  of  non  par  value  stock 
and  will  commence  business  with 
$6,000.  Incorporators  are  Cecil  E. 
Maberry,  former  Columbia  sales  ma.n- 
ager,  47  shares;  Mrs.  Cecil  E.  Ma- 
berry, 3  shares,  and  Daniel  Rocke, 
Elvanston,  Mo.,  50  shares. 


"^Common  Law' 
$14,000  Best 
Portland  Bet 


Total  $41,200  for  5  Theatres 


Portland — "The  Common  Law" 
was  the  outstanding  card  of  the  week 
on  a  proportionate  basis,  grabbing  oflf 
$14,000  at  the  RKO  Orpheum,  which 
is  $4,000  above  the  house  average.  The 
Paramount  showed  strength  with  "Son 
of  India,"  which  did  $14,900. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  5  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

FOX     BROADWAY— (1,912),     2Sc-50c,     7 
days.     Gross:    $4,600.      (Average,   $5,000.) 
"MISBEHAVING  LADIES"   (F.  N  ) 

FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    4    days. 
Gross:    $1,800.      (Average    for   week,    $4,000.) 
"WOMEN    LOVE    ONCE"    (Para.) 

FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    3    days. 
Gross:    $1,400.      (Average    for    week,   $4,000.) 
"RESURRECTION"    (Univ.) 

HAMRICK'S  MUSIC  BOX— (1,800),  25c,  7 
days.     Gross:    ^,500.      (Average,   $4,000.) 
"SON   OF   INDIA"   (M-G-M) 

FOX  PARAMOUNT— (3,068),  25c -60c,  7 
days,  F.  &  M.'s  "Dream  House."  Gross: 
$14,900.      (Average,    $12,000.) 

"THE  COMMON  LAW"   (RKO  Pathe) 

RKO  ORPHEUM  —  (1,700),  25c-50c,  7 
days,  Vaude.  Gross:  $14,000.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

State  Reciprocal 

Aims,  Ufa  Urges 

(.Continued  from  page    1) 

state  what  it  wants  promising  that  if 
the  demands  "are  based  on  a  sound 
reciprocity  basis  they  will  be  heartily 
welcomed  by  the  German  picture  busi- 
ness." 

His  statement  highlighted  the  recent 
annua!  meeting  of  Ufa  in  Berlin. 
About  300  department  heads  and  for- 
eign representatives  attended.  In  re- 
viewing the  year's  progress,  he  said 
that  for  the  first  time  in  years  Ufa 
would  be  in  a  position  to  pay  divi- 
dends. Cash  on  hand  May  31,  1931 
totaled  9,000,000  marks  (about  $2,136,- 
600)  contrasted  with  4,000,000  marks 
(about  $949,600)  on  May  31,  1930. 

Fourteen  new  theatres  with  capacity 
of  14,000  were  opened  during  the  year, 
while  ten  theatres,  with  9,000  capacity, 
were  disposed  of.  This  policy  of 
larger  house  operation  will  be  con- 
tinued this  year  with  16  houses  to  be 
built  in  Cologne,  Erfurt,  Freiburg, 
Leipzig  and  other  cities. 

Ufa's  policy  for  1931-32  will  be 
further  restriction  of  dialogue  in  favor 
of  visual  effects,  Ernst  Hugo  Correll, 
production  chief  said.  The  program 
calls  for  15  features  and  about  35 
shorts  in  several  foreign  languages. 


Comedies  in  Favor  in 
Germany,  Brecher  Says 

While  theatre  activities  in  Berlin 
are  somewhat  at  a  standstill  at  pres- 
ent, studios  there  are  humming  with 
activity,  with  comedies  predominating 
and  the  trend  away  from  musicals, 
states  Leo  Brecher,  New  York  inde- 
pendent exhibitor,  in  a  cablegram  to 
his  home  office. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

M-G-M  Renews  Three 

HoLLvwoon — M-G-M  has  renewed 
contracts  of  three  players  :  Nils  Asther, 
Helen  Coule  and  Madge  Evans.  Wal- 
lace Beery's  next  will  be  "Hell  Div- 
ers," to  be  classified  as  a  special. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  August  7,    1931 


150  Houses  in 
Chi  to  Close 
Next  Monday 


(Ctmtinued  from  page    1) 

contract  does  not  call  for  two  oper- 
ators as  claimed  by  Tom  Maloy,  union 
boss,  in  refusing  the  elimination  de- 
mand. 

The  threat  to  machine  gun  SteflFes 
is  the  first  overt  act  since  Allied's 
official  entry  into  the  fight. 


Maloy  Not  Changing 
His  Stand  in  Chi 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

unless  the  union  operators  themselves 
called  a  meeting  to  act  on  it. 

"My  official  stand,"  Maloy  said, 
"ain't  no  different  now  from  what  it 
ever  was.  Our  agreement  for  two 
mugs  in  the  booth  don't  run  out  till 
January  11,  1932,  and  I  ain't  sittin' 
in  on  any  meetings  with  anybody  till 
then." 

Illinois  Allied  exhibitors,  repre- 
senting 150  theatres  in  the  metropoli- 
tan area,  have  advised  Maloy  of  their 
intention  of  closing  their  theatres 
after  Sunday's  performances  until 
the  extra  operator  is  withdrawn.  The 
move  would  throw  about  1.500  the- 
atrical union  employes  out  of  work, 
it  is  estimated.  Al  Stefifes,  director 
of  strategy  for  the  independent  ex- 
hibitors in  their  fight  against  thei 
union,  stated  that  the  closings  would 
take  place  as  announced  unless  Ma- 
loy altered  his   stand  this  week. 

Edward  Donovan,  alleged  Chicago 
gangster  and  reputed  "slugger"  and 
gunman  for  the  operators'  union,  was 
arrested  here  this  week  and  charged 
with  the  murder  of  Jacob  Kaufman, 
insurgent  union  member  who  was 
shot  to  death  just  before  he  was  to 
have  testified  to  the  grand  jury  con- 
cerning Alaloy's  regime  as  "czar"  of 
the  union.  Several  revolvers  and  a 
quantity  of  "dum-dum"  bullets  were 
allegedly  found  in  Donovan's  hotel 
room  and  were  turned  over  to  Col. 
Calvin  Goddard.  ballistics  expert  of 
the  coroner's  office,  in  an  effort  to 
determine  if  they  fired  the  bullets 
which   killed    Kaufman. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Just  a  Gigolo"  Ban 
Is  Lifted  in  Ohio 

Columbus — "Just  a  Gigolo,"  which 
has  been  in  the  can  since  pulled  by 
censors  after  opening  in  Cleveland 
several  weeks  ago,  has  again  been  re- 
leased. When  originally  released,  the 
picture  was  so  badly  scissored  that 
Lx)ew's  Valentine,  Toledo,  refused  to 
play  it  after  it  had  been  set  in  and 
advertised.  The  consensus  of  opinion 
is  that  eliminations  have  been  rein- 
stated by  Dr.  B.  O.  Skinner,  new  cen- 
sor chief,  who  is  a  film  fan. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Outing  Aug.  22 

Fox  employes  on  August  22  will 
hold  their  annual  outing  a  boat  ride 
up  the  Hudson  to  Indian  Point  where 
sports  events  will  take  place. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Fight  Films  Out 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Carew  yes- 
terday granted  an  injunction  against 
Pathe  News  from  including  pictures 
of  the  Sharkey-Walker  fight  in  its 
newsreel. 


Good  Job  Done  in 
'Tragedy,'  Is  View 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

action  for  a  temporary  injunction  to 
halt  showing  of  the  film  on  the  ground 
it  was  a  distortion  of  his  work.  Suit 
for  a  permanent  injunction  is  pending. 
Following  is  a  summary  of  New 
York  critics'   comment : 

TIMB^S— *"parts  of  which  are  unin- 
spired*** the  trial  scene  is  emphatically 
stirring***lt  seems  a  pity  that  the  pro- 
ducers _  did  not  capture  more  of  the 
author's  analysis  of  the  characters  instead 
of  using-  paragraphs  from  the  book***ln 
his  haste  to  get  to  the  heart  of  the  murder 
story  Mr.  von  Sternberg  has  lost  the  real 
pith    of    the   narrative. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— '"^is  entirely  con- 
scientious and  entirely  workmanlike,  and  it 
is***a  shrewd  and  effective  courtroom  melo- 
drama. It  does,  however,  lack  the  clumsy 
strength  of  the  original. *"*left  the  issue 
(between  Dreiser  and  Paramount)  still 
somewhat  in  doubt. 

AMERICAN— Heavy  as  the  dusty  vol- 
umes from  which  it  gets  its  name***moves 
ponderously  across  the  screen.***Instead 
of  a  swift,  hot,  vibrattt  tale  of  passion — 
an  epic  of  human  frustration,  we  have  a 
dull  case  history  of  a  moronic  murderer, 
guilty  of  a  cheap  crime  dully  conceived  and 
poorly  executed. 

NEWS — ***is  real***intensely  dramatic. 
At  times  it  is  very  raoving.***Follows 
Dreiser's  book  as  closely  as  it  is  possible 
for  one  dramatic  medium  to  follow  a  differ- 
ent one,  except  for  the  end.***The  most 
thrilling  and  vital  parts  of  the  picture  are 
the  courtroom  scenes,  but  the  picture  is 
interesting  and  absorbing  throughout. 

GRAPHIC— ;'The  most  faithful  screen  re- 
production which  Hollywood  has  yet  given 
a  novel.  In  fact,  its  adherence  to  the 
original  story  is  one  of  its  serious  draw- 
backs, detracting  from  the  dramatic  pos- 
sibilities and  pictorial  interest***"is  an 
elaborately  framed,  carefully  produced,  ably 
acted  and  heavily  directed  motion  picture 
of  a   sombre  plot." 

EVENING  JOURNAL-It  is  an  impor- 
tant piece  of  work,  n'ot  only  because  it  is 
an  admirable  job.  but  because  it  deals  firm- 
ly and  logically  with  sex  and  murder — 
two  subjects  usually  tabooed,  Methodized 
or  distorted  beyond  reason  in  the  picture 
world. 

EVENING  POST— Samuel  HofTenstein 
and  Mr.  Sternberg  have  done  a  pretty  good 
job  in  transferring  the  two  volumes  to 
the  screen  arrd  there  seems  to  be  no  par- 
ticular reason  why  the  author  should  ob- 
ject that  Paramount  has  turned  out  a  pic- 
ture that  does  not  follow  his  story***"An 
American  Tragedy,"  therefore,  emerges 
as  a  film  melodrama  which  holds  one's  at- 
tention even  on  a  hot  August  night,  and 
if  it  is  not  exactly  an  "epic,"  it  is  at  least 
a  workman'like  production. 

SUN — A  tense  and  moving  drama,  based 
on  the  novel  by  Theodore  Dreiser,  a  drama 
that  is  relentlessly  real,  tremendously  ef- 
fective and  at  times  almost  heartbreaking 
***It  is  a  fine,  fine  thing  Paramount  has 
done,  as  it  is.  The  production  is  almost 
faultless,  beautifully  photographed  and 
splertdidly  acted.  "An  American  Tragedy," 
I  believe,  is  sincere  and  honest— one  of  the 
best   nictures   of  the   year. 

TELEGRAM— "An  American  Tragedy" 
has  been  transferred  to  the  talkmg  pictures 
by  Josef  von  Sternberg  and  turns  out  to 
be  a  workmanlike,  and  at  times  vigorous, 
but  on  the  whole  a  rather  tfoticeably  un- 
distinguished play***the  story  of  the 
Chester  Gillette  case  is  retold,  I  venture 
to  state,  as  well  as  it  could  possibly  have 
been  retold  in  spite  of  Mr.  Dreiser's  pro- 
testations that  the  producers  had  raised 
the  very   mischief  with   the  novel. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Nominating  Group 
To  Pick  AMP  A  Slate 

Selection  of  a  slate  of  officers  for 
the  AMPA  for  the  coming  year  is 
to  be  made  by  a  committee  named 
yesterday.  The  election  takes  place 
the  second  meeting  in  September.  On 
the  committee  are: 

George  Bilson,  George  Harvev, 
Walter  Eberhardt,  Marvin  Kirsch, 
Paul  Benjamin,  Charles  Barrel)  and 
Leon  Bamberger. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Film  Board  Outing 

Detroit  Lakes,  Minn.  —  Annual 
outing  of  the  Minneapolis  Film  Board 
is  to  be  held  here  today  and  tomor- 
row. 


St.  Louis  Firms  Seen 
Divorced  Next  Year 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

Ambassador  and  the  Missouri  and  the 
closed  Grand  Central.  Skouras 
Brothers  Enterprises,  Inc.,  has  a  50-50 
interest  in  those  houses  with  Para- 
mount-Publix  with  Charles  Skouras 
the  controlling  factor.  Skouras 
Brothers  Enterprises  owns  the  Am- 
bassador and  has  leased  it  to  the 
Super  Theatres  Corporation.  The 
Missouri  Theatre  is  leased  from  the 
Paramount  interests. 

The  interesting  feature  of  the  new 
situation  is  this :  When  the  present 
agreement  with  the  musicians  union 
was  signed  the  Skouras  Brothers, 
Spyros,  Charley  and  George,  were 
part  of  the  Warner  organization.  But 
today  Spyros  and  George  are  no  long- 
er with  the  Warners  and  have  cast 
their  lot  with  Paramount-Publix  in 
the  East.  Hence  a  year  ago  the  Am- 
bassador would  have  been  classed  as  a 
Warner  house,  but  today  it  is  checked 
in  with  the  Paramount  list,  notwith- 
standing Warners  through  the  Skou- 
ras Brothers  Enterprises  still  retains 
a  50-50  interest  in  the  house.  But 
Charley  Skouras  is  the  boss. 

Hence,  a  year  ago,  Warners  con- 
trolling both  the  St.  Louis  Amusement 
Company  and  Skouras  Brothers  En- 
terprises was  much  concerned  in  the 
fate  of  the  Ambassador  Theatre, 
which  has  been  built  up  largely  on  its 
music,  stage  shows  and  master  of 
ceremonies.  And  for  that  reason  the 
St.  Louis  Amusement  Company  prob- 
ably stretched  a  point  or  two  in  ar- 
riving at  a  peaceful  settlement  with 
the  musicians  so  as  to  get  music  back 
into  the  Ambassador. 

Now  the  shoe  being  on  the  other 
foot  the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Com- 
pany, in  a  way,  probably  does  not 
care  what  happens  to  the  Ambassador, 
feeling  that's  Charley  Skouras'  prob- 
lem. 

The  fact  that  the  St.  Louis  Amu.se- 
ment  Company  has  been  paying  $2,400 
a  week  for  musicians  it  can  not  use 
was  one  of  the  big  points  made  by 
the  plaintiffs  in  the  receivership  hear- 
ing before  Circuit  Judge  Granville 
Hogan.  When  the  contract  with  the 
musicians  was  signed  all  of  the  musi- 
cians were  crowded  into  the  pit  of  the 
Granada  Theatre  on  Gravois  avenue 
for  a  few  weeks.  Then  a  plan  of 
touring  the  chain  houses  with  orches- 
tras was  tried  out  for  a  while.  But 
finally  the  company  dropped  manual 
orchestras  entirely  and  has  since  been 
paying  the  musicians  for  playing  pin- 
ochle or  something  equally  as  inter- 
esting. 

Another  point  raised  by  the  com- 
plainants was  that  the  company  was 
using  too  many  Warner  pictures  and 
apparently  paying  too  much  for  the 
individual  products  of  that  company 
and  its  subsidiary,  First  National 
Pictures. 

But,  like  the  music  situation,  that 
cause  of  worry  was  effectively  elim- 
inated by  Thomas  when  he  assured 
Judge  Hogan  that  the  St.  Louis 
Amiisement  Company  would  not  en- 
ter into  new  contracts  for  Warner 
and  First  National  pictures  until  the 
receivership  petition  had  been  dis- 
posed of  by  the  Judge.  This  won 
postponement  of  the  case  to  Septem- 
ber 28. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gets  ** Stepping  Sisters*' 

Fox  has  purchased  "Stepping  Sis- 
ters," musical  comedy  produced  by 
Albert  Bannister. 


Gangster  and 
Racy  Films 
Out  at  Fox 


(Continued   from   page    1) 

Stories  for  next  season  beginning  Sep- 
tember 1932. 

In  choosing  the  balance  of  this 
year's  product  stories,  special  efforts 
are  being  made  to  arrange  sequences 
and  story  construction  to  appeal  to 
adolescents,  which  Fox  considers  im- 
portant to  the  box-office  as  the  adult 
trade.  Sophisticated  sex  problems  not 
understandable  to  average  audiences 
will  not  be  found  in  productions  com- 
ing from  the  Fox  studios  either  this 
year  or  in  the  next  five,  under  present 
plans. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Oscar  Hanson  Heads 
New  Exhibitor  Co-op 

(Continued  from  pane   1) 

Theatres   of   Canada,   independent  ex- 
hibitor co-operative. 

Community  Theatres  officially  start- 
ed operation  yesterday  with  14  thea- 
tres in  Ontario  as  members.  A  flat 
service  charge  for  the  buying  of  pic- 
tures is  the  policy.  No  effort  will  be 
made  to  make  blanket  deals  for  the 
membership,  but  the  needs  and  wants 
of  each  member  are  to  be  studied  and 
handled  individually,  the  organization 
serving  as  a  buying  counselor. 

The  new  firm  has  opened  offices  in 
the  Film  Exchange  Building,  with 
Thomas  Long, 
formerly  with 
Tiffany,  as  of- 
fice manager. 
Fred  Guest  of 
Hamilton  is 
president  of  the 
circuit,  Thomas 
Moorehead  of 
Brampton,  vice 
president.  Other 
directors  are : 
Thomas  Ross, 
Bowmanville; 
Gordon  Miller, 
Peterboro  and 
H.  W.  Braden, 
Hamilton. 

Hanson's  office  with  the  exhibitor 
co-operative  dovetails  with  his  posi- 
tion as  Gaumont  general  manager.  In 
the  latter  post,  he  will  co-operate  with 
Claire  Hague,  Universal  Canadian 
chief,  in  furthering  sale  of  12  Gau- 
mont films  in  Canada,  physical  distri- 
bution of  which  is  being  handled  by 
Universal. 


Oscar  Hanson 


Starting  Negotiations 
On  Three  British  Films 

Three  new  Gainsborough  Pictures 
have  been  received  in  New  York  by 
Arthur  Lee  of  Ameranglo  and  nego- 
tiations for  their  national  distribu- 
tion will  be  started  in  a  day  or  two. 
The  pictures  are :  Sherlock  Holmes' 
"The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles," 
"The  Man  They  Couldn't  Arrest,"  di- 
rected by  T.  Hayes  Hunter,  and  "A 
Night  in  the  Montmartre." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Hechfs  Wife  Buried 

Mrs.  Harry  Hecht,  wife  of  the 
New  Jersey  exhibitor,  was  buried 
yesterday  at  Passaic.  She  died  fol- 
lowing a  short  illness. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.   30.    NO.    59 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  AUGUST  8,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Turning  Point 
Reached,  Sam 
Katz  Asserts 


Fine  Product  and  Good 
Weather  Seen  Causes 


SAM  KATZ 


Declaring  that  good  product  has 
arrived  and  that  the  weather  soon 
will  turn,  Sam  Katz  declares  that  the 
turning  point,  "as  far  as  our  particu- 
lar industry  is  concerned,   is   in  front 

of    us."     Katz's  (  

views    are   con- 
tained    in      "A 
Personal    Talk"  i 
to     the     Publix  i 
organization. 

"We  are  stand- 
i  n  g  on  the 
threshold  of  a  | 
new  season,"  he  | 
declares.  "To  us  : 
in  the  picture 
business  it  is  the 
first  of  January, 
the  beginning  of 
a  new  year.  That 
being  the  case, 
I  think  now  is 
the  ideal  time 
for  us  to  look  back  upon  what  has 
taken  place  in  the  past  and  to  look 
forward  and  see,  with  clear,  honest, 
unbiased  vision,  what  lies  ahead  of  us. 

Says  Product  Was  Inferior 

"We  have  passed  through  a  year 
of    adversity.     The    country   has   been 

{Continttcd    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"U"  to  Start  British 
Films  in  September 

London— Universal  is  planning  to 
start  production  here  September  1. 
The  first  effort  under  the  plan  will  be 
a  serial,  "Heroes  of  the  Law."  The 
remainder  of  production  plans,  which 
will  include  features  will  be  completed 
upon  arrival  here  in  September  of 
Carl  Laemmle,  who  is  in  France  dis- 
cussing European  production. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Decker  Now  Manager 
OfW,B,-F.N.inN,Y. 

A  number  of  changes  have  been  ef- 
fected at  the  New  York  Warner 
Bros. -First  National  exchange.  Harry 
Decker,  formerly  Brooklyn  manager, 
has  succeeded  Eddie  Goldstein,  re- 
signed. Gus  Solomon,  Brooklyn  sales- 
man, has  been  appointed  manager  for 
that  territory.  Michael  Resnick,  for- 
merly of  Talking  Picture  Epics,  has 
joined  the  exchange  as  salesman. 
Decker  recently  won  the  Sam  E. 
Morris  trophy  in  the  May  sales  drive. 


No  Shake-up 

Hollywood — There  will  be 
no  fireworks  and  no  firing  at 
either  the  Radio  or  RKO 
Pathe  studios,  states  Hiram 
Brown,  president  of  Radio- 
Keith-Orpheum. 


281  New  York 
Houses  in  Fox 
Buy  Now  Fold 


Fox's  New  York  exchange  has  not 
been  in  the  doldrums  as  far  as  selling 
new  product  is  concerned.  Eleven 
Greater  New  York  circuits  involving 
approximately  281  theatres  have  al- 
ready signed  up  for  the  company's 
complete  lineup  of  48  features. 

The  circuits  and  the  number  of 
theatres  each  represents  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Leon  Rosenblatt,  six ;  Sol  Brill, 

{Contiintcd    on    page    4) 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


RKO  Pathe  reports  several  sales  in 
various  circuits  throughout  the  coun- 
try. In  New  York  City,  the  com- 
pany has  closed  deals  for  the  year's 
product  with  Manhattan  Playhouses, 
Inc.,  Consolidated  Circuit,  Sol  Brill 
Circuit  and  Lee  Ochs  Circuit. 

The  Manhattan  Playhouses  are  the 

(^Contimied   on    page    4) 


RKO  WITH  FOX  ON 
RACY  FILM  TABOO 


Optimism  Is 
Running  High, 
Plunkett  Says 


Radio-Keith-Orpheum  is  viewing 
the  future  with  optimism,  Joseph 
Plunkett,  vice  president  and  general 
manager  of  the  circuit,  declared  fol- 
lowing close  of  the  company's  quar- 
terly convention  in  New  York.  The 
three  day  sessions,  said  Plunkett,  were 
characterized  by  "a  fine  spirit  of 
enthusiasm." 

Company  problems  and  operation 
details  were  chief  subjects  discussed 
at  the  sessions.  Return  of  a  vaude- 
ville   policy    to    about    half    a    dozen 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
•'BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Michalove  Calls  His 
Staff  to  New  York 

Launching  of  the  new  Warner-First 
National  season  August  22  is  to  be 
chief  business  in  a  general  meeting  of 
zone  managers  and  executives  to  be 
held  Monday  in  New  York  with  Dan 
Michalove,  head  of  the  circuit,  pre- 
siding. 


Service  Cancelled  in  Chi; 
Public  Backing  Exhibitors 


Chicago — Loss  of  revenue  to  film  exchanges  if  150  independent 
houses  carry  out  their  threat  to  close  Sunday  night  will  total 
$25,000  weekly,  it  is  estimated.  About  5,300  theatre  employes  will 
be  jobless  including  about  400  operators  and  electricians,  300  to 
500  ushers,  advertising,  secretarial  and  clerical  aids,  films  carriers 
and  messengers. 


Chicago  —  Distributors  here  were 
advised  yesterday  that  150  houses 
would  close  after  the  final  perform- 
ance Sunday  night  in  a  communica- 
tion from  Aaron  Saperstein,  presi- 
dent of  Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
Illinois.  Next  week's  bookings  have 
been  cancelled. 

The  exhibitors'  move  is  backed  by 
the  sympathy  of  the  local  press  and 
public  opinion  which  now  is  strongly 
against  the  union.  Saperstein  indi- 
cated the  theatres  may  reopen  in  a 
week  with  non-union  operators  but 
this  is  denied  by  W.  A.  Stefifes,  who 


is    assisting    Saperstein    in    the    local 
fight. 

Press  criticism  of  the  circuits  for 
not  joining  the  closing  move  has  been 
forestalled  by  Stefifes,  who  said  he  did 
not  want  a  lockout  declared  by  labor. 
The  present  action  of  the  independent 
theatres,  he  declares,  places  full  re- 
sponsibility on  Tom  Maloy,  union 
boss.  The  state's  attorney's  office, 
meanwhile,  says  it  has  not  been  noti- 
fied of  any  anonymous  threats  against 
.Steffes  nor  has  it  received  any  re- 
quest for  protection  from  him. 


Cutting       Dialogue 
One-Third   in    Try 
For  Betterment 


to 


Hollywood — Elimination  of  racy 
sophisticated  pictures  and  reduction  of 
dialogue  in  favor  of  action  will  high- 
light forthcoming  pictures.  Already 
Radio  and  Fox  have  decided  on  this 
course  and  more  companies  will  fol- 
low. Fox  in  addition  has  voted 
thumbs  down  on  gangster  pictures, 
which  will  be  greatly  curtailed  in  the 
coming   crop  of   productions. 

At  a  meeting  at  Radio,  Joseph 
Schnitzer,  William  LeBaron  and 
associate  producers  decided  that  the 
cutting  down  of  dialogue  in  favor  of 
action  would  result  in  better  pictures. 
The  decision  is  a  direct  result  of  pre- 
view audience  reaction  to  "Smart 
Women,"  which   is   built   along   these 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cantor  Hits  Report 
Of  Return  to  Stage 

Hollywood — Eddie  Cantor  denies 
he  has  signed  a  contract  with  Florenz 
Ziegfeld  and  says  he  cannot  do  so 
without  Samuel  Goldwyn's  consent. 
He  also  adds  that  Ziegfeld's  contrib- 
ution to  picturization  of  "Whoopee" 
was  "principally  one  of  interference," 
stating  the  picture  was  produced 
solely  by  Goldwy'n.  The  latter  also 
denies  the  existence  of  any  contract 
which  contemplates  Cantor's  return  to 
the  stage. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW 

Coast  Golf  Tourney 
Slated  Sept,  12-U 

Date  of  the  fifth  annual  Motion 
Picture  Golf  Tournament,  sponsored 
by  Quigley  Publications,  has  been  set 
for  September  12  and  13  at  Lakeside 
Country  Club.  Committees  now  are 
being  appointed  and  prize  awards  be- 
ing determined.  The  grand  prize  will 
be  the  Quigley  Cup,  first  leg  of  which 
was  won  last  year  by  Gene  Ruggerio 
of  M-G-M. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Buchanan  Signed  for 
Para,  British  Film 

London — Jack  Buchanan  has  signed 
for  the  lead  in  "A  Child  in  Their 
Midst,"  third  of  the  Paramount  Brit- 
ish productions  being  started  this 
week  at  Ellstree.  Louis  Mercanton 
is  directing. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    August   8,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   I'.   S.    Patent   Office 

Formcrty  Exhibitors  Daily   Rcvictc 

and   Motion   Pictures    Today 


Vol.   30 


August   8,    1931 


No.   59 


jMARTIN     yuiGLEY 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 
MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
Advertising   Manager 

^*^\  I'lBI.ISIIED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  Jl  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^«|^  Daily.  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
~  ai  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Oftice;  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  \inc  and  Yucca  Streets;  ]Villiam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Ed'ein  S.  ClilTord, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent :  IV.  H.  Mo^iring, 
The  Bioscope.  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road. 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  IVeincr,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  \V.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act   of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.      Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Jack  iVeinherg  Plans 
New  Exclusive  Firm 

Jack  Weinberg,  formerly  owner  of 
the  Exclusive  Feature  Film  exchange, 
is  re-entering  the  independent  ex- 
change field  and  shortly  opens  an  of- 
fice at  630  Ninth  Ave.  under  the 
same  name  he  formerly  operated. 
Weinberg  has  contracted  with  the 
Weiss  Bros,  to  distribute  the  eight 
Harry  Carey  features  in  Greater 
New  York  and  Albany.  It  is  possible 
that  other  exchanges  in  New  York 
state  may  be  opened. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

McGowan  Renews 

Hollywood  —  Robert  McGowan, 
who  is  completing  his  tenth  year  as 
director  of  "Our  Gang"  comedies,  has 
signd  a  new  long-term  contract  with 
Hal  Roach.  McGowan  has  been 
associated  with  "Our  Gang"  pictures 
since  the  idea  of  making  these  two- 
reel  juvenile  films  was  first  suggested, 
and  during  the  past  decade  has  turned 
out  110  releases.  During  the  forth- 
coming season  eight  "Our  Gang"  pic- 
tures are  listed  for  release  by  M-G-M. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Von  Sternberg  in  Court 

Hollywood — Asserting  that  his 
former  wife  is  making  exorbitant 
money  demands,  Josef  von  Sternberg 
appeared  in  court  yesterday  to  face  a 
contempt  charge. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Borrows  Rose  Hohart 

Hollywood — Rose  Hobart  has  been 
borrowed  from  Universal  by  Para- 
mount to  appear  with  Fredric  March 
and  Miriam  Hopkins  in  "Dr.  Jekyll 
and    Mr.    Hyde." 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Another  Holt-Graves 

Hollywood — Columljia  has  signed 
Jack  Holt  and  Ralph  Graves  to  be 
co-featured  in  "The  Ghost  Walks." 
tentative  title. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT    BUY   NOW 

Christy  in  New  York 

Charles  Christy  is  in  New  York 
from  the  Coast. 


Purely  Personal 


DAUL  \\HITE:MAX  is  named  de- 
*^  feiidaiit  in  action  brought  by  Uni- 
versal to  recover  a  $1,500  expense  ac- 
count. Twenty-two  blue  tuxedos 
worn  by  Whiteman's  orchestra  in 
"The  King  of  Jazz"  are  among  the 
items  listed. 

Tommy  Meigh.xn  is  not  back  from 
the  Coast  a  week  and  Harry  Bux- 
baum  has  played  golf  with  him  at 
least  five  times.  If  Meighan  would 
stop  raving  about  Fox  pictures  he 
vi-ould  play  a  better  game. 

Rudolph  Guenther,  chairman  of 
the  board  of  the  advertising  firm  of 
Rudolph  Guenther-Russel  Law,  Inc., 
sails  today  for  Europe. 

Major  Edward  Bowes,  managing 
director  of  the  New  York  Capitol,  is 
sponsoring  a  plan  for  an  annual  mem- 
orial to  the  late  David  Belasco. 

Elmer  J'.  McGovern  has  just  fin- 
ished editing  a  series  of  Chester's 
Snooky  Comedies  which  are  being  re- 
leased through  Talking  Picture  Epics. 

Joe  Rosenzweig  is  going  to  Rock- 
land Lake  over  the  week-end  on  a 
fishing  trip.  On  the  trip  will  be  Harry 
Zeitels  and  Morris  Epstein. 

Adolph  Pollak  expects  to  leave  for 
the  Coast  any  day  now.  Several  deals 
waiting  to  be  signed  are  holding  him 
up. 

A.  Griffith  Grey,  Pat  Campbell's 
former  boss  in  the  D.  W.  Griffith 
Company,  was  host  to  Pat  at  Long 
Beach. 

Lillian  Silver,  secretary  to 
Charles  O'Reilly  at  the  T.O.C.C,  has 
left  for  a  two  weeks'  vacation. 

Al  Mendelson,  Fox  Jersey  ex- 
change booker,  has  gone  to  the  moun- 
tains to  spend  his  vacation. 

Si  Barr  of  the  Subway,  Brooklyn, 
is  dickering  for  the  Gem,  135th 
Street,   New  York. 


Coverage 

Astor — "A  Free  Soul"  (M- 
G-M) — reviewed   April   18. 

Cameo — "Five  Year  Plan" 
(Amkino)  —  reviewed  today, 
page  3. 

Capitol— "Politics"  (M-G-M) 
— reviewed  July  2. 

Criterion  —  "An  American 
Tragedy'  (Para.)  —  reviewed 
May  29. 

Mayfair  —  "Traveling  Hus- 
bands" (Radio)  —  reviewed 
April   27. 

Paramount  —  "Huckleberry 
Finn"  (Para.) — reviewed  July 
27. 

RivOLi — "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" (Para.) — reviewed  July 
9. 

RoxY — "Young  as  You  Feel" 
(Fox) — reviewed  April  8. 

Strand  —  "The  Runaround" 
(Radio) — reviewed  today,  page 
3. 

Warners  —  "The  Immortal 
Vagabond"  (Talking  Picture 
Epics) — reviewed    August    1. 

Winter  Garden — "The  Star 
Witness'  (Warners) — reviewed 
July  21. 


"Billy"  Ferguson,  M-G-M  exploi- 
tation chief,  has  given  up  all  claims  to 
being  a  deep  sea  fisherman,  following 
a  week-end  experience. 

Marian  Marsh,  recent  Warner 
discovery,  is  to  arrive  in  New  York 
Monday  for  a  stay  of  a  week. 

Jack  Goldstein  has  moved  his  of- 
fice from  the  fifth  to  the  seventh  floor 
in  the  Film  Bldg. 

Charles  Zenker  of  Prospect  Press 
and  his  daughter  sail  next  Wednesday 
for  Europe  on  a  vacation  trip. 

Gloria  Swanson  is  to  arrive  in 
New   York   Saturday  from   Europe. 


Stocks  Gain;  Universal  Up  6%  Points 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated    Film   Industries 75^  7i/i  IVi 

Eastman    Kodak     13554  133  135^ 

Fox    Film    "A" 131/8  12}^  13 

General   Theatre    Equip,    new 3!4  2J^  fA 

Loew's    Inc ' 45M  445^  45 

M-G-M    pfd    25  25  25 

Paramount    Publix    22?^  22^^  2254 

Pathe    Exchange    V/g.  VA  V/z 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" S%  SVa,  5H 

R   K  0 135^  UVi  13Vs 

Universal    Pictures   pfd 42  42  42 

Warner    Bros 7ys  7  7 

General  Curb  List  Irregular 

High  Low  Close 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc 95^  95^  954 

Fox   Theatres    "A" 25/^  2;4  2'A 

General   Theatre    Equip,    pfd 454  4  4% 

Sentry    Safety    Control 54  54  54 

Trans  Lux   4.J4  4%  454 


Net 
Change 


+m 


-54 


-Vs 


-1-654 


Net 
Change 

+  H 


+  % 

-V4 


Bonds  Also  Gain;  Pathe  Gains  /% 

Net 

High  Low       Close      Change 

General    Theatre    Equip.    6s    '40 21  18  19  —4'A 

r,oew's  6s   '41   ex  war 9754  97'/2       97K        +  'A 

Paramount   F.   L.  6s  '47 m'A  87  88  +  'A 

Paramount  Publix  5^s,  '50   76  75'A       7554       — IM 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 92'A  91  92}4        +V/2 

Warner    Bros.   6s   '39   wd 4454  43^        4354        —154 


Sales 

100 

2,500 

25,600 

11,700 

2,700 

100 

3,200 

500 

200 

2,700 

10 

3,800 


Sales 

500 
1,200 
7,300 

100 
1,000 


Sales 

11 
5 

24 
29 
14 
30 


cmt%. 


Harold    B.    Franklin    for    his 
"bedrock"    statement     on 
why    the    coming    year 
will   be  a  successful 
one  for  show- 
men. 


Epics  Out  of  Sheffield 
Exchanges  in  West 

Denver — Sheffield  exchanges  have 
requested  Talking  Picture  Epics  to  ar- 
range for  other  distribution  here  and 
Salt  Lake  City,  Portland,  Seattle  and 
Butte.  Sheffield  has  recently  added 
considerable  other  product  for  his  ex- 
changes. R.  E.  Mitchell  is  in  Denver 
arranging  the  transfer  and  Fred  Gage 
will  manage  the  Denyer  office,  which 
will  take  over  the  old  Tiffany  head- 
quarters. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT   BUY    NOW 

Denver  B.  O.  Hit 
By  Night  Baseball 

Denver — Night  baseball  here  is 
furnishing  a  lot  of  competition  to 
theatres.  In  the  Denver  Post  tourna- 
ment Sunday  night  game  there  were 
more  than  7,000  present,  while  the 
seats  in  the  first  run  houses  here 
total  only  8,740. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY   NOW 

3  Originals  Called 
For  in  Lonsdale  Pact 

Frederick  Lonsdale,  British  play- 
wright who  left  New  York  yester- 
day for  the  Coast,  is  to  do  three  orig- 
inals for  M-G-M.  The  first  probably 
will  be  a  Norma  Shearer  starring 
vehicle  and  one  of  the  others  will  star 
Robert  Montgomery. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT   BUY    NOW 

Midnight  Shows  Popular 

Cincinnati — The  Saturday  mid- 
night shows  at  RKO  Palace  and 
Lyric  are  continuing  to  click  regular- 
ly, indicating  that  the  owls  apparent- 
ly prefer  escape  froin  the  heat  which 
the  refrigerated  show  shops  offer, 
rather  than  their  regular  Saturday 
night  bath. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

Pichel  Here  Monday 

Irving  Pichel,  author,  dramatic 
critic  and  actor,  arrives  in  New  York 
Monday  to  appear  opposite  Tallulah 
Bankhead  in  "The  Cheat." 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Character  Actor  Killed 

Santa  Maria,  Cal. — While  hunting 
with  his  chauffur  on  Figuero  Moun- 
tain, near  here,  Ullrich  Haupt,  chaj- 
acter  actor  and  playwright,  was  killed 
by  the  accidental  discharge  of  his 
rifle.     He  was  43-years  old. 


I 


Sound  Recording 

FILM    AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY     RECORDING     CO.     of 

AMERICA,   INC 

1841    Broadway— New    York.    N.    Y. 

Columbus    5-3181-318Z 


Saturday,    August    8,     1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


''Wine  in  the  Blood'' 

(RKO-Radio) 

Hollywood — "Mildly  entertaining" 
was  the  verdict  of  the  audience  which 
viewed  this  picture  concerning  a  man 
who  uses  his  wife  to  blackmail  the  men 
she  attracts. 

While  the  three  principals,  Lily 
Damita,  Adolphe  Menjou,  and  Lau- 
rence Ollivier,  gave  creditable  per- 
formances, the  enthusiasm  of  those 
present  was  reserved  for  Frederick 
Kerr,  as  a  delightful  old  roue,  and 
Erich  von  Stroheim  as  a  humorous 
blackmailer.  The  excellent  dialogue 
by  Wallace  Smith  and  the  direction 
of  Victor  Schertzinger  also  excited 
comment. 

The  story,  taken  from  the  novel 
"The  Sphinx  Has  Spoken"  by  Maurice 
De  Kobra,  reaches  its  climax  when 
the  husband  discovers  that  his  best 
friend  has  been  his  wife's  victim.  The 
two  decide  that  friendship  precedes  an 
"affair"  and  the  picture  goes  on  to 
prove  that  they  are  wrong —  the  wit- 
ness drawing  his   own  moral   conclu- 


''Sidewalks    of    New 
York" 

(M-G-M) 

Undiluted  slapstick  and  old-time 
gags  came  into  their  own  with  the 
showing  of  Buster  Keaton's  latest 
"The  Sidewalks  of  New  York"  if 
the  enthusiasm  of  a  preview  audience 
at  the  Alexander  Theatre  in  Glendale 
is  any  criterion. 

Keaton's  rough  and  tumble  antics 
are  augmented  by  Cliff  Edwards  who 
was  responsible  for  many  snickers. 
Anita  Page  has  a  sort  of  background 
role  as  a  typical  New  York  flapper, 
all  the  scenes  as  the  title  implies,  be- 
ing laid  around  the  streets  of  that 
city. 

Even  a  friendly  audience  couldn't 
find  much  plot  or  coherence  to  the 
story,  so  the  patrons  gave  up  look- 
ing and  just  laughed. 

The  story  is  by  George  Landy  and 
Paul  Gerard  Smith  and  the  direction 
in  the  hands  of  Zion  Meyers  and  Jules 
White. 


"Business  and  Pleas- 
ure" 

(Fox) 

Hollywood — Will  Rogers'  latest, 
adapted  from  Booth  Tarkington's 
"The  Plutocrat,"  is  a  typical  Rogers 
vehicle  affording  the  sage  of  Clare- 
more  opportunity  to  get  things  all 
mixed  up  on  an  ocean  liner  and  later 
to  settle  a  war  among  tribes  in  the 
Arabian  desert.  He  gets  vamped  by 
Jetta  Goudal  and  properly  squelched 
for  this  philandering  by  his  wife 
(Dorothy  Peterson).  Both  women 
give  charming  characterizations. 

Will  plays  the  role  of  a  razor  blade 
manufacturer  out  to  tie  up  the  market 
on  damascus  steel.  His  antics  on  the 
boat  and  later  in  the  desert,  afford 
plenty  of  laughs  and  opportunities  for 
the  Rogers  philosophy  and  drollery. 
Romance  is  supplied  by  Joel  McRae 
and  Peggy  Ross.  All  of  the  cast  is 
quite  adequate,  but,  as  usual  in  Rogers 
pictures,  this  is  pretty  much  all  Will. 
LEO  MEEHAN. 


H 


'The  Spider" 

(Fox) 

OLLYWOOD — Fox  has  turned 
out  a  real  mystery  melodrama 
in  this  picture  with  capable 
Fdmund  Lowe  as  the  chief 
thriller,  supported  by  Lois 
Moran,  John  Arledge,  EI  Bren- 
del,  George  E.  Stone  and  others. 
For  those  millions  who  read 
mystery  stories,  go  to  seances 
and  like  hypnotism  and  mind 
reading,  there  will  be  plenty  of 
entertainment  in  this  one.  A 
fast  pace  has  been  set  by  the 
co-direction  of  William  Cam- 
eron Menzies  and  Kenneth  Mc- 
Kenna  from  the  adaptation  by 
Barry  Connors  and  Lowell 
Brentano  of  the  stage  play.  As 
usual,  Lowe  does  his  stuff  in 
thoroughly  satisfactory  fashion. 
LEO  MEEHAN 


"Mom" 

(RKO-Radio) 

Hollywood— Title  writers  reached 
the  above  name  for  the  picturization 
of  "Fanny  Foley,  Herself"  by  Juliet 
Wilbur  Tompkins,  featuring;  Edna 
May  Oliver,  a  standard  vaudeville 
headliner.  The  picture  is  done  in 
Technicolor. 

Fanny  (Edna  May  Oliver),  mother 
of  two  grown  daughters,  forsakes  the 
stage  because  of  fancied  disapproval 
of  the  daughters.  How  Fanny  effects 
a  general  reconciliation  that  enables 
her  to  return  to  the  stage  brings  the 
story   to   a    happy   conclusion. 

Rochelle  Hudson,  in  her  first  major 
assignment,  and  Helen  Chandler  are 
the  two  daughters  and  Hobart  Bos- 
worth,  the  grandfather,  considerably 
concerned  in  the  plot.  Florence  Rob- 
erts, John  Darrow  and  Robert  Em- 
mett  O'Connor  have  outstanding  parts. 

Carey  Wilson  did  the  adaptation 
and  dialogue  with  full  realization  of 
the  humanness  of  the  story,  and  Mel 
Brown's  direction  is  in  the  same  vein. 
The  Technicolor  photography  on  the 
new  high-speed  film  is  worthy  of  spe- 
cial attention. 

"Law     of     the     Rio 
Grande" 

(Syndicate) 
^Ordinary  western  with  plenty  of 
outdoor  scenery  and  riding  to  satisfy 
the  trade  that  goes  in  for  horse 
operas.  The  story  has  Bob  Custer,  a 
bandit,  resolving  to  go  straight  after 
the  gang  is  pretty  well  broken  up. 
He  meets  up  with  Blanco  Kid,  a 
former  associate,  as  Blanco  is  framing 
the  ranch  owner's  daughter  into 
marrying  him.  Custer  intercedes  and 
gets  into  the  good  graces  of  the  girl. 
Later  he  is  made  foreman  of  the 
ranch.  When  he  breaks  up  the  rob- 
bery plans  of  the  Blanco  Kid,  his 
past  is  revealed,  but  that  means  noth- 
ing when  the  pretty  ranch  owner's 
daughter  intervenes  in  his  behalf. 


"Wild  Horse" 

(Allied) 

Hoot  Gibson  supplies  plenty  of 
thrills  and  action  in  his  second  west- 
ern for  Allied.  A  rodeo  show,  a  bank 
holdup  and  the  capture  of  a  murderer 
are  some  of  the  highlights.  Capture  of 
the  wild  horse  also  plays  a  prominent 
part  in  the  action  which  is  bound  to 
keep   the   juvenile   trade   well   pleased. 

Hoot  buys  a  ranch  with  a  rodeo 
outfit  and  then  exciting  events  begin 
to  happen.  When  the  clouds  of  trouble 
clear,  the  hero  wins  Alberta  Vaughn 
in  real  cowboy  style. 

There  is  a  fight  between  two  horses 
that  is  a  sizzler.  "Skeeter  Bill"  Robin- 
son furnishes  the  comedy  sequences. 
Others  in  the  cast  include  Stepin 
Fetchit,  George  Bunny,  Joe  Rickson 
and  Edmund  Cobb. 


"The  Runaround" 

(Radio) 
Done  entirely  in  Technicolor,  this 
light  comedy  drama  is  good  hot 
weather  fare.  The  new  color  process 
enhances  the  effect  and  enables  Mary 
Brian  and  the  other  principals  to 
appear  at  best  advantage.  Mary  is  a 
chorus  girl,  who  is  induced  by  her  girl 
friend  to  try  to  frame  a  prospective 
husband.  During  the  process,  she 
falls  in  love  with  her  proposed  victim 
and  he  insists  upon  the  marriage  as 
scheduled.  To  Joseph  Cawthorne  go 
the  acting  honors  in  a  good  cast  in- 
cluding Geoffrey  Kerr,  Johnny  Hines 
and  Marie  Prevost.  Director  Wil- 
liam J.  Craft  lost  no  opportunity  for 
laughs.  HYNES. 


"The  Five  Year  Plan" 

(Amkino) 
This  portrays  Russia's  remaking,  or 
the  development  and  progress  of  the 
Soviet  people  in  the  three  years  under 
the  Five  Year  Plan.  Life,  business 
and  entertainment  all  have  taken  a 
turn  for  the  better  in  Russia  and  the 
reaction  of  the  inhabitants  is  most 
favorable.  The  harvesting  industry 
has  progressed  considerably  as  has 
other  industries.  A  number  of  new 
buildings  have  changed  living  condi- 
tions in  parts  of  Russia  and  the  peo- 
ple are  really  coming  into  their  own, 
according  to  the  film.  The  picture 
originally  was  made  silent  but  a  lec- 
ture has  been  added  to  explain  both 
the  system  and  the  new  regime  under 
which  the  Russians  are  now  living  and 
working. 


Shorts 


"Gangway** 

(Vitaphone) 
Audience  of  the  New  York  Strand 
got  a  real  kick  out  of  this  Joe  Penner 
comedy.  Joe  substitutes  for  a  notori- 
ous gangster  at  a  fashionable  party, 
outwits  some  crooks  and  takes  down 
the  house  with  his  song  act.  Running 
time,  9  minutes. 


"The     Naggers     at     the 
Races" 

(Vitaphone) 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack  Norworth  take 
a    trip    to    the    racetrack,    where    the 
gullible  Jack  takes  tips  as  they  come 


along.  Of  course,  the  couple  provide 
plenty  of  discomfiture  for  the  other 
spectators.  It  has  laughs.  Running 
time,  8  minutes. 


"Knocking  'Em  Cold" 

( Vitaphone) 
This  is  a  short  about  actors.  An- 
drew Tombes  is  a  boastful  ham,  whose 
act  is  queered  by  his  boarding  house 
associates.  However,  his  girl  gives 
him  a  new  act  and  fighting  courage. 
The  sequence  where  an  actor  friend 
is  beating  Tombes  to  all  his  gags  dur- 
ing his  act  is  funny.  Running  time, 
9   minutes. 


"Oh!  Oh!  Cleopatra" 

(RKO  Pathe) 
The  second  of  the  Masquers  Club 
of  Hollywood's  contribution  to  the 
shorts  field  and  with  plenty  of  nanjes 
in  the  cast,  including  Bert  Wheeler 
and  Bob  Woolsey,  who  carry  on  with 
Shakespeare's  brainchild  to  make  an 
amusing  novelty.  There's  plenty  of 
fun  with  Wheeler  satiring  Mark  An- 
thony, and  Woolsey,  Julius  Caesar. 
Dorothy  Burgess  is  Cleopatra  and  a 
charming  one  at  that.  The  story  con- 
cerns Professor  Sweinstein  giving  a 
demonstration  with  pills  that  will 
bring  one  back  to  the  retrospective 
age.  That  chariot  race  for  Cleg's 
hand  is  a  wow.  Running  time,  20 
minutes. 


"The  Silent  Partner" 

(Vitaphone  1250-51) 
Billy  Gaxton  has  plenty  to  do  to 
keep  the  wolf  from  the  door.  He 
owns  an  option  on  a  piece  of  property 
and  until  he  disposes  of  it  to  his 
aunt's  lover,  there's  plenty  of  fun  pro- 
vided by  the  star  who  keeps  the  col- 
lectors from  collecting.  Running 
time,  18  minutes. 


"Poise" 

(RKO  Pathe) 
Six)rts  require  a  certain  amount  of 
poise,  and  in  this  subject  Grantland 
Rice  manages  to  get  scenes  showing 
how  this  is  necessary  in  archery,  fish- 
ing, golfing,  the  shot  put,  discus  throw- 
ing, pole  vaulting,  high  jumping,  bro^d 
jumping  and  other  events.  Running 
time,  9  minutes. 


"The  Buffa.lo  Stampede" 

(Vitaphone  No.  6) 
Water  Buffaloes  and  the  disastrous 
Tsetse  fly  are  the  highlighted  in  this 
issue  of  the  "Adventures  in  Africa," 
series.  A  few  of  the  buffaloes  are 
captured  by  Dr.  Wynant  D.  Hubbard 
and  his  expedition,  but  the  ravishings 
of  the  Tsetse  must  be  imagined  for 
none  of  their  vandalism  is  shown  on 
the  screen.  It's  interesting  material 
with  dialogue  adding  to  its  value. 
Running  time,  9  minutes. 


"Fun  on  the  Ice*' 

(RKO  Pathe) 
This  one  should  cool  your  audiences 
if  the  air-cooling  systems  don't.  The 
.•\esop  Fables  menageries  take  to  the 
ice  with  a  number  of  antics  provided 
to  i%eep  audiences  giggling  on  and  off. 
Recording  and  synchronization  are 
well  done.     Running  time,  8  minutes. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,    August    8,    1931 


RKO  With  Fox 
On  Taboo  of 
Racy  Films 


(Coiititu4cd  from  page    1) 

lines.     The  picture  is  getting  surpris- 
ing receptions. 

Under  the  plan,  pictures  are  to  con- 
sist of  two-thirds  of  action  and  one- 
third  dialogue.  The  same  meeting 
found  sentiment  against  racy  sophis- 
ticated pictures. 


Fox,  as  stated  yesterday,  is  making 
effort  to  select  material  designed  for 
family  trade  with  special  emphasis 
placed  on  the  younger  element.  Sex 
and  gangster  dramas  are  to  be 
avoided,  under  the  plan.  The  com- 
pany realizes  the  importance  of  the 
trade  of  adolescents  and  is  seeking  to 
gauge  picture  appeal  accordingly. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Skinner  Ventilating 
Receiver  Is  Sought 

St.  Louis — Circuit  Judge  Henry 
Hamilton,  has  set  August  11  as  the 
date  for  a  preliminary  hearing  on  an 
application  for  the  appointment  of  a 
receiver  for  Skinner  Brothers  Manu- 
facturing Co.,  makers  of  heating  and 
ventilating  equipment  for  theatres  and 
other  buildings. 

The  receivership  suit  was  filed  by 
Merrill  G.  Skinner,  former  vice  pres- 
ident and  general  manager  of  the 
company,  and  it  charges  that  a  local 
bank,  which  was  included  among  the 
defendants,  is  a  large  creditor  of  the 
concern  and  has  been  taking  an  undue 
amount  of  control  and  dictating  a 
policy  not  to  the  company's  best  in- 
terest. The  petition  states  that  the 
company  is  solvent  but  due  to  general 
conditions  its  business  is  now  virtu- 
ally at  a  standstill.  Skinner,  whose 
salary  was  $1,250  monthly,  resigned 
when  the  bank  is  said  to  have  de- 
manded that  officers  work  without  pay 
until  business  conditions  improve. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Argentine  Chancellor 
To  Register  Squawk 

San  Francisco  —  Declaring  that 
the  grade  of  product  emanating  from 
Hollywood  "is  designed  for  infantile 
intellects  and  are  poorly  directed,"  the 
Republic  of  Argentine  is  sending  Ral 
Garruchago,  chancellor  of  the  Argen- 
tine consulate,  to  Hollywood  to  urge 
producers    "to   make   better  pictures." 

The  entire  South  American  market 
has  been  wrought  up  over  introduc- 
tion of  Castillian  Spanish  in  Ameri- 
can pictures  released  there,  it  is 
stated. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Ad  Splurges  for 
Buffalo  B.  0.  Boost 

Buffalo — After  the  three-quarter 
page  spread  on  "Politics"  brought 
such  heavy  business,  Loew's  Fox- 
Great  Lakes  followed  it  the  next  week 
with  a  similar  layout  on  "Sporting 
Blood,"  both  with  M-G-M  co-opera- 
tion. Stage  .shows,  Wesley  Eddy  with 
"Politics"  and  Waring's  Pennsyl- 
vanians  with  "Sporting  Blood,"  were 
featured  prominently. 


Better  Color 

TECHNICOLOR  has  made 
big  strides  forward  in  the 
development  of  its  new  process 
which  is  introduced  in  Radio's 
"The  Runaround."  The  film  is 
done  entirely  in  color  and  the 
effects  are  natural  and  pleasing. 
The  daubed  effect  which  here- 
tofore characterized  facial  col- 
oring has  been  overcome,  and 
features  and  contour  register 
naturally  and  clearly,  with  re- 
sultant lessening  of  eye  strain. 
The  new  process  should  aid 
greatly  in  restoring  popularity 
of  color  pictures. 

HYNES 


Turning  Point 

Reached,  Sam 

Katz  Asserts 


{Continued  from  page    1) 

in  the  grip  of  a  depression  whose 
effect  has  been  felt  in  our  theatres. 
On  top  of  that,  the  product  we  have 
had  in  the  past  year  has  been  below 
normal  in  box-office  draw.  To  make 
matters  worse,  weather  conditions, 
which  play  so  important  a  role  in  our 
business,  have  been  disappointing.  I 
am  enumerating  this  in  a  sincere  at- 
tempt to  look  facts  squarely  in  the 
face. 

"The  net  result  of  all  this  has  been 
a  feeling  of  discouragement  which  is 
perfectly  natural  under  the  circum- 
stances. When  a  man  works  hard 
and  exhausts  every  ounce  of  strength, 
energy  and  brainpower  in  running  his 
theatre  and  still  can't  "keep  the  gross 
up  to  its  former  level,  it  is  quite  natu- 
ral that  he  should  get  a  little  dis- 
heartened. Lowered  grosses  necessi- 
tated, at  times,  stringent  economies. 
The  exigencies  of  the  times  and  the 
interest  of  its  stockholders  compelled 
the  company  to  institute  a  wholesale 
salary  reduction.  Pessimistic  reports 
in  the  newspapers  of  the  trend  of  the 
times,  rumors,  hearsay  and  grape-vine 
gossip  didn't  brighten  the  situation. 
All  this  could  not  help  but  have  an 
unsettling  effect.  Some  of  the  boys 
felt  a  little  uncertain  and  uneasy  about 
the  future.  It  was  natural  and  in- 
e\  itable." 

Cites   Quality  Product 

Katz  praises  the  Publix  organization 
for  the  manner  in  which  it  has  weath- 
ered adversity  and  lists  a  number  of 
pictures  which  he  says  are  indicative 
of  the  new  quality  product  soon  to  be 
offered. 

"The  product  you  will  play  in  the 
next  few  months  will  be  the  most  ef- 
fective pictures  from  the  box-office 
viewpoint  ever  flashed  on  a  theatre's 
screen,"  Katz  states,  pointing  out  that 
the  quality  of  the  product,  plus  the 
impending  break  in  weather  and  cur- 
tailment of  costs  are  what  makes  him 
so  "genuinely  confident  of  results  in 
the    immediate    future. 

"That  is  why  I  feel  I  have  a  right 
to  believe  that  the  turning  point,  so 
far  as  our  industry  is  concerned,  is 
in  front  of  us,"  he  declares,  calling 
upon  the  organization  to  "start  the 
race  with  confidence,  optimism  and 
alert  enthusiasm"  washing  their  minds 
clear  of  "any  uncertainty,  uneasy  doubt 
and    plrx-imy    pessimism." 


281  New  York 

Houses  in  Fox 

Biiy  Now  Fold 


(Continued  from  page    1) 

eight ;  Lee  Ochs,  14  ;  Louis  Frisch,  17  ; 
Consolidated  .\musements,  24 ;  RKO, 
30 ;  Loew's,  65 ;  Warners,  40 ;  Fox 
Metropolitan,  70 ;  Jack  Hatton,  three, 
and  Bolte  Bros.,  four.  This  list  does 
not  include  the  string  of  individual 
independents  that  already  have  put 
their  signatures  to  Fox  contracts. 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


(Continued    from    page    1) 

following  :  Qinton,  Apollo,  Palestine, 
Second  Avenue,  New  Delancey,  Hol- 
lywood, Florence,  New  14th  St., 
Ruby,  Mt.  Morris,  Jewel,  Orpheum, 
Sunshine,  San  Jose,  Cosmo,  Stadium, 
Regun,  Harlem  Opera  House,  Har- 
lem Grand,  Harlem  King,   Palace. 

Consolidated  Circuit  comprises  the 
Oxford,  Jerome,  Mt.  Eden.  Luxor, 
Fleetwood,  Willis,  Forum,  Columbus, 
Arena,  Gem,  Tivoli,  Times,  Ideal. 

Sol  Britt  Circuit  involves  the  Pal- 
ace Theatre,  Pt.  Jervis,  7  theatres  on 
Staten  Island  and  the  Oasis,  Brooklyn. 

The  Lee  Ochs  Circuit  is  composed 
of  the  following  ten  theatres  in  New 
York  City :  Costello,  Gem.  Kings- 
bridge,  Majestic,  Manhattan,  Mosh- 
olu,   Ogden,  Tuxedo,   U.   S.,   Uptown. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

Junior  Durkin  Renews 

Junior  Durkin,  who  appears  in  the 
title  role  of  "Huckleberry  Finn", 
opening  Friday  at  the  Paramount 
Theatre,  has  signed  a  contract  to 
appear  in  two  more  Paramount  pic- 
tures. The  first  will  be  "Tom  Saw- 
yer,  Detective." 


Optimism  Is 
Running  High, 
Plunkett  Says 


(Continued   from   page    1) 

theatres  which  had  been  playing  pic- 
tures only  also  was  voted  at  the  gath- 
ering. 

District  executives  who  came  from 
all  parts  of  the  country,  were  Charles 
B.  McDonald,  Lou  Golding,  Joseph 
Lee,  H.  R.  Emde,  J.  M.  Brennan, 
Harry  McDonald,  J.  E.  Firnkoess, 
William  Elson,  Morgan  C.  Ames,  A. 
S.  Rittenberg,  Len  Brown,  Cliff 
Work,  and  Homer  Gill.  On  var- 
ious days  they  were  addressed  by 
Nate  Blumberg,  E.  M.  Glucksman, 
James  H.  Turner,  Jules  Levy, 
Charles  Freeman,  Herman  Zohbel, 
Milton  Schwarzwald,  Jack  Hess.  E. 
M.  Orowitz,  O.  R.  McMahon,  Maj. 
L.  E.  Thompson,  Mort  Singer  and 
other  departmental  heads. 

Others  present  were :  B.  B.  Ka- 
hane,  James  H.  Turner,  William 
Mallard,  L.  E.  Thompson,  Mort 
Singer,  Benjamin  Serkowich,  Floyd 
Scott,  Joseph  Gershensen,  William 
Adier  and  Arnold  Van   Leer. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Get  Ad  Material 
8  Weeks  in  Advance 

All  press  and  exploitation  ma- 
terial on  pictures  to  be  played  in 
Warner  houses  during  August  and 
September  has  been  assembled  by 
Dave  (Skip)  Weshner  under  a  new 
plan  to  make  such  material  available 
eight  weeks  in  advance  of  playdates. 
This  fortifies  theatre  managers  in 
advertising  in  cases  of  shifts  in 
bookings. 


NEW      YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant       4712... 


LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

I  54    CRESCENT     STREET 
.    .   .    .    STIIIwell         7  9  4  0 


EASTMAN 
*    FILMS    * 


J.  E.  =^=^^ 
BRULATOUR 

I  ncorporated 


CHICAGO 

1727  INDIANA  AVENUE 
CALumef    2691    .    .   . 


HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.   .   .   Hollywood       4  I  2  I 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  60 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  AUGUST  10,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Vigilantes  to 
Guard  Houses 
In  Chi  Fight 

150  Houses  to  Seek  Writ 
Against  Union 

Chicauo— Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
Illinois  is  recruiting  a  theatre  militia 
of  300  vigilantes  to  guard  the  150 
theatres  which  are  scheduled  to  re- 
main dark  today.  The  force  will  in- 
clude one  professional  guard  and  one 
guard  recruited  from  exhibitor  ranks 
to  be  augmented  by  a  police  guard. 

Allied's  attorneys  also  are  seeking 
an  injunction  restraining  the  union 
from  any  acts  of  violence.  Aaron 
Saperstein  heads  the  exhibitor  com- 
mittee which  will  appeal  to  Mayor 
Cermak    for    removal   of    Joe    Maloy, 

(Continued   on  page    2) 
"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

$2,327,365  Paid 
In  Film  Dividends 

Dividends  paid  by  picture  com- 
panies in  July  amounted  to  $2,327,- 
365,  according  to  the  Standard  Statis- 
tics Co.,  of  New  York.  Total  cash 
dividend  payments  made  by  domestic 
corporations  in  July  were  $516,095,- 
367. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Good  Films  Crying 
Need,  Seider  Says 

Good  pictures  are  the  crying  need 
of  the  industry  today  to  offset  econ- 
omic conditions  states  Joseph  M. 
Seider,  operator  of  over  30  theatres 
in  Greater  New  York.  Business  at 
present  is  bad,  part  of  which  Seider 
attributes  to  poor  pictures  and  gen- 
eral depression. 

"If  better  pictures  were  made  th< 
present  situation  would  not  be  so  bad 

(Continued   on  page   2) 
"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY    NOW 

Operators  Seek  Five 
P.C,  Increase  in  N,  O, 

New  Orleans — While  operators  in 
practically  every  city  in  the  country 
are  taking  cuts,  the  local  Projection- 
ists' union  is  demanding  a  five  per 
cent  increase  from  theatres  and  film 
exchangs.  The  demand  will  be  con- 
tested. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY    NOW 

Rowland  Leaves  Para 
For  Fox  Connection 

Richard  A.  Rowland  has  resigned 
as  an  associate  producer  at  the  New 
York  Paramount  studio  and  is  joining 
Fox  as  a  vice-president. 


After  2,000  Circuit  Contracts 

Four  national  booking  deals  are  being  negotiated  by  Radio 
Pictures  which  will  net  the  company's  coffers  plenty  of  shekels 
on  the  new  season's  product.  Charles  Rosenzweig,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  sales,  is  dickering  with  Warner  Brothers,  Fox,  Publix 
and    RKO   with   consummation   expected   shortly. 

More  than  2,000  circuit  theatres  will  play  Radio's  product  when 
the  deals  are  signed,  it  is  said. 


Nathanson  May 
Re  Behind  New 
Toronto  Co-op 


Toronto — That  new  Community 
Theatres  buying  combine  which 
Oscar  Hanson  is  directing  seems 
fraught  with  possibilities  here.  While 
the  new  co-operative  is  starting  rather 
unauspiciously  with  14  theatres,  it  is 
said  to  have  a  broad  perspective  and 
ambitious  plans  for  advancement  and 
may  even  be  the  mysterious  circuit  re- 
ferred to  by  N.  L.  Nathanson  in  the 
interview  in  which  he  declared  there 
was  a  theatre  string  being  organized 
in  Canada  to  specialize  in  British 
films. 

Hanson  is  here  first  as  general 
manager  of  Gaumont's  Canadian 
firm.  In  that  capacity  he  will  concen- 
trate on  Gaumont  sales  throughout  the 
Dominion.  Secondly,  he  is  engaged  in 
building  up  the  Community  co-opera- 
tive which,  he  has  indicated,  may 
spread  throughout   Canada. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Exhib  Holds  Key  to 
Prosperity— Brandt 

"The  problem  confronting  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry  is  what  it  can 
do  to  hasten  the  return  of  better  busi- 
ness," says  Joe  Brandt,  president  of 
Columbia.  "The  conclusion  is  that 
however  important  a  part  the  other 
branches  of  this  industry  may  be  able 
to    play,    in    the    final    analysis,    it    is 

(Continued   on   page    2) 


Quick  Release 
Warners'  Plan 
ForNewSeason 


Comeback  for 
Color  Pictures 
Due  This  Year 


Major  Firms  Getting  Set 
On  Schedule 


Quicker  releasing  is  planned  by 
Warners  next  year.  The  company  as 
was  explained  recently  by  Jack  War- 
ner, sees  no  reason  for  holding  a  film 
after  it  is  produced,  because  of  the 
danger  of  fashion  changing  in  the 
meantime. 

General  release  of  films  throughout 
the  country,  rather  than  holding  up 
films  for  pre-release  runs  is  to  be  the 
company  policy  for  the  1931-32  sea- 
son. All  films  for  next  season  will 
be  recorded  upon  both  film  and  disc. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

McGuirk  Defendant 
In  Color  Film  Suit 

Philadelphia — John  J.  McGuirk, 
former  president  of  the  Stanley  Com- 
pany of  America,  was  named  with 
eight  other  Philadelphians,  including 
Charles  Denby  Jr.,  lawyer  and  son-in- 
law  of  U.  S.  Senator  David  A.  Reed, 
and  nephew  of  the  late  Edwin  Denby, 
secretary  of  the  Navy  during  the 
Harding  Administration,  as  defendant 
in  a  $1,000,000  suit  for  damages  for 
their  alleged  failure  to  proceed  with 
the  organization  of  a  company  for  the 
manufacture  of  colored  motion  picture 
films. 

The   plaintiffs    in  the   case   are   the 

(Continued    on    page    2) 


Horwitz  Signs  Peace  Pact 
With  Para,  and  Other  Firms 


Houston — The  glaring  double  life- 
sized  signs  aimed  at  the  "Movie  Hog" 
which  decorated  the  Will  Horwitz 
three  subsequent  run  theatres  for  the 
past  six  months  or  more  have  sud- 
denly disappeared  in  the  wake  of 
Horwitz's  telegram  from  New  York 
to  the  effect  that  an  armistice  with 
the  major  producing  companies  has 
been  declared. 

Horwitz's    wire,    released    to    local 


newspapers,  declared  he  has  booked 
the  cream  of  the  product  of  Para- 
mount, Warners,  Fox,  United  Artists, 
RKO  Pathe,  Columbia,  and  M-G-M, 
for  showing  in  his  theatres  during  the 
coming  year. 

Horwitz      and      Paramount-Publix 

waged    a    hitter    fight    in    the    Texas 

courts    and    the    state    legislature    last 

winter    over    booking,    the    legislative 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


Major  companies  are  turning  their 
attention  to  color  films  to  a  degree 
which  presages  a  return  of  color  dur- 
ing the  1931-32  season.  The  results 
obtained  by  Technicolor  in  develop- 
ment of  its  new  so-called  grainless 
process  have  given  impetus  to  color 
pictures   at   the   studios. 

Radio  pioneered  with  the  new 
Technicolor  process  in  its  current 
picture,  "The  Runaround,"  and  was 
so  pleased  with  results  that  "Mom" 
was  filmed  in  color.  The  company 
now  is  said  to  be  planning  Techni- 
color filming  for  "The  Bird  of  Para- 
dise," "Marcheta"  and  "Babes  in 
Toyland." 

Paramount  is  going  in  for  color 
also  and  has  signed  a  contract  with 
Technicolor  for  eight  pictures.  In  addi- 
tion. Paramount  Pictorial  and  a  new 
series,  "Beauty  Secrets  of  Holly- 
wood," are  to  be  filmed  in  Techni- 
color in  addition  to  sequences  in 
forthcoming  issues  of  Paramount 
News.  Warners  plan  a  minimum  of 
four  and  are  working  with  the  new^ 
three-color  process  which  will  be  in- 
troduced next  year  in  a  Warner  pic- 

(Continued    on    page    2) 
"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

M-G-M  Deals  Still 
Pending  in  'Philly' 

Philadelphia — While  peace  stories 
are  beginning  to  drift  through  con- 
cerning the  M-G-M'-Stanley-Warner 
situation  in  Philadelphia,  M-G-M 
seems  to  be  actively  engaged  in  this 
territory  in  finding  a  way  "out,"  if 
negotiations  fall  through. 

Several  of  the  Philadalphia  legi- 
timate theatres  have  been  mentiongd 
as  possibilities  for  a  first  run  M-G-M 
liouse,   while  unconfirmed   rumors    in- 

(Continued    on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

MGM  After  New  Crop 
Of  Writing  Blood 

M-G-M  is  going  in  for  new  writing 
blood.  Unknown  authors  with  possi- 
bilities of  development  for  requiremnts 
for  picture  work  will  be  given  an  op- 
portunity to  show  their  worth. 

Officials  on  the  Coast  have  set  aside 
a  two-story  structure  to  take  care  of 
submitted  manuscripts  where  readers 
will  be  on  the  watch  out  for  new 
authors.  The  only  requirement  needed 
{Continued    on    page    2) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August   10,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   V.   S.    Patent   Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily   Review 

and   Motion    Pictures    Today 


Vol    ,?0 


August  10,  1931 


No.  60 


Martin   Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
Advertising   Manager 

^»^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
t  jLj  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^cl^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office;  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Nine  and  Yucca  Streets;  ffiV/tam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Cliiford, 
ilanager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mo-^ring, 
The  Bioscope,  8- 10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  H'einer,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin, W.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.   Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
posUge:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.      Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Horwitz  Signs  Peace 
Pact  With  Companies 

{Continued    from   page    1) 

fight  brought  on  by  Horwitz's  spon- 
sorship of  a  state  censorship  law. 
Publix  and  other  theatre  men  through 
their  attorneys  charge  Horwitz's  cen- 
sorship views  were  insincere  and  in- 
spired by  pique  over  failure  to  secure 
bookings  in  accordance  with  his 
former  30  day  protection  for  his  sub- 
sequent run  theatres.  For  many  months 
he  has  run  only  Pathe,  RKO,  and 
independently  produced  films,  his  lob- 
bies carrying  the  big  "greed  hog" 
figures  grasping  huge  money  bags, 
and  captions  explaining  that  the  big 
companies  were  trying  to  smother  him' 
out  because  he  would  not  raise  prices. 
His  prices  are  25  cents  top  at  the 
Texan,  and  15  cents  top  at  the  Iris 
and  Ritz,  and  five  cents  for  children 
all  the  time.  All  his  theatres  are 
sound  equipped  and  air  cooled. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

MGM  Deals,  Still 
Pending  in  "Philly" 

(Continued    from    f<"J<'    ') 

dicate  that  Metro  has  already  broached 
the  larger  independent  neighborhood 
theatres  with  plans  for  a  long  term 
contract  on  M-G-M  products.  It  is 
still  believed  that  even  if  Stanley- 
Warner  and  M-G-M  come  to  terms, 
some  of  the  M-G-M  product  will  be 
exhibited  independently  in  the  terri- 
tory. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Good  Films  Crying 
Need,  Seider  Says 

(Continued    from    page    I) 

but  there  is  a  decided  dearth  of  good 
pictures,"  he  declared.  "Pictures 
must  not  only  be  designed  for  the 
family  trade  but  must  be  produced  to 
appeal  generally  to  all  classes,"  he 
said. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Marsh  Due  Today 

Marian  Marsh,  Warner-First  Na- 
tional player,  arrives  from  the  Coast 
today. 


Vigilantes  to 
Guard  Houses 
In  Chi  Fight 


(Continued    from    page    1) 

brother  of  the  union  boss,  Tom 
Maloy,  as  e.xaminer  of  projectionists. 
This  move  indicates  independents  will 
reopen  soon  with  non-union  men  and 
that  they  want  Maloy  replaced  by 
someone  who  will  be  favorable  to 
licensing  of  non-union  applicants.  W. 
A.  Steffes,  Allied  leader  who  is  here 
co-operating  with  Saperstein,  advo- 
cates that  exhibitors  run  their  own 
machines  when  they  reopen  their 
houses. 

The  state's  attorney's  office  also  has 
asked  the  ouster  of  Maloy  and  the 
corporation  counsel's  opinion  on  the 
matter  is  reported  ready  for  the 
mayor  on  his  return  to  the  city  early 
next  week. 

Allied's  counsel  is  asking  the  state's 
attorney  to  secure  a  conspiracy  indict- 
ment against  Tom  Maloy,  based  on 
his  enforcement  of  the  two  man  in  the 
booth  edict,  agreement  for  which  the 
counsel  says  does  not  exist. 

Nash  &  Ahern,  said  to  be  Al 
Capone's  attorneys,  are  representing 
the  union  and  threaten  civil  action 
against  exhibitors  for  violation  of  the 
alleged  two-man  agreement. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Exhih  Holds  Key  to 
Prosperity — Brandt 

(Continued   from    page    1) 

the  exhibitor  who  can  do  most  to- 
wards hastening  the  return  of  better 
business,"  he  says.  "He  is  the  key- 
stone of  th  entire  structure  and  his 
attitude  towards  remedying  the  situ- 
ation depends  upon  his  willingness 
to  aid  in  hastening  the  return  of  pros- 
perity." 

Brandt  believes  that  if  the  slogan 
"Buy  Now — Spend  Now"  were 
adopted,  it  is  inevitable  that  the  rest 
of  the  community  would  fall  in  line 
with  theatre  owners  and  an  immediate 
betterment  of  conditions  would  ensue. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Quits  Peerless 

Charles  Reed  Jones  has  resigned  as 
press  representative  of  Peerless  Pro- 
ductions. 


Comeback  for 
Color  Pictures 
Due  This  Year 


(Continued    from    page    1) 

ture.  Warners  will  go  for  musicals 
in  color  to  a  certain  extent. 

M-G-M  is  arranging  for  produc- 
tion in  Technicolor  of  the  postponed 
"March  of  Time"  and  is  understood 
to  be  considering  filming  in  color  of 
"The  Merry  Widow,"  in  addition  to 
other    pictures. 

United  Artists,  whose  "Whoopee" 
in  Technicolor  made  a  hit,  and  Uni- 
versal, which  has  abstained  from  color 
since  "The  King  of  Jazz,"  both  are 
considering  new  deals  with  the  color 
firm. 

Meanwhile  a  number  of  deals  have 
been  closed  for  Multicolor  pictures 
and  that  Company  is  continuing  to 
expand  its  scope. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

MGM  After  New  Crop 
Of  Writing  Blood 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

is  that  stories  must  have  passed  the 
approval  of  a  magazine  editor.  Only 
printed  matter  is  accepted  since  it  is 
declared  most  amateur  writings  are 
too  indefinite  for  value.  All  manu- 
scripts will  be  given  an  equal  chance 
for  recognition. 

Several  new  writers  without  screen 
experience  have  been  added  to  the 
company's  staff  in  the  last  year,  prac- 
tically all  proving  successful  in  the 
new  field.  Whether  the  new  additions 
to  the  stafif  will  be  given  contracts 
is  as  yet  undecided.  Many  of  the 
writers  on  the  Coast  are  on  a  week- 
to-week  salary  basis. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Completes  Plans 

Plans  have  been  completed  by  John 
Harris,  Warner  Pittsburgh  zone  man- 
ager, for  furnishing  stage  shows  at 
the  Stanley,  Pittsburgh,  starting  Aug. 
22.  Joe  Alton  and  Jerry  Mayhall  will 
have   charge  of  the   programs. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Set  Dagover's  First 

Hollywood — Lil  Dagover's  first  for 
Warners  will  be  "The  Night  Watch." 


G,  T,  E,  Hits  New  Low  in  Dull  Market 


High 

Ccmsf.lidatcd    Film    Industries 7Ji 

Eastman    Kodak    \3S'/i 

Fox    Film    "A" I.' 

General    Theatre    Equip,    new 2% 

Loew's    Inc    ^ 45 

Paramount    Publix     23!'^ 

Pathc    Exchange    VA 

RKO     13^^ 

Warner    Bros 7 


Curb  Issues  Slightly  Off 


High 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 2'A 

General   Theatre   Equip,   pfd A'A 

Technicolor     6'/2 

Trans    Lux    4ii 


High 

General   Tlieatre  Equip    6s   '40 20^ 

Paramount   F.   L.   6s  '47 8654 

Paramount   Publix  5!^s.  '50 77 

Pathe  7s   '37  ww 93 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39  wd 43H 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

7H 

Wi 

300 

135'/7 

135'/. 

+  a 

1,200 

12'4 

13 

6,000 

2-/, 

25/^ 

-  'A 

10,700 

44.^ 

4444 

-  'A 

1,700 

22-14 

22^ 

+  'A 

2,100 

i.y« 

W^ 

-  'A 

400 

I.V/4 

n'A 

-  A 

1,400 

7 

7 

2,100 

yOff 

Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

2'4 

2'4 

1,100 

3'A 

3'A 

-5/8 

6,500 

6'/z 

e'A 

-'A 

100 

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Gi*t#?lo. 


Sam   Katz  for  his   analytical 
evaluation  of  new  season 
product  and  tite  out- 
look for  19S1-32 


McGuirk  Defendant 
In  Color  Film  Suit 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

United  Film  Industries,  Inc.,  of  New 
York,  which  deals  in  the  sale  of  col- 
ored film  patents  and  processes,  and 
Hans  von  Fraunhofer,  a  broker  in  the 
same  businss. 

The  defendants,  besides  McGuirk 
and  Denby,  include  Walter  Eckhardt. 
Bernard  R.  Cohn,  Abe  Sablosky, 
Lewis  Sablosky,  Harry  O.  Schwalbe 
and  Charles  Segall.  The  defendants 
are  declared  by  the  plaintifTs,  to  have 
interested  themselves  in  organizing  a 
company  in  1928,  to  be  known  as  the 
Wolfif-Heide  Photo-Chemical  Com- 
pany for  the  exploitation  of  a  color- 
film  process,  the  manufacture  of  which 
was  at  that  time  invested  in  the  Pho- 
tochrome A-C,  of  Switzerland.  The 
plaintififs  claim  that  after  a  stock  in- 
terchange, the  defendants  secured 
control  of  the  Photochrome  Corpora- 
tion, and  then  refused  to  go  through 
with  their  negotiations  to  finance  a 
new  company  with  the  result  that  the 
plaintififs  feel  that  thev  have  suffered 
a  $1,000,000  loss,  for  which  claim  they 
are  asking  legal  indemnity. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Buzz  Barton  Signs 
For  Big  4  Series 

Hollywood — Buzz  Barton,  juvenile 
player  has  been  signed  by  Big  4  Film 
Corp.  for  a  series  of  six  westerns. 
Buzz,  still  in  his  teens,  has  already 
starred  in  more  than  50  pictures.  The 
Barton  Westerns  will  be  released  one 
every  other  month,  alternating  with 
the  Bob  Custer  pictures,  giving  the 
organization  a  western  release  every 
30  days. 

X     "BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Two  More  for  Berman 

Hollywood — Having  completed  the 
;ircuit  of  studio  production  activi- 
ies  with  supervision  of  "Kisses  by 
Command,"  Pandro  Berman  has  been 
assigned  to  produce  "Home  Town 
Laughter"  and  "Other  People's  Busi- 
ness"   (working  title). 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Marrow  Loses  Son 

George  Marrow,  operator  of  tine 
Washington,  lost  his  son  Marvin,  8, 
who  died   from  infantile  paralysis. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gives  Up  Belmont 

Henry  Gluckman  has  given  up  thai 
Belmont  as  a  show  window  for  Ger-I 
man  pictures.  The  theatre  is  now  be-| 
ing  operated  by  the  owner. 


Jiuvcisal 


"Universal  pictures  over  our  circuit  last  year 
proved  amongst  our  outstanding  box  office  attrac- 
tions. A  larger  percentage  of  the  20  pictures  you 
released  proved  money  makers  than  those  received 
from  any  other  company." 

Sidney  Meyer 

Wolfson- Meyer  Theatre  Enterprises 

Miami,  Florida 


i 


"I    place    UNIVERSAL    product 
imong  the  leaders  of  the  coming  sea- 
on  after  a  very  careful  consideration 
•f    product    that    will    be    delivered 
rom  the  various  film  producing  com- 
anies  for  the  coming  1931-32  season." 
T.  G.  Herndon, 
Cedar  Grove  Theatre, 
Cedar  Grove,  La. 

"Because    of    apparent    box    office 
alue  of  Universal's  1931-32  product 
nd  because  of  the  satisfactory  service 
nd  excellent  line-up  of  last  year,  I 
lave  contracted  for  the  new  service." 
L.  C.  Lampo, 
Arcade  Theatre, 
Patterson,  La. 


"The  remarkable  progress  UNI- 
VERSAL made  during  1930-31  has 
been  the  talk  of  stockholders  of  this 
theatre.  Very  proud  to  show  the  dif- 
ferent pictures  during  this  season. 
Almost  all  of  your  productions  played 
on  a  Saturday  and  Sunday." 

J.  Karp,  Manager, 
Cameo    Theatre, 
Syracuse,  N.   Y. 


"I  want  to  compliment  Universal, 
particularly  Mr.  Laemmle,  upon  mar- 
velous showing  last  year.  It  is  my 
opinion  Universal  stood  shoulder  to 
shoulder  with  any  producing  company 
in  the  field." 

Reuben  Rosenblatt, 
Lloyd's    Theatres, 
Menominee,  Mich. 

"We  were  no  doubt  among  the  first 
to  place  application  for  the  new  1931- 
32  Universal  line-up.  We  simply  and 
willingly  placed  our  faith  in  Universal 
on  past  performance." 

Willis  Jeani, 
Buckhead    Theatre, 
Atlanta,  Ga. 


IDE      WITHA    ^VIIMIMEU 


or* 

cm* 

*^ 
e^ 

e^ 

(W> 
cm 

cm 
cm 

cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 


This  advertisement 
is  the  seventh  of 
a  series  on 
success  in  the 
picture  industry 


a 

builder  of 
successes 

Mil.  ]OE  BRANDT, 
today  president  of  Columbia  Pic- 
tures Corporation,  is  a  personfied 
proof  that  persistent  effort,  con- 
sistent cooperation  and  applied 
ability  has  brought  constructive 
progress  through  all  the  breaks  and 
vicissitudes  of  this  vicissitudinous  in- 
dustry. He  acquired  stamina  as  a 
newspaper  reporter,  tenacity  as  a 
trade  journal  correspondent,  and 
business  acumen  as  a  lawyer.  He  en- 
tered the  picture  business  as  private 
secretary  to  Carl  Laemynle,  then 
president  of  the  Imp  Co. — later  the 
great  factor  in  organizing  the  Uni- 
versal. He  earned  neiv  responsibili- 
ties year  by  year  and  became  a  power 
in  Universal.  Then  years  ago  he 
saw  a  bigger  destiny  by  carrying  on 
the  independent  banner  in  conjunc- 
tion with  Harry  and  Jack  Cohn  by 
launching  CBC  Film  Sales  Company, 
which  grew  and  blossomed  into  to- 
day's Columbia.  Through  his  whole 
career  Brandt  has  sold  optimism  and 
instilled  confidence.  His  is  a  selling 
success. 


■cm 

cm 
cm 

cm 
cm 
cm 


cm 
cm 


cm 
cm 
cm 

cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 
cm 

or* 


brisbane 
on  the  egg 
business 


MR.  ARTHUR  BRISBANE,  the  eminent  Hearst  journal- 
ist, once   immortally   remarked  that   "the    newspaperman  is 

^MM[^  like  a  hen,  he  has  to  lay  an  entirely  new    egg  every  day." 

By  which,   of   course,  Mr.   Brisbane   meant    to   convey  that 

t!^^  yesterday's  success  in  the  busy  labors   of  the    press   means 

nothing  whatever  toward  lessening  the  responsibility  for 
today  and  now.  There  are  many  parallels  between  publi- 
cation and  the  picture  business  and  this  element  of  contin- 
uous  and  immediately   contemporary    responsibility  is   one 

fc)^  of  them. 

Now  is  the  time,  and  there  is  no  other  time  but  now,  in  the  world 
of  amusement.  Yesterday's  play  date  has  been  played  and  the  books 
closed  and  that  playdate  gone  forever.  Today  and  now  is  the  only  time 
that  real  business  can  be  done.  The  film  sale  not  made  today,  like  the  half 
dollar  that  walks  past  the  box  office  will  not  be  back  tomorrow,  because 
tomorrow  will  have  its  own  day  of  being  now  and  its  own  business  to 
take  care  of. 


You  can  put  wheat  in  an  elevator.  You  can  put  apples  in  cold  storage. 
You  can  put  your  fur  coat  in  moth  balls  and  you  can  put  gold  in  the  bank. 
But  you  can  not  store  up  human  appetites,  the  impulse  to  buy,  the  desire 
for  entertainment,  here  and  now.  The  wishes  and  impulses  on  which  the 
motion  picture  lives  are  born  fresh  every  day  and  live  that  day  only.  They 
must  be  served  here-and-now.  Today's  now  will  be  gone  tomorrow,  and 
if  you  make  a  sale  then  it  will  be  tomorrow's,  because  today's  is  not  there 
any  more. 

The  motion  picture  business  just  can  not  wait.  That's  why  we  have 
a  selling  season  from  May  1  to  Nov.  1.  It  is  the  living  moment  of  amuse- 
ment in  the  lives  of  the  impatient  millions.  The  public  is  that  way.  It 
buys  and  spends  as  it  goes  and  never  knows  there  is  any  time  but  now — 
because  there  isn't.  This  business  is  as  continuous  as  time,  rent,  interest, 
taxes  and  overhead.  It  never  stops.  And  he  who  stops  will  see  red,  and 
gather  nothing  but  a  bouquet  of  ciphers  for  his  buttonhole. 

Now  is  the  time  to  buy  and  sell.  It's  now,  because  yesterday  is  gone 
and  tomorrow  does  not  exist. 

COLVIN  BROWN 

General  Manager 
Qiiigley  Publications 

MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 
THE  HOLLYWOOD  HERALD 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,   August    10,    1931 


'Squaw  Man's' 
$19,000  Tops 
In  Providence 


Total  %46^00  for  5  Theatres 


Providence — Loew's  State  and  the 
Majestic  went  above  par  this  week. 
The  former  had  the  world  premiere  of 
"The  Squaw  Man"  and  grossed  $19,- 
000,  one  grand  to  the  good,  while  the 
Majestic  with  twin-features,  "Night 
Nurse"  and  "Children  of  Dreams," 
put  112,500  into  its  coffers,  $2,500 
above  par. 

The  other  three  houses  took  it  on 
the  chin  and  went  under.  RKO  Vic- 
tory took  "Common  Law"  from  sister 
house,  RKO  Albee,  and  was  fortunate 
to  gross  $3,000,  which  is  $3,500  below 
average.  The  Albee,  however,  was 
able  to  squeeze  $7,500  out  of 
"Dirigible,"  $1,500  under  standard, 
while  Paramount  with  an  average  of 
$10,000,  grossed  slightly  under  $4,500 
with  "Secret  Call." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  6  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE  SQUAW  MAN"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW^S  STATE^(3,800),  20c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $19,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 

"NIGHT  NURSE"  (Warners)  and 
"CHIUJREN   OF    DREAMS"    (Warners) 
MAJESTIC— (2,300),      10c-50c,      7      days. 
Gross:   $12,500.     (Average,  $10,000.) 

"COMMON   LAW^  (RKO-Pathe) 
RKO     VICrrORY— (1.600),     10c-50c,     (2nd 
rurt),    7    days.      Gross:    $3,000.      (Average, 
$6,500.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"   (CoL) 
RKO    AI-BEE^(2,S0O),    10c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average,  $9,000.) 

"SECRET  CALL"  (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (2„W),    10c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:  K50O.     (Average.  $10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

$16,500  Best 
In  Omaha  for 
'Coiiimon  Law' 


''BUY  NOW  SALES 


Atlanta — Arthur  C.  Broniberg  At- 
tractions has  closed  the  following 
deals  on  Big  4  product :  Sparks  cir- 
cuit, Jacksonville,  Fla. ;  Ritz,  Day- 
tona  Beach,  Fla. ;  Moultrie,  Moultrie, 
Ga. ;  Liberty,  Atlanta ;  Royal,  Sam- 
son, Ala. ;  Manavista,  Chipley,  Fla. ; 
Rivoli,  Douglas,  Fla. ;  Savannah, 
Savannah,  Ga. ;  Republic,  Crest  Falls, 
S.  C. ;  Branwood,  Greenville,  S.  C. ; 
Welcome,  China  Grove,  N.  C. ;  (jem, 
Kingsport,  Temi. ;  Rosso,  Plaque- 
mine,  La. ;  Jefferson,  Marrerim,  La., 
and  the  Harlequin,  New  Orleans. 


Total  $31,850  for  4  Theatres 


Omaha — "The  Common  Law"  was 
the  big  shot  of  last  week  at  Omaha 
show  shops  and  got  $16,500  in  its  week 
at  the  Orpheum.  That's  $3,500  above 
the  house  average  and  was  far  and 
away  the  best  showing  of  the  week. 
Other  houses  were  so-so. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  7  and  year-round  week- 
Iv  averages: 

•THE   COMMON    LAW"    (RKO-Pathe) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-60c,    7    days. 
Four    acts    RKO    vaude.         Gross:    $16..W 
(Average.   $13,000.) 
"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,900),    25c -300-350-600,    7 
days.     Gross:    $7,000      (Average,   $7  000.) 
"POLITICS"   (M-G-M) 
STATH^(  1,200),    (2trd    run),    25o,    3    days. 
Gross:    $650.      (Average.   $900.) 

"ANNABELL'S   AFFAIRS"    (Fox) 
STATE— (l,3fX)),   25c,   2  days.   Gross:    $.100. 
(Average,  $600.) 

"THE   LADY   WHO    DARED"    (Warners) 
STATE^(1,200),   25o,   3   days,   Gross:   $900. 
(Average,  $900.) 

"CITY   STREETS"    (Para) 
WORL,D-(2,500),  25o-40c,  4  days.     Gross: 
$3,.S00,       (Average,    $3,2(XJ.) 

"THE  FORBIDDEN   ADVENTURE" 
(Para.) 
WORLD— (2,500),  2So-40c,  3  days.     Gross: 
$3,000.      (Average,  $2,500.) 


Pittsburgh — The  four  Mascot 
serials  are  going  well  in  this  terri- 
tory, as  attested  by  the  deals  signed 
by  Alexander   Film   Service,   Inc. 

The  following  houses  will  show  the  chap- 
ter plays:  Woodies,  Pittsburgh;  Olympic, 
Beeohview,  Pa. ;  Colonial,  Bluefield,  W.  Va. ; 
Bisorf,  Brownsville,  Pa. ;  Menlo,  Charleroi, 
Pa.;  Orpheum,  Clarksburg,  W.  Va.; 
Crafton,  Crafton,  Pa. ;  Capitol,  Clarion, 
Pa.;  Hippodrome,  Delbarton,  W.  Va. ;  Nel- 
son, Fairmount,  W.  Va.;  Capitol,  Farrel, 
Pa. ;  Hazelwood,  Hazelwood,  Pa. ;  Mautes, 
Irwin,  Pa.;  Keystone,  Keystone,  W.  Va.; 
Burt,    Mannington,   W.   Va. 

Lyric,  McKeesport;  Liberty,  Midland, 
Pa.;  Arcadia,  Morgantown,  W.  Va.;  Prirf- 
cess,  Monongahela,  Pa.;  Princess,  Mt. 
Halse,  W.  Va.;  Grand,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa.; 
Lyric,  Oil  City,  Pa.;  Model,  Pittsburgh; 
Arcade,  Pittsburgh;  Century,  Pittsburgh; 
McKee,  Pittsburgh;  Metropolitan,  Pitts- 
burgh; Palace,  Pittsburgh;  Rialto,  Pitts- 
burgh; Roosevelt,  Pittsburgh;  Center 
Square,  Pittsburgh;  Sheridan,  Pittsburgh; 
Strand,  Pittsburgh;  Pasco,  Punxsutawney, 
Pa.;  Ritz,  Rankin,  Pa.;  Lurtd,  Sharon,  Pa.; 
Paramount,  Sharpsburg,  Pa.;  Perfn,  Un- 
iontown;  War,  War,  W.  Va. ;  Cinderella, 
Williamstown,     W.    Va.;     Regal,     Wilkins- 

burg.  Pa.  ■ 

San  Francisco — Contracts  for 
Monogram's  product  continue  to  pour 
in  now  that  the  "Buy  Now — But  Buy 
Right"  movement  has  gained  momen- 
tum here. 

Following  is  a  list  of  theatres  and 
towns  having  already  signed  for  the  feat- 
ure lirte-up:  Belvedere,  Pomona;  Concord, 
Concord;  Broadway,  Burlingame;  Orental, 
Long  Beach;  Brentwood,  Brentwood;  St^te, 
Ft.  Bragg;  State,  Fortuna;  Liberty,  Eu- 
reka; California,  ■  Glendale;  Capitol,  Glen- 
dale;  Globe,  San  Pedro;  Avalon,  Los  An- 
geles; Imperial,  Stockton;  Broadway,  Fris- 
co; Mission,  Ventura;  Hurtters,  Elko, 
Nevada;  Strand,  Frisco;  Sutter,  Sacra- 
mento; Rubidaux,  Riverside;  Barton,  San 
Pedro;  Ixjs  Banos,  Los  Banos;  Pajaro, 
Watsonville;  Logan  Heights,  San  EHego; 
Boulevard,  Oxnard;  El  Camino,  San  Bruno; 
Wilshire,  Sarfta  Monica;  Alvarado,  Alva- 
rado;  Niles,  Niles;  Williams,  Dinuba; 
.State,  Ukiah;  New  Rialto,  Frisco;  Hippo- 
drome, Oakland;  Majestic,  Frisco;  Walk- 
er's State,  Santa  Ana;  Monterey,  Monterey 
Park;  Kearney,  Frisco;  Gayety,  Los  An- 
geles; Home,  Long  Beach;  Roxie,  Reno, 
Nevada;  Quincy,  Quincy,  Calif.;  Aztec, 
.San  Diego;  Crystal,  Salinas;  El  (Jajon,  El 
Cajort;  Newman,  Newman;  Forum,  San 
Diego. 


Washington — Monogram's  28  fea- 
tures for  the  coming  season  have  been 
contracted  for  by  the  following  the- 
atre owners  in  this  territory : 

Byrd,  Norfolk;  Cockade,  Petersburg,  Va.; 
Palace  Pocahontas,  Va. ;  Victory,  Salt- 
ville,  V'a. ;  McHenry,  Baltimore;  Colonial, 
Winchester;  Ingomar,  Alexandria,  Va.; 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Schoofield,  Va.;  Venus,  S. 
Richmond;  Blue  Mouse,  Washington;  New, 
Tazewell,  Va.;  Lee,  Pennington  Gap,  Va.; 
Virginia,  St.  Charles,  Va. ;  Cumberland,  Ap- 
palachia,  Va.;  Alamo,  Washington;  Strand, 
Washington;  Eureka,  Quster,  Baltimore; 
Strand,  Covington,  Va. ;  Lafayette,  Balti- 
more; Rockbridge,  Buena  Vista,  Va. ;  Cri- 
terion and  Little,  Washington;  New,  East- 
on,    Md. ;    Hampdeif,    Baltimore. 

Marion,  Marion,  Va. ;  San  Toy,  Lona- 
coning,  Md. ;  Academy,  Lynchburg,  Va.; 
Horn,  Baltimore;  Ulman's,  Salisbury,  Md.; 
Argonne,  Bel  Air,  Md. ;  Broadway,  Dan- 
ville, Va. ;  National,  Martinsville,  Va.; 
Hippodrome,  Richmorfd;  M  Street,  Wash- 
ington; Plaza,  Baltimore;  Amuzu,  Big 
Stone  Gap,  Va. ;  Lyric,  Norton,  Va. ;  Mid- 
City,  Jewel,  Washington;  Millwald,  Wythe- 
ville,  Va.;  Roosevelt,  Baltimore;  Palace, 
Christiansville,  Va.;  Carey,  Baltimore; 
Lafayette,  Charlottesville,  Va.;  Bluebird, 
Richmond;  Empress,  Dunbar,  Washington; 
Olney,    Norfolk;    Royal,    Baltimore. 


"Politics"  Is 
Seattle  Lead 
With  $15,000 


Total  $58,500  for  6  Theatres 


Dalla.s — The  Jefferson  Amusement 
Co.  and  East  Theatres  Co.,  operating 
21  theatres,  believe  in  "Buy  Now — 
But  Buy  Right."  Eleven  Texas 
towns  are  covered  in  a  deal  with 
RKO-Pathe.  The  houses  are:  Beau- 
mont—Jefferson, Liberty  Tivoli ; 
Port  Arthur — Strand,  Peoples,  Pierce; 
Lufkin — Pines,  Palace ;  Nacogdoches — 
Austin,  Palace  ;  Longview — Rembert, 
Strand  ;  Jacksonville — Palace,  Claire  ; 
Henderson — Palace,  Strand  ;  Marshall 
— Paramount,  Palace,  and  the  towns 
of  Victoria,  Kilgore  and  Orange. 


Cincinnati — Seven  houses  in  the 
Cheesborough  circuit  will  play  RKO- 
Pathe  pictures  for  the  coming  season. 
The  houses  are:  Empress,  Garden, 
Grandview,  Hudson,  Alhambra,  Royal 
and  Ogden  in  Columbus,  and  the 
Salem  in  Dayton. 


New  Haven — Fisherman  Brothers' 
circuit  of  six  theatres  have  fallen  in 
line  with  the  "Buy  Now — But  Buy 
Right"  campaign  and  has  signed  for 
RKO-Pathe  product.  The  theatres 
involved  are  the  Howard,  Lawrence, 
Dixwell,  Lyric  and  Apollo  in  New 
Haven  and  the  Community  at  Fair- 
field. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Gang  Film  Expert* s 
Extradition  Denied 

St.  Louis — California's  governor 
has  refused  to  honor  the  requisition 
papers  for  the  return  to  Missouri  of 
Ray  Renard,  alleged  former  St.  Louis 
gangster  and  employed  recently  as  an 
assistant  director  of  gang  pictures  be- 
cause of  his  knowledge  of  crime  from 
the  inside.  Renard  had  been  convicted 
of  a  charge  of  carrying  concealed 
weapons  and  sentenced  to  serve  two 
years  in  the  Missouri  penitentiary  sev- 
eral years  ago.  Later  he  aided  the 
Federal  government  in  convicting  his 
former  pals  in  a  mail  truck  holdup. 
In  the  hearing  before  the  California 
governor  postal  inspectors  testified  on 
behalf  of  Renard.  The  fact  that 
President  Coolidge  had  paroled  him 
and  later  President  Hoover  gave 
him  a  complete  pardon  did  much  to 
decide  the  California  hearing.  So 
Ray,  who  is  now  married  and  father 
of  two  children,  is  free  to  continue  his 
efforts  to  earn  an  honest  living  in 
California. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Report  Doyle  Backing 
Australia  Quota  Law 

London — The  British  trade  hears 
that  Stuart  F.  Doyle  of  Union  The- 
atres, Ltd.,  one  of  Australia's  largest 
circuits,  is  behind  movement  of  the 
Imperial  Correspondence  Club  for  a 
British  quota  in  the  island  continent. 
The  club  claims  a  membership  of  30,- 
000. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Gets  ''Way  Down  East" 

Charles  R.  Moore,  veteran  Middle 
West  distributor  and  showman,  has 
taken  over  from  A.  Griffith  Grey  dis- 
tril)ution  of  synchronized  version  of 
"Way  Down  East"  in  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  and  Minneapolis  terri- 
tories. 


Seattle — R  e  o  p  e  n  i  n  g"  the  Para- 
mount, "Politics"  scored  big  with 
$15,000,  which  was  $3,000  above  aver- 
age. ()ther  attractions  hit  about  nor- 
mal, with  "The  Magnificent  Lie"  be- 
low normal  at  the  Fox  Fifth  Avenue, 
where  it  got  just  $11,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"MAN  OF  THE  WORLD"  (Para.) 
FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-35c-50c,    -t 
days.     Gross:  $3,500.     (Average,  $3,500.) 
"THE  SECRET  CALL"  (Para.) 
FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-35c-50c,    3 
days.     Gross:   $2,500.     (Average,  $2,500.) 
"THE  MAGNIFICENT  LIE"  (Para.) 
FOX   FIFTH   AVENUE— (2,750),   25o-35c- 
50c-75c,   7  days.     Gross:    $11,000.     (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"POUTICS"    (M-G-M) 
FOX   PARAMOUNT— (3,150),   25o-35c-50o- 
75c,     7     days.       Gross:     $15,000.       (Average. 
$12,000.) 

"WAY  OF  ALL  MEN"   (F.  N.) 
LIBERTY— (2,000),  15o-30c,  7  days.. Gross: 
$7,000.     (Average,  $7,500.) 

"BROADMINDEU3"  (F.  N.) 
MUSIC     BOX— (950),     25c-35o-50c-75c,     7 
days.     Gross:   $6,500.      (Average,  $7,500.) 
"THE  COMMON  LAW"  (RKO-Patlie) 
RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,650),  25c-35o-50c-7.Sc, 
7  days.     Vaudeville.     Gross:  $13,000.     (Aver- 
age, $13,500.) 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

B-0.  Nicked     I 
As  Oklahoma  I 


City  Sizzles 


Total  $24,300  for  4  Theatres 


Oklahoma  City  —  There  was  no 
smart  money  in  evidence  at  any  houses 
here  last  week,  with  the  heat  still  at  ] 
a  record  figure  and  swimming  pools 
getting  the  business.  Even  a  Ford 
drawing  contest  which  gave  the  Cri-  ' 
terion  a  record  night  couldn't  push 
"The  Public  Defender"  over  the  $7,000 
mark.  "Politics"  bowed  out  on  its 
second  week  with  $4,700,  which  gave 
the  film  $13,700  for  its  two  weeks. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  7  and  year-round 
weekly  averages :  ; 

"SVENGALI"   (Warners)  * 

MID-WEST  —  (1,500),  10o-25c-3.5c-50c,  7 
(lays.  .Stage  show.  Gross:  $5,600.  (Aver- 
.nge,   $7,500.) 

"THE    PUBLIC    DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

CRITERION  -(1,800).    l()c-.!.5c-.S0c,   7   d.ivs. 
Ooss:   $7,000.      (Average,  $8,000.) 
"POLITICS"   (M-G-M) 

CAPITOL— (1,21)0),  inc-25c-3.5c-50c,  (2nd 
week),  7  days.  Gross:  $4,7(X1.  (Averagi 
lor    first    week,  $7,000.) 

"SWEEPSTAKES"  (Pathe) 

LIBERTY— (1,.S(J0),  10c-2.5o-.«c-50c,  7  day 
Stage  show.  Gross:  $5,200.  (Averagi 
$7,000.) 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Heads  Music  at  Para. 

Irvin  Talbot,  former  head  of  the| 
Paramount  West  Coast  music  depart-] 
inent  and  later  assistant  at  the  Astoria 
studio,  has  been  appointed  musicaf 
director  of  the  New  York  Paramount 
as  part  of  its  new  policy  of  specially 
produced  stage  presentations. 


1 


OPENING    TO-DAY 


(FOR  A   FULL  YEAR'S   RUN) 


The  Production 
Review  of  1931 

A  COCKTAIL  OF  PRODUCTION  INFORMATION 
WORDS  AND  MUSIC  BY  STAFF  OF  FILM  DAILY 

JACK    ALICOATE- Master  of  Ceremonies 


BEING  THE 
12TH   YEARLY   EDITION    OF   THE 
FILM  DAILY  DIRECTORS'  ANNUAL 
AND   PRODUCTION   GUIDE 


Prologue  h             Added  Attraction 

►^  Intermission                        ►^ 

Part  One  h                         Part  Two 

AN   S.   R.   O.  attraction    FOR   EVERY   THEATER   AND    EXECUTIVE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August   10,   1931 


$26,000  Take 

On  "Politics" 

As  Cleve.  Boils 


Total  $107,500  for  6  Theatres 


Clevelanp  —  Marie  Dressier  and 
Polly  Moraii  made  whoopee  all  week 
at  the  Allen  and  when  the  tape  was 
reached,  the  till  showed  a  take  of 
S;26,000,  which  was  $8,000  above  aver- 
age in  terrific  heat.  Extra  morning 
matinees  were  necessary  to  handle  the 
crowds. 

Phil  Spitalny  and  Nick  Lucas,  shar- 
ing headline  honors  at  the  Palace  with 
"Mother's  Millionsj"  enabled  that 
house  to  climb  to  $25,000  or  $2,000 
above  average.  "The  Great  Lover," 
aided  by  Fred  Waring,  got  $22,000  at 
Loew's  State,  also  $2,000  above  par. 

Week  ending  Aug.  6: 

"THE  GREAT  LOVER"   (M-G-M) 

STATE— (3,400),  30c-60c,  7  davs.  Fred 
Waring  and  Orchestra.  Gross:  $22,000. 
(Average  $20,000.) 

Week  ending  Aug.  7: 

"POLITICS"   (M-G-M) 

ALLEN— (3,300),  30c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$26,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 

"BOCKBIERFEST"    (German) 

ALHAMBRA-(1,400),  lOc-SOc,  (eyenings 
only),  7  davs.  Gross:  $2,500.  Average. 
$4,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"  (Columbia) 

RKO  HIPPODROME  —  (3,800),  25c-,^Sc- 
7Sc,  7  days.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 

WARNERS  LAKE  —  (800),  40c-60c,  9 
days.      Gross:    $15,000.      (Average,    $15,000.) 

"MOTHER'S   MILLIONS"   (Univ.) 

RKO  PALACE  —  (3,100),  25c-35c-75c,  7 
days.  Stage  show  with  Phil  Spitalny  and 
Nick  Lucas.  Gross:  $25,000.  (Average, 
$23,000.) 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

"^Common  Law' 

Is  Pacemaker 

For  Houston 


Total  $28,400  for  4  Theatres 


Houston — Better  figures  on  the 
right  side  of  the  ledger  are  not  due 
to  a  sudden  spurt  but  are  indicative 
of  a  slow  but  sure  box  office  come- 
back, the  week's  taking  emphasizes. 
Not  a  theatre  delved  into  the  red  and 
three  drew  above  average  business, 
helped  by  popular  names.  Constance 
Bennett  in  "The  Common  Law"  made 
the  best  for  the  RKO  Majestic  with  a 
gross  of  $8,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  weekend- 
ing August  6  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK"   (Par*.) 

KIRBY  —  (1,654),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $5,000.      (Average,  $5,000.) 

"PARDON  US"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE^(2,700),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.      Gross:    $7,700.      (Average,   $7,000.) 

"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 

METROPOLITAN— (2,512),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.      Gross:    $7,700.      (Average,   $7,000.) 

"THE   COMMON    LAW"    (RKO-Pathe) 

RKO  MAJESTIC>-(2,250),  25c-3Sc-50c,  7 
days.    Gross:    $8,000.     (Average,   $7,000) 


There  Are  Shorts  and  Shorts 

Cincinnati — Believe  it  or  not.  this  actually  happened. 

An  exhibitor  from  a  small  nearby  town,  evidently  not  versed  in 
the  terms  and  practices  of  Wall  street,  rushed  into  one  of  the  local 
exchanges,  all  hot  and  bothered,  and  inquired  what  effect  the  New 
York  situation  would  have  on  his   future  booking  of  shorts. 

"What  do  you  mean,  New  York  situation?"  asked  the  exchange 
manager. 

Whereupon  the  exhibitor  produced  a  newspaper  clipping  concerning 
Wall  Street  which  read:  "Some  operators  predict  that  many  of  the 
shorts  will  soon  be  out  of  the  picture." 


Mpls.  Hot  But 
"Politics"  Is 

$27,500  Wow 


Total  $56,450  for  5  Theatres 


Minneapolis — Battling  another 
heat  wave,  "Politics"  at  the  Minne- 
sota showed  real  punch  and  grabbed 
ofif  $27,500,  which  tops  the  house 
average  by  $7,500.  Its  only  rival  was 
"Dirigible"  at  the  Orpheum,  the  air 
picture  catching  $16,800.  The  house 
average  is  $14,000.  Other  houses,  ex- 
cept the  State  with  "The  Great 
Lover,"  found  the  going  tough. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"NEVER  THE  TWAIN   SHALL  MEET" 
(M-G-M) 

ASTER— (812),  20c-25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,400.      (Average,    $1,500.) 

"WOMEJ>4   LOVE  ONCE"    (Para.) 

LYRIC— (1,238),  20c-40c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.      (Average.   $2,500.) 

"POUTICS"    (M-G-M) 

MINNESOTA— (4,000),     30c-75c,     7     days. 
"Bessie,     Veronica     and     Walker     heading 
vaude.     Gross:   $27,500.     (Average,  $20,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"   (Col.) 

RKO    ORPHEUM— (2,900),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
davs.     Henry    Bergman    heading   four    acts. 
Gross:    $16,800.      (Average.    $14,000.) 
"THE   GREAT   LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

STATE^(2,300),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,750.      (Average,   $8,000.) 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

"Dirigible" 
Soars  in  St. 
Paul's  Heat 


.99 


Total  $33,400  for  4  Theatres 


St.  Paul — "Dirigible"  had  things 
pretty  much  its  own  way  in  torrid  St. 
Paul,  and  its  figure  of  $15,000,  which 
is  $3,000  above  average,  plus  the  $16,- 
800  the  picture  got  at  the  RKO 
Orpheum,  Minneapolis,  came  close  to 
a  Twin  City  summer  record.  Busi- 
ness generally  was  good  considering 
the  heat. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  weekly 
averages ; 

•THE  MAGNIFICENT  LIE"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $7,700.     (Average.  $7,500.) 

"THE   GREAT   LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

RIVIERA— (1,000),     25c-35c-50c,     7     days. 
Gross:  $8,000.     (Average,  $7,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"   (CoL) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Frank  Richardson  heading  four  acts. 
Gross:    $15,000.      (Average,    $12,000.) 

"I   TAKE   THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 

TOWER— (1,000),  15c-25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,700.     (Average,  $2,000.) 


"Politics    a 
Buffalo  Panic 
With  $35,100 


Total  $84,700  for  5  Theatres 


Buffalo — The  combination  of 
Marie  Dressier  and  Polly  Moran  on 
the  screen  in  "Politics"  and  Wes.ley 
Eddy,  popular  former  master  of  cere- 
monies at  the  theatre,  in  the  stage 
show,  enabled  the  Great  Lakes  to  sejt 
a  house  record  with  |3S,100. 

Attendance  was  far  greater  than  the 
gross  indicates,  as  prices  have  been 
cut  since  the  last  high  take.  Cracking 
a  house  record  in  summer  is  sorne- 
thing,  but  when  business  tops  tifie 
year's  best  by  more  than  $7,000,  it's 
sensational.  The  picture  battled  heat 
and  went  to  four  shows  daily,  and 
still  the  S.R.O.  sign  was  out  all  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 

BUFFALO— (3,500),  30c-65c,  7  days,  stage 
show.      Gross:   $20,600.      (Average,    $25,000.) 
"THE    GIRL   HABIT"    (Para.) 

CENTURY— (3,000),      25c-35c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $6,000.      (Average,   $12,000.) 
"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Stage  show  with  Wesley  Eddy.  Gross: 
$35,100.      (Average,   $22,500.) 

"THE  BLACK  CAMEL"  (Fox) 

HIPPODROME— (2,100),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
RKO  vaude  with  Blanche  Sweet.  Gross: 
$16,200.     (Average   $20,000.) 

"THE  LAWLESS   WOMAN" 

LAFAYETTE- (3,300),  25c-35c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $6,800.     (Average  $12,000.) 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT   BUY    NOW" 

Weather  Break 
Aids  Charlotte 
To  Better  Par 


Total  $19,700  for  2  Theatres 


Charlotte — A  slight  let-up  in  the 
heat  wave  gave  theatres  a  break  with 
most  houses  grossing  more  than  aver- 
age. The  leader  was  "Sporting 
Blood,"  which  got  $6,200  for  three 
days. 

"NIGHT  NURSE"   (Warners) 

BROADWAY— (1.167),  25c-35c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $3,500.      (Average,   $3,750.) 

"THE  VIRTUOUS   HUSBAND"  (Univ.) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $4,000.       (Average,   $3,750). 
"THE   SMILING  LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

CAROLINA  —  (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $6,000.       (Average,   $5,500.) 

"SPORTING  BLOOD"   (M-G-M) 

CAROLINA  —  (1,441),  40c-S0c,  3  days. 
Gross:   $6,200.      (Average,   $5,500.) 


$42,000  Goes 

To  "Politics" 

At  "Philly' 


Total  $130,750  for  8  Theatres 


Philadelphia — "Politics"  led  the 
town  with  $42,000  at  the  Mastbaum, 
with  "The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  and 
"The  Public  Defender'  'tied  at  $21,000 
for  fine  weeks  at  Stanley  and  Earle 
respectively. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  6  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"I   TAKE  THIS  WOMAN"   (Para.) 

ARCADIA— (600),     50c,     6    days.       Gross: 

$2,750.      (Average,   $3,000.) 
"THE  PUBLIC  DEFENDER"    (Radio) 
EARLE— (2,000),  25c-65c,  6  days.     Vaude. 

Gross:    $21,000.      (Average,   $18,000.) 

"THE    HOLY    TERROR"    (Fox) 
FOX— (3,000),   35c-50c-75c,   6  days.     Stage 

show.      Gross:    $22,500.      (Average,    $26,000.) 
"THE   WOMAN    BETWEEN"   (Radio) 
KEITH'.S— (1,800),     35c-50c-75c,     6     days. 

Gross:  $7,500.     (Average,  $15,000.) 
"THE  COMMON  LAW"   (RKO-Pathe) 
KARLTON— (1,000),     40c-50c,     (2nd     run), 

6  days.     Gross:  $6,000.     (Average,  $5,000.) 
"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 


MASTBAUM-(4,800) 
Stage     show.       Gross: 
$40,000.) 
"THE   SMILING  LIEUTENANT' 

STANLEY— (3,700),    35c-50c-75c. 
Gross:   $21,000.     (Average,  $18,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"   (CoL) 

STANTON— (1,700),       25c-65c, 
Gross:      $4,500.        (Average,      for 
$11,000.) 

"MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK" 

STANTON— (1,700),      25c-65c, 


35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
$42,000.       (Average, 


(Para.) 

6    days. 


3       days. 
6     days, 

(Para.) 

3       days 


Gross:  $3,500.  (Average,  for  6  days,  $11,000.) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Haines  Film 
Only  One  Near 
Piar  in  Albany 

I  I 

I      Total  $24,360  for  4  Theatres 


Albany — "Bill"  Haines  has  plenty 
of  drawing  power  here,  it  was  demon- 
strated this  week  when  his  "Just  a 
Gigolo"  brought  the  attendance  figures 
at  Harmanus  Bleeker  Hall  to  around 
$8,550  or  within  $1,500  of  a  normal 
week.  And  that  is  pretty  good  with 
the  mercury  in  the  nineties  day  after 
day  and  with  many  patrons  away  on 
vacation. 

The  last  week  has  been  a  scorcher 
for  Albany.  The  night  that  Haines 
opened  the  crowds  were  standing  at 
the  Hall  before  nine  o'clock,  even  to 
the  surprise  of  the  management.  This 
house  did  the  best  business  of  any  for 
the  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  6: 

"JUST  A  GIGOLO"  (M-G-M) 

HARMANUS  BLEEKER  HALL-(2,30O), 
f5c-50c.  6  days.  Gross:  $8,550.  (Average, 
$10,000.) 

"SIX  CYLINDER  LOVE"   (Fox) 
LELAND— (1,350),  20c-25c,  6  days.     Gross: 
$4,900.      (Average,    $6,000.) 
"CONFESSIONS  OF  A  CO-ED"   (Para.) 

RKO       PROCTORS— (1,500),      25c-60c,      6 
days.     Gross:    $5,100.      (Average,   $6,000.) 
"UP    FOR    MURDER"    (Univ.) 
RITZ— (1,046),     25c-35c.     6    days.       Gross: 
$3,860.       (Average,    $4,500.) 

"DAMAGED    LOVE"    (Sono    Art)    and 

"THE    VIKING"    (Williams) 
RITZ— (1,046),    25c-35c,    3    days.      Oosai 
$1,950.     (Average  for  three  days.  $2,250.) 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  61 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  AUGUST  11,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


No  Quarter 
In  Chi  Fight, 
Exhibs  Aver 


U.    S.    Moves    to    Bring 
About  a  Settlement 


Chicago — There  will  be  no  reop- 
enings  of  any  of  Chicago's  107  dark 
theatres  except  with  one  operator,  W. 
A.  Steffes,  here  aiding  Aaron  Saper- 
stein  in  the  operator  fight,  declares 
as  B.  M.  Marshman  of  the  Federal 
Department  of  Labor  and  Prosecu- 
tor Charles  Lounsbury  sought  to 
mediate  with  exhibitor  and  union 
representatives. 

The    prosecutor    returned    by    air- 

(Continued  on   page  12) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

New  Suits  Wait  on 
M-G-M  Contract  Test 

Minneapolis — ^Upon  outcome  of  the 
case  brought  by  M-G-M  against 
George  Carrisch,  who  operates  the 
Mohawk,  St.  Paul,  depends  a  number 
of  other  complaints  M-G-M  has  pend- 
ing. The  Carrisch  action  is  a  test 
case  to  determine  the  enforceability 
of  the  contract. 

Carrisch's  attorney  is  Sam  Halpern, 
former  counsel  for  the  Minneapolis 
Film  Board.  He  is'  attacking  the  con- 
tract on  charge  of  lack  of  mutual  ob- 
ligation. He  says  the  contract  binds 
Carrisch  to  specified  obligations,  while 
M-G-M  makes  no  binding  promise  in 
the  contract. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Groves  Progresses 
In  Texas  Clean-up 

Dallas — Considerable  progress  has 
been  made  by  Harold  Groves  of  the 
Copyright  Protection  Bureau  in  clean- 
ing up  complaints  growing  out  of  per- 
centage showings  and  holdovers.  A 
number  of  out  of  court  settlements 
have  been  made  but  in  other  instances 
suits  are  to  be  filed.  The  bureau  has 
been  checking  Texas  complaints  for 
several   months. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

RKO  Joins  Midnight 
Foreign  Film  Parade 

RKO  is  following  Loew's  and  War- 
ners in  adopting  midnight  showing  of 
foreign  films,  preferably  German  ver- 
sions. The  Jamaica  has  fallen  in  line 
as  well  as  the  A.  H.  Schwartz  the- 
atres, the  Avalon  in  Brooklyn  and  the 
Sheepshead  in  Sheepshead  Bay,  book- 
ed by  RKO. 


Probing  Pact 

Minneapolis  —  Undercover 
agents  of  the  Department  of 
Justice  are  reported  investi- 
gating an  alleged  secret 
agreement  between  exchange- 
m  e  n  on  classification  of 
houses  which  charge  ten 
cents  after  6  P.M.  Exchange- 
men  here  deny  that  any  such 
agreement  exists.  The  North- 
west exhibitor  unit  has 
threatened  to  invoke  the  aid 
of  Federal  authorities  in 
event  the  alleged  agreement 
is  found  to  exist. 


Chatterton 
Status  Not 
Determined 


Hollywood — Despite  conflicting  re- 
ports, the  status  of  Ruth  Chatterton 
IS  not  settled.  Her  Warner  contract 
carries  no  assignment  feature  and  no 
deal  can  be  made  without  the  consent 
of  the  star  and  her  advisors  and  the 
latter  have  not  been  consulted. 

The  Warner  contract  gives  Miss 
Chatterton  absolute  dictation  on  story, 
director,  etc.  It  calls  for  payment  to 
her  of  $675,000  for  six  pictures  in 
two  years.  Her  Paramount  salary  was 
$2,500  weekly. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lichtman  Confirms 
Peace  Pact  with  Fox 

Final  confirmation  to  the  peace  pact 
he  negotiated  on  his  trip  to  the  Coast 
some  weeks  ago  when  the  United  .-\rt- 
ists-West  Coast  Theatres  feud  was 
settled  was  made  yesterday  by  Al 
Lichtman.  More  than  300  Fox  the- 
atres are  to  show  the  U.  A.  product, 
he  said. 

The  two  firms  broke  ofif  relations 
several  months  ago  when  the  United 
Artists    members    signed   a   proclama- 

(Coniinued  on  pane  9) 


W.B.-F.N.  TO  FILM 
ONLY  FOUR  AT  TIME 


Schiller  Sees 
Bright  Future 
Due  to  Product 


Cleveland  —  Optimism  over  the 
outlook  for  the  industry  was  ex- 
pressed here  by  Col.  E.  A.  Schiller 
of  Loew's  during  his  visit  here.  Not 
only  in  Cleveland  but  everywhere  the 
signs  of  im- 
provement are 
decidedly  n  o  - 
ticeable. 

"I  already 
have  viewed 
more  good  pic- 
tures of  the 
coming  season's 
product  than 
ever  before  in 
history." 

Schiller  said 
that  effective 
September  1, 
the  II  local 
Loew  theatres 
will  comprise  a 
divisional  unit 
known  as  the 
The    duties     of 


E.  A.   Schiller 


Cleveland     division. 

iContinued  on  page  9) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

New  Jersey  Operator 
Break  Is  Expected 

Possibility  of  renewal  of  contracts 
between  New  Jersey  operators  and 
exhibitors  which  expire  September  1, 
is  remote,  opinion  of  several  theatre 
owners  indicates.  Several  attempts  to 
get  the  unions  to  reduce  the  number 
of  projectionists  in  the  booth  to  one 
have  failed  with  the  result  that  ex- 
hibitors plan  to  break  awav  from  the 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Robinson  ^s  Chi  Booking 
Cancelled  After  Threats 


Chicago — Pxlward  G.  Robinson 
plays  those  gangster  roles  too  well  to 
suit  local  hoodlums,  it  is  declared 
here,  and  his  sciieduled  appearance  at 
the  Palace  has  been  cancelled  due  to 
reported  threatening  messages  re- 
ceived.- 


RKO  has  stated  that  the  Robinson 
booking  was  cancelled  because  of  re- 
routing of  the  First  National  player 
over  RKO  theatres  in  the  East.  How- 
ever, the  local  rialto  believes  the  gang- 
ster slant  led  Robinson  to  request  a 
cancellation. 


Studios  to  Be  Reopened 

Sept.  8  With  ''Blind 

Spot"  as  First 


Limiting  production  to  units  of  four 
pictures  is  the  new  plan  of  Warner- 
First  National  to  put  more  time  and 
effort  into  its  product  for  the  1931- 
32  season.  At  no  time  will  more 
than  four  pictures  be  in  work  under 
the    new    system. 

Warner-First  National  now  has  12 
pictures  ready  for  filming.  The  first 
group  of  four  will  be  started  when 
the  studios  reopen  September  8.  The 
initial  picture  to  get  under  way  will 
be  "Blind  Spot"  with  James  Cagney 
and  Loretta   Young. 

Jack  Warner,  who  is  in  England 
in  connection  with  the  company's 
plans  to  make  a  minimupi  of  15  pic- 
tures there  next  year,  sails  for  New 
York   August   30. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW  ' 

Holds  Poster  Resale 
By  Exhibitor  Legal 

Atlanta — Sale  of  used  posters  by 
exhibitors  is  legal,  R.  H.  Robinson  of 
the  Poster  exchange  here  says  his  at- 
torney has  advised  him.  His  attorney 
believes  that  a  receipted  invoice  or 
C.O.D.  payment  constitutes  outright 
sale  of  the  posters  to  an  exhibitor, 
thus  becoming  his  property.  The  copy- 
right law  prevents  reproduction  of 
copyrighted  material,  but  does  not 
govern  subsequent  sales,  Robinson's 
attorney   contends. 

Distributors,  however,  maintain  that 
posters  and  other  accessories  are  leas- 
ed to  the  exhibitor  and  cannot  be  re- 
sold or  subsequently  leased. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Optimism  Returning, 
B,  F,  Lyon  Asserts 

Vancouver — B.  F.  Lyon,  Canadian 
general  manager  of  Vitagraph,  War- 
ner Bros.,  First  National  and  Vita- 
phone  Pictures,  was  in  Vancouver  this 
week,  in  the  course  of  a  tour  embrac- 
ing the  whole  of  Canada  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  United  States, 
during  which  he  is  making  an  inten- 
sive survey  of  business  conditions. 

He  e.xjiresses  the  opinion  that  a 
genuine  feeling  of  optimism  is  return- 
ing, this  being  more  noticeable  in 
Canada,  where  the  current  depression 
is  less  than  in  the  United  States. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August    II,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.    S.    Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily   Review 

and  Motion   Pictures   Today 


Vol.  30 


August  11,  1931 


No.  61 


Martin   Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
A  dvertising   Manager 


^•^W\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  113  *nd  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^l^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin, W.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.   Y.,   under  Act  of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
posUge:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.     Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Brins  Reopen  15c, 

House  in  Seattle 

Seattle — The  Third  Avenue  thea- 
tre (formerly  the  Follies,  and  prior 
to  that  the  Pantages)  has  reopened 
after  being  dark  for  many  months. 
Dave  Brin,  manager,  announced  a 
policy  of  second-run  features,  with 
changes  four  times  weekly. 

A  new  low  price  scale  of  5,  10  and 
15  cents  is  being  inaugurated  for  the 
first  time  in  the  history  of  "uptown" 
second-run  theatres  in  this  vicinity. 
The  house  is  being  operated  by  in- 
terests allied  with  the  L.  K.  Brin  cir- 
cuit of  theatres  in  Wisconsin.  L.  K. 
formerly  was  associated  with  various 
film  and  theatre  interests  in  this  ter- 
ritory. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Bushel  of  Wheat 
Price  of  Admission 

Canton,  O. — Joe  Calla,  manager  of 
the  Strand  and  Valentine  theatres, 
which  are  owned  by  A.  P.  Botzum, 
this  week  is  accepting  a  bushel  of 
wheat  for  admission  to  either  house. 
One  bushel  of  wheat  goes  for  three 
adult  admissions.  Calla  said  he  will 
have  the  wheat  ground  at  a  local  mill 
and  give  it  to  the  Salvation  Army. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Thumbs  Down  on 
HagersVn  Carnivals 

Hagerstown,  Md. — There  will  be 
no  opposition  to  picture  theaters  here 
from  carnivals  during  the  summer 
season  hereafter.  Upon  a  recom- 
mendation from  the  Police  Depart- 
ment, the  city  officials  have  announced 
that  they  will  not  issue  any  more  per- 
mits to  carnivals  to  operate.  Alleged 
gambling  is  the  cause. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Knoxville  Firm 

Knoxville,  Tenn. — Gay  Theatre 
Corp.  has  been  incorporated  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $5,000  by  J.  B.  Cork- 
land,  George  L.  Denton,  Beulah  Den- 
ton and   Mary   Corkland. 


tJ  E'S  a  big  gun  in  the  production  end  of  one  of  the  major  companies. 
•^  -*•  He  owns  30,000  shares  of  stock  in  the  firm  he  works  with  and  has 
taken  a  loss  of  more  than  $750,000.  That,  it  is  said,  is  one  of  the  rea- 
sons he  was  singled  out  to  stay  when  officials  decided  to  eliminate  one 
of  the  production  executives. 

• 

What  big  shot  in  the  theatre  field  is  very  much  on  the  spot? 

• 
Fox  is  disturbed  over  a  Coast  report  that  Zane  Grey's  "The  Riders 
of  the  Purple  Sage"  has  been  shelved.    Studio  officials  regard  it  as  one 
of  their  best  westerns  and  emphatically  deny  the  shelving  allegation. 

• 
Something  of  an  indictment  of  available  product  is  reflected  in  the 
fact  that  Joe  Fisher,  of  Singapore,  has  been  in  New  York  about  a 
month  buying  product  and  hasn't  yet  been  able  to  fill  25  per  cent  of  his 
needs.  Joe  was  sorry  to  see  decline  of  musicals  as  they  made  a  big  hit 
in  Singapore. 

The  Skouras  brothers,  Spyros,  Charles  and  George,  certainly  are 
being  24-sheeted  these  days  in  St.  Louis  in  connection  with  the  receiver- 
ship actions  brought  by  minority  stockholders  against  Skouras  Enter- 
prises and  the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.  Both  plaintiffs  and  defendants 
have  shown  they  have  a  high  regard  for  the  showmanship  ability  of 
the  Skourases.  The  plaintiffs  have  made  much  of  the  fact  that  their 
concerns  were  deprived  of  the  services  of  the  brothers,  while  Warners 
are  said  to  have  paid  Spyros  alone  $300,000  for  two  years'  work. 


One  big  theatre  firm  is  said  to  have  hit  upon  a  new  method  of  pre- 
serving its  cash  on  hand.  This  is  a  month's  stall  on  rent  at  its  various 
theatres  and  the  figures  run  plenty  high.  Another  firm  is  starting  to 
trim  its  office  force  trying  to  raise  enough  cash  to  pay  its  office  rent. 


Awaits  Building  O.  K, 

Vallejo,  Cal. — Approval  of  the  cit) 
council  is  being  awaited  here  before 
starting  construction  of  the  new 
United  Artists,  which  is  expected  to 
be  completed  in  five  months'  time. 
Walker,  Eisen  &  Balch  are  the  archi- 
tects, and  the  Beller  Construction  Co. 
nf  San  Francisco  the  builders. 


Loses  Part  of  Smile 

Richmond — "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" was  not  altogether  as  debo- 
nair as  his  name  would  indicate  after 
"he"  passed  muster  in  the  projection 
room  of  the  state  censors.  The 
'aramount  picture  was  shorn  of  some 
of  its  dialogue  and  two  cuts  were 
made  in  it  before  it  was  licensed  to 
be  shown  in  Virginia. 


Entire  Stock  List  Declines 


High  Ltnf 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 7^  7'A 

Consolidated   Film   Industries  pfd 14!4  1454 

Eastman     Kodak 134J4  133 

Fox    Film    "A" 12?^  11% 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 2yi  2% 

Loew's,    Inc 44%  44^4 

I^ew's,    Inc.,    pfd 92  92 

Paramount      Publix 23  22^4 

Pathe      Exchange l^  15^ 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" Syi  S'/i 

RKO     13;^  13 

Warner     Bros 7  6Zi 


Close 

7% 
1454 
134 
12;^ 

2'A 
44'/ 
92 
22J4 

7 


Net 
Change 

-54 
-  'A 
-VA 

-a 

-54 
-54 

-5^8 


54 


Sales 

400 
100 

3,400 
24,900 
23.100 

2,400 
300 

2,500 
100 
500 

4.300 

1.900 


Curb  Issues  Dull 


High  Low 

Columhia    Pictures 10  10 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 25/^  25^ 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 35^  3'A 

.Sentry    .Safety    Con'trol ^  54 

Technicolor   654  654 

Tran  s    Lux 5  4% 


Net 

Close  Change  Sales 

10  100 

25i  —  'A  2.100 

354  5.50C 

a  100 

6'A  100 

5  -f-  54  500 


Bonds  Irregular;  P.  F.  L.  Gains  1 


High 

General  Theatre  Exjuipment  6s  '40 20 

Keith    B.    F.    6s    '46 67 

Loew's    6s    '41     ex    war 98 

Paramount   F.   L.   6s   '47 87 

Paramount     Publix    554s,     '50 7854 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 9254 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    wd 445i 


Low 

Close 

1854 

19% 

67 

67 

97^ 

97% 

8554 

87 

7654 

7654 

9254 

9254 

43^8 

445^ 

Net 
Change 


-5^8 

+1 
-54 


-f  5/2 


Sales 

15 


cfi!m>. 


"Mike"    Comerford    on    his 
decision    to    reenter    the 
field  as  an  independ- 
ent exhibitor  on  a 
large  scale. 


Rap  Pa.  Blue  Laws 
As  Depression  Cause 

Philadelphia— Pennsylvania's  blue 
laws  took  the  "rap"  as  a  prime  cause 
for  Philadelphia's  industrial  depres- 
sion in  a  report  submitted  recently  by 
the  Northeast  Chamber  of  Commerce. 
The  chamber  canvassed  manufacturers 
and  workers  in  the  northeast  section 
of  the  city,  where  the  textile  and 
other  industries  are  centered,  with  a 
questionnaire  regarding  causes  for  the 
business  slump.  The  three  main 
reasons  why  industrial  firms  are  leav- 
ing the  city  and  why  conditions  were 
bad  were  quoted  as  the  closed  Sun- 
day, lack  of  interest  by  the  city  gov- 
ernment and  labor  difficulties. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Night  Court  Bucks 
San  Antonio  Houses 

San  Antonio — Now  it's  the  night 
court  that's  stepping  in  as  a  competi- 
tor to  the  picture  houses. 

In  Harlandale,  a  suburb.  Justice  of 
the  Peace  E.  H.  Talbert  is  holding 
court  every  Tuesday  and  Friday 
nights.  The  suburb  is  made  up  most- 
ly of  workers  who  are  busy  during 
the  day. 

So  popular  has  the  night  court 
proved  as  an  attraction  to  Harlan- 
dale families  that  the  courtroom  is 
crowded  every  night  court  is  held, 
while  a  nearby  film  house  is  empty. 

Efforts  are  being  made  by  the  op- 
erators of  the  theatre  to  induce  the 
court  to  eliminate  night  sessions. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Ask  Television  Okay 

Cincinnati— The  Crosley  Radio 
Corp.,  operating  WLW,  a  50,000-watt 
-station,  and  WSAI,  a  weaker  station, 
plans  to  erect  a  visual  broadcasting 
^.'tion  for  which  application  for  a 
lyiive  band  has  been  filed  with  the 
Federal   Radio  Cornmission. 

If  the  application  is  granted,  the 
new  station  would  be  used  for  ex- 
perimental   purposes    for    the   present. 


Sound  Recording 

FILM    AND    DISC 
Re-Recording     Disc     or     Film 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED 

STANLEY      RECORDING     CO.     of 

AMERICA,    INC 

1841    Broadway — New    York,    N.    Y. 

Columbus    5-3181-3182 


Super-Lite  Lens 

The  Perfect  Screen  Lens. 
Adaptable  to  Any  Projector. 
More  Brilliant  Illumination. 
Clearer  Pictures.  Greater  Visi- 
bility. 

PROJECTION    OPTICS 

COMPANY,    INC. 

Recheater  New  York 


Tuesday,  August   II,   1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Paramount  to 
Pay  Dividend 

Of  200  Stock 


Because,  according  to  Adolph 
Zukor  Paramount  anticipates  that  the 
balance  aggregating  $11,500,000  of  its 
commitments  on  stock  exchanged  in 
theatre  deals  will  be  called  for  by 
vendors  of  these  theatres,  Paramount 
directors  yesterday  elected  to  pay  the 
quarterly  dividend  in  stock,  voting  a 
2y2  per  cent  stock  dividend  equal  to 
one-fortieth  of  a  share  of  common 
for  each  share  held.  It  is  payable 
^ptember  30  to  stockholders  of 
record  September  4. 

In  commenting  upon  the  action  of 
the  board,  Adolph  Zukor  said: 

"The  earnings  of  Paramount  Pub- 
lix  Corporation  for  the  first  six  months 
of  the  present  year  are  conservatively 
figured  (partly  estimated)  at  $5,700,000, 
being  equal  to  $1.82  per  share  on'  the 
stock  now  outstanding-.  The  records  of 
the  company  show  that  during  the  last 
eight  years  the  company  has  averaged 
approximately  40  per  cent  of  its  annual 
net  income  in  the  first  six  months  of 
the  year,  and  60  per  cent  irt  the  second 
six    months. 

"The  company's  consolidated  cash  bal- 
ance on  June  30th,  1931,  is  calculated  at 
about  $8,400,000.  Bank  loans  outstanding 
at    the    same    date    were    $5,000,000. 

"Ordm'arily,  therefore,  no  question 
would  arise  as  to  the  contin'uance  of  cash 
dividends  on  the  stock,  as  long  as  the 
ratio  of  current  assets  to  current  liabili- 
ties is,  as  it  is  now  calculated  to  be.  not 
below  two  to  one  and  the  ratio  of  tan- 
gible assets  to  indebtedness  remained  at 
least  V/2  to  1,  the  maintenance  of  which 
ratios  is  required  by  the  indentures  secur- 
ing the  554  per  cent  and  6  per  cent  bonds 
of  the  company,  as  a  condition  for  the 
payment  of  cash  dividends.  Considera- 
tion must  be  giverf,  however,  in  the  spirit 
of  due  conservatism,  to  the  following  cir- 
cumstances: 

"Some  time  ago  the  company  purchased 
certain  theatres  and  other  assets  which 
it  then  believed,  and  still  believes,  to 
be  valuable  acquisitions,  obtained  at  a 
fair  and  reasonable  figure.  At  the  time 
these  purchases  were  effected,  payment 
was  made  in  Paramount  Publix  stock, 
with  the  right,  however,  to  the  veitdors, 
within  a  certain  time,  to  exchange  such 
stock  for  cash  at  a  price  which  would 
realize  an  amount  which  was  not  in  ex- 
cess of  what  the  company  did  and  still 
does  consider  a  fair  price  for  those  the- 
atres and  other  assets.  Naturally,  with 
the  change  in  market  conditions  that 
has  since  superven'ed,  it  is  more  advan- 
tageous to  the  vendors  to  take  cash  at 
the  figure  agreed  upon  ratber  than  stock. 
A  certain  portion  of  the  total  amount  in- 
volved in  this  transaction  has  already 
been  called  for  by  the  vendors  and  paid 
out  of  current  cash  resources  prior  to 
June  30th.  As  to  the  balarfce,  aggregat- 
ing approximately  $11,500,000,  it  must  be 
expected  that  a  similar  course  will  be 
pursued    by    the    vendors. 

"It  should  be  understood  that  these 
transactions  simply  mean  that  the  com- 
pany is  paying  cash  instead  of  stock, 
for  the  assets  acquired.  Normally,  the 
capital  expenditures  thus  called  for 
would  be  met  on  the  part  of  the  com- 
pany by  the  sale  of  securities  to  the 
public,  but,  in  view  of  prevailing  market 
condition's,  it  is  not  considered  an  appro- 
priate course  or  in  the  best  interest  of 
its  shareholders  to  dispose  of  either  stock 
or    long    term    obligations    at    this    time. 

"The  company  believes  it  to  be  in  line 
with  sound  and  tested  business  policy 
and  with  the  most  effective  preservation 
of  its  credit  and  fin'ancial  strength,  to 
meet  the  payments  which,  as  above  stated, 
are  anticipated  within  the  next  six 
months,  but  the  use  of  its  current  earn- 
ings, and,  to  such  extent  as  may  be  re- 
quired, by  availing  itself  of  its  credit 
lines  which  are  more  than  ample  for  the 
purpose. 

"I  am  convinced  that  this  course  of 
procedure  is  the  orfe  best  calculated  to 
promote  the  interests  both  of  the  com- 
pany and  of  its  stockholders.  My  asso- 
ciates in  the  management  of  the  com- 
pany, as  well  as  its  board  of  directors 
and  its  bankers,  are  unanimous  in  shar- 
ing   and    supporting    that    view." 


*'Night  Life  in  Reno" 

(Art  class) 

WEISS  BROTHERS'  Art- 
class  makes  a  good  start 
for  its  new  season  with  "Night 
Life  in  Reno."  The  picture  is 
a  peep  behind  the  scenes  of 
America's  divorce  mill.  The 
story  has  a  number  of  punch 
angles  and  the  cast  is  capable. 
A  wife  flees  to  Reno  after 
catching  her  husband  in  the 
apartment  of  a  girl  friend. 
Hubby,  penitent,  follows  after. 
But  the  wife  is  unrelenting  and 
lets  her  husband  know  she  is 
stepping  out,  in  fact  he  accident- 
ally lands  on  the  same  party  at 
which  wifey  is  with  another 
man.  The  latter  is  murdered 
and  suspicion  falls  on  the  wife, 
whereupon  hubby  shoulders  the 
blame  until  the  real  murderess 
confesses.  This  has  good  ex- 
ploitation  possibilities. 

HYNES 


Nancy  Carroll  Walks 
Out  on  New  Picture 

Hollywood — Nancy  Carroll  has  re- 
fused the  role  assigned  her  in  "The 
Man  I  Killed"  and  wants  to  know 
what  plans  Paramount  has  for  her 
future.  The  star  and  company  are 
reported  as  having  had  difficulties 
since  "Night  Angel." 

The  company's  option  is  up  in  60 
days  and  she  is  angered  over  the  type 
of  stories  she  has  been  getting,  par- 
ticularly her  last  picture,  "Personal 
Maid."  Nancy  is  concerned  chiefly 
over    suitable    stories    for    her. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fitzgihhon  Recovers 

Toronto— J.  J.  Fitzgibbon,  direc- 
tor of  operations.  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corp.,  has  recovered  from 
a  serious  operation  in  a  local  hospi- 
tal, and  will  shortly  resume  his  du- 
ties. James  Lynch,  manager  of  the 
Tivoli,  Toronto,  also  underwent  an 
operation  a  few  days  ago  after  a 
lengthy  illness  and  his  condition  is 
fair. 

The  hospital  list  includes  Manager 
Joe  Franklin  of  the  Capitol,  Ottawa, 
who  has  been  a  patient  for  some 
time.  Following  operations  in  New 
York  City,  Franklin  is  recuperating 
in    the    Ottawa    Civic    Hospital. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 


"Street  Scene''  Dated 

"Street  Scene,"  Elmer  Rice's  Pulit- 
zer's Prize  play  of  1929,  with  Sylvia 
Sidney,  Buster  Collier  and  Estelle 
Taylor  heading  a  cast  of  45,  will  have 
its  premiere  at  the  Rivoli,  New  York. 
It  was  previously  announced  that 
Ronald  Colman's  latest  picture,  "The 
Unholy  Garden"  would  open  on  Aug. 
27th  but  due  to  necessary  retakes  on 
the  film,  will  be  postponed  until  after 
the  run  of  "Street  Scene." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

82  in  Newsreel  Combine 

.\nother  newspaper  has  joined  the 
list  of  those  already  sponsoring  the 
Graham  McNamee-Universal  News- 
reel,  with  the  addition  yesterday  of 
the  Meriden  Record  of  Meriden,  Con- 
necticut. This  brings  the  total  of  pa- 
pers cooperating  with  Universal  in 
this  way,  to  82. 


Current  Films 
Are  Best  Ever, 
Says  Rogers 


HoLLvvvooD — Motion  picture  enter- 
tainment today  is  the  best  it  ever  has 
been  and  problems  confronting  the 
film  industry  are  the  result  of  general 
world-trade  conditions  rather  than  in- 
ferior product  or  inefhcient  manage- 
ment. 

That  is  the  answer  of  Charles  R. 
Rogers,  production  head  of  RKO- 
Pathe,  to  those  following  the  current 
popular  pastime  of  listing  what  is 
wrong  with  the  picture  business. 

"The  screen  industry  is  meeting  the 
present  depression  with  consistently 
good  product  and  will  emerge  from 
the  trying  period  with  flying  colors," 
he  declared.  "Due  to  the  pessimistic 
spirit  of  the  time,  we  hear  too  much 
about  bad  product  and  too  little  atten- 
tion is  paid  to  the  good.  What  the 
world  needs  probably  more  than  any- 
thing else  is  to  quit  thinking  of  its  ills 
and  start  looking  on  the  bright  side  of 
things. 

"So  far  as  pictures  are  concerned, 
better  entertainment  is  being  offered 
right  now  than  ever  before.  The  dis- 
criminating shopper  in  the  metropoli- 
tan districts  can  see  a  different  good 
picture  at  least  four  nights  a  week 
and  still  not  view  all  the  films  of 
proven  quality  playing  his  or  her  city. 

"The  general  cry  for  good  pictures 
is  being  answered  with  such  produc- 
tions as  'Cimarron,'  'The  Common 
Law,'  'The  Millionaire,'  'Min  and 
Bill,'  'Sweepstakes,'  'Dirigible,'  'The 
Mad  Genius,'  'Daddy  Long  Legs,' 
'Millie,'  'Seed,'  'Skippy,'  'The  Front 
Page,'  'Rebound,'  'Smart  Money,'  'The 
Smiling  Lieutenant,'  'Dracula,'  'A  Free 
Soul'  and  'Devotion.'  Those  are  only 
a  few  of  the  many  good  current  or 
comparatively  recent  outstanding  pic- 
tures. Selected  at  random  they  include 
the  product  of  every  major  studio  and 
represent  an  amazing  variety  of  en- 
tertainment." 

Rogers  went  on  to  say  that  due  to 
the  great  number  of  pictures  required 
to  entertain  the  world,  all  cannot  be 
sensations. 

"The  percentage  of  good  product  is 
amazingly  high  when  compared  with 
the  record  of  the  stage,  or  the  general 
average  of  radio  entertainment,  how- 
ever," he  declared,  "it  is  considered  a 
good  percentage  when  six  stage  plays 
out  of  a  hundred  strike  the  public 
fancy  and  succeed.  If  the  film  busi- 
ness should  reach  the  point  where  only 
sixty  pictures  out  of  a  hundred  are 
good  entertainment  then  there  would 
be  just  cause  for  complaint  about  in- 
ferior product.  That  time  has  not 
come  and  I  predict  it  never  will." 

Many  factors  contribute  to  making 
pictures  better  today  than  they  ever 
have  been  before,  the  producer  ex- 
plained. The  screen  has  the  best  ar- 
tists of  its  history  and  more  of  them. 
It  has  attracted  the  world's  finest 
story  creative  minds  and  is  drawing 
upon  all  literature  for  its  material. 
Technical  developments  have  advanced 
sound  recording  and  photographic 
flexibility  to  a  tremendous  extent, 
while  artists  and  directors  now  know 
the    talking    picture    medium. 

"Those  who  cry  for  'the  good  old 
days'  of  silent  pictures  should  see  one 
of  those  films  for  which  they  pine," 
he  concluded.  "They  will  realize  then 
just  how  far  screen  entertainment  has 
advanced." 


"Possession" 
Is  Montreal 
Star  at  B.  O. 


Total  $48,600  for  6  Theatres 


AloNTREAL — Some  improvement  in 
theatre  grosses  was  noted  in  Montreal 
dnring  the  first  week  of  August,  with 
Loews  being  the  only  one  to  show 
an  off-shade  as  compared  with  recent 
weeks.  I'he  tourist  trade  was  at  its 
height,  but  the  visitors  are  not  spend- 
ing like  they  did  in  previous  years. 
The  Palace  went  into  the  lead  with 
Robert  Montgomery's  "The  Man  in 
Possession,"  the  count  here  being 
$12,500. 

The  Capitol  was  next  in  line  with 
a  brace  of  good  ones,  "Chances"  and 
"Broadminded,"  the  latter  starring 
Joe  Brown,  this  house  registering  an 
even  $10,000  on  low  admission  prices. 
"Everything's  Rosy"  and  vaudeville 
accounted  for  $9,800  at  Loew's,  which 
was  only  fair.  The  Princess  came 
along  a  little  stronger  at  $8,500  with 
"Lover  Come  Back,"  which  had  femi- 
nine appeal.  The  Imperial  had  a  com- 
bination of  British  and  American  fea- 
tures which  brought  a  fair  $4,000,  the 
attractions  being  "Night  Birds"  and 
"Soldiers  and  Women."  Considerable 
mercury  was  shown  by  the  thermome- 
ters. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 
and   "BROADMINDED"    (F.   N.) 

CAPITOI^(2,547),         25c-35c-50c-60c,         7 
days.       Gross:    $10,000.       (Average,   $12,500) 
"NIGHT    BIRDS"    (British)    and 

^S!}^J^f^^r    ^^^    WOMEN"     (Warners) 

IMPERIAL-(1,914),  15c-25c-40c,  7  days 
Gross:    $4,000.        (Average,    $5,100.) 

"EVERYTHING'S     ROSY"      (Radio) 

LOEW;S-(3,I15),      25c-40c-50c-65c-75c,      7 
days.      Five   vaudeville   acts.     Gross:   $9  800 
(Average,    $13,000.) 
"THE   MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

PALACE^(2,600),     25c-40c-60c-75c-99c,     7 
days.       Gross:    $12,500.       (Average,    $14,000  ) 
"LOVER   COME   BACK"    (Col.) 

PRINCElSS-(2,272),  25c-35c-4Oc-50c-60fc- 
$13'0OO)  ^'"^''     ^'^°^-       (^^^'•^se, 

"SVENGALI"    (Warners)    and 
"PARTY  HUSBAND"   (F.   N.) 

STRAND-(750).  I5c-25c-40c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $3,800.        (Average,    ROOO.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sears  Consummates 
Middle  West  Deals 

Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Western  gen- 
eral sales  manager  of  Warners-First 
National  reported  yesterday  the  clos- 
ing of  several  deals  involving  the 
showing  of  all  the  product  of  his  com- 
panies, for  the  new  season  in  Missouri 
and   Kansas. 

Sears,  who  has  just  returned  from 
a  trip  through  the  Middle  West,  closed 
with  the  Publix-Dubinsky  circuit  with 
headquarters  in  Kansas  City.  By  vir- 
tue of  this  contract  Warners  and  First 
National  pictures  will  be  shown  in 
the  first-run  houses  of  Kansas  (Zity, 
St.  Joseph,  Jefferson  City,  Leaven- 
worth, Fulton,  Joplin  and  Springfield, 
Mo. 

Contracts  were  also  closed  for  the 
showing  of  the  entire  Warners-First 
National  product  with  the  Glen  Dick- 
inson theatres,  the  M.  B.  Schanberg 
circuit,  the  Rhoden  circuit  and  the 
Southern  Illinois  Fox  Theatres,  the 
latter  represented  in  the  negotiations 
by  L.  J.   McCarthy. 


§Bf 


.«<^> 


1 

■■i^^B 

'^^^^^^^H^ 

^ 

Pt^wS 

As  a  stage  play  It  thrilled  New  York 
for  a  long  run  at  the  48th  Street 
Theatre!  As  a  picture  it  w!ll  set  a 
new  high  mark  for  screen  entertain- 
ment and  stand  out  as  one  of  the 
real   achievements  of   the  industry! 


"^  WITH  A  MAGNIFICENT  CAST  OF  BOX  OFFICE  NAMES: 

EVELYN  BRENT,  CONRAD  NAGEL,  CHARLES  BICKFORD, 

ROLAND  YOUNG,  WILLIAM  FARNUM,  LUCILLE  GLEASON, 

Leslie  Fenton,  Gwen  Lee,  Wallace  MacDonald.  From  the  stage 

play  by  William  DuBois.    Screen  play  by  Benjamin  Glazer. 

Produced  by  H.  D.  Edwards 

A  JOHN  FRANCIS  DILLON  PRODUCTION 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August   II,    1931 


"Lieutenant" 
Wows  Frisco 
With  $32,000 


Total  $155,000  for  8  Theatres 


San  Francisco — Sensational  busi- 
ness was  done  last  week  by  "The 
Smiling  Lieutenant"  at  the  Para- 
mount, the  picture  getting  $32,000  on 
the  week.  This  is  an  all-time  record 
for  the  house.  Other  theatres  held 
up  well. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  4  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

Week  ending  Aug.  4: 

"TRADER     HORN"     (M-G-M) 

EL  CAPITAN— (3,100),  25c-40c-()0c,  7 
davs.  Jav  Brower  band;  stage  revue. 
Gt'oss:    $14,000.     (Average,    $1.1,000.) 

"YOUNG    AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 

FOX— (4,600),  35c-60c,  7  days.  F.  &  M. 
stage  revue;  Walt  Roesner  concert;  Ben 
Bard  in  person.  Gross:  $45,000.  (Average, 
$34,000.) 

"BROADMINDED"     (F.    N.) 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2.800),  35c-40c-50c-65c, 
7  davs.  Four  acts  RKO  vaudeville.  Gross: 
$15,000.     (Average,    $15,000.) 

"COMMON    LAW"    (RKO   Pathe) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),  25c-3Sc-50c,  7  days, 
second  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"THE    GREAT    LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

WARFIELD— (2,700),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Rube  Wolf  band;  stage  varieties.  Gross: 
$20,000.     (Average,    $21,000.) 

"ONE   HEJVVENLY    NIGHT"    (U.   A.) 

UNITED  ARTIirrS— (1.200),  25c-40c-60c, 
7   days.     Gross:    $10,0.}0.     (Average,   $11,000.) 

Week  ending  Aug.  6: 

"SMILING    LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.  Jess  Stafford's  band.  Gross:  $32,000. 
(Average,    $19,000.) 

Week  ending  Aug.  8: 

"NIGHT    NURSE"     (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.— (I..y85),  35c-50c,  8 
days,  third  week.  Bobby  Jones  golf;  Ad- 
ventures in  Africa.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $10,500.) 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Joe  E.  Brown 
Big  B.  O.  Bet 
In  Milwaukee 


Total  $67,800  for  6  Theatres 


Milwaukee — The  big  event  of  the 
week  was  the  personal  appearance  of 
Joe  E.  Brown  at  the  Warner  theatre. 
Apparently  this  star  is  a  big  hit  here 
for  he  was  good  for  $16,800  at  the 
box  office.  "The  Public  Defender"  and 
a  good  vaudeville  bill  at  the  RKCJ 
Riverside  clicked  for  $14,200,  while 
"The  Man  in  Possession"  did  a  good 
business  at  $14,000  at  Fox's  Wis- 
consin. 

"Politics"  enjoyed  a  good  week  at 
the  Strand  doing  $7,200.  After  four 
rather  quiet  days  of  "Ladies  in  Love" 
at  the  Garden,  this  picture  gave  way 
to  the  sound  revival  of  "The  Birth  of 
a  Nation."  "Up  for  Murder"  hit  an 
$8,000  average   at  the   Alhambra. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"UP    FOR   MURDER"    (Univ.) 

ALHA.MBR.\— (2,66'J>,     25c-35c-50c-60c,     7 
days.     Gross:    $8,000.     (Average,    $8,00(J,) 
"LADIES    IN    LOVE"    (Chesterfield) 

GARDEN— (1,150;,  25c-35c-50c-0'Jc.  4  days. 


$20,500  Gross 

For  'Sporting 

Blood'  at  Balto 


Total  $70,200  for  7  Theatres 


Baltimore — Backed  by  large  slices 
of  a  national  advertising  cam- 
paign in  newspapers  here  and  special 
publicity  stunts,  "Sporting  Blood"  and 
"Politics"  went  over  big  at  Loew's 
Century  and  Stanley. 

"Sporting  Blood"  was  on  the  same 
program  with  the  Loew  Capitol  stage 
unit  "Stardust"  and  the  gross  was 
about  $1,500  more  than  the  normal, 
while  "Politics,"  with  those  two  Bal- 
timore favorites,  Marie  Dressier  and 
Polly  Moran,  backed  up  by  Roscoe 
Ates,  who  is  rapidly  gaining  a  big 
following  here,  went  into  the  near 
record  class  for  that  house  with  the 
huge  gross  of  about  $27,000,  or  nearly 
ten  grand  above  normal. 

Figure  that  out  with  the  heat  and 
humidity  terrific,  and  you're  a  mathe- 
matician. 

At  the  other  refrigerated  houses, 
the  New  with  "The  Woman  Between" 
and  the  Loew's  Valencia  with  "The 
Reckless  Hour,"  business  was  fair  at 
the  first  and  above  normal  at  the  sec- 
ond. "The  Public  Defender"  did  well 
at  Keith's. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  6,  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE    PUBLIC   DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

KEITH'S— (2,500),  2Sc-50c,  6  days,  plus  a 
Sunday  midnight  performance.  Gross: 
$6,400.     (Average,    $5,500.) 

Week  ending  August  8: 

"SPORTING  BLOOD"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  CENTURY— (3,076),  25c-60c.  6 
days.  Loew  Capitol  stage  unit.  "Stardust." 
orchestra.  Gross:  $20,500.  (Average,  $19,- 
000.) 

"SON    OF   INDIA"    (M-G-M) 
(Shown   uptown   after   one    week    at    Loew's 
Stanley   downtown.) 
LOEW'S     PARKWAY— (987),     15e-35c.     6 
days.     Gross:    $3,400.     (Average,    $3,500.) 
"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S     STANLEY-(3.522),     25c-60c.     6 
days.     Gross:    $27,000.     (Average,    $17,500.) 
"THE  RECKLESS   HOUR"   (F.   N.) 
LOEW'S    VALENCIA— (1,487),    25c-35c.    6 
u'ays.     Gross:    $3,100.      (Average.    $2,800.) 
"THE    WOMAN    BETWEEN"    (Radio) 
NEW— (1,600),     25c-50c,     6     days.      Gross: 
$6,500.     (Average.    $8,000.) 

"QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 
WARNER.S'     METROPOLITAN— (l.'O)), 
6   days.     Gross:    $3,300.     (Average,   $4,500.) 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY    NOW" 

Air  dome  Held  Up 

St.  Louls— a  young  bandit  stuck 
up  the  box  office  of  the  Kirkwood 
Airdrome,  Kirkwood,  Mo.,  and 
escaped  with  ,$91  after  exchanging 
shots  with  two  patrolmen.  He  made 
his  getaway  in  an  automobile. 


Gross:   $4,200.     (Average   for   week,   $10,000.) 

"THE    BIRTH    OF   A    NATION" 

(A.    Griffith    Grey) 

GARDEN— (1.150),   25c-.^5c-50c-60c,  3  days. 

Gross:   $,5,400.     (Average   for   week,   $10,000.) 
"THE   PUBLIC   DEFENDER"    (Radio) 
RIVERSIDE— (2,180),     25c-35c-50c-60c.     7 

days.      Vaudeville.     Gross:    $14,200.      (Aver- 

ave,    $13,000.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

STILAND— (1,406),  25c-.15c-50c-60c,   7  days. 
Gross:    $7,200.     (Average,    $6,500.) 
"THE  LADY  WHO  DARED"   (F.  N.) 

WARNER- _(2„S00),  25c ■.35c -50c- 60c,  7 
days.  Joe  E.  Brown  in  person.  Ciross: 
$16,800. 

"THE   MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

WI.SCONSIN-(3,275),  25c-35c-50c-65c,  7 
days.  Fanchon  &  Marco  Idea.  Gross:  $14  - 
000.     (Average,    $13,000.) 


Need  Comedy 

Cincinnati — Says  the  Cincin- 
nati Post,  local  afternoon  daily: 
"What  this  country  needs  more 
than  a  good  five-cent  cigar  is  a 
good  two-reel  comedy." 


^Possession" 
Leads  Ottawa 
With  $5,600 


Total  $15,450  for  4  Theatres 


Ott.-vw.a. — Two  theatres  of  the  Ca- 
nadian Capital  obtained  a  real  break 
during  the  past  week  while  the  others 
showed  fair  summer  averages.  The 
observance  of  Monday,  August  3,  as 
Civic  Holiday  helped  in  the  matter  of 
attendance,  although  many  Govern- 
ment employes  had  to  put  in  a  full 
day's  work  because  Parliament  was 
still  sitting.  The  Regent  came  across 
with  a  splendid  gross  of  $5,600  on 
"The  Man  in  Possession,"  this  total 
being  above  the  year's  average. 

The  Centre  also  exceeded  par  at 
$4,900  on  "Dirigible,"  thanks  to  good 
exploitation.  Toy  balloons  were  given 
to  all  juvenile  patrons  on  both  Satur- 
day and  the  holiday  and  family  crowds 
packed  the  Centre  both  days.  It  looked 
like  old  times  to  see  the  standing 
crowds  here.  The  Imperial  had  a  fair 
week  with  "The  Girl  Habit."  The  big 
Capitol  Theatre,  formerly  Keith's,  was 
due  to  reopen  August  1,  but  the  dec- 
orators won't  be  finished  until  Au- 
gust 15,  according  to  the  latest  word. 
The  weather  was  just  plain  hot. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"DAYBREAK"    (M-G-M) 

AVALON— (990),  lSc-25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $950.      (Average,    $1,300.) 

"SVENGALI"    (Warners) 

AVALON— (990),       15c-25c-35c,      3      days. 
Ooss:    $1,100.     (Average,    $1,300.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"     (Col.) 

CENTRE— (1,142),      15c-25c-35c-SOc-60c,      6 
days.     Gross:    $4,900.     (Average.    $4,600.) 
"THE     GIRL     HABIT"    (Para.) 

IMPERIAI^-(1,091),    10c-25c-35c-40c-50c,   6 
days.     Gross:    $2,800.      (Average,    $,;',000. ) 
"THE   MAN   IN  POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

REGENT— (1,225),  15c-25c-35c-45c-60c-75c, 
6  days.     Gross:    $5,600.     (Average,    $5,400.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Charter  N.  C.  Firm 

Winston-Salem,  N.  C— A  new 
corporation  to  be  known  as  the  Caro- 
lina Hotel  and  Theatre  Co.  has  been 
granted  a  charter  here.  The  incor- 
porators are  Owen  Moon.  W.  K. 
Hopt  and  A.  H.  Galloway.  The  au- 
thorized capital  consists  of  1,000 
shares  of  no  par  value  common  stock. 

The  company  is  authorized  to  buy, 
'ease  and  operate  lands  and  build- 
ings for  theatre,  hotel,  apartment 
house  and  for  other  business  enter- 
prises, and  to  carry  on  the  business 
of  theatrical  proprietors,  caterers  for 
public  entertainment,  concerts,  ballets, 
motion  pictures,  vaudeville  and  other 
variety    entertainments. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Pichel  in  New  York 

Irving  Pichel,  former  leader  in  the 
Little  Theatre  movement  of  California 
and  the  Middle  West,  has  returned  to 
New  York  for  his  first  visit  in  nine 
years. 


"Magnificent 
Lie"  Tops  Fine 
Toronto  Week 


Total  $58,500  for  5  Theatres 


Toronto — What  with  people  get- 
ting back  from  annual  vacations 
somewhat  ahead  of  usual  schedule, 
theatres  experienced  the  first  streaks 
of  a  business  comeback  during  the 
first  week  in  August,  quite  a  bit  ahead 
of  the  yearly  revival  Monday  was  also 
observed  as  Civic  Holiday  and  this 
helped.  It  was  a  fair  week  all  around, 
with  "The  Magnificent  Lie"  heading 
the  parade  at  the  Imperial  at  $15,000, 
a  Publix  stage  unit  helping  Ruth 
Chatterton  in  this  draw. 

"Gold  Dust  Gertie"  and  attractive 
vaudeville  drew  good  crowds  to  Shea's 
which  registered  $12,500  on  the  week. 
"The  Man  in  Possession"  gave  Loew's 
a  better  week  than  recent  average  at 
$11,500.  "Tabu"  at  the  Tivoli  meant 
$10,000,  with  the  appeal  rather  re- 
stricted to  those  who  like  the  native 
romances.  The  public  would  have  pre- 
ferred "Tabu"  doing  its  own  talking 
instead  of  the  added  voice,  according 
to  gossip.  "Dirigible"  brought  bet- 
ter crowds  to  the  Uptown,  but  they 
were  juveniles  to  a  substantial  extent 
and  $9,500  was  the  gross.  The  weather 
was  still  plenty  warm. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE   MAGNIFICENT   LIE"    (Para.) 

IMPERIAI^(3,444),       15c^25c-35c-50c-65c- 
75c,    6    days.      Publix    stage    show.     Ooss: 
$15,000.     (Average,    $16,000.) 
"THE  MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,088),      25c-30c-40c-60c-75c,      6 
days.     Gross:    $11,500.     (Average,   $15,000.) 
"GOLD   DUST  GERTIE"    (Warners) 

SHEA'S— (2,600),  30c -50c -60c -75c,  6  days. 
Five  vaudeville  acts.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Av- 
erage,   $13,000.) 

"TABU"    (Para.) 

TIVOLI- (1,600),     15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $10,000.     (Average,   $12,500.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"  (CoL) 

UPTOWN— (j'.OOO),  15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $9,500.     (Average,   $12,000.) 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Shows  Okay,  But  Ice 
On  Sunday  Illegal 

Wauchula,  Fla. — Voters  of  this 
city  decided  sometime  ago  in  favor  of 
Sunday  films  and  baseball  and  so  the 
mayor  had  to  permit  them,  but  as 
there  was  nothing  said  about  the  de- 
livery of  ice  on  Sunday  in  the  elec- 
tion, the  mayor  has  turned  thumbs 
down  on  Sunday  ice.  Of  course, 
being  a  good  fellow,  he  will  not  make 
any  objection  to  work  going  to  the  ice 
house  on  Sunday,  but  deliveries  are 
forbidden. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Two  File  Charters 

Dover,  Del. — Charters  were  filed 
here  by : 

U.  A.  South  Amercian  Corporation, 
to  deal  in  motion  pictures,  1,000 
shares,  no  par  value.  Represented  by 
C.  S.  Peabbles,  L.  E.  Gray  and  H.  H. 
Snow,   of   Wilmington,   Del. 

Continental  Television  Corporation, 
o  broadcast  theatrical  plays,  dramas, 
•tc,  600,000  shares,  no  par  value, 
(epresented  by  Robert  A.  Van  Voor- 
,is,  of  Belleville,  N.  J. ;  R.  H.  Toothe, 
f  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  A.  M. 
tlocken,  of  Hoboken,  N.  J. 


It 

knows 

all  the  answers 


What  a  book  it  is! 
Nearly  five  hundred 
pages  crammed  with 
facts!    The  answer  to 
virtually  every  question 
that  anybody  can  ask 
about  the  motion  picture 
business.    Every  alert 
person  in  the  business 
should  have  it  at  his 
elbow.    It  will  prove 
invaluable  to  exhibitors 
in  conducting  com- 
munity contests.    It 
will  prove  priceless  to 
exchange  managers  and 
salesmen. 


Quigley  Publishing  Co., 
1790  Broadway,  New  York 

Enclosed  find  $3.56  for  which  send  me 
copy  of  the  1931  MOTION  PICTURE 
ALMANAC. 


Name    . , 
Address 


MOTION     PICTURE 


AL 


ANAC 


A       QUIGLEY       PUBLICATION 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August   II,    1931 


"Five  and  Ten" 
$24,087  for 


ii 


Cincy"  Lead 


Total  $68,794  for  7  Theatres 


CiNCiNXATi — Collectively,  returns 
last  week  were  approximately  three 
per  cent  under  the  previous  seven  days. 
From  standpoint  of  total  averages, 
business  was  off  from  about  five  per 
cent.  The  combination  of  "Five  and 
Ten"  and  Harriet  Hector,  dancer, 
gave  the  RKO  Albee  $2,087  more  than 
normal  on  an  intake  of  $24,087,  put- 
ting this  house  at  the  head  of  the 
procession,  which,  of  late,  has  been  the 
rule  rather  than  the  exception. 

However,  among  the  straight  pic- 
ture houses,  the  RKO  Palace  went 
over  the  top  by  $1,564  with  "The 
Man  in  Possession,"  the  Montgomery 
feature  grossing  $15,564. 

The  RKO  Strand  and  Family,  in 
the  lower  adt-iission  class,  both  slight- 
Iv  exceeded  their  established  quotas, 
but  the  RKO  Capitol  touched  a  new 
low  of  $8,551  with  "Hush  Money." 
The  same  is  true  of  Keith's,  where 
"Big  Business  Girl"  garnered  only 
$3,450.  The  slump  in  the  Capitol  re- 
ceipts cannot  be  accounted  for.  It  is 
probably  just  another  one  of  those 
conditions  peculiar  to  the  show  busi- 
ness.   Keith's  is  not  refrigerated. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"BIG   BUSINESS  GIRL"   (F.   N.) 

KEITH'S— (1,600),  30c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,450.     (Average,  $4,500.) 

"FIVE   AND    TEN"    (M-G-M) 
RKO    ALBEE— (3.300).    35c-50c-65c-75c.    7 
days.     Vaudeville    with    Harriet    Hoctor    in 
person  headlined.    Gross:  $24,087.    (Average, 
$22,000.) 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 
RKO  CAPITOL— (2.000),   30c-50c,   7  days. 
Gross:    $8,551.     (Average.    $13,000.) 

"THE   NIGHT   ANGEL"    (Para.) 
RKO      FAAHLY- (1,140),      20c-25c-35c,      4 
days,   second'  run.    Gross:  $2,443.     (Average, 
$1,950.) 

"DANCING     DYNAMITE"     (Independent) 

RKO      FAMW.V— (1,140),     20c-Jl5c-36c.      3 
days.     Gross:    $1,315.     (Average,    $1,050.) 
"A    WOMAN    OF    EXPERIEINCE" 
(RKO    Pathe) 
RKO     LYRIC— (1.400).     30c-50c,     7     days. 
plus      Saturday      midnight      show.       Gross: 
$9,233.     (Average,    $12,000.) 
"THE  MAN   IN   POSSESSION"   (M-G-M) 
RKO    PALACE— (2.7*)),    30c-50c,    7    days, 
plus   Saturday   midnight   show.    Gross:   $15,- 
564.     (Average.    $14,000.) 

"QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 
RKO    -STRAND— (1.350),    25c-40c,    7    days. 
Gross:    S4,151.     (Average,   $3,500.) 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT   BUY    NOW" 

A,  Q.  Nilsson  Ready 
For  Screen  Comeback 

Hollywood — Anna  Q.  Nilsson,  who 
has  been  absent  from  the  screen  since 
she  was  thrown  from  a  horse  three 
years  ago,  is  planning  a  comeback. 
She  returned  yesterday  from  a  six 
months'  trip  to  Sweden  and  her  man- 
ager, Fred  Fralick,  says  that  contracts 
await  her.  The  injuries  sustained  by 
Miss  Nilsson  kept  her  in  a  plaster 
cast   for  more  than  a  year. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW 

Warned  of  Nude  Film 

Hollywood — Postal  inspectors  have 
been  notified  of  the  reported  circu- 
lation here  of  a  nude  film  for  private 
showings.  Circulars  on  it  have  been 
issued   by   the    Hays   organization. 


Chi  Campaign,  "FiveandTen" 


Good  Pictures 
Raise  Grosses 


Total  $186,840  for  8  Tlieatres 


Chicago — Loop  grosses  maintained 
their  upward  climb  with  the  excep- 
tion of  pictures  just  closing  long  runs. 
New  pictures  opening  indicate  even 
greater  strength  and  promise  further 
gross  increases  this  week. 

Theatre  advertising  here  has  been 
nearly  doubled  over  recent  weeks  and 
Balaban  &  Katz  finished  a  $10,000 
campaign  in  local  dailies  on  new  prod- 
uct booked  and  the  campaign  is  pro- 
ducing results  with  a  business  upturn 
indicated.  "The  Common  Law"  at 
the  State-Lake  showed  real   strength. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  5  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE     PUBLIC     ENEMY"     (Warners) 

McVICKERS— (2,284),  35c-50c-75c-85c,  2nd 
week,  final  9  days.  Gross:  $19,230.  (Aver- 
age.   $28,500.) 

Week  ending  Aug.  6: 

"THE    COMMON    LAW"    (RKO   Pathe) 

STATE- LAKE  —  (2,776),  35c-50c-75c-85c, 
first  week.  Gross:  $33,940.  (Average,  $30,- 
200.) 

"MAN    IN    POSSESSION"    (M-G-M) 

CASTLE-(299),  40c-60c,  second  Loop  run. 
Gross:    $2,155.     (Average,    $3,500.) 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"     (Para.) 

CHICAGO— (4.000),  35c-50c-85c,  7  days. 
Publix  stage  unit,  orchestra.  Gross:  $42,950. 
(Average,    $46,000.) 

"NEWLY    RICH"    (Para.) 

ORIENTAI^-(:f.940),  35c-50c-75c-85c,  7 
days.  Publix  stage  unit  with  Alice  White 
orchestra.  Gross:  $28,425.  (Average,  $36,- 
500.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,591),  35c-50c-75c-85c. 

second    week,     third     Loop     week,     7     days. 
Gross:    $10,390.     (Average,    $23,200.) 
"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1.700).  35c-50c-75c- 
85c,  first  week.  Gross:  $25,875.  (Average, 
$24,600.) 

Week  ending  Aug.  8: 

"EX-BAD    BOY"    (Univ.) 

PALACE^(2.509),  3Sc-50c-75c-«5c.  7  days. 
Five  acts  RKO  vaud'eville,  with  Bessie 
Love,  orchestra.  Gross:  $23,875.  (Averae-e. 
$24,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Magnificent 
Lie''  Gets  1st 
D.  M.  Money 


Total  $22,300  for  3  Theatres 


Des  Moines  —  "The  Magnificent 
Lie,"  with  a  take  of  $9,000,  made  the 
best  snowing  of  the  week  and  "Sweep- 
stakes" also  was  above  average  at  the 
Paramount. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  8  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE  MAGNIFICENT  LIE"   (Para.) 

DES     MOTNE.S— (1,600),       25c-3.5c-60c.       7 
days.     Gross:    $9,000.     (Average,    $7,000.) 
"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RKO    Pathe) 
PARAMOUNT— (1.700),        25c-35c-60c,       3 
days.    Vaudeville.    Gross:  $6,000.     (Average, 
$5,500.) 

"SVENGALI"   (Warners) 
PARAMOUNT— (1,700),        25c-.^.5c-60c,        4 
clays,      i'ublix    stage    show.      Gross:    $4,000. 
(Average.    $5,500.) 

"HOLY    TERROR"    (Fox) 
STRAND— (1,100),   20c-35c,   4  days.   Gross: 
$2,300.     (Average,    $1,700.) 

"ALOHA"    (Tiff.) 
STRAND— (1. 100),  20c-35c,  3  days.    Gross: 
$l,fX)0.     (Average,   $700.) 


Leads  Boston 
On  2nd  Run 


Total  $154,500  for  8  Theatres 


Boston — "Five  and  Ten"  played  a 
return  engagement  at  Loew's  (Drpheum 
for  the  week's  high  spot  while  "Com- 
mon Law"  at  Keith's  came  in  a  close 
second  for  top  honors.  This  was  also 
a  hold-over. 

The  week's  business  showed  much 
improvement  and  the  new  films  appear 
to  have  drawn  many  picture 
fans  out  of  retirement  to  their  favor- 
ite playhouses.  Transient  business  is 
credited  with  bringing  in  many  of  the 
shekels. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  Aug  6  are  : 

"THE   RECKLESS    HOUR"    (F.    N.) 
KEITH  BOSTON— (2,500),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Vaua'eville.     Gross:   $19,500.     (Average,   CIS,- 

noo.) 

"THE    COMMON    LAW"    (RKO    Pathe) 

KEITH'S— (2,800),    25c-65c,     second    week, 
7   days.     Gross:    $20,500.     (Average,   $18,000.) 
"FIVE   AND    TEN"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (3.100),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Aver- 
age, $20,000.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,700),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $30,500.     (Average,    $20,000.) 

"THE   MAGNIFICENT   LIE"    (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,3'50),        25c-60c.        7 
days.     Gross:    $32,000.     (Average,    $32,000.) 
"THE   SMILING  LIEUTENANT'   (Para.) 

OLYMPIA— (2,500),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $14,000.     (Average,   $15,000.) 

"MURDER    BY   THE    CLOCK"    (Para.) 

SCOLI^Y    SQUARE— (1,800),    25c-50c.    7 
days.    Vaudeville.    Gross:  $14,000.   (Average. 
$15,000.) 
"THE  SMILING  LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

UPTOWN— (2.000),  25c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$12,000.     (Average,    $12,000.) 


ii 


"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Polities''  Is 
Best  Card  for 
Indianapolis 


Total  $39,500  for  5  Theatres 


Indianapolis — "Politics"  was  good 
for  $10,000  in  its  Palace  run,  which  is 
$1,500  above  the  house  average.  The 
lack  of  stage  shows  was  felt  at  the 
Lidiana  and  Lyric,  grosses  of  both 
houses  being  ofT. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  7  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"410THERS    MILLIONS"    (Univ.) 

APOLLO— (1.100),  2Sc.50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.     (Average.    $4,000.) 

"BROADMINDED"    (F.   N.) 
CIRCLE -(2.600),    25c-50c,    7   days.    Gross: 
$7.,S00.      (Average,    .$5,000.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 
INDIANA- (3.300).    25c-50c.      Gross:    $11.- 
500.     (Average.    $13,000.) 

"THE  MIRACLE   WOMAN"   (Col.) 
LYRIC- (2,000),    25c-50c,    7    days.     Gross: 
$6,500.     (Average,    $7,000.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 
PALACE— (2,800).   25c-50c,   7   (i'ays.   Gross: 
$10,000.     (Average.   $8,500.) 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

$20,000  Fire  Damage 

CiiArTANOOGA,  Tenn. — Fire  of  un- 
determined origin  caused  damage  of 
.$20,000  at  the  American,  l,q00-seat 
independent  house.  The  auditorium 
was  completely  destroyed  and  the 
booth  equipment  damaged  by  water. 


ii 


99 


Politics, 

'^''Lieutenant'' 

Tops  at  K.C. 


Total  $64,000  for  5  Theatres 


Kansas  City — With  the  weather 
hot,  "Politics"  and  "The  Smiling 
Lieutenant"  were  the  week's  high 
spots.  The  former  got  $19,000  at  the 
Midland,  while  the  latter  did  $16,000 
at  the  Newman  and  was  moved  to  the 
Liberty   for  a  second  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week-end- 
ing August  8  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"MIRACLE    WOMAN"    (Col.) 

MAINSTREET— (3,067),  35c-60c,  7  days. 
Vaudeville.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Average,  $15,- 
000.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

MIDLANI>-(4,000),  25c-50c,  7  days^ 
Gross:    $19,000.      (Average,    $14,500.) 

"MURDER   BY  THE  CLOCK"   (Para.) 

LIBERTY— (1,200),  35c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,000.     (Average,   $5,000.) 

"SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (2,000),  3'5c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:   $16,000.     (Average,   $12,500.) 

"THE   BLACK   CAMEL"    (Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2,200),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $7,500.      (Average,    $6,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Four  Theatre  Firms 
Get  Virginia  Charters 

Richmond,  Va. — Four  new  theatri- 
cal corporations  have  just  been  char- 
tered to  engage  in  the  picture  busi- 
ness in  Virginia.  The  charters  are 
regarded  as  a  good  omen  for  better 
amusement   business    in   the    state. 

Benjamin  T.  Pitts  is  listed  as  ores- 
ident  of  the  Pitts  Dixie  Theatre  Com- 
pany, Inc.,  of  Fredericksburg.  Other 
officers  are:  E.  C.  Bell,  vice-presi- 
dent, and  L.  G.  Payne,  secretary-treas- 
urer. The  corporation's  authorized 
maximum  capital  is  $10,000. 

Vernon  G.  Browning  is  president  of 
the  Crewe  Theatre,  Inc.,  of  Crewe, 
with  an  authorized  maximum  capital 
of  $10,000.  Other  officers  are:  R.  B. 
Ingham,  vice-president,  and  George  C. 
Ingham,  secretary-treasurer. 

The  Lincoln  Theatres  Corp.,  of  Ma- 
rion, has  been  chartered  to  own,  lease 
and  operate  playhouses.  Its  authorized 
maximum  capital  is  $25,000.  Officers 
are :  C.  C.  Lincoln,  Jr.,  president ; 
J.  D.  Lincoln,  vice-president;  F.  P. 
Buchanan,  secretary ;  Leon  D.  Be- 
ville,   treasurer. 

Frank  Ponton  of  Danville  is  presi- 
dent of  the  United  Theatres  Corp.  of 
Richmond,  which  has  been  chartered 
with  authorized  maximum  capital 
stock  of  100  shares  without  par  value 
to  operate  picture  playhouses.  Ruth 
Ponton  of  Richmond  is  listed  as  ser- 
retar  '-treasurer. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Coming  East 

Two  Warner-First  National  stars 
are  coming  east  this  month  to  make 
personal  appearances  in  vaudeville. 
Joe  E.  Brown  arrives  August  14  to 
make  an  appearance  at  the  Stanley, 
Jersey  City,  beginning  Aug.  28.  Ed- 
ward G.  Robinson  gets  in  town  about 
August  20  for  his  engagement  at 
the  Palace.  From  there  he  is  booked 
to  go  into  the  Keith  Albee,  Brook- 
lyn,   the    following    week. 


Tuesday,  August    II,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


N.J.  Operator 
Break  Looms 
Next  Month 


(Contiitited  from  page  1) 
union.  Contracts  for  all  counties  ex- 
cept Hudson,  which  terminates  Sept. 
1932,  expire  the  beginning  of  next 
month.  It  has  been  hinted  that  a 
number  of  exhibitors  may  join  the 
recently  organized  operators'  union 
which  is  only  demanding  one  man  in 
the  booth. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Operators  Stand  Pat 
At  Council  Bluffs 

Council  Bluffs,  la.— W.  H.  (Bud) 
Lollier,  assistant  vice-president  of 
Fox- West  Coast  Theatres  failed  to 
negotiate  any  change  in  the  operators' 
contract  at  the  Strand  on  a  recent 
visit  here.  Howard  Jackson,  business 
manager  of  the  Omaha  Operators' 
union  which  covers  Council  Bluffs, 
wired  Lollier  after  his  departure  that 
the  operators  would  stand  pat  on  their 
present  contract  which  expires  Octo- 
ber 1. 

.  At  present  the  Strand  has  two  op- 
erators in  the  booth.  Lollier  sought 
to  reduce  the  staff  to  one  man.  In 
view  of  the  Jyi'/c  reduction  over  a 
period  of  10  weeks  which  the  Strand 
shared  with  all  Omaha  suburban  the- 
atres, Jackson  stated  that  no  further 
concessions   could   be   made. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Seek  Anti-Non-Union 
Operator  Writ  at  O.  C, 

Oklahoma  City  —  Application  for 
an  injunction  to  restrain  the  Isis 
Theater  from  the  use  of  non-union 
operators  has  been  filed  in  district 
court  here  by  J.  Marshall  Shelton, 
president  of  the  Oklahoma  City  Op- 
erators Union  against  F.  M.  Isley, 
P.  R.  Isley,  M.  Davis  and  D.  G. 
Johnson,  owners  of  the  theater,  one 
of  the  Mid-West  Operating  group. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NCfW" 

Ben  Leo  Back  With 
Fox  Theatres  In  L,  I, 

Ben  Leo  has  returned  to  Fox  The- 
atres as  supervisor  of  Long  Island 
theatres. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Hughes  Signs  Band 

Hollywood — Gus  Arnheim  and  his 
Cocoanut  Grove  orchestra  have  been 
signed  by  Howard  Hughes  to  appear 
in  "Scarface,"  the  last  of  the  gang- 
ster films,  which  Howard  Hawks  is 
directing  with  Paul  Muni,  Osgood 
Perkins  and  Karen  Morley  in  the 
principal    roles. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Darrow  Film  Again  Hit 

Atlanta — Battle  lines  were  being 
drawn  tonight  on  still  another  front 
in  the  Fundamentalist-Modernist  con- 
troversy over  showing  of  Clarence 
Darrow's  picture,  "The  Mystery  of 
Life."  Already  ministers  in  Dayton, 
Tennessee,  scene  of  the  Scopes  evolu- 
tion trial  several  years  ago,  have 
protested  jointly  proposed  showing  of 
the  film  there  and  now  church  leaders 
in  Atlanta  have  moved  to  prevent  ex- 
hibition of  the  picture  at  the  Capitol 
theatre  here. 


Purely  Personal 


DOUGLAS  FAIRBANKS,  JR., 
star  of  "Chances,"  found  his  ex- 
cursion into  the  legitimate  field  in  Los 
Angeles  so  successful  that  he  is  now 
filled  with  the  idea  of  repeating  the 
experiment.  Staging  "The  Man  in 
Possession"  at  one  of  the  Grauman 
legitimate  theatres  as  a  "flyer"  young 
Fairbanks  met  with  considerable  suc- 
cess both  professionally  and  financially, 
he  being  one  of  the  backers  of  the  en- 
terprise. 

Vivian  Duncan,  the  "Eva"  of  the 
Duncan  Sisters,  and  wife  of  Nils  As- 
ther,  has  returned  from  a  long  stay 
in  Europe,  bringing  with  her  her  five 
months'  old  child.  She  had  to  get  a 
special  Swedish  passport  from  the 
Swedish  consul  in  Paris  after  much 
international  discussion  of  the  child's 
nationality,  due  to  the  father  being 
Swedish,  the  mother  American,  and 
Germany  being  the  place  of   birth. 

Marian  Marsh,  youthful  Warner 
star  who  arrived  in  New  York  yester- 
day for  a  brief  visit,  will  visit  Phila- 
delphia on  Thursday,  proceeding  from 
there  to  Washington  on  Friday.  On 
Saturday  she  will  return  to  New  York 
to  remain  until  the  middle  of  next 
week,  at  which  time  she  must  leave 
for  Hollywood  and  her  next  picture 
assignment. 

Pat  Campbell,  western  division 
sales  manager  of  the  Erpi  educational 


department  was  in  New  York  last 
week  for  semi-annual  conferences  with 
company  officials.  Pat  will  combine 
the  visit  with  a  vacation  in  New  Eng- 
land. 

R.  F.  (Pete)  Woodhull,  veteran 
former  president  of  the  M.P.T.O.A., 
made  his  first  personal  appearance  in 
many  moons  on  Broadway  recently. 
Pete  has  been  living  as  a  "retired 
farmer"  at  his  Dover,  N.  J.,  home. 

The  Four  Marx  Brothers  are  en 
route  to  New  York  to  start  prepara- 
tions for  a  n^v  stage  production  this 
fall.  Their  new  picture,  "Monkey 
Business,"  will  reopen  the  first  run 
policy  at  the  Rialto. 

Polly  Moran  begins  personal  ap- 
pearances shortly  at  the  Capitol,  New 
York,  where  "Politics,"  latest  Moran- 
Dressler  film,   is  goaling  the  natives. 

Edward  G.  Robinson,  Warner  star, 
opens  soon  at  the  RKO  Palace,  New 
York.  He  plans  a  brief  vaudeville 
tour  before  returning  to  picture  work. 

Gloria  Swanson,  recovered  from 
her  illness,  is  to  arrive  in  New  York 
Friday  from   Europe. 

Nancy  Welford  arrives  in  New 
York  Friday  after  completing  three 
pictures  in  London. 


Operators*  Union 
Denies  Merger  Plan 

Empire  State  Motion  Picture  Op- 
erators Union  is  not  contemplating 
any  merger  with  any  other  union,  de- 
clares President  Arthur  Farkash.  It 
had  been  reported  that  negotiations 
were  under  way  for  a  merger  with 
Local  306  of  the  I.A.T.S.E.,  but  this 
is  denied  by  Farkash. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Independent  Union 
Of  Ind.  Operators 

Indianapolis — The  Independent 
Union  Motion  Picture  Operators  of 
America,  Delaware  corporation,  has 
been  admitted  into  Indiana,  according 
to  an  announcement  made  from  the 
Secretary  of  State's  office.  There  is 
no  capital  stock  listed.  Graydon  Fox, 
Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  is  listed  as  the 
Indiana  agent. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  0.  C.  House 

Oklahoma  City  —  The  Sunset,  a 
$35,000  suburban  house,  sound 
equipped,  located  in  the  city's  south- 
west district  will  be  opened  early 
next  month. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Back  From  Honeymoon 

Hollywood — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Powell  (Carole  Lombard)  have 
returned  from  their  honeymoon  in 
Hawaii. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Laurel  Changes  Name 

Hollywood — Stan  Laurel  has  had 
his  name  legalized  changing  it  from 
Arthur    Stanley   Jefferson. 


Famous  Players  Gives 
Break  to  British 

Vancouver — J.  R.  Muir,  district 
manager  in  Vancouver  (B.  C.)  for 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corpora- 
tion stated  in  a  recent  interview  that 
bookings  are  now  being  made  for  a 
large  number  of  British  plays.  On 
being  questioned  if  British  pictures 
are  being  given  a  fair  show,  he  de- 
clared they  had  been  booking  as  many 
as  could  be  obtained,  but  found  it 
hard  to  procure  some  of  the  best  pic- 
tures when  desired.  He  emphatically 
stated  that  no  discrimination  was  be- 
ing made  by  them  against  British  pro- 
ductions. "The  Speckled  Band"  has 
just  finished  a  big  run  at  the  Domin- 
ion theatre. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lakeland  to  Witness 
Another  'Blue'  Battle 

Lakeland,  Fla. — Although  this  city 
won  an  election  on  Sunday  films  some 
time  ago  and  has  been  enjoying  them 
since,  the  opposition  are  out  to  stop 
them. 

A  petition  is  now  being  circulated 
calling  for  a  referendum  vote  on  the 
question,  and  should  they  get  the  re- 
quired number  of  registered  voters  to 
sign  their  names  on  the  dotted  line, 
another  election  will  be  called  and  the 
whole  thing  fought  out  again. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

United  Film  Ind.  Meet 

Financial  plans  for  exploitation  and 
development  of  the  Wolff-Heide  pro- 
cess and  color  film  patents  will  be  dis- 
cussed at  a  special  meeting  of  stock- 
holders of  the  United  Film  Industries, 
Inc.  The  confab  is  set  for  tomorrow 
at  the  Hotel  Roosevelt. 


Schiller  Sees 
Bright  Future 
Due  to  Product 


{Continued   from   page   1) 

W.  A.  Finney,  manager  of  the  Mid- 
western division  of  which  Cleveland 
was  a  part  have  been  constantly  in- 
creased so  that  his  headquarters  will 
be  moved  to  Columbus,  Schiller  stated. 
Fred  Desberg  is  remaining  here  in 
charge  of  the  Loew  interests  and  will 
have  additional  duties  which  will  take 
him  away  from  town  from  time  to 
time.  The  Cleveland  division  will  be 
headed  by  H.  M.  Addison,  who  has 
been  supervisor  of  Loew  houses  in 
Pittsburgh.  H.  H.  Maloney,  who  has 
been  city  supervisor  here  will  be 
promoted  to  management  of  one  of 
in  the  circuit's  larger  eastern  theatres. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Lichtman  Confirms 
Peace  Pact  With  Fox 

{Continued   from   page   1) 

tion  protesting  against  alleged  unfair- 
ness in  the  matter  of  rentals,  a  state- 
ment which  drew  fire  from  Harley  L. 
Clarke,  Fox  president,  who  issued  a 
sharp  rejoinder  criticising  the  pulling 
power  of   U.   A.   stars. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Hoffberg  Closes  Deal 

Latin  Productions,  Ltd.  of  Holly- 
wood has  concluded  a  deal  with  the 
J.  H.  Hoffberg  Co.,  Inc.,  for  the 
world's  distribution  of  all  its  Spanish 
dialogue  pictures.  The  first  picture 
completed  is  a  feature  "Campanas  de 
Capistrano"  and  two  two-reel  com- 
edies, "El  Zapatero  Feliz"  and  "Ser- 
enata." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

German  Exports  Big 

Washington  —  With  exports  five 
times  greater  than  imports,  the  most 
favorable  trade  balance  is  shown  by 
German  producers,  according  to  ad- 
vices to  the  Motion  Picture  Division 
of  the  Department  of  Commerce. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Complete  Merger  Deal 

Plans  for  the  merger  of  Columbia 
Gramaphone,  Ltd.,  and  the  Columbia 
Graphaphone  Co.,  Ltd.,  have  been 
completed. 


British  Favored 

Toronto — After  putting  up 
the  bars  against  gangster 
pictures  from  the  United 
States  with  complete  effec- 
tiveness, Ontario  Censors  have 
apparently  let  down  the  bars 
to  British  pictures,  it  is 
claimed.  There  has  been 
some  talk  in  film  trade  circles 
in  Toronto  regarding  the  ap- 
parent laxity  of  the  Ontario 
Censors  in  dealing  with 
British  films.  "Uneasy  Vir- 
tue," recently  given  first  run 
at  the  Tivoli,  is  held  up  as  an 
example  of  what  "might 
pass"  if — . 


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12 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August   II,    1931 


No  Quarter 
In  Chi  Fight, 
Exhibs  Aver 


(.Continued   from   page    1) 

plane  yesterday.  Meanwhile,  Tom 
Maloy,  boss  of  the  union  and  storm 
center  of  the  present  fight  and  the 
recent  investigation,  returned  from 
conferences  in  New  York  with  Wil- 
liam Canavan,  head  of  the  stage  em- 
ployes and  operators  union,  who  is 
said  to  be  in  accord  with  Alaloy  on 
his  two  operator  edict. 

It  is  reported  that  the  state's  at- 
torney's office  would  be  willing  to 
quash  the  conspiracy  indictments 
against  Maloy  and  others  if  Maloy 
will  abdicate  his  union  office  and  the 
second  man  in  the  booth-  is  elimi- 
nated. This  report,  however,  is  de- 
nied by  LounsbUry,  who  admitted, 
however,  that  yesterday's  conferences 
sought  some  solution  which  would 
permit  reopening  of  the  theatres, 
which  went  under  armed  guard  yes- 
terday. 

The  theatres  closed  Sunday  night 
and  as  soc«i  as  the  last  reels  were 
run  off  the  employes  were  paid  and 
told  not  to  come  back  until  further 
notice.  Where  a  week's  advance  no- 
tice had  not  been  given  the  union 
operators  were  given  an  extra  week's 
pay  in  lieu  thereof,  but  most  of  them 
had  been  told  a  week  ago  that  they 
would  be  out  of  jobs  unless  their 
union  officials  yielded. 

William  Canavan  could  not  be 
reached  for  a   statement. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Mickey  Wins  Poll 

Hollywood  —  Mickey  Mouse  won 
top  honors  as  Austria's  most  popular 
film  star,  polling  70,000  votes,  40,000 
more  than  his  nearest  competitor, 
Emil  Jannings  in  a  recent  popularity 
referendum  in  Vienna,  according  to 
advices  just  received  by  the  Walt 
Disney    Studios    from    England. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW    . 

New  Contract  for  Dunn 

James  Dunn's  old  contract  with  Fox 
Films,  signed  only  a  few  months  ago, 
has  been  discarded  and  a  new  one  for 
a  much  longer  period  has  been  given 
to  him.  Dunn's  work  in  "Bad  Girl" 
opposite  Sally  Filers  led  to  the  new 
contract. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Named  Secretary 

Des  Moixes — W.  E.  Banford,  man- 
ager for  M-G-M  will  act  as  secretary 
of  the  DesMoines  Film  Board  of 
Trade.  The  office  in  the  Old  Colony 
Building  was  closed  and  Miss  Foley, 
secretary  of  the  Film  Board,  return- 
ed to  her  home  at  Omaha.  Banford, 
who  has  been  out  of  town  since  the 
notification  of  his  selection  for  the 
secretarial  office,  has  not  yet  outlined 
the  duties  of  his  office. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Kay  Hammond  Signed 

Hollywood  —  Kay  Hammond  has 
been  signed  by  Tiffany  to  play  the 
leading  feminine  role  opposite  Leo 
Carrillo  in  the  star's  second  Cruze 
Special,  titled  "Racetrack."  Junior 
Coghlan  has  also  been  cast  for  an 
important  role. 


Theatre  Sale  Forced 

Minneapolis — Publix  was  forced  to  sell  its  Lyndale  here  to 
William  R.  Frank,  after  the  latter  enlisted  the  aid  of  merchants 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  theatre  to  agitate  for  its  reopening.  Publix 
was  keeping  the  house  dark,  but  when  the  merchants  appealed 
to  the  city  council,  Frank  was  promised  a  license  in  case  he  built 
a  new  theatre  in  the  vicinity,  in  which  event  Publix  would  be 
refused  renewal  of  the  Lyndale  license.  That  decided  Publix  to 
sell  to  Frank. 


Loew's  Gets  Warner 
Opposition  at  Newark 

Fortifying  itself  against  any  opposi- 
tion that  may  arise  between  its  com- 
pany- or  affiliated  units,  Loew's  is 
branching  out  in  New  Jersey.  Reports 
were  current  that  the  company  yes- 
terday signed'  contracts  for  acquisition 
of. the  Ellwood  theatre  at  Newark. 
The  house  was  originally  built  by 
Charles  Robinson  and  has  been  oper- 
ated by  the  owner  to  whom  Robinson 
turned  the  house  over. 

While  there  are  reports  current 
again  that  it's  an  off  again  on  again 
Finnegan  affair  between  Warners  and 
M-G-M,  the  Ellwood  is  situated  be- 
tween the  Capitol,  Bellevue,  and  the 
Regent,  Newark,  both  Warner  houses. 

The  circuit  now  operates  three 
housfes  in  New  Jersey,  the  State,  New- 
ark ;.  Lyric,  Hoboken,  and  Jersey,  Jer- 
sey City. 

Efforts  to  reach  Col.  E.  A.  Schiller 
of  Loew's  yesterday  for  verification  of 
the  Ellwood  deal,  were  unsuccessful. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Loew  Theatres  In 
Canada  Prospering 

Toronto — According  to  announce- 
ment by  Alarcus  Loew's  Theatres, 
Limited,  operating  Loew's  Theatre, 
business  for  the  first  half  of  1931 
showed  a  substantial  increase  over  the 
corresponding  period  of  1930.  A  profit 
is  reported  for  each  month  so  far  this 
year.  Last  year  the  Toronto  house 
was  presenting  vaudeville  and  pic- 
tures. The  same  situation  is  reported 
by  Loew's  London  Limited  which  op- 
erates the  Loew  house  in  London,  On- 
tario. They  are  affiliated  with  Loew's, 
Inc. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Fox  Signs  Morgan 

Ralph  IVforgan,  Theatre  Guild  actor 
who  was  featured  for  two  years  in 
"Strange  Interlude,"  has  been  signed 
to  a  contract  by  Fox.  Morgan  leaves 
New  York  Wednesday  by  motor  and 
will  report  to  the  studios  September 
1.  He  will  be  accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  daughter. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Shooting  Second 

Hollywood — Weiss  Brothers  Art- 
class  now  is  shooting  "Pleasure,"  the 
second  picture  of  its  new  series.  In 
the  cast  are  Conway  Tearle.  Carmel 
Myers,  Roscoe  Karns,  Lina  Bas- 
quette,  Frances  Dade  and  Paul  Page. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

2  a  Month  from  Peerless 

Release  schedule  of  two  pictures  a 
month  is  planned  by  Peerless  Produc- 
tions, whose  first  two  films,  "Sal- 
vaged" and  "Lovebound,"  will  be  re- 
leased  in   September. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW  ■ 

Gets  Epics  Territory 

Minneapolis — A.  L.  Huston  has 
taken  over  distribution  of  Talking 
Picture    Epics    in    this    territory. 


Stage  Show  Breaks 
Tampa  House  Record 

Tampa — The  Seminole,  a  neighbor- 
hood house  on  North  Florida  avenue, 
operated  by  Publix,  opened  a  second 
edition  of  their  Seminole  Vanities  yes- 
terday and  it  established  a  new  high 
record,  breaking  their  former  record 
of  the  first  edition. 

Charles  Kirkconnel,  the  manager, 
staged  their  reviews  and  they  proved 
so  successful  that  the  first  edition  was 
brought  down-town  to  the  Victory  for 
a  run  after  the  Seminole  showing,  and 
Kirkconnel  said  the  second  edition 
would  also  be  presented  at- the  Victory 
following  its  run  at  the  Seminole.  The 
show  has  a  cast  of  25  people. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Pee  Wee  Golf  Sits  Up 
And  Takes  Notice 

Tampa — Small-time  golf,  which  has 
been  on  its  back  and  hasn't  the  heart 
to  look  up,  has  opened  its  eyes  and 
gazing  skyward  again,  and  all  on  ac- 
count of  some  heavy  night  play  it  has 
been  getting  lately. 

For  40  odd  days  the  mercury  has 
stuck  around  92  and  the  nights  have 
been  rather  sultry  too.  This  forces  the 
people  onto  the  streets  and  as  it  does 
not  take  much  exertion  to  push  the 
pills  around,  many  drop  in  for  a 
coupla  punts.  All  of  which  seems  to 
account  for  the  new  life  given  the 
tiny  links. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

More  Pee  Wees  Fold 

Des  Moines — Two  miniature  golf 
courses  which  were  groomed  for  sum- 
mer business  have  abandoned  the  ef- 
fort and  left  two  near  downtown 
courses  to  fight  it  out.  But  two 
courses  have  applied  and  paid  for  lic- 
enses at  the  City  Hall.  Several  other 
courses  are  making  intermittent  ef- 
forts to  catch  the  trade  on  Saturday 
nights.  But  so  light  has  been  their 
business  that  city  officials  have  not 
urged  them  further  about  payment  on 
license  fees. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Blank  Opens  Another 

Des  Moines — The  Central  States 
Theatres,  operated  by  A.  H.  Blank, 
have  announced  the  opening  of  the 
Iowa  Theatre  at  Fort  Dodge  on  Aug- 
ust 22  with  Jess  Day  as  manager.  The 
Iowa  was  purchased  several  months 
ago  by  the  Central  States  Theatres 
but  it  has  been  closed  for  the  summer. 
The  theatre  has  been  improved 
throughout. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Burned  in  Booth  Fire 

Falls  City.  Neb. — Fire  in  the 
booth  of  the  Electric  Theatre  caused 
damage  estimated  at  $3,000.  Harry 
Pecht,  operator,  escaped  with  slight 
burns.  The  house  was  filled  at  the 
time  of  the  fire,  but  the  audience  left 
quietly. 


W.B.-F.N.  Goes 
After  Novel 
Photo  Slants 


S.  Charles  Einfeld 


Warners-First  National  publicity 
department  under  the  supervision  of 
S.  Charles  Einfeld  is  stepping  out  of 
the  ordinary  routine  for  furnishing 
magazine  and  newspaper  editors  with 
photographs  of 
its  stars.  The 
departure  is 
costing  plenty 
of  money,  but 
W.  B.-F.  N.  of- 
ficials feel  it  is 
well  worth 
while. 

Marion 
Marsh's  arrival 
in  New  York 
yesterday  from 
the  Coast,  which 
was  preceded 
last  week  by 
Hubert  Voight, 
head  of  the  stu- 
dio publicity  department  and  Elmer 
Fryer,  in  charge  of  the  photographic 
department  on  the  Coast,  is  for  the 
express  purpose  of  posing  for  pic- 
tures. While  here  Miss  Marsh  will 
be  photographed  in  front  of  various 
skyscrapers  and  other  unusual  shots 
as  well  as  in  the  various  fall  styles 
now  being  shown  by  the  department  . 
stores.  The  latter  will  give  the  War- 
nerites  a  four-month  jump  on  the 
Coast  studios,  it  is  said.  This  is  only 
one  instance  in  which  the  new  plan 
is  being  worked. 

WTien  Miss  Marsh  returns  to  the 
Coast  two  weeks  hence.  Fryer  will 
accompany  her,  Voight  will  stay  east 
to  accompany  Lil  Dagover  to  the  stu- 
dios, stopping  off  at  various  key  cities 
to  take  pictures.  Miss  Dagover  ar- 
rives from  abroad  August  24. 

Recently  Fryer  made  a  special  air- 
plane trip  with  Ruth  Hall,  a  new- 
comer being  groomed  by  the  company, 
to  Mt.  Whitney,  said  to  be  the  tallest 
mountain  in  the  United  States.  The 
300  mile  ride  was  made  expressly  for 
stills  which  were  shot  with  the  moun- 
tain as  a  background. 

Jack  L.  Warner  is  very  much  en- 
thused over  the  new  idea  and  has  set 
aside  stage  nine  at  the  studios  for  ex- 
clusive use  of  the  photographic  de- 
partment. A  revolving  stage  is  to  be 
built  with  four  sets  sectioned  off.  Con- 
siderable time  is  expected  to  be  saved 
by  the  four-set  studio,  one  set  to  be 
occupied  while  others  are  being  buijt. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

British  Canadian 

Imports  Doubled 

Toronto — Official  statistics  com- 
piled on  the  imports  of  British  films 
by  film  exchanges  of  Canada  during 
the  past  two  years  show  an  increase 
of  nearly  100  per  cent,  for  the  fis- 
cal year  ending  March  31  last.  The 
figures,  just  issued,  show  a  total  of 
1,068,543  feet  imported  from  Great 
Britain  during  the  12  months  ending 
last  March  as  compared  with  553,084 
feet  during  the  previous  year.  The 
figures  are  illuminating  in  view  of 
the  agitation  in  various  quarters  of 
Canada    for    more    British    pictures. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  62 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  12,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Fox   Breaks   Up   Circuit 


Rowland  Job  in 
NY-Hits  Coast 
Studio  Guesses 


Is  Irked  by  ''Ridiculous 
Rumor'*;  Lauds  Sheehan 

Richard  A.  Rowland's  job  as  a  vice- 
president  of  Fox  is  in  New  York  and 
any  statement  that  his  affihation  with 
the  company  in  a  general  executive 
capacity  means  a  Coast  studio  shake- 
up  is  "just  so  much  loose  talk,  manu- 
factured out  of  whole  cloth." 

Guessing  experts  got  busy  immedi- 
ately after  Rowland's  Fox  connection 
was  announced  and  rumors  were  cir- 
culated that  Rowland  would  go  to  the 
West  Coast  studio  in  what  probably 
would  mean  a  shake-up.    These  were 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

English  Dialogue 
Singapore's  Choice 

American  pictures  have  99  per  cent 
of  the  call  in  Bangkok  and  Singapore 
insofar  as  English  language  talkers 
are  concerned,  according  to  D.  S. 
Garden,  editor  of  Famous  Features 
Syndicate.  In  the  former  city  two 
houses  already  have  been  equipped  for 
sound  and  a  new  theatre  is  being 
erected  under  the  auspices  of  the  King 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Radio  Network 
With  Film  Affiliate 

San  Francisco  —  A  new  nation- 
wide radio  network,  with  a  film  com- 
pany affiliation  is  seen  here  with  the 
announcement  of  the  formation  of  the 
North  American  Broadcasting  Com- 
pany. The  new  network  is  planned 
to  embrace  all  the  western  states,  and 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Burr  to  Make  11 
Independent  Films 

HjoLLYWooD — C.  C.  Burr  will  make 
11  features  for  the  independent  state 
right  market  for  1931-32.  Five  of  the 
productions  will  star  Johnny  Hines. 
Burr  is  now  completing  the  Torchy 
s-vries  for  Educational. 


Another  Racy  Ban 

Hollywood  —  Paramount  is 
the  latest  to  join  the  list  of 
companies  against  sex  and 
sophistication.  B.  P.  Schul- 
berg  says  sex  is  through  in 
favor  of  "good  old  fashioned 
romance  and  heart  tug." 
Only  one  or  two  stars  will 
continue  in  sophisticated 
stories,  he  says. 

Fox  and  Radio  also  have 
gone  on  record  as  tabooing 
sex  and  sophisticated  stories 
in  the  future. 


1-Man  Policy 
Out,  William 
Canavan  Says 


T\vo-men-in-the-booth  edict  of  the 
Chicago  operators'  union,  which  is  the 
point  at  issue  in  the  Chicago  situation, 
has  the  full  support  of  William  Cana- 
van, president  of  the  International  Al- 
liance of  Theatrical  Stage  Employees. 
However,  he  points  out  that  the  fight 
is  being  handled  locally  by  the  Chi- 
cago union. 

Conferences    probably    will    decide 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Both  Sides  Stand 

Pat  in  Chi  Fight 

Chicago  —  Aaron  Saperstein  and 
Tom  Maloy  met  again  yesterday  fol- 
lowing the  failure  of  Monday's  con- 
ference between  states  attorneys  and 
labor  leaders.  Maloy  signified  will- 
ingness to  make  some  concessions  but 
stood  pat  on  the  demand  that  two  men 
remain  in  the  booth.  Saperstein,  on 
the    other    hand,    was    equally    deter- 

(Continued    on    page    2) 


Regional  Units  with  General  Manager 
In  Full  Charge  Is  New  Operation  Plan 

Fox  Theatres  is  abandoning  the  national  home  office  idea 
of  operation  in  favor  of  regional  units  which  will  be  operated 
as  separate  entities,  with  a  general  manager  in  complete 
charge  of  each  district,  which  will  be  the  approximate 
equivalent  of  the  territory  served  by  film  exchanges. 

This  decentralization  move  was  announced  yesterday  at 
a  meeting  of  district  managers  by  Harry  C.  Arthur,  general 
manager  of  the  circuit,  who  believes  the  new  system  will 
"set  a  new  standard  in  theatre  operation"  and  "result  in 
large  economies." 

"Under  the  new  plan,"  said  Arthur,  "every  theatre  will  be 
given  the  most  intensive  supervision.  Complete  responsi- 
bility will  be  placed  on  the  general  managers  who  in  most 
instances  will  be  within  a  few  hours  of  every  theatre  in 
their  territory.  The  result  of  this  will  be  very  largely  to 
decentralize  and  to  localize  theatre  groups.  In  many  in- 
stances those  local  interests  which  once  were  represented 
on  the  board  of  directors  and  who,  to  a  large  extent  still  are 
stockholders  of  the  subsidiary  exhibitor  companies  will  be 
invited  to  resume  that  contact. 

"The  new  arrangement  should  also 
prove  a  stimulus  to  all  producing  com- 
panies. Under  the  system  in  general 
use  heretofore,  district  managers  and 
theatre  managers  were  compelled  to 
use  whatever  pictures  were  made  by 
the  controlling  producer.  Under  de- 
centralized management,  studios  will 
be  stimulated  to  produce  more  pictures 
that   will   stand  on   their  own   merit." 

A  few  of  the  larger  theatres  classi- 
fied as  de  luxe  will  be  operated  as  sep- 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

U.  A.  Dickering 
With  Fox  in  N.Y. 

Following  completion  of  the  Fox 
West  Coast  booking  deal.  United 
Artists  now  is  dickering  with  Fo.x 
Metropolitan  circuit  for  its  complete 
line-up.  .'\bout  90  theatres  in  Greater 
New  York  are  embraced  in  the  deal. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Amusement  Stocks 
On  Upward  Swing 

Reversal  of  form  of  the  stock  ex- 
change yesterday  resulted  in  a  rise  of 
all  the  picture  stocks  except  General 
Theatres  which  continued  to  drop 
downward  to  a  new  record  low  of  |2 
a  share.     With  a  turnover  of  32,300 

(Continued    on    page    4) 


New  Dubbing 
Process  Held 
Foreign  Boon 


Hollywood — Solution  of  the  prob- 
lem of  foreign  language  versions  of 
American  talkers,  permitting  produc- 
tion of  versions  which,  so  far  as  talk- 
ing technique  is  concerned,  meet  the 
most  exacting  criticism  of  foreign 
audiences,  has  been  brought  about  by 
the  La  Veillier-Meyer  process,  states 
William  A.  Johnston,  writing  in  the 
Hollywood  Herald. 

He  terms  the  development  the  most 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Open  Houses  Getting  Break 

Chicago— Though  not  capitalizing  the  situation  which  forced 
the  closing  of  107  independent'  theatres,  circuit  and  affiliated 
houses  are  remaining  open  and  doing  tremendous  business,  par- 
ticularly at  night  in  neighborhoods  and  suburbs  where  closings 
predominate,  and  theatres  remaining  open  serve  large  territories 
alone. 

Waiting  lines  have  been  in  evidence  at  outlying  theatres  but 
the  open  houses  are  making  no  bid  for  this  business  by  increased 
advertising  or  any  departure  from  normal.  The  closed  theatres 
have  made  a  big  dip  in  the  advertising  revenues  of  the  local 
dailies. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   August    12,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.    Patent  Office 

Formerly   Exhibitors   Daily    Review 

and   Motion   Pictures    Today 


\  ol.  30 


August   li.   1931 


No.  6. 


Martin  Quiglev 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
Advertising    Manager 


^•\r\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
^  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V«l^  Daily,   Inc.,   a   Quigley    Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
••Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H,  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  S-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,  under  Act  of   March  3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  tne  United  States  ana 
Canada;  foreign  $15.      Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Botsford  Succeeds 
To  Rowland  Post 


A.  M.  Botsford  is  succeeding  Rich- 
ard A.  Rowland  as  head  of  the  Para- 
mount story  board.  Rowland  re- 
signed to  become  a  vice  president  of 
Fox.  Paramount's  story  board,  con- 
sisting of  five  members,  was  inaugu- 
rated last  spring.  Arthur  Mayer,  su- 
pervisor for  Publix  in  the  Middle 
West,  replaces  Botsford  as  director 
of  Publicity  and  advertising  for  Pub- 
lix. L.  J.  Ludwig  is  succeeding  him. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Pearl  Returns  After 
Closing  Deals  Abroad 

After  successfully  completing  deals 
for  distribution  of  all  Tec  Art's  prod- 
uct for  the  new  season  in  London, 
France,  Egypt  and  other  foreign  coun- 
tries, Dick  Pearl,  sales  manager  for 
Al  Mannon,  has  returned  from  abroad. 
He  will  stay  in  New  York  for  a 
month  winding  up  details  of  the  deals 
and  then  leave  for  the  Coast. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Madison  Showman 
Wins  RKO  Honors 

John  Scharnberg,  manager  of  the 
RKO  Orpheum  and  RKO  Capitol,  of 
Madison,  Wis.,  is  the  honor  man  for 
July  of  the  RKO  circuit.  For  mak- 
ing the  best  showing  in  showmanship 
and  salesmanship  during  July  he  is 
to  be  rewarded  by  Joseph  Plunkett 
with  a  trip  to  the  Mediterranean  and 
return  for  himself  and  his  wife;  a 
month's  salary,  and  a  month's  vaca- 
tion. Scharnberg's  percentage  was 
396.30  per  cent. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Day  and  Date  Columbia's 

".-\rizona"  and  "The  Miracle  Wom- 
an." two  of  the  final  productions  in 
Columbia's  1930-31  line-up,  will  pre- 
miere day  and  date  on  Broadway  on 
August  14th,  when  the  former  opens 
at  the  Strand  and  the  latter  at  the 
Mayfair. 


Both  Sides 
Stand  Pat  in 
Chicago  Fight 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

mined,  saying  that  closings  were  made 
to  eliminate  one  man  and  no  other 
solution  would  be  considered.  States 
Attorney  John  Swanson  announced 
his  readiness  to  act  as  concilator  fol- 
lowing the  failure  of  yesterday's  meet- 
ing. 

Present  at  the  meeting  in  addition 
to  Swanson  were  Prosecutors  Charles 
Lounsbury  and  Bellows,  John  Fitz- 
patrick,  president  of  Chicago  Federa- 
tion of  Labor,  Patrick  Sullivan,  head 
of  Building  Trades  Council,  Alder- 
man Oscar  Nelson,  vice  president  of 
Chicago  Federation  of  Labor  and  At- 
torney Benjamin  Feldman,  represent- 
ing the  Union. 

On  Monday  Saperstein  and  his  com- 
mittee endeavored  to  see  Mayor  Cer- 
mak  to  ask  action  on  revocation  of 
operators'  permits  issued  by  Joe  Ma- 
loy,  and  also  protection  for  closed 
theatres,  but  failed,  it  was  said,  due 
to  the  mayor's  absence.  States  At- 
torney gave  closed  theatres  police 
protection  which  is  augmented  by  pri- 
vate guards  stationed  at  projection 
booths. 

Saperstein  was  also  to  ask  the 
Mayor  for  Maloy's  removal  froin  city 
office  of  Examiner  of  Operators  but 
dropped  this  angle  when  it  was  learned 
that  the  corporation  counsel's  ofhce, 
acting  on  States  Attorney's  recom- 
mendation has  completed  preparation 
of  civil  service  charges  against  Malqy, 
and  these  are  now  awaiting  signature 
of  William  JacksoUj^  Commissioner  of 
Gas  and  Electricity,  and  head  of  Ma- 
loy's department.  The  charges  were 
sent  to  Jackson  after  they  had  been 
presented  to  the  Mayor. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Opening  Set  Back 

Publix  has  postponed  opening  of 
the  Paramount,  Newark,  from  August 
28  to  September  4.  Alterations  being 
made  at  the  house  are  responsible  for 
the  new  opening  date. 


"The  Shifr 

(Universal) 
Universal  has  made  an  au- 
spicious start  in  the  Christy 
Walsh  Notre  Dame  series  dedi- 
cated to  the  late  Knute  Rockne. 
In  this,  the  Notre  Dame  squad 
goes  through  a  number  of  shifts 
used  by  various  Universities. 
The  Southern  California,  Min- 
nesota, Notre  Dame,  New  York 
University,  Dartmouth  and  West 
Virginia  shifts  are  among  those 
shown.  It's  highly  interesting 
and  this  series  should  prove 
popular.  "Hunk"  Anderson, 
who  succeeded  Rockne  at  the 
South  Bend  school  explains  the 
plavs. 

HYNES 


Revival  Week  Set 
By  Harry  Charnas 

Harry  Charnas,  general  manager 
of  Warner  Bros.  Metropolitan  thea- 
tres, has  completed  his  schedule  of 
revivals  to  be  shown  at  the  Warner 
theatre,  beginning  Friday.  The  re- 
vival season  is  to  last  two  weeks  and 
will  have  a  change  of  bill  daily. 

The  schedule  for  the  first  week  is  as 
follows :  Friday — "Son  of  the  Gods," 
with  Richard  Barthelmess  and  Con- 
stance Bennett ;  Saturday — "Gold  Dig- 
gers of  Broadway,"  with  Winnie  Light- 
ner,  Conway  Tearle,  Ann  Penning- 
ton and  Nick  Lucas;  Sunday — "Dis- 
raeli," with  George  Arliss ;  Monday — 
"On  With  the  Show,"  with  Betty 
Compson,  Sally  O'Neil  and  Joe  E. 
Brown  ;  Tuesday — "Noah's  Ark,"  with 
Dolores  Costello,  George  O'Brien  and 
Noah  Beery  ;  Wednesday — "General 
Crack,"  with  John  Barrymore  and 
.\rmida  ;  Thursday — "Weary  River," 
with  Richard  Barthelmess  and  Betty 
Compson. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Jensen  Leaves  to 
Start  Patrician  List 

Hollywood  —  Emil  Jensen  is  en 
route  from  New  York  to  start  work 
on  the  first  of  the  eight  pictures  plan- 
ned by  Patrician  Pictures.  The  initial 
effort  will  be  "Thirty  Days"  and  will 
go  into  work  at  the  Tec  Art  studios 
next  week. 


Entire  Stock  Market  Rallies 

Net 

_         ,, ,  High  Low  Close  Change 

Consolidated    I'llm    Industries 7^  7'A  7^        -^-  Vs 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 144^  14  14f^        -\-  Vi 

Eastman     Kodak 142^  13454  1401/^        +61^ 

Fox    Filn,    "A"..  13/,  w/g        12%  +  Y, 

(.eneral   Theatre    Equipment   new 2!^  2  2  —  Vi 

Loew's,    Inc 46^  45  46i/'        -|-2 

Paramount    Publix 24  22^        2iVt.        H-l!^ 

Pathe    Exchange 1^  1^  \y^ 

Ty^}\^  Exchange  "A" .";:::;;  s^     s^     s/^    '.'...'. 

?KO 14^8        13H        WA        +  .)4 

V\arner    Bros 7^4        7  TA        -\-  Yi 

Curb  Issues. Also  Show  Gain 

Net 
High      Low      Close      Change 

Fox    Theatres    "A"... 2/,  2^  2/,        -\-  V» 

(.eneral    Theatre    Equipment    pfd V/t  SH  ^Vs        +  Vi 

Sentry    Safety    Control 7^  ^  H        -^  Ys 

Trans    T.ux 5  4^  47^        _  i^ 

Bond  List  Rallies;  W,  B.  Up  3% 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

(.eneral   Theatre   Equipment  6s   '40 2QYi        195-8        20!^        -f  Yi 

Keith    B.    F.    6s    '46 67  67  67 

Locw's   6s    '41    ex   war 9314        93  ggi^        4I  "j^ 

Paramount    Broadway   554s  '51 102J4  102"^  102^        -f-1 

Paramount    F.    L.   6s    '47 89^:$        87  891^        +2)4 

Paramount    Puhhx   5j4s,   '50 79H        77  79!4        -|-2M 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 94  92%  94  -|-1 

Warner   Bros.   6s    '39   wd 47}^  44  AlYi        -\-W» 


Sales 

300 

400 

6,900 

21,100 

32.400 

7,700 

11.000 

100 

100 

5.700 

5,300 


Sales 

1,500 

1,800 

100 

1,300 


Sales 

18 
5 
5 
11 
16 
29 
28 
27 


^Purely 
Personal, 


*<  Timmy"  (Montgomery)  Ashcraft, 
»J  veteran  showman  and  roadshow 
operator,  has  joined  the  United  Art- 
ists exploitation  force.  He  will  make 
his  headquarters  in  Chicago. 

D.  Orville  Wolever.  projectionist 
at  the  Regent,  downtown  Publix 
Rochester  house,  made  the  public 
prints  in  an  heroic  role  after  rescuing 
three  families  from  a  $15,000  fire 
which  all  but  laid  waste  the  summer 
colony  of  Island  Cottage  on  Lake 
Ontario. 

Wolever,  who  is  spending  the  sum- 
mer at  the  resort,  returned  from  work 
4  a.m.,  to  find  three  houses  in  flames. 
He  awoke  the  sleeping  occupants  and 
helped  them  to  safety. 

Alf  Gouldinc  has  started  produc- 
tion of  a  Booth  Tarkington  series  of 
Penrod  and  Sam  Juvenile  shorts.  The 
first  is  "Snake's  Alive"  which  Gould- 
ing  put   in   work   yesterday. 

Paul  Burcek  has  become  an  air- 
plane enthusiast  and  is  doing  most 
of  his  traveling  by  the  air  route.  His 
next  trip  will  be  to  Baltimore. 

Patsy  Rels,  Howard  Dietz's  secre- 
tary, has  returned  from  a  trip  to  the 
Coast  where  she  got  the  inside  dope 
on   production. 

Dick  Pearl,  sales  manager  for  Al 
Mannon,  has  returned  from  abroad. 
He  leaves  for  the  Coast  in  a  month. 

Charles  O'Reilly  and  Louis  Gel- 
ler  take  possession  of  the  Palace,  Jer- 
sey City,  on  Sept.  1. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Agfa  Pays  Dividend 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Agfa 
company  of  Germany  held  in  Berlin 
recently,  it  was  decided  to  pay  a  ten 
per  cent  dividend  for  the  fiscal  year 
ended  December  31,  1930,  similar  to 
the  preceding  year.  An  increase  of 
capital  up  to  $360,000  was  also  ap- 
proved. The  board  was  re-elected  and 
completed  by  the  nomination  of  Herr 
Felix  Drucker-Bronn. 

The  net  profit  amounted  to  $18,336 
and  the  sum  brought  forward  from 
last  year  was  $17,903.  This  year,  after 
payment  of  $14,400  dividend  and  in- 
crease of  the  reserve  fund,  it  is  ex- 
pected that  $19,600  will  be  carried 
forward. 


Sfudio    and    Location 
Sound  on  Rhn  Recording 

Low   Daily   or   Waeliy    Ra««t 
Powers  Cinopkon*  Equipmant  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE..  N.  Y.     BRyanf  9-6067 


SOUND  MOVIOLA 

and   Expert   Assistance 

available   per  day  or  week 

DU-ART 
FILM    LABORATORIES,    Inc. 

245  W.  55th  St.,  N.  Y.  C. 
Phone:   Col.    5-4907 


// 


REAL  GOOD  MELODRAAAA 


HUSBANDS 


Current  RKO-Mayfair,  N.  Y., 
RKO-Albee,  Brooklyn  and 
heading  lickety-split  for 
other  key  city  premieres ! 

ISiATIONAL  ao  CAMPAIGN 
BEHiniD  IT.  GET  ABOARD 
mow  AND  GIVE  IT  A    RIDE! 

EVELYN  BRENT 

HUGH  HERBERT  FRANK  ALBERTSON 

CONSTANCE  CUMMINGS       DOROTHY  PETERSON 
DIRECTED  BY  PAUL  SLOANE 


I  V  f^  E     I IX  •    "RKO  Theatre  of  the  Air"  N.  B.  C.  Coast  to  Coast  Network  Every  Friday  Night,  10:30  P.  M.  New  York  Time 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   Augusf    12,    1931 


Rowland  Job  in 
N.Y.-Hits  Coast 
Studio  Guesses 


(Coiifi'iiiifd   from   payc    1) 

augmented — or  aggravated — yesterday 
when  a  Coast  report  was  printed  stat- 
ing that  Harley  L.  Clarke  plans  to 
shift  Rowland  to  Hollywood  as  the 
first  step  in  a  clean-out  of  the  Fox 
production  staff.  There  were  allega- 
tions of  dissatisfaction  with  Winfield 
Sheehan's  regime  to  give  color  to  the 
story. 

"Ridiculous,"  said  Rowland  last 
night  to  Motion  Picture  Daily.  "I 
am  positive  that  such  an  idea  is  furth- 
est from  Mr.  Clarke's  thoughts.  Mr. 
Sheehan  is  one  of  the  industry's  most 
capable  production  executives  and 
couldn't  be  bettered.  There  are  some 
people  who  are  always  starting  a  lot 
of  rumors  to  cause  discontent." 

In  addition,  there  is  Rowland's  aver- 
sion to  jobs  in  Hollywood,  the  veteran 
executive  having  fought  shy  of  them 
for  the  last  ten  years. 

Clarke  could  not  be  reached  for  a 
statement,  but  Rowland  said  he  was 
confident  that  the  Fox  president  would 
emphatically  deny  the  Coast  report 
when  it  is  brought  to  his  attention. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Loew  Not  Cutting 
Organists — Sidney 

Columbus — Louis  K.  Sidney,  ex- 
ecutive of  the  Loew  production  de- 
partment, in  a  letter  to  Russell  Bovin, 
manager,  Loew's  Ohio,  spikes  a  recent 
rumor  to  the  effect  that  the  circuit 
would  dispense  with  all  organists. 
"There  is  no  truth  in  the  statement. 
Pay  no  attention  to  such  stories"  is 
quoted  from  Sidney's  communication. 
Bill  Dalton,  feature  organist,  at  the 
Ohio,  has  just  been  signed  for  another 
year. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Record  Ad  Boost 

CixcixxATi — On  opening  day  of 
current  attractions,  RKO  increased 
its  total  display  advertising  to  a  sum- 
mer record  of  approximately  7,200 
lines  in  three  local  dailies,  of  which 
3,400  lines  were  used  for  regular  group 
advertisements  prepared  locally,  and 
3.800  lines  represented  syndicated  copy 
on  "Politics." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Leases  York  Houses 

York,  Neb. — Lester  Rush  of  Nev- 
ada, la.,  who  recently  purchased  the 
York  and  Sun  theatres  has  leased  both 
houses  to  W.  H.  Cochran,  formerly  of 
Wood  River,  Nebr.  Rush  is  secre- 
tary of  Allied  in  Iowa.  He  owns  three 
other  houses. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Chrissis  Gets  Site 

Chicago — Title  to  the  store  proper- 
ty at  5038  West  Madison  Street  has 
been  acquired  by  D.  J.  Chrissis,  dis- 
trict manager  of  Warner  theatres. 
Brokers  deny  knowledge  of  plans  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  theatre  on  the 
site,  which  is  now  occupied  by  a  chain 
grocery. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Ralston  Gives  Birth 

Holly wriOD  —  Esther  Ralston,  wife 
of  George  Webb,  yesterday  gave  birth 
to  an  eight-pound  daughter. 


Fox  Breaks 
Up  Circuit 
Into  Units 


(Continued   f"'"   tKilf    1) 

arate  units.  Practically  all  of  the  ex- 
cessive cost  of  the  home  office  will  be 
eliminated  immediately.  Fox  says. 
Henceforth  the  home  office  will  have 
more  to  do  with  service  than  with 
operation.  The  general  managers  will 
be  responsible  directly  to  the  board  of 
directors  of  each  local  company. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

English  Dialogue 
Singapore's  Choice 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

which  will  be  opened  coincident  with 
the    150th    anniversary   of    Bangkok. 

There  are  also  two  houses  in 
Singapore  equipped  for  sound,  one  re- 
frigerated and  so  constructed  that  the 
roof  may  be  slid  back  in  pleasant 
weather.  American  talkers  are  well 
received  due  to  the  fact  that  English 
is  the  semi-official  language  of  the 
country  and  is  taught  in  all  the 
schools. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

G-M  Developes  New 
Cell  Coupling  Cable 

A  new  cell  coupling  cable  for  use 
in  sound  equipment  has  been  developed 
by  G-M  Laboratories,  Inc.,  which  as- 
serts that  it  has  five  times  the  capacity 
reactance  of  standard  microphone 
cable.  The  use  of  this  cable  reduces 
the  attenuation  of  high  frequencies, 
resulting  in  increased  brilliancy  of  re- 
production, says  G-M. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Levine  Starting  Serial 

Nat  Levine,  president  of  Mascot 
Pictures  Corp.  and  Director  B. 
Reaves  (Breezy)  Eason  have  com- 
pleted casting  for  "The  Galloping 
Ghost"  at  the  Tec-Art  Studios.  Har- 
old E.  (Red)  Grange,  known  to  mil- 
lions of  football  fans  as  "The  Gal- 
loping Ghost"  of  the  gridiron  heads 
the  cast  which  includes  Dorothy  Gul- 
liver, Walter  Miller,  Gwen  Lee, 
Francis  X.  Bushman,  Jr.,  Theodore 
Lorch,  Tom  London,  Eddie  Hearn, 
Ernie  Adams,  Tom  Dugan,  Frank 
Brownlee,  Connie  Grouse,  Edward 
Piel,  Sr.,  George  McGrill,  Bert 
Goodrich,  and  Stepin  Fetchit. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Makes  Hurried  Trip 

Sylvia  Sidney  has  gone  to  Holly- 
wood, but  will  return  to  New  York 
in  time  for  the  world  premiere  of 
King  Vidor's  production  of  "Street 
Scene,"  which  opens  at  the  Rivoli 
August  27. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Three  Years  for  Bandit 

Ha.milton-,  O. — A  youth  bound  over 
to  the  grand  jury  on  charge  of  having 
held  up  the  Publix-Palace  box  office 
and  obtaining  around  $100,  changed 
his  plea  to  guilty  in  common  pleas 
court  and  was  sentenced  to  three  years 
in  the  state  reformatory. 


Amusement  Stocks 
On  Upward  Swing 


(Continued   from    fope    1) 

shares.  General  Theatres  was  the 
tenth  most  active  stock  on  the  board, 
indicating  a  continuance  of  recent 
selling. 

Eastman  Kodak  was  the  leader  on 
the  upside,  closing  more  than  6  points 
higher  at  140>^.  Wall  Street  antici- 
pated action  taken  on  the  Paramount 
dividend  and  that  stock  responded 
readily  to  the  general  improvement, 
closing  at  23^,  up  \y&.  Fox  gained 
one-half  point  on  a  heavy  turnover, 
while  fractional  gains  also  were  made 
by  Warners  and  Consolidated  Films. 
Loew's  moved  up  2  points. 

Gains  made  by  Warner  Brothers 
convertible  6s  and  Paramount  issues 
featured  the  trading  in  amusement 
bonds. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Make  First  Run  of 
Rochester  Century 

Rochester,  N.  Y. — Suddenly  shift- 
ing its  policy,  Publix  has  revamped 
its  2,200-seat  Century,  downtown 
house,  into  a  first-run  theatre  and 
launched  a  series  of  first-string  films 
in  effort  to  revive  the  house's  former 
popularity. 

Publix,  after  closing  the  3,200-seat 
Eastman  when  the  house  ran  into  a 
hole  and  pulled  the  city  average  down, 
focused  on  the  Regent,  off  center  from 
the  theatre  district.  The  Century 
stood  them  up  for  the  first  weekend 
with  Chevalier  in  "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Construction  Starts 
On  Biggest  Theatre 

Plans  have  been  filed  for  the  largest 
of  the  Radio  City  theatres  which  will 
have  a  seating  capacity  of  6,049.  This 
is  to  be  the  tenth  unit  of  the  Rocke- 
feller-Radio City  development  and 
will  be  known  as  the  International 
Music  Hall. 

Plans  call  for  a  30  story  office  build- 
ing to  be  erected  on  the  west  half  of 
the  block  bounded  by  Fifth  and  Sixth 
avenues.  Fiftieth  and  Fifty-first  streets. 
Estimated  cost  is  set  at  $7,000,000. 
Excavation  is  already  under  way. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cast  Opposite  Sterling 

Aileen  Cook,  musical  comedy  in- 
genue, has  been  engaged  by  Para- 
mount to  appear  opposite  Ford  Ster- 
ling in  "Twenty  Horses,"  second  of 
the  Sterling  two-reelers  being  made 
at  Paramount's  New  York  studio 
under  the  direction  of  Al  Ray. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Free  Until  Needed 

Although  now  on  the  Coast,  Dis- 
trict Attorney  Grain  yesterday  asked 
surrender  of  John  C.  Flinn  and  Henry 
F.  Lally  in  connection  with  the  Pathe 
studio  fire  case.  Supreme  Court  Jus- 
tice Dore  permitted  their  freedom  for 
the  present  under  $7,500  bail. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Reopens  Friday 

Preparations  for  the  reopening  of 
the  Hollywood  Theatre,  New  York, 
on  Friday  with  Constance  Bennett  in 
"Bought"  have  been  going  on  all  week. 
The  house  is  being  gone  over  very 
thoroughly  by  painters  and  cleaners 
and  being  air  conditioned  for  the  fall 
and  winter   season. 


1-Man  Policy 
Out,  William 
Canavan  Says 

(Continued   fron,   puye    1) 

the  Chicago  difficulty  for  the  two 
sides  won't  get  anywhere  making 
faces  at  each  other,  "but  it  never  will 
be  decided  on  a  one-man-in-the-booth 
basis,"  Canavan  predicted.  If  it  is,  he 
said,  he  would  be  inclined  to  revoke 
the  charter  of  the  Chicago  union. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Radio  Network 
With  Film  Affiliate 

(^Continued   from   page   1) 

it  is  said,  will  feature  film  favorites. 
Later,  it  is  expected,  the  network  will 
branch  out  eastward.  KNX,  Los  An- 
geles, is  the  key  station.  RKO  is  an 
affiliate  of  National  Broadcasting  and 
Paramount  owns  50  per  cent  t)f  the 
Columbia  Broadcasting  System. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Warner  Houses  Book 
Nat  Levine  Serials 

Bernard  Mills  of  Standard  Film 
Exchanges,  Albany,  has  booked  the 
entire  Warner  circuit  in  his  territory 
for  "The  Vanishing  Legion,"  Mascot's 
first  serial  of  the  season.  Mills  points 
out  that  this  sale  marks  a  revolution- 
ary change  in  the  Warner  Bros,  atti- 
cluded  in  the  deal  will  play  "The 
tude  toward  serials  as  all  theatres  in- 
Vanishing  Legion"  at  all  perform- 
ances, rather  than  for  matinees  only, 
the  previous  policy. 

The  Ritz  of  Albany  will  play  each 
episode  a  full  week,  and  the  Lincoln 
of  Troy  will  show  it  four  days.  Other 
Warner  theatres  that  have  scheduled 
the  serial  are  the  Aladison  and  Albany 
of  Albany;  the  Warner,  Wellsville; 
Warner,  Medina;  Warner,  James- 
town ;  Warner,  Hornel ;  Warner, 
Dunkirk  ;  Warner,  Babcock  ;  Stanley, 
Utica ;  and  Warner,  Olean. 

Mills  is  now  in  New  York  for  a 
conference  with  Jerome  Kessler  and 
Charles  Reed  Jones,  manager  and 
publicity  director  of  Mascot. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Assistant  Gen' I 
Att'y  of  RCA,  Firms 

Frank  W.  Wezencraft,  a  forrn_er 
mayor  of  Dallas,  is  now  assistant 
general  attorney  of  RCA.  Colonel 
Manton  Davis  is  vice  president  and 
general  attorney  of  RCA  and  its  sub- 
sidiaries are  in  charge  of  litigation  and 
legal  administration.  Robert  D. 
O'Callaghan,  who  has  been  associated 
with  Otto  S.  Schairer,  vice  president 
in  charge  of  the  patent  department,  as 
attorney,  has  transferred  his  activities 
to  the  law  department,  thus  unifying 
legal  administration  in  one  depart- 
rnent.  Frederick  Leuchner  will  con- 
tinue his  duties  as  assistant  to  the 
general  attorney. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Plans  Offices 

Business  offices  will  be  shortly 
opened  in  the  film  district  of  the  In- 
ternational Cameramen  and  Sound 
Technicians  Union  where  free  employ- 
ment service  to  members  will  be  in- 
augurated. 


**v 


This  Week  Hundreds*  of 
Exhibitors  Are  Seeing  at 
Paramount  Exchanges  Why 
the  Whole  Trade  Agrees: 

IT'S  A  GREAT 
SEASON  IF 
YOU'VE  GOT 
PARAMOUNT! 


'^'Actual    acceptances   from    exhibitors    to    attend 
Paramount  National  Screening  Week  total  over  1,200 


.4 


SHOW  ME '  SHOWMEN 


ARE  CETTINC  THE 
INSIDE  ON  WHY  .  . 


.."AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY " 

is  a  i^eiisational  ^2  Hit  on  Broadw^ay! 

Launched  on  sea  of  tremendous  national  publicity.  Now  mobs  pack  $2  Criterion,  N.  Y., 
and  applaud.  "Tense  and  moving,  real,  tremendously  effective.  Almost  overwhelming  power. 
A  fine,  fine  thing  Paramount  has  done.  One  of  the  best  pictures  of  the  year",  says  the 
N.  Y.  Sun.  Typical  review!  Based  on  DREISER'S  great  novel,  JOSEF  VON  STERNBERG'S 
superb  production,  with  Phillips  Holmes,  Sylvia  Sidney  and  Frances  Dee;  will  be  talked 
about  for  years  to  come. 


CHEVALIER-LIJBITSCH 

.  ."SMILING  LIEUTENANT " 

in  S.  R.  O.  Sweep  from  Coast  to  Coast! 

By  long  odds  the  biggest  box  office  hit  in  2  years!  Grosses  prove  it.  N.  Y.,  Los  Angeles, 
Chicago,  Kansas  City,  Dallas — name  any  town  where  it's  played  and  it's  a  high  record! 
With  Claudette  Colbert,  Charlie  Ruggles  and  Miriam  Hopkins. 


..THE  FOUR  MARX  BROS. 

''Monkey    Busii^ess"    WorltPs    Oreatest    Comedy 

All  Hollywood's  raving  about  this  show.  The  tip's  out:  GET  IT!  It'll  make  you  more 
dough  than  you  thought  existed  any  more.  Read  any  trade  paper  review  of  its  preview 
showings.     They're  all  raves.     Directed  by  JSorman  McLeod. 


ff 


HUCKLEBERRY  FINN 


^^ 


Will   Double   "'Tom   Sawyer''   Grosses    Everywhere 

Don't  lake  our  word.  See  it  for  yourself.  Then  you'll  agree.  You're  yelling  for  clean, 
wholesome  pictures  for  the  whole  family.  Here's  the  finest  of  them  all.  With  the  "TOM 
SAWYER"  cast:  Jackie  Coogan,  Junior  Durkin,  Mitzi  Green,  Jackie  Searl  plus  Eugene 
Pallette.    Directed  by  Norman  Taurog,  who  made  "SKIPPY". 


m^mm 


ff 


SILENCE"  and  'SECRETS 

OF  A  SECRETARY"  Will  Boom  Theatre  Receipts 

Two  swell  pictures,  as  every  showman  who's  seen  them  enthusiastically  agrees. 
"SILENCE",  the  mighty  melodrama  with  Clive  Brook,  Marjorie  Rambeau  and  Peggy 
Shannon.  Directed  by  Louis  Gasnier  and  Max  Marcin.  "SECRETS  OF  A 
SECRETARY",  the  drama  of  the  girl  who  knew  too  much  about  millionaires,  with 
Claudette  Colbert,  Herbert  Marshall   and   Georges  Metaxa.      Directed  by  Geo,  Abbott. 


. .  A  NEW  STAR  IS  BORN 

as ''My  Si^' Shows  Real  Tallulah  Baxkhead 
with  Fredric  March  in  Smashing  Drama  S 

Tallulah  looking  like  a  million  dollars  and  acting  like  the  superb  trouper  she  is.  March 
never  better.  Now  you'll  know  why  Tallulah  took  Europe  by  storm.  A  down-to-earth 
picture  that  the  whole  family  will  love.  Directed  by  Geo.  Abbott. 


trade' ^-^  "^"^y^  ^  MARK 


./S.R.O. DAYS  ARE  HEREr 

Cry  Convinced  Exhibitors  as'THE  HOUSE  That 

Shadows  Built",  Paramou^t's  Outline  of 

Entire  1931-2  Hits  Unfolds  to  Delighted  Eyes! 

Call  it  a  trailer  if  you  like.  It's  the  Visual  Proof  of  ParamounCs  leadership  of  this 
business  for  20  years  and  the  Preview  of  Paramount's  Mightiest  line-up  of  productions. 
''A  FAREWELL  TO  ARMS ",  HAROLD  LLOYD,  GEORGE  BANCROFT,  "24  HOURS", 
RUTH  CHATTERTON,  CHEVALIER,  "NO  ONE  MAN",  "LIVES  OF  A  BENGAL 
LANCER",  "THE  MIRACLE  MAN",  "DR.  JEKYLL  AND  MR.  HYDE"— a  hint  of  the 
great  smash  hits  coming! 


PARAMOUNT 


Proudly  Proves  Leadership  with  Product 


''Let^H  €i^o^  Show  Businemr' 


Wednesday,  August    12,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


New  Dubbing 
Process  Held 
Foreign  Boon 


(Continued  from  page    1) 

important  in  Hollywood  today,  saying 
it  is  one  that  very  few  know  about  or 
are  discussing,  but  upon  which  to  a 
large  extent  hangs  the  salvation  of 
the  picture  industry. 

In  addition  to  filling  the  demands 
of  talker  technique  abroad,  the  new 
process  is  said  to  keep  costs  within 
limits  necessarily  set  for  foreign 
grosses.  Johnston  recites  attempts 
made  in  the  past  to  make  successful 
versions  and  records  the  swing  of  the 
production  wheel  back  to  synchroniza- 
tion which  was  found  to  be  the  only 
solution.  The  reason,  he  says,  is  that 
foreign  audiences  want  American  stars 
and  want  them  talking  foreign  langu- 
ages, which  they  must  talk  so  well 
that  realism  is  not  impaired. 

In  the  new  process,  voice  doubles 
are  selected  for  the  tonal  quality  of 
their  voices.  Doubles  must  study  the 
pictures  and  players  and  be  able  to 
speak  not  only  to  suit  the  dramatic 
action  of  the  film,  but  also  voice  the 
personalities  of  the  players. 

The  process  is  to  be  available  to  all 
producers.  It  will  introduce  a  decided 
,economy  and  may  even  permit  versions 
for  countries  heretofore  out  of  the 
question.  La  Veillier  formerly  was 
technician  for  Rex  Ingram  and  Meyer 
is  the  head  of  the  Meyer  Synchroniza- 
tion Service. 

A  French  dialogue  film  is  being 
made  with  Laura  LaPlante.  Claude 
Allister  and  Harry  Meyers.  The  first 
reel  was  projected  several  times  for 
three  voice  doubles  to  acquaint  them 
with  the  story  and  characterizations. 
Doubles  were  called  Miss  Green,  Mr. 
Red  and  Mr.  Black.  Dialogue  is  pre- 
Ipared  carefully  matching  the  lip  move- 
ments in  the  English  version.  It  then 
is  written  in  longhand  on  a  strip  of 
positive  films  which  also  is  projected 
for  the  three  doubles. 

Words  large  and  small  indicate  in- 
flection and  emphasis.  Along  the  film 
edge,  a  black,  red  or  green  line  gives 
the  cues.  The  doubles  can  take  the 
film  home  for  rehearsals  if  necessary, 
needing  only  a  small  dynamo  and  light 
reflector  for  home  projection. 

When  rehearsals  are  satisfactory, 
synchronization  is  done  with  the 
mathematical  exactness  of  the  sprocket 
holes  eliminating  the  human  equation. 
The  eflfect  is  startling,  says  Johnston, 
the  observer  seeing  Meyers  as  a 
French  and  English  actor,  Allister 
steeped  in  Gallicism  and  LaPlante  as 
a  smiling,  vivacious  French  wife. 

It  is  claimed  that  eight  reel  versions 
can  be  satisfactorily  made  in  two  days. 
Naturally  American  players  must  per- 
fect themselves  in  elocution.  Because 
they  mouth  their  words  better,  stage 
players  make  it  possible  to  match  the 
ip  movements  more  successfully  in 
transcribing    foreign    words. 

There  is  every  indication  that  once 
again  Yankee  ingenuity  has  success- 
fully mastered  another  international 
film  problem  of  no  inconsiderable 
magnitude. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOV/" 

Ban  Gang  Films 

Elizabeth  —  Followmg  conferences 
ivith  the  City  Council,  managers  of 
the  local  theatres  reached  an  ulti- 
iiatum  to  ban  gang  films  in  tnis  city. 


There  is  no  slowing  up  to  the  "Buy 
Right — But  Buy  Now"  movement. 
This  is  shown  by  the  answer  to  it 
that  is  being  recorded  in  the  booking 
departments  of  all  the  producing  com- 
panies. No  movement  in  recent  years 
has  been  productive  of  so  much  good 
both  for  the  wise  exhibitors  and  the 
producing  companies. 

In  the  Warners-First  National  of- 
fices credit  is  given  to  the  movement 
in  stirring  up  more  enterprise  on  the 
part  of  the  big  and  little  exhibitors 
than  any  other  that  has  ever  been  in- 
stituted. In  proof  of  this  the  Warn- 
ers point  to  their  own  bookings  which 
are  now  over  20%  greater  at  this  time 
than  they  were  a  year  ago. 

In  the  last  batch  of  contracts  reach- 
ing the  Warners-First  National  of- 
fices were  the  following  bookings  call- 
ing for  the  entire  product  of  both  pro- 
ducing companies. 

Connecticut 

Alhambra,  Waterbury,  Nicholas  Mascoli; 
Capitol,   Waterbury,  A.   E.   Sirica,  Sr. 

Florida 

Star,   Newberry,   Ira  J.   Carter,  Jr. 

Georgia 

Strand,  Elberton,  Georgia  Amusement 
Enterprises,  Inc.;  Strand,  Athens,  Georgia 
Amusement  Enterprises   Inc. 

Iowa 

Capitol,  Ames,  Central  States  Theatre 
Corp;  Ritz,  Chariton,  Central  States  Thea- 
tre Corp.;  Rialto,  Burlington,  Central  States 
Theatre  Corp.;  King,  Albia,  Central  States 
Theatre  Corp.;  Rialto,  Boone,  Central 
States  Theatre  Corp.;  Casino,  Sac  City, 
G.  R.  Norman  and  M.  J.  Kulch;  Auditor- 
ium, Mt.  Pleasant,  M.  L.  Dickson;  Pas- 
time, Magnoketa,  Hippler  and  Peake;  Royal, 
Panora,  Lauver  and  Son;  Colonial,  Clar- 
ion, W.  F.  Smith;  Rialto,  Clarinda,  Her- 
man   Fields. 

Maine 

New  Lincoln,  Lincoln,  G.  Erwin;  Star, 
Bar   Harbor,    Star  Theatre,   Inc. 

Maryland 

Apollo,  Baltimore,  State  Theatre  Inc.; 
State  Sanatorium,  State  Sanatorium,  Mary- 
land Tuberculosis  Sanatorium;  Mt.  Wilson 
Sanatorium,  Mt.  Wilson,  Maryland  Tuber- 
culosis Sanatorium;  Sanatorium,  Henryton, 
Maryland    Tuberculosis    Sanatorium. 

Massachusetts 

Suffolk.  Holyoke,  C.  W.  Rackliffe;  Acad- 
emy, Northampton,  C.  W.  Rackliffe;  Ma- 
jestic, Holyoke,  Majestic  Theatre,  Inc.; 
Strand,  Rockland,  Lee  A.  Rhodenizer;  Park, 
Spencer,  Park  Theatre  Co.;  Central,  East 
Boston,  E.  B.  Central  Square  Theatrt 
Corp.;  Strand,  Haverhill,  Pentucker  In- 
dustrial  Co. 

Nebraska 

Sun,  Central  City,  C.  T.  Riggs;  Minnis 
Lusa,  Omaha,  F.  W.  Houston;  Rivoli,  Sew- 
ard,  I.   N.   Kuhl. 

New  Hampshire 

Notre  Dame,  Manchester,  J.  Anthony. 

North  Carolina 

Carolina,  Elizabeth  City,  Carolina  Amuse- 
ment Co. 

Oklahoma 

Broadway,  Muskogee,  Hugh'es-Franklin 
Theatres  Inc. ;  Aldrid^e,  Oklahoma  City, 
Breaux  and  Whitlow;  Liberty,  Durant, 
Hughes-Franklin  Theatres  Inc.;  Palace,  Mc- 
Alester,  HugTies-Franklin   Theatres   Inc. 

Oregon 

Bungalow,  Wood  Burn,  T.  Poorman;  Or- 
pheum.    Baker,    Baker   Theatres   Inc. 

Pennsylvania 

Susquehanna,  Philadelphia,  Norris  Amuse- 
ment Co.;  Victoria,  Mahanoy  City,  Cham- 
berlain Amusement  Enterprises,  Inc.;  Vic- 
toria, Lansford,  Chamberlain  Amusement 
Enterprises  Inc.;  Victoria,  Mt.  Carmel, 
(  hamberlain   Amusement   Enterprises   Inc. 

South  Carolina 

.Star.  Piedmont,  J.  C.  Harper;  Carolina, 
Winnsboro,   Boyd   Brown. 

Texas 

Pines,  Lufkin,  P^ast  Texas  Theatres  Inc.; 
-Strand,  Orange.  Jefferson  Amusement  Co. ; 
Paramount,  IVIarshall.  East  Texas  Thea- 
tres. Inc.;  Strand.  Port  Arthur.  Jefferson 
Amusement     Co.;      Oueen,      Victory,      PZast 


Tiffany  is  going  after  sales  in  a 
big  way  and  is  a  strong  advocate  of 
the  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 
movement  sponsored  by  Motion 
Picture  Daily.  Following  are  some 
recent    deals : 

Alabama 

Lanette,  Lartette;  .Strand,  Alexander 
City;  American,  Sylacauga;  New  Lyric 
Brockside;  Famous  or  Champion,  Bir- 
mingham. 

California 

Los  Angeles,  Los  Angeles;  New  Lyceum, 
New  Mission,  New  Filmore,  San  Fran- 
cisco;    Corning,     Corning. 

District  of  Columbia 

Lincoln,  Rosalia,  Broadway,  Washing- 
ton. 

Florida 

Victory,    Brocksville. 

Georgia 

Palace  or  Strarfd,  Athens;  Royal,  Sum- 
merville;    81,    Atlanta. 

Illinois 

Paulina,  Royal,  Alger  Circuit  (Prince- 
ton), States,  Lincoln,  Mid  City^  Chicago; 
Harvard,  Harvard;  Opera  House,  Aledo; 
St.  Clair  and  Liberty,  E.  St.  Louis;  Pal- 
ace, Parfa;  Liberty,  Vandalia;  Palace,  Na- 
homis. 

Indiana 

Angola,    Angola;    Dixie,    Evansville. 

Iowa 

Princess,  Boone;  Princess,  Oskaloosa; 
Crystal  and  Amuzo,  Muscatine;  Royal- 
Elite,    Le    Mars. 

Kansas 

Royal,    Valley    Falls. 

Louisiana 

Bailey  Circuit,  Bunkie;  Ferryday;  Oak- 
dale;  Winfield;  Opelousas,  Tallula;  Cedar 
Grove,  Cedar  Grove;  Strand,  Alexander 
City.   La. 

Maryland 

Hippodrome,    Baltimore. 
Minnesota 

Strand-Nicholas,  Fairmount;  Triangle, 
Howard  Lake;  Happy  Hour,  Jasper;  State, 
Jackson;    Rex,    Watertown. 

Missouri 

Regal,  Elvins;  Strand,  St.  Charles; 
Royal,  Pacific;  Star,  Senate,  Rivoli, 
O'Fallon,    Baden    and    Excello,    St.    Louis. 

Nebraska 

Betrtiett,     Auburn;     Auditorium,     Exeter. 

New  York 

Rivoli,    Syracuse;    American,    Canton. 

North  Carolina 

Seabreeze,  Beauport;  Wades,  Morehead; 
Masonic,    New     Bern;    Strand,    Monroe. 

Ohio 

New  Rex,  Steubenville;  Alhambra.  Can- 
ton; Harris,  Findlay;  Ohio-Majestic,  Mans- 
field. 

South  Carolina 

Lyrica,    Honea    Path. 

Texas 

E.  Texas  Theatres  Circuit,  Beaumont; 
Pt.  Arthur;  Orange;  Nacogdoches;  Jack- 
sonville; Herfderson;  Kilgore;  Longview; 
Marshall. 

Virginia 

Capitol,  Portsmouth;  Olympic,  Alexan- 
dria; Attucks-Regal,  Norfolk;  Manhat- 
tan,   Norfolk;    Rialto,    Newport    News. 

Wisconsin 

Star,    Fudenick. 

Wyoming 

Crystal,   So.   Superior;   Hanna.    Hanna. 


"Star  Witness" 
Strong  Card  at 
Winter  Garden 


Texas  Theatres  Inc.;  Palace,  Henderson, 
East  Texas  Theatres  Inc. ;  Jefferson,  Beau- 
mont, Jefferson  Amusement  Co.;  Progres- 
so,  San  Antonio,  Paul  Garza;  Grand,  Elec- 
tra.  Grand  Theatre  Inc.;  Obrero,  San  An- 
tonio, Paul  Garza;  Strand  Longview,  East 
Texas  Theatres  Inc.;  Strand,  Kilgore,  East 
Texas  Theatres  Inc.;  Palace,  Jacksonville, 
East  Texas  Theatres  Inc.,  and  Austin, 
Nacogdoches,  East  Texas  Theatres  Inc. 

Canada 

Opera  House,  Orilla,  Moorehead  and  Fil- 
man;  Capitol,  Brampton,  Moorehead  and 
Filman;  Royal,  Toronto,  Charles  Bailey; 
Columbia.  X'ictoria,  B.  C.  H.  Allen;  Dau- 
phin,   Dauphin,    Manitoba,    Mrs.   G.    Peebles. 


Total  $357^72  for  12  Theatres 


"The  Star  Witness,"  is  showing  real 
strength  in  its  second  week  on  Broad- 
way after  its  big  opening  last  week, 
"Politics"  is  holding  up  well  at  the 
Capitol,  Broadway,  and  "An  American 
Tragedy"  is  off  to  a  good  start  at 
the  Criterion. 

"The  Star  Witness,"  breaking  in 
the  heels  of  New  York's  baby  massa- 
cre, was  good  for  $44,969  in  its  ope,n- 
ing  six  days  and  this  week  is  con- 
tinuing its  good  draw.  "Politics" 
boosted  the  Capitol  to  $78,280  last 
week  and  is  holding  up  nicely  this 
week.  "Transatlantic"  helped  the 
Roxy  to  around  $85,000,  after  its 
sharp  dip  on  the  return  showing  of 
"Sunny  Side  Up,"  which  cut  the  gross 
to  an  estimated  $39^800.  "Honeymoon 
Lane"  slipped  at  the  Paramount  to 
$46,200. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  6. 

"A     FREE     SOUL"     (M-G-M) 

ASTOR  (1.120),  50c-$2,  9th  week,  7  days. 
Gross:    $12,688. 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 
CAPITOL  (4,700),  35c-$1.50,  7  days.  Stage 
show.     Gross:   $78,280. 
"AN   AMERICAN    TRAGEDY"    (Para.) 
CRITERION      (850)-50c-$2.00,      4      days. 
Gross:    $10,700. 

EMBASSY    (All    Newsreel) 
EMBASSY     (598),    25c,    7    days.      Gross: 
$8,011. 
"THE   PUBLIC   DEFENDER"    (Radio) 
MAYFAIR— (2,300),        40c-$l,        7        days. 
Ooss:     $23,000. 

"HONEYMOON    LANE"   (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3,700),     40c-$l,     7     days. 
Stage   show.      Gross:    $46,200. 

"THE   TRESPASSER"    (U.   A.)   and 
"BULLDOG  DRUMMOND"   (U.  A.) 
RIALTO— (1,904),   25c-50c,   7  days.   Gross: 
$5,800. 

"THE   SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 
RIVOLI— (2,103).      40c-$l,      3rd      week,      7 
days.      Gross:    $20,200. 

"TRANSATLANTIC"  (Fox) 
ROXY— (6.200).    50c-$1.50,    8   days.      Stage 
show.     Gross:    $85,000. 

"THE   RECKLESS   HOUR"    (F.  N.) 

STRAND— (3,000),  35c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$20,342. 

"THE    IMMORTAL    VAGABOND" 
(TcJkiiig   Picture   Epics) 
WARNERS— (1,490),      35c-75c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $2,382. 

"THE  STAR  WITNESS"   (Warners) 
WINTER      GARDEN— (1,493),      6      days. 
Gross:    $44,969. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Arthur  in  New  Low 
Cost  Feature  Project 

George  K.  Arthur  who  is  again 
teamed  with  Karl  Dane  in  a  series  of 
four  two-reel  comedies,  completed  this 
week  at  Paramount's  New  York 
studio,  sails  August  26,  for  a  six- 
weeks  sojourn  abroad.  While  enjoy- 
ing this  vacation,  the  comedian  will 
combine  pleasure  with  work.  In  asso- 
ciation with  several  independent  Hol- 
lywood workers,  Arthur  is  planning 
to  produce  another  inexpensive  fea- 
ture on  the  order  of  "The  Salvation 
Hunters." 

It  is  tentatively  titled  "The  Cross- 
ing" and  many  of  the  scenes  will  be 
shot  on  shipboard  while  en  route  to 
Cherbourg.  Arthur  will  be  accom- 
panied by  a  sound  cameraman.  He 
expects  to  join  his  wife  and  daughter 
at  the  French  port. 


9.00 1*:! 


#^4» 


10.45 


A.M. 


First  print  of  "East  oi  Borneo/'  the 
picture  with  the  greatest  jungle  thrills 
ever  screened^  reaches  Universal's 
Home  Office. 

Universal  Executives,  in  the  "l-hope- 
it's-true"  attitude  created  by  the  glow- 
ing reports  from  the  studio  and  the 
rave  reviews  that  followed  the  Coast 
preview,  seat  themselves  in  the  projec- 
tion room. 


oon 


Everybody  bursts  out  of  the  projec 
tion  room  wild  with  enthusiasm 
Shouts  of  "GreatI" 
"A  Thrillerl"  . 


// 


// 


Big  I 


// 


A  Knockout!" 


-and  FROM  NOW  ON  you'll  be 
hearing  of  the  amazing  box-office  per< 
formance  of  this  great  Universal  Picture. 

With  ROSE  HOBART 
CHARLES   BICKFORD 

Lupita  Tovar,  Georges  Renavent. 

Produced  by  Carl  Laemmie/  Jr. 

Directed  by  George  Melford. 

Presented  by  Carl  Laemmle. 


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The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.   NO.  63 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  AUGUST  13,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Chi  Exchanges 
Worry  While 
Fihns  Pile  Up 

No  Break   Yet  as  Both 
Sides  Hold  Ground 


Chicago— Compromise  pro- 
posals made  at  meetings  of 
independent  exhibitors  and 
representatives  of  the  opera- 
tors' union  yesterday  were 
rejected,  both  sides  standing 
pat  in  the  controversy. 


Chicago— Closing  of  more  than  one 

hundred    Chicago    theatres    threatens 

to     disrupt     local     protection     sched- 

[  ules  and  presents  exchanges  with  one 

1  of  their  most  perplexing  problems  m 

'  years. 

Bookings  of  the  one  hundred-odd 
theatres  have  been  cancelled  pending 
a'  settlement  of  the  two-operator  dis- 
pute with  the  Chicago  projectionists' 
union  which  will  permit  the  theatres  to 
reopen.  Meanwhile,  the  theatres 
which  have  remained  open  are  re- 
questing adjustments  of  release  sched- 
ules to  conform  with  the  present  situ- 
ation, and  exchange  managers  are 
faced  with  the  problem  of  disrupting 
city  release  schedules  temporarily  or 
else    having    large    quantities    of    film 

(Continued   on   page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

One-Man-in-Booth 
Pittsburgh  Demand 

Pittsburgh — Independent  theatre 
owners  of  Pittsburgh  are  demanding 
the  elimination  of  one  man  in  the 
booth  of  union  houses.  The  present 
contract  with  the  projectionists  ex- 
pires September  1,  and  committees 
representing  both  the  exhibitors  and 
projectionists  are  holding  many  meet- 
ings in  the  hopes  of  reaching  an 
agreement. 


Expanding 

Pittsburgh  —  Paramount- 
Publix,  which  took  over  11 
theatres  in  the  Western  Penn- 
sylvania section  on  August 
first,  is  planning  to  add  more 
theatres  in  this  territory  to 
its  circuit.  Theatres  now  un- 
der the  Publix  management 
include:  Capitol,  Mischler 
and  Olympic,  Altoona;  Grand 
and  Bradford,  Bradford;  Sen- 
ate, Ambridge;  Grand,  State 
and  Strand,  Johnstown ;  Capi- 
tol and  State,  Butler. 


First  Test  of  Zoning 

Agreements  Launched 


A  Turn  in  the  Road 

1  HE  decentralization  of  operation  of  Fox 
Theatres,  announced  yesterday  by  Harry  C.  Arthur,  general 
mamager  of  Fox  Theatres  corporation,  is  a  movement  which 
challenges  the  attention  of  the  industry. 

1  HIS  move  comes  in  sharp  contrast  to  the 
determined  trend  of  the  past  few  years  under  which  large- scaled 
unit  operation  was  aggressively,  and  even  frantically,  sought 
after.  Theoretically,  large-scaled  unit  operation  of  theatres, 
patterned  in  plan  after  grocery  and  drug  store  chains,  was 
most  attractive;  practically,  it  would  appear  from  the  Fox 
move,  it  is  not  without  serious  handicaps  and  difficulties. 

The  decentralization  of  the  Fox  Theatres 
may  be  taken  as  notice  to  the  trade  that  the  great  theatre 
circuit  movement  which  for  some  time  hovered  over  the  in- 
dustry as  either  a  benefaction  or  a  disaster — dependent  upon 
the  viewpoint  of  the  particular  observer— has  definitely  come 

to  rest. 

MARTIN    QUIGLEY 


FoxChainBreak'UpEffective 
Aug.  31;New Setup  Outlined 


Rinzler  Leaves  Fox 
For  Partnership 

Sam  Rinzler,  division  manager  for 
Fox  Brooklyn  and  Long  Island  the- 
atres since  these  houses  were  taken 
over  by  Fox  Metropolitan,  has  re- 
signed "to  operate  the  17  theatres  he 
and  Frisch  recently  acquired  in 
Brooklyn  from  Fox.  His  territory 
will  be  divided  between  Harry 
Woodin  and  Harry  Goldberg,  the  for- 
mer adding  to  his  supervision  the 
Long  Island  houses,  and  the  latter 
the  Brooklyn  group.  The  resignation 
becomes  effective  August  31. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Seek  Clara  Bow  for 
Publix  Circuit  Tour 

Publix  is  dickering  for  a  personal 
appearance  tour  of  Clara  Bow  for  the 
entire  circuit.  The  offer  probably  will 
be  turned  down  as  the  star  isn't  ready 
yet  to  talk  business,  intending  to  stick 
to  pictures. 


Fox's  plan  to  decentralize  its  cir- 
cuit into  regional  units  will  be  put 
into  effect  August  31,  Harry  C.  Ar- 
thur, general  manager  of  the  circuit, 
yesterday  told  Motion  Picture 
Daily.  Between  140  to  160  theatres 
will  be  split  up  into  territorial  units, 
he  said.  This  list  does  not  take  in 
the  38  up-state  New  York  houses 
which  are  being  sold  to  Mike  Comer- 
ford. 

LInder  the   new   plan   there   will   be 

(CoiiliiiKcd    on    paqc    6) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

N,  J.  Indies  Blame 
Circuits  for  2  Bills 

Move  for  elimination  of  double 
featuring  in  New  Jersey  will  be  hast- 
ened provided  the  circuits  fall  in  line, 
independent  theatre  operators  declare. 
Circuits  of  Warners,  RKO  and  Fox 
are  represented  with  approximately 
100  theatres  in  that  state,  75  per  cent 
of  which  now  are  playing  twin  bills, 
it  is  said. 

Independent  exhibitors,  anxious  to 
(Continued   on    page   6) 


Restraint    of    Trade    Is 

Charged  in  U.  S. 

Court  Action 


Lincoln,  Neb. — First  action  to  de- 
termine the  legality  of  zoning  agree- 
ments made  by  distributors  and  ex- 
hibitors, in  cases  where  a  certain 
group  of  exhibitors  were  not  repre- 
sented in  negotiating  the  agreement, 
was  instituted  in  Federal  Court  here 
yesterday  when  charges  of  illegal 
combination  and  conspiracy  in  re- 
straint of  trade  were  filed  against  all 
Omaha  exchanges,  their  managers, 
Publix  and  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  West- 
ern Iowa  and  Nebraska. 

Plaintiff  in  the  action  is  W.  N. 
Youngclaus,    Madison,    Neb.,    exhibi- 

(Continued   on    page   6) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warner  Oppositions 
Getting  M-G-M  Films 

Cleveland — So  far  as  is  known  by 
the  local  M-G-M  exchange,  all  M- 
G-M  contracts  made  this  year  with 
Warner  opposition  houses  in  this  ter- 
ritory are  being  approved  intact. 
When  M-G-M  and  Warners  failed  to 
get  together  on  a  proposition,  the 
Cleveland  M-G-M  branch  set  out  to 
sell  all  Warner  opposition  houses  in 
the  territory.  They  closed  contracts 
in  every  town  except  those  which 
Warner  Brothers  controlled.     No  no- 

(ContinKcd    on    page    6) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Boles-"U"  Differences 
To  Come  Up  Friday 

Hollywood — Controversy  between 
John  Boles  and  Universal  over  the 
star's  contract  is  expected  to  be  acted 
upon  Friday  when  his  option  comes  up 
for  consideration.  Boles  is  said  to  be 
drawing  |3,000  weekly  with  a  guaran- 
tee of  $100,000  yearly  whether  or  not 
he  works,  and  Universal  is  said  to  be 
seeking  elimination  of  the  guarantee. 
Boles  has  not  appeared  in  a  picture 

(Continued   on    page    6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount,  Nancy 
Carroll  Settle  Row 

Hollywood — Nancy  Carroll  and 
Paramount  have  settled  their  diffi- 
culties. She  stays  on  at  the  same  sal- 
ary, said  to  be  $800  weekly  and  with 
her  bonus  continued.  The  system 
gave  her  around  $3,000  weekly  last 
year  and  it  is  expected  to  be  more 
this  year. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   August    13,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered    U.    S.    Patent   Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily   Rezieiv 

and  Motion   Pictures    Today 


\o\.  M 


August   13,   1931 


No.  63 


Martin    Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
Advertising   Manager 

^•^\  PUBLISHED  dally,  except  Sunday 
I  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V*I^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
'■Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  X'ine  and  Yucca  Streets;  l-Villiam 
A.  Johnston.  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W,  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin    W.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.      Single  copies,  10  cents. 

Short  Subjects  on 
Meyer-Rieger  List 

In  addition  to  producing  its  own 
trailers,  Meyer-Rieger  will  enter  the 
short  subject  field.  Production  of 
novelty  shorts  are  planned  by  Louis 
Meyer  with  the  number  as  yet  unde- 
cided. These  shorts  will  be  turned 
over  to  franchise  holders  in  various 
territories  for  distribution.  The  sub- 
jects will  be  made  in  the  studios  at 
630  Ninth  Ave. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Eastman  Pays  75c 
As  Extra  Dividend 

Eastman  Kodak  Co.  has  declared 
its  usual  e.xtra  dividend  of  75c  a  share 
on  the  common  stock  in  addition  to 
the  regular  quarterly  payment  of 
$1.25  a  share  on  the  issue.  Both  divi- 
dends are  payable  Oct.  1  to  stock  of 
record  Sept.  3.  The  company  has 
paid  the  75c  extra  dividend  each  quar- 
ter since  1925.  In  1924  extras  of 
f3.50  were  paid  and  in  1923,  $2.50. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

No  Negotiations  on 
For  Fox  L.  /.  Houses 

Repfjrts  that  Louis  I'Visch  and  Sam 
Kinzler  were  the  latest  bidders  for 
the  I'ox  string  of  18  theatres  on  Long 
Island  were  emphatically  denied  yes- 
terday by  Harry  C.  Arthur,  general 
manager.  Various  exhibitors  have 
been  mentioned  as  dickering  for  the 
Long  Island  group  but  Arthur  said 
that  "no  one  is  negotiating  for  these 
houses." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Goldstone  Coming  East 

1  loi.i.vwoorj — Phil  Goldstone,  who 
recently  resigned  as  studio  production 
chief  to  enter  production  on  his  own, 
plans  to  go  to  New  York  late  this 
month. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Returning  Next  Month 

Hollywood — Esther  Ralston,  (Mrs. 
George  Webb)  plans  to  resume  film 
work  next  month.  A  daughter  was 
born  to  her  Tuesday. 


Chi  Exchanges 
Worry  While 
Fihns  Pile  Up 


(Continued  from  faijc   1) 

lying   unused   pending   the  sought   for 
labor  settlement. 

An  even  more  serious  problem  is  in 
prospect  if  the  theatres  remain  closed 
for  any  extended  length  of  time.  In 
the  event  the  theatres  do  not  reopen 
until  September  the  entire  list  of 
August  releases  may  go  unplayed  in 
the  more  than  one  hundred  theatres 
now  closed,  as  it  is  an  improbability 
that  the  reopened  theatres  would  con- 
sent to  playing  August  releases  during 
September  when  other  theatres  will 
be  playing  tlie  new  season's  product. 

There  is  also  a  legal  problem  in- 
volved, several  exchange  managers 
say,  in  deciding  whether  or  not  the 
theatre  closings  come  under  the 
"strike"  clause  in  the  contracts  re- 
lieving the  exhibitor  from  rental  lia- 
bility. Meanwhile,  rental  losses  to 
exchanges  are  estimated  here  at  more 
than  125,000  weekly  because  of  the 
closings. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Fight  Sunday  Shows 
At  Cleveland  Heights 

Cleveland — Representatives  of  the 
Parent-Teacher  Council  and  Women's 
Civic  Clubs  are  preparing  to  circulate 
petitions  asking  Cleveland  Heights 
council  to  rescind  its  vote  of  6  to  1 
favoring  Sunday  films.  Although 
favoring  "blue  Sundays,"  Mayor 
Frank  C.  Cain  stated  that  the  oppo- 
sition would  have  to  have  at  least 
9,000  signatures  to  counterbalance  the 
9,000  signatures  in  favor  of  Sunday 
films. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warners'  Dividend 

Warner  Bros.  Pictures  have  de- 
clared a  regular  quarterly  dividend 
of  96J4  cents  on  the  preferred  stock 
payable  September  1  to  stock  holders 
of  record  August  21. 


Exit  Girl  Ushers 

Ottawa — The  last  of  the  girl 
ushers  have  disappeared  from 
the  circuit  theatres  of  Canada. 
The  final  feminine  stronghold, 
insofar  as  the  big  organizations 
are  concerned,  was  Keith's  here, 
where  young  ladies  in  pajamas 
guided  male  patrons  and  others 
along  the  narrow  path.  With 
the  opening  of  the  house  as  the 
RKO-Capitol  this  month,  mas- 
culine youths  will  do  the  aisle 
parading,  a  new  staff  having 
been    engaged. 


Heart  Attack  Proves 
Fatal  to  Sam  Coston 

Chicago — Sam  Coston,  Warner 
theatre  manager  and  former  Qiicago 
independent  exhibitor,  died  at  the 
Lake  Geneva  home  of  his  brother, 
James  Coston,  head  of  the  Coston 
Booking  Circuit  and  district  manager 
of  Warner  theatres  here.  Death  was 
attributed  to  heart  disease. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Paramount  Postpones 
Wellman  Marine  Film 

Hollywood — "Come  On,  Marines" 
has  been  postponed  indefinitely  by 
Paramount.  The  reason  given  is  that 
William  Wellman  must  be  returned 
September  5  to  Warners  and  Para- 
mount feels  he  is  best  qualified  to 
direct  the  picture. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Conflict  on  Name 

Toronto — Just  the  suggestion  of 
difficulty  has  arisen  for  the  Commu- 
nity Theatres  of  Canada  Limited, 
Toronto,  the  new  independent  group 
over  the  selection  of  the  name  of  the 
company.  The  owner  of  the  Commu- 
nity Theatre  at  Halifax,  N.  S.,  has 
pointed  out  that  the  title  conflicts  with 
the  name  of  his  theatre.  It  is  stated, 
however,  that  the  new  company  has 
been  granted  a  charter  from  the  On- 
tario government  and  the  name  of  the 
company  was  found  acceptable  to  the 
government. 


G,  T,  E,  Hits  New  Low  in  Off  Market 


High  Low 

Consolidated     Film     Industries    pfd 14  14 

Eastman     Kodak 142  138;^ 

Fox    Film     "A" 13^  12/^ 

General     Theatre    Equipment    new 2^  \% 

Lot-w's,      Inc 475^  4554 

Loew's.     Inc.,     pfd 91!/^  91^ 

M-G-M    pfd 25!^  25 

Paraniount      I'ulilix 23J^  23 

Palhe    Exchange VA  Wi 

I'athc      Exchange     "A" 6K  5-H 

KKO     14J4  13M 

W.iniei-    Uros 8'4  7}4 

Curb  Issues  Quiet 

High  I..OW 

l'"ox    Theatres    "A" 2%  2'/j 

General  Theatre   Equipment  pfd 4J4  3^ 

Technicolor   7  7 

Trans    Lux 5  454 


Close 

14 
139 
12/2 

VA 
453^ 

91M 

25 

23 
1/2 
6K 

13% 
754 


Close 


Net 
Chainse 

—  Vi 

-Wz 

—  Vs 

-  % 

-  H 
-'A 


2./8 

4 
7 
4M 


+  Vs 

+  H 

-  'A 

+  'A 


Net 
Change 

+  'A 

-  ■/« 
+  'A 

-  A 


Sales 

200 

4.7(X) 

14.000 

42.800 

6,800 

100 

400 

4,000 

900 

2.200 

10.100 

27,300 


Sales 

400 
1,900 

300 
1,900 


Bond  List  Spotty;  W.  B,  Up  2^2  Points 


High  Low  Close 

General  Theatre   Equipment  6s   '40 22J<2  2i)A  IZ'A 

Loew's   6s    '41    ex    war 98^  98J4  98^ 

Paramount   Broadway    S'As,   '51 102J^  102^^  1021^ 

Paramount    F.    L.    63    '47 88^^  88  88 

Paramount   Publix  S'As,  '50 79  79  79 

Pathe  7s  '37  ww ,',,',  94  93  93 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39   wd ..'.  SZyi  47-J4  50 


Net 
Change 

+2V>i 

+  'A 
-'A 

-m 

-'A 

—1 

+2'A 


Sales 

26 
4 
1 
4 
1 

IS 
94 


Purely 


Personal, 


Lou  B.  METZGER  and  Mrs. 
Metzger  last  night  were  hosts  at 
their  Port  Chester  home  to  Miss  Lil- 
lian Gutterman  and  the  following  Co- 
lumbia executives  and  their  wives : 
Rube  Jackter,  Lou  Weinberg,  Hal 
Hodes,  Irving  Wormser,  Abe  Schneid- 
er, Milt  Hannock. 

Louis  K.  Sidney,  Loew  executive! 
and  production  chief  of  the  Capitol 
Theatre,  is  very  proud  of  his  young, 
son,  George,  and  justly  so.  George, 
age  14,  while  fishing  with  his  Dad 
40  miles  at  sea  off  Montauk  Point, 
caught  a  51-pound  tuna  fish.  L.  K. 
guarantees  this  is  no  fish  story. 

George  R.  Batcheller,  president  of  i 
Chesterfield    Motion    Picture    Corp., 
has  left  for  the  coast  to  start  produc- 
tion of  Chesterfield's  next  subject,  en- 
titled "Grief  Street." 

Viola  Irene  Cooper,  literary  agent 
in  film  sales,  says  she  has  discovered 
an  unpublished  Mark  Twain  manu- 
script, a  play  titled  "The  End  of  the 
World." 

Islin     Austin    of  the     Columbia 

scenario     department  has      returned 
from  the  Coast. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Stipulate  German 
Name  on  Theatre 

Cincinnati — Dr.   Fritz  Witte,   edi- 
tor   of    Freie    Press,    local    German 
daily,   has    secured   a    franchise    from 
Tobis  and   Ufa  to  play  both  products 
in   the   Continental   Theatre,   formerly 
the    Royal,    which     he     recently     ac- 
quired.    Both  companies  had  withheld 
franchises   until    they   were   given   the 
assurance    of    the    exhibitor    that    hej 
would    display    company    trade   names] 
and  insignia  on  the  front  of  the  house. ' 
This  is   said  to  be  the   first   compro-  ' 
mise    in     booking     arrangements     be- 
tween these  companies  for  an  Ameri- 
can theatre. 

The  Continental  is  now  closed  for 
the  installation  of  sound  and  ventila- 
tion equipment  and  will  reopen  Sep' 
tember  15. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Named  Contact  Man 
For  Pitts,  Exchangei 

Pittsburgh — Owing  to  the  discor 
tinuance  of  the  Pittsburgh  Fih 
Board  of  Trade,  John  J.  Malone) 
M-G-M  manager,  will  serve  as  sec^ 
retary  to  oflficiate  as  contact  man  be^ 
tween  local  exchanges  and  the  Phila- 
delphia board  which  is  to  take  over 
the  duties  of  the  local  board. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Cast  Opposite  Chatterton 

Hollywood — Ivor  Novello,  young 
actor-author-manager  from  England, 
has  been  borrowed  from  M-G-M  by 
Paramount  to  portray  a  leading  male 
role  opposite  Ruth  Cliatterton  in  the 
star's  new  vehicle,  "Once  a  Lady." 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

To  Reopen  Sept.  5 

Charles  Schwartz  reopens  the  Ox- 
ford, Brooklyn,  with  burlesque  and 
pictures  September  5. 


SPOT 


E  US  the 
T! 


?T 


The  first  three 
M-Q-M  new  season 
releases  continue  our 
amazing  hit  record! 


SURE,  those  three  Summer  Steppers  are  great — 
BUT,  wait  till  you  see  these  Fall  Flappers  grab  the  spotlight- 


PARDON  US — Laurel-Hardy  feature  comedy  knocks  Houston  for  a 
loop.  Laurel-Hardy  leap  into  front-rank  feature  class! 

THE  SQUAW  MAN— Cecil  DeMille's  thrill  drama  takes  the  top 
dough  in  Providence,  Warner  Baxter,  Lupe  Velez  in  Big  Cast! 

GUILTY  HANDS — Coast  preview  sensational   Critics  rave. *  Lionel 
Barrymore's  crowning  dramatic  effort.  Watch! 

One,  twO)  three — and  that^s  just  a  starter! 

Are  You  All  Set  For  Another 
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER  YEAR? 


HOT  OR  NOT, 
IT'S  KNOCKING 
RECORDS  COLD! 


RKO  PATHE  presents  CONSTANCE 


THE     COMMON     LAW 

With   JOEL  McCREA,   Lew  Cody,   Robert  Williams,   Heddo   Hopper,   Marion   Shilling. 
From  the  novel  by  Robert  W.  Chambers.      Screen  Play  by  John  Farrow. 

Directed   by   PAUL   L.   STEIN. 
A     CHARLES     R.     ROGERS     PRODUCTION 

ASSOCIATE    PRODUCER,    HARRY   JOE    BROWN 


RKOmPATHE 


The  Old  FIghtin'  Cock  crows  every  Friday  night  10:30  N.  Y.  time.  RKO 
THEATRE  OF  THE  AIR— NBC   hook-up  of  44  coost-to-coost  stotionsl 


•Cominon  Law' 
%0,000  Best 
on  Broadway 


^Common  Law' 
^35,000  Chi. 
State-Lake 


'Common  Law' 
Rocks  PhiUy 
With  $44,000 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


'Common  Law' 
Week's  Best 
At  Beantown 


MOTION  »ICTt7RE 

DAILY. 


$16,500  Best 
In  Omaha,for 
'Common  Law' 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


/ 


'Common  Law' 
$14,000  Best 
Portland  Bet 


MOTION  PICTUIUe 

DAILY 


^Common  Law' 

Is  Pacemaker 

For  Houston 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Albany  Heat 
Can't  Block 
'Common  Law' 


MOTION  PICTURB 

DAILY 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  August   13,    1931 


First  Test 
On  Zoning 
Is  Launched 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
tor,  who  claims  his  theatre  is  out- 
side the  protected  zone  by  one  mile 
but  that  Publix  included  him  in  the 
protection  radius  to  get  90  days'  pro- 
tection for  its  houses  at  Norfolk. 

Youngclaus  says  that  the  alleged 
conspiracy  has  for  its  purpose  the 
control  of  distribution  of  film  in  Ne- 
braska  and   Western    Iowa. 


The  action  brought  yesterday  at 
Lincoln,  Neb.,  by  W.  N.  Young- 
claus is  the  result  of  the  zoning 
plans  instituted  last  year,  under 
which  it  was  proposed  to  zone  all 
exchange     territories.  A      zoning 

agreement  was  made  at  Los  Angeles 
between  distributors,  affiliated  and 
unaffiliated  exhibitors.  In  a  number 
of  other  spots,  agreements  were 
reached,  but  after  Allied  States  As- 
sociation repudiated  all  protection 
agreements,  threatening  appeal  to  the 
government  against  the  zoning  moves 
in  which  it  refused  to  participate, 
zoning  was  discontinued  in  most  ter- 
ritories. 

In  Los  Angeles,  the  unaffiliated 
group  withdrew  from  participation  on 
the  continuing  committee  provided  in 
the  protection  agreement,  insisting 
this  move  canceled  the  agreement. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Circuit  Split-Up 
Effective  Aug,  31 

(Continued  from  payc  1) 

a  tremendous  saving.  The  home  of- 
fice staff  will  be  eliminated  with 
bookers  to  be  assigned  to  a  theatre 
in  their  respective  districts  where 
they   will   make   headquarters. 

Change  in  the  operative  plan  of 
Fox  theatres  is  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  stability  to  local  operation.  In 
setting  up  local  boards  of  directors 
leaders  of  the  various  communities 
will  lend  their  support  in  suggesting 
plans  or  ideas  for  better  operation  of 
the  theatres.  The  local  complexion 
of  operation  with  general  managers 
in  charge  of  full  operation  is  said 
to  be  the  first  time  any  circuit  has 
ever  put  such  a  plan  into  effect. 

The  new  set-up  of  division  manag- 
ers is  as  follows :  Harry  Woodin, 
Manhattan,  Bronx  and  Long  Island; 
Harry  Goldberg,  New  Jersey  and 
Brooklyn ;  Marshall  Taylor,  Albanv 
and  Buffalo;  Herschel  Stuart,  New 
England  Division ;  H.  J.  Fitzgerald, 
Midwesco  and  Chicago.  The  de  luxe 
theatres  will  continue  under  the  man- 
agement of  the  following :  Charles  E. 
Kurtzman,  Roxy,  New  York  ;  Monty 
Salmon,  Fox  Brooklyn;  William  H. 
Raynor,  Fox  Detroit;  Harry  Crull, 
¥ox  Washington,  and  Harry  Green- 
man,  Fox  St.  Louis. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Warner  Oppositions 
Getting  MGM  Films 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
tification  has  been  made  either  to 
the  local  distributing  office  or  to  the 
exhibitors  who  entered  into  contracts 
with  M-G-M  of  any  plan  to  break 
these  contracts. 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


The  National  Circuit  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, with,  eight  houses,  has  pur- 
chased Universal  features  100  per 
cent.  The  contract  was  arranged  be- 
tween Kenneth  Hodkinson  of  the 
Universal  San  Francisco  exchange 
and  L.  R.  Crooks.  The  houses  are 
the  National  of  Madera,  California, 
the  Strand  of  Modesto,  the  National 
of  Modesto,  and  the  Modesto  of 
Modesto;  the  American  of  San  Jose, 
the  National  of  Marysville,  the  Na- 
tional of  Stockton,  and  the  National 
of  Woodland. 

A  contract  has  been  arranged  be- 
tween Harold  Fitzgerald,  District 
Manager  for  Fox  in  Chicago,  and 
Henry  Herbel,  Universal's  Chicago 
exchange  manager,  securing  Universal 
product  for  the  Fox  house  in  Chicago. 
The  houses  are  the  Sheridan,  Term- 
inal, Portage  Park,  Midwest,  the 
Commercial  and  the  Crown. 

Contracts  have  been  signed  between 
Dave  Bershon  of  the  Hughes-Frank- 
lin Circuit  and  R.  J.  Cadman,  ex- 
change manager  and  W.  J.  Heineroan 
for  Universal,  at  Los  Angeles,  setting 
Universal  product  in  the  entire 
Hughes-Franklin  chain.  In  addition 
to  the  house  in  Los  Angeles,  the  chain 
includes  the  Babcock,  Regent  and 
Lyric  Theatres  in  Billings,  Montana 
and  Our  Theatre  in  Bellingham, 
Wash.,  the  Yakima  Theatre  of 
Yakima,  Wash.,  and  the  following 
houses  in  the  Los  Angeles  territory : 
the  Melrose,  Riviera,  Metro  and  Leim- 
ert  of  Los  Angeles,  the  Chief  of 
Hollywood,  the  Studio  and  Mirror  of 
Hollywood,  the  Pico  of  Westwood, 
Belevedere  and  New  of  Whittier, 
Boulevard  and  Oxnard  of  Oxnard, 
Largo  of  Watts  and  the  Orange 
Theatre  of  Orange,  Calif. 


Cincinnati — William  Calloway  of 
RKO-Pathe  has  signed  six  theatres 
for  the  company's  line-up  of  shorts 
and  features.  The  theatres  are  the 
Rialto,  Scarboro;  Freeman,  North 
folk ;  War,  War ;  Ferguson,  Charles- 
ton; Rialto,  Kimball;  Hippodrome, 
Delberton. 


Atlanta — The  following  ten  situa- 
tions have  been  signed  by  RKO-Pathe 
for  features  and  shorts :  Alexander 
City,  Albertsville,  Attalla,  Boaz,  Gun- 
tersville.  Union  Springs,  Tuskegee, 
Troy,  Carbon  Hill  and  Winfield. 


"Hell  Below  Zero,"  featuring  Gar- 
veth  Wells,  humorist,  explorer,  has 
been  booked  through  Talking  Picture 
Epics,  Balabon  and  Katz — Publix 
houses  in  the  Chicago  territory  and 
is  running  in  the  Roosevelt  Theatre, 
Chicago,  with  Huckleberry  Finn. 


Coi.uMBUs — Eleven  theatres  in  this 
vicinity  have  signed  up  for  RKO- 
Pathe's  complete  line-up  of  1931-32 
product.  The  houses  are :  Palace, 
Lancaster;  Orpheum,  Exina;  La  Max, 
Wilmington ;  Empress,  Garden, 
Grandview.  Hudson,  Alhambra,  Royal, 
Ogden,   Columbus ;    Salem,   Dayton. 


The  Allied  Film  Exchanges,  Inc., 
of  Oklahoma  City  have  booked  Big 
4's  Westerns  for  1931-19.32  in  Quin- 
ton,  Oklahoma  City,  Sapulpa  and 
Eufaula,  Oklahoma.  H.  K.  Buchanan 
closed  the  deal. 


Aid  Unemployed 

Mayor  Frank  Hague  of 
Jersey  City  has  just  issued 
a  printed  report  of  the  result 
of  the  activities  of  the  com- 
mittee gotten  up  to  relieve 
the  unemployment  situation 
in  his  city.  According  to  it  in- 
dependent exhibitors  will  be 
prominent  in  the  campaign. 
At  Warner  Bros.  Stanley  The- 
atre a  special  bill  was  pre- 
sented and  the  theatre  man- 
agement was  enabled  to  turn 
over  $1,928.35  to  the  Mayor's 
committee.  The  Majestic 
earned  $900.35  for  the  fund 
and  at  the  Palace  $45.90  was 
realized. 


Operators*  Union 
Handing  Out  Toys 

Something  brand  new  in  union  op- 
position to  theatres  operating  on  the 
open  shop  policy  is  being  sponsored 
by  Sam  Kaplan,  president  of  Local 
306,  in  the  battle  between  that  local 
and  the  Ochs'   New   York  theatres. 

Each  week  several  women  visitors 
cover  the  nine  neighborhoods  served 
by  the  open  shop  theatres,  carrying 
toys  for  distribution  to  the  children 
of  the  families  usually  patronizing  the 
houses.  One  week  it  was  a  wooden 
paddle  with  rubber  ball  attached.  An- 
other week  it  may  be  a  checkerboard ; 
perhaps  the  next  week  a  doll  or  some 
other  attractive  toy.  Whatever  the 
article  given  away  there  is  promi- 
nently attached  the  advice  to  enjoy 
the  toy  instead  of  going  to  the  boy- 
cotted  theatre. 

Union  officials  profess  themselves 
as  highly  pleased  with  this  type  of 
campaign  which  they  claim  is  getting 
most  satisfactory   results. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

*' Bought**  Clicking 
On  Early  Bookings 

Warner  Bros,  reports  that  on  its 
pre-release  bookings,  Constance  Ben- 
nett in  "Bought"  has  been  clicking 
at  a  rate  which  would  indicate  that 
it  is  going  to  be  one  of  the  big  money 
pictures  of  the  new  season.  In  three 
days  at  the  Garde,  New  London,  it 
has  grossed  $1,400  above  the  same 
period  for  the  previous  week;  at  the 
Capitol,  Springfeld,  Mass.,  $2,000 
above  the  same  period  the  previous 
week ;  while  at  the  Strand,  Syracuse, 
it  has,  in  five  days  doubled  the  re- 
ceipts for  the  same  period  last  week 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Boles- 'U"  Differences 
To  Come  Up  Friday 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

since  "Seed"  some  18  weeks  ago.  A 
proposed  settlement  is  for  Boles  to 
appear  in  a  fixed  number  of  pictures 
yearly. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

RKO  Park  Lane  Opening 

The  latest  theatre  acquisition  bv 
the  RKO  circuit  in  Manhattan  inau 
gurates  its  first  program  Saturday 
when  the  Park  Lane,  89th  street  and 
First  avenue,  opens  with  "The  Com- 
mon Law."  It  has  a  seating  capacity 
of  2,500. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Schwartz  Takes  Second 

A.  Schwartz,  operator  of  the  Pas- 
time, has  acquired  the  Lyric,   Bronx. 


"Polities''  Is 
Big  Shot  of 
Coast's  Week 


Total  $166,900  for  12  Theatres 


Los  Angeles — "Politics"  was  the 
big  noise  here  last  week  giving  Loe^y's 
State  a  sensational  take  of  $38,400, 
which  is  $11,400  above  the  average. 
"The  Common  Law"  held  up  nicely 
at  the  Orpheum,  finishing  its  second 
week  with  $15,000.  "Huckleberry 
Finn"  failed  to  hit  the  house  average 
at  the  Paramount.  "Young  as  You 
Feel"  did  well  for  a  third  week  at 
Grauman's  Chinese  while  "Tabu"  at 
the  Pantages  Hollywood  was  off  con- 
siderably. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end.- 
ing  August  12  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"ESCALAVAS  DE   LA  MODA"   (Fox) 

CALIFORNIA  INTERNATIONAL  — 
(2,000),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $5,000. 
(Average,   $5,000.) 

"SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

FOX  CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,650),  7Sc- 
$1.50,  (5th  week.)  7  days.  George  Stoll 
artd  Band.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average,  $12,- 
500.) 

"YOUNG  AS  YOU  FEEL"  (Fox) 

FOX  CRITERION— (1,652),  35c-65c,  (3rd 
week),  6  days.  Gross:  $8,700.  (Average, 
first  week,  $10,000.) 

"YOUNG  AS  YOU  FE^EL"  (Fox) 

GRAUMAN'S  CHINESE  —  (2,030),  25c- 
65c,  (3rd  week).  6  days.  Gross:  $8,600. 
(Average,    $8,000.) 

"POLITICS"   (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,418),  35c-65c,  7  days. 
"Five  Races"  Idea.  Gross:  $38,400.  (Av- 
erage, $27,000.) 

"THE  GREAT  LOVER"   (M-G-M) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,100),  25c-65c,  7  days. 
Stage  show.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Average, 
$16,000.) 

"THE   COMMON    LAW"    (RKO-Pathe) 

ORPHEUM— (2,750),  35c-65c,  7  days,  (2nd 
week.)  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average,  for  first 
week,   $16,000.) 

"TABU"    (Para) 

PANTAGES  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000),  35c- 
65c,  7  days.  F.  &  M.  "Black  &  White" 
Idea,  news.  Gross:  $9,200.  (Average,  $15,- 
000.) 

"HUCKLEBERRY   FINN"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,596),  35c-6.5c,  7  days 
Oscar  Baum  and  Stage  revue.  Gross:  $21,- 
500.       (Average:    $25,000.) 

"ALWAYS   GOODBYE"   (Fox) 

RKO-(2,700),  35c-65c,  7  days.  News,  5 
a<ts  RKO  vaude.  Gross  $14,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"THE  RECKLESS   HOUR"   (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.  DOWNTOWN— (2,400) 
7  days,  35c-50c.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"THE  RECKLESS   HOUR"  (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.  HOLLYWOOD  — 
(3,000,  7  days,  35c-50c.  Gross:  $11,000. 
(Average,  $14,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

N,  J,  Indies  Blame 
Circuits  for  2  Bills 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

wipe  out  two-ply  bills,  are  consider- 
ing putting  in  vaudeville  and  stage 
attractions.  However,  many  are  hold- 
ing back  claiming  that  the  circuits 
with  first  run  representation  in  the 
majority  of  situations  are  double  fea- 
turing and  it  would  be  suicide  for 
the  independent  second  runs  to  drop 
the  practice.  A  number  of  indepen- 
dents in  first  run  spots  are  holding 
down  the  single  feature  program,  but 
in  those  instances  the  circuits  afford 
no  opposition. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sullivan  to  Coast 

J.  J.  Sullivan,  Fox  Theatres'  film 
buyer,  has  left  for  the  Coast. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  64 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY.  AUGUST  14,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Big  Operators 
Gain  by  Ruling 
On  Income  Tax 

But     Small     Exhibitors 

Lose  on  5-Year  Plan 

I  • 

Offering  estimated  saving  of  $3,- 
300,000  to  $4,000,000,  for  large  theatre 
operators  and  producers,  and  an  un- 
estimated  loss  to  small  theatre  opera- 
tors, the  internal  revenue  department 
in  New  York  has  placed  on  a  five- 
year  basis  depreciation  write-off  on 
"original  sound  equipment"  in  com- 
puting tax  returns. 

The  smaller  exhibitor  who  has  been 
writing  off  cost  of  installation  over 
a  period  of  only  two  years  will,  it 
is  understood,  be  placed  on  a  five- 
vear  basis,  with  the  prospect  in  view 
of  making  additional  payments  to  the 
government    on    taxes    for    1929    and 

(Continued    on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Judge  Rules  Buyer 
Must  Keep  Operator 

Oklahoma  City— Union  operators 
here  won  a  victory  when  District 
Judge  R.  P.  Hill  ordered  D.  G.  John- 
son, owner  of  the  Isis,  second  run 
house,  to  use  union  operators,  under 
contract  made  with  the  union  by  the 
former  owner.  Johnson,  who  bought 
the  theatre  three  weeks  ago  from  the 
Griffith  Amusement  Co.,  said  he 
would  close  the  house  to  defeat  the 
injunction. 

One  hundred  members  of_  the  union 

(Coiitiniicd    on    pafic    /) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Copyright  Suits  Are 
Filed  in  Now  Orleans 

New  Orleans  Unauthorized  hold- 
over of  pictures  s  charged  in  Fed- 
eral suits  for  d-  nages  brought  here 
against  Ernest  .  -oehringer,  operator 
of  the  Temple  and  People's  Theatres 
at  Baton  Rougf  by  M-G-M,  Fox, 
Warners  and  Vi.^graph. 

The  actions  are  broughtunder  the 

(Contmv    ■'   on    page   7) 


New  R  ith  Offer 

Hollywood — Paramount  has 
a  propositio  to  submit  to 
Ruth  Chatti  ton  in  a  few 
days.  If  s'  i  accepts,  her 
Warner  contr:.ct  will  be  abro- 
grated,  it  is  s  aid.  Her  advis- 
ors are  sileni  pending  advice 
as  to  the  tenis  to  be  ofifered. 


Want  Fox  Included 

Sales  policies  of  Fox  are 
objected  to  by  11  of  the  21 
exhibitor  units,  representing 
both  M.P.T.O.A.  and  Allied 
affiliates,  which  have  prom- 
ised to  attend  the  national 
protest  meeting  against 
M-G-M  sales  policies  sched- 
uled   for   New   York. 

These  exhibitors  object  to 
the  substitution  latitude  given 
Fox  under  its  contract,  stat- 
ing that  they  are  not  sure  of 
getting  a  large  percentage  of 
the  stars  and  stories  upon 
which  they  base  purchase  of 
the  product. 


25  More  Chi 
Houses  Dark 
Next  Monday 


Chicago — Twenty-five  more  the- 
atres on  ]\'Ionday  will  join  the  ranks 
of  the  107  now  dark  in  protest  against 
the  two-man  edict  of  the  Chicago  op- 
erators' union.  Meanwhile,  both  sides 
are  holding  their  ground,  operators 
insisting  that  only  on  a  two-man  ba- 
sis can  peace  be  secured,  and  exhibi- 
tors just  as  insistent  that  they  .  will 
reopen  only  if  granted  the  one-man 
concession. 

Four   of  the   dark    houses    reopened 

{Contir.tteil    on    page    6) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Color  Film  Return 
Predicted  byNemec 

Comeback  of  color  film  ne.xt  year  is 
forecast  by  Frank  Nemec,  president 
of  Photocolor,  who  says  that  nego- 
tiations now  under  way  for  use  of 
his  firm's  process  indicate  a  definite 
trend  toward  color.  Photocolor,  he 
says,  has  been  marking  time  in  order 
to  improve  its  process,  but  will  start 
activity  in   September.     The  company 

(Contlnitcd   on    page    ~) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sloane  Quits  to  Get 
'^Perspective  on  Life*' 

Hollywood — Paul  Sloane  will  re- 
tire after  making  "The  Lost  Squad- 
ron" for  Radio.  He  says  he  is  tired 
of  the  picture  business  and  is  retiring 
to  "regain  my  perspective  on  life." 

Radio  is  paying  Dick  Grace,  stunt 
flyer,  $20,000  for  the  story  of  "The 
Lost  Squadron"  and  has  taken  an  op- 
tion on  his  next  story  for  $35,000. 
He  also  has  been  assigned  leading  role 
in  the  picture. 


CALL  FOR  PROTEST 
MEET  IS   SOUNDED 


Allied  Backs 
Zoning  Test 
In  Nebraska 


Suit  brought  at  Lincoln,  Neb.,  to 
tes*:  the  legality  of  protection  in  the 
Omaha  territory  is  backed  by  Allied 
States  -Association  and  is  the  first  of 
two  test  suits  scheduled  to  be  insti- 
tuted in  Allied  territory.  Allied  con- 
tends that  protection  agreements  in 
cases  where  a  certain  group  of  e.xhib- 
itors  are  not  represented  in  the  nego- 
tiations are  illegal.  The  organi,zation 
has  taken  a  stand  against  any  kind  of 
zoning  agreements. 

Plaintifif  in  the  Lincoln  suit  is  W. 
X.  Youngclaus,  Madison,  Neb.,  exhib- 
itor, who  brought  complaint  in  Federal 
Court  charging  Omaha  exchanges, 
their  managers,  Publix  and  the 
M.P.T.O.,  of  Western  Iowa  and 
Nebraska  with  conspiracy  in  restraint 
of  trade. 


Chic.\go — Allied  is  doing  all  it  can 
to  get  rid  of  protection,  W.  A. 
.Stefifes  said  in  commenting  on  the 
subject.  He  refused  to  comment  on 
report  that  Allied  was  backing  the 
Lincoln,  Nelx,  test  suit  on  protection. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Chase  Official  New 
Executive  at  Fox 

Charles  E.  Richardson,  from  the 
in\estment  service  department  of  the 
Equitable  Trust  Company,  subsidiary 
of  the  Chase  National  Bank,  is  to 
join  the  executive  staff  of  Fox  Films. 
No  official  announcement  of  the  con- 
nection has  been  made  but  it  is  ex- 
pected that  a  formal  statement  will 
be    forthcoming    next    week. 

Richardson  was  unavailable  for 
a  statement  and  none  was  to  be  had 
from  the  Fox  offices,  or  those  of  the 

{Continued   on    page    ") 
"BUY    RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Rinzler  and  Frisch 

After  18  in  L,  /. 

With  Sam  Rinzler  resigning  from 
Fox  Theatres  August  31  to  join  Louis 
Frisch,  his  partner,  in  operation  of  17 
Brooklyn  houses,  reports  continue  that 
in  addition  to  acquisition  of  another 
group  of  Brooklyn  theatres  on  Sep- 
tember  1,   the  partners  are  dickering 

{Continued  on   page   7) 


'Philly"  Zone  Unit  Asks 

National  Confab  on 

M-G-M  Policy 


Protest  meeting  of  exhibitors 
against  sales  policies  and  contracts  of 
M-G-M,  to  be  held  in  New  York  at 
an  early  date,  is  asked  in  a  call  sent 
to  exhibitor  units  throughout  the 
country  by  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  East- 
ern Pennsylvania  and  Southern  Dela- 
ware. Date  of  the  meeting  is  to  be 
set  within  the  next  three  days,  it  is 
promised. 

Every  exhibitor  organization  in  tl/s 
United  States  has  been  requested  to 
attend  the  protest  meeting  regardless 
of  affiliation.  To  date,  it  is  reliably 
learned,   21   associations  have  expres- 

{Continued   on    page    6) 


MPTOA  Not  Advised 
On  Protest  Meeting 

Proposed  national  protest  meeting 
of  exhibitors  against  sales  policies  of 
M-G-M  has  not  been  brought  to  of- 
ficial attention  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A. 
Under  the  usual  procedure,  the  mat- 
ter would  have  to  be  submitted  to  the 
president  and  board  of  directors  be- 
fore any  stand  on  the  proposed  meet- 
ing could  be  taken. 


Myers  to  Attend 
Meeting  in  New  York 

CHK^^G0 — Abram  F.  Myers,  presi- 
dent of  .Allied  States  Association,  here 
for  conferences  with  W.  A.  Steft'es, 
H.  M.  Richey  and  Aaron  Saperstein, 
on  the  Chicago  operator  strike  and 
other  .Allied  matters,  plans  to  attend 
the  proposed  national  protest  meeting 
against  sales  policies  of  M-G-M.  Al- 
lied in  a  recent  bulletin  attacks  con- 
tracts of  M-G-M  and  Fox  and  de- 
cries the  lack  of  general  adoption  of 
clauses  agreed  to  at  the  5-5-5  confer- 


Score  Charges  on  Pan 

Score  charges  will  be  one 
of  the  subjects  discussed  at 
the  national  protest  meeting 
to  be  held  in  New  York  at 
the  suggestion  of  the  Eastern 
Pennsylvania  and  Southern 
Delaware  exhibitor  unit.  Agi- 
tation for  elimination  of  the 
score  charge  is  being  made 
by  all  of  the  21  units  which 
so  far  have  signified  their  in- 
tention of  being  represented 
at  the  New  York  meeting. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  August   14,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE    i 


DAILY 

KegistereJ   U.   S.    Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily   Retiea 

and    Motion    Pictures    Today 


\i.|.    .ill 


Aiisust    14.    lO.n 


No.    64 


Martin   Quicley 

Edilor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
Adiertising   Manager 


^^M\  PUBLISHED  daily,  e.xcept  Sunday 
f  jlj  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
X«IX  Daily.  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Qui^ubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office;  Pacific  States  Life 
Building.  Nine  and  Yucca  Streets;  H^illiam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edzvin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent :  W.  H.  Moiring, 
The  Bioscope.  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road. 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  li'einer,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4.  1926.  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,   under   Act  of    March   3.    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
wstage  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.      Single  copies.  10  cents. 


6-Moiitli  Dividend 
Passed  bv  Union 


S^-DNEY — Requiring  $70,000  to  pay 
the  guaranteed  preference  dividend, 
directors  of  Union  Theatres  Invest- 
ments, Ltd..  have  been  compelled  to 
notify  preference  shareholders  that 
the  usual  half-yearly  dividend  must  be 
deferred.  In  a  circular,  the  directors 
state  that  negotiations  have  proceeded 
with  a  view  to  stabilizing  the  finances 
and  trading  activities  of  Union  Thea- 
tres. Ltd..  for  which  the  company  is 
guarantor.  Until  those  negotiations 
are  successfully  concluded,  no  funds 
are  available  for  distribution. 

In  further  explanation,  the  directors 
state,  that,  in  common  with  other 
businesses,  L'.  T.  Investments  is  pass- 
ing through  a  particularly  difficult 
periofl.  and  the  immediate  outlook 
show.->  nfi  sign  of  improvement. 
"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

Dropping  Spanish  Films 

-Siiani.sli  talking  pictures  will  be  dis- 
continued at  the  San  Jose,  110th  street 
and  Fifth  ave.,  for  legitimate  Spanish 
productions  on  .September  1.  Talent 
and  entire  production  units  will  be 
imported  from  .Spain  by  Manhattan 
Playhouses.  In  changing  the  .San  Jose 
policy  the  Spanish  pictures  will  be 
shunted  to  the  Regan  on  116th  street. 
The  Mt.  Morris  will  add  five  acts  of 
vaudeville  in  addition  to  picture  pro- 
grams. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

Incorporations 

Dover,  Del. — Charters  were  filed 
here  by ; 

Convex  Screen  Corp.,  to  "do  general 
moving  picture  business."  Capital, 
$lfK).0(X).  Represented  bv  C.  S. 
Peabbles,  L.  E.  Gray  and  H.  H. 
Snrjw  of  Wilmington,  Del. 

New  Screen  Corp.,  to  "do  general 
moving  picture  business."  Capital, 
$1,100.  Represented  by  C.  S.  Peabbles, 
L.  E.  Gray  and  H.  H.  Snow  of  Wil- 
mington. Del. 

The  Western  Television  Corpora- 
ti'jn  of  Chicago,  increased  its  capital 
from  100,000  to  l,irX),0(X)  shares. 


Purely  Personal 


JOHX  CALL.A.  manager  of  the 
X'alentine  and  Strand  in  Canton, 
O..  is  accepting  a  bushel  of  wheat  in 
place  of  the  regular  admission  fee.  It 
is  being  ground  at  a  local  mill  and  dis- 
tributed by  the  Salvation  .\rmy  among 
the  needy  of  the  city. 

J.  J.  Greene  has  become  manager 
of  the  Lou-Mo  Theatre  in  Louisiana, 
Mo.  He  will  also  supervise  the 
operation  of  theatres  in  Morganfield, 
Kv.,  and  Vandalia,   Mo. 

George  Gerhard  has  received  a 
wire  from  the  Coast  on  Billie  Dove's 
".■\ge  for  Love"  and  from  indications 
it  may  mean  the  comeback  for  the 
star. 

P.\iL  Bi'RGER  has  been  keeping  it  a 
secret.  He  formerly  was  a  member 
of  tlie  staffs  of  Harper's  Weekly  and 
Collier's.  That's  before  he  decided  to 
sell  fillums. 

M.M'RTCE  B.\RON.  conductor  of  the 
Roxy  symphony  orchestra,  sails  to- 
morrow on  the  Paris  for  a  visit  to 
his  native  France. 

Helen'  Mack,  Broadway  stage 
player,  has  left  for  the  Fox  Coast 
studios.  She  was  signed  in  New  York 
while  Winfield  Sheehan  was  here. 

Coi.iN'  Clive  arrives  in  New  York 
on  the  Aquifania  Friday  en  route  to 
L'niversal  City,  where  he  will  appear 
in  "Frankenstein." 

En  FixxEY  of  United  .Artists  had 
to  cut  his  vacation  short  due  to  rush 
of  work  on  advertising  of  new  season 
pictures. 

Creed  Neeper  of  the  Harold  Lloyd 
office  was  the  entertainment  committee 
during  the  New  York  visit  of 
Harold's  mother. 

Harlev  L.  Clarke  week  is  to  be 
observed  by  Fox  theatres  beginning 
September  13  in  honor  of  the  company 
president. 


"New  Show  Year" 

"A  New  Show  Year"  is  the 
observance  to  herald  the  new 
season  adopted  by  Fox  the- 
atres. No  given  date  is  set 
for  the  various  theatres,  each 
manager  timing  his  campaign 
on  new  season  bookings. 


Lawrence  O'Sullivan,  another 
Broadway  player  to  be  signed  by  Fox, 
has  arrived  on  the  Coast. 

Louis  Nizer's  tan  matched  perfect- 
ly with  his  chestnut  colored  suit  yes- 
terday.    It  was  a  natural   symphony. 

Dave  Li'Stig  has  gotten  out  an- 
other of  those  brochures.  The  latest 
is  "The  Diary  of  a  Gigolo." 

Val  Lewton  of  M-G-M's  publicity 
department  is  vacationing. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Grainger  Elevates 
Two  to  Managers 

James  R.  Grainger  has  promoted 
two  Fox  salesmen  to  managerships. 
.\\  Davis,  formerly  salesman  at  the 
Philadelphia,  has  been  named  man- 
ager of  the  Milwaukee  branch,  suc- 
ceeding Harry  Melcher.  Ernest  Lan- 
diache,  of  the  New  Orleans  branch, 
now  is  head  of  the  Charlotte  office, 
succeeding  W.  Fuller. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Ochs  Seeks  Valentine 

Lee  Ochs  is  understood  to  be  dick- 
ering to  take  over  the  Fox  Valentine 
in  the  Bronx.  Recently  Ochs  took 
over  ten  theatres  from  the  same  cir- 
cuit. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Must  Learn  to  Walk 

Hollywood — Joan  Bennett  must 
learn  to  walk  again  when  her  frac- 
tured hip  and  spine  injury  mends. 
■She  will  suffer  no  permanent  disabil- 
ity, however,  her  physician  states. 


Stocks  Show  Gain;  W.  B.  Pfd.  Up  4V2 

Net 

Hir;h      Low  Close  Change  Sales 

Eastman  Kodak   14.V/^  l.W/i  142  +,!  .3,600 

Fox    Film    "A" 1354  12'/        13!^  +  V»  9.400 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 2Va          2             2Vn  -j-  K  5,900 

Ixj^-'s,    Inc 475^  46  46^  -|-1}^  11.500 

I.oew's.     Inc..     pfd 9^  92  92  -j-  i/^  100 

Paramount    Publix 23^  227/«  23i/4  +  Vz  5, "00 

Pathe    Exchange 15^          VA          I'A  300 

Pathc    Exchange    "A" 6^4          6             65-4  -|-  'A  L.IOO 

RKO     14%  14            14^  +  Vi  9..SO0 

Warner    Bros 8!4          7^          8  +  ^  11,000 

Warner    Bros,    pfd 21  20  21  +4^  300 


Curb  Issues  Unsteady 

High  Low 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 2V»  2'A 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 4  3W 

Sentry    Safety    Control 54  5^ 

Technicolor     7  7 

Trans   Lux    5,14  45^ 


Bonds  Irregular;  P.  P.  Drops  2 

Net 

High       Low      Close  Change 

General   Theatre   Equipment   6s   '40 .^5  22^        23J/1        -fl 

I. 'lew's    6s    '41    ex    war 99  ggi^        9gj,^ 

Paramount    Publix    Sj/js,    'SO 7R14        77  77  —2 

Pathe    7s    '.17    ww 9.?^        925^        931^        ^  y^ 

Warner   Bros.  6s  '39  wd S\^i        49  51f^        +1^ 


Net 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

2'4 

-  % 

500 

m 

-  'A 

800 

•« 

-  Va 

100 

7 

100 

5/4 

+  V2 

1,400 

Sale 


Big  Operators 
Gain  by  Ruling 
On  Income  Tax 


(Continued  from  page   1) 

1930.  The  larger  companies,  however, 
on  which  the  depreciation  or  amorti- 
zation write-off  had  been  set  at  ten 
years,  will  gain  through  the  new  rul- 
ing. 

The  government's  decision  reads : 

"Regarding  deductions  to  be  allowed  mo- 
tion picture  corporations  for  depreciation 
or  amortization  of  the  cost  of  installing 
sound  talking  equipment,  the  cost  of  the 
installation  of  original  sound  equipment 
should  be  written  ofif  over  five  years,  the 
service  and  inspection  payments  are  allow- 
able deductions.  the  incidental  repairs 
which  merely  keep  the  equipment  in  ordi- 
nary efficient  operating  condition  should  be 
deducted  as  expense  items  and  repairs  in 
the  nature  of  replacements  with  a  life 
in  excess  of  one  year  should  be  classed  as 
capital  expenditures  or  be  charged  against 
the   depreciation   reserve." 

TTie  term,  "capital  expenditures,"  refers 
to  the  installation  of  new  parts,  such  as 
rnotors.  Instead  of  writing  off  the  deprecia- 
tion on  these  new  parts  on  the  five-year 
basis,  the  cost  is  written  off,  it  is  pointed 
out,  on  the  basis  of  the  balance  of  the 
write-off  period  on  the  original  equipment. 
In  other  words,  it  was  said,  if  a  new  motor 
is  purchased  after  the  original  equipment 
is  three  years  old,  the  depreciation  on 
the  motor  should  be  written  off  in  two 
years. 

In  explaining  the  ruling,  A.  J.  Michel, 
general  auditor  and  assistant  treasurer  of 
Paramount  Publix,  took  as  an  example  a 
$'10,000  installation.  Under  the  earlier  fed- 
eral decision  the  depreciation,  in  comput- 
ing taxes,  would  be  at  the  rate  of  $1,000 
annually.  The  present  ruing  increases  the 
depreciation   write-off   to  $2,000  a   year. 

The  saving  to  be  effected  by  the  larger 
companies  is  potential,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  several  of  the  larger  companies  have 
based  their  tax  compulations  on  the  five- 
year  vyrite-off  period  during  the  controversy 
with  internal  revenue  executives.  In  view 
of  that  fact  no  refund  by  the  government 
will   be   necessary. 

Discussions  with  the  government  agents 
began  m  Washington  and  later  were  re- 
ferred to  New  York,  from  which  oiifice  the 
decision    was   rendered. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW 

2  RKO  Reports 

Comparative  reports  for  Orpheum 
Circuit,  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  and 
Keith-AIbee-Orpheum  and  subsidiaries 
for  six  months'  ended  June  30,  1931 
are  as  follows ; 

Orpheum  Circuit  loss  from  opera- 
tions for  1931  was  $186,068.98  against 
a  loss  of  $92,613.71  in  1930.  Profit 
from  other  sources  was  nothing  in 
1931  against  $32,283.20  for  1930.  Net 
loss  this  year  is  $186,068.98  as  against 
$60,330.51   for  1930. 

Keith-AIbee-Orpheum  corporation 
profits  from  operations  for  1931 
amounted  to  $672,656.28  as  against 
$17,412.26  loss  in  1930.  Profit  from 
other  sources  in  1931  was  $18,467.50 
as  against  $78,009.30.  Net  profit  for 
1931  is  $691,123.78  compared  with  $60,- 
597.04  in  1930. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Rembusch  Buys  Fox 

Indianapolis — George  Landis,  man- 
ager of  the  local  Fox  exchange,  has 
signed  the  Frank  Rembusch  circuit 
for  the  entire  line-up  of  product  for 
the  new  season. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Grainger  Plans  Trip 

James  R.  Grainger  will  leave  for 
the  Coast  next  week  on  his  annual 
visit  to  the  studios.  On  his  way  he 
will  stop  off  at  San  Francisco  and 
Los  Angeles  to  close  pending  book- 
ing deals. 


Friday,  August    14,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Fullers  Plan 
Expansion  in 
Antipodes 

Sydney — A  third  exhibiting  circuit, 
worthy  of  consideration  as  formidable 
opposition  to  Union  Theatres  and 
Hoyts,  looms  on  the  horizon  here 
with  the  decision  of  Fullers  Theatres, 
Ltd.,  to  expand  its  present  circuit. 
Under  a  plan  devised  by  Sir  Benja- 
min Fuller,  the  company  will  gather 
in  suburban  houses  around  Sydney  for 
a  start ;  expand  later  to  other 
states ;  and  then  move  into  the  coun- 
try, adding  to  its  circuit  the  pick  of 
theatres  offered. 

To  build  a  theatre  on  the  site  of 
the  old  City  Hall  in  Brisbane,  and  a 
modern  house  in  Lismore,  Fullers 
Metropolitans,  Ltd.,  already  has  float- 
ed a  loan  of  $1,000,000;  but  according 
to  present  intentions,  building  will 
stop  there,  and  Fullers  will  concen- 
trate on  the  acquisition  of  existing 
theatres. 

Sydney  suburban  theatres  now  held 
by  F"ullers  number  five.  There  are 
four  more  situated  in  Melbourne  and 
Adelaide  in  which  review  and  musical 
comedy  are  presented ;  and  to  cap  that 
lot,  there  is  the  string  of  60  in  New 
Zealand. 

^  ir  Benjamin  indicates  that  the 
company's  expansion  policy,  has,  as 
much  as  anything  else,  been  decided 
upon  so  that  an  increase  in  film 
buying  power  can  be  gained.  As  the 
next  biggest  circuit  to  Union  and 
Hoyts,  the  Fullers  have  been  obliged 
to  take  a  back  seat  when  the  new  sell- 
ing season  is  in  full  swing ;  they  have 
only  been  allowed  to  buy  when  the 
oppositions  have  picked  the  plums, 
and  on  many  occasions  they  have  been 
almost  completely  squeezed  out.  When 
their  value  to  the  distributors  nears 
that  of  Union  and  Hoyts,  the  buying- 
selling  position  will  become  unusually 
interesting. 

Prediction  is  made  that  Fullers  will 
some  day  threaten  the  ascendancy  of 
Hoyts  and  Union.  It  would  only  be 
a  matter  of  history  repeating  itself. 
T.  J.  West,  Cosen  Spencer  and  J.  D. 
Williams,  the  leading  Australian  ex- 
hibitors of  their  time,  formed  a  com- 
bine that  looked  impregnable.  Then 
along  came  a  stranger  named  Wad- 
dington,  and  he  made  such  progress 
in  a  business  that  was  foreign  to  him, 
and  hit  the  "impregnable  combine"  so 
hard,  that  it  was  forced  to  buy  his 
theatres  at  an  exorbitant  price.  If  it 
hadn't  proved  as  impregnable  as  it  had 
looked  before,  with  Waddington's 
theatre  under  its  wing,  the  combine 
then  appeared  unassailable.  How- 
ever, another  factor  in  the  shape  of 
Hoyts  entered  the  field,  LTnion  fol- 
lowed, and  today,  that  combine  is  di- 
vided into  three  subsidiary  companies 
of  Union  Theatres.  What  Hoyts  and 
Union  have  done,  should  not  be  be- 
yond the  compass  of   Fullers. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Capitol  in  Rochester 
Slashes  Price  Scale 

Rochester.  N.  Y. — The  Capitol, 
downtown  Comerford  house,  has 
slashed  to  25  cents  daily  and  35  cents 
S  iturdays,  Sundays  and  holidays. 
C  hildren's  admission  was  set  at  10 
ci;nts  for  all  time. 

The  Monroe,  neighborhood  house, 
has  returned  to  a  single-feature  policy 
after  a  survey  of  patrons. 


The  Critics  Say 


'The  Star  Witness' 


■  Warners. 


AMERICAN — "The  picture  starts  with 
a  bang.  It  is  a  good  story,  excellently  told; 
there  are  laughs  mingled  with  its  tragic  fac- 
tions, and  not  a  little  inspiration  to  be  bet- 
ter American  citi-ens.  Warners  have  clicked 
again." 

MIRROR — "A  story  made  doubly  impres- 
sive by  its  timeliness.  Acted  by  a  company 
of  brilliant  stars,  directed  with  imagination, 
written  with  punch,  'The  Star  Witness'  is 
thrilling  entertainment.  Chic  Sale  plays  this 
character  role  remarkably.  Walter  Huston 
is  magnificent.  Frances  Starr  and  Grant 
Mitchell^  appear  to  splendid  advantage.  'The 
Star  Witness'  is  good,  strong  stuff  and  a 
vastly  entertaining  picture." 

DAILY  NEWS— *** (Three  Stars)  ''The 
new  production  is  in  for  a  run  as  it  is 
made  of  the  stuff  that  popular  pictures  are 
made   of." 

GRAPHIC — "A  definite  message  in  its 
plot  and  a  significant  message  in  its  timely 
unreeling.  Has  its  power  in  the  conviction 
that  the  tragic  events  which  occur  in  the 
family  in  'The  Star  Witness'  might  have 
happened  to  any  domestic  group  living  in 
any  community  today." 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— 'Wo<  only  timely, 
but  moving  and  dramatic.  Here  certainly  is 
the  stuff  of  effective  drama." 

JOURNAL — "A  vivid  screen  drama  that 
parallels  grim  fact.  Its  plea,  its  patriotism, 
its  theme  is  the  conflict  between  law-abiders 
and  law-breakers,  and  its  appeal  is  power- 
ful.   The  story  is  filled  with  suspense." 

POST — "Comes  uncomfortably  close  to 
the  truth.  The  cast  is  e.rcellent.  Merits 
public  attention,  as  the  silence  of  witnesses 
in  recent  murder  outbreaks  in  New  York 
would   seem   to  indicate   quite  clearly." 

SUN — "A  vivid,  arrestinn  picture,  a  dif- 
ferent phase  of  the  crime  problem.  'The 
Star  Witness'  is  not  essentially  a  gangster 
picture  for  it  deals  almost  solely  with  the 
seemingly  hopeless  task  confronting  a  district 
attorney.  Sure-fire  lines  which  go  over  bio 
with  the  audience.  It  moves  rapidly,  it  is 
e.xciting,   it  is   well   acted." 

TELEGRAPH  — "r/ie  picture  packs  a 
punch  with  pathos  and  humor  and  clicks 
along  in  one,  two,  three  order.  It  is  one  of 
the  best  cast  films  on  the  whole  seen  in  some 
time.  Its  direction  is  more  than  able,  it  is 
on  the  order  of  quiet  effectiveness  which 
smacks  of  brilliance.  Also  the  dialogue  is 
fresh.    Picture  of  merit." 

TIMES — "A  well-knit  melodrama  with  an 
effective  vein  of  sentiment.  As  an  enter- 
tainment  it  is  highly  successful." 

WORLD-TELEGRAM- ■■Onf  of  the  hard- 
est-hitting melodramas  to  come  this  way  in 
a  long  time  is  'The  Star  Witness.'  Con- 
stantly (iriptnng,  thrilling  and  powerful 
document.    First  rate  entertainment. 


'Traveling  Husbands' 

RKO-Radio 


AMERICAN— **»TA?  story  is  real  good 
melodrama,  and  no  silly  comedy  about 
drummers. 

DAILY  MIRROR— Entertaining.  This 
is  quite  a  serious  melodrama,  though  it  is 
deftly    spiked    with    comedy. 

DAILY  NEWS — Gin  orgies,  whoopee 
parties,  gun-play,  all  figure  in  this  fan- 
tastic   mediocre    plot. 

GRAPHIC — "Traveling  Husbands"  is 
the  fast-moi*ing  melodrama  turned  out  in  a 
finished  manner,  and  for  its  type  is  c.v- 
ccllent   film    fare   for   summer    audiences. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— **T;if  picture 

does  move  smoothly  and  with  considerable 
vigor  and  despite  its  faults,  it  is  lively  and 
engaging.  For  one  thing,  it  is  almost  en- 
tirely   without    pretension. 

JOURNAL — Numerous  side-issues  in- 
volve the  plot  to  such  an  extent  that  every 
nozv   and    then    it    trios   itself   up. 

POST — The  life  of  a  traveling  salesman 
is  a  lound  of  card  games  on  trains  and 
one  girl  friend  after  another  between  en- 
counters  with  "tough  prospects"  in  the 
business  world,  if  "Traz'eling  Husbands"  is 
to   be  accepted   as  an  accurate  portrayal. 

SUN — Starting  out  as  if  it  were  to  be  a 
comedy,  the  plot  wanders  hither  and  yon 
through  a  series  of  uninteresting  happen- 
ings, only  to  wind  up  as  melodrama  at  its 
7vorst'""'It   is   all  very   sad. 

WORLD-TELEGRAM— ^i  pathetic  as 
the  plight  of  the  salesmen  it  portrays  the 
new  tenant  at  the  Mayfair  does,  however, 
occasionally,  flash  a  few  moments  of  amuse- 
ment and  entertainment,  but  the  lapses  in 
between    are    much    too    long    for    comfort. 


'Young  As  You  Feel' 


Fox 


AMERICAN- 7"/if  vehicle  fits  the  home- 
spun humor  of  the  star  as  though  Mr.  Ade 
had  fashioned  it  to  order''** 

DAILY  MIRROR— /i  dandy.  You'll  en- 
loy  it. 

DAILY  NEWS— r/ii>  latest  Will  Rog- 
ers isn't  a  hilariously  funny  play,  but  its 
rather  quiet  but  obvious  humor  will  appeal 
to   a   large   audience. 

GRAPHIC— -.^j  Young  As  You  Feel" 
labors  under  a  dull  story  and  inane  dia- 
logue. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE  —  **''"Young  As 
You  Feel  is  an  ideal  Rogers  vehicle,  for 
whether  or  not  vou  will  enjoy  it  depends  on 
your   attitude  toward   the   star. 

JOURNAL — Rogers  enthusiasts  -mU  no 
doubt  find  it  entertaining  although  it  isn't 
quite  up  to  the  standard  of  his  previous 
productions. 

TELEGRAPH — It  is  not  a  great  picture. 
The  plot   IS  simple  and  easy  to  see  through 

WORLL-TFLEGR-AM  —  The  friiiht  he 
throws  into  his  two  children  and  his  faith- 
ful business  manager  as  he  goes  aallivanting 
around  nightclubs  and  speakeasies,  the  race- 
tracks, and  buying  expensive  presents  for 
Ins  prettv  companion  provides  most  of  the 
.jtorv's  complications  and  what  few  amus- 
ing  moments  it  has.. 

,^  J^t'N — //  you   are  on  our  slide  you'll  find 
Young   As    You    Frel"    e.rcellent   entertain- 
ment. 

POST — "Young  As  You  Feel"  is  an 
casy-gouig   pleasant   film,  all  around. 


'Huckleberry  Finn' 


Paramount . 


A.MERICAN — "For  pleasant,  gentle  en- 
tertainment, you'll  have  to  shop  a  lot  to 
beat   "Huckleberry  Finn." 

DAILY  MIRROR—^  knockout.  Better 
than    "Tom  Sawyer." 

DAILY  NEWS — The  situations  are  not 
quite  so  funny,  nor  are  Hack's  and  Tom's 
adventures    so    exciting. 

GRAPHIC — "Huckleberry  Finn"  is  re- 
freshing in  its  suhject***it  should  repeat 
tne  success   of   "Tom    Sawyer"*** 

HERALD-TRIBtnSIE- f/ig  eagerly  await- 
ed version  of  "Huckleberry  Finn"  arrived 
at  the  two  Paramount  Theatres  yesterday 
■where  It  proved  a  grievous  disappoint- 
ment*** 

J_OURNAL — Children  will  enjoy  this  one 
and  there  were  plenty  of  laughs  from  the 
more    adult    members*** 

POST— ***this  movie,  to  say  the  least, 
disappointing*** 

SUN — "Huckleberry  Finn"  as  enjoyable 
as  it  ts.  docs  not  seem  quite  as  qood  as 
"Tom  Sawycr"***At  any  rate,  you'll  have 
a  aood  time  at   "Huckleberry  Finn"*** 

WORLD-TELEGRAM— ***</!a<  some  of 
Twain's  sensitive  quality  has  been  recap- 
tured, but  on  the  whole  "Huckleberry  Finn" 
IS  a  disappointment. 


AMERICAN—^;/  in  all,  scarcely  excit- 
ing— but  "a  cute  little  picture"  none  the 
less. 

DAILY  MIRROR— Good  fun.  A  very 
entertctining   movie. 

DAILY  NEWS— r/i(?  color  effect  and 
setting  arc  the   best  features  of  the  picture. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE  —  ***it  is  rather 
frothy  entertainment,  the  thinness  of  its 
substance  being  bridged  over  somewhat  by 
li«C  ^'"'^''''''y   of   Mary   Brian's   performance 

POST — ***presents  a  brand  of  practical 
humor  which  for  sheer  grotesquery  ranks 
with  the  most  vivid  examples  in  that  line 
that  Hollywood  has  ever  turned  out. 

SUN — A  woefully  feeble  and  hackneyed 
story***Thcrc's  really  no  excuse  whatsoever 
for    "The    Ruiwrnund." 

TEI  KGRAPn— It's  quite  orderly  and 
co'^'mei'dable. 

JOURNAL — One  of  those  amiably  divert- 
inn  fcatherweinht  films  known  as  "light 
sui""ier  rtttrrtainmcnt"*** 

GRAPHIC — ***a  mildly  amusina,  fairly 
ron'^*^tJr .    govrieonsly   tinted  love    tale*'*'* 

WORLD  TELEGRAM  —  A  generally 
feeble  .story,  made  more  unreal  by  some 
silly  and  inane  dialogue  and  characteriza- 
tion that  hark  back  to  the  movies'  original 
infancy*** 


Seattle  Fall 
Season  Gets 
Into  Stride 

Seattle — With  Fox  West  Coast 
Theatres  heralding  "The  Big  Parade 
of  New  Product"  and  the  RKO 
Orpheum  magnates  advertising  "Good 
Times  Show  Month,"  the  fall  film 
season  is  apparently  well  under  way 
here,  about  three  to  four  weeks  in  ad- 
vance of  the  usual  fall  opening. 

Large  institutional  ads  by  the  RKO 
house  listed  "The  Common  Law," 
"Dirigible,"  "The  Miracle  Woman" 
and  "The  Public  Defender"  as  the 
first  four  of  the  new  season's  coming 
attractions.  Vaudeville,  as  usual,  will 
also  be  featured. 

Fox  West  Coast  retaliated  with 
"Politics"  as  the  attraction  that 
opened  the  Fox  Paramount  theatre 
last  week,  "Son  of  India"  now  current 
at  the  same  house,  and  "Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" packing  patrons  into  the  Fox 
Fifth  Avenue.  "Sporting  Blood," 
"Huckleberry  Finn"  and  other  attrac- 
tions are  listed  for  August  showing  at 
the  Paramount,  and  the  next  attraction 
at  the  Fifth  Avenue  will  be  Will 
Rogers'  "Young  as  You  Feel." 

John  Hamrick  is  planning  the  in- 
auguration of  his  fall  season  at  the 
Music  Box  theatre  within  the  next 
three  weeks,  and  it  is  considered  prob- 
able that  he  will  open  his  Blue  Mouse 
theatre  again  early  in  September. 
The  house  has  been  dark  for  the  last 
several  weeks  as  a  result  of  mediocre 
patronage. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Toronto  Carnival  Lid 
Reclamped  by  City 

ToKONTO — The  old  carnival  trouble 
has  broken  out  afresh  in  Toronto 
with  the  appearance  of  a  Boyd  tent 
show  at  Willowvale  Park.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  the  year  there  was  an 
"understanding"  that  no  carnivals 
would  be  permitted  to  play  Toronto. 

Officials  of  the  Canadian  Legion 
overcame  the  obstacle,  however,  and  a 
carnival  slipped  into  the  park.  There 
was  a  mild  protest  from  exhibitors. 
When  the  carnival  applied  for  an  ex- 
tension of  two  weeks,  after  a  run  of 
two  weeks,  there  was  a  real  howl 
from  the  exhibitors. 

Largely  on  this  account,  the  Toronto 
Board  of  Control  gave  the  carnival 
only  one  week  more  and  then  re- 
clamped the  lid.  The  license  fee  for 
carnivals  is  only  $50,  and  they  used 
to  stay  as  long  as  they  liked.  The 
nearest  exhibitor  to  the  Willowvale 
Park  pointed  out  to  the  mayor  that  he 
paid  $5,000  a  year  in  taxes. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"f/"  Would  Collect  on 
"King  of  Jazz's"  Eats 

Chicago — Paul  Whiteman's  food 
bills  which,  it  is  alleged,  were  charged 
to  Universal  when  the  band  leader  was 
working  on  "The  King  of  Jazz,"  fig- 
ure prominently  in  a  suit  for  $1,500 
filed  in  Circuit  Court  here  against 
Whiteman  by  attorneys  for  Universal. 

Only  the  precept  of  the  suit  has 
been  filed,  but  Universal's  attorneys 
explained  that  countless  items  of  food, 
telephone  calls,  telegrams,  and  tuxedos 
for  members  of  Whiteman's  band, 
were  paid  for  by  the  studio,  which  has 
since  been  unable  to  collect  from 
U'hiteman,  they  charge. 


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MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  August   14,    1931 


25  More  Chi 
Houses  Dark 
Next  Monday 


{Continued  from  page   1) 

yesterday  with  the  owners  running 
their  own  machines.  Heavy  police 
guard  was  given  these  houses,  oper- 
ated by  Gallos  Brothers,  Ray  Broth- 
ers  and    Pola    Brothers. 

The  theatres  of  the  Gallos  Broth- 
ers, Ray  and  Polka  Brothers'  Pick- 
wick, Deerpath  and  DesPlaines.  Sev- 
eral others  are  reported  to  have 
picked  up  shows  at  exchanges  yester- 
day   preparatory   to   following   suit. 

The  weather  here  all  week  has  been 
cool  and  business  at  outlying  houses 
is  excellent,  encouraging  numbers  to 
run  their  own  machines  relying  on 
police  protection. 

Today  the  union  will  discuss  a  one- 
man-in-the-booth    proposal    but    little 
hope  is  held  out  for  a  settlenunit. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Film  Career  Abroad 
For  Chi  Gangster 

Chic.xoo — Edward  "Spike''  O'Don- 
nell,  alleged  Chicago  gangster  and 
beer  baron  of  the  city's  South  Side, 
has  been  improving  his  time  lately  in 
endeavoring  to  convert  a  "dese"  and 
"dose"  vocabulary  into  the  King's 
English,  preparatory  to  beginning  a 
film  career  in  England.  At  least, 
that's  Spike's  story. 

Chicago  police,  commenting  on  the 
report  that  Spike  would  leave  Chicago 
this  week  for  British  film  studios, 
said:  "We  are  elated  to  hear  of 
Spike's  plans  for  a  trip  to  England. 
Whether  or  not  a  movie  contract  is 
the  reason  for  his  exodus  makes  little 
difference  so  long  as  he  leaves." 

Police  intimated  a  belief  that  cer- 
tain factions  contesting  the  South 
Side  beer  business  might  be  the  -pri- 
mary reason  for  Spike's  departure. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Wampas  Pick  Stars 

Hollywood  —  Warners  with  Joan 
Blondell  and  Marian  Marsh,  Para- 
mount with  Frances  Dee  and  Judith 
Wood,  and  M-G-M  with  Joan  Marsh 
and  Karen  Morley  lead  in  the  election 
of  1931  Wampa  baby  stars.  Others 
chosen  by  the  Coast  publicity  men  as 
steUar  material  are  Sidney  Fox  of 
Universal,  Constance  Cummings  of 
Columbia,  Frances  Dade,  independent ; 
Rochelle  Hudson  of  Radio,  Marion 
Shilling  of  RKO  Pathe,  and  Barbara 
Weeks  of  United  Artists  and  Anita 
Loos,  under  contract  to  Charles  Rog- 
ers. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Features  Family  Nights 

Onawa,  la. — The  Onawa  Opera 
house  is  featuring  "family  night"  four 
nights  per  week  at  35  cents  for  the 
entire    household. 


Using  Marquees 

Chicago — .Marquees  of  their 
theatres  are  being  used  by  in- 
dependent exhibitors  in  their 
fight  for  one  -  man  -  in  -  the  - 
booth.  "Unfair  Demands  of 
the  Operators*  Union  Closed 
This  'Theatre"  is  one  of  the 
signs  used  in  the  changeable 
letters   on    marquees. 


So  the  Public  May  Know — 

The  unreasonable  demands  of  the  Motion  Picture  Operators  Union 
have  reached  a  climax — dictators  in  control  of  this  union  are  attempt- 
ing to  place  a  burden  on  the  motion  picture  theatre  owners  of  such 
excessive  nature  that,  in  times  like 'these,  it  is  nothing  short  of  actual 
confiscation   of   our   business. 

Rather  than  accede  to  these  demands  we  are  closing  our  theatres, 
numbering    over    one    hundred    tonight. 

So  that  the   public   may  know,   here  are  the  facts: 

The  .Motion  Picture  Operators'  Union  has  decreed  that  two  men  be 
in  the  operator's  booth  at  all  times  at  salaries  ranging  from  $90.00  to 
$175.00  per  week  per  man  for  only  thirty-two  to  forty-five  hours  of 
employment   weekly. 

This  demand  is  unreasonable,  as  only  one  operator  is  necessary  to 
operate  the  projection  machines.  In  fact,  over  12,000  motion  picture 
theatres  in  the  United  States  are  operating  efficiently  and  safely  with 
one  operator. 

In  other  words,  the  Motion  Picture  Operators'  Union  demands  that 
we  employ  and  pay  two  men  at  high  salaries  to  do  the  work  of  ONE. 

We  ask  you  to  bear  with  us  in  our  fight  for  fair  play.  We  have  no 
quarrel  with  union  labor.  We  want  you.  the  public,  to  support  the 
action  taken  by  us  as  motion  picture  theatre  owners.  Any  reasonable 
person  can  see  that  it  is  unfair.  un-American,  and  unjust  to  demand 
that  we  employ  two  men  to  do  the  work  of  ONE. 

Upon  receipt  of  twelve  hours'  notice  that  the  operators'  union  will 
furnish  one  union  operator  per  shift,  we  will  reopen  our  theatres  and 
thereby  put  back  to  work  several  thousand  innocent  employes  who 
have  been  thrown  out  of  work  because  of  the  unreasonable  demands 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Operators'  Union. 

After  tonight's  performance  the  theatres  listed  below  will  remain 
Closed  Until  Further  Notice. 


Adams 

Des    Plaines 

Imperial 

Plaza 

Armitage 

Drexel 

Jackson    Park 

Public 

Argmore 

Easterly 

Kimbark 

Prairie 

Acadia 

Emmett 

Lucille 

Parkside 

Avaloe 

Elmo 

Lincoln    (State) 

Ridge 

Alvin 

Elston 

Lake    Shore 

Roxy 

Admiral 

Famous 

Langley 

Ritz 

American 

Franklin 

Lane    Court 

Rogers 

Adelphi 

Gaelic 

Lexington 

Rav 

Austin 

Garfield 

La    Salle    ( Div. 

St. )  Rainbow 

Alcyon 

Gem 

Music    Box 

Rex 

Bertha 

Grant 

Milford 

Rose 

Banner 

Grand 

Madlin 

States 

Burnside 

Halsted 

Mable 

Standard 

Bryn    Mawr 

Harrison 

Milda 

Temple 

Bell 

Hollywood 

New    Strand 

Villas 

California 

Hamlin 

Newberrv 

\'ision 

Century 

Hub 

New   Drake 

Vista 

Crown    Hipp 

Hawthorne 

New    Regent 

Villard 

Clearing 

Harmony    (43rd) 

National 

White    Palace 

Calo 

Halsted    (61st) 

Oak 

Willard 

Clermont 

Harmony    (Division) 

Olympia 

Wabash 

Casimir 

Irving    (Halsted) 

Oakley 

Wallace 

Commodore 

Independence 

Orchard 

Deerpath 

Ideal 

Orpheus 

De  Luxe 

Indiana 

Pickwick 

INDEPENDENT  THEATRE  OWNERS 


The  above  advertisement  which  appeared  in  Chicago  newspapers  is  typical 
of  the  effort  being  made  by  Chicago  independents  to  win  public  sympathy 
in  the  present  controversy. 


Public  Opinion  Counted  on 
By  Exhibs  in  Chicago  Fight 


CiiiCAco — Public  opinion  is  counted 
upon  by  independent  exhibitors  to  aid 
them  in  their  fight  against  the  two- 
man  edict  of  the  operators'  union. 

Coming  on  the  heels  of  the  state's 
attorney's  investigation,  which  re- 
sulted in  indictments  against  unign 
officials,  the  present  fight  found  ex- 
hibitors in  a  strong  strategic  posi- 
tion, so  far  as  the  public  viewpoint 
is  concerned.  This  is  expected  to 
offset  the  natural  sympathy  here  for 
the  cause  of  unionism. 

Advertisements  in  the  newspapers 
are  being  employed  by  theatre  owners 
to  bring  their  side  of  the  case  to  pub- 
lic attention.  A  plea  for  public  aid  in 
the  fight  against  what  exhibitors  say 
amounts  almost  to  confiscation  of  their 
business  is  being  made. 


Suspect  in  Operator 
Shooting  Released 

Chicago — "Red"  Donovan,  alleged 
gunman,  arrested  last  week  and 
charged  with  the  murder  of  Jacob 
Kaufman,  insurgent  member  of  the 
Chicago  Operators'  union,  who  was 
shot  to  death  just  prior  to  testifying 
in  the  grand  jury  investigation  of  the 
union  last  month,  has  been  released. 
Witnesses  failed  to  identify  Donovan 
as  the  slayer  of  Kaufman,  and  ballis- 
tics tests  showed  that  guns  seized  in 
Donovan's  possession  had  not  fired 
the  bullet  which  killed  the  union  oper- 
ator. 


Protest  Meet 
Is  Called  for 
By  Exhibs 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

sed  their   intention  of  being  on  hand 
for  the  proposed  sessions. 

The  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware 
exhibitors  are  angered  over  M-G-M's 
declared  stipulation  that  19  specials 
be  played  on  percentage  ranging  from 
30  to  35  per  cent,  plus  the  score 
charge.  Days  of  the  week  on  which 
pictures  are  to  be  played  also  are 
stipulated,  they  assert. 

Say  25   Percentage  Top 

Independent  exhibitors,  it  is  con- 
tended by  the  Philadelphia  zone  unit, 
cannot  make  money  paying  more  than 
25  per  cent  percentage  and  aver  that 
the  circuit  pay  only  from  20  to  25 
per  cent  and  no  score  charge.  They 
are  fearful  that  if  "M-G-M  gets  away 
with  it,"  other  companies  will  seek 
similar  contract  terms. 

A  letter  of  protest  sent  by  the 
Pennsylvania  and  Delaware  exhibi- 
tors to  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  M-G-M 
president,  brought  the  reply  that  the 
company  is  trying  to  conduct  its  busi- 
ness on  a  basis  it  considers  fair. 


Neither  Joseph  M.  Schenck  nor 
Felix  Feist  could  be  reached  yester- 
day for  a  statement. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Add  Stage  Shows  in 
Four  Ohio  Theatres 

Columbus — Stage  shows  will  be 
added  to  four  spots  in  this  territory 
within  the  next  few  weeks.  RKO 
Palace  here  goes  vaudefilm  August 
22,  with  RKO  Keith's,  Dayton,  to  fol- 
low shortly  thereafter.  Civic  organi- 
zations both  here  and  in  Dayton  have 
been  agitating  the  question  for  sev- 
eral months,  and  have  forwarded  peti- 
tions with  thousands  of  signers  to 
RKO  executives.  The  Cambridge 
Amusement  Co.,  will  inaugurate 
vaudefilm  policies  in  their  houses  at 
Cambridge  and  Marietta,  Ohio,  book- 
ing out  of  the  Gus  Sun  office  at 
Springfield,  beginning  August  17. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Unique  Theatre 

Columbus — Ohio's  most  unique 
theatre  has  been  built  by  Robert  Wolf, 
owner  of  the  Ohio  State  Journal  and 
Columbus  Dispatch,  at  his  country 
estate  near  here.  It  is  a  cabin  con- 
structed entirely  from  discarded  tele- 
graph and  telephone  poles,  has  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  30,  and  is  completely 
equipped  including  RCA  Phototone. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lining  Up  Franchises 

Franchise  holders  for  distribution 
of  Meyer-Rieger  trailers  are  now  be- 
ing lined  up  with  contracts  expected 
to  be  signed  shortly.  Provided  any  of 
the  28  planned  territories  cannot  be 
disposed  of,  the  company  will  open  its 
own  sales  offices.  New  York  will  be 
handled  by  the  home  office.  Fran- 
chises are  being  sold  for  five  years  on 
a  sliding  scale. 


Friday,  August    14,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


^Huckleberry' 
Packs  Two  in 
Denver  Seats 


Total  $51,000  for  5  Theatres 


Denver — Business  this  week  has 
been  on  the  upgrade  with  only  one 
house  below  last  week.  "Huckleberry 
Finn"  was  the  winner  for  the  Denver, 
chalking  up  $18,000  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  12,000  children  saw  the  film 
free.  It  was  necessary  to  run  three 
shows  with  two  kids  in  a  seat  and  the 
theatre  was  late  that  day  in  opening 
for  paid  customers. 

After  a  fine  week  at  the  Paramount, 
"Politics"  was  moved  to  the  Rialto, 
where  it  got  good  business. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  13  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"HUCKLEBERRY     FINN"     (Para.) 

DENVER— (2,.?ai),  25c-.!5c-65c,  7  days. 
Milt  Fraiiklyn  and  Fanclion  &  Marca 
"Vacation  Davs"  Idea;  Fred  Schmitt  and 
orchestra.  Gross:      $18,000.  (Average. 

$15,000.) 

"THE    MIRACLE    WOMAN"    (Col.) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1,500).  35c- 
50c-75c,    7    days.      Gross:    $7,000.      (Average, 

$7.c;o.) 

"A    WOMAN    OF    EXPERIENCE" 
(RKO-Pathe) 

HUFFMAN'S     TABOR— (1,900).     25c-35c- 
50c,   7  days.   Gross:  $9,000.  (Average.  $10,000.) 
"THE   PUBLIC   DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,r,00).  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.      Gross:     $12,000.       (Average.    $11,000.) 

"POUTICS"    (M-G-M) 

RIALTO— (1,040),  25c-35c-50c  (2nd  run), 
7    days.      Gross:    $5,000.      (Average,    $3,750.) 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 


Ten  Cent  Seats  Are 
Vogue  in  St.  Paul 

St.  Paul — St.  Paul,  with  only  four 
first  run  houses  but  with  nearly  a 
score  of  second  run  and  neighborhood 
theatres,  now  finds  a  generous  fare  of 
ten  cent  movies.  Both  the  Garrick 
and  the  Lyceum  are  advertising  seats 
at  ten  cents  any  time.  For  the  first 
two  days  of  the  week  the  Garrick  of- 
fers "Little  Accident"  and  the  Ly- 
ceum "Wise  Girls." 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW 

Ohio  Theatres  Enlist 
Patrons  in  Blue  Rift 

East  Liverpool,  O. — With  Sunday 
shows  in  operation  this  week  for  the 
first  time  in  the  city's  history,  all 
theatres  carried  slides  urging  patrons 
to  support  Sunday  movies  when  they 
go  to  the  polls  Nov.  3  to  vote  on  a 
prohibitory  ordinance  recently  passed 
as  a  result  of  activities  by  the  Sunday 
Observance  Association.  Petitions  for 
submission  of  the  question  to  a  vote 
of  the  people  have  been  signed  by 
1,600  voters. 

"BUY    RIGHT— BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Business  Good  in 
N.  O.;  Price  Boosted 

New  Orleans — The  Tudor,  a  Pub- 
lix  house,  anticipates  increased  busi- 
ness this  fall  and  winter  and  has  ad- 
vanced its  night  prices  to  50  cents. 
Theatrical  business  in  New  Orleans 
has  suffered  no  slump. 


Chase  Official  New 
Executive  at  Fox 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

Chase  National  Bank.  However,  in 
view  of  his  activities  with  the  Chase 
interests  and  the  large  Chase  inter- 
est in  Fox  financing  it  is  to  be  as- 
sumed that  Richardson  will  be  given 
duties  in  that  connection  with  the 
Fox  organization.  If  he  is  to  be 
added  to  the  roster  of  Fox  vice  presi- 
dents it  will  entail  the  usual  con- 
firmatory vote  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors. Earlier  in  the  week  Richard 
A.  Rowland  was  made  a  vice  presi- 
dent. 

It  is  understood  that  this  addition 
to  the  financial  staff  of  the  corpora- 
tion in  nowise  affects  the  position  or 
responsibilities  of  W.  C.  Michel,  vice 
president  and  treasurer,  with  whom, 
presumably  Richardson  will  work. 
What  with  the  multiplicity  of  Fox 
activities  and  the  scope  of  problems 
involved  now  in  production,  distribu- 
tion and  exhibition  this  increase  in 
executive  personnel  may  be  taken  as 
nothing  more  serious  than  an  endeav- 
or  to  get   more   work  done. 

Richardson  spent  Thursday  in  con- 
ferences bearing  on  his  new  connec- 
tion. He  will  formally  take  over  his 
new   post   next   week. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Rinzler  and  Frisch 

Seek  18  in  L.  I. 

(Continued    from    fane    1) 

with  Fox  for  the  18  Long  Island 
houses.  The  deal  for  the  Long  Island 
theatres  is  said  to  involve  $2,500,000, 
of  which  $1,000,000  in  cash  is  de- 
manded as  a  deposit.  B.  S.  Moss  also 
is  said  to  be  a  bidder  for  the  houses. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Copyright  Suits  Are 
Filed  in  New  Orleans 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

copyright  laws  and  reflect  the  activity 
of  the  Copyright  Protection  Bureau  in 
this  territory.  A  minimum  of  $250 
damages  for  each  day  on  which  films 
concerned  allegedly  were  played  with- 
out authorization  is  asked. 

"BUY    RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Color  Film  Return 
Predicted  by  Nemec 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

has  a  contract  to  make  25  shorts  in 
Cuba  for  the  island  government,  and 
is  awaiting  outcome  of  the  current 
revolution  before  making  production 
plans. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Niles  Theatre  Destroyed 

Anamosa,  la. — Fire  of  unknown 
origin  destroyed  the  Niles  Theatre 
here,  operated  by  Clifford  L.  Niles, 
head  of  the  ."Mlied  Iowa  unit.  He 
plans  to  rebuild. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Free  Shows  Out 

Gulfpokt,  Miss. — Due  to  inability 
to  finance  the  proposition,  free  pic- 
tures at  the  city  park  have  been  dis- 
continued. A  show  will  be  given, 
however,  on  Labor  Day. 


"Politics"  Sets 

Portland  Mark 

With  $18,000 


Total  $44,800  for  5  Theatres 


Portland — "Politics"  cracked  the 
record  at  the  Fox  Paramount,  jump- 
ing the  gross  to  $18,000,  or  $6,000 
above  average.  "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" at  the  Fox  Broadway  showed 
great  strength,  giving  that  house 
$8,500,  which  rated  a  holdover. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  12  and  year-round  weekly 
averages  : 

"THE    SMILING    LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

FOX  BROADWAY— (1.912),  25c-50c,  7 
days.      Gross:    $8,500.      (Average,    $5,00C'.) 

"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 

FOX  RIALTO— (1,498),  25c-35c,  4  days. 
Gross:    $1,300.       (Average   for    week,   $'4,000. ) 

"THE    SECRET   CALL"    (Para.) 

FOX  RIALTO— (1,498),  25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $1,500.      (Average    for   week,   $4,000.) 

"THE   RECKLESS   HOUR"    (F.   N.) 

HAM  RICK'S  MUSIC  BOX— (1,800).  35c. 
7    days.      Gro.ss:    $5,000.      (Average,    $4.000 ) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

FOX  PARAMOUNT— (3.068),  25c-60c,  7 
davs.  F.  &  M.'s  "Hacienda"  Idea.  Gross: 
$18.CC0.      (Average,    $12,C00.) 

"THE    PUBLIC    DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (1,700),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average, 
$10,003.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Fear  Raise  of  5% 
In  Australian  Tax 

SvDNEY — The  industry  here  will  be 
faced  with  a  burden  of  about  another 
$300,000  a  year  when  the  Federal 
government  brings  down  its  new  taxa- 
tion proposals.  It  is  proposed  that 
the  existing  primage  duty  of  Zyi  per 
cent  be  raised  to  10  per  cent,  and,  ac- 
cepting this  year's  footage  as  about 
the  same  as  that  of  last,  another 
$412,915  will  have  to  be  found,  repre- 
senting an  increase  of  $309,690. 

According  to  estimates,  gross  rentals 
in  Australia  for  1930-31  will  amount 
to  $6,000,000.  On  that  basis,  the  pro- 
posed primage  is  tantamount  to  an 
additional  tax  of  5  per  cent  on  film 
here.  The  taxation  burden  here  is 
reaching  impossible  proportions. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Judge  Rules  Buyers 
Must  Keep  Operator 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

were  in  court  to  cheer  the  order,  which 
held  a  contract  by  the  former  owner 
to  be  binding  on  Johnson.  Bond  for 
a  stay  was  denied.  Three  other 
houses  here  are  being  picketed  by  the 
union. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT    BUY    NOW" 

Settles  Waco  Strike; 
Three  Houses  Reopen 

Waco,  Tex. — J.  A.  Lemke,  owner 
of  tliree  theatres  here,  has  re-opened 
his  houses,  closed  for  several  weeks 
because  he  refused  to  concede  to  the 
union  projectionists'  demand.  Several 
conferences  with  union  officials  re- 
sulted in  an  agreement. 


Steady  Rise 
Of  Grosses 
In  Key  Spots 


Consistent  upward  trend  is  reflected 
in  the  grosses  of  163  first  run  houses 
in  28  cities,  which  totaled  $2,197,236 
for  the  week  ending  last  Thursday  and 
Friday,  as  against  |2,044,6%  for  the 
preceding  week,  an  increase  of  $152,- 
540.  Incidentally  164  theatres  con- 
tributed to  the  total  of  two  weeks  ago, 
while  only  163  are  included  in  the  total 
of  last  week. 

Of  especial  significance  is  a  com- 
parison of  grosses  for  these  houses 
over  a  period  of  five  weeks,  as  given 
below. 


No.  of 

Week 

Gross 

Theatres 

ending 

167 

July     9-10 

$1,987,789 

166 

July  16-17 

1,889,523 

164 

Julv  23-24 

1,992,433 

164 

July  30-31 

2,044,696 

163 

July     6-  7 

2,197,236 

In  analyzing  the  above  figures  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  week 
ending  July  9  and  10  included  167 
theatres,  the  largest  number  reported, 
and  also  that  the  Fourth  of  July 
week-end  was  a  factor  in  boosting  the 
attendance.  Starting  with  the  follow- 
ing week  there  has  been  a  steady  in- 
crease each  week,  the  week  ending 
August  6  and  7  topping  that  of  July  16 
and  17  by  $307,713,  or  a  mean  average 
of  $1,875  per  theatre,  weekly. 

Detailed  figures  for  the  week  ending 
last  Thursday  and  Friday  are : 

City  No.  Theatres     Gross 

Albany      4  $24^60 

Baltimore      7  70,200 

Boston     8  154,500 

Butfalo     5  84,700 

Charlotte      2  19,700 

Chicago     8  186,840 

Cincinnati     7  68,794 

Cleveland     6  107,500 

Denver     5  53,000 

Des    Moines    3  22,300 

Houston     4  28,400 

Indianapolis     5  39,500 

Kansas    Citv    5  64^000 

Los    Angeles    12  147,570 

Minneapolis      5  56,450 

Montreal     6  48,600 

Milwaukee     6  67,800 

New    Vork   City 12  357,572 

Oklahoma    Citv    4  24,300 

Omaha     4  31,850 

Ottawa     4  15,450 

Philadelphia     8  130,750 

Portland      5  41,200 

Providence     5  46,500 

San    Francisco    8  155,000 

Seattle     6  58,500 

St.    Paul     4  33,400 

Toronto     5  58,500 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Single  Features 

Get  Albany  Test 

Albany — Single  features  in  week 
stands  will  be  the  policy  next  week 
and  possibly  longer,  depending  upon 
results,  at  the  Ritz,  which  has  been 
running  double  feature  bills  on  a  split 
week  policy.  Meanwhile,  its  sister 
house,  the  Strand,  is  dark  while  a 
cooling  system   is  being  installed. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Carnival  Ban  Is 

Voted  in  Omaha 

Omaha — No  more  carnivals  will 
play  Omaha  this  year,  the  city  coun- 
cil has  decreed  on  the  motion  of  May- 
or Metcalfe.  They  bring  in  too  many 
grafters  and  take  out  too  much  local 
1  money,  the  council  decided. 


y/ 


BAD  GIRL  Unites  All 


An  EDITOR  . . . 


"Exhibitors  everywhere  should  insist  upon  getting  BAD  GIRL. 
It  is  a  triumph  for  the  FOX  production  forces.  As  tender  in 
spots  as  7TH  HEAVEN,  rich  in  the  human  quality  that 
makes  the  real  Borzage  picture  something  more  than  just  a  pic- 
ture, BAD  GIRL  is  an  achievement  that  will  renew  our  faith 
in  the  art  of  the  screen.  There  was  a  lump  in  my  throat  nearly 
all  the  time  I  was  viewing  the  picture,  and  when  James  Dunn 
implores  the  great  doctor  to  take  the  confinement  case,  I  broke 
down  and  cried.  He  gives  a  magnificent  exhibition  of  emotional 
acting.  If  you  can  watch  that  scene  and  speak  within  five  min- 
utes after  it  is  over,  you  are  hard-boiled." 

— Welford  Beaton  in  the  Hollywood  Spectator 


A  THEATRE  OWNER  . 


"I  consider  BAD  GIRL  the  greatest  human  interest  picture  ever 
made.  Eilers  and  Dunn  combination  knockout.  Winnie  Sheehan 
certainly  was  a  bit  too  modest  in  praising  this  picture." 

— Max  Balahan 


n  Greatest  Ace 


m 


A  PUBLISHER  ... 

"Caught  BAD  GIRL  without  a  doubt  the  most  outstanding 
human  document  since  the  advent  of  the  talkies,  a  real  two  dollar 
picture.  If  it  were  my  picture  I  wouldn't  book  it  to  any  exhibitor 
unless  he  screened  it  first.  Will  be  glad  to  give  you  free  ad  in  my 
papers.  It's  a  service  to  our  subscribers.  Congratulations!" 

— Jay  Emanuely  The  Exhibitor,  Philadelphia 

NATIONAL  BOARD  of  REVIEW 

"A  human  and  appealing  story  of  courtship  and  marriage — full  of 
tears  and  laughs.  James  Dunn  bids  fair  to  be  a  most  popular  star." 

— National  Board  of  Review 

CLUB  WOMEN  . . . 

"A  moving  American  love  story,  delicately  handled." 

— Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution 

UNIVERSITY  WOMEN  . . . 

"A  very  poignant  picture  — full  of  sentiment  without  falling  into 
sentimentality.  Superbly  directed,  emphasis  on  just  the  right  points." 

— Women  s  University  Club 


production  forces 


12 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  August    14,    1931 


Public  to  Decide 
Stage  Show's  Fate 

HoiSTOx  —  Return  of  organ  pro- 
grams to  the  Metropolitan  this  week 
has  started  speculation  regarding  the 
return  of  Publix  stage  units,  dropped 
fr.  m  this  theatre  last  June.  Publix 
City  Manager  E.  E.  Collins  is  non- 
committal, declaring  the  stage  shows 
will  return  "if  the  public  wants  them." 
Dropping  of  the  stage  units  last  June 
was  called  a  temporary  hot  weather 
policy,  and  was  followed  by  vaudeville 
being  let  out  of  the  RKO  Majestic 
and  Loews  State  also. 

Dwight  L.  Brown  of  Toled  \  and 
formerly  with  the  Dallas  Publix  de- 
luxe for  several  years,  will  open  this 
week  with  "Song  of  Songs"  organ 
program.  The  Metropolitan  has  a 
youthful  clientele  which  fell  ofT  con- 
siderably when  the  organ  club  pro- 
grams were  dropped. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Just  Too  Bad  for 
Pee  Wees  at  Seattle 

Se.mtle — With  the  summer  season 
on  in  full  swing,  it  begins  to  appear 
like  a  tough  season  for  the  Pee  Wee 
golf,  courses.  A  conservative  esti- 
mate would  place  the  total  number  of 
courses  now  in  operation  in  this  city 
at  about  12.  Last  year  at  this  time 
there  were  probably  about  100  courses 
in  operation.  "Green  Fees"  on  all  the 
local  courses  this  season  are  15  cents 
per  round  of  18  holes,  in  place  of 
the  former  25  cents  charge. 

The  most  elaborate  course  in  the 
city,  located  in  the  heart  of  the  down- 
town district,  just  a  block  from  the 
Fox  Paramount  theatre  and  close  to 
other  show  houses,  is  often  without 
players  for  long  periods  of  time.  Last 
year,  several  hundred  persons  played 
this  course  nightly,  with  waiting  lines 
during  the  early  rush  hours. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

Leases  Lindy  Theatre 

RocHKSTER,  N.  Y. — The  Lindy 
Theatre,  large  neighborhood  house, 
was  acquired  under  a  long  term  le.ase 
by  the  newly-incorporated  Siromax 
Amusement  Corporation  of  Rochester, 
rewired,  renovated  and  renamed  the 
World. 

Morris  Fogel,  who  heads  the  new 
corporation,  said  a  double  feature 
policy  will  be  launched.  Fogel  also 
has  operated  the  Rexy  and  Majestic 
Theatres,  neighborhood  houses.  Other 
incorporators  were  Ma.x  Cohen  and 
Jack  Rose. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Changes  Series  Title 

.\]  Mannon  has  changed  the  name 
of  "Pigskin  Problems,"  a  series  of 
football  shorts,  to  "Football  for  the 
Fans."  Educational  is  releasing  the 
shorts. 


Cool  to  Firemen 

San  Francisco  —  There  was 
no  welcome  on  the  mat  for 
firemen  who  rushed  to  a  mil- 
lion dollar  theatre  here  in  an- 
swer to  an  alarm.  Instead, 
they  were  met  by  the  janitor 
who  gruffly  ordered  them  to 
wipe  their  feet  carefully  before 
entering  as  the  carpets  had  just 
been  cleaned.  They  humbly 
complied — and  discovered  only 
some  smoke  from   furnace  oil. 


Under  the  stimulus  of  the  Buy 
Right — But  Buy  Now  movement  e.x- 
hibitors  all  over  the  country  are  cinch- 
ing their  offerings  for  the  new  season. 
Procrastination  is  being  pushed  aside 
and  action  taking  its  place.  Every 
one  is  apparently  striving  to  book  up 
the  big  things  now  and  being  in  fine 
position  to  properly  exploit  them  when 
the  time  comes. 

This  seems  to  be  borne  out  by  the 
contracts  that  are  being  received  daily 
for  Warner  Bros,  and  First  National 
product,  the  subjoined  list  calling  for 
the  entire  output  of  these  producing 
companies : 

California 

Majestic.  Benecia,  Phil  Frease:  Gaiety. 
San  Francisco.  \V.  J.  Baker;  West  Portal, 
San  Francisco,  Uptown  Theatre  Company, 
Inc.;  Vista.  Rio  Vista,  Paul  Weiss;  Strand, 
Gilrov.  General  Theatrical  Corp.;  Winema, 
Scotia.  Scotia  Theatre  Association; 
Ramona,  Los  .Angeles,  Ramona  Amuse- 
ment Company.  Ltd.;  Strand,  Ocean 
Beach,    F.    Gruber 

Connecticut 

Poli.  Meriden.  Fox  New  England  Thea- 
tres,  Inc. 

Georgia 

Majestic,    Nashville,    Mrs.    Cleo    Echuls. 

Idaho 

Kenworthy.  Moscow.   M.   Kenworthy. 

Indiana 

Royal,   New   Castle,    F.    W.    Wrightsman. 

Iowa 

Englert  Garden,  Iowa  City;  Grand,  Oel- 
wein;  Capitol.  Clinton;  Palace,  Mason'  City; 
Park,  Ft.  Dodge;  Rialto.  Ft.  Dodge  and 
Majestic.  Centerville,  all  operated  by  Cen- 
tral States  Theatrical  Corp.;  Iowa,  Lake 
City.    R.    M.    Bernau. 

Kentucky 

Bon  Ton.  Shelby ville.  L.  I.  Ethington; 
Brown,    Louisville.   J.    G.    Brown. 

Massachusetts 

I'nion  Square.  Pittstield.  John  M.  Coon'ey; 
Star.    North    Brookfield,    F.    Jones. 

Maine 

Community,    York    Village,    Morton    Fry. 

Michigan 

Coloma,  Coloma.  Mrs.  C.  C.  Alguire; 
Dawn,  Detroit,  John  E.  Mebes;  Strand, 
Flint.  Lester  Matt ;  Miracle,  Pentwater, 
William    Vonkman. 

Minnesota 

Falls,  Minneapolis,  A.  W.  Geis;  New 
Holdingform,    Holdin'gford,    Jean   Jordan. 

Nevada 

Reno,   Reno,   Lachman   &   NefF. 

New  York 

Paramount.  Millerton,  E.  J.  .Stuart; 
Family,    Mt.    Morris.    James    Martini. 

Ohio 

Vale.  Cleveland,  The   Vale  Theatre  Co. 

Pennsylvania 

Ritz,  Philadelphia,  D.  Barrist;  Bison, 
Brownsville,    Bison   Theatre    Co. 

Texas 

Owl.  Ft.  Worth,  P.  B.  Eduards;  Colon- 
ial. Taylor,  Taylor  Amusement  Co.;  Hippo- 
drome, Ft.  Worth,  Earl  Phoenix;  Grand, 
Julia,  C.  W.  McEarling,  Jr.;  Capitol,  Ft. 
Worth,  Earl  Phoenix;  Dixie,  Bastrop,  E. 
W.    Gieson. 


The  Arthur  C.  Bromberg  Attrac- 
tions with  offices  at  Atlanta,  Charlotte 
and  New  Orleans,  has  closed  the  entire 
output  of  Big  4  Westerns  in  49  situa- 
tions as  follows :  Out  of  Atlanta — 
Tarpon  Springs.  Wauchula,  Chipley, 
Ocala  and  Lakeland,  Fla. ;  Ft.  Valley, 
Rome,  Griffin.  Albany,  Atlanta  and 
Greensboro,  Ga..  Chattanooga,  Cleve- 
land and  Jellico.  Tenn.,  and  Alexander 
City  and  Huntsville,  Ala.  Out  of 
Charlotte — Mullins,  Manning,  Cheraw, 
Lancaster,  Johnsonville,  Hartsville, 
Westminster  and  Winsboro,  S.  C, 
Canton,  Winston-Salem.  Hickory, 
Belmont,  Oxford,  .Sanford,  Mayodan, 
Beaufort,  .Asheville,  Mt.  Olive, 
Wadesboro,    Hil'.sboro,    Kinston    and 


Dunn,  N.  C,  and  Shelbyville,  Tenn. 
Out  of  New  Orleans — Marksville, 
Baton  Rouge,  Crowley,  Independence 
and  Tallulah,  La. ;  Booneville  and 
McConib,  Miss. ;  Frisco  City  and  Mo- 
bile, Ala.,  and  Bayou  La  Batre,  Okla. 


Dktroit — Independents  in  this  ter- 
ritory have  been  hit  by  the  "Buy  Now 
— But  Buy  Right"  bug  and  have 
signed  up  with  Excellent  Pictures 
Corp.  for  Mascot's  four  serials  to  be 
released  next  season. 

Exhibitors  who  have  fallen  in  line  include 
the  following:  Baldwin,  Royal  Oak,  Mich.; 
Cozy,  Detroit;  Cinderella,  Detroit;  Crane, 
Detroit;  Conant,  Detroit;  Castle,  Detroit; 
Courtesy.  Detroit;  l>el  Ray.  Detroit;  Dix, 
Detroit;  Doric.  Detroit;  Frontenac,  Detroit; 
Greenwood,  Detroit;  Great  Lakes,  Detroit; 
Harmony,  Detroit;  Holbrook,  Detroit;  Lin- 
wood,  Detroit;  Medbury,  Detroit;  Mich- 
igan-Empire, Detroit;  Monroe,  Detroit; 
Michigan-Astor,  Detroit;  Oakman  Boule- 
vard, Detroit;  Odeon,  Detroit;  Priscilla, 
Detroit;  Park,  Detroit;  Picadilly,  Detroit; 
Perrin,  Detroit;  Palace,  Detroit;  Roosevelt, 
Detroit;  Republic,  Detroit;  Savoy,  Detroit; 
Senate,  Detroit;  Tlieotorium,  Detroit; 
White  Star,  Detroit;  Willis,  Detroit;  Wood- 
waid-Grand,  Detroit;  Macomb,  Mt.  Qem- 
ons,    Mich.;    Wolverine,    Detroit. 


Dall.\s — Allied  Film  Exchange, 
local  distributors  for  Mascot's  serials 
for  19"l-32,  report  the  following  deals 
closec"  for  "The  Vanishing  Legion," 
"The  Galloping  Ghost,"  "The  Light- 
ning Warrior"  and  "The  Eagle's  Sha- 
dow." Arcadia,  Baytown,  Tex. ; 
Queen,  Brownwood,  Tex. ;  Northside, 
Houston;  St.  Elmo,  Houston;  Crim, 
Kilgore,  Tex. ;  Fain,  Livingston, 
Tex. ;  Mission,  Menard,  Tex. ;  Chero- 
kee, Rusk,  Tex. ;  National,  San 
Antonio ;  Plaza,  San  Antonio ; 
Strand,  San  Antonio,  State,  San 
Antonio. 


Albany — Bernstein  Bros.  have 
signed  for  RKO-Pathe  product  for 
the  Seneca  Falls  and  the  Colonial, 
Albany. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Poster  Films,  British 
Ad  Reels,  in  Canada 

Toronto — Advertising  films — of  an- 
other sort — are  being  put  into  circu- 
lation in  Canada.  They  come  under 
a  film  plan  of  the  British  Empire 
Marketing  Board  which  is  arranging 
an  exchange  of  semi-dramatized  film 
subjects  between  the  various  Domin- 
ions of  the  Empire.  The  government 
of  Ontario  has  shipped  16  of  these 
releases  to  England  and  has  received 
a  similar  number  from  Great  Brit- 
ain. Whether  they  will  be  used  by 
provincial  governments  in  Canada  as 
a  wedge  for  British  film  quota  systems 
or  not  remains  to  be  seen.  The  Eng- 
lish call  them  "poster  films"  and  the 
reels  sent  depict  various  industrial, 
agricultural,  civic,  marine  and  other 
phases. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Denver  Permit  Issued 

Denver  —  A  building  permit  for 
$415,000  has  been  issued  covering  part 
of  the  work  on  the  new  2  700-seat 
Orpheum.  The  steel  w^rk  is  rising 
and  the  concrete  work  on  the  foun- 
dations is  completed.  The  house  will 
cost  in  the  neighborhood  of  $1,000,000 
when  finished.  Opening  is  planned 
for  December. 


Australian  Houses 
Limit  Advertising 

Sydney — Drastic  limitation  of  daily 
newspaper  advertising  space  has  been 
imposed  by  Union  Theatres  and  Hoyts 
by  mutual  agreement,  it  is  reported. 
It  is  possible  that  the  scheme  will  go 
further,  in  that  the  M.  P.  D.  A.  will 
be  called  upon  to  limit  all  entertain- 
ment houses  to  the  new  maximum  of 
16  inches  over  three  columns  to  avoid 
what  is  termed  unnecessary  and 
wasteful  competition.  It  is  pointed 
out  that  no  limitation  is  placed  upon 
the  amount  of  money  wished  to  be 
spent.  A  house  may  take  16  inches 
over  three  columns  every  day  of  the 
week — but  splurges  are  out. 

A  similar  plan  was  agreed  upon  by 
Sydney  publicity  men  a  year  ago. 
Then,  however,  the  maximum  space 
that  could  be  used  in  the  various 
newspapers  on  the  different  days  of 
the  week  was  nominated.  Business 
dropped  so  badly,  that  after  a  fort- 
night the  plan  was  wiped  out,  and 
splashes  came  back  as  strongly  as 
ever.  The  effect  of  the  new  idea  will 
be  watched  closely. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Paramount  Now  Twin 
Billing  in  Twin  Cities 

St.  Paul — Paramount  Publix  has 
adopted  a  policy  in  the  past  few  weeks 
of  twinning  the  bills  at  the  Tower 
theatre  here  with  that  of  the  Aster 
in  Minneapolis.  General  Twin  City 
billing  is  being  used  to  some  extent 
and  the  results  are  being  watched  by 
the  Paramount  people.  The  experi- 
't  is  apparently  brought  about  by 
I  It,  lact  that  RKO  has  used  the  twin 
f'iU  policy  for  a  year  or  more  in  the 
RKO  Orpheum  theatres  of  the  two 
cities.  The  system  enables  RKO  to 
use  street-car  and  bus  cards  and 
radio  advertising  without  troubling 
to  impress  on  the  public  the  name  of 
the  town  in  which  the  attraction  is 
appearing.  Reports  are  that  RKO  in- 
tends to  continue  the  plan  and  that 
it  may  be  possibly  adopted  by  Pub- 
lix for  more  of  its  Twin  City  houses. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

National  Convention 
Mickey  Mouse  Plan 

Hollywood  —  National  convention 
of  Mickey  Mouse  Clubs  is  being  con- 
sidered for  1932  by  Walt  Disney, 
creator  of  the  cartoon  rodent.  The 
event  would  be  held  at  the  time  of 
the  Olympic  games.  Hundreds  of 
thousands  of  children  are  enrolled  in 
Mickey  -Mouse  clubs  throughout  the 
United   States. 


Ban  British  Film 

Toronto  —  Ontario  censors 
are  consistent  in  their  rulings 
if  nothing  more.  After  ban- 
ning all  the  gangster  pictures 
that  originated  in  the  United 
States,  the  board  was  con- 
fronted with  a  gangsters  pic- 
ture from  Merrie  England. 
This  picture,  "The  Man  from 
Chicago,"  also  went  into  the 
discard  along  with  all  the 
other  racket  films.  It  is  the 
only  British  film  that  has 
ever  been  condemned  in  On- 
tario, according  to  the  oldest 
inhabitant. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  65 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  AUGUST  15,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


More  Owners 
Ready  to  Run 
Chi  Machines 


Operators  Again  Turn 
Down  1-Man  Proposal 

Chicago — For  the  second  time,  the 
operators'  union  has  rejected  inde- 
pendent exhibitors'  demand  for  one 
man  in  the  booth  as  a  basis  for  settle- 
ment of  the  lockout  of  operators  at 
107  local  houses. 

Aaron  Saperstein,  president  of  the 
Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  Illinois,  and 
W.  A.  Steffes,  Northwest  unit  head, 
who  is  here  co-operating  with  Saper- 
stein, are  non-committal  on  the  situa- 
tion, but  assert  that  exhibitors  have 
no  thought  of  giving  in  to  the  two- 
man  ruling. 

Next  week  will  see  as  many  as  30  to 
60  theatres  reopened  with  owners  op- 
erating their  own  machines.  Prior  to 
yesterday's  meeting,  Tom  Maloy  said 
he  was  "tired  of  being  called  the  czar 
of  the  union."  He  said  in  a  statement 
to  newspapers  that  yesterday's  meet- 
ing to  vote  on  independents'  one-man 
proposal  would  be  an  open  affair,  but 
the  Motion  Picture  Daily  corre- 
spondent was  denied  admittance. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Operators  in  D.M. 
Bar  Circuit  Cuts 

Des  Moines — Operators  here,  who 
have  given  cuts  to  small  exhibitors, 
see  no  reason  to  grant  reductions  in 
wage  scales  to  the  Paramount  and 
Des  Moines,  operated  by  Publix, 
states  George  Hartnet,  business  agent 
of  the  union. 

Recently  Harry  Hiersteiner,  oper- 
ator of  the  Family,  received  a  cut  to 
$55  a  week  from  $67  after  he  showed 
the  union  his  books  and  sold  it  the 
idea  he  could  not  pay  the  $67  rate. 

Abe  Frankel  of  the  Casino  received 

(Coiitivued   on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT^BUT  BUY   NOW" 

John  Griffin,  Pioneer 
In  Toronto,  Dies 

Toronto — John  J.  Grii^n,  77,  pio- 
neer Toronto  exhibitor,  died  here  yes- 
terday after  a  long  illness.  He  gave 
the  city  its  first  picture  house  in 
1906,  opening  a  theatre  which  still 
is  running.  At  one  time  Griffin 
owned  46  film  and  combination  houses 
in  Ontario.  He  reputedly  was  a  mil- 
lionaire, but  never  kept  a  set  of 
books.  His  theatres  gradually  were 
sold  to  the  late  A.  J.  Small,  Famous 
Players  Canadian  Corp.,  and  the 
.Aliens. 


Demand  Contract  Action 

Columbus — Immediate  action  on  adoption  of  the  standard  form 
of  licensing  agreement  reached  at  the  5-5-5  conferences  is  asked 
in  a  resolution  passed  by  trustees  of  the  Ohio  exhibitor  associa- 
tion. 

The  present  situation,  it  was  said,  is  deplorable  and  should  be 
remedied  if  the  industry  is  to  be  saved  from  the  "ignominy  of 
many  legal  entanglements  due  to  ignorance  of  exhibitors  as  to 
provisions  of  the  many  different  forms  of  contract  they  are 
signing." 


1^000 Dark  Houses  Sprucing 
Up  for  Labor  Day  Reopening 


Commercial 
Lab  Prints  to 
Be  Combated 


Hollywood — Bad  release  prints  are 
to  be  discussed  at  a  proposed  meeting 
between  producers  and  the  .American 
Cinematograph  Society.  The  camera- 
men say  that  commercial  labs  do 
"sloppy  work"  which  is  hurting  the 
box-office.  Prints  made  in  the  studios 
and  shown  in  projection  rooms  at 
previews  for  executives  are  all  right, 
but  that  release  prints  frequently  are 
very  bad  with  whole  sequences  often 
omitted. 

This  has  the  effect,  it  is  asserted,  of 
ruining  the  star  and  director  by  de- 
stroying production  values.  Camera- 
men say  they  have  made  a  survey 
proving  the  charges.  Standardization 
is  wanted  to  save  the  industry  from 
great  losses. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT   BUY   NOW" 

0'  Reilly  on  Fence 
On  Protest  Action 

Whether  the  Theatre  Owners 
Chamber  of  Commerce  of  New  York 
will  be  represented  at  the  proposed 
protest  meeting  called  by  the  M.  P. 
T.  O.  A.  of  Eastern  Philadalphia  and 
Southern  New  Jersey  and  to  be  held 
in  New  York  has  yet  to  be  decided. 
The   meeting   is   to   discuss   the   sales 

(Continued   on    f^ff    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Stops  Park  Showings 
In  N.  Y.  by  Injunction 

First  action  to  counteract  alleged 
moves  by  the  operators'  union 
against  the  Lee  Ochs  theatres  has 
been  won   with  the  handing  down   of 

(Continued   on   page    2) 


With  Labor  Day  less  than  a  month 
away,  exhibitors  throughout  the  coun- 
try now  are  busy  sprucing  up  their 
theatres  for  reopening  Sept.  7.  A 
minimum  of  1,000  dark  houses  will  be 
put  into  operation  again  after  the 
summer  respite,  it  is  estimated. 

While  the  exact  number  of  theatres 
now  dormant  is  unknown,  many  wHl 
not  blossom  forth  again  when  the  new 
season  opens.  This  is  largely  due  to 
antiquity  of  theatres  which  have  been 
neglected  in  the  past  and  overseated 
situations.  However,  there  is  a  pos- 
sibility of  a  number  of  the  smaller 
houses  throughout  the  country  being 
reopened  by  exhibitors  in  search  of 
new  additions. 

The  number  of  theatres  operated  by 
independents  will  be  increased  consid- 
erably after  Labor  Day,  observers 
say.     Unaffiliated  theatre  owners  are 

(Continued   on   page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Warner  Tlieatres  on 
Coast  Enjoy  a  Boom 

San  Francisco — Business  of  the  17 
Warner  theatres  on  the  Coast  has  in- 
creased 7]/2  per  cent  during  the  past 
40  days,  Frank  L.  Newman,  Pacific 
Coast  manager  of  the  circuit,  declared 
during  a  visit  here.  The  Warner  Thea- 
tre in  San  Francisco,  he  added,  has 
achieved  an  outstand  profit. 

"The  American  public  always  has 
the  price  of  a  good  show  regardless  of 
business  conditions,"  he  declared. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gabe  Yorke  Returns 
As  Griswold's  Aide 

Gabe  Yorke,  veteran  Fox  adver- 
tising and  publicity  executive,  is  to 
return  to  New  York  at  an  early  date 
as  assistant  to  Glenn  Griswold,  di- 
rector of  public  relations.  Robert 
(Rob)  Collier  is  to  take  over  Yorke's 
post  on  the  Coast,  as  director  of  ad- 
vertisine:  and  publicity  of  Fox  West 
Coast  Theatres. 


Brandt  Ready 
To  Encourage 
Independents 

Product  of  Free  Lancers 
Welcome,  Says  Chief 


Joe  Brandt 


Columbia  looks  with  favor  upon  the 
trend  toward  unit  production  and  is 
ready  to  consider  release  of  product 
of  any  independent  producer  of  demon- 
strated ability,  Joe  Brandt,  company 
president,  states. 
The  firm  has 
been  encourag- 
ing independents 
and  in  the  last 
year  has  taken 
over  a  number 
of  outside  pic- 
t  u  r  e  s  for  re- 
lease, including 
"Charley's 
Aunt,"  "Africa 
Speaks,"  "Meet 
the  Wife"  and 
si.x  British  In- 
ternational Pic- 
tures' produc- 
tions. 

The  company 
this  year  has  "The  Pagan  Lady,"  pro- 
duced by  Harry  Edwards,  and  in  ad- 

it  ontinved   on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Fox  Publicity  Men 
QuitWampason  Poll 

Hollywood — Frank  Perritt  and 
Ken  Whitmore,  Fo.x  publicity  men, 
liave  resigned  from  the  Wampas  fol- 
lowing naming  of  the  1931  Baby 
Stars.  No  Fox  players  were  nomi- 
nated by  tlie  publicity  men's  organ- 
ization. Helen  Mack  and  Linda  Wat- 
kins  were  nominated,  but  Miss  Wat- 
kins  was  chosen  only  as  an  alternate 
and  Miss  Mack  was  ignored.  The 
Wampas  has  declined  to  accept  the 
resignations. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Twin-Bill  Ouster 

In  N.  Y.  Distant 

Chances  for  elimination  of  double 
feature  programs  in  Greater  New 
York  are  slight  if  present  indications 
are  any  criterion.  Having  played 
double  features  for  some  time,  the 
Springer-Cocalis  circuit  now  is  show- 
ing triple  features  in  four  of  its  Bronx 
theatres.  Thursday  and  Friday  the 
following  three  talkers  played  day  and 
date  at  the  Ward,  Rosedale,  Castle 
Hill  and  Interboro  theatres :  "Law- 
yer's Secret,"  "Kiss  Me  Again"  and 
"The  Fighting  Sheriff."  No  advance 
in  admission  was  charged. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  August    15,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.    S.    Patent   Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors   Daily   Review 

and   Motion    Pictures    Today 


\'ul.    A1 


August    15,    19.il 


No.   65 


Martin    Quicley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
Advertising    Manager 


^^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
^  Jl  ^  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^X  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
'■yuigpubco.  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  \"ine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  ClilTord, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H,  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin   VV.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,    N.    Y.,   under   Act   of   March   3,    1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.      Single  copies,  10  cents 


Swampscott  Site  of 
S.M.P,E,  Fall  Meet 

The  fall  meeting  of  the  Societ\  of 
Motion  Picture  Engineers'  will  be 
held  at  the  New  Ocean  House, 
Svvatnpscott,  Mass.,  October  5  to  8 
the  board  of  governors  decided  at  its 
meeting  in   Schenectady. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Walker  to  Reopen 

Cincinnati  Stock 

CiNCixxATi — Stuart  Walker,  tem- 
porarily directing  for  Paramount, 
writes  from  Hollywood  that  he  will 
return  here  for  the  opening  of  his 
dramatic  stock  company,  which  starts 
its  sixteenth  season  early  in  October. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

O'Reilly  on  Fence 
On  Protest  Action 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

policies  and  contracts  of  M-G-M  and 
is  to  be  attended  by  units  of  the  M.  P. 
T.  O.  A.  and  Allied  States  Associa- 
tions. 

Charles  O'Reilly,  president  of  the 
New  York  unit,  yesterday  admitted  re- 
ceiving a  telegram  from  the  Phila- 
delphia unit  asking  support  for  the 
move,  but  as  yet  has  neither  answered 
the  wire  nor  yet  decided  whether  he  or 
anyone  from  the  organization  will  be 
on  hand  at  the  suggested  confab. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Stops  Park  Showings 
In  N,  Y,  by  Injunction 

{Continued  from  puiie    1  J 

an  injunction  prohibiting  the  Wo- 
men's Labor  .'\uxiliary  and  Mothers' 
Club  from  gi\ing  free  shows  in  five 
New  York  parks.  The  clul)  is  said 
to  be  composed  of  operators'  wives 
who  are  fighting  the  ejection  of  union 
men  from  the  independent  circuit  op- 
erators' theatres.  The  injunction  was 
handed  down  in  the  .Supreme  Court 
of  Brooklyn  and  prohibits  showing:' 
in  the  Mosholu,  Highbridge,  St. 
James,  Poe  and  Yeshiva  College 
Parks. 


1,000  Closed 
Houses  Reopen 
On  Labor  Day 


(Continued  from  ['acie   1) 

constantly  buying  theatres  from  the 
major  circuits  and  will  continue  to 
add  to  their  holdings,  it  is  indicated. 
The  circuits  in  a  number  of  instances 
are  selling  only  one-half  interest  in 
tlieir  houses  but  with  the  provision 
for  management  by  the  independent 
exhibitor. 

The  move  to  renovate  is  gradually 
gaining  and  is  expected  to  be  in  full 
swing  within  the  next  two  weeks. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Operators  in  D.  M, 
Bar  Circuit  Cuts 

(Continued  from  page   1  ) 

a  pleasant  surprise  when  he  was  called 
in  to  be  notified  that  the  same  reduc- 
tion would  be  given  him  for  the  oper- 
ators at  the  Casino.  Sam  Elman  also 
received  a  cut  for  his  East  Des  Moines 
house.  Harry  Mitznick,  who  was 
operating  at  the  Ritz  Theatre,  closed 
it  to  install  new  equipment,  and  is 
awaiting  decision  from  the  union  heads 
whether  they  can  help  him  out  with  a 
little  cut  for  booth  operators. 

However,  union  men  do  not  feel  so 
kindly  inclined  to  Publix,  especially 
since  the  morning  papers  came  out 
with  the  announcement  that  Puljlix 
had  made  $1,500,000  the  last  year. 

Efforts  on  the  part  of  the  union 
heads  to  open  negotiations  with  Pub- 
lix in  regard  to  the  contracts  which 
will  be  made  on  September  1  have  not 
met  with  response.  Everyone  is  wait- 
ing to  see  what  happens  in  Chicago. 
But  the  union  heads  here  are  expect- 
ing that  they  will  be  asked  to  take  a 
cut  and  also  to  use  one  operator  in  a 
booth.  The  first  is  not  reasonable  and 
the  second  not  safe,  say  union  heads. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

LeBaron  Coming  East 

Los  Angeles — William  LeBaron  is 
leaving  for  New  York  in  a  day  or 
two. 


Brandt  Ready 
To  Encourage 
Independents 


(Continued  from  page   1) 

dition  has  a  contract  with  Patrician 
Pictures  for  release  of  that  firm's 
product.  The  deal  with  Patrician, 
which  firm  is  headed  by  Walter  Camp, 
Jr..  and  Emil  Jensen,  calls  for  release 
of  one  picture  by  Columbia,  with  sub- 
sequent productions  subject  to  pre- 
viewing. 

Columbia  is  not  coaxing  production 
executives  and  directors  away  from 
any  other  company,  nor  will  it 
help  them  "chisel"  on  salary  in- 
creases, Brandt  made  clear,  but  in 
cases  where  they  "strike  out  on  their 
own"  he  is  willing  to  "talk  turkey" 
if  they  can  deliver.  Good  pictures, 
he  says,  are  "the  one  factor  entering 
into  the  situation"  and  if  any  inde- 
pendents can  supply  the  need,  they 
will  be  given  the  break. 

The  future,  Brandt  believes,  will 
witness  development  of  production  ex- 
ecutives from  the  writers'  ranks,  be- 
cause "good  stories  are  the  bulwark  of 
picture  business."  Personalities  are 
important,  says  Brandt,  but  the  last 
season  has  demonstrated  the  prime  im- 
portance of  story   and  director. 

"BUY   RIGHT     BUT    BUY   NOW" 

Deal  for  11  Houses 
In  Brooklyn  Closed 

Negotiations  have  been  concluded 
for  the  acquisition  of  1 1  Brooklyn 
Fox  theatres  by  Louis  Frisch  and 
Sam  Rinzler.  The  new  group  will 
make  28  for  the  circuit,  the  partners 
nreviously  having  taken  17  from  Fox 
in  the  same  borough.  Included  in  the 
deal,  which  will  be  turned  over  Aug- 
ust 30  for  independent  operation,  are 
the  following  houses :  Commodore, 
Roebling,  Republic,  Marcy,  Merserole, 
.'\lba,  Lefferts,  Cross  Bay.  Embassy, 
Kinema  and  Fortway. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Fitzgerald  Gets  Post 

S.\x  Fr.\xci.«co — Edward  Fitzger- 
ald, former  publicity  man,  has  been 
named  manager  of  the  Warner  Thea- 
tre here. 


Stocks  Rally;  E,  K,  Gains  3Vi  Points 

Net 

Hi^h  Low  Close  Change 

Con'solidated     Film     Industries 14.5'^  14!^  14fi  -f  5^ 

F^stman      Kodak 145-^  143  14554  -i-3% 

Fox    Film     "A" 14^  hV/g  1454  +VA 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 2H          254  254  4-  54 

I-oew's.     Inc 485^  47;^  48  -|-15^ 

Paramount     Publix 2454  23^1  2454  -1-154 

Pathe     Exchange VA          I'A  VA        

Pathe    Exchange    "A"' 654          654  (>H  —  Vs 

RKO     1554  15  15  -^  Va 

Warner    Bros 8^4          854  85^  -j-  54 

Warner     Bros,     pfd 21  21  21            

Gain  Shown  on  Curb;  G,  T.  E,  Up  IVh 

Net 
High      Low      Close     Chamge 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 2'/^         254         254        -f  54 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 5  454  5  -j-l!^ 

Sentry    .Safety    Control H  ^  H        +  'A 

Traffs      Lux 554  554  554        ~  'A 

Bonds  Also  Advance;  G.  T.  E.  Gains  2Va 

Net 

High  Low  Close  Change 

General   Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40 27  25  26  -|-25i 

Ivoew's    6s    '4!    ex    war 99  98J^        9854  

Paramount    F.     L.    6s    '47 8754  8754        8754  —  M 

Paramount    Publix    554s,    '50 7854  7654        7654  —  Yi 

Pathe    7s    '.17    ww 94  9iYt        94  -1-54 

Warner    Bros.   6s   '39   wd 5354  5154        5254  -\-lVs 


Sales 

200 
2.900 
18,600 
12,100 
10.100 
16,900 

400 

300 
15,300 
16,000 

300 


Sales 

500 

2.100 

300 

200 


Sales 

16 


Purely 
Personal 


TACK  (PHIL  M.  DALY)  HAR- 
J  ROWER,  who  is  to  be  married 
September  12,  will  get  the  works  Sep- 
tember 10  at  a  stag  dinner  in  his 
honor  sponsored  by  the  AM  PA. 
George  Harvey  is  chairman  of  the 
arrangement  committee,  Paul  Benja- 
min, treasurer,  and  Ed  McNamee, 
secretary.      Tickets  are  $3.50  per. 

Bert  Hanlon,  "M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i" 
and  "I'd  Like  to  Be  a  Monkey  in  the 
Zoo"  author,  has  signed  a  writer's 
contract  with  Fox  and  leaves  for  the 
Coast  in  September. 

Herman  Maier,  head  of  Warners' 
theatre  construction  department,  has 
returned  from  a  trip  to  Albany  where 
he  supervised  redecorations  of  the 
Warner  houses. 

Jim  Weed  has  been  named  manag- 
er of  the  Strand  in  Middletown,  O. 
He  formerly  was  manager  of  Keith's 
in  Dayton. 

Louis  Geller  had  better  catch  up 
on  his  bridge  if  he  ever  expects  to 
make  up  the  $28  he  lost  the  other 
night. 

Joe  Hebrew,  Philadelphia  Warner- 
First  National  manager,  was  in  town 
yesterday  and  shot  right  back  to  the 
Quaker  Town. 

Ch  \rlie  Einfeld,  head  of  the  W. 
B.-F.  N.  publicity  and  advertising  de- 
partments, slipped  ofif  for  a  week's 
vacation   last  night. 

Joe  Leo  and  Rudy  Kramer,  former 
Fox  Theatre  executives,  strolling 
down  Broadway  yesterday.  Leo 
sported  a   new   cane. 

Tom  Nam  AC  of  the  W.  B.-F.  N. 
publicity  department  left  last  night 
for  a  two  weeks'  vacation. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Duplicate  RCA  Order 

Initial  manufacturing  order  for  500 
units  of  RCA's  special  size  sound  re- 
producer now  is  being  duplicated  to 
take  care  of  commercial  and  foreign 
orders  for  the  rest  of  the  year,  accord- 
ing to  E.  O.  Heyl,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  sales. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Football  Series  Available 

All  of  the  six  subjects  in  the  "Foot- 
ball for  the  I-'ans"  series  being  dis- 
tributed by  Educational  will  be  avail- 
able to  exhibitors  before  the  football 
sea.son  arrives,  it  is  announced. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

1,800  in  One  Hour 

At  the  end  of  the  first  hour  1,800 
tickets  were  sold  at  the  Hollywood, 
where  "Bought"  opened  yesterday, 
Warners-First  National  states. 

"BUY   RIGHT  -BUT   BUY    NOW" 

Opens  Thursday 

Albany — Warners  will  reopen  the 
Strand  next  Thursday.  "Bought"  will 
be  the  first  attraction. 


A  PREDICTION 

JLN  1914  Eastman  announced  the  first  panchro- 
matic motion  picture  negative  film.  It  swept 
the  country ...  In  March,  1931,  Eastman  an- 
nounced the  first  stable  ultra-speed  panchro- 
matic — Eastman  Super-sensitive  Panchromatic 
Negative,  Type  2... It  is  predicted  that  just  as 
color -sensitive  film  has  practically  replaced 
color-blind  material,  so  the  new  Eastman 
Super-sensitive  will  make  slower  emulsions  vir- 
tually obsolete ...  Naturally  the  producers  and 
camera  men  who  are  adopting  this  remarkable 
film  now  will  reap  the  greatest  advantage  . . . 
Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  New 
York.  (J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  New 
York,  Chicago,  Hollywood.) 

Eastman  Super-sensitive 

Panchromatic  Negative,  Type  2 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,   August    15,    1931 


Dirigible" 
High  Flyer 
In  Beantown 


Total  $155,500  for  8  Theatres 


Boston — "Dirigible"  at  Keith's  top- 
ped the  grosses,  with  "The  Secret 
Call"  at  the  ^letropoHtan  and  "The 
Smiling  Lieutenant,"  playing  simul- 
taneously at  the  Olympia,  Fenway 
and  Uptown  for  a  second  week's 
showing,  making  a  close  bid  for  sec- 
ond honors. 

Paramount's  change  of  opening  day 
to  Friday  at  the  Metropolitan  has  had 
no  noticeable  effect  one  way  or  the 
other  on  box  office  quotations. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
Aug.  13  and  year-round  averages : 
"MOTHER'S     MILLIONS     (Univ.) 

KEITH-BOSTON  —  (2,500),  25c-60c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $18,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"     (Col.) 

KEITH'S— (2.800).  25c-65c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$20,000.         (Average.     $20,000.) 

"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  ORPHEUM— (3,100).  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $20,000.) 

"SPORTING    BLOOD"    (M-G-M) 

LOEWS       STATE— (3,700),      25c-50c,      7 
days.       Gross:    $21,000.       (Average,    $20,000.) 
"THE    SECRET    CALL"    (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN    —    (4,350),    25c-60c.    7 
davs.         Gross:     $33,000.         (Average,     $32,- 
OOO'.) 
"THE   SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

OLYMPIA    —     (2,500),    25c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:     $15,500.        (Average,    $15,000.) 
.  "THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 

SCOLLAV    SQUARE— (1.800),    25c-50c,    7 
days.      \'aude.      (Gross:    $14,000.      (Average, 
$15,000.) 
"THE   SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

UPTOWN  —  (2,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $13,000.        (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 


'Bought"  Pays 

Off  in  Buffalo 

With  $25,800 


'Politics'  Pays 
$5,000  Ahove 
In  Providence 


Total  $51,500  for  5  Theatres 


Total  $83,200  for  5  Theatres 


BuFFAiX) — Business  in  general  was 
better  and  more  evenly  distributed 
than  last  week,  "Bought"  was  the 
outstanding  card,  getting  $25,800  for 
the  week.  A  locally-made  talker 
failed  to  change  the  draw  at  the  La- 
fayette. Cool  weather  helped  grosses. 
Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  14  and  year-round  av- 
erages : 

"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 
BUFFALf>— (3,500),  30c-65c,  7  days.  Pub- 
lix   stage    show.     Gross:    $25,800.     (Average, 
$25,000.) 

"MURDER     BY     THE    CLOCK"     (Para.) 
CENTURY— (3,000),      25c-35c,       7      days. 
Gross:    $9,800.      (Average,    $12,000.) 

"SPORTING    BLOOiy    (M-G-M) 
GREAT  LAKES— (3,000),  2Sc-60c,  7  rfays. 
Waring's    Pennsylvanians   on    stage.   Gross: 
$21,900.     (Average,    $22,500. 

"FIVE    AND    TEN"    (M-G-M) 
HIPPODROME— (2,100),   25c-50c,    7   days. 
RKO      vaudeville,     with      Harry      Langdon. 
Gross:    $19,000.      (Average,    $20,000.) 

"THE    VIKING"    (Independent) 
LAFAYETTE— (3,300),     25c-.35c,     7     days. 
Gross:    $6,700.     (Average,   $12,000.) 


Providence — "Politics"  took  the 
city  by  storm,  grossing  $23,000  at 
Loew's  State  and  beating  average  by 
five  grand.  The  weather  was  ideal 
and  the  Majestic  grossed  $13,000,  $3,- 
000  above  par  with  "Magnificent 
Lie." 

Offering  "Woman  Between,'"  the 
RKO  Albee  slipped  to  $4,500,  which 
is  $4,500  below  standard.  Its  sister 
house,  the  RKO  Victory,  with  an  av- 
erage of  $6,500,  batted  around  $2,- 
000  with  "Mother's  Millions,"  while 
the  Paramount  managed  to  gross  $9,- 
000  with  "Murder  by  the  Clock." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  13  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S      STATE.— (3,800),      20c-75c,      7 
days.       Gross:    $23,000.       (Average,   $18,000.) 
"MAGNIFICENT  LIE"  (Para.) 

MA  TESTIC— (2,300),       10t-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:     $13,000.        (Averages,    $10,000.) 
"WOMAN     BETWEEN"     (Radio) 

RKO  ALBEE— (2,500),  10c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,500.        (Average,    $9,000.) 

"MOTHER'S    MILLIONS"     (Univ.) 

RKO   VICTORY— (1,600),   10c-50c,   7   days. 
Gross:     $2,000.         (Average,     $6,500.) 
"MURDER     BY     THE     CLOCK"     (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  10c-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:     $9,000.         (Average,     $10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Thermoineter 
Drops;  Albany 
Runs  Benefit 


Total  $23,950  for  4  Theatres 


Albany — While  only  one  house  hit 
par,  the  manner  in  which  the  public 
flocked  to  the  theatres  on  cool  days 
assured  exhibitors  that  with  the  de- 
mise of  daylight  saving  and  the  ad- 
vent of  better  weather  there  will  be 
a  decided  boost  in  business.  Their 
optimism  was  prompted  by  the  fact 
that  standing  room  only  was  avail- 
able on  several  nights. 

"Laughing  Sinners"  clicked  $9,100 
at  the  Harmanus-Bleecker  Hall,  the 
result  being  satisfactory  to  the  man- 
agement in  view  of  the  season,  and 
"The  Magnificent  Lie"  made  the 
grade  at  RKO   Proctor's  with  $3,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  13  and  year-round 
averages : 

"LAUGHING    SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 

HARMANUS-BLF.ECKECl  HALI^(2,- 
300),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross:  $9,100.  (Av- 
erage,   $10,000.) 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 
LELAND— (1,350),   20c-25c,  6  days.   Gross: 
$5,450.       (Average,    $6,000.) 

"ARIZONA"      (Col.) 
RKO     PROCTOR'S  —  d,500),     25-60c,     3 
days.        Gross:    $2,300.        (Average,    $3,000.) 
"MAGNIFICENT  LIE"  (Para.) 
RKO    PROCTOR'S   —    (1,500),    25c-60c,    3 
days.        Gross:     $3,000.        (Average,    $3,000.) 
"SHERLOCK   HOLMES'   FATAL   HOUR" 
(First    Division) 
RITZ— (1,146),    25c-3.5c,    6    days.        Gross: 
$4,100.        (Average,    $4,500.) 


Monsieur,  He 
Makes  a  Hit 
In  Cleveland 


Total  $98,500  for  7  Theatres 


Cleveland — Cool  evenings  and  good 
pictures  resulted  in  high  grosses  gen- 
erally for  the  second  successive  week. 
M.  Chevalier  proved  his  popularity 
here  to  such  an  extent  that  "The 
Smiling  Lieutenant"  took  in  $24,000  at 
the  Allen,  beating  normal  by  $6,000. 
By  grossing  $17,000,  which  is  $2,000 
above  average,  "The  Common  Law" 
won  a  second  week  at  the  Hippo- 
drome. 

"Sherlock  Holmes'  Fatal  Hour"  was 
big  at  the  Lake,  beating  par  by  $2,000 
to  reach  $7,000.  "The  Woman  Be- 
tween," aided  by  Bessie  Love  in  per- 
son, landed  $24,000  for  the  Palace.  " 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  13  and  year-round  grosses 
averages : 

"SHERLOCK   HOLMES'   FATAL  HOUR" 
(Standard) 

WARNER'S  LAKE— (800),  40t-60c,  4 
days.       Gross:    $7,000.       (Average,    $5,000.) 

Week  Ending  Aug.  14: 

"THE    SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

.\LLE:N— (3.300),  30c-60c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$24,000.       (Average,    $18,000.) 

"BEGGARS    OPERA"    (German) 
ALHAMBRA— (1,400),       10c-50c,      evening 
orlv.    7    days.        Gross:    $3,000.        (Average, 
$4,  X)0.) 

"GOLDIE"    (Fox) 
CAMEO— (1.200J,    25c-50c,    7    days.    Gross: 
$3,500.       (Average,    $5,000.) 

"COMMON    LAW"    (RKO-Pathe) 
RKO     HIPPODROME- (3,800),      25c  •35q- 
50c-75c.    7    days.       Gross:    $17,000.        (Aver- 
age.   $15,000.) 
"THE     WOMAN     BETWEEN"     (Radio) 
RKO      PALiAC(E^(3.10a),     25c-35c-75c,     7 
days.         Bessie     Love    in    person.        Gross: 
$24,000.  (Average,     $23,000.) 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 
STATE— (3,400),   30c-60c,    7   davs.      Gross: 
$20,000.        (.-Vverage,    $20,000.) 


"High  Stakes'' 
Draws  Best  in 
Philadelphia 


Total  $136,000  for  8  Theatres 


Philadelphia — "High  Stakes"  won 
the  box-office  race  last  week,  cashing 
in  $19,000  at  Keith's,  whose  average 
intake  is  $15,000.  Others  to  go  over 
the  par  mark  were  "Politics"  with 
$7,000  at  the  Karlton;  "Their  Mad 
Moment"  with  $19,000  at  the  Earle 
and  "The  Miracle  Woman"  with  $41,- 
OOO  at  the  Mastbaum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  13  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"THE     SECRET    CALL"     (Para.) 

ARCADIA— (600),  50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$2,500.        (Average,    $3,000.) 

"THEIR   MAD   MOMENT"    (Fox) 
EARLEn-(2,000),    25c-65c,    6    days.    Vaude. 
Gross:    $19,000.        (Average,    $18,000.) 
"THE     MAGNIFICENT    LIE"     (Para.) 
FO.X— (3,000),    35c-50c-75c,    6    days.    Stage 
show.      Gross:    $25,000.       (Average,    $26,000.) 
^  "HIGH   STAKES"    (Radio) 
KEITH'S    —    (1.800).    35c-50c-.75c,    6    days. 
Gross:    $19,000.       (Average.   $15,000.) 
"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 
K.-KRLTON- (1,000),       40c-50c,       6       days. 
Gross:    $7,000.       (Average,    $5,000.) 

"THE    MIRACLE    WOMAN"    (Col.) 
MASTBAUM- (4,800),  35c-S0c-75c,  6  days. 
.Stage    show.        Gross:    $41,000.        (Average, 
$40,000.) 

"THE    SMILING    LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 
STANLEY— (3,700),     35c-50c-7.5c,     6     days. 
Gross:    $14,000.        (Average,    $18,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"     (Col.) 
STANTON    —     (1,700),     25c-65c,     6    days. 
Gross:    $8,500.       (Average,    $11,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Four  Days  for  'Free  Soul* 

Buffalo — Two  days  usually  is  the 
limit  for  pictures  in  Shea's  Elmwood, 
second-run  neighborhood,  but  four 
were  necessary  for  M-G-M's  "A  Free 
Soul." 


NEW     YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant     47  12... 

BRUL 

CHICAGO 

1727   INDIANA  AVENUE 
CALumet    2691... 

LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

1  54    CRESCENT    STREET 
....STIIIwell       7940 

EASTMAN 
*   F    LAAS  * 

ATOUR 

1  ncorporated 

HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.  .  .   Hollywood      4121 

The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


Vol.  30.    No.  66 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  AUGUST  17,   1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Loew's  May 
Lease  Warner 
Philly  House 

Reported  After  Keith's  as 
First  Run  Outlet 


Philadelphia — Loew's  is  prepar- 
ing for  an  invasion  of  this  city  and 
possibly  other  points  in  the  territory, 
it  is  rumored  here.  The  new  report 
indicates  that  the  stories  that  War- 
ners and  M-G-M  were  about  to  make 
a  deal  on  product  are  without  founda- 
tion. 

The  local  Rialto  sees  a  curious 
situation  developing  in  reported  nego- 
tiations of  Loew's  for  Keith's,  which 
Warners  took  over  when  the  peace 
treaty  was  made  with  Paramount. 
The  theatre  had  been  serving  as  the 
Paramount  outlet  while  that  company 
was  at  odds  with  Warners. 

Warners  are  said  to  feel  that  if 
Loew's  is  determined  to  come  into 
the  city,  a  deal  on  Keith's  would  cir- 
i  cumvent  addition  of  another  theatre 
1  to  the  city.  The  company  now  is 
!  preparing  to  reopen  the  Boyd  and  in 
•    October   will   reopen   the   Aldine. 


Colonel    E.   A.    Schiller    of   Loew's 
could  not  be  reached   Saturday  for  a 
statement  on  the   Philadelphia  report. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Union  Adamant,  10 
Dark  in  Birmingham 

Birmingham — Operators  here  have 
refused  to  accept  the  offer  of  Frank 
Merritt,  president  of  Birmingham 
Theatrical  Amusements,  to  reopen  the 
ten  theatres  which  closed  recently. 
The  proposal  made  by  the  theatre 
owners  involved  a  considerable  de- 
crease in  salary  and  the  putting  in 
effect  a  one  man  six-hour  shift  in- 
stead of  using  two  operators  for  each 
house  as  has  been  customary  in  the 
past. 

J.  C.  Harper,  business  agent  for  the 
operators,  announced  that  his  organ- 
ization expected  to  abide  by  the  pres- 

(CoJitinucd   on    pa(jc    1]) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warners  Mark  Time 
On  3  New  Theatres 

Although  Warners  have  plans  for 
three  new  theatres,  no  decision  has 
been  reached  for  starting  construc- 
tion on  any  of  the  houses.  The  ap- 
proved plans  are  for  theatres  in  Ridge- 
wood,  Conn.,  Baltimore  and  Washing- 
ton. On  August  19  the  new  house 
at  Torrington,  Conn.,  will  be  opened 
with  Herman  Maier,  head  of  the  con- 
struction   department,    on   hand. 


Hit  Gang  Films 


Los  Angeles — Ban  on  gangster  pictures  is  reported  planned 
by  a  number  of  Coast  cities.  The  plan  is  to  make  their  showing 
illegal  by  ordinance.  Salem,  Ore.,  has  prepared  such  an  ordinance 
and  other  towns  are  reported  ready  to  follow  suit.  This  is  because 
of  the  general  criticism  against  gangster  films. 


Fox  Will  Fight 
Rental  System 
Of  Accessories 


Fox  is  contemplating  a  test  case 
against  poster  companies  renting  out 
its  copyrighted  posters  and  stills  to 
exhibitors.  Fox  figures  that  it  costs 
the  company  an  average  of  $15,000 
to  make  up  accessories  on  every  pic- 
ture and  the  poster  renters  without 
any  expense  are  using  their  material 
to  make  a  living. 

The  company  has  put  a  clause  in 
its  contract  to  the  effect  that  ex- 
hibitors cannot  lease  or  resell  its  ac- 
cessories, but  many  small  exhibitors 
are  breaching  the  contract  by  selling 
this  material  to  poster  renters  after 
finishing  with  it.  Practically  all  of 
the   major   circuits   are   returning   the 

{Continued  on   page   11) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Indianapolis  Is  Not 
Missing  Stage  Shows 

Indi.^napolis — Dropping  of  stage 
shows  by  Publix  apparently  has  made 
little  difference  here,  for  grosses  are 
holding  up  well  and  even  showing  a 
betterment.  The  stage  shows  were 
dropped  because  of  a  dispute  with  the 
musicians'    union. 


Warner  Sales 
Hit  the  Sky 
In  One  Week 


Warners'  sales  department  last 
week  chalked  up  a  record  volume  of 
business,  states  Claude  Ezell,  eastern 
sales  manager,  and  Gradwell  L. 
Sears,  western  sales  manager.  Ne- 
gotiations that  had  been  pending  for 
several  months  were  brought  to  a 
head  and  signatures  affixed  in  the  of- 
fice of  Sam  E.  Morris.  The  closed 
deals  will  mean  millions  in  revenue  to 
the  Warners,  the  executives  state. 

Contracts  signed  includes  that  call- 
ing for  100  per  cent  showing  of  War- 
ner-First  National  product   in  all  the 

(^Continued  on   page   11) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

21  of  165  New  W.  B. 
Shorts  Completed 

With  a  schedule  of  186  shorts  to 
be  turned  out  at  the  Brooklyn  stu- 
dios, Vitaphone  has  completed  21  of 
the  new  subjects,  leaving  165  yet  to 
go.  The  studio  under  supervision  of 
Sam  Sax  is  maintaining  an  average 
production  of  two  shorts  a  week  at 
present.  This  number  will  be  in- 
creased later. 


Ohio  Circuits 
Join  to  Solve 
Overseating 

RKO  Leases  from  Loew  in 
Columbus;  P.P.  in  Cincy 


Anti-Percentage  Stand 

By  Another  Allied  Unit 


Minneapolis — Members  of  the 
Northwest  exhibitor  unit  have  been 
asked  by  President  Bennie  Berger  to 
refuse  to  sign  percentage  contracts. 
The  association  is  perturbed  over 
advent  of  the  Federal  Checking  Bu- 
reau in  this  territory.  The  bureau  re- 
cently opened  an  office  here. 

The  stand  against  percentage  con- 
tracts coincides  with  that  of  other 
member  units  of  Allied  States  Asso- 
ciation. In  Baltimore,  the  Maryland 
exhibitor  unit  has  turned  thumbs 
down  on  percentage  contracts,  with 
Paramount   and    M-G-M    hardest   hit. 


As  a  result,  these  firms  may  build 
or  acquire  neighborhood  houses,  it  is 
said. 

Meanwhile,  Berger  in  a  bulletin  to 
members  explains  why  he  has  bought 
ParamounJ:  product  for  his  Bemidji 
theatre  in  the  face  of  the  buying 
strike  declared  by  the  organization 
He  says  that  he  was  out  of  pictures 
for  August  and  September  and  neces- 
sity forced  the  Paramount  contract. 
The  Northwest  unit  is  asking  its 
members  to  wait  until  after  the  an- 
nual convention  September  9  and  10 
before  buying  product. 


Columbus — Co-operation  ibetween 
circuits,  which  is  resulting  in  deals 
to  alleviate  overseated  conditions  in 
a  number  of  cities,  will  be  exemplified 
here,  it  is  understood,  with  RKO  se- 
curing lease  of  the  Broadway  from 
Loew's.  Previously,  RKO  had  plans 
for  building  a  new  house  here  to  re- 
place the   Majestic,   now   under   lease. 

The  Broadway  will  be  enlarged, 
new  equipment  installed  and  the  house 
completely  redecorated.  It  is  to  be 
ready  for  occupancy  early  next  year. 


RKO  to  Operate 
Cincy  Paramount 

Cincinnati — Add  the  new  Para- 
mount house  here  to  the  theatres  fig- 
uring in  deals  between  various  cir- 
cuits. The  house,  which  was  built  by 
Publix,  will  be  operated  by  RKO 
when  it  opens  September  5.  It  is  a 
neighborhood  house  and  will  play  sec- 
ond runs  14  days  after  their  showing 
downtown. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Censor  Plan  Is 
Outlined  in  France 

Paris — Decision  of  the  French  gov- 
ernment to  establish  an  official  com- 
mittee has  been  followed  by  plans 
to  vest  in  the  new  body  full  power 
to  censor  all  product  shown  in  the 
country  and  to  pass  on  trade  disputes, 
establishing  laws  and  regulations  gov- 
erning operation   of  the   industry. 

Members  of  the  Public  Instruction 
and  Fine  Arts  branches  and  deputies 
and  senators  will  comprise  the  board, 
which  will  be  divided  into  five  divi- 
sions governing  law,  technical,  pro- 
fessional, educational  and  trade  ques- 
tions. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Kids  Doubled  Up  in 
Seats  in  Free  Shows 

Denver — The  Denver  Theatre  put 
on  a  free  showing  of  "Huckleberry 
Finn"  for  the  youngsters  of  this 
town  and  12,000  responded.  The 
streets  were  jammed  with  the  chil- 
dren for  blocks.  The  show  started  at 
9  A.  M.  and  by  putting  two  in  a 
seat  4,000  got  into  the  theatre.  That 
hardly  made  a  dent  in  the  crowd,  so 
Holden  Swiger  announced  that  the 
first  two  paid  shows  would  be  called 
off  in  order  to  accommodate  the  kids. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August   17,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.    Patent   Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily   Review 

and  Motion   Pictures    Today 


Vol.  30 


August  17,  19.U 


No.  66 


Martin   Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
Advertising   Manager 

^•>^>\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  Jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V*|^  Daily,   Inc.,   a   Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone;  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edunn  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  \V.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4.  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.   Y.,  under  Act  of  March  3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.     Single  copies,  10  cents. 


New  Para.  Stock  to 
Be  Listed  at  $25 


JUST  how  misunderstanding  can  create  ill  will  was  illustrated  in  the 
case  of  two  executives  of  a  certain  distributing  firm.  One  suspected 
the  other  was  trying  to  undermine  him  and  thought  about  it  so  much 
that  he  sold  himself  the  idea  that  his  suspicions  were  true.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  the  suspected  exec  was  in  reality  boosting  the  other  and  on  oc- 
casion had  done  him  many  a  good  turn. 

The  showdown  came  when  the  suspicious  one  complained  to  the  boss. 
The  latter  sent  for  the  accused,  and  told  the  two  to  thresh  out  the  matter 
poste  haste.  They  did,  and  the  suspected  exec  showed  the  other  the  true 
state  of  affairs,  told  him  of  a  few  of  the  turns  he  had  done  for  him  and 
then  gave  him  some  sound  constructive  criticism  on  his  department.  The 
upshot  of  it  all  was  an  apology,  and  now  the  two  are  the  best  of  friends. 

• 

That  row  in  Chicago  reminds  John  Manning,  veteran  roadshowman, 
of  the  time  when  he  almost  was  put  on  the  spot  in  Chicago,  over  a  mis- 
understanding concerning  an  operator,  when  he  was  there  with  a  "Way 
Down  East"  company  some  years  ago.  Manning  was  advised  that  he 
was  marked  for  the  spot  and  a  description  of  the  finger  men  and  the 
time  of  their  appearance  also  was  given  him.  Maybe  he  didn't  have  some 
time  arguing  himself  out  of  the  predicament. 

• 

Reports  that  the  Frisch-Rinzler  circuit  (Randforce  Operating  Co.) 
in  Brooklyn  is  an  operating  unit  for  Fox  theatres  is  denied  all  around. 
Accompanying  the  reports  is  the  story  that  Fox  was  turning  the  houses 
over  to  the  two  independent  operators  as  one  way  of  getting  out  of  the 
union  operator  jam.  In  face  of  the  latest  deal  Frisch-Rinzler  closed 
with  Fox  for  another  group  of  theatres  in  Brooklyn,  the  theory  given 
the  report  is  contradictory  since  the  two  exhibitors  are  not  taking  the 
Brownsville  houses. 


Supplementing  his  announcement  to 
the  press  regarding  Paramount's  ac- 
tion in  voting  a  2>4  per  cent  stock 
dividend  instead  of  the  regular  quar- 
terly cash  disbursement  of  bZl/^  cents 
on  the  common,  Adolph  Zukor  has 
sent  a  letter  to  stockholders  assert- 
ing that  the  scrip  certificates  will  be 
good  only  to  September  30,  1936. 
Common  stock  issued  in  payment  of 
the  next  dividend  will  be  capitalized 
on  the  books  of  the  company  at  the 
rate  of  $25  per  share  and  earned  sur- 
plus of  this  amount  will  be  trans- 
ferred to  capital  account  in  respect 
of  each  share  issued.  Before  giving 
?ffect  to  this  dividend  the  paid-in  cap- 
ital of  the  corporation  is  equal  to 
$40.24  per  share  of  common  stock  is- 
sued, and  after  giving  effect  to  the 
payment  of  this  dividend  will  be 
about  $39.87  per   share. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Midgets  Sing  Swan 
Song  in  Louisville 

Louisville — With  a  steam  shovel 
removing  the  last  traces  of  a  pee- 
wee  golf  course  at  Third  and  Chest- 
nut and  another  on  Fourth,  near 
Broadway,  having  evoluted  into  a 
parking  lot,  after  removal  of  the  stage 
scenery,  the  downtown  or  theatrical 
district  of  Lx)uisville  is  again  free  of 
the  midgets,  which  couldn't  make  the 
grade  this  year. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Sternberg  with  Cameo 

Paul  -Sternberg,  composer,  solo 
pianist,  arranger  and  orchestra  con- 
ductor, has  joined  Cameo  Broadcast- 
ing and  Recording  Studios  as  head 
of  the  music  score  and  synchroniza- 
tion department,  states  Jack  Goetz. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

To  Release  Series 

High-Art  Pictures  Corp.,  recently 
formed  by  Nathan  Hirsch  and  Mor- 
ris Kleinerman,  will  release  a  series 
of  Yiddish  talking  pictures,  the  first 
of  which  is  "His  Wife's  Lover,"  star- 
ring   Ludwig    Satz. 


Hays  Office  Pays  for 
Williams'  Funeral 

San  P"rancisco  —  After  Allied 
Amusement  Industries  of  California 
had  guaranteed  costs  of  the  funeral 
of  Mrs.  Earle  Williams,  widow  of 
the  screen  star  who  committed  suicide 
after  killing -her  two  children  and  her 
mother,  the  Hays  associates  assumed 
all  expenses.  Action  ^f  the  local  in- 
dustry representatives  prevented  Mrs. 
Williams'   burial    in   potters'    field. 

The  committee  which  represented 
the  local  industry  at  the  funeral  con- 
sisted of  Louis  R.  Greenfield,  Maurice 
Klein,  Dennis  Mclneray,  Charles 
Thall,  Harry  Sachs,  William  Citron. 
Rabbi  Michael  Fried  volunteered  to 
preach  the  sermon  at  the  services. 


Claude  Neon  Lights 
Wins  Patent  Decision 

An  injunction  has  been  awarded  to 
Claude  Neon  Lights,  Inc.,  against 
Federal  Neon  Tube  Corp.  of  New 
York  holding  that  the  latter  has  in- 
fringed on  Claude  patent  1,125,476. 
Judge  Robert  P.  Patterson  in  the  U. 
S.  District  Court,  handing  down  the 
decision,  held  that  the  Federal  com- 
pany and  its  officers  were  liable  for 
profits  derived  by  them  and  damages 
sustained  by   Claude   Neon. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Postpones  Reopening 

Buffalo — Reopening  of  the  Holly- 
wood by  Basil  Bros,  has  been  post- 
poned until  September  5. 


Loew's  and  E,  K,  Up 

High  Low  Close 

Eastman     Kodak 148^  I'iS'A  148/2 

Fox    Film    "A" 14^4         14'A        IfVi 

General    Theatre    Equip,    new 2^  2^  2% 

Loew's    Inc 493^         ASH        49 

Paramount    Publix 24J4         2454.        24^4 

Pathe    Exchange i'A  lA  Wi 

Pathe    Exchange   "A" (>'A  Wt         6'/l 

R    K  0 15/2         155^        155^ 

Warner    Bros 8M  8!^  m 

Warner    Bros,    pfd 21  21  21 


Curb  Slow;  G.  T,  Sales  Big 

High  Low  Close 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 2'A  2A  2/^ 

General   Theatres    Equip,    pfd 5fs  5  5Ji 

.Sentry    Safety   Control 54  M  M 

Technicolor    T/i  "iVi  TVt 

Trans    Lux 5  5  5 


Bonds  Active;  Warners  Up 

High  Low  Close 

General    Theatre    Equip.    6s    '40 28!/i         26  28/ 

Keith   B.   F.  6s   '46 67^  67  67 

Paramount    Broadway   5/s   '51 102?^  10244  102^4 

Paramount   F.   L.   6s  '47 88  87%        88, 

Paramount   Publix   5/s,    '50 78  7754        78 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 54}4         53  54^ 


'West  of  Broadway* 


H, 


(■VI-G-.M) 


.  OLLYWOOD  —  John  Gilbert's 
latest  vehicle  presents  him  as  a 
churlish,  ungentlemanly  charac- 
ter who  marries  a  girl  in  a 
drunken  stupor  and  refuses  to 
be  decent  about  it  afterward.  It 
is  hardly  calculated  to  enhance 
the  star's  waning  popularity. 
Lois  Moran  as  the  girl  does  ex- 
ceptionally fine  work  and  she 
and  El  Brendel,  together  with 
others  of  the  cast,  do  all  they 
can  to  make  up  for  the  unat- 
tractive role  played  by  Gilbert. 
There  is  some  beautiful  scenery 
in  the  sequences  laid  in  Arizona. 
LEO  MEEHAN 


Net 

Change 

Sales 

-f3/ 

3.900 

-1-  Vi 

3,400 

-\-  v» 

800 

-hi 

7,300 

3.800 

500 

+  v» 

300 

+  % 

5,500 

+  Y» 

4,200 

100 

Net 

Change 

Sales 

200 

-h  !4 

1,900 

100 

-h  / 

200 

-Vt 

400 

Net 

Change 

Sales 

+2'/, 

11 

T/ 

10 

4-^: 

4 

+IA 

8 

4-254 

36 

^Purely 
Personai 


ROBERT  J.  O'DONNELL,  new 
Publi.x  division  manager  in  the 
Southwest,  is  on  an  inspection  tour  of 
his  territory.  He  is  accompanied  by 
John  F.  Barry,  director  of  personnel, 
and  Gaston  Dureau,  booking  super- 
visor for  the  territory.  The  party  will 
visit  New  Orleans,  Dallas  and  other 
towns  of  the  division. 

Arch  Reeve,  Paramount  studio 
publicity  chief,  is  pepped  up  over  the 
Marx  Brothers'  new  comedy,  "Mon- 
key Business."  In  wire  to  S.  R. 
Kent,  he  went  into  a  real  rave  over 
the  picture.  This  was  supplemented 
by  a  wire  from  Harold  B.  Franklin. 

Lou  Smith,  publicity  director  at 
the  Criterion,  New  York,  is  getting 
results  by  playing  up  the  romantic 
angle  and  subduing  the  tragic  side  of 
"An  American   Tragedy." 

James  H.  McCoy,  manager  of  the 
Olympia  Theatre  at  Miami,  got  a 
real  break  when  a  shake-up  in  the 
city  government  took  place  just  be- 
fore he  played  "Politics." 

Sydney  E.  Abel,  who  recently  re- 
signed as  general  sales  manager  of 
RCA  Photophone,  is  working  on  a 
new  venture  soon  to  be  announced. 

Marian  Marsh  returns  to  New 
York  this  morning  after  week-ending 
at  the  Westchester  estate  of  H.  M. 
Warner. 

Edward  G.  Robinson  this  week  is 
appearing  at   the   Albee   in    Brooklyn. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

University  Offers  Films 

Berkeley,  Cal. — Boyd  B.  Rake- 
straw,  acting  director  of  the  Llni- 
versity  of  California  Extension  Di- 
vision at  Berkeley,  Cal.,  reports  that 
more  than  1,500  reels  of  educational 
films  are  available  for  distribution, 
in  addition  to  entertainment  films. 
A  new  group  of  films  dealing  with 
athletics,  recreation,  hygiene  and 
physiology  has  been  added  to  the 
university's    film    library. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Merrick  at  Portland 

Portland — Joe  Merrick,  formerly 
Middle  West  division  manager  for 
Tiffany,  now  is  managing  Univer- 
sal's   exchange   here. 


, 


1   sefeicl    if 


once 


ana  I  repeat  that 


tne  fall  crop  of  pictu 


-  r  AfC^tK.  sA.'^";  T*.^  '-j%A-iSi^.'m!iX*i9ViKnxaii«rM^  -^  1^  ■jrtat'^aaMmgJMOT'iBMiaMKftaa 


is    going    to    be    the    b 


est 


ever    sent    from    cinenrialand 


or 


that's  what 

FLORABEL  MUIR  ««i. 

iw%    l\evr     1  ork     L#«iily 

filter     previe^vriiiflp     6    nevr 

sieason    pictures»    coiTipletecl 

at    the    rvJA.    tstuclios 


!Sai 


evrsJ 


ne  vr 


u 


100% 


Entertainment 


It 


—  Chicago  Trihune. 


YOUNG 


FIFI  DORSAY 
LUCIEN   LITTLEFIELD 

Donald  Diliaway 
Terrance  Ray  •  Rosalie  Roy 

Okecfed  by 

FRANK  BORZAGE 

"Best  thing   Will   Rogers  has  done  on  the 

screen  since  THEY  HAD  TO  SEE  PARIS." 

—  Chicago  Evening  American 

"Confidently  recommended  to  everyone,  young 
or  old.  The  whole  family  will  like  it." 

—  Chicago  Evening  Post 


Will 


DGERS 


in 


George  Ade's  play 


FEEL 


This  picture  tells  the  story 
and  sets  the  advertising  for 
the  snappiest  Rogers  picture 
ever  screened. 

Showmanship  is  packed  into 
every  page  of  the  campaign 
book  —  get  it  and  sell  your 
town  with  showmanship 
they  cant  resist.  It's  all  in 
the  book. 


Intensely  Human 


Konn,  Motion  Picture  Doily 


"Intensely  human"  and  more.  Weeping  women  will  call 
it  a  wonder  picture.  Men  will  thrill  to  its  pathos  and 
realism.  All  ages  will  give  it  that  word-of-mouth  adver- 
tising that  so  surely  marks  the  box  office  smash. 

Dunn  and  Eilers  with  their  sensational  performances 
and  a  deathless  story  unite  to  make  the  biggest  hit  of  1931. 


1 


-^ 


Hum 


^.^ 


MINNA  GOMBELL  •  WILLIAM  PAWLEY 

From  V/no  Delmar's  novel  and  play  by  her  and  Brian  Marlowe 
Directed  by  FRANK  BORZAGE 

"Exhibitors  everywhere  should  insist 
upon  getting  BAD  GIRL.  It  is  a  tri- 
umph for  the  Fox  production  forces... 
As  tender  in  spots  as  7th  HEAVEN, 
rich  in  the  human  quahty  that  makes 
the  real  Borzage  picture  something 
more  than  just  a  picture,  BAD  GIRL 
is  an  achievement  that  will  renew 
our  faith  in  the  art  of  the  screen  .  .  . 
There  was  a  lump  in  my  throat  nearly 
all  the  time  I  was  viewing  the  picture, 
and  when  James  Dunn  implores  the 
great  doctor  to  take  the  confinement 
case,  I  broke  down  and  cried.  He 
gives  a  magnificent  exhibition  of 
emotional  acting.  If  you  can  watch  that 
scene  and  speak  within  five  minutes 
after  it  is  over,  you  are  hard-boiled." 
— Hollywood  Spectator 


''DAZZLING    IN    ITS 
BRILLIANCE'' 

—  New  York  American 


S^®^^  Reeled  a^  ^^l^  Viv  ^^^""^ 

^eeVs.   ^'      eWetvt  catn 
^^,ecuot>^  a  cast.         ^^,^^1 

torts  ana  a  fe         ^^ent^s  J 

cast.    ^g^atVve^^^^ 

Sp\en<^^^^^  .^c  cast.  i^°^' 
to  new      _X<Ifc^ylO^'^ 


EDMUNDi 
LOWE     ' 

LOIS  MORAN 

John  Halliday 
Jean  Hersholt 
Greta    Nissen 

MyrnaLoy 

i 

Directed    by 
WILLIAM     K.     HOWARD 


TOGETHER  AGAIN  . . . 


Charles 

Farrell 


III 

Merely  Mary 
Ann 

with  BERYL  MERCER 
J.  M.  KERRIGAN 

Adapted  from  Israel  Zangwill's  play 
by  Jules  Furthman 

Directed  by  HENRY  KING 

"MERELY  MARY  ANN  should  make  itself  a  lot 
of  money  in  the  loop  and  outlying  houses." 

—  Clark  Rodenhach,  Chicago  Daily  News 

"This  is  another  DADDY  LONG  LEGS  in  popular 
appeal.  It  is  very  rare  for  a  star  to  have  such  good 
luck  in  two  consecutive  roles  as  has  befallen  Janet 
Gaynor,  and  her  popularity  rating  should  take  a  great 
jump  ...  In  fact,  MERELY  MARY  ANN  is  just 
about  all  right  in  every  particular.  It  should  be  as 
popular  as  DADDY  LONG  LEGS,  even  more  so. 
It  is  the  kind  of  picture  which  keeps  the  great 
majority  of  the  public  faithful  movie  fans." 

—Genevieve  Harris,  Chicago  Evening  Post 


The  Incomparable 
Box  Office  Team 


Here's  comedy  with  a  stick  of  dynamite.  It 
will  rock  em  with  laughter  and  jolt  em 
with  surprises.  You  haven't  seen  Sally 
O'Neil  until  you  screen  "The  Brat",  the 
picture  that   earned  her  a  5   year  contract. 


THE 

Brat 


r 


THE 

Spider 


EDMUND 


LOIS 


LOWE  •  MORAN 

El   Brendel        John  Arledge 
George  E.  Stone    Jesse  De  Vorsko 

Based  on  the  play  "The  Spider  by 
Fulton  Oursler  and  Lowell  Brentano 
^SSaeSi  Directed  by 
William  Cameron  Menzies 
and  Kenneth  MacKenna 

mm. 


A  knockout  on  the  stage,  it's  better  on 
the  screen,  with  Edmund  Lowe  hit- 
ting a  new  high — suave,  sophisticated, 
fascinating.      ^^^  ^^^^^^ 

n€UJ  HIT$ 


Monday,  August    17,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


46 


Hush  Money" 
Is  Best  Bet 
In   Toronto 


Total  $59,600  for  5  Theatres 


Toronto — Slightly  increased  busi- 
ness was  recorded  at  several  first 
runs,  thanks  to  a  cool  spell  for  most 
of  the  week.  The  biggest  gate  was 
at  the  Imperial  Theatre  on  account 
of  its  large  capacity  and  splendid 
cooling  system,  a  gross  of  $14,500 
being  registered  with  "Hush  Money." 

Shea's  gathered  in  $12,800  largely 
on  the  strength  of  a  good  vaudeville 
bill  headed  by  Blanche  Sweet,  the 
screen  feature  being  "A  Holy  Ter- 
ror." The  Tivoli  stepped  up  with 
"Young  As  You  Feel,"  starring  Will 
Rogers,  the  gross  here  being  $11,500. 
Loew's  Theatre  continued  fair  at 
$10,500  with  "Son  of  India,"  while 
the  Uptown  braced  appreciably  with 
a  popular  picture,  "Stepping  Out," 
doing  $10,300,  which  was  some  bet- 
ter than  recent  weeks.  It  is  notice- 
able that  the  theatres  that  have  been 
making  the  most  noise  about  their 
refrigeration  systems,  the  Imperial 
and  Shea's,  have  been  making  by  far 
the   best   showing. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  14  and  year-round  av- 
erages : 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 

IMPERIAL— (j',444),  15c-25c-35c-50c-65c- 
75c,  6  days.  Publix  stage  unit.  Gross: 
$14,500.    (Average,    $16,000.) 

"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S— (2,088),      25c-30c-40c-60c-7Sc.      6 
days.    Gross:    $10,500.    (Average,   $15,000.) 
"A   HOLY    TERROR"    (Fox) 
SHEA'S— (2,600),    30c -50c -60c -750,    6    days. 
Five     vaudeville     acts,     featuring     Blanche 
Sweet.      Gross:    $12,800.     (Average,    $13,000.) 
"YOUNG   AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 
TIVOLI— (1,600),     15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c,  6 
days.    Gross:    $11,500.    (Average,    $12,500.) 
"STEPPING    OUT"    (M-G-M) 
UPTOWN— (3,000),     15c-25c-35c-50c-60c.     6 
days.   Gross:    $10,300.    (Average,   $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Roger  Film 
Is  Week's  Best 
In  Indianapolis 


Total  $42,050  for  5  Theatres 


King  of  Siam 
Aids  Business 
In  Ottawa 


Total  $16,000  in  4  Theatres 


Indianapolis — Business  generally 
was  better  last  week  with  Will  Rog- 
ers' "As  Young  as  You  Feel"  closing 
strong  at  the  Apollo,  where  it  got 
$5,500,  or  $1,500  better  than  the  house 
average.  The  lack  of  stage  shows 
hasn't  hurt  grosses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  14  and  year-round 
weekly  averages : 

"AS    YOUNG   AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 

APOLLO— (1,100),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,500.     (Average,    $4,000.) 

"THE  SECRET  CALL"  (Para.) 
CIRCLE— (2,600),   25c-50c,    7   days.    Gross: 
$7,500.     (Average,    $5,000.) 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 
INDIANA- (3.300),  25c-50c.  6  days.    Gross: 
$12,550.     (Average,     $13,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 
LYRIC— (2.000),     25c-50c,    7    days.     Gross: 
$8,000.     (Average.    $7,000.) 

"FIVE   AND   TEN"    (M-G-M) 
PALACE— (2.800).   25c-50c.  7  days.    Gross: 
$8,500.     (Average,    $8,500.) 


Ottawa — The  big  thrill  of  the 
week  was  the  presence  of  the  King 
and  Queen  of  Siam.  Between  state 
dinners  and  receptions,  they  slipped 
away  for  a  performance  of  "Sweep- 
stakes" at  the  Imperial  Theatre  and 
the  week's  business  jumped  about  av- 
erage to  $3,200  as  a  result. 

The  big  business  of  the  week  was 
scored  by  the  Regent  with  "Son  of 
India"  at  $5,600  and  by  the  Centre 
with  "Party  Husband"  at  $5,200, 
both  of  which  were  also  above  par. 
The  capital  was  in  holiday  mood  and 
the  theatres  reaped  the  benefit.  The 
Avalon,  as  well,  registered  a  little 
better  than  ordinary  summer  marks 
with  $1,000  for  "Father's  Son"  for  the 
first  half  and  $1,100  on  "The  Flood" 
for  the  last  half.  Incidentally,  this 
was  the  last  week  before  the  re- 
opening of  the  RKO  Capitol,  the 
showhouse  of  the  town,  in  its  new 
attire.  Cooler  weather  was  also  a 
help. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  14  and  year-round  av- 
era°'"es  i 

"FATHER'S   SON"    (F.   N.) 

AVALON— (990),      15c-25c-35c.      2>      days. 
Gross:    $1,000.     (Average,    $1,300.) 
"THE   FLOOD"    (Col.) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $1,100.    (Average,    $1,300.) 

"PARTY  HUSBAND"  (F.  N. 

CENTRE,— (1.142),      15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,     6 
days.    Gross:    $5,200.    (Average.    $4,600.) 
"SWEEPSTAKES"    (RXO-Pathe) 

IMPERIAI^-(1,091),     10c-25c-35c-40c-50c,  6 
days.    Gross:    $3,200.    (Average.    $3,000.) 
"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

REGENT— (1,225),  15c-25c-35c-45c-60c-75c, 
6   days.    Gross:   $5,600.    (Average,   $5,400.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Buys  "Ten  Nights'' 

Oklahoma  City — K.  Lee  Wil- 
liams has  taken  over  distribution  for 
L.  E.  Goetz  of  Chicago  of  "Ten 
Nights  in  a  Barroom"  for  Okla- 
homa, Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Texas, 
Mississippi,  New  Mexico,  Colorado, 
Utah  and  Wyoming.  The  picture  will 
be  road-showed  on  special  ballyhoo 
calliope  trucks,  with  tieups,  advance 
screenings  and  a  bill-posting  car 
7  days  in  advance.  L.  C.  McHenry 
will   be  associated   with   Williams. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Meyer  Making  Chi  Deal 

Chicago — Louis  Meyer  of  Meyer- 
Reiger  Trailer  service  was  here  Sat- 
urday in  connection  with  a  deal  for 
the  Chicago  franchise  on  Meyer- 
Rieger    trailers. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Opens  Chi  Office 

Chicago — United  Screen  Star  Cor- 
poration, formerly  of  Terre  Haute, 
Indiana,  has  established  headquarters 
in  the  Congress   Bank  Building. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Fischer  Closes  Deal 

Cleveland  —  Fischer  Film  Ex- 
change, with  offices  here  and  in  Cin- 
cinnati, has  purchased  "Enemies  of 
the   Law"  for   Ohio  distribution. 


W.  B.  Sales  Hit  Sky 
In  Seven  Days 

(.Continued  from  page   1) 

Loew  Metropolitan  Theatres  situated 
in  New  York,  Brooklyn,  Long  Island 
and  Westchester. 

Another  deal  calls  for  the  showing 
of  all  the  Warner-First  National 
product  in  RKO  theatres  not  only  in 
New  York,  but  throughout  the  en- 
tire country.  All  of  the  RKO  first- 
run  houses  are   involved  in  this  deal. 

Contracts  also  were  completed  for 
the  showing  of  the  product  of  the 
companies  by  the  Shanberg  circuit  of 
Missouri  and  Kansas ;  the  Rhoden 
Circuit  of  Missouri  and  Illinois ;  the 
Dubinsky  chain  of  theatres  in  Kan- 
sas and  Missouri  and  the  house  con- 
trolled by  Glen  Dickenson  in  Kansas 
City,  Mo. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  nego- 
tiations for  the  showing  of  the  War- 
ner-First National  product  over  the 
Publix-Comerford  circuit,  the  Pub- 
lix New  England  circuit,  and  Publix 
Indiana  circuit  were  closed.  All  con- 
tracts are  efifective  immediately. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Film  to  Fight 
Accessory  Rentals 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

posters  and  stills  to  the  various  ex- 
changes after  using  them.  This  mate- 
rial is  torn  up  by  the  various  ex- 
changes and  is  not  resold.  The  aver- 
age amount  spent  by  the  average  ex- 
hibitor for  accessories  on  a  picture  is 
estimated  at  $2. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

New  Toronto  ^Change 
Plans  New  Offices 

Toronto — Substantial  development 
has  been  shown  by  the  Excellent  Film 
Exchange  of  which  Douglas  Cooper 
is  the  general  manager.  This  ex- 
change has  established  new  headquar- 
ters on  the  second  floor  of  the  Film 
Building,  while  a  new  branch  office 
has  been  opened  in  Montreal  with 
Jack  Briggs,  formerly  of  First  Na- 
tional, in  charge.  A  third  office  is 
also  being  opened  in  St.  John,  N.  B. 
The  new  sales  representative  for  On- 
tario is  Archie  Laurie,  formerly  with 
Regal    Films    Limited. 

Excellent  Film  Exchange  recently 
secured  Canadian  distribution  rights 
of  Talking  Picture  Epics,  for  which 
Harry  G.  Price  is  Canadian  repre- 
sentative. Excellent  also  has  the 
Monogram,  Big  Four,  Fitzpatrick 
and  Hoot  Gibson  releases  and  Mascot 
serials.  Bookings  are  being  obtained 
from  both  chain  and  independent  ex- 
hibitors. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sparkes  at  Herkimer 

Herkimer,  N.  Y. — Lester  Sparkes 
has  returned  as  manager  of  the  Lib- 
erty theatre.  Fox  theatre  which  he 
managed  two  years  ago  when  it  was 
a  Schine  house.  He  also  has  been 
with  independent  theatres  in  Dolge- 
ville  and   .Schenectady. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Independent  Closes  Office 

Clevelanl — Independent  Pictures, 
Inc.,  had  closed  its  local  office,  and 
all  booking  of  Independent  pictures 
is  now  being  done  through  Selected. 
The  Cincinnati  branch  office  of  Inde- 
pendent is  still  in  operation  under 
management    of    Chester    Loewe. 


Minneapolis 
Gives  $28,000 
To  Frenchman 


Total  $54,500  for  5  Theatres 


Minneapolis — "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" created  some  criticism  here 
owing  to  its  "raw  spots,"  but  they 
went  to  see  it,  nevertheless,  the  re- 
sult being  a  gross  of  $28,000— which 
represents  a  jump  of  $8,000  over  par. 
A  corking  stage  show  aided.  "Broad- 
minded"  and  "Night  Nurse"  also 
went   over  the  average   mark. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  14  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"QUICK    MILLIONS"    (Fox) 

ASTER— (812).  20c-25c.  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,500.    (Average,    $1,500.) 

"BROADMINDED"    (F.    N.) 

LYRIC— (1,238),    20c-40c,    7    days.     Gross: 
$3.2CO.    (Average.   $2,500.) 
"THE    SMILING    LIEUTENANT"    (Par.) 

MINNESOTA-(4,000).  30c-75c,  7  d'ays. 
Vaudeville.  Gross:  $28,000.  (Average,  $20,- 
000.) 

"A    WOMAN    OF    EXPERIENCE" 
(RKO-Pathe) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2.900).  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average, 
$14,000.) 

"NIGHT  NURSE"    (Warners) 

STATE— (2.300).  25c-35c-50c.  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,800.    (Average,    $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Union  Adamant,  10 
Dark  in  Birmingham 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

ent  contract  which  he  contends   is   in 
effect  till  September  1,   1931. 

As  the  "war"  continues  Birming- 
ham finds  only  three  theatres  open 
in  the  downtown  section.  They  are 
the  Alabama,  Ritz  and  Rialto.  The 
Rialto   is   second   run. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

National  Campaign 
On  ''Tragedy r  Plan 

Paramount  is  planning  a  national 
advertising  campaign  in  50  cities  to 
boost  showing  of  "An  American 
Tragedy."  Twelve  hundred  line  ads 
will  appear  in  153  papers  to  supple- 
ment local  theatre  advertising. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Plan  Outing 

Cleveland — Local  distributors  and 
exhibitors  will  join  forces  in  giving 
an  outing  Tuesday  at  London,  Canada. 
The  party  will  go  by  boat  from  Cleve- 
land to  Port  Stanley,  and  by  special 
car  from  Port  Stanley  to  London, 
where  sports  of  all  kinds  will  be  in- 
dulged in.  Mrs.  Georgia  Moffett, 
secretary  of  the  Cleveland  Film 
Board  of  Trade,  is  handling  funds 
for  the   distributors. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ask  Injunction 

Mayer  C.  Goldman  and  Frank  W. 
Harris,  attorneys,  have  entered  a 
motion  in  Supreme  Court  for  a  tem- 
porary injunction  restraining  RKO- 
Radio  from  using  and  exploiting  the 
title  "The  Public  Defender."  The 
plaintiff's  claim  to  have  exclusive 
right  to  the  title  as  authors  of  the 
nlay  by  the  same  name.  It  was  made 
into  a  picture  in  1917,  they  claim. 


12 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August    17,    1931 


'Black  Camer 
'Goldie'  High 
In  Milwaukee 


Total  $66,400  for  5  Theatres 


^liLWACKEE  —  Unusually  cool 

weather  proved  a  boon  for  the  ex- 
hibitors here  during  the  past  week 
with  the  result  that  most  of  the  first 
runs  enjoyed  good  business.  "Goldie" 
was  good  for  $14,500  at  Fox's  Wis- 
consin, while  the  first  showing  of 
"Dirigible"  at  popular  prices  took  in 
$13,800  at  RKO's  Riverside. 

"The  Black  Camel"  did  a  good 
business  at  the  Alhambra,  taking  in 
$10,300,  and  the  second  week  of 
"Politics"  at  Fox's  Strand  held  up 
for  $300  over  average.  The  sound 
revival  of  "The  Birth  of  a  Nation" 
did   "$9,800  at   Brio's   Garden. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  14  and  year-round  av- 
erages : 

"THE    BLACK    CAMEL"    (Fox) 

ALH-AMBRA— (2.660).     25c-3Sc-50c-60c,     7 
days.    Gross:    $10,300.    (Average,    $8,000.) 
"THE    BIRTH    OF    A    NATION"    (Grey) 

GARDE.X— (1.150),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,800.     (Average,    $10,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 

RIVE.RSIDE— (2.180),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $13,800.  (Aver- 
age,   $13,000.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

STRAND— (1,406).  25c-35cl50c-60c,  sec- 
ond week,  7  days.  Gross:  $6,800.  (Average, 
J6,50O.) 

"THE    BARGAIN"    (Warners)  ' 

WARNER— (2.500),  25c-3'5c-50c-60c,  7 
days.     Gross:    $11,200. 

"GOLDIE"   (Fox) 

WISCONSIN— (3,275),  25c-35c-50c-65c,  7 
days.  Fanchon  &  Marco  Idea.  Gross: 
$14,500.     (Average,    $13,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Lieutenant" 
Best  Bet  of 
Houston 


Total  $26,700  for  4  Theatres 


Houston — Relief  from  the  terrific 
heat  was  provided  by  a  baby  norther, 
which  helped  pull  three  theatres  to 
the  good.  "The  Smiling  Lieutenant," 
with  a  gross  of  $8,500,  led  the  town 
by  25  per  cent.  "Old  English"  at  the 
Kirby  was  liked  but  failed  to  pull 
'em  in. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  13  and  year-round 
weekly  averages : 

"OLD    ENGLISH"    (Warners) 

KIRBY— (1,654),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,2(XJ.      (Average,    $5,000.) 

SPORTING    BLOOD"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S    STATE— (2,700),    25c-35c-S0c,    7 
days.     Gross:    $7,500.      (Average,    $7,000.) 
"THE    SMILING    LIEUTENANT"    (Par.) 

METROPOLITAN— (2,512),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.     Gross:    $8.5')0.      (Average.    $7,000.) 

"THE    PUBLIC    DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

RKO  MAJESTIC— (2.250),  25c-35c-50c.  7 
days.     Gross:    $7,500.     (Average,    $7,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Opens  Headquarters 

Des  Moi.nes — New  headquarters 
for  Allied  were  opened  this  week  at 
Nevada,  la.,  and  Omaha,  Neb.,  by 
Lester  F.  Martin,  secretary-treasurer 
of   the  Allied   units   in   both   states. 


Politics"  Is 
Top  Notcher 
In  Montreal 


Total  $48,900  for  6  Theatres 


MoxTRE.^L — Cooler  weather  enabled 
Montreal  exhibitors  to  maintain  the 
ground  gained  during  the  previous 
week,  the  topliner  being  "Politics"  at 
the  Palace,  which  hit  $12,000  for  the 
seven  days — aided  by  special  adver- 
tising. Manager  Tom  Cleary  of  the 
Princess  also  picked  up  on  its  string 
of  British  pictures  with  $9,800  on 
"The  Skin  Game,"  heavily  exploited 
as  well. 

Loew's  more  than  held  its  own, 
compared  with  the  week  before,  with 
"The  Maltese  Falcon"  and  vaudeville, 
doing  $10,600.  The  vaudeville  bill 
was  raised  to  eight  acts  on  one  night, 
which  was  labeled  "Jubilee  Night." 
The  Capitol  slipped  a  cog  or  two, 
however,  largely  because  "Tabu"  was 
doubled  with  "The  Secret  Call,"  the 
latter  being  the  real  draw.  The  Capi- 
tol's gross  was  $9,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  14  and  year-round  av- 
erages : 

"THE     SECRET    CAIX"     (Para.)     and 
"TABU"     (Para.) 

CAPITOL— (2.547).         25c-35c-50c-60c,        7 
days.    Gross:     $9,500.      (Average,    .$12,500.) 
"YELLOW    MASK"    (British)    and 
"IN    OLD    CHEYENNE" 
(Sono   Art-World    Wide) 
IMPERIAL— (1,914),    15c-25c-40c.    7    days, 
less    two    nights.     Gross:    $3,400.     (Average, 
$5,100.) 

"THE  MALTESE   FALCON"   (Warners) 

LOEWS— (3,115),  25c -40c -50c -65c -75c,  7 
days.  Five  vaud'eville  acts.  Gross:  $10,600. 
(Average,   $13,000.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

PALACE— (2,600),      25c -40c -60c -75c -99c,      7 
days.     Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,    $14,000.) 
"THE    SKIN    GAME"    (British) 

PRINCESS  -  (2,272).  25c -35c -40c -50c- 60c- 
65c,  7  days.  Gross:  $9,800.  (Average,  $13,- 
000). 

"MY    PAST"    (Warners)    .^nd 
'WOMAN    HUNGRY"    (F.   N.) 

STRAND— (750).  15c-25c-40c-SOc,  7  days. 
Gross:    $3,600.     (Average,    $4,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Bought"  Wins 
Top  Money  In 
Charlotte  Run 


Total  $18,000  for  2  Theatres 


Charlotte — "Shop  in  Charlotte" 
Day  last  Friday  gave  impetus  to  box 
offices  and  made  "Bought"  the  week's 
leader  with  a  take  of  $7,000.  Both 
the  Broadway  and  Carolina  reduced 
matinee  prices  for  the  event  and  the 
increased  attendance  ofifset  the  re- 
duction. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  13  and  year-round 
weekly  averages  : 

"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 

BROADWAY-(l,167),  25c-50c,  6  days. 
Gross:    $7,00f).     (Average.    $7,500.) 

"THE    PUBLIC  DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $5.a».     (Average.    $5,500.) 

"HUCKLEBERRY    FINN"    (Par.) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days. 
Gross:     $6,000.     (Average,    $5,500.) 


$8,300  Gives 
"Lieutenant" 
O.  C.  Honors 


Total  $24,800  for  4  Theatres 


Oklahoma  City — With  the  weather 
still  at  a  record  degree,  business 
showed  a  slight  upturn  last  week. 
"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  gave  the 
Criterion  a  gross  of  $8,300,  a  figure  it 
has  failed  to  reach  in  recent  weeks. 
"Miracle  Woman"  proved  a  disap- 
pointment at  the  Mid-West. 

Estimated     takings    for     the     week 
ending    August     14    and     year-round 
weekly  averages  : 
"THE    SMILING    LIEUTENANT"    (Par.) 

CRITERION— (1,800),    10c-35c-50c,   7   days. 
Gross:    $8,300.    (Average,    $8,000.) 

"THE   MIRACLE    WOMAN"    (CoL) 

MID-WEST— (1,500),    10c-35c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $5,500.    (Average,    $7,500.) 

"MURDER    BY    THE    CLOCK"    (Par.) 

CAPITOL-(1,200),         10c-25c-35c-50c,         7 
days.     Gross:    $5,600.    (Average,    $7,000.) 
"THE  RECKLESS   HOUR"    (F.   N.) 

LIBERTY— (1,500),     10c-35c-50c,     7     days. 
Vaudeville.   Ooss:  $5,400.    (Average,   $7,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M.  Chevaher 
Takes  Seattle 
High:  $18,000 


Total  $62,000  for  6  Theatres 


Seattle — "The  Smiling  Lieutenant" 
smiled  his  way  into  the  hearts  of  the 
fans  who  flocked  to  the  Fox  Fifth 
Avenue  in  such  numbers  that  it  was 
held  over  for  a  nine-day  run,  the 
gross  for  that  period  being  $18,000 
against  a  weekly  average  of  $12,000. 
"The  Son  of  India"  went  $500  over 
the  normal  figure  of  $12,000  at  the 
Fox  Paramount. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  14  and  year-round  av- 
erages : 

"THE    NIGHT    ANGEL"    (Para.) 

FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-35c-50c,    4 
days.       Gross:    $3,500.        (Average,    $3,500.) 
"THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  YOUTH"   (F.  N.) 

FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-35c-50c,    3 
days.       Gross:    $2,000.       (Average,    $2,500.) 
"THE    SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

FOX  FIFTH  AVENUEr-(2,750),  25c- 
35c-50c-75c,  9  days.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Av- 
erage   for    week,    $12,000.;) 

"SON     OF     INDIA"     (M-G-M) 

FOX     PARAMOUNT  —  (3,150),     25c-35c- 
50c-75c.    7    days.       Gross:    $12,500.        (Aver- 
age,   $12,000.) 
"CHILDREN     OF     DREAMS"     (Warners) 

LIBERTY  —  (2.0O0),  15c-30c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,000.       (Average,    $7,500.) 

"THE    RECKLESS    HOUR"    (F.    N.) 

MUSIC      BOX— (950),      25c-35c-50c-75c,      7 
days.       Gross:    $6,500.       (Average,    $7,500.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 

RKO  ORPHEUM  — (2,650),  25c-35c-50c- 
60c-75c,  7  days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $13,500. 
(Average,    $13,500.) 

■/BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Van  Beuren  Units  Active 

Fourteen  thousand  feet  of  film. — 
all  of  it  super-sensitive  stock — have 
been  received  by  the  Van  Beuren 
Corp.  from  Asia  and  the  straits  Set- 
tlements, as  part  of  forthcoming  re- 
leases of  the  Vagabond  Adventure 
Series.  The  film  comes  from  three 
Van  Beuren  units  that  are  traveling 
throughout  the   interior. 


Daddy  Long 
Legs''  Again 
Wows  Frisco 


Total  $120,250  for  8  Theatres 


San  Francisco — Tremendous  busi- 
ness was  done  last  week  by  "Daddy 
Long  Legs,"  which  rolled  up  a  gross 
of  $16,750  at  the  El  Capitan  on  a  sec- 
ond run  showing.  This  is  almost  a 
record  for  the  house.  Other  theatres 
did  fairly  well. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  11  and  year-round 
weekly  averages : 

"FORBIDDEN   ADVENTURE"    (Para) 

GOLDEN  GATE-(2,800),  25c -40c- 50c -6Sc, 
7  days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average. 
$15  OOO  )  t     .  \      ^     fi^, 

"COMMON    LAW"    (RKO    PATHE) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),  2Sc-35c-50c,  3  days 
(third  week).  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average  for 
first     week,     $12,000.) 

Week  ending  August  12: 
"SPORTING     BLOOD"     (M-G-M) 

!FOX-(4,600),     S5c-60c.     F     &     M     stage 

revue.     Gross:     $34,000.     (Average,     $34,000.) 

"POLITICS"     (M-G-M) 

WARFIELD— (2,700),    25c-35c-50c,    7   days. 

Rube    Wolf    band;    stage    varieties.    Gross: 

$19,000.     (Average,    $21,000.) 

"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
EL    CAPITAN— (3,100),    25c-40c-60c.     (2nd 
run)     7     days.     Jay     Brower     band;     stage 
revue.     Gross:   $16,750.     (Average,  $13,000.) 
"KIKI"     (U.A.) 
UNITED     ARTISTS-(1,200).     25c-40c-60c, 
7    days.    Gross:    $9,000.     (Average,    $11,000.) 

Week  ending  August  13: 

"CAPTAIN    THUNDER"    (Warners) 

WARNER  —  (1,385),  35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,000.     (Average,    $10,500.) 

Week  ending  August  14: 

"SMILING    LIEUTENANT"     (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  -  (2,740),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days,  second  week,  Jess  Stafford  band. 
Gross:    $16,000.     (Average,    $19,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Polities''  Is 
Money  Film 
In  St.  Paul 


Total  $32,400  for  4  Theatres 


St.  Paul — "Politics"  was  the  pace- 
setter of  the  week,  garnering  $10,000 
at  the  Paramount,  whose  average  mark 
is  $7,500.  "Night  Nurse"  took  in 
$1,000  above  gross  at  the  Riviera, 
and  "Broadminded"  the  same  amount 
at  the  Tower. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  14  and  year-round 
averages : 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 
PARAMOUNT— (2,300),     25c-5()c.    7    days. 
Gross:    $10,000.      (Average,    $7,500.) 

"NIGHT   NURSE"    (Warners) 
RIVIEKA— (1,000),      25c-35c-50c,      7     days. 
Gross:    $8,000.      (Average,    $7,000.) 

"A    WOMAN    OF    EXPERIENCE" 
(RKO-Pathe) 
RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,600),  25c-50c.  7  days. 
Vaudeville."        Gross:       $11,400.        (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"BROADMINDED"    (F.    N.) 
TOWER— (1,000),    15c-25c,    7   days.    Gross: 
$3,000.     (Average,    $2,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

F.  P.  Dividend 

Montreal — Famous  Players  Can- 
adian Corp.  has  declared  regular  quar- 
terly dividend  of  50  cents  payable 
September  26  to  holders  of  record 
-September  4. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.   NO.  67 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  AUGUST  18,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Confab  Oct. 
26  on  Trust 
Law  Changes 

Industry   Representation 
At  Meet  Is  Seen 


Revision  of  the  anti-trust  laws  to 
bring  them  up-to-date  to  meet  changed 
economical  conditions  is  the  aim  of  a 
national  conference  to  be  held  in  New 
York  October  26  to  draft  proposed 
changes  in  the  law.  The  conference 
is  being  sponsored  by  New  York 
University. 

Industry  representation  at  the  forth- 
coming  meeting   is   anticipated.    Other 

(Continued    on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"U"  and  Boles  Split 
On  Salary  Guarantee 

Hollywood — Universal  has  failed 
to  exercise  its  option  on  the  services 
of  John  Boles,  the  annual  guarantee 
of  $100,000  proving  the  stumbling 
block  in  the  matter.  This  guarantee 
was  provided  for  whether  or  not  the 
star  worked.  Boles  declined  to  waive 
the  guarantee. 

The  star  has  been  booked  for  sing- 
ing on  the  radio  at  a  reputed  weekly 
salary  of  $7,000,  just  double  his  Uni- 
versal salary. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Contracts  Analyzed 
By  Allied  Leaders 

Analysis  of  the  contract  forms  used 
by  various  distributors  are  contrasted 
with  the  standard  clauses  agreed  to  at 
the  5-5-5  conferences  in  an  article  by 
Nathan  Yamins  and  Walter  Little- 
field  in  current  issue  of  the  Allied 
Exhibitor.  Yamins  was  a  member  of 
the   5-5-5   committee. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Open  Shop  Plan  in 
Chicago  Is  Denied 

Chicago — While  there  is  no  gen- 
eral plan  by  independents  to  reopen 
dark  houses  under  an  open  shop  pol- 
icy, "anything  might  happen  over- 
night," according  to  Aaron  Saperstein 
and  W.  A.  Stefifes. 


As  Suggested 

Fox's  plan  for  decentraliza- 
tion of  its  circuit  follows 
suggestions  for  operation 
made  at  various  times  by 
Motion  Picture  Daily,  states 
Harry  C.  Arthur,  general 
manager  of  the  circuit. 


Jobs  Hang  on  Grosses 

Hollywood — Unless  anticipated  fall  business  takes  the  upturn 
being  expected  throughout  the  industry,  drastic  cuts  are  in  store 
for  the  studios. 

One  production  chief  says  that  fall  business  will  determine 
many  studio  jobs  and  salaries.  July  and  August  are  expected  to 
show  poor  returns,  he  says,  and  September  probably  won't  be 
much  better,  but  October  and  November  must  be  very  good  if 
the  cuts  are  to  be  averted. 


123,000  Seats 
Is  Goal  of 


by  January 
H.'F.  Circuit 


Hughes  on  Q.T. 

Seeking  United 

Artists  Studio 


11    go 

is    no 
that 


Howard    Hughes 


Hollywood — Howard  Hughes  has 
under  way  a  deal  to  take  over  the 
United  Artists  studio  by  buying  out 
the  interests  of  Mary  Pickford, 
Douglas  Fairbanks  and  Charlie  Chap- 
lin. Negotia- 
tions are  pro- 
ceeding very 
quietly,  but  it 
looks  as  if  the 
deal  w 
through. 
There 
truth 

Hughes  is  buy- 
ing the  Metro- 
politan or  the 
old  Warner 
studio.  It  was 
reported  that 
Hughes  began 
negotiations  for 
the  Metropoli- 
tan studio  im- 
mediately   after    leaving    the    United 

(Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

SMoreinN  J, Sought 
By  Geller,  O'Reilly 

J.  Louis  Geller  and  Charles  O'Reil- 
ly, president  of  the  Theatre  Owners 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  who  on  Sep- 
tember 1  take  over  the  Palace,  Jersey 
City,  are  understood  dickering  for 
eight  more  houses  in  New  Jersey.  The 
Jersey  City  house  now  is  being  re- 
modeled for  opening  in  two  weeks. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Wampas*  ''Faux  Pas" 
Causes  a  Fox  Pass 

Hollywood— Eight  more  employes 
of  Fox  or  affiliated  companies  have 
resigned  from   the  Wampas   as   a   re- 

{Contimicd   on  page   2) 


Hollywood — By  the  first  of  the 
year,  Hughes-Franklin  Theatres  will 
have  125,000  seats,  according  to 
Harold  B.  Franklin.  The  firm  now 
has   104,000  seats,  he  says. 

The  Liemert,  Los  Angeles,  the 
Whittier  in  Whittier  and  the  Sunkist, 
Pomona,  now  are  under  construction 
and  will  be  ready  before  Christmas, 
he   states. 

Franklin  is  sure  there  will  be  a 
big  business  revival  in  the  near  fu- 
ture, basing  his  opinion  on  the  fair- 
ly good  business  done  by  the  whole 
circuit  during  the  current  depression. 

The  Mirror  Theatre  on  Vine  Street 
here  is  making  some  profit  each  week 
and  the  new  automat  Studio  Theatre 
is  doing  very   well,   Franklin  says. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Independents  Eye 
Griffith  Venture 

Attention  of  independent  producers 
on  production  in  the  East  is  being 
focussed  by  D.  W.  Griffith's  new  pic- 
ture now  Hearing  comnletion  at  the 
Audio  Cinema  studio  in  the  Bronx. 
The  picture  is  tentatively  titled  "The 
Struggle."  The  Griffith  film  is  one 
of  the  most  important  independent  ef- 

iContinued  on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Third  Operators' 
Union  Invades  N.Y. 

While  Operators'  Local  306  con- 
tinues to  demand  two  men  in  a  booth, 
another  projectionists'  union  has  been 
formed  as  competition  to  the  Sam 
Kaplan  organization.  This  makes  the 
third  for  New  York. 

Under  the  name  of  Brotherhood  of 
Operators  No.  2,  the  organizers  claim 

(Continued  on    page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Seek  to  Halt  ''Bad 
Girr  Run  at  Roxy 

Whether  pre-release  run  of  "Bad 
Girl"  at  the  Roxy  is  damaging  to 
Bad   Girl,   Inc.,   from   which   firm   the 

(Continued  on    page   2) 


Protest  Meet 
Will  Tackle 
Other  Topics 

Proposed  Session  Will  Be 
Set  in  Few  Days 

Meeting  of  exhibitor  associations 
sponsored  by  the  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania, southern  New  Jersey  and  Dela- 
ware exhibitor  association  will  tackle 
other  matters  in  addition  to  its  pro- 
test against  M-G-M  sales  policies,  for 
which  the  session  is  being  called. 

Contracts  of  other  companies,  among 
them  Fox,  also  are  to  be  put  under  the 
microscope  at  the  gathering  which  will 
be  held  in  New  York. 

With  exhibitor  associations  in  a 
number  of  sections  already  having 
given  assurance  to  the  Philadelphia 
zone  unit  that  they  will  attend^  date 
of  the  proposed  session  will  be  set  in 
a  few  days. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cliff  Broughton 

To  Produce  24 

Cliff  Broughton,  Hollywood  pro- 
ducer ;  Ralph  M.  Like,  producer  of 
the  Thrill-0-Dramas  for  George 
Weeks,  and  Edward  -S.  Ruth  have  or- 
ganized Action  Pictures,  Inc.,  in  Cali- 
fornia, to  produce  24  features  for  the 
state  rights  market.  The  first,  "The 
Sky  Spider,"  is  finished  and  the  sec- 

(Continued  on    page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Publix  Expansion 
In  Virginia  Seen 

Richmond— Publix  is  planning  ex- 
pansion in  this  territory  and  has 
formed  Publix  National  Theatres 
Corp.     for     the     purpose.  Spyros 

Skouras    is    president    and    Austin    C. 
Keough,   secretary.      Thomas   B.    Gay 

(Continued  on   page  2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warners  Merging  2 
Va.  Theatre  Firms 

RicfiATOND  —  Merger  of  Warner 
Brothers  Theatres,  Inc.,  and  the  Em- 
pire Amusement  Co.  is  expected  to 
lie   ratified    at    meeting   of    stockhold- 

(Continued   on   page   2) 


The  Chief 

Heading  the  list  of  names  on 
the  inter-office  telephones  at 
Columbia  is  "Joe  Brandt — 
Master." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August    18,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  DaUy   Review 

and   Motion   Pictures    Today 


Vol.    .!U 


August   18,    1931 


No.   67 


Martin  Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.  CRON 
A  dvertising   Manager 


^"SP\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
C  Jj  ^  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^l^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
'I  at  1790  15  roadway.  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edzvin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.   Y.,   under  Act  of   March   3,   1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.      Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Mae  Murray  Still 
Wants  $300,000 

Alleging  that  $300,000  is  due  her 
from  profits  accrued  from  pictures 
she  appeared  in  since  1921,  Mae  Mur- 
ray has  filed  suit  in  Supreme  Court 
against  Tiffany  and  Herbert  E. 
Cronevveth  to  recover  that  amount. 
The  actress  asks  for  a  true  account- 
ing of  the  profits  on  the  pictures  she 
made  for  the  company  and  asks  to 
examine  Charles  M.  Steele,  assist- 
ant treasurer  of  Tiffany,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  case. 

In  her  suit  Miss  Murray  alleges 
that  she  made  eight  pictures,  but  an 
accounting  of  the  profits  was  not 
given  her  until  July,  1924,  when  she 
signed  a  release.  This  accounting, 
she  contends,  was  false,  and  the  re- 
lease obtained  under  threat  of  court 
actions.  She  asks  that  the  release 
she   signed   be   set   aside. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cliff  Broughton 

To  Produce  24 

(Continued  from  pafic   1  ) 

end  is  in  work.  The  company  has 
taken  over  the  old  Charles  Ray  stu- 
dios in  Hollywood  as  its  producing 
headquarters. 

New  York  has  been  sold  to  Mel- 
ville Hirsh  of  Ay  won  Exchange  and 
California  tc  .\11  State  I'eature  Dis- 
tributors,   Inc. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

RKO  First  in  League 

RKO  maintains  first  standing  in 
the  baseball  league,  none  of  the 
companies  ha\ing  played  last  week. 
The  Radioites  maintain  a  flawless 
score  of  winning  nine  and  losing  none. 
Columbia  is  second  in  the  line-up  with 
one  game   lost  and   nine   won. 

The  league  standing  for  week  end- 
ing August  15  follows: 

W.       I-.       Pet, 

RKO    9        0        KKK) 

Columbia  9        1  900 

Erpi 8        3  727 

Warner 4        3  571 

Fox    3        6  2)2>i 

Pathe    2        8  200 

National   Theatres  ...  2        8  200 

RCA   Photophone   ...  0        8  OfK) 


Publix  Expansion 
In  Virginia  Seeil 

(Continued  from  patje   1) 

is  to  be  head  of  the  new  firm's  ac- 
tivity in  the  state.  The  new  company 
replaces     Southern     Enterprises. 


Dover,  Del.— Publix  National  The- 
atres Corp.  has  been  formed  here  to 
carry  on  the  business  of  theatrical 
proprietors,  etc.,  with  capital  of  $5,- 
000.  The  firm  was  represented  by  C. 
S.  Peabbles,  L.  E.  Gray  and  William 
M.   Cooper,  of   Wilmington. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warners  Merging  2 
Va,  Tfieatre  Firms 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ers  of  the  two  companies  September  1. 
The  Empire  company  has  been  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Virginia  several 
years.  Officers  are :  Isaac  Weinberg. 
Lexington,  Va.,  president  and  treas- 
urer; H.  B.  Dean,  Winchester,  Va., 
siicretary.  The  officers  and  Harry 
Weinberg,  Lexington,  comprise  the 
board  of  directors.  In  this  state  the 
Warner  corporation  operates  theatres 
in  Winchester,  Covington,  Harrison- 
burg,  Staunton  and  Lynchburg. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Tfiird  Operators' 
Union  Invades  N.  Y. 

(Continued  from   page   1) 

to  be  affiliated  with  the  North  Amer- 
ican Federation  of  Labor  and  have 
submitted  to  exhibitors  offers  of  one- 
man-in-a-booth,  guaranteeing  service 
"better  than  present"  and  at  reason- 
able scale  of  wages.  The  other  union 
organization  is  Empire  State  and  also 
is  offering  exhibitors  a  one-man-in- 
the-booth  plan. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

B,  Rapaport  Becomes 
Max  Weisfeldt  Aide 

Ben  Rapoport  has  joined  Classic 
Pictures,  Inc.,  as  assistant  to  Ma.x  J. 
Weisfeldt  on  sales. 


Independents  Eye 
Griffith  Venture 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

forts  made  in  the  East  since  advent 
of  talkers  and  the  result  is  being 
awaited  with  interest  by  other  inde- 
pendent producers. 

.\udio  Cinema  is  the  former  Edison 
studio  and  is  Western  Electric  equip- 
ped. Joe  Coffman  is  'Tesident  of  the 
company  and  F.  L.  Goldman,  treas- 
urer.     Al    Wilson   is   studio    manager. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Seefc  to  Halt  ''Bad 
GirV*  Run  at  Roxy 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

screen  rights  were  bought,  is  to  be 
argued  tomorrow  before  Supreme 
Court  Justice  Shintag.  Under  its 
contract.  Fox  agreed  to  hold  up  re- 
lease of  the  picture  until  after  Sep- 
tember 1,  in  order  not  to  conflict  with 
legit   road  companies. 

As  there  are  no  road  companies 
out,  the  showing  is  not  damaging  to 
the  Bad  Girl  firm.  Fox  will  contend 
through  Edwin  P.  Kilroe  and  Henry 
Brill  in  opposing  motion  of  William 
F.  Friedman  for  an  injunction  to 
halt  the  Roxy  showing.  General  re- 
lease of  the  picture  is  set  for  Sep- 
tember 13. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Wampas  ''Faux  Pas" 
Causes  a  Fox  Pass 

(Continued  from   pane   1) 

suit  of  the  failure  of  Fo.x  candidates 
for  baby  stars  to  be  selected  by  the 
association.  The  eight  include  a  Fo.x 
West  Coast  publicity  man.  Fox  the- 
atre managers  and  a  press  agent  for 
Fanchon  &  Marco.  The  Wampas 
will  take  no  action  until  their  next 
meeting. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Restrains  Fight  Films 

Rudolph  Mayer  Pictures,  Inc.,  have 
obtained  an  injunction  restraining 
showing  of  the  Pathe  News  pictures 
of  the  Sharkey-Walker  fight. 


Stocfcs  Off;  E.  K.  Drops  5 


High 

Consolidated  Film  Industries 7% 

Eastman  Kodak 146 

Fo.x    Film     "A" 14^^ 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 2Vs 

Loew's.    Inc 4854 

M-G-M    pfd     25'A 

Paramount    Publix 24^2 

Pathe    Exchange I'A 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 6fii 

RKO    15 

Warner    Bros ^'A 

Warner    Bros,    pfd 21 


Net 

Low 

Cose 

Change 

Sales 

7!4 

7'A 

-  'A 

IM 

143 

143^ 

—5 

.?.500 

U'/k 

U'A 

-l/s 

8,100 

2'A 

2H. 

-  'A 

8,400 

47/r 

47V> 

-Ws 

7.200 

25>4 

2Sli 

+  V4 

200 

2iy^ 

24 

-« 

5.800 

m 

1/2 

400 

544 

SVa 

-  H 

4O0 

14Vi, 

WA 

-% 

9,100 

8 

&'A 

-  'A 

12.800 

21 

21 

200 

Curb  Quiet;  G,  T.  Sales  1,200 


High 

Fox  Theatres  "A" iVf. 

General   Theatre   Equipment   pfd 5 

Technicolor     S'/g 

Trans     Lux 5 


Net 


Low      Close      Cheuige      Sales 


2-4 

2% 

-% 

1,000 

m 

4!/2 

-  H 

1,200 

7% 

8 

+  A 

600 

5 

•S 

700 

Bonds  Irregular;  G,  T.  Off  IV2 


High 

General   Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40 29K 

Keith    B.    F.    6s    '46 67^ 

Loew's    6s    '41    ex    war 98'/2 

Paramount    Broadway   5^s   '51 W^ 

I'aramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 8/ 

Paramount    Publix    5^s,    '50 78 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    wd 55!^ 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

27 

27 

~VA 

17 

67 

67 

5 

98!/i 

98^ 

4 

W2-'A. 

103 

+  ^ 

10 

87 

87 

—1 

1 

77^4 

7754 

-'A 

4 

54 

54'/4 

-K 

22 

Confab  Oct. 
26  on  Trust 
Law  Changes 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

industries  represented  will  include  oil, 
copper,  textile,  radio,  aviation  and 
■labor  interests.  Former  Assistant 
Attorney  General  William  J.  Dono- 
van, who  handled  various  investiga- 
tions of  the  film  industry,  is  expected 
to  join  in  the  move. 

A  joint  statement  issued  by  Deans 
Sommer  and  Madden  of  N.  Y.  U. 
states : 

"The  current  business  depression 
has  sharply  focused  attention  on  ex- 
isting governmental  structure  and 
economic  organization.  The  process 
of  re-analysis  has  resulted  in  wide- 
spread criticism  of  the  present  state 
of  the  law,  particularly  in  its  appli- 
cation to  business. 

"Because  of  the  growing  criticism 
of  the  operation  of  and  agitation  for 
changes  in  the  anti-trust  laws,  it 
seems  inevitable  that  many  sugges- 
tions, ranging  from  minor  to  major 
revision,  will  be  offered  at  the  next 
session  of  Congress.  Varied  and  con- 
flicting views  have  heretofore  been 
presented  piecemeal. 

"It  is  hoped  the  conference  may 
clarify  the  atmosphere,  in  some  de- 
gree effect  a  reconcilation  of  diver- 
gent views  and  provide  guides  for 
public   opinion." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Theatre  and  Union 
Stage  Bitter  Battle 

San  DiEXio — J.  J.  Franklin  and  as- 
sociates, who  reopened  the  Spreckels 
here  Saturday  night,  are  in  a  bitter 
controversy  with  the  operators' 
union.  The  union  tried  picketing  and 
a  temporary  restraining  order  was 
issued.  Stench  bombs  resulted  in  a 
sheriff's  guard  at  the  theatre.  Libel 
suits  are  threatened  against  a  labor 
leader  for  alleged  statement  concern- 
ing the  lessees.  The  trouble  started 
when  Franklin  imported  Los  Angeles 
operators. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Leave  on  Vacation 

Hollywood — Louis  B.  Mayer,  Har- 
ry Rapf  and  Fred  Pelton  have  left 
for  a  three  weeks'  trip  to  Alaska. 
They  took  a  steamer  to  Seattle  where 
they  chartered  a  boat   for  the  cruise. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

$4  to  $4.50  a  Share 

Paramount    may    earn    between    $4 
and  $4.50  a   share   this   year,   accord- 
ing    to   "financial     observers,     stated 
'I'hc    Wall   Street   Journal    yesterday. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sentry  Starts  Patent  Suit 

Phjladfxphia — Charging  infringe- 
ment of  patent,  suit  has  been  filed  in 
l""ederal  Court  here  by  Sentry  Safety 
Control  against  Film  Fire  Prevention 
Co.,  according  to  The  Exhibitor. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Markowitz  Gets  Branch 

Oklahoma  City — Joe  Markowitz, 
former  booker  at  the  local  M-G-M 
exchange,  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager to  succeed  S.  R.  Becker. 


A^DBURY 


•^ 


Good!  TheyVc  always  good      ^^7% 
*cause  they^re  from  Columbia.      ^^^  ^^ 


Medbury,  in  his  fast  rapid-fire  comment,  will  hand  you  a  laush 
from  the  four  corners  of  the  globe.  You  laugh  while  you  travel 
around  the  world. 

This  is  the  biggest  little  feature  of  the  year  —  will  lift 
you  right  out  of  the  lap  of  "Old  Man  Gloom"  into 
the  arms  of  "Merry  Sunshine." 

A  built-up  reader  audience  oF  twenty 
million  people  through  the  daily  news 
columns  of  more  than  three  hundred 
newspapers  including  seventeen  Hearst 
papers  plus  one  hundred  million  radio  fans 
from  coast  to  coast.  A  worldwide  wait- 
k^^    ing  audience.  A  genuine  box-office  bet! 


Produced   by 

Wdfilms,  Inc. 


l£iB^?^\S;^K^ 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,   August    18,    1931 


ii 


Tragedy"  Is 
Off  to  Fast 
Start  at  Chi 


Total  $209,936  for  9  Theatres 


Chicago — New  season  pictures  and 
perfect  weather  continued  Loop 
grosses  on  their  upward  climb  with 
"An  American  Tragedy"  off  to  a 
whirdwind  start.  "Merely  Mary  Ann" 
at  the  McVicker's  made  the  best 
showing  with  a  take  of  $36,840,  while 
the  Oriental  and  Palace  also  credited 
their   films  with  their   increased  take. 

"An  American  Tragedy"  went  into 
the  United  Artists  in  mid-week  and 
got  oft"  to  a  splendid  start  after  its 
big  campaign.  Capacity  business  was 
in  evidence  from  noon  until  night,  the 
film  getting  $18,515  in  its  first  three 
and   one-half   days. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August   12  and  year-round  week- 
ly a\ erages : 
""THE    FIVE-YEAR    PLAN"    (Amkino) 

APOLLO— (1,460),      50c-75c,      first      week. 
Gross:    $3,100.      (Average,    about    $'5.000.) 
"SON   OF   INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700).  3.Sc-50c-75c- 
85c,  2nd  week.  3  days.  Gross:  $11,080. 
(Average    for    week,    $24,600.) 

"AN   AMERICAN  TRAGEDY"    (Para.) 

UNITED  .A.RTISTS— (1.700).  35c-85i;,  6 
days.  Gross:  S29.601.  (Average  for  week, 
$24,600.) 

Week  Ending  August  13: 

"THE  COMMON  LAW"  (RKO  Pathe) 

STATE-LAKE  —  (2,776),      3.Sc-50c-75c-85c, 

2nd    week,     final    6    days.  Gross:     $10,150. 
(Average,   $30,200.) 

Week  Ending  August  14: 

"TRANSATLANTIC"    (Fox) 

CHICAGO— (4,000),  35c-50c-75c-85c,  7  days. 
Stage  show.  Gross:  $34,675.  (Average, 
$46  OOO  ) 

"MERELY   MARY  ANN"    (Fox) 
McVICKERS— (2.284),  35c-50c-75c-85c,  first 
week.       Gross:    $36,840.       (Average,    $28,500.) 
"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 
ORIENT.'XL- (3,940).       35c-50c-75c-85c,       7 
days.     Stage  show.     Gross:  $32,250.      (Aver- 
age,  $36,500.) 

"CHILDREN    OF    DREAMS"    (Warners) 
and    "UBANGI"    (Ind.) 
ORPHEUM— (665),    35c-50c-75c.     7     days. 
Gross:    $2,960.     (Average,    $3,200.) 

"HUCKLEBERRY    FINN"    (Para.) 
ROOSEVELT    —    (1.591),    .35c-50c-75c-85c, 
first  week.     Gross:  $21,500.     (Average,  $23,- 
200.) 

Week  Ending  August  15: 

"THE    PUBLIC    DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

PALACE-(2,509).  35c-50c-75c-85c,  7  days. 
Five  acts  RKO  vaudeville.  Gross:  $27,800. 
(Average,  $24,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Lieutenant" 
$9,000  Above 
In  Baltimore 


Total  $77,000  for  7  Theatres 


Baltimore— "The  Smiling  Lieuten- 
ant" went  to  near-record  business  at 
Ix)ew's  Stanley,  taking  in  $9,000 
above  normal.  "Transatlantic"  start- 
ed weak,  but  grew,  going  above 
normal  by  $500  with  everyone  prais- 
ing the  acting  and  directing.  "Night 
Nurse,"  showing  simultaneously  at 
Keith's  and  Warners'  Met.,  did  far 
above  average  at  each  house  and 
Loew's  Century  came  along   with  the 


'Politics'  Sets 
Cincy  Record 
With  $29,500 


Total  $83,700  for  7  Theatres 


CiN(iNN.\Ti  —  "Politics"  at  the 
RKO  Palace  led  the  parade  in  a  big 
way,  establishing  a  new  record  for 
this  house  since  it  became  an  RKO 
unit.  The  Dressler-Moran  feature 
garnered  $29,500  as  against  the  house 
average  of  $14,000.  It  will  be  brought 
back  for  return  showing  at  the  RKO 
Strand  ne.xt  week.  Previous  high 
for  Palace  was  $28,100  with  "Check 
and  Double  Check." 

The  RKO  Lyric  was  runner-up  for 
top  honors  with  "The  Common  Law," 
which  grossed  $16,500,  beating  the 
average  by  $4,500  despite  severe  pan- 
ning by  the  reviewers.  Picture  will 
be  held  over  for  second  week. 

The  RKO  .'Mbee,  vaudefilm,  which 
has  been  leading  the  field  for  many 
weeks,  dropped  below  par,  which  con- 
dition obtained  at  all  of  the  other 
houses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  14  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"LOVER    COME   BACK"    (CoL) 

KEITH'S— (1,600).  30c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,000.      (Average,    $4,500.) 

"THE    GIRL    HABIT"    (Para.) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300),  35c -50c -65c -750.  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $20,500.  (Aver- 
age,  $22,000.) 

"THE    MIRACLE    WOMAN"    (Col.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000),  30c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,000.      (Average,    $13,000.) 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 

RKO    FAMILY— (1,150),    second    run,    20c- 
25c-35c.    4    davs.      Gross:    $1,300.      (Average, 
$1,950.) 
"CHILDREN    OF    DREAMS"    (Warners) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1.150),  20c-25c-.35c,  3 
days.     Gross:   $700.     (Average.  $1.0,50.) 

"THE  COMMON   LAW"    (RKO-Pathe) 

RKO  LYRIC— (1.400),  30c-50c.  7  days  plus 
Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross:  $16,500. 
(Average,   $12,000.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

RKO  PAL.\CE— (2.700).  30c-50c,  7  days 
plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross:  $'29,- 
500.     (Average.   $14,000.) 

"UP     FOR    MURDER"     (Univ.) 

RKO  STRAND— (1.350),  25c, -35c,  7  davs. 
Gross:    $3,200.      (Average,    $3,500.) 


nice  gross  of  $22,000  for  "Murder  By 
the   Clock,"    with    a   stage   show. 

The  German  population  turned  out 
in  full  for  "The  Forester's  Daughter," 
all  in  German,  the  gross  going  about 
$1,100  above   average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  13  and  year-around  aver- 
ages : 

"NIGHT    NURSE"     (Warners) 

KEITir.S-(2.50O),  25c-50c,  6  days  plus 
Sunday  midnight  performance.  Gross:  $6,- 
400.      (Average,    $5,500.) 

Week  Ending  August  14: 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN-(1,300), 
6  days,  15c-50c.  Gross:  $5,400.  (Average. 
$H,500.) 

Week  Ending  August  15: 

"MURDER   BY  THE   CLOCK"   (Para.) 

LOEW'S    CENTURY-(3,076),    2,Sc-fi0c,    6 
days.      Ix)ew-Capitol    stage    unit,    orchestra. 
Gross:    $22,000.      (Average,    $19,000.) 
"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 
(Shown  uftown  after  one  week  at  Loezv's 
Stanlev    downtown.) 

LOEW'S     PARKWAY-(987),     15c-.«c,     6 
davs.      Cross:    $4,300.      (Average.    $3,500.) 
'THE   SMILING  LIEUTENANT"   (Para.) 
LOEW'S    STANLEY-(3.522),    2.5c-60c.     6 
days.      Gro.ss:    $26,500.      (Average.   $17,500) 
"THE    FORESTER'S    DAUGHTER" 
(German) 

LOEW'S    VALENaA-(l,487),    25c-3.5c,    6 
days.      Gross:    $'3,900.      (Average,    $2,800 ) 
"TRANSATLANTIC"   (Fox) 
NEW— (1,600),     25c-50c,     6    days.       Gross: 
$8..500.     Average,  $8,000.) 


Split  Holidays 

Ottawa  —  The  Canadian 
government  has  decided  to  split 
Thanksgiving  Day  and  Armistice 
Day,  which  were  observed 
simultaneously  in  recent  years. 
The  two  holidays  will  now  be 
distinct  and  separate — a  matter 
of  interest  to  exhibitors  in 
Canada. 


Hughes  on  Q.T. 
Seeking  United 
Artists  Studio 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Artists    lot    in    a    reputed    row    with 
Samuel   Goldwyn. 

So  far  as  the  Warner  studio  is  con- 
cerned, the  Warners  e.xpect  to  use 
it  for  shooting  this  fall  and  probably 
will  move  Station  KFWB  back  there 
from  the  theatre  on  Hollywood 
Boulevard. 


"Queer  People" 
Is  On  Again 

Hollywood — It  isn't  only  the  peo- 
ple in  "Queer  People"  who  are  that 
way.  The  checkered  production  his- 
tory of  the  picture  seems  to  fall  into 
the  same  category.  On  again,  of? 
again  several  times  in  the  last  few 
month,  it  appears  now  that  Howard 
Hughes,  after  all,  will  make  the  pic- 
ture as  soon  as  his  two  air  stories 
are   finished. 

Leo  McCarey,  originally  assigned 
to  direct,  will  produce  after  various 
and  sundry  difficulties  regarding 
script  and  treatment.  In  the  mean- 
time, McCarey  has  somewhere  in  the 
offing  his  new  producing  venture  in 
partnership    with    Bennie   Zeidman. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Publix  Deal  for  U,A. 
Output  Is  Completed 

United  Artists  product  for  1931-32 
will  be  shown  in  800  Publix  theatres 
throughout  the  country,  as  the  result 
of  negotiations  just  completed  by  AI 
Lichtman,  vice-president  and  general 
manager  of  distribution  of  United 
Artists.  Fox  recently  booked  the  U. 
A.  output. 

Pictures  will  begin  to  move  in 
about  a  fortnight  on  the  new  con- 
tracts. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Bremer  Resigns 

Houston — Eddie  Bremer,  for  24 
years  manager  of  the  Majestic,  has 
resigned  effective  Wednesday.  Andy 
Talbot  of  the  Chicago  RKO  offices 
succeeds  him  with  Harry  Schlinker  of 
I'^ort  Worth  in  charge  of  publicity. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Start " Arrowsmith'* 

Hollywood — "Arrowsmith"  was  put 
into  production  yesterday  with  Ronald 
Colman  and  Helen  Hayes  in  the  lead- 
ing roles. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gloria  Westbound 

Gloria  .Swanson,  who  arrived  from 
Rurope  Saturday,  left  yesterday  for 
Hollywood  to  begin  work  on  "To- 
night or  Never"  for  Samuel  Goldwyn.  - 


"Murder''  and 
"Lieutenant'' 
Omaha  Highs 


Total  $38,950  for  4  Theatres 


Omaha — Despite  the  failure  of  four 
local  banks  and  runs  on  three  na- 
tional banks,  the  Orpheum  and  the 
Paramount  failed  to  feel  any  ill  ef- 
fects and  both  went  over  par  by  a 
comfortable  margin.  The  former 
took  in  $21,500,  against  its  average  of 
$13,500,  with  "Up  for  Murder"  and 
a  stage  show  including  Olsen  and 
Johnson,  and  "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant" grossed  $10,500  at  the  Para- 
mount, whose  normal  figure  is  $7,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing .\ugust  14  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"UP     FOR    MURDER"     (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-60c,    7    days. 
Olsen    &    lohnson    RKO  unit.     Gross:    $21,- 
500.      (Average,    $13,500.) 
"THE    SMILING  LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2.900),    25c-.TOc-35c-60c,    7 
days.      Gross:    $10,500.      (Average,    $7,000.) 
"QUICK  MILLIONS"   (Fox) 

STATE— (1,200),  25c,  4  days.  Gross:  $950. 
(Average,    $1,200.) 

"ALWAYS    GOODBYE"    (Fox) 

STATE— (1,200),  25c,  3  days.  Gross:  $900. 
(Average,  $900.) 

"MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK"   (Para.) 

WO'RLD— (2,500),  25c-40c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$2,900.      (Average,    $'3,200.) 

"PARTY    HUSBAND"    (F.    N.) 

WORLD— (2,500),  25c-40c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$2,200.      (Average,   $2,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Dirigible"  Is 
High  in  K.  C. : 
Gets  $17,500 


Total  $55,500  for  5  Theatres 


Kansas  City' — Top  honors  last 
week  went  to  "Dirigible,"  which  flew] 
high  to  the  tune  of  $17,500  at  the 
Mainstreet,  whose  par  figure  is  $15,- 
000.  "Smiling  Lieutenant"  also  beat 
par  in  a  generally  satisfactory  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending'' August  15  and  year-round  av- 
erages : 

"SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

LIBERTY— (1,200),    25c-50c,    7    days.    Gross: 
$5,500.       (Average,    $'5,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 
MAINSTREET— (3,067).    35c-60c,    7    days. 
Vaude.     Gross:   $17,500.      (Average,   $15,000.) 
"FIVE   AND   TEN"    (M-G-M) 
MIDLAND— (4,000),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $14,000.        (Average,    $14,500.) 
"HUCKLEBERRY   FINN"    (Para.) 
NEWMAN— (2,000),       35c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $12,500.      (Average,   $12,500.) 

"THREE  WHO  LOVED"    (Radio) 
UPTOWN- (2,200),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.       (Average,   $6,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Stock  for  Denver 

Denver — Picture  houses  will  prob- 
ably have  to  buck  a  stock  company  in 
Den\er  this  winter.  Reports  from 
Los  Angeles  say  that  the  Denham  will 
reopen  .Sept.  12  with  a  company  that 
is  being  recruited  on  the  coast.  Ben 
Ketcham,  former  Denham  manager, 
and  George  Cleveland,  former  Den- 
ham director,  are  the  backers. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  68 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  19,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Ontario,  B.C. 
To  Act  in  Film 
Combine  Case 


Will  Ask  Dominion  Gov't 
Prosecution 


Toronto — Two  provinces  are  ready 
to  take  action  against  members  of 
Canada's  alleged  film  combine  empha- 
sizing that  the  probe  report  will  not 
be  dropped. 

Attorney  General  R.  H.  Pooley  of 
British  Columbia,  has  asked  the 
Province  of  Ontario  to  co-operate 
in  a  complaint  to  the  Dominion  gov- 
ernment asking  that  action  be  taken 
against  alleged  combine  members.  At- 
torney General  Price  of  Ontario,  has 
notified  Pooley  of  his  readiness  to 
take  court  action  in  the  matter. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

And  Now  Cagney 
Kicks  Over  Traces 

Hollywood — James  Cagney  is  en 
route  to  New  York  after  a  row  with 
Warners.  He  said  his  nerves  "are 
shot"  and  that  he  intends  to  take  a 
long  rest.  The  inside,  however,  is 
said  to  be  his   resentment  at  playing 

(Continued   on    page    4) 


"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 


a 


U"  Signs  Clara  for 
** Impatient  Virgin'' 

Hollywood — Clara  Bow  intends  to 
be  the  boss  of  pictures  in  which  she  is 
to  appear,  as  recently  stated,  and  in- 
tends to  stick  by  her  declaration  not 
to  "consent  for  a  minute  to  any  un- 
draping  for  lewd  or  nude  effect,"  sgys 

{Contimied   on    page    4) 


Say  "Uncle'' 

Speaking  of  relativity: 

Verdant  youth  with  an  in- 
side family  drag  in  one  of  the 
larger  producer  -  distributor 
organizations  heard  that  there 
was  an  opening  for  an  ex- 
ploiteer.  He  immediately  se- 
cured an  interview  with  the 
exploitation  head,  who  dared 
not  refuse. 

Ambitious  youngster  then 
called  up  a  friend  who  has 
spent  20  years  in  the  racket 
and  said,  "Bill,  I'm  going  to 
get  a  job  as  an  exploitation 
man  with  the  company.  Say, 
keed,  tell  me,  what-in-ell  IS 
exploitation?" 

P.  S.    He  got  the  job. 


Distribs  Dodging  5-5-5 
Pact  Is  Allied  Charge 


Business  Spurting  Forward; 
28  Keys  Gross  $2,206,076 


Key  city  business  is  climbing.  Based 
on  Alotion  Picture  Daily's  index  of 
box-office  reports,  164  theatres  in  28 
cities  grossed  $2,206,076  the  week  end- 
ing last  Thursday  and  Friday.  This 
marks  the  fourth  week  running  that 
business  has  clambered  upward  as 
evidenced  by  the  following  recapitula- 
tion : 

No.  of  Week  Gross 

Theatres         ending 

167  July    9-10  $1,987,789 

166  July  16-17  1,889,523 

164  July  23-24  1,992,433 

164  July  30-31  2,044,696 

163  Aug.     6-  7  2,197,236 

164  Aug.  13-14  2,206,076 
Baltimore,  Boston,  Chicago,  Cincin- 
nati, Des  Moines,  Indianapolis,  L-os 
Angeles,  Montreal,  Oklahoma  City, 
Omaha,  Ottawa,  Philadelphia,  Port- 
land, Providence,  Seattle  and  Toronto 
showed  increases.  Albany,  Buffalo, 
Oiarlotte,  Cleveland,  Denver,  Hous- 
ton, Kansas  City,  Minneapolis,  Mil- 
waukee,   New    York,    San    Francisco, 


and  St.  Paul  showed  declines  over  the 
week  ending  August  6  and  7. 

Detailed  figures  for  the  week  ending 
August  13-14  follow  : 

City  No.  Theatres     Gross 


Yamins,    Littlefield    Dis- 
sect Contracts  to 
Back  Claim 


Albany      

Baltimore      

Boston      

Buffa'o     

Charlotte      

Chicago     

Cincinnati      

'^leveland     

Denver    

J  )es    Moines    .... 

Houston     

Indianapilis 
Kansas    City    .  .  . 
Los   .\ngeles   . .  .  . 
Minneapolis     .  .  . . 

Montreal     

Milwaukee     

New    York    City. 
Oklahoma   City    . 

Omaha      

Ottawa      

Philadelphia     .  . 

Portland      

Providence      .  .  .  . 
San    I'ranciscc     . 

.Seattle      

St.    Paul    

Toronto     


4 
7 
8 
5 
2 
9 
7 
7 
5 
3 
4 
5 
5 

12 
5 
6 
5 

12 
4 
4 
4 
8 

5 
8 
6 
4 
5 


$23,950 
77,000 

155,500 
83,200 
18,000 

209,936 
83,700 
98,500 
51,000 
30,000 
26,700 
42,050 
55,500 

168,900 
54,500 
48,900 
66,400 

326,040 
24,800 
38,950 
16,000 

136,000 
44,800 
51,500 

120,250 
62,000 
32,400 
59,600 


Orders  City  to 
Pay  Taxes  on 
Auditorium 


$500,000  Film 
Rentals  Back 
Of  Balto  Fight 


Marietta,  O. — Operation  of  a 
municipal  auditorium  as  a  com- 
mercial picture  house  competing  with 
other  theatres  which  are  paying  taxes 
on  their  property  obligates  the  muni- 
cipality to  pay  taxes  on  the  structure. 
Judge  David  H.  Thomas  ruled  in 
Common   Pleas  Court. 

The  action  was  brought  against 
Frank  J.  McCauly,  county  auditor,  by 
the   C.   &  M.   Amusement   Co.,  which 

(Continued   on    page    4) 
'•BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  $400,000  Film 
Row,  Plan  in  Omaha 

Omaha — Construction  is  scheduled 
to  start  this  winter  on  a  new  $400,000 
film  exchange  row  to  house  the  local 
offices  of  eight  companies.  Elson 
Construction     Co.,     of    Kansas     City, 

(Continued    on    page    4) 


Washington — Despite  the  fact  that 
members  of  the  5-5-5  committee  were 
in  agreement  on  essential  parts  of  a 
proposed  standard  form  of  agreement, 
during  the  year  not  one  distributor 
has  fulfilled  the 
plan  to  adopt 
the  proposed 
form  and  ex- 
hibitors now  are 
required  to  sign 
a  "varied  assort- 
ment of  con- 
tracts drawn  in 
their  entirety  by 
and  for  distribu- 
tors.' 

Close  study  of 
the  various  con- 
tracts makes  it 
appear  that  each 
distributor  "has 
made  a  studied 
effort  to  avoid 
every    5-5-5 

clause  conferring  enforceable  rights  on 
the  exhibitor  and  to  replace  them  by 
every  thinkable  and  unthinkable  ad- 
ditional  burden." 

These  are  conclusions  drawn  in  an 
analysis  of  contracts  and  their  var- 
iance with  clauses  agreed  to  at  the 
5-5-5  conferences  made  by  Nathan 
Yamins  and  Walter  Littlefield,  presi- 
dent and  vice-president  of  Independent 
Exhibitors  of  New  England.  The 
analysis  is  published  in  the  current  issue 
of  The  Allied  Exhibitor,  official  organ 
of  Allied  States  Association.    Yamins 

(Continued   on    page   8) 


Baltimore — Harry  Cluster,  busi- 
ness manager  of  the  M.P.T.O.  of 
Maryland,  Inc.,  says  that  according 
to  a  survey  which  has  been  made  by 
his  organization,  M-G-M  and  Para- 
mount will  lose  about  $500,000  in 
Baltimore  during  the  coming  season 
unless   they   arbitrate    with   neighbor- 

(Continued   on   page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Myers  Heads  Group 
Going  to  Mpls.  Meet 

Minneapolis— Headed  by  .\bram 
F.  Myers,  president  of  Allied  States 
Association,  practically  all  regional 
leaders  of  Allied,  will  be  present  at 
the  Northwest  unit's  annual  conven- 
tion here,  September  9  and  10,  it  is 
promised.  The  recently-formed  Al- 
lied Independent  Theatre  Owners  of 
Wisconsin  is  planning  to  hold  its  con- 
vention  here    simultaneously. 


Nathan    Yamins 


They  Ask  Why 

Washington  —  Query  as  to 
the  reason  for  failure  of  dis- 
tributors to  adopt  the  pro- 
posed standard  form  of  li- 
cense agreement  is  contained 
in  the  Yamins-Littlefield  anal- 
ysis of  contracts  now  in  use 
contrasted  with  clauses  of 
the  standard   form. 

"Why,"  they  ask,  "has  the 
work  to  which  leaders  of  the 
industry  devoted  months  of 
their  time  that  could  well 
have  been  spent  on  their  own 
theatres  and  much  money  by 
attending  these  conferences 
at  their  own  expense,  been 
forgotten,  and  new,  strange 
contracts  imposed  on  the  ex- 
hibitors?" 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  August   19,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered   U.   S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily   Review 

and  Motion  Pictures   Today 


Vol.   30 


August   19,    1931 


No.   68 


Martin   Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 
JAMES  A.   CRON 
A  dvertising   Manager 


^•Sr\.  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.  W.   9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,   N.    Y.,  under  Act  of   March   3,   1879 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  includins 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada;  foreign  $15.     Single  copies,  10  cents. 


New  Shows 

Carving  a  notch 

among  the  high  places  of  short 
subjects,  the  first  three  of  the 
"Big  Bill"  Tilden  tennis  pic- 
tures click  with  a  resounding 
smack.  "  Tennis  Technique," 
"  Forehand,  Backhand  and  Ser- 
vice" and  "Volley  and  Smash" 
are  their  titles  and  in  them, 
Tilden  tells  and  shows  how  to 
become  expert  in  and  with  the 
tennis  racket. 

Plenty  of  substance  in  them 
for  tennis  enthusiasts  and  ar- 
resting for  non-players  as  well. 
M-G-M's  got  something  in  the 
opening  Tilden  pictures. 

i\  midnight  excur- 
sion to  the  Capitol  for  a  wee- 
morning-hour  peek  at  "Sport- 
ing Blood"  proved  a  profitable 
venture.  This  biography  of  a 
race  horse,  touted  as  some- 
thing diflferent,  lives  up  to  its 
heralding. 

Clark  Gable  gets  the  fea- 
tured billing  among  the  hu- 
mans of  the  cast  and,  although 
he  is  competent  and  grown-up 
Madge  Evans  is  a  complete  yet 
pleasant  surprise,  the  bulk  of 
the  credit  for  a  splendidly 
paced  production  goes  to  the 
equine  contingent. 

"Sporting  Blood"  is  rather  a 
rarity  among  pictures  in  that 
it  is  intelligent  entertainment 
with  a  pronounced  mass  ap- 
peal. 

KANN 


Purely  Personal 


G 


LEN  ALLVINE,  when  he  fishes, 
wears : 
A  battered  mate's  cap. 
White  canvas   shoes — usually   dirty. 
Ducks. 

A  green  polo  shirt. 
A  tan  wind-breaker. 


Marc  Bowman,  manager  of  the 
Fox  Broadway  in  Portland,  has  been 
transferred  to  Spokane  to  take  charge 
of  exploitation  of  the  new  Fox  there, 
to  open  September  3.  He  will  be 
absent  for  a  month. 

Arch  Bonge  of  the  Paramount 
Theatre,  the  only  doorman-artist  on 
Broadway,  has  left  on  a  year's  leave 
of  absence  to  paint  on  the  island  of 
Martinique  in  the  Caribbean.  He  is 
a   seven-footer. 

Mrs.  R.  Blanchard,  who  has  con- 
ducted the  Magic  City  Theatre  in 
Bogalusa,  La.,  from  almost  the  time 
the  city  was  founded,  has  purchased 
the  Garden  and  has  assumed  control. 

Clayton  Bond  says : 

"When  your  golf  is  out  of  groove, 
it's  bad  enough.  When  your  bridge 
is  all  wet,  too,  you  know  what  de- 
pression is  like." 

Bill  McKnight  of  the  Alhambra 
in  Toronto  is  preparing  for  a  "Screen 
Mystery  Week,"  but  he  won't  tell 
even  his  best  friend  what  the  program 
will  be. 

Joe  Brandt  separated  35  sea  bass 
from  their  native  habitat  over  the 
week-end.  Long  Beach  and  environs 
were  the  scenes  of  this  piscatorial 
idyll. 

Howard  Dietz,  as  usual,  went  in 
for  ping  pong  at  the  Motion  Picture 
Club  yesterday  and  had  a  sizeable 
gallery  watching  how  he  does  it. 

George  Weeks,  having  spent 
April  to  August  in  California, 
is  preparing  to  return  to  Hollywood 
the  middle  of  next  month. 


Ed  Golden,  owner  of  the  Idle 
Hour,  the  only  silent  house  in  Pitts- 
burgh, finally  is  considering  the 
installation  of  sound. 

RoxY  is  making  regular  appear- 
ances at  the  M.  P.  Club  for  lunch 
these  days.  Invariably,  Hiram  Brown. 
Jr.,  is  with  him. 

D.  W.  Griffith  is  now  editing  "The 
Struggle,"  shooting  on  which  was 
completed  Monday  at  the  Audio 
Cinema  studios. 

Al    Friedlander  of   First   Division 
left    last    night    for    Atlantic    City    to 
exploit    one    of    the    company's    pic 
tures. 

Harold  Hendee,  director  of  the 
Radio  research  department,  returned 
yesterday  to  New  York  from  Holly- 
wood. 

William  Rosenthal  succeeds  ClifT 
Almy  as  manager  of  the  United 
Artists  branch  in  Cincinnati. 

Phil  Dunas,  Middle  Western  divi- 
sional manager  for  Columbia,  is  in 
New   York   from   Chicago. 

Hal    Hodes    insists    that    the    beret 
he  wears  on  fishing  trips  does  some 
thing  or  other  to  the  fish : 

Charles  B.  Paine,  treasurer  of 
Universal,  left  Monday  on  his  an 
nual  trip  to  the  Coast. 

MoE  Gould,  former  Fox  salesman 
in  Pittsburgh,  has  joined  the  RKO 
Pathe  exchange  there. 

Martin  Stern  is  back  at  the  pic- 
ture club  after  a  three  weeks'  separa- 
tion  from   his   job. 

H.  C.  Brown  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  the  Rivoli,  Greenville, 
S.  C. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 


Hays  Back 


Will  H.  Hays,  vacation  ended,  re- 
turned to  New  York  yesterday  from 
Wvoming   and  ranch   life. 


Stocks  Quiet;  Loew  Sales  13,500 


Hig'h  Low  Close 

Consolid.Tted     Film     Industries 8  7^  7^ 

Consolidated    Film    Irfdustries    pfd UVz  14  14^^ 

Eastman    Kodak    146  141  14254 

Fox     Film     "A" \3%  13^  1354 

General   Theatre    Equipment   new 254  2"4  2^ 

Loew's,     Inc 49K  47^  48!4 

M-C.-M     pfd 25^  25  25 

Paramount    Publix     24'/^  2354  24 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 554  5^  554 

KKO   14%  1414  14^ 

Warner    Bros 85^  8  8!4 


Net 
Change 

+  Vi. 
+  Vf. 
-54 


+ 


4-  J4 
-f  '/« 


Technicolor  Drops  1;  Curb  Quiet 

Net 
High      Low      Close      Chemge 

f;eneral   Theatre    Equipment   pfd 454  4^  4'/ 

Technicolor     7'/^  7  7  — 1 

Trans    Lux    5  454  454        —  J4 

Paramount  Bonds  Up;  Market  Quiet 

Net 
Change 

—1 


High 

General   Tlieatre  Equipment  6s   '40 26}4 


Keith    B.   F.   6s   *46 
Loew's    6s    '41    ex    war. . 
Paramourft    F.    L,    6s   '47 
Paramount    Publix   S^s,    '50 


6754 
9854 
87 
79 


Warner    Bros,    6s    '39   wd 55J4 


Low 

25^ 
6754 
98H 

86 

77-4 

54K 


Close 

26 

6754 

98^ 

87 

79 

54/2 


+VA 


Sal. 

2,900 

200 

3,500 

5,500 

3,100 

13,500 

100 

4,100 

300 

4,500 

10.300 


Sales 

1.500 
900 
300 


Sales 
12 

2 

12 

S 

26 

14 


$500,000  Film 
Rentals  Back 
Of  Balto  Fight 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
hood  theatres  in  that  organization  for 
bookings  on  rental  instead  of  per- 
centage and  guarantee  as  they  now 
demand. 

All  members  of  the  organization 
are  standing  firm  in  their  decision 
not  to  book  on  percentage  and  only 
two,  The  Overlea  and  the  Irvington, 
which  signed  prior  to  June  H,  have 
signed  with   Paramount,  he  says. 

Also  five  houses  in  small  townships 
near  Baltimore  have  decided  to  hold 
off  booking  pictures  from  those  com- 
panies on  their  percentage  arrange- 
ment, according  to  Charles  E.  Nolte, 
president  of  the  organization.  Their 
action  is  voluntary  and  they  were  in 
no  way  urged  to  do  this  by  the  theatre 
owners,  he  says. 

There  is  a  big  chance  for  all 
"quickie"  and  independent  producers 
to  show  exhibitors  here  their  best  stuff 
for  the  season  and  to  sell  it,  says 
Cluster. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Nathanson  Abroad 

Toronto— N.  L.  Nathanson,  for- 
merly managing  director  of  Famous 
Players  Canadian  Corp.,  is  now  in 
Europe,  where  he  is  reported  to  be 
looking  over  French,  German  and 
other  films  for  Regal  Films,  Ltd., 
Canadian  distributors,  of  which  he  is 
president.  Regal  is  releasing  25 
British  pictures  in   Canada  this  year. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW      . 

Grainger  Leaves       1 

.  James  R.  ("Jimmy")  Grainger, 
general  sales  manager  for  Fox,  left 
on  a  sales  trip  yesterday.  He  will 
be  gone  three  weeks,  will  arrive  at  the 
studio  in  Hollywood  about  the  end 
of  the  month  for  a  week's  pow-wow 
with  Winnie  Sheehan  and  then  re- 
turns to  New  York. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW      J 

Wurtzel  Here;  Sailing  ■ 

Sol  Wurtzel,  Winnie  Sheehan's 
right  hand  bower  at  the  Fox  studio, 
is  in  New  York,  preparatory  to  sail- 
ing on  a  European  vacation  Friday 
night. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Sarnoff  Sailing 

David  Sarnoff,  president  of  RCA, 
sails  today  on  the  Leviathan  for 
Europe. 


4 


Studio    and    Location 
Sound  on  Rim  Recording 

Low    Daily    or   WeeUy    Rat*« 
Powen  Cinaphone  Equipin*nl  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE.,  N.  Y.     BRyant  9-6067 


SOUND  MOVIOLA 

and   Expert  Assistance 

available  per  day  or  week 

DU-ART 
FILM    LABORATORIES.    Inc. 

245  W.  55fh  St.,  N.  Y.  C. 
Phone:  Col.  5-4907 


A  NEW  STAR  FLASHES 


SUAVE  DIPLOMAT 
-GALLANT  LOVER 
-VALIANT  FIGHT- 
ING MAN  — IVAN 
LEBEPEFF  IN  A 
STORY  HE  LIVEP- 
A  DRAMA  OF  HIGH 
ROMANCE/  DAN- 
GEROUS DEEDS 
AND  BREATHLESS 
INTRIGUE 


GAY  D I  PiOAUT 


RKO-RADIO 

PICTURE 


DIRECTED  BY  RICHARD 

BOLES  LAVSKY 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   August    19,    1931 


'Bad  GirF  and 
'Bought'  Top 
BVay  Parade 


Total  $320,604  for  12  Theatres 


There  are  a  couple  of  theatres,  at 
least,  on  the  Main  Stem  which  think 
they  see  signs  of  returning  prosperi- 
ty. The  Roxy  with  "Bad  Girl"  and 
the  re-opened  Hollywood  with  Con- 
stance Bennett  in  "Bought"  are  do- 
ing what,  in  depression  times,  is  land 
office   business. 

At  the  Roxy,  the  intake  is  heading 
rapidly  toward  the  $105,000  mark  this 
week  with  Fox  forecasts  setting  in 
the  picture  somewhere  between  $100,- 
000  low  and  $110,000  high  on  the 
week.  That's  real  business  for  that 
or  any  other  theatre,  times  and 
weather  being  what  they  are.  On 
Saturday  and  Sunday,  the  picture 
pulled  in  55,000  admissions. 

.\t  the  Hollywood,  where  "Bought" 
is  now  rounding  out  its  first  week, 
the  dope  is  the  gross  for  the  first 
se\en  days  will  run  between  $40,000 
and  $45,000.  Women  are  flocking  to 
the  house. 

Last  week  "Traveling  Husbands" 
at  the  Mayfair  did  a  disappointing 
$15,500.  Tough  on  Radio,  where  the 
picture  is  looked  up  to  as  one  of  that 
company's  big  ones  for  the  open- 
ing of  the  new  season.  This  week, 
however,  "The  Miracle  Woman"  has 
brought  trade  back  to  that  house. 

"Politics"  had  a  very  good  second 
week  at  the  Capitol,  grossing  $59,108, 
or  $137,388  for  its  14  day  run.  At 
the  Paramount,  "Huckleberry  Finn" 
did  $3,000  more  than  "Honeymoon 
Lane."  which  strode  the  screen  the 
previous  week,  but  at  that  the  gross 
at   $  9,100   was   disappointing. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August   13 : 

"A    FREE    SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

ASTOR— (1,120),  50c-^2,  10th  week,  7 
days.       Gross:    $14,838. 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

CAPITOL— (4,700),     33c-$1.50,     2nd     week, 
7     days.         Stage     show.         Gross:     $.S9,108. 
"AMFRICAN    TRAGEDY"     (Para.) 

CRITERION— (850),  .S0c-$2.00,  7  days. 
Gross:    $17,300. 

EMBASSY 

EMHA.SSV— (598),  2Sc,  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,682. 

"TRAVELING   HUSBANDS"    (Radio) 

MAYFAIR— (2,300),  40c-$l,  7  days. 
Gross:     $15,500. 

"HUCKLEBERRY    FINN"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,700),     40c-$I,     7     days. 
Stage     show.         Gross:     $49,100. 
"FLIGHT"    (CoL) 

and    "ANYBODY'S    WOMAN"    (Para.) 

RIALTO— (1,904),  2.ic-50c,  7  davs.  Gross: 
$6,700. 

"SMILING     LIEUTENANT"     (Para.) 

RIVOLI— (2,103),  40c-$l,  4th  week,  7 
days.      Gross:    $21,000. 

"YOUNG    AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 

RO.XV  ((,,2Sm.  50c-$1.50,  7  days.  .Stage 
show.        Gross:    $79,750. 

"THE  RUNAROUND"   (Radio) 

STRAND— (3,000),  35c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,142. 

"IMMORTAL   VAGABOND" 
(Talking    Picture    Epics) 

WARNERS  (1,490),  3Sc-75c,  2nd  week,  7 
days.      C>ross:    $2,320. 

"STAR    WITNESS"     (Warners) 

WINTER  GARDEN— (1,493),  2nd  week, 
7    days.        Gross:     $41,600. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

U.  A.  Theatres  Dividend 

Quarterly  dividend  of  $'.75  payable 
September  15  to  stock  of  record  Sep- 
tember 1  has  been  declared  by  United 
Artists  Theatre  Circuit. 


^  Lieut 'Leads 
Fine  Week  in 
Des  Moines 


Total  $30,000  for  3  Theatres 


Des  Moines — Proof  that  the  public 
is  still  movie  hungry  and  will  respond 
when  the  weather  is  cool  was  fur- 
nished last  week  by .  the  first  runs 
here,  all  of  which  went  over  the  top. 
"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  was  the 
shniing  mark,  grossing  $11,500  at  the 
Des  Moines  and  thus  beating  par  by 
$4,500.  "Night  Nurse"  also  topped 
average  by  $2,000.  As  a  result  of  the 
week's  business,  managers  generally 
are  looking  forward  hopefully  to  the 
fall. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  15  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 
"THE  SMILING  LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

DES    MOINES— (1,600),    7    days,    25c-35c- 
60c.     Gross:    $'11,500.      (Average,   $7,000.) 
"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  4  days,  25c-35c- 
60c.  RKO  vaude.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $7,090.) 

"SECRET    CALL"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  3  days,  25c-35c- 
60c.  RKO  vaude.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $5,000.) 

"CAUGHT"     (Para.) 

STRANI>-(1,100),  4  days,  20c-35c.  Gross: 
$2,450.      (Average,    $1,700.) 

"HONEYMOON    LANE"     (Para.) 

STRAND— (1,100).  3  days,  20c-35c.  Gross: 
$•1,050.      (Average,    $700.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  $400,000  Film 
Row,  Omaha  Plan 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

Mo.,  is  reported  interested  in  the 
project,  according  to  local  realtors. 

Companies  to  occupy  space  in  the 
new  buildings,  to  be  built  in  units  of 
eight  two-story  structures,  include 
RKO,  M-G-M,  Paramount,  Warners, 
Fox,  Pathe,  United  Artists  and  The 
National  Theatre  Supply  Co.  Leases 
on  present  quarters  expire  in  April. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Orders  City  to  Pay 
Taxes  on  Auditorium 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

charged  that  exemption  of  the  audi- 
torium from  taxation  made  its  opera- 
tion by  the  Auditorium  Theatre  Co. 
unfair  competition. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

And  Now  Cagney  Is 
Kicking  Over  Traces 

(Continued  fro-m  page  1) 

the  star  roles  in  pictures  with  the 
supporting  cast  getting  several  times 
his  salary.  His  next  scheduled  pic- 
ture is  "Blind  Spot." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Plans  Expansion 

Colorcraft  Corp.,  is  anticipating 
a  swing  back  to  color  films  next  sea- 
son and  is  installing  new  equipment  at 
its  Astoria,  L.  L  plant,  H.  Krohna, 
company  treasurer,  stated  yesterday  in 
explaining  the  firm's  move  in  increas- 
ing its  stock  from  250,000  to  600,000 
shares,  no  par  value. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Frances  Agneiv  on  Coast 

Hollywood  —  I'Vances  .Agnew  has 
arrived  here  to  join  the  Paramount 
writing  staff. 


Oh,  Nancy! 

Columbus — Attorney  Gen- 
eral Gilbert  Bettman,  inves- 
tigating the  title  to  land 
which  the  state  intends  to 
purchase  for  reforestation 
purposes,  unearthed  a  1,400- 
page  deed,  nine  inches  thick 
and  weighing  26  pounds,  ex- 
ecuted in  1860  and  signed 
"Nancy  Carroll." 


Nine  Weeks  for  Polly 
Moran  on  Loew  Time 

Following  her  appearance  at  the 
Capitol,  New  York,  Polly  Moran  will 
make  a  nine  week  tour  of  Loew  thea- 
tres in  the  east.  The  first  date  after 
the  Capitol  will  be  Loew's  Jersey 
City,  Jersey  City,  where  she  will  ap- 
pear the  week  of  August  22.  The  bal- 
ance of  her  schedule  from  then  on  is 
as  follows :  Palace,  Washington,  Au- 
gust 29;  Century,  Baltimore,  Sept.  7; 
Penn.,  Pittsburgh,  Sept.  18;  Ohio, 
Columbus,  Sept.  25 ;  State,  Cleveland, 
Oct.  2;  Great  Lakes,  Buffalo,  Oct.  9; 
Loew's,  Rochester,  Oct.  16;  State, 
Syracuse,  Oct.  23. 

After  the  last  date  the  M-G-M  star 
will  return  to  New  York  and  then 
possibly  to  the  Coast  to  resume  pro- 
duction work. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Postal  Rates  to 

Canada  Increased 

Washington — Three  cents  for  the 
first  ounce  is  the  new  rate  on  postage 
on  letters  to  Canada  and  Newfound- 
land, including  Labrador,  starting 
September  1.  Rates  on  postcards  will 
be  two  cents. 

Effective  September  1  the  rate  ap- 
plicable to  air  mail  for  the  same  des- 
tinations will  be  6  cents  for  the  first 
ounce  and  10  cents  for  each  additional 
ounce  or  fraction. 

This  increase  is  in  line  with  a  raise 
in  rates  for  delivery  in  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  to  where  rate  on  letters 
will  be  5  cents  for  the  first  ounce  and 
3  cents  for  each  additional  ounce  or 
fraction  thereof  and  the  rate  on  post 
cards  three  cents. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"V'  Signs  Clara  for 
'^Impatient  Virgin'' 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

she.  But  if  the  adaptation  suits  her, 
she  will  appear  for  Universal  in  Don 
Clarke's  "The  Impatient  Virgin."  She 
already  has  turned  down  one  script 
and  Gladys  Lehman  is  working  on  an- 
other. Clara  picked  the  story  after 
reading  a  hundred  or  more. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Zundt  Succeeding  Clarke 

John  W.  Zundt,  assistant  to  J.  C. 
Enslen,  general  sales  manager  of 
General  Register  Corp.,  is  to  be 
placed  in  charge  of  the  Chicago  office 
of  Automatic  Simplex  Register  Corp.. 
General  subsidiary.  He  succeeds 
Charles  T.  Clarke.  General  recently 
established  a  new  branch. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

New  Fan  Magazine 

Futura  Publications  has  been  organ- 
ized in  New  York  to  publish  Movie 
Mirror  and  Love  Mirror.  They  will 
be  distributed  exclusively  through  the 
chain  store  outlets  of  Grand-Silver 
Stores,  McCrory  Stores  Corp.,  Mc- 
Lellan  Stores,  G.  C.  Murphy  Co., 
NeisncT  Bros,  and  J.  J.  Newberry  Co. 


H.  M.  Warner 
Is  Optimistic 
Despite  Loss 


While  Warners'  operations  for  the 
quarter  ended  May  30,  1931  show  a 
consolidated  net  loss  of  $2,613,600.47 
after  charges,  including  interest  and 
depreciation,  a  notable  pick-up  in  busi- 
ness has  been  experienced  during  the 
past  few  weeks  and  the  outlook  for 
the  coming  year  is  encouraging,  Harry 
M.  Warner  stated  yesterday. 

For  the  nine  months  ended  May  30,  1931, 
the  company  reports  a  net  loss  of  $4,334,. 
738.13,  which  net  loss  includes  the  write- 
down of  $3,073,368.53  in  respect  of  inven- 
tories and  accounts  receivable  of  the  radio 
and  record  division  shown  in  the  February 
28,    1931    statement. 

P'or  the  nine  months,  net  earnings  avail- 
able for  all  interest,  including  the  interest 
retjuirements  on  the  optional  6%  convertible 
debentures,  series  due  1939,  after  deducting 
all  charges  including  the  write-down  of  $3,- 
073,368.53,  but  before  amortization  and  de- 
preciation of  fixed  properties,  was  $8,215,- 
099.42 — equivalent  to  over  1.62  times  thi 
consolidated    interest    charges. 

During  the  quarter  ended  May  30,  193, 
a  special  charge-off  amounting  to  $2,073,1 
230.21  was  made  to  surplus  account  to  writ( 
down  the  plant  an  equipment  of  the  radii 
and    record   divisions. 

The  attached  consolidated  balance  sheet 
as  of  May  30,  1931,  shows  a  current  rati< 
of  over  1.94  to  1.  Total  current  asseti 
were  $30,997,521.79  as  compared  with  tots 
current  liabilities  of  $15,960,639.63.  Cas, 
on  hand  amounted  to  $4,013,841.71,  whil 
notes   payable   were   $2,051,680.84. 

"The  company  today  has  no  bank  loans 
and  cash  on  hand  is  more  than  sufficient  to 
meet  the  requirements  for  the  interest  on 
the  debentures  and  the  dividend  on  the 
preferred  stock  payable  on  September  1, 
1931,"  Warner  stated.  "On  July  16,  1931, 
the  company  deposited  with  the  trustee  $1,- 
300,500  principal  amount  of  optional  6% 
convertible  debentures,  series  due  1939,  in 
satisfaction  of  the  annual  purchase  fund 
requirements   due   August    1,    1931." 

Sixteen    new    season    features    have    been 

completed    he    said,    the    Brooklyn    studio    is 

operating    at    capacity    and    the    Hollywood 

plant    reopens    the   first   week   in    September. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Two  Sign  Contracts 
Under  New  CaL  Law 

Hollywood — First  contracts  drawn 
under  California's  new  seven-year 
contract  law  was  for  Wallace  Ford 
with  M-G-M  and  Tad  Alexander, 
eight  years  old,  with  Fox.  Ford 
plays  opposite  Joan  Crawford  in 
"Mirage"  and  young  Alexander  with 
Will  Rogers  in  "Dollar  Bill." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Epics  Releases  Four 

Talking  Picture  Epics  will  release 
during  the  next  month  four  features 
and  18  shorts.  The  features  are  "The 
White  Devil,"  "The  Immortal  Vaga- 
bond," "The  Last  Company"  and 
"Ralinese   Love." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cohen  Sells  Houses 

BiiRLiNGToN,  la. — Jake  Cohen  has 
sold  his  house  here  to  State  Theatres 
and  Publix  is  negotiating  for  his 
theatre  in  Ottumwa. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

*' Pardon  Us'*  at  Capitol 

"Pardon    Us,"    Laurel   and    Hardy's 
feature   length   comedy,   goes  into  the 
Capitol,    New   York,.  Friday.     It   is  a 
l)Hr]esc|ue  on  prison  melodramas. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Expect  the  Powells 

HoLLYWOoi) — William  Powell  is  to 
visit  New  York  this  fall,  he  has  let  it 
be  known.  He  will  be  accompanied 
by  his  new  bride,  Carole  Lombard. 


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SYLVIA  SIDNEY  •  WILLIAM  COLLIER.  Jr.>  ESTELLE  TAYLOR 


KING  VIDOR 


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MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   August    19,    1931 


Differences   in   Contracts   Outlined 


LICENSE  AND 

EXHIBITOR 
WARRANTIES 

DELIVERY  AND 

RETURN  OF 

PRINTS 

TERM  AND 

PICTURES  NOT 

RELEASED 

PROTECTION 

AND 
RUN 

PAYMENT 

PAYMENT 
PERCENTAGE 
ENGAGEMENT 

ACCEPTANCE 

OF 
APPLICATION 

ADMISSION 
PRICES 

SELECTION 

OF 
PLAY  DATES 

DATING  IN 
ORDER  OF 
RELEASE 

STANDARD 

A)  E's  fqTiipment  will  op- 
erate   rtlubly    and    ef- 
ficiently, 

B)  E  has  or  will  Kave  e(- 
fectiNt  license  from  copy- 
right  owners. 

D  warrants  print   fit  for 
exhibition     and     repro- 
duction of  sound.    De- 
livery- to  allow  time  for 
trial  run-oft.  E  pays  re- 
turn shipping  charges  to 
exchange ;  if  shipped  else- 
where charges  not  to  ex- 
ceed above  cost 

A)  Term  is  oUc  year  after 
availability  of  first  pic- 
ture. 

B)  E  may  ctaifn  witlijii  30 
days  aftei^contiipct  ex- 
piration an/  picture  con- 
tracted for.artd  ritleased 
within  next   two  years. 

A)  Waiver  of  protection 
to  one  theatre  is  waiver 
to  all  similar  theatres. 

B)  Playing  of  picture  by 
prior  run  can  be  made 
condition    precedent    to 
play  by  subsequent  run 

C)  Protection  starts  from 
last  day, 

D)  Protection     includes 
new  theatre  in  territory. 

Payment  4  days  before  de- 
livery or  shipment 

A)  Daily  payment  if  de- 
manded. 

B)  Liquidated    damages 
based  on  30  day  ave.  if 
unplayed. 

C)  or  657c  last  day  re- 
ceipts if  uncompleted. 

D)  may  examine  only  en- 
■  tries  relating  to  contract 

obligations  for  4  months. 

E)  Checker  to  be  regular 
employee  or  accountant. 

A)  Application   must   be 
accepted  by  duly  auth- 
orized agent, 

B)  No  none/  paid  can  be 
construed  as  binding. 

C)  Application  void  if  not 
accepted  within  specified 
time. 

D)  Similarly  dated  appli- 
cations accepted  or  re- 
jected as  unit. 

A)  Mihimum  admission 
price    lOc,    children    or 
adults 

A)  Prints  must  be  in  ex- 
change. 

B)  D  must  give   tS  days 
notice  of  availabihty. 

C)  First  run's  protection 
expires    120   days   after 
general  release. 

A)  Exhibitor  must  play  in 
order  of  release. 

B)  E  may  play  pictures 
out    of   order    provided 
prior  releases  are  dated 
within  30  days. 

COLUMBIA 

OSameasS-S-SA 

2)   E   must   have   license 
from  American  Society 
of  Composers,  Authors, 
uid  Publishers. 

0  D  warrants  print  suit- 
able for  eihibition, 

I)  To  arrive  one  hour  be- 
fore opening  of  theatre. 

J)  Return  shipment  to  ex- 
change prepaid;  ship- 
ment to  other  enhibitor 
collect. 

1)  Same  as  5-5-5  A 

2)  Pictures  not  generally 
released  by  Aug.31. 1932, 
are    automatically   can- 
celled. 

DSame  as  S-S-5C. 

2)  SameasS-5-S  D, 

3)  Distributor  can  deliver 
run   prior   to   run    con- 
tracted, 

3  days 

1)  Payment  demanded 
daily. 

2)  Same  as  5-5-5  B 

3)  75%. 

4)  All  books  for  60  days. 

5)  Same  as  5-5-5  E. 

6)  E  must  keep  D  share 
separately. 

SameasS-S-S  A,B,  C,  D. 

10c 
2)  Contains  schedule  of  E 
admission   prices   which 
must   be   maintained   if 
filled  in. 

DSame  as  5-5-5  B 

2)  If   prior   run   changes 
date,     subsequent     run 
must  change  date,  even 
though     confirmed,     to 
conform  with  protection. 

3)  If  E  fails  to  designate 
play  date  D  may  assign 
dates. 

SameasS-5-5  A 

FOX 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia  1..2.,3 

DSame  as  S-S-S  A. 

2)  Pictures  not  generally 
released  by  Aug  13,  W32 
may   be  claimed   by   E 
withm  30  days  and  ob- 
Uined  if  so  released  in 
following  year. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  2,  3. 
4)  No  protection  on  pic- 
tures double  featured. 

3  days 

Same  as  Columbia. 
1.2.3,4.  5. 

Same^sS-S-S  A.  B. 
(No  provision  for  lapsing 
of    unaccepted    applica- 

(No    provision    to    treat 
similarly  dated  applica- 
tions as  unit.) 

15c 
2)  Same  as  Columbia  2.) 

Same  as  Columbia  I,  2.  3. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

M-G-^M 

Same  as  Columbia. 
3>  E  agrees  to  nu  on  same 
size  reels  as  furnished  by 
D 

Same  aa  Columbia  1.  2,3. 

DSame  as  5-S-S  A. 

2)    But  pictures  released 
before    Aug.    31,    1933, 
must   be  delivered  and 
accepted  by  E. 

Same  as  Columbia  t,  2.  3. 

4>    Distributor's   liability 
for  protection  violation 
is  limited  to  rental. 

3  days 
2)    D  may  ship   picture 
COD    to    include    any 
prior  claim,  even  though 
specific  picture  shipped 
has  been  previously  paid 
for. 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2.  3. 

4)  All  books  ANY  time. 

5)  No  restnction  on  local 
checker. 

6)  Recapitulation    state- 
ment required. 

7)  E    must    pay    for   all 
passes  except  newspaper 
and  advt. 

Same  as  Columbia 

10c 

Same  as  Columbia  2. 

DSame  as  5-5-5  A. 

2)  Same  as  5-5-5  B. 

3)  If   E   does   not  select 
dates  D  may  designate 
date   for    1st   runs   and 
shall  designate  date  for 
subsequent  runs. 

Same  as  Columtria. 

PARAMOUNT 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia  2,  3, 
(Condition  of   print  not 
guaranteed.) 

1)  Same  as  5-5-S  A. 

2)  No  provision,   E  has  no 
claim  on  any  picture  not 
released  during  term  of 
contract. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  2.  3, 

3  days 

Same  as  Columbia  I.  ^.  3. 

4)  ALL  books  for  4  mos 

5)  Same  as  Metro  5. 

Same  as  S-S-S  A.  Bi  C, 
(No    provision    to    treat 
similarly  dated  applica- 
tions as  unit.) 

lOc 
Same  as  Columbia  2 

DSame  as  5-5-5  B. 
2)  Same  as  Metro  3. 

S.ime  as  Cohimbia. 

R-K-O 
PATHE 

Same'  as  Cohimbia. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,2 
3)  E  prepays  shipment  to 
eichange  or  other  exhib- 

1)  Eighteen  months  after 
first  picture 

2)  Same  as  5-5-5  B  but  no- 
tice must  be  sent  before 
Sept.  30,  1932. 

Same  as  Columbia  I.  2.  3, 

7  days ' 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2.  3. 

4)  ALL  books  (or  12  mos. 

5)  Same  as  Metro  S, 

Same  as  Paramount 

lOc 
Same  as  Columbia  2. 

DSame  as  5-5-5  A, 

2)  Same  as  5-S-5  B. 

3)  Same  as  Columbia  3, 

Same  as  Columbia. 

R-K-O 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,2.3, 

l)TermisfronfcSI/l/3I  to 

8/31/32. 
2)  Same  as  5-5-5  B. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  2,  3 

3  days 

Same  as  Columbia 
1.  2.  3.  4,  5, 

Same  as  Columbia 

lOo 

Same  as  Columbia  2. 

D  Same  as  5-5-5  B.      ' 
2)  If  E  fails  to  select  play 
date,  rental  becomes  due 
and  protection  is  lost. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

ilTED  ARTISTS 

Same  as  Columbia. 

SameasPathe.  1.2.3, 
(Print  in  physical   oondi- 
.tion  for  exhibition.) 

1)  One  year  from  Aug.  31 
following  acceptance. 

2)  Same  as  Paramount 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2.  3. 

7  days 

Same  as  Columbia 
1,2.3,5. 
4)  Same  as  Pathc. 

Same  as  5-5-5  A.  B,  C. 

4)  May  accept  any  one  or 
more  of  similarly  dated 
applications 

5)  Breach  of  one  contract 
IS  breach  of  all. 

lOc 

Same  as  Columbia  1.3, 

Same  as  Columbia. 

UNIVERSAL 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia  1.2,3, 

nSameasS-5-S  A. 
2)  Same  Pathc  2. 

Same  as  Columbia    1,    2. 
4)    Protection   eliminated 

on    pictures    not    dated 

within  4S  days. 

3  days 
2)   D  may  withhold  pic- 
picture,  Already  paid  for, 
tor  any  claim  under  this 

Same  as  Columbia 
1,  2,  3.4,5, 

Same  as  Columbia. 

lOc 
Same  as  Columbia  2 

Same  as   Metro   1.  2.  3 

Same  as  Columbia. 

WARNER 
FIRST  NATIONAL 

Same  as  Columbia, 
3)  E  agrees  to  have  trial 
run  on  before  1st  show- 
ing.   (See  Delivery  ) 

Same  as  Columbia  2.  3. 
(Condition   of    print    not 
guaranteed.) 

1)  Same  as  Pathe  1. 

2)  Pictures   generally    re 
leased    after    Sept.     15. 
1932.  are  specifically  ex- 
cepted from  contract 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  3. 

5  days 

DSame  as  5-S--S  A 
Same  as  Columbia  2.  3, 
Same  as   Metro  4,   S,   6, 

Same  as  Columbia. 

lOc 

Same  as  Columbia  2. 

1)  Same  as  S-S-5  B. 

2)  Same  as  Columbia  2 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Lives  of  Pacts 
YariedbyFirms 

{Contiyiued  from  page  1) 

took  a  leading  part  in  drafting  the 
contract  as  a  member  of  Allied's  com- 
mittee. 

"A  careful  analysis  of  each  con- 
tract and  a  clause  by  clause  compari- 
son with  the  fair  5-5-5  contract  leads 
to  the  inevitable  conclusion  that  in  the 
distributors'  judgment,  the  exhibitors 
gained  too  much  in  their  conference," 
the  article  states.  "The  distributors 
have  obviously  concluded  for  their  own 
advantage  to  ignore  the  new  uniform 
contract  already  approved  and  to  draft 
new  contracts  without  consulting  the 
exhibitor  body- — contracts  that  would 
not  only  take  away  from  the  exhibitor 
what  slight  relief  he  had  gained,  but 
would  also  imjxjse  new  provisions  det- 
rimental to  the  exhibitor  and  advan- 
tageous to   the  distributor." 

The  chief  reason  for  the  analysis, 
the  authors  point  out,  is  to  enable  the 
exhibitor  to  understand  his  obligations 
during  the  term  of  the  contracts  "and 
his  rights  and  remedies  if  any." 

Following  is  the  analysis  prepared 
by  Yamins  and  Littlefield : 


The  Contract 

Exhibitor    Warranties 

When  the  5-5-5  contract  was  being 
drafted,  it  was  considered  fair,  in  order 
that  pictures  get  a  proper  showing,  for 
the  exhibitor  to  warrant  that  his  equip- 
ment will  operate  reliably  and  efficiently 
to  reproduce  the  recorded  picture,  and  this 
provision  was  written  into  the  contract. 
The  warranty  that  previously  appeareu", 
that  the  exhibitor  had  a  license  from  the 
American  Society  of  Composers,  Authors 
and  Publishers,  was  changed  to  read  that 
he  had  an  effective  license  from  the  copy- 
right owners  in  order  to  remove  from  this 
society   the  whip  that  it  had. 

All  contracts  now  in  use  have  retained 
this  warranty  that  the  exhibitor  equipment 
will  operate  reliably  and  efficiently  and  have 
gone    back    to    the    old    warranty    that    the 


exhibitor  has  a  license  from  the  Society  of 
Composers.   Authors  and  Publishers. 

In  aa'dition  to  these  provisions,  Metro 
has  a  special  provision  whereby  the  ex- 
hibitor agrees  to  run  the  photoplays  on 
the  same  size  reel  as  that  furnished  by 
Metro,  which  means  that  an  exhibitor  can- 
not   double    up   on    his    reels. 

Warner  and  First  National  also  have  a 
special  provision  whereby  the  exhibitor 
agrees  to  have  a  trial  run  off  before  the 
first  public  exhibition.  This  is  not  op- 
tional, but  compulsory,  and  at  the  same 
time  is  impossible  for  the  exhibitor  to  carry 
out.  since  Warner  and  First  National  agree 
to  deliver  the  print  to  the  exhibitor  only 
one   hour   before    the   first   public   exhibition 

Delivery,  Return  of  Prints 

Inasmuch  as  the  exhibitor  agrees  to  pro- 
vide equipment  that  will  operate  reliably 
and    efficiently,    it   was   considered    fair    that 


The  First  Major  Difference 

Washington — First  essential  difference  between  the  5-5-5  con- 
tract and  the  contracts  now  being  used  by  all  distributors  is  that 
the  former  had  a  short  form  and  a  long  form  contract,  the 
exhibitor  signing  only  the  short  form  embodying  in  eight  clauses 
the  essential  features  of  the  transaction  but  incorporated  by 
reference  into  the  long  form  which  had  about  26  numbered  articles, 
the  Yamins-Littlefield  analysis  asserts. 

"The  advantitee  <>f  this  is  obvious,"  the  article  states.  "The  ex- 
hibitor liad  a  simple  insteiid  of  a  eoin|>Ii<'ated  contract  to  read  and 
therefore  could  find  and  read  the  provisions  that  governed  his 
traMsa<-tion.  All  contracts  now  beinj;  offered  are  the  long  form. 
The  short  form  idea  now  has  been  abandone<l,  and  now  the  exhibitor 
is  forced  into  a  contract  that  is  almost  the  size  of  a  one-sheet, 
printed  in  vcrj-  fine  print,  with  the  pro1)ability  that  the  exiiibitor 
will  sien  on  tlie  dotted  line  without  reading:  the  contract,  and  thereby 
result    in    misunderstandings." 


Warranty  on 
'Music  Tax' 


the  5-5-5  contract  include  a  warranty  by  the 
distributor  that  he  would  furnish  a  print 
"in  physical  condition  for  exhibition  and 
if  a  sound  picture,  which  will  clearly  re- 
produce the  recorded  sound,"  this  print  to 
arrive  in  time  for  inspection  and  projection 
before  the  usual  time  of  opening  the  thea- 
tre. The  latter  provision  was  inserted  so 
that  every  exhibitor  could  have  a  trial 
run  off  if  he  desireu'  so  that  he  could  de- 
termine at  which  volume  he  was  to  project 
the  picture.  Every  distributor  has  aban- 
doned this  provision  and  has  gone  back  to 
the  old  provision  which  required  shipment 
to  arrive  one  hour  before  the  opening  of 
the  theatre,  which  obviously  does  not  give 
time   for   a    trial   run   off. 

Every  distributor  with  the  exception  of 
P'ailamount  andl  Warner- First  National, 
warrants  that  the  print  delivered'  is  suit- 
able for  exhibition,  which  would  probably 
be  interpreted  to  cover  not  only  the  physi- 
cal condition  of  the  print,  but  the  sound 
recording,  and  therefore  differs  from  the 
5-5-5  contract  only  in  that  the  language 
is  not  so  clear.  Paramount  and  Warner- 
First  National  say  absolutely  nothing  about 
the  condition  of  the  print  they  are  to  de- 
liver to  the  exhibitor — hence  the  exhibitor 
can  have  no  complaint  and  no  reu'ress  when 
he  gets  a  bad  print  not  suitable  for  public 
exhibition. 

When  the  run  was  completed  the  ex- 
hibitor under  the  5-5-5  contract  was  obli- 
gated to  return  the  print  to  the  distrib- 
utor or  ship  it  to  another  exhibitor  if  re- 
quested by   the  distributor,   all  charges  pre- 

iContinued  on  page  9) 


Wednesday,   August    19,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


In  Graph  Prepared  by  Allied  Leaders 


MIDNIGHT 
SHOWS 

ROAD 
SHOWS 

RACIAL  AND 
RELIGIOUS 
EXCLUSION 

OPTION  TO 
EXCLUDE 
PICTURES 

RE-ISSUES 

SUBSTITUTION 

OF  STARS 
STORIES.  ETC. 

DELAY 

OR 

PREVENTION 

ADVERTISING 

BY 
EXHIBITORS 

ACCESSORIES 

WARRANTY 
OF  "NO  PAID 
ADVERTISING" 

ARBITRATION 

No  restriction. 

A)  D  can  roadshow  and 
exclude    from    contract 
where     roadshown    not 
over  2  pictures. 

B)  Roatkhowing  requires 
SI.    price  Ifor    majority 
every  orchestra  seats. 

C)  E  may  cancel  one  pic- 
ture for  each  picture  ex- 
cluded. 

A)  D  may  exclude  if    D 
considers  picture  objec- 
tionable. Picture  cannot 
then  be  shoft-n  in  that 
city. 

B)  If  E  considers  picture 
objeclionattle,     Arbitra- 
tors decide. 

E    may   exclude   without 
payment  5%  of  pictures 
bought  on  any  contract 
oL  20  or  more  pictures 
provided  ave,  pnce  does 
notexceed  $250.  whether 
flafj   rental   or   on    per- 
centage. 

D  warrants  no   re-issues 
unless  specifically  men- 
tioned in  contract. 

E  IS  not  required  to  ac- 
cept picture  in  case  of 
substitution  of 

1)  Book  or  play 

2)  director 

3)  star. 

4)  combination  o(  stSfs. 

If  eithef  parly's  perform- 
ance IS  unavoidably  pre- 
vented. Then  license  to 
such  photoplay  is.  term- 
inated provided  reason- 
able   wntten    notice    is 
given. 

A)  E  may  advertise  com- 
ing  pictures   imidt    his 
theatre  at  any  time, 

B)  E  may  advertise  any- 
where IS  days  before  ex- 
hibition date. 

E  only  agrees  not  to  sell  or 
purchased  from  distnbu- 

D  warrants  pictures  con- 
lain  no  advertising    for 
which  compensation  was 
received. 

Provision    for    voluntary 
Arbitration    for    settle- 
ment of  any  dispute. 

No  exhibition  before  6:00 
AM  of  first  day, 

1)  SameasS-S-S  A. 

2)  Same  as  5-5-5  B. 
3)Sameas>5-5C. 

n  Same  as  5-S-S  A. 
2)  Same  as  S-S-5  B. 

^  may   exclude    10%  of 
pictures  by  paying  50% 
of   rentals,   provided   E 
bought  all  pictures  of- 

Same  as  5-5-5 

Same  as  5-5- S 
1.2.3. 

1)  On  Es  part.  E  is  ex- 
cused and  lime  extended 

3   months  delay  allows 
either  party  to  cancel. 

2)  On  D's  part,  D  is  ex- 
cused but  E  must  accept 
any  delayed  picture 
when   and   if  available. 

I)  Subsequent  run  exhib- 
itors can  do  no  advertis- 
ing until  completion  of 

1)  E  agrees  to  buy  acces- 
sories onl/ from  D. 

2)  E  agrees  not   to  sell. 
loan,  or  give  away  ac- 

No  provision. 

No  provision. 

No  restriction. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  2,  3. 

4)  D  may  elect  not  to  ex- 
clude picture  roadshown 
but  E  must  exhibit  such 
picture  when  available. 

Same  as  Columbia  2. 

Same  as  Columbia, 

Same  as  Columbia. 

D  reserves  right  to  change 
stars  or  directors  listed 
in  schedule.  E  need  not 
accept  substitutions  in- 
volving story  if  such  is 
scheduled. 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2, 
3)  If  D  has  3  mos.  delay 
either  party  may  cancel. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  2. 

Same  as  5-5-5. 

No  provision. 

No    exhibition     between 
Midnight  and  6:00  AM. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  2,  3. 

Same  as  Columbia  I.  2. 

No  Elimination. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia. 
1.2.3. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  2, 

Same  as  Cohmibia 

Same  as  Columbia  t,  2. 

Same  as  Pox. 

No  p^Q\^sio^. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

1 )  D  may  roadshow  any  or 
all  pictures. 

2}  Same  as  Columbia  2 

3)  E  has  no  rights  of  can- 
cellation. 

4}  E  must  run  roadshown 
pictures  but  pictures 
available    to    him    only 
after  completion   of   all 
roadshowing  in  U.  S. 

No  Exclusion. 

No  Elimination. 

No   Warranty;    therefore 
Paramount  may  deliver 

No    provision    for    D    to 
make  or  E  to  refuse  sub- 
stitutions.       Therefore, 
unless  E  specifies  stars, 
directors,   or   stories   in 
schedule,  E  must  accept 
anything  offered. 

E's  failure  to  perform  ex- 
cusable only  in  case  o( 
Act  of  God  or  public  en- 
emy.   D's  failure  excus- 
able for  any  reason. 

Same  as  Columbia 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  2. 

No  provision. 

No  provision. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

1)  D  may  roadshow  and 
exclude  4  pictures. 

2)  Roadshowing  requires 
merely  advanced  prices 
for  one  week. 

3)  Same  as  Columbia  3. 

Same  as  Qflumbia  1 , 

No  Elimination. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia. 
1.  2,  3. 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2. 

1)  Same  as  5-5-S  A. 

2)  E  may  advertise  any- 
where after  completion 
of  next  prior  run  only. 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2. 

3)  £  will  pay  for  advt.  2 
weeks  before  play  date. 

4)  E  will  return  advt.  to 
D  on  demand. 

No  provision. 

No  provision- 

Same  a$  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia  1,  2,  3. 

Same  as  Columbia  I 

No  Elimination. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia. 
1.2.  3. 

Same  as  Columlsia  1,  2. 

Same  as  Columbia, 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2. 

No  provision. 

No  provision. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

1)  D  may  roadshow  and 
exclude  any  and  all  pic- 

2)  Same  as  Pathe  2. 

3)  Same  as  Paramount  3. 

4)  E  must  run  roadshown 
pictures  when  available 
if  D  does  not  elect  to  ex- 
clude- 

5)  Roadshow  in  any  city 
permits    D    to    exclude 
throughout  U.S. 

No  Exclusion 

No  Elimination. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia. 
2.3. 
D  reserves  right  to  change 
story  book  or  play. 

Same  as  Columbia  t.  2. 

1]  Same  as  Pathe  1. 
2}  Same  as  Pathe  2 

Same  as  Columbia  2- 
2)  E  must  destroy  all  advt, 
purchased . 

Same  as  Pox. 

No  provision 

Same  as  Columbia. 

1)  D  may  roadshow  4  pic- 
tures   but   can    exclude 
not    more    than    2.  Ex- 
cluded    pictures     must 
have  been  roadshown  in 
3  cities. 

2)  Same  as  Columbia  2. 

3)  Same  as  Columbia  3. 

4)  Same  as  Pox  4. 

No  Exclusion 

No  Elimination 

Same  as  Columbia 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  ?.  3. 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2. 

Same  as  Pox, 

No  proviuon. 

Same  as  Columbia. 

1)  D  may  roadshow  any 
and  all  pictures, 

2)  Roadshowing  requires 
merely  advanced   show- 
ing on  2  a  day  basis. 

3)  £  has  no  nghts  of  can- 
cellation. 

4)  E  must  run  roadshown 
pictures  when  available 

No  Exclusion, 

No  Elimination. 

Same  as  Columbia 

D  reserves  right  to  change 
title  and  alter  story    E 
can   reject   substitution 
wherever  schedule   spe- 
cifically mentions    sUr. 
story  or  director. 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2, 

E  can  do  no  advertising 
until  completion  of  next 
prior  run 

Same  as  Columbia  1.  2. 

Same  as  Fox 

No  provision. 

Cite  M-G-M's 
Star  Policy 

(Continued  from   page   8) 
paid,    but    if    the    shipment    was    to    another 
exhibitor,    the    cost    of    shipment     was    not 
to  exceed  what  it  would  have  cost  to  return 
the    print    to    the    exchange. 

All  distributors,  with  the  exception  of 
RKO- Pathe,  provide  that  the  shipment  to 
the  exchange  shall  be  prepaid,  but  to  an- 
other exhibitor,  shall  go  forward  charges 
collect,  Pathe  provides  that  the  exhibitor 
shall  prepay  all  charges,  whether  shipment 
is  made  back  to  the  exchange  or  to  an- 
other exhibitor,  with  no  maximum  charges 
as  is  provided  in  the  5-5-5  contract  for  the 
protection   of    the   exhibitor. 

Terms 

Pictures     Not     Gemerally     Released 

The  5-5-5  contract  definitely  fixed  the 
term  of  the  contract  at  one  year  after  the 
availability  of  the  first  picture,  so  that  the 
exhibitor  was  contracting  for  one  year's 
supply  of  photoplays  on  all  of  his  con- 
tracts. Columbia,  Fox,  Metro,  Paramount 
and  Universal  have  all  incorporated'  this 
provision  into  their  contracts.  KKO-Pathe 
and  Warner-First  National's  period  is  18 
months  after  the  availability  of  the  first 
photoplay.  RKO's  period  is  set  from  l"'cp- 
tember  1.  1931,  to  August  31,  1932,  which 
has  considerable  merit  because  of  its  defi- 
niteness.  United  Artists'  period  is  "One 
year  from  August  3'lstj  following  the  ac- 
ceptance." Exhibitors  should  watch  this 
provision  very  carefully,  for  if  the  con- 
tract is  signed  immediately  after  August 
31,  it  actually  becomes  a  two-year  contract, 
and'  the  exhibitor  must  accept  any  of  the 
photoplays  contracted  for  if  delivered  to 
him   within   that   two-year   period. 


If  some  of  the  photoplays  contracted  for 
were  not  generally  released  within  the 
term  of  the  contract,  the  5-5-5  contract 
provided  that,  if  the  exhibitor  desired  the 
undelivered'  picture,  it  was  compulsory  for 
him  to  notify  the  distributor  in  writing 
within  thirty  days  after  the  expiration  of 
the  contract,  that  he  wanted  the  photo- 
plays not  then  generally  released,  and  if  so 
notified  the  distributor  would  have  to  de- 
liver these  photoplays,  if  they  were  released 
witliin  a  period'  of  two  years.  This  provi- 
sion was  inserted  for  the  benefit  of  the 
exhibitor,  so  that  the  distributor  could  not 
hold  a  "hit  picture"  over  until  after  the 
term  had  expired  in  order  to  sell  it  on 
next   year's  contract. 

Pathe,  RKO  and  Universal  have  included 
this  provision  in  their  contracts,  but  Pathe 
and  Universal  proviu'e  that  the  notice  must 
be    sent    before    September    30,     1932,    even 


though  the  term  in  Pathe  contract  is  18 
months.  As  RKO's  contract  is  from  Sep- 
tember 1,  1931,  to  August  31,  1932,  the 
notice  must  be  sent  by  the  exhibitor  before 
September  30,  1932,  in  both  Pathe,  Universal 
and  RKO  contracts.  Fox  requires  that  the 
notice  be  sent  by  September  13,  1932,  and 
the  distributor  is  obligated  to  deliver  only 
the  photoplays  released  within  one  year. 
Metro  provides  that  pictures  released  be- 
fore August  31,  1933',  must  be  delivered 
and  accepted  by  the  exhibitor.  This  ac- 
tually makes  it  a  two-year  contract  in  so 
far  as  delivery  of  photoplays  contracted  for 
is  concerned,  but  as  Metro  reserves  to  it- 
self the  right  to  make  "extra"  pictures  and 
other  rights  to  be  discussed  later,  the  ex- 
hibitor may  and  may  not  get  the  pictures 
contracted  for — he  must  perform  if  the 
distributor  elects  to  perform. 
Paramount    and    United    Artists    make    no 


10  Firm  Pacts  Analyzed 

Washington — The  Yamins-Littlefield  article  deals  only  with  con- 
tracts for  feature  pictures  now  being  used  by  Columbia,  Fox, 
M-G-M,  Paramount,  RKO  Pathe,  RKO,  United  Artists,  Universal, 
First  National  and  Warners.  To  explain  the  analysis,  the 
chart  which  appears  above  was  drawn  up  to  include  the  essential 
provisions  of  each  contract,  the  authors  assert. 

"The  provisions  in  any  one  contract  may  be  aHcertained  by  reading 
across  tile  cliart,  and  b.v  reiidinu:  up  and  dfiwn  tlie  cliurt.  one  can 
easily  ascertain  how  eacli  distributor  treats  any  one  provision  and 
liovv  that  iirovision  or  clause  was  treated  in  tlie  5-.')-.'>  contract,"  it 
is  pointed  out.  "Tliis  diart,  wliile  it  is  as  compreliensive  as  space 
and  time  would  permit,  contains  tlie  provisions  iii  abbreviated 
languaie^e  and  the  exact  language  can  be  secured  by  referring  to  the 
provision    in    tlie    contract." 


Daily  Pay-off 
On  P.C.  Runs 

provision  for  pictures  not  generally  released', 
and  therefore  the  exhibitor  has  no  claim  to 
any  photoplays  that  may  be  generally  re- 
leased immediately  after  the  term  of  this 
contract  has  expired.  Columbia  provides 
that  pictures  not  generally  released  by  Aug- 
ust 31,  1932,  are  automatically  cancelled, 
and  Warner- First  National  has  a  similar 
provision,  but  the  date  is  September  15. 
1932. 

Protection  and  Runs 

The  5-5-5  contract  provided  that,  where 
a  contract  gave  a  theatre  a  period'  of  pro- 
tection, it  was  to  start  from  the  last  day 
of  the  exhibition  of  the  photoplay,  and  all 
distributor  contracts  include  this  provision. 
The  5-5-5  contract  also  provided  that  if  a 
contract  gave  a  theatre  protection  over 
other  theatres,  and  a  new  theatre  was  built 
in  that  zone,  and  the  obvious  intent  was 
that  protection  was  to  include  this  new 
theatre,  even  if  it  was  not  mentioned,  then 
protection  would  prevail  against  the  new 
theatre.  Every  distributor,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Warner- First  National,  has  in- 
corporateut  this  provision  into  their  con- 
tracts. 

'Ilie  5-5-5  contract  provided  that  the  ex- 
hil)itor  could  stipulate  in  his  schedule  that 
the  playing  of  a  photoiilay  by  a  prior  run 
was  a  condition  of  the  exhibition  of  the 
photoplay,  in  order  that  the  subsequent  run 
exhibitnr  would  get  the  benefit  of  the  pub- 
licity given  the  picture  on  the  prior  run. 
This  was  a  new  provision  under  the  5-5-5 
contract,  which  had  not  previously  ap- 
peared in  any  other  contract.  All  the  dis- 
(Continued  on  page   12_) 


AMERICAN 


TRAGEDY" 


IS 


$•  R.  O.  Sensation! 


.Qi^M 


Based  on  DREISER'S  great 
romantic  novel.  JOSEF  VON 
STERNBERG'S  production. 
With  Phillips  Holmes,  Sylvia 
Sidney  and  Frances  Dee. 


•  KEW  YORK. 


Sell-out  every  performance  at  Criterion  at 
$2  admission.  Record  advance  sale. 


JLj^f9    iml^  V'Ju JLmIi!^*     Biggest  opening  in  history   of  United 
Artists  Theatre.  Even  balcony  could  be  sold  three  times  over. 

V^JH.MV^im.V^V^«    Most   sensational    business   in    history  of  United 
Artists  Theatre.  Extra  shows  to  accommodate  S.  R*  O.  mobs. 

Mf JEd  JL  Mm^M.  JL  •     Largest  business  since  United  Artists  Theatre*was 
built.  No  let-up  since  opening. 

MPJCii^  w  midMMm    Mobs  storm  Paramount  Theatre  and  receipts  touch 
new  high  for  past  two  years! 


Evader 


PARAMOUNT 


Enthralling   Entertainment!' 


Joj-ou.  Y«.<h  . . .  nahing  h.«ll«,ly  .long  to 


new  loves  I 


"AN  AMERJCAi 
GEDY 

"One  of  the  year',  best   pictures!- 
"Intensely  dranuiUc,  .uperbly  acted '■• 

The  Mo,l  I>|.r...^j  "■■■fnii 
Picture  in  Nrw  Y„,|,  t 
0«Y«,S„uNO»t  A™j.„,^„t„, 

CRITERION 

B'WAY  AT   A4ti 


•"»  «^S  p.  M. 


^-::x^- 


i>« 


.iO.  '»" 


.,\.u»"--  , 


„»>'  >*" 


'\i 


„..*  ">"" 


*»n8 


Viol 


\d'» 


[OHIO 


Ht 


O'Cl 


CR«t?B 


iWQ^ 


'*' record  grosses! 


ABOUT .  . 

munr 

=»  fcero,„„.  They  7,?^     """  no  !,,„„ 
Bold.    Pl,.„         "'">'<'  of  life    E.. 

"•".'-^  ;"'';"■"■""•'.  .r. 

edi„'^7;7°i''«^^7:^^r;r- 

"'  re«/  life  -  _,;„,         ,  ™  •*<*n  <nact> 

-"-■c^i.-^.r're.'r  """"^ 

^•""T..    Therein"..™' •"">-.,,  old 
Poniinc,  '*  '"e  story,  ,„ 

"^  'o  yoii  f 


HoJ, 


Tomorrow  VtsTj;? 


12 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   August    19,    1931 


Term  Pacts  ''By  and  For  Distributors 


99 


(Continued  from  page  9) 

tributors  with  the  exception  of  Universal 
expressly  stipulate  that  the  distributor  has 
the  option  to  ueliver  a  run  prior  to  the 
run  contracted  for.  In  other  words,  the 
exhibitor  buys  a  seconcT  run,  depending  on 
the  exploitation  Riven  the  photoplay  on  the 
first  run,  and  if  the  distributor  is  unable 
to  secure  a  first  run,  or  if  the  first  run 
refuses  to  play  the  picture  for  any  reason, 
the  second  run  exhibitor  must  either  pay 
for  or  play  that  photoplay  if  desired  by  the 
distributor.  Metro  has  a  provision  which 
does  not  appear  in  any  other  d'istributor's 
contract,  which  limits  the  distributor's  lia- 
bility for  violatinR  protection  to  the  rental 
of  the  photoplay.  Universal  also  has  a  pro- 
vision not  appearing  in  any  other  con- 
tract, to  the  effect  that  if  a  photoplay  is 
not  dated,  protection  is  forfeited  after  forty - 
i^ve  days.  Fox  also  has  a  unique  provision, 
which  is  entirely  new  in  the  industry,  to  the 
effect  that  "there  is  no  protection  on  any 
photoplay  exhibited  on  any  double  feature 
program." 

The  5-5-5  contract  also  had  a  new  pro- 
vision to  the  effect  that  if  protection  was 
granted  to  several  theatres  of  a  class  and 
protection  was  waivec?  as  to  one  of  the 
theatres,  protection  was  waived  as  to  all 
in  that  class.  Tliis  provision  was  inserted 
to  prevent  chain  organizations  having  first 
and  subsequent  runs,  from  waiving  the  pro- 
tection for  the  benefit  of  their  own  subse- 
quent runs,  and  making  other  theatres  of 
the  same  class  wait  until  the  period  of 
protection  had  actually  expired.  This  pro- 
vision was  dropped  by  all  distributors  from 
their   contracts. 

Payments 

During  the  5-5-5  conference  the  distribu- 
tors insisted  on  an  increase  in  the  num- 
ber of  a'ays  between  payment  and  the  date 
of  shipping  from  three  to  four  days,  in 
order  to  give  time  for  the  exhibitors'  checks 
to  clear,  and  at  their  request  this  change 
was  incorporated  into  the  contract.  Colum- 
bia, Fox,  Metro,  Paramount,  RKO  and 
Universal  have  all  gone  back  to  the  three- 
day  basis.  Warner- First  National  requires 
payment  five  days  in  advance  of  ship- 
ment and  Pathe  and  United  Artists  seven 
days.  Universal  has  also  incorporated'  a 
special  provision  giving  the  distributor  the 
right  to  hold  up  shipment  of  a  picture  al- 
though paid  for,  for  any  claim  under  the 
contract  in  question.  Metro  also  incorpor- 
ated this  special  clause,  giving  them  the 
right  to  ship  a  picture  C.  O.  D.,  and  to 
include  any  prior  claim  under  this  or  any 
other  contract.  Under  this  provision  Metro 
has  the  right  to  ship  a  feature  C.  O.  D. 
even  though  all  pictures  have  previously 
been  played  according  to  release  anu'  pai- 
for,  and  can  include  in  the  C.  O.  D.  any 
claim  they  may  have  because  the  exhibitor 
failed  to  perform  another  contract  Metro 
may    have   for   shorts,    etc. 

Payment    of     Percentage    Engage- 
_  ments 

The  S-S-5  contract  provided,  when  a  pic- 
ture was  playing  on  a  percentage  basis, 
payment  of  the  distributor's  share,  which 
was  due  daily,  was  to  be  made  daily  only 
on  iiemand  of  the  distributor,  so  that  the 
exhibitor,  unless  a  demand  was  made  on 
him  for  daily  payments,  could  send  a  check 
to  the  distributor  at  the  end  of  the  en- 
gagement. Only  Warners,  of  all  the  dis- 
tributors, retain  this  feature,  and  in  all 
other  cases  payment  must  be  made  daily, 
otherwise    the    exhibitor    is    in    default. 

If  the  exhibitor  fails  to  play  a  picture 
that  he  had  agreed  to  exhibit  on  a  per- 
centage basis,  it  was  provided  under  the 
S-5-5  contract  that  the  measure  of  dam- 
ages was  based  on  the  business  at  that 
theatre  for  a  period  of  thirty  days  before 
the  picture  should  have  been  played.  All 
distributors  have  incorporated!  this  clause 
into    their    contracts. 

In  the  event  the  exhibitor  pulls  a  per- 
centage picture  before  the  end  of  the  agreed 
run,  it  was  provided  in  the  5-5-5  contract 
that  the  distributor's  share  would  be  on 
the  basis  of  65  per  cent  of  the  receipts  the 
last  day  the  picture  was  exhibited,  instead 
of  75  per  cent,  which  was  the  provision  in 
all  contracts  prior  to  the  5-5-5  contract. 
All  the  distributors  have  gone  back  to  the 
75  per  cent  basis  instead  of  the  65  per  cent 
provided    by    the    S-5-5    contract. 

The  5-5-5  contract  provided  that  any  per- 
son employed  as  a  checker  in  the  theatres 
must  not  be  a  local  resident,  unless  he  was 
a  regular  employee  of  the  distributor.  Co- 
lumbia, Fox,  RKO,  United  Artists,  and 
Universal  follow  the  5-5-5  contract  in  this 
regard.  The  5-5-5  contract  sought  to  pro- 
tect the  private  business  of  the  exhibitor 
by  restricting  the  examination  to  be  made 
by  the  checker  or  accountant  to  the  actual 
entries  relatin.B  to  the  receipts  of  that 
photoplay,  and  the  period  of  exatriination 
was  limited  to  four  months.  Columbia,  Fox, 
RKO,  anJ  Universal  permit  the  examination 
of  all  books  without  restriction  for  a  pe- 
riod of  sixty   days.     Paramount   permits   the 


CLAUSES  GRANTED 
EXHIBITOR  IN 
S-.VS  CONTRACT 

«s 
Is 

ltd 
lis 

c     o. 

all 

§8 
S  = 

>  o 

Exhibitor  guarantees  ef- 
fective license  on  sound 
(not  necessarily  A.S.  of 
CAD.) 

*^3 
>-2 

ill 

sis 

sn 
U 

a  °'-d" 
2  c| 

lis 

l:| 

sit 

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si 

1 

O   MO 

22 
.2  >    . 

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III 

i  i 

it 
ts 

Ik 

3   C   c 
S;S-S 

=  1 

111 

H 

u 

111 

It 

3. "2 

=  2  S 
u-5-3 

E.   may  purchase  advt. 
anywhere;    no    resale   of 
D.'s  accessories  only. 

2 

ji 

COLUMBIA 

No 

No 

No 

No 

Yes 

No 

No 

60 
Days 

'5% 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

10%Elim. 
Pay  50% 

FOX 

No 

No 

No 

No 

Yes 

No 

No 

60 
Days 

.75% 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

10%Elim. 
Pay  !.0% 

METRO 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

Time 
Unlimited 

75% 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

PARAMOUNT 

No 

No 

No 

NO 

No 

No 

No 

Yes 

7S% 

No 

No 

No 

No 

If  "Act 
of  God" 

No 

No 

RTC  0 

PATHfi 

No 

No 

No 

No 

Yes 

No 

No 

One 
Year 

75% 

No 

No 

No- 

No 

No 

No 

No 

RKO 

Yes 

No 

No 

No 

Yes 

No 

No 

60 
Days 

75% 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

UNITED  ARTISTS 

No 

No 

No 

No 

Yes 

No 

No 

One 
Year 

75% 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

Yes 

No 

UNIVERSAL 

No 

No 

No 

No 

Yes 

No 

No 

60 
Days 

75% 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

WARNER  AND 
FIRST  NATIONAL 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

Yes 

No 

Time 
Unlimited 

75% 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

Recapitulation;     10 — Yes                                            11,8%  Acceptance  of  5-S-S  clauses     1  114— TJo                                                               88.2%  Rejection  of  5-S-S  clauses  granted 
3_Yes— qualified                              granted  te  exhibitors.     -      •  •            j      9— 75%  instead  of  6S%                                      to  exhibitors 
4—60  day  examination— 17— Clauses  in  agTeement                                 1      4 — Over  4  months  examination— 127— Clauses  contrary 

examination  of  all  books  for  a  period  of 
four  months.  Pathe  and  United  Artists  for 
twelve  months,  and  Metro  and  Warner- 
First  National  permit  the  examination  of 
all  books  at  any  time.  In  addition  to  these 
provisions  some  distributors  have  special 
provisions  which  did  not  appear  at  all 
und'er  the  5-5-5  contract.  Columbia  requires 
the  exhibitor  to  keep  the  distributor's  share 
separate,  so  if  he  banks  the  receipts,  as  he 
must  do  in  order  to  send  a  check  to  the 
distributor,  it  becomes  necessary  for  him 
to  open  a  special  account  for  the  benefit 
of  Columbia.  Metro,  in  addition  to  a  daily 
statement,  requires  a  recapitulated  state- 
ment at  the  end  of  the  run.  so  that  an  ex- 
hibitor is  compelled  to  maintain  a  book- 
keeping department  to  total  for  Metro's 
benefit  the  various  number  of  ad'missions 
during  the  entire  run  at  the  various  ad- 
mission nrices.  This  is  also  required  by 
Warner- First  National.  Metro  also  has  a 
clause  requiring  the  exhibitor  to  account  to 
the  distributor  and  pay  for  all  passes,  ex- 
cept those  issued  to  newspapers  and  for 
advertising,  so  that  when  an  exhibitor  issues 
a  pass  to  any  citv  official  and  this  p-ss  is 
used  during  a  percentage  engagement,  the 
exhibitor  must  pay  the  distributor,  as .  if 
the  city  official  had  actually  paid  admis- 
sion to  the  theatre. 

Acceptance  of  Application 

The  5-5-5  contract  included  the  usual 
provisions,  previously  appearing  in  all  prior 
contracts  with  reference  to  the  inatter  of 
acceptance  of  applications,  providing  first, 
the  application  must  be  accepted  by  a  duly 
authorized  agent  of  the  distributor;  sec- 
ond, no  money  paid  at  the  time  of  the 
signing  of  the  application  will  be  considered 
as  an  acceptance;  third,  the  application  be 
consicTered  null  and  void  if  not  accepted 
within  a  specific  number  of  days,  depend- 
ing upon  the  distance  of  the  exhibitor  from 
New  York;  and  fourth,  and  most  imp)r- 
tant  of  all  then  existing  provisions,  all  ap- 
plications similarly  dated  had  to  be  ac- 
cepted or  rejected  as  a  unit.  Columbia. 
Metro  RKO.  Universal  and  Warner  have 
all  followed  the  5-5-5  contract  in  this  re- 
gard. Fox  has  included  only  the  first  two 
provisions,  and  as  it  nrobaWy  would  b- 
held  that  it  is  customary  in  the  industry 
for  distributors  to  accept  within  the  uni- 
versally known  time  limit  for  acceptances, 
the  only  difference  from  the  5-5-5  contract 
is  the  clause  restricting  the  treatment  of 
similarly  dated  applications  as  a  unit  so 
that  Fox  may  accept  one  application  and 
reject  another,  even  though  the  exhibitor 
may  have  intend'ed  them  all  to  go  as  a 
unit.  Paramount  and  Pathe  also  have  no 
provision  requiring  them  to  treat  similarly 
dated  applications  as  a  unit,  and  t^nitpcl 
Artists  specifically  provides  that  they  may 
accept  any  one  or  more  of  similarly  dated 
applications.  United  Artists  has  in  addi- 
tion a  special  provision  to  the  effect  that 
a  breach  of  one  contract  is  a  breach  of  all, 
and  this  appears  rather  strange  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  United  Artists  claims  its 
contracts  are  with  different  producers 
which  require  the  use  of  an  individual  con- 
tract system. 

Admission  Prices 

The  S-5-5  contract  carried  the  usual  mini- 
mum price  of  admission  of  10  cents  for  chil- 
dren or  atfults.  All  distributors,  with  the 
exception   of    Fox,    carry    the    10   cent    mini- 


mum admission.  Fox  requires  a  minimum 
admission  of  15  cents,  and  inasmuch  as  an 
exhibitor  cannot  change  his  admission  prices 
from  day  to  day,  it  follows  that  any  ex- 
hibitor using  Fox  pictures  must  maintain  a 
minimum  admission  price  of  15  cents,  and 
therefore  Fox  will  receive  the  credit  (?) 
for  increasing  the  cost  of  entertainment  to 
all  children  in  the  entire  United  States.  In 
ad'dition  many  distributors  have  a  schedule 
of  admission  prices  which  the  exhibitor 
must  maintain  during  the  life  of  the  con- 
tract. This  appears  on  all  contracts  with 
the  exception  of  United  Artists,  so  that,  if 
an  exhibitor  permits  the  distributor  sales- 
man to  fill  in  the  admission  prices  on  this 
schedule,  the  exhibitor  is  left  in  a  positio 
where  he  cannot  alter  his  admission  prices, 
regardless  of  the  change  in  conditions.  Tht 
exhibitor  therefore  should  be  extremely 
careful  not  to  permit  the  salesman  to  till 
out  this  schedule,  or,  if  he  does  permit  it 
to  be  filled'  out,  he  should  state  an  admis- 
sion price  that  he  is  positive  he  will  be 
able    to    maintain   throughout    the    year. 

Selection  of  Play  Dates 

The  5-5-5  contract  provided  the  distribu- 
tor should  give  the  ejchibitor  at  least  fifteen 
days  notice  when  the  picture  would  be 
available  to  him.  The  exhibitor  was  obli- 
gated, within  fourteen  days  after  the  mail- 
ing of  the  notice,  to  select  play  dates  to 
be  within  thirty  days  from  the  availaljility 
date.  This  notice  was  not  to  be  sent  by 
the  distributor  before  the  print  was  in  the 
Exchange  and'  available  for  booking.  Up 
to  this  point  the  provision  was  exactly  as 
in  the  1928  Standard  contract.  In  order 
that  subsequent  runs  would  not  be  held 
up  due  to  the  first  run's  failure  to  select 
dates,  the  distributor  was  not  compelled 
to  assign  dates,  but  it  was  provided  that 
the  first  run  exhibitor  lost  protection  120 
d'ays  after  the  general  release  date.  All 
distributors  have  included  in  their  contracts 
the  provision  re  mailing  availability  notices, 
as  in  the  5-5-5  contract.  Only  Metro, 
Pathe,  and  Universal  provide  that  this  no- 
tice is  to  be  sent  after  the  print  is  in  the 
exchange.  In  the  event  the  exhibitor  fails 
to  select  play  dates  it  is  provided  in  the 
contracts  of  Columbia,  Fox,  Pathe  and 
United  Artists  that  the  distributor  may 
designate  play  dates.  Metro  and  Para- 
mount contracts  provide  that  if  the  ex- 
hibitor fails  to  designate  play  dates  the 
distributor  may  designate  them  in  the  case 
of  first  runs  and  shall  designate  them  in 
the  case  of  subsequent  runs.  RKO  provides 
that  if  the  exhibitor  fails  to  select  play 
dates  the  money  becomes  due  and!  pro- 
tection is  lost. 

There  is  an  entirely  new  provision  ap- 
pearing in  the  contracts  of  Columbia,  Fox 
and  Warner- First  National  to  the  effect 
that,  if  a  prior  run  changes  its  dates  after 
the  subsequent  runs  have  selected  dates, 
the  subsequent  runs  will  have  to  change 
their  dates  to  conform  to  the  protection  pe- 
riod granted    the   first  run. 

Dating  in  Order  of  Release 

The  5-5-5  contract  provides  that  an  ex- 
hibitor must  play  photoplays  in  order  of 
their  general  release,  but  in  orcfer  to  give 
the  exhibitor  a  little  leeway  it  was  pro 
vided  he  could  play  a  picture  out  of  order 
provided  he  dated  and  played  the  prior  re 
leases  within  a  period  of  thirty  d'ays.  This 
provision   was   something  new,   and   was   in- 


serted in  the  5-5-5  contract.  All  distribu- 
tors provide  in  their  contracts  that  the  ex- 
hibitor must  play  in  the  order  of  release, 
with    absolutely    no    leeway. 

Midnight  Shows 

No  mention  was  made  of  midnight  shows 
in  the  5-5-5  contract  because  at  that  time 
this  practice  had  not  appeared  in  the  in- 
dustry. Fo.x  has  followed'  the  5-5-5  contract, 
and  therefore  there  is  no  restriction  about 
playing  their  photoplays  at  midnight  per- 
formances. Columbia,  Paramount,  Pathe, 
RKO,  United  Artists.  Universal  and  War- 
ner-First National  provide  that  there  must 
be  no  exhibition  before  6  a.m.  on  the  first 
day  of  showing,  and  Metro  provides  there 
must  be  no  exhibition  between  midnight  and 
6  a.m.  u'uring  the  run.  Therefore,  under 
Metro's  contract,  midnight  shows  are  im- 
possible at  any  time,  and  under  all  other 
contracts  they  are  prohibited  only  on  the 
first    day. 

Option  to  Exclude  Pictures 

The  5-5-5  contract  gave  the  exhibitor  the 
right  to  exclude  without  payment  5  per 
cent  of  the  pictures  purchased  under  a  con- 
tract of  twenty  or  more,  provid'ed  the  aver- 
age price  of  the  photoplays  purchased  did 
not  exceed  $250  either  flat  rental  or  per- 
centage. Under  Columbia  and  Fox  con- 
tracts the  exhibitor  has  the  right  to  exclude 
10  per  cent  of  the  pictures  by  paying  50  per 
cent  rental,  provided  the  exhibitor  pur- 
chased all  pictures  offered  him.  This  was  a 
provision  from  the  previous  stancTard  con- 
tract in  use  before  the  5-5-5  was  drafted. 
All  other  distributors  give  the  exhibitor 
absolutely  no  right  to  exclude  any  photo- 
play. Tlie  exhibitor  should  be  careful  in 
seeing  that  the  schedule  referring  to  the 
number  of  pictures  offered  and  the  number 
purchased  is  filled  out  in  order  that  he  may 
not  lose  his  right  to  excluu'e.  Warner-First 
National  contract  has  a  schedule  indicating 
the  number  of  pictures  offered  and  con- 
tracted for.  but  this  is  merely  a  surplusage, 
as  the  only  reason  for  the  inclusion  of  this 
schedule  w?.s  to  take  care  of  cases  where 
the  exhibitor  is  given  the  right  of  exclu- 
sion by  paying  one  half,  and  Warner -First 
National  give  no  right  of  exclusion. 

Racial  and  Religious  Exclusion 

Under  the  5-5-5  contract  the  d'istributor 
had  the  right  to  exclude  a  picture  if  in 
his  opinion  to  show  it  in  the  exhibitor's 
city  would  be  objectionable  on  racial  and 
religious  grounds,  and  this  picture  so  ex- 
cluded could  not  be  shown  in  any  other 
theatre  in  that  city.  If  the  exhibitor  thought 
that  the  exhibition  of  a  photoplay  would  be 
objectionable  on  racial  or  religious  ground's, 
he  had  the  right  to  have  the  matter  re- 
ferred to  arbitration  for  a  decision,  and  if 
they  decided  it  was  objectionable  the  ex- 
hibitor need  not  show  this  picture.  Colum- 
bia and  Metro  follow  the  5-5-5  contract. 
Pathe  and  RKO  give  the  distributor  the 
right  to  exclud'e  pictures  on  racial  and  re- 
ligious grounds  and  Fox  only  gives  the 
exhibitor  the  right  to  exclude  after  the 
matter  has  been  passed  upon  by  arbitrators. 
Neither  party  has  the  right  to  exclude 
under  the  contracts  of  Paramount,  United 
Artists,  Universal  and  Warner-First  Na- 
tional. 

(To  be  concluded  in  Thursday's  issue 
of  Motion  Picture  Daily) 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  69 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  AUGUST  20,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Zero  Hour  in 
Chicago  War 
Due  Friday 

Indies   to  Reopen   with 
Imported  Operators 

Chicago — With  120  operators  from 
New  York  on  hand  to  run  machines 
when  Chicago's  107  dark  independent 
theatres  reopen  tomorrow  and  the 
local  operators'  union  determined  to 
resist  "the  invasion,"  events  are  mov- 
ing rapidly  today  toward  the  climax  in 
Chicago's  two-men-in-the-booth  con- 
troversy. 

The  New  York  operators  were 
being  brought  here  by  planes  in 
groups  yesterday  and  last  night  were 
scheduled  to  be  cjuartered  in  Loop 
hotels  under  police  guard. 

"We  must  reopen  and  will  not  ne- 
gotiate with  the  local  labor  union  ex- 
cept on  the  basis  of  one  operator  for 

{Continued  on    page   2) 


One  Man  Policy 
Adopted  at  Pueblo 

Pueblo,  Colo.  —  The  projection 
staffs  at  the  Palm,  Pueblo  and  Rialto 
Theatres  here  have  been  reduced  from 
four  to  two  men,  one  man  only  on 
each  shift. 

B.  &  K.  Demands 
Protection  in  Chi 

Chicago — Publix-Balaban  &  Katz 
is  making  demands  for  increased 
protection  over  competitive  subse- 
quent runs  in  all  Chicago  situations 
in  their  negotiations  for  new  product, 
it  is  reported.  The  demands  are  said 
to  be  based  on  the  maintenance  of  a 
year-round  high  admission  scale  and 
such  incidental  factors  as  lengthier 
engagements  and  increased  advertis- 
ing and  exploitation  activities. 

The  real  reason  for  the  protection 
demands,  others  state,  is  to  offset  con- 
cessions obtained  during  the  past  year 

{Continued  on  page   2) 


"Dynamite  Jack'* 

London  —  "Onlooker,"  chat- 
ter writer  in  Today's  Cinema 
has  a  new  name  for  Jack 
Warner.  It's  "Dynamite  Jack" 
because,  opines  the  writer 
this  "seems  to  be  the  only 
title    that    fits    him." 

The  same  publication  states 
Warner  proposes  to  make 
two  trips  abroad  every  year 
from    now    on. 


MPTOA,  AUied  Join  in 
MGM  Protest  Camptugn 


Non-Partisan 


Protest  meeting  to  be  held  September  1  in  New  York  on  M-G-M 
sales  policies  and  other  matters  will  be  a  non-partisan  affair, 
the  committee  in  charge  promises.  The  eastern  Pennsylvania, 
southern  New  Jersey  and  Delaware  unit  which  is  sponsoring  the 
event  is  unaffiliated  with  any  other  group. 

Members  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  and  Allied  States  Association 
have  been  invited  as  well  as  any  other  independents  who  care 
to  attend.  George  P.  Aarons,  secretary  of  the  Philadelphia  zone 
unit,  is  in  charge  of  reservations. 


Sees  Strong  Natl  Exhih  Unit 
Needed  to  Force  5-5-5  Pact 


Kent  Won't  Comment 

S.  R.  Kent,  chairman  of  the 
distributors'  quintette  of  the 
5-5-5  deliberations  won't 
comment  on  charge  made  by 
Nathan  Yamins  and  Walter 
Littlefield  that  distributors 
are  walking  out  on  the  agree- 
ment that  came  out  of  the 
uniform  contract  delibera- 
tions. 

"The  matter  is  too  contro- 
versial and  continued  com- 
ment in  print  can  only  cloud 
the  issue,"  he  told  Motion 
Picture   Daily   yesterday. 


Joe  Plunkett  Sees 
Vaudeville  Return 

Vaudefilm  pnalicy  is  what  the  pub- 
lic wants  today,  in  the  opinion  of 
Joseph  Plunkett,  general  manager  of 
RKO,  who  is  completing  plans  for 
return  of  vaudeville  to  a  number  of 
straight  picture  houses  of  the  cir- 
cuit. 

This  swing  toward  the  combination 

(Continued  on  foge   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Asks  Trade  to  Honor 
George  Washington 

M.  E.  Comerford,  a  director  of  the 
M.P.T.O.A.,  proposes  that  next  con- 
vention of  the  M.P.T.O.A.  should  be  a 
get-together  of  all  divisions  in  the  in- 
dustry commemorative  of  the  two 
hundredth  anniversary  of  George 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


Washington — United  action  by 
exhibitors  in  a  strong  national  organ- 
ization is  called  for  to  assure  for  ex- 
hibitors a  standard  contract  such  as 
drafted  by  the  5-5-5  conference, 
either  through  "amicable  acceptance 
of  all  its  framers  or  through  the  more 
militant  action  of  an  aroused  exhibi- 
tor body  directed  toward  the  proper 
Federal  action  in  Washington." 

This  suggested  plan  of  procedure  is 
contained  in  conclusion  of  the  analy- 
sis of  existing  contracts  by  Nathan 
Yamins  and  Walter  Littlefield  con- 
tained in  current  issue  of  the  Allied 
Exhibitor,  house  organ  of  Allied 
States    Association. 

The  probabilities  of  the  future,  Ya- 

(Continned   on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Toledo  Theatres  Hit 
By  Bank  Closings 

Toledo — Theatres  here  have  ex- 
perienced considerable  reaction  from 
closing  of  four  local  banks,  due  to 
depositors'  initial  shock  over  the  sus- 
pension. Total  abstinence  or  serious 
or  prolonged  decrease  of  attendance 
at    picture   houses    is    not    anticipated. 

So  far  it   is  unable  to  ascertain  if 

(Continued  on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

F.N.'Pathe  (U.K,)  to 
Split  Up  in  October 

London — First  National-Pathe  dis- 
solves in  October  at  which  time  First 
National  will  begin  distribution  of  that 
brand  of  pictures  while  the  Warner 
output  continues  to  go  through  War- 
ner exchanges.      Pathe,  including  the 

(Continued  on  page   2) 


21    Exhibitor   Bodies    to 

Send    Delegates    to 

Sept.  1  Meeting 

Both  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  and  Allied 
States  Association  will  join  hands  to 
support  the  Metro  National  Protest 
Meeting  to  be  held  September  1  at 
the  Hotel  Astor,  New  York,  states 
the  committee  in  charge  of  the  event. 

The  proposed  meeting  is  being  spon- 
sored by  the  eastern  Pennsylvania, 
southern  New  Jersey  and  Delaware 
exhibitor  unit  to  protest  against  the 
sales  policies  of  M-G-M.  The  or- 
ganization says  21  exhibitor  units  have 
agreed  to  send  representatives  to  the 
gathering. 

Abram  F.  Myers,  president  of  Al- 
lied States  Association,  has  promisedl 
to  attend  the  meeting  and  M.  A. 
Lightman,  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  chief,  has 
pledged  "unqualified  support,"  prom- 
ising to  be  there  in  person  or  see  that 
his  group  is  represented,  the  commit- 
tee asserts. 

Philadelphia  zone  unit  is  concerned 

(Continued  on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"U"  Product  Over 
Entire  RKO  Chain 

Universal's  third  major  deal  of  the 
new  season  was  consummated  yester- 
day. This  contract  provides  for  the 
showing  over  the  entire  circuit  of 
RKO  houses  throughout  the  United 
States,  of  all  of  Universal's  1931-32 
productions.  In  point  of  rentals,  it 
will  run  far  in  excess  of  the  monetary 
consideration    of    last    year's    contract 

(Continued  on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

''Bad  Girr  Showing 
At  Roxy  Continues 

Wliile  Fox's  action  in  showing  "Bad 
Girl"  at  the  Roxy  prior  to  September 
1  was  a  technical  violation  of  its  con- 
tract with  Bad  Girl,  Inc.,  no  sub- 
stantial damage  has  been  sustained  by 
the  plaintiff,  Supreme  Court  Justice 
Shientag  ruled  in  denying  an  injunc- 
tion to  halt  the  showing.  The  film 
will  be  held  over  for  a  second  week. 


Bad  Girl  Good 

"Bad  Girl"  grossed  $14,000 
at  the  Roxy  on  Tuesday. 
Weather,  hot,  and  depression 
talk  still  bulling  the  market. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  August  20,    1931 


I 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registeied  U.   S.   Patent   Ottice 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily   Rez-iezv 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.  30 


August  JO,   1931 


No.  69 


Martin  Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 

JAMES  A.   CRON 

Advertising    Manager 


^•\r\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f^  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V*|^   Daily,   Inc.,  a  Quigley   Publication, 

^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  Vork. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  Vork."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  M^illiam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.  C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  IVeiner.  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   \V.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  v.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada;  foreign,   $15.     Single  copies,    10  cents. 


"U"  Product  Over 
Entire  RKO  Chain 

{.Continued  from   page    Ij 

between  RKO  and  Universal,  which 
was  estimated  at  the  time  at  $3,000,- 
000,  but  ran  slightly  in  excess  of  that, 
it  is  said.  This  RKO  contract  links 
up  with  the  Warner  Theatre  deal  and 
with  the  Publix  Canadian  Theatres 
contract,  previously  announced. 

.'Mready  two  of  the  new  season's 
pictures  have  been  set  and  dated  by 
RKO  officials.  These  two  are  "Water- 
loo Bridge,"  dated  for  Labor  Day 
week,  and  "East  of  Borneo,"  set  in 
two  weeks  later.  The  effect  of  the 
Labor  Day  booking  will  be  a  day  and 
date  showing  of  "Waterloo  Bridge" 
in  first-run  theatres  of  principal  cities 
of  the  United  States.  Already  ar- 
rangements have  been  made  for  the 
playing  of  "Waterloo  Bridge"  day  and 
date  in  98  first-run  houses,  Universal 
says. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Joe  Pliinkett  Sees 
j      Vaudeville  Return 

(Continued  from   page   1) 

policy  in  Plunkett's  opinion  is  sim- 
ply because  "we  have  had  so  much 
of  talking  pictures  and  mechanical 
performances  that  a  show  on  the 
stage  is  a  relief." 

RKO  believes  that  the  recent  sen- 
sational boom  of  business  at  the  Pal- 
ace is  a  national  barometer  of  vaude- 
ville popularity. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Toledo  Theatres  Hit 
By  Bank  Closings 

(Continued  from    parje    1) 

any  exhibitors  were  depositors  of  the 
closed  banks.  Meanwhile,  remaining 
banks  have  increased  their  cash  on 
hand  to  inspire  confidence,  opening 
early  and  assuring  depositors  their 
money  could  be  withdrawn  if  wanted. 
This  had  a  reassuring  effect. 


Zero  Hour  in 
Chicago  War 
Due  Friday 


(Continued  from   page   1) 
each  theatre  instead  of  two,"  was  the 
statement  of  Theodore  Levin,  counsel 
for  the  independents. 

"We  will  oppose  any  attempt  to 
bring  outside  operators  into  Chicago," 
declared  Tom  Maloy,  local  union  boss 
who  is  under  indictment  for  alleged 
racketeering. 

The  New  York  operators  brought 
here  by  plane  yesterday  after  a  meet- 
ing of  independents  had  voted  for  re- 
opening of  the  theatres,  are  members 
of  the  recently  formed  Brotherhood  of 
Motion  Picture  Employees  of  North 
America. 

"These  Chicago  guys  aren't  so 
tough,"  asserted  A\  Lamar,  arriving 
with  the  first  group.  "No,  I  don't 
think  we'll  have  much  trouble."  Maloy 
declared  there  is  but  "one  duly  accred- 
ited union  in  each  city.  In  Chicago  it 
is  ours.  We  shall,  of  course,  oppose 
any  attempt  to  bring  strikebreakers 
into  Chicago." 

In  a  letter  to  .State's  Attorney 
Swanson,  Aaron  Saperstein,  head  of 
the  Allied  unit,  asked  for  nplice  pro- 
tection. His  letter  said  that  the  "at- 
tempt of  Operators'  Local  110,  through 
its  officials,  to  arrogate  unto  itself  the 
right  to  dictate  the  number  of  persons 
to  be  employed  by  independents,  if  suc- 
cessful, would  destroy  a  basic  prin- 
ciple of  economic  enterprise." 


Brotherhood  Now 
Operates  in  Brooklyn 

The  Brotherhood  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Employees  of  North  America, 
Inc.,  Local  No.  2,  recently  was  organ- 
ized and  now  is  operating  in  Brooklyn. 
The  latest  operators'  unit  plans  to  ex- 
pand to  other  boroughs  in  New  York 
shortly.  Officers  of  the  organization 
are:  C.  E.  Talley,  president:  R.  W. 
Warner,  secretary  ;  H.  P.  Carter,  busi- 
ness manager. 


Joe  Maloy  Suspended 

Chic.\go — Toe  Maloy,  who  passed 
on  operator  licenses  for  the  city,  has 
been  suspended  pending  his  trial  on 
indictments  linking  him  with  alleged 
racketeering  of  the  union. 


B.&K.  Demands 
Protection  in  Chi 

(Continued  from    page    1) 

by  Chicago  buying  circuits,  several  of 
which  have  managed  to  obtain  for 
their  member  theatres  advanced  play- 
ing classifications  which  threaten 
many  Balaban  &  Katz  situations  with 
increased  competition.  The  buying 
power  of  the  one-year-old  Chicago 
booking  groups  has  attained  su':h 
proportions  that  concessions  for  mem- 
ber theatres  are  not  particularly  dif- 
ficult to  obtain.  In  many  situations 
locally,  protection  and  not  price  is 
the  concession  in  which  the  exhibitor 
inember  of  the  buying  circuit  is  in- 
terested, and  in  the  hope  of  obtain- 
ing which  he  aligned  himself  wjth 
the  buying  circuit. 

Exchanges  are  hesitating  to  meet 
B.  &  K.'s  demands  for  increased  pro- 
tection, due  to  the  fact  that  the  buy- 
ing circuits  have  come  to  be  a  power 
in  the  subsequent  run  situation,  and 
exchanges  cannot  afford  to  affront 
them  by  retarding  member  theatres 
or    advancing    competitive    theatres. 

The   situation   is   conceded   to   be   a 
ticklish    one    with    the    exchange,    as 
usual,  in  the  center  of  a  crossfire. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

F,N,-Pathe  (U.K.)  to 
Split  Up  in  October 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

newsreel  and  shorts,  goes  to  John 
Maxwell. 

This  is  the  deal  which  has  kept 
H.  A.  Bandy,  Warner-First  National 
foreign  manager,  in  England  for  so 
many  weeks. 


Sam  E.  Morris'  proposed  English 
visit  in  the  fall  is  in  connection  with 
the  break-up  of  First  National-Pathe 
in  England. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Open  Warner  House 

ToRRXXGTON,  Conn. — The  new  War- 
ner Theatre  was  opened  last  night 
with  Governor  Wilbur  L.  Cross,  the 
mayor  of  Torrington  and  leaders  of 
business  and  industry  as  guests  of 
honor.  The  premier  attraction  was 
"The  Star  Witness."  Albert  Howson 
of  the  Warner  home  office  was  master 
of  ceremonies. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Renews  Asther  Pact 

Hollywood — Nils  Asther's  contract 
has  been  renewed  by  M-G-M. 


Stocks  Quiet;  W.  B,  Sales  15,200 


High  Low  Close 

Eastman    Kodak    142  14144  14154 

Fox    Film    "A" 13^  Uii  n% 

General   Theatre   Equipment   new 2%          ZVi  2^2 

I.oew's.     Inc 48'/5  47-5^  47^ 

Paramount    Puhlix    24'/2  24  24 

RKO     1454  145^  1414 

Warner  Bros 85/^          854  ^Vi 

Warner    Bros,    pfd 21  21  21 

Educ'l  Drops  7;  Sales  20,000 

High  Low  Close 

E.fucational     ^  30  30 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 2!4          254  2'4 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 444          ^H  45^ 

Trans    Lux    5             444  5 


Net 
Change 

—1 

-54 
-■/« 
—  Vs 


Net 
Change 

—7 


Market  Quiet;  Para.  Bonds  Drop  1% 


High  Low  Close 

fieneral    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40 2654  25  25 

y.ocw's    6s    '41     ex     war 98.^4  9844  9844 

Paramount    Broadway   554s   '51 WPA  103  10354 

Paramount     Puhlix     S54s,     '50 78  7744        7744 

Pathe    7s    '.V    WW 9254  92  92 

Warner  Bros.  6s  '39  wd 5654  55  55 


Net 
Change 

—1 

-f  54 
+  'A 
-154 


-f  'A 


Sales 

600 
3.700 
1,300 
2.700 
2,600 
3,.300 
15,200 

200 


Sales 

20,000 

200 

1,.S00 

1,200 


Sales 

15 
1 

15 
6 
2 

16 


MPTOA,Allied 
Join  in  MGM 
Protest  Meet 


(Continued  from   page    1) 

chiefly  over  M-G-M's  reputed  per- 
centage demands  of  25,  30  and  35  per 
cent.  They  feel  if  the  firm  is  suc- 
cessful this  year,  other  firms  will  de- 
mand the  same  terms  next  season. 
Twenty-five  per  cent  and  score  charge 
is  the  maximum  independents  can  pay, 
they  assert.  They  concede  superior 
quality  of  some  M^G-M  pictures  last 
year,  but  assert  the  present  condi- 
tions do  not  justify  increased  rentals. 
Fireworks  are  promised  at  the  ses- 
sion with  an  attack  on  the  score 
charge,  practices  of  various  compan- 
ies, including  Fox,  the  multiplicity  of 
contract  forms  and  "a  bombshell  to  be 
exploded  which  may  be  felt  in  Holly- 
wood." Attempt  will  be  made  to  en- 
list public  support  in  the  movement, 
it  is  asserted. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Warners  Launch  New 
Local  Stage  Policy 

With  the  elimination  of  the  Publix 
units  in  the  Warner  ace  theatres,  the 
Stanley,  Jersey  City ;  Mastbaum, 
Philadelphia ;  and  the  Stanley,  Pitts- 
burgh, these  theatres  will  go  into  a 
local  unit  stage  policy  the  last  week 
in  August,  according  to  Dan  Micha- 
love,  general  manager  of  the  Warner 
chain. 

The  local  unit  stage  policy  sets 
aside  the  rumor  that  Warners  were 
to  initiate  a  stage  production  depart- 
ment in  New  York  City,  in  which 
case  these  units  were  supposed  to 
have  been  sent  intact  to  the  Warner 
key  houses.  Instead  of  this  policy, 
it  is  Michalove's  belief  that  dissimi- 
lar tastes  in  entertainment  in  various 
localities  make  these  intact  units  less 
attractive  for  big  de  luxe  operation 
since  they  neither  take  local  tastes 
into  consideration  nor  give  those  re- 
sponsible for  successful  theatre  opera- 
tion the  opportunity  to  carry  on  and 
conceive  ideas  that  give  local  "big- 
ness"   to    the    show    on    display. 

In  Jersey  City,  Philadelphia  and 
Pittsburgh,  therefore,  Larry  Conley, 
Al  Kaye  and  Harry  Marx,  produc- 
tion managers  for  Warners,  respect- 
ively, in  each  of  these  key  cities,  will 
build  their  own  units  to  cater  primari-" 
ly  and  only  to  the  entertainment  de- 
sires of  the  local  spots.  Talent  for 
these  units  are  to  be  engaged 
through  the  Warner  Artists  Bureau, 
headed  by  Walter  Meyers  at  the  New 
York  office. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Asks  Trade  to  Honor 
George  Washington 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Washington's  birth.  He  said  it  should 
be  held  in  February  at  a  place  where 
the  greatest  force  of  screen  power  can 
be  mobilized  to  help  in  a  financial,  in- 
dustrial and  business  readjustment. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Franklin  Coming  East 

Harold  B.  Franklin,  who  is  rush- 
ing expansion  of  Hughes-Franklin 
Theatres  in  anticipation  of  a  business 
revival  in  fall,  is  en  route  to  New 
York. 


ff 


THERE'S  ONLY  ONE 
KIND  OF  POLITICS 
TO  PLAY  IN  THIS 
INDUSTRY- 

—and  that^s  the  one  starring 
Marie  Dressier  and  Polly  Moranl 


LET'S  play  "Politics" 

THE  box-office  kind — 

LET'S  attend  to  theatre  business 

AND  leave  the  other  kind  of  Politics  to  the  Politicians! 

MOST  of  the  exhibitors  we  know  are  busy 

BUYING  pictures  for  next  season, 

RESERVING  early  playing  time  for  them, 

ARRANGING  advertising  and  promotion  campaigns, 

M-G-M  is  busy  making  pictures — 

THE  kind  of  pictures  we've  made  for  seven  solid  years! 

THE  kind  of  pictures  that  have  made  friends 

AND  kept  friends! 

Are  you  all  set  for  another 

METRO-GOLDWYN -MAYER  YEAR? 

We  are! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,   August  20,    1931 


Urge  Appeal  to    U.  S.   If  Contract  Denied 


"Intervention 
Preferred  to 
Extinction'' 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

mins  and  Littlefield  say,  "lie  along 
two  widely  divergent  paths  and  the 
course  of  events  must  be  determined 
by  the  exhibitors  themselves."  They 
may  protest  individually  to  salesmen 
and  branch  managers  or  collectively 
through  Allied  States  Association  to 
the  Hays  organization,  leading  dis- 
tributors or  to  Congress  "choosing 
whichever  source  promises  the  most 
rapid  relief." 

Following  is  the  second  and  con- 
cluding installment  of  the  contract 
analysis  by  Yamins  and  Littlefield : 

Road  Shows 

The  5-5-S  contract  provided  that  the  dis- 
tributor could  road  show  and  exclu<re  from 
the  contract  in  the  territory  where  road 
showed,  not  over  two  photoplays,  but  re- 
quired that  the  road  show  would  be  at  an 
admission  price  of  $1.00  at  least  for  the 
majority  of  the  orchestra  seats  at  an  eve- 
ninpr  performance.  In  the  event  that  the 
distributor  did  road  show  and  exclude  from 
the  contract  this  photoplay,  the  exhibi- 
tor had  the  right  to  cancel  from  the  con- 
tract one  photoplay  for  each  photoplay  so 
excluded.  Columbia.  Metro  and  RKO  have 
followed  the  provisions  of  the  5-5-5  con- 
tract. Fox  included  the  provision  of  the 
5-5-5  contract  and  further  providecf  that 
the  distributor  may  elect  to  road  show  a 
photoplay  and  not  exclude  it  from  the  con- 
tract, in  which  event  the  exhibitor  must 
exhibit  this  picture  when  it  becomes  avail- 
able to  him  after  it  has  completed  road 
showing  anywhere  in  the  United  States. 
Under  the  Paramount  contract,  the  dis- 
tributor has  the  right  to  roac?  show  any 
and  all  pictures  provided  $1.00  admission 
is  charged,  and  Paramount  cannot  exclude 
these  pictures  which  are  road  showed,  but 
the  exhibitor  must  exhibit  them  when  they 
become  available  to  him  after  the  comple- 
tion of  the  road  showing  anywhere  in  the 
United  States.  Pathe  may  road'  show  and 
exclude  four  pictures,  and  requires  the  road 
showing  to  be  merely  an  advance  in  prices 
at  one  week,  but  the  exhibitor  has  the  right 
to  cancel  one  picture  for  each  picture  so 
road  showed  and  excluded.  United  Artists 
contract  also  has  a  road"  show  clause,  and 
as  photoplays  on  their  contract  are  bought 
on  an  individual  basis,  it  follows 
that  United  Artists  may  road  show 
and  exclude  any  and  all  pictures  pro- 
viding they  are  shown  at  an  advance  in 
prices  for  one  week.  The  distributor  fur- 
ther reserves  the  right  not  to  exclude  these 
pictures,  and  the  exhibitor  must  run  these 
pictures  when  they  become  available  to 
him.  and  under  United  Artists  contract  a 
road  show  at  an  advance  in  prices  in  any 
one  city  in  the  United  States  gives  the  dis- 
tributor the  right  to  exclude  that  photo- 
play from  all  contracts  in  the  United 
States.  The  Universal  contract  provides 
the  distributor  may  road  show  four  pictures 
at  $1  admission  prices,  and  the  exhibitor's 
run  is  postponed.  If  the  road  show  is  shown 
in  three  cities.  Universal  has  the  option 
to  exclude  this  picture  from  the  contract  but 
may  exclude  not  more  than  two  pictures  of 
the  four  road  showed.  For  each  picture 
Universal  elects  to  exclude  from  the  con- 
tract, the  exhibitor  has  the  right  to  ex- 
clude one  photoplay.  It  must  be  clearly 
understood,  however,  that  if  Metro  and 
Fox  do  not  elect  to  exclude  pictures  road 
showed,  the  exhibitor  must  run  the  photo- 
play when  it  becomes  available.  Warner- 
First  National  contract  gives  the  distribu- 
tor the  right  to  road  show  any  anff  all 
pictures  provided  they  are  shown  at  an 
advance  in  price  on  a  two-a-day  basis. 
The  distributor  may  not  exclude  them,  but 
the  exhibitor  has  no  right  to  cancel,  and 
must  run  the  pictures  road  shown  when 
available  to  him. 

Reissues 

Under  the  5-5-5  contract  the  distributor 
warranted  that  no  re-issues  vyill  be  deliv- 
erec?  unless  specifically  mentioned  in  the 
schedule.  All  distributors,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Paramount,  have  included  this  war- 
ranty in  their  contracts,  and  since  the 
Paramount   contract   gives  no  list   of  photo- 


plays in  its  contract,  it  is  within  the  right 
of  the  distributor  to  deliver  any  number 
of   re-issues. 

Substitution  of  Stories,  Stars,  Etc. 

Under  the  5-5-5  contract  an  exhibitor 
need  not  accept  a  photoplay  when  a  story, 
book,  director  or  star  or  combination  of 
stars  was  substituted.  Columbia,  Metro, 
Pathe.  RKO  ancf  Universal  provide  the  ex- 
hibitor need  not  accept  a  photoplay  when 
a  book,  play,  director  or  star  has  been 
substituted.  United  Artists  does  not  re- 
quire the  exhibitor  to  accept  the  substi- 
tution of  a  director  or  star,  but  reserves 
the  right  to  change  any  story,  book  or 
play.  Under  the  Fox  contract  the  distrib- 
utor reserves  the  right  to  change  the  stars 
or  director  from  the  list  scheduled,  but  the 
exhibitor  need  not  accept  the  substitution  of 
a  story,  if  the  story  is  scheduled.  Under 
this  contract,  therefore,  the  exhibitor  can 
claim  only  that  stories  scheduled  be  deliv- 
ered to  him,  as  the  distributor  is  given  a 
wide  latitude  as  to  changing  stars  and  di- 
rectors. The  Paramount  contract  contains 
no  provision  with  reference  to  substitutions, 
and  inasmuch  as  they  do  not  list  any  stars, 
stories  or  directors  in  their  schedule,  the 
exhibitor  must  accept  any  photoplay  offered. 
Warner- First  National  reserve  the  right  to 
change  the  title  and  alter  the  story,  but 
the  exhibitor  can  reject  any  picture  where 
the  schedule  specified  star,  story  or  director. 

Delay  and  Prevention 

Under  the  5-5-5  contract,  if  performance 
of  either  the  distributor  or  exhibitor  w-as 
unavoidably  prevented,  the  license  of  such 
a  photoplay  was  terminated  if  a  reasonable 
written  notice  was  given.  The  contracts  of 
Columbia.  Metro,  Pathe.  RKO.  United  Art- 
ists. Universal  and  Warner- First  National 
provide  if  the  exhibitor  is  delayej  or  pre- 
vented he  is  excused  from  performing,  and 
the  time  of  performance  is  extended,  but 
if  delayed'  for  three  months  either  party 
may  cancel,  and  if  the  distributor  is  de- 
layed or  prevented  from  performing,  the 
distributor  is  excused,  and  the  exhibitor 
must  accept  any  delayed  picture  when  it 
becomes  available.  The  contract  of  Fox  is 
not  so  arbitrary — it  provio'es,  if  a  delay  of 
three  months  is  caused  by  either  side,  either 
party  may  cancel.  At  least  three  months 
as  the  time  of  performing  is  extended  the 
distributor  by  Paramount,  and  the  exhibi- 
tor's failure  to  perform  is  excusable  only 
by  an  act  of  God  or  a  public  enemy,  which 
practically  means  the  exhibitor  is  never 
excused,  whereas  the  distributor's  delay  or 
performance  or  prevention  is  excused  for 
any    reason. 

Advertising  by  Exhibitors 

Und'er  the  5-5-5  contract  the  exhibitor 
had  the  right  to  advertise  coming  photo- 
plays inside  his  theatre  at  any  time,  even 
before  a  prior  run  exhibition  had  been  com- 
pleted, and  he  was  permitted  to  advertise 
in  the  papers  even  before  the  prior  run  if 
his  opening  date  was  within  fifteen  days  of 
the  closing  date  of  the  prior  run.  The 
contracts  of  Columbia,  Fox,  Metro,  Para- 
mount, RKO  and'  Universal  prohibit  subse- 
quent runs  from  any  advertising  whatso- 
ever, either  inside  the  theatre  or  outside, 
until  the  completion  of  the  first  run.  Pathe 
and  United  Artists  permit  advertising  in- 
side the  theatre  at  any  time,  and  news- 
paper or  outside  advertising  only  after  the 
completion  of  the  next  prior  run.  Warner- 
First  National  prohibit  any  advertising 
whatsoever  until  the  completion  of  the  prior 
run. 

Accessories 

Und'er  the  5-5-5  contract  the  exhibitor 
agreed  not  to  sell  or  lease  any  accessories 
that  he  might  buy  from  the  distributor. 
The  contracts  of  Columbia,  Fox,  Metro. 
Paramount,  RKO,  Universal,  Warner- First 
National  require  the  exhibitor  to  buy  all 
accessories  from  the  distributor,  and  the 
exhibitor  agrees  not  to  sell,  loan  or  give 
away  the  accessories  purchased  from  the 
distributor.  Pathe,  in  addition  to  requiring 
all  the  accessories  to  be  bought  from  the 
distributor,  will  not  permit  the  selling,  loan, 
or  gift  of  any  of  them,  and  requires  the 
exhibitor  to  pay  for  all  advertising  two 
weeks  before  play  il'ate.  and  further  re- 
quires the  exhibitor  to  return  all  accessories 
on  demand.  United  Artists  contract  re- 
quires the  exhibitor  not  only  to  refrain 
from  selling,  loaning  or  giving  away  the 
accessories,  but  also  requires  him  to  de- 
stroy all  accessories  immediately  after  the 
closing   performance. 

Warranty  No  Paid  Advertising 

The  flistributor  warranted  under  the  5-5-5 
contract  that  the  photoplays  cr)ntaine(I  no 
advertising  for  which  compensation  had  been 
rcceive<?.  This  provisi(;n  is  included  in 
Fox,  Metro,  United  Artists,  Universal  and 
Warner- First   National   contracts.    No   simi- 


lar provision  is  included  in  Columbia,  Para- 
mount. Pathe.  RKO.  so  these  distributors 
are  not  precluded  from  showing  paid  ad- 
vertisements in  thei.r  feature  photoplays  on 
exhibitors'  screens.  In  addition  to  the 
above  20  clauses  there  are  several  clauses 
in  all  contracts  that  are  substantially  alike, 
anti'  do  not  differ  from  similar  clauses  in 
the  5-5-5  contract.  These  include  the  pro- 
visions concerning  Liquidated  Damages. 
Loss  and  Damage  to  Prints,  Taxes,  Assign- 
ment in  Case  of  Sale,  and  Waiver  of 
Breach.  All  contracts  have  included  a  pro- 
vision that  if  zoning  and  protection  is  set 
up  the  protection  granted  in  the  contract 
is  to  be  changed  to  conform  to  the  zoning 
and    protection   as    set    up. 

In  one  particular  instance  all  contracts 
differ  essentially  from  the  5-5-5  contract, 
and  that  is  the  absence  of  any  provisions 
for  voluntary  arbitration.  As  the  contracts 
now  read,  there  is  absolutely  no  arbitration 
in  the  industry  except  where  the  exhibitor 
desires  to  exclude  because  of  racial  or 
religious  groimds,  and  all  disputes  must 
be  le^t  for  courts  to  decide.  Thus  the  real 
bone  of  contention  that  the  distributors 
wanted  in  contracts  so  badly  has  been 
entirely  abandoned  by  them.  It  should  be 
noted  that  Fox  had  a  provision  for  volun- 
tary arbitration  in  a  contract  form  printed 
in  June,  but  it  does  not  appear  in  a  later 
form. 

All  contracts  give  the  distributor  the 
right  to  record  on  disc  or  film  and  only 
RKO  and  LIniversal  provide  a  place  where 
the  exhibitor  may  designate  the  type  of 
sound  equipment  he  has.  It  is  necessary 
for  every  exhibitor  to  protect  himsejf 
by  writing  in  a  clause  in  which  he  states 
whether  he  has  disc  or  film  equipment 
and  providing  that  he  shall  not  be  required 
to  accept  a  print  recorded  in  a  manner 
that    he    is    not    equipped    to   reproduce. 

There  are  several  new  clauses  appearing 
in  some  of  the  contracts,  and  these  will 
be   noted   here   briefly. 

Columbia  has  a  consolidation  clause  to 
the  effect  that  a  breach  of  any  contract 
gives  the  distributor  all  rights  under  his 
contracts.  Under  this  provision,  the  dis- 
tributor could  hold  up  features  if  there 
was  any  default  in  the  contract  for  shorts. 
Columbia  has  also  a  provision  that  in  the 
event  of  any  lawsuit  the  exhibitor  shall 
pay  the  distributor  counsel  fees  which 
are  arbitrarily  fixed  at  10  per  cent  of  the 
amount  awarded.  RKO-Pathe  also  has  a 
consolidated  clause  which  ties  together  all 
contracts  signed  in  the  same  releasing 
year. 

RKO  has  a  consolidation  clause,  a  classi- 
fication clause  permitting  the  distributor 
to  designate  not  more  than  two  picturty, 
to  be  played  on  percentage,  and  is  also 
permitted  to  change  the  classification  of 
rental  pictures.  This  classification  clause 
appears  also  in  the  contracts  of  Columbia, 
Metro,  Warner-First  National  and  Uni- 
versal. Tliis  is  an  innovation  in  contracts 
and  should  be  watched  very  carefully  by 
all  exhibitors,  for  it  is  possible  under  this 
clause  for  the  distributor  to  allocate  high 
rentals  on  photoplays  he  probably  will 
not  make,  then  interchange  these  for  pic- 
tures sold  at  a  low  figure  that  turn  out 
to  be  good.  It  is  also  possible  for  the 
distributor  to  juggle  the  prices  to  his  ad- 
vantage when  he  decides  to  hold  over 
the  releasing  date  of  a  picture  beyond  the 
releasing  year,  which  the  exhibitor  under 
some  contracts  will  never  get  unless  he 
buys   it   again. 

Metro  has  a  new  provision  never  heard 
of  before  this  year,  giving  the  distributor 
the  right  to  make  three  additional  pictures 
of  any  star  already  sold,  and  if  made 
are  not  included  in  the  contract.  This 
gives  the  distributor  the  right  to  designate 
any  hit  as  a  special  and  an  inferior  picture 
of  the   same   star  at  any  later  date. 

Conclusion 

In  the  introduction  to  this  article  the 
history  of  the  5-5-5  conference  was  briefly 
reviewed,  together  with  the  events  of  the 
recent  past  which  led  up  to  the  1931-32 
contracts.  In  the  body  of  the  article, 
and  in  the  accompanying  chart,  the  pres- 
ent conditions  as  revealed  by  the  contents 
of  the  current  contracts  have  been  care- 
fully analyzed  and  now  in  natural  sequence 
the  article  may  be  concluded  with  a  brief 
consideration  of  what  the  future  may  hold 
in  store  for  the  individual  independent  ex- 
hibitor. 

The  probabilities  of  this  future  lie  along 
one  or  two  widely  divergent  paths  and  the 
course  of  events  must  be  determined  by 
the  exhibitors  themselves.  Individually 
they  may  protest  long  and  loudly  to  widely 
scattered  salesmen  and  branch  managers, 
or  collectively,  through  the  Allied  .States 
Associatiorf.  under  Commissioner  Myers, 
they  may  speak  directly  to  the  leading 
distributors,  to  the  Hays  organization  or 
to      Congress      in      Washington,      choosing 


Future  Held 
Up  to  Exhib 
Unity  Stand 


whichever    source    promises    the   most    rapid 
relief. 

A  future  guided  by  individual  scattered 
and  necessarily  spasmodic  complaints, 
could  very  easily  result  in  the  distribu- 
tors, gradually  or  swiftly,  for  they  would 
be  virtually,  unchecked,  working  towards 
the  unanimous  adoption  of  a  contract  em- 
bodying tlie  most  onerous  clauses  now  ex- 
isfmg.  Imagine  for  a  moment  a  contract 
reading  somewhat  as  follows:  (a)  Exhib- 
itor's equipment  must  satisfy  the  distribu- 
tor and  he  must  have  an  American  Society 
of  composers',  authors'  and  publishers' 
license;  (b)  distributor  will  make  no  guar- 
antee as  to  condition  of'  print  (Paramount 
and  Warners);  (c)  term  set  by  distribu- 
tor, and  exhibitor  loses  all  rights  to  any 
picture  distributor  does  not  care  to  re- 
lease therein  (Columbia.  Paramount, 
United  Artists  and  Warner);  (d)  distrib- 
utor will  not  guarantee  any  first  or  prior 
run  showings  (Columbia  et  al.),  will  grant 
n'o  protection  to  theatres  showing  double 
feature  programs  (Fox),  except  to  large 
chains,  who  on  national  buys  make  their 
own  contracts;  (e)  payment  must  be 
made  seven  days  before  shipment  (RKO 
Pathe  and  L^nited  Artists)  and  may  at- 
tach extraneous  C.  O.  D.'s  to  prepaid 
shipments  (Metro);  (f)  distributors  may 
use  any  one  (employees  of  their  affiliated 
theatre  chain's,  for  example)  to  check  your 
theatres  or  to  audit  your  books  at  any 
time  (Metro  et  al.);  (g)  distributor  may 
road  show  and  exclude  any  picture,  or  ex- 
clude any  picture  by  calling  it  an  "extra" 
picture  (Metro) ;  (h)  exhibitor  must  take 
every  picture  offered  (Paramount  et  al.), 
can  eliminate  nothing  even  though  racially 
or  religiously  objectionable  to  his  audi- 
ence (Paramount,  Universal,  Utfited  Art- 
ists, Warner),  and  must  even  accept  reis- 
sues   (Paramount). 

Further  provisions  if  such  a  not-at-all 
imaginary  contract  could  be  chosen  with- 
out limit  from  the  accompanying  chart 
of  existing  clauses,  but  the  foregoiiTg 
should  suffice  to  convince  the  most  skep- 
tical exhibitor  of  the  possibilities  lying 
in  store  for  the  individual  independent  ex- 
hibitor and  demonstrate  the  absolute  nec- 
essity of  united  action  if  he  wishes  to  re- 
ceive anything  more  thart  beggars'  crumbs 
for    his    future    film    rentals. 

Distributors  will  undoubtedly  protest 
that  no  such  one-sided  contract  would  ever 
be  contemplated  by  any  of  them,  but  the 
points  to  be  emphasized  are:  first,  that 
almost  all  of  the  above  clauses  have  al- 
ready been  adopted  by  one  or  more  com- 
panies; and  secondly,  that  at  present  there 
is  nothing  actually  to  prevent  any  of  them 
from    adopting    just    such    a    contract. 

A  future  guided,  however,  by  a  strongly 
organized,  cheerfully  supported  and  in- 
telligently led  national  organization  can 
produce  the  uniform  contract  with  its 
clear,  short  form  as  adopted  by  the  5-5-5 
conference;  this  contract  can  be  brought 
into  existence  either  through  the  amicable 
acceptance  of  all  of  its  framers  or  through 
the  more  militant  action  of  an  aroused 
exhibitor  body  directed  toward  the  proper 
Federal    action    in    Washington. 

Unquestionably,  no  exhibitor  is  personally 
desirous  of  Federal  intervention  in  the 
motion  picture  industry,  but  there  is  lit- 
tle question  that  he  would  choose  if  con- 
fronted with  the  option  of  Federal  inter- 
vention, or  swift  extinction  by  means  of 
unfair,  inequitable,  and  oppressive  corf- 
tracts. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Coplan  Heads  Board 

Montreal — Dave  Coplan,  Montreal 
manager  of  Columbia,  has  been  elected 
president  of  the  Montreal  Film  Board 
of  Trade.  Coplan,  though  young,  has 
a  well-rounded  experience  in  the 
trade,  having  formerly  been  an  ex- 
hibitor in  Ottawa. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

After  Emelka 

Paris — Pathe-Natan,  France's  big- 
gest picture  company,  is  readying  it- 
self for  expansion  and  is  about  to 
close    for    Emelka,    German   company. 


I 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  70 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  AUGUST  21,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


New   Contiract  Adopted 


Chi  Digging 
In;  Deadline 
Due  Tonight 

Operators  Will  Seek  Writ 
Against  Exhibs 


Chicago — With  both  sides  digging 
in  as  the  zero  hour  tonight  ap- 
proaches, new  factors  today  will  en- 
ter into  the  fight  of  independent  the- 
atre owners  and  the  local  operator 
union. 

The  exhibitors,  with  100  New 
York  operators,  members  of  the 
Brotherhood  of  Motion  Picture  Em- 
ployes- of    North    America,    on    hand, 

{Continued  on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

FWC  Orders  Drastic 
Cut  in  Ad  Costs 

Theatre  advertising  costs  must  be 
cut  to  a  maximum  of  75/2  per  cent  of 
the  gross  of  the  circuit  immediately 
by  managers  of  Fox  West  Coast  The- 
atres, according  to  an  ultimatum  in 
the  circuit's  organ,  The  Last  Word. 
Under  the  heading,  "Another  Cut !", 
the  article  points  out  that  as  a  result 
of  drastic  pruning  the  circuit  as  a 
whole  is  spending  10.8  per  cent  of 
its  gross  for  advertising,  and  the 
managers  are  to  be  held  responsible 
in  bringing  this  down  to  7^  per  cent. 

"To    accomplish    this    no    one    rule 

(Continued  on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Dreyfus  Ends  Warner 
Music  Unit  Contract 

Max  Dreyfus,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  figures  in  the  music  field 
who  went  over  to  Warners  when 
Harms,  Inc.,  was  acquired,  rounded 
out  his  two  year  contract  on  August 
15  and  is  no  longer  a  member  of  the 
Warner  personnel.  As  against  five 
year   contracts    which   heads    and   ex- 

(Continued   on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Settling  Details  on 
Allied  Newsreel 

Final  details  are  being  whipped  into 
shape  for  the  first  issue  of  the  Allied 
newsreel,  which  will  make  its  bow  a 
week  "from  today,  states  Captam 
George  McL.  Baynes  of  Kinograms, 
producer  of  the  reel.  Releasing  ar- 
rangements are  virtually  complete,  he 
says. 


How  They  View  It 


"I  believe  that  adoption  of  the- 
5-5-5  contract  will  be  advantageous 
to  both  sides.  It  seems  to  me  the 
contract  must  prove  to  be  more  ac- 
ceptable in  that  it  emphasizes  uni- 
formity in  practice.  And  uni- 
formity in  this  and  any  other  in- 
dustry is  to  be  desired. 

"Use  of  the  contract  should  result 
in  averting  confusion  in  future  de- 
liberations between  the  exhibitor 
and  the  exchange." — Sidney  R.  Kent 


Distributors  O.  K.  Agreement  Already 
Approved  by  M.  P.  T,  O.  A.  and  Allied 


This  is  how  Sidney  R.  Kent,  spokesman  for  all 
distributors  yesterday  announced  acceptance  of 
the  uniform  contract : 

"The  adoption  of  the  5-5-5  contract  as  an  alterna- 
tive contract  was  approved  in  principle  today. 
Further  consideration  is  being  given  to  the  method 
by  which  and  the  time  when  it  can  be  used." 


"In  my  jiidf/mcnl,  any  step  in  the 
direction  of  standardized  fairness 
will  meet  with  the  approval  of  the 
theatre  owner  and  prove  beneficial 
to  the  distributor  as  well  by  restor- 
ing greater  certainty  in  the  trade 
and  by  simplifying  and  expediting 
sales. 

"I  hope,  however,  the  understand- 
ing reached  at  the  5-5-5  conferences 
in  Atlantic  City  will  be  carried  out 
as  then  developed  as  a  measure  to 
revive  confidence  between  buyer 
and     seller."— Abram      F.      Myers 


The  standard  exhibition  contract,  drawn  up  in  1930, 
approved  by  two  of  its  authoring  groups  and  dormant 
since,  yesterday  became  a  fact. 

Distributor  members  of  the  Hays  organization  yester- 
day joined  hands  with  the  M.P.T.O.A.  and  Allied  States 
Association  by  adopting,  "in  principle,"  the  form  of 
agreement  drawn  up  by  the  5-5-5  committee.  The  accept- 
ance came  13  months  and  two  weeks  after  that  committee 
had  completed  its  drafting  process  in  Atlantic  City. 

The  5-5-5  contract  will  be  made  available  for  exhibitors 
who  want  it  in  future  film  buys,  but  use  of  it,  as  against 
individual  forms  employed  by  individual  distributors,  is 
optional  with  the  exhibitor. 

It  appeared  yesterday  that  widespread  use  of  the  con- 
tract will  become  general  when  selling  for  the  1932-1933 
season  gets  under  way  in  April  of  next  year.  Just  what 
method  will  be  developed  for  its  application,  now  that 
the  contract  has  been  approved  by  the  three  groups  that 
drew  it  up,  is  a  potentially  troublesome  detail  which  a 
committee  of  distributors  formed  yesterday  will  have  to 
work  out. 

It  is  possible,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact  expected,  that 
where  theatre  operators  have  signed  different  contract 
forms  with  different  exhibitors,  they  will  be  enabled  to 
switch  over  to  the  uniform  pact.  The  decision  is  optional, 
however,  and  will  only  strike  a  snag  where  opposition  con- 
tracts for  new  season  product  in  the  same  zone  may  inter- 
vene. 

The  general  impression  prevails  in  distributor  circles 
that  the  new  selling  year  is  toe  far  gone  to  do  very  much 
with  the  contract,  but  that  the  first  real  opportunity  for 
national  application  will  come  next  season. 

Some  distributors  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  machinery 
necessary  to  handle  the  contract  could  be  placed  in  work- 
ing order  by  the  first  of  January,  but  others  lean  toward 
the  belief  that  a  general  introductory  date  had  better  be 
set  back  to  April. 

The  climax  of  the  contract  deliberations  which  have 
been  extended  over  a  period  of  many  months  came  yester- 
day, following  a  number  of  meetings  held  throughout  the 
summer.  Yesterday's  session  over  which  Sidney  R.  Kent, 
chairman  of  the  distributors'  end  of  the  5-5-5  committee 

(Continued   on    page    4) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  August  21,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Otiice 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily   Rczictv 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    iO 


August   21,    1931 


No.   70 


Martin   Quiglev 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 

JAMES  A.   CRON 

Advertising   Manager 


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21  Guns 

1  HEY  sweated 
and  they  swore.  They  hurned 
midnight  oil.  They  dropped 
their  business — many  of  them — 
to  see  what  could  be  done  about 
this  damned  thing  called  the  uni- 
form contract. 

There  were  large  committees 
and  small  committees  and  all  of 
them  slaved.  There  were  day 
meetings  and  night  meetings  and 
out  of  it  came  the  5-5-5  con- 
tract. 


T 


HE  M.P.T.O..A. 
approved  it.  Ditto  for  Allied  and 
two  parts  of  the  triangle  were 
joined.  But  the  distributors 
didn't.  Their  lawyers  wouldn't 
let  them,  they  said,  and  for  that 
excuse,  there  is  some  foundation 
although  other  reasons  are  ru- 
mored. 

But  yesterday,  it  happened. 
The  adoption  triangle  was  com- 
pleted when  the  distributors 
voted  acceptance.  Now,  two 
vears  less  three  months  since  the 
accord  keynote  was  struck  by 
Sidney  Kent  at  the  1929  conven- 
tion of  the  Ohio  M.P.T.O.  in 
Columbus,  the  industry  finds  a 
standard  exhibition  contract 
dropped  into  its  lap. 

I  \\¥.  significances 
of  yesterday's  important  step  are 
St vera! : 

The  move  gives  the  business 
what  it  should  have:  a  uniform 


agreement  to  cover  the  purchase 
and  sale  of  pictures. 

When  the  contract  is  put  into 
general  use,  probably  with  next 
Year's  selling  season,  it  will  elimi- 
nate the  varied,  and  often  con- 
fusing, forms  used  individually 
by   distributors   today. 

It  should  put  the  quietus  on 
professional  loudspeakers  who 
will  find  their  bag  of  tricks 
minus    one   of    its    old    reliables. 

But  beyond  that  and  overlook- 
ing the  many  factors  that  halted 
its  adoption  over  these  many 
months,  acceptance  of  the  con- 
tract indicates  that  accord  of  con- 
flicting interests  is  possible  when 
the  desire  for  such  accord  ex- 
ists. 


N 


ATHAN  YA- 
mins,  M.  A.  Lightman,  Dick 
Biechele,  Abram  Myers,  H.  A. 
Cole,  AI  Stefifes,  Henderson 
Richey,  Frank  Walker,  the  two 
Jacks — Miller  and  Harwood — 
Felix  Feist,  Phil  Reisman,  Al 
Lichtman,  Gabe  Hess  and  others 
who  worked  over  this  develop- 
ment deserve  credit  for  their 
labors  and  for  their  patience,  as 
well. 

But  it  is  Kent  who  properly 
should  be  singled  out  for  major 
credit.  He  kept  the  contract 
work  moving  forward  when 
death  was  rattling  in  its  throat. 
KANN 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

Dreyfus  Ends  Warner 
Music  Unit  Contract 

(Continued  from   page    1) 
ecutives     of     various     acquired     music 
units    secured    when    their    companies 
were  absorbed,   Dreyfus  insisted  on  a 
two  year  pact  only. 

Retrenchments  have  been  put  into 
effect  in  various  of  the  Warner  afifih- 
ated  units.  Plan  to  sell  the  Bruns- 
w^ick  organization  are  still  alive,  al- 
though bidders,  at  a  price  the  War- 
ners are  asking,   are  admittedly  rare. 


FWC  Orders  Drastic 
Cut  in  Ad  Costs 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
can  be  laid  down,"  it  is  stated.  ".\1- 
read\'  many  houses  are  spending  less 
than  7'/>  per  cent.  Some  are  even 
down  to  3  per  cent.  But  in  order  to 
bring  down  the  total  for  the  whole 
circuit  even  those  who  are  spending 
only  3  per  cent  must  do  what  they 
can    to    make    further    reductions. 

Other  orders  to  the  managers  in- 
clude : 

Equal  space  must  not  be  given  to 
current   and   coming   attractions. 

Combination  ads  must  be  abolished 
because  "there  are  bound  to  be  one 
or  more  attractions  in  such  set-ups 
which  are  more  easily  sold,  either  be- 
cause the  titles  already  have  a  good 
reputation  or  because  the  cast  or  some 
other  element  has  a  quick  sales  value. 
The  public  cannot  be  fooled.  There 
are  pictures  which  cannot  bring  top- 
notch  business  and  such  pictures 
should  not  have  money  wasted  on 
them  in  newspaper  or  other  adver- 
tising." 

In  towns  in  which  there  is  no  com- 
petition ads  must  be  cut  down. 

Better  judgment  must  be  exercised 
in  the  ordering  and  use  of  accessories. 

Managers  must  attempt  to  obtain 
lower  advertising  rates  in  line  with 
the  current  trend.  In  this  connection 
it    states : 

"No  one  can  blame  the  newspapers 
for  having  made  their  theatrical 
rates  costly.  During  prosperous  years 
theatres  everywhere  slathered  money 
left  and  right   in  space. 

"Theatrical  advertising  went  be- 
yond reasonable  bounds,  and.  with  us 
indifferent  or  seemingly  different  on 
what  we  were  spending,  newspapers 
could  not  be  expected  to  turn  down 
business.  They  cannot  be  blamed  for 
having  jacked   up   rates. 

"But  things  are  different  now.  Ad- 
vertising in  other  lines  of  business 
has  been  reduced  materially.  Cer- 
tain large  advertisers  have  almost 
stopped   using    newspaper    space." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Roxy  Dividend  Declared 

Quarterly  dividend  of  &7y2  cents 
on  the  Class  A,  payable  September  1 
to  stock  of  record  August  20,  has  been 
declared  by  the   Roxy   Theatre  Corp. 


E.  K.  Up  1%  Points;  Market  Quiet 


High 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 7-!4 

Eastman     Kodak     145 

Fox    Film    "A" 13)4 

General.  Theatre    Equipment    new Z^A 

Loew's.     Inc 48?^ 

Paramount    Publix     2454 

Pathe     Exchange 154 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" SYi 

RKO     15 

Warner'  Bros 8J4 

Warner    Bros.    i)fd 22 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

7H 

m 

-  Vf. 

143 

143^ 

+m 

UV> 

135/ 

-1-  '/s 

2V, 

2V^ 

48-4 

487/^ 

+i 

24 

2454 

-1-  54 

1'4 

Wi 

-  /« 

5'4, 

5/. 

-K 

145/8 

14M 

+  V^ 

Curb  Quiet;  G.  T.  Up  %  Point 


High  Low  Close 

Columbia    Pictures     9             9  9 

Fox    Theatres    "A" 254          2'A  254 

(Jeneral     Theatre     Equipment     pfd 4>4           ""^  4)4 

Trail's    I-ux     5              5  5 


Net 
Change 


Para.  Bonds  Drop  1  Point 


General    Theatre    Equipment    6s 

r.oew's   6s    '41    ex    war 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 

F'aramount     Publix     SJjS.     '.iO 

Pathe     7s     '37     ww_ 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '.19    \vd 


'40. 


High 

.   25-/, 
.  98)4 
.   86 
.  78 
.   94 


Low 

24 

98'/l 

85)4 

78 

925^ 

545^ 


Close 

25 

mA 

86 

78 

9254 

S45i 


Net 
Change 


—1 

-1-54 
-VA 
-  54 


Sales 

100 

700 

2.000 

2.000 

6,200 

6.800 

400 

100 

3,000 

4,400 

JOO 


Sales 

100 

200 

1,000 

■100 


Sales 

K 
3 
5 
7 
20 
20 


Chi  Digging 
In;  DeadKne 
Due  Tonight 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
say  they  will  open  their  100  odd  the- 
atres tonight.  But  the  local  union, 
says  its  boss,  Tom  Maloy,  who  is 
under  indictment  on  racketeering 
charges,  plans  to  go  into  court  term- 
ing the  imported  operators  strike 
breakers  and  Mayor  Cermak,  who  has 
promised  police  protection  "an  open 
shopper." 

Another  difficulty  is  seen  in  the 
statement  of  C.  K.  Cregier,  who  re- 
placed the  suspended  Joseph  Maloy 
as  inspector  of  oi)erators,  who  said 
yesterda\'  it  is  impossible  to  issue  li- 
censes to  the  New  York  operators  in 
time  for  tonight's  shows  and  declared 
he  will  prevent  any  theatre  from  run- 
ning  with  an   unlicensed   operator. 

Three  hundred  members  of  Maloy's 
unions  yesterday  voted  confidence  in 
their  chief  and  turned  down  exhib- 
itor's demand  for  a  one-man  policy. 
They  announced  they  will  fight  re- 
opening of  the  theatres  through  pick- 
eting, circulars,  newspaper  advertise- 
ments and  radio  broadcasts. 

Al  Lamar,  who  recruited  the  New 
York  operators,  said  they  don't  an- 
ticipate trouble  but  that  "we've 
brought  along  some  East  Side  boys 
to  take  care  of  that.  These  Chicago  1 
guys  ain't  so  tough." 

Apprised  of  this,  Maloy  rejoined, 
"No,  we're  not  tough.     We're  smart." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Finney  Nominated 
As  A.M,P.A.  Prexy 

Ed  Finney  of  United  Artists  is 
slated  for  the  presidency  of  th6 
A.M.P.j\.,  succeeding  Mike  Simmons, 
unless  an  opfKJsition  ticket  develops 
between  now  and  September  10,  on 
which  day  elections  will  be  held. 

The  A.M. P. A.  nominating  commit- 
tee met  yesterday  and  drew  up  this 
slate  to  go  into  office  with   Finney  : 

fiEORGE  BiLSON  of  First  National,  vice- 
president. 

Marvin  Kirsch  of  the  Film  Daily,  treas- 
urer. 

Al  Sherman  of  the  Morning  Telegraph, 
secretary. 

Bruce    Gallup,    a    three    year    trustee. 

Kelcey  Allen  of  Women's  Wear,  a  two 
year   trustee. 

Mike  Sim,vions,  Vincent  Trotta,  Paul 
Heniamin.  Al  Selig  and  Charles  W. 
Bar.rell,    the    board    of    directors. 

George  Harvey,  Rutgers  Nielson  and 
Tom     Hamlin,    auditing    committee. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

300  Publix  Houses 
Book  Radio  Product 

Contracts  were  signed  yesterday  by 
Charles  Rosenzweig,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  Radio  sales,  for  exhibition 
of  Radio's  new  line-up  in  approx- 
imately 300  Publix  theatres.  The  deal 
calls  for  bookings  in  15  states  in  the 
east  and  south,  with  another  deal 
urder  way  for  other  situations. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

New  Paramount  Policy 

The  Paramount  will  inaugurate  a 
new  policy  Saturday  night  of  present- 
ing a  complete  stage  and  screen  show 
it   11    P.   M. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Negri  in  Hospital 

Sant.\  Moxrc  a — Pola  Negri  is  at  a 
local  hospital  following  a  sudden  ill- 
ness. 


NOT  A  DRY 
SEAT  IN  THE 


HOUSE! 


WHAT  ARE  THOSE  ''M-G-M 
SPORT  CHAMPIONS"? 

Let  the  Trade  Reviewers  tell  you: 

WHIPPET  RACING-Heid  Over  2nd  Week,  Capitol,  N.  Y. 

"One  of  the  better  kind  of  shorts.  Maximum  of  laughter  reaction." — Variety 
"Smart  and  sparkling.  Audience  sparkled  with  it." — M.  P.  Herald. 
"Carthay  Circle  audience  went  for  it  in  a  big  way." — M.  P.  Daily 
"Side-splitting  dialogue  by  Pete  Smith." — Hollywood  Reporter 

WILD  AND  WOOLLY -Extended  Run  in  Los  Angeles 

"Ideal  short.  Certain  to  click  in  a  big  way.  Dialogue  by  Pete  Smith  sparkling  with 
laughs  from  start  to  finish." — Hollywood  Reporter 

12   M-G-M  SPORTS  CHAMPIONS   FOR   YOU! 

A  new  idea  in  Short  Subjects!  Sport  headliners  of  Swimming,  Wrestling,  Track,  Tennis,  etc. 
in  fast  action  single  reelers.  Laughs  and  effects  by  Pete  Smith. 

f  BOOK  BILL  TILDEN'S  TENNIS 

Reels  During  National  Tournament 


"M-G-M'S  GOT  SOME- 
THING," says  Kann. 
"Carving  a  notch  among 
the  high  places  of  short- 
subjects,  the  first  three  of 
the  Bill  Tilden  tennis  pic- 
tures click  with  a  resound- 
ing smack.  M-G-M's  got 
something!" 

— Maurice  Kann  Editorial 
in  M.  P.  DAILY 


HP 


National  Championship  Tennis  Tournament,  Forest  Hills,  Long  Island, 
September  ^th  to  1 2th.    Cash  in  on  the  country-ivide  publicity. 


t 


L 


-G- 


Shorts— 
hut  SWEET! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,   August  21.    1931 


Pact  Approval   Climaxes  21  Month  Effort 


Distribs  Vote 
Unanimously 
On  Adoption 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

presided,  ran  for  two  hours  and  a 
half  and,  while  it  was  cordial,  the 
discussions,  it  is  learned,  raged  back 
and  forth.  Not  only  were  the  sales 
managers,  or  their  representatives, 
present  in  bulk,  but  a  legal  repre- 
sentative from  every  distributor  in  the 
industry  as  well. 

Distributors  have  maintained  right 
along  that  decision  on  what  to  do 
about  the  contract  has  been  impos- 
sible to  reach  because  some  of  their 
lawyers  refused  to  predict  what  ef- 
fect a  joint  acceptance  would  have  in 
the  event  the  Federal  Government  at 
a  later  date  instituted  suit  under  anti- 
trust laws. 

It  was  for  this  reason  that  each  dis- 
tributor, as  an  individual,  decided 
yesterday  what  his  course  of  action 
was  to  be.  After  individual  decision 
,was  reached,  a  vote  was  taken  which 
proved  to  be  unanimous  in  favor  of 
adoption. 

So  far  as  could  be  learned  yesterday, 
no  further  meetings  of  the  5-5-5 
committee  are  now  necessary  unless 
either  Allied  or  the  M.P.T.O.A. 
should  so  request.  It  is  understood 
that  if  such  request  is  made,  distrib- 
utors will  be  willing  to  again  go  into 
what  they  hope  would  be  a  final 
huddle  on  the  problem  of  the  contract. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 


Deposit  Right 
Is  Admitted 
In  Contract 


Right  of  distributors  to  demand  de- 
posits for  fulfilment  of  contracts  was 
conceded  at  the  5-5-5  conference,  al- 
though no  mention  of  deposits  is  made 
in  the  proposed  contract.  This  pro- 
cedure is  being  followed  in  the  varied 
forms  of  contract  which  have  been 
in  use  since  the  Thacher  decree  was 
handed  down,  the  distributor  demand- 
ing a  deposit  where  in  its  opinion  the 
risk  warranted. 

In  drafting  the  new  form  of  agree- 
ment, the  contract  framers  declined 
to  consider  a  deposit  clause  for  exhib- 
itors who  refuse  to  agree  to  arbitra- 
tion, fearful  such  a  move  would  run 
chances  of  violating  the  Thacher  de- 
cree outlawing  compulsory  arbitra- 
tion. 

Under  the  new  form  of  agreement, 
distributors  are  enabled  to  write  in  a 
deposit  clause  in  their  individual  con- 
tracts through  the  right  given  them 
by  the  contract  committee  to  add 
clauses  which  shall  not  be  inconsist- 
ent with  the  provisions  of  the  stan- 
'  dard  license  agreement. 


Dates  That  Tell  the  Story 

November  19,  1929 — S.  R.  Kent  at  Columbus  meeting  of  Ohio 
exhibitor  association  invited  M.P.T.O.A.  and  Allied  States  Associa- 
tion to  join  with  distributors  in  drafting  new  contract. 

December  10,  7929— Representatives  of  the  M.P.T.O.A.,  Allied 
States  Association  and  affiliated  theatres  meet  in  New  York  and 
draft  proposals  for  new  contract,  each  group  having  five  represen- 
atives. 

December  28,  1929 — Members  of  5-5-5  conference  in  New  York 
report  broad  agreement  on  proposed  contract  clauses. 

April  3,  1930 — Subcommittee  of  two  members  of  each  group 
begin  meetings  in  New  York  to  draft  proposed  contract. 

April  12,  1930 — Subcommittee  members  in  agreement  on  major 
points  of  new  contract. 

July  2,  1930 — Tentative  draft  of  new  contract  completed  and  ap- 
proved by  members  of  5-5-5  conference  at  Atlantic  City. 

November  12,  1930 — Proposed  new  contract  approved  by 
M.P.T.O.A.  at  national  convention  at  Philadelphia. 

December  3,  1930 — Proposed  contract  approved  by  directors  of 
Allied  States  Association  at  New  York  meeting. 

August  20,  1931 — New  contract  approved  by  distributors  in  meet- 
ing at  Hays'  office.  New  York. 


All  Factors  Secure  Benefits 
Under  New  Standard  Pact 


Major  benefits  secured  in  the  new 
contract  by  each  group  are : 

Distributors — Return  of  a  system  of 
arbitration  and  admitted  right  to  de- 
mand deposits. 

Unaffiliated  Exhibitors — Privilege 
of  five  per  cent  cancellation  on  blocks 
cf  20  without'  payment  for  films  ex- 
cluded. 

Affiliated  Exhibitors — Ban  on  ad- 
vertising of  pictures  by  subsequent 
run  before  completion  of  showing  at 
prior  run,  unless  subsequent  follows 
prior  run  house  by  15  days  or  less. 

To  Ask  Acceptance 

All  exhibitors  of  the  United  States 
are  to  be  asked  to  accept  the  new 
agreement,  but  will  not  be  compelled 
to  do  so.  If  they  do  not  wish  to 
accept  the  new  form,  they  will  be  sold 
pictures  on  the  various  individual 
forms  being  used  today  by  the  re- 
spective companies. 

No  exhibitor  will  be  bound  to 
accept  arbitration.  If  they  elect  to 
adopt  the  standard  form,  they  will 
have  the  option  of  agreeing  to  or 
crossing  out  the  arbitration  agreement. 
The  distributor  is  to  have  a  similar 
option. 

The  procedure  is  this :  The  con- 
tract clause  is  stricken  out  and  ini- 
tialed by  the  exhibitor  and  the  ap- 
plication forwarded  to  the  distributor. 
If  the  distributor  declines  arbitration 
with  the  particular  exhibitor  the  same 
procedure  is  followed. 

Consists  of  Two  Forms 

The  new  contract  consists  of  two 
forms ;  A  master  contract,  contain- 
ing 26  standard  provisions,  which  is 
to  be  furnished  all  exhibitors,  and  a 
short  form,  in  which  will  be  incorpo- 
rated the  standard  provisions,  plaj'- 
ing  arrangement  and  other  details  pe- 
culiar  to   the    individual   transaction. 

Cancellation  by  the  distributor  of 
his  contract  with  a  defaulting  exhibi- 
tor or  vice  versa  are  the  only  penal- 


tics  provided  for  under  the  new  arbi- 
tration system. 

Rentals  7  Days  in  Advance 

The  new  contract  calls  for  the  pay- 
ment of  rentals  seven  days  in  advance 
unless  other  arrangement  is  made  with 
the  home  office,  limits  to  90  days  the 
time  in  which  a  picture  may  be  dated, 
specifies  prior  runs  if  these  are  made 
a  condition  of  the  sale,  bans  unethi- 
cal advertising  by  subsequent  runs 
and  limits  them  to  advertising  films 
before  completion  of  prior  run  to  cases 
where  the  playdate  is  15  days  or 
less  behind  the  prior  run,  sets  a  min- 
imum adult  admission  of  ten  cents, 
permits  exhibitors  up  to  schedule  to 
play  pictures  out  of  order  of  release 
providing  they  date  or  pay  for  the 
remaining  pictures  on  the  contract 
within  thirty  days ;  defines  exhibitors' 
and  distributors'  rights  as  concerns 
substitutions,  prohibits  sale,  leasing  or 
giving  away  of  accessories,  prohibits 
the  exhibitor  to  cut  any  films  but 
newsreels  and  warrants  the  producer 
using  no  advertising  in  pictures  for 
which  compensation  has  been  received. 

Defaults  on   Percentage 

In  case  of  default  on  percentage 
runs,  the  exhibitor  must  pay  liquidated 
damages  equal  to  the  stipulated  per- 
centage of  his  average  day's  business 
for  the  thirty  days  preceding  the  run 
and  if  an  exhibitor  pulls  of?  a  per- 
centage picture  before  the  end  of  the 
stipulated  run,  he  must  pay  as  dam- 
ages 75  per  cent  of  his  receipts  on  the 
last  day  he  played  the  picture. 

The  contract  also  contains  clauses 
similar  to  that  of  the  old  standard  con- 
tract covering :  Warranty  as  to  form, 
cancellation  for  religious  or  racial  of- 
fense, schedule  of  licensing  and  ex- 
hibition, nrovision  for  percentage  pay- 
ments and  personnel  and  methods  of 
the  checking  system  to  be  used ;  de- 
livery, exhibition,  return,  loss  or  darn- 
age  of  prints,  system  of  selecting  and 
designating  playdates,  warranty  on  re- 
issues, schedule  of  protection  and  ru.n, 
taxes,  roadshows,  unreleased  pictures, 
default  through  causes  beyond  control 
and  acceptance  of  application. 


2-2  System  of 
Arbitration  Is 
Plan  Outlined 


Arbitration  system  proposed  in  the 
new  standard  form  of  agreement  calls 
for  two  distributors  and  two  exhibi- 
tors, with  the  four,  in  case  of  dead- 
lock, deciding  on  a  fifth  member  from 
outside  the  industry.  Under  the  plan, 
as  outlined  at  the  5-5-5  conference  at 
Atlantic  City,  the  members  of  the 
board  would  be  selected  from  two 
panels  of  ten  each.  The  loser  pays  the 
expense  of  the  fifth  arbitrator.  .Arbi- 
trators would  be  compensated  under 
the  plan. 

Complainants  not  members  of  ex- 
hibitor organizations  will  use  the  ar- 
bitration system  at  their  option,  but 
without  the  participation  of  organiza- 
tion arbitrators. 

A  conciliation  board  is  proposed  to 
adjudicate    exceptional    cases.       This 
board  will   be  composed  of   represen- 
tatives  of  distributors   and  exhibitors 
and  on  such  cases  its  decision  will  be 
final.    When  a  case  is  before  an  arbi- 
tration   board    and    presents    aspects! 
outside  the  contract  provisions,  it  may] 
either    be     sent    to     this     conciliation] 
board  or  automatically   to  this  board] 
for   settlement. 

Zoning   and  over-building  are  mat- 
ters   also   to    come   before   arbitration] 
boards. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

lyOOOMO  Television 
Sets  Yearly  Is  Plan\ 

Mass  production  of  television  sets 
on  a  schedule  calling  for  1,000,0001 
sets  annually  is  planned  in  the  Unitedf 
States  by  the  Baird  Television  Co.  of 
London.  Sydney  A.  Mosley,  directot 
of  the  company,  is  in  New  York  to 
arrange  for  manufacture  of  the  sets 
by   American  concerns. 

"We   consider   this    the   commercial 
birth  of  television,"  Mosely  said.  "Out| 
tests  so  far  in  England  have  brought 
us  to  the  stage  where  we  can  broad-j 
cast  an  entire  play,  with  three  or  four! 
characters  on  the  screen  at  one  time.f 

"We  hope  to  turn  out  a  million  sets 
in   less   than   a  year.     It   will   be   thej 
same  size  as  the  three-tube  radio  set,! 
with     a     screen    about     eight     inchesi 
square.    The  price  will  be  under  $100."| 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW 

Kipling  and  Bennett 
Films,  Para.  Plan 

London — Paramount  is  speeding  up 
production  of  British  films  at  Ellstree, 
following  the  reception  accorded  the 
first  two  made  there.  Robert  T.  Kane, 
the  firm's  European  production  chief, 
states  the  firm  will  produce  stories  by 
Rudyard  Kipling,  the  late  .Arnold  Ben- 
net  and  other  noted  British  authors. 
Kipling  will  co-operate  in  the  pro- 
duction of  his  "The  Light  That 
Failed." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Borzage  Contract 

Hollywood — Frank  Borzage  has 
signed  a  new  contract  with  Fox.  His 
next  picture  will  be  "Salomy  Jane." 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  71 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  AUGUST  22,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Ruth  Clings 
To  That  Dear 
Warner  Pact 


Rejects  Paramount  Offer 
After  Negotiations 

Los  Angeles — After  two  weeks'  ne- 
gotiations with  Paramount,  Ruth  Chat- 
terton  has  definitely  and  finally  re- 
jected the  company's  proposals  and  ex- 
pects Warners  to  fulfill  all  terms  of 
her  contract  with  that  firm,  the  star 
said  in  an  exclusive  interview  with 
The  Hollyzvood  Herald. 

The  Warner  contract,  so  Miss  Chat- 
terton  says,  calls  for  a  salary  of  $675,- 
000  for  six  pictures  to  be  made  over  a 
period  of  two  years  and  gives  the  star 
unusually  broad  privileges  as  to  per- 
sonal selection  of  stories,  directors, 
casts  and  other  production  details. 

The  Warner  contract  is  an  irrevo- 
cable one.  Miss  Chatterton  said.  She 
declared  the  question  of  money  was 
not  involved  in  her  refusal  to  trade 
her  Warner  contract  for  Paramount's, 
but  that  the  point  of  difference  was 
other  privileges  accorded  her  in  the 
Warner  deal. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Allied  to  Decide 
Next  Step  at  Mpls. 

Minneapolis — Allied  States  Asso- 
ciation's next  move  in  efiforts  to  ex- 
pedite adoption  of  the  proposed  new 
standard  form  of  license  agreement 
adopted  in  principle  Thursday  by  dis- 
tributors is  expected  to  be  determined 
at  the  convention  here  September  9 
and  10  of  the  Northwest  exhibitor 
unit. 

Heads  of  Allied  units  from  a  num- 
ber of  states  are  to  be  on  hand  for 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


Looking  'Em  Over 

Caught  in  Hollywood  and 
reviewed  in  today's  issue: 

"The  Age  for  Love,"  "Sky- 
line," "Mother  and  Son," 
"The  Hard  Hombre,"  "Lar- 
ceny Lane"  and  "Penrod  and 
Sam." 

Caught  in  New  York  and 
covered  on  page  3: 

"Pardon  Us,"  "Too  Many 
Cooks,"  "Dancing  Dynamite," 
"The  Sky  Spider,"  "The  Mys- 
tery Train,"  "13  Men  and  a 
Girl,"  "I  Am  from  Siam," 
"The  Parisian,"  "Should  a 
Doctor  Tell?"  and  "The  Last 
Flight." 


Gratified 


Memphis — "Of  course  I  am  ex- 
tremely gratified,"  M.  A.  Lightman 
told  Motion  Picture  Daily  in  com- 
menting upon  distributors'  move  in 
adopting  in  principle  the  proposed 
standard  licensing  agreement.  "If 
the  contract  drawn  by  the  5-5-5 
committee  is  adopted  in  its  entire- 
ty the  exhibitors  naturally  are  bet- 
ter off  now  tlian  ever  because  they 
have  the  option  of  either  this  or 
individual  contracts." 


M-G-M  Frowns  on 
Publix  Buffalo  Deal 

BciFALO — If  the  Shea-Publix  deal 
to  lease  Loew's  Fox-Great  Lakes  for 
25  years  goes  cold  as  is  rumored,  in- 
siders here  point  to  the  influence  of  M- 
G-M,  which  does  not  want  to  see  its 
product  shunted  about  among  the 
four  Shea-Publix  first  runs.  The  rec- 
ord gross  of  "Politics"  in  the  midst 
of  hottest  weather  and  the  sensational 
business  done  by  "A  Free  Soul"  when 

{Continued    on    page    6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Eight  on  Columbians 
Exploitation  Staff 

Columbia  now  has  a  permanent 
stafif  of  eight  exploitation  men  under 
Bert  Ennis.  These  are  located  at  New 
York,  Chicago,  Boston,  Philadelphia, 
Kansas  City,  Atlanta,  St.  Louis  and 
Los  Angeles.  The  force  has  been  cut 
down  since  completion  of  several  tem- 
porary campaigns  on  "Dirigible"  and 
"The  Miracle  Woman." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Expansion  Sfiows 

Faitfi — Franklin 

Expansion  program  under  way  by 
Hughes-Franklin  Theatres  shows 
"that  our  faith  in  the  progress  of  the 
nation  is  still  firm,"  according  to  Har- 
old B.  Franklin,  who  is  due  in  New 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


ARBITRATE  WAR  IN 
CHI  DURING  TRUCE 


B.&K.  Silent 
On  Fall  Dual 
Bill  Program 


Chicago  —  Elimination  of  double 
feautring  in  Chicago  still  appears  re- 
mote, with  Balaban  &  Katz  unwilling 
as  yet  to  make  any  announcement  of 
what  policy  it  will  pursue  this  fall. 

Preliminary  negotiations  on  product 
for  Balaban  &  Katz  subsequent  runs 
indicate  contemplated  continuation  of 
the  double  feature  policy  inasmuch  as 
product  under  consideration  at  least 
equals  in  volume  of  that  used  by  the 
circuit  in  its  double  featuring  era  of 
the  past   season. 

Affiliated    and    independent   theatres 

(Continued   on    page   6) 


Double  Featuring  Fad 
Reaches  Columbus 

Columbus  — ■  RKO's  Majestic  is 
showing  "The  Runaround"  and 
"Ubangi"  on  a  double  feature  pro- 
gram, the  first  time  that  double  fea- 
turing has  been  tried  here  since  the 
days   of   the  old   nickelodeon. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Protection  Issue  in 
Para-Midwest  Deal 

Chicago— Paramount's  deal  with 
Midwest  Theatres  Corp.,  involving 
considerably  more  than  $500,000,  is 
reported  set  after  conferences  this 
week.  The  deal  involves  virtually  the 
complete  Paramount  output  for  the  88 
theatres  comprising  the  Midwest  buy- 
ing circuit. 

Negotiations    between    Neil    Agnew 

and    James    Kent   of    Paramount    and 

Floycl     Brockell     of     Midwest     have 

(Continued  on  page  2) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

One-Man-in-Bootfi, 
Lower  Scale  Sought 

Cincinnati — While  nothing  defi- 
nite has  been  accomplished  in  the 
meetings  between  suburban  exhibitors' 
and  operators'  representatives  in  con- 
nection with  a  new  contract  for  the 
coming  season,  Fred  M.  Strief,  man- 
ager of  the  Allied  unit  here,  reports 
that  satisfactory  progress  is  being 
made.  Exhibitors  not  only  are  in- 
sisting upon  elimination  of  the  second 
operator  in  the  booth,  but  are  seeking 
a  reduction  in  the  present  scale  which 

(Continued   on    page    6) 


T/ieatres  to  Remain  Dark 

Anotfier  Week;  Janitors 

May  Join  Strike 


Chicago — Truce  in  Chicago's  bat- 
tle of  independent  theatre  owners  and 
operators  over  the  number  of  men 
to  be  employed  in  the  booth  was  de- 
clared yesterday  and  theatres  are  re- 
maining dark  pending  disposition  of 
the  argument  by  arbitration.  Exhib- 
itors are  prepared  to  open  on  a  mo- 
ment's notice  if  basis  of  arbitration  to 
be  submitted  to  State's  Attorney 
Swanson  today  fails  to  meet  ap- 
proval   of    the    operators. 

Under  the  plan,  the  houses,  which 
were  to  have  reopened  last  night,  will 
remain  dark  another  week,  during 
which  time  an  arbitration  board  will 
make  a  survey  of  costs  and  salaries 
and  determine  if  two  men  are  neces- 
sary and  to  establish  wage  scales. 
The  board's  scale  will  remain  in  effect 
until  January  10  when  union  contracts 
with  all  local  theatres  expire.  The 
board  will  consist  of  two  exhibitors 
and  two  members  of  the  operators' 
union  with  the  four  to  choose  a  fifth 
arbitrator   in  case  of  deadlock. 

Just  what  will  be  done  with  the  100 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


Threatens  Seattle 
Closing  in  Dispute 

Seattle — If  differences  with  the 
local  unions  cannot  be  settled  by  Sun- 
day night,  the  Paramount,  Fifth 
Avenue  and  Coliseum  may  be  closed 
by  Robert  Bender,  division  manager 
of  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres. 

The  trouble  is  caused  by  the  circuit's 
failure  to  employ  musicians  in  all 
theatres.  Negotiations  have  been 
under  way  several  weeks,  but  have 
been  unsuccessful.  Houses  were  ex- 
pected to  be  closed  Thursday,  but  a 
three-day  extension  was  granted  for 
further  deliberations. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Knapp  Wins  Quigley 
Golf  Tourney  Prize 

Los  Angeles — Don  Knapp,  owner 
of  the  Rialto,  San  Bernardino,  scamp- 
ered off  with  the  Quigley  trophy  in 
tile  first  annual  southern  California 
film  trade  golf  tournament  held  here 
yesterday.  Mike  Rosenberg  was  de- 
clared the  best  dressed  golfer  and  Bill 
Hcimenan,  Universal  branch  manager, 
won  the  Hiram  Brown  prize  for  being 
the  quietest  golfer.  The  Quigley  tro- 
phy has  become  a  perpetual  grand 
prize  to  be  competed  for  annually. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  August  22,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Rci'iew 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


August  22,   1931 


No.   71 


Martin  Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

JAMES  A.  CRON 

Advertising   Manager 


^»^ry  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
J  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^X  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.  C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  Y.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rales  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada; foreign,  $15.    Single  copies,   10  cents. 


Allied  to  Decide 
Next  Step  at  Mpls. 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
the  regional  meeting  here  which  is 
assuming  the  aspects  of  national 
pow-wow  of  organization  heads. 
Elated  by  the  settlement  of  the  Chi- 
cago controversy,  the  Allied  leaders 
will  come  here  to  congratulate  Aaron 
Saperstein  and  W.  A.  Steffes,  who 
handled  the  Chicago  fight. 

Abram  F.  Myers,  president  of 
Allied,  is  making  a  personal  appeal 
to  members  of  the  Northwest  exhibi- 
tor unit  asking  them  to  attend  the 
convention,  pointing  out  that  Steffes' 
absence,  due  to  the  Chicago  fight,  has 
prevented  the  usual  amount  of  pub- 
licity. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Expansion  Shows 

Faith-Franklin 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

York  today  from  the  Coast,  to  close 
a  number  of  new  deals. 

"One  hundred  and  twenty  million 
Americans  have  been  hearing  steadily  for 
two  years  that  prosperity  was  right  around 
the  comer.  They're  cfisappointed  because, 
as  yet,  they  haven't  been  able  to  turn  'the 
corner. 

"We  at  Hughes-Franklin  are  not  dis- 
appointed. To  paraphrase  an  old  saw,  we 
might  say  we  feel  that  it's  a  long  corner 
that   has   no   turning,"    Franklin   continued. 

"Prosperity  is  a  coy  lady  and  must  be 
wooed  to  be  won.  Aggressiveness  is  need- 
ed; production  must  continue.  In  just 
the  last  week  we  have  broken  ground  for 
the  builcTing  of  two  of  our  new  Hughes- 
Franklin  theatres;  one  in  Leimert  Park  in 
Los  Angeles,  and  the  other  the  Whittier 
Theatre    in    Whittier. 

"Our  new  theatre  in  Pomona  will  be 
ready  to  open  in  atxjut  thirty  days;  and 
incidentally  we  discovered  another  new 
theatre  name  when  we  decided  to  call  the 
new    Pomona    bouse    the    Sunkist. 

"We  have  begun  improvements  and  al- 
terations to  mcxTernize  the  Lindbergh  The- 
atre in  Kansas  City  and  the  Ritz  Theatre 
in  Dallas.  The  latter,  in  its  rebuilding, 
will  be  made  a  twin  of  the  famous  Hughes- 
Franklin  Mirror  Theatre  in  Hollywood, 
and    will  be   re-named    the   Mirror. 

"The  last  new  house  we  opened,  the  Ya- 
kima in  Yakima,  Washington,  which  threw 
open  its  doors  on  August  12,  is  still  doing 
capacity   business." 


Purely  Personal 


GLENN  Griswold,  head  of  Fox's 
public  relations  department,  is  so 
swamped  with  work  these  days  that 
he  has  luncheon  in  his  office,  working 
while  he  eats.  Griswold  figures  this 
will  help  him  to  get  in  a  little  fishing 
week-ends,  for  he  is  an  ardent  fisher- 


Dave  Lustig  of  Manhattan  Play- 
houses, is  pounding  out  reams  of  copy 
for  Dolores,  radio  astrologer  and 
psychologist.  Hal  Olver,  personal  rep- 
resentative and  manager  of  Mme.  Do- 
lores has  had  a  number  of  offers  for 
a  series  of  shorts.  Dolores  made  a 
short  last  year  in  which  was  incor- 
porated predictions  of  events  of  na- 
tional importance  that  came  true. 

Bill  Weiss  lias  resigned  from  the 
sales  staff  of  the  St.  Louis  office  of 
Universal.  His  place  has  been  taken 
by  Charley  Zipp,  formerly  with  War- 
ners. Homer  Heise,  who  had  been 
booker  for  Warners,  has  been  pro- 
moted to  the  sales  staff,  filling  Zipp's 
old   territory   in   northern   Illinois. 

Gerry  Rudolph  has  turned  play- 
wright. His  new  gag  is  an  imaginary 
sales  talk,  "That's  Telling  'Em," 
which  deals  with  the  merits  of  RCA 
Photophone.  It  is  printed  in  a  24- 
page  booklet. 

Eddie  Rosecan  has  been  appoint- 
ed assistant  general  manager  in 
charge  of  sales  of  the  Premier  Pic- 
tures Corp.,  St.  Louis.  For  18  months 
he  has  been  city  salesman  there  for 
United  Artists. 

Charles  P.  Skouras,  general  man- 
ager of  Skouras  Super  Theatres,  in 
the  Middle  West,  is  a  visitor  to  New 
York  this  week,  his  object  being  to 
look  over  the  field  and  book  attrac- 
tions for  the  new  season. 


I'ai'  Garvn  has  brought  back  a 
choice  package  of  stories  from  that 
Continental  jaunt  of  his.  Ask  him 
sometime  about  Grosvenor  House, 
steamship  tickets  and  the  Europa. 

Tallulah  Bankhead  has  returned 
to  Manhattan  from  her  Wyoming  va- 
cation trip  and  started  rehearsals  at 
Paramount's  New  York  studio  for 
"The  Cheat." 

Fred  Wynne-Jones  moved  to  Pel- 
ham  and  bought  a  boat,  found  there 
was  no  exercise  in  boating,  so  now 
he's  back  to  Jackson  Heights  and 
golf. 

"Six  Syllable  Simmons"  is  back 
at  his  desk  after  vacationing.  He 
probably  talked  a  lot  of  good  games 
of  tennis  during  his  sojourn. 

Grad  Sears  is  off  Kansas  City.  A 
recent  sales  trip  took  him  there,  but 
when  the  temperature  finally  rose  to 
105,  Grad  sent  out  word  to  sell. 

J.  S.  JossEY,  formerly  in  the  home 
office  of  the  Monogram  Pictures 
Corp.,  now  is  district  manager  for  the 
Cleveland  and  Cincinnati  branches. 

Gabriel  Yorke  is  to  arrive  in  New 
York  the  first  of  the  week  to  take  over 
his  new  post  as  assistant  to  Glenn 
Griswold. 

"Jimmy"  Ashcraft  is  up-to-the- 
minute.  When  assigned  to  meet  Syl- 
via Sidney  in  Chicago  the  United 
Artists  exploiteer  went   via  airplane. 

Dorothy  Cleveland,  veteran  screen 
publicist,  now  is  with  the  Harvey- 
Jaedicker  Service. 

Harvey  Day,  Educational  home 
office  exec,  leaves  Sunday  for  a 
swing  around  Middle  West  branches. 

William  Skirboll  of  Cleveland  is 
visiting  New  York. 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Chamge 

Sales 

7^ 

7H 

200 

13 

y^n 

-^ 

100 

140'/s 

141 

-2/8 

3,200 

I3'4 

1354 

-v» 

3,500 

2/2 

2/2 

2,300 

46■/^ 

47^ 

-iii 

10,500 

23  "/2I 

2m 

-H 

8,400 

IVs 

IH 

200 

S'/, 

5!4 

200 

14K 

WA 

-'A 

4,200 

m 

&'A 

-'A 

10,400 

21/8 

21/8 

+VA 

100 

Stocks  Off;  E,  K.  Drops  ^Vs  Points 


High 

Consolidated     Film     Industries 7% 

Consolidate<f    Film    Industries    pfd 13^ 

Eastman     Kodak      143J4 

Fox    Film    "A" 13^ 

General  Theatre  Equipment  new 2^ 

Loew's,    Inc 49 

Paramount    Publix    245^ 

Pathe     Exchange 15^ 

Pathe    Exchange   "A" 5}4 

RKO    WA 

Warner    Bros &'A 

Warner   Bros,    pfd 21^ 


Educational  Up  3  Points,  Sales  Big 


High 

Educational      33 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 4?^ 

Sentry    Safety    Control % 

Technicolor     6H 

Trans    Lux S 


Bonds  Off;  G.  T.  Drops  2Vi  Points 


High 

General  Theatre   Equipment  6s  '40 2454 

Keith   B.    F.   6s   '46 68 

I^ocw'b   6s    '41    ex    war 98!/2 

Paramount    Publix   S54s,    'SO 78% 

Pathe   7s    '37   ww 93 

Warner   Bros.    6s    '39   wd S4 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

33 

33 

-f3 

10,000 

4'^ 

4/8 

-5/^ 

1,000 

% 

V, 

-  /8 

100 

6'A 

6V2 

-  V2 

200 

4/r 

Wi 

-'A 

300 

Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

22/ 

22/ 

-2/ 

13 

67/ 

67/ 

-/ 

7 

98/ 

98/ 

.     1 

78 

78/ 

4-/ 

18 

93 

93 

+  / 

1 

53/8 

53!^ 

-m 

28 

Arbitrate  War 
During  Truce 
In  ChicagoJ 

(Continued  from  page    1) 

or  more  operators  imported  here  froi 
New  York  to  man  the  booths  has  ni 
been  indicated. 

The  truce  was  effected  yesterday 
a   three-hour    meeting   in    State's    At- 
torney   Swanson's    office    participated 
by  Aaron  Saperstein,  head  of  the  Al- 
lied unit,  and  Tom  Maloy,  union  boss. 
The   exhibitor   compromise   offer   was 
to  employ  two  men  in  booths  but  at     I 
one   half    of   the   prevailing   scale   for     ■ 
each.    Maloy  agreed  to  a  commission 
to     determine     a     "fair     salary"     but 
wouldn't  consider  the  half  salary  pro-iJ 
posal.  Bj 

Union  janitors  yesterday  were  pre- 
paring to  meet  to  determine  if  they 
should  call  a  sympathy  strike  if  the 
theatres  reopened. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Protection  Issue  in 
Para,-Midwest  Deal 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
been  in  progress  for  some  time,  but  it 
was  not  until  this  week  that  major 
considerations  were  agreed  upon.  Par- 
ticipating in  this  week's  negotiations 
in  addition  to  the  above  named  prin- 
cipals were  Lou  Reinheimer,  also  o£ 
Midwest  Theatres,  Jack  Miller  and 
Simon  Simansky  of  Simansky  &  Mil- 
ler, and  Emil  Stern  of  Essaness  The- 
atres, members  of  the  Midwest  cir- 
cuit. 

An  interesting  phase  of  the  deal, 
according  to  reports,  is  that  protec- 
tion rather  than  price  considerations 
was  the  obstacle  in  the  way  of  agree- 
ment. It  placed  Paramount  in  the 
odd  situation  of  being  obliged  to  allot 
protection  to  competitive  theatres  in 
the  face  of  current  demands  from 
Publix-Balaban  &  Katz  for  increased 
protection  this  year. 

Although  Publix  is  understood  to 
have  an  interest  in  Midwest  Theatres, 
the  two  organizations  are  distinctly 
competitive.  The  final  terms  of  the 
Paramount-Midwest  deal  will  be  of 
particular  impoi^ance  in  that  they 
will  probably  provide  for  the  pattern 
for  the  circuit's  deals  with  all  other 
distributors,  particularly  in  the  mat- 
ter of  what  the  circuit  will  ask  in  the 
way  of  protection. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Grainger  Lands  Five 
In  Chicago  First  Runs 

Chicago — Jimmy  Grainger  pulled 
out  of  Chicago  last  night  with  a  smile 
on  his  rotund  face.  In  from  New 
York  for  only  one  day,  Grainger 
placed  Fox's  first  five  for  the  new  sea- 
son with  B.  and  K.  for  downtown 
runs.  "Transatlantic,"  "Young  As 
You  Feel,"  "Merely  Mary  Ann," 
"Bad  Girl"  and  "The  Brat"  will  be 
divided  among  the  Chicago,  McVick- 
ers  and  Oriental.  "Merely  Mary  Ann" 
and  "Bad  Girl"  will  get  extended 
runs,  the  latter  starting  at  the  Mc- 
Vickers  on  the  26th. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Book  Vita.  Shorts 

Fieber  &  Shea,  with  11  theatres  in 
New  York,  New  England  and  Ohio, 
has  booked  Vitaphone  shorts  for  all 
of  the   circuit's   theatres. 


Saturday,  August  22.    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


"The  Sky  Spider" 

(Action  Pictures,  Inc.) 
First  of  a  series  of  24  pictures  to 
be  produced  by  Action  Pictures,  Inc. 
for  state  rights  distribution.  Bearing 
in  mind  the  market  that  this  series  is 
designed  to  serve,  "The  Sky  Spider" 
marks  an  auspicious  start  for  the  new 
company. 

This  is  a  yarn  of  three  brother- 
aviators  who  cross  trails  with  a  sky 
robber  and  eventually  shoot  him  down 
to  save  the  family  honor.  The  usual 
love  interest  is  there  and  a  brand  of 
sincere  acting  contributed  almost  en- 
tirely by  Beryl  Mercer  that  is  not 
often  found  in  pictures  that  rely  prin- 
cipally on  their  action  appeal  to  get 
them  over. 

"The  Sky  Spider"  should  do  well 
in  neighborhood  and  subsequent  run 
houses.  KANN 


'Should  a  Doctor  TelV 

{First  Division) 
While  the  title  has  exceptional  ex- 
ploitation possibilities,  it  is  hardly 
likely  that  a  doctor  would  hesitate  in 
revealing  the  past  of  his  future  daugh- 
ter-in-law to  his  son  before  it  is  too 
late.  Yet,  Regal  in  London  has  pro- 
duced the  picture  with  the  girl  opening 
the  book  of  her  past  herself  when  she 
sees  that  the  man  who  deceived  her  is 
about  to  marry  the  doctor's  niece.  An 
all-English  cast  headed  by  Basil  Gill 
and  Norah  Baring  does  competent 
work  with  the  delicate  subject. 


Coverage 

Six  new  pictures  on  Broad- 
way this  week.  One — "Daugh- 
ter of  the  Dragon" — was  cov- 
ered on  August  1.  The  remain- 
ing five — "The  Parisian,"  "I  Am 
from  Siam,"  "Pardon  Us,"  "The 
Last  Flight"  and  "Should  a  Doc- 
tor Tell"  are  covered  today. 

The  Main  Stem  line-up: 

AsTOR — "A  Free  Soul"  (M- 
G-M) — reviewed  by  Motion 
Picture  Daily  April   18. 

Cameo — "The  Parisian''  (Cap- 
itol Film  Exchange)  and  "I  Am 
from  Siam"  (Picture  Classics) 
reviewed  on  this  page. 

Capitol — "Pardon  Us"  (M  G- 
M) — reviewed  on  this  page. 

Criterion  —  "An  American 
Tragedy"  (Para.)  —  reviewed 
May  29. 

Hollywood — "Bought"  (War- 
ners)— reviewed  July  16. 

Mayfair — "Dirigible"  (Col.) 
— reviewed  February  3. 

Paramount  —  "Daughter  of 
the  Dragon"  (Para.) — reviewed 
August  1. 

RivOLi — "The  Smiling  Lieu- 
tenant' (Para.) — reviewed  July 
9. 

RoxY— "Bad  Girl"  (Fox)  — 
reviewed   editorially  July  30. 

Strand — "The  Last  Flight" 
(Warners) — reviewed  on  this 
page. 

Warners — "Should  a  Doctor 
Tell"  (First  Division)  —  re- 
viewed on  this  page. 

Winter  Garden  —  "The  Star 
Witness"  (Warners) — reviewed 
July  21. 


ii 


Pardon  Us'' 

(Roach  M-G-M) 


Held  to  55  minutes.  Laurel  and 
Hardy's  first  feature  will  click,  al- 
though it  leaves  much  to  be  desired. 

It  looks  to  us  like  another  case  of 
attempting  to  gag  a  comedy  over  fea- 
ture length  time  with  material  that 
doesn't  rate  the  footage,  although  the 
comics  play  off  a  number  of  situations 
that  will  make  any  audience  laugh. 
Some  are  new  and  some  are  not,  but 
the  Laurel-Hardy  manner  of  doing  it 
is  inimitable  enough  to  slide  the  so-so 
spots  over  the  line. 

Admittedly,  six  reels  of  fast-moving 
comedy  with  this  clever  team  are  not 
easy  to  get ;  "Pardon  Us"  proves  the 
point  well  enough.    At  that,  however. 


there  are  enough  laugh-moments  in 
the  picture. 

Arrested  for  bootlegging,  the  comics 
pull  their  goofy  stuff  behind  prison 
walls  in  an  atmosphere  and  sets 
strongly  reminiscent  of  "The  Big 
House."  Their  complications  develop 
from  Laurel's  "buzzing  tooth"  that 
makes  him  issue  forth  with  a  rasp- 
berry every  time  he  talks.  What  this 
does  with  the  warden  and  the  prison's 
tough  eggs  might  well  be  imagined. 

Some  day  Oliver  and  Stan  will  get 
a  snappily  paced  yarn,  well-knitted 
together.  Then  they'll  make  a  feature 
comedy  that  will  set  grosses  and  the 
public  on  its  ear.  KANN 


''The  Last  Flight'' 

(First  National) 

Audience  reaction  to  "The  Last 
Flight"  at  the  picture's  Strand  open- 
ing was  favorable. 

Here  is  a  group  of  four  American 
war-birds,  each  one  of  them  already 
having  given  up  attempts  to  drown 
memories  of  the  conflict's  horrors  and 
committed  to  go  the  limit  in  post-war 
Paris.  Richard  Barthelmess,  John 
Mack  Brown,  Elliott  Nugent  and 
David  Manners  make  up  this  quartette 
of  hope-shattered  youngsters. 

In  their  nightlarking,  they  meet 
Nikki  (Helen  Chandler)  and  at  once 
the  group  becomes  a  quintette.  Their 
adventures  constitute  the  story  until 
the  close  when  Brown,  after  a  mad  ad- 
venture in  a  Portuguese  bull  ring,  is 
gored  and  dies ;  Manners  is  shot  by 
Walter  Byron,  the  heavy  in  the  pic- 
ture, and  Nugent,  who  kills  Byron, 
disappears  into  the  night.  This  leaves 
Nikki  and  Barthelmess,  each  loving 
tiie  other  but  facing  it  alone  on  a 
train  that  carries  them  back  to  Paris. 


"The  Mystery  Train'' 

(Standard) 
There's  lots  of  action  in  this,  most 
of  it  centering  about  the  attempts  of 
various  persons  to  steal  the  famous 
Stanhope  diamond  aboard  a  sleeping 
car,  and  while  the  story  sags  at  times 
it  is  directed  with  a  sincerity  that 
holds  the  attention.  Especially  note- 
worthy are  two  miniature  train 
crashes.  They  are  done  so  skilfully 
that  it  is  difficult  to  detect  the  faking. 
The  cast,  including  Hedda  Hopper, 
Nick  Stuart,  Marceline  Day  and 
Bryant  Washburn,  was  only  adequate, 
the  voices  of  several  rasping  harshly 
on  the  ear.  The  settings  and  effects 
were  excellent.  Phillip  H.  Whitman 
directed. 


"The  Parisian" 

(Capital  Film) 
Produced  by  Pathe  Natan  in  France 
and  dialogued  in  iMiglish  for  Ameri- 
can consumption.  Adolphe  Meiijou 
made  this  picture  during  his  last  trip 
abroad  and  the  stamj)  of  French  (iro- 
duction  is  evident  throughQut.  Elissa 
Laiidi  appeared  opposite  the  star  and 
her  make-up  does  not  become  her,  not 
when  one  has  seen  her  in  American- 
made  pictures.  As  for  the  story,  the 
hero  returns  home  with  his  new  bride, 


broke  and  forced  to  go  to  work.  His 
architectural  vocation  meets  with  lit- 
tle success.  A  son  by  his  former  wife 
arrives,  turns  the  house  into  a  soap 
sales  office  and  he  even  manages  to 
convert  the  architect  into  a  salesman. 
But  when  the  son  intrudes  on  Men- 
jou's  hospitality,  the  tables  soon  turn 
and  the  hero  again  becomes  the  domi- 
nating figure  in  his  own  household. 
Jean  Le  Mur  directed,  but  not  to  the 
best  of  his  advantage. 


"Too  Many  Cooks" 

(Radio) 

Mildly  entertaining  and  merely 
manages  to  squeeze  by  with  its 
threadbare  plot.  Frank  Craven's  play 
has  been  transplanted  on  the  screen 
via  the  elastic  method — stretching  the 
plot  until  the  natural  limit  is  reached. 
Bert  Wheeler's  performance  is  per- 
functory and  Dorothy  Lee's  is  just 
so-so.  With  all  this  an  audience  at 
the  Hippodrome  chuckled  at  the  stut- 
tering of  Roscoe  Ates,  the  bucolic 
taxi  driver,  and  the  carryings  on  of 
the   Cook  family. 

The  substance  of  this  slim  plot  had 
to  do  with  two  love  birds  building 
their  future  nest  accompanied  by  a 
lot  of  cooing  and  bickering  between 
themseh'es  and  respective  families. 
Interference  from  the  extraneous 
parties  naturally  winds  up  with  the 
expected  break  in  the  engagement  and 
then  comes  the  subsequent  make-up. 
Direction  is  as  best  as  could  be  ex- 
pected  with  the  material  on  hand. 


"Dancing  Dynamite" 

(Stale  Rights) 
Richard  Talmadge  is  up  to  his  old 
tricks  again  and  provides  plenty  of 
action  and  thrills  for  the  fans.  A 
neighborhood  audience  seemed  to  en- 
ioy  the  high  jumping  and  acrobatic 
'■^lunts  by  Talmadge  as  well  as  the 
humor  provided  by  Shorty,  his  pal, 
and  the  dumb  detective.  Blanche 
Afehaffy  makes  a  pleasing  heroine  and 
clicked  with  the  audience.  The  story 
has  to  do  with  the  hero,  a  fisherman 
on  the  California  Coast,  breaking  in- 
to society,  thereby  intruding  on  the 
machinations  of  a  racketeering  ganj? 
out  to  blackmail  the  girl's  father  for 
$50,000.  Slow  in  getting  started,  but 
the  windup  more  than  makes  up  for 
the  poor  take-off.  Mostly  outdoor 
stuff   and    well    photographed. 


"13  Men  and  a  Girl" 

(Talking  Picture  Epics) 
Grim  drama  depicting  an  incident  in 
the  Franco-Prussian  War  of  1870  and 
produced  with  all  the  horrors  sur- 
rounding the  episode.  The  vividness 
with  which  the  characters  portray 
their  parts  does  not  enter  the  enter- 
tainment category,  but  rather  marks 
the  film  as  a  documentary  record. 
And  as  such  it  may  not  appeal  to  a 
large  share  of  the  picture-going  trade. 
In  production,  acting,  photography 
and  direction  it  is  worth  while. 

The  story  tells  of  Conrad  Veidt 
being  ordered  to  hold  the  mill  against 
the  French  with  12  men,  who  realize 
the  futility  of  it  all,  but  obey  the  cap- 
tain. Karin  Evans,  daughter  of  the 
mill  owner,  returns  to  the  mill  after 
her  family  is  told  to  move,  to  be  with 
her  lover.  They  all  die,  the  girl  in- 
cluded, slaughtered  unmercifully  af- 
ter being  outnumbered  1,000  to  1. 
Originally  produced  in  German,  it  is 
dubbed  in  English,  the  characters 
using  a  Cockney  accent.  The  per- 
formances of  the  players  are  of  the 
best. 


"/  Am  from  Siam" 

(Picture  Classics) 
"The  Venice  of  the  East,"  as  it  is 
called  by  the  narrator,  a  former  edi- 
tor of  the  Bangkok  Daily  Mail,  who 
describes  .  the  various  ceremonies, 
sports  and  other  inordinate  events 
in  this  travelogue  of  Siam.  The  film 
is  interesting  for  it  is  originally  dif- 
ferent. The  lighting  at  times  leaves 
much  to  be  desired.  Events  encom- 
passed by  the  camera  include  the  coro- 
nation of  Siam's  present  king,  the 
cremation  of  his  predecessor,  the  bap- 
tism of  a  newly  born  white  elephant 
— a  good   omen  for   the   new   ruler — 

(^Continued    on    page   6) 


'The  Age  for  Love" 


H 


(United  Artists) 
ollywood — Billie  Dove  as- 
tounded critics  at  a  preview  of 
"The  Age  for .  Love"  by  her 
sensational  development  of  mag- 
nificent dramatic  power  and 
finished  histrionic  ability  fol- 
lowing several  months  of  inten- 
sive study.  Those  who  knew 
her  as  a  beautiful  star  with  in- 
different dramatic  ability  are 
certain  to  be  amazed  at  the 
improvement.  The  picture  has 
been  directed  very  capably  by 
Frank  Lloyd  from  Enest  Pas- 
cal's adaptation  of  his  own 
novel. 

This  novel  production  is  an 
intensely  interesting  study  of 
that  popular  problem — should 
the  bride  stay  home  and  be- 
come a  housewife  or  continue 
her  career?  The  splendid  sup- 
porting cast  includes  Edward 
Everett  Morton,  Lois  Wilson, 
Mary  F3uncan,  Charles  Starrett 
and  Adrian  Morris.  Howard 
Hughes  produced  it  with  his 
usual  disregard  for  expense,  but 
he  certainly  got  his  money's 
worth. 

LEO   MEEHAN 


WAKE  UP, 


Lefs  all  pull  in  the  same  direction* 

The  public  has  wandered  away  from  the  box  office — or,  shall  we 
say  it  was  driven  away  by  poor  pictures?  Nevertheless  the  public 
must  be  brought  back  to  its  once  favorite  entertainment. 

Something  must  he  done* 
Something  CAN  he  done! 

Let's  lose  no  more  time  about  it.  Let's  show  the  old  flare  that 
show  business  is  noted  for.  Let's  get  out  the  cymbals,  a  band  or 
two,  a  street  parade — ^let's  circus  the  public  back  to  its  enthusiasm 
for  pictures.  And  let's  keep  them  enthused  and  eager  to  continue 
their  lines  at  the  box  office  by  early  delivery  of  the  good  pictures 
that  are  on  the  new  season's  programs.  The  mob  spirit  still  rules 
the  most  of  America.  It  needs  but  to  be  led.  Start  the  way  with 
a  clarion  call;  bring  forth  the  best  pictures  for  current  showings; 
city  mayors,  governors  and  even  the  President  will  hop  on  the  band 
wagon  for  a  rousing  call  to  a  better  day.  And  merchants  and  clubs 
and  other  organizations  will  join  hands  to  make  one  grand  welcome 
to  the  return  of  better  pictures  and  better  times. 

Business  needs  a  revival* 

Show  business  can  lead  the  procession! 

Motion  pictures  kept  spirits  high  during  the  war.  They  can 
similarly  brighten  up  a  depression-minded  people.     The  public  has 


low  Business! 


money  to  spend — but  it  hasn't  been  encouraged  to  spend  it.     Too 
many  alibis.     Too  little  effort. 

A  revival?  Sure!  Let's  give  'em  an  old-fashioned  revival — but 
without  the  hymn  singing.  Let's  cheer  their  souls;  let's  stir  their 
interest;  let's  arouse  their  desire;  let's  make  'em  stampede  to  the 
box-offices ! 

Let^s  revive  Qreater  Movie  Season* 

But  let's  do  it  BIG!  Let's  do  it  in  a  never-to-be-forgotten- 
manner — with  a  "this  means  everything"  spirit. 

Team  Work! 

Let's  co-ordinate  our  efforts.  We  can't  win  by  scattered  shots. 
Make  it  a  nation-wide  affair — shoot  the  works — start  it  off  right  and 
keep  it  going! 

There  are  good  men  in  the  industry's  home  offices  who  know  how. 
They  don't  need  to  be  told  what  to  do— they're  only  waiting  for  the 
signal.  Give  it  to  'em,  General  Hays!  They'll  carry  it  through 
their  district  exploitation  men  to  the  exhibitors  and  through  them 
to  the  public.  They'll  sweep  away  the  cobwebs  and  put  new  pep 
into  the  cash  register. 

A  revival?  Sure!  Cast  aside  the  one-sheets  and  bring  out  the 
twenty-fours.  Throw  away  the  air  rifles  and  bring  on  the  Big 
Berthas.     Rig  up  in  full  colors ;  fly  high  the  motion  picture  flag. 

Wake  Up,  Show  Business— WAKE  UP 
BUSINESS ! 

BEN  SHLYEN,  Publisher, 
ASSOCIATED  PUBLICATIONS,  INC. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  August  22,    1931 


It's  Anything 
But  a  Tragedy 
In  Los  Angeles 


Total    $177,400    for    13    Theatres 


Los  A\'(;eles  —  Theodore  Dreiser 
should  have  seen  them  pile  into  the 
United  Artists  Theatre  to  see  his 
'•American  Tragedy."  They  came  in 
such  large  numbers  that  they  almost 
doubled  the  average  intake,  the  gross 
being  $26,0CX),  against  the  par  of 
$13,500.  The  admissions  in  the  one 
week  probably  far  exceeded  the  sales 
of  his  novel  here. 

"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  skidded 
in  its  sixth  week  to  $4,600,  against 
a  normal  of  $12,500,  but  "Transatlan- 
tic," "Daddy  Long  Legs"  and 
"Bought"  went  over  par. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  19  and  year-round 
weekly   averages : 

"LA   CAUTIVADORA"    (Ind.) 

CALIFORNIA  INTERNATIONAL— 
(2.000),  25c-50c.  7  days.  Gross:  $4,600. 
(Average.   $5,000.) 

"SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 
FOX    CARTHAY    CIRCLE— (1,650),    75c- 
S1.50.    6th     week.     George    StoU    and    band. 
Gross:    $4,600.     (Average.    $12,500.) 

"TRANSATLANTIC"    (Fox) 
FOX    CRITERION    —    (1,652),    35c-65c.    7 
days.     Gross:     $11^400.     (Average,     $10,000.) 
"TRANSATLANTIC"     (Fox) 
GRAUMAN'S  CHINESE— (2.030),  25c-65c, 
7    days.     Gross:    $11,200.     (Average,    $8,000.) 
"DADDY    LONG    LEGS"    (Fox) 
T.OEWS  rrATE-(2.418),  35c-65c,  7  days. 
"Art   Gallerv"   Idea.     Gross:   $28,500.    (Aver- 
age. $27,000.) 

"THE    GREAT    LOVER"    (M-G-M) 
LOS    ANGELES— (2,100),   25c-65c,   7   days. 
(2nd    week).     Stage    show.    Babe    Egan    .ind 
•'Hollvwood       Redheads."     Gross:       $10,000. 
(Average.    $16,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"  (Col.  ) 
ORPHEUM— (2,750),      35c-6.5c.       7       days. 
Gross:   $6,500.     (Average,   $16,000.) 
"NIGHT  ANGEL"  (Para.) 
PANTAGES  HOLLYWOOD— (3.000),  35c- 
65c,  7  davs      F.  &  M.  "Stars  of  Yesterday" 
idea.     Gri)ss:     $9,300.     (Average.    $15,000.) 
"SILENCE"   (Para.) 
PARAMOUNT— (3.596),    35c-65c.     7    days. 
Oscar      Baum      and      stage      revue.     Gross: 
$17,600.     (Average.    $25,000.) 

"SWEEJ'STAKES"    (RKO-Pathe) 
RKO— (2.700),  35c-65c,   7  days.     RKO  vau- 
deville.    Gross:    $12,700.     (Average,    $15,000.) 
"AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY"   (Para.) 
UNITED  ARTISTS— (2,100),   35c-65c,   pre- 
miere  at  $3    top    (1st   week).   Gross:    $26,000. 
(Average.     $13,500.) 

"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 

WARNER  DOWNTOWN— (2,400),  7  cfays, 

35c-50c.     Gross:    $18,000,     (Average,    $15,000.) 

"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 

WARNER  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000),  7  days, 

?5c-50c.     Gross:    $17,r)00.     (Average,    $14,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M'G-M  Frowns  on 
Puhlix  Buffalo  Deal 

(Continued  from   page    1) 

it  was  even  more  torrid  are  cited  as 
arguments  why  Loew's  should  hang 
on  to  such  a  profitable  stand. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

NBC  Signs  Crawford 

Jesse  Crawford,  Paramount  organ- 
ist, has  signed  a  two-year  contract 
with  the  National  Broadcasting  Co.  to 
appear  exclusivelv  over  the  network 
of  WKAF  and  WJZ. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Edwards'  Son  Hurt 

Chicaw; — George  Edwards,  12,  son 
of  Cliff  Fldwards,  M-G-M  player, 
was  injured  seriously  when  struck  by 
a  train.  Amputation  of  both  legs  was 
found  necessary. 


"/  Am  from  Siam'* 

(Continued  from  pane    3) 

the  water  passage  ways,  a  pugilistic 
encounter  (entirely  strange  to  Ameri- 
can audiences),  a  football  skirmish 
(another  unfamiliar  sport  despite  its 
name),  and  other  interesting  hap- 
penings. Sound  effects  and  mono- 
logue have  been  added.  In  view  of 
the  king's  recent  visit  to  these  shores, 
it  may  prove  popular  because  of  the 
publicity   given  the   monarch. 


''Larceny  Lane*' 

(Warners) 

Hollywood — Hotel  racketeers  are 
the  chief  figures  in  this  drama,  which 
was  given  a  hearty  reception  by  a 
preview  audience — chiefly  because  of 
the  excellent  work  of  James  Cagney 
and  Joan  Blondell  and  the  direction  of 
Roy  Del  Ruth.  The  story  is  by 
Kubec  Glasman  and  John  Bright,  who 
have  turned  out  a  number  of  gangster 
yarns  for  Warners. 

Cagney  graduates  from  a  bellhop 
into  a  con  man  and  ties  in  with  Joan, 
who  hasn't  much  respect  for  his  pro- 
fession. She  leaves  him  and  marries 
a  respectable  man,  who  innocently  be- 
comes involved  in  an  intrigue.  Cag- 
ney takes  the  rap  to  save  her — and 
she  promises  to  wait  for  him. 

Among  the  plavers  whose  work  is 
outstanding  are  Louis  Calhern,  Guy 
Kibbee  and  Polly  Walters. 


'*Penrod  and  Sam*' 

(First  National) 

Hollywood — William  Beaudine  di- 
rected "Penrod  and  Sam"  as  a  silent 
for  First  National  six  years  ago,  and 
it  proved  a  box-office  success.  Now 
he  has  made  a  talker  of  it,  and  it 
clicks  again  in  a  big  way. 

While  the  story  is  episodic  in  char- 
acter, the  adventures  of  Booth  Tark- 
ington's  popular  juvenile  characters 
bring  tears  and  laughs  alternately  and 
captivate  the  audience.  Leon  Janney 
as  Penrod  and  Junior  Coghlan  as  Sam 
received  rounds  of  applause  from  a 
preview  audience.  Others  in  the  ex- 
cellent cast  are  Dorothy  Peterson, 
Zasu  Pitts,  Matt  Moore  and  Charles 
Sellon. 

Enthusiastic  comments  were  heard 
in  the  lobby  after  the  showing. 


"Mother  and  Son'* 

(Trem  Carr  Prod.) 
Hollywood — Slow-paced  and  lack- 
ing force  in  theme,  this  Trem  Carr 
picture  failed  to  arouse  enthusiasm  at 
a  preview  here.  The  picture  features 
Clara  Kimball  Young,  who  won  the 
chief  plaudits,  but  the  spectators 
found  much  of  the  emoting  too  much 
for  its  sense  of  humor  and  laughed 
in  the  wrong  spots.  It  betrayed  too 
much  speed  in  production. 

The  story  is  laid  in  Nevada,  with 
Miss  Young  as  the  owner  of  a 
gambling  establishment.  She  fails  in 
an  attempt  to  keep  her  son  from 
learning  of  her  occupation,  and  his 
later  contempt  for  her  is  wiped  out 
through  a  love  affair  with  the  daugh- 
ter of  her  enemv. 


''Skyline" 


(Fox) 

Hollywood — Thomas  Meighan  gets 
top  billing  in  this,  but  Hardie  Al- 
bright runs  away  with  the  acting  hon- 
ors. Meighan  appears  as  the  creator 
of  skyscrapers  who  takes  Albright 
under  his  wing.  The  youth  falls  in 
love  with  Maureen  O'Sullivan  and  is 
on  his  way  to  becoming  a  construc- 
tion engineer  when  he  becomes  infatu- 
ated with   a  woman  of   loose  morals. 

It  is  at  this  moinent  that  Meighan 
discovers  through  a  cameo  that  Al- 
bright is  his  own  son,  and  the  engi- 
neer determines  to  save  him  from  the 
clutches  of  the  woman.  The  story 
has  a  tragic  ending  with  Meighan 
falling  to  his  death  from  one  of  his 
skyscrapers.  The  capable  cast  in- 
cludes Myrna  Loy,  Stanley  Fields, 
Robert  McWade  and  Jack  Kennedy. 
It  was  directed  by   Sam  Taylor. 


"The  Hard  Homhre*' 

(Allied  Pictures) 

Hollywood — A  new  type  of  vehicle 
for  Hoot  Gibson,  but  it  made  a  hit 
with  an  audience  here  and  should 
register  well  at  the  box-office.  He  is 
cast  as  "Peaceful"  Patton,  so-called 
because  of  his  aversion  to  fighting. 
Eventually  he  comes  into  contact 
with  "The  Hard  Hombre,"  a  tough 
character,  and  when  the  latter  insults 
Hoot's  mother  the  peaceful  one  goes 
into  action  and  wins  for  himself  the 
reputation  of  the  only  man  who  has 
licked  "The  Hard  Hombre."  There 
are  some  splendid  comedy  moments  in 
the  picture,  with  Bill  Robins  contrib- 
uting his  share,  and  Lina  Basquette 
proved  highly  acceptable  as  the  bpro- 
ine.      Otto   Brower  directed. 


B.  &  K.  Silent 
On  Fall  Dual 
Bill  Program 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

stand  ready  to  return  to  single  fea- 
tures the  moment  Balaban  &  Katz 
makes  a  similar  decision.  Max  Bala- 
ban is  regarded  as  a  strong  proponent 
of  double  featuring,  although  the  policy 
is  understood  to  be  in  disfavor  with 
John  Balaban,  who,  during  a  recent 
visit  in  Chicago,  told  exchange  man- 
agers he  thought  a  return  to  single 
features  would  prove  to  be  "for  the 
industry's  best  interests." 

Max  Balaban  has  refused  to  com- 
ment on  the  company's  fall  policy  on 
double  featuring  at  any  time  during 
the  summer. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

One-Man-in-Booth, 
Lower  Scale  Sought 

(Continued    from    page    1) 

they  contend  is  exorbitant,  and  out 
of  line  with  other  trades  and  profes- 
sions for  the  same  number  of  hours. 
The  present  contract  expires  Aug.  31. 
It  is  expected  that  an  agreement  will 
be  reached  within  the  next  ten  days. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warner  Execs  in  Chi 

Dan  Michalove,  general  manager  of 
Warner  theatres,  left  for  Chicago 
yesterday,  accompanied  by  his  assis- 
tant, Eddie  Alperson.  They  will  re- 
turn to  New  York  early  next  week. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

On  Hoover  Board 

George  Eastman  has  been  appointed 
to  the  advisory  committee  on  unem- 
ployment relief  by   President  Hoover. 


NEW     YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant     47  12... 


LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

154    CRESCENT    STREET 
....STlMwell       7940 


EASTMAN 
*  FILMS  * 


J.  F 

BRULATOUR 

I  n  c  o  r  p  o  r  a  t  e  d 


CHICAGO 

1727   INDIANA  AVENUE 
CALumef    2691... 


HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.  .  .   Hollywood      4121 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  72 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  AUGUST  24,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Operators  Back  at  Full 
Pay-Gave  $800,000  Cut 


Vincent  Will 
Wield  Protest 
Meeting  Gavel 

Bid     for     Chairmanship 
Already  Accepted 


Walter  Vincent  of  Wilmer  &  Vin- 
cent, operators  of  a  circuit  of  theatres 
on  the  Atlantic  Seaboard,  is  to  be 
chairman  of  the  Metro  National  Pro- 
test Meeing,  to  be  held  in  New  York, 
September  1,  it  is  understood.  Vin- 
cent was  invited  to  serve  as  chairman 
by  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Eastern  Penn- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

American  Producers 
Invited  By  Soviet 

Invitations  to  American  producers 
to  go  to  Russia  to  film  pictures 
against  Russian  backgrounds  are  be- 
ing extended  by  the  Soviet  govern- 
ment, it  is  reported.  Co-operation  in 
the  form  of  official  courtesies  would 
be  extended,  under  the  plan. 

Cecil  B.  De  Mille  left  some  time 
ago  for  Europe  planning  to  visit  Rus- 
sia to  study  film  conditions  upon  in- 
(Continued  on  page  2) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sailors  Ashore  Seen 
As  Business  Boom 

'  San  Francisco — Eighteen  thou- 
sand sailors  are  ashore  in  San  Fran- 
cisco this  week  and  their  presence  is 
expected  to  boom  theatre  attendance. 
The  fleet  now  is  anchored  in  the  bay. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Product  Sales 
Nicked  by  Closings 

Chicago — New     product     sales     in 

Chicago,      which     gained      noticeable 

momentum  in   recent  weeks,   suffered 

a   decisive    setback    immediately    after 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


A  Carload  of  Ham 

A  well  known  actor,  observ- 
ing rigorously  the  tenets  of 
many  in  the  profession,  wired 
his  studio  boss  the  other  day: 

"Don't  you  think  my  name 
should  appear  over  (title  of 
picture)  in  those  neon-light- 
ed posters  we  use  outside  the 
studio?"  he  asked. 

The  studio  exec  sent  no 
answer,  but  did  order  a  20- 
pound  ham. 

It's  now  on  its  way  to  the 
actor. 


Fox  Slapping 
Back  in  Row 
With  Wampas 


Hollywood — Fox  intends  to  "laugh 
off"  the  rebuff  it  feels  was  handed  the 
company  when  the  Wampas  ignored 
its  "Baby  Stars"  nomination  and  is 
launching  an  embryo  star  selection 
movement  of  its  own. 

The  players  are  to  be  known  as 
"debutante  stars"  and  three  selections 
have  been  offered  for  the  1931-32 
season,  chosen  from  more  than  300 
candidates.  They  are  Linda  Watkins, 
Conchita  Montenegro  and  Helen 
Mack  and  their  selections  will  be  an- 
nounced tonight  at  a  dinner  at  the 
studio. 

The    Fox    studio    has    been    boiling 

(Contitiued  on  page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Meehan  Editor  of 
'Hollywood  Herald' 

Hollywood — ^The  following  an- 
nouncement will  appear  in  today's 
issue  of  The  Hollywood  Herald: 

"Announcement  is  made  of  the  ap- 
pointment of  Leo  Meehan  to  the 
editorship  of  The  Hollywood  Herald, 
succeeding  William  A.  Johnston. 

"Mr.  Meehan  joined  the  staff  of 
Quigley  Publications  in  March.  He 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Chi  Houses  Reopen 

Chicago  —  Protected  by  a 
temporary  injunction  restrain- 
ing police  from  arresting  their 
imported  operators,  indepen- 
dent houses  figuring  in  the 
fight  with  the  operators' 
union  reopened  Sunday.  The 
houses  were  closed  Saturday 
night  by  police  because  the 
operators,  brought  here  from 
New  York,  were  not  licensed 
by  the  city.  Exhibitors  con- 
tend the  licensing  ordinance 
is  unconstitutional.  Mean- 
while, all  negotiations  with 
the  union  for  settlement  of 
the  dispute  have  ended. 


Publix  "D.M's'' 
Advisors  On 
Circuit  Buys 

Publix  district  heads  are  serving 
in  an  advisory  capacity  in  national 
film  buying  deals  now  under  way. 
Under  decentralization  moves  adopted 
some  time  ago,  the  district  heads 
were  given  greater  authority  in  the 
operation  of  theatres  in  their  terri- 
tories and  their  recommendations  on 
buying   are    in    line    with    this   policy. 

On  local  deals,  the  district  man- 
agers are  empowered  to  do  their  own 
buying.  Greater  leeway  in  the  spot- 
ting in  of  pictures,  advertising  and 
other  factors  of  operation  was  given 
in  the  decentralized  plan  put  into  ef- 
fect by   Sam   Katz. 


Dictionary  and  Thesaurus 
Are  Banished  by  Fox  Edict 

Stupendous,  colossal,  superb,  masterful, 

Were  adjectives  once  with  a  box-office  pull; 

But  now  they're  taboo;  our  superlative  brains 

Are  hog-tied  and  tethered  with  one-syllable  chains. 

— Plaint  of  the  Press  Agent. 

Old  King  Hokum  is  dead!  Long 
live    King    Simplicity. 

Yes,  sir,  King  Hokum  and  hie 
cohorts  of  superlatives  have  been 
slaughtered.     His  reign  is  over. 

The  Last  Word,  the  Fox  West 
Coast  Theatres  organ,  has  dealt  the 
deathblow.  Under  the  caption  of 
"Hokum,"  it  wields  the  stiletto  thusly : 


10  Week  Reduction  Period 

At  End;  Seek  "Peace 

And  Prosperity'* 


Barnum    exaggerated    a    little.     There    are 
many   born,   but   not   one   a    minute. 


It  was  Lincoln  who  sometime  before 
this  sagely  hinted  that  you  can  fool  some 
of  the  people  some  of  the  time  but  not 
ail   of   the   time. 

Intentionally,  or  not,  theatrical  advertis- 
ing has  for  years,  antf  still  is,  trying  to 
fool  some  of  the  people  all  of  the  time. 
yVnd  there  are  instances  where  it  has  tried 
to   fool   all   of    the   people   all   of   the   time. 

There  are  exceptions  to  this,  of  course, 
but  we  speak  of  the  majority  of  instances. 

Superlatives! 

Week  after  week.  They  flow  from  the 
rresa  agents'  tongues  like  the  proverbial 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Having  contributed  more  than 
,000  to  help  exhibitors  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada  to  tide 
over  a  tough  summer,  operators  are 
now  back  on  full  pay  with  but  a 
few  exceptions.  That  sum  represents 
a  voluntary  reduction  in  wages  aver- 
aging 7]/2  per  cent  over  a  period  of 
ten  weeks. 

William  Canavan,  president  of  the 
International  Alliance  of  Theatrical 
Stage  Employes  and  Motion  Picture 
Machine  Operators  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  made  the  estimate, 
asserting  that  circuits  and  independ- 
ents profited  equally  by  the  cut  given 

(Contimied  on  page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Leo  Plans  Circuit 
Of  40-50  Theatres 

With  an  immediate  objective  of  be- 
tween 40  and  50  theatres,  Joe  Leo  is 
shaping  plans  for  entrance  into  the 
metropolitan  exhibition  field  on  his 
own. 

No  deals  actually  have  been  closed, 
but  negotiations  on  several  are  ap- 
proaching the  signature  stage.  Leo's 
deal  for  a  number  of  Fox  Long 
Island  houses  is  cold,  but  failure  to 
get  together  in  .that  direction  won't 
stop.    Leo   says   so  himself. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW"' 

Kaplan  to  Book  29 
Houses  in  Brooklyn 

Irving  Kaplan  of  Fox  Theatres 
has  resigned  to  join  the  Frisch-Rinz- 
ler  circuit  as  booker  for  the  29  Brook- 
lyn theatres.  While  at  Fox,  Kaplan 
booked  the  Fox  houses  upstate,  which 
have  been  sold  to  Mike  Comerford. 
Irving  Goldstein  will  be  his  assistant. 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


St.  Louis — Vitaphone  closed  con- 
tracts for  the  showing  of  shorts  prod- 
uct for  the  coming  season  in  all  of 
the  theatres  comprising  the  Fox  St. 
Louis  circuit.  Contracts  were  also 
closed  for  the  100  per  cent  showing 
of  the  shorts  in  the  Fox  Shanberg 
circuit,  the  Fox  Rhoden  circuit  and 
the  Glen  Dickenson  circuit  of  Kansas 
City  houses.  These  circuits  operate 
(Continued  on  pag*  2) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August  24,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily   Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


August  24,   1931 


No. 


Martin  Quigley  * 

Editor-in-Chief  and   Publisher 
MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 

JAMES  A.  CRON 

Advertising    Manager 


^^•*^r>\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f^  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V*l^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.  C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  Y.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rales  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada;  foreign,   $15.     Single  copies,   10  cents. 


American  Producers 
Invited  By  Soviet 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

vitation  of  the  Soviet. 

Repeated  efforts  to  reach  L.  I.  Mo- 
nosspn,  president  of  Amkino  Corp., 
representative  in  America  of  the  Rus- 
sian government's  fihp  activities,  for 
a  statement  on  the  reported  bids  to 
American  producers  have  proved  un- 
availing. Monosson  recently  denied 
the  Soviet  intends  to  produce  films  ii 
Hollywood. 

••BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

185 MO  See  "Bad 

Girl"  First  Week 

"Bad  Girl,"  current  at  the  Roxy, 
played  to  185,0(X)  paid  admissions  dur- 
ing   its    first    week. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Clark  Succeeds  Parrish 

E.  H.  Morris,  president  of  the  Mu- 
sic Publishers'  Holding  Corp.,  has 
appointed  Jimmy  Clark  to  the  man- 
agement of  the  M.  Witniark  &  Sons 
branch  office,  succeeding  Clarence 
Parrish,  who  comes  to  the  New  York 
office  as  manager  of  the  "Black  and 
White  Series"  department.  Clark 
was  formerly  special  service  man- 
ager of  M.  Witmark  &  Sons  and 
manager  of  their  Philadelphia  branch. 
Parrish  has  been  manager  of  the 
Chicago  branch  for  several  of  the  IS 
years  he  has  been  associated  with 
W'itmarks. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Boston  Pioneer  Dies 

Boston — George  F.  Washburn,  who 
built  Boston's  first  motion  picture  the- 
atre, the  Unique,  in  1905,  died  at  his 
summer  home,  "Winvirden"  at  Mano- 
met,  Mass.  He  was  a  millionaire  real 
estate  and  clothing  merchant  and  in- 
ter'.-sted   in   varied   lines   of   business. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Coast  Paper  Suspends 

HoLLYWofjD — "Inside  Facts,"  the- 
atrical weekly  is  understood  to  have 
suspended-  publication. 


LOOKS  as  if  the  fine  Italian  hand  of  Vic  Shapiro  is  lurking  behind 
the  "debutante  star"  movement  to  be  launched  by  Fox  on  the  Coast 
tonight.  It  also  appears  to  be  Fox's  answer  to  the  Wampas'  "Baby 
Star"  selection  in  which,  you  will  remember,  its  candidates  for  what- 
ever honor  there  is  in  being  a  "Baby  Star"  were  one  hundred  per  cent 
ignored. 

Vic  has  pulled  some  fast  publicity  gags  in  his  day,  among  them  the 
famous  Louis  Wolheim  "face-lifting"  yarn  which  crashed  front  pages 
clear  across  the  country.    This  new  one  may  go  the  way  of  that  one. 

• 

Ronald  Colman  and  Samuel  Goldwyn  are  reported  near  the  part- 
ing of  the  ways.  The  star's  contract  expires  in  November  and  there 
are  rumblings  of  differences  between  the  two.  Colman,  who  is  said 
to  be  getting  $6,000  weekly,  is  said  to  have  rebelled  when  the  pro- 
ducer tried  to  order  him  to  participate  in  screen  tests  for  candidates 
desiring  to  play  opposite  him. 

• 

Clara  Bow's  deal  to  star  in  "The  Impatient  Virgin"  calls  for  a 
script  which  the  star  approves — and  she  already  has  rejected  one 
— plus  a  guarantee  of  $50,000  for  the  picture.  It  is  estimated  it  will 
take  about  four  weeks  to  make,  which  means  $12,500  weekly  laid  on 
the  line  for  Clara. 

• 

Three  years  ago  when  "Bad  Girl"  launched  its  serial  way  in  Liberty, 
Walter  Wanger  saw  in  the  yarn  a  great  bet  for  Clara  Bow.  But  the 
Hollywood  studio  couldn't  see  a  picture  in  the  story. 

Since  then,  Frank  Borzage  made  it  for  Fox — and  how  ?  What 
it  means  to  Frank  is  that  new  contract,  just  signed,  and  for  exhibitors — 
well,   just  watch  those  box-ofifice  headlines. 

• 

"Among  those  present  is  So-and-So  and  also  Nicholas  Schenck  of 
New  York,"  warbles  the  radio  announcer  in  the  Derby  scenes  of  "Sport- 
ing Blood." 

Same  picture  also  has  a  nice  little  plug  for  Hearst  Metrotone  News. 

• 

RKO  Pathe  home  office  employes  are  wondering.  The  reason  Is  a 
mysterious  placard  announcing  that  "Something  Good  is  Coming  to 
RKO  Pathe  Employes."  It's  a  secret  and  Mannie  Goldstein  holds  the 
answer. 

• 

Publix's  decision  to  turn  over  its  new  suburban  theatre  in  Cin- 
cinnati to  RKO  under  lease  was  caused  by  inability  of  Publix  to 
get  product  for  the  house.  Cincinnati  is  dominated  by  RKO,  which 
is  said  to  have  had  all  the  product  sewed  up,  so  far  as  the  new  Para- 
mount is  concerned. 


Seidelman  to  Europe 

J.  H.  "Joe"  Seidelman  of  the  Para- 
mount-Publix  foreign  department  sails 
tomorrow  on  a  semi-annual  tour  of 
the   company's   european   exchanges. 


Anna  May  Gets  New  Pact 

Hollywood — Anna  May  Wong  has 
signed  a  new  contract  as  a  Paramount 
featured  player.  Her  first  assign- 
ment has  not  yet  been  decided. 


E,  K.  Drops  4  Points;  Market  Irregular 

Net 
High      Low       Close     Change 

Consolidated     Film     Ind.     pfd U-H  13^  13^4  

Eastman     Kodak MO  138H  139i4  -^ 

Fox  Film   "A" \i%  13  13^  -  ■>$ 

General  Tlieatre   Equip,  new 2'-^          2fJ  2fJ  —  Vt 

Loew's    Inc 475^  465^  47?^  — 1J4 

Paramount    Publix 23M  2254  23'/2  —  Yi 

Pathe    Exchange 1!4          1'4  1J4  —  Vi 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" ^'A          'i'A  S'A  

RKO H^i  14^^  14^  —'A 

Warner    Bros 8'A          8  S'As  —  % 

Curb  Issues  Quiet;  Fox  Up  Vs 

Net 
High      Low      Close    Change 

Columbia    Pictures S'A         S'A         &IA       —  'A 

Fox  Theatres   "A" 2/,  2Vi         2%        -\-  Vi 

General   Theatre    Equip,   pfd 4^i  4%         AYs 

Bonds  Steady;  G.  T.  Up  1  Point 

Net 
High      Low      Close    Oiange 

General  Theatre   Equip.   6s   '40 ', 23^  22^  23;/^  -fl 

Loew's  6s  '41   ex  war 98>^  98^^  98i^  

Paramount   Publix   S'As,    '50 98!^  98  98  —  '/^ 

Warner  Bros.  6s   '39  wd 54  5354  54  -^  % 


Sales 

ino 

3,700 

2,600 

400 

500 

2,600 

100 

100 

1,200 

2,100 


Sales 

200 
200 
500 


Sales 

17 

1 

16 

16 


^  Purely 
Personal  ^ 

LOUIS  Hlumberc;,  Nate's  son,  looks 
like  a  potential  RKO  headliner.  At 
a  camp  show  the  other  day,  he  ap- 
peared as  combination  acrobat,  wrest- 
ler  and   warbler. 

John  Rantz  replaces  Chas.  P. 
Salisbury  as  manager  of  the  Granada 
Theatre,  Ontario,  with  supervision 
over  the  California  in  that  California 
town  as  well. 

Hubert  Voight,  Warner-First  Na- 
tional publicity  generalissimo  in  Hol- 
lywood, leaves  for  the  West  some- 
time   this    week. 

Harry  D.  Goldberg  is  casting  long 
eyes  in  the  direction  of  a  juicy  steak. 
You  may  not  get  the  import  of  this, 
but  he  will  when  he  reads  this  squib. 

"Mannie"  Goldstein  made  an  ap- 
pearance at  the  Motion  Picture  Club 
Saturday  and  he  did  not  wear  a  white 
carnation. 

Chas.  P.  Salisbury  replaces  Wil- 
lard  Wyatt  as  manager  of  the  Lyric 
Theatre,   Huntington  Park,   Cal. 

"Connie"  Bennett  is  due  in  town 
today  on  the  He  de  France.  That 
trip   abroad   was   vacation   stuff. 

LiL  Dagover,  German  star,  sailed 
for  New  York  Wednesday,  aboard  the 
lie  de  Franrp 

Willaed  Wyatt  replaces  Jack  Ret- 
law  as  manager  of  the  Redondo  The- 
atre, Redondo  Beach,  Cal. 

Reg  Reubenson,  inveterate  travel- 
er, is  in  New  York  from  Paris.  After 
product    for    foreign    distribution. 

George  Techmeyer  has  replaced 
Ed.  W.  Stollery  as  manager  of  the 
San  Mateo  Theatre,  San  Mateo,  Calif. 

Walter  Wanger  will  tell  you 
about  the  joys  of  living  these  days 
any   time  you  ask  him. 

Charlie  Einfeld  returns  from  the 
Thousand   Islands   today. 

Joe  Rivkin  is  back  from  that  Coast 
jaunt  of  his. 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

in  Kansas,  Missouri  and  Oklahoma 
and  give  the  Vitaphone  shorts  prod- 
uct openings  in  79  cities  in  the  three 
states. 


RKO  Pathe's  New  York  exchange, 
presided  over  by  Robert  Wolff,  has 
signed  up  150  indpendent  theatres  in 
the  metropolitan  territory  to  play  the 
Rooster  line-up  for  the  new  season. 
Included  in  the  deals  are  houses  of 
the  Consolidated ;  Sol  Brill,  Lee 
Ochs,  Manhattan  Playhouses,  Pru- 
dential and  Long  Island  and  Frisch 
circuits. 


E.  M.  Fay  of  Providence  has 
joined  the  "Buy  Right — But  Buy 
Now"  movemient.  He  signed  con- 
tracts with  J.  R.  Grainger  for  the 
48  pictures  on  the  new  season  Fox 
program  for  his  theatres,  the  Ma- 
jestic and   Fay's. 


Monday,  Ajgusv  24,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Theo.  Dreiser 
Seems  to  Be 
A  Poor  Judge 


Total  $53,250  for  5  Theatres 


Denver — "An  American  Tragedy" 
won  top  honors  here.  After  ringing 
up  a  gross  of  $17,500,  which  is 
$6,50O  better  than  the  normal  take,  it 
was  sent  into  the  Rialto  for  a  sec- 
ond week.  Perhaps  Paramount's  con- 
troversy with  the  author,  Theodore 
Dreiser,  helped  to  publicize  the  pic- 
ture. 

"Silence"  proved  to  be  another  good 
box-office  draw,  grossing  $17,750  at 
the  Denver  with  a  stage  show.  Par 
for  this  house  is  $15,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  20  and  year-round 
weekly   averages : 

"SILENCE"    (Para.) 

DENVER— (2,300),  25c-35c-65c,  7  days. 
Fanchon  &  Marco  "Circus  Days"  Idea. 
Fred  Schmitt  and  orchestra.  Gross:  $17,- 
750.    (Average,    $15,000.) 

"REBOUND"     (RKO-Pathe) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1,500),  35c 
SOc-75c,  7  days.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"MOTHER'S    MILLIONS"     (Univ.) 

HUFFMAN'S  TABOR— (1,900),  25c-35c- 
50c,  7  days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average,  $10.- 
000.) 

"AN    AMERICAN    TRAGEDY"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  — (2,000),      25c-35c-50c,      7 
days.     Gross:    $17,500.     (Average,   $11,000.) 
"CAUGHT"    (Para.) 

RIALTO— (1,040),  25c-35c-50c,  7  d'ays. 
Gross:    $J,500.      (Average,    $3,750.) 


"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 


ii 


Honeymoon,'' 
"Blood  ''  Lead 
In  Providence 


Total  $43,300  for  5  Theatres 


Providence — "Sporting  Blood"  at 
Loew's  State  led  the  parade  after  a 
hectic  neck  to  neck  race  with  "Honey- 
moon Lane"  at  the  Majestic.  The 
race  track  feature  managed  to  garner 
close  to  $16,000,  which  is  two  grand 
under  average,  but  good  considering 
the  oppisish. 

Majestic  stuck  close  to  the  average 
line  as  the  result  of  three  personal  ap- 
pearances put  in  by  Eddie  Dowling 
and  his  wife,  Ray  Dooey,  stars  of 
"Honeymoon  Lane."  Biz  was  flat 
after  week-end  rush,  but  $10,000  was 
okay. 

RKO  Albee  with  "Traveling  Hus- 
bands" was  so-so  at  $7,000;  Para- 
mount also  just  about  with  "Smiling 
Lieutenant"  at  $7,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing Aug.  21  and  year-round  averages : 
"SPORTING  BLOOD"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S      STATE-(3,8O0),      20c-75c,       7 
days.      Gross:    $16,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 
"HONEYMOON     LANE"     (Para.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,300),  20c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,000.      (Average,    $10,000.) 

"SMILING   LIEUTENANT"   (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  20c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $7,500.      (Average,    $9,000.) 

"TRAVELING  HUSBANDS"  (Radio) 

RKO     ALBEE— (2,500),     20c-50c,     7     days. 
Gross:     $7,000.       (Average,    $9,000.) 
"HIGH     STAKES"     (Radio) 

RKO  VICTORY— (1,600),  20c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $2,800.      (Average,    $6,500.) 


Cool  Weather  Does  Lots  to 
Help  Albany  ^s  Box -Offices 


Total  $29,310  for  5  Theatres 


Albany — "Bought"  at  the  Strand 
and  "Transatlantic"  at  the  Hall  were 
the  box-office  magnets  this  week.  A 
new  cooling  system  and  a  re-decorated 
house,  along  with  the  Bennett  pic- 
ture, brought  the  crowds  with  a  draw 
of  $8,450  for  the  week  at  the  Strand, 
normal  business,  which  would  have 
gone  higher  had  it  not  been  for  day- 
light saving. 

An  o.k.  of  the  picture  by  Chris 
Buckley,  owner  of  the  Hall,  and 
added  newspaper  display  advertising 
served  to  attract  thousands  to  the 
Hall  with  "Transatlantic"  as  the  fea- 
ture. Cool  weather  throughout  the 
week  helped  immensely.  Other  the- 
atres around  the  city  reported  busi- 
ness as  being  good  with  the  weather 
a   big   factor.      The    Strand    reopened 


last    week   after    being    closed    for    a 
month  or  two  for  improvements. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  20  and  year-round  yearly 
averages : 

"TRANSATLANTIC"    (Fox) 
HARMANUS    -    BLEECKER        HALL— 
(2.300),      35-c50c,      6     days.      Gross:      $9,000. 
(Average,    $10,000.) 

"JUNE  MOON"   (Para.) 
LELAND— (1,350),  20c-25c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$5,100.      (Average,    $6,000.) 

"RECKLESS  HOUR"   (F.  N.) 
RITZ— (1,146),    25c-35c.     3     days.       Gross: 
$2,000.      (Average,    $2,250.) 

"WOMEN    MEN    MARRY"    (HeadUne) 
RITZ— (1,146),     25c-35c,     3     days.       Gross: 
$1,960.      (Average,    $2,250.) 

"THE   SECRET   CALL"   (MGM) 
R-K-O     PROCTOR'S— (1,500),     25c-60c,     3 
days.     Gross:    $2,800.      (Average,   $3,000.)      - 
"BOUGHT"  (Warners) 
STRAND— (1,900),  35c-50c,  6  days.     Gross: 
$8,450.     (Average,  $8,500.) 


'Dirigible'  Is 
Omaha's  Best 
With  $15,500 


Total  $33,050  for  4  Theatres 


Omaha — There  wasn't  much  to 
complain  about  in  film  circles,  for 
only  one  theatre  dropped  below  the 
normal  figure.  "Dirigible"  topped  all 
with  a  gross  of  $15,500  at  the  Or- 
pheum,  which  beat  par  by  $2,000. 
"Huckleberry  Finn"  also  went  over 
the  top  to  the  tune  of  $1,500,  the  in- 
take at  the  Paramount  being  $8,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  21  and  year-round  aver- 
ages: 

"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-50c,    7    days. 
Vaude.    Gross:    $15,500.     (Average,    $13,500.) 
"HUCKLEBERRY    FINN"     (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900),        2Sc-30c-35c-60c, 
7    days.      Gross:     $8,500.      (Average,    $7,000.) 
"KIKI"   (U.   A.) 

STATE^(1,200),  25c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$1,200.      (Average,    $1,200.) 

"THE    GREAT   LOVER"    (M-G-M) 

STATE-(  1,200),      25c,      3      days.       Gross: 
$1,100.       (Average,     $900.) 
"THE    MALTESE     FALCON"     (Warners) 

WORLD— (2,500),  25c-40c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$3,000.      (Average,    $3,200.) 

"THE    VICE    SQUAD"    (Para.) 

WORLD— (2,500),  25c-40c,  3  days.  Gross; 
$3,750.      (Average,    $2,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Will  Rogers 
Ace  Draw  in 
Minneapolis 


Total  $49,500  for  5  Theatres 


Minneapolis  —  Will  Rogers  ran 
away  with  the  dough  this  week  at  the 
Minnesota,  "Young  As  You  Feel" 
grossing  $25,000,  or  $5,000  above  par, 
at  that  house.  Business  in  general 
wasn't  so  bad,  thanks  to  cool  weather. 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Portland  Fans 
Give  "Sporting 
Blood"  Cheers 


Total  $45,600  for  5  Theatres 


Portland — "Sporting  Blood"  led 
the  field  this  week,  copping  off  $17,900 
at  the  Fox  Paramount  against  an 
average  intake  of  $12,000.  "The 
Smiling  Lieutenant"  in  its  second 
week  at  the  Broadway  also  clicked 
satisfactorily,  the  gross  being  $7,600, 
against  a  par  of   $5,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  20  and  year-round  aver- 
ages ; 

"THE   SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

FOX    BROADWAY— (1,912),    25c-50c,    2nd 
week,    7    days.      Gross:      $7,600.      (Average, 
$5,000.) 
"TRUTH    ABOUT    YOUTH"    (F.    N.) 
FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    2Sc-35c,    4    days. 
Gross:     $1,500.      (Average   for   week,   $3,000.) 
"HONEYMOON    LANE"     (Para.) 
FO.X    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    3    days. 
Gross:     $1,500.      (Average   for   week,   $3,000.) 
"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 
HAMRICK'S    MUSIC    BO.X— (1,800),    35c, 
7    days.      Gross:     $6,000.      (Average,    $4,000.) 
"SPORTING  BLOOD"   (M-G-M) 
FOX     PARAMOUNT— (3,068),     25c-60c,     7 
days.     F.    &   M.'s   "Hot  Java"   Idea.    Gross: 
$17,900.       (Average.    $12,000.) 

"THE   MIRACLE   WOMAN"    (Col.) 
RKO      ORPHEUM-(1,700).      25c-50c,      7 
days.      Vaude.      Gross:     $11,100.      (Average. 
$10,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Maurice  Big 
In  St.  Paul 
With  $12,000 


Total  $32,500  for  4  Theatres 


St.  Paul — Maurice  Chevalier  set  a 
new  high  mark  for  the  Paramount 
wlien  his  "Smiling  Lieutenant"  took 
in  $12,000  at  the  till.  This  is  $4,500 
above  average  and  is  box-office  music. 

(.Continued  on  page  8) 


'Caught'  Nabs 
Philly  Lead; 
$3,000  Over 


Total  $120,200   for  8   Theatres 


Philadelphia  —  Paramount's 
"Caught"  caught  the  big  dough  in  this 
jity  this  week,  going  $3,000  over  par 
with  $21,000  at  the  Earle.  Two  others 
beat  average  figures,  but  not  by  a 
wide  margin,  "I^uckleberry  Finn"  with 
an  overagei^_^T!^0O(r  being  the  run- 
Estimated  takiri^^mc'the  week  end- 
ing August  20  aria  ^eSt-round  weekly 
averages : 

"WOMEN    LOVE   ONCE"    (Para.) 
ARCADIA— (600),     50c,    6    days.        Gross: 
$2,70»..      (Average,    $3,000.) 

>       "CAUGHT"    (Para.) 
EARtE— (2,000),    25c-65c,    6   days.    Vau(?e- 
ville.   -■  Gross:    $21,000.       (Average,    $18,000.) 
"TRANSATLANTIC"   (Fox) 
FOX— (3,000),   35c-50c-75c,   6   days.      Stage 
show.      Gross:    $24,500.       (Average,    $26,000.) 
"THE  MIRACLE  WOMAN"    (Col.) 
KARLTON— (1,000),      40c-50c,       7      days. 
Gross:    $6,000.        (Average,    $5,000.) 

"HONEYMOON    LANE"    (Para.) 
KEITH'S-(1,800),     35c-50c-75c,      6      days. 
Gross:    $11,000.       (Average,    $15,000.) 

"HUCKLEBERRY    FINN"     (Para.) 
MASTBAUM— (4,800),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Gross:    $41,000.        (Average,    $40,000.) 
"SMILING   LIEUTENANV    (Para.) 
STANLEY— (3,700),   35c-50c-75c,  3rd   week, 
6   days.      Gross:    $8,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"  (Col.) 
STANTON-(1,700),    25c-65c,    3rd    week,    6 
days.       Gross:    $6,000.       (Average,    $11,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT^BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Witness"  Is 
Buffalo  Ace 
With  $15,000 


Total  $85,200  for  5  Theatres 


Buffalo — "The  Star  Witness"  was 
the  star  attraction  in  town,  clicking 
$15,000  against  the  Century's  aver- 
age intake  of  $J2,000.  "Young  as 
You  Feel,"  starring  Will  Rogers, 
also  beat  par  by  $300.  Matinees 
were   light,  but  evenings   strong. 

Estimated    takings. ,  for  .the,.we^., 
ending     August    "21  '  and    year-round 
weekly  averages :  ' 

"SILENCE"    (Para.) 

BUFFALO— (3,500),  30c-65c,  7  days. 
Publix  stage  show.  Gross:  $23,000.  (Aver- 
age,  $25,000.) 

"THE    STAR    WITNESS"    (Warners) 
CENTURY— (3,000),       25c-35c,       7       days. 
Gross:   $15,000.     (Average,   $12,000.) 

"YOUNG    AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 
GREAT  LAKES— (3,000),   25c-60c,   7   days. 
Loew's  stage  show,     (iros^:- $22,8J)Q.  .(AyVr-.n 
age,    $22,500.)      '  '  -     .     -is    j' 

"WHITE  SHOULDERS"   (Radio) 
HIPPODROMEr-(2,100),    25c-50c,    7    davs. 
RKO    vaudeville.     Gross:    $17.6(X).     Average, 
$20. COO. ) 

"ENEMIES    OF    THE    LAW"    (Krellberg) 
LAFAYETTE^-(3,.?(X)),     25C-3.5C,     7     days. 
Gross:     $6,800.       (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT   BUY   NOW 

Arnaud  Completes  First 

First  production  in  the  Screen 
Cohimnist  Series  of  shorts  has  been 
completed  by  Pierre  Arnaud,  featur- 
ing Denton  Vane  and  Suzette  Aubert 
with  an  atmospheric  musical  score  l)y 
Lou  Alter.  James  F.  Ciemenger  as 
the  "Screen  Columnist"  does  the  nar- 
ration. 


est  comi 


Presented  by  Masquers 
Club  of  Hollywood 


The  star  buy  of  all 
time  I  Something  of  a 
revolutionary  nature 
in  comedies.  Produc- 
tion on  feature  scale. 


6 

JIMMY 

GLEASON 

COMEDIES 

The  master  of  slang 
as  a  prize  fight  man- 
ager in  six  laughters 
from  Arthur  (Bugs)  Bo- 
er's   Rufftown   stories. 


6 

BENNY 

RUBIN 

COMEDIES 

One  of  America's  most 
highly  paid  variety  art- 
ists—  the  funniest 
man  on  the  screen.  A 
whiz-bang  fun  series! 


I 


The  Old  Fightin'  Cock   crov/s   every  Friday  night  10:30  N.  Y.  time,  R1?0 


p,^ 


6 
FRANK 
McHUGH 
OMEDIES 


The  comedian  who  cre- 
ated the  "drunken  re- 
porter" In  films,  in 
a  series  all  his  own 
that's  caused  a   riot  I 


MR.  AVERAGE 
MAN  COMEDIES 

starring 
EDGAR  KENNEDY 

Domestic  stufF  with 
a  humorous  angle — 
and  how  Ed  Kennedy 
can  make  'em  laugh! 
This   one's  a   natural. 


TRAVELING 

MAN  COMEDIES 

starring 
LOUIS  JOHN  BARTELS 

The  great  stage  com- 
edian of "The  Show- 
OflF"  in  a  series  a- 
bout  a  traveling  man  I 
Pep — snap — and  fun  I 


GAY    GIRLS 
COMED  I  ES 

starring 
JUNE  MacCLOY 

With  Marion  Shilling 
and  Gertrude  Short 
assisting.  Just  a 
trio  of  innocent  gals 
out  for — men's  gold! 


6 

MANHATTAN 

COMEDI  ES 

3  of  which  feature 

DAPHNE  POLLARD 

Third  year  of  this 
successful  series  of 
shorts.  Three  with 
Daphne  Pollard,  and 
other  famed  comics! 


from  RKD 


P.  S.  — Pathe  News  Is  Still  the  Leading  Newsreel  —  Pathe  Review  Is  Still  the  Leading  Screen  Magazine! 


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READ 

THIS 

LETTER! 


Adolph  Rettig, 

Mgr.  The  New 

Strand 


The  New  Strand, 
East  Orange,  N.  J., 
seating  1200 


The  ballot  on  which 
patrons  voted 


Advertising  that  brought  me  to  this  theattc  to  see 
"Skippy"  or  "Strangers  May  Kiss"  or  both  was 

(Mark  mih  an  X  in  square  or  squares} 

D  NEWSPAPER  ADVERTISING 

j^  TRAILER  ON  THE  SCREEN 

D  POSTERS 

D  LOBBY  DISPLAY 

n  IN  THE  THEATRE  PROGRAM 

D  WAS  TOfD  BY  OTHERS  TO  SEE  THEM 

D  1  CAME  THRU  HABIT 

PCVSE  SIGN  YOUR  NAWB 

AddressVA  yhJ:^Lil^J^.^ 
Ctv     E^^/VQ-VX-^^ 


Seats!  And  How! 


Here's  hovf  one 
exhibitor  found  out- 

so  CAN  YOU! 

"What  brought  you  to  this  theatre?"  Adolph  Rettig,  Manager  of 
The  New  Strand,  East  Orange,  N.  J.,  asked  81 34  patrons.  1 265  told 
him.  333  said  "others  told  me."  244  said  Newspaper  Advertising. 
218  said  "THE  TRAILER  ON  THE  SCREEN."  And  only  9  admis- 

sions  a  day  paid  the  cost  of  the  trailers.      The  rest  was  profit! 


Trailers  sell  seats — profitably^  economi- 
cally.  Because  they  sell  pictures  WITH 
PICTURES  ...  to  amusement -minded 
audiences.  No  waste  circulation.  Your 
screen  is  the  focal  point  for  all  eyes— jowr 
patrons    cart't   help  seeing  your  trailers. 


RESULTS  OF  TEST 

▼ 

Newspapers 

-    244 

19V4% 

Trailer 

-    218 

171/4% 

Poster 

-    162 

124/5% 

Lobby 

-      54 

41/5% 

Program 

-    145 

1112% 

Others  Told  Me  333 

261/3% 

Habit 

-    109 

81/2% 

1265 

995/6% 

More  than  8000  theatres  served ! 


NATIONAL  SCREEN  SERVICE 

NEW  YORK  •  DALLAS  •  CHICAGO  •  LOS  ANGELES 

A  SERVICE   TO   FIT   EVERY   THEATRE'S   POCKETBOOK 


ff 


')'> 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  Augutt  24,   1931 


Operators  Now 
Return  to  Full 
Pay;  Gave  Cut 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

them    by    the   projectionists. 

"There  were  no  strings  attached  to 
the  voluntary  reduction  by  the  opera- 
tors," he  declared.  "We  did  it  be- 
cause we  felt  it  our  duty  to  help  the 
theatre  owners  in  time  of  need. 
We've  got  to  work  together  for  peace 
and  prosperity." 

From  the  offices  of  the  Moving 
Picture  Machine  Operators  Union  of 
Greater  New  York,  Local  306,  came 
a  denial  of  published  reports  that  the 
Brotherhood  of  Motion  Picture  Oper- 
ators of  North  America,  which  dis- 
patched a  number  of  operators  by 
airplane  to  Chicago,  is  affiliated  with 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor. 
Secretary  Morris  J.  Rotker  said  that 
ten  men  transported  in  this  manner 
immediately  returned  to  New  York 
by   train. 


Two-Man  Stagehand 
Rule  at  Saenger 

New  Orleans  —  Controversy  be- 
tween the  stagehands'  union  and  the 
Saenger  management  over  the  num- 
ber of  men  to  be  employed  under  the 
new  policy  shows  was  settled  by  R. 
J.  O'Donnell,  director  of  theatre  man- 
agement, and  William  Weber,  stage- 
hands' president.  Agreement  reached 
will  allow  use  of  two  men  for  shows 
produced  in  one  set ;  any  show  using 
full   stage   will   require   full   crew. 


Union  Victor  in  San 
Diego  Operator  Fight 

San  Diego — With  management  of 
the  Spreckels  Theatre  agreeing  to  the 
union's  demand  for  five  operators, 
union  operators  went  on  duty  at  the 
theatre  Friday.  The  injunction  re- 
straining union  interference  with  op- 
eration of  the  house  is  being  dis- 
missed. Joe  Russo  of  the  union 
negotiated  the  settlement  with  Joe 
Franklin  and  Ben  Bernstein  in  Los 
Angeles. 


Three  Theatres  Dark 
In  Galveston  Row 

Galveston — Due  to  differences 
with  the  projectionists'  union  here, 
three  theatres  remain  dark — Dixie 
and  Key,  Martini's  theatres,  and  the 
Tremont,  Publix.  Publix  and  Mar- 
tini are  asking  a  cut  in  scale  or  they 
will   keep   their   houses   closed. 


Pittsburgh  Exhibitors 
Await  Operator  Deadline 

Pittsburgh — This  week  is  expected 
to  mark  deadline  in  deliberations  be- 
tween independents  and  union  oper- 
ators. The  exhibitors  are  demanding 
a  one-man-in-the-booth  policy  and  re- 
duction of  the  scale. 


One  Man  Policy  Adopted 

Waco,  Texas — M.  Lemke  has 
signed  up  with  the  union  here  and 
has  reopened  his  three  houses  which 
were  dark  for  several  weeks.  The 
projectionists  agreed  to  a  cut  in  scale 
and  one  man  in  booth. 


Dictionary  and  Thesaurus 
Are  Banished  by  Fox  Edict 


(Continued   from   page   1) 

milk  and  honey  in  the  promisecf  land.  And 
their  flow  throughout  the  years  from  nickel- 
odeon to  de  luxe  palace  has  lost  none  of 
its  force,  or  been  din>inished  none  the  less 
in   point    of    volume. 

Without  doubt,  the  average  reader  perus- 
ing the  drama  pages  is  fundamentally  guided 
but  by  four  things  in  his  selection  of  enter- 
tainment: The  players  in  the  picture,  the 
story  background,  the  producer,  and  the 
title.  If  some  one  or  all  of  them  conform 
to  his  personal  likes,  and  strike  an  appeal- 
ing note,  he  goes  to  that  show ;  otherwise, 
he    reads   on. 

Tile  public  has  long  since  become  accus- 
tomed to  the  old  'wolf,  wolf  call,  and 
has  more  or  less  developed  the  ability  to 
discern  the  'real  McCoy'  in  picture  enter- 
tainment. 

The  hodge  podge  of  pretty  sounding  word's 
and  phrases  found  in  the  typical  theatrical 
ad  are  no  more  than  what  they  are,  mere 
words. 

Hokum  I 

Despite  the  fact  that  the  astute  show- 
man knows  that  the  most  valuable  adver- 
tising comes  by  way  of  word  of  mouth, 
and  that  the  greatest  eflFort  in  advertising 
will  not  support  a  'weak  sister,'  he  finffs 
it    hard    to    resist    temptation    to    smear    it 


on,  and  smear  it  on  thick  when  there  is 
no    justification    for    doing   so. 

The  foregoing  has  all  referred  to  copy, 
and  thf  lethargic  change  it  has  under- 
gone throughout  the  years.  As  for  form, 
the  same  backwardness  in  keeping  in  step 
with    the    times    is   apparent.  " 

While  the  last  few  years  have  seen 
the  rise  of  the  cinema  palace  embodying 
the  ultra  modern  in  design  and  structure, 
the  form  an<f  copy  of  its  sales  counter 
has    not    progressed    at    the    same    pace. 

The  ads  of  today,  and  those  of  five  and 
ten  years  back,  show  very  little  change. 
For  the  most  part,  and  with  few  excep- 
tions, they  still  show  the  same  mold, 
crowded  blendings  of  illustrations  and 
pretty  worifs — the  idea  being  to  get  the 
greatest  content   in   the  boundaries   allowed. 

Modernism  in  advertising  demands  sim- 
plicity, both  in  form  and  copy.  It  cTe- 
mands  that  the  form  shall  follow  the  func- 
tion. In  the  case  of  theatrical  advertising, 
rhe  function  is  to  acquaint  the  reader  with 
what  he  is  most  vitally  interested,  the 
cast,  the  producer,  the  title,  and  story 
background,  and  to  give  him  this  informa- 
tion in  the  simplest  way — sans  flourish, 
super  superlatives,  hokum,  and  unwield- 
iness. 

Why  doesn't  the  home  office  publicity  de- 
partment   do    something?     It    will. 


Vincent  Will  Wield 
Protest  Meet  Gavel 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
sylvania,    Southern    New    Jersey    and 
Delaware,    which    is    sponsoring    the 
meeting.     Vincent    has    signified    his 
willingness   to   serve. 

Twenty-one  exhibitor  units,  say 
sponsors  of  the  meeting,  representing 
both  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  and  Allied  af- 
filiates, have  signed  their  intention  of 
being  represented  at  the  New  York 
meeting,  the  purpose  of  which  is  to 
protest  against  the  sales  policy  of  M- 
G-M,  which  the  Philadelphia  zone 
unit  brands  as  unfair.  The  exhibitors 
are  particularly  concerned  over  M-G- 
M's  percentage  demands.  Other  com- 
pany policies  also  are  to  come  under 
fire  at  the  September  meeting,  as  will 
the  score  charge  and  other  matters 
considered  irksome  by  exhibitors. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

New  Product  Sales 
Nicked  by  Closings 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  closing  of  more  than  100  inde- 
pendent theatres  in  the  metropolitan 
area  because  of  the  labor  dispute  with 
the  Chicago  Operators'  union. 

Country  buying  continues  in  good 
volume  and  negotiations  with  circuits 
in  the  metropolitan  area  are  un- 
affected by  the  labor  situation.  Gen- 
eral indecision  among  independents, 
however,  has  brought  buying  negoti- 
ations to  a  definite  standstill  in  the 
unaffiliated  field.  Added  to  the  selling 
handicaps  brought  on  by  the  labor 
situation  is  the  difficulty  salesmen 
find  in  establisheing  contacts  with  the 
owners  of  the  100  closed  theatres  who, 
naturally,  cannot  be  located  at  their 
properties  as  readily  as  before  the 
closings. 

All  Chicago  exchanges  report  a 
general  retarding  of  sales  at  this  time, 
and  attribute  it  solely  to  the  situation 
created  by  the  independents'  deadlock 
with    the   Operators'   union. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Fannie  Brice  to  Court 

Fannie  Brice  must  appear  in  Su- 
preme Court  August  26  for  examina- 
tion as  to  details  of  her  suit  for 
$125,000  for  alleged  breach  of  con- 
tract by  the  Art  Cinema  Corp. 


Fox  Slapping  Back  in 
Row  with  Wampas 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

over  since  the  selection  of  the  Wam- 
pas baby  stars  was  announced,  with 
Fox  players  ignored  on  the  list.  Eight 
representatives  of  Fox  or  allied  com- 
panies have  resigned  from  the  Wam- 
pas as  a  result  and  the  new  "debu- 
tante stars"  idea  is  Fox's  answer  to 
the  alleged  slight. 

Because  the  company  "shares  with 
no  one  either  the  responsibility  or  the 
glory  accruing  from  its  public  for  the 
selections  made,"  no  "pernicious  mo- 
tives for  the  promotion  of  undeserving 
aspirants,  nor  the  denial  of  expres- 
sion of  the  deserving  can  hereafter 
be  effected,"  officials  stated.  This 
statement  is  taken  as  a  direct  slap  at 
the   Wampas'    selection. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Meehan  Editor  of 
"Hollywood  Herald" 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
has  been   fulfilling  the  office   of   gen- 
eral manager  of  The  H ollyivcod  Her- 
ald since   its   establishment. 

"Mr.  Meehan  has  had  wide  experi- 
ence in  newspaper  and  motion  picture 
production  activities  and  is  exception- 
ally qualified  to  discharge  interesting- 
ly, expertly  and  dependably  the  duties 
of  his   new   position. 

"In  leaving  The  Hollyisjood  Her- 
ald, Mr.  Johnston,  whose  resignation 
has  been  regretfully  accepted,  takes 
with  him  the  heartiest  best  wishes  of 
all  of  the  executives  and  staff  mem- 
bers of  the  Quigley  Publications. 
"Martin    Quigley." 

Meehan  was  scheduled  to  assume 
his    new   duties    today. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

MankiewicZy  Heath 
Made  Para.  Producers 

Hollywood— Herman  J.  Mankie- 
wicz  and  Percy  Heath,  Paramount 
writers,  have  been  made  producers. 
Mankiewicz  has  been  writing  in  Hol- 
lywood since  1926  and  as  his  last  job 
supervised  "Monkey  Business."  Heath 
has  been  under  contract  with  Para- 
mount for  the  past  five  years  as  a 
writer. 


Business  on      I 

Upward  Trend 

In  Cleveland 


Total  $79,500  for  €  Theatres 


ve- 

I 


Cleveland — Business  showed  a  de- 
cided upward  trend  at  all  first  runs, 
with  the  Allen  and  the  State  going 
over  average.  "Sporting  Blood" 
took  in  $21,000,  or  $1,000  above  par, 
at  the  State,  and  Will  Rogers  in 
"Young  as  You  Feel"  beat  normal 
by  the  same  margin,  grossing  $19,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  20  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages: 

"TEN  NIGHTS  IN  A  BAR  ROOM" 
(State   Rights) 

WARNER'S  LAKE— (800),  40-60c,  7  dayi 
Gross:    $3,000.      (Average,    $5,000.) 

Week  ending  August  21: 
"YOUNG   AS    YOU    FEEL."    (Fax) 

ALLEN— (3,300),   30c-60c,   7  days.      ~ 
$19,000.      (Average,    $18,000.) 
"THE  PRIVATE  SECRETARY"  (Orman) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,400),  50c,  7  days,  eve- 
nings only.  Gross:  $3,500.  (Average, 
$4  000  ) 

"COMMON    LAW"    (Pathe-RKO) 

RKO  HIPPOI>ROME^(3,800),  25c-35c-7: 
2nd  week,  7  days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Avi 
age,   $15,000.) 

"THE    RUNAROUND"    (Radio) 

RKO     PALACE— (3,100),     25c-35c-75c,     7 
days.      Gross:     $23,000.      (Average,    $23,000.) 
"SPORTING  BLOOD"  (M-G-M) 

STATE— (3,600),  30c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$21,000.      (Average,    $20,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Chevalier  Big  in  St. 
Paul;  Does  $12,000 

(Continued  from  page  3) 
Other  first  runs  hit  around  the  aver- 
age mark. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  21   and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 
"THE   SMILING  LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  25c-S0c,  7  days. 
Qrosa:   $12,000.       (Average,   $7,500.) 

"MURDER  BY  THE  CLOCK"  (Para.) 

RIVIERA— (1,000),  25c-35c50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,500.      (Average,    $7,000.) 

"THE  COMMON  LAW"  (RKO-Pathe) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaude.     Gross^  $12,000.     (Average,  $12,000.) 
"A    HOLY   TERROR"    (Fooc) 

TOWER— (1,000),  15c-25c,  7  days.  .Gross: 
$2,000.     (Average,  $2,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Will  Rogers  Tops  All 
In  Minneapolis  Week 

(Continued  from  page  3) 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
mg  August  21  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages : 

"UP    POPS    THE    DEVIL"    (Para.) 

ASTER— (812),  20c-25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,500.     (Average,   $lj500.) 

"A  HOLY  TERROR"   (Fox) 

LYRIC— (1,238),  30c-40c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,500.      (Average,    $2,500.) 

"YOUNG   AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox> 

MINNESOTA— (4,000),  30c-75c,  7  days. 
Vaude.     Grass:   $25,000.     (Average,  $20,000.) 

"THE  COMMON  LAW"  (RKO-Pathe) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,900),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Ooss:  $14,(X)0.  (Average, 
$14,000.) 

"MURDER  BY  THE  <XOCK"  (Para.) 

STATE— (2,300),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,500.      (Average,    $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Billingsley  Elected 

San  Francisco— Floyd  M.  Billings- 
ley, business  agent  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Operators'  Union,  Local  162, 
has  been  elected  seventh  international 
vice-president  of  the  I.  A.  T.  S.  E., 
succeeding  Cleve  Beck,  resigned. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  73 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  AUGUST  25,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Police  Guard 
Chi  Theatres 
In  Union  War 


Indie  Theatres  Operating 
With  New  York  Men 


Chicago  —  Poice  yesterday  were 
guarding  local  independent  houses 
which  are  operating  with  projectionists 
brought  here  from  New  York.  Mean- 
while, what  promises  to  be  a  bitter 
fight  to  the  finish  is  planned  by  Tom 
Maloy,  boss  of  the  Chicago  opera- 
tors' union,  against  Allied  theatres 
which  reopened  Sunday  night  under 
a  temporary  injunction  restraining 
the  police  from  arresting  their  unli- 
censed operators. 

Previous    to    the    restraining    order, 

issued   by    Superior    Judge    Ross    C. 

Hall,  20  operators  on  Saturday  were 

taken  to  police  stations  charged  with 

(Continued  on  page  2) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sympathy  Strike 
Operator  Threat 

Indianapolis  —  Further  complica- 
tions in  the  theatre-musicians  conflict 
were  brought  about  by  the  threat  of 
projectionists  and  stagehands  that 
they  would  go  out  if  musicians  were 
not  reinstated. 

The  ultimatum  was  issued  to  the 
management  of  the  Lyric,  where  the 
musicians  have  been  out  since  the  first 
of  August.     A.  J.  Kalberer,  manager, 

{Continued    on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Distribs  Eager 
For  New  Contract 

New  standard  form  of  licensing 
agreement  will  be  put  into  effect  by 
distributors  as  speedily  as  possible  in 
their  effort  to  alleviate  the  present 
contract  situation.  Distributors  now 
are  studying  the  legal  phases  of  the 
situation  and  are  eager  to  get  the 
new  contract  form  working  as  speed- 
ily as   possible. 

The  delay  in  ratification  of  the  new 

(^Continued   on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Smith  Out?  Old  Yarn 
And  Untrue,  Says  He 

That  monthly  report  anent  Court- 
land  Smith  is  making  the  rounds 
again.  This  time  it  is  reported  Smith 
severs  connection  with  Pathe  News 
and  Trans  Lux  September  1.  Said 
Smith   yesterday : 

"Some  people  undoubtedly  would 
(.Continued  on  page  8) 


Those  Canny  Canucks 

Montreal — Shareholders  of  Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp. 
who  refused  to  turn  in  their  shares  15  months  ago  for  stock 
certificates  of  Paramount  Publix  are  again  doing  some  crowing 
because  of  the  fact  that  the  Canadian  company  has  declared  a 
dividend  of  50  cents  in  cash  for  the  quarter  ending  September  1, 
this  being  the  regular  yield. 

What  trading  there  has  been  in  the  original  Canadian  shares  ■ 
has  shown  their  market  value  to  be  relatively  greater  than  Para- 
mount  Publix,   this    being   the    cause   of    some    comment   on    the 
street  a  short  time  ago. 


Ask  $250,000 
For  Loss  of 
FN  Franchise 


San  Antonio— a  value  of  $250,000 
is  placed  upon  the  First  National  Pic- 
ture franchise  in  this  city  by  the 
Commerce  Realty  Co.  in  a  suit  filed  in 
the  District  Court  against  Publix 
Theatres  and  the  San  Antonio  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  operators  of  the  Aztec 
Theatre  here. 

The  Commerce  Realty  Co.  owned 
and  operated  the  Aztec  until  January 
1,  1929,  when  Publix  took  the  theatre 
over  on  a  10  year  lease.  With  the 
lease  went  a  First  National  franchise 
which  expires  January  1,  1945.  Pub- 
lix continued  to  show  First  National 
(Continued   on   page   7) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Deals  for  41 
Houses  Being  Set 

Deals  for  the  sale  of  41  Fox  east- 
ern theatres  to  independents  are  still 
in  negotiation.  One  of  them  is  the 
M.  E.  Comerford  deal  for  38  upstate 
New  York  houses  while  the  other  is 
for  three  Bronx  theatres  to  M.  Sil- 
verman. Harry  Arthur,  general  man- 
ager of  the  circuit,  leaves  next  week 
on  a  periodical  visit  to  all  Fox  houses 
under  his  jurisdiction.  In  both  in- 
stances no  money  has  changed  hands. 


R.  Chatterton 
Tells  All  the 
Para.  Inside 


Hollywood — Now  that  she  is  all  set 
to  join  Warners,  Ruth  Chatterton  ap- 
parently feels  differently  about  al- 
legiance to   Paramount. 

In  an  exclusive  interview  with  a 
reporter  for  The  Hollyivood  Herald, 
Miss  Chatterton  takes  a  shot  at  the 
Paramount  studio  for  its  handling  of 
"The  Magnificent  Lie,"  her  currently 
released  picture.  She  says  the  original 
story,  "Laurels  and  the  Lady,"  by 
Leonard  Merrick,  was  purchased  at 
her  suggestion  because  it  had  "excel- 
lent   possibilities." 

"All  that  was  retained  or  it  was  the 
(Continued  on   page   7) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

AMPAS--WAMPAS 
Have  Baby  Trouble 

Randy  Lewis,  long-standing  friend 
of  Vic  Shapiro,  is  seeking  to  inter- 
est the  AMPA  in  passing  a  "chas- 
tise" resolution  directed  at  the  Wam- 
pas  for  what  he  considers  its  "atti- 
tude" toward  Shapiro  in  the  funfest 
revolving  around  selection  of  the 
Wampas  "Baby  Stars"  in  which  the 
Fox    candidates    were    not    included. 

From   Hollywood   Lewis   has   wired 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Independents  to  Produce 
300  Features,  900  Shorts 


Hollywood — Three  hundred  fea- 
tures and  900  shorts  are  scheduled  for 
production  by  independents  for  the 
new  season,  according  to  estimates. 

Included  in  the  list  are  pictures  of 
Columbia,  Tiffany,  Trem  Carr  Studio, 
Howard  Hughes,  J.  G.  Bachmann, 
Benny  Zeidman,  Selznick-Milestone 
and  Perfection. 

The  sudden  boom  of  independent 
production    means    work    for    actors, 


writers  and  technicians.  It  will  help 
mightily  in  relieving  unemployment. 
Because  of  changing  policies  on  long 
term  contracts  and  salaries,  many 
prominent  players  have  joined  the 
ranks  of  free  lancers,  so  the  inde- 
pendents have  plenty  of  names  avail- 
able. 

Hughes    is    putting    out    eight    pic- 
tures,   starting    with    "The    Age    for 
(Continued  on  page  8; 


Loew  Invasion 
Of  PhiUy  Set; 
Gets  Keith's 


Takes  Over  Former  P.P, 
Flagship  Sept.  1 


Loew's  on  September  11  will  begin 
its  invasion  of  the  Philadelphia  terri- 
tory with  acquisition  of  Keith's,  erst- 
while Paramount  flagship  in  the 
Quaker  City.  The  theatre  is  being 
leased  from  Warners,  which  took  it 
over  following  settlement  of  its  diffi- 
culties with  Paramount. 

Keith's  will  play  M-G-M  and 
United  Artists  product  under  the  new 
regime.  Loew's  began  negotiations 
for  the  house  some  time  ago  after  a 
rift  is  said  to  have  developed  between 
M-G-M  and  Stanley-Warner  on  prod- 
uct. 

The  first  picture  to  be  presented 
by  Loew's  at  Keith's  is  "Street 
Scene,"  United  Artists  picture,  states 
Col.  E.  A.  Schiller,  operating  head 
of  the  circuit. 

Lease  of  Keith's  by  Warners  pre- 
(Co"tinued  on  page  8) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Loew's  Slice  Price 
Scale  in  Cleveland 

Cleveland  —  Picture  admission 
prices  will  drop  here  Friday  when 
the  Loew  theatres  in  that  city  will 
put  into  effect  the  most  radical  price 
reductions  made  at  any  one  time  in 
Cleveland's   show,  history. 

The  cuts  affect  every  Loew  theatre 
in  Cleveland  and  range  from  16  to 
40  per  cent.,  covering  matinees  and 
nights,  children  and  adults.  Loew's 
picked  as  the  time  to  put  in  the  price- 
slashing   the   eve    of    the   fall    season. 

(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Loses  Point 
In  N.W.  Breach  Case 

MiXNE.APOLis — Demurrer  of  M-G- 
M  to  the  defense  of  George  Carich, 
Mohawk  Theatre,  St.  Paul,  who  de- 
clared the  company's  contract  is  il- 
legal because  it  lacks  mutuality,  was 
overruled  in  District  Court  here, 
Judge  Clyde  R.  White  ruling  that 
(Continued  on  page  8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Settlement  of  Cagney 
Jam  Now  Under  Way 

Negotiations  for  settlement  of  the 
James  Cagnev- Warner  dispute  are  un- 
der way,  it  is  reported.  Deliberations 
call  for  return  of  the  star  to  the 
studio  at  an  early  date. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August  25,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review 

and  Motion  Pictures   Today 


Vol.    30 


August    25.    1931 


No.    73 


Martin  Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

JAMES  A.   CRON 

Advertising   Manager 


^'^W\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
r  11^  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^«|^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  Vork."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  IVilliam 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  iV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.  C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  Y.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada; foreign,  $15.    Single  copies,   10  cents. 


Hungry 

A  NYONE  who  will 
stop  long  enough  to  listen  these 
days  will  hear  this  theory  and 
that  about  why  the  public  isn't 
supporting  picture  theatres. 
We  believe  we  know  the  an- 
swer, even  if  we  can't  supply 
the  cure.    This  is  it : 

The  public  has  never  stopped 
being  show-hungry.  Take  a 
peek  at  box-office  reports  as 
they  make  their  appearance  in 
Motion  Picture  Daily  for 
proof  that  folks  will  spend 
money  to  see  what  they  want 
to  see. 

1  HE  trouble  is  there 
aren't  enough  sure  things  to 
supply  the  demand.  As  an  ex- 
ample of  what  can  be  done, 
you  will  find  no  better  instance 
currently  than  the  experience 
of  the  Palace,  here  in  New 
York,  where  the  same  all-star 
vaudeville  bill  has  had  the 
doors  bulging  with  the  paying 
public  for  six  weeks  running. 

Today,  picture  fans  won't  be 
satisfied  with  clucks,  near  and 
otherwise.  It  may  be  too  bad 
for  Hollywood,  but  neverthe- 
less, this  happens  to  be  the 
truth. 

i\  N  old  observation 
and  perhaps  tiresome,  to  boot, 
but  the  indisputable  fact  re- 
mains that,  give  the  public 
what  it  wants  to  see,  and  it 
w'\\\  pay  for  it,  depression  times 
or  boom  times  notwithstand- 
ing. 

KANN 


Purely 
Personal. 

<«  TIMA'IY"  FISHMAN'S  excellent 
"  pitching  helped  Columbia  tighten 
its  grip  on  first  place  in  the  Motion 
Picture  Basball  League  when  it  de- 
feated RKO  by  a  score  of  3  to  12. 
Fishman  won  over  Pitcher  Schultz  of 
RKO  even  though  each  allowed  but 
two  hits. 

Gordon  White,  Educational's  di- 
rector of  advertising  and  publicity, 
has  a  best  wishes  card  from  Ama,  the 
Tiff  chimp,  whose  acquaintance  he 
made  during  his  recent  Coast  visit. 

Burt  Kelly,  says  Gordon,  is 
plenty  busy  on  the  Tiff  lot  in  Holly- 
wood. The  veteran  Publix  execu- 
tive is  keepmg  an  eye  on  all  phases 
of  production  activity. 

Eddie  Cantor  is  to  leave  Los  An- 
geles next  Monday  to  attend  New 
York  premiere  September  14  of  his 
new  picture,  "Palmy  Days,"  at  the 
Rivoli. 

Mike  Simmons,  a  Cape  Cod  vaca- 
tion behind  him,  is  back  on  the  job 
at    Educational-Tififany-World   Wide. 

Patsy  Reis,  Howard  Dietz's  sec- 
retary, just  regrets  leaving  the  Coast 
for    New    York. 

Jeff  McCarthy  is  due  back  from 
the  cures  abroad  shortly. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Combining  All  Fox 
Publicity,  A  dvertising 

Merging  of  all  publicity  and  adver- 
tising departments  of  Fox  companies 
with  Glenn  Griswold  as  head  is  un- 
derstood to  be  under  way.  Announce- 
ment of  the  new  set-up  is  expected 
to   l>e   made  this  week. 

Gabe  Y'orke,  assistant  to  Griswold, 
yesterday  arrived  in  New  York  from 
the  Coast.  His  new  post  will  be  set 
this  week. 


Four  Hour  Show 

Loew's  State  has  a  four  hour 
show  with  six  pictures  and  six 
acts  of  vaudeville.  Five  shorts 
are  on  the  bill  with  the  feature, 
"A  Great  Lover." 


Brandt  Confident 
Of  Columbia  Future 

Net  earnings  of  Columbia  for  fiscal 
year  ending  June  27,  1931,  shows  a 
"loss  of  $469,089  over  the  1930  period 
with  net  profits  for  the  current  fiscal 
year  listed  at  $560,869,  equal  to  $3.09 
a  share  on  the  common  as  compared 
with  $1,029,958,  or  $6.11  for  the  pre- 
vious   12   months. 

In  commenting  on  the  report  Joe 
Brandt,  president,  looks  forward  to 
the  future  with  confidence.  He  said 
that  "A  substantial  amount  of  income, 
which  normally  would  have  been  re- 
ceived from  the  distribution  of  our 
pictures  in  Great  Britain  and  the  Irish 
Free  State,  will  not  be  received  until 
after  the  beginning  of  the  new  fiscal 
year  as  a  result  of  our  having 
changed  to  a  percentage  basis  of  dis- 
tribution in  those  countries  in  the 
expectation  of  greater  ultimate  income 
under   that   arrangement. 

"Furthermore,  on  account  of  the  un- 
certainty of  conditions  prevailing  in 
Australia  and  declining  foreign  ex- 
change, it  was  deemed  advisable  to 
sell  the  Australian  pounds  and  bonds 
derived  from  the  distribution  of  our 
pictures  in  Australia,  resulting  in  a 
shrinkage  of  $86,452.91,  all  of  which 
amount  was  charged  against  profit 
during  the  last  quarter  although  these 
rentals  were  actually  accumulated  for 
the  entire  period  dating  from  April, 
1930,  to  the  end  of  the  present  fiscal 
year,"  he   said. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gable  Re-Signs 

Hollywood — Apparently  they  be- 
lieve Clark  Gable  is  headed  for  star- 
dom over  at  M-G-M.  Following  re- 
turn from  Europe  of  Irving  Thalberg, 
the  player's  old  contract  was  scrap 
ped  and  a  new  one  closed  at  ap- 
preciably more  salary  for  the  per- 
former. 


Stocks  Off;  W.  B,  Sales  Big:  7,600 


High  Low  Close 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 7^4  IVi         V/2 

Consolidated   Film   Industries   pfd 1334  12i/$  12^ 

Eastman     Kotfak     1395/^  nW'i  139H 

Fox   Film    "A" 13 J^  13  135^ 

General     Theatre    Equipment    new 2H  V/a,  2i/i 

Ixiew's.    Inc 4714  46H  47!^ 

M-G-M   pfd 2S'A  2SH  2Sys 

Paramount     Publix      23K  22^  2» 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 55/g  S'A  5^ 

RKO     14^  14  14J^ 

Warner    Bros 8'A  7U  gi^ 


Net 
Change 

-'A 
-  % 
+  Vi 
+  A 


+  A 
-  A 

-A 


All  Issues  Off;  G,  T,  Sales  1,700 


High  Low 

Columbia     Pictures     vtc 9  ?,V% 

Fox    Theatres    "A" *. 2)4.  2Vi 

General  Theatre   Equipment   pfd 4J4  4 

gentry    .Safety    Control iA  ^A 

Technicolor     6'A  (>A 

Trans    hnx     454  4J4 


Net 
Close     Change 


9 

2Vi 
4 

¥>. 

6A 
4M 


+  A 
-A 
-"Vs 


Sales 

300 
1,100 
2,900 
4,000 
4,300 
3,000 

100 
5,000 

600 
1.600 
7,600 


Sales 

200 
400 
1.700 
300 
200 
500 


G,  T.  Bonds  Drop  2^^  Points 


High 

General   Theatre    Equipment   6s    '40 22!4 

Keith    B.    F.    6s    '46 67 

Loew's   6s    '41    ex   war 98J^ 

Paramount     Broadway    S^s    '51 103 

Paramount   F.    L.   6s   '47 85!/^ 

Paramount     Publix    SJ^s,     '50 78 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww 93 

Warner   Bros.   6s   '39  wd 54 


Net 

Low 

Close 

Change 

Sales 

205^ 

205^ 

-2A 

20 

67 

67 

-  V2 

10 

98 

98 

-  K 

19 

103 

103 

-A 

1 

85 

85 

-1 

5 

78 

78 

1 

92 

93 

17 

52M 

54 

46 

\ 


( 


Police  Guard 
Chi  Theatres 
In  Union  War 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

running  projectors  without  licenses. 
They  have  been  ordered  to  appear  in 
court  to   answer   the   charges. 

C.  K.  Creiger,  new  examiner  of 
operators,  who  ordered  the  men's 
arrest,  was  accused  of  stalling  in  his 
failure  to  facilitate  licensing  of  the 
new  men.  Plans  for  fighting  the  the- 
atres are  under  way  by  Maloy  who 
will  move  to  have  the  injunction  dis- 
solved in  a  hearing  today  before 
Judge  Hall.  Maloy  stressed  the  re- 
puted fire  hazard  and  assailed  W.  A. 
Steffes  in  his  radio  talk  Sunday 
night.  Maloy  will  seek  a  court  order 
to  attach  theatre  receipts  for  back  pay 
for  operators  since  the  houses  closed. 

Fifteen  .  exhibitors  who  reopened 
Sunday  night,  ran  their  own  machines 
and  state  they  will  continue  to  do  so. 
At  Auditorium  headquarters,  Steffes 
and  Aaron  Saperstein,  head  of  the 
Chicago  Allied  unit,  expressed  satis- 
faction over  the  "present  victory"  and 
are  awaiting  Maloy's  next  move.  The 
possibilities  of  serious  trouble  in  the 
near  future  are  recognized  but  not 
discussed  by  Saperstein  and  Stefifes. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

High  Tariff  Halts 
Mexican  Shipments 

Faced  by  an  import  tariff  which 
provides  an  increase  of  67  pesos 
(about  $33.50)  per  kilogram  on  film, 
American  distributors  have  stopped 
shipment  of  product  to  Mexico.  If 
the  Mexican  government  persists  in 
adhering  to  what  the  trade  here  re- 
gards as  a  tariff  under  which  they 
cannot  operate,  Mexican  theatres, 
which  depend  on  American  pictures 
for  bulk  programs,  may  have  to  close. 

The  industry  maintains  a  Mexican 
Film  Board  of  Trade  in  Mexico 
City  which  is  leading  the  campaign 
for  a  downward  revision  in  the  levy. 
Labor  organizations  and  employes  of 
theatres,  as  well  as  exhibitors,  are  co- 
operating in  the  movement. 

Film  stocks  now  on  hand  in  Mex-  fll 
ico    are    declared    to    be    sufficient    to 
keep    theatres     open     for     two    more 
months. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Visitors 

Bert  F.  Lyon,  Warners'  Canadian 
sales  manager,  is  in  New  York  con^ 
ferring  with  Claude  E.  Ezell. 

Joe  Vergesslich,  Warner-First  Na- 
tional branch  manager  in  Chicago,  is'j 
here,  accompanied  by  Earl  Silverman] 
of   the   same  exchange. 

C.  J.  Musselman,  Paris  (Texas)  ex- 
hibitor, is  in  New  York  and  yester- 
day  visited   the   Warner   office. 

Walter  Meyers,  head  of  Warners' 
Eastern  Casting  Bureau,  returns  from 
the  Coast  next  week.  Has  been  off  on 
a  talent-scouting  trip  for  Warner  pre- 
sentation houses. 

Lil  Dagover  arrives  on  the  He  de 
France  today  enroute  to  Hoffywood 
to  make  pictures  for  First  Na;fional. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Franklin  Here 

Harold  B.  Franklin  arrived  in  New 
York  yesterday  from  the  Coast  and 
starts  for  Hollywood  again  the  end 
of  the  week. 


AN  AD  FOR  you 
TO  RUN  IN  YOUR 
HOME  TOWN 


Dear  Friends: 

ONE  oF  the  greatest  surprises  to  come  out  oF  the  motion  picture 
studios  in  Hollywood  For  a  long  time  is  the  picture  called 
East  oF  Borneo  which  will  open  at  this  theatre  on  (insert  date). 
The  producers  have  kept  it  more  or  less  a  secret.  Universal  Pictures 
Corporation  sent  an  expedition  to  some  oF  the  islands  in  the  southern 
seas  and  gathered  material  For  what  they  hoped  would  be  a  sensationally 
melodramatic  production.  They  did  not  realize  what  a  sensation  they  had 
on  their  hands  until  they  got  back  to  Hollywood,  developed  and  printed 
the  Films,  pieced  them  together  and  added  some  connecting    shots. 

I  HEN  they  knew! 

IN  East  oF  Borneo  they  have  made  a  production  which  will  startle 
you.  It  will  give  you  thrill  aFter  thrill.  It  is  a  magnificent  story  oF 
love,  adventure  and  the  most  daring  kind  oF  stunts.  Some  scenes  were 
made  in  the  jungle.  We  admit  quite  Frankly  we  haven't  the  least  idea 
how  they  Found  a  way  to  make  them.  Danger  was  deFied.  TerriFic 
chances  were  taken.  Nothing  was  overlooked  to  make  it  an  out-and- 
out  sensation,  which  it  will  undoubtedly  be  all  over  the  world. 

WE  strongly  urge  you  to  see  it.  It  is  the  sort  oF  picture  man, 
woman  and  child  will  enjoy  as  they  have  seldom  enjoyed  any 
entertainment  beFore. 

IT  is,  in  our  opinion,  the  surprise  picture  oF  the  year  and  it  will  be 
talked  about  For  years  to  come  I 

INEMEMBER,  it  opens  here  on  (insert  date). 

(THEATRE  NAME  HERE) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August  25,   1931 


Am.  Trag." 
Nearest  Par 
In  Okla.  City 


Total  $24^00  for  4  Theatres 


Oklahoma  City — All  houses  here 
are  off,  with  "An  American  Tragedy" 
coming  nearest  to  ringing  the  bell  last 
week.  It  grossed  $7,500  at  the  Cri- 
terion, which  is  below  average,  but 
good    considering    general    conditions. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  21  and  year-round 
weekly  averages : 

"AN    AMERICAN    TRAGEDY"    (Par.) 

CRITERIOX— (1,800),  10c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $7,500.     (Average,   $8,000.) 

"SPORTING   BLOOD"   (M-G-M) 

CAPITOI^-(1,200),  10c-25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $5,400.     (Average,    $7,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 

MID-WEST— (1,500),  10c-25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.     Gross:    $6,000.     (Average,    $7,500.) 

"THE    COMMAND    PERFORMANCE" 
(Tiffany) 

LIBERTY— (1,500),  10c-25c-35c-50c.  7  days. 
Al  and  Loie  Bridge  vaude.  Gross:  $5,300. 
(Average,   $7,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Rogers  Tied 
For  Lead  in 
Houston  Run 


Total  $34,300  for  4  Theatres 


Houston — Will  Rogers  in  "As 
Young  As  You  Feel"  gave  battle  to 
M-G-M's  prize  package,  "Politics," 
and  when  the  smoke  had  cleared,  it 
found  the  two  in  a  tie  at  $12,000. 
"Dirigible"  got  average  business  at 
the  RKO  Majestic  and  "Transatlan- 
tic" sunk  to  $3,300  at  the  Kirby. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  20  and  year-round 
weekly  averages : 

"TRANSATLANTIC    (Fox) 

KIRBY— (1,654),      25c-35c-50c,      7      days. 
Gross:    $3,300.    (Average,   $5,000.) 
"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

Loew's  State— (2,700),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $12,000.     (Average,    $7,000.) 

"YOUNG    AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 

METROPOLITAN— (2,512),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.    Gross:    $12,000.    (Average,    $7,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 

RKO  MAJE.STIC— (2,250),  25c-35c-S0c.  7 
days.     Gross:    $7,000.    (Average,    $7,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Clifford  and  Shreck 
Resign;  Kane  to  N,  F. 

(ieorge  Clifford,  who  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Quigley  Publishing 
Company  in  the  capacity  of  business 
manager  since   1920,   has   resigned. 

Clifford  joined  the  New  York  head- 
quarters of  the  Quigley  Publishing 
Company  late  last  year.  He  is  re- 
turning to  Chicago  to  become  asso- 
ciated with  a  Chicago  publishing  en- 
terprise. 

Sherwin  A.  Kane,  who  has  been 
Chicago  editorial  representative  of 
Quigley  Publications,  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  New  York  staff  of 
Motion  Picture  Herald,  succeeding 
Jay    M.    Shreck,    resigned. 


Gag  Gangs 

T.4MPA — Gang  pictures  seem 
to  be  getting  the  gate  here,  as 
two  of  Tampa's  de  luxe  houses 
are  using  the  catch  line  "not 
a  gang  picture"  in  their  billing 
this  week.  The  Tampa  is 
showing  "The  Public  Defender'' 
and  the  Victory  has  "Up  for 
Murder,"  with  both  carrying 
the  catch  line. 


Balto.  Gives 
Tardon  Us'  a 
Big  $28,000 


Total  $80,125  for  8  Theatres 


Baltimore — "Pardon  Us,"  first  full- 
length  feature  with  Laurel  and  Hardy 
proved  an  outstanding  hit  at  Loew's 
Century,  doing  $9,000  over  the  aver- 
age with  the  Loew-Capitol  stage  unit 
"Hi  Ho  Presto,"  on  the  same  pro- 
gram. Picture  was  helped  by  large 
newspaper  ads,  part  of  a  national  cam- 
paign. Audiences  rolled  in  their 
chairs  during  first  couple  of  reels,  but 
laughs  not  so  strong  in  latter  part. 

All  other  first-runs  were  above 
average  but  the  Auditorium  which 
started  its  season  with  "The  Mystery 
of  Life,"  with  lecture  by  Clarence 
Darrow,  flopped.  Constance  Bennett 
in  "Bought,"  at  Keith's  was  $2,500 
above  normal ;  Will  Rogers  in  "Young 
As  You  Feel,"  did  $1,000  better  than 
average  and  "Silence"  was  $500  over. 

"Politics"  continued  to  pull  heavily 
at  the  Valencia  and  Parkway  simul- 
taneously after  having  been  shown  all 
week  at  Loew's  Stanley. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  Aug.  20  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"MYSTERY    OF    LIFE"     (Universal) 

AUDITO'RIUM— (1,600),    25c-50c,    6    days. 
Gross:    $2,925.      (Average,    $3,500.) 
"BOUGHT"    (W.B.) 

KEITH'S— (2,500),  25c-50c,  6  days  plus 
a  Sunday  midnight  show.  Gross:  $8,000. 
(Average,  $5,500.) 

Week  Ending  Aug.  21. 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (W.B.) 

WARNER'S  METROPOLITAN— (1,300), 
2nrf  week,  15c-50c,  6  days.  Gross:  $4,800. 
(Average,  $4,500.) 

Week  Ending  Aug.  22 

"PARDON    US"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  CENTURY— (3'.076),  25c-60c,  6 
days.  Loew  Opitol  stage  unit,  "Hi  Ho 
Presto."  orchestra.  Gross:  $28,000.  (Aver- 
age,  $19,000.) 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

(Shown  uptown  after  one  week  at  Loew's 
Stanley  downtown.) 

LOEW'S     PARKWAY— (987),     15c-35c,    6 
davs.     Gross:   $5,200.     (Average,   $3,500.) 
"SILENCE"    (Paramount) 

LOEW'S    STANLEY— (3,522),    25c-60c,    6 
days.      Gross:    $18.0f)0.      (Average,    $17,500.) 
"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

{Shown  downtown  after  one  week  at 
Loew's    Stanley    downtown.) 

LOEW'S    VALENCIA— (1,487),    25c-35c,    6 
days.     Gross:  $4,200.     (Average,  $2,800.) 
"YOUNG   AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 

NEW-(1,600),  25c-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$9,(X)0.      (Average,    $8,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

For  Trust  Law  Change 

The  Neiv  York  American  yester- 
day editorially  sponsored  revision  of 
the  Sherman  anti-trust  laws  "with 
proper  legal  safeguards  to  insure 
against  predatory  practices  and  the 
exploitation  of  the  consuming  pub- 
lic." 


"Front  Page" 
Gets  $15,000 
Frisco  Take 


Total  $139,550  for  9  Theatres 


San  Francisco— "Front  Page"  was 
the  bell-ringer  here  last  week,  run- 
ning up  a  gross  of  $15,000  at  the 
United  Artists,  which  topped  the 
house  average  by  $4,000.  It  will  prob- 
ably go  three  weeks. 

"Dirigible"  was  runner-up  getting 
$14,150  at  the  Orpheum,  where  the 
average  is  $12,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  last  week  and 
year-round  weekly  averages : 

Week  ending  August  18: 

"THREE   GIRLS    LOST"    (Fox) 

GOLDEN       GATE^(2,800),       35c-40c-50c- 
65c,    7    days.      Four    acts    RKO    vaudeville. 
Gross:    $14,850.     (Average,    $15,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $14,150.     (Average,    $12,000.) 

Week  ending  August  19: 

"TRANSATLANTIC"     (Fox) 

FOX— (4,600).  35c-60c,  7  days.  F.  &  M. 
stage  show  and  Walt  Roesner.  Gross: 
$35,000.    (Average,    $35,000.) 

"MURDER   BY   CLOCK"    (Par.) 
■     WARFIELD^,(2,700),   2Sc-35c-50c,   7  days. 
Rube    Wolf    band.      Gross:    $21,000.     (Aver- 
age,   $21,000.) 

"FRONT   PAGE"   (U.   A.) 
UNITED    ARTISTS— (1,200),    25c-40c-60c, 
7    days.     Gross:    $15,000.    (Average,    $11,000.) 
"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
EL      CAPITAN— (3,100),      25c-40c-60c,      7 
days.     Tay    Brower   ban'd    and    stage   revue. 
Gross:    $13,000.    (Average,    $13,000.) 

Week  ending  August  20: 

"VIKING"  (Ind.) 

WARNERS— (1,385).  35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $4,850.    (Average,    $10,500.) 

Week  ending  August  21: 
"HUCKLEBERRY    FINN"    (Par.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,750),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.  Jess  Stafford  band.  Gross:  $15,000. 
(Average,   $19,000.) 

Week  ending  August  22: 

"MERRY    WIVES    OF   VIENNA" 
(German) 

COLUMBIA— (1,700),  35c-50c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $6,700)    (Average,    not    determined.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sympathy  Strike 

Operator  Threat 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 
said    that    the    Lyric   merely    changed 
policies   and   that  the  musicians   were 
not  locked  out  or  on  a   strike. 

Kalberer  also  said  that  the  Lyric 
could  get  along  without  the  stage- 
hands and  that  the  house  would  not 
close  if  the  projectionists  went  out. 

The  Indiana  Skouras-Publix  the- 
atre officials  would  not  make  any 
statement  as  to  whether  or  not  they 
had  received  any  statement  similiar  to 
the  one  delivered  to  the  Lyric.  The 
Indiana  did  away  with  stage  shows  at 
the  same  time  as  the  Lyric. 

Stage  shows  were  done  away  with 
when  the  musicians  and  the  theatres 
could  not  agree  on  renewal  of  the 
yearly  contracts.  Attendance  has 
fallen  off  at  the  Lyric  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, but  business  at  the  Indiana  is 
holding  up. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tired  of  Beekay 

Hollywood — Alice  White  airmails 
Florabel  Muir  and  her  Hollywood 
Herald  column  that  she  is  getting 
"fed  up"  on  Balaban  and  Katz.  "They 
make  a  lot  of  promises,  but  don't  keep 
a  blankety  one  of  them,"  Alice  wafls 
to  Florabel. 


Rogers  Best 
Seattle  Bet 
At  $15,000 


Total  $60,500  for  7  Theatres 


Seattle — Strong  attractions  brought 
improved  business  here  last  week 
with  "As  Young  as  You  Feel"  the 
high  money-getter  with  a  take  of  $15,- 

000.     This  was  $3,000  above  average.  | 

"Huckleberry  Finn"  at  the  Fox  Para-  j 

mount   was   good    for   $13,000,   which  ) 

is  $1,000  better  than  the  house  aver-  j 

age.  \ 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end-  -I 

ing  August  21  and  year-round  week-  Hj 

ly  averages:  il 

"HONEYMOON  LANE"   (Para.) 

FOX  COLISEUM— (2,000),  25c-35c-50c,  4 
days.      Gross:    $3,000.      (Average,    $3,500.) 

"WOMEN   LOVE   ONCE"    (Para.) 

FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-55c-50c,    3 
days.      Gross:    $2,500.      (Average,    $2,500.) 
"YOUNG  AS   YOU  FEEL"   (Foot) 
FOX    PARAMOUNT— (3,150),  2Sc-3Sc-S0c- 
75c,      7      days.     Gross:      $15,000.     (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"HUCKLEBERY    FINN"    (Para.) 
FOX       PARAMOUNT— (3,150),      25c-35c- 
50c-75c,   7   days.     Gross:    $13,000.     (Average, 
$12,000.) 

"ARIZONA"   (CoL) 
LIBERTY— (2,000),       15c-30c:,       7      days. 
Ooss:   $6,000.     (Average,  $7,000.) 
"BOUGHT"    (Warner) 
MUSIC     BOX— (950),     25c-35c-50c-75c,     7 
days.     Gross:  $7,500.     (Average,  $7,500.) 
"THE    MIRACLE   WOMAN"    (Col.) 
RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,650),  25c-35c-50c-6Oc- 
75c,   7   days.     Vaude.  Gross:   $13,500.  (Aver- 
age, $13,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Names  Stein 
Division  Manager 

Freddie  Stein,  who  has  been  assist- 
ant to  Sarri  Rinzler,  supervisor  of 
Brooklyn  and  Long  Island  Fox  The- 
atres for  two  and  a  half  years,  has 
been  appointed  division  manager  of 
the  12  Brooklyn  theatres,  effective 
Sept.  1,  when  Rinzler  resigns.  Other 
changes  in  the  eastern  line-up  of  Fox 
theatres   follow : 

R.  Werriick  has  been  appointed  manager 
of   the   Granada. 

S.  Larschen  is  now  manager  and  trea- 
surer  of   the   Meserole. 

I.  J.  Stein  is  treasurer  of  the  Astoria 
Grand. 

J.  Goldstein  becomes  assistant  manager 
and    treasurer    of    the    Lynbrook. 

G.  King,  formerly  assistant  manager  and 
treasurer  of  the  Lynbrook,  has  been  pro- 
moted   to    manager. 

M.  Smith  has  been  made  manager  of 
the    Valley    Stream. 

William  Brown  has  been  transferred  to 
the    managership    of    the    Ambassador. 

L.  Goldfarb  is  n'ow  manager  and  trea- 
surer  of    the   Corona. 

S.  Fried  becomes  manager  of  the  Astoria 
Grand. 

M-  Weiser  is  manager  and  treasurer  of 
the   Stadium. 

Al  Margolies  now  is  publicity  director 
for  the   Roxy. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW' 

Distributors  Eager 
For  New  Contract 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

form  of  agreement  was  caused  by  dis- 
tributors' fear  of  running  afoul  of 
the  anti-trust  laws  in  acting  in  con- 
cert on  the  drafting  of  the  contract 
Effort  also  was  made  to  secure  an  in- 
formal opinion  on  the  legality  of  the 
contract,  but  the  attorney  general's  of- 
fice stated  that  such  opinion  was  con- 
trary  to  the  department's   policy. 


I 


SERVICE 


Diagram  of  a  Western  Electric 
Sound  System  Circuit 


knows  his  ivay  through  this  intricate  circuit 

.  .  .  thafs  why  he  is  able  to  protect  you 
against  Poor  Sounds  Breakdowns,  Pro- 
gram  Interruptions  and  Lost  Patronage! 


Trained  to  Bell  System  standards  of  main- 
tenance, the  ERPI  man  can  render  this  service 
more  economically  and  efficiently  than  anyone 
else. 

Backed  by  50  years  of  voice  transmission 
experience,  the  Western  Electric  Sound  System 
is  the  finest  equipment  you  can  buy.  Yet  even 


the    finest    equipment    needs    regular,    pains- 
taking and  expert  inspection  and  service. 

By  keeping  your  Western  Electric  Sound 
System  operating  at  peak  performance  for 
the  life  of  your  contract,  the  ERPI  Service 
Engineer  helps  you  earn  dividends  on  your 
investment! 


SOD  N  D 


Westerm^Xtectric 


SYSTEM 


Northern  Electric  in  Canada 

Distributed  by 

Etectrkat  Research  Products  tttc, 

250  West  57th  Street,  New  York 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August  25,    1931 


^Bought'  Does 
$7,250:  Leads 
Indianapolis 


Total  $43,400  for  5  Theatres 


IxDiANAPOLis — Some  smiles  came 
back  last  week,  for  theatre  business 
here   showed   improvement. 

Honors  went  to  Chevalier  in  "The 
Smiling  Lieutenant"  at  the  Indiana 
and  Connie  Bennett  in  "Bought"  at 
the  Apollo.  But  Comiie,  playing  an 
1,100  seat  house,  did  $3,250  over  aver- 
age as  against  Qievalier's  $4,000  bet- 
ter-than-average  in  a  3,300  seat  the- 
atre. That  gives  her  first  performance 
spot  and  makes  it  easy  to  understand 
whj'  "Bought"  is  being  held  over  for 
a  second  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
Aug.  21  and  vear-round  averages: 

"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 

APOLLO— (1.100).  2Sc-50c.  7  davs.  Gross: 
$7,250.    (Average.    $4,0(X).) 

"TRAVELING    HUSBANDS"    (RKO) 
CIRCLE— (2.600).    25c-50c,    7   days.    Gross: 
$4,000.    (Average.   $5,000.) 

"SMILING    LIEUTENANT"    (Par.) 
IXDIAXA— (3,300).        25c-50c.        8       days. 
Gross:    $17,000.    (Average,    $13,000.) 
"TRANSATLANTIC"    (Fox) 
LYRIC— (2,000),    25c-50c,    7    days.    Gross: 
$6,000.    (Average.   $7,000.) 

"SPORTING   BLOOD"    (M-G-M) 
PALACE— (2,800),   25c-50c,  7  days.   Gross: 
$9,150.    (Average,   $8,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

'Dirigible'  in 
Second  Week 
Leads  Boston 


Total  $156,000  for  8  Theatres 


BosTOX  —  "Dirigible,"  playing  its 
second  week  at  Keith's,  did  fully  as 
well  as  in  its  first  week,  again  plac- 
ing the  theatre  at  the  top  for  the 
week's  grosses.  "Huckleberry  Finn" 
at  the  Metropolitan,  with  Heift's  Cali- 
fornians,  grossed  better  than  last 
week,  with  a  steady  growth  promis- 
ing good  business  for  the  fall  sea- 
son. "The  Smiling  Lieutenant,"  after 
playing  three  Publix  houses  a  week 
ago,  moved  over  to  the  Scollay 
Square  and  did  fair  business. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  20  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"HIGH  STAKES"    (Radio) 

KEITH— BOSTO.X— (2.500),  25c-60c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average, 
$18,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 
(Znd    Week) 

KEITH'S  -  (2,800),       25c-6!;c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $20,000.       (Average,    $18,000.) 
"POLITICS"   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'.S  ORPnEUM-(3,100),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  V^aude.  Gross:  $20,500.  (Average, 
$20,000.) 

"PARDON   US"    (M-G-M) 

LOEW'.S      STATE>--(3,700),      25c-50c,      7 
days.      Gross:    $21,500.      (Average.    $20,000.) 
"HUCKLEBERRY  FINN"    (Para.) 

METROPOLITA.X  -  (4.350),     35c-75c,      7 
days.      Gross:    $33,500.      (Average,    $.12,000.) 
"TRANSATLANTIC"     (Fox) 

OLYMPIA-(2,500),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $15,f/X).      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"THE   SMILING  LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

SCOLLAY  SQUARE^(1,800),  25c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $14,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"TRANSATLANTIC"    (Fox) 

UPTOWN  —  (2,000),  25c-60c.  7  days. 
Gross:   $12,500.     (Average,  $12,000.) 


Circus  Hurts 
B.  O.  Grosses 
In  Milwaukee 


Total  $62,400  for  6  Theatres 


Milwaukee — Average  business  for 
the  majority  of  the  first  runs  was 
checked  up  for  the  week  with  two 
exceptions — -"The  Star  Witness"  at 
the  Warner  and  "A  Woman  of  Ex- 
perience" and  vaudeville  at  RKO's 
Riverside.  "The  Star  Witness"  was 
good  for  $12,000  and  the  Riverside  hit 
$14,200. 

Perhaps  the  appearance  of  Ringling 
Bros.,  Barnum  and  Bailey's  circus  on 
Afonday  had  a  bit  to  do  with  it.  The 
circus  did  the  best  business  here  that 
it  has  at  any  stand  this  season.  "The 
Secret  Call"  at  Fox's  Strand  failed 
to  click  and  after  five  days,  during 
which  $4,200  was  taken  in,  it  was 
pulled  for  "The  Magnificent  Lie." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  21  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"JUST   A   GIGOLO"   (M-G-M) 

ALHAMBRA— (2,660),     2Sc-35c-50c-60c,     7 
days.     Gross:   $8,500.     (Average,  $8,000.) 
"THE    VIKING"     (State    Rights) 
GARDEN  —  (1,150),       25c-35c-50c-60c,       7 
days.      Gross:    $10,000.      (Average,    $10,000.) 
"A    WOMAN    OF    EXPERIENCE" 
(RKO-PATHE) 
RIVERSIDE— (2,180),      25c -,35c -500 -60c,      7 
days.      Vaudeville.      Gross:    $14,200.      (Aver- 
age,  $13,000.) 

"THE    SECRET   CALL"    (Para.) 

STRAND— (1,406),   25c-35c-50c-60c,   5   days. 

Gross:    $4,200.      (Average,    $6,500.) 

"THE    STAR    WITNESS"    (Warners) 
WARNER  — (2,500),       25c-35c-50c-6Oc,       7 

days.     Gross:    $12,000. 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 

WISCONSIN— (3,275),  25c-35c-50c-60c,  7 
days.  Fanchon  &  Marco  Idea.  Gross: 
$13,500.      (Average,    $13,000.) 


66 


"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lover  Come 
Back''  $4,000 
Over  in  K.C 


Total  $62,000  for  5  Theatres 


Kansas  City — A  dose  of  cooler 
weather  did  wonders  for  the  box-of- 
fices of  this  city,  all  but  one  of  which 
went  over  par.  "Lover  Come  Back," 
with  the  aid  of  Olsen  and  Johnson 
heading  a  vaudeville  bill,  beat  aver- 
age by  $4,000  with  a  take  of  $19,000, 
while  "Sporting  Blood"  jumped  the 
gross  of  the  Midland  to  $17,000,  nor- 
mal being  $14,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  22  and  year-round  av^ 
erages : 

"THE    STAR    WITNESS"    (Warners) 

LIBERTY— (1,200),  35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $6,000.        (Average,    $5,000.) 

"LOVER    COME   BACK"    (Col.) 

MAINSTREET— (3,067),    35c-60c,    7    days. 
Vaude.      Gross:   $19,000.      (Average,   $15,000.) 
"SPORTING   BLOOD"   (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (4,000),       25c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $17,000.        (Average,    $14,500.) 
"AMERICAN    TRAGEDY"    (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (2,000),       3'5c-50c,       7       days. 
Gross:     $14,000.         (Average.     $12,500.) 
"THE    GIRL    HABIT"    (Para.) 

UPTOWN— (2,200),  25c-5ac,  7  dajys. 
Gross:    $6,000.       (Average,    $6,000.) 


''Palmy  Days'' 

{United  Artists) 
H  o  11  y  w  o  o  d — Better  than 
"Whoopee"  was  the  verdict  of 
a  preview  audience  on  Eddie 
Cantor's  new  picture,  "Palmy 
Days."  Samuel  Goldwyn,  pro- 
ducer, and  Eddie  Sutherland, 
director,  have  turned  out  a 
show  which  has  just  about  the 
right  proportions  of  story,  com- 
edy and  music.  The  splendid 
supporting  cast,  headed  by  lim- 
ber-legged Charlotte  (jreen- 
wood,  aids  Cantor  to  put  over 
a  world  of  typical  Cantoresque 
antics,  most  of  which  take  place 
in  a  bakery  operated  by  a 
chorus  of  girls  who  out-Zeig- 
feld  the  best  set  of  Follies  girls 
for  pulchritude  and  dancing 
talent.  Cantor,  Morris  Ryskind 
and  David  Freedman  did  the 
book  with  Harry  Askt  and  Con 
Conrad  on  the  music.  Busby 
Berkley  and  the  girls  do  the 
best  dance  ensembles  ever  seen 
on  the  screen.  It  looks  like  this 
ought  to  help  President  Hoover 
relieve  anyone  of  their  feeling 
of   depression. 

LEO  MEEHAN. 


New  Ottawa 
Record  Set 
By  Tolitics' 


Total  $24,900  for  6  Theatres 


Ottawa — Last  week  saw  the  re- 
opening of  B.  F.  Keith's  Theatre  as 
the  RKO-Capitol  under  the  joint 
auspices  of  Radio-Keith-Orpheum  of 
Canada,  Ltd.,  and  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corp.,  the  big  house  having 
been  closed  for  six  weeks  for  com- 
plete overhauling.  The  Capitol  policy 
is  to  run  film  programs  for  a  week 
at  the  old  price  scale  with  first  choice 
pictures  getting  the  call.  Manager 
Joe  Franklin  saw  packed  houses  for 
"Politics"  and  a  new  gross  record  of 
$9,800  for  the  six  days  was  estab- 
lished. 

At  the  same  time,  the  Regent  went 
to  split  weeks  at  reduced  prices,  (>0 
cents  being  the  top,  and  "Public  De- 
fender" gathered  in  $2,800  for  three 
days  and  "Confessions  of  a  Co-Ed" 
made  it  $2,500.  There  was  also  a 
slight  reduction  at  the  Imperial  with 
the  general  admission  for  night  shows 
being  cut  from  40  to  35  cents. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  21  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"KIKI"  (U.  A.) 

AVALON— (990),       15c-25c-35c,      3      days. 
Gross:    $8.50.      (Average,       $1,300.) 
"SHIPMATES"    (M-G-M) 
AVALON— (990).       15c-25c-35c,      3      days. 
Gross:    $1,250.      (Average,    $1,300.) 
"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 
CAPITOL— (2,592),     15c-25c-.«c-50c-60c,     6 
days.    Gross:    $9,800.     (New   policy.) 

"CHANCES"    (F.    N.) 

CENTRE^(1.142),      15c-25c-,«c-50c-60c,     6 
days.      Gross:    $5,100.      (Average,   $4,600.) 
"A    HOLY   TERROR"    (Fox) 

IMPERIAL-(1,091),        10c-25c-35c-40c.       6 
days.      Gross:    $2,600.      (Average.    $3,000.) 
"PUBLIC    DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

REGENT— (1,225),      15c-25c-3.5c-50c-60c,     3 
days.      Gross:    $2,800.      (New    policy.) 
"CONFESSIONS    OF    A    CO-ED"    (Para.) 

REGENT— (1.225),  15c-25c-3.Sc-50c-60c,  3 
days.     Gross:    $2,500.      (New   policy). 


Dirigible" 
Cincy  Best 
In  2nd  Run 


Total  $64,538  for  7  Theatres 


Cincinnati — "Dirigible"  at  the 
RKO  Palace  was  the  big  noise  in 
town  last  week  from  the  standpoint 
of  plussing  the  house  average.  After 
having  been  roadshown  for  several 
weeks  at  one  of  the  legitimate  houses 
last  winter  to  good  returns,  the  pic- 
ture did  $17,800  on  the  week  at  the 
Palace,  as  compared  with  a  $14,000 
average.  This  was  the  only  house 
to  cross  the  line.  In  fact,  none  of 
the  others  reached  par,  the  intakes  at 
the  RKO  Strand  and  RKO  Family 
touching  new  lows. 

This  reversal  of  trend  from  the 
previous  seven  days  can  only  be  ac- 
counted for  as  one  of  those  occa- 
sional "off  weeks"  which  sometimes 
manifest  themselves  without  any  ap- 
parent reason.  At  that,  combined  re- 
ceipts were  only  about  12  per  cent  be- 
low aggregate  averages. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  12  and  year-round 
weekly  averages : 

"A    HOLY    TERROR"    (Fox) 

KEITH'S— (1,600),  30c-50c,  7  a'ays.  Gross: 
$2,900.       (Average,    $4,500.) 

"THE     SECRET     CAUL"     (Para.) 

RKO    ALBEE^(3,30O),    35c-50c-65c-7Sc,    7 
days.      Vaude.      Gross:    $20,750.       (Average, 
$22,000.) 
"MURDER    BY    THE    CLOCK"    (Para.) 

RKO   CAPITOi:^(2,000),   30c-50c,   7  days. 
Gross:     $10,013.        (Average,    $13,000.) 
"THE    LAWLESS    WOMAN" 

(Chesterfield)  I 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,140),  20c-25c-35c,  4 
days.  Gross:  $1,235.  (Average,  $1,950.) 
"THE    MAN    IN    POSSESSION"    (Para.) 

RKO   FAMILY— (1,140),   second   run,   20c- 
25c-35c,    3    days.       Gross:    $665.       (Average, 
$1,050.) 
"THE    COMMON    LAW"     (RKO-Pathe) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,400),    second    week,    30c- 
50c,    7    days    plus    Saturday    midnight    show. 
Gross:     $8,675.        (Average,    $12,000.) 
"DIRIGIBLE"     (Col.) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700),  30c-50c,  7  d'ays 
plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$17,800.        (Average,    $14,000.) 

"HONEYMOON     LANE"     (Parfr.) 

RKO  STRAND— (1,350),  25c-35c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $2,500.         (Average,     $3,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Dirigible's" 
$7,000  Leads 
In  Charlotte  I 


Total  $15,500  for  2  Theatres 


Charlotte — Heavy  advertising  and 
a  special  lobby  display  helped  "Diri- 
gible" to  get  $7,000  in  a  full  week  at 
the  Broadway.  This  was  $1,000  bet- 
ter than  average.  "The  Squaw  Man" 
got  $4,500  in  two  days  at  the  Caro- 
lina, which  was  a  good  showing. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  21  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages  : 

"DIRIGIBLE"   (CoL) 

BROADWAY— (1,167),  25c-35c-50c,  6  days.] 
Gross:    $7,000.     (Average.    $6,000.) 

"GUILTY    HANDS"    (M-G-M) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  3  days.' 
Gross:    $4,000.    (Average,   $5,500.) 

"THE    SQUAW    MAN"    (M-G-M) 

CAROLINA— (1,441),  40c-50c,  2  days.l 
Gross:    $4,500.    (Average,    $3,650.) 


Tuesday,  August  25,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hot  Election 
Hits  Theatres 
In  Montreal 


Total  $50,200  for  6  Theatres 


Montreal  —  Canada's  largest  city 
was  in  the  throes  of  a  hot  election 
campaign  during  the  past  week  and 
there  were  many  who  gave  little 
thought  to  anything  but  political  ral- 
lies. The  theatre  business  therefore 
was  only  steady,  with  the  Palace  The- 
atre taking  the  week's  honors  with 
Will  Rogers'  "Young  as  You  Feel," 
which  grossed  $12,400,  some  better 
than  summer  average. 

"The  Good  Bad  Girl"  and  five 
vaudeville  acts  registered  $10,800  at 
Loew's  and  this  was  helped  a  notch  by 
the  addition  of  three  acts  for  a  special 
one  night.  The  Capitol  scored  an 
even  $10,000  with  a  pair  of  features, 
"Son  of  India"  and  "Children  of 
Dreams,"  while  the  Princess  was 
steady  with  $9,500  on  "Mother's  Mil- 
lions." The  Imperial  had  an  unusual 
combination  in  "Lady  of  the  Lake," 
synchronized  with  music,  and  "Sub- 
way Express"  and  the  gross  was  a 
weak  $3,800. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  21  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"SON    OF   INDIA"    (M-G-M)    and   "CHIL- 
DREN   OF    DREAMS"    (Warners) 

CAPITOL  —  (2,547),       25c-35c-50c-6Oc,       7 
clays.      Gross:    $10,000.      (Average,    $12,500.) 
"LADY    OF     THE     LAKE"     (Fitzpatrick) 
and    "SUBWAY    EXPRESS"    (Col.) 
IMPERIAL— (1,914),    15c-25c-40c,    7    days. 
Gross:     $3,800.       (Average,    $5,1(J0.) 

"THE    GOOD    BAD    GIRL"     (Col.) 
LOEW'S— (3,115),      25c-40c-50c-65c-75c,      7 
days.      Vaude.      Gross:    $10,800.       (Average, 
$13,000.) 

"YOUNG    AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 
PALACE— (2,600),     25c-40c-6Oc-75c-99c„      7 
days.      Gross:    $12,400.      (Average,    $14,000.) 
"MOTHER'S    MILLIONS"    (Univ.) 
PRINCESS  —  (2,272),     25c-35c-40c-50c-6Oc- 
65c,  7  days.     Gross:   $9,500.     (Average,  $13,- 
000.) 
"TARNISHED      LADY"      (Para.)      and 

"LIGHTNING    EXPRESS  "    (Col.) 
STRAND— (750),    15c-25c-40c-50c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $3,700.      (Average,    $4,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Ask  $250,000  for 

Loss  of  Franchise 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
pictures   until   last  March,   when  they 
were     discontinued.       First     National 
cancelled    its    franchise,    selling    it    to 
the  Empire,   independent  house. 

In  its  suit,  the  Commerce  Realty 
Co.  alleges  that  it  transferred  the 
First  National  franchise  to  Publix 
when  the  Aztec  lease  was  signed.  The 
suit  further  alleges  that  Publix  agreed 
to  show  First  National  pictures  dur- 
ing the  life  of  the  lease  and  return 
the  franchise  to  the  Commerce  Real- 
ty Co.  at  the  expiration  of  the  lease 
on  the  theatre.  The  $250,000  is  asked 
on  the  grounds  that  the  franchise  has 
been  irrevokably  lost  to  the  Com- 
merce  Realty   Co. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sparks  a  Benedict 

Hollywood — Ned  Sparks,  comedi- 
an, has  gone  for  the  wedded  bliss 
stuff.  Mrs.  Sparks  was  Mercedes 
Caballero,  sister  of  Charles  Caballero, 
head  of  the  Fox  purchasing  depart- 
ment. 


'Politics'  Is 
Toronto  Best 
With  $14,700 


Total  $63,000  for  5  Theatres 


Toronto — The  big  stir  in  Toronto 
during  the  past  week  was  "Politics," 
which  drew  the  best  business  at 
Loew's  in  three  months  with  a  gross 
of  $14,700.  This  amount  was  up  $4,- 
200  from  the  previous  week,  when 
"Son  of  India"  was  the  attraction. 
"Bought"  also  proved  to  be  a  popu- 
lar feature  at  the  Imperial,  where  it 
was  substantially  aided  by  "Carmenes- 
que,"  a  colorful  Publix  stage  unit, 
and  the  result  was  a  pleasing  $15,200. 

Shea's  was  also  on  the  strong  side 
largely  through  the  presence  of  Harry 
Langdon  as  the  vaudevile  headliner, 
the  screen  feature  being  "Meet  the 
Wife,"  the  gross  here  being  $12,300. 
The  Tivoli  had  another  British  pic- 
ture, "These  Charming  People,"  star- 
ring Cyril  Maude,  which  held  to  $11,- 
000 — ^but  slightly  down  from  the  pre- 
vious week  when  the  attraction  was 
"Young  As  You  Feel." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  21  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"BOUGHT"     (Warners) 

IMPERIAL,— (3,444),        15c-25c-35c-S0c-65c- 
75c,    6   days.      "Carmenesqiie"    Publix   stage 
show.      Gross:    $15,200.      (Average,    $16,000.) 
"POLITICS'   (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S-(2,088),      2Sc-30c-40c-6Oc-75c,      6 
days.      Gross:    $14,700.      (Average,    $15,000.) 
"MEET   THE   WIFE"    (Col.) 

SHEA'S— (2,600),    30c-50c-60c-75c,    6    days. 
Vaude,    featuring    Harry    Langdon.      Gross: 
$12,300,      (Average.    $13,000.) 
"THESE  CHARMING  PEOPLE"  (British) 

TIVOLI— (1,600),        15c-25c-35c-50c-65c-75c, 
6  days.     Gross:   $11,000.      (Average,   $12,500.) 
"REBOUND"    (RKO    Pathe) 

UPTOWN— (3,000),  15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,  6 
days.     Gross:    $9,800.      (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Rogers  Film 
$3,000  Above 
In  Des  Moines 


Total  $28,200  for  3  Theatres 


Des  Moines — The  presence  in  town 
of  4,000  National  Guardstnen  helped 
the  theatre  business  to  such  an  extent 
that  every  house  hit  the  above-aver- 
age mark.  Will  Rogers  in  "As 
Young  as  You  Feel"  went  over  par 
by  $3,000,  "The  Public  Defender"  by 
$2,000  and  "Party  Girl"  by  $1,000. 
The  weather  was  ideal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  22  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"AS   YOUNG   AS   YOU   FEEL"    (Fox) 

DES    MOINES -(1,600),    7    days,    25c-35c- 
60c.      Gross:    $10,000.      (Average,    $7,000.) 
"PUBLIC   DEFENDER"    (RKO) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  4  days,  25c-35c- 
60c.  Vaude.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"PARTY    GIRL"    (Warners) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700),  3  days,  25c-.35c- 
60c.  Vaude.  -  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average, 
$5,000.) 

"A    WOMAN     OF     EXPERIENCE 
(RKO  PATHE) 

STRAND— (1,100).  4  days,  20c-,30c.  Gross: 
$2,100.      (Average.    $1,700.) 

"THREE    WHO    LOVED"     (Radio) 

STRAND— (1,1()0),  3  days,  20c-30c.  Gross: 
$1,100.       (Average,    $700.) 


'BUY  NOW  SALES 


Tiffany  is  also  reaping  the  benefit 
of  the  "Buy  Right — But  Buy  Now" 
movement,  with  the  following  con- 
tracts : 

District  of  Columbia 

Criterion,  Empress  and  Little,  Wash- 
ington. 

Georgia 

Ritz,    Tifton. 

Indiana 

Colonial,  Kokomo;  Indiana,  Scottsburg; 
Moon,    Vincennes;    Strand,    Angola. 

Iowa 

Princess,  Oskaloosa;  Princess,  Stuaft; 
Capitol  or  Strand,  Ottumwa;  Iowa,  Bur- 
lington;    Crystal,     Manning. 

Louisiana 

State  or  Redwood,  Bogalusa;  Bailey, 
Bunkie;  Bailey,  Winnfield;  Bailey,  Feni- 
day;  Bailey,  Oakdale;  Bailey,  Tallulah, 
and    Bailey,    Opelousas. 

Missouri 

Palace,    Kansas    City;    Fairy,    St.    Louis. 

Nebraska 

Eldorado,  Ewing;  Lyric,  St.  Edward; 
Cornhusker,     Hastings;     State,     Lincoln. 

New  York 

Palace,    Corning. 

North  Carolina 

Lyric  or  Ideal,  Gastonia;  Temple,  San- 
ford;  Stanley,  Albermarle;  Roxie,  Rocky 
Mt. ;  Royal,  Charlotte;  Globe,  New  Bern; 
Regal,  Durham;  Temple,  Greenville;  Prin- 
cess,    Fayetteville. 

Pennsylvania 

Plaza  or  Strand,  Stroudsburg;  Triangle, 
Pittsburgh. 

South  Carolina 

Grand,  Greer;  Cozy,  Liberty;  Capitol, 
Rock    Hill. 

Tennessee 

Ritz,    Erwin. 

Texas 

Dixie    No.    3    (Col.),    Galveston. 
Utah 

Electric,    St.    George. 


Contracts  have  been  signed  be- 
tween the  Schine  Circuit,  with  head- 
quarters in  Gloversburg,  N.  Y.,  and 
Warners  whereby  the  circuit  takes 
the  entire  product  of  Vitaphone 
shorts  for  the  season  of  1931-32  for 
showing  in  its  houses.  There  will  be 
168  individual  releases  made  by  the 
Vitaphone  corporation  during  the 
year,    including    one   and    two-reelers. 

Twelve  theatres  figure  in  the  con- 
tracts, in  Geneva,  Cortland,  Malotie, 
Ogdensburg,  Massena,  Lake  Placid, 
Rochester,  Buffalo,  East  Rochester, 
Fairport,  Dolgesville  and  Lockport. 

Negotiations  leading  up  to  the  con- 
tracts were  handled  by  (George  Lynch 
for  the  Schine  Circuit ;  Harry  Seed 
and  Ben  Kalmenson  for  Warners  and 
Harry  Rosenquest  for  Vitaphone. 


The  RKO  Pathe  sales  department 
has  to  its  credit  the  following  sales : 

Cresson  Smith,  midwestern  district 
manager,  and  Walter  Branson,  Chi- 
cago branch  manager,  sold  the  entire 
program  to  the  Coston  Circuit,  put- 
ting RKO  Pathe  into  35  new  situa- 
tions in  the  Chicago  territory. 

Salesman  W.  B.  Wesley  of  Dallas 
sold  the  entire  program  to  the  Hall 
Circuit  of  ten  towns  in  Texas — Alice, 
Aransas  Pass,  Cuero,  Beeville,  Ken- 
edy, Kingsville,  Refugio,  Sinton  and 
Three  Rivers. 

In  Indianapolis,  Jack  Corbett  and 
Salesman  Donnelly  sold  the  Carey  & 
Alexander  Circuit  of  four  towns  in 
Omaha.  Corbett  also  closed  with  the 
Starette,  in  New  Castle,  Ind.,  for  the 
whole  line-up. 

Branch    Manager   Al    O'Keefe   and 


R.  Chatterton 
Tells  All  the 
Para.  Inside 


(Continued   from   page    I) 

one  situation  of  a  women  impersonat- 
ing a  French  actress  to  fool  a  blind 
man,"  Miss  Chatterton  is  quoted  as 
declaring.  "The  motivation  for  her 
deception  was  perverted  and  all  sym- 
pathy for  the  character  and  the  beauty 
of  her  sacrifice  lost  in  the  picture 
called   'The   Magnificent   Lie.' " 

All  of  which  may  explain  why, 
under  the  Warner  agreement.  Miss 
Chatterton  is  to  have  a  voice  in  selec- 
tion of  stories  and  treatment  as  well. 
She  moves  over  to  Burbank  when 
"Tomorrow  and  Tomorrow,"  the 
Philip  Barry  play,  is  finished.  Pro- 
duction date  is  set  for  September  15. 

Taking  the  poke  on  one  hand,  Miss 
Chatterton  also  told  The  Hollywood 
Herald  this  : 

"Miss  Chatterton  expressed  herself 
as  having  been  very  happy  in  her  as- 
sociations at  Paramount  and  sorry  to 
leave  the  organization.  Were  it  not 
for  the  question  of  her  right  to  re- 
ject material  she  deems  unsuitable  for 
her  screen  vehicles,  she  might  have 
remained  there." 


Reviewing  "The  Magnificent  Lie" 
from  Hollywood  on  July  25,  Motion 
Picture   Daily   said : 

"A  vehicle  decidedly  below  the 
Ruth  Chatterton  standard  and  one 
that  failed  to  arouse  a  preview  audi- 
ence out  of  its  lethargy.  Most  of  the 
trouble  seems  to  be  due  to  a  story 
that  is  unusually  implausible  and  that 
gave  the  star  little  opportunity  for 
displaying  her  talent." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Midwesco  Gets 
Palace  in  Milwaukee 

Milwaukee — Definite  announcement 
of  the  acquisition  of  RKO's  Palace- 
Orpheum  theatre  has  been  made  by 
H.  J.  Fitzgerald,  general  manager  of 
Fox-Midwesco  Theatres.  The  Palace, 
which  has  been  dark  for  approxi- 
mately a  month,  will  be  renovated  and 
reopen  under  Fox  direction  on  Sept.  4. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Industry  Co-operates 
With  Coasfs  Fiesta 

Los  Angeles — Co-operation  is  be- 
ing extended  by  the  picture  business 
for  La  Fiesta  to  be  held  September 
4  to  13.  Theatres  are  being  called 
upon  to  use  decorations  of  La  Fiesta 
colors,  green,  yellow  and  red.  An 
usher  and  usherette  outfit  has  been 
designed  by  the  committee. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Howard  Walks 

Hollywood — Leslie  Howard  is  re- 
ported planning  a  return  to  the  stage. 
Deals  with  M-G-M  and  Paramount 
have  died  because  of  reix)rted  failure 
of  both  studios  to  meet  actor's  salary 
demands. 


Salesman  F.  Bateman  of  the  Los 
Angeles  branch  closed  with  the  Golden 
State  Theatre,  Riverside,  Calif.,  for  all 
product. 

Branch  Manager  Branson  and  Sales- 
man Decer  of  Chicago  sold  the  entire 
program  to  the  Delago  Theatre  in 
Wilmette,  III. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  August  25,   1931 


Independents 
Will  Produce 
300  Features 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

Love."  Four  others  maj'  be  added, 
bringing  his  total  to  12.  Monogram 
has  scheduled  12  westerns  and  melo- 
dramas. Others  being  produced  on 
the  Trem  Carr  lot  are  eight  westerns 
with  Bill  Cody  and  Andv  Shuford ; 
eight  Tom  Tylers  and  eight  Bob 
Steeles.  The  Tec-Art  studio  has  16 
separate  companies. 

Inspiration  is  inactive,  but  Emil 
Jensen  and  Al  Mannon  of  Patrician 
Pictures  plan  six  features.  Mannon's 
other  enterprises,  Imperial  Pictures, 
and  Supreme  Pictures  are  planning 
eight  and  12  pictures,  respectively. 

Allied  Pictures,  headed  by  M.  H. 
Hoffman,  Jr.,  is  to  make  six  features 
and  six  Hoot  Gibson  westerns.  Har- 
ry Carey  will  make  eight  westerns, 
Willis  Kent  is  planning  six  features 
and  six  westerns.  Pioneer  (Berko- 
witz  and  Wolfe),  Perfection  (Jesse 
Goldburg),  Italatone  (J.  and  G.  Rizze 
and  A.  Danna),  and  Charles  Hutchi- 
son are  inactive.  Mascot,  serial  pro- 
ducer, has  completed  "The  Vanishing 
Legion"  and  has  in  work  "The  Gal- 
loping Ghost,"  starring  "Red"  Grange ; 
"The  Lightning  Warrior"  and  "The 
Eagle's   Shadow." 

Al  Mannon  is  making  a  series  of 
six  "Football  for  the  Fan"  shorts  for 
Educational  and  26  Voice  of  Holly- 
wood shorts  for  Tiffany.  Spencer 
Bennett  is  making  six  two  reel  de- 
tective stories  for  RKO.  C.  C.  Burr 
is  making  a  series  of  six  "Torchy" 
two  reelers.  Clifford  Reed  will  make 
six  or  eight  one  reel  W.  J.  Burns 
detective  stories.  Elmer  Clifton  is 
making  travel  subjects  for  the  Van 
Beuren  Corp. 

Golden  State  Productions  is  making 
"The  Gun  Maker"  and  Migual  C. 
Torres  "Dreamers  of  Glory,"  Spanish 
talker.  There  is  little  activity  at 
Metropolitan  where  Welshay  is  mak- 
ing musical  shorts  and  fashion  sub- 
jects; and  comedies  which  Christie  is 
making  for  Educational. 

Herman  Gumbin's  Liberty  Produc- 
tion expects  to  start  work  soon.  Ed- 
die Silton  is  planning  to  start  an  in- 
dependent production  to  cost  about 
$400,000  and  may  turn  out  two  others. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

After  New  Tag 

Walter  Winchell  in  The  Daily  Mir- 
ror said  yesterday : 

"Although  Roxy  has  agreed  to  let 
the  theatre  use  his  name  until  1932, 
they  are  seeking  a  new  tag  now." 


Special  Roxy  Campaigns 

Special  weekly  campaigns  in  adver- 
tising and  publicity  will  feature  new 
attractions  at  the  Roxy  theatre  under 
the  guidance  of  Albert  Margolies  and 
Edgar  Waite.  Radio,  trucks,  news- 
papers, billboards  and  other  adver- 
tising  means   are   being   used. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lombard  Signs 

Hollywood — They  tore  things  up 
at  Paramount  yesterday.  Carole 
Lombard's  old  agreement  was  ripped 
apart  and  a  new  one  pieced  together. 


AMPAS-WAMPAS 
Have  Baby  Trouble 

(Continued   from   page    1) 

Charles  W.  Barrell  of  Western  Elec- 
tric, who  is  prominent  in  AM  PA  af- 
fairs, to  bring  the  matter  to  the  at- 
tention of  the  eastern  advertising  body 
on  several  counts : 

1— That  Shapiro  is  a  past  president 
of  the  AMPA. 

2 — That,  for  years,  he  was  a  prom- 
inent member  and  one  of  its  found- 
ers. 

Barrell  said  last  night  he  had  wired 
Lewis  for  additional  information  and 
would  act,  dependent  upon  disclosures 
Lewis  may  make.  There  is  no  record 
of  the  Wampas  having  taken  official 
objection  to  Shapiro,  although  mem- 
bers on  the  Coast  have  been  variously 
reported  as  "boiling"  over  an  address 
he  made  before  the  Wampas  many 
months  ago  in  which  he  is  under- 
stood to  have  discussed  "Baby  Stars" 
and  how  he  would  select  them. 

If  the  AMPA  takes  any  action,  it 
could  be  for  moral  effect  only  since 
the  Wampas  operate  under  a  separate 
charter  and  the  only  connection  be- 
tween the  Eastern  and  the  Western 
bodies  is  one  of  reciprocal  courtesy. 
Ampa  members,  transferred  to  the 
Coast,  have  been  taken  into  the 
Wampas  fold  by  payment  of  dues  to 
the  latter  organization  and  vice 
versa. 


Hollywood — Eastern  visitors  at- 
tending Wampas  affairs  have  for 
years  understood  that  their  presence 
before  that  body  means  they  were  to 
be  taken  for  a  good-natured  "ride". 
When  Vic  Shapiro  originally  made 
his  talk  to  which  objection  now  ap- 
pears to  be  crystallizing,  it  was  his 
understanding,  he  states,  that  his  re- 
marks were  to  be  accepted  in  a  spirit 
of  fun.  What  Shapiro  apparently 
didn't  know  was,  however,  that  Joe 
Jackson,  one  of  the  members  and 
now  a  writer  for  Warner-First  Na- 
tional, was  the  husband  of  a  "Baby 
Star." 


Fox  Launches  Its 
Own  Embryo  Stars 

Hollywood  —  Fox  last  night 
launched  its  embryo  stars  at  a  dinner 
at  the  studios  here  with  William 
Collier,  Sr.,  acting  as  toastniaster. 
The  candidates,  chosen  from  a  selec- 
tion of  300  names,  who  were  officially 
named  by  Fox  last  evening  are  Con- 
chita  Montenegro,  Linda  Watkins  and 
Helen    Mack. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Smith  Out?  Old  Yarn 
And  Untrue,  Says  He 

(.Continued   from   page    1) 
like  to  see  it  happen.  However,  there 
isn't  a  particle  of  truth  to  the  story." 
Current  also  along  Film  Row  is  the 
story  that  a  deal  is  on  for  Fox-Hearst 
Corp.    to   produce    Pathe   News.    Fox 
officials  were  unavailable  for  a  state- 
ment,  but   Hiram   S.   Brown,  in  from 
the  Coast  yesterday,   said : 
"I  have  never  heard  of  it." 
Brown,    incidentally,    described    his 
Hollywood  visit   as   routine. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sid  Rogell  at  Pathe 

Hollywood — Sid  Rogell  has  started 
duties  as  studio  manager  for  RKO 
Pathe. 


That  Outing 


They  were  still  talking  about 
that  outing  at  the  Fox  office  yester- 
day. Eight  hundred  and  fifty  Fox- 
ites  and  their  friends  sailed  to  Bear 
Mountain  on  Saturday,  aboard  the 
■specially  chartered  steamer  Peter 
Stuyvemnt  to  celebrate  the  eighth 
annual  Outing  of  Fox  Films  and  as- 
sociated  companies. 

Events  of  every  description,  includ- 
ing tennis  and  swimming  matches, 
dance  contests,  roller  skating,  row 
boating  and  a  baseball  game,  were 
arranged. 

Prizes  galore  were  awarded  to  the 
lucky  number  holders ;  Harley  L. 
Clarke  donated  prizes  which  were 
won  by  the  following :  R.  B.  Simon- 
son,  I.  Lincer,  R.  Lesser,  E.  Jacobs, 
M.  Sellner,  G.  Spillenaar,  R.  Mar- 
mor,  A.  Blancato,  M.  Rosenfeld,  E. 
Fergendaum,  J.  Weinberg,  F.  Bred- 
din,  C.  Steitman,  A.  Horn,  J.  Volz, 
S.  Stetson,  H.  Adelson,  S.  Bonitsky, 
F.  Capadiecie,  R.  Mercado,  I.  Rap- 
paport,  F.  Roberts,  M.  Saitton,  C. 
Wemgarten  and  R.  Watson.  The  J. 
R.  Grainger  prize  of  a  handsome 
leather-fitted  women's  bag  was  won 
by  Lydia  White,  while  a  telechrom 
clock  donated  by  Harry  Arthur  of 
Fox  Theatres  was  drawn  by  M. 
Stecker.  Winfield  Sheehan  awarded 
an  electric  radio  set  which  was  won 
by  John  Daniello.  There  were  16 
other  prizes  donated  by  the  Fox  Ath- 
letic  Club. 

Paul  Greer  won  the  Fox  tennis 
title  by  a  victory  over  Morris  Schlein 
by  a  6-2  :  6-3  :  6-4  score,  and  Ruth 
Goldenberg  captured  the  women's 
crown  by  defeating  Sarah  Siegel,  6-4 : 
6-4.  The  winning  contestants  were 
awarded  tennis  racquets. 

The  baseball  game,  between  two 
picked  teams  of  Fox  placers  entered  in 
the  Motion  Picture  Athletic  League, 
proved  closely  contested,  and  satisfied 
everyone  when  it  resulted  in  a  tie. 

Among  the  executive  and  club  offi- 
cers present  at  the  outing  were : 
George  Roberts,  personnel  director ; 
Alan  E.  Freedman,  chairman  of  the 
Fox  A.  C.  board  of  directors ;  Hettie 
Gray  Baker,  Abe  Goodman,  Sam 
Schlein,  Maurice  Goodman,  R.  B. 
Simonson,  Dave  Massover,  Elsie  Bo- 
land  and  Harry  Kosiner. 

Aboard  the  boat  on  the  trip  to  Bear 
Mountain  and  return  the  Foxites 
danced  to  the  music  supplied  by 
Kosiner's  Orchestra.  Through  the 
courtesy  of  the  club,  all  members 
were  served  dinner  at  Bear  Mountain 
Inn,  which  put  the  gang  in  the  best 
of  spirits  for  the  moonlight  sail  back 
to   New   York — and  home. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lincoln  Sq.  Reopening 

Opening  date  for  Loew's  Lincoln 
Square  Theatre,  upper  Broadway,  has 
been  postponed  to  September  5,  ac- 
cording to  C.  C.  Moskovvitz,  general 
theatre  representative  of  Loew's. 
Extensive  remodeling  and  redecorat- 
ing following  the  fire  that  closed  the 
theatre  could  not  be  completed  for 
the  originally  set  August  29  opening. 
Straight  pictures  will  be  the  policy 
of  the  new  Lincoln  Square,  which  for 
some  20  years  was  a  vaudeville  house. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Allan  Appointed 

General  Talking  Picture  Corp.  has 
appointed  James  V.  Allan  central 
divisional  manager,  with  headquarters 
in   Chicago. 


Loew  Invasion 
Of  PhiUy  Set; 
Gets  Keith's 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

sents  an  unique  situation  for  the  new 
house  will  be  competitive  with  the 
Stanley-Warner  theatres  here.  With 
about  $100,000  reported  involved  in 
the  deal,  Warners  are  understood  to 
have  figured  it  would  be  good  busi- 
ness to  lease  the  house  to  Loew's, 
rather  than  have  that  firm  build  a 
new  theatre,  as  Loew's  was  deter- 
mined to  enter  the  town. 

Meanwhile,  Loew's  is  reported  tak- 
ing over  the  Ellwood  at  Newark, 
which  is  also  in  Stanley-Warner  ter- 
ritory. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Loew*s  Slice  Price 
Scale  in  Cleveland 

(Continued  from   page   1) 

"An  American  Tragedy"  opens  to  the 
lower  prices  at  the  Allen,  "Pardon 
Us"  at  the  State.  The  Allen 
changes  to  Friday  openings.  Loew's 
Stillman  will  be  reopened  in  mid-Sep- 
tember under  present  plans. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

M-G-M  Loses  a  Point 
In  N,  W.  Breach  Case 

(Continued  from   page   1) 

Carich's  stand  is  a  defense  at  law. 
M-G-M  is  suing  for  fulfillment  of 
the  contract  and  the  case  is  regarded 
as  a  test  upon  outcorne  of  which  a 
number  of  suits  in  this  territory  will 
hinge. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Incorporation 

Baltimore — A  charter  was  filed  by 
the  Arcade  Amusement  Corp.  of  Hy- 
attsville,  Md.,  to  operate  all  forms  of 
amusement  places.  Authorized  capital 
stock,  20  shares  of  common  stock  at 
a  par  value  of  $100  each.  Celia  C. 
Lust,  Sidney  B.  Lust  and  David 
Wiener  are  the  incorporators. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Radio  Borrows  Baxter 

Hollywood — Warner  Baxter,  by 
arrangement  with  Fox,  has  been  bor- 
rowed for  the  lead  opposite  Dolores 
Del   Rio  in  "The  Dove." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Burke  Signs 

Hollywood  —  Edwin  Burke,  who 
wrote  continuity  and  dialogue  for 
"Bad  Girl,"  has  signed  a  new  con- 
tract with  Fox. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Rohh  Resigns  at  Dallas 

Dall.\s— H.  B.  Robb,  buyer  for 
the  50  houses  of  the  Robb  &  Rowley 
circuit,  which  Hughes-Franklin  The- 
atres acquired  some  time  ago,  has 
resigned.  The  veteran  showman  wants 
to  spend  his  time  traveling. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Haines  as  "Whitey"? 

Hollywood — William  Haines  may 
play  Whitey  in  "Queer  People." 
Howard  Hughes  is  working  on  the 
dicker  with   M-G-M. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


VOL.  30.   NO.  74 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 
NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  26,  1931 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


TEN  CENTS 


Why  Single  Out 
MGM:?  Query 
N.Y.  Exhibs 


Protest  Meet  Should  Be 
General,  They  Say 


Why  single  out  M-G-M?  is  the 
query  independent  exhibitors  of  New 
York,  Brooklyn  and  New  Jersey  are 
asking  in  connection  with  the  Metro 
National  Protest  Meeting  to  be  held 
September  1  in  New  York.  In  line 
with  this  query,  they  are  hesitating 
in  lending  support  to  the  scheduled 
meeting,  asking  that  trade  practices  of 
all  companies  come  under  scrutiny  at 
the  New  York  gathering. 

The  protest  meeting  is  being  spon- 
sored by  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  eastern 
Pennsylvania,  Southern  New  Jersey 
and  Delaware,  which  states  that  21 
exhibitor  units  have  signified  their  in- 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


Brodie  Breaks  with 
MPTOA;  Buys  MGM 

Baltimore — Joe  Brodie,  proprietor 
of  the  Brodie  theatre,  residential 
house  in  South  Baltimore,  is  the  first 
to  break  away  from  the  M.  P.  T.  O. 
of  Maryland,  Inc.,  in  its  solid  front 
against  percentage  bookings  with 
M-G-M   and   Paramount. 

Brodie  has  signed  for  the  M-G-M 
product  and  he  is  the  only  one  in  the 
city  who  has  so  far  as  known.  He 
claims  that  he  had  to  do  this  to  pro- 
tect himself  against  his  opposition,  the 
McHenry  and  Pacey's  Garden,  which 
have  signed  up  for  everything  else 
and  have  left  him  nothing  to  book. 


Warners,  First  Nafl 
Praised  in  Philly  Zone 

Philadelphia — Exhibitors  of  this 
territory,  who  are  preparing  to  put 
M-G-M  on  the  spot  September  1  at 
the  national  protest  meeting  to  be  held 
in  New  York,  are  all  sold  on  the 
treatment  being  given  them  by  War- 
ners and  First  National.  In  line  with 
this  viewpoint,  the  exhibitor  unit  is 
sending  out  a  notice  to  members  stat- 
ing that  Warner  and  First  National 
are  treating  exhibitors  more  fairly 
than  any  other  company. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

M-G-M  Will  Elevate 
Gable  to  Starring  Role 

Clark  Gable  is  to  be  elevated  to 
stardom  by  M-G-M.  It  is  expected 
that  he  will  furnish  two  pictures  for 
the  1931-32  program.  Report  that 
Gable  is  to  replace  William  Haines 
on  the  new  M-G-M  program  is  de- 
nied. 


Grosses  Gain  for  6th  Week; 
$2,237,010  for  170  Houses 


Reaching  into  their  sixth  week, 
box-office  grosses  from  28  cities  for 
the  week  ending  last  Thursday  and 
Friday  again  indicate  business  is  im- 
proving. One  hundred  and  seventy 
theatres,  represented  in  the  grosses 
index  compiled  by  Motion  Picture 
Daily,  last  week,  rolled  up  a  total 
business   of  $2,237,010. 

The  six  additional  theatres  report- 
ing over  last  week's  164,  of  course, 
swelled  the  total,  but  the  fact  that 
more  theatres  have  entered  the  first 
run  list  may  be  construed  as  a  pros- 
perity marker  all  of  their  own. 

The  batting  average  for  the  last 
seven  weeks  is  as  follows : 

No.  of  Week  Gross 

Theatres         ending 

167 July    9-10        $1,987,789 

166 July  16-17  1,889,523 

164 July  23-24  1,992,433 

164 July  30-31  2,044,696 

163 Aug.    6-7         2,197,236 

164 Aug.  13-14         2,206,076 

170 Aug.  20-21  2,237,010 

Albany,  Baltimore,  Boston,  Buffalo, 

(Continued   on    page    4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Queer  People"  Is 
Queered  by  Players 

Hollywood  —  Hollywood  players 
are  queer  people.  None  of  them  wants 
to  play  in  "Queer  People,"  even 
though  Howard  Hughes'  bankroll  is 
behind   it.     They've  queered   his    idea 

(Continued  on  pane  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

11,000,000  Television 
Sets  in  Ten  Years 

Eleven  million  television  sets  will 
be  installed  by  1942,  Columbia  Broad- 
casting System,  which  is  allied  with 
Paramount,  predicts.  By  next  year,  it 
is  estimated,  there  will  be  30,000  sets 
in  use,  9,000  of  them  in  New  York. 
By  1933,  there  will  be  1,000,000  sets 
in  use.  Installations  will  approximate 
the  speed  with  which  radio  sets  are 
being  installed,  it  is  predicted. 


Baby  Stars  Out 

Hollywood  —  There  is 
little  likelihood  that  there 
will  be  any  more  Wampas 
baby  star  selections  after 
this  year,  following  the  rum- 
pus raised  by  the  organiza- 
tion's failure  to  include  any 
Fox  nominees  on  this  year's 
list.  Fox  has  retaliated  by 
naming  three  "debutante 
stars"  in  what  is  to  be  an 
annual  selection. 


Clii  Operators 
To  Seek  Death 
Of  Injunction 


Chicago — Attorneys  for  the  opera- 
tors' union  and  Acting  Corporation 
Counsel  Leon  Hornstein  will  seek  dis- 
solution of  the  temporary  injunction 
granted  independent  exhibitors  at  a 
hearing  today  before  Judge  Ross  C. 
Hall. 

Contention  is  made  that  the  injunc- 
tion was  issued  without  notification  to 
the  city  and  has  the  effect  of  nullify- 

(Continued  on  page   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Loew  Cleveland  Cut 
Not  Affecting  Chain 

Decision  of  Loew's  to  slash  prices 
in  Cleveland  has  no  bearing  nor  re- 
lation to  other  cities  of  the  circuit. 
Admission  prices  over  the  circuit  are 
determined  by  conditions  in  each  lo- 
cality and  a  general  reduction  has 
been  under  way  for  some  time. 


Attacks  Tax  on  Theatres 

Hornell,  N.  Y. — Possibility  that  theatres  will  escape  munici- 
pal taxation  is  looming  here  in  the  wake  of  an  investigation  by  a 
city  council  committee  appointed  to  equalize  levies.  The  com- 
mittee was  appointed  after  it  was  learned  one  theatre  was  paying 
two  and  a  half  times  more  taxes  than  another  which  had  almost 
equal  patronage. 

Alderman  Charles  V.  Hawley  sounded  the  keynote  for  abolition 
of  municipal  taxes,  pointing  out  that  theatres  attract  people  and 
business  to  Hornell. 

"Theatres  are  an  incentive  to  attract  people,"  he  said.  "They 
should  not  be  taxed  at  all.  If  we  keep  on  we  will  make  a  flag 
station  out  of  Hornell.  I  don't  believe  in  taxing  anything  that 
attracts  people  to  the  city." 


Ad  Endorsing 
RacketBanned 
By  Producers 

Edict  to  he  Issued  Against 
Testimonials 


Producers  are  turning  thumbs  down 
on  advertising  endorsement  by  stars 
and  directors.  An  edict  banning  such 
procedure  is  to  be  issued  within  a  few 
days  from  Hollywood  by  the  Motion 
Picture  Producers'  Association. 

In  recent  years,  the  practice  of 
lending  aid  to  advertising  campaigns 
has  become  prevalent.  At  one  time, 
it  was  asserted,  the  advertising  en- 
dorsement idea  was  assuming  the  pro- 
portions of  a  racket,  with  plenty  of 
remuneration  in  prospect  for  stars 
who  lent  their  names  for  the  purpose. 

Producers  are  said  to  feel  that  the 
endorsement  of  various  products  re- 
flects against  the  endorsee  and  public 
resentment  follows,  which  has  a  direct 
bearing  on  the  box  office  value  of  the 
party  concerned.  The  public  resent- 
ment   is    due   to    skepticism    over   the 

(^Continued  an  page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Warner  W^ge  Cut 
Rebate  in  30  Days? 

Hollywood — Temporary  wage  cuts 
made  by  Warners  may  be  rebated  in 
30  days.  Meanwhile,  the  studio _  is 
getting  busy  preparing  for  reopening 
the  first  week  in  September.  One 
hundred  and  fourteen  people  have  re- 
turned to  the  stenographic,  account- 
ing and  technical  departments. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Rialto  Continues 
Policy  of  Revivals 

The  "Bringing  the  Big  Ones  Back 
to  You"  policy  at  the  Rialto,  inaugu- 
rated June  4  with  "Whoopee,"  will 
continue.  Reports  that  the  theatre 
will  revert  to  extended  runs  begin- 
ning September  17  with  "Monkey 
Business"  prove  to  be  all  wfet. 

The  Marx  Brothers'  picture  fol- 
lows "Street  Scene"  at  the  Rivoli,  its 
opening  date  dependent  upon  the  run 
of   the  Goldwyn  picture. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Loew's  ''Philly"  Deal 
Made  With  Shuberts 

Philadelphia — Deal  of  Loew's  for 
Keith's  Theatre,  which  acquisition  is 
to  mark  the  circuit's  invasion  of  this 
territory,  is  an  operating  arrangement 
closed  with  the  Shuberts.  Previously, 
Warners  had  acquired  the  house  in  an 
operating  deal. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  August  26,   1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.    30 


Augrust   26,    1931 


No.    74 


Martin  Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

JAMES  A.  CRON 

Advertising   Manager 


^i^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
X«|^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  William 
A.  Johnston,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edit/in  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.  C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  Y.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rales  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada; foreign,  $15.    Single  copies,   10  cents. 


Queered 

W  HAT  transpired 
behind  the  scenes  we  can  only 
guess,  but  it  is  more  or  less  ob- 
vious than  by  no  accident  does 
Howard  Hughes  discover  he 
cannot  get  players  for  the  cast 
of  "Qtieer  People." 

So  it  happens  that,  notwith- 
standing the  bulging  Hughes 
bankroll  and  that  young  man's 
reputation  for  paying,  and  pay- 
ing well,  for  what  he  wants, 
"Queer  People"  will  not  be 
made. 

On  April  17,  we  in- 
dulged in  the  following  edito- 
rial unburdening: 

If  Hughes  produces  a  talker 
that  faithfully  transcribes  the 
action,  motivations  and  charac- 
ters of  what  is  innocuously  but 
falsely  described  as  "that  satire 
of  Hollywood,"  he  can  make  the 
business  in  which  he  hopes  to 
be  a  constructive  factor  the 
laughing  stock  of  America. 

If  he  changes  the  story,  as  re- 
ports indicate  he  is  doing,  he 
will  be  misrepresenting  the 
product  he  asks  the  American 
people  to  buy. 

We  don't  know  how  Hughes 
has  doped  it  out.  There  might 
be  some  slants  which  we  don't 
know  about,  or  if  we  did, 
wouldn't  understand.  Neverthe- 
less, we  have  developed  this  fix- 
ation regarding  Hughes,  "Queer 
People"  and  its  celluloid  concep- 
tion : 

The  available  supply  of  story 
material  may  be  dwindling.  On 
the  basis  of  many  pictures 
reaching  the  market  today,  we 
occasionally  wonder  if  it  hasn't 
done  a  complete  fade-out. 

Hughes  may  be  hard  pressed. 


but  even  in  a  •  kindlj'  moment, 
we  can  develop  no  justification 
for  a  project  which,  if  it  is  at 
all  true  to  the  book  from  which 
it  springs,  wll  hurt  this  business 
and  those  engaged  in  it. 

Hollywood  and  its  foibles  are 
for  the  business  to  handle  from 
within,  not  for  the  world  with- 
out to  gossip  about. 

r  OUR  months  later, 
now  that  the  future  of  "Queer 
People"  is  so  emphatically  de- 
termined, we  see  no  reason  to 
change  our  opinion  except  to 
remark  additionally  that  we, 
for  one  are  glad  it  has  hap- 
pened the  way  it  has. 

KANN 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Chi  Operators  Seek 
Death  of  Injunction 

(Continued  from  page   1) 
ing   a   city  ordinance.     If   dissolution 
is   refused   today,    Hornstein   says    he 
will    take   the   plea   to   the    Appellate 
Court. 

Tom  Maloy,  union  boss,  says  that 
the  validity  of  licensing  operators  was 
proved  in  a  similar  case  11  years  ago. 
Ludwig  Siegel,  secretary  of  the  Chi- 
cago Exhibitors'  Association  for  the 
last  five  years,  has  resigned.  He 
plans  to  reopen  his  Lindy  theatre  with 
one  operator. 

"My  interests  are  with  the  smaller 
theatres  who  are  waging  this  fight," 
Siegel  said. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Blue  Recovering 

Hollywood   —    Monte    Blue's   eye, 
scalded    in   an    auto    accident,    is    im- 
proving rapidly,  physicians  state. 
"BUY  RIGHfT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

French  Films  Big 

Washington — France  is  exporting 
more  pictures  to  Germany  than  the 
United  States,  a  dispatch  to  the  M.  P. 
Division  of  the  Department  of  Com- 
merce indicates. 

"BUY  RIGHT^BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Robert  Alden  Signed 

Columbia  has  given  Robert  Alden 
a  term  contract.  He  has  appeared  i" 
pictures  before. 


m 


Purely 
Personal 


SAM    WARSHAWSKY  took    his 
pen  in  hand  yesterday  and  wired 
the    following    from    Provincetown : 
"  'Woman     of    Destiny'     landed     with 
terrific   wallop.      Audience    in    frenzy    of 
applause    every    curtain.       Twenty    cur- 
tain  calls    at   end.       Forced    to    turn   on 
lights     to    stop     demonstration.         Only 
wish    you    and    old    Dabbil    Daab    were 
here.       Eats    our    only    woe.       Wish    L 
had    a    barrel    of    herring    and    pumper- 
nickel." 

Harry  S.  Buxbaum,  son  of  the 
Fox  New  York  exchange  manager, 
is  at  Portland  Harbor,  Me.,  getting 
in  trirrj  for  the  coming  football  sea- 
son. He's  a  half  back  on  his  high 
school  team  and  has  brought  home 
the  bacon  more  than  once. 

Joe  Brandt,  Hal  Hodes,  Howard 
Reichenbach,  Max  Seligman  and 
Barry  Eggers  have  formed  a  Bul- 
ler's  Club.  Their  various  tales  of 
prowess  with  rod  and  reel  promoted 
the  organization. 

Charlie  McCarthy  has  seen 
"Monkey  Business"  four  times,  but 
that  didn't  stop  him  from  sitting 
through  it  again  yesterday.  There's 
a  press  agent  with  a  conscience. 

Dave  (Universal)  Bader  post- 
cards greetings  from  Karlsbad,  Ger- 
many. Just  to  be  on  the  safe  side, 
Dave  includes  Christmas  and  New 
Year  greetings. 

Milt  Cohen  is  back  from  England. 
His  partner,  Sid  Garrett,  is  London- 
bound. 

SiD  Kent  and  Harry  Arthur  broke 
mid-day  bread  in  the  air-cooled  grill 
of  the  Astor  yesterday. 

Gus  ScHLESiNGER  is  Spending  the 
summer  at  Atlantic   City. 

E.  B.  ("Hat")  Hatrick  is  back 
from  California. 

ToM  Gerety  has  joined  the  hand- 
ballers    at    the    Motion    Picture    Club. 


Stocks  Irregular;  E.  K,  Drops  IVi  Points 


High  Low  Close 

ConsolicTated    Film    Industries 7]/i  7!4  754 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 13  13  13 

Eastman    Kodak    139^  137  138 

Eastman  Kodak  pfcT 13254  1325i  13254 

Fox     Film     "A" 135^  13}^  135i 

General    Theatre    Equipment   new 2Ji         2!^  2Ys 

Loew's,    Inc 47%  46%  4754 

Paramount    Publix    235^  235^  Z^A 

Pa  the    Exchange     Wt.  Wi  1^ 

Pathe     Exchange    "A" S'A         S'/^         5H 

RKO     145^  145^  143^ 

Warner    Bros PA  8  8 


Net 
Change 

+  Yi 
-VA 


Dull  Day  on  Curb  Market 


-54 
-54 
+  54 
-I-  5i 
+  Vs 
+  H. 
+  % 
-  % 


Net 


Sales 

600 

200 

2.100 

100 

2,100 

2,400 

2,100 

2,400 

100 

100 

2,500 

4,000 


Columbia    Pictures    vtc 

Fox   Theatres    "A" 

General   Theatre    Equipment   pfd. 
Trans    Lux    


High  Low  Close  Change  Sales 

.     9/3  954  91/z        +  'A  200 

.     2H  m  2Vs        200 

.454  Sy/f,  4            800 

.4%  4J4  4J4        400 


Bonds  Rally;  Pathe  Up  1  Point 


General    Theatre    Equipment    6s 

Loew's   6s    '41    ex    war 

Paramount    Broadway    55^s    '51.. 

Paramount    F.    L.   6s   '47 

Paramount    Publix    554s,    '50 

Pathe    7s    '37    ww. 


'40. 


Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    wd 54 


.Net 

ii^h 

Low 

Close 

Change 

2034 

205^ 

20M 

4-/8 

9854 

97 

98/. 

+  54 

03 

102M 

103 

855^ 

8554 

8554 

-1-54 

78 

7754 

78 

9444 

93J4 

94 

-t-1 

54 

5254 

54 

Sales 

32 
14 
17 
1 
5 
18 
36 


WhySingleOut 
MGM?  Query 
N.  Y.  Exhibs 


Studio    and    Location 
Sound  on  Fihn  Recording 

Low   Dally   or  WeeUy   Rata* 
Power*  Cinephone  Equipman^  Corp. 
723-7th  AVE.,  N.  Y.     BRyant  9-6067 


SOUND  MOVIOLA 

and   Expert  Assistaflce 

available  per  day  or  week 

DU-ART 
FILM    LABORATORIES.   Inc. 
245  W.  55Hi  St..  N.  Y.  C. 

Phone:   Col.    5-4907 


(Continued  from  page   1) 
tention    of    being    represented    at    the 
New  York  meeting.     Walter  Vincent 
of  Wilmer  &  Vincent  is  scheduled  to 
preside  at  the  protest  meeting. 

Local  exhibitors  express  the  opin- 
ion that  M-G-M  is  not  alone  in  de- 
manding provisions  described  as  im- 
possible in  new  contract  agreements 
and  that  the  meeting  should  be  gen- 
eral with  all  companies  and  their  de- 
mands aired  at  the  same  time. 

Representatives  of  the  New  York, 
Brooklyn  and  New  Jersey  exhibitor 
units  will  be  on  hand  for  the  con- 
clave. Provided  the  meeting  is  a  gen- 
eral protest  against  all  distributors 
they  will  attend  in  an  official  capa- 
city; otherwise  they  will  take  in  the 
happenings  for  their  own  interests  as 
exhibitors  and  not  with  any  power  to 
act  for  respective  organizations. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Tobis  Has  7  Ready 

With  its  first  seven  talkers  ready 
for  release,  Tobis  declares  it  is  ready 
to  sail.     The  list  follows : 

"City  of  Songs"  in  English,  Ger- 
man and  Italian;  "Brothers  Kamara- 
zov,"  "Kaiser  Liebchen,"  "Das  Lied 
from  Leben,"  "Der  Anderer,"  "Der 
Hampelman"  and  "Stage  Struck." 
The  last  six  are  in  German. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Loew  Changes  Completed 

Changes  made  by  Loew's,  Inc.,  in- 
cludes transfer  of  Colby  Harrison  to 
city  manager  at  Washington  and  M. 
J'.  Cullen  from  Washington  to  Pitts- 
burgh, where  he  replaces  H.  M.  Ad- 
dison, who  is  taking  over  manage- 
ment of  the  new  Loew  division  at 
Cleveland. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"U"  Party  Oct.  31 

Universal  Club,  social  organization 
of  Universal  Pictures  and  Universal 
Chain  Theatres,  will  hold  its  annual 
dinner-dance  at  the  Astor  October  31. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Ben  Hur**  in  Sound 

M-G-M  has  synchronized  "Ben 
Hur"  and  the  new  version  soon  will 
be  presented  at  Loew  theatres  in  New 
York. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Street  Scene**  Opening 

"Street  Scene,"  has  its  first  show- 
ing tonight  at  nine  o'clock  at  the 
Rivoli,  New  York. 


OVER   AVERAGE 

business! 


In  these  times  when  only  Big  Pictures  get  Big  Money, 
it  means  something  for  a  picture  to  hang  up  such  a 
record.  Ten  of  the  principal  theatres,  including  New 
York,  Chicago,  Detroit,  Los  Angeles,  Denver,  Oklahoma 
City,  doing  record-breaking  business. 

Hard-boiled  showmen,  public  and  critics  acclaim  it  the 
year's  most  important  picture.  A  clean-up  from  coast- 
to-tfoast. 


W 


AJS 


AMERICAN 


TRAGEDY 

Based  on  the  novel  by  THEODORE  DREISER, 

Directed  by  JOSEF  VON  STERNBERG  with 

PHILLIPS   HOLMES,    SYLVIA    SIDNEY 

and  FRANCES  DEE. 


99 


ANOTHER     BIG     MONEY     HIT 

PARAMOUNT 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,   August  26,    1931 


Ad  Endorsing 
RacketBanned 
By  Producers 

(Continued  from   page   1) 

value  of  testimonials,  the  general  be- 
lief being  that  many  of  them  are  made 
for  profit  without  test  of  the  product 
endorsed. 

Some  months  ago,  a  Chicago  con- 
cern was  reported  engaged  in  collect- 
ing testimonials  without  regard  for 
test  of  the  product  concerned  and  in- 
dulged in  the  practice,  it  is  said,  of 
selling  them  to  manufacturers  who 
stood  ready  to  meet  their  price. 

Fox,  through  Winfield  Sheehan, 
production  chief,  months  ago  issued  an 
edict  prohibiting  its  players  and  di- 
rectors from  making  advertising  testi- 
monials. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

"Queer  People''  Is 
Queered  by  Players 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
of  producing  this  revelation  of  Holly- 
wood life  and  the  wherefore  is,  in  the 
U.  A.  P.  A.'s  own  words : 

"The  reason  ascribed  is  that  scores  of 
Hollywood  players  have  rejected  fabulous 
sums  fo  play  in  the  picture  in  the  fear 
that  impersonation  of  Hollywood  person- 
ages, such  as  are  called  for  in  the  novel, 
would  bring  reprisals  which  would  end 
their  careers.  This  has  made  it  prac- 
tically impossible  to  assemble  a  cast  of 
players,  and  thus,  after  months  of  prepar- 
ation and  the  expenditure  of  more  than 
$100,000,  the  intrepid  young  procfucer  is 
faced    with   what   amounts    to   a   boycott." 

So  the  intrenid  Mr.  Hughes  has 
called  off  making  the  fillum.  It's 
queer,  to  say  the  least. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Probe  Burning  of 
Theatre  in  Ontario 

Toronto — While  A.  C.  Stock,  man- 
ager of  the  Alexander  Theatre, 
Kapuskasing,  northern  Ontario,  was 
here  to  buy  pictures  he  received  word 
that  an  attempt  had  been  made  to 
burn  the  theatre.  The  place  was  dis- 
covered on  fire  in  the  early  morning 
and  firemen  had  a  half-hour  fight  be- 
fore halting  the  flames.  The  firertien 
found  eight  one-gallon  jugs  of 
gasoline  and  coal  oil  in  various  parts 
of  the  structure.  An  investigation  has 
been  started.  Kapuskasing  is  the  most 
northern  town  of  Ontario  boasting  a 
theatre. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Gets  District  Post 

RocHE.STER  —  Howard  G.  Carroll, 
formerly  associated  with  the  operation 
of  the  theatres  of  A.  C.  Hayman  of 
Niagara  Falls,  New  York  and  also 
Warners  and  Shea  Fublix  Operating 
Corp.  of  Buffalo,  has  been  made  the 
district  manager  of  the  Schine  thea- 
tres, covering  Lockport,  Buffalo  and 
Rochester,  with  headquarters  at  the 
Riviera  here. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Mix's  First  Two 

Universajl  City — Universal  has  set 
the  first  two  of  the  six  westerns  Tom 
Mix  is  to  make  for  the  company. 
They  are  "Destry  Rides  Again"  by 
Max  Brand  and  "Christmas  Eve  at 
Pilot  Butte"  by  Courtney  Ryley 
Cooper.  Mix  will  complete  his  circus 
tour  in  October. 


Grosses  Gain  for  6th  Week; 
$2,237,010  for  170  Houses 


"U.S.  Trag.;' 
'Mary  Ann' Are 
Chicago  Tops 


Total  $192,050  for  7  Theatres 


Chicago — "An  American  Tragedy" 
brought  joy  to  the  United  Artists 
Theatre,  where  in  its  first  week  it 
grossed  $33,500,  the  house  average 
intake  being  $24,600.  "Merely  Mary 
Ann"  was  the  next  in  line  with  a 
take  of  $32,675  at  McVickers,  where 
the  deadline  figure  is  $28,5»0.  All  other 
houses  were  below. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  19  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages : 
"AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY"  (Para.) 
UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700),  35c-50c-7Sc- 
85c,  1st  week.  Gross:  $3'3,50O.  (Average, 
$24,600.) 

Week  Ending  Aug.  20: 
"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.) 

STATE-LAKE  —  (2,776),  35c-S0c-7Sc-85c, 
1st  week.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average,  $30,- 
200.) 

Week  Ending  Aug.  21: 

"SECRETS   OF  A   SECRETARY"   (Para.) 

CHICAGO— (4,000),  35c-50c-7Sc-85c,  7 
days.  Stage  show.  Gross:  $38,400.  (Av- 
erage,   $46,000.) 

"MERELY    MARY    ANN"    (Fox) 

McVICKERS  —  (2,284),  3Sc-50c-75c-85c, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $32,675.  (Average,  $28,- 
500.) 

"THE   RECKLESS   HOUR"   (F.  N.) 

ORIENTAL-(3,940),      35c-50c-75c-8Sc,      7 
days.        Stage    show    with    Duke    Ellington. 
Gross:    $34,000.        (Average,    $36,500.) 
"HUCKLEBERRY    FINN"     (Para.) 

ROOSEVELT  -  (1,591),  >5c-50c-75c-8Sc, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average,  $23,- 
200.) 

Week  Ending  Aug.  22: 
"THEIR    MAD    MOMENT"    (Fox) 

PALACE-(2,509),         35c-50c-7Sc-8Sc, 
daj;s.      Vaud-e.      Gross:    $23,475.       (Average, 
$24,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Iowa  Merchants  Aid 
Free  Silent  Show  Idea 

Des  Moines — Several  dozen  Iowa 
towns  are  showing  silent  pictures  dur- 
ing the  summer  months  in  tieups  with 
merchants  to  bring  in  patronage  for 
the  business  houses  through  free 
shows.  In  southern  Iowa,  Wayne 
Barry  is  offering  service  once  a  week 
or  every  two  weeks  to  theatres  in  a 
string  of  twelve  with  the  merchants 
of  the  town  contributing  one  dollar 
each  to  put  on  the  show. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Treats  Kids 

Dayton,  O.— Ralph  E.  Thayer, 
manager  of  RKO  Keith's,  donated 
the  use  of  house  to  a  local  daily  for 
three  morning  matinees  of  "Dirig- 
ible," which  were  attended  by  more 
than  3,000  kiddies  from  the  city  and 
surrounding  territory,  guests  of  the 
paper. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Named  Sales  Manager 

Dallas — Lloyd  B.  Rust  has  been 
appointed  sales  manager  of  the  Allied 
Film  Exchanges,  Big  4  distributor,  tjy 
Jack   Adams,   manager. 


(Continued  from   page   1) 

Denver,  Houston,  Indianapolis,  Kan- 
sas City,  Los  Angeles,  Montreal,  New 
York,  Ottawa,  Portland,  San  Francis- 
co, St.  Paul  and  Toronto  reported 
increases.  Charlotte,  Chicago,  Cincin- 
nati, Cleveland,  Des  Moines,  Milwau- 
kee, Minneapolis,  Oklahoma  City, 
Omaha,  Philadelphia,  Providence  and 
Seattle  dipped  under  their  previous 
week.  In  other  words,  16  gained  and 
12  lost. 

Detailed  figures  for  the  week  end- 
ing Aug.  20-21   follow : 
CITY  NO.  THEATRES  GROSS 

Albany     5  $29,310 

Baltimore     8  80,125 

Boston     8  156,000 

Buffalo    5  85,200 

Charlotte     2  15,500 

Chicago     7  192,050 

Cincinnati     7  64,538 

Cleveland     6  79,500 

Denver     5  53,250 

Des    Moines     3  28,200 

Houston      4  34,300 

Indianapolis    5  43,400 

Kansas    City     5  62,000 

Los    Angeles     13  177,400 

Milwaukee     6  62,400 

Minneapolis     5  49,500 

Montreal    6  So',20O 

New    York    City 13  367,337 

Oklahoma    City    4  24,200 

Omaha      4  33,050 

Ottawa      6  24,900 

Philadelphia    8  120,200 

Portland      5  45,600 

Providence     5  43,300 

San    Francisco    9  139,550 

battle     7  60^500 

St.     Paul    4  32,500 

Toronto     5  53,000 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

H,  M.  Addison  Going 
to  Cleveland  Sept,  1 

Rochester — H.  M.  Addison,  who 
passed  up  a  trip  to  Europe  for  Fox 
two  years  ago  to  help  build  up  the 
Rochester  Theatre,  4,000-seat  house 
and  largest  in  the  city,  on  Septem- 
ber 1  takes  over  his  new  post  as  su- 
pervisor of  Loew's  Cleveland  division, 
numbering  11  houses. 

Addison  stuck  with  the  Rochester 
after  it  had  been  taken  over  by 
Loew's  and  later  was  promoted  to 
managing  director  of  the  Penn  in 
Pittsburgh. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Awaits  Stage  Shows 

Steubenville,  O. — This  will  prob- 
ably become  a  one-day  spot  for  stage 
shows  following  recent  legalizing  of 
Sunday  performances  in  Ohio.  War- 
ners are  figuring  on  routing  their  big 
acts,  and  possibly  the  entire  stage  bills 
intact,  in  here  from  the  Stanley, 
Pittsburgh,  55  miles  distant,  for  a 
Sunday  date  of  four  shows.  Pitts- 
burgh houses  only  play  a  six  day 
week,  and  this  town  is  one  of  War- 
ners' strongholds  now  without  flesh 
on  the  stage. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Brown  Heads  Firm 

Los  Angeles — Manne  A.  Brown, 
former  district  manager  for  Tiffany, 
now  is  operating  Pacific  Coast  Ex- 
changes, Ltd.,  of  which  he  is  vice- 
president  and  general  manager. 
Branches  are  to  be  established  in 
other  Pacific  keys.  Independent 
product  will   be  handled. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

RKO  Outing  Saturday 

RKO,  Radio  Pictures,  and  RKO 
Pathe  hold  their  annual  outing  at  In- 
dian Point  on  Saturday. 


$103,750  Is 
"Bad  Girl's" 
Take  at  Roxy 


Total  $387,337  for  13  Theatres 


"Bad  Girl,"  as  pre-cited,  led  Broad 
way  last  week  with  a  gross  of  $103,-  ) 
750.  This  is  approximately  $1,250  un- 
der the  figure  set  for  it  by  the  Fox 
organization  and  represents  smash 
business  for  that  theatre  in  these 
times. 

"American  Tragedy,"  with  $14,500 
for  its  second  full  week,  is  excellent 
business  for  the  diminutive  Criterion. 
Over  at  the  Capitol,  a  run  of  good 
pictures  is  reflecting  the  old,  but  true, 
wheeze  about  real  attractions  bringing 
in  the  money.  "Sporting  Blood" 
there  grossed  $62,460  which,  after  two 
weeks  of  "Politics,"  is  business  that 
means  something.  "Silence"  shot  the 
Paramount  gross  up  to  $56,100,  an  ad- 
vance of  $7,500  over  the  previous 
week  when  "Huckleberry  Finn"  played 
the  house.     That's  money,  too. 

The  Warners,  with  the  exception  of 
the  Warner  theatre,  which  dropped  to 
$1,646  last  week  on  a  daily  revival 
policy,  are  finding  their  Broadway  ex- 
perience a  pleasant  one.  "Bought"  at 
the  re-opened  Hollywood  nabbed  $41,- 
263  in  its  first  week  and  "The  Star 
Witness,"  in  its  third  week  at  the 
Winter  Garden,  $34,420.  This  week 
"The  Last  Flight"  at  the  Strand  is 
heading  toward  an  approximate  $36,- 
000. 

Estimated  takings  week  ending 
August  20: 

"A    FREE   SOUL"    (M-G-M) 

ASTOR— (l,il20),  S0c-$3,  12th  week,  7 
days.      Gross:   $13,960. 

"SPORTING  BLOOD"   (M-G-M) 

CAPITOI^(4,700),  35c-$1.50,  7  days. 
Stage  show.     Gross:  $62,460. 

"AMERICAN   TRAGEDY"   (Para.) 

CRITERION— (850),  S0c-$2,  2nd  week,  7 
days.       Gross:    $14,500, 

EMBASSY 

EMBASSY— (598),  25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,614. 

"BOUGHT"  (Warners) 

HOLLYWOOD— (1,549),  65c-85c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $41,263. 

"THE   MIRACLE    WOMAN"    (Col.) 

MAYFAIR— (2,300),  40c-$l,  7  days.  Gross: 
$15,650. 

"SILENCE"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,700),     40c-$l,     7    days. 
Stage   show.      Gross:    $56,100. 
"THE  CANARY  MURDER  CASE"  (Para.) 

"LADIES     LOVE     BRUTES"     Para.) 

and 

"FRONT  PAGE"  (U.  A.) 

RIALTO^(1,904),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,500. 

"SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 

RIVOLI— (2,103),  40c-$l,  5th  week,  7 
days.      Gross:    $17,200. 

"BAD    GIRL"    (Fox) 

ROXY— (6,200),  50c-.$1.50,  7  days.  Stage 
show.      Gross:    $103,750. 

"MEN    ARE    LIKE    THAT"    (Col.) 

OTRAND— (3,000),  35c-$l,  6  days.  Gross: 
$9,274. 

"DISRAELI,"    "GENERAL   CRACK," 

"NOAH'S  ARK,"   "WEARY   RIVER," 

"SON   OF   THE   GODS,"   "ON    WITH 

THE  SHOW,"    "GOLD  DIGGERS  OF 
"BROADWAY"     . 
(Warners) 

WARNERS— (1,490),  35c-75c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $1,646. 

"THE  STAR   WITNESS"    (Warners) 

WINTER  GARDEN— (1,493),  3rd  week,  7 
days.       Gross:    $34,420. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Secord  Buys  Another 

Marysville,  O.  —  V.  G.  Secord, 
manager  Kapee,  LaRue,  Ohio,  has 
purchased  the  Richwood  here  from 
Mrs.  H.  B.  Dubbs.  The  house  will 
be  remodeled,  and  complete  new 
equipment   installed. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAI  1 Y 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  75 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  AUGUST  27,  1931 


TEN   CENTS 


Distribs  to 
Cover  Metro 
Protest  Meet 


Will     Have     Undercover 
Agents  on  Hand 

All  distributors  intend  to  keep  post- 
ed upon  the  Metro  National  Protest 
meet  being  sponsored  by  the  M.  P.  T. 
O.  A.  of  Philadelphia  and  Southern 
New  Jersey  and  which  is  to  be  held 
in  New  York  Seotember  1.  Repre- 
sentatives of  every  national  company 
are  slated  to  be  on  hand  for  the  con- 
clave, it  is  understood,  which  will  l)e 
open  to  all  exhibitors.  A  number  of 
companies  are  expected  to  be  put  on 
the  pan  for  their  selling  tactics  on 
new  product. 

I^eaders  of  the  two  New  York  City 

{Continued   oil    l^at/c    8) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Studios  to  Decide 
On  Endorsements 

Hollywood — Producers  have  not 
made  any  definite  arrangement  on 
their  plan  to  ban  advertising  endorse- 
m.ents  by  players  and  directors,  but 
now  are  working  on  the  plan,  states 
Fred  Beetson,  secretary  of  the  Asso- 
ciation of   Motion   Picture  Producers. 

The  ban  will  be  in  cases  where  such 
endorsements      are      "detrimental      to 

{Continued  on    page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

RKO  Nearly  Set 
On  M-G-M  Contract 

M-G-M  and  RKO  are  understood 
getting  together  on  a  product  deal 
which  would  bring  Leo's  output  into 
practically  all  of  the  RKO  houses 
throughout  the  country.  Exactly^ 
how  many  theatres  are  involved  in 
the  deal  has  not  yet  been  determined. 


Dumbbell 

One  of  the  floor  reception 
clerks  at  Warners  has  one  of 
those  Bobby  Jones  complexes 
and  keeps  four  photographs 
of  the  golf  star  on  her  desk 
constantly.  The  other  day  a 
visitor  stopped  and  asked  for 
an   executive. 

"Name,  please?"  asked  the 
clerk. 

"Jones,"  said   the  visitor. 

"And  your  initials?" 

"Bobby." 

And  not  until  he  had  left 
did  the  female  of  the  species 
realize  that  the  visitor  was 
her  hero. 


Oldknow  and 
Arthur  Set  to 
Switch  Posts 


First  Step  Will  Take  Ef- 
fect in  October 


A  closer  interlocking  of  Fox  theatre 
peration  is  on  the  way  with  Harry 
C.  Arthur  and  Oscar  Oldknow,  it  is 
understood,  alternating  between  New 
York  and  Los  Angeles  every  six 
months. 

Arthur  is  preparing  fo  leave  Labor 
Day  on  a  swing  of  all  P'ox  divisions 
in  the  East  after  which  he  will  motor 
to  the  Coast.  Following  conferences 
witii  Oldknow,  at  present  operating 
head  of  I'^ox  West  Coast  Theatres, 
.Arthur  is  expected  to  remain  there 
for  six  months  to  handle  that  end  of 
the  theatre  circuit  while  Oldknow  as- 
sumes Arthur's  duties  in  the  East  for 
a  like  period. 

The  plan  is  similar  to  the  one  gov- 

i  Continued   on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Directors'  Aides 
May  Form  Union 

Hollywood — Assistant  directors  are 
talking  of  forming  a  labor  union. 
They  feel  that  they  are  victimized  by 
every  economy  move  that  comes  along 
and  want  the  safeguard  of  organiza- 
tion to  protect  their  wage  scale. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Coast  Hears  U.  A,to 
Close;  'No' — Schenck 

Hollywood — Reports  current  here 
yesterday  had  it  that  United  Artists 
would  shut  down  its  studio  for  six 
months  starting  November   1. 


Joseph  M.  Schenck  told  the  Motion 

(Continued   on   page   2) 


Eyeing  Chi 

Deliberations  in  a  number 
of  cities  between  operators 
and  exhibitors  hinge  upon 
the  outcome  of  the  Chicago 
struggle.  The  one-man-in- 
the-booth  stand  of  Chicago 
exhibitors  is  being  watched 
by  a  number  of  cities,  sev- 
eral of  which  already  have 
voiced  their  demands  for  a 
one-man  policy  and  are 
awaiting  developments  in 
Chicago  before  attempting 
a   similar   course. 


^Queer  People' 
Is  Halted  By 
Release  Jam 


Hollywood  —  Distribution  is  the 
stumbling  block  faced  by  Howard 
Hughes  in  his  desire  to  produce 
"Queer  People."  Although  many  play- 
ers are  averse  to  appearing  in  the 
story  which  ridicules  Hollywood,  times 
are  such  that  many  of  the  free  lan- 
cers can't  presume  to  be  high  hat  in 
the  matter  and  probably  will  welcome 
employment  if  the  producer  goes 
through  with  his  plans  to  film  the 
story. 

Releasing  is  the  hitch  in  the  matter. 
(Continued  on  page  6) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cagney  Getting  New 
Deal  from  Warners 

lames  Cagney 's  difficulties  with 
Warners  have  been  settled  and  a  new 
agreement  drafted  for  his  signature. 
Cagney  is  to  go  to  the  Coast  Sunday 
and  his  next  picture,  "Blind  Spot," 
will  start  September  8. 

Terms   of   the   new   agreement    will 

(Continued  on   page   6) 


"BUY  NOW  SALES 


W\  Vitaphone  two-reel  product  is 
covered  by  a  new  contract  signed  with 
the  Btiiton  circuit.  This,  with  previ- 
ous contracts,  secures  100  percent 
booking  of  Vitaphone  shorts  with  this 
circuit,  which  embraces  ten  towns  in 
the  Albany  territory. 

The  Robb  &  Rowley  division  of  the 
Hughes- I'Vanklin  circuit  has  signed  for 
the  entire  Vitaphone  product.  Robb 
&  Rowley  cover  theatres  in  about  20 
towns  in  Texas. 


The  campaign  to  ^'Buy  Right — But 
Buy  Now"  has  the  support  of  A.  B. 
Hyman.  He  has  bought  from  J.  R. 
Crainger  the  48  new  season  Fox  pic- 
tures to  be  shown  in  the  Albee  and 
Orpheum  theatres  in  Huntington,  W. 
Va. 

The  "Buy  Right— But  Buy  Now" 
statisticians  in  the  Warner-First  Na- 
tional sales  denartment  are  still  work- 

(Continiied  on   page   8) 


National  Slant 
Is  Given  to  Qii 
Operator  Fight 

Canavan    Summons    Chi 
Officials  for  Confab 


Although  the  International  usually 
follows  a  hands  off  policy  in  local 
labor  troubles,  unless  requested  to  in- 
tervene by  the  local,  William  Cana- 
van, head  of  the  Operators'  and  Stage- 
hands' International,  has  summoned 
Tom  Maloy,  Thomas  Reynolds,  Em- 
mett  Quinn  and  Ralph  O'Hara,  union 
ofificials,  to  confer  in  New  York  on 
the  Chicago  situation. 

The  Chicago  union  officials  will  be 
in  New  York  today  for  conferences 
with  Canavan.  The  latter  is  backing 
up  the  union  in  the  Chicago  fight, 
stating  that  any  settlement  on  other 
than  a  two-man  basis  is  remote  and 
adding  that  if  the  Chicago  local  ac- 
cepts less,  he  would  be  inclined  to 
revoke  its  charter.  The  International 
is  said  to  be  prompted  by  the  belief 
that  outcome  of  the  Chicago  fight  will 

(Continued   on    page   8) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

AMPA  Prexy  Has 
This  Baby  Slant 

The  AMPA,  having  a  president 
after  all,  Motion  Picture  Daily  de- 
termined it  might  be  an  idea  to  beard 
Mike  ("Six  Syllable")  Simmons  in 
his  den  to  get  his  slant  on  the  AMPA- 
WAMPAS  ruckus  over  "Baby  Stars." 

"Babies?"  beamed  the  venerable 
president.  "Ah,  the  babies,  such  cute 
little    nippers;    yes,    my    latest    is    six 

(Continued  on   page   8) 


See  Loew  Building 

Philadelphia  —  That  Loew 
lease  on  Keith's  as  a  show- 
window  for  its  own  and 
United  Artists  product  is  re- 
garded along  Film  Row  as  a 
temporary  affair  to  run  the 
length  of  the  lease  after 
which,  local  dopesters  would 
have  it,  Loew's  will  build  a 
big  first   run   here. 

M-G-M  gets  at  least  one 
other  outlet  here,  despite 
booking  difficulties  with 
Warners,  in  the  new  Midway 
at  Kensington  and  Allegheny 
Aves.  which  opens  Thanks- 
giving Day.  The  house  will 
seat  3,200  and  is  being  built 
by  the  Shapiro  interests. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  August  27,   1931 


MOTION  PICTURE    i 


DAILY 

Registered  U.   S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


August 


1931 


No.   75 


Martin  Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Edit(»- 

JAMES  A.  CRON 

Advertising   Manager 


^'\f\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
^  jl  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V«|^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  V'ine  and  Yucca  Streets;  Leo 
Mcehan,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.  C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,  W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  Y.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada; foreign,  $15.    Single  copies,   10  cents. 


Giving  Free  Shows 
Despite  Injunction 

Despite  an  injunction  handed  down 
some  weeks  ago  prohibiting  free 
shows  in  five  New  York  parks,  the 
Women's  Labor  AuxiHary  and  Moth- 
ers' Club  again  is  showing  gratis 
screenings.  The  ckib,  said  to  be 
composed  of  operators'  wives  from 
local  306,  is  understood  to  be  doing 
this  as  a  slap  at  Lee  Ochs,  who  some 
time  ago  dispensed  with  union  men  in 
all  of  his  theatres.  It  is  understood 
that  the  Nathan  Burkan  office,  law- 
yers for  Ochs,  is  seeking  to  get  a  con- 
tempt of  court  order  against  the 
operators  of  the  shows. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Coast  Hears  U,  A.to 
Close;  No* — Schenck 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 
Picture  Daily  last  night  that  it  was 
planned  to  close  the  studios  in  Decem- 
ber, but  production  schedules  outlined 
by  Sam  Goldwyn  and  Howard 
Hughes  were  sufficient  to  keep  the 
studios  going. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Scene  at  ^'Street  Scene" 

"Street  Scene"  opened  at  the  Rivoli 
last  night  with  the  police  reserves  on 
hand  to  check  the  crowds.  Several 
newspaper  critics  who  arrived  at  8:50 
to  meet  the  scheduled  nine  o'clock 
showing  made  no  effort  to  disguise 
their  annoyances  that  the  press  rows 
and  reserved  seats  in  the  loges  and 
orchestra  were  completely  filled  and 
if  they  wanted  to  catch  the  show 
would  they  have  to  sit  in  the  upper 
reaches  of  the  second  balcony. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Appearance  Cancelled 

Because  of  screen  contractual  diffi- 
culties, Barbara  Stanwyck's  personal 
appearance  at  the  New  York  Para- 
mount has  been  canceled. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Plans  Compson  Feature 

Hollywood — Dr.  Otto  Peters,  in- 
ventor of  the  physephone  method  of 
camera  use,  is  to  make  a  feature  titled 
"Ave  Maria,"  with  Betty  Compson 
as  the  star. 


Purely  Personal 


LOUIS  WEISS  of  Weiss  Bros. 
Artclass  Pictures  Corp.,  left  New 
York  yesterday  for  a  week's  sales  trip 
through  Aliddle  West  key  cities.  His 
route  will  take  him  through  St.  Louis, 
Kansas  City,  Omaha  and  Denver  to 
Chicago  where  he  will  stop  over  for 
a  conference  with  Irving  Mandel  of 
Security  Pictures,  territorial  distribu- 
tors of  Weiss  Bros.'  12  features  for 
the  current  season  and  the  eight 
Harry  Carey  westerns.  Two  of 
Weiss  Bros.'  12  features,  "Night  Life 
in  Reno"  and  "Pleasure"  have  been 
completed. 

Howard  Dietz,  Eugene  Picker, 
Morris  Kutisker,  Albert  Hammer- 
slag,  Tom  Gerety,  Jack  Shapiro, 
Meyer  Shapiro,  Bruce  Gallup,  Don 
Mersereau,  Mort  Spring,  Julius 
Cohen,  George  Hoffman,  Lou  Metz- 
ger,  Leo  Lubin  and  Arthur  Stebbins 
are  among  those  expected  to  enter 
the  forthcoming  ping-pong  tourna- 
ment at  the  Motion  Picture  Club.  The 
contest  is  to  get  under  way  the  Mon- 
day after  Labor  Day. 

Sam  Warshawsky,  we  forgot  to 
narrate  yesterday,  is  author  of  "Wo- 
men of  Destiny,"  the  play  now  pre- 
miering  at  the  Wharf  Theatre,  Prov- 
incetown.  He  said  a  lot  of  nice  things 
yesterday  about  the  opening  but  that's 
understandable,  to  say  the  least. 

Mike  Cullen,  former  manager  of 
the  Loew  theatre,  Washington,  has 
assumed  his  new  duties  as  manager  of 
the  Loew  Penn  in  Pittsburgh,  suc- 
ceeding H.  M.  Addison,  who  is  now 
division  manager  of  the  Loew  the- 
atres  in   Cleveland. 

Hy  Daab,  Radio  advertising  and 
publicity  chief,  likes  to  hark  back  to 
those  good  old  days  when  Amos  'n' 
Andy  in  "Check  and  Double  Check" 
were  knocking  'em  for  a  loop  at 
theatres  throughout  the  country. 

Jack  Simon,  former  manager  of 
Loew's  Aldine  in  Pittsburgh  is  now 
publicity  director  of  the  Penn,  suc- 
ceeding William  A.  Qark,  who  re- 
signed to  accept  a  position  with  a 
Cincinnati  radio  stati'  n 


Paul  Lazarus  narrowly  missed 
collision  with  a  street  car  the  other 
day,  although  Paul  doesn't  know  it. 
The  car  crept  up  behind  Lazarus  and 
almost  succeeded   in  making  a  strike. 

Jack  Ellis,  Radio's  New  York  ex- 
change manager,  has  closed  deals  with 
Manhattan  Playhouses  and  the 
Frisch-Rinzler  theatres,  involving  30 
houses. 

Si  Fabian  dropped  into  the  picture 
club  the  other  day  for  the  first  time 
in  some  time  and  agreeably  surprised 
a  lot  of  fellows  who  know  him  well. 

Al  Lichtman  has  gone  in  for 
pocket  billiards — pool  to  you — and  ex- 
pects to  stay  at  it  long  enough  to 
lick  Artie  Stebbins. 

Joe  Leo  and  Alfred  Fiegal  are  doing 
a  Gold  Dust  act  these  days.  You'll 
always  find  them  lunching  together 
at  the  picture  club. 

Dave  Loew  is  after  Lou  Brecker's 
handball  scalp  and  expects  to  tie  it 
to  his  belt  sometime  in  the  next  ten 
days. 

Meyer  Davis,  who  has  a  lot  of  or- 
chestras named  after  him,  now  visits 
the    Motion    Picture    Club    regularly. 

Lou  Geller  again  has  sworn  off 
cigars.  He's  taking  to  candy  to  off- 
set the  inclination  to  grab  a  weed. 

Nathan  Burkan,  according  to  the 
overseas  mail,  is  taking  the  cure  at 
Carlsbad. 

Jules  Brulatour  has  been  spend- 
ing a  lot  of  time  at  Atlantic  City  this 
summer. 

Leo  Klebanow,  just  over  an  ap- 
pendicitis operation,  has  lost  sixteen 
pounds. 

LiL  Dagover  will  visit  Governor 
Roosevelt  at  Albany  on   Monday. 

Lou  Baum  recently  rounded  out 
three  weeks  in  the  Canadian  woods. 


Oldknow  and 
Arthur  Set  to 
Switch  Posts 


stocks  Gain;  E.  K.  Up  4  Points 

Net 

High  Low      Close      Change  Sales 

Eastman     Kodak     U2H  138         142           -1-4  2,300 

Fox    Film    "A" 13!4  12^        \VA        +  %  6,400 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 2!4  2!^         214        +  %  MOO 

Loew's,     Inc 48'/i  ^H        48f^        -|-1  3,000 

Paramount    Publix    24'A  23'/2        24            -f  ^  1,300 

Pathe    Exchange VA  VA         VA       —  Va  100 

RKO     15  14!^        14M        -¥  H  1,700 

Warner    Bros SA  8            854        +  'A  3,000 


Curb  Market  Dull 

High  Low 

Columbia     Pictures     vtc 9^  9H 

Fox     Theatres     "A" 2V»  2^ 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 4%  yA 

Sentry    Safety    Control fyi  Vi 

Technicolor     ^ 654  6!^ 

Trans    Lux 5  4J4 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
erning  publicity  and  advertising  which 
Barley  L.  Clarke  is  credited  with 
having  determined  upon.  Under  it, 
Glen  Allvine  assumed  Vic  Shapiro's 
duties  at  the  studio  last  spring  while 
Shapiro  handled  Allvine's  post  in  New 
York. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

W,  E.  Sells  146  More 
Units,  States  Bunn 

Western  Electric,  according  to 
Charles  W.  Bunn,  has  recently  placed 
its  reproducers  in  146  more  theatres. 
Thirty-four  states,  Hawaii  and  the 
District  of  Columbia  are  included  in 
the  installations. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Vol  Paul  Production 
Chief  at  RKO  Pathe 

Hollywood — Val  Paul,  who  has 
been  associated  with  Charles  R. 
Rogers  since  the  latter  was  an  inde- 
pendent producer,  has  been  appointed 
production  manager  at  the  RKO 
Pathe  studios. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Monogram  Bookings 

"Mother  and  Son,"  latest  Mono- 
gram feature,  has  been  booked  for  a 
week's  run  at  the  Steel  Pier  in 
Atlantic  City  and  for  a  week  at  the 
Globe  Theatre,  Bethlehem,  Pa. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Trimming  in  Columbus 

Columbus — Loew's  Ohio  is  report- 
ed to  have  received  instructions  to 
discontinue  the  relief  organist,  and 
dispense  with  a  banjoist,  violinist  and 
saxophone  player  in  the  orchestra  as 
a  means  of  further  reduction  in  over- 
head. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Held  for  3rd  Week 

The  Roxy  is  holding  "Bad  Girl" 
for  a  third  week.  This  is  the  first 
picture  to  be  held  that  long  since 
"Common  Clay"  played  the  theatre  for 
four  weeks  last  August. 


Net 

Close     Change  Sales 

95^-1-5^  100 

2M        100 

4           2,100 

Vs        400 

65^        -f  H  200 

5  -^  A  400 


Bonds  Irregular;  G.  T,  Up  % 

Higrh  Low  Close 

General    Theatre    Equipment    6s    '40 2V/i  TOVi  2VA 

Loew's    6s    '41    ex    war 9SA  98!4  9854 

Paramount    Broadway    S'As    '51 10254  10254  10244 

Paramount     F.     L.     6s     '47 86  86  86 

Paramount    Publix    5!^s,    '50 78  78  78 

Pathe     7s     '37     ww 94J4  9454  94J4 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '.39   wd 54  53  54 


Net 
Change 

-f  H 
-A 
-A 
-f  'A 


+  J4 


Sales 

14 
1 
1 
2 
IS 
10 
15 


''Bad  Girr  Going  Big 

Hollywood  —  Despite  the  hottest 
weather   in  years,   "Bad   Girl"   is   e.n- 
joying   sensational    business   at    Grau- 
man's  Chinese  and  the  Criterion. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Keefe  on  "Telegraph** 

Willard  Keefe,  playwright  and  news- 
paper man,  has  succeeded  Paul  Swine- 
hart  as  city  editor  of  The  Morning 
Telegraph. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW"' 

'* Bought!'*  Reopens  Boyd 

Philadelphia — The  Warner  Boyd, 
which  has  been  closed  for  the  summer, 
will  reopen  on  Sept.  3  with  "Bought!" 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Heyburn  to  Fox 

Weldon  Heyburn,  stage  player,  has' 
been  signed  by  Fox  and  is  already 
en  route  to  the  Coast  where  he  ar- 
rives on  Saturday. 


ITS   A   PLEASURE! 


6  Column  Ad  Mat,  FREE! 


C^^ 


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voutvce 


M'G-M  exhibitors 
capitalize  on  the 
fact  they  have 
booked  the  great 
M'G'M  product. 

This  ad  is  being 
used  in  newspaper 
promotion,  also 
as  a  throwaway, 
and  for  program 
adaptation. 


»  '"  -.'.«i  *'  ■""».  >•> " ,". .,. 


NOTE: 

THIS  MAT 
MEASURES 
6  columns 
by  280  lines. 
It  can  be  use 
complete  or 
cut  apart  and 
arranged  to 
suit  your  own 
spaces. 


at  the 


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WILLIAM 
FARNUM 


LUCI 
GLEASON 


A   SURE-SHOT   BOX- 
IN    A    HIGH    POWERE 

Screen  ploy  by  William  Glazer  from  fhi 
A  JOHN  FRANCIS  DILLON  Production. 


Another    Great    Hit    fro 


ss    is    a    Screen    Achievement! 


ICE   CAST  .  .  . 
AONEY   GETTER! 

play  by  Wtlliam  DuBois. 
ced  by  H.   D.   Edwards, 


Dependable    Columbia! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  August  27,    1931 


'Queer  People' 
Is  Halted  By 
Release  Jam 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
Hughes  has  a  deal  on  with  United 
Artists,  but  the  understanding  is  that 
the  company  first  will  insist  on  a  pre- 
view and  then  determine  if  it  wants 
to  sponsor  its  release  to  the  trade. 

However,  if  the  film  proves  ob- 
jectionable to  the  industry,  Hughes 
would  face  risk  of  running  into  a  jam 
with  other  producers  and  distributors, 
who  would  resent  a  film  placing  the 
business  in  an  unfavorable  light.  That 
would  mean  the  film  probably  would 
be  state  righted  and  featured  over  the 
Hughes-Franklin  circuit. 

A  number  of  friends,  meanwhile, 
are  understood  to  have  "gotten  to" 
Hughes  in  the  matter,  pointing  out 
it  would  be  bad  business  to  picturize 
the  novel  which  so  aroused  Holly- 
wood. 


Hughes-Franklin  Theatres  is  con- 
tinuing its  theatre  expansion  program, 
states  Harold  B.  Franklin,  operating 
head  of  the  circuit,  who  is  in  New 
York  in  connection  with  several  deals. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Desmond  and  Farnum 
In  Monogram  Film 

Hollywood — Trem  Carr,  Mono- 
gram production  head,  has  cast  Wil- 
liam Desmond,  Frankly n  Farnum  and 
Rd  Brady  in  supporting  roles  to  Bill 
Cody  and  Andy  Shuford  in  Director 
Harry  Fraser's  "Oklahoma  Jim." 
Others  in  the  cast  are  Marion  Burns, 
John  Elliott,  Si  Jenks,  Chief  Standing 
Bear  and  Earl  Dwire. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Warner  in  Oklahoma 
City  on  RKO  Time 

Okl.miom.a.  Citv — Definite  assur- 
ance that  the  Warner  Theatre  here 
will  be  on  the  RKO  vaudeville  cir- 
cuit next  fall  has  been  given  by  of- 
ficials to  Robert  Hutchinson,  zone 
manager  for  Warners.  The  Warner, 
which  has  been  dark  all  summer,  will 
open  about  October  1,  if  the  vaude 
circuit  hits  here  by  then,  according 
to  Hutchinson. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Cagney  Getting  New 
Deal  from  Warners 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

not  be  made  public  until  Cagney  re- 
turns to  the  studio.  Mediation  of  the 
Artists  Managers'  Association  on  the 
Coast  was  instrumental  in  bringing 
about  a  settlement.  Cagney  came 
East  after  ah  argument  over   salary. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW 

Switch  Spanish  Policy 

Spanish-dialogue  policy  is  to  be 
adopted  by  the  Regun,  one  of  the  Man- 
hattan Playhouses  group,  with  the  San 
Jose  dropping  this  policy  in  favor  ol 
Spanish  stock.  Sherman  and  Stein- 
man  are  sending  a  representative  to 
Havana  to  assemble  a  troupe.  Mean- 
while, the  Mount  Morris  soon  will 
adopt  a  combination  policy,  oflfering 
pictures  and  five  acts  of  vaudeville. 


Looking  ^Etn  Over 


''The  Cannonbair 

(Educational) 
Completely  goofy,  but  funny  and 
novel.  Andy  Clyde,  a  rocket  inven- 
tor, finds  himself  heir  to  a  one-horse 
railroad  that  has  a  chance  of  surviv- 
ing if  it  beats  a  competitive  motor  bus 
over  a  given  route  to  land  a  mail  con- 
tract. The  train  is  a  panic  and  some 
of  the  gyrations  it  goes  through  are 
certain  to  nab  laughs,  although  there 
isn't  much  reason  to  what  transpires. 
When  matters  look  dark,  along  comes 
the  rocket  which  the  audience  will 
have  forgotten  by  this  time,  to  supply 
power  to  the  archaic  train  and  shove 
it  across  the  winning  line. 


''100  Per  Cent  Service" 

(Pamnwiinl} 
Burns  and  Allen  have  a  number  of 
funny  shorts  to  their  credit.  This  is 
another.  It's  all  a  lot  of  nonsense 
built  along  the  comedy  lines  which 
this  vaudeville  team  knows  how  to 
put  over  so  well.  The  gags  are  clever 
and  the  tempo  fast.  Worth  a  pay. 
Running  time,  10  minutes. 


"Trail  of  Swordfish" 

(Educational) 
This  is  the  first  of  the  "Cannibals 
of  the  Deep"  series  and  develops  into 
an  above-the-average  short  subject. 
Most  of  the  shots,  nabbed  off  the 
Lower  California  coast,  were  photo- 
graphed by  Mack  Sennett,  as  the  title 
tells  you,  on  the  trail  of  the  sword- 
fish.  It's  a  fine  camera  job  and  very 
effective.  The  shots  of  the  swordfish 
strike  are  very  well  done  and,  for 
once  at  least,  the  fisherman  doesn't 
land  his  strike. 


"The  Tamale  Vendor'* 

(Educational) 
What  entertainment  value  this  has 
is  entirely  due  to  Tom  Patricola,  his 
dancing  feet,  his  mandolin  and  his 
singing  style.  He  finds  himself  messed 
up  with  a  senorita,  committed  to  wed 
a  burlesqued  Mexican  she  can't  see. 
Patricola  extricates  her  from  the  mess, 
but  finds  he  has  to  move  his  nimble 
feet  pretty  fast  to  get  away  with  it. 
Satisfactory. 


"Dreamworld" 

(Educational) 

One  of  the  romantic  Journeys,  pro- 
duced by  Brown-Nagel  Prod,  and  re- 
leased via  Educational.  With  Claude 
Flemming  as  narrator  and  Multicolor 
photography,  this  subject  covers  scenic 
highlights  and  various  playlands  in 
Southern  California. 

The  color  occasionally  gets  a  bit 
glaring  and,  as  usual,  the  red  domin- 
ates. Subject  matter,  however,  is  in- 
teresting. 


"The  Trap" 

(Educational) 
This  is  considerably  better  than  a 
number  in  the  Burns  detective  series 
previously  caught  by  this  reviewer. 
Held  to  approximately  11  minutes,  the 
crime  story  opens  with  a  punch  se- 
fjuence  of  a  prisoner  using  a  rapidly- 
moving  train  and  an  aeroplane  to 
make  his  escape  from  state's  prison. 
Determined  to  get  the  public  official 


who  sent  him  up,  the  criminal  attempts 
to  pull  a  fast  one  but  is  foiled  through 
the  medium  of  a  tear  gas  gun  com- 
pressed into  the  shape  of  a  fountain 
pen.     Will  please. 

KANN. 


f> 


''The  Panic  Is  On 

(M-G-M)  _ 
Charley  Chase  doesn't  rate  this 
kind  of  material.  It's  an  unfunny 
subject  in  which  attempt  is  made — un- 
successfully— for  the  most  part — to 
squeeze  humor  out  of  the  current  de- 
pression. Charlie  is  broke  and  must 
raise  $50,000  to  gain  father's  consent 
to  marry  the  girl.  Some  thugs  hire 
him  to  deliver  an  extortion  letter 
which  lands  him  the  necessary  cash. 
Situations  are  forced  and  the  gags  old. 
Not  worthy  of  Hal  Roach  or  Chase. 
Running  time,  20  minutes. 

HYNES 


"One  More  Time" 

'(Vitaphonc  5602) 
A  cartoon  of  the  Merrie  Melodies 
variety  dealing  with  a  group  of  gang- 
sters getting  playful  with  the  cop. 
"One  More  Time"  is  a  catchy  melody 
sung  by  the  characters  at  various 
times.  Synchronization  is  well  done. 
Running  time,  7  minutes. 


"Tennis  Technique" 

(Sport  ClKimpions— M-G-M) 
First  of  the  "Big  Bill  Tilden"  ten- 
nis shorts  produced  by  M-G-M.  It's 
there.  Using  a  boy  and  girl,  novices 
at  the  game,  as  a  foil,  Tilden  explains 
and  shows  some  of  the  fundamentals 
of  the  game.  Slow  motion  and  stop 
camera  shots  of  strategic  plays  en- 
hance the  value  of  the  picture. 

Excellent  for  tennis  players  and  ab- 
sorbing as  well  to  those  who  don't 
play  the  game.  Running  time,  8  min- 
utes. 


"A  Mellon-Drama" 

(RKO-Pathe) 
Hollywood — Clark  and  McCul- 
lough  sure  had  a  preview  audience  at 
the  Fairfax  going  the  night  "A 
Mellon-Drama"  was  slipped  in.  Here 
the  comedians  are  cast  as  a  brace  of 
private  detectives  engaged  to  pro- 
tect Jimmy  Finlayson  from  a  bomb 
plot.  The  foolishness  that  results 
moves  the  comedy  along  at  a  brisk 
clip.  The  audience  voted  this  one 
in. 


"The  Voice  of  Hollywood" 

(Tiffany) 
Lew  Ayres  is  the  guest  announced 
in  this  latest  of  the  S-T-A-R  series. 
He  introduces  a  number  of  celebs,  in- 
cluding Charlie  Chaplin,  Dolores  Del 
Rio,  June  Collyer,  Carl  Laemmle, 
Constance  Bennett,  Mitzi  Green  and 
Chester  Conklin.  It's  interesting. 
Running  time,  10  minutes. 

"Wild  and  Woolly" 

(M-G-M) 
This  has  some  great  action,  a  pic- 
turization  of  a  rodeo  which  is  a  real 
big  leaguer.  Pete  Smith  offers  some 
wisecracking  monologue  to  accom- 
pany the  action.  The  puns  are  not 
so  hot,  but  the  action  stuff  offsets  this. 
Running  time,  9  minutes. 


Dreiser  Tale 
Lures  Dough 
In  Los  Angeles 


Total  $150,900  for  12  Theatres 


Los  Angeles — Terrific  heat,  the 
worst  in  five  years,  played  havoc  here. 
Cool  theatres  enticed  matinee  fans,  but 
night  business  was  off  generally.  "An 
American  Tragedy"  continued  strong 
at  the  United  Artists,  where  it  got 
$20,000,  while  "Sporting  Blood"  and 
"The  Public  Defender"  did  well  at  the 
State  and  RKO. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  26  and  year-round 
weekly  averages : 

"EL    PASADO   ACUSA"    (Ind.) 

CA  LIFORNIA  INTERNATIONAL 
~-(2,0C0),  25-50C,  7  days.  Gross:  $4,400. 
(Average,    $5,000.) 

"TRANSATLANTIC"  (Fox) 

FOX  CRITERION— (1,652),  35c-65c,  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,400.  (Average, 
$10,000, ) 

"TRANSATLANTIC"  (Fox) 

GRAUMAN'S  CHINESE— (2,030),  25c- 
6Sc,  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,700. 
(Average,    $8,000.) 

"SPORTING    BLOOD"    (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,418),  35c-65c,  7  days. 
"Greetings"    Idea.      Gross:    $25,000.     (Aver- 
age,   $27,000.) 
"WOMEN    GO    ON    FOREVER"    (Tiff.) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,100),  25c-65c,  7  days. 
Stage  show,  Babe  Egan  and  "Hollywood 
Redheads."  Gross:  $12,600.  (Average, 
$16,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"    (CoL) 

ORPHEUM— (2,750),  35c-65c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $12,200.      (Average,    $16,000.) 

"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"    (Para.) 

PANTAGES  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000),  35c- 
65c,  7  days.     F.   &   M.   "Gay  Vienna"   Idea. 
Gross:     $13,100.     (Average,     $15,000.) 
"SECRETS   OF   A   SECRETARY"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3„5%),  35c-65c.  7  days. 
Oscar  Baum  and  stage  revue.  Gross: 
$16,400.      (Averasre,    $25,000) 

"THE   PUBLfC  DEFENDER"   (Ra^o) 

RKO— (2,700),  35c-65c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$14,600.      (Average,    $15,000.) 

"BOUGHr*    (Warners) 

WARNER  DOWNTOWN— (2,400),  2nd 
week,  7  days,  35c-50c.  Gross:  $9,000. 
(Average,    $15,000.) 

"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 

WARNER  HOLLYWOOD  —  (3,000),  7 
days,  35c-50c.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average, 
$14  000  ) 

"AN  AMERICAN   TRAGEDY"   (Para.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (2,100),  35c-65c,  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $13,!;00.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW 

Mixed  Reception  for 
Hayakaiva*s  Return 

Seven  New  York  critics  hail  return 
of  Sessue  Hayakawa  to  American 
pictures,  after  an  absence  of  12  years, 
with  a  mixed  reception.  He  is  one 
of  the  leads  in  "Daughter  of  the 
Dragon"  (Paramount),  now  current 
at  the  Paramount  Theatre. 

What  the  critics  think  of  his  per- 
formance is  this : 

AMERICAN — It  is  an  event  that  causes 
regret  that  this  skilled  performer  delayed 
this  debut  for  so  long. 

DAILY  NEWS— ***^/<^r  12  years'  ab- 
sence*'* just  as  handsome  and  capable  as 
lie  ever  was.*** 

EVENING  JOURNAL— ***speaks  his 
lines  with   a   pronounced  accent. 

GRAPHIC — ***return  to  the  screen  has 
been  delayed  too  long. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE^r/if»,  too,  Ses- 
sue Hayakawa,  the  Japanese  playing  a  Chi- 
nese, is  exposed  in  her  (Anna  May  Wong's) 
presence   as    a    curiously    unsatisfying   actor. 

MORNING  TELECiRAPH— H^  handles 
his  role  of  Ah  Kee  in  his  usual  capable 
manner  and  his  speaking  voice,  lieard  for 
the  first  time,  I  believe,  on  the  screen, 
seems  fully  in  keeping  with  his  bland, 
suave   personality. 

SU^i — Mr.  Hayakawa,  in  the  role  of  Ah 
Kce,  plays  well  enough,  though  he  speaks 
with   a   decided  accent. 

TIMES — ***he  does  moderately  well, 
even  though  his  lines  are  not  always  spoken 
so  that  one  can  understand  them. 


UNIVERSAL  SHORTS 
GRAB  THE  HEADLINES 


botvJ''  ?.>f,e  to  "^^Xl  ^^'*    etvA-    ^L. 


NoT?;  Dar  series''  5"^  ^^^'^^^'l 
tion    nf   finl     J  ^^.-     ^   nne  expos - 

hf>n  shows  the  tactics  that  his  team 

Sfays"' Th?.  ''  ?^^^*^  *^^  opposftTon 
P'fy®-     This  reel  is  »no  ^f  the  fa^t 

estand     n.i),,.,.JI,.oih.ll^lr!,::', 

a^    aiicJ     Uie    slow    moi  on    vlew^ 

make  it  easy  to  follow  every  action 

of  the  individual   players 


"North  Woods" 

Universal  Time,  16  mins 

Good  Cartoon 

Burlesquing  the  Northwest  Mount 

ed,  Oswald  has  a  tough  time  trying 

to    capture    the    bandit,    who    finally 

escapes  after  he  has  been  handcuffed     „_ 

Several  cartoon  devices  are  employed  sp 

to    work    up     chases     and     counter-   th 

chises,  with  Oswald's  horse  playing  en! 

a  prominent  part.    Thic  ..  well  uo  to  im 

standard    for    this    type,    moves    fast,   Ar 

and  lias  a  good  sprinkhng  of  comedy  |  gr. 

o'aKS, 


Slim  Summerville/  George  Sidney^ 

Charlie  Murray,  Daphne  Pollard  and 

a  host  of  other  real  stars  in 

TWO-REEL  COMEDIES 

Christy  Walsh's 
ALL-AMERICA 
SPORTS  REEL 

STRANGE  AS  IT  SEEMS 

THE  SHADOW 

Two-Reel  Mystery  Series 

DANGEROUS  JOBS 

OSWALD 

The  Lucky  Rabbit  Cartoons 

Graham  McNamee,  NBC  ace,  as 

the  Talking  Reporter  for 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSPAPER 

NEWSREEL 

.Mf.Oail^ 


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:  cteepV  sY,ado^  ^;  actiotv.  ^.   g 


,  -  .ice  01-  '-\Hat  a^^^*® 


As 


ifeceTTi^' 


Daily    \ 


''Strange  ^  ^0', 

^'^       na  '^"---es   oi    '•• 


*P^n\nK  ^^""^ 


Howdy  Mates 

(Untversal) 
Swell 

Thi^  one  hqc  a  barrel  full  of  laughs. 
Lloyd  Hamilton  with  his  funny  walk 
and  peculiar  mannerisms  walks  oft 
with  the  honors.  Th^rp'.;  a  real  kick 
in  the  sequences  following  the  dog 
eating  the  whistle.  Running  time,  10 
minutes.  |^. p,  p^l I y 


dent  oi  ^^ptlatVtvg^'^ver  ^^%e;e\ed\s1 
«ben  a.^'%we  con^-\  tbat  ^^^^^  oi\ 

\  to  covf      ^^d^T 


Produced  by 

M.  STANLEY  BERGER- 
MAN.  Two-reel  comedies 
supervised  by  Eddie  Kauf- 
man  and  Sam   Friedman. 


RIDE 
WITH 


UNIVERSAL 


AND  you  RIDE 
WITH  A  WINNER 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  August  27,    1931 


Distribs  to 
Cover  Metro 
Protest  Meet 


{Continued   from    page    1) 

exhibitor  units  in  addition  to  Sidney 
Samuelson,  president  of  the  Allied 
Theatre  Owners  of  New  Jersey,  are 
expected  to  be  on  hand.  Whether 
they  will  represent  their  units  in  an 
official  capacity  depends  on  whether 
the  meeting  will  be  a  general  protest 
affair  or  directed  against  M-G-M 
alone.  Rudy  Sanders,  president  of 
the  Brooklyn  Theatre  Owners,  will 
attend,  and  Sam  Sonin  will  be  on  hand 
for  the  T.  O.  C.  C.  Walter  \inceiit 
is  scheduled  to  be  chairman  of  the 
meeting. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Jersey  Unit  Planning 
N,  Y,  Headquarters 

.Mlied  Theatre  Owners  of  New  Jer- 
sey will  shortly  have  its  own  head- 
quarters and  meeting  place.  A  com- 
mittee has  been  appointed  by  Sidney 
Samuelson,  president,  to  collect  data 
on  the  plan.  A  location  near  the  New 
York    Film    Center    is    being    sought. 

The  next  regular  semi-monthly 
meeting  of  the  unit  planned  for  Sept. 
1  has  been  called  off  so  that  members 
can  attend  the  Metro  National  Pro- 
test Meet  in  New  York  on  that  date. 
Weekly  meetings  will  l)e  resumed 
next  month. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

21,250  Billboards  Are 
Removed  in  Maryland 

B.XLTiMORE  —  Harry  D.  Williar, 
Jr.,  chief  engineer  of  the  Maryland 
state  roads  commission,  has  an- 
nounced that  21,250  signs,  billboards 
and  posters  have  been  removed  from 
the  roads  in  two  campaigns  recently 
conducted  under  an  act  of  the  last 
Legislature  restricting  and  licensing 
them  under  control  of  the  commis- 
sion. 

Licenses  are  provided  in  the  act  and 
the  revenue  taken  in  by  the  commis- 
sion amounts  to  $10,845.18.  Persons 
or  concerns  advertising  their  own 
products  have  taken  out  3,790  li- 
censes while  3,462  licenses  have  been 
issued  to  persons  or  concerns  conduct- 
ing advertising  businesses. 

The  Rivoli,  through  Frank  Price, 
Jr.,  manager,  has  just  engaged  sixteen 
24-sheet  stands  for  the  reopening  of 
that  house  for  the  first  two  weeks 
from  the  Morton  Sign  Co.  for  stra- 
tegic positions  around  Baltimore. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Manager  Has 
Buying  Supervision 

St.  Louis — Under  a  new  order  of 
things  the  local  Fox  Theatre  will 
be  under  the  personal  management 
of  Harry  Greenman.  Heretofore  the 
matter  of  selecting  pictures,  the  mold- 
ing of  stage  shows,  etc.,  was  decided 
by  the  New  York  offices  with  Green- 
man  merely  acting  as  resident  man- 
ager or  director  of  the  house.  But 
under  the  new  arrangement  Green- 
man  personally  will  be  in  complete 
charge.  The  change  is  in  line  with 
the  reorganization  scheme  being  put 
into  effect  in  the  Eastern  division  of 
the  Fox  theatres,  whereby  a  system 
of  local  management  is  being  substi- 
tuted  for    central    office   control. 


'BUY  NOW"  SALES 


{Continued   from    page    1) 

ing  at  fast  speed  recording  the  clos- 
ing of  contracts.  Recent  deals  con- 
summated   include ; 

Georgia 

Rex,    Griffin,    J.    M.    McCarthy. 

Illinois 

American,  Mt.  Carmel,  Theodore  Cole- 
man. 

Iowa 

Ritz,    Denison,    Henry    Saggau. 

Maryland 

Clover,  Baltimore,  B.  N.  Livingston; 
Plaza,    Baltimore,    Peoples'    Theatre    Co. 

Michigan 

Oakman  Boulevard',  Detroit,  Oakman 
Boulevard  Theatre  Co.;  Graystone.  De- 
troit, Anthony  Dubiel ;  Imperial,  Detroit, 
M.  J.  Chargot;  Dreamland,  Fennville,  J. 
E.    Nickerson. 

Minnesota 

Southern  Minneapolis.  E;.  J.  Tunstall; 
Arcade,  St.  Paul,  Irving  Gilman;  East 
Lake,  El  Lago  and  Lake,  Minneapolis, 
Lake    Amusement    Co. 

New  Jersey 

Rivoli,  Hammonton,  Hammonton  The- 
atre, Inc.;  Blackwood,  Blackwood,  Black- 
wood  Theatre   Co. 

Pennsylvania 

Spruce,  Philadelphia,  Hirsh  Amusement 
Co.;  Pine  Brook,  Scranton,  Fred  Winters; 
Century,  Philadelphia,  Hirsh  Amusement 
Co.;  Mayfair,  Philadelphia,  Mayfair  The- 
atre Corp. ;  Media,  MedSa,  Dembow  Amuse- 
ment   Co. 

Nebraska 

Ritz,    Plattsmouth,    G.    G.    Griffin. 


Princes 


North  Dakota 

Fargo,     Tweedon    Bros. 


Oregon 

LTnion,    Union,    R.    C.    Begg. 

Pennsylvania 

Viola.  Philadelphia,  'Viola  Amusement 
Co.;  Cedar,  Philadelphia.  Lessy  Amuse- 
ment Co.;  Summitt,  Clark  Summitt,  W. 
C.    Close. 

Virginia 

Broadway,  Richmond,  Richmond  Theatri- 
cal  Operative    Corp. 

Wisconsin 

Capitol,  Racine,  Robert  Ungerfeld";  Gra- 
nada, Racine,  S.  &  M.  Amusement  Co. ; 
Rivoli.  Two  Rivers,  Two  Rivers  Theatre 
Co.;  Mermac,  West  Bend,  A.  C.  Berk- 
holtz;  Tomah,  H.  S.  Olson;  Ideal,  Bloomer, 
Mrs.  George  Gasson;  Scott,  Black  River 
Falls,  Falls  Amusement  Co.;  Palace,  Wis- 
consin Rapids,  Henrietta  Eckhardt;  Rex, 
Berlin,    Ed    Starkey. 

Alberta,  Canada 

Majestic,  I^thbridge,  Majestic  Theatre, 
Ltd. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Studios  to  Decide 
On  Endorsements 

{Continued   from   page    1) 

players'  interests,"  it  is  stated.  The 
matter  will  be  handled  through  the 
studios,   not   through   agents. 

Whether  such  endorsements  are 
detrimental  probably  will  be  left  to 
the  judgment  of  the  studio.  Official 
statement  on  the  subject  may  be  made 
in  a  few  days. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Address  System  for  Legit 

Western  Electric  public  address 
system  is  installed  in  the  Earl  Car- 
roll Theatre,  new  3j000-seat  tnusical 
comedy  house  which  opens  in  New 
York  Thursday. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

K.  C.  Rift  Seen 

Kaxsas  City — Little  hope  is  held 
of  a  satisfactory  agreement  between 
exhibitors  and  operators  who  are  now 
conducting  a  series  of  conferences  on 
reduction  of  scale  and  limitation  of 
one  man  in  a  booth. 


A  Honey 


Parsons,  W.  Va. — Bees  have 
been  using  the  Victoria  Theatre 
here  for  a  hive  for  some  time, 
it  was  discovered  by  workmen. 
Old  woodwork  and  scenery  is 
being  taken  out  of  the  theatre 
and  when  they  removed  the 
flooring  of  the  balcony  they 
found  350  pounds  of  honey  at- 
tached to  the  under  side  of  the 
boards.  Some  of  the  honey 
strips    measured    6    feet   long. 


AMP  A  Prexy  Has 

This  Baby  Slant 

{Continued   from    page    1) 
weeks    old    and    doing    quite    well .  .  . 
darned  nice  of  you  to  take  such  inter- 
est. . .'' 

"Now,  Prexy,  please  keep  your 
mind  on  your  work,  we  mean  the 
Wampas  Baby  Stars...'' 

"I  have  got  my  mind  on  my  work," 
retorted  Prexy,  "but  I  thought  you 
meant  my  home  work,"  and  the  nabob 
of  syllabic  stratifications  wiped  his 
spectacles  with  a  pen  wiper. 

Prexy  went  on:  "You  mentioned 
the  Wampas. .  .h'm. .  .yes,  I  remember 
now,  there  is  such  an  organization — on 
the  West  Coast  I  believe — a  hungry 
little  group  of  fraternal  propensities 
which  we  took  under  our  wing  a  few 
years  ago.  Oh,  the  pity  of  it  all.  By 
the  way,  did  I  tell  you  about  my  first- 
born? Quite  a  lad  now,  and  promises 
to  stride  in  the  polysyllabic  footsteps 
of  his  sire.  Yes,  sir,  getting  to  be 
quite  a  talker,  although  being  so  young 
he  doesn't  quite  get  the  pronunciation 
of  some  words,  as,  for  example,  when 
he  wants  to  say  watermelon,  he  does- 
n't quite  pronounce  it  that  way,  but 
approximates  it  and  says :  'Pomegran- 
ate' !" 

The  Motion  Picture  Daily  re- 
porter, shifting  his  feet  uneasily,  and 
wondering  what  other  dialectic  cathar- 
sis might  be  in  the  offing,  swallowed 
an  aspirin  and  essayed  weakly  : 

"But  Mr.  Simmons,  what  do  you  in- 
tend to  do  about  the  Ampas-Wampas 
controversy?" 

"Do  something !  Of  course,  PU  do 
something,"  exploded  the  philosophic 
anarch.  "I  am  nothing  if  not  a  man 
of  action  and  dangling  participles.  I 
intend  to  take  immediate  action.  Fm 
going  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  AMPA 
at  once.  At  this  meetmg,  incidentally, 
the  newly  elected  officers  of  AMPA's 
forthcoming  administration  are  sched- 
uled to  be  installed.  As  soon  as  I 
have  handed  over  the  gavel  to  the  new 
president,  I  shall  congratulate  him 
with  genuine  gusto,  eclat,  not  to  say 
elan.  And  having  executed  this  ritiial 
in  a  most  thundering  polemic,  I  shall 
add: 

"Mr.  President,  I  leave  you  as  a 
heritage  all  that  hasn't  been  stolen, 
borrowed  or  gypped  from  the  treas- 
ury. I  leave  you  all  the  good  will, 
appurtenances,  effects,  appointments, 
chattels,  title,  stationery,  laurels, 
crowns,  badges  of  honor  and  glories 
that  the  departing  administration 
boasts.  But,  Mr.  President,  nor  is 
that  all  I  leave  you.  I  leave  you,  with 
the  full  charity  of  a  benignant  heart, 
the — chef  d'ouvrc — the  privilege  of  set- 
tling once  and  for  all  the  position  of 
the  AMPA  in  the  famed  Ampas- 
Wampas  ruckus  over  embryonic  film 
phrails.  Having  settled  this,  Mr. 
President,  you  will  have  written  your- 
self forever  into  the  scroll  of  motion 
picture  history." 


National  Slant 
Is  Given  to  Chi 
Operator  Figh 


(Continued   from    page    1) 

have  a  great  bearing  upon  the  fu- 
ture of  operator-exhibitor  relations 
throughout  the  nation. 


New  Examiner  Asserted 
In  League  with  Union 

Chicago — Charge  that  C.  K.  Creig- 
er,  acting  chief  electrical  inspector,  is 
allied  with  Tom  Maloy  and  is  a  for- 
mer member  of  the  Chicago  opera- 
tor union,  is  made  by  Theodore" 
Levin,  attorney  for  independent  ex- 
hibitors, as  both  sides  in  the  contro- 
versy prepared  for  the  hearing  today 
before  Judge  Cavanaugh  on  the 
union's  motion  to  dissolve  the  tempo- 
rary injunction  under  which  the  the- 
atres are  operating. 

The  injunction  restrains  police 
from  arresting  imported  operators 
who  are  not  yet  licensed  by  the  city. 
Meanwhile,  Aaron  Saperstein,  presi- 
dent of  the  Allied  unit  here,  asserts 
that  Creiger  is  attempting  to  block 
licensing  of  the  new  men  by  submit- 
ting 25  questions  instead  of  ten  to 
applicants,  the  questions  said  to  be  of 
such  nature  that  a  graduate  electri- 
cal engineer  would  have  difficult}'" 
passing   the   test. 

Fifty-two  applicants  were  examined 
on  Tuesday  but  the  results  of  the 
examination  will  not  be  known  for 
several  days.  Further  examinations 
have  been  held  up  until   Friday. 


Lockout  of  Janitors  Is 
Denied  by  Saperstein 

Chicago  —  Charge  of  Thomas 
Burke,  business  manager  of  the  union, 
that  45  union  janitors  have  been 
locked  out  is  denied  by  Aaron  Saper- 
stein, who  says  that  janitors  are  act- 
ing upon  advice  of  Burke  if  they  fail 
to   report   for   duty. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Nominating  for  Awards 

Hollywood  —  Blanks  for  nomina- 
tions for  Merit  Awards  for  the  year 
ending  July,  1931  have  been  sent  out 
by  Academy  of  Motion  Picture  Arts 
and  Sciences.  All  pictures  but  pre- 
views are  to  be  voted  on.  Results 
will  be  announced  at  the  Awards  Ban- 
quet November  4  at  the  Ambassador 
Hotel  here.  Nominations  close  Sep- 
tember 15. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

English  Editor  Here 

Study  of  conditions  in  New  York 
and  Hollywood  as  well  as  a  survey  of 
new  season's  product  is  planned  by 
Miss  Lillian  11.  Clark,  editor  of 
"Today's  Cinema,"  London  daily  trade 
paper,  who  is  in  New  York.  Miss 
Clark  came  to  New  York  via  Banff, 
Canada,  where  she  spent  her  vaca- 
tion. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Talkers  on  Trains 

Wa.shinc.ton — Following  a  demon- 
stration talking  pictures  on  trains 
have  been  declared  successful  in  Eng- 
land, George  R.  Canty  writes  to  the 
Department   of   Commerce. 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.   NO.  76 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  AUGUST  28,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Barbara  Gets 
Dope  on  What 
Contracts  Are 


Puhlix  and  RKO  Cancel 
Appearance  Dates 


Columbia  executives  are  deter- 
mined that  Barbara  Stanwyck  shall 
fulfill  her  contract  with  the  company, 
or  otherwise  it  will  be  just  too  bad 
for  her,  so  far  as  working  for  other 
companies  is  concerned,  it  is  indicated 
in  the  latest  putouts  scored  in  the 
battle. 

That  is  the  reported  closing  of  the 
door  of  Publix  and  RKO  bookings 
for  Barbara  and  her  husband,  Frank 
Fay.     The   couple   were   to   have   ap- 

{Continucd   on   paiic    2) 
"BVY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Now  Indies  Want  to 
Make  'Queer  People' 

Hollywood  —  Two  independent 
producers  have  made  a  joint  offer  to 
Howard  Hughes  for  rights  to  "Queer 
People."  If  he  accepts,  they  will  start 
shooting  in  three  weeks  with  a  road- 
show tour  in  mind.  Several  agencies 
guarantee  to  cast  the  picture  com- 
petently.   Hughes  is  said  to  have  sunk 

(Continued    on    page    (>> 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Union  Officials  Hold 
Secret  Meet  in  N.  Y. 

Secret  meetings  are  being  held  in 
New  York  between  officials  of  the 
I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  and  Chicago  Operators' 
Union.  Tom  Maloy,  accompanied  by 
Ralph  O'Hara,  Tom  Reynolds  and 
Emmett  Quinn  of  the  Chicago  local, 
are  reported  in  sessions  with  William 
Canavan,    president    of    the    Interna- 

(Continued  on  page   8) 


Ufa  Crashes  Canada 

Toronto  —  Excellent  Film 
Exchange  has  signed 
several  Ufa  film  productions 
for  distribution  in  Canada,  it 
is  announced.  This  is  the 
first  definite  booking  of  Ger- 
man films  entered  into  di- 
rectly by  a  Canadian  ex- 
change since  the  war.  al- 
though several  German  pro- 
ductions have  entered  the 
Dominion  via  the  Paramount 
route.  Excellent  Film  Ex- 
change has  offices  in  Toronto, 
Montreal   and   St.   John. 


Subsequents  Seek  U.S. 
Relief  on  Price  Barrier 


Grosses  $30,000,000  Weekly 

Chicago — Weekly  attendance  at  picture  houses  of  the  nation 
approximates  115,000,000  at  an  average  outlay  of  26  cents  per 
capita,  paying  a  total  of  around  $30,000,000  weekly  for  admissions, 
according  to  a  survey  by   International   News   Service. 

There  are  17,000  picture  houses,  of  which  13,500  have  been  wired 
for  sound,  the  survey  claims.  This  represents  an  equipment  in- 
vestment of  $200,000,000,   it  is  asserted. 


Producers  in     Twinkle,  Baby 


Scramble  for 
Name  Players 


Hollywood — Hey-day  for  name 
players  is  getting  under  way  with 
boulevard  agents  saying  that  more 
help  has  been  signed  up  recently  than 
in  the  previous  10  months.  No-name 
players  are  available  at  present  with 
some  of  them  tied  up  in  advance  for 
two  or  three  pictures. 

Studios  suddenily  are  realizing  they 
must  have  players  for  pictures  start- 
ing soon.  Warners  are  facing  the 
possibility  of  a  shortage  or  bidding 
high  for  talent  when  the  studio  re- 
sumes operations  next  month.  Para- 
mount is  casting  for  its  November 
pictures  and  Radio  for  October  films. 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Holman  Shifted  to 
Story  Department 

Russell  Holman,  advertising  man- 
ager for  Paramount,  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  story  department  of  the 
company  and  has  been  succeeded  by 
Cliff   Lewis. 

Lewis,  who  has  been  Holman's  as- 
sistant for  four  years,  came  to  the 
Paramount  home  office  from  the  Mark 
Strand  Theatre  in  Syracuse  in  1925. 
After  serving  in  the  company's  ex- 
ploitation department  and  in  the  Pub- 
lix theatre  publicity  and  advertising 
department  Lewis   was  transferred  to 

{Continued    on    page    6) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Distribution  Only  of 
Kinograms  Ad  Reel 

Educational's  deal  for  the  handling 
of  the  Kinograms  Allied  sponsored 
newsreel  is  for  physical  handling  only, 
the  company  having  no  connection 
with  sales,  publicity  or  collections. 
I  The  first  issue  now  is  set  for  release. 


Star;  You  Have 
Gone  too  Far 


Say  Affiliated  Houses  Get 

Product  First  at  Lower 

Admissions 


Hollywood — It's  all  off  in  the  mat- 
ter of  the  Wampas  baby  stars  of  the 
future.  None  of  the  producers  want 
to  be  in  the  spot  in  which  Fox  found 
itself  the  other  day  when  the  firm  was 
left  high  and  dry  in  the  matter  of 
candidates  for  the  baby  star  constella- 
tion. Accordingly,  they've  decided  to 
give  the  high  and  wide  to  future 
Wampas  selections  and  each  studio 
will  name  its  own  star  candidates. 

There  is  little  likelihood  that  the 
Wampas  will  take  any  counter  steps 
as  the  word  will  be  passed  to  the 
publicity  men  from  their  bosses,  which 
will  write  finis  to  the  baby  star  selec- 
tions and  their  controversial  angles. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Warners  Take  Over 
Studio  in  England 

London — Acquisition  of  the  Ted- 
dington  Studios,  near  London,  for  a 
two  year  period  has  been  completed 
by  Warners,  states  Jack  Warner.  He 
plans  to  start  British  production  in 
.September  with  "Murder  on  the  Sec- 
ond   Floor."      iMfteen    other    subjects 

(Continued  on   page   8) 
"BUY   RIGHT— BUT    BUY   NOW" 

Dove  of  Peace  Is 

Busy  at  Warners 

Hollywood — Warners'  argument 
with  Hobart  Henley  over  salary  the 
director  claimed  due  him  has  been 
settled  with  the  company  paying  the 
director  approximately  $60,000  of  his 
$87,000  claim  on  his  40-week  con- 
tract. 

Those  pet  phrases  concerning  Hcn- 
(Continned  on  page  8) 


Smuuklering  sentiment  against  the 
ability  of  affiliated  theatres  to  under- 
charge subsequent  run  houses,  which 
must  wait  from  30  to  60  days  to  play 
product  at  higher  prices  threatens  to 
burst  into  flame  at  an  early  date  in 
Cleveland. 

The  immediate  cause  of  the  pro- 
posed action,  which  is  promised  in  the 
form  of  a  Federal  trust  law  action,  is 
the  retluction  of  prices  thereby  Loew's 
and  Warners.  Loew's  cut  its  prices 
from  16  to  40  per  cent  with  both  its 
downtown  and  suburban  houses  af- 
fected. 

Cleveland  independents  plan  to  bring 
action  against  Loew's  on  the  ground 
that  the  company's  suburban  houses 
can  get  pictures  ahead  of  independent 
suburbans  even  though  the  indepen- 
dents charge  as  much  and  more  ad- 
mission. 

The    low-price    matinee    policy     in 

(Continued   on   page   8) 
"BUY   RIGHT—BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Canadian  Provinces 
To  Act  on  'Combine' 

Toronto — Ontario  is  moving  ahead 
on  its  plan  to  take  action  on  the 
"combine  report"  and  this  action  will 
serve  as  a  guide  to  British  Columbia, 
Alberta  and  Saskatchewan,  all  of 
which  are  eager  to  make  a  move  but 
are  awaiting  Ontario's  lead.  As  us- 
ual, the  Province  of  Quebec  will  ig- 
nore Ontario's  action,  it  is  indicated. 
A  report  on  the  alleged  combine  is 
being  prepared  for  Ontario's  attorney 
general. 


50-50  Split 

A  big  shot  known  as  tough 
to  work  for  was  desirous  of 
getting  a  well  known  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  man  and  ap- 
proached him  on  the  subject. 

"I'll  take  the  job  on  one  con- 
dition," declared  the  advertis- 
ing  man. 

"What's  that?"  wanted  to 
know   the    hardboiled    boss. 

"You  write  the  ads  and  let 
me  do  the  criticizing,"  came 
the  quick  rejoinder. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  August  28,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\oI.   oO 


August   2S.    1931 


No.    76 


Martin  Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE  KANN 

Editor 

JAMES  A   CRON 

Advertising   Manager 


^><^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f^  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  Leo 
Meehan,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.  C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  Weiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin.  W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  Y.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada; foreign,  $15.    Single  copies,  10  cents. 


Barbara  Gets  Dope  on 
What  Contracts  Are 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

peared  for  a  week  at  the  Paramount, 
New  York,  starting  September  4,  but 
after  their  acceptance,  the  booking  was 
cancelled  without  explanation. 


Hollywood — Barbara  Stanwyck  and 
Frank  Fay  were  to  have  appeared  at 
the  Paramount  September  4  in  a  special 
stage  production  built  around  them  in 
connection  with  Paramount's  twentieth 
birthday  jubilee  celebration.  They 
were  to  have  left  Hollywood  Wednes- 
day for  New  York  to  start  rehearsals, 
but  late  Wednesday  a  wire  was  re- 
ceived stating  the  appearance  was  can- 
celled "because  of  screen  contractual 
difficulties." 

Fay  says  the  offer  came  through  the 
Morris  agency  here  and  was  accepted 
after  a  discussion  of  terms.  Tuesday, 
he  said  the  agency  told  him  to  do 
nothing  about  the  matter  until  the  fol- 
lowing night.  A  cancellation  came 
through  meanwhile,  and  it  is  stated 
no  explanation  was  offered. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Tobis  Gets  N.  Y.  House 

Tobis  has  taken  over  the  Vander- 
bilt  Theatre,  West  48th  street,  New 
York,  and  will  reopen  the  house  Sep- 
tember 18  as  the  Tobis-Vanderbilt, 
presenting  German,  French  and  Italian 
film  importations.  Charles  G.  Stra- 
kosch,  formerly  of  the  Stanley  com- 
pany and  now  head  of  Tobis  theatre 
operations,  will  have  personal  charge 
of  the  house. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Kirkpatrick  on  Job 

A.  S.  Kirkpatrick,  vice  president  of 
Educational,  is  receiving  felicitations 
on  his  recovery  from  illness  which 
has  confined  him  to  his  home  for  the 
last  month. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

May  Build  Hospital 

Hollywood — The  Motion  Picture 
Relief  Fund  is  considering  erection  of 
a  hospital  and  home  for  decrepit  per- 
formers. 


INDICATIONS  are  that  the  present  system  employed  by  the  Ohio  cen- 
sor board  will  not  prove  so  hot,  and  deletions  of  action  or  dialogue 
ordered  by  the  film  judges  may  find  their  way  to  Ohio  screens  regardless. 
The  three  traveling  inspectors  who  have  been  an  integral  part  of 
censorship  operation  for  many  years,  and  whose  duty  it  was  to  check 
films  in  houses  throughout  the  state  to  see  that  mandates  of  the  board 
had  been  carried  out,  have  been  dispensed  with,  at  an  annual  savings 
of  around  $10,000. 

• 

Dr.  Beverly  O.  Skinner,  recently  appointed  censor  chief,  or  his  two 
women  assistants  may  jointly  or  individually  order  certain  deletions, 
but  have  no  assurance  whatever  that  they  will  actually  be  made. 

Skinner  expects  to  inaugurate  publication  of  a  weekly  bulletin  in 
which  all  deletions  will  be  listed,  and  he  also  will  depend  on  those  in 
sympathy  with  censorship  to  voluntarily  report  any  violations  of  his 
orders. 

At  best,  however,  the  system  is  considered  full  of  loopholes,  and  is 
regarded  by  many  exhibitors  as  the  beginning  of  the  end  of  censorship 
in  that  state. 

• 

As  mystifying  as  any  of  Hollywood's  mysteries,  the  story  of  Carman 
Barnes.  Picked  and  touted  by  Jesse  Lasky  as  a  find,  Miss  Barnes  was 
subjected  to  a  nation-wide  publicity  campaign  a  la  Paramount's  best. 
The  excitement  even  extended  into  trade  paper  advertising. 

Then  the  Hollywood  understroke  came  into  play.  Miss  Barnes  cooled 
her  heels  on  the  Marathon  Avenue  lot  for  months  until  the  other  day 
she  walked  off  the  lot,  through  with  Paramount  and  nary  a  picture  to 
her  credit. 


Two  big  executives,  pivotal  cogs  in  an  imposing  and  influential 
organization,  are  smiling  to  each  other's  faces  and  looking  daggers 
at  each  other's  backs. 

• 

By  the  way,  is  Charlie  Chaplin  ever  returning  from  the  south  of 
France  ? 

Now  that  Frank  Borzage  has  re-signed  with  Fox  for  three  more  pic- 
tures, a  potential  candidate  for  the  phantom  Directors'  Guild  is  removed 
from  the  lists. 

• 

And  if  Dave  Selznick  does  put  Clara  Bow  to  work,  it  will  have  to  be 
after  she  makes  that  picture  for  Universal. 

Incidentally,  there's  a  marquee  smash  for  you :  "Clara  Bow  in  'The 
Impatient  Virgin'." 


Stocks  Irregular  in  Dull  Market 


High  Low  Close 

Eastman     Kodak     142^  139  139.>^ 

Eastman    Kodak    pfd 133  133  133 

Fox    Film     "A" 14'4  "54  14 

General    Theatre    Equipment    new 2^         ZYa  2^ 

Loew's,     Inc 49^  485^  49 

Paramount    Publix    24^  2354  24 

Pathe    Exchange     ^Vs          154  154 

Pathe    Exchange    "A" 55^          S'A  S% 

RKO     15^  14^  14^ 

Warner    Bros 85^          854  8^^ 


Net 
Change 

~2Vt, 
+  54 

+  Vi 
+  'A 
+  % 


Curb  Market  Sluggish 


vtc. 


Columbia     Pictures 

Fox     Theatres     "A" 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd!. 

Technicolor     

Trans    Lux    


High 

.  WA 

.     2Vi 
.     454 


Low 

9 

2H 


Close 

9)4 

2H 

4 

6Va 

5 


-I-  Vs 
-Vs 
+  Vi 


Net 
Change 

+  Vi 


Bonds  Gain;  G.  T.  Up  1%  Points 


'40. 


Hirh 

2354 


General    Theatre     Equipment    6s 

Loew's   6s    '41    ex    war '^W» 

Paramount     Broadway    SVzS    '51 10254 

Paramount    F.    L.    6s    '47 86!^ 

Paramount    Publix   5'/^s,    '50 78"4 

Pathe    7s    '.V    ww 94 

Warner    Bros.    6s    '39    wd 5454 


Low 

2m 

9m 

102^ 
86 
78 
94 
54 


Close 

2254 
98^ 
102M 
8654 
78 
94 
54 


Net     , 
Change 

+1% 

+  Vi 


-)-  5/2 


J4 


Sedes 

1,600 

100 

8,500 

9,700 

9,000 

3,900 

700 

300 

5,400 

16,200 


Sales 

2,500 
100 
700 
100 
300 


Sales 

40 
1 
1 
6 

15 
6 
4 


^  Purely 
Personal 


SAU  RINZLER  is  making  th< 
rounds  of  the  film  exchanges  agai 
the  first  time  since  he  sold  his  theatre 
to  Fox.  His  partner,  Louis  Frisch, 
accompanies  him.  And,  by  the  way, 
the  Brooklyn  circuit  will  open  a  New 
York  office  for  booking  purposes. 

B.  F.  Lyon,  Canadian  general  man- 
ager for  Warners,  has  returned  to 
New  York  after  closing  a  number  of 
Canadian  circuit  deals  including  the 
United  circuit  in  Montreal  and  th( 
Dewee  West  Coast  circuit  in  British 
Columbia. 

Harry  Rathner,  general  manager 
of  the  Universal  circuit,  has  returned 
from  Winnipeg,  where  Charles  Perry 
was  installed  as  general  manager  of 
the  firm's  theatres  in  the  Canadian 
city. 

Sanford  Ratlife,  booker   at   Uni 
versal's      San      Francisco     exchange, 
grabbed    off    43    bona    fide    and    con 
firmed    starting    dates    on    the    serial, 
"Danger   Island,"  in  a  single  day. 

Hector  Turnbull  and  Jimmy 
Cowan  dropped  the  cares  of  produc- 
tion as  it's  handled  on  Long  Island 
long  enough  yesterday  to  repair  to 
the  Plaza  grill  for  their  lunch. 

Joe  Vergesslich,  W.  B.-F.  N.  Chi- 
cago branch  manager,  returns  to  the 
Windy  City  at  the  end  of  the  week. 
Joe's  in  town  finishing  up  details  on 
a  booking  deal. 
in 

Constance  Bennett  arrives  in  New 
York  Monday  from  Paris.  Her  next 
picture  will  be  "Lady  with  a  Past," 
which  Edward  Griffith  will  direct. 

Hubert  Voight  is  longing  for  the 
good  old  California  heat  instead  of 
New  York's  humidity.  And  he'll '  be 
back  there  September  IS. 

Sol  Kravitz,  booker  for  the  Lee 
Ochs  circuit,  has  resigned  effective 
Saturday.  Future  plans  are  not  yet 
set. 

Dick  Pearl,  sales  manager  for  Al 
Mannon,  is  an.xious  to  get  back  to  the 
Coast.      It   may   be  any  day   now. 

A.  W.  Smith,  Jr.,  eastern  sales 
manager  for  Warners,  has  returned 
from  a  trip  in  upstate  New  York. 

Tony  Ricci,  formerly  with  Fox, 
has  joined  the  New  Jersey  Warner- 
First    National    sales    force. 

Harold  B.  Franklin  is  off  to  Buf- 
falo today,  via  auto.  Then  to  Chicapfo 
and   Hollywood. 

Hal  Roach  is  expected  in  town  to- 
day   from    Hollywood. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Schenck  Leaving 

His  European  trip  off  for  the  time 
being,  Joseph  M.  Schenck  leaves  for 
the  Coast  the  end  of  the  week.  Har- 
old B.  Franklin  will  meet  him  in  Chi- 
cago Tuesday  and  together  they  will 
travel  West. 


NjlEwXYOi^  WcNtWilW  OyERl  TH^  OPkNII^G  A 
niE  RiyOLI^!    N^W  yATCH  RECORDS  GO 


.  .  .  .  Brea+h-takingly  magnificent! 
Hasn't  been  equalled  in  1931!  King 
Vidor's  cast  Is  perfection!  ....  You'll 
love  "Street  Scene!"  May  it  linger  at  the 
Rivoli  until  everyone  of  you  has  had  an 
opportunity  to  see  this  four-star  produc- 
f'on-" Irene  Thirer,  Daily  News 


SAMUEL 
GOLDWYN 

PRESENTS 


"A  stabbing, 
pulsing  drama  .  .  . 
picture  tops  the  play 
in  every  stanza.  .  .  .  King 
Vidor  outdoes  himself  in  pack- 
ing reels  with  action  and  drama,  fast 
and  hot  as  the  passion  of  the  stage- 
hand's wife  for  her  milk-man  lover  .  .  . 
as  the  bullets  which  sear  a  path  to  their 
burning  hearts.  .  .  ." 

— Regina  Carewe,  American 

"A  brilliant  motion  picture  .  .  .  irresist- 
ibly   effective  .  .  .  faithfully   adapted, 

admirably    directed,    brilliantly    acted. 
II 

— Richard  Watts,  Herald  Tribune 

"King  Vidor  has  turned  out  one  of  the 
most  successful  assignments  of  his 
career." 

— Julia  Shawell,  Graphic 


\ 

V 


>TO\NEW   HIGHS  ALL 
iVEiR  HHE  tOUlflTRVi 


:ii 


11 


^Prddu^tioh  of  ELMER  RICEfS 
Uti-nZElR    PRIZE     DRAMA 


^    ^ 


^ 


Hail!  UNITED  ARTISTS!  The  Leader! 


// 


KEPT  THE   audience; 


Produced  by 
SAMUEL  ZIERLER 

from  fhe  Sfage  Success 
by 

DANIEL  N.  RUBIN 


3^James  Cruze 


PRODUCTION 

with 


Clara  Kimball  Young 

MARION    NIXON-Paul  Page  and  Yola  D'Avril 


THE    WOMEN  —  THE    MEN  —  WILL   ALL    PAY  AND    PAY  TO  H 


[7ASPING  for  BREATH 


// 


'^  LA.  Examiner 


But  read  the  rest  of  the  newspaper  critics 


//»L! 


'This  film  should  be  a  great  box-office  ottroction^^ 
said  The  Evening  Herald,  at  the  Los  Angeles  premiere 


^^Clara^s  acting  is  superb  •  •  •  the  picture  provides 
good  entertainment^^  said  The  Evening   Express. 

jjdience  ate  up  ^Women  Go  On  Forever^ 
irty  gusto^^—  Hollywood  Reporter. 


Directed  by 

WALTER  LANG 


.  ^"mtt 


i 


TFDl 


V\^UO)\D 


s^J^ 


•?J. 


Distributed  by  SONO    ArT- WORLD    WiDE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  August  28,    1931 


N.Y,  Critics 
Overboard  on 
'Street  Scene' 


A  strong  array  of  superlatives  is 
brought  into  play  by  New  York  crit- 
ics in  their  analyses  of  "Street  Scene," 
which  opened  at  the  Rivoli  Wednes- 
day night. 

Excerpts  of  their  opinions  follow : 


"Street  Scene" 


M 


'Street  Scene' 


-United   Artists- 


AMKRICAN— .-)  stabbing,  pulsinp  drama 
of  Gotham's  tazvdry  by-ways  stretched  its 
strciuith  from  the  Rivoli  screen  I  he  pic- 
ture tops  the  play  in  every  stan=a  because 
cameras  have  u'ings  and  refuse  to  be  eartli- 
boiind***And  because  the  tirst  of  the  plays 
three  acts  is  heavy-laden  with  dialogue  and 
light  in  action  the  vehicle,  in  film  form,  \s 
slow  in  getting  started.  In  the  second  act 
***the  throbbing  engines  of  the  story  attain 
a  shrieking,  dynamic  crescendo.*** The  pic- 
ture abounds  with  superb  characterications 
and  while  Sylvia  Sidney's  crozvn  of  stardom 
rests  secureh  upon  her  talented  brow,  she 
will  not  begrudge  prior  mention  to  Bculah 
Bondi  and  David  Landau  for  mighty  artis- 
try. 

DAILY  NEWS— ***o  breath-takingly 
magnificent  yet  wondrously  simple  produc- 
tion; an  achievement  zi'hich,  m  tts  sheer 
naturalness,  hasn't  been  equaled  in  1931.* 
Vidor's  cast  is  perfection.  H'e  think  you  II 
love  "Street  Scene."  May  it  linger  at  the 
Rivoli  until  every  one  of  you  has  had  op- 
portunity   to   sec  this  four   start   production. 

EVENING  JOURNAL— ***a  notable 
achievement.  .Mr.  Vidor  takes  full  advan- 
tage of  Mr.  Rice's  pungent  material.  Bach 
character  is  graphically  defined  and  the  at- 
mosphere is  well  established  and  sustained. 
***You'll  find  "Street  Scene"  intelligent 
and  compelling  screen  entertainment. 

GRAPHIC— ***0»t«  of  the  fine  pictures 
of  the  year.'^**King  l^idor***has  turned 
out  one  of  the  most  successful  assignments 
of  his  carcer.***Miss  Sidney  and  Miss  Tay- 
lor arc  the  outstanding  members  of  a  line 
cast. 

HKRALT)-TRlBUNE~***irresistibly  ef- 
fective.***faithfully  adapted,  admirably  di- 
rected and  quite  brilliantly  acted,  this  pho- 
toplay emerged  from  its  handicaps  as  the 
line,  '  honest  and  genuinely  stirring  drama 
which  it  seemed  on  the  stage.  Miss  Sylvia, 
Sidney,  who  grows  more  expert  in  the  ways 
of  the  cinema  with  each  production  is  hon- 
estly moving  and  entirely  simple  and  cred- 
ible as  the  girl  of  the  story,  providing  one 
of  the  most  satisfying  characterizations  of 
the  year.  Miss  F.stelle  Taylor  is  not  far 
from  perfect**and  David  Landau,  as  the 
vengeful  husband,  is  considerably  more  ef- 
fective than  was  Robert  Kelly,  who  created. 
the  part  upon   the  stage. 

POST — ***will  be  remembered  for  its  few 
moments  of  galvanic  excitement  long  after 
the  preliminary  episodes,  leading  up  to  the 
murder  of  Mrs.  Maurrant  and  her  lover,  are 
forgotten.***  What  the  picture  gives  us 
is  a  mordantly  realistic  scene  of  a  crowded, 
struggling,  ruffled  section  of  humanity  on 
one  of  New  York  typical  West  Side  streets. 
***There  is  thus  no  gainsaying  the  fact  that 
"Street  Scene"  is  authentic  and  complete  in 
its  portrayal  of  given  types.  But  its  very 
completeness  at  times  tends  to  lessen  its  ef- 
fectiveness as  drama***Miss  Sidney***giv- 
ing  an  unforgettable  sensitive  portrayal  of 
a  tragedy-ridden  heroine.**'others  of  the 
cast  are  excellently  true  in  their  charac- 
terizations. 

SUN — '"has  lost  none  of  its  dramatic 
power  in  transcription  to  the  screen.*** A 
great  deal  of  credit*''*for  the  general  ex- 
cellence of  the  production  should  go  to  Mr. 
yidor***lt  might  easily  have  been  such  a 
slavish  adherence  to  the  letter  of  the  script 
as  to  become  monotonous,  however  sincere. 
***The  entire  cast  is  excellent.  Sylvia  Sid- 
ney adds  another  good  performance  to  her 
growing  list*"Thus  a  good  play,  is  made 
into  an  equally  good  movie,  one  well  worth 
your  attention. 

TIMES — /(  is  a  swiftly  moving  produc- 
tion**'b  it  one  that  in  comparison  with  the 
play  always  seems  to  be  more  than  slightly 
exaggerated.  It  is  a  good  picture,  but  the 
acting  lacks  the  naturalness  of  the  original 
work  and  the  lines  are  invariably  ox'cr- 
stressed.***Those  who  have  not  seen  the 
play  undoubtedly  will  be  satisfied***Sylvia 
Sidney  does  able  work*** 

WORLD-TELEGRAM -/J  dignified,  earn- 


ATHEMATICAL 
calculations  at  Publix  went  skiddy 
Wednesday  night.  As  a  result,  our 
efforts  to  deposit  a  slightly  weary  car- 
cass in  a  seat  at  the  Rivoli  for  the 
opening  of  "Street  Scene"  came  a 
cropper.  Patiently  we  sought  other 
pastures  until  the  quarter  after  eleven 
mark  and  returned  to  the  theatre  to 
see  what  Sam  Goldwyn  and  King 
Vidor  had  done  with  Elmer  Rice's 
Pulitzer  prize-winning  play,  later  to 
emerge  after  the  hour  for  respectful 
deadlines  had  come  and  gone.  There- 
fore, yesterday's  story  becomes  to- 
day's reportorial  instincts  revolting  at 
the  idea  though  they  may. 

Street  scene," 

bitter  and  biting,  pungent  and  true 
cross-section  of  life  in  the  New  York 
maelstrom,  comes  through  its  stage- 
to-film  translation  as  one  of  the  dra- 
matic crescendoes  of  the  year. 

Elmer  Rice's  play,  it  might  be  said, 
was  too  smashing  a  thunderbolt  to  be 
muffed  in  pictures.  True  enough,  yet 
King  Vidor  deserves  unstinted  praise 
for  maintaining  the  pace  of  the  play 
and  for  keeping  out  of  his  direction 
those  extraneous  embellishments  which 
Hollywood  so  often  goes  in  for  in 
converting  stories  and  plays  into  film 
form. 


H 


ERE  is  an  episodic 
story  of  a  group  of  totally  unimpor- 
tant people  living  out  a  sordid  exis- 
tence in  an  atmosphere  of  squalor  and 
ignorance,  but  the  narrative  substance 
is,  after  all,  incidental  to  character 
delineation. 


The  dominant  story  motivation  is 
the  illicit  love  affair  between  Mrs.  D. 
Maurrant  and  a  milk  bill  collector  and 
the  rising  gossip  of  the  neighbors  which 
precipitates  Maurrant  into  a  frenzied 
drunkenness  that  culminates  in  his 
murder  of  wife  and  lover. 

It  is,  however,  the  terrific  impact 
these  developments  leave  on  the  life 
of  Rose  Maurrant,  the  daughter,  and 
the  effect  of  the  tragedy  on  the  love  of 
the  sensitive  Jewish  boy  for  the  girl 
that  are  far  more  telling. 

OTREET  SCENE," 
is  an  authentic,  compelling  study  in 
human  psychology,  yet  it  is  well- 
grounded  in  the  entertainment  ele- 
ments that  make  for  a  mass  appeal 
attraction.  It  has  its  laughs  for  those 
who  laugh  easily,  but  all  through  it 
stalks  an  undercurrent  of  tragedy  and 
hope  lost  that  cannot  fail  to  stir  the 
emotions  of  those  who  see  it. 

Beulah  Bondi,  the  garrulous,  scan- 
dal-monging  Mrs.  Jones,  probably 
leads  the  cast  in  point  of  histronics. 
We  were  particularly  impressed,  too, 
with  the  delicate  interpretation  of  Rose 
Maurrant  as  played  by  Sylvia  Sidney. 
This  young  actress  gives  to  the  role 
of  the  harrassed,  tragedy-ridden  girl 
an  understanding  of  the  character  that 
again  evidences  her  pronounced  com- 
petence as  a  dramatic  actress  of  real 
force. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  cast,  from 
end  to  end,  is  superlative  and  to  draw 
lines  of  demarcation  between  individ- 
ual performances  is  perhaps  attempt- 
ing to  carry  the  shadings  of  criticism 
a  bit  too  far. 

KANN. 


'Silence" 


-I'aramounl- 


yy 


Now  Indies  Want  to 
Make  "Queer  People 

(Continued  from  page   1) 

$100,000  on  the  rights,  adaptation  and 
Leo  McCarey's  contract  to  direct. 

Stage  Players  for 
'*Once  in  Lifetime" 

Universal  City — Carl  Laemmle, 
Jr.,  is  "surely"  going  ahead  with  plans 
to  film  "Once  in  a  Lifetime,"  but  no 
adaptor,  director  or  players  have  been 
chosen.  He  plans  to  use  stage  actors, 
believing  they  will  do  the  film  better 
than  screen  people. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Holman  Shifted  to 
Story  Department 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  Paramount  advertising  department 
as  Holman's  assistant. 

Alvin  Adams  of  the  press  book  de- 
partment has  been  moved  up  to  Levyis' 
former  post  of  assistant  advertising 
manager. 

In  joining  the  company's  produc- 
tion department  Holman  ends  a  period 
of  twelve  years  service  in  publicity 
and   advertising. 


est,  courageous  and  highly  sensitive  screen 
treatment*** and  as  a  result  it  turns  out  to 
be  a  genuinely  distinguished  photoplay*** 
It  has  been  knowingly  and  delicately  trans- 
ferred to  the  screen  by  King  Vidur.  the  di- 
rector who  has  caught  all  the  finer  shadings 
of  the  narrative's  overtones  with  rare  feel- 
ing, and  the  entire  company  gives  a  fine 
performance  throughout.  In  particular,  the 
playing  of  Sylvia  Sidney  as  Rose  Maurrant 
and  Estclle  Taylor  as  Mrs.  Maurrant  is  a 
notable   achievement   in  screen  acting. 


Comerford  to  Get  Fox 
Houses  on  August  30 

M.  E.  Comerford  August  30  will 
take  over  operation  38  upstate  New 
York  theatres  from  Fox  Theatres. 
This  makes  him  operator  of  one  of 
the  nation's  largest  independent  cir- 
cuits. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Warners  Sign  Perelman 

S.  J.  Perelman,  formerly  editor  of 
Judge,  has  been  signed  by  Warner 
Bros,  and  First  National  to  a  con- 
tract under  which  he  will  write  com- 
edy material  for  production  on  the 
screen.  It  is  understood  that  he  will 
specialize  on  vehicles  for  Winnie 
Lightner,  Joe  E.  Brown  and  Charles 
Butterworth.  Perelman  is  now  in 
England  but  will  leave  shortly  for 
Hollywood. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Organ  Merger 

Hollywood  —  The  Dynamo,  house 
organ  of  the  Fox  distribution  depart- 
ment edited  by  Roger  Ferri,  and  The 
La.<;t  Word,  house  organ  of  the  Fox 
Theatr<=,  are  expected  to  merge  with 
the  Coast  edition  of  the  latter  publi- 
cation suspending  in  favor  of  blanket 
coverage    by   the    Eastern   edition. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Clara  Bow  Conferring 

Hollywood— Clara  Bow  is  here  for 

a  few  days   for  conferences   on   "The 

Impatient  Virgin,"  in  which  she  plans 

to    star    for    Universal    providing    the 

I  script  meets  with  her  approval. 


AMERICAN — ***a  gripping  melodrama, 
superbly  played.  Perhaps  the  story  is  a 
wee  bit  ohl-fashioned***but  it  is  told  so 
thrillingly  and  is  peopled  with  such  real, 
vibrant  characters,  that  it  is  strong  with 
life.  Excellent  entertainment  through  and 
through. 

DAILY  MIRROR— r/t<?  story  is  highly 
involved,   but   is  fairly    interesting. 

DAILY  NEWS— ***mofefi  fair  enter- 
tainment***! think  the  trouble  with  it  is 
that   it   is  old  stuff. 

EVENING  ^0\}-R-HKL—***  developed 
with  a  certain  amount  of  suspense  due  to  its 
mechanically  workmanlike  construction,  but 
is    only    fairly   interesting. 

GRAPHIC— C/iV?  Brook  does  his  best 
work  in  five  years***This  picture  is  an  ex- 
ample of  just  what  a  good  cast,  ably  di- 
rected  can    do   unth   an    old   piece. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— *»»?me»-(7f.f  as  an 
outmoded  and  unconvincing  melodrama  with 
a   few  good  scenes. 

POST — ***has  its  moments  of  drama  and 
bafflement,  but  the  story  is  frequently  com- 
plicated by  a  shuttling  back  and  forth  of 
the    continuity. 

SUN — ***technically  competent  but  un- 
distinguished melodrama***moderately  ef- 
fective program  entertainment  and  nothing 
more. 

TIMES— ***«/!«  plot***always  has  a  me- 
tallic  ring*** 

WORLD  -  TELEGRAM  —  A  compactly 
written,  e.vpertly  photographed  and  work- 
manlike talking  arrangement  of  that  old 
stage  and  silent  screen  melodrama***!  am 
certain  you  will  find  a  great  deal  of  en- 
tainment   in   it. 


'Sporting  Blood" 

M-G-M- 


AMERICAN— ***o  splendid  thriller  of 
thundering  hoofs.*** Skilfully  conceived,  in- 
geniously woven*** 

DAILY  MIRROR— **»a  raeing  picture 
which  is  different***It  makes  an  entertain- 
ing picture*** 

DAILY  NEWS— T/it.r  one's  a  thriller 
and  a  spiller  for  sure***sets  your  blood 
a-tingling  because  you  get  to  love  its  char- 
acters. 

EVENING  JOURNAL— ***jro«';/  find 
the   film    an   exciting    spectacle. 

GRAPHIC — Gorgeous  atmospheric  shots 
of  the  horse-Vaising  courtesy  in  Kentucky, 
fast-moving  action  on  the  various  race- 
tracks with  all  the  attending  colorful  back- 
arounds,  a   nice  little  romance*** 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— r/i?  depth  of  the 
film's  emotional  text  was  demonstrated  yes- 
terday by  the  Capitol's  audience  in  the  ab- 
sorbed attention  and  the  generous  applause 
at  the  finish  of  the  piece. 

POST — ***a  conventional  plot  built  around 
interesting   scenes  of   horse   breeding*** 

SUN — ***disjointed,  loosely  thrown  to- 
gether and  wanders  hither  and  yon  before 
finally  ivinding  up  at  the  Kentucky  Derby. 
***It  is  rather  entertaining,  but  not  quite 
enough. 

TIMES — ***well  above  the  average  in 
most    of   its   varied   departments. 

WORLD-TELEGRAM— "VrirfrnWy  en- 
tertaining***because  it  tells  its  story  with 
disarming  ^mplicity  and  much  sincerity  and 
some  traces  of  good  old-fashioned  melo- 
drama. 


'Too  Many  Cooks' 


-RKO- 


AMERlCAN—***audiences  at  the  Hip- 
podrome seem  to  find  it  an  occasion  for 
chuckling. 

DAILY  NEWS— r  Acre  is  nothing  ex- 
citing or  very  original  about  the  plot,  but 
it  has  the  virtue  of  seeming  real  and  has  a 
nice,  quiet  humor  running  through  it.  It 
is   well   acted*** 

EVENING  JOVRNAl^-***the  principal 
and  supporting  cast  do  nicely  with  the  fa- 
miliar  material. 

GRAPHIC- ***a«7'd  call  it  a  mildly 
amusing  farce,  a  white  lily  among  farces, 
and  worth  the  price  of  admission  on  a 
summer  afternoon. 

HERALD-TRIBUNE— **»»u7i<nf».v  «n- 
e.vcitiiig    but    entirely    inoffensive. 

SUN — ***thcre  were  those  m  the  audi- 
ence who  laughed  now  and  again.  Never 
uproariously,  perhaps,  but  they  were 
lauf/hs.      You    could    count    'em. 

TJMES,—***the  chief  fault  of  the  film 
scents  to  be  that  too  much  separates  the 
end   from   the   beginning. 


Friday,   Auqust   28,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Looking  ^Em  Over 


"Secrets  of  a 
Secretary" 

{Paramount) 

Hollywood — Claudette  Colbert  gives 
another  of  her  thoroughly  satisfying 
performances  in  this  story  of  gigolos 
and  blackmailers  in  high  life.  She  is 
cast  as  the  social  secretary  to  a  so- 
ciety matron  with  ambitions  and  a 
daughter  for  whom  she  is  seeking  a 
title.  After  a  slow  start  the  story 
gathers  speed  with  Claudette  allow- 
ing herself  to  become  involved  in  a 
compromising  situation  to  save  the 
daughter's  reputation.  The  matron's 
gigolo  friend  and  his  blackmailing  al- 
lies get  their  just  desserts  and  the 
story  ends  happily. 

Herbert  Marshall  as  the  titled  Eng- 
lishman and  Georges  Metaxa  as  the 
gigolo  are  extremely  effective.  Betty 
Lawford  as  the  daughter  and  Mary 
Boland  as  the  mother  are  well  cast. 
Others  in  the  cast  are  Burton  Church- 
ill, Averell  Harris  and  Hugh  O'Con- 
nell.  George  Abbott  adapted  and  di- 
rected the  story. 


Shorts 


The  picture  opens  today  at  the  Nezv 
York  and  Brooklyn  Paramount  the- 
atres. 


"The  Road  to  Reno" 

{Paramount) 

Hollywood  —  One  of  the  punch 
scenes  in  this  picture  is  the  murder  of 
a  would-be  bridegroom  in  front  of 
the  wedding  altar  and  the  immediate 
suicide  of  his  slayer.  However,  the 
production  seemed  to  please  a  pre- 
view audience  here.  The  ending  was 
PoUyanna. 

The  story  centers  about  a  woman 
(Lilyan  Tashman)  who  has  a  di- 
vorce complex  and  likes  excursions 
to  Reno.  Her  daughter  (Peggy 
Shannon)  tries  to  stop  the  third  trip 
to  the  divorce  city,  where  Miss  Tash- 
man gets  rid  of  Irving  Pichel.  Then 
William  Boyd  courts  and  wins  her, 
but  the  murder  of  the  bridegroom 
sends  the  silly  mother  back  to  her 
husband,  and  brings  about  a  romance 
between  Miss  Shannon  and  Charles 
("Buddy")    Rogers. 

It  is  sophisticated  fare  and  much 
credit  is  due  to  Director  Richard  Wal- 
lace   for    his    handling    of    the    story. 


'Partners  of  the  Trail' 

(Monogram) 
Tom  Tyler  turns  bad  man  in  his 
latest,  "Partners  of  the  Trail."  He 
is  seen  as  the  murderer  of  another 
man's  wife  in  Boston  and  then  goes 
West  to  rob  whatever  he  can  lay 
hands  on.  Durant,  who  has  been  ac- 
cused of  his  wife's  death,  escapes  from 
a  Boston  jail  to  get  the  real  killer. 
Both  meet,  unknown  to  each  other, 
fall  in  love  with  the  same  girl,  a 
burlesque  dancer  acting  as  a  waitress 
to  get  money  enough  to  return  home, 
until  Tyler  reveals  his  identity.  In- 
stead of  killing  him,  Durant  lets  him 
off  after  Tyler  has  confessed  to  the 
sheriff.  Durant  is  absolved  of  the 
crime  and  gets  the  girl.  Betty  Mack 
plays  the  heroine.  Audience  reaction 
at  Loew's  New  York  was  lukewarm. 


"Old  Songs  for  New" 

(W  el  shay) 

Hollywood — Here  is  a  new  and 
wholly  entertaining  slant  on  the  musi- 
cal picture  situation.  Handsomely 
mounted  and  beautifully  photographed 
in  Technicolor,  it  is  one  reel  of  fast 
comedy,  reminiscent  of  the  "gay 
nineties"  and  old  favorite  tunes  that 
thrilled  our  grandmothers,  our  moth- 
ers and — in  some  cases — us. 

Bob  Welsh  and  Frank  Shea  en- 
gaged Georgie  Stoll's  band,  which  is 
a  pip,  and  built  around  it  a  clever 
little  story  of  the  Sousa  march  days, 
the  Anna  Held  days,  the  Barber  Shop 
Quartet  days.  It  is  a  swell  little 
revue,  all  packed  into  nine  minutes. 
Full  of  laughs,  tuneful  numbers  and 
excellent  color  added,  it  seems  like 
the  perfect  recipe  for  a  novelty  single 
feeler. 

LEO  MEEHAN 


''The  Naggers'  House- 
warming" 

(Vita  phone) 
Voted  by  the  Strand  audience  a 
funny  short.  The  Jack  Norworths,  or 
The  Naggers  if  you  like,  inherit  a 
country  house  from  an  uncle  and  pro- 
ceed to  prepare  it  in  short  order  for 
a  housewarming.  The  results  turn 
disastrous  eventually,  but  in  so  do- 
ing provide  a  few  minutes  of  divert- 
ing foolery.  Running  time,  8  min- 
utes. 


"Forehand,  Backhand, 
Service" 

(M-G-M) 
This  first  subject  of  the  William 
Tilden  series  is  a  well  done  and  high- 
ly diverting  study  of  tennis  strokes. 
Tilden  demonstrates  some  of  the  mas- 
terful strokes  which  made  him  an 
unique  figure  in  tennis.  The  series 
should  be  popular.  Running  time,  9 
minutes. 


'Rockne  Football  Series' 

( Universal) 
"Notre  Dame  Offensive  System," 
"Famous  Plays  of  1930"  and  "Back- 
field  Play,"  Nos.  2,  3  and  4  of  this 
series,  pack  a  lot  of  interest  and  are 
ideal  for  any  program  at  this  time  of 
the  year.  The  mysteries  and  in- 
tricacies of  the  great  American  game 
are  explained  by  "Hunk"  Anderson, 
Rockne's  successor  at  Notre  Dame, 
and  the  use  of  slow  motion  aids  ma- 
terially in  getting  the  idea  across  to 
non-fans.  Running  time,  10  minutes 
each. 


"The  Navajo  Witch" 

( Talking  Picture  Epics) 
A  silent  short  with  a  running  fire 
of  dialogue.  This  shows  the  customs 
of  the  Navajo  tribe  and  contains  in- 
teresting shots  of  an  Indian  boy  nab- 
bing an  owl  as  a  playmate.  The  ef- 
fort, however,  to  build  a  story  into 
what  are  obviously  straight  sequences 
of  the  triiial  life  isn't  always  too  suc- 
cessful. In  other  words,  it's  a  case  of 
building  up  story  where  there  doesn't 
appear  to  be  any  to  build.  Runntnc 
time,   14  minutes. 


"Good  JH  our  ning" 

{Vitaphone  1206) 
Eddie  Foy,  Jr.,  is  billed  as  star, 
but  doesn't  rate  it  by  the  performance 
given  in  this  short.  He  and  a  friend 
invent  an  alibi  as  attending  the  fun- 
eral of  a  friend  in  order  to  get  around 
their  wives  when  they  go  out  for  a 
good  time.  The  dead  friend  calls  up 
in  their  absence  and  when  the  boys 
return  home  they  tell  the  wives  they 
attended  a  show.  That  falls  flat  when 
one  of  the  women  reads  that  the  house 
burned  down  previously.  Running 
time,  10  minutes. 


"Spring  Training" 

{Educational) 
The  first  of  the  Football  for  the 
Fan  series  is  a  dandy.  Howard  H. 
Jones,  coach  of  the  University  of 
Southern  California,  is  featured  and 
in  this  has  the  assistance  of  several 
other  noted  coaches.  Various  steps 
in  the  spring  training  of  players  are 
shown.  This  is  great  stuff  for  foot- 
ball fans.     Running  time,  9  minutes. 


"Strange  as  It  Seems" 

( Universal) 
They'll  enjoy  this  collection  of 
oddities  of  life,  especially  because  of 
the  natural  colors.  It  is  No.  12  of 
the  John  Hix  series  and  included  in 
the  subjects  are  a  penguin  whose 
mourning  for  a  dead  mate  is  cured  by 
its  own  reflection  in  a  mirror ;  a  New 
York  bootblack  who  always  wears  a 
top  hat  and  morning  clothes  while  at 
work  and  a  5-year-old  baby  of  un- 
usual strength  and  a  chest  expansion 
of  six  inches.  Running  time,  9 
minutes. 


"Roaming  in  Gloaming" 

{M-G-M) 
ilarry  Lauder  in  a  stage  presentation 
of  the  song  he  made  famous.  An 
English-made  subject  with  Lauder  do- 
ing his  stuff  on  a  stage,  to  the  howls 
and  applause  of  the  audience.  This 
latter  slant  is  unusual  but  in  this  case 
it  appears  overdone.  Words  of  the 
song  are  flashed  on  the  screen  for  the 
audience  to  join  in  on  the  chorus. 
Running  time,  10  minutes. 

"One  Hundred  Dollars'* 

{  Universal) 
A  weak  story  detracts  from  the 
value  of  this  short  which  features 
Charles  Lawrence.  He's  got  to  earn 
$100  a  week  to  win  a  girl,  and  he 
tries  to  sell  her  father  insurance  dur- 
ing a  golf  tournament.  The  few 
laughs  come  when  both  rush  into  the 
women's  locker  room.  Running  tiine, 
20   minutes. 


"Volley  and  Smash" 

{Sport  Champions— M-G-M) 
This  is  the  third  in  the  Tilden  ten- 
nis series.  The  champion  here  con- 
tinues his  course  of  instruction,  but 
the  process  is  coated  so  well  with 
straight  entertainment  value  that  the 
knowledge  is  easy  to  absorb.  Ex- 
pertly photographed  and  edited.  Run- 
nii-g  time,  8  minutes. 


"Success" 

(Vitaphone  1257-8) 
Jack  Haley  as  the  near-sighted 
swain  seeking  the  hand  of  the  girl 
whose  father  is  an  avid  baseball  fan 
and  insists  that  his  future  son-in-law 
be  a  player  on  the  diamond  got  quite 
a  number  of  laughs.  Haley  has  a 
natural  way  of  putting  over  his  com- 
edy and  it  clicked  with  a  Broadway 
audience.     Running  time,    17  minutes. 


"Calling  on  Cairo" 

(Central  film) 
Interesting  and  diverting  is  this 
short  showing  the  various  temples, 
minarets  and  the  ageless  pyramids  of 
Cairo.  The  sphinx  is  pictured  from 
several  angles,  all  beautiful.  A  voice 
describes  the  trip  through  the  Egyp- 
tian city  very  effectively.  Running 
time,  10  minutes. 


"Big  Game" 

(RKO  Pathe) 
This  Van  Beuren-Aesop  Fable 
hasn't  much  to  boast  of  in  the  way 
of  new  ideas.  Same  old  stuff  saved 
by  swell  synchronization.  Concerns 
Baby  Monk  and  dog  going  hunting 
for  big  game,  but  getting  very  little. 
Running   time,   9   minutes. 


"Elmer  Takes  the  Air" 

(Paramount) 
An  audience  at  the  New  York 
Paramount  got  a  few  laughs  out  of 
this  subject  which  has  Stubby 
Krueger,  the  aquatic  personage,  do- 
ing a  hick  turn.  The  rube,  reading 
of  Lindy's  record-breaking  solo 
flight  across  the  Atlantic,  sets  out  to 
conquer  air  records.  His  way  of  hau- 
ling the  role  gets  over  great.  Run- 
ning  time,    17   minutes. 


'Beneath  Southern  Skies' 

(RKO  Pathe) 
Into  the  harbor  of  Pago  Pago  goes 
Van  Beuren's  Vagabond  Adventurer 
for  an  intimate  glimpse  of  Samoan 
life,  is  surroundings  and  native  ac- 
tivities. Accompanying  music  and 
monolgue  are  intriguing.  Running 
time,    11    minutes. 

"Fur  Fur  Away" 

(Paramount) 
Smith  and  Dale  have  a  number  of 
shorts  to  their  credit  that  are  good, 
but  this  one  is  the  best  yet.  The 
two  Yiddish  comedians  trekking  to 
.Alaska  for  furs  to  bring  back  home 
is  the  general  theme,  but  the  wise 
cracks  surrounding  the  action  got 
over  with  a  bang  yesterdav  with  an 
audience  at  the  Broadway  Paramount. 
Runnino;  time,  18  minutes. 


"Julius  Sizzer" 

(RKO  Pathe) 
Benny  Rubin  takes  off  a  dual  role 
as  "Little  Sizzer"  and  his  brother 
from  Russia.  The  idea  of  the  scis- 
sors in  lieu  of  guns  in  gangster  war- 
fare is  novel  and  Benny  helps  to  put 
it  over  for  all  he  is  worth.  Gwen 
Lee  is  Cleo.  It  should  get  the  laughs. 
Running  time,  20  minutes. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  August  28,    1931 


Subsequentsto 
Seek  ReKef  on 
Price  Barrier 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

vogue  in  a  number  of  key  cities  has 
been  a  source  of  worry  for  indepen- 
dents for  some  time.  With  down- 
town circuit  houses  charging  10,  15 
and  25  cents  bargain  prices  during 
the  day,  the  suburbans,  who  play  the 
same  product  from  one  to  two  months 
later  at  prices  ranging  from  25  to  35 
cents,  declare  they  cannot  meet  this 
competition. 

A  situation  pointed  to  is  Indian- 
apolis where  Warner  and  Paramount 
second  runs  are  played  at  morning 
prices  of  15  cents,  following  one  week 
after  first  runs.  The  subsequents  get 
these  pictures  after  the  protection 
period,  for  showing  at  prices  of  25  and 
35  cents. 


Warners  Cut  Prices 
At  Cleveland  Houses 

Cleveland — Warners  have  cut  ad- 
missions at  the  Lake  to  30  cents  mati- 
nee and  50  cents  evenings,  a  cut  of 
ten  cents  in  each  instance.  Prices  at 
the  Uptown  and  Variety  have  been  cut 
to  30  cents  from  40  cents. 

Agents  Absolved  in 
Cagney -Warner  Jam 

Hollywood  —  George  Scott  and 
Frank  Dunlap  have  been  given  a  clean 
bill  of  health  by  the  Artists'  Manag- 
ers' Association  following  investiga- 
tion of  the  James  Cagney  controversy. 
A  unanimous  vote  by  the  board  of 
governors  absolves  them  of  any  un- 
ethical actions. 


Dove  of  Peace  Is 

Busy  at  Warners 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 
ley's  ability  (or  lack  of  it)  have  been 
retracted  by  Darryl  Zanuck  for  War- 
ners,  who  says : 

"We  wish  to  withdraw  and  retract 
any  and  all  statements  made  by  us 
in  the  heat  of  the  recent  controversy 
between  us  regarding  your  qualifica- 
tions, standing  and  abilities  as  a  di- 
rector. We  wish  to  assure  you  we 
consider  you  an  extremely  capable, 
conscientious  and  able  director  and 
assure  you  further  that  the  services 
i'ou  have  rendered  us  in  the  past  have 
been  entirely  satisfactory." 

Warners  Take  Over 
Studio  in  England 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 

have  been  chosen,  including  a  George 
Arliss  vehicle.  All  of  them  are  to  be 
shown  over  the  company's  American 
circuit.  Some  French  dialogue  ver- 
sions will  be  made. 

The  new  British  policy  may  reduce 
the  American  Warner  output.  The 
new  company  here  is  known  as  War- 
ner Brothers  First  National  Produc- 
tions, Ltd. 

"BUY   RIGHT— BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Walker  Buys  Story 

Johnny  Walker  has  acquired 
"Gunga  Din,"  an  original  story  by 
Alf  Goulding,  which  he  will  produce 
and   star   in. 


Hats  Off! 


r 


San  Francisco — American-made  talking  pictures  have  yet  to  appear 
in  Korea,  according  to  Dr.  A.  Garfield  Anderson,  medical  adviser  for 
the  Presbyterian-Methodist  Hospital  at  Pyengyang,  Korea.  But  while 
talking  pictures  are  unknown  in  this  Asiatic  country,  movies  in  silent 
form   are   making   a   tremendous   impression,   stated   Anderson. 

Thousands  attend  the  movies,  and  the  titles  are  read  to  them  by  an 
interpreter.  The  theatres  are  also  helping  to  break  down  an  old 
Korean  custom  of  keeping  the  hats  on  indoors.  Those  attending  the 
movies  are  compelled  to  take  off  their  hats. 


Dollinger  Has  More 
Trouble  in  Linden 

Linden,  N.  J.  —  "Pop"  Dollinger, 
owner  of  the  Linden,  yesterday  ex- 
perienced more  trouble  alleged  to  be 
backed  by  the  Elizabeth  operators' 
local.  Early  yesterday  morning  two 
men  entered  his  theatre  and  damaged 
the  two  projectors  and  screen.  Dol- 
linger was  not  able  to  put  on  a  mat- 
inee show  as  a  result. 

Dollinger  is  said  to  have  asked  the 
Newark  branch  of  Western  Electric 
to  replace  the  damaged  parts,  but 
W.  E.  is  said  to  have  refused.  This 
was  the  cause  of  his  not  being  able 
to  put  on  a  regular  matinee  show  and 
until  late  last  night  no  new  machinery 
replaced  the  damaged  parts. 

This  is  the  second  outrage  caused 
the  exhibitor  since  he  replaced  union 
labor.  Some  time  ago  vandals  en- 
tered the  house  and  ruined  his  mach- 
inery and  Dollinger  got  out  an  in- 
junction, the  judge  stating  at  the 
time  that  if  there  were  any  trouble 
at  the  theatre  he  would  hold  the  union 
responsible  for  all  damages. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Union  Officials  Hold 
Secret  Meet  in  N,  F. 

(Continued  front  page  1) 

tional,  in  an  attempt  to  settle  the 
Windy  City  situation.  It  is  believed 
that  Maloy  is  willing  to  turn  over 
command  of  the  Chicago  affair  to 
Canavan,  but  attempts  to  reach  any 
of  the  parties  for  statements  proved 
unavailing  yesterday. 

"BUY   RIGHT^BUT   BUY    NOW" 

Jim  Thorpe  Stars 
In  Football  Series 

Hollywood  —  Jim  Thorpe,  former 
Carlisle  Indian  athlete  and  called  "the 
greatest  football  player  who  ever 
lived,"  by  the  late  Knute  Rockne,  has 
been  signed  by  Universal  to  appear  in 
a  series  of  football  short  subjects  to 
be  made  at  Stanford  University  earlv 
in  September. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Taylor  Named  Buyer 

Toronto — Nat  Taylor,  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  Exhibitors  Co-opera- 
tive of  Canada  Limited,  Toronto,  has 
become  purchasing  agent  of  the  or- 
ganization in  succession  to  the  late 
F.  R.  "Bud"  Lennon.  Taylor  con- 
tinues as  secretary.  Co-operative  op- 
erates a  buying  pool  for  independent 
exhibitors  of  Ontario. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Showman  Drowned 

Victoria — The  body  of  Eugene 
Clark,  former  manager  of  the  Colum- 
bia, was  recovered  from  the  waters 
of  the  Gorge  amusement  park,  ending 
a  search  which  began  at  6  o'clock  the 
previous  evening,  when  he  disappeared 
while  swimming. 


NJ.T.O.Puts  Thumb 
Down  on  Protest  Meet 

Plans  to  attend  the  Metro  National 
Protest  Meeting,  sponsored  by  the 
M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  of  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania, Southern  New  Jersey  and 
Delaware  and  which  is  slated  to  be 
held  in  New  York  Tuesday,  have  been 
called  off  by  Allied  Theatres  Owners 
of  New  Jersey.  The  move  was  de- 
cided late  yesterday  afternoon  by  Sid- 
ney Samuelson  who  told  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  that  the  original  schedule 
to  hold  the  next  regular  meeting  of  the 
organization  on  September  1  at  As- 
bury  Park  will  be  followed  as  planned. 

This,  however,  does  not  ban  Jersey 
exhibitors  from  attending  the  Metro 
Protest  Meet  if  they  so  choose,  but 
Samuelson  declares  that  no  delegate, 
officer  or  body  will  represent  Allied 
Theatre  Owners  of  New  Jersey  at 
the   New   York  meeting. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT   BUY   NOW" 

U,  A.to  Play  Product 
In  Own  Houses,  Plan 

San  Francisco  —  Peace  treaty  of 
United  Artists  and  Fox,  under  terms 
of  which  the  latter  booked  the  U.  A. 
product,  will  not  affect  the  showing 
of  U.  A.  product  in  that  firm's  houses, 
states  Lou  Anger,  U.  A.  official.  The 
deal  covers  situations  where  U.  A 
has  no  theatres. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Carthay  Circle  Goes 
To  a  Revue  Policy 

H()L!.Y\^•ooD — Policy  of  the  Carthay 
Circle  Saturday  switches  to  vaude- 
ville on  a  weekly  change  basis.  The 
shows  are  revues  titled  "The  Car- 
thay Circle  1932  Varieties."  Fox 
West  Coast  and  Fanchon  &  Marco 
are  staging  the  shows. 

"BUY   RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Selznick  Closing  for 
Producing  Finances 

Dave  Selznick  expects  to  have  a 
financing  deal  for  Selznick-Milestone 
Prod,  set  in  about  a  week.  He  denies 
reports  current  in  Hollywood  that 
Howard  Hughes  is  the  monied  mys- 
tery behind  the  proposed  company. 

"BUY  RIGHT     BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Transferred  to  N.  Y. 

Columbus — Howard  Dobson,  as- 
sistant manager  of  the  RKO  Palace 
for  the  past  six  months,  has  been 
transferred  to  the  RKO  Mayfair  in 
New  York.  No  successor  has  been 
named    for  the  local  post. 

"BUY  RIGHT^BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Acquires  "Cincy"  House 

Cincinnati — Ufa  September  18 
will  take  over  operation  of  the  Ufa 
Cinema,  formerly  the  Royal,  320- 
seat  house.  "Tankstelle"  will  be  the 
first    attraction. 


"Blood"  Leads 
Denver  Runs 
In  Fine  Week 


Total  $56,200  for  5  Theatres 


Denver — With  "Sporting  Blood" 
leading  the  procession  with  $20,000  at 
the  Denver,  a  $5,000  tilt  above  aver- 
age, and  "Pardon  Us"  chalking  up 
$13,000  at  the  Paramount,  all  first 
runs  reported  above  average  business, 
which    is    unusual   for    August. 

"The  Common  Law"  got  $8,000  at 
Huffman's  Aladdin,  which  topped 
average  by  $1,000.  This  was  rela- 
tively better  than  "Night  Nurse"  at  J 
Huffman's  Tabor,  which  was  good  for  1 
$11,000  also  a  jump  of  $1,000  over 
par.  Three  Publix  houses  enjoyed  a 
brisk  trade.  "An  American  Tragedy" 
doing  $4,200  second  run  at  the  Rialto 
after  a  big  week  at  the  Paramount. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  27  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"SPORTING  BLOOD"   (M-G-M) 

DENVER— (2,300),  25c-35c-65c,  7  days. 
Fanchon  &  Marco  "Dream  House"  Idea. 
Fred  Schmitt  and  orchestra.  Gross:  $20,000. 
(Average,   $15,000.) 

"THE   COMMON    LAW"    (RKO-Pathe) 

HUFFMAN'S  ALADDIN— (1,500),  35c- 
50c-7Sc,  7  days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"NIGHT    NURSE"    (Warners) 

HUFFMAN'S  TABOR-(1,900),  25c-35c- 
50c,  7  days.  Cross:  $11,000.  (Average,  $10,- 
000.) 

"PARDON    US"   iM-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT  —  (2,000),      25c-35c-50c,      7 
days.     Gross:  $13,000.     (Average,  $11,000.) 
"AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY"  (Para.) 

RIALTO— (1,040),  25c-35c-50c,  (2nd  run), 
7  days.     Gross:   $4,200.     (Average,  $3,750.) 

"BUY   RIGHT-  BUT   BUY   NOW" 

"Dirigible;' 
Will  Rogers 
Top  Portland 


Total  $45,000  for  5  Theatres 


Portland — Return  of  night  base- 
ball and  warm  weather  hit  first  runs 
here,  despite  which  "Dirigible"  at  the 
RKO  Orpheum  got  $14,500,  or  $4,500 
above  average,  and  Will  Rogers  in 
"Young  as  You  Feel"  got  $7,800, 
just  $2,800  better  than  the  Broad- 
way's average.  Greater  Talkie  Sea- 
son is  under  way  and  this  is  ex- 
pected to  help  business. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  27  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"YOUNG    AS   YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 

FOX      BROADWAY— (1,912),     25c-50c,     7 
days.     Gross:    $7,800.      (Average,   $5,000.) 
"HUCKLEBERRY   FINN"   (Para.) 

FOX  PARAMOUNT— (3,068),  25c-60c,  7 
days.  F.  &  M.'s  "All  at  Sea"  Idea.  Gross: 
$13,800.      (Averager,   $12,000.) 

"THE   GIRL   HABIT"    (Para.) 

FOX    RIALTO— (1,498),    25c-35c,    4    days. 
Gross:    $1,450.      (Average    for    week,    $4,000.) 
"A   HOLY   TERROR"    (Fox) 

FOX  RIALTO— (1,498),  25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $1,650.      (Average    for   week,   $4,000.) 

"THE  STAR  WITNESS"   (Warners) 

HAMRICK'S  MUSIC  BOX-(1,800),  3Sc, 
7   days.      Gross:    J'S.SOO.      Averaee,    $4,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"    (Col.)  I 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (1,700),  25c-S0c,  7  days,      i 
Vaude.     Gross:   $14,500.     (Average,  $10,000.) 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  77 


NEW  YORK,  SATURDAY,  AUGUST  29,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


H.B.  Franklin 
Controls  Para. 
Coast  Houses 


Participating     Operation 
Deal  Closed  by  Katz 


Publix  will  sing  its  swan  song 
September  7  or  15  so  far  as  Coast 
theatre  operation  is  concerned,  when 
the  two  remaining  Coast  theatres  un- 
der its  management,  the  Paramount 
and  United  Artists,  Los  Angeles,  pass 
to  operating  control  of  Harold  B. 
Franklin.  The  deal  was  completed 
by  Sam  Katz  and  Harold  B.  Frank- 
lin, prior  to  leaving  New  York  for 
the  Coast  via  Buffalo. 

Under  the  deal,  Franklin  will  oper- 
ate the  houses  on  a  participating  basis. 

Explaining  the  deal,  Katz  said : 
"At  the  present  time  the  Paramount 
and  United  Artists  Theatres  are  the 
only  theatres  operated  by  Publix  on 
the  West  Coast.  Because  of  their 
distance  from  other  Publix  theatres 
and   because   Mr.    Franklin   is   on   the 

(Continued   on    pacic   2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Open  Four  Publix 
Houses  Next  Month 

Four  Publix  theatres,  representing 
the  concluding  touch  to  the  company's 
construction  program,  open  in  Sep- 
tember. One  is  the  Eastown,  seating 
2,325,  which  opens  in  Detroit  Sept. 
15.  A  second  is  the  Paramount  in 
Ashland,  Ky.,  which  seats  1,560  and 
will  open  on  the  5th.  Third  is  the 
Paramount  in  Aurora,  111.,  which  has 
a  capacity  of  2,000.  Opening  date  is 
Sept.  2.  Fourth  and  last  is  the  Madi- 
son in  Mansfield,  O.,  a  1,400-seater, 
which  opens   Sept.   15. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sues  Para,  to  Halt 
Repurchase  of  Stock 

A  suit  to  restrain  Paramount  Pub- 
lix from  buying  back  blocks  of  its  own 
stock  at  $80  a  share  when  current 
market  value  is  $20  was  filed  yester- 
day in  New  York  Supreme  Court  by 
Joseph  Baiter,  a  minority  stockholder. 
The  repurchase  covers  commitments 
by    Paramount    Publix    made    in    con- 

(Coiitinurd   on    parte    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Barbara  and  Frank 
Giving  Films  the  Air 

Hollywood  —  Barbara  Stanwyck 
and  Frank  Fay  are  through  with  pic- 
tures. Fay  asserts.  He  declares  they 
didn't  seek  the  RKO  and  Paramount 
deals  and  doesn't  know  nor  care  why 
thev  were  called  off. 


Maloy  Ain't  Talking 

"I  ain't  got  nothing  to  say," 
Tom  Maloy,  business  agent  of 
the  Chicago  operators'  union, 
declared  curtly  over  the  tele- 
phone last  night  as  he  hung 
up  on  a  Motion  Picture  Daily 
reporter  who  sought  a  state- 
ment on  assertions  made  by 
Chicago  officials  linking  the 
union  there  with  bombing 
outrages  at  three  Chicago 
theatres. 

Maloy,  Thomas  Reynolds, 
union  president;  Ralph 
O'Hara  and  Emmett  Flynn, 
who  are  in  New  York  for 
conferences  with  William 
Canavan,  head  of  the  oper- 
ators and  stagehands  inter- 
national, face  possible  arrest 
for  contempt  of  court  and 
forfeiture  of  bail  for  leaving 
Cook  County,  Illinois,  while 
under  indictment.  Assistant 
State's  Attorney  Bellows 
there  has  indicated. 


Screen  Tough 
Guy  Yields  as 
Warners  Warn 


A  victory  for  producers  and  the 
validity  of  contracts  is  seen  in  settle- 
ment of  the  Cagney-Warner  difficul- 
ties which,  contrary  to  report,  pro- 
vide for  the  return  of  the  player  to 
the  Warner  fold  under  the  terms  of 
the  agreement  on  which  he  walked 
out. 

Cagney  reports  to  the  Hollywood 
studio  shortly  to  appear  in  "The 
Blind    Spot"    with    Joan    Blondell    at 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'Street  Scene*  Sets 
New  Rivoli  Record 

"Street  Scene"  grossed  $8,709  on 
its  opening  day,  Thursday,  at  the 
Rivoli,  establishing  a  new  summer 
house  record.  The  theatre  played  to 
capacity  all  day. 


CHICAGO  AROUSED 
BY  THEATRE  BOMBS 


Canada  Co-op 
Movement  Is 
Consolidated 

Toronto— Oscar  Hanson,  who  re- 
cently organized  Community  Theatres 
of  Canada.  Ltd.,  has  amalgamated  that 
group  with  Exhibitors  Co-operative 
of  Canada  and  the  Motion  Picture 
Theatre  Owners  of  Canada,  with  him- 
self as  general  manager. 
"  Nathan  Taylor,  formerly  with  Ex- 
hibitors Co-operative,  is  assistant  gen- 
eral manager.  Earl  Lawson,  M.P. 
and  president  of  Co-operative,  has 
been  retained  as  legal  advisor  of  the 
new  organization. 

The  new  group  is  starting  with  60 
theatres  as  members.  It  has  ten  direc- 
tors, five  from  Exhibitors  Co-opera- 
tive and  five  from  Community  Theatres. 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT^BUT   BUY   NOW" 

Plead  for  Canadian 
National  Censorship 

Vancouver— The  Sun  is  agitating 
for  a  national  censorship  of  pictures. 
It  points  out  that  nine  Canadian 
provinces  maintain  nine  boards,  re- 
viewing the  same  motion  picture,  a 
duplication  of  government  that  is 
costing  Canadian  taxpayers  nine  times 
too  much. 

"Why  not  have  one  national  board 
doing  the  job  once  for  all?  Australia 
has    come    to    it.      South    Africa    has 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Pathe  Won*t  Give 
Ann  Harding  Layoff 

HoLLYVVooi>— Ann  Harding  will  be 
unable  to  appear  in  Eugene  O'Neill's 
trilogy  of  plays,  as  RKO  Pathe  is 
holding   the    star   to   her  contract. 


Another  "Queer''  Deal? 

Hollywood— That  offer  of  two  independent  producers  to  Howard 
Hughes  for  rights  to  "Queer  People"  is  on  the  up  and  up,  it  is 
learned  on  good  authority,  despite  insinuations  that  the  deal  is 
being  engineered  by  Hughes  so  he  may  make  the  picture  by 
proxy.     Hughes  is  expected  to  name  his  price  in  a  few  days. 

Plenty  of  worry  was  caused  here  when  The  Hollywood  Herald 
reported  the  deal  because  people  who  don't  want  the  story  filmed 
realize  they  can't  control   the   independents. 


To    Act    Against    Labor 

Heads  for  Leaving 

State 


Chicago — Indignation  swept  over 
Chicago  yesterday  as  police  prepared 
for  24-hour  protection  to  independ- 
ent theatres  following  the  bombing  of 
three  houses  which  caused  injuries  to 
two    children. 

Developments  in  the  situation  yes- 
terday were : 

Arrest  of  Joseph  Kreamer, 
steward  of  the  operators' 
union,  and  two  other  suspects. 
Steps  to  institute  contempt 
and  bail  forfeiture  proceedings 
against  Tom  Maloy  and  other 
union  officials,  now  in  New 
York,  for  leaving  the  county- 
while  under   indictment. 

Charge  that  Maloy's  trip  to 
New  York  was  for  the  purpose 
of   establishing   an   alibi. 

Determination  of  the  inde- 
pendents to  carry  the  present 
fight   to  a   finish. 

The  three  theatres  bombed  shortly 
after  1  o'clock  yesterday  morning 
are  the  Olympia,  4619  Ashland  Ave., 

(Continued  on  page  4) 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Standardize  Tickets, 
Commission  Wants 

Washington — Standardization  and 
simplification  of  various  forms  of 
tickets  are  needed  in  the  roll  and 
machine  ticket  industry  and  such 
work  should  be  undertaken  by  the  in- 
diistry,  it  is  declared  in  trade  practice 
rules  adopted  by  the  industry  which 
have  been  approved  by  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission.  About  80  per 
cent  of  the  industry  was  represented 
at  the  Trade  Practice  Conference 
which  drafted  the  rules. 

Rules  approved  as  relating  to  vio- 
lations   of     the    law    are    designated 

(Continued   on    page    2) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Allied  Newsreel 
Going  Out  Today 

First  issue  of  the  Kinograms-Allied 
newsreel  is  being  shipped  by  Educa- 
tional exchanges  today,  states  Captain 
G.  L.  McL.  Bayiie,  producer  tof  th^reel. 
The  initial  subject  contains  an  adver- 
tising clip  showing  the  method  of  as- 
sembling Ford  automobiles.  Educa- 
tional handles  physical  distribution  of 
the    reel    only. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  August  29,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.  S.   Patent  Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Doily  Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Vol.   30 


August 


1931 


No.   77 


Martin  Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 

JAMES  A.  CRON 

Advertising    Manager 


/•^^\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
C  11  1  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
^«|^  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
^  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  Leo 
Median,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  IV.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.  C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   \V.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  Y.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada;  foreign,   $15.     Single  copies,    10  cents. 


Standardize  Tickets, 
Commission  Wants 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Group  1,  while  those  accepted  as  e.x- 
pressions  of  the  trade  are  in  Group 
II. 

Group  I  rules  relate  to  such  sub- 
jects as  inducing  breach  of  contract ; 
defamation  of  competitors ;  enticing 
employees  of  competitors  ;  discrimina- 
tion in  price  between  different  pur- 
chasers of  commodities ;  secret  pay- 
ment of  rebates ;  selling  goods  below 
cost  with  the  intent  and  effect  of  in- 
juring a  competitor;  circularization 
of  threats  of  suit  for  infringement  of 
patent  or  trade  mark  among  cus- 
tomers of  competitors,  and  false  mark- 
ing of  products. 

Group  II  rules  cover  proper  and 
accurate  methods  of  determining  cost ; 
standardization  and  simplification ; 
compilation  and  distribution  of  proper 
and  lawful  statistics;  independent 
publication  of  price  lists  and  making 
the  terms  of  sale  a  part  of  published 
price  schedules ;  direct  dealing  by  the 
owner  of  a  patent  or  trade  mark  with 
the  alleged  original  infringer  rather 
than  attempting  to  intimidate  his  cus- 
tomers, and  a  committee  on  trade 
practices. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Bandy  Sails 

London — H.  A.  Bandy,  foreign 
manager  for  Warner-First  National, 
who  has  been  abroad  for  many 
months,  sailed  for  New  York  on 
the  Leviathan  yesterday. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Craven  Buys  Play 

The  American  version  of  "Harle- 
quin King,"  written  by  F.  Duquesne, 
has  been  acquired  by  Frederick 
Craven.  The  stage  play,  never  pro- 
duced here,  was  written  in  its  origi- 
nal form  by  S.  Lothar. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Comer  ford  Moves  In 

Buffalo — Mike  Comerford  has 
taken  over  the  Fox  houses,  the 
Strand  and  Cataract,  at  Niagara 
Falls,  N.  Y.,  Buffalo  exchanges  have 
been    informed. 


H.B.  Franklin 
Controls  Para. 
Coast  Houses 


(Continued  front  page  1) 

ground  in  Los  Angeles,  we  deemed 
it  advisable  to  make  this  arrangement 
so  that  these  two  houses  will  receive 
Mr.  Franklin's  personal  attention.  Mr. 
Franklin  plans  to  make  the  Para- 
mount and  the  United  Artists  Thea- 
tres the  key  houses  of  his  activities, 
and  we  both  are  confident  that  this 
arrangement  will  work  out  most  satis- 
factorily for  all  concerned." 

Some  months  ago,  Publix  made  a 
management  deal  for  operation  of  its 
Coast  theatres  by  Fox  West  Coast, 
after  a  period  of  spirited  competition 
between  the  two  firms  in  Coast  keys. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sues  Para,  to  Halt 
Repurchase  of  Stock 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

nection  with  acquisition  of  a  number 
of  theatre  circuits  in  the  company's 
expansion  program,  the  guaranteed 
price  being  $80  a  share.  Baiter  claims 
that  already  150,000  shares  have  been 
taken  up  by  the  company  at  a  loss  of 
more  than  $3,000,000  and  says  that  re- 
demption of  the  354,226  shares  al- 
legedly involved  would  be  "ruinous 
and  unreasonable." 


Coverage 


Hive  pictures  opened  on  Broadway 
yesterday.  Three — "Guilty  Hands," 
"Secrets  of  a  Secretary"  and  "Re- 
bound"— were  caught  by  Motion 
PiciURE  Daily  prior  to  their  debut. 
Two — "The  White  Devil"  and  "The 
Dreyfus    Case" — are    covered    today. 

The    line-up: 

AsrOH-"A  Free  Soul"  (M-G-M) 
— reviewed  by  Motion  Picture 
Daily     April     18. 

Cameo— "The  White  Devil"  (Talk- 
ing Picture  Epics) — reviewed  today, 
page   4. 

Capitol  —  "Guilty  Hands" 
(M-G-M)— reviewed    July    30. 

Criterion— "An  American  Trag- 
edy"   (Para.) — reviewed    May    29. 

Hollywood — "Bought"  (Warners) 
— reviewed  July   16. 

Mayfair  —  "Rebound"  (  R  K  O 
Pathe) — reviewed     June     9. 

PAftAMOUNT — "Secrets  of  a  Secre- 
tary"    (Para.) — reviewed    August    28. 

RivoLi — "Street  Scene"  (U.  A.)  — 
reviewed    August    28. 

RoxY— "Bad  Girl"  (Fox)  —  re- 
viewed   editorially   July   30. 

Strand — "The  Last  Flight"  —  re- 
viewed    August     22. 

Warners  —  "The  Dreyfus  Case" 
(Col.) — reviewed    today,    page    4. 

Winter  Garden — "The  Star  Wit- 
ness"— reviewed    July    21. 


When  reached  late  last  night, 
Charles  E.  McCarthy  of  Paramount 
stated  that  he  knew  nothing  of  the 
suit  and  had  no  statement  to  make. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Resuming  Vaude 

Columbus — The  RKO  Palace, 
which  has  been  a  straight  picture 
house  since  dropping  stage  shows  two 
years  ago,  will  resume  a  vaudefilm 
policy  today,  with  Olsen  and  John- 
son, screen  stars,  heading  the  initial 
vaudeville   bill. 


Laemmle's  Tribute 

San  Francisco — Upon  hearing  of 
the  proposed  benefit  for  Ferris  Hart- 
man,  San  Francisco's  "grand  old  man 
of  the  theatre,"  Carl  Laemmle  cabled 
from  Germany  authorizing  the  release 
of  "Waterloo  Bridge"  for  its  world 
premiere  at  the  Hartman  show.  The 
performance,  to  be  held  at  the  RKO 
Orpheum  September  1,  will,  in  addi- 
tion to  presenting  the  Universal  pic- 
ture, have  some  50  acts  and  a  75  piece 
orchestra.  Frank  Witbeck,  publicity 
man  for  Universal  and  formerly  chief 
publicist  for  Fox-West  Coast,  is  in 
San  Francisco  for  exploitation  work 
on  the  picture. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Gay  Turns  Producer 

Hollywood — Frank  Gay,  one  time 
staff  writer  for  Fox,  is  reported  en- 
tering production  on  his  own  with  a 
series  of  two  reelers  featuring  George 
M.  Corcoran,  recently  headlined  by 
Fanchon  and  Marco. 


Stocks  Gain;  E,  K.  Up  5%  Points 

Net 

High      Low      Close  Change 

Consolidated    Film    Industries 7  7  7  —  '/i 

Consolidated    Film    Industries    pfd 1.%        U^        W/e        -f  J^ 

Eastman    Kodak    14454       140J4      14254        +3V» 

Fox    Film    "A" 14^        UH        145^        -|-  Vi 

General   Theatre   Equipment   new 2^  2f^  2^        -j-  ^ 

Loew's,     Inc SOU        49'4        50  -f-1 

Loew's,     Inc.,     pfd 93"/^        93i/^        93}^        -\-l'A 

Paramouift    Publix    25  24J4        24Ji        -f  ?^ 

Pathe     Exchange \'A  IK  l'^        +'4 

Pathe     Exchange    "A" 6f^         S'A         6J4        +  ^ 

RKO     15J4        1454        14^       -I-  K 

Warner    Bros 9'A  m  9  4-^ 

Warner     Bros,     pfd 21^        21  21;^        -|-  ^ 

Curb  Market  Irregular 

Net 

High      Low      Close  Change 

Columbia     Pictures 10J4  914  ^Va,        ~  Vz 

Columbia    Pictures    vtc 9^2  9^  9^4.       —  Vi 

Educational     34  34  34  -|-I 

Fox     Theatres     "A" 2V2  254  2!^.        -f  H 

General    Theatre    Equipment    pfd 4J4         4}^  45^        -f-  54 

Technicolor     &/>         614  654        -h  % 

Trans    Lux    S  4%         4%        ~  'A 

Bonds  Close  Strong;  W.  B,  UpVA  Points 

Net 

High      Low      Close  Change 

General   Theatre    Equipment   6s   '40 24%        22^        24  -t-lJ4 

Loew's   6s   '41    ex   war..... 9854        9754        98  —  % 

Paramount   Broadway   S54s   '51 * 103  103  103  -|-  54 

Paramount   F.    L.  6s   '47 87  86  86  —54 

Paramount    Publix    554s,    'SO 78  7754        77H        —54 

Pathe   7s  '37   ww 95  945i        95  -fl 

Warner   Bros.   6s    '39   wd 56  5454        5554        -H54 


Sales 

300 

200 
1,800 
9,900 
6,700 
14,000 

100 
9,400 

200 

1,200 

8,500 

28,800 

300 


Sales 

600 
200 
10.000 
500 
2,100 
100 
300 


Sales 

29 
16 
4 
26 
32 
•  4 
65 


^  Purely 
Personal  y 

J3E  FRANKLIN,  manager  of  the 
RKO-CapitoI  in  Ottawa,  was  ac- 
corded the  cheers  of  an  audience  that 
packed  the  theatre  when  he  walked 
out  on  the  stage  to  accept  the  public 
congratulations  of  Mayor  John  J.  Al- ' 
len  of  Ottawa  on  his  recovery  from 
a  lengthy  illness.  Mayor  x\llen  told 
Franklin  he  meant  much  to  the  com- 
munity because  of  his  public  spirit. 

Harold  Dunn,  formerly  branch 
manager  of  Warners  Pittsburgh 
branch,  and  recently  connected  with 
the  theatre  department,  leaves  today 
for  Vancouver.  From  there  he  will 
sail  to  Japan  to  assume  management 
of  the  Warner  office  there. 

Edward  G.  Robinson,  "Little  Cae- 
sar" himself,  makes  a  personal  appear- 
ance, beginning  today,  at  RKO  Proc- 
tor's 86th  St.  Theatre.  This  is  his 
first  Manhattan  stage  appearance  since 
he  entered  pictures. 

Symon  Gould  has  resigned  from 
the  Warner  exploitation  department 
to  open  a  publicity  office  of  his  own. 

Phil  Di  Angelis,  veteran  billpost- 
ing  firm  head,  has  moved  to  new  quar- 
ters at  405  West  47th  St. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Sale  Signs  Two-Year 
Warners'  Contract 

Hollywood — Chic  Sale  has  signed 
a  two-year  contract  with  Warners. 
He  will  make  six  pictures  under  the 
arrangement,  starting  December  I. 
The  first  picture  will  be  "Old  Man 
Minnick."  Sale  still  has  four  shorts 
to  make  for  Radio  before  starting 
work  for  Warners. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

*' Waterloo*'  Opening 

Hollywood — Los  Angeles  is  step- 
ping out  ahead  of  the  100  day  and 
date  first-run  bookings  on  "Waterloo 
Bridge."  The  premiere  of  Univer- 
sal's  lead-off  picture  for  the  year  will 
take  place  at  the  Orpheum  Thursday 
at  $3  top.  All  of  the  stars  of  the  pic- 
ture  will   make  personal   appearances. 

The  Rialto  at  Washington  will  also 
open  its  season  with  "Waterloo 
Bridge"  on   September  5. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Not  Closed 

Oklahoma  City  report  that  the  War- 
ner there  would  re-open  about  Octo- 
ber 1  is  denied  by  the  Warner  theatre 
department  which  said  yesterday  the 
house  has  been  operating  all  through 
the   summer. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Katz  Acquires  Two 

George  Katz,  president  of  the  De 
Luxe  Theatrical  Enterprises,  has  ac- 
quired the  Riveria,  96th  Street  and 
Broadway,  and  Fox's  Jamaica  at  Ja- 
maica,  L.   I.,   for  his   subway  circuit. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Jack  Warner  Sailing 

LoNiX)N — Jack  Warner  is  scheduled 
to  sail  for  New  York  tomorrow. 


I 


A  PREDICTION 

XN  1914  Eastman  announced  the  first  panchro- 
matic motion  picture  negative  film.  It  swept 
the  country ...  In  March,  1931,  Eastman  an- 
nounced the  first  stable  ultra-speed  panchro- 
matic— Eastman  Super-sensitive  Panchromatic 
Negative,  Type  2... It  is  predicted  that  just  as 
color- sensitive  film  has  practically  replaced 
color-blind  material,  so  the  new  Eastman 
Super-sensitive  will  make  slower  emulsions  vir- 
tually obsolete . . .  Naturally  the  producers  and 
camera  men  who  are  adopting  this  remarkable 
film  now  will  reap  the  greatest  advantage . . . 
Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  New 
York.  (J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  New 
York,  Chicago,  Hollywood.) 

Eastman  Super-sensitive 

Panchromatic  Negative,  Type  2 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Saturday,  August  29,    1931 


Canada  Co-op 
Movement  Is 
Consolidated 


iContinued  from  paqe  1) 

M.P.T.O.  of  Canada  is  being  dissolved. 
Directors  named  by  Community  are : 
Thomas  Moorehead  of  Brampton ; 
Fred  Guest  and  H.  W.  Braden,  Ham- 
ilton ;  Thomas  Ross,  Bowmanville, 
and  Gordon  Miller,  Peterboro.  Ex- 
hibitors Co-operative  has  not  made 
its  nominations  as  yet.  The  new 
board  will  elect  a  president. 

A  separate  division  to  handle  poli- 
tical and  legislative  problems  on  be- 
half of  the  independents  has  been 
formed,  Hanson  intending  to  confine 
activities  to  trade  matters.  The  com- 
mittee for  political  work  consists  of 
Don  Stapleton,  Ottawa ;  Gordon  Fill- 
nian,  London ;  Thomas  Ross,  Bow- 
manville; William  Brady  and  J.  J. 
McBale,  Toronto.  Hanson  continues 
as  managing  director  of  Gaumont 
British  Corp.  of  Canada,  but  there  is 
no  other  connection  between  Gaumont 
and  the  exhibitors'  co-operative. 

Following  death  of  F.  R.  Lennon, 
buyer  of  Exhibitors'  Co-operative, 
practically  all  work  of  that  associa- 
tion has  been  carried  on  by  Nat 
Taylor. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BVT  BUY  NOW" 

Plead  for  Canadian 
National  Censorship 

(Continued  from  page  \) 

come  to  it.  Britain  always  had  it,  but 
the  rights  of  municipalities  to  pro- 
hibit, through  their  licensing  authority, 
the  exhibition  of  any  particular  film 
is  preserved. 

"This  is  probably  one  of  the  sub- 
jects that  comes  within  the  scope  of 
the  historic  Ontario-Quebec  jealousy 
regarding  enducation.  Surely,  where 
the  duplication  of  cost  is  so  obvious 
(the  same  pictures  are  shown  all  over 
the  country)  a  formula  for  overcom- 
ing the  constitutional  rights  question 
could  be  found. 

The  Sun  goes  on  to  suggest  that  the 
British  precedent  might  help  and  con- 
cludes that  "there  can  hardly  be  a 
more  patent  example  of  the  absurdity 
of  the  evil  than  its  silly  duplication  of 
censors,  with  half  a  dozen  officials  in 
each  province  sniping  and  carving  at 
the  same  time." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Epics  Releasing  26 
Features,  124  Shorts 

Talking  Picture  Epics  has  increased 
its  releasing  program  for  the  new 
season  to  150  shorts  and  features. 
Twenty-six  of  the  number  are 
features.  The  company  has  28  ex- 
changes in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada. 
"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Increases  Quarters 

Larger  quarters  are  being  taken  by 
the  Harvey-Jaediker  Service  at  1674 
Broadway.  The  company  handles 
publicity  and   advertising. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Zeldman  Set 

Hollywood — ^Bennie  Zeldman  has 
leased  space  at  Tec-Art  for  his  forth- 
coming series  of  independently-made 
productions  and  will  operate  as  B.  F. 
Zeidman  Prod.  Ltd. 


''The  White  Devil" 

(Talking  Picture  Ethics) 
Ufa  has  produced  Leo  Tolstoy's 
"Madschi  Murat"  with  great  care 
given  to  details.  Originally  made  in 
German  and  dubbed  in  English,  the 
story  revolves  around  an  incident  in 
the  Russian-Caucasian  trouble  of  1853, 
in  which  Ivan  Mosjoukine  plays  the 
leading  role.  Lil  Dagover,  the  comely 
heroine,  does  good  work  as  the  dan- 
cer with  whom  the  Czar  takes  a  sud- 
den infatuation,  but  loses  out  to  the 
hero. 

The  picture  opens  with  the  habitues 
of  a  Caucasian  village  enjoying  their 
dancing  and  folk  songs  when  it  is 
suddenly  bombarded  and  put  to  ruins. 
Nelidowa,  the  dancer,  is  taken  pris- 
ojier  by  the  insurgents.  Nadschi 
Murat  with  a  little  band  of  men  goes 
after  them  and  overtakes  the  return- 
ing army,  capturing  a  number  of 
them  against  the  wishes  of  his  super- 
ior. He  is  ostracized  for  breaching 
the  command  and  enters  the  Russian 
army  as  a  guest  of  the  Czar,  planning 
revenge  on  the  Russians.  Murat  es- 
capes with  the  dancer  and  gets  his 
revenge  on  the  insurgents  at  the  same 
time.  It  nearly  costs  him  his  life, 
but  he  comes  through  and  is  forgiven 
by  the  Caucasian  general,  the  heroine's 
father.  Acting  and  direction  are 
good.  The  photography  is  well 
handled.       Audience     reaction     luke- 


"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'The  Dreyfus  Case 


yf 


{Columbia) 

Presenting  something  different, 
"The  Dreyfus  Case"  is  a  suspenseful 
drama  of  France's  scandal  of  1894 
when  an  innocent  man  was  sentenced 
to  life  imprisonment  in  a  miscarriage 
of  justice. 

Alfred  Dreyfus,  Franch  army  offi- 
cer and  the  only  Jew  on  the  general 
staff,  was  the  victim,  framed  by  a 
fellow  officer  and  sentenced  to  life 
imprisonment  on  Devil's  Island  on  a 
charge  of  divulging  military  secrets 
to   Germany. 

Subsequently,  Emile  Zola  was  in- 
terested in  the  case  and  was  convicted 
of  libel  for  his  famous  "I  Accuse" 
letter.  One  of  his  attorneys  is 
Georges  Clemenceau,  then  starting 
his  public  career. 

Although  retried,  Dreyfus  is  again 
convicted  through  the  army  caste  reac- 
tionaries, but  is  induced  to  ask  for  a 
pardon  which  is  granted.  Later  he  is 
decorated  with  the  Legion  of  Honor, 
although  his  pardon  application  was 
a  presumption  of  guilt  and  the  real 
culprit  is  never  apprehended. 

The  trial  scene  in  the  Zola  case  is 
the  picture's  highlight  and  compen- 
sates for  some  of  the  film's  slow  mo- 
ments. The  cast  is  uniformly  good 
being  composed  of  British  players. 
Produced  by  British  International. 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Aster  Goes  Split-Week 

Minneapolis — The  Aster  this  week 
inagurated  a  new  policy  of  split  weeks 
on  first-run  pictures.  Changing  on 
Tuesdays  and  Saturdays,  this  812- 
seat  theatre  will  give  the  Loop  fans 
a  chance  at  two  pictures  instead  of 
one  at  popular  prices. 

Two  Paramount  offerings  are  be- 
ing used  this  week.  The  first  is  "For- 
bidden Adventure"  and  the  second  is 
"Girl  Habit."  The  theatre  uses  min- 
imum advertising  and  depends  largely 
on  the  drop  in  trade. 


Screen  Tough 
Guy  Yields  as 
Warners  Warn 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

a  new  contract,  the  understanding  be- 
ing that  if  he  is  "a  good  boy"  some- 
thhig  may  be  done  about  more  money 
when  Jack  L.  Warner  returns  from 
Europe. 

The  Warner  insistence  that  a  con- 
tract is  exactly  that  and  that  Cagney 
must  live  up  to  it  nestles  closely  to 
the  attitude  of  other  producers  in 
matters  of  contract.  It  is  felt  that 
if  Cagney  had  been  successful  in  ig- 
noring his  agreement,  the  door  would 
be  opened  wide  to  any  Hollywood 
player  or  director  who  felt  like  walk- 
ing out  when  the  walking  mood  hit 
him. 

Reports  from  the  Coast  declare  that 
the  Producers'  Association  had 
reached  an  understanding  not  to  book 
Cagney  in  any  of  their  presentation- 
controlled  houses  nor  to  employ  him 
in  pictures  while  the  Warner  impasse 
existed. 


Chi  Aroused 
By  Bombing 
Of  Theatres 


Hollywood — Joan  Blondell  remains 
with  Warners  for  seven  more  years. 
Her  present  agreement  has  two  years 
to  go  and  the  new  pact  covers  five 
additional   years. 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Page  Hurt  When  Car 
Overturns  on  Coast 

Hollywood — Paul  Page,  young 
leading  man,  was  critically  injured 
when  his  automobile  overturned  at 
Culver  City.  He  suffered  a  broken 
leg  and  internal  injuries.  His  most 
recent  screen  appearance  was  in 
"Palmy   Days." 


(Continued  from   page   I) 

owned  by  Aaron  Saperstein,  president 
of  the  Allied  unit  which  is  directing 
the  fight;  the  Ridge,  1550  Devon 
Ave.,  owned  by  Harold  Lasker,  and 
the  Ray,  2638  E.  75th  St.,  owned  by 
Gollos   Brothers. 

Part  of  the  rear  of  the  Ridge  was 
blown  away  and  windows  in  two  near- 
by apartments  shattered,  with  two 
girls  thrown  from  their  beds  and  cut 
by  flying  glass.  Damage  to  the  Olym- 
pia  and  Ray  was  less,  but  windows  in 
the   neighborhood    were    shattered. 

State's  Attorney  Swanson  started 
a  sweeping  investigation,  and  his  as- 
sistant, Charles  E.  Bellows,  prepared 
tO'  ask  for  a  petition  adjudging 
union  officials  in  contempt  of  court 
and  their  bail  forfeited  for  leaving 
the  county.  He  says  Maloy's  trip  to 
New   York  was  to  establish  an  alibi. 

"I  knew  trouble  was  coming  the 
minute  I  heard  Maloy  and  other  union 
officials  had  left  for  New  York,"  said 
Assistant  State's  Attorney  Louns- 
bury. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Raymond  Manages 

Philadelphia — Charles  Raymond, 
formerly  associated  with  Loew's  The- 
atre enterprises  in  Baltimore,  has 
been  named  manager  of  Keith's, 
which  Loew's  will  open  September  11 
as  opposition  to  the  Stanley-Warner 
interests  in  this  city.  Upon  the  fail- 
ure to  agree  on  terms  with  the  Stan- 
ley-Warner group,  M-G-M  and 
United  Artists  have  united  in  a  local 
exhibitors'  battle  here.  The  first  fea- 
ture under  the  new  arrangement  at 
Keith's  will  be  United  Artists'  "Street 
Scene." 


NEW     YORK 

1540     BROADWAY 
BRYant    47  12... 


LONG    ISLAND    CITY 

154    CRESCENT    STREET 
....STIIIwell      7940 


EASTMAN 
*  FILMS  * 


J.  E. 
BRULATOUR 

I  ncorporated 


CHICAGO 

1727  INDIANA  AVENUE 
CALumat    269  I  .  .  . 


HOLLYWOOD 

6700  SANTA  MONICA  BLVD. 
.  .  .  Hollywood      4121 


The  Leading 

Daily 

Newspaper 

of  the 

Motion 

Picture 

Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review  and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


Alert, 
Intelligent 
and 

Faithful 
Service  to 
the  Industry 
in  All 
Branches 


VOL.  30.    NO.  78 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  AUGUST  31,  1931 


TEN  CENTS 


Ignore  Maloy 
Allied  Policy 
In  Union  War 


''Shoot  to  Kill"  Ordered 
As  Police  Guard  Houses 


Chicago— There  will  be  no  further 
negotiations  with  Tom  Maloy,  busi- 
ness agent  of  the  Chicago  operators' 
union,  declared  Aaron  Saperstein, 
president  of  the  Allied  unit,  as  Act- 
ing Police  Commissioner  Alcock  and 
State  Attorney  Swanson  pressed  in- 
vestigation of  the  bombing  outrages  at 
three  local  houses.  One  of  the  the- 
atres bombed  is  owned  by  Saperstein. 

Meanwhile,  police  guards  are  on  24- 
hour  duty  at  all  independent  houses 
involved  in  the  controversy  with  the 
operators  with  orders  to  "shoot  to 
kill"  to  prevent  further  vandalism. 


Hearing  on  Injunction 
Scheduled  for  Today 

Chicago— Hearing  is  scheduled  for 
today  on  the  application  of  the  opera- 
tors' union  to  dissolve  the  temporary 
injunction  restraining  police  frorn  ar- 
resting imported  operators  at  inde- 
pendent houses  because  of  lack  of 
licenses. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Joe  E.  Brown  Proves 
Philly"  Sensation 

Philadelphia— Joe  E.  Brown  is 
Philadelphia's  favorite  son.  Evidence 
of  this  is  seen  in  last  week's  gross  at 
the  Mastbaum,  where  the  First  Na- 
tional star  made  a  personal  appear- 
ance. With  a  gross  of  $10,000  as  Fri- 
day's receipts,  the  six-day  intake  for 
the  house  climbed  to  $62,000,  the  sec- 
ond best  week  in  the  history  of  the 
house.  The  record  gross  of  $76,000 
was  scored  New  Year's  week  a  year 
ago  with  the  aid  of  several  midnight 
shows  during  the  week. 

Up  until  Wednesday  night  the  gross 

{Continued  on  page  6) 


46 


H-F  Operating 

Los  Angeles  —  Harold  B. 
Franklin  will  give  his  per- 
sonal supervision  to  the  Para- 
mount and  United  Artists 
when  those  houses  are  taken 
over  in  a  week  or  two  by 
Hughes-Franklin  Theatres. 
The  deal  with  Publix  is  on  a 
profit-sharing  basis. 


Setback  in  Kansas 

Wichita — Efforts  to  reopen 
this  state  on  Sunday  received 
a  setback  when  District  Judge 
Graver  Pierpont  ruled  illegal 
the  local  ordinance  permit- 
ting Sunday  shows.  Wichita 
is  the  center  of  Kansas'  Sun- 
day "blue"  fight. 


Restoration  of 
Admission  Tax 
Is  Held  Remote 


Washington — Possibilities  of  re- 
imposition  of  some  of  the  taxes  in 
force  during  the  war  period,  including 
the  impost  on  admissions,  are  being 
discussed  in  various  interested  circles 
throughout  the  country  as  a  means  of 
raising  revenue  to  aid  the  unemployed 
or  to  reduce  the  government  deficit,  it 
is  indicated  by  reports  reaching 
Washington,  but  so  far  have  been 
given  little  or  no  consideration  here. 

With  three  months  still  left  before 
Congress  convenes  in  December,  ad- 
ministration leaders  are  waiting  to  see 

(Continued  from  page  6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Suit  Involves  14 
Paramount  Deals 

Acquisition  by  Paramount  of  12 
theatre  circuits,  a  one-half  interest  in 
Columbia  Broadcasting  Co.,  and  its 
deal  with  the  William  Morris  Agency 
are  involved  in  suit  for  an  injunction 
brought    against    the    firm    by    Joseph 

(Continued  on   page   2) 


AGITATORS  FOMENT 
MGM  KICKS— FEIST 


Richey  Cites 
Exhib  Danger 
In  MGM  Meet 


What  is  taken  by  M-G-M  as  con- 
firmation of  Feist's  contention  that 
"opposition  to  M-G-M  policy  has 
nothing  to  do  with  values  or  prin- 
ciples, but  is  based  on  fear  that  other 
producers  will  follow  our  lead,''  is 
the  following  letter  from  the  Michi- 
gan Allied  unit  to  George  P.  Aarons, 
secretary  of  the  eastern  Pennsylvania, 
southern  New  Jersey,  replying  to  in- 
vitation to  attend  the  Metro  National 
Protest  Meet : 

"This  will  acknowledge  receipt  of  your 
telegram  relative  to  the  Metro  situation. 
Do  you  really  think  that  a  national  protest 
meeting  will  accomplish  anything?  Do  you 
think  that  exhibitors  will  be  foolish  enough 
to  go  for  that  kind"  of  a  contract?  Per- 
sonally I  think  they  will  be  few  and  far 
between. 

"I   have    been    in    touch    with    other    state 

(^Continued  on   page   6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

RKO  Gets  Orpheum 
In  Cincinnati  Split 

Cincinnati — -RKO  has  closed  a 
deal  to  take  over  the  Orpheum,  3,100- 
seat  suburban  house,  which  is  adjacent 
to  the  RKO  Paramount,  recently  ac- 
quired from  Publix.  Interchange  of 
product  is  provided  for  in  the  deal. 
M.  Chester  Martin  will  remain  in 
nominal  control  of  the  Orpheum,  but 
bookings  will  be  made  through  RKO. 


Loew  ^s  Moves  Out  of  Buffalo^ 
LeavingHousetoShea-Pu  blix 


Buffalo — Marking  another  step  in 
pooling  arrangements  being  attempted 
by  circuits  to  alleviate  overseated  con- 
ditions, Shea-Publi.x  is  understood  to 
have  closed  the  deal  for  lease  of  the 
Kox    Great    Lakes    from    Loew's. 

An  indication  is  seen  by  insiders 
in  the  fact  that  Shea's  Buffalo  ads 
this  week  started  to  plug  "Merely 
Mary  y\nn."  Fox  picture,  for  that 
house,  but  later  Paraniount's  "Daugh- 
ter of  the  Dragon"  was  moved  in. 
Since  Loew's  played  the  Fox  and 
Metro  product  here,  it  isn't  figured 
they'd  sell  away  a  money-maJ<er  like 


the  Farrell-Gaynor  opus,  nor  is  it 
figured  anybody  in  Shea- Publix  would 
pull  the  boner  of  advertising  product 
not  bought.  Just  premature,  is  the 
general  lielief,  and  the  picture  will  go 
in  when  announcement  of  the  deal 
is  made  on  a  date  agreed  to  by  Shea- 
Publix,  Loew's  and  the  Fox  and 
M-G-M  exchanges,  it  is  expected. 

Charles  I£.  Raymond,  under  whose 
jurisdiction  the  Fox  Great  Lakes  was 
turned  from  a  headache  into  a  profit- 
able Iiousc,  has  been  transferred  to 
Philadelphia  where  he  will  manage 
Keith's,  which  Loew's  opens  Monday 
in  its   invasion  of  that  city. 


'Watch  Your  Step" Sales 

Force  Told;  Protest 

Meeting  Tomorrow 


Underneath  most  of  the  squawking 
is  the  exhibitors'  fear  that  product  of 
less  intrinsic  value  will  make  the  same 
demands,  declares  Felix  Feist,  M-G-M 
sales  manager,  in  a  message  to  his  or- 
ganization. He  blames  "a  few  agita- 
tors, some  without  even  as  much  as 
one  theatre"  for  "the  new  problems 
confronting  the  company." 

This  position  he  takes  in  view  of 
declarations  made  in  connection  with 
the  Metro  National  Protest  Meeting 
scheduled  to  open  tomorrow  in  New 
York  that  "if  exhibitors  give  Metro 
30  and  35  per  cent  with  Saturday  or 
Sunday  starring  dates,  next  year 
every  producer  will  do  the  same 
thing." 

"We     cannot     control     that,"     says 

(Continued   on   page   6) 
"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fear  60  Cents  Per 
Foot  Duty  in  U.K. 

London — Increase  of  the  import 
duty  on  negatives  to  60  cents  per  foot 
is  being  unofficially  predicted  in  the 
present  British  financial  crisis.  The 
present  duty  is  ten  cents  per  foot.  No 
decision  on  the  proposed  increase  has 
been  made  by  the  governinent.  It  is 
iiiiprobable  that  there  will  be  any  in- 
crease in  the  quota. 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Lieutenant"  Grosses 
$134,800  in  Six  Weeks 

"The  Smiling  Lieutenant"  grossed 
$134,800  in  its  run  of  six  weeks  at 
the  Rivoli,  New  York.  The  figures 
bv   weeks   follow : 

Week  endirfg   July  23 $38,200 

Week  ending   July  30 24,100 

Week  ending   Aug.    6 20,200 

Week  ending  Aug.  13 21,000 

Week  ending   Aug.  20 17,200 

Week  ending   Aug.  26 14,100 

Total     $134,800 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Petti  John  Invited  to 
Join  M,  P'  Academy 

Hoi-Lvwooi) — C.  C.  Pettijohn,  Hays 
counsel,  has  been  invited  to  become 
an  associate  member  of  the  .A.cademy 
of  Motion  Pictures  Arts  and  Sciences. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August  31,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

Registered  U.   S.   Patent   Office 

Formerly  Exhibitors  Daily  Review 

and  Motion  Pictures  Today 


\"ol.   .^u 


August    31,    1>Ij1 


No.   78 


Martin  Quigley 

Editor-in-Chief   and   Publisher 

MAURICE   KANN 

Editor 

JAMES  A.  CRON 

Advertising   Manager 

^'\r\  PUBLISHED  daily,  except  Sunday 
f  jl  J  and  holidays,  by  Motion  Picture 
V^X  Daily,  Inc.,  a  Quigley  Publication, 
"  at  1790  Broadway,  New  York. 
Telephone:  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address: 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  All  contents 
copyrighted. 

Hollywood  Office:  Pacific  States  Life 
Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Streets;  Leo 
Meehan,  Manager.  Chicago  Office:  407 
South  Dearborn  Street;  Edwin  S.  Clifford, 
Manager. 

London  correspondent:  W.  H.  Mooring, 
The  Bioscope,  8-10  Charing  Cross  Road, 
London,  W.  C.  2.  Berlin  correspondent: 
Alfred  IVeiner,  "The  Film  Kurrier,"  Ber- 
lin,   W.    9. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  January 
4,  1926,  at  the  Post  Office  at  New  York 
City,  N.  Y.,  under  Act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year,  including 
postage:  $10  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada; foreign,  $15.    Single  copies,   10  cents. 


Number  One 


VV  ATERLOO 
BRIDGE,"  sterling  in  performance 
and  stirring  in  its  dramatic  appeal, 
launches  Universal  on  its  way  for 
1931-1932.  An  auspicious  beginning 
for  any  company  in  this,  or  any  year. 


T 


HIS  tragic  story  of 
love  sprung  out  of  the  Great  War  and 
its  shattered  conventions  and  a  poig- 
nant production  with  a  vast  appeal. 
It  is  the  timbre  of  the  acting  by  Mae 
Clarke  as  the  girl  and  Kent  Douglass 
as  the  boy  and  the  deft,  understanding 
direction  by  James  Whale  which  com- 
bine to  make  "Waterloo  Bridge"  what 
it  is. 

The  story,  in  its  essentials,  concerns 
a  chorus  girl,  driven  to  the  streets 
for  a  living,  and  a  Canadian  private, 
back  in  London  on  a  two  weeks' 
respite  from  gunfire  and  death.  They 
meet  on  Waterloo  Bridge  during  a 
Zeppelin  raid. 

The  boy — young,  emotional  and  in- 
articulately shy — falls  in  love  with  the 
girl  and  she,  terrorized  by  the  grim 
reality  of  her  past,  with  him.  The 
boy  finally  takes  her  to  his  well-to-do 
family  where  the  futility  of  it  all  hits 
her  with  a  brutal  force.  She  leaves 
finally  to  return  to  London  and  the 
streets,  but  the  boy,  frenzied  by  emo- 
tion, follows  and  searches  for  hours 
until  he  finds  the  girl  where  they  first 
met.  He  makes  her  promise  to  wait 
for  him,  although  he  knows  the  truth. 
They  part.  Mercifully  or  mercilessly 
as  your  emotions  may  react,  the  girl, 
a  moment  later,  is  killed  by  an  ex- 
ploding bomb. 


M 


ISS  CLARKE  is 
excellent  as  the  girl  whose  virtue  has 
gone  easy.  She  gives  to  her  interpre- 
tation a  deep,  womanly  understanding 
that  fairly  reaches  out  from  the  screen 
in  its  effectiveness.  We  predict  much 
for  her  future  in  pictures. 

As    the    boy,    stirred    to    the    quick 
by    the    impact    of    his    first    genuine 


1"^HE  four  operators  in  a  theatre  in  the  Fordham  section  are  mourn- 
ing the  collapse  of  a  scheme  they  devised  but  which  didn't  work  so 
well.  Figuring  that  they  were  entitled  to  vacations,  each  in  turn  took  a 
week  off,  the  others  doubling  up  so  that  there  were  always  two  men  in 
the  booth.  They  did  not  notify  the  union  of  their  action,  for  a  substitute 
would  have  been  dispatched  to  take  the  place  of  the  absent  projectionist 
and  the  vacationee  would  have  sacrificed  his  week's  pay.  When  the 
union  got  wind  of  the  plot  it  yanked  the  men  from  the  theatre  and 
placed  them  at  the  bottom  of  the  eligible  list — with  several  hundred 
names  preceding  theirs. 

Writers  of  original  stories  are  reported  to  have  developed  a  new 
racket.  Facing  an  impasse  in  trying  to  dispose  of  their  tales,  a  number 
of  them  are  said  to  have  resorted  to  a"  unique  plan.  They  have  several 
galleys  put  into  print,  attach  a  synopsis  of  the  ensuing  action  and  send 
it  to  scenario  editors  with  letters  insinuating  that  the  story  is  about 
to  be  published  in  book  form  and  the  said  s.  e.  is  getting  the  first  crack 
at  it.  Somebody  must  have  broadcast  the  idea,  for  despite  its  failure 
the  would-be  authors  are  continuing  the  racket. 


And  now  they  do  insist  that  a  certain  company  soon  is  to  have  a 
new  publicity  and  advertising  director. 

Also  that  the  chap  to  succeed  the  deposed  head  will  prove  to  be  a 
very    great    surprise. 

In  the  ranks  of  major  executives.  Dame  Rumor  has  it,  a  change  of 
import  likewise  is  impending.  This  is  the  same  switch  denied  several 
times — in  print — by  the  individual  involved. 


heart  affair,  Douglass  is  expert.  He 
almost  walked  away  from  Marion 
Davies  and  a  fine  cast  in  "Five  and 
Ten"  and  here  he  adds  another  fine 
performance  to  his  career. 


B 


EHIND  the  picture 
was  the  steadying  hand  of  James 
Whale.  "Journey's  End,"  one  of  the 
notables  of  last  year,  was  his.  Now 
"W'aterloo  Bridge"  comes  to  reaffirm 
his  directorial  prowess,  if  any  such 
further  evidence  were  necessary.  Two 
pictures  only  from  him  in  approxi- 
mately eighteen  months,  but  what  a 
pair! 

KANN 


Grombacher  Starts 
Turnstile  Theatre 

Spokane,  Wash. — Ray  A.  Grom- 
bacher, managing  director  of  Sgpk3.ne 
Theatres,  Inc.,  has  opened  the  Gra- 
nada, a  downtown  second-run  house, 
to  which  patrons  are  admitted  by 
means  of  a  turnstile.  Instead  of 
ushers,   a   hostess   is   in   attendance. 

Prices  announced  are  15  cents  for 
all  matinees  until  6,  including  Sun- 
days, and  20  cents  for  evenings,  and 
children  under  12  for  10  cents.  Par- 
amount and  M-G-M  features  will 
be  shown. 


Stocks  Rally;  W,  B,  Up  3  Points 

Net 

High      Low      Close     Change  SaJes 

Consolidated   Film   Ind.   pfd 15?^        13            13?-^          500 

Eastman   Kodak 144"4       142M      144J4        -j-VA  600 

Fox  Film  "A" m/s        1"}^        W/t        -f  H  2,000 

General   Theatre   Equip,   new 2^          214          2Yi        -i-  yi  600 

Loew's  Inc 50}^        50}4        50^        -|-  Vs  5.900 

Paramount  Publix 25'^        24%        25^        -^  Vs  8,600 

Pa  the  Exchange IJ^          I'A          VA        400 

Pa  the  Exchange  "A"   Syi          S'A          6'A        -{-  li  100 

R  K  O IS'A        iSVs        155^       -\-  'A  3,80«) 

Warner  Bros 10             9            10           -|-  1  12,50;) 

Warner   Bros,   pfd 24M        22           24!4        -t-  3  400 

Curb  Market  Irregular 

Net 

High      Low      Close     Change  SeJes 

Columbia  Pictures  vtc 914          9}4          9'A        IOC 

Fox  Theatres  "A" 2H          2Ji          2%        —  J^  20O 

General  Theatre  Equip,   pfd 4>4         4^         AA        500 

Bonds  Gain;  W,  B,  Up  1  Vi  Points 

Net 

High      Low      Clo.se     Cheuige  Sales 

General  Theatre   Equip.   6s   '40 25            24           245/g        +  ^  20 

Loew's  6s  '41   ex  war 98           98           98            1 

Paramount  Broadway  5^s  '51 102J4       102^      102^4        —  }4  1 

Paramount   F.    L.  6?   '47 86           86           86            1 

Paramount    Publix   5'/s,   '.50 77^^        77yi        77^        —  Vi  1 

Warner    Bros.   6s   '39wd 57           55           57       -f  154  15 


^  Purely 
Personal 


LOUIS  Meyer  of  Meyer-Reiger,  his 
finger  recently  caught  in  a 
sprocket,  was  forced  to  delay  that 
trip  to  Chicago.  The  finger  is  im- 
proving nicely  and  fear  that  it  wouk! 
have  to  be  amputated  has  been  dis- 
pelled. 

Charles  Steiner  now  is  visiting 
Cuba  hunting  for  talent  for  the  Span- 
ish legitimate  policy  soon  to  be  adopt- 
ed at  the  San  Joe.  No  Spanish  pic- 
tures when  the  house  reopens. 

Edmund  Mantell  is  commuting 
from  Stamford  these  days,  having 
moved  to  his  summer  home.  The 
Bronx  exhib  likes  the  New  England 
sunshine,  says  he. 

Sidney  Samuelson  nearly  lost  that 
priceless  umbrella,  a  family  heirloom 
for  the  last  six  years.  A  visitor  al- 
most walked  off  with  it,  unintentially, 
the  other  day.  But  Sid  nabbed  him 
before  it  was  too  late. 

Jack  Genell,  former  circuit  opera- 
tor in  Brooklyn,  now  is  selling  insur- 
ance. He  is  paralyzed  on  one  side  as 
a  result  of  the  breakdown  when  his 
circuit  failed.  He  can  be  seen  around 
the  film  exchange  these  days. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Suit  Involves  14 
Paramount  Deals 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

Baiter  of  Boston,  hearing  on  which  is 
scheduled  today  in  Supreme  Court, 
New  York. 

Today's  argument  will  be  on  Bai- 
ter's application  for  a  temporary  in- 
junction to  restrain  Paramount  from 
continuing  to  fulfill  its  commitments 
to  repurchase  for  $80  a  share  blocks 
of  its  own  stock  from  the  firms  to 
which  the  stock  was  issued  in  ex- 
change for  the[r  stock. 

Baiter,  who  owns  300  shares  of 
Paramount,  which  he  says  he  bought 
for  $60  per  share,  wants  the  repur- 
chase agreement  set  aside  as  illegal 
and  unfair  to  other  stockholders.  He 
says  that  already  152,000  shares  have 
been  repurchased  at  a  loss  to  the 
company  of  more  than  $3,000,000  and 
says  that  transfer  of  the  remaining 
202,226  shares  involved,  will  be  "ruin- 
ous  and   unreasonable." 

Defendants,  in  addition  to  Para- 
mount are: 

A.  H.  Blank  Theatrical  Corp. ; 
Publix  -  Fitzpatrick  -  McElroy  Corp.; 
Dent  Theatrical  Corp. ;  Columbia 
Broadcasting  System ;  Kunsky  Theat- 
rical Corp. ;  Great  State  Theatres, 
Inc. ;  Northwest  Theatres,  Inc. ;  Saen- 
ger  Theatres,  Inc. ;  Strand  Amuse- 
ment Co. ;  Rickards  &  Nace  Amuse- 
ment Enterprises ;  Hostettler  Amuse- 
ment Co. ;  William  Morris  Agency ; 
Paramount  Enterprises,  Inc.,  and 
American  Amusement  Co. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  SOW" 

Dedicate  RKO  Plaza 

Schenectady — The  new  RKO  Plaza 
opened  here  Friday  night,  with  Jos- 
eph Plunkett,  Nate  Blumberg,  E.  M. 
Glucksman  and  other  RKO  officials 
attending  the  dedication. 


V 


STORY 

CREAT  WILDERNESS 


DIG  TIMDI 
THE  OUT  Of 


AND 


WITH 


SUE  CAROL 
NOAH  BEERY 

JAMES  MURRAY. 

FRANCES  MAC  DONALD. 

DIRECTED  BY 
BERT  GLENNON 


^; 


Msy 


&''';^ 


#-' 


AVAILABLE 

AT 

33  MONOGRAM  EXCHANGE! 


A 


,n 


*>^.:i 


TALKING  PICTURE ! 
Monogram  Pictures  Corporation,  723  Seventh  Ave.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Foreign    Distributors:    RITCHEY   EXPORT   CORPORATION 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August  31,   1931 


Albany  Likes 
"Politics";  Is 
$3,300  Above 


Total  $35J20  for  5  Theatres 


Albany — '"Politics"  proved  the  best 
bet,  playing  to  the  biggest  oi>ening 
day  in  tlie  history  of  the  theatre  with 
the  single  exception  of  "The  Cock- 
eyed World,"  which  cashed  in  $5,000 
on  the  day  the  house  opened.  "Poli- 
tics" ran  $3,300  above  normal  dur- 
ing the  week,  matinees  being  excep- 
tionally heavy  and  evenings  there  was 
always  a  standing  crowd.  Cool 
weather  favored  attendance  at  al! 
houses.  Even  the  topmost  gallery  at 
the  Sail  was  jammed  during  the 
week. 

While  "The  Star  Witness"  at  the 
Strand  did  not  do  anything  phenome- 
nal, box-office  receipts  were  above 
normal,  reaching  $9,250.  While  there 
has  been  some  fear  among  exhibitors 
in  this  city  of  a  slump  in  attendance, 
due  to  the  infantile  paralysis  scare, 
business  was  not  only  up  to  stand- 
ard during  the  past  week,  but  over 
the  top   in  a  number  of  instances. 

The  Ritz  has  now  gone  into  its 
regular  winter  policy  of  straight  week 
runs  after  several  weeks  of  splits. 
The  State,  a  Buckley  house,  re- 
opened this  week,  and  the  new  RKO 
theatre,  which  will  be  the  largest  in 
this  section  of  the  state,  is  rapidly 
nearing  completion  and  may  open  in 
Novernber. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  27  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"POLITICS"    (M-G-M) 

HARMANUS-BLEECKER  HALL— (2,- 
30C),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross:  $13,300.  (Aver- 
age, $10,000.) 

"A  HOLY  TERROR"   (Fox) 

LELAXD— (1,350),  20c-25c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$5,060.     (Average,    $6,000.) 

"THE  RECKLESS  HOUR"  (F.  N.) 

RITZ— (1.146),  25c-35c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.     (Average,    $4,500.) 

"TOO  MANY  COOKS"  (Radio) 

R-KO     PROCTOR'S— (1,500),     25c-60c,     3 
days.     Gross:   $2,150.    (Average,   $2,250.) 
"A    WOMAN    OR    EXPERIENCE"    (RKO 
Pathe) 

R-K-0     PROCTOR'S— (1,500),     25c-60c,     3 
days.     Gross:    $1,960.    (Average,   $2,250.) 
"THE   STAR  WITNESS"    (Warners) 

STRAND-(1.900),  35c-50c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$9,250.    (Average,   $8,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT-^BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'Transatlantic' 

Proves  Best 

In  Providence 


Total  $45^00  for  5  Theatres 


Providenc"E — There  were  very  few 
cheers  along  theatre  row  this  week, 
only  one  picture  reaching  par.  That 
was  "Transatlantic,"  which  took  in 
$10,000  at  the  Majestic. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  27  and  year-round 
weekly  averages : 

"PARDON    US"    (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,800),  20c-75c.  7  days. 

Gross:    $15,500.      (Average.    $18,000.) 

"TRANSATLANTIC"    (Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,300),      20c-50c,      7      days. 


Joe  E.  Brown f  '  ^Plastered ' ' 
Click  $62,000  in  "PhUly" 


Total  $151,300  for  8  Theatres 


Philadelphia — You  couldn't  con- 
vince the  management  of  the  Mast- 
bajuin  this  week  that  there  is  such  a 
thing  as  depression,  for  the  residents 
of  the  Quaker  City  shoved  $62,000 
into  the  box-office,  which  normally 
sees  only  $40,000  every  six  days,  Sun- 
day shows  being  prohibited  in  this 
state.  Wheeler  and  Woolsey  in 
"Caught  Plastered"  furnished  the 
screen  entertainment  and  Joe  E. 
Brown  was  there  in  person.  Which 
was  responsible  for  the  terrific  draw 
can  only  be  guessed  at. 

Another  Radio  picture,  "The  Run- 
around,"  went  over  par,  too,  getting 
$21,500  at  the  Earle  against  the  nor- 
mal  figure  of  $18,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  27  and  year-round  weekly 


averages : 

"NIGHT  ANGEL"    (Para.) 

ARCADIA— (600),     50c,     6     days.     Gross: 
$2,800,    (Average,    $3,000.) 

"YOUNG   AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox.) 
FOX— 13,000),    35c-SOc-7Sc,    6    days.    Stage 
show.     Gross:    $25,000.    (Average,    $26,000.) 
"THE    RUNAROUND    (Radio) 
EARLE— (2,000).   25c-65c,   6  days.    Vaude- 
ville.  Gross:    $21,500.    (Average,   $18,000.) 
"SMILING   LIEUTENANT"    (Para.) 
KARLTON— (1,000),    50c,    6    days.    Gross: 
$6,000.    (Average,    $5,000.) 

"TOO  MANY  COOKS   (Radio) 
KEITH'S— (1,800),     3Sc-50c-75c,     6  '  days. 
Gross:     $8,500.     (Average,    $15,000.) 

"CAUGHT    PLASTERED"    (Radio) 
MASTBAUM— (4,800),  35c-50c-75c,  6  days. 
Stage      show,      featuring     Joe     E.      Brown. 
Gross:    $62,000.    (Average,    $40,000.) 

"THE  STA«  WITNESS"   (Warners) 
STANLEY— (3,700),    35c,-50c-75c,    6    days. 
Gross:  $18,000.  (Average,  $18,000.) 

"TRAVELING  HUSBANDS"  (Radio) 
STANTON— (1,700),       25c-65c,       6       days. 
Gross:    $7,500.    (Average,    $11,000.) 


"Defender"  Is 
Minneapolis 
High;  $17,000 


Total  $52,900  for  5  Theatres 


Minneapolis — Cool  weather  offset 
the  competition  of  the  Barnum  & 
Bailey  circus  and  several  pictures  hit 
the  above-average  mark.  Getting 
$17,000,  which  is  $3,000  above  par, 
"The  Public  Defender"  beat  "An 
American  Tragedy"  on  a  percentage 
rating.  The  latter  rung  up  $22,000, 
or  $2,000  above  normal.  "Sporting 
Blood"  also  was  up  $2,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  28  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"FORBIDDEN  ADVENTURE"   (Para.) 

ASTER— (812),  20c-25c,  4  days.  Gross: 
$600.    (Average,    $750.) 

"GIRL  HABIT"   (Para.) 

ASTER— (812),  20c-25c,  3  days.  Gross: 
$800.     (Average,     $750.) 

"HONEYMOON   LANE"   (Para.) 

LYRIC--(1,238),  20c-40c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,500.    (Average,    $2,500.) 

"AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY"   (Para.) 

MINNESOTA— (4,000)  30c-75c,  7  days. 
Vaude.     Gross:    $22,000.    (Average,    $20,000.) 

"THE   PUBLIC  DEFENDER"   (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,900),  25c-35c-50c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average, 
$14,000.) 

"SPORTING  BLOOD"  (M-G-M) 

STATE— (2,300),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,000.    (Average,   $8,000.) 

'•BUY  RICHT^BUT  BUY   NOW" 

F.  &  M.  Shows  at  Buffalo 

Buffalo — The  new  F.  &  M.  stage 
shows,  as  revamped  for  Shea's  Buf- 
falo, won  warm  applause  from  critics, 
and  apparently  are  well  liked  by  the 
public. 


Gross:    $10,000.    (Average,    $10,000.) 

"HUCKLEBERRY    FINN"    (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),    20c-75c,    7    days. 
Gross:    $8,000.    (Average,    $9,000.) 

"CAUGHT  PLASTERED   (Radio) 
RKO     ALBEE-(2,500),     20c-50c,     7     days. 
Gross:    $8..500.    (Average,    $9,000.) 

"THE  RUNAROUND"    (Radio) 
RKO    VICTORY— (2,600),   20c-50c,   7   days. 
Gross:    $3,200.    (Average,    $6,500.) 


Bessie  Love, 
Joe  £•  Brown 
Top  Buffalo 


Total  $82,200  for  5  Theatres 


Buffalo — The  combination  of  Bes- 
sie Love  on  the  stage  and  Joe  E. 
Brown  in  "Broadminded"  on  the 
screen  gave  the  Hippodrome  a  good 
week,  the  intake  being  $21,000.  Rave 
notices  failed  to  help  "Transatlantic" 
to  any  extent.  All  it  could  get  at  the 
Great  Lakes  was  $18,900,  the  aver- 
age gross  of  the  house  being  $22,500. 
Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  28  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"SECRETS  OF  A  SECRETARY"  (Para.) 
BUFFALO— (3,500),  30c-65c,  7  days.  Pub- 
lix    stage    show.    Gross:    $24,500.    (Average, 
$25,000.) 

"TRANSGRESSION"    (Radio) 

CENTURY— (3,000),  25c-35c,  7  days. 
Gross;   $8,700.    (Average,   $12,000.) 

"TRANSATLANTIC"    (Fox) 

GREAT  LAKE^— (3,000),  25c-60c,  7  days. 
Loew  stage  show.  Gross:  $18,900.  (Average, 
$22,500.) 

"BROADMINDED"    (F.   N.) 

HIPPODROME— (2,100),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaudeville,  headed  by  Bessie  Love.  Gross: 
$21,000.    (Average,    $20,000.) 

"ARIZONA"    (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,300),  25c-35c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $9,100.    (Average,    $12,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Cuts  in  St.  Louis  Prices 

-St.  Louis — The  St.  Louis  Theatre, 
the  local  RKO  first  run  picture  and 
vaudeville  house,  effective  on  August 
28  will  cut  its  maximum  admission 
price  from  65  cents  to  SO  cents.  Here- 
after the  adult  admission  prices  will 
be :  25  cents  to  2  p.  m. ;  35  cents  to 
6  p.  m.  and  50  cents  thereafter.  On 
Sundays  the  50  cents  rate  goes  into 
effect  at  2  p.  m.  The  cut  means  the 
top  price  of  Fox  and  Missouri  the- 
atres and  leaves  only  the  Ambassa- 
dor Theatre  at  Seventh  and  Locust 
Streets   with   a  65-cent  top. 


^Star  Witness' 
Cleveland  Top 
With  $9,000 


Total  $86,500  for  7  Theatres 


Clf.veland — "The  Star  Witness" 
proved  the  star  attraction  here,  pull- 
ing $9,000  in  nine  days  at  the  Lake 
with  the  picture  playing  first  run 
day  and  date  for  six  days  at  the  Up- 
town and  the  Variety.  The  Palace, 
with  vaudeville,  made  the  good  show- 
ing of  $22,000,  playing  "High  Stakes." 
"Rebound"  hit  average  of  $15,000  at 
the  Hippodrome. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  August  27  and  year-round  av- 
erages : 

"THE  STAR  WITNESS"   (Warners) 

LAKE— (800),  40c-60c,  9  days.  Gross: 
$9,000.         (Average     for     week,     $5,000.) 

Week  ending  August  28: 

"SON    OF    INDIA"    (M-G-M) 

STATE— (3,400),  30c-60c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$20,000.        (Average,    $20,000.) 

Week  ending  August  29: 

"TRANSATLANTIC"    (Fox) 

ALLEN— (3,300),  30c-60c,  6  days.  Gross: 
$15,000.        (Average,    $18,000.) 

"GRETEL    AND    LIESEL"    (German) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,400),  evenings  only,  SOc, 

7   days.      Gross:    $2,500.       (Average,   $4,000.) 

"FORBIDDEN    ADVENTURE"     (Para.) 

CAMEO— (1,200),  25c-50c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,000.        (Average,    $5,000.) 

"REIBOUND"    (RKO    Pathe) 

RKO  HIPPODROME— (3,800),  2Sc-35c- 
50c-60c,  7  days.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"HIGH  STAKES"  (RKO) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,100),  25c-35c-75c,  7 
days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average, 
$23,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Three  Go  Over 
Par  in  Good 
St.  Paul  Week 


Total  $34,500  for  4  Theatres 


St.  Paul — With  one  picture  hit- 
ting par  and  the  rest  going  over,  there 
was  little  complaint  hereabouts  this 
week.  "Young  As  You  Feel"  beat 
normal  by  $2,500;  "The  Public  De- 
fender" by  $2,000,  and  "Sporting 
Blood"  by  $1,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  28  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"YOUNG    AS    YOU    FEEL"    (Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,300),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:    $10,000.    (Average,   $7,500.) 

"SPORTING  BLOOD"    (M-G-M) 

RIVIERA— (:1.600),  25c-35c-50o,  7  days. 
Gross:   $8,.500.    (Average,   $7,500.) 

"THE  PUBLIC  DEFENDER"   (Radio) 

RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,600),  25c-50c,  7  days. 
Vaude.    Gross:    $14,000.    (Average,    $12,000.) 
"HONEYMOON   LANE"   (Para.) 

TOWER— (1,000),  lSc-25c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.    (Average,    $2,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY   NOW" 

Reopen  Auditorium 

Baltimore — The  Auditorium,  oper- 
ated by  the  Schanberger  interests,  un- 
der the  management  of  Fred  C. 
Schanbergen  Jr.,  reopened  for  the 
season  with  "The  Mystery  of  Life." 
Schanberger  says  he  is  set  for  the  en- 
tire season  now  with  Paramount, 
Universal  and  Warner  product.  The 
policy  will  be  11  to  11  daily. 


Monday,  August  31,    1931 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"Bought"  Best 
At  Okla.  City 
Getting  $6,800 


Total  $24,800  for  4  Theatres 


Oklahoma  City- — Cool  weather 
helped  pull  up  grosses  somewhat  with 
"Bought"  at  $6,800  the  town's  leader. 
"Pardon  Us"  didn't  click  so  well, 
getting  only  $6,700  at  the  Criterion. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  28  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"PARDON    US"    (M-G-M) 
CRITERION— (1,800),    10c-35c-50c,   7   days. 
Gross:    $6,700.      (Average,    $8,000.) 
"HUCK   FINN"    (Para.) 
CAPITOL— (1,200),      10c-25c-50c,     7     days. 
Gross:    $5,800.    .  (Average,    $7,000.) 
"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 
MID-WEST— (1,500),      10c-25c-3Sc-50c,      7 
days.      Gross:    $6,800.      (Average,   $7,500). 
"MOTHER'S    MILLIONS"    (Univ.) 
LIBERTY— (1,500),        10c-25c-35c-50c,        7 
days.       Other     attractions:     "Al    and     Loie 
Bridge"   (vaude.)     Gross:   $5,500.     (Average, 
$7,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 


"Tragedy''  Has 
Fine  Start  in 
Run  at  Seattle 


Total  $55,500  for  6  Theatres 


Seattle — "An  American  Tragedy" 
opened  strong  here  last  week,  getting 
$8,000  in  four  days  at  the  Fox  Fifth 
Avenue.  It  replaced  "Young  as  You 
Feel,"  which  rounded  out  a  ten  day 
run  with  $20,000  as  total.  It  got  $5,000 
on  its  last  four  days.  Otherwise  busi- 
ness was  normal. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  28  and  year-round  weekly 
averages  : 

"JUST    A    GIGOLO"    (M-G-M) 
FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000),    25c-35c-50c,    4 
days.     Gross:    $3,500.      (Average,    $3,500.) 
"CHAnCES"    (F.    N.) 
FOX    COLISEUM— (2,000)',    25c-35c-50c,    3 
days.      Gross:    $2,500.      (Average,   $2,500.) 
"YOUNG    AS    YOU    FEEL"     (Fox) 
FOX   FIFTH   AVENUE— (2,750),   25c-35c- 
50c-75c    (2nd   week),   3   days.      Gross:    $5,000. 
(Average,    full   week,   $12,000.) 

"AN  AMERICAN  TRAGEDY  (Para.) 
FOX    FIFTH    AVENUE— (2,750),    25c-3Sc- 
50c-75c.      4    days.     Gross:    $8,000.     Average, 
full    week,    $12,000. 

"SPORTING  BLOOD"    (M-G-M) 
FOX    PARAMOUNT— (3,150),    25c-35c-50c- 
75c,     7     days.       Gross:     $12,000.       (Average, 
$12  000.) 

■  "TWO-GUN     MAN"     (Tiff.) 
LIBERTY— (2,000),  15c-30c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,500.      (Average,    $7,000.) 

"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 
MUSIC    BOX— (950),    25c -35c -50c- 75c    (2nd 
week),    7    days.      Gross:    $6,000.      (Average. 
$7,500.) 

"TRAVELING  HUSBANDS"  (Radio) 
RKO  ORPHEUM— (2,650),  2Sc -35c -50c -60c- 
75c,  7  days.     Vaude.     Gross:  $12,000.     (Aver- 
age,   $13,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Co-Star  in  Three 

Hollywood — A  lot  of  reports  have 
been  circulating  about  the  Gaynor- 
Farrell  co-starring  team.  They  are 
definitely  set  to  make  two  more  this 
season,  "Delicious"  and  "Salomy 
Jane,"  while  "Merely  Mary  Ann"  is 
about  to  swing  into  distribution. 


'Dirigible" Is  $8,000  Over 
Average  in  San  Francisco 


Total  $140,000  for  8  Theatres 


San  Francisco — Seventeen  thous- 
and gobs  from  the  Pacific  fleet  helped 
swell  attendance  here  last  week,  and 
when  the  count  was  completed, 
"Dirigible"  was  far  and  away  the 
winner  with  $20,000,  or  $8,000  above 
the  Orpheum's  average. 

"Connie"  Bennett,  too,  was  a  favor- 
ite with  the  sailors  and  "Bought"  got 
record  crowds  at  the  Warner,  winding 
up  with  $15,000 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  25  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"THE    PUBLIC    DEFENDER"    (RKO) 

GOLDEN  GATEr-(2,80O),  35c-40c-S0c-65c, 
7  days.  Vaude.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average, 
$15,000.) 

"DIRIGIBLE"   (Col.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (3,000),  25c-35c-50c  (2nd 
week),  7  days.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average. 
$12,000.) 

Week  ending  August  26 
"FIVE  AND  TEN"   (M-G-M) 

EL  CAPITAN— (3,100),  25c-40c-60c,  7  days. 
Jay  B rower's  band;  stage  revue.  Grossr 
$13,000.      (Average,    $13,000.) 

SILENCE"    (Para.) 

WARFIE:LD^(2,700),  25c-35c-50c,  7  days. 
Rube  Wolf  band.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average 
$19,000.) 

"GUILTY  HANDS"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (4,600),  3Sc-60c,  7  days.  F.  &  M. 
stage  revue.  Gross:  $33,000.  (Average, 
$35,000.) 

"FRONT  PAGE"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200),  25c-40c-60c 
(2nd  week),  7  days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Aver- 
age,   $11,000.) 

Week  ending  August  27 

"BOUGHT"    (Warners) 

WARNER  BROS.— (1,385),  35c-50c,  7  days. 
Gross:     $15,000.       (Average,    $10,500.) 

Week  ending  August  30 
"DAUGHTER  OIF  THE  DRAGON"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740),  .25c-3Sc-50c,  7 
days.  Jess  Stafford's  band.  Gross:  $16,000. 
(Average,    $19,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 


"Witness"  Is 
Week's  Best 
In  Charlotte 


Total  $16,500  for  2  Theatres 


Charlotte — "The  Star  Witness" 
was  the  leader  here  last  week,  getting 
$5,000  against  an  average  figure  of 
$3,750,  while  "Young  as  You  Feel" 
beat  par  by  $500  with  a  gross  of 
$6,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  28  and  year-round  aver- 
ages : 

"STAR    WITNESS"     (Warners) 

Broadway— (1,167),     25c-35c-50c,      6     days. 
Gross:  $5,000.     (Average,  $3,750  for  3'  cfays.) 
"YOUNG     AS     YOU     FEEL"     (Fox) 
CAROLINA— (1,441),      40c-50c,      3      days. 
Gross:     $6,000.     (Average,    $5,500.) 
"SILENCE"    (Para.) 
CAROLINA— (1,441),       40c-50c,      3      days. 
Gross:    $5,500.     (Average,   $5,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Renew  U.  K.  Deal 

London — United  Artists  will  handle 
Columbia  product  here  for  another 
year  under  terms  of  a  new  contract 
signed. 


'Witness"  Is 
Houston  Top 
With  $5,500 


Total  $26,000  for  4  Theatres 


Houston — With  a  fall  tang  in  the 
air,  there  was  new  life  in  sluggish 
box  offices.  "The  Star  Witness"  was 
the  only  film  to  do  better  than  aver- 
age, the  other  houses  hitting  par  ex- 
cept the  RKO  Majestic  with  "Travel- 
ing Husband." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  27  and  year-round  weekly 
averages : 

"THE   STAR  WITNESS"    (Warners) 

KIRBY— (1,654),       25c-35c-40c,       7       days. 
Gross:    $5,500.      (Average,    $5,000.) 
"BEN    HUR"     (M-G-M) 
LOEW'S    STATE— (2,700),    25c-35c-50c,    7 
days.      Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,    $7,000.) 
"BOUGHT"    Warners) 
METROPOLITAN— (2,512),    25c-35c-40c,    7 
days.      Gross:    $7,000.      (Average,   $7,000.) 
"TRAVELING  HUSBANDS"  (Radio) 
RKO    MAJESTIC— (2,250),    2Sc-35c-50c,    7 
days.     Gross:   $6,500.   (Average,  $7,000.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

"Defender"  Is 
OmahaLeader; 
$4,500  Above 


Total  $35,850  for  4  Theatres 


Omaha — ^"The  Public  Defender" 
ran  away  with  the  honors  last  week, 
taking  in  $18,500  at  the  Orpheum. 
This  figure  is  $4,500  above  par  and 
worth  talking  about.  The  other  out- 
standing record  was  that  made  by 
"Young  as  You  Feel"  at  the  Para- 
mount, where  it  beat  average  by 
$2,500,  the  gross  being  $9,500.  The 
other  first  runs  were  only  so-so. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  28  and  year-round  week- 
ly averages : 

"THE  PUBLIC   DEFENDER"    (Radio) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000),    25c-35c-60c,    7    days. 

Vaude.     Gross:    $18,500.     (Average,  $14,000.) 

"YOUNG  AS  YOU  FEEL"  (Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900),  25c-30c-35c-60c,  7 

days.        Gross:       $9,500.        (Average      week, 

$7,000.) 

"HUSH    MONEY"    (Fox) 
?TATE^(1,200),      25c,      4     days.       Gross: 
$1,200.      (Average,   $1,200.) 

"GOLDIE"    (Fox) 
STATE— (1,200),      25c,     3     days.       Gross: 
$900.      (Average,    $900.) 

"GOLD   DUST  GERTIE"   (Warners) 
WORLD— (2.500),   25c-40c,   4  days.     Gross: 
$2,750.      (Average,    $3,200.) 

"SON   OF   INDIA"    (M-G-M) 
WORLD^(2,500),    25c-40c,    3    days.    Gross: 
$,^,000.       (Average,    $2,500.) 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  Sweet  Contract 

Hollywood — Director  Harry  Sweet 
has  been  given  a  new  term  contract 
by    RKO    Pathe. 


Ottawa  Fair 
Boosts  Trade 
At  First  Runs 


Total  $23,700  for  5  Theatres 


Ottawa — The  Canadian  capital  was 
in  holiday  form  all  during  the  past 
week,  the  occasion  being  the  43rd  an- 
nual fall  fair.  There  were  thousands 
of  visitors  in  town,  attendance  marks 
at  the  e-xhibition  were  high  and  the 
theatres,  particularly  the  RKO-Capi- 
tol  and  the  Centre,  won  a  goodly  share 
of  the  current  business. 

Manager  Joe  Franklin  counted  $8,900 
as  the  gross  for  "The  Magnificent 
Lie"  for  the  six  days,  this  being  close 
to  the  record  of  the  previous  week. 
The  Centre  jumped  into  second  place 
through  the  popularity  of  "Mother's 
Millions"  with  a  total  of  $5,200,  this 
being  above  average. 

The  split  week  at  the  Regent  was 
also  up  to  expectations,  the  take  for 
"I  Take  This  Woman"  on  the  new 
low  admission  scale  being  $2,500  for 
three  days.  "Rebound"  for  the  last 
half  at  the  Regent  accounted  for 
$2,300,  which  was  equal  to  the  new 
average.  The  Avalon  was  a  busy 
spot,  securing  $1,200  on  both  "Seed" 
and  "Laughing  Sinners"  for  three 
days   each. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing August  28  and  weekly  averages : 

"SEED"  (Univ.) 

AVALON— (990),  15c-25c-35c,  3  days. 
Gross:    $1,200.      (Average,    $1,300.) 

"LAUGHING   SINNERS"    (M-G-M) 
AVALON— (990)— 15c-25c-3Sc,        3        days. 
Gross:    $1,200.      (Average,    $1,300.) 
"THE    MAGNIFICENT    LIE"     (Para.) 
RKO-CAPITOL— (2,592),       15c-25c-35c-50c- 
60c,  6  days.    Gross:  $8,900.    (Previous  week's 
gross   under  new   policy,   $9,800.) 

"MOTHER'S    MILLIONS"    (Univ.) 
CENTRE-(1,142),      15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,      6 
days.      Gross:    $5,200.      (Average,    $4,600.) 
"TEN    NIGHTS   IN   A   BAR   ROOM" 

(Goetz) 
IMPERIAI^(1^091),       10c-25c-35c-4Oc,       6 
days.     Gross:    $2,400.      (Average,   $3,000.) 
"I    TAKE   THIS   WOMAN"    (Para.) 
REGENT— (1,225,      15c-25c-3Sc-50c-60c,      3 
days.     Gross:  $2,500.     (New  average,  $2,400.) 
"REBOUND"    (RKO-Pathe) 
R5.GENT— (1,225),      15c-25c-35c-50c-60c,      3 
days.     Gross:  $2,300.     (New  average,  $2,400.) 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Print z  in  New  *Philly' 
Post  Starting  Friday 

Philadelphia  — LeRoy  Printz, 
musical  show  director,  assumes  his 
new  position  as  director  of  the  Mast- 
baum  stage  shows  with  the  program 
opening  September  4.  For  his  first 
lineup  of  players  he  has  Al  Trahan, 
the  three  Brox  Sisters  and  the  Three 
Gobs.  Ed  Lowry  will  continue  as 
master-of-ceremonies.  Printz  will 
build  a  new  program  each  week,  get- 
ting his  talent  direct  from  New  York. 
The  Mastbaum  has  increased  its  staff 
of  costume  and  scenic  designers  and 
each  show  will  be  planned  along  the 
lines  of  an  original  Broadway  revue. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Rogers  to  Return  to 
Studio  After  NBC 

Buddy  Rogers,  who  will  appear  as 
an  orchestra  leader  at  the  New  York- 
er Hotel,  New  York,  under  a  con- 
tract with  National  Broadcasting  Co., 
will  return  to  Paramount  for  future 
vehicles  after  six  months  of  radio 
work. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  August  31,    1931 


Feist  Talks 
On  Agitators 
MGM  Kicks 

{Coiitiniicd  from  fagc   1) 

Feist.     "That's  up  to  the  exhibitor. 

"To  be  on  the  level  with  yourself  and 
your  company,  you've  got  to  get  on  a 
level    with    your    product. 

"We  are  in  a  new  season  with  new 
problems,  created  chiefly  by  a  few  agita- 
tors—some without  even  as  much  as  one 
theatre — and  the  salesman  lacking  initia- 
tive and  resourcefulness  will  find  the  roacTs 
rougher— the  going  tougher — and  results 
lacking. 

"Vou  can't  drag  dollar  merchandise  down 
to  dime  depths  and  survive.  There's  no 
dodging!  Facts  must  be  faced  1  Either 
you  can  properly  merchandise  our  sales 
policy,  or  you  can't!  Every  day  will  con- 
tribute its  answer  as  to  whether  you're 
a  heavyweight  or  just  a  heavyweight. 

"You've  never  known  the  time  when  the 
exhibitor  didn't  kick,  but  frankly,  there's 
less  justification  lor  it  this  season  (as  it 
relates  to  MetroGoldwyn-Mayer  pictures) 
than  ever  before.  Every  exhibitor  likes, 
wants  and  '  n^eds  good  product— pictures 
that  get  real  money  at  the  box  oflice.  So 
what  you  really  have  to  sell,  in  the  literal 
meaning   of   that    word,    is   our   sales   policy. 

"You  will  remember  we  had  a  similar 
problem  when,  as  a  national  organization, 
we  first  insisted'  upon  complete  output  con- 
tracts. We  had  only  features  then,  but 
some  members  of  our  staff  thought  that 
output  sales  could  never  be  made.  Yet 
you  actually  accomplished  just  that!  To- 
day, it's  a  standard  procedure  with  M-G-M. 

"You  are  not  expected  to  bluff  your  way 
thru.  The  honest  box  office  values  you 
offer  are  well  established.  Underneath 
most  of  the  squawking  is  the  exhibitors' 
fear  that  pro<i'uct  of  less  intrinsic  value 
will  make  the  same  demands.  We  cannot 
control    that.      ITiat's    up    to    the    exhibitor. 

"Charges  of  arrogance  have  been  made 
against  us.  Let  us  assure  you  that  you 
do  not  show  pride  in  your  product  by 
getting  tough  in  your  talk.  The  brass 
age  belongs  to  a  past  age  and  gall  usually 
precedes  a  fall.  The  man  who  is  properly 
representing  us  and  getting  adequate  re- 
turns isn't  riding  a  high  horse,  bellowing 
bravaci'oes  or  high-hatting  anybody.  His 
courage  is  grounded  on  facts  and  founded 
on    performance. 

"If  you  know  what  you're  doing,  you 
know  what  he's  doing,  and  in  that  event 
there  isn't  much  room  for  unreasonable 
argument. 

"We  have  the  one  superlative  value  for 
which  there  is  no  substitute  in  the  motion 
picture  business — box  office  appeal.  Our 
task  is  to  get  for  this  value  what  it  is 
honestly     worth. 

"Watch    your   step— but    keep   steppmg! 

"Get  on  the  level  of  your  product! 

"Sell!" 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ohio  Spot  May  Get 
Warner  Stage  Shows 

Steubexville,  O. — This  will  prob- 
ably become  a  one-day  spot  for  stage 
shows  following  recent  legalizing  of 
Sunday  performances  in  Ohio.  War- 
ners are  figuring  on  routing  their  big 
acts,  and  possibly  the  entire  stage  bills 
intact,  in  here  from  the  Stanley, 
Pittsburgh,  55  miles  distant,  for  a 
Sunday  date  of  four  shows.  Pitts- 
burgh houses  play  only  a  six-day 
week,  and  this  town  is  one  of  War- 
ners' strongholds  now  without  enter- 
tainment on  the  stage. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Continues  Films  Only 

Spokane — The  RKO  Orpheum  will 
continue  its  policy  of  feature  pictures 
without  vaudeville  and  will  not  re- 
turn to  its  former  combination  shows, 
Manager  Walter  Finney  stated  upon 
his  return  from  a  regional  conference 
of  house  managers  called  by  Homer 
Gill,  district  manager.  It  is  reported 
they  will  share  M-G-M  productions 
with  the  new  Fox  Theatre. 


Richey  Cites 
Exhib  Danger 
In  MGM  Meet 

(^Cotitiniicd  from  page   1) 

leaders  and  find  that  they  have  called 
these  unfair  provisions  to  their  theatre 
owners  too  and  reports  from  these  terri- 
tories are  to  the  effect  that  Metro  is  not 
selling. 

"Don't  you  believe  by  this  time  that 
exhibitors  are  wide  enough  awake  to  the 
full  importance  of  this  situation  to  know, 
as  you  say,  that  if  they  give  Metro  30 
and  35  per  cent  with  Saturday  or  Sunday 
starting  dates,  next  year,  every  prod'ucer 
will  do  the  same  thing,  and  then  they 
might  as  well  close  up!  If  they  know 
that    now,    George,    they    never    will. 

"Of  course  a  few  exhibitors  will  sign 
up.  Some  of  them  will  possibly  be  given 
better  deals  than  this  in  order  that  their 
names  can  be  used  for  selling  propaganda. 
Any  man  who  sells  out  his  fellows  can  get 
a  good  deal !  Judas  got  thirty  pieces  of 
silver.  And  a  few  theatre  owners  will 
go  for  it. 

"In  civic  life,  in  every  organization  there 
are  a  few  who  will  not  go  along  with  the 
majority.  A  few  who  will  not  follow  the 
lead'er.  Generally  they  are  the  ones  who 
are  the  first  to  complain  that  the  organiza- 
tion is  not  doing  what  they  want  it  to  do. 
But  George,  after  all  the  years  you  have 
spent  in  the  business  you  know  that  the 
majority  of  exhibitors  are  not  dumbbells 
and    will   stick    together. 

"All  a  national  protest  meeting  would 
accomplish  would  be  to  bring  this  issue 
forceably  to  the  attention  of  theatre  owners 
everywhere  and  this  has  already  been  done. 
Y'ou  can't,  George,  save  men  in  spite  of 
themselves. 

"If  a  theatre  owner's  investment  isn't 
worth  protecting  by  his  own  activities,  then 
there   isn't   much   we   can   do. 

"From  indications  few  Michigan  men 
will  consid'er  the  deal.  Of  course,  a  few 
will  have  an  alibi  for  buying.  That's  a 
great  word — ALIBI.  I  wonder  what  is  its 
derivation?  It  must  be  something  a  fel- 
low says  when  he  does  something  he  knows 
he   shouldn't   do— or    sumthin'. 

"We  need  good  pictures  but  we  can't 
afford  to  give  away  theatres  to  get  them. 
Why  ruin  the  future  of  the  business  over 
one    or    two   companies    products? 

"I  don't  believe  you  need'  worry  about 
theatre  owners.  Just  give  them  the  facts 
and   they    will   do   the   rest." 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Realism  Plus  Puts 
Jones  in  Hospital 

Hollywood — Buck  Jones  is  confined 
to  a  local  hospital  suffering  from  a 
severe  injury  to  his  back  sustained 
while  staging  a  fight  in  "Heading  for 
Love."  A  chair,  thrown  at  him,  came 
too  low  and  I5uck  was  unable  to 
dodge   it. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Kipp-Taylor  to  Televise 

Kansas  City — First  National  Tele- 
vision has  petitioned  for  a  Federal 
license  to  broadcast  television  pro- 
grams in  Kansas  City  this  fall.  The 
firm  was  organized  recentlv  by  G.  I-. 
Taylor,  formerly  of  the  Kipp-Taylor 
Music  Co.,  of  Manhattan,  which 
manufactured  a  disc  sound  equipment 
until  a  year  ago.  A  television  demon- 
stration given  here  last  week  is  said 
to  have  been  successful. 

"BUY  RIGHT—BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Zanuck  a  Daddy 

Hollywood  —  Darryl  Zanuck  of 
Warners  is  the  proud  father  of  a 
baby  girl.  His  wife  is  the  former 
actress,  Virginia  Fox. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Fox  Deals  Today 

Several  deals  for  taking  over  Fox 
theatres  in  the  east  by  independents 
become  effective  today. 


Joe  E.Brown  Proves 
Philly"  Sensation 


a 


{Continitrd  from  patte   1) 

was  $52,000,  with  bad  weather  threat- 
ening Friday.  The  last  day's  intake 
was  unexpected,  the  ten  grand  break- 
ing through  the  average  for  second 
top  of  the  year.  "Caught  Plastered" 
was  the  feature. 

"BUY   RIGHT — BUT   BUY  NOW" 

Canadian  Co-op  Out 
After  More  Houses 

Toronto  — •  Expansion  program 
throughout  the  Dominion  is  to  be 
undertaken  immediately  by  the  newly- 
formed  Amalgamated  Theatres  of 
Canada,  Ltd.  The  co-operative  units 
is  starting  operations  with  60  thea- 
tres. The  new  organization  is  an 
amalgamation  of  Community  Thea- 
tres, Exhibitors  Co-operative  and  the 
M.P.T.O.  of   Canada. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Ziehm  Closes  Deals 

Arthur  Ziehm  of  World's  Trade 
Exchange,  New  York,  has  sold  terri- 
torial rights  to  "Maciste  in  Hell"  to 
All  Star  Features  for  the  Los  An- 
geles territory ;  Quality  Talking  Pic- 
ture Co.,  for  the  Cincinnati  territory, 
and  Capital  Film  Exchange,  New 
York,  for  the  Chicago  and  Milwaukee 
territory.  He  also  has  sold  to  Tobis, 
New  York,  rights  to  the  German  film. 
"The  Kaiser's  Sweetheart." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

New  M-G-M  Contracts 

New  contracts  have  been  signed  by 
M-G-M  with  Zion  Myers  and  Jules 
White,  directors,  also  Leila  Hyams 
and  Robert  Young.  Myers  and  VVhite 
created  and  co-directed  the  series  of 
all-talking  canine  comedies  and  also 
directed  Bu.ster  Keaton  in  "Sidewalks 
of  New  York." 

"BUY  RIGHT — BUT  BUY  NOW" 

'Tree  Soul"  Stays 

Due  to  box-office  results  of  "A 
Free  Soul,"  M-G-M  may  not  put  in 
"The    Squaw    Man"    at    the    Astor. 


Restoration  of 
Admission  Tax 
Is  Held  Remote 


(Continued  from  paijc  1) 

what  conditions  are  at  that  time  be- 
fore making  any  recommendations  as 
to  tax  legislation.  If  possible,  the  ad- 
ministration plans  to  get  along  with- 
out any  new  taxes,  believing  that  bet- 
ter impetus  can  be  given  to  business 
revival  by  assurance  of  tax  stability. 
When  business  recovers,  if  existing 
tax  rates  do  not  provide  a  surplus 
which  will  gradually  wipe  out  the 
deficit,  tax  increases  may  be  re- 
sorted to. 

A  number  of  foreign  countries  have 
resorted  to  taxation  as  a  means  of  re- 
taining stability,  it  is  pointed  out,  but 
in  no  instance  has  the  plan  worked 
out  as  hoped  for.  In  mast  cases,  new 
taxes  have  served  merely  to  retard 
business  further,  and  the  revenues 
have  been  less  than  estimated.  The 
administration  at  Washington  is  not 
unmindful  of  this  fact,  and  while  no 
assurance  is  given  that  tax  increases 
or  new  levies  may  not  be  found  neces- 
sary, every  other  avenue  of  financing 
will  be  explored  before  they  are  im- 
posed. 

It  is  not  planned  to  have  the  gov- 
ernment finance  the  unemployed  dur- 
ing the  coming  winter.  The  adminis- 
tration has  consistently  held  that  that 
is  a  function  of  the  community  and  the 
new  organization  just  set  up  in  Wash- 
ington is  to  devote  itself  to  the  devolp- 
ment  of  co-ordinated  private  financing 
of   unernployment   relief. 

There  is  little  probability  that  the 
United  States  will  resort  to  the  dole 
system ;  Great  Britain's  present  finan- 
cial difficulties  are  largely  due  to  the 
drain  of  the  dole. 

"BUY  RIGHT— BUT  BUY  NOW" 

Lane  Drops  Suit 

Hollywood— Lola  Lane  has  dropped 
salary  suit  against  Jerry  Mayer, 
agent,  over  commissions.  The  matter 
was  settled  out  of  court. 


For  Rent 


Highly  desirable  suite 
of  1100  square  feet  in  the 
exclusive  Straus  Building 
565  Fifth  Avenue  on 
attractive  sublease 
Will  Divide 
Telephone 
Circle  7-3100 
Extension  27 


:?ifi^fei;: 


^^!